Here’s a pretty cool look at where some of today’s popular stars like Jack Black and Christian Bale were in the early days of their careers.

Before they Were Stars – Video Game Edition

Thanks to YouTube user TheOrignalPSP for the following video.

Having a booth at E3 costs a company a good amount of money and if you’re a developer or publisher in tough times, sparing the expense is a smart move. That doesn’t mean that you can’t have a presence at the show and that’s what THQ went into detail about to the folks at GamesIndustry.biz:

“We’re not producing a booth, but we will be participating in E3. We will be showing games to the E3 judges at their event coming up, and we’ll be hosting a press and business center at the show for meetings (as well as participating with first party activities).

Best of luck to THQ in getting their content out there. E3 is rapidly approaching!

Oh yes, a mere 5 weeks to go and we’ll be at E3 2012…and event that’s surely going to be one of the most memorable for the video game industry in years. With it will see Nintendo’s full revealing of their highly anticipated successor to Wii, Wii U.

As with every year, before E3 actually begins, companies have a Pre-Show and in 2012, things are no different.

Set your calendars and alarm clocks to:

Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Presentation: 9:00AM (West Coast)

You’re not going to want to miss this event, gamers. This will be my 11th E3 and with having attended Nintendo’s conference for the last two years, my anticipation for this event is seriously on the rise. 35 days to go!

Over at Blogs.Sega.com, Sega just announced Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed for the following platforms: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo 3DS, and PC Digital Download. The game has a targeted release of late 2012.

This news also brings the possibility for artists out there to get their piece featured in the title’s Jet Set Radio Future level. 10 submissions will be accepted and for more information, hit the link above.

Do you remember Dragon’s Lair? If not (because you’re a younger gamer or just never happened to cross its path), you’ll have your chance to check it out on May 18th on Xbox Live Arcade for a mere 99 cents. It’s a fun game that first came out in June of 1983 and has seen MANY ports over the last 29 years. Some Xbox 360 owners might have a copy of the HD DVD version of the game which saw a release in 2006, but for many it’ll probably be a first time experience. If you’re interested in seeing what this classic looks like, visit Marketplace.Xbox.com.

The Super Nintendo version of Super Street Fighter II: The New Challengers came out on Wii’s Virtual Console in January, 2008 for a mere $8. Fast forward four years later and now the Sega Genesis version is out for the same price AND with an added bonus not in either original release: the ability to play against your friends online!

We’ve known that this was in the makings for a while…and I say bring it on! The more love given to Street Fighter’s 25th anniversary, the better! Hadouken for life!

On April 2nd, Paul Gale Network hinted at Title Fight’s new name possibly being PlayStation All-Stars: Battle Royale and I can now confirm to you that the latter is indeed Sony and SuperBot Entertainment’s big new PlayStation 3 brawler.

Tadaaaa…PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale

Throughout it’s different names, potential characters, stages, and so on…it’s been an honor knowing about PlayStation All-Stars: Battle Royale for as long as I have. When I first revealed it to you all in October, 2011, I was sitting on the news for close to a year, and not being able to reveal what I knew was something I just had to do. That being said, for the last 6 months, it’s been great finally being able to communicate with all of you and have so much feedback on what was then called “Title Fight”.

Nice video footage, don’t ya think?

Equally as satisfying as seeing all of your excitement build up for the game, was getting to share the information you provided with SuperBot Entertainment and Sony. As you saw in the video above provided by PlayStation.blog, the game’s director, Mr. Omar Kendall even said that he’s enjoyed reading fans’ ideas. I think you should all give yourselves a nice pat on the back for contributing!

Kratos vs. PaRappa vs. Fat Princess vs. Sweet Tooth

Kratos vs. PaRappa vs. Fat Princess vs. Sweet Tooth

Sly Cooper vs. Kratos vs. PaRappa vs. Fat Princess

I hope you liked the video and screenshots and are looking forward to E3 2012, for in a mere 39 days…if you’re attending, you’ll be able to play this baby. Don’t feel bad if you’re not going to E3 though, because there’ll still be plenty of footage and pictures for you to enjoy online.

Last but not least, a small extra bit of confirmation for you (and another Paul Gale Network first): I can 100% confirm that this game will see 3rd party characters! Here’s to PlayStation All-Stars: Battle Royale!

Press release:

Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC (SCEA) today announced the release of PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, available for PlayStation 3 (PS3). Developed by SuperBot Entertainment, PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale is the ultimate four-player brawler, influenced by some of the greatest PlayStation themes and characters of all time. Spanning the entire PlayStation universe, players will select and control the likes of iconic characters such as Kratos, Sweet Tooth, Parappa, Fat Princess, Colonel Radec, and Sly Cooper among others. Additionally, PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale will include a line-up of special characters from some of the game industry’s top third party developers and publishers. With a host of playable characters, special attacks, themed stages, and mash up music, PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale pits players in a deep fighting game that draws inspiration throughout the colorful PlayStation universe.

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale has not yet been rated. For more information about the title, please visit www.PlayStationAllStarsBattleRoyale.com.

First video footage of PlayStation All-Stars: Battle Royale

Related articles:

Initial teaser on October 30th

The Halloween reveal
Alternate Halloween reveal

Gameplay details on Title Fight

Tentative title revealed

November 12th Q/A

Here is the New Q/A for Title Fight, Sony’s Smash Bros. competitor (November 18th)

External testing update

December 6th Q/A for Title Fight plus updates

Share your Title Fight ideas with SuperBot Entertainment and Sony

Title Fight will be playable at E3

Title Fight may have a new name: PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale

If you’ve got Ninja Gaiden 3 for either Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 and have been wanting to amp up the challenge, today’s your day. Go on now and download the new pack if you want some tough gaming love.

Press release:

TEAM NINJA RELEASES ULTIMATE NINJA PACK AND ALL NEW PLAYABLE DEMO FOR NINJA GAIDEN 3

Team NINJA continues its support of Ninja Gaiden 3 on PlayStation® 3 and Xbox 360® with the release of the third installment of all-new downloadable content for the action-packed game featuring the renown Ryu Hayabusa. Players can download a wide array of new DLC items such as the Ultimate Ninja difficulty, Ninja Trials packs, additional equipment items and a new shadow rule for Clan Battles. Not for the faint of heart, the new Ultimate Ninja difficulty level available for the single player campaign aims to challenge even the most advanced ninjas and is available for free download for a month, starting April 24th and ending on May 24th. To showcase the new downloadable content, Team NINJA created a video vignette and all new screenshots and stills.

Players will be able to purchase downloadable content individually-the new Ninja Trials packs for the Ultimate Ninja difficulty and additional customization items-or players can purchase the complete set of DLC in Ninja Pack 3 for $9.99 or 800 MSP.
For the Ninjas who like to play with friends, The Ultimate Ninja , an all-new shadow rule for the online multiplayer mode Clan Battle is also now available for download as well a higher level cap. All these are available as a free download and can be obtained as an automatic software update for the PlayStation® 3 and as a downloadable Ninja Pack 1 Lite for the Xbox 360®.

Ninja Gaiden 3 can now be experienced by all, as a new single player demo available for free download for both PlayStation® 3 and Xbox 360®. This is a chance for players to step behind the mask of the world’s greatest ninja, Ryu Hayabusa and experience Ninja Gaiden 3 for themselves. Including all three weapons in a sample of the opening stage, the new demo offers an unbridled taste of the immersive original story, intense new gameplay features, and bone crushing combat awaiting them in Ninja Gaiden 3.

Ninja Gaiden 3 was developed by Team NINJA and published by Tecmo Koei America in March 2012.

The recently announced Nintendo 3DS update that would grant owners the ability to create folders is now live. All you have to do is go to the eShop channel and perform a System Update…then you can put up to 60 games/apps in each folder. So buy away! I’m really glad that Nintendo is tackling this early on in the 3DS’ life, because Wii never got a folder function and it took a while before it got anything “close to that” which was added SD card refrigerator functionality.

The talented and funny crew over at Mega64 just released a video that I had to share with you.

I hope this starts your morning off with a laugh. Mega64…keep it up!