Latest news
Rumour: Hitman 5 Trailer Leaked
by Chris Hawke
25.3.10
Found on the user-made videos at www.gametrailers.com, a user has posted what appears to be a leaked Hitman 5 trailer, set for E3.

It's all slow-mo goodness, and while it's hard to tell from the quality, it looks CGI... or an impressive fake. The date given at the end is 6-15 - The 15th of June. The day E3 2010 starts.

View the video after the jump.


So, think it's real?

Chris

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- Chris Hawke
Nintendo DS2: Let the Rumours Begin
by Sean Engemann
20.3.10
After all the big news came out of Nintendo’s Media Summit, there was still no mention of the Nintendo DS2. And why would there be? Nintendo DS and DSi sales are still great (being the 2nd best selling gaming machine in history, under the PS2); and with the release of the Nintendo DSi XL forthcoming, we’ll be stuck fishing through rumours for a while longer.

Nintendo is notoriously good at keeping information close to their chest, giving all of the media the old "Nintendo does not comment on rumours or speculation" comment. Hard as they may try however, they can’t completely control those who seem to have their hands on development kits, and therein lies the rub. Apparently “trial” kits having been given to The Pokémon Company, along with a select few other Japanese developers, who have let slip a couple secrets about the inevitably upcoming handheld.

The most predominant rumour is the apparent “tilt” function (a la iPhone), but more advanced than a simple accelerator. Though I doubt Nintendo would ever try to call it an “iPhone killer”, since the iPhone is more a communication and application device, while Nintendo’s primary focus has always been on the games. This type of upgrade could encompass all sorts of features, from shock detection to dual accelerators and multiple axes. We will have to wait for official word from Nintendo (which will probably come in teaser snip-its much like they did before the Wii was launched), or from insider leaks before we can confirm anything. A developer at The Pokémon Company has stated that the Nintendo DS2 is, “Genuinely the best thing I think I’ve ever worked with,” which only makes us salivate for more rumours, or better yet, hard evidence.

I think the system would do well to follow in the Wii’s footsteps by being completely backwards compatible, allowing a slot for DS cartridges (if the media is different), and also a Virtual Console where consumers could download Game Boy and Game Boy Advance games. Frankly I am surprised that this feature is not already available for the DSi, considering the thus far success of the DSiWare. Another feature I would like to see reintroduced by Nintendo is communication between the DS2 and the Wii, much like the promising but failed attempt between the Game Boy Advance and the GameCube.

Looking back at how Nintendo reveals their big news, here is my timeline “guesstimation”. With the announcement of the Nintendo DSi XL just released, don’t expect anything at this year’s GDC. I believe June’s E3 will yield the first announcement by Satoru Iwata, holding up a “shell” of the system, mimicking what he did with the Wii at E3 2005. Then we will get some, but not all, of the system’s features revealed in September at the Tokyo Game Show. Sadly, I doubt we will see anything hit retail shelves this holiday season, and should expect a worldwide release sometime in 2011, sooner rather than later. However, if the only thing we have to look forward to come Christmas time is a new Zelda game, then Big N may have to push the DS2 early to keep a strong financial bottom line.

Sean

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- Sean Engemann
A new MMO emerges, new studio Puncher's Impact announce 'Crasher' for late 2010
by Anonymous
24.2.10
Opening up my email yesterday, I found a nice little message. A new studio, established in late 2009, is developing an MMO. The game, called Punchers Impact, is scheduled for a late 2010 release. Have a read through the press release after the jump.

Crasher falls into the category of M.O.B.A.’s (multiplayer online battle arenas) and has new features called "Stars," which are unique vehicles engaged in team combats or "TvsT" (Team vs Team), with a strong RPG aspect. The game requires team play: each team has its tactics and each vehicle has its arsenal (heavy itemization) and skills (spell) in order to head straight for victory.

A "LEAGUE" mode where the players overtake areas and destroy bases (ladder rankings), various arcade modes, last man standing, death match, etc, are also featured. Finally there is the Garage mode, which allows players to unlock new "Stars" and new achievements in order to enhance equipment and customize his/her vehicle to the fullest.

“It is very important for us to be involved at the heart of our industry by offering gamers the games they expect,” explains Thierry Bensoussan, Managing Director of Punchers Impact. “By building a pool of creative talent within a single studio, we’re ensuring that Punchers Impact has solid financial foundations allowing it to focus on developing innovative projects. Mission accomplished: Punchers Impact already has around forty talented employees who have worked for the biggest French and English speaking studios from Free Radical to EA.”

We look forward to hearing (and seeing) more. Keep an eye on Gamer's Guide to Life for anything new from Punchers Impact.

Jacques

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- Anonymous
via source
Ask Obisidan Entertainment questions about Alpha Protocol!
by Chris Hawke
23.2.10
Calling all Alpha Protocol fans! Gamer's Guide To Life has an exclusive interview lined up with the development team behind upcoming third-person action RPG Alpha Protocol, and this is your chance to get involved.

Want to know something about the game, from the very conception of the project to the finest, smallest detail? Submit your query and you could be getting an answer from Obsidian Entertainment themselves. All you have to do is add your question to the comments section, or send an e-mail to the address at the bottom of this article. Ask about anything you want, but try and be as clear as possible.

The interview will be published in the coming weeks, so hang in there and keep checking back! We can't answer all your questions, but we'll try and send Obsidian as many as physically possible. Alpha Protocol is due out on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC in Summer 2010.

If you don't want to use the comments section below, send questions to chrishawke@gamersguidetolife.com.

Chris

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- Chris Hawke
No New Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising DLC Or Patches
by Chris Hawke
16.2.10
While Codemasters did say at release that they would continue to support modern combat simulator Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising for as long as possible, it seems that support has been cut short.

Today, on the official Codemasters forums, Ian Webster, the Community Relations Manager, revealed that there would be no more DLC, or even patches, for Dragon Rising.
"With the upcoming release of the Overwatch DLC on PS3, and a few "heated" threads on the topic, I just wanted to inform you all that the team have now completed the “Dragon Rising” chapter of Operation Flashpoint and that’s it for DR-related content going forward. We are sorry if Dragon Rising and the two DLCs released to date have left you wanting even more, but in the grand scheme of future plans and schedules the vast majority of the team are already busy planning the future of modern combat."
A sad day this may be, but fear not; the same team who make Dragon Rising revealed earlier this year that they were working on an unannounced title, and the hint at the end ('vast majority of the team are already busy planning the future of modern combat') means you can basically start saving your money for the sequel, which many predict will be an 'expansion' of sorts, to fix the engine shortcomings of the rushed-for-release Dragon Rising.

Still, it's a shame to see this happen. The whole announcement can be read here.

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- Chris Hawke
via source
All the big announcements from Microsoft's X10 event
by Unknown
16.2.10
GGTL's Tom Acres provides all the latest news and rumours from Microsoft's X10 event in San Fransisco, exclusive to Gamer's Guide to Life readers.

Microsoft just held a snazzy, press-only Xbox 360 event in San Francisco and there were plenty of exciting announcements that anyone with an Xbox 360 should be looking forward to. I'm here to bring you all the massive announcements from the show, straight after the jump.

Halo: Reach beta starts May 3rd


The next installment in the insanely popular Halo series may not be due for release until the holiday season, but Bungie have fulfilled a promise by granting all current Halo 3: ODST owners access to the multiplayer beta of Halo: Reach when it starts on May 3rd. It's already being billed by Bungie as 'the definitive Halo title', and gamers will be able to see what all the fuss is about come May.


Alan Wakes up on May 21st


Sorry for the god-awful pun, but I'm sure you can forgive me after I give you the news that the long-awaited Alan Wake from Remedy is due for release in Europe on May 21st. It's also been confirmed for a May 18th release in the US, and has been given a surprising 'T for Teen' rating over there. Nice to see a horror game relying on genuine scares rather than cheap blood and gore.


Dead Rising 2 hits September 3rd with exclusive Xbox DLC


Dead Rising was a rather awesome game so colour me excited for the sequel. Capcom confirmed at X10 that Dead Rising 2 is due out on September 3rd for us Europeans. Xbox 360 players get an extra special treat in the form of an exclusive piece of DLC prior to the game's launch which links together the story from the original game and the sequel


Find Lost Planet 2 on May 18th


Capcom's other big sequel for 2010 will be in stores very soon, as the Japanese company has confirmed a worldwide May 18th release for Lost Planet 2. They also announced that Xbox 360 owners would get exclusive playable characters in the form of Albert Wesker from Resident Evil 5 and Marcus Fenix and Dom Santiago from Gears of War. Expect more huge bosses, incredible graphics and 4 player co-op goodness.


Become king in Fable III this Christmas


The third entry in one of my favourite game series' will hit stores in time for Christmas, according to Lionhead chief Peter Molyneux. Fable III was arguably the star of X10 in terms of gameplay and features. The game is all about power as you attempt to gain followers, overthrow the king and then take the throne for yourself. Prepare for plenty of tough moral choices, a new touch mechanic and possible Natal support - Molyneux didn't rule it out. Colour me excited.


Splinter Cell Conviction emerges from the shadows on April 16th


The much-delayed Splinter Cell Conviction has finally been given a solid release date, and we UK gamers will be able to get our hands on Sam Fisher's latest adventure on April 16th. I've been very excited about this since its E3 2009 showcase at the Microsoft press conference, so I'll be looking out for this when it hits stores.


Perfect Dark comes to Xbox LIVE Arcade in March


Rare's much loved N64 classic shooter, Perfect Dark, will be coming to Xbox LIVE Arcade this March as part of the Xbox LIVE House Party. The game features brand new graphics with 1080p support, and runs at a blazing 60fps. Most excitingly, it also features Xbox LIVE for both co-op and competitive play.


Never send a man to do a toy's job in Toy Soldiers on March 3rd


This ambitious RTS/Tower-Defense/Third Person Shooter hybrid, in which you command armies of little toy soldiers, will be hitting Xbox LIVE Arcade on March 3rd to kick off the Xbox LIVE House Party. It's like a cute version of Call of Duty and Company of Heroes rolled into one.


Go back to the arcades this March with Xbox LIVE Game Room


Microsoft also announced a March release date for Xbox LIVE Game Room. This new downloadable application will allow gamers to build their own virtual arcade and set it up with hundreds of classic arcade games from the likes of Konami and Atari. Games can be bought to own, or hired out for a single play. The feature - which is slightly akin to PlayStation Home - will support Xbox 360 Achievements, Xbox 360 Avatars and LIVE Leaderboards.



Keep an eye on Gamer's Guide to Life.com for all the latest from Microsoft's X10 event.

Tom

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- Unknown
Halo: Reach beta starts May 3rd
by Unknown
13.2.10
Attention all Halo fans. Bungie have used Microsoft's X10 press event in San Francisco on Thursday to announce that the multiplayer beta for the highly anticipated Halo: Reach will be made available on May 3rd.

Gamers that picked up Halo 3: ODST last September will be able to access the beta by simply using their ODST disc and selecting the beta from the main menu, much in the same way that the Halo 3 beta was accessed in Crackdown. Bungie community manager said that the beta would show 'just the tip of the iceberg in terms of what we have planned for Halo: Reach's multiplayer capabilities'.

Bungie also confirmed that Reach would definitely not be using Project Natal, nor would they ever be interested in creating a Halo game using the much talked about 3D technology made so popular recently by Avatar.

The box art for Halo: Reach was also revealed and can be seen here.

For all the big news from X10, keep your eyes on Gamer's Guide to Life.com.

Tom

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- Unknown
15th April 2010 - Doomsday for the Xbox
by Unknown
8.2.10
Games support for the original Xbox pretty much completely stopped when the Xbox 360 was released in late 2005, and now support for the console is to be stopped completely with the news that Microsoft will be closing down Xbox Live support for the original Xbox and all of its games on 15th April.

Microsoft PR man Major Nelson announced on his blog:

"I wanted to let you know that on April 15, 2010 Microsoft will discontinue Xbox LIVE service for original Xbox consoles and games, including Xbox 1 games playable on Xbox 360. Our first step in this process will be to turn off auto-renewals for those members who only use Xbox LIVE on a v1 Xbox."

"While I can't comment on the specifics, this change will allow us to continue evolving the LIVE service with new features and experiences that fully harness the power of Xbox 360 and the Xbox LIVE community."

"We did not make this decision lightly, but after careful consideration and review we realise that this decision will allow us unprecedented flexibility for future features."

That means no more online gaming on your old Xbox, and not even any online support for backwards compatible titles like the ever popular Halo 2 and Star Wars: Battlefront II. The only way to get your Halo 2 fix now is to pick up the shoddy Vista port on the Games for Windows LIVE service, which requires a LIVE Gold subscription.

It's a sad day for those of you still playing on Halo 2. It's a shame and it seems a harsh thing to do on Microsoft's part, considering that people still pay £40 a year to use this online service.

Still, on a slightly happier note, Bungie are planning a Halo 2 matchmaking extravanaganza on April 15th as a send off to the game that really got online console gaming started.

Tom

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- Unknown
via source
Fallout: New Vegas Premiere Trailer - First Look
by Anonymous
6.2.10

Update: After that trailer the other day, I was ready to get back into my vault (bedroom), and wait months for any more Fallout: New Vegas news. But I was awoken to find loads more info. Catch up on this story

I'm a rather large Fallout 3 fan, so you'll forgive me for being a little excited about Bethesda Softworks' upcoming to the ever-popular Fallout 3 - Fallout: New Vegas. To my joy a trailer was released yesterday and, after analysing it, I'm here to bring you a decoded look at the sneek peek given in the video.

The trailer starts to the song 'Blue Moon', and is a lot like the debut trailer for Fallout 3. The camera begins to pull back and reveals a screen with a (rather creepy) cowboy's face on.



As the trailer continues, you can see that the TV screen sits, slap-bang, on the face of the robot. Perhaps an updated version of the Enclave Eyebot's from Fallout 3? Or, perhaps, an advertising robot from New Vegas itself. Whatever it is, however, it seems to be doing something quite strange - as you can see in the picture below, it's lifting stones and moving them, suggesting it may have gone a little wrong.

Also, you observe that the robot seems to have a cannon in place of a hand on his other arm. However - with the camera panning out - you can begin to see what the robot is actually doing. A hand is sticking out of the dusty soil, and we finally realise that it's burying bodies. Oh, how sweet.

Our initial concerns at the idea of a gravedigging android are soon confirmed, as the trailer continues to reveal the cyborg working away in what is clearly a graveyard. The crosses and tombstones which litter the scene are sinister against the grey background of the night.

Continuing with the outward zooming, the scene changes to a panoramic view of the landscape, and our first view of (what I presume is) New Vegas.

The image is quite dark, so in the above screenshot I've brightened it for your delictation. As you can see, New Vegas is a thriving place, filled with buildings and light - just like Vegas nowadays. Notable locations include a huge tower standing proud in the middle of the city, and what seems to be a curved building to the left of Vegas; think a stand at a sports match or maybe Sydney Opera House. However, the cemetery in the foreground suggests that things have gone just a little astray.

And now, what I believe to be the Pièce de résistance in my video decoding.

The flag in the foreground looks suspiciously like the flag of California. And, upon closer inspection, we notice that it is the flag of California - the bear emblem and word 'California' are both obvious in the trailer. What does that mean for us? Well, seeing as Vegas is actually in Nevada, it could mean that the city of sin has relocated to California. Or, it could mean you cross the border from California to Nevada. Or, it could mean California tries to invade Vegas.

And one last point: the rather frightening-looking guy in the final few frames of the trailer has 'A7' printed on his back, and the number '7' on his helmet. What's that all about, I wonder? Why not let me know your ideas, thoughts and conspiracies in the comments section? We'll find out more in due time. I can't wait!



Update:
Those naughty games magazines have broken their embargos, and a tonne of information on New Vegas has flooded in. Now, I'll warn you: this info could spoil the game slightly, so be warned.
- It's a first-person view game, using the same engine as Fallout 3
- A new "Hardcore mode" will be available which provides gamers with an even more desparate land. For example, Stimpacks will heal you over time
- The story focuses on a conflict between three main clans - The New California Republic, New Vegas and the men and women of old Vegas.(Told ya! I was right!)
- A reputation system measuring faction friendliness allows you to juggles friends and hostiles. This is turning out to be like Merceneries!
- Notable locations include the huge Hoover Dam, which is providing energy for the inhabitants of Vegas.
- Multiple types of Super Mutants.
A plethora of further info can be read on this thread. It contains a few plot spoilers though.

Jacques

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- Anonymous
via source
'S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Clear Sky Complete' Mod Announced
by Chris Hawke
31.1.10
Did you ever play S.T.A.L.K.E.R Complete 2009? The mod, developed by artistpavel, brought S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Shadow Of Chernobyl kicking and screaming into the modern day. Not only did it fix bugs, but it added new features, gameplay mechanics, freeplay mode, and to top it off, it looked incredible.

Now, artistpavel is working his magic on S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Clear Sky with 'S.T.A.L.K.E.R: Clear Sky Complete'. It's basically the same thing, but on a different game. Like to know more? We'll, stay tuned - in the coming weeks we'll be interviewing Mr. Pavel on his 'Complete 2009' mod and his future releases.

You can check out the mod, with screenshots, here.

Chris

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- Chris Hawke
via source
Brand New Metro 2033 Trailer Released
by Chris Hawke
7.1.10

A brand new Metro 2033 trailer has been released by 4a Games. As you'd expect from the Russian FPS survival-horror, it's full of jumpy cuts and dank, dark places. Apart from the pretty comic voice acting, it looks, as we always expected, very good. Superb lighting, a great story and some smooth graphics get us all giddy for the '2010' release date. Fear the future? If this trailer is anything to go by, we can't wait for it.

The trailer can be seen here. Beware, it's all in Dutch.

Chris

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- Chris Hawke
via source
For last year's games belong to last year's charts, and next year's games await another developer
by Linford Butler
4.1.10
After the turkey sandwiches have been polished off, and after the New Year champagne is drunk and the office parties are over, there's always much uncertainty surrounding what we, quite aptly, call the New Year. For many, it is seen as a time to forget what is past, and concentrate on the future, and how to make it the best it can possibly be. But it is in that very sentiment that the uncertainty lies, as with a New Year, and a new beginning, one is forced to - and must - give up the habitual routines and OCD-worthy traits in order to further themselves and make their life in the next twelve months better than in the previous.

However, I am certain of a few things as I write this on the third day of twenty-ten (or two-thousand-and-ten, or oh-ten, or the tenties, or whatever system you're using for year names this decade). For one, I'm certain that T.S. Eliot would not have been happy with my decimation of part of his "Little Gidding", which made the title of this post. And, number two, I'm certain that Gamer's Guide to Life is, and will continually, get better over the coming year. Because we've taken the previously-mentioned habitual routines and traits, and we've replaced them with new ideas, new people and new paintwork in order to make our site - and our home - better for both us and our readers. In a way, therefore, I am certain that we'll get better through the uncertainty of new things. Certainty through uncertainty is a rare thing.

It was in November that I made the difficult, but necessary, decision to essentially close Gamer's Guide to Life whilst we worked on essential development and maintenance. The choice, born out of a need for time to improve and the increasing problem of staffing, was one which was both a risk and a necessity. However, we're now back and, I'm sure you'll agree, looking much better for it.

We have, as you will have noticed, had a complete redesign and restructure of the site. The main features of our new design are the new navigation menu, which allows you to search for all of the articles on a chosen subject - reviews, previews, etc - and, we hope, will save you time when looking for your desired gaming information. The rest of the site has been fully graphically updated too, and we're sure it'll make your experience at Gamer's Guide to Life far more aesthetically pleasing.

Our other main change is the restaffing and restructure of our editorial team. I am immensely pleased to welcome back Greg Mengel to the GGTL3 team in his previous position, and Joey Nunez in his new position on the contributing team as Special Editor. Furthermore, I am pleased to have old members in new positions on our expanded Senior Editorial Team. Therefore, a big welcome goes to Jacques Hulme in his new position of Associate Editor, and to Tyson Breen in his new role as Reviews Editor. I'm certain all our old writers will continue to do us proud, and despite the fact that they may not be fresh and new, I'm sure they'll be all the better for the experience and time they've already had with us. Like wine. Although not made of grapes. Okay, bad comparsison.

We unfortunately had to say goodbye to previous writers due to the need for a new, fresh, creatively-charged team. However, we have worked tirelessly to ensure that our new writers will bring sparkle and entertainment, infused with all the other ingredients which make good games journalism, to our team. I'm honoured to welcome our first 'girl gamer', Lauren Wainwright, to our team in the capacity of Xbox Section Editor - her previous experience includes time at Destructoid and Gamerzines, and I am sure she'll be a much-valued asset to our team. I am also happy to welcome Chris Hawke to our team as our new PC Section Editor; and Sean Engemann in the role of Nintendo Section Editor. Both writers have been working hard on articles for our relaunch, and they certainly look promising - look out for writing from both of these new starlets very soon indeed. And lastly, but certainly not least, I am pleased to introduce Adam Meadows to our team in the capacity of U.K. Editor, and I have no doubt that he will be a treasured attribute to the Senior Editorial Team and to GGTL as a whole.

As regular readers will know, we are still without our Managing Editor, Matthew Meadows, due to his commitments at university. However, we are hoping to see him back on the team in full force later this year, and we wish him all the best in his work at uni.

We hope that you stay with us and make sure to keep an eye out for all the latest and best in games journalism. Exciting features will continue to be published this week - keep an ear to the ground.

Linford

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- Linford Butler
Nintendo scouring the island for 'Britain's Best Nintendo Gamer'
by Greg Mengel
27.9.09

To celebrate the release of the New Super Mario Bros multiplayer game for the Wii, Nintendo is out to find the best gamer in all the land... of Britain.

On October 17 and 18, gamers will be invited to test their skills at four Gamestop and four GAME stores across the country. There, they will face off with the toughest, most bad ass and competetive games of all time: Wii Sports Resort, Wii Fit, New Super Mario Bros DS, and Mario Kart DS. It will be a glorious and bloody

The top two finalists from each venue will then be invited to compete in a grand finale hosted by comedian, musician, and radio personality Iain Lee, a man who knows a frightening amount about The Monkees. I don't know where said finale will be held, but at it the finalists will square off to decide, once and for all, who is 'Britain's Best Nintendo Gamer.'

Oh, the glory of war.

When the dust clears, and only one hero remains, perched heavily atop his trusty Wii Balance Board, wiping the blood and sweat from his eyes, he will know the taste of victory. He'll also be awarded spoils - a trip for five to Nintendo Headquarters in Japan. Not. Too. Shabby.

Here's where the event will take place:

* Bluewater, GAME store
* Swansea, Boarders concession
* Manchester, Trafford Centre, Selfridges concession
* Oxford Street GAME store
* Birmingham New Street, Gamestation
* Hull, Gamestation
* Edinburgh Princess Street, Gamestation
* Norwich, Gamestation

Is it just me, or is Super Smash Bros getting completely overlooked in this event? It makes me sad.

Greg

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- Greg Mengel
Army of Two: The 40th Day
by Anonymous
26.9.09
One of last year's hyped games, Army of Two, had a mixed reaction. Some sites, like IGN scored it relatively highly. Others, such as EDGE, were very disappointed. And yet, despite the mixed reaction, EA decided to start work on a sequel, and have recently released these 6 screens from Tokyo Game Show '09. Graphically, it looks very good. Perhaps a bit to good - touching the screens up before release, perhaps? Who knows? Anyway, judging from these it looks like the basic gameplay will continue into this sequel. Take a look at the images after the jump and let us know what you reckon in the comments.












Jacques

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- Anonymous
“Honest, I only meant to stay out for five minutes longer…”
by Linford Butler
25.9.09

Honest, we did. We only popped out for some bread and milk, and all of a sudden we’re away for almost two weeks. And honestly, we feel really, really, ever so bad about that. But fear not, loyal readers (and new ones alike) – we have good news for you. We’re back, with a vengeance, and our two-week disappearance from the face of the earth was not in vain, as we’ve been working on some stuff we think you’ll like.

Starting at home, we’ve got some great content upcoming on our main site. Starting with a review of the superhero-based MMORPG, Champions Online, at 7pm this evening, the stuff we’ve got upcoming is almost a new level in journalistic awesomesauceness. Then, we’ll have a review of Bethesda’s WET coming in the next few weeks, courtesy of Jacques; a full low-down of Wolfenstein in the form of a review from our very own Lead Editor, Mr. Meadows; beta impressions from the frontline of the MAG beta from myself; and all our usual news stuff and features which you’ve no doubt come to love.

A little further afield, we’ve got some very exciting coverage lined up for you over the next six weeks. The observant amongst you will have noticed the banner at the top of the blog, advertising our coverage of this year’s Eurogamer Expo. Well, our dedicated coverage has gone live just now, over at http://eurogamer.gamersguidetolife.com/. We’ll be covering all the ins and outs of the expo, starting today. Then, we’ll be reporting from the expo in Leeds and the first day of the London venue from 28th-30th October, before Jacques and I are live with press access from the Old Billingsgate venue in London for the last day, and undoubtedly the most exciting, of the Eurogamer Expo. Be sure not to miss it.

We’ve also been hard at work thinking up new ways to make your experience on Gamer’s Guide to Life better. As such, be ready for some drastic cosmetic changes coming to the site over the next month. We’ll also be bringing some much-needed and snazzy new features, so look out for those as well. If ever the blog experiences downtime, you can’t get on, or it looks like the staff have all died – don’t worry, we’re just all very busy doing other stuff which’ll make your experience much nicer here.

It’s good to be back.

Linford

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- Linford Butler
Crysis 2 viral site hits the web, includes videos and other teasers
by Linford Butler
20.8.09

When games developers first realised that viral sites do actually work when hyping up a game's release, it was commonplace for them to spring up a few weeks before release, with just enough cheesy acting and in-game glimpses to entice gamers to spend their cash. The same rule still applies now, and the latest developer to prove said point is Crysis developer, Crytek.

The website, found at http://www.crynetsystems.com/, hints to a game which could include alot of fancy technology and some very pretty computer systems. Including a detailed lowdown of what appears to be a character suit (the Nanosuit 2), two videos and various wallpapers, as well as the option to contact the fictional Crynet Systems and a mysterious login area, everything seems to be pointing to a game in which technological advancements and science go hand in hand with warfare.

We'll have to wait and see. And see we shall, when the game is released on PS3, 360 and PC sometime in the future.

Linford

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- Linford Butler
Gordon Brown: I'm a gamer
by Linford Butler
27.7.09
Well, that's pretty much the message given out by British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, who has revealed that he will use parliament's recess to take on his kids on video games. The 58-year-old MP told a Daily Mirror reporter, "I'll enjoy my holiday, but I've got work to do". However, when not working, it's likely that one of the leaders of the free world will be being repeatedly thrashed at Gears of War.

The newspaper reports: He plans to do more "re-winning" of [his childrens'] interest as he watches the boys' favourite TV shows and plays computer games over the next few weeks at the couple's home in Scotland and on their holiday.

The PM's announcement is yet another good sign, with Government enthusiasm and support for the video games industry and gaming as a whole on the rise. With pledges from Government Minister Sion Simon for a cross-departmental committee for videogames, to prevent the industry suffering from economic difficulties, the recent government interest in the industry is likely a good sign for gaming.

Linford

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- Linford Butler
The Call, The Duty
by Anonymous
24.7.09
It seems that Halo isn't the only game being shifted into an arty form (like so). About a month ago, production company ONE released their short movie, The Call. It follows the basic outline of Call of Duty 4:Modern Warfare, starting with a Humvee containing 'Precious Cargo' driving through a desert town. Suddenly bright reds hit the screen as the trucks are ambushed by several hostiles. The vehicle gunners are killed but soon the Americans have cleared the area. But then, gunfire rips down the street and the soldiers dive to cover. Luckily, one manages to take the chopper down with a highly accurate shot from a rocket launcher.

Then, earlier this month, the second part was released named The Duty. It is longer this time, hitting the 7min marker and begins with a scary looking bunch of hostiles invading an oil rig. Once cleared, a chopper is landed on the Heli Pad. Then a familiar face appears. Zakaev begins his speech about blood and soil while holding a detonator. The scene then swaps to the British SAS heading towards the oil rig. Two carefully placed bullets hit hostile watchmen and soon all hell breaks loose. In the mayhem that follows it is revealed the the detonator that Zakaev was holding turns out to be linked up to the oil rig workers. Then follows a tense stand off between a masked villan and three SAS. Suddenly he pushes down on the trigger and braces for the explosion. Luckily, bomb defusal have done their job and they all live happily ever after....Yay?

You can find the two shorts here and here.

Jacques

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- Anonymous
Marvel Heroes strike back, come September 15th
by Joey Núñez
24.7.09
Marvel fans of the world rejoice, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 has finally been given an official release date. Activision has confirmed that the game will hit store shelves on September 15th, 2009.

As any true Marvel fan gamer would know, the first Marvel Ultimate Alliance was an action RPG game developed by Activision back in 2006, which followed in the vein of the X-Men Legends Games, allowing you to mix and match an inmense cast of Marvel characters and form any 4 member team your imagination could come up with.

The sequel offers more of the same Marvel goodness, with its epic story focusing on the Marvel Civil War, a massive crossover event which changed the face of the Marvel Universe back in 2007, as heroes faced off against heroes over a registration act which would legally require all supers to reveal their identities to the US Government.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 will bring back old favorites as well as new characters, including a cameo by the man himself, Stan Lee. Expect the game to arrive on the PS3, 360, PSP, DS, Wii and PS2 come September.

We'll keep you posted on new info on the game as it becomes available. Until then, Excelsior True Believers!

Joey

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- Joey Núñez
Endwar 2 on the way!
by Anonymous
23.7.09

One of my 'missed gems' of 2008 was the Tom Clancy brand's attempt at a RTS game, which came in the form of Endwar. It was, in my view, the most successful ports of the genre onto a console. I loved it because, unlike other console ports, you had a simple interface that was extremely easy to use. This was helped by the fact that they also changed the formula; instead of the usual series of events - build base, mine ore, buy barracks, train troops - they shot to what's usually near the end and you're able to go right in and kill people.

You'll understand, therfore, that I was happy when, in a recent interview with creative director Michael De Plater, Endwar 2 was revealed. It seems this new game may focus on the story mode a little better than the previous attempt as Plater stated that, "Giving more attention to the single-player is straightforward to address and will make the game a lot of fun." This sounds like an improvement as the first one was a little... empty on story. Here's hoping they fix the servers so you can get into a game much quicker than the first!

Jacques

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- Anonymous
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