Starhawk Message Board older than one year ago

What do an orchestra, heavy metal guitars, harmonicas, Chinese flutes and dobros have in common? The Starhawk soundtrack, of course!

When Lightbox Interactive’s President Dylan Jobe came to us to discuss the musical score for Starhawk, he had one of the best quotes I’ve ever heard from a game director: “The music should not simulate combat; it should remind you what you’re fighting for.”

It is rare for so many things to come together on a project, but Starhawk has proven to be a perfect storm for creating a truly inspirational score. With a great story, a visionary developer, a brilliant composer, The Skywalker Symphony Orchestra, and a fantastic collection of soloists, we knew that this score would be something really special.

Chris Lennertz’s score is bursting with character and memorable themes. Lyrical melodies soar through the orchestra, juxtaposed against feral percussion, gritty guitars, ethnic vocals and an eclectic mix of exotic wind instruments, each contributing to a score that is as memorable as it is unique.

At its core, the story is a classic western tale of two brothers torn apart by a tragic event. Chris composed a theme for the brothers, which you can listen to right here.


Chris Lennertz – A Tale of Two Brothers

We're glad to hear Bastion's Logan Cunningham picking up more narration work for games. Alternately, if this isn't him, we're shocked to hear such a spot-on impression.

From the depths of crunch-time, I emerge to share with you and all other “nodes” on the internets a wonderful tale. A tale of a game with hot multiplayer action yet, unbeknownst to most players, a fun-as-hell solo campaign as well. So peel back your eyelids and let the video below impregnate your brain! (Yes, your brain can get pregnant!)

The team has been working all hours here at LightBox Interactive to finish up Starhawk and we wanted to take a bit of time to share our new Story trailer. Most people out there really only know Starhawk for its online multiplayer, which totally kicks ass and was certainly our team’s focus. But the fact is that Starhawk has a very fun and unique solo campaign too… and NO, it’s not just an MP tutorial with bots!

Starhawk’s Build & Battle mechanics are fully supported by the universe we’ve created. The war between the Rifters and the Outcast. The conflict between Emmett and Logan. Even humanity’s rush for “blue gold” that spans the Frontier. The Starhawk solo campaign puts you right in the thick of the action and I can’t wait for you guys to get your hands on it when it drops here in North America on May 8th!

Oh, and if you haven’t yet… GO PRE-ORDER THE GAME! And if you do it at GameStop you’ll get upgraded to the Limited Edition for free!… Go…. pre-order…. game…. must…. generate… sales….. numbers…

[/endtrance] So yeah, keep tabs on www.StarhawkTheGame.com and the Blog for the latest Starhawk deets. Sorry I can’t write more — I gotta get back to work! Rock on!

For those of you still firing missiles in Twisted Metal (but didn't think of pre-ordering it ahead of time), good news! Axel was formerly only available as a pre-order bonus, but as of tomorrow, April 18, his vehicle will be available to all. You too can run around on two wheels, pushing smaller vehicles around with your special moves.

The PSBlog has also posted a video, embedded below, of the Sweet Tooth skin going to Starhawk when it launches early next month. Every (new) copy of Twisted Metal has a code for the Outcast skin, so you'll just have to punch that in when the Starhawk comes out.

#starhawk How does Starhawk for the PlayStation 3 seamlessly transition between twitchy spaceship shooter to strategic ground-based build-and-battle gameplay? Lightbox Interactive's Dylan Jobe talks us through an entire single-player mission. More »

Though legions of bloodthirsty PSN warriors have plunged into Starhawk’s multiplayer beta, the single-player campaign has remained stubbornly cloaked in shadow. Until now: At a media event in New York City this week, Lightbox Interactive finally gave a peek under that cloak, showcasing a series of frantic battles and lush cinematic sequences from the game’s story-driven campaign. As Emmett Graves, an interstellar mercenary infected by a priceless but mutagenic resource dubbed “Rift energy,” you’ll use the game’s dramatic Build and Battle combat system to call down turrets, walls, vehicles and structures from outer space. Your objective is to defend the frontier town of White Sands from marauding Outcast invaders — including your Rift-possessed outlaw brother Logan.

Starhawk’s Western-tinged story is told through lavishly illustrated cut-scenes that weave in and out of the gameplay, seamlessly connecting the action sequences and, better still, cutting between-mission load times to the bone. I sampled several minutes of the campaign and was pleased to discover a fast-paced yet strategic sandbox shooter that grants the player an unusually wide array of options. In one mission, Emmett’s partner Cutter directed me to commandeer a nearby tank in order to flush out several nearby mortar emplacements that threatened the town of White Sand. I demurred, preferring to remain on-foot and rely on my trusty laser-guided rocket launcher to peg the enemy vehicles from a distance. It was a somewhat foolish decision but I appreciated having a choice.

I wish I could detail everything I saw (hint: I saw an awful lot), but Lightbox Interactive is understandably sensitive about spoilers. Suffice it to say that the game’s campaign appears to be a meaty experience, serving up far more than a weak-kneed warm-up for the obligatory multiplayer modes. I spoke with Lightbox Interactive President Dylan Jobe to try and pry out details in advance of the game’s May 8th launch. And this is just the beginning — Jobe has even more to say in his interview on the latest PlayStation Blogcast. Read on and leave your questions in the comments!

PlayStation.Blog: Lightbox Interactive has been fairly secretive about Starhawk’s single-player campaign. What sparks Emmett Graves’ quest?
Dylan Jobe, President, Lightbox Interactive: It doesn’t start out as a quest for Emmett — it starts off as a job. Emmett is a Rift energy salvager, and he’s good at what he does. He and his partner Cutter go into the frontier, find claims that are under attack by the Outcast, and defend them.

But it just so happens that Emmett’s latest job is back on Dust, in his hometown of White Sands. And because Emmett and his brother Logan went separate ways many years ago – Logan to the Outcast, Emmett staying with humanity — Emmett takes the job in order to bring his outlaw brother to justice. The whole single-player game is about Emmett confronting his brother and protecting his hometown.

PSB: Starhawk’s Western themes seem to extend beyond the art direction – they’re much deeper than I expected.
DJ: The Western theme influenced not only the things you’d expect, like the visuals. It influenced the music composition, the structure of the narrative, the open vastness of the frontier, the expansion and building, the Gold Rush…even the intimate story between Emmett and his brother Logan. The Western themes seeped into all aspects of the game.

PSB: Starhawk’s campaign battles give the player an unusual amount of freedom. Have shooters become too cut-and-dried?
DJ: First and foremost, we want this game to be unique. The shooter genre is packed with mega-juggernaut great games, but shooters are also due for a twist. In most single-player shooters, you play a linear experience: event, event, event, set piece, event, event, event, set piece. With Starhawk, we wanted to give the player a combat challenge: Here’s what’s going to attack you, here’s when it’s going to attack you, and here are the tools you can use. Now play it however you want!

This approach is easier said than done because it introduces a lot of bugs during the design process, but it’s exciting because different players will stumble across many different strategies for success. You might love flying the Hawks and want to use them as many scenarios as possible, and that’s perfectly fine.

PSB: The co-op mode seems to push that sandbox philosophy as far as it will go. How does it work?
DJ: Co-op teams up you with up to three other players, and you’re defending a Rift claim. The system will randomize the encounters – say a wave of snipers or waves of different vehicles – and force you to adapt using the Build and Battle tools. Co-op is a fun way to play the game, but it also helps you learn how to defend your base in multiplayer, with the random encounters helping to simulate the randomness of humans you’ll fight online.

PSB: When I went hands-on with the campaign, I found myself battling enemies I never saw in the multiplayer mode – we’re talking radically different stuff here. I know you’re being tight-lipped, but what can you tell us?
DJ: In some respects, they’re similar to unit types you might find in an RTS game. You’ll encounter swarm-type characters, big brutes….they all have a different texture and impact the combat in different ways. I can’t go into a ton of detail, but I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the single-player, because you’ll find a ton of enemies and encounters you won’t find in multiplayer.

The campaign isn’t based on the multiplayer maps, either. This is a narrative-driven single-player experience, with unique maps and encounters all the way through the game. They range from small battles in the desert to huge space battles around capital ships to defending this huge space train to the epic confrontation with Logan — it’s quite diverse. A journalist I spoke with earlier watched me play two missions, and told me it was like two games worth of content. There are a lot of toys in this toolbox and you’re going to get your 60 bucks worth.

PSB: Rift energy is central to the game’s universe, it’s sort of like “blue gold.” But what is it, exactly?
DJ: There are hints about it, but we don’t want to pull a midichlorian [laughs]. You’ll learn more about the origins of Rift energy if you’re observant. But the important part is, Emmett is a ticking time bomb. He’s been infected by Rift energy and he’s wearing this regulator to buy time. His partner Cutter is trying to keep him from turning in an Outcast, but Emmett knows that some day he will turn. He’s effectively part human, part Outcast…and so he’s something of a dark hero, which is a classic component of Westerns.

Greetings PlayStation.Blog and Starhawk fans! You may have noticed how our past trailers have focused on the things that make Starhawk so much fun to play. Build to Kill was all about the fun of building a base and defending it against attack. Ride, Drive & Fly gave people a taste of what you can drive and pilot in-game. Our latest trailer is all about the fun of teamwork, it’s called “Build Your Team” and it’s exclusively on Facebook.

Just click here to give it a view. You may recognize some familiar faces. Very familiar.

For those of you who have tried Starhawk already, you know that skills can get you far, but teamwork can get you further. The game becomes something completely different when you play with your friends and start working together. That’s what our latest trailer is about. It also stars an “interesting” cast of characters.

Here are some shots from the trailer below:

FREE DLC!
As a bonus, everyone who watches the latest trailer can get a voucher for a special Starhawk Multiplayer skin that will be available at the launch of the game! (North America only, one per each Facebook account)

May 8th launch day is less than a month away, so be sure to pre-order your copy. Don’t forget you can score over $20 in bonus DLC and a Free Month of PS+ just by pre-ordering at GameStop.

To see more great things about Starhawk stay tuned right here on the PlayStation.Blog or visit us at StarhawkTheGame.com in the Community Section!

Similar to how combining peanut butter and chocolate dramatically improves both, Starhawk has discovered that combining jets and bikes, or jets and mechs, exponentially increases the level of wickedness associated with each craft.

#video When you think of third-person shooter Starhawk, you probably think of space, giant mecha, and multiplayer game play. You most likely do not think of a dude with eye paint or a dude dressed up like Golgo 13. More »

With just over a month until our May 8th release, the time to fully experience the virtual glory that is Starhawk is rapidly approaching. We figured what better way to raise the excitement level than to give you a first-hand look at some of the different vehicle options you’ll have at your disposal when this innovative third-person shooter hits stores next month. We’ve said from the very beginning that Starhawk will have a broad range of intense air, ground, and vehicular combat so I think our new Ride, Die, and Fly trailer will certainly drive that point home.

First up is the Sidewinder JetBike – basically a quick-strike hoverbike that’s very fast, perfect for crazy jumps and a lot of fun to drive. Next, the Razorback, which is similar to a buggy vehicle, a sturdy 4 that carries up to three players and comes with a mounted gun on the back, perfect for picking off Outcast scum in a hurry.

The Ox Heavy Tank is one of my favorites. The name basically says it all, right? It’s a burly vehicle that’s great for bombarding bases. It’s not the fastest vehicle in your garage, but it’s easily maneuverable and man, is it powerful! It carries up to two players. And last but certainly not least is the Hawk, which is a transforming mech that can change into a flying jet instantaneously. Well, you’ve heard me talk about these awesome vehicles, but talk is cheap. Have a look at our brand new (and I have to say epic) Ride, Die, and Fly trailer and you’ll see what I mean.

This is the moment we’ve been waiting for all season: the season finale of The Tester 3! Throughout this season, we’ve watched our three finalists conquer demanding challenges and overcome personal setbacks. In the final episode, the final three gamers go head-to-head in the most grueling challenge this season, and only one will win the opportunity of a lifetime to work as a Production Associate at Santa Monica Studio.

As in previous seasons, today’s finale is the most action-packed episode of The Tester 3. It’s a grueling multi-mission challenge that will end with the final three gamers putting their gaming skills to the ultimate test by conquering an epic campaign mission in the upcoming third-person shooter Starhawk. No panel. No judges: the best gamer wins The Tester 3. If you can’t wait to watch this epic finale in HD, check out The Tester 3 Season Finale right here! (Please DO NOT spoil the ending for others in the comments!)

Remember, you can also watch the entire episode on your PS3 through the following ways:

• What’s New section of the XMB
• PlayStation Home’s Theater 2
• Download from the PlayStation Store after today’s update.

If you need a refresher on the events leading up to the finale, make sure to check out Episode 8, which featured many past contestants reliving great moments from the season. You can check it out here.

We’d like to thank all of you for participating in our weekly Twitter contests throughout the season. Our final winner from this morning’s contest was @JnSPEC, so congrats on winning your very own PS Vita!

Next week, look right here on the PlayStation Blog for a special Q&A with this season’s winner who will talk about how it feels to be on the verge of starting their job at Santa Monica Studio.

Thanks again to all the fans of The Tester who supported the series. We’re extremely proud of this season, and we hope you’ve enjoyed watching along with us.

Enjoy the finale and please don’t post any spoilers.

#starhawk People love their splitscreen, don't they? When a deeply desired game releases without it, the moaning and bitching goes on for days. More »

Split-screen multiplayer used to be the norm, back before playing games on the Internet became so commonplace. But these days it's essentially a feature, and one the upcoming Starhawk is determined to do right. The game will make use of empty screen space to provide a bigger and more detailed radar map than Warhawk did.

Starhawk will also let two players sign in on one PS3, which means you and your friend can both get permanent credit for rewards while in the same game. Four-player splitscreen is also supported, but Sony says it wasn't used as much as expected in Warhawk, so that will be more standard.

The game is out on May 8. Meanwhile, you can browse through pictures of co-op action and a few other shots from various parts of the game below.

With its May release approaching, LightBox Interactive and Sony Entertainment confirmed that Starhawk will feature two-player, splitscreen multiplayer. While Warhawk could handle up to four players, the team decided against letting that many on the same television because "not enough people ever used four-player splitscreen in Warhawk." The splitscreen covers both co-op and head-to-head multiplayer...

Ahoy there Starhawk fans! As most Warhawk players know, there’s nothing quite like “couch gaming!” That is to say, playing video games on the same TV with a friend. Lots of games have it: Games like Dance Today, Dance Forever, Dance 2 Dance, Dance Dancy Dance, or even Dance Your Self Esteem Away. Dancing is fine and all, but there’s nothing that can quite replace the thrill of fragging the buddy sitting next to you – especially if he’s being a lame hillbilly (deep, deep love of shotguns).

In Warhawk, you could play with some friends in the same room and have a proper night of gaming: Face to face and frag to frag while sharing nachos, smack talk, and profanity. Good times! So we’re happy to let you know that Starhawk has the exact same feature! OK…not the EXACT same feature. We’ve spent some time making it better, we think.

Two-Player Split Screen:
Yes, we’ve got splitscreen play. You can play with another friend on the same PS3 on the same TV. We are very aware that some of you wanted four-player splitscreen like Warhawk. We thought about it a lot and decided not to go this route; based on our data, not enough people ever used four-player splitscreen in Warhawk so we concentrated our efforts in other areas, such as making two-player just plain better. For the people that played four-player splitscreen…we’re sorry about that. For everyone else, we think you’ll like the aspect ratio change and the bigger radar map.

Dual Log-In: Yes, two players can sign into on one PS3. You can sign in using your PSN ID on the same machine and retain the XP you earn at your friend’s house. And you can still take that hard-earned XP home with you and apply it to your character there. Although, if you’re Player Two, you can’t earn Trophies or character customizations (outfits, paint jobs, decals) as these are saved directly to the PS3. It’s not perfect, but it’s way better than Warhawk where Player Two couldn’t level up at all. You can play Co-op off-line as well, but no stats get recorded.

You can always go online by yourself and play with (and against) 31 other players if you’re not into couch gaming. Either way, Starhawk will give you plenty of choices and it’s up to you how you want to take advantage of them. So get your urban dictionary skillz on: It’s Fraggin’ Time.

Starhawk Fans! Recently, the PlayStation.Blog paid a visit to our good friends and partner LightBox Interactive in Austin, Texas during SXSW. While there, we unlocked the vault and loosened the chains on Mr. Dylan Jobe, LightBox President and CEO. That can be a very dangerous prospect as we never know what we’re going to get, it’s also fun to hear about all the details on the Starhawk front, including how the public beta affected the game’s development. The teams at LightBox and Santa Monica are working incredibly hard to make sure the Starhawk experience is everything the fans deserve. To give you some insight into that process, Dylan has some thoughts about “crunch time,” fans, and game-typy stuff. Starhawk is headed in for a landing and this is a cool look into the mind of a developer at the peak of his game. Check it out!

PS. While you’re at it, check out this blast-from-the-past Behind the Scenes vid about the team.

PPS. If you want to see trendy, big eared, creased-shirt-wearing Bulgarian Boxers … check it out — hilarity ensues!

The Starhawk beta has been updated to version 1.3, and the update comes packing lots of new goodies. First up is the Sidewinder Jetbike, a vehicle focused on speed an maneuverability. Next is the Ox Heavy Tank, a vehicle focused on being a tank. Finally, the update adds a new map, Planet Dust. Did we mention Planet Dust can accommodate 32 players? Because it can. See the update in action in the video above.

If that gets you all excited for some Starhawk, you might be interested in the limited edition trailer after the break.

Hey Starhawkers! Finally, the day has come. We’re launching our Beta Update 1.3 today! We’re really happy with this new content and we hope you like it, too. Check out this video to see what I’m talking about…

Since our Starhawk Beta launched in November, we’ve collected soooo much great info. The bugs found would never been nailed down without your efforts and we are confident we’ll be giving you one of the best online experiences on PS3 with the final version of the game. Many balance and feature changes were made as a direct result of player testing. Please accept a sincere “THANK YOU!” from our team.

We have one final big step to make before release. Update 1.3 includes a bunch of new features and fixes including:

32 Player Map: Planet Dust
If you thought 8 vs 8 was fun, things just got EPIC!

Sidewinder Jetbike
This vehicle is all about speed, speed, and more speed. As it’s a very hard target to hit, use the Sidewinder for quick hit and run attacks, fast road kills, or team up with others to SWARM the enemy base.
Did we mention it jumps, too?

Ox Heavy Tank
Say hello to our little friend. What the Ox lacks in speed, it makes up for in pure brawn and firepower. You can destroy enemy walls and structures via long range bombardments, assault mechs with explosive shells, and survive barrages while comfortable nestled in its heavily armored shell.

If you’ve been holding off joining the Beta then the time is now to jump in. The Starhawk Beta ends on March 27th in preparation for our May 8th release. Time is short, so find out what you’ve been missing — the Starhawk Beta is available for FREE on the PlayStation Network right now.

Go get it while you can!

#starhawk Attention, everyone: the signature move of Warhawk's spiritual successor has been anointed. The Property Damage—like that? I just made it up—is going to be the move that everyone tries to pull off in the sci-fi action/strategy hybrid. I've gotten a chance to play Starhawk a few times and the sensation of having the battlefield morph around you is a great one. :Lightbox Interactive could be onto something. To building! And battling! And the Property Damage! More »

Yo….PlayStation Blogoshere!

As most of you know, Starhawk is a frenetic 3rd person shooter with a ton of toys to play with. Its got a strong solo story campaign, deep 32 player head-to-head and even co-op! You can run, fly and drive almost anywhere you want. Its vehicular combat at its finest. The most popular question we get from players unfamiliar with the game is “What is this thing called Build & Battle?” Simply put its a dead simple way to build up a base all around you while staying in the middle of a fierce battle. Its not block building and its not slow. We’re not making Sim City. To show you, here is a nifty trailer!

In Starhawk we have one simple slogan…”Kill to build, build to kill.”

It’s not a gimmick. Its a really easy way for players to change the battlefield on the fly, in an instant straightforward manner. Its about dropping gigantic crates from orbit, having them smash down in front of you and having a big laser or bunker build right in front of you. You can even drop them on enemies (“Dorothy’d”).

So other than dropping massive structures from the sky….why is this fun? Because each one of these structures does something unique. Something tactical. Think of them nearly like firing a gun. They all mean something and they can all help your team. Just collect enough energy and spend it wisely. The Build & Battle system will change the battlefield every time you play. No map is ever the same. It’s not about memorizing a camping spot. Its about shaping the map the way you want, and making your enemy react to it. It’s about having options you didn’t have before, giving you deeper and smarter gameplay. Knowing how to shoot pretty well helps, too.

If you’re tired of playing the same old shooters with nothing but a skin change then you might want to give our Beta test a try. It’s free on PSN! For those of you who are already crazy about the game, pre-order
today and get some sweet DLC for no extra cost.

So how are you going to Build & Battle? Let us know below or visit us on www.starhawkthegame.com!

PS. For you Starhawk vets, Update 1.3 is right around the corner. If you think you know what this game is about, then you’re about to get your learn on.

The Starhawk public beta went live last night in North America and is available today across Europe. No more caveats or purchases required to get into the sci-fi shooter's beta. Just head on over to the PSN and download the thing.

We’re happy to announce (remind) everyone that the Starhawk Multiplayer Beta is open to ALL COMERS today, Tuesday, February 21st only on the PlayStation Network! You don’t have to “like” us on Facebook, you don’t have to “accept a special offer” and you don’t have to sign up for any service (that is, except for the PlayStation Network free service)! Everyone is welcome to join! Just check the PlayStation Store and prepare yourself for a good time!

In the coming weeks we’ll be upgrading the Beta a ton. You can expect a new map, new vehicles, new weapons, 32-player max matches and more. Remember, this is still a beta, not a demo. We are actively finding and fixing problems — and we need your feedback!

The Starhawk Beta will not last forever. When we’re done testing it will go “bye-bye”… and so I wrote a poem to illustrate my point…

The Starhawk Serenade
If you don’t try Starhawk you’ll be sad,
While your friends are having fun you’ll be mad,
It’s such an easy download,
Your head may explode!
There’s so much d&*#*! fun to be had!

You will be sad if you miss out! Don’t be sad. Live a little!

For you new players, here are a bunch of handy tips…

You can post your bug feedback by logging into the Starhawk Beta forums using your PSN ID. Also, check the fan-made Starhawk wiki for info, and check the Lightbox Beta news for regular updates.

We realize that a lot of new players will be jumping in. Here are some tips to help you along.

General Starhawk Beta Tips

• Kill to build, build to kill. Kill enemies to get more Rift Energy to build more stuff to kill more enemies.
• Shoot glowing Rift barrels to collect more Rift Energy.
• Do not repeatedly build the same structures. Things like Garages or Launch Pads allow you to create new vehicles without building a new structure.
• If you stay in the vicinity of your base area and Rift Extractor you will auto-magically collect Rift energy.
• Each structure does something specific. Discover its purpose!
• Most all the structures have a glowing yellow panel. If you go up to one, you will be prompted to either create a new vehicle or remove the building. Removing repeated buildings is a great way to ease the strain on your structure cap.
• Use mics for the best experience….and sometimes to learn a few new words. :)
• Pick your Skill wisely. You can also change them during a match during respawn. Remember that you need enough XP points and the listed prerequisite for a Skill to unlock.

Top 10 Starhawk Beta Tips from Real Beta Players! Wall Spam, What Is It Good For? Absolutely Nothing! If you place a ton of walls they will suck up structure cap space – and the enemy will fly over them anyway! Use them intelligently. Look to create choke points and use them efficiently. It’s very tempting to build them as they are relatively cheap and they scratch the “build a base” itch. Stand firm! Avoid spamming the battlefield with unwanted clutter! – From H-BOMM Take My Knife, Please! When you’re knifing an enemy try to jump and knife at the same time. You can also get higher (stand on a rock, etc). Sniper Time! If you aim the LR-3 Railgun for a long period of time the laser will show and your location will be revealed. Use it quick to avoid detection. – From Matt-Moore Chose Your Friends Wisely! Working as a team is absolutely critical to have a shot at winning. Teamwork is key. – From Outast_Graves Mic Up! Use your mic. Encourage your friends to use their mics and work together for optimal fun. — From Sharp Dagger For The Love Of God, RUN! Hold R2 to run. Do it always. Never walk. Always run. Run, run, run. – From TuckTay Enemy Mine! The mines are magnetic…you can stick them to your Hawk or Razorback. Get close enough to enemy Hawks or Razorbacks and they will “jump” onto them and explode. –From Seven11 To Build Or Not To Build. If you need a Razorback or a Mech, look around your base first. Don’t build another structure if they are there already. Run up to the yellow panel and build the vehicle. – From SmokScr Sell You Down The River. You can sell and remove most buildings by using the yellow control panel. Just run up to it, choose to “remove” and down it comes — From Ikeler Bite The Hand That Feeds. If you EVER see a player with the handles LBI (insert name here) or SONY (insert name here) kill, kill, kill…. – From RobbieK Controller Layouts

Here are the Starhawk Beta controller layouts for your viewing pleasure…

Beta Maps

For those new players out there a couple of top-down maps to help you get your bearings on the action….

Scourge

Space

Starhawk's Limited Edition isn't the "pay extra for a huge box" variety, it's the "automatic upgrade on first printing" variety, exclusive to GameStop. If you've pre-ordered it from that store already, congrats!

This exclusive version comes with extra DLC, including the "Maw of Despair Outcast Pack" (wow, free despair!) with a co-op map and multiplayer skin, the "Echo Scrapyard Rifter Pack" with a new "Homeworld," and another multiplayer skin. You'll also get a PS3 theme featuring Starhawk concept art, a soundtrack and ... oh yeah, a PSOne Classics copy of Warhawk.

If you were going to get this anyway, and especially if you were going to shop there anyway, this is a pretty great deal. If not, you still have until May to figure out whether it's worth jumping shop.

Greetings PlayStation Blogosphere! If you have been playing the Public Beta or have been tracking Starhawk online, you may have noticed that we’ve tacked on more and more reasons for you to pick up this Build & Battle epic on May 8th: a badass hero, transforming mechs, and outer space dogfights just to name a few.

Well, here’s one more reason: The Starhawk Limited Edition!

Starting today, anyone who pre-orders Starhawk at GameStop will automatically upgrade to the Limited Edition version of the game. This version comes with over $20 worth of bonus content, including two DLC packs that contain new maps and multiplayer skins, plus sweet extras like the soundtrack and a PSN download of original Warhawk from PSone. We are confident Starhawk will be one of the best PS3 experiences you’ve ever had, so we hope this gives you even more reason to join the fun day one.

We are also happy to share our official packfront art for the first time. Behold!

This art was designed not to just give player a glimpse of the brutal Starhawk universe, but to give a little insight into our main character Emmett Graves, a man who won’t back down from a fight. We hope you dig both the packfront and that the Limited Edition makes you want to pre-order your copy. Keep tracking PlayStation.Blog for more Starhawk news leading up to launch…or just jump into the Starhawk Beta! Starting today, you’ll be able to get free early access codes on both GameStop’s and PlayStation’s Facebook pages.

Starhawk Limited Edition Contents

• Maw of Despair Outcast Pack: Includes the Maw of Despair Co-op Map and Shade Warrior MP Skin
  This challenging co-op mission takes place deep beneath the planet’s surface in a particularly dangerous Rift mine. The Maw of Despair is home to the oldest Outcast tribe, the Shade Warriors. The heart of each Shade Warrior blazes with pure Rift energy, granting them extra toughness and combat ability. The firefights you’ll encounter in the Maw of Despair co-op mission will push your shooting skills to the edge!
• Echo Scrapyard Rifter Pack: Includes the Scrapyard Homeworld and Huxley Ardin MP Skin
  An exclusive player Homeworld, the Echo Scrapyard features Huxley’s mechanics shop and junkyard — known throughout the Frontier as the best place in the Frontier for Rifters to get spare parts for their Razorbacks and Sidewinders. And in the canyon basin below, Huxley’s shop is a network of roads and trails for players to hone their own Razorback 4 and Sidewinder Jetbike driving skills.
• Starhawk Concept Art PS3 Theme: Decorate your PS3 with the amazing concept art that help bring the Starhawk Universe to life. Only available through the Starhawk Limited Edition.
• Copy of the Original Warhawk (PSone): Download and play the title that started it all!
• Official Starhawk Soundtrack: Christopher Lennertz’s sweeping original score available as a PSN download.

Starhawk's beta experience is now in public beta. Despite the expected connectivity problems and glitches, explosive chaos dominates its multiplayer world. With a sack full of tricks, it's easy to lose track of both the game type and path to success when you can spawn a giant robot, pick up a jet pack, blast barrels for extra resources, and simply explore. Here are some guidelines to start down the path of kicking ass in Starhawk...

#twistedmetal These long, dark years of waiting are finally over as the latest entry in the Twisted Metal series goes gold. The vehicle combat spectacular races into our hearts on February 14, and it's bringing a love letter from multiplayer shooter Starhawk along for the ride. Pretty sweet, right? More »

Hey everyone, I’m back with some great news—Twisted Metal‘s gone gold in North America! We—the crew over at Eat Sleep Play and Sony Santa Monica—have been working so hard for the past few years and it’s tough to express just how happy we are to be one enormous step closer to putting Twisted Metal in your hands this coming Valentine’s Day. We put a lot of love into this game and can’t wait for you all to play it and let us know what you think.

But the good news doesn’t stop there. Our friends over at LightBox Interactive have been cooking up something really amazing, and I’m excited to show it to you all today—the Sweet Tooth Outcast Multiplayer skin for Starhawk, coming May 8th! Every copy of Twisted Metal will include a voucher for this awesome skin. On top of that, if you pre-order Twisted Metal you’ll get early access to Axel and a free upgrade to the Limited Edition that comes with a code to download Twisted Metal: Black.

We’ll be sharing even more news up through Twisted Metal’s February 14th launch, so be on the lookout! Until then, let us know—what about Twisted Metal are you most excited for?

Starhawk will engage in all-out war on May 8, the PlayStation Blog announced today. It also reiterated that the game's "public beta" begins today for PlayStation Plus subscribers.

Those who purchased Uncharted 3 can fly into the beta January 31 in the US and February 1 in Europe. Normal ol' PSN accounts can try it out February 21, with Europe receiving access the following day. There are also opportunities to obtain beta codes from GameStop and IGN on February 7 and 14, respectively.

Sony also reminds: "a Beta is a real world 'in the wild' test of the core game systems and gameplay. It is NOT a demo. Most of the final game features are not included."

Starhawk is one of 2012's biggest PS3 exclusives, but its exact release date has remained uncertain. Today, Sony changed that by announcing that the game will hit stores on May 8, 2012. The announcement comes via the PlayStation Blog along with a reminder that the game's public beta will begin today...