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New Witcher 2: Enhanced Edition trailer channels the encyclopedia britannica
The question posed by this by this latest Witcher 2: Enhanced Edition trailer ("What is a Witcher?") could easily be answered by visiting Wikipedia, both regular and Witcher-flavored. Getting your information that way, however, prevents you from seeing a dude's face ripped open by tiny shovels.
Mortal Kombat hits Vita May 1
The Vita version of Mortal Kombat, complete with 150 new Vita-centric Challenge Tower missions, touchscreen fatalities and the console version's DLC characters, will be available in North American on May 1.Seeing as Mortal Kombat is part of the official EVO 2012 tournament selection, this may be a good way to squeeze in every possible second of combo practice during your daily routine. It's also a much cleaner, less illegal way to murder people while on crowded public transportation.
Warner Bros. to distribute Codemasters games in 2012
British developer/publisher Codemasters has left THQ Partners, who handled its distribution in the Americas during 2011, in favor of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, who will now take care of distribution, sales and marketing for all of Codemasters' 2012 releases in North and South America, including Dirt Showdown and F1 2012.Fake eyewitness accounts report seeing THQ Publishing outside of Codemasters' bedroom window, holding a ghetto blaster above its head that was said to be playing "In Your Eyes" by Peter Gabriel. We have, however, received conflicting reports that a freshly embittered THQ Publishing has opened a record shop and hired a young and enthusiastic Jack Black to work behind the counter.
'Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition' koming to konsoles February 28
Warner Bros. has officially announced Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition, which will include all previously released downloadable content for the critically acclaimed fighter. The bundle features all character DLC (including dream master Freddy Krueger), the Mortal Kombat: Songs Inspired by the Warriors album, and the 1995 Mortal Kombat film through PSN or Xbox Live Zune Marketplace. There are also 15 Klassic Skins and three Klassic Fatalities for Scorpion, Sub-Zero and Reptile. The Komplete Edition was outed in early December, when the British rating board gave it a mid-February launch. Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition will be available February 28 for Xbox 360 and PS3.%Gallery-120488%
Joystiq Top 10 of 2011: Bastion
The Kid sat down to write about Bastion, his mind empty like a soldier's wallet. Where to begin? What to say? The game wasn't a blockbuster production, but it was beautiful and expertly executed, and an epic concept delivered by a team that knew its limitations. When there isn't an army of artists, engineers, writers and coders to impress those critical gasbags, you put your vision on display. Bastion's dynamic narration is to be the game's long-lasting cultural hook. A smooth and comforting voice relays events, but doesn't stop at exposition. There was very little the narrator didn't have a comment for, be it weapon combinations or that moment the kid simply starts smashing everything in sight. Much like "Still Alive" did double duty as Portal's end and as its revelation, Bastion takes a similar opportunity in its credits to deliver the haunting "Setting Sail, Coming Home." A combination of themes that become familiar to players through the game, the song delivered the type of emotional conclusion that even the best cutscenes rarely offer.
Batman gets a big head in this Arkham City Easter egg
Wondering how to take Batman's already Arkham-sized head and make it into something more Gotham-sized? The Rooster Teeth folks have figured it out, releasing a tell-all video (watch out for the F-bomb!) on Batman: Arkham City's "Big Head Mode," which can apparently be applied using the Cryptography Sequencer. The guys warn that the mode is only available in "Normal or higher" difficulties, though it'll also work in New Game Plus mode. Essentially, by holding down both triggers and maneuvering each analog stick in opposite circles of movement, the Big Head mode Easter egg will activate, rendering all forms of Batman and Catwoman (as well as enemies) with enormous noggins and puffy hands. And yes, in case you can't watch the video above just yet, it is absolutely adorable. [Thanks, Geoff.]
Gotham City Impostors outed on Jan. 10, open beta starts in Dec.
With Batman wholly occupied in dismantling disastrously conceived punitive institutions, it's up to a gang of loyal imitators to clean up Gotham City proper. Starting the week of January 10 on PC, PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade, you'll be able to assist either The Bats or -- if you can tolerate their edgy substitution of "s" -- The Jokerz in 12-player online battles for the unusually coveted, crime-ridden city. Gotham City Impostors will undergo an open beta in December, so if you're interested in the game's premise, character customization or odd weaponry, visit the official site and sign up for a WB ID. With a bit of luck you'll get an early tour of what Condé Nast calls "a gloomy, demented place that should have been razed by an orphan."
Warner Bros. casting Witcher 2 for Xbox 360 in NA
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment will publish The Witcher 2: Assassins Of Kings in North America early next year, providing sales and marketing resources that North American PC publisher Atari likely wouldn't be able to provide for a console launch. "We are sure that this partnership with Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, with its strong position in the entertainment sector and particularly in the video and games distribution market in North America, will help us to achieve even bigger success in the most important market for Xbox 360 games," said Adam Kiciński, president of CD Projekt RED. "This is also a big distinction for us, that Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment recognizes The Witcher 2 as a rare example of a game with world-class production values, which merges a very ambitious and complex approach with big commercial potential." And as WB "recognizes" the publishing opportunities for Witcher 2 in North America, THQ will work PAL territories. Meanwhile, Atari and Namco Bandai continue PC publishing duties for NA and PAL, respectively. Anybody else want in on Geralt? Because it looks like CD Projekt RED is open to multiple partners.
Metareview: Batman: Arkham City
The entire gang is back. Developer Rocksteady studios returns to Gotham City, along with Batman scribe Paul Dini, and Mark "Luke Skywalker" Hamill in what he says will be his "last hurrah" as Joker. And the result is that Batman: Arkham City could very well become Joystiq's top game of 2011, something its predecessor was arguably robbed of in 2009. Coincidentally, Arkham City sees a similar competitive match-up this year, facing new Assassin's Creed and Uncharted entries, whose sequels were the two titles that defeated the dark knight two years ago. At the moment, though, Arkham City is universally acclaimed as one of the best games of the year. Giant Bomb (5/5): "Getting another chance to use Batman's considerable combat talents as you engage in one of the best fighting systems going today is a joy. The city looks terrific, like it's one step away from just bursting into flames as criminals crawl across every single surface doing... whatever it is that criminals do when they're locked in a city-shaped prison." Game Informer (100/100): "The size of the game is daunting. I still have a ways to go to reach 100 percent, but I wouldn't be surprised if I have invested over 60 hours so far. Throw in the new game plus and a dizzying number of combat challenges for both Batman and his feline friend and this game could be one of the biggest and most enjoyable time sinks of the year." IGN (95/100): "Batman: Arkham City isn't perfect, but listing the little things I didn't like gets in the way of all the stuff I adored. The voice acting, the challenges, the amazing opening, the unbelievable ending and the feeling of being the Dark Knight -- these are the things that standout looking back. I've beaten this thing twice and still want to call in sick and chase Riddler Trophies. " Eurogamer (90/100): "If it's lacking something, it's surprise. Arkham City has nothing that beats the first game's brilliant unveilings and fourth-wall mind-tricks (although it has a go at an equivalent) and it can't trump the central, crucial realization that somebody had finally made a Batman game that was enriched by its license rather than subtly crippled by it. Instead, though, you get refinement: better bosses, slicker animation, and more to think about on a second-to-second basis."%Gallery-136482%
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment talks strategy, new Hobbit game and other upcoming titles
The release of Batman: Arkham City this week marks a nice success for Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, a division of the movie studio that started out with the less than popular The Matrix Online, and has slowly built up an empire that includes the Batman franchise, the Lego video games, and the Mortal Kombat series. The LA Times has a short profile of the company, and goes into detail on how it worked with studios like Traveller's Tales and Netherrealm to build up popular video game franchises that stand on their own even compared to the movie products. That's not to say that the plan always works (remember the Green Lantern game?), but Warner Bros. seems to have built up a few solid properties independent of tie-in movies. The next, then, is apparently a Hobbit game -- the article says there will be a game based on Peter Jackson's movie sometime next year. The company will also release a Lego Batman sequel, and some other casual online games featuring Warner characters. Oh, and there's one more: an unannounced game based on a different DC superhero. Has anyone else been J'onzzing for a Martian Manhunter escapade?
Batman: Arkham City PC delayed until November
Batman: Arkham City for PC has been delayed until November, Warner Bros. announced this morning. This will not affect the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions, which are still scheduled to burst from the shadows and pummel the rogues of Gotham on October 18. No reason was given for the delay ... but if your theory has publisher WBIE and Ubisoft conspiring to diminish potential piracy with 11th hour delays, who are we to argue? Meanwhile, place your bets on the arrival time of that Assassin's Creed: Revelations PC delay.
Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster preview: A children's game for adults
I'll let you in on a little secret about me and Double Fine's next game, Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster -- I played it back at E3, but unfortunately let my preview writeup fall to the wayside as the days after the big show continued. What's more shameful is that it was essentially the best game I played at E3, so I was more than happy to check out a new area at Gamescom and get a second opportunity to speak about it. A chance for redemption, if you will. Luckily, nothing has changed, and Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster remains a magical experience two months later.%Gallery-130943%
Mortal Kombat sells 'close to' 3 million worldwide, has paid for itself
When Midway bit the bullet and liquidated all of its assets during the first half of last year, the future of one of gaming's most ubiquitous and legendary franchises, Mortal Kombat, was completely up in the air. People didn't know whether or not MK's new baby-daddy at Warner Bros. Interactive would continue the series' proud tradition of increasingly ludicrous violence, or if it would continue the stagnating series period. Fast-forward a bit, and thankfully it seems to have worked out for history's favorite murderers, with Warner's first entry in the franchise garnering critical acclaim and millions of dollars. According to WB Interactive President Martin Tremblay, Mortal Kombat has already paid for all of the assets acquired from Midway by selling "close to" 3 million units worldwide. To put that number in perspective, as of June 30, 2011 Super Street Fighter 4 has sold 1.6 million units, and Marvel vs. Capcom 3 has sold 2 million, both of which have been on the market for a significantly longer amount of time. Considering the sorry state of affairs that Mortal Kombat was left in as little as two years ago, we can't help but be a little surprised by the modern-day, gore-soaked Cinderella story this saga has become.
Batman: Arkham City's Penguin voiced by Nolan North (seriously)
Clearly flexing his vocal chops, voice actor Nolan North is the man behind Batman: Arkham City's most aquatic villain: The Penguin. Rocksteady marketing game manager Dax Ginn revealed as much in an interview with CVG, breaking down the various villains you'll be pummeling as Bats come October. As seen in the trailer above, North's voice acting clearly stretches beyond his most well-known role as pretty-boy adventurer Nathan Drake in the Uncharted series. It could be argued that he's already proven that, given his voice acting contributions to, like, every game ever, but we're pretty impressed with the whole Penguin gig.
Mortal Kombat, Lego Pirates of the Caribbean raise Warner Bros. revenues
The "Filmed Entertainment" division of Time Warner -- under which its Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment brand defiantly operates -- saw a revenue increase of 13 percent during the second fiscal quarter (ended June 30, 2011). The $2.8 billion result was "led by growth in video game revenues," attributed primarily to the grosses of Lego Pirates of the Caribbean: The Video Game, and the grossest Mortal Kombat yet. That pair's performance was likely dwarfed by the record-breaking sequels at the cinema: Warner Bros. raked in over $1.5 billion worldwide between Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 and The Hangover Part II. (But don't tell Green Lantern that.) Operating income for the division dropped by 11 percent from last year to $154 million. According to Warner's statement, higher revenues were offset during the period by elevated advertising costs, restructuring costs, and film-related valuation adjustments. Time Warner as a whole posted a net income of $637 million for the quarter, alongside revenues of $7.03 billion.
Arkham City's Batman is a fashionista, rocking six suits in his wardrobe
Batman's a busy guy, sure, but when he's out prowling the streets of Arkham City looking for thugs, he wants to feel pretty just like anyone else. Developer Rocksteady Studios has clearly taken that into consideration, as the caped crusader has a sextet of costumes to don in his upcoming game, Batman: Arkham City -- should you procure all available pre-order and exclusivity offers surrounding the game, that is. As seen above, everything from classic 1970s Batman to Batman Beyond's version of the Bats' suit has made the cut thus far. Fan site ArkhamCity.co.uk rounded up the various bat suits offered in a variety of different means and provided details on how to grab each for yourself. Unfortunately, it's possible you'll have to spend many hundreds of dollars and possibly import versions from other countries. But hey, that's fashion! Update: To be extra clear, the image above is a fan-made amalgam of existing pre-order images and (possibly) non-official game art. We anxiously await an official image from Rocksteady/Warner Bros. [Image credit: Fan-made; Thanks, Regis.]
The Riddler states his case in latest Batman: Arkham City trailer
Take a long, occasionally quizzical look at the villain in the emerald suit in this latest trailer for Batman: Arkham City. This time, The Riddler's placing a few "Jigsaw" pieces into his new, grittier act.
LOTR: War in the North gets obligatory CE, retailer-specific pre-order bonuses
As Lord of the Rings: War in the North preps for an autumn assault, Warner Bros. is deploying an extravagant Collector's Edition and pre-order incentive to help gather recruits. The Collector's Edition, which costs a whopping $130, includes a Ranger of the North Quiver Case, art book, a behind-the-scenes DVD on the game's music, three songs from the soundtrack ... and the game. Those who pick up the CE for Xbox 360 receive a Ranger of the North Avatar outfit for Xbox Live, while PS3 purchasers get a War in the North Theme Pack. You'll also have to contend with pesky retail-specific pre-order bonuses for the standard edition, which we've listed after the break. %Gallery-127735%
FEAR 3 101: How to survive 'The Wall of Death'
This latest FEAR 3 trailer depicts a rather straightforward survival strategy for the game's unique multiplayer mode: "F***ing Run!"
The Perfect Ten: Why a Harry Potter MMO makes sense
The idea of a Harry Potter MMO is hardly a new one at this point -- we've even speculated on it around Massively for years now. Rumors and wishful thinking have brought up this hypothetical MMO time and again, and for good reason: It simply makes sense. In fact, the more you think about it, the more surprising it is that we haven't heard official word of a Harry Potter MMO by now. After doing some poking around, the most likely suspects to take on this project would either be Warner Bros. (which owns the rights to the franchise) or Electronic Arts (which purchased a license from WB to make the movie video games). Both companies have MMO studios at their command -- Turbine, BioWare, Mythic -- and both have the resources to make it happen. So why does Harry Potter make perfect sense for MMO-adaptation? Hit the jump and I'll run you down the top 10 reasons! And if you post a positive comment after this column, I'll add five points to the house of your choice (go Hufflepuff!).
