Sony Computer Entertainment today announced Ratchet and Clank: A Crack in Time, the latest entry in the popular action-adventure franchise. Here’s the deal:

Concluding the events that began in Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction and Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty, Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time will answer some of the franchise fans’ biggest questions. After discovering that lovable robot Clank’s disappearance was engineered by Dr. Nefarious, the Wrench-swinging Ratchet races to save his best friend. Along the way, both will finally uncover the hidden truth behind their origins, and discover their ultimate destinies. As the duo come closer to reuniting, they’ll have to ask themselves the biggest question of all: Do Ratchet and Clank’s destinies lie with each other? Or is it finally time for the universe’s greatest duo to separate for good?

Powered by Insomniac Games’ fourth-generation PS3 technology, Ratchet & Clank: A Crack in Time will continue to bring the experience of playing your own computer generated animation movie to PS3. Expect all the laughs and witty banter of a Ratchet and Clank title, as you enjoy all-new space gameplay that gives players the opportunity to engage in space battles, explore the surrounding star system, and discover hidden items and collectables… You’ll come head-to-head with a brand-new cast of baddies, and some old favourites, and obliterate them with cool new weapons and abilities.

The game hits this autumn exclusively on PS3.

Having released the game, Sony Computer Entertainment has partnered with community site Global Gaming to throw an online multiplayer tournament for Resistance: Retribution, its portable third-person shooter.

Registration has already opened and runs until May 10. There will be two ladders – 2v2 and 4v4 – offering over $25,000 in prizes for US gamers.

The tournament itself will begin on April 8, with winners declared May 31. Prizes include LCD televisions, large-size memory sticks, Sonystyle gift cards and more.

Here’s a new trailer for inFamous, showing off some very stylish visuals and smart editing.

Developed by Sucker Punch, the open-world shocking title is due out exclusively on the PS3 later this year.

The trailer shows off the “epic scale” of the upcoming highly anticipated PS3 beat ‘em up. You can check out the very first screenshots here.

The very first screenshots for God of War 3 have been released, showing off Kratos, the enemies and some of the environments. Looks damn good!

The PS3-exclusive title does not have a release date now, though it is believed that it will burst into stores late this year. You can view the new “Epic Scale” trailer here.

Whoever said the PSP is dead? Sony today announced that it has sold a total of 50 million units since the console’s launch. This sales figure is worldwide and includes sales for all models and revisions.

The PSP was launched back in December 2004 in Japan, March 2005 in North America, May 2005 in Asia and September 2005 across Europe. It features a 4.3 inch wide-screen LCD screen, memory card support, Wi-fi and more. The console has gone through a couple of revisions that has seen it shed weight, gain a better display and the ability to make VoIP calls through Skype, among other things.

However, it has been suffering from a case of software drought since its release. Many big-name games have been released for the platform, though it is superseded by the popularity of the DS. Sony aims to correct the situation this year, promising that it has many games in store for the PSP.

A couple of screenshots from Sucker Punch’s upcoming open-world game infamous have been released. These show Cole McGraith, a bike messenger who is imbued with powers of electricity, use his powers to fight a guy made of trash.

The PS3-exclusive title is due out later this year.

FIFA, EA and SCEA – in their search for the best virtual soccer player in North America – have announced two live qualifying events of the FIFA Interactive World Cup 2009 (FIWC) in the region as well as an online competition. This will lead to a final in New York City where one gamer will win the North American championship and move on to the world tournament.

The best virtual player in the world will receive the $20,000 first place prize. There are two live regional tournaments and a national final in the region. The west regional will take place on March 7 in Santa Monica, CA, and the east regional is scheduled for March 21 in Baltimore, MD.

Entrants in each final will compete for a prize package valued at $2,000 and the chance to move to the final. Additionally, the online qualifying tournament will run from February 12 to March 5.

Taking their cue from Microsoft, Sony Computer Entertainment America has confirmed that Trophy support will be mandatory in PS3 games released after January 2009.

Similar to Xbox Live’s Achievements, the Trophy system rewards players for in-game achievements. It was introduced earlier this year in a PS3 firmware update. Some games have been patched to include Trophy support, but almost 90% of the PS3 games out there don’t support the feature.

Following user outcry over the moderation of user-made levels in LittleBigPlanet, Sony today responded by issuing a list of suggestions for creators to follow while it and developer Media Molecule improve moderation policies.

Authors are requested to make sure that the content created is suitable for all ages as everybody has access to the level once it’s published. Other people’s copyrights are also requested to be respected; authors are urged not to use images, brands or logos they are not entitled to use. Finally, users are asked to report inappropriate levels; hoax reports are highly discouraged.

The unofficial Sony blog Three Speech notes that over 84,000 levels have been uploaded to the game, from where less than 0.5% levels have required active moderation.

Sony has announced that a couple of animal suit costumes are coming to LittleBigPlanet today. This includes shark, gorilla and plant costumes, along with a special MotorStorm costume, all of which you can view to the right.

Prices vary from free for the plant costume (which was designed by a fan), 99c for the animal costumes and the “holy shit” cost of $1.99 for the MotorStorm costume.

Gamasutra reports that a keyboard peripheral for the PSP will be released within the next 12 months in North America. This comes from Sony senior marketing manager John Koller, who further added that the TV tuner for the portable won’t be making its way to the region, citing an incompatibility with the over-the-air broadcasting system in the country.

Koller also talked about the GPS peripheral, which is scheduled for release in the near future. He said that the device would let users be part of “mobile social communities”, making the portable a more social space.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Madden, Sony Computer Entertainment America and EA have announced the Madden NFL 09 PSP Entertainment Pack, a limited edition bundle that launches this August alongside the sports game. To retail for $199.99, the bundle will feature a limited edition “metallic blue” PSP with a copy of Madden NFL 09, “NFL: In Just One Play” on UMD, a PlayStation Network voucher to download Beats and a 1GB Memory Stick Pro Duo.

“Sports games are one of the most popular types of games among PSP owners, and it was only natural to make our next PSP Entertainment Pack a sports-themed bundle,” said Scott A. Steinberg, Vice President, Product Marketing, SCEA. “PSP continues to have great momentum in the marketplace. We expect that the Madden NFL 09 PSP Entertainment Pack will capitalize on this momentum and strengthen PlayStation’s presence in the sports genre.”

In a surprising move, a free track for Guitar Hero 3 will be offered for PS3 gamers on Thursday, June 5. The free track in question will be inspired by God of War, Sony’s insanely awesome action game. This was revealed through a PlayStation Underground mailing from Sony (attached in this post), with no additional details provided.

This may seem odd at first, but Neversoft and Microsoft teamed up for a similar promotion that saw them giving away a free Halo tune for the Xbox 360 edition of the game.

The February 2008 issue of Game Informer is host to the world exclusive unveiling of Resistance 2, the sequel to the best-selling PS3 launch title. Scheduled for release this Fall, the game will continue the story from the original, continuing the exploits of protagonist Nathan Hale as well as following the adventures of a separate squad.

According to the magazine, the game will now support online campaign co-op with up to 8 players, one of the original’s most requested features. Surprisingly, Insomniac Games are hoping to deliver up to 60 player support in online matches, allowing players to split into individual squads. There will be various classes in the game, including a tank-like soldier and the ubiquitous medic.

Further information and online media unveiling is expected soon.