q4 2011
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Battlefield 3's 'Back to Karkand' expansion arrives on PS3 Dec. 6, 360 and PC on Dec. 13
As promised, EA and DICE are delivering Battlefield 3's first expansion, "Back to Karkand," in December, though today we learned from the Battlefield blog that there's a specific date: December 6. Given that all of Battlefield 3's expansions will arrive one week early on PlayStation 3, the Xbox 360 and PC versions of said DLC won't arrive until December 13. If you've missed the variety of videos showcasing Back to Karkand, the pack is composed of four maps from previous Battlefield games, all remade in Battlefield 3's "Frostbite 2.0" game engine. Put more simply: there will be a few more places to murder folks online, as well as a variety of new vehicles with which to do so. The pack will be free for folks who picked up the "Limited Edition" version of BF3 at launch, and will cost $15 for the have-nots.
New Xbox Dashboard brings Cloud storage, Beacons, and more on December 6
Despite a 2AM email announcing it, we managed to find out that December 6 is the big day for Microsoft's next Xbox 360 dashboard update. Major Nelson reconfirmed as much this morning on his blog, noting the variety of new features that the update will bring: cloud storage for games saves and profiles, beacons and Facebook sharing, "enhanced family settings," a more thorough set of voice commands with Kinect, and, of course, Bing voice search (US, UK, and Canada). Beyond the new functionality, the Dashboard will see a visual redesign, and the introduction of "customized applications for television, movies, internet videos, sports and music" (YouTube, cable TV, and so forth). Frankly, we're just eager to keep talking to a machine instead of leaving the couch.
HP releases Q4 2011 earnings: $9.7 billion operating profit for fiscal year
It hasn't been the best year for HP, what with the demise of webOS and the uncertainty surrounding its status as a PC maker. But, Meg Whitman hasn't taken the bridge of a sunken ship, though things are far from peachy keen. HP just posted its Q4 2011 earnings, and the company cleared a healthy $9.7 billion operating profit in 2011, though that's down 10 percent from last year. Total revenue for the quarter was 32.1 billion, a three percent decline from 2010. And, for those wondering just how much the death of webOS cost the company? Turns out that dalliance took a $3.3 billion chunk out of HP's bottom line. So, the news isn't the best for you HP fans, but we'll be listening in on the earnings call later today, so stay tuned for more details. Impatient folks can find plenty more financial figures in the Source link and PR that follow. Update: CEO Meg Whitman and CFO Cathie Lesjac were on the call, and while specifics were hard to come by, they did let loose a couple hints regarding the company's future direction. Meg once again assured us all that HP and PSG are meant to be together, so the king of PC makers plans to keep its crown. Additionally, both bigwigs stressed that the company will be plowing more of its money in 2012 into R&D to foster "organic innovation" instead of buying it through outside acquisitions. Given the massive case of buyer's remorse HP had this year, that's probably a pretty good idea.
Dead Island adds 'Bloodbath Arena' DLC on Nov. 22
While "Bloodbath Arena" remains an effective caption for the gruesome state of Dead Island, it's also a specific add-on coming to PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 on November 22. The DLC was delayed for a short stint after developer Techland decided to spend more time polishing the main game -- a process which was still ongoing with the release of last week's major console patch. Bloodbath Arena is free to customers who pre-ordered the Special Edition game, and costs $10 or 800 MS Points for everyone else. It offers four new arenas for single-player or co-op play, and challenges participants to execute and outlive multiple waves of zombies. So, it's a survival mode in which you face off against a constantly replenished force of snarling enemies. You could call it "Mob Mode" or something like "Enough Enemies to Warrant a Collective Noun Mode."
Ubisoft's 'Drawsome Tablet' coming to Wii on December 6
The "Project Intouch" tablet seen in a leaked Ubisoft video is now an official Ubisoft product. The Drawsome Tablet will be released on Wii (only in the US, for some reason) on December 6, packed with two games. Drawsome Artist is your basic drawing program, with the addition of both art tutorials and Smurfs. It features SD card saving for easy sharing of your creations. Drawsome Sketch Quest has up to four players draw missing parts of the environment to "help a variety of cute animals race through their world." As for the tablet itself, it includes a 6.5x5-inch drawing surface and a wireless stylus -- the competing uDraw is wired. Speaking of the competition, how irritated do you think Ubisoft was that THQ already took the "uDraw" name?
Rochard packs up its crates, moves to PC on November 15
Rochard will no longer be a PSN exclusive as of November 15, when Recoil Games uses its gravity gun to lift the puzzle-platformer from Sony's platform and deposit it on PC. It will be available through Steam for $9.99. Rochard gives the player control of a gun that can be used to lift and reposition objects, in addition to the ability to alter gravity in the rooms in which you are attempting the aforementioned lifting and/or repositioning.%Gallery-138669%
Chrono Cross, Final Fantasy 5 and 6 all coming to PSN in coming weeks
If you, like us, have felt jilted as other territories received a glut of Square Enix RPGs while the U.S. got table scraps, it's time to relieve yourself of your worries. PlayStation Blog has just announced the "Winter of RPGs" campaign, which will see the release of three much-desired PSOne Classics on the PSN: Chrono Cross, Final Fantasy 5 and Final Fantasy 6. You'll be able to grab the character-rich Chrono Cross next Tuesday, November 8, the career-oriented Final Fantasy 5 on November 22, and the positively operatic Final Fantasy 6 on December 6. It's nice that they'll finally be on there -- though forcing them to compete for our free time with Skyrim, Batman: Arkham City, Uncharted 3 and Assassin's Creed: Revelations seems, well, kind of mean.
Heavy Rain Director's Cut slated for November 8
Heavy Rain Director's Cut launches on November 8. In addition to scrapped content, the re-release also includes The Taxidermist DLC, the soundtrack, eight bonus making-of videos, a few themes, concept art and two trailers, PlayStation Blog reports. There's also a new front-end menu and UI with Move support. To celebrate the (re)launch, Sony's making the Heavy Rain Crime Scene Dynamic Theme available on PSN the same day. We're sure that'll fill the void in your heart left by the child you lost at the mall that one time. [Update: This post originally said the Director's Cut included the game's deleted scenes, which ... well, it doesn't. We apologize for the mistake, please don't drown us.]
Qualcomm announces Q4 earnings: rakes in $4.12 billion in revenue
The Qualcomm juggernaut just keeps on rolling. As the company's financial year comes to a close it's celebrating yet another stellar quarter, reporting $4.12 billion in revenue -- up 39-percent from the same time last year and a dramatic 14-percent higher than its Q3 earnings. Of that incoming green, $1.06 was profit. For the year as a whole, Qualcomm saw profits rise 31-percent over 2010 to $4.26 billion while revenues were 36-percent higher than last year, reaching $14.96 billion. Qualcomm exceed expectations not only for earnings but also sales -- moving 127 million MSM chips in Q4, when analysts were estimating between 120 and 125 million units sold. You'll find some PR after the break but, for all the pretty financial charts you'll have to hit up the source.
Corpse Party starts boogeyin' this November
On today of all days, the haunt of all haunts, Corpse Party publisher XSEED chose to announce a November launch for its upcoming download-only PSP horror title. And while XSEED is "sorry to have missed Halloween," this carton of rotten eggs we plan on throwing in the company's general direction just isn't hearing it, frankly. At very least, the publisher has a decent explanation for the missed opportunity. "We wanted to make certain everything was perfect," a statement from XSEED localization specialist Tom Lipschultz on the US PlayStation Blog reads. He unfortunately didn't nail down a solid date for the game's launch, but did drop a brand new trailer, as seen above.
Forza 4's 'November Speed Pack' roars to Xbox Live on Nov. 1
What, the hundreds of high-powered sports cars of Forza Motorsport 4 weren't enough to sate your autophillic desires? Oh, and you've already purchased the game's $30 Season Pass? Then you'll be happy to hear that another 10 cars are being added to the game via November's "Speed Pack." And they're free to you, you big Season Pass holder, you. For the rest of us, the pack runs 560 MS Points ($7), and includes everything from Lamborghini's 2012 Aventador LP700-4 to .... uh ... Ford's 2013 Focus ST. Hey, it's a fast little sport coupe! The pack becomes available this coming Tuesday, November 1, on Xbox Live Marketplace.
Dungeon Siege 3 digs up 'Treasures of the Sun' DLC
Those looking to squeeze a little more life out of Dungeon Siege 3 take note, as a fresh piece of downloadable content has just been released. Entitled "Treasures of the Sun," the DLC introduces the Aranoi Desert, in which "players will fight through hordes of new villains only to find a forgotten abbey hiding a long-lost secret: the greatest treasure of the Azunite faith." In addition to the new area, Treasures of the Sun also throws in new items and enemies, a new enchanting system and a selection of new character abilities. Beyond that, the level cap has been raised from 30 to 35 and players can even reallocate the points they've spent on talents and proficiencies. Interested dungeon delvers can snag the DLC for $10 on Xbox, PS3 and PC. %Gallery-137491%
Get the DSi XL in blue or pink this holiday
With the 3DS not doing as well as Nintendo would like, and with a pressing need to get the device in as many hands as possible before the Vita hits, it's issuing two new holiday bundles of ... the DSi XL. On November 6, you'll be able to get Nintendo's oversized handheld in new Midnight Blue or Metallic Rose colors, each with a copy of Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem, for the normal DSi XL price of $169.99. That's the same price as the 3DS, by the way. So, basically, these bundles are excellent competition for the new system.%Gallery-137457%
Sonic Generations dashes to 3DS November 22
We knew Sonic Generations was coming out on PS3 and Xbox 360 on November 1, but Sega has been quiet about the release window for the dual-screen, dual-hedgehog 3DS version. Today, Sega dismissed the building rumors that Generations on 3DS had been delayed until next year. The publisher announced that the 3DS game (which has almost entirely exclusive content) is just a bit slower than its speed-obsessed console counterparts, and as a result it'll hit stores on November 22.
Torchlight 2 still scheduled for late 2011 (barring death or illness)
Anticipated dungeon crawler Torchlight 2 has a minor update to its launch window, with Runic telling RunicGamesFanSite.com that the title is expected to launch during November or December ... unless "someone on the team dies." That's a far more calamitous caveat compared to what Runic told us when we checked in with the studio a couple weeks ago. "We're still definitely on track for 2011, but have to hit all our internal milestones before we can lock in a date," Runic community maven Wonder Russell told Joystiq. "With a team this small, if one of our three programmers gets the flu, we could be screwed." Torchlight fans should be sewing pillow suits of armor and force-feeding the devs their Flintstone vitamins, just to make sure that the $20 co-op dungeon crawler makes it out this year.
Gears of War 3 ventures into 'RAAM's Shadow' DLC this December
You can now count time travel and resurrection among the miracles made possible through DLC. Microsoft and Epic Games have announced "RAAM's Shadow," an add-on campaign for Gears of War 3 that precedes the events of the first game and brings back a few familiar, snarling faces. Due on Dec. 13, "RAAM's Shadow" sees Zeta Squad attempting to evacuate Illima City in the wake of Emergence Day. Your muscular protagonists for the trip are Michael Barrick (plucked from Gears of War comics), original character Alicia Valera, Gears of War 2's tattooed Tai Kaliso, and a perforation-free version of Lt. Kim. (Presumably, he's still got the codes.) RAAM's running time is pegged at three hours, and it offers a couple of other bonuses. For $15 / 1200 MSP you'll also get six more multiplayer characters, the "chocolate" weapon set (we're unclear if that refers to a color scheme or a dairy-based construction), Achievements amounting to 250 Gamerscore and -- oh, what's this? "In addition to fighting as a new squad of Gears, players will step into the boots of RAAM himself, and for the first time storm the human stronghold from the perspective of one of the series' most legendary bosses." As with the first round of upcoming DLC, "Horde Command," Gears of War 3 Season Pass owners get RAAM'd for free.%Gallery-137122%
Apple Q4 earnings fall short of expectations: $28.27 billion in revenue, $6.62 billion net profit
Apple's earnings for Q4 2011 are out, and the company has fallen short of expectations. It still managed to rake in $28.27 billion in revenue during the quarter -- up from $20.3 billion in Q4 2010 -- but that's quite a bit shy of the $29.6 billion or so analysts were counting on. Net profits came in at $6.62 billion, up considerably from the $4.3 billion seen in the same quarter last year, and Apple notes that it is indeed still a record quarter. In terms of products, the company announced that 17.07 million iPhones were sold in Q4 (a 21 percent jump from a year ago), along with 11.12 million iPads (a whopping 166 percent increase year-over-year), 4.89 million Macs (a 26 percent jump), and 6.62 million iPods (once again the one area that continues to decline, now down 27 percent from a year ago). Apple's cash pile on hand also continued to swell during the quarter, and now stands at around $84 billion. Press release is after the break.
Trails in the Sky finally flies to Europe on Nov. 4
Though Trails in the Sky has already been out in North America for long enough to be the subject of an Amazon Lightning Deal, European PSP owners are still waiting for this branch of Falcom's complicated family tree (unless they imported it). The wait is almost over: Ghostlight announced today that it will release Trails in the Sky in collector's edition format on November 4. The CE will include a soundtrack disc, along with a lovely turn-based role-playing game.
Gran Turismo 5 DLC delayed to October 25
When it comes to release dates pertaining to the Gran Turismo series, fans know better than to expect developer Polyphony Digital to actually meet those deadlines. It should come as no surprise, then, that Gran Turismo 5's first big DLC release, originally intended to launch on October 18, will now be drifting to October 25 in North America. As previously explained, the DLC can either be purchased in one big $11.99 bundle, or piecemeal as tracks, cars, racing gear, and paint jobs. Sony apologized for the delay but didn't provide a reason for it. Instead, the company will include a "special bonus" with the DLC on October 25, so you've got that going for you.
Batman: Arkham City swoops to PC on November 18
Warner Bros. has deemed today the day to reveal Batman: Arkham City's delayed PC launch date as November 18, one month to the day after its arrival on consoles. The Games for Windows version was delayed last month via a terse WB announcement, which didn't provide an explanation at the time. We can exclusively reveal why today: Bruce Wayne is exhausted, y'all. He's got a lot going on, between film and TV and video games, and he just needed a few weeks to chill. Okay, that and PC version bug fixes.
