Kung-Fu Live will be the latest title to incorporate Playstation Eye or the upcoming Playstation Move camera technology.  These devices literally allow you to become the game character, and beat down on a variety of thugs and nogoodniks.  In addition to using your most reliable weapon (your body), you can also bring in objects like the bat seen in the game trailer.  It also appears that you will be able to tap into the more mystical side of the martial arts and unleash special elemental attacks, like a burst of lightning from your hands.

Several features have been announced on the official Playstation Blog, including five-player multiplayer and monumental arena and boss battles.  Since this is a Playstation Network title, this looks like it could be quite the bargain for the amount of entertainment it can provide to you and your brawler buddies.  Dust off those old books and get reacquainted with the arts of kung-fu so you’ll be ready when Sony and developer Virtual Air Guitar Co. release more details at Comic-Con.  The convention starts on July 22 at the San Diego Convention Center and runs through the 25^th.

The Playstation 3 underwent a large transformation (and price cut) last year, when the PS3 Slim was released for $299.  This model features a smaller shape and a 120 GB hard drive for $100 less than the original console.  Sony’s recent news is not likely to mean another price drop, but instead an increase in production as Sony attempts to move more units.

However, you can still get more for your money by taking advantage of Sony’s Playstation Plus service.  Coming right on the heels of a download to allow 3D functionality, the new service will let gamers personalize their online profiles and access exclusive features and content.  This could finally allow Sony to compete with the Xbox Live Gold service in terms of exclusive content like downloadable games and discounts.

What’s next for Sony?  After getting their new batch of retail stock onto the market, Sony is focusing on integrating features like Playstation Move, which uses motion sensors to put players in the game, as well as 3DTV functionality.  New console bundles could also be in the works.  Considering Sony’s priorities, these might include new sets featuring the Eye Camera and compatible games, or games designed to show off their 3D graphics.  This might be one of the best opportunities in a while to get on the Playstation bandwagon, and it looks like it’s finally paying off for Sony as well.

No official titles have been announced to follow up The Sly Cooper Collection, which will be updated to take advantage of HDTVs and will also feature Playstation Move mini-games and Trophies.  However, Sony President of Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida has said that “Sony is looking at different methods” for porting PS2 titles to the station.

It would make sense for single games to be available via download, rather than in hard copy, since it would be inefficient to release a single PS2 game on a Blu-Ray disc.  Sony also released a God of War collection last year which combined the first two games in the series, updating the graphics and speed to 60 fps and providing Trophy support.  However, some complained of the lack of inventiveness in the Trophies list as well as poorly remastered graphics.

Nonetheless, Sony’s attention to these classic games leaves many hopeful that similar fan-favorite series (Jak and Daxter, Ratchet and Clank, Final Fantasy) will appear on the system in some way soon.  In addition, a rumor back in May suggested that the games Ico and Shadow of the Colossus would be appearing in a Blu-Ray collection around the first quarter of 2011.  On Monday, June 28, this gained momentum with the listing of a Team ICO Collection on Amazon France, with a release date of June 2011.   This trend will likely survive or fail based on customer support, so be sure to let Sony know you support the classics.

While fans wondered what this short entailed, NetherRealm Studios announced the latest in the game series.  It was later confirmed that the video was an unofficial teaser for the rumored third film.  This synergistic shot could be just what the series needs to win over a new generation of fans.

The new game is titled simply Mortal Kombat, taking a back-to-basics approach.  In that vein, the storyline revisits the events of the first three games, picking up with thunder god Raiden right before his execution by the evil Shao Kahn.  Raiden sends a message back in time, and in doing so, he (and the player) revisit the events of MK I-III, encompassing black magic, humanoid reptiles, and cybernetic ninjas.

In terms of gameplay, the player will have the option to choose from around 26 characters, with room for more as downloadable content.  The action will be 2D, but fast enough to keep up with the best of Mortal Kombat’s fresher competitors.  Of course, secret moves and combos will abound, including a new Super Meter and a special “X-Ray Mode” attack.

Remakes have been bringing in money in Hollywood for years, and Mortal Kombat definitely still has enough fans to make this enterprise profitable on its own.  But from the looks of things, Mortal Kombat should be able to hold its own, and attract even more fans.

Now Marvel has a number of new ways for fans to create their own stories.  First up is exclusive downloadable content for Little Big Planet, the acclaimed PS3 title which allows players to construct their own doll-like characters (referred to as Sackboys and Sackgirls) and run them through puzzle-based levels, making sure not to get crushed, flamed, or thrown into the abyss along the way.  Marvel’s content will come with costumes of 20 of the most popular characters, including Captain America, Daredevil, Hulk, Iron Man, as well as the urban vigilante, the Punisher.  There will also be a four-level kit in which players can take on the X-men’s nemesis Magneto.

Marvel’s other big focus is Marvel vs. Capcom 3, the fifth in the long-running franchise to pit Marvel superheroes against Capcom video game characters.  This will be the first game in the series to feature 3D character models, although the gameplay is still in the tried-and-true two dimensions.  Marvel has stated their commitment to including references to their decades of comics in the game, in the form of dialogue and special events in certain match-ups.  Of course, the circle would not be complete without a comic book adaptation of the game, which Marvel and Capcom are currently discussing.

• BioShock: Take-Two admitted that the sequel to their original smash-hit FPS didn’t move as many copies as they expected, but was still a success for the franchise.  Speaking from experience, a too-short single-player campaign and a disappointing multiplayer feature could have hindered sales.  Still, there are big things in the water for the sci-fi series, which follows the events of a civil war in a utopian underwater city called Rapture.  A film is currently in preproduction.
• Final Fantasy: Game director Tetsuya Nomura has announced that the script for Final Fantasy Versus XIII is now complete.  The game takes place in the same universe as Final Fantasy XIII, a world a lot like ours but with a science-fiction slant.  Nomura has said that the game will incorporate third-person shooter aspects, and will even have some blood, as opposed to earlier games.  Unlike FFXIII, Versus is currently PS3-exclusive.
• Red Faction: In an interesting move, THQ will be releasing a Playstation Network/Xbox Live downloadable game in the series, hoping to drum up excitement for the launch of Red Faction: Armageddon.  No details about the downloadable title have been released, but VP of Core Games Danny Bilson has indicated that this will be a trend for other series, including Saint’s Row.  In addition, a comic book series should be on the way as well.

As a last note, Rockstar’s western Red Dead Redemption was an unexpected success.  Rockstar has already achieved amazing success with its Grand Theft Auto series.  This could be the start of another bright chapter in the developer’s career.