The game engine in question is called Frostbite 3. DICE Technical Director for Frostbite Johan Anderson recently said that no games using the Frostbite 3 engine would work on Nintendo’s latest game console. Anderson said that the Frostbite 3 engine has never been running on a Wii U console.

He also noted that the game developers did some tests with Frostbite 2 and the results weren’t promising. In fact, the results with Frostbite 2 were so poor that the company chose “not to go down that path.” DICE executives had previously said that the company wasn’t interested in devoting development time to Nintendo’s latest game console.

The crux of the reasoning for DICE is that the Nintendo Wii U lacks the power needed to run the company’s high-end game engines. It’s also worth noting that the Unreal Engine 4 won’t officially support the Wii U either. However, that Unreal engine will be able to run scaled-down games on Nintendo’s console. What do you think is it time for Nintendo to give up or launch a truly high-end console?

[via ArsTechnica]

Gamers will be able to download demo via the Xbox Line Marketplace and the PlayStation Network on May 7. Playing the demo, players will be able to cooperate with up to four other players online. Local players will also be able to fight using a two player screen system. The demo allows players to choose one of four elite operatives to play as.

The operatives include Dalton Brooks, Izzy Sinclair, Jacob Kimble and Naya Deveraux. During game players will attempt to protect the Earth from an alien energy source called Fuse. The energy source was stolen by a paramilitary organization called Raven.

Each of the characters players can take control of has their own unique weapon and specialized skills. The game will launch at the same time for the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360. While much of the game is centered on cooperative play, there will be single player aspects so gamers can play alone if they want.

[via Fuse]

The sources who spoke to Kotaku said that the game is a “battle of Davids and Goliaths,” with the Davids being foot soldiers decked out in heavy armor and the Goliaths being huge exoskeltons called Titans, which are piloted by the soldiers. Reportedly, the Titans are more agile than similar offerings found in Steel Battalions and Mechwarrior.

To keep the Titans from pummeling everything and everyone into the dirt, the game maps keep the number of them allowed in game play to a limited amount and foot soldiers are equipped with weapons that allow them to destroy the mech machines. Such a rumor follows in line with some recent trademarks that Respawn Entertainment has nabbed, including things like “Titan” and “Titanfall.”

The sources went on to say that the game will allow for 16-player matches, and that it will run on the Valve Source Engine. A gamer’s own progress is implemented into an “overall balance of power” via the utilization of a faction system. While nothing official has been said and no hard dates were given, word has it the game will be, at the least, playable by next year.

[via OXM]

The game stars afro-and-hatchet-wielding viking Magnus Jones, who is sent by Oden to kick butt and bring about some “righteous” judgment, if you get the joke. The game has just about every type of opponent you can imagine such a protagonist would face: dragons with slicked-back hair and earrings sipping martinis and belching flames, disco wizards, giants, and more.

If you didn’t check out the trailer, stop where you’re at and watch it – it’s worth 60-seconds of your time and has a funky beat. Back? The game was created by Airtight Games specifically for the OUYA as a free-to-play offering. Although the game isn’t done yet, it’s getting there and as a result OUYA has also published a video showing some behind-the-scenes action into what goes into making the game.

In case you missed it, OUYA began shipping out to the Kickstarter backers and top tier partners earlier this month, and has been moving ahead full steam since then, with the console hitting the FCC back on April 19th and boasting more than 10,000 global developers on the same day. Stay tuned, and we’ll update you as more info is dropped!

[via Ouya]

The game will launch in North America on August 20 with the international launch set for August 23. 2K will offer the game on the Xbox 360, PS3, and Windows computers for $59.99. The game is set in 1962 at the height of the Cold War. The storyline takes players into the original story for the clandestine XCOM organization and its first encounter with the enemy.

In the game, The Bureau was initially established to provide covert defense against the Soviet Union. Players will play as Special Agent William Carter leading a squad of agents to defeat the unknown enemy. 2K promises that the game will offer calculated combat designed to force players to think and act tactically.

The Bureau will be a third person perspective game and players will be able to transition in and out of a unique Battle Focus ability. The game also uses the concept of permanent consequence making each decision that the player makes effect the outcome of the game. The game is up to pre-order right now and those who do pre-order will get a special Codebreakers side mission as a bonus.

[via Erasethetruth]

To earn the patch the scouts will use E-line’s game design software called Gamestar Mechanic. The program for earning the video game design patch is being designed to meet Girl Scout patch requirements and the focus on the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math academic initiative. The Girl Scouts isn’t the only scouting program that offers merit badges to help encourage children to design video games.

Earlier this year, the Boy Scouts of America announced a merit badge for game design. That particular merit badge was officially unveiled at the SXSW Gaming Expo in Austin, Texas. The Boy Scout badge allows kids to design not only video games, but board games, dice, and card games as well.

The Girl Scouts and Women in Games International believe that creating a patch in video game design will help get young girls excited about technology and science. There’s no indication at this time of exactly when scouts will be able to earn the video game design patch. However, it does appear that the Girl Scouts’patch will be specifically for video game design unlike the Boy Scout merit badge, which allows the design of board games and more.

[via Polygon]

Reports indicate that he was successful in getting several developers to pay money to license the use of those terms in their games. Eventually Langdell set his sights on a bigger fish in the form of the EA and sued them for trademark infringement over the popular game Mirror’s Edge. This is where things went south for Langdell.

One thing EA had that most of the other developers that were forced to pay licensing fees to use those generic trademarked terms lacked was money and a legal team at their disposal. The fight ensued in court and in 2010, United States District Court Judge sided with EA against Langdell. After all these years the US Patent and Trademark Office has finally got around to canceling those trademarks.

The trademarks in question are filed under registration numbers 2219837, 2251584, 3105816, 3381826, and 3559342. Now that the trademarks are being canceled, game developers will be able to use those words in video game titles without fearing a suit from a patent troll. There is no indication at this time if any of the companies that paid licensing fees to avoid court will get their money back.

[via Games Industry]

The map pack will also feature six armor and gun skins allowing for additional customization of your in game character. The new game mode is called Master at Arms. The three new multiplayer maps are set against the backdrop of the Locust invasion of Halvo Bay.

The maps are intended to provide a mix of close quarters and vertical combat. The new maps also bring 10 achievements worth 250 Gamerscore. The three maps include Terminal, Blood Drive, and Boneyard. The new game mode, Master At Arms, is a free-for-all game mode exclusive to Judgment.

The goal is for players to earn a kill with each of the 20 different available weapons without resorting to melee or grenade use. Every successful kill with one of the available weapons automatically progress the player to the next weapon until all weapons are used. The map pack will cost 1000 Microsoft Points and VIP Season Pass holders will get the map pack at no cost.

[via Major Nelson]

Along with those 1000 new challenges comes 10 new Xbox Live achievements that are worth 250 Gamerscore points. The expansion pack also brings two new cars. The two bonus cars include a 1956 Ford F100 pickup, which doesn’t seem too exciting. The car that is exciting in the 1995 RUF CTR2.

The CTR2 is a highly modified Porsche 911 featuring a turbocharged flat-six engine producing 520 hp with a top speed of 215 mph. The 1000 car challenges are open to everyone and can be performed with every car available in the game. Some of the new challenges focus on speed and have players racing past speed cameras as fast as possible.

Other challenges will focus on driving skill or performing specific stunts. The expansion also brings new location-based challenges spanning the entire open game world of Colorado. Those location-based challenges include road trips, exploring specific locations, and drifting around curves on game roads.

[via Gamasutra]

The beta period for the video game has now entered the second phase making it easier for players who are interested in the game to get into the action. All players have to do to be offered access to the second phase of the closed beta is to click the like button on the official Company of Heroes 2 Facebook page. Clicking the like button on that page will send the player to be key generation tool.

That special beta key is needed to gain access to the video game closed beta session. The closed beta is still being hosted via Steam and players will need the free Steam client to redeem the key and play the game. During the second phase of the beta, players will still get to compete in the multiple player and skirmish game play modes.

Beta phase 2 offers access to six maps and the ability to play alone or with teammates against the AI. Players have access to the first 40 levels of progression for the game and the ability to customize load outs to suit their play style. Company of Heroes 2 will be available for PC gamers in June of 2013.

[via Company of Heroes]

The normal price for the expansion is $19.99. However, subscribing players can get the upgrade for $9.99. The expansion pack brings new playable missions, new features, and a new planet to explore. That new planet is called Makeb.

The expansion pack also raises the game’s level cap to 55 and gives access to new higher-level group content as part of the recently released Game Update 2.0. That higher-level group content is called Scum and Villainy. The expansion pack will have players exploring a new storyline on the planet of Makeb. Players will continue their individual faction storylines as they battle the Hutt Cartel.

The Hutts are attempting to take over the planet and its resources in the expansion pack. Players will be able to earn new gear and abilities and access Elder Game content. Players can also acquire new technology such as Macrobinoculars and Seeker Droids. The Old Republic started out strong with an impressive number of subscribers only to see subscriber numbers dwindle rapidly. The game eventually went free to play with some limits and still supports paid players with unlimited access.

[via SWOTR]

The 15 different consoles include some of the usual suspects such as the Nintendo 64, PlayStation 2, and GameCube. It also has an older and less well-known consoles including the Amstrad GX4000 and others. Some of the more obscure gaming systems are provided using emulators.

Combining the physical systems and the emulators, Project Unity promises to be able to play games from 18 different consoles. There are a number of different disk drives and cartridge slots on the front of the cube where various cartridges and game discs are inserted. The finished console is as big as it looks.

The console weighs 44 pounds, took three years to produce, and has about $1000 in parts. The controller reportedly features 16 buttons, three joysticks, and a d-pad. Check out the video below to learn more about Project Unity.

[via The Verge]

The TV show, which is set to premiere next Monday, is set 30 years after 2013. Aliens known as Votans have come to Earth in search of a new home. After some conflicts, and a Votan ambassador being assassinated by a human supremacist, the Votans and Humans go to war. The war wages on for 30 years before both species agree to a ceasefire to ensure their survival. Joshua Nolan, a former Marine, declares himself the Chief Lawkeeper of Defiance (the revamped St. Louis) to maintain peace between the Votans and the humans, and to protect the town from the dangers of the outside world.

Defiance worked together with Trion Worlds to develop the Defiance MMO. The game is available for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and the PC for $59.99. Characters are able to create their own characters and play in the Defiance world. There are massive co-op battles, tons of weapons, “Fierce Shadow War” multiplayer, and constant updates, including 5 DLCs set to come out in the future. For PC users, there is a deluxe edition available for $99.99 that gives you many extra bonuses. There is no subscription fee for the game.

Kevin Murphy, writer and producer of Desperate Housewives, is the executive producer for Defiance. In an interview with Reuters, he stated, “What’s unusual about what we’re doing… is we’re building the second-screen concept into the actual DNA of the show-game combo.” He states that in future seasons of the show, there will be crossovers between the game and the TV show, including implementing actual user characters into the TV show in later seasons and having actions in the video game affect the plot of the show. The game and the show cost $100 million in total to create, and the crossover between both will hopefully secure a dedicated fan base.

[via Reuters]

In addition to bringing new multiple player maps, the Uprising DLC will also bring a new zombies map called Mob of the Dead. This DLC takes place on the prison island of Alcatraz and has zombie prisoners and guards coming for players. The mobsters players can play as are Hollywood characters many will recognize including Ray Liotta, Chazz Palminteri, Joe Pantoliano, and Michael Madsen.

Another interesting feature of the new zombie content is called Purgatory that sends players into the afterlife if they’re killed adding a new twist on the game play with its own objectives. The new multiple player maps the, with the DLC include Magma, Vertigo, Studio, and Encore.

Magma is a modern Japanese village with lava flowing from a volcanic eruption. Encore is a map that takes place in the aftermath of the deserted London music festival. Vertigo takes place on a high-rise in India. Studio takes place on a movie studio back lot with themes ranging from science fiction to the old West. Uprising will cost 1200 points on the Xbox 360 and can be had for free with the Season Pass. No specific date has been offered or availability on the PS3 or PC.

[via Call of Duty]

In this episode, Captain Kirk battles a giant lizard race called the Gorn. A new commercial for the coming Star Trek: The Video Game launching on April 23 shows Shatner and Gorn trying to bury the hatchet while playing the new video game. The commercial for the game re-creates the classic television battle, this time in the living room.

Shatner and Gorn get into some sort of argument over the video game and then re-create almost blow for blow the fight from the 1967 episode. The new Star Trek video game has an updated version of the Gorn playing the key enemy against Captain Kirk and Spock. The highlights co-op play and has Kirk and Spock working together to solve a mysterious attack by the Gorn.

The story for the video game was written by Marianne Krawcyzk. The game follows Captain Kirk, Spock and the crew of the enterprise battle as they battle to save the universe. The video game will be available for the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC and can be pre-ordered now.

[via Star Trek Game]

Back in February, Ouya announced that it would start shipping consoles on March 28. The shipments were only for the early backers of the project who purchased the console via Kickstarter. If you missed that Kickstarter campaign or only recently decided that you wanted to get your hands on these little consoles, Ouya has announced that general availability will be June 4.

The game console will launch simultaneously in the US, Canada, and the UK. Ouya says that “tens of thousands” of the consoles were sold in the first month when the device was announced in 2012. The console promises HD graphics, immersive sound, a real game controller, and a unique platform for enjoying all sorts of game genres. If you somehow missed this console and all of the previous coverage we’ve published, it’s a slick little device that looks like a small cube and is designed to plug directly into your TV.

The console uses an integrated Nvidia Tegra 3 chipset and supports full HD resolution graphics. All of the games available for the console will be downloadable and free to try. In addition to games, the little console will also support streaming video and music applications. One of the best things about the console is its low price of only $99.99 for the console and controller. An extra controller will also be available for $49.99.

[via Ouya]

The closed beta test will offer players the chance to get a sneak peak at the competitive multiple player and skirmish game play. Players in the beta will be able to access six maps featuring 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 and 4v4 competitive game play. The beta will also allow players to play alone or with teammates against the computer AI.

During the beta, players get access to the first 40 levels of progression and will have the ability to customize load outs. Company of Heroes 2 has an all new Army Customizer that allows players complete control over their loadout to suit their style of play. The Company of Heroes 2 closed beta will be hosted via Steam and uses Steamworks.

Sega points out that players will need to download the free Steam client to be able to redeem the closed beta access keys and participate in the beta. If you don’t have keys to participate in the beta, it’s unclear how you get those. Company of Heroes 2 will launch for the PC in June of 2013.

[via Company of Heroes]

Insomniac Games is well known for its other successful game series, Ratchet and Clank, and Resistance. While those games were PlayStation exclusives, Insomniac Games is changing things up by offering Fuse to both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 gamers alike. Insomniac Games promises gamers that Fuse will offer a similar action-packed, gun-toting, bullet storming experience as seen in its other games.

In Fuse, you will play as a member of the elite contact team, Overstrike 9. You can choose to play either Dalton Brooks, Isabelle “Izzy” Sinclair, Jacob Kimble, or Naya Deveraux. Each character has their own “Xenotech” weapons and unique skills that will help them stop the evil corporation that has gotten its hands on the volatile energy source known as Fuse. If you decide to play the game solo, you can shift between characters in-game in order to fully utilize each member’s capabilities.

If you pre-order Fuse now, you can get access to a bunch of exclusive in-game items. You will given special armor and weapon skins for each of your charaters, and a special “quickdraw” perk that increases the damage of all one-handed weapons. The game so far has seen a fairly negative response from the gaming community. Many are upset that the game is coming out so late, and a lot of gamers are still very upset at how EA handled the whole SimCity fiasco.

[via EA]

The new RetroN gaming system also allows you to use your old gaming controllers with the system as well. There are 6 available controller ports. The Sega Genesis and Famicom controllers will use the same port, and the Super Nintendo controllers will be used to also control the Game Boy games. The retro gaming system will also feature Bluetooth wireless controllers that can be configured to work for any game.

The RetroN 5 is basically a hardware emulator for classic games. The system allows “Save States” for games, overclocking to speed games up, brightness adjustments, volume adjustments, and more. There is also an HDMI output that allows you to play your games at up to 720p resolution. Hyperkin has also fixed the “blurry” issue that most classic games have when being played on HD televisions. The RetroN 5 can also improve the audio of games, but that’s entirely up to the gamer. Some people like the original 8-bit music in their games.

Hyperkin is hoping to keep the price of the RetroN 5 low. It’s aiming for a $100 or less price-point, but the company isn’t able to promise anything. Considering that the RetroN 3 was $69.99, and Hyperkin’s SupaBoy (handheld Super Nintendo) was $79.99, we could be looking at a $90-$100 price tag for this system. Hyperkin is also hoping to launch this system during the summer, with a speculated release date being sometime in July.

[via SlashDot]

Unfortunately, Capcom didn’t announce a new game being developed for the series, but it did announce several collector’s items that are set to go on sale later this year. One of the collector’s items is a Mega Man USB statue. The statue is 10-inches tall and is powered through USB. The statue is based off the classic version of Mega Man, and will have light-up boosters. Unfortunately, the statue will only be available at the San Diego Comic Con.

Next up is a Mega Man art book. The art book, titled, MM25 Mega Man & Mega Man X Official Complete Works, is a 432-page art book published by Udon Entertainment. It will feature all the character art and designs from the entire Mega Man and Mega Man X series, and some concept art for Mega Man 9 & 10. There will also be developer interviews, and tribute art from Hitoshi Ariga, Toru Nakayam, and Shigeto Ikehara. The book will be released in the second-half of 2013.

Next up is Worlds Collide. Worlds Collide is a crossover comic series that’s a collaboration between Mega Man and Archie’s Sonic the Hedgehog comics. The series will start on April 10th, 2013, and will run for 12 issues and span over 3 story arcs. On May 4th, you will be able to grab a free primer of the comic book series from your local comic book store for “Free Comic Book Day”.

Last, but not least, Capcom will finally be releasing Mega Man Original Soundtracks. There will be 10 Mega Man OSTs released, for Mega Man 1 through 10. The OSTs were available in Japan, but they never found their way to the United States or Europe. The OSTs are set to be released sometime during the summer, but there is no word whether or not it will be sold separately, or in an entire collection.

Capcom has also stated that it has been listening to Mega Man fans all around and that they have been working on something new. They aren’t able to announce something yet because they want to have a product that’s deep into development first. But until then, Mega Man fans can quell their cravings by purchasing the Mega Man 4 remake for the Nintendo 3DS that’s set to come out April 25th. Following Mega Man 4′s re-release is Mega Man 5, which is set to be released on May 16th, and Mega Man 6, which is set to be released sometime around June.

[via Forbes]

The game has features to make it social and more interactive. It is also designed to take advantage of the Nintendo Wii U’s interesting touchscreen GamePad controller. On the Nintendo game console players have a local co-op mode called Co-Driver. This allows one player to play using the Wii Remote and another to play using the GamePad.

The player with the GamePad is able to provide control and navigation assistance using interactive real-time map. Players can also use the controller to distract pursuing police, change from day to night, and activate enhanced performance for cars. The touchscreen controller also allows players to change cars on the fly and more.

Another interesting feature for the Nintendo Wii U is that players can continue playing on the touchscreen controller even when the game isn’t being shown on the big screen. The game also comes with the Ultimate Speed Pack expansion offering five incredibly fast cars. The standard MSRP for the game is $59.99, but EA is offering the game for the Wii U via Origin for only $29.99 right now.

[via Need for Speed]

The game has players assuming the identity of an undercover detective named Chase McCain. McCain explores the open world of Lego City in an attempt to capture criminal mastermind Rex Fury. The Nintendo Wii U GamePad controller is represented in the game as a gadget used by Chase and other members of the city police department. Using that virtual controller, players are able to communicate with police dispatchers and access the world map.

Players can also place waypoints using the touchscreen on the Nintendo Wii U GamePad and to scan the environment to locate hidden clues or listen in on criminals. Players will use multiple undercover disguises during the game giving Chase unique abilities needed to solve puzzles and complete missions.

Lego City Undercover is the first video game in the Lego franchise to be based on the available Lego City play sets. Lego says that players will encounter familiar real-world Lego play sets in the game. The game will also allow players to take command of over 100 different vehicles including aircraft, sports cars, and motorcycles. A special Lego building set to complement the game is also available in stores.

[via Lego City Undercover]

One of the ways that fans are able to participate in the development of the video game each year is by voting to choose the athlete who is on the cover of the video game. The next issue of the game will be Madden NFL 25 and the cover vote is on. This year, fans of the Madden franchise can choose between old-school players and new school players.

The old-school side of things you have players like Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Barry Sanders, Dan Marino, and Troy Aikman among others. On the school side of the mix you can pick from a number of current players with names like Matt Forte, AJ Green, Clay Matthews, and a bunch of others. The first round of voting is being conducted from March 11 through March 20.

Round two voting will be conducted between March 20 and 27th, with round three spanning March 27 through April 3. The quarterfinals will kickoff on April 3 through April 10, with the semifinals on April 10 through April 17. The final round of voting to determine the cover athlete will happen on April 17 through the 24th. You can make your choices here.

[via ESPN]

The expansion pack is available in retail stores within the US, Canada, Europe, Russia, Australia, and a number of other countries. The game will be launching in mainland China at a later date. The expansion pack offers new multiple player units and maps along with Kerrigan’s campaign.

The game is available for Windows and Mac computers for $39.99. The expansion pack can also be purchased as a digital download for the same $39.99. Blizzard also has a retail only Collector’s Edition of the game available in stores only that includes digital and physical bonus items selling for $79.99. The physical bonus items include a behind-the-scenes DVD, soundtrack, and a hardcover art book.

There is a Digital Deluxe version of the expansion pack that includes the digital items from the Collector’s Edition, but obviously lacks the physical bonus items. That version of the game is available for $59.99. The digital bonuses include a Torrasque look for the zerg Ultralisks. It also comes with portraits and decals to customize your online profile and in-game Army. It also includes a World of Warcraft in-game pet and a Diablo III Blade Wings and Banner Sigil.

[via StarCraft II]

According to JoyStiq, they called every Sony Store that was open, and nearly all of them have the PS Vita 3G for the discount price as part of a bundle that includes an 8GB memory card and a free PlayStation Network game. Only a handful of stores said they didn’t have it for the discount price, and the price change is not reflected online.

When asked about why the price had dropped, various stores had different explanations. Some said that the PS Vita is being discontinued and so the price drop is permanent as a result. While some stores didn’t have a time frame listed for the discount, a store in Seattle said that the price drop was temporary and would disappear this coming Sunday.

Needless to say, Sony hasn’t said anything about the discount, not surprising considering that its website doesn’t reflect the price drop. Regardless, if you’re in the market for a PS Vita 3G, call up your local store and ask if they’re having the sale. Stores throughout Los Angeles, as well as Orlando, Tampa, Houston, and Seattle, for example, are all offering the discount.

[via Joystiq]

As the story goes the mod maker, Mike Mika, has a little girl that particularly liked the fact that you could play as the Princess in Super Mario Bros 2. So, he took it upon himself to create a special mod of the classic game Donkey Kong where Mario needed to be saved and the hero is the Princess.

The modified ROM is apparently constructed from the version of Donkey Kong from 2010 for the Nintendo Wii game console. It reminds me a lot in looks of the vintage game from the 80s. Apparently, Mike used Tile Layer Pro, which is a popular ROM editing tool to put Mario on a pedestal while the Princess tries to save him.

I think this is great. My daughter would certainly agree that there aren’t enough video games with girls as the main character. Check out the video to see the mod in action.

[via Gearburn]

Lucy Bradshaw, the General Manager of the EA Maxis Label, released an update to players about the stability issues with the game. So what was the issue? There were a lot more people logging in and playing the game than they had expected. She stated, “A lot more people logged on than we expected. More people played and played in ways we never saw in beta.” In order to remedy this problem, EA is increasing their server capacities. So far they have increased their servers’ capacity by 120% in the past 48 hours.

In order to ease the outrage from the SimCity community, Bradshaw has informed all SimCity gamers (who have activated their game) that on March 18th, they will receive an e-mail that will allow them to redeem a free game from the EA store. She didn’t release any more details about the “free game”, but we’re hoping it’s not just some $5 piece of junk that no one would want in the first place.

EA will be working to improve SimCity’s stability all throughout the weekend. This game had similar (albeit worse) launch issues like Diablo 3, a game that also requires you to login to an online server to play. Diablo 3 was down for hours while Blizzard was working on its servers. Hopefully EA’s free game will be able to win back the hearts of all of the gamers it angered. Now it just has to work on those 1700 1-Star Amazon reviews.

[via EA Games]

Jorgensen commented again this week to clarify his previous statement that future EA games would support micro-transactions. Jorgensen says that while all future EA games will support the ability to include micro-transactions, that doesn’t mean all games will use them. Jorgensen made the comment this week at the Wedbush Technology Conference in New York City.

Jorgensen said that his original comment was more of a reference to new technology EA was working on to allow the company to handle in-house credit card processing, digital downloads, and to manage micro-transactions. Jorgensen says that his comment was understood by the gaming community to mean all EA games would have micro-transactions, and he said “…that’s really not true.”

Jorgensen clarified stating that “we are building and all of our games the ability to pay for things along the way, either to get to a higher level, to buy a new character, to buy a truck, a gun, whatever it might be.” Jorgensen also pointed to Battlefield Premium as an example of how the publisher was using in-game transactions to extend the life of the shooter. Battlefield Premium is a service players pay for as an upgrade that gets all download content packs for the game for one price.

[via Polygon]

The demo will be available to download via the Xbox Live Marketplace and the PlayStation Network on March 12. The game will put players into the boots of private military contractors Alpha and Bravo. The goal of the game is to rescue a kidnapped politician.

The heroes of the game have to battle cartel members and work together to survive. The gunfights will take place in a range of environments including a drug lab and on the rooftop of a high-rise building among others. This game will also see the cooperative players split up and points with one mission having one player running to battle face-to-face and the other in a helicopter using a mini gun to provide cover.

The game also features a new Overkill feature with huge explosions providing massive destruction that promises intense action. The game will officially launch on March 26. EA says that the Overkill Edition is available for pre-order at participating retailers. This version of the game brings exclusive masks, outfits, a co-op contract mission, and deadly weapons. The game will feature online and split screen co-op action.

[via Army of Two]

The game is a World War II team-based action-strategy game where players are able to collect companies of units and battle in fast online matches. The project is seeking $700,000 for development and has 28 days to go before it funds. So far, 276 people have backed Victory and the game has raised $16,373.

The game offers online team versus team battle arena and allows users to choose units from their collection to bring in each match. Players command squads using RTS style controls and viewpoint, but Victory isn’t a RTS game. Players don’t focus on base building or resource management. The game will be available for Windows gamers and the developer is clear in stating that the game is not free to play.

Players earn currency in the game allowing them to buy booster Commander Packs that have random units and other items. Matches are won by using your units to capture and hold key points on the map or by destroying all enemy units. A typical match will last 15 to 20 min. Check out the video below to see more of the game in action.

[via Kickstarter]

The company behind the game says that each planet offers a wide variety of entertainment and people can travel the planets and socialize with people from all over the real world. The game doesn’t cost anything to join and charges no subscription fees. Money for the developers is made off of an advanced micro-payment system.

The developers of the virtual universe have announced that they are in the process of auctioning off a newly discovered moon starting on March 21. When they say newly discovered, what developers mean is newly designed. The auction combines the Entropia Universe Partner and Marketing Partner programs. The winner of the virtual auction will be able to operate an estate on the newly discovered moon.

The auction winner will be able to work closely with the MindArk development team during the estate development process with direct input on important design decisions. The auction winner will also be able to share revenue with the developers that results from all activity conducted on the moon. The winning bidder will also be able to recruit new participants through marketing and receive a share of the revenue from activity generated from those new contestants anywhere in the game universe. The auction will end on April 4, 2013 and the starting bid is $150,000.

[via Entropia Universe]

Micro-transactions typically allow players to do things like upgrade weapons and buy better game items to help them compete without actually having to earn them in the game. A bit of controversy has been swirling around the game Dead Space 3 because it uses micro-transactions for upgrading weapons. Many gamers probably won’t have a problem with micro-transactions as long as you don’t have to spend money to be able to progress in the game.

Being able to pay real money to get a weapon earlier as long as you can still get the weapon by traditional means in the game might not be such a bad thing for gamers on single player titles. Much of the controversy around micro-transactions for EA has centered on Dead Space 3, but EA has offered micro-transactions on other titles in the past. Specifically, micro-transactions where offered in the Mass Effect 3 multiple player game.

The company has also offered the ability to purchase car packs in games like Need for Speed for a long time allowing players to unlock better vehicles well before they would be able to via game play alone. The problem many people have specifically with Dead Space 3 and the way micro-transactions are handled is that some feel the game is made to guide players towards spending real money on upgrades.

[via EuroGamer]

A tablet or a smartphone can be used, with a smartphone arguably being easier to use than a larger tablet. Syncing is achieved by using Chrome for Mobile/iPhone, so users will need to download and install it in order to play. Once installed, syncing the controller with the game is simple and straight forward. Up to four players can sync their devices and compete with each other.

Gamers need to go to chrome.com/supersyncsports on their laptop or desktop to pull up the game. After doing that, select a game, then turn on your mobile device. From Chrome for Mobile, visit g.co/super and enter the code that appears on the computer screen. By doing this, the mobile device will sync with the browser game and begin to function as a controller.

After syncing, the gamers can then select an athlete to play as from the mobile device, then control the character via gestures on the touchscreen. Super Sync Sports works with Chrome version 15 and higher, Android 4 and higher, and iOS 4.3 and later. The game utilized HTML5, CSS3, and Canvas.

[via Google Blog]

Nexon believes that its Robotoki investment will bring a new future of multi-screen, cross-platform games to the company. Seungwoo Choi, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nexon, stated that he looks forward to working with Robert Bowling as well as the rest of the Robotoki team in order to “deliver inventive, multi-dimensional gaming experiences to consumers in North American and all around the world.”

Robert Bowling commented on his excitement to be working with a company as big as Nexon. He stated that working with such a big gaming company “will allow us invaluable access to their expertise and world-class resources”. Robotoki will be working together with Nexon to launch its highly anticipated game, Human Element. The game is set to be released in Q4 2015, and will be available on the PlayStation 4, Xbox 720, the PC, and various mobile platforms including iOS and Android.

Human Element will be a first-person survival game set in a world torn apart by a zombie apocalypse. Robotoki has stated that it will release an exclusive prequel to Human Element for the OUYA. It will be the first game launch from the independent game developer, and should do wonders for both the company as well as OUYA. The prequel will set the stage for Human Element, and will have gamers anticipating its launch in 2015.

[via Reuters]

Irrational Games and 2K announced this week that there would be a Season Pass offered for Infinite players. The game developer promises that the new add-on packs are currently in development and will provide hours of additional game play. Players will be able to continue their exploration of the sky-city called Columbia.

The add-on packs will feature new stories, new characters, new abilities, and new weapons. The Season Pass will be available for purchase on March 26 when the full game launches. The developers say that the pack will add approximately $30 worth of add-on content for price of $19.99.

The Season Pass will be available for the PlayStation, PC gamers, and the Xbox 360. Xbox 360 gamers will pay 1600 Microsoft Points. Season Pass buyers will get access to all three add-on packs at no additional charge. Those who pre-order the Season Pass will also get some early bird perks including four pieces of exclusive gear. Those who pre-order will also get a machine gun damage upgrade, a pistol damage upgrade, a gold skin for both weapons, and five infusion bottles.

[via BioShock Infinite]

The download content pack Mass Effect 3: Citadel will be coming on March 5. Citadel is a single-player download pack that allows players to explore and discover new locations across the massive Citadel space station. The DLC pack will also allow players to play alongside of some of their favorite characters from all three of the Mass Effect video games.

Mass Effect 3: Reckoning is another download content pack aimed at multiple player gamers that will be available on February 26. This multiple player DLC pack includes new characters, new maps, and new weapons for players to enjoy. Mass Effects 3 developers will be streaming game play from Reckoning and taking questions from fans about this DLC pack on February 25 at 9:30 AM PST via Twitch.tv.

Citadel is the last single player DLC pack for Mass Effect 3 providing one last journey with Commander Shepard and his team. Citadel will cost $14.99 or 1200 MS Points. Reckoning is being offered at no cost and will be downloadable via Xbox Live, the PlayStation Store, or Origin software.

[via Mass Effect]

The map pack includes three all new small to medium size maps designed for tight, competitive combat using small-team and free-for-all modes. The three maps offered in the pack include Landfall, Monolith, and Skyline. Landfall places an emphasis on infantry fighting next to a glittering ocean and a massive city under siege.

Monolith is set at a monument built by the Forerunners to celebrate the victory over ancient humans. The map is small and has central man-cannons, short corridors, and little cover. This map is said to be particularly good for capture the flag. The final map is Skyline set in rooftop terrain on a new space tether construction site.

The map pack also brings two Majestic DLC playlists and the new free-for-all game type called Infinity Rumble. The pack also includes 10 new achievements worth 250 additional Gamerscore. The map pack will be available via Xbox Live for 800 Microsoft points.

[via Halowaypoint.com]

A half-hour animated television series based on the Farmville video game will be directed by Brett Ratner. Ratner is working with a television production company called Six Eleven Media from Canada and he will also be the executive producer. Other executive producers working on the animated series include Charles Bishop and Nina Gelb.

Farmville is still incredibly popular with the Wall Street Journal reporting the game attracts millions of players each day. It’s unclear exactly what the animated show will be about and what age group it will be aimed at. Presumably, we’re talking about a show aimed at kids with lots of game tie-ins.

Zynga is likely hoping the game will appeal to older fans of the video game as well. It also remains unclear exactly what the show will be about. I’d wager it will be a cartoon based on farming with some sort of agricultural and green elements for educating kids. There’s no word on when the series will premiere or what networks it will air on.

[via Wall Street Journal]

The physical game characters to go with the videogame will be shown off at the Toy Fair 2013 running February 10 through 13 in New York City. The Swap Force game promises to build on the game play players will be familiar with from the franchise with a new twist. Players will be able to swap the top and bottom halves of the toys to create their own characters.

The videogame allows users to reconfigure all 16 Swap Force characters making from more than 250 unique combinations. Along with physically mixing the top and bottom halves of the characters, players are able to mix and match the characters powers and moves in the videogame. The game will also support all of the characters from the two current Skylanders titles.

The videogame will see players experiencing a new adventure on the mysterious Cloudbreak Islands. This island is the home of the volcano that erupts every hundred years to replenish magic in the Skylands. The game centers on a group of Skylanders that were blown apart during a battle when the volcano erupted and gained new powers. The game also promises high-resolution graphics and more.

[via Skylanders]

The map pack will come at a later date to the PS3 and PC but the timeframe for that is unknown. The DLC includes four new multiplayer maps as well as a new Zombies map called Die Rise. The download content also includes a bonus multiple player weapon called the Peacekeeper SMG.

The map pack is available alone for $14.99 or 1200 Microsoft points. If gamers own the Season Pass, the download content is free of charge. The Season Pass is available for $49.99 or 4000 Microsoft Points. Players will save 800 Microsoft points compared to buying all map packs individually with the season pass.

The new maps in the content pack include Downhill, which is a snowy Alpine Château promising close quarters combat. Mirage is set in a sand ravaged luxury villa. Hydro is a large map set and a hydroelectric dam in Pakistan. The final map is called Grind and is set at a skate park in Venice Beach. The Die Rise zombie map is set in a crumbling skyscraper in China. The zombie map also includes a new mode called Turned that lets players play as a zombie.

[via CallofDuty.com]