Bitmob.com reported yesterday that developer Pandemic was in development on a new Mercenaries title prior to mass layoffs at the developer last week, including an early trailer for the game. Reportedly titled Mercs Inc, it appeared to place an emphasis on co-operative and adversarial multiplayer gameplay involving the vehicles that have long been a staple of the series. After positive responses to the footage spread across the internet last night, EA has made an official announcement for the game, confirming the Mercs Inc title. The announcement lends credence to EA’s claim that despite the “closure” of Pandemic as an independent studio, key figures from the team have been retained and will continue work on Pandemic IP at EALA in Southern California.
While no platforms have been announced for Mercs Inc, it can be assumed that it will be aimed at HD platforms given EA’s poor sales performance on the Wii this year (despite positive critical responses for those titles in the games press) and their recently announced intention to refocus on more profitable ventures. The press release for the Mercs Inc. announcement can be found below.
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pandemic™ Studios, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), today announced that an all-new game in the studio’s popular Mercenaries™ franchise is in early stages of development at EALA. ‘Mercs Inc’ (working title) is the latest entry in the action series first made popular by Mercenaries in 2005 and most recently by Mercenaries 2: World in Flames™. Mercs Inc will be the first Pandemic game to be developed by the studio at its new home in Playa Vista. Mercs Inc will also be the first Pandemic game released after the launch this December 8th of the award-winning World War II action-sandbox game, The Saboteur™.
“We are very excited to announce a new instalment in the popular Mercenaries series because it demonstrates our continued commitment to Pandemic’s rich catalogue of intellectual properties,” said Nick Earl, Senior VP and Group General Manager at EA. “From the studio at EALA, a core creative team is forging new ground and conceptualizing new ideas for this exciting franchise.”
The most imminent release from Pandemic Studios is the action sandbox game, The Saboteur which ships on December 8, 2009. The Saboteur stars Sean Devlin; a street-tough Irish race car driver trapped behind enemy lines in 1940s Nazi-occupied France. Motivated by revenge, Sean fights, climbs, and races through open-world Paris, sneaking into the heart of the Nazi operations and sabotaging their every move. The Saboteur will be available for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox360® video game and entertainment system, and the PC. The Saboteur has been rated M by the ESRB with the following as descriptors: blood, intense violence, nudity, sexual themes, strong language. More information about The Saboteur, can be found at http://www.thesaboteurgame.com. Platform(s) and ship date for Mercs Inc not announced. This game is not yet rated by the ESRB.
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Monday, November 30, 2009
Section 8 Update
November 23, 2009 – Houston, TX - SouthPeak and TimeGate Studios’ Section 8™ on Xbox 360 received an update today to address player feedback from the first month of play. Based on responses from players, TimeGate has improved everything from the automatch system to how the tank controls work. Section 8’s massive multiplayer battles are now even more intense and more rewarding than before.
Some of the improvements players will find include:
Tank controls have been tuned, making them more intuitive and responsiveThe improved automatch system offers enhanced responsiveness when searching for a server Bot AI has been improved. Bots will now follow and defend allies and will pursue retreating targets more aggressivelyAn improved stat tracking framework
The update is available now for Xbox 360 and also Games for Windows LIVE. For more info on the game and a full list of what the update offers please visit www.JoinSection8.com.
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Some of the improvements players will find include:
Tank controls have been tuned, making them more intuitive and responsiveThe improved automatch system offers enhanced responsiveness when searching for a server Bot AI has been improved. Bots will now follow and defend allies and will pursue retreating targets more aggressivelyAn improved stat tracking framework
The update is available now for Xbox 360 and also Games for Windows LIVE. For more info on the game and a full list of what the update offers please visit www.JoinSection8.com.
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Saturday, November 28, 2009
Supreme Commander 2 Gets A Release Date
LOS ANGELES (November 19, 2009) – Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of Square Enix® interactive entertainment products in North America, announced today that SUPREME COMMANDER® 2, created by critically-acclaimed developer Gas Powered Games, will be available on PC-DVD March 2, 2010 and on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft on March 16, 2010.
SUPREME COMMANDER 2 is the next installment in the award-winning SUPREME COMMANDER franchise, set 25 years further into the future. Featuring numerous game enhancements, an in-depth campaign mode, online multiplayer and a unique storyline, the game represents a new dimension in RTS gaming.
Boasting intense battles on a massive scale, players will wage war, creating enormous customizable armies and experimental war machines that can change the balance of power at any given moment. Assume the role of one of the three enigmatic commanders, each representing a unique faction with a rich story that brings a new level of emotional connection to the RTS genre.
"The partnership with Square Enix has been a highlight of my career," said Chris Taylor, Founder and Creative Director of Gas Powered Games. "I couldn’t be more proud of what the team has accomplished, as the game has continually exceeded all of my expectations throughout its development."
“Supreme Commander 2 is a shining example of our strategic partnership with Gas Powered Games,” said John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix, Inc. “Square Enix's expertise in character development and storytelling, combined with the real-time strategy experience of the creative talent at Gas Powered Games, promises to deliver a feature-rich product that we hope gamers from around the globe will enjoy.”
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SUPREME COMMANDER 2 is the next installment in the award-winning SUPREME COMMANDER franchise, set 25 years further into the future. Featuring numerous game enhancements, an in-depth campaign mode, online multiplayer and a unique storyline, the game represents a new dimension in RTS gaming.
Boasting intense battles on a massive scale, players will wage war, creating enormous customizable armies and experimental war machines that can change the balance of power at any given moment. Assume the role of one of the three enigmatic commanders, each representing a unique faction with a rich story that brings a new level of emotional connection to the RTS genre.
"The partnership with Square Enix has been a highlight of my career," said Chris Taylor, Founder and Creative Director of Gas Powered Games. "I couldn’t be more proud of what the team has accomplished, as the game has continually exceeded all of my expectations throughout its development."
“Supreme Commander 2 is a shining example of our strategic partnership with Gas Powered Games,” said John Yamamoto, president and chief executive officer of Square Enix, Inc. “Square Enix's expertise in character development and storytelling, combined with the real-time strategy experience of the creative talent at Gas Powered Games, promises to deliver a feature-rich product that we hope gamers from around the globe will enjoy.”
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Assassin's Creed II Sells 1.6 Million Copies In First Week
You can read our review of Assassin's Creed IIhere.
SAN FRANCISCO, November 24, 2009 – Today Ubisoft announced record first week sales performance for its Assassin's Creed(TM) II video game with 1.6 million units sold through worldwide according to internal estimates. This represents 32 percent growth over the first week sales of Assassin's Creed. Launched in November 2007, Assassin's Creed remains the fastest selling new video game intellectual property ever in the U.S.
Assassin's Creed II has received an overwhelmingly positive reception from gamers around the world and from the video game trade press with an average user rating of 94 percent on Gamespot.com and an over 91 percent average critics score according to GameRankings.com.
Assassin's Creed II invites players to become Ezio, a privileged young noble in Renaissance Italy who's been betrayed by the rival ruling families of Italy. Ezio's subsequent quest for vengeance plunges players into a captivating and epic story that offers more variety in missions, surprising and engaging new game play elements, diverse weapons, incredible depth and lasting appeal and a profound character progression that will appeal to fans of the original Assassin's Creed as well as entice players new to the brand.
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SAN FRANCISCO, November 24, 2009 – Today Ubisoft announced record first week sales performance for its Assassin's Creed(TM) II video game with 1.6 million units sold through worldwide according to internal estimates. This represents 32 percent growth over the first week sales of Assassin's Creed. Launched in November 2007, Assassin's Creed remains the fastest selling new video game intellectual property ever in the U.S.
Assassin's Creed II has received an overwhelmingly positive reception from gamers around the world and from the video game trade press with an average user rating of 94 percent on Gamespot.com and an over 91 percent average critics score according to GameRankings.com.
Assassin's Creed II invites players to become Ezio, a privileged young noble in Renaissance Italy who's been betrayed by the rival ruling families of Italy. Ezio's subsequent quest for vengeance plunges players into a captivating and epic story that offers more variety in missions, surprising and engaging new game play elements, diverse weapons, incredible depth and lasting appeal and a profound character progression that will appeal to fans of the original Assassin's Creed as well as entice players new to the brand.
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Friday, November 27, 2009
Undead Labs Planning Zombie MMO for Xbox 360
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--When flesh-eating, shambling undead corpses invade Seattle, Undead Labs will probably be the ones responsible. Video game industry veteran Jeff Strain today announced the formation of Undead Labs, a Seattle, Washington-based game development studio that's on a mission to take online gaming in bold new directions. Undead Labs’ sole focus will be to create the definitive massively multiplayer online zombie game (MMOZ) for console gamers. Nothing screams funny quite like wading into a group of rotting zombies with a lawn chair and a box of sharpened #2 pencils, and nothing says fun quite like doing it with your friends, whether online or on your couch. Undead Labs is committed to bringing to life an MMO loaded with action, humor and, of course, a whole lotta zombies, because the world doesn’t need more dragons.Strain left NCsoft last summer to build a creative studio around the most talented – and zombie loving – developers in the industry, and to pioneer a new development model that will create a new breed of MMO built from the ground-up for console gamers.
“Every time I see a good zombie movie with friends, we spend days debating our strategies for surviving the zombie apocalypse,” said Strain. “The police station, or the supermarket? Garden rake, or staple gun? Bach, or the White Stripes? I’m a game developer, so I’d probably be useless for anything other than ghoul bait, but I’m excited to have the opportunity to build an MMOZ that lets us put those strategies to the test and find out for sure.”
Strain’s experience and expertise as a game developer and business leader helped spawn the game industry’s most successful and influential MMOs. In the mid-nineties while Strain was at Blizzard Entertainment, he was a programmer for StarCraft and Diablo and created the StarCraft campaign editor. In 1999 Strain formed the initial team and kicked off development on the wildly successful MMO World of Warcraft while taking on the roles of team lead and lead programmer on the project.
In April 2000 Strain founded ArenaNet with fellow Blizzard leads Mike O’Brien and Patrick Wyatt. He served as programmer and executive producer for the popular MMO franchise Guild Wars, which has sold more than six million units. Korean MMO publisher NCsoft acquired ArenaNet in 2002, and in 2008 Strain was promoted to president of product development for the company’s Western operations, where he spent a year wearing button-down shirts and dark socks before returning to his development roots with the formation of Undead Labs.
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“Every time I see a good zombie movie with friends, we spend days debating our strategies for surviving the zombie apocalypse,” said Strain. “The police station, or the supermarket? Garden rake, or staple gun? Bach, or the White Stripes? I’m a game developer, so I’d probably be useless for anything other than ghoul bait, but I’m excited to have the opportunity to build an MMOZ that lets us put those strategies to the test and find out for sure.”
Strain’s experience and expertise as a game developer and business leader helped spawn the game industry’s most successful and influential MMOs. In the mid-nineties while Strain was at Blizzard Entertainment, he was a programmer for StarCraft and Diablo and created the StarCraft campaign editor. In 1999 Strain formed the initial team and kicked off development on the wildly successful MMO World of Warcraft while taking on the roles of team lead and lead programmer on the project.
In April 2000 Strain founded ArenaNet with fellow Blizzard leads Mike O’Brien and Patrick Wyatt. He served as programmer and executive producer for the popular MMO franchise Guild Wars, which has sold more than six million units. Korean MMO publisher NCsoft acquired ArenaNet in 2002, and in 2008 Strain was promoted to president of product development for the company’s Western operations, where he spent a year wearing button-down shirts and dark socks before returning to his development roots with the formation of Undead Labs.
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2K Makes Collectors Edition of BioShock 2 Official
2K Marin debuted the Collector's Edition of BioShock 2 on its Cult of Rapture community site this morning; Priced at $99.99 USD, it covers the standard collector's edition bases, including an art book, soundtrack CD, and other bits. The real attraction might be for more obsessive fans of the original Bioshock, as the CE also includes an LP containing the orchestral score for its predecessor. Per the Cult of Rapture:
The Special Edition will come in 13"x13” premium packaging with special art on both the slipcase and the box cover. Inside, you will find three posters featuring vintage ads from Rapture (rolled), a vinyl 180g LP featuring the orchestral score from the original BioShock, a CD containing the BioShock 2 orchestral score, a 164 page 8"x11" hardbound artbook chock full of developer commentary and, of course, a copy of BioShock 2. The Collector's Edition releases on February 9th, 2010, along with the standard version of the game.
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The Special Edition will come in 13"x13” premium packaging with special art on both the slipcase and the box cover. Inside, you will find three posters featuring vintage ads from Rapture (rolled), a vinyl 180g LP featuring the orchestral score from the original BioShock, a CD containing the BioShock 2 orchestral score, a 164 page 8"x11" hardbound artbook chock full of developer commentary and, of course, a copy of BioShock 2. The Collector's Edition releases on February 9th, 2010, along with the standard version of the game.
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Thursday, November 26, 2009
Nirvana, Night Ranger Hit Rock Band Next Week
Cambridge, Mass. – Nov. 25, 2009 - Harmonix and MTV Games today announced that a three pack of songs from Nirvana as well as a three pack of songs from Night Ranger will be added next week to the Rock Band Music Store of downloadable content for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation® 3 computer entertainment system and Wii™.
Rock Band is delivering more Nirvana tracks next week, including the rock anthem, “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” from the band’s best-selling 1991 album, Nevermind. “Nirvana Pack 02” also includes two live recordings – “Come As You Are,” from the band’s legendary MTV Unplugged performance, and “Lithium,” from the 1992 Reading Festival. The Live at Reading CD/DVD is also available for purchase in stores. Fans can also download “About a Girl,” “Blew” and “School,” from Bleach, already available in the Rock Band Music Store. Nirvana released their debut album, Bleach, in 1989 on Sub Pop Records, and to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this platinum-selling album, Sub Pop released a special edition of the album, in stores now, featuring a complete and previously unreleased live concert recorded in 1990 in Portland, Oregon.
San Francisco-formed hard rockers Night Ranger debuts in the Rock Band universe next week with a three pack of songs that includes “(You Can Still) Rock in America” and “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me,” both of which were re-recorded for Rock Band, and “You’re Gonna Hear It From Me,” from 2008’s Hole in the Sun. Night Ranger has sold more than 16 million albums worldwide and is still touring after almost 30 years. “Night Ranger Pack 01” will be available in both the Rock Band Music Store and the family-friendly LEGO® Rock Band Music Store.
Available on Xbox 360 and Wii (Dec. 1) and PlayStation 3 system (Dec. 3):
Nirvana – “Come As You Are (Live from MTV Unplugged)” +Nirvana – “Lithium (Live at Reading)”Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit”Night Ranger – “(You Can Still) Rock in America” +Night Ranger – “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” +Night Ranger – “You’re Gonna Hear It From Me” +(All tracks are original master recordings)
These tracks will be available for purchase as “Night Ranger Pack 01” or “Nirvana Pack 02” as well as individual tracks on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system, and as individual tracks on Wii. Tracks marked with a “+” are also available in the family-friendly LEGO Rock Band Music Store.
Price: $1.99 USD, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track$5.49, £3.99 UK, €2.49 EU (440 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for “Night Ranger Pack 01” or “Nirvana Pack 02”$2.00 USD (200 Wii Points™) per track
** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change. **
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Rock Band is delivering more Nirvana tracks next week, including the rock anthem, “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” from the band’s best-selling 1991 album, Nevermind. “Nirvana Pack 02” also includes two live recordings – “Come As You Are,” from the band’s legendary MTV Unplugged performance, and “Lithium,” from the 1992 Reading Festival. The Live at Reading CD/DVD is also available for purchase in stores. Fans can also download “About a Girl,” “Blew” and “School,” from Bleach, already available in the Rock Band Music Store. Nirvana released their debut album, Bleach, in 1989 on Sub Pop Records, and to celebrate the 20th anniversary of this platinum-selling album, Sub Pop released a special edition of the album, in stores now, featuring a complete and previously unreleased live concert recorded in 1990 in Portland, Oregon.
San Francisco-formed hard rockers Night Ranger debuts in the Rock Band universe next week with a three pack of songs that includes “(You Can Still) Rock in America” and “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me,” both of which were re-recorded for Rock Band, and “You’re Gonna Hear It From Me,” from 2008’s Hole in the Sun. Night Ranger has sold more than 16 million albums worldwide and is still touring after almost 30 years. “Night Ranger Pack 01” will be available in both the Rock Band Music Store and the family-friendly LEGO® Rock Band Music Store.
Available on Xbox 360 and Wii (Dec. 1) and PlayStation 3 system (Dec. 3):
Nirvana – “Come As You Are (Live from MTV Unplugged)” +Nirvana – “Lithium (Live at Reading)”Nirvana – “Smells Like Teen Spirit”Night Ranger – “(You Can Still) Rock in America” +Night Ranger – “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” +Night Ranger – “You’re Gonna Hear It From Me” +(All tracks are original master recordings)
These tracks will be available for purchase as “Night Ranger Pack 01” or “Nirvana Pack 02” as well as individual tracks on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system, and as individual tracks on Wii. Tracks marked with a “+” are also available in the family-friendly LEGO Rock Band Music Store.
Price: $1.99 USD, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track$5.49, £3.99 UK, €2.49 EU (440 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for “Night Ranger Pack 01” or “Nirvana Pack 02”$2.00 USD (200 Wii Points™) per track
** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change. **
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Global Xbox LIVE Momentum Signals Exciting Holiday Ahead
It’s hard to believe, but Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday are fast approaching. As we count down to the busiest retail shopping day of the year and the official kick-off to the holiday season, we wanted to give you our “list” of the things shoppers and retailers can be thankful for this holiday!
We’re Thankful for An Amazing Year
Our momentum shows no signs of slowing this holiday. We’re hoping consumers will be thankful for additional savings this Black Friday weekend, when retail partners offer unbeatable deals, enticing consumers to stores in droves to get the latest from Xbox 360.
We’re Thankful for Our Xbox LIVE Community of more than 20 Million Active Members Last week, Xbox LIVE launched an incredible new update to the service, providing Gold members with access to the best in movies, music and social experiences – Facebook, Twitter, Last.fm,* and in instant on HD in 1080p from Zune. During the holidays, everyone wants to stay connected to friends and family more than ever. When travel isn’t always possible, Xbox LIVE helps keep families and traditions together.
Facebook & Twitter + Xbox LIVE = New Social Connections. In less than a week, nearly two million people logged into their Facebook accounts through Xbox LIVE to view photos, make status updates and check in on friends and family. Twitter was also abuzz with the Xbox LIVE community posting tweets from around the globe.
Music options, amplified. Looking for the latest holiday tunes? Join the almost one million Xbox LIVE members who've created new Last.fm profiles and are now streaming the world's leading personalized music service on Xbox 360. On average, members are spending approximately 40 minutes using Last.fm on Xbox LIVE to discover music and customize radio stations and have streamed more than 120 million minutes of music.
Your favorite holiday moments, in 1080p. Is your family tradition watching Holiday classic movies? In less than a week, 1.7 million Xbox LIVE members visited Zune video on Xbox LIVE. And with Xbox LIVE movie party, you can continue the fun with family who couldn’t make the trip over the river and through the woods. Sit together in a virtual theatre and enjoy favorites like Elf from Zune on Xbox 360.
We’re Thankful for the Best Gaming Experiences
Xbox 360 delivers breakthrough gaming experiences that can’t be found anywhere else.
Xbox 360 features the best exclusive games and something for everyone’s gift list, including critically acclaimed Forza Motorsport 3, Lips: Number One Hits, Halo 3: ODST and Left 4 Dead 2.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is breaking records and becoming one of the most successful games of all time. More than 2.2 million unique gamers played Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 in one day on November 10th - a new one-day record for Xbox LIVE.
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It’s hard to believe, but Thanksgiving Day and Black Friday are fast approaching. As we count down to the busiest retail shopping day of the year and the official kick-off to the holiday season, we wanted to give you our “list” of the things shoppers and retailers can be thankful for this holiday!
We’re Thankful for An Amazing Year
Our momentum shows no signs of slowing this holiday. We’re hoping consumers will be thankful for additional savings this Black Friday weekend, when retail partners offer unbeatable deals, enticing consumers to stores in droves to get the latest from Xbox 360.
We’re Thankful for Our Xbox LIVE Community of more than 20 Million Active Members Last week, Xbox LIVE launched an incredible new update to the service, providing Gold members with access to the best in movies, music and social experiences – Facebook, Twitter, Last.fm,* and in instant on HD in 1080p from Zune. During the holidays, everyone wants to stay connected to friends and family more than ever. When travel isn’t always possible, Xbox LIVE helps keep families and traditions together.
Facebook & Twitter + Xbox LIVE = New Social Connections. In less than a week, nearly two million people logged into their Facebook accounts through Xbox LIVE to view photos, make status updates and check in on friends and family. Twitter was also abuzz with the Xbox LIVE community posting tweets from around the globe.
Music options, amplified. Looking for the latest holiday tunes? Join the almost one million Xbox LIVE members who've created new Last.fm profiles and are now streaming the world's leading personalized music service on Xbox 360. On average, members are spending approximately 40 minutes using Last.fm on Xbox LIVE to discover music and customize radio stations and have streamed more than 120 million minutes of music.
Your favorite holiday moments, in 1080p. Is your family tradition watching Holiday classic movies? In less than a week, 1.7 million Xbox LIVE members visited Zune video on Xbox LIVE. And with Xbox LIVE movie party, you can continue the fun with family who couldn’t make the trip over the river and through the woods. Sit together in a virtual theatre and enjoy favorites like Elf from Zune on Xbox 360.
We’re Thankful for the Best Gaming Experiences
Xbox 360 delivers breakthrough gaming experiences that can’t be found anywhere else.
Xbox 360 features the best exclusive games and something for everyone’s gift list, including critically acclaimed Forza Motorsport 3, Lips: Number One Hits, Halo 3: ODST and Left 4 Dead 2.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is breaking records and becoming one of the most successful games of all time. More than 2.2 million unique gamers played Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 in one day on November 10th - a new one-day record for Xbox LIVE.
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Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Halo Reach to Debut at 2009 Spike VGAs
Further cementing Twitter as another avenue for gaming news, GametrailersTV host Geoff Keighley let slip this morning that Halo: Reach, Bungie's supposedly final chapter, will be debuting at this year's Spike VGAs. While Keighley didn't let any additional info slip beyond that tidbit, it's likely that this will be something a bit more meaty than another teaser trailer, if last year's God of War III debut is any indication. Hopefully we'll get a little more information or allusion to some of the speculation that arose from the recently leaked photos of a pre-alpha version of the game, which included indications of a squad mechanic and the possible inclusion of perk-like power-ups.
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Datel Sues Over Disabled Xbox 360 Memory Devices
The most recent Xbox 360 update brought more than Twitter and Facebook support to the system; it also disabled third party memory devices such as Datel’s Max Memory cards, which allowed the use of SDHC cards of up to 16GB to store game saves. Skeptical gamers viewed it as a money grab by Microsoft, forcing gamers to pay for much more expensive first party storage devices. Datel initially expressed disappointment at the move, claiming it was “(unhappy) to see that Microsoft are taking these steps to prevent customers from exercising their freedom of choice,” but they have since escalated their response, filing suit against Microsoft, claiming that the update was an “anti-competitive downgrade”. Per their legal representation’s official announcement of the lawsuit:
“For many years, Datel has brought to the public products that offer more capacity, extra functionality or other game enhancing features with the aim of offering a reasonably priced alternative to first-party accessories,” said Datel founder Mike Connors. “The Max Memory card plugs into the Xbox 360 and allows a user to store games, characters, and similar information. It permits a player to transport game information between Xbox systems. The Microsoft memory card does exactly the same thing—with the difference that it offers only one-quarter the memory while listing for the same retail price. Datel engineered the Max Memory card to be 100% compatible and over 50,000 Max Memory cards have been sold without a single report of harm to the Xbox console.”
However, it should be pointed out that this is not the first time Datel’s products have met with resistance from console manufacturers. Datel has a history of releasing products whose uses were of questionable legality; earlier this year Joystiq revealed that Datel was in midst of the litigation process with Sony over their never released “Lite Blue Tool”, which Sony insisted was created primarily as a means to facilitate hacking of the PSP-3000. Nintendo has also taken action against Datel’s products in the past, putting out firmware updates designed to disable Datel’s Freeloader, which allowed gamers to circumvent region locks on the console. Their Xport utility for “backing up” Xbox 360 hard drives is also commonly made available on warez sites that provide instructions for modding consoles to allow piracy. This is the first example TeamXbox can find of Datel filing suit in response to action taken against it by a console manufacturer. Microsoft did not reply to requests for comment by the time this story was published.
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“For many years, Datel has brought to the public products that offer more capacity, extra functionality or other game enhancing features with the aim of offering a reasonably priced alternative to first-party accessories,” said Datel founder Mike Connors. “The Max Memory card plugs into the Xbox 360 and allows a user to store games, characters, and similar information. It permits a player to transport game information between Xbox systems. The Microsoft memory card does exactly the same thing—with the difference that it offers only one-quarter the memory while listing for the same retail price. Datel engineered the Max Memory card to be 100% compatible and over 50,000 Max Memory cards have been sold without a single report of harm to the Xbox console.”
However, it should be pointed out that this is not the first time Datel’s products have met with resistance from console manufacturers. Datel has a history of releasing products whose uses were of questionable legality; earlier this year Joystiq revealed that Datel was in midst of the litigation process with Sony over their never released “Lite Blue Tool”, which Sony insisted was created primarily as a means to facilitate hacking of the PSP-3000. Nintendo has also taken action against Datel’s products in the past, putting out firmware updates designed to disable Datel’s Freeloader, which allowed gamers to circumvent region locks on the console. Their Xport utility for “backing up” Xbox 360 hard drives is also commonly made available on warez sites that provide instructions for modding consoles to allow piracy. This is the first example TeamXbox can find of Datel filing suit in response to action taken against it by a console manufacturer. Microsoft did not reply to requests for comment by the time this story was published.
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Monday, November 23, 2009
TeamXbox Welcomes News and Features Editor Arthur Gies
Since my name has popped up on the Assassin’s Creed II review, I suppose I should make a proper introduction. My name’s Arthur Gies, and I’m your new News and Features editor here at TeamXbox. I won’t drone on and on about myself here, since I’d much rather start posting news content for you guys, but I look forward to providing you all with a steady stream of content in the coming months.
Previous to starting here, I was a freelancer doing games media work and hardware reviews for outlets including 1up and PCWorld, as well as TeamXbox sister site GameSpy. I also co-host a weekly gaming podcast known as RebelFM. I own all of the current crop of consoles as well as a gaming PC, but I spend most of my gaming time on the Xbox 360. I recently wrapped up Assassin’s Creed II (as the review will tell you, and yes, it really is that good), and I’ve got Left 4 Dead 2 patiently waiting for me to get home tonight, and while I’m pretty ambivalent about the campaign in Modern Warfare 2 , I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to some multiplayer later this week. Anyhow! Be sure to comment on the news in the coming months so we know what you think, and feel free to add myself and the TeamXbox Twitter account at twitter.com/aegies and twitter.com/teamxbox respectively.
0D Beat Drop Arrives on Xbox Live ArcadeRobert Pattinson Recalls The Frenzy Over His Taxi Accident
Previous to starting here, I was a freelancer doing games media work and hardware reviews for outlets including 1up and PCWorld, as well as TeamXbox sister site GameSpy. I also co-host a weekly gaming podcast known as RebelFM. I own all of the current crop of consoles as well as a gaming PC, but I spend most of my gaming time on the Xbox 360. I recently wrapped up Assassin’s Creed II (as the review will tell you, and yes, it really is that good), and I’ve got Left 4 Dead 2 patiently waiting for me to get home tonight, and while I’m pretty ambivalent about the campaign in Modern Warfare 2 , I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t looking forward to some multiplayer later this week. Anyhow! Be sure to comment on the news in the coming months so we know what you think, and feel free to add myself and the TeamXbox Twitter account at twitter.com/aegies and twitter.com/teamxbox respectively.
0D Beat Drop Arrives on Xbox Live ArcadeRobert Pattinson Recalls The Frenzy Over His Taxi Accident
Ubisoft We Won't Publish The No More Heroes Remake
While it has been confirmed that Grasshopper Manufacture is porting their Wii action title No More Heroes to the HD consoles for a 2010 release date in Japan, western gamers have a more nebulous wait ahead of them. The Feed's Patrick Klepek reported earlier today that original No More Heroes publisher Ubisoft would not be making a repeat performance for the title's 360 and PS3 HD re-release, No More Heroes: Heroes Paradise.
While this doesn't mean NMH:HP will skip retail in North America, it does raise the question as to why precisely Ubisoft has turned down the rights to publish the title here in the States. Unfortunately, Ubisoft failed to offer reasons why they passed on publishing rights. However, I contacted Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter for his take on the situation. He stipulated that for Ubisoft, it's all about the bottom line. He offered the following:
They won’t publish games on consoles if they don’t think that they can earn a return on their investment. It’s pretty clear that NMH performed poorly on the Wii last go around, notwithstanding a pretty good review. I think that the company probably assessed the potential for the game on PS3 and 360, and concluded that it would not sell enough units to justify the production cost and marketing budget (likely 500,000 units on each console to get close to break even).
EEDAR analyst Jesse Divinich echoed Pachter's sentiments, citing the typically underwhelming performance of console ports and re-releases. He went on to describe what he feels is the primary hurdle facing an HD remake of a game designed for Nintendo's motion-based platform:
What made No More Heroes entertaining was its ability to introduce mature rated content in a core genre on the Nintendo Wii, while at the same time taking advantage of the Wii’s unique motion controls. Half of the fun of No More Heroes can only be experienced on the Wii... I don’t see how an Xbox 360 or PS3 version could be more entertaining.
While No More Heroes did receive a positive critical response, much of the praise it received related directly to the physicality of swinging the remote for the Beam Katana in the game. Lacking that, it's possible that Ubisoft saw the game as a harder sell to critics and audiences. While Ubisoft remains the publisher of NMH's sequel, Desperate Struggle, they may see a chance to capitalize on the existing fanbase for the title without worrying about awareness among HD gamers for the misadventures of Travis Touchdown.
Now, the question is which publisher will be willing to take that risk on a multiplatform re-release of a game that didn't sell especially well to begin with.
Famitsu No More Heroes on Xbox 360 in 2010‘New Moon’ Director May Distribute ‘Orientation Guide’ For Free
While this doesn't mean NMH:HP will skip retail in North America, it does raise the question as to why precisely Ubisoft has turned down the rights to publish the title here in the States. Unfortunately, Ubisoft failed to offer reasons why they passed on publishing rights. However, I contacted Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter for his take on the situation. He stipulated that for Ubisoft, it's all about the bottom line. He offered the following:
They won’t publish games on consoles if they don’t think that they can earn a return on their investment. It’s pretty clear that NMH performed poorly on the Wii last go around, notwithstanding a pretty good review. I think that the company probably assessed the potential for the game on PS3 and 360, and concluded that it would not sell enough units to justify the production cost and marketing budget (likely 500,000 units on each console to get close to break even).
EEDAR analyst Jesse Divinich echoed Pachter's sentiments, citing the typically underwhelming performance of console ports and re-releases. He went on to describe what he feels is the primary hurdle facing an HD remake of a game designed for Nintendo's motion-based platform:
What made No More Heroes entertaining was its ability to introduce mature rated content in a core genre on the Nintendo Wii, while at the same time taking advantage of the Wii’s unique motion controls. Half of the fun of No More Heroes can only be experienced on the Wii... I don’t see how an Xbox 360 or PS3 version could be more entertaining.
While No More Heroes did receive a positive critical response, much of the praise it received related directly to the physicality of swinging the remote for the Beam Katana in the game. Lacking that, it's possible that Ubisoft saw the game as a harder sell to critics and audiences. While Ubisoft remains the publisher of NMH's sequel, Desperate Struggle, they may see a chance to capitalize on the existing fanbase for the title without worrying about awareness among HD gamers for the misadventures of Travis Touchdown.
Now, the question is which publisher will be willing to take that risk on a multiplatform re-release of a game that didn't sell especially well to begin with.
Famitsu No More Heroes on Xbox 360 in 2010‘New Moon’ Director May Distribute ‘Orientation Guide’ For Free
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Need For Speed Shift DLC Adds Modes and Cars
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – November 20, 2009 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced an all-new Team Racing pack for the critically-acclaimed Need for Speed SHIFT™. The content pack takes online racing to the next level with an action-packed new race mode and five renowned racing cars - all for free (Need for Speed SHIFT and Xbox LIVE® or PlayStation®Network account required). The Team Racing pack is the first downloadable content for Need for Speed SHIFT and will be available worldwide on December 1st on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system. The pack will be released for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system on December 3rd in Europe and on December 10th in North America.
The Team Racing mode brings a fresh new challenge to SHIFT by completely redefining online racing. In this mode, two teams of up to six racers will battle against each other for online supremacy. Individual driving strategy and playing it safe won’t work as team tactics and 200 mph split-second decisions are required to push your team to the podium.
As part of the new content, players will also get access to these legendary racers:
1967 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 4271967 Shelby GT-5001969 Dodge Charger R/T1971 Dodge Challenger R/T1998 Toyota Supra Mark IV
The Team Racing content pack is custom-made for Need for Speed SHIFT, a spectacular racing game originally released in September 2009. The game introduces a brutal first-person crash dynamic and a signature cockpit view that delivers a true driver’s experience. The game further personalizes the experience through the all-new driver profile -- a unique persona based on the driving skill and style of each player. With a perfect ‘10’ score from GameSpy.com and G4TV.com, and 90+ scores from IGN.com, Official Xbox Magazine, PlayStation: The Official Magazine, Team Xbox.com, Game Daily.com, Gametrailers.com and more, Need for Speed SHIFT is the highest rated Need for Speed game in years.
‘New Moon’ Fans Appreciate Taylor Lautner’s New PhysiqueBioWare Announces New Dragon Age DLC
The Team Racing mode brings a fresh new challenge to SHIFT by completely redefining online racing. In this mode, two teams of up to six racers will battle against each other for online supremacy. Individual driving strategy and playing it safe won’t work as team tactics and 200 mph split-second decisions are required to push your team to the podium.
As part of the new content, players will also get access to these legendary racers:
1967 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 4271967 Shelby GT-5001969 Dodge Charger R/T1971 Dodge Challenger R/T1998 Toyota Supra Mark IV
The Team Racing content pack is custom-made for Need for Speed SHIFT, a spectacular racing game originally released in September 2009. The game introduces a brutal first-person crash dynamic and a signature cockpit view that delivers a true driver’s experience. The game further personalizes the experience through the all-new driver profile -- a unique persona based on the driving skill and style of each player. With a perfect ‘10’ score from GameSpy.com and G4TV.com, and 90+ scores from IGN.com, Official Xbox Magazine, PlayStation: The Official Magazine, Team Xbox.com, Game Daily.com, Gametrailers.com and more, Need for Speed SHIFT is the highest rated Need for Speed game in years.
‘New Moon’ Fans Appreciate Taylor Lautner’s New PhysiqueBioWare Announces New Dragon Age DLC
Famitsu No More Heroes on Xbox 360 in 2010
As reported last year, quirky Wii action title No More Heroes started life as an Xbox 360 title before it was relocated to Nintendo's system. As Grasshopper Manufacture Founder Goichi Suda told MCV:“Originally, I’d wanted to make this game for Xbox 360, actually. [Marvelous Interactive boss] Wada-san had information about the new Wii and how the new controller would work before it came out, so that’s why he thought I should produce the game on that format.While Wii owners will see the sequel to the original game early next year, Japanese game magizine Famitsu has confirmed that Grasshopper Manufacture is porting the game to Xbox 360 and PS3 shortly thereafter (as translated and reported by Siliconera): This week’s issue of Famitsu lists No More Heroes: Heroes’ Paradise for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360... chatter on Japanese message boards say the game will have new modes, Japanese voice acting (note: No More Heroes only had English voice acting in Japan), and will be in sold in stores for 5,040 yen ($56) on February 25, 2010. The overall reception to the game last year was pretty positive all things considered, though pickings on the Wii for great action titles are arguably slim. We'll see what 360 gamers have to say when the game releases on HD platforms next year.
‘The Boondock Saints II’: Sloppy Second, By Kurt LoderRocket Riot Scores Design Award
‘The Boondock Saints II’: Sloppy Second, By Kurt LoderRocket Riot Scores Design Award
Divinity II Ego Draconis Gets a US Release Date
After inadvertently posting a press release for Dvinity II yesterday thinking it pertained to the North American release date, we discovered that the information contained therein was for the game's imminent European launch. However, the PR department for the title was kind enough to provide us with US-specific information for the upcoming action-RPG sequel. The official US release date is January 5th, 2010, with an MSRP of $59.99. Apologies for the mix up!
‘New Moon’ Sets New Box-Office Record For Midnight ScreeningsProject Natal Coming November 2010 For Under $100?
‘New Moon’ Sets New Box-Office Record For Midnight ScreeningsProject Natal Coming November 2010 For Under $100?
BioWare Announces New Dragon Age DLC
EDMONTON, ALBERTA, CANADA – November 19, 2009 – Leading video game developer BioWare™, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), announced today that the Return to Ostagar downloadable content (DLC) for Dragon Age™: Origins will be available for the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PC versions this Holiday season in North America and Europe.
“We are very proud of the phenomenal launch of Dragon Age: Origins and we’re pleased to announce the next installment of downloadable content that will be available to fans of the game,” said Ray Muzyka, Group General Manager, RPG/MMO Group of EA, and Co-Founder, BioWare. “The Return to Ostagar DLC pack is a prime example of BioWare’s commitment to give fans a game that continuously offers new experiences and further enriches a storyline that has already received critical acclaim and positive feedback from the players.”
Return to Ostagar, BioWare’s next thread in the Dragon Age: Origins tapestry, summons players to a new quest in which they will return to the fateful battleground in Ostagar where the Grey Wardens were nearly wiped out. Players will discover King Cailan’s top-secret political agenda and go behind enemy lines to revisit a place that many feared had been lost to history.
Return to Ostagar will be available for $4.99 on the PlayStation® Store, for 400 BioWare Points on the PC and 400 Microsoft Points on the Xbox 360 in North America. Return to Ostagar will be released this Holiday season worldwide on the Xbox 360, the PlayStation®3 console and PC.
‘New Moon’ Fans Appreciate Taylor Lautner’s New PhysiqueCapcom Announces Resident Evil 5 Gold Edition
“We are very proud of the phenomenal launch of Dragon Age: Origins and we’re pleased to announce the next installment of downloadable content that will be available to fans of the game,” said Ray Muzyka, Group General Manager, RPG/MMO Group of EA, and Co-Founder, BioWare. “The Return to Ostagar DLC pack is a prime example of BioWare’s commitment to give fans a game that continuously offers new experiences and further enriches a storyline that has already received critical acclaim and positive feedback from the players.”
Return to Ostagar, BioWare’s next thread in the Dragon Age: Origins tapestry, summons players to a new quest in which they will return to the fateful battleground in Ostagar where the Grey Wardens were nearly wiped out. Players will discover King Cailan’s top-secret political agenda and go behind enemy lines to revisit a place that many feared had been lost to history.
Return to Ostagar will be available for $4.99 on the PlayStation® Store, for 400 BioWare Points on the PC and 400 Microsoft Points on the Xbox 360 in North America. Return to Ostagar will be released this Holiday season worldwide on the Xbox 360, the PlayStation®3 console and PC.
‘New Moon’ Fans Appreciate Taylor Lautner’s New PhysiqueCapcom Announces Resident Evil 5 Gold Edition
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Capcom Announces Resident Evil 5 Gold Edition
We are pleased to confirm today that a variety of new content for the hugely successful RESIDENT EVIL 5, will be available for the Xbox 360 and PS3 next year. We plan to release two new downloadable episodes, a host of new costumes, and a new “THE MERCENARIES REUNION” mode, featuring 8 new playable characters and weapon load outs.
For those RESIDENT EVIL fans who prefer a box copy, we are also happy to report that we will be releasing a RESIDENT EVIL 5: GOLD EDITION that will include the original game plus all additional content, making this the ultimate RESIDENT EVIL 5 experience. RESIDENT EVIL 5: GOLD EDITION will be available for $49.99 as a single Blu-ray disc for the PLAYSTATION 3 or as a DVD with a token for the downloadable content for XBOX 360.
Previously only seen during cut scenes of the original RESIDENT EVIL 5, the first new episode titled “LOST IN NIGHTMARES”, finds BSAA agent, Chris Redfield, working with his partner, Jill Valentine, as they investigate Ozwell E. Spencer’s hideaway. Spencer, the evil mastermind and co-founder of Umbrella Corporation, has been hiding a new evil deep within the basement of his mansion. Chris and Jill discover this grotesque evil standing in their way as the two enter deeper into the catacombs beneath the mansion. <
Simultaneous with the release of “LOST IN NIGHTMARES”, new costumes for Chris and Sheva will be made available, allowing the player to experience RESIDENT EVIL 5 with a fresh new look and feel through both game play and cut-scene playback. A new refresh of Mercenaries Mode, “THE MERCENARIES REUNION”, gives players new playable characters and weapon load outs which provide players additional challenges as they aim to shoot down as many enemies as they can within a limited time. Each piece of downloadable content will contain two new playable characters. The GOLD EDITION will feature all eight.
More information regarding the second episode is still to come so be on the look out for more great RESIDENT EVIL info coming soon!
‘New Moon’ Featurette Shows How Robert Pattinson Fights VolturiEA to close Saboteur developer Pandemic Studios
For those RESIDENT EVIL fans who prefer a box copy, we are also happy to report that we will be releasing a RESIDENT EVIL 5: GOLD EDITION that will include the original game plus all additional content, making this the ultimate RESIDENT EVIL 5 experience. RESIDENT EVIL 5: GOLD EDITION will be available for $49.99 as a single Blu-ray disc for the PLAYSTATION 3 or as a DVD with a token for the downloadable content for XBOX 360.
Previously only seen during cut scenes of the original RESIDENT EVIL 5, the first new episode titled “LOST IN NIGHTMARES”, finds BSAA agent, Chris Redfield, working with his partner, Jill Valentine, as they investigate Ozwell E. Spencer’s hideaway. Spencer, the evil mastermind and co-founder of Umbrella Corporation, has been hiding a new evil deep within the basement of his mansion. Chris and Jill discover this grotesque evil standing in their way as the two enter deeper into the catacombs beneath the mansion. <
Simultaneous with the release of “LOST IN NIGHTMARES”, new costumes for Chris and Sheva will be made available, allowing the player to experience RESIDENT EVIL 5 with a fresh new look and feel through both game play and cut-scene playback. A new refresh of Mercenaries Mode, “THE MERCENARIES REUNION”, gives players new playable characters and weapon load outs which provide players additional challenges as they aim to shoot down as many enemies as they can within a limited time. Each piece of downloadable content will contain two new playable characters. The GOLD EDITION will feature all eight.
More information regarding the second episode is still to come so be on the look out for more great RESIDENT EVIL info coming soon!
‘New Moon’ Featurette Shows How Robert Pattinson Fights VolturiEA to close Saboteur developer Pandemic Studios
Rocket Riot Scores Design Award
Codeglue, a Dutch game development studio that has honed the craft of addictive gameplay, is happy to announce they have won a coveted Dutch Game Award! Codeglue’s Rocket Riot – which was released on Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® to critical acclaim – walked away with the show’s Best Visual Design Award, beating out huge titles with multi-million dollar budgets such as Killzone 2 and Overlord 2.
“We are absolutely thrilled to win this award, not only because of the level of competition we were up against but also because we know that Rocket Riot is an outstanding title with a look and feel all its own,” said Peter de Jong, CEO and founder of Codeglue. “Our team is so proud and our sincere thanks go out to everyone who has supported us and our titles over the years.”
Rocket Riot is an action-packed side-view shooter featuring a bazooka-wielding jetpack soldier. With a highly stylized 8-bit era feel, players blast their way through the environment against enemies or multiplayer foes online. Navigating through a completely destructible environment, players can uncover special power ups or even burrow into different areas of the map. It is currently available on Xbox LIVE Arcade for 800 Microsoft Points.
HD (1280x720) | SD (640x360)
The 2009 Dutch Game Awards were held on November 12, 2009 in Amersfoort, The Netherlands. They serve as an acknowledgement of the creativity, expertise and business achievements of the Dutch game developers and reward the best The Netherlands has to offer to the digital entertainment industry each year.
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“We are absolutely thrilled to win this award, not only because of the level of competition we were up against but also because we know that Rocket Riot is an outstanding title with a look and feel all its own,” said Peter de Jong, CEO and founder of Codeglue. “Our team is so proud and our sincere thanks go out to everyone who has supported us and our titles over the years.”
Rocket Riot is an action-packed side-view shooter featuring a bazooka-wielding jetpack soldier. With a highly stylized 8-bit era feel, players blast their way through the environment against enemies or multiplayer foes online. Navigating through a completely destructible environment, players can uncover special power ups or even burrow into different areas of the map. It is currently available on Xbox LIVE Arcade for 800 Microsoft Points.
HD (1280x720) | SD (640x360)
The 2009 Dutch Game Awards were held on November 12, 2009 in Amersfoort, The Netherlands. They serve as an acknowledgement of the creativity, expertise and business achievements of the Dutch game developers and reward the best The Netherlands has to offer to the digital entertainment industry each year.
0D Beat Drop Arrives on Xbox Live ArcadePenn Badgley Calls Teenage Halloween Costume ‘Worst Idea Ever’
Modern Warfare 2 Grosses $550 Million in 5 Days
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Nov 18, 2009 - Activision Blizzard, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) announced today that Infinity Ward's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 continues to shatter theatrical box office and video game sales records for five-day worldwide sell through in dollars. The biggest entertainment launch in history set a new worldwide estimated five-day sell-through record of approximately $550 million, according to internal Activision estimates.
Modern Warfare 2's launch beat all previous first-and five-day entertainment industry box office, book and video game sell-through records*:
- The largest reported five-day opening worldwide box office gross figures, held by Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ($394 million)
- The largest reported five-day opening domestic box office gross figures, held by The Dark Knight ($203.8 million)
- The largest reported five-day worldwide video game sales record, previously held by Grand Theft Auto IV (6 million units, $500 million)
- The largest reported opening first-day domestic box office gross figures, held by The Dark Knight ($66.4 million)
- The largest reported first-day book sales in dollars, held by Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows ($220 million)
- The largest reported first-day worldwide video game sales record, previously held by Grand Theft Auto IV (3.6 million units, $310 million)
Modern Warfare 2's blast radius also extends to Xbox LIVE, in which the blockbuster title's epic release established the following new standards, according to Microsoft:
- More than 5.2 million multiplayer hours were logged playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on the first day alone.
- More than 2.2 million unique gamers played Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 in one day on November 10th. A new one-day record for Xbox LIVE.
- More than 11 million achievements were unlocked on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on the first day.
"In just five days of sell through Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has become the largest entertainment launch in history and a pop culture phenomenon," said Robert Kotick, CEO, Activision Blizzard, Inc. "The title's success redefines entertainment as millions of consumers have chosen to play Modern Warfare 2 at unprecedented levels rather than engage in other forms of media."
Despite the success of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Activision Blizzard remains cautious about the U.S. and global economy as well as other variables that can affect industry fundamentals and our own performance, including consumer spending which remains a significant concern.
*All references cited are sourced according to www.boxofficemojo.com or www.guinnessworldrecords.com
‘Michael Jackson’s This Is It’ Banks $100 Million Around The GlobeActivision Dedicates Third Studio to Call of Duty Series
Modern Warfare 2's launch beat all previous first-and five-day entertainment industry box office, book and video game sell-through records*:
- The largest reported five-day opening worldwide box office gross figures, held by Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ($394 million)
- The largest reported five-day opening domestic box office gross figures, held by The Dark Knight ($203.8 million)
- The largest reported five-day worldwide video game sales record, previously held by Grand Theft Auto IV (6 million units, $500 million)
- The largest reported opening first-day domestic box office gross figures, held by The Dark Knight ($66.4 million)
- The largest reported first-day book sales in dollars, held by Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows ($220 million)
- The largest reported first-day worldwide video game sales record, previously held by Grand Theft Auto IV (3.6 million units, $310 million)
Modern Warfare 2's blast radius also extends to Xbox LIVE, in which the blockbuster title's epic release established the following new standards, according to Microsoft:
- More than 5.2 million multiplayer hours were logged playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on the first day alone.
- More than 2.2 million unique gamers played Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 in one day on November 10th. A new one-day record for Xbox LIVE.
- More than 11 million achievements were unlocked on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on the first day.
"In just five days of sell through Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has become the largest entertainment launch in history and a pop culture phenomenon," said Robert Kotick, CEO, Activision Blizzard, Inc. "The title's success redefines entertainment as millions of consumers have chosen to play Modern Warfare 2 at unprecedented levels rather than engage in other forms of media."
Despite the success of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Activision Blizzard remains cautious about the U.S. and global economy as well as other variables that can affect industry fundamentals and our own performance, including consumer spending which remains a significant concern.
*All references cited are sourced according to www.boxofficemojo.com or www.guinnessworldrecords.com
‘Michael Jackson’s This Is It’ Banks $100 Million Around The GlobeActivision Dedicates Third Studio to Call of Duty Series
Activision Dedicates Third Studio to Call of Duty Series
While the LA Times' recent article on the Modern Warfare 2 launch sticks closely to the now standard "mainstream news outlet shocked by dedication of gamers and sales of a particular game" format, a previously undisclosed bit of information was revealed near the end of the piece:As Activision seems to be discovering this year with Guitar Hero, there's danger when a title is overexposed with too many iterations. Nonetheless, the publisher has aggressive expansion plans for Call of Duty. Although Infinity Ward and Treyarch have produced sequels in alternating years since 2005, the publisher now has a third development studio working on future versions.While the studio in question wasn't named, a prime candidate would seem to be the newly formed Sledgehammer Games, the home of former Visceral studio heads Glen Schofield and Michael Condrey. Sledgehammer Games was purportedly founded to "(create) a new game based on one of Activision's existing franchises" (via Gamespot.). Given the critical reception of Dead Space, this would seem to fit their qualifications. Requests for comment have not yet been returned by Activision.
Activision Announces the Formation of Sledgehammer GamesCatherine Hardwicke Discusses Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart Chemistry
Activision Announces the Formation of Sledgehammer GamesCatherine Hardwicke Discusses Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart Chemistry
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Activision Announces the Formation of Sledgehammer Games
Activision Publishing, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) today announced the appointments of industry veterans Glen A. Schofield as Vice President and General Manager and Michael Condrey as Vice President and COO of Sledgehammer Games, a new wholly-owned game development studio located in Foster City, California. Sledgehammer Games is currently in development on an as-yet-unannounced new videogame.
"Both Glen and Michael have outstanding reputations in the industry through their work as GM and COO of Visceral Games, and as the leadership of the Dead Space development team," said Dave Stohl, Executive Vice President of Studios at Activision. "We are excited to add their combined 30 years of experience and expertise to our management team."
"Michael and I are thrilled to be building a brand new studio for Activision. This was an opportunity for us to assemble a world-class team made up of developers with a proven track record in delivering top-rated games. We know what it takes to develop a Game of the Year title, and we also know that the title needs the support of a strong publisher to make the game a success," said Glen A. Schofield. "We are honored to be part of the family of amazing developers that have delivered some of the best-selling games in the industry and we look forward to continuing that success at Sledgehammer Games."
"Activision Blizzard's independent studio model is very empowering," said Michael Condrey. "We have a fantastic new studio facility, the foundation for a world-class team and the backing of the industry's most profitable game publisher. This was a rare opportunity we couldn't pass up and we are thankful for the support the Activision organization has shown us."
During their tenure at Visceral Games (formerly EA Redwood Shores,) Glen A. Schofield was the Executive Producer of Dead Space and Michael Condrey was the Sr. Development Director of the award-winning game. The Dead Space franchise has won more than 80 industry awards worldwide including the prestigious A.I.A.S Action Game of the Year and two B.A.F.T.A.S. They are joined at Sledgehammer Games by many award winning developers from across the industry. Sledgehammer Games is actively recruiting top industry talent to join their primary development team.
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"Both Glen and Michael have outstanding reputations in the industry through their work as GM and COO of Visceral Games, and as the leadership of the Dead Space development team," said Dave Stohl, Executive Vice President of Studios at Activision. "We are excited to add their combined 30 years of experience and expertise to our management team."
"Michael and I are thrilled to be building a brand new studio for Activision. This was an opportunity for us to assemble a world-class team made up of developers with a proven track record in delivering top-rated games. We know what it takes to develop a Game of the Year title, and we also know that the title needs the support of a strong publisher to make the game a success," said Glen A. Schofield. "We are honored to be part of the family of amazing developers that have delivered some of the best-selling games in the industry and we look forward to continuing that success at Sledgehammer Games."
"Activision Blizzard's independent studio model is very empowering," said Michael Condrey. "We have a fantastic new studio facility, the foundation for a world-class team and the backing of the industry's most profitable game publisher. This was a rare opportunity we couldn't pass up and we are thankful for the support the Activision organization has shown us."
During their tenure at Visceral Games (formerly EA Redwood Shores,) Glen A. Schofield was the Executive Producer of Dead Space and Michael Condrey was the Sr. Development Director of the award-winning game. The Dead Space franchise has won more than 80 industry awards worldwide including the prestigious A.I.A.S Action Game of the Year and two B.A.F.T.A.S. They are joined at Sledgehammer Games by many award winning developers from across the industry. Sledgehammer Games is actively recruiting top industry talent to join their primary development team.
Project Natal Coming November 2010 For Under $100?Common Says He’ll ‘Definitely’ See ‘Michael Jackson’s This Is It’
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
EA to close Saboteur developer Pandemic Studios
The bad news from EA continues this week, as the publisher has confirmed the closure of Pandemic Studios today, after acquiring the developer along with Bioware in 2007. A representative from EA responded to our request for comment with the following:
The Pandemic properties will continue to live on at Playa Vista. Though the Westwood facility will be closed, a core IP team of Pandemic developers will work on Pandemic titles from the EALA campus in Playa Vista, with a focus on quality, cost management and schedule integrity.
While news of more layoffs at a developer is always disappointing, Pandemic has been rumored to be on the chopping block for some time. Their biggest recent release, Mercenaries 2, received a generally positive critical reception but underperformed at retail, and the cancellation of their over-budget Dark Knight title last year prompted the closure of their Brisbane offices. We'll update as further information becomes available.
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The Pandemic properties will continue to live on at Playa Vista. Though the Westwood facility will be closed, a core IP team of Pandemic developers will work on Pandemic titles from the EALA campus in Playa Vista, with a focus on quality, cost management and schedule integrity.
While news of more layoffs at a developer is always disappointing, Pandemic has been rumored to be on the chopping block for some time. Their biggest recent release, Mercenaries 2, received a generally positive critical reception but underperformed at retail, and the cancellation of their over-budget Dark Knight title last year prompted the closure of their Brisbane offices. We'll update as further information becomes available.
0D Beat Drop Arrives on Xbox Live Arcade‘Michael Jackson’s This Is It’ Will Give Fans ‘Closure,’ Dancers Say
Thursday, November 12, 2009
0D Beat Drop Arrives on Xbox Live Arcade
Arc System Works, a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment products, is very proud to announce today the release of 0D Beat Drop, an eyeball-shattering fusion of the rhythm and puzzle genres for Xbox LIVE® Arcade video game and entertainment system from Microsoft!
What is Beat Drop?
To get a Beat Drop, just drop like-colored jewels next to one another in time to the music. A meter on the side of your screen shows the rhythm of your music, so keep your eyes on the meter and don’t miss a beat! The more Beat Drops you get, the stronger your attacks will be! With two or three chains of jewels, you’ll send dozens of shadow jewels to your opponent’s field! If you miss a beat, then the power you’ve built up will drop back down to zero, so remember to stay on the beat!
720x480
0D Beat Drop Key Features:
Musical Multiplayer Mayhem!
Play locally or online in versus in either versus, co-op, or battle royale with up to 4 players!
Move to your own music!
You can use music that is on your Xbox 360, or on an external USB device, to create your own levels! Analyze the BPM for the music you want to play, and then drop some beats to your favorite song! Although this function only works in single-player mode, there’s still a leaderboard for it! Aim for a high score on your favorite songs!
Melodic Modes
Take on the computer in a variety of modes such as Planet Quest, Survival, Time Attack, Co-op, and Task modes.
Flashy fields!
There are 21 types of background and blocks for you to choose from. Pick whichever one you like, and have fun!
0D Beat Drop has been rated “E” for Everyone by the ESRB and is available on Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360 for 800 Microsoft Points.
Project Natal Coming November 2010 For Under $100?Michael Jackson Guitarist Orianthi Says MJ Wanted ‘This Is It’ Concerts To Be ‘Perfect’
What is Beat Drop?
To get a Beat Drop, just drop like-colored jewels next to one another in time to the music. A meter on the side of your screen shows the rhythm of your music, so keep your eyes on the meter and don’t miss a beat! The more Beat Drops you get, the stronger your attacks will be! With two or three chains of jewels, you’ll send dozens of shadow jewels to your opponent’s field! If you miss a beat, then the power you’ve built up will drop back down to zero, so remember to stay on the beat!
720x480
0D Beat Drop Key Features:
Musical Multiplayer Mayhem!
Play locally or online in versus in either versus, co-op, or battle royale with up to 4 players!
Move to your own music!
You can use music that is on your Xbox 360, or on an external USB device, to create your own levels! Analyze the BPM for the music you want to play, and then drop some beats to your favorite song! Although this function only works in single-player mode, there’s still a leaderboard for it! Aim for a high score on your favorite songs!
Melodic Modes
Take on the computer in a variety of modes such as Planet Quest, Survival, Time Attack, Co-op, and Task modes.
Flashy fields!
There are 21 types of background and blocks for you to choose from. Pick whichever one you like, and have fun!
0D Beat Drop has been rated “E” for Everyone by the ESRB and is available on Xbox LIVE Arcade for Xbox 360 for 800 Microsoft Points.
Project Natal Coming November 2010 For Under $100?Michael Jackson Guitarist Orianthi Says MJ Wanted ‘This Is It’ Concerts To Be ‘Perfect’
Project Natal Coming November 2010 For Under $100?
MCV has reported "sources" of theirs have spilled the beans regarding Microsoft's highly anticipated controller-free 360 camera. According to these sources, Project Natal is slated for a worldwide release date of November 2010.
Microsoft has apparently been secretly promoting their upcoming Xbox 360 add-on in the UK, visiting publishers and developers to help get them more familiar with the hardware. This only makes sense since Microsoft will need to encourage as much development support as they can in order to secure support for Project Natal at launch.
Some more of the details that have come out involve a price point of 50 British pounds ($82) and a goal of 5 million units available at launch. It has also been reported that there are currently 14 titles in development that will coincide with the Project Natal launch. While those titles are not yet exactly known, we do know that many developers including Activision, Bethesda, Capcom, Disney, EA, Konami, MTV, Namco Bandai, Sega, Square Enix, THQ and Ubisoft have all expressed their support of Project Natal.
With a price below the $100 mark, Microsoft is counting on a large number of Xbox 360 owners to adopt the new hardware. Microsoft is banking on Project Natal helping further extend the lifespan of the Xbox 360 and they think that by offering a low cost piece of hardware that can unlock completely new and exciting experiences that do just that.
Stay tuned as we continue to cover the development of Project Natal as more information comes to light.
Kristen Stewart ‘Can’t Tell A Difference’ Between Herself And Bella Swan
Microsoft has apparently been secretly promoting their upcoming Xbox 360 add-on in the UK, visiting publishers and developers to help get them more familiar with the hardware. This only makes sense since Microsoft will need to encourage as much development support as they can in order to secure support for Project Natal at launch.
Some more of the details that have come out involve a price point of 50 British pounds ($82) and a goal of 5 million units available at launch. It has also been reported that there are currently 14 titles in development that will coincide with the Project Natal launch. While those titles are not yet exactly known, we do know that many developers including Activision, Bethesda, Capcom, Disney, EA, Konami, MTV, Namco Bandai, Sega, Square Enix, THQ and Ubisoft have all expressed their support of Project Natal.
With a price below the $100 mark, Microsoft is counting on a large number of Xbox 360 owners to adopt the new hardware. Microsoft is banking on Project Natal helping further extend the lifespan of the Xbox 360 and they think that by offering a low cost piece of hardware that can unlock completely new and exciting experiences that do just that.
Stay tuned as we continue to cover the development of Project Natal as more information comes to light.
Kristen Stewart ‘Can’t Tell A Difference’ Between Herself And Bella Swan
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