PSN Today: Assassin’s Creed III, Need For Speed Most Wanted, Okami HD, More

Posted on October 30, 2012 by John Scalzo

Sony has added another massive mess of new games to the PlayStation Store, so let’s not waste any time…

This week’s biggest new release is, without a doubt, Assassin’s Creed III. The PS3 game brings the Assassins versus Templars feud to Revolutionary times and marks the end of the AC trilogy as we know it. But never fear, Assassin’s Creed spinoffs are coming, such as the Vita-exclusive Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation, which is also available to download today.

Speaking of PS3/Vita pairings, Criterion’s Need For Speed: Most Wanted is available in both a PS3 and Vita version. Each edition of the game will have to purchased separately, but you can challenge those cops whether you’re at home or on the road.

Capcom’s beloved Okami has also been added to the PSN today in a special HD remake. If you’d prefer something a little more action-packed, the Twisted Metal reboot is also available on the PS Store today. Rounding out the rest of the PS3 releases are two Move-based titles: Sports Champions 2 and Toy Story Mania.

Vita owners will also get three more games to choose from: the Norse mythoogy of Ragnarok Odyssey, the brain training of Smart As…, and the bricky lit of Lego Lord of the Rings.

Hit the jump for more information on all of these (as well as one PS2 Classic and two PSP games) and check out the PlayStation Blog for all the latest game add-ons recently added to the PlayStation Store.

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Disney buys Lucasfilm, announces Star Wars: Episode VII for 2015

Posted on October 30, 2012 by John Scalzo

I… I… are there even any words?

Disney has done it again. After purchasing Marvel in 2009 for $4.24 billion, the House of Mouse has now turned their sights on Lucasfilm and the entire Star Wars empire. And like Luke Skywalker in the Death Star’s canyon, they’ve hit their target and are taking home a shiny new medal.

During an investor’s meeting earlier today, Disney CEO Robert A. Iger announced that the company has purchased Lucasfilm for $4.05 billion. This includes all rights to the Star Wars franchise (and Indiana Jones too) as well as Industrial Light + Magic, Skywalker Sound, and Lucasfilm’s game division, LucasArts.

As if this wasn’t wild enough, Iger also announced that production on Star Wars: Episode VII has begun. The film will be released in 2015 and will be followed by Episode VIII in 2017/2018 and Episode IX in 2020/2021. George Lucas will serve as a creative consultant on all three movies.

“For the past 35 years, one of my greatest pleasures has been to see Star Wars passed from one generation to the next,” said Lucas. “It’s now time for me to pass Star Wars on to a new generation of filmmakers.”

LucasArts is currently devloping Star Wars 1313, which debuted at this year’s E3 Expo. It’s unknown how this acquisition will affect the game’s development, if at all.

Whatever happens, may The Force be with all of us.

[Source: Deadline]

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Buy Wii U Deluxe Set, get cash back from future eShop purchases

Posted on October 30, 2012 by John Scalzo

When Nintendo revealed the bundle details and release date for the Wii U back in September, they also confirmed that the Wii U Deluxe Set would come packaged with a special discount on Wii U eShop content. Today, they’ve announced a few more details for the promotion.

Officially known as the “Deluxe Digital Promotion,” it’s not really a discount program at all. Instead, it’s a rewards program. According to Nintendo, Wii U owners will receive a point for every 10 cents they spend on the Wii U eShop between November 18, 2012 and December 31, 2014. After they’ve accumulated 500 points, the points can be exchanged for a $5 eShop credit. So, for example, if you purchase New Super Mario Bros. U for $59.99, you’ll receive 599 points.

“From day one, we want Wii U owners to experience the full breadth of great downloadable games and content available for the console,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “The Deluxe Digital Promotion is our way of encouraging Wii U Deluxe Set owners to explore the Nintendo eShop and discover how Wii U offers an incredible combination of fun, innovation, convenience and value.”

Sadly, those who purchase the Wii U Basic Set will be ineligible to join the “Deluxe Digital Promotion,” and Wii Shop, DSi Shop, and 3DS eShop purchases cannot be used to accumulate points. But you have to admit, this is still a pretty good deal.

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Nintendo details more New Super Mario Bros. U features

Posted on October 30, 2012 by John Scalzo

With the launch of the Wii U less than three weeks away, Nintendo has pulled back the curtain on a few more features found in New Super Mario Bros. U.

Like the previous New Super Mario Bros. games, U will feature several bonus modes. Challenge Mode tasks players with completing a level (either by themselves or with a friend) while meeting a variety of objectives such as “clearing a course without touching a single coin or touching the ground.” Coin Battle is a multiplayer-only mode that, you guessed it, makes players compete to collect the most coins in a course.

Nintendo is also boasting that New Super Mario Bros. U will feature a world map “for the first time since 1991’s Super Mario World. Now, I don’t want to tell the biggest video game publisher in the world their business, but that is just wrong. What they meant to say is that every game side-scrolling Mario game since 1991’s Super Mario World has included a world map and U is no exception.

Finally, Nintendo is bringing back the rabbit chases from Super Mario 64. The rabbit now has a name, Nabbit, and he’s wearing a purple bodysuit, but catching him will net Mario a powerful P-Acorn, “which will allow them to fly continuously through an entire stage.”

Want to know more about all these new features? Hit the jump for a complete description, straight from Nintendo. New Super Mario Bros. U and the Wii U console will be available on November 18.

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Rockstar announces Spring 2013 release for Grand Theft Auto V

Posted on October 30, 2012 by John Scalzo

Well that didn’t take long.

After two separate sources leaked the Spring 2013 release date for Grand Theft Auto V, Rockstar has gone and made it official. As is usual with all things Rockstar, the publisher is touting this as the biggest and best Grand Theft Auto yet.

“Grand Theft Auto V builds on everything we’ve learned about open world game design,” said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. “We can’t wait to share it with fans.”

You can pre-order Grand Theft Auto V for the PS3 or Xbox 360 beginning on Monday, November 5.

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Call of Duty voice actor confirms Modern Warfare 4

Posted on October 30, 2012 by John Scalzo

A writer for This Is Xbox was recently seated on an airplane next to Billy Murray. If you’re thinking he peppered the actor with Ghostbusters and Caddyshack quotes during the entire flight, think again. It’s not that Billy Murray.

Instead, this Billy Murray is the British actor who provides the voice for Captain Price in the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare series. During their airborne conversation, the actor revealed that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is in the works at Infinity Ward. Whoops!

Quoth Murray: “[O]n Monday I am off to meet Infinity Ward about the next game, Modern Warfare 4. I’m doing work on the sequel to Modern Warfare 3, it carries straight on and I only ever appear in the Modern Warfare games…”

This is certainly nice to know, but let’s be realistic here, did anyone think Infinity Ward wasn’t already hard at work on Modern Warfare 4?

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Dead Island: Riptide shambles into stores on April 23

Posted on October 30, 2012 by John Scalzo

Deep Silver announced today that Dead Island: Riptide will be released on April 23, 2012 (and on April 26 in the rest of the world). The publisher also took this opportunity to reveal the first details about the game’s pre-order incentives and the Special Edition package:

Pre-Order Edition: This version of Dead Island: Riptide will include an exclusive pack of weapon mods that allows even more, manifold ways to dispose of the ghastly zombie hordes on Palanai island.

Special Retailers Edition: In addition to the weapon mods this version will contain an alternate character skin not obtainable anywhere else! The Special Edition of Dead Island: Riptide will only be available at selected retail partners. Details about the retail partners per territory offering the Special Edition will be announced soon. The Special Retailers Edition will also feature an alternative packshot.

Dead Island: Riptide is in development at Techland (creators of the original Dead Island) for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.

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Spring 2013 release for Grand Theft Auto V confirmed by GAME

Posted on October 30, 2012 by John Scalzo

The Brighton location of British retailer GAME tweeted a picture of promotional materials for Grand Theft Auto V this morning, further confirming the game’s Spring 2013 launch window. The tweet has since disappeared but, as the saying goes, once something is on the Internet, it can never be deleted.

The image of the promotional box art, which was reposted by EGM, includes two never-before-seen GTA5 images: A police officer handcuffing a blonde starlet and a man with a gun standing in front of a four-wheeler.

So there you have it, Grand Theft Auto V is officially coming to the PS3 and Xbox 360 in Spring 2013. You can start getting excited… now!

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