Most Recent: PC

L.A. Noire cracks the PC case on November 8

Posted on September 28, 2011 by John Scalzo

After a painstaking investigation, I have discovered when Rockstar Games will release the PC version of L.A. Noire. OK, it was actually announced for all the world in a press release. Guess I better turn in my badge and my gun.

Scheduled for release on November 8, the PC version of L.A. Noire has been dubbed “The Complete Edition” due to an infusion of all five DLC cases. Previously available on the PSN and Xbox Live Marketplace, there’s the “Nicholson Electroplating” Arson case, “Reefer Madness” Vice case, “The Consul’s Car” Traffic case, “The Naked City” Vice case and “A Slip of the Tongue” Traffic case.

“The Complete Edition” will also include that staple of 1950s cinema, stereoscopic 3D support, to make L.A. Noire stand out even more.

Finally, Rockstar has released the System Specifications for L.A. Noire, which you can find after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, PC | Tagged

Skyrim’s voice cast includes multiple Oscar nominees

Posted on September 27, 2011 by John Scalzo

The Elder Scrolls series has always managed to attract respected actors to speak the thousands of lines of dialogue in a typical game in the series. But The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is going to take the star-studded cast thing further than ever before. Skyrim’s cast will feature not one, not two, but three Oscar-nominated actors. Admit it Bethesda, you’re just bragging now.

Oscar nominees Christopher Plummer, Max Von Sydow and Joan Allen will be joined by Lynda Carter (she was Wonder Woman people!), Claudia Christian (Ivanova from “Babylon 5”), Michael Hogan (“Battlestar Galactica”) and a whole host of others.

“It’s been incredible to have all these actors together,” said Todd Howard, Game Director. “When you start a project, you always make your wish-list of actors, and to actually hear them in the game, it’s amazing. We can’t wait for everyone to experience it.”

Hit the jump for more details on the characters these accomplished actors will be playing. (more…)

Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

New Darkness II trailer asks “What Is The Darkness?”

Posted on September 27, 2011 by John Scalzo

What is The Darkness? It’s a quartet of tentacles that mob enforcer Jackie Estacado uses to rend the flesh from criminals big and small.

Oh, I guess it’s also a malignant force of evil that has hopped from body to body for millenia. But Jackie has kept it in check since the conclusion of the first game in the series. But in The Darkness II, the four tentacles are coming out to play with a new “quad-wielding” weapon system.

So what’s in the “What is The Darkness” trailer? A little bit of backstory about the malignant force of evil and a lot of mobsters getting flayed. Enjoy!

The Darkness II will be available for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 on February 7, 2012.

Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Dead Island debut trailer being turned into a movie by Lionsgate

Posted on September 27, 2011 by John Scalzo

Do you remember Dead Island‘s haunting debut trailer that was released back in February? You know, the one that made you tear up a little bit? I know, I know, there was something in your eye.

Well those three minutes will form the basis of a Dead Island movie now in development at Lionsgate. Sean Daniel (The Wolfman, The Mummy) has signed on as a Producer. He’ll be joined by post-production guru Stefan Sonnenfeld (Transformers: Dark of the Moon, POTC: On Stranger Tides, nearly every other action movie of the last decade).

While the trailer will serve as the primary inspiration for the movie, Lionsgate has promised that Dead Island: The Movie will be” an innovation of the zombie genre because of its focus on human emotion, family ties and non-linear storytelling.” Hopefully that doesn’t include an appearance from Jigsaw.

“This is exactly the type of property we’re looking to adapt at Lionsgate – it’s sophisticated, edgy, and a true elevation of a genre that we know and love,” said Lionsgate’s President, Joe Drake.

Posted in Etcetera, News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Daily Scoop: September 26, 2011 – So close to Ico

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Nicole Kline

It’s been a long wait, but the day is finally here – tomorrow, we get to experience the Ico and Shadow of the Colossus HD Collection. This is going to be a turning point in the lives of many gamers who missed these beautiful games the first time around. I can’t wait to play them again!

Anyway, onto the deals! Today’s Deal of the Day at Amazon in video games is Ignition Entertainment’s El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron. It’s $36.99 for both PS3 and Xbox 360. There are also new weekly deals up at Amazon as well:

Added bonus: today’s shirt.w00t features Chell from Portal on it! It’s called “Curiousest,” and it’s super cute: (more…)

Posted in Daily Scoop, Etcetera, News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360 |

Earthquake sim I Am Alive rated by ESRB

Posted on September 26, 2011 by John Scalzo

Ubisoft’s I Am Alive struck a chord with E3-goers (OK, possibly just me) back in 2008 with an intense debut trailer that centered around a desperate hunt for a single bottle of water in a Chicago that’s been devestated by an earthquake. Flash forward three years later and besides an “It’s still in development, we swear!” teaser trailer released during E3 2010, I Am Alive has completely vanished from Ubisoft’s future game slate.

But last week the ESRB confirmed that the game may be closer to completion than we all assumed by assigning I Am Alive a Mature rating. The PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 game’s mature subject matter likely played a role in receiving the rating it did as well as the “Blood, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes and Strong Language” the ESRB found. The Rating Summary goes a step further and describes a very bleak landscape for the game’s main character:

This is an action game in which players assume the role of a man who must find his family in a post-apocalyptic world. From a third-person perspective, players traverse through city ruins and use a machete to kill human enemies in melee-style combat. Battles are accompanied by realistic gunfire, slashing sounds, and cries of pain; characters emit brief splashes of blood when hit.

Players have the ability to kill or knock unconscious wounded/vulnerable enemies via finishing moves (e.g., throat slashing, impaling, pistol-whipping); these scenes are highlighted by close-up camera angles and increased player control (e.g., on-screen prompts with button-press sequences).

During the course of the game, players encounter women who can be saved from nearby enemies; sexual mistreatment is sometimes implied in the dialogue (e.g., “These guys kept me as their pet, or mascot, or something.”). One sequence depicts the background silhouette of a man fondling and threatening a captured female survivor; the exchange includes phrases such as “Do you hear me? Don’t touch me!” and “Don’t be like that. You know I can make your life a lot easier if you would just cooperate.” The words “p*ssy,” “f**k,” and “sh*t” can be heard in the dialogue.

Ubisoft has yet to comment publicly on I Am Alive’s new ESRB rating, but you can watch the game’s astonishing E3 2008 trailer after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

New Releases: FIFA 12, Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection, X-Men Destiny, More

Posted on September 24, 2011 by John Scalzo

A soccer showdown highlights this week’s batch of new games as EA plans to release FIFA Soccer 12 on nearly every platform imaginable (3DS, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360) while Konami brings Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 to the PS3 and Xbox 360.

But the biggest new release this week has nothing to do with the beautiful game… well it is a collection of beautiful games, that’s for sure. I speak, of course, of The Ico & Shadow of the Colossus Collection. Two of the greatest and most acclaimed games of all-time have been remastered in high definition and are now finally available on the PS3. Oh, and speaking of HD remakes, Ubisoft is bringing Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Trilogy to the PS3 as well.

Also available this week is Activision’s X-Men: Destiny (DS, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360) and the first Tetris game on the 3DS, Tetris: Axis.

Check out the full list of the rest of this week’s new releases after the break. (more…)

Posted in 3DS, DS, News, PC, PS2, PS3, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360 | Tagged , ,

Star Wars: The Old Republic jumps to stores on December 20

Posted on September 24, 2011 by John Scalzo

While it looks like Diablo III won’t be out until 2012, EA, LucasArts and BioWare have confirmed that Star Wars: The Old Republic will be released by the end of the year. The massively multiplayer online game has been given an official release date of December 20 with “limited pre-order quantities.” Players who pre-order SWTOR will also receive an Early Game Access token to ensure they play the game before anyone else.

“In 1977, Lucasfilm created magic with the release of Star Wars. Our goal is to capture some of that magic when we go live with Star Wars: The Old Republic on December 20,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, BioWare’s Co-Founder. “This is an incredible moment for everyone at BioWare and our partners at LucasArts who have dedicated so much of their lives to building this extraordinary game.”

After the initial game purchase, players will be asked to spend $14.99 per month, $41.97 for 3 months ($13.99 per month), or $77.94 for six months ($12.99 per month) in subscription fees. What do they get for their money? Well…

Star Wars: The Old Republic has been lauded for breaking new ground in the genre by building on traditional MMO gameplay pillars of combat, exploration, character customization and progression, and adding a powerful fourth dimension to the experience — story with personal choice and consequence. The Old Republic is set thousands of years before the rise of Darth Vader, when the Star Wars galaxy is in the midst of a cold war.

Players will be asked to join forces with either the Galactic Republic or Sith Empire and choose one of eight iconic Star Wars characters: Jedi Knight, Jedi Consular, Smuggler, Trooper, Bounty Hunter, Imperial Agent, Sith Inquisitor and Sith Warrior. Every player’s story will unfold based on meaningful choices made throughout the game, enabling them to become the hero of their own personal Star Wars saga.

Along their journey, players will encounter companion characters with whom they can build and break meaningful relationships as they fight by their side. Players will explore a vibrant galaxy, engage in heroic battles, and experience visceral Star Wars combat.

Sounds pretty epic, but can it topple the World of Warcraft juggernaut? As Yoda says, “Do. Or do not. There is no try.”

Posted in News, PC | Tagged