Yesterday we mentioned the small fact of a new patch coming for Resistance 2. Among the welcome trinkets like Super human co-op mode was suggestion of a dual PSN log in ability, something bemoaned as flagrantly missing when the game launched last year.

Until now. With Insomniac claiming the ability to perform this very multiple log in feature coming March 26th with the Resistance 1.50 patch, and the fact that they’ve been waiting for Sony’s firmware to support the enhancement, it’s a safe bet to say that 2.70 is coming tomorrow.

Free, or not free, that is the question.
We won’t bore you with the history lesson.

Yes, the PSN is free. No, its nearest competitor’s online service is not. But in the great tradition of “there is no such thing as a free download”, news has erupted via MTV Multiplayer today that, since October 2008, Sony have been charging publishers with what accounts to an “overhead fee” for every gigabyte that you, the consumer, downloads from the PSN.

It’s Thursday therefore it has to mean Store update time. A cornucopia of delights are presented for your delectation from SOCOM finally emerging from its dusty bunker to classic horror in the form of the original Silent Hill game.

There appears to be something missing though. Though our UK neighbours get the COD:W@W Map Pack to download, it is suspiciously missing from non-UK European stores.

On Tuesday, it was announced that the European PlayStation.com website was to get an upgrade, adding PSN functionality that included trophy information, and is also available on the updated Portable ID signatures.

Well, today, it went live!

Soon after the North America PlayStation.com PSN makeover, it is Europe’s turn later this week.

So what exactly is new? Well, the official PlayStation signatures are getting improved, with an expanded edition which displays trophy information, as well as showing your last 3 games you played – sweet!

But there’s more…

Sony, seemingly overcome by a sudden paroxysm of numerical fixation, have decided to release a veritable number-storm of details outlining just where the PlayStation brand is at the moment in terms of penetration and performance including the revelation that there are now 20 million PSN accounts out in the wild.

If numbers are your bag, check this article for Sony’s State of the PlayStation address.

When it comes to smaller, niche and even retro games, the PSN is where it’s at these days.

Speaking over at the official PS Blog (we’ve mentioned that we love that site, right?) Senior Manager of the PlayStation Store, Grace Chen, has announced “PSN Spring Fever”.

The good folks over at PlayStation.Blog have given us an update on the upcoming PSN exclusive title, The Punisher: No Mercy. Aside from the six awesome looking screenshots just released, they have given us a Spring release date.

Gamers will get the chance to play as the popular vigilante as well as your favorite friends and enemies including Barracuda, Bushwacker, Jigsaw and Silver Sable. Prepare yourself for some destruction and mayhem when the game hits this Spring…

You never would have guessed it but Cuboid is quite addicting. There is great satisfaction when you move that block into position and hear the winning chime. Some of the more difficult puzzles, the later ones on Expert, can take upwards of twenty minutes each. Yikes! That’s what I call dedication. Of course, it’s going to be different for everyone but it definitely takes some thought and pre-planing if you want to get the best score.

SOE and PopCap games have announced that a slew of classic casual games will be hittintg the PSNvery soon. Though Bejewled 2 is actually available today in NA (Europe to follow suit shortly), other favourites that include Zuma, Heavy Weapon, and Feeding Frenzy will follow shortly.

The most exciting part of the announcement however is that poplar “peg-themed” title Peggle will also finally see a PSN outing.

Nothing too exciting this week amidst the usual content of Guitar Hero and Rock Band tracks. For those of you who want to give your brain a little challenge the Brain Challenge Expansion Pack has received a price drop. I guess it was so challenging that nobody wanted to play it.

The F.E.A.R. 2 demo that was available to Qore subscribers last week is out for the masses and there is also a demo for the excellent Wipeout HD. I definitely suggest checking that one out if you haven’t already purchased the game. Hit the jump for the rest of the goodies…

The EU store continues to be treated like the black sheep of the family with the much heralded “one approval process for all regions” still nowhere to be seen. Read on for details of why, sometimes, it’s not good to be European.

If you are a fan of breakout games then you are going to love Magic Ball, an exclusive PSN game brought by the same people who brought us Cuboid. Touting almost 50 levels, local and online multiplayer, and even trophies; Magic Ball is looking to be a steal at $9.99.

Creat Studios and Tiki Games are bringing Cuboid, a 3D puzzle game where you maneuver a block around switches, traps, and exits, to the PSN tomorrow, January 8. If this game looks familar to you, it might be because you played the flash version called Bloxorz.

So while there is no official demo for the game, you can try out Bloxorz and if you like it, why not shell out the $9.99 for Cuboid? With 66 distinct levels, it’s sure to puzzle your brain for some time. Full details after the jump!

Tis’ the season to…game.  Europe’s store update finally brings some much needed (and asked for) demos in the form of Wipeout HD, Metal Gear Online and Sonic Unleashed.  Put down your pitchforks, LittleBigPlanet’s Metal Gear …

North American PlayStation Network

Merry Christmas! If you don’t celebrate Christmas then you are missing out on tons of free gifts and should reconsider. Thanks to us gift recipients we PS3 fans have this early PlayStation Store update, so it can’t be all that bad.

A late update but a good one. The way too long-named Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars drops to the way more cofortable price of $9.99, Crash Commando is priced the same way to boot

Crash Commando makes its worlwide debut in Europe, but the masses are still sore abuot their lack of SSFIITHDR to even care. The Mercenaries 2 free map pack and the game Soldner-X: Himmelssturmer make their European debuts today.

Namco and Sony announced that Keita Takahasi’s latest creation is scheduled to visit Europe in the first months of 2009. Takahasi’s previous work – he’s the creator of the Katamari series – gives us hope that Noby Noby Boy will be an excellent addition to the PSN games list.