PC version of Batman: Arkham City delayed until November; new screens released

Posted on September 21, 2011 by John Scalzo

In a very short note, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has announced that the PC version of Batman: Arkham City will be released in November instead of on October 18 with the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions. That’s it. That’s the entirety of what the publisher had to say on the matter.

However, while they didn’t say “we’re sorry,” releasing a batch of new screenshots showcasing a battle with Bane and the Monarch Theatre (where’s Bruce’s parents were killed) is a welcome sight. You can check them out after the break.

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

Resident Evil 4 HD, Burnout Crash! added to PlayStation Store

Posted on September 21, 2011 by John Scalzo

Resident Evil 4 is now available on the PlayStation Store in stunning high definition, so if you never played it on the GameCube, PS2, PC, Wii or iPhone over the years, now’s your chance! To further sweeten the pot for PlayStation Plus subscribers, Sony is discounting the game to $9.99 ($19.99 is the regular price) and they’re offering up Resident Evil, Resident Evil 2 and Nemesis for free.

If you’d prefer to play a newer game, EA and Criterion have added the top-down Burnout Crash! to the PlayStation Store.

Of course, modern is the exact opposite of this week’s PlayStation Store theme. All of the remaining “new” releases are actually downloadable versions of games we know and love including the arcade/Geneis classic Altered Beast, Volition’s Saints Row 2, Disney’s Bolt and Cubixx HD (an upscaled version of a PSP Mini released in 2010).

The PSP Store gets the same old is new treatment as Atlus’s Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 2: Innocent Sin is the sole new release.

You can read all about this week’s new releases and game add-ons by calling up the Internet Archive or visiting the PlayStation.Blog.

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Daily Scoop: September 20, 2011 – Gears of War 3 Day!

Posted on September 20, 2011 by Nicole Kline

It’s another day of hot deals, including some great stuff centered around today’s release of Gears of War 3!

First off, there’s a Gears of War 3 Achievement Challenge over at 360Voice, which gives players a chance to win $10,000! That’s a lot of dollars. The challenge runs from September 20 until October 20, so if you’re a Gears head, definitely check it out! Also related to Gears is a special promotion happening over at Blockbuster. If you purchase Gears of War 3 in-store at Blockbuster, you get one month of unlimited rentals for free! This promo runs until October 7. It’s a good day to be a Gears fan!

Amazon’s Deal of the Day in video games today is Majesco’s Zumba Fitness with the Kinect. It’s $31.25 down from $49.99. Also new at Amazon are their weekly deals:

No gaming shirts today, but seeing as The Stand is my favorite Stephen King novel, I can’t help but pimp today’s Tee Fury:

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Posted in Daily Scoop, Etcetera, News, PS3, Xbox 360 |

Neal Stephenson tackles an MMO “cyber war” in Reamde

Posted on September 20, 2011 by John Scalzo

Neal Stephenson has become a hero in geek circles for his examinations of cryptography, philosophy, cyberpunk and science fiction in novels such as Snow Crash, Cryptonomicon and The Baroque Cycle. Today, Stephenson turns his pen to the world of MMOs with the release of Reamde.

Described by publisher Harper Collins as the tale of an “online war,” Reamde wades into such varied topics as “the global war on terror to social media, computer hackers to mobsters, entrepreneurs to religious fundamentalists.”

Harper Collins has more information at their official website, including a more in-depth look at the novel’s plot:

In 1972, Richard Forthrast, the black sheep of an Iowa farming clan, fled to the mountains of British Columbia to avoid the draft. A skilled hunting guide, he eventually amassed a fortune by smuggling marijuana across the border between Canada and Idaho. As the years passed, Richard went straight and returned to the States after the U.S. government granted amnesty to draft dodgers. He parlayed his wealth into an empire and developed a remote resort in which he lives. He also created T’Rain, a multibillion-dollar, massively multiplayer online role-playing game with millions of fans around the world.

But T’Rain’s success has also made it a target. Hackers have struck gold by unleashing REAMDE, a virus that encrypts all of a player’s electronic files and holds them for ransom. They have also unwittingly triggered a deadly war beyond the boundaries of the game’s virtual universe—and Richard is at ground zero.

Posted in Etcetera, News |

Battlefield 3 open beta begins September 29

Posted on September 20, 2011 by John Scalzo

It’s been a long time coming, but EA and DICE have finally announced that the Battlefield 3 open beta will begin on September 29 for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 owners. If you’ve pre-ordered Battlefield 3 through EA’s Origin store or purchased the Limited Edition/Tier 1 Edition of Medal of Honor, you’ll receive access to the beta 48 hours earlier on September 27.

The beta will be available until October 10 and will give gamers a chance to try Battlefield 3 early as well as give the Battlelog social platform a spin. PC players must download the Origin client to join the beta while PS3 and Xbox 360 owners will be able to download it from the PlayStation Store or Xbox Live Marketplace.

DICE has also launched a Battlefield Beta FAQ if you still have questions. Dismissed!

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THQ taps Crytek to develop Homefront 2

Posted on September 20, 2011 by John Scalzo

Executives at THQ haven’t been shy about declaring Homefront the start of a new series, even before it was released. Today, the publisher made good on their promises by announcing that Homefront 2 is in development at Crytek (Crysis, FarCry).

“We see Homefront as a really strong universe that has a lot of potential and that has been expertly created and marketed by THQ,” said Cevat Yerli, Founder, CEO and President of Crytek. “We believe that bringing our level of quality, creativity and production values to the next Homefront title creates an opportunity for both THQ and Crytek to deliver a truly blockbuster game. It’s really important to us that THQ has the faith in giving us a lot of creative freedom over one of its most important properties to allow us to bring the Homefront world to life in a new and innovative way.”

Original developer Kaos Studios was shut down by THQ earlier this year, prompting the Crytek shift. As development of the series moves to Europe, so does the storyline. It’s just a tease so far, but here’s all we know about the plot of Homefront 2:

“[T]he splintered nations of Europe struggle to maintain peace at home, as the global economy continues its downward spiral, and civil order disintegrates. The world is teetering on the brink of ruin…”

According to THQ, Homefront 2 (which is just a working title) will be available on the PC and consoles during their 2014 fiscal year. For those without a THQ financial calendar handy, that means the game will be released between April 1, 2013 and March 31, 2014. So it’s very likely the “consoles” THQ is referring to are the Wii U, PS4 and Xbox 720.

Posted in News, PC, PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Tagged

Deus Ex: Human Revolution Review: Put Some Deus Ex In Your Machina

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Chris Urie

Philosophy and Video Games have an on-again, off-again relationship. Philosophy will say, “Hey would you like to explore new and innovative ways for people to interact with an engaging and intelligent story?” To which Video Games say, “Nah! Gimme some of them flashing lights, explosions, gore, and jiggle physics. Do you have a wet nap? My fingers are covered in Cheetos dust.”

But sometimes they will find a middle ground. Philosophy will bring over nachos and guacamole and Video Games will sidle in with something that makes you question the future of evolution for humanity or the value of Objectivism. “Wow, someone has been reading Ayn Rand and William Gibson. What are your thoughts on transhumanism?,” Philosophy might ask. To which Video Games would respond, “This guac is pretty good. Could you pass the hot sauce?”

OK, maybe Video Games still have a ways to go. But brace yourself, pick up the spilled nachos, and prepare for the kinetic blend of intelligence and excitement that is Deus Ex: Human Revolution.

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

Xbox TV to be available by the end of the year

Posted on September 19, 2011 by John Scalzo

First announced at this year’s E3 Expo, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer cleared away the static about the Xbox 360’s upcoming “live TV” service during an analyst briefing. Known as Xbox TV, the service will launch this holiday season with “dozens or hundreds of additional video content suppliers.”

Additional details about the service are still pretty sketchy, but we know it’ll include video-on-demand options, UFC events, and live TV featuring “news, sports, and your favorite channels.”

The most important detail, the price, is also still a big question mark. It’s also unknown how Xbox TV will integrate itself with Xbox Live’s current video services including Hulu, Netflix and Zune Video.

So basically, we don’t know anything new now that we didn’t already know at E3.

[Source: CNN]

Posted in News, Xbox 360 |