Published: Monday, June 14, 2010
Publisher Partners with The Estate of Michael Jackson for Ultimate Performance Experience
Los Angeles – June 14, 2010 – Today, Ubisoft® announced the development of an interactive performance-based video game, inspired by the legendary King of Pop, Michael Jackson. The game is family entertainment at its best and will provide an interactive experience that enables players to step into the shoes of Michael Jackson himself and re-live his most iconic performances through their own singing and dancing. The upcoming game will include the most famous tracks from Michael Jackson’s extensive catalogue such as Beat It and Billie Jean, as well as an array of his awe-inspiring dance moves for players to learn and emulate within the game. Additionally, fans will be able to sing along and test their vocal skills while immersed in the performance.
Michael Jackson, one of the most widely beloved entertainers and the most popular global icons of all time, leaves an indelible imprint on popular music and culture. During his extraordinary career Jackson sold an estimated 750 million records worldwide, released 13 No.1 singles and became one of a handful of artists to be inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He won 13 Grammy Awards and received the American Music Award’s Artist of the Century Award. His album “Thriller” is the world’s best-selling album of all time with more than 110 million copies sold.
“Michael always pushed every limit when it came to technology to give his fans unforgettable entertainment experiences, whether it involved his videos, his recordings or his concerts. Now, with this interactive product, we have the chance to bring Michael, the artist, into households around the world in a perfect match of Michael’s artistry and the family entertainment which he always highly valued. Kids, their parents, extended family members and friends will now have an opportunity to all come together and experience Michael’s music and dance in an innovative, exciting and fun way,” said John Branca, co-executor for The Estate of Michael Jackson.
Added Michael Jackson Estate Co-Executor John McClain: “No artist can energize a dance floor in the spirit of fun like Michael Jackson. His God-given gifts for music and dance are something new generations of fans will appreciate even more. This game is a natural extension of what he would be doing today to raise his artistry to even greater heights for his fans of all generations. It is a game that the entire family can experience and enjoy together and this is something that would please Michael tremendously.”
“We’re delighted to have the opportunity to develop a game based on the songs and moves of one of the world’s most incredible performers of all time,” said Yves Guillemot, chief executive officer at Ubisoft. “We expect the game to bring Michael Jackson fans, families and friends together with the energetic song and dance of The King of Pop.”
The game will be available for KinectTM for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 system with PlayStation®Move support, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, Nintendo’s Wii™ system and Nintendo DS™ handheld system, for holiday 2010.
Author: E3Updates StaffPublished:
Highly-Anticipated First Person Shooter Will Also Be Available
In True Stereoscopic 3D* on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC
Los Angeles, Calif. – June 14, 2010 – This afternoon during Electronic Arts’ (NASDAQ: ERTS) press conference at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, Crytek GmbH, the award-winning developers of the Crysis® franchise, announced that Crysis 2 will also be available in true stereoscopic 3D. The blockbuster action game will be the first major video game on multiple platforms to take full advantage of true stereoscopic 3D. Crytek is recognized worldwide for being technical pioneers, as showcased in the universally-acclaimed Far Cry and Crysis, as well as their award-winning, proprietary CryENGINE® technology.
“At Crytek, we always strive to raise the technology bar. As the 3D revolution sweeps movies and television, we are excited to bring Crysis 2 to 3D, making it the first big action game to be available in true stereoscopic 3D,” said Cevat Yerli, CEO and President of Crytek. “The 3D experience represents a quantum leap in interactive entertainment. With all of the same story and action seen in the 2D version of the game, the 3D version adds another dimension of intensity and immersion to the action.”
Whether played in 3D or standard 2D, Crysis 2 drops players into a devastated New York in the midst of an attack by a frightening alien species. The alien enemies are armed with deadly weaponry and exceptional sensory abilities that test players’ skill and push them to the limit. These terrifying invaders stalk the streets of New York, leaving the streets in chaos and the skyline in flaming ruin. Surrounded by catastrophic destruction, players harness the superhuman abilities of the Nanosuit to level the playing field, becoming the ultimate weapon on a mission to save New York.
Built on Crytek’s new state-of-the-art multiplatform game development system, CryENGINE®3, Crysis 2 will be available for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and PC in 2D and 3D.
For more information on Crysis 2, please visit crysis.ea.com or follow the game on Twitter at www.twitter.com/crysis and become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/crysis.
*Additional hardware and accessories, not included with game, may be required for full 3D effects.
Author: E3Updates StaffPublished:
People Can Fly Delivers “Kill with Skill” Gunplay in New Over-the-Top Shooter
Los Angeles, Calif. – June 14, 2010 – Epic Games, People Can Fly and Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today revealed the ship date for Bulletstorm, a hot new original property that has already topped many ‘Most Anticipated’ lists at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2010. Set to release on February 22, 2011, Bulletstorm is a blood symphony that combines outrageous gunplay with unique kick, slide and leash mechanics. Players learn to ‘kill with skill’ as they slaughter waves of mutated enemies to rack up points and unlock weapons. Bulletstorm will be playable at E3 in EA’s booth South Hall #1601.
Set in a futuristic utopia, an elite peacekeeping force thwarts the rumblings of civil war. But deception within the ranks has caused two members of the most feared unit, Dead Echo, to strike out on their own. Now, washed-up mercenaries, Grayson Hunt and Ishi Sato, are stranded on the abandoned paradise planet of Stygia surrounded by hordes of mutants and flesh-eating gangs. They survive on two objectives: get off the planet alive and exact revenge on the man who sent them there.
Taking on the role of Gray, players perform over-the-top combat moves with some of the most uniquely innovative weapons ever seen in a first-person shooter. Every enemy presents a new opportunity for stylish and ever increasingly bloody ways to take them down. The game’s signature ‘skillshot’ system guarantees unprecedented levels of frenetic gameplay rewarding players for inciting mayhem in the most creative way possible. The more insane the skillshot, the more points players collect to upgrade and unlock weapons, which in turn allows them to execute even more inventive moves and exaggerated skillshots.
Developed by Epic Games and People Can Fly, the teams behind the award-winning Gears of War, Unreal and Painkiller series of game, Bulletstorm will be available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PC. For more information on Bulletstorm, please visit www.bulletstorm.com and www.facebook.com/bulletstorm or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/bulletstorm.
Author: E3Updates StaffPublished:
Los Angeles, CA – June 14, 2010 – DICE, an Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) studio today announced the first multiplayer Expansion Pack for the mega-hit Battlefield: Bad Company 2 where gamers will find themselves in an entirely new theatre of war – Vietnam. Fighting as either U.S. Marines or North Vietnamese Army (NVA), the hostile combat terrain of the Vietnamese jungle is brought dramatically to life via the Frostbite engine with a host of authentic vehicles and weapons with which to engage the enemy. The punishing jungles, powerful air invasions, and guerilla tactics of an unpredictable enemy deliver non-stop action in this sandbox environment, a signature design style of the award-winning Swedish studio. With more than 5M units sold, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 has been hailed as, “…a better game than Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2” by Seth Schiesel of The New York Times.
The Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam digital expansion pack takes all of the intensity, action and addictive gameplay of Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and ups the ante with enhanced persistence, new weapons, vehicles, unlocks, awards, achievements and trophies. Featuring four new maps playable in classic Battlefield modes including Conquest and Rush, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam will be available worldwide this winter for the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PC. Price will be announced at a later date.
Defined by its exceedingly intense vehicular warfare, destruction, variety of weapons and huge sandbox environments, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is one of 2010’s top selling action games. The game is available in North America and Europe for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.
For more information on DICE, please visit www.dice.se. For more information on Battlefield: Bad Company 2 please visit: www.battlefield.com. Or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/OfficialBFBC2.
Author: E3Updates StaffPublished:
Los Angeles, CA – June 14, 2010 – Blood-thirsty necromorphs attack and YOU must save mankind! At the Electronic Arts Press Briefing during the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3), Visceral Games™, an Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) studio today revealed the highly anticipated launch date for Dead Space™ 2. The action horror game will be in stores on January 25 in North America and January 28 in Europe. Dead Space 2 pushes the limits of action, horror and terror. After waking up in a sprawling, dark and mysterious location, Dead Space 2 hero Isaac Clarke again finds himself thrust into the middle of a massive necromorph invasion. Surrounded by the screeching cries of undead monsters and the haunting drum of echoing noises, Isaac plots a course through abandoned building after creepy abandoned building. Dead Space 2 is set to deliver best-in-class sound design, visuals and action sequences.
In Dead Space 2, engineer Isaac Clarke makes his return in a blood-curdling new adventure on an all-new space installation known as “The Sprawl.” The lone survivor of a horrific alien infestation, Isaac finds himself confronting a catastrophic new nightmare. Battling dementia, Isaac will do whatever it takes to save himself and dominate the relentless enemy onslaughts. Equipped with a new arsenal of tools to dismember the necromorphs, Isaac faces the challenge head-on. Players will see Isaac fight bigger, scarier and more epic battles that will keep them on the edge of their seats.
“The story of Isaac, the necromorphs and the whole Dead Space fiction has much more to reveal. Dead Space 2 adds another dimension to the complex world and characters that inhabit this universe,” said Executive Producer, Steve Papoutsis. “We were honored and humbled by the response to Dead Space and Dead Space Extraction, and we could not be more excited to add another chapter to the annals of the horror genre.”
Dead Space 2 will be on display at the EA booth #1601 South Hall during (E3).
Dead Space 2 is being developed for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system and the PC. This product has not yet been rated by ESRB or PEGI. For additional information and news, visit www.deadspacegame.com, follow us on twitter www.twitter.com/isaacclarke or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/deadspace.
Author: E3Updates StaffPublished:
Get the Games, Get the Rewards in All-New Loyalty program from EA
Los Angeles, CA – June 14, 2010 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced the ‘Gun Club’, an affinity program that rewards gamers for doing what they love best – enjoying their favorite games. ‘Gun Club’ members will receive benefits ranging from in-game content unlocks, early access to beta tests and demos, as well as the hottest news and exclusive access to development teams. The ‘Gun Club’ brings together some of the world’s biggest and best games, including Battlefield: Bad Company™ 2, Medal of Honor™ and a brand new paid digital expansion pack for Battlefield: Bad Company 2 set in Vietnam. Additional games will follow, including offers from Battlefield Heroes™ and Dead Space™ 2, among other titles.
Starting today, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 VIPs become eligible to redeem Medal of Honor rewards*, including early access to the Medal of Honor beta as well as early access to a Medal of Honor weapon unlock in the retail version of the game — the M24 Sniper Rifle. Using their existing EA profile as their Gun Club membership profile, gamers will access content that just might give them an edge in battle. Players can check out the awards they qualify for at http://www.gunclub.ea.com.
“This program takes our games from being individual launches to being part of an ecosystem within our portfolio, while showing fans our appreciation for their loyalty. The Gun Club gives us a platform to cross-pollinate our games, dialogue directly with players and add value to the entertainment experience for fans,” says Jeff Karp, Senior VP of Marketing at EA. “Today, we are launching the Gun Club with Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and Medal of Honor – two of the hottest titles coming out this year… and this is just the beginning.”
For more information on the ‘Gun Club’ please go to http://www.gunclub.ea.com.
Author: E3Updates StaffPublished:
Los Angeles, California – June 14, 2010 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that Medal of Honor™ is now recruiting players for a massive global multiplayer beta test that starts on June 21. Players will be granted early access to two action-packed maps on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and PC. EA also announced today that Battlefield: Bad Company™ 2 VIPs who have pre-ordered Medal of Honor, will be able to enter the multiplayer beta even earlier; starting June 17. Developed by DICE, Medal of Honor multiplayer delivers world-class action and dedicated server support. Beta key distribution details are available at www.medalofhonor.com. The beta maps will be playable this week at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in EA’s booth located in the South Hall, booth #1601.
“In selecting a studio to create our multiplayer, there was no clearer choice than DICE. When it comes to online gameplay, they are world class,” said Greg Goodrich, Executive Producer on Medal of Honor. “We’re excited to be partnering with DICE to deliver a single-player/multiplayer experience that perfectly complement one another. Though the modes and maps are different, both sides of the game carry through the same authentic sentiment of today’s soldiers who are fighting today’s war.”
The Medal of Honor multiplayer beta features two heart-pounding modes set across two maps inspired by real world locations: Helmand Valley and Kabul City Ruins. In Team Assault mode, players must rely on their raw skill and map knowledge to stay alive in intense and close quarter combat. In Combat Mission, a tactical and team-based mode, gamers fight through a series of objectives revealed through an engaging narrative. Both modes pit two teams of 12 players (total 24 players) against one another with realistic destruction, tactical support actions, and a weapon customization system with modifications that generate hundreds of combinations.
Separately, the Medal of Honor single-player campaign is being developed by EALA who has been working closely with Tier 1 Operators from the U.S. Special Operations Community to create the most authentic modern war experience possible.
Medal of Honor launches on October 12, 2010 in North America (Oct. 15 in EU). Follow the game on twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/medalofhonor or become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/medalofhonor.
Author: E3Updates StaffPublished:
Cops and Racers + Hot Cars + Your Friends = Endless Competition
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – June 14, 2010 – Criterion reinvents Need for Speed™ Hot Pursuit for the connected generation. Criterion Games, a studio of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today that the award-winning development team is making the latest installment in the renowned Need for Speed franchise. Inspired by the classic game of the same name, Criterion will reveal Need for Speed Hot Pursuit for the very first time today at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. Launching in November 2010, Need for Speed Hot Pursuit brings the franchise back to its roots with intense cops vs. racer chases. Criterion also ups the ante with the introduction of an all-new online network called Need for Speed Autolog where players compare racing stats and automatically get personalized gameplay recommendations from their friends– a feature that is poised to transform online racing for the connected generation.
Need for Speed Hot Pursuit players will experience the thrill of the chase and the rush of the escape as they play through full careers as both a cop and a racer – solo or connected. The high speed busts and heart-stopping getaways are all connected via Need for Speed Autolog. This network not only connects friends for epic head-to head pursuits and races, but also enables players to compare performances and stats, thereby setting the stage for the ultimate in social competition.
Craig Sullivan, Creative Director of the game said, “At Criterion, we’ve been playing Need for Speed since it was first introduced on 3DO. We are honored and excited by the opportunity to reinvent the franchise for today’s connected audience. Our goal has been to create cops vs. racers pursuits that are so fun, fast and exciting it really brings to life the adrenaline and intensity of the high speed cop pursuit experience with your friends”.
Developed by Criterion Games, Need for Speed Hot Pursuit will be available on November 16, 2010 in North America and on November 18 and 19, 2010 in Europe on the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PC. Need for Speed Hot Pursuit will also be available on the Wii™ and is being developed by Exient.
For more information on Need for Speed, please visit http://www.needforspeed.com. Or become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/needforspeed and follow us on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/needforspeed.
Author: E3Updates StaffPublished:
NEW YORK – June 14th
The upcoming release of StormBASIC Games’ Tehra: Dark Warrior, a hack-and-slash fantasy game, on PSP promises hours of challenging combat against gruesome opponents. Switch between Tehra’s human and demon forms as you help our heroine uphold a peace treaty between the world’s humans and demons and guide her past hoards of Orcs and undead towards Bacdar, the King of demons. Unlock challenges, defeat minigames, and conquer new levels with 3D graphics when this hybrid heroine charges onto PSP via PlayStation Network on June 15th.
Key features include:
• Tehra- Half-human, half-demon, this heroine lets you choose her form and strategize your attack method
• 3D Graphics- Full use of PSP hardware for special affects and smooth gameplay
• Game Evolution- Hone combat skills and unlock new levels and challenges by defeating opponents
• Intuitive Controls- Quickly learn how to manipulate Tehra so you move effortlessly in battle
• Hours of Gameplay- Gameplay stays riveting with new levels, minigames, and challenges that appear throughout the game
Upon opening Tehra: Dark Warrior, players enter fantasy world Sistar. After centuries of battling over land, the humans and demons signed the Tarkhubal Treaty delineating six kingdoms, and designating three for each race. Tehra was created as a hybrid human-devil to mediate the conflict and maintain peace. If a king breaks the Treaty, Tehra storms through to eliminate him, slaying any monsters in her path. Collect potions, including Electricity, Combustion, Fireballs, and Demon Wrath, to gain new abilities and attacks. With the help of demon blood, Tehra can switch from human to demon, wherein her attacks are stronger and deadlier but require more energy.
Available June 15th for PSP and PlayStation 3 on PlayStation Network Store, Tehra: Dark Warrior is a PSP MINI title and will retail for $4.99.
View the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsjD3seJEbo&hd=1
Author: E3Updates StaffPublished: Friday, June 11, 2010
Home is where the heart war is.
Product Description
The year is 2027. The world as we know it is unraveling after fifteen years of economic meltdown and widespread global conflict over dwindling natural resources.
A once proud America has fallen, her infrastructure shattered and military in disarray. Crippled by a devastating EMP strike, the USA is powerless to resist the ever expanding occupation of a savage, nuclear armed Greater Korean Republic.
Abandoned by her former allies, the United States is a bleak landscape of walled towns and abandoned suburbs. This is a police state where high school stadiums have become detention centers, and shopping malls shelter armored attack vehicles. A once-free people are now prisoners… or collaborators… or revolutionaries.
Join the Resistance, stand united and fight for freedom against an overwhelming military force in Homefront’s gripping single player campaign penned by John Milius (Apocalypse Now, Red Dawn). Stand alongside a cast of memorable characters as an emotional plot unfolds in this terrifyingly plausible near-future world. Experience visceral, cinematic first-person shooter action as you fight your way across Occupied USA using guerrilla tactics, and commandeer military vehicles and advanced drone technology to defeat the enemy.
Multiplayer brings epic warfare to the online arena as infantry, tanks, attack helicopters and combat drones battle across huge, open battlefields. A rich feature set offering layers of tactical depth combined with a game-changing innovation in the multiplayer space will set a new benchmark in online warfare.
Key Features
- Discover a terrifyingly plausible near-future world – the familiar has become alien in this nightmare vision of Occupied USA.
- Fight for a cause – join a cast of memorable characters as your resistance cell wages a guerrilla war against overwhelming military odds in the name of Freedom.
- Witness the human cost of war – a gripping story from the pen of John Milius is told through immersive, interactive 1st person cut scenes.
- Experience explosive FPS gameplay – battle through a dynamic mix of infantry and vehicle combat in a gripping single player campaign boasting intense, memorable set pieces.
- Take the battle online – experience large scale multiplayer action like never before in epic infantry and vehicle warfare.
Product Specifications
Publisher: THQ
Developer: Kaos Studios
Category: 1st Person Shooter
Release: Q1 CY 2011
Platforms: Xbox 360™, Playstation 3, PC
[To view this trailer, visit TotalPlayStation.com]