Avatars! No, not the movie but actual PSN avatars that they promised to update years ago! Unfortunately, it costs BUT I have $2 sitting in my account so maybe I will bite. We also get the MAG open beta which starts in January as well as a big LBP update. Water has been added to LittleBigPlanet and it can be yours in the Caribbean kit.

Price Updates/Sale (ends 1/7/10)

• Bomberman Ultra – $4.99
• Worms – $9.99
• Topatoi – $4.99
• Armored Core 3 Portable – $9.99 (ends 1/21/10)
• Scrabble – $13.99
• NFS Underground Rivals – $10.49
• NFS Carbon – $13.99
• NFS Most Wanted – $13.99
• NFS ProStreet – $13.99
• GI Joe – $27.99
• Sims 2 – $10.49
• Commander’s Challenge – $6.99
• Battlefield 1943 – $10.49
• Hasbro Family Game Night – $29.99
• Burnout Paradise Ultimate Bundle – $20.99
• ZOMBIE TYCOON – $4.99

PS3 Games

• Battle Fantasia ($19.99)
• Polar Panic ($9.99)
• PixelJunk 3-in-1 Pack (Bundle) ($19.99)

PS3 Demos

• MAG Public Beta (starts 1/4/10)
• LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues Demo
• Peggle Demo
• Polar Panic Demo

PS3 DLC

• LittleBigPlanet Pirates of the Caribbean Level Kit ($5.99)
• LittleBigPlanet Pirates of the Caribbean Costume Pack ($5.99)
• Call of Duty: World at War Map Pack Bundle ($24.99)

PS3 Dynamic Themes

• Heavy Rain Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
• PSN Holiday Dynamic Theme ($2.99)

PSN Avatars

• LittleBigPlanet Sackboy PSN Avatar ($0.49)
• LittleBigPlanet MyMoon PSN Avatar ($0.49)
• LittleBigPlanet Craft Earth PSN Avatar ($0.49)
• LittleBigPlanet Xmas Tree PSN Avatar ($0.49)
• LittleBigPlanet Santa PSN Avatar ($0.49)
• LittleBigPlanet Giftboy PSN Avatar ($0.49)
• LittleBigPlanet “Sky” Sackgirl PSN Avatar ($0.49)
• LittleBigPlanet “Marvin” Sackboy PSN Avatar ($0.49)
• LittleBigPlanet “Gloria” Sackgirl PSN Avatar ($0.49)
• LittleBigPlanet “Arr!!!” Sackboy PSN Avatar ($0.49)
• LittleBigPlanet “Lily Pad” PSN Avatar ($0.49)
• LittleBigPlanet “Hugo” PSN Avatar ($0.49)
• LittleBigPlanet “Great Blue” PSN Avatar ($0.49)
• LittleBigPlanet “Frost-E” PSN Avatar ($0.49)
• LittleBigPlanet Planets PSN Avatar Bundle ($0.99)
• LittleBigPlanet Festive PSN Avatar Bundle ($0.99)
• LittleBigPlanet Characters 1 PSN Avatar Bundle ($1.25)
• LittleBigPlanet Animals PSN Avatar Bundle ($1.25)

PSOne Games

• Wing Commander IV ($5.99)

PSP Games

• Savage Moon: The Hera Campaign ($9.99)
• Aedis Eclipse ($9.99)
• Me & My Katamari ($19.99)
• Football Manager Handheld 2010 ($23.99)

PSP Minis

• Bowling 3D ($4.99)

PSP Demos

• Holy Invasion of Privacy Badman! 2 Demo
• Army of Two: The 40th Day Demo

PSP DLC

• LocoRoco Midnight Carnival Level Pack ($2.99)

A few days ago I attempted to download the MAG beta. It went by quick as it was only a 300mb download. I started the game and saw a 30mb patch and thought, no big deal. Then I get prompted for a 2.6gb patch and my mouth just dropped. How can you have a 2.6gb patch? I quickly realized that I cannot background download this patch and if I download it, my PS3 would be rendered useless. So I ask, why can’t I background download my patch and why can’t you (Sony) automatically patch my games?

I use Google web browser and one of the things that I love is that it automatically updates without me ever knowing. The only time I know there is a new version is if I see my RSS notification from Google about a chrome beta release. I don’t have too much experience with Steam but from what I do understand, it automatically patches your games. Why is this simple yet important feature not on consoles?

It’s not a big deal you say? I do agree but it is something that would be very nice and convenient to have. Trying to play LBP online at a friends house was a nightmare. Launching the game to be met with 5-6 patches all having to download and then going through the beginning stages. My friends almost wrote the game off. So how can we take care of this?

• If online, prompt user that patch is available but give option to download or pass.
• If online, give user option to background download the patches, while they play the game in “offline” mode. Install patches on game restart.
• Allow user to opt into silent patching, uses low powered connection or system inactivity to download the patch onto the hdd, prompting for patch install on next game start.

Those are just a few ideas off the top of my head. What do you think about game patches? Do you get tired of sitting through several patches when you decide to play a backlogged game?

Disclaimer: I don’t complain about Microsoft’s game patching title updates because Microsoft requires a max of 4mb for updates over the life of a game.

As more beta invites start to roll out, we have received another trailer for MAG which is pretty cool. Makes me want to join the fight.

New this week are a few dynamic PS3 themes for $2.99. Of course, there is no sign of Trine but don’t let that stop you from hitting up the PlayStation Store. Capcom gives us digital bundles to enjoy as well as the PSP fighting title Fate Unlimited Codes.

Qore Episode 16: Sept 09 ($2.99 ep) ($24.99 subscription)

• Subscribe before 9/14 and you will be invited to MAG beta!

PS3 Games

• Capcom Super Pack ($49.99)
• Capcom Combo Pack ($29.99)
• NBA 2K10: Draft Combine ($4.99)
  Battle Tanks ($9.99)
• NBA 2K10: Draft Combine ($4.99)
• Battle Tanks ($9.99)

PS3 Demo

• Fight Night Round 4 Demo #2
• NBA 2K10: Draft Combine Demo

PS3 DLC

• FEAR 2: Project Origin Reborn Map Pack ($9.99)

PS3 Themes

• LittleBigPlanet Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
• PAIN ($2.99)
• High Velocity Bowling ($2.99)
• Pixel Junk Monsters

PSOne

• Cool Boarders 3 ($5.99)

PSP

• Fate Unlimited Codes ($29.99)
• Patapon ($15.99)

Check out more after the jump.

Capcom Bundles of Joy

Super Pack – Features 7 PSN titles with DLC content for $49.99.

• Super Street Fighter II HD Remix
• Flock!
• Age of Booty
• 1942
• Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3
• Super Puzzle Fighter 2 HD Remix
• Rocketmen: Axis of Evil with the It Came from Uranus pack included.

Combo Pack – Features 4 PSN titles with DLC content for $29.99.

• 1942
• Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3
• Super Puzzle Fighter 2 HD Remix
• Rocketmen: Axis of Evil
• Rocketmen: It Came from Uranus mission pack.

This one is about Command & Control:

Choose a side and begin the fight!

You are in a 256 player shadow war set 25 years in the future. 256, I know. Good thing beta invites are going out and I hope I get one. The more I see of MAG, the more I am interested in it

Check out more videos after the jump