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WB Games Montreal gets $1.5 million investment from government
Quebec's government has invested $1.5 million in WB Games Montreal, developers of the upcoming Batman: Arkham Origins, as part of a five-year, $63 million expansion which will create 100 jobs at the company. WB Montreal Studio Chief Martin Carrier predicted the studio would play host to 500 people and "be one of the best-known studios in the world" by 2018, CTV News reports. Premier Pauline Marois, who announced the grant, also said that the game development scene in Montreal was the top market in Canada, and that Montreal itself is one of the top three cities in the world leading game development.
No multiplayer for Wii U's Batman: Arkham Origins
Batman: Arkham Origins won't have a multiplayer component on Wii U, a Warner Bros. spokesperson has confirmed to Eurogamer. The decision reflects a desire to focus "on platforms with the largest MP audience." The competitive multiplayer mode, revealed today, features a three-way stand-off between Joker's thugs, Bane's boys, and Batman and Robin. The asymmetrical battle (more details here) is developed by Brink creator Splash Damage. Batman: Arkham Origins launches on Wii U, Xbox 360, PS3 and PC on October 25. A spin-off game for PS Vita and 3DS, called Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate, is currently in development at Armature Studio.
PS4 media blowout: Driveclub, Knack, Infamous Second Son and more
Sony's lengthy E3 press conference was riddled with lots of game trailers - so many that we have to pile some of them into this little post for your viewing pleasure. While you take a quick break from your freak-out session over the PlayStation 4's $399 price tag, check out this trailer for Infamous: Second Son. Additionally, you'll find the likes of Driveclub, Killzone: Shadow Fall, Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, Knack, Watch Dogs, Transistor and Batman: Arkham Origins after the break, each in trailer form. Grab some popcorn, you have plenty of footage to soak in.
Batman: Arkham Origins PS3 gets 'Knightfall' content
During the PlayStation event at E3, Sony's Jack Tretton announced Batman: Arkham Origins would get some exclusive content on PS3 themed around the Knightfall storyline. In addition to that, a 1960s Batman skin will also be available on PS3.
Batman: Arkham Origins challenge mode has a Deathstroke
A leaked pre-order image tipped us off yesterday and the press release past the break confirms it: Deathstroke is a playable character in Batman Arkham Origins. He'll be unlocked in the game's challenge mode, and all who plunk down cash early will enjoy some exclusive maps and character skins associated with him. Deathstroke is seemingly a leading man in the video game world now, with Batman: Arkham Origins his second role of the year after Injustice: Gods Among Us in April. His real name is Slade Wilson, a mercenary and assassin created by teenage cartoonist Gary Wilson in 1980.
Lego Legends of Chima screens show Laval's journey
These screens for Lego Legends of Chima: Laval's Journey offer a taste of the action in the totally original adventure from Warner and TT Games. The game will be coming to 3DS and Vita this Summer and to DS this Fall.
'Lego: Legends of Chima' builds a new world across three games
The next Lego game from Warner and TT Games is Lego: Legends of Chima. No, you didn't miss out on some hit cartoon or established franchise that's being adapted into a Lego game; this is a new original property, tying into a new collection of Lego toys about a "land inhabited by different magical animal tribes."Legends of Chima's video game branch actually comprises three games. Lego Legends of Chima: Speedorz is a "racing mini-game" that will be available today on Lego.com and tomorrow on iOS. Lego Legends of Chima: Laval's Journey, coming to 3DS and Vita in the summer and DS in the fall, is an "amazing adventure" starring the warrior Laval, who is basically Lion-O from the Thundercats.Lego Legends of Chima Online is the most ambitious of the three games, a free-to-play "online world" from WB Montreal that lets players build weapons and structures, and interact with the Chima characters in missions. It's due this fall.
The first Guardians of Middle-earth trailer puts LOTR's celebs in a fight to the death
Wondering what that DOTA-inspired Lord of the Rings game, Guardians of Middle-earth, will look like? So are we, as the first trailer for the game is little more than a who's who of LOTR, and features zero actual gameplay. But hey, Gollum's got a big rock! Don't you go taking his precious!
Rumor: The Hobbit movie tie-in games coming from Monolith
This rumor fulfills too many literary and ironic fantasies for us to completely ignore it, but for now it is very much and definitely a rumor: Monolith Productions, under WB Games Seattle, is working on The Hobbit: Part One, the video game tie-in for Peter Jackson's film The Hobbit, rumor hunter Superannuation reports. WB was previously slated to handle the tie-in title with an expected launch this year, making this leap, well, hobbit-sized. We have reached out to WB for comment.Superannuation pegs WB Seattle as handling the second Hobbit game as well, noting that WB Games Seattle consists of Monolith Productions almost entirely, after WB fired 60 employees from Snowblind Studios, Surreal Software and Monolith itself in November.We're just in love with the idea of a studio called "Monolith" -- defined as a large thing -- working on The Hobbit.
WB teases iOS Spy vs. Spy revival
First Star Software's Spy vs. Spy, originally released in 1984 for Commodore 64, was a two-player game of sabotage and intrigue, as the famous spies from Mad Magazine stalked an embassy, stealing confidential documents and other items while setting ridiculous traps for each other.WB Games sent Joystiq the above image, playfully presenting it as a mystery. It's a mystery we're happy to solve: the screenshot looks just like a redrawn version of the original game, the First Star logo and copyright info suggests this new thing is based on the same content, and developer Robots & Pencils (whose logo also appears in the teaser image) identifies itself as an iPhone and iPad developer.Put all that together, and you have a Spy vs. Spy remake for iOS. Which, if we can remotely plant traps for our friends (in the game!) sounds pretty great.
DC Universe Online's next update: Welcome to Paradise
Going toe-to-toe with your first big, recurring villain in a final showdown is an important moment in every superhero's life and an experience that DC Universe Online players will get to treasure in the game's next content pack. The update will bring Brainiac, the main scumbag since DCUO launched last January, to his knees -- and bring players to Paradise Island, home of Wonder Woman and the Amazons. Players will find Brainiac as he's assaulting the Amazons' island and have their final confrontation with him there. But don't worry about the ache of missing your main antagonist, heroes! If there's one thing that comic books have taught us, it's that you should never count a villain out for good -- and that the conclusion of one story arc doesn't mean that things are going to settle down at all. As Jens Anderson (Creative Director for DCUO) says, Brainiac's future isn't settled; his fight "will be an ongoing one as he tries to recover from the player's resistance and future Luthor's manipulation of everyone... The story will then move into a new phase, but Brainiac's actions will always have a lasting effect on DC Universe Online." Moving forward, players can anticipate learning more about the shady figures of Future Lex Luthor and Future Batman.
WB acknowledges Batman: Arkham City save glitch, asks for user reports
Batman: Arkham City players have been experiencing save data loss on Xbox 360 since the launch of the game. Publisher WB hasn't had anything to say regarding the extremely unfortunate bug until last night, when it published a survey on its official forum asking afflicted users for details. In the survey, WB seeks information about the Xbox 360 model, storage method, and system software used to play Arkham City. If you can overcome the rage from having your save data randomly destroyed, please email support@wbgames with the answers to the questions listed after the break. It might help Rocksteady tune its cryptographic sequencer, which it will then point at a computer to fix the issue. I was using a "phat" Xbox 360, running the latest release of the system software (not a preview), and had only the Catwoman DLC installed when I lost all my progress, in case anyone there happens to be reading.
Rumor: Warner Bros. joining 'online pass' camp with Mortal Kombat
Warner Bros. may be following in the (very large) footsteps of Electronic Arts and THQ when it comes to discouraging -- or at least profiting from -- the sale of used games. Joystiq has learned from a tipster that when Mortal Kombat hits shelves on April 19, its box will include an "online pass" token that must be redeemed before playing online. At present, WBIE evidently intends to do the same for its high-profile releases F.E.A.R. 3 and Batman: Arkham City. Since the latter won't feature multiplayer, though, the token would have to unlock some other (equally attractive) content. According to an email obtained from our source, which appears intended for retailers, WBIE won't be promoting the pass -- in fact, no reference to it will appear on the game's packaging. Instead, it is apparently providing retailers with details on the pass, including how to purchase a new one if you're buying a used copy of the game. Unsurprisingly, a new pass will run 800 Microsoft Points / $10 for Xbox 360 and PS3, respectively. As with EA's titles, there will be a free two-day "trial period" before players are prompted to either enter the code or purchase a pass. We've contacted WBIE for comment on this information. You can find an excerpt from the retailer email past the break.
Mortal Kombat classification appeal rejected in Australia, import companies rejoice
Despite a contested rating by Warner Bros. Interactive, the forthcoming Mortal Kombat reboot has been permanently refused classification in Australia, effectively banning the title from official retail distribution. WB Games issued a statement regarding the ruling, stating that it's "extremely disappointed" that the game has been refused classification on the continent. The publisher continued, praising "thousands of Mortal Kombat fans in Australia and around the world who have voiced their support during the appeal process." Mortal Kombat's latest iteration will still arrive next month in other territories, also known as "the month when a handful of hardcore Australia-based MK fans are forced to import copies."
Mortal Kombat receives R18 in New Zealand (which means it's coming out)
Mortal Kombat may be combatting release issues in Australia, but the game is being officially allowed to pulverize faces (and everything else) across the water in New Zealand. The country's Office of Film and Literature Classification (OFLC) gave Mortal Kombat an R18 rating recently, which is to say the game's content is "objectionable except if the availability of the publication is restricted to persons who have attained the age of 18 years." We imagine Kiwis responding to the classification by taking fistfulls of marmite and punching straight through box sets of Flight of the Conchords, while screaming "Get over here" in the general direction of WB Games Chicago. Or just quietly shouting "hooray!" One or the other.
Mortal Kombat preview: Didactic die tactic
After my release from school in the afternoon, I would march into the mediocre mall arcade with an earnest intent to learn. Rather than claiming the Mortal Kombat 3 machine with a coin, I'd drop a thick, stapled stack of A4 pages in the middle of the counter to signal my impending occupation -- and preliminary preoccupation with memorized violence. Starting with Shang Tsung in the top-left corner of the character select screen, I'd read and execute every move and combo for each fighter, line by line, glancing at the pages as I made my way through the arcade mode. If I could pull off every attack sequence for the active character, I'd allow myself to graduate to the fatality list and then cap my progress with a gory reward. This formulaic approach wasn't really born from any desire to be competitive -- rather, I envisioned defeating the game by seeing and knowing every attack, combo and piece of content. Victories against human opponents felt almost incidental. If you're the kind of player who enjoys the solitary, methodical act of executing and learning moves, you should know that April's Mortal Kombat reboot is very happy to show you the ropes, provided you're eager to strangle someone with them afterward.
Swag Sunday: Lego Harry Potter (360) [update]
Update: The comments are now closed and a winner will be contacted shortly via email. Thanks everyone for commenting! Of the many things that the non-muggles among us are capable of doing with magic, conjuring money unfortunately isn't on the list. The rest of us are in the same boat, and so even if Lego Harry Potter only costs $30 at retail, we felt it best to give away our review copy of the game (same as retail) to either group of folks. For a chance to win that copy of LHP, all you have to do is tell us your favorite spell from the series. Wingardium Leviosa, perhaps? Crucio, maybe ... you monster? Tell us in the comments below in the next 24 hours and keep an eye on your email inbox! Leave a comment telling us what your favorite spell from the Harry Potter franchise is. You must be 13 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec). Limit 1 entry per person. This entry period ends at 7:01PM ET on Monday, July 12. At that time, we will randomly select one winner to receive a copy of Lego Harry Potter on Xbox 360 (ARV: $29.99) and various Harry Potter trinkets (ARV: $10). For a list of complete rules, click here. What is Joyswag? Since we don't keep the games and merchandise we receive for review or promotional purposes, it becomes "Joyswag," which is passed along to our readers. Please note that Joyswag may be in "used" condition. For more info on our policy, click here.
LEGO Harry Potter Collector's Edition magically increases the price by $20
A listing on Gamestop.com has revealed a Collector's Edition release for the PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii versions of LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4. The package includes the game disc (yes!) as well as behind-the-scenes featurettes about both the game and the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows movie, plus a set of four "House Crest LEGO magnets." In addition, the Xbox 360 version of the game will include an exclusive Avatar item. The price for this bundle? $70, fully $20 over the cost of the standard edition. For our $20, we'd need substantially more LEGOs. Even if those House Crests are functional, interlocking LEGOs, we can't build anything out of four of them.
Scribblenauts on Wii up to fans
If your major issue with Scribblenauts was that typing was too easy, you may be interested to hear that 5TH Cell isn't ruling out a Wii version. Echoing previous statements about the developer's openness toward additional platforms, creative director Jeremiah Slaczka told the UK's Official Nintendo Magazine that a Wii version of the vocabuladventure is possible. All you need to do is ask for it (and buy the upcoming DS sequel)! "I think a Wii version could happen," Slaczka said. "It's all about the fans - if the fans speak up and continue to buy and play the second one like they did the first one, I don't see why we couldn't make a case for a Wii version." The DS sequel -- which is still unnamed -- will be released this fall.
WB announces multiplatform Legend of the Guardians game
Finally, your chance to play a heroic owl in an owl-focused game! WBIE announced that it's adapting Zack Snyder's new film, Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole, into a game for Wii, PS3, Xbox 360, and DS, with release planned in September. The PS3, 360, and Wii versions are developed by Krome, with Tantalus Media in charge of the DS release. Legend of the Guardians puts the player in the role of a Guardian, a member of a group of owls devoted to doing good. Which, judging by the trailer, means fighting with other owls and taking part in that flight game staple, flying through rings. Perhaps you also get to estimate the number of licks required to reach the center of a Tootsie Pop, but that's not reflected in the trailer.
