1UP has a Resistance 2 preview up, rounding up all the information known about Insomniac's PS3 shooter sequel so far.

The first media of Insomniac Games' Resistance 2 (PS3) has at long last appeared, providing the gaming public with its first look at the now-armored Chimera and their multi-legged war machines of doom.

The sequel to Insomniac's first person shooter of a PlayStation 3 launch title, Resistance 2 arrives this fall with two campaigns--one single-player mode, the other allowing 8-player online co-op--and 60-person online multiplayer in tow.

While no official announcement has been made, a recent PlayStation Underground e-mail (pictured left) from Sony confirms the oft-rumored PlayStation 2 port of High Impact Games' Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters (PSP).

According to the e-mail, the port will hit stores in March, about a year after the title debuted on PSP. Size Matters marked the first Ratchet & Clank title to be developed outside of Insomniac Games, which created the franchise.

It also marked the first title for High Impact Games, the staff of which includes several ex-Insomniac employees as well as veterans from Jak & Daxter developer Naughty Dog. The studio is currently working on another portable Ratchet & Clank title, Secret Agent Clank (PSP).

PSP to PS2 ports have been all the rage these days, and rumors of marquee PSP releases making the leap to the PS2 are frequently tossed around. Fortunately for Ratchet and Clank fans, this one turned out to be true. Expect an official announcement from SCEA in the near future.

Insomniac Games' next project is a sequel to its PS3 launch FPS Resistance: Fall of Man, the studio has revealed in the latest issue of gaming publication Game Informer.

Slated to arrive on the PS3 this fall, Resistance 2 will follow the continuing exploits of protagonist Nathan Hale and his struggles against the alien-esque Chimera. Along with the main adventure, up to 8 players can engage in a separate campaign via online co-op, one of the original's most requested features.

Insomniac also promises up to 60 players per match in the game's online competitive multiplayer, which will allow players to split into individual squads, each with their own unique objective, along with multiple character classes. The first Resistance supported a maximum of 40 players per match.

The projected fall release continues Insomniac's tradition of annual Q4 titles, which it has recently maintained with Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (PS3) in November 2007, Resistance: Fall of Man (PS3) in November 2006, and Ratchet: Deadlocked (PS2) in October 2005.

Sony Computer Entertainment America has just launched the PSP version of the online PlayStation Store, allowing PSP owners to download everything from full-fledged PSP games to demos and themes.

PC users can access the online marketplace store.playstation.com. Those with an account for the PS3's online store can use their existing login, and downloaded content is transferred to an attached PSP via the PlayStation Network Downloader program available on the site.

Initial offerings include downloadable versions of SCE Studio Liverpool's already-released Wipeout Pure and Gangs of London, at $14.99 and $19.99 respectively, as well as the $9.99 PlayStation Store-exclusive Syphon Filter: Combat Ops multiplayer game and free demos of Slant Six's SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Tactical Strike and Sony Bend's Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow.

SingleTrac's Twisted Metal 2 and Insomniac's Spyro the Dragon, both of... Read more

VideoGamer.com has a Q&A with Insomniac CCO Brian Hastings posted. Hastings is asked about his company and its recent titles including Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction and working with the PlayStation 3.

Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, the first PlayStation 3 title from Crash Bandicoot and Jak & Daxter creator Naughty Dog, has shipped to stores a few days in advance of its official November 19 release.

Shacknews can confirm that GameStop stores in North America are receiving the treasure-hunting game and selling it today.

Rumors of an early release for the treasure-hunting game began circulating late last week. At the time, Sony informed Shacknews that the game was not to receive an early release a la Insomniac's Ratchet & Clank: Tools of Destruction (PS3).

Be sure to check back with Shacknews in a few days for our take on the final game, but feel free to scope out our past interview and hands-on impressions in the mean time.

The remainder of this year's PlayStation Store offerings include a number of exclusive downloadable games and new content for PlayStation 3-only titles, SCEA has announced. Sadly, SCE Studio Liverpool's Wipeout HD was not among the listed titles, suggesting it has slipped from its expected 2007 release.

By the end of 2007, the PS3's online store will feature another map pack for Insomniac's Resistance: Fall of Man, an expansion for thatgamecompany's flOw, two sets of downloadable goodies for Game Republic's Folklore, as well as two more download packs for Evolution Studios' MotorStorm.

As far as downloadable games go, the next month and 20-something days will bring with them Idol Minds' injury-laden Pain, Q Games' Tower Defense-esque PixelJunk Monsters, the Hot Wheels-reminiscent Toy Home, Snakeball, and ... Read more

A new patch for Insomniac's PlayStation 3 shooter Resistance: Fall of Man is now available, SCEA line producer Greg Phillips announced today on the official PlayStation Blog.

Like the upcoming Warhawk update, the Resistance patch includes rumble support in preparation of Sony's upcoming vibration-enabled DualShock3 controller, retailing in North America this spring. The patch will also allow players to take screenshots with a USB keyboard.

Several gameplay tweaks and bug fixes have also been added. The patch is the sixth game-enhancing update to arrive since the title's debut during the PlayStation 3 launch last year.

In a fairly weak offering of downloadable content, this week's PlayStation Store update brings Insomniac's legacy PSone title Spyro the Dragon as a $5.99 download. The 341MB single player game originally retailed in 1998 and was the second title from Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction developer Insomniac.

Though no game demos accompany Spyro's release, Sony's EyeCreate software for use with the newly available PlayStation Eye will be available for download soon. The 9.06MB software is bundled with the standalone $39.99 PlayStation Eye, but must be downloaded by Eye of Judgment buyers if they wish to make use of the Eye's creation tools.

On a related note, an update to Evolution Studios' Motorstorm is available today for European gamers, according to a community coordinator post on the game's forums. The update to version 3.0 adds future DualShock3 rumble functionality, Sixaxis sensitivity settings, and other gameplay tweaks, and will likely be available in other territories soon.

A minor bug in North American copies of Insomniac's Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, which shipped to some stores today and comes packed with the rumble-enabling 1.94 firmware update, may prevent players from starting the title, depending on the contents of their PlayStation 3's hard drive.

Much like Insomniac's previous PS3 effort, Resistance: Fall of Man, Ratchet & Clank mandates a brief setup procedure that copies some files onto the console's HDD. However, an unexpected glitch within the game causes it to read the hard drive as full and refuse to install under certain conditions.

"We recently discovered a bug on the US version of Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction that some of you may encounter the first time you boot the game," Insomniac community manager James Stevenson told Shacknews. "With specific amounts of free space on your drive, you may see a screen that tells you have insufficient space to create game data even though there is plenty of free space on your drive."

Fortunately, the workaround is a relatively simple one. "When this occurs, either delete or add about 500MB of data to your hard drive and the problem will go away," wrote Stevenson. While this may seem a lofty chore to some, the abundance of downloads in the online PlayStation Store means that relief is, at best, a matter of deleting an old demo or two, and at worst, the task of downloading of a few additional files.

The newest PlayStation 3 system software update to version 1.94 adds firmware-level support for the upcoming rumble-enabled DualShock3 controller. Though the update is not yet available for download, it's bundled with Insomniac's Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, the first retail game with built-in support for the DualShock3.

By pressing the middle PS button on a PS3 controller, the DualShock3's rumble can be toggled on or off from the Controller Setting menu in-game. Listed as the "vibration function," rumble will obviously only be felt with DualShock3 controllers and not the rumble-less Sixaxis.

Sony plans to release the DualShock3 in Japan this November, with the peripheral coming to the U.S. and Europe this spring. Until then, check out the Shack's list of game's that will feature or be updated to feature DualShock3 rumble support.

Speaking of Ratchet & Clank Future, prospective owners should be sure to check out the minor and easily resolved bug that prevents some from installing the game.

Though it was recently delayed until October 30, Sony has announced that the PlayStation 3 debut of Insomniac's fuzzy robot duo will ship early to some outlets next Tuesday, October 23, the game's original release date.

Word that Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction will arrive sooner than expected comes shortly after several retailers updated their listings with the new date. A demo of the vibrant platformer is currently available for download from the online PlayStation Store.

For more on Ratchet & Clank Future and the studio behind it, dig into our hands-on impressions and interviews with Insomniac community manager James Stevenson and marketing director Ryan Schnieder.

This week's PlayStation store update brings the already announced shoot-em-up Everyday Shooter from Queasy Games for $9.99, in addition to three demos, including one for Insomniac's anticipated Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction. All downloads should be available before the end of the day.

As promised by Insomniac, the demo for its second current-gen outing on PS3 with Ratchet and Clank Future has been confirmed to arrive today, though the title's retail date was recently pushed to October 30.

A demo for Nihilistic's action-adventure title Conan (PS3, X360) will hit the PlayStation Network as well, in addition to a demo for Kush Games' hockey sim NHL 2K8 (PS2, PS3, Xbox, X360).

Partially confirming persistent rumors originating this week, Microsoft has announced that Bungie Studios, once the independent developer of the Marathon and Myth franchises and currently a wholly-owned Halo-developing first-party Microsoft subsidiary, will make moves towards corporate independence. The company was founded as a heavily Mac-oriented developer in 1991 and acquired by Microsoft in 2000.

Both parties are said to be "focused on the continued success of the 'Halo' franchise." Microsoft stated it will retain both a minority equity interest in the studio as well as its control of the Halo franchise and its publishing rights to further Bungie products. Unlike when the company was acquired and moved from its Chicago home to Kirkland, Washington, this shift will not result in another change of location.

Though Microsoft will continue publishing Bungie's titles, the studio will retain ownership of any new intellectual properties it creates. Both IP ownership and the ability to develop non-Halo titles were rumored to be major factors behind the split.

The situation is reminiscent of Sony Computer Entertainment's relationship with Ratchet & Clank developer Insomniac Games. Though the studio is ... Read more

Insomniac Games' Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (PS3) will hover into stores October 30, a week later than the October 23 date announced earlier this year. Though only a brief delay, this marks the first time a title from the Resistance: Fall of Man (PS3) and Spyro the Dragon series creator has slipped past its initial date.

That said, as the colorful platformer went gold and entered the manufacturing process today, the company is quite confident in the new date.

Coinciding with the above news, SCEA line producer Greg Phillips also utilized the official PlayStation blog to confirm that a downloadable demo of Ratchet and Clank's latest outing--an optimized version of the E3 level--will appear in North America's online PlayStation Store by October 11.

Those unwilling to wait two weeks can visit the all-encompassing game retailer GameStop, which is currently offering a slightly less optimized version of the same demo in exchange for a pre-order of the title.

To learn more about the game and its weapons, such as the deadly slinky assault, check out our latest hands-on impressions.

Following last night's announcement of the PlayStation 3's rumbling DualShock 3 controller--which arrives in Japan this fall, then North America and Europe next spring--SCEA has issued a lengthy list of all current and upcoming titles that will support vibration functionality in North America and Europe.

Particularly noteworthy games on the list include Kojima Productions' Metal Gear Solid 4, id Software's Rage, Epic Game's Unreal Tournament 3, Insomniac Games' Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, Sony Liverpool's WipEout Wipeout HD, Capcom's Resident Evil 5, Monolith's Condemned 2: Bloodshot, and Ubisoft Montreal's Assassin's Creed.

Already-released titles such as Evolution Studios' MotorStorm, Insomniac Games' Resistance: Fall of Man, Housemarque's Super Stardust HD, Ninja Theory's Heavenly Sword, and Incognito's Warhawk will be updated with rumble support through online patches. Those that will receive rumble functionality in this manner are marked with an asterisk (*) on the following list:... Read more

Insomniac Games' lovable duo are returning once again to the PSP in Secret Agent Clank.

Unlike the tag team's previous outings, series frontman Lombax Ratchet takes a backseat to his metal companion after the galaxy's furriest hero finds himself wrongly imprisoned. Donning a stylish tuxedo, Clank embarks on a quest to clear Ratchet's name the only way he knows how: karate chops and kung-fu kicks.

Despite the intrinsic differences between Ratchet's gargantuan wrench and Clank's diminutive fists, Clank's attacks appear to have the same effect and feel as those ingrained in player's heads across past Ratchet and Clank adventures. Of course, the imaginative weapons and gadgets also return, including one that summons a legion of enemy-devouring plants from the ground.

During some of the more intensive action sequences, the game makes use of interactive cutscenes and timed button presses, such as ... Read more

The Future & Beyond: Insomniac's Ryan Schneider talks Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction on GameZone asks the Insomniac marketing director about the franchise's first PlayStation 3 installment.

Sony Online Entertainment's High Stakes on the Vegas Strip: Poker Edition arrives in the PlayStation 3's North American online PlayStation Store this Thursday, September 13. Featuring five different types of poker--Texas Hold'em, Super Hold'em, Billabong, Tahoe, and Shanghai--along with six-person multiplayer, the game will sell for $9.99.

Then on October 4, the long-awaited demo of Insomniac Games' Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction lands in Europe's PlayStation Store, or so says IGN UK. Shacknews has contacted SCEA and Insomniac regarding the timeframe of the demo's debut in North America, where the full game springs into stores October 23.