Middle Earth Goes Snowblind In The Lord Of The Rings: War In The North [Game On]

Warner Bros. Interactive has tapped the team behind Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance and Champions of Norrath to create The Lord of the Rings: War in the North, co-op action RPG for the Xbox 360, PC, and PlayStation 3. More

New Game Riffs On Guitar Hero, With A Real Electric Guitar [Music Games]

There are strings on the newly-unveiled Power Gig guitar, which is coming, with a brand-new music game to video game systems this fall. But you won’t have to be Jimi Hendrix to play it. In advance of this week’s Game Developer’s Conference, Kotaku had the opportunity to witness a live demonstration of the guitar controller for a new Rock Band and Guitar Hero competitor, Power Gig: Rise of the SixString. The game’s controller is a real electric guitar, built at three-quarters scale and containing, in one of its developers words, “a rocket ship” of technology. This guitar subtly transforms from a real musical instrument that can be plugged into an amplifier to a version of the popular button-and-flipper guitar-shaped controller used for Rock Band and Guitar Hero’s. But Power Gig’s controller has strings. The Power Gig guitar comes from a new Boston-based development team called Seven 45 Studios. The company is a subsidiary of First Act, a company that claims to sell the majority of real electric guitars at major retailers such as Wal-Mart. This is their first game. More about the game in a moment. The main attraction, for now is the guitar. It will come bundled with the Power Gig video game for an as yet undisclosed competitive price comparable to other music games’, the developers told Kotaku. Played with an amp, it is a real electric guitar. But slide a piece of plastic under the strings near its base and sync it to a console and it is a game controller. A Guitar Hero guitar has no strings. In place of a fret it has five colored buttons. Instead of a strings to strum, it has a flipper. These inputs emulate the feel of playing guitar without requiring the dexterity to manipulate a real electric guitar’s six strings. The power gig controller has colored markers that indicate where those buttons would be, but it does not have buttons. You use the strings. Sensors in the neck of the guitar can detect where the player is pressing down. So, just as the cascading on-screen note indicators in Guitar Hero will ask the player to press the red button and then the blue button, the cascading notes in the Power Gig game will compel the player to press the any of the guitar strings in that colored area. A Guitar Hero player would have to strum a flipper switch. A Power Gig gamer strums strings. What’s unusual about the Power Gig guitar, in the context of a Guitar Hero-style game, is that players can be required to press any string in a specified region of the guitar fret, or press the exact proper string. They can be allowed to strum any string on the guitar or be required to strum a specific one. Because of that, playing Power Gig is expected to feel more like playing real electric guitar than playing other major music games. Different difficulty levels of Power Gig will require different levels of specificity and dexterity. A Chord Play mode, which will require that proper strings are pressed will essentially teach players how to play the real chord structure of the song they are playing. It won’t teach notes, but, in an indirect way, you’ll be learning how to play. The Power Gig guitar does not have a whammy bar or a tilt sensor. The game it plays with will support its own version of adrenaline-rush star power. But a button or knob will activate it. Seven 45’s guitar will also be compatible with other music games — and vice versa — though only to the level of depth the other games allow. In other words, you won’t be able to do Chord Play mode with a Power Gig guitar that controls Rock Band. While Seven 45 Studios is located near Rock Band-maker Harmonix, the two companies don’t have any developer overlap. There may be no ex-Harmonix creators at Seven 45, but the Rock Band creators do know about the game. It’s a small community, the Seven 45 folks told Kotaku. The game itself was shown in pre-Alpha state. The developers are pushing the idea that the game has a narrative with heroes and villains, but short of showing a little bit of it in action while demonstrating how the guitar controller works, the defining fiction of the game is being kept secret. Just nuts and bolts for now. The game will support three-player offline co-op, with a mic, guitar and still unrevealed drum controller. It is set to ship for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 this fall. Music games have struggled in the last year to attain the sales glories of the original Rock Band and Guitar Heroes. “The genre is in decline,” Seven 45 vice president of marketing told Kotaku, “But this will be the shot in the arm the genre needs.” The Seven 45 Studios folks say that they have already secured commitments for the inclusion of music from musicians who were apprehensive about getting involved with other music games. For now, though, they’re not naming names.

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New Game Riffs On Guitar Hero, With A Real Electric Guitar [Music Games]

Shaun White Takes On Tony Hawk [Game Announce]

Ubisoft and two-time Olympic gold medal snowboarder Shaun White kick the Tony Hawk franchise while its down with the announcement of Shaun White Skateboarding. There’s not much in the official game announcement other than the fact that it’s being developed by Ubisoft Montreal and due to be released this holiday season, leading me to believe the game was officially in reaction to Shaun’s appearance yesterday on KROQ radio , where he made mention of an upcoming skateboarding game in his own excited sort of way. “I can’t describe how excited I am about the skateboard game,” said Shaun White. “We’ve been working on it for a while now and it’s ready to melt minds.” See how excited this guy is? He’s nearly as excited as he is enthusiastic. “As we’ve just seen at the Olympics, Shaun is a one-of-kind action sports athlete,” said Tony Key, U.S. senior vice president of sales and marketing at Ubisoft. “Shaun’s enthusiasm for skateboarding shines through in this truly unique game.” Excitement. Enthusiasm. Mind-melting. What more could you ask for?

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Shaun White Takes On Tony Hawk [Game Announce]

SOCOM 4 Revealed, Franchise Returns To Zipper Interactive [Game Announce]

Sony’s premier tactical shooter series is back in the hands of Zipper Interactive and ready to redeploy this fall with SOCOM 4. Featuring 32-player multiplayer, what does SOCOM 4 mean for the future of Zipper Interactive’s MAG? A militant revolutionary has seized control of an important South Asian country, and it’s up to you, the Ops Com, to lead your five-man team through jungle and urban environments in order to put a stop to his plans before it’s too late. This is the setting for SOCOM 4, now under development at Zipper Interactive, the developer responsible for SOCOM 1, 2, 3, and Combined Assault on the PlayStation 2. Zipper Interactive moved on to MAG for the PlayStation 3, while developer Slant Six Games took over the franchise for SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs Confrontation, which didn’t turn out too well. It’s good to see the franchise coming home. And the game is coming home big, with 32-player multiplayer on top of a 14 mission single player campaign that clocks in at around 12 hours. You can check out IGN’s exclusive preview for more details. While there are many questions about the game that will be answered as the year progresses, Zipper Interactive’s senior community manager Jeremy Dunham addresses the most important one to MAG fans in a post on the PlayStation Blog, while expressing joy at once again working on the SOCOM franchise. First, if you play MAG and wonder what this means for the game’s future, wonder no more – we’re still fully committed to supporting MAG for a long, long time and the addition of another game in our lineup doesn’t change that. Second, it’s been great to hear from SOCOM fanatics located in every corner of the globe as we led into today’s announcement. We’re extremely excited to be attached to this beloved franchise again and knowing that so many people wanted us to return to something that already meant so much to us has been both inspiring and touching – so thank you to all of you who wanted it to happen! We look forward to living up to your expectations. Be sure to tune into GameTrailers TV tonight on Spike TV , where you’ll see the world premier trailer for SOCOM 4. SOCOM 4: It’s Official! [PlayStation Blog]

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SOCOM 4 Revealed, Franchise Returns To Zipper Interactive [Game Announce]

Test Drive Unlimited Returns [Game Announce]

Atari and Eden Games return to the islands for Test Drive Unlimited 2, the sequel to the hit 2006 online sandbox driving game. How does 2 compare to the original? The difference is night and day – and vehicle damage. Test Drive Unlimited was a pretty big Xbox 360 title when it came out in 2006. It was a prime example of the potential of Xbox Live online multiplayer, allowing the player to see other drivers playing the game online, dropping in and out of races on the fly. It was a little buggy, sure, but we liked it. Now Eden and Atari team up once again for Test Drive Unlimited 2, giving players a whole new island and features that should make this second installment far superior to the first. Weather effects, a day and night cycle, and vehicle damage up the ante in the sequel, with a revamped single player narrative mode that you can play both on and offline. “After the highly successful Test Drive Unlimited which redefined the genre with massively open online racing, Test Drive Unlimited 2 will be an innovative evolution in racing games, expanding its unparalleled multiplayer experience and immersing players in a world full of new online content and lifestyle customization.” said Jeff Lapin, CEO of Atari, SA. “The game fits squarely into our strategy of moving online and generating new revenue streams while maintaining our current retail business.” Test Drive Unlimited 2 is due out this fall on the Xbox 360, PC, and the PlayStation 3.

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Test Drive Unlimited Returns [Game Announce]

Tecmo Super Bowl Remake Coming To Xbox 360, PS3 [Game Announce]

Tecmo, the company that was once a giant in video game football, is continuing its slow return to the virtual gridiron. Today we have word of Tecmo Bowl Throwback. The new game is another remake of Tecmo Super Bowl, the early 90s 16-bit classic. The first remake, Tecmo Bowl Kickoff, was released for the Nintendo DS in 2008. Coming very soon — spring 2010 — is Throwback. Here’s an old-school look at the game, for comparison. Tecmo provided the bullet points: -Online Multiplayer: Find your old buddies online and challenge them to matches just like back in the day -2D + 3D Graphics: Experience all new 3D graphics with the ability to switch to the classic 2D style! -Customizable Teams and Rosters: Play as any of the 32 teams with customizable team names and rosters in full seasons -Online Leaderboards: Compare your stats in a wide array of online leaderboards -Classic Game Modes: Battle it out with your friends and kick off a game in Preseason, Season or Pro Bowl modes The game is being developed by Swedish development studio Southend Interactive . And while at least one screenshot released today may serve as ample reminder that this game is being published by Tecmo…. … the company affirms that the game will be rated E for everyone. Tecmo Bowl Throwback is just the latest of the arcade-style football games released for PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade. Late last year, EA released Madden NFL Arcade, a downloadable version of the company’s Madden NFL 10 for the Wii. There may only be one football video game released on disc these days, but for download, you’re getting choices.

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Tecmo Super Bowl Remake Coming To Xbox 360, PS3 [Game Announce]

The Dishwasher Returns In Vampire Smile [Game Announce]

Ska Studios takes The Dishwasher to a “bigger, better, and more badass level” in The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile, coming to Xbox Live Arcade “when it’s done,” with visitors to PAX East getting their first look at the game next month. The countdown has ended , the dishes have been washed, and as the suds drain away they reveal The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile, Ska Studios’ follow-up to the hit Xbox Live Arcade title from last year, The Dishwasher: Dead Samurai. Vampire Smile features the same distinctive art style and 2D action platforming that made players fall in love with the original, crafted with a brand new game engine that allows things to get even more gruesome than before. The game will feature two separate single player campaigns, a co-op campaign, 50 arcade challenges, and an endless Dish challenge. Ska also mixes it up with new weapons, including the Violence Hammer – a girder wrapped in barbed wire – and the Painkiller, which is a six foot long syringe. Ouch. “Put simply, we are taking The Dishwasher to a bigger, better and more badass level,” said Ska Studios founder James Silva. “Fluid animation, insane combos, disturbing weapons, and creeping mental illness are set to collide in a very bad way when this game launches.” Check out the first screens and suitably creepy trailer for The Dishwasher: Vampire Smile below, and if you are visiting PAX East in late March, be sure to stop by Ska Studios’ booth to catch the game in action.

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The Dishwasher Returns In Vampire Smile [Game Announce]

Civilization V Hexes PCs This Fall [Game Announce]

Sid Meier’s Civilization franchise returns this fall with a fifth installment, featuring hexagon tile maps, a new combat system, deeper diplomatic options, and a community hub where players can share content and compete without leaving the game. Civilization marches on relentlessly in the fifth installment of the classic strategy series, published by 2K Games and developed by the team at Firaxis. Civilization V features a completely new game engine, allowing for lush, organic landscapes unlike anything seen in the series previously. With the new engine comes a new combat system, which might separate the casual Civ player from the hardcore. The new hexagon tiles scream war gaming to me, and that’s not traditionally a genre for the stay-at-home mom. The new system promises more strategic options in battle, with new elements such as ranged bombardment sure to make combat much more interesting than it has been in the past. More peaceful players should be pleased by the inclusion of fully animated leaders and deeper diplomatic options, while players seeking online interaction need look no further than the game’s player hub, where community-created content can be swapped and multiplayer matches launched. “Each new version of Civilization presents exciting challenges for our team,” said Sid Meier, director of creative development at Firaxis Games. “Thankfully, ideas on how to bring new and fun experiences to Civ players never seem to stop flowing. From fully animated leaders and realistic landscapes, new combat tactics, expanded diplomacy and shared mods, we’re excited for players to see the new vision our team at Firaxis has brought to the series.” It sounds rather intense, but what of the more casual Civ players? “In addition to Civilization V, Firaxis Games is also currently developing Sid Meier’s Civilization Network, a Civ game for Facebook. With Sid Meier leading design, Civilization Network will offer yet another option for world domination to both the casual gamer and the biggest fans of the series. It’s another way to access the famously addictive world of Civilization.” It looks like Firaxis is going in two different directions with the Civilization franchise. Which side will you be on?

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Civilization V Hexes PCs This Fall [Game Announce]

Street Fighter IV Brings The Fight To The iPhone [IPhone]

Capcom brings their biggest brawler yet to one of the smallest gaming devices, announcing an iPhone version of Street Fighter IV, due out in March. How are Ken and Ryu handling the trip? From the looks of the screenshots, which you can find more of at IGN, the dynamic duo is a little worse for wear, but that’s what happens when you take the current-gen code and shrink it down so it fits on the iPhone. That’s what Capcom has done, taking assets directly from the game’s console cousins, maintaining a bit of the 2.5D look and feel, while utilizing the good-old virtual joystick and button combo to overcome the platform’s lack of external controls. While Ken and Ryu are the only two characters confirmed for the iPhone version of Street Fighter IV, Capcom tells us that they’ll be introducing a mix of classic and new characters, so there is hope that you’ll soon be able to carry Rufus around in your pocket. And you’ll be able to compete against your friends, with Bluetooth multiplayer built right in. Now we just have to wait for Mad Catz to announce iPhone Tournament Edition Fight Sticks and we’ll be good to go. Street Fighter IV for iPhone Revealed [IGN]

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Street Fighter IV Brings The Fight To The iPhone [IPhone]

Halfbrick Mixes Zombies And Time Travel [Game Announce]

Australian developer Halfbrick attempts to stand out in the undead crowd with Age of Zombies, a time-travelling zombie-killing adventure, coming February 25th to PSP and PlayStation 3 minis. In an industry chock full of games involving zombies, how does one small developer stand out? Well I suppose this post helps. Other than that, Halfbrick is giving time travel a try, mixing brain-hungry undead horses with Egyptian mummies and Dinosaurs in order to freshen up the concept. Why not simply avoid zombies altogether? According to the official announcement, money might have something to do with it. “There’s no denying it. Zombie games make money. No one has anything against a good zombie game really, it’s just that there’s a lot of them. So we needed to try something different. We didn’t want to kill zombies in the usual way. We didn’t want to survive a deadly undead army in the ruins of some scary-ass town. We wanted to travel through time and shoot zombie dinosaurs and mummies and junk. So, we created Age of Zombies!” There’s a story behind the game, with hero Barry Steakfries implementing time portals to halt the nefarious schemes of Professor Brains, but what really matters is shooting zombies while trying to forget that a developer thought that Barry Steakfries was a good name for anything. Age of Zombies is due out on February 24th for $4.99.

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Halfbrick Mixes Zombies And Time Travel [Game Announce]

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