When one thinks of the Tomb Raider, Lara Croft, one thinks of a voluptuous woman, with a long braid, holding pistols while climbing cliffs in short cut offs in a tiny tank top. In 1996 “Tomb Raider” was developed by Core Design, released by Edios Interactive and has since then changed developers and publishers. With ten games, two movies and a theme park ride under its belt, the franchise has gotten a little stale.

Developer Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix have teamed up to reboot the franchise in a way that will revitalize the “Tomb Raider” in a grittier, edgy new way: by making her human. The new Lara Croft adventure is a prequel that will take players back before Croft became a “kick-ass,” gun-toting adventurer; a young woman thrown into adventure who must fend for herself on a seemingly deserted island.

Along with this new take on “Tomb Raider,” Croft is younger and her body type design reflects this. It is no longer one that will be just gawked at; rather, her skills will be put on display. In the game videos Lara is seen hunting, falling from great heights, using stealth to evade enemies and surviving the elements of the island. The use of a bow and arrow is a welcomed addition as it reflects the best possible skill that Lara would need in surviving on an island. Using a gun would be too loud and give away her location to enemies. In addition, it would also scare away prey. The player would also be using a weapon not often seen in a third person adventure game. It will be interesting to see how the bow is incorporated into the gameplay as Lara acquires other weapons.

Another interesting aspect of this reboot is the inclusion of multiplayer. As a game that is heavily reliant on the single player story, it is curious that Crystal Dynamics would choose to include a multiplayer aspect to a game that did not need it in the first place. In an interview with IGN, the Creative Director of “Tomb Raider,” Noah Huges, stated that multiplayer is, “…important to establish Tomb Raider for the future […] that is part of what a reboot is about.” So far, the multiplayer will include a team vs. team mode and the bow will be available as a weapon of choice. What  is refreshing to see about the multiplayer mode is, that the third person point of view adds an extra challenge that the usual first person point of view does not create for the player. The character can also swing on ropes, climb on top of structures and hang from said structures, which means the player has more options for offense and defensive strategies.

The rebooted franchise sports two editions: regular edition ($59.99 USD) and “Survival Collector’s Edition” ($99.99 USD). The collector’s edition comes in an “endurance” tin from the game, has an eight inch figurine of Lara Croft with her bow and arrow weapon, iron on patches as well as access to a weapons pack in game. In addition for those who pre-ordered there is “Scavenger Hunt” that players can access online and play to win other in game items. The scavenger hunt integrates community elements and trivia questions by having players take photos of themselves with the answer to the trivia question for that particular week.

Gamers that buy from Amazon.com will get “The Final Hours Edition” which comes with “an exclusive Art Book, In-Game Skin for Lara  and a digital copy of Geoff Keighley’s, “The Final Hours of Tomb Raider” for the Kindle Fire.”

This exciting new twist on a fan favorite will be released on March 5, 2013.

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September brings summer to an end and is also the beginning lineup for the big winter game releases. Some classic games make a comeback this month as part of anniversary collections and some heavy hitters make it to the lineup as well.

Action

9/11 Battlefield 3 Premium Edition (PS3, Xbox 360, PC)

9/11 Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (PS3, Xbox 360)

9/11 Finding Nemo: Escape to the Big Blue (Nintendo DS, 3DS)

9/16 Kirby’s Dream Collector’s Special Edition (Nintendo Wii)

9/18 Hotel Transylvania (Nintendo DS, 3DS)

9/18 NCIS (3DS)

9/18 Street Fighter 25^th Anniversary Collection (PS3, Xbox 360)

9/18 Borderlands 2 (PS3, Xbox 360, PC)

9/18 Kinect Sesame Street TV (Xbox 360 Kinect)

9/18 Kinect Nat Geo TV (Xbox 360 Kinect)

9/25 The Testament of Sherlock Holmes (PS3, Xbox 360)

9/25 Thundercats (Nintendo DS)

9/25 Angry Birds Trilogy (Nindendo 3DS, PS3, Xbox 360)

9/25 Puzzler World 2012 3D (Nintendo 3DS)

9/25 Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse (PS3, Xbox 360)

9/25 Dead or Alive 5 (PS3, Xbox 360)

9/25 LittleBigPlanet (PS Vita)

“Battlefield 3 Premium Edition” is the re-release of “Battlefield 3″ with all the gears and whistles. The Premium Edition includes all past expansions to the game as well as the premium pass, which allows the player to download the future expansions that have been announced for the game.

“Tekken Tag Tournament 2″ is Tekken’s way of making a glorified return. With over 50 playable characters, new customizable characters, dozens of levels, and new gameplay features including pair play, retro-arcade tournament battles, and many online features, “Tekken Tag Tournament 2″ is looking to make a comeback to being one of the top fighting games.

“Kirby’s Dream Collector’s Special Edition” is something Nintendo is coming out with for both old and new Kirby fans. This collector’s edition includes six classic Kirby games (Kirby’s Dream Land, Kirby’s Adventure, Kirby’s Dream Land 2, Kirby Super Star, Kirby’s Dream Land 3, and Kirby 64). The collection also includes new challenge stages as well as a copy of the Kirby 20^th Anniversary Soundtrack CD.

“Street Fighter 25th Anniversary Collection” is a must have for the diehard Street Fighter collector. The collection includes 4 games (Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, Street Fighter III Third Strike Online Edition, Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition and Street Fighter X Tekken), an 8 inch light up Ryu statue, a full-size Ryu martial arts belt, 64 page art book, 11 disk soundtrack collection, and a blu-ray set including a documentary on making the Street Fighter IV, Street Fighter IV and Super Street Fighter IV animated movies, Street Fighter II: The Animated Movie, and the entire Street Fighter anime series. Though this massive Street Fighter collection will have an asking price of $150, it is a must have for the Street Fighter Collector.

“Borderlands 2″ is the highly anticipated sequel to the smash hit “Borderlands.” With “Borderlands 2″, the game offers new classes to choose from, new lands to explore, a new weapon system including new types of weapons and defensive tools, and, probably the biggest plug from the game, guns. Tons and tons of guns. The game really wants to get across to its audience the massive amounts of different guns that the player is able to choose from just like in the first game (which holds the Guinness world record for most guns available in one video game.)

“Dead or Alive 5″ returns with the same cast of characters in a whole new setting. In “DOA 5″, they put a lot of details into the setting and background as means to express more of a visual spectacle. Along with detailed backgrounds, they added a new feature in the details of the characters, wet texturing. As the players fight it out, their characters will sweat and may battle in wet and raining environments, which will cause the characters to get damp hair, wet skin, and semi-translucent clothing.

RPG

9/18 End of Nations Collector’s Edition (PC)

9/18 Disney Princess: My Fairytale Adventure (Nintendo Wii, 3DS)

9/25 World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria (PC)

“World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria” is the latest expansion to “World of Warcraft”. This expansion increases the level cap to 90, introduces the monk as a playable class, the Pandaren as the new playable race (also the first neutral race), and new areas to explore.

Sports

9/11 NHL 13 (PS3, Xbox 360)

9/11 NBA Baller Beats (Xbox 360 Kinect)

9/18 F1 2012 (PS3, Xbox 360)

9/18 Harley Pasternak’s Hollywood Trainer (Xbox 360 Kinect)

9/18 Kinect Sports Ultimate (Xbox 360 Kinect)

9/25 Wipeout 3 (Nintendo Wii, 3DS, Xbox 360)

9/25 Pro Evolution Soccer (Nintendo Wii, 3DS, PS3, Xbox 360)

9/25 FIFA Soccer 13 (PS3 Xbox 360)

“NHL 13″ is looking to be the most realistic hockey game to date. The game system has gotten a completely new overhaul with game mechanics and AI for the most realistic hockey experience. The game also features the updated GM Connected, which allows players to bring total customization to their team by swapping and trading team players to their specifications, and the game also includes NHL Moments Live, which allows players to relive some of the biggest moments in NHL history.

Simulation

9/4 The Sims 3 Supernatural (PC)

“The Sims 3 Supernatural” is the seventh expansion pack in “The Sims 3″. This expansion includes various features from new costumes, new characters like zombies, witches, werewolves, vampires and other monsters, and new jobs like being a fortune teller. The Limited Edition of the game also includes a Plants Versus Zombies expansion, which allows players to buy peashooters to defend their home against the zombie invasion.

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11 bit studios, developer of the award-winning Anomaly Warzone Earth, is ready to unleashed a barrage of game announcements on the world today. The company unveils its full Gamescom lineup, and in the process announces three upcoming mobile games that will join “Anomaly Warzone Earth” for PlayStation3 at the 11 bit studios booth.

The three games, “Funky Smugglers“, “Sleepwalker’s Journey” and “Anomaly Korea” are all set for release on iOS and Android in the coming months, and this is the first time we’ve talked about any of them.

For the first screenshots of all three games, along with the first (ridiculously groovy) trailer for “Funky Smugglers”, head to http://www.gamescom2012.11bitstudios.com. We’ll have more news and media very soon.

Here’s a little bit about each one:

• Anomaly Korea

Thrilling portable strategy is back with a new campaign in Korea! Packed with fierce battles, an engaging story, a tactical map for battle planning your approach, new units, new player powers, and an even more frantic race to build up a new battlefield against the oncoming alien hordes, this is tower defense turned on its head – again! http://anomalykorea.com

• Funky Smugglers

Check out the funky intro trailer at http://www.gamescom2012.11bitstudios.com!

Report for duty as the grooviest airport security officer in the world. Keep passengers safe as you use your X-Ray scanner to strip all sorts of wacky contraband including plungers, spiders and more from an array of over-the-top smugglers. Get funky with the hot, 70s-inspired soundtrack as you enjoy the game by yourself or in exciting multiplayer battles. http://funkysmugglers.com

• Sleepwalker’s Journey

Meet drowsy Moonboy. Blown out of bed by a big lunar sneeze, he sleepwalks through dreams. Moonboy needs your help to reach his bed. Guide him safely through various traps, clear obstructions from his path, and shift his surroundings to create a safe passage to the cozy bed. Solve environment puzzles in a fantasy world, find multiple pathways through the game, and collect stars and crescents to experience the beauty of Sleepwalker’s Journey fairytale atmosphere.

You are Moonboy’s only guardian, and your imagination is the key that shapes the dream, as you lead the boy to his beloved bed. You are the dream creator. http://sleepwalkersjourney.com

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London, U.K. – Codemasters today announced that F1 2012 will be launched in the UK on September 21st for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Playstation computer entertainment system and PC. F1 2012 is the next game in the award-winning, multi-million selling Formula One series from Codemasters as part of an exclusive multi-year deal with Formula One World Championship Limited that takes players to the heart of the sport like never before.

A new developer diary, also released today, details several of F1 2012’s new features including the Young Driver Test, which will act as the game’s tutorial mode, teaching the player about the nuances of racing a Formula One car. Featuring the first glimpses of F1 2012 gameplay footage, the new developer diary can be viewed at www.youtube.com/formula1game.

Commenting on the inclusion of the Young Driver Test, F1 2012’s Creative Director, Stephen Hood said: “The aim for the 2012 game is to make more of a complete Formula One experience. [The Young Driver Test] gives those up and coming drivers track time to showcase their talents and it’s wonderful that we are able to copy the elements that happen on those real Young Driver Test sessions in the game.”

F1 2012 is set to deliver the most accessible and immersive Formula One game for fans of all abilities with improved control and feedback for players using a gamepad and tutorial Hot Lap videos for each circuit narrated by former Formula One driver and TV pundit Anthony Davidson. With more features yet to be revealed, F1 2012 is set to be the ultimate Formula One experience to date.

In F1 2012 players will feel the unparalleled thrill of becoming a Formula One driver with a host of new features, wide-ranging technical and gameplay advancements and extensive competitive and co-operative multiplayer components. F1 2012 will feature all of the official teams, drivers and circuits from the 2012 FIA Formula One World Championship, including the debut of the 2012 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix at Austin, Texas and the return of Germany’s famous Hockenheim circuit to the calendar.

F1 2012 is in development at Codemasters Birmingham for Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC and is available for pre-order ahead of its September worldwide release. To get all the news straight from the studio, race over to www.facebook.com/formula1game or follow the team on twitter at www.twitter.com/formula1game.

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London, U.K. — On August 10, Ubisoft announced that Assassin’s Creed III for PCs will be available in the UK on November 23, 2012.

Set against the backdrop of the American Revolution in the late 18th century, Assassin’s Creed III introduces a new hero, Ratohnhakéton, of Native American and English heritage. Adopting the name Connor, he becomes the new voice for justice in the ancient war between the Assassins and Templars. Players become an Assassin in the war for liberty against ruthless tyranny in the most stylized and fluid combat experiences in the franchise to date.

Assassin’s Creed III is set to release on October 31st for the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and will be available for Wii U from Nintendo when the Wii U launches.

Initially launched in 2007, the first four Assassin’s Creed games have sold more than 38 million units worldwide, and the franchise is now established as one of the best-selling series ever. Recognized for having some of the richest, most engrossing storytelling in the industry, Assassin’s Creed transcends video games, branching out into other entertainment experiences including comic books, Facebook games, novels, short films and more.

Assassin’s Creed III can be pre-ordered at UBIShop by visiting: http://shop.ubi.com/assassinscreed3

For more information on Assassin’s Creed, please visit the Assassin’s Creed Official Website (www.assassinscreed.com)

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Konami Digital Entertainment GmbH is continuing its celebration of 25 years of its seminal Metal Gear series, with the creation of a dedicated online hub where fans can keep abreast of the various events and releases tied in to this special anniversary.

Konami has created a new portal – http://www.konami-europe.net/MG25th – which will be regularly updated with news and events surrounding the 25thanniversary. Series creator Hideo Kojima has already announced a free update for his PlayStation3 epic, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, which adds 34 Trophies to the classic title, and Mr Kojima is also mid-way through a busy year of touring the globe to discuss the success of the popular series, which has sold more than 31 million copies worldwide up to December 2011.

All news of Mr Kojima’s movements and announcements will be released via the new site, and it will today reveal that the classic Metal Gear Solid title is now available for two weeks for just 4.99 Euro/£3.99 – a reduction of 50%, and allowing fans of the series to experience the ground-breaking PlayStation title that saw the series move into the 3D realm. Konami is also launching a dedicated Twitter feed to keep fans abreast of events, and can be found at @MG25th on Twitter.

For more information, please visit www.facebook.com/mgs.

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The summer season for games is not as expansive as the winter releases, but the August game releases include some of the biggest games coming out for the summer season: a new Mario game on the horizon, a sequel to the popular Transformers game, and an introduction to the next Square Enix game Sleeping Dogs. The August game releases show much promise to some exciting games.

Action

8/7 Persona 4 Arena (PS3, Xbox 360)

8/14 Darksiders II (PS3, Xbox 360)

8/14 Sleeping Dogs (PS3, Xbox 360)

8/19 New Super Mario Bros. 2 (Nintendo 3DS)

8/21 Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (PS3, Xbox 360)

8/28 Damage Inc. Pacific Squadron (PS3, Xbox 360)

8/28 Ratchet & Clank Collection (PS3)

8/28 Journey Collector’s Edition (PS3)

Persona 4 Arena is a new take on ATLUS’ most popular game franchise. ATLUS is taking the characters from Persona 4 and putting them into a fighting game. Each character will have special moves and combos based on their focal traits from the RPG, and there will be various levels that will showcase some of the scenes from the RPG. Persona 4 Arena was actually a Japanese Arcade game, but due to the dying arcade franchises in the US, the Arcade game was never released in the States, but instead has been turned into a console game.

Sleeping Dogs is a new game by Square Enix, and with the financial success of Deus Ex and Final Fantasy 13-2, Square Enix is looking to further success with a new franchise. The game focuses on the player playing as an undercover cop in Hong Kong to take on the Triads in a Grand Theft Auto style open-world city. The style garnered high appeal at E3.

New Super Mario Bros. 2 is the continuation of the revamped side-scrolling Mario adventure. This is the 3DS version of the New Super Mario Bros. series, with the console New Super Mario Bros. game to come out for the Wii U later this year. The game  is all about collecting coins, with new powers and game modes which focus entirely on collecting coins. So instead of just going around to collect the most 1-Ups you could possibly get, players must now compete to see who can collect the most coins.

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron is the sequel to the successful Transformers: War for Cybertron. The game brings in more expansive levels for the game missions and multiplayer maps and also introduces a few new features to the game. The online mode customization is back and more expansive with new transforming abilities and weapons to pick and choose from, and the game also features the ability for players to transform into dinobots.

RPG

8/14 The Last Story (Nintendo Wii)

8/28 Guild Wars 2 (PC)

Guild Wars 2 brings back the popular MMO to the forefront in this new installment. With the human race in decline, different species have starting coming out to the forefront to strive and take over humanity. Guild Wars 2 introduces an in-depth story being told through the game in which every action the player takes leads to changes in future events. The game also includes a new action-oriented combat system to change the combat flow from your typical RPG to a more faced paced combat feel.

With the addition of a Player Vs. Player mode, Guild Wars 2 also has a World Vs. World mode, in which hundreds of players compete for domination over various expansive maps in one large scale battle. The game also does not have a subscription fee in-order to play the game, so once the game has been purchased, the player can jump right in without having to pay for a subscription in order to play the game, as most MMOs require now.

Sports

8/28 Madden NFL 13 (Nintendo Wii, PS3, PS Vita, Xbox 360)

Madden NFL 13 truly seems to be the next generation in sports games. The game features a new physics engine powered by the infinity engine, a massive connected Career network, and Madden Social which adds a more unique experience with challenging against your friends. The game also introduces the Madden Ultimate Team, which allows players to build their own team by using both NFL and fantasy players.

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The following is a list of games that will be released in June of 2012 with their respective dates and console releases. Some featured games looking to release in July 2012 is the new Kingdom Hearts, two Rhythm games, and a few ports of previously released games. As usual, the summer releases are generally slow in the gaming world, but every so often a few gems do come out from the woodwork.

Action

7/3- B-Units: Build It (Nintendo Wii, DS)

7/10- Ice Age Continental Drift Artic Games (PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, DS, 3DS)

7/10- Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure (Nintendo 3DS)

7/17- Heroes of Ruin (Nintendo 3DS)

7/24- Myst (Nintendo 3DS)

7/24- Prototype 2 (PC Port)

7/31- Kingdom Hearts 3D Dream Drop Distance (Nintendo 3DS)

‘Kingdom Hearts 3D Dream Drop Distance’ is another installment to the highly praised Kingdom Hearts series. New features Dream Drop Distance introduces are the option to switch between two protagonists (Sora and Riku), the option to recruit various spirits to fight alongside characters, and the introduction of new worlds to discover. Dream Drop Distance is looking to be a strong addition to the Kingdom Hearts franchise as well as breaching the series onto the 3DS.

RPG

7/3- Theatrhythm Final Fantasy (Nintendo 3DS)

7/31- Growlanser: Wayfarer of Time (Sony PSP)

7/31- The Last Story (Nintendo Wii)

7/31- Risen 2: Dark Waters (PS3, Xbox 360 Ports)

‘Theatrhythm Final Fantasy’ is considered the first Rhythm RPG game. Users play an ‘Elite Beat Agents’ styled rhythm game to the music from the various Final Fantasy series. The users are also given the option of choosing their favorite characters from the different Final Fantasy games as they play through various missions and campaigns.

Sports

7/3- Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends (PS3, Xbox 360)

7/10- NCAA Football 13 (PS3, Xbox 360)

7/24- Mi Coach by Adidas (PS3, Xbox 360)

‘Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends’ is another addition to the Test Drive series, but focuses on Ferraris this time around. With 52 different Ferraris, 36 circuits, and a Campaign mode that takes the gamer through the history of the Ferrari, Test Drive offers a racing game for Ferrari fans and looks to compete with the future racing game releases of Need For Speed Most Wanted and Forza Horizon.

Simulation

7/10- The Sims 3: Diesel Stuff Expansion (PC)

‘The Sims 3: Diesel Stuff’ is another one of the many expansions for The Sims 3 game. For this expansion players are given new clothing accessories and furniture from the company Diesel.

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Those fearing vampires will now forever be associated with the awful “Twilight” brand name are in for a treat. Konami announced at E3 they are working on two new Castlevania games: Mirror of Fate and Lords of Shadow 2. Both are set after the events of Castlevania: Lords of Shadows, released in 2010 on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles. Taking place in 11^th century medieval Europe with a plot concerned with the beginning of the Belmont/Dracula feud, Lords of Shadow served as a reboot to the series featuring the new character Gabriel Belmont.

Originally revealed by Nintendo Power a few days before E3, Mirror of Fate is being developed for the 3DS by MercurySteam, the studio that made Lords of Shadow. Set 25 years after Lords of Shadow, the plot follows Trevor Belmont as he tries to discover what happened to his father, Gabriel Belmont. Trevor, however, is far from being the only playable character. Simon Belmont, Alucard and one other yet to be revealed character will all be controllable, with the player switching between characters in predetermined areas in the game.

Interestingly, many of these characters have already appeared in the franchise, although under different circumstances. Trevor Belmont was the main character of Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse on the Nintendo Entertainment System and also featured in Castlevania: Curse of Darkness on the Playstation 2 and Xbox, both of which were set in the late 15^th century. Simon Belmont is probably the most famous of all Belmonts, having been in several Castlevania games, including the first two, and was born in 1667. Alucard, the son of Dracula, has also been playable in several games, with his most noteworthy appearances being in Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse alongside Simon, and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.

It is unclear whether these characters in Mirror of Fate are meant to represent the characters listed above in an alternate universe, or are simply completely different people. Perhaps Konami is trying to ease fans into this reboot by including familiar characters.

Also uncertain is the style of the game: although it is known the game will be set in 2D, it is not known if it will feature different levels, as was the case of Lords of Shadow, or just have one big playing area, with certain areas requiring special abilities for access. Previous games that have fallen into the latter category have been nicknamed “Metroidvania” for their gameplay reminiscent of Metroid. Since Symphony of the Night, all major 2D Castlevania games have been this way.  However, with the reboot and a different story may come a different style of gameplay.

Mirror of Fate is meant as a prequel to Lords of Shadow 2, setting up the events for its console counterpart, and is due for release this fall.

Although details are scarce about Lords of Shadow 2, some elements of the plot were revealed. The game will star Gabriel Belmont, now a vampire, as he deals with a new threat in addition to his former family hunting him down. The debut trailer showed Alucard, although at this time it is unknown whether or not he will be a playable character.

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While most fighting games consist of one-on-one matches, health bars and have simple 2D stages for arenas, Nintendo’s Super Smash Bros series does things a bit differently. First appearing on the Nintendo 64 as a slow paced fighting game, its sequels, Melee and Brawl, have increased both the speed of the gameplay and the roster, bringing it from 12 to 35. Up to four characters can duke it out at once, with interactive stages and items, like laser swords and the now iconic sandbag, that can easily change the course of the match. Some do not even consider the series to be a fighting game. Truly, it is one of a kind…

…Until now. Sony recently announced PlayStation All-stars Battle Royale for the PlayStation 3 and Vita, the company’s answer to Nintendo’s acclaimed series. Much like Super Smash Bros, Battle Royale will feature some of Sony’s most well known and console exclusive  characters, including Nathan Drake, Fat Princess, Kratos and PaRappa the Rapper. Big Daddy from Bioshock fame will also appear as a playable character, opening the possibility for other third-party characters to join the mix.

Stages will be more similar to Super Smash Bros than other fighting games. Platforms, conveyor belts and other obstacles will be incorporated, making stages very hectic. Items will also appear on stages, which players can readily use by hitting the R1 button.

Despite all these similarities, though, Sony insists that their game is fundamentally different than Nintendo’s. In the game, players deal out damage to earn power points, which can be saved and then used for devastating super moves. These moves are the only way to defeat other players and earn points, and are thus performing them is the object of the game. The one with the most points at the end of the round is the winner.

Sony’s argument for originality, however, has convinced very few. Many still claim the game is a Super Smash Bros clone and some doubt Sony characters are iconic enough to warrant such a game.

While the way characters are eliminated may be different, pretty much everything else is the same. In the God of War stage shown at E3, Hades is present in the background and occasionally performs an area attack on the stage, similar to Kraid and Arwings in Metroid and Star Fox stages in Super Smash Bros. Super moves themselves are similar to “Final Smash” moves from Super Smash Bros Brawl, which are powerful, character-specific moves that almost ensure the elimination of other players. One difference, though, is that Final Smashes can only be activated by breaking a “Smash Ball” item, which appear and float around stages for a brief amount of time.

At this time, other game modes in PlayStation All-Star Battle Royale, such as a single player mode, have yet to be revealed. However, considering the direction the multiplayer mode is being taken, it is likely that a single-player mode would be reminiscent of the “classic” and “adventure” modes in Super Smash Bros.

In classic mode, players battle against computer controlled characters with mini-games occasionally thrown in, much like in a typical “arcade” mode, while adventure mode focuses more on special stages like mazes where the goal is not to defeat other characters but to reach the end of the stage. Players of Brawl will remember the epic Subspace emissary, an expanded and juiced up version of “adventure” mode complete with its own storyline that takes around a whopping 10 hours to complete.

Although PlayStation All-Star Battle Royale is undeniably and unabashedly a clone of Super Smash Bros, gamers should not automatically turn a blind eye to it. It still will probably be a fun game, and, if nothing else, will tide over hardcore Super Smash Bros players until the next one releases.

PlayStation All-Star Battle Royale is due for launch this fall, just in time for the holidays.

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The following is a list of games that will be released in June of 2012 with their respective dates and console releases. The games coming out in June of this year vary from several re-releases to a couple movie tie-in games to some unique original projects which have the potential of becoming some of the hottest games of the year! It will be interesting to see which of these games will last the span of time or fall into the abyss shortly after their release.

Action

6/5- Madagascar 3: The Video Game (Nintendo Wii, DS, 3DS, PS3, Xbox 360)

6/10- Pinkmin 2 Selects (Nintendo Wii)

6/12- 4 in 1 Action Pack (PS3)

6/12- Gravity Rush (PS Vita)

6/12- iCarly: Groovy Foodie (DS)

6/12- Lollipop Chainsaw (PS3, Xbox 360)

6/12- Metal Gear Solid: HD Collection (PS Vita)

6/12- Phantom Breaker (Xbox 360)

6/19- Disney Pixar Brave: The Video Game (PC, Nintendo Wii, DS, PS3, Xbox 360)

6/19- Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (Nintendo Wii, DS, 3DS, PS3, PS Vita, Xbox 360)

6/19- Steel Battalion Heavy Armor (Xbox 360 Kinect)

6/26- The Amazing Spider-Man (Nintendo Wii, DS, 3DS, PS3, Xbox 360)

‘Pinkmin 2 Selects’ is a re-re-release of the popular Nintendo classic and is a greatest hits release of the re-release of ‘Pinkmin 2′ for the Wii.

‘Lollipop Chainsaw’ is a new take on the zombie “beat ‘em up” genre, led by SUDA 51. The story, written by James Gunn (Dawn of the Dead), is about Juliet Starling fighting off hoards of zombies at her school, San Romero High, with the living head of her boyfriend. The GameStop pre-order exclusive includes the alternate costume Ashley Williams from the Evil Dead Series.

Just like the PS3 and Xbox 360 release, the ‘Metal Gear Solid: HD Collection’ is a high-definition remake of Metal Gears 2 and 3 for the PS Vita.

‘Lego Batman 2′ is a sequel to the popular Lego Batman game, but this time, players have the opportunity to play as other DC super heroes, as players fight off minions of the Joker and Lex Luthor and, like the other games in the Lego series, players have the option to drop in and out for co-op play.

‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ is a return to the Spider-Man movie tie-in games, and like the movie it is based on, this is going to be an attempt to revive the series after the abysmal failure that was Spider-Man 3 the movie/game as well as the lack luster standalone Spider-Man games.

RPG

6/1- End of Nations (PC)

6/12- Gungnir (PSP)

6/18- Pokemon Conquest (DS)

6/19- Sid Meier’s Civilization V: Gods and Kings Expansion (PC)

6/19- The Secret World (PC)

6/26- Guild Wars 2 (PC)

6/26- Record of Agarest War 2 (PS3)

‘Pokemon Conquest’ takes Pokemon battles and adds a new twist to it. Instead of the turn-based combat in a typical Pokemon game, it now has a tactical RPG combat system, where the player controls his team of Pokemons on a battlefield while defeating other warlords and having them join your party in conquest of the Pokemon Kingdom.

‘The Secret World’ is a very unique MMO that has done something almost no MMO has ever done. ‘The Secret World’ takes place in the modern world and is based on every myth, legend, and conspiracy that exists in this world. Players are thrown into the game with a clean slate. You play the game the way you want; there are no classes or leveling in the game. Players make their own decisions on what their characters will become, and they can choose the abilities that they want. This is definitely one of the more unique MMOs to come out this year.

‘Guild Wars 2′ is the long awaited sequel to the MMO ‘Guild Wars’. ‘Guild Wars 2′ features dynamic events that change as time progresses, and the events the players participate in affect other events in the game. The series also introduces a new, more action-based combat system to bring in more rapid-paced, intense action.

Shooter

6/1- Inversion (PS3, Xbox 360)

6/1- Max Payne 3 (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)

6/12- Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Future Soldier (PC)

6/26- Spec Ops: The Line (PC, PS3, Xbox 360)

‘Max Payne 3′ is the very long awaited sequel to the Max Payne series. The game focuses on a new shooting mechanic for more precision gun play and also revamps the famous bullet time as seen in the original Max Payne series. ‘Max Payne 3′ also features a multiplayer mode that features the combat system and cinematic feel of the single player game and the traditional modes of the average multiplayer mode. ‘Max Payne 3′ is a new perspective on the original Rockstar series for the PS2 and Xbox.

‘Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Future Soldier’ is a continuation of the Ghost Recon series. There are several different modes in the new Ghost Recon series, such as co-op with up to three other players, PvP mode, and Guerrilla mode (players and teammates fight waves of enemies). The game also introduces Gunsmith mode, in which the player customizes all their weapons for an increase in game customization.

‘Spec Ops: The Line’ is a third person shooter that will attempt to give players a truly brutal war experience. As the player leads their delta squad through the remains of a destroyed Dubai, the players will be thrown into a unique battle zone of sand, sand, and more sand. This detailed focus on the in-game sand mechanics offers a very unique experience in desert combat. Players will be fighting their way through gunfights that take place through intense sandstorms as well as sand avalanches. This is indeed true desert combat at its core.

Sports

6/12- DiRT Showdown (PS3, Xbox360)

6/26- Summer Stars 2012 (Nintendo Wii)

Simulation

6/5- Sims 3 Katy Perry’s Sweet Treats Pack (PC)

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April is not looking like a great month for console gaming with only a few big releases, such as ‘I Am Alive,’ which will finally make its way to the PSN, and the popular rail-shooter, ‘The House of the Dead 4′ will also come out this April for PlayStation3. The last really significant title is the sequel to the mindless bloodbath ‘Prototype’, called ‘Prototype 2′ (‘Prototype 2′ is for PlayStation3, X Box 360 and PC).

‘The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings-Enhanced Edition’ makes its debut on X Box 360, so if you did not pick it up for the PC, you will have a chance to try it for Xbox. The PC also gets the ‘Enhanced Edition’ this month.

PC users will get to try out the free-to-play shooters ‘Blacklight: Retribution’ and ‘Tribes: Ascend’. Those who own a PlayStation Vita and not a PS3 and also happen to love ‘Disgaea’, can pick up ‘Disgaea 3: Absence of Detention’ which is the lone release for the handheld for this month. Owners of the 3DS can look forward to a few B-list handheld titles, and that’s about it.

Unless you plan on going down Nostalgia Road or Vintage Avenue, most gamers will be sticking to their current favorite titles, such as ‘Modern Warfare 3′, ‘Battlefield 3′, ‘World of Warcraft’, ‘Star Wars: The Old Republic’ and ‘League of Legends’. Hopefully the releases for May will be much better than the ones for April, but until then, you will have to make the best of the short list of titles that are available this month.

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Asura’s Wrath may not be the best game you’ll ever play, it certainly won’t be the longest game you’ll play, and it definitely isn’t the most interactive game you’ll play. But it is still worth a play. After hearing the things I’ve already said about the game, you may be asking “Why?” and I don’t think you are crazy to wonder that.

So let me explain. Simply put, the game offers a fun and unique experience unlike any other. In all actuality, Asura’s Wrath is closer to an interactive anime as opposed to an action game, like God of War III.  In fact, I think Dragon Ball Z deserves a place amongst contemporaries just as much as the God of War games.

Asura’s Wrath’s roots as an anime can be seen in the game’s presentation. One thing that the game does to mimic the anime experience is present itself as episodic content, rather than one continuous story. The episodes are even broken up with little manga like segments and a “On the next episode of…” type of transition.  Don’t forget the over-the-top action in both the gameplay and cut scenes, which are a staple of almost every anime.

Then there is the ridiculous, but entertaining storyline which may seem like your cliché tale of betrayal and revenge. Still, it has its own unique flair that separates it from all the other, more mundane plotlines. After all, where else are you going to take on a giant Buddha in space? So now you have a chance to enjoy a piece of visual media that combines all of your favorite aspects of anime/manga, and video games,  in one tight, concise package.

While bursting at the seams with action, the parts where you are actually fully in control seem few and far between the segments of cinematic storytelling and Quick Time Events. Not to mention, the action is quite shallow. Your main source of damage output is the Light attack combo, which involves pressing square with the occasional triangle, which unleashes a heavy attack that changes based on context.

There are also cool counter attacks that change based on which faceless grunt’s skull you are bashing in at that particular moment. Bosses don’t have health bars, which makes these potentially epic duels reminiscent of your favorite anime’s battles. They are little more than a vehicle to get to the next cut scene. You just fill up your “burst” meter by bashing everyone’s face in, and when it’s full, you “burst” into yet another QTE that will shove you along to the next part of the story.

5. Presentation

Asura’s Wrath’s style is by far one of its best traits. The game is also certainly beautiful to look at, and it is both very, very unique and very, very odd. Not to mention it is also incredibly and unashamedly over-the-top.

4. Graphics

Everything looks good and is complemented by a unique art style.

3. Sound

Asura’s Wrath’s music is fantastic and does a great deal in sucking you into the action. The voice actors also do a pretty good job of delivering their lines and making them feel authentic.

2. Gameplay

Think of God of War III. Now think of God of War III with less complex actions and more QTE. Now you have Asura’s Wrath: satisfying gameplay with no “wow factor,” and a heck of a lot of interactive cut scenes. This applies to at least the first two-thirds of the game. The final third takes a page from Panzer Dragoon’s playbook, and turns into a similarly styled shooter.

1. Lasting Appeal

Let’s be honest here, single-player games almost always offer less value than games with multiplayer, and the divide is even greater when the single-player experience only lasts 6 hours. Asura’s Wrath isn’t quite justifiable with its $60 price tag, so either find a friend or two to split the bill with, rent it or wait until it is less than $40 is my personal recommendation.

Final Score: 3.5/5

This game is a great game, but it simply has a hard time justifying you spending your hard earned dollars on it. So while I do think it is worth a play, I think it isn’t worth it at this time. I am also to inclined to note that if you aren’t in it for the spectacle and are more concerned about the gameplay, then chances are that at the very least you will be a little disappointed.

Image Courtesy of    https://www.facebook.com/asuraswrath

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March has a lot of huge video game releases, namely Mass Effect 3, MLB 12: The Show, Street Fighter X Tekken, Ninja Gaiden 3, Mario Party 9, and Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City. There are also a few releases that will not make a huge splash, but will be eagerly received by fans of their respective series.

Examples are Silent Hill HD Collection, The Sims 3 Plus Showtime, FIFA Street, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations, Silent Hill: Downpour, Tales of Graces f, Yakuza: Dead Souls, Rayman 3 HD & Warriors Orochi 3. There are also some big digital release-only games that gamers should look for, such as I Am Alive (which is XBLA only for now, but there will be a PSN release later) and Journey, a PSN exclusive. If you want to check out the full list of March releases look no further than the list below.

Note: These are North American release dates ONLY, so if you live outside of North America you will have to double check as the release date may be different in your region.

CONSOLE AND PC

1-Mar

• Deep Black: Reloaded – PC
• Vessel – PC

6-Mar

• Major League Baseball 2K12 – PS3, 360, Wii, PC
• Mass Effect 3 – PS3, 360, PC
• miCoach – PS3, 360
• MLB 12: The Show – PS3
• MLB 2K12/NBA 2K12 Combo Pack – 360
• Silent Hill HD Collection – PS3, 360
• Street Fighter X Tekken – PS3, 360
• Top Gun: Hard Lock – PS3, 360, PC
• Ridge Racer Unbounded – PC
• The Sims 3 Plus Showtime – PC
• XCOM – PC

7-Mar

• I Am Alive – 360

11-Mar

• Mario Party 9 – Wii

13-Mar

• FIFA Street – PS3, 360
• Journey – PS3
• Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations – PS3, 360
• Shoot Many Robots – PS3
• Silent Hill: Downpour – PS3, 360
• Tales of Graces f – PS3
• Yakuza: Dead Souls – PS3
• Warp – PC
• Sledge Hammer – 360

14-Mar

• Warp – PS3
• Shoot Many Robots – 360

20-Mar

• Armored Core V – PS3, 360
• Ninja Gaiden 3 – PS3, 360
• Rayman 3 HD – PS3
• Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City – PS3, 360
• Warriors Orochi 3 – PS3, 360
• Kinect Rush: A Disney-Pixar Adventure – 360

21-Mar

• Rayman 3 HD – 360

23-Mar

• The Dark Eye: Chains of Satinav – PC
• Total War: Shogun 2 – Fall of the Samurai – PC

27-Mar

• Combat Wings: The Great Battles of WWII – PS3, 360
• Ridge Racer Unbounded – PS3, 360
• Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends – PS3, 360
• Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 – PS3, 360
• Capcom Digital Collection – 360

29-Mar

• Rayman Origins – PC

31-Mar

• Birds of Steel – PS3, 360
• Blades of Time – PS3, 360
• Sorcery – PS3

HANDHELDS

6-Mar

• CRUSH3D – 3DS
• NCIS 3D – 3DS
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 – PSV
• MLB 12: The Show – PSV
• Unit 13 – PSV

7-Mar

• 50 Classic Games – 3DS

13-Mar

• Planet Crashers 3D – 3DS
• Supremacy MMA: Unrestricted – PSV

20-Mar

• Rayman Origins – 3DS
• Ridge Racer – PSV

23-Mar

• Kid Icarus: Uprising – 3DS

27-Mar

• Alien Chaos 3D – 3DS
• Boulder Dash-XL 3D – 3DS
• Funky Barn 3D – 3DS
• Reality Fighters – PSV
• Silent Hill: Book of Memories – PSV

31-Mar

• Deer Drive Legends 3D – 3DS

Image Courtesy of    http://teamninja-studio.com

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‘NFL Blitz’ was a popular Midway Arcade series, now owned by EA, which was known for taking its own spin on football. The ‘NFL Blitz’ series was never a “true” adaptation of the sport; NFL simulators were meant for EA Sports’ ‘Madden’ and 2K’s ‘NFL Football 2K’ series while Blitz just stuck with the arcade formula and gave something the lighter sports fans could easily enjoy, chaos on the field and “late hits.”

The Blitz games allowed you to enter cheat codes prior to the game starting, which let you change the look of the field, ball, players, and some gameplay codes that can make things a little easier or harder for you. If you want to know more about Blitz’s history, click here.

On January 3, EA Sports released ‘NFL Blitz’ as a PSN and XBOX Live download. Before this, the last Blitz game to be released was ‘Blitz: The League 2’ in 2008. The League games took the most of the arcade elements out of the Blitz series and went for a more realistic style and brought Blitz into a new hyper violent sports game by including real, and sometimes nasty injuries.

It was because of this that the NFL license dropped from the Blitz games and the series took a downward spiral. Though still entertaining, they were no longer the Blitz series that everyone remembered. That is, until EA picked up the rights and returned Blitz to its former glory.

The Gameplay

For those of you new to the Blitz franchise, be ready for illegal moves, unrealistic plays, crazy teams, and the arcade classic invisible walls. In order to understand how and why these work, you have to know the two rules of Blitz:

Rule #1: There are no rules on the field. Any means for you to take out the ball carrier are allowed, including pass interference. If you are in threat of getting tackled, spin yourself to act as a shield or just knock down your opponents like bowling pins (sound effects included). You may also use your turbo meter to assist against your opponents. Though the meter runs out fast and slowly recharges, if you play your cards right, your team might burst into flames (literally) so you don’t have to worry about your turbo running out.

Rule #2: There are no out of bounds or offsides. There are invisible walls that keep you in the playing field and on your side of the field, until the play has started. This keeps the action simple and heated as well as helps give your character, in defensive position, a running start towards the QB as he runs in place on the line of scrimmage until the ball is hiked.

Worried about the two minute clock since you cannot run out of bounds? At the end of every play the clock stops. It’s just part of the rules of Blitz.

With EA’s revival of the Blitz series, they have returned Blitz to its bright colors, arcade controls, as well as the wacky character skins such as, Ninjas, Robots, Hotdogs, and many more including Zombies (Yes, they do the ‘Thriller’). Some of the new features brought into the series are:

• Blitz Gauntlet, which is where you face three sets of three teams in order to battle the bosses to unlock them as playable skins.
• Blitz Battles, where you go head to head with people online or even join up with a friend to battle others in two on two team battle.
• Elite League, where you build your own personalized team using your favorite players as well as banners and logos from your favorite teams to make your own personalized Blitz team.
• Online Coop, where you join up with an online friend to battle other online teams.
• The Blitz Store, where you use Blitz Bucks (earned through online play) to purchase logos and players for your custom team, gallery images, Fantasy Character skins, or cheat codes (All cheat codes can be used without having to purchase them, except for the fantasy characters).

EA’s ‘NFL Blitz’ is a true revival of the Blitz series and a fantastic game with solid gameplay for both sports and arcade fans. The only complaint I had with the game is that they did not allow late hits at the end of the plays. Besides that EA did a great job with reviving the Blitz series and the game itself does not disappoint.

Score: 4/5

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An e-mail sent out by Sony has confirmed that all “PlayStation Network accounts” will be renamed to “Sony Entertainment Network account” or “SEN account.” However Sony assures users that it is simply a name change and a part of their effort to establish a single, unified platform where users can get video game, movie and music content all in one place.

The email also explains some of the changes that  that will be made to the Terms of Service and User Agreement and Privacy Policy:

• New terms for parents of minor, subaccount holders regarding the limitations of chat parental controls. Your reacceptance of the Terms of Service and User Agreement and Privacy Policy affirms your consent to the sharing of your child’s data that may occur if your child utilizes certain communication functionalities on PlayStation devices such as PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita systems.
• New terms that explain the location-based services offered through the PlayStation Vita system. For parents of minor, subaccount holders your reacceptance of the Terms of Service and User Agreement and Privacy Policy affirms your consent to your subaccount holder’s user of these services on the PlayStation Vita system.
• A description of our “What’s New” section, which provides topical information about our services and advertisements.
• Information about pre-ordering content.
• The name of your “PlayStation Network account” is changing to a “Sony Entertainment Network account.”

Dear (User)

On February 8, 2012, your “PlayStation®Network account” will be renamed a “Sony Entertainment Network account” or a “SEN account” in conjunction with Sony Computer Entertainment’s PlayStation®3 system software and PlayStation®Vita system software updates. (Note, this change will not be applied to the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system at this time.)

For general purposes, this account change is a change in name only. Your username or password will not change, nor are we asking you to change them. In accordance with this transition, some necessary naming changes will be made to the TOS and Privacy Policy.

This transition is based on Sony’s goal to enhance its unique digital entertainment offering. As a series of these activities Sony started last September, PlayStation®Network will be aligned with “Sony Entertainment Network.” This helps us get closer to our goal of establishing a global comprehensive network platform of services across games, movies, music and more, all accessible from one convenient account.

Thank you for your continued loyalty and support during this transition.

Sincerely,
The Sony Entertainment Network Team

Barone Firenze / Shutterstock.com

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Turtle Beach, the market-leading pioneers of the console gaming headset category, recently announced the introduction of the feature-packed Ear Force XP400 and XP300 premium wireless gaming headsets. Optimized for wireless game audio and chat on Xbox 360 (and also compatible with PlayStation 3), these headsets provide new levels of convenience and versatility while delivering the renowned game audio performance synonymous with Turtle Beach.

The new XP400 and XP300 headsets bring the wireless Bluetooth chat of the acclaimed XP500 headset to more affordable price points, while adding the ease of rechargeable batteries and new 5GHz dual-band Wi-Fi RF wireless technology that virtually eliminates interference with wireless networks in the home.

The XP400 and XP 300 can be seen along with the full offering of Turtle Beach products at the Las Vegas Convention Center, South Hall 1 – Booth #21327, during the International Consumer Electronics Show from January 10 to 13, 2012.

The Ear Force XP400 and XP300 introduce premium features that once again push the limits of gaming headset technology. With the exclusive introduction of groundbreaking 2.4/5GHz dual-band Wi-Fi technology, these new headsets avoid the crowded 2.4GHz band used by wireless networks, phones and other devices in the home to deliver interference-free game audio.

By automatically switching between the 2.4 and 5.0 GHz bands and working within the Wi-Fi specification, the XP400/XP300 headsets navigate around other radio signals and coexist within the same spectrum as wireless networks to deliver optimum signal performance.

“Interference from common 2.4 GHz wireless devices like game consoles, routers, telephones and other gadgets is now a thing of the past with these new headsets,” said Michael Arzt, VP of Marketing and Business Development at Turtle Beach. “Not only have we jumped to the 5GHz spectrum, completely avoiding the crowded 2.4GHz band, we’ve also adopted the Wi-Fi specification so our headsets can coexist within the wireless-LAN spectrum rather than search for free space around LAN signals.

Adding dual-pairing Bluetooth chat from the XP500 and a rechargeable battery makes these headsets perfect for Xbox 360 owners, who want premium performance and convenience.” Equally noteworthy, the Ear Force XP400 also introduces Turtle Beach’s new post-processing system for Dolby Surround Sound, with fully adjustable speaker angles that enable a user to change the positions of the virtual 5.1 speakers by selecting between six different speaker angle settings to optimize the surround sound effect.

Now even more gamers can hear subtle directional details on the battlefield with 360 degree accuracy, from enemy footsteps to weapon reloads. The Ear Force XP300 includes the same 2.4/5GHz dual-band Wi-Fi game audio, Bluetooth chat and rechargeable battery at a lower price. XP300 owners can upgrade to the same Dolby Surround Sound technology of the XP400 by adding the new Ear Force DSS2 Dolby Surround Sound Processor, also introduced at CES.

Ear Force XP400 Wireless Dolby Surround Sound Gaming Headset
Key Details:

• Dolby Surround Sound: Immersive 360 degree audio lets you pinpoint the direction of every sound
• Adjustable Surround Sound Angles: Alter the positioning of the surround sound angles for the best audio experience for every gamer
• 2.4/5GHz dual-band Wi-Fi Wireless Digital Game Sound: Uncompressed digital RF audio signal delivers CD-quality sound by auto-selecting the optimum frequency in the 2.4GHz/5GHz spectrums.
• Wi-Fi Friendly: Easily coexists with wireless networks and Wi-Fi devices
• Dual-Pairing Bluetooth: Chat wirelessly on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 and answer mobile phone calls while gaming
• Rechargeable Lithium Polymer Battery: Provides up to 15 hours of uninterrupted gameplay and can be recharged while gaming
• Equalizer (EQ) Presets: Multiple EQ presets include the bass, treble and midrange boost combinations
• Blast Limiter: Reduces the effect of loud game sounds so you can turn up softer sounds.
• Digital Optical Connection: Delivers the highest quality of digital surround sound
• Digital pass-through: Connect your home theater to the XP400 optical connection to hear the sound on both the headset and external 5.1 speakers.
• Analog input: Connect a TV or other analog stereo source to the transmitter to hear it processed with virtual surround sound.
• Dynamic Chat Boost: Chat volume automatically increases as the game volume gets louder
• Variable Microphone Monitor: Hear your voice in the headset while speaking and adjust the level.
• MSRP: $219.95
• Available: Q1 2012

Ear Force XP300 Wireless Amplified Stereo Gaming Headset
Key Details:

• 2.4/5GHz dual-band Wi-Fi Wireless Digital Game Sound: Uncompressed digital RF audio signal delivers CD-quality sound by auto-selecting the optimum frequency in the 2.4GHz/5GHz spectrums.
• Wi-Fi Friendly: Easily coexists with wireless networks and Wi-Fi devices
• Dual-Pairing Bluetooth: Chat wirelessly on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 and answer mobile phone calls while gaming
• Rechargeable Lithium Polymer Battery: Provides up to 15 hours of uninterrupted gameplay and can be recharged while gaming
• Equalizer (EQ) Presets: Multiple EQ presets include the bass and treble boost combinations
• Sound Field Expander Presets: Boosts the level of sounds on the left and right sides while lowering sounds in the center.
• Dynamic Chat Boost: Chat volume automatically increases as the game volume gets louder
• Variable Microphone Monitor: Hear your voice in the headset while speaking and adjust the level.
• Auxiliary Input: Listen to your favorite songs while gaming by attaching an MP3 player to the XP300 transmitter along with the game audio.
• MSRP: $ 169.95
• Available: Q1 2012

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Sony Computer Entertainment America have announced The Last of Us, a new franchise created exclusively for the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system. Developed by Naughty Dog, the creators of the highly acclaimed and best-selling UNCHARTED series, The Last of Us was unveiled in a world premiere trailer at the Spike TV 2011 Video Game Award Show.

The Last of Us is a genre-defining experience that blends survival and action elements to tell a character driven story about a population decimated by a modern plague. Abandoned cities are being reclaimed by nature, and the remaining survivors are killing each other for food, weapons, and whatever they can get their hands on.

Joel, a ruthless survivor, and Ellie, a brave young teenage girl who is wise beyond her years, must work together to survive their journey across what remains of the United States.

“We are excited to finally unveil The Last of Us, a project the team has been working hard on for some time,” said Evan Wells, co-president of Naughty Dog. “Naughty Dog’s mission is to change the way people experience videogames. We are confident The Last of Us will take a leap forward in cinematic gaming and storytelling, providing gamers with an experience unlike anything else in the industry.”

The Last of Us is developed by some of the industry’s most talented game designers including Bruce Straley, game director, and Neil Druckmann, creative director. Naughty Dog advanced to the forefront of the videogame industry in 1996 with the successful introduction of Crash Bandicoot on the original PlayStation system.

The developer extended the franchise with Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, Crash Bandicoot 3: Warped and Crash Team Racing, selling 22 million copies worldwide and led to Naughty Dog being the most successful video game developer in the United States for that console generation.

The team then created the Jak and Daxter franchise including Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, Jak II, Jak 3 and Jak X: Combat Racing.  All four titles are “Greatest Hits” for the PlayStation 2 system.

In 2007, the team released UNCHARTED: Drake’s Fortune and followed with UNCHARTED2: Among Thieves and the recent November launch of UNCHARTED 3: Drake’s Deception. Having currently sold over 13 million units worldwide, the UNCHARTED franchise represents some of the most impressive graphics and sound and processing capabilities found on the PS3 system.

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At first glance, Microsoft looks like the software behemoth that most of us have grown accustomed to just love hating. Look a little deeper and you’ll discover that not only has Microsoft changed the dynamics of the gaming world, its actively shaping the future of the industry as whole.

The story of how Microsoft was able to enter an industry dominated by Nintendo and Sony is quite a long and interesting one.

At first it was Bill Gates announcing the coming of the first Microsoft gaming console. On November 15, 2001, the original Xbox is launched along with their online platform Xbox Live, offering a vision of online gaming that was then unrivaled by its competitors.

To its credit, Microsoft realized the looming potential that home gaming consoles had vis-à-vis the online gaming world. What they did with Xbox Live was nothing short of banging open a truly fresh market for both large game developing companies as well as their smaller indie counterparts. The floodgates were then open. Today, Nintendo is scrambling to find a way into online gaming while the former generations’ market leader Sony plays catch up with its own PlayStation Network. The growth of the Xbox Live service is also showing no signs of abating, recording a 16% increase in revenue in 2010.

Microsoft is now upping its game (quite literally) in a big way with its newest entrant, Kinect.

Kinect is basically a very smart device that detects your motion and allows you to interact with your Xbox 360 without a controller. Although the peripheral received a wave of initial criticism –due to issues of lag and appeal to solely casual gamers – the numbers spoke of a different story. Kinect went on to sell 8 million units in just its first 60 days on the market. What is really mind blowing is the interest that the peripheral is generating amongst hackers wanting to manipulate the technology behind it. A team at MIT’s Media Lab fine-tuning a hologram video marks one of the more recent hacks involving Kinect. Check the top 12 Kinect hacks here.

Microsoft of course is probably reveling in on all the seemingly newfound popularity. So much in fact that they have been able to work it in their favor. Instead of pursuing litigation against individuals hacking its hugely successful new product, Microsoft is instead supporting them. In fact they are working on launching a developers kit to assist those hackers with their endeavors.

The reason why Kinect will continue to be a huge success revolves around the software used to operate the device, the “brain”. This allows Microsoft to remotely update Kinect’s mental prowess and adapt it to more complicated commands and environments.

In short, Nintendo might have introduced the first instance of motion control gaming to the mainstream, however the future seems to holding its fruits in Microsoft’s favor. If Microsoft’s achievements to date in the gaming world hints at anything, it is that they will continue to expand the market as whole, and may I dare to say yes, even dominate it.

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