The Joker to Be Playable Character in Batman - Arkham Asylum video game exclusively for the Playstation 3

Eidos Interactive and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment announce that The Joker will be an exclusive playable character in Batman: Arkham Asylum for the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system. The character will be made available upon release as a free downloadable character through PlayStation Network for the PLAYSTATION 3 and can be played in Challenge Maps from the game. Fans can get additional information in the June issue of PlayStation: The Official Magazine.

In Batman: Arkham Asylum, DC Comics’ DARK KNIGHT takes on his greatest challenge yet when he becomes trapped with all of his most dangerous villains inside the insane asylum of GOTHAM CITY - ARKHAM ASYLUM! Batman: Arkham Asylum exposes players to a unique, dark and atmospheric adventure that takes them to the depths of Arkham Asylum – Gotham’s psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane. Gamers will move in the shadows, instigate fear amongst their enemies and confront The Joker and Gotham City’s most notorious villains who have taken over the asylum. Using a wide range of Batman’s gadgets and abilities, players will become the invisible predator and attempt to foil The Joker’s demented scheme. Batman: Arkham Asylum features an original story penned exclusively for the game by famous Batman author and five-time Emmy award winner, Paul Dini, whose credits include Lost season one and Batman: The Animated Series.

Published in North America by Eidos, Inc. and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, Batman: Arkham Asylum will also be available June 2009 on the Xbox 360 and PC.

Comic Book Legend Jim Lee Enlists for Gears of War No9

World Class Talent Extends Bestselling Comic Book Series

Epic Games announce it has secured the creative talent of iconic comic book illustrator Jim Lee for its Gears of War No9 comic book from DC Comics’ WildStorm imprint. Lee will provide the cover artwork, which introduces a new Gears character, for the July 2009 issue.

“Being a huge Gears of War fan, I couldn't pass the opportunity to draw a cover for the series, said Jim Lee. “It’s the most visceral yet elegant game I've ever played, and I am thrilled to be able to contribute something new to the ever expanding mythos of Gears!”

“We’re ecstatic to have Jim Lee on board for the Gears of War comic book series,” said Dr. Michael Capps, president, Epic Games. “We've been huge fans of his artwork for years, and can't wait to incorporate his latest character design into the Gears universe.”

Gears of War #9 will be authored by Capps and Joshua Ortega, the lead author of the comic book series and scriptwriter for the Gears of War 2 game, and interior illustrations will be provided by renowned comic book artist Liam Sharp. An alternate cover for Gears of War #9 will be provided by Chris Perna, art director of Epic Games.

The Gears of War ongoing comic book series was one of the most popular launches for DC Comics’ WildStorm imprint in 2008. According to WildStorm, high demand for Gears of War #1 was answered with broad circulation.

“We’re quite pleased with the continued success of the Gears of War comic that kicked off with the widely distributed premiere issue,” said Hank Kanalz, vice president and general manager of WildStorm. “We hope to maintain that momentum, leading up to the collected hardcover edition releasing later this year.”

Both Gears of War No1 and Gears of War No2 sold out and went back to press with a special flip book reprinting of both issues combined into one volume. Slated for release this summer is also a Gears of War Sourcebook featuring some of comics’ best and brightest talent, plus amazing pieces by select artists of Epic Games.

More information about the Gears of War comic book series is available at www.dccomics.com/wildstorm/comics.

Tiger Woods PGA tour 10 features all new tournament mode and Nintendo Wii exclusive disc golf game

Rewrite many of golf’s most dramatic moments in Tournament Challenge; an all-new character progression mode in Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10. Experience historic situations over various seasons, including Tiger’s clutch birdie that featured the amazing putt on the 18th green to win last year’s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, only this time you determine the outcome.

Get an intimate account of specific moments as introduced by Tiger Woods, as he provides his personal insight and strategy to his real-life approach. The Tournament Challenge mode is available on Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3, Wii and PSP versions of the game.

Exclusive to Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10 on the Wii, Disc Golf allows fans to trade in their golf clubs for a new way to play all championship courses featured in the game. Imagine trying to take on the famous island green on hole 17 at TPC Sawgrass with a disc! Featuring support with the Wii MotionPlus accessory, Disc Golf brings the family-fun sport into your living room.

GRiN and Streamline Studios Complete Their First Art Pipeline Collaboration for Terminator Salvation

First Major Collaboration Under New GRiN/Streamline Studios Partnership To Ensure AAA Quality is Successfully Completed

GRiN AB, Scandinavia’s most sought-after developers of console and PC games, and Streamline Studios, the leading development studio for high-quality digital content creation, today announced that they have completed their joint development of the art environment for the upcoming game, Terminator Salvation, for Warner Bros. and Halcyon.

The game is the first title that GRiN and Streamline Studios have collaborated on since the two companies announced a formal partnership last August. The dedicated Streamline Studios team will move on to another co-production project with GRiN as the companies extend their working relationship.

“Terminator Salvation is coming together very well and we’re confident we’re delivering a game that redefines the Terminator franchise,” said Bo Andersson, founder and CEO of GRiN AB. “We couldn't have made this game as immersive or hit the quality level with any other partner than Streamline Studios. Terminator is our first major collaboration with Streamline Studios and they really put their hearts into this production, which is why we absolutely recommend them to anyone looking to create high-end content today. What’s left is for GRiN is to polish the last levels, gameplay and submit the game and then, the END begins.”

“Co-production of whole art pipelines is the future, and working with GRiN on Terminator Salvation was our next step to evolve as a company,” said Alexander L. Fernandez, co-founder and CEO of Streamline Studios, B.V. “After seeing our work in some of the biggest titles of all time, we see a changing landscape for game and asset production and we know our alignment with GRiN is a testament to the quality both of our companies deliver. The partnership has given everyone involved a lot of flexibility and the best of all resources to deliver a Terminator game that is truly going to be huge.”

La Tales New maps to download

OGPlanet has released two new maps for La Tale, its massively multiplayer online side-scroller.


For more information about the new maps, please visit http://latale.ogplanet.com.

About La Tale
La Tale's whimsical art style and detailed 2D worlds bring a lighthearted touch to the MMORPG genre, and have won it a large following in Asia. Simple gameplay and intuitive quests make La Tale accessible for players of all ages, while the immersive storyline with a variety of characters, enemies and challenges keep the game intriguing.

F1 2009 and 2010 video game coming to PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii PSP and PC

British publisher confirms fully licensed 2009 and 2010 titles for Wii, PSP, PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360
F1 World Champion Lewis Hamilton will make his video game debut this autumn, MCV can reveal.

Codemasters will launch F1 2009 for PSP and Wii this year, which will feature official tracks, cars, teams and drivers, including Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel – and UK world champion Hamilton.

This will be followed by the high definition F1 2010, which will hit shelves in spring next year for PS3, PC and Xbox 360.
This title boasts an ‘authentic’ F1 experience, and makes use of Codemasters’ EGO Engine technology, which powered the BAFTA award-winning Race Driver: GRID.

“Formula One is the pinnacle of motorsport,” said Codemasters chief executive Rod Cousens. “We are producing a series of games that will deliver the passion, glamour and exhilaration that fans deserve and we know how to do that.

DICE Announces $15 Price for Battlefield 1943 download video game

DICE, an Electronic Arts announce that Battlefield 1943 will be available in June for $15 USD in the Xbox LIVE Marketplace (1200 MS Points) or the PlayStation Store. The action-packed arcade title will also be available for PC in September.

Battlefield 1943 is an all-new multiplayer game that offers endless hours of 24-player action in popular maps inspired by Battlefield 1942, now updated with the Frostbite engine. The total destructibility afforded by the Frostbite engine ups the ante and leaves players with nowhere to hide.

In Battlefield 1943, intense battles ensue over three classic and tropic locations; Wake Island, Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima. Gamers play as the US Marines or the Imperial Japanese Navy, competing by land, air and sea. Players have the freedom to pick their path in battle - be it as a rifleman crawling through the trenches, a steel fisted tank commander, or a dog fighting pilot that protects the skies.

“Using the same Frostbite engine that we developed for Battlefield: Bad Company, we are able to take players back to WWII and return to the roots of the Battlefield franchise, but with a new twist – destruction,” said Gordon Van Dyke, Producer on Battlefield 1943. “We want to offer gamers the most accessible online shooter experience and the best value found in any premium download title with Battlefield 1943.”

Guitar Hero Greatest Hits Polling Result, Round Two

Activision reveals the tracks from Guitar Hero II that will appear in Greatest Hits full band experience

Beginning two weeks ago, Guitar Hero fans were tasked with deciding the order in which songs will be revealed for Guitar Hero Greatest Hits. The votes from Week 1 declared the original Guitar Hero game the winner, and the songs from that game that appear in Guitar Hero Greatest Hits were revealed. The voting continued and established Guitar Hero II as the clear victor this week. The voting resumes, and fans can now cast their votes online at GreatestHits.GuitarHero.com to determine which of the remaining genre-defining titles, Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s and Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, they would like to have the songs revealed from next.

Guitar Hero Greatest Hits explodes onto store shelves on June 26, 2009 with 48 master tracks now playable for the entire band, including the following tracks from Guitar Hero II:

Guitar Hero II

Avenged Sevenfold - “Beast And The Harlot”
Rage Against The Machine - “Killing In The Name”
Rush - “YYZ”
Lynyrd Skynyrd - “Free Bird”
Foo Fighters - “Monkey Wrench”
Iron Maiden - “The Trooper”
Nirvana - “Heart-Shaped Box”
Lamb of God - “Laid To Rest”
The Police - “Message In A Bottle”
Wolfmother - “Woman”
Kansas - “Carry On Wayward Son”
Stone Temple Pilots - “Trippin' On A Hole In A Paper Heart”
Warrant - “Cherry Pie”
Alice in Chains - “Them Bones”
Danzig - “Mother”
Jane’s Addiction - “Stop!”
Reverend Horton Heat - “Psychobilly Freakout”
The Sword - “Freya”
Mötley Crüe- “Shout At The Devil”

Turn down the lights, crank up the amps and prepare to command center stage as some of the most famous AND infamous tracks from Guitar Hero, Guitar Hero II, Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s and Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock step into the spotlight in the most epic, full band jam session to-date - Guitar Hero Greatest Hits. The #1 best-selling video game franchise of 2008 presents the best of the best to music video game aficionados so they can join together for guitar, bass, drums and vocals in-game and rock to master tracks of their favorite Guitar Hero music.

Featuring 48 master recordings, Guitar Hero Greatest Hits delivers exciting online and offline gameplay modes including Band Career and 8-player “Battle of the Bands,” which allows two full bands to compete head-to-head online. Players’ rock n’ roll fantasies turn to realities as they create their rocker, compose original music and share it with the world through the innovative Music Studio, GHTunesSM and robust Rock Star Creator gameplay modes first introduced in Guitar Hero World Tour.

Developed by Beenox Studios, Guitar Hero Greatest Hits for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Wii home video game system from Nintendo, and PLAYSTATION 3 and PlayStation 2 computer entertainment systems are scheduled for release on 26th June.

Star Trek - D-A-C, coming to Xbox LIVE Arcade and PlayStation Network and Windows PC

Paramount Digital Entertainment, Bad Robot Interactive, CBS and Naked Sky Entertainment today announced the launch of Star Trek - D-A-C, coming to Xbox LIVE Arcade for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft this May, and to PlayStation Network and Windows PC shortly thereafter.

Inspired by the upcoming “Star Trek” movie from Paramount Pictures, Star Trek: D-A-C is a fast-paced, top-down space shooter where players take the captain’s chair and engage in intense online multi-player or co-op battles. Pick up and play, then lead your team to victory.

“The upcoming ‘Star Trek’ film has ignited interest among a new generation of fans as well as longtime fans of the original,” said Tom Lesinski, President Paramount Pictures Digital Entertainment. “With that same goal in mind, Star Trek: D-A-C was designed to appeal to ‘Star Trek’ fans and gamers alike. The pick up and play arcade-style game play lets fans take the command and boldly go!”

Star Trek: D-A-C allows fans to directly control a variety of ships and pitch battles between Starfleet and the Romulan Empire. Up to 12 players can compete in thrilling team combat. There are three game play modes - single player, online multiplayer and online co-op. For each mode, there are three different game types - Team DeathMatch, Assault and Conquest. Players can choose from three ship types for each faction, including the new U.S.S. Enterprise featured in the “Star Trek” film. Each ship – the powerful Flagship, the nimble Fighter and the devastating Bomber – offers its own unique capabilities for players to master and manipulate as they fight for victory. In addition to featuring the new U.S.S. Enterprise, Star Trek: D-A-C incorporates music and signature sounds taken directly from the new “Star Trek” film.

Star Trek: D-A-C is scheduled to launch May 2009 for the Xbox LIVE Arcade for the Xbox 360, and for the PlayStation Network and Windows PC shortly thereafter.

Fuel video gameplay trailer including snowstorms, thunderstorms, blizzards, rainstorms and tornados

With a succession of flowing arrows, that guide gamers from checkpoint to chequered flag, FUEL’s elegant solution calculates routes dynamically and constantly updates according to vehicle position, in conjunction with a mini-map which pinpoints each racer’s location.

However in FUEL the suggested route is not always the quickest. As players master their vehicles they can take on riskier – and potentially more rewarding – shortcuts, veering off the suggested line. The GPS system can also be turned off for the ultimate man and machine versus Mother Nature challenge.



Gamers can view the video and find out more about FUEL by navigating their way to the newly launched, www.fuel-game.com. On the site, each of the game’s 19 regions can be explored across an interactive map that enables players to zoom in and out of the largest racing environment ever. Information on the multi-class vehicle roster, extensive online options and different events can all be accessed. Visitors can also download the latest screens and videos and register to have the latest FUEL news and updates sent directly to their in-boxes.

Coming this May, FUEL is the ultimate racing sandbox where players can race and explore a stunning world, mapped from satellite data of the United States, in a range of on and off-road, two and four wheeled vehicles. Set in an alternate present where the accelerated effects of global warming have driven people from their homes, the huge, abandoned areas become a playground for a new breed of extreme racers.

A full day/night cycle and dynamic weather effects including snowstorms, thunderstorms, blizzards, rainstorms and tornados brings this world alive. Players take on hundreds of race events in a wide range of customised vehicles, including quads, bikes, roadsters, trucks, dragsters and more, that all share rewarding and exhilarating arcade handling.

With extensive multiplayer options including 16 player multi-class racing, online free-ride and a powerful yet intuitive race editor to share races with friends, FUEL is set to revolutionise open world multi-terrain racing when it launches on Friday May 29th for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Games For Windows.