Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood Review

What could you expect from the sequel to the original Call of Juarez? A lot, is the answer after the brilliant reception the western first-person shooter had when it was first released in 2006 in Europe. Now, Bound in Blood looks to take the franchise to the next level with a western version of Modern Warfare.

Campaign Story

The story mode itself lets you play as either of the McCall brothers, Ray or Thomas. The first act sees you battle through the American Civil War until you disobey your orders to return to the home you grew up in only to find your Mother and Brother held hostage inside the house. As the story forms around the McCalls, you will have to take them on a Journey to Juarez where you will hunt for all the ritches you can possibly find to get your life started again. The worst part of the campaign mode is when you gt to a checkpoint your screen will freeze and load for up to 10 seconds an when you do hear the voice acting of the brothers (Ray especially) you will be a bit baffled by the dodgy western accents, but doesn't every game have a few bad points?

Gameplay

The gameplay does slightly compete with that of World at War although the controls are slightly different and the gun-play isn't as smooth. New features such as using cannons and dynamites really bring the reality of the time into the game and you will get caught up in the story mode no matter what. You certainly shouldn't be bored with the range of guns that are included in the game including Pistols, Rifles, Shotguns, Gatling guns and a few knives are also thrown in which is an excellent feature in the game.

As you make your way through the game, you will feel a lot more free than other FPS' as you have many, many miles of land to travel through on foot and horse and the graphics are exceptional from start to end with some cut-scenes reminding me of what i have seen in Heavy Rain.

Multiplayer

Nothing other than Killzone 2 can compete well with the multiplayer features of Call of Duty 4 and World at War but there is something special about Bound in Bloods multiplayer. You have a range of options. 13 to be precise including Rifleman, Gunslinger, Native, Miner and my personal favourite, Sniper. The online multiplayer in Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood is highly addictive.

Conclusion

Bound in Blood is at the moment, a one of a kind game. It will however be getting some competition when Rockstar Games bring out the western version of GTA but Ubisoft shouldn’t be that worried. The game is almost brilliant on every scale. A few problems with checkpoints in the story mode but overall the game will entertain you. You can meet the McCall brothers on Friday 3 June in Europe on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC.

Rating: 83/100

Sony Ericsson Aino - PS3 Remote Play

This is the first demo of the new Sony Ericsson Aino's PlayStation 3 Remote Play compatibility. Double click the video to go to our new YouTube Channel. The video speaks for itself otherwise.

Sony Ericsson Aino Available from 'Early Q4 2009'

Sony Ericsson have revealed on the Official Press Release web page of the Sony Ericsson Aino that the mobile phone that has PlayStation 3 Remote Play will be released in "Early Q4 2009". The new touch screen phone gives a little taste of what could be the start of a PlayStation phone.

Other features include:

• Facebook
• 3D games
• FM radio with RDS
• Java
• Motion gaming
• Remote Play for PLAYSTATION®3
• Tracker
• Video streaming
• Video viewing
• Walk mate
• YouTube™

So it's expected for release around earky October possibly and could be a huge competitor against the iPhone. Check back at either PSL!VEor PS3-News.co.uk for the latest updates on the Sony Ericsson Aino

Sony: Motion Controller in Development since original Eye-Toy

You may think that Sony's Motion Controller 'Wand' has been kept a secret for maybe two or three years. Wrong. Sony have revealed that the Motion Controller has been in development since the days of the first Eye-Toy which was released in 2003 for the PlayStation 2.

Sony's Andrew House told GameIndustry.biz, "It's been a while. If you want to track it back the team has been working on that since the days of the original EyeToy."

Does this mean that the motion controller will be a flop like the Ey-Toy or will it change gaming completely?

Rumor: PSP Apps Coming to PSN

Do you think the iPhone has an advantage over the PSP as it has games and applications? Well that could be changing very soon. Sony apparently plans to reveal an updated PS Store at Gamescon in August, with a new section for PSP Apps. The apps are reportedly priced between $2 and $6 and will take up a storage space of 100MB.

Not only that, but it could be up and running on the PlayStation Store by the end of the year as the PSP Go will be released on October 1 worldwide. This means that the PSP will compete hugely with the Apple iPhone and all that will be needed is the ability to make calls. Could one of the applications be Skype?

Sony ofcourse doesn't comment on any speculation so we will have to wait and see.

Hand's On: Supercar Challenge

I was lucky enough to get my hands on a copy of the PlayStation 3 Exclusive, Supercar Challenge. The game is created by the same company who were responsible for Ferrari Challenge.

The game features over 40 supercars including the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 and Ferrari Enzon. It also includes over 20 attractions such as Nurburgring. The graphics in this game are exceptional (Not like Gran Turismo or Forza 3's will be) and gameplay is well improved over Ferrari Challenge and more realistic. Controls are still a little rusty but they are better than in other past racing games.

The game also includes a decent 16 Player Online and ables you to have any car you want online and race against players worldwide. 7 different driving views are included but you will either use first or third person camera's. The games dynamic A.I. has also had a big improvment from it's predecessor as most skilled players on Ferrari Challenge found themselves winning almost every race from the word go. The game has been improved quite well, with everything feeling that little bit more polished than Ferrari Challenge and a lot more crisper.

Over the next month the game should come into place and it should end up as a decent game. The game won't exceed Gran Turismo 5 or Forza 3 for that matter but if you want a decent supercar racing game before GT5 is released then you might want to get your hands on Supercar Challenge.

Supercar Challenge will be released on July 3rd Exclusively on PlayStation 3. The game is developed by Eutechnyx and is published by System 3. The game will support Trophies.

Battlefield 1943 Delayed?

We have been expecting the new multiplayer first-person-shooter Battlefield 1943 for quite some time. It was expected to be released towards the end of this month. Although now on the Official EA Battlefield 1943 Site the release date is stated as PSN: Ships - 9/30 and Xbox Live: SHips 9/30. For all of you who had your money ready for the end of the month (The game will be $15/£9.99) you may have to put it away for a little while longer.

5 Days till Launch - PS3 Wheel

Been looking for a mario kart style wheel for your PlayStation 3? Well here it is. The new Accessories4Gamers PS3 wheel takes full advantage of the SixAxis and Dualshock 3 controllers. Accroding to Accessories4Gamers, the device will be released in 5 days on th 19 June 2009.

Lost Planet 2 to be released simultaneously on PS3 and 360

Despite all the rumors that Lost Planet 2 will be a timed exclusive for the Xbox 360, Chris Kramer, public relations of Capcom USA, confirmed to Joystiq that the game will be released on the same date for both platforms.

"Day and Date launch on both platforms is the plan," Kramer told Joystiq, he went on to say "Might ship a bit earlier in Japan (like RE5), but US/European releases will be simultaneous."

Kramer could not confirm a release date but the game is due for release in early 2010.

Prototype Review

The main theme of Prototype is to get revenge through deception and destruction. So you may think it is along the same story lines as a GTA Title. It’s certainly not. It’s a lot more than that. Every mission is different, requiring different varieties of attacks and tactics.

You ask yourself questions whilst looking down on a troubled New York City. Should i go in hard and tear everything to pieces or a quieter approach? Should i use a helicopter or a tank to destroy everything? Whichever decision you make, you will feel rewarded afterwards.

Almost the very first thing you do in Prototype is kill a lot of people. The game opens in Time Square, New York City and everything surrounding you is exploding from buildings to manholes, tanks are firing at mutants which are leaping from the cities billboards whilst you (Alex Mercer), are in the middle of everything chopping literally everything and everyone into pieces.

The structure of the game heavily resembles other games like GTA IV and Assassins Creed. Your free to roam anywhere at any time through the game from the moment you start playing. Side missions are dotted all over the map which resembles either side-missions or min-games. Mission markers are yellow and are available to be activated at any time. The games full missions will reveal who Alex Mercer actually is as you slowly progress through the game. Be warned, as there are a lot of twists in the plot. You will meet different characters through the game who know more about the viral outbreak of mutants. You then have the ability to absorb into these characters and find out what they know.

At the start of the game you will only have the ability to simply run and jump and as you progress and experiment through the game, you will earn Experience Points (EP) which you will then be able to upgrade Mercer in almost any way you want.

Consuming people will be a great experience for any gamer as you will be able to sneak into military bases and you can also upgrade to a stealth costume. Another excellent tactic against military bases by attracting attention to a mutant which will distract enemy fire and possibly the best ability of all is that if you steal the right identity you can order in artillery strikes onto your enemy bases or virus hives. Boosting Mercer’s strength is a must as he’ll be able to pick up heavier objects with more force and with the ‘Spiderman-like’ webbing Mercer has you will be able to pull heavier objects such as helicopters to the ground or you could catch a ride.

During the game you will be involved in some excellent boss fights with the best one possibly being the first one where you have an epic battle in the centre of a viral hive. At this point Mercer’s blades feel terrible to control but don’t worry as you will get used to them.

The mini-games featured in the game are also exceptional with five game types (Kill, War, Consume, Movement and Glide). In kill you simply kill as many mutants or military personals but with military devices such as tanks or helicopters. War is a lot like Kill except you don’t use military devices. Consume is where you have to locate and consume a certain character. Movement is simply a range of races around the city and finally Glide is where a target is set on the map and you must leap from the roof of a building, glide and land as close as possible to the target. The closer you get, the more EP you are rewarded with and it’s easier the next time around.

The game is superb, and offers so many ways to play it, with so much carnage and fun in it, you can’t go wrong. The only blank point is no co-op or multiplayer. You will be experimenting the game for months to come.

PSL Score – 9/10

Wanted: Weapons Of Fate Review

Wanted: Weapons of Fate is the latest secret agent game to head to consoles. The movie was very popular for quite a few weeks and Warner Bros. Are hoping to continue the popularity with the game.

You play as the greasy haired supernatural assassin, Wesley Gibson. Who is trying to discover the truth about his family, with a lot of questions to ask the game starts five hours after the movie ends. The game gives you the ability to curve your bullets into the throats of your enemies. The only way the developers GRIN could have made this happen is by making it a third-person shooter. The whole game is a slick and enjoyable adventure. Unfortunately the game is far too short and is in need of some DLC. In other words it’s a classic movie game.

To activate the ‘bullet-bending’, hold the L1 button for the PlayStation 3 or the same button for Xbox 360. Choose your target and put it through their skull. If you hit your enemy through the throat your screen will gush full of blood.

GRIN have done an excellent job with the cinematic part’s of the game. They can be aggravating at times but are always exciting and filled to the brim with memorable locations. The aeroplane level which is featured in the demo is a brilliant example where you come face-to-face with deadly assassins.

The cover system featured also works very well for the style of game. Sliding and rolling behind cover gives an adrenaline rush and the difficulty isn't too challenging provided players realise early on that steaming straight into the action leads to a quick death. For most of the game you will only have access to one gun but you will have access to two towards the end of the game. It might just be the way the story was supposed to go but every shooter needs a large range of weapons including some decent mounted-guns. The problem with Weapons of Fate’s mounted gun’s are simple, they’re the worst there is on a ‘next-gen’ game. They take up at least 75% of the screen and just ridiculous for any game in the 21^st Century.

The game will only take a few hours to complete which isn’t unusual for a game based on a movie. You will also pick up a few trophies/achievements through the short campaign, maybe even a full set. Nothing beyond the graphics will blow your mind away and the game is certainly not worth the £40 it was first released for. So either rent, or wait till this summer when it will be hitting the bargain shelves.

PSL Score – 7/10

The New PS3 Wheel is looking Excellent

Accessories4Technology are releasing a new steering whel for the PlayStation 3. The steering wheel will take huge advantage of the SixAxis motion in the PlayStation 3 Dualshock Controller.

Features:

• Enhances gameplay for all driving games that support SIXAXIS Control
• Fully compatible with SIXAXIS and Dualshock 3 Controllers.
• Allows full access to all wireless controller buttons

The accessory will be launching on June 19th (Could Change). To see more information go to http://www.accessories4technology.com/ and click the PlayStation 3 tab.

New Modern Warfare 2 Details

The new Play Magazine in the UK has given some new details of the biggest FPS of the year:

Multiplayer

• Every perk featured in the original multiplayer will return with some new ones included.
• The new 'Special Forces Mode' will be like the Mile High Club mode.
• Operation Detachment may feature.

Single Player

• Stealth will play a huge part throughout the game.
• Squad insertions will be by helicopter or submarine.
• The new target of Task 141 is one of Zakhaev's buddies - a man called Makarov
• Players will be able to use riot shields (Only in single player campaign)
• Longer completion time.
• Single Player spawning system will change slightly.

Release Info

• The game will be called Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (This could change near the release)
• November 10 is it's release date. CEO of Infinity Ward says this will never change.

Devil May Cry 5 will not be Announced at E3

The speculation of what Capcom's 'secret' game that will be unveiled has been quite big over recent weeks. Today however, we can rule out the option of Devil May Cry 5 being announced.

Eurogamer Spain have announced that the sequel to Devil May Cry 4 will definetly not be being unveiled at E3.

"The first thing to be clear is that this is not the fifth installment of the series Devil May Cry." says Eurogamer Spain.

So what will the secret game be? What are your opinions or ideas? Join Blogspot and write a comment below!

Radio 1 DJ Hero Interview

Radio 1 have an exclusive interview with a DJ Hero player.

Poll Results: Most Wanted & Best Next-Gen Game

We held two surveys to find out 'What game do you want most?' and 'What is the Best Next-Gen Game?' and the results are in:

PlayStation 3's Most Wanted Game as voted by you:

1. Uncharted 2 - 31% (101Votes)
2. Modern Warfare 2 - 27% (91 Votes)
3. Massive Action Game - 15% (50 Votes)
4. Other Game - 12% (39 Votes)
5. InFamous - 9% (29 Votes)
6. Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising - 6% (21 Votes)


Best Next-Generation Game as voted by you:

1. Killzone 2 - 39% (297 Votes)
2. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - 21% (160 Votes)
3. Other Game - 14% - (108 Votes)
4. Uncharted: Drakes Fortune - 11% (85 Votes)
5. Grand Theft Auto IV - 8% (60 Votes)
6. LittleBigPlanet - 7% (56 Votes)

Thankyou to everyone who voted and please vote on the latest poll on the right of your screen Now!

Call of Duty Movie Next

Activisions 'Call of Duty' Series is the latest game to be reported being made into a movie today.

Reports say that a range of movie studios are after the rights to make the most famous gaming franchise into a movie. After all, the first Call of Duty game was inspired by 'Saving Private Ryan'!

Other reports this month indicate that Fox and Warner Bros. are after the rights for an InFamous movie, eventhough the game hasn't been released. Gaming is turning to Hollywood!

InFamous Demo Gameplay - 07/05/09

We got our hands on a rare copy of the InFamous Demo 3 weeks before it's released on the PSN Store. The demo contains 4 Missions to complete. Unfortunatly we were only able to bring you 10 Minutes as YouTube only allows to upload 10 minute videos. We completed all 4 levels and it is a brilliant game! We are sorry for the quality of the video as our screen cam was not working properly. We will be uploading new videos of the demo over the next 48 hours so check out our YouTube Channel Here.

Capcom's E3 Games Listed

Today the Capcom team posted a list of games they will be focusing on at E3 2009 on the Capcom Blog. Here's what they had to say:

"At the show, Capcom will be focusing on the following games:
Dark Void (PS3, 360, PC)
Lost Planet 2 (currently 360, PC)
Dead Rising 2 (will be "behind closed doors")
Spyborgs (Wii)
Resident Evil Darkside Chronicles (Wii)
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite (PSP)
Marvel vs Capcom 2 (digital release for PS3, 360)
Fate Unlimited Codes (digital PSP release)
Street Fighter IV (PC)
Bionic Commando (PC)
Mega Man Star Force 3 (DS)
Resident Evil Archives: Resident Evil (Wii)
Capcom Mystery Game #1 (playable in booth!)
Capcom Mystery Game #2 (announced at a press conference!)
plus games from Capcom's mobile group, Capcom Interactive!"

We want to know what those TWO Mystery Games are! We think it could be Devil May Cry 5! or a new Resident Evil announcement!

VidZone Arriving 4th June on PSN

SCEE have today confirmed that their Interactive Music TV "VidZone" will be arriving on PSN on June 4th. The service will allow you to watch music videos on-demand on both your PS3 and PSP, with “several Major record labels as well as thousands of Independent labels” set to be involved.

The streaming service will be free and will become an integrated feature of the XMB. You’ll also be able to “put together and save your own music video library, creating custom playlists for every occasion that you can stop, fast forward and rewind”.

To see 10 Minutes of InFamous Gameplay Click Here!

EA Working on "Best FPS Ever"

In late 2007, Electronic Arts Los Angeles took a crack at returning its Command & Conquer franchise to the first-person shooter genre with Tiberium. Ultimately, however, the project proved to be a doomed venture, with EA suspending work on the game less thab a year later because it was "not on track to meet the high-quality standards set by the team and by the EA Games Label," according to a company representative.

Now, it appears as if EALA isn't going to let one canceled game stand in the way of its FPS ambitions. In a new job posting for an art director, the developer revealed that it is at work on "a brand new first-person shooter project in the very beginning stages of development." The job requisition gave no indication as to which themes would be incorporated into the project, saying only that it will be "the best project we've ever worked on."
EALA is perhaps best known for its World War II-themed Medal of Honor shooters, a franchise that has been dormant since 2007's Medal of Honor: Airborne and Medal of Honor Heroes 2. Of note, in an interview in August 2008, EA Games president Frank Gibeau confirmed that the publisher had future plans for the franchise, saying, "You'll hear more about Medal of Honor in the future. I can guarantee you that."

EA also said "The Art Director will ultimately lead a team of conceptual designers, character and environment artists and whomever else will bend to their will, to create the coolest piece of entertainment software the world has ever known.” Nothing has yet confirmed but we believe the game will be released on PlayStation 3 (Xbox 360 & PC)

Want to see the first 10 minutes of InFamous? Click Here!

The screenshot you see above is not for the game mentioned

Also: Please take the polls on the right of your screen as we want YOUR OPINION Thankyou!

Arkham Asylum arriving 'Summer '09'

Just when the news was released that you would be able to play the Joker in the upcoming Batman: Arkham Asylum everyone got straight onto the retailing websites and pre-ordered. 1 week later and it was announced it would be delayed, but not noted when till. We have found the news on Eurogamer Germany saying "The black bat still needs a little longer for the landing. How Eidos notifies appears Batman: Arkham Asylum at the end of the summer."

Eidos also told Eurogamer.de "The reason for the shift is, according to Eidos as follows: "The extra time allows us, with Batman: Arkham Asylum, the highest possible quality for the players to achieve."

Was the Joker a sign of trickery?

Map Pack 1 Breaks 2 Million Downloads

Today, Treyarch confirmed that the Call of Duty: World at Wat Map Pack 1 DLC has reached 2 Million Downloads on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Treyarch commented "Thanks to the overwhelming support exhibited by all of you in the community, we’re happy to say that Map Pack 2 has collectively been downloaded over 2 Million times worldwide on the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3!

New Battlefield 1943 Gameplay

The latest gameplay of Battlefield 1943.

New Wolfenstein Trailer

We have the latest Wolfenstein Trailer right here! Check it out!

Call of Duty 7 To Turn Cold?

A "reliable source" via Destructoid have revealed that Call of Duty 7 could have taken World War II out of the picture completely and could be moving onto the Cold War.

It was also announced that Treyarch would be working on the game. These rumors emeged when it was reported that Activision have been seeking to license Vietnam War-era music, as well as Cuban, African, and Soviet Union music - indicating the game could likely be set between the 60's-80's, taking place in any of the aforementioned settings.

New InFamous 'Power Trip' Trailer

The latest trailer from the Sucker Punch Team. We're looking forward to this!

New Call of Juarez Gameplay

The Latest Gameplay from Call of Juarez, from our YouTube Channel!

PSN Update Suprise

Yes its true and its Friday! There has been an update on a Friday!

SCEE have nicely placed the new X-Men Origins: Wolverine Demo on the European PSN Store.

I'm sure everyone whos been waiting a few weeks for this demo can't wait to get their hands on the viscious game!

New PSN Avatars Soon

Since the start on the PS3 Revolution, PSN Players have been going on and on at Sony asking for new avatars. People have even been creating them!

Well good news for every single one of you. In a recent PSW Magazine it stated "new psn avatars are on the way" so everyone get ready because they are coming. Probably within the next month its been said, but no date has been confirmed. Withing the last 2 weeks there has been 1 new avatar added. A 'Super Fly'.

PSW believes that there will be a new InFamous, Sackboy (more than 1), Prototype and Wolverine Avatars all available before the Summer.

We believe there will also be 2 new Uncharted 2 Avatars & also 1 new avatar from the Sony's Killzone 2.

Note: This information was all published in PSW Magazine & Not on the website.

World At War Map Pack 2 Coming in June.

It stands to reason that Activision was quite pleased with the initial reception for Call of Duty: World at War Map Pack 1. After all, the four-map, $10/£8 add-on content sold more than one million copies in its first week It comes as no surprise, then, that the publisher is prepping a second.
Today, Activision confirmed that the Call of Duty: World at War Map Pack 2 will be available for the PlayStation 3 & Xbox 360 in June. Pricing information was not revealed, though Map Pack 2 will include the same number of battlegrounds as the first batch of DLC.
As with Map Pack 1, Map Pack 2 will include three standard online multiplayer arenas. Banzai takes place deep in enemy territory as players vie for control of a tall bridge over a river. Corrosion sees players journeying to Mother Russia to do battle in a dilapidated train yard. Sub Pens features close-quarter firefights in a bombed-out submarine base.
Map Pack 2 will also include a zombie-infused co-op battleground titled Shi No Numa, where players join up to lay waste to Imperial Zombies. In addition to undead Imperial Japan grunts, the map features Hell Hounds, Perk machines, and a new weapon: the Wunderwaffe DG-2. Players will be able to earn additional Xbox 360 Achievement points or comparable PS3 Trophies.

Rumor: Assassins Creed 2 to 'Shock' E3

Since Assassins Creed 2 was confirmed people have been wondering if it would go beyond Assassins Creed with new features such as online multiplayer or co-op. We and some other gaming websites now believe that Assassins Creed 2 will feature online multiplayer and/or co-op. We also understand that a demo is due out 2 weeks before the games release in November. Ubisoft are set to announce something big at the E3 2009 Convention and we understand it is about the 'online' subject. We are also expecting the first Assassins Creed 2 gameplay trailer and a new Splinter Cell Teaser Trailer.

Please remember to take the Poll on the right of your screen. Thankyou

Uncharted 2 BETA Exclusive to Play?

People will be buying inFamous because it's going to be one of the games of the year. Yet others are buying it just to get their hands on the Uncharted 2: Among Thieves Multiplayer BETA that comes with inFamous. According to Play, they have exclusivity to the deal, but Evan Wells the Co-President of Naughty Dog has said you will be able to get the game wherever you are as long as you pre-order the game. inFamous is set for release on May 26 in the US & May 29 in Europe. The Uncharted 2 Multiplayer will start on June 3 in the US, yet no announcement about the UK Beta but it is expected to air on the same day. Check back to PlayStationLive for all the latest news on inFamous and the Beta.

Also: Check out the Uncharted 2 Multiplayer Trailer Here.

Saboteur Gameplay Video Premiere Tonight

We have more news from Twitter (its amazing!) that Pandemic Studios will be releasing a the first gameplay trailer of their upcoming game The Saboteur. Geoff Keighley & the official Pandemic Studios twitter page posted "the first gameplay footage of Saboteur premieres Thursday night at 12:30 on GTTV on Spike" so everyone look out for the footage! It will also be on our YouTube page here once it is released

Ubisoft get upto $1.5B in royalties & New Splinter Cell on thw Way.

Ubisoft continues to navigate the hostile global economic environment with aplomb. Reporting its full-year financial results today, the publisher said revenues for the 12-month period ended March 31, 2009, reached €1.05 billion ($1.50 billion). The sales figure represents a healthy 14 percent (18.4 percent at constant exchange rates) climb over its previous fiscal year's €928 million ($1.3 billion) haul. Ubisoft also said that its cash position now stands at €155 million ($220 million).

Unfortunately, as is typical for the French publisher, Ubisoft did not reveal its take in profit for the period. However, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot did indicate that the company's margins were among the best in the industry, saying in a statement, "In a highly competitive environment, Ubisoft reported full-year sales growth of 18 percent at constant exchange rates in 2008-09 as well as the second best profitability among comparable companies in its industry."
Guillemot trumpeted a number of other wins for the publisher during the year, as well. Sales for Ubisoft's Far Cry and Rayman Raving Rabbids franchises were up 50 percent during the period. The publisher's casual label also experienced significant growth, with Guillemot saying that the segment was up 40 percent on the strength of titles for Nintendo's platforms. The executive also noted that Ubisoft hired 1,300 employees during the year, having opened up new studios in Kiev, Ukraine, and Sao Paulo, Brazil, as well as making a number of acquisitions throughout the year.
While full-year sales were up, Ubisoft did see a dip in sales during its post-holiday quarter. For the January-March period, revenues slid 5.1 percent (2.3 percent at constant exchange rates) to €206 million ($292 million), a figure which fell in line with investor guidance. Top performers for the period included Tom Clancy's HAWX, which Ubisoft said achieved its 1 million shipped target, as well as "strong showings" from Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party and Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip for the Wii.
Ubisoft also laid out its financial targets for the coming fiscal year. Though the publisher expects to launch Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 as well as a number of casual titles during its in-progress March-June quarter, Ubisoft said revenues should dive 44 percent to €95 million ($134 million).
However, the publisher still projects to see some growth over its full fiscal year ending March 31, 2010, thanks to second-half sales projected to rise 23 percent year-over-year. In total, sales for the 12-month period are expected to hit €1.1 billion ($1.56 billion). The publisher expects to see productivity from its franchise titles Assassin's Creed 2, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Conviction, Rabbids Go Home, Red Steel 2, Ghost Recon 4, and Dawn of Discovery. Licensed titles expected to launch during the period include James Cameron's Avatar, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, and Arthur and the Invisibles.
As part of a post-earnings conference call, Guillemot confirmed that the Shaun White franchise has sold 3 million units on all platforms. "You can expect more Shaun White in the future," the executive said.

Killzone 2 Sells 200,000 in UK

Whilst no PS3 titles have sold over a million in the UK alone yet, which is a dissapointment. FIFA 09 might be the best selling UK PlayStation 3 title in the charts with over 600,000 units shifted according to figures released by ELSPA today, but exclusives like Metal Gear Solid 4 (selling over 300,000) and Killzone 2 (over 200,000 sold) still impress. A little further down the chart, looking at games that have sold over 100,000 copies, are Resident Evil 5, Street Fighter 4 and SingStar.

Bad Company 2 New Details & Screens

Good news. Haggard, Preston, Redford and Sweetwater all return this winter! Back behind enemy lines and in even deeper trouble than before.

The sequel was shown behind-closed doors at GDC (Game Developers Conference) in San Francisco, where developer DICE demoed a section of the game based in a snowbound Alaskan Village.

The Frostbite engine will return, abling more destruction than ever. The level demonstrated sees you battling some Russians occupying the area whilst they are loading barrells onto a truck. The order came through to annihilate them, which the team did by firing at some explosive barrells, destroying machine gun emplacements with grenade launchers, and edging forward through the village using wooden crates as cover. The highlight of the level was at the end when 'B' Company are in a truck being chased first by ATV's and then a dogged attack helicopter. The truck then enters an overpass, and still the helicopter tries to follow them into the overpass. You then hear a loud bang and see a ball of flames coming towards you.

As with the first game, you still need to use every weapon and vehicle you have at your disposal in order to survive. There are even more vehicles to use from, which carries over into the the multiplayer Gold Rush and Conquest game types aswell as new Co-op mode.

It was a little odd how the prequel never had co-op mode, despite the game being based around a square of core characters. We can also confirm that the multiplayer will allow 40 player matches.

It's going to be well worth the wait for it's release in mid 2010.

Uncharted 2 Interview, Evan Wells sets it Straight

PSW Magazine recently had an interview with Naughty-Dog's Co-President Evan Wells, the interview has not been published online, so we thought we'd bring it to you.

PSW: What did Drake spend his fortune on? Is he broke or has he become a Lara-style thrill seeker?

Evan Wells: Only two years have passed since the events in Uncharted Drake's Fortune and i think it's clear that Drake is in a very different place than where we left him. He starts off Uncharted 2 a bit 'down on his luck' and he's found himseld lured back into his natural element - a world of thieves and mercenary fortune-hunters

PSW: Will we still like Drake in this game or will you slowly reveal a nastier side to the original character?

Evan Wells: Even though he may look abit rougher around the edges, Drake still retains the personality you've come to know him for. In Uncharted 2, we're tackling some more serious themes, and digging deeper into Drake's character, but he's still the same affable rogue we introduced in the first game. Humour is a critical part of this genre and to the Uncharted franchise - and it's important to us that our game should never take itself to seriously.

PSW: Are you aiming to merge gameplay more for the sequel?

Evan Wells: In Uncharted, Drake was only able to fire his weapon during certain actions or animations. This time out, we're really opening things up by allowing Drake to shoot at any time - including hanging from ledges, crossing balance beams, and even swinging from ropes. We've been calling this concept "traversal gunplay". This frees up our level designers to throw in combat setups anytime and anywhere, even when Drake is negotiating tricky traversal sections that might require some problem solving to overcome.

Here's the important question! Read!

PSW: Will there be any online gameplay or is Uncharted 2 strictly offline this time around?

Evan Wells: We've seen alot of debate from blogs and forums about whether or not we should take the Uncharted frachise online - either via multiplayer or co-op. There are some very compelling aguments on both sides of the fence about adding these extensions to our game. We're always considering ways in which we can improve our games, but only if we can still achieve the level of quality Naughty Dog is known for. For now, our main focus is on Drake as the central character - we want to concentrate the story on his personal journey.

PSW: What kind of Trophies are you aiming for - and will there be some playful challenges?

Evan Wells: Between Trophies and Medals, we have plenty of room to create some interesting and fun ways to get those rewards. For those players who are up to the challenge, we're planning to have a ton of cheats, skins concept art, secrets and video's to unlock, just like in our first game.

Is Uncharted 2 YOUR Most Wanted Game of 2009? Tick your favourite in our Poll on the right.

So what do you think about what Evan Wells said? And what is the effect of the answer about Uncharted 2 Multiplayer?

What is the Greatest FPS Ever?

We will be running a Survey for the next few weeks to find out What is the Greatest FPS Ever? And we want EVERYONE who sees this to vote!

As you can see on the right of your screen you have the options of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Killzone 2, Call of Duty: World At War, Resistance 1 OR 2, The Orange Box or Other. With this poll we hope to find the final answer and we will give the results and post them on www.n4g.com for everyone to see.

Also, there is 3 Days left on our "What Game do you want Most" Poll, so please take 10 seconds of your time to take the poll. Thanks & Leave all comments below.

New Mafia Gameplay

Gametrailers.com posted this new Gameplay footage of Mafia II Coming Soon to PS3.
Review Coming Soon.

Kotaku's Latest PSP2 Details

Kotaku recently listed some details of the PSP2 that they had been investigating. Here's what they said:

"Word has it that a big announcement will most likely hit at E3 with Sony unveiling the redesigned portable. An announcement of launch date (which should be sometime 4th quarter) is entirely possible as well. The redesigned product apparently does exist as this is what we've heard so far:

The screen is gorgeous
The loads are faster
Improved buttons
Internal flash — 8GB
Possible touch-screen
Possible built-in camera
Does Not Use UMD "

To View Kotaku's Article Click Here.

Is This the New PSP?

We came across this picture on PSPWorld, They hint they could be the next big thing.. The New PSP!

We know there will not be any UMD or Touch Screen on the new PSP, Sliding screen is still on the tables.

Red Faction: Guerrilla Preview Video.

The latest Preview Trailer on Red Faction: Guerrilla, due for release June 2009.

Lego Rockband Announced

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, TT Games, The Lego Group, Harmonix, and MTV Games have all teamed up together, and came up with was Lego Rock Band. Here’s the official reasoning from Tom Stone, Managing Director for TT Games:
“LEGO Rock Band combines two compelling properties and creates an experience that family members of all ages will enjoy playing together as a group... we’re genuinely thrilled to bring the unique and humor-filled LEGO experience to their Rock Band universe."
We have a different, simpler explanation: cha-ching! But all kidding aside, that doesn’t mean we’re ready to write this project off yet—let’s face it, Lego-based video games have always been a ridiculous concept, made acceptable by their humor and solid, creative gameplay. Despite being made and aimed squarely at children, Lego Batman and Lego Indiana Jones were both titles that were entertaining for adults as well, even if it was on a, “Oh, that’s funny in a cute sort of way” level.
On the surface however, Lego Rock Band is missing two of the elements that have made Lego games fun in the past: the distinctive characters of a solid IP, and enough variety in the gameplay to offer creative twists. We’re eager to see what the creative teams behind Lego Rock Band come up with to win over gamers.

Put PlayStationLive into your favourites and come back daily for all the latest news.

Silent Hill: Shattered Memories Announced

Konami Digital Entertainment Inc. today unveiled the latest iteration in the popular Silent Hill franchise scheduled to launch this fall on PlayStation 2, PSP (and Wii). Featuring an interactive user interface, improved puzzle system, and a psych profile that changes the experience based on the players gameplay choices, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories conveys the most fluid and realistic gameplay of the series to date.
"Silent Hill: Shattered Memories returns to its roots in this re-imagining of the original Silent Hill with the most interactive and frightening installment of the decade-old series," said Anthony Crouts, Vice President of Marketing for Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. "With a deep storyline, eerie music and a psych profile that watches its players and evolves to expose their innermost fears throughout the game, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories is sure to evoke fear in both franchise newcomers and longtime survival horror fans."
In this terrifying survival horror experience with an all-new soundtrack by acclaimed series composer Akira Yamaoka, players follow Harry Mason, the maladroit protagonist who is searching for his missing daughter, Cheryl. While Harry wanders the snowy streets of Silent Hill searching for clues of her disappearance, he must face twisted creatures from the depths of his frozen nightmares.
In the Wii™ version, players will be drawn into the mysterious town using the Wii Remote™ as a flashlight and cell phone as they search for clues. The cell phone can also be used by players as a user interface which acts as a story telling device, map, camera and much more, providing seamless flow with no interruption in gameplay. Additionally, through a very unique feature in the game, an advanced psych profile watches and adapts to players actions to acclimatize Harry and the people he meets, the places he visits, and the enemies he encounters to create an intense and gripping experience like never before.
Silent Hill: Shattered Memories is scheduled to launch this fall for the Wii video game system from Nintendo, PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, and PSP system.