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Borderlands: Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot
Review by: Tina Amini
Tina looks at Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot to see what else you can get out of Borderlands. READ FULL REVIEW...
Theatre of War: Kursk 1943
Preview by: Chad Smith
How is this WWII strategy game shaping up? Find out as Chad gets an early glimpse of the game. READ FULL PREVIEW...
Vancouver 2010
Review by: Cyril Lachel
Don't go where the huskies go, don't eat the yellow snow and definitely don't buy Vancouver 2010 for the PS3! READ FULL REVIEW...

Ubisoft officially announces Future Soldier

by: John - -
As Jeremy pointed out, there's a new Ghost Recon game coming out and Ubisoft finally put the official word on Ghost Recon: Future Soldier. Other than the news that it's being set for this Holiday season, not much else was talked about as the next game in the Ghost Recon line.

But, those that purchase Splinter Cell: Conviction can get in on the multiplayer beta that's scheduled for this Summer. Splinter Cell comes out April 16th so for a limited time, you can get into the beta that way. I'm anxious to see what Ubi has in store for the third game in the series as I had a lot of fun with the first one. I'm sure we'll see a lot more in the near future and hopefully some playing time at E3. [READ MORE]

The female Monk of Diablo III

by: John - -
A few weeks ago, Blizzard asked folks to do some renditions of what they think the female Monk should look like in Diablo III. Well, Blizzard's finally put out the official look of the bare handed warrior.

On the Monk's page, you can see the concept drawing and the model. Is it just me or does the female monk model kind of look like Rhianna with that hairdo and facial structure? The white hair is a nice touch although she does look more muscular in the concept than the final model.

Monks are probably one of my favorite classes in the fantasy genre so I'm probably going to go this route when the game comes out initially.

News Roundup weekend edition: EA unveils Karate Dojo: Ultimate butt Rash Edition

by: Nathan - -

RUSE making of vignette describes how Ubisoft discovered motion capture

by: Nathan - -
Anyone familiar with video games or movies with big budget special effects knows that motion capture has increased it's capacity and role in both over the past ten years. Turns out that Jeff Spock, script writer for R.U.S.E. has discovered that motion capture makes a huge difference in how a story plays out on screen. I'm not sure when Ubisoft's first videogame utilized motion capture but I am sure that Mr. Spock is a little late to the game. I'd say give this a skip but I can see now that you're clicking finger is already itching. Go ahead and hit play, but I warned you.
 

EA earnings call provides loose dates for upcoming titles

by: Dan - -
On its earnings call today, EA made reference to several titles that are in the works and when they would hit retail. Check out the full list of titles and dates after the jump, but a few highlights include the following titles that are in the works, including a new Dragon Age title and a shooter from EPIC:

Medal of Honor Title TBA
Monopoly Title TBA
MySims Title TBA
Need For Speed Title TBA
DTC Game For Console Online (4)
EA SPORTS Active Title TBA
EA SPORTS Active Title TBA
Hasbro Family Game Night Title TBA
Hasbro Littlest Pet Shop Title TBA
Harry Potter Title TBA
The Sims 3 on Console Title TBA
Dragon Age Title TBA
Shooter from Epic TBA (3)
Need For Speed Title TBA
Action Title TBA (4)
Fighting Title TBA
Hasbro Title TBA (4)
New Sims Title TBA
Spore Title TBA


1) Handhelds include mobile handsets
(2) Distribution Title
(3) Co-Published Title
(4) Console Full Game Download
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Kick your Wii's butt in All Star Karate

by: Chad - -
Young grasshopper, video games won't make you skilled at karate.  Everyone knows that.  THQ wants to change that, though, and has announce All Star Karate.  It's scheduled for release this spring and will challenge players to use their entire body to attain a black belt. 

Check out the screens and a release video below.  Want to know how they can make it interesting?  Ship it with straps so that I put a Wii Remote on each ankle and hold one in each hand.  Then I'll really learn karate. 


[READ MORE]

GameFly releases weekly Top 10

by: Chad - -
Popular demand is an interesting thing.  Gone are the days of the simple clap-o-meter.  Now we get computers to tally up numbers and track trends.  A weekly barometer of what many gamers are digging is the Top 10 lists from GameFly.  Below is a chart which shows the Most Popular Games Cross-Platform.  The titles haven't changed too much in the past few weeks.  Is there a game you think should be on the list that is slipping under the radar?

Rank
Title Platform Genre
Publisher
1 Bioshock 2 PS3, 360 Shooter Take Two
2 Mass Effect 2 360 RPG EA
3 Dante's Inferno PS3, 360, PSP Action Adventure EA
4 MAG PS3 Shooter Sony
5 Heavy Rain PS3 Action Adventure Sony
6 Aliens vs. Predator PS3, 360 Action Adventure Sega
7 Battlefield: Bad Company 2 PS3, 360 Shooter EA
8 Army of Two: The 40th Day PS3, 360, PSP Shooter EA
9 Darksiders PS3, 360 Action Adventure THQ
10 White Knight Chronicles: International Edition PS3 RPG Sony

Many more lists await you in the full press release.  [READ MORE]

iPhone Game Review: Decades

by: Tina - -
Organizing rotating blocks a la Tetris style is one thing. Decades wants to push the challenge of the traditional style of block puzzle games further with the addition of some of hangman’s gameplay. Read on to see how this collaboration between gameplay works in the game itself.

[READ MORE]

Square is so last century: details released for UFC Undisputed 2010

by: Chad - -
Why be square when you can be octagonal?  Get ready to jump back in the MMA octagon with UFC Undisputed 2010.  THQ announced new details, features and improvements for the upcoming title.  I've distilled the press release into the following bullet points. 
  • Current UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar will be on the cover
  • More than 100 UFC fighters
  • Enhanced combat with new dodging, attacks, transitions, and cage positions
  • Southpaw stance added
  • Create your own fighter and combine moves from many different MMA disciplines
  • Form fight camps and leagues online
  • Three new game modes
This is barely skimming the surface of the press release.  If you're interested in UFC Undisputed 2010, hit the jump for all of the juicy details.  Gamestop currently has the release date of May 25 so you'll certainly be seeing more as we approach the release date. [READ MORE]

Step into the surreal world of Dream Chronicles on the console

by: Tina - -
Although players have been experiencing the surreal world of Dream Chronicles on the PC for quite some time, Hudson Entertainment wants to introduce console gamers to the realm of puzzle adventures in the town of Wish.

Playing as Faye, you’ll traverse 18 dream-like locations to solve the mystery of what has happened to your husband in the midst of a town that has fallen under a sleeping spell.

You can find the game coming soon on XBLA and PSN, but take a look at the screens below in the meantime.

[READ MORE]

The Road Rash that could have been...

by: Jeremy - -
 ...and maybe still might be?  Let's hope so.  One of EA's oldest franchises which has long gone ignored is the classic Road Rash.  The classic racing slugfest hasn't been seen in more than 10 years, though that last iteration was ported to the Gameboy Advance in 2004.  Personally, I was a huge fan of the series in its infancy on the Sega Genesis.  The Road Rash series could make a huge comeback with the current focus on online, multiplayer gaming.  As it turns out, here are leaks and hints all over the internet that the concept of a new Road Rash isn't that far fetched.  

First off, freelance artist Ross Dearsley posted some sketches on his personal blog back in late 2007, showing off some character concepts he had drawn up for a modernization of the Road Rash series.  The art design looks like something along the line of what EA Big would produce if they got their hands on the game, similar to the SSX style we have seen many times before.  Add those sketches, shown below, to the existence of a Youtube video (also shown below) put online in early 2007 by user kevmc34 showing what he claims was a preliminary animation demo he created for an early concept of a new Road Rash, that was pitched to Electronic Arts.  Even in the early, conceptual stage shown in the video, this game looks PHENOMENAL.  EA, please be smart about this and put this into the hands of the fine folks at Criterion with instruction to create an online Road Rash with RPG like elements and sit back and enjoy the cash flow... This would have been HUGE... in my personal opinion of course.



[READ MORE]

Nintendo downloads: zombie animals, balloons, and justice in the Salad Kingdom

by: Tina - -
Another Monday, another list of Nintendo downloads to go with the start of the workweek.

Nintendo has the usual assortment of genres to get you going through said workweek. If you have a taste for infectious animals that literally have a taste for you, you can look no further than taking up the role of Alex, a biologist dead-set on annihilating the threatening virus in Blaster Master Overdrive (1,000 points). The WiiWare offers more action-adventure titles with Tomena Sanner (500 points), in which you play as a businessman rushing to make it in time for the 2-D dance party while dodging samurais and cowboys. Nintendo wants to assure you of the fun in Bloons (500 points), a game in which you pop through 70 levels of balloon popping puzzles with your stock of darts. I’d be careful of revenge in the form of plastic whiplash, though. Lastly for the Wii is Hubert The Teddy Bear Winter Games (500 points), perfect to cover up the blunders of the weatherman’s predictions of a “snowmageddon” in certain states. If you were planning on making your rounds with various snow-appropriate instruments, you can get your fill with this game in snow fights and sleigh rides, all while dealing with devious bunnies.

The DSiWare this week is just as schizophrenic as the WiiWare. Games range from Oscar in Movieland (800 points) in which you play as Oscar furthering his acting career while battling enemies, to the puzzle games of Link ‘n’ Launch (500 points), Sudoku 4Pockets (500 points), and Extreme Hangman (200 points). In the midst of the variety you can also download Fieldrunners (500 points) for epic tower defense gaming.

To commemorate NES times, the Virtual Console is providing Princess Tomato in the Salad Kingdom (500 points). Who says you can’t play with your food? Take on the role of Sir Cucumber to battle Minister Pumpkin and rescue Princess Tomato.

And that concludes this week’s roundup of Nintendo downloads. As always, you can read further for other details. [READ MORE]

Behind-the-scenes developer diary on Backbreaker

by: Tina - -
The first developer diary footage to release for Backbreaker showcases what the developers call a next generation football game promising more realism and unique gameplay credited to their usage of the Euphoria engine.

Check it out below to see if you’re sold.


Phoenix Wright Wiiware addition gets bumped... up

by: Jeremy - -
 It is pretty much every day that you here of a game get it's release date altered.  Unfortunately, 99 times out of 100 it is a matter of the release date getting pushed back... but not in the case of Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: JUSTICE FOR ALL for Nintendo's Wiiware.  The new version of the classic game was originally set for release in March 2010 but Capcom announced on Friday that the game was being moved up to February 15, 2010.  Why can't more games get that sort of treatment, like say Monster Hunter Tri.  You can purchase the game from the Nintendo Shop Channel starting next Monday for 1,000 Nintendo points.  

[READ MORE]

Magicka pokes a little fun at fantasy games

by: Sean Colleli - -
Paradox Interactive has some new trailers up for Magicka, its fantasy action adventure for the PC, 360 and as-yet unnamed consoles. The first is a teaser and the second is an interview with Paradox CEO Johan Pilestedt.  This might seem like just another fantasy game but Paradox is actually taking advantage of that, as you can see in the teaser trailer. Besides being a team based action game, Magicka has a lot of self-referential humor that makes fun of fantasy game cliches. The gameplay looks like a lot of fun but it's also refreshing to have a game that pokes fun at Lord of the Rings and Narnia fans who take their hobby a little too seriously.




 
[READ MORE]

Red Steel 2's hero drawn in about 3 minutes

by: Sean Colleli - -
Here's a time lapse video of Red Steel 2's lone-wolf hero being sketched up in a digital imaging program, no doubt by one of the talented artists at Ubisoft. For some reason I think this guy looks really cool, although it might be because he's based on Clint Eastwood. The metal plating on his sleeves really gives him that cyberpunk edge. If you become a fan of Red Steel 2 on Facebook, you'll be entered in a drawing to win one of five signed copies of this painting.

Red Steel 2 is looking like one of this year's best games, and one of the best on Wii period. Its March 23rd release date can't come soon enough.
 

New Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition Trailer

by: Jeremy - -
 ATLUS wants to make sure that you have not forgotten that they are joining forces with ACE Team in order to bring the PC game Zeno Clash to the Xbox Live Arcade as Zeno Clash: Ultimate Edition.  A new trailer was released last week showing many of the new melee attacks that are going to be included in the XBLA version of the game.  The original game was released last year on the PC after earning plenty of accolades from the 2009 Independent Games Festival.  Take a look at what you can expect from the new version later this year...

[READ MORE]

Hori of Japan unveils the Real Arcade Pro Premium VLX Joystick

by: Jeremy - -
 If you take your fighting games seriously, you know that there is no better control scheme than an actual arcade stick setup.  Perhaps you don't want to make your own joystick (plug, plug) and have the extra cash to sick into a high quality arcade stick for your home console of choice... then Hori has the product for you.  Previously shown at the Tokyo Game Show, the Real Arcade Pro Premium VLX has been officially unveiled on Hori's Japanese website for both the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3.  This monster of a joystick, which weighs over 12 pounds, is about as high quality as they come.  The controller, which goes on sale on March 28, 2010, consists of Sanwa buttons and joysticks and the ability for the consumer to perform maintenance and upkeep on the stick.  The default layout is modeled off of the standard Street Fighter IV arcade machines but can be adapted at the will of the player with slight modification.   The joystick has a flip-top panel that can be opened for re-wiring, button reorganization to adapt to various games, and storage for additional buttons and parts.  The Xbox 360 version is equipped with headset jacks for online play as well.  This level of quality and convenience does not come cheap though as the sticks will start at about $330.  The US website for Hori does not currently list the products, so it is unknown as to whether they will be receiving a North American release, but the import website Play-Asia is taking pre-orders on them.  

[READ MORE]

Get ready for more BlazBlue...

by: Jeremy - -
According to a leak on the Famitsu website, Arc System Works recent arcade sequel BlazBlue: Continuum Shift is heading home to the consoles.  The story floating is that a Famitsu employee uploading the wrong cover image to the official website which revealed an article in an upcoming issue of the magazine.  The arcade version of the sequel was released in Japan back in November.  The new game has three new characters added to the game: Tsubaki Yayoi, Hazama, and Lambda-11.  All of the existing characters has been re-balanced and fine tuned as well.  No specific details regarding the home release of BlazBlue: Continuum Shift have been announced but should be coming in the next few months...

[READ MORE]

Photo Dojo may come stateside

by: Jeremy - -
 Japanese gamers got a very original game from Nintendo last year in Photo Fighter X for the Nintendo DSi.  The game allows players to create their own characters for the fighting game using the DSi's camera.  The Australian video game ratings board, OFLC, has rated the title Photo Dojo to be published by Nintendo according to Siliconera.  If Australia is getting the game, it isn't too far fetched that it may be making its way to North America and Europe.  Photo Dojo takes the player through the process of striking various fighting poses and then taking a picture of their self with the Nintendo DSi camera.  Once all of the poses have been entered, effects can be added like fireballs and such.  While the game may be nothing short of a novelty, is sounds like a really cool novelty nonetheless...  I will definitely check it out...

[READ MORE]

Happy Blaster Master Monday!

by: Jeremy - -
 Wow, I wasn't sure what to expect when I woke up this morning... it is Monday after all.  Then I logged into the internet and saw that a new Blast Master game hit the Wiiware this morning.  Wait!! What!!!

Yeah, Sunsoft's classic NES platformer has made its return to Nintendo's Wiiware with Blaster Master Overdrive.  I absolutely love it when a game hits that you were not aware and this is one of those cases.  Nobody knew this was coming and then it was announced just a couple of days ago.  The new game consists of 8 stages comprised of a mix of overhead shooting and side-scrolling platforming.  Throughout your adventure you will need to upgrade your tank in order to adapt to the ever changing levels and challenges.  Blaster Master Overdrive is available on the Nintendo Shop Channel right now for 1,000 Wii points ($10.00).  

[READ MORE]

Star Trek Online: On the front lines of war

by: Ben Berry - -

Stardates: 2010.35-37: I've been outside the Sirius Sector for a good part of the past 2 days, within striking distance of the Neutral Zone. I've heard other junior officers talking about significant action against the Klingons, but those people have no idea what I've seen. I've been assigned some specific orders by one of the admirals at Starbase One. The Klingon High Command seems to be split between those who want open war with the Federation, and those who would prefer to rebuild the Khitomer accords. I've been escorting diplomats, rescuing prisoners, and I've even gone up against one of their ambassadors in a high end Klingon Battleship.

I was involved in a major fleet action at Starbase 24, where 15 Federation ships took on several Klingon battlegroups. On the way home, we took a side trip to visit Wolf 359, and pay our respects at the site of the worst Borg attack in the Alpha Quadrant. As I type this entry, we're on our way to the Briar Patch, a particularly nasty part of space that's seen some worst skirmishes.

What's amazing to me is how fast some of the folks I graduated the academy with are being promoted. The Federation shipyards must be working 24/7 to keep up with demand, as It seems like everyone in my class is now commanding a ship. And with good reason too. There seems to be almost constant action on any number of fronts whether with the Klingons, Romulans, even the Borg. My first mission out of the academy wound up face to face to those soulless bastards. It led to me getting my own ship, but I don't think it was worth the cost.
 

Now that I've gotten my players story up to date, here's the news on Star Trek Online over the past few days:

  • Demand on the servers has brought down the servers a few times a day. To Cryptic's credit, the downtimes have been mostly shortlived. That said, when you're basing a MMO on an IP this popular, you should probably buy a few more servers than you need, just to be safe.
  • The mission content has been both better and worse than I thought. The scripted missions from the Admiral at Starbase One are very good. Lots of enemies of various difficulties, and a good path to follow to really set the feeling for the launch of the game. Sadly, the resource farming missions are beyond terrible.  This is the first thing they need to fix, even before the skill tree.
  • The skill tree makes no sense. It's inverse to the way it should function, there's no clear guide as to what skills provide the outcome you're looking for in your characters development.
  • Variety is an important part of any game where you have repetitve actions. Again this is a mixed bag. Where you can see a lot of diversity is in the various mission types. Where you dont see it is in the implentation of most of those mission types, especially on the ground.

Daily Deal: Madden NFL 11 with free $20 gift card

by: Marissa - -
Yes, you read that correctly. Price wars have already begun for Madden NFL 11. Heating things up is Wal-Mart, who is offering the game for $59.96 (PS3 and 360) or $49.96 (Wii) bundled with a free $20 Wal-Mart gift card. I can't imagine a much better deal than this, but then again, who knows what Amazon will counter with. As long as you won't forget you pre-ordered it (it comes out in August!), head over to the virtual Wal-Mart post haste.

Trek through Egypt to find The Lost Treasures

by: Chad - -
Legacy Interactive announced today the release of Ankh: The Lost Treasurers. This prequel to Ankh: Reverse the Curse is a hidden object game that will send players searching Egypt for hidden clues.  Pyramids, mummies, pharaohs, ancient artifacts and more will be involved in solving a centuries-old mystery before it's too late.

We also got two new screenshots to show off with the announcement.  Find out more about both titles here or purchase the game at the web site for Legacy Interactive.

[READ MORE]