In today’s Daily Bits: 2K announces an announcement, Xbox Live gets some free stuff and a prediction, compiling info for the Call of Duty and possible Dead Space 2 Multiplayer and the  Medal of Honor controversy continues.

2K to announce something tomorrow

Nothing says “major video game conference” like someone announcing an announcement, and that is exactly what 2K has done. The game distributor has slated tomorrow at 10:00 AM PDT for the announcement at PAX.  The rumors are the company may just be releaseing Duke Nukem Forever, which some say explains why game creator George Broussard tweeted a link to a picture of pigs flying.

Tell me something: after all this time, does the announcement of Duke Nukem Forever really warrant the announcing of an announcement?

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Xbox Live announcements and an odd prediction

By now everyone has heard about the increase in fees for Xbox Live Gold Membership in November. As if to distract from that, Microsoft has announced a whole bunch of special deals in September for Live members. The 14-20 have been dubbed “Invasion Week,” with a whole lot of deals surrounding the release of Halo Reach. On top of avatar gear and themes, several XBLA games will be dropping in price in September, and Silver members will be given full Gold access for the 17-20. In some ways, this appears to be a chance to get more people on Live Gold membership before the price increase.

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Then there are the new price predictions for Live. Remember our good old friend Michael Patcher? You know, the guy who predicted the pay for play model for Call of Duty? Well, he is at it again. His latest commentary relates to what he calls the next evolutionary step of membership for Live: the $100 platinum model.

Now before anyone gets worked up over this, let’s not forget how often these “game analysts” are wrong. You would have thought Patcher would have learned from the Call of Duty incident, but apparently now. Heck, he is probably just glad we are talking about him.

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More info on Call of Duty: Black Ops multiplayer

So, the big reveal of the Call of Duty: Black Ops multiplayer was last night, and more info is still flooding the game networks. Check out Kevin’s article on the event and the game here, and you can check out Joytiq’s pictorial record of the even here.

While I am not going to delve into all of the news coming out about the multiplayer for this game, I will say it looks like they are taking some ideas from established franchises like Counter Strike and adapting them to the CoD multiplayer we have all come to know and love. Don’t get me wrong; I am not trying to crticize Treyarch here. Far from it. This could turn out to be a very good idea.

Necromorphs versus Soldiers? Really?

So, what do you think the original Dead Space was missing. If you said multiplayer, you may be happy to know it is starting to look like the sequel will have just that. News coming from the GameStop conference in Texas points to an “Necromorphs VS Soldiers” multiplayer mode in Dead Space 2. EA is not confirming this, but the company is saying there will be a multiplayer element to the game.

Am I the only one who thinks a mode like this is completely unnecessary?

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Military based GameStops will not be carrying Medal of Honor

It seems the controversy over having people play as the Taliban in the multiplayer of Medal of Honor is really heating up. In response to the backlash over that decision, all GameStops in military bases will not be selling the game. The company even went as far as to send the following notice to employees:

GameStop has agreed out of respect for our past and present Men and Women in uniform we will not carry Medal of Honor in any of our AAFES based stores.

I have made my feelings on this known, and I will not rehash them. I am wondering if this backlash continues, will the programmers remove the Taliban reference.

At this point in the game’s development cycle, it may be too late.

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Tonight in Los Angeles was Treyarch’s big reveal party for their upcoming Call of Duty title, Black Ops.  During the event (which I believe is still going on as I write this) they showed some new and exciting changes for their next installment that is sure to excite fans of the game.  So instead of me rambling on, let me tell you some of the things you may have missed.

Treyarch understands that there may be some newcomers to the first person genre, and maybe they want to start off slow instead of being tossed right in to the fire.  One new mode they talked about was called Combat Training.  This allows new players to get into a multiplayer environment but only to face A.I. bots.  It can be a good way for little Jimmy who just got the game for Christmas to learn some of the basics before hopping in there with the rest of us vultures. Hey, noobs need some loving too.

Next up and possibly one of the biggest changes to the COD multiplayer world, has to be CP.  That’s right, CP which stands for Call of Duty Points.  Now the game will reward you with money when you level up instead of just experience points.  With the money that you accumulate the choice will be yours to decide what you want next in your aresenal.  No longer do you have to wait until you reach level 42 to get that awesome assault rifle that you love so much.  Instead, kick some butt online, earn a few bucks and buy whatever you want, when you want it.  As far as I know, perks will be done the same way, as well as other things like attachments and so on.  Everything is done with money.  I’m sure Treyarch will balance everything well enough so that the better guns/perks will cost you a few more CP then others will.  But we will have to put our faith into Treyarch and hope they do the right thing, I’m putting all my CP on them!

Theater mode was something that has been talked about a lot lately after the footage we’ve seen from the most recent multiplayer trailer. This is something that Bungie has had in Halo for quite a while now, and Treyarch is taking a page out of the Halo book to try and make it even better.  Each player will get a file share space where you can save films, screenshots, or even custom game settings.  Everything can be searched and viewed by any player.  No longer do you have to go on youtube and type “sick3st call of DUtyy Kilz”.  Everything will be right there for the players viewing pleasure.

Now I thought I would save the best for last, and in my opinion this next thing I’ am about to tell you really takes the cake.  Treyarch is implementing four new game modes thrown into the mix titled Wager Match.  Wager Match is four free for all themed brand new game modes that allow you to wager your Call of Duty Points that you have earned while playing multiplayer.  The four modes announced are called: One in the chamber, sticks and stones, sharpshooter, and gun game.  Let me explain in a little more detail what these modes are all about.

One in the chamber- This mode starts players off with only a pistol, one bullet, and three lives.  With each kill you get, you will take that player’s bullet.  But shoot and miss your target, then you are only left with your melee knife.  So use your bullets wisely.

Sticks and Stones- This game type sounds very interesting to me.  You start off with a crossbow, a ballistic knife, and a tomahawk.  The point is to obviously kill your opponent, but if you so much desire to take them out with the tomahawk, then that player will go bankrupt and will lose all the money they wagered for that game.

Gun Game- Probably my most favorite of them all. Gun Game starts everyone off with just a lonely pistol, no need to worry though, with each kill you will be granted the next best weapon and so on and so forth.  The player who goes through all the series of weapons, will win the match.  Just be careful you don’t find a knife in your back.  It will set you back to the previous weapon.

Sharpshooter:  Last but certainly not least, is Sharpshooter.  Sharpshooter starts off with everyone receiving the same random gun that is chosen at the beginning of the match.  Every two minutes or so the gun will change to another random weapon.  Every kill you come across, will earn you a new perk as well.

That’s a lot to take in for one day, but overall I’ am pretty pleased with some of the new things Treyarch is bringing to Black Ops.  You can bet there will be more information surfacing today, so be sure to come on back and check out this post for all the up to minute news regarding Black Ops.

In the meantime, check out the video below with Design Director, David Vonderhaar and Online Director, Dan Bunting as they show some gameplay footage of all the new wager match modes.

In today’s Daily Bits: Gearbox brings a GOTY Edition to seal the deal, while Microsoft is bringing even more XBLA titles to us.  GT5 wants to give you the best gameplay experience, and Microsoft introduces a new controller, with a twist.

Gearbox Announces Borderlands GOTY Edition

If you are still holding out on Borderlands because you are waiting for the right deal, then that time may have finally come.  Gearbox has announced a Game of the Year edition for the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC to arrive in stores on October 5th.  But best of all the game will come with all four of the downloadable content add-ons that was released, as well as a giant map of all the territories in the game.

Prices for the GOTY Edition will be the standard $60 on consoles, and $50 on the PC.

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Gran Turismo 5 Install is Recommended, But Not Mandatory

Do you have a lot of unused memory on your PS3 and are looking for ways to use some of it up? Well GT5 series creator Kazunori Yamauchi recommends you install the 10 gigabyte title for better performance and buttery smooth gameplay.

No other information has been revealed, other than this will not be a mandatory install.  GT5 will be on store shelves November 2nd.

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XBLA Gets “Game Feast” Promotion

With the Summer of Arcade promotion wrapping up now until next year, Microsoft surely has enjoyed the success of what those titles brought.  A new XBLA promotion is making its way to the 360, and it’s called “Game Feast”.  Game Feast will run from September 29th until October 20th and will contain four more arcade titles.  Some of which will be timed exclusives.  Information on the titles and pricing are as follows:

• September 29 – Hydrophobia (1200 Microsoft Points)
• October 6 – Comic Jumper: Adventures of Captain Smiley (1200 Microsoft Points)
• October 13 – Pinball FX 2 (Tables purchased individually)
• October 20 – Super Meat Boy (Pricing TBD)

Gamers who already own Pinball FX 1 can import their tables to Pinball FX 2 for free.  But the sequel will also have all new tables for you to enjoy.

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New Xbox 360 Controller Hits Retail, But Theres A Twist

Microsoft has finally wised up and has listened to fans who were aggravated with the D-pad on the current 360 controller. The new controller will come in a silver finish with grey-toned face buttons and analog sticks.  The main design change allows the D-pad to twist in a clockwise motion to turn for the different style of games.  Check out Major Nelson’s video below for a full hands-on look.

The new controller will only be available with the play and charge kit for $64.99, and will be released on November 9th.  Just in time for the new Call of Duty.  Hmmm, what a coincidence.

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

New Releases

8/31/2010

• Ghost Pirate of Vooju Island – $19.99 -Puzzle/Adventure game
• Serious Sam HD – $9.99 – Boxed copy release of this classic remake

News Bytes

PC Gamers run over by light cycles. Am I the only one that thinks it ironic that a game/movie franchise centered around being pulled in computer systems has just thumbed it’s nose at gamers who prefer that platform?  Tron has announced a December 7th release date, for it’s new game, Tron:Evolution, and alongside that a nifty Collector’s Edition.  The CE comes packaged with a model lightcycle, forged by the master craftsmen at Sideshow Collectibles, complete with a pretty cool looking display case, that even has a compartment to store your Tron game case.  Sadly, just like many other cross-platform releases, the CE will only be available for 360 and PS3 fans, PC gamers get left out in the cold.  So the Wii gets a bonus, with the Epic Mickey CE, for a reasonable $59.99, but PC gamers get dropped off the grid with this $130.00 version of Tron—-I personally think that’s a little pricey, but it would have been nice to have the consideration.

Neverwinter……Days? Many of us, including myself, were excited to hear that there would be a new Neverwinter game.  I was also among the group of people who misunderstood this announcement, so I’d like to clarify things here.  This is NOT going to be Neverwinter Nights 3, rather a new IP, based in the Neverwinter universe, featuring gameplay, best described along the lines of Torchlight II’s co-op model.  Cryptic Studios, the game’s developer, has stated that the game will be more of a co-op action rpg as opposed to a standard MMO.  From reading descriptions and interviews, this game will be more of an interactive tabletop D&D experience, rahter than a WoW competitor–even including a ‘Forge’ option, that allows players to customize their own experience.  Essentially, to me, that sounds like Cryptic will give you the toolset of the game to allow you to pick a friend as a DMM, and let him/her play that role within the confines of the game universe—-a pretty attractive idea!  The big ogre in this dungeon is that pricing has yet to be announced.  They are still considering all facets—from a Guild Wars style free-to-play all the way to a pay-to-play, subscription based model.  I have to be skeptical, they are going to have to throw up an obscene amount of constantly updated content to carry a subscription fee, while a microtransaction for premium loot model might appease both sides, more readily.  Still, the ability for hardcore D&D players to meet up online in ‘Forge’, and provide visual content to their D&D games, might be enough to draw out enough of a paid subscriber base.  It will be interesting to see more news on this, as Cryptic narrows their options.  Hopefully, it won’t be shooting themselves in the foot with a poison arrow.

Slow your Zerg rush! We all know Blizzard is awesome at balancing and adding content, well, Starcraft II players can expect the first major patch soon, with many rebalancing issues planned.  The new patch will address bugs, add mod features and provide support for the 3 people out there using Nvidia’s 3D technology(kidding!, I’m kidding!).  In addition, many multiplayer tweaks are being made, that I won’t detail fully here, suffice to say Terran Marine rushes will nosedive due to tweaking of barracks/marine/reaper build times, and the protoss zealots will see similar affects, taking longer to build and warp in.  Just reading the sitrep, detailed here, not only is it apparent that Blizzard is doing the most it can to preserve the balance and fun of the multiplayer game, it’s amazing to see how they listen to their community!  If you are a serious SCII player, and you have any constructive criticism for the multiplayer, I would encourage you to go to the SCII forums and hit them up!  Look for the patch sometime in September.

What do Tycho, Max, Strong Bad and a TF2 Heavy have in common? Well, I don’t know either, but I can’t wait to find out!  Telltale Games, maker’s of amazing episodic games, such as Sam & Max, Strong Bad’s Cool Game For Attractive People and Penny Arcade Adventures, have released a trailer with the above mentioned four silhouettes, teasing a team up, with more news to come on September 2nd.  Stay tuned to www.telltalegames.com this Labor Day Weekend to find out!

ATI secedes? Well, not quite.  Anyone who follows PC technology already knows that not only does ATI fall under the AMD banner, but that AMD is also working to fuse processors and graphics cards into one component.  From what I’ve heard, and don’t quote me here, this new Fusion technology will apply for netbooks, for now, but I can’t imagine AMD isn’t salivating at getting this working in a gaming capacity, to put the screws to Nvidia.  Well, in an effort to seem less confusing to consumers, AMD will now drop the ‘ATI’ brand name, on their GPU’s, and label them all under the AMD brand.  AMD plans to continue to carry the ‘Radeon’ and ‘Firepro’ brands, probably to continue familiarity with the brand names already in existence, but presumably, also the allow for easy differentiation between their GPU’s and the upcoming line of ‘Fusion’ Hardware.  The change takes place next year, and it will be interesting to see if AMD can keep the enormous upswing they’ve had, as of late, continuing, with these changes.

In today’s Daily Bits: Epic Mickey brings us some collector’s items, Bulletstorm shows off what you can do with a four-barreled shotgun, Uber Entertainment supports Monday Night Combat in a big way, and Microsoft is making some changes to how much you pay to play.

Epic Mickey Receives a Colorful Collector’s Edition

Not too often do we see a Wii exclusive get a Collector’s Edition, so when one is revealed it must be worth it, right?  Mickey thinks so, which is why Epic Mickey will be bundled with a few extra goodies with a price tag of $69.99.

The package will include the game of course, along with a faceplate for you Wiimote, a DVD containing behind-the-scenes videos, a pair of skins for your Wii, and five-inch vinyl figurine of the mischievous Mickey himself.

Epic Mickey is due out this holiday season.

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Bulletstorm Teases Extensive Gameplay Demo

Listen in as producer Tanya Jessen gives us a taste of what we can expect in the over the top bloodbath that is Bulletstorm.  The demo was taken from Gamescom, and shows what kind of mutants we will have to deal with, along with a four barreled shotgun, which makes quite the mess.  Check out the carnage below.

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Xbox Live Subscription Fees Increasing This November

Microsoft has hit us with something out of left field today.  Which was news that our beloved Xbox Live was going to get a little more expensive.  Come November 1st, the service will be $59.99 for the full year, instead of the previous $49.99.

The price change will only affect the U.S., Canada, UK, and Mexico.  For the full breakdown on pricing, check out Major Nelson’s Blog.

If you want to stock up on subscription cards before November 1st, then you can go to xbox.com and grab a card for $39.99.  I’m sure sites like Amazon and Newegg will be offering good deals as well, just keep your eyes open.

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Monday Night Combat Patch, Free DLC Coming Soon

Uber Entertainment is working on a patch to fix and improve some current problems.  The updated version will be playable this week at PAX, and as a huge thank you to fans, Uber Entertainment will be bringing and giving out a bunch of MNC shirts.

The DLC will be the first of three DLC packs that will be coming, the first one is a freebie and will contain “new content, gameplay adjustments, and more bug fixes.”

Take a look at the laundry list of add-ons and improvements below:

Connectivity and Multiplayer:

• Reworked the way we handle parties in the pregame lobby to avoid splitting them up.
• Fixed several issues where host migration would fail immediately.
• Decreased wait time after a successful host migration.
• Lobbies will now host migrate and not kick you back to the main menu.
• If the host leaves during the end of match sequence, the host will migrate and players will return back to the lobby and not the main menu.
• Optimized the time it takes to migrate hosts, shortening the time to migrate.
• Improved weapon hit detection in high lag situations.
• Fixed endorsements being incorrect after a host migration.
• Fixed getting into private matches without an invite.

General Gameplay:

• Fixed players being able to damage the Moneyball’s shields.
• Fixed visual effects staying on the player after the effect has worn off.
• Reduced the amount of increased damage the Moneyball takes in Overtime, thus reducing the effectiveness of “Juice rushing”.
• Fixed Ringouts, Headshots and Grapple Kills not giving the proper amount of money.
• Balanced Ringout money to reflect the change. Message now displays correct total amount of money earned.
• New “You Win!”/”You Lose!”; UI for the end of a match.
• Fixed juice benefits ending early if the player grapples during juice.
• Fixed juice bar getting stuck full.
• Fixed deploying on or near active jump pads.
• Fixed controller sensitivity of 10 not saving.
• Fixed messaging for kill streaks. Ultra and Uber streaks will now be named properly when popping up above your cursor.
• Fixed an instance of the player’s skill pick UI going away unexpectedly.
• Fixed an issue with bots walking by enemy turrets and bots without engaging them.
• Fixed upgrading a turret that has been hacked to the opposing team.
• Fixed turret collision not going away after being destroyed.
• Normalized time between a grapple miss and the ability to grapple again for all grapples. The biggest change is the Assassin not having as big of a penalty for a missed grapple.
• Fixed the “Team Leader” and “Team Player” highlights from being reversed.
• Fixed players being able to mute themselves.
• Fixed idle kicking when standing still but still looking around and/or shooting.
• Fixed players who cheat and hack their profiles from being able to apply multiple gold endorsements.
• Optimized main menu ticker for players with large friends lists.
• Fixed HUD showing Moneyball shields as up during over time even though they are down.
• Reduced announcer talking for kill streaks to help reduce the repetition of announcements.
• Various performance optimizations.

Support:

• Reworked Support’s bot aura so that it doesn’t make the Jackbot appear overhealed.
• Fixed Support’s Firebase skill from recharging while the Support is dead but the Firebase skill exists.
• Fixed being able to use the Heal/Hurt gun while taunting.
• Fixed some instances of the Support’s Firebase not appearing when thrown.
• Fixed Heal/Hurt gun not being affected by rate of fire endorsements and reduced it’s overall healing/hurting ability to compensate for the change.
• Fixed Supports being able to use their Hack skill through walls.
• Fixed Supports being able to throw their Firebases through the wall.
• Fixed Air Strikes sometimes damaging enemies under cover.
• Supports can now only Hack enemy turrets at Hack level 3.
• Increased the time to Hack enemy turrets.
• Decreased duration of Hack on a turret for levels 1 and 2.

Assassin:

• Fixed Assassins from being able to get permanent sprint and super speed.
• Fixed Assassins getting a double smoke bomb allowing them to jump higher than intended.
• Fixed Assassins being able to cloak during a grapple.
• Fixed Assassins from being able to use her smoke bomb during a lunge.
• Retuned damage done by dagger after a lunge.

Tank:

• Tank’s Jet Gun alternate fire damage is now reduced depending on the percentage of ammo left in the clip. Increased the full clip damage to compensate.

Assault:

• Fixed an exploit involving the Assault’s Fly.
• Fixed Assault’s bomb audio lingering after bomb is gone.

Monday Night Combat Live Update System:

• Pregame Lobby is now 45 seconds.
• Min Number of Players to start Crossfire is now 6.
• Increased player bot spawing from 5 seconds to 10 seconds.

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Listen in as Eric Bouchard and newcomer Jonathan Kelley discuss the news that came out of GamesCom.

EDG Podcast Ep. #74

Music

Dead Poetic – NEW MEDICINES, SELF-DESTRUCT AND DIE and SINLESS CITY

In today’s Daily Bits: More great deals for gamers, StarCraft II gets patched, Final Fantasy XIV gets a beta and video games get their day in court.

More deals than you can shake a…oh forget it

So the deals we listed in yesterday’s daily bits aren’t enough for you? Well, good news; we have more! First up, the EA Store is offering deals on Dead Space, Mirror’s Edge and Spore from now through Sunday. Then there’s NewEgg.Com, which is selling the black wireless 360 controller for $29.99 with free shipping, no date as to when that will expire.

So basically, you get some good deals on 2 great games, expansions and a good accessory. Too bad you also get a great deal on one horrible game, but we cannot blame EA for wanting to get rid of Mirror’s Edge (sorry Jordan, could not resist).

StarCraft II 1.1 patch coming soon

One thing that always impresses me about Blizzard: the company is always working to improve its product, even when that product is pretty impressive as is. Blizzard has announce the 1.1 patch for StarCraft II, which should be hitting Battle.Net here soon. The patch gives more editing tools to players, opens up left handed hotkeys to all regions and adds several little balancing tweaks the serious online player will appreciate, even if most of us will probably never notice the difference. No word as to an actual release date for the patch. For more info on what 1.1 includes, check out the official post on Battle.Net.

Final Fantasy XIV open beta hits August 31

Do you love Final Fantasy? Was Final Fantasy XIII just not enough for you? Did you miss out on the closed beta of Final Fantasy XIV and feel hollow inside ever since? Well, soon you will be able to rejoice. Square Enix has announced it will open up the beta test for its second MMO set in the Final Fantasy universe Tuesday, August 31 at 7 PM PDT. Be aware that while the servers will be going public then, only a certain number of people will be allowed to join into the game at one time; Square Enix stated it will be increasing that number as it tests server loads.

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California Violent Video Games bill goes before Supreme Court November 2

By now, most of you have probably heard of the California bill which would make it illegal to sell violent video games to minors. Well, this case against this bill, Schwarzenegger vs. EMA, is due for oral arguments in the Supreme Court on November 2. So far this bill, which would impose penalties on any retailer found to be selling games to minors, has been ruled unconstitutional by lower courts, but the Supreme Court does have the right to overturn those rulings.

Now I am not saying I am a proponent of violent video games, but I really hope the Supreme Court upholds the rulings of the lower courts on this. While I do believe retailers should try to keep these games out of the hands of minors, making it a crime to do sell the game to them and charging penalties to those who do sell them is not the way to go. Despite what those in favor of this bill say, there is no provable link between violent video games and violent behavior, and trying to make this tenuous “link” the basis for this bill is foolish at best and a violation of the Constitution at its worst.

No matter which way the court decides, it will have a huge impact on gamers.

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

In today’s Daily Bits: More retailers are joining the used game parade, take advantage of some great game deals, Bioshock 2 DLC dated and we will soon hear an improvement on 360 headset audio.

Best Buy and Target to start used game trade-ins and sales

Looks like GameStop might have some serious competition on its hands. Best Buy announced today it will start selling used video games in 600 of its store nationwide. Gamers looking to trade in games will take them to the customer service desk or to the trade counter in some specialty stores and will be given gift cards redeemable for anything Best Buy sells. You will also be able to trade games in online with the gift cards being mailed to you, and the retail giant has included a handy value estimator on the website in case you were curious just how much you would get for a game.

On top of this news, Kotaku is reporting they have been contacted by Target, who states its stores will start allowing for game trade-ins and used game sales as well.

This can only be a good thing for gamers. The more choices there are out there, the more it will force GameStop to actually offer something approaching reasonable trade-in value for games. As we have said many times here at EDG, competition is a good thing.

Sources: Joystiq on Best Buy, Kotaku on Target

Splinter Cell: Conviction on sale for $20, Gamefly offering used game sale

Speaking of Best Buy, the company seems set on offering great games for great prices. Last weekend, you could get Tekken 6 for the 360 for $10.00; now you can get Splinter Cell: Conviction for $20.00 online, and from what Joystiq is saying, they will match that price in store. That;s 50% off the retail price.

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Looking for more deals? Well, if you are a Gamefly member, you are in luck. Gamefly is offering some great deals on used games, including:

Wii

• Little King’s Story – $19.99
• Silent Hill: Shattered Memories – $24.99
• New Super Mario Bros. Wii – $29.99

PS3

• God of War 3 – $21.99
• MAG – $24.99
• Darksiders – $14.99

Xbox 360

• Bayonetta – $14.99
• BioShock 2 – $14.99
• Final Fantasy XIII – $24.99

DS

• WarioWare D.I.Y. – $19.99
• Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box – $19.99

That price does not include the extra percentage off lone time Gamfly members receive.

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Bioshock 2 DLC ‘Minerva’s Men’ due out August 31

Bioshock 2‘s latest DLC, ‘Minerva’s Men,’ will be hitting the PSN and Xbox Live August 31st. Priced at $10, the DLC will open up new areas of Rapture and will run parallel to the game’s primary storyline.

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360 Headset Audio Improvement headed our way

So even people who do not get Kinect are going to benefit from the Xbox 360 system patch Microsoft is doing to make the console compatible with its motion sensing camera. The company will be upgrading the audio codec which handels all of the online chatting. What does that mean? The easy short answer is we should hear a dramatic improvement in the sound quality of game chats.

This is *crackle* news, but will *crackle* if people actually use the *crackle*set which came with the co *crackle*.

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

In today’s Daily Bits: Metro 2033 tries to work out their achievement woes, Harmonix takes the wraps off of Rock Band 3, and Vanquish gets some pre-order goodies that you don’t want to miss out on.

Metro 2033 Still Cannot Get it Right..Or is it Microsoft?

THQ for the past month has had nothing but problems at trying to get their DLC to work correctly.  The “Rangers Pack” was introduced in the beginning of the month and all seemed well until people started complaining that the Achievements were not unlocking for the DLC.  THQ has gave their official announcement on the issue, saying:

We understand some people are still experiencing issues with achievements unlocking in the Metro 2033 Ranger Pack DLC. We are currently working with Microsoft to ascertain whether this is due to a code related issue with the DLC itself, or an error in the Marketplace process whereby the DLC was added to Xbox LIVE Marketplace before the new achievement data was added – this exact issue has happened to other games in the past, but we need to be sure that this is what’s happening here. We realize this is frustrating for those of you who have been waiting to enjoy the Ranger Pack DLC, and we ask for your patience as we try to pinpoint the exact issue and solution.

What a bummer for THQ, they bring out a fresh new IP and get plagued by annoying bugs.  Hopefully they resolve the matter very soon.  I would recommend taking a back seat on purchasing the content until the problem is rectified.

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Rock Band 3 Finally Reveals 83 Song Setlist

Today Harmonix has finally officially confirmed all 83 tracks for Rock Band 3.  Last week we saw some video confirming some leaked tracks, but now you can throw all the rumors out the window.  The full list of songs are below.

2000s:

• Amy Winehouse, “Rehab”
• At the Drive-In, “One Armed Scissor”
• Avenged Sevenfold, “The Beast & the Harlot”
• Dover, “King George”
• The Bronx, “False Alarm”
• The Flaming Lips, “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1″
• HIM (His Infernal Majesty), “Killing Loneliness”
• Hypernova, “Viva La Resistance”
• Ida Maria, “Oh My God”*
• Juanes, “Me Enamora”
• Metric, “Combat Baby”*
• Paramore, “Misery Business”*
• Phoenix, “Lasso”*
• Poni Hoax, “Antibodies”
• Pretty Girls Make Graves, “Something Bigger, Something Brighter”
• Queens of the Stone Age, “No One Knows”
• The Ravonettes, “Last Dance”
• Rilo Kiley, “Portions for Foxes”*
• Riverboat Gamblers, “Don’t Bury Me…I’m Still Not Dead”
• Slipknot, “Before I Forget”
• The Sounds, “Living in America”
• Tegan & Sara, “The Con”
• Them Crooked Vultures, “Dead End Friends”
• Tokio Hotel, “Humanoid”*
• The Vines, “Get Free”*
• The White Stripes, “The Hardest Button to Button”*

1990s:

• Faith No More, “Midlife Crisis”*
• Filter, “Hey Man, Nice Shot”
• Jane’s Addiction, “Been Caught Stealing”*
• Maná, “Oye Mi Amor”
• Marilyn Manson, “The Beautiful People”
• The Muffs, “Outer Space”
• Phish, “Llama”
• Primus, “Jerry Was a Racecar Driver”
• Rammstein, “Du Hast”
• Smash Mouth, “Walkin’ On The Sun”*
• Spacehog, “In the Meantime”
• Stone Temple Pilots, “Plush”
• Swingin’ Utters, “This Bastard’s Life”

1980s:

• Anthrax, “Caught in a Mosh”
• Big Country, “In a Big Country”
• The Cure, “Just Like Heaven”*
• Def Leppard, “Foolin’”
• Devo, “Whip It”
• Dio, “Rainbow in the Dark”
• Dire Straits, “Walk of Life”
• Echo & the Bunnymen, “The Killing Moon”
• Huey Lewis and the News, “The Power of Love”
• INXS, “Need You Tonight”*
• J. Geils Band, “Centerfold”
• Joan Jett, “I Love Rock N’ Roll”*
• Night Ranger, “Sister Christian”*
• Ozzy Osbourne, “Crazy Train”*
• The Police, “Don’t Stand So Close to Me”
• Roxette, “The Look”*
• The Smiths, “Stop Me if You Think You’ve Heard This One Before”
• Tears for Fears, “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”
• Whitesnake, “Here I Go Again”*

1970s:

• The B-52′s, “Rock Lobster”*
• Blondie, “Heart of Glass”
• Bob Marley, “Get Up, Stand Up”
• Chicago, “25 or 6 to 4″
• Deep Purple, “Smoke on the Water”
• Doobie Brothers, “China Grove”*
• Elton John, “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting”
• Foreigner, “Cold As Ice”*
• Golden Earring, “Radar Love”
• John Lennon, “Imagine”
• Lynyrd Skynyrd, “Free Bird”
• Queen, “Bohemian Rhapsody”*
• Ramones, “I Wanna Be Sedated”
• Steve Miller Band, “Fly Like an Eagle”
• T. Rex, “20th Century Boy”
• Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, “I Need to Know”
• War, “Low Rider”
• Warren Zevon, “Werewolves of London”
• Yes, “Roundabout”*

1960s:

• Beach Boys, “Good Vibrations (Live)”
• David Bowie, “Space Oddity”
• The Doors, “Break on Through (To the Other Side)”*
• James Brown, “I Got You” (I Feel Good) — Alternate Studio Version*
• The Jimi Hendrix Experience, “Crosstown Traffic”*
• The Who, “I Can See for Miles”

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Pre-Order Vanquish From Gamestop and Get Some Exclusive Weapons

Gamestop has taken the wraps off of pre-ordering bonuses for Vanquish, and what the heck would a game be these days without pre-order incentives right?  Well if you decide to put $5 down on the title, you will be rewarded with three exclusive weapons: the Boost Machine Gun, the Anti-Armor Pistol, and the Laser Cannon.  For a look at these weapons in action, check out the trailer below.

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

THQ and Double Fine Productions has released a trailer for their upcoming title “Costume Quest.”  It follows the adventure of a group of young friends who must survive the night and destroy the monsters in their town, using their brains and their costumes.

Players will go door-to-door collecting candy, points, and other items as they prepare themselves for Combat Mode.  Where they will transform into larger than life versions of themselves.

Costume Quest will be arriving to the XBLA and PSN this fall.

In today’s Daily Bits: DeathSpank brings a sequel in September, while Crackdown 2 is getting free and paid DLC. EA makes some Medal of Honor changes, and are you feeling lucky today? then PRESS YOUR LUCK.

DeathSpank Plans on Releasing a Sequel…NOW!

You read the title correctly folks, Hothead games are already coming out with a sequel for their month old original title.  How can this be you ask? Well it is said that Hothead have been working on both titles simultaneously, and are ready to give fans more action and more puzzle solving fun in new settings and different locations.

Since the title is releasing so soon, the developers unfortunately will not be able to take fans feedback from the first game into consideration.  So that means no Multiplayer component or PC version is in the works.  But the sky’s the limit for Deathspank 3.

Deathspank “Thongs of Virtue” is due September 21st on the PSN, and the next day on Xbox Live for $15 or 1200 Microsoft Points.

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Crackdown 2 is Bringing Some Free DLC…Sort of

If your blood thirsty for some new Crackdown 2 DLC, then Ruffian Games has got your back.  “Toy Box” will be released as free DLC, but if you want some extra goodies then you’ll have to dish out some of those Microsoft Points that you’ve been saving for the right time.

The free side of “Toy Box” will contain “Keys to the City” cheat unlock, The Thruster ability, and a new multiplayer mode called “Vehicle Tag.”

If you want to dish out 560 Microsoft points ($7), you can also add five more weapons to your arsenal, two new vehicles, some Avatar items and 10 new achievements for all you..nevermind.

No set date has been announced yet for the DLC.  But to keep you busy until then, you can check out a trailer for the “Toy Box” below.

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EA Improves Medal of Honor, Thanks to Fans Feedback

Do you think multiplayer beta’s these days are just a promotional tool? And what you may say in the game’s forums or on Twitter could make no difference whatsoever because the game is nearly finished? Well that may be true, but not for EA or DICE who is putting the final touches on Medal of Honor.

Today EA thanks all the fans who participated in the PS3 version of the Beta, and makes a pretty lengthy list of changes that they have made, due to all the fan feedback.  The full list can be found on the Playstation Blog.

In case you missed the article from our time spent with the Medal of Honor multiplayer beta on the PS3, you can find it here.

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Annnnnnd…STOP!

Do you remember the classic television game show Press Your Luck? Well it is out on the PSN today for $9.99.  Also included is the little annoying devil looking character that always seems to get on your last nerve.

The game will feature online multiplayer and four player split screen co op, with 2500 different questions to keep things fresh.  It also offers solo play if you want to press your luck without any witnesses to see how bad you are.

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Hey all!  Hope your week is going well.  I must apologize, I have not had much time, and I have a limited internet connection, so I will be skipping my formal Weekly Byte this week, for something a little different.  There is certainly no shortage of PC news this week, but most of it relates to GamesCom, from Cologne, Germany, last week, which happens to be our topic of discussion for this week’s podcast.  I will, most likely, skip my article this week, and direct you to the new podcast, when it posts, Episode 74.  If, during the recording, we skip anything major, I’ll edit this article to include the details, but for now, in the name of a lack of time, you’ll just have to wait for the show.  I’ll try to post more later in the week, but, until then, the only big release is Mafia II, retailing for $49.99, and releasing on Tuesday, August 24th.  Our demo impressions aired on Episode 73, if you are interested.  Thanks to all!  God bless!

In today’s Daily Bits:  We take a look at what’s coming to store shelves this week.  Plants vs Zombies makes it way to Nintendo, Motorstorm takes 3D by storm, and its a high possibility we could see Torchlight on consoles this holiday season.

Release Date List: 8/22-8/28

This upcoming week is a good one for gamers as we approach the end of the month.  This week we will be getting Mafia 2 (PC, Xbox 360, PS3), Shank (Xbox 360, PS3), and Worms: Reloaded (PC). What will you be picking up?

For a look at a complete list of games that are already confirmed to come out this year, and even a early look into 2011, check out our Release Date calender tab.

Plants vs. Zombies Digs itself on to the DS

Diehard fans of Plants vs Zombies can now play the game on the DS this January.  Today PopCap Games announced the title would have all the original content as the original releases, as well as brand new exclusive content.  As it should come as no surprise, the DS version will be listed at $19.95.

How excited are you to see this game coming to the DS? Let us know below if you will be double dipping, or maybe even triple dipping at this point.

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Motorstorm Gets a 3D Makeover

Sony has confirmed today that a new Motorstorm title will be coming to the PSN tomorrow.  Well maybe not entirely new.  Motorstorm 3D Rift takes 10 tracks from Motorstorm: Pacific Rift, as well as some of the vehicles.  The $9.99 title will add full 3D support if your one of the lucky ones who already own the technology.  But no worries for us boring consumers who still own those ugly flat screen 1080p televisions, the game can also be played in 2D.

This is a heck of a deal, especially if you never experienced Pacific Rift.  I know I will be adding money to my virtual PS3 wallet.

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Torchlight Makes a Push for Consoles This Holiday

It has always been a dream of Runic Games to put their Torchlight title onto the XBLA and PSN.  Well that dream may come true this holiday.

Runic CEO Max Schaefer was quoted at Gamescom saying: “We’re trying, we’re talking to Sony and Microsoft and we hope to get that done quickly”.   He also went on to saying that if all goes according to plan, we could see the title as early as this holiday season.

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

 It is a tough job to take a game that was not so well received and be brave enough to make the decision to try a sequel. The original Kane and Lynch: Dead Men was plagued with issues, everything from control problems to bad aiming and cover mechanics. I must say after picking up Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days on release day I am pleasantly surprised. The game still does have its share of issues but it is nowhere near a “pain to play” like the original. The story is a big part especially if you made it through the original. The surprises continue upon starting the game. There are many ideas that although could use a bit more polishing are a welcome change.

One of these mechanics is the camera.  It is really set up to make it feel like Kane and Lynch are being followed around by a personal camera man. As you begin to sprint the camera starts to shake just a bit to make it seem like the camera man is trying to keep up. Its a really cool idea but personally I had to go into the options and turn it off. The camera itself would begin auto focusing, which although it added to the realism of what they were looking for it  just ended up giving me a bit of a headache. Thankfully they allow you to play without it.

Story:

The story is set in the Chinese underworld. You follow Kane and Lynch through the streets and back alleys of Shanghai as they run for their lives from both Chinese gangsters and the police. After a job gone bad you are hunted by members of the Chinese mob. Much blood and many bullets later, your goal is just to survive long enough to get out. The story is by far the best part of the experience. I must warn that the game definitely earns its mature rating. A single player campaign filled with adult themed language and content set a tone of the story line.  It all fits together very well and has a nice flow. There was never really a point where I felt there was a breakdown of any kind. The only downfall of the story is the length. At five hours the campaign is definitely to short.

Graphics:

Graphics wise the game looked very good. As mentioned earlier the “Blair Witch” style camera usage was a welcome change and with a bit of tweaking could have added to the overall feel of the game. The game had no really noticeable frame drops or rate issues but did not really do anything amazing. It all fit well for the game being a dark over the shoulder shooter but in order to be named with some of the better games of the day you have to take that extra step. Unfortunately Dog Days just seems like another third person shooter.

Game Play:

The game play is much tighter than the original. I am glad we actually have a cover system that works and the combat is much faster paced and more enjoyable. Considering I finished the game in two sittings really speaks well for the flow of the game. The controls felt good which is a big part of a game. If the controls are hard to use it takes away from the immersion of the game. Unfortunately, as of writing this I have yet to be able to play the multi player. Upon logging into Xbox live and trying to join a lobby a connection screen appears. After twenty to thirty minuets watching the game trying to connect to a game I gave up. The game also does not allow for a party system in ranked matches. If you want to play with your friends you must create a private match. Unfortunately the one time I was able to join a multi-player lobby I spend a good while as the only person in the room. Considering the single player campaign was so short these multi-player problems are unacceptable.

Final Thoughts:

Overall I enjoyed Kane and Lynch 2. The game was exponentially better than the original. Personally, I want a longer single player campaign and multi-player that actually works especially for the cost of games these days. I do recommend it for the story but beware if you are sensitive to certain content. It should be a game for dark, gritty action fans to try at least once.

In today’s Daily Bits: Take advantage of some major weekend deals, Harmonix’s answer to yesterday’s leak actually leaks RB3 set list, the new 250GB 360 HD is now for sale and get ready to beta test some clones.

Busy weekend for gamers

This si a good weekend to be a gamer. First up, High Moon Studios is running a 4X XP weekend for Transformers: War for Cybertron. Then there is Steam’s deal on the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games, offing the bundle at 75% savings through Monday. Then there is the insane deal being offered by Best Buy: Join the company’s free Reward Zone club (if you are not already a member), bring in this printable coupon and pick up Tekken 6 for the 360 for just $9.99 through Sunday.

The “real” set list emerges

So Harmonix decided to “refute” the video that had “leaked” many of the songs for Rock Band 3 yesterday by making a video of their own. Only one issue: the video showed the ENTIRE 83 SONG SET LIST behind the three Harmonix studio members. The list includes the songs which were shown yesterday, along with such hits as “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears, “I Love Rock and Roll” by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, “The Look” by Roxette and “Roundabout” by Yes. You can check out the entire list, which is a little too long to post here, in Joystiq’s article.

Yes, I know War’s “Lowrider” is on the set list. No, you will not hear me covering that song for the Gone in 60 Seconds intro.No, I will not budge on that decision.

The New HD has arrived

Microsoft has yet to announce the selling of the new 250GB HD for the newly designed Xbox 360, but that has not stopped GameStop from selling it. Not only has it started appearing in the stores, you can buy it off GameStop.com for $130. While that is a fair amount cheaper than the debut price of the 120GB for the old system, it does kind of defeat the $100 savings you get from buying the 4GB 360.

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SIGN UP FOR THE STAR WARS MMO BETA!!!! Oh wait, wrong MMO

Unfortunately, Bioware is not taking sign-ups for an open public beta for Star Wars: The Old Republic. Take heart, fans of the force: Sony is taking sign-ups for its Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventrures MMO. While it may not be the one everyone is waiting for, it might just whet the appetite for those hungry to try a Star Wars MMO.

Okay, even I don’t believe that, and I typed it. Still, if you are a Star Wars fan, it may be worth giving a try.

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Listen in as Eric Bouchard, Jordan de Boer and Chris Maeurer discuss just what it means to be a gamer.

EDG Podcast Ep. #73

Music

Red – BREATHE INTO ME, DEATH OF ME and ALREADY OVER

In Today’s Daily Bits: Castle Crashers PS3 and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow get release dates, THQ continues to use its version of the Online Pass, Rumors about new Sony PSP and could a preview video have outed many Rock Band 3 tunes?

Release date news

A couple of games now have set release dates. Those who have been awaiting a firm release for the PS3 version of Castle Crashers need only wait a little longer; the title makes its PSN debut August 31. Then there is the news many gamers have been awaiting: Castlevania: Lords of Shadow finally has a release date of October 5.

Gotta say the little bit of Lords of Shadow I got to play at E3 has me thinking this is going to be the first 3D Castlevania game done right, but what else can you expect from Kojima Productions.

EA not the only bad guy in the Online Pass game

Many of you may remember how THQ snuck in a $5.00 version of EA’s Online Pass on UFC Undisputed 2010. Well, the company is now adding a $10.00 version to WWE Smakdown vs. Raw 2011. New copies of the game will come with a code which will unlock online access and the first DLC package, which adds a new playable character and some alternate costumes. Those who buy it used will have to buy the DLC for $9.99/800 MS Points, which will presumably unlock the online play.

In the interview our own Chris Maeurer did with Dan Amrich of Activision, he said he would not be surprised if more developers started copying EA’s online pass. Looks like that has started already.

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Could the new PSP have touch sensitive controls?

So there are many rumors about the new PSP, one of which is just…well, I am not sure what to make of it. According to some sources, the new iteration of Sony’s handheld may have a touch sensitive area on the back.

As far as things we know for certain about the new design ideas, Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Kaz Hirai has state it will not be a download only system. He still claims the PSP Go was a success, but he has stated the company has noticed there is still a need for people to be able to buy some for of a physical medium.

Touch controls on the back? Not only does that just sound weird, but I am not going to get worked up about any PSP rumors will we have a better idea what it will actually have. Remember we all got excited before we saw the PSP Go.

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Possible list of Rock Band 3 tunes leaked

So there was a video coming out of Gamescon yesterday that may have accidentally leaked several of the tracks included in Rock Band 3. During an interview with Youtube GottGamesShow, a Harmonix rep was seen scrolling through the set list. While the video has been removed, sources including Joystiq have been able to compile a list of what was shown, including Devo’s “Whip It” and James Brown’s “I Got You (I Feel Good).” Here are the tracks:

• The Bronx – False Alarm
• Lynyrd Skynyrd – Free Bird
• Beach Boys – Good Vibrations (Live)
• Tegan and Sara – The Con
• Riverboat Gamblers – Don’t Bury Me… I’m Still Not Dead
• The Police – Don’t Stand So Close to Me
• Steve Miller Band – Fly Like an Eagle
• Blondie – Heart of Glass
• The Who – I Can See For Miles
• James Brown – I Got You (I Feel Good)
• Ramones – I Wanna Be Sedated
• John Lennon – Imagine
• Big Country – In a Big Country
• Primus – Jerry Was a Race Car Driver
• Echo and the Bunnymen – Killing Moon
• Dover – King George
• Raveonettes – Last Dance
• The Sounds – Living in America
• Phish – Llama
• Faith No More – Midlife Crisis
• Paramore – Misery Business
• Queens of the Stone Age – No One Knows
• At the Drive-In – One Armed Scissor
• The Muffs – Outer Space
• Golden Earring – Radar Love
• Amy Winehouse – Rehab
• Elton John – Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)
• Deep Purple – Smoke on the Water
• The Smiths – Stop Me If You’ve Heard This One Before
• Hypernova – Viva La Resistance
• Pretty Girls Make Graves – Something Bigger, Something Brighter
• Swingin’ Utters – This Bastard’s Life
• Dire Straits – Walk of Life
• Devo – Whip It
• Warren Zevon – Werewolves of London
• Flaming Lips – Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Pt. 1

Now these are uncomfirmed, but this is quite a list. Looks like Harmonix is going to bring it for Rock Band 3. This game has gone from something I really was not interested in to a day one purchase.

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Check out the latest trailer that revolves around the story of Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X. 2.  From the looks of it, it seems Ubisoft is going the extra mile in making this the game much bigger than the first.

The demo is now available on the Xbox 360 and the PS3.

Take a look below at the very first developer diary video from Bethesda, as they introduce their new title, Brink.  They give us a little upcoming peek at the world in Brink and the factions that you will go up against.

Brink is scheduled to come out around Spring 2011.

In today’s Daily Bits: We have a ton of GamesCom 2010 news and trailers for games like Resistance 3, Killzone 3, Need for Speed Hot Pursuit and a lot more.  Check it all out below!

Resistance 3 Announced During Sony Press Conference

A little game called Resistance was talked about today during a Sony Gamescom press conference that was held in Cologne.  According to Insomniac Games twitter account, Resistance 3 is in the works, and is set to arrive on the PS3 in 2011.

Check out the live action trailer below.

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Patapon 3 Trailer Shows off Eight Person Multiplayer

Many people loved the first two Patapon titles, and who could blame them right? Well Patapon 3 seems to be taking it one step further.  A new trailer that was played during Gamescom, shows off eight person multiplayer along with new enemies, skills, and weapons.

Patapon 3 is due out this Holiday exclusively on the PSP.

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Gran Turismo 5 Goes Blue in Japan

Gran Turismo 5 will be coming to Japan on November 3rd this year with an all blue PS3 and controller.  The game will cost Y 7,980 ($93) in a standalone pack, but in a first come first serve Limited Edition bundle for the same price that includes, a 308 page book.

A GT5 PS3 bundle will also be available for Y 35,980 ($421) for the hardcore Gran Turismo fans.  Including the Limited Edition of the game, and a very slick titanium blue 160GB PS3 Slim.

Images of the PS3 can be found below.

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Sony Reveals Multiplayer Trailer for Killzone 3

No doubt Sony is showing off its heavy hitters for 2011 during Gamescom 2010. They introduced a multiplayer trailer today for their next big FPS shooter title, Killzone 3.  The trailer shows some gruesome melee combat, and gives us a glimpse at how the jetpack can be a whole lot of fun.

Killzone 3 is scheduled for February 2011.

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Need for Speed Hot Pursuit Receives Limited Edition Bonus

It seems like every game nowadays has to have a Limited Edition.  The cost sometimes can be overwhelming, but lucky for you Need for Speed Hot Pursuit LE will cost the same as the standard edition.  So basically it’s a win win situation for everyone.  Below is the list of extras you will get with your Hot Pursuit purchase.

Exclusive access to:

• Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione
• Ford Shelby GT500

Early access to:

• Audi TT RS Coupé
• Chevrolet Camaro SS
• Porsche Cayman S
• Dodge Challenger SRT8

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World of Warcraft: Collector’s Edition Unveiled

Activision Blizzard has announced the details on the Collector’s Edition for the upcoming expansion pack Cataclysm. The price is $79.99 but comes packed with a lot of goodies.  Take a look at the list below and let us know if you will be spending the extra dough.

• Art of the Cataclysm art book, featuring 176 pages of never-before-seen images from the archives of the Blizzard Entertainment cinematics department and the World of Warcraft development team, as well as progressive visuals from multiple stages of development.
• Exclusive in-game pet: He may not be a breaker of worlds just yet, but Lil’ Deathwing will still proudly accompany heroes on their struggle to save Azeroth from his much, much larger counterpart.
• Behind-the-scenes DVD with over an hour of developer interviews and commentaries, as well as a special Warcraft retrospective examining the rich gaming history of the Warcraft universe.
• Soundtrack featuring 10 epic new tracks from Cataclysm, including exclusive bonus tracks.
• Special edition mouse pad depicting Deathwing menacing the ravaged continents of Azeroth.
• World of Warcraft Trading Card Game cards, including a 60-card starter deck from the Wrathgate series, two extended-art cards, and two Collector’s Edition-exclusive hero cards, marking the first appearance of goblin and worgen heroes in the TCG.

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Check out our video below from some of the minds behind the highly anticipated Brink.  Bethesda is really making an effort to insure that the game is done right, especially with getting the controls just right on the consoles.

Bethesda recently also announced digital pre-order bonuses for North American retailers.  With loads of customization for your in-game character like weapons, apparel, tattoos, and a lot more.

Look for the details after the video.

The DOOM Pack, available when you pre-order through GameStop, contains:

• Unique “Hellspawn” body tattoo
• Exclusive UAC (Security) and Cacodemon (Resistance) customized skins for the Bulpdaun SMG
• Exclusive UAC Marine Body Armor (Security) and Lost Soul Screaming Skull (Resistance) t-shirts
• Exclusive UAC beanie cap (Security) and DOOM bandana (Resistance)

The Fallout Pack – Available at Best Buy and BestBuy.com

The Fallout Pack, available when you pre-order through Best Buy, contains:

• Unique Fallout Vault 101 body tattoo
• Exclusive Vault 101 (Security) and Fallout New Vegas Vault Boy (Resistance) customized skins for the CARB-9 SMG
• Exclusive Fallout Vault 101 (Security) and Fallout New Vegas Vault Boy (Resistance) t-shirts
• Exclusive Vault-Tec beanie cap (Security) and Fallout bandana (Resistance)

The Psycho Pack – Available at Amazon.com and Direct2Drive

The Psycho Pack, when you pre-order through Amazon.com or Direct2Drive, contains:

• Exclusive weapon: the “Caesar” Revolver
• New attachments: The Resistance’s improved Soda Can Silencer and Security’s ArkTactical Silencer
• Exclusive Resistance “The Grin” Combat Mask
• Unique “Tortured Soul” body tattoo

The Spec Ops Pack – Available at Walmart, Walmart.com, and Steam

The Spec Ops Pack, available when you pre-order through Walmart or Steam, contains:

• Exclusive weapon: the “Hockler” Machine-Pistol
• Exclusive “GreenEye” Combat Optical Scope
• Exclusive Security “Sloani” Combat Mask
• Unique Dogtag body tattoo

In today’s Daily Bits: Mass Effect 2 announced for the Playstation 3, Ubisoft is working on additional Ghost Recon titles, is F.E.A.R. 3 scared of the Holiday lineup? and Rock Band 3 spills the beans on ten more tracks.

Mass Effect 2 Coming to PS3 in 2011

That’s right PS3 fans, even you will be able to experience one of the best RPG’s of all time. According to EA, the PS3 version will be packed with “hours of bonus content.”

Mass Effect 2 on the PS3 is scheduled for a “January 2011″ release.

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Ubisoft Reveals Two Separate Ghost Recon Titles

We will not see Ghost Recon: Future Soldier until 2011, but that doesn’t mean you have to completely go without it.  Ubisoft has announced today two Ghost Recon titles coming this fall to the PSP and the Nintendo Wii.

The PSP version will be called Ghost Recon: Predator, and will take you into the jungles of Sri Lanka.  But of course, things go wrong when evidence is found that their country is going after the wrong enemy.  The game will also support ad-hoc multiplayer.

The Wii title on the other hand, simply just called Ghost Recon, will star two characters, Hibbard and Booth.  While arriving in Moscow things aren’t what they seem, and the duo gets separated from the rest of their squad.  The press release promises an experience for casual and core gamers, and will also support co-op functionality, with an Arcade Mode with online leaderboards also thrown in the mix.

Both titles are due out this November.

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F.E.A.R. 3 Gets Bitten by the Delay Bug

Another game bites the dust and takes a ride into 2011.  Next in line is F.E.A.R. 3, yet Warner Bros. would not be more specific other than “2011″, and the reason behind the delay is “unknown.”

F.E.A.R. 3 was originally looking at a October release, which would of been right in the middle of the three top shooters coming around that time with Medal of Honor, Halo: Reach, and Call of Duty: Black Ops.

What do I think about the delay? Good move Warner Bros.

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Rock Band 3 Gives us 10 More Tracks

Harmonix is starting to blow things open on Rock Band 3 as we are closing in on it’s October release.  Today they revealed ten more tracks that are taken from their 83 song setlist.  Take a look below, there is a little bit for everyone.  I mean it.

You will have your chance to rock out the living room with Rock Band 3 on October 26th, for the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii and Nintendo DS.

• Bob Marley & the Wailers – “Get Up, Stand Up”
• INXS – “Need You Tonight”
• Poni Hoax – “Antibodies”
• Rammstein – “Du Hast” in German
• Roxette – “The Look”
• Tokio Hotel – “Humanoid”
• HIM – “Killing Loneliness”
• Maná – “Oye Mi Amor” in Spanish
• Slipknot – “Before I Forget”
• War – “Low Rider”

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Singularity tackles the story arc of what if this nation had this tech at this point in time, and how would that change today’s history? There’s nothing new there as this plot can be seen in the movie Hellboy, the game Wolfenstein, and so on. So what does Singularity do that separates it from the other first person shooters out there? Singularity has a unique atmosphere and an unexpected series of events that really make the game stand out. Let’s kick it off.

Through the first half of the game I was absolutely bored, it felt like a long tutorial and I hadn’t seen anything mind blowing yet. The gameplay is basically like Call Of Duty’s, left trigger aims, right trigger shoots, A jumps, X reloads, left stick sprints. The power trip begins once get the TMD (Time Manipulation Device) which allows you to travel through time rifts, grab/levitate objects which can help you solve a puzzle and progress through the level, age and restore objects, age or mutate enemies, with it’s

deadlock ability you can slow down time, and with it’s impulse attack you can blow enemies away and watch as their limbs fly off in all directions. It gives the game a fresh feel and keeps things interesting. Your TMD and weapons can also be upgraded allowing you to flat out DESTROY your enemies.

E99 tech and weapon tech can be found throughout the game’s single player. With E99 tech the player can upgrade their character and TMD. With weapon tech you can upgrade your favorite weapons, the only disappointing factor is the upgrades do not show on your gun. It’s good that the game allows you to do this however because it helps you play the way you want to. But NOTHING is better than completely eradicating your enemies with the impulse ability, at least not to me.

The Multiplayer

The game has two multiplayer modes Extermination and Creatures vs Soldiers. Each team has 4 classes with different skills.

Soldiers

• Blitzer- A well balanced class that has the ability to teleport.
• Bruiser- A class that will do well in close quarter encounters due to the impulse ability.
• Lurker- Lurker’s have the ability to put up a shield and cloak.
• Healer- Healers heal…….

Creatures

• Zek- The most balanced creature, it can cloak, throw explosive barrels at enemies, and hold its own in a fight.
• Phase Ticker- Phase Tickers can climb on ceilings and take over soldier players.
• Revert- Reverts can heal other players and use a ranged vomit attack.
• Radion- Massive creatures that are focused on fighting from a distance and are the hardest to take down, good for backing teammates.

Hey guys!

The Soldier players get a weapon and perk slot, while the Creature players get two perk slots due to them not being able to use weapons. The Creature players see in third person while the Soldiers see in first. Extermination is an objective based mode where the Soldiers players must restore beacons and defend them for a short amount of time before moving onto the next one while the creature players try to hold them back until the timer runs down. The timer is reset when a beacon is restored. Creatures vs Soldiers is just that, the players battle it out in a team deathmatch mode using their abilities to get ahead.

The Verdict

Overall Singularity is a good game with a cool atmosphere and suprising twists that keep it fresh but it unfortunately it has A LOT more to be desired. If you need an FPS fix check this game out. My only beef with the game is that the Russians sound very stereotypical, where did the “Russians sound like vampires when they speak in English.” trend start?! Check it out, it’s a fun action shooter with well thought out puzzles for you to solve.

Remember in my Summer of Arcade article where I said I was looking forward to Monday Night Combat more than any of the other games coming out, including Hydro Thunder Hurricane? The only problem with the game was the timing of the release; having just picked up StarCraft II, I thought I was going to have a hard time playing enough of Uber Entertainment’s XBLA offering to give it a proper review anytime soon.

Turns out I need not have worried.

You got Tower Defense in my Team Fortress 2!

There is something truly satisfying about a good kill with an Assassin.

Monday Night Combat is a third person shooter unlike any you have ever seen. You have six classes of characters to choose from: Assault, Tank, Support, Assassin, Gunner and Sniper. Each class has distinct strengths and weaknesses, and you will have to take the time to learn which ones work best as you try and protect your money ball. Each character carries a primary and secondary weapon, and they each have their own little personality quirks that come out when they are attacking and dying, very reminiscent of Team Fortress 2. Some of the character classes even share characteristics with their TF2 counterparts; the Assassin can cloak and uses a knife for melee style kills, the Gunner carries a mini gun and the Support creates a turret that both fires on the enemy and heals his teammates.

It does not take long, however, to notice there are some major differences between Valve’s multiplayer masterpiece and Uber’s offering. The first is the skills; each character has three unique skills, mapped to the X, Y and B buttons. These skills not only give them an edge in combat, they can be leveled up with the money you win throughout the match, as can your character. These are just a few examples of the skills available:

• The Assassin at level 3 replaces her kunai knife with a katana, while her dash, cloak and smoke bombs are all more effective at higher levels.
• The Tank and Gunner can deploy themselves, turning into turrets that a much more accurate and protect from grapple kills.
• The Support can hack into turrets, making them stronger. At level 2 or higher on hack, you can turn enemy turrets against them.
• The Sniper can lay traps that will freeze enemies, and each level up to 3 that skill is increased means another trap can be laid.
• The Assault’s level 3 charge is flat out deadly.

At this point, you are probably thinking this is pretty straight forward: gain money for kills in the game and upgrade your stats to make your character stronger. The problem is that is only half of the strategy. Throughout each variation of the game, bots are spawned which will go after your money ball. These bots can range from the weakly armed and easily destroyed Slim Bots to the Jackbot, a massive robot that can be a real pain to take down. All around the area surrounding your ball, you will find little nodes where you can pay to have turrets built. These turrets can range from cheap, easy to upgrade but weak Laser Turrets to heavily armored but expensive Rockit Turrets (no, that is not a misspelling). Part of the strategy is deciding just how to spend your money; concentrate too heavily on leveling up your character and your money ball may be vulnerable, while never upgrading your skills will leave your character open to attacks from bots or other players. The great thing is there is not necessarily one right way to play; the more you play the game, the more you will balance which skills you upgrade and what turrets you set up where.

So that covers some of the basic gamplay mechanics. You might be thinking already this is an impressive amount of depth for an arcade game. You wouldn’t be mistaken.

Are you sure this is an XBLA game?

Blitz is Tower Defense with a twist.

Monday Night Combat has two basic modes of play. Blitz is the Coop mode for the game. You and a group of friends work together to protect your money ball from increasingly more difficult rounds of spawning bots. You have several turrets at you disposal, and it is your job to destroy the bots before they can lower the shields to you ball and destroy it. There are several different variations on Blitz, each presenting a unique challenge:

• Exhibition: 10 rounds of easy difficulty, this is really a good mode for newcomers to try out first. You can experiment with the different characters and turrets without running too much of a risk of angering your teammates.
• Season: 20 rounds including 2 rounds of Jackbots, moderate difficulty; Season is definitely a step up from Exhibition. Make sure you know what you are doing before you attempt this mode.
• Playoff: 30 rounds of heavy difficulty. Even though I have been playing this game for a while, I have yet to beat this mode.
• The Scramble: 10 rounds of crazy difficulty. The bots hit you fast and furious in this mode, and you will have to work as team to survive.
• Sudden Death: Never ending rounds of insanely difficult bots, the idea of Sudden Death is to last as long as possible. I am pleased to report the team I was on made it to level 42 before our money ball was destroyed.

You have to work together to win in Crossfire.

As you can tell, Uber put a lot of thought into this mode. That is only half the game, however. Crossfire is the team battle mode for MNC. Two teams of 6 players square off against each other, each trying to destroy the other team’s money ball. To do this, the players must help their bots advance to the other base so they can take out the shields, allowing players and bots to then attack the ball directly. At the same time, players must stop their opponents from doing the same thing to them.

This mode is where the different abilities of each of the classes really shines. You can sneak up behind an opponent cloaked as an Assasisn and kill them with a grapple, then drop a smoke bomb with allows you to jump a grate distance out of harms way. You can level up the Gunner’s deploy to level 3, which drops a protective shield over his head that protects him from the Sniper’s headshot kills. The Support can hack an enemy turret, turning it on it’s own team, and then tag an opponent with an air strike as he makes his exit. Crossfire is all about finding ways to breach your enemies defenses while trying to keep him from doing the same to you.

Now Crossfire has provided my one source of frustration with this game. There have been more than a few games where lag has taken over, which is really annoying when you are playing a precision class like the Assassin or the Sniper. While I understand MNC runs on Peer to Peer connections and the lag may not be Uber’s fault, I do hope there is something that can be done about it in the future.

But wait, there’s more!

As if what I just mentioned was not enough, Uber has added a few other wrinkles to the game.

• Juice: performance enhancers are not only legal in Monday Night Combat, they are encouraged. When you get enough kills or manage to collect enough, you can activate Juiced mode. This mode temporarily makes you nearly invincible, instantly healing you and severely increasing your firepower.
• 

  Darn it, Bullseye, I want BACON!

  Bullseye: What sports game is complete without a mascot? From time to time, Bullseye will appear in the middle of the field of combat Shooting him will give you money, juice, and the occasional bacon, which makes you temporarily better at everything. After all, isn’t everything better with bacon?

• Custom Classes: As you gain more money, you can buy custom classes. These are all based on the standard classes of characters, but you get to choose their sponsors. May not seem like much, but each sponsor gives you a different boost, such as faster reload speeds or a greater chance of doing critical damage. On top of that, there are three levels of sponsorship: gold, silver and bronze. A reload bonus sponsor chosen in the gold slot will have a greater affect than one chosen in bronze.
• Pro tags: As you achieve different feats within the game, you unlock different pro tags. You can shoose which of these pro tags you choose to equip, which will be diplayed next to your name and when you kill an opponent.
• Humor: Monday Night Combat is full of completely irreverent humor. from the Hawaiian Gunner to the ever insulting Sniper, you will find yourself at least cracking a smile routinely throughout the game. Add to that the completely over the top arena announcer, the ‘Good old Southern Girl’ attitude of the Pit Girl and the already mentioned mascot Bullseye, and you have an overall experience that will ahve you coming back for more.

The Verdict

I know 1200 MS points ($15.00) sounds like a lot for an XBLA game, but trust me when I say Monday Night Combat is worth even spending the $20.00 it will take to get a points card just to buy it. The mark of any good multiplayer game is that “Just one more match” feeling you get after finishing a battle, and this game has that in spades. Even with its lag issues, Monday Night Combat gets a 5 out of 5.

New Releases

Tuesday, 8/17 -

• Kane & Lynch 2 Dog Days – $49.99 – trying to make up for the initial flop
• City of Heroes : Collection – $39.99 Collection of CoH MMO & expansions
• Hello Kitty Online – $19.99 Ummm, yeah. I dunno either >:O)

News Bytes

Consumers buying less Nvidia driving GPU changes? Nvidia has reported a 141 million dollar loss for the second quarter of 2010.  Compared to a 105 million dollar loss, during the same period last year, it would seem Nvidia is not quite the cash cow it once was, despite some great new tech on the market.  More interesting is that their earnings report attributes this for a drop in consumer demand for GPU’s and consumers opting for cheaper cards and integrated graphics, rather than a monster new and costly GPU.  Could that benefit the consumers?  Well, we can hope so, because we can clearly see that Nvidia’s earnings report clearly states consumers are tired of paying for high end cards, and voted with their wallets for other options.  As a gamer, my hope is that we see Nvidia optimizing technology to fit a lower budget, without sacrificing performance and lifespan, with their newer cards.

‘Mr McGee, you wouldn’t like me with Rage’. Lots of information permeated QuakeCon 2010, from Dallas, Texas, but it would seem most of it was filled with Rage.  Not only will the game debut on September 13th, of 2011, but John Carmack showed off an amazing tech demo running at 60 frames per second on his iphone.  As much as I am excited to see how Mr. Carmack can revolutionize iphone graphics, I am more excited to see someone make FPS controls for an iphone that aren’t as gimped as they are on the PSP.  You have to see the video to believe it, and although he was running his demo on an iphone 4, he claims it runs smoother than his previous Doom games on a regular 3G.  One interesting Rage demo had all three versions running side by side, to illustrate clarity and resolution changes from platform to platform-which iD has strongly attempted to minimize.  In addition to Rage, there was much to be excited about with updated information on Fallout : New Vegas, Brink and Hunted : The Demon Forge.  I had not realized that Brink had been pushed back until next year, but it looks to be a Team Fortress cooperative team shooter on A-Rod sized doses of steroids.  Brink boasts an amazing graphics engine that seems like a cross between TF2 and Borderlands, with a splash of realism thrown in.  The character customization and creation was part of the highlights, and looks to be extremely promising.  I wonder if TF2 has met it’s match?  Last but not least, iD’s Tech 5 engine will not be licensed out to 3rd party devs, rather stay within Bethesda and iD, and John Carmack has stated that he doubts we will see new iD IP for around 10 years, thoughts?

Speaking of Team Fortress 2, isn’t it about time for another update? No?  Well, you’ll get one anyway!   The least of the new content is not the item trader or the 20 new items and weapons pulled specifically from the Ploycount Contest winners, which can be viewed here.  The greatest would be an unannounced, new game mode for the game!  Brink may be gunning for the team based multiplayer gamers, but it appears that Valve is not resting on it’s laurels and giving up the title.  Could we possibly see the illusive tenth character class in this massive update, as well?  Stay tuned, Valve claims the update will hit next month, so we won’t have to wait long to see!

Fable III is going episodic and print media? Not only will Peter David, of many gaming and sci fi novel fame, be penning an original story in the Fable universe, but those who purchase the book can look forward to a special gift.  Each copy of the novel will include a code that can be used to unlock a unique weapon in the upcoming Fable III game.  So how exactly does one make a sheath for a printing press?

Who likes peanut butter and oysters? OK, me either, but in the spirit of mixing things that weren’t intended, here are a few games that have been announced, with tentative release dates :

• Tropico 4 – By Kalypso Games for the second quarter of 2011
• Stronghold 3 – From Southpeak Games and Firefly Studios for first quarter 2011
• STALKER 2 – From GSC Game World for ‘sometime’ 2012

Geared Up

OK, there was no ‘Geared Up’ last week, you got me.  This week, I don’t have a traditional entry, but with all the buzz this is creating, I couldn’t resist reposting it, here, even if it made the rounds already. Gears of Starcraft???  A Danish modder(not Jordan) has taken the Sarcraft II editing tools and turned the game into a third person shooter, with the player controlling a strange Terran space marine in a tron-themed suit against hordes of Infested Marines.  The video looks amazing, and if it can be taken this far, this soon, I can’t wait to see a full mod.  This can’t hit soon enough, because I’m “Jacked up and ready to go!”.

You can view the video here, Starcraft FPS. (Combat takes place around the 2 1/2 minute mark)

In today’s Daily Bits: Rage and Crysis 2 get a solid release date in 2011, Hawx 2 demo coming to the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3, and we have a video from GameTrailers TV introducing you to the single player campaign in Medal of Honor.

Rage Coming in September 2011

During id Software’s Quakecon presentation, they finally dropped the ball on a release date for Rage.  Rage will be coming to the PC, Xbox 360, and PS3 simultaneously on September 13, 2011.

In case you have no idea what Rage is, take a look at the 1up preview.

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GameTrailers TV Debuts Medal of Honor Single Player Details

On Friday night GameTrailers TV showed off never before seen footage of Medal of Honor’s campaign.  Greg Goodwich gave some information that explained a little more of what to expect when you become a Tier One Operator.  Saying that you will be told the story “from two different sides” and how the campaign is broken up into three sections, while you hunt down Al Quaeda.

Check out the full episode below.

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Hawx 2 Demo Flies to the 360, PS3

Ubisoft has announced a demo for their air combat sequel for Monday, August 16th on the Xbox 360 and on Tuesday August 17th for the PS3.

The demo will include two missions taken from the single player campaign, “Interception Course” and “Seek and Destroy.”  One mission puts you as a Russian pilot trying to recover a stolen aircraft, while the other has you back in the U.S. on a night mission to go after a smuggling operation.

Hawx 2 will be released in stores on September 7th for the Xbox 360, and PS3.

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Crysis 2 Now Shooting for March Release

We were all sad to hear about Crytek’s news that Crysis 2 was escaping out of the “Holiday 2010″ release window and moving into 2011.  Well they have brightened up our day a little bit, with a concrete release date.  March 22, 2011 is when you can get your hands on Crysis 2, with a European release following shortly after on March 25, 2011.

It may be a ways away, but we have faith Crytek will deliver, and the extra development time can only help.

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Welcome to Respawn Rundown. Your one stop shop for all things multi-player shooter. In this series we will cover everything from releases to multi-player updates to help you, the shooter, stay in the know. So lets just jump right in.

Gearbox Software

It has recently been rumored Gearbox, the makers of Borderlands, have picked up the rights to make Duke Nukem Forever. Fans of the series are frothing at the mouth at the prospect of a rebirth of the Duke Nukem franchise. Gearbox on the other hand is staying closed mouth on the subject and given the history of Duke Nukem Forever I cannot blame them.

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Borderlands is all set for their new DLC to be released in September, Claptrap’s New Robot Revolution.  In the new expansion players will receive twenty new levels and ten skill points all while fighting off claptrap robot followers and bot ninja assassins.

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Treyarch

Treyarch recently released the multi-player teaser for Call of Duty: Black Ops, which can be found here. The trailer itself looks amazing and leaves many of us with itchy trigger fingers, but it also shows some long awaited additions to the Call of Duty franchise. One of which is the “theatre mode” much like what can be found in Halo 3. It opens the door for players to share clips with friends as well as adding major possibilities for game play directors. We all impatiently await the November 9Th release date.

Dice | Danger Close Games

It was recently stated that the Medal of Honor Limited Edition would include a beta code for Battlefield 3.  The beta could be released within twelve months of Medal of Honors release according to EA’ s beta website.

EA L. A. announces new studio working on the Medal of Honor single player:

“Today, EA Los Angeles announced the creation of a new studio, Danger Close; a name inspired by real world military terminology that initiates a call for fire to indicate that friendly forces are within close proximity of the target (usually 600 meters). It’s the decision to take a chance directly with an enemy, rather than sit back and call in the air strikes/artillery from a safe distance.

“Medal of Honor is the first game to fall under the Danger Close studio. And because the term “Danger Close” is all about is about pushing the boundaries, it’s the perfect fit for Medal of Honor given the team’s decision to take on a story that is both controversial and one that needs to be told.”

Danger Close | Source

Battlefield Bad Company 2 recently released their VIP map pack #5. The preview can be seen here.  The Map pack will add conquest mode on Nelson Bay and rush mode on White Pass. They are scheduled to release map pack #6 nest week.

EA also recently announced the first expansion pack for Battlefield Bad Company 2 and will be called Vietnam. The teaser trailer can be found here.

Activision is starting to heat things up this week with Call of Duty Black Ops.  Earlier in the week we had the first ever multiplayer trailer shown that got a lot of people excited.  Now Activision has confirmed yet again, a Prestige Edition & a Hardened Edition for the Xbox 360 and the PS3.

The Hardened Edition will include a custom Black Ops medal, an Avatar outfit, and four additional co-op maps.  Not too exciting?  Well packing with the Prestige Edition is an RC car, which is based on one of the killstreak perks in the game that you may have noticed during the trailer.  The vehicle can transmit color and audio from up to 200 feet away.  The Prestige Edition will also include everything that the Hardened Edition has to offer as well.

No price announcement has yet been made, but you can almost guarantee it will be the same as Modern Warfare 2.  Which was $79.99 for the Hardened Edition and $149.99 for the Prestige bundle. Most if not all retailers are starting to take pre-orders for both bundles.

Call of Duty: Black Ops will see store shelves November 9th 2010 on the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.

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In today’s Daily Bits: BioShock goes on forever, Ubisoft’s DRM may just be a RUSE, Bethesda and id are Steaming and the PSP Phone is announced…sort of.

Irrational announces Bioshock Infinite

Irrational Games has announced its latest project, BioShock Infinite, will be released in 2012. BioShock Infinite takes place in 1912 and is unlike anything we have ever seen when it comes to the series. Ken Levine is bringing an entirely different game to fans of the series, this time set in the floating city of Columbia.

So a new BioShock game. At first, I was not overly interested in this; I was a fan of the first one, but not the overwhelming fan many are, and I have not played the sequel. this has me intrigued, however, and with Ken Levine back at the helm, I think it is worth a look. Read Joystiq’s detailed preview and catch the trailer here.

Is Ubisoft relenting on its Always Connected DRM?

Good news PC gamers: Ubisoft may have seen the error of its ways. The company has announced that the soon to be released RTS RUSE will not use the “always connected to the internet” DRM that has had many gamers up in arms. It will instead use Steamworks API, which means you will only have to do an initial online registration with the game.

I know Ubisoft is claiming it will still use its DRM system for upcoming games, but I personally think that is a bit of a smokescreen. Once they move off that horrid system, the community will not let them go back.

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Get the id/Bethesda library on Steam for $70

To mark the start of QuakeCon 2010, Steam is offering the entire library of id/Bethesda games on its service for and amazing price. That’s right, you can get Fallout 3 GOTY, the Elder Scrolls games, the Quake series, the Doom series and many others for just $69.99! It’s a savings of over $230, but hurry; the sale ends August 15th.

Okay, Rogue Warrior is one of the games, which sells for $19.99, but you still save over $200 if you don’t count that horrendous excuse for a game.

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Sony Ericsson working on PlayStation branded Android phone

File this under huh? Sony Ericsson is banking on being able to combine the success of the Android platform for smart phones with the PlayStation brand, making what it is calling a “gaming phone.” The phone is supposed to integrate the sliding of the PSP Go, giving gamers actual controls attached to their phones. According to Endgaget, the phone is due out sometime this October.

Sony is experimenting again, and my hopes of this working are about as high as my hopes were for the success of the PSP Go. In other words, I think this is going to fail, and fail hard. Anyone remember N-Gage?

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

BioShock Infinite Announcement Trailer

SCII: CE Unboxing

Listen in as Chris Maeurer talks Torchlight 2 with Runic Games CEO Max Schaefer.

EDG Podcast Special: Torchlight 2 Developer Interview

In today’s Daily Bits: Mafia II Demo available for all to play, Kane & Lynch 2 gets some last minute exclusive content, and Goldeneye 007 goes classic.

Mafia II Demo Available for 360, PS3

Vito and the gang were supposed to wait until August 24th to start digging the holes in the deserts, but they decided to start the mayhem a little early.  You can download the demo on the Xbox Live Marketplace and on the Playstation Network today to get a little taste of whats to come in just a couple weeks.

Kane & Lynch 2 Pre-Order Bonuses Revealed

If you plan on picking up Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days, you may want to get a quick pre-order in to get some cool exclusive content.  Below is a list from four different retailers that shows what they are offering.  Tell us what you like the best, and where you plan on picking the game up at.

GameStop — The Radio Tower – Glazer, the Expats crime boss, has been hired to collect dirty cash from an abandoned factory in the run down area of Shanghai where old communist monuments are soon to be demolished. It is the perfect location for a deal to go down and everyone will need to be ready to work together and be prepared to get in & out quickly with the $4 Million.

Best Buy — Eight Chinese costume masks – The last thing any would-be criminal wants is for someone to identify them. Use one of the eight stolen masks to ensure you remain unidentified during the heist – keep your friends close – but your enemies closer. Play your cards close to the vest and see how things work out.

Amazon — Comic Preview Pack – Exclusive Kane & Lynch: Dead Men Walking 16-page preview comic book. Created by DC Comics WildStorm. Written by Ian Edington, illustrated by Christopher Mitten with cover art by Ben Templesmith. Take a look at the first half of Issue #1 and get a taste of the mayhem Ian Edington brings to the world of Kane & Lynch. Also includes a code to unlock the “Goodbye Katty” gun.

Walmart — Fragile Alliance Strategy Guide – featuring tips and tricks to help give you an edge over your teammates, your opponents and everyone else involved for that matter. Get the inside information before anyone else gets in on the job

Kane & Lynch 2 will be releasing August 17th for the Xbox 360 and PS3.

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Goldeneye 007 Classic Edition Goes Gold

Want to go old school with the new Goldeneye 007? Well you can ditch that Numchunk and Wiimote if your little heart desires for a Classic Controller Pro.  But unfortunately with everything comes a price.  If you decide to pick up the Goldeneye 007 Classic Edition for $69.99, you will get a sweet looking gold controller to regain that old retro feel.

For an image of the gold controller check out our source below.

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Listen in as Chris Maeurer talks with Activision’s own social media guy Dan Amrich. Dan is known for his work with Official Xbox Magazine, GamePro, and GamesRadar as well as his podcast “One of Swords” (http://oneofswords.com/). Even if you are not a fan of Activision or console games please check this one out as it’s relevant to all types of gamers.

Enjoy!

EDG Podcast Episode #72

In today’s Daily Bits: Treyarch debuts first multiplayer trailer for Black Ops, Madden 11 and Sports Illustrated come together, Ubisoft shows off it’s Collector’s Edition bundle for fans, and could a Alan Wake sequel be in the works?

Treyarch Teases Black Ops Multiplayer Trailer

Treyarch has finally given Call of Duty fans something to get excited about with their first multiplayer trailer.  The trailer clocks in just under 90 seconds and shows what to expect in the Cold War atmosphere.

My favorite part is the ability to record video in multiplayer matches, but I don’t want to give everything away.  Take a look for yourself below and let us know what you think.

Sports Illustrated and Madden 11 Team Up

Last year the Madden 10 and Sports Illustrated bundle package was an obvious success.  So why fix it if it isn’t broken right? Well Sports Illustrated and EA think so.  This year Madden 11 will once again be bundled with SI and will cost $59.  If you do the math that means a free year of SI or a free copy of Madden 11, however you look at it.  Either way it’s a savings you have to tackle.

It will take 4-6 weeks for the game to reach your doorstep, so as long as you can wait it out your good to go.  As a reminder, be careful of their auto-renewal option.  They will automatically charge you for the following year if you do not cancel in time.  Otherwise enjoy!

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Ubisoft Unveils Special Collector’s Edition for Brotherhood

A lot of titles these days comes packed with a collector’s edition. Sometimes $69.99 or maybe even $79.99. Assassins Creed Brotherhood on the other hand will cost you $99.99.  I have to admit, it is a impressive CE for the hardcore Assassin Creed fans.  Below you can take a look at what Ubisoft is offering.

Collector’s Edition Includes:

• The Harlequin Jack-in-the-Box Collectible (exclusive to GameStop customers only) or The Doctor Collectible Jack-in-the-Box (available at all other participating retailers)
• Two Exclusive In-Game Single Player Maps
• Hard Copy Strategy Map of Rome
• Exclusive Art Book
• Bonus Disc (includes the following):
• Exclusive Making-of Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood Video
• Digital Sneak Peak at the Assassin’s Creed Comic
• Trailers
• Game Soundtrack

Assassins Creed Brotherhood will be available on the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC on November 16th.

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Alan Wake 2 a Strong Possibility for Remedy

Remedy has made it quite clear in an interview with Eurogamer, that they want to bring Alan Wake back for a sequel.  Even though Remedy owns the rights to the game, it would still remain a Xbox 360 exclusive with a “possible” chance that it comes to PC.

Microsoft put a lot of beef behind [Alan Wake] for it to be an exclusive for the 360, said franchise development head Oskari Hakkinen. They feel it’s an important title for their portfolio. It fits into their portfolio among other games like Gears of War, Halo and Forza.

Although the title did not sell as well as some others in the month of May *cough Red Dead Redemption *cough, the studio is still pleased with the reception the game received, placing #8 on the NPD’s.

Remedy hasn’t forgotten about Alan Wake 1 in the midst of all the sequel talk, they are currently working on more DLC.  The first downloadable episode “The Signal” can be played right now for free, if you purchased a new copy of the game.  If not, you can still purchase it on the XBL Marketplace for 560 Microsoft Points.

Source

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

New Releases

• Thursday, 8/12 – Puzzle Quest 2 on Steam for $19.99 ($17.99 by pre-order before then)

News Bytes

Torchlight will be lit, again, in Spring of 2011!!! Runic games has blindsided us by announcing that their next project is not a Torchlight MMO, but a full on, Torchlight sequel, featuring online co-op, among other innovations.  Runic has mentioned that the outcry for co-op, and the huge success of Torchlight have made the next logical step seem more plausible as a sequel with multiplayer, rather than a dive directly into the MMO space.  Great idea to work out the kinks for the MMO and the fans are certainly happy with the announcement! Look for more information to come, very, very soon, here at Everyday Gamers, about Torchlight II, but for now, here is a summary of the new features to look for :

1. New Classes, 4 total, only the Railman ( melee/Tank) and Outlander (Ranged/Light Magic) announced, so far.
2. Player characters will now be customizable as male/female, and some appearance features
3. New pets announced, although Dogs/Cats will return, no animals heard yet, but Runic wants each pet to have some unique features/attributes/skills
4. The ‘Identify’ spells/scrolls will not return, the mechanic has been abandoned
5. Wide open, outside areas spanning multiple towns/lands, featuring day/night cycles and weather effects
6. Random, non-quest related, events will also be expected
7. Online Co-op with a minimum 4 players, no ceiling announced yet (6-8 estimated)
8. Co-op loot fights non-existent, only you will see your own loot drops
9. Sadly, Runic has confirmed that the 3 classes from Torchlight will not be playable, but will return as NPC’s, in the game.

Players Zerg-rushed stores for Starcraft II purchases! Record breaking sales numbers, for Starcraft II, show the game sold 1 million copies on day one, and reached 1.5 million sales within the first 48 hours of release.  These amazing numbers have made Starcraft II the fastest selling strategy game of all time.  Pretty good for an exclusive game on a dead platform, right?  If you are a big Starcraft fan, stay tuned for our review, coming very soon.  Also, look fora Spoilerific Spoiler-filled Starcraft Podcast, set to come sometime within the next month!

Maximum cloak. According to EA financial reports, Crysis fans will go without a nanosuit this Christmas, as it seems Crysis 2 will remain cloaked until the first quarter of 2011.  It is going to be very interesting to see how the game performs on consoles, as well as in a new environment, but now the game faces a crowded Spring lineup, as well.  EA, alone, has five titles planned for that time period, and I’m sure we’ll see a few more, thanks to the success of some of the 2010 launches, in that timeframe.  Is it wrong that I am more curious for Darkspore than I am Crysis 2?

Have you ever danced with the devil in the light of Arkham City? No, I never heard of Arkham City, either, but gamers will know it well after next fall.  Batman : Arkham City will be the follow up to one of the most lauded licensed video games ever, Batman : Arkham Asylum.  We already know to expect appearances from Two-Face and Catwoman, thanks to covers on Game Informer, I would hope to see more revelations made soon with GamesCom and PAX Prime right around the corner.  The game’s story will be penned by Paul Dinni, the writer from B:AA.  Judging by the name, we can expect to see Batman terrorize thugs across a more open environment, but we will have to wait to see.  Develpers have also teased more Batmobile segments, and I’m sure fans would enjoy a jet boosted ride through the streets of Gotham, as long as it’s not a high-def Spy Hunter sequence(or a super disappointing end-game sequence, harumph!).

Have you been dying to pay for your Quake? Quake LIVE has been in free Beta since 2/2009, but now it’s a full-blown game with subscription options.  I know, I didn’t realize it was still in Beta either, but relax, the free option is still there, if that’s what you prefer.  More committed fraggers can choose between a Premium option at $24 per year and a Pro option, at $48 per year.  The Premium package includes a Freeze-Tag Mode, many exclusive maps, clan creation and the option to join up to 5 clans.  Pro tacks on the option to start your own game server, as well as bringing three non-paying Quake friends into any of the premium content games.

Speaking of shooters, Star Wars Farcry? Maybe we can expect a new Republic Commando, thanks to the new staff member at Lucasarts.  The prime creative mind behind Farcry 2 and Splinter Cell games, Clint Hocking, has defected from Ubisoft to Lucasarts.  Obviously, Mr. Hocking has not revealed the projects he will be handling there, but speculation abounds.  There is enough to keep him busy with the collaborative push behind The Old Republic and Force Unleashed II, but this gamer hopes that his experience in the stealth/FPS realm will be applied to the Star Wars franchise.  May the Force be strong with him in his new endeavors!

Rumors of Dragons abound. Apparently, a listing on Gamestop.com, has everyone talking about Dragon: Age Origins, again.  A listing for an Ultimate Edition of last year’s RPG breakout was shown on their site with an MSRP of $59.99 for 360 and PS3, and only $49.99 for PC—but no details on the contents.  Not a bad deal if the full expansion, Awakening, and all of the DLC packs are included!  The bundle is set for an October 12th release, this year, and could be a great pickup for those that held out from early adoption.

In today’s Daily Bits: Split Second gets ready to change up some routes, K-Mart wants to save YOU money, and a Killzone 3 beta in the works.

Split/Second Getting “Major” DLC

Black Rock Studios are releasing some extensive DLC for Split/Second in just a couple weeks.  The first three DLC packs will add new cars, while the fourth pack due in September, is said to be “major” and will include new environments.  Could it be new maps? maybe some new powerplays? We will just have to wait and see when they reveal more information.

Although no exact pricing has been confirmed, Black Rock Studios lets fans know on their Facebook page that the Third DLC pack will be free “as a way of saying thanks to our awesome community.”

It will be interesting to see what this “major” update will bring.  We will keep you posted as we hear more on the juicy details.

Source

K-Mart Discounting Wii, PSP, and 360

Do you like to save money? sure who doesn’t right? Well from August 8th until August 14th you can save yourself some dough on a Nintendo Wii, Sony PSP, or a Xbox 360. Now it’s most likely that these are older models and not the new shiny SKU’s, but if your looking for a good deal and have money to throw around during this recession, then why not.  Take a look below at what you can save on.

Nintendo Wii w/ Wii Sports- $149.99 (normally $199.99)

PSP Entertainment Packs- $129.99 (normally $199.99)

Xbox 360 Arcade System- $129.99 (normally $149.99)

Xbox 360 250gb Elite Models- $199.99 (normally $250.00)

If there’s any remaining, you may manage to find the Final FantasyXIII, Splinter Cell: Conviction, and Modern Warfare 2 bundles running at $279.99 (normally $350.00.)

Source

Killzone 3 Beta Site Leaked

It seems like nowadays the popular thing to do with heavy hitting multiplayer games is to have a beta.  According to this URL “http://beta.killzone.com/kz3/beta-login.html” it looks as if Killzone 3 will be taking that exact approach.  As of right now the login area isn’t letting anyone in, at least it doesn’t appear so.

No further details have been given out by Sony or Guerrilla Games about the beta.  But have no fear, when we know you will know.

Source

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Listen in as Eric Bouchard, Chris Maeurer and Jordan de Boer talk about random things and StarCraft II. Well, to be fair, Eric and Chris do most of the SCII talking.

EDG Podcast Ep. #71

Music

Blindside, FELL IN LOVE WITH THE GAME and PITIFUL

In today’s Daily Bits: Take advantage of GoGamer’s Madness, Lara Croft might not be so friendly at launch, Puzzle Quest 2 is Steaming and finally, more Borderlands.

48 Hours of Madness

Looking for some good game deals? Well, GoGamer.Com has them. The site is running a sale called “The Madness Effect,” a 48 hour sale that is good enough to earn the name. Want proof? How about Mass Effect 2 on PC for $16.90 or Alan Wake for $29.90.

If you want to take advantage of this sale, better act quickly. The prices are only good while supplies last.

Laura Croft and the Guardian of Light will not launch with online coop

Remember that Lara Croft game that is coming to the Xbox Live Summer of Arcade? If you are interested, you might want to keep the date September 28th in mind.

Why you ask? Well, not only is that the date Laura Croft and the Guardian of Light releases on both Steam and the PS3, it is also the date a free downloadable patch that will unlock the ability to play the game’s online coop.

Crippling your game till it releases on the other systems? Seriously? What’s the point them of buying it on its XBLA release? I’m sorry, Square, this is just a REALLY bad move.

Source

Puzzle Quest 2 hits Steam August 12th

I for one have been really impressed with Puzzle Quest 2, but those of you who play only on PC have not been able to try D3′s sequel. Well, that is soon going to change. On August 12th, the game hits Steam for $19.99, though if you preorder, you can save 10%.

Hmmm. the price I paid for it on XBLA is looking batter already. Still, the game is worth $20.

Source

Gearbox does not deny Borderlands DLC leak

So yesterday, some leaked info was posted on the Gearbox Borderlands forum about a new DLC pack for the hit game. Well, today Gearbox Software President Randy Pitchford told IGN today that the DLC is real, but that you should not believe everything you read.

“There are a few things there. But I think it’s like reading a draft of a script for a movie that hasn’t even been announced yet, let alone launched – yeah you might learn something, but it’s not the real thing and it could just drive you crazy thinking about it.”

So, new DLC on the way. I might just have to start leveling up my other characters. It’s hard to part with my fully leveled Siren, however.

Source

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

In today’s Daily Bits: EA’s shifts a couple titles in to 2011, Modnation Racers gets a Title Update, and Playstation Plus content may not be as often as you thought.

Need for Speed Shift 2 Rides in to 2011

EA has announced that the latest installment in the Need for Speed series will be a sequel to last years NFS Shift.  The game did fairly well,  but added a more sim experience to the franchise than their previous efforts.

Although the next Need for Speed to come out will be Hot Pursuit, which is being done by Criterion.  That is scheduled for a November 16th release.

Source

Crysis 2 Delayed Until 2011

It seems that EA already has a busy lineup for 2011 with Dead Space 2 and Bulletstorm already taking the first two months of the year.  Now also added to the list will be the highly anticipated Crysis 2.  It was originally scheduled to be released this Holiday season.

Crysis 2 will be coming to Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.

Source

Modnation Racers Crosses the Finish Line and Wins…A Title Update!

In one of our early Daily Bits we discussed that Modnation Racers was getting a casual difficulty among some other possible fixes.  Well the time has come and today when you pop in the game, you will be prompt to download Title Update 1.02.

The Title Update will include, the casual difficulty of course, address the annoying load times issue, and take care of some bugs.  The update will go live at 2:00 am PDT.  There also will be some changes to the community site according to the Playstation Blog, so that may be something you want to check out.

Source

Playstation Plus Updates Coming Every Other Week

According to the Playstation Blog, Playstation Plus will now be updated every other week, instead of weekly.  The next batch of content will arrive August 10th.  Here is what you can look forward too.

Content to be added to PlayStation Plus on August 10

Red Faction Guerrilla from THQ – 60-minute Game Trial
Qore August Episode with exclusive demo of TerRover from SOE
PixelJunk Racers Second Lap – Early Access and Limited Time Discount exclusive
Aero Racer [Minis] FREE

As a reminder, Playstation Plus will cost you $50 a year.  If you want to just try it out and see what it has to offer, you can download a 3 month pass for $17.99.  Just remember when your membership expires, you lose all the content that was given to you while you were a member.

Source

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

In today’s Daily Bits: Get ready to take flight with Top Gun, A free copy of NBA Jam, but with strings attached, and where to get good video game soundtracks on the cheap.

Top Gun Soars to the PSN on August 17th

Over 20 years later and Top Gun is still on a lot of peoples minds.  You can download the PSN title in just about two weeks, but unfortunately PC and MAC players will have to hold out a little bit longer as there has been no set time frame when those versions will come out.

The game will feature a single player campaign, written by the screen writer from the original film, and a multiplayer up to 16 players.  Best of all, Paramount has licensed “Danger Zone” as part of the games soundtrack.

Source

Free Copy of NBA Jam With the Purchase of NBA Elite 11

It looks like all the rumors about NBA Jam coming to the 360 and PS3 were true.  If you purchase a new copy of NBA Elite 11 for the Xbox 360 or PS3 you will be granted with a free download token for NBA Jam.

What’s the catch? well the only way you can play NBA Jam on the HD consoles is to purchase NBA Elite 11.  There will be no stand alone version offered, other than for the Wii.  So if you want NBA Jam that bad, you may have to drop $60 to get it.  But look on the bright side, you’ll get a free copy of NBA Elite 11.

NBA Elite 11 will hit stores October 5th for every console known to man.

Source

Video Game Soundtracks on Sale at Amazon

Are you a fan of video game music? then head over to Amazon and get in on their MP3 deal from all the great current gen titles.  The $5 downloadable albums include games such as Red Dead Redemption, Little Big Planet, Mirrors Edge, and more.  Not a bad deal for only $5.

Source

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

New Releases

Friday, 7/30 – Commander:Conquest of the Americas, Strategy/RTS by Paradox $39.95

Tuesday, 8/3 – Metro 2033 Ranger Pack DLC, $3 on XBL, free for Steam users :O)

News Bytes

Reason to traverse radiated tubes, once more! Yes, as you’ve read above, there will be new DLC for this year’s sleeper hit, Metro 2033.  Sadly, I have not had a chance to play it, myself, but I am salivating for a price drop.  The new DLC allows players to take advantage of a Ranger Mode setting, which makes ammo scarce and increases the damage dealt by both sides.  Ummm, am I the only one who doesn’t see the fun in this?  Also, there will be some new items, weapons and achievements, so look for the DLC to pull into your station this week!

Seems like Fable on the PC will be a bedtime story at dusk. Originally planned to launch side-by-side with console versions, Fable II has now been pushed back to an unannounced date.  Microsoft reassures that this is not a cancellation, but an opportunity to optimize the game for the PC platform.  I would not have made Fable III a day one purchase, and I can certainly stand behind a developer taking extra time to customize a PC version of the game, so the news is not as upsetting to me as it may be to some.  I’m still glad to see Microsoft gaming make a return to PC, and I can only hope this Fable will herald more Microsoft gaming tales to be told on the PC.

Have you lost that lovin’ feeling? The void that has been left, since HAWX came out, so long ago?  Well, get to pre-flight, Mav, HAWX 2 is touching down this fall, on September 7th.  Among scarce details in the skies, the multiplayer aspect of the game seems to have undergone a complete overhaul.  There will now be co-op, arcade and survival modes for up to 8 pilots at a time.  You can be my wingman anytime!  Well, that is, if Ubisoft doesn’t eject us from the cockpit with it’s crippling DRM…….

Geared Up

It’s seeming like I should change the title from ‘Geared Up’ to ‘Overpriced Nerd Gear’!  Sadly, I have two entries this week, that seem to be, only for gamers with the deepest of pockets.  A while back, I detailed a statue of Valve Team Fortress 2 character, The Heavy.  Also planned, were Left 4 Dead and Half-Life entries, well, wait no more zombie maniacs, the first Left 4 Dead statue is here!  The Tank, measuring an intimidating 15 inches tall, is now available for pre-order.  Another Gaming Heads creation, the statue looks fantastically detailed, and an exclusive edition includes a pump shotgun(what no molly?).  He comes in two flavors, vanilla, for a whopping $300, or a more limited flavor for $325.  Am I the only one who thinks this is crazy?  Oh, and you won’t even receive the goods until early next year.  For the cheaper Valve fan, Aperture Labs is moving in on the Beanie Baby market, with it’s plush GlaDOS Curiosity Spheres, far a slightly more palatable $45.  The full set is available, at a discounted $120, and they are only available via Etsy here.  You can purchase one of four colors, each one features different sayings from Portal by pressing the eye (ouch!?).  Believe you, me, if I had that kind of cheddar laying around, I’d be spending it on games and not dust collectors and chew toys, but who am I right?

In today’s Daily Bits: A sneak peek and this weeks releases, or lack of.  A bloody Kratos makes a happy Kratos, How you can get the Battlefield 3 Beta before everyone else, and an exclusive Dirt 3 trailer.

New Releases: 8/1-8/8

This upcoming week is pretty slow for new releases, which is weird to say because we have seem so much as of late.  We will in fact see Castlevania: Harmony of Despair, the third Xbox Live title to come out during the Summer of Arcade promotion.  You can check out the full lineup in the link below.

Source

God of War: Ghost of Sparta Coming Nov 2nd, Hardware Bundle, and Pre-Order Extras Announced

Ready at Dawn studios finally has announced that the blood thirsty Kratos will see a return on the PSP this November 2nd.  It will once again be a PSP exclusive and this time will take place when Kratos was still crowned as the God of War.  But who really cares about the story right?

The news doesn’t stop there.  Fans who pre-order the title will receive the “Ultimate DLC Pack at launch,” which will include PS3 and PSP Avatars and Themes, the games soundtrack, in-game “Legionnaire Skin,” and a video roundtable with all the creative minds behind the series from over the years in front of a live audience.

Oh but there’s more, a red and black PSP 3000 bundle will also be available to those who still do not own the system.  It will include the game of course, a download token for God of War: Chains of Olympus, Kick-Ass on UMD, and a 2gb memory stick all for $199.99.  What a bloody good deal.

Source

Dirt 3 Trailer Revealed on X-Games

During ESPN’s X-Games the other night, Codemasters showed off there first trailer for the upcoming Dirt 3, which is set for a 2011 release.  It shows the different weather aspects that the game will offer, among some pretty explosions.  Take a look for yourself.

Source

Medal of Honor Limited Edition Will Also Include Battlefield 3 Beta

We have heard over the last month or so of all the nice extras that will be packed in the with Limited Edition of Medal of Honor, especially on the PS3 with Medal of Honor: Frontlines being added to the mix.

EA has also announced that Xbox 360, PS3, and PC owners will receive invitations to the Battlefield 3 Beta which is in development at the moment by DICE.  No exact time frame has been mentioned other than that it will release a year before the games due date.

Medal of Honor will hit store shelves this October for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC.

Source

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Listen in as Eric Bouchard and Chris Maeurer discuss the current ESRB Rating System. Oh, and there is a special musical guest.

EDG Podcast Ep. #70

Music

SONY LIES, parody of FIREFLIES by Owl City, performed by Chris Maeurer

Lyrics:

You would not believe your eyes
If ten million Sony lies
Lit up the blogs as fanboys drool

Cause they’re filled with such hot air
And leave gamers in despair
You’d think me rude
but I can’t say I care

I’d like to make myself believe
That Sony listens to me
It’s hard to find anything to keep me away from 360
Cuz every game’s not as fun as it should be

Cuz they’ll leave a thousand bugs
When Move dances on our rugs
As they try to teach you how to dance

Leave motion to Mario
The Eye toy needs to go,
Now PS Plus is just hanging by a thread

I’d like to make myself believe
That Sony listens to me
It’s hard to find anything to keep me away from 360
Cuz every game’s not as fun as it should be

I really think I’m about to crack
(Please take me away from here)
Cause tho I am such an insomniac
(Please take me away from here)
I’m still I tire of P-S-N
(Please take me away from here)
Think I’ll find my friends on Live and then

To ten million Sony lies
I’ll just have to say goodbye
To your black wheelchock I bid farewell

Least Blu Ray carried them far
No headsets got real bizarre
Next to Walt Disney, keep Jack Tretton in a jar

I’d like to make myself believe
That Sony listens to me
It’s hard to find anything to keep me away from 360
Cuz every game’s not as fun as it should be
(2X) – Then one more low – Because XBOX is bursting at the seems

In today’s Daily Bits: It’s not longer a RUSE, Best Buy trying to match Amazon, Insomniac announces an announcement, Intellivision Lives and StarCraft+Lego?

This is not a feint: RUSE to release September 7

Some would argue Ubisoft has been too in love with it’s World War II RTS’s name, offering several different release dates that have not stuck. So now the company expects everyone to believe that the new one for RUSE, September 7, will hold. The date was originally tweetedby Ubisoft’s Aymeric Evennou, leaving people to wonder if it was just another fake, but the company has independently verifies this will be the date the game releases on the PS3, 360 and PC.

Unless Ubisoft changes its policies on PC DRM, it will not matter to me when this game releases. RTSs are really only good on PC, but I will not buy a PC game with that kind of draconian copy protection.

Source

Best Buy lowering price on 360 bundles

On August 2, Amazon is planning on offering a sale of the Final Fantasy XIII Xbox 360 along with along with Bioshock 2 and UFC Undisputed 2010 for $300. Well, a reliable source is telling Joystiq that Best Buy is going to be reducing its versions of that bundle along with the Splinter Cell 360 to $299 until they are sold out of the product. While the deal might not be quite as sweet as Amazon’s, it will be going on for more than one day, and for those who do not like to purchase consoles online, this will give them another option.

See, this is why competition is a good thing.

Source

Insomniac will announce new game before PAX

So it appears more companies have decided to announce announcements. Sometime between now and Labor Day Weekend’s PAX Prime, Insomniac will be announcing a new game, which will be demoed at the Penny Arcade Expo. Now before you all get too excited, this will be a PS3 exclusive game; Insomniac is not ready to reveal its multiplatform game the company is making for EA.

The rumors are this will be Resistance 3. I will leave it to you to decide whether that is a good thing.

Source

Intellivision to make a comeback on DS

Intellivision fans rejoice; the games we grew up playing are making a return appearance on the Nintendo DS. Virtual Play games has announced Intellivision Lives!, a collection of 60 games from the Matel console that captured the hearts of retro gamers (granted, we were not retro at the time). Along with such hits as Astro Smash, Armor Battle, Night Stalker and Shark! Shark!, the collection includes 6 games never actually released. The collection is due out in September.

So, you think this might lead to a Retro Active on the Intellivision?

Source

StarCraft done with Legos!

I have nothing else to add to this. Just check out the video (courtesy of Machinima.com).

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

In today’s Daily Bits: More Cybertron experience, LucasArts loses a team member, Nintendo reveals when they when will be and Sony does 3D minus the TV.

Double XP Weekend for Transformers

Looking to get an edge in you mulplayer matches in Transformers: War for Cybertron? Well, your in luck. Starting tomorrow at 9 PM EST, High Moon Studios will be offering double the experience for multiplayer matches. The extra experience will last through Monday 3 AM EST. So if you have the game, this would be a good time to play.

Reboot of Goldeneye 007 coming to the DS

There had been rumors that the redone version of Goldeneye 007 was coming to the Nintendo DS have been flying since the DS logo appeared on the game’s webpage. Well, today, the rumors were confirmed. Activision has told Jostiq the handheld version will not just be a port of the game, and it will feature the vocal talents of both Daniel Craig and Judy Dench.

While this may be good news, the DS suffers from the same multiplayer issues as the Wii. I just don’t know if this is going to work.

Source

Force Unleashed Writer/Producer leaves LucasArts

Haden Blackman, a 13 year veteran at LucasArts, announced today that he was leaving the company. Blackman was the creative force behind Star Wars: Galaxies and Force Unleashed 2 as well as the writer and producer for the original Force Unleashed. While it is really tempting to make any number of Star Wars jokes right about now, but I will refrain. Meesa think them that make thosa jokes do so in bad taste.

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Nintendo announces when it will make an announcement

So Nintendo has announced the release date of the 3DS! Wait, actually, the company hasn’t. Instead, has announced when it will make that announcement: September 29th. That’s right; we have to wait till the end of September for Nintendo to announce how much longer we will have to wait for the 3DS.

When did announcing when an announcement was going to be made become such big news?

Source

Sony’s RayModeler may revolutionize 3D

So all of us who attended E3 were impressed with Nintendo’s 3DS, which could show 3D images without the use of glasses. Well, Sony may have just topped that. Its RayModeler displays 3D images without the use of a standard monitor. It actually renders a three dimensional images using LEDs in a cylindrical display. If you want to see it in action, head on over to Kotaku and check out the video of is in action.

Source

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

In today’s Daily Bits: EA rocks out to Linkin Park, Ghost Recon live action film in the works, and some more Starcraft 2.

Linkin Park is the New Sound for EA

EA is taking a page out of Activison’s book by using the popular music of today to attract more fans.  If you remember, Activision used the same tactic with Modern Warfare 2 when they showcased a trailer with a song by Eminem.  Why not try and mimic your competition who’ve made millions of dollars with their title?

Linkin Park will be providing EA with a song from there upcoming album “A Thousand Suns” which will be out on September 14th, while the name of the song is “The Catalyst.”  The new song will appear in the game and also be on the Medal of Honor website on August 1st.  One day before it hits air waves and iTunes.

Medal of Honor will see a release on October 12th for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3, and PC.

Source

Ghost Recon: Alpha in the Works

Ubisoft is teasing us with a trailer for their upcoming live action short film that’s due sometime in 2011.  It will be called Ghost Recon: Alpha and have the same crew behind it as the popular Logorama.

Ghost Recon: Future Soldier was originally set to come out this year, but unfortunately was pushed back until 2011 by Ubisoft.  We are also still waiting to hear news regarding the beta they promised for people who purchased a new copy of Splinter Cell: Conviction.

Check out our source below for a quick peek at what to expect next year from Ghost Recon: Alpha.

Source

Starcraft 2 Soundtrack Ready for Download

If your stuck at work and thinking about nothing but Starcraft 2, then why not download the soundtrack?  If you didn’t pick up the collector’s edition of the game, which was packaged with the soundtrack, then iTunes is your best place to get it.

The soundtrack costs $14 for the full list of songs, or you can download each song individually for $.99.  But if you want it all, you will save around $4 by just purchasing it in full.

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days Demo

In today’s Daily Bits: Great gaming deals you just cant pass up on, even more Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock tracks, and Alan Wake DLC delayed for some?

Toys R Us is Making an Offer You Cant Refuse

This week only, Toys R Us is bringing back there buy 1 get 1 50% off deals.  The deal excludes sales on pre-orders and PC games, but other than that anything goes.

So if you have a Toys R Us near you and just couldn’t keep up with all the video game madness through the first half of the year, this is your time to smarten up and save a few bucks.

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Buy Starcraft 2 at K-Mart, and Get Money Back

The deals just keep on coming and this time its K-Mart with an unbeatable deal that will make Starcraft fans cancel that online order.  If you purchase Starcraft 2 from K-Mart this week they will thank you with a $20 gaming credit with any in-store purchase of the game, from today until July 30th. Hopefully all these great summer deals kick right into August.

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Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock Unveils More Tracks

Activision has unveiled 22 more tracks for there next rhythm game Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock that will come out this fall.  Some classics include Alice Cooper, The Runaways, and The Ramones taking on the Spider Man theme.  The full list of tracks announced are as follows:

• Alice Cooper — “No More Mr. Nice Guy”
• Alter Bridge — “Ties That Bind”
• Atreyu — “Ravenous”
• Bad Brains — “Re-Ignition (Live)”
• Blue Öyster Cult — “Burning For You”
• Bush — “Machinehead”
• Deep Purple — “Burn”
• Edgar Winter — “Free Ride”
• Five Finger Death Punch — “Hard To See”
• George Thorogood and The Destroyers — “Move It On Over (Live)”
• Lynyrd Skynyrd — “Call Me The Breeze (Live)”
• Pantera — “I’m Broken”
• Poison — “Unskinny Bop”
• The Ramones — “Theme From Spiderman”
• Rise Against — “Savior”
• The Runaways — “Cherry Bomb”
• Steve Vai — “Speeding”
• Strung Out — “Calling”
• Styx — “Renegade”
• Sum 41 — “Motivation”
• Them Crooked Vultures — “Scumbag Blues”
• The White Stripes — “Seven Nation Army”

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Alan Wake Redeemable Codes Being Sent Out for Those Who Jumped The Gun

Did you redeem your free code of “The Signal” too early and now you keep getting that annoying message that your code is invalid?  Well have no fear because Remedy has your back.  They are working with Microsoft right now to see who those unlucky individuals are.  “If you’ve redeemed your code prior to release, Microsoft will be sending out new codes to you via your email on XBL” says the developer.  He also comments on saying, that they are checking with Microsoft to find out when the emails will go out.

So for those who are waiting, be patient maybe even get some rest.  You will be back in Bright Falls in no time.

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

New Releases

• Tuesday 7/27 – Starcraft II : Wings of Liberty King of the RTS, MSRP – $59.99

News Bytes

THQ, Relic and Company of Heroes award service medals to veteran franchise players. Details are sketchy but if you have a copy of Company of Heroes, and plan to jump in when the free-to-play CoH goes online this Fall, you may want to bronze that CD Key.  One of the games producers, was quoted in an interview as saying how much the CoH team appreciates it’s fan-base, and will have some rewards in store for those who enter their CD Keys into the free-to-play game when it hits.  For those unfamiliar, Company of Heroes debuted shortly after Vista, and revolutionized RTS games by abandoning the traditional base-building/resource gathering system found in games, and created a Risk-style game mechanic, where players fought for control of supply routes/depots to choke out their opponents in a WWII setting.  The game has seen expansions, and remains a largely popular competitive online game, in the RTS space.  Registration is still ongoing for the game, with chances to get into the Beta.

Charge up your R2 unit, space combat is coming the Old Rebuplic.  It seems PC Gamer will have the scoop on space combat in Old Republic, for their October issue, so details will be scarce until then.  I’m sure it’s great news for those already looking forward to TOR, or maybe it’s something that will attract players on the fence about investing in the game.  Full details will not be disclosed until the issue hits, on 8/17, but it will be interesting to see how the combat factors in with that games features, and if it will be an interesting addition, or an annoyance, hindering travel within the game’s universe.

Fighting games making a PC comeback? We can only hope so!  PC gamers reveled in the release of Street Fighter IV for PC, now we can continue the great one-on-one fighting game battles with BlazBlue : Calamity Trigger!  The good news is that Japanese fans can square off when the game releases there on August 26th, the bad news is that Games for Windows LIVE will be handling the multiplayer aspects.  No news on a US release yet, but we will be watching this closely, maybe Mortal Kombat will follow suit, with Marvel vs. Capcom not far behind?

Dragon Age 2 breathing fire on traditional RPG lovers?  I have to admit, as much as I like what I hear about Dragon Age, it seems to be abandoning all of the things that made it hearken back to the RPG of yore.  New details outline a more action-oriented combat system, and a streamlined conversation system, limiting choices to no more than three responses–each with a Mass Effect-style Paragon/Renegade icon.  While I very much enjoy strategy and tactics in my games, I do prefer them blended into the action setting, and the punishing I took in DA:O was enough to sway me from not finishing it(yet).  To me, these details are welcome and not upsetting, but I can definitely understand how those who enjoyed the style and gameplay of DA:O could see this as a negative “Mass Effect in a fantasy setting” setup.  Unfortunately, I think the latter portion of gamers make up the minority and Bioware is definitely catering to the masses in the DA sequel, but either way I can’t wait to see it this Spring.

Geared Up

This week’s Geared Up gear is not out yet, but pay’s homage to a 12 year, in the making, gaming juggernaut Starcraft II.  Hailing from Comic-Con, DC Unlimited has announced the first three figures, in their Starcraft II series.  The first three are an action pose of hero, Jim Raynor, sans armor, a space marine and Protoss Dark Templar, Zeratul.  This set of three will be in range of our tractor beams in Spring of 2011.  If they follow suit, from the similar WoW series’ from DC Unlimited, they will stand 8.5 inches tall, and retail for around $26.99 for the set—-however, those specifics have not been released yet, that is my speculation from past precedence.  Detailed pictures, from various angles, are displayed here, or check out the pic of the set below.

In today’s Daily Bits: This weeks new releases, Netflix just got a bit easier, NBA Jam console rumors, and DC Universe Online subscription fee information.  Will PS+ subscribers have to pay?

New Releases: 7/25-7/31

This week is huge for any type of gamer, with a little something for everyone.  The biggest title to release this week is Chuck E. Cheese’s Party Games for the Wii.  Ok obviously I am kidding.  Starcraft 2 has had PC gamers drooling from the mouth ever since it was announced.  Those that were lucky enough to get into the beta had a first hand look of whats to come when it hits this Tuesday.

If your primarily a console gamer, you can take on the waves in Hydro Thunder Hurricane, which is the second title to release as part as the Summer of Arcade promotion for the Xbox Live Arcade.

Finally my favorite of all to drop this week is the first downloadable episode for Alan Wake.  “The Signal” is free for all those who picked up the game new.  If you bought a used copy or decided to Gamefly, then you will have to pay $7 (560 Microsoft Points).  What are you most looking forward too?

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Netflix search option queued to the PS3

Netflix on the PS3 may need a disc for now, but today it was integrated with the ability to search for movies right on your PS3.  The application has not been implemented on the 360 or Wii versions, but will be in November.

It looks like Sony finally gets something first before the rest.

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BOOMSHAKALAKA

Although EA has yet to officially announce a 360 or PS3 port of NBA Jam, beyond the Wii.  The US ESRB has the game listed as being for all three platforms.  Earlier in the month, the German USK had the game listed as well.

We will just have to wait for any further confirmation from EA, but it does make sense to bring the madness over to the HD world.

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DC Universe Online gets release date, subscription fee

During a Comic-Con 2010 panel hosted by Newsarama, came the news regarding the superhero MMORPG.  DC Universe will ship November 2nd and will in fact carry a subscription fee for the PC and PS3 users.

After receiving a free first month, you will then have to pay $14.99 per month on both platforms.  There was some confusion if Playstation Plus members would also have to pay the monthly fee, and it has been confirmed that they will in fact have to pay like everyone else.

You can sign up for the beta test for the PC or PS3 that runs until the game will launch this fall.

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Bruce Wayne sold us this cool lair, cheap!

A wonderful action-RPG, offering the player tons of choice and real-life consequences!  Where have I heard that before?  This is not a simple Mass Effect game cloned in the James Bond environment, it does have it’s bugs and it also has elements that set it apart from the Mass Effect series.  Elements, that this writer hopes, influence continued innovation in Bioware’s epic franchise, but can Alpha Protocol stand on it’s own two feet, or did SEGA make the right call by cutting it off at the knees?

The MyTouch Slide! It's what all the hip spies are using!

The Story

Alpha Protocol puts you in the shoes of Michael Thornton, newest recruit for Third Echeleon, er, I mean Alpha Protocol—a super-secret government black ops organization.  The game’s opening finds you somewhat unwillingly recruited, and tasked with seeking out terrorist operations and possible Broken Arrows in the Middle East.  You know, something light to get your feet wet.  Throton’s appearance can be varied with some limited options, and the game offers a few tutorials at the base, if you require a brush up on the controls and gadgets.  Shortly into the story, the game starts taking twists and turns as crosses and double crosses abound, and your choices determine the way the story plays out.  I have to give credit to Obsidian, where Mass Effect offered some great choices on what was still a linear story, Alpha Protocol not only illustrates the consequences of your actions, but shows you more varied paths along that linear highway.  Speaking of the choices, Thorton is given a 5 second opportunity, in conversations, to drop a suave Bond quip, an aggressive Jack Bauer approach, or a more balanced Jason Bourne opinion—including 3 of the four famous J.B.’s of the spy world(c’mon, Jim Beam is an important spy accessory….).  You also are given the same timeframe to choose whether the NPC’s you cross paths with live or die, or which option in a mission to take.  Where Mass Effect’s games give you the ever popular “Save the puppy or throw the puppy in the furnace”, Alpha Protocol blurs the lines with options like “Mame the puppy to save the kittens or nuke the kittens and emerge with an unscathed puppy”.  An interesting note, to the story, is that most of the story progresses through interactive flashbacks, shown at key points of the game, which reflect any choices the player has made up to that point.  So, for example, if you are a reckless agent executing key characters and killing friendlies, it will be mentioned, as will alternate pathways available with the game’s allies and enemies.  The flashbacks do a great job of linking the story elements and illustrating a “big picture” setting for what your missions have entailed and how they have affected the overall plot.  That said, the story is not a epic Homer-ian tale, but it is the backdrop of what could easily be a lost Ian Flaming Bond tale riding on a roller coaster of spy twists and turns.

Henchmen be darned, I have time for a quick game of Tempest!

The Gameplay

Alpha Protocol plays like a straight third-person shooter…..if your tv or monitor is mounted on a vibrating bed.  To say the camera is wonky is a gross understatement, and the fact that a patch has not seen the light of day is a disappointment, but the game is very playable.  I have noted some easy user hacks to the game’s ‘ini’ files, online, but as of this writing I have not been able to test those out–an option, sadly, not available to the console gamers.  Sadly, without either of these, the camera can frequently be shaken AND stirred.  As you progress, Thorton levels up, allowing you to tailor his strengths and attributes to your style of gameplay.  A stealth player may work towards high pistol, melee and stealth skills, while a more aggressive player may work on Toughness and Rifles.  Each skill set also offers Skills that Thorton can activate during the game, a brief invisibility in the Stealth skill set or a Focused Aim in the rifle set–more tools at your disposal for carrying out missions.  In addition, Thornton gets a variety of passively active perks that are based on how you approach the game and it’s characters.  Each mission you have an “eye-in-the-sky”, called a Handler, feeding you Intel and information via CommLink.  Simply choosing different Handlers, or keeping the same Handlers can reward you with perks, as does favoring certain weapons or gadgets offers more variety in playthroughs.  In addition to the conversation/decision making system and character customization, you also have some mini-games for when computer hacking, lock-picking and security hacking are needed, and there are some good and bad features here.  Security hacking has you matching wires numbered from 1 to up to 7, in order to hack and turn off a security alarm.  A nice feature here is that hacking any terminal once allows you to shut off that terminal again without playing through the mini-game.  Lockpicking is a ridiculously easy game of lining up tumblers, but computer hacking has caused the most frustration.  Hacking was not explained well in the the game’s first mission, and that is it’s biggest downfall.  The player sees a grid of numbers, roughly 12×20, and the player must match two lines of code in the scrolling numbers.  What is left out of the explanation is that your sequences are the only numbers in the grid that are NOT scrolling—knowledge that makes the mini-game infinitely easier.  All of these elements play out over the initial Middle East mission, and three more areas the player can tackle in any order, before progressing to the game’s endgame.

Ya gotta admire a villain who picks his accessories to match his henchmen's tatoos!

The beauty of the game is that you can attack a mission like a Sam Fisher, stealth agent, and, if and when that approach goes awry, run and gun your way out of trouble.  I love the versatility this offers, and the character customization options and story choices lift this game above many entries in that franchise, in my opinion.  Another great element to note is the ability to interact via email, with characters in the game.  Yes, Mass Effect 2 gave Sheppard an intergalactic email account, but sadly Bioware only created a way for Sheppard to get an “atta-boy” or “how dare you” from the game’s many characters.  Alpha Protocol elevates this element to an option for you to get more intelligence, download codes or useful information for your mission, interact and reply to characters in the game, or sell information on the black market to fund your missions.  The “Choice Is Your Weapon” tagline, that the game carries does happen to be a good illustration of how your actions and choices can impact the game.  Avoiding executing or simply saving NPC’s can pave the way for good alliances and relief in tough situations.  I will not give out any spoilers, but much like amassing your team and gaining it’s loyalty has it’s advantages in Mass Effect 2, making friends rather than enemies does have a certain payoff in a few of the missions I encountered.

Forget laundering money, I'm gonna clean yer clock!

The Verdict

Yes Alpha Protocol has it’s faults, but I believe we have the foundation for what could have been a great franchise, had SEGA not hastily decided to pull the plug.  This is not a bad game patched together from the innovations of other franchises, melded with the cheap glue of lackluster elements.  The story is interesting, the blatantly advertised choice system is a welcome and interesting change from a crowd of bland third person games, and the customization is a slam dunk.  Had the game not been so glitchy, I would have been inclined to score Alpha Protocol a full five stars, but I am completely happy with what it had to offer-especially if we see a patch in the near future.  I completely understand the crowd of gamers who will wait and pick up a single-player only game from a bargain shelf, long after it’s release, but for me, Alpha Protocol was well worth the gaming money spent, and then some.  As I begin another playthrough of the game, I raise my shaken Martini glass to Obsidian, on a job well done.

Listen in as Patrick Adams and Eric Bouchard discuss how being a part of a gaming website has changed the way they game. Jordan de Boer joins them for discussion of what games they have been playing.

EDG Podcast Ep. #69

Music by Andy Hunter, GO and LIFELIGHT

In today’s Daily Bits: Some nice gaming deals, Kane and Lynch demo goes live, Old Republic gets space fighting and LittleBigPlanet 2 gets a release date.

Such Great Deals

Looking for some gaming deals this weekend? EA is severely discounting the Mass Effect titles, with digital copies of the original selling for $5 this weekend, while Mass Effect 2 is selling for $23.97 ($35.97 for the deluxe edition). If you don’t already ahve the games, you will be hard pressed to find better prices. Pick them up at the EA Store.

Maybe a western style shooter is more you thing. then you are in luck. Steam is offering a chance to play Lead and Gold for free this weekend. If you find you like it, you can purchase the game for $7.49, half off the normal $15 dollar price.

All in all, not a bad weekend to be a gamer.

Kane and Lynch comes after non Playstation+ members

The Kane and Lynch 2 demo goes live to non Playstaion+ members on PSN Tuesday. As far as PC and 360 versions of the demo go, all Square will say is they will be released “next week.” So now almsot everyone will get the chance to see if the sequel can outdo the horrible first installment.

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The Sackboys return November 16

There is no denying that LittleBigPlanet is a unique and entertaining game. Well, its sequel now has a bona-fide release date: November 16. The sequel will contain so much more than the original, including a game editor that allows you not only to edit levels in the game but also create entirely different game styles from puzzle to RTS.

Yeah, this is more than likely a day one purchase for me.

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Space Combat confirmed for Old Republic

It’s official: Star Wars: The Old Republic will include space combat. The rumor had been reported at Comic-con by fan site Mos Eisley Radio, and Bioware confirmed this in its forums today. The game developer had already announced at E3 that gamers would have ships to house their characters, so this reveal is really not a shocker, but it has fans getting even more pumped for the release of this game.

You all know my stance on paying to play MMOs, but if I was ever to break my boycott of them, this game would be very tempting.

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Speaking of Comic-Con

In the past, Comic-Con was all about comics. Then, slowly, the convention started to get invaded with more news about movies. Now video game news is starting to pour out of this year’s convention. Whether it is Capcom’s announcement that thor will be joining the cast of marvel VS Capcom 3, Bungie showing off Forge World and Firefight for Halo: Reach or all the news coming out about Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, this year’s convention appears to be a veritable cornucopia of gaming information.

Veritable cornucopia? Don’t ask.

Read Joystiq’s coverage of the Comic-Con gaming news here.

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

In today’s Daily Bits: More Transformers, more Mass Effect 2, Mafia 2 gets a demo and Dead Rising 2 gets a prequel.

Transformers: War for Cybertron DLC Next Week

It’s probably not an overstatement to refer to Transformers: War for Cybertron as being a surprise hot, especially after years of suffering through horrible game adaptations of the Hasbro toys. Well, for those of you who just cannot get enough of Optimus and the rest of the crew, your wish has been granted. The new DLC pack releasing July 27th includes 5 new characters including the preorder bonus characters Shockwave, Demolisher and Jazz along with 4 new maps, two each for standard multiplayer and Escalation.

7/27/10, huh? Not a good day to be releasing an expansion pack. No word on price yet, but I’d be shocked if it was free.

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“Lair of the Shadow Broker” DLC due soon for Mass Effect 2

Bioware has announced the next DLC expansion for Mass Effect 2. Titled “Lair of the Shadow Broker,” the latest addition to the game will have Shepard teaming up with Liara T’Soni to find and confront the Shadow Broker, the info dealer who lurks in the shadows throughout both games. No release date has been given; Bioware will only say the DLC should be out “soon.”

While much of the DLC for Mass Effect 2 has been disappointing, Bioware’s last entry, “Overlord,” left gamers feeling that maybe the company has finally learned how to put together good game add ons. Let’s hope this one lives up to that belief.

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Mafia 2 demo due August 10th

2K’s Mafia 2 demo is due out August 10th on PC, PS3 and 360. Not much is known about what the demo will entail. Mafia 2 is due out August 24th.

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Dead Rising 2: Case Zero due August 31st

Dead Rising 2 prequel Case Zero hits the Xbox Live marketplace August 31st. Priced at 400 MS Points ($5), Case Zero follows the hero of the full game, Chuck Greene, as he fights to escape Still Creek with enough Zombrex to keep bis daughter from joining the ranks of the undead. Case Zero is slated as a stand alone experience which will lead up to the events of Dead Rising 2, releasing September 28th.

While this seems like a good deal, I do have one thing i have to say: Zombrex? Capcom had to some up with a drug that helped keep people from turning into zombies, and the best name anyone could think of was Zombrex? Really?

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Could FPS Terminator be the Terminator game we have been waiting for?

Kevin Bryant and The Original Studios are trying to do what High Moon Studios, the maker of Transformers:War for Cybertron, managed to do: make a good game from a belived franchise that has seen its share of bad games. Bryant and his team has been using Epic’s free Unreal Development Kit to make what is currently being called FPS Terminator.

Okay, the name may be a little lame, but the concept video Joystiq has posted is not by any means. Check it out here, and just imagine what a game like this set in the Terminator universe could be like. Here’s hoping Bryant and his studio can find the backers to help bankroll this game.

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Microsoft Officially Prices Kinect, New 360 Model, And More

We have all heard the pricing rumors for Kinect now ever since the name change at E3.  Well today Microsoft has finally taken the cat out of the bag and revealed that Kinect will be priced at $150 when it hits stores November 4th.  It will also come bundled with Kinect Adventures.

Aside from that, Microsoft has also announced a $200 new Xbox 360 “S Model” which includes a 4gb storage device and will ship on August 3rd according to Joystiq.

The “S Model” will also be bundled with Kinect for $300.

That’s a lot to take in all at once.  Think about it and let us know what you think.

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Rock Band 3 Kicks Off It’s Tour October 26th

According to Harmonix today, Rock Band 3 will be jamming it’s way onto store shelves on October 26th for all major platforms.  Aside from the announcement, pre-order bonuses from a few different retailers have also surfaced.  For people who reserve the game at Wal-Mart will receive a $10 e-gift card, while Amazon folks will be able to unlock a exclusive in-game guitar.  Lastly, Gamestop shoppers will receive three free additional tracks at launch: “My Own Summer” by the Deftones, “Blue Monday” from New Order, and “Burning Down The House” by the Talking Heads.

It seems like Gamestop is offering the best deal considering they are giving you some pretty awesome exclusive tracks.  Which retailer will you be picking Rock Band 3 up at?

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Red Faction: Origins Movie Coming Next Year

There has been talk for quite sometime now that we were getting a Red Faction film.  Well it has now been confirmed that the THQ and SYFY movie project will come to life in March 2011 which is around the same time Red Faction: Armageddon is set to release.  Here is official synopsis that was found on Shacknews.

Described as a “pilot” movie, the two-hour film follows Jake, the last surviving son of Alec Mason, as he battles against a new human army who have lured his sister into their Red Faction-hating web. Origins is set to take place between the events of Red Faction: Guerrilla and Red Faction: Armageddon.

Q1 of 2011 should be a busy time for Red Faction fans.

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New Releases

Monday 7 – 19 – Alien Swarm, via Steam for the low low price of FREE! Get it now!

News Bytes

Final, official, gold standard, last update Starcraft II system requirements announced. Who waits until a week before launch to drop their PC requirements?  I thought the Beta sys reqs were the final sys reqs for Starcraft II, but I guess an official announcement needed to be made.  So here they are, how does your system measure up?

PC: Windows XP/Windows Vista/Windows 7 (Latest Service Packs) with DirectX 9.0c
2.6 GHz Pentium IV or equivalent AMD Athlon processor
128 MB PCIe NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT or ATI Radeon 9800 PRO video card or better

Mac: Mac OS X 10.5.8, 10.6.2 or newer
Intel Processor
NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT or ATI Radeon X1600 or better

PC/Mac: 12 GB available HD space
1 GB RAM (1.5 GB required for Windows Vista/Windows 7 users, 2 GB for Mac users)
DVD-ROM drive
Broadband Internet connection
1024X720 minimum display resolution

Blast from the past comes to haunt us! Are you old enough to remember the fun of Haunted House on the Atari?  The vintage game had us moving our pixel around a haunted house, illuminated by a circle of light emanating from your imaginary candle, as you brave the ghosts to find the pieces of an urn.  Why you ask?  Who knows, game stories had not yet been carved on stone tablets, but it was a very innovative and fun title for the time.  Well, if you enjoyed the classic, you can be sure to enjoy the new itteration available on XBLA and PC this September.  The new game promises more, varied levels and an interesting backstory, among a plethora of other presumed updates since the original.  Sign me up!  Now, when do we get Adventure and The Empire Strikes Back?

Another publication hangs it’s hat. It is with sad regret, that we announce that PC Zone, UK PC magazine and forerunner to PC Gamer, will publish it’s final issue this year.  Issue number 225, the issue for September of this year, will be the last issue in the magazine’s historic run.  Future Publications other PC magazine, PC Gamer, continues to print strong, with double the subscription base of PC Zone.  PC Zone was known for it’s tough review scale, that sticks to the “average” scores that many gamers claim other sites and publication have abandoned.  One has to wonder how it will fare in the years to come, with more and more gamers coming to the internet for their updated gaming news(says the author of an online news article…..).  We will miss you PC Zone, God bless and good luck to all the employees.

Modern Warfare 2 has nuked gaming, again! According to gaming analyst and digital dalai lama, Michael Pachter, the decline in new game sales can be contributed to gamers playing online multiplayer games rather than purchasing new games.  Of course, Modern Warfare 2 is leading the pack, but not the only game we keep coming back to.  Recent numbers suggest that 12 million players spend 10 or more hours playing MW2 online.  Pachter goes on to ire gamers by saying that monetization of the multiplayer space might be the cure for ailing new games sales.  Where is the study on average incomes and spendings for average gamers, what kind of budget do they think we are working with?  Apparently, multiplayer numbers of that magnitude seem to make for salivating corporate buzzards circling the untapped resource carrion of online gamers, but would you pony up cash to continue playing online in future releases?

Every once in a while a game will come along that I don’t know much about but I take a leap of faith and buy it. I had seen a screenshot of Helsing’s Fire on another website and the art style had me very interested so I decided to drop the measly $0.99 and buy it.

I’ve never come across a game like this before in my life and I think that’s great because it shows that developers are still innovating.

Helsing’s Fire is a game in where you place a torch in a specific spot so that it shines on monsters, once it shines on those monsters you tap a colored potion and that potion kills all the monsters that the torch was shining on. Each monster can only be killed by the color potion that matches its own color. So red potions kill red monsters. But to make it more interesting a red monster could have a blue shield around it, so first you would have to use the blue potion to take down that shield and then a red potion to kill the monster. You have to be careful though because if you use a blue potion on a red shield or monster it adds a blue shield to it.

The art style in Helsing’s Fire is also what really sticks out at me. I’m the type of gamer that can have art style alone make a game worth a purchase. This game has a great art style for the iPhone and I think it fits perfectly with the gameplay. HF let’s you jump in jump out so it’s perfect for on-the-go gaming which is what works best on an iDevice.

Check out the screenshots below to help you get a better idea of the game:

At $0.99 you can’t go wrong with this game. It’s games likes these that make me fall in love with iPhone gaming over and over again.

Helsing’s Fire is simple to learn but can get pretty difficult as you progress. The bottom line is that its a great game and I highly suggest you download it right now.

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Release Date List: 7/18-7/25

This week the Summer of Arcade promotion kicks off on Xbox Live with LIMBO.  Also Need for Speed: World on the PC and Alien Swarm. Check out the full list of titles in the link below.

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Madden NFL 11 Demo Tackles XBL and PSN

Football season is right around the corner people, and with that usually means another EA Madden NFL game.  On July 27th you can download the demo that pits last years AFC Championship game between the Indianapolis Colts and the New York Jets.  The demo will have 5 minute quarters and give you a option to choose between four select difficulties: Rookie, Pro, All Pro, and All-Madden.

A lot of people are upset with EA for there Ten dollar online pass tactic, and rightfully so.  Will you be picking up the new Madden this year?

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XBLA Breach Gets Delayed

The Xbox Live title that had a lot of people excited at E3, Breach will be getting a pretty significant delay.  Instead of dropping this year, the game will release in January.

Atomic President Peter Tamte says the delay will give the studio the time they need to add a “hardcore” mode to the game to mimic the real life military situations.

Luckily there were features we had been thinking of adding to the title, and now we have the opportunity to do just that. Unlike with Six Days in Fallujah, which was delayed indefinitely when Konami pulled out, we are publishing Breach ourselves, and it will be out in January… I’ve always said, we don’t make simulations for the public and we don’t make games for the government. However, we have come to realize there is a growing segment of the gaming population that wants to test these simulation systems out for themselves, which is why we’re adding features, like a Hardcore mode, to Breach.”

Breach will now release day and day with the Xbox 360 version and will still carry a $15 price tag.

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Netflix Streams Over the Border

It is a happy day today for the Canadians as Netflix have announced today that their streaming service will be coming to Canada later this fall.  It may not be a big deal for people in the US because we have been spoiled with streaming content for quite some time now, but people across the northern border couldn’t be more happy.

The Canadian version of Netflix will have its first ever separate package that allows customers to choose a streaming-only package instead of having to pay for a DVD bundle.

No other details have been mentioned including pricing information, but we imagine that to surface shortly.

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Have you ever had a dream that felt so real but you couldn’t remember it enough to explain it?  That’s kind of how my experience felt while playing Limbo.  The masterminds behind the eerie world that is Limbo, are a company called “Playdead” who is based out of Copenhagen, Denmark.  While this may be the teams first project together, it definitely does not show.  Playdead is now a studio that I’ am a fan of and I look forward to whatever else they bring in the future.

LIMBO takes you on a beautiful and dark journey of a boy who is uncertain about his sisters fate.  The entire game is set in a black and white atmosphere that you will soon discover is a place you would never want to be.  My time spent with Limbo was nothing short of amazing.  The game starts off with you waking up in the middle of a forest not knowing where you are or what your in store for.  I refer to the main character as “the boy” because the game doesn’t have voice actors, nor does it have character development.  Only thing that matters is that you overcome the dangerous objects that await you, so you can find your sister.

As you progress through Limbo, you are challenged by mind bending puzzles that actually do take some thinking.  This is where the game absolutely shines.  It is almost impossible to be perfect and stay alive for a long period of time.  You will be electrocuted, drowned, and pummeled by the dangerous tools that surround Limbo.  You will die, respawn, maybe die again but then hopefully realize where you went wrong.  This may sound frustrating and even game breaking but it’s almost the opposite.  Playdead did an excellent job at making sure when you die you don’t feel like chucking the controller across the room.  When you fail at a specific puzzle you are put almost exactly where you left off right before you attempted it.  I also felt a sense of accomplishment when I figured out a way to get past a section that kept me engrossed in wanting to play for just “5 more minutes.”  The puzzles vary and never get old because they change up through out the game.  I never felt bored or felt like I have been doing the same thing over and over again.  Towards the end of the game your encounters with certain elements will get harder and the puzzles will challenge you more and more, but not once did I feel fed up with the game.  It’s just a beautiful display of balance and forgiveness.

The controls are very simplistic.  You move with the left analog stick and use A to jump and B to move objects.  It truly is another reason why Limbo could be a game for anybody who doesn’t mind using their brain a little.  One thing you should be aware of though is that your character dies in pretty horrific ways.  If he’s ripped up by a saw you will see body parts and limbs flying around.  It is hardly “graphic” because of it’s black and white art style but there is a setting to turn it off if your a bit squeamish.  One of the other elements of the game that I just have to mention is the sound.  I played the entire game with my Turtle Beach headphones on and it was very noticeable that Playdead put a lot of time in getting the sound just right.  Everything from the crackling of tree branches to the howling from the owls are heard through out your time in Limbo.  My suggestion, if you have a nice pair of gaming headphones use them and you will see what I mean.

Make no mistake, while LIMBO may be an Xbox Live Arcade title, I still consider it to be one of the top displays thus far of 2010 and I will put it up there with any of the other big boys for Game of the Year.  When a game can give you a different experience that you have never encountered before, that is something special.  For a title that costs 15 dollars, this is the biggest bang for your buck that your going to get this summer, or for that matter possibly the rest of the year.

Been wondering about the games in this year’s XBOX Live Summer of Arcade? Maybe you wanted to know if any of them were really going to be worth the hassle of getting MS points to purchase. If only there was someone who got a chance to try games who could advise you on what he thought of them.

Oh wait, there is. I got to play all but one of them at E3, and the one I did not get to play is about to be reviewed on Everyday Gamers by Kevin.

I know: stop rubbing it in.

I have been meaning to write this article for a while now, and with this week being the official start of this year’s Summer of Arcade, the timing felt right. I will also be publishing Episode #68 of the Everyday Gamers Podcast to coincide with this article, which contains interviews with some of the people behind Limbo, Hydro Thunder Hurricane, Castlevania: Harmony of Despair and Monday Night Combat.

So without further ado, here is my XBOX Live Summer of Arcade preview.

Limbo - July 21

Limbo is unlike any game I have ever seen.

Limbo is a very hard game to describe. The game starts simple enough. You play as a young boy who has entered limbo to try and find out what has happened to his sister. That is all you are told.

So why is this game so hard to describe? Well, you kind of have to see it played to understand. The game is done in something very close to black and white, which gives it an eerie feel that is hard to put into words. Playdead, the company behind the game, spent a lot of time working on how the boy moves throughout the environment and making sure everything he interacts with has weight. I know this seems really vague, but you really do have to see it to fully understand.

As this boy, all you can do is jump and grab onto objects, which allows you to interact with them. This allows for the platforming and puzzles spread throughout what is  an increasingly hostile environment. The game just does not look like anything else out there.

In the interview I did with producer Mads Wibroe, he mentioned that he hoped people would download the demo and try it out to see if this game was for them. In the end, that is probably the best thing you could do. Limbo is not going to be for everyone, but it will certainly grab your attention.

Hydro Thunder Hurricane – July 28

Hydro Thunder Hurricane is the sequel fans have been waiting for.

It’s no secret; I love Hydro Thunder. It is one of my favorite racing games of all time. With that in mind, I was very excited to get my hands on what is being billed as the sequel at E3, Hydro Thunder Hurricane.

The time I spent playing it did not disappoint me.

Hydro Thunder Hurricane brings back all the insane boat racing of the original game, along with new variations on the old favorite boats. The tracks are all new, though there is a new version of the Lake Powell track and a stadium track with a similar feel to the first track in the old version. Add to this water effects that look absolutely amazing and change up the race (Vector Unit spent some serious time on the water effects, and it shows), either through drafting effects behind other boats or waves triggered by explosions throughout the game, and you have the makings of a game any true Hydro Thunder fan will enjoy.

That’s not all. There are several different game modes and the ability to play up to 8 players online (4 of those can be split screen on one 360, with the ability to carry all 4 into online play).

The bottom line? If you like racing games or were a fan of the original, Hydro Thunder Hurricane is a must purchase.

Castlevania: Harmony of Despair – August 4

Color me unimpressed.

It is also no secret to any of you who have been on the site for a while that I am a Castlevania fan. As such, I was interested in what Konami was doing with Castlevania: Harmony of Despair, especially as I started to hear more about the 6 player coop mode. Something about the game just really caught my eye.

In the end, however, I have to say I was a little disappointed in this game.

The game is pretty straightforward in its build. You can choose to play any one of 5 heroes from previous Castlevania games: Alucard, Soma Cruz, Jonathan Morris, Shanoa, and Charlotte Aulin. Each character is unique and has a unique set of weapons and attacks; while Jonathan may be armed with the standard Vampire Killer whip, Shanoa uses glyphs to call forth weapons. This should allow for some interesting ways to approach the levels in the game, but that is where the good news ends.

I have several issues with this game after getting a chance to play it:

• Only 5 characters when you allow 6 player coop? Granted, you can choose different colors for the characters to accommodate this, but if Konami wanted people to have to use the different abilities of the characters in tandem, this was a bad choice.
• The levels in the game are timed. Even when you pause the game or come to one of the books that allow you to change up your weapons/skills, the timer is still running. This just makes no sense for a Castlevania game.
• You do not get to play the 6 player coop in the regular game mode. That is reserved for the Boss Rush and other specific modes designed for it.
• The graphics just do not look good. I know they were going for some of the 8-bit look, but I think they overdid it.

I had high hopes for Castlevania: Harmony of Despair. Now, I am not sure I will even buy it.

Monday Night Combat – August 11

A team sports shooter? That's what Uber is calling Monday Night Combat, and I cannot wait to play it.

If you had asked me to choose which Summer of Arcade game I was looking forward to playing the most before E3, I would have said Hydro Thunder Hurricane. Now that I have had a chance to try the games, that answer has changed. The one I am now  looking forward to the most is Monday Night Combat.

Uber Entertainment, the creators of Monday Night Combat, set out to make a team based shooter using the Unreal 3 engine that looked and played like nothing else using the engine, and they succeeded. The game has a bit of a Team Fortress 2 feel, being a team based shooter with different classes which each have unique abilities:

• Assault – Your basic soldier unit, the Assault class comes with assault rifle, grenade launcher, a charge ability that lets him ram headlong into enemies and remote detonators.
• Tank – The Tank is armed with a jet engine, and he has the ability to turn himself into a turret and use stun grenades which can be upgraded to Product Bombs, which clutter the opposing player’s HUD with advertising.
• Sniper – Equipped with the standard sniper riffle and sub-machine gun, he can be upgraded to be able to shoot through multiple enemies at once.
• Support – Armed with a gun that can heal his own team or draw health from the opposing team, the Support character can build turrets, hack enemy turrets to make them fight for his team and call air strikes.
• Gunner – Similar to the Team Fortress 2 Heavy, the Gunner carries a mini gun and comes with a stomp ability that can stun enemies and the ability to flatten enemies from above.
• Assassin – The Assassin is your quick strike character. She has the ability to cloak, use smoke bombs and upgrade her dagger into a katana-like weapon, making it the best melee weapon in the game.

Add to all of this two separate game modes and the innovative gameplay that combines a team based shooter with a tower defense game, and you have the makings of a phenomenal game.

Lara Croft and the Guardian of the Light – August 18

Think Square Enix may have had soemthing to do with Tomb Raider's new direction?

Rounding out the Summer of Arcade is Lara Croft and the Guardian of the Light. To say this is not your normal Tomb Raider game would be a slight understatement, and I believe the changes come at least in part from the influence of Square Enix. This new game is an isometric platform action game in the vein of the older Balder’s Gate games on the consoles.

In this game, Croft finds the fabled Mirror of Smoke in the Temple of the Light in Central America. The problems start when mercenaries try to steal the mirror, freeing  Xolotl, a dark spirit trapped in the mirror by the Maya warrior Totec 2000 years ago. Now Totec has teamed up with Lara to get the mirror back and once again trap Xoltol.

So not only do you have a completely different type of game, but you now have 2 player coop, with the second player taking control of Totec. The players must work together to to solve the different puzzles and defeat the enemies withing each level to advance. The game looks nice and actually plays fairly well, but it really is not my type of game, so as of right now I do not plan on playing it.

But wait: there’s more!

While this may wrap things up for my written preview of the XBOX Live Summer of Arcade, the fun does not stop here. While at E3, I had the chance to interview 4 of the 5 developers behind the Summer of Arcade games. You can listen to those interviews in EDG Podcast Ep. #68 – Summer of Arcade.

I have to say I am rather impressed with this year’s summer of arcade. I cannot wait for it to start.

Listen in as Eric Bouchard share his views of the XBOX Live Summer of Arcade, including interviews with several of the developers.

EDG Podcast Ep. #68

Music – Project 86: “Sincerely, Ichabod,” “Shadow Over Me,” “Something We Can’t Be,” “The Spy Hunter,” “The Butcher” and “Evil (A Chorus of Resistance)”

QUICK CORRECTION: Monday Night Combat (and all of the Summer of Arcade titles) will sell for 1200 points, not 1500.

DeathSpank

In today’s daily bits: StarCraft II Specs, Spec Ops beta, Kane and Lynch 2 plus Valve may be getting a bit nosy.

StarCraft II‘s system requirements announced

Blizzard has announced just how powerful your PC or Mac will need to be to play the biggest PC game releasing this summer, StarCraft II:

Minimum System Requirements*:

PC: Windows XP/Windows Vista/Windows 7 (Latest Service Packs) with DirectX 9.0c
2.6 GHz Pentium IV or equivalent AMD Athlon processor
128 MB PCIe NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT or ATI Radeon 9800 PRO video card or better

Mac: Mac OS X 10.5.8, 10.6.2 or newer
Intel Processor
NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT or ATI Radeon X1600 or better

PC/Mac: 12 GB available HD space
1 GB RAM (1.5 GB required for Windows Vista/Windows 7 users, 2 GB for Mac users)
DVD-ROM drive
Broadband Internet connection
1024X720 minimum display resolution

Realistically, these requirements are not bad. Blizzard continues the trend of not forcing people to have top of the line systems to play the company’s games. Only part I’m not overly thrilled with is the Broadband Internet connection, but we all knew that was going to be there. StarCraft II releases July 27th.

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Sign ups open for Spec Ops: The Line Beta

Want to get a taste of 2K’s new take on the Spec Ops series? Then this may be your lucky day. 2K has opened sign ups for the demo for Spec Ops: The Line. The demo is only for the 360, and there are no garauntees you will be selected, but you can’t win if you don’t try, right?

I was really impressed with what I saw of this game at E3, and I have already signed up.

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Kane and Lynch 2 demo hits early for PlayStation Plus subscribers

Remember how Sony mentioned PlayStation Plus subscribers would get access to demos before normal PSN members? Looks like the first one will be the demo for Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days. PS+ members will gain exclusive access from July 20 through the 27, with normal PSN members gaining access after that.

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Valve wants to know what is on your computer

Valve’s Steam service has been taking the specs of member’s computers, but now the publisher wants to know a whole lot more. The latest Steam update has a survey members can allow to run that will check out what is in your program folders file to see what you have installed on your system. The company states they are doing this to learn how people use their computers to see what services it can provide for its consumers.

Now I know these are voluntary, but I really do not like this idea. What worries me the most is if Valve chooses to set the survey to run as default, forcing you to un-check it to keep it from running. Many gaming companies are starting to go down paths I really do not like, and I hope Valve is not joining them.

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Medal Of Honor Limited Edition Extras Revealed

EA has confirmed the Limited Edition content for Medal of Honor, and best of all it costs the same as the standard edition.  That’s right, the Limited Edition will be $59.99 and add a few more weapons to your arsenal right off the bat.  The MP7, TOZ-104, and 870MC2 Shotguns will be available day one.  Standard Edition owners will also have access to those weapons but will have to earn them through the unlock ranking system.

At E3 it was also announced that PS3 users will get a copy of the 2002 award winning Medal of Honor: Frontlines.  Which copy do you plan on picking up?

Medal of Honor will shoot its way onto store shelves October 12th for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 with a Europe release on October 15th.

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Halo: Reach Gets Down To Business With Limited Edition Bundle

You’ve dreamed, You’ve asked, You’ve waited.  Now Bungie is delivering the goods on there Limited Edition Bundle for the  next installment in the Halo universe.  The LE will cost you $80 and will include the following:

• Custom case modeled after a recovered ONI data module
• In-game Elite armor set for multiplayer
• Artifact bag, which contains the personal notes and documents of the creator of the Spartan program: Dr. Catherine Halsey
• Dr. Halsey’s ONI security badge
• An embroidered Spartan II patch

You can check out screen shots of the bundle from our source below.

Halo: Reach will come to a store near you on September 14th exclusively on the Xbox 360.

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Bayonetta Discounted On Amazon Today

Q1 of this year was a crazy time for gamers with what seemed like a new triple A game coming every week.  But in case you’ve missed out on Platinum Games “Bayonetta” today would be the best day to scoop it up.

Amazon is having a deal on the game and you can pick it up for 20$ for the PS3.  Unfortunately the deal is not running on the Xbox 360 as well, but if your looking for a great game to play before the “next big thing” then you cannot go wrong with Bayonetta.

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After 30 Years It’s Still Haunted

Atari is celebrating it’s 30 year anniversary of the 1980 classic title Haunted House by releasing a downloadable title this September.

The sequel will go back to its spooky atmosphere and return players to the Graves Mansion.  The sequel will have enhanced graphics and follow the same concept but will offer new locations and a character shown in the third-person.

Haunted House will be available this fall for the PC, Xbox Live Arcade, and the Wii.

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Modnation Racers Gets Even More “Casual”

Do you love those cute little racers you go up against in Modnation Racers? but hate them because you just can’t seem to beat them in a race? Well your in luck because today SCEA San Diego community manager Ramone Russell announced that United Front Games is almost finished with putting out a casual difficulty for the single player campaign.

No mention has been made on a specific time frame when to expect the new difficulty, but we imagine it will be coming very soon.

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Walmart Prices Kinect Bundle At $199.99

As we get even closer to an official Kinect pricing from Microsoft, Walmart has now started taking pre-orders for a limited time bundle.  The bundle includes the Kinect unit, a $30 online only walmart gift card, and one Kinect launch game of the buyers choice.

Again, no official word on pricing has been announced from Microsoft yet, so we will just have to wait until we hear it from the big boys.

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Kane & Lynch 2 Gets Bumped Up A Week

Kane & Lynch 2 will see a new release date of August 17th instead of it’s original August 24th release.  Why you may ask? probably so they do not have to compete with Mafia II which releases on the 24th as well.  But the official word comes from IO Interactive general manager Niels Jorgensen.

The team has worked hard to deliver a game that’s different from the current trend of third-person shooters and we’re so pleased to be able to share it with the world ahead of schedule. With development now complete, why keep people waiting any longer? We want to let gamers experience the game we’ve created and get them online betraying their friends in Fragile Alliance, so we have decided to bring the release date forward by one week.

It’s never a bad thing when you get to play a game you’ve been looking forward to even earlier than expected.  Let the backstabbing begin!

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Listen in as Eric Bouchard, Jordan de Boer and special guest Scott (TeeTocks from GamerHusbands Radio) discuss their impressions of the game Alan Wake.

EDG Podcast Special: Alan Wake

Music: Poets of the Fall – War…Old Gods of Asgard (Poets of the Fall) – Poet and the Muse

WARNING: This podcast contains spoilers. If you have not beaten the game, you may not want to listen.

New Releases

• Disciples III – $39.99, turn-based action RPG
• Don’t forget to download Phoenix Online’s “The Silver Lining”, first episode in King’s Quest fan fiction, FREE on PC only

News Bytes

• Blizzard thaws out after heated Real ID debate. In a not so surprising turn of events, Blizzard has heeded the fan feedback, and abandoned the use of Real ID in it’s official game forums.  However, let’s not forget that the games will still using it—games such as WoW, Starcraft II and the upcoming Diablo III.  I would imagine that most player’s fears are kept at bay, knowing that only online game players and not just every forum troll will have access to our real names, but is this still a cause for concern?  We saw what forum posters were capable of digging up when a Blizzard Community Manager revealed his name on the thread debating Real ID’s implementation.  Granted, limiting our names to in-game use reduces the cause for alarm, but does it quench it altogether?  I would venture to say no, however it will not prevent me from using their products.  If you think differently, or you agree, stop by and vote at the poll we have here, and let us know what you think!
• Team Fortress Engineer Update Goes Live! Yes, all the Golden Wrenches have been found and the update is automatically downloaded, if you haven’t logged in since it’s inception.  Included for the update are some new weapons and maps, highlighted below.  All the details for the update can also be found here.

1. The Wrangler – Replaces the pistol, creates a shield and allows Engineers to control sentries
2. The Gunslinger – New add-on that replaces the wrench.  It boosts heath 25%, adds a combo to the Engineer’s melee attacks, and allows deployment of Mini-Sentries
3. Mini-Sentries – Requires less metal than full sized brethren, Builds four times faster and deploys with full health, however, they cannot be repaired/upgraded and deal significantly less damage than full sized sentries.
4. Frontier Justice – New Shotgun, does not deal critical hits, but gains “Revenge Crits”.  Revenge Crits are critical hits acquired when the Engineer’s Sentries obtain kills or kill assists.
5. New Maps – Upward, Hightower and Thunder Mountain

• Spore blowing into San Diego Comic Con? A newly updated schedule for this year’s Comic Con has a spot reserved for a Maxis to unveil a new game.  One would think that this could be a new Spore game, and that seems to be a correct assumption.  What’s intriguing, is that the revel is supposed to be a Sci-Fi, action-RPG.  I’m not sure how optimistically we should look at this, especially since I drank the Kool-Ade and drowned with the Galactic Adventures add-on.  Either way, it’s an announcement I will be very curious to hear and see, onward true believers!
• Dragon Age with a dash of Valve and a pinch of Sheppard? In an unexpected press release, Bioware has announced that Dragon Age 2 will be hitting store shelves in March of 2011(drawing a few L4D2 comparisons).  Also surprising, is the choice to abandon the many Origins of the first game, in place of a singlular, customizable, male/female lead.  The new character, known only as Hawke, will be a human survivor of the blight, and Bioware has promised the same mechanic of tough choices, we have come to expect from their games.  One must wonder how the success of Mass Effect coupled with the obviously tough undertaking of the varied characters from the first game has impacted this decision.  It is a shame to know that we won’t be importing characters again, a la Mass Effect 2, but we can’t help but wonder if this will be more of an action RPG without the punishing difficulty of the first.  It would appear that Bioware has figured out what appeals to us, and will stay true to that path, but only time will tell.

Geared Up

This week’s Geared Up is the sweet new Civ V Special Edition, recently announced.  The fifth installment of PC gaming god, Sid Meier, releases this September 21st, and the Special Edition of the game looks amazing.  Packaged in is a Behind the Scenes DVD, a whopping 176 page hardcover art book, 5 pewter figurines and a two disk soundtrack.  I’m not enough of a fan of the series to swallow the $99.99 price tag, but I can easily see the draw for the fans.  Yes, it’s pricey game goodness, but I think it more than delivers for the fans, so my hats are off to the Civilization V Special Edition Bundle!

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Release Date List: 7/11-7/18

This week starts off with a reminder that football season is just around the corner.  NCAA Football 11 from EA hits store shelves this Tuesday for all major platforms.  If football maybe isn’t your thing and you could care less, Dragon Quest hits the DS and Deathspank comes to the Xbox Live Arcade.  For the full list of titles check out the link below.

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K-Mart Deals So Good, They May Leave You Broke

If you’ve missed out on some of the latest and greatest lately, have no worries because K-Mart has a great deal going on select games for as much as $25 off.  Take a look at the list below and know there may be even more titles on sale.  So if you live near a K-Mart just get down there and see for yourself

Offer only available until Saturday July 17th.

• Alan Wake (Xbox 360) — $34.99
• Singularity (Xbox 360, PS3) — $34.99
• Call of Duty: War Collection (Xbox 360) — $34.99
• Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (PSP) — $19.99
• PSP-3000 — $149.99
• Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies — Purchase at full price, get $10 gift card and half-off select DS titles

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Ubisoft Steers Driver: San Francisco To 2011

During Ubisoft’s estimated earnings report today, they decided to delay Driver: San francisco to an early Q1 2011 release time frame.   Reason being? because of the “competitive market at Christmas.”

I never know if it’s a good thing or not when company’s push back there title because of the other popular games coming out.  It may be good for the developer but is it a sign for the gamers that it may not be a great game?  Let us know what you think.

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XBLA Content Browser Delayed

The content browser “Destination Arcade” which is suppose to be more easier to navigate the “Summer of Arcade” titles, pricing, and customer reviews, has been slightly delayed according to ‘Major Nelson.’

It will now be released July 21st, which is the same day the “Summer of Arcade” promotion kicks off with its first title LIMBO.

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Listen in as Eric Bouchard and Jordan de Boer discuss achievements and trophies and how they have changed gaming.

EDG Podcast Ep. #67

Music: DRAG OF GRAVITY – FIRST IMPRESSIONS and ANOMALY

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

505 Games Goes Under The Sea in 2011

That’s right people, time to grab your scuba gear.  Today 505 Games announced a brand new game for both the Xbox 360 and PS3 that will be out Q1 of 2011 by developer Biart Studio.  Deep Black, a third-person action adventure is said to bring “action packed battles with an immersive storyline” which will have players engaging most of the game under water.

Not much else has been said about the title, but if the game can pull off under water gameplay it could be a nice change of pace from what we are use to seeing.

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Dead Space 2 Prequel Announced

Dead Space: Ignition will be a downloadable prequel to Dead Space 2 that will drop on the XBLA and PSN.  The prequel will showcase the strange happenings that lead up to Dead Space 2 in an “interactive comic-style story with three unique hacking mini-games; Hardware Crack, Trace Route and System Overide.”

Dead Space Ignition is the first of many exciting game extensions we have planned for the launch of Dead Space 2,” says Dead Space 2 executive producer, Steve Papoutsis. “The interactive comic-style game will give Dead Space fans a unique perspective on the events leading up to Dead Space 2, but will also introduce the storyline to a brand-new audience of gamers.

Dead Space: Ignition will be ready to download this fall, just before Dead Space 2 releases January 25, 2011.

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PC Specs for Mafia II Unveiled

System Requirements for Mafia II on the PC has been unveiled as well as specs for the PhysX effects. Mafia II will be releasing for the PC, Xbox 360, and PS3 on August 24th, with a demo coming in early August.

MINIMUM SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP (SP2 or later) / Windows Vista / Windows 7
Processor: Pentium D 3Ghz or AMD Athlon 64 X2 3600+ (Dual core) or higher
RAM: 1.5 GB
Video Card: nVidia GeForce 8600 / ATI HD2600 Pro or better
Hard Disc Space: 8 GB
Sound Card: 100% DirectX 9.0c compatible sound card
Peripherals: Keyboard and mouse or Windows compatible gamepadRECOMMENDED SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP (SP2 or later) / Windows Vista / Windows 7
Processor: 2.4 GHz Quad Core processor
RAM: 2 GB
Video Card: nVidia GeForce 9800 GTX / ATI Radeon HD 3870 or better
Hard Disc: 10 GB
Sound Card: 100% DirectX 9.0c compliant card
Peripherals: Keyboard and mouse or Windows compatible gamepad

PHSYX/APEX ENHANCEMENTS SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP (SP2 or later) / Windows Vista / Windows 7 Minimum Processor: 2.4 GHz Quad Core processor
Recommended Processor: 2.66 GHz Core i7-920 RAM: 2 GB

Video Cards and resolution: APEX medium settings
Minimum: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260 (or better) for Graphics and a dedicated NVIDIA 9800GTX (or better) for PhysX
Recommended: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 470 (or better)

Video Cards and resolution: APEX High settings
Minimum: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 470 (or better) and a dedicated NVIDIA 9800GTX (or better) for PhysX
Recommended: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 for Graphics and a dedicated NVIDIA GTX 285 (or better) for PhysX NVIDIA GPU driver: 197.13 or later.
NVIDIA PhysX driver: 10.04.02_9.10.0522. Included and automatically installed with the game.

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In today’s Daily Bits, Vanquish gets a release date, Borderlands may be getting a GOTY and Red Dead Redemption getting Zombies?

Vanquish hits stores October 19th

Sega’s Vanquish has been exciting a lot of gamers, and now those looking forward tot he game know when they will be able to get their hands on it. Sega announced today that the high octane cover based shooter will be coming out on October 19th in North America. Those who choose to pre-order the game from GameStop will gain access to some in game special weapons, but is that really worth supporting the evil empire?

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Borderlands to get Game of the Year Edition?

Speaking of the gaming retail conglomerate, a recent listing on GameStop’s website for a Borderlands Game of the Year Edition Strategy Guide seems to be pointing to an eventual GOTY release of the popular Gearbox shooter/RPG. This edition of the game would more than likely contain all the downloadable content to date: The Secret Armory of General Knoxx, Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot and The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned. The strategy guide has a release date of September 9th.

While this may be good news for those who have not picked up the game, those of us who have are starting to wonder about Gearbox’s promise to keep supporting the game with DLC. Nothing has surfaced since we battled Knoxx, and I for one would love the chance to jump back onto Pandora.

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More Dragons that you can fit in a single Age

Bioware officially announced Dragon Age II today, and from what we know about the game so far, it will be quite a departure from the original. Players will take on the role of Hawke, a legendary warrior who survived the blight and mysteriously rose to power, getting to fill in the details of just how he or she accomplished that. That’s right; the full extent of your choice of origins for you character in the sequel will be whether it is male or female.

So I am looking forward to this, but not overly so. After playing Mass Effect 2, my time researching Bioware games is being tied up elsewhere.

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Et tu, Red Dead?

So someone somewhere must have decided all games could do with a little bit of Zombie in them, even Red Dead Redemption. That’s right; Rockstar has announced 4 new DLC packs which will be releasing for the game, including Undead Nightmare, a single player campaign that will let you take on the overly used horror creatures. Here are the details on the DLC:

Legends and Killers — August 2010 (800 MS Points / $9.99)

• Nine new multiplayer map locations
• Eight new multiplayer characters, including some from Red Dead Revolver
• New projectile weapon, The Tomahawk, with corresponding multiplayer and single-player challenges
• New Achievements and Trophies

Liars and Cheats — Launch date TBD (800 MS Points / $9.99)

• Attack and Defend multiplayer competitive mode and challenges
• New multiplayer horse races, with mounted combat
• Play as “the heroes and villains” of Red Dead Redemption, as well as eight new multiplayer characters
• Multiplayer versions of Liar’s Dice and Poker from the single-player game
• New weapon, The Explosive Rifle, with corresponding multiplayer and single-player challenges
• New Achievements and Trophies

Free Roam — Launch date TBD (Price TBD)

• Additional Free Roam challenges
• New action areas and defensive placements
• Posse scoring and leaderboards
• New anti-griefing measures in Free Roam

Undead Nightmare — Launch date TBD (800 MS Points / $9.99)

• New single-player adventure, challenges and quests
• Eight new multiplayer zombie characters
• Additional animals to hunt
• New dynamic events “and more”

So there you have it. More zombies. Is anyone else getting tired of this already?

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

We are 19 days away from one of the biggest PC gaming launches in PC games history – Starcraft II : Wings of Liberty.  The recent peaks and valleys associated with Blizzard and it’s Real ID implementation may seem to challenge of delay that glorious release.  So, if you’ve been living under a rock, or not following PC gaming news, let me get right to the point.

Real ID, Calling Gamers Out.

Like Orcs raising their swords and torches for the horde, gamers have united against the implementation of Real ID, proposed by Blizzard.  But, what is it?  In case you’ve been under a rock, or away from any gaming forums, blogs, or news sites, here’s the scoop.  Real ID is a system that will associate your first and last name with every forum post, as well as your Battle.Net 2.0 tag.  Now it’s easy to understand the hesitation, but why try something like this in the first place?  Now, even not being a World of Warcraft player myself, it would be hard for me to ignore the impact and the innovation WoW has brought to social gaming.  Likewise, another Blizzard title, Starcraft, was an earlier game that unified pasty, malnourished gamers under one banner.  Starcraft allowed players to spawn endless copies of it’s multiplayer feature onto an unlimited number of machines.  So, for $50, you and all of your college buddies could LAN the night away at Starcraft, and invite an unlimited number more competitors into the foray.  Fast forward to the present, and WoW has become more of a social atmosphere, where joining back up with guild mates is almost more important than the grinding of levels in the game.  To say that friendships, romances and marriages have all begun and solidified under the Horde or Alliance banners would not be giving enough credit to the social impact WoW has had on gamers(ironically, by keeping them locked away on their PCs, but that’s for another article).  I know what you are saying – “Chris, you started talking about Real ID, now you are highlighting the social aspects of Blizzard games.  What gives?”.

Real Need For Real ID?

So, we know what Real ID is, but why is it necessary?  Or is it even necessary?  As I’ve stated, the social communities around Blizzard games can easily rival that of any other PC game out there-past or present.  With a community boasting such numbers, certainly, not all of it’s members are of the innocent persuasion right?  There are lots of shady things going on in WoW space, not to mention the always present attempts to cheat the system, and the lovely griefers-both in game and on the forums.  The hope of a system, like Real ID, is to remove the player from the solace and cover of their WoW account name or Battle.Net 2.0 gamer tag, and add identity in, to make them think before they post.  Plain and simple, would you be as callous and careless with your words, both in the forums and on Ventrillo, if you knew that your name was sitting right there for everyone to read?  For everyone to type in to Facebook or MySpace?  Hopefully, some of the griefers would be turned away when Blizzard shone it’s light of identity on their dark anonymity!

Real Trouble Lurks

Well, what if that shield was used as a weapon against you?  Let’s say you jump online and post in Blizzard’s forums with a new sense of power and safety, resting in the knowledge that the internet trolls are safely tucked under their bridges, quaking in their boots with their real names flashing, like a neon sign above them.  Well, what about those griefers and ne’er do wells that we mentioned before?  Couldn’t someone jump onto the forums or play a game or two on Battle.Net, just to advance their own phishing scheme?  I mean, if I won’t post obnoxious posts because I worry someone will find me on Facebook, what’s to stop someone from simply looking me up for their own nefarious reasons?  That, is exactly what happened to Blizzard’s own Community Manager, who’s name I will not be posting here.  The topic of Real ID ignited such a flame war, on the WoW forums, that a Blizzard Community Manager did more than just rise to defend the system, he posted his own name as a sign of brave support.  His post was eagerly replied to with pictures of his home, gathered from Google Street.  He was told the names of his wife and children—all in the same thread.  Within minutes, intimate details of that Community Manager’s life plagued the forums like Zerglings rushing in for the kill.

Aftermath

Well, the internet seems to have won this battle.  Even if Blizzard hasn’t been shaken by this, I’m sure the Community Manager was.  Also, within the minutes of the fast fingers at work on Google, the retaliation served to illustrate exactly why so many gamers were rising up against the use of the Real ID system.  In this case, the person targeted knew he had been found out online, but how easy will it be to notice until you get that next credit card bill or Paypal statement, when your details have been picked through like a buzzard pulls carrion from rotting bones?  It’s a scary example of what can happen, and now that Battle.Net requires an online login, even for single player, just how vulnerable are we?  Initially, this seemed to be a questionable line in the sand, but now I’d say Blizzard is going to have to have iron clad perfection on it’s side, if they plan on continuing with the Real ID implementation.  With Starcraft II only 19 days away, that doesn’t leave a lot of room for Blizzard to regroup and retaliate.

UPDATE : 7/11/10 – Yes, I know that the Real ID system will not be implemented in the Blizzard forums, but it will be implemented in WoW, Starcraft II and, presumably, Diablo III.  I’m still curious to see if this impacts anyone’s purchasing decisions, so let us know with your vote in our poll!

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Xbox “Summer of Arcade” Dated and Priced

This month starts up another year of Xbox Live’s “Summer Of Arcade” promotion.  There will be five games this year each marked at the 15$ price tag (1200 Microsoft Points).  A little extra bonus for customers who decide to purchase at least three “Summer of Arcade” titles before August 31st will receive a rebate of 400 Microsoft Points ($5) and too those who purchase all five titles will give you 1200 Microsoft Points.

Titles and Pricing Below

-Limbo- July 21st

-Hydro Thunder Hurricane- July 28th

-Castlevania: Harmony of Despair- August 4th

-Monday Night Combat- August 11th

-Lara Croft and the Guardian of Night- August 19th

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Split/Second Wrecks The PSP This Holiday

Love Split/Second so much that you wish you could carry it with you all the time? Well good news as Black Rock studios has decided to put the crazed racer onto the PSP this holiday season.  No word on the game being an exact port from the PC and console versions but one thing is for sure is that it will not support online multiplayer, but will in fact support 4 player ad/hoc play.

We will keep a close eye on more information on the PSP version of the game when more details are revealed.

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Battlefield Bad Company Gets Map Pack 4 Today

The fourth map pack is available today for Battlefield Bad Company 2 and is once again free to all VIP members.  The PC will get the map pack as a patch later today.

There aren’t any new maps so to speak, but Atacama Desert can now be played on the Rush game mode, while the Port Valdez map can be played on Conquest.

It’s nice to see DICE is still supporting Battlefield Bad Company 2 even if they haven’t put out any new maps yet.  But expect that to change when the Vietnam expansion hits later this year.

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Bad Sales=No Alpha Protocol Sequel

In today’s world with the Metacritics and hundreds of sites reviewing your game, it can add a good amount of pressure to the developers.  Considering Alpha Protocols poor sales, Sega West president Mike Hayes says no sequel will be made.

Let’s speak very commercially; the game hasn’t sold what we’ve expected, therefore we won’t be doing a sequel.  You know this whole thing with Metacritic where you have to be in the high 70s to mid-80s minimum [to have any success] — well, with RPGs you have got to be in the late 80s. Whilst we had a good game, I don’t think we had a game that had enough to get us to that upper echelon and I think that was the issue.”

Hayes still believes that the game was “brilliant” but unfortunately game sales were way down to warrant a sequel.

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New Releases

Tuesday, 7/6 -

• The Rise Of Flgiht – $49.99, air combat sim
• Modern Warfare 2 Resurgence Pack – $14.99 Multiplayer Map Pack

Wednesday, 7/7 -

• The Secret of Monkey Island Special Edition 2 – $9.99, available through digital distribution only

Saturday. 7/10 -

• The Silver Lining – What Is Decreed Must Be Free – fan fiction continuing the King’s Quest storylines in episodic content

News Bytes

• Bobby Kotick makes PC statements. No, we don’t expect Mr. Kotick to be politically correct, but he did state that Activision will be gladly supporting hardware to bring PC gaming onto living room TV’s and leveling the playing field in the battle between consoles and PC’s.  Mr. Kotick also hinted at the need for such hardware to exist in order for audiences to be broadened and reached.  Sadly, there was now statement of exactly what technology he was referencing-either the streaming technology of Gaikai and OnLive, existing streaming technology or some new tech we have yet to see.  I’m sure you would expect me to jump for joy at the idea, but I can’t help but look through he smoke and wonder how this could negatively impact PC gaming.  After all, the big guns who develop for consoles are not going to divert resources that see a windfall on the console side over to the PC unless they can guarantee piracy won’t be an issue.  So not only is the open platform nature of the PC going to be under question, but the monetization we are seeing with the DLC delivery system may be ported over as well.  I’m all for more attention to the PC as a platform, but not at the cost of the ability to mod my games and be annihilated by commercialism and microtransactions.
• I’ve got a Golden…….Wrench?! A new web comic, released here, hints at some of the new updates in the Team Fortress 2 Engineer class’ future.  An update that we can only assume is not far off, if Valve is already teasing us.  It would seem team fraggers can expect uses of the golden metal, Australium, and a life extender machine.  The wrenches are being randomly distributed in TF2 via crafting, and for every 25 “found”, new details of the update will emerge.  The wrench replaces the normal melee weapon, for the Engineer, and turns it’s victims to gold….or is that Australium?  Tons of possibilities open up – such as the Engineer using this ‘Australium’ to strengthen and add multipliers to weapons, turrents and machines.  Now what about the Left 4 Dead easter egg?  Remember the box of cereal in the game, depicting a Team Fortress 2 character as the cereal prize, bearing the caption ‘Collect All 10′?  Yes, do the math, there are nine classes in TF2 and the Engineer is the only one that hasn’t received an update yet – so when Valve closes the book on that, will we see a new TF2 class?
• New details in the war between Gaikai and OnLive. In a lengthy interview with Joystiq, Dave Perry, CEO of Gaikai, explained how the two services are as different as night and day.  OnLive has already begun, and they are targeting gamers willing to first pay subscription fees, then pay per game charges to play their games via the companies’ streaming service.  As Mr. Perry describes, the Gaikai service plans a completely different plan of attack.  Perry sed the example of seeing a banner ad for a game you are interested in allowing you to launch directly into the game’s demo via Gaikai, and then linking you to places you can pre-order the game, if you’ve enjoyed your demo experience.  And yes, those pre-orders are not necessarily through Gaikai, but retailers, as well.  We know OnLive has server centers already set up, and we know that not everyone will have the connection speeds to use OnLive.  While the same can be said for Gaikai, Perry also says that they will not be using the above mentioned business model to reach people in areas where they know the connections will not support Gaikai’s service.  In another interesting twist, Gaikai will be able to monitor where people are viewing the ads, regardless of whether they have the Gaikai functionality embedded or not.  So, if Eric Bouchard , in Phoenix and I, in New York, are viewing the same page, most likely, Eric will see the Gaikai ads, and I will not.  However, if enough people in my area are pulling up the same pages that are lacking the Gaikai functionality Eric is enjoying, then Gaikai will receive that feedback and target my area for placing a server.  Sweetening the pot even more, it will be the game publishers who pay for these ads, meaning that a subscription model is not necessary.  By taking this passive approach, Gaikai will attract gamers to a service without subscriptions, and the profits will be based on the selling of the ads paid for by the already wide base of game developers on board, not driven by the user base.  Perry also states that he will be making sure indie games are included in this model, since their existence is for the purpose of reaching wider audiences to further their growth.  For the entire article, which I recommend as a very interesting read, you can link here.

Geared Up

OK, I know that I write about the PC, here at EDG, but I couldn’t ignore this interesting find, so I’ll tip my hat to CTA Digital for revolutionizing racing on the Wii.  CTA Digital manufactures peripherals for just about any type of multimedia product – gaming consoles, phones, TVs and camcorders.  Somehow, this little gem seems to have gone mostly unmentioned, but I can already picture two of them sitting in my living room.  Shown here, on a sale listing at Target, CTA Digital showed off an inflatable racing car, the Inflatable Kart, that mounted the Wii mote in a moveable plastic steering wheel.  Unlike the hefty price tag of the Kinect and Move, the Inflatable Kart sells for a reasonable $32.99, and is also Wii Motion Plus compatible.  I have always enjoyed the controls for racers on the Wii, this opens up more possibilities for those Mario Kart family play sessions!  Feel free to check out CTA Digital here.

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Release Date List: 7/4-7/11

This upcoming week is another busy one.  But the game that is on everyone’s mind is Crackdown 2.  For those that may not be interested in hunting down orbs, there’s a bunch of other games you can choose from including the PC release of Sniper: Ghost Warrior.  Take a look at the link below for the full list of titles.

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High Demand For Xbox 360 Slim’s

It shouldn’t come as a shock, Microsoft has reported a “unprecedented demand” from retailers for the new 360 Slims. As well as there Elite and Arcade models due to there recent price drops.

Normally this kind of announcement is a shot at the competition.  Obviously there going to sell. Why wouldn’t they?

We will soon find out the exact number on next months NPD’s.

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Alan Wake Has A Scary Debut

NPD sale numbers hit today and unfortunately Alan Wake only managed to sell 145,000 units during its mid May debut.  It still was the eighth best selling game for the month, but nowhere near what I assume Remedy would have liked.

If you want an idea on how another game did, Red Dead Redemption sold 1,513,000 in May which also came out the same day as Alan Wake.

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Save Money For LIVE-A-Palooza

A huge discount on over 200 tracks and as much as 50% off on Rock Band 1 & 2, Guitar Hero 5, Guitar Hero: World Tour and every Lips title can be bought on the Xbox Live Marketplace from now through July 12th.  The reason? well because its Independence week.  Take a look at the entire list of songs and discounted prices below.

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As we all know and heard from E3 this year, EA has released a multiplayer beta for the PC, PS3, and the Xbox 360.  I was lucky enough to get my hands on the beta for the PS3, and honestly I was quite impressed on what I’ve played.  After 4 hours or so of play time, I am ready to give my impressions of EA’s Medal of Honor, which could be its last chance to redeem itself.

As soon as I started my first match, I said to myself this reminds me a lot like Battlefield Bad Company.  Well that should come as no surprise considering DICE is doing the multiplayer aspect of the game, while EA LA works on the singleplayer.  It was obvious EA wanted to get potentially the best of the best when they went after DICE for the online, as I’m sure they know as well that they have to keep up with the big boys this holiday season.

The game starts off with you as a Level 1 Regular.  As you progress through the game you will level up and unlock different weapons, attachments, and armored piercing bullets, among other things.  You have the option before each match to pick from a list of three classes.  Rifleman, Special Ops, or a Sniper, and will either be selected as the Coalition (good guys) or the Insurgents (bad guys).  Each side has a different setup of weapons that you can select in the gear section before each game. It is a good enough mix between the weapons and unlockables in each class that you might want to experiment a little and feel out which class is best for you.

The most important part obviously is the gameplay.  You can have 100 classes and 200 weapons but without solid gameplay does any of that matter?  I am a pretty hardcore Call of Duty player so a lot of times when I go into new shooters I have a certain expectation of what that game should give me. The gameplay is very different then most shooters and you will pick that up pretty quick after being gun down a number of times before you have to stop and realize whats going on.  Only a few shots will put you down for the count, so I must say that there is a pretty high learning curve in the beginning.  You really do not want to stand or camp in one place for too long, but you also don’t want to run and gun like a Halo, or a Call of Duty style match.  So basically what I am saying is the game is not very forgiving.

Each game mode has its own map.  With Team Assault (team deathmatch) placing you on the Kubel City Ruins map.  This map takes place in a broken down war torn area with a lot of high ground to take out enemies from below.  The map has a very c0ol look to it and has a pretty good amount of detail that adds to the feeling of being in a war.  It’s not a huge map but its a nice size to accommodate the 12 on 12 matches.  Combat Mission is your objective game mode on the Helmand Valley map.  Combat Mission is your typical attack and defend this area depending on what group you are, the Coalition or the Insurgents.  I didn’t play this game type as much considering there really weren’t many people playing it at first, but it’s similar to Battlefield Bad Company’s Rush mode.  Helmand Valley however is a pretty impressive map which is more open then Kubel City Ruins with not as many places to take cover except for some trees and rocks.  Both maps I was very happy about and I look forward to the others that the game will bring upon release.

Some other gameplay elements introduced to Medal of Honor are killstreaks.  These work a little bit different than your Call of Duty style killstreaks considering they are not really based upon how many kills you get but how many points you earn for doing different things.  Kills, assists, and earning ribbons (challenges) will all give you points towards your killstreaks.  I have only had the pleasure of using Mortar Strikes and UAV’s but from I know there are a ton of different things you can use that will help your team succeed.

All these elements of the game I mentioned are great, but that doesn’t mean the game in any way is perfect.  The most annoying thing is before you die, there’s quite a big of lag in between you getting shot and right before you die.  It happens really quick and might not be bothersome at first, but after some time it can get frustrating.  Also respawn points is something they need to work on, I’ve been in a lot of games where I would get spawn killed right away and vice versa.  It would be nice if they gave you an option where to spawn like in Killzone or if its possible to spawn on a player that your in a party with.  That I’am not sure of considering I always played alone.  One last thing I would like to see is some kind of killcam or a quick camera view of where you got shot from before you die.  Sometimes everything is happening so fast and you can get gunned down pretty quickly.  Without any knowledge or idea where those bullets come from on top of the bad spawn points can get tiresome.  Again this is just a beta so it’s going to have its problems.  I have confidence that DICE will fix these small problems before the release date.

With all that said, I was very happy with my experience with the Medal of Honor beta.  The question is will it have the long lasting appeal of a Call of Duty multiplayer?  It’s good that there are releasing the game in October which would be a month before Black Ops and I think the game definitely has potential to hang around to form a good online community.  It’s gameplay is different enough if you want to take a break from other shooters and can even be more challenging and rewarding at times than other games.  I know it will be a day one purchase for me.

Medal of Honor will be in stores October 12th 2010 for the PC, Xbox 360, and PS3.

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Bioshock 2 Gets More Singleplayer

2K Marin has announced the first piece of DLC singleplayer for Bioshock 2.  The “Protector Trials” will focus on the section of the game when the little sister gathers the ADAM from the corpses.  You will play the Big Daddy and will be in charge of protecting the little sister from the crazed splicers.

There will be three different difficulties that you can test your skills at, across six new maps taken from the most popular areas in the Bioshock 2 world.

The “Protector Trials” will be coming to the Xbox 360, PC, and PS3 on August 3rd, and will run you 400 Microsoft Points or $5.

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Modnation Racers Wins The Race, No Photo Finish

Last month was a crazy time for Racing fans, with Modnation Racers, Blur, and Split Second all coming out within a week of each other.  The NPD’s have revealed the best selling of the three, yet none were really outstanding.  Modnation Racers came in the 15th spot on the software sales, which isn’t too bad considering it was a Sony exclusive only title.

However, Blur and Split/Second unfortunately didn’t even make the top 30 in game sales.  Analyst Michael Pachter said that Blur sold “Well below our estimate of 100,000 units” and that Split/Second did not do much better.

It’s a shame that good games do not get that recognition it deserves at times, but when you have 3 potential top racing games coming out within 7 days of each other, what do you really expect?

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Rock Band Weekly DLC This Week: Creedence Clearwater Revival

This week’s Rock Band DLC is going back a few years with Creedence Clearwater Revival.  Song information and pricing below.

• “Bad Moon Rising” (160 MSP / 200 Wii Points / $1.99)
• “Born on the Bayou” (160 MSP / 200 Wii Points / $1.99)
• “Down on the Corner” (160 MSP / 200 Wii Points / $1.99)
• “Fortunate Son (Original Version)” (160 MSP / 200 Wii Points / $1.99)
• “Green River” (160 MSP / 200 Wii Points / $1.99)
• “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” (160 MSP / 200 Wii Points / $1.99)
• “Lookin’ Out My Back Door” (160 MSP / 200 Wii Points / $1.99)
• “Proud Mary” (160 MSP / 200 Wii Points / $1.99)
• “Run Through the Jungle” (160 MSP / 200 Wii Points / $1.99)
• “Travelin’ Band” (160 MSP / 200 Wii Points / $1.99)
• “Up Around the Bend” (160 MSP / 200 Wii Points / $1.99)
• “Who’ll Stop the Rain” (160 MSP / 200 Wii Points / $1.99)

*Track packs not available for purchase on Wii; all tracks sold individually.

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Listen in as Eric Bouchard and Chris Maeurer as they discuss what makes us all lose ourselves in games.

EDG Podcast Ep. #66

Music: Poets of the Fall – Lift and Locking Up the Sun

Those of us reading this article are probably not unlike myself–a listener of gaming podcasts, subscriber of gaming feeds, avid player, article reader, video game junkie.  Maybe, unlike me, you have never stopped and thought how crazy our hobby is.  I’ve heard there is no one that hates their own hobby more than gamers, and I can’t disagree.  A quick look at the venom spewing on any gaming forums proves the point, coupled with the flock of paid gaming journalists that hold our precious few “dream jobs”, in which they only find new and interesting ways to slam the games we wait months to play.  No innovation?  FAIL!  New innovation that rubs us even slightly the wrong way?  FAIL!  At times, I can’t help but think there is just a bit too much—too many games coming out, too much gaming media, too many podcasts, forums and articles to keep up with, and too much of a backlog I’ll never get too, but paid good money to watch collect dust.

Gaming Dues

Sure, E3 just passed and we got a look at some great gaming gear and titles, but the first reason you are crazy to be a gamer is the cost.  I’ll agree, the new XBOX 360 is a fantastic deal at it’s price of $299, and includes a fair bit more, but what about those launch consoles?  Upwards of $600?  Then there are peripherals.  Console gamers love to slam PC gaming because of it’s cost for new tech, but these are the same people who dropped $600 for a launch PS3, own a 360 with a $200 new hard drive to hold all their ripped games, DLC and demos all while listening to crisp, clear audio of fourteen year olds cursing them out on a sweet pair of $199.99 Earforce or $129.99 Tritton gaming headsets(and hiding a small orchestra of plastic instruments behind their couch, complete with turntable, thank you DJ Hero).  Of course, PC gaming is no cheaper to keep up with–higher res monitors, new graphics cards and costly processors and motherboards that still never seem to give us the quality we want.  Now we can factor in the $130 Playstation Move and the Microsoft Kinect, when it’s price is officially announced.  Not to mention, crisp new HD TV’s, and—the wave of the future—new and more expensive 3D TVs.  Oh, and then there are the games.  Most good games have been bumped up to $59.99 at release, even on the PC, although even the “budget” ones go for $49.99.  I remember the Playstation Greatest Hits budget titles being $19.99 for PS2, but we’ve kissed that goodbye for a $29.99 price point for those and Platinum Hits titles.  First party Nintendo titles almost never see a price drop from their $40 and $50 entry point(I’m looking at you Mario Kart and Mario Galaxy!).  Even if you only buy two games in a month, you are shelling out $120 bucks if you buy them new, and let’s admit it, most of us buy more than that(sales and used games included).  PC players have the great Steam and Direct2Drive sales and console players have Gamefly and used game markets to save a few pennies, but the cost to stay up to date can be crippling.  Do you prefer portable gaming?  How many SKU’s of Nintendo’s popular DS console do we need?  The games can’t compare to their console counterparts, but their prices don’t reflect that.  If you like the PSP, you are now plunking your hard earned greens down for digital games that you can’t even trade in or loan out to a friend.  Also encroaching on the portable market, we now have the Apple App store for your Ipad, Itouch and Iphone.  How many of us are dropping .99¢ here and $1.99 there without thinking, only to see a $60 to $80 bill at the end of the month.  In addition, many of the higher tier Iphone/Itouch games don’t sell for that cheap, they can be anywhere from $2.99 to $9.99, each.  Now think about how many of us own multiple systems, and at least an Itouch, Ipad or Iphone (and we can’t forget the Blackberry or Android phone apps and games).  Let us, also, not forget the LIVE Marketplace and Playstation Network games!  So you may only want one game for your 360 this month, but 2 great PS3 titles are coming, and there’s 5 games for your Iphone you didn’t realize would grab your attention, and two more for your DS XL(your vision isn’t what it used to be, you need that big screen).  Then, just when you thought you could fit all that into your gaming budget, a Steam, Gamefly, Amazon, Sunday Ad or Trade-in Deal or Sale comes along and blows everything out of the water.  Let’s face it, gamers need some deep, deep pockets these days!

Gaming Media

Gaming media has seen some huge ups and downs in the last few years, thanks to the innovation of widespread internet connectivity.  Print media has taken a bit of a hit, with many print publications becoming extinct.  The few that survived seem to be a monopoly, falling under one of a few umbrellas.  No one would have ever thought that EGM and Computer Games/Games for Windows Magazine would have ever fallen, but they are sadly gone.  The hole left by many print publications has been filled by us, the average gamer who spends too much time in front of a screen.  Many independent sites and podcasts have sprouted up like weeds across the internet—some forming great communities to be a part of, and some fading away as real life constraints get in the way(the nerve!!!).  Then, there are the aforementioned professional sites.  Some are well balanced, many seem to drip with sarcasm and cynicism, offering in depth looks at a cool new game that will be brutally bashed by a reviewer when it debuts.  Whether professional or independent, it seems everyone plays the same games, talks about them in articles and podcasts, and they just as quickly are never heard from again when everyone moves on to the “next big thing”. Even in the wake of E3′s media blast, the blogs, podcasts and sites are still ablaze with exclusives and glimpses of what will be “big” next.  Our own, Eric Bouchard, was lucky enough to attend E3 this year and provide most of the coverage for our site, and I do not mean to downplay the experience that must be amazing in LA at the Convention Center.  Still, I can’t help but take a step back and look at gaming media every now and again, and wonder if they have taken things too far and need to lighten up a bit.  It seems to me that the gripes and game faults have become very petty, and the slightest misstep by a developer, publisher or game causes them to be devoured by the gaming media piranhas that demand perfection.

The Stigma

So we have mortgaged our houses to pay for our gaming habits and we subscribe to a multitude of print, online and podcasting cynics.  As if that weren’t bad enough, we also have this inescapable stigma surrounding video games.  Society paints us as either overweight, grossly unhygenic 40 year olds that rarely leave behind their WoW accounts and LARPing to crawl from the dungeon in Mom’s basement to see the light of day.  Or the neanderthal, knuckle-dragging , beer-swilling jocks that only play Madden, and shooters in the offseason, and don’t have an intelligent thought to contribute to society.  Regardless of the specifics, we are always looked upon as less mature because of our choice to participate in a “childish” hobby.  In addition to the childish perception, we are frequently thought of as socially inept, spending all of our time online and not with human contact.  Those of us that call ourselves Christians, and are active in our churches seem to get some extra looks down the nose from our peers.  Even if we feel the stigma is not an accurate label, there is a portion of it that we take on as a health risk.  The stigma that gamers are usually sleep deprived and could have better diets is not one that we can dispute-especially as I sit here writing this article at 4am slurping the last of my Wendy’s soda that accompanied my fast food meal.  Am I the only one that thinks a late night gaming session is not complete without a sugar-packed beverage and salty snack within arms reach?  I certainly doubt it, and we are lucky if it is limited to that and doesn’t include a Hot Pocket or microwave pizza/mozzarella stick/burrito for a twist.  If I am then I am hard-pressed to explain the Mountain Dew, Taco Bell, Burger King and Monster video game endorsements!  I guess it’s the bitterness of this stigma coupled with our lack of sleep and poor diet that, then, makes us turn on each other.  We even label each other–either we are ‘lite or noobs.  Heaven forbid you are using the noob tube, spawn camping or focusing too heavily on unlocking perks, you will be black-balled from the servers!   Play with a stranger in a 2V2 Starcraft game, and you will know if you aren’t on top of your game.  I won’t even touch the inaccessibility in the MMO space.  We kick each other out of games online and then gripe about being labeled by society.  Just look at the barrier for entry in many multiplayer communities, Counter-Strike, Starcraft and even Modern Warfare.  We deal with a stigma from our peers and non-gaming friends and relatives, and then throw them at each other within gaming communities.  Am I the only one that thinks this is a little silly?

For The Love Of The Game

By now you must think I have come to a point where I hate gaming and will announce that I am leaving the site disgusted.  This couldn’t be further from the truth, I just think there is a balance to be found.  Many times, I find myself on overload by the nit-picking or just sheer impossibility and cost of keeping up with new releases and technology, new podcast episodes, previews, reviews and articles.  All too often we get caught up in these communities, trying to stay up to date, and we forget that we play games because we enjoy it.  Especially those of us that are involved in independent podcasting and websites—we put stress on ourselves to have new games and content to cover for our readers and listeners, and somewhere along the way we lose the fun.  However, that is a strain I felt way before I chose to get involved here at EDG, it’s a natural stress we place on ourselves when we are listening to podcasts and reading the latest blogs and magazine–we feel as if we are always missing out on something.  I don’t know about you, but I remember belonging to the demographic of gamers that buys games for it’s snappy boxart off a Wal-Mart shelf, not because Justin McElroy and Brian Crecente went ga-ga over it.  We seem to forget that the core gamers only make up a small percentage of gamers, and that the vast majority of the ones that drive the NPD numbers where Barbie Horse Adventures and Mario Kart are king, have proabably never read a review in their lives and may not know how to find them.  Call me crazy, but it seems to me that all we are doing is making our hobby more inaccessible by making the barrier for entry greater for other potential gamers.  I would think we could attempt to appeal to them a little more with innovative ways, one of which not being immature, motion-controlled games.  By nature, I am a person that does not try to get all the newest games, nothing pleases me more than picking up a $10 budget game that I enjoy thoroughly.  I recently got my hands on the Game Of The Year Deluxe Edition of Oblivion, including all the paid DLC for a mere $8.50, and Dead Space for $9.99.  I don’t care that those are old games, and the communities are not talking about them, they are a win in my book.  There are new releases that I will flag as “Day One Confirmed”, but I am not above biding my time for a fourth and fifth price drop or a Game Of The Year Bundle, before I make my purchase.  I am not writing this article to bash gaming or gaming media, what I am saying is that we need to keep it at arms length, and balance our own gaming with what we enjoy—-lest we forget that enjoyment is what brought us here in the first place.

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Hulu Plus May Cost More Than You Think On The PS3

Rumors have been circulating around the internet about Hulu Plus only working on the PS3 if you subscribe to Sony’s new Playstation Plus, according to a write up by Technologizer.

This may not seem that big a deal to people who plan on being a Playstation Plus member. But for those not interested in the service may not want to cancel there cable just yet.  Again these are just rumors at the moment but I would not put it past Sony to do something like this.

Source

It Can Only End One Way For The Mob

The great minds behind Mafia 2 originally wanted to make the game with multiple endings depending on the players choices.  Now Illusion Softworks have scrapped that idea to make one “great” ending to give you the best possible experience.

Here is the official word from senior producer Denby Grace

We had four multiple endings at one point in the game, and then we looked at it and we had one really outstanding, great ending to our story.  We worked on these things and we have our players that focus test and we found that people were just replaying and ultimately only felt satisfied when they got to the one great ending. We just said, ‘You know what? Let’s just ditch these other endings, this is the ending everyone wants.

It seems that they truly know what the gamers want, I know personally I cannot wait for this title.

Mafia 2 will be robbing the stores August 24th for the PC, Xbox 360, and PS3.

Source

Final Fantasy XIV Gets PC Release Date

Today Final Fantasy XIV received a release date on the PC which will be September 30th.    The game will cost the standard 50$ price tag with a collectors edition at $75.  For the Final Fantasy die hards out there who pick up the collector’s edition, will be greeted with a voucher that comes in the box which will allow them to the access the game 8 days earlier before everyone else.

Below is a list of items that will also be included in the CE of FFXIV

A behind the scenes DVD with the obligatory documentary on the making of the game.
–A travel journal with concept art pages in which players can document their in-game wanderings.
–An in-game item called the “Onion Helm.”
–A fully personalized “Right of Passage” certificate.
–Special cover illustrated by artist Yoshitaka Amano.
–A FFXIV-branded security token for use with regular password.

Let us know what version of the game you are deciding to pick up in the comments section below.

In today’s Daily Bits, Hulu finally made official, PlayStation plus launches and a little something for you Lightcycle fans.

Hulu Plus coming to Xbox Live and PSN

It is finally official: Hulu has announced a partnership with both Xbox Live and PSN to bring Hulu Plus to the consoles. Hulu Plus is a $10 a month subscription service that gives you access to full seasons of series from many different networks instead of just the most recent episodes. The PSN version is due out in July sometime, while the Xbox Live one, which will only be available to Gold members and will have “added features” taking advantage of the live community (according to Microsoft) is due in 2011.

So I have already cut my ties with cable TV, and now I am wondering if Hulu Plus will convince others to do the same. Cable companies might have to actually get competitive to stay alive.

Source

PlayStation Plus is Live

For those of you who do not already know, PlayStation Plus, Sony’s answer to Xbox Live, is now available for PS3 owners. The new firmware update that just rolled out brought that added functionality, along with a PS3 Facebook app and a video editor among other things. PlayStation plus costs $18 for 3 months or $50 for a year (you get a bonus 3 months if you sign up now), and it includes added features like free Qore episodes, extended demos, free games that remain free as long as you have a subscription and the ability to set things to automatically download on the PS3.

I believe I have made my feelings about PlayStaion Plus very clear. I will not be paying for it.

Source

A Real Lightcycle?

Are you a major fan of Tron? Can you not wait for the new movie? Do you have $35,000 dollars lying around? If so, you can really show your love of the movie by purchasing a real life, street legal Lightcycle.

Parker Brothers Choppers of Melbourne, FL is creating 5 custom bikes based on the new Lightcyles. These babies will be sold on Ebay for $35,000, and they will include that neon glow that will make them seem just like the ones in the movie, crash inducing glowing wall emanating from the rear wheel not included.

While I in no way have this kind of money to spend and realistically would not buy one even if I did, I would be less than honest if I didn’t mention it would be a little tempting.

Source

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Have you ever played a game that used your own MP3′s?  Have you ever wanted to hearken back to Asteroids form the Atari?  Did you enjoy Audiosurf, but couldn’t help thinking if there was a better way to “play” your music?  Have you ever muted Geometry Wars in favor of your own tunes?  If you answered yes to any of those, then I implore you to take Beat Hazard for a spin, you won’t regret it—you can find it on Steam or Direct2Drive on PC, or the XBOX LIVE Indie games section!

Can you find your ship in this mess? CAPTAIN, WE NEED MOOORE POWERRRRR!

The Gameplay

Beat Hazard, by Cold Beam Games, is a twin stick shooter that creates enemies and illumination based on the music you put into it.  You control your spaceship with the left analog stick and aim your blasts with the right stick.  Unlike Asteroids, there are a lot more ships that fire back and a lot bigger and badder ships for you to take down.  The game creates waves of enemies and lighting effects based on the MP3′s playing in the background, so theoretically, no two games will be reproduced.  The more the bass thumps, the more your weapons fir and the atmosphere around you glitters in response to the music.  Some games have more asteroids then enemies, some games have an unending wave of “boss” ships that far outsize and outgun you-all based on the rhythm and beats of the song you choose.  Your task is simple—don’t die before the song ends.  You start with 3 lives and 2 superbombs to help get you out of jams, and the frenzied gameplay begins.  While killing enemies, you can find powerups to raise your score multiplier or ones that will increase your weapon and song volume strength—boost the volume and your weapons to maximum to become a Beat-Hazard, and score the most points for as long as that life lasts.  You also get score multiplier boosts for Surviving for increments of 30 seconds, or not firing for short periods and earning a ‘Daredevil’ bonus.  At the onset, you start with the song volume and your weapons at minimum, but game progression will allow you to unlock better bonuses for the start–eventually allowing you to start off a song at Beat-Hazard capacity.  Difficulty levels range from ‘Easy’ to ‘Insane’, with the last two levels not unlocked until you complete some substantial tasks in the other levels.  You can choose to play in a Single Player single song round, a Survival mode–in which you pick the starting song and the playlists will continue for as many songs as you can survive–or you can play a ‘Chill Out Mode’, where you just relax and play along to the music with infinite lives(similar to survival, but without throwing the kitchen sink at you).  If that’s not enough, you can try out the games two player modes – Head to Head and Co-Op.  The game features 25 Achievements, Leaderboards and included music for you to try out, although it won’t be long before you are scouring your MP3 collection and throwing them all at Beat-Hazard to try out.  Beat-Hazard also supports XBOX 360 gamepads, which, in my opinion, are much easier to control the game with.

The Verdict

I know that the gameplay sounds simple, and the game like a one-trick-pony, but I’m telling you this is next-gen Tetris gold that Cold Beam Games has struck.  I find myself using Beat-Hazard as a go-to game for anytime I just want to relax.  I can very easily challenge myself to try and last through a multitude of songs on the higher difficulties, or just mellow out and playthrough an album or playlist with the Chill Out Mode.  It’s one of those games that sucks you in to the “one more song” mentality, as you watch 4 hours drift away in the blink of an eye.  Even better, this is a game that I can enjoy with the kids in either Co-Op or Head to Head.  I can’t recommend the game highly enough, it’s well worth the ten dollars you will spend on it, especially if you have a significant other or children that game with you.  One caveat I will throw out there, if you do want to enjoy the PC version, I would certainly recommend getting at least one XBOX 360 gamepad to use with the two player settings(maybe even two, if neither of you are comfortable with the PC controls).  Forget air guitar, this is truly the way to play your music!

Anyone who looks at my top games of all time will see Fable II sits rather prominently on that list. When I did my “30 Reviews in 30 Days,” I had mentioned I might even consider it my favorite game of all time, though it may have been supplanted by Mass Effect 2. While the game was almost unanimously praised by critics, there was one part of it many felt was a let down: the ending.

So just what was it about the ending of Fable II that left people feeling less than fulfilled? We explore that topic in this edition of “Good Grief; Bad Endings.”

Spoiler Alert: If you have not beaten Fable II and do not want the ending ruined, do not read any further.

The Heroes Assemble

Much of Fable II is spent gathering the three heroes representing the three main skill trees in the game: strength, skill and will. While trying to recruit Reaver, you are attacked by Lucien’s men. This leads to a showdown with a Great Shard, with you, Garth, Hammer and Reaver fighting to take it down. Once the battle is complete, Theresa arrives and teleports the four of you to the plateau outside the ruins of the Hero Academy to start the ritual that will bring an end to all of this. She directs each hero to stand on the the symbol representing their abilities and leads you to the middle. As the  ritual begins, energy starts to drain from each hero, being drawn to you in the center. As a gamers, you start to anticipate an epic showdown with Lucien.

Remember how hard it was to recruite Gath? Apparently he was not really needed.

That is until he arrives in the middle of the ritual.

With all of you stuck in the ritual, you cannot fight against Lucien. He informs you  he plans on using the power of the heroes to unlock the Spire’s full potential, allowing him to create a new world while destroying this one. The only thing left to do is finish what he started so many years ago. You stand helpless as he aims his gun right at you and pulls the trigger.

The shot never connects. Your dog, faithful to the end, jumps in the way of the shot, sacrificing himself to save you. Lucien dismisses the sacrifice as futile and pulls the trigger once more. The world goes dark, but Theresa’s voice calls out in the darkness, advising you that death is not your destiny. As light returns to the world, you find yourself…

On a farm?

The Perfect Day?

You are a kid again. You and your sister Rose are on your parent’s farm, and Rose has some tasks to keep you occupied. Bugs are getting into the crops, the chickens have escaped from the roost and Rose has set up some bottles for you to shoot. Rose and you seem truly happy, getting to experience the family life you did not have. All that is missing is your parents, who Rose promises will be returning soon.

As you complete the tasks, the sun starts to set. You join Rose inside the farm and get ready for a good night’s sleep…

But something is not right.

You are awakened in the middle of the night by something in the woods just past the farm land itself. Though Rose warns you not to go, you find you must. As you get closer to whatever it is, Rose’s warnings become more insistent, until her pleas turn to screams. You run back towards the farm, only to find a destruction in your wake. In the middle of the wreckage, you find the music box that started your entire adventure. Next thing you know, you are standing in darkness, slowly aging as you hear the voices of the characters you have met throughout the game recapping key events. Then Rose’s voice states you have passed the test and are now ready to face Lucien.

Who would have thought the great Lord Lucien would be defeated byt a music box?

You find yourself in the Spire. Racing up the steps, you get to the main area just in time to catch Lucien starting his own ritual, only his was designed to destroy the world, not save it. Physical attacks, ranged attacks and magic can do nothing to him. Your only chance lies in what you brought back from the farm with you: the music box. You hold in in front of you, activating the music and draining the magic from Lucien. Not willing to give up, Lucien starts to rattle on about how he will rewrite the world, until Reaver shoots him, sending him falling to his death.

So there you have it. You have spent the entire game gathering the heroes that represent each of the skills within the world. You have fought numerous enemies both human and otherwise, lost years of your life being a jailer and, if you chose the good path, been scarred for life to protect someone else. You have suffered, lost your family if you had one and your dog. You have spent the entire game trying to pull together the pieces you need to gain the ultimate weapon to defeat Lucien, and in the end all you needed was a music box.

That’s right. In the end, it’s a music box that brings Lucien down. Could they have found a lamer weapon? The biggest villain in the game, someone who wants to destroy the world, and you take him down with a music box. This is just a huge let down.

Or is it?

For you see, though many people had issues with the ending of this game, I did not. In a rather interesting new twist to the Good Grief series, I am actually going to argue why Lionhead chose to end the game this way.

Things Come Full Circle

So why do I think the ending for Fable II works? Two reasons. The first is it brings the story full circle, as the music box is how it started.

Fable II starts off with you and your sister doing different tasks to earn enough money to buy that very music box. The music box has magic properties, and it is the activation is what catches Lucien’s attention and leads to the death of your sister. So the music box gets things started, and it is only fitting that what drew Lucien to you ends up being his undoing.

Not convinced that the ending works? Then maybe maybe we need to look at what separates Fable II from other games.

It’s All About Choice

It is easy to see why so many people got caught up in Fable II. The story was strong, the gameplay was excellent and there was just something about the dog that kept me coming back. Still, even though these were all interesting, one thing really set the game apart: the choices.

More than any other game I had played to that point, Fable II was all about the choices you make. Throughout the game, you are presented with many different choices, and there is no denying the fact that what you choose to do has an impact on the world around you. Meet up with the right person, lend him some money, and Westcliff will be rebuilt from the ruins. Try to earn Reaver’s trust, take the noble path, and find yourself scarred for life, with people reacting to the disfigurement no matter how beloved you are. Heck, even at the start of the game, the choices you make as a child in Bowerstone determine whether Old Town becomes a place where law abiding citizens can roam freely or a place run by organized crime. The choices you make shape the world around you in a way most games never even attempt.

So I chose my dog over the people, and I felt horrible for it.

So, in a game that focuses so much on choices, should it really surprise us that the ending leaves you with a choice? After you defeat Lucian, Teresa reappears, and she gives you three choices:

1. The Needs of the Many: You can choose to have everyone resurrected who was killed in the building of the spire. This obviously is the noble choice, and as such, it comes with a price; you may be able to bring everyone else back, but your family and dog remain dead.
2. The Needs of the Few: You can choose to have your family and dog brought back to life. An understandable choice to be sure, but everyone will know you had the chance to bring back many more people and chose to bring back your loved ones instead.
3. The Needs of the One: You can choose to receive enough money to pretty much buy everything in Albion. This is obviously meant to be the evil choice, with you being the only one who benefits.

So why does this matter? After all, you just beat the game. Well, there are some quests that do not even unlock or cannot be completed till after you beat it, and the choice you make will affect this.To give you an idea of just how good a job the game designers did when it came to making you think through your choices, I ended up choosing “The Needs of the Few” purely from a gameplay standpoint as I had a quest to complete that required my dog to be alive, and I felt like a jerk for not choosing “The Needs of the Many.” Funny thing is, I am certain that if I had chosen to rescue everyone else, I would have missed my family and dog.

As I mentioned before, many people do not like the ending to Fable II. It was despised so much that the first downloadable content, “Knothole Island,” gave you the ability to resurect your dog if you had chosen not to bring him back. To me, this actually hurt the game, as it removed part of the weight behind that final choice you had to make.

So there you have it. While many feel that the ending of Fable II deserves to be the target of a Good Grief article, I disagree. In the end, however, it is up to you to decide in which camp you reside.

New Releases

Tuesday 6/29

• All Points Bulliten – $49.99 – The MMO is finally here!
• ARMA II : Operation Arrowhead – $39.99 Stand-alone Expansion
• Fallen Earth : Blood Sports – $29.99 – Basically, a retail version of the MMO with the newly patched Blood Sports content
• LEGO Harry Potter : Years 1-4 – $29.99
• Singularity – $49.99 – Yes, it’s dropping with no PR, could that be bad?
• Sniper : Ghost Warrior – $29.99

News Bytes

Newer Digital Distribution site, Beamdog, has added an MDK2 HD remix into it’s releases, with a Wii release also scheduled soon. MDK was a classic Bioware PC franchise, unlike much seen at that time-or now, for that matter.  The player was an alien sniper/assassin, and the games pushed the limits of what shooters did at that time frame, it’s a great pickup, and even better to hear it’s getting the HD treatment, not sure I can recommend the WiiWare version, depending on the controls.  Sorry fanboys, the game was a PC title, originally, I would still recommend it for PC since Beamdog looks very promising and it’s a steal at $9.99.

China has been know as an MMO paradise, but new regulations may be changing that image. New regulations are cracking down hard on what minors are allowed to be exposed to, but also curious is a new rule not allowing them to take part in microtransactions.  Also limiting microtransactions is another new law that states in-game items cannot be sold for actual money any longer, but must only be paid for by some type of in-game currency.  I had thought the free MMO supported by in game transactions was a staple in China, but I guess that model is being frowned upon from this point on.  I’d be curious to see how this affects the flood of free MMO’s in that region-will they start charging monthly fees or be forced out by these laws?  Guess it doesn’t matter if you are ‘For The Horde’ or ‘For The Alliance’, as long as you are in China, you best not sell those characters and gear you worked so hard to find, for real cash!

More interesting news for online gamers, Starcraft II will have limited LAN access? Apparently, Blizzard has said they will patch the game after launch to allow LAN play for tournament purposes.  Pardon me if I don’t Zerg rush to praise them for this.  They have only stated that this will allow LAN support for tournaments, not for personal use, and it’s a paltry substitution, if I may say so.  Sure it’s good news for the hardcore Starcraft competitors, but it’s not going to allow the viral success of the first game’s multiplayer respawn feature.  Don’t get me wrong, I am anxiously awaiting the single-player game, but am still very upset at the functionality being stripped from the game.  I still need to be convinced that Blizzard is not cutting their thorax off to spite their hive with this move.

If MDK coming back didn’t grab you, how about a walk in the fantasy realm of King’s Quest? Thankfully, Activision has backed down from blocking the publishing of the Phoenix Online Studio’s project, taking player’s back to the King’s Quest realm with episodic content. Originally, the project was on hiatus, thanks to a cease and desist order from Activision, the current license holder.  In a welcome change of events, Activision has rescinded that order and the project is back up, full throttle.  The first episode, The Silver Lining, will be out July 10th, no details on following episodes yet.  So far the screenshots look pretty promising, making this one to watch for the summer.  Definitely keep your eyes here for more news with this game, I am very much looking forward to seeing how POS handles the franchise, and until then visit their site here for more details!

Been out of Counter-Strike for a while? It might be time to come back with the new revamp from the latest Counter-Strike : Source update, already out.  I’ve heard this update touted as making a new game completely obsolete with all the new features brought to the table.  The update adds 144 achievements, a wealth of stat-tracking features, not available before scoreboard and death camera features and that’s just the cosmetic add-ons!  The game has been truly revamped and brought into graphics and Source engine updates that were much needed, go boot it up, get your gear and start fragging to see for yourself!

Deals

I can’t list all of the deals here, mostly because the majority of them are changing daily, but Steam is having a HUGE July 4th sale that will host daily deals from now until the 4th.  One of the most tempting is a THQ Complete Pack for only $49.99—which includes all of the THQ strategy greats, with Dawn of Warr II AND Chaos Rising, along with all 3 COH games, Metro 2033, all 3 Red Faction games, and a ton more.  All for only $49.99, talk about a steal!  Just about every developer on Steam has their games discounted, go check the deals out daily at the homepage here.

Geared Up

Well, there’s bittersweet news for Tron fans out there that were left revving their lightcycles at the sight of some new Tron peripherals.  We have heard that the console controllers for 360, Wii and PS3 were purely show pieces for E3, but one can imagine someone must be thinking about actually manufacturing them after all of the post-E3 interest in them and the media attention they got.  However, on a positive note, PC gamers can rejoice at the announcement that Razer, featured last week here for their Starcraft II PC peripherals, will be making a Tron:Legacy themed gaming mouse and keyboard.  Not many details have come out, I will keep you posted with more, but for now, bask at the pictures below!

A taste of Tron on the consoles

Check out the cool font on the keys. Looks pretty sweet!

Sleek and stylish, like a lightcycle!

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Hold Off The Zombie Horde Until Late September

Zombie killing fiends will have to wait until late September to play Dead Rising 2, as the game was delayed today by Capcom.  No specific reason was mentioned other than Capcom stating, “We are happy to confirm today that Dead Rising 2 is set for release across North America on September 28th, 2010″.

It is undetermined whether or not this will affect the Xbox 360 downloadable prologue “Case Zero”.

Dead Rising 2 will be released on the PC, Xbox 360, and the PS3 on September 28th in North America and October 1st in Euroupe.

Source

Red Faction Downloadable Game To Hit Before Armageddon

THQ’s VP of core games Danny Bilson said to expect a Red Faction Downloadable title due for the XBLA and PSN release 3-4 months before Armageddon hits store shelves in March.

There’s going to be a Red Faction Arcade game that ships about three or four months before Armageddon. “What’s interesting is that we will sell it to the fans, it will have content you can download that is TV show-related, it will build up to the new game and also we can use it to drive pre-orders, too; we can give codes and aspects of it, we can give the whole thing away.”

Bilson also says to expect the same treatment for other upcoming titles like Saints Row 2 and a couple of others.

Source

Sony Planning To Release More PS2 HD Collections

With the popularity of the God Of War Collection, Sony has revealed that they are in fact looking into other PS2 titles to give an HD makeover. As we already know from E3, The Sly Collection is already in the works, and both Ico and the Shadow of the Colossus has been rumored for quite some time now for a possible release in Q1 of 2011.

It’s nice to see Sony working on HD versions for some of the classic games from the PS2 era, especially if you have a PS3 that’s not backward compatible.

Source

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Guitar Hero Queen Coming In 2011?

Swedish website DN.se recently spoke with Queen guitarist Brian May, to talk about the ‘We Will Rock You’ Musical.  What is even more interesting though is his possible slip up regarding a Queen Guitar Hero that could be in the works for a 2011 release.

May commented by saying ” We have invented a way for the players to participate in our concerts” but said he can’t say anything else about it.

As of right now there has been no word from Activision regarding the recent news.  True or not we will just have to wait and see.

Source

Street Fighter 4 FightStick Priced At $99

Today only on Amazons ‘Deal of the day‘ you can pick up the Street Fighter 4 Fightstick for the Xbox 360 and PS3 at only $99 compared to its normal price of $150.

You many want to take a few minutes away from your job this afternoon to make sure you get one before they all sell out.  Your boss will understand.

Source

Next Weeks Rock Band DLC Is…Nickelback?

Have you been just absolutely dying to play some Nickelback songs on Rock Band? I didn’t think so, but in case you have, your in luck because that is what Harmonix will be releasing next week as there next weekly downloadable content.  The six tracks that have been chosen are:

• Nickelback – “Burn It to the Ground”
• Nickelback – “Figured You Out”
• Nickelback – “Never Again”
• Nickelback – “Photograph”
• Nickelback – “Rockstar”
• Nickelback – “This Afternoon”

You can buy the entire six pack for $9.99 on the Xbox 360 and PS3.  If your not feeling so Nickelbackish then you can purchase each by individual track for $1.99 on the Xbox 360, PS3, and the Wii.

Source

Kinect Playable At Microsoft Store Today

If you cannot wait until November 4th to try out Kinect, then you can take a trip over to the Microsoft store today and jump around like a fool in public.  Only problem is that its only in four locations.  If you happen to live near Scottsdale, Arizona, Mission Viejo California, San Diego California or Lone Tree, Colorado then hop in there and give it a try.  If not, well then your just going to have to wait like the rest of us.

Source

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

First 360, now PS3? Hulu Rumors abound

On the heels of rumors that Hulu is negotiating a subscription service with Microsoft to appear on the 360, Bloomberg reports Sony may be in the midst of negotiating a similar deal for the PS3. So what does this mean? Hopefully Hulu will come to at least one of the two consoles, and if we are lucky, maybe both.

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Activision is not Moved to Kinect

With Microsoft and Sony practically falling all over themselves to show off their new motion controllers at E3, one major publisher was noticeably absent on the Move/Kinect love: Activision. Granted, the publisher has a very minor presence at E3 in general, but there was not even a hint of motion controlled action for Call of Duty or any of their other franchises. The reason? Turns out Activision is not overly thrilled with the price/potential price of the devices and worries it could affect the install base.

So is this a case of the big evil developing a consience or just looking out for their own interests? We’ll leave it to you to decide.

Source

Dance Central may be dancing onto another platform

Remember Dance Central, the revolutionary dance game coming to the 360 and Kinect? According to Harmonix’s Alex Rigopulos, it may not be exclusive to the Xbox. Sounds like PS3 owners may get to get their groove on with the Move.

While this may be good news for those who want to play and do not own 360s, having seen the game live at E3, I cannot see it being nearly as good without the fully body motion sensing of Kinect.

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Steam wants to protect you from Sharks by offering Great Big Sales

We all love a good Steam sale. Well, get ready to go crazy. Steam’s “Perils of Summer” sale started today and runs through July 4th. New games will be on sale each day, so check back in to catch the incredible deals.

http://everydaygamers.com/videos/Crackdown%202%20Demo%20Walk%20Through.mp4

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

OnLive Unveils Launch Titles, Includes Pricing

OnLive has listed there launch titles for there upcoming service which also shows pricing options on 3 and 5 day “rental” passes on some titles.

OnLive Launch Titles

• AaaaaAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaAAAAA!!! — A Reckless Disregard for Gravity — demo / $9.99 (full)
• Assassin’s Creed 2 — demo / $39.99 (full)
• Batman: Arkham Asylum — demo / $4.99 (3 days) / $6.99 (5 days)
• Borderlands — demo / $29.99 (full) / $5.99 (3 days) / $8.99 (5 days)
• Brain Challenge — demo / $4.99 (full)
• Dirt 2 — demo only
• Defense Grid Gold — demo / $13.99 (full) / $6.99 (5 days)
• F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin — demo / $19.99 (full)
• Just Cause 2 — demo / $49.99 (full)
• LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 — demo only
• Madballs in Babo: Invasion — demo / $9.99 (full)
• Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands — $49.99 (full)
• Puzzle Chronicles — demo / $9.99 (full) / $3.99 (3 days)
• Red Faction: Guerrilla — demo / $19.99 (full)
• Shatter — demo / $8.99 (full)
• Splinter Cell: Conviction — demo / $59.99 (full)
• Trine — demo only
• Unreal Tournament III: Titan Pack — demo / $19.99 (full) / $4.99 (3 days) / $6.99 (5 days)
• World of Goo — demo / $19.99 (full) / $4.99 (3 days) / $6.99 (5 days)

Source

Happy 19th Birthday Sonic!

Sega is celebrating  Sonic’s birthday by saving us money, which is never a bad thing.  A handful of Sonic titles will be discounted for the XBLA, PSN, and even the IPhone this Thursday.  What not a better way to celebrate! The full list of games that are discounted are below.

-Sonic The Hedgehog, Sonic The Hedgehog 2, Sonic The Hedgehog 3, Sonic & Knuckles- 240 Microsoft Points (3$ on PSN) (Thursday Only)

-Sonic Rivals (PSP) 10.99

-Sonic Rivals 2 (PSP) 13.99 or both games for $17.99  (Offer good until July 6th)

-Discounted DLC for Sonic’s All Star Racing, Sonic Unleashed, and Sonic The Hedgehog 1.

Sega is also having a sale on other titles, even though they have nothing to do with Sonic.

-Streets of Rage & Golden Axe for $99 cents. (IPhone)

-Super Monkey Ball 2 ($2.99) IPhone.  IPad Version-$4.99

Source

Bad Company 2 ‘Onslaught’ Mode Hits XBL Tomorrow

The delayed Onslaught mode for Bad Company 2 on the 360 will come to Xbox Live tomorrow.  As already stated, the pack will run you 800 Microsoft Points.

Source

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

DLC Galore:

Today is the day for DLC. Red Dead Redemption’s free “Outlaws to the End” is out on both Live and PSN, Just Cause has added its own free take on the Tuk Tuk, and PSN players get both Battlefield: Bad Company 2′s “Onslaught” and MAG’s “Interdiction” (the 360 version of “Onslaught has” been delayed).

Old 360s selling at discount prices

With the release of the new Xbox 360, many retailers have started discounting their older units. Amazon and Best Buy have both lowered the price of their Arcade units to $150 and their Elites to $250, so if you are thinking of getting a system, you may want to consider buying one of these.

Personally, I would hold out a bit longer. Microsoft has confirmed they will be announcing a $199 model of the new system, and if that one has a built in hard drive, you can expect these prices to drop even further.

Source

Prince of Persia is highest grossing video game movie of all time

While Prince of Persia has received a lukewarm reception in the US, only pulling in $80 in domestic ticket sales, the movie has been extremely well received elsewhere. Worldwide earnings of $293 million have helped the movie edge out the original Tomb Raider, which earned $274 million.

As someone who has seen both films, I am glad to see Prince of Persia topple Tomb Raider. It is a much better film.

Source

New 360 shuts down before RROD

So we have all heard the new 360 is Red Ring of Death proof. How can Microsoft promise this? Apparently, the new 360 will shut itself off if the ventilation is blocked enough that it could overheat. This kind of shut off makes sense for a system that has had serious heat problems. The question is will this become a more serious issue as games continue to push the console.

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Live finally has a family plan

If you have a family all playing games on Xbox Live, that can get quite expensive. Microsoft is finally doing something about this. Starting in November, families will be able to purchase a 4 player Xbox Live Family Plan for $99. Not only is this half the price of 4 individual live subscriptions, but it includes a family center where parents can limit what games their kids are allowed to take online.

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Kinect Rumors abound

In a day full of 360 news, the Microsoft store is now listing Kinect at $150. While many other retail sites have done the same, the fact this is on the MS site may mean it will be the final price for the device. Microsoft has stated over Twitter that the price has not been announced yet, so it is still possible this will not stand, but with a source within Microsoft allegedly listing the cost of the motion camera at $150, this is looking like a distinct possibility.

I hope this is not the final price. If it is, I will not be buying it.

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Thought Jellyvision was done? You Don’t Know Jack

It appears rumors of the death of Jellyvision’s popular trivia title may have been exaggerated. The company is working with THQ to bring You Don’t Know Jack to new light. While it is unknown whether this will be a re-release of the older titles in downloadable form or a brand new game, it is good news for those of us who have grown up with this king of all trivia games.

So now all those pretenders can get out of the way and let the true champion return.

Source

Hey all!  E3 is over, and all of the goodies are out there.  As usual, the PC has a dismal appearance-worst was no news on the Games for Windows LIVE initiative.  Fallout New Vegas and other games have said they will not use the service, and with all of the leaps and bounds in XBOX LIVE, we hear nothing and see no innovation for it’s PC service, which should easily rival it’s console counterpart.  I won’t rehash all of the E3 news, but there are a couple stories I wanted to mention and some gear to share, so let’s boot up!

New Releases

Tuesday 6/22 – Transformers : War for Cybertron $39.99

News Bytes

More details have leaked about Telltale’s adaptations of the Jurassic Park and Back To The Future franchises. Naysayers have been skeptical since the announcement of Jurassic Park being added to the Telltale lineup, but recent interviews assure that the company is looking to steer away from a Sam & Max style humorous approach.  Telltale says they will do neither an action oriented game or solely an adventure based one, but rather blend elements of the two for a cinematic experience.  They understand that the characters will not be able to go toe to toe with many of the dinosaurs, but do not want to lose the edge-of-your-seat adrenaline rush and tension the movies conveyed.  Given some of the differences of the franchises they currently produce, I would say it’s a safe bet these will be great games-for both new IP’s.  Moreover, they may be the first series from Telltale that I subscribe to, since, as of yet, I have not taken the plunge.

Speaking of revisiting franchises, who would like to see You Don’t Know Jack! return? If you said yes, your prayers are answered.  You Don’t Know Jack! was an awesome PC trivia series from a while back, and show host Cookie announced that Jellyvision and THQ are bringing the game back, finally!  Cookie made the announcement on the Bombcast, E3 2010 Episode 2 intro.  Unfortunately, no further details were leaked and there is no news if consoles will see the game, but just the announcement of it’s return—with Cookie intact, makes me a happy man.

Last, but not least, we have confirmation of a PC port of Hydrophobia. The game, being released with an exclusive window, on XBOX LIVE, has been confirmed by Dark Energy Digital, the game’s developer.  Exactly how much later the port will flow onto PSN and PC, we do not know, but I will be happy with the confirmation, for now.  Hydrophobia is attempting to rain down on XBL by the end of the summer.

Geared Up

Any fans of the site, and the two people who read ‘The Weekly Byte’, will know that I am anxiously awaiting the release of Starcraft II, this July.  Razer, makers of elite gaming gear, have chosen E3 to show off there new, Starcraft II optimized peripherals.  They are releasing the Spectre SCII mouse, the Marauder SCII keyboard and the Basnhee SCII headset.  All three are optimized with a new, programmable, APM lighting system, that provides in game feedback to any of the three peripherals.  APM stands for actions per minute.  Razer tells us that novice gamers produce 40-60 APM, while the pros level off at between 100-150.  Each peripheral features LED’s that the user can customize to not only provide APM feedback, but also customize to flash different colors to correspond to in-game events, such as a base under attack or a unit/structure production being complete.  How you will differentiate between APM feedback and in-game event feedback is not totally clear, but it sounds like an interesting idea.  Also unclear is whether or not this feature will be backwards compatible with other games, or compatible with future games not within the Starcraft franchise.  Gimmick or not, Razer is known for their solid peripherals, and all three of these seem to be well priced for anyone needing a peripheral upgrade, even if the APM system will go largely unused.

This is the Razer Spectre. It's a 5600 DPI, ultrapolling, 5-button mouse, with the above-mentioned APM technology. It also features button force customization, to allow adjustment for harder/softer click response and a gold plated, 7 foot braided USB cable. The Spectre retails for $79.99.

Here is the Razer Marauder, featuring a similar aesthetic to the Spectre, also with the new APM technology. It also features on the fly macro recording, featuring up to ten profiles, and optimized, elevated keys for more ease of use when focused on the incoming Zerg rush. The Marauder retails for $119.99.

Here's the Banshee headset, also featuring the sleek design and APM technology. It also has a detachable boom mic, soft and comfy circumaurul earcups and 7 foot braided USB cable.

We’ve been waiting a very long time for Alan Wake. Heralded as a corner stone of Microsoft’s original IP, Alan Wake has appeared and reappeared on the radar of gamers so many times that most didn’t believe when a firm release date was set. Well rest your weary heads because Alan Wake has been released to the public and we can all finally experience was Remedy studios have been crafting all these years. It’s not hard to understand that the makers of Max Payne had a lot of freedom and time to create this game, but did they deliver? Is Alan Wake’s glory written in the stars, or is it scribbled among the failures of history?

Taking a break from the regular routine is a method Alan and his Wife plan to use in an attempt to break Alan’s mental writers block. They arrive at Bright Falls via boat and before they even land, things begin to get a little odd. Bright Falls is a mysterious place to say the least. It’s a small place country town, but even small country towns have heard of a famous writer the likes of Wake. Even here he can’t escape admiration and questions from the prying public. Things go from bad to worse as Alan’s life is turned upside down by dark forces he can’t escape or understand. The darkness consumes him and forces him down a path of destruction as Wake tries to free himself and his wife from it’s grip. I won’t go into much detail, because this is a story you really have to experience for yourself.

Mechanically speaking..

Technically the game is a third person shooter with some problem solving sequences. Once you dig a little deeper you can find much more just under the surface. It’s about resource management and knowing when to fight…and when to turn and run. It’s about character development and trying to dig deep into the motivations behind peoples actions and feelings. Through understanding it soon becomes clear that combining light and fire power is the only way to defeat these enemies. Flashlights and shotguns make an excellent combination when fighting “the darkness”. However; carelessly wasting your supplies can put you in hot water in a bad way. Shine your light upon your enemies to destroy their “shields of darkness” before shooting at the fragile flesh below.  Flares and flash bangs are great for taking out enemies, but only use them when you absolutely have no choice. Tactics like this help give the game some depth and keep you constantly in a state of uncertainty at what is next.

Unfortunately the visuals don’t always impress. The lighting borders on photo realism sometimes, but the textures and models leave something to be desired. Occasionally the camera will zoom in on an object in a room and the results may cause slight cringing. The facial animation is also extremely weak at times. Up and down are not the only ways the human mouth moves, no matter what you see in this game.

A rose by any other name

Mood and Narrative, the two best parts of Alan Wake. Each are individually and masterfully crafted. The game balances dark and light to constantly surprise the player and keep him on the edge. Something about wandering through a dark forrest carrying only a flashlight and magnum really can have an unpleasant effect on your nerves. Luckily the game has brilliantly paced intervals splitting the game into episodes, each ending with a brilliant fade to the title screen and amazing music. It seems like a small thing, but it’s a brilliant touch.

The games narration is also top notch and is explored through narrated  manuscript pages littered throughout the game levels. The game also includes some hilarious in-game tv shows and radio programs that are sure to make you laugh. Each episode rises and falls, culminating in an awesome ending. Memorable characters (Your assistant Barry is great) help round Alan Wake out as an experiment in character design as well as in game design. The game doesn’t pull any punches is acknowledging that Alan Wake is a poor mans Stephen King, which is a good thing . Better to come right out and say what we’re all thinking then pretending you came up with it.

Simply stated, this isn’t one you should miss.

Listen in as Patrick, Eric, and Jordan talk everything E3 2010.

EDG Podcast Episode #65

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Crackdown 2 Demo Hits Today, Among Other Goodies

Today is the day you can finally get a taste of the Crackdown 2 demo on the Xbox Live Marketplace.  Besides the Crackdown 2 demo there is a new list of Games On Demand, new Xbox Live Arcade titles and much more. Check out the link below for the full rundown.

Source

Heavy Rain DLC MOVEs To A Undetermined Date

Back in February when Heavy Rain was released, Quantic Dream promised fans that we would be consumed with episodic DLC.  Now those plans seem to be on an “indefinite hold” according to co-founder Guillame de Fondaumiere.

Quantic Dream is working on a patch to enable Playstation Move support for Heavy Rain, which I suppose is the main focus at this time.  The patch will be free for people who already have purchased the game, but there will also be a re-release of Heavy Rain with the Move controls already on the disc.

It would be unfortunate if we no longer get content for Heavy Rain, but I guess worse case scenario is that they work on their next project.

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Alan Wake DLC Gets Priced At $7 Each

For those that have finished the main story of Alan Wake and are looking to continue the journey can do so next month with the first piece of downloadable content “The Signal” which is due out July 27th.  “The Signal” will cost you 560 Microsoft Points ($7).  Unless you bought the game new, then you will be able to use the token that came in the box.

The second downloadable episode “The Writer” will also carry the same price tag.  Both episodes are estimated at around 90 minutes of gameplay.

Source

Halo: Reach Trailer Hints At Space Gameplay

At the end of Bungie’s E3 trailer for Halo Reach, it revealed some new gameplay elements that we really havent seen before from the franchise.  For more of an understanding of what I mean, check out the gameplay montage from our source below.

Source

Rayman Origins Trailer

Shaun White Skateboarding Trailer

Gran Turismo 5 Trailer

Medal of Honor Trailer

inFamous 2 Trailer

Child of Eden Trailer

Fable III Trailer

Driver San Francisco

Listen in as Eric Bouchard shares his thoughts on the final day of E3.

E3 2010 Podcast Ep. #5

Listen in as Eric Bouchard talks a little about some of the smaller publishers and companies at E3 that have impressed him.

E3 2010 Podcast Ep. #4

Check out the insane character customization for Bethesda’s upcoming Brink game.

Konami announced today that it will be bringing a new Silent Hill game to the Xbox 360 and Ps3 in 2011.

“Staying true to the franchise’s original roots; says Konami, the game returns with another third person horror experience, and an all new thought provoking storyline.

The soundtrack will be done by ‘Dexter’ & ‘Hellraiser: Bloodline’ composer Daniel Licht.

Source

Listen in as Eric Bouchard shares his viewpoint of the first official day of E3, along with his impressions of Nintendo’s and Sony’s press conferences.

E3 2010 Podcast Ep. #3

Sony announced today there premium service for the PS3. It will be called Playstation Plus and will run you $49 a year or $18 every 3 months. Here are some the extras you will receive for being a Playstation Plus member.

• Exclusive in-game DLC and other content
• Free full games, changing each month
• Early access to demos and betas
• Auto-patching feature, which will detect, download and install updates

One bad thing about this is that once, and if you cancel your subscription you lose all access to all the free content you have downloaded.

Source

Take a look at Bethesda’s E3 Trailer for there upcoming game Hunted: The Demons Forge.

Kaz Hirai has announced today that the PS3 will sport twenty titles that will have 3D support by March 2011.  Games like Motorstorm: Apocalypse, Killzone 3, The Sly Connection, Gran Turismo 5, Crysis 2, Mortal Kombat: Fatality, ShaunWhite Skateboarding, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, TRON Evolution, NBA 2k11, and more.

After Guerilla Games showed off Killzone 3 today at Sony’s E3 Press Conference, they announced to expect Killzone 3 in February of 2011. That would put the game two years after Killzone 2. Also worth mentioning is the game will have full 3D support and functionality of the Playstation Move at launch.

http://everydaygamers.com/videos/Donkey%20Kong%20Country.mp4

http://everydaygamers.com/videos/Kirby%20Epic%20Yarn.mp4

http://everydaygamers.com/videos/Zelda%20Skyward%20Sword.mp4

Here is a full list of all the upcoming games for the Nintendo 3DS:

Activision Publishing, Inc.
DJ Hero® 3D

AQ INTERACTIVE
cubic ninja

ATLUS
Etrian Odyssey
Shin Megami Tensei
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor

Capcom
RESIDENT EVIL® REVELATIONS
SUPER STREET FIGHTER IV 3D Edition (name not final)

Electronic Arts
FIFA Soccer
Madden NFL
The Sims™ 3

Gameloft
Asphalt GT

Harmonix
Music game

HUDSON SOFT
Bomberman franchise
DECA SPORTS franchise
KORORINPA franchise

KONAMI
Baseball franchise
Contra franchise
Frogger franchise
HIDEO KOJIMA’S METAL GEAR SOLID SNAKE EATER 3D
“The Naked Sample”
PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER franchise /
WINNING ELEVEN franchise

LEVEL-5
Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle (name not final)

Majesco Entertainment
BloodRayne: The Shroud
A Boy and His Blob
Face Racers: Photo Finish
Lion’s Pride: Adventures on the Serengeti
Martha Stewart
WonderWorld Amusement Park

Marvelous Entertainment
BOKUJYOUMONOGATARI 3D (name not final)

NAMCO BANDAI Games
Dragon Ball® franchise (name not final)
Gundam® franchise (name not final)
PAC-MAN™ & GALAGA™ (name not final)
RIDGE RACER® (name not final)
Super Robot franchise (name not final)

Nintendo
Animal Crossing™
Kid Icarus™: Uprising
Mario Kart™
nintendogs™ + cats
Paper Mario™
PilotWings Resort™
Star Fox 64™ 3D
Steel Diver™

ROCKET
Crash-City GP
VS-robo

SEGA
Sonic (name not final)
Super Monkey Ball (name not final)

SQUARE ENIX
CODENAME: Chocobo Racing® 3D
DRAGON QUEST® franchise
FINAL FANTASY® franchise
KINGDOM HEARTS franchise

Take-Two Interactive
Carnival Games® franchise

TECMO KOEI GAMES
DEAD OR ALIVE® 3D (name not final)
DYNASTY WARRIORS® (name not final)
NINJA GAIDEN® (name not final)
SAMURAI WARRIORS® 3D (name not final)

TOMY
LOVELY LISA 3D
NARUTO SHIPPUDEN ACTION

THQ
de Blob 2
Kung Fu Panda Kaboom of Doom
Marvel Super Hero Squad Infinity Gauntlet
The Penguins of Madagascar
Puss N Boots
Saints Row: Drive-By

Ubisoft
Assassin’s Creed™ Lost Legacy
Battle of Giants™: Dinosaur Strike
Driver® Renegade
Hollywood 61 (name not final)
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon™
Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Chaos Theory™

Warner Bros
Batman franchise
LEGO franchise

Sony has just announced that Playstation Move will be available September 19th in North America. Europe gets Move on September 15th.

In North America Move will be priced at $49.99 for the controller and $29.99 for the navigation controller.

There will be a a bundle that includes both controllers, a sports game, and the playstation eye for $99.99. A second bundle will include all that was mentioned before with the addition of a PS3 for $399.99.

Kid Icarus: Uprising will be one of the new games that hits the 3DS.  Not much else has been talked about other than it was titled “Project Sora” before the game was officially announced as Kid Icarus.  It raised one heck of an applause.

The long awaited sequel from Camelot’s role-playing series was announced today at Nintendo’s briefing.  The game will take place a generation after the previous entries.  Expect Golden Sun: Dark Dawn this holiday season.

Nintendo announced today of a new Goldeneye coming to the Wii this holiday season. Not much was revealed except that it will support multiplayer and splitscreen.  Lets just hope we dont need those friend codes or it could be a nightmare playing online with your friends.

Satoru Iwata finally took the wraps off of the Nintendo 3DS today.  Stating that the 3.5 screen will show 3D graphics without having to use or buy any expensive 3D glasses.  You will also have the ability to watch Hollywood movies in 3D, and can take 3D images.  No price or release date is set as of now, but if your at E3 you can demo the new 3DS all week.

Satoru Iwata showed a long list today of developers that will be supporting the 3DS with upcoming titles.  Here’s the full list that is confirmed as of today.

• Square Enix and Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy franchise, Chocobo Racing 3D
• THQ and Saints Row
• DJ Hero
• Capcom and Resident Evil
• Ubisoft and Assassin’s Creed
• Namco and Ridge Racer
• Konami and the Metal Gear Solid franchise
• EA Sports and Madden
• Tecmo Koei and Ninja Gaiden, Dead or Alive
• Professor Layton and the Mask of Mircale (not final title)

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The Legend Of Zelda was just announced by Nintendo that will allow you to use you wii-mote as the sword (with motion-plus) and your numchuck as the shield. Miyamoto showed a pretty extensive demo of what to expect in the new Legend Of Zelda showing the different enemies you will encounter and how your weapons work.

Development is said to take the rest of the year, so you can expect to play the game in 2011.

The Indie Puzzler from Playdead Studios has been priced at 1200 Microsoft Points (15$) when it hits XBLA as part of there “Summer of Arcade.”  We are still waiting for an official release date, but we expect a mid august release to be announced very soon.  We will keep you updated when we hear otherwise.

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Ghost Recon: Future Soldier will add 4 player co-op campaign along with stereoscopic 3D support.  Those that purchased a new copy of Splinter Cell: Conviction will get access to its multiplayer beta.  Ghost Recon will be released on the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC between January 1st 2011 and March 31st 2011.

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An Expansion Pack for Bad Company 2 titled “Vietnam” will be releasing on the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC. Only details we have so far is a Winter 2010 release.  Keep your eyes peeled for more information on the Vietnam Expansion Pack during E3 in the next couple of days.

EA will introduce a sort of rewards program for gamers who pick up there games new.  Some of the perks include early access to news, demos, beta’s and more.  You can visit Gunclub.EA.Com for more information.

Criterion Games will be making the next installment of Need for Speed which races onto store shelves November 16th.  With a interesting career mode which will allow you to play as both a racer and as a cop.  “Autolog” is a new feature as well that allows you to compete with your friends and challenge those that may have beaten a certain record you’ve achieved or vice versa.

This could be one of the best Need For Speed titles done in years.  I look forward to what EA unveils about Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit closer to its November 16th release.

Check out the new Fallout New Vegas E3 Trailer below and let us know what you think of it! Fallout New Vegas will ship on October 19th on the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC in North America, and October 22nd in Europe.

Epic Games and People Can Fly have revealed a release date for Bulletstorm during EA’s Keynote. February 22nd the game will ship for the Xbox 360 and PS3.

On top of that EA also has announced  a release date for Dead Space 2, which will scare the hell out of you on January 25th 2011.  It looks like early 2011 is going to be just as busy as the beginning of 2010 was.  This is a good thing.

Listen is as Eric Bouchard discusses the events of the day and how Microsoft did not live up to its own hype.

E3 2010 Nightly Roundup Ep. #2

A Multiplayer Beta has been announced by EA LA and DICE.  The Beta will kick off on the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC on June 21st for those who pre-order the game.  The beta will feature 2 playable maps.  Helmand Valley and Kabul City Ruins, and will have up to 24 player matches across two game modes, Team Assault and Combat Mission.  People who picked up Battlefield Bad Company 2 new or bought the VIP Access will get access to the beta on the 17th, to get a little upper hand before the rest of the world jumps in just a few days after.

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Today during their official press conference Microsoft unveiled the next version of their popular Xbox 360. The new Xbox 360 is a slimmed down version with a sharp new shiny black look. The new console sports a 250 GB hard drive, an internal wireless-N adapter, and is said to be “whisper” quiet. Lastly, the new Xbox 360 will be shipping today!

Check out the images below to see the new Xbox 360.

Below is an unboxing video of the new Xbox 360.

We finally get a release date for Kinect and you can expect it on November 4th.  It will have 15 games at launch.  Still no price has been announced but we will keep you updated as soon as we hear.

ESPN will be available on the Xbox 360 free to Xbox Live Gold members.  Over 3500 events live and in demand from MLB, NBA, college basketball, college football, and sportscenter.   Yet nothing on NHL or NFL.  We will just have to wait and see.

Peter Molyneux confirmed onstage today that Fable 3 will be coming exclusively to the Xbox 360 on October 26th.

Microsoft has partnered with Crytek with a new protect coded “Kingdoms.”  We will have to wait and see what it’s all about but it looks very interesting.

Cliffy B has mentioned a new game mode for Gears of War 3, titled “Beast.” No other details have been announced but you can expect more to be revealed throughout the day.  We’ll keep you posted.

Thats right folks, all map packs for the Call of Duty franchise will hit Xbox 360 first. This deal will last until 2012.

Listen in as Eric Bouchard shares his opinion of the revelation of Project Natal’s new name: Kinect.

E3 2010 Podcast Ep. #1

While tonight’s Microsoft Natal Event may be more about entertaining and revealing the new Kinect name, there has been at least one major game reveal. There will be a Star Wars game coming out for the controller-less interface. It appears to be an on-rails game featuring lightsabers, motion controlled force powers and a showdown with the mane himself, Darth Vader.

Sounds like Microsoft is trying to use this game to reassure core gamers that Kinect will be used for more than casual experiences. Expect to see more reveals like this tomorrow, but I can guarantee you this reveal is creating some buzz on the web.

Thanks to Joystiq for the info.

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So, Microsoft rumors and leaks are flying all over the place, and we have not even started.

First comes an add form an add house used by Microsoft that seemingly detailed a new 360. The new rig is supposed to contain a 250 Gig HD and a built in Wi-Fi addapter, but the design does not exactly fit the concept of the “360 Slim” that has been rumored. The add has been pulled, but Joystiq has a video of it here.

Then comes an article from USA Today detailing the name change of Project Natal: Kinect. The article also detailed some of the games that will be a part of the Kinect lineup:

Kinectimals features over 20 different virtual pets, including lions, tigers, and cheetahs, to play with or raise.

Joyride has returned to life as a controller-free racing game, apparently.

Kinect Sports will offer sport games to play: “boxing, bowling, beach volleyball, track and field, soccer and table tennis.” For each one, you will make motions to play the games.

Kinect Adventures has a river raft and obstacle course to navigate — this is likely the demo we saw last week.

MTV Games will release Dance Central, where you can cut a virtual rug.

And there will be more games announced later featuring both Disney characters and Star Wars characters, in conjunction with Disney and LucasArts, respectively.

That article has been pulled from USA Today’s site, but you can image it will not be gone for long with the Natal Showcase from Microsoft scheduled for tonight.

So what does all of this mean? Not sure, but I can say one thing: I cannot wait for Micrsoft’s Press Conference tomorrow.

Kinetic story on Joystiq

Everyday Gamers will be at E3 this year and we’ve been invited to the Sony and Nintendo Press Conferences. Our very own Eric Bouchard will be live-blogging those two conferences as they happen, so feel free to watch a live stream of the conferences on a website such as IGN, but keep our live blogs open for some great discussion while the conferences are happening. We will be using CoverItLive for the coverage of the Press Conferences, including Microsoft’s, even though we will not be in attendance of that one.

Microsoft Press Conference Live Blog – Goes live Monday, June 14th at 10:30 AM PST (1:30 PM EST)

Nintendo Press Conference Live Blog – Goes live Tuesday, June 15th at 9:00 AM PST (12:00 PM EST)

Sony Press Conference Live Blog – Goes live Tuesday, June 15th at 12:00 PM PST (3:00 PM EST)

Our coverage of E3 will not end there, keep an eye on the site for podcast updates from each day of the expo, impression articles of each of the press conferences, breaking news and much more. Eric will present his own unique view of the Electronic Entertainment Expo and this post will act as our ‘hub’ to help you easily navigate our coverage of E3 and we will be updating it constantly so keep checking back.

Everyday Gamers E3 Feed – This is your one-stop-shop for all things E3. Here you will find a list of all the latest news, features, and podcasts from the entire E3 Expo all in one place.

Also remember to follow all of the EDG Crew via Twitter as well. Our Twitter names are as follows: Eric Bouchard – @AZRockSlide, Patrick Adams – @CrownOfThornz, Chris Maeurer – @HolyHeadshot, Jordan de Bouer – @AbraCadaverD0g, Kevin Clark – @SLYRIV, Everyday Gamers – @EverydayGamers

To access all of our Twitter accounts at once just visit this link http://twitter.com/CrownOfThornz/everydaygamers

Lastly, don’t forget to catch our post E3 podcast. We are shooting to get that posted not long after Eric gets back from E3, and it will contain our views on the conferences and many of the stories and impressions Eric gained from attending. You will not want to miss it.

EDG @ E3 Podcast Player:

Field and Stream Demo Footage

Transformers: War for Cybertron Demo

Gelaskins for iPad and Xbox 360

Lego Harry Potter Demo Gameplay Footage

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

We Are Going To E3!

As we have mentioned on the podcast, Our very own Eric Bouchard will be attending E3 this year.  This is a very exciting moment for all us and we cannot wait until everything unfolds.  We will have all of the latest and greatest that comes out of E3 so keep your eyes peeled to the site and don’t forget to follow Eric on Twitter (AZRockslide) for all of your gaming news.

Get Ready For The Apocalypse

Last week there were rumors speculating about a new Motorstorm title from Sony.  Well today those rumors can finally be put to rest.  Evolution Studios has dubbed “Motorstorm Apocalypse” as the next title to there racing franchise.  Set in an urban environment, specifically San Francisco but not going “completely urban” says Game Director Matt Southern.

Throughout the game the city will be ripped to pieces, in real-time, as you race. Routes will be affected, as will our emergent gameplay, with the game to feature “two groups” left behind in the crumbling city that don’t take too kindly to MotorStorm’s arrival

He also goes on to add.

This isn’t post-apocalyptic. It’s apocalyptic. You are there when it happens. It’s survival racing, when buildings “come down” they “stay down.”

“When you race a track again, the buildings will still be down and the MotorStorm crew will have carved yet more routes into the ruined landscape. The only time you’ll see the same thing twice is when you choose to.”

Matt Southern also talks about a Multiplayer with a full rank up system, very deep customization, and a “Game Mode Creator”

It sounds like a mix between Split/Second with the destruction, mixed with a deep multiplayer like BLUR.  This could be very intriguing considering both those games put together would be unbelievable.

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Do You Want To Be A Rock (Band) Star?

Images for Rock Band 3′s Instruments have been revealed today.  Click our Source link below for the full layout of gear.  Now only problem is, where are you going to put it all?

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Bad Company 2′s Onslaught Mode Coming June 22

DICE has priced and dated there upcoming Onslaught mode for the Xbox 360 and PS3.  The 4 player cooperative mode will arrive on June 22 for 800 Microsoft Points or $10.00 on the PSN.  Europe PS3 owners will have to wait a extra day for the content.

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Dreamcast Titles Coming To Xbox Live, Playstation Network

Wish you could play the old classic Dreamcast games on your 360 or PS3? Well this fall you can.  Sonic Adventure and Crazy Taxi will be the first two games that will come to the next gen consoles.  Sega has assured everybody that these games won’t be just ports from the Dreamcast.  Expect a crisper resolution, with achievements/trophies, online leaderboards and even support for surround sound.  No announcement has been made on pricing, but I’m sure you can expect the standard 800-1200 Microsoft Points. ($10-15)

Expect more information at E3.

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Listen in as Eric Bouchard, Patrick Adams and Chris Maeurer discuss the Everyday Gamers Staff’ E3 predictions.

EDG Podcast Ep. #64

Music: Poets of the Fall – War

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Dead Space 2 Multiplayer Confirmed

EA’s John Riccitiello mentioned during a interview with Industry Gamers that a Multiplayer componet is to be expected for Dead Space 2.  When asked about the game he was quoted as saying “It’s got some really innovative online gameplay.”  While there isn’t a great deal of information as of yet, you can bet to hear the scoop at E3 in just a few more days.

Keep your eyes on the site for more information during E3 about Dead Space 2 news.

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Bioshock Switching Developers?

With 2K Marin now busy with X-COM, we could see a possible change in developers for the next installment in the Bioshock series.  Take-Two Chairman Strauss Zelnick mentioned during a second quarter financial call.

We think BioShock is still one of the most important franchises in the industry, we do intend to support it; doesn’t necessarily have to be at 2K Marin, but we do intend to support the franchise.

He goes on to say there goal first and foremost is too continue supporting Bioshock 2 with lots of DLC.

It will be interesting to see where they take the franchise when Bioshock 3 gets started.

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Team Fortress 2 Available on Steam for Mac

Looks as thought Valve is slowly rolling out all of it’s big hits over to the Steam for Mac platform. I’m sure Mac users are happy.

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3D Graces the Playstation 3 Today

In case you haven’t heard 3D is the future…for people with money? Anyways, Sony isn’t slowing down their support and due out today is an update that makes the PS3 supportive of 3D. If you have the equipment you can play WipeOut HD, PAIN, Super Stardust HD, and Motorstorm: Pacific Rift in 3D. As of right now those are the current titles that will support 3D. Expect more games to be announced in the future.

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Summer is almost here.  Tanning on the beach, soft sand, foamy ocean waves….well, unless you are on the Gulf Coast.  Pool parties, Bar-B-Q’s, catching fireflies and roasting marshmallows.  Excited?  Me either, all that stuff makes me shudder–jellyfish stings, sunburn, sand in crevices, vacuuming the pool, chlorine stinging your eyes, who needs it?  Thank goodness we can fire up our PC’s, crank up the AC and frag away with this summer’s gaming goodness!

June

We are headlong into June, and already two titles have hit, and a couple more are on the way.  Use the warm air and nice weather to open up that tower outside and clean it out with a can of compressed air, so the dust bunnies will be at bay for this first month of summer’s game releases!

• June 1st – Alpha Protocol, Sims 3 Ambitions Expansion
• June 8th – Prince Of Persia – The Forgotten Sands
• June 22nd – Transformers : The War For Cybertron
• June 29th – Arma II : Combined Operations and Operation Arrowhead, APB,  Sniper : Ghost Warrior, Singularity, LEGO Harry Potter : Years 1 – 4

June kicks off the summer with a bang.  Mass Effect fans might enjoy similar mechanics and decision making in the svy vs spy/James Bond setting of Alpha Protocol.  Prince Of Persia : Forgotten Sands looks to be a little Sands of Time with a slice of Warrior Within, as it bridges the gap between the two and releases alongside the well-reviewed movie.  Arma II : Operation Arrowhead retails for $40, as the stand-alone expansion to the multiplayer hit Arma II.  Oddly enough, Combined Ops nets you both the original game AND the expansion for only $49.99, making it a steal for late comers.  Most of us, by now, have heard about the interesting MMO that almost made it to 360, APB.  And, yes, I am still holding out hope for a good Transformers game with improved online modes first seen in last years Revenge of the Fallen, along with newly added online co-op.

July

July would be a pretty barren month, if not for PC Gaming’s second coming of the sequel 12 years in the making : Starcraft II : Wings of Liberty.  If you haven’t left the biodome, you can check out the Starcraft II Beta Preview, here.

• July 13th – Disciples III : Renaissance
• July 27th – Starcraft II : Wings Of Liberty

Strategy games are hitting hard and fast this month with the turn-based, fantasy setting of Disciples and the sci-fi, real-time strategy tactics of the strategy behemoth, Starcraft II.

August

Another month, release heavy in the end like July, August may be the hottest month, and the best reason to stay indoors and keep that smooth, pasty complexion as you while the hours away in front of your monitor.  Finish the Starcraft Terran campaign, save your pennies and wait for these tasty morsels to hit.

• August 24th – Mafia II, Elemental : War Of Magic, Kane & Lynch 2 : Dog Days

August seems to be the month that could fly or flop, which one remains to be seen.  Mafia could go either way, and Kane & Lynch is not coming from the truest of pedigrees.  However, if neither of those strikes you fancy, another strategy home run is Stardock’s Elemental : War of Magic, an almost spiritual successor to Master of Magic.

September

Not ready to let summer go?  Check out these Labor Day releases between BBQ’s and bonfires.

• September 1st – Sid Meier’s Civilization V, Jumpgate Evolution *See Below
• September 7th – R.U.S.E., Arcania : Gothic 4, Brink

The strategy hits flow right on over into September this year with R.U.S.E., the Poker man’s RTS that employs bluffing and dummy units to pull your opponents strings and lure them out.  Equally as huge is the new iteration of Sid Meier’s Civilization-not just because of the title, but also because of the waning entries in the turn-based strategy/sim genre.  If action is more your style, you can’t hope for better than Bethesda and Splash Damage’s Brink, supposedly a new evolution of shooter.

***UPDATE : Civilization V will release 9/21 in North America and 9/24 in other countries***

Wrap-Up

No matter how you slice it, there’s enough gaming goodness to offset any gamer’s pile of shame this summer, so put the sunscreen away, make sure your drivers are up to date and your hard drive defragged and Mom’s basement stocked with snacks, it’s summer gaming season!  The only good part of summer is the Bar-B-Q, right?

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Max Payne 3 Delayed

Rockstar Vancouver’s Max Payne sequel has yet again been hit with the delay bug.  The game has been taken out of its fiscal year 2010 release window, and now goes to fiscal year 2011 which puts the game at a November 1, 2010-October 31, 2011 release.

Take-Two CEO Ben Feder had this to say regarding the reason for the recent delay.

While we do not take the movement of any title lightly, our recent success with Red Dead Redemption illustrates the importance and the benefits of giving a title the time that it needs in order to fulfill its potential in the marketplace. The team at Rockstar is focused on making this the best possible experience in interactive entertainment

I think it’s plain to see that we won’t see this game until sometime in 2011.  We will update you on any further information that may come about with Max Payne 3.

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Jurassic Park Gets A “Season” Pass

Jurassic Park the game is said to make a appearance to a as of yet unknown platform or platforms later this year.  Telltale Games will make up one “Season” which could add up to six monthly episodes.

This could be very interesting if the game is done well and the price is right. Telltale’s Boss Dan Connors thinks it will be when he was quoted saying “The ultimate cinematic adventure.”

Look for more Jurassic Park information at E3.

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GTA: Chinatown Wars Shoots It’s Way To iPad

An iPad version of Chinatown Wars is due “later this month.”  It will most likely take advantage of the iPad’s hardware and maybe even add some small changes to the game.

If you don’t feel like waiting, you could always download the iPhone or iPod Touch app of the game that is already available and can be played on the Ipad.  But I’m sure if you wait it will look alot prettier on that larger screen once the official iPad app is released.

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Mafia 2 Demo Will Drop In August

A demo for 2K Czech’s third person gangster shooter will have a demo hit the XBLA, PSN and PC “sometime” in August before the game hits store shelves on August 24th.

Take-Two CEO Ben Feder, who has been a busy man the last couple of days had this to say during a conference call.

a comprehensive demo program on Xbox Live Marketplace, PSN [PlayStation Network] and the Internet that will allow gamers to experience the game leading up to its launch

We will be sure to keep you updated when we know of an exact release date for the demo.

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Portal 2 Delayed Until 2011

Valve announced today that Portal 2 will be pushed back until 2011.  The sequel was scheduled to arrive this holiday season, but left some fans skeptical because of Valve’s recent cancellation of their Portal 2 E3 Press Conference.  Valve still has some sort of “special” announcement for E3.  We will just have to wait only a few more days until we find out what that could be.

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The biggest RTS in the making, Starcraft II : Wings Of Liberty, will touch down on PC’s this July 27th, and we were lucky enough to get some playtime in the beta.  Have you jumped in yet?  Can you still Zerg rush?  How is Battle.Net 2.o? Are there any new features, or is this just a prettier same old ball of Zerg wax?  We’ll try to answer all your questions in our hands-on review of the Starcraft II Beta.

Same Game In A Shiny New Wrapper?

It’s tough to talk about Starcraft II without delving into the grandiose undertaking Blizzard has made in it’s integrated Battle.Net 2.0 system.  Blizzard frowned many faces when they announced that the new Battle.Net would not allow the ‘Multiplayer Spawning’ that the original Starcraft boasted-allowing players to install multiplayer copies of their games on unlimited computers, to play over LAN with their friends.  So, for example, you could host a 50 machine LAN party, with just one copy of the game.  In the dawning of a new age of internet accessibility and mass software piracy, Blizzard has taken a page from Valve’s book and created Battle.Net 2.0.  The new overhaul of Battle.Net allows players to manage all of their Blizzard titles, access multiplayer features and game news, and even find game players via their Facebook friends list.  But how does it work?  Surprisingly well, I have to admit.  I was one of the people shooting down Battle.Net 2.0, comparing it to Ubisoft’s new always online DRM scheme-especially since early reviews stated that Battle.Net would require players to log-in, even for single player campaign play.  Luckily, similar to Steam, it would appear that Battle.Net will allow players to log-in and play in an offline mode-of course, that will not be able to be tested until the full product hit shelves next month.  The interface intself is bright, easy on the eyes, and just as easy to figure out and manage.  One fantastic feature is the ability to record and playback your game replays.  We knew this feature was coming, but what we didn’t know was that all of your saves are stored on their servers, where you can play or download them at any time to see how badly you blundered your last match.  The final shiny appeal of the service was that it ran silky smooth, multiplayer matches and all on my home connection that usually nets me a Zerg splitting ping of about 1740 (no, that’s not a typo).

Warped In Changes?

Battle.Net 2.0 is interesting, but what’s new in the Starcraft Universe?  More details and tweaks than I will be able to fully list here, but I will try to cover the major changes.  It will be easier to change this section up between four major section;one for each race and a fourth for the overall multiplayer changes.

Maps and Minerals and Vespine Gas, Oh My!

Starcraft II eases you into multiplayer by ranking your play in Gold, Silver, Bronze or Platinum, after 5 Practice matches.  During Practice rounds, each players Base is sealed off by destructible barriers, saving you from having to throw up those Terran Supply Depots quite so quickly.  Each map also contains one source of high yield minerals, colored gold, that will net the player a 40% increase in minerals mined with each cache returned to your base.  Also new are Observatories, two per map, that allow for a much wider line of sight, when manned with any of your units.  Matches can take place in the form of 1V1, 2V2 and 3V3 as well as co-op modes of the same varieties, against computer AI.  Also possible, is a Free For All mode, where each player takes on the task of wiping the other five off the map.  Good luck with that one!

You’re Terran Me Apart!

The Humans in Starcraft are called Terrans.  If you didn’t know that, you’ll be easy Zerg food in the Multiplayer!  First in their new abilities, is that ability to build a new base, load it with SCV’s(the Terran gatherers/builders) and fly it to a new location for deployment.  Replacing Firebats, for balance issues, are the Reapers-convicts trained to be lethal grenediers.  Equipped with jump jets, these units can be churned out quick, for a human equivalent of the Zerg rush.  The Viking is a cross between the Wraith and a Mech, allowing for counter-attacks on all fronts, ground and air.  The new unit to aim for is definitely the Thor-massive, and packing a huge punch, the Thor’s firepower is balanced by it’s inability to fire at anything not in front of it, so beware of smaller and faster units.

Don’t Toss Aside The Protoss So Quickly!

The most interesting, and controversial twist in the Protoss arsenal is the Phase Prism.  This building acts as a teleporter for your units, as well as a power supply for structures you want to build outside your base and within it’s reach.  This, alone, takes the Protoss from a difficult to master race, and drops them to a more accessible plane, if used wisely.  Also new is the Warp Ray.  Remember what happened to the White House in Independence Day?  Welcome to the Warp Ray.  Same idea, only that the strength of the beam gradually increases, rather than what we saw in the movie, making this a great structure assault, but not as well suited for unit attacks.  Also ripped from the movies, it would seem, is the Colossus.  This unit resembles the tripods from War of the Worlds, with the functionality of the Terran Reapers.  Their size and agility allows them to traverse the gaps between land masses on the maps, opening up the options for flanking and maneuvering your attack.  Similar to another Terran unit, the Mothership, is massive and powerful.  It’s movements are crippled, but it’s attack is two-fold;normal attacks pack a huge punch, but an alternate attack will open up a black hole to banish your enemies.  It’s a wonder if this unit, and the Thor, will be a big factor in multiplayer matches, or if quick assaults will negate the ability to have the tech and resources to call them forth.  Either way, it’s definitely obvious that the incentive for scouting and attacking early is a well laid one.

Crunchy On The Outside, Gooey On The Inside!

We certainly can’t forget the Zerg, now can we?  Oddly enough, only three of these units are detailed on the official website, as opposed to the dozens for the other races.  Blizzard wouldn’t mess with the Zerg rush, would they?  You bet your cigar chomping, space marine hide they would!  Zerglings now have the ability to slip into a cocoon and emerge as banelings-suicide units that rush and explode with acid-like goo, dealing damage on anything near it.  The Hydralisk and Mutalisk are the best two-pronged attack I’ve seen.  Hydralisks are heavy damage dealing, armored bugs, deadly in high numbers.  You may remember Mutalisks as a flying, death from above unit with a ricochet shot that bounced between enemy ground targets.  Not to be ignored, are the new Zerg Roaches.  These nasty ground units are heavy armored, acid spitting bugs, similar to the Terran Reaper, but without any jump jet feature.  Don’t forget, many of the Zerg units-including the above mentioned ones, and the Zerg Queen-can be burrowed, allowing for movement and health regeneration while avoiding attack, so don’t just click and send them off to their death!

A Kinder, Gentler Starcraft?

Not on your life!  If you thought the old Starcraft was tough, wait until you sink your teeth into this one.  Blizzard paid heavy attention to focus on many secondary abilities for many of the units in the game, opening up attack strategies-not that you’ll have time to use them when you are being swarmed.  It’s still a tough barrier for entry, but one well worth the investment.  My best advice is to find friends to test the waters with, or find some decent people online to play with, that will help teach you some strategies.  My time in the Beta was spent getting fairly thumped, but there are lessons to learn from each defeat, especially if you playback those  replays.  The replay captures not only what your opponent did and built, but how they moved their camera around, giving you some insight into how they were thinking.  The matchmaking was fairly quick and painless, and I ran into almost no glitches, save for the last patch wiping out my profile for some unknown reason.  If repeatedly losing online sounds terrible, it actually played out extremely well.  Wise strategies were rewarded, and each match served to illustrate more about the game, keeping things interesting, even in defeat.  If anything, losing provided a challenge to come back and hooked me into a multiplayer forum I had not previously been dazzled with.  After all, much like football, not every strategy is going to provide a win everytime-change yours up, or players will counter and continue to counter.  Blizzard has promised that the Beta is not a full snapshot of all the multiplayer features, but a balancing tool they will use to tighten up the game.  Also promised is a Challenge Mode for Wings Of Liberty.  This will serve as a proving ground for those unfamiliar with the multiplayer tactics, and wishing to learn some lessons without taking their lumps at the hands of human players.  Each challenge will focus on tactics Blizzard has picked up from the community, from the Zerg rush, to base expansion, it should be fantastic.  If that isn’t enough to keep you vested, don’t go uninstalling that beta just yet!  It may be closed for now, but Blizzard promises to reopen it one to two weeks prior to the games launch, and I’m willing to bet a Protoss Mothership that there will be some new, unannounced goodies for us when they do!

New Releases

Prince Of Persia : The Forgotten Sands – 6/8, retailing at $49.99

News Bytes

• Mass Effect Deathmatch? Apparently that’s the newest rumor.  Job listings for Bioware Montreal were looking for ‘programmers  capable of adding multiplayer components to an already rich single player base using the unreal engine’.  Of course, these postings were ripped down, the minute they made headlines, but it would seem the damage is done.  The only Bioware property to use the Unreal engine is Mass Effect, and further rumors have a captured screen of one of the ads, shown here, getting into gross detail about the requirements.  Let us know how you feel about multiplayer in the Mass Effect universe.  I, for one, think it’s completely unnecessary and will divert resources that should be focusing on the awesome single player experience that the previous games brought-but, then again, I never would have predicted some of the things Bioware has pulled off before, so I guess we will see.
• Move over Torchlight, dungeon crawlers are crawling out of everywhere! Those of us who can’t wait for Diablo III, now have Dungeon Siege 3 to look forward to!  And it will simultaneously release on consoles?  Press releases have confirmed the sequel, designed by Obsedian with some Chris Taylor input, and a sprinkling from Square Enix.  Co-op has also been confirmed, but all other details seem to have Town Portaled back to E3 for a more spectacular reveal, so stay tuned!
• You shall pass, without fees! It would seem that Lord of the Rings Online will follow in the footsteps of Dungeons and Dragons online, and become free to play, later this year.  Hold onto Sting and your Lembas bread, players will still have to pay to unlock the content from the expansions, and some other features.  There will be ‘VIP’ access, but those details have not been outlined yet.   If your lucky, maybe you will be able to storm Mordor in the closed Beta, venturing forth on the 16th of this month.
• In other RPG news, Elemental : War of Magic, from Stardock, will be unleashed this September. Stardock’s Brad Wardell posted a lengthy video demoing the game’s opening dozen turns, in the beta engine.  For those unfamiliar with Elemental, think a fantasy-style Total War game with some Magic : The Gathering and Heroes Of Might and Magic elements thrown in.  The game is Stardock’s newest entry into the 4x strategy genre, and has not seen much in the way of details. The trailer is a whopping 12 and a half minutes long, but lacked the grand scale teasers that have come before, opting, instead, to show off the game’s basic mechanics and strategies. UPDATE : Release date confirmed for 8/24 2010!
• Survival horror on Mars? That’s the feeling we have gotten from the newest Red Faction trailer, announcing the new game, Red Faction : Armaggeddon, slated for March 2011 release.  So, the game takes place about 50 years after Red Faction : Guerrilla, and you take the role of the grandson of that game’s character.  Oddly enough, aliens have now been thrown into the mix, begging the question, where were they for the last few games?  Taking a page from Aliens and Dead Space, it will be interesting to see how this new mechanic plays out, as I’m sure we can all admit some new mechanics were needed, for the franchise.  I’m sure our own, Eric Bouchard, will be able to unearth more details at this month’s E3, and let us know if he got any hands-on squashing bugs with the game’s fabled hammer!
• Ready for some more Star Wars MMO action? No, I’m not talking about The Old Rebuplic and please don’t mention Galaxies!  The new, younger audience attracting online game is titled Clone Wars Adventures.  This fall, the free to play online game from Sony will be unleashing it’s clones on us, but don’t think typical MMO!  The game is more a collection of puzzle games, with some overarcing elements-reminding me of Puzzle Pirates, by description.  Early hands-on reports have force pushed nay-sayers aside, and reported that the minigames have tapped into the best addictive flash games and innovated them with a little Lucas magic.  Needless to say, I am intrigued, and my little clones at home will play anything emblazoned with the Star Wars logo, so you can be sure to find plenty of details here, as soon as I can get them!
• OK, I know I’m known as the MMO hater, but I’m all about the FREE! Another, free to play online game, this time sanctioned by Bigpoint and Universal, will take place in The Mummy film universe.  Supposedly, the game will be a browser based, action RPG featuring many of the characters and environments from the film series, in your quest for ancient treasure.  Unfortunately, the only details we have are speculation, but it will be interesting to see if this trend continues as well as to see how well this particular title will turn out.
• Last, but not least, some bittersweet Aperture Labs news. Yes, I know, this story already opened up on our own, ‘Daily Bits’ segment, but it bears repeating for PC fans.  In an oddly worded press release, from Aperture Labs, Valve canceled it’s ‘Portal 2′ event at E3, but said that there would be a surprise-the time and details of which would not be released until it was time for the surprise.  Also, to clear up any accusations, the memo also stated that the cancellation was NOT the surprise in question.  I think we will see that Eric Bouchard’s prediction of Portal 2 releasing with an Orange Box type bundle successor are coming to fruition, but I, admittedly, am not sure what to expect in it!  I think, if a Half-Life game is in the works, Valve will skip Episode 3 and just launch right into the next full game-especially if we are to believe the changes teased in the way of bringing back proper scary games.  I would have to think that a worthy Team Fortress 2 replacement would be in one such collection, but who knows if it’s Counter-Strike related, or a new property.  I can’t imagine Team Fortress 2 needs any work or new iterations right now, it is standing well enough on it’s own feet. Stick around for the emerging details from E3!

Geared Up

Geared Up is taking a hiatus this week, it was a full news week, and we are awaiting some of the E3 goodness heading our way.  In the meantime, if you have any entries, send them to me over at chris@everydaygamers.com!

This early in the iPad’s life it’s hard to find any apps worth your while. I’ve come up with a list of ten iPad apps that I find to be real winners and I thought it would be a good idea to share them you with you. You know the best thing about it? They are all free.

10. Goby – Goby is a great app to find things going on locally. It takes your current location and shows you activities and places you can go while you are there. This app is very useful for people who are not familiar with the area and want to do something with their time.

9. Twitterrific – At the time of writing, this app is currently the best Twitter app out there. It does what it needs to do and it looks good doing it. Until Twitter drops their official app this one is the one I’ve chosen to get the job done.

8.  ABC Player – Basically this app lets you watch all of ABC’s TV shows right on your iPad. Me being such a huge fan of LOST this is a good thing.

7. Pandora – If you are reading this article then I probably don’t need to tell you what Pandora is. This is Pandora on your iPad just like Pandora on your iPhone or computer.

6. USA Today – This app is my favorite app for getting my news for the day, they update it constantly with all the latest news from across the world. USA Today also has a great layout that makes it fun to read.

5. Bible – This is YouVersions.com’s Bible application in HD for the iPad. It has all the features of the iPhone version which means you can start a reading plan, choose any translation you want, bookmark verses, etc. It’s the best Bible application out there.

4. IMDB – This is the Internet Movie Database on your iPad. You can search any movie ever made and you will get all of the information you need about that movie. You can even search by actor, actress, producer, director, etc. It’s all here.

3. 1000 Experiences – When this app was released it jumped right to the top of the most downloaded applications, then it kind of disappeared. It’s out there so go and download it. It gives you the top places to…well, everything. Just download it and you’ll see what I mean.

2. Movies – This app gives you information about movies that are currently in the box office as well as upcoming movies. You can also get info about nearby theaters. This app is just like the iPhone version but better looking.

1. Beatwave – This application is available on the iPhone but is best used on the iPad. It’s an amazing app that lets you create music with no effort at all. I am totally addicted to it. The application is free but you can buy different sounds and an option to record your creations and save them as mp4′s. My daughter could even make a sweet beat with this and she’s only a year and a half.

Check back for my Top 10 iPad Launch Games feature coming soon.

Check out the gallery below to see screenshots of each application mentioned above.

Bizarre Creations has been hard at work at trying to recreate the popular “Power-up” gameplay in there latest project BLUR.  While many comparisons ring true about Mario Kart, BLUR isn’t just a quick knock off but instead a much deeper experience in certain areas.  BLUR’s environments screams chaos, and if you didn’t know by now the name of the game is to strike your opponents with as many power-ups as you can and move to the front of the pack.  But with the amount of arcade racers that have come out within the last month you may be asking yourself, is BLUR worth my time?

As I mentioned before BLUR’s game is all about the Power-ups.  Let me explain in some detail how each of these work.  There are a total of eight different power-ups that you can pick up that lay scattered on each track.  Your allowed to have up to three in your arsenal at a time.  You can also drop a power-up to make room for something else  if you picked up two of something that you do not need.  Here is a quick look at the power-ups that could help save your life.

Shock- This is great if your having a bad game and are at the end of the pack.  The Shock will launch a bolt of lightning to the front of the group, stunning any car that runs through it.  It will greatly slow down the driver and make it easier for you to catch up.

This Cannot End Well

Mine- Explosives Mines are great in any situation, while also allowing you to shoot it behind you to spin the guy riding your tail right out of control.

Barge- A Barge is a close-range attack that forces cars away from you when activated. Just get right up close to your opponent and a quick jolt will do the job.

Bolt- Pretty much the opposite of Barge.  Bolts are great for long ranged damage.  Fire up to three bolts to hand out the most damage and force cars to swerve all over the track.

Shunt- This is probably my favorite Power-up in the game. A homing missile that flips cars straight up into the air.  This is another power-up that you fire backwards if you happen to be in the front of the race.

Nitro- The obvious of the bunch, gives a quick burst of speed to catch up. If fired backwards you can turn late or airbrake into other cars.

Shield- The last two are more what I like to call defensive power-ups. The Shield protects your car from damage and whatever else may come flying at you on the track.

Repair- After you’ve been knocked around make sure to not forget about repairing your cars health.  When damage is critical this is the only thing that will save you.

Back in March those who were lucky enough had early access to the BLUR Multiplayer Beta for the Xbox 360.  Which consisted of 4 playable tracks and a ranking system that unlocked new cars as you made your way to the top, although talks on the career mode were for the most part non-existent.  So needless to say after spending hours with the Multiplayer Beta I was more interested in the career progression and sadly I came away very underwhelmed.

The Career section of the game is split up into nine different Boss Battle scenarios.  In each chapter you must complete a set of demands by Placing in races, doing time trial runs or winning Destruction games in where you have to rack up a certain amount of points by doing damage to AI racers.  If and when you accomplish the Bosses demands you square off with him mono vs mono and have a chance to steal his ride and shut him up once and for all.  Earning new cars is awarded by how many “fans” you make during each race.  Fans work as XP progression and the more you have the better your rides will be.  You can earn fans in alot of different ways so you are constantly ranking up.  Anything you do good in a particular race will increase your fan amount.  For example completing “Fan Runs” these are set up as gates that you have to drive through in a set amount of time.  By doing that will give you a little extra bonus.

Unfortunately I found the Career mode to be lacking and just simply not fun after a couple of bosses.  You really don’t feel like your achieving anything by doing these “demands” and it just adds a bit of frustration to the mix.  Luckily enough, the single player aspect has absolutely nothing to do with the multiplayer component.  This my friends is what makes BLUR better than the competition.

Things Can Get Pretty Crazy

With 90 races under my belt (none in first place) so far and just under 6 hours of multiplayer mayhem, BLUR has a online that will keep you coming back for more.  One of the great things about it is that you don’t need to play a lick of the single player.  Everything you do in Multiplayer is separate from the Career and has no bearing on what you did in it.  In fact, you could completely skip the Career and hop right into Online.

If you have ever played Call of Duty multiplayer then you will feel right at home with BLUR’s similar style. Once again, just as in single player “Fans” are awarded for how well you do in a race. They mean everything to your progression in the rankings and the more you have the better and faster your cars will be.  Each specific car also has a set of challenges to it.  Using certain power-ups with your vehicle or coming in first place with that car will earn you more fans. The challenges really add a nice pace to the multiplayer and you will want to use different cars to earn the maximum amount of fans.

What really is the make it or break it for BLUR multiplayer is its rank up system.  You start off at level 1 and have to progress all the way to a level 50.  Like Call of Duty’s Prestige mode, once you cap out at Level 50 you have the choice to enter “Legend” mode, which will unlock new items every time you do.  On your way to Level 50 you will unlock better cars and trucks and unlock “Mods.”  Mods are the equivalent to Perks, for example if using a shield and you happen to get hit with a power-up, that power-up will be available to you.  Maybe you slam into walls one to many times, you can add “Battering Ram” that will decrease the amount of damage your vehicle will take.  These Mods add a nice little tactical aspect of how you play, but really does not decipher how well you will do in a particular race.

Multiplayer game modes is something BLUR is lacking.  You have your standard Skirmish racing that allows 2-10

Did I Mention To Avoid The "Shock"

players (my favorite) with a “Powered-Up” playlist that adds up to 20 cars in a single race.  I did not really enjoy the 20 car races, mainly because I had problems with Lag and lost connections.  “Motor Mash” reminds me of being a kid in bumper cars, without going 100mph of course.  The object here is drive around a circular track dealing as much damage to the other cars as possible.  Whoever has the most points after the 10 minute game wins.  It is a good change of pace from the regular races but gets a little boring after a few games, and you will quickly just want to hop back into regular racing.  All other modes are nothing to call home about.  They added team-based games for “Motor Mash” and “Powered Up” races.  These can get hectic and pretty ridiculous as its hard to tell who you should be trying to wreck and who is on your team.  There is a couple more modes scattered throughout but honestly nothing that adds to the multiplayer experience.

After all that said, BLUR is still an incredibly fun arcade racer.  Though I would not recommend it for someone who just plans on playing this single player.  Its evident that Bizarre Creations made this game a multiplayer first, single player second project.  But if your looking for a deep multiplayer experience that will keep you coming back for “just one more” then I cant tell you enough that this game should be in your gaming library over any of the other competition.

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Release Date List: 6/6-6-12

There’s a little big of everything in this week’s new releases.  Solid Snake is back in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker on the PSP for the sneaky stealth fans, but if that’s not your thing then you can take the green in the new Tiger Woods 11.  Wrapping things up with Green Day: Rock Band.  What a way to kick off the month!

Motorstorm 3 Announcement Could Be Delivered At E3

Leaked screen-shots have surfaced the net revealing what looks to be the next installment in Sony’s Motorstorm series.  The photos depict two buildings crashing down onto a San Francisco environment.  If thats enough, back in february the Motorstorm 3 domain registration was filed.  No doubt if this is true we will see an announcement from Sony at E3, and hopefully a playable demo. Stay Tuned.

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Even Kratos Can Be Happy About Saving Money

There were a ton of games that came out in the first quarter of this year, and in case you’ve missed out on God Of War 3, no worries because you can pick it up today on Amazon for only $37.  Kratos will thank you.

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Battlefield Bad Company 2 ‘VIP Map Pack 3′ Available Wednesday

The third ‘VIP Map Pack’ will be available for download this Wednesday June 9th on the PSN and Xbox 360.  The same formula works the same as the other two map packs that were released.  It will be free for people who have purchased the game new, but for those that have a second-hand copy have to pay 1200 Microsoft Points or $15.00

The pack will bring Squad Deathmatch multiplayer mode to the Nelson Bay map and Squad Rush to Laguna Alta.

PC enthusiasts will have to wait to get the maps “after the release of the next update.”

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I had never really played a Western video game prior to Red Dead Redemption, partially because of their infrequency and partially because I lacked the interest in a genre that seemed like it wouldn’t hold up as well as the familiar sci-fi and post apocalyptia that dominated the landscape. Compared with the creativity of weapons and enemies afforded by genres spawned exclusively by the artists imagination, more recent American history is far more challenging to make as exotic or compelling with as little effort. That isn’t to say it doesn’t have enormous potential, the Old West is after all the great American mythology, it’s just harder to coax this greatness from the dry fabric of realism and antiquity. However, I’m glad I paid attention to this one because Red Dead Redemption is not only the answer to these challenges, it is the definitive Western experience and one of the most purely enjoyable games I’ve played in a while.

It’s ironic that a setting drenched in blood and heroism in film and fantasy has been largely overlooked in gaming, a medium highly receptive to both, but it’s perhaps it’s seeming disadvantage when compared to other more accommodating genres that have limited it. After all, who wants to ride a creaky old buckboard when they can fly around in a spaceship or tear around in a Warthog, and why would I want to use a six shooter when I can use a gravity gun or a chainsaw bayonet? Any period of history following the sword but preceding the machine gun is in danger of being too mundane or tedious for a conventional shooter. The challenges of creating compelling gameplay aside, Developers face additional obstacles in building the environment since the organic spontaneity of nature is much harder to believably render than the symmetry and steel of sci-fi or the barren wastes of post apocalyptia. In short the unique limitations and challenges of creating a great Western game have always relegated it to near obscurity.

Looks Comfortable Huh?

With Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar has overcome these hurdles with solutions that include an impressively simulated, thoroughly engrossing environment, and gameplay and story elements that fully realize the unique potential of the Old West. It’s clear that the developers examined the issues at hand and understood what needed to be done. It was crucial that the individual qualities that make the Wild West legendary in our minds and so appropriately suited as fiction, be the foundation of any game that attempted to do it justice. Rockstar accomplishes this neatly and as a result, Redemption is not simply a dull Westernized clone of every other shooter, not simply old ideas transplanted to a different time and place, but a game that captures the spirit and experience of the Wild West. It delivers on the promise of it’s setting and it’s greatest success is how completely it fulfills that promise.

Following the exploits of ex-outlaw John Marston, the game accounts his attempts to end his old life and begin a new one. In order to do so he must hunt down his former brothers in arms in exchange for clemency for himself and his family from Government agents who’s ruthless tactics and callousness come off as more sinister then the relatively simple motives of the men he hunts. The story itself is less dramatically told or cinematic then say Mass Effect 2, but is a lot deeper than it’s candid delivery at first appears. It’s layered in a way few stories are. It’s depth is in many ways informed by the wealth of Western mythos inherent in our cultural subconscious but it’s Rockstar’s talent for satire and social analysis that give the lengthy story and characters genuine integrity. The understated comparisons between the forces of good and evil are one example of this underlying poignancy and the story’s methodical discernment of characters and motivations is deeply philosophical. Nothing is forced which is why the story seems fairly unassuming but there is a quiet nobility to it’s arc as a sensitive elegiac commentary on society and history.

The various personalities you’ll encounter are all very well done. Each is a Western caricature in their own way, brought to life with great writing, superb voice acting and some theatrically impressive mo-cap. Most of them have a charismatic eccentricity that makes them comedic and memorable and the more serious individuals fill their roles with appropriate gravitas. Rockstar continues to assert itself as a master of character design.

Nothing is wasted here and when I spoke of Redemption as the definitive western it wasn’t simply because there are so few to compare it with but rather because it’s a fulfillment of practically any Western fantasy you can imagine. Everything from the host of interesting and eccentric characters to the various missions, mini-games, challenges, side quests and multitude of locations have been designed to showcase the unique variety and range of the Old West as a time and place as well as a legendary realm of adventure and bravado. The missions read like a thrill seeker’s wild west to-do list and players will take part in everything from defending stagecoaches to boarding moving trains, robbing banks, assaulting fortresses, dueling with gunslingers, hunting buffalo, searching for treasure, cheating at poker, lassoing criminals, riding with posses and everything in between. Even agrarian chores such as herding cattle and breaking horses are accounted for and like everything else you’ll do, they’re fun and satisfying.

Traveling Easy

The ecology of the world is equally varied. The map itself is massive, (it has to be one of the biggest ever in a game) and, as with the activities, the diversity of the Old West is fully realized across it’s impressive acreage. Players can explore the great plains, shadowy forests, snowy mountains, arid canyons, bleached deserts and red mesas. Everything is stunning. The game looks as good and better, in fact, then most linear games, with a host of environmental effects and subtle touches, combined into one of the most impressively lifelike worlds in any game. High end tech like Grass, brush and vegetation that respond to your character’s movements are ubiquitous and more common effects such as footprints, dust and particles are masterfully implemented. Lighting is also top shelf, with dynamic shadows and impressive sunrises and sunsets. I’ve literally stopped on more then one occasion just to watch the last glimmering rays disappear beyond the horizon.

The world is populated by an impressive selection of region specific wildlife all of which can be hunted for valuable meat, feathers and pelts. In addition players will encounter the believable traffic of everyday life as, travelers, townsfolk, and campers all inhabit the landscape attributing a constant flow of activity and further enhancing it’s effectiveness as a real world setting. Everything is impressively rendered and animated thanks to Rockstar’s Euphoria engine, which gives humans and animals, a fluidity of movement often missing from other games.

It’s the fidelity and level of detail that’s unrivaled in this type of game that truly makes this such a unique experience. The world and it’s inhabitants (the day night cycles, weather patterns and ambient effects) seduce you with their realistic majesty and picturesque splendor. The ebb and flow of nature surrounds you as you explore and it’s easy to lose hours to the enchanting embrace of the wilderness. This natural quality also provides moments of almost poetic serendipity, such as the time I pursued a black stallion into the twilight of a misty forest as a gentle snow began to fall. Rarely does a game surprise you with moments that transcend the act of simply playing it. The quality and believability of the environment, it’s ability to captivate the player and function as an entity all it’s own, was an essential component in creating a great Western sandbox and Rockstar absolutely nails it here.

Continue on to page two for the rest of the review.

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Red Dead Redemption DLC Due June 22

The first batch of free Downloadable Content for Red Dead Redemption will hit PSN and XBL on June 22nd.  The pack is called “Outlaws To The End.”  Fitting title as it will include six, two- four player co-op based missions. Achievements and Trophies will also be added to unlock.

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Killzone 3 Teaser Trailer Unleashed

Sony’s exclusive FPS has come out with a small teaser trailer not showing a whole lot quite yet, but just reminding people its on its way.  We are expected to be revealed with more info on the game at this years E3 with a possible release date announcement.  As of right now the game is slated for “2011.”

Keep your eye on Everyday Gamers for up to the minute breaking news regarding Killzone 3 and other titles at E3.

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Call Of Duty: Black Ops=No Co-Op Campaign

It shouldn’t be a shock to Call Of Duty fans that there will be no Campaign Co-op for Treyarchs latest installment.

As it has been explained by Treyarchs studio head Mark Lamia

single-player is the epic, cinematic, seat-of-your-pants thrill ride that you star in, while the game’s cooperative offerings will be packaged in completely separate “unique co-op modes.”

We could possibly see something similar to Modern Warfare 2′s Spec Ops, which had 2 player co op missions in small bursts.  Or could we see a revamped Zombie Mode?  Everything is uncertain as of now but I’m sure we will hear more in the next couple of weeks.

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Lego Harry Potter Demo Due June 7th

Been eager to get your hands on Lego Harry Potter? If so, you can download the demo exclusively on the Xbox 360 on June 7th.  The PS3 and PC versions of the demo will come out later in the month.

Traveller’s Tales will be releasing the game on June 29th on Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii, DS, and PSP.

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Infamous 2 Shocks Its Way To Game Informer Cover

July’s issue of Game Informer shows superhero Cole McGrath in a whole new setting and enviroment.  Check out our link below for a screenshot of the cover.

Be on the lookout for more news on Infamous 2 at E3.

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http://everydaygamers.com/videos/Snoopy%20Flying%20Ace.mp4

Listen in as Eric Bouchard, Chris Maeurer and Jordan de Boer as they discuss the good, the bad and the flat out ugly of licensed video games.

EDG Podcast Ep. #63

Music: DEMON HUNTER – LEAD US HOME and THORNS

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Rumor: Hulu Coming To The 360?

Rumor has it that Hulu may have streaming functionality coming to the Xbox 360 and is said to be announced at E3.  Only issue Microsoft is facing at this time is the rights issue with NBC, CBS etc.  1up has been quoted to say “a Hulu application for the Xbox 360 definitely exists.”  At this point with only 2 weeks to go before E3, most companies are holding all there cards to there sides.

Surprisingly Microsoft had this to say “We don’t comment on rumor or speculation.”

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Portal 2 E3 Event Canceled

Valve’s E3 Portal 2 event that was originally scheduled in the Regal Theater has been cancelled for another “Surprise.”  Although Portal will not be completely scrapped from E3, you can still play it in Valves booth.  “The cancellation of the event is not THE surprise” says Valve.  “The time, date and content of the actual surprise will only become available as you experience the surprise.”  There building up quite a hype machine up for E3.  It will be interesting to see what they announce.

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As I have mentioned before, I am not a huge racing game fan. While there have been some games that have really caught my attention, I do not tend to anticipate them or even consider buying them on their release date. I did not even buy Burnout Paradise when it came out, and I was a huge fan of the previous game in the series.

Why am I starting this review this way? I wanted you to understand just how rare it is for me to get as excited about the release of a racing game as I was for Split Second. From the very first trailer I saw of the game, I was intrigued. A racing game where you can trigger explosions and other obstacles to take out your opponents was intriguing. The demo piques my interest, and between that and my position with EDG, I decided this game was going to be the exception to buying racing games on day one.

Must say I am glad I made that exception.

It all starts normal enough

At its core, Split Second is a rather simple arcade racer. You are competing in Split Second, a reality TV series where racers try to advance through a twelve episode season, striving for the ultimate prize: the season championship. Each episode is broken into six races, and you earn credits based on how you finish each race. These credits not only unlock new cars, but they are necessary to unlock each episodes Elite Race. The Elite Race is the sixth and final race for each episode in which you race against the Split Second elite. If you don’t finish within the target place on the race, you do not advance to the next episode.

So far, this is probably sounding like a pretty standard racer, but Split Second is anything but. Two main things separate the game from other racers: Power Plays and insane race modes.

All about the Power Plays

When you trigger a Power Play can mean the difference between wrecking your rivals or yourself.

There is no doubt about it: Power Plays are what catches everyone’s attention when they first play Split Second. While racing, you gain “power” by performing successful drifts around turns, drafts behind other racers and jumps. When you get enough power to fill a third of your gauge, you can activate various devices that can give you the edge in races. These can range from exploding tankers to helicopters dropping debris on the track, all designed to wreck you opponents so you can take the lead. On caveat, however; you are not immune to any Power Plays you activate, and if you are not careful, all you will manage to do by activating one is wreck yourself.

Basic Power Plays are only the beginning. If you gain enough power to fill the entire gauge, you can activate the Level 2 Power Plays. These are much more powerful; instead of just blowing up a tanker, you may take out an entire cooling tank, along with any drivers who decided to try and take a shortcut by driving underneath it.

There is also another type of Level 2 Power Play: the route changer. Regular Power Plays can open short cuts in the course, allowing you to catch up with your opponents. Level 2 Power Plays can actually completely reshape sections of the track itself, changing the route everyone has to race. Maybe you take out a section of a bridge, lowering it to a different road that eventually snakes back to the main track. Maybe you blow up the supports underneath ship you were racing underneath, creating a jump that leads to racing on the top of an aircraft carrier. You may divert racers onto a runway, forcing you to avoid a landing aircraft while pull ahead of other racers. These route changes take what was already a crazy racing game and make it absolutely insane.

If the Power Plays are what set Split Second apart, it’s the unusual race modes that will keep you coming back for more.

Never raced like that before

Like most arcade racers, Split Second has several different race modes. Three of them are basic variations we have seen before. The standard race is pretty self explanatory. Eliminator starts the race out with a countdown clock, and every time the clock hits 0, the last place car is eliminated from the race. Then there is Detonator, the Split Second version of Burnout’s burning lap; you race one particular type of car for 1 lap, trying to get the best time as Power Plays are automatically triggered ahead of you. The other race modes, however, are like nothing you have ever seen.

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  Dodging missiles while racing? Never did that before.

  Air Strike: You are the only racer on the track. A helicopter is flying overhead, firing missiles at the track in front of you. It is your job to avoid the missile strikes, and the better job you do of that, the higher you score from each wave of missiles. Take a direct hit from a missile strike or enough collateral damage from a missile wave, you crash. Survive three waves in a row, and you increase your points multiplier, which keeps increasing by one for every three above that. Every wreck resets the combo multiplier. It is your job to obtain as high a score as possible in three lives/wrecks.

• Air Strike Revenge: Like Air Strike, you are racing against a helicopter firing missiles at the track. Unlike Air Strike, you get to fight back. You build up power like you would for activating Power Plays, with the exception of the fact that you also build it for avoiding splash damage from missiles. Fill up one power bar, and you can deflect one missile back at the copter. Build up enough for a Level 2 Power Play, and you deflect four missiles back at the copter. Only issue is each wreck resets your power meter, so if you are saving up for the Level 2 and wreck, you have wasted the power. The object is to take out the copter as quickly as you can.
• Survival: You are racing down the track with several big rigs. The object is to pass as many of these rigs as possible, scoring similarly to how you score in Air Strike, with each three rigs you pass building up your combos meter. The race starts with a countdown timer, and you gain bonus time for each rig you pass. The problem is each rig is dropping exploding barrels behind it: the blue ones will slow you down, while the reds ones will force you to wreck. Once the timer hits 0, you hit sudden death; every barrel the rigs drop is red, and your next wreck will end the race.

You unlock these various modes by racing within the various seasons. Once you have participated in a particular mode, you unlock it for quick play.

The flaws in the design

As good as Split Second is, it is not without its faults. The biggest issue is its rather bland multiplayer experience. There are only three modes available for online play: Race, Elimination and Survival Battle. You have to unlock vehicles in the seasons, so if you have not played enough to unlock the better cars, you will not stand chance. There appears to be no matchmaking to connect you only with players who have the same vehicle ratings unlocked you do. The lobby system leaves many things to be desired, and you will start to see the same tracks over and over. You can set up private matches, but outside of that, the only real bright spot in the multiplayer is Survival Battle, which throws all the racers into a Survival race, forcing you to deal with both the semis and the other racers.

Lack of multiplayer is not the only problem. There is almost no vehicle customization you get to choose from a few colors for the cars, and that is all. You cannot change the load out at all, which is disappointing when compared with the customization options of Pure, Blackrock Studio’s first entry in the racing game field. There also are not a lot of tracks available in the game, and some even manage to incorporate sections of track you have already raced, so the game can start to feel repetitive.

There is one other problem with Split Second. The graphics and transitions between modes of play help to enforce the reality TV feel, but that is really about it. Sure, you get a little bit of “Next episode/This episode” outro and intro as you move between episodes, but that is about it. Blackrock should have included a little more to really build on the TV theme. It may seem like a minor thing to point out, but its absence stands out during game play.

Split Second has its faults. It also is one of the most unique racing experiences I have ever had. If you are okay with the lack of customization and bare-bones multiplayer, you will find a lot to like. Split Second gets a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

I’ve been looking forward to ModNation Racers ever since it was announced at E3. Originally I thought it was supposed to be a PSN downloadable title but I guess I was wrong. ModNation Racers is basically Mario Kart on the PS3 but with loads of customization. You can customize your characters, your karts, and also build tracks. The options while creating are endless too. As you probably would have guessed there is a campaign mode in which you participate in races against AI kart racers. Winning these races gives you items for customizing your karts and characters. For each track there are 3 goals to achieve which makes the game very re-playable, for each goal you unlock more goodies for your character or kart.

Kart Customization

My time spent with the game was great. The controls feel so tight that you don’t even have to brake, you can keep your finger on the gas and never let go. Compared to how colorful your character and kart is, the tracks in ModNation are kind of bland in the color department. It may just be because I am used to the bright colors of Mario Kart but I felt like they were not diverse enough in their coloring schemes.

ModNation Racers has the standard modes you would expect in a kart racer: Campaign, Online Multiplayer and Split-Screen multiplayer. I had a chance to sit down and play the split screen multiplayer with my wife and she really enjoyed it. I was trying to get her to play at least one track and we ended up playing 6 or more. My biggest complaint about ModNation is the load times. The average load time for loading a race is 1 minute (I timed it). You may not think this is long but try sitting at your computer for a full 60 seconds and you will see what I mean. Now imagine sitting there each time you want to start a race. This is unacceptable, especially for a fast paced kart racing game. ModNation is what I consider a “just one more track” kind of racing game you’d want to play with your friends. The minute load times really kill that mood. This is a huge downfall for ModNation Racers in my opinion. I have however read there is a patch in the works to decrease those load times, the question is when will it be released? I remember the Fat Princess lag fix took over a month to roll out.

Track Creator

Other than the loading time problems ModNation Racers is a solid racer. While I didn’t really care for the cut scenes the campaign mode is lengthy enough, especially with the challenges you can complete. The bread of the game is going to be the customization and the multiplayer. I’m sure you will spend hours customizing your character and creating tracks, it’s kind of like the LittleBigPlanet of kart racers. This is a great game to play with people on the same couch as well, split screen works great and I honestly think it’s best played that way and it’s a shame that the load times have to kill the mood. The menu, also known as the “ModSpot” is basically a menu in which you drive around in. You drive to the campaign to start it, you drive to multiplayer to start it, etc. You can also browse the characters that people have created. When I first started the game there was Mario, Luigi, and Spiderman available to download. The sharing option is a great addition to the game.

ModNation Racers is definitely worth the money. If you are a little on the fence about the game then go check out the demo that is available in the PSN store. If I had to pick between ModNation, Blur or Split/Second, I’d go with ModNation Racers, but that’s just my style. One more thing: It has the same announcer from Crackdown and Red Faction: Guerrilla which is a plus. I’m giving ModNation a 3.5 out of 5 star simply because of the load times, if this wasn’t a problem it would be a solid 4 out of 5.

http://everydaygamers.com/videos/New%20EDG%20Website%20Rundown.mp4

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Earthworm Jim HD Trailer Packs A Punch

Gameloft has put out a trailer for the beloved classic Earthworm Jim.  The trailer introduces 4 player co-op and also shows new single player levels.  To my knowledge, no release date or pricing has been set for the XBLA title.

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Anonymous Alpha Protocol Developer Is “A Tired Dev”

In Joystiq’s comments section of there review for Alpha Protocol, “a tired dev” says he was one of the developers on the game and states that the game was a complete failure and that Sega should have canceled the title 2 years ago.  He goes on to say

It was obvious 2 years ago that this game should have been scrapped. Instead, though, they focused on adding still more features and never fixed the ones they already had. That is a recipe for tons of bugs and no polish

The developer goes on to say that Obsidian’s other project Fallout: New Vegas is looking good.  I guess its always possible to believe that the post could of came from a angry buyer, but the post seems pretty detailed and specific.  “a tired dev” at least had sense enough to keep his comments anonymous.

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New Releases

Tuesday June 1st

Alpha Protocol – $49.99, The Espionage RPG

Sims 3 Ambitions – $39.99 – Meticulous career control for your Sims

News Bytes

• DRM Alert!!! So this week, we have good news and bad news on the DRM front.  First, the good.  A Blizzard representative was quoted saying that Anti-piracy efforts, on the PC platform, are an outright waste of resources that would be better devoted to making better games.  They acknowledged that piracy and software cracking teams were exponentially greater than the developer teams, and that anti-piracy measures are futile at best.  They seem to believe that, if correctly implemented, Battle.Net will offer enough features to lure players into wanting to play with a legitimate, paid copy rather than a cracked torrented one, and isn’t that what we have been saying here at EDG?  Make the game better and continue to innovate, and the majority of players will gladly pay for the experience.  On the downside, Namco Bandai, while echoing the futile sentiments of anti-piracy measures, have said that they are choosing to support the “always on” DRM scheme that Ubisoft has flung at us, like plague ridden bodies over a castle wall.  They admit that it is not the best scheme, but it is the best option for them, at this time.  So how will Test Drive’s new game and The Witcher 2 be affected?  Only time will tell.  However, if you are a Test Drive fan, head over to the Test Drive Unlimited 2 site, or click here, to apply for the game’s beta.  Keep in mind, that while Blizzard’s statements are a remarkable breath of fresh air, Battle.Net 2.0 still requires a log in for single player gameplay—-although it would appear that an offline mode, a la Steam’s offline play, should be an option.  Keep your eyes peeled for the EDG SCII Beta preview, coming soon—–and keep at those Zerg rushes, the Beta has been extended until June 7th!
• Were you one of the lucky 25,000 first gamers to jump into OnLive’s pre-order? Were you looking forward to the free first 3 months that were promised?  Well, that’s not the deal anymore!  Take heart true believers, OnLive has not taken away, but upped the ante to one year free AND one free game.  Sounds like a great deal no?  Also sounds like an attempt to attract attention from their competitor, Gaikai, who has been drawing much attention of their own with their pricing structure and network of server sites.  It will be interesting to see this clash of the titans, and the news they unveil at E3!
• Need For Speed World Online prepping pit crews. The official launch date of the online racing MMO will be July 20th, with beta access for pre-orders.  The new iteration in the NFS universe will allow free play until level 10, after which a $19.99 ‘Starter Pack’ purchase will be required and will up the level cap to 50.  Also available with a pre-order is an exclusive car, early access and a power up pack.  I assume there won’t be any balancing issues with the exclusive content, but then again that statement would assume that there is enough of a NFS following willing to make the jump into MMO territory and play long enough to uncover these balancing issues.
• More Call of Duty ups and downs, as Treyarch announces that they are solely committed to the Call Of Duty franchise. Sure, it’s good news, but it’s also worrisome if they are not cautious to avoid the same pitfalls that Infinity Ward fell prey to.  On another front, Black Ops details are hitting like tracers lighting up the night sky.  Apparently, we can gladly move on from World War II as the new game’s setting will span across multiple fronts such as the Cold War and Vietnam.  Joystiq aired a developer interview, withe Treyarch’s Dan Bunting,  here, but if you are reluctant to read it, I will post the highlights here :

1. True to Call of Duty form, you will control multiple characters across many frontiers in the 60′s and 70′s timeframe, enclosed in a single, over-arcing storyline.
2. Four player co-op and two player split screen has been announced, along with a beefed up COD4 graphics engine.
3. DLC was not addressed, a PS2 port was confirmed DOA and a Wii title, handled by another team within Treyarch, will be enrolling for active duty.

• Heavy Rain will not be storming onto the PC. Well, we can put this rumor to rest apparently, although, even with the mixed reviews, I can say I would still like to see Heavy Rain get ported over.  In a large list of games supporting Nvidia’s PhysX technology on an Nvidia website, gamers spied that Heavy Rain would be supporting the technology that shined in Arkham Asylum, among other titles.  Without a game announcement, this seemed like an accidental announcement for an interesting PC port.  Unfortunately, the PhysX guys have declared this a mere typo and corrected the website.  True, this does not completely rule out the game’s weather conditions changing direction to the PC, but it makes it a lot more skeptical, for now.

Geared Up

Well, I can thank our own, Patrick Adams, for this week’s ‘Geared Up’ entry.  I was a little uninformed with last week’s discussion of Nvidia’s current 3D PC technology, so what better way to get caught up than to get up close and personal right here!  The 3D kit currently retails on NewEgg for $199.00, with a copy of James Cameron’s Avatar for the PC.  As I mentioned, the tech runs best on a monitor with a refresh rate of 120Hz, but it is not required.  This particular kit only includes the software, glasses and IR transmitter to transmit the image up to 15 feet wirelessly to one or multiple sets of glasses.  It’s the LC lenses in the glasses that are the key to the whole technology.  The lenses flicker at a rate far beyond the eyes detection, allowing the images corresponding to each eye to be seen as 3D by the wearer.  Like our console wireless controllers, they are charged by USB to be ready for use in-game, but I found no details on how long they could be used before requiring an additional charging.  Sure, this only creates the illusion of 3D, but judging by the spectrum of reviews, it can be excellent—-provided you have the tech to pull it off.  I have been able to find prices for 22″ monitors starting at $249 and climbing online-which is probably not unreasonable if you are in need of a replacement monitor, but seems expensive if you already have a good resolution reliable monitor and are upgrading for the sole purpose of 3D support.  One of the interesting features that I came across, that one might not think of, is the ability of Nvidia’s 3D tech to create it’s own crosshair in any title supported.  Why in the world would they do that, you ask?  Well, in case the game did not adapt it’s built in crosshair to the 3D support, Nvidia does the work for them so that your crosshair will not disappear behind objects and enemies rendered in 3D, causing targeting difficulties.  If you are curious about the technology and it’s presentation, check the links below.

For a video of the unboxing and product review, look here.  Also, many associated videos can be found on the right.

For a full list of supported games, as well as links to product descriptions, check Nvidia’s page here.  I have to say, the list of supported titles is absolutely staggering, and I can easily see myself dusting off many of these games when my budget catches up with the falling prices of the monitors and tech.

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Happy Memorial Day From The Everyday Gamers!

In between all of your grilling and gaming today, be sure to remember all of our fallen heroes that allow us to live the way we do everyday.  On that note, everybody here at Everyday Gamers wish you a safe and Happy Holiday.  Be sure to tell us what games you’ve played over the long weekend!

Release Date List For 5/30-6/5

This week we have the highly anticipated RPG Espionage Alpha Protocol hitting store shelves this Tuesday. Not your thing?  There are also 5 new Modern Warfare 2 maps that you can get your hands on this Thursday.  Check out our source below for the full list of goodies.

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Treyarch Gives 100% Dedication

To what should be no surprise, Treyarch has decided to become 100% dedicated to only Call of Duty titles from here on out.

Treyarch is a 100 percent Call of Duty studio — and it has been for a long time now, long before any of [the Infinity Ward] events occurred

says Mark Lamia, Treyarch’s studio head.  Lamia also mentions

We focused all of our efforts on creating the best Call of Duty game we possibly can and what that meant is not working on anything else.

It seems like the Call of Duty franchise is only beginning.  Are you burned out by the amount of Call of Duty’s that we are seeing now? Let us know how you feel in the comments section.

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Split Second Wrecks Amazon

Don’t feel like waiting in lines at your local Best Buy to get Split Second? Well online shoppers you can now head over to Amazon and pick up the game for $39.99.  The deal is good for the PS3 and Xbox 360.  This may be a today only sale so head over to Amazon quickly to get your copy!

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Original Wii Bundle $150.00 At Best Buy

On Best Buy’s website they have the original Wii bundle for $150.00.  The bundle includes the original Wii Sports but not Wii Sports Resort or MotionPlus.  If your just looking for a quick Wii fix and do not mind receiving  the new add-ons then this seems like a great deal.  Supplies could be very low so you may want to act quickly if you have any interest.

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Joe Danger Rides To PSN June 8th

Been dying to get your hands on the motorcycle racer Joe Danger? Hello Games have finally announced a June 8th release date and what not a better way to start the summer downloadable games off.  If you are in any way a fan of arcade racers then this game should definitely been on your list.

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Mark Hamill Retiring After Arkham Asylum 2

The legendary Mark Hamill has decided to retire his voice as The Joker after Batman: Arkham Asylum 2, said in a IGN UK recent interview.  His actual plan was to call it quits after making the first game saying “He wanted to end on a high note”.  However, it seems Rocksteady begged and pleaded to get Mark to reprise the role one last time.

At least were getting Mark back for the sequel, it just wouldn’t be the same without him.

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Splinter Cell: Conviction On iPhone

Can’t get enough Sam Fisher? Well now you can pick up a mobile version of the game for $9.99.  It has alot of the same attributes as the console versions and even allows you to Mark & Execute.  Though rumor has it the game is being plagued by bad AI and problems with the controls.  Buy at your own risk!

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Kane & Lynch 2 Goes Undercover

The final multiplayer mode for Kane & Lynch 2 “Undercover Cop” puts a slight twist on there “Cops & Robbers” mode.  Here the cop is a undercover player who must kill the criminals without being disguised and while at the same time securing all the dirty drug money.

The multiplayer modes on Kane & Lynch 2 sound very promising and great on paper.  But we will have to wait until August 24th to see how the game will actually play out.

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Tired of the same old base building RTS mechanics?  Majesty 2 resurrects an old classic and blows RTS trends out of the water with a great fantasy setting and an interesting twist on the genre.  Our review is apologetically, long overdue, but we get down and dirty in Ardania to defend the throne.

The Story

Majesty 2 unfolds half a century later than the original.  The lands have been united, enemies vanquished and all has become overtly boring in Ardania.  So much so, that the current King Leonard has decided to summon a demon to break the boredom and paint himself the hero as well as adding worth to his fame and treasure chests.  In a surprising twist, this plan has blown up in King Leonard’s face as the Archdemon has won bringing peril to the land of Ardania once again.  All hope was lost, until you, the potential true heir was found.  The fate of Ardania rests in your hands, if you can battle back the mosters overtaking the land, lay waste to the conspirators threatening the throne and ultimately banish the Archdemon back from whence he came.

The Gameplay

This is the juicy meat that sets this RTS apart from the rest in satisfying bites of new gameplay.  Instead of directly controlling Ardania’s waning forces, you take the direct role of the new heir and use your wealth and power to establish new towns, economies and mercenaries.  That’s right, your forces are heroes for hire that you can animate by placing reward flags across each map, tantalizing heroes with coin purses dangled in front of them for exploration or monster slaying.  In addition, you can place Fear flags that will make your low level, newer heroes avoid certain areas with higher level enemies that will easily cleave the flesh of your heroes from their bones.  You start by building guilds to recruit different heroes-rouges, mages, warriors and rangers at the start of the game, with more races, such as elves and dwarves, available later.  After, you must balance your economy to provide new items and upgrades for your heroes to keep them bringing their newfound treasure back into your pocket, and keeping the cashflow circling for you to reward their efforts as you pull their strings.  In addition, you may choose one hero at the end of each mission that can be recruited in later missions via a Hall of Lords that you can construct.  You can place Exploration, Attack, Defend and Fear flags to keep you heroes motivated, and foreign enemies are not the only threat you will encounter.  As your town grows, it’s sewer needs grow proportionately.  This open your town up to an unstoppable threat of rats, and later, Ratmen.  In addition, when your first hero falls in battle, a cemetery is erected in your town, which becomes a source of unending undead foes.  This poses the first of the balancing issues in the game.  Often, you can become easily snuffed out between the outside enemies and those emerging from the sewers and graves within, as you scurry to allow your characters to level up and afford the necessary upgrades.  It’s a vicious cycle that you are more often than not the victim of.  In addition, the further you progress, the tougher the odds get tipped against you.  For example, should you lose a level 20 hero, good luck raising a new one to that lofty height with the higher level chacters making quick work of the newbies.  Add to that the fact that only some hero types seem effective in combination, or on certain levels, and the frustration of defense towers that continue to raise in price with each one built, and you have a terrible mechanic that requires more money from you than you can frequently produce.  As the game progresses, you gain the option of allowing heroes to party up at an Inn, but be careful who you pair together.  Balancing is extremely important, and not all heroes get along-dwarves and elves are mortal enemies, and do not function well together.  The micromanagement and strategy can be a welcome challenge, but becomes a fantastical frustration when you watch a couple hours work crumble because choices you made early on in the match could not be undone later.  For example, focus on rogues and warriors, only to find an hour in that you needed mages and rangers, and your attempts to raise those new level 1 types up will be thwarted by the level 15 enemies spewing from your gates and sewers.

The Verdict

Majesty 2 offers a fun, addicting gameplay not found in competing games in the genre.  The difficulty gets ramped up pretty quickly in the 16 level campaign, and the human opponents via online multiplayer are equally as unforgiving.  It was tough to come up with an accurate rating because, on the one hand, Majesty 2 does something many games haven’t tried before and on the other, the balancing issues, inability to change the difficulty and small campaign can definitely be a thorn in the side.  Balance issues aside, you owe it to yourself to check out this welcome twist in the stale RTS genre.  Ardania should be a sought after destination on any strategy gamer’s conquest chart.

Lucasarts takes force manipulation to blistering new heights in this game meant to bridge the gap between trilogies and reveal a secret apprentice of Darth Vader.  Ok, so Force Unleashed force jumped onto consoles long ago, but the much awaited PC port, with all the DLC splashed down last holiday season, and we will see if it does the platform justice, or should be tossed in the Sarlacc pit.

The Story

The opening level sees Darth Vader hunting Jedi on the Wookiee planet of Kashyyyk.  Upon battling the Jedi Vader hunted down, he is surprised to find the Jedi has a son, also incredibly strong with the Force.  Rather than kill child and father, Vader sees a golden opportunity to raise up an apprentice in the Sith, with the ultimate goal of overthrowing the Emperor with their combined forces.  As you take control of Starkiller, the now grown apprentice, you begin with paltry missions Vader commits you to, ultimately witnessing the birth of the Rebellion, crossing paths with a few famed characters and setting the stage for Episode IV : A New Hope.  I have some major issues with the story, and it’s here that I judge the game it’s harshest.  Starkiller is a more powerful character than Luke, Vader, Obi-Wan and the Emperor combined, and while I appreciate what they did as a game mechanic, it breaks the over-arcing canon of the Star Wars Universe.  I can’t help but wonder if this would have been better set in the Old Republic timeline, removing the draw of Vader in the storyline, but making the story more believable, and allowing for much more freedom.  It also seems to depreciate the length of time between Episodes III and IV and the implied gap of technology loss and Jedi suppression.  How suppressed are the Jedi, really, when I am piling their bodies up throughout the game?  All in all, if you can overcome the faults, the story does a nice job of keeping you interested, and the character development and voice acting are far from phoned in, they are both very well done.

The Gameplay

Unfortunately, this is another bittersweet potion of the game.  The combos and force powers are fantastic, the use of Vader at the beginning to whet your appetite is a much better element than pulling a more obvious Metroid-ian stripping of your powers to make you gain them back through progression of the game.  The downside is the tipping of the scales with your opponents.  It seems odd that enemies can break your combos and pummel you, whereas you cannot break theirs–and are equally helpless when downed, where you become the victim of a string of combos, from which you cannot break or recover.  Combined with that, some of the higher level enemies seem overly powerful, and combined, these elements will lead to a multitude of frustrating and unecessary deaths.  This seems not only incongruent with the powerful character of Starkiller, but nullifying to the combo system, when it offers no real advantage.  The levels are vast, and the environments varied, even back-tracking yields different results to shake the feeling of deja vu.  There is some texture popping and collision issues, but overall the environments are beautiful.  Unfortunately, this seems to be the common denominator with Aspyr titles, in addition to poor, infrequent patching–however, I highly recommend installing the latest patches for SWTFU, it makes a big difference.  As always, the camera is just as much an enemy as the forces you are battling, with many falling deaths thanks to the poor angle and platforms you must blind jump to.  The keyboard and mouse controls seemed well mapped, but I am not enough of a purist to abandon my 360 gamepad, which served me much better.

How you get fun, playing DLC of this kind?

The Sith Edition not only offers both DLC missions of the game, but also a unique Hoth mission, not available anywhere else.  The missions are lengthy enough and offer interesting story twists and continuations of the two available endings to the main game’s campaign.  An unending multitude of costumes are available, most unlocked from the beginning or by simple campaign progression, but no real appropriate game mode or setting seems available to try them out in.   For example, each level offers a unique costume for Starkiller that fits the story or individual level-the same can be said for the DLC missions.  Had there been a duel mode or some type of challenge mode, it would have been the perfect place to try out your new duds, but the lack of those options makes you simply feel all dressed up with no place to go.  Also suspicious is the absence of DLC access once you play the campaign mode–you can only play those missions by starting a new game and choosing them individually instead of beginning a campaign.  The missions themselves, however, are good continuations from the main game’s two altered endings.  Two missions follow the evil ending, while the third has you continuing the noble ending and searching for clues to your past.  Each lasts anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour, and are definitely good additions.  So much so, I would say, that I would have been interested to see those stories extrapolated with more DLC, but I guess that’s where SWTFU II will fill in.

The Verdict

So, from all of my commentary so far, it would seem the Dark Side abounds in this game, especially when given the fact that it absorbs and unprecedented 23 gigabytes of hard drive space for the install.  Even with the combat faults and huge install, I had a great time with this game.  The ‘evil’ ending of the game offered an unexpected twist, for me, and opened up the story for more interesting aspects in the DLC campaigns, two of which continue that ending in an alternate universe to the original Episode IV continuation.  Add in the fact that this game debuted at a $39.99 price point, and has since seen a drop, it’s not a bad pickup for any force fan, provided you have the hardware to keep the bugs at bay.  It will be interesting to see what the assumed simultaneous cross-platform sequel holds for Starkiller’s future later this year.

Listen in as Eric Bouchard, Patrick Adams and Chris Maeurer talk about Lost, the iPad, Nostalgia… and make one very special announcement.

EDG Podcast Ep. #62

Music: Anberlin – Paperthin Hymn and Blame Me

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

PSP Being Offered On The GO

IFE Services has announced a partnership with SCEA to offer PSP’s to customers on airlines. Six airlines are currently in the works with IFE.  The PSP will include a extended life battery for up to 11 hours for those extra long trips.  What is also interesting is IFE will offer “comprehensive crew training” to all the flight attendants who are involved with this new system.

How cool would it be seeing a elderly woman playing God Of War?

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Kane & Lynch 2 Debut ‘Cops & Robbers’

Eidos put out a new trailer today revealing a new multiplayer game type for there upcoming sequel Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days.  The mode is called “Cops & Robbers” it’s a 6 on 6 team structured game where the robbers steal a bunch of cash and must escape within four minutes while the cops must stop them from reaching there destination.

If people play the game like it should be played, this could have a lot of potential.  Kane & Lynch 2 will hit  August 24th 2010 on the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC.

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Mafia II Collector’s Edition, Pre-Order DLC Revealed For The Wise Guys

2K Czech’s open world gangster game Mafia II revealed today a collector’s edition and specific retailer pre-order bonuses.  The Collector’s Edition will run you the standard $20 increase from the standard version making it $79.99 on the Xbox 360 and PS3 with a $69.99 price tag on PC.  These will be “available in limited quantities across select North American retailers and internationally,” Here are the details below:

Collector’s Edition

-Collectible SteelBook Casing: Brushed metallic SteelBook hard case with debossed logo containing two pieces of art featuring Vito and Joe, the stars of Mafia II.

-Made Man Pack: Free access to in-game downloadable pack that lets players get behind the wheel of two different luxury automobiles modeled after cars from the period. In addition, Vito will look the part with two new “made man” suits, including a vintage tux.

-Hardcover Art Book: Get to know the families of Empire Bay with a 100-page photo album-style art book that takes fans through the artistic design process of the game.

-Mafia II Orchestral Soundtrack: Immerse yourself in Empire Bay’s symphonic masterpiece with the Mafia II score recorded by the Prague FILMHarmonic Orchestra on CD.

-Map of Empire Bay: Get familiar with the neighborhoods and own the streets with a high quality, tear-resistant map depicting the 10 square miles of Empire Bay and all the hangout spots.

Pre-Order Bonuses (North America Only)

-Vegas Pack (GameStop): Get a taste of old school Vegas in this new DLC pack from Mafia II. Bring a taste of Vegas to Empire Bay as you cruise through the town in two new cars with smooth handling and timeless lines. Vito shows his Vegas style in two new suits inspired by movies and music of the time.

-War Hero Pack (GameStop): The ’40s wouldn’t be complete without a war hero. Vito plays the role well in the War Hero DLC pack. Drive two military style vehicles and notice the superior handling in all weather conditions. Vito looks sharp in two new military outfits, including fatigues and a dress uniform.

-Renegade Pack (Amazon): Show off your inner renegade in this new DLC pack. Start with two new cars, one with the slick styling and tight handling of a small sports coupe and the other with the revved up engine of a ’50s hot rod. Outfit Vito in two new suits, including leather and lettermen’s jackets to fit his renegade persona.

-Greaser Pack (Best Buy): Free access to the in-game downloadable content pack that is all about speed. These two new hot-rod speedsters will win you pink slips every time. Pair them with two new outfits for Vito — a leather jacket with heavy boots, and a leather racing suit — and get your engines revving.

-$10 Gift Card (Wal-Mart.com): Pre-order Mafia II at Wal-Mart.com and receive a $10 Wal-Mart e-gift card

Mafia II is scheduled for release on August 24th 2010 on the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.

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Uncharted 2 Introducing “The Lab”, Double Cash Weekend

Looking for a reason to hop back into some Uncharted 2 Multiplayer?  Well this weekend Naughty Dog is adding a new playlist titled “The Lab” in which they said they will updating every other week with new game types. This week (May 28-June 1) you and a buddy can get together for 2 vs 2 team deathmatch games across medium-sized maps.  On top of that Naughty is adding double cash for all kills and medals earned.

The fun starts Friday, May 28th and ends Tuesday, June 1.

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Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Want To Save Money In A Split/Second?

Have you been torn between the question Blur or Split/Second? Well maybe Best Buy can help you better decide. Starting next week from May 30th until June 5th you can pick up Split/Second for $39.99.  Also as a little extra incentive you will receive three exclusive Best Buy cars.  You should have no problem getting all the ladies in town with those sweet rides.

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Insomniac Games Teaming Up With EA For Xbox 360 Project

The studio that brought you the Resistance and Ratchet and Clank series have announced a “brand new universe and franchise” coming to not only the PS3, but the Xbox 360 as well. Insomniac Games has never made a Xbox 360 title before until now.

This does not mean Insomniac will no longer make exclusives to the PS3 said CEO Ted Price.  Stating in a blog post that Insomniac’s

relationship with Sony Computer Entertainment is still very strong” with additional  projects planned exclusively for PlayStation 3.

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HBO Joins The PSN Video Family

Later today a update will be coming to the PS3 and PSP that will allow HBO support on your Playstation. Some of the shows that are expected to be available right away are the first 2 seasons of of True Blood, and select seasons of Entourage, Big Love, Eastbound and Down, The Sopranos, The Wire, (great show) Sex and the City, Rome, Da Ali G Show and more.

No pricing has yet been talked about but we expect the normal 2.99 per episode.  Any shows you need to catch up on?

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Release List

Tuesday, 5/25

• Blur – Racing, $39.99

News Bytes

• Our fishbowl spies broke the news last week, and we can confirm it this week – Fable III is indeed being told on the PC platform this year! Hold your jubilation, the details are somewhat confusing.  Apparently, PC players will only have to pony up $49.99 for the game BUT that is because the Exclusive Edition will not be available on PC.  However, it seems that the exclusive level and in-game items will be accessible on the PC-the question is how much will we pay?  The 360 Limited Edition will retail for $79.99 and will include an exclusive quest, region, dog breed and outfit-as well as a Fable themed deck of cards and Guild Seal Coin.  Which means that, even if, all that DLC retails for $29.99 or less, we may still be getting hosed.  One can only hope this will be automatically be included in PC copies, but none of those details have been leaked.  That, couple with the “episodic storytelling” promised for Fable III has this PC gamer very skeptical that this will be Microsoft’s holy return to the platform, but we will see when E3 tells all.
• Enjoying your Mass Effect 2 DLC? Yeah, me either, but brace for impact, commander, much more is on the way!  Apparently Bioware representatives have said that the gap between Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 will unfold over DLC packs.  Now, we’ve already heard the announcements that no new party members will be forthcoming, but it’s curious to see how well this will play out.  Certainly, no ME3 details have been released, but it will be interesting to see just how much of the stage gets set for Commander Sheppard’s third iteration.  I would love to see Dragon Age style full expansion to attack this story gap with, but an episodic approach might not be bad if it beaks the trend of short, throwaway DLC packs.  Eiter way, watch the stars for more news!
• I feel the need, the need for speed! No, that doesn’t mean another Need For Speed game on the horizon, I’m sure when EA figures out how to charge $10 per multiplayer track, we’ll see that.  Instead, the PSN Top Gun title will buzz our PC towers, with or without clearance.  The single player campaign will be written by the film’s screenwriter, Jack Epps Jr, and will expand upon the movie’s content.  Also available, will be 16 player multiplayer across 5 different game modes.  Hitting this summer, we can’t wait to take to the skies!  Will it be possible to save Goose?
• Google Chrome selling games? Apparently, the Chrome App store has been confirmed to start carrying browser based games.  Bejeweled 2, Lego Star Wars, FIFA and Plants VS Zombies were among the games revealed, but more have been promised.  I’m still trying to figure out if this is an attempt to emulate the Iphone App Store or move in on Gaikai/OnLive territory.  Either way, we will have the details here when they download!

Geared Up

Once again, the ‘Geared Up’ faeries have sold me short, I regret that I have no entries for this week.  However, I would like to take the time to share a link to MonoPrice.  If you need network cables, HDMI cables, LCD Wall Mounts or anything for your Home Theater, I have not found prices cheaper than here.  Sure, gaming gear is great, but useless without the right equipment to set it up!  Also, I would love to hear from our readers, send your interesting gaming gear entries to “chris@everydaygamers.com”.  Thanks!

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Release Date List: 5/23-5/30

Last week we were absolutely hammered with great triple A titles including Red Dead Redemption, Alan Wake, and Split/second just to name a few.  This upcoming week doesn’t get any easier on our wallets.  Take a look below at whats coming out, there’s everything from battling to the death in the Octagon, to returning to the Mario Galaxy.

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Halo Reaches Store Shelves September 14th

Halo fans can finally look forward to playing Reach on September 14th with a Japanese release the following day.  There will be three different editions of the game. A standard ($59.99) Limited ($79.99) and for the hardcore Halo fans, the Legendary ($149.99).  Which version will you be picking up?

If you don’t think this game is going to be huge, take a look below at some of the stats the Beta was able to attain in just about a 3 week period.

More than 2.7 million “Halo” fans helped make entertainment history this month by participating in the “Halo: Reach” multiplayer beta on Xbox LIVE, making it the largest console video game beta test on record and more than triple the size of the “Halo 3″ beta. Players completed more than 13 million online games and logged over 16 million hours of online gameplay, amounting to over 1,826 years of total play time in just over a two-week period. The data and user feedback gathered from the beta will help Bungie and Microsoft further refine the game and deliver a blockbuster experience that fans have come to expect from the “Halo” franchise.

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Killzone 3 Confirmed, Also Supporting 3D

Guerrilla Games officially announced today at a press event in Amsterdam, that we will in fact see a Killzone 3.  Only thing we know right now is that the game will support 3D and will feature jet packs.  No release date has been mentioned but you can guarantee Guerrilla Games will be showcasing the game at E3 this year.

For more info check out Killzone in GamePro’s July issue which hits newsstands June 1.

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Could competition return to NFL Video Games?

Remember that exclusivity deal the NFL signed with EA Sports? Well, a Supreme Court Ruling today may end up changing things for the better. The highest court in the land has ruled the NFL does not qualify for any Antitrust exemptions; the 32 Teams have to be treated as separate entities operating under the umbrella of the league. So what does this mean to gamers? The case has been sent back to the lower courts to see if the NFL has violated antitrust laws by signing exclusivity agreements with Reebok and others. If these contracts are rules a violation of the law, EA may no longer be the only company allowed to make NFL games.

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http://everydaygamers.com/videos/Iron%20Man%20Demo%20Gameplay%20Footage.mp4

Daily Bits is a collection of all the gaming news that has happened for the current day that we deem as interesting and relevant to our readers. Check back daily for more news round-ups and feel free to send your suggestions to dailybits@everydaygamers.com

Sonic 4 Pushed Back To Late 2010

Sega decided to push back Sonic 4 Episode 1 from a summer release to “late 2010″. The official press release had the following to say.

The additional time will allow the Development Team to focus on ensuring overall high-quality throughout the game by continuing to tune, balance, and maintain the kind of polish that an important title like this demands, and ultimately providing fans with an unrivaled classic sonic feel

Also very interesting news mentioned is that a iPhone/iPod touch version will be available. No word if its a same day release as the XBLA, PSN, and WiiWare.

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EA Confirms List For E3

EA has mentioned the games they will be showcasing at E3 this year.

Bulletstorm-set for release in 2011

Dead Space 2-set for release in 2011