Author - Jerry Paxton

Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition Coming to Wii U

BURBANK, Calif. – June 5, 2012 – Step into the Arkham action like never before! Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today announced Batman: Arkham City™ Armored Edition for the Wii U™ system from Nintendo. Developed by WB Games Montréal the game delivers the same impactful story and gameplay of the award-winning blockbuster created by Rocksteady Studios, now with enhanced gameplay features made possible with Wii U and the Wii U GamePad™.  The game is scheduled for release holiday 2012.

Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition contains all of the content from Batman: Arkham City, including all available downloadable content, and introduces Battle Armored Tech (B.A.T.) Mode and the new Armored Suits for both Batman and Catwoman.  Fans can become the Dark Knight like never before with the upgraded battle suit that gives players an additional power-up by allowing them to build kinetic energy during combat.  When activated, players enter B.A.T. mode and dole out more damage than previously possible.

Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition harnesses the power of the Wii U system and the Wii U GamePad with features that allow fans to further immerse themselves in the role of Batman like never before,” said Martin Tremblay, President, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.  “WB Games Montréal evolved the incredible hit game by Rocksteady into a truly unique experience on Wii U.”

“WB Games Montréal is very excited to unveil the all new Wii U features we’ve created in Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition,” said Reid Schneider, Vice President and Executive Producer, WB Games Montréal.  “The new controller allows for a different twist on the Batman: Arkham City game, as players now have the power of the Batcomputer and gadgets in the palm of their hands.”

The Wii U GamePad provides instant access to the wrist-mounted Batcomputer throughout the game, allowing players to use the touch screen to seamlessly select objectives, choose their gadget, track forensic evidence, upgrade their gear, detonate explosive gel, and more, all while remaining immersed in the action. Additionally, all gadgets have been reimagined to utilize the power of the GamePad, offering an unprecedented level of accuracy when using the Batarang and scanning for clues.

Batman: Arkham City builds upon the intense, atmospheric foundation of Batman: Arkham Asylum, sending players flying through the expansive Arkham City – five times larger than the game world in Batman: Arkham Asylum – the new maximum security “home” for all of Gotham City’s thugs, gangsters and insane criminal masterminds. Featuring an incredible Rogues Gallery of Gotham City’s most dangerous criminals including Catwoman, The Joker, The Riddler, Two-Face, Harley Quinn, The Penguin, Mr. Freeze and many others, the game allows players to genuinely experience what it feels like to be The Dark Knight delivering justice on the streets of Gotham City.

For more information on Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition, visit www.facebook.com/batmanarkhamcity.  .

Star Trek Game Villains Revealed

LOS ANGELES, CA (June 5, 2012) – Paramount Pictures and leading video game publisher and developer NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. today gave fans the first look at the key villain to be featured in the upcoming Star Trek™ video game inspired by J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek (2009) film reboot. The announcement made at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), revealed that a legendary lizard-like race known in Trek lore as “The Gorn” will play the destructive and villainous role in the video game releasing in early 2013. The co-op game is based on a standalone storyline that continues the adventure of iconic characters Captain James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock as they work together to stop the Gorn, an enemy race bent on conquering the galaxy.

“The Gorn are among the most iconic villians in the Star Trek universe and their role in this game certainly lives up to that persona ,” said Brian Miller, Senior Vice President at Paramount Pictures and lead game producer. “Kirk and Spock find themselves in an incredibly challenging amount of mayhem as they confront the Gorn throughout the game.”

More than just lizard-skinned foes, the Gorn are a blood-thirsty race determined to conquer the galaxy. A true military dictatorship, the Gorn are made up of billions of self-sacrificing warriors across thousands of colonies, each focused on the conquest of alien races. By utilizing their chaos-causing infectious venom, the Gorn seed mayhem and destruction as they destroy populations and deplete planets of their resources.

“Great villains give our favorite characters a chance to become heroes in the process of attempting to eliminate a powerful threat, and Star Trek fans have been eagerly anticipating the moment when the antagonists of the game would be revealed,” said Carlson Choi, VP of Marketing at NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. “This is one of those moments and we couldn’t be more excited to give gamers a glimpse at the challenges that lie ahead for Kirk and Spock.”

The Gorn range in size and abilities, infecting their foes with venom that can poison, cause hallucinations, and even kill. From the smaller infantry Gorn Rushers, to the larger Gorn Warriors and the massive Gorn Brutes, the Gorn provides a serious direct threat, while the wall-climbing Gorn females showcase the cunning for which this race is feared. Technologically capable and possessing the antithesis of Federation ideals, the Gorn pose a devastating threat to Starfleet, the Enterprise, and its crew.

With a storyline occurring after the events of J.J. Abram’s 2009 Star Trek reboot, the Star Trek video game puts players in the shoes of seminal heroes Captain James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock, inviting them to work together to take on the ferocious Gorn in this epic action adventure. Built from the ground up as the ultimate co-op experience, players are set on a journey of immense proportions across unexplored planets and enemy battleships with the latest 23rd century weapons and gear. Kirk and Spock’s complementary personalities result in the most fully realized and varied co-op experience for this console generation.

Under a license from CBS Consumer Products, the game is being developed by Ontario-based developer Digital Extremes (Bioshock 2, Unreal Tournament, Dark Sector, The Darkness II) with production being overseen by Paramount Pictures and a scheduled release in early 2013 for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC.

Attendees of E3 at the Los Angeles Convention Center June 5-7 can see a live demonstration of the Star Trek game and take photos in the Enterprise captain’s chair at the NAMCO BANDAI Games Booth # 1637 (located in the South Hall).

For more information on the Star Trek video game, please visit www.startrekgame.com and follow the game on Twitter at www.twitter.com/star_trek_game.

For more information about NAMCO BANDAI Games, please visit http://www.namcobandaigames.com.

Sleeping Dogs Screenshots from E3 2012

Square Enix has released some new screenshots from their upcoming crime-actioner, Sleeping Dogs (not to be confused with Ubisoft’s Watch_Dogs), lol.

Screenshots

Hitman Absolution E3 2012 Screenshots

Square Enix has sent out the official selection of E3 3012 screenshots from the upcoming Hitman Absolution – enjoy!

Screenshots

Nyko Reveals E3 2012 Products

LOS ANGELES – June 5, 2012 – Nyko Technologies®, the leading gaming peripherals manufacturer, unveiled their latest products at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3). A stalwart exhibitor at the game industry’s headline event, Nyko this year announced a bold new product line designed to enhance our experience with the evolving range of consoles, handhelds and mobile devices that today’s gamers enjoy.

“With the tablet evolving into a dedicated gaming platform, it becomes our duty to supply the gamer embracing these devices with the controls and functionality they are accustomed to,” said Chris Arbogast, director of marketing, Nyko Technologies. “At the same time we have introduced our Free Fighter arcade stick that caters to the fans of fighting games who need precision control and customization options.”

Nyko’s E3 2012 product line-up includes:

The PlayPad Pro is Nyko’s full-sized wireless Bluetooth® gaming controller for Android tablet devices. The controller features dual analog sticks, a d-pad, face buttons and shoulder bumpers for a console-style control experience on Android devices. Nyko’s complementary Playground app will offer backwards compatibility for other Android games and a variety of button-mapping features, including customized controller layout. The PlayPad Pro will be available at select retail stores nationwide Holiday 2012.

The PlayPad is a travel-sized tablet controller with dual analog sliders, and includes a collapsible tablet stand and carrying case for console-like precision gaming on the go. Like the PlayPad Pro, the PlayPad controller includes Nyko’s Playground app and works with any Bluetooth-enabled device running Android 3.0 or higher. The PlayPad will be available at select retail stores nationwide Holiday 2012.

The Free Fighter for PlayStation® 3 is an arcade-quality fight stick with eight face buttons, and a unique ambidextrous design for right or left-handed use. Compatible with all standard fighting games, the Free Fighter is made with authentic Japanese Sanwa® Denshi arcade-quality parts and includes an expandable base for comfort and security during lap-top use. The Free Fighter includes four fully customizable macro buttons for quick access to combos, as well as two variable speed turbo buttons for fast, slow or user-created tap speed. The Free Fighter will be available at select retail stores nationwide in September 2012 and will retail for an MSRP of $179.99.

The Power Grip Pro for the Nintendo 3DS is an analog slider controller case with extended battery. The hard protective case helps to prevent scratches and dings, and the ergonomic design provides optimal comfort and control. Gamers will enjoy the added control and functionality of the analog slider as well as triple the playtime. The Power Grip Pro for Nintendo 3DS will be available at select retail stores nationwide in October 2012.

The Power Grip for the PlayStation® Vita is an ergonomic grip with built-in rechargeable battery that enables a better hold on the Vita with controller-like grips and up to three times the battery life. The device snaps over the back of the Vita while allowing access to all buttons and the rear touch panel. The Power Grip for the Vita will be available at select retail stores nationwide in August 2012 and will retail for an MSRP of $29.99.

Nyko will also be showing off the latest versions of upcoming items in their Yo Gabba Gabba! product line including Muno Time—the singing, dancing alarm clock charging dock, and the Brobee Hip Pack, a fuzzy, soft carrying case for your handheld or mobile devices. Muno Time will be available at select retail stores nationwide in September 2012 and will retail for an MSRP for $129.99. The Brobee Hip Pack will be available September 2012 and will retail for an MSRP of $29.99.

All of these products will be on display at Nyko’s E3 booth located in the Los Angeles Convention Center, West Hall, #5000.

Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power Of Two Release Date

BURBANK, Calif. – (June 5, 2012) – Paint and thinner will once again alter the universe on November 18, 2012 as Disney Interactive announces the launch date for its highly-anticipated action adventure game “Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two” at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 Expo). In celebration of the newly revealed launch date, industry luminary Warren Spector and Disney Interactive’s Junction Point are showcasing never-before-seen areas of “Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two” and an exclusive exhibit presented by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club at the Disney Interactive booth (South Hall #1001) at the E3 Expo will feature artifacts from the Walt Disney Archives that pay tribute to characters featured in the video game.

“Our fans have told us how eager they are for a sequel to ‘Disney Epic Mickey’ and I’m happy to be able to reveal the launch date for “Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two,” said Warren Spector, creative director and vice president, Junction Point. “I think players are going to be excited by the new areas of the game being revealed at E3 where they will need to determine who their friends really are as they team up Mickey Mouse and Oswald to restore balance in Wasteland.”

E3 Expo attendees will have the opportunity to experience “the power of two” as Mickey Mouse and Oswald join forces for the first time to overcome obstacles in a game level inspired by the classic 1937 Silly Symphonies cartoon, “The Old Mill.” Players will also engage in a heroic struggle to save Wasteland as they battle a giant animatronic blotworx dragon modeled after the Pete’s Dragon Float from “The Main Street Electrical Light Parade,” long a fan favorite at the Disney theme parks.

Additionally, attendees that come by the Disney Interactive booth will have an opportunity to browse an exclusive exhibit of artifacts from the Walt Disney Archives, some on public display for the first time ever, from Disney’s rich 80+ year history. From Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and Mickey Mouse, to Gremlin Gus and Clarabelle Cow, the exhibit will pay tribute to beloved characters featured in “Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two.”

“Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two” returns Mickey Mouse and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit to Wasteland, an alternate world filled with more than 80 years of forgotten Disney characters and theme park attractions. But for the first time, Mickey and Oswald will join forces as true partners – Mickey with the magical paint brush that allows him to wield paint and thinner, and Oswald with a powerful remote control that allows him to command electricity. This new co-op play further enhances the idea that “PlayStyle Matters” – a unique approach to gameplay pioneered by Warren Spector where players dynamically tackle different challenges in order to explore all possibilities and storylines, but with consequences for their chosen actions.

Development for “Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two” for the Wii™ system from Nintendo, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system is being led by Disney Interactive’s Junction Point. Supporting the latest technology, the game will also feature full support for the PlayStation®Move motion controller. “Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion” for the Nintendo 3DS™ hand-held system is under development by critically-acclaimed developer DreamRift, in collaboration with Junction Point. The games are currently unrated by the ESRB. For more information, go to www.disney.com/disneyepicmickey.

The Dark Eye – Demonicon Teaser Trailer

Ridgewood, NJ, June 5, 2012 – Today Kalypso Media is pleased to release the first teaser video for The Dark Eye – Demonicon, their upcoming action-RPG for current-gen consoles and Windows PC. In the new teaser video, unspeakable horrors terrorize the populace while great armies align for battle. Kalypso will release The Dark Eye – Demonicon in early 2013.

Trailer

Wargaming.net Announces Global Wargaming Service

5th June 2012 — Wargaming.net, the award-winning online game developer and publisher, today announced that the company’s MMO war series, which includes World of Tanks, World of Warplanes, and World of Battleships, will unite under an integrated, worldwide Wargaming.net Service scheduled for release later this year.

Wargaming.net Service will be the epicenter of a battle-centric gaming universe that will gather the series under a single portal – www.wargaming.net. With the introduction of Wargaming.net Service and its renovated website, players will receive unified Wargaming.net IDs that will provide instant access to all their games and services; as well as any partner or fan websites.

The new service will inherit the Wargaming.net URL, while the corporate website will transition to Wargaming.com. The corporate site will share the company’s latest news, game updates, job opportunities and more.

Key features of the globally integrated Wargaming.net Service, will include:

  • One Destination: The portal will give gamers one-stop access to all three titles and showcase a world at war – whether they are playing with Tanks, Warplanes or Battleships.
  • Common Economics: The introduction of common economics for the three titles allows players to transfer Gold and Free Experience between them.
  • Single MMO Battle Realm: Tank, Warplane, and Battleship clans will be assisting each other in their ground, air and sea attacks for world domination.

“Wargaming always strives for excellence in generating intense and action-filled global online battles for gamers,” said Wargaming CEO Victor Kislyi. “With the introduction of Wargaming.net Service, we will deliver an advanced gaming experience that gives gamers a world stage for their preferred war scenario.”

TopWare Interactive Reveals E3 Showcase

Karlsruhe, Germany, June 5, 2012 – TopWare Interactive announces the lineup for the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, focusing on the two potential blockbusters “Raven’s Cry” and the newest title from in-house developer Reality Pump. TopWare interactive shows previously unpublished photographs and videos for all the games and allows the first insight into the breathtaking worlds the year’s lineup.

These titles are presented by TopWare Interactive at E3 today:

Raven’s Cry

“Raven’s Cry” is an Action-Adventure title that is realized under the direction of TopWare Interactive and the Finnish Studio, Octane Games. The game traces in detail the revenge story of Christopher Raven during the 17th century. As a child, Raven had to watch his family being slaughtered by pirates, where as an adult he feels not only his passion for vengeance, but the physical pain endured as well, a result of the attack when his left hand was completely severed. Raven swore to himself, that he would hunt down and kill every soul involved on that fateful day, whether his soul would be corrupted or not.

“Raven’s Cry” is a game that also lays emphasis on the character’s past, represented through flashbacks of Christopher Raven’s life. Also allowing the player to choose his path of vengeance, decisions play a major role in the fun factor of this already acclaimed title. Clearly showing that life as a pirate, has very little to do with the glorified view Hollywood has conveyed of the 17th century. The game will be released for PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 in 4th quarter of 2012.

The new Reality Pump game

On Monday, the 4th June 2012, the new title of the developer Reality Pump will be presented at the E3. The Polish software company has earned an excellent reputation with the “Earth” series and the “Two Worlds” franchise worldwide, and will show the industry that the new in-house GRACE 2 engine has the ability to be superior to all other engines currently on the market.

There will be a separate press release on the announcement at E3.

Planets Under Attack

The Russian developer Targem games (known for “Battle vs. Chess”) has a very simple goal in mind, to develop a strategy game that allows immediate entry into the genre, where anyone can play whether you’re familiar or not, anyone who is able to use a mouse. The project, which was first announced under the working title “Planets at War,” is now almost ready for the market, and anyone who has played is reporting it’s non-stop addictiveness. Anyone can play it, even if you’ve never sampled the genre before, unlike past strategy titles that take tons of time and extreme effort to learn. Those times will be a thing of the past with the release of “Planet Under Attack”.

The goal of the game is to conquer planets and fulfill certain tasks. To do so, a certain amount of space ships can be released to do their duty with a mouse click, to attack neutral or enemy stars, commanding them to attack, occupy and defend at the players will. New areas can be managed with another simple click of the mouse, as the new planets provide resources (in the form of space vehicles and money) to the conqueror. A campaign through the galaxy begins, as “Planet under Attack” enables both singleplayer, LAN or online-mode. The multilingual (EFIGS) game will be released in July 2012 for PC, Mac, Xbox 360 Live and PlayStation 3 Network.

Check vs. Mate

Now available on the American market is “Check vs. Mate”, presently known in Germany as “Battle vs. Chess”. Finally the famous strategy game is brought to the United States with this exciting, innovative and visually stimulating translation of the mother of all strategy games – Chess. The most successful game in history is finally lifted onto the state-of-the-art level of computer gaming technology. Based on the world famous “Fritz!” chess algorithms by ChessBase, “Check vs. Mate” is a game created with lively animated figures on lovingly designed battlefields in the eternal struggle of order versus chaos. The game will soon be released for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, Mac, NDS, Wii, PSP and iOS.

Dream Pinball 3D II

In 2006 “Dream Pinball 3D” was the first game from the Pinball simulation series, with the press enthusiastically rating the game consistently at the 80% mark. Trademark of the series, developer A.S.K. Homework provides sophisticated gameplay with ballistic characteristics that are based in reality. Realistic dynamics and fixed camera angles similar mimicking actual pinball tables, guarantee a gaming experience that ascends technology and revives a time before gaming was digital.

The successor “Dream Pinball 3D II” will be published in 2012 and will guarantee the realistic appearance, but of course boasting all new 3D graphics and physics engine. Additionally, there are other challenges added, including the mesmerizing labyrinth, which was incorporated into the game simply as a bonus. All eight new tables can be played in their own special way, and promise long lasting fun, with the multiplayer rounding off an enjoyable and successful gaming experience. “Dream Pinball 3D II” appears in 2012 for PS3, Xbox 360, PC, Mac, NDS, Wii, PSP and iOS.

Dream Pinball 3D (iOS)

In addition to the successor for the older “Dream Pinball 3D” an implementation of the original for the iOS platform is on its way as well. The iPad-, iPhone and iPad Touch users no longer need to miss out on the legendary fun. With four extra tables for the Apple platform, A.S.K. Homework now has added even more realistic gameplay. The game is in the last stage of development and is to be released later this year.

A-men

As already announced, TopWare Interactive will also be publishing “A-men” (short for Army men) for Sony’s new handheld console – the PlayStation Vita. The development studio Bloober Team, wakes a genre that has inexplicably been in a deep sleep for years now, but whose best-selling games have inspired players of all generations. “A-men” is a strategy game built for the most modern technology of mobile gaming, while still immersing the player with carefully designed levels to entice and inspire the most tactical approach possible.

The player takes control of teams up to five men, the team members identified by their vastly different personalities and abilities. The heroes must complete various tasks over several missions, whether in factory buildings or in the great outdoors. All characters, whether be the Spy, the Muscle Man, the Commando, the Mechanic or the Soldier can be altered in the game, making “A-men” also have a touch of character development. “A-men” appears exclusively for the PlayStation Vita in 2012.