SAN FRANCISCO (February 25, 2010) – SEGA® of America, Inc. is proud to announce that Obsidian Entertainment’s long awaited Alpha Protocol™ is hitting store shelves this summer. The espionage game, a fiercely original take on the role playing game genre, will launch in North America for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PC on June 1st, 2010.

In Alpha Protocol, players assume the role of rookie spy Michael Thorton and are given unprecedented control over the development of his abilities and interactions with other characters. Customizable character skill-sets, attributes and weapons all play an important role in allowing gamers to tailor Thorton to their play-style.

New York, N.Y. February 23, 2010 - WHA Entertainment, a publisher and
developer of entertainment games based on leading IP Franchises, today
announced it is releasing Kick-Ass for the PSN and iPhone April 15th.
Kick-Ass is a superhero action game based on the upcoming theatrical
movie by the same name. Players will be put to the test as they take
on the role of any 1 of 3 super heroes based on the super characters
featured in the movie.

Featuring multiplayer local co-op gameplay, Kick-Ass brings an
unsurpassed integration of Facebook and Twitter to the PSN Network.
Many of the Kick-Ass missions are given via friend requests from the
FACESPACE social networking site.

Santa Clara, Calif., (Feb. 23, 2010) – Another storm is brewing as NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. announced today that it will be releasing NARUTO™ SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 2 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. Based on the popular NARUTO SHIPPUDEN animated series from VIZ Media, LLC, the game will drum up a squall of new features and enhancements, an extensive character roster as well as incredible visuals that are sure to please fans and gamers alike. NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 2 is scheduled to be released throughout North America in fall 2010.

With more than 40 characters to choose from, engaging in bigger and more epic cinematic boss battles has never been this intense. Players will encounter a host of Akatsuki ninja in the game and, in a shocking story twist, see Sasuke wearing Akatsuki gear. With its signature battles, interactive environments, original Japanese voiceovers and a host of unlockable items, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 2 is a tornado of fierce ninja action that cannot be missed.

FOSTER CITY, Calif., Feb. 23 – Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) announced today the release of Heavy Rain® exclusively for the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system. Developed by Quantic Dream, developers of the critically acclaimed Indigo Prophecy, Heavy Rain takes players on an emotionally engaging and mysterious journey where the story path is shaped as players play the game. Each decision made will have an impact on how a particular story plays out, and Heavy Rain takes players through more than 60 emotionally powerful scenes that feature contextual actions, realistic visuals, and varying paths that lead to a unique ending.

To create the interactive story-telling experience that Heavy Rain delivers, developer David Cage spent more than a year writing a 2,000 page script of linear dialogue and worked with a cast of 70 actors to bring the script alive. Possible only through the power of the PS3 system, Heavy Rain took a development team of 220 highly skilled people over the course of 170 days to create the game’s extensive motion capture action and unique interactive narrative.

BURBANK, Calif., February 23, 2010 – Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group announced today the acquisition of a majority stake in Rocksteady Studios, a privately held developer of interactive entertainment targeted at teens and adults, continuing Warner Bros.’ pattern as one of the industry’s fastest growing games publishers.

“We are delighted to be deepening our relationship with London-based Rocksteady Studios, one of the UK’s most respected games developers and 2009 recipient of the VGA’s coveted ‘studio of the year’ award,” said Josh Berger, president and managing director, Warner Bros. UK. “Rocksteady clearly has the talent, expertise and technology to make great games and we are fortunate to continue working closely with them as we further expand our games portfolio.”

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – FEBRUARY 16, 2010 - Gamers worldwide can now log-in and immerse themselves in EverQuest® II Sentinel’s FateTM, the latest expansion from the massively multiplayer online game by Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE). Sentinel’s Fate is the sixth expansion for the groundbreaking EverQuest II franchise. This all-in-one compilation pack will be available at select retail stores on February 16, 2010 for the suggested retail price of $39.99 USD plus applicable tax and via digital download at http://www.everquest2.com/ beginning February 23, 2010.

EQII Sentinel’s Fate Station CashTM Purchase (Available for purchase February 23, 2010 through the EQII in-game Marketplace)
Coveted Guarding of the Learned armor* to provide extra protection on your journey
Legends of NorrathTM The Fall of Erudin scenario
500 Station CashTM to spend on virtual items
30-day subscription included for new accounts
*In-game item: Limit one (1) per character. Non-transferable. No cash value.

The action-rpg is slated for release on PS3 and Xbox 360 on April 27, 2010. Though Square Enix is publishing the title, the developer credits belong to cavia Inc. Yup, they made Bullet Witch. Didn’t mean to be Debbie Downer on that one, but there ya go. Main game features can be found below.

FEATURES
· The Next RPG from Square Enix: NIER, the newest franchise from RPG masters Square Enix, delivers unique and memorable characters, intense action-packed battles, explosive magic and storytelling like only Square Enix can.
· Unbelievable Story Twists and Reveals: Immerse in an amazingly intricate storyline set in a world plagued by human anguish, buried secrets and a ravaging disease. With plot twists hiding around every corner, NIER’s story needs to be seen to be believed.
· RPG Gameplay Injected With Action-Packed Combat: Battle ferocious and mysterious enemies by combining proven RPG-style gameplay, such as magic, character development and faithful allies, with action-focused explosive swordplay and combat.
· Powerful Magical Abilities: When his sword isn’t enough, Nier can call on a remarkable array of stylish and powerful spells to augment his combat moves and overcome adversaries. As players progress, upgraded spells will help defeat ever-more-deadly enemies.
· Brutal Combat Moves: Face off against evil creatures and unleash brutal combat moves along with devastating combo attacks. Unlock an arsenal of devastating weapons, each with its own design and attack style.
· Formidable Allies: Travel with a dynamic party of allies and do battle against monstrous giants as a powerful and united party.
· A Dynamic and Stunning World: Travel across an unforgettable world filled with dynamic landscapes featuring the hauntingly familiar remains of modern society.

The peripheral will be released worldwide in the fall of 2010. This piece of the puzzle isn’t that big of a shock. Where things do get interesting is the fact that the Motion Controller (tentative name) will require the PlayStation Eye for use. Whether the unit is released as a standalone for consumers who currently have the Eye Toy or if there will be a bundle that includes both peripherals to lessen the cost for those who don’t, this does open up the possibility that the total cost of ownership for the Motion Controller may be higher than previously thought. We’ll have more as it breaks.

Titled Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening, the game will task players with rebuilding the ranks of the Grey Wardens as well as investigating how Dark Spawn are able to still terrorize the land without having an Archdemon to guide them.

Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening, BioWare’s next thread in the Dragon Age: Origins tapestry, occurs following the events of Dragon Age: Origins and puts players into the role of a Grey Warden Commander entrusted with rebuilding the order of Grey Wardens. In addition to rebuilding the ranks of the Grey Wardens, you will be tasked with uncovering the mystery of how the darkspawn survive after the slaying of the Archdemon. How players choose to rebuild their order, resolve the conflict with the mysterious “Architect,” and determine the fate of the darkspawn are just some of the many intriguing moral choices that will shape each player’s heroic journey. Players will be able to import their character from Dragon Age: Origins or start out as a new Grey Warden from the neighboring land of Orlais.

Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening will be available on March 16, 2010 for $39.99 on PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 consoles in North America and will require Dragon Age: Origins to play.

Very few things need to be said about Bayonetta. You have a gun-toting witch who uses her hair for clothes and her weapons. If you still need another reason, we’ve got you covered there too. If you enjoyed Devil May Cry, and want to play the latest game in that vein by the director that created it, here you go.

Releasing in just a couple short weeks on January 19, the demo will give gamers a test drive of Dark Void’s unique mix of gameplay action. Combining jet pack aerial dog-fights, on-foot action and both traditional and vertical based cover, Dark Void should provide gamers with a way to jump-start their January gaming.

The Dark Void demo hits Xbox Live on January 6 and PSN on January 7.

Square Enix has announced that the application forms for the Final Fantasy 14 Beta test has gone live.

While we do know a few things about Final Fantasy 14, there are a ton of things we don’t know. We know it’ll launch worldwide in 2010 on both PS3 and PC, but we don’t know exactly when. Hell, though we know that the beta applications are live, we don’t even know which of the phases you may be chosen for or when they start. Don’t let that discourage you though. Head over to the Final Fantasy XIV homepage for more informtion on the beta recruitment process.

2010 is going to mark the return of the psycho and the professional in Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days.

This debut trailer gives a little look at the events leading up to Kane and Lynch reuniting before doing what they do best in Shanghai.

SCEA has announced that PSP owners can now purchase digital comics via the PlayStation Network.

Gamers who have upgraded their PSP to firmware 6.20 will have the Digital Comics Reader app. The service is launching with about 550 comics today with additional updates weekly. Marvel Entertainment, Disney, IDW Publishing, iVerse Media and others are providing select titles ranging from G.I. Joe, Iron Man, Spider-Man, X-Men, Fantastic Four, TRANSFORMERS, Star Trek to Archie Comics and more.

The comics will carry one of three price tags including $0.99, $2.99 with the majority selling for $1.99. Select titles will be available for free.

With digital comics becoming even more of a reality across more devices, do you find that $2 and $3 is too much to spend for something that you can’t hold in your hand? Not to mention what has traditionally been a collectible medium?

Tis the Season to stay home, shop and play MMO’s. Sony Online Entertainment has announced that the yearly holiday festivities are live across their games.

In MMO’s the holidays always guarantees an update that includes items, decorations, quests and other content that will only be available for a limited time. The following are the events that are live across SOE’s library of titles.

EverQuest®: The annual Frostfell event runs from Dec. 10, to Jan. 7 in EverQuest. In the Plane of Knowledge, the Frostfell celebrations have been spoiled by a state of thievery, and it is up to the players to save the celebration. Many families have been awakened by ruffians and monsters breaking into their homes and carrying off presents intended for the children of the Realm. Players are needed to help track down the monsters that committed these crimes and return the missing presents. Players should also visit the Marketplace to check out the all the new Frostfell items.
For detailed information, please visit http://www.eqplayers.com/.

EverQuest® II: Frostfell, the Norrathian festival of kinship and giving, has returned to EverQuest II. Players can join in the celebration scheduled from Dec. 10, to Jan. 7. Gardy, the ex-giftgiving Frostfell elf, is offering a new quest. Santa Glug has several brand new gifts to give out to one and all. The merchants in the Frostfell Wonderland Village have new holiday goodies for purchase and tradeskillers can make several brand new items. Players should also be aware that this year, fruitcake really is the gift that keeps on giving! Hitting a friend with a throwable fruitcake will spawn one in their inventory for them to throw back.
For detailed information, please visit http://eq2players.com/.

Legends of Norrath®: From Dec. 18 to Jan. 4, Legends of Norrath is offering a Holiday Bundle pack including 25 booster packs of the Travelers expansion. Each bundle pack will contain one of four mounts from the retired Oathbound expansion. Players will receive an EverQuest or EverQuest II mount depending upon their settings in the Legends of Norrath client. Legends of Norrath also offers players a second way to celebrate this holiday season with on-demand tournaments. Eight players can start a tournament at anytime between Dec. 24 at 2 p.m. PST and Jan. 4 at 10 a.m. PST. For just five Event Passes, players gain entry into the Holiday tournament and a special Sleigh-ers Stash pack!
For detailed information, please visit http://www.legendsofnorrath.com/

Free RealmsTM: Snow Days, the Free Realms winter holiday celebration, has transformed Snowhill into a winter wonderland filled with food, fun, and, of course, presents! Snow Days is scheduled to begin on Dec. 16 and conclude on Jan. 21. Players can visit Candi Ivy near the Gifting Tree in Snowhill to help protect the presents from a wicked gang of Robgoblins and the abominable snowmen. Those who follow the holiday quest line might just get a chance to try all of her neat holiday sweets. Pelt friends with snowballs from behind the ice barriers in the Snowhill snowball fighting area. The Free Realms Trading Card Game is offering a special Holiday Bundle pack which will include ten booster packs of the Shattered Past expansion, a Duelist on Demand Print Voucher and an exclusive holiday item redeemable within Free Realms! The Holiday Bundle pack is slated to be available Dec. 23 through Jan. 3. Players can also check out the Marketplace for new holiday clothes, costumes and items!
For detailed information, please visit http://www.freerealms.com/.

Pirates of the Burning SeaTM: Junkanoo is the holiday of choice in these waters, and there is much revelry to be had! Players can carol door to door and exchange gifts in a quest to unlock the festive holiday hat and title. Users who complete the new holiday mission to protect Junkanoo from shadowy forces or join King John Konnu in re-enacting the siege of the Bradenburg Fort, will receive a rat shoulder pet as a reward.
For detailed information, please visit http://www.burningsea.com/.

Star Wars GalaxiesTM: Wookiee Life Day returns to Star Wars Galaxies this year with fun holiday activities, new rewards and a new badge that are sure to lift your holiday spirits to galactic proportions! The festivities begin December 15th, and conclude on January 12th in the cities of Dearic, Wayfar and Doaba Guerfel. Players can sign up for the seasonal festivities by visiting the Trandoshan Traders or the Wookiee Freedom Fighters. By spreading holiday cheer or fear, players will receive Life Day Tokens to redeem for gifts when they visit the Wroshyr Tree. Get ready to munch Wookiee Ookiees, drink some eggnog and open gifts including a new holiday ornament for your house! In the Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game, look for on-demand tournaments in celebration of Life Day. Eight players can start a tournament at anytime between Dec. 24 at 2 p.m. PST and Jan. 4 at 10 a.m. PST. For just five Event Passes, players get entry into the Holiday tournament and a Life Day pack!
For detailed information, please visit http://starwarsgalaxies.station.sony.com/ and http://starwarsgalaxies.station.sony.com/tradingcardgame/.

Vanguard Saga of Heroes®: The Festival of Gloriann returns to the world of Telon this holiday season. Once a year during the wintery months, towering trees adorned with lights can be seen glittering within the cities of Telon. Players can cover their homes and Guild Halls with special festive decorations, try on their new illusion costume or view the rooftops of Telon from the back of Randolph, the flying reindeer mount. Get ready to reach new heights this year with the citizens of Telon as we celebrate together the Festival of Gloriann!
For detailed information, please visit http://www.vgplayers.com/.

You can read more about it at the link, but basically, the original image is from a book about black imagery in America, taken by a professional photographer, and used by PW with her permission. It’s a striking and remarkable image on its own – but here, on the cover of a major book trade magazine, representing an otherwise excellent article about current AfAm literature, one has to question its appropriateness. PW editor Calvin Reid (a former Glyph Comics Award judge) is quoted in the article at the link above as believing the image was “ironic” and the accompanying copy as “amusing and memorable.”

I dunno. If he honestly didn’t believe that this cover would garner such a negative reaction, I’m willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, but I think he should’ve gotten a second opinion. Why choose an image that is highly evocative of the 70s to represent an article about how AfAm writers want to break free from the stereotypes of the past and reach a wider audience with their work? I would argue that this cover undermines the article it’s supposed to represent. At the very least, this amounts to an error in judgment on Reid’s part which could’ve been easily avoided had he stopped and thought about it for a minute. (And couldn’t they have put the space for the subscriber address someplace where it’s not blocking the face?)

We always wondered exactly what our friends at High Moon Studios were up to following a majority of the Vivendi Universal titles being cancelled after the merger with Activision. Now we know the answer.

Actiblizzion (sorry, I still love calling them that and I coined it, so don’t try and steal it) today announced Transformers: War For Cybertron. Following in the veins of what they’ve been doing with the Spiderman and X-men videogame franchises, the company is releasing non-movie related titles based off these licenses. There are no details released about the game so far other than this trailer. Considering the talent demonstrated in High Moon Studio’s previous works such as The Bourne Conspiracy and Darkwatch, this could be a title to watch out for.

Draw your own conclusions from the press release below:

NIER™
Developer: cavia Inc.
Publisher: Square Enix, Inc.
Platforms:
PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system/
Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft
Genre: Action-RPG
ESRB: Not Yet Rated
Ship Date: Spring 2010

NIER is a unique “Action-RPG” for PlayStation 3 system and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, which represents the next epic story from the renowned RPG masters at Square Enix.

Developed by cavia Inc, NIER blends both innovative and traditional RPG gameplay mechanics with an intense, bloody combat system to create an action-packed single-player experience where players explore and discover a future lost to a shadowy past.

NIER delivers on Square Enix’s renowned pedigree for creating unique and twisting storylines coupled with deep character development – a pedigree that has kept gamers around the world enraptured for decades.

In NIER, nothing is as it seems as players are kept guessing from beginning to end by elaborate plotlines and cliff-hangers that reveal a complex reality hidden behind the illusion.

Players will jump into the title role of the unyielding Nier as he begins his desperate quest to discover a cure for his daughter, Yonah, who is stricken with the deadly Black Scrawl disease. Armed with a powerful set of magical abilities as well as mighty swords and armor, Nier will do battle alongside a set of formidable allies against waves of dark enemies and giant bosses to discover the truth about the disease, his daughter…and himself.

FEATURES
• The Next RPG from Square Enix: NIER, the newest franchise from RPG masters Square Enix, delivers unique and memorable characters, intense action-packed battles, explosive magic and storytelling like only Square Enix can.
• Unbelievable Story Twists and Reveals: Immerse in an amazingly intricate storyline set in a world plagued by human anguish, buried secrets and a ravaging disease. With plot twists hiding around every corner, NIER’s story needs to be seen to be believed.
• RPG Gameplay Injected With Action-Packed Combat: Battle ferocious and mysterious enemies by combining proven RPG-style gameplay, such as magic, character development and faithful allies, with action-focused explosive swordplay and combat.
• Powerful Magical Abilities: When his sword isn’t enough, Nier can call on a remarkable array of stylish and powerful spells to augment his combat moves and overcome adversaries. As players progress, upgraded spells will help defeat ever-more-deadly enemies.
• Brutal Combat Moves: Face off against evil creatures and unleash brutal combat moves along with devastating combo attacks. Unlock an arsenal of devastating weapons, each with its own design and attack style.
• Formidable Allies: Travel with a dynamic party of allies and do battle against monstrous giants as a powerful and united party.
• A Dynamic and Stunning World: Travel across an unforgettable world filled with dynamic landscapes featuring the hauntingly familiar remains of modern society.