As awesome as the caped crusader can be, the real star of the show is usually his clown prince of prime nemesis, the Joker. So while Batman: Arkham Asylum is set for release on the Xbox 360, PC, and PlayStation 3, a new exclusive Eidos announced today for Sony's system could impact a number of players' platform choices.

　　When Arkham Asylum hits shelves in June, PS3 users will be able to download an exclusive playable Joker from the PlayStation Network. While the single-player story mode remains a Batman-only affair, the purple-suited maniac will be available for use in challenge maps from the game.

　　Cowritten by Paul Dini, producer of TV's Batman: The Animated Series, the game begins when the Joker breaks out of jail and escapes to Arkham. There, he orchestrates a plan to kill Batman and wreak havoc on Gotham City with the help of unnamed accomplices. Batman: Arkham Asylum is being developed by Rocksteady Studios, the outfit behind Urban Chaos: Riot Response for the PlayStation 2 and original Xbox.

　　For more on the game, check out GameSpot's recent interview with Dini.