Monthly Archives: April 2009

Flying Fish Works has announced that the official website for its upcoming medieval-themed FPS Hellion: Mystery of the Inquisition has gone live.

In the game, players take on the role of an inquisitor, exorcising demons and fighting heretics while encountering a number of historical figures in a 13th Century environment.

Sounds like an interesting premise, and the artwork released so far is pretty creepy.

It’s out for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2010.

John Madden has announced his retirement from broadcasting televised NFL games, but his departure will not effect the Madden NFL game franchise.

His reasoning is that he is 73 and wants to spend more time with his family.

Fair enough.

While this is not exactly gaming news, Madden has been a staple figure in videogames for years.

EA Sports rep David Tinson told Gamasutra that due to a “long term contract with John Madden” the gaming franchise is safe.

Peter Moore also weighed in on the anouncement stating:

“We’re excited to see [Madden's] legacy live on in the 21st year of Madden NFL football, and well beyond.

“It’s been a privilege for EA Sports to have had the strong relationship we’ve had with John for more than two decades and one that will continue into the future.”

Via GamePolitics, Gamasutra.

The LA Superior Court has found “no evidence of wrongdoing” in the complaint filed by Genius Products this week against Activision in relation to Scratch: The Ultimate DJ’s developer, and has refused to grant the return of assets requested.

“These allegations are nothing more than an attempt by Genius to place blame for the game’s delay, as well as to divert attention from the cash flow, liquidity and revenue challenges Genius detailed in its March 30, 2009, SEC filing,” said Activision in a statement.

“By their own admission in October 2008, the game had fallen behind in production, which was well before Activision had any involvement with Genius, Numark or California 7 Studios regarding the game.”

Genius’s original complaint demanded the return of all game assets from Acti.

More on GI.

Microsoft has changed the packaging on its Platinum Hits packaging.

A Kotaku reader took a shot of the new packaging at a Target store in New York, and, as you can see, it no longer sports miniature box art but a nice full shot.

And that’s that.

There’s a new video of Spider action game Mars on the official website.

We’ve never heard of this at all. But it looks OK. So we thought we’d flag it.

Watch a man with a sword hit things. It’s awesome. It may not be awesome really, but at least it’s pretty.

Best news story ever. There are some screens there as well. It’s out in 2010 for PC, 360 and PS3.

Thanks, Blue.

Starting today at 6.00pm EST (3.00 pm PST) members of the Home Community Team and Capcom will enter the RE5 game space to join in co-op gameplay with regular Joes like us.

Play sessions are limited to one chapter of co-op or one match of Versus until 10.00pm EST (7.00pm PST).

Here are the specifics, along with the gamer names you need to look out for:

• Capcom_Kramer
• Capcom_s-kill
• CydoniaX
• Locust_Star
• BuggieTechnica

• Home Moderators will NOT be sporting the yellow text, or MOD/HCS tags as usual, as we’ll be playing on regular PlayStation 3′s and not our special units. We WILL, however, be wearing staff jackets, so that will be the best way to spot us.

• In order to quicken the process, feel free to start your own Game Launching session.

More information can be found on the US PlayStation Blog.

NPD has compiled a list of the 20 best-selling PC games at US retailers during March 2009.

Empire: Total War knocked Wrath of the Lich King off its comfy four month-long perch. Don’t worry for Blizzard though: it still dominates the charts.

1. Empire: Total War
2. World Of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King
3. The Sims 2 Double Deluxe
4. Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War II
5. World Of Warcraft Battle Chest
6. World Of Warcraft
7. The Sims 2 Apartment Life Exp. Pack
8. Spore
9. World Of Warcraft: Burning Crusade Expansion Pack
10. Mystery Case Files: Return to Ravenhearst
11. Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3
12. StarCraft Battle Chest
13. Fallout 3
14. Civilization IV
15. Empire: Total War – Special Forces Edition
16. The Sims 2 Pets Exp. Pack
17. Warhammer Online: Age Of Reckoning
18. The Sims 2 University Exp. Pack
19. Call Of Duty: World At War
20. Diablo Battle Chest

Courtesy of Shacknews.

The latest issue of Famitsu has revealed the first set of details on Ninety-Nine Nights II.

The feelplus-developed title supports two players, apparently, and those who were annoyed with Inphvy in the latest outing will be happy to know that she won’t be returning.

N3 II will remain exclusive to Xbox 360, and is expected to arrive later in the year. It’ll be published by Q Entertainment.

Presumably it will arrive in Japan first, but we’ll keep you posted on that.

Via Siliconera.

We kind of mentioned this already yesterday, but High Voltage has confirmed a June 23 release for The Conduit.

Originally scheduled for a June 9 release, the “summer” push back is technically accurate considering tht the first day of summer is June 21.

The game was delayed so WiiSpeak could be implemented properly.

Gearbox has posted the first official screen of the new Borderlands art style. Get it in high-res here.

Whether or not the 2K shooter-RPG is a cel-shaded affair has been the subject of debate in the past week or so. It’s not, apparently, but you shouldn’t care: it looks amazing.

See for yourself.

Square Enix today announced an agreement with Wargaming.net to publish a brand new WWII IP, Order of War, this autumn.

The PC RTS puts players in command of an entire army which includes aircraft, artillery, ground troops, and tank divisions.

Single-player mode has two different campaigns based on actual operations from 1944 – America vs Germany on the Western Front, and Germany vs Russia on the Eastern Front.

The title will be the publisher’s first western-developed game released outside of Japan.

Game details are posted in the press release below, along with a video.

More »

The F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin map pack, Toy Soldiers, is now available for download for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

The pack is free, and if you are a PC user, portals like Direct2Drive, Fileplanet and Steam have it at the ready.

Details:

• FullTilt: Players battle inside a retro 1970s era pinball machine “Snake Fist” style as they use flippers, targets, spinners and pop-bumpers for cover in fast paced action. The multi-level playfield and authentic sounds set the mood for destruction.

• Cockroach: Featuring a blood drenched hospital room filled with heart pounding action, players can climb up electrical cords, laboratory equipment and pill bottles in a tightly connected environment.

• Recess: Players wage mayhem from the top of a giant sandcastle to the cockpit of a toy bulldozer.

This is the first of three DLC packs to appear this summer.

Target announced today a new reservation program beginning April 19, where for only one dollar you can pre-order games using a collectible reservation card.

Upon returning to the store within seven days of the game’s release, you will get back your collectible card along with a $5 gift card to use towards a future purchase.

“We’ve created a reservation guarantee that ensures guests will get their hands on popular games the day they are released, and a $5 GiftCard upon purchase adds even more value,” said Target VP Mark Schindele.

“We are constantly striving to make sure our guests find everything they need to work, live and play all in one convenient and simplified shopping experience.”

The program ushers in the release of Punch Out!, EA Sports Active, Ghostbusters, Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings, and UFC 2009 Undisputed.

Full press release below.

More »

EA’s announced that 75,000 beta keys have been sent out this morning for Battlefield Heroes.

The keys “are waiting in email inboxes all over the world,” according to the shooter’s Twitter.

This is in addition to the 50,000 keys sent out April 2.

Via Cinemablend.

Over on the official community pages for UFC 2009 Undisputed, it says a demo for the title will land on PS3 and Xbox 360 April 23.

No details were added on which fighters you’ll get to try.

The game’s expected to release May 19.

SingStar Trophies will not arrive today as planned, but are being delayed into next week.

It was announced yesterday that 30 Trophies were to be included in the game’s 3.01 update, which was originally scheduled for April 22.

Looks like it’s back to that date again, we reckon.

Hit the link for hope-bashing proof.

Blizzard has confirmed on the official Battle.net forums that a StarCraft II Collector’s Edition is in the works, complete with a Behind the Scenes DVD similar to ones released for World of Wacraft.

Blizzard’s RTS community manager Kevin Yu wrote that the developers are looking to the community to come up with some traditional Q&A queries on the product.

We are looking to gather some good questions aimed specifically at the developers of StarCraft II about their experience in developing the game. Fun questions are a plus. Submit your questions to this thread and there is a chance they may be selected to be added in a special video interview with the developers. Feel free to shoot out questions to all parts of the team: Production, Design, Art, Programming, QA, etc.

Please avoid specific gameplay type questions or other questions better suited for our traditional Q&A batches.

Game is expected sometime this year.

Thanks, INCGamers

After the break. The real truth lies in the shadows, apparently. And it’s written in blood.

There’s no gameplay. But still.

“Holidays” 2009, it says at the end.

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The Beatles: Rock Band Limited Edition Premium Bundle has been priced for Europe.

It’ll retail for €199.00 on the mainland, and £179.00 in the UK.

It was announced yesterday that the bundle would cost $249.99 in the States.

If you pre-order the game, you can become part of the The Beatles: Rock Band Pre-Order Club, which gives you access to behind-the-scenes content from May up to release on September 9.

Full press release after the break.
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SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALS: Fireteam Bravo 3 is headed to PSP this winter.

Created alongside the US Naval Special Warfare Command, the game will allow you to join ex-secret operatives as you lead an operation to track and interrogate former KGB agent, Alexander Gozorov.

You’ll be able to compete online, communicate via voice chat, battle for Medals and a place on the online leaderboards, and for those who aren’t into mulitplayer, there’s always the single-player mode.

Full press release below.

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