Batman: Arkham Asylum Message Board older than one year ago

Exclusive content pays off for Sony.

Hey Japan. Remember all those games you made for, oh, decades that we couldn't wait to get our hands on in the West? Well, we thought for once we'd give something back. We know you like Batman. And Batman: Arkham Asylum is really wonderful. So of course you've wanted it. Ever since it came out here in August.So, Eidos is going ahead bringing you the game on January 14, 2010. Unfortunately, it's up in the air whether you'll get the cool extras we did, like a replica Batarang and really big packaging. Seems you will be getting the DLC though, according to Andriasang. So yeah, please enjoy this gift from us to you. We'll be watching the sales numbers closely.(P.S. If you want, you can return the favor by sending over the Final Fantasy XIII edition PS3.)

In a lengthy post-mortem with Gamasutra this week, Rocksteady Studios creative director Sefton Hill spoke his mind on a mess of topics regarding this summer's surprise hit, Batman: Arkham Asylum. "There are too many games out there that deliver lots of average content," Hill said when asked about the relative "tightness" of Batman in comparison with other games. Personal inspiration for the game's design came from places like Zelda and Metroid, two game series he's been a fan of "for years," as well as Silicon Knights' Eternal Darkness. And though Arkham's audio logs and "environment as a character" motif hearken back to 2007's BioShock, Hill claimed he's never played it. "It's on my list of games to get back into ... I can't say for me that was a big direct influence."Truth be told, we're just scratching the surface of Gamasutra's thorough dissection of Batman -- a game we loved with all of our jaded, rancorous hearts -- so do yourself a favor and stroll through the entire five pages. Call it an afternoon treat! You deserve it, dearest Joystiq reader.

Well, whaddya know? It's not just an Unreal license, painstaking design and dynamic gameplay that make for a Game of the Year candidate. It also takes three cans of whipped cream, 14 nationalities, 44,674 polygons (in one plant!), 314 breakable TVs, and six babies. That's right. If you're looking to crack Rocksteady Studio's formula for success, GameInformer has squeezed out a few of Batman: Arkham Asylum's most intimate secrets.No, we're not talking solutions to Riddler's challenges or tips for combating fear toxin (hint: just breathe), but rather insight into key development ingredients; like what sports team had the most support from the staff? (Answer: Arsenal Football Club.) And did you know? The game's combat morphed from a rhythm-action game to a 2D prototype that "involved colored circles bashing into each other" before it was revised into its final design.To think: We were this close to another horrendous Batman game ...

The highlight in this week's PSN Update is that The Bats is back with more free DLC. Also, for Fallout 3 owners not planning to trade up to the "game of the year edition," the single most important piece of DLC for the game, Broken Steel, is now available from the PSN store for $10. For those who don't know, Broken Steel takes away "the ending" of the game and allows the (anti-)hero of the Capital Wasteland to continue their journey with an increased level cap. Check out the full update after the break -- and, sadly, no Trine. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)

Late summer blockbuster Batman: Arkham Asylum receives another dose of free DLC with the "Prey in the Darkness" map pack tomorrow on Xbox 360 and PS3. The "Heart of Darkness" map will have Bats battling baddies at the Arkham Pumping Station, while "Hothouse Prey" has the detective using his predator skills to silently dispose of henchmen in the conservatory (i.e., the Abandoned Glasshouse). Remember to check out the free "Insane Night" map pack if you somehow missed it last week ... oh yeah, and don't forget to check out the game if you've somehow missed out on that, too. Update 2: It appears that Europe will receive the DLC on both consoles, while North America will only have it on PS3. There is no word about when the pack will arrive on the North American Xbox Marketplace. Yeah ... we don't understand it either. Update: Seems worth mentioning that the UK allegedly (and accidentally) has this up on the Xbox Marketplace already.

Late summer blockbuster Batman: Arkham Asylum receives another dose of free DLC with the "Prey in the Darkness" map pack tomorrow on Xbox 360 and PS3. The "Heart of Darkness" map will have Bats battling baddies at the Arkham Pumping Station, while "Hothouse Prey" has the detective using his predator skills to silently dispose of henchmen in the conservatory (i.e., the Abandoned Glasshouse). Remember to pick up the free "Insane Night" map pack if you somehow missed it last night ... oh yeah, and don't forget to check out the game if you've somehow missed out on that, too.

If the Dark Knight can't stop the Joker in Arkham, Tokyo could be next.

Take down your enemies with expert precision and stealth.

Chain together attacks to beat the crazy out of these convicts!

See how nVidia's physics engine made the glorious visuals of Arkham Asylum possible.

Game Director Sefton Hill offers details on the production process of the Dark Knight's latest appearance.

Batman is ready to soar back onto the consoles in Arkham Asylum.