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New Dead Space Arriving By March 2013
By GameInformer, published 05-08-2012
During its investor call this afternoon, EA said the Dead Space franchise will see a new release during the publisher's 2013 fiscal year. "At the foundation is another year of blockbuster brands: Madden NFL, FIFA, Sim City, Medal of Honor, Dead Space, and Need for Speed as well as mobile hits like The Simpsons Tapped Out, and Bejeweled," EA said. It's unclear if this is Dead Space 3 or a different game in the series. In a follow up e-mail, a spokesperson told Game Informer, "There’s no further information today but watch for several big product announcements from EA at E3 in June." EA is rumored to be developing Dead Space 3 from Visceral Games. A report from last year suggests the game will take place on an ice planet and not a space ship. EA&#...
Kinect Star Wars Tops UK Charts
By GameInformer, published 04-10-2012
Don't act surprised. You knew Kinect Star Wars was going to sell. The game topped the UK charts last week, marking the first time a Kinect game has reached the number one slot. Electronic Arts nabbed the next four slots with FIFA Street, Mass Effect, FIFA 12, and Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13. Modern Warfare 3 landed in the number six slot followed by SSX, Mario & Sonic: London 2012 Olympic Games, Battlefield 3, and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim rounding out the top 10. [Via Chart Track]
UPDATE: PlayStation Vita Review Round-Up
By GameInformer, published 15-02-2012
The PlayStation Vita is almost out, and we've posted our reviews for many of the titles that will be available at launch for Sony's handheld. Take a look at an excerpt of our opinions and click through for full reviews right here. Army Corps of Hell - "I enjoyed Army Corps of Hell quite a bit during the initial stages, but it didn’t take long to realize how little there was to the overall experience." -Dan Ryckert FIFA Soccer - "Despite the fact that the Vita is brand-spanking new technology, FIFA Soccer on the platform is dated. A year old, to be exact. That means I’m not talking about FIFA 12, which was a great step forward for the franchise. Instead, this Vita FIFA takes after FIFA 11 – a game that I find hard to go back to." -Matthew...
FIFA Soccer Vita Review: Welcome To FIFA 11
By GameInformer, published 14-02-2012
Despite the fact that the Vita is brand-spanking new technology, FIFA Soccer on the platform is dated. A year old, to be exact. That means I’m not talking about FIFA 12, which was a great step forward for the franchise. Instead, this Vita FIFA takes after FIFA 11 – a game that I find hard to go back to.Going strictly by the Vita’s capabilities, it’s hard not to be impressed by what this game looks and feels like on the handheld. The two analog sticks replicate many of the beautiful gameplay moments that the franchise has become known for, and shooting using the back touchscreen is a fun experience. It actually does a good job of being intuitive but not too easy to pull off every time. This attempts to replicate the fact that finishing with a precise, killer shot on...
Battlefield 3 Sales Reach 10 Million
By GameInformer, published 02-01-2012
Battlefield 3 and FIFA 12 each sold more than 10 million units, EA said today. Additionally, Madden NFL 12 has sold almost 5 million units life-to-date. EA announced in November Battlefield 3 has sold 8 million copies and shipped 12 million. The publisher said Origin, its digital retail service, has 9.3 million registered consumers and generated more than $100 million in revenue in 2011.
The Best-Selling PSN Games Of 2011
By GameInformer, published 23-01-2012
Sony has provided a list of the ten best-selling PSN games and download content on PlayStation Network for 2011 to Game Informer. You may be surprised by the results. Tetris, Resident Evil 4, and Infamous Festival of Blood make up the top three PSN titles. Meanwhile, Call of Duty map packs accounted for four of the top six best-selling paid content for the year. Both lists are ranked by units sold. Here are the top 10 best-selling PSN Games of 2011 (digital games only, not full PS3 games): Tetris Resident Evil 4 Infamous Festival of Blood Back to the Future: The Game - Full Series Dungeon Hunter: Alliance Castle Crashers Limbo Battlefield 1943 Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection Magic: The Gathering - Duels of the Planeswalkers 2012 Below is the top 10 Paid Downloads from the Play...
Amazon's Best-Selling Games Of 2011
By GameInformer, published 16-01-2012
Online retailer Amazon has published a list of its best-selling video games for 2011. The list includes both physical and digital sales. As you probably predicted, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 took the top spot, followed by Just Dance 3 and the Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. As for digital PC sales, Deus Ex: Human Revolution came out on top, with Battlefield 3 and The Sims 3 taking #2 and #3, respectfully. Here is the full list: Physical (platforms are combined, but collector's editions are not included) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Just Dance 3 Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Battlefield 3 Batman: Arkham City Madden NFL 12 Portal 2 Just Dance 2 Gears of War 3 FIFA Soccer 12 Digital Deus Ex: Human Revolution Battlefield 3 The Sims 3 Battlefield Bad Company 2 Sid Meir's Civilization V D...
The UK's Best-Selling Games Of 2011
By GameInformer, published 01-11-2012
Activision's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was the UK's best-selling title last year, according to data released today by UKIE, a trade association that represents the UK's video game industry. This marks the third year in a row that Call of Duty took the top spot in the UK for the year. Modern Warfare 2 was the top game in 2009 and Black Ops in 2010. FIFA 12 and Battlefield 3 took the #2 and #3 spots, respectively. “In a year when overall consumer spending was down, the launch of so many high-quality titles showed that there was still strength in the UK’s boxed-product games market," said Jo Twist, CEO of UKIE. "However, whilst the boxed product market still remains a key revenue stream, digital is where much future growth lies and it is therefore vit...
GI Staff And Reader Interests, Dislikes, And Favorite Games: Issue #226
By GameInformer, published 01-11-2012
The Game Informer monthly staff page is a forum where we all come together and talk about what's cool right now. We'll get the ball rolling and would love to hear everyone's current interests, dislikes, and favorite games. Andy McNamara Profile E-mail Editor Interests: Even Though I Read It Three Months Ago Ready Player One Still Pops Into My Head Once A Week (READ IT), Winter Training, Waiting For Diablo III, Jazz At Psycho Suzi's Motor Lounge, Breaking Bad, Jose Gonzalez, Mad Men, NFL Playoffs, Timberwolves Basketball, My New Darksiders Statue Dislikes: THQ's Stock Price (THQ Has Way Too Many Awesome Games To Be As Beat Up As They Are – Stop Making An MMORPG And Concentrate On The Games In The Works That Matter Like Darksiders II And South ...
Xbox Live's Top Games Of 2011
By GameInformer, published 01-06-2012
Microsoft has revealed the top list of most played games on Xbox Live for 2011. As you can imagine, Call of Duty is a monster. As detailed on Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb's blog, Call of Duty makes up five of the top 20 most played games on the service for the year. Below is the rest of the data, which includes Arcade titles and Indie games. The games data is based on unique users connect to Xbox Live or full versions purchased between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011. Xbox 360 Top LIVE Titles (based on UU’s) Call of Duty: Black Ops Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Modern Warfare 2 Halo: Reach Battlefield 3 Skyrim Gears of War 3 FIFA 12 FIFA Soccer 11 Madden NFL 12 GTA IV NBA 2K11 Battlefield: Bad Co. 2 Call of Duty 4 Battlefield 3 Beta Halo 3 Gears of War 2 Forza...
These Are The Most Pirated Games Of 2011
By GameInformer, published 31-12-2011
TorrentFreak.com listed its most pirated games of 2011 across PC and consoles. There weren't a whole lot of suprises to be had. Crysis 2 led the way on PCs and Gears of War 3 had the most downloads on the Xbox 360. The PlayStation 3 was not mentioned because apparently the system had, "considerably less downloads." The biggest surprise was the Wii. Super Mario Galaxy 2 topped the list, but that didn't even release this year, and second place went to Mario Sports Mix, which had more than a million downloads. Skyward Sword didn't even make the top 5. Come on people out there stealing Wii games, you need to get on the ball! Here are the full lists:PC Game Downloads1. Crysis 2 (3,920,000)2. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (3,650,000)3...
Game Informer's Second Annual Glitchie Awards
By GameInformer, published 30-12-2011
Sometimes they're entertaining, and sometimes they make you want to throw your controller across the room in frustration, but any way you look at it, glitches are an ever-present part of the gaming experience. Despite thousands of hours of play testing and millions of lines of code, almost no game is safe from the occasional technological breakdown. We combed the web to find video evidence of the most egregious and laughable errors. Here are the most notable gameplay glitches of 2011, plus one lifetime achievement award for a game that's featured the same annoying glitch for years. Warning: Game Informer is not responsible for content on YouTube links. Language may be unsuitable for minors. Batting Number Two – MLB 2K11 cs_setInnerHtml('video_50184226-7997-4f63-8e2a-a516ffb...
2011 Sports Game Of The Year Awards
By GameInformer, published 27-12-2011
As is to be expected at this juncture in the console cycle, most of the development teams working on sports games are in their comfort zone, making subtle tweaks to pre-existing foundations rather than making wholesale changes or introducing big idea innovations. This was reflected in our reviews, as MLB 2K11 and Madden NFL 12 were the only major sports games that scored under an 8.0 from Game Informer this year. MLB 11: The Show introduced analog pitching. Tiger Woods solidified its career mode and included The Masters for the first time ever. The criminally underrated NHL series took a slight step back, but still offers a good experience for hockey fans. FIFA had a banner year, and NBA 2K12 would have if it weren't for the league lockout and the embarrassingly broken online experien...
110 Percent: What We Could Learn From Sports Games
By GameInformer, published 24-12-2011
Some may think sports games exist in their own separate universe, but there are some things that these old stick and ball games do right that titles of all genres could take cues from. In an age where hard genre classifications are a thing of the past and developers are taking inspiration from games of all stripes, there are some great features that some sports games have had for years that could benefit titles in other genres. Keep Offline Multiplayer AliveSports are a natural fit for multiplayer gaming, and the genre has stuck to its guns when it comes to still offering offline multiplayer play. While some games' multiplayer components have omitted offline splitscreen, citing the nuisance of having to battle framerate issues and divvying up and shrinking the screen for players, spor...
PlayStation Vita US launch titles revealed
By TechRadar, published 22-12-2011
Sony has revealed the full line-up of games which will be available for the PlayStation Vita console when it launches on 22 February.There will be 25 games available in total, priced from $10-$50, with Sony calling claiming that "PS Vita will have the biggest and best lineup we've ever launched across the history of PlayStation platforms."Sony says there are over 100 games in development, but these are the titles that will be available from day one:SCEA Launch Day Titles Escape Plan (PSN Only), Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational, Hustle Kings (PSN Only), Little Deviants, ModNation Racers: Road Trip, Super StarDust Delta (PSN only), UNCHARTED: Golden Abyss, wipEout 2048. Third Party Publisher Launch Day Titles Army Corps of Hell (Square Enix), Asphalt Injection (Ubisoft), BEN10 GAL...
PlayStation Vita US launch titles revealed
By TechRadar, published 22-12-2011
Sony has revealed the full line-up of games which will be available for the PlayStation Vita console when it launches on 22 February.There will be 25 games available in total, priced from $10-$50, with Sony calling claiming that "PS Vita will have the biggest and best lineup we've ever launched across the history of PlayStation platforms."Sony says there are over 100 games in development, but these are the titles that will be available from day one:SCEA Launch Day Titles Escape Plan (PSN Only), Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational, Hustle Kings (PSN Only), Little Deviants, ModNation Racers: Road Trip, Super StarDust Delta (PSN only), UNCHARTED: Golden Abyss, wipEout 2048. Third Party Publisher Launch Day Titles Army Corps of Hell (Square Enix), Asphalt Injection (Ubisoft), BEN10 GAL...
PS Vita hits shelves with 20 titles
By GameSpot, published 22-12-2011
Sony lays out launch lineup headed by Uncharted and Hot Shots Golf; games priced from $10 to $50, memory cards running from $20 for 4GB up to $100 for 32GB. The PlayStation Vita is almost here, and Sony today locked down some launch details for its latest handheld, including the first wave of games and accessories. PS Vita purchasers can start working out their launch-day budgets now. When the PS Vita officially launches in North America February 22, it will do so with 20 retail games and another five downloadable titles available only through the PlayStation Network. Sony also outlined software support for the system's First Edition bundle, which goes on sale a week earlier, launching February 15. All five of Sony's first-party games will be on shelve...
Sony Announces U.S. Vita Launch Lineup & Accessories
By GameInformer, published 22-12-2011
Sony has announced its official launch lineup for the PlayStation Vita when the system comes out next year. SCEA Launch Day TitlesEscape Plan (PSN Only)Hot Shots Golf: World InvitationalHustle Kings (PSN Only)Little DeviantsModNation Racers: Road TripSuper StarDust Delta (PSN only)Uncharted: Golden AbyssWipeout 2048Launch Window TitlesGravity RushMLB 12: The ShowReality FightersUnit 13Third-Party Publisher Launch Day TitlesArmy Corps of Hell (Square Enix, Inc.)Asphalt Injection (Ubisoft, Inc.)Ben10 Galactic Racing (D3 Publisher of America)Blazblue: Continuum Shift Extend ( Aksys Games Localization, Inc.)Dungeon Hunter Alliance (Ubisoft, Inc.)Dynasty Warriors Next (Tecmo Koei America Corporation)F1 2011 (Codemasters)FIFA Soccer (Electronic Arts, Inc.)Lumines Electronic Symphony (Ubisoft, I...
EA Games $0.99 App Store sale begins
By SlashGear, published 20-12-2011
EA Games has kicked off its App Store games sale, offering dozens of iPhone and iPad apps for under a dollar as the company prepares for the holiday season. Titles in the promotion (which has started with a £0.69 sale in the UK, and is expected to spread to the US imminently) include FIFA 11, [...]
Skyrim Breaks 8-Year Old UK Record
By GameInformer, published 19-12-2011
Bethesda continues to see success with its latest open-world game, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. UK software sales tracker GFK Chart-Track says Skyrim is the first game in eight years to claim the #1 spot on the Christmas Chart that wasn't released by Electronic Arts or Activision. The record started with EA’s ‘Medal of Honor: Rising Sun’ back in 2003. Since then, the top Christmas Chart titles include: NFS: Underground 2 (2004), NFS: Most Wanted (2005), FIFA ‘07 (2006), CoD 4: Modern Warfare (2007), FIFA ‘09 (2008), CoD: Modern Warfare 2 (2009), and CoD: Black Ops (2010). The last title to reach #1 not released by EA or Activision was Grand Theft Auto: Vice City in 2002 from Take-Two. Bethesda recently announced Skyrim has shipped 10 million copies world...
Review: Microsoft Xbox 360
By TechRadar, published 16-12-2011
OverviewThe Xbox 360 has changed since its launch in 2005.That much is transparently clear from the updated version that debuted in 2010.The Xbox 360 S is smaller, sleeker and quieter than the previous model and designed to banish the infamous 'Red Ring of Death' hardware failure that forced Microsoft to extend its warranty on the system.Likewise the arrival of Kinect, which has gone on to sell over 10 million units, has transformed the machine from solely the preserve of hardcore gamers to a casual gamer friendly environment.While some of the novelty of Kinect may have worn off, if anything the games are improving – finding new ways to take advantage of what is still fascinating technology.But Microsoft is and always has been a software company first and foremost and, fittingly, that's ...
GI Staff And Reader Interests, Dislikes, And Favorite Games: Issue #225
By GameInformer, published 16-12-2011
The Game Informer monthly staff page is a forum where we all come together and talk about what's cool right now. We'll get the ball rolling and would love to hear everyone's current interests, dislikes, and favorite games. Andy McNamara Profile E-mail Editor Interests: I Really Want To Install A Giant Second Monitor In My Game Room For Sports Viewing (I Know, I Have First World Problems, I Didn't Say I Was Doing It), Winter Training (I'm Finally Able To Workout Since My Kidney Donation, And I Really Want To See If I Can Do An Olympic Length Triathlon This Coming Summer. I'm Gonna Crush The 3K Miles I Rode Last Season On My Bike), Having A Full Staff Again (This Death Star Is Fully Operational), Skyrim Dreams, Bananas Dislikes: Finding That Pa...
Command & Conquer goes free-to-play
By GameSpot, published 14-12-2011
Tiberium Alliances to bring real-time strategy series into the world of MMOGs with new installment for browsers and mobile devices; closed beta starts tomorrow. Electronic Arts is bringing another of its signature franchises into the world of free-to-play games. The publisher today announced Command & Conquer: Tiberium Alliances, a new massively multiplayer online strategy game in EA's real-time strategy series. So will Tiberium be the in-game currency? As the name suggests, choosing whom to trust and when will play an important role in Tiberium Alliances, as players will be pitted against one another, as well as mutant enemy forces. EA is promising "a completely interactive and dynamic gameplay experience," with in-game social and news feeds updated in ...
Skyrim The Most Played Game Of 2011
By GameInformer, published 12-08-2011
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was the most played game in 2011, according to a report from Raptr, a popular stat tracking service. The company released its year-end awards today with many of this year's big titles coming out on top. Raptr's awards were based on data from gamer behavior and activities, including average individual playtime, average session length and total playtime share. Below are just some of the award winners. A complete look at Raptr's report can be seen here. The recipients of Raptr’s “Most Played Awards of 2011” are as follows: • Most Played Game – The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim• Most Played Shooter – Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3• Most Played RPG – The E...
Malaysia International Game Show set for this weekend
By GameSpot, published 12-02-2011
Highlights include One Asia Cup 2011 featuring FIFA Online 2 and the Tekken Tag Tournament HD Challenge. Get the full article at GameSpot "Malaysia International Game Show set for this weekend" was posted by Jonathan Leo Toyad on Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:39:44 -0800
Skyrim Passes Battlefield 3 On Xbox Live
By GameInformer, published 12-01-2011
How popular is The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim? It's pretty big, apparently. Microsoft revealed more unique users logged into Xbox Live and played Skyrim than EA's multiplayer shooter fest Battlefield 3 last week. Skyrim wasn't quite big enough to take down Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 or Black Ops, though. This just goes to show you how popular Call of Duty really is. Black out came out last year. Other new titles that charted were Saints Row: The Third at #10, Assassin’s Creed Revelations at #11, and Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary at #13. Regarding sales of Skyrim, Bethesda has only announced so far the game sold 3.5 million copies in the first two days of launch. The company has yet to provide an update since. Below is the top 20 games on Xbox Live for the week of No...
Updated: PS Vita: what you need to know
By TechRadar, published 29-11-2011
PlayStation Vita: what you need to knowAfter much rumour and speculation, Sony announced the new PSP console - formerly codenamed NGP for Next Generation Portable - would be called the PlayStation Vita. And we've been playing with the new handheld. Read our thoughts in our Hands on: Sony PS Vita reviewBut when will the PlayStation Vita UK release date be and how much will it cost? Read on to find out.brightcove : 1091086359001PlayStation Vita UK release dateNobody expected Sony to miss the all-important Christmas shopping period, but it has happened. While the release date was originally planned for October 2011 - a flyer from Blockbuster put the original PS Vita release date at 28 October.Sony has now said that the PlayStation Vita UK release date is 22 February 2012 when 11 games will la...
Hands on: PlayStation Vita review
By TechRadar, published 25-11-2011
OverviewThere's a good reason PS Vita is often referred to as PSP 2.It addresses the step up Sony's handheld console has needed to make since almost day one.It's evolving from being the Nintendo DS competitor that didn't quite make it, to an all singing, all dancing touchscreen, motion controlled portable gaming console with tablet and multimedia aspirations thanks to a 5-inch OLED display that puts it up there with smartphones like the HTC Sensation.The important thing to grasp is that this isn't a revamped PSP, an easy mistake to make when you consider the PlayStation Portable has been made available in five largely identical models since its 2004 debut.Three of these, the PSP-1000, 2000 and 3000, are basically size revising updates, while the PSP Go aped sliding-case phones to create an...
Hands on: PlayStation Vita review
By TechRadar, published 25-11-2011
OverviewThere's a good reason PS Vita is often referred to as PSP 2.It addresses the step up Sony's handheld console has needed to make since almost day one.It's evolving from being the Nintendo DS competitor that didn't quite make it, to an all singing, all dancing touchscreen, motion controlled portable gaming console with tablet and multimedia aspirations thanks to a 5-inch OLED display that puts it up there with smartphones like the HTC Sensation.The important thing to grasp is that this isn't a revamped PSP, an easy mistake to make when you consider the PlayStation Portable has been made available in five largely identical models since its 2004 debut.Three of these, the PSP-1000, 2000 and 3000, are basically size revising updates, while the PSP Go aped sliding-case phones to create an...
Hands on: PlayStation Vita review
By TechRadar, published 25-11-2011
OverviewThere's a good reason PS Vita is often referred to as PSP 2.It addresses the step up Sony's handheld console has needed to make since almost day one.It's evolving from being the Nintendo DS competitor that didn't quite make it, to an all singing, all dancing touchscreen, motion controlled portable gaming console with tablet and multimedia aspirations thanks to a 5-inch OLED display that puts it up there with smartphones like the HTC Sensation.The important thing to grasp is that this isn't a revamped PSP, an easy mistake to make when you consider the PlayStation Portable has been made available in five largely identical models since its 2004 debut.Three of these, the PSP-1000, 2000 and 3000, are basically size revising updates, while the PSP Go aped sliding-case phones to create an...
Hands on: PlayStation Vita review
By TechRadar, published 25-11-2011
OverviewThere's a good reason PS Vita is often referred to as PSP 2.It addresses the step up Sony's handheld console has needed to make since almost day one.It's evolving from being the Nintendo DS competitor that didn't quite make it, to an all singing, all dancing touchscreen, motion controlled portable gaming console with tablet and multimedia aspirations thanks to a 5-inch OLED display that puts it up there with smartphones like the HTC Sensation.The important thing to grasp is that this isn't a revamped PSP, an easy mistake to make when you consider the PlayStation Portable has been made available in five largely identical models since its 2004 debut.Three of these, the PSP-1000, 2000 and 3000, are basically size revising updates, while the PSP Go aped sliding-case phones to create an...
Hands on: PlayStation Vita review
By TechRadar, published 25-11-2011
OverviewThere's a good reason PS Vita is often referred to as PSP 2.It addresses the step up Sony's handheld console has needed to make since almost day one.It's evolving from being the Nintendo DS competitor that didn't quite make it, to an all singing, all dancing touchscreen, motion controlled portable gaming console with tablet and multimedia aspirations thanks to a 5-inch OLED display that puts it up there with smartphones like the HTC Sensation.The important thing to grasp is that this isn't a revamped PSP, an easy mistake to make when you consider the PlayStation Portable has been made available in five largely identical models since its 2004 debut.Three of these, the PSP-1000, 2000 and 3000, are basically size revising updates, while the PSP Go aped sliding-case phones to create an...
FA finally ready to adopt goal-line tech for Premier League?
By TechRadar, published 24-11-2011
The FA is closer than ever to implementing goal-line technology in the Premier League and could have the technology in place by the start of the 2012-13 season.This is according to FA general secretary Alex Horne, who has been trialling different types of goal-line equipment, including Hawk-Eye which is currently used for tennis matches.Speaking to the BBC about how far away the tech was from appearing in the Premier League, Horne noted: "It's possible we could see [goal-line technology] in the Premier League as early as 2012-13. "It's easy to make mistakes and we've all seen examples where the referee and assistant referee can't see if a ball has crossed the line or not. We need to support them in decision-making."Spot the ballAlthough he hinted that the 2012-13 season could b...
FA finally ready to adopt goal-line tech for Premier League?
By TechRadar, published 24-11-2011
The FA is closer than ever to implementing goal-line technology in the Premier League and could have the technology in place by the start of the 2012-13 season.This is according to FA general secretary Alex Horne, who has been trialling different types of goal-line equipment, including Hawk-Eye which is currently used for tennis matches.Speaking to the BBC about how far away the tech was from appearing in the Premier League, Horne noted: "It's possible we could see [goal-line technology] in the Premier League as early as 2012-13. "It's easy to make mistakes and we've all seen examples where the referee and assistant referee can't see if a ball has crossed the line or not. We need to support them in decision-making."Spot the ballAlthough he hinted that the 2012-13 season could b...
PlayStation Vita Europe Launch Details
By GameInformer, published 22-11-2011
Sony today revealed the PlayStation Vita launch plans for PAL territories. The system will release on February 22, 2012, the same day in North America. Vita will launch in Japan on December 17, 2011. Below are the confirmed first party launched titles available across PAL: Uncharted: Golden Abyss WipEout 2048 Reality Fighters Little Deviants ModNation Racers: Road Trip Everybody’s Golf Escape Plan Gravity Rush Hustle Kings MotorStorm RC Top Darts Super StarDust Delta Below is a list of confirmed Vita titles that are currently in development but have no release date: Army Corps of Hell, Square Enix Asphalt: Injection, Ubisoft Disgaea 3 Return, NIS America Dungeon Hunter: Alliance, Ubisoft Dynasty Warriors Next, Tecmo Koei EA Sports FIFA Football, EA F1 2011, Codemasters Lego Harry...
GI Staff And Reader Interests, Dislikes, And Favorite Games: Issue #224
By GameInformer, published 18-11-2011
The Game Informer monthly staff page is a forum where we all come together and talk about what's cool right now. We'll get the ball rolling and would love to hear everyone's current interests, dislikes, and favorite games. Andy McNamara Profile E-mail Editor Interests: GTA V Watch, Throwing Wii Remotes, The Daily Show, Tosh.0, Colbert Report, South Park, Cycling, Running, My Search For The Perfect Burger, NOLA Dislikes: NBA Players (I Really Think You Guys Need To Look At Working With The Owners To Make The Game Better And In Turn Make The Pie Bigger And The Money Better; I Think A Super Competitive League À La The NFL For The NBA Would Be Incredible), The NCAA Bowl System – Annoys Me Every Year, That I Don't Have Enough Time In The Day ...
Sony HK to host Singapore FIFA 12 tournament
By GameSpot, published 16-11-2011
Contest to be held at E2Max and SCAPE on Orchard Road; winner to receive tickets for UPHORIA Party event. Get the full article at GameSpot "Sony HK to host Singapore FIFA 12 tournament" was posted by Jonathan Leo Toyad on Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:25:18 -0800
October US retail sales post rare climb - NPD
By GameSpot, published 11-12-2011
Battlefield 3, Batman: Arkham City lead industry to 1% sales growth last month as revenues reach $1.08 billion. The game industry has strung together five consecutive months of year-over-year losses at retail in the US, but that streak has ended in October. Today, The NPD Group reported a modest 1 percent climb in total game-industry sales, as console, portable, and PC software; games hardware; and accessories combined to sell $1.08 billion in the US at retail. Battlefield 3 launched a successful campaign at retail. The vast majority of the industry's revenues came via software sales, which were up 1 percent year-over-year to $649.5 million. Leading this category was EA's heavily hyped Battlefield 3, which sold 2 million units at retail in the US. Ho...
Battlefield 3, Batman Lead October U.S. Sales
By GameInformer, published 11-12-2011
Total U.S. game sales hit $1.08 billion for the month of October, according to new data released by retail tracking firm NPD. This represents a one percent increase in sales versus last October. Xbox 360 came out on top for the month on the hardware side, seeing year-over-year sales increase by 20 percent. “On an average sales per week basis, October 2011 unit sales of 3DS, DS, PSP, Wii and Xbox 360 platforms all saw an increase over September 2011, which was a 5-week retail month (Oct '11 was a four-week retail month)," said NPD analyst Anita Frazier. Below are the known hardware sales for the U.S. in October released by publishers so far: Xbox 360 - 393,000PS3 - 250,000 (unconfirmed estimate) Wii - Nearly 250,0003DS - More than 250,000NDS - Nearly 180,000 For software,...
Nvidia's GeForce 285.79 Beta Drivers Beef Up Skyrim, Battlefield 3 And More
By MaximumPC, published 11-11-2011
Pardon us if we keep talking games, but we’re just as caught up in Skyrim fever as the rest of the world. While we’re talking Tamriel, is your PC primed and ready for fighting dragons in the Nordic mountains? Yesterday, Nvidia released a new Geforce 285.79 beta driver that included, amongst other things, improved SLI and 3D Vision support for – you guessed it – Skyrim (which now garners an “Excellent” 3D Vision rating by Nvidia, by the way). Nvidia also recommends that Battlefield 3 players download the new drivers, thanks to a trio of improvements specific to that title. Check out the full list of improvements below, and if they pique your interest, head on over to Nvidia’s beta drivers page and download Geforce 285.79. Includes several bug fixes and performance improvement...
FIFA 12 Review
By Thinkdigit, published 11-09-2011
FIFA 11 was a very strange game, in that it brought out a myriad of reactions – often polar opposites – from us at different times during the game experience. The convergence of the offline game modes into one Career mode was a welcome move, as was the move to a less-automated passing system. The superhuman defenders and numerous bugs, however, were routinely subject to deluges of expletive-filled outbursts. Ultimately though, FIFA 11 wasn't a significant enough upgrade over its pred [...] Read the entire article
Battlefield fights to maintain UK number one
By GameSpot, published 11-07-2011
DICE's shooter retains the top spot, while Uncharted 3 debuts at number two, Sonic Generations in the top 10. EA's heavy-hitter Battlefield 3 maintained the top spot for a second week in the UK All-Formats chart, fending off newcomer Uncharted 3. This is a record for any game in the series, with previous game Battlefield: Bad Company 2 being knocked from its top position by Final Fantasy XIII in the second week. BF3 managed to cling to the top spot despite a 54 percent drop in sales since launch week. Drake didn't quite have the guns to overhaul Battlefield 3. Battlefield's multiplatform nature prevented Uncharted 3's sales figures from blasting it from number one, with Uncharted 3 instead settling at the not-unexpected number two slot. Sony's exten...
Battlefield 3 is EA's fastest selling game ever
By TechRadar, published 31-10-2011
First person shooter Battlefield 3 has become the fastest selling game in Electronic Arts' history after the company revealed it has sold five million copies in its first week.The PS3, Xbox 360 and PC title went on sale on October 25th and was greeted with largely positive reviews and currently tops the UK gaming chart.EA send out a press release heralding the game's retail performance saying that the strong reviews and word of mouth had convinced hard-up gamers to part with their cash in record numbers."Based on internal estimates, Battlefield 3 has sold through five million units in the first week globally, making it the fastest-selling game in EA's history."That record is quite an achievement, all things considered. It makes Battlefield 3 a bigger initial hit than FIFA, Madden, ...
GI Staff And Reader Interests, Dislikes, And Favorite Games: Issue #223
By GameInformer, published 28-10-2011
The Game Informer monthly staff page is a forum where we all come together and talk about what's cool right now. We'll get the ball rolling and would love to hear everyone's current interests, dislikes, and favorite games. Andy McNamara Profile E-mail Editor Interests: The Walking Dead (Though I Do Groan Every Time They Talk About Family), Ready Player One (Amazing Book That You Should Read If You Love Classic Video Games), Bon Iver, Going To Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives Restaurants When I Visit A New City, Born To Run By Christopher McDougall, The Christian Ponder Era Dislikes: The Lack Of People On Google Plus, The Fact That The NBA Players Union Doesn’t Understand That There Is No Easy Way Out Of Being One Of the Have-Nots And Without Change And...
Buying Guide: Which iPad should you buy?
By TechRadar, published 28-10-2011
Which iPad should you buy?So you've decided to buy an Apple iPad - either for yourself or as a Christmas present for someone else (lucky them!). But should you get the Wi-Fi iPad or 3G iPad, and how much storage space do you need on it? Equally importantly: do you want the white or black iPad?Apple only sells the iPad 2 new, though the original model may still be available through its Refurbished Store (see more below) or through other retailers.In terms of the colour, it's purely a matter of taste. If you've already got a black iPhone or iPod touch, do you want the iPad to match it? Or have you fallen in love with the white iPad? The choice is entirely yours - they cost exactly the same.Our iPad 2 video review is below.brightcove : 11705332570013G iPad or Wi-Fi iPad?Having decided on the ...
Battlefield 3 ships 10 million
By GameSpot, published 28-10-2011
EA says DICE-developed shooter has biggest day-one ship in company history; Q2 revs jump 13% to $715 million. EA and DICE have been expecting big things from their contemporary war fighter Battlefield 3, and thus far, the game appears to be delivering. As part of its July-September earnings report today, the publisher said that Battlefield 3 has shipped 10 million units, with retailers already requesting reorders for the critically well-regarded shooter. This is the biggest opening-day shipment the publisher has ever done, EA said. Battlefield 3 is making a killing. Battlefield 3's strong performance did not factor into today's second-quarter results, which reflected higher revenue but a steep loss at EA. Revenue for the period rose 13.3 percent year...
Updated: PS Vita: what you need to know
By TechRadar, published 27-10-2011
PlayStation Vita: what you need to knowIt's here! And by "here!" we mean "nearly here!"After much rumour and speculation, Sony announced the new PSP - formerly codenamed NGP for Next Generation Portable - would be called the PlayStation Vita. But when will the PlayStation Vita UK release date be and how much will it cost? Read on to find out.brightcove : 1091086359001PS Vita UK price will start at £229.99The UK pre-order price for the Sony PlayStation Vita has been revealed, with both Play and Game offering the handheld for £279.99 (3G) and £229.99 (Wi-Fi). The handheld appears to be $299 in the US.As the more eagle-eyed of you will notice, this is a near like-for-like dollar and pounds pricing strategy, something us in the UK are unfortunately getting used to now.PlaySt...
Big in Japan Oct. 17-23: Macross F, Naruto Shippuden
By GameSpot, published 27-10-2011
Namco Bandai represents the majority of top 10 titles; 3DS sales spike due to new model colour. Publisher Namco Bandai is on a roll, if the recently updated Media Creates sales charts are anything to go by. The update details sales in Japan for the week of October 17 to October 23, with new titles like Gekijouban Macross F: Sayonara no Tsubasa Hybrid Pack (also known as Macross F: The Wings of Goodbye) for the PS3 and Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Impact for the PSP sitting in the top two slots. The former sold 142,607 units, while the latter sold 53,148 units. Namco Bandai sure does love hybrid packs. The Macross F Hybrid Pack consists of the movie Macross F: Sayonara no Tsubasa and a flight action game based on events from the movie. The latter ...
A First Look At FIFA 12 On Vita
By GameInformer, published 25-10-2011
EA Sports' FIFA 12 is a great entry for the series, and hopefully some of that magic can be carried over to the Vita version. EA has released a handful of screens (check them out in the gallery below) for the title, and while it's not as great looking as its PS3 brother, it's not too shabby, either. Speaking of the PS3, it'll be interesting to see what, if any, interoperability there is between the two editions. Regardless, EA says that the Vita version of the game will not skimp on the features. Given how robust the console versions are (check out my review) that's good news. Hopefully the Vita's control scheme can keep up with the series' demanding gameplay. FIFA 12 will be a Vita launch title when the game comes out on February 22.
FIFA 12 PSP bundle hits November 15
By GameSpot, published 24-10-2011
Downloadable Cars 2: The Video Game joins UMD version of EA soccer sim in new $160 PSP Entertainment Pack next month. The PlayStation Vita is just a few months away, but the PSP still has one last holiday in the West as Sony's primary handheld. The console maker today announced a new bundle that will include two very different takes on two very different sports. Sony's latest PSP bundle. The details of the new bundle were revealed via the PlayStation Blog. Hitting on November 15 in the US, the new $160 PSP Entertainment Pack will include a UMD copy of FIFA 2012, as well as a 2GB Memory Stick Pro Duo and a voucher for a downloadable copy of Disney Interactive Studios' Cars 2: The Video Game. Cars 2: The Video Game is finally seeing a release on Sony's port...
Arkham City swoops to UK number one
By GameSpot, published 24-10-2011
Fourth biggest launch of the year sees Batman: Arkham City top the UK Charts, Football Manager 2012 debuts in third; Dance Central 2 debuts at 40. Batman: Arkham City romped to number one in this week's UK Charts, almost doubling the sales figures of its predecessor, Batman: Arkham Asylum. Football Manager 2012 also enjoyed a successful debut in third spot, narrowly missing out to FIFA 12, which clung to second place by a mere 1,800 units. The Sims 3: Pets was the third and final new entry this week's top 10, entering at six. A range of preorder incentives may have helped Arkham City's week-one sales. Forza Motorsport 4 fell from top spot to fourth, while Rage saw the biggest drop in chart position in the top 10 this week, falling from fourth to eig...
Portal 2 takes Game of the Year at Golden Joysticks
By GameSpot, published 21-10-2011
Valve's puzzler takes Ultimate Game of the Year at Golden Joystick Awards, Sonic awarded Outstanding Contribution. Portal 2 took the big prize at the 29th Golden Joysticks Awards, taking the Ultimate Game of the Year prize at the London award ceremony, with winners decided entirely by public vote. This year's awards, for which more than 2 million votes were cast, also saw FIFA pick up the Sports Game of the Year accolade for the second year running. Portal 2 wins big. The Call of Duty franchise bagged yet another award in the Best Shooter category for Black Ops, and there was also an award for Mojang's blocky sandbox build-'em-up Minecraft, which was named Downloadable Game of the Year. Awards were also handed to the Nintendo 3DS for Innovation and ...
Forza 4 Storms UK Charts
By GameSpot, published 18-10-2011
FIFA 12 booted from top spot after most successful Xbox 360 racing game launch in UK history; Just Dance 3 debuts in third. Turn 10's Forza Motorsport 4 has ended FIFA 12's two-week reign atop the UK charts, debuting at number one. Forza 4's critical acclaim meant that it managed the biggest-ever launch week for an Xbox 360 racing game, but it still only beat FIFA 12 (the sales of which were down 63 percent from last week) by a little over 700 sales, according to UK sales-tracking body Chart-Track. Forza 4 screamed in for a record-breaking week. Just Dance 3 rounded off the top three, with the Wii version following the trail blazed by the record-breaking Just Dance 2 on Nintendo's platform. In its launch week, more than 11 copies were sold on the Wii...
Xbox Live hackers targeting FIFA?
By GameSpot, published 14-10-2011
Microsoft maintains unauthorized Xbox 360 account activity is isolated occurrence as cyberattack reports targeting EA Sports sim rise. Get the full article at GameSpot "Xbox Live hackers targeting FIFA?" was posted by Tom Magrino on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:39:27 -0700
September US retail sales fall despite Madden NFL - NPD
By GameSpot, published 14-10-2011
EA Sports' gridiron sim edges out Gears of War 3, Dead Island; DS tops 50 million in US; Xbox 360 again leads hardware; total retail sales sink 6% to $1.16B. Not long after Epic Games released Gears of War 3 in September, Microsoft announced that the sci-fi shooter had sold more than 3 million units globally in just one week. However, even that solid start wasn't enough to halt the multiplatform blitz of Electronic Arts' perennial juggernaut Madden NFL from taking the top slot in the NPD Group's monthly US retail sales recap. Madden NFL 12 wasn't enough to lift September sales. NPD no longer issues unit sales figures for software, and Electronic Arts had not announced Madden NFL 12 sales across the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, PlayStation 2, and PSP...
EverQuest honored at GDC Online awards
By GameSpot, published 13-10-2011
Minecraft and Rift take home two awards each; EverQuest inducted into the GDC Online Hall of Fame. The Game Developers Choice Online Awards is a relative newcomer to the group of ceremonies that take place throughout the year to acknowledge accomplishments in game development. Now on its second year, these awards are part of Game Developers Conference Online, a recent refocus of GDC Austin. EverQuest is joining the GDC Online Hall of Fame. Considered a sister event to the classic Game Developers Choice Awards, the GDCO Awards focus on persistent online games, covering a range of game types from traditional massively multiplayer online games to social network games. This year, Minecraft and Rift each took home two awards. Minecraft won Best Live Game...
FIFA 12 Vs. Pro Evolution Soccer 2012
By GameInformer, published 10-11-2011
These two franchises have been waging war against each other for years, with each one picking up some wins along the way. We've got a video rundown showing you some of the pros and cons of each of this year's games. Both series' iterations this year are exceptional, and although the natural urge is to pick a winner, it's not as easy as that. Both games have their pluses and minuses, which you can check out in the video breakdown below. For more on both games, click on the links to read my reviews of FIFA 12 and Pro Evolution Soccer 2012. A Comparison of FIFA 12 and Pro Evolution Soccer 2012: (Please visit the site to view this media)
Asia Shippin' Out: Dark Souls, Rage
By GameSpot, published 10-03-2011
Highlights of this week's releases include From Software's latest hardcore RPG, id Software's newest shooter, and a new NBA title. Even with big titles like Gears of War 3, Resistance 3, and FIFA 12 already out, new releases of high-profile titles aren't letting up as October arrives. Leading the charge is the spiritual successor to Demon's Souls, titled Dark Souls. The action role-playing game features a fantasy open world filled with tough enemies and giant bosses, new systems like the bonfire and humanity points, and over 80 hours of gameplay. The Japanese version was recently listed as the top-selling title of the week of September 19; check out GameSpot's coverage of the title for more information and an upcoming review. Up next is id Software and Bethesda's shooter called R...
Modern Warfare 3 tops gamer holiday wish list - Nielsen
By GameSpot, published 30-09-2011
Activision's shooter leads tracking company's survey of most anticipated titles, followed by Gears of War 3, Madden NFL 12. This holiday season sees the release of numerous high-profile titles, and according to tracking firm Nielsen, Activision's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is the most wanted game of all. Online conversations about Modern Warfare 3 are driven by launch parties and talk of a "darker mood." Nielsen recently published its "Top 20 Games to Watch" and the Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games-developed shooter topped all others by a significant margin. According to Nielsen, 27 percent of respondents designated Modern Warfare 3 as one of the top five titles they intend to purchase during the 2011 holiday season. The next two most coveted ...
EA Sports Bringing FIFA 12 To The Masses
By GameInformer, published 27-09-2011
To kick-off the launch of FIFA 12, EA Sports has outfitted a van with 15 PS3s, letting fans play the game in a 40-city tour of the U.S. During the tour (see below for details), you'll also get a chance to win prizes such as Adidas-branded FIFA 12 shirts and even a PS3. Be sure to check out the game in a city near you, and take a look at my review of the FIFA 12 here. Click on the image below to enlarge.
Call of Duty Elite-like programs a 'necessity' - Activision
By GameSpot, published 27-09-2011
Digital VP Jamie Berger says publisher's "services and ongoing content strategy" will be essential to new games in three to five years. Activision's first significant foray into the social network sphere--Call of Duty: Elite--deploys this November alongside Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. However, it is by no means planned to be the last such foray. Activision's services and ongoing content strategy is locked and loaded. "We believe that a 24/7, year-round services strategy that broadens the game experience beyond just playing is going to be a necessity," Activision's digital vice president Jamie Berger said in a new interview with MCV. "Right now, it's an option, but in three to five years, it won't be. To support a diverse player base, you will have...
A Beautiful Strike
By GameInformer, published 26-09-2011
EA’s soccer series has been getting better each year, and FIFA 12 takes another tangible step forward. Last year’s game had a bare career mode and titles before that only produced incremental changes, but FIFA 12 delivers satisfying results in both its gameplay and career mode. A few simple additions significantly improve FIFA 12’s already agile and adaptable controls. My favorite is the precision dribbling. This new tactic lets you control the ball with small steps and buy yourself precious seconds in order to hold the ball and turn a defender, pass the ball, or get off a shot. On defense, you can shadow the ball carrier so you’re still marking them without getting outright beaten. Even though FIFA 12 gives defenders new tools like this and more clogging...
Shippin' Out Sept. 25 - Oct. 1: FIFA 12, Pro Evo 12
By GameSpot, published 26-09-2011
Footy sims joined on new release shelves by Child of Eden on PS3, X-Men Destiny, and ICO & Shadow of the Colossus HD collection. Last week's new releases were led by Epic Games' critically praised Gears of War 3. This week's debut slate trades in lancers and blood for green grass and soccer balls. Leading the pack of new releases this week are two soccer simulators: FIFA 12 and Pro Evolution Soccer 12. The final week in September also sees non-sports titles hit shelves, including Child of Eden for the PlayStation 3, the latest Cabela's Big Game Hunter title, a new X-Men game, and two Sony-exclusive bundles. Time to hit the pitch. Charging forward first this week is FIFA 12 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, PSP, Wii, and 3DS. EA Sports has updated the ...
EA Inserts Anti-Lawsuit Language Into New User Agreement
By GameInformer, published 23-09-2011
Following the lead of Sony, which recently inserted a clause into its terms of service agreement that require gamers to waive their right to participate in a class action lawsuit against the company, Electronic Arts has added similar language to its end user license agreement.The agreement must be signed to participate in features like Madden and FIFA online play, as well as EA's Origin PC service.Here's the language from the agreement:"By accepting these terms, you and EA expressly waive the right to a trial by jury or to participate in a class action.YOU UNDERSTAND THAT BY THIS PROVISION, YOU AND EA ARE FOREGOING THE RIGHT TO SUE IN COURT AND HAVE A JURY TRIAL.YOU AND EA AGREE THAT EACH MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN YOUR OR ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, AND NOT AS A...
GI Staff And Reader Interests, Dislikes, And Favorite Games: Issue #222
By GameInformer, published 23-09-2011
The Game Informer monthly staff page is a forum where we all come together and talk about what's cool right now. We'll get the ball rolling and would love to hear everyone's current interests, dislikes, and favorite games. Andy McNamara Profile E-mail Editor Interests: Friday Night Lights, Mad Men, NFL Football,Cycling, Kidneys, Recovery Dislikes: Anyone That I Run Into Randomly On The Streets Who Doesn’t Really Play Games But Realizes I Work At Game Informer Then Proceeds To Tell Me Why Angry Birds And Cut The Rope Are The Greatest Games Ever Created, Being Away From Work For A Month To Donate A Kidney To My Brother (But I Like Giving Him A Kidney) Current Favorite Games: Ico and Shadow of the Colossus Collection, Crimson Alliance, L.A. Noire, God...
Champions League
By GameInformer, published 23-09-2011
Pro Evolution Soccer has always done it the hard way. The franchise is known for its complex controls, minutia of player attributes, and the fact that it has fewer licensed teams and players than rival FIFA. Regardless, I love the series because it allows me to create beautiful soccer seemingly out of thin air. PES 2012 is no different – warts and all. Nothing typifies the series’ hard-won philosophy more than the new off-the-ball controls that let you prompt teammates to make offensive runs while you have the ball. You can either pick which player you want to make a run with the flick of a right analog stick (simliar to FIFA’s “Make a Run” button), or you can actually control an off-the-ball player directly (It’s like controlling a WR while y...
EA Blockbuster Hits 2011 pre-order bonuses and contests announced
By Thinkdigit, published 22-09-2011
Milestone Interactive today announced the pre-order bonuses and contests for EA's Blockbuster Hits 2011 lineup – namely FIFA 12, Battlefield 3 and Need for Speed: The Run. Pre-order any of these games, on any Sony format or for the PC, from any of the numerous participating online and physical retailers, and you could be one of three lucky draw winners who stand to win a 32GB Apple iPad 2 WiFi. Runners-up need not despair though, as a total of five Battlefield 3 hard drives, five Battlefi [...] Read the entire article
PlayStation Vita release date and details confirmed
By TechRadar, published 14-09-2011
Sony's PlayStation Vita has been given a release date of 17 December in Japan, with the games giant promising 26 games at launch and 100 in an unspecified 'launch window'. The Vita has sparked widespread interest although a price point of 24,980 Yen (approximately £206) for the WiFi-only unit means that it will come in at significantly more than the Nintendo 3DS following its radical price cut. brightcove : 1091086359001However, the PlayStation Vita forgoes the gimmick of 3D for dual analogue sticks, and also brings more graphics and processing power to boot. GamesFifa 12, F1 2011 and Uncharted: Golden Abyss are among the launch titles, alongside the might of Final Fantasy X HD – for a handheld that is looking to go one better than the PSP and provide genuine competition in the portable...
Weekend Warrior 09/09/11
By GameInformer, published 09-10-2011
IT'S FRIDAY IT'S FRIDAY IT'S FRIDAY! That means the weekend is here, which means more time to play video games! Here's what some of the GI staff have planned for their weekend gaming. Let us know your plans in the comments. Jeff Marchiafava: This weekend I plan to play more Dead Island with my co-workers. Also, in the event that Jeff Cork manages to beat my Ms. 'Splosion Man score in Pinball FX 2, I will probably spend more time trying to best him once again, because I’m a real jerk like that. Jeff Cork: I’ve got a pretty busy weekend planned, which means I won’t have much time for gaming. Rats. I’ll still try to sneak in some Dead Island co-op time, and maybe a game or two of the Ms. ‘Splosion Man table on Pinball FX 2. Other than that, I...
IFA 2011: IFA 2011 sees giant push towards connected TVs
By TechRadar, published 09-03-2011
From one end of IFA 2011 to the other, the hottest tech trend has undoubtedly been the rise and rise of internet-connected TVs in general and Smart TVs in particular.Proof of that comes in the announcement on Thursday that LG, Philips and Sharp were teaming up to promote an open standard for TV apps that aims to emulate the success of smartphone and tablets appsm, with rival TV makers and application developers being encouraged to climb on board.The reasons why TV makers would want to do so are clear: first, 3D is fast becoming the default for new TVs available in the shops and so TV makers will soon need something new to sell; it could enable them to claim back some of the home entertainment territory lost to PC makers in recent years; and, presumably, they stand to make a whole chunk of ...
GSA Community Game Night: FIFA 11
By GameSpot, published 09-02-2011
This September, pick your favorite team and go for soccer gold in GameSpot Asia's next game night. Get the full article at GameSpot "GSA Community Game Night: FIFA 11" was posted by Jonathan Leo Toyad on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:04:59 -0700
Updated: IFA 2011: all the latest announcements
By TechRadar, published 31-08-2011
IFA 2011: all the latest newsIFA, the world's largest consumer electronics and home appliance show, will open its doors for the 51st time on 1 September 2011. For five hectic days, this annual extravaganza of all things electronic will redefine the consumer electronics landscape for the next 12 months. IFA is not just another gadget show. It's a technology event on an enormous scale. Last year, the Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin attracted over 230,000 visitors. And yes, it is open to the public.Indeed, the IFA site is so huge it has its own transport system to help get folks around. With more attendees and exhibition space than CES, it can legitimately claim to be the world's biggest tech expo.Amazingly, the show first opened its doors way back in 1924. Since then it's seen numerous...
GI Staff And Reader Interests, Dislikes, And Favorite Games: Issue #221
By GameInformer, published 25-08-2011
The Game Informer monthly staff page is a forum where we all come together and talk about what's cool right now. We'll get the ball rolling and would love to hear everyone's current interests, dislikes, and favorite games. Andy McNamara Profile E-mail Editor Interests: Cycling, Bon Iver, Jose Gonzalez, Friday Night Lights & Mad Men (I Finally Sat Down To Watch These Shows That People Always Talk About), All The Great Feedback I Got For My Recent Letters As Well As GI Digital (Keep It Coming), The World Series of Poker Dislikes: That I Sometimes Wish I Still Read Comics, But Won't Get Off My Butt And Do It Because I've Been Burned Too Many Times, The Slow Process Of Getting Things Done, Darth Vader Deals, 3D, Contacts Current Favorite Games: A...
Updated: IFA 2011: what to expect from this year's show
By TechRadar, published 24-08-2011
IFA, the world's largest consumer electronics and home appliance show, will open its doors for the 51st time on 1 September 2011. For five hectic days, this annual extravaganza of all things electronic will redefine the consumer electronics landscape for the next 12 months. So are we excited? You bet! Read on to learn why IFA 2011 could be the most significant in years.IFA firstsIFA is not just another gadget show. It's a technology event on an enormous scale. Last year, the Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin attracted over 230,000 visitors. And yes, it is open to the public.Indeed, the IFA site is so huge it has its own transport system to help get folks around. With more attendees and exhibition space than CES, it can legitimately claim to be the world's biggest tech expo.Amazingly, t...
EA Sports' game plan: Follow the fans
By GameSpot, published 19-08-2011
Q&A: Newly appointed label head Andrew Wilson explains the consumer-focused approach driving expansion into cross-platform services, Kinect- and Move-capable FIFA, and consumer apathy for 3D games. Earlier this week, GameSpot caught up with former EA Sports president Peter Moore at Gamescom to get his appraisal of an array of industry issues now that he has ascended to the position of chief operating officer of Electronic Arts. Moore's EA Sports successor, Andrew Wilson, also sat down to discuss his new domain with GameSpot. During the discussion, the executive covered the early gamer reaction to the Season Ticket program, EA Sports' spotty support of handhelds, customer apathy over 3D support, and bringing Move and Kinect support to FIFA 13. New E...
Battlefield 3 Best In Show, EA Wins Big At Gamescom 2011
By GameInformer, published 18-08-2011
The winners of the previously revealed Gamescom 2011 award nominees have been revealed. Battlefield 3 took home top honors as best in show, and the PlayStation Vita emerged as the most coveted hardware. Find the complete list of winners below. Best at Gamescom: Battlefield 3 (EA) Best Hardware or Accessory: PlayStation Vita (Sony) Best Console Game: FIFA 12 (EA) Best Mobile Game: Uncharted: Golden Abyss (Sony) Best Online Game: Star Wars: The Old Republic (EA) Pest PC Game: Diablo III (Blizzard) Best Browser Game: The Sims Social (EA) Best Family Game: Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster (Warner Bros.) It should be noted that Electronic arts is responsible for securing four of the convention’s eight awards. That's half, for you folks that don't like the math. I can hear the...
FIFA Street tackling 360, PS3 in early 2012
By GameSpot, published 17-08-2011
EA Sports calling up informal soccer title next year with focus on localized football styles from regions around the globe. EA Sports is paying homage to soccer's roots with the announcement of FIFA Street, a new game focused on replicating the way the sport is played by street players from around the world. FIFA Street is in development for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation, and EA Sports plans to release the game early next year. FIFA Street will hit the PS3 and Xbox 360 in 2012. The EA Canada-developed title will feature new dribbling styles, trick moves, and one-touch passing. FIFA Street will also introduce street ball control, which is designed to ignite one-on-one battles within matches that are based on how the game is played in different countrie...
PSP E-1000: budget PlayStation Portable announced
By TechRadar, published 16-08-2011
Sony has announced that a new, low-cost PlayStation Portable model will launch in Europe later this year.The new PSP E-1000 will not have Wi-Fi, but will only cost €99 - which equates to about £86, although Sony is yet to confirm a UK price.The announcement was made during Sony's Gamescon 2011 keynote, which also saw the company reveal a significant PS3 price cut.The device, which will have the same matte finish as the PlayStation 3 console, will still enable users to download games through the use of the Media Go PC mounting service.Cheap UMDsSony is also offering a host of UMD games for the device at a heavily discounted, App Store-matching price of €9.99.Those titles will include FIFA 12, Invizimals: The Lost Tribe, EyePet Adventures, plus many more, according to the official PlayS...
Sony announces new budget PSP model
By TechRadar, published 16-08-2011
Sony has announced that a new, low-cost PlayStation Portable model will launch in Europe later this year.The new PSP E-1000 will not have Wi-Fi, but will only cost €99 - which equates to about £86, although Sony is yet to confirm a UK price.The announcement was made during Sony's Gamescon 2011 keynote, which also saw the company reveal a significant PS3 price cut.The device, which will have the same matte finish as the PlayStation 3 console, will still enable users to download games through the use of the Media Go PC mounting service.Cheap UMDsSony is also offering a host of UMD games for the device at a heavily discounted, App Store-matching price of €9.99.Those titles will include FIFA 12, Invizimals: The Lost Tribe, EyePet Adventures, plus many more, according to the official PlayS...
Live Blog: Sony's Gamescom Press Conference
By GameInformer, published 16-08-2011
Sony is getting ready to present its titles at its Gamescom 2011 press conference in Germany, and we're live blogging the event. The press conference starts at noon central time here in the States (assuming Sony's got the trains running on time), so stay tuned for all the news from Sony's bash. Press Conference should be starting in 15 minutes or so.... (Note: Updates will appear at the bottom of this story.) Bad electronica playing as a prelude. At least it's not "Euro Techno." Instead it's just anonymous "Press Conference Techno." Sony announces that it's going to begin in 10 minutes. "Starting shortly." Starting. Usual video montage of games. Uncharted 3, Resistance 3, etc. Andrew House on the Stage, President a...
EA Sports on goalkeeping in FIFA
By GameSpot, published 16-08-2011
GDC Europe 2011: Electronic Arts' Sebastian Enrique talks about introducing goalkeeper controls to the best-selling football franchise. Who was there: Sebastian Enrique works across production, game design, and software engineering at EA Sports' Canadian development studio. He has worked on the FIFA series since its 2006 iteration, and he was in charge of implementing goalkeeper controls into the series for the first time in FIFA 11. Playing as a goalkeeper "was originally unplayable," according to Enrique. What they said: While the goalkeeper may be only one member of an 11-person team, he must act and move in a very different way to the other members of the squad. So while it was a long-anticipated feature to get goalkeeper controls into the series, it t...
Battlefield 3 preorders 24x more than Battlefield 2 - Amazon UK
By GameSpot, published 08-11-2011
Online retailer compares reservation rates for upcoming sequels with those of their predecessors at similar distance from launch; Uncharted 3 next biggest improvement with 488% jump. Last month, Electronic Arts said that preorders for Battlefield 3 were tracking 10 times higher than those of Battlefield: Bad Company 2 at a similar point before release. Today, the UK arm of online retailer Amazon released preorder comparisons of its own, indicating that the multiplatform Battlefield 3 is outpacing its true predecessor, the 2005 PC first-person shooter Battlefield 2, by an even larger number. At a similar point before its release date, Battlefield 3 preorders at the retailer have increased 2,302 percent over those of Battlefield 2. Battlefield 3 is big o...
Donovan, Marquez join Rooney on NA FIFA 12 cover
By GameSpot, published 08-10-2011
US striker, Mexican center back to join Manchester United forward on American iteration of EA Sports' latest soccer sim. Last week, EA Sports announced that Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney would grace the cover of the North American iteration of FIFA 12 as one of three athletes. The publisher today announced the other two footballers, naming rivals Landon Donovan and Rafael Marquez FIFA 12's additional cover stars in North America. From left: Rooney, Donovan, and Marquez. Donovan is currently a striker for the LA Galaxy Major League Soccer team. Marquez also plays in the MLS, as a center back for the New York Red Bulls. Donovan and Marquez also play for the US and Mexican national teams, respectively. While Donovan and Marquez are working toge...
Landon Donovan Again Graces FIFA 12 Cover
By GameInformer, published 08-10-2011
The USMNT star again joins FIFA mainstay Wayne Rooney and newcomer Rafael Márquez on the North American cover. No big surprises here. This marks the seventh straight year Rooney has appeared on the cover of the U.K version of the game, and we previously reported that the highly decorated Manchester United forward would be back despite the allegations that he paid for sex with a prostitute while his wife was preggers. After all, it would be a stunning change in company policy to boot Rooney when EA already kept disgraced philanderer Tiger Woods as the PGA game cover athlete. They did, however, replace controversial FIFA commentator Andy Grey for making sexist comments. L.A. Galaxy star forward Landon Donovan also has a long-standing relationship with EA Sports, previously gracing t...
[Update]: EA Sports Rolls Out Its Season Ticket
By GameInformer, published 08-02-2011
[Update]: We've got some new details regarding EA Sports' Season Ticket paid-subscription program for the PS3 and Xbox 360. I've talked to EA communications director Jen Riley, who clarified a few points: Your save data during the early access period will transfer over to the retail release once it comes out, so you won't have to start all over again. The Ultimate Team feature won't be available during the early access period, however. When asked if other titles would be added to the list of Season Ticket games, Riley said that EA would "continue to evolve the program," but at this time only the five annual franchises listed were available. Is the Season Ticket the same as the EA Sports ID program named earlier? No. Riley: "EA Sports has a broad-reachin...
Rooney, Kaka named FIFA 12 global cover stars
By GameSpot, published 08-01-2011
Manchester United striker and Brazilian midfielder lead soccer sim packaging athletes; region-specific athletes named. Last week, Electronic Arts reported revenues of $999 million for its latest quarter, helped in part by the continuing success of FIFA 11, which has sold a massive 15 million units through June. Now, the publisher is talking about FIFA 12, having announced global and region-specific cover athletes for the game. Rooney doing what he does best. For the first time ever, Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney will front the cover of the North American iteration of FIFA 12. Joining him on the cover will be two additional players that will be named in mid-August. The other global cover athlete for FIFA 12 is Brazilian attacking midfielder Ka...
Pro Evo Soccer 2012 takes the pitch September 27
By GameSpot, published 28-07-2011
Konami going head-to-head with FIFA 12 for PS3, Xbox 360, and PC version of next footie sim; Wii, PS2, and PSP launch days to be determined. Last month, Electronic Arts announced a September 27 launch for its latest soccer sim, FIFA 12. Not backing down from the competition, Konami today announced that the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC versions of its own soccer sim, Pro Evolution Soccer 2012, would also hit stores September 27. Release dates for the Wii, PlayStation 2, and PSP versions of PES 2012 will be announced at a later date. Pro Evo player celebrating, or screenshot from a new Silent Hill game? You decide. No, wait, it's the first one. The focus for development on PES 2012 is "the instinctive way the game can be played and on teamwork in part...
Pro Evo Soccer 2012 takes the pitch September 27
By GameSpot, published 28-07-2011
Konami going head-to-head with FIFA 12 for PS3, Xbox 360, and PC version of next footie sim; Wii, PS2, and PSP launch days to be determined. Last month, Electronic Arts announced a September 27 launch for its latest soccer sim, FIFA 12. Not backing down from the competition, Konami today announced that the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC versions of its own soccer sim, Pro Evolution Soccer 2012, would also hit stores September 27. Release dates for the Wii, PlayStation 2, and PSP versions of PES 2012 will be announced at a later date. Pro Evo player celebrating, or screenshot from a new Silent Hill game? You decide. No, wait, it's the first one. The focus for development on PES 2012 is "the instinctive way the game can be played and on teamwork in particular...
Portal 2 leads EA to $999 million quarter
By GameSpot, published 26-07-2011
Valve's puzzler ships 2 million to retailers as Crysis 2, FIFA 11 show staying power; digital revenue makes up more than 20 percent of publisher's income. Portal 2 opened up to rave reviews, and it turns out the game's sales weren't too shabby, either. Electronic Arts today announced its financial results for the three months ended June 30, beating its first fiscal quarter guidance with a boost from Valve's first-person puzzler. Portal 2's multiplayer mode stars bicker about the importance of shipped vs. sold. EA said it had shipped 2 million copies of Portal 2 to retailers during the quarter to lead a new release slate that also featured Alice: Madness Returns, Darkspore, and Shadows of the Damned. Combined with Valve's Gabe Newell telling the Games f...
Updated: IFA 2011: what to expect from this year's show
By TechRadar, published 26-07-2011
IFA, the world's largest consumer electronics and home appliance show, will open its doors for the 51st time on 1 September 2011. For five hectic days, this annual extravaganza of all things electronic will redefine the consumer electronics landscape for the next 12 months. So are we excited? You bet! Read on to learn why IFA 2011 could be the most significant in years.IFA firstsIFA is not just another gadget show. It's a technology event on an enormous scale. Last year, the Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin attracted over 230,000 visitors. And yes, it is open to the public.Indeed, the IFA site is so huge it has its own transport system to help get folks around. With more attendees and exhibition space than CES, it can legitimately claim to be the world's biggest tech expo.Amazingly, t...
EA Sports Exec: Gamers Won't Be Paying $60 For Games
By GameInformer, published 22-07-2011
Nobody liked having to pay $60 for games when this generation of consoles started, but we've gotten used to it. That might not always be the case says Andrew Wilson, senior VP of worldwide development at EA Sports. In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Wilson talks about how post-release content via digital download is becoming more and more a part of the gaming landscape. Mentioning FIFA 12's Football Club community and content initiative, Wilson says that as technology allows it, we're going to see less and less of a game's content shipping on a physical disc. This will make the base retail game worth less than the current $60 price. "I think the most convenient way for the consumer to get 7GB worth of FIFA these days is still to buy it on a disc. That will change...
EA going social with sports
By GameSpot, published 19-07-2011
Develop 2011: Wilson reveals plans for a single persistent online profile across platforms and EA sports franchises with a single purchase. Who Was There: Andrew Wilson is senior vice president and head of development at EA. He's well known for his work on the FIFA franchise, helping it surpass rival PES both critically and in sales. Wilson is currently spearheading EA's expansion into new platforms, such as social media and mobile. Wilson believes the future of gaming lies in downloads, mobile, and social gaming. What He Talked About: Given his current role in expanding EA's social and mobile portfolio, Wilson's speech focused on how EA is doing just that with its sports franchises. The expansion is beginning with FIFA, specifically with the EA Spor...
In Depth: The 3D future of your web browser
By TechRadar, published 13-07-2011
Fast, smooth, high resolution stereoscopic 3D graphics are coming to a web browser on a PC or Smart TV near you very soon, with many web developers and designers now claiming that 3D is on the verge of going mainstream on the internet. With lots of new movie and gaming content migrating to the cloud, there is now a strong commercial impetus for web developers and content producers to create browser tech capable of running the latest 3D graphics."The big push today for developers is to create a browser that is capable of harnessing morecomputer power in terms of tasks and performance," says Adam Taylor, in-house analyst at games agency Adotomi."One of the big focal points is rendering 3D graphics (as opposed to true 3D) and, with the advent of HTML 5 and custom APIs such as WebGL, we're a s...
Japan Getting Shadows Of The Damned Via EA/Sega Distribution Deal
By GameInformer, published 07-05-2011
Shinji Mikami and Sega are no strangers. The designer and publisher crossed paths with Vanquish, and will do so again with Shadows of the Damned according to a new deal Sega has involving distributing EA games in Japan. The first game to be released under this new deal is the grindhouse murderfest Shadows of the Damned from Mikami and Suda51. Games planned to follow are Battlefield 3 and FIFA. Given Shadows of the Damned’s quirky premise, Resident Evil 4-esque gameplay, and the notorious Japanese developers behind it, the game will probably find a decent audience in Japan.Source: Famitsu [via Joystiq]
FIFA 12 signs ex-England striker Alan Smith as new commentator
By GameSpot, published 30-06-2011
Former England standout working alongside Martin Tyler in virtual broadcasting booth for this year's soccer sim; embattled Andy Gray not returning. Get the full article at GameSpot "FIFA 12 signs ex-England striker Alan Smith as new commentator" was posted by Eddie Makuch on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 10:47:58 -0700
EA Sports Replaces Controversial FIFA Commentator
By GameInformer, published 30-06-2011
EA Sports has parted ways with former color commentator Andy Grey, who was sacked by Sky Sports earlier this year for making a series of sexist comments. Apparently Grey's long-standing relationship with EA Sports, which started in FIFA 97, couldn't keep him gainfully employed. In his place, former England player and current Sky Sports pundit Alan Smith is joining the booth with play-by-play man Martin Tyler. “The natural chemistry that Martin and I have developed working live matches for TV has transferred very well to the virtual broadcast booth,” Smith said in a press release. “I’m really looking forward to FIFA fans hearing our work this fall as we bring all the match day emotion and excitement to this year’s game.” In addition to the colo...
EA 'blown away' by Wii U controller
By TechRadar, published 29-06-2011
Although the Nintendo Wii U was unveiled to mixed reactions, EA isn't shy about having taken quite a fancy to the upcoming console. Frank Gibeau, manager of EA Games, told Gamesindustry.biz that the company was 'blown away' by Nintendo's innovation on the Wii U's controller, which incorporates a tablet-style touchscreen, and confirmed that EA will have games available for the console at launch. "We were really blown away by the unique innovation that Nintendo brings with the Wii U controller on a high performance machine," he gushed. "The ability to do HD graphics and access game experiences in a completely novel way and a way that's never been seen before, it really struck our fancy."BFFsExplaining why the company was so eager to get up on stage with Nintendo when it announced the Wii U a...
E3 2011: BioShock Infinite scores at Game Critics Awards
By GameSpot, published 28-06-2011
Irrational's action adventure lands four trophies, including Best of Show; Battlefield 3, Sound Shapes, Elder Scrolls V nab two each; Bastion, Forza 4, PS Vita also honored. The votes are in for the Game Critics Awards Best of E3 2011 honors, and BioShock Infinite has won big. Irrational Games' agoraphobic-terrifying action adventure racked up an award for every category it was nominated in, including Best of Show, Best Original Game, Best PC Game, and Best Action/Adventure Game. BioShock Infinite flew away with top honors at the Game Critics Awards' Best of E3 2011. The 2K Games title's haul bested that of fellow quadruple nominee Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception, which was shut out completely. Coming in at two wins each were Battlefield 3 (Best Acti...
BioShock Infinite Cleans Up In Game Critics Awards
By GameInformer, published 28-06-2011
Game Informer declared BioShock Infinite the best game of E3, and it looks like we weren't alone. The annual Game Critics Awards' Best of E3 winners have been announced, and Irrational Games' dramatic shooter has emerged as the clear favorite of the annual convention.BioShock Infinite won four awards, including Best of Show and Best Original game over strong contenders like Elder Scroll V: Skyrim and Battlefield 3. Here's the full list of winners:Best of ShowBioShock Infinite(Irrational Games/2K Games for PC, PS3, Xbox 360) Best Original GameBioShock Infinite(Irrational Games/2K Games for PC, PS3, Xbox 360) Best Console GameThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim(Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda for PS3, Xbox 360) Best Handheld GameSound Shapes(Queasy Games/SCEA for PSVit...
Making Smarter Players In FIFA 12
By GameInformer, published 28-06-2011
FIFA 12 is trying to imbue more style and personality into its franchise, and evolving players' personalities is part of that. Take a look at this video detailing how it's being done. Santiago Jaramillo, gameplay producer on the title, talks about how moment-to-moment decision making by individual players can change what happens in the course of the game and how an entire team plays. The example he shows is a good one, but I'm curious how well players off the ball are going to move and respond as well. For more on FIFA 12, check out Bertz's hands-on with the game as well as the screens and previous movies below. (Please visit the site to view this media)
Electronic Arts linked to $1bn PopCap purchase
By TechRadar, published 24-06-2011
PopCap has denied that it is the target of a $1 billion (£624m) takeover, but rumours that gaming giant EA is set to snap up the casual gaming company are not going away. PopCap is the name behind hits like Plants v Zombies and Bejewelled, and has been a major player in the rise and rise of both mobile phone gaming and games on social networks. According to TechCrunch sources, EA is the company that is looking to buy PopCap, and continue its move into casual gaming. ChillingoEA has already invested heavily in this area – buying Chillingo for a reported $20 million, and rolling out key properties such as the FIFA football games for mobile devices. The massive sum of money being discussed would represent a huge risk for EA, but the US games giant is well aware that the growth of the casua...
FIFA 12 kicking off September 27
By GameSpot, published 22-06-2011
EA Sports takes to the pitch later this year with PC version on par with 360, PS3 game; worldwide release set for Sept. 30. EA Sports has already announced when its American football season will kick off, attaching an August 30 release date to Madden NFL 12. Now, the publisher has also scheduled the first touch for football of the international sort, saying today that FIFA Soccer 12 will arrive in North America for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PSP, Wii, 3DS, iOS, and PC on September 27. The game's worldwide release will follow on September 30. Dribbling and defense have both been revisited for FIFA 12. For this year's installment, EA Sports emphasized that it will be delivering an identical gaming experience on the Xbox 360, PS3, and P...
FIFA 12 Details Impact Engine Improvements
By GameInformer, published 22-06-2011
FIFA 12 is debuting the Impact engine, which promises to improve player-on-player interaction in the game. Lead gameplay producer on the title, Aaron McHardy, walks through the difference it'll make from last year. The video below shows how more points of interaction between players will produce better results and less jarring canned animations. The video examples McHardy shows off between FIFA 12 and FIFA 11 are noticeable, but it'll be interesting to see how the Impact engine handles more subtle challenges, because not every tackle in soccer is a full, slide-through-the-grass-legs-scissored production. FIFA 12 also received a release date. September 27th will find you passing the ball across the pitch in EA's most recent soccer sim. Check out Bertz's hands-on impressions...
BioShock Infinite, Uncharted 3 Top Game Critics Awards' E3 Nominations
By GameInformer, published 22-06-2011
The nominees for the Game Critics Awards' Best of E3 Awards have been named, and the usual suspects are present and accounted for. BioShock Infinite and Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception lead the nominations, with four apiece, joining other best of show nominees Batman: Arkham City, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, and Tomb Raider. The Game Critics Awards are compiled from the votes of representatives from 35 North American media outlets that cover games. If you're a dedicated console warrior, the awards are full of ammunition. EA and Sony tied for the most nominations, at 14 each. The Xbox 360 was home to the most nominated games at 55, with PS3 following up with 48. Finally, the PlayStation Vita scored seven nominations, compared to the 3DS' three. The winners will be re...
E3 2011: BioShock Infinite, Uncharted 3 lead Game Critics Awards nominations
By GameSpot, published 22-06-2011
Batman: Arkham City, Battlefield 3, Skyrim, Star Wars: The Old Republic, From Dust, Tomb Raider also lead nods from critics' panel. In addition to GameSpot's own Best of E3 Awards, each year the Game Critics Awards honors the top games from the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo. This year was no exception, with the press organization today announcing its nominees from the 2011 trade show in Los Angeles, which took place earlier this month. Uncharted 3 tied for first place with four Game Critics Awards nominations. Two titles--BioShock Infinite and Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception--each garnered four nominations, making them the most-honored by the panel. Seven titles--Batman: Arkham City, Battlefield 3, From Dust, Sound Shapes, Star Wars: The Old Re...
E3 2011: BioShock Infinite, Uncharted 3 lead Game Critics Awards nominations
By GameSpot, published 22-06-2011
Batman: Arkham City, Battlefield 3, Skyrim, Star Wars: The Old Republic, From Dust, Tomb Raider also lead nods from critics' panel. In addition to GameSpot's own Best of E3 Awards, each year the Game Critics Awards honors the top games from the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo. This year was no exception, with the press organization today announcing its nominees from the 2011 trade show in Los Angeles, which took place earlier this month. Uncharted 3 tied for first place with four Game Critics Awards nominations. Two titles--BioShock Infinite and Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception--each garnered four nominations, making them the most-honored by the panel. Seven titles--Batman: Arkham City, Battlefield 3, From Dust, Sound Shapes, Star Wars: The Old Re...
GI Staff And Reader Interests, Dislikes, And Favorite Games: Issue #219
By GameInformer, published 21-06-2011
The Game Informer monthly staff page is a forum where we all come together and talk about what's cool right now. We'll get the ball rolling and would love to hear everyone's current interests, dislikes, and favorite games. Andy McNamara Profile E-mail Editor Interests: Cycling, Learning To Fix My Bike Armed With The Big Blue Book (Let's Just Say I Do Not Have Mechanic Blood Running Through My Veins), That Wii U Makes It Possible For Me To Put A Nintendo Machine Back Into My Home Theater After Years Of Being Exiled To The Guest Room, South Park, Game of Thrones, A Dance Of Dragons Dislikes: Wii U Is A Truly Awful Name And May Well Seal The Fate Of The New System, No Really, I Hate Wii U's Name, Art Blakely Current Favorite Games: Infamous 2, Game ...
Team Chemistry: Madden 12's Ultimate Team Mode
By GameInformer, published 21-06-2011
The Ultimate Team mode of Madden (as well as its incarnations in EA Sports' NHL, and FIFA franchises) hits a few different sweet spots with gamers and sports fans alike. It satisfies that collectible itch inherent in sports cards, challenges your GM abilities like Franchise mode, and draws from the appeal of Fantasy Football.We talked to EA's associate producer Donny Moore, who walked us through some of the mode's additions.Trades: Moore said that trades were the number-one-requested feature from fans, and 1-for-1 card swaps are now available for MUT 12. No multi-card trades, cards+coins trades, or gifting, however. Moore said the team considered multiple-card trades, but said it wasn't done for competitive reasons. "We really have to be sure there's a measure of ...
EA Sports opening retail stores this fall
By GameSpot, published 15-06-2011
Publishing label's brand marketing VP says first brick-and-mortar outlet has already broken ground in Charlotte, NC. Over the past year and a half, Electronic Arts has launched a number of initiatives designed at pocketing more money from the games it sells. These programs include EA Sports' Online Pass, which erects a pay gate around online modes for those who play the label's games secondhand, and the digital-download service Origin. Madden NFL 12: It's in the store. Now, EA Sports has made a move to cut out the middleman altogether. Speaking to Forbes, EA Sports VP of brand marketing Chris Erb said that the publishing label plans to open up its own chain of retail stores. The first EA Sports brick-and-mortar store is expected to open this fall. "...
Video: Nintendo at E3 2011: top 10 games
By TechRadar, published 06-10-2011
Nintendo caused a stir at E3 2011 by finally unveiling its plans for Wii U, with the new HD home console set to arrive underneath a TV near you later in 2012. Wii U is clearly the standout from this year's E3, both for Nintendo, E3 and the industry at large. But what about the games? To help you sift through the morass of new titles announced and demonstrated for the current-gen Nintendo Wii and the recently released 3DS, we have selflessly edited out the many titles that don't warrant your interest or cash, whittling it down to the best ten Nintendo titles at E3 2011.Wii U and a decent slate of games"I think Nintendo may have initially caused more confusion than excitement with the Wii U reveal," says Ngamer magazine editor, Charlottle Martyn. "But now that things are clearer it's obvious...
Video: Nintendo at E3 2011: Top ten games
By TechRadar, published 06-10-2011
Nintendo caused a stir at E3 2011 by finally unveiling its plans for Wii U, with the new HD home console set to arrive underneath a TV near you later in 2012. Wii U is clearly the standout from this year's E3, both for Nintendo, E3 and the industry at large. But what about the games? To help you sift through the morass of new titles announced and demonstrated for the current-gen Nintendo Wii and the recently released 3DS, we have selflessly edited out the many titles that don't warrant your interest or cash, whittling it down to the best ten Nintendo titles at E3 2011.Wii U and a decent slate of games"I think Nintendo may have initially caused more confusion than excitement with the Wii U reveal," says Ngamer magazine editor, Charlottle Martyn. "But now that things are clearer it's obvious...
Hands On With FIFA 12
By GameInformer, published 06-09-2011
The new physics engine could be a huge leap forward for EA Sports' already stellar footie game. After EA Canada producer David Rutter recapped the new features that we've previously reported, I jumped on the sticks myself to see just how revolutionary the new controls can be. Considering this is a genre where innovation is often subtle, I was rather taken aback by how differently (and better) FIFA 12 played than its predecessors. Here are quick impressions I gathered from a quick Aresenal vs. Chelsea match on a pre-alpha build of the game. Say Goodbye To ClippingNothing is more frustrating for sports gamers than watching the animated mess of players arms clipping through defenders during a routine entanglement. Cringe-worthy moments like these rob the games of their sense of rea...
E3 2011: THQ's Bilson talks Wii U, transmedia
By GameSpot, published 06-09-2011
Publisher's head of core games weighs in on Nintendo's new console, canceled Saints Row projects, and dormant properties. The Electronic Entertainment Expo is a big enough show that many attendees would be hard pressed to see everything, even if they devoted all three days just to checking out the booths. But those in attendance at E3 likely have important business of their own to attend to, making time on the show floor limited at best. THQ executive VP of core games Danny Bilson. One such attendee at this year's show is THQ executive president of core games Danny Bilson. Between the big three press conferences, a THQ investors briefing, and his own slate of meetings, he'd spent virtually no time on the show floor when GameSpot caught up to him for a...
E3 2011: Hands on: Nintendo Wii U review
By TechRadar, published 06-07-2011
Nintendo Wii U may have only just been announced at E3 2011, but the folks at T3 have already had an exclusive play with Nintendo's next-gen console.Adam Bunker from T3 has managed to get a preview of the console that's set hit shelves in 2012.Wii U: all the latest detailsAlthough Bunker was impressed with the Nintendo Wii U, he was worried that the new controller – which features a 6.5-inch screen – is going to be too pricey."The games we played were fun, but the whole thing seemed like a bit of an effort to hide the fact that additional 'new' controllers will clearly be pretty expensive and that offline, 4-player Metroid where each player has their own will be an unlikely home setup for most as a result," said Bunker."It's also fairly obvious that, considering the processing power an...
E3 2011: Hands on: Nintendo Wii U
By TechRadar, published 06-07-2011
Nintendo Wii U may have only just been announced at E3 2011, but the folks at T3 have already had an exclusive play with Nintendo's next-gen console.Adam Bunker from T3 has managed to get a preview of the console that's set hit shelves in 2012.Wii U: all the latest detailsAlthough Bunker was impressed with the Nintendo Wii U, he was worried that the new controller – which features a 6.5-inch screen – is going to be too pricey."The games we played were fun, but the whole thing seemed like a bit of an effort to hide the fact that additional 'new' controllers will clearly be pretty expensive and that offline, 4-player Metroid where each player has their own will be an unlikely home setup for most as a result," said Bunker."It's also fairly obvious that, considering the processing power an...
E3 2011: Final Fantasy series tops 100 million
By GameSpot, published 06-07-2011
Square Enix confirms centennial shipment figure for two-decade-old role-playing game franchise. LOS ANGELES--When Square Enix closed on Eidos in April 2009, the publisher offered a glimpse at the strength of its portfolio, saying that its blockbuster Final Fantasy franchise had sold some 85 million units since 1987. Now, just over two years on, and the Final Fantasy series has completed that first big centennial milestone. Final Fantasy XIII-2 continues the series in Japan later this year. As part of the 2011 Electronic Entertainment Expo today, Square Enix said that the Final Fantasy series has now shipped more than 100 million units worldwide. The Final Fantasy series joins a small-but-growing group of titles that have exceeded the 100 million mark...
FIFA 12's New Features In Action
By GameInformer, published 06-03-2011
Check out this trailer showing some of the game's new features such as more precise dribbling, improved defensive, and more physicality. The new dribbling looks impressive enough in the video below, but I'm interested to find out more about the new defensive features and the more physical play. Are players going to be banging around on free kicks and crosses into the box? How is the AI defense going to operate? We hope to get good answers to these questions soon. For more on the game, check out our previous preview. (Please visit the site to view this media)
In Depth: The technology behind FIFA 12
By TechRadar, published 31-05-2011
For a game that lives or dies by its control mechanism, tinkering with something as fundamental as how the contact between players works in EA Sports' FIFA 12 is a risky move. And yet, EA Sports has decided the need to make its football game feel more realistic makes implementing a whole new Player Impact Engine in next season's version worth changing some previously fundamental gameplay. Along with what it is calling 'precision dribbling' 'tactical defending' and 'Pro Player Intelligence', the Player Impact Engine is part of a quarter of key changes to the technology behind FIFA 12. It's a significant overhaul, and it is meant as a compliment when we suggest that, from the time we have spent with the next iteration of the game, that the changes feel significant without breaking the gamepl...
L.A. Noire is UK's fastest-selling new IP
By GameSpot, published 23-05-2011
UK chart: L.A. Noire makes number one in its first week, is the fastest selling new intellectual property in UK gaming. L.A. Noire added commercial success to critical acclaim in this week's sales chart. Rockstar's 1940s sleuth sim went straight to number one, becoming the UK's fastest selling new intellectual gaming property to date. Sales were roughly equivalent to those of Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption, released this time last year (Red Dead Redemption was a sequel rather than a new IP, though it hugely overshadowed its predecessor, Red Dead Revolver). Of those L.A. Noire sales, 58 percent were of the Xbox 360 version. L.A. Noire takes first. Brink, last week's number one, falls to number three in its second week, with a 48 percent decrease in s...
The Games Of E3 2011
By GameInformer, published 19-05-2011
Want to know what to expect from this year's E3? We've compiled a list of the confirmed games of the show, plus some rumored titles that may or may not make an appearance. We're listing the games by publishers like we did last year (you'll even see a couple of repeats on the list). This year, however, we're adding rumored games, which are marked as such. These guesses are based on recent news, industry scuttlebutt, and titles that have been publicly announced, but not yet shown (what better place to debut them than at the industry's biggest annual show?). Additionally, platform listings for rumored games are best guesses, and shouldn't be taken as confirmation. We'll continue to add to the list as we approach E3, so be sure to check back often. 2K Games:Bio...
Konami passes first PES 2012 details
By GameSpot, published 13-05-2011
Revamped team AI the cornerstone of this year's changes; improved animation, lighting and tactics also promised. While Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer franchise has been playing second fiddle both critically and commercially to EA's FIFA series for several years, the most recent iterations were the closest on both fronts for some time. PES 2011 helped Konami to a significant profit boost earlier this year, and the publisher has just confirmed the first details of the follow-up, PES 2012. More intelligent positioning is promised for players in PES 2012. The focus for development on PES 2012 is "the instinctive way the game can be played and on teamwork in particular," according to the publisher. The game's AI engine has received "a major overhaul," it is clai...
Gamers ditching PS3s over PSN outage
By TechRadar, published 13-05-2011
As the Sony PlayStation Network outage drags on and on, gamers have begun ditching their PlayStation 3s in favour of Xbox 360s, according to high street retailers. The network has been down since 20 April, with no end in sight with Sony's last communiqué earlier this week saying it would be down for at least 'a few more days'.One source, a store manager from a major UK retailer, told Edge magazine, "In the first week of downtime we did not really see any major change in sales or trades."However from the second week onwards we have seen an increase of over 200 per cent on PS3 consoles being traded in split almost 50/50 between those trading for cash and those taking a 360 instead."Woe is gamersEdge also cites game sales figures as evidence that a shift from PS3 to Xbox 360 is in effect, wi...
Report: U.K. Retailers Note Influx of PS3 Trade-Ins
By GameInformer, published 05-12-2011
The PlayStation Network has already given Sony plenty of grief, but apparently that's only the beginning. There are reports from the U.K. that some retailers are reporting an increase in PS3 trade-ins as gamers express their frustration over the PSN problems. Edge magazine ran its own informal study that showed that PS3 trade-ins at retailers was up, and this domino effect has also shown up in the sales comparison of games like FIFA 11, where the week-upon-week split of copies sold for the Xbox 360 versus the PS3 is increasing as the PSN outage continues. Whether there is a direct correlation between the data is unknown. Interestingly, Edge reports anecdotes from retailers that says that it's not simply frustration with Sony that's behind the returns, but that these gamers are...
New EA Sports Titles Coming Early Next Year
By GameInformer, published 05-05-2011
During its recent fiscal results call, Electronic Arts outlined its games schedule for the coming year, including news that it plans to ship its three new, unnamed EA Sports titles all in the same fiscal quarter. At a press event last month, EA Sports unveiled that it had three new titles from the label in the works, including one that's an NFL title. Many believe this will be a reboot of NFL Blitz similar to what the company has already done for NBA Jam. Before today's call, the company sent out a press release that included a lot of financial numbers (see here for more), as well as a release schedule for the coming fiscal year (including a Mass Effect 3 delay) – which ends March 31, 2012. On it, in the fourth fiscal quarter (i.e. before the end of next March) are listed fo...
Sequels Sell: Dragon Age 2, Crysis 2, Dead Space 2 All Hit Over 2 Million Sales
By GameInformer, published 05-05-2011
Ever feel like you're drowning in sequels? We feel you. Sequels are big business, though, and Electronic Arts has the evidence to show it. As part of its announcement of results from the fourth quarter of its fiscal year, EA revealed that Crysis 2, Dragon Age 2, and Dead Space 2 have all surpassed two million in sales. Four other EA titles releasing in the fourth quarter went over one million, and several other milestones were reached: FIFA 11 has sold over 12 million units Battlefield: Bad Company 2 has sold over seven million units Medal of Honor, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, and Madden NFL 11 have each sold over five million EA also said that Dead Space 2 sales are 40% higher than sales of the first game over a similar period of time, which is good news for a franchise that at on...
Dead Space 2 helps reanimate EA quarterly earnings
By GameSpot, published 05-04-2011
Undead outer-space thriller, Dragon Age II, Crysis 2 each ship more than 2 million; company posts quarterly profit of $151 million, annual loss of $276 million. Though the holiday quarter is traditionally when publishers make the lion's share of their money, the January-March period proved a profitable one for Electronic Arts. Today, the company reported that it had net income of $151 million for the quarter on $1.09 billion of revenue. That's up from the $30 million in net income and $979 million in revenue the company reported during the same quarter the year prior. Dead Space 2 helped revive EA's Q1 earnings. There were several reasons EA started off 2011 in the black, and they were called Dead Space 2, Dragon Age II, and Crysis 2. All of the tit...
UK Chart: Portal Kombat reign continues
By GameSpot, published 05-03-2011
Aperture Science is still the number one playground as Portal 2 maintains the top spot; Mortal Kombat continues the battle to stay second, Zumba Fitness dances back up to third. Get the full article at GameSpot "UK Chart: Portal Kombat reign continues" was posted by Igor Kharin on Tue, 03 May 2011 09:23:08 -0700
EA Sports' Persistent ID To Be A Paid Subscription?
By GameInformer, published 22-04-2011
This month EA Sports stated that it was working on a cross-title, cross-year persistent ID system that would chronicle your progress as a player of the label's games. Now new information purports to unveil details about this program and reveal that it's a paid subscription program. Pastapadre has obtained a reported document that details an annual paid subscription plan for Madden, FIFA, NHL, Tiger, NCAA, and SSX that would give members perks like discounts on DLC, a membership badge, the ability to transfer paid content from year-to-year releases (like this year's Tiger DLC courses), free/exclusive DLC, and more. Perhaps one of the more interesting features of this membership is the fact that you'd also be able to get full games via download before they come out in stores...
Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 price reduced
By GameSpot, published 20-04-2011
Konami's revamped soccer sim now just $30 on Xbox 360 and PS3; 3DS and Wii cost remains unchanged at $40. Soccer fans looking to get on the virtual pitch can now do so more cheaply, thanks to Konami. Today, the publisher announced that it is lopping $20 off the cost of Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Both versions of the E-for-Everyone rated game will now cost just $30, with the PlayStation 2 edition costing just $20. All other versions of the game will retain their usual pricing, with the Wii and 3DS editions remaining $40 each. The move comes following similar price drops in Europe earlier this month. Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 is now just $30 on the PS3 and Xbox 360. Released last October to solid reviews, the game was...
EA Sports drafting cross-platform, cross-game profiles
By GameSpot, published 04-08-2011
MI6 2011: Peter Moore uses marketing conference keynote address to unveil new program, explain how the games, they are a-changin'. Who was there: EA Sports president and MI6 founding chairman Peter Moore gave an afternoon keynote address about the changing marketing landscape in games. EA Sports president Peter Moore. What they talked about: Moore opened his address saying that he had come to MI6 to share his vision--and EA's--for the future of the game industry, something he refers to as Gaming 3.0. When he started putting the presentation together, Moore said he kept coming back to Bob Dylan's classic song, "The Times They Are A-Changin'." The core premise of that song, according to Moore, was to lead, follow, or get out of the way. And just like Dylan sai...
In Depth: How Mac apps are transforming world sport
By TechRadar, published 04-02-2011
Say you were to meet former England rugby captain Steve Borthwick in a bar - what would you talk about once the rugger conversation dried up? Well, you could bring up the subject of Macs, seeing as they play a key role in helping him - and hundreds of other elite athletes - prepare for their big games. In football, you'll find Macs at Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton, to name just a few Premiership sides. The England national team also uses them, as do the majority of top rugby union sides, national basketball teams and the West Indies cricketers. With the help of highly trained performance analysts and software written specifically for the Mac, the Apple gear is vital in providing feedback to players about their performances, both during matches and training, as well as po...
Review: Sony Ericsson Xperia Play
By TechRadar, published 04-01-2011
The PlayStation phone is the device equivalent of El Dorado, in that it's spent a long time as a golden fable to trot out when conversation slows. Now the fusion of gamepad and Android phone has emerged into the modern world in the form of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play.It's a time when iPhones have permeated the globe, able to deliver tactile gaming on the go, and Nintendo's 3DS is making waves by bringing portable 3D fun to the masses.Even within the Sony stable, the Xperia Play has rivals to overcome. There's the NGP, successor to the PSP, on the horizon, which will arrive boasting more processing power than Deep Blue (well, apparently a quad-core chip and graphics processor).What's more, it must establish itself over a selection of fast and competent Android handsets, such as Sony Erics...
Review: Sony Ericsson Xperia Play
By TechRadar, published 04-01-2011
The PlayStation phone is the device equivalent of El Dorado, in that it's spent a long time as a golden fable to trot out when conversation slows. Now the fusion of gamepad and Android phone has emerged into the modern world in the form of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play.It's a time when iPhones have permeated the globe, able to deliver tactile gaming on the go, and Nintendo's 3DS is making waves by bringing portable 3D fun to the masses.Even within the Sony stable, the Xperia Play has rivals to overcome. There's the NGP, successor to the PSP, on the horizon, which will arrive boasting more processing power than Deep Blue (well, apparently a quad-core chip and graphics processor).What's more, it must establish itself over a selection of fast and competent Android handsets, such as Sony Erics...
Review: Sony Ericsson Xperia Play
By TechRadar, published 04-01-2011
The PlayStation phone is the device equivalent of El Dorado, in that it's spent a long time as a golden fable to trot out when conversation slows. Now the fusion of gamepad and Android phone has emerged into the modern world in the form of the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play.It's a time when iPhones have permeated the globe, able to deliver tactile gaming on the go, and Nintendo's 3DS is making waves by bringing portable 3D fun to the masses.Even within the Sony stable, the Xperia Play has rivals to overcome. There's the NGP, successor to the PSP, on the horizon, which will arrive boasting more processing power than Deep Blue (well, apparently a quad-core chip and graphics processor).What's more, it must establish itself over a selection of fast and competent Android handsets, such as Sony Erics...
Sony Ericsson XPERIA Play on sale now: Are you buying?
By SlashGear, published 04-01-2011
Just as promised – though in smaller numbers than originally expected – the Sony Ericsson XPERIA Play has finally gone on sale, offering PlayStation-style gaming while on the move. The UK, Germany, Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Russia, Hong Kong and Taiwan will get the handset today, with a further six markets over the next two weeks and then Verizon availability later in the year. We reviewed the XPERIA Play yesterday, finding it to be a device with promise but still lacking the comprehensive software portfolio gamers will demand. Sony Ericsson has confirmed a list of over 60 titles – you can find it in the press release below – only six of which are PS One ports. However, Sony has also recently confirmed that its Music Unlimited se...
Sony Ericsson XPERIA Play Review
By SlashGear, published 31-03-2011
Frankly, it’s a surprise it’s taken them this long. The idea of a PlayStation phone hasn’t been so much a persistent rumor as it has a cellular cloud hanging over both Sony and Sony Ericsson. It overshadowed the launch of the PSP Go and has been responsible for untold speculation about terse relations between the divisions. Throw in more pre-announce leaks than average, and the Sony Ericsson XPERIA Play has quite the reputation to live up to. Can the first gaming-centric Android smartphone deliver both the polished day-to-day experience we now expect, and live up to the PlayStation branding? Check out the full SlashGear review after the cut. Hardware The family similarity between the PSP Go and the XPERIA Play is obvious. Both have a slide-out gaming keypad and a chubby...
Homefront debuts at no. 6 on Xbox Live
By GameSpot, published 25-03-2011
THQ's war-at-home shooter cracks the top 10 on Microsoft’s online platform in terms of unique users; trails Black Ops, Modern Warfare 2, Halo: Reach, FIFA 11, and NBA 2K11. Last week, THQ trumpeted Homefront's day-one sales, announcing it had sold 375,000 on its launch day. And yesterday, the publisher said the game invaded 1 million homes worldwide. Now, Microsoft has revealed that going platinum pushed Homefront into Xbox Live's top 10. Homefront sold a million units but didn't crack the top 5. According to Xbox Live Programming Director Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb, the near-future shooter debuted at number six on Xbox Live's most-played chart. The list is based on total global unique users and was tracked since March 14, a day before the game wa...
F1 2011 revving up Sept. 20
By GameSpot, published 24-03-2011
Codemasters' sequel hitting the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC this fall; UK release set for September 23; 3DS and NGP versions announced, not dated. Just last week, Codemasters' racing game F1 2010 took home the British Academy of Film and Television Arts' top award for a sports game, beating out juggernauts FIFA 11 and Gran Turismo 5. Now, the developer--on the heels of the strong debut of the original--has announced and dated the next game in the series. F1 2011 zips and zooms this September. F1 2011 will arrive in North America for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC on September 20. In the UK, the game will ship on September 23. Additionally, Codemasters sent word that versions of the game for Nintendo's 3DS and Sony's Next Generation Portable ...
Violent game bill debate sides with industry
By GameSpot, published 18-03-2011
Commonwealth Club-hosted event sees Activision executive, Stanford law director, Common Sense Media founder reaching conditional consensus over Supreme Court case. Who was there: San Francisco's debate forum The Commonwealth Club on Thursday hosted a panel titled "Should Sales of Violent Video Games Be Restricted?" Common Sense Media founder and CEO James Steyer and Activision Blizzard executive vice president and chief public policy officer George Rose took opposing positions on the topic, and Stanford Constitutional Law Center director Michael McConnell also lent his legal expertise to the conversation. James Steyer, George Rose, and Michael McConnell debate violent games. Senator Leland Yee, who penned the controversial legislation at question, was init...
Heavy Rain, Mass Effect 2 win big at BAFTAs
By GameSpot, published 17-03-2011
Heavy Rain proves a critical favourite, picking up three British Academy awards; Mass Effect 2 wins the Best Game prize; Peter Molyneux awarded the BAFTA Fellowship for lifetime achievement. Heavy Rain and Mass Effect 2 were the big winners at the British Academy Video Game Awards, with the PlayStation 3-exclusive Heavy Rain picking up prizes for Technical Innovation, Story, and Original Music, and Mass Effect 2 bagging the Best Game award. This year's awards were announced by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in a ceremony at the London Park Lane Hilton, presided over by celebrity host Dara O'Briain. Super Mario Galaxy 2 was awarded the gong for Best Gameplay and iOS title Cut the Rope was given the award for Best Handheld Game. To be eligible for nomination, games...
Heavy Rain, Mass Effect 2 win big at BAFTAs
By GameSpot, published 17-03-2011
Heavy Rain proves a critical favourite, picking up three British Academy awards; Mass Effect 2 wins the Best Game prize; Peter Molyneux awarded the BAFTA Fellowship for lifetime achievement. Heavy Rain and Mass Effect 2 were the big winners at the British Academy Video Game Awards, with the PlayStation 3-exclusive Heavy Rain picking up prizes for Technical Innovation, Story, and Original Music, and Mass Effect 2 bagging the Best Game award. This year's awards were announced by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts in a ceremony at the London Park Lane Hilton, presided over by celebrity host Dara O'Briain. Super Mario Galaxy 2 was awarded the gong for Best Gameplay and iOS title Cut the Rope was given the award for Best Handheld Game. To be eligible for nomination, games...
GI Staff And Reader Interests, Dislikes, And Favorite Games: Issue #216
By GameInformer, published 03-11-2011
The Game Informer monthly staff page is a forum where we all come together and talk about what's cool right now. We'll get the ball rolling and would love to hear everyone's current interests, dislikes, and favorite games. Andy McNamara Profile E-mail Editor Interests: Designing "Stuff," Cycling (Yes, I Have Started Even Watching It On Versus. I Have A Sickness), Sleep, Tigerblood, iPad 2, All The Awesome Games We Are Looking At For Future Covers (So Much Awesome For You To Learn About In The Future), Radiohead, John Legend, Trail Of Dead Dislikes: Deadlines That Could Kill A Normal Human, When The Site Doesn¹t Work Like It Is Supposed To (*** You To Hell, Internet), Eating In A "Temporary Kitchen" (Read Laundry Room) As My Ki...
GTAIV ships nearly 20 million, Borderlands hits 4 million
By GameSpot, published 03-10-2011
Take-Two releases new sales statistics for open-world action game; franchise life-to-date sales climb over 100M; Red Dead sells 8 million, BioShock franchise also sells 8 million. The Grand Theft Auto franchise is one of the most recognized and acclaimed in the business. In June, parent publisher Take-Two said the latest installment--Grand Theft Auto IV--hit sales of 17 million. Now, about nine months later, the game is nearing a new milestone. GTAIV was a major success for Take-Two and Rockstar. According to a Wedbush financial presentation posted online, GTAIV has sold almost 20 million units to retailers. Take-Two noted that this figure represents global sell-in figures as of February 19 and also includes sales of the GTAIV Complete and Special Edi...
GTAIV ships nearly 20 million, Borderlands hits 4 million
By GameSpot, published 03-10-2011
Take-Two releases new sales statistics for open-world action game; franchise life-to-date sales climb over 100M; Red Dead sells 8 million, BioShock franchise also sells 8 million. The Grand Theft Auto franchise is one of the most recognized and acclaimed in the business. In June, parent publisher Take-Two said the latest installment--Grand Theft Auto IV--hit sales of 17 million. Now, about nine months later, the game is nearing a new milestone. GTAIV was a major success for Take-Two and Rockstar. According to a Wedbush financial presentation posted online, GTAIV has sold almost 20 million units to retailers. Take-Two noted that this figure represents global sell-in figures as of February 19 and also includes sales of the GTAIV Complete and Special Editions....
Xfinity 3D Channel Launched by Comcast
By SlashGear, published 22-02-2011
It continues to seem as though the first time the 3rd dimension was offered as a media format, it just wasn’t the right time. Today Comcast is offering a full-time 3D television channel by the name of Xfinity 3D. On this channel there will be music, sports, movies, and original programming. This isn’t the first time a 3D television channel has been offered, but it is the first time Comcast has done so, and it does appear to be the fullest offering in 3D programming to date. Other channels that’ve appeared before this Xfinity 3D are ESPN 3D, n3D (a limited channel on DirecTV,) and 3net (another very similar channel that seems to be running many special presentations in the same manner as Omnimax theaters – those big fat domes at the science museum you went to as a ...
EA CEO talks Dead Space 3, NFL Deal, Battlefield 3
By GameSpot, published 17-02-2011
John Riccitiello says next installment in sci-fi horror series may join 5 million-seller club, confirms extension of pro football contract, discusses annualized military shooters. Yesterday, Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello presented at the 2011 Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference. Among the various subjects touched upon was Dead Space 2, the sci-fi horror sequel that sold-in--or shipped--2 million units as of the first of the month. EA's CEO is already thinking about Dead Space 3. Ironically, Riccitiello said that number wasn't the most accurate measurement of the game's success. He said, "To be honest with you, sell-in numbers can be a little misleading because they can overstate or understate the case. I think the best measure is what ...
EA CEO talks Dead Space 3, NFL Deal, Battlefield 3
By GameSpot, published 17-02-2011
John Riccitiello says next installment in sci-fi horror series may join 5 million-seller club, confirms extension of pro football contract, discusses annualized military shooters. Yesterday, Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello presented at the 2011 Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference. Among the various subjects touched upon was Dead Space 2, the sci-fi horror sequel that sold-in--or shipped--2 million units as of the first of the month. EA's CEO is already thinking about Dead Space 3. Ironically, Riccitiello said that number wasn't the most accurate measurement of the game's success. He said, "To be honest with you, sell-in numbers can be a little misleading because they can overstate or understate the case. I think the best measure is...
Sony Reveals Xperia Play Specs, Service Provider
By GameInformer, published 13-02-2011
Sony held the Sony Ericsson's MWC 2011 press event today, where they finally revealed the long-rumored PlayStation-inspired phone. Labeled the Xperia Play, the device utilizes Google's Android Gingerbread platform, is "PlayStation certified," and is on the Verizon Network. "This Spring, expect to see a lot of people with their heads down and thumbs up," said Sony Ericsson's marketing head for North America, Peter Farmer. "Xperia Play combined with the power of the Verizon Wireless network gives you everything you need in a smartphone and the one thing you want – the ultimate gaming experience." Due out this March, the phone will launch with 50 downloadable titles, play PSN games, and eventually be able to host original PlayStation titles....
Mass Effect 2, Red Dead Redemption Dominate 14th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards
By GameInformer, published 02-11-2011
BioWare's sci-fi RPG landed three awards, including game of the year, while Rockstar's gritty Western wrangled five trophies at the annual DICE awards show. In addition to the Mass Effect 2 accolades, BioWare founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk were inducted into the hall of fame for their impressive resumes that include critically acclaimed titles like Dragon Age, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Baldur's Gate, and Jade Empire. The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences also awarded former EA bigwigs Bing Gordon and Bill Budge with the lifetime achievement and pioneer awards, respectively. The creators of Heavy Rain, Limbo, and StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty also had nights to remember, with each title garnering multiple awards. "The Interactive Achievement ...
Best videogame BAFTA nominations revealed
By TechRadar, published 02-10-2011
The nominations for the Game award for best videogame at the BAFTA British Academy Video Games Awards have been announced today.The Game Award is the only prize to be voted for by the public at the Game BAFTAs; last year 65,000 people voted with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 taking the crown. This year's nominations include its franchise-mate Call of Duty: Black Ops which, let's face it, has a good chance given that it is currently the highest grossing video game of all time. I'd like to thank my parents...Other serious contenders for BAFTA games success are Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption, Halo Reach, Heavy Rain, Mass Effect 2 and Nintendo's loveable Super Mario Galaxy 2.Family gaming is also getting a nod, with Dance Central up for the award. Football gets a look in with FIFA 11.For the ...
EA Running 99¢ Sale in US App Store
By SlashGear, published 02-08-2011
The next 48 hours are a great time to stock up on games for your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad. EA Games is running a 99¢ sale on select games in the App store. They are calling this the “i ? 99¢ SALE!”, so if you are looking for some cheap thrills for Valentines day, this may be the place to go. There are over 30 games on sale, including Scrabble, Tetris, Madden NFL 11, The Sims 3, Reckless Racing and Pictureka! And yes, even iPad games are 99¢. You can view the full list of games on EA’s website. EA had great success with its 99 cent sale over the holidays. This time there aren’t quite as many games available, but they are continuing to add more all the time, so keep checking back. Unfortunately for those outside the US, this is a US only sale. **Update** Th...
Catch up: this week's most popular posts
By TechRadar, published 02-05-2011
This week, an online crime map of the UK went live, and soon crashed under the weight of traffic, while a new PS3 update had some people criticising Sony for building in a backdoor that enables remote control of your console.Also on TechRadar we took a look at how the Motorola Xoom and PlayBook stack up against the iPad and updated our Android 3.0 article with a whole load of new features that are coming to the OS.Read on for this week's most popular stories on TechRadar…Top five news storiesOnline crime map of the UK launchedThe Home Office has created a new website that allows you to look up towns in the UK and see what the crime is like in that area.The website, found at www.police.uk, is currently overburdened with worried folk who want to scare themselves even more by seeing just ho...
Weird Tech: Harry Potter and the tiny cloak of invisibility
By TechRadar, published 02-04-2011
Israel's Ben-Gurion International Airport hit the news this week after security staff discovered 44 iPhones concealed in the stockings of a 60-something year-old woman. Security staff were tipped off by her gait, which resembled that of somebody trying to walk with 44 iPhones in their stockings. As reporter Suzzie Christodulu notes, "Putting 44 iPhones in your stockings would make walking difficult". Etch-a-techIf you've ever wished your computer worked like an Etch-A-Sketch, Msraynsford has the device for you: inspired by the computer controlled Etch-A-Sketches he'd seen online, he decided to take the opposite approach and add rotational controls to a PC. MDFFED: A computer that you control like an Etch-A-Sketch. How great is that? Brilliantly, the spec includes MDF, the guts of an ol...
FIFA 11 Ultimate Team - PS3 - Videos and Trailers
By Game Revolution, published 02-04-2011
Take on the challenge of building a squad of the world's best football stars with FIFA 11 Ultimate Team.
FIFA 11 Ultimate Team - Xbox360 - Videos and Trailers
By Game Revolution, published 02-04-2011
Take on the challenge of building a squad of the world's best football stars with FIFA 11 Ultimate Team.
Major Nelson Reveals Top Xbox Live Games of 2010
By GameInformer, published 02-03-2011
Microsoft's blogger in residence Major Nelson has revealed some interesting statistics on the most popular Xbox Live games of 2010, including the most played, best-selling XBLA titles, and best-selling Indie titles. What's the most played game? We'll give you a hint: it rhymes with "Mall of Pootie: Wack Plops."Xbox 360 Top Live Titles of 2010 (based on unique users during first week of launch)1 Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Halo: Reach 3 Red Dead Redemption 4 Fable III 5 Battlefield: Bad Company 2 6 Medal of Honor 7 Mass Effect 2 8 FIFA Soccer 11 9 Fallout: New Vegas 10 BioShock 2 11 Madden NFL 11 12...
EA stock surges on earnings
By GameSpot, published 02-02-2011
Publisher's share price spikes nearly 15% following better-than-expected holiday-quarter report. Yesterday, Electronic Arts reported its earnings for the quarter ending December 31, 2010. Using generally accepted accounting principles, it was a rough quarter for the company, with $322 million in losses on $1.05 billion of revenue. However, excluding one-time charges such as restructuring expenses, the company had a solid quarter, with profits of $196 million on $1.4 billion of revenue. EA's stock shot skyward this morning. This morning, the markets reacted to the latter number--strongly. As of press time, EA stock was up nearly 15 percent, or $2.33, to $17.95. Trading volume was heavy, with 31.82 million shares in play, with the stock reaching a hig...
FIFA 11's Ultimate Team Mode Gets Major Update
By GameInformer, published 02-02-2011
When your DLC is getting DLC, then you know you've made something the fans want. FIFA 11's Ultimate Team mode – the card-based fantasy footie mode – is getting an update, including some major improvements. The February 17 update gives over 50 updates, according to EA, including the ability to challenge friends and compare yourself against friends via leaderboards. Friends can be challenged whether they are online or not (you can even leave messages for them after you've played their CPU-controlled team if they're not there), and the leaderboards include rankings for things like overall club value or trading activity. EA says that the mode's other improvements include the ability to re-post expired auction items, turning off power passing assistance for onli...
UPDATE: EA's Multiple Million Sellers
By GameInformer, published 02-02-2011
UPDATE: More news has come out about EA's last financial quarter, including the fact that Madden NFL 11, FIFA 11, and Battlefield: Bad Company 2 all sold over five million units (see below for more). More interestingly, perhaps, is the fact that EA is touting 39 percent year-over-year growth in its digital sales to $211 million for the quarter thanks to DLC from games like FIFA 11 and Bad Company 2. Earlier this year, EA CEO John Riccitiello believed that digital revenues will surpass those from retail thanks to DLC and other initiatives. ORIGINAL STORY: In 2010, Electronic Arts brought back two properties that were once the kings of the mountain: Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit and Medal of Honor. While the former was critically liked, the latter didn't fare so well. EA, howev...
Medal of Honor, Hot Pursuit ship 5 million
By GameSpot, published 02-01-2011
EA's rocky holiday quarter results in $1.05 billion in revenue, $322 net loss during three-month period; EA Sports Active 2 "well below expectations." If there's one quarter where a publisher wants to best its performance from the prior year, it's the highly lucrative holiday window. Unfortunately, such was not the case for Electronic Arts. NFS Hot Pursuit has amassed quite a following for EA. Today, the megapublisher issued its third-quarter earnings report for the October-December window, revealing net revenue fell 15 percent to $1.05 billion, down from $1.24 billion during the year prior. Net losses also mounted during the period, plummeting to $322 million from an already-substantial $82 million last year. EA was quick to point out that exclud...
Catch up: this week's most popular posts
By TechRadar, published 29-01-2011
Good news for iPhone and iPad owners – an official BBC iPlayer app is (probably) on its way.And the treat for Android fans is that the HTC Desire 2 has leaked ahead of Mobile World Congress 2011.This was also the week where the successor to the PSP2 – codenamed the Sony NGP – was announced. Read on for this week's most popular stories on TechRadar…Top five news storiesHas Nintendo really blown its Wii 2 strategy?While Nintendo has recently announced its plans for the 3DS release across Europe, there are still questions to be answered about its – still to be revealed - strategy for 'Wii 2', with some observers questioning whether a 'two console strategy' could work in the future.One analyst in particular that seems to be gunning for Nintendo is Wedbush Securities analyst Micheal P...
Goal-line technology heads to meet Fifa next week
By TechRadar, published 28-01-2011
Goal-line technology could well be on its way to the Premier League, with 13 companies meeting up with Fifa next week to vie for their tech to be used.While the idea is still in the proposal stage, there is a lot of heat on Fifa at the moment to implement the technology and do away with controversial refereeing decisions.If one of the 13 companies – Hawk-Eye and Cairos are two of the more famous ones attending – can convince Fifa that goal-line technology can be used and not impact the flow of the game, then it is likely that it will be used for major football tournaments.Spot the ballThe current method of goal-line 'technology' being tested out by Uefa's president Michel Platini is to have to assistant referees stand behind the goals and make a decision as to whether the ball went ove...
Weird Tech: Doctors to predict how they will hurt patients
By TechRadar, published 28-01-2011
What runs on a PC, requires serious amounts of skill and generates enormous amounts of smoke and gore? Nope, we don't mean the latest first-person shooter.We're talking about a doctor simulator. Thanks to Suvranu De at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, surgeons can now accurately simulate those precious moments when they accidentally cut through the wrong bit and set the patient on fire. Speaking to New Scientist, De explains: "Intra-abdominal tissue has a very high density of blood vessels. When a cauterising device cuts it, copious amounts of smoke are generated and bleeding may occur. These effects are hard to incorporate in a simulation."BURNING UP: Surgeons! If your operating table looks like this, you're doing it wrong! [Image credit: wwarby/flickr]De's solution? Pre-...
Will EA Also Fire Sexist Commentator?
By GameInformer, published 26-01-2011
Ex-soccer player and FIFA commentator Andy Gray has been a staple for EA Sports' soccer franchise, but will that be coming to an end given Gray's recent firing at Sky Sports? Last weekend, Gray was reprimanded by Sky Sports after he made some sexist comments about a woman referee in an English Premier League game match while he claimed he thought his mic was off. Sky later fired Gray after it uncovered past sexist behavior. Game Informer contacted EA Sports about Gray's future with the FIFA franchise, but a representative told us that "we have not made any announcements about our in-game commentators for FIFA for 2011. Those announcements will be made later this year."
EA Teases First FIFA 12 Features
By GameInformer, published 23-01-2011
Coming off the critical and commercial success of FIFA 11, EA Canada producer David Rutter says the team is already hard at work delivering "an enormous shopping list" of improvements for the next title in the popular soccer series. Speaking to OPM UK, Rutter shed light on studio's plans for FIFA 12."I think we did a great job with the Personality Plus feature [in FIFA 11, but the the teams [AI] doesn't support that quite as much as it should," he said. "As an example, a team doesn't spot that if Peter Crouch is in the area, they can lay a load of high balls onto his head."Rutter also recognized that free kicks need a complete overhaul. "Set-pieces are still a bit lame," he conceded. "I get frustrated by not being able to do qu...
Sony announces new PS3 preview events
By TechRadar, published 20-01-2011
If you fancy a chance of playing early preview versions of this year's biggest PS3 games, then Sony has your back – with the company announcing the first details of its new consumer-focused 'PlayStation Access' events this week.Sony's first UK PlayStation Access events take place inLondon from 4-6February and Glasgow from 18-20 February, with Sony promising early game demos and other PS3 and PSP teasers including giveaways, competitions and exclusives.GT5 time trialsSony announced: "Both events will be kicking off on the Friday evening, which will play host to our 18+ session. We will then have 4 more sessions that will take place over the course of the weekend, involving intimate developer sessions, a FIFA Interactive World Cup tournament, where we will be taking the winners from each s...
Red Dead Redemption, Enslaved, God of War lead IAA nominees
By GameSpot, published 20-01-2011
Rockstar Western leads the pack with nine nods for Interactive Achievement Awards, Namco Bandai action game and Sony's mythological trilogy caper secure six nominations each. If it's an honor just to be nominated, no game has been honored more by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences this year than Red Dead Redemption. The AIAS announced the finalists for its 14th annual Interactive Achievement Awards, giving Rockstar San Diego's open-world Western shooter nominations in nine different categories--including Game of the Year--more than any other title. Red Dead Redemption could be adding to its trophy case. Red Dead Redemption has already been named GameSpot's 2010 Game of the Year and was among the nominees for the Game Developers Choice Award...
