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A new preview and clips for you to scope out.

It's time for Sony's big PSN series premiere. Yep, The Tester is now available to download for free on your PSP and PS3. We promised SCEA's Chris Morell not to make fun of it here, so let's move on to the good stuff.

Notably, there are three PSone classics, in addition to downloadable demos of Yakuza 3 and Sonic & SEGA All-Stars Racing. Some major DLC lands today as well, for Resident Evil 5, Assassin's Creed II, and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.

Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list:
(Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)

Meet the starring cast of Yakuza's next big franchise title on PlayStation 3.

The latest trailer for Yakuza 3 (after the break) purportedly introduces the characters in the upcoming PS3 crime drama, but unless you're already familiar with the series, it's going to be a bunch of incomprehensible Japanese names, listed by affiliation with incomprehensibly-named crime families. However, if you take it as a few minutes of badasses glowering (and taking care of children) and slapping dudes, it's pretty entertaining.

If you're in Europe, you can step into Kazuma Kiryu's shoes right now with the demo. With any luck, North America will be able to join you in those increasingly crowded shoes later today.

It looks like it's safe to say that the PSN's dry season has finally come to a close, as this week's update is positively moist with new content. Europe's finally getting its hands on Peggle and a demo for Yakuza 3, a bunch of games went on sale (such as Marvel vs. Capcom 2), new content was added to Assassin's Creed 2 and Resident Evil 5, and Otis Redding made his debut on Rock Band. All was right with the world.

Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list:
(Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)

Sega's Toshihiro Nagoshi isn't just known for his bright orange tan. He's produced a number of titles for Sega, including Shenmue and, most recently, the Yakuza franchise. Although Nagoshi is already working on Yakuza 4 for Japan, the producer talked about some of his influences for the game's first English-language dev diary.

Yakuza 3 is unabashedly Japanese, so much so that mainstream Western audiences may be unlikely to relate. Nagoshi explains in the video that as a fan of Japanese cinema, he intended on "using a Japanese style to express [human drama]" in the game. "It might feel new to the Western market, but to the Japanese market it's something we grew up on, so we're used to it."

No wonder the Yakuza franchise has earned its cult status in the West. While its use of Japanese camp may be confusing to many, that's precisely what English-speaking fans love about the franchise. Thankfully, it won't be too much longer until everyone will be able to play Yakuza 3 ... and understand what's going on.

Toshihiro Nagoshi discusses early influences on Yakuza 3.

If you're willing to commit to purchasing Yakuza 3 next month, despite the fact that your pre-order bill already includes God of War III and Final Fantasy XIII, you'll be rewarded with extra content. In North America, a pre-order comes with four DLC bonuses, including a "Battle for Survival" boss-rush mode, two tournament modes and a "Haruka's Request" set of missions. Pre-ordering from GameStop will add an additional Challenge Pack, containing alternate costumes and two-player pool, bowling, darts, and golf minigames.

In Europe, the Challenge Pack is the lone pre-order bonus, as Yakuza 3 will be released in "Premium Edition" format, which includes the other DLC mentioned above, a 31-track soundtrack and a "Yakuza Who's Who" guide to the characters -- useful for distinguishing the good gangsters from the bad gangsters!

In Japan, Sega gave away eight weeks worth of free DLC following the launch of Yakuza 3. However, it looks like Sega has something different planned for its upcoming US release. A new GameStop listing spotted by VG247 promotes an exclusive "Challenge Pack." According to the retailer, this Pack adds a variety of two player mini-games, including pool, darts, bowling and golf. In addition, there are special outfits for Haruka, Kazuma and Rikiya to wear -- all content that was originally released for free in Japan. We're hoping this GameStop exclusive DLC won't stay exclusive for too long. inFamous' Gigawatt Blades also started as a GameStop exclusive, only to appear on the PlayStation Store for free a few months later. However, for those looking for the "complete" Yakuza 3 experience as soon as possible, it seems a trip to GameStop is necessary. At least the store is offering a $5 discount on the game.

click to get even closer After announcing a March release window for Yakuza 3, Sega has now confirmed that the Japanese crime game will invade European shores on March 12. As previously announced, the game will feature the original Japanese voice cast and English subtitles. Eurogamer also points out that Yakuza 4 will see its Japanese release this March. The new sequel is based on the same engine as Yakuza 3, hence the quick development turnaround. Check out some new screens in the gallery below.

When we saw this box art for Yakuza 3 on GameFly, we sighed in relief. Thankfully, Sega has followed the time-honored legacy of making spectacularly terrible box art for the West. Amazingly, this new art manages to say even less about the game than its Japanese counterpart, neglecting to show any of the Japanese cityscape that made the game so compelling to its fanbase. More ridiculously, Kazuma Kiryu appears to have grown a goatee comprised exclusively of an ESRB rating. Of course, if you're seriously offended by the box art, you can simply import the original Japanese version. Just don't expect any of the bonus English subtitles included in Sega's upcoming release. [Via VG247]

Click to Yakuza-size Though the number of images displaying dudes brawling in the gallery below may lead you to believe that the pictures therein are of a new Street Fighter game, we assure you, they're just images from soon-to-be-localized Japanese crime drama, Yakuza 3. Don't believe us? Just check out the first image in that gallery. See that? That's a back tattoo, which members of the Yakuza are like, contractually obligated to get. This guy's back tattoo is of a snake, which means that his skin gets dry in the winter. Also, it means he likes to swallow whole, completely uncooked eggs. Weird, right?

Now with more eyepatches.

It's in English, and it looks glorious.

The third act of the Yakuza franchise will interrogate western shores in the early part of 2010.

As fans of Sega's Yakuza series (known as Ryu ga Gotoku in Japan) will quickly point out, the lengthy wait for localized versions is somewhat of a disorganized crime. With two PlayStation 3-exclusive installments already available in Japan (and a third on the way), Sega Europe's online community manager, Kevin Eva, offers an enthusiastic answer to the impatient question: "YAKUZA 3 IS COMING TO THE WEST." So enthusiastic, it seems, he's already busting some CAPS. Writing on the European PlayStation Blog, Eva confirmed that Yakuza 3 will hit the US, Europe and Australia in March 2010, and reiterated the game's adherence to its cultural origins -- not to mention Sega's budget. "As part of the lengthy localisation work Yakuza 3 will feature full English subtitling," he wrote, "whilst maintaining the rich Japanese voice actors that bring an extremely engaging atmosphere to the game - this will no doubt please the purists out there!" Plus, you wouldn't want to upset those rich Japanese voice actors by replacing them. Who knows how well they're connected?

SEGA's brawler confirmed for release in US, EU and AU.

This should provide hope to those who have been longing for a localized Yakuza 3 release. German retailer amazon.de has added a listing for the Japanese crime game, with a scheduled release of March 12th.Sega isn't commenting on the listing, but a localization has been rumored since July. While still unconfirmed, this listing adds credence to a project that seems like a no-brainer, considering the franchise's tremendous success in Japan.[Via 1UP]

If fanboys complain loudly enough, can they get a game localized for an English release? The answer appears to be: yes, at least according to an unnamed 1UP source "close to the project," who says that "Yakuza 3 is currently being localized for release in the U.S. and European markets."If true, it'll be interesting to see if people will actually buy the game. The late-to-the-party PS2 release of Yakuza 2 was largely ignored. Could Yakuza 3 meet the same fate, now that Yakuza 4 is already on its way to Japan?[Thanks, Marius!]