Dead Island 2 not in development

Earlier this week, a source told IGN Germany that Yager Development, which is presently finishing up Spec Ops: The Line for its June release, had been tapped to develop Dead Island 2. This is not the case, says Guido Eickmeyer, development director with the original game's publisher, Deep Silver.

Dead Island 2 is not in development, at least not yet.

"We are neither working with Yager on Dead Island 2 nor do we have any contractual agreement with Yager about any project at this point," he said.

The developer did not rule out working with Yager in the future, saying there is a "legitimate chance" the companies will one day team up. He even went as far as to say a future relationship could be on a project related to the Dead Island franchise.

Eickmeyer went on to explain that Deep Silver does not have Dead Island 2 "in concept or production with external partners" and that it is currently considering options for a sequel.

Dead Island was developed by Polish shop Techland and shipped in September 2011 to generally positive review scores. The game shipped 3 million copies and welcomed various add-on packs. Speculation about a follow-up sparked in November, when Techland filed a trademark application for Dead World.

Though a sequel to Dead Island is currently out of sight, a movie based on the property may see the light of day. Film studio Lionsgate optioned the rights from Deep Silver after the game shipped last year. Development of the Dead Island film will be led by The Mummy producer Sean Daniel and Stefan Sonnenfeld, who did postproduction work on various Pirates of the Caribbean films and X-Men: The Last Stand.



[gamespot.com]

                                                                                                                       

Capcom announces Sengoku Basara HD Collection

Fans of Capcom's Devil Kings and Sengoku Basara: Samurai Heroes can look forward to reliving the past iterations of the franchise with the Sengoku Basara HD Collection for the PS3, announced this week by the publisher in Japanese magazine Famitsu (via Andriasang).

The collection, which contains Sengoku Basara (Devil Kings in the US), Sengoku Basara 2 and Sengoku Basara 2 Heroes, will be on Japan shelves on August 30. As expected from past HD collections from Capcom, the game will have updated high-resolution graphics. Sengoku Basara 2 and Sengoku Basara 2 Heroes were never released outside of Japan.

In addition, the collection will also include an audio CD featuring the voices of the generals from a past Capcom contest involving the Japanese launch of Sengoku Basara: Samurai Heroes.

[gamespot.com]

Starhawk map packs will be free

Gamers won't have to reach into their wallets to pick up map packs for LightBox Interactive's new PlayStation 3-exclusive shooter Starhawk. Company president Dylan Jobe explained today on the PlayStation Blog that all forthcoming map pack downloadable content for Starhawk will be free. No mention was made concerning how many total map packs will be released during the game's lifetime.

 

Jobe explained that the decision to offer all Starhawk map packs for free is due to lessons learned from 2007 predecessor Warhawk. Jobe said paid map pack DLC for that game divided players, and after three expansions, the community was "pretty fractured."

Starhawk shipped today exclusively for the PlayStation 3, and LightBox is already at work on the game's first free map pack, titled Cypress. The level is set on a lush, wet world, which is home to an abandoned research center formerly responsible for investigating the properties of Rift Energy.

Though map packs for Starhawk will be free, Lightbox will also offer paid DLC for the game. Details are not available on this content at present, with Jobe commenting, "We're still playing around with what that will be."

[gamespot.com]

Prototype 2 adding two DLC packs this month

Gamers yearning to wreak more havoc with new weapons and powers in Prototype 2 are in luck. Activision today announced two new downloadable content packs for April's well-received over-the-top action game.

Available today for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 users is the Colossal Mayhem DLC. It includes the thermobaric boom-stick weapon, as well as force multiplier powers (warp vortex, antigravity field, and air time) and three custom skins. The Colossal Mayhem DLC is free for owners of the Prototype 2 Blackwatch collector's edition and is available for 400 MS points on Xbox Live and for $5 on the PlayStation Network.

Following up the Colossal Mayhem DLC will be the Excessive Force add-on, which is slated to arrive on May 29 for the above-mentioned platforms at the same price point. This pack adds the new viral infector grenade launcher to gamers' arsenals, as well as fresh force multiplier powers (shock wave, chaos creator mode, and Medusa's wrath) and three additional custom skins.

A PC version of Prototype 2 is due out on July 24. Neither DLC pack was announced for that platform, and as of press time, Activision had not responded to GameSpot's request for comment regarding whether or not the content will eventually hit the PC.

Kinect exercise tracker inbound

How many calories does one burn while petting cheetah cubs in Kinectimals? A new Kinect exercise tracker may allow gamers to find out, according to sources speaking to The Verge.

The site sources unspecified tipsters who say Microsoft is planning to update the Xbox 360 dashboard to include a cross-application exercise tracking system. Titled Kinect Play Fit, the service will allow users to track their exercises through "most" Kinect titles, with the data stored in the cloud.

A physical peripheral dubbed Joule will be released alongside Kinect Play Fit, according to the site, and will track heart-rate levels, allowing users to analyze their progress. The Joule will be compatible with "most" Kinect titles, but it won't be a requirement for Kinect Play Fit.

A Microsoft representative told GameSpot, "Microsoft does not comment on rumors or speculation."
Kinect gamers already have exercise tracking options available to them. Electronic Arts' EA Sports Active 2 comes with a heart-rate monitor, and Dance Central 2 includes a Workout mode, where players can track the number of calories burned while cutting up the rug.

[gamespot.com]

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD rides in June

The Tony Hawk franchise will ride again this June. The iconic skateboarder revealed recently via Twitter that Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD will release on Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network in June. Previously, the game was expected to arrive sometime this summer.

In development at Robomodo (Tony Hawk Ride, Tony Hawk Shred) Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD will be the first Tony Hawk title distributed exclusively through digital channels. It will contain levels from the first two Tony Hawk titles, retouched and running on a new game engine. The title will also feature some, but not all, of the songs from the original games.

Confirmed characters for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD thus far include familiar favorites like Hawk, Rodney Mullen, Andrew Reynolds, and Eric Koston, as well as newcomers like Chris Cole, Nyjah Huston, and Hawk's son, Riley Hawk. A firm price for Tony Hawk's Pro Skater HD has not been announced, but it is expected to sell for "around $15."

[gamespot.com]

Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse hitting this fall

Gamers yearning to take part in the wacky hijinks of the Family Guy series will have a new console title to play this fall. Activision and Twentieth Century Fox this morning announced Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse.

Due out for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, the title is inspired by the 2009 Family Guy episode "Road to the Multiverse." In this episode, Stewie and Brian use a remote control to travel to parallel universes, including destinations inspired by Walt Disney, The Flintstones, and one where Christianity never existed.

Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse will be the first console game set in series creator Seth MacFarlane's cartoon universe since the 2K Games-published Family Guy in 2006. That game was developed by High Voltage Software and shipped for the Xbox, PlayStation 2, and PSP. It featured the original voice cast of the TV series, including MacFarlane.

Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse follows Family Guy Online, which is a free-to-play PC title currently in beta. A new console Family Guy game was announced by Activision in February 2011, when Activision Publishing CEO Eric Hirshberg described the franchise as "strong," with a "passionate niche audience that can achieve repeatable and profitable success."

[gamespot.com]

Blockbuster's Wii U lineup leaked - Retail Radar

With the Wii U set to debut this year, retailers are starting to plan around the new system's software lineup. According to a Go Nintendo report, Blockbuster video rental stores in the United Kingdom have updated their internal database with listings for a wealth of Wii U titles.

In addition to previously announced titles like Darksiders II and Tekken, the list includes games that haven't been confirmed for the platform yet, like Splinter Cell 6, Sports Connection, Zombie, Marvel Super Heroes, Just Dance 4, and Dirt 3. On the first-party front, Blockbuster lists New Super Mario Bros. Mii, Pikmin, and the console itself in a white version. It also includes Shield Pose, originally introduced as a tech demo for the system at last year's Electronic Entertainment Expo.
As of press time, Blockbuster had not returned a request for comment. The full list of games from the report follows below:

Aliens: Colonial Marines
Assassin's Creed
Batman: Arkham City
Darksiders II
Dirt 3
Formula 1 All Stars
Game Party
Ghost Recon Online
Just Dance 4
Killer Freaks From Outer Space
Marvel Super Heroes
Metro: Last Light
Monsters Party
New Super Mario Bros. Mii
Ninja Gaiden 3
Pikmin
Rabbids Party Land
Raving Rabbids
Rayman Legends
Shield Pose
Splinter Cell 6
Sports Connection
Tekken
Your Shape 2013
Zombie

[gamespot.com]

EA investing $80 million into next-gen this year

Electronic Arts is ramping up its investment in the next generation of consoles. The publisher revealed today that for the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2013, it is investing $80 million "in development of games for Gen4 console systems."

EA has already made some next-gen commitments, as CEO John Riccitiello took the stage at Nintendo's last Electronic Entertainment Expo to confirm support for the Wii U, and suggest that Battlefield 3 could find its way to the system. Representatives with the company have also teased a Mass Effect game for the system, but squashed hopes of Crysis 3 for Nintendo's next console. The Wii U is set for release later this year, but both Microsoft and Sony have told gamers not to expect word of their next systems before 2013.

As for its present efforts, EA reported net sales of $4.14 billion for the full year, up from $3.59 billion for the previous fiscal year. The recently completed campaign also saw EA return to profitability, posting a net income of $76 million for the year, compared to a loss of $276 million for the year before. The publisher touted its digital business in particular, saying it brought in $1.2 billion for the year between its downloadable games, subscription fees, add-on content, and mobile and social platforms.

FIFA Soccer 12 did especially well, bringing in $108 million in digital revenues (largely through its FIFA Ultimate Team mode), with another $34 million expected for the current year. The company also has high hopes for Battlefield 3, saying the first-person shooter has generated $61 million in digital revenue, with another $97 million expected in the current fiscal year. Both series posted their best-ever years for digital sales.

EA also updated its Star Wars: The Old Republic subscription numbers, which have dropped off somewhat. In February, EA said the massively multiplayer online role-playing game had 1.7 million subscribers. Today, the publisher put the number at 1.3 million, down about 24 percent. Last month, a BioWare developer claimed The Old Republic wasn't losing subscribers at all, saying only that the peak concurrent user numbers were down.

The digital focus on EA is only going to grow, as the publisher told investors the sector will continue to drive its numbers for the coming year. For the full year ending March 31, 2013, EA expects net revenues to be $4.08 billion, with a loss per share between $0.36 and $0.16.

"In the coming year, we break away from the pack, with a very different profile than the traditional game companies and capabilities that none of our new digital competitors can match," Riccitiello said in a statement.

As for the quarter ended March 31, EA said it posted net revenues of $1.37 billion, up from $1.09 billion. The company's quarterly net income hit $400 million, up year-over-year from $151 million.
In a postearnings conference call, Electronic Arts executives also confirmed that a new Need for Speed game will arrive in the holiday quarter. The game's existence first leaked through UK retailer GAME earlier this year.

[gamespot.com]

Ubisoft registers Avengers domain

Ubisoft may be developing a console version of the recently released Marvel film The Avengers, according to a domain name spotted by Fusible this week.

The site reported that the domain name "avengersbattleforearth.com" was registered on May 3, 2012 (a day before the film's release in the United States), through the brand-protection company MarkMonitor. According to Fusible, the domain name was registered by Marvel Characters Inc, but is currently listed on Ubisoft servers.

Speculation of a video game adaptation of Marvel's The Avengers began with the news last September that THQ's now-defunct studio, THQ Studio Australia, had been working on an unannounced game based on the Joss Whedon film.

Marvel later announced that it had taken back the rights to the game, based on its Avengers intellectual property, and would be "exploring potential publishing and licensing opportunities".

As far as video game outings go, the Avengers have previously been featured in 1996's Data East arcade fighter Avengers: Galactic Storm, as well as the 1991 arcade beat-'em-up Captain America and the Avengers, which received a number of console ports in the following years. Individually, the main characters of the Joss Whedon film--Captain America, Thor, the Hulk, and Iron Man--have all starred in their own feature films and accompanying game adaptations, in recent years.

However, the only current video game based on Whedon's The Avengers is Marvel Pinball: Avengers Chronicles for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Vita. The downloadable content for the Xbox 360's Pinball FX 2 and the PS3's Marvel Pinball features a four pack of new pinball tables and a virtual machine based on the film. It will be released this spring.

[gamespot.com]

20 Years of Killin' Nazis: A Retrospective

There's not much that hasn't been written about id Software's Wolfenstein 3D over the last two decades. Lauded as the true grandfather of 3D shooters, Wolfenstein 3D is responsible for laying down the fundamental foundations that first-person shooters still follow today.

Developed by industry legends John Carmack, John Romero, Tom Hall, Jason Blochowiak and Adrian Carmack and released on May 5, 1992, Wolfenstein 3D (with the help of id's Doom the following year) triggered the shift away from side-scrolling shooters and towards first-person shooters. Inspired by a duo of Muse Software stealth-based games from the '80s (Castle Wolfenstein and Beyond Castle Wolfenstein) Wolfenstein 3D cast players as Polish-American super-soldier William "B.J." Blazkowicz and demanded they escape a Nazi-infested castle. It was a simple premise. The rub, of course, was that there was an army of German troops, attack dogs, and even Hitler himself standing between B.J. and him earning that nickname with some well-deserved I&I in liberated Paris.

No soup for you.

It's actually quite remarkable just how many first-person shooter tropes were born in Wolfenstein 3D and survive to this day. Sure, two

NEXT XBOX ALREADY IN MANUFACTURING!!!

Microsoft has said gamers shouldn't expect to see its next gaming console anytime soon, but developers might already be getting their hands on the system. IGN is citing an unspecified source with the news that the next Xbox hardware has entered manufacturing.

The report says hardware for the next Xbox has been produced at the Austin, Texas, branch of electronics firm Flextronics, which was the first manufacturer of the original Xbox and one of three Microsoft initially employed to work on the Xbox 360. The firm also reportedly created a testing group focused specifically on "comprehensive marketing, software, and hardware tests of the next Xbox."

As for what exactly is being produced, IGN speculates Flextronics is producing dev kits so the next Xbox developers have hardware on which to create their games. Microsoft had not responded to GameSpot's request for comment as of press time.

[gamespot.com]

Help Make Zelda LEGOs a Reality!

When we were kids, we had to walk ten feet in the snow to get to school. We also had to play with boring, non-Zelda LEGOs. Okay, so that first part is a lie, but the second part is completely true - and it's tragic, right? But if one man's noble mission proves successful, future generations of Hylians will never have to pretend they're playing with a blockhead version of Link and Zelda like we did. They'll be able to score the real deal instead.

This needs to happen.

Zelda fan Michael Inglis has started a CUUSOO crusade to get an official The Legend of Zelda LEGO set made. He's already racked up quite a few votes, but if he has any hope of achieving his goal, he's going to need plenty more.

Seriously... this NEEDS to happen!

You can check out his LEGO designs here, and while you're there be sure to toss him a vote to support the cause. Sure, the chances of this all panning out is probably slim to none, but you've got to admire the man for at least trying.

It wouldn't be Zelda without items.

Never stop dreaming, fellow gamers. Never.

Is Microsoft Already Manufacturing the Next Xbox?

The next Xbox console is apparently in the manufacturing stages. According to an IGN source, assembly of the next-generation Xbox hardware started recently at the Austin, Texas branch of Flextronics. This is the same electronics company currently assembling Xbox 360 hardware, and is the manufacturer of the original Xbox.

Prior to reaching the manufacturing stage, Flextronics created a new testing group separate from the rest of the company. This team was solely dedicated to comprehensive marketing, software, and hardware tests of the next Xbox. With that activity concluded, Flextronics started building the hardware -- but that doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll see the Durango soon

[ign.com]

Company of Heroes 2 incorporating next year

After six years, Relic Entertainment's real-time strategy game Company of Heroes is going to get a proper sequel. Scans of the UK PC Gamer magazine have surfaced on Reddit today, revealing Company of Heroes 2 is on the way from THQ.

Company of Heroes 2 will focus on the eastern front of World War II, with a story following a war correspondent's changing perspective on the situation as battles drag on through the winter months. In keeping with that setting, Relic is placing a special emphasis on the way snow impacts the game; infantry will trudge slowly through snowdrifts, but can make much better time walking in the tightly packed snow left behind by tank tracks.

Fans of the original Company of Heroes may be pleased to know Relic won't be straying far from the template established by the original in the name of wider appeal. The developers told PC Gamer that they considered a more significant departure from the formula--along the lines of what they did with the sequel to Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II--but ultimately wanted to maintain the core of the original.

When asked for comment, a THQ representative told GameSpot that the publisher "looks forward to sharing more details soon." For more on the game and how Relic is approaching it, check out the June 2012 issue of the UK PC Gamer magazine

[gamespot.com]

Elder Scrolls Online confirmed for 2013

Skyrim fans yearning to explore the game's fantasy world with other people will get the chance next year, as Bethesda Softworks today announced The Elder Scrolls Online, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game take on the long-running series, set for release in 2013.

Bethesda didn't reveal any gameplay details, but a Game Informer tease for the magazine's cover story on Elder Scrolls Online revealed that the game will be cover the entire continent of Tamriel, including the lands featured in previous Elder Scrolls games like Cyrodiil, Skyrim, and Morrowind. The game will be set 1,000 years before the events of last year's hit Skyrim, and put the players into the world on the brink of demonic assimilation at the hands of the daedric prince Molag Bal.

Elder Scrolls Online will also feature three player factions, though they were not detailed. However, a rumor that made the rounds in March and correctly predicted the game's announcement suggested that they will be represented by animals: a lion, a dragon, and an unspecified bird of prey.

The Elder Scrolls Online will be the debut game from Zenimax Online Studios, which was established five years ago with Mythic Entertainment cofounder Matt Firor (Dark Age of Camelot) heading up the operation. Firor is also serving as game director on the project.

[gamespot.com]

Creative Assembly's Alien game may be multigenerational

It looks like Creative Assembly's upcoming Alien title may land on both current- and future-generation consoles. A multiplayer programmer job listing at the United Kingdom developer (spotted by GamerZines) calls for a person to build a "AAA multiplatform title on current and future generation consoles set in the Alien universe."

Publisher Sega announced Creative Assembly's Alien title in May 2011, saying it will be based more on the suspense-driven Alien film rather than the fast-paced Aliens, but it will still be an "action" game. The title has yet to be shown publicly, and further details remain absent.

In June 2011, Sega Europe's managing director of development Gary Dunn said the team at Creative Assembly may ship its new Alien title for the Wii U.

"We're considering it," Dunn told Eurogamer at the time. "But there are no decisions on…The Creative Assembly Alien title we haven't announced any platforms for yet. As we go through production we'll need to monitor what the best platforms are to launch that game on."

Creative Assembly's Alien project marks the fifth title based on the property since Sega landed the license in December 2006. The publisher first commissioned a role-playing game set in the sci-fi universe from Obsidian Entertainment (Fallout: New Vegas) before canceling the project in mid-2009. The company also hired Gearbox Software (Borderlands) to work on the first-person shooter Aliens: Colonial Marines, which is set to release this fall. In February 2010, Sega released the Rebellion-developed Aliens vs. Predator to lukewarm reviews. Lastly, WayForward built the warmly received Aliens: Infestation for the DS, which shipped in October 2011.

[gamespot.com]

Ubisoft investing $507M in Splinter Cell shop

Ubisoft will invest CA$500 million ($507 million USD) in its Splinter Cell studio in Toronto and add 800 new staffers over the next 10 years as means to replicate the success of its Montreal outfit, according to a new report in Canadian newspaper Financial Post.

Ubisoft Toronto was founded in 2009, and is presently at work on the newest Splinter Cell title, rumored to be titled Retribution. Currently, the studio boasts 210 programmers and designers, but the headcount is expected to quintuple by 2022.
In much the same way that Ubisoft moved established developers from its Paris base of operations to its studio in Montreal, the firm has also tapped veterans--like managing director Jade Raymond--to head up the new outfit.

"We are, in a way, applying the same recipe," said Ubisoft Montreal CEO Yannis Mallat. "We've been sending over experienced, senior people from Ubisoft Montreal as a guarantee that they immediately get traction and speed and knowledge in place so that they can recruit the best people. You can’t hope to have a studio up and running in one year by just hiring junior people."

On top of Ubisoft's direct investment of half billion dollars, the shop is receiving monetary help from the Ontario government in the form of a CA$263 million ($266 million USD) pledge spread across the next 10 years.

A new Splinter Cell title will be Ubisoft Toronto's first project. Details are thin on that game, but Raymond said earlier this year that it will explore "root themes" while also boasting "all of the action flick elements."


[gamespot.com]

fable heros review.

I suspect that Fable Heroes is Lionhead’s attempt to capture the thrill of modern downloadable beat ‘em ups like Castle Crashers and blend it with the charm of LittleBigPlanet. In principle, this sounds great, and Lionhead is a proven studio that presumably has the chops to pull it off. However, something terrible must have happened during the journey from concept to reality, because Fable Heroes falls short in nearly every department.

Fable Heroes plays like a prototype project Microsoft accidentally released. This downloadable disaster doesn’t even feature a story; players are given no context for why several anthropomorphic voodoo dolls are prancing through train set-sized models of various locales from the Fable series and lazily slashing at cartoon versions of some of Fable’s classic enemies.
If you’re really curious to experience everything this title has to offer, it won’t take you long, because every level follows the exact same pattern. You walk forward until an invisible wall stops you, fight a bunch of enemies that spawn around you, collect the coins they drop, and then start walking forward again. Sometimes a second group of enemies spawn after you beat the first one, but there isn’t much variety to the formula otherwise. Even the bosses are reading the same script: They all stand in one corner of the screen and do large area of effect attacks while you furiously attack their torso, and then occasionally disappear after spawning small groups of enemies. The game is so dull that this description is probably more exciting than playing through one of Fable Heroes’ levels.
Thankfully, the gameplay and visuals aren’t charming enough to sucker anyone into playing for more than five minutes. The art is so generic that it could be placeholder art in a working title, and the combat is so drab I’d rather listen to old people complain about their feet. You have one major attack button that you spam unceasingly, and one flourish attack that takes so long to unleash that it’s useless.

The Fable series is well regarded for its artistic style, so it’s surprising that this downloadable adventure has been drained of all appeal. Even leveling up is hollow thanks to how Fable Heroes handles its progression system. At the end of each level, players tally up the coins they’ve collected from their fallen foes and are awarded a number of dice roles based on their loot. Players then roll the dice and move forward along an upgrade board. The idea is unique, but also frustrating because you can only upgrade a certain skill if you land on that square. At the end of the game, I had a pile of unspent coins because I hadn’t landed on the squares worth the investment.
Fable Heroes continues to function outside of the norm by spreading a series of mini-games throughout its levels, but these are in rougher shape than the rest of the game. One minigame has players kicking exploding chickens at one another, which sounds exciting, but aiming them is challenging and dodging them is easy, resulting in long and boring battles. Several racing games use the repeated mechanic of jamming on a button repeatedly until you cross a finish line. The arena survival minigame is so easy and boring that you could probably draw it out forever; my fellow players and I voluntarily killed ourselves just so we could end the fiasco.
Player choice has always been a key feature for the Fable series, shaping a hero based on your decisions and actions. In Fable Heroes, the only choice is a forked path at the end of every level. One path leads to one of the game’s repetitive boss battles, and the other takes you to a mind-numbing minigame. Sadly, both choices are wrong. When you find yourself standing at this fork in the road, reach for the power button and turn off your system.

Email the author Ben Reeves, or follow on Twitter, Google+, Facebook, and Game Informer.

               

[gameinformer.com]

Skyrim mods downloaded 13.6 million times

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim still hasn't seen its first official downloadable content yet, but the game's PC players have taken matters into their own hands to keep Skyrim fresh in the meantime. Bethesda Game Studios today posted on its official Twitter account that the number of Skyrim Steam Workshop downloads has topped 13.6 million.

Those user-made mods were facilitated by the February release of the Skyrim Creation Kit. The freely downloadable program gives gamers access to Bethesda's own development tools to make new Skyrim content and distribute it for free through Valve's Steam service. Some mods simply add weapons and armor to the game, but others allow players to use working fishing nets, kill the ordinarily invincible children in the game, or remove the game's meme-spawning "arrow to the knee" line of dialogue.

[gamespot.com]

Xbox 360 banned in Germany, says judge

A German court has granted Motorola Mobility an injunction against the distribution of Microsoft's Xbox platform line in Germany, Reuters reports. The Mannheim court ruled today that Microsoft must remove a string of products from the German market, including the Xbox 360 and devices running the Windows 7 operating system.

The move will not have immediate implications, the site reports, because a US district court in Seattle, Washington, has granted Microsoft a preliminary injunction against Motorola that prevents the phone company from enacting the German order.

"Motorola is prohibited from acting on today's decision, and our business in Germany will continue as usual while we appeal this decision and pursue the fundamental issue of Motorola's broken promise," a Microsoft representative told the site.

Additionally, Reuters reports that Microsoft has already moved its software distribution center in Europe from Germany to the Netherlands, ahead of anticipated decisions in the ongoing patent trials.
This news follows a US International Trade Commission judge determining last week that Microsoft's Xbox 360 hardware infringes on Motorola Mobility patents for video decoding, Wi-Fi connection, and console-to-accessory connections.

Valve not announcing anything at E3

Valve will not announce Half-Life 3, any sequel to an existing franchise, or hardware at the 2012 Electronic Entertainment Expo, the company told GameSpot today.

"There are no new Valve product announcements planned for this year's E3," a Valve company spokesperson said.

This follows a Valvetime report from last week (via CVG) that indicated the firm would not make any announcements at E3 2012.

Valve cofounder Gabe Newell recently addressed the wait for Half-Life 3, saying Valve has gone through numerous "twists and turns" to bring the long-awaited game to market, and that remaining silent on the project is actually in the best interest of fans.

Prior to that, rumor had spread that Newell and Apple CEO Tim Cook met at Valve's headquarters in Bellevue, Washington. Newell quickly shot down this speculation, saying he would enjoy discussing ideas with Cook, but no such meeting occurred.

Valve is also rumored to be at work on a gaming system of its own, described as the "Steam Box." Speculation about this endeavor was further sparked last month, when several job listings at Valve were posted, calling for people to "invent whole new gaming experiences" and "research compelling new hardware technologies."

[gamespot.com]

Skyrim adding Dawnguard DLC this summer

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim will add its first wave of downloadable content this summer, Bethesda confirmed this afternoon. Titled Dawnguard, the content will arrive initially for the Xbox 360 and will be discussed in greater detail at the 2012 Electronic Entertainment Expo this June.

Bethesda issued one image for the content (at right), which depicts the game's dragonborn male character. His eyes are illuminated with a gold hue, and a quiver of arrows rests upon his back. Last week, it was suggested that Skyrim's first DLC would add crossbows and snow elves to the game.

Dawnguard will launch first on the Xbox 360 and will remain exclusive to that platform for 30 days. After that time has elapsed, it will spread to additional platforms.

The title Dawnguard is not a surprise. In March, Bethesda parent company Zenimax sought a trademark for Dawnguard but did not provide any details on what it planned to do with the name. For more on Skyrim, check out GameSpot's review

[gamespot.com]

Call of Duty: Black Ops II hits Nov. 13

The speculation has ended. Activision has confirmed Call of Duty: Black Ops II for a November 13, 2012, launch for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. The news comes by way of the official Call of Duty website, which (perhaps too soon) launched a splash page for the new game.

As was previously suspected, Black Ops II will be set in the near future, during a "21st Century Cold War where technology and weapons have converged to create a new generation of warfare."

No specific settings for Black Ops II were revealed, but a still image from a video embedded on the game's website appears to depict the Californian city of Los Angeles in flames. Last week, several global settings for the project were teased, including China, Japan, and Afghanistan.

A Black Ops sequel is less than surprising at this point. The game had already been spotted on French and Spanish retailer websites, and an employee at a contract art studio listed work for Black Ops II on his resume.

Additionally, the information floodgates began pouring out Black Ops II information late last month. In the span of two weeks, retail marketing material revealed the game would be unveiled in early May, with the first images of Black Ops leaking last week alongside box art for the game.

The original Call of Duty: Black Ops remains the most successful Call of Duty game to date, selling more than 25 million copies through August 2011. Last year's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 initially sold at a faster pace than its predecessor, but failed to make the NPD Group's Top 10 list in March, its fifth month of release. In contrast, Black Ops had become the best-selling game of all time in the US by the March following its debut and cracked the NPD Top 10 for 11 straight months.

Tonight, Activision will officially take the wraps off its newest Call of Duty game during the NBA playoffs on TNT.

[gamespot.com]

Crysis dev backtracks on blocking used games comment

A Crytek developer courted fan outrage last week by saying that next-gen consoles that wouldn't play used games would be "absolutely awesome" from a business perspective. He has since changed his tune, as CVG today reports that the Crysis developer's director of creative development Rasmus Hojengaard is backtracking from those remarks.

"My comment made in the interview released on the 24th of April, touching upon 'blocking sales of used games,' was not intended to be taken seriously nor representative of the opinion of Crytek," Hojengaard told the site.

Rumors have been swirling concerning Microsoft and Sony implementing anti-used-game measures in their respective future-generation consoles. Specifics are not available, and news of next-generation consoles from the two companies is not expected this year.

The used-game market has been a contentious issue, with several noted developers making clear their stance against secondhand sales. Those who spoke out against used sales recently include ex-THQ executive Richard Browne, Elite creator David Braben, Volition design director Jameson Durall, and Silicon Knights founder Denis Dyack.

Not all voices are against used games. Saber Interactive CEO Matthew Karch said in February that blocking used games is unfair. Also during that month, Witcher developer CD Projekt Red's managing director, Adam Badowski, took a populist gamer stance, saying systems that block used games "can be a bad thing."

[gamespot.com]

God of War: Ascension gets multiplayer

The God of War is making the jump to multiplayer. When the series prequel God of War: Ascension arrives on the PlayStation 3 next year, it will do so with a new multiplayer mode, Sony has confirmed.

While the publisher has not revealed the extent of the mode yet, it has detailed one game type. The Team Execution mode will feature two groups of four players battling for control of a specific part of the map. In one version of the game, the teams fight to activate a cog chained to a giant imprisoned Cyclops, with the winning team earning the right to kill the helpless monster.

The game's multiplayer mode will feature some persistent features as players develop their Troy or Spartan soldiers over time. Performance on the battlefield can yield blessings from the gods in the form of new perks, weapons, and abilities. There will also be a number of different combat roles for players depending on the god they associate themselves with, be it Hades, Poseidon, Zeus, or Ares.

Speculation about a multiplayer mode for God of War picked up last year when job listings at Sony Santa Monica called for people to join the God of War development team to create multiplayer services for the franchise. However, when Ascension was first announced earlier this month, Sony's official product page for the game specified that it was a single-player adventure with no online mode.

[gamespot.com]