Dead Space 2, Dragon Age Sequel Coming Early 2011
February 8, 2010
Conference calls covering quarterly financial results may sound like dreary ordeals, but they can often be the venues for exciting game announcements. This paradoxical truism was proven once again by Electronic Arts today, where they revealed Dead Space 2, a Dragon Age: Origins sequel, and a new shooter from Epic Games (probably the previously leaked Bulletstorm) are all on tap for release between January and March, 2011.
Unfortunately, what you won't find in financial reports are any exciting details. The games are merely listed as key titles to watch for in the fourth quarter of the 2010/2011 fiscal year, with nothing else revealed about them. But regarding the Dragon Age follow-up, note that BioWare has previously stated they intend to support Dragon Age: Origins with DLC for 18-24 months after its release. So if they stick by that plan, it's conceivable new DLC would be released right up toward the release of this new title.
As for the EA-published Epic shooter, it's more than likely Bulletstorm, a title previously trademarked by Epic-owned People Can Fly (who previously made the Painkiller series).
Dead Space 2, Dragon Age Sequel Coming Early 2011
February 8, 2010
Conference calls covering quarterly financial results may sound like dreary ordeals, but they can often be the venues for exciting game announcements. This paradoxical truism was proven once again by Electronic Arts today, where they revealed Dead Space 2, a Dragon Age: Origins sequel, and a new shooter from Epic Games (probably the previously leaked Bulletstorm) are all on tap for release between January and March, 2011.
Unfortunately, what you won't find in financial reports are any exciting details. The games are merely listed as key titles to watch for in the fourth quarter of the 2010/2011 fiscal year, with nothing else revealed about them. But regarding the Dragon Age follow-up, note that BioWare has previously stated they intend to support Dragon Age: Origins with DLC for 18-24 months after its release. So if they stick by that plan, it's conceivable new DLC would be released right up toward the release of this new title.
As for the EA-published Epic shooter, it's more than likely Bulletstorm, a title previously trademarked by Epic-owned People Can Fly (who previously made the Painkiller series).
Two EA Sports Active Games Coming Holiday 2010
February 8, 2010
EA Sports Active was a bona fide hit last year, almost managing to challenge Nintendo's own Wii Fit in its debut month. This year, EA is following that success with not one but two sequels, both listed as "TBA" in the company's financial earnings report. Both are simply outed as console titles coming in the third quarter of 2010 -- that is to say, between October 1 and December 31.
We can't tell for certain what EA's plans are for the franchise, but their timing seems fortuitous. A Q3 release would put these two unannounced titles conveniently close to both Natal and Sony's motion device. We could be seeing the first hints of a separate EA Sports Active title planned for each of the upcoming devices. Alternately, one of the TBA games could be a proper Wii sequel, leaving us to wonder what the other one may be. If EA opens another round of temporary EA Sports Active stores, they're likely to showcase the strengths of each game for potential customers.
Two EA Sports Active Games Coming Holiday 2010
February 8, 2010
EA Sports Active was a bona fide hit last year, almost managing to challenge Nintendo's own Wii Fit in its debut month. This year, EA is following that success with not one but two sequels, both listed as "TBA" in the company's financial earnings report. Both are simply outed as console titles coming in the third quarter of 2010 -- that is to say, between October 1 and December 31.
We can't tell for certain what EA's plans are for the franchise, but their timing seems fortuitous. A Q3 release would put these two unannounced titles conveniently close to both Natal and Sony's motion device. We could be seeing the first hints of a separate EA Sports Active title planned for each of the upcoming devices. Alternately, one of the TBA games could be a proper Wii sequel, leaving us to wonder what the other one may be. If EA opens another round of temporary EA Sports Active stores, they're likely to showcase the strengths of each game for potential customers.
Bungie Planning a Final Farewell For Halo 2 Online on April 14
February 8, 2010
With Xbox Live support for original Xbox titles set to be discontinued on April 15, the online multiplayer of Bungie's beloved Halo 2 doesn't have much time left. On April 15, all original Xbox games will no longer be able to access Live (whether played on an original Xbox or an Xbox 360). The reasoning behind the decision is to allow Xbox Live to continue to evolve in ways that are currently restricted by the ongoing support of original Xbox games. But as a result, unless you pick up a copy of Halo 2 on PC, the last opportunity to play the game online will be on April 14 -- and Bungie is planning on having the game go out with a bang.
Details will be revealed in the upcoming weeks, but a post on Bungie.net tells fans to "mark your calendars now - on April 14th let's all rally to go online for one last hoorah." It'll be "[o]ne final farewell and one final opportunity for all of you to kick our asses at Halo 2."
Beyond Bungie staff joining in on the fun online, your guess is as good as any as to what else they have in store for Halo 2's last day online. Whatever it is, the game will have had a hell of a six-and-a-half year run.
Netflix Downplays HD Streaming Importance for Wii
February 8, 2010
Netflix is keen on supporting Nintendo's console, and doesn't see the lack of high-definition support as an issue. A recent TheWiire interview with Netflix VP of Corporate Communications Steve Swasey shows the company echoing many of the comments Nintendo representatives have already made about the feature disparity -- and even going a little further. "The vast majority of content that is available for streaming through Netflix is not HD content," said Swasey. "So, there is really no loss for the Wii consumer." He adds that the company doesn't think it is "a deterrent for Wii families." You might notice this sounds very similar to comments from Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime.
But Swasey makes even bolder statements about the importance of HD streaming and its current application. "PS3 and Xbox users have 1 in 17 titles available in HD, and it's streamed in 720," he said. "It's not in 1080, and it's not in 5.1 surround sound or anything. So the HD experience at Netflix Instant Watching isn't that overwhelming. It's a little bit underwhelming. So the Wii folks aren't going to miss that much."
It's certainly odd to hear a company spokesperson speak with such frankness about their own product, but Netflix seems bullish on their partnership with Nintendo. As Swasey pointed out, "26 million homes in America have a Wii, that's a whole lot of folks." We know that many of those homes only own a Wii, as the console has gained mainstream momentum and adoption rates. For those people, standard-definition Netflix streaming is better than nothing, and the company is banking on Wii support being among their most successful partnerships.
Netflix Downplays HD Streaming Importance for Wii
February 8, 2010
Netflix is keen on supporting Nintendo's console, and doesn't see the lack of high-definition support as an issue. A recent TheWiire interview with Netflix VP of Corporate Communications Steve Swasey shows the company echoing many of the comments Nintendo representatives have already made about the feature disparity -- and even going a little further. "The vast majority of content that is available for streaming through Netflix is not HD content," said Swasey. "So, there is really no loss for the Wii consumer." He adds that the company doesn't think it is "a deterrent for Wii families." You might notice this sounds very similar to comments from Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime.
But Swasey makes even bolder statements about the importance of HD streaming and its current application. "PS3 and Xbox users have 1 in 17 titles available in HD, and it's streamed in 720," he said. "It's not in 1080, and it's not in 5.1 surround sound or anything. So the HD experience at Netflix Instant Watching isn't that overwhelming. It's a little bit underwhelming. So the Wii folks aren't going to miss that much."
It's certainly odd to hear a company spokesperson speak with such frankness about their own product, but Netflix seems bullish on their partnership with Nintendo. As Swasey pointed out, "26 million homes in America have a Wii, that's a whole lot of folks." We know that many of those homes only own a Wii, as the console has gained mainstream momentum and adoption rates. For those people, standard-definition Netflix streaming is better than nothing, and the company is banking on Wii support being among their most successful partnerships.
Three Games Discounted on Xbox Live Arcade This Week
February 8, 2010
Microsoft dropped the next installment of their "Deal of the Week" promotion on Xbox Live this morning, and it includes discounts on not one, not two, but three Xbox Live Arcade games. Xbox Live Gold members can now download Marvel vs. Capcom 2 for 800 Microsoft points ($10) instead of 1200 ($15), as well as TMNT: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled for half-price at 400 Microsoft points ($5), and Invincible Tiger: The Legend of Han Tao for 800 points ($10) rather than 1200 ($15).
As always, these bargains will only last until early next Monday, when they'll be swapped out for next week's deals. If you're planning on picking up any of these XBLA games, be sure to do so before they go back to their normal prices.
Shigeru Miyamoto Discusses New Nintendo Hardware
February 8, 2010
The Mario creator didn't get down to specifics on the device, but this is still the first real acknowledgement of new hardware by one of the higher-ups at Nintendo. We'll have to wait and see whether he's referring to the rumored Wii HD, a successor to the DS, or something totally unexpected.
Game Night with BioShock 2 Coming Soon
February 8, 2010
Time: Tuesday, February 9, 2010, 5 p.m. PST
Location: Watch the embedded video player above.
Questions: Submit your question(s) in our BioShock 2.
We record Game Night, live, every Tuesday at 5 p.m. PST, and we welcome your thoughts and comments on our Twitter account. A recorded version of the show will go up Wednesday afternoon on GameVideos. For past Game Night episodes check out 1UP's Game Night hub page.
