Week of January 21, 2007

Sony Computer Entertainment America continues to enhance the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system with additions to the PLAYSTATION®Store and the latest firmware update (1.50).

The following content is slated for release today on the PLAYSTATION Store:

Square Enix Co., Ltd. today announced a licensing agreement with Epic Games that enables Square Enix to introduce Epic’s Unreal® Engine 3 middleware into its next-generation game development process.

Square Enix has built its highly successful franchises such as FINAL FANTASY®, DRAGON QUEST® and KINGDOM HEARTS by pushing game consoles to their limits and providing unparalleled user experiences for more than 20 years. This was achieved through the company’s proprietary technologies, which were mostly optimized for each game given the limited resources of game consoles. However, in order to ensure both game quality and development efficiency for next-generation game systems including consoles, PCs and network titles, Square Enix is now building a technology platform to be used throughout the company utilizing proprietary technologies as well as introducing third-party solutions such as Unreal Engine 3.

Adventure gamers can look forward to a sequel to one of the most successful games in the genre: German publisher dtp entertainment AG has confirmed that Black Mirror 2, the follow-up to one of 2004’s top-selling adventure games, is now in development.

The game is in the works at Czech studio Future Games, who were responsible for the first game as well. Black Mirror 2 is currently in early concept stages.

“We received tons of mail from adventure gaming fans who clamoured for a new entry in the ‘Black Mirror’ story. ‘Black Mirror 2’ is our answer to these calls and we have assembled a team of experienced writers and designers to ensure that the sequel will meet the high expectations,” said Achim Heidelauf, Senior Producer at dtp entertainment.

dtp will publish Black Mirror 2 worldwide under its ANACONDA brand.

It's been awhile since we've seen anything new, but Buena Vista has finally released nine new images of Turok, their next-gen dino shooter for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

Game Factory Interactive announces that Jagged Alliance 3D will be known as JAZZ: Hired Guns henceforth. Here's what they have to say:

GFI Russia is about to complete the development of a turn-based strategy game called JAZZ: Hired Guns formerly known as Jagged Alliance 3D.

Some restrictions that prevented the game from revealing its great potential have been removed. A six month period of intensive work without annoying unnecessary attention of western publisher has passed.

Now the GFI Company and GFI Russia development studio officially announces: A vehement struggle between extremely well trained and equipped mercenary squads will sweep across Africa like a fire storm in the near future. Use all available methods to combat for power, and become a leader of the most powerful military group in the region.

To familiarize yourself with the new game features, please follow this link.

The new media just keeps rolling in this week. Today we have updated screenshots for the following games:

World in Conflict

City of Heroes (Issue 9)




Quake Wars: Enemy Territory

We have ten new images of Aion, NCsoft next big MMORPG using a heavily modified version of the "FarCry" Engine.

K2 Networks sent over a handful of screenshots and a few details regarding their MMORPG Sword of the New World, the new title developed by Hakkyu Kim, the creator of Ragnarok Online.

Lighthouse Interactive has released new details and screenshots of their real-time strategy game SunAge.

Canadian based developer ApeZone sends word that a demo is available for their turn-based strategy game Starship Kingdom. Hit the images to read more about it and download the demo.

A few new images of Two Worlds, an RPG for the Xbox 360, have ben released along with a fact sheet to bring you up to speed.

We have a lot of screenshots and news to get to you so let's start this Monday off quick. We have new screenshots of Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars for both the PC and the Xbox 360.