News
Walking Dead Episode One Review: A Breath Of Fresh Air
By GameInformer, published 28-04-2012
Telltale Games hasn’t always been able to live up to the promise of its licensed properties, but not for lack of trying. The company stays true to the heart of each franchise; the Sam & Max and Strong Bad titles tap into the unique humor of both franchises, and Back to the Future feels like a real trip back in time. These titles weren’t bad, but they held little appeal to anyone other than diehard fans of the properties. The Walking Dead, on the other hand, might be the company’s first game that can reach beyond an already devoted base and earn a broader audience. The game opens in the back of a police car. You are Lee Everett, a convicted felon whose crimes are ambiguous. As you banter with the sheriff behind the wheel, it quickly becomes clear that something terrib...
Sleeping Dogs Coming This August With Store-Specific Bonuses
By GameInformer, published 13-04-2012
Sleeping Dogs, the game formerly known as True Crime: Hong Kong, has finally scored an official release date. In addition to that news, publisher Square Enix has revealed a trio of retailer-specific preorder bonuses. Gamers can score in-game content for Sleeping Dogs when they pick it up August 14 on the PS3 or Xbox 360, depending on where they plunk down their preorder bucks. Take a look at the options below. Amazon: ‘Martial Arts’ Pack: Shaolin Showdown Mission Shaolin Warrior outfit (with increased striking damage) Bonus Triad XP points Wing Chun decoration for safehouse (with temporary combat buff) Best Buy: ‘Georges St. Pierre (GSP)’ Pack: GSP’s signature “flying punch” Exclusive GSP outfit including T-shirts, headband and shorts GSP&rsquo...
Max Payne: The Story So Far
By GameInformer, published 04-02-2012
For those of you gearing up to play Rockstar’s upcoming crime thriller Max Payne 3, we’ve prepared this primer on the plots of the first two games and a look into what's coming up in the third. Whether you’re new to the series or a veteran looking for a refresher, this is everything you need to know about the sordid saga that brought Max Payne to the streets of Brazil. Max Payne (2001) Developer: Remedy Publisher: Gathering of Developers, Rockstar Games We’ve grown accustomed to more adult tales in video games – even ones that delve into moral ambiguity and tragedy – but it’s important to note how different the original Max Payne was in tone from the action games and shooters of its day. While the long-in-development title received attention f...
New Sleeping Dogs Trailer Shows Off Hong Kong
By GameInformer, published 16-03-2012
In a new trailer entitled "Undercover Hong Kong," the team at United Front Games details how the city's vibrant culture has influenced its upcoming action epic Sleeping Dogs. It's an interesting look at how real life is influencing the game formerly known as True Crime: Hong Kong. (Please visit the site to view this media)
Sleeping Dogs Packs Fun Racing And Rock Steady Combat
By GameInformer, published 03-09-2012
The streets of Hong Kong can be rough, especially when you’re tangling with the hard-as-nails mob, The Triads. Thankfully, I was able to fight and race through the crowded, crime-filled streets from the safety and comfort of GDC 2012 at a recent Square Enix event. My hands-on time with Sleeping Dogs involved chasing down targets through the streets, cramming thugs’ faces into fan blades, and speeding down the streets in a souped-up race car. My time as Wei Shen, an undercover cop infiltrating the deadly Triads, begins with a meeting of mobsters in a room tucked away inside a restaurant. A guy named Ming owes us money, and it’s up to me to make him pay up. Leaving the restaurant I pass dining patrons, rows of vendors in the streets slinging pirated movies, and tourists ta...
New Sleeping Dogs Screenshots
By GameInformer, published 17-02-2012
Square Enix sent over some new screenshots of Sleeping Dogs, the game formally known as True Crime: Hong Kong. Here, we get a taste of some motion blur, explosions, and babes. How can you not be excited for this? Sleeping Dogs will be available on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC in 2012.
Square Enix Reveals Sleeping Dogs In Live-Action Trailer
By GameInformer, published 02-08-2012
Square Enix registered the trademark for Sleeping Dogs a few weeks back, leading some to speculate that it might be a new entry in the Kane & Lynch franchise. The publisher squashed those rumors today with a live-action trailer for the game. If the game's undercover cop in the Hong Kong underworld conceit sounds familiar, it could be because the game was once known as True Crime: Hong Kong. “Working on Sleeping Dogs has been such a huge passion for the team at United Front Games, and we’re really pleased to be working with Square Enix London Studios,” said Stephen Van Der Mescht, executive producer at United Front Games. “The extensive experience that both studios have in creating compelling open world gameplay and rich, rewarding combat makes for a pe...
GTAIII: Anniversary Edition goes mobile December 15
By GameSpot, published 12-06-2011
Rockstar readying updated release of PS2 open-world crime game for Android and iOS platforms; $5 price point confirmed. The PlayStation 2's seminal Grand Theft Auto III turned 10 years old in October, and developer Rockstar celebrated the anniversary by confirming it would be bringing the open-world crime game to mobile platforms. Rockstar followed that up today with more specific details, confirming that Grand Theft Auto III: 10 Year Anniversary Edition will be coming to Android and iOS on December 15 for $5. A picture of GTAIII's sociopathic protagonist Claude, appropriately enough on the Android. The mobile port of GTAIII isn't the only Rockstar recognition of the game's anniversary. The company is also peddling a $150 limited-edition Claude action...
Choose Your Defender! 10 Anti-Virus Programs Reviewed and Compared
By MaximumPC, published 12-05-2011
We test 10 of the most popular AV programs lock, stock, and barrel! Selecting an Internet security suite is a lot like plodding through a Choose?Your?Own?Adventure book. Remember those? The path of the protagonist was entirely up to you, and if those books taught us anything at all, it’s that every decision carries with it potentially devastating consequences. The same thing applies to your choice of antivirus software, only the repercussions of malware are real, and if a shoddy security suite fires off a blank and leaves you exposed to danger, there’s no flipping back the pages for a do-over. The stakes are high, and it’s important you choose the right defense the first time. If you don’t, you risk leaving your system vulnerable to attack from an increasingly sophisticated arsena...
Past and Present Geek Heroes: 8 Innovators and Legends
By MaximumPC, published 17-11-2011
The adventures of Sherlock Holmes have been wowing us with his fierce intellect, uncanny forensic prowess and rampant drug abuse since 1887. In 1939, Batman hit the scene, filling the criminals of Gotham with dread thanks to his highly developed detective skills, an encyclopedic knowledge of multiple sciences, wicked gadgets and a deep grief-fuelled psychosis. Montgomery Scott —Scotty—the beloved Chief Engineer of the U.S.S Enterprise: Thanks to his knowledge of particle physics, warp theory and a lifetime’s worth of hands-on experience, he was able to pluck his crew mates from the clutches of a fiery death countless times. Sadly, he too had his faults: routinely lied to his superior officers about repair times and spent his off-hours soaking himself in scotch, whiskey and something ...
Saints Row: The Third signs up for Season Pass
By GameSpot, published 11-11-2011
THQ giving a 15 percent price break for gamers who pay $20 up front for four add-on packs; Genkibowl VII, Gangstas in Space to offer sports, sci-fi twists on open-world crime game. Saints Row: The Third is getting on board the Season Pass trend. Joining the likes of Mortal Kombat, Gears of War 3, Forza 4, and Uncharted 3, Saints Row: The Third will give players a price break on downloadable content if they commit to all of it with an upfront purchase. Here's a peek at the new content in the Saints Row 3 Nyte Blayde pack. The Saints Row: The Third Season Pass will include three mission packs and a DLC outfit and vehicle pack centered around the gameworld's famous vampire-hunting superhero, Nyte Blayde. The Nyte Blayde pack contains superheroic outfits for Alt...
DC Universe Online population spikes 1,000% on free-to-play switch
By GameSpot, published 11-07-2011
Sony Online Entertainment's superhero-based MMOG struggles with capacity following introduction of microtransaction-based option. DC Universe Online launched in January as Sony Online Entertainment's fastest-selling game to date. The game is also attracting swaths of gamers in its new free-to-play form, according to Sony Online Entertainment president John Smedley. Patient would-be superheroes can now fight for free. On Saturday, the SOE executive took to his Twitter feed to reveal that user-base numbers were up 900 percent over pre-free-to-play numbers since the new business model was introduced on November 1. Since then, the figure has ballooned to 1,000 percent. Smedley did not provide a breakdown of which platform new users are flocking to. The ...
Harmonix poised to post company-best profits
By GameSpot, published 11-04-2011
COO Florian Hunziker says rhythm-game studio's revenues will hit $100 million in 2011, thanks to 2.5-million-unit-selling Dance Central. Rock Band may need a "creative reinterpretation," but the studio behind that franchise is clearly doing something right. Some 12 months after being dumped by media megacorp Viacom, Harmonix is on track to post its most profitable year to date. Harmonix got its groove back with Dance Central. Speaking to Bloomberg, Harmonix COO Florian Hunziker said that the studio expects 2011 revenues to come in around $100 million. And though he didn't offer specific net income figures, Hunziker did tell Bloomberg that 2011 will also be the most profitable for the company in its history. The turnaround for Harmonix is a dramatic ...
Harmonix poised to post company-best profits
By GameSpot, published 11-04-2011
COO Florian Hunziker says rhythm-game studio's revenues will hit $100 million in 2011, thanks to 2.5-million-unit-selling Dance Central. Rock Band may need a "creative reinterpretation," but the studio behind that franchise is clearly doing something right. Some 12 months after being dumped by media megacorp Viacom, Harmonix is on track to post its most profitable year to date. Harmonix got its groove back with Dance Central. Speaking to Bloomberg, Harmonix COO Florian Hunziker said that the studio expects 2011 revenues to come in around $100 million. And though he didn't offer specific net income figures, Hunziker did tell Bloomberg that 2011 will also be the most profitable for the company in its history. The turnaround for Harmonix is a dramatic ...
Saints Row: The Third preorders 4x Saints Row 2's
By GameSpot, published 11-03-2011
Next entry in THQ's irreverent open-world game sets franchise record for reservations. The third Saints Row still has two weeks of potential preorders left, but it's already the number one most preordered game in the franchise's history. THQ is racking up reservations for Saints Row: The Third. In a quarterly earnings conference call today, THQ president and CEO Brian Farrell revealed that Saints Row: The Third currently has four times the preorders Saints Row 2 had at the comparable period two weeks out from its release. While Saints Row: The Third is quadrupling the preorder pace of its predecessor, THQ isn't expecting it to quadruple sales right off the bat. Farrell stated that THQ expects to ship more than 3 million copies of Saints Row: The Thi...
The Game Boy: The Future Will Be Randomized
By MaximumPC, published 11-02-2011
I don't know if you've heard, but Minecraft is pretty great. Now, maybe (read: probably) I'm crazy, but building towers that scrape – nay, grievously paper cut – the sky and versions of Mt. Rushmore with the faces of Rush band members actually isn't my favorite part of the game. Truth be told, that award goes to the simple act of cracking open a fresh world and seeing the sights. Minecraft's random generator is a subtle master of “Ooooo, what's that over there?” and each unique world is a joy to explore. Towering, snowcapped mountains, glorious seaside vistas, winding cave mazes that feel thousands of years old (as opposed to seconds) – each one's a Costco bulk bag of block-shaped eye candy. Meanwhile, when most gamers hear “randomization,” they probably think “Diabl...
Grand Theft Auto V returns to San Andreas
By GameSpot, published 11-02-2011
First trailer for Rockstar's latest reveals California-inspired setting for latest installment in open-world crime series. Property values in San Andreas are about to plummet, as Rockstar today released the first trailer for Grand Theft Auto V, revealing a return to the Golden State-inspired setting of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. This pest control dude means business. The trailer features a montage of California-esque sights, such as wind farms on hillsides, muscle beaches, urban squalor, migrant fruit pickers, national parks, sprawling metropolitan areas rife with skyscrapers and shantytowns, and the distinctive sign for the movie-mad city of Vinewood (San Andreas' answer to Hollywood). An unseen protagonist narrates the commercial, explaining why...
Shippin' Out Oct. 30-Nov. 5: Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
By GameSpot, published 31-10-2011
Naughty Dog sends Nathan Drake on another adventure as Sonic Generations, The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, and GoldenEye 007: Reloaded ship to stores. Sandwiched between last week's Battlefield 3 and next week's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception is vying for some highly contested consumer dollars. Sonic Generations will attempt to deliver a hybrid Sonic experience, Snowblind Studios' hack-and-slash take on The Lord of the Rings hits shelves, and GoldenEye goes HD. Drake has a way of striking gold. Nathan Drake is back in the third Uncharted game. One of the PlayStation 3's top franchises, the latest entry features familiar faces and follows Drake as he tries to find his way through the Arabian Peninsula and its bl...
DC Universe Online F2P launch set for November 1
By GameSpot, published 28-10-2011
SOE's superhero MMORPG will go free-to-play for PC and PlayStation 3 players next week; additional characters, powers, and DLC available for purchase. Last month, Sony Online Entertainment announced its massively multiplayer online role-playing game DC Universe Online will introduce a free-to-play option on top of its current subscription-based model. At the time, SOE executive producer Lorin Jameson said the new scheme was not in response to a drop in subscribers, but rather a chance to implement a business model envisioned from day one of development. DCUO free from November 1! Today, SOE announced that the free-to-play option will become available from November 1 for PC and PS3 players. The announcement came via a live video stream with DC Unive...
DC Universe Online F2P launch set for November 1
By GameSpot, published 28-10-2011
SOE's superhero MMORPG will go free-to-play for PC and PlayStation 3 players next week; additional characters, powers, and DLC available for purchase. Last month, Sony Online Entertainment announced that its massively multiplayer online role-playing game DC Universe Online will introduce a free-to-play option on top of its current subscription-based model. At the time, SOE executive producer Lorin Jameson said the new scheme was not in response to a drop in subscribers, but rather a chance to implement a business model envisioned from day one of development. DCUO free from November 1! Today, SOE announced that the free-to-play option will become available from November 1 for PC and PlayStation 3 players. The announcement came via a live video strea...
Rumor Check: GTA V
By GameInformer, published 26-10-2011
There have been no shortage of rumors regarding a potential follow-up to Rockstar's critically acclaimed GTA IV, but today the developer officially announced the sequel on its website. It's time to take a look at the various rumors that have been swirling around the project for the past year and judge how likely they are to come to fruition. Rumor #1: A Colorful CastThe GTA series has always been known for its outrageous cast of characters, and we're sure GTA V will be no different. However a casting call for voice actors from earlier in the year provided a little more information about who we might see in the next game. Although the casting call didn't name GTA V specifically, one of the characters (a "man-boy love activist" named James Pedeaston) was featured ...
L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition coming to consoles
By GameSpot, published 20-10-2011
Double dip of Rockstar's period detective caper including all DLC hits Xbox 360 and PS3 next month. Good cops don't play favorites, and neither does Rockstar. L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition was announced for the PC last month, and the publisher announced today that consoles will also be receiving the full experience offered by the game's various pieces of downloadable content on November 15 in the US, with a European launch following November 18. Rockstar is letting console gamers get the whole story at once. L.A. Noire shipped alongside a variety of downloadable preorder bonuses and subsequently received paid DLC that added new cases, challenges, weapons, and outfits. All of these will be rolled into one package with The Complete Edition. L.A. Noir...
Mark Hamill done voicing Joker
By GameSpot, published 20-10-2011
Actor bids farewell to iconic animated role as the Batman's nemesis and clown prince of crime as Arkham City launches into stores. The actor who played Luke Skywalker is stepping away from a second iconic role. On his verified Twitter account yesterday, Mark Hamill said goodbye to his recurring role as the villainous Joker after his turn as the clown prince of crime in the just-released Batman: Arkham City. But what we'll mostly remember is the laughter. The awful, chilling laughter. "Hello/Goodbye Joker," Hamill said. "I've enjoyed every minute behind the wheel of the Crown Prince's crazy car--I'm going to miss him more than I can say!!" This is not the first time Hamill has indicated that he was done with the role. When asked at last year's San Dieg...
Blog Herding: Community Edition 10/06/11
By GameInformer, published 10-06-2011
This week's edition of Blog Herding demonstrates why the Game Informer community is so spectacular. While the industry is still buzzing from the launch of the Battlefield 3 demo, veteran and rookie bloggers alike continue turning out a collection of blogs on all sorts of different video game topics. This latest series has something for everybody, regardless of your platform or genre preference. Blog Herding Stats:Period Reviewed: September 26 - October 02, 2011Number of User Blogs: 112Number of User Bloggers: 65Number of User Blogs Herded: 17 Upcoming Events: Need A Good Karma Boost? Help Some Sick Kids And All Will Be ForgivenIt's not too late to join TEAM GIO to support the Extra Life 24 hour gaming marathon. All proceeds will benefit the Children's Miracle Network Ho...
L.A. Noire dev moves to shut down
By GameSpot, published 10-05-2011
Documents filed with Australian Securities and Investments Commission today foretell studio's imminent closure. Despite a glowing critical reception and chart-topping sales for Team Bondi's period crime sleuther L.A. Noire, the weeks and months following the game's May release have been fraught with uncertainty about the developer's future. Perhaps forensics could figure out what killed Team Bondi. Most recently, Team Bondi was placed into administration, with control handed off to a separate entity. Now, according to official Australian government documents, the studio's total closure is imminent. Multiple documents regarding Team Bondi have been filed with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission today, including one appointing a liquidator ...
L.A. Noire hits PC in November
By GameSpot, published 28-09-2011
LA Noire: The Complete Edition walks PC beat November 8 in North America, November 11 in Europe; game features all DLC from console editions, 3D support. Team Bondi may have hit the skids, but the Australian developer's debut title has yet to finish up its patrol. Rockstar Games today announced that the PC debut of L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition has been set for November 8 in North America, with a European launch following on November 11. A good cop in a bad town with worse spelling. Justifying the package's subtitle, the PC edition of L.A. Noire packs in a code to grab all previously released downloadable content from the console versions. The game is being ported over by Rockstar Leeds and supports both keyboard remapping and gamepads. The PC editi...
L.A. Noire Complete Edition coming November?
By GameSpot, published 26-09-2011
Eurogamer Czech spots L.A. Noire Complete Edition pack, reportedly launching this November; pack includes PC version, plus all DLC. Earlier this year, Rockstar confirmed that its Rockstar Leeds studio would be porting Team Bondi's open-world crime-solving title L.A. Noire to PCs sometime before the end of the year. At the time, Rockstar revealed that the Windows version of the game will support both keyboard remapping and gamepads, as well as 3D graphics. While the publisher hasn't revealed much else about the upcoming PC release of L.A. Noire, it now appears it could be on its way a lot sooner than first thought. L.A. Noire coming to PCs very, very soon? Now the Czech site of Eurogamer is reporting a spotting of an L.A. Noire Complete Edition for release...
Ubisoft to make NCIS Game
By GameSpot, published 22-09-2011
A new game based on the popular drama series is making its way to the Xbox 360, PS3, PC, and Wii on October 27; it was written and developed by the show's original writers. Ubisoft has revealed that it is working on a game adaptation of the popular television crime drama NCIS, currently in its ninth season on the CBS network. The game--slated for release on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, and Wii on October 27, 2011--will feature four NCIS episodes written by the writers of the original series. Players will be able to take control of characters from the series (agents Leroy Jethro Gibbs, Ziva David, Tony DiNozzo, Timothy McGee, Abby Sciuto, and Ducky Mallard) and use their individual skill sets to solve four interconnected cases by collecting and analyzing clues, performing autop...
Saints Row: The Third adds Itagaki as playable character
By GameSpot, published 15-09-2011
Ninja Gaiden, Dead or Alive, Devil's Third designer confirmed to be making in-game debut with Volition's upcoming open-world action game. One of the big features THQ has planned for Saints Row: The Third is a character creation feature that lets players dictate their in-game avatar's race, body, face, hair, makeup, and personality. However, for those who would prefer a preexisting character, THQ confirmed today at the Tokyo Game Show that game designer Tomonobu Itagaki will be playable in the game. Itagaki is all fine and good, but when is Saints Row getting a playable Guillermo del Toro? Itagaki will appear in the game as he frequently does in real life: sporting a leather jacket and sunglasses. The designer is currently working on another THQ-publis...
Saints Row: The Third adds Itagaki as playable character
By GameSpot, published 15-09-2011
Ninja Gaiden, Dead or Alive, Devil's Third designer confirmed to be making in-game debut with Volition's upcoming open-world action game. One of the big features THQ has planned for Saints Row: The Third is a character creation feature that lets players dictate their in-game avatar's race, body, face, hair, makeup, and personality. However, for those who would prefer a preexisting character, THQ confirmed today at the Tokyo Game Show that game designer Tomonobu Itagaki will be playable in the game. Itagaki is all fine and good, but when is Saints Row getting a playable Guillermo del Toro? Itagaki will appear in the game as he frequently does in real life: sporting a leather jacket and sunglasses. The designer is currently working on another THQ-publis...
Red Dead Redemption gets Game of the Year Edition
By GameSpot, published 13-09-2011
Rockstar open-world Western for Xbox 360 and PS3 gets $50 compilation with all DLC October 11 in North America, October 14 internationally. Earlier today, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick provided investors with insight into the downloadable content support for Red Dead Redemption, revealing them to be part calculated, and part improvised after the open-world Western's May 2010 launch. The publisher followed that up today by announcing what is likely the final phase of the plan, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 Red Dead Redemption: Game of the Year Editions featuring every scrap of paid and free DLC for the game. Red Dead Redemption was GameSpot's pick for 2010 Game of the Year. Set for release October 11 in North America and October 14 internationally, th...
Red Dead Redemption gets Game of the Year Edition
By GameSpot, published 13-09-2011
Rockstar open-world Western for Xbox 360 and PS3 gets $50 compilation with all DLC October 11 in North America, October 14 internationally. Earlier today, Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick provided investors with insight into the downloadable content support for Red Dead Redemption, revealing it to be part calculated and part improvised after the open-world Western's May 2010 launch. The publisher followed that up today by announcing what is likely the final phase of the plan: PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 Red Dead Redemption: Game of the Year editions featuring every scrap of paid and free DLC for the game. Red Dead Redemption was GameSpot's pick for 2010 Game of the Year. Set for release October 11 in North America and October 14 internationally,...
Blog Herding: Community Edition 09/08/11
By GameInformer, published 09-08-2011
Last week marked the return of Blog Herding and the response was overwhelmingly positive – including a comment from the former Blog Herding master, Miss Annette Gonzalez, who provided her support and endorsement. This week marks another busy and productive round of community blogs including perhaps the best blog you didn't read from one of Game Informer's newest members, ThrawnOmega. Blog Herding Stats:Period Reviewed: August 29 - September 04, 2011Number of User Blogs: 97Number of User Bloggers: 62Number of User Blogs Herded: 12 Community Blogs: The Unanswered Questions Of Gears Of WarAt level 3 and debuting his first blog, that, at the time of this writing barely has a dozen views, ThrawnOmega poises some interesting questions derived from the Gears of War series of video ...
Sega locks up Rhythm Thief for 3DS
By GameSpot, published 30-08-2011
Musical adventure game combines puzzle-solving with beat-keeping, casts players as a smooth criminal on the prowl in Paris early next year. Globetrotting adventurers are all the rage on handhelds these days, but where Professor Layton and Doctor Lautrec generally use their keen minds and puzzle-solving proclivities to thwart crime, Sega's newest character takes the opposite tack. The publisher today announced Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure, a 3DS adventure that casts players as Raphael, an "honorable thief" who steals priceless pieces of art, only to return them days later. Sega's latest stars the "honorable thief" Raphael. Set for release early next year, Rhythm Thief will see Raphael run through Paris in pursuit of both the Wristlet of Tia...
According to Hoyle Day Shortbread
By TechReport, published 29-08-2011
Eight is Enough Ask Engadget: Best (Windows) Home Server and universal remote solution? The SSD Review: Crucial's m4 SSD firmware update (0009) posted - tests display definite performance increase How to buy a hard drive: an essential guide by Maximum PC's Loyd Case Research: Video games help reduce crime rates in U.S. - GamePolitics.com GameSpot reports EA changes Origin EULA Eurogamer claims Batman: Arkham City not GWFL CVG previews Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim - discovering a dangerous new world Joystiq's Guild Wars 2 preview: Common sense Read more...
Frozen Synapse Review
By MaximumPC, published 26-08-2011
Simple and simultaneously brilliant gaming that you can’t miss For us, strategy games tend to be never-ending spirals of regret and woe. Don’t get us wrong—we love the genre. But our approach to tactics usually goes something like this: “OK, now you go here and... oops. Everything we love is on fire.” Put simply, mistakes happen. Frozen Synapse, however, allows us to make informed mistakes. In a nutshell, the game lets you see the outcome of your moves before you make them. It’s an absolutely brilliant tweak, and—if you’re a perfectionist—both a dream come true and your greatest nightmare. The not-quite-turn-based, not-quite-real-time strategy encourages you to shove your every move under the microscope, painstakingly playing out every situation you can dream up. Your opp...
Activision should be nervous about Call of Duty - EA
By GameSpot, published 22-08-2011
Battlefield 3 publisher's spokesman mocks call for civility from rival, suggests competing blockbuster shooter franchise could be gone in two or three years. Last week at Gamescom, Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg called for a cease-fire in verbal hostilities surrounding Electronic Arts' Battlefield 3 going up against his own company's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, asking the equivalent of "Can't we all just get along?" It turns out the answer to that rhetorical question is "No." The Battlefield 3-Modern Warfare 3 rivalry is ideal for fans of sniping. As reported by Kotaku, Electronic Arts spokesman Jeff Brown responded to Hirshberg with a statement of his own. "Welcome to the big leagues, Eric," Brown said. "I know you're new in the job, but someo...
Christian Police Associations call for Darkness II ban
By GameSpot, published 13-08-2011
[UPDATE]: International coalition asks gamemakers, legislators to stop the sale of violent games, takes specific exception to upcoming 2K shooter; publisher responds. At the opening of The Darkness II, protagonist Jackie Estacado has risen through the ranks of organized crime to become the don of the Franchetti clan. And while it might go without saying that the police in the game's world will be set against him, it turns out some authorities in this world have an issue with him as well. The Darkness II is being targeted by the boys in blue. The heads of the International Christian Police Fellowship, the Christian Police Association, the Swiss Christian Police Association, and the Germany Christian Police Association last month drafted a letter to poli...
True Crime: Hong Kong Coming In 2012 With New Title
By GameInformer, published 08-05-2011
Square Enix says "the game previously known as True Crime: Hong Kong" is coming in 2012.In a blog post on Square Enix's European site, the company revealed that it is indeed moving forward with production on the game, which is still being developed by ModNation Racers developer United Front Games, which had started the project when it was still owned by Activision.The game will document the efforts of Dectective Wei Shen, a Hong Kong police officer who is attempting to go undercover in the notorious Triad organized crime family.While it's great news that the game is still coming along, it will be interesting to see just how drastic the name change is. Will Square Enix keep the already established True Crime brand and just change the subtitle or rebrand the franchise alto...
Square Enix Picking Up True Crime: Hong Kong
By GameInformer, published 08-01-2011
We haven't seen a new installment in the True Crime series in six years, and its attempted comeback has been plagued with issues. It initially faced delays, but eventually got axed altogether by Activision. Even with its troubles, it may still see the light of day if Square Enix has anything to say about it. The Japanese publisher recently picked up the rights to True Crime: Hong Kong, which is still in development at United Front Games. "When we first saw and got our hands on the game we fell in love with it," said Lee Singleton of Square Enix London Studios. "When we met the team at United Front Games, it was a done deal in our eyes – we instantly recognized the huge potential in the game and the team." Despite canning the project, Activision seems happy wi...
Square Enix picks up True Crime: Hong Kong
By GameSpot, published 08-01-2011
Final Fantasy publisher picks up United Front Games' open-world crime game from Activision, release window and platforms undetermined. True Crime: Hong Kong has been granted a reprieve. According to Gamasutra, Activision's cancelled open-world crime game has been sold to Square Enix, and is ramping up development at United Front Games. A True Crime by any other name would smell less cancelled. While Square Enix has picked up the game itself, it has not picked up the True Crime franchise. As a result, the publisher will be rebranding the game before its eventual release. Square Enix is not yet saying when that release window will come, nor has it indicated a final name or even platforms for the release. When the game's cancellation was announced in Feb...
Nintendo's Miis Help Solve Crime
By GameInformer, published 26-07-2011
You may think of the Mii character creation system as a cute but superfluous addition to Nintendo's Wii system to help it appeal to a wider audience. Not so fast, though. Your Mii could help save your system from burglary. Fox 30 in Jacksonville, Florida, brings us this true crime report on a Wii stolen from one Meg Witherspoon along with a 19-inch television. Police were able to track the television to a pawn shop via the serial number, but they had no such serial number to go off to help find the Wii, which had been pawned at a different location. Cold case, right? Not quite! Police discovered a Wii sold to a nearby pawn shop around the same time as the television and were able to identify it as Witherspoon's by looking at the Miis on the system. Witherspoon's family and fri...
Ex-DJ Hero devs heading up mobile shop - Report
By GameSpot, published 16-07-2011
Former FreeStyle Games staffers Chris Lee and Ofei Sakyi leading new tune-themed studio Music in Colour; first game due out July 20 on iOS devices. When Activision announced it was discontinuing the DJ Hero franchise in February, the fate of developer FreeStyle Games was left in limbo. Today, The Guardian has word on the fate of at least two of those developers, reporting that ex-FreeStyle Games employees Chris Lee and Ofei Sakyi have formed Music in Colour. The new company doubles as a music label and mobile game developer, and its first project, Say What?!, is slated for release for iOS devices on July 20. Music in Colour comes to life with Say What?! Music in Colour is being commissioned as a joint venture by 8linQ, a UK-based publisher that claims it ...
Does Not Compute: 10 PC Myths from Movies and Television
By MaximumPC, published 15-07-2011
For over half a century, Hollywood has been making computers do whatever they damn well please. Routinely featured on television and in movies, supercomputers, desktop rigs and laptops—and in some cases, the people that use them—are all too often imbued with near-magical capabilities, painting a deceptive picture of what our beloved machines can and cannot do. Not sure of what tech-centric malarky we’re talking about? No problem: We’ve put together a list of our top ten Hollywood TV and Movie myths. We’re betting they’ll be just as familiar and irritating to you as they are to us. A computer will blow up if there is a question it cannot answer. According to Hollywood, computers are so delicate that when confronted with a question that they’re unable to answer, they’ll exp...
Why We Love The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
By GameInformer, published 07-11-2011
In celebration of the five-year anniversary edition of Oblivion, we look back at our favorite moments playing Bethesda’s triumphant RPG. Eighteen games launched alongside the Xbox 360 when the console shipped in November of 2005, but it wasn’t until the following March that many GI editors felt they played their first true next-gen title. With its stunning visuals, vast world, and deep collection of quests, several of us spent hundreds of hours immersed in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion experience, and these are our favorite parts. The ExpansivenessFew games capture a sense of wonder and exploration like Oblivion. When you escape the labyrinthine prison tunnels and first emerge into the world of Cyrodiil, the view is breathtaking. The picturesque countryside in Oblivion is nea...
Batman: Arkham City CE breaking out - Retail Radar
By GameSpot, published 07-11-2011
$100 collector's edition spotted for Xbox 360 and PS3 on Best Buy's online store; premium bonuses unknown. The Caped Crusader is an elusive figure, fighting crime and slipping away just as mysteriously as he arrived. Sticking to that approach, the collector's edition for Batman: Arkham City is similarly mystifying. It appears Arkham City is getting a collector's edition. Someone should ask Commissioner Gordon. A listing for Batman: Arkham City Collector's Edition has popped up on national retailer Best Buy. The listing states that the premium iteration of the game will sell for $100 and will be available for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Unfortunately, the contents of the collector's edition are unknown, as the game's product description is empty. As o...
Question Of The Month Reader Responses: Issue #220
By GameInformer, published 07-11-2011
A few months ago we asked our readers what television show they thought would make a good video game. The latest issue of Game Informer contains a small sampling of the selections they came up with, but we received too many letters to stop there. Here are some more shows our readers would love play on their home console. The Doctor Is In: One word, one question. Doctor. Who? I feel Bioware could do great things with this franchise, due to the companion selection in Mass Effect. Substitute Normandy for T.A.R.D.I.S., Garrus for Captain Jack, etc. This would satisfy players who like to use guns, as well as those who like exploration (the Doctor never uses guns). Combined with a time-based puzzle solving aspect like the Ocarina of Time, and the options are endless. It could be an amaz...
L.A. Noire PC-bound this fall, ships 4 million units
By GameSpot, published 23-06-2011
Rockstar's open-world detective game will be solving cases on Windows systems by the end of the year; will have 3D support, keyboard remapping, gamepad functionality. Rockstar Games answered many gamers' prayers today by announcing that L.A. Noire is coming to the PC this fall. Originally announced as a PlayStation 3 exclusive in 2005, the open-world crime-solving game has already proven a hit on Sony's console and the Xbox 360, shipping 4 million units worldwide to date. Since its mid-May release, the open-world game has sold nearly 900,000 copies domestically on both platforms, enough to make it the top domestic release for that month. L.A. Noire will soon be solving cases on the PC. Though the original was developed by Australian studio Team Bondi...
Yakuza series shipments top 5 million
By GameSpot, published 22-06-2011
Sega reveals Japan-based crime drama has hit penta-platinum milestone in global sales; zombie-themed Of the End ships 400,000. While the Yakuza series is a proverbial sales juggernaut in Japan, it is slowly gaining sales steam in the rest of the world. This is evident in Sega's recent announcement: The Yakuza series has shipped more than 5 million copies worldwide. The publisher also announced that it has shipped 400,000 copies of Yakuza: Of the End, a zombie-themed alternate story based on the long-running franchise. Yakuza + zombies = money. Yakuza: Of the End features main protagonist Kiryu Kazuma, who is tasked with exploring a postapocalyptic, zombie-flooded version of Kamurocho. The game's action is now resolved using guns and firearms, which ...
Updated: Office of National Statistics: 'no evidence of data compromise'
By TechRadar, published 21-06-2011
There were rumours and speculation abound today that hacking collective LulzSec had managed to grab the entire Census 2011 database from the computers of the Office of National Statistics, but we have contacted the agency and it seems that no data compromise has been found as of yet.If the rumours turn out to be true and LulzSec have managed to obtain the entire Census then this will be one of the biggest hacks the UK had ever seen, but the ONS has told TechRadar that nothing as of yet has been found to suggest a hack has taken place.Aware of the suggestion"We are aware of the suggestion that census data has been accessed," said the ONS in a statement. "We are working with our security advisers and contractors to establish whether there is any substance to this. "The 2011 Census places the...
L.A. Noire sells 899,000 in May
By GameSpot, published 16-06-2011
Rockstar and Team Bondi's crime drama sells less than a million across 360, PS3 as Take-Two shares slip 8 percent in past five days. For the second year in a row, Take-Two subsidiary Rockstar Games scored the top-selling new release for the month of May, following up 2010's Red Dead Redemption with L.A. Noire. However, even if it was the best-selling new release at US retail, the Team Bondi-developed L.A. Noire performed significantly worse than Rockstar San Diego's open-world Western. L.A. Noire's slow start is a bit of a mystery. According to sales data obtained by MarketWatch, L.A. Noire sold 899,000 units across the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions of the game. That figure comes in some 600,000 units below that of Red Dead Redemption, which re...
DRM from 1998 to the Present: A Brief History of Copy Protection
By MaximumPC, published 15-06-2011
Avast ye mateys, piracy is alive and well on the virtual high seas. Argh! Time was that if you wanted to see a movie, you went to a theatre or you waited a few months to rent a VHS tape or DVD at five bucks a pop. If you wanted to read a book, you either drove to the bookstore and bought it, or to the library and borrowed it, under strict regulations governing its return. If you wanted to listen to a specific band or singer, you shelled out for the LP – or more recently, the CD.That's just the way it was. An artist/performer/writer would create something and you would pay real money to buy a copy. Or you'd pay less money and/or be somehow inconvenienced to borrow a copy that someone else had already paid for. Makes sense, right? Who wouldn't want to get paid for the work they do? Proble...
E3 2011: Activision Publishing CEO sounds off on Wii U, Vita, and Call of Duty: Elite
By GameSpot, published 06-10-2011
Q&A: Eric Hirshberg discusses the new console and portable, explains why Call of Duty won't fade like Guitar Hero; Sledgehammer Games' COD "action adventure" on hold. LOS ANGELES--At this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendoall held major press events. So did two major third-party publishers: Ubisoftand Electronic Arts. However, the biggest third-party publisher, Activision, didn't stage a media event. It was the third year running the company didn't hold a traditional press briefing, although it did tease some games during a star-studded concert at E3 2010. The company did have a massive booth in the Los Angeles Convention Center's South Hall which loudly promoted Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Call of Duty: Elite, Modern Warfare 3's controv...
Saints Row: The Third rolls out Nov. 15
By GameSpot, published 06-02-2011
Latest in THQ's over-the-top open-world crime series gets a release date for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360; new trailer inside. Those craving a new dose of the over-the-top open-world action of the Saints Row series can finally mark their calendars. THQ has announced that Saints Row: The Third will ship for the PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 on November 15 in North America. The date puts its launch one week after that of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and one week before the all-important Thanksgiving Day week shopping season. Saints Row: The Third now has a date with retailers. No ratings information is yet available for Saints Row: The Third. However, judging by GameSpot's brand-new preview of the game, its patently ridiculous gameplay will be packed with...
What Do Real Detectives Think Of L.A. Noire?
By GameInformer, published 28-05-2011
You probably thought you were hot stuff when you figured out that the woman on the street was lying to you in L.A. Noire, but real cops have to deal with conniving people every day, so what do real detectives think of Rockstar’s attempt to simulate the investigation process? G4TV tapped real LAPD detective Skip Bauchman for his opinion on L.A. Noire’s investigation process, and his running commentary is worth checking out for any budding crime solver.Xbox 360 Games - E3 2011 - L.A. Noire
Take-Two shares rise on L.A. Noire launch
By GameSpot, published 18-05-2011
Rockstar Games' parent company hits new 52-week high following debut of Team Bondi's period detective thriller. Players may need to rely on skills of logic and observation to solve the cases in L.A. Noire, but there's considerably less mystery as to the impact the game is having on shares of Rockstar parent company Take-Two Interactive. L.A. Noire for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 debuted to mostly adoring reviews yesterday, the same day Take-Two shares hit a 52-week high. L.A. Noire takes place in the 1940s, but it's making money in 2011. The company's shares closed the trading day up $1.23 to $17.10, a jump of nearly 8 percent. The stock closed the previous day's trading at $15.87. L.A. Noire follows Detective Phelps as he becomes entangled in a ...
The Characters Of Assassin’s Creed Revelations
By GameInformer, published 17-05-2011
We examine the heroes, allies, enemies, and multiplayer characters that will bring life to the next installment of AC. Assassin’s Creed has always been a franchise deeply rooted in characters and their evolving storylines. Revelations will be no exception to the rule, though there will be fewer familiar faces this time around. Instead, Ezio’s adventures in Constantinople introduce a new cast of compelling characters, many of whom are based on real-life historical figures. We’ve pulled together info about some of the most significant characters in the new story, as well as what you’ll want to know about their role in the upcoming drama. In case you missed out, we highlighted one extremely important character last week, in our dedicated feature on Desmond Miles. In a...
Shippin' Out May 15-21: L.A. Noire, Fable III PC, New Vegas DLC
By GameSpot, published 16-05-2011
New release slate led by Rockstar's period detective thriller, Lionhead's action role-playing game, and new downloadable content for Obsidian's game. It's a busy week at retail, as a range of new high-profile releases drop this week, including Rockstar Games' long-awaited period detective game and the PC version of Lionhead's third Fable entry. Leading the pack this week is Team Bondi's L.A. Noire for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The title follows Detective Phelps as he becomes entangled in a violent web of vice, corruption, and crime in 1940s Los Angeles. Players jump into the seedy underworld of the metropolis and are tasked with solving a series of murders in what Rockstar describes as an "open-ended challenge." Rockstar lets gamers solve the ca...
Rockstar didn't want to 'shoehorn' motion control into L.A. Noire - Report
By GameSpot, published 13-05-2011
VP of development Jeronimo Barrera says team decided to not force Kinect or Move into detective thriller; won't rule either option out for future games. Next week, gamers can play detective in Rockstar Games' action sleuther L.A. Noire, due out on Tuesday for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. It will not be compatible with Microsoft's Kinect or Sony's PlayStation Move motion-control technology, but future Rockstar titles might. Kinect and Move are not suspects in L.A. Noire. In an interview with The Guardian, Rockstar vice president of development Jeronimo Barrera said the team decided not to make the game compatible with motion control tech like Kinect or Move because doing so would have felt forced. However, he did not rule out motion-control compatibility ...
GameStop Rocksmith preorders get $25 Guitar Center credit
By GameSpot, published 05-10-2011
Ubisoft announces promotion with specialty retailer for upcoming guitar game; voucher good for any guitar purchase at national axe warehouse. Though Harmonix and Activision will not release new Rock Band or Guitar Hero games in 2011, Ubisoft plans to this fall with Rocksmith. Now the French publisher has announced how it hopes to secure preorders for the game. The publisher recently said those who reserve the title at specialty retailer GameStop will earn a $25 gift card to national axe warehouse Guitar Center, where the credit can be applied toward the purchase of any guitar. $25 won't buy a guitar, but it'll help. A standard version of Rocksmith is due out this fall for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC priced at $79.99. Additionally, a $200 Gi...
L.A. Noire’s Rockstar Teams Up With L.A. Times For Interactive 1947 Crime Map
By SlashGear, published 05-06-2011
Rockstar Games is the company behind the notorious Grand Theft Auto and last year’s western shooter, Red Dead Redemption. But in less than two weeks, they will be unleashing a whole new crime solving game based in 1940s Los Angeles, called L.A. Noire. And leading up to that, they’ve teamed up with L.A. Times to release a interactive map of all the crimes that took place in 1947. As research for the game, the developers Team Bondi did a lot of research on the crime-filled city of Los Angeles back in the day. An interesting thing they did was read through every single daily issue of the L.A. Times from January 1st though December 31st of 1947. They then decided it would be a fun idea to actually create a 1947 crime map that collects and maps out all the strange and extreme crim...
Best Buy fires employee for stopping shoplifter
By SlashGear, published 05-05-2011
I think that most of us grew up the same way. If someone is stealing from you, and you can stop them without risking your life or the life of your family nearby, you do it. I would also like to think that if we were in a store and saw someone trying to steal that most Americans would step in and thwart the thief. Apparently, if you work for Best Buy the thing to do is smile and watch thief run away with the merchandise. An employee in the computer department at Best Buy in Billings, Montana named Roger Kline did just that. As the story goes, a man was seen trying to steal two laptops from the store and attempting to slip out the back door. The thief found the back door locked and headed to the front of the store to escape. Apparently, the manager announced over the store PA that the thief...
Anonymous denies Sony PSN “We are Legion” calling card
By SlashGear, published 05-05-2011
Hacking collective Anonymous has reportedly denied being responsible for planting a file seemingly incriminating itself in the PlayStation Network hack, suggesting that instead the group has been framed by whoever completed the exploit and stole millions of user records and credit card data. Kazuo Hirai, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sony Computer Entertainment America, had told a US subcommittee investigating data theft that the file – named Anonymous and containing the phrase “We are Legion” – was discovered on one of the hacked Sony Online Entertainment servers. It’s not the first time Anonymous has denied involvement in the PSN hack. Back in April, as the scale of the security breach was still unfolding, Anonymous issued a statement that “...
Samsung UN55D8000 55-Inch 1080p 240Hz 3D LED Smart TV
By SlashGear, published 30-04-2011
Ever since CES back in January, we’ve been hearing that 2011 will be “the year of 3D.” Happily, Samsung isn’t focusing entirely on the third-dimension with its new D8000 Series HDTVs: the 55-inch UN55D8000 also promises superlative 2D performance and Smart TV functionality including network streaming, all wrapped up in a wafer-thin bezel. Still, with a list price of $3,599.99, the D8000 will have to deliver in spades to justify the cost. Check out how this 3D behemoth copes in the full SlashGear review. Hardware At 55-inches, the UN55D8000 isn’t exactly going to blend into the background unless you live in an aircraft hanger. Still, Samsung has done some solid work producing one of the more attractively minimal designs we’ve seen to-date. The brushed st...
Doctor Lautrec makes appointment with 3DS
By GameSpot, published 14-04-2011
Konami bringing new puzzle adventure game to Nintendo's newest handheld in Europe this summer, North American release window undetermined. Professor Layton is already set for a showdown with Phoenix Wright, but the logic-loving academic is due for a little more competition, courtesy of Konami. The publisher today announced that it will launch a 3DS puzzle adventure game starring its own keen-minded advanced-degree holder this summer. Academic mystery-solvers are all the rage on the 3DS. Doctor Lautrec and the Forgotten Knights will introduce Jean-Pierre Lautrec, doctor of archeology, and his student assistant, Sophie Coubertin. Set in Paris during the late 1800s, the game will follow Lautrec and Sophie as they search for the lost treasure of Louis XI...
Guitar Hero franchise not over
By GameSpot, published 04-12-2011
Activision confirms future plans to return to once-mighty rhythm-game franchise, status of possible 2012 game in question. Activision's Guitar Hero franchise has been down for several years, and it appeared earlier in February as if the publisher had at last counted it out. As part of an across-the-board culling that also impacted the Tony Hawk and True Crime franchises, Activision officially closed its Guitar Hero business unit, canceling the franchise's 2011 installment and leaving analysts speculating as to whether the series would ever rock again. Reunion tours are a well-established rock-and-roll tradition. In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz today, Activision VP of developer relations and acquisitions Dan Winters clarified his company's curr...
Vatican says, “Hacking is A-OK”
By SlashGear, published 04-11-2011
Father Antonio Spadero wrote an article for the Civilta Cattolica that lauds the spirit of hacking. Hackers were vilified in the media during the 1990s. Because of that treatment the word hacker took on a different meaning as it spread into the common vernacular. This popular usage made hacker synonymous with computer criminal. Today, this is changing, and this article stands by the original, correct, and untarnished meaning of the word. Note here, neither I nor Fr. Spadero are using the term to mean computer crime or internet vandalism or whatever else the plebian media are deciding to use the word hacker for today. I stand by the original definition of hacker and hacking. I even like the neologism, hacktivist. I must link to this as well, just in case one person hasn’t read The...
L.A. Noire part of Tribeca Film Festival
By GameSpot, published 29-03-2011
Rockstar's latest becomes first game to be recognized as an Official Selection of annual lower Manhattan celebration of cinema. Rockstar Games has drawn plenty of inspiration from films for blockbuster hits like Grand Theft Auto IV and Red Dead Redemption, but the company is taking it a step further with its latest game, L.A. Noire. The publisher today announced that its cinematically inclined crime thriller will rub elbows with actual cinema as an Official Selection of the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival. A little club soda will get that right out. In an hour-long event on April 25, Rockstar representatives will introduce audiences to the first game ever featured in the film festival, with a live walkthrough of one of the game's cases, followed by a questi...
Big in Japan March 14-20: Dynasty Warriors 7
By GameSpot, published 25-03-2011
Koei's action game continues selling as top 10 software sales cut in half, hardware sales down roughly 30 percent in first full week after devastating earthquake. In the wake of the massive earthquake and ensuing tsunami that struck Japan March 11, games were a relatively trivial concern for a country facing tens of thousands missing or dead and a crisis at a nuclear power plant, and beginning what is sure to be a lengthy recovery process. That's reflected in the sales data, as Media Create today released its retail figures for the first full week after the quake, showing a sharp dip in hardware and software sales. Dynasty Warriors 7 is lighting up the charts like Sima Shi lit up the armies of Cao Feng. For the week of March 14-20, the top 10 best-sell...
Sony Ericsson Xperia PLAY “The Donor” Commercial, WTF?
By SlashGear, published 14-03-2011
Sony Ericsson unleashed a bizarre commercial for the Xperia PLAY Android phone that will make most folks go WTF? Titled “The Donor,” the commercial posted on YouTube this past Friday is described as telling “the shocking story of how the Android robot really got ready to PLAY.” The commercial shows a confused victim telling the police about the story leading up to a horrific crime that later explains how the Android robot got his game-playing thumbs. The victim in a dark police station describes his night out meeting a young woman to waking up the next morning with her missing, all his belongings still there, but realizing his thumbs were missing. The police laugh in disbelief at his story and the commercial cuts to the next shot where we see the Android robot on ...
Shippin' Out March 13-19: Homefront, Shogun 2, Yakuza 4, Halo: Reach DLC
By GameSpot, published 14-03-2011
New release slate led by THQ's war-at-home shooter, Sega's period strategy game, Japanese mob title, and the Defiant Map Pack for Bungie's shooter; Top Spin 4, MotoGP 10/11, Gods Eater Burst, and Okamiden also out. It's a bountiful spring break at retail, as several high-profile new releases are out this week, including THQ's war-at-home shooter, Sega's open-world crime game, and 2K's latest tennis title. Leading the pack this week is THQ's Homefront for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. Due out on Tuesday, the game was developed by Kaos Studios and is a story-driven shooter set after North Korea invades and occupies the United States. The single-player component sees the player as a member of the American resistance fighting the Korean People's Army in an attempt to regain con...
Batman: Arkham City breaks out Oct. 18
By GameSpot, published 03-11-2011
Rocksteady Games' latest take on the Dark Knight stakes claim to release date, European launch set for Oct. 21. Ordinarily, it would be difficult to describe any one part of the crime-ridden Gotham City as "the bad part of town." That's likely to change soon, as Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today announced October 18 as the North American release date for Batman: Arkham City. The game will launch in Australia the following day, with a European launch October 21. Celebratory chest-bump! Like its predecessor, Arkham City drops Batman in the confines of an unconventional prison. But where Arkham Asylum stuck players in the halls and courtyards of a mental hospital overrun with the Joker's goons and allies, Arkham City deposits them in a sprawlin...
DC Universe Online hitting PSN 'soon'
By GameSpot, published 03-10-2011
Sony says superhero MMO will be available as a $60 digital download via virtual marketplace in the near future; firm release date not offered. In January, DC Universe Online--Sony's PlayStation 3 and PC superhero massively multiplayer online role-playing game--became Sony Online Entertainment's fastest selling game of all time. The game is currently available at retail for both platforms and as a digital download on PC. However, the title will soon be available in another location. Many hands make (green) light work. According to a post on the PlayStation Blog, DC Universe Online for the PS3 will be available as a full-game download via the PlayStation Network sometime "soon." Unfortunately, Sony did not provide a specific release date. When it does ...
True Crime dev sheds staff
By GameSpot, published 28-02-2011
Updated LinkedIn profiles for two dozen former United Front staff indicate widespread departures following Activision project cancellation. It has been a tense period to be a studio working with Activision Blizzard in the past few weeks. In addition to shutting down veteran racing house Bizarre Creations, the publishing giant pulled the plug on its ailing rhythm game and skateboarding franchises at the top of the month, leading to an indefinite postponement of future Guitar Hero, DJ Hero, and Tony Hawk development. True Crime: Hong Kong was slated to launch later this year. United Front Games and its True Crime: Hong Kong were also a target of the publisher's culling efforts, after Activision Blizzard heads deemed the project not "good enough." That...
L.A. Noire gets retailer-exclusive missions
By GameSpot, published 25-02-2011
Customers who preorder Rockstar's latest at GameStop and Wal-Mart will get codes to download new cases; Best Buy and Amazon offering attribute-enhancing in-game suits. UK deals also revealed. L.A. Noire is the latest game to dole out in-game content as retailer-exclusive preorder bonuses, as Rockstar Games today laid out five separate incentive packages designed to draw players to pick up the game from specific stores. There are now only 7,999,998 stories in The Naked City, depending on where one purchases the game. GameStop and Wal-Mart landed the marquee bonuses, as customers purchasing the game from either store before or at the May 17 launch will get an additional downloadable case. Those who go to GameStop will receive "The Naked City" case--in wh...
Mexico State Congress Wants to Ban Call of Juarez Game
By MaximumPC, published 21-02-2011
Officials in Mexico aren't the least bit impressed with Ubisoft's Call of Juarez: The Cartel videogame and are lobbying to ban the title from store shelves, The Huffington Post reports. Ubisoft's shooter is based on drug cartel shootouts in Ciudad Juarez, a place where 6,000 people died in drug-related violence in 2009 and 2010. It's one of the deadliest cities in the world. With that being the case, what exactly has Mexican officials up in arms? "It is true there is a serious crime situation, which we are not trying to hide," said Ricardo Boone Salmon, a congressman for Chihuahua state, where Ciudad Juarez is located. "But we also should not expose children to these kinds of scenarios so that they are going to grow up with this kind of image and lack of values." State congress leader Enri...
Mexican Officials Call For Call Of Juarez: The Cartel Ban
By GameInformer, published 21-02-2011
Mexican officials are calling for a ban on Ubisoft's upcoming shooter Call of Juarez: The Cartel, saying that the game trivializes the area's very real problems with drug-related murders. The legislative body of Chuhuahua State, where Ciudad Juarez is located, unanimously approved a request to Mexico's Interior Department to keep the game from being released in the country. According to the Associated Press, approximately 6,000 people were killed in Ciudad Juarez in 2009 and 2010. Call of Juarez: The Cartel shifts the series' timeline from the 1800s to a more contemporary setting, equating the current situation with drug crime to that of a modern-day Wild West. "It is true there is a serious crime situation, which we are not trying to hide," Ricardo Boone Salmon,...
Infamous 2 arrives June 7
By GameSpot, published 18-02-2011
Superhero/antihero actioner to arrive exclusively on PlayStation 3 this summer; $100 Hero Edition revealed. In late May 2009, Sony released Infamous, the critically acclaimed action adventure from Sony and second-party studio Sucker Punch. The game told the tale of Cole MacGrath, a lowly bike messenger who, after a bomb destroys much of his home city, gains superhuman abilities based on electricity. The game gave players a choice: Use Cole's powers for good to fight crime or crush the humans that seem puny compared to his powers. Infamous 2 sees Cole MacGrath's electric powers recharged. Now, this summer, players will have the choice of continuing Cole's adventures. Sony announced today that the game will ship in North America on June 7. The PlaySta...
Boston Developing “Street Bump” App to Report All Potholes in Real Time
By SlashGear, published 02-12-2011
The city of Boston is developing an app – first of all, I didn’t realize cities developed apps, and that seems pretty neat. Second, this app is called “Street Bump” for Android smartphones and it’ll be reporting every pothole in the city as they’re hit. But why would you want to know this information? You wouldn’t! You can just drive around potholes when you see them. This information is transmitted to city officials who then have a record of the places they’re going to need to hit on their daily tar run. This app was developed by Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino’s Office of New Urban Mechanics. This same office launched an app back in 2009 called Citizens Connect which allows users to take photos of and report offensive behavior, crimes...
SlashGear Morning Wrap-Up: February 10 2011
By SlashGear, published 02-10-2011
It’s iPhone 4 day. This phone has been out for months on AT&T’s mobile network, but the release on Verizon will today create a whole new meaning for fervor. Next, Guitar Hero is Over – if you want it. Grab yourself a rumor not about iPhone 5, not about iPad 2, but about some sort of iPad 3 iPad 3 this fall tips latest batch of frantic Apple refresh rumorscoming out this fall. Grant yourself a moment to discover the Stabucks mobile payment app easily scammed by simple screengrabStarbucks mobile scam, read some choice words as delivered by the Nokia CEO It’s not just differentiation but sustainable differentiation”, and see the newest tip on the upcoming HTC adding Facebook button to social networking phone?HTC Facebook phone. All this and MORE on SlashGear Morning...
The Darkness II - PC - Screenshots
By Game Revolution, published 02-10-2011
The Darkness II breaks out of the sea of conventional first-person shooters with its fervid Quad-Wielding gameplay, which will allow players to slash, grab, and throw objects and enemies with their Demon Arms while simultaneously firing two weapons. The game is layered with the use of dark versus light, steeped in deep and twisted storytelling, and engulfed in stylistic violence that is visualized through a hand-painted graphic noir technique that stays true to its comic book origins. The Darkness II will feature award-winning comic book writer, Paul Jenkins, who will provide a tightly integrated narrative that weaves dark humor with hardcore tenderness. Take a step back from the familiar and comfortable, and prepare to embrace The Darkness. It’s been two years since Jackie Estaca...
The Darkness II - PS3 - Screenshots
By Game Revolution, published 02-10-2011
The Darkness II breaks out of the sea of conventional first-person shooters with its fervid Quad-Wielding gameplay, which will allow players to slash, grab, and throw objects and enemies with their Demon Arms while simultaneously firing two weapons. The game is layered with the use of dark versus light, steeped in deep and twisted storytelling, and engulfed in stylistic violence that is visualized through a hand-painted graphic noir technique that stays true to its comic book origins. The Darkness II will feature award-winning comic book writer, Paul Jenkins, who will provide a tightly integrated narrative that weaves dark humor with hardcore tenderness. Take a step back from the familiar and comfortable, and prepare to embrace The Darkness. It’s been two years since Jackie Estaca...
The Darkness II - Xbox360 - Screenshots
By Game Revolution, published 02-10-2011
The Darkness II breaks out of the sea of conventional first-person shooters with its fervid Quad-Wielding gameplay, which will allow players to slash, grab, and throw objects and enemies with their Demon Arms while simultaneously firing two weapons. The game is layered with the use of dark versus light, steeped in deep and twisted storytelling, and engulfed in stylistic violence that is visualized through a hand-painted graphic noir technique that stays true to its comic book origins. The Darkness II will feature award-winning comic book writer, Paul Jenkins, who will provide a tightly integrated narrative that weaves dark humor with hardcore tenderness. Take a step back from the familiar and comfortable, and prepare to embrace The Darkness. It’s been two years since Jackie Estaca...
End of An Era: Activision Axes Guitar Hero Series Once and for All
By MaximumPC, published 02-10-2011
Here at Maximum PC, we usually prefer gaming news that's brought to you by the letters “P” and “C,” but a doozy of an earthshaker dropped today over in Console Land, so here we are. Anyway, remember when Guitar Hero was a national institution – a household name? Well, now it's set to remain just that: a memory. And nothing more. “Due to continued declines in the music genre, the company will disband Activision Publishing’s Guitar Hero business unit and discontinue development on its Guitar Hero game for 2011,” Activision said in its fiscal 2011 report. In other words, Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock was the series' swan song, and now only silence remains. Oh, but it gets worse. As a result of Guitar Hero's sad (but timely) demise, 500 Activision employees are now jobless....
UPDATE: Guitar Hero Dead, Massive Activision Layoffs
By GameInformer, published 02-09-2011
UPDATE: Activision confirmed that its Guitar Hero division is closing, DJ Hero is being killed, and that True Crime Hong Kong is being canceled in its fourth-quarter conference call this afternoon. Our condolences to everyone who lost their jobs. ORIGINAL STORY: Activision's quarterly financial conference call is going on right now, but the rumors are flying fast and furious in advance.Eurogamer is reporting that DJ Hero developer Freestyle Games and longtime Activision studio Vicarious Visions have been hit by a wave of layoffs, the upcoming True Crime reboot has been canned, and Guitar Hero is dead.No official sources have responded to comment as of yet, but a BioWare developer tweeted "Ugh sorry to hear about the Vicarious Visions layoffs today after Guitar Hero canceled. ***....
Guitar Hero business unit disbanded, True Crime: Hong Kong canceled, Tony Hawk on hold
By GameSpot, published 02-09-2011
Once-mighty rhythm franchise's latest installment canned; DJ Hero discontinued; United Front's open-world game also given the chop; no new skateboarding game in 2011; Activision's global workforce being culled by 7%. Just under two years ago, the Guitar Hero franchise was riding high, having racked up over $2 billion in sales from its various installments. However, the intervening period has seen its fortunes fall, with sales plummeting to the point that the latest installment in the series, Warriors of Rock, sold fewer than 100,000 copies during its debut month last September. Guitar Hero won't rock in 2011. But will it ever again? As a result of the franchise's weakening, Activision shut down original publisher RedOctane and hit former developer N...
True Crime: Hong Kong - PC - Screenshots
By Game Revolution, published 02-09-2011
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: True Crime®: Hong Kong thrusts players into the role of undercover detective Wei Shen as he infiltrates one of Hong Kong’s largest and most dangerous Triad organizations. With orders to “do whatever it takes to become one of them,” players will engage in fast-paced martial arts combat, explosive gunfights, high-octane action driving, and acrobatic free-running chases as they navigate True Crime’s treacherous Hong Kong criminal underworld. Inspired by classic Hollywood and Asian cinema style action thrillers, True Crime’s story unfolds as Wei’s reputation and influence grows within the Triad organization, and he becomes deeply torn between the lines of right and wrong. In order to keep his cover and continue ascending the gang&r...
True Crime: Hong Kong - PS3 - Screenshots
By Game Revolution, published 02-09-2011
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: True Crime®: Hong Kong thrusts players into the role of undercover detective Wei Shen as he infiltrates one of Hong Kong’s largest and most dangerous Triad organizations. With orders to “do whatever it takes to become one of them,” players will engage in fast-paced martial arts combat, explosive gunfights, high-octane action driving, and acrobatic free-running chases as they navigate True Crime’s treacherous Hong Kong criminal underworld. Inspired by classic Hollywood and Asian cinema style action thrillers, True Crime’s story unfolds as Wei’s reputation and influence grows within the Triad organization, and he becomes deeply torn between the lines of right and wrong. In order to keep his cover and continue ascending the gang&r...
True Crime: Hong Kong - Xbox360 - Screenshots
By Game Revolution, published 02-09-2011
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: True Crime®: Hong Kong thrusts players into the role of undercover detective Wei Shen as he infiltrates one of Hong Kong’s largest and most dangerous Triad organizations. With orders to “do whatever it takes to become one of them,” players will engage in fast-paced martial arts combat, explosive gunfights, high-octane action driving, and acrobatic free-running chases as they navigate True Crime’s treacherous Hong Kong criminal underworld. Inspired by classic Hollywood and Asian cinema style action thrillers, True Crime’s story unfolds as Wei’s reputation and influence grows within the Triad organization, and he becomes deeply torn between the lines of right and wrong. In order to keep his cover and continue ascending the gang&r...
In Depth: How Apple became bigger than the Beatles
By TechRadar, published 02-05-2011
Apple is the biggest thing in music – bigger even than The Beatles. We discover how Apple became the music industry's best friend as well as its worst nightmare. Back in November, Apple teased us with a special announcement. "Tomorrow is just another day," the Apple site said. "That you'll never forget." The rumour mill instantly went into overdrive. New iPods? Streaming iTunes? When it turned out the announcement was The Beatles appearing in iTunes, you could hear the sighs echo around cyberspace. John Lennon famously said The Beatles were "bigger than Jesus". Apple, it seems, is even bigger than The Beatles. Apple dominates music. NPD Group reports that the iPod has 76% of the US MP3 player market – Microsoft's Zune and Zune HD account for just 1% – and that iTunes accounts for 28%...
Yakuza 4 demo shaking down PSN this month
By GameSpot, published 02-02-2011
Sega sampler to feature all four playable characters; available February 16 for PlayStation Plus subscribers, February 23 for all PS3 users. March is shaping up to be a pretty big month for game releases, including the 3DS launch lineup, Dragon Age II, Homefront, Okamiden, Shogun 2: Total War, Darkspore, Shift 2 Unleashed: Need for Speed, Crysis 2, PlayStation Move Heroes, and Yakuza 4. That's a slew of different ways for players to divide their gaming dollars for the month, but Sega is looking to help them make at least one decision on that front. The Yakuza 4 demo will feature all four of the game's protagonists. The publisher today announced that it will release a demo for Yakuza 4 on the PlayStation Network later this month. In the latest installme...
Technology meets the History of Jazz
By SlashGear, published 29-01-2011
One of my favorite cities in the US is New Orleans. I was originally introduced to this city when I had to go there on business some 20 years ago and fell in love with its people, food and culture. I take two weeks each year and designate them as eating holidays and, while one week may take place in Asia or Europe, the other week almost exclusively is in New Orleans. This city is known for its wonderful food scene with great dishes like Oyster Po Boys, red beans and rice, gumbo, jambalaya and the mufaletta and my favorite, a N’awlins crawfish feed. It is also the home of Paul Prudhomme, who put Cajun cooking on the map after he left New Orelans most famous restaurant, Commanders Palace. His replacement, Emeril Lagasse has gone on to become one of the most famous chefs in America thanks...
The Next Generation of Leak Sites: 5 Wikileaks Descendants
By SlashGear, published 28-01-2011
From Apple to his own once-loyal followers, Julian Assange is suffering from a lack of support on all sides. The future of Wikileaks is questionable at best. But that website’s death (or neutering) won’t be enough to stop a new wave of whistleblowing. The first new wave of leak sites is already here. 1. OpenLeaks: Formed by Daniel Domscheit-Berg, former co-spokesman of Wikileaks, and a number of other people who once worked under Assange. Location: OpenLeaks.org. Purpose: To act as an intermediary between leakers, and corporate watchdog groups / news agencies. OpenLeaks will not profit from the exchange of information. Leakers will be able to designate a single recipient who will have exclusive access to the information for a limited embargo period. After that ends, all O...
Bethesda stokes Hunted: The Demon's Forge June 1
By GameSpot, published 27-01-2011
Violent co-op fantasy action game from inXile Entertainment dated; European launch to follow on June 3. Bethesda Softworks' Demon's Forge is heating up. The publisher today announced its fantasy action game Hunted: The Demon's Forge would arrive in North America on June 1 and in Europe two days later. The Demon's Forge is presumably where unholy smithys ply their trade. Or a nightclub. Originally announced last year, Hunted places a heavy emphasis on cooperative play. Players will take on the role of either the master swordsman Caddoc or the ranged weapon expert E'lara, as they work together to figure out what's behind a rash of disappearing townsfolk. Gameplay will focus on cover-based combat and puzzle-solving, coupled with exploration of dungeons,...
L.A. Noire emerging from shadows May 17
By GameSpot, published 22-01-2011
Leaked video for Team Bondi's upcoming 1940s crime-solving title contradicts retailers and reveals mid-May debut. Late last week numerous retailers agreed on a April 5 premiere for L.A. Noire, but according to a leaked trailer for the title, the marketplace listings were off by a month. A trailer dubbed "Serial Killer" for Team Bondi's L.A. Noire found its way to the Internet on Saturday, and on top of offering 90 seconds of new gameplay footage, a release date was shown. According to the video, L.A. Noire will release for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on May 17. One of these men leaked the trailer. But which one? On Wednesday, Rockstar Games announced via its Facebook page that the new trailer for L.A. Noire would arrive on Monday, January 24. The ...
Yakuza 4 leans on retailers in mid-March
By GameSpot, published 21-01-2011
Sega confirms organized crime action game for March 15 release in North America, March 18 debut in Europe. The Dragon of Dojima is ready to take flight again, as Sega today announced international release dates for Yakuza 4, the latest installment in its PlayStation-exclusive organized crime action series. North American gamers will be able to reacquaint themselves with Sega's take on the Japanese Mafia starting March 15, while European players will need to wait until the game launches there on March 18. That's going to leave a mark. In this latest installment, main character Kazuma Kiryu is joined by equally pugnacious combatants Masayoshi Tanimura, Shun Akiyama, and Taiga Saejima. Each of the four playable main characters has a distinct narrative, wi...
L.A. Noire premiering April 5 - Retail Radar
By GameSpot, published 20-01-2011
Amazon, GameFly, GameStop agree on early April date, although Rockstar Games has offered nothing more specific than "spring 2011." L.A. Noire is a title that has been long in development. First teased as a PlayStation 3 exclusive at the 2005 Electronic Entertainment Exp, Rockstar Games picked up the rights to the title a year later and announced it would arrive for the Xbox 360 as well. Last August, Rockstar parent company Take-Two said the game would miss its 2010 debut. And in November, a new trailer for the title revealed the 1940's detective title would arrive during the vague release window of spring 2011. L.A. Noire's crime scene appears to be opening in April. Now, retailers agree on a more definitive date. According to listings for L.A. Noire...
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Trine 2 : (8.8/10)
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Tribes Ascend : (8.6/10)
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