Sony lays out downloadable PS3 slate

Sony's PlayStation Network doesn't see new games as frequently as the Xbox Live Marketplace or Nintendo's Virtual Console. But if a press event held specifically to hype the next wave of downloadable PlayStation 3 games is any indication, the electronics giant is far from neglecting its digital distribution endeavor.

One of the most anticipated PSN games, Echochrome, finally received a release window. The Escher-esque perspective-shifting puzzler is penciled in for early May on both the PS3 and PlayStation Portable.

As for less prominent projects, Sony unveiled PixelJunk Monsters Encore, an expansion pack to the original Q Games strategy puzzle game. Encore will give owners of the original game 15 new levels, visual tweaks like new weather effects, and rebalanced gameplay. The game is expected to arrive in late April.

While Elefunk was revealed in a series of screenshots released last year during the E3 Media and Business Summit, Sony gave gamers a bit more insight into 8bit Games' puzzler this week. Given a variety of gorges and an assortment of bridge-building pieces, players must help elephants get from point A to point B without falling prey to gravity and local wildlife. In addition, the game will have bonus levels that require players to perform Evel Knievel-style canyon jumps with a motorcycle-bound pachyderm, as well as multiplayer and Time Attack modes.

For more from the press event, check out GameSpot's previews of Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, Echochrome, Elefunk, PixelJunk Monsters Encore, and Wipeout HD.