The mobile, multiplayer-equipped White Knight Chronicles Episode.Portable: Dogma Wars recently received a debut Japanese trailer to go along with its release date announcement. Check out a few clips of the battle system, character customization and infrastructure mode posted below.

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You don't know flickr user Encaja en Camon, but rest assured that the account in question has some pretty awesome and simple LEGO adaptations of famous games and their characters. Above, you can check out Sonic's blocky noggin, while just past the break we've included a couple of our other favorites.

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According to a recent report from Lazard Capital Markets' Colin Sebastian, the firm's "industry checks" have revealed that Walmart has begun selling used games in over 500 of its stores. We decided to perform our own industry check, and the very first Walmart we called (in Tulsa, Oklahoma) was indeed stocking used games. The clerk we spoke to said that the store "just started carrying them." Further investigation revealed that used titles are also available on Walmart's website.

The company revealed plans to begin a used game program earlier this year, and Sebastian believes Walmart will "focus on the deep-value end of the market (e.g., games under $20 ASP)," potentially preventing "overlap" with used game juggernaut GameStop. Cheaper, older games do seem to dominate Walmart's used inventory, although we did spot Rock Band 3 for $50. Assuming Walmart maintains this focus on cheaper games, Sebastian believes the program could "ultimately expand the market for used games."

Sebastian notes that getting into the used game business isn't easy, requiring extensive inventory tracking, refurbishment and restocking. He concludes that it's unlikely for other used game distributors to be as "tightly integrated" as GameStop. We've certainly seen big names try and fail at the used game racket before ... Walmart included.

Yes, we're all still sore that Valkyria Chronicles 3 isn't bringing the series back to PS3, but the previous PSP sequel delivered a solid experience, so at least the quality isn't hurting. Check out the Japanese opener for the darker third installment after the break. Don't be fooled by the J-pop.

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Level 5's franchise about big, big metal dudes is set to get a lot, lot smaller early next year: Sony has announced that the verbosely-titled PSP RPG (deep breath) White Knight Chronicles Episode.Portable: Dogma Wars (whew!) will be released in Japan on February 3, 2011.

As hinted at when the franchise's first portable iteration was announced, Dogma wars will feature some connectivity with the PS3 title White Knight Chronicles: Awakening of Light and Darkness. Players can import their avatars from the console version of the game into Dogma Wars and unlock some bonus items in Light and Darkness by connecting the PSP game. Also, Dogma Wars will feature a four-player infrastructure mode, similar to the online multiplayer offered by Phantasy Star Portable 2. Sounds interesting -- we've got our giant, armored fingers crossed for the game's localization.

Don't have PlayStation Plus yet? This might be the one offer that seals the deal. On December 14th, members of Sony's premium PSN service will be able to download all five episodes of Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse for free. Considering the bundle usually goes for about $30, the $50 asking price for a year of PlayStation Plus seems entirely justified -- that is, if you don't already own the game.

Other highlights include the free and early access to Sackboy's Prehistoric Moves and a full game trial of Prototype. Check out all the offers after the break.

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It's the first day of December, and people across the globe are preparing themselves for holiday festivities. Why not get yourself in the spirit of the season with a few selections from today's PSN update, like Dead Nation? Oh, no, wait. That won't do. What about that demo for CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Fatal Conspiracy? Hm, that's not particularly cheerful either, is it? How about you blow up some more dudes in new in interesting ways with that Fist of the North Star: Ken's Rage DLC? This ... this is going to be a weird month.

(Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)

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Family-friendly and family-defending titles are available in this week's PSN update. The friendly comes in the form of Funky Lab Rat, an action puzzler that uses that thing called "physics," which scientist-types keep trying to tell us is a real thing -- don't believe the hype. What you should totally believe in is the zombie apocalypse, with the latest training simulation, Dead Nation, available today -- it's quite excellent when approached with a fellow, future survivor.

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Akihabara News has discovered a series of patent applications from Sony Computer Entertainment America, all dealing with touch interfaces. One (#20100299595), for example, specifies an interface that uses "two-fingered touch" gestures for data manipulation, and even specifies that the touch interface may be separate from the main display -- like the "trackpad" thing on the back of the rumored PSP2.

Other suggested layouts in that application include a hypothetical design "wherein the first and second case portions are slidably connected to each other" and one "wherein the visual display and touch pad are disposed on the same side of the case." In fact, Sony covered its bases, listing every possible combination of screen and touch interface as a possibility.

Other patents deal with specifying a "buffer" region on the touch interface between active input areas, using touch on one input to activate zoom on the screen, and highlighting information on one screen in response to a touch, in order to disambiguate. It sounds like Sony is most interested in using touchscreen input to affect a separate display, which would suggest the rear-touchpad interface from that purported PSP2.

Legendary Final Fantasy game designer Hironobu Sakaguchi has dug up some old notes from the making of Final Fantasy IX, and they're an interesting read for anyone who's a fan of the adventures of Zidane, Vivi and Steiner. There's a lot of interesting stuff in there, especially if you love the old game (lots of fight sequences were planned differently than they went in the final code). If nothing else, it's fascinating to see the game designer's mind working to plan on paper what eventually became a classic PlayStation RPG.

Sakanguchi is both cinematic with his descriptions ("like steady cam," he says at one point to describe the game's opening shot) and very interested in characters (describing Vivi as "introversive [sic], quiet, obedient, indecisive, pure in heart and kind"). He glosses over spell and game specifics, leaving things like gearing up only described as "able to collect weapons and protective gears here."

That all makes sense, of course -- he and the team wouldn't need to figure out the numbers until later. But the little script is a fascinating look at the very early stages of a classic Final Fantasy title, and just how centered on character and storytelling Square was back in those days. Sakaguchi's notes are a must-read for fans of the JRPG genre.