BitSnark

The DLC for Resident Evil 5 is being sold either as a GOTY type package known as Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition, or separately for digital download.

The first DLC pack, Lost In Nightmares, is due to hit the Xbox Live Marketplace on February 17th and the Playstation Store on February 18th.

The second DLC pack, entitled Desperate Escape, will arrive on the Xbox Live Marketplace on March 3rd, with its PS3 counterpart hitting the Playstation Store a day later on March 4th.

Both episodes flesh out the side story regarding Chris and Jill’s attempt to infiltrate the Spencer mansion to take the superhuman (and quite insane) Wesker into custody.

Sony has today confirmed that their as of yet untitled motion controller for the PS3, has been moved back from its previous Spring release window to an Autumn release window for all territories.

While there is still no official title for the device, many rumours and ‘trusted sources’ are pointing toward the device being called ‘Arc’, as opposed to the ‘Gem’ moniker that EA Boss John Ritociello gave it a couple of months back.

According to Sony Computer Entertainment President Kaz Harai:

“We have decided to release the Motion Controller in fall 2010 when we will be able to offer an exciting and varied line-up of software titles that will deliver the new entertainment experience to PS3 users,” said Sony Computer Entertainment president Kaz Hirai.

“We will continue to work to have a comprehensive portfolio of attractive and innovative games for the Motion Controller, not only from SCE Worldwide Studios but also from the third-party developers and publishers, whom we have been working closely with. We look forward to soon unveiling the exciting software line-up that further expand and define the PS3 platform as the ultimate entertainment system for the home.”

The delay to a Fall release window, more or less puts the device on a head to head with Microsoft’s competing motion control system; Project Natal.

Bioware has finally taken the lid off of it’s DLC plans for the forthcoming Mass Effect 2.

Rather than delivery of the DLC through the traditional route of Sony/Microsoft’s established infrastructures, Bioware have created their own DLC platform known as the ‘Cerebus Network’.

The Cerebus Network will be free with each copy of the game that is bought, retail or digital. Here’s the kicker however; with each new copy of the game a *single* use code is supplied to activate the Cerebus Network for free and tie it up to an existing EA Online account. This essentially means that folks who buy it second hand, will have to stump up an unknown amount of additional funds to ‘purchase’ the DLC platform separately.

Wowzers, so people now have to pay for the thing which only *allows* you to get the DLC in the first place, and that’s before you actually start paying for the DLC itself. Ouch.

On the flipside however, the first two DLC packs which will be released will both be free.

The first DLC pack will come with a whole new set of missions and will also include extra in-game items, as well as a new party member that can be recruited into Shepard’s crew known as Zaeed.

The second DLC pack, which is expected to become available shortly after launch, will include a new in-game vehicle known only as the Hammerhead. The pack again also includes new missions and in-game items, which include the Cerberus armour and nasty sounding M-22 Eviscerator Shotgun.

The official press release can be seen below:

BIOWARE UNVEILS ‘THE CERBERUS NETWORK’ – AN IN-GAME PIPELINE FOR DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT IN MASS EFFECT 2
On January 26 Mass Effect 2 Players Can Download Exciting Bonus Content

Edmonton, Alberta (January 19, 2010) – BioWare™, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), today revealed ‘The Cerberus Network’, an in-game portal in Mass Effect 2 that will keep fans engaged with the rich and dynamic Mass Effect universe through downloadable content (DLC) and news. ‘The Cerberus Network’ is activated exclusively by original purchasers of Mass Effect 2 through a single-use unlock code that comes included in retail and digital versions of the game worldwide. ‘The Cerberus Network’ is a conduit for players to receive bonus content as well as daily messages and news on upcoming releases for Mass Effect 2 for no extra charge. For players who do not buy the game new, ‘The Cerberus Network’ can be unlocked through a one-time, in-game purchase of a new activation code*.

Mass Effect 2 is the first blockbuster video game release of 2010, having recently been named as one of the “Most Anticipated Games of the Year” by the New York Times, IGN and Wired.
“The Cerberus Network augments and extends the rich universe of Mass Effect 2,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, co-founder, BioWare and Group General Manager of the RPG/MMO Group of EA. “We’re thrilled to be able to reward loyal BioWare and Mass Effect fans with ongoing, high quality content and provide a direct channel for our players to dive deeper into the intriguing lore of Mass Effect.”

Players who access ‘The Cerberus Network’ will receive the first DLC pack on January 26th (launch day in North America) featuring new missions and in-game items. Included in this pack is a mission that introduces Zaeed, a rugged and deadly gun-for-hire who is recruited to join Commander Shepard’s mission to save mankind.

After launch, BioWare will release another DLC pack for Mass Effect 2 that introduces the Hammerhead, a new vehicle in the Mass Effect universe. This agile hover tank features improved handling on rough terrain and maneuvers deftly in combat — a necessity for players traveling across harsh planetary environments throughout the galaxy. In addition to this new vehicle, BioWare will release new missions and unique in-game items, including Cerberus Assault Armor which boost shields, health and heavy weapon ammo and the M-22 Eviscerator Shotgun.

The Mass Effect trilogy is an epic science fiction adventure set in a vast universe filled with dangerous alien life and mysterious, uncharted planets. In Mass Effect 2, players will step into the role of the heroic Commander Shepard, commanding a crew of the most dangerous operatives from across the galaxy on a mission so challenging that it’s potentially suicidal. Featuring intense shooter action, a rich futuristic storyline, stunning space exploration and emotionally engaging characters, the game delivers an unparalleled cinematic experience.

Mass Effect 2 is scheduled for release on the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and PC on January 26, 2010 in North America and January 29, 2010 in Europe and has been rated ‘M’ for Mature by the ESRB and ‘18+’ by PEGI (please visit http://www.esrb.org and http://www.pegi.eu for more information on ratings). For more news from the development team, please follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/masseffect2 or visit the game’s official website at http://masseffect.bioware.com/.

* Activation is tied to a specific EA Online account and is non-transferable.

James Cope, Producer of the upcoming Crackdown 2, confirmed in an interview with IGN that a demo of the hotly anticipated sandbox sequel would hit Live prior to the game’s release.

Mr. Cope said “You can definitely expect a demo to hit Live before the game is out but I can’t say when that will be… yet. The Crackdown demo was fantastic and we want to carry on in that form.”

No solid release date for Crackdown 2 has been confirmed yet, but signs are pointing to ‘Early 2010’.

Whatever that means.

March? April? May?

More as and when.

The Japanese exclusive Wii horror title, Fatal Frame IV, otherwise known as Project Zero 4 in the West, has been translated into English by a bunch of dedicated die-hard fans angered by developer Tecmo’s decision to not release the title in the West.

Pleasingly enough, the patch allows the game to be run from an SD card; thereby making it region free.

Fatal Frame IV should be available from any decent importer.

Below you can you find a link to the site of the talented folks who did the translation:

http://zero4.higashinoeden.com/

Nice work guys!

Going on from the previous news update that Nintendo had discontinued Metroid Prime Trilogy everywhere including the UK, comes word from Eurogamer that they have been informed via the Big N, that the compilation has not been discontinued in the UK.

Happy days!

While it is certainly true that God Of War III will wrap up the current trilogy as we know it, developers Sony Santa Monica have confirmed in an interview with Gamervision that the series will live on beyond God Of War III.

In the interview, director of product development for Sony Santa Monica, John Hight said:

“This is not the end of God of War. This is definitely the end of the trilogy, but we’re going to continue to do God of War games. We’re going to be very careful about what we do; we’re the keepers of the franchise and we don’t want to see it ruined or polluted.”

While more PS3 outings for the celebrated franchise seem likely, another PSP title would also be very welcome methinks.

Good news indeed.

The public multiplayer demo for the PS3 and 360 versions of Battlefield: Bad Company 2, will be available to all to download on Feburary 4th.

Those of us lucky enough to own a decent PC gaming rig, can pick up the same demo six days earlier on January 29th.

Hoo-rah.

Kent Hudson of Bioshock 2 developer 2K Marin, has confirmed that DLC is indeed on the way for the yet to be released sequel.

No details were released regarding what the content may entail, but in his interview with Australian Gamer, he had this to say regarding Bioshock 2 DLC plans:

“Absolutely! We are working on pretty aggressive plans for DLC and that’s actually something that is already under-way,”.

“That is something that is mostly being run out of the Marin studio because like I said the Australian studio is already ramping up on the next big thing.”

Rockstar today have confirmed that the iPhone version of the critically lauded GTA: Chinatown Wars is now available for the wallet pleasing price of just £5.99.

A conversion of the DS version, the iPhone edition should have all of the touch screen mini-games intact and at £5.99, represents an absolute steal.

GTA: Chinatown Wars is now available to download from the iTunes link below:

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/grand-theft-auto-chinatown-wars/id344186162?mt=8