Why the Next 7 Days are Crucial to Sony

Does anyone really believe the hackers who took the PSN down initially will sit back and assume it’s secure?

Speculation is hotting up over the possible relaunch date of the PSN Store, with many people believing (and everyone else hoping) that we’ll still see the store return by the end of May. If that turns out to be the case, Sony have got one hell of a week on their hands.

Impatient gamers will be desperate to get their hands on the free package that Sony have already outlined. While most people probably wouldn’t go out of their way to buy a copy of Wipeout, you can guarantee that the longer people have to wait for their free copy, the more annoyed they’ll be getting. Rumours on the Internet are Sony’s worst enemy at the moment, and with many gamers already angry about the PSN and store outages it doesn’t help when various sites wind everyone up with their “insider information” giving an accurate return date, which then turns out to be made up. Sony need to be ready with their Welcome Back package as soon as the store returns, otherwise the Interweb will explode with pre-pubescent angst and anger that Sony are “breaking their promise” to their customers. We’ve already got more than enough stroppy rants of YouTube as it is…

E3 2011: Evil and Dead in Shadows of the Damned

Running screaming through an evil forest with familiar scenery in the third chapter of Shadows of the Damned.

Grasshopper Manufacture's resident impresario, Suda 51, has made mention of Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez's Grindhouse again and again in marketing and interviews for his upcoming HD debut, Shadows of the Damned. But after making my way through the first half of the game, it's clear there are other 80's horror icons that belong in that list of influences. Five or so hours in, and it also seems like your ability to appreciate the multi-dimensional references to eight and sixteen-bit era gaming conventions and VHS horror mainstays might determine your ability to appreciate Shadows of the Damned as a game.

Publisher EA and Grasshopper Manufacture have already shown the first two chapters of Shadows of the Damned a couple of times before, but chapter three is unlike anything they've exposed us to previously. It also kicks Shadows of the Damned's horror homage into overdrive. Where earlier levels of Shadows of the Damned reference the style of the Tarantinos and Tobe Hoopers (Texas Chainsaw Massacre), the third chapter features an extended tribute to Evil Dead and Evil Dead 2 and their director, Sam Raimi.

While he's better known now for his directing work on the Spider-man films, Raimi made his bones (no pun intended) writing, directing and producing the Evil Dead films. In the middle of Shadows of the Damned's third chapter, the Evil Dead worship isn't just evident, it assaults you. Running screaming through the woods, our hero Garcia (F*cking) Hotspur is fleeing the deranged corpse (possibly? Shadows wallows in nebulous explanations of weird sh*t) of his suicide girlfriend Paula, taking refuge in wooden cabins, screaming to the world "How do you stop them?" I had to stop and take a moment to process the familiarity, the audacious, wholesale lifting of visual cues, right down to the roaring intangible spirit trying to break down the cabin door.

Mortal Kombat Skarlet DLC Trailer

Worst first date ever? See Skarlet get violent in Mortal Kombat.

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Minecraft Launching on the Xperia Play

PC port to debut first on the first PlayStation Certified phone.

Get ready to take your addiction on the road because Minecraft is headed to the PlayStation Phone.

Indie developer Mojang has told Gamasutra that the popular mining/crafting/zombie game is going to be launching exclusively on the Sony Xperia Play. Development for Apple iOS and other Android devices is under way, but they'll have to wait a little longer to join in on the fun.

Porting Minecraft to the Xperia Play allows Mojang to utilize the PlayStation-style button layout to adapt the keyboard and mouse controls found on the PC version of the game. Touch controls will eventually be in place when the game hits other devices.

E3 2011: Bastion Is All Kinds of Sexy

From its voice to its visuals, this one is slick.

It's been more than a year since anyone from IGN wrote about Bastion, and that's a shame because this game is awesome and people should be talking about it. Trouble is, it can be hard to wrap your head around why this game is cool. You need to see it and hear it because that's where Bastion stands out -- in stills, it just another pretty download, but in action, it's something special.

From developer Supergiant Games -- a studio that works out of a living room -- Bastion starts like most action RPGs: the world's been destroyed, and your character must go through a bunch of trials and environments to restore it.

However, as soon as I began moving around as "the kid," the narrator of this tale began speaking, and he wasn't just talking about the overarching plot of the game. In Bastion, the narrator narrates what you're doing on a moment to moment basis. When I sprinted through the level -- which forms around the kid as he moves in Bastion -- the narrator talked about me taking off and ignoring the surroundings. When I took my hammer and smashed the bejesus out of fruit stands and railings, the narrator talked about me blowing off steam. When I took a left and fell to my doom, the narrator proclaimed "And then, he falls to his death. I'm just foolin'" before I respawned.

E3 2011: Fantasy RPGs Get a Reckoning

This storybook feeling can capture unwilling imaginations.

I don't like fantasy. Dragons, medieval junk, and chainmail have never been my thing. This means a lot of games don't do anything for me. I don't want to manage spell wheels and find mystical swords that give me +5 valor. I got bored with Dragon Age, I'm not having a nerdgasm over Elder Scrolls: Skyrim, and Fable's farts seemed really dumb. Now that you know all that, I can tell you that for some strange reason, I'm digging Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning.

Set with a simple, storybook art style, Reckoning is the RPG from 38 Studios -- the development house headed by former Boston Red Sox player Curt Schilling -- and it had me interested from the start of my recent demo.

The game opens with your character rising from the dead. You're the first person to ever do this, so it's kind of a big deal. Usually you'd have to pick a class in an RPG, but Reckoning goes in another direction. Here, you just pick abilities you want and get to explore the skill trees. If you choose to be a mage and don't like it five hours in, it's no big deal to switch over and begin investing in being a warrior. (All of this should be old news as IGN's covered Reckoning's introduction and Reckoning's role swapping in past previews.)

No Online DiRT 3 Multiplayer for PS3

Competitive multiplayer out until the PlayStation Store returns.

PS3 owners will have to wait until PlayStation Store is back to access DiRT 3's online features.

Even though online play is now functional for other games on the PSN, DiRT 3 owners must redeem the in-box VIP pass to unlock competitive multiplayer, as well as other cool features like uploading videos to YouTube.

Similar to EA's online pass, purchasers of DiRT 3 second-hand will have to buy the VIP pass, which costs �6.29 ($10) on PS3 or 800 Microsoft Points on XBL. If you bought the game new, you don't have to buy anything; however, it is still needs verification by the Store.

Age of Conan Going Free-to-Play

Funcom's MMO to adopt a familiar pricing model.

Age of Conan developer Funcom has announced that its low-fantasy MMORPG will be switching to a hybrid free-to-play model, akin to the sort of model used by Lord of the Rings Online, EverQuest II Extended and Champions Online. Funcom is no newcomer to the free-to-play scene, in fact they helped pioneer it in the western market when Anarchy Online switched to an advertisement-supported model in 2005.

Ads wouldn't fit the Age of Conan universe, of course, so AoC is instead turning to the tiered-pricing models adopted by others, where players may still subscribe to the game for a monthly fee and gain access to everything they normally would, or can spend "Funcom Points" (bought with real money) to purchase specific items such as consumables or recipes, or access to a new dungeon or territory. Or they can play without spending a cent, though there are typically limitations on conveniences such as mail, chat, and the number of characters allowed on an account. Side-areas may be locked out. According to Game Director Craig Morrison, the subscription price will not change, and that the price of microtransactions will be in line with other free-to-play MMOs.

Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 Runs on CryEngine 3

Line-up exquisitely detailed targets in your sights.

Upcoming sequel Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 will run on Crytek's sophisticated CryEngine 3, which was used to build Crysis 2. The engine offers a range of sophisticated tools, including facial animation and advanced lighting techniques.

Developer City Interactive has released the first screenshot of the game, and the power of the CryEngine is evident.

The fa�ade of what appears to be a Tibetan temple is richly detailed, and the mountains in the background look equally impressive.

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Assassin's Creed Revelations: Locations Revealed

Where will Ezio travel to take down the Templars?

Ezio's quest will see him leaving Italy behind entirely, with Revelations taking him back to Masyaf and also to Rhodes, in addition to the already confirmed settings of Constantinople and Cappadocia (both in modern-day Turkey).

Spoilers lie ahead.

As revealed by Game Informer, Ezio will travel to the Assassins' stronghold in Masyaf at the beginning of the game in search of "secret knowledge once held by Altair," only to discover the fortress overrun by Templars. But he will return to Masyaf at the end of the game, having acquired more information.

Microsoft's E3 Invites Tease Announcements?

Suggestive stickers hint at what might feature in Microsoft's E3 keynote.

Microsoft's creative E3 invites suggest announcements on Halo, Kinect Star Wars, Tomb Raider, as well as Gears of War 3 and Batman: Arkham City.

Microsoft's invite is intriguing – Destructoid has published images of its press invite, which allows attendees to personalize their pass using a selection of allusive stickers.

Journalists have been invited to fill in various blanks, including who their 'Favourite Hero' is, as well as boasting about what they are 'Master of'. And the games above have been provided as possible answers.

Report: Stereoscopic 3D Coming To Xbox 360

Update will enable 3D on consoles with HDMI output.

Xbox 360 is poised to receive full stereoscopic 3D support, with an official announcement likely at this year's E3 according the rumours circulating yesterday. The 3D technology is said to be the same as that used by the PlayStation 3.

Back in January, Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg said that while technically the Xbox 360 was fully capable of supporting 3D games, they were "unsure what level of interest there is from consumers to really want a 3D experience." However, he added that it would be supported "Many, many years from now when it becomes a reality."

Welcome to the world of tomorrow.

Report: Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker Heading to PS3

Snake to undergo pioneering facelift operation for remaster library.

Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker may be amongst the first titles in the recently announced PSP Remaster series.

Yesterday we placed the excellent, though largely overlooked, Metal Gear title on our wishlist of PSP games that we'd most like to see make the leap from handheld to console.

According to French website JVN, in addition to crisp HD visuals, the updated version will be tailored for the PS3, taking full advantage of the Dual Shock's right analogue, which is of course absent on the PSP. There are as yet no details of it offering SIXAXIS support or stereoscopic 3D.

Peace Walker is expected be announced at this year's E3 in June.

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Dungeons & Dragons Daggerdale Set for Launch Tomorrow

Solo and four-player co-op adventuring in the D&D universeYou don't need 20-sided dice for this Dungeons & Dragons adventure. Atari and Bedlam Games' third-person, co-op action-RPG, D&D Daggerdale, is set for launch tomorrow on Xbox Live and at retail for Windows PCs.

Whether you're going it solo or partnering with up to three other adventurers online, Daggerdale offers an "authentic D&D experience," according to Bedlam Games, with its DNA forged in the Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition.

PSN Attack Costs Sony $171 Million

Company provides estimated cost for network breach.

As part of its revised earnings projections published today, Sony said it estimates the PlayStation Network attack from April will cost the company 14 billion yen, or $171 million.

This estimated cost includes the personal information theft protection program for customers, the "Welcome Back" program, customer support, network security enhancement, legal experts, and the impact on profits due to a possible future revenue decrease.

Universal Announces Chucky Video Game

Unlikely stealth-action game set for fall release.

Your dreams of playing a video game as a serial killer trapped inside a child's doll are about to come true. TikGames (Domino Master) and Universal announced today that the first officially licensed game based on the Child's Play (Chucky) movie franchise is now in development.

Chucky is described as a "stealth-action romp" that will allow gamers to experience the killer doll's gory exploits first-hand.

"We're proud to be able to bring a fan-favorite movie character, such as Chucky, to gaming platforms," Alex Tikhman, TikGames co-founder, said in a statement. "Fans have been asking for a Chucky game for years and, soon, gamers around the world will be able to enjoy highly-entertaining, interactive, downright gory experiences with this brand."

LEGO Harry Potter: Year 5-7 Details

The epic series concludes in plastic brick form.

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7, based on the last three Potter books and final four films, will be out at the end of the year.

From Hogsmeade and Hogwarts to enchanting new locations, including Grimmauld Place, the Ministry of Magic, and Godric's Hollow, players will encounter "new faces, new challenges and new magic, preparing them for the ultimate face-off against Lord Voldemort."

Working up a Sweat in Mario & Sonic at the London Olympics

Two of gaming's biggest icons up sticks from Beijing to within earshot of the sound of the Bow Bells.

As we're walking into the Tower of London, they're helping out the Queen (or a very good impersonator). Further on, past the hordes of tourists peering at the magnificent prison-fortress through their camera viewfinder, there's a room full of seriously-suited business men and a sharply-dressed athlete or two. It's the most incongruous places to show off Mario & Sonic at the London Olympics we could have thought of.

Getting hands-on with the games, it's obvious the Wii version hasn't changed much from the version that sold a kajillion copies a couple of years back; the character line-up is identical, with four-player play and almost all the events from the first game returning. The styling has shifted to match the London background, which is thankfully more iconic to most gamers than the equivalent areas in Beijing were; Big Ben looms in the background, the horses ride beneath the Greenwich Observatory and badminton matches take place in the Wembley Arena.

There are just four new events: horse-riding, canoeing, football and badminton. The equestrian event (horse-riding to you and me) is played extremely straight and could have been pulled straight from Pippa Funnell; characters have to make their way atop a pony around a obstacle-riddled course in the shortest time possible. Canoeing is a two-player co-op game, which is all about your team's rhythm - paddle together and you'll zoom ahead. Badminton feels like a very light version of Mario Tennis or Virtua Tennis, with automatically-moving players wafting their rackets at the shuttlecock. If a player messes up their shot the opponent has a chance to do a special smash move, which is normally unstoppable. We didn't get to see the football, sadly.

Guild Wars 2 Beta Coming

ArenaNet's subscription-free MMO inches closer to launch.

Those closely following the progress of NCSsoft's hotly-anticipated MMORPG Guild Wars 2 will be pleased to know that a beta is on the way -- specifically in the second half of this year according to Eurogamer. The announcement came from NCsoft chief financial officer Jaeho Lee during a conference call.

ArenaNet, the developer of Guild Wars 2, has yet to announce a hard launch date for the MMO in keeping with its "when it's ready" policy. There will be no subscription cost associated with the game, but there will be a one-time purchase cost as was the case with the original Guild Wars.

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BlizzCon 2011 Tickets On Sale Saturday

Here's your first chance to secure tickets for this year's convention!

Get ready to test your ninja-like mouse button reflexes! This weekend is your first shot at snatching up tickets for Blizzard's huge annual World of WarCraft, Starcraft, and Diablo-themed shindig. Tickets for BlizzCon 2011 will go on sale this Saturday, May 21 at 10 a.m. PDT, and they can be purchased through the Blizzard Store online. Beware: The convention sells out fast each year, so if you plan to attend get ready to fight for your right to party.

If you don't manage to grab your tickets on Saturday before they're all out, there's still another opportunity to pick them up. A second round will go on sale on Wednesday, May 25 at 7 p.m. PDT. Tickets cost $175 each and there's a limit of four per household. Check out BlizzCon's official site for more details.

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Gears of War 3 is the "Fastest Pre-ordered Xbox Exclusive"

Orders surpass one million.

Gears of War 3 has officially passed 1,000,000 pre-orders.

According to a press release from Microsoft, this makes it the "fastest pre-ordered Xbox exclusive title to reach this milestone in the history of the platform." And yes, that includes the Halo series.

In addition to the high pre-order numbers, Epic Games has also revealed some stats from the month-long beta.

Report: Exploit Allows Hackers to Reset PSN User Passwords

Attacks on Sony continue with exploit in PSN password reset page.

The good news is PlayStation Network is still up and running. The bad news is that hackers have once again made Sony their target, exploiting a glitch in the PSN password reset web page that allowed them to reset other users' passwords and potentially hijack millions of accounts.

Sony confirmed this morning that it suspended signing in to PlayStation.com, Qriocity, and the PlayStation forums and it has taken down the PSN password reset web page as it investigates the issue.

According to various reports, the exploit allowed anyone to reset another PSN user's password by simply inputting their username and date of birth -- the very information that more than 77 million PSN users had stolen in April. It's unclear at this point how many users -- if any -- were impacted by the exploit.

Alice: Madness Returns Opening Cinematic

Cinematic sets the stage for the twisted adventure to come.

Alice's mind is in ruins in American McGee's upcoming Wonderland re-imagining, transforming her fantastical sanctuary into a nightmare. Gamers can get a good idea of just how dark things will get in the intro cinematic for Madness Returns.

The setup from developer Spicy Horse puts the cinematic in perspective:

Her mind in tatters, Alice is unable to resolve the fear and neuroses prompted by her strange memories, dreams, and visions. Her relocation to London seems only to add to their number and intensity.

Perhaps she'll do better in Wonderland. She always has. She travels there, seeking what the "real" world can't provide: security, knowledge, and the truth about the past. But in her absence, Wonderland too has suffered. Something has gone horribly wrong, and now a great evil is descending upon what once was her beautiful refuge.

Can Alice save Wonderland -- and herself -- from the madness that consumes them both?

With that in mind, the opening cinematic:

Alice: Madness Returns is being developed for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Windows PCs. The game is scheduled for release on June 14.

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Blizzard: Real ID Cross-Realm Party Play in the Works for World of Warcraft

Studio notes service will likely be premium, only for dungeon instances.

Raise your hand if this sounds familiar: You met a fellow World of Warcraft player in real-life, but your plans of introducing your healer and their tank were dashed when you discovered you play on different realms. *Hand raised* Blizzard feels your pain, and the company is now working to develop a cross-server service that will allow Real ID friends of the same faction to party up for dungeon instances regardless of the realm they play on.

First things first: Blizzard says cross-realm Real ID party play is a "fairly complex service" to develop and it still doesn't know when such a feature will be available. And when it is up and running, it will likely be a premium, paid-for feature.

Further, the planned service will be for regular or Heroic dungeon instances only and not offer the full functionality of playing together offered by a server character transfer.

Report: Ubisoft Prepping Assassin's Creed, Splinter Cell, Ghost Recon Movies

Video game publisher moving quickly to establish film division with marquee franchises.

It's full speed ahead for Ubisoft Motion Pictures, the recently established film and TV division of the French video game publisher. According to one report, the studio is already at work on 3D feature films of three of Ubisoft's biggest franchises: Assassin's Creed, Splinter Cell, and Ghost Recon.

Speaking with Ubisoft Motion Pictures boss Jean-Julien Baronnet and Jean de Rivieres, VP of marketing and distribution, Variety learned that the film division has already been working with the game developers to "identify the DNA of each game and come up with storylines that are consistent."

"Our strategy is not to diversify but to bolster the appeal of our franchises -- that's why we want to make sure our films will reflect the brands accurately and consolidate our fan base while expanding beyond the games' primary target audience," de Rivieres told Variety.

E3 2011: Gotham City Impostors Announced

Prepare yourself for a multiplayer shooter set in the Batman universe.

Batman: Arkham City may be the center of superhero attention right now, but the Dark Knight has another trick up his sleeve. Warner Bros.' development studio Monolith Games is working on a downloadable multiplayer Batman title called Gotham City Impostors.

In this Batman-themed first-person shooter, players take on the roles of ordinary people (one is dubbed "the Office Bat") pretending to be Batman and "impostors" of dastardly bad guys. At a presentation at a pre-E3 event this week, we were shown an image of the Joker flipping the camera the bird. Oh, and he wasn't wearing any pants.

Epic Games Details Gears of War 3 Limited and Epic Editions

Statue, flag, in-game items for extra coin.

Epic Games unveiled its limited and collectors editions of Gears of War 3 today, highlighted by the 12-inch, four-pound statue of Marcus Fenix in the $150 Epic Edition.

So, what do you get? Pick up the Limited Edition for $80, and you'll receive:

-- An Octus award box with Octus service medal: A 1:1 match in size and weight, this zinc-alloy cog-shaped medal replicates the award given to Adam Fenix in recognition of his work on the Hammer of Dawn. Dimensions: 77 mm (3 in.) x 10 mm (0.4 in.)

-- Exclusive unlockable Adam Fenix multiplayer character: Each Octus service medal replica is engraved with a unique Xbox Live code that is the only way to unlock Adam Fenix in multiplayer.

-- A fabric COG Flag: Proud colors that once flew above the House of Sovereigns.

-- The personal effects of Adam Fenix, including his "Last Will and Testament," the initial Hammer of Dawn schematic, and other Fenix family mementos.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Release Date Revealed

Retail sources confirm the big day. Leaked photo and full details inside.

Whoops. The good ship Modern Warfare has sprung another leak. In this instance, our anonymous retail sources have provided IGN with a confirmed street date for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

Rumours have been circulating around the web for a little while, but IGN can now confirm a release date of November 8. This will almost certainly be a global date.

Infamous 2 Refresher Course Trailer

See the story thus far and get an idea of the adventure ahead.

Sucker Punch's superhero sequel swoops onto shelves in three weeks, and in preparation of the adventure to come, the studio is offering a "the story so far" trailer to get fans up to speed. It's the Infamous 2 refresher course.

From bike courier to electrified superhero, protagonist Cole MacGrath had a wild ride in the original Infamous, and his story is about to get even more wild in Infamous 2 because The Beast is coming. Check the trailer:

Infamous 2 is a PlayStation 3 exclusive. The game is scheduled for launch on June 7.

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Password Reset Requests Slow PSN Restoration, Japan Halts Restart

Sony asks PS3 gamers to be patient. In Japan, government wants questions answered.

Sony flipped the switch on PSN Saturday, but a significant chunk of the PlayStation 3 gaming population is still offline. The problem? A bottleneck in the tubes as millions of PlayStation Network users attempted to reset their passwords at roughly the same time. In Japan, however, Sony's home base, there is a completely different issue: the government is unsatisfied with Sony's new security measures.

Posting on the official PlayStation blog last night, Communications Director Patrick Seybold said Sony was inundated with password resets and had to turn off PSN once again to clear the queue. And though the outage was brief for most, many are still waiting for their password reset request to be completed.

"If you've requested your password reset, please give it a bit of time to reach your email," Seybold said. "Thanks for your patience as we work to get everyone back online."

Seybold's European counterpart, Nick Caplin, confirmed PSN users in his part of the world were experiencing much the same problem. Caplin noted that anxious PS3 gamers should refrain from submitting multiple requests as it will only further gum-up the works.

Star Wars: The Old Republic Sith Inquisitor Trailer

An overview of the class that's suited to become a sorcerer or assassin.

With a mix of dark Force powers, stealth, and treachery, the Sith Inquisitor is capable of becoming a sinister sorcerer or a shadowy assassin. See both specializations for the class at work in the latest trailer for BioWare's upcoming MMORPG, Star Wars: The Old Republic.

After providing an inside look at the tank-like Sith Warrior, BioWare is back with a more ranged damage-dealer version of the class, the Sith Inquisitor. Get an overview of the assassin/sorcerer below:

Star Wars: The Old Republic is being developed for Windows PCs. The game's release date remains TBA, but it is reportedly on target for a November launch.

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StarCraft II: Balance Changes

Protoss Warpgate rush significantly less rush-y.

Blizzard Entertainment launched the latest StarCraft II patch (patch 1.3.3) yesterday, addressing some balance issues as well as fixing some minor bugs. Of particular note, the early-game Protoss "4-gate" strategy has received a nerf, making the ability to warp units into an enemy base a little less efficient by lengthening the research time of the Warpgate upgrade. Pylons, which provide the Protoss with energy for their buildings and allow them to warp units to distant locations also had their range reduced significantly. The Protoss Archons had their range increased and are considered massive units now, which alters how they are affected by crowd-control abilities.

Terran players might see their Ghost unit become a little more viable now that the Vespene gas cost has been reduced and the mineral cost increased. Zerg Spore Crawlers are a lot more useful when mobile now as their root time has been halved, and the Zerg Infestor has had its speed decreased. While this looks like a nerf on face value, it actually means that Infestors will move with the rest of the pack and won't be sniped for wandering too far ahead.

Played the new patch? What do you think of the changes?

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Sadism is Fun in Dark Souls

Demon's Souls fans may have a new dungeon to call home.

When Demon's Souls was released back in the fall of 2009, it surprised gamers for a number of reasons. Japanese developer From Software created a game that was so ruthlessly hardcore that it was surprising when the PlayStation 3 audience took so fervently to it. Equally surprising were its sales. Demon's Souls managed to sell well over 500,000 copies in the United States alone. Quite a feat for a PlayStation 3 exclusive assumed to be such a niche title that Sony didn't bother to publish the game outside of Japan.

But perhaps the biggest surprise of all was that gamers couldn't get enough of Demon's Souls' formula. For a title that personified the notion of unforgiving, there was a legion of players that wanted more.

And more they will get. I recently got a chance to see Dark Souls, and the single lasting impression was that, in many ways, it's more of the same. And that's just fine. Like Demon's Souls, Dark Souls is all about grueling gameplay and outrageous difficulty. From Software wants to make Dark Souls even harder than the previous game, and this was on full display.

Demon's Souls conventions were in full effect in Dark Souls as I witnessed a heavily-armored knight fight his way through a castle-like location known as Sen's Fortress. Fending off a variety of lizard creatures with snake-like heads was the least of our poor knight's concerns. Many of these conflicts took place on thin corridors suspended over gigantic chasms. One wrong move, whether made by the knight or forced upon the knight by an enemy, would mean failure. And all the while, hanging blades swing like pendulums over the pathway, forcing you to time your movements. If you did happen to fall and survive (which happened during the demo, as the PR representative was using a ridiculously buffed-out character to avoid an untimely death), you'll be greeted by even more powerful enemies below. You know – typical Demon's Souls stuff.

The Sims 3: Generations Video Preview

From playing with imaginary friends to pulling off pranks to living it up at a bachelor party, Generations adds new fun for Sims of all ages.

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Sega, Creative Assembly Announce New Alien Game

UK developer opening new studio, hiring 40 people for AAA "peer to the likes of Dead Space."

After its latest trip to feudal Japan, developer Creative Assembly is headed for the stars. The Total War studio, fresh off of shipping Shogun 2 in March, announced today it is making a game based on the Alien movie franchise.

Sega, which owns the rights to Alien games, has tasked Creative Assembly with creating a "core console" game set in the sci-fi universe first established by Ridley Scott's 1979 film and expounded upon in James Cameron's 1986 sequel, Aliens.

The announcement came via a press conference this morning in the UK, where Creative Assembly said it will open a new 10,000-square-foot studio for the project and hire an additional 40 employees. And while the studio and Sega provided few details about the game itself, CVG managed to squeeze a bit more info out of Sega West Boss Mike Hayes.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning Gameplay Video

Lead designer Ian Frazier breaks down the basics in the upcoming action RPG.

Long story short: I just missed the roughly 40 minute demo Curt Schilling and the guys from 38 Studios put on at Pax East in March for Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. The good news for me and everyone else that couldn't make it is that the highlights of the demo are now available in trailer form.

From basic combat, loot, and crafting to chain attacks, magic, and powerful Fate Shift abilities, it's all covered by lead designer Ian Frazier in this 5 minute demonstration. See for yourself below:

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is being developed for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Windows PCs. The game is set for launch sometime in 2012.

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Chrono Trigger Wii-Bound in America

Jump back in to a classic.

Back in March, we wrote about the news that Chrono Trigger was coming to the Wii's Virtual Console in Japan. Today, we got confirmation straight from Square-Enix that Chrono Trigger is indeed coming to the Virtual Console in North America. And better yet, we now have a release date and price.

Chrono Trigger, the classic SNES-era Square RPG, will find its way onto the Virtual Console this coming Monday, May 16th. Downloading Chrono Trigger will cost you $8.

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Diablo III Followers Trailer

Blizzard is trying to get its highly anticipated top-down action RPG, Diablo III, out the door before 2012, and today the studio revealed a few of the new friends it hopes to introduce you to in time for the holidays. It's the Diablo III Followers trailer.

The Enchantress is ready to support and unleash magical attacks on your foes, the Scoundrel -- medieval Han Solo with a crossbow instead of a blaster -- launches powerful ranged attacks, and the Templar is a damage dealing tank that holds the front line. They're your Diablo III followers, and you can see them in action below:

Diablo III is being developed for Windows PCs and Mac OS. The game's release date is officially TBA, but a beta is set for early in the fall, an indication it will be ready for launch in late 2011/early 2012.

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Sony, LightBox Interactive Announce Starhawk

Spiritual successor to Warhawk set for 2012 launch.

In 2007, PSOne flight combat game Warhawk was updated for the PlayStation 3 with ground vehicles and online multiplayer. The franchise will continue to evolve in 2012 with Starhawk, Sony has announced, a spiritual successor to Warhawk that adds foot combat and real-time strategy elements to the mix.

Now in development at LightBox Interactive (formerly Incognito), Starhawk will most notably allow players to call down a number of different base structures, vehicles, and weapons, RTS-style, to aid them in their sci-fi third-person shooter battles.

L.A. Noire Launch Trailer

Ahead of next week's release, launch trailer goes live.

Rockstar and Team Bondi have shared plenty of their upcoming crime thriller, L.A. Noire, through gameplay videos and behind-the-scenes features. Now, six days before the game ships, it's time for the pre-release finale: the launch trailer.

Ken Cosgrove (aka actor Aaron Staton), 1940s Los Angeles in all its glory, interrogations, shootouts, and investigations. It's all in L.A. Noire, and it's all encapsulated in the launch trailer. Push play below:

L.A. Noire is an Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 title. The game hits retail on Tuesday, May 17.

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Questing in Deus Ex: Human Revolution

Exploring a neon-lit, futuristic Detroit.

The most interesting part of Eidos Montreal's Deus Ex: Human Revolution is sandwiched between the opening action sequence and the next major plot developments. The city streets of Detroit stretch out beyond Sarif Industries' headquarters. As the newly mechanically augmented protagonist Adam Jensen, you can explore steam-filled urban avenues and talk with shifty vendors, shaggy street dwellers and other undesirables slinking through the shadows of the city's darkest corners and sewers.

In true Deus Ex tradition, Human Revolution isn't just a first-person action game sprinkled with choices to make about which weapons to use. Role-playing game-style exploration appears to be a big part of the experience. The street section of Detroit is surprisingly large and filled with all sorts of hidden pathways, important locations and multiple side quests that are only picked up through interaction with the city's residents. There's even a basketball half-court with a ball you can pick up and shoot, which I'm assuming is a tongue-in-cheek reference to Invisible War, the second Deus Ex game.

I was happy to see how much thought has gone into creating a virtual space that doesn't feel generic. A ubiquitous flood of golden lighting clashes with Detroit's somber, graffiti-tagged four-storey apartment complexes adorned with veins of ductwork and rusted fire escapes crisscrossed by networks of thick electrical wires. Alleys between buildings are littered with trash bags, dead leaves and crushed cardboard. Posters are plastered on telephone poles and across brick walls and liquor storefront windows are covered in dingy advertisements. It's supposed to be 2027 in this world, and touches like these help establish a sense of realism to counterbalance the fact that you're walking around with moddable, mechanical arms.

Namco Bandai Announces CG Tekken Movie, Blood Vengeance

Full 3D film set for release this summer.

Capcom and Namco Bandai have partnered for a duo of Street Fighter and Tekken crossovers, and while Capcom has already given gamers hands-on with its Street Fighter X Tekken, Namco is just getting started on Tekken X Street Fighter. As the publisher revealed at its Step Up event in Dubai, it has its hands full with other projects based on its fighter franchise, including a CG movie set for release this summer, Tekken: Blood Vengeance.

Digital Frontier (Resident Evil: Degeneration) is on animation duty, and Tekken 5 and 6 cinematics boss Youichi Mouri is directing. The story was written by Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and Cowboy Bebop scribe Dai Sato. Check the trailer:

The movie will be available in full 3D, and Namco Bandai attempted to distance itself from the recent live-action Tekken film, noting that the team behind the games had nothing to do with the movie.

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Ace Combat Assault Horizon Release Date

Exclusive European pre-order content also confirmed.

Ace Combat Assault Horizon, the latest game in the dog-fighting franchise, has now got an official release date, announced at Namco Bandai's Level Up event in Dubai - which, coincidentally, is the location for one of Assault Horizon's Airstrike missions.

The aerial shooter will barrel-roll into stores October 11 (US) and October 14 (EU) 2011, with Europe getting exclusive 'Weapons-grade' pre-order content.

Namco Bandai Announces Soul Calibur V

Weapon-based fighting franchise set for 2012 return.

Namco Bandai, fresh off of announcing a bounce-back profitable fiscal year, had plenty to share with the gaming world at its Step Up Dubai event today. And there is no bigger news than the official announcement of Soul Calibur V.

Soul Calibur director Daishi Odashima has been teasing the latest game in the weapon-based fighting franchise for over a year, and Namco Bandai chose its Dubai-based event as the stage for the unveiling, showing off a teaser trailer that will replace the below image once it goes live at 11:30 a.m. EST.

A New Alan Wake is Coming

But it's not Alan Wake 2. So what is it?

There are a lot of fans of Alan Wake out there. The Xbox 360 exclusive from Finnish developer Remedy wasn't a commercial smash-hit, but it was well-received by critics and core gamers alike. But Remedy has been mum about a new Alan Wake game… until now, that is.

EA, Crytek Announce First Map Pack for Crysis 2, Retaliation

Four new maps to Nanosuit around coming May 17.

Aspiring game designers can get their hands on the Crysis 2 level editor early this summer. Before then, Crytek will try to inspire with a few new levels of its own. The first map pack for Crysis 2 is set for download next week.

EA and Crytek announced this morning that the Retaliation map pack will include four new maps: Park Avenue, Transit, Shipyard, and Compound. Get a gander at the new battlefields in the trailer below:

Retaliation will be available for download on May 17 for the PS3 (providing PSN is restored), Xbox 360, and Windows PCs. No pricing was revealed for the map pack.

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Expansion Pack Announced for Battlefield 3

Check out the first DLC, months before the game even comes out.

Today DICE revealed the first bits of info on an expansion pack coming to Battlefield 3 for those who pre-order the limited edition of the game: Back to Karkand.

This multiplayer pack adds four maps from Battlefield 2 as well as classic "weapons and vehicles, unique rewards, [and] new achievements/trophies" to the new game's lineup.

The announced maps in this expansion are:

• Strike at Karkand
• Gulf of Oman
• Sharqi Peninsula

The maps have been "re-mastered using Frostbite 2," Battlefield 3's new engine. There is no word yet on release or pricing details for anyone who wants the map but does not preorder the game.

Check out the Battlefield 3 basics page for more information on this fall's shooter.

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Microsoft Acquires Skype, Service Coming to Xbox 360 and Kinect

Surprise $8.5 billion acquisition approved by both company boards.

Popular online voice and video service Skype is now a Microsoft product. The maker of Windows announced the surprising $8.5 billion acquisition this morning, promising Skype is on the way for the Xbox 360 and Kinect.

"Skype is a phenomenal service that is loved by millions of people around the world," Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said in a statement. "Together we will create the future of real-time communications so people can easily stay connected to family, friends, clients and colleagues anywhere in the world."

The boards of directors for both companies agreed to the deal, and Skype will become a new business division within Microsoft. Skype CEO Tony Bates will lead the division and report directly to Ballmer.

Hitman Absolution Announced

Agent 47 is on the run again.

Square-Enix owned IO Interactive announced the fifth game in the Hitman series this morning. Titled Hitman Absolution, it finds the titular Agent 47 betrayed by his agency and on the run from international law enforcement.

In a press release forwarded this morning, IO also announced that Hitman Absolution will use Glacier 2, a new engine from IO, and that the game will be "familiar and yet significantly different experience from other Hitman Games," according to Tore Blystad, the game's director.

No release date has been set for Hitman Absolution. We'll have more information about Hitman Absolution for you during this year's E3, starting June 7th.

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No New Bungie Adventure at E3?

Master Chief's team is sitting this one out it seems.

Last Friday Bungie announced on their blog that they wouldn't be attending E3 "officially." Sadly, this all but insures we won't be seeing what the Halo developer's been up to when we head to Los Angeles in a month. Perhaps they don't want to overshadow something else Microsoft has in the works?

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