When Acclaim 1.0 premiered its Burnout series, it launched on the PlayStation 2 way back in 2001. Now, over five years later, the series shows up once more on Sony’s system. Burnout Dominator, a PS2 and PSP exclusive, is now available.  Of course, the franchise is now owned by EA (but, then again, what isn’t?), and it’s a last hurrah for the PS2 before the much-anticipated Burnout 5 hits (hopefully) later this year.

More information can be found in the full press release below:

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The king of speed and destruction is back! Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:ERTS) today announced that Burnout™ Dominator has shipped to North American retail outlets for the PlayStation® 2 computer entertainment system and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system. Burnout Dominator has been rated E10+ by the ESRB, with descriptors of Violence.

Burnout Dominator is an all-new installment of the blockbuster Burnout™ series that challenges players to face off against a series of hot-blooded rivals in tests of reckless driving. The game features an all-new “Maniac Mode,” daring players to take down other drivers and string together massive combos of the wildest driving stunts without crashing. Burnout Dominator also marks the return of Burnouts and Boost Chaining, where gamers store up supercharged boost and use it all in one go – before combo-ing into another Burnout – for truly irresponsible speed.

“Burnout Dominator celebrates the terrifying feeling of speeding down the wrong side of the road, slamming into the car next to you and teetering on the edge of control at 200 miles per hour,” said senior producer, Nick Channon. “It’s a return to the game’s essence – the fastest, most aggressive racing series out there, bar none.”

Burnout Dominator for PSP also features ad hoc multiplayer for up to six players, as well as “ScoreSync” functionality, which allows gamers to compare their best race times against their friends.

Burnout Dominator was developed by EA’s Criterion Games and UK Studio team in Guildford, UK.

The first handheld title in the legendary horror series, Silent Hill Origins uses the PSP to tell an original story with disturbing graphics and all-new gameplay elements. The game’s narrative reveals the origins that transformed Silent Hill from a sleepy town to a hellish stronghold of terror and introduces several new characters to the franchise.

Silent Hill Origins follows a solitary truck driver stranded in Silent Hill while making an ordinary trip. Confronted by perversions of his imagination that mirror his troubled past, he must escape from the town as it falls into ruin and also uncover the truth behind the hallucinations that have haunted him for so long.

The game introduces several gameplay mechanics that are new to the franchise and provide the player with an enhanced sensation of isolation as they make their way through the desolate streets of Silent Hill. Key to this is a new barricade system that lets players manipulate the environment to impede the progress of pursuing enemies, using furniture and debris to create a sanctuary from the evil that lurks outside. Players can also utilise an enhanced camera designed with the PSP in mind, as well as an updated control scheme for improved combat and more detailed exploration of the environment. Fans of the series will also revel in Silent Hill Origins’ original soundtrack by series composer Akira Yamaoka.

1up has the exclusive dirt on a Castlevania remake/port that will be making its way to the PSP (yes, you heard that right, the PSP), presumably in the coming year. For the handheld, which appears to be in a bit of a sales slump, this could be the just kick-in-the-pants it needs. Fans of the Castlevania series are notoriously die-hard, and up until now they’ve been forced to do all their portable vampire slaying on Nintendo’s DS via Dawn of Sorrow and Portrait of Ruin.

The PSP game, titled Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles is really 2.5 games in one… the main focus here is a 2.5D remake of Castelvania: Rondo of Blood, a Japan-only release until now. Included on the UMD will also be the original Rondo and the much-lauded Symphony of the Night which introduced the free-roaming Metroid-esque level progression to the series.

Right now, Konami expects to have the game out around 9/15/2007, and the title appears to be looking quite good already! We’ll be looking for more news on this bombshell, and we’ll be sure to bring you all the updated info as soon as we get it!

Square Enix has decided to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Final Fantasy series by releasing the first two adventures on PSP.

Final Fantasy I and II will be available across the US on 26th June and 24th July respectively. The titles are currently unconfirmed for Europe.

These anniversary editions will be completely remastered for the handheld. New features include updated graphics, unexplored dungeons, 16:9 presentation, updated camera views and new character art.

Final Fantasy was released in Japan 20 years ago, and began what has turned out to be an immensely popular series, today totalling more than 75 million sales worldwide.

The first game tells the story of four adventurers summoned to bring the world back to a harmonious elemental balance, seeking out an evil entity that has created a rift in the structure of time.

Final Fantasy II follows four brave fellows once more, this time battling an evil emperor who has unleashed an army of demons to take over the world.

“So much has changed within the video game industry since the first console was launched, and Final Fantasy has always pushed the envelope, creating the most advanced graphics and immersive storylines possible,” said Shinji Hashimoto, executive producer for the games. “It is amazing to see how far Final Fantasy has come in the past twenty years, and we cannot wait to continue bringing fans more Final Fantasy titles in the next 20 years.”

It’s out, folks! Dark_Alex has finally released the latest in his series of Open Edition firmware - the much-awaited 3.30 Open Edition Rev A! This is serious cause for celebration especially after days of waiting for DaX to finally give word on what’s up with his work (and what’s up with his PSP).

Sony reveals new details for BD-Live Interactivity.

2K, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, today announced that Ghost Rider, the action-packed combat and motorcycle video game featuring Marvel Comics’ iconic supernatural superhero, is now available in North America for the PlayStation2 computer entertainment system, the PSP (PlayStationPortable) system and Game Boy Advance. The title will be available in Europe as the movie releases in different regions. The Ghost Rider video game reflects the stylized action of the successful Marvel comic series and Sony Pictures’ upcoming Ghost Rider movie.

-PSP offers new gameplay including game sharing, and Wi-Fi multiplayer racing for up to four players.

Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron will hit store shelves everywhere in fall 2007, says LucasArts. In development exclusively for the PlayStation Portable system by U.K.-based Rebellion, Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron continues the immensely successful Battlefront series, which has sold more than 10 million copies worldwide since its introduction in 2004. The only original Star Wars Battlefront experience of 2007, Renegade Squadron delivers a new way for players to experience their favorite Star Wars battles any way - and anywhere - they want. The game presents new battles and missions found through a never-before-told story, as well as an unprecedented wealth of personalization and customization options. And for the first time on the PSP system, Star Wars Battlefront players can team up or compete online with friends all over the world.

Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron is the previously untold story of a ragtag ensemble of battle-hardened rogues and scoundrels assembled by Han Solo. Gathered to execute some of the most secretive operations in the Rebel Alliance’s war against the Galactic Empire, the Renegade Squadron participates in battles spanning the galaxy. From the Valley of the Sith on Korriban to a dogfight in space through the remains of Alderaan, Solo directs the team on missions of sabotage, rescue and retrieval.

In Star Wars Battlefront: Renegade Squadron, robust customization options replace the class system seen in previous Star Wars Battlefront titles, allowing for millions of possible unique combatants. With weapons, equipment and abilities that players select themselves, no two allies will likely ever look or perform exactly the same.

The game also boasts expanded multiplayer options for the PSP system. Up to 16 players will be able to compete against each other over the Internet and eight via the PSP system’s ad-hoc wireless connection.

Today, Midway released a new trailer for Hot Brain, the mind-bending, brain training game that will be available exclusively for PSP this summer.

The Hot Brain trailer features Fred Willard (Anchorman, Best in Show), as he voices the game’s highly-entertaining host character, Professor Ed Warmer. According to Warmer’s theories the hotter your brain is, the smarter you are!

In addition to the trailer, there are also new screens available showing examples from the logic, memory, math, language and concentration categories. In the next few weeks, we will be releasing more information about each of the 15 different exercises designed to raise your brain temperature.

Click here to see all new Hot Brain screenshots.

Hot Brain is a game that engages the mind through a series of puzzles and challenges designed to raise the activity and temperature of your brain. Hot Brain presents challenging and fun mental activities that help ignite your mind in areas like logic, memory, math, language and concentration. Exclusive to the PSP, the game allows you to test your skills in several single player modes or you can play with up to three people via ad-hoc connection. Whether youre an expert or a beginner, a robust tutorial mode makes the game accessible and enjoyable to people of all ages.