October 31, 2008

NXE - More Avatars

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Gamerscore Blog has just posted another look at the avatars coming with the New Xbox Expeience November 19th. Enjoy!



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Resident Evil Wii Premiere Video

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Courtesy of GameKyo we have a video for the new Resident Evil GameCube Port for Wii. The game is set to launch December 25th in Japan.



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October 30, 2008

LittleBigPlanet DLC Outfits Coming November 6th

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Just announced over on the Playstation Blog, new outfits are coming to LittleBigPlanet on November 6th.

First up, for free and only available 11/6-11/19 are a spacesuit and jack-o-lantern outfit (seen below).


Next up, a set of $0.99 each outfits including a tree frog and gorilla outfit. There will be more to choose from than this, but these are the ones they showed first.


Finally premium outfits for $1.99 each. These include the Solid Snake outfit and Sephiroth outfit.







There are ways to get some together for cheaper:

"Basic SackBoy Costume Bundle - $2.99
At times, we’ll offer four basic costumes at a great price…to make things easier for the ‘must collect everything I see’ personalities

Premium SackBoy Costume Bundle - $5.99
Similar to the Basic SackBoy Costume Bundle, this premium version consists of four premium costumes for the price of three. All characters in premium bundles will revolve around a certain theme…more info to come in the near future."

Also a rare Media Molecule T-shirt will be available for an unannounced cost at an unannounced time so stay tuned!

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Fanatec Taking Pre-Orders for Porsche Racing Wheel

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Need a new racing wheel for your 360, PS3, or PC? Fanatec has just announce that pre-orders are now available for their premium Porsche 911 S turbo racing wheel. Prices start at $150 for the Pure edition, $250 for the 911 Turbo S edition, and $400 for the Clubsport edition.

"The Porsche 911 Turbo S Racing Wheels for the Xbox 360 feature a 900° steering angle, 6+1 shifter and are the first racing wheels that are multi-platform (Xbox 360, PlayStation® 3, and PC) compatible. Gamers can also upgrade their existing Microsoft or Logitech racing wheels by purchasing the Pure Edition, which allows gamers to use the pedals they already have. Or they can choose the Clubsport Edition, which features high-end pedals that are fully made of aluminum and feature a load cell pressure sensor for the brake."



Key features include:
• Multiplatform: Xbox 360 – PC – PlayStation® 3
• Backward compatible to existing games on the Xbox 360 – Almost all current racing games support the 6 Speed shifter, including Forza 2
• Wireless connection to Xbox 360 and wireless connection through RF dongle to PC and PlayStation 3 (new and improved technology)
• Compatible with standard pedals (with clutch), Clubsport pedals (metal), as well as pedals for Microsoft® wireless racing wheel and Logitech® G25 racing wheel
• 3 Force Feedback motors and smooth belt drive - deliver sensational realism
• Two gear sticks included: 6+1 Speed and sequential

Looks like a great racing wheel for the price.

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Atari Picks Up Riddick, Ghostbusters

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Good news today, two games that were being greatly anticipated until their lives were cast in doubt are back. Atari has announced today that it has picked up publishing rights to The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, and a source close to the company has stated they have picked up Ghostbusters as well.

Riddick has seen a bit of a change in direction. Originally the game was set to be a remake of Escape from Butcher Bay with a few new levels, but now will be an entirely new game with a brand new story and multiplayer for the first time in the series. Riddick is set to release in 2009.

Good to see that two highly anticipated games are back on track.

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October 29, 2008

Mirror's Edge Demo Coming to PSN, XBL This Week

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Good news for those of you looking forward to Mirror's Edge as much as I am, a demo for the game is coming to PSN tomorrow (Oct. 30), and Friday (Oct. 31) for Xbox Live. 1up mentions that the demo will feature a brief story segment, a tutorial, and a section of a single player level.

Don't forget, those who pre-ordered at select retailers can pick up a code to unlock a demo of the time-trail multiplayer mode.

So be prepared to take a leap on Mirror's Edge this week!

UPDATE: You can now download a preview of the Mirror's Edge comic HERE.

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Microsoft Releasing 60GB HD Live Pack Next Week

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Sure the Xbox 360 hard drives are a bit overpriced, but they may be starting to come down. What is the perfect gift for the gamer with an Arcade unit? A 60GB Live pack! GameStop.com has a listing now for the Xbox 360 Hard Drive 60GB Live Pack which contains a 60GB hard drive, headset, 3 month Live subscription, and an ethernet cable. A great gift or purchase if you don't have a hard drive or still have the 20GB.

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Sony Opens PS2 for Easier Development

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GameDaily is reporting today that Sony has announced, via the Casual Connect conference, that the PS2 will open in for easier development in Europe. By opening the console Sony is allowing developers to bypass having a licensed publisher, as well as allowing them to bypass submitting a game for content approval.

"Without the need of a licensed publisher, it's a direct relationship between a developer and Sony."

No word on if the same is true for the rest of the world, but it is good to see Sony rejuvenating the console that is currently beating their own Playstation 3 in sales.

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October 28, 2008

Gears of War 2 Launch Trailer

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The final trailer for Gears of War 2 is here and it is great.

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Castlevania Judgment Screens

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More screens for your Tuesday enjoyment. We have some brand new screens for Castlevania Judgment on the Wii. Enjoy!




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Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard Screens

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We have some brand new screens from the upcoming parody/FPS "Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard." The game looks to parody most FPS and TPS games out and offers some comedic relief from the serious games of today.








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October 27, 2008

New Killzone 2 Trailer

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Sony has released a new trailer for Killzone 2. The game looks to be shaping up very nice.

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Gears of War 2 Soundtrack Available on November 25th

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So by this time you will have most likely beaten the single player to Gears of War 2 and be wanting to listen to that amazing score by Steve Jablonsky, well now you can. On November 25th Nile Rodgers’ Sumthing Else Music Works record label will release the Gears of War 2 Official Soundtrack. The soundtrack features an original score by Steve Jablonsky, who has done soundtracks for movies such as "Transformers" and "The Island." The soundtrack will also feature the Skywalker Symphonic Orchestra and Chorus at Skywalker Sound Studios.

"Epic Games wanted every aspect of Gears of War 2 to be “bigger, darker, and crunchier” than the original game, including the bombastic orchestral soundtrack. Drawing on his extensive experience scoring big budget action films as well as a unique musical repertoire and Hollywood production values, Jablonsky was the perfect match for creating the adrenaline-pumping, emotionally charged Gears of War 2 score."

Track listing and full press release after the jump.


Track Listing:

1. Return Of The Omen
2. Hope Runs Deep
3. Green As Grass
4. Expectations
5. Finally, A Lead
6. Armored Prayer
7. Hold Them Off
8. Derrick Chase
9. Building Thunder
10. Hell Breaks Loose
11. Bedlam
12. Breakneck
13. Landown
14. Racing To Extinction
15. If They Can Ride Em
16. Hollow
17. Unexpected Changes
18. March Of The Horde
19. Highway
20. Denizens Of The Deep
21. With Sympathy
22. Insurmountable Odds
23. Bump In The Night
24. Frenzy
25. Outpost
26. Finale
27. Autumn Of Mankind


SUMTHING ELSE MUSIC WORKS ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF GEARS OF WAR 2 THE SOUNDTRACK

Original Music Score by Hollywood Composer Steve Jablonskyand performed by the Skywalker Symphony Orchestra and Chorus

New York – Oct. 27, 2008 – Sumthing Else Music Works, Inc., through its licensing relationship with Epic Games, Inc., proudly presents Gears of War® 2 The Soundtrack. The original soundtrack from the highly anticipated blockbuster Xbox 360™ action video game will be released on Nov. 25, 2008 to retail outlets through Nile Rodgers’ Sumthing Else Music Works record label www.sumthing.com, and for digital download at www.sumthingdigital.com.

Gears of War 2 The Soundtrack features a new original music score composed by Hollywood composer Steve Jablonsky (“Transformers”, “The Island”, “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre”) and recorded with the Skywalker Symphonic Orchestra and Chorus at the world famous Skywalker Sound.

Epic Games wanted every aspect of Gears of War 2 to be “bigger, darker, and crunchier” than the original game, including the bombastic orchestral soundtrack. Drawing on his extensive experience scoring big budget action films as well as a unique musical repertoire and Hollywood production values, Jablonsky was the perfect match for creating the adrenaline-pumping, emotionally charged Gears of War 2 score.

“It’s been a real treat working with Steve on the score for Gears of War 2. We have a tremendous amount of confidence in him, and believe the Gears community will embrace the new sound," said Mike Larson, Audio Director of Epic Games. "We’ve designed Gears 2 to impact players on a deep emotional level, and much of that connection is made with music that grabs their attention and makes them feel personally involved with the game universe. We have aimed to create something a bit more serious, cinematic, and refined with a harder-hitting approach toward composition and production.”

“Epic gave me a blank canvas, which was really great,” said Steve Jablonsky, Composer for Gears of War 2. “I experimented with a lot of hybrid organic/electronic elements, and combined them with the power of a large orchestra and choir.”

Track Listing:

1. Return Of The Omen
2. Hope Runs Deep
3. Green As Grass
4. Expectations
5. Finally, A Lead
6. Armored Prayer
7. Hold Them Off
8. Derrick Chase
9. Building Thunder
10. Hell Breaks Loose
11. Bedlam
12. Breakneck
13. Landown
14. Racing To Extinction
15. If They Can Ride Em
16. Hollow
17. Unexpected Changes
18. March Of The Horde
19. Highway
20. Denizens Of The Deep
21. With Sympathy
22. Insurmountable Odds
23. Bump In The Night
24. Frenzy
25. Outpost
26. Finale
27. Autumn Of Mankind

Gears of War 2 tells the story of humanity's last stand against the nightmarish, underground Locust Horde, and is the follow-up to one of the most popular Xbox 360 games in history. Gears of War 2 blends best-in-class third-person shooter action with unsurpassed high-definition visuals, all layered on top of an engaging story of survival, loss and retribution. Gears of War 2 will be available worldwide on Nov. 7 exclusively for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system. For more information, visit http://gearsofwar.com.

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GPU Weekend Wrap-up

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Well we figured we would start a new weekly post here at GPU with a wrap-up of multiple things from the weekend. We will post a few big news items, some info on what we have played, and any other tidbits of information the webz should know about. Let's get started!

News Headlines
GameStop begins filling LittleBigPlanet Pre-orders
-GameStop began selling LittleBigPlanet to those who pre-ordered on Saturday. The servers were not up at the time so people playing were restricted to single player only, but as of right now Media Molecule has announced that the servers are ready to go!

E3 Returns to (most of) its Previous Glory!
-E3 will officially take place on June 2nd through the 4th next year at the Los Angeles Convention Center and is being renamed the E3 Expo (in place of E3 Media & Business Summit). According to the press release, "The expanded E3 will welcome all qualified computer and video game industry audiences, including international and U.S.-based media, analysts, retailers, developers and business partners to preview the latest in interactive entertainment and technology." While it may not be the E3 of the past, it is a big step up from the last few years.

Home Beta Available in Next Issue of Qore
Sony has announced that those with a subscription or those who pick up the November issue of Qore via the PSN will get access to the long-awaited Home beta.

Trophy Support Coming to Pixeljunk Monsters and GTA:IV This Week
Both GTA:IV and Pixeljunk Monsters will be receiving trophy support sometime this week. The GTA:IV update is expected to come today.


What GPU is Playing (Weekend of October 24th)
Deadly Cyclone:
This weekend was a hectic one for myself, as many may have noticed not much was posted on GPU. This was due to the fact that my computer broke finally. Glad to be up and running again today. As for gaming this weekend, most of my time was spent chopping logs or serving beer in Fable 2. I also managed to kill some Wildebeest in Far Cry 2, and picked up "Beyond Good and Evil" for StingJR at $6. This week is a flourish of games once again, so be prepared to see me on Fable 2, Far Cry 2, Fallout 3, LittleBigPlanet, and just maybe some Halo 3 for double XP weekend starting Thursday.

StingJR:
This weekend was spent working on the site and playing games. I picked up Fable 2 and Far Cry 2 during the week. Far Cry 2 has been hard for me to get into and I hope I begin to like it. It doesn't help that Fable 2 has it's hooks in me. I played Fable 2 for most of the weekend. I also picked up LittleBigPlanet on Saturday. I played several single player levels. I wanted to check out what people had been making but the servers were not live yet. Sunday I managed to get in a few games of Halo 3 before jumping back to into Fable 2. Wondering if I like Fable 2? I love it. It's flawed in a few places but allows for you to make your own fun.

As for what I will be playing, backlog continues to grow as I pick up more and more older games I just didn't get around to playing. Deadly picked me up Beyond Good and Evil over the weekend. It will join Ico on my backlog shelf. I'm thinking I'll add Fallout 3 to the shelf as well. With all the great games coming out now, I want to make sure I have enough time to put into that game.

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October 24, 2008

Zombies Infect GTA:IV

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Just in time for Halloween Zombies are beginning to run rampant in Liberty City. As seen on the Rockstar Games Social Club, players can now be infected in any multiplayer mode in GTA:IV. An infections occurs when "an unsuspecting player kills someone who has the infection." There is a special zombie skin that is unlocked when you are infected that can let people know that you are a zombie, but beware not all of those infected are wearing the skin.

Through the Social Club you can track the spread of the infection across the United States and around the world, as well as seeing your current infection status. So beware when running through Liberty City, you could just end up a zombie!

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October 22, 2008

Want to See Tanner Foust Drift Live? Be the Best In Prologue

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Playstation Blog (via Tanner Foust himself) has revealed that you can win a chance to see Foust drift live in California. For those who don't know, Tanner Foust is a professional drift, rally, and ice racer as well as a stuntman in movies like The Bourne Ultimatum and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift. The “Tanner Foust Racing Competition” involves getting the best lap time on gran turismo Prologue's London City track in the Nissan Fairlady Z with professional racing settings. What do you get if you win?




"Second and 3rd place winners will get a cool prize package, but the 1st place winner, along with a guest, will get to come cheer me on in Long Beach at the Red Bull Drifting World Championships from the VIP section. While you’re there, I’ll also see what you’re made of when I take you on head-to-head in Gran Turismo 5 Prologue (I’ve been a huge fan of the series for a long time, and use it to train and to learn tracks), and take you for a spin on some practice drift laps around the course."

You can check out the official rules via the link, get out there and get that best time!

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Lips Tracklist Revealed

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Microsoft's Singstar clone "Lips" will be available on the Xbox 360 on November 18th for all your partying needs. Today Microsoft announced the full tracklist for the game with song genres ranging from Hip Hop to Country to Pop.

The game will feature only one difficulty in attempt to make the game more fun and rewarding rather than challenging. Developer Inis wants Lips to be accessible to anyone no matter their vocal abilities.




Here is the full tracklist:

  • a-ha "Take on Me"
  • Alicia Keys "No One"
  • Aly & AJ "Potential Break Up Song"
  • Avril Lavigne "Complicated"
  • Ben E. King "Stand by Me"
  • BeyoncĂ© "Irreplaceable"
  • Blondie "Call Me"
  • Chris Brown "With You"
  • Coldplay "Yellow"
  • Depeche Mode "Personal Jesus"
  • Destiny's Child "Survivor"
  • Dido "White Flag"
  • Duffy "Mercy"
  • Duran Duran "Hungry Like the Wolf"
  • John Denver "Take Me Home, Country Roads"
  • Johnny Cash "Ring of Fire"
  • Leona Lewis "Bleeding Love"
  • Lil' Mama "Lip Gloss"
  • Lupe Fiasco (featuring Matthew Santos) "Superstar"
  • Maroon 5 "Makes Me Wonder"
  • Nirvana "In Bloom"
  • Peter Bjorn and John "Young Folks"
  • Queen "Another One Bites the Dust"
  • R.E.M. "The One I Love"
  • Radiohead "Fake Plastic Trees"
  • The Ramones "I Wanna Be Sedated"
  • Rascal Flatts "Stand"
  • Rihanna "Umbrella"
  • Roxette "Listen to Your Heart"
  • Sara Bareilles "Love Song"
  • Sheryl Crow "Soak Up the Sun"
  • Taylor Swift "I'm Only Me When I'm With You"
  • The Bangles "Walk Like an Egyptian"
  • The Fray "Over My Head (Cable Car)"
  • The Jackson 5 "ABC"
  • The Police "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic"
  • The Raveonettes "Love in a Trashcan"
  • Trace Adkins "Ladies Love Country Boys"
  • Weezer "Island in the Sun"
  • Young MC "Bust a Move"

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Penny Arcade Episode 2 Coming Next Week to XBLA and PC

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Just announced, Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode Two will be hitting Xbox Live, Windows, Mac, and Linux next Wednesday (PC versions available through PlayGreenHouse).

"The madcap Penny Arcade experience continues in Episode Two of the RPG-Adventure romp! Rejoin Gabe and Tycho and go crazy in a whole new episode with more puzzles, areas to explore and levels to gain, all while moving ever closer to solving the sinister mystery hidden deep in the heart of New Arcadia. Players can jump right in with a fresh character and new customization options or carry over their looks and stats from Episode One. Plus, new difficulty settings allow gamers to play it safe or go insane, battling bigger and badder enemies than ever before."

The game will be available on Xbox Live Arcade for 1200 Microsoft points and $14.95 on PC via download. Full press release after the jump


LAUNCH DATE SET FOR EPISODE TWO OF PENNY ARCADE GAME

The Comedic RPG-Adventure Romp Turns Spooky In Time for Halloween

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Oct. 22, 2008 - Grab your gardening tool and watch out for giant spiders, out-of-control asylum patients and wacko sanitarium administrators! Hothead Games announced today that Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode Two will be available via Xbox LIVE® Arcade and via the Greenhouse digital distribution platform (www.playgreenhouse.com) for Windows®, Mac® and Linux® next Wednesday, October 29.

The madcap Penny Arcade experience continues in Episode Two of the RPG-Adventure romp! Rejoin Gabe and Tycho and go crazy in a whole new episode with more puzzles, areas to explore and levels to gain, all while moving ever closer to solving the sinister mystery hidden deep in the heart of New Arcadia. Players can jump right in with a fresh character and new customization options or carry over their looks and stats from Episode One. Plus, new difficulty settings allow gamers to play it safe or go insane, battling bigger and badder enemies than ever before.

Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode Two will also boast music from The Darkest of the Hillside Thickets, a Canadian rock band dedicated to promoting the literature of H. P. Lovecraft and a recent performer at the 2008 Penny Arcade Expo gaming festival. The song, entitled "Some Things Man Was Not Meant To Know," will enhance the game's closing credits.

"This game is all about the strange and insane world of New Arcadia and the Penny Arcade-style humor to be found in it," said Hothead CEO Vlad Ceraldi. "With the cool gameplay additions we've made, including longer gameplay, completion tracking and difficulty settings; extra Lovecraftian overtones in the world and music; and the perfect time of the year, everything just came together."

Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode Two is expected to offer players six to ten hours of gameplay, and is priced at $14.95 for the Windows, Mac, and Linux versions on Greenhouse and at 1200 Microsoft points via Xbox LIVE® Arcade. The game has been rated "M" for Mature by the Entertainment Software Rating Board for all platforms.



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October 21, 2008

Star Wars: The Old Republic MMO Announced

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LucasArts and Bioware have finally officially announced a new MMO based on Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic at an event in San Francisco today. While it may have been one of the worst kept secrets of the year, a new game in the KOTOR universe is sure to make a lot of people happy (even if the MMO part does not).


The official release states:
"In Star Wars: The Old Republic, players will explore an age thousands of years before the rise of Darth Vader when war between the Old Republic and the Sith Empire divides the galaxy. Players can choose to play as Jedi, Sith, or a variety of other classic Star Wars roles, defining their personal story and determining their path down the light or dark side of the Force. Along the way, players will befriend courageous companions who will fight at their side or possibly betray them, based on the players’ actions. Players can also choose to team up with friends to battle enemies and overcome incredible challenges using dynamic Star Wars combat."

As of now it looks like the game will only be available for PC. Stay tuned to GPU for more information as it becomes available. More screens available after the jump along with full release.























LUCASARTS AND BIOWARE REVEAL STAR WARS: THE OLD REPUBLIC
OCTOBER 21, SAN FRANCISCO – LucasArts and BioWare™, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), today announced the development of Star Wars®: The Old Republic™, a story-driven massively multiplayer online PC game set in the timeframe of the Star Wars®: Knights of the Old Republic™ franchise. Star Wars: The Old Republic, being developed and published by BioWare and LucasArts, represents an innovative approach to interactive entertainment, featuring immersive storytelling, dynamic combat and intelligent companion characters.

In Star Wars: The Old Republic, players will explore an age thousands of years before the rise of Darth Vader when war between the Old Republic and the Sith Empire divides the galaxy. Players can choose to play as Jedi, Sith, or a variety of other classic Star Wars roles, defining their personal story and determining their path down the light or dark side of the Force. Along the way, players will befriend courageous companions who will fight at their side or possibly betray them, based on the players’ actions. Players can also choose to team up with friends to battle enemies and overcome incredible challenges using dynamic Star Wars combat.

“Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is the most critically acclaimed Star Wars game in LucasArts history and a preeminent example of our company’s interactive storytelling heritage,” said Darrell Rodriguez, President of LucasArts. “For a long time, we’ve wanted to return to the franchise in a grand way, and we felt that the best setting for it was an online world that would allow millions of people to participate in the experience together. We knew that the developer capable of working with us to deliver an engrossing story with a fully-realized online world was BioWare.”

“Traditionally, massively multiplayer online games have been about three basic gameplay pillars - combat, exploration and character progression,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, Co-Founder and General Manager/CEO of BioWare and General Manager/Vice President of Electronic Arts Inc., “In Star Wars: The Old Republic, we’re fusing BioWare’s heritage of critically-acclaimed storytelling with the amazing pedigree of Lucasfilm and LucasArts, and adding a brand-new fourth pillar to the equation – story. At the same time, we will still deliver all the fun features and activities that fans have come to expect in a triple-A massively multiplayer online game. To top it all off, Star Wars: The Old Republic is set in a very exciting, dynamic period in the Star Wars universe.”

Added Dr. Greg Zeschuk, Co-Founder and Vice President Development Operations, BioWare and Vice President, Electronic Arts Inc., “Star Wars: The Old Republic is set roughly 300 years after the events of Knights of the Old Republic, a timeframe that is completely unexplored in the lore. BioWare has been able to add to the Star Wars history in developing the game’s story and has created an overarching narrative that players can enjoy, regardless of their play style. Our goal is to offer players an emotionally rewarding experience that combines the traditional elements of MMO gameplay with innovations in story and character development.”

Additional details on Star Wars: The Old Republic features, gameplay and release date will be announced at a later time. For more information about Star Wars: The Old Republic and to sign up for future product updates, please visit www.StarWarsTheOldRepublic.com.

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Alan Wake Reappears with New Trailer/Screens

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No, Alan Wake has not been canceled, and Remedy Entertainment has the trailer and screens to prove it. During the release of the Max Payne movie in Finland a new trailer aired for the game and is now up on Remedy's site. Trailer and screens below.










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Xbox Live Primetime Will Not Launch With the NXE

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Forbes is reporting that Microsoft has delayed the release of the Xbox Live Primetime channel that was set to be in the New Xbox Experience. The Primetime channel was to have gameshows where avatars participated to win real prizes. The first gameshow set to debut was "1 vs 100."

"Microsoft managers say the delay is necessary in order to ensure a smooth launch of the system's new user interface [NXE]."

So it is a good news/bad news situation. Good in that Microsoft wants to make sure that the NXE launch (November 19) goes well, bad in that a major section of the update is cut for a date sometime early next year. Stay tuned for more on this as it becomes available.

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October 20, 2008

Mirror's Edge E-Mail Campaign

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Got this note in my inbox today from the Mirror's Edge site, it is a wanted poster for the game's main character Faith. It looks as if DICE and EA are beginning the advertising push to Mirror's Edge's launch next month. It is good to see, this game has not received a ton of attention among the many AAA titles coming over the next weeks. If you have not seen/heard much on the game head over to our Mirror's Edge FAQ for more information and video links.

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Microsoft to Audio-Ban/Censor Live Offenders?

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Destructoid is reporting that Microsoft has been granted a patent for a process to "censor audio streams real-time." To dissect this a bit, it seems soon Microsoft will have the technology to permanently mute you on Xbox Live or censor what you are saying possibly using a list of unacceptable words if you are making racist comments or talking a bit too much trash.

This could be a great idea if they use it right. a line would have to be drawn where racist comments and just plain curse words are differentiated. Unless MS just wants to censor all words that could be deemed offensive. They could possibly use gamerzone to do this, censoring all bad words in the family zone, but allowing a bit more freedom in the underground zone.

Arstechnica has a bit of information from as well, albeit a bit technical:

"
The automatic censoring filter employs a lattice comprising either phonemes and/or words derived from phonemes for comparison against corresponding phonemes or words included in undesired speech data. If the probability that a phoneme or word in the input audio data stream matches a corresponding phoneme or word in the undesired speech data is greater than a probability threshold, the input audio data stream is altered so that the undesired word or a phrase comprising a plurality of such words is unintelligible or inaudible. The censored speech can either be stored or made available to an audience in real-time."

More on this as it develops.

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Skate 2 Screens

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EA has just released a new batch of screenshots for next year's Skate 2. Enjoy!
























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Mega Man 9 DLC to 360, Wii, PS3 This Week

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More DLC coming this week for Mega Man 9 from Capcom. Three packs are out now on the WiiWare Channel for the Nintendo Wii and will be out tomorrow (21st) on XBLA and the 23rd on PSN. The packs contain three new modes:

Hard Mode – Dubbed Hero Mode in Japan, this mode enables you to play the entire game on an increased difficulty level with alternate enemy distribution and spawning points. Hard Mode is not compatible with Rankings or Challenges Modes.

Expert Mode – Dubbed Super Hero Mode Japan, this mode represents the apex of Mega Man 9 difficulty settings and is not for the novice Mega Man 9 player. This mode triples the level of difficulty from the default Mega Man 9 game. Expert Mode is not compatible with Rankings or Challenges Modes.

Special Time Attack Stage – This DLC gives you an additional stage for Time Attack Mode, complete with an all new level and Robot Master Boss, “Fake Man.” Similar in difficulty to the Willy Stages, players will have a fun time tackling this time sensitive competitive stage. Special Time Attack Stage is not compatible with Challenge Mode.

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