Next Alan Wake coming to XBLA, won’t be “Alan Wake 2”

Posted on November 4, 2011 by John Scalzo

With the announcement that “the next Alan Wake” game would make an appearance at the 2011 Spike TV Video Game Awards, gamers got quite excited that they’d get a glimpse at Alan Wake 2. It looks like that won’t be the case as Remedy has revealed the next Alan Wake game will actually be a standalone Xbox Live Arcade title:

Fans, Alan Wake returns through Xbox Live Arcade! Follow GameInformer.com on Monday for the first screenshot, and the 2011 Spike VGAs, December 10th, for more information on this Epic Adventure. Are you ready to become the Champion of Light?

While Remedy isn’t referring to the game as Alan Wake 2, they are doing their best to reassure fans that it’ll live up to the original. Rememdy CEO Markus Maki posted the following statement on the game’s official forum:

“If you’re thinking about this in terms of some kind of a, I don’t know, super simplified ‘we still use the name but changed everything about it’ version of Alan Wake, let me just say that this is not the case. That’s all I’m gonna say.”

So, no Alan Wake Kart Racing then?

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Everyone else is doing it: Google “Do a barrel roll” now!

Posted on November 3, 2011 by John Scalzo

This has been spreading like wildfire throughout the entire Internet all day, so it’s likely you’ve already seen it. But it’s also a neat little Easter egg, so here goes…

Go to Google and search for “Do a barrel roll.” And if you need a link, here’s a link: “Do a barrel roll.” Now sit back and watch the fun (provided you’re not using Internet Explorer, the trick doesn’t work in IE).

Posted in News, PC | Tagged

Metal Gear Solid: Rising, Alan Wake 2, new BioWare game to premiere at 2011 Spike TV VGAs

Posted on November 3, 2011 by John Scalzo

The tribe has spoken. Actually, Spike TV has spoken, and they’ve revealed that “Survivor” creator Mark Burnett will produce the 2011 Spike TV Video Game Awards. This year’s VGAs will be held on Saturday, December 10 at 8 PM (Eastern Time) and broadcast live on Spike TV, MTV2, and online.

“I am so excited to be working with Spike on the VGAs,” said Mark Burnett. “I have teenage boys so video games are already a part of my life. They kick my butt in [Call of Duty: Black Ops] on a regular basis, but now are letting me win in hopes of seeing some of the world premieres before the show. We are going to have a lot of fun.”

And speaking of world premieres, Spike TV has revealed that this year’s world premiere slate will include Metal Gear Solid: Rising (with a special introduction by Hideo Kojima), Alan Wake 2, and “a new project and new studio from BioWare.” We know BioWare is hard at work on Dragon Age III, but Spike TV is being secretive about the specific game for now.

Finally, the TV channel has announced the nominees for two categories, Game of the Year and Most Anticipated Game. They’re available after the break.

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

Rainbow 6: Patriots terrorizes Game Informer’s December issue

Posted on November 3, 2011 by John Scalzo

Game Informer has revealed that the cover of their December issue will belong to Tom Clancy’s Rainbow 6: Patriots, the first new game in the Rainbow 6 series since 2008’s Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas 2. But don’t get too excited just yet, the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 game won’t be released until 2013.

“Terrorism has evolved, and so has Rainbow 6,” said Creative Director David Sears. “In Rainbow 6: Patriots, all the team play, tactics, and realism that fans of the series love have been coupled with an exciting new narrative direction. This adds an unprecedented level of humanity that will make Rainbow 6: Patriots an extremely tense and immersive experience.”

Patriots will be developed by Ubisoft Montreal and will take the series into the realm of domestic terrorism for the first time (the “exciting new narrative direction” Sears was talking about). This time, the Rainbow team will be searching for the True Patriots, a militia organization that wants to “behead corporate America” and overthrow the U.S. government.

The word “controversial” is used multiple times in Game Informer’s December issue tease. Yet, the game’s story seems to be taking many of its cues from Timothy McVeigh and the 1994 Oklahoma City bombing. McVeigh even referred to himself as a “patriot” after his arrest.

It’ll be interesting to see if Tom Clancy’s Rainbow 6: Patriots is a “ripped from the headlines” adaptation of that terrorist act or if it’ll pull a “24” and use the homegrown terrorist militia angle as a lead-in to something bigger.

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

Nintendo Download: 1950s Lawn Mower Kids, Balloon Kid, more

Posted on November 3, 2011 by John Scalzo

It’s Thursday, so Nintendo has updated their trio of download services with a new smattering of games that are all about the kids:

1950s Lawn Mower Kids (DSiWare) – Help Tom, Nancy and Tim mow lawns among UFOs, people, dogs, ducks, cats and birds. Avoid mowing down flower beds or crashing into tables and angry animals.

Balloon Kid (3DS eShop) – Save your brother from peril by floating through eight different stages as you follow his trail of balloons. Test your piloting skills to avoid enemies, or let go of your balloons to face enemies on the ground.

Gnomz (WiiWare) – Welcome to the world of Gnomz, an exciting new arcade fighter for the WiiWare service. Battle in 25 action-packed arenas and discover magical power-ups, flying elephants, rainbows and glowing reindeer.

House M.D. – Episode 4: Crashed (DSiWare) – Dr. Gregory House and his elite diagnostic team race against the clock to unravel a new medical mystery. An aging reality- TV host seems to care less about his own health than his fame and reputation. Track down the correct diagnosis by interviewing and examining the patient, running lab tests, searching locations and even performing surgery.

More information on all of these games can be found within the Nintendo Download weekly newsletter.

Posted in 3DS, DS, News, Wii |

Grand Theft Auto V: The Official Announcement

Posted on November 3, 2011 by John Scalzo

After yesterday’s epic trailer reveal, Rockstar is ready to officially announce Grand Theft Auto V. But if you’re looking for any new information, keep looking, because the press release was devoid of anything important such as what platforms GTA5 is in development for, a release date, or even when we might hear some actual news about the game.

What we did get was a lot of hype-building, including the claim that Grand Theft Auto V will be “the largest and most ambitious game Rockstar has yet created.” And in case you missed all the financial strife evident in the trailer, Rockstar confirmed that GTA5 “focuses on the pursuit of the almighty dollar in a re-imagined, present-day Southern California.”

The press release only mentioned the city (and surrounding countryside) of Los Santos, so trips to San Fierro (San Francisco) and Las Venturas (Las Vegas) are on hold for now. Perhaps Rockstar is waiting to announce their inclusion in the game or perhaps they’re being saved for a future expansion.

Oh, the developer also confirmed that the game will have a multiplayer mode, but after Grand Theft Auto IV‘s well-received multiplayer mode, that was a given.

We might be waiting a long time for any real info about Grand Theft Auto V, might as well watch the trailer again.

Posted in News, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

XBLA Today: BurgerTime World Tour

Posted on November 2, 2011 by John Scalzo

Yes, somebody made a sequel to BurgerTime and it’s on the Xbox Live Arcade today. Priced at 800 Microsoft Points ($10), BurgerTime: World Tour promises Avatar support, online play and lots of meaty goodness:

An all-time arcade favorites gets a second helping as BurgerTime World Tour elevates classic gaming to the next-gen universe. Hero Peter Pepper returns and traverses the globe challenging chefs from around the world. Gamers will tackle 50 total levels and boss fights in each of the four environments. For the first time ever, the game will also feature online and split-screen multiplayer modes for four players with online leaderboard and Avatar support. BurgerTime has never been more meaty!

Posted in News, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Grand Theft Auto V trailer reveals a return to San Andreas

Posted on November 2, 2011 by John Scalzo

After a week of waiting, the Grand Theft Auto V trailer is here! We don’t know everything but, thanks to these first moving pictures courtesy of Rockstar (if you’d rather not be spoiled, hit the jump to watch the trailer for yourself), we now know…

That Grand Theft Auto V will be set in San Andreas and appears to take place in modern day (at least, the cars look spiffy and modern). It stars a father (who sounds suspiciously like GTA veteran voice actor Ray Liotta) who has moved to San Andreas to make a better life for his family. But while there he gets involved in the guns and the armed robbery that the series is known for.

Developer Rockstar North is still keeping most of Grand Theft Auto V’s secrets to themselves as we didn’t get a release date or even confirmation the game is coming to the PS3 and Xbox 360. Is that confirmation of a Wii U version? Only time will tell.

You can find the full trailer after the break.

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