Splinter Cell: Blacklist - Co-op Trailer

Ubisoft has released a new trailer for Splinter Cell: Blacklist which shows off the game's co-op mode. There are 4 mission types, 14 maps, and split-screen support for 2 players. One gamer can play as protagonist Sam Fisher while a second plays as CIA operative Isaac Briggs. Players will help each other access parts of the maps that aren't reachable when going solo, and watch out for each other by spotting and taking down enemies. Video after the break.

Kevin Conroy will be involved with Batman: Arkham Origins to some extent

Roger Craig Smith will play the main role of Batman

A few weeks ago, it was reported that Kevin Conroy would not be returning to voice the Dark Knight in Batman: Arkham Origins. While speaking at Dallas Comic Con, the actor confirmed that he is involved to some extent in the game, although he did not provide any further details. Since then, it has been confirmed that Roger Craig Smith will play the main role of Batman as Warner Bros. are seeking a younger version of the character due to Origins being a prequel. This has led to speculation that Conroy will either be playing someone other than Batman, or possibly narrating as an older Batman recalling his early days.

Craig Smith has done a lot of previous work for video games. He played the role of Ezio Auditore in the Assassin's Creed series, Chris Redfield in the Resident Evil series, and he is currently the official voice of Sonic the Hedgehog.

Troy Baker confirmed as Joker

As for the Joker, it appears Mark Hamill was speaking the truth when he said he's done playing the Clown Prince of Crime; actor Troy Baker has been confirmed for the role. Baker's previous work includes Booker DeWitt in BioShock Infinite, Snow in Final Fantasy 13, and Kai Leng in Mass Effect 3. Interestingly, two of his other roles include Two-Face and Robin in Batman: Arkham City, so he isn't new to the series. While speaking to Joystiq, he voiced his enthusiasm about taking part in the project:

"Being a part of Arkham City was just incredible - because I'm a huge Batman fan. And to play Two-Face and Robin after growing up watching The Animated Series was a banner moment for me."

Warner Bros. has released a new action-packed trailer which shows Batman taking out a group of thugs and introduces Black Mask, the primary villain of Arkham Origins. The video is CG rather than in-game footage, but it does a pretty good job of setting the tone for the triple-A title. You can watch it after the break.

Source: Joystiq

Sonic: Lost World will introduce new gameplay and enemies

Very little has been revealed about the Wii U and 3DS exclusive Sonic: Lost World. When it was announced during the latest Nintendo Direct, only a single image was shown. While we have yet to see any actual gameplay, we now have the first details about the title. Sega of America President and Chief Financial Officer John Cheng has been quoted as saying the Blue Blur's latest adventure is not a retread and will feature new gameplay and enemies.

With 'Sonic Lost World,' we're going to introduce new gameplay and enemies, which is always fun. In terms of Sonic and his friends, he'll have his same friends there, and I think there'll be some new ones as well. It's not a reiteration. It's going to be all new.

Cheng went on to say that the Wii U exclusive should be good for both Sega and Nintendo's fortunes.

It should be a win-win situation. Don't count Nintendo out.

Source: games.yahoo.com

Nintendo Direct- 5/17/2013 - Video and Written Summary

During this morning's Nintendo Direct, there were a few surprises, and there is plenty of information to report. A new Mario & Sonic Olympics game was revealed, and Iwata announced a new Sonic the Hedgehog game exclusively for the Wii U and 3DS. In addition, there are new details on Resident Evil: Revelations, New Super Luigi U, and Pikmin 3. Full video and written summary after the break.

Batman: Arkham Origins - Teaser Trailer

Warner Bros. Games Montreal has released a trailer for Batman: Arkham Origins. The game takes place before the previous two entries in the series and follows the "young, unrefined Batman" as he encounters many DC Comics supervillains for the first time. This trailer shows a brief glimpse of the Dark Knight in combat with Deathstroke. The game is in development for the Wii U, Xbox 360, PS3, and PC with a release date of October 25th. Video after the break.

Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure coming to Wii U and 3DS

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has announced Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure is in development for the Wii U, 3DS and PC. The latest entry in the series from developer 5th Cell follows Maxwell and his sister Lily as they travel into the DC universe with the protagonist's magic notebook. Senior Producer Caleb Arseneaux says the game contains every character who has ever appeared in a DC comic book, from the Justice League to the completely obscure ones who only made brief cameos.

"Initially we had 1,200 characters, and then we just kept finding more and more characters and more variations, and eventually we wound up with more than 2,000."
-Caleb Arseneaux, senior producer

To give you an idea of how much content there is in the crossover, Arseneaux said there are 33 different Batmans and 130 Green Lanterns from the various iterations of the DC universe. Every character has different abilities, and there will be biographies for all of them along with descriptions of every object so that players can familiarize themselves with everything DC. The game's levels and puzzles are said to be designed in such a way that players will be encouraged to replay them using different characters.

The game also features a hero creator, which allows players to create hybrids that consist of parts from various superheroes and villains. Trailer after the break.

Source: Polygon

Super Ubi Land has new name

Different title, same game.

Notion Games have revealed that their game Super Ubi Land is now called Super Ubie Land.

The great @notiongamesllcand @ubisoft debate is over! We have settled on the name #SuperUbieLand! Ubisoft has been a great help!
— Notion_Games (@NotionGamesLLC) May 16, 2013

The change came after Ubisoft got in touch with them and asked that they change it so that it wouldn't cause brand infringement or confusion among gamers.

@granabanana Ubisoft is not doing anything wrong. They're protecting their business just like any small business would.
— Notion_Games (@NotionGamesLLC) May 6, 2013

For more info on the platformer, along with a gameplay trailer, check out this previous post.

Putty Squad coming to Wii U and 3DS

System 3 has confirmed that Putty Squad is coming to the Wii U and 3DS. The eShop title is a remake of the classic 1992 Amiga game of the same name, and will have improved graphics, enhanced gameplay, and free downloadable levels. There is no specific release date given, but it is scheduled for release this Summer.

Here's the official press release:

The UK’s most successful independent games publisher, System 3, is proud to announce the return of gaming’s most loved stretchy blue blob this summer, in the revolutionary platform action-adventure, Putty Squad.

The critically acclaimed Putty Squad first made its way on gamers screens on the Amiga in 1992 and now the old-skool hero, Putty, returns to celebrate System 3’s 30th year anniversary. Putty once again takes on a stirring quest to rescue his kidnapped friends in a reinvigorated and reimaged modern platform game.

“Working on such a prestigious title again and to bring it up-to-date, brings back many great memories. Fans of the original are excited to get their hands on the return of the morphing blue blob hero,” stated Mark Cale, CEO of System 3. “Putty Squad will be available on multiple platforms, where gamers can reconnect with their classic hero, discovering Putty unlike before.”

Putty Squad has taken a complete overhaul in graphics to give a modern immersive experience, the gameplay has been finely tuned and downloadable free levels will be available. With Putty you can inflate, morph, stretch, lie flat and absorb. The unlikeliest of heroes has unique powers than any other imaginable.

Trailer after the break.

Wii U eShop update - May 16th, 2013

Wii U Virtual Console

Super Metroid

-Available now
-30 cents for 30 days


Super Mario Bros. 2

-Available now
-$4.99
-$2.49 if you own Wii U Virtual Console version of Super Mario World (deal expires May 23rd)
-$1 to upgrade if you own Wii Virtual Console version

Retail Download

Resident Evil: Revelations

-Arrives May 21st
-Price not yet confirmed



LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes

-Arrives may 21st
-Price not yet confirmed

eShop sale: BIT.TRIP Presents... Runner 2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien

-$11.25 until May 30th (standard price $14.99)

Nintendo Direct coming tomorrow, May 17th. Will cover Wii U and 3DS games

Nintendo has announced there will be a Nintendo Direct presentation tomorrow, May 17th at 7 AM Pacific/ 10 AM Eastern Time. The broadcast will focus on Wii U and 3DS games which are scheduled for release this summer.

Interestingly, the announcement also says there will be another broadcast held before this year's E3 which will focus on games expected to arrive in "fall and onward."

Source: nintendo.com

Review: Super Metroid - Wii U Virtual Console



Until July 2013, Nintendo is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Famicom by releasing "classic" titles for the new Wii U Virtual Console. As an added bonus, you can get these games for 30 cents during the first 30 days of each title's release. This month's release is Super Metroid. Does this game still inspire 19 years after its release? Find out after the jump. 

Super Metroid available on Wii U Virtual Console for 30 cents

Screenshot courtesy of The Video Game Museum - vgmuseum.com

The SNES classic Super Metroid is now available on the Wii U Virtual Console. It will be priced at just 30 cents for 30 days. This version supports Off-TV Play, Restore Points, and an official Miiverse community.

Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures coming to Wii U

Namco Bandai has announced Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures for the Wii U, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. The game has players guiding the iconic character through Pac-World as he battles the familiar  ghosts and their leader, Betrayus. Here's a brief description from the official website.

The story begins as the menacing ghosts escape from the uber creepy Netherworld to invade PacWorld. These frightening ghosts, ghouls, and goblins wreak havoc on the population and cause nothing but trouble wherever they go! Pac and his pals rise to the challenge of protecting their home and embark on an epic battle.

The game is scheduled for release in North America this fall, with a winter release planned for Europe and Oceania. Trailer after the break.

Rayman Legends - 20,000 Lums Under The Sea Trailer

Ubisoft has released a new trailer for the highly anticipated Rayman Legends. The video shows off some of the underwater action in the creatively dubbed world, "20,000 Lums Under the Sea." You can watch it after the break.

New Adventure Time game coming to Wii U this fall

Ben 10: Omniverse 2 also in development

D3Publisher and Cartoon Network have confirmed via a press release that Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON'T KNOW! is coming to the Wii U, 3DS, Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. The announcement comes after the success of Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why'd You Steal Our Garbage?! which was developed by WayForward Technologies and released on the on 3DS and DS.

Here's the first info on the game:

 In a completely new storyline and adventure and featuring the voices of the show’s most popular characters, fans will have to save the Candy Kingdom by exploring the mysteries surrounding a massive Secret Royal Dungeon deep below the Land of Ooo. Select from an assortment of fan-favorite characters from the show, including Finn, Jake, Marceline, Cinnamon Bun, and more, and team up with your friends in four-player co-operative multiplayer as the Adventure Time world comes to life. Adventure Time is the pop culture sensation, Emmy® Award-nominated, top-rated animated comedy, and its popularity continues to soar across the globe among fans of all ages. 

The press release also reveals another game based on a popular cartoon network series is in development as well - Ben 10: Omniverse 2. That title is in development for the Wii U, 3DS, Xbox 360, and PS3 with a release scheduled for Fall 2013. Here's a brief description.

In Ben 10 Omniverse 2, the latest installment in a top-selling global interactive franchise, players will be able to control Ben Tennyson in an all new adventure set in the Ben 10 universe as Ben battles a new foe, the Incurseans, and infiltrates this new enemy’s intergalactic warship as he finds his way home. Though he’s still armed with his trusty Omnitrix, Ben will face brand new challenges including chase and escape sequences as well as constant battles against the forces of evil. Players will have to make every action count as you race Ben against the clock, creating the most kinetic Ben 10 game to date.

Source: Businesswire

Ubisoft working on ZombiU sequel?

Jean-Phillipe Caro of Ubisoft Montpellier recently sent out a tweet that appears to imply the company is working on a sequel to their Wii U launch title ZombiU. When questioned about the prospect of a follow-up, Caro replied "Thank you for your interest in ZombiU. The team is working hard on a prototype. It's too soon to tell you more."

Ubisoft later told Eurogamer that nothing has been green-lit as of yet, saying prototypes are created all the time.

"Our teams are constantly working on creating and developing ideas. We have nothing further to share at this moment."
-Ubisoft Representative

Many gaming outlets are reporting that ZombiU 2 is in development based on Caro's tweet, but for now it looks as though nothing is official.

Source: Eurogamer

Squids coming to Wii U eShop

Squids was developed by French studio The Game Bakers and originally released on iOS in October 2011. It was later ported to other mobile devices and the PC. Now it looks like Nintendo fans will be able to get in on the action, as French website Pockett.net has confirmed that the game is coming to the Wii U and 3DS via the eShop. The Nintendo versions will feature the levels from the original title and its sequel, Squids Wild West. New characters will be added as well.

The Squids games are RPGs which play similar to Angry Birds during combat. Players take control of a team of squid fighters who battle an evil that corrupts life forms. Video of iOS version after the break.

Kickstarter launched for Shadow of the Eternals, 9 minutes of gameplay footage released

Precursor Games recently announced their intention to bring Shadow of the Eternals to the Wii U and launched a fundraiser of their own to try and raise money to make their game a reality. They set a target of $1.5 million and have only reached about 10% of that goal. They have now launched a second campaign on Kickstarter with an additional goal of $1.35 million. If a Kickstarter fails to reach its goal, no money is received. However, as some observers noted, the terms of service for their other fundraiser said that they could keep all contributions regardless of success or failure. Precursor Games took note and have stated they will refund all donations if the campaign fails.

It was quickly pointed out to us that our boilerplate terms of service said we would keep all contributions. That is not our intention. If we find that we cannot raise enough funds to create this project, we will refund all donations. We have updated our Terms Of Use to reflect this.

-Precursor Games

Shadow of the Eternals is meant to be a "spiritual successor to the GameCube exclusive Eternal Darkness: Sanity's Requiem, Precursor Games chief creative officer is none other than Denis Dyack of Silicon Knights, who oversaw development of the Nintendo console exclusive.

You can read more about the game via the links below. Nine minutes of gameplay footage after the break.


Shadow of the Eternals Official Website

Shadow of the Eternals - Kickstarter