Description
In addition to looking at the lighter and weirder side of the game industry, System Update provides the latest information on weekly console updates, DLC, game-specific updates, and other game-industry flotsam and jetsam.
Latest News
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GameStop: Xbox One, PS4 will be less expensive at launch than past consoles
Retailer says next-gen platforms from Microsoft and Sony will debut below price points for Xbox 360 and PS3 at launch.
Other Site Blogs
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GameSpot AU Blog
Q&A: Xbox One Australian info
Early this morning Microsoft finally took the wraps off its long-anticipated, next-generation console, the Xbox One. Following the...
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Community Blog
Daily Digest - Only a Day Away!
To-Do List - TWEET your allegiance in our Battle of the Next Gen. - JOIN US for the GSPN Terraria Game Night. - CAMP OUT...
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Reviews Blog
Gears of War: Judgment review-in-progress update
The launch of Gears of War: Judgment is nigh upon us, and though our written and video reviews aren't ready just yet, the review...
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Producer's Note
GameSpot Versus: Beat the Pros Edition Winter 2012 MVP's
GameSpot Versus Beat the Pros Edition is a way for GameSpot members to test their skills against super star pro gamers. From FPS to...
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Nintendo Store Update: Ubongo puzzling out WiiWare
The 2011 Electronic Entertainment Expo kicks off today in Los Angeles, but Nintendo doesn't appear to have any special plans for the week when it comes to store updates for WiiWare and DSiWare. This week, Nintendo welcomes a single new title to WiiWare, while DSiWare picks up three games.
For Nintendo's console, Korner Entertainment has Ubongo, which is based on the popular board game. In it, up to four players compete to solve puzzles across a variety of modes, including History Mode, Quick Game, Time Attack, and Multiplayer, collecting gems along the way. The player with the most gems of the same color wins the game. Ubongo costs 800 Wii points ($8).
Both Gamebridge and Code Mystics have 500-DSi-point ($5) titles out this week. Gamebridge's Go Series Picdun melds action role-playing with puzzle solving, as players reveal hidden images by exploring passages. Players will be able to upgrade their equipment and weapons as they progress through the game's 60 floors.
Code Mystics' Dreamwalker also melds action and puzzle-solving. As the game's title suggests, Dreamwalker tells the story of Walker, who is able to traverse dreams. As he struggles to obtain a good night's sleep, Walker must defeat such foes as Alarm Clocks, Early Birds, and Night Mares. Players will be doing their part by controlling the mazes that make up Walker's dreams.
Cypronia's Crazy Cheebo: Puzzle Party rounds out the week on DSiWare. For the 200-DSi-point ($2) entry fee, gamers will receive a match-three puzzler in which they must swap the location of two objects to form horizontal or vertical sets of the same color. The game supports play for up to two.
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Black Ops' Escalation add-on slams PSN June 10
While much of the current Call of Duty talk is focused on the upcoming Modern Warfare 3, that doesn't mean Activision is done with Call of Duty: Black Ops, its billion dollar baby. Today, the company announced that the game's Escalation downloadable content will be released in the recently reopened PlayStation Store next week.
In a post on the PlayStation Blog, Activision said the $15 Escalation DLC for Call of Duty: Black Ops will arrive on the PlayStation Network next Friday, June 10. The content--which debuted in May for the Xbox 360, and yesterday for the PC--is composed of new multiplayer maps and a new zombie mode addition.
The Escalation pack sports four multiplayer maps: Hotel, set on top of a luxury hotel and casino in old Havana; Convoy, which offers up close-quarters combat when a US military convoy is ambushed; Zoo, set in a derelict Soviet-era animal park; and Stockpile, which is set in a small Russian town that contains secret facilities housing weapons of mass destruction.
The downloadable add-on also features a "Call of the Dead" level. The zombie-slaughtering co-op level will feature a storyline inspired by famed horror director George A. Romero (Night of the Living Dead) and features a '70s movie aesthetic that sees four action stars fending off hordes of undead around a ghost ship. It will feature the voices and likenesses of actors Robert Englund (Nightmare on Elm Street), Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Michael Rooker (The Walking Dead), Danny Trejo (Machete), and Romero himself.
To celebrate the arrival of the Escalation content, Activision is granting PlayStation 3 Call of Duty gamers double XP through June 12. For more on the title in question, check out GameSpot's review of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Starting Block video feature, embedded below.
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Uncharted 3 Collector's Edition unearthed
Uncharted series protagonist Nathan Drake is well accustomed to unearthing treasure, but it will be gamers who dig up booty this fall, should they pick up the Uncharted 3 Collector's Edition.
Series developer Naughty Dog has announced a $100 top-tier bundle for Nathan Drake's third console outing in Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception. The collector's edition (pictured below) will house an array of items, including a life-sized replica wearable belt buckle and necklace, a Nathan Drake statue, a steel book casing, and travelling chest packaging for the game.
In addition to the collector's edition announcement, Naughty Dog also has detailed the various retailer-specific preorder incentives for Uncharted 3, which spans big box retailers GameStop, Amazon, Best Buy, and Wal-Mart.
Gamers who preorder the title at GameStop will score access to the creepy crawler kickback. This ability allows gamers, provided they've amassed the required number of medals, to morph into a swarm of eight-legged creatures and take down their foes. For more on how kickbacks and other multiplayer components of Uncharted 3 work, check out GameSpot's preview of the game's multiplayer.
Those who preorder Uncharted 3 at online retailer Amazon will earn three bonuses, the first of which is the carpet bomb kickback, which allows gamers to toss three grenades to thwart the advances of enemies. Additionally, players who preorder at Amazon will be granted two weapon augments, allowing them to buff the capacity of their Para- 9 and G-MAL bullet clips.
Best Buy is offering gamers who preorder Uncharted 3 day-one access to the regeneration booster, an item that allows gamers to heal their wounds faster in the game's multiplayer component.
Lastly, Wal-Mart will offer gamers who preorder Uncharted 3 the callout weapon mod, which lets players equip an AK-47 with a laser sight, enabling all teammates to see the foe's location.
In addition to the above-mentioned retailers, other purveyors will offer an exclusive Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception PlayStation Network avatar and XMB theme for the PlayStation 3. For the full list of participating retailers, check out the post on the game's official site.
Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception is due out exclusively on the PlayStation 3 on November 1. The game will focus on protagonist Drake's search for a lost city, with the wily adventurer finding his way to the Arabian Peninsula and its bleak Empty Quarter. In addition to the new multiplayer overhauls, the game will feature new stealth and melee maneuvers, as well as stereoscopic 3D support.
For more on the title, check out GameSpot's most recent hands-on preview of Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception.
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Dead Island Special Edition unveiled
The lurching undead creatures known as zombies are often deemed less than desirable. However, publisher Deep Silver is hoping to attract the masses to its upcoming zombie survival game Dead Island with a special edition of the game.
Announced today, the Dead Island Special Edition will be exclusive to specialty retailer GameStop and will contain the Bloodbath Arena downloadable content, which Deep Silver values at $10. As for the content, the Bloodbath Arena pack is composed of both single-player and multiplayer challenges in four distinct areas.
Waves of zombies--each billed as more difficult than the last--will assault players in the Bloodbath Arena content, with players tasked with killing them off and staying alive. Additionally, gamers can display and track their progress via the Bloodbath Arena's leaderboards. And to help gamers in their deathly pursuits, the content will include an exclusive weapon: the "brain wave bomb."
The Bloodbath Arena DLC will go on sale for those who did not purchase the special edition at a later date, said to be "shortly" after launch.
On top of the above-mentioned items, the special edition will include exclusive cover art and a blueprint for an in-game weapon called The Ripper, which is a baseball bat combined with a buzz saw.
The Dead Island Special Edition will be available at no extra charge to "early" preorder customers at GameStop for a limited time and while supplies last. For more on the title, check out GameSpot's most recent hands-on preview of Dead Island.
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Beyond Good & Evil HD hits PSN June 8
While the mysterious Beyond Good & Evil 2 is still far away, gamers looking to play a high-definition overhaul of the original for Sony's system now have a date to circle on their calendars.
According to a response made by a Sony representative in the comments section of the PlayStation Store restoration blog entry, Beyond Good & Evil HD will launch for the PlayStation 3 on June 8. The game was originally pegged to debut on the PlayStation Network in May, but Sony's six-week online outage prevented that from happening.
Beyond Good & Evil HD features 1080p graphics, including enhanced character models and upgraded textures, and Ubisoft has also remastered the game's musical score. The game was released on the Xbox Live Arcade in early March.
The original Beyond Good & Evil launched in November 2003, winning critical acclaim for its mix of traditional action adventure elements and stealth segments. The game also drew praise for its picture-taking gameplay mechanic and engaging story of a journalist named Jade.
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Duke Nukem Forever First Access Club gets free multiplayer add-on
Tomorrow, Gearbox Software will roll out a demo for the long-in-development Duke Nukem Forever, where First Access Club members can be the first to try out a single-player campaign level. However, that's not the only perk the club offers.
Gearbox has announced that First Access Club members registered by today will score the first downloadable add-on for Duke Nukem Forever's multiplayer component for free. Unfortunately, the developer did not divulge further information as to what the pack will contain.
Access to the First Access Club is granted by either having a copy of the Game of the Year Edition of Borderlands or preordering Duke Nukem Forever from participating retailers such as GameStop, Amazon, and EB Canada.
Duke Nukem Forever--once synonymous with vaporware--has gone gold ahead of its June 10 date with the international crowd and June 14 in North America.
When the game is launched, it will be available in both a standard edition, as well as a Balls of Steel Collector's Edition for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. This top-tier bundle includes a bust of the titular hero, a set of playing cards, dice, and two casino chips. A comic and hardcover art book are also included in the collection, along with a numbered certificate of authenticity.
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Rocksmith signs Pixies, Radiohead, Lynyrd Skynyrd
Even though the Rock Band and Guitar Hero franchises are taking leaves of absence this year, 2011 won't be without a guitar game from a major publisher. Today, Ubisoft announced a list of new songs for Rocksmith, most of which are not featured in either Rock Band or Guitar Hero.
The new 22 tracks announced today for Rocksmith include tunes from both contemporary and classic groups like Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Black Keys, Titus Andronicus, the White Stripes, Blur, The Cure, and Soundgarden. According to Ubisoft, the game will ship with 45 songs, meaning the publisher still has a number of additional songs to announce.
In Rocksmith, players will strum along on actual strings. Ubisoft is betting that the game can avoid the fate of Guitar Hero because its players won't soon grow tired of learning how to play an actual guitar. The game will come with an input jack that is compatible with "most electric guitars" for play on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, but not the Wii.
A standard version (without guitar) of Rocksmith is due out this fall for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC priced at $79.99. Additionally, a $200 Gibson custom edition is reportedly in the works.
The full list of new and previously announced artists and tracks for Rocksmith is below. For more on the title, check out GameSpot's previous coverage of Rocksmith.
Best Coast - "When I'm With You"
Blur - "Song 2"
The Black Keys - "Next Girl"
The Boxer Rebellion - "Step Out of the Car"
Cream - "Sunshine of Your Love"
The Cribs - "We Share the Same Skies"
The Cure - "Boys Don't Cry"
Jenny O - "Well OK Honey"
Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Sweet Home Alabama"
Nirvana - "Breed"
Pixies - "Where Is My Mind?"
Radiohead - "High and Dry"
Red Fang - "Number Thirteen"
The Rolling Stones - "The Spider and the Fly"
Silversun Pickups - "Panic Switch"
Soundgarden - "Outshined"
Spoon - "Me and the Bean"
Stone Temple Pilots - "Vasoline" Taddy Porter - "Mean Bitch"
Titus Andronicus - "A More Perfect Union"
White Denim - "Burnished"
The White Stripes - "Icky Thump"
Yellow Moon Band - "Chimney"
Previously announced artists and songs:
The Animals - "House of the Rising Sun"
The Black Keys - "I Got Mine"
David Bowie - "Rebel Rebel"
Interpol - "Slow Hands"
Nirvana - "In Bloom"
The Rolling Stones - "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction"
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L.A. Noire DLC spree begins today
Gamers ready to close the file on L.A. Noire may want to think again. Today, Rockstar Games announced a host of add-on content for the post-World War II crime drama, with the first set of bonus cases arriving for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 today.
The opening salvo of DLC includes two new cases, four in-game items, and a challenge. The two new cases are titled "The Naked City" and "A Slip of the Tongue," and fall within the vice desk and traffic desk, respectively. These cases can be bought individually for $4 (320 Microsoft points).
As for in-game items, gamers can pick up the Broderick detective suit and gun as well as the sharpshooter detective suit and gun today for $1 (80 MSP) each. Rockstar is also giving away the Chicago piano machine gun to all, while the Chicago Lightning detective suit is free to those who belong to the Rockstar Social Club (a free registration through Rockstar's website). Lastly, The Badge Pursuit Challenge can be had for $2 (160 MSP).
Beyond the DLC arriving today, Rockstar is prepping two more bonus cases for L.A. Noire. The "Nicholson Electroplating" arson case will arrive on June 21, while the "Reefer Madness" vice case is scheduled for July 12. These bonus cases will also cost $4 (320 MSP) each. Rockstar noted that it does not plan to release additional DLC beyond "Reefer Madness."
Though all items can be bought individually, those interested in the lot can purchase the Rockstar Pass, which grants access to all seven pieces of premium content for $10--a 50 percent savings. The $10 price tag will only hold for a limited time, Rockstar noted, before raising to $12 at an unspecified date.
For more on L.A. Noire, check out GameSpot's review.
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Resistance 3 preorder incentives announced
Battling the snarling, nefarious, and nasty Chimera in Resistance 3 isn't an endeavor that seems enjoyable, but Sony is hoping to lure gamers to the title with a range of preorder incentives announced today at four major national retailers: GameStop, Wal-Mart, Amazon, and Best Buy.
Gamers who preorder Resistance 3 at GameStop will be awarded a Chimera tooth-studded necklace, a replica of the one protagonist Joseph Capelli wears in the game. Additionally, GameStop preorders will be given a "multiplayer booster," which lets gamers start at level 5, as well as other "immediate flexibility and character customization options."
Players who reserve Resistance 3 at Wal-Mart will score a set of five custom name titles for play in the game's multiplayer component. The only title announced was Sentinel, which is a group of elite soldiers in Resistance.
Those who prefer to preorder with Amazon will earn the No. 60 Air Fuel Grenade. This grenade sticks to any surface and emits a cloud of flammable vapor, which later explodes, creating a scene of fiery death. This grenade will be available only in the single-player campaign and will be exclusive to Wal-Mart preorders.
Lastly, Best Buy is offering gamers who preorder Resistance 3 a Lt. Nathan Hale skin for use in the game's multiplayer component. Additionally, those who preorder at Best Buy will earn an exclusive multiplayer ability: taunt. This ability lets gamers perform a "victory dance" over a fallen foe.
As for other US retailers and the Canadian market, those locations will be awarded a Black Ops multiplayer skin, which lets gamers suit up as the soldiers from the "backbone of the US effort against the Chimera during the war."
Gamers looking to enter the world of Resistance 3 before its September launch date can earn access to a 30-minute single-player campaign level with the purchase of Battle: L.A. for Blu-ray. Additionally, those wishing to try their hand at the multiplayer component of Resistance 3 can purchase a copy of SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy Seals to earn access to the forthcoming multiplayer beta.
Resistance 3 is set in an alternate reality during the year 1957, after the US is overrun by a hostile alien race called the Chimera. It will follow the aforementioned Capelli, an ex-soldier, who is hiding out from the Chimera with his family and several other survivors. Besides offering 3D and PlayStation Move support, the game will boast several multiplayer modes for up to 16 people.
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Uncharted movie loses director
Yet another game-to-film adaptation has hit a stumbling block, as Variety reports that Oscar-winning director David O. Russell has cut ties with the big-screen version of Uncharted, citing "creative differences." The Hollywood trade reports that the split was amicable.
Russell's departure likely means that the casting of big names like Mark Wahlberg, Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson, and Robert DeNiro in key roles--while never officially confirmed--is likely to be redone. In February, the director said that he wanted to be respectful of the source material, but added that his goal as a filmmaker was to "create a world that is worthy of a really great film that people want to watch and rewatch."
Russell's name surfaced in relation to the Uncharted movie last May, when he was simply being considered as an option to helm the project. While it was reported that negotiations between Sony and Russell fell through in the following months, the two sides apparently worked out their initial differences, with the director's frequent collaborator Wahlberg confirming his participation in the project in November.
Uncharted joins a number of other gaming franchises to hit hurdles on the way to Hollywood. Most notably, the Peter Jackson-produced Halo film wound up in limbo after budgetary concerns surfaced, while Kane & Lynch, Dark Void, Army of Two, BioShock, Wolfenstein, and many others have started--but not yet finished--the adaptation process.
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Xbox 360 Homefront update mobilizes, DLC en route
Belying initial investor panic, Homefront has proven to be a noticeable success for THQ and developer Kaos Studios, as the game has shipped more than 2.6 million units. Those who have bought the game will be pleased to know that more content for the military shooter is on the way, by way of free updates and downloadable content.
Today, THQ announced that a title update for the Xbox 360 version of Homefront is now available, bringing with it fixes to the game as well as new abilities. Of those updates, Kaos has addressed "game freeze and hitching, max ping limits for server connections, party connectivity, and beacon errors," to name a few.
The title update also includes a number of additions to in-game abilities, the full details of which can be found below.
[UPDATE] Responding to a request for comment, THQ said that a PS3 version of the update has been delayed by the PlayStation Network outage saga. "Title update was created for the PS3 but due to the recent PSN network issues, the release of the update has been delayed," the representative told GameSpot. "[The PC version] had a patch addressing different issues, released yesterday."
On June 7, THQ will roll out Homefront's first DLC, the Fire Sale map pack. Available first for Xbox 360 gamers, the map pack will include two new competitive multiplayer arenas that are set deep within America's ruins. Pricing information has not yet been announced. Accompanying the release of that map pack will be a free download of the 870 express shotgun, as well as a gratis Homefront Xbox 360 theme.
For more information, check out GameSpot's review of Homefront.
Ability Pack updates:
Ice Cold: Invisible on thermal views and airstrike sensors
Situational Awareness: Enemy gamertag appears when shot
EMP Tactician: Deal more damage vs. EMP'd vehicles
Short Fuse: Reduced cook time on frag grenades
Bomb Suit: Take less damage from explosivesXbox 360 title update fixes:
Assist points for vehicle kills
Rank resets
Game returns to MP menu instead of main menu after leaving a match
Max ping limits for server connections (prevent connections to distant servers)
Game freeze and hitching
Joining friends feature
Beacon errors
Party connectivity
Various other fixes -
Forza 4 fueling preorders
Microsoft has said little of Turn 10's Forza Motorsport 4 beyond its initial announcement and presentation at the 2010 Electronic Entertainment Expo, indicating only that it will incorporate Kinect functionality when it arrives for the Xbox 360 this fall. Taking promotion from 0 to 60, Microsoft today announced a Collector's Edition, as well as a range of preorder incentives, to draw gamers to Forza 4's track on race day.
Beyond confirming that a Forza 4 Collector's Edition exists, Microsoft offered no details on how much it will cost or what gamers can expect to find within it. Microsoft expects to offer more details on the limited-run package soon. Expect more information on Forza 4 at next month's E3, where Microsoft will hold its annual press conference on June 6.
The publisher did have information to share on the game's preorder incentives, which will take the form of retailer-specific car download vouchers. Those who pick up the game through Amazon.com will get the Subaru Impreza WRX STI, while Best Buy preorderers gain access to the BMW 1 Series M Coupe. GameStop has the Alfa Romeo Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde, Wal-Mart is offering the MINI John Cooper Works Clubman, and Target buyers will get the Honda CR-Z EX.
Microsoft will also be motivating gamers to show up at retailers early to get their copy of Forza 4 with the limited-quantity "Ship Bonus" car pack. This offer, which is limited to first-run Forza 4 game discs, includes the Ford Mustang GT Coupe 1965, Koenigsegg Agera 2011, Lexus SC300 1997, RUF RGT-8 2011, and Tesla Roadster Sport 2011.
Lastly, Microsoft offered good news for those who lost themselves to Forza 3. The publisher said that gift cars will be doled out based on player level and garaged cars in Forza 3, and players will also be able to import liveries from that game into Forza 4.
For more on Forza 4 and its Kinect functionality, check out GameSpot's coverage from last year's E3 showing.
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Mortal Kombat retailer-exclusive DLC going on sale
When NetherRealm Studios rebooted the Mortal Kombat series in April, retailers encouraged gamers to preorder the title at their shops with various reservation bonuses. Soon, all that content will be made available to everyone…for a price.
NetherRealm Studios' Ed Boon announced the news via Twitter recently, saying "The 7 Klassic outfits & 3 Klassic fatalities that were retailer exclusives will be bundled into one DLC package."
Boon did not note when content will go on sale but did mention that a trailer for the content will be released tomorrow.
Mortal Kombat--the ninth installment in the popular fighting series--shipped for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on April 19. For more on the brutal fighting title, check out GameSpot's review of Mortal Kombat.
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$300 160GB Black Ops PS3 bundle coming May 31
Call of Duty: Black Ops is already the United States' best-selling game of all time, but next week it's getting something it has never had: a limited-edition system/software bundle.
Sony today announced that beginning May 31, gamers can pick up a $300 Call of Duty: Black Ops PlayStation 3 bundle at retailers nationwide (pictured at right). The pack comes with a 160GB PS3 console, a copy of Call of Duty: Black Ops, and the game's first downloadable add-on pack, First Strike.
Call of Duty: Black Ops--a Cold War-era shooter--shipped on November 9, 2010, and has sold as many as 20 million copies, minting over $1 billion for publisher Activision. The next game in the series, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, is due out on November 8, 2011.
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Dirt 3 online toll set at $10 for secondhand users
The Online Pass initiative spearheaded by Electronic Arts has gained a new follower. It was first reported by Eurogamer, and now Codemasters has confirmed for GameSpot that it will be including a onetime-use download code with new copies of its upcoming off-road rally racer Dirt 3 that activates the game's online modes.
In addition to unlocking Dirt 3's multiplayer offerings, the code--known as a VIP Pass--delivers access to five bonus vehicles. These extra rides include the McRae M4, the Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500, and the Hummer H3.
Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 gamers who pick up a secondhand version of Dirt 3 can purchase a VIP Pass for 800 Microsoft points, or $10 in the US, £6.29 in the UK, and €7.99 in Europe. The pay wall is similar to that erected by a number of publishers beyond EA, including THQ and Sony. Ubisoft has expressed interest in the scheme.
For more on Dirt 3 in advance of its launch on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC this week, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.
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Carmageddon website counting down to June 1
SCi's Carmageddon franchise appeared to hit a pileup it would not be walking away from in April 2008, when Eidos reportedly canceled the series' fourth run. Three years on, and it appears as if the comically violent car combat franchise will be given new wheels, as a countdown timer has begun to tick down on what purports to be Carmageddon's official website.
Carmageddon.com indicates that an announcement regarding the franchise will be made at 1 a.m. PT, on June 1. Unfortunately, it includes no additional information on what that teaser campaign is counting down to.
Though the site offers no official markings or branding, a domain-name search indicates that Square Enix, which purchased SCi-parent Eidos Interactive in 2009, initially registered the site in March 2011. However, the domain registration was updated today with a new registrant name, Driving Game IP Ltd.
While possible that the Carmageddon IP has changed hands, it seems likely that Driving Game IP Ltd. is a dummy corporation a la Bungie's recently unearthed Podophobia Entertainment. According to the domain-name information, the new company is registered to what could either be a personal residence or a milk farm in Isle of White, England. That address is less than 8 miles away from original Carmageddon developer Stainless Games.
The fourth installment in the Carmageddon franchise was first teased in 2003, before being officially announced in 2004 and scheduled for release by April 2005. 2K Games later picked up the North American publishing rights to Carmageddon 4 before it was reportedly canceled.
Square Enix had not responded to a request for comment on the matter as of press time. For more information, check out GameSpot's review of Carmageddon 3, which was released for the PC in 2000.
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Nintendo Store Update: Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords
The Mario Factory today updated its digital storefront with four new games, including the latest Puzzle Quest title and a space-bound arcade-style shooter.
First out of the gate today is Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords (800 DSi points, or $8) for the DSiWare. Originally released in 2007 for the PSP, DS, PC, Wii, and Xbox 360, the Bejeweled-style role-playing/puzzle hybrid game is now available as a game download for Nintendo's portable. The title sports both a single-player campaign with 150 levels, as well as a multiplayer option.
Also out now on DSiWare is 99Bullets (500 DSi points, or $5). From EnjoyUp Games, the space shooter is billed as having a "retro" feel and has players controlling V-99, a ship with 99 bullets to use in each level. The title boasts more than 10 levels, boss fights, and an Arcade mode.
The last DSiWare game out now is 3D Twist & Match (200 DSi points, or $2). The game has players picking up and rotating 3D objects to match their silhouettes. The game sports 10 themes, three difficulty options, 200 objects, and "oodles" of trophies to unlock.
Switching to WiiWare, Nintendo added just one new game to the download spot today, Overflow (500 Wii points, or $5). The puzzle game has players collecting multicolored fuel, which was spilled all throughout the game's 30 levels. Gamers will use the Wii Remote to place objects in strategic locations to guide the fuel back to where it belongs. After players collect the fuel, they'll be tasked with mixing the liquid to make new colors.
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Infamous 2 gets more preorder bonuses
Among the many detriments of the PlayStation Network outage, Sony and Sucker Punch have largely missed out on the hype built by a beta test for Infamous 2. While plans surrounding that test are still in flux, Sony will be motivating shoppers with a bonus preorder package for the electrically charged open-world action adventure.
Announced today, the new preorder pack augments the previously announced preorder incentives with four additional items. The Reaper skin lets gamers play through Infamous 2 as one of the superpowered evil beings from the original title. It also includes three in-game weapons: Sly's Cane (of Sly Cooper fame), the caveman club, and a samurai sword.
The four items are downloadable by way of a voucher obtained by preordering either the standard or $100 Hero Edition. Of note, gamers are running out of time to cash in on the preorder incentives. Earlier this week, Sony confirmed that Infamous 2 has gone gold in advance of its June 7 release date.
Those looking to catch up on the Infamous storyline may be pleased to know that the original Infamous is being offered as part of Sony's "Welcome Back" program. The game can be acquired once Sony relaunches the PlayStation Store, which will reportedly occur on May 24.
For more information, check out GameSpot's previous coverage of Infamous 2.
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Microsoft giving students 360s with new PCs
Gamers have conceived any number of arguments to convince their parents to buy them a computer, but one of the more inveterate tactics is to claim that it will be used purely for educational purposes. Now, gamers could conceivably stick by that claim, as Microsoft today announced plans to give away Xbox 360s to students who purchase a new Windows 7 PC through participating retailers.
Beginning May 22 and continuing until allotted supplies run dry, those who purchase a new PC priced at $700 or more will receive a new 4GB Xbox 360. Participating retailers include Dell.com, HP.com, and the Microsoft Store. Currently, the offer is available only to gamers in the US, but Microsoft plans to open it up to students in Canada and France soon.
To be eligible for the deal, students will need a valid ".edu" e-mail address. They'll also be required to verify their student status. Those without a valid e-mail address can alternatively stop in at a participating retailer with a valid student ID to redeem the offer. For more information, check out Microsoft's official website for the deal.
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Angry Birds hatches 200 million downloads
Rovio's Angry Birds has proven to be the goose that laid the golden egg since its release for Apple's iOS in December 2009. In addition to greasing the wheels for EA's purchase of the game's publisher, Chillingo, gamers continue to flock to it. As part of PaidContent.org's PC Mobile 2011 conference today, Rovio business development head Peter Vesterbacka said that Angry Birds has now accrued more than 200 million downloads.
On the App Store, Angry Birds is available in a $0.99 paid version as well as a limited-content free version. Having already seen release on the iPhone, iPad, Android, PC, and PlayStation Network, versions of the game are also reportedly in development for the Xbox 360, Wii, and Facebook. A Windows Phone 7 edition is planned for release on June 29.
As for the game itself, Angry Birds follows the exploits of its titular enraged birds as they attempt to destroy fortresses built by undesirable pigs. The strategy puzzle game sees players launching the birds from a massive slingshot, attempting to topple the fortresses in as few shots as possible.
An Angry Birds follow-up, Angry Birds Rio, tied in to Fox's filmic release of Rio in March 2011. According to Vesterbacka, that game has now been downloaded 35 million times.
For more on the game, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.
