Metal Life - Video Games

WETA announced today a HALO contest:

We're very proud to have been asked by our friends at Microsoft to customise two 420cc ATVs to look and sound like the Mongoose ATV from HALO: Reach.

And the exciting part is: they're sweepstake prizes! Yes, you could own one. How awesome is that?

Purchase MOUNTAIN DEW and DORITOS products for a chance to win. Read all about it at:

http://www.honorthecode.com/

Read about other projects that Weta has worked on in the HALO universe, like the HALO Warthog, the HALO 3 promotional short films, the HALO: ODST promotional event in Sydney and of course our range of HALO collectibles.

Celebrate the launch of HALO: Reach with us!

Our friends at Bungie and Microsoft have just revealed to the world the latest adventure in the HALO universe. To celebrate the event, we'd like to offer you a 10% discount on all the pieces in our range of HALO collectibles (excludes jewellery) until 30 September.

Check out our HALO collectibles!

Star Wars CLONE WARS ADVENTURES free online game launches today

2010-09-15T07:34:00.000-07:00

SAN DIEGO and SAN FRANCISCO – Sept. 15, 2010 – Star Wars®: Clone Wars Adventures™, a free-to-play family-friendly online virtual world from Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) and LucasArts, a division of Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd., is now available to play at www.CloneWarsAdventures.com. Clone Wars Adventures is an action-packed browser-based virtual world where fans can live out the thrills and excitement of Star Wars®: The Clone Wars™ animated TV series on Cartoon Network. Players will be able to battle alongside their favorite Star Wars characters like Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, and Ahsoka Tano.

“We are incredibly proud of Clone Wars Adventures,” said John Smedley, president of Sony Online Entertainment. “LucasArts and Lucasfilm have been great partners throughout this entire project, so the game is seamlessly integrated with the TV series. Clone Wars Adventures exemplifies everything that is great about the show – the action, the characters, the rich universe, and more. Being able to chat with Anakin, engage in Lightsaber™ duels with Obi-Wan or race your Speeder Bike against friends at any time is like actually playing in the show.”

Photo Credit: George Lucas (Film Director, producer & screenwriter), Matt Higby (SOE Lead Designer- Clone Wars Adventures) and Dave Filoni (Director- Star Wars: The Clone Wars)

Developed and published by SOE, creators of the critically acclaimed kids’ game, Free Realms™, and licensed by LucasArts, in conjunction with Lucasfilm Ltd., Clone Wars Adventures is the ultimate virtual destination for fans of the series. Players can go online to experience fun minigames, daily activities, events, rewards, lively social environments and competitions. Clone Wars Adventures is a dynamic world and will be updated with new content following new episodes of the animated series.

“Clone Wars Adventures is authentic, easily accessible and action-packed,” said Mary Bihr, Global VP of Publishing, LucasArts. “We look forward to working with SOE to enrich the Clone Wars Adventures experience with new content as the TV series progresses.”

In Clone Wars Adventures, players become the next great hero of the Republic as they take their place alongside their favorite characters from Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated TV series including Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda and Ahsoka Tano. Gamers can play exciting minigames, engage in dynamic activities, attend lively social events, and access thousands of customization options for their very own personalized avatars. They will speed through space in a Starfighter, take out waves of battle droids in Tower Defense, and test their brains with challenging Droid™ Programming puzzles. Players can also purchase legendary Star Wars outfits, items and accessories through micro-transactions using Station Cash™, SOE’s virtual currency.

Star Wars: Clone War Adventures offers a number of features, including:

Extending the Fantasy: Kids no longer have to wait until the next exciting episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated TV series to continue exploring and enjoying the Star Wars universe. With Clone Wars Adventures, kids can go online to experience exciting thrills as they duel iconic adversaries with their own custom Lightsaber, speed through the galaxy in a Starfighter, defeat enemies and take down starships.
Free Play or Upgrades: Clone Wars Adventures is a free-to-play game, but players who want to take the galactic action to the next level can purchase a monthly Jedi Membership subscription for $5.99. Players can also buy cool Star Wars universe items from within the game through micro-transactions using Station Cash.
Minigames & More: From Droid Programming to Speeder Bike Racing, Clone Wars Adventures puts you in the driver seat to experience epic action in immersive minigames that take you to your favorite locations in the galaxy. Become the proud owner of a tricked out Droid pet or throw a party in your player house - the fun is seemingly endless!
Fun With Friends: Whether you are on adventures with old friends or competing for leaderboard status with new ones, Clone Wars Adventures is a lively virtual world that connects players in fun and safe ways. Show off your achievements in your Trophy Room, use safe chat and emoticons to express yourself and celebrate in-world events with the entire galaxy!
Kid-Friendly: Parental controls allow for the customization of safety options, including pre-canned chat and playtime settings for younger players.
Retail Package: The Clone Wars Adventures Galactic Passport is scheduled to be available at thousands of retail locations in North America later this fall and will include a 90-day membership, 500 Station Cash, the ability to unlock the Togruta playable character, a Yoda monitor topper, and more.

Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures, the ultimate virtual destination for a new generation of Star Wars fans, is rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and up, with content descriptors for Crude Humor and Fantasy Violence.To play Clone Wars Adventures now please visit: http://www.CloneWarsAdventures.com/Follow Clone Wars Adventures on Facebook®: http://www.facebook.com/CloneWarsAdventures

Two FIREWIND tracks available on Rock Band Network

2010-09-14T22:30:00.001-07:00

FIREWIND tracks "Head Up High" and "World On Fire" are now available on the Rock Band Network.

http://www.rockband.com/music/artists/Firewind

Killzone 3 release date announced

2010-09-03T22:34:00.000-07:00

TJ Consunji, Sony Product Marketing Manager, posted this:

Guerrilla Games has been hard at work making the most explosive shooter possible on the PlayStation 3 system. At E3, the development team gave you a glimpse of Killzone 3 in 3D where they walked away with Best Shooter, Best 3D graphics, and Best PS3 game to name a few of the E3 awards received.

Last month, we unveiled elements of Killzone 3’s stellar new multiplayer at gamescom and revealed new vehicles.

Today, on behalf of Guerrilla Games, we are happy to announce the official release date of Killzone 3 in North America is February 22nd, 2011!

METROID: OTHER M is available for the Wii

2010-09-01T20:24:00.000-07:00

This game starts off showing us the defeat of Mother Brain at the end of Super Metroid. The game tells the story of what happens next leading up to the story arc that was in Metroid Fusion.

The games uses the Wii remote horizontally and is basically a third person shooter until you point your Wii remote at the screen and then the game switches to first person where you point and shoot. You have to switch back to third person view again before you can move, but the gameplay is fun. This is a great game for Metroid fans especially.

http://www.metroid.com/

Capcom has announced Dead Rising 2 High Stakes Edition

2010-08-29T21:33:00.000-07:00

CONTENTS:

Dead Rising 2 Game (Xbox 360 or PS3)
Poker Set in a black high-impact case sporting the Fortune City Logo and including:
- 100 Poker Chips – 4 different colors featuring the Fortune City logo
- 2 decks of ‘blood-stained’ custom playing cards featuring character art from Dead Rising 2
- 5 Green Dice
- 1 ‘blood-stained’ dealer chip
Fortune City Visitor Map featuring the game map and ads for Fortune City locations and attractions
Terror Is Reality XVII admission ticket with redemption code for the unique ‘Psycho’ costume and skills downloadable content
The chance at discovering the ‘Golden’ Terror Is Reality XVII admission ticket *

*One Dead Rising 2 High Stakes Edition contains the ‘Golden’ Terror Is Reality XVII admission ticket. The ‘Golden’ ticket is redeemable for Burt the Zombie, a 6’ Dead Rising 2 zombie replica

Available to residents of the United States, Canada and Mexico only

Get Yours Now

VANQUISH pre-order bonus weapons pack

2010-08-28T09:32:00.000-07:00

Pre-order Sega's new game Vanquish and get a free bonus weapons pack. Vanquish comes out on Oct 19.

Story: A Russian terror organization seizes control of an American space colony that generates solar energy for Earth. The terrorists use the energy generators to wipe out San Francisco and demand that the US surrender or they will take out New York as well. Using your experimental battle suit, you and a team of elite soldiers must reclaim the colony.

http://www.sega.com/vanquish/

Playboy to launch video game label

2010-08-27T23:47:00.000-07:00

Playboy is planning on launching their own video game label this year and their first title is Poisonville, written by Bigpoint. The game is a Java based MMO action game.

Poisonville, a fictional American city. Thousands of users play with and against each other in the huge metropolis – no holds barred. The city is divided amongst four gangs, each of which strives to conquer new ground and protect their territory from the other three. Players must complete missions, win fights and climb the ranks from fresh-faced gang member to gang leader. Impressive animation in a fully-3D world makes for a game of blockbuster standards. Race through the streets in a brand new set of wheels, shop for the latest streetwear, hang out with the dancers in Poisonville's top clubs - you call the shots. On the streets, the never-ending battle between enemy gangs continues. Brains and brawn won't be enough to survive and thrive, you'll also need some friends to watch your back. Some jobs can only be completed with a partner or in a group, and cheating other players can have serious consequences.

http://www.poisonville.com/

CLONE WARS ADVENTURES™ public beta opens today

2010-08-20T14:18:00.000-07:00

Sony Online Entertainment Asks Series Fans and Gamers

To Play-Test Free Online Virtual World

WHAT:

Sony Online Entertainment and LucasArts are looking for video game enthusiasts of all ages and fans of the Star Wars®: The Clone Wars™ animated television series on Cartoon Network to be the first to get hands-on in the open BETA testing that begins today for Star Wars®: Clone Wars Adventures™. Get a sneak peak of the highly anticipated free-to-play online virtual world and provide feedback to help put the finishing touches on the final game scheduled to be released later this year on September 15th.

The ultimate virtual destination for a new generation of Star Wars fans, Clone Wars Adventures is an action-packed virtual world where players can go online to experience fun minigames, daily activities, events, rewards, lively social environments and competition. Clone Wars Adventures lets players duel iconic adversaries with their own custom Lightsaber, speed through the galaxy in a custom Starfighter, defeat enemies and take down starships.

Clone Wars Adventures is a free-to-play game, but players who want to take the galactic action to the next level can purchase a monthly Membership subscription for $5.99, while a variety of epic items can also be purchased through Station Cash® micro-transactions. The Clone Wars Adventures Galactic Passport is scheduled to be available at thousands of retail locations in North America later this fall and will include a 90-day membership, 500 Station Cash, the ability to unlock the Togruta playable character, a Yoda monitor topper, and more.

WHEN:

Clone Wars Adventures BETA registration is open now. Prospective Jedi masters and Clone Troopers can register for BETA and test their Lightsaber skills, helping to fine tune the game for launch this September!

WHERE:

For the opportunity to participate in the program visit the game website www.CloneWarsAdventures.com and click on the BETA registration link.

PS3 hardware crack reported, good or bad news?

2010-08-20T09:52:00.000-07:00

We'll have to wait and see, but this has the potential to negatively affect the video game industry if pirated games become readily available. However, homebrew application and games could be beneficial.

Our suggestion would be a licensed development platform (legal software) that allows homebrew authors to create apps and games that would be made available through the Playstation Home environment. This way, Sony is in charge of the homebrew software that is available for PS3 users to access.

Landon Donovan on cover of FIFA SOCCER 2011

2010-08-11T21:52:00.000-07:00

Electronic Arts Inc. announced today that Los Angeles Galaxy star Landon Donovan has been chosen for the cover of EA SPORTSTM FIFA Soccer 11. The 28-year-old American soccer hero will join Real Madrid’s Kaka and Arsenal’s Carlos Vela on the front cover of FIFA Soccer 11 in the United States and Canada when it is available in retail stores September 28.

Donovan started for the U.S. Men’s National Team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup South AfricaTM, scoring three goals in four matches, including a thrilling injury time goal in a 1–0 win over Algeria, leading the USA to win their group for the first time since 1930. Donovan also enjoyed an outstanding 2009 campaign, winning Major League Soccer’s Most Valuable Player award for the first time and MLS Goal of the Year 2009 while leading the Galaxy to the MLS Cup. This season Donovan has scored 5 goals and 11 assists in 13 games for LA.

Donovan is appearing on the cover of the most popular* sports video game franchise in the world for the third time. He was also on the cover of FIFA Soccer 2003 and FIFA Soccer 07 in North America. This is the first appearance for Kaka and Vela.

“Landon is the most recognizable, popular and accomplished soccer player in the United States and he was at his best with the world watching during the 2010 FIFA World Cup™,” said Matt Bilbey, Vice President of Soccer, EA SPORTS. “After his FIFA World Cup™ performance and the season he had with the Galaxy last year we felt he belonged back on the cover of FIFA Soccer 11.”

Vela, an attacking forward, played on Mexico’s national team that advanced to the round of 16 at the 2010 FIFA World CupTM. He scored two goals and two assists in 20 appearances last season with Arsenal. Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, or better known as Kaka, is one of the finest football players of this generation, having won the Golden Ball and FIFA World Player of the Year awards in 2007. During the 2009-2010 season, Kaka scored 8 goals in 22 appearances for Real Madrid.

Building on FIFA Soccer 10 gameplay that won 50 sports game of the year awards, FIFA Soccer 11 reinvents player authenticity – on and off the ball – for every position on the pitch. All-new Personality+ sees individual abilities reflected in game, allowing clear differentiation for every player. FIFA 11 also introduces new Pro Passing, where pass accuracy is determined by a gamer’s ability on the control pad, and player skill, situation and urgency on the pitch, and 360° Fight For Possession, which delivers true freedom in man-to-man interactions, transforming physical play from individual lateral jostling to full 360° collisions involving multiple players.

Visit http://www.facebook.com/easportsfifa to join the EA SPORTS FIFA group for more information about the game.

FIFA Soccer 11 will be available in stores on September 28 for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, PC, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo DS™, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system and iPhone®. It will be available on October 4 for Wii™. FIFA Soccer 11 is developed under the EA SPORTS brand by EA Canada in Burnaby, B.C. The game has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

Guitar Hero adds ARCH ENEMY, QUEENSRYCHE, more

2010-08-11T19:10:00.000-07:00

The following tracks will be included with "Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock", shipping Sept 28. These artists have never been available in the Guitar Hero library:

Arch Enemy - "Nemesis"
Queensryche - "Jet City Woman"
Snot - "Deadfall"
Tesla - "Modern Day Cowboy"

A total promises 90 songs with the game and a library of over 500 songs available in the Guitar Hero store.

Star Wars Force Unleashed II video teaser

2010-08-11T16:27:00.000-07:00

Star
Wars: The Force Unleashed II Xbox 360 Preview - Video Preview

Has the Video Game Industry Learned its Lesson

2010-08-10T18:16:00.000-07:00

Critically-Acclaimed Video Series Game Theory Examines State of the Business

SEATTLE, WA (August 10, 2010) - Game Industry TV™ today announced the launch of episode two of celebrated video game show "Game Theory with Scott Steinberg™," which asks whether or not the gaming industry has really learned its lesson in the face of continued sales declines and studio closures. Titled "Time for a Reality Check," the documentary, available now at http://www.GameTheoryOnline.com, explores whether developers and publishers like Activision, UbiSoft and Electronic Arts are really adapting fast enough to survive in the face of growing competition from social networks, downloadable titles and free online games.

Taking a closer look at the key issues impacting the video game business, including changing player habits, growing economic concerns and the rise of mobile and online platforms, it explores the continuing shift to digital distribution and monumental changes that have followed. Featuring commentary by Electronic Arts founder Trip Hawkins, The Sims creator Will Wright, Gaikai CEO David Perry and other noted industry leaders, the video reveals the extent of the historic upheavals impacting the gaming business, and what it takes to evolve in their wake.

The second in a multi-part series on both the state, and utter reinvention, of the video game industry, it offers the most candid account of what's happening behind the scenes today from those who know best - the field's biggest names.

For more information, please visit http://www.GameTheoryOnline.com

CLONE WARS ADVENTURES release date announced

2010-08-10T13:20:00.000-07:00

Secrets Are Revealed In All-New Season of Star Wars™: The Clone Wars™

Premiering on Cartoon Network, Friday, September 17, 9 p.m. (ET/PT)

New Clone Wars Adventures™ Online Virtual World to Debut with Season Premiere

Building on the huge ratings win from last spring’s second season finale of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Cartoon Network announced today it will premiere 22 all-new episodes for season three of the critically acclaimed CG-animated series from creator George Lucas and Lucasfilm Animation. The special, one-hour season three premiere event of Star Wars: The Clone Wars airs Friday, September 17, at 9 p.m. (et/pt).

The season two finale of Star Wars: The Clone Wars was the highest-rated telecast of the season among all key kid demos—2-11, 6-11, 9-14. The one-hour special also took the #1 spot as the most-watched telecast of the day (May 2) among boys 6-14, and #1 for its timeslot with kids 6-14 versus all television. Star Wars: The Clone Wars is a thrilling, weekly 30-minute “mini-movie” created by the talented artists at Lucasfilm Animation.

Mystery, intrigue and adventure await our heroes with all-new action-packed episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. As war continues to rage throughout the galaxy, the dark side grows even stronger and the Jedi Knights are pushed to the breaking point. The lines between good and evil become blurred as secrets are revealed, truths are questioned and alliances are betrayed. Loyalties are tested as new enemies emerge and heroes rise – and fall.

In this transformative new season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, surprises wait at every turn, the fate of the galaxy hangs in the balance and the destiny of the “Chosen One” will at long last be uncovered. Thrilling, unpredictable and often humorous, the exciting new adventures of the Star Wars Saga will captivate fans of all ages.

Fans of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated television series on Cartoon Network can also look forward to the scheduled online release of LucasArts, a division of Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd.’s and Sony Online Entertainment LLC's (SOE) Star Wars®: Clone Wars Adventures™ video game on September 15. The ultimate virtual destination for a new generation of Star Wars fans, Clone Wars Adventures is an action-packed virtual world where players can go online to experience fun minigames, daily activities, events, rewards, lively social environments and competition. Clone Wars Adventures lets players duel iconic adversaries with their own custom lightsaber, speed through the galaxy in a custom starfighter, defeat enemies and take down starships.

Clone Wars Adventures is a free-to-play to game, but players who want to take the galactic action to the next level can purchase a monthly Membership subscription for $5.99, while a variety of epic items can also be purchased through Station Cash® micro-transactions. The Clone Wars Adventures Galactic Passport is scheduled to be available at thousands of retail locations in North America later this fall and will include a 90 day membership, 500 Station Cash, the ability to unlock the Togruta playable character, a Yoda monitor topper, and more.

MADDEN 11 on SportsNation today 4PM EST

2010-08-10T12:43:00.000-07:00

SportsNation will be having a special “Madden” episode in conjunction with the release of Madden 11 today at 4 p.m. EST on ESPN2.

The entire show will be “Madden” focused with all of the day’s polls being related to the new game along with viewers being asked to rank the toughest players in this years game. Joining co-hosts Colin Cowherd and Michelle Beadle in studio will be former Tennessee Titan running back and Madden 2001 cover boy Eddie George who will challenge SportsCenter anchor Mike Hill to a game of Madden 11.

3D Entertainment Summit adds M Night Shyamalan

2010-08-09T18:09:00.001-07:00

(Los Angeles, CA and Milford, CT; August 9, 2010) -- Bob Dowling, President of The Bob Dowling Group, and Unicomm, LLC, a leading event management company, announced today that Writer-Director M. Night Shyamalan (The Last Airbender; Sixth Sense) and Chris Cookson, President of Sony Pictures Technologies, will be joining Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of DreamWorks Animation SKG, as Keynote Speakers at the 3rd annual 3D Entertainment Summit™ presented in association with Variety. The two-day conference is scheduled for September 15-16, 2010 at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City, CA.

“Using new creative techniques to tell stories with fierce and brilliant intelligence has been the hallmark of M. Night Shyamalan's remarkable career," said Dowling, "and we look forward to his insights into the immersive narrative possibilities of 3D as one of our Keynote Speakers.” M. Night Shyamalan wrote and directed the 1999 breakout hit Sixth Sense, which was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Screenplay; other notable films include Unbreakable (2001), Signs (2002), The Happening (2008) and the current box office hit, The Last Airbender.

"As President of Sony Pictures Technologies, Chris Cookson's mandate is to oversee the use of hardware and software in the service of content creation and creators across Sony's vast entertainment space," Dowling said. "Few executives can speak more authoritatively than Chris about the critical importance of company-wide integration of technology and creativity to maximize audience response to 3D in all its platforms."

Premier Sponsors of the 3D Entertainment Summit™ presented in association with Variety include: RealD, the conference 3D provider; Sony Electronics, including its Digital Cinema Solutions group which is the official projection sponsor of the general sessions; Official Sponsors include: MASTERIMAGE 3D; Supporting Sponsors include: Samsung Electronics; Sponsors include: NVIDIA Corporation, Mitsubishi Digital Electronics, Hyundai, Technicolor, BSAT Labs (2D to 3D conversion), JVC U.S.A, VOLFONI 3D Eyewear, Legend 3D, Sensio Technologies, IMAX Corporation, Dolby Laboratories, SRS Labs, Panavision, DreamWorks and Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company,; Screen Sponsors: Harkness Screens and Strong / MDI Screen Systems; Supporters: Micoy Corporation, GUNNAR Optiks, American Paper Optics, Lightspeed Design, Inc. / DepthQ, Roxio, Quantel Inc., Spatial View, Marchon 3D, Reliance MediaWorks and Transilwrap Company Inc.; Industry Partners: Interpret LLC, ICG Magazine, JUMP! 3D, Screen Digest, S3DGA (The S-3D Gaming Alliance) and Meant to Be Seen (mtbs3D.com), the foremost authority group on consumer S-3D gaming and entertainment.

The 3D Entertainment Summit™ presented in association with Variety is the definitive conference devoted to examining and analyzing the burgeoning confluence of 3D and entertainment. Last year's event attracted more than 500 attendees representing a “who’s who” in 3D from top brands and all aspects of the entertainment community. The Summit has drawn international media coverage and boasted industry leading sponsors supporting its status as a "thought leadership" event. For more information, please visit: www.3d-summit.com.

The 3D Gaming Summit™ in association with Variety, the most recent addition to the entertainment industry series of events produced by The Bob Dowling Group and Unicomm, LLC, featured an all-star speaker roster of industry leaders this past April. Keynotes included producer Jon Landau (Avatar), director Paul W.S. Anderson (Resident Evil), and executives Phil Eisler (NVIDIA) and Josh Greer (RealD). For more information: www.3dgamingsummit.com.

LA Mobile Entertainment Summit™ in association with Variety and in partnership with the Mobile Excellence Awards, the most influential and coveted awards program in the mobile industry, brings together the brightest minds in the mobile ecosystem for a two-day conference packed with in-depth, interactive discussions. From start-ups, studios, content providers, entertainment, apps and handsets, to brands and more, industry luminaries will share best practices and discuss the future of mobile entertainment to provide a unique and deep reach into the mobile and entertainment world. More information can be found at www.lamobilesummit.com.

FIFA SOCCER 2011 trailers, customize the audio

2010-08-06T21:31:00.000-07:00

Kaka teaser video:

EA SPORTS FIFA 11

The game offers user customizable audio and music:

EA SPORTS FIFA 11

http://fifa.easports.com/home.action

MAFIA II tech trailer, game out Aug 24

2010-08-05T18:37:00.000-07:00

The folks at IGN have posted a new tech trailer for MAFIA II.

MAFIA II looks like it is going to be a lot of fun and we're looking forward to Aug 24th when this game is released. Built on 2K Czech's engine, this time, we go deeper inside the mafia and by the looks of things, deeper into trouble.

HALO REACH events Aug 6th, contest

2010-08-05T18:11:00.000-07:00

Microsoft and Game Stop are presenting HALO: REACH tips and tricks and a contest to win prizes. The prizes include a copy of the "Legendary Edition" collectors pack (one per store) and a life size HALO statue (only 1 available).

The event is happening at 1,100 Game Stop locations nationwide after hours.

Friday, Aug. 6, 2010
9-10:30 p.m. (local time at each location)

For a list of participating store and more details, visit http://www.GameStop.com/HaloReach.

LucasArts Cantina on PlayStation Home Tomorrow

2010-08-04T16:53:00.000-07:00

Lucas Arts announced today that Playstation 3 users will be able to access the Cantina from Star Wars from Playstation Home starting Aug 5. The Cantina is available for free, while avatar skins are available for purchase. Skins available are Princess Leia, C3PO and Chewbacca.

There is a dance floor and some hidden surprises in the Cantina, so be sure to check it out. It is rumored that the Cantina will be sharing some Celebration V related information, etc during the event.

For more details and pics, go here

‘Kung-Fu LIVE’ Challenges the World at Gamescom 2010

2010-08-04T12:33:00.000-07:00

Helsinki, Finland & Cologne, Germany - August 4, 2010 – Virtual Air Guitar Company Ltd, a Helsinki–based independent game developer and computer vision specialist, announced today to combatants across the globe an invitation to literally step into an epic fighting game like no other with Kung-Fu LIVE at the Gamescom trade fair in Cologne, Germany before it launches this Fall on PlayStation® Network. Gamescom attendees of all ages interested in testing their skills can stop by Hall 6 - Open Booth C-033 from August 19th to the 22nd for their exclusive body-on trial of the game.

Taking players directly into a battle of good versus evil with accurate real-time motion tracking and image scanning, Kung-Fu LIVE will challenge players at the show to use their entire bodies with Virtual Air Guitar Company’s patented Freemotion® technology on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. The game features a limitless combination of martial arts moves, acrobatic stunts and super-human power attacks ready for combat as players launch their feet and fists into the air with patience, skill and style in order to defeat their enemies. Costumes and ninja outfits, while not required, are said to intimidate evil assailants in the player’s attempt to save the world from total chaos and certain destruction.

“At Gamescom, we finally have the chance to show off the depth of ‘Kung-Fu LIVE’ as a fully-realized hardcore fighting game, and we’ll be sharing more stages, enemies, and bosses than ever before,” said Teemu Mäki-Patola, CEO of Virtual Air Guitar Company Ltd. “The crowd will even get a sneak peek at our unique multiplayer mode that pits players on the couch against players on their own two feet. It’s going to be intense, and we invite everyone attending the show to stop by our booth and show off their kung-fu moves, walking away with a full workout that no other fighting game can deliver.”

Launching later this Fall on PlayStation Network, Kung-Fu LIVE will provide a fast, fun, and action packed experience while ushering in a new era of full-body motion gaming.

If you are interested in learning more about Kung-Fu LIVE, please visit www.kungfulivegame.com or look for more details on the Facebook page for Virtual Air Guitar Company.

For more information on Gamescom, please visit www.gamescom.de for details.

Adrienne Wilkinson at San Diego Comic Con, Force Unleashed

2010-08-03T20:01:00.000-07:00

Metal Life Magazine visited with Adrienne Wilkinson at San Diego Comic Con, where she was signing autographs in Autograph Alley. We talked about her voice role as Maris Brood in Force Unleashed and her work for Star Wars: The Old Republic. Adrienne told us that she did have a small role in Force Unleashed II (she wouldn't say in which capacity though) and that perhaps, we can expect to hear her lovely voice in part III as well!! ("perhaps," Adrienne says.)

Adrienne is no stranger to voicing characters in video games. She lent her vocal talents to Saints Row 2, Saints Row, Dead to Rights II, Alpha Protocol, Command and Conquer 3 and Everquest II. She has even starred in an episode of Star Wars: Clone Wars.

On the other side of the cameras, she also starred in Xena as Eve/Livia, the daughter of Xena.

While her voice has been a welcome sound in so many video games, we hope we get to see more of her in front of the camera as well. We wish Adrienne all the best and the next time you get a chance to speak with her, do so, you won't regret it.

"Game Theory" Video Series Gives Video Game Industry A Voice

2010-08-03T17:55:00.000-07:00

SEATTLE, WA (August 3, 2010) - Video production company Game Industry TV™ today announced the debut of new PC and video game show and online magazine, "Game Theory with Scott Steinberg," with new episodes and articles now available at http://www.GameTheoryOnline.com. Providing top game designers, executives and journalists with a more enlightened forum to publicly discuss and debate today's top issues, both offer everyday fans deeper, more informed industry analysis in a language that all can understand.

The series' debut season opens with a multi-part, feature-length documentary exploring the reinvention of the entire games business, from social games and motion controls to cloud computing and 3D gaming. Hosted by noted video game expert Scott Steinberg (www.thevideogameexpert.com), the show also features appearances by industry leaders including Will Wright, Sid Meier, Trip Hawkins, Peter Molyneux, Cliff Bleszinski and more.

Beyond regular episodes and special features, the series will further be supported by an original online magazine which takes a more analytical and opinionated approach to industry coverage. Featuring a unique blend of commentary, features and trend analysis, editorial voices include hi5 president Alex St. John, futurist Jane McGonigal, ECA president Hal Halpin and others. From plummeting sales to violent video games on trial, both cut through the hype to get at the heart of today's most pressing issues.

http://www.GameTheoryOnline.com

SOUNDGARDEN Rises From The Dead In Guitar Hero

2010-08-03T17:27:00.001-07:00

http://www.metallife.com/news/display_news.php?id=1166

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II – Boba Fett

2010-08-02T22:03:00.000-07:00

Article by: David Raymond, Metal Life Magazine

Street Date: October 26th, 2010

I will freely admit that I am a huge fan of the Force Unleashed game created by Lucas Arts. While it did not come without its own flaws the first game in the series has proven to be one of, if not the, best Star Wars games I have ever played.
The problem we are faced with the sequel to The Force unleashed is that Starkiller does not have a proper nemesis. Some would argue that Darth Vader is the one to face Starkiller but I would say contrary to what the writers have delivered to us in the first game is that Darth Vader should not and could not be defeated by anyone but himself.

So I would offer this piece of information in lieu of the Vader challenge. LucasArts writer Haden Blackman explained to USA Today, Boba Fett will play a "small but pivotal role" in the sequel. Boba Fett would be the perfect opponent for Starkiller. I would compare this match up to Superman/Batman. One has all the powers and the other all the skill. I am definitely looking forward to this event.

"KILLZONE 3" cinematic deaths video

2010-08-02T21:40:00.000-07:00

Article by: David Raymond, Metal Life Magazine

Killzone 3 is expected February 2011.

Killzone could easily be made into a big budget Hollywood flick. It has the clear distinction of the “good” and “bad” guys which seems to take a heavy influence from WWII. The Helghast Empire could easily be compared to the Nazis whereas the Interplanetary Strategic Alliance (I.S.A.) would be the Allies of World War II.
With the introduction of cinematic deaths the possibility of a movie seems even truer.

Watching your enemies explode and tumble about really sets the bar much higher than any other FPS, including COD:MW.

LINKIN PARK video trailer The Catalyst for Medal of Honor

2010-08-02T12:38:00.001-07:00

http://www.metallife.com/news/display_news.php?id=1151

Gears of War 3 at San Diego Comic Con

2010-07-28T22:45:00.000-07:00

San Diego Comic Con attendees got to play Gears of War 3 and check out the new gameplay, graphics and sounds. Big screens and headphones added to the experience.

Comic Con Attendees also learned that Claudia Black will be providing the voice of Sam, one of the new female Gears. Also revealed was the title of the book that will explain what happened between Gears of War 2 and Gears of War 3. That title is "Gears of War: Coalition’s End." Another tidbit of info was the fact that Bernadette “Bernie” Mataki will be making her first appearance in Gears 3.

Gears of War 3 hits the shelves April 5, 2011

Rock Band 3 at San Diego Comic Con

2010-07-28T21:11:00.000-07:00

Photo by E. Lacey, Metal Life Magazine

San Diego Comic Con attendees got to try out Rock Band 3 with fellow fans on a stage set up on the convention floor. With recent additions to the Rock Band library including tracks from Emperor and bands like Dio, Ozzy and Whitesnake being announced as part of the songs shipped with Rock Band 3, it looks like the holidays this year are going be sweet.

Rock Band 3 will include new features such as Party Mode, where players can drop in and out without interrupting the gameplay; Career Mode and Social networking tools to keep your Twitter and Facebook friends up to date. The graphics are improved and you can also play keyboards and perform vocal harmonies with up to three voices (similar to the Beatles Rock Band)

http://www.rockband.com/

Red Faction Armageddon at San Diego Comic Con

2010-07-28T12:36:00.000-07:00

Red Faction Armageddon is available for pre-order and will be released March 1st, 2011. This time around, the battle moves under the ground of Mars, very deep.

Check out their site for more details:

http://www.redfaction.com/

LINKIN PARK Joins Forces with Medal of Honor

2010-07-27T20:39:00.000-07:00

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – July 27, 2010 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) today announced that the Grammy award-winning rock band Linkin Park will headline the in-game soundtrack for Medal of Honor™ with the lead song to their new album A Thousand Suns (releasing on September 14). The song, entitled “The Catalyst,” will be featured in an exclusive trailer directed by the band’s Joe Hahn. The trailer is a unique first-of-its-kind mix of live footage and intense modern military action from the Medal of Honor game and will be released exclusively on August 1 at www.medalofhonor.com/linkinpark, one day before the song is released to radio, iTunes® and other media. Check out a preview of the song today at www.medalofhonor.com/linkinpark.

“Medal of Honor marks the beginning of an innovative new relationship between EA and Linkin Park,” said Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive, Music and Music Marketing, EA. “I’ve personally known the band since 1999, and they have always been an intensely creative group who understand the power of videogames and have wanted to explore and expand the medium’s possibilities. ‘The Catalyst’ is one of the most anticipated tracks of the year, and the combination of this new song and Joe Hahn’s distinctive visual dynamic re-sets the bar in our commitment to bringing together landmark EA games with artists whose talents go far beyond music.”

“This is a unique, creative association for us and a collaboration that we are excited about,” said Joe Hahn, trailer director and DJ for Linkin Park. “The opportunity to help introduce “The Catalyst” via the new Medal of Honor game creates a new bond between EA, our fans, and the band’s overall vision for the new digital frontier. We are enormously proud of the music on A Thousand Suns and are excited to have created an exclusive trailer around the lead track.”

Linkin Park was recently named the No. 1 selling Rock/Alt Band of the Decade by SoundScan/Billboard. Over the course of the past few years, they’ve amassed more than 50 million worldwide sales, a remarkable string of chart-topping hit singles, a pair of Grammy wins, and an international fan base whose members number in the millions.

For the first time in its 11-year history, Medal of Honor leaves the WWII theatre and enters the modern setting of war-torn Afghanistan. The game is told through the lens of a small band of fictional characters. Medal of Honor introduces players to the Tier 1 Operator, an elite warrior and relatively unknown instrument of the U.S. Military that operates under the National Command Authority to take on missions no one else can handle.

Medal of Honor launches on October 12, 2010 in North America and October 15 in Europe for the PlayStation® 3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and PC.

http://www.twitter.com/medalofhonor

http://www.facebook.com/medalofhonor

Search Amazon.com for linkin park

Two EMPEROR songs added to Rock Band network

2010-07-27T20:04:00.000-07:00

EMPEROR classics “Curse You All Men (Live)” and “Inno A Satana (Live)” are now available for download via Rock Band 2 for Xbox 360. Both songs are taken from EMPEROR’s 2009 double-live album, Live Inferno. The songs represent UK-based Candlelight Records’ first to appear via the popular music video game.

Members of EMPEROR, with Brooklyn-based Noisy Puppet Studios, have been working for months scripting, testing, mixing and perfecting the songs. Founder/developer Jeremy Parker says “these tracks will put you through the ringer on every instrument. It’s a struggle to survive but once you master these tracks you have lived through one of the most intense, powerful, rock game-play ever seen.”

Guitar and drumming charts were quite a challenge to development during the creative process confirms Parker. “Both songs are a torture session that seems to never end,” he says. “And the expert drum chart in 'Curse You…' is the most difficult challenge ever seen in a music video game. You may need a friend to play the kick drum pedal for you, just to play half the hits from the live performance.”

EMPEROR/The Wretched End guitarist Samoth notes, “we think it's great kids want to be able to play more classic extreme metal! EMPEROR is pleased to offer these songs to those that dare to give them a try!"

Vocalist/guitarist Ihsahn adds, "several of my guitar students started out with music games and I believe this is how many young people develop a more passionate relationship to bands and songs these days. It's cool to be part of it."

EMPEROR released their swansong, Prometheus – The Discipline Of Fire And Demise, early September 2001. It was an epic and progressive metal album that once and for all marked EMPEROR as one of the most adventurous and gifted black metal bands of all times. In 2005, EMPEROR surprised all with an un-announced appearance at Oslo’s famed Inferno Fest. Following the performance, the band announced additional concerts that would include a visit to America; marking the second trip to the states in the band’s legendary career. Fans flocked to New York City and Los Angeles to witness the sold out performances. In 2007, additional shows would see the band return to the US for a repeat performance in New York City, a stop in Chicago, and what would be their final American performance in Los Angeles.

Released in April of last year, Live Inferno is an exclusive/professionally tracked live recordings. The beautiful 2CD package contains a stunning 16-page booklet capturing the inner details of the special reunion performances from both band and fan perspectives. Also released was a lavish deluxe version which included an enhanced 24-page booklet plus the 70-minute Live At Wacken Open Air DVD in a captivating box.

Noisy Puppet Studios works with premier labels and bands to develop quality downloadable content for Rock Band video games. The company offers a full authoring service, which includes charting the game-play for all of a song’s playable parts, programming character animations, and designing lighting and cinematography for the in-game venue.

Free demos of the songs are available to Xbox LIVE members by visiting the links below.

"Curse You All Men" - http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/offers/8000040a-0000-4000-8000-000045410869

"Inno a Satana" - http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/games/offers/8000040c-0000-4000-8000-000045410869

http://www.myspace.com/emperorhorde

http://www.emperorhorde.com

The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest Comic ConTest

2010-07-21T11:34:00.000-07:00

In anticipation of the Fall 2010 release of The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (WBIE) is bringing The Balrog to Comic-Con 2010.

At this year’s Comic-Con, fans of the epic The Lord of the Rings trilogy can pick up their very own Balrog trading card from the WB booth (booth #4545) and use it to create an augmented reality video at http://aragornsquest.gamesradar.com/comiccon. The person who makes the coolest, most creative video will be awarded their very own Balrog statue, which can be viewed at the link above.

In addition, everyone who posts a video is automatically entered into the The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest augmented reality sweepstakes and a chance to win lots of great prizes including a PS3 and Wii.

Only fans who attend Comic-Con will have the opportunity to win a Balrog statue and supplies are limited, so tell your readers to stop by the WB booth to play the game and pick up their cards early.

In The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest, players become the legendary Aragorn and embark upon a quest reliving the hero’s most valiant battles from The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Wielding a sword, shield, bow and spear, players will battle enemies and journey through a colorful and fresh rendition of Middle-earth where they can switch between spear and sword on horseback, taking down evil foes in a truly action-packed gameplay experience. Two-player co-op gameplay featuring Gandalf allows kids, families and friends to work together in the heart of the action on the PS3 and Wii.

Sega announces THOR: The Video Game

2010-07-20T13:43:00.000-07:00

SEGA Reveals Launch Plans to Bring Marvel’s Mighty Thor Franchise to Gaming Systems for Original Epic Adventure

Thor: The Video Game Launches Marvel Icon in his First Standalone Game Adventure
with Massive Action, Stirring Graphics, and an Original Story

SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON – July 20, 2010 – “By Odin’s beard!” SEGA® Europe Ltd. and SEGA® of America, Inc. today announced they will bring Marvel’s hall-of-fame franchise Thor™ to video game systems for an epic third-person adventure: Thor: The Video Game, scheduled for release on all five major video game platforms in 2011 including the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) system, Wii™ and Nintendo DS™.

“We are proud to be bringing Marvel’s Thor to his first solo video game adventure,” commented Gary Knight, Senior Vice President of Marketing at SEGA Europe and SEGA America. “Thor: The Video Game will finally bring the immense power of this iconic hero to lifelong fans, and introduce the God of Thunder to a whole new audience as a true Marvel Super Hero.”

Thor: The Video Game will take players through a spectacular, epic-scale original third-person adventure for which Matt Fraction, the Eisner Award-winning writer and lead Thor comic book author served as story consultant. In the game, Thor battles through the numerous worlds of Norse mythology that span realms ranging from primal worlds of fire and ice to extraordinary planets inhabited by Frost Giants and Trolls to save Asgard, the capital city of the Norse Gods. Thor must overcome monstrous foes lifted from the pages of the comics including Ulik, Ymir, and Surtur, as well as other monstrous denizens. Players will wield the iconic Mjölnir, Thor’s legendary hammer, to fight enemies on an immense scale while controlling the elemental storm powers of lightning, thunder, and wind to vanquish enemies. As Thor earns Valor points through his exploits, players can acquire new abilities, powers, and weapon upgrades.

Each version of the game will be uniquely suited for its platform, with the PlayStation 3 system and Xbox 360 versions featuring cinematic, third-person action gameplay with melee combos, ranged hammer throws, tide-turning elemental powers, and an upgrade system to bolster Thor’s powers as gamers progress. Players will take on enemies up to four times as large as Thor, with multiple grappling points and a variety of strategies for taking them down: go toe-to-toe with a 25 foot tall, 12 ton Ice Trolls for a truly heart-pumping experience.

The Wii game will feature the same overarching storyline as the next-gen consoles, but will also present a different gaming experience by utilizing the Wii Remote™ and Nunchuk™ controllers to battle enemies and deliver Thor’s elemental powers. Thor for the Wii version will also be presented with a uniquely styled comic book look that it will share with the PSP system version, along with different cinematics, story elements, dialog, locations, and dedicated flight levels. Nintendo DS players will experience a 2D side-scrolling adventure with narrative and gameplay unique to the platform.

Brought to the Marvel Universe by the legendary Stan Lee and his brother Larry Lieber and penciled by noted artist Jack Kirby, Thor first appeared in Marvel Comics in 1962. Based on Norse mythology, the Marvel character of Thor became a comic book Super Hero both in his own right and as a member of the Avengers alongside comic book icons The Hulk™, Iron Man™, and Captain America™. Thor: The Video Game marks the character’s progression from mythology to comics to TV and film, and now to interactive entertainment in his first standalone appearance in a game.

DC Universe Online beta registration, order details

2010-07-19T20:02:00.000-07:00

Sony Online Entertainment (SOE), Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment announced several early-bird initiatives video gamers can get their hands on for their upcoming action MMO game, DC Universe Online:

PC Collector’s Edition

Available for pre-order and at launch, a Collectors Edition of DC Universe Online will be available for PC only, and includes a statue of the Batman, concepted by reknowned comic book artist/executive creative director for the game, Jim Lee. The statue depicts the Dark Knight leaping from a building, ready to rain justice down on evildoers. The Collectors Edition also includes a limited edition Art of DCUO book, which includes 56 pages of the art, information on the making of the game and insight on some of the iconic characters players will encounter, plus a limited edition DC Universe Online: Legends Issue #0 comic, written by Tony Bedard (Green Lantern Corps) and illustrated by Oliver Nome, Michael Lopez and Livio Ramondelli with a variant cover by Jim Lee.

Retailer Pre-Order Programs

Several major retailers will be offering pre-order perks to customers, all of them including the ability to play as one of the DC Universe’s iconic characters, Batman! Players will be able to play as the Dark Knight in an exclusive two-on-two (Player-vs.-Player) combat arena. Some participating retailers will include the limited edition comic with pre-orders, and some participating retailers will include a unique in-game iconic weapon for player characters.

For a list of participating retailers and to pre order the game, click on the Pre-Order button at www.dcuniverseonline.com.

Digital Download Pre-Order

The PC version of DC Universe Online is also available for pre-order via Steam® and Direct2Drive® (D2D). Steam customers will receive Bane’s Venom Injector as a pre-order item, while D2D users will get Mr. Freeze’s Zero Grenade.

Beta Registration Opens

Beta registration also opens today! Potential superheroes and villains can now register for a chance to get in the beta and flex their muscles, helping to fine tune the game for launch this November! To register for beta access, visit the game website www.dcuniverseonline.com and click on the beta registration link.

To pre-order using Direct2Drive, visit the website at www.direct2drive.com.

For pre ordering via Steam, visit the website at www.steampowered.com.

"Vindictus" Demo Playable at Comic-Con

2010-07-19T16:33:00.000-07:00

Nexon America offers first public hands-on of Vindictus at Comic-Con International

Nexon America’s appearance at Comic-Con International at the San Diego Convention Center will feature playable demonstrations of Vindictus, the first physics-based action multiplayer online action role-playing game. Nexon America will be at the Gaming University booth, #4445, with demo stations set up for the first hands-on of Vindictus offered to the public.

Vindictus uses a modified Source Engine™ to enable actions like throwing, shattering, binding with chains, piercing with spears, and more. Visitors to the Nexon stations will be able to engage in high-speed combat and experience the stunning visuals of the free-to-play game that adds brutal elegance to the PC gaming space. Vindictus is scheduled for release later this year.

Nexon America currently publishes Combat Arms, MapleStory, Mabinogi, and PopTag! and is building a new online platform for its titles. This platform, called BlockParty.com, will help gamers maintain friendships in and out of Nexon Games.

For more information on Vindictus, visit www.vindictus.com. Join other fans at www.facebook.com/vindictus.

"DC Universe Online" Tournament at Comic Con

2010-07-17T10:08:00.000-07:00

SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS DC UNIVERSE™ ONLINE “BATTLE OF THE LEGENDS” TOURNAMENT AT SAN DIEGO COMIC CON

WHAT:

A weekend tournament held in the Sony Online Entertainment booth at San Diego Comic Con, July 22-25. Fans will have their chance to become legends in the new online world of DC Universe™ Online (DCUO), competing for great prizes and a chance to create a character for SOE’s upcoming action MMO, DC Universe Online.

Teams of 2-players each will square off in a ladder tournament of heroes vs. villains Thursday through Saturday, with the two finalist teams battling it out in arena combat for the title of Next Legend!

Tournament highlights will be tracked and updated on the DC Universe Online website (www.dcuniverseonline.com), as well as on the DCUO Facebook and Twitter pages.

The two finalist teams will both receive the chance to create an in-game character that will be put into the live game as part of a high-level combat encounter, becoming a permanent part of the game world. Both finalist teams will also receive a copy of DC Universe Online at launch (PC or PS3 version).

The winning team earns the title of Next Legend, and will receive a prize package of DCUO-related gifts, including a limited edition Batman/The Joker poster autographed by superstar artist and DCUO Executive Creative Director, Jim Lee, a DCUO Collector’s Edition game pack and an SOE 30-Day Game Time card.

REGISTRATION:

Tournament registration opens July 14, 2010 and closes July 18, 2010 at 11:59PM PT. Players must e-mail the following information to thenextlegend@dcuniverseonline.com:

Name
Age
Active e-mail address
Ranking of PvP ability (Novice, Intermediate, or Master)
One sentence (100 character limit) on why they want to be the Next Legend

Entrants will be selected at random via lottery and notified of their eligibility for the tournament by 5:00PM PT on July 19, 2010. The competition will be ladder style, with eight teams competing on Thursday, four on Friday and the finals taking place on Saturday.For more information on DC Universe Online, visit the website, www.dcuniverseonline.com.

Showtime launches DEXTER Game On at Comic Con

2010-07-17T09:45:00.000-07:00

In A Television Network First, SHOWTIME Teams Up With SCVNGR To Design An Interactive Mobile Experience

NEW YORK, NY – (July 15, 2010) – As part of a multi-tiered programming, digital and marketing campaign custom-designed for the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con, SHOWTIME announced the launch of Dexter Game On (DexterGameOn.com), an interactive promotional game that will take place simultaneously at San Diego Comic-Con and in five other major cities across the U.S. from Wednesday, July 21 to Sunday, July 25. SHOWTIME has worked with SCVNGR – an iPhone and Android-based application that is all about going places, doing challenges and earning points – to build DEXTER™-themed challenges for the game. The collaboration marks the first time that a television network has teamed up with SCVNGR.

Players of Dexter Game On are asked to step into Dexter’s mind to unlock exclusive content from the series' upcoming fifth season and for a chance to pick up DEXTER-themed merchandise, including season four DVDs. Devoted fans of the series know that all of Dexter's victims are marked with a small incision on their right cheek, and at Comic-Con, those fans can show their love for the series by sporting a DEXTER "cheek slash" tattoo. SHOWTIME will hand out over 100,000 lick-'n-stick tattoos during all four days of Comic-Con. Tattoos will be available throughout the convention floor, at the SHOWTIME booth (#4129), and will be distributed by street teams outside the convention center.

Fans are encouraged to take pictures of themselves sporting their tattoos at various locations around the convention and upload them to the Dexter Game On site (DexterGameOn.com). At Comic-Con, players will explore San Diego through the check-in-based Dexter-themed Trek on SCVNGR (scvngr.com) – venues will range from the SHOWTIME booth, to an innocent coffee shop nearby, and will culminate in a "crime scene" location to be revealed near the convention center. As gamers complete the trek, they will have the opportunity to earn limited edition SCVNGR badges that can be redeemed for DEXTER merchandise, including the early release of 250 copies of the DEXTER season four DVD.

Fans that are unable to join SHOWTIME at Comic-Con can actively play in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle and Atlanta with SCVNGR treks custom designed locally for their area. SHOWTIME has also created a new "cheek-slash-yourself" Facebook application, where fans can upload tattoos directly to their online profile photos on Facebook. Fans playing DEXTER GAME ON across the country will work as a hive – each challenge completed at Comic-Con, in the five participating cities, and via Facebook gets tallied on the official counter on DexterGameOn.com. Once the Dexter community amasses 100,000 completed challenges, a never-before-seen sneak peek of the series' upcoming fifth season will be unlocked and available for all fans to see.

"At SHOWTIME, we pride ourselves for being at the cutting edge of technology and are excited to be the first television network to join forces with Scvngr," said Robert Hayes, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Digital Media, Showtime Networks Inc. "Comic-Con is the perfect venue to further engage our loyal fans with this robust interactive social media game, while providing added value to our over three million Dexter fans on Facebook."

"The DEXTER challenges on SCVNGR are truly killer," said Seth Priebatsch, Chief Ninja of SCVNGR. "Fans should grab the SCVNGR app and play Dexter Game On at Comic-Con, and all across the country to help unlock an exclusive sneak peek at the upcoming fifth season of DEXTER."

As previously announced, SHOWTIME will headline the opening day of San Diego Comic-Con hosting two panels on Thursday, July, 22 in Ballroom 20. THE ANTI-HEROES OF SHOWTIME (4:45 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.) will feature series creators, showrunners and actors who have helped define the network's programming line-up. Featured panelists include Michael C. Hall and DEXTER showrunner Chip Johannessen, David Duchovny and executive producer and creator Tom Kapinos of Californication, Mary-Louise Parker and executive producer and creator Jenji Kohan of Weeds, along with Linda Wallem, executive producer, writer and one of the creators of NURSE JACKIE and series star Paul Schulze.

Then, from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Comic-Con will once again welcome America's favorite serial killer with a revealing interview and Q&A session with the stars and executive producers of Dexter that will include an exclusive first-look trailer of the highly anticipated season five premiere. Featured panelists include series star/executive producer Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, Desmond Harrington, and executive producers John Goldwyn, Sara Colleton, Chip Johannessen and Manny Coto. The fifth season of DEXTER premieres September 26 at 9 p.m. ET/PT only on SHOWTIME.

SHO.com will launch a dedicated Comic-Con microsite that will bring the convention experience to the fans that are not able to attend. The site will host the highly anticipated season five Dexter trailer and content from the Anti-Hero panel, to be showcased immediately after the Comic-Con panels.

EA & 38 Studios to Debut "Project Mercury" at San Diego Comic Con 2010

2010-07-17T08:57:00.000-07:00

REDWOOD SHORES, CA -- JULY 14, 2010 ? EA and 38 Studios announnced today that the first details from the highly anticipated RPG, codenamed “Project Mercury”, will be revealed during a panel at the International Comic-Con in San Diego on Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 1:15 PM in Room 6A. The special panel and Q&A session will be moderated by Spike TV’s Geoff Keighley, and will feature 38 Studios’ esteemed group of visionaries including Todd McFarlane, R. A. Salvatore, Ken Rolston and 38 Studios’ Founder and Chairman Curt Schilling.

This event will mark the first public discussion about this ambitious new game and how this talented team came together. Attendees will see the premiere of the game’s first trailer, directed by McFarlane, and will also receive a Comic-Con exclusive, limited edition poster.

WHAT: The World Premiere of “Project Mercury” the first title from 38 Studios

Panel discussion
Audience Q&A
World debut of the first trailer directed by Todd McFarlane
Attendees will receive an original piece of artwork designed by Todd McFarlane

WHO: The Visionaries from 38 Studios

Todd McFarlane, Executive Art Director, 38 Studios and creator of Spawn
Ken Rolston, Lead Designer, Big Huge Games and Lead Designer of Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
R. A. Salvatore, Executive Creator of Worlds, 38 Studios and author of 18 New York Times Best-Selling fantasy novels
Curt Schilling, Founder and Chairman, 38 Studios and Three Time World Series Champion

WHEN: Thursday, July 22nd, 1:00 PM - 2:15 PM

Presentation begins promptly at 1:15 PM
Seating is limited

WHERE: Room 6A at the San Diego Convention CenterAfter the panel, from 3pm to 5pm, all four visionaries will be conducting a limited signing of a Project Mercury poster in the autograph area of the Sails Pavilion. For information on the limited signing, please visit http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci_autographs_ltd.php.

Comic Con Guide for metal fans - San Diego Comic Con

2010-06-24T10:38:00.001-07:00

Comic Con Guide for metal fan

This is a San Diego Comic Con Guide to help heavy metal fans find the booths and panels that will be of interest. Topics include horror movies, horror comics, science fiction, video games, art, metal music and more.

The guide will be updated as Comic Con releases more information and watch for our coverage during Comic Con 2010.

Slayer Pinball Rocks for iPhone, iPad

2010-06-22T19:57:00.000-07:00

Available on iTunes now, a Slayer themed pinball game complete with music and artwork inspired by their latest album, "World Painted Blood".

Visit Slayer's website for a video of the gameplay on an iPad.