PlayStation Plus updates (7-23): Free Metal Slug, Thomas Was Alone DLC

We're a little light on the updates this week, but every update can't be mind-blowing right? We'll take a quick glance at PlayStation Plus stuff and then even look at some other new additions to the PlayStation Store this week.

• Metal Slug XX (PSP/Vita) - Free
• Thomas Was Alone: Benjamin's Flight (DLC) (PS3/Vita cross-buy) - $1.74

Since I'm an arcade enthusiast, I couldn't recommend anything named Metal Slug any higher. ESPECIALLY for those that haven't experienced any of the MS franchise. Can't wait for the sequel.

As a reminder, last week's deals on Carnival Island, Sorcery, and Cloudberry Kingdom are still up. While I can't truly recommend the PS Move games, CK does have potential to be pretty awesome.

Also, if you haven't yet, this is the last week to pick up Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward. Highly recommended for all Vita owners to pick this one up.

Some other discounts available for everybody is FUSE being discounted to $39.99 (pretty much retail price at this point) and FIFA Soccer 13 getting knocked down to $19.99 on PSP/Vita. That's a good deal for the Vita, assuming you haven't played the previous edition (it's the same thing). As for FUSE, if you've waited this long for a price drop, you can wait until it drops another 20 bucks really soon.

Last but not least, there's a trio of $.99 games for the PS3: Blast Factor, Calling All Cars, and Critter Crunch. I'd recommend them since they're finally priced right, except for those that despise mobile games. For the rest of us, crack open a few beers and enjoy.

Mobile games were made to play while drinking, right?

[Source: PlayStation Blog]

[Image credit: Flickr/jstyle.de]

'Thomas Was Alone' Creator: Thanks to PlayStation Plus, Players "Know Who the Hell I Am"

Since launching on PlayStation 3 and Vita, indie game Thomas Was Alone has sold the best on those platforms even when compared to its PC release last summer and on Steam later last year. That urged creator Mike Bithell to praise the PlayStation Plus.

PS+ subscribers had a 20 percent discount when the game was released along with downloadable content.

Bithell told Joystiq Thomas Was Alone, or "the rectangle game" as he self-mockingly called it, found its way into more hands through Plus than any other "platform" up to that point - the indie platformer launched on PC last summer before coming to Steam later in the year.

"And that's exciting," Bithell told us, "Because that's a whole bunch of cool players who are really into their games - that's why they have PS Plus - who know who the hell I am now."

One thing that Sony has definitely nailed is supporting indie gaming, and proves that even the little guys are able to get on the big stage along with other triple-A titles. Combine that with offering an instant discount on release along with high praise from critics, and Bithell has a great story to inspire other developers that hope to one day be writing on the PlayStation Blog like he did a few months ago.

[Source: Joystiq]
[Image credit: Flickr/Hot Grill]