Most Recent: Xbox 360

Kingdoms of Amalur’s story continues March 20 with The Legend of Dead Kel

Posted on February 29, 2012 by John Scalzo

The story for EA’s Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning will expand next month thanks to the recently announced expansion, The Legend of Dead Kel. Man, I hope Kenan didn’t do it, that would break my heart.

Mildly obscure mid-90s references aside, The Legend of Dead Kel opens up the land of Gallows End, “a gigantic new continent to explore.” There, players will claim ownership of an estate and “experience new weapons, Twists of Fate and other perks against new enemies.” Finally, the expansion will offer “numerous side quests, multiple dungeons to explore and a colorful cast of characters.”

All this can be yours on March 20 for 800 Microsoft Points (from the Xbox Live Marketplace) or $10 (from Origin, Steam, or the PlayStation Store).

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XBLA Today: Nexuiz

Posted on February 29, 2012 by John Scalzo

Nexuiz began life as a free-to-play arena first person shooter back in 2005. Now, developer Illfonic and publisher THQ have brought it to the Xbox Live Arcade as part of this year’s XBLA House Party. So if you’re prepared to spend 800 Microsoft Points ($10), you can “Toga! Toga! Toga!” with Nexuiz today:

For centuries the Kavussari and the Forsellians have waged war. They have a fragile truce but due to their seething disgust of each other they still pit their warriors against each other in arenas rather than on the fields of war. Those episodes of lethal combat are now broadcast throughout the galaxy, as entertainment… a spectacle known as… The Nexuiz Competition: An arena based first person shooter where you can alter the rules of the match and laws of physics while you dominate opponents in ever-changing hostile environments bleeding with hatred.

And don’t forget, if you purchase all four House Party titles, you’ll receive a rebate of 800 Microsoft Points ($10).

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Lionhead Studios counting down to GDC announcement

Posted on February 29, 2012 by John Scalzo

Lionhead Studios plans to launch a new version of their website at 7 PM (Eastern Time) on March 5. But the developer is also being a bit of a tease by also saying “Who knows what other surprises are coming…”

Oh, did I mention March 5 is the first day of the Game Developers Conference? Coincidence, I think not!

So what’s your guess? Will Peter Molyneux and company announce Fable IV? Or will it just be a status update on the previously announced Fable: The Journey? Or are we looking at something else entirely?

My money’s on the return of Milo & Kate! (Not really).

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged ,

Madden NFL 13 Cover Nominees: AFC West

Posted on February 28, 2012 by John Scalzo

Are you ready for some football? How about a long and drawn out fan vote to decide who will appear on the cover of Madden NFL 13? Well, EA Sports has you covered on both.

Starting today, the Madden-maker will reveal each division’s nominees for the game’s cover. The 64-player tournament will initially include two players from each team. Beginning March 7, fans can head over to the ESPN SportsNation Facebook Page to decide who will represent each team in the final 32-player bracket.

Today’s nominees come from the AFC West:

Denver Broncos
Von Miller or Tim Tebow

Kansas City Chiefs
Dwayne Bowe or Derrick Johnson

Oakland Raiders
Sebastian Janikowski or Shane Lechler

San Diego Chargers
Antonio Gates or Phillip Rivers

Out of these eight players, I’d say only Tebow is a lock for the final bracket. And what is Sebastian Janikowski… a kicker… even doing in this vote? Don’t get me wrong, kickers are awesome, but you’ll never see one on the cover of a Madden game. And Lechler’s inclusion is just, I don’t want to say joke, but come on now…

Posted in News, PS3, Vita, Wii, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Mass Effect 3 Hands-On Preview: Big Damn Heroes

Posted on February 28, 2012 by John Llewellyn Martin

Commander Shepard is coming back to finish the fight! Wait, that’s from another game. Regardless, s/he is returning in the final installment of the epic Mass Effect trilogy, looking to kick Reaper butt, save Earth, and maybe get a little alien snoo-snoo on the side. To help facilitate excitement for the March 6 release, BioWare and Electronic Arts have put out a demo to get fans hungry for the third act of this space opera. Is it more unbridled, space-faring fun? Or will it make you want to punch a reporter in the face? (more…)

Posted in PC, Previews, PS3, Top Story, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Epic will unveil Unreal Engine 4 at GDC behind closed doors

Posted on February 28, 2012 by John Scalzo

Two weeks ago, Epic’s Mark Rein told the world that the developer would reveal their Unreal Engine 4 sometime in 2012. Apparently he meant “really really soon” as the company has confirmed that the Unreal Engine 4 will make its worldwide debut at this year’s Game Developers Conference.

Naturally, the Unreal Engine 4 will be shown off “behind closed doors” during the March 5-9 industry gathering. Epic is also asking prospective clients to sign a non-disclosure agreement before viewing the UE4 demo, so I’m not getting my hopes up too high about learning something new about the next-generation graphics engine.

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

Grasshopper’s Sine Mora coming to XBLA on March 21

Posted on February 27, 2012 by John Scalzo

Suda 51 always has a few irons in the fire (knowing Suda, there’s likely a room in his house with literal irons in a literal fire) and in addition to Lollipop Chainsaw, the developer’s Grasshopper Manufacture is hard at work on Sine Mora for the Xbox Live Arcade. The game, which was co-developed by Digital Reality and published by Microsoft, has been given a release date (March 21), a price (1200 Microsoft Points or $15) and a new trailer where the main character gets killed a lot.

Say it with me… oh, Suda!

If Sine Mora has slipped under your radar until now, there’s a good reason for that. The game is a dieselpunk shoot ’em up, so radar hadn’t actually been invented yet. But that hasn’t stopped Grasshopper from putting your diesel-powered plane against a steady stream of armored zeppelins, angry trains, and one giant spider.

Say it with me… oh, Suda!

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged

NCAA Football 13 drafts Robert Griffin III for cover

Posted on February 27, 2012 by John Scalzo

Robert Griffin III had a good weekend.

The quarterback from Baylor put on an amazing show at this weekend’s NFL Scouting Combine and, this morning, EA Sports announced he’ll be the cover athlete for NCAA Football 13.

But unlike at the Combine, Griffin will have to share the spotlight when NCAA Football 13 is released in July for the PS3 and Xbox 360 as EA also announced that a fan vote for a second cover athlete will begin on March 12. Voting will take place on the NCAA Football Facebook Page where fans will be able to select one of eight former Heisman Trophy winners to accompany Griffin:

  • Marcus Allen (RB – University of Southern California)
  • Doug Flutie (QB – Boston College)
  • Eddie George (RB – Ohio State University)
  • Desmond Howard (WR – University of Michigan)
  • Barry Sanders (RB – Oklahoma State University)
  • Herschel Walker (RB – University of Georgia)
  • Charlie Ward (QB – Florida State University)
  • Andre Ware (QB – University of Houston)

My money’s on Sanders, but I’d love to see Flutie win.

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