SystemLink, The Gaming Feed

Software bug delays the Xperia Play launch

2011-03-25T18:12:00.006Z

Stuart Hibberd, head of O2’s testing team, has revealed on the O2 blog, that the Xperia Play will not be launching with O2 on the 1st of April as previously planned.

The reason for the delay is down to bugs that were found during intensive testing. Hibberd has also said "if they’re not fixed, (it) means customers won’t have a great experience." No other mobile provider has announced that they will follow O2's lead and wait for a software update.

One has to wonder what bugs were found by O2 and why haven't other providers also delayed there launch. Is this a sign that the long awaited Xperia Play will be plagued with bugs at launch?

Resident Evil 4 And Code: Veronica X In HD For Download This Fall

2011-03-24T17:50:00.005Z

Today on Capcom-Unity a most joyous tidbit of news was given to the good boys and girls of planet earth. Two of the best titles in the Resident Evil series will be re-released in mouth watering high definition for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, thats right, the flesh of the undead has never been so vividly detailed for your sick viewing pleasure!

While there was no solid date given with the news Capcom had this to say:

To kick off the 15th anniversary of Resident Evil, we're happy to announce today that the highly acclaimed Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil Code: Veronica X will be released as downloadable titles for the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3! Scheduled for release this fall, both titles have been enhanced with upgraded visuals as they make their debut on high-definition consoles

.

So kids, don't settle for less than HD or else we won't let you sit at the cool kids' table. And you wouldn't enjoy that very much.

Also, if you so desire you can go HERE to view high-definition screens of the goodness that awaits you, this fall.

SOURCE: Capcom-Unity

All games on the NGP to be downloadable

2011-03-21T17:38:00.006Z

Following an interview with MCV, the President of SCEE, Andrew House, has revealed that all games released on the NGP will be available to download but House also revealed that not all games released on the NGP will be sold at retail.

House believes that there will be a hierarchy of games when the NGP is released. The top of the hierarchy will be the large blockbuster games that will be released digitally and physically, in order to reach more customers. At the bottom of the hierarchy there will be small games that will only be available to download and be more open to "experimentation". This could be a sign that Sony want to follow Apple's lead and create their own App store.

House has also said, that they have not ruled out bringing the PlayStation Suite to other mobile devices but for the time being they will be focusing exclusively on Android enabled phones.

Portal 2 TV Spot released

2011-03-18T14:36:00.006Z

Valve has finally released the first US TV Spot for Portal 2 and it does not disappoint. The humour that we know and love from Valve is quite evident here and hopefully this is only a little taster of what is yet to come.

The video introduces the concept of Portal's quite well. The two robots shown in the advertisement are playing with the Portal Gun, in a similar fashion to the way the player would, when they first receive it. The Robots' fun is rudely interrupted however, by GlaDOS, who announces that they are going to have "Fun with Science"

Portal 2 is released on April 19th in America and April 22nd in the UK for the PS3, xbox 360, MAC and the PC.

Valve adds a sneaky talent to the team

2011-03-17T23:03:00.003Z

What do you get when you combine one of the industry's most renowned studios and one of the creative minds behind the legendary Thief series? I'm not quite sure, but we'll be getting that answer soon. Doug Church has joined the ranks of Valve.

The dudes over at GamesRadar have the full scoop and boy are we excited. Thief is a forgotten masterpiece and while I definitely feel the second game was the best in the series, the rest aren't especially bad either. There's no word on what Mr. Church will be working on specifically, but I think you already knew that information. Regardless, bringing this kind of talent to a team already brimming with superiority should just be plain overkill, but time will tell if nothing else does.

PS: WHERE IS MY EPISODE 3?!

Music gaming gets a little bigger with Rocksmith

2011-03-17T01:32:00.006Z

Overly saturated and derivative at this point, the music genre in the gaming industry has fallen quite far. With the Guitar Hero franchise squashed and Rock Band fully understood, entering the fray seems like an exercise in suicidal warfare. Ubisoft is hoping its idea keeps things seminal and, in this case educational, with the newly announced Rocksmith.

Unlike the previously mentioned lucrative franchises, Rocksmith intends to forgo the party atmosphere for more of a learning experience. That's not to say multiple people can't enjoy the game, but Ubisoft has stated that they want people to use Rocksmith to learn how to play a guitar or, if you're already an avid player, hone your skills further. Releasing for the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 simultaneously, you'll be able to plug in any real guitar to play the game. That's right, no more plastic littering our beautiful Earth.

The track list has yet to be announced in full, but the Hollywood Reporter has stated the likes of David Bowie and the Rolling Stones will make appearances. Ubisoft has also announced that Rocksmith will contain music previously not found in both Guitar Hero and Rock Band titles. Oh and you won't need any extra equipment such as pedals and amplifiers.

I've never been the biggest dude who has to absolutely rock every song in a music game, but Rocksmith does intrigue me with its ambitions. If it can actually teach you how to play an instrument for around $200 and still remain fun, I might consider signing up for this one.

Homefront sells 375,000 copies day one

2011-03-16T21:57:00.004Z

THQ announced today that Homefront moved 375,000 copies in North America on the day of its release, an announcement likely meant to curb the companies 26% drop in stock following reviews of Homefront.While THQ's stock ended Monday the 14th at $5.92 per share, the stock has dropped as low as $4.33 and is currently hovering at $4.63. The range of that change is 26%. There's talk that THQ's stock woes are related to the mediocre review scores for Homefront, which at this time clock in at a 71 on Metacritic.

It's sort of a shame what effect a lower numerical review score has on the perception of the quality of a work like Homefront. The drawback of assigning a score to an experience is that it removes the notion of nuance and supports the idea that there are only universally "good" experiences and universally "bad" experiences, and if something isn't universally "good", it isn't worthwhile.

Prey will finally get a sequel in 2012

2011-03-16T21:36:00.003Z

Human Head Studios' underrated shooter Prey has been missing in action since 2006. While 3D Realms won't be publishing the long awaited sequel, Bethesda looks to be picking up the slack for a 2012 release date.

You probably wouldn't guess, but this live-action short teaser depicts events that you could possibly deal with in Prey 2. Unfortunately, Bethesda and Human Head represent the teaser in that they're revealing absolutely nothing about the title. What can you expect? Assume the standard; new weapons, a new but similar story, and some crazy alien puzzles. The hardest part will be having to wait a whole year to experience any of it.

EU PSN store update

2011-03-16T18:10:00.005Z

The EU PlayStation Blog has it’s weekly update for the European PlayStation Network Store available for your perusing pleasure, and we’ve got all the juicy details right here.

Along with the usual assortment of demos, new titles, fancy wallpapers and avatars, the blog post hints at an upcoming PSone classic title that may be of interest to those who are tired of facing foes with a heartbeat. According to the post, this week’s PSone title has “slightly less in the way of the living-challenged, sinister mansions and poor voice acting” that some may have been expecting. Could we be seeing a release of the original Resident Evil on the PSN store? It seems we won't have long to find out as the delay for this game's release is said to be a "short one".

Now onto what goodies await you in this week’s PSN store update.

PlayStation Plus

All 3 Prince of Persia titles (Sands of Time, Warrior Within, The Two Thrones) for £23.99/€29.99
MAG expansion packs Escalation and Interdiction are 50% off
SOCOM: Special Forces beta available to download 23rd March

Special Offers
(Offer prices available until the 30th March)

MAG (Trial and Unlock Bundle) (was – £19.99/€29.99 now – £11.99/€14.99)
MAG Interdiction Pack (was – £6.29/€7.99 now – £4.79/€5.99)
MAG Escalation Pack (was – £6.29/€7.99 now – £4.79/€5.99)
High Velocity Bowling Complete (was – £11.99/€14.99 now – £8.99/€11.25)
Hustle Kings (was – £6.29/€7.99 now – £4.79/€5.99)
Top Darts (was – £6.29/€7.99 now – £4.79/€5.99)
Sackboy’s Prehistoric Moves (was – £4.79/€5.99 now – £2.39/€2.99)
Tumble (was – £7.99/€9.99 now – £5.49/€6.99)
DeadStorm Pirates (was – £15.99/€19.99 now – £7.99/€9.99)
Flight Control HD (was – £3.99/€4.99 now – £1.99/€2.49)
Planet Minigolf (was – £6.29/€7.99 now – £3.19/€3.99)
Swords and Soldiers (was – £6.29/€7.99 now – £4.79/€5.99)

Trial & Unlock (PS3)

Slam Bolt Scrappers (£11.99/€14.99) Rating: PEGI 12

minis (PS3 and PSP)

Enigmo (£2.39/€2.99) Rating: PEGI 3
Pix’n Love Rush (£1.74/€1.99) Rating: PEGI 3
MiniSquadron (£1.74/€1.99) Rating: PEGI 7

PSone Classics (PS3 and PSP)

Street Fighter Alpha 2 (£7.99/€9.99) Rating: PEGI 12

Demos (PS3)

PlayStation Move Heroes Demo Rating: PEGI 12
Crysis 2 Multiplayer Demo Rating: PEGI 16
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 12: Demo Rating: PEGI 3

Add-On Game Content (PS3)

Marvel vs Capcom 3
- Additional Character – Jill (£3.99/€4.99)
- Additional Character - Shuma-Gorath (£3.99/€4.99)
Rating: PEGI 12

LittleBigPlanet
- St Patricks Day Costume – 1 Week Only (free)

DJ Hero 2 – Indie Hip Hop Mix Pack (£6.29/€7.99) Rating: PEGI 12
Eyepet – Easter Styling Pack (£2.39/€2.99) Rating: PEGI 3
ModNation – Papercut Pack (£1.39/€1.75) Rating: PEGI 7
Rock Band 3
- Every Breath You Take – The Police (£0.99/€1.49)
- Shooting The Moon – OK Go (£0.99/€1.49)
- So Lonely – The Police (£0.99/€1.49)
- Spill The Wine – War (£0.99/€1.49)

Rock Band 2
- Control – BulletProof Messenger (£0.59/€0.79)
- Stay Here Forever – The Material (£0.99/€1.49)
- The Truth – Kittie (£0.99/€1.49)
- Your Hands (Together) – The New Pornographers (£0.99/€1.49)
- 10 Signs You Should Leave – Emmure (£0.99/€1.49)
- Angel Lust – Fake Shark-Real Zombie (£0.59/€0.79)
- Buried Cold – Rose Of Jericho (£0.59/€0.79)
- Love And The Triumph Of – Broadcast (£0.59/€0.79)
- Crooked Strings – Kiev (£0.59/€0.79)

Def Jam Rapstar
- Tango Cash (Freestyle) – Bangladesh (€1.49)
- My Humps – Black Eyed Peas (€1.49)
- Lavish (Freestyle) – Cool & Dre (€1.49)
- Wyld Money (Freestyle) – Danja (€1.49)
- Party Up – Dmx (€1.49)
- Make Me Better – Fabolous (€1.49)
- Mind Playing Tricks On Me – Geto Boys (€1.49)
- Wasted – Gucci Mane (€1.49)
- Can’T Tell Me Nothing – Kanye West (€1.49)
- Got Money – Lil’ Wayne (€1.49)
- Around The Way Girl – Ll Cool J (€1.49)
- This Is Why I’M Hot – Mims (€1.49)
- Playmaker (Freestyle) – Nitti Beatz (€1.49)
- Throw Some D’S – Rich Boy (€1.49)
- Dey Know – Shawty Lo (€1.49)
- Crank That – Soulja Boy Tell ‘Em (€1.49)
- Say Something – Timbaland (€1.49)
- Regulate – Warren G (€1.49)
- Shoulder Lean – Young (€1.49)
- Stadium Status (Freestyle) – Danja (£1.19/€1.49)
- Hustlin’ – Rick Ross (£1.19/€1.49)
- Right Round – Flo Rida (£1.19/€1.49)
- Get Me Home – Foxy Brown (£1.19/€1.49)
- Over – Drake (£1.19/€1.49)
- The 15th (Freestyle) – Dj Khalil (£1.19/€1.49)

The Sims 3
- Bahhaus Pack (£7.99/€9.99)
- Castle Interior Pack (£4.39/€5.49)
Rating: PEGI 12

My Aquarium – Deep-Sea Fish Set (£0.79/€1.49) Rating: PEGI 3
Test Drive Unlimited 2 – Audi Q7 V12 TDI Quattro (£0.79/€0.99) Rating: PEGI 12

Add-On Game Content (PSP)

Lord of Arcana – DLC Pack 3 (free) Rating: PEGI 16

FirstPlay (PS3)

FirstPlay Episode 49 (£0.99/€1.20)

Avatars (PS3)

Eyepet Avatars
- Baseballpet
- Ghost
- Tigerpet
All available @ £0.20/€0.25

Premium Themes (PS3)

Disruptive Themes – Abstract Rango Theme (£1.19/€1.49)

Dynamic Themes (PS3)

Disruptive Themes
- Ice Theme (£0.79/€0.99)
- Animated Rango Theme (£1.99/€2.49)
Lama Themes
- Dynamic Big Sur Sunset Theme (£1.59/€1.99)
- Dynamic France Soccer Theme (£1.59/€1.99)
- Dynamic Germany Soccer Theme (£1.59/€1.99)
- Dynamic Italy Soccer Theme (£1.59/€1.99)
- Dynamic UK Soccer Theme (£1.59/€1.99)
- Dynamic Volcano And Thunder Theme (£1.59/€1.99)

Videos (PS3)

Chime Super Deluxe Teaser
Chime Super Deluxe Trailer
Crysis 2 – Story Trailer
Reckoning Teaser Trailer
Acah Gdc Trailer

Batman: Arkham City gameplay trailer released

2011-03-15T23:59:00.001Z

Following the announcement of the release date for Batman: Arkham City, IGN exclusively revealed a new trailer for the game, which can be seen below.

The trailer is to first to show some gameplay footage for Batman’s latest adventure. Highlights include; the ability to perform double silent takedowns, enhanced fighting mechanics, a new glide move which involves Batman diving towards the ground, as well as our first look at Two-Face and Catwoman in action.

Batman: Arkham City is released in the UK on October 21st 2011.

Insomniac Games enters the mobile market

2011-03-13T19:05:00.010Z

Insomniac Games, the developer behind Classics such as Spyro, Ratchet & Clank and Resistance, has finally entered the mobile market. Or is about to enter it I should say.

The new division of Insomniac will be called Insomnia Click and it will be mainly focused on mobile and web games. At the moment however, they will be focusing on Facebook and games for social networking sites. What makes this intriguing however is that they are going to break away from the norms of social gaming.

Brain Hastings, Insomniac Games’ Chief Creative Officer, has revealed that the new division will not follow in the footstep of the giant, that is Zynga. Instead all of their games will be based on the principal that "A game is a set of tools and a problem to solve". This means that their games won't be like Farmville, where the only goal is to harvest and grow crops in a never ending cycle.

To ensure this happens, Insomniac have made a promise to their fans. This promise has five points; Social interaction must be mutually enjoyable, game tuning must benefit the player experience, gameplay must have depth, it must be easy to learn but hard to master and last but not least, they will make it fun first.

Insomniac are a company know for their fun and family friendly games, maybe it's time Zynga moved over, as a legend is about to enter the ring.

Tribes: Ascend is coming

2011-03-12T22:21:00.003Z

Initially Tribes changed the face of multiplayer gaming on the PC. Its focus on vertical, futuristic combat was fun, addictive, and years ahead of its time. Ultimately the series fell into disarray and eventually up and disappeared, but now it's coming back and it looks like, well, the Tribes of old.

Taking part in the famed series' resurrection is Hi-Rez Studios, known for the MMO Global Agenda. Little has been revealed about the title except for the fact that it will be completely multiplayer focused and will release on XBLA and the PC.

Believe it or not, Hi-Rez has been working on a MMO title called Tribes: Universe. It probably has nothing to do with Global Agenda and how underwhelming it performed, but Ascend looks to be the prelude to the bigger picture. Hopefully Ascend is the title that rejuvenates Tribes because I'd be severely disappointed if Universe were to also vanish.

Capcom Makes Up For Lost Time

2011-03-12T21:30:00.004Z

You may be one of the few (supposedly) people who pre-ordered your copy of Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 straight from Capcom and did not receive it on launch day. Apparently Capcom is infinitely upset by technical issues they had with shipping, and a while back they announced they would "make it up to us" in some way.

From the looks of things, they've made up their minds and have decided to give those affected a totally free Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 signature series strategy guide by BradyGames. Which is pretty damn nice (and expensive) for those of you who have been unfortunate enough to be affected by Capcom's technical goof.

Capcom exited with this statement:

We’re still working out the logistics but look for more information coming to the email address you used to place your order.

So, if this applies to you, make sure you don't miss out on some free loot. That would truly be a blunder.

Source: Capcom-Unity

CoD Black Ops Officially The Best Selling Game Of All Time

2011-03-11T23:31:00.003Z

As of February, 2011 CoD: Black Ops has become the best selling game in the history of the known universe. May we all thank 14 year olds from all reaches of the galaxy.

According to NPD analyst Anita Frazier:

"Call of Duty: Black Ops was the best-selling game in February, retaining the top selling spot since launch in November. It has now become the best-selling game in history, topping Wii Play."

Well, it is what it is, like it or not. In just four months this monstrosity has consumed more money and attention than absolutely any other title ever. Will future CoD releases do nearly as good? When will the band-wagon effect wear off? Only time will tell.

Source: Industry Gamers

New Homefront Launch Trailer Assures Excellence

2011-03-11T22:38:00.004Z

Yet another Homefront trailer has reared its ugly head to the internets. to be more precise, it's the Homefront launch trailer. Full of juicy quotes of praise from people who's opinions matter, that let you know this game's gonna kick more ass than your inferior mind can even process.

But to me this just looks more or less like another game with guns. Guns and explosions. Although done with "the writer of Red Dawn and Apocalypse Now" Which might help the game's case ever so slightly. it looks really CoD like to be honest, but hey, at least it's pulse pounding. Right?

Digression aside, the trailer shows some shooting, explosions, shooting, dead bodies. And there you have it. Homefront.

You can watch the PULSE POUNDING trailer below. Just refrain from having a heart attack if possible.

Batman: Arkham City Release Date Announced

2011-03-11T21:59:00.000Z

Do you have to urge to hurl a batarang at an unsuspecting goon, smirk quietly to yourself as he searches aimlessly for the source of his blistering headache, and then string the poor, hapless fellow by his ankles to a gargoyle? If so then worry not, as Warner Bros. have announced the release date for Batman: Arkham City.

The game is due to hit the stores October 21st in Europe, with North America and Australia receiving the game a little earlier on October 18th and October 19th respectively.

Along with the release date Warner Bros. also released three new screenshots for us to drool over before we can finally get our hands on The Batman. Head on over to the PlayStation Blog to see the screens along with some more information on the game.

For those of you who are interested, the Sionis Industries factory seen in the 2nd screenshot is a reference to the character Roman Sionis, better known as the villain Black Mask. We will have to wait until October 18th to find out if we’ll actually be meeting Mr. Sionis within the walls of Arkham City, or if this is just a reference to the character.

Morrisons to sell the 3DS for £187

2011-03-11T19:02:00.004Z

ONM, reports, that the UK based retailer Morrisons, is to sell the Nintendo 3DS for £187.

Morrisons had already been the cheapest store to purchase the 3DS but this represents a further £10 drop, making it even cheaper than online retailers. This offer is exclusively for preorders, so you had better get to your nearest Morrisons and preorder.

This could be a sign of things to come, where large stores will offer ridiculous prices for games and console, just to get customer loyalty. This had been done in the past with games such as Call of Duty, but this is the first time I have heard of a company offering such price for a console. We the gamers will benefit but is this attitude to games good for the industry?

Xperia Play to launch on March 31st

2011-03-11T18:18:00.005Z

MCV reports, that the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play, is to be launched in the UK and Ireland, on the 31st of March 2011, with 6 games pre-installed.

Sony Erriccson are also going to launch their largest marketing campaign in anticipation of the phone, with all major phone operators offering the handset. There have also been suggestions that game stores could also be selling the handset.

The games to be included with the handset are Sims 3, Crash Bandicoot, Fifa 10, Tetris and Bruce Lee Dragon Warriors. There will also be 50 other games available through the Playstation Suite.

Capcom lays the law down - no more new Western IPs

2011-03-11T18:12:00.008Z

Capcom's been instrumental in the growth of the gaming industry, but as of late it's been churning out some questionable titles. That, it seems, is about to change with the promise of no new IPs from the West. That's right, Capcom's going to be drawing from the local well... at least for now.

According to our brothers over at GamesRadar, Capcom's US Vice-President Christian Svennson has made a warm, but rather chilling statement.

"When I say no more new IP, I mean no new IP in the West. I think you will see us actually taking some major new IP risks"

I say this is chilling because, like Mr. Svennson states, it's a rather huge risk. Creating brand new IPs in a semi-experimental fashion could backfire significantly, but then again it'll all be fresh material which is something the Japanese market has needed for some time. As for the West, they'll be focusing on spiffing up tried and true Capcom greats while, hopefully, shying away from over saturating the market with shovelware.

Good luck goes out to the dudes and gals at the big C (did I just say that) but God help you if you destroy my Mega Man. Trust me Capcom, you can't afford to mess that one up.

New Duels of the Planeswalkers slated for this summer

2011-03-11T17:47:00.004Z

Magic: The Gathering and its expansive reach knows no limits. Having released via the digital universe, the successful and rather fun Duels of the Planeswalkers looks to finally be getting a proper sequel this summer.

Joystiq's got the info, and it seems the requisite "more modes, more cards, more this and that" are definitely coming. Archenemy will be a new mode in which two players will square off against an AI opponent. How will it work? I don't know, maybe the computer clicks its digital hands and conjures up the counter to anything you do, maybe it has 80 life, whatever the case we won't know until Wizards of the Coast choose to divulge more information.

On the other hand, it looks like the title will be Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012. I seriously hope that's just a placeholder name, but that's the least of my concerns when we're talking about improvements. Being the Magic aficionado I am, I would very much appreciate a 2v2 online mode as well as a better tapping system. I could also use a... I sense that if I do not stop now then this article will become enlarged and my bosses will thrash me due to my negligence.

Just make it better Wizards! We're counting on you.

Ex-Bungie developers shoot for the moon

2011-03-11T17:15:00.004Z

If you've basically been making the same game for almost a decade, it must be refreshing to start from a brand new foundation. I'm talking about three ex-Bungie developers and their new indie studio called Moonshot Games. They've just announced their first title and, contrary to what their former studio is known for, it's not a first-person shooter!

Welcome to Fallen Frontier, Moonshot's first hook into the gaming world. As a 2D sidescroller akin to the stupendously awesome Shadow Complex, Fallen Frontier is both a single-player and cooperative experience that will focus on a noir-style storyline. As you can see, the visuals are enticing and being able to play with another person, which you couldn't do in Shadow Complex, looks pretty damn sweet.

Though great as it may look, Fallen Frontier still is quite a ways off. With a release date scheduled for the first-half of 2012 and no publisher on board, here's hoping the dudes over at Moonshot get things straight so we can get our hands on this ASAP.

Xbox Live Labs goes LIVE!

2011-03-11T01:18:00.005Z

Are you finding yourself with loads of spare time? Do you have zero games to play on your Xbox 360 but constantly think about netting more achievements? Perhaps you're obsessed with dressing up your avatar? If you fall into these categories boy does Microsoft have some news for you!

Alright so they aren't giving away keys to their central vault, but Micrsoft would like you to participate in something they're calling the Xbox Live Labs. These "labs" are a series of voluntary network tests that run from your console to Xbox Live. What kind of tests? Well, there are three to be exact and all of them will render your system unplayable for a certain period of time. The tests will run for either 30 minutes, one hour, or the behemoth sized six hour test. Of course, time taken away from gaming should be rewarded and Microsoft agrees. Choose any of these tests and you'll get hooked up with a special achievement AND a unique Avatar reward; each test gives you a different achievement and Avatar item. Dude, crazy mad scientist hair? How could we say no?

Xbox Live Labs will be open to all Xbox Live members in the United States only and will be running from March 10th to the 27th.

Bethesda Bestows Free Music To Those Who Want

2011-03-11T00:43:00.010Z

gamesradar writes:

As fans of free stuff, we feel it is our duty to inform you that Bethesda is giving away a free song that was featured in the recently released RAGE trailer. The track’s called Burning Jacob’s Ladder and you can download for free (for a limited time) on the official RAGE website.

Read on for juicy details.

You heard it ladies and gentleman, FREE stuff! Do I really need to elaborate much more on this? You had better nab the track quickly though, as it's only a limited time offer. So drop everything you are doing and immediately direct your general being towards the official RAGE website. BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE. Lazy ass.

And in case you have not seen said trailer at hand, I encourage you to do so now.

-Camaren Crook

Hackers regenerate used Microsoft Points cards

2011-03-10T17:25:00.005Z

Thanks to an algorithm designed to regenerate used Microsoft points codes, Microsoft lost out on a potential million dollars as a website handed out codes for 160 Microsoft points as quickly as you could download them. Early reports suggested users nabbed nearly $1.2 million dollars' worth of content, but according to IGN, Microsoft disputes that number.

Although Microsoft put an end to the hemorrhage of lost profits fairly quickly, users were able to milk the loophole for all its worth. One user, reports SaveandQuit, was able to get $150 worth of points in only 20 minutes.

According to IGN Microsoft are currently deliberating whether to take action on individual users who abused the system and their accounts, but they are currently looking to invalidate any content obtained unlawfully. Beware, hackers. Microsoft is on your ass.

Cloud Saves for PSN Plus Live Today

2011-03-10T16:56:00.002Z

Sony sweetened the deal on Playstation Plus today by enabling subscribers the ability to save files to "the cloud", meaning saves and other files can now be tied to PSN ID rather than consoles themselves. With 150 megabytes of storage space per user and a 1,000-file limit, PSN Plus users no longer need to lug their console around to access their files as long as they can find an internet-connected PS3.

Firmware 3.6 rolls out for PS3 today and carries the code enabling cloud saves, an idea that Sony patented for use in Playstation 3 back in 2008 but has only just now implemented. It comes as no surprise considering Valve's announcement back in January that Portal 2 would feature the same cloud functionality upon its release this coming April.

Personally, it seems like additions like cloud saves are a step in the right direction for a service like Playstation Plus, which so far has functioned mostly as a buyer's rewards program rather than a tiered online service akin to Xbox Live.

Unique additions and perks like being able to auto-update your console and cloud saves really broaden the appeal of Plus beyond the hardcore PSN user - much in the same way Netflix streaming broadened the appeal of Xbox Live service back in the day.

More treats like this, and you may find me a Playstation Plus subscriber myself one day.

New Unreal tech takes to the GDC floor, fries eyeballs

2011-03-09T17:57:00.004Z

One of the biggest draws to GDC this year was Epic's demonstration of future graphical technology. Using their own Unreal Engine 3, Epic somehow conjured up such raw power that it instantly vaporized the screen shown upon. Satire aside, you need to see this footage to believe it.

“This technology demonstration is nothing short of breathtaking. It reminds me of when we first showed Unreal Engine 3 to the world and people were amazed,” said Epic Games President Dr. Michael Capps. “It’s like seeing the Unreal Engine all over again for the very first time.”

According to Epic, this video was running courtesy of THREE graphic cards. It's amazing, of that I don't think anyone has a doubt, but something like this is clearly out of reach for the general public at the moment. Epic also agrees but believes that this is what the future holds for gaming.

New L.A. Noire Gameplay Video

2011-03-09T17:16:00.000Z

Rockstar has released a new gameplay video for the upcoming L.A. Noire. Titled ‘Investigation and Interrogation’, the video highlights some of the game mechanics that will be involved when attempting to solve the various cases that are brought to your desk.

As the video highlights players will need to have an eagle eye to spot the key piece of evidence that will open new lines of inquiry, as well as being able to tell if a suspect is being entirely truthful or not.

The trailer, made entirely from in-game footage, also shows the level of detail present in the character animations, which will no doubt prove to be useful when attempting to ascertain whether the Honest Joe in front of you really is as honest as he appears.

The game, from developers Team Bondi, is due for release on May 17th in North America and May 20th in Europe on both Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Games on Android out-performing iOS games.

2011-03-09T15:31:00.009Z

Computerworld reports that Spacetime Studio's Pocket Legends, is more successful on the Google's Android Market place than on Apple's App store. This is quite unusual as up until recently, the App store was considered the best place to make money for mobile games. Could this be a sign that the Android Market place is finally going to overtake the Apple App store?

Pocket Legends is a free to play mobile MMO, for Android and iOS devices, that mashable recently named as their second most ground breaking mobile game, after Fruit Ninja.

Spacetime Studios report that daily activity on Android devices is twice that of iOS devices and that daily downloads to Android devices is around 9000, while on iOS devices it's about 4000. They also report that their Android users generate 30-50% more money from in-app purchases and advertisements compared to their iOS customers.

What has caused this trend to appear? You cannot blame it on ease of access, as Apple has a renowned in-App purchase system while Google is still in the process of developing an effective system. It could be down to the average Android user versus the average iOS user. The Android user could be more tech savy and more interested in games compared to the iOS user. The iOS user on the other hand might be more cash conscious.

There are other factors to consider as well. The Apple app store is huge with many apps not getting the recognition they deserve. The Android Market place is still young however and has yet to be as flooded and as saturated as the App store. This allows the gems in the Android store to be found much easier. You also have to consider the game in question. Pocket Legend relies on in-app purchases and the system in place on Android devices is far from perfect. This means that only true MMO fans will stick with this game and go through the process of using in-app purchases. On iOS devices Pocket Legends is a free app that is linked to ones itunes account. This means that many of the people who download the app may download it only because it's free and will stop immediately, when they realise that they have to pay, because they are worried about abusing the Apple system and spending too much. Android users on the other hand wouldn't have to worry about this and then get addicted to the game and then are willing to pay. Pocket Legend could also be the main and first successful MMO on Android devices while there is already an established MMO market on the Apple App store

That is of course my opinion on the situation and it could actually be something else that has caused this to happen. Maybe the Android Market place really is going to overtake the Apple App store. The next few months will be quite interesting as the iPad 2 is releases and the Android Honeycomb OS is released.

Gears of War 3 beta information and you

2011-03-09T01:38:00.002Z

Being one of, if not the biggest title this holiday season, Epic is reaching out to the community for some much needed assistance. You heard me right. Epic wants you to beta test the final entry in the Gears of War trilogy. Interested yet?

In case you're unaware, Gears of War 3 is having a beta this Spring. How do you get involved? Well, that's the easy part! All you need to do is grab the Epic Edition of Bulletstorm on the 360 or pre-order Gears at specific retailers (GameStop, EB Games, GAME, Gamestation). If you take the Bulletstorm route you'll be treated to early beta access starting April 18th. Otherwise a pre-order will net you access on April 25th. Regardless of your choice, the entire beta event ends May 15.

Over on the Gears official website, Epic has also announced exclusive in-game items and awards you can achieve during the beta.

* Flaming Hammerburst
Complete one match by Sunday, April 24 to permanently unlock.

* Flaming Lancer
Complete one match during the week of April 25 to permanently unlock.

* Flaming Sawed-Off Shotgun
Complete one match during the week of May 2 to permanently unlock.

* Flaming Gnasher Shotgun
Complete one match during the week of May 9 to permanently unlock.

* Beta Tester Medal -- Wear it proudly, Gear.
Complete one match in the Beta to permanently unlock.

* Thrashball Cole -- Unlock Thrashball Cole to play as Augustus Cole as he was before Emergence Day -- a legendary Thrashball athlete known for his ferocious, flamboyant style.

Complete 50 matches in any game type to unlock for the Beta period.
To permanently unlock, complete 10 matches as Thrashball Cole during the Beta period.

* Gold-Plated Retro Lancer -- Before the chainsaw bayonet was deployed at the beginning of the Locust-Human War, the original Lancer assault rifle had a large fixed blade.

Complete 90 matches in any game type to unlock for the Beta period.
To permanently unlock, score 100 kills with the Gold-Plated Retro Lancer during the Beta period.

It looks like Epic is going all out for this beta and the extra unlockables just add to the intrigue. Best of all, now that we can help test Epic's mettle there should be no excuse for issues with Gears 3. Oh yeah, and the dedicated servers will be live during the beta.

Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock gets Modern Rock Mega Pack

2011-03-08T22:47:00.002Z

Guitar Hero fans crestfallen at the news of the franchise's hiatus may have something to brighten their spirits. Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock received nine new downloadable tracks today as part of the Modern Rock Mega Pack, available on all three current-generation consoles as a complete pack for $16.49 and individually for $1.99 each.

The complete list of tracks is as follows:
“Sic Transit Gloria… Glory Fades” - Brand New
“Psycho” - Puddle Of Mudd
“Supermassive Black Hole” - Muse
“Little Sister” - Queens Of The Stone Age
“Always” - Saliva
“Sorrow” - Bad Religion
“She’s A Genius” - Jet
“Headstrong” - Trapt
“Hands Open” - Snow Patrol

The pack is available today on all three consoles in the US, and UK PSN users can expect the content to show up by tomorrow.

Dynasty Warriors 7 aims to be better, releases this month

2011-03-08T20:38:00.004Z

Koei (now Tecmo Koei) is no stranger to continuation or for that matter repetition. For what seems like the zillionth Dynasty Warriors title to storm bargain bins everywhere, the series will be getting a seventh main-line title later this month. Will the curse continue?

The Dynasty Warriors series has taken incredible amounts of flak for its dependency on expansion and spin-off releases as well as its inability to create innovation. With the seventh installment due on March 29th, Tecmo Koei hopes to put to rest those claims of "milking the cow" with some highly sought after features. You might laugh, but the main titles for the series have NEVER had any type of online co-op until now.

It's a bit under the radar, but Dynasty Warriors 7 could be that hack and slash, mindless title you need again. After all, seven is a lucky number... I think.

Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception Villain Unveiled

2011-03-08T19:51:00.001Z

The PlayStation blog today revealed some new information, first announced at this years Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, about Naughty Dog’s Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception.

Alongside a demo of the game played in stereoscopic 3D, the 2011 GDC saw the unveiling of the main antagonist that will attempt to derail Nathan Drake in his quest via a cut-scene which can be seen below.

Named Katherine Marlowe, she is the “coldly calculating leader of a secret society whose roots date back over four hundred years” and has a “long-standing rivalry” with our hero. Judging by her manners in the above cut-scene it seems she may be quite a formidable foe for Nathan.

Naughty Dog also released some concept images (seen below) of the thugs that Nathan and his mentor, Victor Sullivan, will be fighting their way through come November 1st when the game is released for the PlayStation 3.

Is it just me or does the guy on the top left look a little bit like Johnny Klebitz from The Lost and the Damned?

For more information check out the PlayStation EU blog.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution release date confirmed

2011-03-08T19:25:00.004Z

You don't need to be Deus Ex fanatical to be excited about Human Revolution. After a small delay and an eight year hiatus, rest assured that this forgotten series' release date is rock solid.

Being published by Square Enix and developed by Eidos Montreal, Deus Ex: Human Revolution will hit the US on August 23 and the UK on August 26. Oh and in case you missed it or you have no idea what a "Deus Ex" is, check out the trailer.

Microsoft already at work on the next Xbox

2011-03-08T18:54:00.003Z

Inevitably, the world will be exposed to a new Xbox sometime in the distant future. While it may be a bit early to discuss the matter, Microsoft has openly revealed that it is working on the next Xbox. Perhaps you can give them a hand.

Well whaddaya know, on March 4th several jobs correlating to Xbox Architecture surfaced over on LinkedIn. While every single thing in those ads went directly over my head, the necessary information was certain; Microsoft is certainly at work on the Xbox Next, Xbox 720, Xbox 3, or whatever the hell you want to call it. To keep from being confusing in this articulate and lengthy article, we'll just call the new Xbox Steve.

We all knew Steve was definitely coming no matter what the case, but that doesn't mean it'll be anytime soon. When this console generation began, the dudes over at Microsoft stated they wanted it to last much longer than the previous four year stint with the original Xbox. Being 2011 and no Steve in sight, they certainly have achieved that goal - but when can we expect Steve? Years.

I'm in no rush for a new console as I'm perfectly happy with what we have now. As long as the quality of the games doesn't stagnate, I can do without Steve. Let's just hope that whenever Steve launches, it'll do so without equipment issues. Because, you know, chicks don't dig equipment issues.

Characters for GTA V Revealed?

2011-03-08T17:51:00.004Z

Whilst we can almost certainly assume Rockstar North is hard at work creating GTA V what isn’t so clear is, well, everything else. As of yet nothing has been officially revealed with regards to setting, story or characters. Officially that is.

An Internet version of Sherlock Holmes, Superannuation, uncovered a casting call for an “interactive project” called “Rush”. The call was made by Telsey & Company, a casting agency regularly used by Rockstar to find actors and actresses, and asked for characters which sound as though they would fit perfectly in a Grand Theft Auto game.

Some of the more interesting characters included in the casting call are listed below:

Mitch Hayes: 
38 - Annoying, wise cracking, highly successful FBI agent. In great shape. Does triathlons, drinks low cal beer, but still has a sense of humor.

Brother Adam: 
Welsh monk / cult leader / yoga teacher - 50, very lithe, very into exploring your personal tension through gripping massage. Needs Welsh accent. 

Mrs Avery: 
Neurotic soccer mom, home maker, 48, anxious and addled on pain killers. Very angry at neighbor MRS Bell.

Mrs Bell: 
Swinger, and mellow Californian divorcee. 45. Ugly but comfortable with self. 

Eddie: 
47 - Weed evangelist, guy who started smoking at 30, and is now a leading proponent of marijuana's fantastic properties. White, awkward.

Calvin North: 
55 - clapped out FBI agent who now mostly works offering advice on TV shows - whose only claim to fame turns out to be entirely false - but a decent guy in other ways. Badly dressed. Divorced. Putting on weight.

Chad: 
29 - pretty boy misogynist Beverly Hills party boy. Made money, but not as cool as he thinks he is.

Tae Wong: 
39 - somewhat incompetent Chinese mobster, loves doing ecstasy, going to raves.

Of course these are just casting calls. The final characters may differ from the ones seen here, but they do give a good indication to the possible direction Rockstar is heading with the next instalment in the GTA series.

Dragon Age II + DLC Out Now For North America, Soon For Europe

2011-03-08T16:37:00.004Z

North America get everything good; Wendy's, Texas and extreme Republicanism (though I can't help but feel all are somehow linked). Today, they can add something else to that list; Dragon Age II.

The hit sequel follows Hawke, who must be handsome and marvellously intelligent with a name like that (hurr de hurr), as he kills things with sharp knives, and sometimes walks around for a bit. Europeans can expect the same riotous RPGing on March 11th.

Also available today is "The Exiled Prince," the first downloadable content pack for Dragon Age II. "The Exiled Prince" introduces the noble archer, Sebastian Vael, with players joining him in the middle of his quest to avenge the horrific murder of his family. Sworn to the priesthood as a boy, Sebastian is forced to re-enter the viper's nest of princely politics when his family is brutally murdered, leaving him as the sole-surviving heir. Banding together with Sebastian and his unshakable loyalty and excellent aim, players will choose to either avenge Sebastian's murdered family to reclaim his title or direct his holy vengeance on their own enemies in Kirkwall. In addition to this action-packed storyline, players will also be able to enlist Sebastian as a follower throughout a majority of Dragon Age II.

We'll Be Back...

2011-01-10T21:53:00.002Z

Look around you. Are those blue walls getting a bit old? Are cracks appearing in the menus? Does the whole thing look a bit...2010? Well fear not - SystemLink will be right back, and better than ever.

SystemLink v3 will have the visual appeal of Cheryl Cole riding a unicorn made out of chocolate, the controlled power of a bull testosterone-injected bull, and will redesign the way news is presented to revolutionise the site (Shh...it's a secret). Along with it being sexy, fast and innovative, you'll have a plethora of new staff providing you with our same top-quality writing, but 24-hours a day, every single day, with more exclusive posts then you can shake a news-stick at. A really big news-stick.

SystemLinkv3 should arrive on internets around the globe in roughly two weeks, alongside a general rejuvenation of the entire Gamer's Guide to Life Network. So, for now, it's goodbye...

...But we'll be back.

Skyrim: World Map, Menus, and Concept Images

2011-01-10T20:47:00.009Z

Little has been revealed about The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, but if one thing's certain it's that the game is very real and due for release later his year. Teeming with energy reserved only for a Bethesda product, gamer's continue to speculate how the fifth game in the famed series will come together. Well fellow enthusiasts, we have some information for you.

During Game Informer's exclusive studio tour, we were able to extract important, informational pictures only visible to highly, highly important members of the gaming press. While pouring over these enticing shots, we decided it was a priority to share it with you since, you know, we’re such nice people.

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As you can see there's some pretty excellent information buried within - like the new meats of the world. There's also scribblings of stealth mechanics, showing the mechanic is being built upon. Thanks goes out to Game Informer for the awesome video.

On a side note Bethesda, your employee's have some pretty awful looking hand writing. Just sayin'.

Celebrate 2011 with some Castlevania: Lords of Shadow DLC!

2010-12-27T01:26:00.003Z

It's never too late to dip your hand into some supernatural DLC, and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow is happy to oblige. But what's this? Two DLC packs? I guess Konami trusts we've been good this holiday season.

Slated for release sometime this coming year, Lords of Shadow will be receiving two hefty packets of content. Dubbed "Reverie" and "Resurrection," each DLC will come separate and contain all new content of varying size. What I mean is "Resurrection" is the bigger of the two. It'll focus on content after the end of Lords of Shadow and bring to light more information the ending lacked. Expect new levels, monsters, and weapons (I'm sure you already knew that).

"Reverie,"or the smaller DLC, is more associated with expanding content tied directly to the main game. Konami has stated that Gabriel will return to the castle to perform the acts he does best - killing unholy dudes.

So yeah, there's not too much information out there other than actually existing, but that's enough for me. If the price is right of course.

Don't fear Hydrophobia anymore

2010-12-23T00:10:00.003Z

Hydrophobia may have scared off most of its potential players with its low-grade reviews, but that didn't put developer Dark Energy Digital down. Available to all right now, the game has received a massive update that, quite frankly, makes it brand new.

Perhaps during the "Game Feast" you tried the demo. Perhaps you threw your controller in disgust and tried to gargle away the pain with phosphoric acid. Whatever the case, Hydrophobia had some glaring, unforgivable issues. I mean, the jump button wasn't even mapped to "A!"

Try not to hurt your eyes on this list of changes.

You have to love the attitude of Dark Energy Digital. Not only was the game thoroughly slammed but the backlash among the community oozed poison. To have to listen to their creation go through such spiteful criticism and still manage to create this update is nothing short of commendable. Though the game should have shipped in this state, at least there's proof of developers listening to feedback.

Portal 2 release date is rock solid

2010-12-22T23:59:00.003Z

Portal 2, the follow up to 2007's titanic surprise, has a surefire release date. It's very, very soon.

On April 21st of next year, almost scarily soon, we'll be screaming like little Japanese kids in a Pokemon shop as we traverse the abandoned Aperture Science facility on all platforms (well, mostly). If you haven't been following it, Portal 2 will take place hundreds of years after the first game. Also remember that the game also features a brand new co-operative mode that looks absolutely enthralling. You can scream with delight now too.

Buy Bulletstorm Epic Edition get Gears of War 3 beta access

2010-12-18T18:44:00.003Z

If your anxious to get into the Gears of War 3 beta, breathe deep, do we have some news for you! Pre-order the Epic Edition of Bulletstorm and you're guaranteed access to the anticipated beta sometime next year. Wait, haven't we seen this before?

Yes, yes, Crackdown is the infamous title I'm referring to. The seemingly infinite number who purchased the game just to get their hands on the Halo 3 beta will most likely have something in common with this experience - only Bulletstorm actually looks pretty damn good. To supplement the primary attraction of a beta invite, you'll also receive extra goodies like an ambiguous 25,000 experience, special boots and armor, visual upgrades for that laser leash thing, and a Peace Maker Carbine. I have no idea what the experience does either but hey, it's 25,000 experience man.

Following BioWare's intelligent marketing scheme with Dragon Age II, it looks as though if you pre-order the game over on Amazon right now you'll automatically be upgraded to the Epic Edition for no additional cost. Epic is still mum on the exact date of the Gears 3 beta but with Bulletstorm's release date on February 22 it can't be too long after that.

Dead Rising 2: Case West hits December 27th

2010-12-15T06:13:00.004Z

Good news for all the zombie slayers out there; Christmas is extended. On December 27th Dead Rising 2: Cast West hits digital shelves.

Like Case Zero, Case West is separate from Dead Rising 2 but does contain relevant information that surrounds the retail games. The big deal this time is instead of solely controlling Chuck Greene, Frank West the protagonist of the first Dead Rising comes into the picture (don't hurt me).

Frank's signature photography will return and Frank can even craft the items of destruction found in Case Zero and Dead Rising 2. Perhaps the best new feature is the implementation of co-op. That's right, your buddy can drop in and control one of these zombie survivalists.

Case Zero had great pacing and contained just enough material to make it worth playing through multiple times. Hopefully Case West, while being more expensive, contains even more to like.

Mass Effect 3: Skyrim - Trailer Mash Up Is Surprisingly Epic

2010-12-14T18:43:00.003Z

It's the question no one really wanted an answer to. What happens when you take the visual warzone of Mass Effect 3's London trailer, and mix it with the commanding tones from the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim trailer? You get a whole lot of surprisingly epic awesome.

Why does it work so perfectly? Do all exclusive game reveals follow the same pattern? Is there a secret to creating unholy amounts of hype?

The Times: 'Game Of The Year 2010' Result

2010-12-11T17:18:00.004Z

The Times, in their Saturday pull-out 'Playlist', has named some of their favourite games of 2010, including 'Game Of The Year'. While this is hardly industry-leading stuff, it's nice to see the media increasingly giving more time and space to implementing their own awards, and expanding their gaming sections - maybe next year they'll take up a whole double-page spread! Could you imagine?!

Game Of The Year: Red Dead Redemption
Best FPS: Call Of Duty: Black Ops
Best platform/family game: Super Mario Galaxy 2
Best downloadable title: Limbo
The petrol head prize: Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit
Highest stakes: Heavy Rain
Best iPad game: Chinatown Wars
Gold medal for sports: FIFA 11
Best puzzle game: Professor Layton and the Lost Future
Most immersive action: Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood
Most horrendously addictive game: Angry Birds

Quick! If you fancy a read of all the reasons for the choices, or just want a centre-right broadsheet paper for tonight, rush out and get The Times.

Uncharted 3: Drakes Deception, Announced

2010-12-09T15:02:00.003Z

Sony announce sequel to the popular action and adventure games ahead of VGA awards.

This new installment in the series is said to take place in the Arabian Desert, with a large focus on Drake and Sully this time around.

Some new features mentioned are the ability to fight more than one enemy at a time and "backwards climbing"

The offical reveal, with hopefully more details, will be on satuday night at the awards ceremony.

Source: http://uk.ps3.ign.com/articles/113/1139326p1.html

CONFIRMED - Analysis: Battlefield 3 Leaked Photo Is Fake

2010-12-07T23:06:00.006Z

I thought I'd do a very speedy analysis of a new image that supposedly shows a 'leaked' Battlefield 3 screenshot. I called up Superman, Batman and Spiderman, we sat round a table looking at it, and eventually came to the conclusion it was fake. Then Spiderman threw up, and we had to drive him home. But that's not important right now.

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Here's the main things to point out:

EDIT: Ha! Gotcha. Thanks to those who sent me that.

GOSH! Looks an awful lot like Battlefield: Bad Company, right? Not only are we pretty sure we've seen that background on the left in Arica Harbor, a map for BF:BC 2 multiplayer, but the character models are identical. Bit odd.

There's too much blur. When looking down the sights in modern FPS games, the surroundings blur. This doesn't happen when you're hip-firing. The blur is indicative of pre-release screenshots, tarted up to look all fancy.

Look at the guy on the left. Look at this fella. Odd.

You're lower than everyone else. You should be crouching, but there's no indicator to suggest so. Again, pre-release screenshots often put the camera slightly power than eye-level.

Your gun is not hip-aimed at the centre, like all FPSs. If Battlefield 3 did indeed use the same engine as Bad Company, even at pre-alpha, the gun would point dead in the centre. Also, there's no cross-hair, despite a full HUD.

Talking of the HUD - A 3 v 3 game? On Battlefield? And it's already 110/83? On a map that size? Odd.

The radar shows all allies pointing in the same direction. However, the middle soldier and the left soldier are point west and north respectively.

Slightly different lighting on the guy in the right.

From all this, the other superheroes and I conclude this is fake. There are too many oddities to be real, especially as the image is of very high quality, despite being a photo of a TV screen. And, now we have proof from a BF:BC 2 screenshot that's exactly the same.

HI 5, SPIDERMAN!

Oh, right, the puke...

Prototype sequel all but confirmed

2010-12-07T05:07:00.004Z

On December 11th be prepared for a murderer. Actually, be prepared for the Prototype sequel announcement in which there will be plenty of murdering.

In a four second teaser, the website murderyourmaker.com depicts gameplay from Prototype with a cryptic note. All that it mentions is the Spike TV VGA Awards this Saturday. Could it be something else? Well... no it can't.

Prototype sold well for Activision and with its perpetual fight with Sucker Punch's Infamous, you can expect some drastic changes are ahead. Will we see these two games square off once again? Perhaps the ceremony will unveil that answer.

VGA 2010 Revealing A 2013 Game - GTA V? Half Life 3?

2010-12-04T19:07:00.004Z

Can't wait for next year's awesome games? 2011 looks to be a great line-up, right? But 2012 won't be bad either - a few delays from 2011 and new games to be revealed might make that even better! But what about...2013? Now it's just getting silly.

Via Twitter, Geoff Keighley had this to say:

"How far into the future are the VGAs going? I just reviewed a piece that says "coming 2013" at the end."

2013? Good lord. Let's think about this one; to be revealed 3 years before the release must mean this is a huge game, one which will set an unprecedented amount of hype. Assassin's Creed III is confirmed for next year, Gran Turismo only just came out (finally), and...we're struggling to think of such a mammoth IP requiring 3 years of hype. Honestly, the only ideas we can formulate in our tiny heads is Grand Theft Auto V or Episode 3/Half Life 3. They're the only games big enough for an event like this.

Got any ideas? Stick them below.

Ms Splosion Man revealed, coming next fall

2010-12-04T04:49:00.003Z

'Splosion Man was one of those games that you loved or skipped. Being a 2D platformer with puzzles that sometimes made you feel inadequate, it's in its nature to make you hurt all over. Saying that, Twisted Pixel has announced the "sequel" Ms. 'Splosion Man for the holidays next year.

I can never get enough of a good platformer, especially from one with exceptional humor. 'Splosion Man successful combined fun and funny into an affordable package that many people consider a very underrated title. it couldn't have been that underrated though since, you know, they are making this new game and all.

Twisted Pixel hasn't released much in the way of gameplay information but we can assume the same core mechanics will be used for Ms. 'Splosion Man. Hopefully the four-way co-op will return but what I'm most interested in is finding out what happens when Ms. 'Splosion Man takes the Way of the Coward to bypass an area. She's obviously not going to get a pink tutu like her male counterpart... what could it be? I guess time will tell. Until then, enjoy this gem.

Halo: Combat Evolved HD remake?

2010-12-01T04:08:00.005Z

It's a little early to speculate but how would you feel about a Halo: Combat Evolved HD remake? It could be happening.

As most of us know, Bungie is no longer responsible for the Halo series as that torch has been passed to 343 Industries. If Halo is to follow Call of Duty in its annual release fiesta it seems this rumor could quite possibly make the most sense for the series. Yep, definitely a good one.

I'd rather not go through the shoddy level design of the later levels, but if they smoothed things out in places like the Library then I'd definitely check it out.

Bad Company 2 Vietnam dated

2010-12-01T03:58:00.004Z

If you didn't take to the money-making machine that is the Call of Duty franchise, you might be a Battlefield: Bad Company 2 fan. If so, you'll be pleased to hear the latest expansion will be hitting digital shelves in under a month.

On December 18th, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam will be available on both the EA Store and Steam. If you own the game on a console you'll have to wait until the 21st to purchase it. What's Vietnam bringing to the war room? How about four new maps, various (and obvious) new weapons, and the requisite achievements. The game will cost precisely $14.99 or 1200 Microsoft Points.

Secret Code Makes Call Of Duty: Black Ops 2 A Lot More Likely

2010-11-27T22:46:00.006Z

*Spoilers ahead*

Call Of Duty: Black Ops messes with your head. Without giving away too much, constant doubt and some sinister numbers lead you to a pretty shocking conclusion. But it doesn't end there...

You see: in the bottom left of the screen, at the start of every mission, you'll see some 'designate' numbers and codewords. Youtube user 01MaverickTen10 has cracked the code that nobody knew existed; using some alphabetory trickery, you get:

"Reznov is dead. Or is he dead? There was no body/nobody. Is he who he says he is?"

Crazy, right? Not only does this question the ending, it leads to the possibility that there are more codes out there; most notably, the 'Eight Steps' Reznov uses to escape Vorkuta. Since this code, and probably more out there, contradict or question the ending to Black Ops, it seems very unlikely that Treyarch would simply call it a day and move on to a new story - instead, it would make perfect sense to continue on with the characters, and possibly, the timeframe, to tie up these loose ends.

Would you like to see a Black Ops 2, or prefer a whole new direction? Tell us below.

Get An Xbox 360 For £50...If You're Fast Enough

2010-11-26T19:04:00.003Z

Got a fast clicking-finger? Free around 9:00pm? Then you could be one of a thousand getting your grubby hands on an Xbox 360 for £50.

The deal is happening here, on Amazon, at 9:00pm GMT. You will need to be fast - but your reward is greater than any pain the antagonizing wait might put you though. It's a game in itself, trying to out-click all those other hopefuls.

We'll see you there. And we're going to get one. No matter what.

Get Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway For 10p! (100% off)

2010-11-26T17:13:00.004Z

This could be the only time I ever use an exclamation mark in a title (*shudders*), but this deserves it. First point - Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway is AWESOME. I cannot stress enough how brilliant this game is; beautiful stylized graphics, incredible gameplay, and a wonderful story. It's certainly, for my money, the best WWII game out there.

And what little money! You can pick up your PC copy for 10 pence! That's 100% off the RRP (according to Amazon's maths). This is, by far, the single best purchase you will ever make in your life. Promise.

What'cho waiting for?... Get to it!

Get Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising 91% Off

2010-11-26T17:06:00.003Z

It's Black Friday! And no, it's not as horrific as it sounds! Black Friday, in case you didn't know, is just after Thanksgiving, when retailers the world over slash prices to get those post-Thanksgiving and pre-Christmas sales. The event has slowly spread to the UK, and we've found a deal you might be interested in.

Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising (PC), the almost-amazing-but-still-really-good authentic-shooter, is £3. With Red River set for a 2011 release, it's certainly worth picking up, especially if you're looking for more danger than the bullet-sponges of the Call Of Duty omniverse. We'll be posting some more deals we find throughout the day here, so stay tuned!

Clicks for teh win!

Official Playstation Magazine UK Review Scores - Gran Turismo 5, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, Rock Band 3 + More

2010-11-25T16:34:00.004Z

Another month, and another flurry of review scores from the Official Playstation Magazine UK. It's Issue 52, Christmas 2010, and it has a moody Gran Turismo 5 picture on the cover.

Gran Turismo 5 - N/A - OPM have decided to do several pages of kind, and sometimes not-so-kind words on GT5, without giving a score.
Call Of Duty: Black Ops - 9
Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood - 8
Rock Band 3 - 9
The Fight (Move) - 6
TV Superstars (Move) - 7
Majin And The Forsaken Kingdom - 6
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II - 6
FIFA 11 (PSP) - 4
Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit - 9
DJ Hero 2 - 8
God Of War: Ghost Of Sparta - 9

Read all the delightful words accompanying those words, plus all the previews and features in the mag (And the GT5 'Review') by popping into your local newsagents and picking up a copy - you won't regret it!

VGA 2010: New Unannounced Zombie Game Teaser: 'Murder Your...'

2010-11-24T22:09:00.008Z

Yet another VGA teaser prompting you to 'Look Closer', and SystemLink has snapped images of the two most important hidden pictures. The first is number 2 of 3 'zombie' teasers, and the second is a QR code. Don't ask us.

Here's the zombie image. Right click and 'View Image' to go fullscreen.

So; it's definitely something viral, and most certainly a zombie-themed game. Left 4 Dead 3? No - Valve wouldn't want to release three games without a single update to another of their IPs. Resident Evil 6? Could be - looks like a more modern setting, too. Bear in mind it could also be linked with the PS3 exclusive Sony have been hinting at. Zombie Nathan Drake? Colour us excited.

EDIT: See? We told you we were no good at this tech stuff. 'Digital Ivan' has correctly pointed out the ASCII code is in fact a QR code, and he's kindly linked to a screenshot (Thanks!). Put together, the two codes say 'MURDER YOUR'. Murder your father? Brother? Country? Species?

So - wild speculation below, please.

The Steam Black Friday Sale Is The Best Thing Ever - You Could Get 5 Games Free!

2010-11-24T19:06:00.004Z

Here's what's going on. 4 gift pack deals per day. 9 games on sale per day. Plus, the chance to get any 5 games, absolutely free, so long as you're one of 30 lucky people. Per day.

Some people don't like Steam. With sales like these, it's hard to see why. Ladies and Gentlemen: get buying.

Download Steam here.

Blizzard gives early holiday gift by way of World of Warcraft

2010-11-24T04:21:00.006Z

World of Warcraft's third expansion is due out in less than two weeks and if you're looking to climb aboard now, well, it's kinda expensive. While the original game, Burning Crusade, Wrath of the Lich King, and Cataclysm will all run you over $100 easy at retail, Blizzard has a little gift for the more frugal person.

For a limited time, you can give the gift of Warcraft. Specifically, you can obtain all of the games including the new expansion for $60. Yes, it's practically theft. So if you wanted your buddy or buddies to delve into the life-ending digital void Blizzard has wrought, now's the cheapest way possible.

Oh, be aware that this is for the digital versions only. Complain all you want but the convenience of downloading the game and still playing while you download cannot be denied. Besides, for this price I think you can forgo the box.

Spark Unlimited Working On 'Well Known Third Person Sword Fighting Game'

2010-11-23T17:33:00.007Z

Spark Unlimited are known for their speed; with titles like Turning Point and Legendary, the developers specialise in making a game in under a year, and then throwing out into the open, usually to mediocre reviews. That could all change, as it seems they're taking their time with a new project.

As seen on this LinkedIn profile, Spark Unlimited are working on an 'Unannounced third person sword fighting game (well known IP, Xbox 360, PS3)'. Other details include:

•Unreal Engine 3, C++, Unreal Script, Microsoft Visual C++ .Net, Perforce, nFringe unreal script debugger.
•Implemented a death and resurrection system including a death post process effect
•Dynamic collision cylinder size adjustments depending upon the mode of the main character.
•Movement transitions, a stealth mode.
•Evaluated MOG Ware.

The Spark Unlimited site also mentions 'a high-profile science fiction franchise'.

A well known, high-profile science fiction, 3rd person sword game that features a death mode? We're stumped. If you think you've got it, tell us in the comments below.

GT5 Last Call: Mind-Blowing Photomode Screens And Beautiful Nighttime Rain Video

2010-11-22T21:54:00.005Z

If you're one of the many, many hundreds of thousands who have pre-ordered Gran Turismo 5, then you must be feeling awful smug. Chances are, if you've picked your supplier right, you could receive the package you've been waiting half a decade for...tomorrow. So, there's just time to give you some incredible photos and a stunning video. Maybe it's due to the game fully releasing in only two days, but does this look even more beautiful than normal?

While we'll have to wait to actually play the game to see how it handles, but no doubt about it;

GT5 looks gooood.

Check out all the photos here.

GT5: Wonderful Smoke Effects On The Top Gear Test Track

2010-11-21T18:42:00.002Z

Sometimes, pictures speak louder than words. By that logic, videos scream in your face while playing the drums. It may be off-cam, but here's a rather liberal use of a BMW, on the Top Gear Test Track, showing the beautiful smoke effects and some realistic Top Gear camera angles. If only they had Clarkson throw in some sort of misogynist comment every few seconds...

3 days? Christmas certainly has come early.

The HUD Can't Be Turned Off In Gran Turismo 5

2010-11-20T12:22:00.005Z

With all the pre-official-release discs of Gran Turismo 5 in the wild, it's possible that some information has slipped you by. And while we hate to be the bearers of bad news, there's one thing that's stood out.

Despite a myriad of customization options in GT5, you cannot turn off the HUD. You can take away the 'driving line' that shows you where to brake, but as for the speedometer, position, lap, leaderboard, lap times, and those other numbers and figures dotted around the screen; they stay there. Confirmation of this is below, at 1:01 minutes

While it's hardly a deal breaker, it's still mighty disappointing for me; the total immersion from the likes of Need For Speed: Shift wouldn't have worked without the ability to turn the HUD off, and driving round Tokyo in the middle of the night, in cockpit view, would be much better without all those distracting and immersion-breaking numbers found in GT5's pretty huge HUD.

EDIT: There's also confirmation from someone with the game, here: "Map Size can be adjusted, unfortunately, no option to turn-off the HUD yet." I'd also like to clarify that this is in no way a 'hate attack' on Gran Turismo 5; this is valid news, and while you have your own opinions on how this effects the overall game, my personal feelings are above.

Still, the game's out on Wednesday - get those wallets ready.

Final Fantasy XIV has an incentive plan for PC owners.

2010-11-20T01:08:00.004Z

In a stroke of benevolent justice, or maybe just cognizant ability, Square-Enix has announced an incentive program for Final Fantasy XIV. PC players who take the time to help newer PS3 players will receive unannounced goodies in an unannounced manner. Cool?

Since players on the PC will have had the game for several months over PS3 players, this incentive program sounds promising. Unfortunately the existence of the program is pretty much all we know. How PS3 players will transition into PC players parties, the system behind it, and the rewards themselves is unknown. However, expect some kind of crazy Chocobo as a reward because, you know, that's got to be the driving factor behind helping a novice. Why else would you help?

Operation Flashpoint: Red River Debut Trailer

2010-11-18T20:19:00.003Z

The first trailer for Operation Flashpoint: Red River, landed today. It's live-action; click to watch below. As with an increasing number of trailers these days, they've gone for the old juxtaposition of upbeat music and, y'know, death. Do you think it works?

The first two in-game screenshots were released today, too. Check them out here.

Video Games | Operation Flashpoint: Red River | Exclusive Live Action Debut Trailer

XBox 360 | Playstation 3 | Nintendo Wii

Marvel vs Capcom 3 release date and extras

2010-11-17T19:11:00.003Z

On February 15th you'll have the option of committing to the most insane mix of character brawling this gaming generation has ever seen. Of course I'm talking about Marvel vs Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds and it just gets better from here.

For 70 bones, which translates to just $10 more than a typical game, you'll obtain the special edition of the game that comes with some pretty amazing goodies. For one, you'll receive a one-month pass to Marvel's online digital comics platform. A voucher for the first two DLC characters Jill Valentine and Shuma-Gorath will also be accompany the pass. It doesn't hurt that the game comes in an awesome steel casing either.

With Capcom slowly rolling out this incredibly diverse roster, the only thing we can all do is salivate over what we still do not possess. Soon my friends, very, very soon.

EA Sports Active 2 trailers get us all hot and bothered

2010-11-17T18:59:00.004Z

Muscles. Men want them. Women like them (or so is my slightly stereotypical understanding). And now games are trying to give you them. EA Sports Active 2 is trying to get you fit no matter your motion controls, and EA have released 4 new trailers to tempt you to 'lose those pounds'. Which I honestly cannot say without doing a Gok Wan voice.

Check them all out over at our good friends 'The Games Tribe'. Warning; be prepared for a lot of B-Listers saying 'Cor, this is great!' as they fake a smile. True story, bro.

Ubisoft confirms North American Prince of Persia games on the PSN

2010-11-17T03:20:00.005Z

Remember a while back when we reported that the Prince of Persia collection would be coming exclusively to Europe? Don't worry, it still is. For the North Americans though, it appears that the only way they'll receive these titles is by way of the glorious PSN.

According to the Playstation Blog, North America will not be receiving the retail disc compilation of all three Prince of Persia games. Instead, The Sands of Time, Warrior Within, and The Two Thrones will all be available to download for $14.99 a piece. The Sands of Time is available right now but the other two titles won't become attainable until sometime in December.

I'm glad to have the Prince of Persia series in high-definition at my finger tips, but it sure would have been nice to have that disc on hand. It's also a disadvantage to have these games on the PSN because the prices rarely drop. There goes picking up the collection off Amazon for like $10. Rats.

New Tomb Raider Game Leaked, Coming 2011, Revealed In Next Month's Game Informer

2010-11-15T17:31:00.007Z

And here's another one. A week ago, we exclusively revealed that Hitman 5 was on the way in 2011. Now, we can once again exclusively reveal that a new Tomb Raider is in development, and is due to come out next year. But that's not all we found.

Here is the LinkedIn profile that, quite literally, gives the game away; Tomb Raider: Ascension, coming 2011. The name of the user has been blurred for privacy reasons.

Does that sound familiar? Maybe - Tomb Raider Ascension was a fan film that come out in 2007. Here's the pretty poor teaser for it. The story is all about Lara Croft finding out about her past, and where it all started. Hang on...

July 2009. Leaked game concept art and info shows a 'young and inexperienced Lara' surviving on a Japanese island after a shipwreck. The codename for the project was Downfall; the opposite of 'ascension'. Wait, shipwreck? Yes, that very same shipwreck on the cover of the December Game Informer.

From our hunting skills, it seems that the unannounced project Crystal Dynamics have been working on for some time is the game Tomb Raider: Ascension (2011), loosely linked to an old fan film of the same name. The Game Informer cover is the reveal of the next Lara Croft outing, as you find yourself shipwrecked on an island as a young Croft and have to survive. Excited yet?

Follow our Twitter for if we find more on the story, and join in the conversation below.

Another Assassin's Creed... already?

2010-11-11T03:46:00.004Z

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is just a week away from release and already we have more news on the famed franchise. Would you expect a new offshoot called Assassin's Creed: Ascendance to manifest so soon?

Ubi Workshop, the dudes behind the comics and short films, have unveiled this enigmatic teaser that clearly doesn't show enough to proclaim it much of anything. The only hint given away was that "it's obviously not a game." So is this more canon fodder, an interactive adventure by way of animated comics, or both? Honestly if I had to guess it'd just be more of a comic thing than anything. I just hope it won't be something trivial and lackluster like Dead Space Ignition.

The NHL invades the PSN

2010-11-11T03:17:00.002Z

The PSN just became stronger as the more physical brutes of the NHL have taken over. Specifically, NHL GameCenter is now available over Sony's service. So now you've got no excuse to watch you some good ole' hockey - if you've got the cash.

For the low, low price of $169 you can enjoy the features NHL GameCenter has to offer. Watch your favorite team dominate in HD, view full player profiles, statistics, or if you get bored you can dip into the NHL Vault's pool of 500 classic games. Requisite as it may be, you can even pause, rewind, and slow down the action at will. The only way this would be better is if you could do it all with your mind.

You also might want to know that this service is only available in Canada and New York for the time being. You'll also need to download the application that's available on the PSN for $9.99. However, if you're a Playstation Plus member this cost will be waived. It seems pretty expensive to delve into this deal but I suppose if you're a dedicated hockey fan it's a steal. Regardless, it's great to see Sony and the NHL coming together in an embrace that could kill a lesser being. Now how 'bout them New York Rangers?

Hitman 5 Definitely In Production, Coming 2011

2010-11-07T16:06:00.001Z

After a very, very long time of rumours, speculation, faked trailers and subtle hints, SystemLink can exclusively reveal that not only is Hitman 5 definitely being made by IO Interactive, it's also down for a 2011 release date.

Here are two screenshots of LinkedIn profiles, the first proving Hitman 5 is in production, and the second giving a release date. We have blurred the names for privacy reasons.

If there hasn't been some sort of delay and next year's release date revealed here can be trusted, then expect an announcement very, very soon. Follow our Twitter to stay updated.

Ubisoft Working On Project Codename 'Flint'

2010-11-07T15:13:00.003Z

Put a codename on anything and it instantly becomes cooler. That's Rule 37 of the internet. It turns boring working titles into awesome James-Bond-style secret documents. Ubisoft certainly wants to look as villainous as possible, as they've got a project in the works: Codename 'Flint'.

Both a Level Designer and a Level Designer Director at Ubisoft Montreal list the ominous project, as you can see below. You can click the images to see them in higher resolution.

Names in this article's images have been purposefully blurred in order to provide some privacy to those employees of Ubisoft on whose profiles Codename 'Flint' appears.

Both have experience working on the Splinter Cell series, but Far Cry and Rainbow Six also appear. As for the actual name, 'Flint' could just be a neat title, or it may have something to do with a character in the Wildstorm universe. The film 'Our Man Flint' could be due a tie-in game, or we could soon be playing a simulation of the economic disaster in Flint, Michigan. Though that would be mental.

Put your own thoughts and guesses in the comments below.

Battlefield Play4Free coming soon

2010-11-05T17:05:00.003Z

Do you enjoy DICE's Battlefield games? Did you like how Battlefield: Bad Company 2 was set up? Do you have an enthusiastic response the idea of playing a new Battlefield game for free? Well then, Battlefield Play4Free has your number.

Just as it sounds, Battlefield Play4Free will be open to all for absolutely no cost. Of course, you can choose to throw some real money into the equation to get you boosts and better items. It's not necessary though, and you can always earn those things by just playing the game and earning in-game cash. Also expect to do the standard leveling up, obtaining achievements, and otherwise accomplishing intense heroic feats as you mow dudes down. How many dudes you ask? A maximum of 32 to be exact. It's what Battlefield is all about.

You might be asking yourself about EA's other free to play game, Battlefield Heroes. Don't worry, EA isn't abandoning the game. Actually, they kinda want you to play both. For instance, players who win a match in Battlefield Heroes will instantly be invited to the Play4Free beta set to kick off November 30th. You'll also earn an assortment of other goodies for playing both games. Don't take it from me, here's the official word.

Anyhow, the game looks promising and seems to be as deep as you'd like it to be; depending on how much investing you bring to the fight. Battlefield Play4Free has a Spring 2011 release date.

Rockstar Job Listings: Is their next project GTA V?

2010-11-05T16:11:00.008Z

It's been two and a half years since a console Grand Theft Auto, and following April 2008, gamers have only been able to cause havoc on a next-gen console in Liberty City only. Surely, we have to be close to GTA V? SystemLink went on a bit of a hunt, and here's what we found.

Rockstar are hiring across all 10 studios they own. We've searched every single one of their job listings to find hints at their next project. Here's a list of the most revealing ones.

All listings mention a PS3/Xbox 360 title.

Rockstar North
AI Programmer: '...help us in developing advanced Character and Vehicle AI for large scale games'

Character Animator: '• Exceptional skill in animating realistic human characters.'
'...Professional experience developing a third person action game. '

Physics Programmer: 'Rockstar North is seeking experienced, talented physics programmers to join our team to work across the development of low level physics systems and to innovate on physics in game. This is an exciting opportunity to develop cutting-edge physics and collision systems and use them in creative and novel ways. We want to hear from candidates who can iterate toward the perfect blend of realism and fun in how games feel to play and from candidates with a proven track record in robust, fast physics engine development.'

Systems Programmer: '...help breathe life, realism and fun into our next-generation games'

Conclusion: A third-person, open-world game with vehicles and humans, with a strong physics engine that fills the world with life, realism and fun.

Rockstar Leeds
Game content creator: '...including missions and gameplay scenarios - you'll be making our games fun!'

Rockstar NYC
Director/Editor: 'Storytelling is a very important aspect of our games...'
'Experience editing high profile trailers'
'Directing game capture artists to provide footage for trailers and commercials'

Director/Producer: 'We are looking for a highly capable individual who has the skill to direct voiceover talent, on camera talent, motion capture talent, organize castings, recording and shoots...'

Motion Graphics/Animation Artist:
' • Developing concepts for cartoons and sketching characters
• Storyboarding cartoon scripts
• Applying animation effects to game trailers and TV commercials '

Conclusion: The game has the same mission-based structure of many Rockstar titles. It seems there's going to be a huge advertising push here, with many 'high-end' trailers and TV adverts - this is a huge series for Rockstar. The only oddity is the cartoons; however, there were cartoons on the TV in GTA IV, and the pre-screenshot artwork had a unique style.

Rockstar New England
Character Animator: 'Candidates must be able to animate natural and expressive human motion to create realistic, fluid character animations.'

Graphics Programmer: 'Rockstar New England is uniquely positioned to contribute to many of Rockstar’s next generation titles in development as we ramp up toward a very exciting upcoming lineup of AAA titles. This programmer will be responsible for maintaining and extending the graphics engine on next-gen platforms, breaking new ground in visual effects, and optimizing graphics techniques to meet desired framerate.'

Physics Programmer: 'This programmer will be responsible for the game-specific application of physics elements such as ragdolls, biomechanical animation, vehicle dynamics, cloth, fragments, collisions, contact forces, fluid-dynamics, etc.'

Conclusion: Focusing on technology, Rockstar New England seems to be pushing graphics on all future titles, but the Physics Programmer seems to be geared towards classic GTA features.

So - is it GTA V?
Rockstar games use the same basic structure of missions and open-world gameplay mixed with realistic graphics and physics, but with an emphasis on storytelling and vehicles, it seems most likely Rockstar's next big project is Grand Theft Auto V.

Considering the number of listings posted, it won't be too far in development, but GTA IV was shown to the press when it was essentially a tech demo - We expect an announcement E3 2011. Until then, stay tuned via our Twitter.

Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy HD Remakes on the horizon?

2010-11-04T18:54:00.004Z

Sony employee drops possible hint of a Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy remaster on PS3.

In an interview recently, a member of Sony staff mentioned news that Konami and Square Enix are working on past titles in the wake of other successful remakes such as the God of War Collection and the impending Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. The staff member stated;

“The industry’s best developers are ReMastering their best games. Prince of Persia, Shadow of Colossus, and ICO are just the beginning. When fans see what Konami’s doing to the Metal Gear series, and what Square’s doing with Final Fantasy, they’re going to be very happy.”

So, could this possibly be remakes of some of the best games of the PS2 era or other projects we're yet to hear about it. Remember this is still a rumour, so all of this just could be a misinterpretation of a misquote. We'll keep you posted on anything new.

Read the whole interview here.

Gran Turismo 5 Not Releasing December 5th

2010-11-03T17:01:00.004Z

Rumours have been flying round recently regarding the fact many retailers who have dared to put up a date have oddly converged on December 5th, leading many to speculate that this is the new GT5 release date.

One such site is Simply Games. We asked them whether this date was Sony-certified, or just a placeholder. A spokesperson said;

"We can confirm that we are still waiting on an update from Sony for the
release date of Gran Turismo 5, as is everybody else."

So, no site has an official date from Sony or Polyphony Digital - don't get too excited.

Gamers Go To Court Today: Schwarzenegger v. EMA Is ON

2010-11-02T17:36:00.003Z

Today, on the 2nd November, 2010, gamers go to court. Schwarzenegger v. EMA is possibly the most important court case ever to hit gaming; if Arnie wins, then violent video games get banned from California. If EMA wins, it's a historic victory as gaming proves itself as a viable medium to the public. It's ON.

How do you get involved? Simple:

Join their Facebook, and click 'attending' to the rally outside the Supreme Court steps.

Follow their Twitter: Tweet to your buddies saying "I am attending @theeca’s #scotus #rally4gaming virtually & showing support for gamer’s rights and so should you! Pls RT".

Check out EMA.

Remember: it could start off as the West Coast, then spread to the shores of sweet Albion, tainting Europe and ridding the world of Call Of Duty, Duke Nukem, S.T.A.L.K.E.R., Splinter Cell, Devil May Cry, Medal Of Honor, Fallout, and thousands, thousands more. Gamers of the world, UNITE!

Bejeweled 3 sharing release date with Cataclysm

2010-11-02T17:33:00.004Z

If there's one thing that could stop the world from spinning on its axis it's a little gem called Bejeweled. Insanely popular and more than six years in the making, Bejeweled 3 will drop on December 7th - the same day as World of Warcraft's third expansion, Cataclysm.

It's probably not a coincidence that two mega popular titles are hitting the open waves on the very same day. Actually, it sort of makes sense when you think about it. What are you going to play while you wait for your raid to come together? Minesweeper? Don't make me laugh.

With well over 25 million copies sold, Bejeweled 3 intends to take the series to the next level. Touting it as the definitive Bejeweled experience, PopCap has revealed the price, $19.99, as well as some of the new features the game will incorporate:

Quest Mode - Journey through 40 magical new puzzles in this multi-faceted challenge. Rescue butterfly gems, dig through diamond mines, battle ice storms, and much more. Can you conquer the ultimate Bejeweled Quest?

Zen Mode - Enjoy a revolutionary new way to relax as you match gems in this endless game. Tailor your experience with deep breathing, ambient sounds, binaural beats and positive mantras to create your very own relaxing retreat.

Lightning Mode - Charge up with a challenging timed game of heart-pounding, gem-blasting fun! You have 60 seconds to rack up the highest score you can. Earn extra time with special gems and move fast for a Blazing Speed bonus.

Classic Mode - Play the most popular puzzle game of the century with exciting new gameplay and gorgeous high-definition artwork. Match 3 or more gems for cascades of fun and experience the sparkling new world of Bejeweled.

If that's not enough for you then head over to the site to catch up. Also, here's the trailer. Don't get addicted!

Gran Turismo 5 Prologue code has bikes, Las Vegas, and other awesome

2010-11-01T21:08:00.005Z

Think about it. Gran Turismo 5 could have been out tomorrow. Some retailers would have jumped the gun early and sent out copies already. You could have been playing it...right now. Depressing, eh? Let this cheer your up.

Over on Neogaf, in a Gran Turismo 5 thread, a user by the name of SolidSnakex has discovered the code from GT5P, and posted it. See the whole thing here.

Things that interest us are the fact 'ducati' and 'yamaha' are in there, as well as a few other bike manufacturers. Also, 'lasvegas' appears as a track name. If you find anything else out of the ordinary, feel free to plop it in the comments.

Rumour: The Darkness 2 may have the 'most advanced animation system yet to be seen in a game engine'

2010-11-01T16:48:00.000Z

In case you missed it, The Darkness 2 is currently being handled, or co-handled, by Digital Extremes, who've done work on the Bioshock 2 multiplayer, as well as the hugely underrated 'Dark Sector'. Not much is known about the sequel, apart from that it may well have some sort of multiplayer component. However, a LinkedIn profile gives a very bold claim away.

An unnamed Animation Programmer at Digital Extremes says on his profile:

Extremely excited to be working on animation for games, I'm pushing the limits again, now developing the most advanced animation system yet to be seen in a game engine, the Evolution Engine by Digital Extremes.

While there's no guarantee that The Darkness 2 is being created on this new engine, or if it's for another project, it's the only game Digital Extremes are known to have in the pipeline. In any case, I can't wait to stalk the shadows again and eat people's hearts with my tentacle monsters.

I can't believe I've just said that.

If you're after more hints and clues, here's a few concept art sketches that might be related to the project.

Steam Halloween Sale begins!

2010-10-28T19:55:00.002+01:00

Yes! Over this spooky time of Halloween, Steam is offering some of it's "spooky" games for less than usual!

There definitely seems to be a zombie theme going down right now, what with Resident Evil 5 and Plants vs Zombies, among others, on offer. Other games include; Bioshock, Ghostbusters: The Video Game, Left 4 Dead Bundle and Worms. So fire up your PC now and grab some of these while you can (dressing up to play games optional).

Check them all out here.

'The Bourne Conspiracy 2' Cancelled By EA

2010-10-28T15:01:00.006+01:00

Everyone loves the Bourne films. Punchy, shooty, shouty action flicks that demand little attention and give you a lot of cool fighting scenes. The game, Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy, did pretty well too, gaining an average of 70% on Megacritic. But don't hold your breath, fans; it seems a sequel has been binned.

Thanks to a LinkedIn profile, SystemLink can reveal a second instalment of high-kicks and punch-ups has been cancelled by EA. You can right-click and 'View Image' to see fullscreen.

It's a bit of a shame; The Bourne Conspiracy joined Wanted: Weapons Of Fate in a year of enjoyable, well made movie tie-ins. Put sad smiley faces in the comments below.

Killzone 3 Bug Lets Players 'ROFL' While Killing

2010-10-28T14:54:00.007+01:00

The Killzone 3 beta went live a couple of days ago, and I was one of the 'lucky' ones that sat and refreshed the PS Store for an hour waiting for the theme to go live. The game is, with out a doubt, one of the best looking, totally crazy awesome games this year, but that doesn't mean it can't have kick-ass bugs and glitches. I was playing a game of Warzone, minding my own business - when I was attacked, out of nowhere, BY A DEAD GUY!

One of the funniest glitches I've come across in a game; the power to literally 'ROFL'. I was confused and amazed to see this corpse sliding around on the ground absolutely destroying my team.

I can hardly keep in the girly squeals of excitement for the full release in February.

'First' Gran Turismo 5 Review Is Fake

2010-10-27T11:44:00.003+01:00

Earlier today, 3xG posted what they claimed to be their exclusive Gran Turismo 5 review. Of course, the Internet being the Internet, sceptics around the world united to figure out whether it was faked.

SystemLink got in touch with a kindly Sony Europe PR, who simply told us;

"No one has review code for GT5."

So, you'll have to wait a bit longer until you get a real verdict on the hotly anticipated driving simulator

Gamers Plan To Rally On The Steps Of The Supreme Court

2010-10-26T19:31:00.003+01:00

Gamers are a plucky bunch. After years of being kicked around by the bigger boys and called bad names, we're ready to unleash our nerd rage on the rest of the world. Starting with the capital of the USA.

If you live in the D.C. area, join the Entertainment Consumers Association and others as they show their support for free speech and gamer rights on the day the Supreme Court hears Schwarzenegger v. EMA. It sounds like one of the coolest action movies ever, but in fact, it's a rather serious court case that has the State Of California wanting to ban violent video games. Which is, we estimate, a good 99% of your most loved titles.

Find all you need to join in right here; but remember to leave early, as you'll have to run to GET TO ZE CHOPPA!

'Zombie Cougars' Is Now A Trend

2010-10-26T16:54:00.005+01:00

Don't look at us. We don't get the Twitter-sphere - trying to confine our literary genius into a mere 140 characters? UTTER EXPOSTULATION, GOOD SIR! Still, we want to look 'down with the kids' to hide the fact we're all slowly balding middle-aged men who still dream of becoming part-time astronauts and part-time footballers*. And the kids these days love Red Dead Redemption.

Top of the trend list right this very second is 'ZOMBIE COUGARS'. No, not some Cougar Town Hallowe'en special, but the coolest feature of the new Undead Nightmare pack for Red Dead. You can get it now from Xbox LIVE (800 Microsoft Points) and PlayStation Network ($9.99).

*We're not, but we would like to do some penalty practice on the moon.

BlizzCon: Classic World of Warcraft dungeons will all be different

2010-10-26T01:17:00.003+01:00

As if things couldn't get any better for World of Warcraft fans, Blizzard has revealed a more in depth look at the revitalization of classic dungeons. We're not talking about just shuffling objects here or there either. We're talking about how all of the classics will be changing. Every. Single. One.

It's been known that Blizzard would be doing some tweaking to certain classics like Shadowfang Keep and the Deadmines. However, what we didn't know is that Blizzard intended to revamp and tweak all the classic dungeons across the land.

"The primary goal for touching up any classic dungeon is to make them less confusing, shorter (in the case of the most sprawling crawls), and -- overall -- more fun. One way to accomplish this is to tweak the layouts and divide larger dungeons into separate wings. Come Cataclysm, players will see this philosophy in action in places like Uldaman and Maraudon, now separated into wings that are easier to navigate. Other dungeons are better served by trimming away the excess, as in certain sections of Sunken Temple and the maze-like portion of Wailing Caverns."

According to the developers, they'll be keeping the spirit of the old dungeons while also crafting a fresh experience for every level of player. One such thing will be the incorporation of all quest givers at the start of the dungeon. No more running across Azeroth to get this quest and that quest and, thankfully, no more obscenely long quest chains that you can't share. You'll also be able to run a Heroic version of the dungeon which makes these changes relevant to high level players.

Clearly Blizzard is perfecting their game and it's excellent to see a developer so committed to the quality in their product.

BlizzCon: World of Warcraft 4.1 patch to add dungeon mechanic overhaul

2010-10-26T01:13:00.002+01:00

World of Warcraft's latest patch added in a large number of changes brought on by the game's upcoming third expansion, Cataclysm. It's changed the game almost completely, but don't get comfortable just yet. Blizzard has announced additional massive changes for their 4.1 patch and it's coming soon.

You'd think with the entire landscape shift, revamped talent trees, and brand new quests that Blizzard wouldn't have time to add anything else to their game. How do you feel about a few new instances? What about being able to fight the infamous Ragnaros in the elemental plane of fire with six other bosses? If that scares you, why not hop into the elemental plane of water to duke it out with four unique boss encounters? Yes, it's all coming.

New things are nice and having more dungeons to delve is always welcome, but one of the best tidbits of information we've received is all about enhanced dungeon mechanics. If you've ever played WoW then you inevitably came upon an incredibly hard raid boss that you just couldn't figure out. Maybe your raid leaders would constantly tell you to watch videos on how to learn the fights. Well, those days are over. Blizzard says it best:

"Another major feature of patch 4.1 will be enhanced dungeon and raid maps. While dungeon maps currently show the dungeon layout and locations of bosses, 4.1 will allow players to find a host of new information for each boss, including 3D boss portraits, the lore behind the encounter, a full loot list, and a breakdown of boss abilities (by phase, if applicable)."

No longer will you be forced to settle for nothing after hours of crashing into a brick wall. By simply reading and observing, you and your team can find the right way to tackle a boss without it feeling cheap; and you get to see a full list of loot without having additional mods. It's friggin' Christmas for WoW fans.

New Week-Long Steam Sale - THQ Week

2010-10-25T21:00:00.004+01:00

Steam likes sales. There's a lot of them, pretty much every week - boot up the application and your bound to see a big money-saving offer on the homepage. This week, however, it's a little different.

This week is THQ Week! That means every day until Friday, there's a new game or series with a huge price reduction. Today it's all the Red Faction games, 75% off. GET! Watch out for the inevitable S.T.A.L.K.E.R and Metro 2033, and be sure to load up on some Russian post-apocalyptic scares!

Download Steam right here.

Reuters Report PSPGo Price Cut In U.S And Japan

2010-10-25T20:17:00.004+01:00

News agency Reuters reported today that Sony was cutting the price of the PSPgo console in both America and Japan.

The handheld, which forgoes a disc drive in favour of downloadable games and media, is set to have it's price reduced from $249 to $199 in the United States, and from 26,800 yen to 16,800 yen (approximately $208) in Japan.

One of the main criticisms of the PSPgo upon it's launch on 1st October 2009 in America and Europe, and 1st November 2009 in Japan, was the extortionate price tag that came along with it. Sony is perhaps looking to alleviate some, but certainly not all, of these criticisms with the reduced price.

No announcement has been made so far as to whether Europe will receive a similar price cut for the PSPgo, which currently has a RRP of £224.99 though it can be found for as cheap as £175.00 (which some might claim is still far too expensive for a paperweight).

Calm Down, Kids! Uncharted 3: World Of Deceit Is Fake

2010-10-24T22:21:00.003+01:00

After some infamous French retailer displays Uncharted 3: World Of Deceit, you can forgive the internet for getting a bit excited. But there comes a time Mama Rationality has to calm down Junior Excitement and Little Bobby Sensationalism. If those are what she chooses to name her kids. I don't know where I'm going with this...

Point is, this Uncharted 3 business is a scam. A scam, I tells ya! Firstly, all the concept art and the box art are taken from a talented young 'ar'teest' by the name of Albert Ng. See all his work here, and his LinkedIn here. As he writes underneither these Nathan Drake-themed sketches; 'Uncharted 3 pieces I did for architecture class'. So, not official Naughty Dog stuff.

To add to that, Naughty Dog employee Arne Meyer said "The guy used the Uncharted universe as the basis for mock work for one of his classes and even listed it as such where the pieces were posted".

We must also remember that Amazon.fr have had Uncharted on pre-order since E3 2010, and have only updated the artwork, not the title of the order.

So, there you have it. Despite Naughty Dog definitely working on it, it's certainly going to be called World Of Deceit. We prefer 'Uncharted 3: ZOMFG PRETTI EXPLOSIONZ!'. More accurate.

BlizzCon: Diablo III has matchmaking PvP, unique arenas

2010-10-24T05:04:00.002+01:00

That addictive piece of digital devilry known as Diablo II had some problems in the PVP department. In its defense Diablo was never centrally focused on PVP, but that's where the past and the future collide in a cascade of bone and blood. Get ready because Diablo III will have PVP arenas and fully fleshed out functionality. That's a lot of F's.

The dudes over in the fortress of ice have declared that Diablo III will incorporate a system that pits other players against your unique character, much like matchmaking. All the items and equipment you might have come by in the normal game will in fact be carried over to these brawls, but expect the matchmaking system to pair you up with similar skilled opposition. So I guess that means no lowbie beat downs anymore. Oh well, at least the arenas you'll be fighting in will all be entirely unique and should sport various terrain and obstacles as well.

The best part about this PVP news is that Blizzard is taking it seriously. In Diablo II it required some effort to get someone to fight you or to just join a PVP only game. It wasn't exactly balanced and, believe it or not, that's something I hope Blizzard doesn't change. It's just fast, simple fun and when you utterly annihilate a guy they can take a look at your gear and see what they lack. You'll also gain points based on a numerous stats, like wins and losses, and that'll help match you up against your foes. They also have said they're working on team based combat scenarios which sounds crazy. Check back soon as we'll have more details as information becomes available.

BlizzCon: StarCraft II officially goes DOTA and Heart of the Swarm is far off

2010-10-24T01:37:00.002+01:00

You might have heard of that little strategy game called StarCraft. The very one that's played in certain countries as a sport, ya dig? Anyway, Blizzard has announced that over 91 million matches have been played since launch. That's quite a bit. However, for those who enjoy the more lenient custom games setting instead of the competitive side of things are in for a special treat.

Exclusive to BlizzCon are four brand new custom maps made by the mad scientists of the StarCraft II development team. They include Left 2 Die, StarCraft DOTA, StarJeweled, and Aiur Chef. I'm sure you can use your imagination and figure out what games Blizzard made these maps after. Whether they're awesome or not remains to be heard though, but don't worry because all will be rolled out to the general public in due time.

StarCraft II already has an excellent community behind it and I can't wait to see what the developers themselves have to bring to the picture. Blizzard's already released a custom map called Burning Tide but it was less than stellar, most notably because it favored a single race (Terran) and represented the exact same mission you played from the campaign. Still, I have reason to be optimistic for this quadra-pack since I'm both a big Left 4 Dead and DOTA fan. Given the news, it was about time Blizzard jumped on the bandwagon right?

While we're all enjoying the custom map festival I'm sure more than a handful of you are wondering about StarCraft II's first expansion, Heart of the Swarm. Well, unfortunately the Zerg themed augmentation is looking really far off. Like, after 2011 far off. One can't help but wonder why it will take so long but then again... it's Blizzard.

BlizzCon: Cataclysm will be available to preload

2010-10-24T01:35:00.001+01:00

Hail to all things Blizzard! This weekend marks the annual BlizzCon event that gets every gamer writhing in anticipation. And why shouldn't you be? Blizzard hasn't made a bad game yet and with several titles, including their unannounced MMO on the horizon, there's quite a lot to be excited about. But enough with the prologue, its information time!

To start things off we'll visit the multi-million subscriber based wonder that is World of Warcraft. Cataclysm, the third expansion to the renowned game will be hitting store shelves on December 7th, but you don't have to pick it up from there. As you might have guessed, Blizzard has revealed that Cataclysm will be available to fully preload before the servers go live. StarCraft II actually did this before its launch earlier this year and it yielded excellent results.

If you're like me you don't always have the time to be waiting in line at midnight, making this the optimal choice for purchasing. Of course, if you're more of a material person and absolutely must have the box and/or collector's items then you'll have no choice but to wait in those perpetually long lines at retailers. Make your choice. Just remember this; by the time you get home with your disc in hand I'll already be playing while you simply glare at the install screen. Mwahahahaha.

Arkane Studios Hiring For AAA Multiplatform Title

2010-10-22T19:48:00.000+01:00

Arkane Studios, the developers behind Arx Fatalis and the PC version of Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, are currently working on a AAA unannounced title for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC, if job listings on the Arkane Studios are to be believed.

The developer, owned by Zenimax Media (whose other assets include Bethesda and Id Software), is currently searching for individuals to fill a variety of roles including (but not limited to); an Animator, Gameplay Programmer, and Senior AI Programmer to work on a new title.

Whilst the job listings do not explicitly state the identity of yet-to-be revealed game, some information regarding it can be gleamed from the job listings. The requirements for 4 of the 7 positions state that the individual needs to have a

Passion for video games and especially for first-person immersive games

or words to that effect. Meanwhile, the requirements for the Senior AI Programmer includes

Knowledge of AI techniques such as FSM's, path finding, and behavior systems

So what does all this mean? The 'passion' for first-person games is pretty self-explanatory, whilst the knowledge of Artificial Intelligence techniques suggests enemies, or allies, which could exhibit complex and intricate behaviours. Given Arkane Studios previous development of Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, could a sequel be on the way? Or is the developer working on something entirely new?

Gran Turismo 5 Still On For November Release?

2010-10-22T14:34:00.000+01:00

Thanks to the Internet, you can get the latest news within seconds of it happening. It's one of the reasons print is slowly dying, and it saddens us deeply. Especially when you can't tell if a harmless advert is up to date, or way back in the past.

The latest issue of OPM has literally just come out. And it features this advert:

(Click here to view fullscreen)

We don't know if this is an ad put in place before the delay, or if this is actually confirming that game won't be pushed back a whole month, but it sure is pretty to look at.

Call Of Duty: Black Ops Zombie Plot Details - A Mad Russian And Crazy Gas

2010-10-22T13:29:00.004+01:00

Ever wondered why the teaser site for Black Ops Zombies is called GKNOVA6? Wonder no more. Along with a verdict, OPM spills some info on the plot of the Zombie mode.

In the single-player campaign, a sneaky Russian General by the name of Kravchenko decides that gas is the way forward. Because no one's ever heard of a 'gas leak'. What could possibly go wrong? Well, the gas is called Nova 6. We're guessing it turns harmless Boy Scouts into...faceless creepers.

Also, OPM noticed that during a loading screen, a voice says 'Why did you do it, Mason?'. Mason is one of the good guys in Black Ops, but this suggests he may go a bit bonkers and, y'know, start a zombie invasion or something. Ha! Classic Mason.

Official Playstation Magazine UK Review Scores - Medal of Honor, New Vegas

2010-10-22T13:00:00.007+01:00

Issue 51. December 2010. £5.99. Here's what you get:

Fallout: New Vegas - 8
Medal Of Honor - 8
Lara Croft and the Guardian Of Light - 9
Def Jam Rapstar - 8
Saw II - 6
WWE Smackdown vs Raw 2011 - 8
Racket Sports (Move) - 2 (OUCH!)
Vanquish - 8
EA Sports MMA - 7

Next issue it's Gran Turismo 5, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (thanks for that), and many more - follow our Twitter so you never miss it.