GamerNode: Latest Industry News

Mass Effect 2 on Xbox 360 & PC only

Polish website PolyGamia reported earlier today of a possible PS3 port of BioWare's Mass Effect 2. Apparently, rumors of the game being released for the PS3 were taken from BioWare Community Manager Jay Watamaniuk while conducting a presentation in Poland. Following the report, BioWare has issued a response on the speculation of seeing a PS3 version of Mass Effect 2.

The initial report states that Watamaniuk mentioned "three platforms that Mass Effect 2 is targeted at. They were Xbox 360, PC, and 'probably PS3'." Watamaniuk was quick to place a disclaimer on his statement by explaining BioWare's hesitance to deal with rumors and speculations.

Gaming website IGN contacted Mass Effect 2 publisher Electronic Arts to clarify the situation.

Upon being shown a new forum post written by Watamaniuk o...

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First Borderlands DLC announced

2K Games has announced the first downloadable content to be made available for the publisher's upcoming shooter, Borderlands. No solid release date has been given, but Gearbox Software is already working on Borderlands, The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned, which will debut later this year on all platforms for $9.99 (800 MS Points).

The DLC will be the first in "a series of downloadable expansions" for the single- and multiplayer-blending title, and will revolve around the story of Dr. Ned, who has accidentally infected the workers of Jakobs Cove, turning them into zombies and other monstrosities in desperate need of a cure (or a bullet). 2K promises new enemies, new quests, and rare loot drops in the expansion.

Boderlands releases on October 20th for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, and on October 26th ...

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CryENGINE 3 released

Crytek has announced that their ambitious continuation of the successful CryENGINE software system is now available for license to all developers.

Dubbed CryENGINE 3, the new development toolkit promises next-gen uniformity across current and upcoming game platforms by allowing modifiable graphics and processing power to accommodate any new hardware iterations in the coming years.

In addition to supplying developers the means to crank out jaw-dropping visuals, the new engine brings along an updated version of the CryENGINE sandbox editor that allows modders to do their thing without having to muck through tiring code.

Finally, a new method of creating and editing games is possible with the arrival of CryENGINE 3 Create. This tool gives developers the choice of editing their game on a single P...

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Madden NFL Arcade announced for XBLA and PSN

EA announced today that an arcade version of Madden NFL 2010, appropriately named Madden NFL Arcade, is coming for XBLA and the PSN Store. The game will follow EA's previous arcade sports release, NHL Arcade 3 on 3, as a 5 on 5 arcade experience.

The game will have a "unique art style" and feature all 32 NFL teams for play. The game uses an altered set of rules for play: First team to 30 wins, each team only receives four downs to drive the ball down the 60 yard field, and there are no penalties or field goals. The game also featues "Game Changers," a la NFL Street and NBA Street's Gamebreakers, that will allow a team to try and turn the tide of a match or widen the lead.

Also featured is online play, four person co-op on one console, leaderboards, and achievements/trophies. Madden NFL Arcad...

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Queen: Rock Band may happen

Looks like Queen wants to get in on some of that Beatles action. In an interview with BBC, the Queen guitarist Brian May talked about all things Rock Band. He mentioned that a Queen: Rock Band is a possiblity and added that "yes, we're into it, I think it may happen."

Although Queen is a great band, I think they are confusing their inclusion in Lego Rock Band and their song packs in Rock Band for a band-specific title. I don't see them having the popularity of The Beatles for it to work. I could be wrong though, and a Queen: Rock Band could be coming. What do you think? Is Queen: Rock Band high on your list of games you want to see?

[Joystiq]

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Two years of Dragon Age: Origins content planned

BioWare recently told The Game Reviews that they have DLC planned for up to the next two years for Dragon Age: Origins. Executive Producer Mark Darrah said the content will likely be "item packs" and "larger quests that might last an hour or two, up to even fully fledged expansion packs."

He went on to say that the content should make it onto all platforms, though pricing is mum as of now. We'll see if BioWare can produce on this comment. They said roughly the same thing about Mass Effect, but the game only received two DLC packs.

[TheGameReviews]

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Assassin's Creed III may be set in WWII

Ubisoft has already "had discussions" on where Assassin's Creed III could take place, and one setting brought up was a female assassin in World War II-era France and England.

"Where would that make sense?" asked producer Sebastien Puel about a female assassin. "We don't want to just decide we want to change and have a female hero, as the first inspiration is always the time period, but if you're talking about, say, World War II, the economies in England and France were run by women because the men were off fighting. So maybe in this context you were a woman in England during WWII. Why not? Nothing prevents us from doing it," he said.

Creative director Patrice Fortier added that the Assassin's Creed series, originally intended to be a trilogy, may grow and grow beyond just three games.

"What's...

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GameStop director sells over $60 million in shares...

GameStop director Leonard Riggio has recently sold 2.3 million shares of the company, accumulating approximately $60.2 million in the process. The move is being seen as a sign of pessimism by Riggio and a possible foreshadowing of bad times for the game retailer.

"He's got a lot bigger stake in Barnes & Noble," said Form4Oracle co-founder Alex Romayev of Riggio, who is also board chairman and founder of the bookstore chain. "Clearly he thinks selling GameStop is better than selling Barnes & Noble."

Riggio's stake in the company has dropped to 5.5 percent from 6.9 percent before the sales. Last time he sold stock, it was right before a 62 percent loss.

Most analysts believe however that thanks to the holiday season and price cuts on all three major consoles, retailers like GameStop and Best B...

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This week's releases: 10/11 - 10/17

The week ahead features a square-off between a treasure hunter and a roadie, as two of the big titles of the Fall 2009 quarter hit stores. PlayStation 3 owners will be taking Nathan Drake on another adventure to find Marco Polo's lost treasure in Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, while every console owner will get the chance to save the world of rock as Eddie Riggs in Brutal Legend. Without further adeu, here is the full list of games coming out this week.

DS:

Cake Mania 3Cars Race O RamaHero's Saga: Laevatein TacticsMario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter GamesPetz Pony Beauty PageantPokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of SkySqueeballs PartyWhere the Wild Thins Are: The Videogame

PC:

Cabela's Outdoor Adventure 2010Fallout 3: Game of the Year EditionFate: The Traitor's SoulNBA 2K10

PS2:

Cars Race O Rama

PS3...

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DJ Hero Renegade's Jay-Z, Eminem compilation CD de...

Planning to buy DJ Hero? Looking to nab the Renegade Edition that comes with that sweet DJ table? Well, you'll also be receiving a compilation CD that features both Eminem and Jay-Z if you didn't know already. But what is featured on that CD?  Rolling Stone has the scoop on the track list for the disc, that will feature some songs from both artists' back catalogues. While Jay-Z sticks exclusively to old hits, Eminem contributes "Taking My Ball," a new track exclusive to the Renegade set. Since the game is rated Teen, it'll be curious to see if the CD is censored.

DJ Hero looks to bring an interactive music experience to the hip hop crowd, the same way Guitar Hero brought rocking out in our living rooms to the rock crowd. Check out the full set list here.

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Dragon Age: Origins launch trailer released

BioWare has uncovered the launch trailer for their upcoming fantasy-RPG Dragon Age: Origins, which depicts brutal combat between heroes and foes alike.

Four warriors trudge through a frost-laden landscape in search of the Sacred Ashes, only to be waylaid by savage Darkspawn seeking their demise. A furious battle ensues with swords clanging and spells flying through the air. Also, a huge dragon shows up to ruin the fun. Don't you hate it when that happens?

If the trailer smacks a little of something we've played or watched before, you're not alone on that assumption. Granted, the cinematic is beautifully executed; however, the inclusion of an epic dragon battle might te...

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Full track list for Lego Rock Band revealed, can b...

The full track list for Lego Rock Band has been revealed today, showcasing the songs that will be featured on the home console versions and Nintendo DS version. Lego Rock Band is developer Harmonix's aim at a family friendly music game, bringing tweens, teens, and parents together to rock out. Also revealed is the ability to export the Lego Rock Band track list to the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of Rock Band and Rock Band 2. This feature will require you to input the serial number from the Lego Rock Band manual and pay a transfer fee of $9.99 or 800 Microsoft Points.

The full track list is as follows:

All American Rejects, "Swing, Swing"The Automatic, "Monster"Blink-182, "Aliens Exist"Blur, "Song 2"Bon Jovi, "You Give Love a Bad Name"Boys like Girls, "Thunder"Bryan Adams, "Summer of 69"Carl D...

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Final Left 4 Dead 2 campaigns revealed?

Three of the five campaigns for Left 4 Dead 2 have been announced so far, but what about the last two? The answer is revealed with the appearance of two new movie posters on a Taiwanese website that allegedly showcases the remaining campaigns for Left 4 Dead 2.

"Dead Center" seems to pit the survivors against the infected hordes in a shopping mall setting -- gee, where have we seen that before? The clever tagline "Prices Aren't the Only Things Getting Slashed" alludes to a possible homage to zombie flick Dawn of the Dead or Capcom's Dead Rising.

"Hard Rain", which serves as the fifth and final campaign of the game, transports the survivors to an abandoned factory or some similar industrial structure. Heavy rain pours upon the drenched group as they stand amidst a jumble of pipes and girders,...

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Massive game deals this week, Oct. 11 - Oct. 17

The only thing bigger than this week's new releases are the game deals awaiting you and your wallet.

With Brutal Legend and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves arriving in stores Tuesday, it should come as even better news that if you buy two of anything game related at Toys R Us, you'll get the third item free.

Yep, games, consoles, accessories up to $100, and handhelds are all fair game. That's a pretty intense deal. It's unclear from the ad if mixing and matching games, accessories, etc. will stil fall under the deal's criteria, so plan out your purchasing strategy and contact your local Toys R Us to confirm your purchases will count in the three-for-two deal. 

But that's not al for this week's game deals. At the end of September, gaming news site Joystiq reported that more than 200 Game Crazy l...

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No underwater combat in Modern Warfare 2

Keen-eyed gamers may notice a few snippets of underwater action in the teaser trailer released by Infinity Ward for TNT; concerns were raised that the upcoming Modern Warfare 2 will involve some sort of underwater combat level, complete with dwindling breath bar or sluggish controls.

Infinity Ward assuages our worries by clarifying the details of the underwater portion of the trailer. "It's mostly...the opening to a level," explains Infinity Ward CCO Vince Zampella in an interview with GameTrailers TV. "There's not any underwater combat or anything...that's how the CO's generally infiltrate."

So there you have it; the developers have mostly solidified the fact that combat in Modern Warfare 2 will largely revolve around land action. Kudos to Infinity Ward for maintaining such a high degree of...

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Borderlands goes gold

Gearbox Software has announced that their upcoming sci-fi FPS/RPG hybrid Borderlands has gone gold, with a targeted late October release.

Set on the far-off planet of Pandora, Borderlands employs a unique mix of RPG elements -- quests, items, and PvP -- with traditional FPS fare like we've seen in games such as Fallout 3 (namely, a crapton of guns). A nifty four-player co-op mode sweetens the deal, allowing for some fun adventures with friends.

PS3 and Xbox 360 owners will be able to pick up Borderlands when it releases on October 20. PC gamers will have a bit of an extra wait with the the game arriving on October 26. Those gamers who reside across the pond will be able to nab the game on October 23 for consoles and on October 30 for the PC.

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Oddworld games coming to PSN, PC

The Oddworld games were some of the most innovative games in their respective genres. The last entry in the series, Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath on Xbox, was a fresh shooter hybrid that told an amazing story, but didn't sell well unfortunately. If you were among the many who never experienced an Oddworld game, you'll soon get another chance to play them and hopefully show publishers that the Oddworld games need to return.

In an interview with Bitmob, Lorne Lanning revealed that the original "Abe" games on the PS1 are getting a re-release on the PSN Store "very soon," and that the entire series is going to be in a compilation package titled "The Oddbox" releasing this winter. It'll be nice to see these games get a second chance and a great way to get some portable Abe's Exodus on the go.

[Bitmo...

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Spider-man: Web of Shadows dev Shaba Stuidos close...

Shaba Games, who most recently developed Spider-Man: Web of Shadows, has been closed by Activison. Sources claim the decision was made due to the sluggish sales of Guitar Hero 5, leading to corporate downsizing. Thirty employees were laid off from the company, about half the company's workforce.

Activison has released this statement regarding the closing: "Activision continually evaluates the resources at our studio properties to ensure that they are properly matched to our product slate and overall strategic goals. As part of this process, we recently made the difficult but necessary decision to close Shaba Studios. We are grateful for the studio's contributions and wish this talented team success in their future endeavors."

Shaba Games started their development career with the PS1 release...

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Left 4 Dead 2 Scavenge Mode revealed

Left 4 Dead 2 is becoming more and more a game with its own distinct personality that is separating it from its predecessor. The new multiplayer mode recently revealed by Valve is a good example of this. Dubbed "Scavenge," this new mode looks to bring fast and frantic gameplay to players who don't want to invest in a longer standard multiplayer game. In Scavenge, four survivors must collect gas cans from smaller, confined maps and bring them to power a generator. They have two minutes to bring sixteen cans and gain twenty seconds for each successfully delivered can, while it's the Infected team's job to stop them.

The mode is well suited for players who want to get a quick game or are looking for a more tense experience than the normal Survival and Versus Modes. We'll see how the mode fares...

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Activision releases 30 from 7 Studios

Back in April, Activision acquired the developer of DJ Hero's competitor Scratch the Ultimate DJ. Today the publisher laid off approximately 30 people from the developer, 7 Studios.

Both the developer and Activision are in the middle of a lawsuit with Scratch publisher Genius Products and the turntable controller maker Numark Industries. The suit claims that Activision and 7 Studios conspired with one another "in an effort to delay the development and release of Scratch and to gain access to proprietary technology."

Activision has denied these charges brought on by the suit and states that the purchase of 7 Studios was designed to "bolster its development capabilities," and not delay DJ Hero's competition. Activision also said the acquisition occurred because it "provided the fledgling devel...

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