It's that time of the week once again where we update you on the latest deals and steals invading the PlayStation Network Store, and this one's for those of us in North America. Fire up those next-gen Sony PlayStation 3 machines, as the guys over at the PlayStation Store has unleashed not just one, but two demos for you to download and get acquainted with - for the easily-affordable price of absolutely nothing.

Yep, these latest downloadable demos - namely Folklore and Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights(PS3, PS2, PSP, Xbox 360, PC, DS) - are going for free. In the Folklore demo, you'll be able to play as either Ellen or Keats in the Fairy Realm, where you'll also get an eyeful of the game's comic-like cutscenes (not to mention the high-end visuals). The same goes with the Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights demo, except with a lot more racing and a lot less fairies. And more models. Do note, though, that the Folklore and Juiced 2 demos are 1.26 GB and 968 MB in size respectively, so make sure you have space.

And there's also the deal of Calling All Cars going for only US$ 4.99 until the 25th of October, so if you haven't downloaded it already, the time to do so is now.

The other free stuff you'll be able to get a hold of for this week's PSN US Store update are as follows:

Game videos:

• Uncharted: Drake's Fortune Tech Dive Video
  
• Burnout Paradise Steel Wheels Trailer
  
• Turok Dino Luring Trailer
  
• Devil May Cry 4 TGS Short Trailer
  

PS3 Wallpapers:

• Eye of Judgement Wallpapers (2)
  

 

If you're a hardcore street racing fan and you prefer the chaos over the finesse of the craft, you might want to check out the upcoming release from Juice Games called Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights. It's all the raucous fun of blazing through city asphalt with an insanely deep customization mechanism.

This week we've got six new screens of Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights. Like its predecessor, this game features some pretty solid visuals that highlight the style of your customizable works of automotive art. Everything from the body, the rims, the tires, and right down to the interior is looking realistic and that's what racing fans love to see.

With a variety of drivers and a plethora of vehicles as a starting point, you'll immediately get a feel of how immersive the gameplay will be. There are some 10,000 parts to be juggled around come September 18 when this speedster launches, so make sure you check it out. Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights is set for the Sony PlayStation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PSP, PC, and Nintendo DS.

   
 

Buy: [Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights (PS3)]

Buy: [Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights (Xbox 360)]

Buy: [Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights (DS)]

Buy: [Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights (PSP)]

Drifting has become very important in racing video game titles. There's no denying that players like it very much because of the following: it's fun, it's a skill, and it's for showmanship. The same things were in Juice Games and THQ's minds when they've implemented the trick on Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights.

"We strived to make sure that the player, no matter how skilled they are, came away from the event with a positive experience. Our goal was to make the player 'feel' like they were a great driver, that they'd really enjoyed the game and that they wanted more," wrote one Juice Games developer over at IGN Blogs.

The said developer further explained that players can try five different drift modes in Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights:

• Solo Drift: A target score is set and you are given a set number of laps in which to rack-up the necessary points. If you reach the target before the end of the last lap the event is won.
• Drift King: This time the race is against a group of drivers and the clock. When the countdown reaches zero the driver with the highest score wins!
• Twin Drift: It's a two leg race with each driver taking the lead position. The ultimate winner is the driver with the most points over the two legs. The twist lies with driver who has to follow the leader.
• Drift Endurance: You've got as many laps as you need to get a high score. Simple until you learn that once you begin a drift then you have to sustain it. You'll need to keep your speed up and make sure you chain around all of the corners.
• Drift Obliterator: Races take place over a set number of laps and a target drift score is set for each lap. The rest of the race is simplicity itself, make sure you've reached the target score every time you pass the start line.

Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights will be available on platforms PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable, and PlayStation 2. The video clip below further explains the above mentioned drift modes.

See the video clip after the jump!

PS-Gamer reports that PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable owners will have to wait a bit longer until they get their hands on Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights (DS, PS3, PSP, Xbox 360).

According to THQ's latest release schedule, Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights' release date for the aforementioned platforms has been moved to October. The multiplatform racing game's September release date for the Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 is apparently still a go, though.

Stuntman: Ignition's PS3 release also seems to be in jeopardy. The game's PS3 version has been left off of the release schedule entirely, with the PS2 and Xbox 360 versions are still slated for an August 31 release. More on this as details surface so keep checking back here for updates.

German video game news site Gamefront has posted a list of upcoming releases from THQ. The list includes release dates for a variety of platforms including all three next gen video game consoles as well as the two leading handheld gaming systems.

• June 29 - G1 Jockey (Wii)
• July 20 - Ratatouille (Wii, PS2, GBA, Xbox 360, PSP, NDS)
• July 2007 - Mein erstes Katzenbaby! (NDS)
• August 2007 - Stuntman: Ignition (PS3, PS2, Xbox 360)
• September 2007 - Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights (PS3, PS2, Xbox 360, PSP)
• Q3 2007 - MotoGP '07 (Xbox 360)
• Q3 2007 - Worms: Open Warfare 2 (NDS, PSP)
• Q4 2007 - Frontlines: Fuel of War (PS3, Xbox 360)
• Q4 2007 - WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2008 (Xbox 360, PS2, NDS, PSP, Wii, PS3)

Please note that this release list is mainly for Germany, but it could also give those living in other PAL territories some insight on when these titles will be released in their area.

Just how much do you love those shiny cars with great decals? If you can't get enough of them, Juice Games and THQ's Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights will surely fire up your engines.

Today we've got a new video for the racing title showcasing its cars, customization features, the race modes, girls, and generally the culture of Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights. We see the real life Hot Import Nights event with the steroid shot cars drifting around the track. The title looks fine, but how will it shape up to the big boys of the racing genre? We'll see that in the finish line.

Anyway, this multiplatform video game (PC, PSP, PlayStation3, Xbox 360, and DS) will smash onto the shelves in September this year. In the meantime, check out the video.

 

Game publishing giant THQ follows suit after the flurry of financial reports from several other publishers and gaming companies have announced their financial performance standings for the fiscal year (FY) 2006-2007. According to a fearless press release by THQ, they have achieved record net sales and net income for FY 2007, ending March 31, 2007.

For twelve years on end, the "creative hub" publishing giant has kept up a steady revenue growth with a record total of US$ 1.027 billion, up 27% from the US$ 806.6 million recorded in FY 2006. Thanks to titles such as Supreme Commander, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl and WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2007, THQ's net income reached US$ 68 million, doubling last year's profits of US$ 32.1 million.

"During a challenging hardware transition, THQ significantly outperformed the market in our major territories," said THQ's president and CEO Brian Farrell. According to him, the company's success for FY 2007 was greatly attributed to multi-million unit sellers Cars and WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2007, including the launching of new IP Saints Row. Farrell concluded the announcement, (unashamedly and fearlessly) coupled with the company's relevant financial statements, with:

The industry is entering an exciting growth period as the new hardware reaches critical mass. In fiscal 2008, we plan to release an increasing number of titles for the growing base of new hardware, including owned original properties Frontlines: Fuel of War, Juiced: Hot Import Nights and Stuntman: Ignition.

With three 30-million unit licensed franchises and a growing portfolio of internally developed original franchises, we are well positioned to expand our leadership position in the video game industry.

For those who missed the first couple of articles, Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights (HIN) is a multi-platform racing game about to set the tracks ablaze. It's modeled after Hot Import Nights, a street auto show that tours the US.

For Hot Import Nights junkies, the event is a mix of models, music, and of course, cars. It has a culture of its own and is the largest lifestyle custom car show in the US. For the game, Juice Games made sure that the event was captured as a whole and translated into an immersive game. Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights will feature track and drift/powerslide racing, next gen AI, and more customization than you could possibly ask for. There are 90 digitally scanned cars plus more that 250 aftermarket mods and numerous character features to mix and match.

The featured tracks are not closed to US locations but real-world locations around the globe. It also showcases a feature called "Driver DNA", which records players' driving styles or traits. The player DNA profiles will join the ranks of some celebrity DNA and will be available for download - for online gaming systems. Speaking of which, Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights will allow players to customize their own car, handpick a crew and race. For cash or for your car. Yup, gambling is a part of HIN hence the integration in the game. You can do it as a spectator but if you really want to play a risk taker, pink slip (when drivers bet their cars) bets can also be made. You can wager on live races with up to 1000 other players.

There have been no announcements regarding Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights' release. We'll keep you posted, though.  Meanwhile, you can check out these screenshots and a lone high res art screen.

More screenshots after the jump!

Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PSP, DS) from THQ is definitely looking to impress, and THQ has released a whole lot of screenshots to show for it.

Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights sure looks a lot like Need for Speed, or perhaps prettier. This new racing title is built around Hot Import Nights (HIN) - an auto show/event. As we check out these screens, we come to think about all the wonderful customization available. And look at the detail of the different environments and cars.

We'll keep our eyes peeled for more info regarding Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights. For the meantime, check out these cool screenshots.

The rest of the screens right after the jump!