Monthly Archives: January 2009

Kotaku‘s got hold of what it says is some leaked footage of Free Radical’s Star Wars Battlefront 3.

The footage was apparently taken from an internal alpha meeting with Free Radical back in November.

Free Radical Design was put up for sale last year and subsequently cut its workforce from 140 to 40 in a bid to keep its head above water.

Footage after the break.

By Mike Bowden

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Tiga has said that due to the pound’s sharp decrease in value over the last 12 months, overseas investors are getting between 21 to 56 percent more for their money year-on-year.

For the last decade British companies have had to rely on the UK industry’s well-deserved reputation for quality. Now we can compete hard on price as well as quality,” said Richard Wilson, CEO of Tiga.

Tiga isn’t alone in its estimations as Servan Keondjian of Qube Software chorused: “I don’t think there’s any doubt that the UK has more than its share of the best games and middleware talent in the world.”

“But since the turn of the millennium the strong pound has made some international buyers think twice about the UK. Now we’re starting to see a radical shift. International clients are back because they see not just great quality but also good value.”

More over at GI.

BioWare upcoming RPG Dragon Age: Origins is to get a prequel novel entitled Dragon Age: The Stolen Throne, written by BioWare senior writer, David Gaider.

The book launches Stateside from March 13 and will cost just under $15.

Dragon Age: Origins will be released on PC and console later this year.

Thanks, Joystiq.

EA has announced that it will publish multiple titles from Read Eagle based on The Wheel of Time novels by fantasy writer Robert Jordan.

“The Wheel of Time is a blockbuster global brand and our relationship with EA Partners will ensure that Red Eagle Games’ products are made available to consumers around the world through familiar retail channels,” said Rick Selvage, Chairman of Red Eagle Games.

Red Eagle will make games for PC and consoles, with an MMO also mooted.

“The Wheel of Time series has a massive worldwide following and we’re excited to help give Red Eagle Games’ interactive products a blockbuster launch on the global stage,” offered David DeMartini, senior VP of EA Partners.

By Mike Bowden

Sumthing Else Music Works and Microsoft games studios have lifted the lid on the Halo Wars soundtrack which is scheduled for release Feb. 17, 2009.

It will come on two discs, be over 50 minutes long and features performances by FILMharmonic Orchestra and Choir Prague.

“For Halo Wars I wanted to write music that fit both the size of the story and its sense of discovery,” said Stephen Rippy, Ensemble Studios music & sound director and composer for Halo Wars.

“Each of the various worlds in the game feels a little different; each of the main characters brings something to the mix. More than anything else, it was important that these tracks fit comfortably into the existing Halo universe. I hope they’ll take the listener to some new places as well.”

Halo Wars is an exclusive Xbox 360 RTS and is released on Feb. 27 with a demo on the 5th

Full details plus track listing after the break.

By Mike Bowden

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This rather excellent concept art (below) is the work of ex-Quantic Dream employee Morgan Yon.

The images contain some sketches as well as fully rendered images for the game.

See them all after the break.

Heavy Rain is released exclusively on PS3 later this year.

Thanks, Superannuation.

By Mike Bowden

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Bethseda has unleashed three new screenshots of it’s forthcoming Fallout 3 DLC, Operation Anchorage.

The PC and 360 exclusive content will be available on January 27 for 800 Microsoft Points.

Before installing the Operation: Anchorage you have to have patched your copy of the game. (Details through the above link).

New screenshots below.

By Mike Bowden

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2K has just released a Mafia II fact sheet detailing the game’s plot and a couple of new screenshots from the highly anticipated open world, noir, action sequel.

From the release:

Born the son of a poor immigrant, Vito is a beaten down Italian American who is trying to secure his piece of the American Dream. Looking to escape the life of poverty that consumed his childhood, Vito is soon swayed by the lure of power and wealth that a life of Organized Crime can bring.

A petty criminal his whole life, Vito, along with his childhood friend, Joe, will descend into the world of Organized Crime. Together, they will work to prove themselves to the Mob as they try to make their names on the streets of a cold and unforgiving city.

New screenshots below.

Hurry up and release it 2K.

By Mike Bowden

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The BBFC has given Sega’s controversial Wii title Mad World an 18 rating. The ratings board cleared the game with no cuts to its content.

Last year, Sega said it was “working with the ratings board” on Mad World, claiming that the gore in the game is “fantasy violence. It’s over the top. It’s cartoony.”

The Daily Mail has branded the game the most violent videogame ever, although no-one agreed with the paper back then and it seems even more people don’t agree it now.

Mad World releases exclusively for Nintendo Wii on March 31.

Nice one, Sega.

Thanks, GI.

By Mike Bowden

In and interview with CVG, Uncharted: Among Thieves game director, Bruce Straley, said that it is Nathan Drake’s human qualities as a videogame character that sets him apart from the rest of the pack.

“We worked hard to make Nathan Drake feel like a real person, and as grounded a hero as we’ve yet seen in video games, ” said Straley. “He’s not your typical video game hero, destroying 50 foot aliens in his armored space suit.”

“He’s a real dude existing somewhere on this planet right now, dealing with the people he’s surrounded himself by, and the situations he finds himself in.”

You can find all our Uncharted: Among Thieves coverage here.

Full interview through the link.

By Mike Bowden

EG.pt has released some new brand new gameplay footage of Guerilla Game’s Killzone 2.

We’ve said pretty much all we have to say about how good we think Sony’s shooter looks and plays, and this video only supports that fact.

Go watch.

By Mike Bowden

Nintendo has announced the Nintendo Wii has sold 8.3 million units in in 2008 making it the largest annual home console seller in European history.

That figure is a massive 58 percent increase over 2007 figures and it takes total Wii console sales up to 14.2 million.

Nintendo DS also broke European records by selling over 11.2 million units in 2008. This is the largest annual sales figure for any games console in European history.

The DS has now sold 31 million units in Europe.

“The sales trend on both Wii and Nintendo DS, hardware and software during 2008 shows that more and more people in Europe are enjoying video games as part of their daily lives,” said Nintendo of Europe MD, Marketing and PR Laurent Fischer.

“This proves that Nintendo’s wish to expand the gaming population has strong potential in Europe.”

By Mike Bowden

Creat Studios and TikGames’ Magic Ball will be available to download from the US PSN for $9.99, writes the PSBlog.

Magic Ball is s a unique twist on the ball-breaker type of game and promises fast action, great humour and “giggle-inducing fun.”

Gameplay video after the break.

Last week, Creat and TikGames announced puzzler Cuboid exclusively for PSN.

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Lionhead boss Peter Molyneux has nominated Sony’s LittleBigPlanet as the most important creative innovation of 2008 for this year’s Creative and Business International Network review of the creative economy.

“LittleBigPlanet has outstanding creative vision. It’s from a British start-up studio and is one of the defining titles on Japan’s Sony PS3,” said Molyneux.

“C&binet is a forum for business and creative leaders to come together, and includes Microsoft’s J Allard, Channel 4′s Andy Duncan and Spencer Hyman of Last.fm among its ambassadors,” writes GI.

Sony recently announced that Media Molecule’s platformer sold over 200,000 copies in the UK.

A new Resident Evil 5 trailer with real life actors interspersed with gameplay has gone live on the official site.

You see Chris and a girl flirting with one another by a pool before Redfield loses it and has flashbacks which consist of gameplay revealing all kinds of weird shit before uttering: “Survival is sometimes worse than death”

All looks very good indeed.

360 demo goes live on January 26. No confirmation as yet if PS3 will get the taster too.

Update: See it on EG.tv too.

By Mike Bowden

The Major has announced that Guitar Hero: World Tour owners can download the Travis Barker Track Pack today for 440 MS Points or 160 Points per song.

Drummer Barker is best known for his work with US neu-Punk group, Blink 182.

Hit the link for all the details.

By Mike Bowden

CVG has learned that Fantasy award winning author Graham Joyce is writing id Software’s Doom 4.

When the site contacted Joyce, all he would say was “I can say that ID have hired me to help develop the storyline potential.”

CVG is insistent that Joyce is the main author, however.

id Software announced Doom 4 in May last year for PC, 360 and PS3.

More through the link.

By Mike Bowden

Dublin-based devs Jolt Online Gaming are set to bring back Zork in a new browser MMO.

“As a complete Zork geek, I’m very proud to be releasing this title,” said Jolt boss Dylan Collins.

“Anyone who plays MMOs will definitely like to spend some time with Legends of Zork while they’re taking a break or browsing around the web. It’s very addictive.”

Zork was one of the first text adventures and an early descendant of Colossal Cave Adventure. The first version of Zork was written in 1977–1979.

Thanks, EG.

By Mike Bowden

Rumours were rife last night that Crimecraft developer Vogster was set to can a 360 version of the company’s GTA-style, free-to-play MMO.

However, a Vogster rep got in touch with various media outlets this morning to clarify the situation:

“To be clear a console or 360 version has not been ‘canned’,” said the rep.

“The 360 SKU was toyed with in early development but the team has been focusing on the PC SKU and has always planned on it being PC only at initial launch, with the potential for additional platforms down the road. Xbox 360 included.”

Thanks, Joystiq.

Update: Vogster has also released a new trailer for the game which you can see after the break.

By Mike Bowden

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Capcom has issued a bunch of screenshots for its motorbike racer, MotoGP for Nintendo Wii.

Considering the limit in hardware compared it its bigger, but less popular brothers, we reckon Capcom is doing a very fine job indeed.

MotoGP 08 Wii is out March. Other console versions’ dates still TBC.

Full gallery below.

By Mike Bowden

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