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It’s Official EA Announces Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath

Filed under PC News, Xbox on August 15th, 2007

In the name of Kane! Electronic Arts today announced that the Command & Conquer series continues to thrive with Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath. As the expansion pack to the critically-acclaimed and fan favorite, Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars, this Real-time Strategy (RTS) game returns to the Tiberium universe with Kane at the center of an epic new single player campaign.

“The reaction to Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars has been tremendous. Fans and critics alike appreciated the combination of fast, fluid, and fun RTS game play with a deep story and the classic full-motion video sequences that are a hallmark of the Command & Conquer series,” said Mike Verdu, VP and Executive Producer at EA Los Angeles (EALA). “I’m excited that we’re able to go back to the Tiberium universe with Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath. This expansion has an impressive new single player campaign, a new global strategic layer that adds depth to the familiar Command & Conquer style gameplay, and several fun, all-new toys that range from versatile combat soldiers to giant armored walkers.”

The single player campaign will allow players to experience a new story that spans 20 years - from the rebirth of the Brotherhood of Nod after the Second Tiberium War through the dramatic events of the Third Tiberium War and beyond. The story is told through a new set of high-definition live action video sequences starring a celebrity cast. Joe Kucan, the original actor who portrayed the character Kane in Command & Conquer games over the last decade, will reprise his role as the megalomaniacal leader of the Brotherhood of Nod. Other details of the cast have yet to be announced.

Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath also features a new strategic layer to gameplay that allows players to establish bases, build customized armies, and attack their enemies on a global scale — and then dive into the frenzied tactical combat where their skills as a commander will make the difference in battle. The game introduces six new sub-factions and a wealth of new units, structures, and powers to the armies of the Global Defense Initiative, the Brotherhood of Nod, and the enigmatic alien Scrin.

The Xbox 360 version of Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath will debut a revolutionary new radial interface designed specifically for console gamers. Taking RTS controls to a whole new level, players will utilize the command stick to build, deploy, and attack.

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Girlfriend Stabs Boyfriend Over Game System

Filed under General news and Rants on August 15th, 2007

A Warren woman is in jail and the father of one of her children is in critical condition after a stabbing early Monday morning at a Buckeye Avenue N.W. home. Police say an argument that started over a missing video game system led to the arrest of 30-year-old Tara Wheatley and a flight to Cleveland MetroHealth Medical Center for her boyfriend, Andrew P. McMichael, who had stab wounds to his back, neck and left arm.

Wheatley, is being held in the Trumbull County Jail on $100,000 bond following her first appearance later Monday in Warren Municipal Court. According to police, McMichael went to 595 Buckeye St. N.W., a home belonging to one of Wheatley’s relatives, to visit a child they have together.

While McMichael was there, he removed a video game system, police said.

When Wheatley, who was working when McMichael was at the home, discovered the system was missing, police said she called and reported the theft and then called McMichael.

Sometime about 1:30 a.m., police were called to the northwest side home for a man who was bleeding. The man told police he was stabbed by his girlfriend, according to the report.

As Reported by the Tribune-Chronicle. 

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Madden 08 On PS3 Not What It’s Cracked Up To Be?

Filed under Xbox, ps3 on August 15th, 2007

What does this say about the PS3 as a gaming platform or was it that EA put more time and love into the xbox 360 version of the game? Could it be the devilment tools are that much better for the xbox?

USA Today states:

On the surface, the releases on 360 and PlayStation 3 look identical. However, when you stack them head-to-head, it’s clear which is better. Madden on 360 is fast and fluid, thanks to a sharp jump in frame rate that allows the game to move twice as fast.

PS3 owners, unfortunately, are greeted with a Madden that is sluggish in comparison. Action stutters far too often, particularly on injuries, penalties and turnovers. There’s also a half-second delay between pressing the hike button and receiving the ball in your hands. Even close-ups between play look dull when lined up against the 360’s sleeker cut scenes.

Maxconsole has the alleged response from EA technical support:

“Rob M.” from EA Sports technical support says he understands gamers “frustration,” but says that EA has been “developing titles for the Xbox 360 for over 3 1/2 years” and has only been working with the PS3 for over a year. He goes on to say it’s “very difficult to get it right the first time.” He goes on to say that that 30 frames per second is the same for all PS3 sports games, and they’re happy to point out that the same holds true for 2K Sports as well. He finishes by saying that “if you choose not to purchase the [PS3 version], it is a choice [they] fully understand and respect.”

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EA SPORTS $10,000 Craftsman NASCAR Challenge

Filed under Xbox on August 15th, 2007

nascar_craftsman_challenge_.gifElectronic Arts today announced the start of the 2007 EA SPORTS Challenge Series which kicked off July 26 with the EA SPORTS Craftsman NASCAR Challenge in Indianapolis. The EA SPORTS Challenge Series is a series of gaming competitions taking place across North America over the next six months.

The competition is scheduled to hit 11 cities overall, giving players from across the country a chance to compete for bragging rights, cash and other prizes. Future stops along the 2007 EA SPORTS Craftsman NASCAR Challenge include: St. Louis, Mo.; Richmond, Va.; Loudon, N.H.; Dover, Del.; Talladega, Ala.; Charlotte, N.C.; Martinsville, Va.; Atlanta, Ga. The ‘In-Store’ Tournaments will be hosted at designated Sears and Kmart retail stores in each city. All Tournament play will be conducted using NASCAR 08 on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system.

“The authenticity of the NASCAR experience is what makes gamers and NASCAR fans alike so competitive when playing NASCAR 08 and now we can deliver an official competitive environment for the best NASCAR 08 players out there,” said Brian Movalson, EA SPORTS Marketing Director. “At our first two stops at Kmart and Sears stores in Indianapolis and Nashville we had eager competitors lined up out the door and enthusiasm for both the game and the upcoming races was palpable.”

“This unique partnership between Craftsman and EA SPORTS is allowing us to bring Craftsman’s NASCAR relationship with NASCAR fans to a gaming audience that is rapidly growing as well,” said Scott Howard, Manager, Sponsorship, for Sears Holdings. “We’re looking forward to bringing these exciting events to the store level at Sears and Kmart stores and to extending this partnership nationally through Xbox Live.”

The ‘In-Store’ Qualifying Rounds competitions will be held over the course of three days in each city on the published Tournament schedule. Players emerging from the Qualifying Rounds with the fastest recorded lap times will advance to the Semi-Finals to compete for a trip to Florida and the Homestead-Miami Speedway and a chance at the $10,000 Grand Prize on November 18, 2007.

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Medal of Honor Airborne Demo Release Date

Filed under PC News, Xbox on August 14th, 2007

On August 23, parachute into combat with EA’s demo release of Medal of Honor Airborne for the PC and Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system. The Xbox 360 demo will be available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace and the PC version will be available on the official Medal of Honor website.

***UPDATE Demo Release Download ***

Demo Mission: Operation Husky
A joint allied operation into the island of Sicily, Operation Husky follows Boyd Travers and the 82nd Airborne on their first combat jump on July 11, 1943. After securing and sabotaging four anti-aircraft guns, Boyd is sent to rendezvous with a group of Airborne paratroopers at the edge of the village. Here, they run into the German Heer army, who is attempting to recapture the village from the Airborne. Boyd must push to the end of this small hamlet, eliminating Germans along the way, then find a sniper rifle and eliminate the German commander. He’s successful, but not before the commander has successfully called in reinforcements.

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EA SPORTS Madden NFL 08 Hits Retail Stores Nationwide

Filed under General news and Rants on August 14th, 2007

ealogo.jpgEA’s Madden NFL 08, the newest iteration of the best-selling EA SPORTS football franchise with the exclusive videogame license of the NFL and PLAYERS INC, is now available in stores nationwide. Awarded the 2007 Game Critics “Best Sports Game” award at last month’s E3 Media and Business Summit, Madden NFL 08 features a unique combination of innovative gameplay and authentic NFL football simulation.

Now in its 18th year, the Madden NFL Football franchise continues to stand out as Madden NFL 07 was last year’s #1 selling video game in North America with more than seven million copies sold1 since launch.

Madden NFL 08 features a new Read and React system that allows gamers to quickly identify the strongest players on the field, and to make game-altering adjustments to further affect each and every play. New player skill icons identify on-field strengths and weaknesses, providing an immediate read on what an opponent is doing. This new icon system complements a deeper gameplay experience that maximizes the skill of the individual NFL superstars, separating them from the role players, and takes NFL football strategy to a new level.

Players will rule the gridiron with intuitive controls, fluid gameplay and a new branching animation system that yields the jaw-dropping tackles and spectacular catches in Madden NFL 08. New player moves, lateral passes and the dynamic Hit-Stick 2.0 gives gamers an unprecedented and hyper realistic NFL football experience.

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New Downloads For Guitar Hero II On Xbox Live

Filed under Xbox on August 14th, 2007

Activision, today announced details surrounding new downloadable content for Guitar Hero II on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Guitar Hero fans now have the opportunity to download three original recordings from The Black Parade album from My Chemical Romance through Xbox LIVE Marketplace, beginning today.

My Chemical Romance track pack includes the following master recordings:

· Teenagers
· Famous Last Words
· This is How I Disappear

The three My Chemical Romance tracks available for download can be found on their latest highly touted and platinum-selling album, The Black Parade.

“We’re pleased to offer fans of the Guitar Hero franchise the best tracks from one of the hottest selling albums of the year,” said Tim Riley, Worldwide Executive of Music for Activision. “My Chemical Romance has even appeared on television playing Guitar Hero II, and we’re thrilled to build on our relationship with them.”

Fans will have the option of viewing a preview on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the track pack before purchasing.

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BioShock Demo Now Available on Xbox LIVE

Filed under PC News, Xbox on August 13th, 2007

bioshock_cover1.jpg2K Games and Take-Two Interactive Software, announced today that the demo of BioShock is now available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. The BioShock Windows PC demo will be available for download later this month.

Developed by 2K development studios, 2K Boston and 2K Australia, BioShock is a highly anticipated first-person shooter that will be available exclusively on Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Games For Windows in North America on August 21, 2007 and in Europe beginning August 24, 2007.

BioShock is a “genetically enhanced” first-person shooter that lets players do things never before possible in the genre - turn everything into a weapon, biologically modify your body with plasmids, hack devices and systems, upgrade weapons and craft new ammo variants, and experiment with different battle techniques.

The Xbox 360 demo introduces gamers to BioShock by inviting them to explore the world of Rapture, an underwater utopia torn apart by civil war. While immersed in the decaying art deco city, gamers can experiment with the various weapons and plasmids, as the captivating storyline unfolds. Caught between powerful forces and hunted down by genetically modified “splicers” and deadly security systems, players have to come to grips with a deadly, mysterious world filled with powerful technology and fascinating characters. No encounter ever plays out the same and no two gamers will play BioShock the same way.

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BioShock Goes Gold!

Filed under Xbox on August 10th, 2007

2K, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, announced today that BioShock has gone to gold masterbioshock.jpg exclusively for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system and Games for Windows. Developed by 2K Boston and 2K Australia, BioShock is a highly anticipated video game that will be available at stores in North America on August 21, 2007 and in Europe beginning August 24, 2007.

BioShock is a first-person shooter that lets players do things never before possible in the genre. Nearly everything in the game can be turned into a weapon; players can biologically modify their bodies with plasmids, hack devices and systems, upgrade weapons and craft new ammo variants, and experiment with different battle techniques.

Players enter the game as a castaway in Rapture, an underwater utopia torn apart by civil war. Caught between powerful forces and hunted down by genetically modified “splicers” and deadly security systems, players have to come to grips with a dangerous and mysterious world filled with powerful technology and fascinating characters. With multiple avenues for surmounting challenges on both a moral and tactical level, no encounter ever plays out the same and no two gamers will play BioShock the same way.

Features:

  • Biologically modify your body with plasmids, which are genetic augmentations that empower you with dozens of fantastic abilities including: sending Electrobolts storming from your fingertips, unleashing a swarm of hornets hatched from the veins of your arms, or strategically turning enemies against one another with irritants.
  • Take control of your world by hacking devices and systems: reprogram enemy security bots into personal bodyguards, modify vending machines to change prices, and transform machine gun security turrets into powerless pieces of metal.
  • Upgrade your weapons at Power-to-the-People stations located through Rapture: craft variants of ammo and plasmids by picking up materials in the city and modifying them at U-Invent kiosks.
  • Turn everything into a weapon: the environment, your body, fire and water, and even your worst enemies. BioShock’s free form combat options allow gameplay scenarios to be approached with a variety of weapons: inject active and passive plasmids, utilize environmental objects, exploit political alliances, or use a combination of techniques. Find your style but know when to adapt.
  • Explore an incredible and unique art deco world hidden deep under the ocean, vividly illustrated with realistic water effects and truly next generation graphics.
  • Make meaningful and mature decisions that culminate in the ultimate question: Do you exploit the innocent survivors of Rapture to save yourself…or risk it all to become their savior?
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What System Would You Buy?

Filed under PC News, Xbox, ps3, wii on August 10th, 2007

In a multi game system world, what did you chose? With all the exclusive games coming out on just one system, how did you know whether the Nintendo Wii, the Sony PlayStation 3, or the Microsoft Xbox 360 is the one for you?

Let me give you a little background I have had an Xbox, Game Cube and a PlayStation 1 and 2. (I did not include the old school systems that are older than most of the people reading this) I am not a hardcore console gamer I play PC games and almost always have. (Remember wizardry for the Apple II that’s what got me hooked) I think I want to buy a new game system and need some help working out what one I should get. With two kids one 14 and one 2 years old I need something that everybody can benefit from. So I need to hear from you, “What did you get?” or “What would you get if you were me?” Please take our New Poll on the Right hand Side.

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