The series, which is to be released in three parts, will bridge the gap between the conclusion of the original game starring Alex Mercer, and the upcoming sequel, Prototype 2, starring James Heller.

The first entry, “The Anchor,” illustrated by Paco Díaz, continues the story of Mercer, while the second story, “The Survivors,” illustrated by Chris Staggs, follows a group of New York residents trying to escape the city and the Blacklight virus. The third and final story, illustrated by Victor Drujiniu, is “The Labyrinth”, which provides a deeper look into the backstory of Heller.

Each entry will be released on a weekly basis starting February 15.

Prototype 2 release on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 April 24.

Plot details and game features of Prototype 2 were discussed by Radical in a recent interview.

As is probably obvious, this video contains spoilers for the original Prototype title.

Prototype 2 launches for PS3 and 360 next April.

Thanks, One of Swords.

The contest is open to US and Canadian players, 18 and older, and once you pre-order, go online and enter a random drawing to win a trip for two to Radical Entertainment in Vancouver, Canada and become a character in the upcoming open-world actioner.

“Thanks to this great partnership with Activision and GameStop, we have an incredible opportunity to offer gamers something truly unique,” said Ken Rosman, studio head at Radical Entertainment. “In addition to just seeing themselves in the game, the winners will actually be able to locate their virtual selves and shape-shift Sgt. James Heller into their likeness.

“Radical wouldn’t be where it is today without our fans, and this is just another way for us to thank them for all their support.”

Full rules and regulations for the US are here, and Canadians should click here.

Prototype 2 is slated for a spring 2012 release on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.

In Prototype 2, the team decided that since players had already spend so much time in the first game building Alex and his powers up, there just wasn’t anywhere else you could take him. He had just become to powerful. In order to still include him in the sequel, they brainstormed and decided to make him the enemy instead.

“We decided to make him the enemy, but a really interesting enemy,” said senior designer John Howard. “And then create a new protagonist so that right up front you have two interesting characters.”

In the game, you will play as James Heller, a family man who has lost his family to the virus. Alex Mercer, who was responsible for unleashing this virus, infects James Heller, which causes a destructive chain of events, but also a vengeance plot cooked up by Heller; thus, the Murder Your Maker tagline.

“You end up hating him so much with this immense fire within you, but at the same time you are terrified, wondering if you have what it takes it beat this guy,” said Matt Armstrong, the game’s design director.

Radical basically compares the story to David vs Goliath vs Darth Vader, which makes your goal in the game “very clear – you are out there to murder your maker.”

Prototype 2 is slated for release sometime in 2012 on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.

According to Unseen 64, Perfect Dark Core was in development by Chris Seavor’s Conker team, as most of the Perfect Dark team had moved on to other projects.

The project kicked off with a tougher, more flirty revamp of series protagonist Joanna Dark, subsequently replacing her with an unnamed male.

Later on, the game morphed into a mech-action FPS, before being canned without ever getting out of the prototype stage. All we have left are the videos embedded below, and a gallery of concept art available through the link above.

The N64′s critically and commercially successful Perfect Dark was followed by a Game Boy Colour spin off and the coolly received Xbox launch prequel, Perfect Dark Zero. The original has since been remade and released for Xbox Live Arcade.

Thanks, Joystiq.

PDCP by u64backup

MPDC by u64backup

Radical has sent over a Happy St. Paddy’s Day image of the protagonist from it’s upcoming action game.

He looks a bit angry for a fella donning the green.

Prototype 2 is out sometime next year.

Sony’s CES 2011 press conference was light on new product reveals, but the Japanese giant did take the lid off an astonishing prototype: a personal 3D display headset.

Executive deputy president Hiroshi Yoshioka introduced the device, worn like a visor over the eyes, with closed-style earphones attached.

The headset contains two displays, one for each eye, avoiding mixed signals. No specifications were revealed, but the headset was described as having top notch visuals and “powerful” sound.

While not labelling the device as a gaming-specific display, Yoshioka, a self-described “big gamer”, enthused on the device, citing the experience of playing Gran Turismo 5 in a private 3D realm.

“Nobody – not even my wife – interrupt(ed) me, so I could get the highest score,” he explained.

Sony gave no word on possible future availability or price, and the device was said to be “in the labs”.

This is not the first 3D headset the gaming world has ever seen; Nintendo’s 1995 Virtual Boy offered a similar (if primitive) experience using parallax effects.

Photo via Engadget.

Open-world superhero romp Prototype is now available on 360′s Games on Demand, and will be releasing on PSN tomorrow.

Radical’s title will cost you £19.99/$29.99 on 360 and $29.99 on PSN in US.

The UK price for PSN is yet to be confirmed.

Prototype 2 was announced last night at Spike’s VGA 2010 awards.

A third VGA zombie-related teaser has shown up, and it’s looking more like the Activision teaser Murder Your Maker, a sequel to the 2009 open-world superhero game Prototype.

“We’re here to help” reads the image, along with: “Don’t ever leave the green zone!”, and “3 of 3.”

The picture also shows a solider holding a little one’s hand.

The first image released had the internet thinking it was Left 4 Dead related. Image 2 had it thinking it was a Resident Evil game.

Come December 11, we’ll know for certain once the VGAs go live.

Thanks, Eurogamer.

Singularity’s out on June 29, and to get you even more excited for the time-traveling shooter, for a limited time you can get Prototype free as a purchase incentive.

It’s for the Xbox 3360 version, and you have to show proof of purchase by taking advantage of Activision’s mail-in offer.

No word yet on how long the deal lasts, but this isn’t the first time the publishers has offered a mail-in two-for-one deal on its games – GH5 and GH: Van Halen.

Funnily enough, we have yet to crack open the plastic on either one of those, for some odd reason.

Singularity is out on June 29 for PC and PS3 as well.

Via PR mail.

Update: Activision has confirmed some of the lay-offs. The response we were given is below.

Activision Publishing continually evaluates its resources to ensure that they are properly matched against its product slate and strategic goals. In 2010, the company’s sku count will be smaller than in 2009 driven in part, by a decrease in the number of music-based games we will be releasing.

As we discussed on our earnings conference call yesterday, we are directing our resources against the largest and most profitable business segments, and as part of this initiative, we are realigning our resources to better reflect our slate and the market opportunities. At the same time, we are increasing our digital/online capabilities as we expect that digital/online will continue to become a more meaningful part of our business model in the years ahead.

When we get some actual numbers, we will let you know.

Original: Rumors that Radical, Neversoft and Luxoflux have been pulled into a meeting following Activision’s financial report yesterday have lay-off talk floating about the net.

Most news of this came through Twitter, via 3D Realms co-founder George Broussard, who has tweeted that 90 folks at Radical were let go, Neversoft will have a massive cut after the release of Guitar Hero 6 and Luxoflux (Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen) may get shuttered.

We contacted Activision a bit ago, and it has promised to give us something on this soon, so stay tuned.

A report by EEDAR has Prototype outselling inFamous by almost 90 percent — thanks, of course, to the fact that Prototype is a multiplatform title, while inFamous is a PS3-exclusive.

However, on PS3, inFamous’ electrically charged superheroics have outdone Prototype’s all you-can-eat approach by about 35 percent. EEDAR adds that, because exclusives tend to have longer sales curves, that number could climb to 50 percent.

So, if you ever wanted to see superheroes duke it out not through building-demolishing punches and kicks, but through numbers, now you’ve seen it. Personally, we preferred Yahtzee‘s method of alternative superhero combat.

Thanks, Gamasutra.

If you hadn’t guessed after reading the headline; Fight Night Round 4 sits top of the tree in this week’s serving of UK chart action.

It’s punched Prototype off top spot which in turn has pushed The Sims 3 to third.

Full top ten here:

Update: Worth a mention: GI points out that this is the first time a boxing title has hit the number one in the all-format charts. So congrats to that.

PS3 owners who had issues with installing Prototype can use a workaround provided by Activision.

Apparently, an error comes up saying that players have insufficient hard drive space. Until a patch is released to fix it, here’s what you can do:

• Change the available space on your hard drive by 700 MB even if you have enough memory and delete nonessential items.
• Once you have made the necessary change to your Hard Drive space insert the Prototype disc back into your PS3 and it should now install.
• The goal of this is to change the available space on the hard drive. You may need to try a combination of things.

More information, including how to clear HD space, can be found here.

Via Joystiq.

Activision has revealed via its forums the system requirements for its gruesome open-worlder, Prototype.

No more messin’, here they are:

• Windows® XP (with Service Pack 3) and DirectX® 9.0c or (Windows Vista® with Service Pack 2)
• Video Card: 256 MB 3D hardware accelerator card required – 100% DirectX® 9.0c with Shader Model 3 support*
• Processor: Pentium(R) Intel Core® 2 Duo 2.6 GHz or AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ or better
• RAM: 1 GB of RAM for Windows ® XP / 2 GB Windows ® Vista systems
• Hard Drive Space: 8 GB of uncompressed hard disk space (Plus 500MB for swap file.)
• Sound Card: DirectX 9.0 –compliant sound card
• DVD-ROM: DVD-ROM

Peripheral:

• 100% Windows(R) XP/Vista – compatible mouse, keyboard and drivers
• 100% Windows(R) XP/Vista – compatible 4X DVD-ROM drive or better (600
  K/sec sustained transfer rate) and drivers

*Supported Chipsets for Windows(R) XP and Vista

• All NVIDIA® GeForce™ 7800 256 MB and better chipsets
• All ATI® Radeon™ X1800 256 MB and better chipsets

Radical Entertainment’s super snadbox game is out next week for PS3, 360 and PC.

Thanks, D’toid.

There’s a video walkthrough after the break of what must now be final gameplay.

You’ll see mutant poster-boy Alex on a mission to steal a helicopter, consuming soldiers as he goes.

The open-worlder’s out in mid-June.

Activision’s confirmed which of its titles will be on hand at E3 next week. You know Modern Warfare 2 and Guitar Hero 5 will be there: here’s the rest:

• Blur (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
• DJ Hero (PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360)
• Guitar Hero 5 (PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360)
• Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 (DS, PSP, PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360)
• Modern Warfare 2 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
• PROTOTYPE (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
• Singularity (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
• Tony Hawk: RIDE (PS3, Wii, Xbox 360)
• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (DS, PC, PSP, PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360)
• Wolfenstein – August 4 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)

Press release is through the break.

Santa Monica, CA – May 27, 2009 – Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) will debut a robust slate of new titles based on some of the largest video game franchises at the 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 Expo) taking place at the Los Angeles Convention Center on June 2 – 4, 2009.

Headlining the slate is Infinity Ward’s highly anticipated sequel to Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare™, Modern Warfare® 2, which is expected to be one of the best-selling games of the year. Additionally, the company will debut its groundbreaking new DJ Hero™ game and rock-based title Guitar Hero® 5, both of which will once again transform the way consumers enjoy and engage with music by offering the largest array of contemporary artists ever featured in music-based games.

Attendees will also be able to play Bizarre Creations’ Blur™ which marries intense wheel-to-wheel racing action with spectacular power-ups and real-world cars and locations, as well as Tony Hawk®: RIDE™, which will redefine skateboarding through an innovative motion sensing skateboard controller that allows for unprecedented freedom and movement.

“At this year’s E3, we will debut the largest and strongest lineup in our company’s history,” said Mike Griffith, President and CEO, Activision Publishing, Inc. “Our innovative slate features games based on some of the industry’s largest franchises, as well as exciting new offerings in the music, racing and action-sports genres that are poised to redefine the interactive entertainment experience. We are also very excited to showcase two new intellectual properties Singularity™ and PROTOTYPE™ which are already garnering a tremendous amount of interest and excitement.”

Activision’s Full E3 Game Slate Includes:

Blur is set to revolutionize the racing genre as the ultimate wheel-to-wheel racing action experience with spectacular power-ups, real-world locations and over 60 licensed cars. The pick-up and play game drops players into heart-pumping, electrified racing action with 20 cars on track all targeting the finish line and battling each other as they trade paint and collect intense power-ups, including the ability to blast other cars out of the way with huge bursts of energy, boost their speed and more. Gamers can also engage in competitive and team-based multiplayer with up to 20 racers online, or on a single console via 4-player split-screen; plus create custom groups to design their own complete game mode. (Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Games for Windows®; not yet rated by the ESRB).

In DJ Hero, faces in the crowd are transformed into the life of the party as the game’s turntable controller – created exclusively for DJ Hero and featuring familiar DJ tools including a fully-rotating turntable, sample buttons, effects dial and cross fader – immerses fans into the authenticity of DJ culture and a sea of music. (Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems and Wii™ system from Nintendo; not yet rated by the ESRB)

Guitar Hero 5 features the strongest, most varied set list to-date comprised of master tracks from 85 of the hottest bands of today and the biggest classic acts including Kings of Leon, The Rolling Stones, The White Stripes, Santana, Vampire Weekend, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, plus more than 25 artists from a variety of music genres that will be making their music video game debut. (Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system, Wii and PlayStation 2 system; not yet rated by the ESRB).

The greatest Super Hero™ action/RPG of all time is back with the world’s largest army of heroes and villains in Marvel™: Ultimate Alliance 2. Incorporating elements of the acclaimed Marvel Civil War storyline, the game allows players to choose their side and team up with revered heroes and villains, including Spider-Man, Wolverine, Hulk, Iron Man, Deadpool, Venom, Green Goblin and Captain America. Players can combine characters’ powers and unleash astonishing new attacks. (Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system, Wii, PlayStation 2 system, PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) system and Nintendo DS™; not yet rated by the ESRB).

On November 10, 2009, Infinity Ward will make its return with the release of Modern Warfare 2, the most-anticipated game of the year and the sequel to the best-selling first-person action game of all time, Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare™, which has sold more than 13 million copies to date. Modern Warfare 2 continues the gripping and heart-racing saga with an unprecedented level of action as players face off against a new threat dedicated to bringing the world to the brink of collapse. (Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system and Games for Windows; not yet rated by the ESRB).

An all-new, third-person open-world/action game, PROTOTYPE lets gamers feel the power of being the ultimate shape-shifting weapon. You are the PROTOTYPE: Alex Mercer – a genetically mutated man without memory, armed with amazing shape-shifting abilities, hunting your way to discover what created you and determined to make those responsible pay. As Alex, gamers tear through a densely populated contemporary New York City with Parkour-style agility, consuming anybody that gets in their way…assuming their physical identity, memories and abilities. (Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system and Games for Windows; the game is rated “M” by the ESRB).

Singularity pits shooter and sci-fi fans against a devastating fracture in time. As players attempt to unravel a conspiracy, they must fight their way through ever-shifting epic sci-fi environments, occupied by Russian soldiers and time-ravaged creatures, while sudden time waves hurl them back and forth between 1950 and the present day. Use time as a weapon as you attempt to unravel the mystery and prevent a catastrophic event that threatens all humanity. (Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system and Games for Windows; not yet rated by the ESRB).

Featuring an innovative skateboard-shaped controller, Tony Hawk: RIDE redefines the sports genre by offering a dynamic hands-free gaming experience. Using full motion sensing technology, players physically control the action by performing various movements and gestures on the board that directly translate into amazing tricks in the game in a variety of settings and half pipes. The new wireless skateboard controller provides an accessible and social gaming experience that allows players to feel what it’s really like to skate. Without complex button combinations or analog sticks, gamers can literally step on the board to play the game. (Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system and Wii; not yet rated by the ESRB).

Based on Hasbro’s legendary TRANSFORMERS property and Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures’ upcoming feature film, Transformers™: Revenge of the Fallen, the video game thrusts players into a battle for supremacy across the globe as either AUTOBOTS or DECEPTICONS to drive, fly, fight and blast their way through intense, pressure-packed levels. Delivering more control than ever before, players can select from an extremely diverse range of playable TRANSFORMERS characters and jump straight into action as they instantly switch between robot, vehicle and weapon modes to fight for the preservation or annihilation of all mankind. Players can also fight the epic war between the AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS online in explosive, multiplayer combat. (Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system, Wii, PlayStation 2 system PSP system, Nintendo DS and Games for Windows; the game is rated “T” for the console and PC versions and “E10+” for the handheld versions by the ESRB).

Wolfenstein™ brings the Nazi’s dark obsession with the occult to life, by intertwining fast-paced, intense story-driven combat with a diverse sci-fi experience. As BJ Blazkowicz, a highly decorated member of the Office of Secret Actions (OSA), you are sent on a special mission into the heart of the Third Reich to investigate evidence that the SS hierarchy may possess a new and mysterious power. Wolfenstein is scheduled to be on store shelves on August 4, 2009. (Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system and Games for Windows; not yet rated by the ESRB; the game is rated “M” by the ESRB).

Eurogamer Germany has posted a few screens for Prototype.

You know, that game from Radical due for release on PS3 and 360 on June 12?

Maybe you have heard of it.

Loads of game shots and videos are popping up all over the place this evening. The internet is preparing you for E3 we guess.

Hopefully you won’t be sick of ‘em by then.

Hit the link for the rest.

Radical Entertainment has posted job listings for a designer and programmer familiar with Wii.

The designer must have an “affinity for 3rd Person ‘Open-World’ Camera Design/Functionality”, and the programmer needs to be able to “take game features from concept to execution for a port of a 360/PS3 game to the Wii.”

Talk has it as a possible Wii port of Prototype, but more than likely it’s the Spider-man game rumored to be in development.

Via Joystiq.

Posted after the break is the full CG introduction to Prototype.

The video sets up the atmosphere and the story for you, and it’s full of violent content.

Hooray.

Thanks, Joystiq.

Activision’s outlined American pre-order promotions for Prototype, as shown on Gaming Today.

Gamestop pre-orderers get a figurine, Gamecrazy buyers get a concept art book and you’ll get a comic if you get it from Amazon.

The Radical open-worlder’s out in June.

Prototype exec producer Tim Bennison’s told VG247 that the game’s slip to 2009 means gamers will get the project’s original vision.

“Prototype came with a really big original vision and scope,” he said. “That meant we really needed a decent amount of time to pack this game with content, missions, powers, enemies, and polish that it deserved, so the move to 2009 has helped make that a reality.”

Bennison said that Prototype faces stiff competition this summer, but that his now polished title will stand out against the crowd.

“There are many great games coming out in 2009, in both the action categories and the open world categories, though we’ve also got competition from Hollywood this summer as well,” he added.

“As long as we do our job correctly by showing the game to the public as much as possible, and highlighting all of the cool unique powers, upgrades, and challenges, then we’ll feel great about standing-out amongst the competition this summer.”

Good job it didn’t come out last year, innit? It releases for PS3 and 360 on June 12.

Another Prototype video was released today. This time, executive producer Tim Bennison chats about gameplay and mission modes.

Looks like helicopters are pilotable and make a great weapon against zombies.

Activision and Radical will release the action game June 12.

Prototype may have been delayed out of 2008, but there’s a silver lining: Alex punching enemies to death on the game’s sidewalks has now been polished to the level of “quadruple-awesome,” up from a mere “double-awesome” last year.

“I just checked with our animation team downstairs and after seeing the latest treatment for the Infected ‘sidewalk smasher’ move, I can now officially confirm to VG247 that Prototype is already ‘quadruple-awesome’,” said dev lead Tim Bennison.

“Wait till you see what happens when you consume someone using the ‘muscle-mass’ ability – it’s a guaranteed jaw-dropper.”

The open-world superhero game looks completely splendid at this point. It’s out on June 12.

Acti put out a new video this morning. Watch and see why we’re excited.

The bad: Radical’s open-world, anti-superhero blockbuster Prototype has been heavily delayed. The good: it’s now been polished to buggery and pulled back to a more manageable “vision”.

“The extra dev time from last year really was a chance for us to polish, tweak and refine the missions and gameplay mechanics,” executive producer Tim Bennison told VG247.

“The original vision for the game was huge, perhaps a little too huge, so the extra time in development has let us realize that vision.”

The game was originally to release in autumn last year, but was pushed into 2009 last May. It was one of the Vivendi survivors of the Actvision Blizzard merger.

“We’re really excited to launch Prototype in June – it’s certainly been a big project for the entire company here at Radical,” Bennison added.

Keep watching. You’re going to see plenty more soon.