Most Recent: Xbox 360

Operation Flashpoint: Red River deploys on April 26

Posted on February 18, 2011 by John Scalzo

Codemasters gave the order today that Operation Flashpoint: Red River will be released for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 on April 26th in North America (April 21st in Europe). In honor of the new release date, Codemasters has released the new gameplay trailer you see above, “which introduces the game’s conflict in Tajikistan from the perspective of Corporal Ryan Balletto”:

With footage showing the epic landscapes players will experience and battle through in Operation Flashpoint: Red River, Marines are shown protecting convoys, attacking dug-in insurgents and setting up ambushes against the backdrop of Tajikistan’s beautiful countryside and spectacular mountain ranges.

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

A look at Forza Motorsport 4’s development

Posted on February 17, 2011 by Mike Gutierrez

After Forza 3‘s two year-plus performance at retail was outsold by Gran Turismo 5 in little over a month, Turn 10 Studios is hard at work to take the racing sim crown with Forza Motorsport 4. This hard work was recently exposed in an excellent article at MSN Autos, exploring how racing games like Gran Turismo, Forza, and the upcoming NASCAR The Game 2011 translate real world driving into interactive entertainment.

As you can imagine, developing these racing sims is getting really insane. For example, Turn 10 is incorporating proprietary performance data from tire manufacturers like Pirelli to emulate how tires grip and slip in the game. Additionally, the team spends two three days accumulating terabytes of video and pictures to render every track down to subcentimeter accuracy. Finally, the developers teased a little bit about “Kinect-only Mode,” where you’ll be able to lean inside of the car in cockpit view to peek around blind corners or your competitors’ vehicles. The article also features input from the developers of NASCAR The Game 2011.

It’s been a big day for racing game news, and any fan of the sim sub-genre in particular should check out the article. Racing games are just as guilty as FPS for over-saturating the market this generation, but with the games still breaking new ground in accuracy, bring ’em on I say.

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged , ,

Three new DLC packs souped-up for Need For: Speed Hot Pursuit

Posted on February 17, 2011 by Mike Gutierrez

EA announced today that starting on February 22, a new DLC pack for Need for Speed Hot Pursuit will be released every week on Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network in the following order: Armed and Dangerous, Lamborghini Untamed, and Porsche Unleashed (OMG THE PORSCHE UNLEASHED LOL). Armed and Dangerous includes two new multiplayer modes, while the latter two contain three new cars (playable as both cops and racers) from their respective manufacturers as well as ten new events. All packs contain four new trophies/achievements and will run you $6.99 or 560 Microsoft Points. Hit the jump for more details on the modes and cars.
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Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Tom Clancy, Pac-Man CE DX picked for future XBLM deals

Posted on February 17, 2011 by John Scalzo

Major Nelson has revealed a few Xbox Live Marketplace deals for the next two weeks and it looks like gamers will soon be able to purchase the best game of 2010 for 50% off.

But first, Tom Clancy Week will give XBL Gold members a chance to obtain the following add-ons for half off during the week of February 21st:

  • Tom Clancy’s EndWar – Escalation (200 Microsoft Points)
  • Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter – Chapter 2 (300 Microsoft Points)
  • Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 – Co-Op Collection (200 Microsoft Points)
  • Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X. – Air Supremacy (400 Microsoft Points)
  • Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X. 2 – All-in-one Pack (400 Microsoft Points)
  • Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory – Games on Demand (600 Microsoft Points)
  • Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction – Deniable Ops: Insurgency (400 Microsoft Points)
  • Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction – Outfit (200 Microsoft Points)

After that, during the week of February 28, XBL Gold members will be able to download Pac-Man Championship Edition DX for only 400 Microsoft Points (that’s just $5 people!). The game is a steal at any price, but at 50% off, it becomes a required purchase.

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Chris Evans to voice Captain America in game adaptation

Posted on February 17, 2011 by John Scalzo

Marvel tapped Chris Evans to don the red, white and blue of Captain America for the World War II hero’s new movie, Captain America: The First Avenger, and now Sega has enlisted his services for the video game adaptation.

The game, Captain America: Super Soldier, is in development for the DS, PS3, Wii and Xbox 360 at Next Level Games and it should be available soon after the movie’s July opening. Evans, who is no stranger to superheroics after starring in The Fantastic Four, will supply his likeness and vocal talents for the title.

“Signing Chris to star in Captain America: Super Soldier delivers the cinematic quality and emotional drive that fans expect,” said Gary Knight, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Sega of Europe and Sega of America. “Chris will help fuel the character’s mission as he battles through the enormous Hydra castle full of legendary villains in a completely original story.”

Evans is the only Captain America cast member that is currently signed on for Super Solider. It’s unknown if his fellow stars Hugo Weaving (Red Skull) abd Sebastian Stan (Bucky) will join him.

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

Hard Corps: Uprising Review: A Contra Game By Any Other Name…

Posted on February 16, 2011 by John Scalzo

The definition of a “shooter” game has changed greatly since the days of the NES. In those days, a “shooter” was a game like Contra: a side-scrolling, brutally hard, assault on wave-after-wave of enemy soldiers, followed by a screen-sized baddie that flashed red when you shot its weak point. Today, a “shooter” more likely means a first person shooter as visions of Halo, CODBLOPS and Gears of War dance through your head.

But Konami has shown that the old ways don’t have to fade away as the publisher has taken great care to bring the Contra series into the 21st century. Recognizing the franchise’s trademark stlye, the most recent Contra games have been 2D side-scrollers that specialize in controller-throwing difficulty. There was the grittiness of the PS2 entries, the portability of Contra 4, and the 16-bit stylings of Contra ReBirth. Now, there’s the anime-inspired Hard Corps: Uprising, the first game in the series not to carry the Contra name. (more…)

Posted in PS3, Reviews, Top Story, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood leads BAFTA noms with seven

Posted on February 16, 2011 by John Scalzo

Somebody alert the world, a Brotherhood of assassins has infiltrated the British Academy Video Games Awards. Ubisoft’s stealthy sequel, Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, garnered seven nominations, more than any other game, including one for Best Game.

Other big honorees from this year’s Video Games Awards include Call of Duty: Black Ops, Heavy Rain (six nominations apiece) and Mass Effect 2 (four nominations).

Awarded annually by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), the winners of this year’s Video Games Awards will announced in a ceremony on March 16.

The full list of every nominee and every award up for grabs can be found after the break. (more…)

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Hard Corps: Uprising shoots its way onto the XBLA

Posted on February 16, 2011 by John Scalzo

Microsoft has kicked off their 2011 Xbox Live Arcade House Party promotion in an explosive way as Hard Corps: Uprising is now available to download.

Priced at 1200 Microsoft Points ($15), the game is a prequel to the Contra saga as a whole and to 1994’s Contra: Hard Corps in particular. Developed by Arc System Works, the game also brings an anime-inspired flavor to Contra’s signature run-and-gun routines for the first time.

In addition to the main game, Konami has made two bonus characters for Hard Corps: Uprising available to download (priced at 200 MS Points each) along with a whole closet full of Avatar items.

Check back later today for our review of Hard Corps: Uprising.

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged ,