gamescom-2012
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Nexon showing Shadow Company, unannounced project at Gamescom
Nexon has announced that it will be showcasing two new games at Gamescom next month. First up is Shadow Company from Doobic Game Studios, the company behind Combat Arms (and the PC version of Devil's Third). Shadow Company is slated for 2013, runs on Unreal Engine 3 and, like Combat Arms, is a free-to-play military shooter. It promises "highly intense multiplayer gameplay" including the "Blackmoney" mode, which has four teams of four players going at it. Honestly, it's hard to imagine Doobic topping the innovation of the "nut shot."Nexon will also be showing an unannounced, free-to-play naval RTS game. Check out a gallery of Shadow Company shots below (which doesn't feature any shots below, if you get our drift).%Gallery-161075%
Rumor: No PS3 redesign being announced at Gamescom
Sony's rumored PS3 redesign will not be revealed at next month's Gamescom event in Germany, according to a VG247 source. The insider also claims the 16GB version is real (and not a typo for 160GB), using flash memory. There is also mention of a potential PS3 price drop following an official announcement.The Sony press conference at Gamescom had been used several times in the past for big hardware announcements. The PS3 Slim was officially announced there in 2009, as was a console price cut last year.That leaves Sony with the 2012 Tokyo Game Show press conference if it plans to announce the new model with pomp at an established show this year.
Reminder: Blizzard premieres Mists of Pandaria cinematic at gamescom
Since Blizzard was kind enough to remind us, we'll do the same for you -- the company is attending gamescom, one of the world's largest interactive entertainment trade shows, and they'll be premiering the Mists of Pandaria cinematic there. More Blizzard stuff will be on hand too, like the latest multiplayer build of Heart of the Swarm -- but we imagine the cinematic is the stuff you guys really care about. Speaking of, I wonder what'll be in the cinematic. There's no overarching villain for the launch game this time, so it's unlikely we'll get the Bad Guy Monologuing like the past few cinematics. Could this be the moment of triumph for the gnome race, its moment in the cinematic spotlight? Unlikely. Gamescom is August 15 through 19 in Cologne, Germany. Blizzard Games at gamescom You'll find our costume and dance contests, eSports action, live raids, and all-around excitement at the Blizzard Entertainment booth at gamescom 2012. But perhaps best of all, you'll be able to try out our newest games for yourselves! Don't miss your chance to explore the ancient realm of Pandaria with the World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria beta build, vanquish your enemies in the latest StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm multiplayer build, or battle the legions of the Burning Hells in Diablo III! Experience the games first-hand at the Blizzard booth in Halle 6.1 (B21) at the Koelnmesse in Cologne, August 15 to 19. Be sure to check back here in the coming weeks for more information and a full schedule of activities! You can find more information on the Blizzard website. source
Gamigo to bring UFO Online and more to Gamescom 2012
Next month, the eyes of the gaming world will turn toward Cologne, Germany, as developers and fans converge at Gamescom 2012. In preparation, Gamigo has announced the line-up of games it will be presenting at this year's convention. Visitors will be able to try their hands at UFO Online and Jagged Alliance Online in the public area. Folks who can't make it to the convention won't have very long to wait to experience these games for themselves; UFO Online is set for open beta testing on August 23rd, while Jagged Alliance Online is scheduled to leave beta shortly after the convention. Although not open for public play, Otherland, Grimlands, and Black Prophecy Tactics: Nexus Conflict will be available for members of the press to dive into. Keep an eye out for impressions on these titles! [Source: Gamigo press release]
StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm, WoW: Mists of Pandaria playable at Gamescom
Blizzard will attend Gamescom in Cologne, Germany, and bring its latest wares to the show. From August 15 to 19, Blizzard will showcase new content for Starcraft 2 and World of Warcraft.Attendees will be able to sample the new Terran, Zerg and Protoss units coming to multiplayer in StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm, which is slated to launch sometime this year. Blizzard will also give patrons a chance to check out the starting zone in Mists of Pandaria, the fourth expansion for World of Warcraft.Finally, Blizzard will have Diablo 3 available to play, but you're probably doing that now anyway.
Mists of Pandaria cinematic to debut at Gamescom 2012
One of my first memories of World of Warcraft is the opening cinematic, shown to me by my wife in an attempt to interest me in playing. And it worked. The cinematic was gorgeous and evocative and did an excellent job of selling me on the world, setting up its conflicts. Quite frankly, that cinematic almost got me to play a mage, because if you saw that dude in action throwing fireballs at infernals, you knew he meant business. Each cinematic to follow has served as a standard bearer for the expansion in question, and whether or not you liked them as much (my favorite WoW cinematic is still the Wrath of the Lich King opening), you can't say they weren't visually amazing. So I've been waiting and waiting for this news, and at last it's here: Blizzard is debuting the Mists of Pandaria cinematic at this year's Gamescom. That's right, it's going to debut Thursday, August 16. What does that mean for the idea of a late August launch date? Well, it makes me slightly more confident in it, that's for sure. If you're going to be at Gamescom anyway, you should definitely check this out. If, like me, you won't be, you can anxiously check every five minutes or so until it's posted somewhere online. [Thanks Bob Borst for the tip!] It's open warfare between Alliance and Horde in Mists of Pandaria, World of Warcraft's next expansion. Jump into five new levels with new talents and class mechanics, try the new monk class, and create a pandaren character to ally with either Horde or Alliance. Look for expansion basics in our Mists FAQ, or dig into our spring press event coverage for more details!
Mists of Pandaria opening cinematic will premiere at Gamescom 2012
Folks attending Gamescom 2012 in Cologne, Germany, will be the first to feast their eyes on the opening cinematic for World of Warcraft's next expansion, Mists of Pandaria. Blizzard will also be showcasing the game itself as well as Diablo III and StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm. Players can check out the games and also meet members of the development team. If you happen to be at the convention, be sure to check out the company's booth in Halle 6.1 (B21) at the Koelnmesse.
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Castlevania: LoS sequel publicly playable at Gamescom
Konami is bringing some treats to Germany's Gamescom this August, whipping up playable versions of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate and Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance for attendees. The company will also have a studio on the show floor, where it will broadcast news, interviews and other content; all available through various social media networks.Gamescom will be the first time the public has the chance to cut up the competition in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, which will be avaiable "in the beginning of 2013" for Xbox 360 and PS3. This fall's 3DS game, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow - Mirror of Fate, which takes place 25 years after the events of the console Lords of Shadow, will also be available in a "playable version".There's also a soccer game called PES 2013. You know, if Europeans would be into such a thing.
EA and Sony will attend Gamescom 2012
Electronic Arts and Sony, the two companies which hold annual press conferences at Gamescom, are both confirmed for the European mega show."We are definitely committed to Gamescom – love that show and the people who attend it," EA corporate communications SVP Jeff Brown told Joystiq. "We're planning the press conference for the day before the show and will send out invites in the next couple of weeks."Sony has been a little trickier to nail down, with Sony America deferring to Sony Europe, and the latter still figuring out an official response. However, Koelnmesse, the organizers of Gamescom, tell us, "Yeah Sony is coming, even though there was a strange article that question marked it a week ago... but they are coming for sure!"Microsoft and Nintendo have decided not to attend the show, which last year drew in 275,000 attendees and is easily the largest gaming expo in the world.
Microsoft skipping Tokyo Game Show and Gamescom to focus on 'smaller, more localized promotions'
Microsoft's scaling back its three-fold approach to annual gaming conventions, today announcing that it'll skip both Germany's Gamescom in August and Japan's Tokyo Game Show in September. "This year, Xbox will be focusing on smaller, more localized promotions and experiences for press, partners, retailers and customers around the world," Microsoft director of programming Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb said on his blog this morning.As a result of that "smaller, more localized" marketing focus, Microsoft's wares "won't be taking part in Gamescom or Tokyo Games Show this year." Hryb noted that "both are still important shows for the industry, and we do wish the organizers well." Microsoft is the second of the big three console manufacturers to bow out of Gamescom, with Nintendo announcing as much earlier this year. Microsoft also attended its last Consumer Electronics Show this past January, signaling to many that the company was turning to Apple-style one-off press events.The Kirkland, Washington-based publisher showed off Halo 4 and "Smart Glass" as major components of its E3 2012 press conference. The company is apparently confident enough in its already announced holiday lineup to skip the largest public game show on the planet.
No Call of Duty XP event planned for 2012
The Call of Duty franchise won't get its own dedicated expo in 2012, Activision confirmed to Joystiq. Last year's Call of Duty XP event was used to celebrate the franchise's huge fan base, while also setting the stage for Activision to reveal the Call of Duty Elite service.Rather than hold the event, an Activision representative said that the company's plan is to put more of an emphasis on Cologne, Germany's Gamescom event this August. Activision didn't rule out the possibility of Call of Duty XP returning in the future.Last year's event was the public, hands-on debut of Modern Warfare 3 from Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games. Proceeds from tickets sold to the event went to Activision's Call of Duty Endowment charity.
Sega also skipping Gamescom
Sega has decided to opt out of this year's Gamescom trade show, joining the likes of Nintendo and THQ as a proud member of the "Eh, Maybe Next Year" Club. Essentially, having a presence at a show in August (even if it is the largest gaming show in the entire world) just doesn't jive well enough with Sega's 2012 release calendar: "Unfortunately the release timing of our 2012 AAA titles and new projects don't work with the mid- August scheduling of the show," reads a statement made by Sega to GamesIndustry. "The decision will not mean that Sega will never attend Gamescom in the future, this was simply a commercial decision made for 2012." Maybe the German market for interactive gaming toilets isn't as booming as originally thought?
Nintendo not attending Gamescom 2012
Nintendo Germany will not be attending the Gamescom convention in Cologne this summer, reports VG247. Instead of attending the massive event, Nintendo will be hosting "a number of sampling events throughout Germany" allowing fans to try out the Wii, 3DS and, of course, the upcoming Wii U.Nintendo's absence is notable for a couple of reasons. First, the company always attends the convention. Second, skipping the largest games convention on the planet seems like a strange choice, especially given that Nintendo is releasing a brand new console later this year. Gamescom 2011 drew in 275,000 attendees from around the globe. That's a lot of hearts and minds that could be swayed with a little hands-on Wii U time. To put that in perspective, see the video above? That was Gamescom 2011. Now imagine all those people not playing a Wii U.Nintendo's statement regarding the matter – which sheds no light on the company's reasoning – can be found after the break.
Gamescom selling Saturday tickets in advance to avoid shutdown repeat
Gamescom, the largest gaming convention on the planet, which welcomed 275,000 attendees in 2011 to Cologne, Germany, will pre-sell tickets to avoid last year's shutdown drama. The Koelnmesse will only sell tickets for Saturday online this year, with no tickets available at the door for that day.This is how it'll work: interested attendees need to register on the Gamescom website by March 17. In April, registered subscribers will receive an email with a code to purchase tickets early. The code will grant access to the Saturday tickets and tickets for any other public days ahead of the general public."The exclusive advance sales option will assist in better predicting visitor numbers and with other measures will help us optimize the admission situation especially on Saturday," said Gamescom project manager Tim Endres.Last year's show got dangerously uncomfortable, as event organizers closed off entrances to the facility "temporarily" when the Koelnmesse hit its capacity of 62,000 people. Lines outside the complex were even worse, as ticket holders couldn't enter and crowds began amassing outside. These advance ticket sales are clearly a response to last year and will hopefully keep everyone safe.
