Famitsu reports that Square-Enix has licensed the revolutionary Unreal Engine 3 from Epic. Taku Murata, General Manager, Research and Development Division, Square Enix, Co., Ltd explains why:
“The complexity of next-generation game systems featuring HD graphics and multi-core parallel processing poses a number of technological challenges to our game development. However, we can expedite our game development process significantly while allowing extra time and resources to be spent on game design and mechanics by establishing an effective technology platform. The technology platform for game development is becoming more important than ever. I’m excited to be partnering with Epic Games in such an important area.”
“We’re extremely excited to be working with Square Enix,” said Jay Wilbur, Vice President, Epic Games, Inc. “Square Enix is one of the biggest and most influential companies in the world-wide game business, and having them work with Unreal Engine 3 is a major honor for us and something we’re very proud to be announcing.”
It is unclear what games Square-Enix plans to use the Unreal Engine with, but its probably not Final Fantasy XIII. Square-Enix has said they have an original engine called the “White Engine” that is being developed for the game.
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Good news for all you Halo 3 fans out there. All those of you who registered for the Halo 3 Beta, expect to receive a mail from Bungie between 22 and 26 of this month. Bungie will be sending out the invites to those who are selected for the Beta during these days.
The official Halo 3 website explains the procedure needed to be followed in order to play the beta. As rumored earlier, its revealed that the Crackdown game disc (coming in February) will be the key to play the Halo 3 Beta.
When the Halo 3 multiplayer beta surfaces in spring 2007, those owners of Crackdown that have access to an Xbox 360 Pro console or an Xbox 360 Core console with hard drive and a valid Xbox Live Gold subscription simply need to load their copy of Crackdown into Xbox 360 and use the disc as a key to download the beta from Xbox Live Marketplace and join the battle in Halo 3 multiplayer.
For those of you that didn't make it in - you have two other ways to secure an invite. You can participate in the Beta either by qualifying over Xbox Live via the "Rule of Three" program in early February or by purchasing marked packages of Crackdown. For more info on this, head over to the official site.
DIRECT URL: http://halo3.com
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Since being revealed last year, fans have been eager to get a hold of Valve's Half-Life 2: Episode Two, which includes the games Portal and Team Fortress 2. When gamers race to the store in late summer for Episode Two, they'll be faced with two choices. Both Black Box and Orange Box editions will be made available, each with slightly different content.
The Black Box is only available on PC and includes Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Portal and Team Fortress 2. It retails for $39.99.
The Orange Box is available for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 and includes Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episodes One and Two, Portal and Team Fortress. It retails for a modest $59.99.
In other words, The Black Box edition is for PC gamers who already have Half-Life 2 and it's first Episode. The Orange Box is meant for everyone else, so that they can experience the full breadth of the Half-Life 2 saga.
Half-Life 2 Orange (XBox 360 PS3) - $59.99
- Half-Life 2
- Half-Life 2 Episode 1
- Half-Life 2 Episode 2
- Team Fortress 2
- Portal
Half-Life 2 Black (PC only) - $39.99
- Half-Life 2 Episode 2
- Team Fortress 2
- Portal
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Bethesda announced the official expansion for their Action/RPG, The Elder Scrolls IV Oblivion and it goes by the name of Shivering Isles. The expansion is available for both the PC and the Xbox 360 and what you can expect in the expansion.
"Shivering Isles features more than 30 hours of new gameplay and allows you to explore an entirely new plane of Oblivion – the realm of Sheogorath, the Daedric Prince of Madness. Shivering Isles adds to the existing world of Oblivion so you can continue playing with your existing save game/character, or create an all new character just to explore the new content."
Xbox 360 owners will be able to download the expansion from Xbox Live while PC gamers will have to buy it from retail stores.
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Its been long (well, about a week) since we had an article about the much anticipated Halo 3. I couldn't hold back any longer and luckily found out on the Bungie site that they revealed some info about a new vehicle - M274 ULATV or Mongoose.
"The Mongoose provides an alternate means of transporting messages, documents, and light cargo between units," the update reads. "It may also be used to transport forward observers, reconnaissance personnel and sniper teams."
"Despite its size and limited offensive capabilities, the Mongoose is instrumental in many quick-striking strategies. It is decidedly difficult to damage in battle because of its speed and maneuverability delivered by its forgiving suspension and E-brake. Coupled with its speed, the capability to power-slide through turns gives the Mongoose unparalleled maneuverability on the battlefield."
The Mongoose can accommodate two passengers, thus resulting very useful in capture the flag and assault games. Although this ULATV is susceptible to small-arms fire, it generally moves too fast to be hit.
For more info, head over to the Bungie site.
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The Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association, a British game-industry trade body, has revealed that 2006 was a booming year for the UK game industry, with all-format sales of game software totaling an impressive £1.36 billion (approximately $2.6 billion).
The best-selling software format was the PlayStation 2, which has also managed to ship a total of more than 40 million consoles across Europe. In second place were games for the Nintendo DS, which "slightly outdid" Sony's PlayStation Portable at number three, followed by the Xbox 360, the Xbox, the Wii, and the GameCube.
PC titles performed well, too, and also boasted their best-ever year, with sales increasing 7 percent from 2005.
ELSPA's director general, Paul Jackson, said that he believed that the industry would continue to gain momentum. "With the new-generation consoles and new handhelds there are some amazing titles out there and consumers are continuing to enjoy them," he said. "There are new and exciting games available and more and more family-orientated and mentally stimulating titles to grasp and hold the interest of all ages."
The top-selling game for 2006 was Electronic Arts' FIFA 07, followed by another football title, Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer 6, and racer Need for Speed Carbon at number three.
The other titles in the top 10 were Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories at four, Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy at five, The Sims 2: Pets at six, Cars at seven, Tomb Raider: Legend at eight, The Sims 2 at nine, and WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2007 at number 10.
SOURCE URL: GAMESPOT
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Even though the game wasn't a big hit on the Xbox 360, the PS2 or the PC, EA feel their mob based game, The Godfather stands a better chance on the PS3 and the Wii. Luckily, the game will not be a port; both the PS3 and the Wii will get exclusive content and both versions will make use of their unique controllers namely the SIXAXIS (PS3) and the Wiimote (Wii).
The Godfather: The Don's Edition (PS3) includes The Corleone Expansion Pack with new gameplay and missions while The Godfather Blackhand Edition (Wii) gives an enhanced combat experience with motion-based Blackhand Control. Take over the Big Apple in these fully interactive open-world games based on the classic film by Paramount Pictures and the critically-acclaimed book by Mario Puzo.
Both versions can be expected by March 2007.
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Wii play for the Nintendo Wii is a collection of 9 mini games that is to be released on 2 February. There are a few highlights to this game and it has a great potential to sell very well. This mini game collection costs the regular $50, but it includes a $40 Wii-mote for free. Yeah, that's true! You are really getting a $40 dollar wii-mote with a $10 game and with a total of 9 mini games, that makes it just over $1 per game.
The mini-games to be included in the package are:
- A shooting Range
- Table Tennis
- Laser Hockey
- Billiards
- Fishing
- Charge
- Tanks
- Find Mii
- Pose Mii
For screenshots, visit the IGN's Wii Play page here.
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Microsoft announced today two new ways to get into the Halo 3
multiplayer beta program, which officially launches this spring. By
playing Halo 2 over Xbox Live (XBL) and registering online, or by
purchasing the upcoming title Crackdown, users who didn't get a chance
to register in December can still get into the beta.
The first new way to enter the beta will be following the "rule of 3". Beginning midnight (EST) on February 1, and ending at 11:59 PM February 3, the first 13,333 people to play three hours of Halo 2 over XBL and register online at Halo3.com will be eligible for the beta program that opens up some time this spring.
As an alternate method, initial copies of Microsoft's first-party Xbox 360 game Crackdown will be specially marked, indicating the inclusion of an invite to the Halo 3 beta, which will allow them to download the beta program from the Xbox Live Marketplace. Crackdown will be available in the US on February 20, at a price of $60.
Both methods of entry require the user to have an Xbox 360 with a hard drive (which comes pre-installed in to $400 "pro" bundle), have an active Xbox Live Gold subscriber, and be at least 17 years old.
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The final All Formats Chart for 2006 is now in and shows FIFA 07 taking the top spot once more, bringing EA’s total time spent with a game at number one in 2006 to a whopping 27 weeks – that’s just over half of the entire year!
EA’s success comes from its massive catalogue of popular franchises, most notably the Need for Speed and FIFA series of games, which between them have dominated the holiday season.
Still, despite a strong showing from Need for Speed Carbon this year, it is in fact Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer 6 that ends the year in the number two. EA’s driving game now sits in third.
Lower down 2006’s last ever chart, the Sims 2: Pets is at four with Call of Duty 3 in the fifth position, closely followed by WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2007 in six.
Gears of War is still holding strong at seven, while Rockstar’s Canis Canem Edit jumps to number eight in the charts thanks to some post-Christmas price reductions.
The complete top ten is as follows:
- FIFA 07
- Pro Evolution Soccer 6
- Need for Speed: Carbon
- The Sims 2: Pets
- Call of Duty 3
- WWE Smackdown Vs Raw 2007
- Gears of War
- Canis Canem Edit
- Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training
- Cars
SOURCE URL: 360gamer
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