Sony's PlayStation Experience recently visited India to make a couple of announcements that will make PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable fans alike in the region very happy.

Unlike the PlayStation Experience in other regions that are usually composed of roving trucks carrying consoles, the one India had back in November 24 and 25 was a full-blown expo with 32 PS3 units, 14 PS2 units, 18 PSP consoles, and 50 Bravia TV units. More details after the jump!

Sony will be crashing X Games 13 as the world's most popular event for extreme sports will be sponsored by the giant company. More than 150 of the world's best will be duking it out for medals, prize money, and fame in BMX Freestyle, Moto X, skateboard and surfing.

What's a Sony sponsored event without promotions? The Xperience will host the PlayStation Experience for all sports fans to check out games that will hit the PSP, PS2, and PS3. Free demos, high-def movies, and game trailers are also up for grabs from PSN.

This year's X Games will be held in Los Angeles. During the event where stars are born and when unbelievable tricks are getting nailed non-stop, crowds go crazy and the heat goes up to an entirely new level. The best way to take a break is by heading over Sony's space to find games you'll want to take home.

More evidence that consoles aren't just about overweight couch potatoes. Sony is announcing their presence for this year's upcoming Dew Action Sports Tour (aka AST Dew), via the PlayStation Experience, which is expected to be one of the tour's highlights. The PlayStation Experience will give visitors a chance to see some of the latest wares Sony has to offer for the PS3, PS2, and PSP.

Another event that's expected to make it big in the AST Dew tour is the PlayStation Trick of the Week. Here, fans select their favorite stunt/trick from the skateboard, BMX, and FMX sports categories via recorded footage, after which they're invited to vote online. This event kicks in at noon on the Monday following after each tour, and will last for an entire week. Each of the four Trick of the Week winning athletes will receive US$ 5,000. Winners for the Tour's of Trick of the Year will be awarded US$ 10,000 in cash, plus PlayStation-related loot.

Now, in case the guys here are wondering where AST Dew Tour 2007 is expected to take place, here's the list - new locations for this year include Baltimore, Cleveland, and Salt Lake City:  

• June 21 to 24: Panasonic Open (Baltimore, MD)
• July 19 to 22: Right Guard Open (Cleveland, OH)
• August 16 to 19: Vans Invitational (Portland, OR)
• September 20 to 23: Toyota Challenge (Salt Lake City, UT)
• October 18 to 21: PlayStation Pro (Orlando, FL)
  

As always, we advise the readership to keep posted in case this event gets updates.

 

This is why a lot of people so love Sony's marketing department: PlayStation Experience is once again deploying PlayStation trucks to numerous locations across North America. Inside these big-wheeled babies are competitions, prizes, and the chance to experience first-hand playing next-gen games in the newest high-definition TVs.

If your idea of enjoying PS3 games is cooping up in your own room, just forget that and check out the PlayStation Trucks should they pass by in your neighborhood. The PlayStation Patrol now has a whopping 25 gaming stations (per truck), with 12 of them for the PlayStation 3s and 40-inch big screens. Surely, these happy trucks will beat your own room when it comes to gaming bliss.

PS2's Singstar is also now included in the fray, where rock star wannabes can belt out their tunes at their own risk (of having their neighbors jump on them for causing too much racket). PlayStation Portable (PSP) owners can also enjoy free game, music, movies, and game demo downloads.

The PlayStation LockerRoom Challenge touring vehicle will also roam around with the same gaming goodness, as well as a "thunderous sound system", which would be very ideal for playing SingStar. But like we said, play at your own risk.

Do you remember those PlayStation Experience Trucks happily roaming your quiet peaceful towns every now and then? Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) is happy to announce that these custom built, double expandable 53-foot trailers have received the Best Vehicle Design during the Ex Awards sponsored by Event Marketer Magazine.

Ex Awards, for those not in the know, honors the very best promotional campaigns in the whole world. Sony's competitors in the said division included Proctor & Gamble and General Motors. SCEA Senior VP of Marketing Peter Dille had this to say:

Winning the 2007 Ex Award for our PlayStation Experience truck is a great honor and testament to the design and strategy behind this revolutionary marketing vehicle Traveling around the country to various events and concerts, PlayStation Experience is a true ambassador of the PlayStation brand.

In case these happy trucks didn't pass by your location for whatever reason, we're telling you that you really missed a lot. Just so you know, here are a few of the PS Experience Truck's more remarkable features:

• A PlayStation 3 (PS3) gaming area featuring a 52-inch LCD screen and plush leather chairs
• The PS3 Lounge which features seating for six gamers across three different gaming stations
• Two individual PS3 gaming kiosks each featuring their own 40-inch LCD TV
• Ten individual PS3 stand-alone gaming stations
• Two PSP (PlayStation Portable) Zones featuring nine different gaming stations, plus a PSP Spot Download Station
• Four PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system stations

One thing we love about Sony-sponsored events is the freebies. Now, aside from the free demo disks that they were offering during the LockerRoom Challenge Tour, Sony is again doling out free shirts for your consumption - just in case them darned lycans go on their shirt-ripping frenzy again.

For the guys who missed out on the previous promo, this could be your second chance to grab another limited edition PSP shirt. All you need to do is visit the PlayStation Locker Room Challenge Tour, PlayStation Experience or PlayStation Patrol Tour trucks, and show them your PSP - make sure to flash Dark_AleX's 3.03 OE-C for effect.

The offer is good until this February 27, which should give you enough time to hunt down the next truck stop from Feb 2 to 4 at Wal-Mart, 5200 So. Fort Apache Road, Las Vegas (Sw2), NV 89148. As for our note on flashing them your custom firmware? We were kidding...

Haven't heard of the the PlayStation Experience Truck? Well just in case you missed our previous report, here's a refresher. The Truck should offer over 25 total gaming stations, including 12 devoted to PS3s. Sony claims that the gaming stations should feature the hottest new games and pre-release demos. The SIXAXIS controller should be available at the gaming station, and if you're too cool for the demos they've got you can just drop by and check out the high definition Sony TVs on each gaming station.

The PS2 gaming stations in the truck should have 40" big screens for you to enjoy. And if you're one of those who got into the whole PSP Spot for free downloads thing, the Tour Truck should offer that too. As if the whole tour-truck-theme didn't have enough 80's rock star aura to it already, believe it or not, you can actually play Singstar Rocks for the PS2 on one of the game stations they've got.

So what's new in this report? Well, the next areas the truck will visit of course! Here are the dates and places. Enjoy the tour if you're near.

The PlayStation Patrol Schedule

Nov 10-12
Phoenix, AZ, Circuit City, 10140W. McDowell Rd., Avondale, AZ 85323
Nov 16
Los Angeles, CA, Best Buy, 1015 N. La Brea Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90046
Nov 17-19
Los Angeles, CA, Best Buy, 13301 W. Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064

Now let's veer away from all the bad vibes stuff we've been hearing about Sony. For a change, let's talk about something light and fun. Say,like a concert.

That's right. As part of Sony's marketing strategy for the PlayStation 3, they will be showcasing the next-gen console in New Orleans this weekend over at the Voodoo Music experience rock show. With performances from hot bands like The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Duran Duran, The Wu-Tang Clan and the Kings of Leon, the two-day concert is bound to be one cool affair.

Along with the concert is the launch of the new PlayStation Experience truck where people can have a go at the latest PS2, PS3, and PSP titles. Actually, the concert heralds the start of the truck's national tour.

Apart from the fun, hip part, there will also be a donation ceremony where Sony will be presenting charitable support to the Warren Easton Charter Foundation. The donation will benefit the Warren Easton High School in New Orleans. This is significant as may of the schools in the area have been really devastated because of Hurricane Katrina of 2005.

Talk about making the right kind of noise, huh?

This year, PlayStation fanatics get a treat they will never forget: Taking an ultimate PlayStation Experience in PlayStation Trucks loaded with 26 kiosks where they get close with the hottest software, hardware, and peripherals from PlayStation. Also inside the PlayStation Experience truck are big screens plus competitions and contests where winners take home sweet PlayStation prizes.

With the PlayStation trucks, fans can experience PSP with eye-popping graphics, a dazzling widescreen LCD, games, music, and movies located at the PSP Bar or get their body groovin' in the EyeToy Zone where body movements control the game. The Gran Turismo 4 Pit Stop will let you burn rubber in the simulated race streaming in a breathtaking 32-inch LCD screen. If you're feeling a need to show off your competitive streak, there's the Competition Stage, where big contest run all day long, with events showing on a 61-inch plasma screen.

Check out the schedule of The PlayStation Experience in the PlayStation site so you could plan a whole day of fun and ultimate gaming adventure. Here are some irresistible images of what to expect:

So you're walking down the street, PSP in hand, when you're suddenly attacked by rabid werewolves who tear your top to shreds and disappear just as quickly.

What do you do?

If you're one of the lucky people who live somewhere near an upcoming PlayStation Experience or PlayStation Locker Room Challenge Tour event, you could just show them your PSP.

Sony is giving away brand-spanking-new T-shirts to lucky participants of their promo tours. All you have to do is show them your PSP and pray they still have stock, and you've just replaced your tattered rags with a PlayStation Portable shirt. The promo runs from now up to October 29, so you may just find yourself in-luck.

Here are the schedules if you're interested, though they're subject to change. Check the source for updates and schedule changes as they occur:

The PlayStation® Experience Schedule

Date	Event	City, State	Venue
Aug 3-6	ESPN Summer X-Games	Los Angeles, CA	Staples Center/Home Depot Center
Aug 17-20	Vans Invitational: Dew Action Sports Tour	Portland, OR	Rose Quarter
Aug 25-27	IRL Grand Prix of Sonoma	Sonoma, CA	Infineon Raceway

PlayStation Locker Room Challenge Tour Schedule

Date	Market	Retailer	Address	Time
Aug 4-6	Hartford, CT	Wal-Mart	155 Parkway North, Waterford, CT 06385
Aug 11-13	Manchester, NH	Wal-Mart	300 Keller Street, Manchester, NH 03103	Friday, 2pm – 8pm
Aug 18-20	Queensbury, NY	Wal-Mart	591 Route 9, Queensbury, NY 12804	Sunday, 11am – 7pm
Aug 25-27	Buffalo, NY	Wal-Mart	4255 McKinley Pkwy, Hamburg, NY 14075	Sunday, 11am – 7pm
Sep 1-3	Cleveland, OH	Wal-Mart	8303 West Ridgewood Drive, Parma, Ohio 44129