Fable II Has Gone Gold

Hey guys, Lionhead updated their blog Sunday announcing that Fable II has gone gold, meaning the game will be coming out on October 21st in the U.S. and 24th in the U.K.


[Source]



-Ryizzel

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Prince of Persia Gets A Release Date

It seems like now's the time to talk about release dates and Ubisoft joined in on the fun, announcing Prince of Persia's day of retail for December 5th, just in time for the Holidays.

The game will be released on the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360. While a DS title, Prince of Persia: The Fallen King will be coming on the same day.


-Undrallio

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Apocalypse Strikes Fallout 3 Survival Edition Stock (Sold-Out)

I was planning on buying the Survival Edition of Fallout 3 on the PS3 from Amazon.com (only place you can get it dontchaknow) but it seems that the old saying is true. I snoozed, and I losed. Er..lost...

The whole stock of the Survival Edition has been snatched up by excited Playstation 3 owners, no doubt wanting the life-sized Pip-Boy 3000 replica, but the 360 and Games For Windows remain up for grabs.

If you missed it, the Survival Edition includes:

* Fallout 3 (yes, it has the game)
* A life-size replica of the Pip-Boy 3000, the wrist-mounted device worn by characters in the game.
* Vault Boy Bobblehead: Your very own Vault Boy collector’s item is direct from Vault-Tec.
* The Art of Fallout 3: Features nearly 100 pages of never-before seen concept art and commentary from Bethesda Game Studios artists.
* The Making of Fallout 3 DVD: An exclusive, inside look at Bethesda Game Studios and the team behind the game.
* Vault-Tec Lunch Box: A fully customized metal lunch box.

-Undrallio

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Take A Listen: Star Ocean 4 Battle Music

I'm pretty gosh darned excited about Star Ocean 4, even though us Americans wont be seeing the game grace our shores until Spring 2009, but that wont stop me from fantasizing of what can only be the best Star Ocean to date.

To make this even better, a "video" was just put out on the internet (YouTube) that gives us a delicious taste at what we can expect from the battle music. I'll tell ya, it's pretty extreme. Good extreme, not the bad kind. I wouldn't be making a post about bad extreme.

Anyways, enough rambling, check it out!





-Undrallio

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Demo/Beta Confirmed for Left 4 Dead

In an interview with GameTrailers, Chet Faliszek, the writer for Left 4 Dead confirmed that there will be a demo/beta for both the 360 and PC versions of the game available before release.

Regarding the online play, dedicated servers will be set up so players can experience the least amount of lag as possible. You will still be able to blast zombies solo or with your friends via system link however.


Interview after the break.





-Ryizzel

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Ghastly, Spooky, Freaky, and Early?

In the spirit of Halloween, EA has decided to be ever so merciful and ship out Dead Space for the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 a full week early, October 14th! Their reason being? So it doesn't cut in on your trick-or-treating time.

From that excuse I'm pretty sure we can all assume that EA employees treat Halloween like I did when I would go trick-or-treating, plan out the neighborhood a few weekends before hand and hit all the major houses first. Clusters of houses are best, while the rich people would fall next in line.

Sometimes though, the rich people would give out a piece of laffy taffy when poor retired Mrs. Johnson just shoved a full sized Snickers bar in your pillowcase.

Now thanks to Dead Space's early release you'll have plenty of sleepless nights to plan out your attack on the town. Thanks EA!

PC version isn't being released till the 20th of October though, so bummer there.

Dead Space Set to Ship Early – Oct. 14, 2008

Get Your Halloween Treat Earlier This Year! Originally scheduled to ship on October 21st, the award-winning action/adventure game, Dead Space will ship for the Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION 3 on October 14, 2008 giving players a full 17 days before Halloween to step out into space for the fright of their lives. The development team at EA Redwood Shores is getting into the Halloween spirit early this year so fans can celebrate with Dead Space without cutting into their trick or treat time.

The Dead Space experience is all about surviving in its sci-fi world through strategic dismemberment, so experience the horror before the Necromorphs dismember you. After all, you are never truly safe in Dead Space. When an immense mining ship, the USG Ishimura, comes into contact with a mysterious alien artifact in a remote star system, its communications with Earth are mysteriously cut off. Engineer Isaac Clarke is sent to repair the Ishimura’s communications array, but he arrives to find a living nightmare—the ship is a floating bloodbath, the crew unspeakably mutilated and infected by an ancient alien scourge. Clarke’s repair mission becomes one of survival as he fights not just to save himself, but to return the artifact to the planet … at any cost.

The PC version of the game will be shipping on October 20, 2008.

-Undrallio

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September 5th, What's So Special?

The long rumored price-cut of Microsoft's Xbox 360 is what so gosh darned special about the 5th of September!

Everyone knew it was coming, and once the cut in Japan hit we all were just waiting for the officials to do their official stuff and put out that wonderful official announcement. Hit the jump to check out the prices and whatnot.

That's right, it's official (did ya get that yet?); but how big of a price drop is taking place? Good question, check out the stats:

Xbox 360 Arcade $199
Xbox 360 $299
Xbox 360 Elite $399

If you've been procrastinating a 360 due to price, or you really want some certain 360 exclusives *cough* Too Human, Mass Effect, Halo 3, etc *cough* those are some pretty sweet prices to pay for that.



-Undrallio

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Xbox Live Arcade Gaming Trio Coming Wednesday

Get your Microsoft points cards in hand for this upcoming Wednesday, there will be a total of 3 Xbox Live Arcade games being released Wednesday, September 3, 2008 at 9 a.m. GMT (2:00 a.m. PDT).

Those games are: Shred Nebula, Pirates Vs. Ninjas Dodgeball, and last but not least Gin Rummy. Read all about them and how much they'll go for after the break.

No one knows what lies in the center of the galaxy. Pilot the experimental R.I.P. Rocket through the galaxy in search of the Lost Expeditions … no ship has ever returned from the vastness of interstellar space! Will you be the first to discover the secrets of the gravitational region known as The Shred and make it home alive?

Shred Nebula will be available for 800 Microsoft Points worldwide and is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB.

Developed by Blazing Lizard, and published by Gamecock Media Group, Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball transforms the innocent childhood game of dodgeball into a vindictive, heart-thumping battle between outlandish groups of characters including ninjas, pirates, zombies, and robots! Use a red rubber ball to tag opponents out of the game, and utilize a variety of weapons, including ninja and pirate swords, to harm enemies along the way. Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball features different arenas with unique gameplay challenges, from sandy beaches and snow capped forests to a spooky graveyard.

Pirates vs Ninjas Dodgeball will be available for 800 Microsoft Points worldwide and is rated E 10+ for Everyone over the age of 10 by the ESRB.

Enjoy challenging variations of the classic card game Gin Rummy! Strategically select the right cards to complete sets of combinations, minimizing the risk of getting caught with a poor hand. 'Knock' out your opponent with high scores and bonus points, and video chat with players from around the world for endless hours of casual card game fun.

Gin Rummy will be available for 400 Microsoft Points worldwide and is rated E Everyone over the age of 3 by the ESRB.

-Undrallio

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Microsoft Denies Rumored List of Updates

A list of updates rumored to be implemented on the 360's next software update has been floating around the web.

Don't think you'll be seeing "Support for titles to store installation data on Storage Device for faster loading," anytime soon though. Microsoft has confirmed that the list is fake.

"We don't comment on rumors or speculation, but what we can tell you is we've never seen this list before."

The list(posted after the break), which apparently came from an inside source contained frequently requested features and even included "Calibration options for motion sensor devices." Which seems to refer to the rumored Xbox 360 motion sensor remote.


* Option to delay sign-in to Xbox LIVE upon booting console (to allow user to set Online Status).
* Option to promote Child Account from Family Settings.
* Disallow Child Accounts (over 18) to override Family Settings by launching Privacy Settings through a title.
* Option in Family Settings for Child Accounts to enable child-oriented/non-mature advertisements.
* Introduce a group chat (4) for Private Chat and conferences through Video Chat.
* Support to indicate media being watched to gamercard status (video content from Marketplace only).
* Extend height for Bio field in Personal Profile, easier navigation through text.
* More fields present in Personal Profile -- recent achievements, interests, games, movies, links, custom section.
* Compact Personal Profile for new fields (navigating to field will open it up).
* Mandatory option to delete duplicate titles from gamercard (excludes Games for Windows - LIVE). User disconnected from Xbox LIVE when booting any title until action complete.
* Option to remove payment information from gamertag.
* New payment methods for international users.
* Download History on Account Management better organized -- games, genre, type, download date, miscellaneous.
* Long descriptions of items on Marketplace can be scrolled using right stick.
* Better organization of free content on Marketplace.
* Option to 'ping' when testing connection.
* Allow re-connection to Xbox LIVE if Ethernet cable is re-inserted whilst powered on.
* New strip colours available to developers, staff gamercards.
* New corner icon available to ambassadors.
* Re-introduce Messages button for Inside Xbox updates only.
* Option to store up to 10 messages permanently on server (excludes invites, status messages).
* Increase character limit for text messages between friends only.
* Option to disable invites from non-friends or all players.
* Option to disable invites from titles not on gamercard (excludes demos).
* Option to have smaller items moved up in Active Downloads.
* Automatically re-connect to Xbox LIVE if disconnected unexpectedly (set intervals).
* Option to download gamer picture (if available) from a gamercard being viewed.
* Display random tips to replace static text on Xbox LIVE and Games blades.
* New button on Marketplace for optional dashboard features -- uses Storage Device memory.
* Option to donate Microsoft Points to anybody with a Windows Live ID.
* Option to purchase Membership for charities (includes benefits).
* Integrate file-sharing for selected titles on Xbox LIVE and Games for Windows - LIVE.
* Disable notifications to friends of user repeatedly signing into service (set period).
* Option to see 'snippet' of text message in notification.
* Windows Live Mail integration - includes support for Xbox LIVE Vision.


Marketplace

* Option to display gamer picture or standard picture as display picture in Windows Live Messenger.
* Support for headset, Xbox LIVE Vision in Windows Live Messenger.
* Support for limited 'winks' that display on dashboard interface. Option to disable 'winks' and 'nudges' added.
* Notifications separate from Windows Live Messenger to Xbox 360 notifications.
* Disable multiple languages from being used in any Xbox LIVE editable fields.


Games

* Option to delete titles from gamercard with 0 gamerscore and 0 achievements (excludes some titles that will be re-added to launch another title).
* Organize My Games at the Games Library section better (includes disc-based titles) -- sort by genre, platform (Games for Windows - LIVE), percentage completion.
* Support to display friends leaderboards for disc-based titles.
* Show dates of an achievement unlocked when comparing.
* Preload Games Library upon dashboard bootup for faster access.
* Game updates now shown as items in Memory, increased amount of updates on Storage Device
* Option to delete game updates, removed 'cheat code' as no longer needed.
* Support for more titles to display banner when accessing guide in-game.
* Option to re-introduce awarded gamer pictures from titles that do not have their own re-introduce feature (requires saved game).
* Disable gamer pictures from being awarded from trials.
* Support for titles to store installation data on Storage Device for faster loading.
* Synchronization to achievements offline/online that were deleted and then re-added from developers.


Media

* Option to hold LT and RT for rewinding/fast-forwarding video content.
* Option to delete individual music tracks from storage device.
* Option to rip music CD at different quality.
* Copy non-protected files (pictures, music, videos) from USB storage devices, CDs and computers to proprietary storage devices.
* Support for menu, top-menu features on video content downloaded from Marketplace.
* Section added for audio delivered through feeds (podcasts). Option to stream, download to Storage Device.
* Support added for video titles/description to gamercard status.


Dashboard/Miscellaneous

* Option to navigate quickly out of several menus back to respective blade home (applies to Games, Media, System).
* New blade trim styles added.
* Introduce expanded Inside Xbox as a portal to news, weather, entertainment, help and community features.
* New sounds for various functions (notifications, blades, navigation).
* Calibration options for display/sound.
* Calibration options for motion sensor devices.
* New effects for Xbox LIVE Vision and dashboard background.
* Disable changing of Theme when on Memory to prevent 'hanging'.
* Preload recent, limited items upon dashboard bootup on Memory.
* Faster loading of Themes section on guide.
* Option to see what items will not work offline due to DRM license changing from
* Option to automatically associate new DRM to items downloaded for free.
* Indicate 'charging' status on guide when Play & Charge kit is connected.
* Option to change text colours on guide to better contrast some backgrounds.
* Language improvements.
* Word censor updated for fields.
* Privacy Settings/Family Settings updated for new features.
* Voice, picture messages can be read at Xbox.com (Gold accounts). [*]






-Ryizzel

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Define Big-ish

Psssssst, make sure you have a connection the internet next week guys, Lionhead has something "big-ish" planned involving Fable 2. The Lionhead dev blog writes,

"A lot is happening, if you are anxious to find out something new about Fable 2, I suggest you make sure you've got access to the internet, next week! Yes we are planning something (quite) big-ish."

What could they possibly have planned, online Co-op perhaps? I guess we'll have to wait till next week to find out, provided we all have an internet connection.




-Ryizzel

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New Prince of Persia Details

The latest Edition of a French gaming magazine called joypad has a preview for the recently announced prince of Persia game.

Scheduled for to hit the PS3, 360, PC and Nintendo DS later this year, the game will feature cel-shaded graphics and and bits of time controlling powers from Sands of Time.

The gameplay centers around healing a corrupted world in the style of Okami, Shadow of the Colossus or The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. After defeating a boss, the world will transform in real time around you.

This time around combat will be handled differently, emphasizing on one-on-one sword fighting as opposed to slaying swarms of enemies. The game was described being more like Soul Calibur than God of War.

Taking a page from Assassin's Creed, the game will be a mix of open ended exploration and linear missions.

The prince is free to roam the world map, taking on challenges at his leisure. Dynamic settings will be in place to regulate the difficulty curve. The challenges themselves will basically be linear assault courses, emphasizing fluidity of combat and acrobatics, leading up to a boss confrontation.

source





-Ryizzel

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PS3 and 360 Enemy Territory: Quake Wars Details

Aaahh, do you guys smell that? New details about Id software's Enemy Territory: Quake Wars have surfaced.

While Quake Wars is the successor to Wolfeinstein: Enemy Territory, this game takes place in the Quake the universe, pitting Humanity (Global defense force A.K.A. GDF) against the a menacing alien horde invading earth called, the Strogg.

Basically the game will play like Battlefield 2 with a sci-fi twist(Oh shit, thats battlefield 2142) , giving players access 6 unique classes and a large assortment of weaponry, vehicles and deployable units. Gamers will be rewarded for working as a team to overcome your foes.

Key features after the break.


KEY FEATURES:

* Team-Based, Strategic Missions – Gameplay in Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars is all about conquering and securing enemy territory, either advancing or holding your team’s front line. Players must work together using their vehicles, deployables, and character class abilities to complete objectives, defend valuable installations or execute massive assaults. Whether playing online or in the game’s single-player mode, every player’s choice of character class and tactical action plays a critical role throughout as they gain rank, upgrade skills and provide specialist skills necessary for victory. Campaign proficiencies, persistent achievements and nearly a thousand stats are tracked to enable players to improve their class abilities, earn ranks and medals and track their progress.
* Weapons, Vehicles, Deployables – The weapons, vehicles and deployables in Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars are much more than standard issue equipment. Each selection truly affects gameplay and is integral to a team’s success or failure. Set in the relative near future, the Human arsenal is based on ultramodern updates to today’s conventional Earth armory (i.e. machine guns, rocket launchers, armored personnel carriers, hover-copters, etc.), while the Strogg utilize a more advanced energy and gravity-manipulation technology suitable for conquering vastly different alien worlds (i.e. the HyperBlaster and Lightning Pistol, the giant Cyclops mech-walker, Desecrator hover-tank, the insectoid Tormentor aerial attack craft, etc.). The game’s intuitive controls will also allow players to easily utilize unique strategic assets like radar, auto targeting anti-personnel or anti-vehicle turrets, artillery or strategic strike missiles – all of which are realistically deployed onto the battlefield when and where you choose.
* Unique Teams and Character Classes – With “asymmetric gameplay,” the characters of both the GDF and the Strogg look, move, and behave uniquely, while advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology provides formidable friends and foes in online and offline play, allowing new players to ease into the game, while intuitively challenging more advanced ones. Bases, characters, vehicles and weapons demonstrate the different technologies and behavior of each side and require distinctive approaches to combat from each player.
* Ground-Breaking Technology – Using id Software’s new MegaTexture rendering technology, Enemy Territory: QUAKE Wars renders large, highly-detailed and un-tiled outdoor environments all the way to the horizon, providing a seamless experience that accurately simulates shadows, atmosphere, vegetation and weather for a graphically immersive gaming experience. Advanced real-time physics and all-new network code support large-scale military combat for up to 16 players through real-world locations, including deserts, glaciers, mountains and countryside.



-Ryizzel

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Heavenly Sword 2 Branches Out

GamesIndustry.biz: My next question was are you looking at working with other publishers and other formats?

Nina Kristensen: Yes, our new game is going to be PS3 and Xbox 360. We have actually signed it but we're not announcing to who at the moment.

Seeing how I gave you no intro or information about that tidbit whatsoever, let me explain. Nina Kristensen is the co-founder/chief developer of Ninja Theory, the masterminds behind Heavenly Sword, and that quote you just read? Yeah, that's what you're gonna see from Heavenly Sword 2, multi-platform goodness.

I wonder if there will be a slight fanboy dispute about this one, Sony-heads whining because they lost an exclusive while M$ followers laugh out loud at the Sony's loss.

Of course, I feel it's good for the game to be able to reach a more broad audience, maybe they'll make Heavenly Sword 2 a little longer than the first one though...

You can read the whole interview after the break, or in it's original format at GamesIndustry.biz.

Q: GamesIndustry.biz: Can we start by quickly looking back at Heavenly Sword. There was quite a lot of build up to the release of the game but after release did you get good feedback from Sony and from retail?

Nina Kristensen: We did. We're really proud of what we were able to achieve and we did some breakthrough stuff, particularly in the story-telling and cinematics and we were able to work with some absolutely incredible people like Andy Serkis. We were able to pioneer the performance capture and so forth. So the reception for it has been absolutely brilliant.

Q: GamesIndustry.biz: Did you find that Serkis understood what you needed from him from a games development point of view, and did you get a better understanding of the acting and film business from that relationship?

Nina Kristensen: As a person to work with you couldn't ask for better. He's extremely professional and really knows what he's doing. Andy had never worked in games at all and I don't think he'd ever played a game when he first came on board. It was really interesting to him because he's seeing a media that he hasn't worked in before and saw some big opportunities to push his craft forwards. He was able to bring a huge amount to the project. He didn't just act in the game but was our dramatic director, so he directed all of the cinematics while Tameen Antonaides (co-founder of Ninja Theory) directed the gameplay.

But then Andy also bought a huge amount of other stuff to the game – he was involved in the story quite heavily, particularly the character art, he also did the casting which was done exactly like a film. He did workshops with all the actors who did complete read-throughs on set. They did a complete run through of the entire game acting it all out like a theatre production, so they really understood what they were doing, and he ran it like a film production in a really professional way. He brought a lot more to the team than just playing a character.

Q: GamesIndustry.biz: Those high production values and attention to detail were praised in the finished game. That's important for Ninja Theory, to be quite lavish with the production of the game?

Nina Kristensen: I think you can only do that if you've got professional talent from those other industries. It's something we did across the board, we brought people in from other industries and media who'd never worked in games. There's a company called Play It By Ear out in New York who do sound effects and they had never worked in games before. We worked with them on the sound effects – they actually did the sound effects for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

Q: GamesIndustry.biz: And that's a philosophy you're going to continue with future titles?

Nina Kristensen: Absolutely. If you want to make something's that really high-end and really engaging if you get the best talents from each discipline and you're able to integrate them effectively into the game then you're going to get the best possible results. So there's a lot of these relationships that we very much intend to maintain going forwards with our new games.

Q: GamesIndustry.biz: Are you working on a sequel to Heavenly Sword?

Nina Kristensen: No we're not, we're working on a new IP.

Q: GamesIndustry.biz: What can we expect from the new project – can we expect another three year production with a massive budget?

Nina Kristensen: Yes, we're looking at doing something really big and ambitious and absolutely build on our strengths in storytelling, cinematics and combat.

Q: GamesIndustry.biz: Heavenly Sword was a PlayStation 3 exclusive. Do you feel that you've really mastered that system now as a developer, because there were all these stories and rumblings that the PS3 was a tricky machine to get to grips with...

Nina Kristensen: There's always more stuff to learn but I think we know the PlayStation 3 very intimately now. We had to build everything from the ground up because when we started there simply wasn't any middleware or anything like that.

Q: GamesIndustry.biz: Looking back would you say making Heavenly Sword exclusive to a single platform was the right decision to make or would you have preferred to see it on more formats?

Nina Kristensen: It was nice to be a PlayStation 3 exclusive going in to new generation of consoles. From a practical standpoint it was very helpful for us to be able to get the most we could out of the PS3 at the time. Going forwards we are going cross-platform with this new game.

Q: GamesIndustry.biz: My next question was are you looking at working with other publishers and other formats?

Nina Kristensen: Yes, our new game is going to be PS3 and Xbox 360. We have actually signed it but we're not announcing to who at the moment.

Q: GamesIndustry.biz: You've said that this new IP is going to be looking at new concepts for a videogame – can you expand on that? Do you mean new concepts in terms of genre and gameplay, or in terms of delivery to consumer, or business models...

Nina Kristensen: We're looking at several things. We're certainly targeting a triple-A blockbuster, with two and a half years in production. We're actually looking at something in addition to that - we're considering opportunities in creating a CGI movie using the game engine alongside the game itself. The game is certainly the most important thing and we haven't decided for sure to do this, but it's something we're looking at. It's an interesting idea.

Q: GamesIndustry.biz: So you're looking at taking Ninja Theory beyond games development

Nina Kristensen: I think there's a lot of opportunities there and it's something we'll be exploring over the next year or so.

Q: GamesIndustry.biz: Are you interested in other routes to market? Because those games that take three year's to create are very time consuming and expensive. Do you see opportunities for Ninja Theory to take advantage of downloadable content or smaller development models – PSN of XBLA where team sizes are smaller, titles are cheaper to make?

Nina Kristensen: It's very interesting but it's not something we're doing right now. It's something we might consider doing a little bit further down the track.

Q: GamesIndustry.biz: There was a rash of indie developers being snapped up by publishers last year, and recently a number of smaller outfits have been forced to close. Is Ninja Theory confident it can remain comfortably independent in the coming months?

Nina Kristensen: It's a brutal environment out there for an independent, particularly considering the size of the games that we're developing. But we've now signed up the new game and the future looks pretty rosy for us.

-Undrallio

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EA Confirms Next Harry Potter Game

Fans of the Harry Potter series who are hoping to keep the magic alive will be happy to hear EA has announced it's game adaptation of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

The game, set to be released alongside the movie coming out later this year, follows Harry's 6th year at Hogwarts, as he brews potions, participates in wizard duels, plays Quidditch...and finds love.

Half-Blood Prince will be released on the Wii, Playstation 3, Xbox 360 and just about every other electronic device you can play video games on.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little excited for this game. With the steady rising in quality of the Harry Potter games, maybe this one might actually be playable. Hit the jump for the press release.

EA AND WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCE HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE VIDEO GAME
Fans will relive the thrills, action and excitement of the movie this holiday season

Guildford, U.K. – April 22nd, 2008 – EA’s Casual Entertainment Label and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today announced that the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince™ video game will be released later this year to coincide with the Warner Bros. Pictures film based on J.K. Rowling’s sixth Harry Potter book.

“We believe that the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince video game represents a milestone in the movie tie-in genre,” said Harvey Elliott, Head of EA Bright Light studio in the UK where the Harry Potter franchise has its home. “Building on the technological advancements of previous games in the series and with a particular focus on the unique control system of Nintendo’s WiiTM, the team here is working closely with the filmmakers to create an immersive interactive experience that captures the story, the action, the excitement and, above all, the fun of the film. ”

“Working with EA, we look forward to offering fans a compelling Harry Potter video game, one which captures the thrilling storyline and high visual quality of the movie,” said Scott Johnson, Vice President, Business Development for Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. “The adherence to the rich fiction is a trademark of this franchise and with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince fans will experience the most authentic and enjoyable game in the series to date.”

In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Voldemort is tightening his grip on both the Muggle and wizarding worlds and Hogwarts is no longer the safe haven it once was. Harry suspects that dangers may even lie within the castle, but Dumbledore is more intent upon preparing him for the final battle that he knows is fast approaching. Together they work to find the key to unlock Voldemort’s defenses and, to this end, Dumbledore recruits his old friend and colleague, the well-connected and unsuspecting bon vivant Professor Horace Slughorn, whom he believes holds crucial information. Meanwhile, the students are under attack from a very different adversary as teenage hormones rage across the ramparts. Harry finds himself more and more drawn to Ginny, but so is Dean Thomas. And Lavender Brown has decided that Ron is the one for her, only she hadn't counted on Romilda Vane’s chocolates! And then there’s Hermione, simmering with jealously but determined not to show her feelings. As romance blossoms, one student remains aloof. He is determined to make his mark, albeit a dark one. Love is in the air, but tragedy lies ahead and Hogwarts may never be the same again.

In the game of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, players will return to Hogwarts to help Harry survive a fraught sixth year. They will also have a chance to engage in exciting wizard duels, mix and brew magical ingredients in Potions class and take to the air to lead the Gryffindor Quidditch team to victory. Players may even get sidetracked by Ron’s romantic entanglements as they journey towards a dramatic climax and discover the identity of the Half-Blood Prince.

Under development by EA Bright Light Studio, the team behind the worldwide success of the Harry Potter library of games, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is scheduled for release in time for the movie launch this fall for the Wii, PLAYSTATION®3, Xbox 360™, PlayStation®2, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable), Nintendo DS, Windows PC, Macintosh and mobile devices.



-Ryizzel

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Iron Man Demo Tomorrow For 360, PS3? Soon...ish

A week or two ago I was watching some of the gameplay footage from the Iron Man game that's coming to the 360 and PS3 with ryizzel and we agreed on one thought. Looks 'effing fun, but how long would the initial awesome-factor last?

Well, tomorrow 360 users will be able to find out just how good (if at all) the game is, while hermits of the Playstation Network will have to wait an undetermined time, all we know is it's coming soon. Let's hope for the best, Iron Man deserves it.





-Undrallio

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Still Alive Rock Band DLC, For Free!

[UPDATE: The Xbox version of the song got released early! Go get it now 360 users!]

In a follow-up from a post ryizzel made back in February, I'm here to announce that Rock Band owners for both the 360 and the Ps3 will be able to download Still Alive for free!

360 owners should be able to get it tomorrow, but Sony users will have to wait a few weeks due to the face-lift that the Playstation Store is going through.




-Undrallio

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Heroically Free Map Pack

Halo fans all around are creaming in their Red and Blue armor because Halo's Heroic Map Pack, which was previously 800 Microsoft Points, will be free at 2 a.m. on March 25th for an unspecified time. Unfortunately the Legendary pack has no inclination to become free any time soon.

Good deal cheap bastard gamers, enjoy your maps.




-Undrallio

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ESRB Gives GTA IV A Rating of......

C'mon, do I really have to tell you what the ESRB has rated GTA IV? Mature. Surprise!

Mature for the fact that it contains the following: partial nudity, strong language, strong sexual content, use of drugs and alcohol, blood and intense violence. That's a pretty long list isn't it? After the break there's a comparison chart of the ratings given to all the GTA games.

Grand Theft Auto
Rated Mature based on:

* Animated Blood
* Strong Language

Grand Theft Auto 2
Rated Mature/Teen (depending on platform) based on:

* Animated Violence
* Strong Language
* Suggestive Themes

Grand Theft Auto 3
Rated Mature based on:

* Blood
* Strong Language
* Violence

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Rated Mature based on:

* Blood and Gore
* Strong Language
* Strong Sexual Content
* Violence

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Rated Mature based on:

* Blood and Gore
* Intense Violence
* Strong Language
* Strong Sexual Content
* Use of Drugs

Then San Andreas got bumped up to an Adults Only rating thanks to the hot coffee mod and was the best topic of conversation for months after that.

Grand Theft Auto IV
Rated Mature based on:

* Partial Nudity
* Strong Language
* Strong Sexual Content
* Use of Drugs and Alcohol
* Blood
* Intense Violence

I guess Rockstar is getting more hardcore with every passing year.



-Undrallio

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Halo's Legendary Map Pack

Halo 3 is going to be getting the "Legendary Map Pack" that will have 3 new maps for all you Haloids to tea-bag each other on for hours on end, all for the low price of 800 Microsoft Points. Only two of the three have been announced in full detail, with the third for "people who like smaller maps". Read about the other two after the break.

Ghost Town is a battle-scarred maze of narrow passages and dangerous ruins outside the once-prosperous city of Voi. Collapsed ceilings and shell-battered buildings provide both valuable cover and deadly traps, as catwalks and stairways take the fight from claustrophobic ground combat to dizzying rooftop battles. Ghost Town is a mid-sized map ideal for Team Slayer games and smaller, objective types.

The second map, Avalanche, is a tribute to Sidewinder, a "Halo: Combat Evolved" fan-favorite. This massive, vehicle-oriented objective map adds a twist to its classic predecessor with all new interiors, dramatically reshaped exteriors and brand new vehicle variants. Take a ride and admire the visual variety from the cockpit of the retuned Hornet.

-Undrallio

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Sega and Obsidian's RPG Love-Baby

A "modern day espionage RPG" is what it's being described as by Sega whom, together with Obsidian (parent of Neverwinter Nights) are bringing us Alpha Protocol for the 360, Ps3, and the PC.

Feargus Urquhart, CEO of Obsidian says “Alpha Protocol blends Obsidian’s knack for intricate stories, engrossing characters, and significant character advancement with fast-paced modern combat."

The press release tells us the following.

"Loyalty carries a price and no one knows this more than agent Michael Thorton. A talented young agent cast out by his government, Thorton is the only one with the information needed to stop an impending international catastrophe. To do so means he must cut himself off from the very people he is sworn to protect. As players determine how to accomplish different objectives, the decisions made and actions taken in each mission will ultimately transform the type of secret agent Michael Thorton will become. Every choice the player makes as Michael Thorton will carry consequences for his future and the fate of the world."

Alpha Protocol is said to have a third-person real time gameplay much like Mass Effect, and should be coming to us by Spring of '09. Hopefully with more information and screens as well.




-Undrallio

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