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Citizens! Rise up against the alien scum by joining XCOM!
The time is now: war is upon us, and the alien invaders must be beaten back. Luckily for us, the aliens operate on a turn-by-turn basis, so there's plenty of time to decide how best to defend Earth. The XCOM awaits, soldier. The enemy, however, remains unknown.
Borderlands gets demade, is playable in your browser and totally rad
You wanna play Borderlands, but you're stuck at your job. Also, the new Borderlands still isn't out, and you've played so, so much of the first one. Or maybe you're only into 16-bit games? The Borderlands remake – an official part of the Borderlands 2 marketing campaign – is here, and it's pretty boss.Well, okay – it's as boss as a top down, 16-bit, browser-based rendition of Borderlands could possibly be. Incidentally, that's far, far more boss than we had imagined. What're you still doing here? Go play it!
Co-opinion: XCOM: Enemy Unknown multiplayer
.portal-left { padding: 10px; background: #CCC; margin: 20px 0; min-height: 85px; } .portal-right { padding: 10px; margin: 20px 0; min-height: 85px; } .portal-right img { padding-left: 5px; } .portal-left img { padding-right: 5px; } Richard Mitchell: So Alexander and I got a chance to try out the XCOM: Enemy Unknown multiplayer mode at Gamescom. Both of us played single-player before, so we had some idea of what we were getting into – but multiplayer is an entirely different beast. Using a pool of points, players "purchase" the units that will comprise their team: XCOM soldiers, aliens, or a mix of both. The standard match has a pool of 10,000 points and a turn time of 90 seconds. For this press demo, we had a whopping 20,000 points and 120 seconds. It sounds like a lot of time, but it wasn't – more on that in a bit. What units did you pick? (Keep in mind, folks, I had no idea what I was going to face on the field, and neither did Alexander.) Alexander Sliwinski: I believe in the power of humanity! Actually, no, it's mostly that I'd never played an XCOM game prior to the E3 demo, and I had no idea about each race's powers. So, I went with three human soldiers, two Thin Men and then spent a massive 7,300 points on an assault gunner with an alloy cannon. I figured I'd wipe out any alien scum you threw at me.%Gallery-162799%
99 problems for Jay-Z and an executive producer gig for NBA 2K13 is one of them
Shawn "JAY Z" Carter-Knowles will serve as the executive producer of NBA 2K13, 2K Sports announced this morning. Mr. Z will curate the soundtrack and "lend artistic vision" to the world's top (by default for past few years) NBA video game.Jay-Z's selection of 24 songs (including six of his own tracks) for the game's soundtrack can be found after the break. NBA 2K13 will hit the court on October 2.
Take-Two investor call theme: Where's Grand Theft Auto 5?
The first half of Take-Two's question and answer session, during today's first quarter investor call, revolved around the theme of Grand Theft Auto 5 and its current status. Whether directly or indirectly, three questions in a row tried to eke out any details about the game, which appears to be part of the publisher's high revenue projections but still has an official "TBA" release date."Strauss, we've heard nothing, next to nothing, on GTA 5 development over the last couple months," said Mike Hickey of National Alliance Securities. "We've seen a couple screenshots. The game is believed by the street to be implied by your guidance for this fiscal year, but what believability do we have that this game is actually going to come out this year?"CEO Strauss Zelnick responded, "We haven't talked about a release date. So obviously we can't talk about the credibility of a release date that we haven't announced."Pushed further on whether the publisher is receiving consistent updates, the CEO deflected."We wouldn't talk publicly about the way we communicate with our teams internally," replied Zelnick. "We are blessed to be in business with the Rockstar folks and everyone knows that I feel that way. We have the best creative teams in the business across our company."Though the company did announce today that "consumer anticipation is phenomenal" for Borderlands 2, it would still need to hit home runs with NBA 2K13, XCOM: Enemy Unknown and BioShock: Infinite to hit its forecast.
Borderlands 2 third highest pre-ordered game for Take-Two behind Grand Theft Auto
Take-Two announced during its first quarter conference call that Borderlands 2 is doing incredibly well in terms of pre-orders at retail."Consumer anticipation is phenomenal," said Karl Slatoff, chief operating officer of Take-Two about Gearbox's shooter. "Pre-orders are currently the third highest of any title in Take-Two's history, behind only Grand Theft Auto 4 and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas."For context, Grand Theft Auto 4 made $500 million in its first week, selling 6 million copies, with 3.6 million on its first day.
Take-Two's first quarter of fiscal 2013 is down and out, projections still high
Take-Two's net revenue for the first quarter of fiscal year 2013 clocked in at $226.1 million, down from the previous year's $334.4 million. Take-Two hit a gross profit of $39.4 million for the first quarter of 2013, compared to $123.2 million in the same period last year. The company's GAAP loss was $110.8 million, up from the previous financial period, which saw an $8.6 million loss.Major contributors to Take-Two's finances during the first quarter were Max Payne 3, NBA 2K12, Spec Ops: The Line and catalog sales in the Grand Theft Auto and Red Dead Redemption franchises. Catalog sales accounted for 26 percent of Take-Two's net revenue, up 50 percent year-over-year. Digital revenue grew 33 percent and accounted for 14 percent of this period's net revenue.Take-Two has adjusted its fiscal year 2013 outlook slightly, expecting $1.7 - $1.8 billion by March 2013, rather than the $1.75 - $1.85 it reported in May. Take-Two still has to launch Borderlands 2, NBA 2K13 and XCOM: Enemy Unknown this fiscal year. This leaves a probable gap of $600 - $700 million in sales, considering the year runaway hit Red Dead Redemption launched Take-Two reported just $1.45 billion in revenue.On a related note, Grand Theft Auto 5 is still categorized as "TBA" for both its platforms and launch date.
Max Payne 3 DLC schedule: 'Local Justice' on PC and free maps in Aug., paid maps in Sept. and Oct.
The next few months' worth of Max Payne 3 DLC content has been given a schedule, albeit a fairly loose one. First up on the docket, though, is some good news for PC gamers: MP3's "Local Justice" DLC pack will finally hit your hard drives on Thursday, August 9. The pack includes three maps and will cost $5.99 for the first week, and then $7.99 after that.Beyond that, more ambiguous windows were give for the next four map packs coming to Rockstar's slow-motion bullet ballet. Also in August, the free "Disorganized Crime" pack will add a "Hoboken Rooftops" multiplayer map, as well as new modifiers for Score Attack mode, including exploding bullets and headshot-only kills.September will see the release of the "Hostage Negotiation" map pack, while October will play host to both the "Painful Memories" and "Deathmatch Made in Heaven" packs. All three packs will cost 800 MSP/$9.99, depending on your platform preference. The previously announced "New York Minute" co-op pack and "Trickle Down Economics" map pack have been cannibalized by the other packs, their content spread out between the three remaining releases.
Max Payne 3 shipped 3 million, sales 'lower than anticipated'
Max Payne 3 has shipped 3 million units since its launch for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC in May, Take-Two Interactive announced in its first quarter 2013 financial report today. Max Payne 3 and Spec Ops: The Line both sold fewer copies than Take-Two anticipated, leading to first quarter results below the company's expectations, CEO Strauss Zelnick said.Still, "the outlook for our slate of upcoming releases is stronger than ever," Zelnick added. "Early consumer enthusiasm suggests robust demand for our extraordinary lineup of upcoming releases, particularly Borderlands 2, NBA 2K13 and BioShock Infinite. We continue to expect fiscal 2013 to be one of the best years in Take-Two's history."
Grand Theft Auto 3 coming to PSN next Tuesday, no word on Vice City just yet
When ESRB ratings for Grand Theft Auto 3 and Vice City on PlayStation 3 sprang up earlier this year, it seemed assured that the games were headed to PSN's PS2 classics section. Indeed, Grand Theft Auto 3 is joining the no-frills lineup next Tuesday for $10.The news was revealed on the latest PlayStation podcast among other PSN releases for next week. Like all PS2 classics, GTA3 isn't getting an HD update or Trophy support. Also, that Vice City ESRB listing hasn't panned out just yet, but we're sure it's on the way.
Kingdoms of Amalur MMO 'wasn't fun,' Take-Two was mystery Reckoning 2 publisher
Despite being "in love" with the Kingdoms of Amalur MMO before its developer filed for bankruptcy, 38 Studios head Curt Schilling worried "the game wasn't fun." Schilling opens up on a variety of subjects in a recent Boston Magazine feature story, saying, "It was my biggest gripe for probably the past eight to 12 months." Even 38's own employees weren't playing it in their free time, apparently.Additionally, Take-Two Interactive – publisher of everything from BioShock to Grand Theft Auto – is fingered as the mysterious publisher vying for rights to a Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning sequel. For its part, Take-Two calls Schilling's claim "rumor and speculation." Schilling contends the sequel deal was close to "final sign-off" when Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee's mid-May public statements gave Take-Two cold feet.Finally, in a last minute effort to save his company, Schilling and other executives spoke with an unnamed Chinese investor about potentially working together, as well as South Korean MMO company Nexon. Neither deal panned out, and the company declared bankruptcy this past June.The Boston Magazine piece is quite a thorough examination of the history of 38 Studios, and contextualizes much of the sordid tale we've seen play out over the past eight months. Get a delicious beverage and a comfy seat – it's gonna be a while.
GTA 4 mod iCEnhancer calls it quits with 2.1 update
The 2.1 update for GTA 4 graphics mod iCEnhancer will be the final one issued. Developer Hayssam Keilany (Ice La Glace) said as much before releasing the video above, showcasing some of the visual improvements to the 2008 Rockstar game.The progress made with 2.1 includes better framerate, a new lens flare and an improved color palette. Maybe now that the pedestrians look so lifelike, you'll think twice before driving on the sidewalk.
Borderlands 2 would make a great musical, and this trailer proves it
The musical aspirations of Gearbox Software have never been more clear than in today's Borderlands 2 "Wimoweh" trailer. Yes, Claptrap is keen to bounce along, but so are all the other vile residents of Pandora. Is it too much to ask for an Easter Egg involving this song somewhere in the game? We don't think so.
Rockstar Vancouver studio closed, staff asked to join new facility in Toronto
You know what they say: Every time a window Vancouver studio closes, a door Toronto studio opens. Well maybe that's not how the saying goes, but tell that to Rockstar; the company has closed up its Vancouver, Canada facility, and opened up a new facility in Oakville, Ontario for Rockstar Toronto.The Vancouver staff, which numbers around 35 and was last seen working on Max Payne 3, is being given the option of joining Toronto, or a different Rockstar studio.The new Toronto facility, says Rockstar, is being built in conjunction with a deal from the Ontario government, though specifics on how much the deal is worth weren't available. Rockstar says the combined Canadian team will grow even further, with as many as 50 people being hired on in the future. As for the Vancouverites – we hope they're flexible on location. Otherwise, we wish them well wherever they end up next.
Max Payne, trying his hardest to get through his gritty, noir life
The hilarious short film about Max Payne above takes all the gritty realism of Max's latest game appearance, and puts it in the lavender-scented reality of suburban life. Might we suggest not having water in your mouth, lest you're ready for a spit take.
Get a damn basketball with your fancy copy of NBA 2K13
Move over NBA Baller Beats, you're not the only video game shipping with an actual, honest to goodness basketball in the near future. The Dynasty Edition of NBA 2K13 will come packed with the colorful orb seen above, courtesy of Spalding. It appears to be covered in various human limbs, as far as we can tell.The $99.99 collector's edition also comes with DLC in the form of "All-Star add-on content presented by Sprite," 2K Sports-branded earbuds from Skullcandy, and a "basketball textured controller skin" in case the thought of not feeling a basketball for 10 seconds is just too much to bear. Pre-orders can be placed through one of three retailers, accessible via the game's Facebook page.
Have a taste of Max Payne 3's 'Local Justice'
When Max Payne 3's "Local Justice" DLC arrives next week, it's coming in guns blazing. And likely in mid-air, in slow motion, while carefully aiming so as not to waste bullet time. Because, ya know ... Max Payne.
Learning religious proselytizing from Civ 5's 'Gods and Kings' expansion
Perhaps the biggest addition in Civilization 5's upcoming Gods & Kings expansion is religion. But don't go thinking it's some innocuous cultural addendum – as the Firaxis folks above explain, religion in Civ 5 is all about subjugation.
Take-Two's Zelnick 'skeptical' of Wii U, not of next generation
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick said he was "skeptical" of the Wii U in a recent interview with Gamasutra. He noted that Take-Two hasn't announced any games for the platform.Zelnick talked about the strategy he believes a company like Take-Two should follow. In regards to new console launches, he said that "if you get it right, it's a terrific time to launch a new IP." He also spoke against annualizing non-sports games, so as not to risk "burning out the consumer," which echoed statements he made in late 2009."Some of our competitors have had this trajectory where they extract a lot of value and the IP goes away. We're trying really hard to build permanent IP. And if you have to rest the title for a few years, over time you'll extract more value," he said. "We're not trying to create something good and market the hell out of it. We're trying to delight customers with something great – and market hell out of it."
Firaxis takes a walk through time with Civ 5's Gods and Kings expansion trailer
When Civilization 5's Gods & Kings expansion launches next week, it'll have more than a few extra civs and that whole religion thing. Allow the fine folks at Firaxis to walk you through exactly what to be prepared for in this handy – and heavily informative – video, just above.
