Thursday, August 25, 2011 Fallout: New Vegas Lonesome + 2 More DLC Packs Announced Steve @ 06:29 PM Lonesome Road, the fourth add-on pack for Fallout: New Vegas, will be available for download on Xbox LIVE, PlayStation Network and Steam on September 20th. (Xbox LIVE for 800 Microsoft points, PlayStation Network and Steam for $9.99) Straight from Bethesda: In Lonesome Road you are contacted by the original Courier Six, a man by the name of Ulysses who refused to deliver the Platinum Chip at the start of Fallout: New Vegas. Ulysses promises the answer as to why he didn’t take the job, but only if you make one last journey into the hurricane-swept canyons of the Divide, a landscape torn apart by earthquakes and violent storms. It's up to you whether you take the job or not. Two additional DLC packs, Courier’s Stash and Gun Runners’ Arsenal, will also be available for download on September 27th. Stash (Xbox LIVE for 160 Microsoft points, PlayStation Network and Steam for $1.99) gives players immediate access to four content bundles previously available only through pre-ordering Fallout: New Vegas. The Caravan Pack, Classic Pack, Mercenary Pack and Tribal Pack each offer unique weapons, apparel and aid advantages that will help you throughout your journey. Gun Runners’ Arsenal (Xbox LIVE for 320 Microsoft points, PlayStation Network and Steam for $3.99) increases the range of unique weapons, weapon mods, ammo types and recipes waiting to be uncovered in the vast Mojave Wasteland. For more information on Fallout: New Vegas please visit http://fallout.bethsoft.com Tuesday, June 14, 2011 Activision Ships Transformers: Dark of the Moon Steve @ 07:10 PM Official press release: SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 14, 2011 -- The colossal battle between the AUTOBOTS™ and DECEPTICONS™ is underway as Activision Publishing, Inc.'s new video game Transformers: Dark of the Moon ships to retail stores nationwide today. Created by acclaimed developer High Moon Studios and based on Hasbro's legendary TRANSFORMERS property, the game lets fans fight through epic battles as they unravel MEGATRON'S sinister plan and is set in the world of director Michael Bay's upcoming movie from Paramount Pictures that will be released in theaters on June 29th. "The Transformers: Dark of the Moon game lets fans experience the gripping battles and original prologue story that precede the highly anticipated film," said David Oxford, Executive Vice President at Activision Publishing. "The team at High Moon Studioshas created an amazing TRANSFORMERS narrative that unfolds through an epic single-player campaign and allows fans to play as their favorite characters in head-to-head multiplayer action." "Activision has delivered a stellar prologue game leading up to the blockbuster movie," said Mark Blecher, SVP of Digital Media and Marketing, Hasbro. "Hasbrois looking forward to offering fans of the TRANSFORMERS brand and gamers alike an exciting video game to expand on the Transformers: Dark of the Moon experience this summer." Featuring a new gameplay mechanic called Stealth Force, the Transformers: Dark of the Moon game lets fans instantly convert to a third, hybrid state that combines the weapons and firepower of Robot mode with the agility and maneuverability of Vehicle mode. Set in unique environments around the world such as the Jungles of Central America, Siberian military facilities, urban cityscapes and more, the game lets players assume the roles of a diverse roster of favorite TRANSFORMERS characters through a heart-pounding campaign to save mankind. Additionally, fans can play the game with or against their friends around the world through intense, online multiplayer game modes as their favorite iconic characters with the ability to personalize their characters' look with numerous appearance, weapons and skills customization options. The Transformers: Dark of the Moonvideo game is rated "T" (Teen — for Violence) by the ESRB and is available on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system Friday, June 3, 2011 Operation Flashpoint: Red River New Trailer and DLC Info Steve @ 05:21 PM Check out the New Trailer on our Operation Flashpoint: Red River Game page. See press release below: LOS ANGELES – June, 3rd 2011 – Codemasters® today announced that Operation Flashpoint®: Red River™, the all-new chapter in the multi-million selling tactical shooter series set to ship to North American stores on Tuesday June 7th for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and PC Games For Windows® LIVE. Codemasters has today also detailed the first downloadable content for Operation Flashpoint: Red River. The Valley of Death Pack features eight new Fireteam Engagements playable in single-player or in four player online co-op and will be available at the end of June from Xbox Marketplace (560 MSP), Games For Windows Marketplace (560 MSP) and PLAYSTATION NETWORK ($6.99). Two new Combat Sweep missions, two new CSAR missions, two new Last Stand missions and two new Rolling Thunder missions are set across stunning new locales. Players will fight through the warehouses and factories of a former Soviet Manufacturing town and carry out operations in a riverside mud-brick village set beneath foreboding hilltop ruins. A title update with launch across all formats prior to the release of the Valley of Death Pack. Details about the forthcoming update and date of release will be made at www.facebook.com/flashpointredriver and http://www.twitter.com/flashpointgame To mark Operation Flashpoint: Red River’s launch into retail, Codemasters has today released a new video which shows how four men become one unit to stand together. Taking a tour of the wide range of tactical challenges which the US Marines will face in Tajikistan, the video shows the different specialists in Fireteam Bravo – Scout, Rifleman, Automatic Rifleman and Grenadier – combining in a theatre of war where one bullet can kill. Featuring night operations, Marines fighting street by street and assaulting dug in enemy positions, the video is now showing at http://www.youtube.com/flashpointredriver Friday, May 27, 2011 Player Impact Engine Announced for FIFA Soccer 12 Steve @ 05:21 PM Official press release below: REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--Electronic Arts Inc. today announced that EA SPORTS™ has developed the Player Impact Engine, a new physics engine that will deliver revolutionary changes to the best^ sports videogame on the planet. Two years in development, the new Player Impact Engine inside FIFA Soccer 12 delivers real-world physicality in every interaction on the pitch. It is one of several major innovations for FIFA Soccer 12 that have been inspired by the real-world game and created by the FIFA development team at EA Canada. “The transformation FIFA Soccer 12 has undergone is revolutionary not evolutionary,” said Kaz Makita, Executive Producer for the FIFA franchise, which has won 136 videogame awards the past three years. “To create the best and most authentic FIFA game ever, we needed new technology to deliver on our vision. Fans will see, and more importantly feel, the significance of the Player Impact Engine immediately.” The game-changing new Player Impact Engine will drive FIFA Soccer 12 on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system. Fans will experience the way real-world players challenge each other for the ball, win possession, and test each other physically. The Impact Engine processes decisions continuously in real-time at every point of contact on a player’s body to create an infinite variety of natural and believable outcomes in every collision. Players now feel more resilient, push and pull during the fight for possession, and recover from light challenges more easily. Revolutionary gameplay innovations inspired by the real-world sport make FIFA Soccer 12 deeper and more engaging. All-new Precision Dribbling delivers a higher fidelity of touch on the ball for attacking players, while Tactical Defending makes defending as skilful and meaningful as real-world soccer. Plus, players have been infused with Pro Player Intelligence, the next generation of player intelligence and performance, and the new Career Mode delivers real-world storylines that brings enhanced depth and realism to the experience. All-new Precision Dribbling creates a higher fidelity of touch on the ball for better control in tight spaces, more time to make decisions in attack, and more control over the pace of the game. Innovations in attack are balanced by a re-designed defending mechanism. Defending is now as strategic as attacking with all-new Tactical Defending, which fundamentally changes the approach to defending by placing equal importance on positioning, intercepting passes and tackling Players on the pitch have been infused with Pro Player Intelligence, a self-awareness and aptitude that enables them to make decisions based on their own skills as well as the strengths and attributes of their teammates. Players who possess exceptional vision, for example, will see opportunities for through balls that other players won’t. Real Madrid’s Kaká will be more likely—and quicker—to pick out a run from a teammate farther away than a player with poorer vision. Additionally, teams will vary their attack based on the strengths of their players on the pitch, and the weaknesses of opposing players, creating a more authentic experience and greater variety of matches. FIFA Soccer 12 will also deliver an all-new Career Mode, driven by the storylines from the real-world sport. Elements like player morale, on-pitch form and league position will influence outcomes in the game. Users will face more decisions and factors than ever before, with their consequences being played out on the pitch. Transformed to look and feel fresh and new from pre-match to final whistle, FIFA Soccer 12 delivers an authentic match day experience, faster and easier navigation with a brand new menu system, and more than 500 officially licensed clubs. To pre-order FIFA 12 visit http://www.easportsfootball.com For the latest news on FIFA 12 join more than five million fans in the EA SPORTS FIFA community at http://www.facebook.com/easportsfifa or follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/easportsfifa Tuesday, May 24, 2011 DiRT 3 Racing to Stores Nationwide Today Steve @ 04:55 PM Read the full press release below: Los Angeles, May 24, 2011 – Today Codemasters® launched DiRT® 3™ into stores worldwide. The highly-anticipated, critically acclaimed sequel to 2009’s million-plus seller, DiRT 3 is the biggest, most content rich feature ever to roar out of Codemasters studios and is available today for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and PC Games For Windows® LIVE. To mark the launch, Codemasters has today released a new gameplay video showcasing the breadth of content to feature in DiRT 3. The “World of Racing” trailer features DiRT 3’s wide range of game modes, from traditional Rally to innovative freestyle Gymkhana events, plus Trailblazer, and multi-car Head 2 Head, Land Rush and Rallycross stages. The video is now playing at www.facebook.com/dirt3game. DiRT 3 will boast more cars, more locations, more routes and more events than any other game in the series. With more than double the track content of 2009’s hit, players will enjoy a career as an elite professional driver, competing in off-road racing events on the intense, weather-beaten rally stages of Europe, Africa and the US and pushing car control to the limit in all-new, Gymkhana inspired showpiece challenges. DiRT 3’s extensive online gameplay features for consoles are enabled with a VIP Pass, the access code for which is included in each retail box shipped. This one-time use code includes competitive multiplayer modes, allows players to upload gameplay videos direct to YouTube and comes with five additional cars for use in the game. Set to raise the bar for authentic and accessible off-road racing again, DiRT 3 is out now for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and PC Games For Windows® LIVE. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Officially Dated Steve @ 04:42 PM Modern Warfare 3 is now official. Check out the press release below: SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 24, 2011 -- Global warfare is raging and the battle will begin on November 8 when the cultural phenomenon Modern Warfare® returns with the worldwide release of Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 3. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is the newest installment in Activision Publishing, Inc.'s #1 first person action series and is being developed by Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games. "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is by far the most epic Call of Duty experience yet. The teams at Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games have worked tirelessly to create for the Call of Duty player a scale that is unimaginable with a level of polish and creativity that will push the genre forward," said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing, Inc. "The passion and energy of our developers is reflected in everything about the title. From the innovative gameplay, to the cinematic intensity, to the most advanced multiplayer ever, Modern Warfare 3 will raise the bar for this already incredible franchise." This game is not yet rated. For more information, visit http://www.callofduty.com Wednesday, May 18, 2011 Sega Rally Online Arcade Now Available Steve @ 02:57 PM SEGA® of America, Inc. and SEGA® Europe Ltd. today announced the launch of their highly anticipated racing game, SEGA Rally Online Arcade™. The game includes multiple modes of single and multi-player gameplay, all featuring the intense, fast-paced racing of SEGA Rally presented in High Definition. SEGA Rally Online Arcade is available Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for 800 Microsoft Points. “SEGA Rally has always been a series that allows gamers to pick up and start playing immediately,” said Haruki Satomi, Vice President of Digital Business at SEGA. “Providing this newest version as a downloadable title is an extension of that ability, allowing players to purchase and receive the game rapidly. From there, they can join an online race right away, and compete at any time, day or night, against an entire world of opponents.” Inspired by SEGA Rally Revo™ and SEGA Rally 3™, SEGA Rally Online Arcade brings back all the features players could want from the popular arcade and console racers, including Championship Battle mode and Time Attack, while adding an exciting online racing mode that lets players battle it out with up to five other drivers around the world in intense rally action. Featuring a brand new achievement system, 13 rally cars to choose from, and online leaderboards, SEGA Rally Online Arcade delivers lap after lap of intense rally action on Xbox LIVE Arcade. Tuesday, May 17, 2011 Rockstar Ships L.A. Noire Nationwide Steve @ 05:35 PM New York, NY – May 17, 2011 - Rockstar Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., and Team Bondi Pty. Ltd., are proud to announce that L.A. Noire is now available at retail stores across North America for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. “Team Bondi worked hard to stay true to the noir genre,” said Sam Houser, Founder of Rockstar Games. “L.A. Noire blends realistic performances with gritty action and real detective work, throwing players headfirst into the dark heart of Los Angeles.” L.A. Noire is a crime thriller that is the story of Cole Phelps, a decorated World War II veteran and newly-minted detective in the LAPD. Set amidst the boom of Hollywood’s Golden Age, players must search for clues, interrogate suspects and chase down criminals to solve a series of cases based on real world incidents. As he rises through the ranks of the LAPD, Phelps comes face-to-face with the corrupt heart of Los Angeles: from fallen starlets to double-dealing police officers and the vast reaches of the criminal underworld – and finally, the darkness of his own personal demons. L.A. Noire features MotionScan, a groundbreaking technology which captures every nuance of a real actor’s facial performance, delivering the most lifelike characters ever seen in a video game and creating brand new gameplay out of the art of interrogation. In a world first, L.A. Noire was honored as an Official Selection by the 2011 Tribeca Film Festival for its uniquely cinematic approach to gameplay and rich, deep narrative. Critical reviews for L.A. Noire have been outstanding. Following is a short list of the initial accolades: “No one makes the real world virtual like Rockstar…We’ve seen it with the Grand Theft Auto series, and we saw it with last year’s Red Dead Redemption. Rockstar has turned out its most pointed, and poignant, statement with L.A. Noire.” – Seth Schiesel, The New York Times “Ever since it first worked out how to assemble pixels so that they resembled something more recognisable than aliens, the games industry has dreamed of creating one thing above all else – a game that is indistinguishable from a film, except that you can control the lead character. With L.A. Noire, it just might, finally, have found the embodiment of that particular holy grail.” – The Guardian “L.A. Noire is not only something totally new for the modern gamer, it's one of the first cerebral titles that will force people to rethink the potential of video games.” – CNET “L.A. Noire is a testament to the possibility of bringing dark, adult, mature games to the mainstream market... truly mature, with the kind of narrative you'd only expect to see in a major TV drama series or crime movie. No game released this generation has tackled the subject matter found in L.A. Noire with the same degree of intelligence and respect, and no game has so seamlessly blended gameplay from various genres together so seamlessly, in a way that delivers something far more unique in experience than the sum of its parts.” – Destructoid “All the things I've only read about in Dashiell Hammett novels, or seen in film classics like Double Indemnity, have all come to interactive life in L.A. Noire… L.A. Noire had me more involved in its first thirty minutes than some other games do in their entirety.” – 1UP “L.A. Noire is a bold release, because it defies the expectations not just for the type of game Rockstar usually releases, but also for the type of game that receives this degree of care and proficiency in its execution.” – Giant Bomb “L.A. Noire is a unique game with a terrific sense of period atmosphere, absorbing investigation mechanics, and a haunting tale with plenty of moments that would be right at home in a classic film noir.”– GameSpot “L.A. Noire transcends genre and the expectations of what a game can be and casts a spell that I have yet to shake.” – G4TV L.A. Noire for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 is rated M for Mature by the ESRB, and is currently available in North America for the suggested retail price of $59.99. L.A. Noire will release internationally on May 20, 2011. For more information, log onto http://www.rockstargames.com/lanoire Thursday, May 12, 2011 Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon New Screens Steve @ 07:22 PM D3Publisher released some new screenshots for Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon! Check them out on our Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon game page. Additional info: Find out more about Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon at http://www.edfia.com and http://www.facebook.com/EarthDefenseForce In Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon players take on the role of the world’s elite soldiers, who will engage in nonstop bug filled arcade action with over 300 weapons and four upgradeable armor sets. The game features a six-player Survival mode that pits a human squad against a nonstop onslaught of the largest enemies the aliens have to offer. Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon also provides players with an online co-op experience in Campaign mode, which lets up to three players team up online. Wednesday, May 11, 2011 Namco Bandai Announces Ace Combat Assault Horizon Steve @ 07:23 PM See official press release below announcing Ace Combat Assault Horizon: SANTA CLARA, Calif., (May 11, 2011) – NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc., today announced that ACE COMBAT® ASSAULT HORIZON™ for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system will be released on Tuesday, October 11, 2011 in North America and in Europe on October 14, 2011. The game invigorates the franchise and brings intense action into the fore, with in-air acrobatics, counter-maneuvers and new destructive effects that show buildings shattering and aircrafts getting shredded to pieces. Featuring a story written by New York Times’ bestselling military author, Jim DeFelice, writer of Leopards Kill and Threat Level Black, ACE COMBAT ASSAULT HORIZON puts players in the shoes of a top gun pilot in an international task force. The engaging war drama will span real-world locations, such as Dubai and Russia, and incorporate new categories of aircrafts, including super-sonic jets and the introduction of the attack helicopter, door gunner and more. “ACE COMBAT is a beloved franchise and we’re excited to take the series into a whole new direction with more visceral and fast-paced action,” said Kazutoki Kono, Producer and Executive Director at NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. “Players around the world will find an adventure that will keep them glued to the edge of their seat. They’ll feel their adrenaline pumping with every bullet, every explosion and every near-miss escape.” The ACE COMBAT development team, renowned for their uncompromising-standards and continual dedication to excellence, have reinvented the ACE COMBAT series, and with it, the action shooting genre. ACE COMBAT ASSAULT HORIZON introduces a revolutionary close-range assault system that delivers high-speed acrobatics and one-on-one encounters to make dogfights more tense and exciting. Players will engage in combat across the globe, dodging skyscrapers, and turning their enemies into fiery supersonic debris in both single player and online multiplayer. ACE COMBAT ASSAULT HORIZON for Xbox 360 and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system is scheduled to release October 11, 2011 in North America and October 14 in Europe. For more information on ACE COMBAT ASSAULT HORIZON, please visit www.acecombat-assaulthorizon.com or Facebook.com/acecombat. To keep up with news on the game, please visit Twitter @PROJECT_ACES Dark Souls Announced by Namco Bandai Steve @ 07:11 PM SANTA CLARA, Calif., - May 11, 2011 - Leading video game publisher and developer NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc., today announced the exclusive pre-order incentives and Collector’s Edition of Dark Souls™, releasing in North America and Europe in October 2011 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. A new action-role playing game (RPG) developed by FromSoftware, Dark Souls is the spiritual successor to 2009’s critically acclaimed Demon’s Souls. The Dark Souls Collector’s Edition can be pre-ordered for $59.99, the same price as the standard edition, and will include a limited edition art book containing premium illustrations of characters and environments from the game, a mini-strategy guidebook, behind-the-scenes videos from the development studio detailing various stages of game concept, design and building, and the game’s soundtrack for digital download. All of this will come packaged with the standard edition game in a custom-designed metal case. Spiritual successor to PlayStation®3 system exclusive Demon’s Souls – winner of GameSpot’s “Overall Game of the Year” and “Best PS3 Game”, and IGN’s “Best RPG for PS3” awards – Dark Souls also brings that game’s uniquely challenging and rewarding style of gameplay to the Xbox 360® for the first time. Stricken by the curse of undead, gamers are abolished to the northern realms and must battle hideous demons and unimaginable monsters to collect souls and find the Eternal Flame of Life, which is losing its light, to survive and cure the curse of undead. With tense dungeon crawling and fearsome enemy encounters, the seamlessly intertwined world of Dark Souls is full of extreme battles, rewarding challenges, nuanced weaponry and magic, and the flexibility to customize each character to suit any desired play style. The innovative online component allows gamers to draw from the collective experience of the Dark Souls community as they either help or sabotage each other on the journey through the Northern Realms to save the land from darkness. With a massive, seamless open world design, Dark Souls encourages deep exploration and an adaptable gameplay experience. Dark Souls will be available throughout North America and Europe in October 2011. For More information on the game please visit http://www.PrepareToDie.com and http://www.facebook.com/DarkSouls Namco Bandai Announces SoulCalibur V Steve @ 06:49 PM SANTA CLARA, Calif., (May 11, 2011) – Leading video game publisher and developer NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc., today announced SOULCALIBUR®V, the newest installment of its multi-million selling weapons-based fighting series for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. It delivers exhilarating 3D fighting mechanics, breathtaking visuals, and new characters, as well as expanding the online and character creation modes. SOULCALIBUR V is poised to become the preeminent fighting game experience of 2012. “The SOULCALIBUR® series continues to be one of NAMCO BANDAI Games’ most cherished franchises,” said Carlson Choi, vice president of marketing NAMCO BANDAI Games America. “SOULCALIBUR V will continue to advance the series’ legacy of white-knuckled weapon-based combat, gorgeous graphics and groundbreaking features that will amaze newcomers and long-time fans alike.” Developed by the legendary Project Soul™ team, SOULCALIBUR V picks up 17 years after the events of SOULCALIBUR®IV with new heroes and returning warriors clashing in an epic showdown between good and evil. The tale of Patroklos, son of Sophitia Alexandra, unfolds as his family’s destiny intertwines with the Soul swords. With the series’ revolutionary 8-way run, allowing for true 3D movement during matches, a refined battle system, and stunning graphics, SOULCALIBUR V will be the top game of 2012 for anyone looking for a knock-down, drag-out fight. For more information on SOULCALIBUR V and the SOULCALIBUR series, please visit: http://www.soulcalibur.com http://www.facebook.com/SoulCalibur http://www.twitter.com/Daishi_CALIBUR http://www.twitter.com/FilthieRich We have Extra Gears of War 3 Beta Codes! Steve @ 06:18 PM We have a few extra Gears of War 3 Beta codes. Follow Us on Twitter and tweet "@XboxExclusive Give me some Gears of War 3!" to win. Twitter is the easiest and fastest way to win! If you are not on twitter, you can still send us an e-mail at contact@XboxExclusive.com with "Give me some Gears of War 3" Depending on how many entries we get, we will announce a winner tonight or tomorrow! Good luck! Tuesday, May 10, 2011 IO Interactive and Square Enix Announce Hitman Absolution Steve @ 02:40 PM IO Interactive announces the fifth Hitman game! And can you believe it's been 5 years since we last saw a new Hitman title? Bring on Hitman! Official press release below: COPENHAGEN (May 10, 2011) — IO Interactive A/S, part of Square Enix Europe, is pleased to announce HITMAN® ABSOLUTION™, a new game for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and Windows PC. HITMAN ABSOLUTION follows Agent 47™, a cold-blooded assassin, who takes on his most dangerous contract to date. Betrayed by those he once trusted — and now hunted by the police — he suddenly finds himself at the center of a dark conspiracy and must embark on a personal journey through a corrupt and twisted world. “For the first time we are taking Agent 47 on a personal journey which allows us to explore other parts of the Hitman® fantasy,” said Tore Blystad, game director, IO Interactive. “This is both a familiar and yet significantly different experience from other Hitman games; something our silent assassins will relish, as will all those new to the Hitman world.” Showcasing IO Interactive’s new proprietary Glacier 2™ technology, the game has been built from the ground up. Boasting a cinematic story, distinctive art direction and highly original game design, HITMAN ABSOLUTION combines much-loved classic gameplay with completely new features never seen before in the Hitman franchise. Scheduled for release in 2012, HITMAN ABSOLUTION will be showcased by invitation only at the upcoming Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles from June 7-9. HITMAN ABSOLUTION is not yet rated. Please visit the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) website at http://www.esrb.org for more information about ratings. For more information and updates about HITMAN ABSOLUTION, please visit the official website: http://www.Hitman.com MX vs. ATV Alive Now Shipping Steve @ 02:24 PM See the official press release below announcing the release of MX vs. ATV Alive: AGOURA HILLS, Calif.--THQ Inc. today released MX vs. ATV® Alive TM, the next offering from the 10 million unit-shipped MX vs. ATV series. This new title features enhanced physics, intense bar-to-bar action, and an in-game digital store that allows players to customize their game experience with a myriad of downloadable items, bikes, tracks and more. MX vs. ATV Alive is available for the Xbox 360® video game entertainment system from Microsoft and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system for a suggested retail price of $39.99 (U.S.). James Stewart’s personal motocross compound has been meticulously recreated and will be offered as a free digital download to consumers who buy a new copy of the game at launch. MX vs. ATV Alive is the most realistic incarnation of the franchise, due in large part to upgrades made to the game’s physics engine. The newly added bar-to-bar functionality allows for more bone-jarring, intense collisions between riders. A leveling system enables players to evolve and upgrade their rider via an experience system which awards points for position, jumps, passes, and other variables. Along with including more than 50 professional riders, other franchise features have returned including track deformation and the Rider Reflex control system. “MX vs. ATV Alive features action-packed gameplay, tons of new features, and finely tuned, intuitive controls which we are certain will appeal not only to our hardcore fans but also newcomers to the franchise,” said David Schwartz, General Manager of THQ Digital Studios Phoenix. The game’s innovation doesn’t end with its development, as MX vs. ATV Alive also features a new digital download strategy. “Our 'a la carte' online distribution method gives players the flexibility to expand their gaming experience their way,” said Michael Lustenberger, Vice President, Global Brand Management – Online/Digital. Players will be able to download free digital items and purchase new content, including vehicles featuring real-life racing brands such as Yamaha, Suzuki, and KTM. Bethesda Announces Brink Now Available Steve @ 01:57 PM Brink has shipped to stores. Be sure to come back soon to read our review! Official press release below: May 10, 2011 (Rockville, MD) - Bethesda Softworks®, a ZeniMax® Media company, today announced that its acclaimed first-person shooter, BrinkTM, is now available in retail stores across North America, and will go on sale in Europe on May 13. Developed at Splash Damage, the game is available for the Xbox 360® video game entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and Games for Windows. “We’re excited to be getting Brink into the hands of gamers,” said Pete Hines, VP of PR and Marketing at Bethesda Softworks. “It’s clear from the response from fans who have had a chance to play the game over the last few months that fans are eager to play with and against their friends online.” Brink, an immersive first-person shooter that blends single-player, co-op, and multiplayer gameplay into one seamless experience, was named as the 'Game of Show' at Eurogamer Expo 2010, while MSNBC.com declared "Brink is wickedly fun" and Destructoid.com proclaimed “it’s going to be one of the standout shooters of the year.” Brink allows you to develop your character playing alone, with your friends, and against others online. Featuring dynamic battlefields, extensive customization options, and an innovative control system, Brink lets you choose your side, Security or Resistance, as you engage in heated battle for control of the Ark. Once an experimental, self-sufficient and 100% “green” habitat, the Ark is now home to the original founders, their descendants, and thousands of refugees made homeless by the rapid rise of the Earth’s oceans. Decide the combat role you want to assume as you fight to save yourself and mankind’s last refuge, one that is on the brink of all-out civil war. Brink is rated T for Teen by the ESRB. For more information on Brink, visit http://www.brinkthegame.com Wednesday, May 4, 2011 Call of Duty: Black Ops Escalation Now Available - Double XP Weekend Steve @ 04:11 PM Here's the official press release from Activision: SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 3, 2011 -- Call of Duty: Black Ops is set for a second strike on Xbox LIVE ® online entertainment network with Call of Duty®: Black Ops Escalation, the newest content pack, now available for download worldwide. With 2 billion hours played and counting, Call of Duty: Black Ops consistently draws millions of gamers around the world online every day. Escalation's four new multiplayer maps and unprecedented Zombie experience, featuring famed director George A. Romero, Robert Englund, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Michael Rooker and Danny Trejo, and an original music track from Avenged Sevenfold titled "Not Ready to Die," will continue this global phenomenon. The Escalation content pack's new multiplayer maps include: *"Hotel," where players battle it out on the roof of a Cuban luxury hotel and casino against the vivid backdrop of old Havana *"Convoy," which delivers intense, close-quarters combat at the scene of an ambushed U.S. military convoy *"Zoo," which sets gamers on an eerie ride through an abandoned Soviet Russian Zoo with danger at every turn *"Stockpile," which pits players in a remote Russian farm town, housing secret WMD facilities *"Call of the Dead," Escalation 's Zombie experience that assembles a zombie-carnage dream team to fight against a new and undefeatable zombie horde menace, all set in the dark, ice-covered isles of Siberia. "We took the community's feedback to heart, and the result is five of the most creative and varied maps we have ever made," said Treyarch Studio Head, Mark Lamia. "'Call of the Dead' is an homage to the great horror films that have inspired the team and represents a deep commitment to our Zombie fans. Being able to collaborate with such talented artists and musicians was an absolute honor and thrill for everyone involved. We think the fans are going to go crazy over it!" "We're all huge fans of each other's work and have been talking with Mark and his team at Treyarch about creating something special," said Avenged Sevenfold's M. Shadows. "So when the opportunity came together to do 'Not Ready to Die,' it was a natural fit. We're stoked to be part of 'Call of the Dead'." The Call of Duty: Black Ops Escalation pack is available first on Xbox LIVE® Marketplace for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for 1,200 Microsoft Points. To celebrate the launch of Call of Duty: Black Ops Escalation, Activision and Treyarch today are hosting a "Grudge Match" on Xbox LIVE at Treyarch for ultimate Call of Duty bragging rights. Basketball superstars Deron Williams of the New Jersey Nets and Tyreke Evans of the Sacramento Kings will lead teams in a head-to-head match-up featuring members of the Treyarch development team and Call of Duty: Black Ops fans. Developed by Treyarch and published by Activision Publishing, Inc., Call of Duty: Black Ops is rated "M" (Mature) by the ESRB for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence and Strong Language. For additional Call of Duty updates and information, visit us on the web at www.callofduty.com/blackops, www.facebook.com/codblackops, and also via Twitter @Treyarch. Treyarch will host a Double XP weekend beginning Friday, May 6th. "Not Ready to Die," the new single by Avenged Sevenfold, is now available for download on the iTunes store : http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=433328681 Tuesday, May 3, 2011 Square Enix and Deep Silver Announce Distribution Agreement for Dead Island Steve @ 05:28 PM LARKSPUR, CA – May 3, 2011 - Deep Silver and Square Enix, Inc. announced today a collaboration in which Square Enix will be the Americas region distributor for Dead Island™, the highly anticipated zombie action game with role-playing elements for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Windows-based PCs. “Square Enix’s impressive distribution and marketing capabilities, combined with their proven success with launching top-notch AAA titles, makes them the absolute best partner for Dead Island,” said Deep Silver Chief Operating Officer Geoff Mulligan. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with their dedicated and talented team and look forward to collaborating with them in order to bring Dead Island to gamers.” Developed by Techland, Dead Island combines first-person action with a heavy focus on melee combat, character development and customization of a vast array of weapons. The engaging survival-focused gameplay aspects are combined with a rich and immersive storyline in which a small group of people find themselves in a tropical paradise turned into total chaos and carnage after a mysterious zombie outbreak. Cut off from the rest of the world, the player’s only chance to survive is to fight to the death and find a way to escape from the island. With firearms and ammunition being scarce, the player must utilize day-to-day items as weapons for self-defense to fight off zombie hordes in intense, gruesome melee combat. Featuring four customizable, unique character classes and engrossing role-playing elements combined with an intense four player co-op experience, Dead Island stands out as one of the most comprehensive zombie experiences to date. "Dead Island is a truly extraordinary title and we couldn’t be more excited about leveraging our unified Square Enix resources in bringing it to audiences in the Americas." said Mike Fischer, president and chief executive officer, Square Enix, Inc. Dead Island will be released for Xbox 360, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC later this year. Official website: http://www.deadisland.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/deadislandgame Twitter: @deadislandgame Three DLC Packs Announced for Fallout: New Vegas Steve @ 05:20 PM May 3, 2011 (Rockville, MD) – Bethesda Softworks®, a ZeniMax® Media company, today announced three downloadable content packs will be released in the coming months for Fallout®: New Vegas™. The three packs will be released simultaneously for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and Windows-based PCs. Honest Hearts™, Old World Blues™ and Lonesome Road™ will further expand upon Fallout: New Vegas. Fallout: New Vegas takes all the action, humor and post-apocalyptic grime and grit of this legendary series, and raises the stakes. Available on May 17, Honest Hearts takes you on an expedition to the unspoiled wilderness of Utah's Zion National Park. Things go horribly wrong when your caravan is ambushed by a tribal raiding band. As you try to find a way back to the Mojave, you become embroiled in a war between tribes and a conflict between a New Canaanite missionary and the mysterious Burned Man. The decisions you make will determine the fate of Zion. In Old World Blues, releasing in June, you will discover how some of the Mojave’s mutated monsters came to be when you unwittingly become a lab rat in a science experiment gone awry. You’ll need to scour the Pre-War research centers of the Big Empty in search of technology to turn the tables on your kidnappers or join forces with them against an even greater threat. Lonesome Road, available in July, brings the courier's story full circle when you are contacted by the original Courier Six, a man by the name of Ulysses who refused to deliver the Platinum Chip at the start of New Vegas. In his transmission, Ulysses promises the answer as to why, but only if you take one last job –a job that leads you into the depths of the hurricane-swept canyons of the Divide, a landscape torn apart by earthquakes and violent storms. The road to the Divide is a long and treacherous one, and of the few to ever walk the road, none have ever returned. Reviews of Fallout: New Vegas have called the game “an utterly essential purchase” (MSN UK) and described it as “addictively, rambunctiously fun” (Entertainment Weekly). The Associated Press awarded it a 4 out of 4 stars and said “Bottom Line: It’s a Blast”, while GameSpy gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars and called Fallout: New Vegas “one of the best games of the year.” All downloadable content for Fallout: New Vegas will be available for download on Xbox LIVE® for 800 Microsoft Points, the PlayStation®Network for $9.99, and both Steam and Direct2Drive for $9.99. Published by Bethesda Softworks and developed at Obsidian Entertainment, Dead Money, Honest Hearts, Old World Blues, Lonesome Road, and Fallout: New Vegas have been rated M for Mature by the ESRB. For more information on Fallout: New Vegas, including the game’s downloadable content, please visit http://fallout.bethsoft.com Yoostar 2 New DLC Scenes Announced Steve @ 05:06 PM New York, NY, May 3, 2011 – A spring harvest of new movie scenes, theme packs and Hollywood Sets will be available throughout the month of May to the growing Yoostar 2 community as Yoostar Entertainment Group today announced its next addition of downloadable content for Yoostar 2, the socially networked “movie karaoke” performance video game for the Kinect™ for Xbox 360® and PlayStation® 3 computer entertainment system. Available for purchase through the in-game Yoostore, Xbox LIVE® Marketplace and PlayStation® Network, new individual scenes and scene packs are launching online every Tuesday. “Yoostar Playground is an exciting new way for players to connect and interact with each other across the globe, as well as a direct line of communication with the community to hear which scenes they most want to play,” said Nicholas Reichenbach, Chief Content Officer for Yoostar Entertainment Group. “Thanks to great fan feedback, Yoostar is a constantly expanding universe that delivers the most popular scenes in Hollywood.” May 2011 releases include: Scenes American Graffiti - Got an ID for the liquor? Apollo 13 - Re-entering Earth's atmosphere The Big Lebowski - I'm the Dude The Big Lebowski - The rent The Blair Witch Project - I'm scared to close my eyes Cheech and Chong's Next Movie - I'll teach you some Spanish words Crank - Who are you? Fletch - John who? The Hangover - Doug is missing Kick-Ass - Child, you always knock me for a loop Kick-Ass - The kindest daddy in the world Marathon Man - Swallow the diamonds Matrix Revolutions - Give 'em hell! On the Waterfront - I coulda been a contender The Princess Bride - You killed my father - prepare to die! The Princess Bride - Where is the poison? Saw II - I want to play a game Saw V - Killing is distasteful to me Star Trek: Generations - The death of Kirk The Terminator - You're terminated Three Amigos! - A plethora of piñatas Weeds - A grow loan Hollywood Sets Men in Black 2 - You are the Light of Zartha Scarface - From the desk of Tony Montana Tropic Thunder - Scorcher VI trailer Free Video Background Fast-Moving Clouds Scene Packs Hollywood Sets Pack 300 - Xerxes' great beast advancesClash of the Titans - Tremble before the Kraken Fast and the Furious - Drag race GI Joe - Missile chase Tropic Thunder - A pandacide Hollywood Icons Theme Pack Beverly Hills Cop - Axel checks inForrest Gump - A bullet in the buttocks The Godfather - Luca Brasi and Don CorleoneRocky 2 - I am a fighterThe Terminator - I love you, too, sweetheart The Hangover Film Pack The Hangover - What's the last thing we remember? The Hangover - I'm gonna propose to Melissa The Hangover - Am I missing a tooth? Soldier 3-Pack + bonus video background Platoon - Make it out of here Rio Grande - The War Department promised 180 men Sands of Iwo Jima - I'm gonna get the job done Video Background - Desert Fire Wizard of Oz 3-Pack The Wizard of Oz - Dorothy meets the Cowardly Lion The Wizard of Oz - Is that the witch? The Wizard of Oz - Toto didn't mean it Yoostar 2 is a console game for the Kinect for Xbox 360 and the PlayStation® 3 computer entertainment system utilizing the PlayStation®Eye that is played on the user’s television and connects to the Internet. It brings the magic and fun of Hollywood sets to living rooms everywhere. Yoostar 2 makes it possible for players to insert themselves into famous movie and TV scenes, starring alongside, or in place of, their favorite actors. Players choose scenes from a wide variety of movie genres; a built-in teleprompter displays actor’s lines in English, Spanish, French, Italian, or German; an outline of the original actor’s body shows players where to position themselves before the camera rolls. For added fun, performers can even toss the script and improvise. Yoostar Playground is a free Facebook game and owning the console game is not required. Players rate, share, comment on, and “mash-up” performances produced by Yoostar 2 console game performers. In-game activities earn points that help players grow from struggling actors to A-list celebrities. As players gain “fame,” they are awarded Badges and paid Yoobucks. Yoobucks can be used for power ups and boosts that accelerate achievements in both Yoostar Playground and Yoostar 2. The Yoostar Network is a growing web of interconnected social networks that link Yoostar performers across Facebook user pages, Yoostar Playground, Twitter, Yoostar.com, Xbox LIVE, PlayStation Network and YouTube. The goal of the Yoostar Network is to make it easy to connect with anyone interested in social performance games regardless of where their net-presence resides. Yoostar 2 is currently available at all leading retail outlets throughout North America for an MSRP of $49.99. Yoostar Playground is live on Facebook and can be played for free at http://apps.facebook.com/yoostarplayground/ For more information on Yoostar 2, please visit http://www.Yoostar.com More News >> Copyright © XBoxExclusive.com, 2007. All Rights Reserved.