Author - Jerry Paxton

Paramount and Namco Bandai Team Up for Star Trek Game

2012/02/13
Jerry Paxton
News

We finally have some official details on that Star Trek title we got to checkout at last year’s E3 Expo. Enjoy!

SAN JOSE, Calif., (February 10, 2012) – Paramount Pictures and leading video game publisher and developer NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. today announced the two companies have signed a deal for NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. to co-publish and distribute the highly anticipated Star Trek video game worldwide during the first quarter of 2013 for all major home consoles and PC.

The action-packed combat game is set to launch the first quarter of 2013 prior to the May 17th theatrical release of the next Star Trek installment from director and producer J.J. Abrams. The game, through a license with CBS Consumer Products, is based on a stand-alone storyline that continues the adventure of iconic characters Kirk and Spock as they work together to stop a legendary enemy race bent on conquering the galaxy.

“With our NAMCO BANDAI partners leading the distribution effort, we are confident that we will meet an overwhelming demand to get this exciting console experience into the hands of gamers and Star Trek fans worldwide”, commented LeeAnne Stables, Paramount Pictures Executive Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Partnerships and head of the studio’s video game unit. Stables continued, “The positive response from our initial unveiling at E3 last year was unprecedented, and we are fortunate to have the highest level of production and creative talent on our team that will bring this incredible game out to market next year.”

“Star Trek continues to be one of the most beloved entertainment properties around the world, and NAMCO BANDAI Games America is extremely excited to be teaming up with Paramount Pictures to create the definitive Star Trek interactive experience,” said Carlson Choi, VP of Marketing for NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.

Paramount unveiled the Star Trek video game in pre-alpha phase at 2011’s Electronic Entertainment Exposition (E3) and won the praise of critics including the prestigious “Most Valuable Game” awards from Official Xbox Magazine and PlayStation: The Official Magazine, and was included as one of CNN’s Top 5 Games of E3 2011 list. The Star Trek video game also won additional praise with an exclusive trailer that debuted during Sony Computer Entertainment of America’s keynote address at its annual E3 press conference.

The Star Trek video 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 Creative Executive Brian Miller. “Working with Paramount Pictures and Digital Extremes reinforces NAMCO BANDAI Games’ commitment of expanding its portfolio to include Triple ‘A’ Western developed games in addition to its popular and well-respected Japanese Franchises,” said Carlson Choi. “Digital Extremes’ attention to detail, and the collaboration with Paramount Pictures and the team at Bad Robot Interactive will create an authenticity that is sure to thrill Star Trek fans and gamers alike.”

The game’s original story is being penned by BAFTA award winner and God of War writer Marianne Krawczyk in collaboration with Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, writers and producers for the upcoming Star Trek film. Built from the ground up as the ultimate co-op experience, the Star Trek video game lets players control both Kirk and Spock in a sweeping journey of epic 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 experiences for this console generation.

For more information about NAMCO BANDAI Games, please visit http://www.namcobandaigames.com. For more information about the upcoming Star Trek movie from Paramount Pictures, please visit http://www.startrekmovie.com.

Heart, Mr Big, Poison, and Astley Coming to Rock Band

2012/02/13
Jerry Paxton
News

Harmonix has announced that tracks from Heart, Mr. Big, Poison, and Rick Astley will be available on February 14th on the Rock Band Music Store.

Available on Xbox 360, Wii™and PlayStation®3 system (February 14th, 2012):

  • Heart – “Alone” O
  • Mr. Big – “To Be With You” X
  • Poison – “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” O X
  • Rick Astley – “Never Gonna Give You Up” O

(These tracks will be available in Europe on PlayStation®3 system February 15th)

Tracks marked with “O” feature support for keyboards; tracks marked with “X” will offer Pro Guitar and Pro Bass expansions for $0.99 per song.

Price:                   
$6.99, £3.49 UK, €5.29 EU (560 Microsoft Points, 700 Wii Points™) for “Gold Star My Heart Pack”
$1.99 USD, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU (160 Microsoft Points, 200 Wii Points™) per song
$0.99 USD (100 Wii Points™/80 Microsoft Points), £0.59 UK, €0.79 EU per song for eligible Pro Guitar/Pro Bass upgrade

** 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™.

UFC Undisputed 3 New Details

2012/02/09
Jerry Paxton
News

AGOURA HILLS, Calif. – February 9, 2012 – THQ and the Ultimate Fighting Championship® organization today announced new details surrounding the online feature set for UFC® Undisputed® 3, the forthcoming installment in the critically acclaimed mixed martial arts (MMA) videogame franchise based on the UFC®. The online feature set, including franchise-first community content sharing, improved online matchmaking and the return of Fight Camps, is currently scheduled to include the following items:

ONLINE EXHIBITION – In Ranked Matches, players will select their fighters, referee and venue within UFC or PRIDE® Mode. In addition, they will have the option to generate a Quick Match for automated matchmaking, a Custom Match to search with specific settings or select Create Session to host a match. Once a fight is complete, players will proceed to the post-game statistics for rankings information. Ranked statistics will contribute to a player’s Fighting Points grade and rank, as well as Fight Camp leaderboards.

EXHIBITION MATCHMAKING & FIGHTER POINTS – UFC Undisputed 3 will introduce new servers to significantly improve online matchmaking capabilities. Parameters will also be set on ranked matches to ensure fairness for leaderboard participants. The ranked settings are set to three rounds, while downloadable content and created fighters, mirror matches and camp fighting will be active during gameplay. In addition, Online Exhibition in UFC Undisputed 3 will introduce a new Fighter Points system. This system will enable players to compare ranks and show off their skill levels to see who is the ultimate champion.

HIGHLIGHT REELS – UFC Undisputed 3 will automatically save gameplay footage from fight rounds, up to the 50 most recent, enabling players to go back and watch them again. They will be able to save these videos to their Favorites and also cut clips from these fights to create a Highlight Reel. Highlight Reels may be also shared online so players can show off their accomplishments.

CONTENT CREATION & COMMUNITY SHARING – A community hub will allow players to upload their custom content, including created fighters, highlight reels and logo designs, and share the items with others from around the world. Once uploaded, anyone can download the content and use it within gameplay. A ratings system will allow players to rank each piece of shared content for others to review. In addition, players will also be able to download and review upcoming fight cards.

FIGHT CAMPS RETURN – Players may apply to join an existing camp or create their own, including selection of the camp’s name, developing a camp ID for use in match lobbies and creating a camp banner to be displayed during matches. The Camp Menu will offer several options based on player rankings, including access to the camp’s member list to monitor online status, option to view camp milestones and progress, as well as the ability to invite new camp members, accept applications and edit camp profile settings. In the gym, players will participate in free sparring with camp partners, play in unranked matches with camp members, compete in ranked matches outside of the camp and arrange chat sessions with up to four other players.

UFC Undisputed 3 is in development for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, as well as the PlayStation®3 computer system, with a currently scheduled release date of February 14, 2012. For more information on UFC Undisputed 3, please visit www.ufcundisputed.com, facebook.com/UFCUndisputed and twitter.com/UFC_Undisputed.

DiRT 3 Complete Edition Announced

2012/02/09
Jerry Paxton
News

Los Angeles, Calif. – Feb. 9, 2012 – Today Codemasters® announced that DiRT® 3 Complete Edition, a compendium box set featuring the multi award-winning racer expanded with over $30 worth of additional content, will race into stores this March for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft® and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and PC Games For Windows® LIVE with a SRP of $39.99.

DiRT 3 Complete Edition will see DiRT 3, Gamespot’s “Racing Game of the Year” and rated 87 on Metacritic, expanded with 12 new routes across two locations, new cars and a range of liveries to deliver the definitive version of the ultimate off-road racer.

DiRT 3 Complete Edition extends the game with:

 The Monte Carlo Rally Pack – eight breathtaking Rally stages featuring dramatic climbs, descents and hairpins of snowy mountain roads. Race through the Alps and conquer the legendary Col de Turini pass.

 The X Games Asia Track Pack – four new routes set across two new tracks in Shibuya, the neon heart of central Tokyo, where spectacular mud-spattered Rallycross circuits weave beneath towering skyscrapers.

 The Power and Glory Car Pack – stars five cars including the BMW M3 Rally, Lancia Delta S4, Ford Focus ST Rallycross, Scion tC and Chevrolet Camaro SSX Concept, each with a range of liveries.

 The Mud and Guts Car Pack – features five cars available for single-player, split-screen and online multiplayer events. Race the Lancia Stratos, Peugeot 205 T16 Evo 2, Citroën C4 Rallycross, Saturn Sky and Ford Mustang GT, each with a range of liveries.

 The Colin McRae Vision Charity Pack – access the Ford Escort Mk II, a 70s rally classic with five liveries.

 The Ken Block Special Pack – features a customized and upgraded Ford Escort Mk II, an Open Class Rally car sporting a killer Ken Block livery.

 The Mini Gymkhana Special Pack – access the mid-engined Mini Cooper S Gymkhana, customized and tuned to become an outrageously responsive Gymkhana car.

DiRT 3 itself features over 50 years of iconic rally cars to be raced through the snow, rain and dirt. Powered by the award-winning EGO Engine, the game delivers incredible graphics, damage and weather in solo, online and in split-screen. From the forests of Michigan to the infamous roads of Finland and the national parks of Kenya, gamers take on a wide range of disciplines including Gymkhana, Rallycross, Landrush, Head 2 Head and Trailblazer, plus the most amount of Rally content in the series yet.

DiRT 3 Complete Edition will race into retail this March for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and PC Games For Windows® LIVE with a SRP of $39.99. For all the latest updates straight from the studio, crash over to www.dirtgame.com, www.facebook.com/dirtgame or follow the team at www.twitter.com/dirtgame.

Screenshots

ASH II: Shadows Quick-Review (iOS)

2012/02/09
Jerry Paxton
News, Reviews

ASH II: Shadows is Konami’s follow-up to the well-received ASH on the iOS platform. A JRPG in the vein of the original Final Fantasy, ASH II features a lot of crisp, hand-drawn visuals that really pop on the iPhone 4S retina display. The game follows the story of an ostracized warrior and the party members he teams up with. While the writing in the game is somewhat cliche, overall the story gets communicated well and, along with the visuals, really help to sell the game world. In fact, several times I could not wait to find out what was going to happen next in the chapter.

Throughout the course of the story’s first chapter (the game is episodic and more are on the way), you and your party members will fight tons of creatures and enemies as well as explore the fantasy-based landscape.Combat is handled in the tactical, JRPG manner of each being on the display getting his or her chance to act, whether it be using magic or attacking with a melee weapon. Players can outfit their party members with new items and equipment along the way.

ASH II’s biggest problem is in the EXTREMELY easy difficulty level. I played through the entire first chapter and never once had a problem dispatching my foes. Hopefully, in later chapters, they will remedy the situation as the game mechanics are a lot of fun and are sure to offer the iOS gamer hours of playtime.

Screenshots

CryENGINE 3 Licensed by Warhorse Studios

2012/02/09
Jerry Paxton
News

Prague (Czech Republic) / Frankfurt (Germany) , February 9, 2012 – Crytek GmbH (Crytek) and Warhorse Studios are happy to announce that they have closed a licensing deal for Crytek’s proprietary all-in-one game development solution CryENGINE®3. Warhorse Studios is working on an unannounced role-playing game (RPG). The debut title for the studio will combine open-world experience with a rich story and innovative gameplay elements.

“The team at Warhorse Studios consists of industry veterans from AAA classics such as the Mafia franchise and Operation Flashpoint. We’re excited by their vision for an innovative RPG and we are looking forward to working with them to help them achieve that vision with CryENGINE 3.”, said Carl Jones, Director of Global Business Development CryENGINE.

Martin Klima, Executive Producer at Warhorse Studios commented: “We looked at every major technology out there and CryENGINE 3 suits our needs perfectly. We are confident it will allow us to make the vision for our game come true.

Dragons vs Unicorns Gets Single Player, New Screens

2012/02/09
Jerry Paxton
News

AUSTIN, TX.- February 09, 2012 – Digital Harmony Games, a new interactive entertainment developer of social, casual games, today revealed new single player details for the upcoming multiplayer, free-to- play game Dragons vs. Unicorns, which will launch on iOS, Android and Browsers this year. Additionally, new screenshots have been released that introduce never-before-seen characters, like the Kamikaze Bat and Pimp Turtle, and the adorable Unicornlings players are charged with protecting! Players can visit www.digitalharmonygames.com to check out all the new details.

Dragons vs. Unicorns’ single player mode is an action defensive mode where players take charge of the Unicorn and defend the adorable baby unicornlings hatched from the nests. The goal is to protect the unicorn eggs and nests from the Dragon Minions as waves and waves of Dragon Minions approach in each successive level! Players will earn points for hatching unicorns and gold for killing minions.

Protecting the precious unicorn eggs aren’t the only task players are charged with, they must also protect the cute and cuddly bunnies that hop from the opposite side of the field to sit on top of the unicornling eggs for incubation. Since the unicorn has made a pact with all things cute, players have the advantage of sending the cuddly hedgehog — who bows to the unicorns every move – flying across the field like a boomerang mowing down anything in its path!

In this action-packed game, players can collect ability orbs from enemy kills to command powerful elements; like the Happy Sun Beam that fries multiple enemies on the screen all at once. Master the high score leaderboards, and earn gold and cupcakes to spend in the Dragons vs. Unicorns store for defensive and offensive upgrades and new abilities!

Dragons vs. Unicorns offers an immersive experience with a simple and intuitive control scheme and easy click and gesture based control. PVP fans will find dynamic physics with realistic damage in the sprite filled, sparkly rainbow and molten lava driven world. Single player mode, VS Multiplayer, persistent player data, social connectivity and so much more will await players in this unique and magical world of Dragons and Unicorns.

For more information, visit www.digitalharmonygames.com and follow on Twitter @DigiHarmGames. And look for their first title Chin Up now available in the iTunes store.

New Screenshots