понедельник, 23 мая 2011 г.

Contest: Civilization: World Beta Codes, News from GamePro

Interested in Civilization: World, the in-development game fromlegendary Civilization creator Sid Meier? GamePro has three codes forthe closed beta to give away.

Contest: Civilization: World Beta Codes


If you want in on the closed beta, for Civilization: World, we're holding three keys just for you guys. To win the codes, please respond with a short shout-out either onthe GamePro Twitter account,our Facebook page, orour thread on the GamePro forums-– we’re giving away one code through each channel. We’ll randomly pick the winner after 24 hours.

(Twitter) Example:"Hey GamePro, I want to play the @CivGame Civilization: World Beta because _______________"

Winners of the codes, however, will need to provide some information -– full names, e-mail addresses associated with Facebook, and Facebook IDnumbers –- to 2K Games in order to associate the beta with yourFacebook account. So keep this in mind if you’re not willing to partwith this information!

Good luck!


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воскресенье, 22 мая 2011 г.

Students: Buy a Windows PC, Get a Free Xbox 360, News from GamePro

Microsoft has announced a special offer for students looking to purchase a new PC for their studies -- a free Xbox.

Students: Buy a Windows PC, Get a Free Xbox 360

Some students, yesterday. The guy at the back didn't get a free Xbox.

Microsoft announced yesterday via theWindows Blogthat it would be offering eligible high school and college students a free 4GB Xbox 360 with the purchase of a $699+ Windows 7 PC from participating retailers.

The offer starts on May 22, and Microsoft claims that"you can buy any kind of PC, although we recommend a few specifically for students."The company also offers a"PC Scout"app on Windows.com as a means of helping customers find an appropriate machine for them.

Customers with .edu email addresses can purchase online, while other eligible students simply need to walk into a participating retailer with their student ID and pick the machine they want -- so long as it's over $699, they'll be able to claim their free Xbox 360.

The offer is alsocoming to Canadafrom May 27, with the requirement being that the purchased machine is from a set range of HP PCs and it costs over CA$599.

Check back with Microsoft on May 22 for the full details -- including, hopefully, a list of participating retailers, which seems conspicuously absent from the announcement post.


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пятница, 20 мая 2011 г.

Arma 3 Coming Summer 2012, News from GamePro

Czech-developed military sim Arma II is a highly detailed, complex game that inspired a loyal following of fans. Developer Bohemia Interactive has announced it's working on a sequel.

Arma 3 Coming Summer 2012

Arma II is a different breed of military shooter to your average Call of Duty. Featuring 50-player battles, 225 square kilometers of open-world landscape modelled from real-world geographical data and a dynamic campaign that unfolds according to player actions, it's a game that is difficult to get into but has inspired one of the most dedicated communities of players out there. Today, developer Bohemia Interactive has announced that a sequel is on the way, scheduled for release on PC next summer.

The new game features an expanded story-driven single player campaign that promises to"evolve"the player"from a lone prey into a military commander."Taking the role of Cpt. Scott Miller who washes ashore alone in hostile territory, it's up to the player to muster the beleaguered and scattered NATO forces to drive back the Eastern armies.

The game features an enhanced version of the Real Virtuality engine the game is built on, with full support for NVidia PhysX. As with previous entries in the series, it's built for modding, too, with an"easy to use"mission editor included with the package to allow community members to create their own scenarios.

"Our ambition is not only to deliver the next generation of Arma with the improved engine, but also to fully exploit the potential of our new technology in the gameplay,"says Ivan Buchta, creative director of the game."You can look forward to the unique experience of blending sandbox-style combat with a rich story."

Bohemia Interactive will be showing off the new game in private presentations at E3 next month. To find out more, check out theofficial website. As a side note, the older gamers amongst us may be interested to know that Bohemia Interactive is also working on a quasi-sequel to 1988 Amiga action-strategy classicCarrier Command.


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четверг, 19 мая 2011 г.

The Witcher 2 Gets Free DLC, News from GamePro

The first piece of DLC for The Witcher 2 is out now, and it's completely free for registered players of the game.

The Witcher 2 Gets Free DLC

Troll Trouble, the first piece of free DLC for The Witcher 2, is out now, and all you need to do to get your hands on it is to register your game and choose"Downloadable Content"from the launcher menu. The side quest sees Geralt aiming to help a community rebuilt its bridge and deal with a troublesome drunken troll who has been neglecting his duties recently. You can see a preview video for ithere.

Sure, it's a pretty shameless way to provide an incentive for people to register their product, but people probably aren't going to complain too much if it allows them access to free DLC, more of which is on the way in the future.

The Witcher 2 will also have larger"expansion packs"available further down the road, but these will cost money, unlike these smaller pieces of DLC which just include a single questline.


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среда, 18 мая 2011 г.

Sonic Generations Coming to 3DS?, News from GamePro

A financial report from Sega lists the upcoming platformer featuring Sonic's"classic 1991 form"and his modern counterpart as coming to 3DS.

Sonic Generations Coming to 3DS?

Sega's recent financial reports showed strong growth, with profits more than doubling since the last year. But one of the most interesting things on the report was the upcoming releases chart, reprinted above, with thanks toAndriasang.

The second entry down isSonic Generations, which had previously only been announced as a PS3 and Xbox 360 title. The chart, however, lists the game as coming to PS3, Xbox 360, 3DS and PC. Honest mistake? Or has an E3 surprise been let out of the bag a little earlier than intended?

Sega hasn't commented on the rumor as yet.


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вторник, 17 мая 2011 г.

UPDATED: Gotham City Impostors Announced, News from GamePro

Warner Bros. and Monolith just announced a curious-sounding downloadable multiplayer shooter featuring fake Batmen and Jokers.

Gotham City Impostors Announced

File this one under"Umm... what?"

Warner Bros. and Monolith have announced that Gotham City Impostors is on the way. The game is a downloadable team-based multiplayer shooter that pits a team of"bat imposters"against a team of"Joker imposters."Both teams are, as their name suggests, dressed as Batman or the Joker, but in an obviously silly way -- they're wearing poor disguises such as masks.

The game will be multiplayer only as there won't be any bot support. Player gear will be customizable, however, including weaponry. So far it sounds as if the weapons involved will be guns, but this being (at least vaguely) Batman related it's possible there'll be some gadgetry in there, too.

UPDATE:It seems the game will be based around 4v4 multiplayer in a variety of modes, including conventional team deathmatch. One of the other modes is called Psych Warfare and tasks players with collecting batteries to put into a brainwashing machine. This, in turn, causes the other team to panic and lose the ability to use weapons.

Customization is an important part of the game, and includes a wide variety of costumes, body types and weapons that affect the way the game plays. Players carry two weapons plus a gadget and a support item. Weapons can be customized with skins ranging from realistic camo to outlandish pink animal-print paint jobs. Gadgets are"homebrewed,"in keeping with the"impostor"theme, and include everything from smoke bombs to roller skates. A progression system unlocks more weapons, items and costume pieces as your level increases, and your kill cam"signature move"can also be customized.

From the sounds of things, Monolith isn't taking things too seriously -- but anyone who ever played their early games such as No One Lives Forever will know that this is very much a good thing. And apparently comic book writer Jim Lee liked the concept so much that we can expect an Impostors storyline in print soon.


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понедельник, 16 мая 2011 г.

Editorial: More Warfare, News from GamePro

A huge amount of Modern Warfare 3 information was leaked earlier today, making Call of Duty fans understandably excited. Pete Davison stands up for those of us who tire of playing soldiers.

So,Modern Warfare 3, then. I will unashamedly say at this juncture that despite the excitement the industry has shown over the leaked information released today, Modern Warfare 3 is a title which holds almost precisely zero interest for me whatsoever, and I know that I'm not alone in that, either amongst the staff here atGameProor in my wider circle of friends.

The trouble is fatigue. I've played two Call of Duty titles in my time -- Modern Warfare 2 and World at War -- and don't feel the need to ever play one ever again. The stories in both were utterly forgettable -- if spectacularly presented -- and the multiplayer was entertaining for a while, but I found myself pining for a more structured narrative experience after a while, much like the way I feel any time I try out an MMO. In short, the series just isn't for me -- and I'm fine with both that and the fact that there are people out there who enjoy it to the exclusion of everything else, too. The new game may well offer the most spectacular setpieces gaming has ever committed to an HDTV, but the sheer fact that it's another"soldiers and guns"game just a year after the previous one -- not to mention all the"rivals"that have come out in between -- makes me want to look elsewhere for my interactive entertainment.

But Call of Duty is profitable, and this leads to the"TV series"phenomenon, where franchises keep getting trotted out year after year so long as they make money. Eventually, the audience is left so resentful of the franchise that they wish it would just hurry up and finish so that"the next big thing"can come along and replace it. And it's not just Activision that is doing this -- Ubisoft announced this week that it's planning to take this approach with more if its franchises,not just Assassin's Creed. What we end up with, then, is an oversaturated market full of triple-A games with colons in their titles and an increasingly-embittered audience looking for something new to enjoy. Not only that, but once-beloved franchises such as Assassin's Creed become mere shadows of their former selves, the reasons why they were so great in the first place forgotten thanks to franchise fatigue.

But don't despair, because it's not as if there's nothing else to play. In just the next few weeks, solo players have The Witcher 2 and L.A. Noire to look forward to from the mainstream publishers, and this isn't even taking into account the indie market -- a market which is getting easier and easier to explore thanks to Steam and upcoming services likeLittle Indie.

In short, however fed up you may be of the"big name"franchises -- and the way the market is going at the moment, it seems there isn't one of them that won't be milked dry -- you willalwaysbe able to find something else to enjoy. So let the Call of Duty players enjoy their Call of Duty, and you enjoy whatever you want to enjoy. It's what I'm planning to do, and you should too.

So, then, fellow non-CoD fans: what's on your menu for the rest of the year?


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воскресенье, 15 мая 2011 г.

PlayStation Network is Back, News from GamePro

Sony's worldwide PSN restoration begins with a U.S. rollout on Saturday and other countries to follow.

What was nearly afull monthof downtime mixed with anguish, anger, and just a pinch of hysteria is finally coming to the end... or the first phase of an end, anyway. As first announced on theofficial PlayStation Blog, Sony Computer Entertainment is rolling out the restart of PlayStation Network across the country, which began in the early evening Pacific Time.

The announcement comes alongside avideo from SCE president Kaz Hirai, who again offers his apologies to everyone affected by the downtime/hacker attack, and details the make-good plans the company is launching for members. On top of that, PS3 owners must download and install a new firmware update for the system, which will prompt PSN users to change their passwords before fully logging back in, and can only be changed on the same system the PSN account was activated, or via email confirmation. The PlayStation Store service is not yet up, with the assumption that Sony stillplansto get that up and running after getting the rest of the network up.

As of this writing, the rollout just recently reached California after starting in the northeast United States. The map viewable in the PS Blog post is only for the U.S., though theEuropean bloghas the same announcement.

Well, then... anyone up for somePortal 2co-op?


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суббота, 14 мая 2011 г.

GamePro's Just Play It Podcast Ep. 2, News from GamePro

Episode two of GamePro's Friday podcast brings discussion on relaxation, shoot-em-ups, and strategy.

GamePro's Just Play It Podcast Ep. 2

Each week on Just Play It, host Justin Haywald invites three guests into the studio to share a game with the group. Everyone on the show plays each game for a week, and then weighs in with their own opinion.

On this week's episode, Will Herring introduces us Grasshopper's charming iOS titleFrog Minutes, Jason Wilson wants talks about the joys ofCivilization, and Ray Barnholt closes out the discussion with the quirky shmupDeathsmiles.

Here's theXML RSS feed
Or you can download the podcast directlyusing this link!


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среда, 11 мая 2011 г.

MX vs. ATV Alive Arrives, Offers 'A La Carte' DLC, News from GamePro

THQ's latest entry in the MX vs. ATV series sees the company experimenting with a different approach to what a game you buy at retail includes, and what gets offered as DLC.

MX vs. ATV Alive's A La Carte DLC Model Arrives on Store Shelves

The newest entry in the MX vs. ATV series, subtitled Alive, is out today. The game promises"enhanced physics, intense bar-to-bar action"and"track deformation."

But that's not the most interesting thing about the title. MX vs. ATV Alive marks the beginning of a bold experiment by THQ in terms of what gets included in the box, and what gets offered as DLC. The game itself ships at the lower-than-normal price point of $39.99, but there is a lot more DLC than usual on offer, including the usual incentive for customers to purchase the game new -- in this case, an accurate replica of James Stewart's motocross compound.

We spoke with THQ CEO Brian Farrell about this new strategyback in December.

"It's clear that how people want to consume and pay for media, especially games, is changing,"said Farrell."And in some cases, the $59.99 price point may be a barrier to entry. We know that how people are playing games and the way games are delivered are changing."

THQ believes that offering what it calls"a la carte"DLC will allow gamers to customize the game to their own specifications, and effectively"build"the game they want to play.

"Some of the DLC will be offered free, some will be charged for,"said Farrell."We believe this model serves gamers in two critical ways: it allows us to deliver the boxed product to fans of the franchise earlier than in previous cycles, and it allows to tailored gaming experiences {...} This means a lower initial cost and better value for gamers thanks to a more responsive business model."

Farrell also promised that"the $39.99 price point does not mean that the boxed product will be a less than robust game"and that the"total content to be offered {including DLC} well surpasses what would have been included in a $59.99 game."

MX vs. ATV Alive is out today, and THQ will likely be watching its sales figures very closely indeed.


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вторник, 10 мая 2011 г.

New Xbox Rumor a Total Fabrication, Says EA, News from GamePro

Last week, rumors circulated that EA already had its hands on the new Xbox hardware. Now, a representative of EA has denied the claims.

New Xbox Rumor a Total Fabrication, Says EA

A"well-placed"source toldDeveloplast week thatnew Xbox hardware was on EA's desksand that the company was gearing up for an announcement at E3. On Friday, corporate spokesman for EA Jeff Brown toldIndustryGamersthat the story is a"total fabrication -- 100 per cent not true."

Analysts such as EEDAR's Jesse Divnich, DFC Intelligence's David Cole claimed to be"baffled"by the rumors, Divnich noting that the"Xbox 360 has incredible momentum"at this time.

"I would be surprised if MS launched a totally new console in 2012 or even 2013,"said Cole."I would not be surprised if they make some new announcements around a system to build anticipation and keep consumers from jumping ship to Nintendo -- just announcing they have something in the works."

Given large corporations' standard response of"we do not comment on speculation or rumors,"this complete denial of the rumor's validity seems credible. But bearing in mind Cole's words, it sounds like Microsoft's press conference at E3 will be one to watch very closely indeed.


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понедельник, 9 мая 2011 г.

UPDATED: EA Already Has New Xbox Hardware, News from GamePro

Sources have told Develop that the new Xbox not only exists, but that EA already has its hands on it and is developing first-generation software.

EA Already Has New Xbox Hardware

Developreports that an unnamed EA studio received early builds of the successor to the Xbox 360 last month. The new system doesn't yet have a name or a case -- it's currently being stored inside a PC shell, but this is nothing unusual for console prototypes, according to Develop's"well-placed"source.

The source believed that Microsoft was gearing up for an announcement to rival Nintendo's reveal of its new console at E3. They believe that the new console will launch by the end of 2012, but an announcement in some form will show up around E3 time. The existence of the new hardware is given further credence by Microsoft's recent job postings for"Graphics Hardware Architect"and"Performance Engineer"positions in the Xbox Console Architecture Group, which were seeking employees to be"responsible for defining and delivering next generation console architectures from conception through implementation."

No specifications for the new console are available at this time, but it will apparently feature"enhanced support"for Kinect.

Microsoft and EA have, unsurprisingly, declined to comment.

UPDATE:Eurogamerclaims to have a source of its own who believes an E3 2011 reveal is"unlikely."Given the anonymity of sources on both sides, it's difficult to know who to believe at this stage.


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воскресенье, 8 мая 2011 г.

THQ Believes Homefront Could Enjoy Call of Duty Level of Success, News from GamePro

THQ CEO Brian Farrell believes his company's new shooter franchise could reach the level of success that Call of Duty currently enjoys.

THQ Believes Homefront Could Enjoy Call of Duty Level of Success

Speaking withIndustryGamersyesterday, THQ's CEO Brian Farrell has said he believes"the market opportunity is there"for a THQ IP such as Homefront to reach Call of Duty-esque sales figures.

"If you go back and look at the original Call of Duty,"Farrell said,"{it} didn't do 18 million units. The franchise was built over time, building a quality consumer experience and supporting it well. And hey, there's a lot of room between 2.6 million units {the amount Homefront shipped} and 18."

Farrell is keeping his options open, though, and optimistically believes that other THQ franchises beside Homefront also have the potential for similarly enormous growth.

"Certainly you can't count out Saints Row,"he said."We have a great opportunity this fall with that one as well. We have a lot of strong franchises; we're the market leader in off-road racing with MX {vs ATV} and we've established a great niche that we own in these creativity and art-based games with the uDraw series. We're still a leader in our real-time strategy games with our Relic Studio, and we're also building our Space Marine game, so we think it's the best line up in our history coming out over the next 24 months."

Farrell's choice of words speaks volumes about the attitude large publishers take towards their games: to him, they're commodities,"units"to be sold, rather than expressions of creativity or technical prowess. Still, he does have a business to run, and this philosophy certainly hasn't done Activision any harm with the Call of Duty series.


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суббота, 7 мая 2011 г.

Roleplayers' Realm III: The Super Robot Podcast, News from GamePro

Richard from Japan joins Kat to talk about where JRPGs will go with the advent of the NGP and the 3DS before getting up to their elbows in robots with Super Robot Taisen Z2.

Roleplayers' Realm III: The Super Robot Podcast

Welcome to the third episode of Roleplayers' Realm!

This episode is particularly JRPG-centric, as Richard from Japan calls in to chat about where JRPGs will be headed once the DS and thePSPfall to the wayside. The concensus seems to be that they'll be sticking to handheld platforms for the time being, and that may not be a bad thing. Games like Persona 3 Portable prove that much.

For the second segment, we talk in some detail about Super Robot Taisen Z2, which I'm sure makes us unique amongst commercial podcasts. If you've never heard of Super Robot Wars, well, the name should be fairly explanatory. But you can also listen to the episode and see for yourself what it's all about.

You'll be happy to know that the issues with iTunes have been resolved, so head on over and subscribe now. Oh, and a rating would be nice too.

For the next episode, we'll be returning to western RPGs as we chat about Dungeons&Dragons Daggerdale. And there may be a bonus episode in the offing as well. See you in two weeks!

Subscribe on iTunes!

Episode Breakdown:Download it now!

  • 0:00 | Theme&Introduction
  • 0:30 | Future of JRPGs w/ Richard from Japan
  • 25:00 | Musical Interlude: Crimson Night Travel Team (Super Robot Taisen Z)
  • 25:30 | Super Robot Taisen Z2 Discussion
  • 01:11:30 | Musical Interlude: ZEUTH (Super Robot Taisen Z)
  • 01:12:00 | Outtro&Next Episode


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пятница, 6 мая 2011 г.

Another PSN Attack Imminent?, News from GamePro

Sony's blog today assured us they are in the final stages of system restoration, but are hackers planning another attack?

PSN Still Down, Sony Short on Information

Sony'sPlayStation Blog announced earlier todaythat they have"{begun} the final stages of internal testing of the new system, an important step towards restoring PlayStation Network and Qriocity services."

But according to an article onCNet, the same group that targeted Sony originally is planning another attack."An observer of the Internet Relay Chat channel used by the hackers told CNET today that a third major attack is planned this weekend against Sony's Web site. The people involved plan to publicize all or some of the information they are able to copy from Sony's servers, which could include customer names, credit card numbers, and addresses."

The potential attack would be an important test of Sony's newly implemented security measures, but another security breach, especially one clearly telegraphed ahead of time, could be devastating to the already beleaguered brand.

Anonymous continues to claim non-involvement with the hack, writing in a letter published to the Internet:"While we are a distributed and decentralized group, our 'leadership' does not condone credit card theft."


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четверг, 5 мая 2011 г.

UPDATE: Free Call of the Dead DLC, News from GamePro

GamePro's giving away 10 free codes for the Call of Duty: Black Ops Escalation Map Pack, and each one comes with an awesome theater-sized promotional"Call of the Dead"movie poster. Want to win?

UPDATE:And that's the deadline! We'll post the winners on our separate feeds, but it's up to the 10 of you to claim your prizes. Good hunting to everyone else that's already playing the game!

GamePro.com Winners
  • Psychonaut1613
  • eugaet
  • blufaktion
  • Maverick387

Twitter Winners
  • @CodySkalnik
  • @KlitchS
  • @kawtaykachu

Facebook Winners
  • Erickson Sorin
  • Andy Tran
  • Alfred Smith

Original Text:With Call of the Dead -- a.k.a. the Escalation Map Pack forCall of Duty: Black Ops-- releasing today, we're spreading the zombie vibes with a small handful of FREE codes today. Yep, free! And that's not all, either.

In today's contest, each winner will also receive a theater-sized Call of the Dead movie poster to go with their access key. It's perfect for living rooms, gaming dens, or anywhere you want to freak out your family. Listen up -- here's how you can win.

Tell us about your favorite zombie movie, new, old, or obscure.We'll randomly pick 10 winners from GamePro.com,our Facebook page, or from our followers onthe GamePro Twitter account. Keep in mind, you can only enter once on each network, and cheating will send your winning chances to an early grave.

Example:"_________ is my favorite zombie mode because _______________"

If you want to win, the deadline to enter is tomorrow (WednesdayThursday) at 5PM PDT. And remember, you must be 17 or older to win. Good luck!

Contest: Free Call of the Dead DLC

{Scanned promotional poster imagery viaDread Central.}


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среда, 4 мая 2011 г.

APB Reloaded Open Beta Begins May 18, News from GamePro

The game that killed Realtime Worlds is back in free-to-play form, and from May 18 you'll be able to take part in the open beta test.

APB Reloaded Open Beta Begins May 18

GamersFirst, the company that rescuedAPBfrom the smoldering ruins of Realtime Worlds' empire, has announced on itsofficial blogthat the game's open beta will begin on May 18.

However, if you're interested in getting in a little early, all you have to do issign up for a GamersFirst accountand then use this email address tosign up for the APB newsletter. The team is gradually"turning up the heat"on the servers in an attempt to avoid the usual MMO problem of millions of new subscribers all attempting to join at once.

The team has been"monitoring"hackers and cheaters to observe their behavior in an attempt to come up with a"radical"solution to the problem, which they promise to reveal soon. They say there's a"good solution"in place already which will start to see benefits by the time Open Beta starts.

The game looks set to follow a similar development cycle to other free-to-play and social games in that the initial release will be fairly"barebones"but include a working microtransaction shop, with additional features to be added over the coming months. Let's hope GamersFirst manages the game better than Realtime Worlds did.


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вторник, 3 мая 2011 г.

Assassin's Creed Starts Social Marketing Blitz, News from GamePro

Ubisoft has reignited the Assassin's Creed marketing fires with the promise of an"exclusive sneak peek"at the next game in the series.

Assassin's Creed Starts Social Marketing Blitz

TheAssassin's Creed Facebook pagehas kicked off a new marketing effort to start building excitement for the next game in the series. Enough"Likes"and shares on Facebook will unlock a"reveal"trailer for the new game.

The trailer is being unlocked in several stages, and the first has already been completed, allowing fans of the Facebook page to see a blurry, distorted image that doesn't show much.

The activity monitor for the current stage of the reveal is at 7% at the time of writing, so there's a way to go yet. Ubisoft is apparently monitoring the #ACReveal hashtag to watch people sharing the link to the page around the social web, but they also recommend that any sharing should be done via the app on the Facebook page itself.

So, you want to find out more? Time to get social.


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понедельник, 2 мая 2011 г.

Sony Promises Free Content and Working PSN This Week, News from GamePro

In an official press release, Sony promises to have PSN up and running this week and they outline their"Welcome Back"program.

Sony Promises Free Content and Working PSN This Week

The GamePro staff has already talked aboutwhat they want to see from Sonyfollowing the nearly two weeks of interrupted PSN service. Well, Sony finally has a response.

Although specific details were scarce, a press release on the PlayStation Blog confirms that users will:

  • Receive free"selected PlayStation entertainment content,"which will vary by region
  • 30 days access to PlayStation Plus
  • 30 days access to the Qriocity music service
  • Other unspecified"entertainment and service offerings"

Details on these incentives to continue using your PS3 will be rolled out in the coming weeks. While these offers will apply to all current PlayStation owners, it's unclear if anything will be done above and beyond this for current PlayStation Plus and Qriocity subscribers.

While no specific timeframe was given for their"Welcome Back progam,"the blog does say that some services should be back online as early as this week, including: online gaming, Qriocity access, movie rental access, PlayStation Home, and friend list/chat functionality.

When the service becomes available, a planned patch will allow users to access their account management details and will force them to change their current password. According to the blog:"That password can only be changed on the same PS3 in which that account was activated, or through validated email confirmation."

Sony confirmed that the reason for the outage was a"criminal cyber-attack on the company's data-center located in San Diego, California,"but they also maintained,despite conflicting reports,"there is no evidence at this time that credit card data was taken."

Details are vague, but the blog also lists some of the new security initiatives Sony will put in place following the attacks, including"enhanced levels of data protection and encryption,"and"additional firewalls."The company is also adding a security czar to their team in the form of Shinji Hasejima, who will be the company's official Chief Information Security Officer.

Did you miss any of the updates along the way? Check out ourinformation hub for previous PSN updates.


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воскресенье, 1 мая 2011 г.

EA Reveals Need for Speed: The Run, News from GamePro

The newest branch on the NFS family tree aims to combine frantic action racing with a cross-country adventure story.

With the Burnout series on apparent hiatus, it seems other developers are trying to fill the void with their own takes on heart-pounding"action racing"-- just look at Split/Second or the upcoming Ridge Racer Unbounded. But EA themselves adds a new contender with theNeed for Speed: The Run, which EA says will take gamers"on the race of their lives."Just what does that mean? Apparently, the game is about escaping trouble, as you'll be buzzing through roads in and out of cities as you're chased by the cops, or maybe some other entity. The trailer above also suggests some other precarious situations, like being stuck upside down on a train track, as you can see at the end of the clip.

The Run will also incorporate the Autolog feature, made famous in last year's Need for Speed Hot Pursuit. We expect Autolog's core features in friend-tracking and matchmaking to stay in The Run, but EA's announcement wasn't clear on any changes or improvements that might make it into the new game.

Like other NFS games, The Run will be on pretty much every game system including 3DS. EA has it pegged for a November 15 release.

Source:EA press release


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