Author - Jerry Paxton

Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion Shipping

2012/11/18
Jerry Paxton
News, Nintendo Wii News, Nintendo Wii U News, PlayStation 3 News, Xbox 360 News

BURBANK, Calif. — (November 18, 2012) – Today Disney Interactive announces the availability of “Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two,” the sequel to the critically acclaimed and commercially successful “Disney Epic Mickey” video game. “Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two” for Wii U™ is now available for digital download in the Nintendo eShop and for purchase at retailers nationwide for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and for the Wii™ and Wii U™ systems from Nintendo.  In addition “Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion,” the first Nintendo 3DS™ title for “Disney Epic Mickey”, is also available at retailers nationwide and for download in the Nintendo eShop.

In “Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two,” gamers will play as Mickey Mouse and for the first time ever, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, Walt Disney’s first cartoon star, in an all-new adventure of creativity and discovery.  Created by industry luminary Warren Spector and Disney Interactive’s Junction Point game development studio, “Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two” returns Mickey Mouse and Oswald the Lucky Rabbit to Wasteland, an alternate world filled with 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 his magical paint brush that wields paint and thinner, and Oswald with his powerful remote control that allows him to command electricity.

“Mickey Mouse is one of the most beloved characters of all time,” said Warren Spector, vice president and creative director, Disney Interactive’s Junction Point.  “I feel incredibly lucky to have been given the opportunity to once again help craft his latest journey and at the same time bring Oswald the Lucky Rabbit back in such an amazing and innovative way, by allowing this once forgotten silent cartoon star to get a voice for the first time in history.”

The game’s new co-op play between Mickey and Oswald further enhances the idea that “PlayStyle Matters” – a unique approach to gameplay pioneered by Warren Spector.  Through “PlayStyle Matters,” players dynamically tackle different challenges in order to explore all possibilities and storylines, but with consequences for their chosen actions.

Co-written by award-winning comic book writer, Marv Wolfman, in collaboration with Junction Point, “Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two” features a unique soundtrack created by Emmy award-winning composer, Jim Dooley and songwriter Mike Himelstein to deliver the first-ever video game musical.

“We continually strive to develop interactive content that resonates across Disney’s broad fan base,” said John Pleasants, co-president, Disney Interactive.  “Our goal was to capture the nostalgic feeling that makes the Disney experience so magical, and it is clear that we’ve accomplished that with ‘Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two’ exceptionally well.”

In addition to the console titles, “Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion” for the Nintendo 3DS created by critically acclaimed DS developer DreamRift in collaboration with Disney Interactive’s Junction Point, offers a unique drawing and painting functionality that allows players to create rough versions of objects that magically transform into classic Disney-style 2D illustrations.  Utilizing the game’s unparalleled dual screen integration, players then move their creations to the top screen where they are further transformed into full-color, fully-rendered 3D visuals.

Paying tribute to the classic Sega Genesis title “Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse,” “Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion” focuses on the fabled Castle of Illusion, which has fallen into Wasteland along with the evil witch Mizrabel, villainess from the classic “Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse.”  Now an unwilling inhabitant of Wasteland, Mizrabel unleashes a plot to escape using the Castle of Illusion to imprison and drain the cartoon essence from currently famous Toons.  Players will take on the role of Mickey Mouse as he utilizes his magical brush to wield paint and thinner to confront Mizrabel and save the Toons.

“Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two” is rated ‘E’ for Everyone by the ESRB, and is now available for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 and Wii U for a suggested retail price of $59.99 and Wii for a suggested retail price of $49.99. “Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion” is also rated ‘E’ for Everyone by the ESRB and is now available on the Nintendo 3DS for a suggested retail price of $39.99.

For additional information about “Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two” and “Disney Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion,” please visit the official site at http://disney.go.com/mickey/disney-epic-mickey-2.html, join our “Disney Epic Mickey Video Game” page on Facebook and follow us on Twitter at #savewasteland.

The Allman Bros, Dragonforce, and More Heading to Rock Band

2012/11/16
Jerry Paxton
News, PlayStation 3 News, Xbox 360 News
Cambridge, Mass. – November 16th, 2012 – Harmonix today announced that singles from The Allman Brothers Band, The Band, Crossfade, Dragonforce, Modern English, and Nine Inch Nails are headed to the Rock Band™ Music Store of downloadable content for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Wii™.Rock Band provides the deepest and best selection of artists, songs and albums through the Rock Band music platform, which features more than 1,400 artists and more than 4,000* tracks via disc and download purchase (complete list of tracks atwww.rockband.com/songs). Rock Band’s gigantic music library dwarfs that of any other rhythm video game on the market. More than 100 million songs have been sold through the Rock Band Music Store since its launch on Nov. 20, 2007.

Tracks downloaded from the Rock Band Music Store are compatible with the award-winning full-band Rock Band 3 experience, as well as the controller-based rhythm-action title, Rock Band Blitz, available now on PlayStation®Network and Xbox LIVE® Arcade!

Rock Band DLC Additions for Xbox 360, PlayStation®3 system and Wii™

Harmonix is excited to celebrate the five year anniversary of the Rock Band franchise with the release of six singles from legendary artists, spanning six decades of music history!

A live version of The Band’s “The Weight,” originally released as a single in 1968, will be available starting on November 20th. The track is joined by The Allman Brothers Band’s instrumental, “Jessica,” which comes off the group’s 1973 album, Brothers and Sisters. New Wave post-punk band Modern English make their Rock Band debut with “I Melt With You,” from 1982’s After the Snow. From 1994’s The Downward Spiral, Nine Inch Nail’s popular “Closer” will also be available. Finally, Crossfade’s “Cold,” from the band’s 2004 self-titled record, and Dragonforce’s “Cry Thunder” from this year’s The Power Within, round out this exciting and eclectic collection of singles!

Available on Xbox 360, Wii and PlayStation®3 system (November 20th, 2012):

  • The Allman Brothers Band – “Jessica” O X
  • The Band – “The Weight (live)” O X
  • Crossfade – “Cold”
  • Dragonforce – “Cry Thunder” O
  • Modern English – “I Melt With You” O
  • Nine Inch Nails – “Closer” O

Price:
$1.99 USD, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU (160 Microsoft Points ™, 200 Wii Points™) per song
$0.99 USD (80 Microsoft Points™, 100 Wii Points™), £0.59 UK, €0.79 EU per song for eligible Pro Guitar/Pro Bass upgrade

(These tracks will be available in Europe on PlayStation®3 system November 21st)Tracks marked with “X” will offer Pro Guitar and Pro Bass expansions for $0.99 per song.

** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change. **
 
*Available on-disc, via download and disc export. Internet connection and export key purchase required. Wii™ Shop Channel has more than 1,500 song tracks available for purchase on the Rock Band platform on-disc, via song import, and download. Not applicable to Nintendo DS™.

Website Links:
For more information, please visit:

Rock Band Website

Rock Band 3 is available for Xbox 360, PlayStation®3 system, Wii™ and Nintendo DS™. Xbox 360, PlayStation®3 system and Wii™ versions support downloadable content.

Black Ops 2 Over $500M in Sales First Day

2012/11/16
Jerry Paxton
News, PlayStation 3 News, Windows PC News, Xbox 360 News

Santa Monica, CA – November 16, 2012 –Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard (Nasdaq: ATVI), today announced that for the fourth consecutive year, the Call of Duty® franchise has delivered the biggest entertainment launch of the year. The highly-anticipated Call of Duty®: Black Ops II has achieved an estimated sell-through of more than $500 million worldwide in the first 24 hours of its release, according to Chart-Track, retail customer sell-through information and internal company estimates.

“With first day sales of over half a billion dollars worldwide, we believe Call of Duty is the biggest entertainment launch of the year for the fourth year in a row,” said Bobby Kotick, CEO, Activision Blizzard, Inc. “Life-to-date sales for the Call of Duty franchise have exceeded worldwide theatrical box office receipts for “Harry Potter” and “Star Wars,” the two most successful movie franchises of all time. Given the challenged macro-economic environment, we remain cautious about the balance of 2012 and 2013.”

On November 13, 2012, millions of fans attended more than 16,000 midnight openings at retail stores worldwide. Reflecting the wave of excitement that swept the globe, Call of Duty: Black Ops II drove social conversation in its first 24 hours as it was a top trending topic globally on Twitter in 23 cities worldwide. Additionally, there have been more than 30 million YouTube video views of the game’s live-action ‘Surprise’ launch trailer since its release on October 29, 2012.

“Call of Duty has become more than a product people buy, it’s become a brand people buy into.  And every November we do more than just launch a game, we kick off an annual, unofficial but worldwide phenomenon called Call of Duty season,” said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing. “I want to thank our incredible team at Treyarch for making an amazing game, everyone at Activision for making this brand a force of nature and our retail partners for their unprecedented support of this franchise. But most importantly I want to thank our millions of fans for their continued support and loyalty and for making us better every day.”

Call of Duty: Black Ops II is available at retail locations worldwide on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and Windows PC. The title is also expected to be released in North America for the new Wii U™ game system from Nintendo on November 18, 2012.

The game is rated “M” (Mature – Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs – content suitable for persons ages 18 and older) by the ESRB.

More information on Call of Duty: Black Ops II can be found athttp://www.callofduty.com/blackops2 or on www.facebook.com/codblackops. Fans can also follow @Treyarch on Twitter.

Sword of the Stars II: Enhanced Edition Announced

2012/11/16
Jerry Paxton
News, Windows PC News

NEW YORK – November 16, 2012 – A year ago, Sword of the Stars II: Lords of Winter was released and while full of potential, didn’t quite meet expectations, including those set by the developer and publisher. Since its release, the main focus from publisher and developer has been to serve all of those that purchased and believed in Sword of the Stars II. Paradox Interactive has financed and distributed updates, giving Kerberos Studios the opportunity to continue patching the game to get it into a state where everyone can be proud of the product.

Now, a year later, Paradox Interactive and Kerberos Studios are finally happy to declare the game in good condition and are celebrating by revealing a brand new expansion “End of Flesh”, alongside new content and improvements in Sword of the Stars II: Enhanced Edition.

As a token of appreciation and “thank you” for their patience, Paradox Interactive will arrange for existing Sword of the Stars II owners to receive “End of Flesh” for free on release. Sword of the Stars II: Enhanced Edition is scheduled to release on November 30th.

The “End of Flesh” expansion to “Sword of the Stars II” introduces players to the Loa, a shape shifting artificial intelligence that can settle some of the most foreboding of landscapes. A former slave race, they now have freedom and an incentive to use their powerful and unique vessels to teach their old masters a lesson.

Features of the Sword of the Stars II Enhanced Edition include:
The new Loa race with a new drive for their ships – the Neutrino Pulse Gate
Over 25 new technologies including a new tech tree for cybernetics
10 new weapons and attack systems
Expanded ship building options for all six original factions, including new Leviathan class ships
2 new independent races to seduce or bludgeon into your imperial orbit
New random encounters and mission types
All previously released faction based DLC – the voices, the badges, the avatars, the skins…all of it.

 

Age of Wushu Enters Closed Beta

2012/11/15
Jerry Paxton
News, Windows PC News

November 15, 2012 — Snail Games is excited to announce the first Closed Beta of its martial arts inspired, massively multiplayer online role playing game, Age of Wushu, will begin Thursday, November 15th. Taking place from the 15th to the 25th of November, this exclusive online event represents the first time that players in the United States and Canada will be able to play and experience the highly anticipated title inspired by the Chinese literary genre of Wuxia.

Entry into this Closed Beta was originally offered only to members of the press and to players who pre-ordered exclusive editions of the full game. However, to mark the occasion, Snail Games is extending Closed Beta access to those players who not have yet pre-purchased Age of Wushu. Those who are interested in experiencing the game should act soon; access will be limited based on supply and codes will be given on a first-come, first-served basis. Additionally, these access keys will not extend to the game’s 2nd Closed Beta in December or for the game’s full launch in February 2013. To request an access key for this event, please email beta (at) snailgamesusa (dot) com.

“We were truly overwhelmed by the North American response to Age of Wushu,” says Shi Hai, Founder and Chairman of Snail Games. “As a show of gratitude to the fanbase who have been anticipating and awaiting the game’s release, we decided to treat them to a sneak preview of the full majesty of Age of Wushu. We believe it will completely surpass their expectations.”

Endorsed by martial arts icon Jet Li—who also serves as the Global Spokesman for the title—Age of Wushu is set in a fantastical and mythical version of Ming Dynasty-era China. The game features dynamic aerial battles and swordplay, replicating the fighting styles seen in blockbuster Chinese martial arts films such as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Hero. The game’s innovative combat engine draws on the strict logic behind real-world martial arts. Each attack can be countered and exploited; it is skill—not armor— that will determine the victors. The game also offers players seventeen different unique professions, allowing players the choice to create their own niche in this virtual society.

For more information, assets, or to arrange interviews please email: pr (at) snailgamesusa (dot) com

For more information on the game and purchase details, please visit: http://www.ageofwushu.com

Snail Games 
Based in Los Angeles, CA, Snail Games is committed to delivering the highest-quality interactive experiences to gamers worldwide. To learn more about Snail Games, please visit: http://www.snailgamesusa.com

Snail Game China 
Named as one of the “Top Game Developers Worldwide,” Snail Game is a leading developer of MMO and interactive online games in China. Founded in October 2000, Snail Game’s growing library of titles includes 5 Street, Age of Armor, Voyage Century, Heroes of Gaia, and the upcoming MMORPG Black Gold. Snail Game’s wildly popular titles are currently sold and distributed worldwide. To learn more about Snail Game, please visit:http://www.snailgame.net

Spike TV VGA Nominees Announced

2012/11/15
Jerry Paxton
News, Special Interest News

New York, NY, November 15, 2012 – Spike TV today announced the nominees of “VGA TEN” (#VGA) – the network’s tenth annual live televised event to celebrate the best in video games.  “VGA TEN,” hosted by Samuel L. Jackson, will feature exclusive world premieres as well as musical performances by Linkin Park and Tenacious D.  The interactive multiplatform special will premiere LIVE from Sony Picture Studios in Culver City, CA on Friday, December 7 at 9:00 PM ET/6:00 PM PT on Spike TV.  Additionally, “VGA TEN” will simulcast on MTV 2, MTV Tr3s, Xbox LIVE, Spike.com and GameTrailers.com.

Spike TV and Microsoft also unveiled plans to broadcast the 2012 Video Game Awards to Xbox LIVE users in multiple countries this December.  Fans will be able to view the “VGA’s” on Xbox consoles in the United States and additional countries to be confirmed at a later date.* The show will also be streamed internationally on Spike.com and GameTrailers.com.

Airing alongside the tenth anniversary television broadcast, the U.S. Xbox LIVE stream of the VGAs will showcase groundbreaking interactivity that lets users “play” the show as it happens live in Los Angeles.  Responses to poll questions will be tabulated in real time on screen for the Xbox LIVE audience and users with Xbox Smartglass will get a unique second-screen experience that updates in real time alongside the show content.

“This unprecedented partnership with Xbox will make ‘VGA TEN’ the biggest worldwide gaming event ever; we’re thrilled to be the first awards show presented on Xbox where our fans play every day,” said Casey Patterson, Executive Producer of the “VGAs” and Executive Vice President of Production for Entertainment Group.  “There is no more innovative producer than Mark Burnett to engage the fans on a whole new level in our big anniversary year.”

“I am blown away by how cool Xbox LIVE is. It brings the ‘VGAs’ to gamers in a completely new and innovative way,” said Mark Burnett, Executive Producer of the Video Game Awards.  “Now viewers will not only watch the show but actually interact with it and our host Samuel L. Jackson in real time like a video game, creating a 360 degree conversation between the ‘VGAs’ and all of the fans watching at the same time.  And the only thing cooler than Xbox is Samuel L. Jackson.”

“Xbox makes your entertainment more amazing, and we can’t wait to team up with Viacom and Mark Burnett to make the VGAs the first-ever interactive TV awards show to be broadcast on Xbox LIVE,” said Marc Whitten, Corporate Vice President, Interactive Entertainment Business, Microsoft.  “Our teams are working together to create a groundbreaking interactive TV experience that will turn VGA viewers into VGA participants.”

Also revealed today, Grammy Award-winning recording artists Linkin Park will perform a show-stopping rendition of “Castle of Glass,” from their album “Living Things.”  “Castle of Glass” is also nominated for “Best Song in a Game” for EA’s “Medal of Honor: Warfighter.”  Tenacious D will also return to the VGAs with a live performance of “Rize of the Fenix.”  This will mark the band’s second VGA performance to date.

Exclusive world premieres debuting at “VGA TEN” include Naughty Dog’s “The Last of Us,”  Epic Games’ “Gears of War: Judgment” and Obsidian Entertainment’s “South Park: The Stick of Truth,” with additional exclusive World Premieres to be announced in the weeks to come. “You will freak out at this year’s short films,” said Burnett, who then added, “Can you say, ‘Sam Jackson Mode?’”

Leading “VGA TEN,” with seven nominations each are “Borderlands 2” (2K Games/Gearbox Software), “Halo 4” (Microsoft Studios/343 Industries) and “Journey” (Sony Computer Entertainment/thatgamecompany).  Ubisoft’s “Assassin’s Creed III,” is not far behind with six nominations while Bethesda Softworks’ “Dishonored,” EA’s “Mass Effect 3,” and  Telltale Games’ “The Walking Dead: The Game” all have five nominations each.

Nominees for Spike TV’s “VGA TEN” were determined by the VGA Advisory Council, made up of a group of some of the most well-respected video game journalists from media outlets such as Entertainment Weekly, Game Informer, Joystiq, Kotaku, Polygon, IGN, GameTrailers, Gamespot, Wired.com, USA Today and Associated Press.

Below are several of the nominees and categories for Spike TV’s “VGA TEN.”  For a full list, please go to VGA.spike.com.

Game of the Year

  • “Assassin’s Creed III” (Ubisoft/Ubisoft Montreal)
  • “Dishonored” (Bethesda Softworks/Arkane Studios)
  • “Journey” (Sony Computer Entertainment/thatgamecompany)
  • “Mass Effect 3” (Electronic Arts/BioWare)
  • “The Walking Dead: The Game” (Telltale Games)

Best Action Adventure Game

  • “Assassin’s Creed III” (Ubisoft/Ubisoft Montreal)
  • “Darksiders II” (THQ/Vigil Games)
  • “Dishonored” (Bethesda Softworks/Arkane Studios)
  • “Sleeping Dogs” (Square Enix/United Front Games)

Best Shooter

  • “Borderlands 2” (2K Games/Gearbox Software)
  • “Call of Duty: Black Ops II” (Activision/Treyarch)
  • “Halo 4” (Microsoft Studios/343 Industries)
  • “Max Payne 3” (Rockstar Games)

Studio of the Year

  • 343 Industries
  • Arkane Studios
  • Gearbox Software
  • Telltale Games

Most Anticipated Game

  • “BioShock Infinite” (2K Games/Irrational Games)
  • “Grand Theft Auto V” (Rockstar Games)
  • “South Park: The Stick of Truth” (THQ/Obsidian Entertainment)
  • “The Last of Us” (Sony Computer Entertainment/Naughty Dog)
  • “Tomb Raider” (Square Enix/Crystal Dynamics)

For additional information about other “VGA” world exclusives and announcements, fans can log onto VGA.spike.com and get updates via Twitter @SPIKETV as well as the hashtag #VGA.

Mark Burnett, Casey Patterson and Carol Donovan will serve as executive producers of Spike TV’s “VGA TEN.”


*Xbox LIVE Gold subscription required.

The Old Republic Now Free to Play, Gets HK-51

2012/11/15
Jerry Paxton
News, Windows PC News

AUSTIN, Texas – Nov 15, 2012 – BioWare™, a studio of Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:EA), and LucasArts announced today that the new, Free-to-Play option for the critically-acclaimed, massively multiplayer online game, Star Wars: The Old Republic is now live.  Now players can experience the complete storylines of all eight iconic Star Warsclasses, all the way to level 50 for free.  This new option complements the existing subscription offering, providing players with maximum flexibility in how they choose to experience Star Wars: The Old Republic.

“We want to give our players the freedom to enjoy Star Wars: The Old Republic when and how they want,” said Matthew Bromberg, General Manager of BioWare Austin. “There has never been a better time to start playing with us.”

Also today, BioWare released Game Update 1.5: HK-51 Activated, which adds new areas to explore, a new Companion character and more, including:

·         Get ready for an action-packed adventure to earn control of one of the galaxy’s most deadly Assassins, HK-51. Submerged beneath the icy surface of Belsavis lies a derelict ship and if you are brave enough to venture through the wreckage, you will embark on a mission that ultimately rewards you with a powerful new, yet familiar, ally the ruthless Assassin Droid, HK-51.

·         Explore Section X, a previously untouched area of the prison world of Belsavis. The Dread Masters’ servants are searching for a powerful and ancient weapon. Fly to Section X and secure the target of their search to be richly rewarded.

·         Travel to Denova to take on Operation:  Explosive Conflict – now with a Nightmare Mode! Teams who complete in this new mode can earn the final pieces of the Dread Guard gear set and a brand new mount that will be sure to cause tank envy!

Star Wars: The Old Republic is a story-driven, massively multiplayer online (MMO) game with a Free-to-Play option from BioWare and LucasArts. Set thousands of years before the classic Star Warsmovies, players team up with friends online to fight in heroic battles, explore a galaxy of vibrant planets and experience visceral Star Warscombat, all set to a sweeping musical score. Players are asked to join forces with either the Galactic Republic or Sith Empire and choose one of eight iconic Star Wars characters, including the Jedi Knight, Jedi Consular, Smuggler, Trooper, Sith Warrior, Sith Inquisitor, Bounty Hunter and Imperial Agent.

For more information on the different ways players can now experience Star Wars: The Old Republic, including the Free-to-Play option, please visit www.StarWarsTheOldRepublic.com/FREE or Origin.com. As always, be sure to check StarWarsTheOldRepublic.comfor latest updates and follow us on Twitter®, Facebook®, andYouTube®.