Why Only Five?
Is the reason you ONLY answer four to five questions once a week in the PS3 mail section? Is it due to a lack of general interest in the PS3, hence lack of questions? Or just because your so busy keeping up with reviewing the flood of games coming out for the PS3 right now [sarcasm]? Okay, maybe not a flood but for the occasional shovel-ware that has been released so far, does it really take that long to review a year-old 360 port or a game that doesn't exactly live up to the 600-dollar Sony promise?

--Muhammad

I always answer five letters per week and, yes, it's because I'm so busy that I keep it to that length [not sarcasm]. The thing you have to remember is that my team doesn't just cover PS3 games alone; we also do the PS2 and PSP coverage as well. Generating content on that many fronts is time consuming, giving us as many as 400 games to preview, review, and pull features out per year (398 was the count in 2006). I'm sure you can see how quickly we can run out of time.

To answer your second question, you're damn right it takes awhile to review an Xbox 360 port for the PS3. With different guys reviewing the product and several months of time having passed when the PS3 version comes out, we have to play through it to see how it shaped up. There are occasional exceptions that are made (the upcoming Darkness review will be reviewed by Hilary alone, for example), but that's usually when the games come out at the same time and the reviewer has the chance to play and study them side by side. Otherwise, months of separation = new review.

--Jeremy

---

Zone of the Enders 3: Truth or Myth?
I was wondering if there is any news on another Zone of the Enders game. There was a rumor that Konami wanted to do another game, but it's all I've heard and I don't know where that even started.

--Matt

I can tell you where it started: my blog at last year's E3. But it isn't "Konami" that wants to do another ZOE, but Kojima himself (Konami won't officially comment on the matter). During our interview, Snake's creator told me that he wanted to make another Zone of the Enders but has to finish Metal Gear Solid 4 first. Obviously, he's still working on Guns of the Patriots, so it'll still be awhile before we find out what's next for Jehuty and friends.

--Jeremy

---

An Army Deployed
Hey guys! I hope all is well, but I have a question: I keep seeing the UK release date for Army of Two listed as "June 29th." Several websites show the same date, but surely this cannot be true -- as we have heard or seen very little of the game up till now. Can you confirm any of this?

--Danny

It definitely won't be on the 29th. Recently, I had a chance to see the game in action for myself at Electronic Arts EA3 media event in Santa Monica, but it's one of those things where I can't write about what I saw until a certain date (and no, I can't tell you when that is). Take my word for it, though, it's not releasing in any territory next week. In fact, the earliest you can expect to see it on store shelves on any continent is November.

--Jeremy

---

Now THAT'S Stealthy
I was wondering if you guys knew what's up with Splinter Cell: Double Agent for the PS3. I have heard it was released, but most retail websites still have it on "preorder status." I was wondering if you could get a hold of Ubisoft and find out what's going on. I'd like to buy it but can't find it anywhere.

--Caleb

It's most certainly out on PS3 and has been since March 27 (you can read our review right here. As for why you can't find it -- there are fewer copies printed of the PS3 version than the Xbox 360 version by a long shot (install base differences and all that). It's by no means rare, mind you, just harder to find than the other editions. Those pre-orders you're seeing are likely stock re-fulfillments. Don't be afraid to go hunting in person at your local stores while you wait.

--Jeremy

---

PlayStation Podcast Kickoff
I saw you post on the message boards today that a new PlayStation-oriented Podcast would be debuting next week. What's that all about and how will it be different from IGN is AFK, Game Scoop, and Wiik in Review?

--Scott

Monday is our first show, so it would be difficult for me to tell you exactly what the show is and how it works, but I can tell you that it's going to be about all three PlayStation platforms, the news, the reviews, the flashbacks, and a couple of other things. If you have any suggestions or ideas for things you'd like to see in the Podcast let me know here in the mailbag and we'll see what happens.

--Jeremy

---

Farewell For Now
It's that time of year again. Next week kicks off our two-week "Countdown to E3" that we have every time we approach a new expo. During that time frame, the PS3 channel will have a different exclusive top story every single weekday to debut the first hands-on, first look, or first media for some games you've heard of and some you haven't. It should be fun. See you next week everybody.

Jeremy Dunham
Editor in Chief, IGN PlayStation Team
(Click here to check out my blog or to setup one of your own)