Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Blade Kitten Available for Download

Atari and Krome Studios announced today the release of Blade Kitten, the epic action adventure title starring Kit Ballard, based on the comic book series by creator Steve Stamatiadis. Blade Kitten is now available Xbox LIVE Arcade.

Blade Kitten marks the latest creation by Mr. Stamatiadis; the force behind the multi-million selling Ty the Tasmanian Tiger series. In Blade Kitten, a prequel to the comics set three years earlier, players are invited into the world of Hollow Wish where they take on the role of Kit Ballard, one of the best bounty hunters in the business. With her pink hair and tail, Kit is part cat, part girl - and fully lethal. As one of the last of her species, Kit commands her unique “Darque Blade” hovering sword to defeat enemies. Also along for the ride is Skiffy, Kit’s laid-back sidekick who lends a hand in collecting items, solving puzzles, and when needed, serves as Kit’s protector.

Blade Kitten goes beyond most downloadable titles to deliver a strong narrative, with high-quality cinematic, and a colorful, frenetic visual style, that lends to the pick-up-and-play arcade action. Players can jump right in and easily begin exploring and fighting their way through multiple levels, including three exploration levels with Noot (a rideable alien mount). Blade Kitten features side scrolling gameplay mechanics, intuitive “scramble style” exploration, fully voiced dialogue, dramatic narrative and powerful visual direction.

Irrational Games Lifts the Veil on Footage from BioShock Infinite Demo

On September 21, 2010, 9.00am PDT, fans will get their first chance to see what the critics have been raving about, when Irrational Games releases footage from the BioShock Infinite demo for an exclusive 24-hour period on Xbox LIVE and Xbox.com. Then, on September 22, Irrational Games will post the footage on BioShockInfinite.com and distribute the video worldwide. Previously presented only to limited press audiences behind closed doors, the demo video that won IGN's Gamescom Game of Show Award will be shown to the public for the very first time.

The BioShock Infinite demo video opens with the game's protagonist, former Pinkerton agent Booker DeWitt, battling through the streets of Columbia, a crumbling city in the sky. He has come to rescue Elizabeth, a mysterious young woman imprisoned there since childhood. As DeWitt and Elizabeth merge their powers in a desperate bid to escape the city, viewers will witness intense indoor and outdoor battles, new weapons and abilities, and dangerous new enemies including Elizabeth's terrifying captor.

BioShock Infinite, planned to release in 2012.

Monday, September 27, 2010

BioShock Infinite 10 Minute Video Demo

Curious to see why BioShock: Infinite is one of the most exciting games in development? Here's the entire demo that was previously shown off to media only behind closed doors. Enjoy.

 

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New Hydrophobia Trailer

Microsoft's Game Feast kicks off next week with the release of Hydrophobia next Wednesday for 1200 MS Points ($15).

We'll have a review up of the game on Monday if you're curious what the water-combat is all about. Did you know they're planning a trilogy of games in the world?

In the meantime, check out the latest trailer for the game called "20 Ways to Kill a Malthusian."

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Saturday, September 25, 2010

History Great Battles Medieval Coming Soon

Publisher Slitherine’s latest title, HISTORY Great Battles Medieval is now due out at the end of September 2010 on Xbox 360. HISTORY is the leading cable television network offering award-winning non-fiction series and specials that invite viewers to experience the excitement and relevance of history – How, Why, What If…?.

Short Description

This strategy RPG is the most detailed and realistic medieval combat model ever created. In these epic encounters players must lead armies through the greatest of medieval wars and make history live again. Famous figures like The Black Prince, Joan of Arc and Henry V all take their turn in this epic conflict deploying new weapons and battle tactics that finally left England as an island nation.

Overview

With all the knowledge and backing from HISTORY, this strategy RPG is the most detailed and realistic medieval combat model ever created, claim Slitherine. Each man must stand tall. Each man’s mettle will be tested. But amongst all men there are leaders, there are those who will not be cowed. Can you be that leader? In these epic encounters players must lead armies through the greatest of medieval wars and make history live again. Famous figures like The Black Prince, Joan of Arc and Henry V all take their turn in fighting for nationalism deploying new weapons and battle tactics that finally left England as an island nation.

HISTORY™ Great Battles of the Middle Ages visual style is gritty and realistic. Battles can include hundreds or thousands of individuals. Each of these characters is crafted to accurately reflect the arms and armour of the time. All in game animations are motion captured using professional stunt actors. There are multiple variations for each animation to avoid soldiers looking like clones. And infantry, cavalry and archer units will raise or thrust their weapons in the air and shout a battle cry as they are rushing into battle. Whilst waiting units will taunt the enemy by banging on their shields, thrusting swords in the air and other animations. Of course, victorious units will cheer and raise weapons after routing or destroying enemy units.

HISTORY™ Great Battles Medieval is based on the historical events of the Hundred Years War, the most infamous conflict of medieval times fought between France and England that shaped the future of both for centuries to follow. It features Slitherine’s cutting edge graphic engine and a brand new game play system that allows players to be in complete control of massive armies.

From the thunderous charge of the knights to the men-at-arms fighting for their lives in hand-to-hand combat, the game will recreate the epic feel of medieval battles, featuring thousands of characters simultaneously. It’s not gory, but there is just enough battle violence for a 16 rating.

Battle options

·3 gameplay modes: In Campaign mode experience history through the eyes of the military commanders of the day; in Skirmish mode there are 3 or 5 map short territory battles including practice Sandbox and in Multiplayer join a game or host your own in 2 player head to head.

·Customization: choose your army squad’s troop deployment, armour, weapon, shield, attack skills, general skills and defensive skills.

·Modding and scripting on the PC version: create new campaigns, new scenarios, new maps and even edit unit data. Completely new scripts can be created. Edited and added to

The player is continually rewarded as they progress through the game with money, unlocked equipment, units, and experience points. All of these allow the player to customize their army. This kind of customization has never been possible on such a large scale before and is really unique to the game. Many missions have main objectives and sub-objectives. There are Trophies and Achievements to acquire throughout the game in offline and online play.

Features

·As the English you will fight under the Black Prince, Henry V and other heroic characters from history, and as the French you fight for Joan of Arc and the King.

·70 Medieval battles, including 26 historical encounters from the Hundred Years war, 1337-1453.

·Command more than 20 different squad units all accurately researched and carefully modeled in amazing detail.

·Customise your squads of archers, cavalry, knights, etc with over 100 unique fighting, combat and weapon skills.

·Free form quest maps that allow players to decide when and where to fight within an historical framework.

·Innovative Battle Card system that gives bonuses and penalties in battle.

·Multiplayer: join a game or host your own in 2 player head to head.

·Extensive added historical documentary clips from the library of HISTORY TV channel.

HISTORY Great Battles Medieval is the second title in the highly successful Great Battles series, which saw its first appearance with the release of HISTORY™ Great Battles of Rome, and will be released in store in September 2010, distributed by PQube.

 



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Fifa 11 Demo Available Now

Electronic Arts announced today that a fully playable demo of EA SPORTS FIFA 11 is available to download beginning today. Xbox Live Silver Members will have access to the demo from Sept. 23.

Play as Chelsea, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen and Olympique Lyonnais and experience how FIFA 11 reinvents player authenticity–on and off the ball–with all-new Personality+. Individual abilities are now reflected in-game, allowing clear differentiation for every player on the pitch. Plus, experience true freedom in man-to-man interactions with 360° Fight for Possession that transforms physical play from lateral jostling to full 360° collisions and new Pro Passing, where pass accuracy is determined by a gamer’s ability on the control pad, and player skill, situation and urgency on the pitch. The FIFA 11 demo features an exhibition match with 3 minute halves in Real Madrid’s home stadium, Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, and users will be able to upload created in-game videos to EA SPORTS Football World. Fans who go to Facebook to play EA SPORTS FIFA Superstars and complete achievements will receive exclusive access to Arsenal and Emirates Stadium to play in the FIFA 11 demo.

EA SPORTS today also unveiled its global lineup of international football stars that will adorn FIFA 11 packaging and be integrated into marketing and advertising campaigns around the world. FIFA 11 will be localized into 18 languages and available in 51 countries. Led by the 28-year-old Brazilian, Kaka, the 17 global superstars hail from 15 countries, represent 14 different teams and play in 9 international football leagues, an ideal match for the World’s best-selling* sports videogame. With 2 FIFA World Cup titles, 5 Champions League titles, 32 national championships and 1 European title, EA SPORTS presents the strongest team of cover athletes it has ever assembled for its FIFA franchise.

“It is a great honor to unite so many exceptional football players on the FIFA 11 team of cover athletes,” said Matt Bilbey, Vice President of Football, EA SPORTS. “This mix of superstars from all over the world, each with their own unique style and passion for the game, and their different kind of amazing playing styles perfectly represents what FIFA 11 stands for – a true authentic and global football game of unprecedented quality.”

FIFA 11 Player Line Up:

Talent Nationality Team
KAKA Brazilian Real Madrid
WAYNE ROONEY English Manchester United
PETR CECH Czech Chelsea
KARIM BENZEMA French Real Madrid
HUGO LLORIS French Olympique Lyonnais
MESUT OEZIL German Real Madrid
RENE ADLER German Bayer Leverkusen
GIORGIO CHIELLINI Italian Juventus
ANDRES INIESTA Spanish FC Barcelona
TIM CAHILL Australian Everton
BALASZ DZSUDZSAK Hungarian PSV Eindhoven
RICARDO CARVALHO Portuguese Real Madrid
SERGEI SEMAK Russian Zenit St. Petersburg
VALENTIN STOCKER Swiss FC Basel
CARLOS VELA Mexican Arsenal
LANDON DONOVAN American LA Galaxy
JAKUB BLASZCZYKOWSKI Polish Borussia Dortmund

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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Space Invaders Infinity Gene Available

Square Enix today announces that Space Invaders Infinity Gene is now available for download on Xbox LIVE Arcade.

Space Invaders, the game that defined video games for generations, is back with a new twist! The game starts off with the classic Space Invaders look, but as you rack up your score, it evolves. Unlock new stages, sounds, power ups, and new features. The game moves from fixed two-dimensional graphics to high-speed side-scrolling and gradually on into full 3D. Experience the outcome of decades of shooting game evolution in Space Invaders Infinity Gene.

Compete against other players from all around the world in real time with the appropriately named Real Time Rankings. While in traditional online rankings, players couldn’t view their rank until the game had ended, with Real Time Rankings, your rank is displayed on-screen while you play. Battle your way to the top against the world’s greatest players in the pinnacle of outer space shooting action!

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Capcom Announced Devil May Cry Reboot

Capcom released the reveal trailer for the fifth entry in the Devil May Cry series this week at the Tokyo Game Show. The game is purportedly a reboot of the popular franchise featuring a redesigned Dante. Gone is the cartoony character design of previous entries and replaced with a grittier more realistic look. This new design has caused a bit of a rift in the fan community - discussing whether the new design is for the best.

The trailer opens with a quote from David Hume – “Heaven and hell suppose two different species of man, the good and the bad” - Traditionally the Devil May Cry series mythology combines elements of heaven and hell. The trailer continues to focus on a black haired protagonist being held in what is speculated to be an asylum of some kind. If the action sequences are any indication then the series staples of combos and stylized combats should continue in DMC.

More Devil May Cry (Ninja Theory Project) - (Xbox 360) Videos

A release date for DMC has not yet been announced by Capcom or Ninja Theory. It is possible that the game could be released in late 2011 or 2012 depending on how long development takes. Ninja Theory released their first title – PS3 Exclusive Heavenly Sword – before becoming a multiplatform developer in 2009.

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Explore the ZenLike Universe of the Undergarden

Atari Europe, today discovered its inner sense of being and announced plans to publish The UnderGarden, a puzzle exploration experience for gamers who have an affinity for solving new-style puzzles. Developed by Vitamin-G the creators of Aces of the Galaxy, The UnderGarden is set to unleash its mythical mojo this Winter and will be available on Xbox LIVE Arcade.

The UnderGarden is a casual zen-like game that challenges players to explore beautiful underground caverns filled with strange life forms; physics based puzzles and plenty of hidden secrets. The world comes alive and music evolves as players get deeper into the world of The UnderGarden. With local co-operative gameplay, players can chill out,work together to solve puzzles and explore the world. The UnderGarden offers 20 different levels of modern exploration filled with brain teasing physics and eco-friendly puzzles that evoke an emotional response to the beauty and calm of this underwater oasis.

“The UnderGarden offers an imaginative and novel take on the puzzle genre”, said John Burns, Vice President and General Manager for Atari Europe, “With its beautiful striking visuals, hypnotic soundtrack and taxing physics puzzles, The Undergarden is a underwater journey of triumphant discovery”.

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TxB Halo Reach Review

Check out our review for the newly released Halo: Reach.

Halo: Reach Review

What are your thoughts on the game so far?



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Sunday, September 19, 2010

Halo Reach Guide

Drop by Halo Ring and check out their ongoing Halo: Reach guide.

Halo: Reach Guide



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Deadly Premonition Release Date

Rising Star Games has announced the eagerly awaited survival horror game Deadly Premonition, a refreshingly obscure and compelling title on the Xbox 360, will be available from 29th October.

The release means gamers in the UK will finally be able to form their own opinions about Deadly Premonition, a game which has split opinions across the board: Destructoid awarded it 10/10, naming it "simply stunning", while IGN US scored it 2/10, saying it's "terrible".

"We're delighted to be able to confirm the release date for Deadly Premonition," says Martin Defries, managing director, Rising Star Games. "A cult classic in the making, the game continues to divide critics. But when it comes to the consumer, they seem to really 'get' the game, with the average user rating on Metacritic 8.5/10."

Developed by Access Games, Deadly Premonition is an open-world game set in Greenvale, a secluded rural town in North West America. Playing as FBI Special Agent Francis York, gamers are charged with solving the shocking, ritualistic and brutal murder of a local girl, unraveling the mystery via clues, lies and a trail of bodies.

Agent York travels around Greenvale in a variety of vehicles - entertaining gamers with facts about movies along the way - encountering eccentric natives, supernatural creatures and a folklore killer, who stalks his victims in a blood-drenched rain coat.

His appearance changes in 'real time' (shaving, showering and eating are essential), and this level of hygiene has consequences as it influences the towns folk's perceptions of him. Side quests and mini-games, such as darts, fishing and collecting trading cards also feature.

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Avatar Baseball Released

Darix Studios is pleased to introduce "Avatar Baseball", a baseball game now available in Xbox Live. In this title you will can play real baseball using your own avatar in one to nine rounds versus your friends or avatars controlled by console.

Take the bat and try to hit the ball as far as possible or, if you are defending, run fast to catch the ball soon and eliminate your opponents runners. Feel immersed in a true baseball game thanks to the nice sound effects of the game. Listen the public screaming with excitement when you make a home run or singing the classic "take me out to the ball" song when round seven starts.

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Scottish Affairs Committee Games Inquiry to Abertay University

The House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee is bringing its inquiry into the computer games industry in Scotland to the University of Abertay Dundee, an international center of excellence for computer games education.

Following the coalition Government’s decision in the Budget not to offer tax breaks to the industry, the Committee is investigating the economic impact of this decision on Scotland and other ways of financially supporting the industry.

One method of support for the industry that the Committee will discuss is Abertay University’s new 5 million prototyping project, which is expected to create up to 30 new companies and 400 new jobs. Successful applicants receive up to 25,000 to help build a prototype game or creative product to present to investors.

The Abertay visit is the Scottish Affairs Committee’s first fact-finding trip for this inquiry, and will involve consultation with both Abertay’s leading computer games educators and a range of industry representatives.

Written submissions to the inquiry from interested parties closed last Friday, 10 September, and now the Committee is meeting with academic and business experts to discuss the importance of this large industry to Scotland and to the UK.

Committee Chair Ian Davidson MP said: “The video games industry is hugely important to the people of Dundee. Not only is the industry a major source of revenue and employment, but Abertay University enjoys the prestige of being the first university in the world to offer a course in software engineering for video games and has been pivotal in cementing the reputation of Dundee as the hub of Scotland’s gaming industry.

“The Scottish Affairs Committee is extremely concerned about the impact of the recent announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to abolish tax relief for Scotland’s video games industry.

“The reality of today’s economic situation is that the lure of tax relief and financial incentives in other countries could result in a brain-drain from the gaming industry in Scotland to other parts of the world. Our inquiry, of which our visit to Dundee forms an important part, seeks to explore in detail the potential impact of this policy decision.”

Professor Bernard King CBE, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Abertay University, said: “The computer games industry, with its strong cluster in Dundee centred around Abertay University, is a crucially important sector for future Scottish and UK economic growth.

“We warmly welcome the Committee’s inquiry into the industry, and are delighted to show them the internationally leading educational and business support facilities on offer at Abertay.”

He added: “Our approach to education is based on working with companies to develop graduates ready to step straight into demanding jobs. From our annual Dare to be Digital computer games design competition to our new Professional Masters postgraduate degree, all our students work in the same open-plan, studio environments that the world’s leading computer games companies do.

“We’re developing this unique industry-focussed approach further with the £5 million prototyping fund, which is aimed specifically at creating new businesses and new jobs. We believe that direct support like this can spark off fantastic new creative ventures, and we look forward to discussing these alternative financing models with the Committee.”

At Abertay the Committee’s members will receive a tour of the open-plan studio workspaces that students from different courses share with their lecturers, as well as receiving demonstrations of some of the latest technological developments, including fully-immersive 3D computing.

Abertay University offered the world’s first computer games degree in 1997 and was established as the UK’s first Centre for Excellence in Computer Games Education following a £3 million Scottish Government investment.

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Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Gun Loco Music Contest

Square Enix is offering you the chance of a lifetime with our GUN LOCO music contest, make sure to check out the official site today from 5pm at http://ukcomp.gunloco.com/.It's simple, so listen up!

We want you to do the vocals for one of our tracks that will be used for a level in-game!

When you've given it all you've got, upload your song for the chance to appear in GUN LOCO!

One lucky winner will:

Get his/her song featured as the level music for the European map in Gun LocoWin a trip to London to a professional recording studio to record the songWin an Xbox360® video game and entertainment systemWin copy of the game signed by the development team in JapanWin an Xbox LIVE® 12 month Gold Membership

The contest ends on the 25th October 2010 so make it snappy as opportunities like these don’t happen very often!



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Fallout New Vegas Interview

Planet Fallout had the chance to interview Bethesda's PR master Peter Hines at this years Penny Arcade Expo. Give it a check out.

Previously you have mentioned weapon modifications, what can people do? Can they just do simple modifications or can they do the ridiculous?

Generally speaking, all of the modifications that you can do are centered around a couple of key ideas. Those being that guns or anything that uses ammo, being able to increase the ammo capacity of a weapon. Being able to make it more accurate, to give it a higher rate of fire, to have it do more damage. So all kinds of weapons have all different types of modifications, but they all tend to be in or around those areas. Which is how do make it carry more ammo, do more damage, be more accurate, and fire more rapidly. So whether it is a 9mm pistol or a grenade machine gun. They may be called similar things, but they will both have similar types of effects in terms of accuracy, damage, and rate of fire.

Read the Rest...



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Blazin' Balls fire up again for Xtreme Edition

MStar Games announce the pending release of Blazin' Balls Xtreme Edition, the follow-up to the successful Blazin’ Balls, published in April 2010. The game will be released on the Xbox LIVE Indie Games channel for 80 MSP.

Make your spinning, sizzling way along the road as fast as you can without falling through the gaps. Simple? Few will be good or fast enough to complete all 20 stunning 3D levels, but everyone can enjoy the 2-player battle mode - smack your opponent's ball around in the race to the line! Can YOU find your way to the top of the global online score table?

The aim of the game could not be simpler. Guide your ball along the road as fast as possible, avoiding the gaps in the road. The road has a few tricks ready for the unwary gamer however – it’s comprised of colored tiles which affect your progress in different ways. Players are introduced to the various challenges in the in-game video tutorial.

BLUE tiles throw your ball up in to the air, GREEN tiles speed you up, RED tiles slow your ball down, PURPLE tiles throw your ball backwards, YELLOW blocks distort your view of the road, and CYAN blocks reverse your left and right controls.

Each of the 20 levels has a target time. Complete the level within time for bonus points, or collect points as you go by bagging coins. Every 25,000 points you gain an extra life. High-scores are shared with other players via Xbox LIVE.

Gamers can also compete in the 2-player mode, where the action really gets smoldering! Push and knock your opponent out of your way, in to an obstacle or into a hole as your hurtle towards your goal! With free restarts you can keep the action going over all 20 levels!



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Blood Drive Swerves into the Car Combat Arena

While we Xbox users will never get a chance to play Twisted Metal on our own systems, Activision is shaking up the car-combat genre by bringing out a new title called Blood Drive . It's a very literal title for a game that involves violent automobiles.

The story revolves around contestants in a game show that must battle zombies and other drivers in an epic competition. Sounds like a vehicular version of The Running Man to me, but then again, I loved that old film.

I feel like there is fun to be had in a lot of different multiplayer arena games, so hopefully, despite taking the zombie route, there may be some good times to be had in this new driving title.

Take a look at the first shots from the game here:

Blood Drive Swerves into the Car Combat Arena



Blood Drive Swerves into the Car Combat Arena



Blood Drive Swerves into the Car Combat Arena



Blood Drive Swerves into the Car Combat Arena



Blood Drive Swerves into the Car Combat Arena



Blood Drive hits stores in November and is price $10 less than most retail releases. You'll be able to nab this title for $49.99 once it's out.

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Sunday, September 12, 2010

Music Lineup For Sims 3

Sul sul zeedab nas! The Sims fans will turn up the volume on their HD and PC hardware this Autumn and rock out while playing The Sims 3 game. The EA Play Label of Electronic Arts announced today the robust music line-up for The Sims 3 for console platforms and The Sims 3 Late Night PC/MAC that includes music from a variety of genres such as hip-hop, alternative, pop, rock, electronic, and more. Artists from around the world including Travie McCoy, 3oh!3, Flo Rida featuring Jovi, Kelly Rowland, Kelis, and more recorded current or upcoming hit singles from their latest albums in an entirely new language, ‘Simlish,’ which is the official language of The Sims franchise.

“The Sims may be one of the biggest and best-known brands in popular culture today and for a major artist to be asked to re-record their music in ‘Simlish’ has become one of the most unique and exclusive opportunities in the world of entertainment,” explained Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive, Music and Music Marketing, EA. “Over the past decade, hundreds of artists – including superstars as diverse as Katy Perry, Lady Antebellum, Flaming Lips, Damien Marley, Depeche Mode, Nelly Furtado, Matt And Kim, and so many more – have all become a part of this global phenomenon. For more than a hundred million The Sims players and fans every day, we are truly providing the soundtrack to their lives.”

“I’m always trying to find new ways to reach different audiences with my music and The Sims 3 was a perfect way,” explained Flo Rida who laid down his lyrics from “Fresh I Stay” in Simlish with Jovi.

The experience is unlike any other for some of the artists and can even prove to be challenging. “We couldn’t stop laughing while re-recording “Double Vision” in Simlish because it just sounds super bizarre,” 3oh!3’s Sean Foreman commented during their recording session. “I’ve always been a fan of The Sims games and could never figure out what the characters were saying in the game. I’m not sure if Simlish can be translated, but it’s darn fun to speak!”

“Singing in Simlish was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it was a blast!” said Travie McCoy who sang his upcoming single “Need You” in the game’s one-of-a-kind language. Kelly Rowland added, “I have to say it was quite challenging to sing “Rose Colored Glasses” in Simlish, but also incredibly fun!”

Global artists and Simlish re-recorded songs featured in The Sims 3 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii include:

22-20’s – “Latest Heartbreak”3oh!3 – “Double Vision”Aceyalone and RJD2 – “Ever Seen This”Aeroplane – “We Can’t Fly”Alpha Rev – “Phoneix Burn”Cody Simpson – “IY IY IY”Crash Kings – “You Got Me”deadmau5 – “Some Chords”Flo Rida featuring Jovi – “Fresh I Stay”Free Energy – “Free Energy”Hot Chip – “We Have Love”Innerpartysystem – “American Trash”Jasmine V – “All of These Boys”Jessica Mauboy – “Saturday Night”John Butler Trio – “Gonna Be a Long Time”Kidz in the Hall – “Flickin’”Lazee featuring Apollo Drive – “Calling Out”Mickey Factz – “Dreamland”Ozomatli – “Are you Ready?”School Of Seven Bells – “Dust Devil”The Dirty Heads – “Stand Tall”

As the world’s greatest life simulation on console, The Sims 3 combines the freedom of open world life simulation where players can create Sims – the unique characters found in The Sims games - with distinct personalities, fulfill their desires…or not, and control their lives with the guided gameplay of an all-new achievement system. As players complete challenges and collect dozens of achievements they will earn Karma points – all the while deciding the destinies of their Sims. Karma points can be used to unlock and unleash all-new Karma Powers to the grand benefit or wicked detriment of their Sims making it easier than ever to play with life. Players can help their Sim “get lucky,” bless them with “instant beauty” or be deviant and curse them with an “epic fail.” But players should use these powers wisely—they may have unexpected results and karma may come back to bite. The game will also be connected to the worldwide community through a seamlessly integrated creation exchange on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360**. Players can design, build, and share creations, or download content from other players around the world – and for the first time ever – without ever leaving the game.

The Sims 3 Late Night includes:

3oh!3 – “Double Vision”Bryan Rice – “There for You”Chiddy Bang – “Here We Go”Electrolightz – “Miss Outta Control”Eliza Doolittle – “Rollerblades”Foxy Shazam – “Unstoppable”Hadag Nahash – “Lo Maspik”Hadouken! – “M.A.D.”Jessica Mauboy – “Saturday Night”Junkie XL – “Live Wired”Kelis – “Brave”Kelly Rowland – “Rose Colored Glasses”King Fantastic – “All Black Ying Yang (The Party Song)”My Chemical Romance – “Na Na Na”Nikki & Rich – “Next Best Thing”The Ready Set – “More Than Alive”Soulja Boy – “Speakers Going Hammer”Travie McCoy – “Need You”

The Sims 3 Late Night gives players all-access and lets them loose on a vibrant, active downtown scene where they’ll rub elbows with celebrities at the hottest parties, hit the local bar after work, tour the scene with their Sims’ band, kick back in a plush hot tub, and discover what’s lurking in the thick of the night. Players will be able to take their Sims into the bustling urban setting where they’ll be able to become a celebrity, member of a music band, mixologist, director, and more. To gain entrance into the most elite clubs in town, players need to keep their attitude in check otherwise they’ll be given the cold shoulder by tough bouncers or find another way onto the list. If chilling is the player’s forte, their Sims can lounge at a chic club or dive bar. If they like to live on the edge, they can be initiated into the dark life of a vampire. Whether embarking on a new career, painting the town red, or throwing a party on the rooftop of a penthouse, it’s always up to the player to tell their unique stories with The Sims 3. What will happen when the lights go out and Sims get all-access?



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New Kinect Sports Trailer Shows a Variety of Activities

Microsoft has released a new two minute trailer for Kinect Sports. The trailer gives us brief glimpses of the included sports – Boxing, Football (soccer), Javelin Throw and more. As with other Kinect launch titles the Avatars play a large role. They represent your physical movements through the Kinects sensors – mimicking your movements for such activities as flinging a ping-pong paddle.

The Kinect sensor launches on November 4th for $149.99 and will launch with 15 games including four games being published by Microsoft and being developed Frontier Studios, Rare and Big Park Games. You can read our hands on preview from PAX 2010 with Kinect Adventures here.

More Kinect Sports - (Xbox 360) Videos

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Thursday, September 9, 2010

Big Stars in Blackops

Gary Oldman and Ed Harris will be lending their voices to Call of Duty: Black-ops as Treyarch and Activision confirm a host of Hollywood talent that's helping out with this year's blockbuster shooter.

Oldman will be reprising his role as Viktor Reznov, the embittered Russian squad leader from Treyarch's last Call of Duty, World at War, while veteran actor Ed Harris will be playing CIA operative Jason Hudson.

They're not the only movie professionals bringing their talent to the production; David S. Goyer, writer of, among other things, The Dark Knight and Batman Begins, is providing script consultation.

"Their contributions have helped us to push the boundaries of our story telling and character development far beyond anything we have ever attempted before in the franchise," said Treyarch head Mark Lamia.

From IGN



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Jimmys Vendetta Next Game AddOn for Mafia II

2K Games announced today that Jimmy’s Vendetta*, the second action-infused downloadable game add-on for the epic crime game, Mafia II, is now available for download worldwide from Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360. Jimmy’s Vendetta offers players intense arcade-style gameplay with more than 30 new city quests and leaderboard ranking. Jimmy’s Vendetta will be available for players for $9.99/800 Microsoft Points.

Beneath the bustling metropolis of 1950s Empire Bay, exists a gritty, crime-ridden underworld - and when the forces who control this empire turn against the man who helped them build it, he comes for vengeance. Jimmy’s Vendetta lets players experience Empire Bay through the eyes of Jimmy, once the mob’s most effective ally, and now its greatest enemy. Fueled by rage, Jimmy takes on Italian and Irish mobsters in a slew of new unlockable city quests, including assassination and timed vehicle pursuits ending in dramatic shootouts. Players can perform executions with deadly head shots or charged explosives, and rack up points by performing precision-timed vehicular power slides, lofty jumps and feats of supercharged speed. Multipliers and combos add bonus points to overall scores that will be immediately posted to the new online leaderboard system, providing extensive re-playability as players work to rise to the top of the ranks.

Through a compelling narrative, Mafia II transports gamers into the dark and unforgiving world of the Mafia. The fiction is embellished by a sophisticated, era-evoking atmosphere that meticulously replicates the clothing, cars, music and advertising of 1940s and 1950s America. Players will easily become immersed in the game's cinematic Hollywood-style experience with strong, believable characters in a living, breathing metropolis. By fusing action-packed gameplay with white-knuckle driving and an epic gangster story, Mafia II is the industry's most compelling Mafia title to-date.
 



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Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Madden NFL 11 Winning in August

Electronic Arts announced today that Madden NFL 11 is delivering a strong performance in August in both retail sales and direct-to-consumer digital revenue. Based on internal estimates, Madden NFL 11 is the #1 selling game in North America in August – sales are projected to be up approximately 5% year-over-year across all platforms for the month.

Today, Madden NFL Superstars, an all-new NFL social game experience, launches on Facebook.

“Madden NFL 11 is the number one selling game in August, and the game has created enormous enthusiasm in the online community,” said Peter Moore, president of EA SPORTS. “Each day on consoles, fans are playing as many games online as the equivalent of 750 full NFL seasons. Now on Facebook, Madden NFL Superstars will bring a whole new dimension and audience to the Madden NFL experience.”

This month, Madden NFL 11 has reached a number of important milestones:

On the strength of the Madden NFL Ultimate Team game mode being released this year at launch, digital revenues for Madden NFL 11 are up more than 200 percent year-over-year.Madden NFL 11 gamers have averaged more than two million online connected game sessions each day. Nearly 20 percent of all online play has been logged on a brand new feature, Online Team Play. The mode allows fans to go online and play 3-on-3 with, or against, their friends.The innovative new GameFlow play calling system in Madden NFL 11 has been a hit, with 85 percent of players having used the new feature that streamlines play calling and shortens overall game length for a more accessible experience. Says ESPN.com: “GameFlow is a complete game-changer.”Madden NFL 11 debuted as the #1 top grossing application for Apple’s mobile platforms on the day it launched – the first time one game franchise has held the top grossing position in multiple platforms in the App Store.

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Inferno Now Available on Xbox Live

Radiangames is proud to announce its third game, Inferno, is now available for download through Xbox Live Indie Games on the Xbox 360 for 80 MSP ($1).

Inferno is a visually stunning twin-stick action RPG. One to four players can explore 30 levels, collect gold, upgrade their ships, and destroy everything in their path.

In addition to being available directly through the Games Marketplace on Xbox 360 consoles, the game can be queued for download at the Xbox 360 Marketplace site:

http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-CA/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258550638/?p=1&of=0&bt=0&sb=1

“Inferno is by far the largest and deepest game I've done yet for XBLIG” said Luke Schneider of Radiangames. “It's been a huge amount of work packed in a limited amount of time, but the final product is well worth the effort.”

The Inferno launch trailer is viewable here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZOuDX7hmpk



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Monday, September 6, 2010

Xbox Live Deal of the Week Alien Invasion

Major Nelson updated his blog over the weekend revealing the Deal of the Week for the first week of September. From now until September 8th Xbox Live Gold Members will be able to purchase several space themed XBLA games and pieces of DLC for a reduced price. Some of better deals include Galaga Legions and Zeno Clash.The following content has been specially priced for Xbox LIVE gold members until September 6, 2010:

Zeno Clash Ultimate Edition, 800 Microsoft Points
Aliens vs Predator Swarm Map Pack , 400 Microsoft Points
Alien Breed Episode 1, 400 Microsoft points
Galaga Legions, 400 Microsoft PointsSource: MajorNelson.com

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Xbox 360 reveals the Captain of the Halo Reach Elite Spartan Squad

Xbox today revealed the final member and lucky team captain of the Halo: Reach Elite Spartan Squad – 17-year old Halo fan, Lewis Chapman. After fending off intense competition from the other finalists from the ‘Searching for a Leader’ promotion, which saw nearly 800 entrants, Lewis Chapman from Newark in Nottinghamshire, has been crowned Captain of the celebrity Elite Spartan Squad. Team members include, R’n’B / pop artist Mr Hudson, England and Manchester United footballer extraordinaire, Rio Ferdinand; Model and T4 presenter, Jameela Jamil; England Rugby star, Ben Cohen; and Gadget Show presenter, Jason Bradbury.

As part of the final selection process, Lewis took part in a rigorous interview process where he was grilled by a panel about his knowledge of Halo, his dreams and aspirations as well as why he was the best man for the job. As well as becoming the team Captain, Lewis will be training the celebrity members in a series of one-to-one’s, before, as a team, participating in the most exciting live Halo battle in gaming history at Halo: Reach’s official ‘Blue Carpet’ launch event, taking place in a few weeks. Additionally, a team of six top gamers were selected from the community and they will face-off against the Elite Spartan Squad and their newly-crowned Captain at the Reach mega-launch.

Lewis said, “I’m really excited that Xbox has given me this opportunity – Halo is my biggest passion and this is a dream come true. I would like to say to my new team members, ‘Get practicing! You might be celebrities, but you better be good on the night!’ I will do everything that I can, as their leader to beat the opposing team.”

Arriving in the UK on 14 September and created by acclaimed developer Bungie, Halo: Reach is set to be the BIGGEST entertainment event of 2010, and will be available exclusively on Xbox 360. Halo: Reach tells the heroic story of Noble Team, a group of Spartan III Warriors who, through great sacrifice and courage, save countless lives in the face of impossible odds on planet Reach - humanity’s last line of defense against the encroaching Covenant force, whose ultimate goal is the destruction of Earth.

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Sunday, September 5, 2010

Gearbox Announces Borderlands Game of the Year Edition

Gearbox Software announced today that they will be releasing a ‘game of the year’ edition of Borderlands to retailers on October 12th. The new edition of the FPS/RPG hybrid will retail for $59.99, the price of the game at launch, and will include the four DLC expansions released thus far.

This is an excellent opportunity for those of you who have not experience the fun of four player Borderlands action. Included on the disc are the first three expansions – The Zombie Island of Dr.Ned, Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot and The Secret Armory of General Knox. There will be an in-case voucher for the fourth expansion – Captrap’s New Robot Revolution.

Randy Pitchford, founder of Gearbox Software, has publically stated that company would like to support Borderlands beyond the four announced expansion and that they have the full support of their publisher Take Two. As they announce future plans for the Borderlands franchise we will be sure to bring them to you here on TeamXbox.com

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Enslived Odyssey to the West Design Contest

NAMCO BANDAI Games Europe S.A.S announced today the launch of an ENSLAVED: Odyssey to the West inspired post-apocalyptic design contest in the UK. Budding artists are invited to visit www.enslaved-thegame.com to submit their visions of a future without humans by Friday, October 1st 2010 to be in with a chance of winning a truly unique prize.

Developed by Ninja Theory Ltd, the vision of the future in ENSLAVED depicts nature, broken free from the oppression of human interference, reclaiming the concrete monoliths and sprawling cityscapes of mankind’s reign to present a post-apocalyptic world of lush greenery and vibrant colors. However, the remnants of man’s last war remain with deadly mechs roaming the landscape serving one purpose only: killing survivors.

NAMCO BANDAI are asking talented designers to produce a piece of artwork inspired by the beautiful, yet deadly reimagining of Earth in ENSLAVED: Odyssey to the West, with the winning entry to receive two copies on their preferred format with their design featured on a unique cover and an extra-large framed print signed by members of the design team at Ninja Theory.

To be in with a chance of winning this amazing prize and for more information on how to enter, log on to www.enslaved-thegame.com.

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Saturday, September 4, 2010

Spatial Logic Puzzle

Good Guy Robots has just released Codex, a puzzle game that has gotten gamers to scratch their heads and think. Codex is a spatial logic puzzle with one goal in mind: To solve the puzzle in the fewest moves to earn gold medals. The gold medals are showcased in the leaderboards where players are ranked based on score with an option to display their medal haul. The medal haul shows off how each player did on each level.

Codex has 30 levels in progression of puzzle size and difficulty grouped in 6 stages. Finishing a puzzle will unlock the next one as long as you complete the puzzle within the number of prescribed moves. You can go back and play any puzzle you’ve already completed, however this feature is disabled in trial mode.

Codex also has music visualizations during gameplay that can be hooked into the music shared to the Xbox from your computer or USB device. The music visualization has each of the gears tuned to a specific frequency as the music is playing. GGR felt that this added to the look and feel of the game as well as allowed a better experience for gamers to listen to the music they enjoy.

Codex can be queued for download to your Xbox360 by going to the following link http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/media/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d80258550623/ or by perusing the Xbox 360’s community games section.

GGR is proud of this release and plans to continue to release high quality titles on Xbox Live Indie Games!

To find out more about Good Guy Robots, visit their website at http://goodguyrobots.com

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Microsoft Announces New 'Transforming' Controller Design

Microsoft announced today the existence of an upgraded wireless controller that contains a new transforming d-pad. Xbox Live’s “Major Nelson” says that the company listened to the concerns of the community and took the controller back to the drawing board for this new design. The current design has been criticized by platforming and fighting fans for its lack of precision.

The new controller allows the player to twist the d-pad causing the traditional ‘disc’ the pad rests on to recess in to the controller revealing a more traditional plus shaped d-pad. This allows players to gain precise movement in the four directions without the frustration of the previous disc based design. The controller also features a set of alternate colored buttons. The ABXY buttons have swapped their traditional bright colors for varying shades of white, grey and black. The right and left bumpers have also received a color swap – they are now black.

Microsoft Announces New Transforming Controller Design



The new Xbox 360 Wireless Controller will be available at retailers in North America after November 9th and will retail for $69.99 with a bundled Play & Charge kit. Microsoft has stated this will be the only way to purchase the new controller. It will not be sold without the bundled Play & Charge kit unfortunately. Europe can expect a release date of February 2011 according to the included YouTube video from Major Nelson.



Image Credit: Microsoft

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Thursday, September 2, 2010

Minervas Den StoryDriven DLC for BioShock 2 Available Now

2K Games announced today that Minerva’s Den, the final installment of single-player focused downloadable game add-on for BioShock 2 is now available for download from the Xbox LIVE Marketplace for 800 Microsoft Points. Minerva’s Den is a self-contained narrative experience that introduces new characters, locations and mystery to the fiction-rich world of Rapture. The game add-on puts players in the role of an all-new character who has teamed up with Brigid Tenenbaum to unravel a megalomaniac’s stranglehold on a key district in the distinctive city under the sea.

Prepare to explore Rapture Central Computing, a never-before-seen location in the undersea city, and uncover the dark secrets hidden in its founder's past. Wield new high-tech weaponry and a devastating new Plasmid to best the towering threats in Minerva's Den: more dangerous Splicers that command the power of the elements, upgraded Security Bots that throw rockets and lightning bolts, and even a never-before-seen type of Big Daddy. Developed by 2K Marin, Minerva's Den offers new twists on the story-driven experience that drew players into BioShock 2 when it launched earlier this year.

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Vanquish Demo Out Now in Euro

SEGA can confirm that the VANQUISH Official Demo: Velocity Attack, is available exclusively for download from Xbox LIVE Marketplace in Europe today.

VANQUISH is the title Shinji Mikami has worked on in over 4 years, achieving high tension throughout the game and delivering a new sense of game merged shooting and action in a finely balanced manner. The game is set for release across North America on 19th October, Australia on 21st of October and across Europe on October 22nd 2010 for the Xbox 360.

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