Criterion developed Need for Speed is in the works

John Pleasants, CEO of EA, has confirmed, during the William Blair Stock Conference, that Need for Speed is being created by Criterion Games (Burnout fame).

So will it be a Burnout clone or a totally new Need for Speed experience. we'll have to wait and see...

Hello Kitty gets a Brazilian...

Sanrio Digital based in Hong Kong and Boston, and online games publisher GameMaxx based in São Paulo, today announced they have partnered to launch Hello Kitty Online in Brazil. Hello Kitty Online is the official massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) that features the beloved global icon along with Sanrio’s other lovable characters.

Under the terms of the agreement, GameMaxx will manage online publishing, i-café distribution, and game service operations of Hello Kitty Online in Brazil. GameMaxx will also operate a Brazilian edition of SanrioTown, the community and social networking site integrated with Hello Kitty Online.

“Sanrio Digital is very excited to partner with GameMaxx to bring Hello Kitty Online to our fan base in Brazil. The rapid growth of free-to-play games and social media in Brazil suggests an ideal market for the social networking integration between Hello Kitty Online and SanrioTown,” said Robert Ferrari, Vice President of Publishing & Business Development of Sanrio Digital.

“GameMaxx is proud to partner with Sanrio Digital to introduce Hello Kitty Online and SanrioTown to online gamers in Brazil. We are confident that the game’s brand appeal, unique design, and social networking features will result in high demand across the region among female online gamers,” said Gilberto Akisino, Chief Executive Officer of Gamemaxx.

Hello Kitty Online is launching in various territories throughout 2009, using a free-to-play model with optional premium upgrades. Players will undertake exhilarating adventures and interact with other players and over a hundred Sanrio characters including Hello Kitty, Badtz-Maru™, My Melody, and many others. Backed by Sanrio’s highly successful intellectual property, Hello Kitty Online is one of the few MMORPG titles that targets a primarily female gaming audience. As she celebrates her 35th Anniversary in 2009, Hello Kitty continues her expansion with a presence in all multi-media platforms and new markets.

PlayStation 3 sells slower than ORIGINAL Xbox and just faster than Gamecube!

Nintendo Wii is the fastest selling home console in the US, with PlayStation 3 selling slower than the original Xbox and only slightly faster than Nintendo's old GameCube.

You might have noticed in the May NPD report that the Nintendo Wii had surpassed 20 million units in the US, officially becoming the fastest selling home video games console in the region.

At the same 31 month mark in April 2003, the PlayStation 2 had achieved 17,360,000, whereas the Nintendo Wii has achieved 20,203,581, according to numbers provided by the NPD Group

After 31 months on the market the Xbox 360 had achieved 10,267,000 units, with the console now reaching 15,240,286 after 43 months. This compares favourably to Microsoft's first Xbox effort, which reached 8,901,402 units at 31 months and 12,200,000 after 43.

As for the PlayStation 3, Sony's latest console is now at 7,749,396 after 31 months on the US market. This is less than the original Xbox and only slightly larger than the GameCube in May 2004 (7,473,241). When compared to the PlayStation 2's 17,360,000 it's an especially sorry sight, emphasising the need for a PS3 price-cut, which is expected in August.

Alan Wake video game Fact Sheet and trailer

Bringing a new style of storytelling to Xbox 360, "Alan Wake" is a psychological action thriller from Remedy, the renowned developers of the successful "Max Payne" series. In this dynamic new title exclusively for Xbox 360, players assume the role of Alan Wake, a best-selling suspense author suffering from writer's block, who escapes to a small town only to experience the mysterious disappearance of his fiancée.



Set in the deceptively idyllic town of Bright Falls, Wash., "Alan Wake" immerses players in an intense and expansive cinematic world that enables players to explore the hyper-realistic and interactive environments. "Alan Wake" is mission-based with a deeply engaging and suspenseful storyline unveiling new twists and profound character revelations at every turn.

Players will unravel the riveting plot through multilayered character interactions, unique problem-solving and intense combat against terrifying enemies. In this nightmarish world, where fantasy and reality collide, Alan Wake must use a variety of weapons to survive, including his most powerful ally against the darkness — light itself.

Features:

* Intense psychological thriller. "Alan Wake" delivers a deeply psychological and finely crafted plot that raises the bar for storytelling in video games. The riveting story of "Alan Wake" is propelled by a movie-like atmosphere, compelling situations, memorable characters and real-time pacing. Remedy has a record of creating and developing games with unique cinematic presentation and exceptionally high production values.
* Light as a combat element. As Wake journeys deeper into the mystery of Bright Falls, the shadows close in around him. When darkness descends, light becomes his only ally as he fights his way to daybreak. . This poses a severe problem for Alan Wake since his enemies seemingly gain strength from the shadows, and before long, light itself becomes his greatest ally. Players must skillfully combine their use of light with more conventional weapons to stand a chance.
* Realistic, interactive environment. Set in the town of Bright Falls, the hyper-detailed environments of the Pacific Northwest play an important role; even the change in daylight and weather will profoundly affect the characters and enemies in "Alan Wake." The game's advanced rendering engine provides amazingly realistic environments that bring this world to detailed life — from the lush forest of evergreen trees to the quaint small-town buildings and streets. The world of "Alan Wake" is alive and real.
* Episodic narrative. The mission-based structure of "Alan Wake" creates an episodic narrative similar to a deeply structured dramatic television series, such as Twin Peak and X-Files. As the episodes progress, gameplay will evolve to introduce new elements and characters, escalating the level of threat and action in the game.

War Rock video game Free Client Install - download link

Updated 1/5/08. War Rock is a free massively multiplayer online, modern tactical first person shooter (FPS) where players have the option to purchase a wide variety of gameplay enhancing items and services.



Download link: Big Download

Brink FPS video game Fact Sheet

Brink is an immersive shooter that blends single-player, co-op, and multiplayer gameplay into one seamless experience, allowing you to develop your character across all modes of play. You decide the role you want to assume in the world of Brink as you fight to save yourself and mankind’s last refuge for humanity. Brink offers a compelling mix of dynamic battlefields, extensive customization options, and an innovative control system that will keep you coming back for more.

Watch the HD video trailer here on my YouTube channel - please subscribe...

STORY: A man-made floating city called the Ark, made up of hundreds of separate floating islands, is on the brink of all-out civil war. Originally built as an experimental self-sufficient and 100% “green” habitat, the reported rapid rise of the Earth’s oceans has forced the Ark to become a refuge for humanity. Crammed with the original Ark founders, their descendants, as well as tens of thousands of refugees, the Ark exists in total isolation from the rest of the world. With 25 years of social unrest, the inhabitants of the Ark have reached their breaking point. It’s up to you to decide the future of the Ark and the human race.

KEY FEATURES:

• Blurring the Lines Between Offline and Online - Advance your character’s development across every gameplay mode: single player, co-op, and multiplayer. Gain experience points that you can spend on customizing and upgrading your skills and abilities, designing an entirely unique look and feel for your character.
• Groundbreaking Kinesthetics - Brink uses the familiar shooter controls that you’re used to, without frustrating, artificial constraints and takes advantage of a new feature: the SMART button. When you press the SMART button, the game dynamically evaluates where you’re trying to get to, and makes it happen. No need to perfectly time a jump or vault, the game knows what you want to do.
• Context-Sensitive Goals and Rewards - Objectives, communications, mission generation, and inventory selection are all dynamically generated based on your role, your status, your location, your squad-mates, and the status of the battle in all gameplay modes. You’ll always know exactly where to go, what to do when you get there, and what your reward will be for success.
• Virtual Texturing – Brink’s proprietary technology, Virtual Texturing, breaks new ground on current-gen consoles and PCs with an even greater focus on highly detailed characters, realistic environments, lighting, effects, and atmospherics. This competitive lead on the squad-combat genre helps thrust players into the gritty reality of the Ark's epic secluded arcology.

Fallout 3 Point Lookout video game download Fact Sheet

Point Lookout opens up a massive new area of the Wasteland – a, dark, murky swampland along the coast of Maryland. So hop on the ferry to the seaside town of Point Lookout, for the most mysterious and open-ended Fallout 3 Download
Content (DLC) adventure yet.

STORY: Buy a ticket and hop onboard the Duchess Gambit, as Tobar the Ferryman takes you to the strange seaside town of Point Lookout. What secrets does the dilapidated boardwalk hold? Who lives in the sprawling mansion? Why is the Punga Fruit so important? And what horrors lie in the depths of the murky swamp?

Point Lookout is the most open-ended DLC yet, and allows you to explore a huge, swampy wasteland any way you’d like. A completely new quest line allows you uncover the town’s hidden secrets and wield powerful new weapons like the Double-Barrel Shotgun against the swamp’s dangerous, and deformed, denizens.

KEY FEATURES:

• Discover and explore an entire new area – the beachfront town of Point Lookout, with its decrepit boardwalk and surrounding swamplands loaded with adventure.
• Explore the chilling mystery that pervades this once sleepy town, with a new quest line and open-ended gameplay.
• Encounter unique new swamp denizens and weaponry that will test even the toughest characters.
• Exclusive new perks and achievements!

Platform: Xbox 360 and PC

Release date: June 2010

It's time to pack your bags and leave Paradise City for the perfect summer vacation. The bridge to Big Surf Island has finally opened.
Big Surf Island is a whole new area for you to explore; the most densely packed driving playground we have ever developed. It's available as soon as your local Sony and Microsoft stores update.



We've created a packed programme of activites for you to take part in:

Try your hand at the 15 new Events including the all-new Island Tours

See full post here...

Modern Warfare 2 video game to sell 11 million copies in 2 months...

Analysts expect Infinity Ward’s shooter Modern Warfare 2 to sell a massive 11.1 million copies during its fist two months.

Activision announced that the original Modern Warfare sold over 12 million copies in 17 months on the market. The sequel could beat that in a mere 2 months, because of Activision’s ramped up pre-order and marketing campaigns, plus the fact that Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 install bases have doubled since the release of the original Modern Warfare.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is slated for release on November 10 on PC, Xbox 360 and PS3.

PlayStation 3 price cut could cost Sony $350 million

If Sony decide to cut the price of the PlayStation 3 by $50, Sony would slice $350 million from its profits. This is based on sales of 6 million units after the price cut has taken place.

There is no doubt that the PlayStation 3 is in need of a price cut, the PS3 currently retails at $400 and $500 — a lot more than the Xbox 360 or Nintendo Wii. Although a $100 price cut has been rumored for a while, Sony will most likely only cut $50 off the price, and possibly bundle one of the first party titles, like Killzone 2 with the console.