Week of May 6, 2007

A free update is coming to Middle-earth as Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar - The Shores of Evendim has been announced. Say that five times fast.

As we near the release date of Loki, we have another five images of the action RPG.

SEGA and Monolith are teaming up again to bring us Condemned 2: Bloodshot for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The sequel to one of our favortie games in recent years is expected in the first half of 2008. Sadly, there was no mention of a PC version.

Read the Press Release

EA Games released a set of five new screenshots of Army of Two, their co-op style action shooter for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

TimeGate Studios put on a new coat of paint on their website. The developers of the recent F.E.A.R.: Extraction Point title explains:
So go ahead, sign up for the newsletter, hop on the forums, and get ready for an onslaught of TimeGate developments in 2007. And while you’re at it, be sure to take part in the Photoshop contest in Inside TimeGate’s “Second Annual Another Type of Game Day” article. Winners can get a signed copy of F.E.A.R. Extraction Point or an autographed original piece of Kohan concept art!

http://www.timegate.com

Toronto, Canada; Vienna, Austria May 11th, 2007. DreamCatcher Interactive Inc. / JoWooD Productions Software AG have decided to take the next step and develop cutting edge console titles on the current generation of systems from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony.

The console market is one of the fastest growing segments of the entertainment industry with approximately 11 million units of Xbox 360, 6 million units of the Nintendo Wii and 3.5 million units of the PlayStation 3 being sold worldwide to date.

DreamCatcher Interactive Inc., part of the JoWooD Group, intends to publish the group’s most successful brands on the current generation of console systems. The DreamCatcher merger has expanded the Austrian Publisher’s portfolio considerably. With top-grossing franchises like Gothic, SpellForce, Painkiller and Dungeon Lords vying for console versions, JoWooD is in a favorable situation and is convinced of its ability to successfully position the new games in the console market.

DreamCatcher and JoWooD have already started to negotiate with development studios and schedule the first releases at the end of 2008, beginning of 2009; effectively ending legacy projects on the previous generation of consoles scheduled later this year.

SAN MATEO, Calif — May 10, 2007 — Capcom®, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, today announced plans to issue a downloadable playable demo of the PC version of Lost Planet™: Extreme Condition, which will be available simultaneously worldwide on May 15. While the game has already shipped more than one million units worldwide on the Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, this PC version features PC-specific enhancements. Lost Planet for PC is rated T for Teen by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) and will be available in June for a suggested retail price of $39.95.

The PC version will feature enhanced graphics and effects to optimize the realistic presentation and explosive action in the game, including better shadows and more detailed textures, as well as higher monitor resolutions. In addition, the game will support multiplayer modes for up to 16 players online via the internet as well as LAN connections. Setting up or joining multiplayer games has been made easier thanks to an improved lobby system for PC gamers. Players will also have the option to play either using a mouse and keyboard or a gamepad controller. Lost Planet for PC will run under Windows XP (supporting DirectX 9) and Windows Vista (supporting both DirectX 9 and DirectX 10.) The DirectX 10 version will utilize the advanced features of Shader model 4.0 and Geometry Shader only available with DirectX 10. Lost Planet will also carry the Games for Windows branding, offering a better gaming experience with easy installation, reliability and safety features, and support for the Xbox 360 controller for Windows.

Lost Planet is an epic gaming masterpiece combining a gripping single player campaign and intense multiplayer modes. Lost Planet contains sophisticated visuals, with an unmatched level of detail as advanced light sourcing is used to ensure a realistic presentation that enhances every explosion, smoke and particle effect. Enormous world maps unfold as players battle hostile creatures in blistering weather conditions across vast snowfields and blazing volcanic areas either on foot or in armed, robotic Vital Suits.

Publishers have been releasing media like mad today, and so we'll get started without further ado:

New downloadable content is now avilable on Xbox Live! for Crackdown. The new content includes weapons, items, vehicles and more. See all the details and 36(!) screenshots by clicking the images.

Microsoft revealed a few new details about Bizarre Creation's upcoming Xbox 360 racer Project Gotham Racing 4.

Dreamcatcher announced today a new adventure game in the works, The Secrets of Atlantis.

Didn't think we see the day when Dynasty Warriors would be fought with giant robots, but the day has come. Namco Bandai and KOEI have joined forces to bring you Dynasty Warriors: Gundam for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

We have some new images of Dungeons & Dragons Tactics for the Sony PSP.

GameTap is taking its exploration and puzzle-driven massively multiplayer online game “Myst Online: Uru Live” to the next level. Being a leader in episodic gaming, GameTap is applying this successful model to the dynamic world of Uru. This new gaming approach enables players to schedule each month around when the latest updates are going live, while also providing a solid window of time to delve into the existing content more deeply.

Beginning on Saturday, May 19th, all of the future episodes’ content and story (e.g. new Ages, pages, clothing, character interaction, story revelations, artifacts and intrigue) will be released within a single week each month.

In “Scars,” the first of the new episodes, the D’ni Restoration Council (DRC) is preparing to grant Explorers access to the never-before-seen Age of Minkata, but calamity arrives when someone close to them dies. The effects of this tragedy will change the course of the restoration forever. Minkata features a vast landscape with hours of unique gameplay that can be enjoyed as a single player or multi-player experience.

To celebrate the launch of the new episodic content, Myst Online’s creator Rand Miller and various members of the Cyan Worlds development studio will be hosting an in-game event to interact with players and take part in a casual Q&A.

Details as follows:

What: Rand Miller In-Game Meet-&-Greet

Date: Thursday 5/24

Time: 6pm PST/9pm EST

Location: A Beginner’s Bevin

To keep up to date with the latest news and screen shots for “Myst Online: Uru Live,” visit www.mystonline.com.

SEGA® of America, Inc. and SEGA® Europe, Ltd. today announced a new partnership with Gas Powered Games, an entertainment software development studio based in Redmond, WA. Under the terms of the worldwide agreement, SEGA and Gas Powered Games will collaboratively develop an original role-playing game for the PC.

It's Thursday and Sony has updated their PlayStation Store with new content:

Blade Interactive announced a new game yesterday for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 titled Hydrophobia. We had the chance to interview Pete Jones to learn more about this unique and groundbreaking game. Part 1 is posted; Part 2 will appearance later this week.

Twelve screenshots await you for the RPG/RTS game Stranger, developed by Fireglow Games.

Activision released a 3D screenshot of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. We have the file in two sizes (8MB & 46MB) and you must use QuickTime to view it.

Download the 3D Screenshot

Nintendo has released another three classic games on it's Wii Shop Channel today:

A new round of game reviews to start the month of May off right: