Shank 2 drops players into a stunning pulp fiction world as Shank, an ex-mob hitman who is forced down the road to redemption after his village comes under brutal attack. With precise and fluid controls, tons of new weapons, stronger enemies and the most advanced combo system of any 2D brawler, Shank 2 delivers a dynamic and evolved combat experience. Players have access to a diverse arsenal of guns, knives, chainsaws, baseball bats, and more as they move through Klei’s beautifully drawn environments that earned the indie studio IGF’s Excellence in Visual Arts nomination in 2010, and the Canadian Animator of the Year award in 2011.

Shank 2’s all-new multiplayer Survival mode drops players into fast paced and action-packed interactive environments where they tactically take down hordes of goons and mini-bosses in an arcade-style fight to protect objectives and stay alive. Teams of two can play locally or online as they battle wave after wave of smarter, stronger enemies and use fallen weapons and on-the-fly purchases in gory brawls.

Sleeping Dogs catapults players into the role of undercover cop Wei Shen, tasked with taking down one of the world’s most fearsome criminal organizations from the inside – the Hong Kong Triads. As players explore the bustling and crowded Hong Kong island, through its neon-lit side streets and sprawling street markets, an incredible story unfolds of loyalty and betrayal, where Wei begins to question his own motives as he is sucked in deeper than he could ever imagine.

“From the moment you pick up the controller and experience the blend of driving, close combat and shooting you know you’re playing something fresh and a bit special,” said Lee Singleton, General Manager of Square Enix London Studios. “Sleeping Dogs has one of the best melee combat systems out there – it’s super brutal with devastating takedown moves, and when added to UFG’s proven heritage in driving games, a first class story and the vibrant backdrop of the Hong Kong underworld we get a fiery recipe with fun written all over it.”

“Working on Sleeping Dogs has been such a huge passion for the team at United Front Games and we’re really pleased to be working with Square Enix London Studios,” said Stephen Van Der Mescht, Executive Producer at United Front Games. “The extensive experience both our studios have in creating compelling openworld gameplay and rich and rewarding combat makes for a perfect partnership. Working together we can make sure that Sleeping Dogs is the most intense and immersive experience it can be.”

Offering players an island packed with action, every street corner, market stall, harbour dock or city skyscraper can become an opportunity for intense shoot-outs, adrenaline-fuelled street races and intense, brutal martial arts combat. Featuring one of the most intuitive and imaginative combat systems, Sleeping Dogs empowers players to perform an extensive set of martial arts moves, singlehandedly taking on numerous opponents. Players perform bone-crunching kicks and combos, vicious counters and a cinematic set of environmental takedowns making use of countless real-world items from circular saws to phone booths, incinerators to refrigerator doors.

Shank 2 drops players into a stunning pulp fiction world as Shank, an ex-mob hitman who is forced down the road to redemption after his village comes under brutal attack. With precise and fluid controls, tons of new weapons, stronger enemies and the most advanced combo system of any 2D brawler, Shank 2 delivers a dynamic and evolved combat experience. Players have access to a diverse arsenal of guns, knives, chainsaws, baseball bats, and more as they move through Klei’s beautifully drawn environments that earned the indie studio IGF’s Excellence in Visual Arts nomination in 2010, and the Canadian Animator of the Year award in 2011.

Shank 2’s all-new multiplayer Survival mode drops players into fast paced and action-packed interactive environments where they tactically take down hordes of goons and mini-bosses in an arcade-style fight to protect objectives and stay alive. Teams of two can play locally or online as they battle wave after wave of smarter, stronger enemies and use fallen weapons and on-the-fly purchases in gory brawls.

Also on the new web site are the winners of the #MaxPayne3 casting event. Rockstar thanks  everyone out there who participated in the casting call. The turnout for this activity surpassed their expectations with #MaxPayne3 usage spiking to the top of the worldwide Trending Topics moments after the event was first announced.

From December 16th, 2011 through January 13th, 2012 Rockstar selected ten people at random each week from those they spotted using the #MaxPayne3 hashtag on Twitter. From there, selections were contacted and asked to send in a picture for consideration. The developers then picked two people from each group, in each of the four weeks (eight people in total) to have their likeness appear as a multiplayer gang character in Max Payne 3.

Suffice it to say, it was pretty difficult settling on only 8 people… The gang looks to be a pretty rad multiplayer hit squad of internationally-assembled killers – recruited from Germany, London, NYC, Los Angeles, Brazil, Australia, Japan, with Canada being represented by Dave Wheeler, the morning drive DJ at Winnipeg’s Power 97 radio station.

The new Max Payne 3 site also features updated original artwork and a chronicle of all Max Payne 3 news, videos, downloads and information released to date. Explore it all and check back often in the weeks and months ahead for a fully-loaded barrage of new videos, screens, game details and much much more as we barrel towards Max Payne 3′s release on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC this May.

As revealed last month, players will be able to choose their side in three online competitive multiplayer modes: Biohazard, Survivor and Team Attack. In a brutal four-versus-four player team battle players choose their character with unique skills and abilities that will help make them escape the terrifying madness that’s been unleashed on the streets of Raccoon City. In an evil twist that could only be possible in the world of Resident Evil players should expect complete chaos as a third force of zombies and B.O.W.’s, adds to the mayhem.

All roads will lead to hell when Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City launches in North America on March 20, 2012 for PS3 and Xbox 360, with the PC version to follow.

“We are absolutely thrilled with the passion and emotion the entire cast brought to their performances in Mass Effect 3,” said Casey Hudson, Executive Producer of the Mass Effect series. “In a story where Earth and the entire galaxy are at war, we needed to take the performances to a level of dramatic power and intensity that we’ve never previously attempted. This extremely talented cast delivered.”

The star-studded cast for Mass Effect 3 includes the return of Golden Globe winner Sheen (“The Departed”, “Apocalypse Now”), Seth Green (“Robot Chicken”, “Family Guy”) as Joker, Tricia Helfer (“Battlestar Galactica”) as the Normandy’s A.I., Yvonne Strahovski (“Chuck”) as Miranda, and Carrie-Anne Moss (“The Matrix”) as Aria T’Loak. Other returning fan favorites include Meer and Hale as Male and Female Shepard, Ali Hillis as Dr. Liara T’Soni, Keith David (“Platoon”) as Captain Anderson and Lance Henriksen (“Aliens”) as Admiral Steven Hackett. Prinze, Jr. (“24”) and Jessica Chobot (G4 TV), as news reporter Diana Allers, are the newcomers to the series.

“I have always loved science fiction and I have always loved games and Mass Effect is really the first time both come together successfully,” said Prinze, Jr.- “It is a completely immersive game where you really feel like you’re part of this journey inside this universe. It will make you think, you will care about the character you are playing, and you will care about the characters that you bring into battle with you.”

In Mass Effect 3, players will be thrust into an all-out galactic war to save the galaxy from an ancient alien race known only as the Reapers. Players will assume the role of Commander Shepard, a war-torn veteran who’s willing to do whatever it takes to eliminate this nearly unstoppable foe. With a team of elite, battle-hardened soldiers at your side, each player decides how they will take Earth back, from the weapons and abilities they utilize to the relationships they forge or break. Gamers can get their first taste of the galactic war when the Mass Effect 3 demo launches worldwide on February 14.

Mass Effect 3 arrives on the Xbox 360®, PlayStation®3 and PC in North America on March 6, 2012 and in Europe on March 9, 2012 and is available for pre-order now at participating retailers. Fans who pre-order (usual EA conditions apply) have the opportunity to arm themselves with cutting-edge in-game weapons and armor to prepare for the all-out galactic war.

This weekly scheduled content will include in-game Events, Challenges, Avatar Items, Dynamic Themes and Behind-the-Scenes videos, as well as bonus Mutations for PROTOTYPE2′s main campaign.  Fans who participate in all of RADNET’s weekly challenges and events will unlock the ultimate shape-shifting reward…to be revealed in March 2012.  PROTOTYPE 2′s RADNET Edition content will only be available for free while supplies last.

“Radical Entertainment has always focused on bringing long lasting fun to its fans, and PROTOTYPE 2′s RADNET content is our way of rewarding the game’s most loyal supporters — the early adopters, the one’s who will replay it over and over again,” said Ken Rosman, Studio Head, Radical Entertainment.  “We think this is great because we’re giving our fans hours of additional gameplay outside PROTOTYPE 2′s main narrative, and cool rewards — all delivered weekly following the game’s launch!”

A disclaimer from Activision in the press release material states that “Activision makes no guarantees regarding the availability of online play or features, including access to or support for RADNET provided by the applicable console manufacturer, and may modify or discontinue online service in its discretion without notice, including for example, ceasing online service for economic reasons due to a limited number of players continuing to make use of the service over time.”  However, the FAQ about RADNET on Radical’s site states that once unlocked with the code, the RADNET content is permanently available:

Q:  What happens if I don’t start playing with RADNET content until a few days or weeks after April 24^th?  Do I miss out on the previous week(s) Challenges/Rewards?

Answer:  Once you have entered the RADNET access code from the back of your game manual, RADNET content will remain permanently available to you.

 Q:  Does RADNET content become unavailable after the seven weeks ending June 7^th?

Answer:  Once unlocked, all RADNET content will be available for you to play.

I hope EB Games is aware of this code, because I was probably the first person in the country to put a pre-order on this game back in July 2010. Looks like another phone call to the store’s manager to ensure that this is added to my list of pre-order bonuses.

Q:  How do you guarantee yourself access to PROTOTYPE 2’s RADNET content? 

Answer:  RADNET access is guaranteed for any customer who pre-orders their copy of PROTOTYPE 2 prior to April 24^th 2012 at participating retailers.  Pre-ordering will guarantee you a copy of the limited launch quantity of the “RADNET Edition Content” for PROTOTYPE 2.

Q:  How do you guarantee yourself access to PROTOTYPE 2’s RADNET content? 

Answer:  RADNET access is guaranteed for any customer who pre-orders their copy of PROTOTYPE 2 prior to April 24^th 2012 at participating retailers.  Pre-ordering will guarantee you a copy of the limited launch quantity of the “RADNET Edition Content” for PROTOTYPE 2.

“PROTOTYPE 2′s Hardened Steel Vehicle Armor allows Sgt. James Heller to jump into any military vehicle and shrug off even the most devastating attacks,” said Ken Rosman, Studio Head, Radical Entertainment.  “Whether fighting off individual soldiers, helicopters, tanks, and APCs or all the above at once, this upgrade provides Heller a defensive advantage as he goes head-to-head against everything the enemy Blackwatch forces throw at him.”

The sequel to Radical Entertainment’s best-selling open-world action game of 2009, PROTOTYPE 2 takes the unsurpassed carnage of the original PROTOTYPE and continues the experience of becoming the ultimate shape-shifting weapon.  As the game’s all-new infected protagonist, Sgt. James Heller, players will cut a bloody swathe through the wastelands of post-viral New York Zero with unparalleled locomotion, building up a vast genetic arsenal of deadly, biological weapons and abilities as they hunt, kill and consume their way toward the ultimate goal — to kill…Alex…Mercer!

The Hardened Steel Upgrade is unlockable for Xbox360® and Playstation®3 systems only and will be  available for a limited time exclusively through Best Buy while supplies last. Code received at time of purchase. Exclusive until June 12, 2012.

PROTOTYPE 2 is currently in development for Xbox^® 360, PlayStation^®3 and Windows PC at Vancouver’s Radical Entertainment.  The game is rated Mature — Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language.  Content suitable for persons ages 17 and older – by the ESRB.

Sign up on the Shank game web site if you want to receive updates on all things Shank.

• All-new multiplayer maps to maneuver through: Jerusalem, Constantinople and Dyers
• Fan-favorite Italian Renaissance maps from Assassin’s Creed® Brotherhood to revisit: Firenze (Florence), San Donato and Siena
• All-new Trophies and Achievements to earn

The addition of six multiplayer maps introduces new gameplay opportunities through each map’s varied terrain, perches and hideouts. The new collection of Trophies and Achievements will allow players to try their hand at kills and escapes that are as impressive as they are effective.

The Mediterranean Traveler Map Pack is available for download at a price of 800 Microsoft Points on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for Xbox 360 and $9.99 on PlayStation®Network and Windows PC.

To preview the Mediterranean Traveler Map Pack, players can download a free trial from Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360 and PlayStation®Store. The trial will expire three days after playing the new DLC for the first time.

In Warp, gamers play as Zero, a loveable – yet lethal – little orange alien with a big score to settle. Captured and experimented on by cruel scientists, Zero must escape the Commander’s research facility by deploying powerful and deadly abilities. The choice is up to players to take bloody revenge on every human in the incarcerating facility, or hide and plan their escape for a no-kills, stealth game. With endless combinations of abilities and upgrades, Warp lets players discover the most effective ways to solve puzzles and move throughout levels and challenge rooms, perfecting their skills and topping competitive leaderboards.

“We’re very excited to have Warp kick-off Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE Arcade House Party, an event that spotlights the work of independent developers,” said Ken Schachter, Founder, Trapdoor. “Warp delivers an experience that is unique, original and allows gamers to defy the traditional rules of videogames, letting them play the game their way. We are very proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish and hope players embrace it as well.”

Warp will be available on PlayStation®Network in North America and PC on March 13, 2012 for $9.99 USD. Warp will be available in Europe on PlayStation®Network on March 14, 2012.

Gameplay is simple button mashing. You get points to purchase upgrades for your webhead. The problem I found with this is that there are so many upgrades it is a little difficult to remember all button combinations. I found myself pounding random buttons with the hope I would do a combo by fluke.

Depending on what spider-era you play will result how you play. In the noir era you will need to master stealth while in 2099 you will need to master speed and
co-ordination.

Hats off to Beenox for getting the voices from previous spider cartoons to voice the characters. (Except the guy from the 60′s cartoon).

For all you comic lovers out there, Shattered will leave you satisfied. Is it worth paying full pop…no. It is, however, definitely picking up used.

I give Shattered Dimensions 7 web slingers out of 10.

In the words of the great Stan Lee “Excelsior true believers.”

KrangGames has included a level editor in the game, which players can unlock for $4.99. Those who unlock the editor will also gain the ability to browse levels created by other player as well as a few special bonus levels. With the unlocked level editor, players are able to create their own levels from scratch, using the exact same tools that krangGAMES used to build Eunaborb’s levels. The player can save up to three levels in the game itself, and can export/import a level code so players can share their creations. Players can submit their levels to krangGAMES for review, and every week ten outstanding player levels will be chosen and featured in-game.

For an additional $2.50, players can increase the number of available save slots from 4 to 12. Eunaborb also features an original musical score that is available for download.

Eunaborb Features:

• over 100 campaign levels
• a narrative storyline
• over 60 Challenges (Achievements)
• user-created content
• player customization
• cheats
• unlockable secret levels

Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack is a side-scrolling puzzle platformer about an ornery mutant blob that, after being held captive in a lab that can only be described as something out of a retro sci-fi movie from the early ’50′s, escapes into the world and sets out on a path to destroy and consume everything! A follow-up to last year’s PlayStation®Network title Tales from Space: About a Blob, Mutant Blobs Attack will contain a wide range of exciting new features and gameplay modes designed exclusively for the PlayStation®Vita handheld entertainment system.

“We are all very excited about PlayStation®Vita and to be part of the launch,” said Ryan MacLean, CEO of DrinkBox Studios. “The system’s next generation features have allowed us to really think outside of the box while developing Mutant Blobs Attack – it feels as though the technology has in some areas exceeded that of its console counterpart. We’ve had a lot of fun creating the game and we’re working hard to get it out as soon as possible!”

Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack

Tales from Space: Mutant Blobs Attack will feature new levels, new powers, new PlayStation®Vita controls, new gameplay modes, new puzzle solving elements, a new (faster) blob player character, and more.

• Play as an all-consuming mutant blob as you explore (and devour) your way through more than two dozen interactive levels.
• A wide range of environments: everything from a frat house to a metropolis
• Next generation touch controls (touchscreen and rear touch pad) combined with those of a classic platformer for a fresh take on the platforming genre
• “Tilt-a-Blob” bonus levels featuring gyroscopic controls reward players’ performance and add to the replayability
• Growth throughout levels provide players with a constantly changing perspective on the in-game world
• Challenging puzzles mixed into the action and mayhem
• Competitive, collection-based leaderboards, support for special in-game achievements and Trophies

Set in a pulp fiction world, Shank 2 puts players back in control of their favorite ex-mobster hitman, Shank. Klei has evolved the combat experience with precise controls, new weapons, smarter enemies, and more advanced combo techniques, all set to the backdrop of beautiful 2D art and animation. Players can put Shank’s trusty arsenal of handguns, chainsaws, grenades, plus all-new weapons to use in order to protect those close to him.

Introducing an all-new Survival Mode, gamers can team up with a friend online or locally, working together to take down hordes of goons in an action-packed, arcade-style brawl. Featuring stunning visuals from Klei’s veteran cartoon director, Jeff Agala, Shank 2 raises the bar even higher for 2D brawlers with art and animation that won Klei multiple awards and nominations, including IGF’s Excellence in Visual Arts nomination, and the Canadian Animator of the Year award for Klei’s lead animator, Aaron Bouthillier.

Shank 2 is rated M for Mature by the ESRB.

Players will go deeper into the campaign and also get a taste of the franchise’s new co-operative multiplayer mode as they preview the epic story, adrenaline-pumping action and deep customization options that lie ahead when Mass Effect 3 launches on March 6, 2012. The Mass Effect 3 demo will be available for the Xbox 360®, PlayStation®3 and PC. Mass Effect 3 will also be one of the first pre-launch demos to support full voice recognition functionality on Kinect™ for Xbox 360.

“We are excited to be able to give gamers an expansive demo that will put them right on the front lines of this all-out galactic war,” said Casey Hudson, Executive Producer of the Mass Effect series. “The entire scale of the game is bigger than anything we’ve ever done. With its intense action, deep customization and raw emotional power, Mass Effect 3 will deliver a spectacular action RPG experience to fans of the series and newcomers alike.”

In Mass Effect 3, players will be thrust into an all-out galactic war to take Earth back and save the entire galaxy, assuming the role of Commander Shepard, a war-torn veteran who’s willing to do whatever it takes to eliminate this nearly unstoppable foe. With a team of elite, battle-hardened soldiers at your side, each player decides how they will take Earth back, from the weapons and abilities they utilize to the relationships they forge or break.

Mass Effect 3 also features a new co-operative gameplay mode that allows fans to experience the war from a different perspective. Players who want to try this new mode will be able to do so on February 17, or by qualifying for early access to the co-op portion of the demo which begins February 14. Gamers qualify for early access if they have activated their Battlefield 3™ online pass (Conditions and restrictions apply. Early access requirement and availability may differ by platform and/or region) or though other opportunities that will be announced in the near future.

Mass Effect 3 is available for pre-order now at participating retailers. Fans who pre-order have the opportunity to arm themselves with cutting-edge in-game weapons and armor to prepare for the all-out galactic war (Conditions and restrictions apply). Mass Effect 3 arrives on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC in North America on March 6, 2012 and in Europe on March 9, 2012.

Based on incredibly precise and fluid gunplay and maintaining the series’ famed dark and cinematic approach, Max Payne 3 follows the famed former New York detective onto the streets of São Paulo, Brazil. Max Payne now works in executive protection for the wealthy Rodrigo Branco in the hopes of escaping the memories of his troubled past. When a street gang kidnaps Rodrigo’s wife, Max is pulled into a conspiracy of shadowy, warring factions threading every aspect of São Paulo society in a deadly web that threatens to engulf everyone and everything around him.

In another first for the series, Max Payne 3’s multiplayer offering brings the game’s cinematic feel, fluid gunplay and kinetic sense of movement into the realm of online multiplayer. Building on the fiction and signature gameplay elements of the Max Payne universe, Max Payne 3 features a wide range of new and traditional multiplayer modes that play on the themes of paranoia, betrayal and heroism, all delivered with the same epic visual style of the single-player game.

Inspired by the supernatural horror comic book series created by Top Cow Productions, Inc., and developed by Digital Extremes, The Darkness II tells the next chapter in the story of Jackie Estacado, head of a New York crime family and wielder of the ancient force of chaos known as the Darkness. The demo of The Darkness II places gamers into the role of Jackie as he battles his way through hordes of enemies hell-bent on claiming the power of the Darkness for themselves. With this demo, gamers will get a taste of the violent power of the demonic abilities at Jackie’s disposal as he faces off against the ancient Brotherhood in the single-player campaign.

The Darkness II is the sequel to the hit 2007 title, The Darkness, and brings a unique new combat mechanic through Quad-Wielding™, which allows players to slash, grab and throw objects and enemies with two Demon Arms while simultaneously firing two weapons. The game is layered with thematic elements of dark versus light, steeped in deep and twisted storytelling, and drenched in stylistic violence which is brought to life through the hand-painted graphic noir art style, true to its comic book origins.

The Darkness II will be available in North America for the Xbox 360®, PS3™ and Games for Windows® on February 7, 2012, and internationally on February 10, 2012.

The Darkness II is rated M for Mature by the ESRB. An Xbox LIVE, PlayStation Networkor Steam account and Internet connection are required to access demo.

The all-new digital comic series will be broken into three original stories that bridge the gap between the original blockbuster game and the highly anticipated sequel, PROTOTYPE 2.  The first entry, “The Anchor,” illustrated by Paco Diaz, continues the story of Alex Mercer, the protagonist from the first game, while the second story, “The Survivors,” illustrated by Chris Staggs, follows a small group of residents of New York trying to escape the city after it has been transformed into NYZ with the outbreak of the Blacklight virus.  The third and final story, illustrated by Victor Drujiniu, is “The Labyrinth” and provides fans a deeper look into the backstory of PROTOTYPE 2′s new protagonist, Sgt. James Heller.  Each comic in the series will be available at Digital.Darkhorse.com every other week beginning February 15, 2012.

“We’re always looking for meaningful ways to expand the PROTOTYPE universe, and Dark Horse Comics is an industry-leading creative powerhouse delivering best-in-class graphic storytelling that integrates deeply to the core of our IP,” said Ken Rosman, Studio Head, Radical Entertainment.  “With this partnership, our fans will finally be given answers to some dramatic loose ends from the first PROTOTYPE game, as well as the truth behind Alex Mercer’s descent and evolution into a twisted shadow of his former self for PROTOTYPE 2.”

“Sgt. James Heller’s heart wrenching backstory meshed with the sheer amount of over-the-top shape-shifting action in PROTOTYPE 2 lend themselves perfectly to a comic book series,” said Dave Marshall, Editor, Dark Horse Comics.  ”We worked extremely close with Radical Entertainment’s story team for PROTOTYPE 2, and can’t wait to visually walk fans through the many dark secrets strewn throughout the tattered world of New York Zero!”

The sequel to Radical Entertainment’s best-selling open-world action game of 2009, PROTOTYPE 2 takes the unsurpassed carnage of the original PROTOTYPE and continues the experience of becoming the ultimate shape-shifting weapon.  As the game’s all-new infected protagonist, Sgt. James Heller, players will cut a bloody swathe through the wastelands of post-viral New York Zero with unparalleled locomotion, building up a vast genetic arsenal of deadly, biological weapons and abilities as they hunt, kill and consume their way toward the ultimate goal — to kill… Alex… Mercer!

In Team Deathmatch, battle for the most kills in brutal triple threat chaos that leaves players never knowing what’s behind them, an element that could only exist in the twisted Resident Evil universe. Ensure that samples of the G-virus are returned safely to their base in Biohazard mode while fighting off all the competing forces at play in Raccoon City. Try to survive the horror just a little bit longer while waiting for rescue in Survivors mode. There’s limited space on board a helicopter so fight off the opposition and survive the hordes of hungry zombies, risking infection if they get too close. Try to make it out of Raccoon City alive!

Of course there’s also the previously announced Heroes Mode which allows fans to play as one of their favorite Resident Evil characters, including Leon S. Kennedy, Hunk or Jill Valentine. Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City will be available for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on March 20 in North America.

Assault Rifle:  Arc’s Ol’ Faithful! The Assault rifle is standard issue rapid-fire fully automatic that releases a fury of high velocity rounds. The rifle does not sustain damage, and it boasts an unlimited supply of ammunition. Like a trusted friend, it is always there to back you up!

The Reaper:  The reaper, aka ‘Johnny Quick Death’ is a plasma propelled rocket launcher with optional upgradable seeking ammunitions. Once upgraded, the reaper can be used to deploy multiple simultaneous rockets for maximum devastation. Pull the trigger and forget about it!

The Decimator HD:  HD is for Heavy Damage. The decimator is a very tactile, high explosive grenade launcher that can be of real service when you’re in a tight spot, under enemy fire, or up against heavily armored enemies. Short ranged, but extremely powerful, the Decimator delivers the highest amount of impact damage within Arc’s weapons arsenal.

The Crippler:  Apply named for its ability to quickly debilitate an onslaught of enemies, the Crippler is a devastating spread-fire shotgun that packs a real punch. On the move or in a standoff against multiple attackers, the Crippler can dispatch enemies quickly and efficiently.

The XF Combustor:  An intense heat flamethrower, the XF Combustor boasts considerable stopping power against organic enemies and offers supreme protection from airborne attackers! With upgradable range and incineration power, the XF levels the playing field against the most menacing of adversaries!

Storm Cannon:  The weapon of the times! The Storm Cannon is an advanced lightening chain-gun capable of simultaneously targeting several enemies with a single pull of the trigger. Complete with an automatic target lock, the Storm Cannon identifies and electrifies all enemies within range of conduction!

Ion Torch:  Producing a focused blast of charged ION’s, the Ion Torch halts the hardest of enemies and rapidly cuts them down to size. Although the torch is limited in range, it is equally effective on both Organic, Robotic, and Hybrid enemy types.

Available on January 17, 2012, for the Xbox 360®, PlayStation®3 and PC, the Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning demo will give players a taste of the rich, diverse, action-packed world of Amalur, and will also unlock special items in the final game. There was no date given in the news release for the Mass Effect 3 demo availability.

“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to deliver this massive one-two punch with Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning and Mass Effect 3. We wanted to provide fans of the Mass Effect franchise with a unique set of rewards for diving into the expansive universe of Reckoning,” said Curt Schilling, Chairman and Founder of 38 Studios.

“We are excited to be collaborating with 38 Studios to bring pieces inspired by the Mass Effect universe into the world of Reckoning and to have items designed by Todd McFarlane in Mass Effect 3,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, General Manager of EA’s BioWare Label and Co-Founder of BioWare. “This is an awesome way to reward our fans with unique content that not only looks cool, but also delivers some great in-game benefits.”

By playing the Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning demo, gamers will receive two unlocks for Mass Effect 3 when the highly anticipated game releases on March 6, 2012, both designed by the renowned creator of Spawn, Todd McFarlane:

• Reckoner Knight Armor: This armor will maximize damage done in close-quarters combat while a beefed–up power cell feeds energy into weapon systems to increase projectile velocity.
• The Chakram Launcher: This weapon uses a fabricator to manufacture lightweight, explosive ammunition discs. This weapon is earned after completing the Reckoning demo and watching the trailer at the end.

By playing the upcoming Mass Effect 3 demo, fans will unlock the following items for Reckoning when the game launches on February 7, inspired by Mass Effect:

• N7 Armor: Players can unlock special armor inspired by Commander Shepard’s iconic N7 battle armor including Helm, Cuirass, Gauntlets, Chausses and Greaves.
• Onmiblade Daggers: A holographic blade stemming from Commander Shepard’s Omni-Tool, the Omni-blade allows players to stab enemies in close combat. Once players install and play the Mass Effect 3 demo, they will unlock the daggers.

The Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning demo features the introduction to the game, allowing players to experience the game’s Tutorial Mode and a portion of its large, open world. Players will create and customize their hero and drop right into the action. Once players master the basics, they will have 45 minutes to explore the vast world of Amalur and begin to embark upon a quest that could redefine their character’s destiny forever.

In addition to the Mass Effect items above, players who play the Reckoning demo will also unlock:

• Twist of Fate Card: This card boosts the player’s ice resistance and is immediately unlocked when he or she activates the Reckoning demo using his or her Origin account.
• Twinned Souls Chakram: A unique weapon that damages enemies while boosting player health and mana in Reckoning.
• The Infernal Helm: Unlocked after completing the Reckoning Tutorial Mode, this protective helmet increases players’ fire damage throughout Amalur.

Set in an entirely new universe crafted by New York Times best-selling author R. A. Salvatore, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is brought to life visually through the trademark visceral style of renowned artist and Spawn creator Todd McFarlane. With a sprawling explorable world and deep RPG gameplay at its core, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning adds a new level of intense action combat to the genre and a one-of-a-kind advancement system as players unfold and evolve their destiny through constant character customization. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is being developed under the creative leadership of Ken Rolston, lead designer of the critically acclaimed open-world RPGs Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.

The Mediterranean Traveler Map Pack will be available for download on January 24th for 800 Microsoft Points on Xbox LIVE^® or $9.99 on PlayStation^®Network and Windows PC.

“Butt Kicker is a fun twist on Heller’s already over-the-top new Bio-Bomb ability,” said Ken Rosman, Studio Head, Radical Entertainment.  “Rather than just throwing enemies once Heller has infected them with the Blacklight virus; Butt Kicker allows Heller to drop-kick punt them across the map, turning enemies into projectiles that rain down devastation from above.”

The Bio-Bomb Butt Kicker is unlockable for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 systems only and is  available exclusively through Gamestop – exclusive until June 12, 2012.  Code received at time of purchase while supplies last, for a limited time only. I’ve had this game on pre-order since July 7th 2011, guess I had better make a trek into Langley and make sure that there’s a big note on the board so that I get my pre-order code when they arrive at the store.

The sequel to Radical Entertainment’s best-selling open-world action game of 2009, PROTOTYPE 2 takes the unsurpassed carnage of the original PROTOTYPE and continues the experience of becoming the ultimate shape-shifting weapon.  As the game’s all-new infected protagonist, Sgt. James Heller, players will cut a bloody swathe through the wastelands of post-viral New York Zero with unparalleled locomotion, building up a vast genetic arsenal of deadly, biological weapons and abilities as they hunt, kill and consume their way toward the ultimate goal — to kill…Alex…Mercer!

• Clint Mansell, Golden Globe nominatedHollywood composer recognized for scoring celebrated films including Black Swan, The Wrestler and Requiem for a Dream.
• Christopher Lennertz, Emmy nominated Hollywood composer known for his work on the recent movie Horrible Bosses, also composed Mass Effect 2: Overlord, Mass Effect 2: Lair of the Shadow Broker, and won the Interactive Academy Award for Medal of Honor.
• Cris Velasco, known for composing the God of War series’ score, has also worked on downloadable content Mass Effect 2: Kasumi and Mass Effect 2: Arrival.
• Sam Hulick, veteran to the Mass Effect series having composed the score for Mass Effect, Mass Effect: Bring Down the Sky and Mass Effect 2.
• Sascha Dikiciyan, video game industry veteran, known for composing the score for TRON: Evolution and the scores of Mass Effect 2: Kasumi and Mass Effect 2: Arrival.

“The magic of BioWare games has always been the emotional power of the story, so music is extremely important to the experience,” said Casey Hudson, Executive Producer of the Mass Effect series. “With Mass Effect 3, we’re taking players on a more personal journey, even though the scope is bigger than ever – an all-out galactic war!  Each composer has played an intricate role in delivering the combination of epic scope and delicate emotion that will make Mass Effect 3 the best game in the series.”

The Mass Effect franchise is set in a science fiction universe blending world-class shooter combat with interactive and cinematic storytelling and space exploration. It is one of the most highly decorated series in the history of games, having earned over 200 international awards including the 2011 AIAS Interactive Achievement Award for Game of the Year for Mass Effect 2. Mass Effect 3 enhances all elements of gameplay from its critically acclaimed predecessors and tells the epic story of Commander Shepard and his journey to unite the galaxy against an unstoppable force destroying life as we know it.

Interwoven into key points of Jackie’s single-player narrative, Vendettas expands the universe of  The Darkness II by branching off into unique, parallel missions, while connecting thematically to the core single-player story arc. Four players can collectively immerse themselves in the lore of  The Darkness II, and explore a variety of environments not found in the main story. Adding to the destruction and mayhem, Vendettas will also feature a new Hit List mode, which allows players to repeat their favorite campaign moments or wreak havoc in brand new scenarios.

Vendettas will also offer varied, intuitive combat with multidimensional scenarios for the four characters. Each individual possesses unique combat styles that will help shoot, smash and disembowel enemies in the most brutal and diverse ways. Designed to pick-up-and-play, gamers have their choice among the following wielders of dark power:

• Inugami: Wielding the mythical Kusanagi samurai sword rumored to have killed ten thousand innocents, Inugami is a dark and mentally unstable character with revenge-driven motives against The Brotherhood and their allies for the slaughter of his entire family. He can also use a swarm of miniature demons to attack and immobilize his enemies.
• Shoshanna: Shoshanna is an ultra-efficient agent for Mossad, the Israeli Intelligence Agency, who was sent to New York to combat a spike in Brotherhood activity. Her obedience and devotion to her superiors makes her a perfect operative, and she harbors a passion for hunting and destroying evil in the world as part of her legacy. Shoshanna wields the Arm of the Night, a powerful weapon fueled with Dark essence and the power to fire multiple rounds of gunfire at one time.
• Jimmy Wilson: A product of inner-city Glasgow, Scotland, and a notorious alcoholic, Jimmy believes The Brotherhood is simply another form of the Hated English that persecuted his family in the past, and he travels to New York to torment them to the fullest extent. He wields the Dark Axe, and has the ability to summon Darklings that he commonly refers to as “Little Jimmys”.
• J.P. DuMond: A former doctor from New Orleans, DuMond is burdened with guilt for using a form of Louisiana Voodoo to heal his patients. The use of dark magic drew the attention of The Brotherhood, an organization which J.P. is now forced to combat in order to halt their pursuit of evil relics. J.P. wields the Midnight Stick and can pull enemies into an anatomy-crushing vortex when he tosses his Box of Tricks – a black metal box filled with dark power – into an open area.

The Darkness II  is the sequel to the million unit-selling 2007 title,  The Darkness, and brings a unique new combat mechanic through Quad-Wielding^TM, which will allow players to slash, grab, and throw objects and enemies with two Demon Arms while simultaneously firing two weapons. The game is layered with thematic elements of dark versus light, steeped in deep and twisted storytelling, and maintains the stylistic violence visualized through a hand-painted graphic noir technique, true to its comic book origins.

The Darkness II  will be available for the Xbox 360^®, PlayStation^®3 and Windows PC on February 7, 2012 in North America and February 10, 2012 internationally. The Darkness II  is rated M for Mature by the ESRB.

Dark Incursion is a game that takes place in an alternate reality in the late 1800′s, amidst an industrial revolution and a world war. Play as Anya, one of the few who knows about a secret bunker where scientists have been attempting to bio-engineer their own soldiers, hoping to turn the tide in war.

In Dark Incursion, players have a multitude of bio-engineered weapons at their disposal with which to eradicate the abominations from the city. Weapon and ability upgrades will get more powerful the deeper players get and the more advanced the monsters become.

Can Anya complete her mission before the allied forces enter the city and mistakenly allow these creatures to escape?

Features:

• Stereoscopic 3D using classic Red/Blue 3D glasses
• Countless enemies from super soldiers to monstrous creatures
• Customizable bio weaponry with hundreds of deadly combination
• Intriguing story
• Fantastic Steam Punk art style

Heller uncovers who these targets are by accessing Black.Net – Blackwatch/Gentek’s top-secret encrypted data network used to share information in the field – via disguising himself as a Blackwatch soldier or Gentek scientist and hacking into their mobile satellite trucks stationed throughout New York Zero (NYZ).

As Heller searches through Black.Net, he uncovers case files regarding specific operations that Blackwatch/Gentek are working on throughout the city.  Once Heller hunts down and consumes all the targets in a specific case file, he destroys and shuts down that particular operation.

Players are rewarded for shutting down these Blackwatch/Gentek operations with something else new to PROTOYTPE 2 called Mutations – specific upgrades allowing them to customise Heller’s powers and abilities to their liking.

Heller ‘hunts’ down his targets by sending a pulse out into the game’s New York Zero open-world setting – think of this like a submarine sonar pulse.  The pulse goes out into the environment, and once the pulse hits the target, it bounces back allowing Heller to hone in on the subject – typically leading to a gruesome ending for the target that PROTOTYPE fans are sure to enjoy.

Getting into the holiday spirit is easy with Brawl Busters!  Players can dress up in festive Santa Claus outfits, or they could deck the halls with themed Yuletide weapons to ensure all the naughty boys and girls straighten up before present time arrives.

Ready to kick butt and chew bubble gum at the same time?  You may want to reconsider after watching this trailer!  The first Boss Battle revealed for Brawl Busters is the dreaded “Bubble Yum.”  He may look tasty, but don’t let his meek appearance deceive you. This huge pink monstrosity isn’t going to make things easy, and you especially need to watch out for Bubble Yum’s nauseating gas emissions. As if that wasn’t enough, he also tends to spawn armies of zombies. Don’t even try to take him on without backup – a full crew of experienced Busters will be required to bring this guy down!

“The new Boss Mode is exactly the type of challenge our community requested; this chewy gooey opponent wasn’t scraped from the bottom of any desk-he’s the real deal,” said Howard He, President and CEO of Rock Hippo Productions.  “The new trailer and screens shows off a fantastic cross-section of the game, including the new finishing touches players can add to their characters – with a variety of glasses, masks, goggles, and facial hair, players can re-create themselves in-game with more accuracy, or create the hero they have always wanted to be.”

Are you afraid of the dark? You’ll have to lose that phobia if you want to play in the all-new City Hall Station map which will test a player’s fear and keep them on their toes as they delve into this all-new nighttime map.

Rock Hippo has also partnered with Xfire to bring free in-game voice chat, messaging, screenshot and video sharing, live broadcasting, special events and much more to Brawl Busters players.

* Missions: Find several kinds of missions throughout the world. Once a mission is complete, players earn various rewards including gold, and new customizations.

* New Toys: Add unique personality to your world. Play your way, complete missions, earn tons of points and buy new toys! These toys introduce new ways to have fun by adding different ways to play.

* Customization: There are many different ways to customize the way you play in Toy Box Mode. Add new buildings, then change how they look! New paint options, textures, accessories, landscaping, and tons of other fun modifications make your game unique to you. You can also change the look of the townspeople! Just toss them into various buildings in order to change their hairstyles and outfits.

Meanwhile, Disney Princess: Enchanted Journey offers young girls the chance to interact with the beloved Disney Princesses while encouraging creativity and exploration. Customize your own unique heroine character and take part in a fun-filled adventure through four unique levels to help the Princesses restore order in their enchanted kingdoms and overcome evil.

Each Disney Princess has a unique story and magical world to explore as you discover the virtues of being a true Princess – Love, Friendship, Trust, Courage and Forgiveness.

Game Features:

• Befriend and interact with your favorite Princesses – Cinderella, Ariel, Snow White and Jasmine
• Play as your own customizable heroine princess character
• Utilize unique, themed magic as you explore four enchanted Princess worlds
• Enter into Belle’s world as an unlockable bonus

System Requirements For Toy Story 3

• Mac: Mac OS® X 10.6.6 Snow Leopard®
• Processor: Intel® Core™ Duo Processor – This game will not run on PowerPC® (G3/G4/G5) based Mac® systems (Power Mac®).
• Memory: 1GB RAM
• Hard Drive: 6GB uncompressed hard drive space
• Graphics: ATI Radeon™ X1600 or NVIDIA® GeForce® 7300 GT or Mobile Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) X3100 (Intel® GMA 950 not supported)
• Input: Keyboard and mouse – Most gamepads with dual analog sticks are supported. Other gamepads may not be compatible with Toy Story 3.

Toy Story 3 is rated Rated 9+ for Infrequent/Mild Cartoon or Fantasy Violence and is available in English, French, Italian, Spanish, German and Dutch.

System Requirements For Disney Princess: Enchanted Journey

• Mac: Mac® OS X 10.6.6 Snow Leopard or higher
• Processor: Intel® Core Duo Processor – This game will not run on PowerPC® (G3/G4/G5) based Mac® systems (PowerMac®)
• RAM: 1GB RAM
• Hard Drive: 1.7GB of uncompressed hard drive space
• Graphics: ATI® X1600 or NVIDIA® 7300GT or Intel® integrated Video Ram or better
• Input: Keyboard and mouse

Disney Princess: Enchanted Journey is rated 4+ and is available in English, French (Canadian) and Spanish (Latin American).

Other Mac Store games from TransGaming include Star Trek D-A-C, Puzzle Quest and The Path.

The Ancestors Character pack extends the Assassin’s Creed Revelations experience with features that include:

• New multiplayer characters – the swashbuckling Privateer, the devious siren Corsair, the battle-tested Brigand and the bloodthirsty Gladiator
• Personalized taunts, weapons and stylized assassination moves
• New achievements and trophies to earn
• Multiplayer customization items

…and those of us who prefer the storyline single player mode of the game must wait for future DLC announcements.

Rock Hippo has also partnered with Xfire to bring free in-game voice chat, messaging, screenshot and video sharing, live broadcasting, and much more to Brawl Busters players. To kick-off the partnership, Xfire will be broadcasting a live stream event on December 14^th where players can get a sneak preview of the Official Release.

The exciting new content coming next week for players includes a new mode, tons of cool new accessories and delightful holiday themed items.  A new district will also make its debut: City Hall Station will test player’s fear of the dark and keep them on their toes as they delve into this all-new nighttime map!

Players can customize their characters with a variety of weapons and armor choices, as well as headgear, boots and gloves. As in many role-playing games, players can then gain experience and upgrade their characters. Players can watch their enemies, learn their tactics and unleash real-time counterattacks.

The vast open world of Xenoblade Chronicles is ripe for exploration. Players can avert their focus from the main story and venture out looking for other challenges and side quests. Hidden areas and unique monsters are scattered throughout the game’s massive world, which players can explore freely.

Xenoblade Chronicles has already launched in Japan and Europe, and has received unanimously positive reviews, including several perfect scores.

Created as an epilogue story occurring entirely after the events of the movie, the game features the return of free-roaming web-slinging all over the city and evolutionary improvements to navigation and combat, as the newly anointed Spider-Man is plunged into an all-new storyline charged with protecting Manhattan from a variety of criminals.

The Amazing Spider-Man is in development at veteran game studio Beenox, and features an original narrative crafted by Hollywood writer Seamus Kevin Fahey (episodes of Spartacus: Gods of the Arena and the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica) that continues young Peter Parker’s adventures following the events of the new film.  Using the game’s new Web Rush mechanic allows players to pull off a vast array of moves never before possible.  With a story that takes players through many areas all over (and under) Manhattan, fans will feel what it’s truly like to be a Super Hero, as they experience the cinematic adrenaline rush of web-swinging through the city and fighting crime using Spider-Man’s spectacular acrobatic moves and attacks.

Fans can check out the World Premiere Exclusive Trailer for The Amazing Spider-Man video game during Spike TV’s Video Game Awards, airing live on Saturday, December 10 at 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT.

Further release details for this downloadable content will be announced at a later date.

In the meantime, Assassin’s Creed fans can look forward to these upcoming DLC offerings from Ubisoft for Revelations:

The Ancestors Character Pack, which will be available on December 13th will include four new multiplayer characters – the Privateer, Corsair, Brigand and Gladiator. Each is personalized with unique taunts, stylized assassination moves and new weapons. This pack will is priced at 320 Microsoft Points on Xbox 360, or $3.99 on PlayStation 3.

Following the Ancestors Character pack will be the Mediterranean Traveler Map Pack, which has been announced for January 24, 2012.

Assassin’s Creed Rearmed requires iOS 4.3 or later and is available as a free download on the iTunes App Store. The game is rated 12+ for Frequent/Intense Realistic Violence and is compatible with:

• iPhone 3GS
• iPhone 4
• iPhone 4S
• iPod touch -2nd, 3rd and 4th generation models
• iPad

• A copy of Max Payne 3
• 10″ tall Collectible Max Payne Statue created in a collaboration between TriForce and Rockstar Games
• Series of game-inspired Original Still Life Art Prints that depict some of Max Payne’s inner demons and vices
• Copper and brass-plated iron, bullet-shaped Bullet Keychain featuring a screw-off back
• Classic Multiplayer Character Pack of eight playable multiplayer characters for Max Payne 3 Multiplayer, including fan favorites from the original Max Payne and Max Payne 2 like Max Payne from Max Payne 2, Mona Sax and Vladimir Lem
• Disorderly Conduct Multiplayer Weapons Pack for Max Payne 3 Multiplayer that includes the Hammerhead Auto Shotgun, G9 Grenade Launcher and Molotov cocktail
• Max Payne 3 Official Soundtrack featuring the game’s instrumental score

Max Payne 3 is scheduled for release in January 2012, with an expected ESRB rating of M for Mature.

Max Payne 3 – the new dark, gritty action experience that continues the tale of former New York City detective Max Payne and is sure to satisfy both newcomers and veterans to the historic franchise alike – is expected to launch on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC in March 2012 in North America and Europe.

Still haunted by the memories of his traumatic past, Max begins a new life working private security protecting a wealthy industrialist and his family in Sao Paulo, Brazil. When gangs target the family under his protection, Max is forced to fight to save his clients and clear his name, in a bid to, once and for all, rid himself of the demons that have tortured him for far too long.

A true cross-studio collaboration between Rockstar Games’ global development teams, including Vancouver, the game picks up from where series creator Remedy Entertainment’s Max Payne 2 left off, Max Payne 3 utilizes cutting edge technology for a seamless, cinematic action experience, incorporating the latest advances in Natural Motion physics as well as a brand new iteration of the Rockstar Advanced Game Engine, resulting in highly-refined gameplay with an extensive range of realistic weaponry, an intelligent cover system and sophisticated Bullet-Time mechanics.

In addition to an expansive single-player campaign, Max Payne 3 will also be the first entry in the series to introduce a thorough and engrossing multiplayer experience. In a unique twist, Max Payne 3 multiplayer delivers a compelling experience that dynamically alters maps and mode progression for all players in a match. Along with traditional multiplayer modes, Max Payne 3 will also include a deep reward and leveling system, persistent clans and multiple strategic load-out options.

Cosplay Warrior costume pack includes:

• Cardboard Helmet
• Monster Facepaint
• Cardboard Armor
• Cardboard Boots

Skill Pack Bonuses:

• Increases PP generation by 25%
• Every attack gives extra PP
• Special “warrior” style attacks using the practice sword and shield

The Dead Rising 2 Off The Record Cosplay Warrior costume pack is available now for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC for $1.99 or 160MP.  Dead Rising 2 Off The Record is rated M for Mature by the ESRB.

In Assassin’s Creed Revelations, master assassin Ezio Auditore walks in the footsteps of the legendary assassin Altaïr on a journey of revelation. It is a perilous path – one that will take Ezio to Constantinople, the heart of the Ottoman Empire, where a growing army of Templars threatens to destabilize the region.

In addition to Ezio’s award-winning story, the acclaimed online multiplayer experience returns, refined and expanded, with more modes, more maps and more characters that allow players to test their assassin skills against others from around the world.

Also releasing today, Assassin’s Creed Embers, a new computer generated animated short movie, will expand on the final chapter of the life of master assassin Ezio Auditore and a journey that has spanned more than four decades.

The animated short, developed by UbiWorkshop, will be available with the Assassin’s Creed Revelations Animus Edition, with the Collector’s Edition and for digital download on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360® and PlayStation Network. The PC version of Assassin’s Creed Revelations will be released on December 2^nd, 2011. Assassin’s Creed Revelations is rated M for Mature by the ESRB.

First off, it’s your chance to become a true hero of Fortune City with the Fire Fighter skills pack. Save survivors faster than before, kick doors down, walk through fire and wield the fire axe with an overall upgrade in manliness! (moustache included)

The Firefighter Skills Pack gives you:

• Immunity to fire damage
• Increased speed when carrying or assisting survivors
• The ability to kick doors open
• New attack and increased durability with the fire axe

The Fire Fighter Skills pack is available for 160MP or $1.99.

Ever wanted to create indestructible combo weapons, have access to infinite ammo, and manipulate the in game clock? Well these are just a few of the things you will be able to do thanks to the Gamebreaker pack, available for 400MPs or $4.99.

Other features include:

• Instant PP
• God Mode
• Super damage
• Super speed
• Big head mode
• Body builder mode
• Dumb zombies
• Flat Frank
• Giant hands
• Cinema filters

If you think you’ve seen everything Dead Rising 2 Off The Record has to offer, think again. The Gamebreaker pack takes zombie killing action to a whole new level.

[See post to watch Flash video]

Players can expect a variety of new features including two exciting new modes.  In “Rumble Factory” disaster has struck and scalding hot lava is making Busters think twice before leaving the safety of high ground.  This new mode puts an exciting twist on Team Deathmatch.  In “Free for All”, there’s no blaming teammates for losses; it’s a perfect mode for the lone-wolf kind of Buster.

The game update will also include something for everyone with a variety of brand-new weapons and outfits.   Additionally, all players are invited to join the Brawl Busters community at the Busters Centre where they can customize their player profile, meet friends and rivals, check game stats, earn exclusive rewards and even become a famous Buster!  Players are reminded to check back often as the Busters Centre will continue to expand with upcoming features.

“We are excited to officially open the Brawl Busters experience up to everyone,” said Howard He, President and CEO of Rock Hippo Productions.  “We hope our fans will love the new updates, and all that’s in store for this next exciting phase.”

As a special thank you to all the closed beta participants, Rock Hippo would like to give all Closed Beta players an Original Buster exclusive tattoo and medallion for their characters.  This will officially declare their status as Original Busters!

The BBQ Chef skill pack is available beginning today from PSN and Xbox Live for $1.99 or 160MPs and consists of:

• BBQ Chef Hat
• BBQ Chef Face
• BBQ Chef Apron
• BBQ Chef Sandals

And will deliver the following bonuses:

• Gain more health from grilled foods like BBQ chicken, ribs and hamburgers!
• New attacks with the chef knife and meat cleaver!
• Explosions are bigger!
• Deadly attacks with ketchup, mayonnaise and mustard!

[See post to watch Flash video]

Hearing of the outbreak, the USS team is given fresh orders to destroy all evidence of Umbrella’s involvement and silence anyone that might discover the truth. The Umbrella Biohazard Countermeasure Service (U.B.C.S.) are also deployed to help contain the situation. Meanwhile the US Government has quarantined the city and dispatched its own team of special operatives to determine the source of the mysterious outbreak. Caught up in the chaos are rookie police officer Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield.

Players take on the role of an Umbrella Security Soldier (U.S.S) and battle against all the competing forces at play in Raccoon City. Choose from six characters, each one equipped with a unique skill set, including the female field scientist Four-Eyes who can manipulate the T-virus and take control of the B.O.W’s raiding the streets of Raccoon City or the weapons expert and U.S.S team captain Lupo.

Key features

• Team based shooter set in the dark and sinister Resident Evil universe
• Triple threat battle as zombies and B.O.W’s add to the action
  • Return of favorite RE enemies, including Hunters, Tyrants and the Nemesis
  • Risk infection from the hordes of zombies, zombie dogs and lickers. Fight to survive with anti-viral sprays, your character’s special skills or help from field scientist Bertha before your character’s condition worsens, turning you into a violent zombie who will attack your own team members
• Compete with up to three friends as an Umbrella Security Service squad member in Campaign mode
• Choose from six U.S.S characters, each with their own unique skill set and roles.
• Features iconic landmarks and RE classic characters, such as Leon S. Kennedy and Hunk.
• Rewrite the history of the Raccoon City outbreak. Destroy all evidence of Umbrella’s involvement at the City Hall and discover UBCS operative Nicholai Ginovaef’s true intentions
• Explore Raccoon City, collecting evidence and intel to report back to Umbrella command

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City is rated M for Mature by the ESRB and will be available for play on the Xbox 360, PlayStation3 and PC.

• War of the Worlds tripod tee shirt (80 MS Points)
• Keep Calm and Carry On Tee Shirt (80 MS Points)
• Tripod helmet for (160 MS Points)
• A Tripod pet that will encircle and interact with your Avatar…creepy tentacles and all! (240 MS Points)
• A Drone pet that searches around you and scans with its spotlight – but thankfully won’t zap you (240 MS Points)
• A Spider pet that climbs around your Avatar, just like the ones from the game (240 MS Points)

The War of the Worlds is a dark and breathtaking new vision of the classic H.G. Wells novel, retold as a single player side-scrolling action-adventure, narrated by the acclaimed and distinguished actor, Patrick Stewart. Set in London, the gameplay narrative parallels the timeline and events from the 1953 movie adaptation, but introduces a new story arc, characters, locations, and sub-plots.

With gameplay paying homage to classic cinematic platformers such as Flashback, Out of This World and Prince of Persia, the game follows the exploits of an unknown everyman struggling to escape the Martian invasion of London and rescue his family. Forced to think through insurmountable odds, players will outsmart an army of alien tripods, spiders and drones as they make their way through a landscape of total devastation.

The game update features two new modes, all new weapons and cool, never-before-seen outfits.  The website will also receive an update that will allow players to join the Brawl Busters community in the Busters Centre.  Players can expect more new features to be announced with the start of the Open Beta next week.

“We invite fans to check out the Open Beta trailer and screenshots so they can get a real feel for the non-stop action that awaits them,” said Howard He, President and CEO of Rock Hippo Productions.

While waiting for the Open Beta phase, fans are encouraged to participate in the Brawl Busters Trivia event that’s taking over the game’s Forums. Answer simple trivia questions and win Buster Points prizes daily.

Rock Hippo is always looking for players’ feedback. All Closed Beta participants, aka “Original Busters”, are asked to answer a short 5 to 7 minute survey that will help Rock Hippo make Brawl Busters a better game down the road.  For compensation every “Original Buster” who answers the survey will receive a healthy Buster Points prize.

Developed in conjunction with Paramount Digital Entertainment, The War of the Worlds is a dark and breathtaking new vision inspired by the classic H.G. Wells novel, retold as a single player, 2D action-adventure and narrated by the acclaimed and distinguished actor Sir Patrick Stewart. Set in London, the gameplay narrative parallels the timeline and events from the 1953 movie adaptation, but introduces a new story arc, characters, locations, and sub-plots. With gameplay paying homage to classic cinematic platformers such as Flashback, Out of This World and Prince of Persia, the game follows the exploits of an unknown everyman struggling to escape the Martian invasion of London and rescue his family. Forced to think through insurmountable odds, players will outsmart an army of alien tripods, spiders and drones as they make their way through a landscape of total devastation.

The War of the Worlds video game has been rated E10 by the ESRB.

“We are very excited to bring two groundbreaking and influential franchises together with SoulCalibur and Assassin’s Creed,” said Carlson Choi, Vice President of Marketing for Namco Bandai Games America Inc.  “Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed series has captivated millions of fans around the world with its unique locations, story and gameplay mechanics.  We are proud to now have Ezio Auditore as part of the SoulCalibur universe.”

“SoulCalibur is renowned for including iconic characters and we’re happy to see history’s most famous master assassin Ezio will be joining their ranks in SoulCalibur V,” said Tony Key, Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Ubisoft. “We’re excited to partner with Namco Bandai in bringing two of the industry’s biggest franchises together with Assassin’s Creed and SoulCalibur.”

SoulCalibur V will ship with a Collector’s Edition which includes a music CD, making-of video content, hardcover art book and the Dark Knight and White Knight downloadable armor sets for Character Creation Mode.

Developed by the Project Soul™ team, SoulCalibur V picks up 17 years after the events of ^{SoulCalibur®}IV with new heroes and returning warriors clashing in an epic showdown between good and evil. The tale of Patroklos, son of Sophitia Alexandra, unfolds as his family’s destiny intertwines with the Soul swords. With the series’ revolutionary 8-way run, allowing for true 3D movement during matches, refined battle systems, and stunning graphics, SoulCalibur V will be the top game of 2012 for anyone looking for a knock-down, drag-out fight.

Eidos-Montreal used Augmented Reality — one of lead character Adam Jensen’s mechanical enhancements — as a central source of game feedback to the player. Created with Scaleform, this important UI provides Adam with information about his surroundings, including which objects he can interact with and how they can be used. The team also applied UIs created with Scaleform to many of the game’s interactive world objects. For example, players can interact with computers in the game. What appears on-screen is a Flash movie, rendered into a texture and then applied to the object.

“From the early days of development, we had very high requirements for the game’s UIs,” explained Julien Bouvrais, director of technology at Eidos-Montreal. “With a cyberpunk setting and Adam’s Augmented Reality, user interfaces were a key element to nail from the get-go. We investigated a few middleware solutions and found that Scaleform was the best choice for us.”

“Over the course of the game’s development, we produced and tested many different versions of the UIs,” continued Bouvrais. “One of the great advantages of using Scaleform is that users with Adobe Flash experience will feel very comfortable with the middleware. Using ActionScript in Scaleform allowed for very fast prototyping and helped us deliver the high-quality UIs that shipped in the game.”

The tremendous scope of the futuristic world in “Deus Ex: Human Revolution” includes thousands of characters. The number of models required to create and populate such a world made productivity a key concern for Eidos-Montreal, so the studio chose to equip its team with the latest releases of both 3ds Max and Maya software.

“Our strategy is to have great artists working with great tools to obtain the highest possible level of productivity,” explained Frederic Chappart, technical art director at Eidos-Montreal. “Having a selection of Autodesk software to choose from gave our artists the flexibility to use the right tool for the job. The latest releases of the applications gave them access to the full potential of the software.”

“Autodesk FBX asset exchange technology provided a faster and more convenient way to transfer models between Maya and 3ds Max,” explained Laura Gallagher, character modeler at Eidos-Montreal. “This enabled us to move back and forth between packages, using the tools we preferred in each application. With well over a thousand characters to create, that flexibility was invaluable.”

Eidos-Montreal felt it was important to remain true to the original title’s four pillars of game-play mechanics: hacking, stealth, combat and social. The social game mechanic offers complicated conversation trees — created with Scaleform middleware — when talking with nonplayer characters (NPCs). Players are offered dialogue options when responding to an NPC. Each response may cause the NPC to react in a different way. Eidos artists needed an easy and effective method of creating conversations with multiple outcomes.

“When it came to our conversation mechanics, MotionBuilder was the tool for the task,” said Francine Mangin, senior animator at Eidos-Montreal. “MotionBuilder enables users to more easily work with different takes and poses, which is necessary for a conversation system that is designed around multiple outcomes.” MotionBuilder software was also used for motion capture cleanup and retargeting.

Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure allows kids for the first time to bring toys to life in a videogame by using the magical Portal of Power™.  Players can collect over 30 different characters, each with their own personality, powers, and upgrades.  These innovative, highly collectable toys also have brains, allowing them to remember their level-ups and experiences as they progress through the game.  Additionally, the toys are cross-platform, which gives kids the ability to play their leveled-up toys across multiple game systems.  Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure introduces a completely new way for kids to play with videogames and toys by combining them in a way never before seen.

TransGaming’s Mac enablement engine is used by many of the world’s leading gaming publishers to bring some of their most popular titles to the high growth Mac market. It allows publishers to quickly and cost-effectively release Mac versions of their existing games, expanding the market reach.

“More and more leading publishers and developers are looking to the Mac platform for a largely underserved base of gaming consumers,” said Vikas Gupta, CEO & President of TransGaming, Inc. “We are proud that TransGaming’s Mac enablement technology is a top choice for publishers such as Activision to bring groundbreaking titles such as Skylanders Spyro’s Adventure to a new audience.”