So I cracked open a copy of the hot off the press Dragon Age expansion from the suddenly prolific RPG gurus at Bioware only to discover the following card inserted into the game’s packaging:
Sorry for the crappy webcam pic, awash as it is with overhead flourescent lighting, but you can clearly see a nice rendering of the Dragon Age poster child, the Blood Dragon, and a single date…
02/01/2011
Dragon age II? Another Dragon Age expansion? Your guess is as good as mine. Either way i applaud Bioware’s brilliant efforts at teasing the crap out of us. Given the relatively distant date given, my money is on a sequel.
“I wanted to drop in and deliver some truly exciting news – on behalf of everyone here at Zipper Interactive, I’m pleased to announce that SOCOM 4 is indeed in development and is slated for release exclusively on PlayStation 3 this fall…
Oh, and before we let you go, we wanted to send a message to our SOCOM and MAG fans all over the world. First, if you play MAG and wonder what this means for the game’s future, wonder no more – we’re still fully committed to supporting MAG for a long, long time and the addition of another game in our lineup doesn’t change that. Second, it’s been great to hear from SOCOM fanatics located in every corner of the globe as we led into today’s announcement. We’re extremely excited to be attached to this beloved franchise again and knowing that so many people wanted us to return to something that already meant so much to us has been both inspiring and touching – so thank you to all of you who wanted it to happen! We look forward to living up to your expectations.”
As a longtime fan of Zipper Interactive’s work on the series (they created the franchise and were responsible for its first two sequels on the PS2), and someone who song an ungodly amount of online time into SOCOM 2, this is some mighty exciting news.
Word is they are very intent on delivering a top drawer single player campaign, and allusions have already been made to the storytelling in Uncharted as being a prime example of the approach being taken. This excites me immensely. I’m sure more details will be forthcoming. The first trailer airs exclusively on tonights episode of Gametrailers TV, but i’m sure it’ll be all over the web by tomorrow.
Opening Statement:
Everyone’s favorite extra-terrestrial Cuisinarts are back, and as per usual, mankind is caught in the middle. Can Rebellion, the studio behind the original PC classic, manage to get it right this time around?
Facts of the Case:
The Weyland-Yutani Corporation has found something beneath the surface of BG-386, a discovery so valuable that even Karl Bishop-Weyland (Lance Henriksen, of course!) has taken an active role in the excavation. When the planet side colony goes silent, the USS Marlow is dispatched on a search and rescue mission. The Marlow however isn’t the only ship in the stars above Freya’s Prospect; a group of Predators has made one hell of an explosive entrance. They’ve got some time to kill, and more than enough prey (of the soft meat and hard meat varieties) to keep them occupied.
Opening Statement
Hey, you might have heard that this game is a lot like God of War. And, well, it is. But is there more to Dante than timed button-presses and orb collection?
Opening Statement:
Capcom’s Rocket-man adventure has finally hit the skies. Developer Airtight Games, formerly the Microsoft studio that brought us Crimson Skies (and I’ll forgive them for Shadowrun) has once again taken to the air to provide us with some old school dogfighting mixed with new school action-adventure. Is Dark Void a flight worth taking?
Facts of the Case:
It’s the late 1930’s, and the world is on the brink of war with “the facists”. Ex-military man and crack pilot Will Grey has been tasked with carting a mysterious package along a dangerous route, along for the ride is ex-flame and still military woman Ava. Somewhere in the Bermuda Triangle things go pear-shaped, and Will finds himself in The Void, a sort of alternate dimension, where UFO’s soar the skies and a race of evil beings known as The Watchers work towards again breaching the borders of the Void and toppling humanity. In their way stand The Survivors, wayward travelers who have somehow found themselves trapped in the void as well. With an experimental rocket-pack created by none other than legendary Soviet inventor Nikola Tesla, Will takes to the air, and takes the war to the The Watchers.
Opening Statement:
The first Army of Two was an effective 3rd person shooter that borrowed liberally from other, better games and made a decent first impression before quickly fading to bargain bins. The requisite sequel is now upon us, and our titular army of two has some new tricks up their sleeves. Does Army of Two: The 40th Day rise above the machismo and fist-bumping to provide a world-cass shooter?
Facts of the Case:
Elliot Salem and Tyson Rios have long parted ways with former employers at SSC. As the owners and sole operatives of TransWorld Operatives, they answer to no one save their sassy handler, Alice Murray. The dynamic duo has just finished up a routine job in Shanghai when all hell breaks loose. An armed force has launched an all out assault on the city, and carnage is everywhere. Our brothers in arms find themselves racing through Shanghai as it crumbles all around them. Co-op tactics and visceral action are the order of the day as Salem and Rios struggle to find Alice in the chaos, and attempt to discover the truth behind the 40th Day Initiative.
I’d been having a hard time drumming up any personal interest in this game… until now. THAT is how you sell an epic RPG experience. My calendar is now marked for March 6th, 2010. The game ships for PS3 and 360, so no one need be left out… except for wii owners… suckers.
From the Makers of the Best RPG of 2009, Dragon Age: Origins, comes the first official expansion pack.
For centuries, the Grey Wardens—the ancient order of guardians, sworn to unite and defend the lands—have been battling the darkspawn forces. Legend spoke that slaying the Archdemon would have put an end to the darkspawn threat for centuries to come, but somehow they remain.
You are the Grey Warden Commander and have been entrusted with the duty of rebuilding the order of Grey Wardens and uncovering the secrets of the darkspawn and how they managed to remain.
How you choose to rebuild your order, how you resolve the conflict with “The Architect”, and how you determine the fate of the darkspawn will be but some of the many complex choices that await and shape your journey as you venture to the new land of Amaranthine.
A Stunning World Expanded: BioWare’s deepest universe to date just got bigger with an all new area of the world to explore, Amaranthine
Unlock the secrets of the Darkspawn and their true motivations
Rebuild the Grey Warden order and establish their base of operations at Vigil’s Keep
All-new Complex Moral Choices: Embark on an epic story that is completely defined and reactive to your play style
Shape your entire experience based on the choices you make and how your handle complex situations
New Ways to Customize your Hero: Experience additional spells, abilities, specializations, and items to further personalize and customize your hero and party
Import your character from Dragon Age: Origins or start anew as a Grey Warden from the neighboring land of Orlais
Encounter five all-new party members and an old favorite from Dragon Age: Origins
Even more Bone-Crushing, Visceral Combat: Battle against a new range of horrific and terrifying creatures
Put your skills to the test against an evolved, intelligent breed of Darkspawn and other menacing creatures including the Inferno Golem and Spectral Dragon!
Let me the first to say; “HELL YES!” Release date is at the end of the trailer, and it’s closer than you think!
