Mercenaries-2
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Mercenaries 3 footage gives taste of canceled game
When Pandemic shut down last year, it took several projects with it. Kotaku has obtained footage of what was to become Mercenaries 3: No Limits. It would appear this game is not related to the announced Mercs Inc., which is currently on assignment in Limbo. The showreel is rough, giving an idea of new game concepts and revealing a character who sounds a little like Uncharted's Elena after swallowing bad-girl pills. Head on over to Kotaku to see the Mercenaries that once upon a time you may have been able to eventually pay for.
Gitcha SecuROM de-authorization tools! Git'em ova hur!
EA's perpetual joke -- on you -- comes to an ironic end on April Fools' Day with the release of de-authorization tools for each of its 19 PC games with SecuROM copy protection (full list and download links after the break). If you've been working on that class action lawsuit against EA for bundling SecuROM with The Sims 2: IKEA Home Stuff, you can drop it now -- your flat-pack furniture can finally be moved to a new machine. In the spirit of generosity, EA's giving you two options for managing your authorizations: Option 1: Download and install yet another "tool" in order to scan your computer for EA's SecuROM games and find out how many computer authorizations you have (or don't have) left for each title. Option 2: Cut to the chase and download the game-specific de-authorization tool you need.
Mirror's Edge and Mercenaries 2 fail to excite Japan
Anecdotal evidence suggests that neither Mirror's Edge nor Mercenaries 2 took off in Japan. This picture shows stacks of new copies of both games on sale for ¥1,980 ($21). Mirror's Edge was released on December 11 in Japan, and Mercenaries 2 followed one week later. Both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions are marked down, so the blame for poor sales doesn't fall solely on 360's lowly reputation in Japan. Japan has no rental services, so people tend to buy games, complete them immediately, and then sell them back to stores asap, before the prices are slashed, leading to a precipitous drop in used prices of popular games. Even that isn't the case here -- these games are new, and retailer Sofmap's website shows used copies of Mirror's Edge at ¥4,780 for PS3 and 360, while new copies are marked down to a mere ¥1,980. Would Mirror's Edge have benefited from a lead character redesigned for Asian audiences? Maybe, if that redesign had also encompassed not making the game a first-person shooter.
Target clearance: Too Human, Mercenaries 2, Fracture and others
Everyone's favorite aggressive clearance retailer, Target, is discounting their old video game stock. This means that your local Target has cut the price of Xbox 360 titles including Fracture, Virtua Fighter 5, Too Human, Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise and others by as much as 30%. Playstation 3 titles including Mercenaries 2, Web of Shadows, EndWar and others have also seen a price cut. As always, your mileage may vary depending on your local store's selection and price cutting schedule.For those willing to tempt fate by not making a purchase just yet, expect what's left of the clearance selection to be discounted by as much as 50% in the next week or so. It's Target tradition.
FanPoll'08: Most Disappointing Game or Issue
While 2008 certainly brought us new and exciting titles, we did encounter our fair share of disappointments. Surprisingly, some of our biggest disappointments came from titles we actually loved due to issues that drove us mad! Online problems and game ending glitches broke pieces of our favorite titles. Bugs may just be bugs but sometimes they destroy an entire experience, for example the broken online play and subsequent four-month-long wait for a patch kept one of our favorite XBLA titles -- Castle Crashers -- off our XBLA Game of the Year list. That in mind along with other titles we were really hoping would be fantastic or bug free in spots, here are our nominees for Most Disappointing Game or Issue of 2008.Read more about these five nominees:Castle Crashers Online ProblemsGears of War 2 Matchmaking IssuesMercenaries 2: World in FlamesMirror's EdgeFable II Game Ending BugsVoting closes at 12:01am on December 30, 2008. Results will be revealed on December 30, 2008. <a href ="http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/1226535/" >FanPoll'08: Most Disappointing Game / Issue</a> <br/> <span style="font-size:9px;"> (<a href ="http://www.polldaddy.com"> polls</a>)</span>
Mercs 2 Blow it Up Again DLC available for free
Releasing a day earlier than expected is new Mercenaries 2: World in Flames downloadable content. Available for 0 Microsoft points (that mean it's free), you can own your very own Blow it Up Again DLC and be the talk of town. The 377MB download adds four new missions to the mix along with some patriotic characters. The bigger question remains ... will it be grenades or TNT?
Mercenaries 2 is ready to Blow It Up Again
Because they're aware your interest in Mercenaries 2: World in Flames has probably dwindled, EA and Pandemic Studios are set to release a new bundle of Blow It Up Again content pack joy. It's destructive DLC. This expansion content is scheduled for release on Tuesday, December 16th and will be 100% FREE throughout the rest of the year. Included will be four additional game modes as well as a few "patriotic characters" to wreak havoc with. Per the Blow It Up Again teaser trailer, we're moderately impressed, because it looks so darn boom-riffic! [Via TeamXbox, Thanks Lightsout565]
EA: 'There will be a Mercenaries 3'
EA boss John Riccitielo is the latest company bigwig talking up more sequels, just as his publishing megalith struck gold with Dead Space, one of the best original titles it's had in years. This time it's Mercenaries, which Riccitielo confirmed will see a third installment developed by series creator Pandemic. "There will be a Mercenaries 3," Riccitielo said during an investor call, adding, "and, if I have anything to do with it, there will be a Mercenaries 10." With nearly two million copies sold worldwide, a sequel to the open-world action game was a given ... but another seven beyond that? Mattias will be 'jacking other residents' wheelchairs at the mercenary retirement home by that point.
Palin and Obama team up and blow sh-t up (as Mercenaries 2 DLC)
Have you ever wanted to see Republican darling Sarah Palin grab a bazooka and shoot down a moose a tank? Do you wonder if Socialist Democrat Obama is capable of taking on terrorists ... with his bare hands? Well, EA and Pandemic are letting you live out your wildest political dreams. Both Palin and Obama will be available as DLC characters for Mercenaries 2. Unlike Saints Row 2, Pandemic has created some truly accurate renders of these two candidates.We're not sure what the legal ramifications of creating such accurate character models will be. At the very least, they can say the in-game Sarah Palin is actually Tina Fey. As for Obama? Well, we don't think he minds being in video games. See the trailer, after the cut. And then, don't forget that election day is on November 4th.[Via Joystiq]
Mercenaries 2 Trophy patch now available in Europe
It's raining trophies. We honestly didn't expect so many games to have Trophies patched in, not to mention all these great games that are being released with built-in Trophy support. Anyone else notice how EA is doing a marvelous job of pushing its developers to add the functionality? Dead Space, Mirror's Edge, Battlefield: Bad Company, Burnout Paradise. Hats off to them. Mercenaries 2 is no exception and the Trophy patch has now gone live in Europe. No doubt it'll reach the US sometime later today, if it hasn't already. We'll keep you informed.[UPDATE] The patch is now available in the US, too. Thanks to everyone who emailed us to let us know.
Trophies: Mercenaries 2
1 Platinum4 Gold11 Silver24 Bronze Difficulty: Very Difficult Online Trophies? Yes Time to Completion: 30 hoursDLC Trophies? No View Trophy List Read More About the Game %Gallery-30600%
Mercenaries 2 'Total Payback' update is M.I.A.
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames fanboys who were excited to get their hands on the new Total Payback title update will, sadly, be dissapointed. Pandemic Studios has yet to release the new update, which was supposed to release on October 13th. The Mercenaries 2 forums are abuzz with angry gamers, so much so that forum moderators have been deleting threads that make mention of the Total Paypack update being delayed. We aren't sure what Pandemic's reason is for the delay or when it'll finally be released, but we've contacted them for comment and will update when we hear back.[Thanks, Chris]
Deals: Mercenaries 2 for $45, free gift card with 360 and more
As is customary every Sunday, we diligently looked through the Sunday retail ads on the search for Xbox 360 related deals, discounts and offers. So here you go shoppers, enjoy the money savings fruit of our ad searching labor.Starting off with Best Buy, they're giving away a free RC Centaur tank with Gears of War 2: CE pre-orders (available when game picked up) and Toys R Us has the Guitar Hero: Aerosmith bundle for $79. Over at Circuit City, they're giving away a free $20 game with purchase of an Xbox 360 Elite, are giving out life-size Tony Parker growth charts with NBA Live 09, and they're selling Mercenaries 2 to $45. Finally, Target stores are offering a free $40 gift card with the purchase of NBA Live 09 and an Xbox 360 Pro 60GB. Shop on!
Mercenaries 2 'Total Payback' update coming this month
Did you enjoy Mercenaries 2? Don't answer that just now, because it's not over yet. EA has announced that a patch will be made available for the PS3 version on October 20th. This patch will add a few new features to the game (even though you'll probably be too busy playing Dead Space to notice.) First on the list are cheats, which will allow you to access all the weapons and give yourself infinite ammo and health. Because a game with no challenges is extra fun, right?The patch will also include six new characters to play as. It will also allow for cross-region co-op play, so you can play with your pals across the world. Not bad for a free update. EA also states that more downloadable content will be following in November, though we suspect this is probably of the paid-for variety. Still, fans of the game have plenty to look forward to. For the rest of us, we'll have to keep ourselves busy with the ridiculous avalanche of games that's about to fall on top of us.[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]
Mercenaries 2 receives Total Payback on Oct. 13th
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames will be receiving it's first ever title update on Monday, October 13th with the release of a "Total Payback" update that's aimed at connecting gamers from around the world, adding more variety and enabling cheaters to, well ... cheat. The Total Payback update will add an additional six characters to the Mercenaries 2 mix, give players the ability to enter cheats and (this one's a biggie) enable cross-region support of Xbox Live multiplayer. Huzzah! Again, this is an update, meaning it'll be applied instantly and for free come October 13th.Also, Pandemic revealed that they'll be releasing the first set of Mercs 2 downloadable content sometime this November. So, keep an eye out for that.[Thanks, Fox]
American PSN releases for September 18th
If you ask us, Europe wins this week. But two demos are never to be sniffed at. The Call of Duty 4 map pack has lowered in price to $4.99 until the 25th, in case you haven't already picked that up. Please be sure to check out the Valkyria Chronicles video if you're even slightly intrigued in that game. Or even if you're not. Here's the full release list:Playable content Fracture demo Mercenaries 2 demo Add-on content Rock Band DLC (listed after the cut) Call of Duty 4 Map Pack (repriced to $4.99 until the 25th)
Mercenaries 2 demo now on Xbox Live
So, are we posting about a demo for Mercenaries 2 (that just arrived on Xbox Live) solely so we can have an excuse to share "Oh No You Didn't," which somehow, mysteriously, has eluded our grasp for weeks? Possibly. We hope you can forgive us. If you came here for actual demo information rather than hilarious song stylings, you should know that it only pays out 20 minutes of fun before it shuts the whole operation down and kicks you to the dashboard. If you're looking for a really meaty taste, you may want to turn to renting.
Mercenaries 2 demo explodes onto Xbox Live
Three days after Pandemic announced that a Mercenaries 2 demo was on Xbox Live Marketplace, it finally emerges. Where was it hiding? We're not sure. Venezuela perhaps. Regardless of where it's been, it's available now for anyone who wants to give its particular brand of open world destruction a try. Be warned though, the demo only lasts for twenty minutes, and the timer doesn't reset when you die, and it boots you back to the dashboard when time is up. Better get that destruction in while you can (and hope that you can figure the game out without a tutorial).
Mercenaries 2 demo NOT on the Marketplace
Last night, Pandemic sent word to the internets informing everyone that the promised Mercenaries 2: World in Flames demo was released to the Xbox Live Marketplace for download. And even though they sent word, it doesn't mean it's true, because it simply isn't there. We're sure the Mercenaries 2 demo will eventually make its way to the XBLM (probably sooner than later), but right this moment we aren't seeing it. Keep your mercenary eyes peeled and your mercenary ears perked ...[Thanks, Rob]
Mercs 2 gas giveaway causes 'chaos' in London
While a similar publicity stunt in LA went off with relatively little drama, it appears the Mercenaries 2 petrol giveaway in London was "irresponsible and dangerous," according to local residents. The BBC reports that traffic was gridlocked as drivers waited to get their £40-worth ($70) of gratis gas. The promotion started at 6:30AM and ran until police apparently shut it down. Local residents were quite upset about the traffic and honking the stunt caused in their neighborhood. Lynne Featherstone, MP for the district, stated that while a lucky few got free gas, "hundreds of residents have faced misery." She's demanding an apology. We're sure that EA is real sorry about all the free publicity and we're positive those people with tanks full of free gas are even more sympathetic. [Thanks to all who sent this in.]
