It's always sad when someone in this industry steps down, and this is no different - as LucasArts President Jim Ward is finally hanging up his ten-year tenure at the company that brought us lightsabers and spaceships. Find out why and what's in the future for Jim Ward after the jump.

 

For those of us who find Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron for the Sony PlayStation Portable a bit too much, then here's something to level the playing field some: a cheat device for the game that lets you change your weapons and equipment, as well as tinker around with your stats. All thanks to PSP homebrew developer Durka Durka Mahn.

So, how do you change your weapons after you've applied this naughty little bit of homebrew? Simple. After installation, each weapon slot will have its own option on the menu, and all one needs to do is to press either right or left to change each option. And if you think that's convenient, Durka Durka Mahn is planning to put in a bit more functionality into the cheat device, namely more interactive options and probably a teleport feature. And as we all know, teleportation is always handy.

In any case, be sure to read the readme file included in the downloadable archive for instructions on how to install it, as well as use it. It's really much safer for your PSP if you do.

Download: SWRSHACKER
Visit: QJ.NET's PSP Development Forums

Just when you thought you were safe from the PSP fanboy from the "Dude, get your own" commercials for Sony's PlayStation Portable, he's back in an all new ad to wreak havok on those unsuspecting PSP owners. Now that he's finally gotten off the plane, he's now stalking his newest victim in this video we have about Sony's new promotional piece for PSP.

This newest ad with the PSP's well-known catch phrase is aimed to promote the recent PSP game published by LucasArts, Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron. Both the commercial and the video game features the special entertainment package which includes special collectibles and a customized PSP Slim with a Darth Vader-themed design.

As expected, the guy is still as funny and as obsessed as ever when it comes to the PSP. We don't want to give out too many details so just go ahead and watch the video below.

  

On the PlayStation Blog, Public Relations Specialist for Sony Computer Entertainment Canada Kyle Moffatt posted an article detailing the happenings in the recent Holiday Preview Event they hosted in Downtown Toronto. According to her, members of the Canadian media got to try out various games slated to be released this holiday season and early next year.

Sony-published games for the PlayStation 2, Playstation 3, and PlayStation Portable were made playable such as Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction, God of War: Chains of Olympus, and Buzz!: The Mega Quiz. Third party developers like Ubisoft, EA, Activision, D3, THQ, LucasArts, Rockstar, 2K Sports, Capcom, and Sega also participated by putting up demos for some of their games. Here are some of the more notable titles they featured:

• Haze
• Rock Band
• Need for Speed Pro Street
• Call of Duty 4
• Guitar Hero III
• Dark Sector
• WWE Raw vs Smackdown 2008
• Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron
• Manhunt 2
• NHL 2K8
• Devil May Cry 4
• The Golden Compass

This event pretty much shows that Sony has a strong line-up of PS3 games in the next few months. We can only wait and see if this further strengthens the company's position in the ongoing console wars.

 

Looking to score a new PSP Slim & Lite with the ridiculously-awesome Darth Vader silkscreen, but don't have enough greenbacks for it? Then you'd better hurry up and go over to Fry's, as the online shopping website is now offering the PSP Limited Edition Star Wars Entertainment Pack, as well as Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles, for considerably lower prices in their One Day Sale promo.

So how much does the Star Wars Entertainment Pack cost? US$ 184.99 - quite a drop from its regular US$ 199 price (but still coming bundled with its goodies, along with Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron). As for Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles, it's going for about US$ 21 a pop, which is a steal considering it lets us play a chapter in the series that's never seen the light of day outside Japan.

Certainly a very good deal for gamers on a budget, wouldn't you say? Updates as we get them, and you can check out the website itself via the read link below. Do note that this is a limited offer, so you'll have to act fast!

   

In the recent Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron Entertainment Pack event hosted at the Metreon in San Francisco, Star Wars fans were able to immerse themselves in Imperial storm troopers, limited edition PSP units, and even the presence of Darth Vader himself. This promotional event gave the already well-received Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron additional promotion for its recent release a couple of days ago.

The event celebrated on the release of the special Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron Entertainment Pack and hosted a variety of other events that were hosted by the 501st Squadron, who masqueraded as many of the famous villains in the Star Wars series. It was a bit surreal having Darth Vader host the raffle which gave out one of his lightsabers as one of the prizes. And as if it wasn't enough, the entire event was policed by Imperial stormtroopers acting as security guards instead of your usual big, burly men in tight, black t-shirts.

Asides from the lucky few who got photo opportunity pictures with Boba Fett and Darth Vader, they were also able to receive a lot of miscellaneous Star Wars memorabilia such as posters for Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron and Darth Vader pens. Perhaps the most sought after item was the Han Solo Carbonite PSP case which came bundled with the entertainment pack for the game.

Here's a rather short gameplay video for the newly-released PlayStation Portable title Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron. The clip itself was named "Killing Spree" and we get to see what user-created characters go up against the well-trained swarm of clone troopers.

This new game from developer Rebellion Developments and publisher LucasArts has a lot going for it. Aside from allowing players to come up with their own characters, Renegade Squadron also presents some of the most notable characters from the Star Wars universe such as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Han Solo, and Jedi master Kit Fisto.

Staying true to the vast universe of Star Wars, Renegade Squadron is also home to many features like 16 player infrastructure online play, customization options, different maps and online leaderboards.

With the release of Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron nigh upon us, three new gameplay videos have arrived to keep us on our seats until we have to get off them to buy the game. The game will be released on October 9, topped off by a party in San Francisco held by Sony.

The first gameplay video features a space battle. It's a familiar scenario from the movies. The second video places you on the battlefield. You get to have the general idea of how the controls will work here. The third video features a battle in the snow laden plains of the planet of Hoth.

Circuit City is allegedly selling the Star Wars Battlefront PSP pack before its street date. On the slickdeals.net forum, poster 4orced4door claims to have purchased the product already. He has also posted pictures of both the item and the receipt showing that it came from the said video game shop.

  

Some posters have reportedly found that other stores, such as Target and TRU, were doing the same thing. There has been no official statement from LucasArts or Rebellion Developments regarding this, but we'll keep you posted on any updates regarding it.

If you were to pick up one of the Limited Edition Star Wars Battlefront Entertainment Packs, you will be getting a Ceramic White PSP with a Darth Vader Silkscreen design on the back, a copy of Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron, an AC adaptor, and a battery pack. The release date of the game is still listed at October 9, so you might want to wait till then before heading over to the store to get one just to be sure.

Sony's throwing a party and everyone's invited! To mark the release of Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron, a party's going to be thrown at the Metreon in San Francisco. The party will be held next Tuesday on October 9 and will start at 6 p.m. and will be hosting contests and multiplayer matches.

Renegade Squadron will be released on the same day of course, and will be available with the white PSP with the Darth Vader silkscreen for US$ 199. The first 200 to buy the bundle will be getting a special geek bonus: a Han Solo in Carbonite PSP case. Darth Vader himself will be there so bring your light sabers.

If you don't have a light saber, here's your chance to win one: dress up in a Star Wars costume and you'll get a raffle ticket for a chance to win a Darth Vader Episode III Lightsaber. If you win one you could use it to command the bounty hunters and the infantry from the 501st Squadron who will also be making an appearance. Well, no, you can't command them but you can poke them with it while exhaling loudly.