Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. (SCEA) pops the cork on its ninth anniversary of the PlayStation 2 (PS2) computer entertainment system, which has been the benchmark for innovation in home entertainment systems since its debut on October 26, 2000. At the time of its inception the PlayStation 2 system broke all preconceived notions of what a video game experience could offer, serving as an entertainment hub for the whole family with its integrated DVD/CD technology and online connectivity. Nine years later the PlayStation 2 system is still making its way into living rooms around the world and welcoming a new generation of gamers, some of whom were not even born when the system launched.

In fact, one in every three U.S. households own a PlayStation 2 system and nearly 140 million people around the world can attest to its great entertainment value, making it one of the world's most popular video game systems. The PlayStation 2 system is responsible for pushing the envelope by introducing popular franchises like God of War, Gran Turismo, Ratchet & Clank and METAL GEAR SOLID, which are continuing to make their way into the hands of new gamers – young and old. One such franchise, SOCOM, took clear advantage of online game play and connectivity via the PlayStation 2 system. As a result, the SOCOM franchise has become one of the most played of all time, with over 530 million online hours logged since the debut of SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs in 2002. This equates to an incredible 60,000 years of online play.

The PlayStation 2 system's library and fan base continues to grow every day. In the U.S, more than 500 million software units have been sold for the PlayStation 2 system and more than 485 developers have helped to develop for the platform since its launch.. This number will undoubtedly continue to grow. By the end of this fiscal year, nearly 10,000 titles in total will be available to PlayStation 2 system owners around the world, including new family-friendly and social games from our first party studios such as Jak & Daxter: The Lost Frontier, Motorstorm: Arctic Edge and Secret Agent Clank, as well as third party titles like Bakugan Battle Brawlers, EA SPORTS FIFA Soccer and WWE.

With nine years under its belt, the PlayStation 2 system shows no signs of slowing down and at $99 (MSRP), it still offers hours of fun for the whole family. The PlayStation 2 system is well on its way to delivering ten years of value to consumers and will continue to serve as a testament to the leading innovation and unbeatable entertainment the PlayStation brand provides its consumers.

Yeah, believe it or not there's a third Ice Age movie in theaters, and that means that there's yet another film-inspired videogame for you to sit down with. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs lets you play as your favorite fuzzy critters from the movie and provides you with a tale that complements the movie -- generally, you're playing the parts of the film that weren't shown in theaters.

Much of the attention EA Sports is putting on its last-generation sports franchises appears to be aimed at attracting newcomers and casual fans of the sport with control schemes that are more accessible and friendly for these players. The latest title to host this redesigned control scheme is FIFA Soccer 09, the upcoming football title from EA Canada and EA Sports. But there's much more than a redesigned control scheme to be found within this year's soccer game. We got our hands on a preview build of the game to see just how the game will play when it hits the pitch.

The new Clone Wars game from Lucasarts, a third-person action title, will be set sometime between the first and second seasons of the animated TV show, tossing you into an original story against a new villain Kul Teska. Playing as Jedi heroes like Anakin Skywalker, Obi Wan Kenobi, or Mace Windu, you'll be able to battle droids using lightsabers and powers like force pushing. We didn't get an opportunity to play, but we were told the controls are meant to be simple and accessible to allow anyone of any age range to play.

In total there'll be 8 playable Jedi, and one of the more interesting abilities was called 'droid jacking,' where a Jedi character can jump up on top of a droid and slam their lightsaber through the victim's head. By doing this the Jedi effectively gains control of the droid, allowing them to move around and cause damage while the period of control lasts. This works regardless of what type of droid you target, so it should help make the gameplay feel more varied, particularly if you decide to take advantage of the two-player drop-in, drop-out cooperative gameplay. In Jedi stages you'll also find some simplistic puzzles to be solved using a variety of powers.

If you feel like experiencing something a little different, it's also possible to play as one of 10 clone characters. These guys have a different style and abilities, focusing mostly on utilizing weaponry strewn throughout the stage. They can fire blasters, toss thermal detonators, and pick up special weapons in certain spots like a minigun to wipe out large groups of foes, or rocket launchers. Jetpacks also factor into the combat, letting you float around for a little while above the fray.

Also popping up during levels will be instant challenges, which trigger at certain points during stages. If you enter you'll compete against squadmates in scenarios like battles and races for high scores. In the demo we were given, the visuals looked bright and cartoony and the action fast. The Jedi stage was set on in an old mining facility and for the clone mission we were on a planet in the Naboo system with an acidic atmosphere. In all players can expect 30 unique missions to battle through when the game ships this September for a ton of platforms.

We only saw the console version, so no word on the DS version. According to an official release, though, that game will feature some kind of touch screen functionality. Republic Heroes is also being built for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PSP, PC, and in the United States only, the PlayStation 2.

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