PSN down tomorrow, updates tonight

PlayStation 3 owners be warned: The PlayStation Network won't be entirely itself tomorrow. Today, Sony sent along a reminder indicating that scheduled maintenance for the service will take place between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Pacific time tomorrow. During the downtime, PS3 owners will be unable to access the PlayStation Store, PlayStation Home, or Account Management options. Users may also be unable to sign into the PSN.

On the plus side, because the network maintenance is set to conflict with tomorrow's regularly scheduled PlayStation Store update, Sony has opted to release this week's updates later tonight. The publisher expects to announce just when gamers can get their hands on this week's content through its official Twitter feed.

As for what gamers can expect this week, the headline release for many will be Hothead Games' DeathSpank: Thongs of Virtue. Like the first installment in Hothead's humor-based action role-playing game, Thongs of Virtue was overseen by adventure game icon Ron Gilbert before he departed the company in April.

The game hopes to improve upon the well-regarded original by introducing a greater variety of quests, more bosses, a new cooperative play character, and a wealth of new environments. It will be available for $15.

Elsewhere on PSN, gamers will be able to pick up the anime-inspired side-scrolling adventure game Blade Kitten for $15. In it, gamers assume the role of Kit Ballard, a feline bounty hunter on the planetoid of Hollow Wish. As Ballard, players will fend off another bounty hunter as they track down a local crime lord, while at the same time uncovering Hollow Wish's mysterious secret.

On the PSP, gamers will be able to pick up 101-in-1 Megamix for $15. As could be surmised by its title, 101-in-1 Megamix is a minigame compilation that combines 101 bite-sized experiences into one package. The games delve into genres ranging from shooter to puzzler to cooking to space racing. It also includes multiplayer support for about a dozen of the minigames.

A full list of the week's deals and new PlayStation Store content, including themes, wallpapers, demos, discounts, and add-on content, will be available later tonight on the PlayStation Blog.