Author - Jerry Paxton

Tecmo Koei’s E3 2012 Lineup

2012/05/30

BURLINGAME, Calif. – May 30, 2012 – TECMO KOEI America, a leading publisher of interactive games, today announced its Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2012 strategy focusing on an in depth look at the highly anticipated next generation of DEAD OR ALIVE combat, DEAD OR ALIVE 5. The fighting game will highlight TECMO KOEI’s E3 presence with comprehensive, hands-on demos and the kickoff of the exclusive DEAD OR ALIVE 5 tournament series presented in collaboration with the IGN Pro League (IPL), the competitive gaming league presented by IGN Entertainment. TECMO KOEI will also reveal new projects at the show. The TECMO KOEI booth is located in the South Hall, Booth #2047.

“TECMO KOEI America has a knockout E3 lineup led by an in-depth showcase of DEAD OR ALIVE 5, the new generation of action fighting games,” said Amos Ip, SVP and General Manager of TECMO KOEI America. “This year’s booth will highlight not only the best new games but the kickoff of a series of spectacular events we’re hosting, the DEAD OR ALIVE 5 gaming tournament that spotlights the fighting skills of the best players in the world.”

The following titles and events will topline TECMO KOEI’s strong presence at E3:

DEAD OR ALIVE 5 (Hands on Demo)

DEAD OR ALIVE 5 incorporates a variety of martial arts fighting techniques into its signature fighting style to create a new generation of intense DEAD OR ALIVE combat. Players will once again take on the roles of the cast of DEAD OR ALIVE fighters, along with new contenders such as Virtua Fighter’s Akira Yuki, in an action-packed brawler set in visually striking locations from around the world. The famed DEAD OR ALIVE hand-to-hand combat returns in DOA5, supported by new 3D stages that change as the match progresses. Created by TEAM NINJA, the fighting game will ship for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in September.

DEAD OR ALIVE 5 Tournament (Exclusive Live Event)

Kicking off at E3 with an exciting competition, the IPL’s DEAD OR ALIVE 5 pro gaming tournament will continue throughout the summer culminating in the crowning of the “I’m a Fighter” world champion timed to the game’s September launch. The E3 tournament will qualify the first set of finalists for tournament series to find the ultimate DOA5 master, with each match being streamed on large screens and live broadcast on http://doa.ign.com. Aspiring fighters are encouraged to sign up at the TKA booth in the South Hall, Booth #2047. Come early for the best viewing spots as crowds are sure to gather!

Tuesday, June 5th: 1PM: 1st Tournament | 4PM: 2nd Tournament
Wednesday, June 6th: 12PM: 3rd Tournament | 3PM: 4th Tournament
Thursday, June 7th: 12PM: Tournament Finals

Partner Titles

The TECMO KOEI booth will also host partner titles including the following:

Pokemon Conquest (Nintendo DS family) — Warlords and their Pokemon clash in Pokemon Conquest, a new game for the Nintendo DS family of systems! Battle other Warlords—and their Pokemon—to conquer all before you and unite the 17 kingdoms of Ransei. Meet Warriors and their Pokemon, plan new strategies, and explore the massive Ransei region in this new Pokemon adventure. Pokemon Conquest launches on June 18, and will be published by Nintendo of America, Inc.
Mugen Souls (PlayStation 3) – Become the Undisputed Goddess and take over the world! Mugen Souls is an Absolutely Insane RPG. Take on the role of Goddess Chou-Chou, and use your peons to take over the world. Fight against both Heroes and Demon Lords, and enjoy battles with billions of damages, unique/crazy characters and a world rich in chaos. Mugen Souls launches on September 18, and will be developed by Compile Heart and published by NIS America.

In addition to hands on demos with select titles, E3 media can meet and speak with key members from Team NINJA and other TECMO KOEI divisions by scheduling media appointments with TECMO KOEI PR representatives.

DOOM 3 BFG Edition Announced

2012/05/30

Jerry Paxton

News

May 30, 2012 (Rockville, MD) – Bethesda Softworks®, a ZeniMax® Media company, today announced that DOOM® 3 BFG Edition will be available this Fall and features DOOM® 3 and the Resurrection of Evil® add-on pack, both of which have been completely re-mastered. The package also includes hours of new content – seven new levels entitled ‘The Lost Mission.’ DOOM 3 BFG Edition is slated for release for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PC and PlayStation® 3 – marking the first time any DOOM game has ever appeared on the PlayStation® 3.

Re-mastered for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, this genre defining game and its expansion pack offers greatly enhanced graphics, deeply immersing the player in the demonic world of this terrifying horror masterpiece. Players will also experience a never-before-seen single-player story, ‘The Lost Mission,’ featuring seven heart-pounding levels that will once again have them on the edge of their seats.

DOOM 3, Resurrection of Evil, and ‘The Lost Mission’ have been optimized in 3D, featuring 5.1 surround sound, Xbox 360 Achievements, PlayStation 3 trophies, improved rendering and lighting, and a new check point save system allowing for smoother progression through the game. id® Software has fine-tuned the controls to bring the intensity of the DOOM single and multiplayer experience to the consoles, and DOOM 3 now features the new armor-mounted flashlight, allowing players to illuminate dark corners and blast enemies at the same time.

“DOOM 3 was enthusiastically embraced by gamers worldwide at its release,” said John Carmack, Technical Director at id Software. “Today, the full experience has been enhanced and extended to be better than ever, and is delivered across all the platforms with a silky smooth frame rate and highly responsive controls. New support for 3D TVs, monitors, and head mounted displays also allows players to experience the game with more depth than ever before. We think shooter fans everywhere will love it.”

As a special bonus, DOOM 3 BFG Edition will also include the original DOOM® and DOOM® 2 games, making it the definitive collection of the revolutionary games developed by id Software, the studio that pioneered the first-person shooter genre.

DOOM 3 BFG Edition has not yet been rated by the ESRB. For more information please visit www.facebook/Doom.

E3 2012 Press Conference LIVE Streams

2012/05/30

Jerry Paxton

E3, News

For those of you wondering where you will be able to stream your favorite E3 2012 press conferences, look no further! Checkout the schedule and locations below for the live stream of your choosing.

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Monday 4th June:

Microsoft 09:30 PT
Electronic Arts 13:00 PT
Ubisoft 15:00 PT
Sony 18:00 PT

Tuesday 5th June:

Nintendo 09:00 PT

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Live Stream Links

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Firefall Dev to Open Irish HQ

2012/05/30

Jerry Paxton

News

Cork, Ireland – May 30, 2012 – Red 5 Studios, an online games developer will establish its European Headquarters in Cork, creating 30 jobs in that region. Red 5 Studios is dedicated to bringing together millions of gamers from across the world by creating immersive worlds, intriguing stories, and compelling characters. The European Headquarters will be responsible for the European rollout of Firefall, Red 5’s free-to play team based action shooter.

Firefall is one of the most eagerly anticipated games of 2012. The European Headquarters will initially provide customer support, community management and localization for Firefall which, currently in exclusive beta, is due to be fully rolled out in 2012.

Commenting on the announcement, Mark Kern, CEO/CCO of Red 5 Studios said, “I’m really happy to break new ground for Red 5 in Cork, Ireland. We see so many passionate European gamers in our forums and we want to support them with everything we can. Red 5 Ireland will be like a start-up in many ways for us, and the local team we’re hiring will be essential in bringing the Red 5 culture to Europe and defining the European player experience.”

Welcoming the investment, IDA Ireland CEO Barry O’Leary, said, “I very much welcome Red 5 Studios’ decision to locate its European Headquarters in Cork and the jobs announced today. The program for Government highlights the digital game industry as a particular priority area for growth and the decision by Red 5 Studios, a fast growing company with such huge potential, will help enhance our status as a centre for the games sector.”

Recruitment is currently underway by the company with roles for Community Management, Localization, and Player Support teams. To learn more about the new operation, hear Mark Kern talk about his vision for Red 5 Studios’ plans in Ireland here:
http://youtu.be/_VeCpkHZ-94

For more information about job opportunities, please visit:
http://www.red5studios.com/jobs

Sword of Islam DLC Announced for Crusader Kings II

2012/05/30

Jerry Paxton

News

New York, May 30, 2012 – Paradox Interactive and Paradox Development Studio today reveal that players will soon be able to play as the Muslim rulers in upcoming DLC “Sword of Islam” .

The DLC will release at the same time as the next hefty patch which adds new features to the game, such as an expansion of the map into Mali-Songhay, differentiation on strong and weak claims, new plot, expanded combat and more.

Sword of Islam enables players to rule as the Muslim lords, delivering a wealth of specific new mechanics distinctive to these rulers, creating a whole new gameplay experience. Laws, marriage, holding, traits , titles and more will work completely differently.

Paradox Development Studio will post a detailed development diary each Friday where they’ll elaborate on the new features of the patch and the DLC in the official Crusader Kings II forum: http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?551-Crusader-Kings-II

Crusader Kings II: Sword of Islam and patch 1.06 are scheduled to release in June 2012 for PC and Mac. Sword of Islam will be priced at $ 9.99.

Zen Studios Announces CastleStorm

2012/05/30

Jerry Paxton

E3, News

Los Angeles, CA – May 30, 2012 – Zen Studios today announced CastleStorm, a brand-new, original title for digital distribution, set to release in 2012 for Xbox LIVE® Arcade and other digital platforms.

Set in a colorful medieval world, CastleStorm is a new breed of 2D archery projectile warfare and 2D physics-based structure destruction game. Players will experience a challenging mix of real time strategy, resource management, and a variety of different gameplay scenarios.

CastleStorm features medieval ballista weaponry, allowing players to launch an assortment of explosive weapons including Morningstars, Apple Grenades, Homing Eagles, and even flying sheep to defeat an onslaught of enemies trying to capture your flag and destroy your castle. Deploy a fearsome ground attack of swordsmen, knights, and donkey riders in order to protect your castle games, and if all else fails, call upon powerful spells to help keep the enemy at bay.

“CastleStorm is frantic tower defense warfare with tons of weapons, enemies and characters. Fending off a barrage of Direwolves, Bear Riders and Hammer Throwers while destroying an enemy castle will make you laugh, think and adapt in order to survive!” said Mel Kirk, Zen Studios Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations.

Zen Studios released a first look CastleStorm trailer, which can be linked from the Zen Studios YouTube channel, or downloaded from the Castle Storm press site.

In addition, CastleStorm features a tower construction editor that allows players to construct their own custom castles that will be used in battle. Castles must be constructed wisely, as choices determine which types of troops and resources will be available during battle!

“Building castles and then knocking them down was fun as a kid, and it’s still fun now. CastleStorm gives you that and a whole lot more!” said Neil Sorens, Zen Studios Creative Director.

Zen Studios will demo CastleStorm at the upcoming E3 conference in Los Angeles, CA.

For more information, visit http://www.castlestormgame.com, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing Teaser

2012/05/30

Jerry Paxton

News

BUDAPEST – May 30, 2012 – Independent developer NeocoreGames have tracked down the first-ever teaser trailer and screenshots for recently announced The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing, giving would-be monster hunters their first glimpse of the young Van Helsing, the brash and larger-than-life hero of the upcoming action-RPG title. The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing, loosely based on Bram Stoker’s classic novel Dracula, is being developed for PC and Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

Featuring young Van Helsing, son of the famed monster hunter, The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing sets players on a fantastical journey to Borgovia, a kingdom on the very edge Eastern Europe, and the perilous lands surrounding it. In a place where unexplainable technology and supernatural creatures are prevalent, players will take on the role of the romantically dark protagonist in this modernization of the legendary vampire killer. Featuring an immersive storyline, a memorable cast of characters, and a beautifully dark and gothic art style, The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing looks to test the bravest hunters in Q4 2012.

Trailer

Wargaming Announces E3 2012 Lineup

2012/05/30

Jerry Paxton

E3, News

30th May, 2012 — Wargaming.net, the award-winning game publisher and developer, today announced their participation in the 2012 E3 Expo taking place at the Los Angeles Convention Center June 5th through June 7th. After last year’s massive success of World of Tanks, including awards from outlets such as MMORPG and Massively, the company plans to expand on last year’s presence with larger gaming spaces dedicated to its hugely successful game World of Tanks, as well as its highly anticipated upcoming title World of Warplanes.

Located at Booth 601 in the South Hall and occupying 10,000 square feet, the enormous Wargaming.net booth will feature 21 dedicated gaming stations for World of Tanks, as well as 28 stations for World of Warplanes. The company’s partnership with Alienware will also see each station outfitted with a high-end X51 gaming machine, ensuring that each gameplay session is delivered at the optimal visual and performance level.

Expo attendees looking to make a name for themselves can also participate in the “World of Warplanes Get Airborne” contest, taking place each day at the booth from the opening of the show until 4:30 PM PST. Ambitious pilots will be able to take part in matches in three iconic aircraft and submit their earned credits to potentially win a number of prizes given out daily, including an Alienware Aurora Package, Logitech G940 Flight System and more. Wargaming.net will also be livestreaming booth activities all three days of the show, including new video content and shoutcasted exhibition matches each hour. The livestream will be found at http://www.twitch.tv/worldoftanks.

In addition to World of Tanks and World of Warplanes, representatives from Wargaming.net will be available for interviews to share exciting new details regarding the company’s growth and future plans, including the recent opening of offices in South Korea and Singapore.

“Last year Wargaming.net showed the world that World of Tanks was a global phenomenon and a leader in the free-to-play and MMO space,” said Wargaming.net CEO Victor Kislyi. “This year we’re taking that success and expanding on it with even more great content for World of Tanks, plus the official unveiling of World of Warplanes. You won’t be disappointed!”

THQ Announces WWE 13

2012/05/30

Jerry Paxton

News

AGOURA HILLS, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Last summer, one man revolutionized the current WWE (NYSE: WWE) landscape. In a legendary moment at the end of Monday Night Raw®, WWE Superstar CM Punk® – as the voice of the voiceless – changed everything the world knew about WWE. Through his words and actions, a new leader emerged to set a higher standard, convey a new brand of attitude and ultimately ignite a revolution among the WWE Universe.

It’s not the first time WWE has seen such rebellion. Nearly 15 years ago, the legendary Stone Cold Steve Austin® also revolutionized the WWE realm, sparking a new generation of supporters through his relentless, antihero behavior in one of WWE’s most celebrated time periods ever: the “Attitude Era.” Why did it happen? In his words, “’Cause Stone Cold said so.”

Today, a new crusade is on the horizon, and it doesn’t start with an iconic WWE Superstar on television, online or at a live event. THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) today announced development of WWE® ’13, the revolutionary next installment in the WWE flagship videogame franchise. Positioned to offer the most authentic, extensive and fervent experience to date, including the debut of a brand new WWE Live™ audio and presentation system, as well as a single-player campaign based on the highly influential “Attitude Era,” WWE ’13 is currently in development for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the Wii™ system from Nintendo, with a scheduled release date of October 30, 2012 in North America.

“WWE ’13 is certain to ignite our enthusiastic, worldwide fan base and encourage them to live a revolution that simply cannot be ignored,” said Sean Ratcliffe, Vice President, Global Brand Management, THQ. “WWE Live will bring the impassioned WWE live event experience into the living rooms of consumers, while critical core gameplay improvements and a serious dose of attitude will enable them to experience WWE action like never before.”

THQ Announces New Pres, Leadership Restructuring

2012/05/29

Jerry Paxton

News

AGOURA HILLS, Calif.– THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) announced today that it has appointed Jason Rubin as President, effective immediately. Mr. Rubin, who brings to THQ 20 years of successful experience in the video game and digital sectors, will be responsible for all of THQ’s worldwide product development, marketing, and publishing operations, and will report to Brian Farrell, THQ Chairman and CEO.

Mr. Rubin is acknowledged as one of the leading business and creative forces in the video game industry. He co-founded Naughty Dog, one of the industry’s most successful and critically acclaimed game developers. While at Naughty Dog, Mr. Rubin served as the co-creator and game director of the “Crash Bandicoot” PlayStation and “Jak and Daxter” PlayStation 2 series of games, which combined have sold over 40 million copies worldwide. In 2001, Sony Computer Entertainment America acquired Naughty Dog, and Mr. Rubin led the Naughty Dog team until 2004. Mr. Rubin also co-founded Flektor, a media mashup tool, which was acquired in 2007 by Fox Interactive Media, a division of Newscorp.

“Jason’s proven track record in the industry speaks for itself, and he is one of the brightest minds in the business,” said Brian Farrell. “We believe he can be a game changer and can contribute immensely to executing on our strategy of delivering quality connected core game experiences.”

“THQ has incredible internal and external game development teams, and an exciting slate of games in its development pipeline,” said Jason Rubin. “The recent transformation of THQ into a creator of wholly-owned IP has placed it in a perfect position to leverage future trends in the game business. I look forward to working with the management team and board to realize the company’s goals.”

Rubin’s appointment comes as THQ realigns its focus from a maker of licensed games for broad audiences to a developer of AAA “Core” games for multiple platforms. For Fiscal 2013, the company’s line-up includes wholly-owned IP from Vigil Games (Darksiders® II), Volition, Inc. (Saint’s Row®: The Third™ – Enter the Dominatrix), Relic Entertainment (Company of Heroes® 2) as well as Metro: Last Light, South Park™: The Game and WWE® ‘13.

The company also has appointed Jason Kay as its Chief Strategy Officer. Mr. Kay, who will report to Mr. Rubin, co-founded Flektor with Mr. Rubin and has served as an executive and advisor to companies such as Activision, Columbia House and Home Box Office during his more than seventeen years in the media and technology business.

THQ also announced that Danny Bilson, EVP Core Games, is leaving to pursue other interests. “Danny has made significant contributions to THQ, and we thank him for his efforts,” said Mr. Farrell. In addition, the company announced that Dave Davis, SVP Core Studios, will be leaving. “Along with Danny, Dave has been instrumental in getting our strong pipeline into production,” Mr. Farrell continued.