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Borderlands planning on October release
Gearbox has confirmed its casual E3 mention to Joystiq that it plans to release Borderlands this October. A company representative told us today that it's looking forward to breaking new ground this fall when the "role-playing shooter with strong co-op and split-screen gameplay" is released. The rep also confirmed that the post-apocalyptic action game will launch simultaneously on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.Borderlands had been banging around for a while, then disappeared for an awkward period of time before ultimately reemerging – think: butterfly – with a new art style, which freshened up the title and removed it from "Fallout clone" territory. We'll have our E3 impression of the title up soon.%Gallery-51471%
Overheard@E3: Hilarity abound at Borderlands demo
"This spider has a weak point right there, so ... see! You can blow his ass-sack apart. Well, that sounded bad."-- Gearbox founder Randy PitchfordThen, not three minutes later:"Yes. Yes! That midget's on fire!" -- Gearbox founder Randy Pitchford
E3 2009: Borderlands teaser trailer provides first glimpse of gameplay
Life's tough in the lawless lands of Borderlands. You have to watch out for machete-wielding maniacs, gigantic saw blade-wielding death machines, and the pincer-equipped beasts that roam the lands looking for human blood. But, hey, as deadly a place as it is, at least it looks damn good.You can catch the new trailer past the break.%Gallery-51471%
Gearbox eyes undiscovered design talent with 'COGS' program
Gearbox Software, developer of Borderlands and Aliens: Colonial Marines, is offering a unique opportunity to talented gamers with aspirations of actually designing games. Dubbed "COGS" ("Contractors of Gearbox Software"), this summer program will let selected applicants work alongside Gearbox staff on titles currently in production.The company is seeking applicants who have designed levels, mods or gameplay, but who are not currently employed at a development studio. Submissions can be made via Gearbox's cogs.gearboxsoftware.com site and are being accepted through May 20. The program itself begins June 15, with the company stating that those who make it through may find themselves with an extended apprenticeship -- or even a full-time gig.
Gearbox Software is hiring, Aliens: Colonial Marines still in development
Aliens: Colonial Marines, one of the three Alien titles allegedly in production, has had a lot of ups and downs over the past six months. First we were unclear whether layoffs at developer Gearbox Software would affect the title, then we were assured it was to be released in Q1 2009, then we were tipped it was supposedly canceled -- so what's actually going on with the game? Well, we're still not really sure. Shacknews noticed that over on Gearbox's website, the company is recruiting for "all projects," and furthermore, the Alien project was listed at time of press as "in-development" (currently it lists development as "TBA," having updated that specific page on the website as of today). We contacted Steve Gibson, marketing director for Gearbox, to ask about the recent news and if Aliens: Colonial Marines is still being developed by the studio. "Neither Sega nor Gearbox have ever announced any status changes. We're not making any announcements at this time beyond that we are recruiting for all projects," he told us this morning. While not directly confirming the continued development of the game, Mr. Gibson's answer leads us to believe that, as the game has never been officially canceled, the studio is still working on it. As you're likely used to hearing around this time of year, we're just going to have to wait 'til E3 to find out for sure what's going on.
A bunch of totally not cel-shaded Borderlands images
We really aren't going to get into a semantic discussion about Borderlands' new art style, so feel free to call it cel-shaded or illustrative, it's all marketing-speak bullet-points to us at this stage. Thing is, the game looks totally different than it did back in the day. We're just curious to see what Borderlands looks like in action now, and we'll hopefully have that chance at E3, commencing in just a little over a month. Check out the gallery below for new images (for the internets, at least), and be sure to click the hi-res button in the gallery to embiggen.%Gallery-51471%
Borderlands decides on new 'pretty impressive, even shocking' art style [update]
As we recently reported, Gearbox's Borderlands has been running dark for a while and has now emerged with a whole new art style. The latest issue of PC Gamer apparently has images of the Mad Max simulator's new art direction, which appears to be an illustrative or cel-shaded style -- say goodbye to Borderlands' previous Fallout 3-esque motif.Gearbox states on its community boards that the change was made to make a more "visually interesting experience." Allegedly, the gameplay hasn't been affected by the new art style -- not that we'd know, considering we've never actually touched the game, which is supposed to come out later this year.[Via Big Download]Update: Gearbox Studio head Randy Pitchford has sent out a statement (posted after the break) that the game's art style is not "cel-shaded." We've also learned that web-ready images will hopefully be available for consumption by the internet on Monday, and the game should be on display -- possibly playable -- at E3.The PC Gamer cover [above; in full after break] features "an in-game screenshot with no post process," giving us an idea of the new art style and rendering tech.
2K: Gearbox's 'Borderlands' still has a pulse
A 2K representative let Borderlands ping back and show that "it's still on the radar." CVG reports that the Gearbox developed title is still allegedly on track for a release "later this year."Popping up sporadically over the last couple years, Borderlands hasn't really been shown publicly and has had some minor behind-closed-doors presentations with the press. At this point, your guess is as good as ours as to what the final product actually looks like. We hear that E3 may change that.
Rumor: Sega pulls funding on Aliens: Colonial Marines, Aliens RPG
Sega has allegedly pulled funding from both Obsidian's Aliens RPG and Gearbox's Aliens: Colonial Marines, sources have revealed to Joystiq. Supposedly, 20 people were laid off from Obsidian yesterday and more could soon lose their jobs. The layoffs also affected the team working on Alpha Protocol, another Obsidian-developed, Sega-published title. Without the Aliens RPG, Obsidian is apparently on the ropes, our sources say. As for Gearbox, Sega allegedly stopped paying the developer for its work on Colonial Marines for "a while" -- production has since ceased. At this point, it's unclear whether Colonial Marines has been "halted" or "canceled," which Gearbox president Randy Pitchford – in response to a previous rumor – called an "inaccurate characterization." This rumor comes less than 24 hours after Sega announced Aliens vs. Predator and refused to answer questions about the previously announced Aliens titles. Sega turning off the money tap wouldn't exactly be shocking, given the company plans to lay off 560 people and already lost $119 million in the first three quarters of its fiscal year. Requests for clarification from Sega and Gearbox on the status of the titles have not yet been returned as of press time. An Obsidian representative responded with "no comment" to our inquiry. If you're one of those let go, or have any further information, please feel free to contact us.
It's not game over, man! Aliens: Colonial Marines and Alpha Protocol to see Q1 09 release
Aliens: Colonial Marines will see life on the current crop of HD-consoles and PCs within the first quarter of 2009, SEGA confirmed today. Late last year rumblings were the upcoming shooter's future was in jeopardy when rumors surfaced that SEGA had cut funding on the project after Gearbox Software's Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway saw lower than expected sales results, which prompted Gearbox President Randy Pitchford to release a statement denying the game had been canned.In a comment to Videogamer, SEGA confirmed the game based on the popular film franchise will release sometime between April and June; the first three months of the Japanese company's fiscal year. SEGA also confirmed the upcoming Obsidian Entertainment developed action-RPG Alpha Protocol will release within the same quarter.
Status of 'Aliens: Colonial Marines' muddled in Gearbox layoffs
The development status of Aliens: Colonial Marines is currently about as convoluted as Weyland-Yutani's interest in the xenomorph. Following reports that the title had been canceled, developer Gearbox's president, Randy Pitchford, has stated the game has not been "canned."Originally, Shacknews reported that Gearbox let go of about 15-25 employees, with the site's sources claiming Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway's poor retail performance and the "stoppage of work" on Aliens were the reason for the layoffs. Pitchford reiterated to the site that it was an "inaccurate characterization" that production on the game had been "halted." Questions about Aliens: Colonial Marines' quality and condition have hung over the title since E3.
Deal of the Night: Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway at $40
Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway is a relatively new title. It was just released almost exactly one month ago. It's a first-person shooter, which means it's a dime a dozen; there are already a lot of them to go around. To help make it stand out of the crowd and appear more visible, Amazon has the title discounted by 33 percent with a $20 savings. If you're looking for a new World War II shooter and are on a budget, $40 for Hell's Highway doesn't sound too bad.[Thanks Juan P.!]
X3F TV -- Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway Review
Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway marks the first time the critically acclaimed World War II shooter has made its way to the Xbox 360 generation. Known for a dramatic look at the relationships and emotions of war, Hell's Highway continues the story of Staff Sergeant Matt Baker as his squad of 101st Airborne Division veterans this time as they push through the ultimately flawed plan of Operation Market Garden. How does the latest from publisher Ubisoft and developer Gearbox Software stack up? Check out our full video review. [iTunes] Subscribe to X3F TV directly in iTunes.[Zune] Subscribe to the X3F TV directly.[RSS] Add the X3F TV feed to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically.[MP4] Download the M4V directly.
Hell's Highway demo burns up the XBLM
Newly available on the Xbox Live Marketplace is a Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway demo that (unlike the game's title sort of suggests) doesn't involve Satan or let you pave roads. The demo requires roughly 1.32GB of hard drive storage and should give you a taste of the look, feel and amount of violence the retail version of Hell's Highway has in store. Go ahead and give the demo a try because, really, what's the worst that could happen? A few gigs of your hard drive lost, a few hours of your life wasted and the corruption of your gaming soul?
Variety: Gearbox approached about Halo Game
Following up on yesterday's rumor out of OXM that Gearbox may be handling Halo 4, Variety's Ben Fritz reports that his source close to the dev confirms that it "has definitely had conversations with Microsoft about doing a new Halo game and is very excited at the prospect," but that "there was no deal in place." For those who might not remember, Gearbox has a history with the Halo franchise, having handled the PC version of the original game.Fritz reckons it's "quite possible" Gearbox will helm a new Halo project ... it's just "not a certainty yet." If it happens, that would make at least four Halo-related titles in the works: Halo Wars; the Halo game that Bungie was supposed to reveal at E3; Peter Jackson's interactive take on the Halo universe; and whatever Gearbox may or may not be crafting. Given that OXM's rumor regarding Halo 4 as a launch title for 360's successor (if there even is one), we should expect to hear something official either way in, oh, the next year or two.
OXM: Halo 4 in development by Gearbox
Filed under juicy Halo rumor news, we have information coming from the pages of the latest issue of OXM that tells us that Halo 4 is currently in development, but NOT by Bungie Studios. According to OXM, Halo 4 is currently being developed by non other than Gearbox Software ( Halo PC anyone?) and is being worked on for release as a launch title on the next Xbox console. ZOMG! Funny thing about the rumor is that, earlier this year, Gearbox's head honcho Randy Pitchford mentioned that they were working on a super secret project that is "even bigger" than anything they've ever worked on before. Halo 4 definitely fits that bill.
OXM rumor: Gearbox developing Halo 4 as launch title for next Xbox
Remember back in February when Gearbox Software big boss Randy Pitchford teased his studio's next project as something "big"? Well, not just "big" but something that was "even bigger" than anything Gearbox is currently working on? Well, the kids at OXM sure remembered and they sent their spies deep undercover into Gearbox territory and came back with one heck of a rumor for their October issue: Gearbox is working on Halo 4 as a launch title for the next Xbox (NextBox?).With Bungie admittedly uninterested in creating Halo games ad nauseum, and Gearbox one of the industry's top FPS developers, we've certainly heard crazier rumors. And there are few licenses that would get a studio chieftain to inadvertently slam his own games in development. Whatever the project is, Pitchford has said he'll be directing it himself, adding, "When you find out what this is, you'll likely agree that I can't oversell this one." Nope, you probably couldn't Randy. Overselling Halo is Microsoft's job anyway; you guys just make with the shooting of the aliens ... no, the other aliens.[Thanks for the tip, Jordan!]
Hell's Highway pushed back to September
The paved, petulant path past purgatory has been politely pushed to September. Speaking to Shacknews, Gearbox president Randy Pitchford said Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway will miss its August 26 release date. A precise date is as-of-yet undecided, but Pitchford noted that "late September is the anniversary of Operation Market Garden, so I think it would be really poetic if the game launched on the anniversary." Market Garden serves as a basis for Hell's Highway and occured September 17 to 25, 1944. Online retailers Gamestop and Amazon are listing the game's release for September 23.
Rumor: 'Not final' box totally gives away Samba maracas
"Not Final Packaging." Yeah. Sure. Whatever, Sega.We've always believed that the Wii version of Samba de Amigo would be lacking without a maraca peripheral of some description, and it appears we're not alone: Sega itself has already hinted (warning: prepare your retinas before hitting that link) that it was looking into the situation, and now this box has appeared on the site of UK retailer HMV.Because we're pros, we're going to label this as "rumor" until Sega removes that unnecessary disclaimer. But let's be honest: if you seriously believe some art dude wasted his time randomly designing a bigger-than-usual box with fictional maracas on the front, you probably believe that the Komodo dragon lays its eggs in November. In other words, you'd be a gullible idiot.%Gallery-20601%[Thanks, Bryan!]
