SCEA brings the Pain, Jeopardy

As Zen master/honky-tonk bouncer James Dalton insightfully noted in Road House, "Pain don't hurt." Sony might be taking cues from the best "cooler" in the business, given that it launched new Pain downloadable content on its customers as part of this week's PlayStation Network update.

Whereas Sony's original PlayStation 3 downloadable game Pain let players launch unfortunate people from a giant slingshot through a bustling (and breakable) downtown metropolis, the new $5.99 Amusement Park add-on offers a change of scenery, new game modes, and plenty more interactive objects to make the head-on collisions that much more entertaining. There are also three new downloadable characters to place in the slingshot, each one available for $0.99.

For those looking for less-agonizing downloadable games, Sony has also added the PS3 adaptation of Jeopardy to the PlayStation Store for $14.99. This version of the famous quiz game features multiple-choice answers and online multiplayer. PlayStation Portable owners also have a new downloadable option, given that the Sony Online Entertainment turn-based strategy game Field Commander has been added to the catalog. It also sells for $14.99.

Although this weekend's Rock Band 2 launch is limited to the Xbox 360, PS3 rhythm-game fans have an abundance of new options to keep them busy. On the Rock Band front, there are new songs from All That Remains for $0.99, as well as the free, downloadable Stephen Colbert track, "Charlene (I'm Right Behind You)." Meanwhile, Guitar Hero players will get a rare Friday update to the store with a full album download for Metallica's Death Magnetic. The $17.99 collection includes 11 songs, and will be playable in both Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock and the upcoming Guitar Hero World Tour.

Rounding out the week's additions is an assortment of videos and themes, as well as downloadable demos for FIFA 09 and Guitar Hero: Aerosmith.