Most Recent: Xbox 360

Console versions of Risen 2 drop anchor in May

Posted on March 14, 2012 by John Scalzo

Deep Silver has announced that the console version of Risen 2: Dark Waters has set sail for the muddy waters of May.

Previously scheduled for an April 24 release, Risen 2 for the PS3 and Xbox 360 will now be available on May 22. The release date of the PC version was unchanged and remains April 27.

I hope somebody was forced to walk the plank for this! Arrrrr!

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

XBLA Today: Defenders of Ardania, Shoot Many Robots

Posted on March 14, 2012 by John Scalzo

Two Xbox Live Aracde games vie for your downloadable dollar today. The first, which is priced at 1200 Microsoft Points ($15), is the tower defense game Defenders of Ardania:

Defenders of Ardania is a next generation tower defense game set in the fantasy world of Majesty, where you can take control over both the defending- and the attacking sides. The game is set in the fantasy world of Majesty with 3 different playable races, each with their own, distinguishable locations, towers, and units. Its innovative new game concept adds a RTS element and takes the popular genre to a new level. Multiplayer offers three different game modes with the players assuming either the defensive or the offensive sides – or both!

The second game in this week’s update is a very descriptively titled shooter game, Shoot Many Robots, which is available for 800 Microsoft Points ($10):

Shoot Many Robots is a 4-player co-op run-n’-gun action game starring robot slayer and gun aficionado, P. Walter Tugnut. From a gun that shoots garden gnome missiles to a tutu that boosts speed and damage, there are hundreds of crazy guns and gear to unlock that boost Walter’s stats – not to mention, make him look pretty. You and three friends can team up to exterminate a zillion robots while progressing through tons of missions, facing uncomfortably epic bosses, and leveling up along the way.

Shoot Many Robots was also added to the PlayStation Store yesterday.

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Here’s your Lollipop Chainsaw voice cast

Posted on March 14, 2012 by John Scalzo

Writer/Consultant James Gunn (Dawn of the Dead, Slither) has assembled an impressive voice cast for Lollipop Chainsaw‘s western release. In addition to pulling in some familiar names with geeky cred, Gunn even called in a familial favor for the game’s villainous center.

That’s right, in a move that will be sure to get fans of “The Gilmore Girls” playing Lollipop Chainsaw, James Gunn has hired his brother, Sean Gunn (who starred in GG as Kurt), to play Swan the necromancer (called it). His “Gilmore Girls” co-star, Gregg Henry, is also along for the ride as Juliet’s Father.

So who’ll be playing Juliet Starling, the blonde and perky cheerleader that’s trying to stop this zombie uprising? That’ll be Tara Strong, who most recently provided the voice of Harley Quinn in Batman: Arkham City.

Rounding out the cast will be:

  • Linda Cardelleni (star of “Freaks and Geeks” and Velma from the Scooby-Doo movies) as a fellow demonhunter, Cordelia.
  • will play her sister Rosalind.
  • Michael Rosenbaum (Lex from “Smallville”) will play Juliet’s boyfriend Nick, a disembodied head.
  • Jimmy Urine, from the band Mindless Self Indulgence, will voice the “deranged” Zed.
  • Finally, Shawnee Smith (of the Saw films and “The Stand”) and Michael Rooker (who starred in Slither) will voice two additional characters.

Lollipop Chainsaw will be available for the PS3 and Xbox 360 on June 12.

Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Max Gamerscore increase for XBLA games coming in April

Posted on March 13, 2012 by John Scalzo

Call it Achievement inflation if you want, but Microsoft has announced that developers will have the option to include 400 Gamerscore Points in their Xbox Live Arcade titles beginning in April. With an increased Gamerscore, XBLA games will also be allowed to include more Achievements, with a new maximum of 30. This is double the current limits, which are 200 Gamerscore Points and 12 Achievements.

Furthermore, beginning in June, the 400 Gamerscore/30 Acheivements maximum will be a requirement for all Xbox Live Arcade titles.

So prepare to hear “Achievement Unlocked” a lot more often in the future.

Posted in News, Xbox 360 |

New Releases: Tales of Graces F, Silent Hill Downpour, Yakuza Dead Souls, More

Posted on March 10, 2012 by John Scalzo

It’s “The Wait is Over Week” in this week’s edition of the new release report as a trio of games that were announced a long time ago finally make it to store shelves:

Japan has always been a game or two ahead of the US when it comes to Namco Bandai’s Tales series. So fans of the RPG franchise will be pleased to know that the PS3-exclusive Tales of Graces F is ready for release.

The US releases in Sega’s Yakuza series are typically the victim of a similar situation. And so it goes with this week’s new entry in the series, Yakuza: Dead Souls (PS3), which was originally released in Japan in early 2011.

But when it comes to Silent Hill: Downpour (PS3, Xbox 360), gamers have had to wait a while for the game due to a good old-fashioned delay. Several of them, in fact. But it too will be in stores this week.

Finally, EA’s FIFA Street series has suffered any delays, territorial or otherwise. Instead, it just disappeared for a few years. But the franchise is back, in rebooted form, as FIFA Street on the PS3 and Xbox 360.

Hit the jump for the complete list of this week’s new releases including a pair of plane games and the new Naruto game. (more…)

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

Splinter Cell 6 announcement coming “soon”

Posted on March 10, 2012 by John Scalzo

Ubisoft began building their Toronto studio over two years ago. In that time, the team, which is under the command of Jade Raymond (Assassin’s Creed), has been hard at work on a new entry in the Splinter Cell series.

Now, in a new interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Raymond revealed that an official announcement for Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell 6 will be happening in the very near future:

GI.biz: So what’s your next big milestone for Toronto?

Jade Raymond: Well we’re basically going to announce our first big project, Splinter Cell, soon, so that’s going to be a big push for us.

According to Raymond, the game has been in development for 18 months and she is “impressed by what the team has been able to create.” She goes on to say “I’d say it’s better than what we could have done in most established studios.”

Of course, she probably has to say nice things about the game as you never know when Sam Fisher will leap out of the shadows and take you down.

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

Modern Warfare 3 fends off Final Fantasy XIII-2 in February 2012 NPD ranking

Posted on March 9, 2012 by John Scalzo

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 sits atop the NPD’s monthly list of bestselling games for the fourth month in a row. The shooter sequel managed to fend off new releases Final Fantasy XIII-2, UFC Undisputed 3, and Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, which rounded out the top four. Two other new releases managed to make it into the top ten, Namco Bandai’s Soul Calibur V (at #7) and Sony’s Twisted Metal reboot (at #9).

The NPD Group didn’t list any Vita games in the top ten during its first month of availability. No 3DS games cracked the top ten either, for that matter.

You can find the complete list of February 2012 bestsellers after the break. (more…)

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

Skyrim takes home Game of the Year honors at 2012 GDC Awards

Posted on March 8, 2012 by John Scalzo

Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim took home the coveted Game of the Year award at this year’s Game Developers Choice Awards, but Valve’s Portal 2 was the big winner of the night. The story of Chell, GLaDOS, and Wheatley won Best Audio, Best Game Design, and, of course, Best Narrative.

The other big winner of the night was Supergiant Games and Bastion. The title from the small seven-man team was awarded Best Downloadable Game as well as Best Debut.

A trio of special awards were also handhed out last night:

  • Epic Mickey and Deus Ex developer Warren Spector received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
  • Atari’s Dave Theurer received the Pioneer Award for his work on Tempest and Missile Command.
  • Lawyers Ken Doroshow and Paul M. Smith were presented with the Ambassador Award for their defense of the game industry in the Supreme Court case (Brown v. EMA/ESA) that established First Amendment protection for video games.

Hit the jump for a complete list of award winners including Best Technology, Best Visual Arts, Best Handheld/Mobile Game, and more. (more…)

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