GamerNode: Latest Industry News

Collector's Edition Roundup: Splinter Cell Convict...

Welcome to Collector's Edition Roundup! This is a new feature we're running where we detail all the new collector's editions of big profile games that are coming out! Okay, this isn't a new feature, but with all these collector's editions being revealed, it feels like we should start one for these goodie-infested versions.

The latest one to get the special treatment is Ubisoft's Splinter Cell Conviction, the latest installment in the stealth action series. This version will set you back $79.99 and will release the same day as the standard version, February 23, 2010. The set will feature a credit-card-sized usb drive with art and a making-of featurette, a prequel comic book, a DLC weapon and player skin, two stickers: a Third Echelon logo and stylsh bullet hole marks. The game also comes in ...

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Infinity Ward declined big budget for MW2

When Activision learned that Infinity Ward had commenced development of Modern Warfare 2, the publisher offered the studio a massive budget to safeguard the standards of quality that every Call of Duty game had possessed so far. The answer? Nah.

Infinity Ward community manager Robert Bowling steps in once more to explain the company's intentions during an interview published at Develop Online. Of note, Bowling divulges the almost extreme lengths Activision took to seeing Modern Warfare 2 succeed.

"Early on -- when we decided to make a sequel -- Activision estimated out a ridiculous budget. And we were like: 'No, we don't need that.'"

Instead, Infinity Ward chose to use a "pretty tight" budget to ensure that the game would conform to quality standards as set by Activision without the hoopl...

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This week's releases: 11/2 - 11/8

A fantasy RPG filled with blood, gore, and sex by acclaimed studio BioWare will be leading the charge to stores this week. Dragon Age: Origins is the featured title in a week where the other two top releases are rhythm-based LEGO Rock Band and Band Hero. Here is the full list of games coming out this week.

DS:

Agatha Christie: ABC MurdersBand Hero (not compatible with DSi)Barbie and the Three MusketeersCOP: The RecruitDisney's A Christmas CarolHidden Mysteries: Titanic - Secrets of the Fateful VoyageImagine: Babyz FashionJewel Quest MysteriesLEGO Rock BandNeed for Speed: NitroNi Hao, Kai-Lan: New Year's CelebrationRabbids Go HomeStar Wars Battlefront: Elite SquadronStyle SavvySushi AcademyStyle SavvyWireWay

PC:

Dragon Age: OriginsFootball Manager 2010Star Wars: The Force Unleashed: Ultimate Si...

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Update: Alice sequel gets first teaser trailer

Update: Turns out the trailer is actually not an official release from EA or Spicy Horse. The trailer was created by Troy Morgan, an artist who has worked with Spicy Horse in the past. He created the site and trailer as an ad pitch to EA. American McGee has commented on his blog, saying, "I wanted to clear up any confusion... it was unofficial, and does not represent any of the final art direction or story elements in Alice 2."

Original article follows:

If you haven't heard, back at DICE 2009, EA announced that it was producing a sequel to American McGee's Alice, a 3D platformer that served as a sequel to the classic story that interprets the events as the dark and sinister imagination of Alice. The sequel is going to be developed by Spicy Horse, American McGee's studio, and would be releas...

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Insomniac could branch out to non-PS3 consoles

At a recent interview, Insomniac community manager James Stevenson has hinted at a possibility of seeing future game titles being released for consoles other than the PS3.

Insomniac is credited with starting successful game franchises in the past with the development of the Spyro the Dragon and Ratchet & Clank series. Most recently, the developer has bumped their efforts onto the PS3 platform with the release of the launch title Resistance: Fall of Man and Resistance 2 along with the continuation of the Ratchet & Clank saga.

While not going so far as to abandon the PS3 entirely by releasing Ratchet & Clank or Resistance titles for other consoles (the IP for both games is squarely in the hands of Sony), Stevenson does not discount the potential of developing games for the Xbox 360 and Wii con...

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Modern Warfare 2 killstreaks revealed, nuclear lau...

Having the skill and reflexes to score multiple kills in a row within a multiplayer game is cause enough for gamers to celebrate and gloat over their momentum. The original Modern Warfare took this a step further by rewarding players who scored killstreaks with unique items and weapons to employ within the game (such as the infamous helicopter and airstrike). Modern Warfare 2 promises to continue the tradition with 15 additional killstreak awards obtainable after 25 kills -- wait, did that just say nuclear?

Apparently, a lucky player at media website justin.tv managed to snag a copy of the game and record a few multiplayer matches that showcased the various killstreak awards, including the ability to call in a tactical nuclear strike on the enemy team. The potential for ultimate ownage is s...

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EA details Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Limited Edit...

EA and DICE revealed the Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Limited Edition version today, and along with it, what the package will entail. The Limited Edition version of Bad Company 2 will come with 6 multiplayer unlocks for players and if you're thinking you'll need to pay extra for the luxury, EA has your back. This version of the game will cost the same as the standrad version at release.

The unlocks are as follows:

Improved Vehicle Armor - An up-armor package is mounted on all vehicle types, decreasing the effect of both explosive and penetrating warheads, significantly improving vehicle survivability.

Supreme Vehicle Firepower - Additional weapon packages are mounted for the driver of all armored vehicles, greatly expanding the range of targets the vehicle can successfully engage and destroy.

V...

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First Brutal Legend DLC "Tears of the Hextadon" me...

Stage Battlers around the globe will have a couple more areas in which to vanquish their enemies come November. EA and Double Fine Productions announced today that the first DLC pack for Brutal Legend, titled "Tears of the Hextadon," will release on November 3 on Xbox Live and November 5 on PSN. The pack will run 400 MS Points on XBL and will be free on PSN until November 19.

The pack contains two new maps, Cicle of Tears and Death Fjord. Circle of Tears features "vile waters that have carved a rough-hewn circular battlefield into a forsaken land that players must circumvent to destroy their opponent." Death Fjord has players fighting on a snow mountain pass that has a "dense cluster of fans that lie below, waiting to be harvested by those brave enough to capture them without cover from ene...

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Dev: Modern Warfare 2 was hidden from Activision

Continuing the trend of endless updates about the juggernaut arrival of Modern Warfare 2, Infinity Ward Community Manager Robert Bowling has divulged the fact that Infinity Ward had chosen to veil work on the game to publisher Activision until far into the development cycle.

Speaking to Official Xbox 360 Magazine UK, Bowling credits Infinity Ward's devotion to gamers and fans alike for justifying their decision:

"We know the game we want to make, and especially with Modern Warfare 2, we didn't even show Activision the game until very much later in the development process. Because we want to stay focused, really the only opinion we care about is what our fans think."

Bowling further elaborated by explaining the lengths Infinity Ward had taken to accrue player feedback and opinions during t...

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Modern Warfare 2 to feature third-person view

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is quickly earning the "everything, including the kitchen sink" moniker. Infinity Ward's Robert Bowling dropped that there will be a third-person mode available in Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer, but only in certain playlists.

"It's not something you can toggle on and off in ANY game," said Bowling. The view can only be played in private matches, where it will be possible to toggle it on and off, or in playlists specifically designated for third-person play. Bowling said that everyone will be restricted to the third-person view in those playlists, and added, "this is just another cool way to play the game; you obviously will still have the option to play gametypes normal as well."

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 releases on Nov. 10.

[Joystiq]

Additional reporting...

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GoldenEye returns?

A recent update to an animator's resume has shed some light on what possibly could be a new GoldenEye game in development for the Wii, with the potential for Xbox 360 and PS3 versions.

The animator in question was Craig Peck, who works at Eurocom Entertainment Software. Having previously developed Quantum of Solace for various platforms in 2008, it would seem that Eurocom's next Bond project will involve a Wii release and a return to the world of GoldenEye.

The resume -- now removed from Peck's website -- contained this writing:

"Eurocom Entertainment Software, Derby, United Kingdom: July 09 - Sept 09 Animator - GoldenEye 2010 (Wii) - Animator on Activision's James Bond series for the Nintendo Wii."

Apart from a previous confirmation by Activision that a new Bond game is in the works, no o...

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DJ Hero expected to have slow initial sales

With the massive hype train and amazing soundtrack behind it, you would think DJ Hero would be the a sales juggernaut this holiday season for music fans all over. Not so according to Kai Huang, co-creator of the Guitar Hero franchise. Huang voiced his expectations of the new title saying, "We're expecting this to be the type of game that may come out of the gate a little bit slower, but continue to grow over time."

DJ Hero may follow the same path that the original Guitar Hero took. The original fret-slapping music title started slow and gained more momentum through word of mouth and positive reviews. We'll have to see if DJ Hero can do the same and attain the financial success and popularity that its rock brethren have gained.

[IGN] 

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PS3 aiming to outsell Xbox 360 in 2009

It's easily apparent that the PS3 has been faring better within the recent months. Boosted sales of the PS3 Slim and the popularity of Uncharted 2 has surged PS3 sales to stratospheric heights. High enough, in fact, to warrant a prediction that the PS3 has a chance of overtaking the Xbox 360 in overall console sales by the end of this year. But does the PS3 have enough steam to leap ahead of the Green Giant?

According to website Playstation Insider, it does. The PS3 has already recovered its dismal launch numbers by closing the gap that the Xbox 360 established when it was released.

The momentum does not stop there, as the console is already conquering the 360 in Japan and Europe; an additional hundred thousand units sold would place the PS3 ahead of the 360 within the U.S. PS3 sales have re...

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Modern Warfare 2 boycott 'official'

Infinity Ward has caused quite a stir over the implementation of their own online infrastructure known as IWNET and removal of user-based dedicated servers for Modern Warfare 2. Angry comments and a petition with over 135,000 signatures urging Infinity Ward to change back to dedicated servers have been all over the web since the announcement.

The worst isn't over for the developer of Modern Warfare 2, as Gamers Nexus user Lelldorianx has laid out and is attempting to implement an "official" boycott for the game. In it the writer has laid down ground rules for anyone on the boycott to follow in order to achieve a level of success.

"After reading several hundred comments across multiple collaborative news sites (like N4G.com), I've come to the conclusion that reporting it in an unbiased manner...

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Ubisoft has decided on Assassin's Creed III settin...

Ubisoft knows when and where the next installment in the Assassin's Creed series will be, but the company isn't about to announce that setting just yet.

Asked if Ubisoft knew what "pivital moments" in history Assassin's Creed III would cover, Montreal studio boss Yannis Mallat replied, "oh yeah." But the studio boss wouldn't say what those moments were.

"We know how to keep our secrets," Mallat added. "Think about it, Assassin's Creed as a brand is definitely oriented towards reliving pivotal moments in history. So along that path we may revisit some interesting moments."

The Ubi Montreal president was then asked if the company had planned out the ending for the story to Desmond Miles. "Who talked about an ending?" teased Mallat.

This has been the second time Ubisoft has hinted that Assassin's...

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Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 upcoming DLC includes s...

Marvel Comics got a little antsy and spilled the beans on new content coming to Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2. According to a blog post over at Marvel.com, the upcoming DLC for the game will feature simulation missions and former PS2- and Wii-exclusive character Psylocke.

They go on to detail what the missions will be: "Insidious Alliance" will have you up against other Marvel bad guys in arena style combat. The second mission is sure to get arcade and retro gamers salivating. "Titled Balance" is an homage to old side-scrolling beat-em-up games like, in Vicarious Visions Mark Webster's own words, the original X-Men arcade game.

I can't wait to see how that mission will play out. Anything even remotely resembling that old six-player co-op X-Men arcade cabinet is ok in my book.

[Marvel.com]

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September NPD report is the best in months

The NPD delayed the release of its monthly reports on the gaming industry because it wanted to double-check its figures. The reason? The industry as a whole posted its first positive year-to-year sales report after months of decline.

Since this year's report was over a five-week period instead of last year's four, the NPD ruled the difference essentially flat as a whole. But the results still stop a six-month skid that erased the industry's label of "recession proof."

"The industry managed a modest increase over September 2008, and generated the second bestselling September on record after 2007 when Halo 3 released and sold over 3 million copies that month," said NPD analyst Anita Frazier. "On a unit sales basis, the industry was flat. The increase in revenues is driven by a rise in average ...

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This week's releases: 10/18 - 10/24

A FPS/RPG hybrid, a game on a sport everyone in the world but the US calls football, portable GTA, and some good old squared circle wrestling highlight the releases for the upcoming week. Gearbox's Borderlands tops a list that includes FIFA Soccer 10 by EA, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars for the PSP, and WWE Smackdown! vs. RAW 2010. Here's the full list of what's coming to game retailers this week.

DS:

Astro Boy: The Video GameBakugan: Battle BrawlersCharm Girls Club: My Fashion Mall/Fashion Show/Perfect PromCooking Mama 3: Shop & ChopImagine: Fashion Designer World TourFIFA Soccer 10Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2010Littlest Pet Shop Friends: Beach/City/CountryMarvel Super Hero SquadSecret Saturdays: Beasts of the 5th SunSpace Invaders Extreme 2WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2010

PC:

Tropico 3

P...

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Analyst: Borderlands on shaky ground

With the imminent onslaught of holiday shopping just around the corner, market analysts are issuing their predictions on which games will have the chops to survive throughout the end of the year. Many have looked to games that blend genres as a refreshing take on tried-and-true game mechanics -- say, Borderlands for example. One analyst, however, thinks the upcoming release of the FPS/RPG hybrid will be the final nail in the coffin.

Videogame analyst Michael Pachter of Wedbush Securities had this to say on the bleak future of Borderlands:

"I think Borderlands is the definition of a game that should have had its own window and not be up against all this stuff. It's absolutely the same audience. I don't think it's as much an RPG as they would like us to believe. If it's an RPG, Dragon Age ...

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"Ridiculous" amount of customization for Modern Wa...

The original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare made gamers rethink the way multiplayer in first-person shooters can be played in terms of customization thanks to its perks and level system. According to Infinity Ward community manager Robert Bowling, Modern Warfare 2 is going to have a level of customization that is "ridiculous."

"The beta is really just the tip of the iceberg at this point, we're really just showing a little bit [of the game]," he said. "There's a lot more to come, whether it be customizable kill streaks, custom death streaks, equipment like tactical insertion, Semtex grenades -- all that stuff."

"What we're offering with Modern Warfare 2 is a ridiculous amount of customization. The lead-out is insane, you have all these attachments to choose from. It really caters to the hardco...

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