It took almost two months, but Sony finally sent me an Uncharted 2 package potentially worth a few thousand dollars.

No, no...it's not what you think -- this wasn't some attempted journalist payoff. In fact, I'm not even sure Sony's publicists know this was coming to me specifically.

I'll explain more below, as well as give you an update on the game's upcoming free downloadable content and bonus cash weekend.

Back in early October, my underdog team of literal losers randomly picked from a crowd ended up coming from behind to win a tournament. Our prizes? Extremely rare Uncharted 2: Fortune Hunter Editions that you can't buy anywhere -- unless you count the ones going on eBay for $1,000 to $3,000.

We had to send notarized affidavits to get the prize-fulfillment center to send these to us, because they contain a serious phurba dagger replica from the game. I finally got the full package yesterday, and it's absolutely huge. At least one person from my previous post about the tournament wanted to see pictures (hi Tom H.), so here you go.

Here is the main box, made to look like a weathered journal.
Compare its size to the strategy guide, which they also sent along.

The inside cover, signed by such famous Naughty Dog developers as "Mfft," "Klshh," and "Rmhmmmy."

The huge art book, bound right into the box. Think of it as
Absolute Uncharted (like the comic books) but way bigger.

The inside contents: The phurba dagger, soundtrack, game, and a sheet with a download code for a content pack containing boosters, gold weapons, skins, single-player treasure map, and PS3 theme. The strategy guide came in the same mailing but wasn't technically part of the Fortune Hunter edition.

The phurba dagger up close. It's about 14.5" long and fairly hefty. This is not some cheap piece of plastic -- you can honestly kill someone with it! (But I can't, since I signed that damn affidavit.) My girlfriend is overprotective of this thing, so she wants to leave all the protective foam on it.

Sadie the cat, however, did not sign an affidavit....

In actual news, Sony will release a free update to Uncharted 2 this Friday, Nov. 27 (at 10 am PST).

It includes a new multiplayer map called "The Fort," which is based on the Fortress stage from the campaign. (Hint: Look for a shotgun in the center of the map and an RPG in in a side room in the crypt.) The update will also add a ton of new leaderboard categories and will replace the ad banner with a player card that shows your stats, level, money, and so on.

Also at that time through 11 am PST, Monday, Nov. 30, all online players will receive double in-game cash from kills, wins, and medals -- and special donut Drake and donut Lazarevic skins will be available in competitive online modes (which is great, cause you know what they say about donuts...).

The Fort: