Borderlands video game E3 Fact Sheet

Borderlands combines the best in first-person action with player customization and vehicular combat to deliver an exciting Role-Playing Shooter experience. The game features a groundbreaking content generation system allowing for near-endless variety in weapons and item drops. Borderlands allows for multiple players to share the same game experience simultaneously online in co-op gameplay. Players can freely join or leave each other's games at anytime, or choose to play in the full single-player mode. These features, along with a rich and deep fiction that touches upon the mysteries buried beneath the surface of a danger-filled planet, combine to form a breakthrough experience that challenges the conventions of modern shooters.



Features:

* FPS Action Meets RPG Character Progression: Players can choose from one of four distinct characters and earn experience and gain proficiency in a number of specialties as they do battle with enemies. Upgrades can be invested in a wide variety of special abilities, allowing players to create a fully customized character that is tailored to their playing style
* Co-op Engineered Game Design: Borderlands is built from the ground-up to be an exciting and intuitive co-operative multiplayer experience that rewards players for investing in specific co-op skills
* Radical New Art Style: Fresh and exciting new visual style combines traditional rendering techniques with hand-drawn textures to paint a unique and eye-catching spin on the First Person Shooter genre
* Gun Lust: Choose from an arsenal of hundreds of thousands of weapons, each with their unique manufacturers, specifications and advantages. A revolutionary new content generation system produces almost infinite tools of destruction
* Intense Vehicular Combat: Get behind the wheel of and engage in intense vehicle-to-vehicle combat, complete with extensive damage modeling and spectacular explosions
* Next Big Original IP From Gearbox Software: Experience the action and creativity derived from the pedigree of one of gaming’s most consistent and respected developers

Title: Borderlands
Publisher: 2K Games
Developer: Gearbox Software
Platform: PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Games for Windows
ESRB Rating: Not Yet Rated
Release Date: Fall 2009

Mafia II E3 video game Fact Sheet

From the developers of the award-winning Mafia comes Mafia II, a beautifully crafted look into the dark and unforgiving world of the Mafia. Expanding upon the original hit that captivated more than 2 million gamers around the world, 2K Czech takes players deeper into the Mafia with a mature and exciting experience that will immerse players like never before.

Powered by 2K Czech’s next-generation engine built specifically for Mafia II, players will experience the true evolution of the Mafia game that defined a genre. Gunfights, hand-to-hand combat and vehicular exploration feature new depth and dimension that allow players to experience the world of Mafia II in a way that will keep them coming back for more.

Storyline:

Born the son of a poor immigrant, Vito is a beaten down Italian American who is trying to escape the life of poverty that consumed his childhood. It was on the streets that Vito learns that joining the Mafia is the only route to wealth and respect for people of his standing. Wanting to escape the life of hardship that his father led, he dreams about becoming a “Made Man.”

A petty criminal his whole life, Vito, along with his childhood friend, Joe, will descend into the world of organized crime. Together, they will work to prove themselves to the Mafia as they try to make their names on the streets. Starting with low-level jobs like robbery and stealing cars, Vito and Joe escalate quickly up the Mafia family ladder…but the life as a wise guy isn’t quite as glamorous as it seems.

Features:

* Immersive Gangster Experience: Through strong, authentic characterization, compelling narrative and stunning presentation, the mature storyline will make players understand the pull and impossible escape of life in the Mafia
* Action-Packed Gameplay: Take part in heart-stopping car-to-car chases, visceral hand-to-hand combat and intense gunplay, all of which come together to form a deep and engrossing gameplay experience Illusion Engine™: 2K Czech’s proprietary Illusion Engine, allows gamers to explore Empire Bay’s 10 square miles while transitioning from beautifully rendered outdoor environments to intricately designed interiors seamlessly without the need for loading times
* Authentic Portrayal of Mid-20th Century America: Experience an epic story set across two decades where the clothing, cars and advertising are meticulously created to replicate the feel of a ‘40s and ‘50s American city; as players progress through the eras the city and its elements will change to reflect the time period.
* Soundtrack Reflects the Mood of the Era: Players will be immersed in the Golden Era of America as Mafia II features tracks from some of the era’s most influential artists

Title: Mafia II
Publisher: 2K Games
Developer: 2K Czech
Platform: PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft, Windows-based PC
ESRB Rating: Not Yet Rated
Release Date: Early 2010

Microsoft Xbox 360 at E3 videos including Project Natal HD

Xbox 360 at E3 videos including project Natal HD

MyBrute video game on iPhone and iPod Touch

Bulkypix and Motion Twin announce the release of MyBrute on iPhone and iPod Touch.
Available now at the Appstore for 3.99€ or 4.99$ here
MyBrute iPhone and iPod Touch is based on what has now become a cult online game

MyBrute is a raging community and viral phenomenon, with over 1.7 million visits per day throughout the world and over 70 million Brutes created.

COME AND JOIN US AND RUB SHOULDERS WITH THE CHAMPIONS OF THE ARENA!

My Brute is a crazy, off-the-wall game of combat that gives you the chance to challenge fighters from all over the world.

You simply take on a series of challenges, gain experience, unlock new skills and crush your enemies with ever-greater speed.

My Brute is easy to access and allows you to:
- Create and personalise up to 8 brutes.
- Invite other players to become your pupils.
- Open your own dojo and find yourself a master worthy of this title.
- Fight up to 5 opponents a day.
- Discover and master more than 70 skills and weapons.
- Unlock up to 8 battle arenas
- Have discussions with other players from around the world via Open Feint
- Challenge your friends on Facebook Connect

THROW PLENTY OF BLOWS, KICKS AND PUNCHES TO BECOME THE MOST FEARED BRUTE OF ALL!

The Bulkypix and Motion Twin team has been working for several months to adapt MyBrute to the iPhone and iPod Touch, to create a new competition and offer regular and exclusive content for this version.

Players start from scratch (the game is not connected to the online version) and try to become the strongest Brute in the world.

MyBrute offers discussion forums included in the game to exchange ideas and challenge other players, and also so that the community can suggest improvements to the game (service provided by OpenFeint 2.0).

Players can also share their feats and challenge friends on Facebook. (Facebook Connect)

Bulkypix will listen to players' suggestions and regularly provide new content and game modes, to continually renew the game experience.
MyBrute is a community game with long-term appeal. Future buyers will not be disappointed!

Guiness World Records E3 awards

Nintendo, Activision, Red Octane, Bethesda, Blizzard & Microsoft make their way into the Guinness World Records 2010 Gamers Edition. On the heels of February’s launch of the annual Guinness World Records 2009 Gamer’s Edition, representatives were on hand at the E3 Expo this week to honor gaming publishers with brand new records.

Guinness World Record recipients included Shigeru Miyamoto, the creator of Wii Sports, who received the record for the Best Selling Video Game with sales of 45.7 million to date.

Major Nelson and Mark Whitten from XBOX LIVE received the award for the Most Popular Online Console Gaming Service during Monday night’s Microsoft party. Xbox Live serves 20 million active subscribers to date, representing 67% of the total install base as of May 2009.

Blizzard Entertainment’s Mike Morhaime and Paul Sams accepted the records for World of Warcraft for the Most Popular MMORPG with a total of 11.6 million subscribers and Starcraft for being the Best Selling Strategy Game for a PC, selling 9.5 million copies worldwide.

Bethesda Softworks’ Lead Designer Todd Howard was awarded with the record for the Fastest-selling Multi Platform RPG after Fallout 3 sold over 4.7 million copies in its first week on sale from October 28th to November 4th 2008.

The entire Infinity Ward team were officially presented with the record for the Most Played Online Video Game as Call of Duty 4 has an excess of 15 million minutes played daily and the up and coming US band The Dares performed the First concert to Take Place Simultaneously in the Real and Virtual Worlds in SOE’s new massively multiplayer game Free Realms

In addition Charles and Kai Huang of Red Octane received the accolade for the Best-selling Rhythm Game Series for Guitar Hero’s sales of in excess of 25 million copies.

An honorable mention goes out to Steve Wiebe who unsuccessfully tried to win back his Donkey Kong crown from Billy Mitchell. Guinness World Records and Twin Galaxies were on hand to witness the potential new record. Wiebe’s final score of 989, 400 points fell short of the 1,050,200 score achieved by Mitchell in 2007.

All of the publishers validated at this year’s show will make their mark on history and will be featured in the Guinness World Records 2010 Gamers Edition which will launch early next year. The book itself contains a comprehensive guide to gaming and will feature the latest gaming records, the history behind gaming, and interviews with key figures in the industry.

About Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records is the universally recognized authority on record-breaking achievement. First published in 1955, the annual Guinness World Records book is published in more than 100 countries and 25 languages and is one of the highest-selling books under copyright of all time with more than 3 million copies sold annually across the globe. Guinness World Records celebrated its 50th anniversary edition in 2004, a year after the sale of its 100 millionth copy. Guinness World Records also annually publishes the Gamer’s Edition; a records book devoted solely to the world of computer gaming and high score record achievements. The Guinness World Records website (www.guinnessworldrecords.com) receives more than 11 million visitors a year. Guinness World Records is part of the Jim Pattison Group, one of Canada’s largest privately owned companies which is a conglomerate of interests, including advertising, broadcasting, grocery stores and automotive retailing.

Can Sackboy beat Hookers media molecule and Rockstar to win award?

Nominations unveiled for 7th annual Industry Excellence Awards

The nominations for the 2009 Develop Industry Excellence Awards have today been unveiled, with Rockstar and Media Molecule set to contest the most categories.

Rockstar Leeds and Rockstar North share six nominations for GTA: Chinatown Wars and GTA IV: The Lost and the Damned, whilst Media Molecule scoop five after a stunning year for LittleBigPlanet.

A real mix of coding talent go head to head in the Best New Studio category, where home console developers compete against handheld and web-based programmers after a year which has seen gaming explode across a range of platforms.

Perhaps the most interesting contest will be in the Technical Innovation category, where LittleBigPlanet will take on Killzone 2, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, Fable II, PlayStation Home and Football Manager Live.

The Develop Industry Excellence Awards are the only accolades that celebrate the achievements of the European development community. An industry-wide panel of experts drawn from the magazine's extensive readership will vote on 16 awards spread across four categories, with a very special Grand Prix award determined by the Develop team themselves. In addition, another Development Legend will be honoured.

“This year's finalists showcase the wide array of talent working in and serving the UK and European games development sector, and also the broad, forward-thinking remit of the Develop team,” says Michael French, Editor-in-Chief, Develop. “The shortlist covers everything from traditional console games to iPhone, Facebook, Flash and social experiences, proving just what a rewarding and vibrant sector games development in Europe is. We wish all of the nominees the best of luck and look forward to seeing them on what's set to be a great night.”

The Develop industry Excellence Awards are held in association with Partnertrans, Black Rock Studios, Babel Media and Crytek.

The Awards will be held on Wednesday July 15th at the Hilton Metropole Brighton and hosted by Eight out of 10 Cats star, Jason Manford.

Develop Industry Excellence Awards nominations in full:
CREATIVITY

Best New IP
LittleBigPlanet (Media Molecule)
Mirror's Edge (EA DICE)
Pure (Black Rock Studio)
Zen Bound (Secret Exit)
You're in the Movies (Zoe Mode)
Burn Zombie Burn! (Doublesix)

Best Use of a Licence
Lego Batman (Traveller's Tales)
The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena (Starbreeze Studios)
Outrun Online Arcade (Sumo Digital)
Beijing 2008 - The Official Video Game of the Olympic Games (Eurocom)
House of the Dead: Overkill (Headstrong Games)
Hasbro Family Game Night (EA BrightLight)

Visual Arts
LittleBigPlanet (Media Molecule)
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (Rockstar Leeds)
Killzone 2 (Guerrilla)
Xbox 360 Avatars (Rare)
PlayStation Home (London Studio)
Pure (Black Rock Studio)

Audio Accomplishment
Fable II (Lionhead)
Mirror's Edge (EA DICE)
You're in the Movies (Zoe Mode)
House of the Dead: Overkill (Headstrong Games)
GTAIV: The Lost and the Damned (Rockstar North)
Empire Total War (The Creative Assembly)

Publishing Hero
Apple
Sega
Direct2Drive
Codemasters
Ngmoco
Valve

TECHNOLOGY & SERVICES

Technical Innovation
LittleBigPlanet (Media Molecule)
Killzone 2 (Guerilla)
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars (Rockstar Leeds)
Fable II (Lionhead)
PlayStation Home (London Studio)
Football Manager Live (Sports Interactive)

Best Tools Provider
Autodesk
Havok
Audiokinetic
Hansoft
Perforce
Scaleform
Quazal

Best Engine
Unreal Engine 3 (Epic Games)
Gamebryo (Emergent Game Technologies)
BlitzTech (Blitz Games Studios)
Unity (Unity Technologies)
Vision Engine (Trinigy)
PhyreEngine (SCEE R&D)

Recruitment Company
Aadvark Swift
Datascope
OPM
Amiqus
Natural Selection
Specialmove

Services
Testology
Babel
Universally Speaking
Partnertrans
Testronic Labs
Audiomotion
Centroid

Creative Outsourcing
High Score Productions
Axis Animation
Outsource Media UK
Side & Sidelines
Richard Jacques Studios
Nimrod
Pitstop Productions

STUDIOS

Best New Studio
Media Molecule
nDreams
Hand Circus
Proper Games
Playfish
Crytek Budapest

Best Handheld Games Studio
Rockstar Leeds
Exient
Curve
Traveller's Tales Fusion
Secret Exit

Business Development
Revolution
Gimme5Games
Monumental Games
Playfish
Crytek
Blitz Games Studios

Best Independent Developer
Media Molecule
Sumo Digital
Crytek
Asobo Studio
Starbreeze Studio
Jagex

Best In-House Team
Lionhead
Sports Interactive
Black Rock Studio
EA DICE
Rockstar North
Rockstar Leeds

Winners of the Development Legend and Grand Prix Awards will be announced on the night.

Arma II Flash video game link

505 Games and Bohemia Interactive, creators of award winning military simulations Operation Flashpoint and ArmA: Armed Assault, are pleased to announce the release of ARMA II: The Flash Game.
A short introduction to the beginning of the ARMA II story is now available for all dedicated fans that are eager to explore the world of the Post-Soviet Republic of Chernarus, a small country chained by the thread of an upcoming civil war.

Marek Spanel, CEO of Bohemia Interactive talks about the new Flash game: “At Bohemia we're known for our innovative, original, approach to game development and our intent was to create additional content based on the original world of ARMA II, using it in a way which makes it possible to connect with hundreds of thousands of gamers worldwide.“

In a further nod to its dedicated community, Bohemia Interactive have announced a competition. For each of the following 5 weeks, the two flash game players with the highest score will win a free copy of ARMA II via digital download!

ARMA II offers the ultimate realistic combat simulation experience in a modern day setting. With unprecedented freedom of movement, actions and tactics, the game will allow players to immerse themselves into intense large scale battles as never seen before on a home PC.

ARMA II will be released across Europe June 19th exclusively for PC. For all the latest information please visit www.arma2.com


And remember: If you see the Flash, it’s already too late!

Let it Shine with SingStar Take That! E3

The UK's ultimate band is back for good with a dedicated SingStar title on PLAYSTATION 3 and PlayStation 2

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe today announced SingStar Take That is coming to PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3) on Blu-ray Disc and PlayStation 2. Take That fans are in for a treat this year as one of Europe’s hottest acts comes to SingStar. Set to launch late 2009, SingStar Take That will have fans and music lovers singing along to classic pop hits and soulful ballads that span the group’s hugely successful career. You can get practising this summer when the Take That SongPack comes to SingStore™, giving you five exclusive tracks so you’ll be ready to impress when SingStar Take That arrives later this year!

Featuring a collection of new and classic tracks from their multi-million album selling career, SingStar Take That is packed full of those tunes that will tug on your heartstrings and have you delivering the performance of your life. Grab your Wireless SingStar Microphones and get your mates together for a harmonious performance of uplifting, chart topping single Shine - or serenade your loved one with the heartfelt Back for Good and Could it be Magic.

Whether Take That stole your heart in their early days or won you over with their latest releases, prepare to put on a performance you’ll Never Forget and perform the hit ballads of one of the world’s hottest groups when SingStar Take That launches on PS3 and PlayStation 2 later this year.

As proud sponsors of the band’s record breaking UK stadium tour which sees the band perform to an audience of some 1.2 million people in just twenty shows, there’ll be the opportunity for fans across the country to warm up their vocal chords early, in dedicated SingStar sampling areas, at many of the concert venues.

For those with a PS3 there will be a taster Take That SongPack to download from SingStore, these tracks will be on the disc, but for those that just can’t wait – this SongPack is sure to get you singing.

Raunchy Fuel Girls help FUEL video game launch

Codemasters' FUEL Burns Up XFM's Breakfast Show With Surprise Appearance By The Raunchy Fuel Girls

To celebrate the launch today of FUEL for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, Codemasters enrolled the services of the Fuel Girls to spread the word about the game that sets the new standard in open-world racing. The globe-trotting, fire-breathing, stunt-driving divas burnt up the airwaves this morning on XFM London 104.9's Breakfast Show, providing one lucky listener with the chance of winning a PlayStation 3 and a copy of FUEL on Ian Camfield's "Hard Rock" quiz.

Built on ground-breaking technology developed by Asobo Studio, FUEL’s huge world is one of atmospheric beauty and awe-inspiring size, fully open to race and explore. This unprecedented racing playground features dramatic weather effects, including tornados, blizzards, sandstorms and lightning, a full day / night cycle and enormous environmental diversity, from the snow-capped dormant volcano Mount Rainier to the arid Grand Canyon and everything in between.

FUEL’s free-roaming nature allows gamers to pick and choose their route, races and career progression while extensive multiplayer options allow up to 16 players to race against each other in pre-set events, explore the world in free ride or create their own challenges and share them online.

FUEL is set to become the ultimate racing sandbox when it launches Friday June 5th for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft® with a Games For Windows® edition to follow. Prepare for a FUEL injection by downloading gameplay videos at www.fuel-game.com.

BioShock 2 video game E3 Fact Sheet

Step back into the unforgettable world of Rapture in BioShock 2, the next installment in the franchise that has won more than 50 Game of the Year Awards and has sold more than 2.5 million units worldwide. Developed by 2K Marin, 2K Australia and Digital Extremes, BioShock 2 provides players with the perfect blend of explosive first person shooter combat, compelling storytelling and intense multiplayer to form one of 2009’s most highly anticipated titles.

Storyline:

Set approximately 10 years after the events of the original BioShock, the halls of Rapture once again echo with sins of the past. Along the Atlantic coastline, a monster has been snatching little girls and bringing them back to the undersea city of Rapture. You are the very first Big Daddy as you travel through the decrepit and beautiful fallen city, chasing an unseen foe in search of answers and your own survival.

Multiplayer in BioShock 2 provides a rich prequel experience that expands the award winning BioShock gameplay. Set during the fall of Rapture, players assume the role of a Plasmid test subject in the underwater city that was first explored in the original BioShock. Players will need to use all the elements of the game’s toolset to survive as the full depth of the BioShock experience is refined and transformed into a unique multiplayer experience that can only be found in Rapture.

Singleplayer Features:

* Evolution of the Genetically Enhanced Shooter: Innovative advances bring new depth and dimension to each encounter. New elements, such as the ability to dual-wield weapons and Plasmids, allow players to create exciting combinations of punishment
* Return to Rapture: Set approximately 10 years after the events of the original BioShock, the story continues with an epic, more intense journey through one of the most captivating and terrifying fictional worlds ever created
* You Are the Big Daddy: Take control of BioShock’s signature and iconic symbol with the original prototype Big Daddy, and experience the power and raw strength of Rapture’s most feared denizens as you battle powerful new enemies
* Continuation of the Award-Winning Narrative: New and unique storytelling devices serve as the vehicle for the continuation of one of gaming’s most acclaimed storylines


Multiplayer Features:

* Genetically Enhanced Multiplayer – Earn experience points during gameplay to earn access to new Weapons, Plasmids and Tonics that can be used to create hundreds of different combinations, allowing players to develop a unique character that caters to their playing style.
* Experience Rapture’s Civil War– Players will step into the shoes of Rapture citizens and take direct part in the civil war that tore Rapture apart.
* See Rapture Before the Fall – Experience Rapture before it was reclaimed by the ocean and engage in combat over iconic environments in locations such as Kashmir Restaurant and Mercury Suites, all of which have been reworked from the ground up for multiplayer.
* FPS Veterans Add Their Touch to the Multiplayer Experience – Digital Extremes brings more than 10 years of first person shooter experience including development of award-winning entries in the Unreal® and Unreal Tournament franchise.