Archive for the ‘Bitsnark News & Reviews’ Category
Square Enix Announces European Final Fantasy XIII Collectors Edition For PS3 & 360
Going on sale the same day as the regular version of the game (March 9th), Square Enix have confirmed that a collectors edition of Final Fantasy XIII will also arrive.
The collectors edition contains the following goodies:
– Final Fantasy XIII game
– Special fliptop packaging
– Final Fantasy XIII Original Sound Selection – Soundtrack CD including a selection of music tracks from the game that are especially chosen for this Limited Collector’s Edition by composer Masashi Hamauzu. The CD is presented inside a slipcase featuring artwork from Final Fantasy XIII, and also liner notes that are written by the composer.
– ‘The World of Final Fantasy XIII’ – Hardback book featuring character artwork, CG rendered artwork and environments from across the game production.
Exclusive Art Prints – 3 highly collectable art prints showing artwork of the Eidolons, powerful summoned allies of the lead playable characters in Final Fantasy XIII.
– Unique ‘Brand of the l’Cie’ decal – Collectable decal featuring this most iconic symbol from the game storyline.
The collectors edition version of Final Fantasy XIII will retail for £59.99 and can be currently pre-ordered on both 360 and PS3 at the retailer links below:
Get ordering! 🙂
Capcom To Announce New 360 Title Over Xbox Live On January 26th
In a similar to fashion to how Lost Planet 2 was unveiled, Capcom has said that on January 26th they will unveil a brand new title for the Xbox 360 over Xbox Live.
The title appears to be a joint collaboration between Microsoft and Capcom so there is the chance it may be an exclusive, timed or otherwise.
No details are known about the mystery title as of yet, but as always look for the usual leaks to occur hours before the unveiling.
Anyone want to take a guess?
Rockstar’s L.A. Noire To Get Official Unveiling Next Month
Rockstar has confirmed that its long gestating L.A Noire title will finally get an unveiling sometime next month.
In it’s Q&A section on the company website, Rockstar developers Team Bondi said the following:
“There will be something great to see soon – a proper in-depth look at the game and why it is so ground-breaking and innovative, both in terms of the game’s design and the amazing new technology to support it. Expect to see a long-awaited reveal via a big cover story next month.”
After being announced over three years ago, many including myself had thought the one-time PS3 exclusive project to be dead. Whilst there has been constant confusion over the platforms that the game is going to arrive on, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to attribute much of the delay to the newly formed multi-platform development that the title would be going through.
The PS3 meanwhile still has an exclusive in the form of the nearly-as-elusive Agent title, which is still yet to receive a proper unveiling itself.
Mass Effect 3 To Arrive End Of 2011/Start Of 2012
Casey Hudson of Bioware has strongly suggested that fans can expect the final installment in the trilogy of their Mass Effect series to arrive at the end of next year, or the start of the year after.
Speaking with MTV, he said that the release was deliberately staggered so that the developer would have time to take in any feedback regarding Mass Effect 2 and implement that into its sequel.
Mr. Hudson had this to say:
“We’re already working on Mass Effect 3 right now. We do want to develop it in concert with listening to the way people are experiencing Mass Effect 2,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of DLC coming out for Mass Effect 2 that we’re also working on, and then we’ll kind of blend that into developing and finishing Mass Effect 3. We don’t want to take forever with it. We want people, to be able to conclude this trilogy, that have been with us over the years… [Development will be] along the same kind of time frame as Mass Effect 2,”.
With a developmental time frame similar to Mass Effect 2, it only seems reasonable to expect the title to arrive, more likely, at the start of 2012.
SCEE Confirms Heavy Rain Demo For EU PSN On February 11th
Heavy Rain will as previously rumoured, recieve a demo; now confirmed for release on February 11th through the PSN.
The confirmation quite literally came from the horses mouth as Mike Kebby of the EU Playstation Blog confirmed it’s impending release:
“Heavy Rain demo should be on the store on the 11th of Feb,”.
Good stuff.
SCEE Confirms February 4th For Final Fantasy VIII Re-release On PSN
The long awaited re-release of Final Fantasy VIII has finally been given a date for the UK.
The title will arrive on the EU PSN on Feburary 4th for £7.99.
The PSOne title was previously re-released last year in the US and Japan.
Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition And Seperate DLC Officially Dated
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 Delays PS3 Motion Controller To Autumn
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.
Mass Effect 2 DLC Plans Revealed. Second Hand Buyers Have To Stump Up.
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.
Crackdown 2 Demo Confirmed
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.
BitSnark 