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EA is proud to announce the premiere of NoKnownSurvivors.com. No Known Survivors is an experiential site that allows visitors to explore the narrative world of Dead Space. Over nine weeks, the site employs interactive components, 3D animations, voice acting, original video and animation, as well as Papervision 3D technology to tell two equally tragic four chapter stories. The First, “Misplaced Affection”, is the story of an organ replacement technician who falls hard for a capable female security officer. The second, “13″, tells of a sleeper agent who makes the wrong decisions for the right reasons.

For an exclusive look behind the scenes of the launch check out IGN (http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/902/902628p1.html) complete with exclusive assets including lost audio logs between a doctor and her patients, organ replacement forms, and video of the 3D body parts.

Game on!

Microsoft Game Studios has just revealed the box art for the upcoming Xbox 360 exclusive title, Halo Wars. The art was done by the same team who did the cover art for Halo 2 & Halo 3.

Game on!

CDV has released the latest trailer for their upcoming title, Sacred 2: Fallen Angel, which was just shown at the Leipzig games convention in Germany.

To view the trailer, click HERE. 

Sacred 2: Fallen Angel is an Action RPG with a rich story that takes place in a giant, open-ended and seamless world. This world contains hundreds of dungeons, treacherous opponents and a variety of challenging quests. Intelligent enemies, steadily adapting in number and difficulty based on player progress, challenge in heroic single- and multiplayer battles.

Sacred 2: Fallen Angel provides numerous unique items that can be gathered in this mystical world. A deep reward system further enables advancements of character, individual attributes and character-specific fighting styles, each designed to keep players returning to the world of Sacred 2: Fallen Angel to discover what is around the next bend. Drop-in styled cooperative multiplayer gameplay ensures players will enjoy the game alone or seamlessly with friends at any time. Five unique multiplayer modes round out the experience and offer a refreshing, first-class gaming experience in Sacred 2: Fallen Angel.
Key features 

• A huge, seamless and dynamic world that allows for free-form exploration
• Two campaigns: play as the “Light” or “Shadow” side, complete with distinct skills, rewards and story-elements tailored to the chosen path
• Six exceptional, playable characters, each with a distinct look, capabilities and in-game motivation
• Modifiable combat arts: change and upgrade your alter ego’s combat skills as you make choices throughout the game
• Fight effectively from the back of a number of mounts under your control
• Deities offer unique combat disciplines to players
• The ultimate multiplayer experience – seamless transition between single- and multiplayer gaming modes via the Internet or Xbox Live
• Captivating online modes of play challenge gamers in cooperative and PvP play
• Extraordinary, cutting-edge graphics utilize the latest technologies

Game on!

Black Box, a studio of Electronic Arts Inc. today unveiled new details of Need for Speed™ Undercover, the intense action racing game scheduled for release worldwide  this November. Need for Speed Undercover has players racing through speedways, dodging cops and chasing rivals as they go deep undercover to take down an International crime syndicate. The new game heralds the return of high-intensity police chases and introduces the all-new ‘Heroic Driving Engine’ — a unique technology that generates incredible high-performance moves at 180 miles per hour during breathtaking highway battles.

“Need for Speed Undercover puts you at the center of a big-budget Hollywood movie with all of the drama, action and dazzling chase scenes, right on your gaming console. The unique Heroic Driving Engine will give you ultimate control over the hottest cars and push you to use every ounce of skill to outrun the law and take down criminal adversaries,” said Executive Producer Bill Harrison.

A mix of stunning computer graphics and live-action movies will immerse gamers in the rich world of the Tri-City Bay Area. The city’s open-world environment features over 80 miles of roads, including an enormous highway system that sets the stage for heart-pounding highway battles. These high-speed, high-stake chase sequences will push players to the limit as they fight off cops and opponents while whipping through traffic at 180 miles per hour.

An intelligent new A.I. mechanic delivers a realistic and high-energy action driving experience. Going back to the franchise’s roots, Need for Speed Undercover features more aggressive and intelligent cops whose sole purpose is to take down the player quickly and by any means necessary. Need for Speed Undercover also features the series’ signature car customization, real-world damage and realistic driving physics. The game includes some of the hottest licensed cars such as the Audi R8, BMW M6 and Lexus IS-F.

Need for Speed Undercover is being developed by Black Box in Vancouver, B.C., and will be in stores in North America on November 18 and in Europe on November 21.

The game will be available for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, and Wii™ as well as the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Nintendo DS™, PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) handheld entertainment system, PC and mobile.

You can view the latest trailer for the game HERE. 

Game on!

Visitors to the 2008 Leipzig Games Convention in Germany should prepare to enter a world of fantasy and magic as Ascaron Entertainment will be allowing the first public hands-on time in Europe with their action-RPG, Sacred 2: Fallen Angel on the show floor.

The Sacred 2-Dell Arena, located in Hall 3 – Booth A02, is hosting multiplayer sessions of the upcoming action-RPG on 26 high-end Dell PCs, 20 PlayStation 3 systems and 20 Xbox 360 systems. Gamers can avoid waiting in line by reserving a personal time slot at www.sacred2.com.

Fans can look forward to a brand new preview version showcasing the Seraphim, High Elf, Shadow Warrior and Dryad characters, as well as the first public outing for the science-fiction inspired Temple Guardian playable character.

“This is the first time that DELL and ASCARON will be presenting the fruits of our teamwork in the form of a nearly complete pre-release version of SACRED 2: Fallen Angel,” said Heiko tom Felde, Managing Director of Ascaron GmbH. “Our cooperation with Dell has been decisive in substantially accelerating the development process of our title. The standardized hardware platform and superior stability of the Dell systems not only assisted our development of the PC version, but also empowered us to adopt a new approach that dramatically accelerated development for the next generation consoles. The GC preview will excite gaming fans everywhere, and will tangibly the high quality of the prequel and the expectations raised by the success of the original Sacred.“

Sacred 2: Fallen Angel is an action-RPG with a rich story that takes place in a giant, open-ended and seamless world. This world contains hundreds of dungeons, treacherous opponents and a variety of challenging quests. Intelligent enemies, steadily adapting in number and difficulty based on player progress, challenge in heroic single- and multiplayer battles.

Sacred 2: Fallen Angel provides numerous unique items that can be gathered in this mystical world. A deep reward system further enables advancements in character, individual attributes and character-specific fighting styles, each designed to keep players returning to the world of Sacred 2: Fallen Angel to discover what is around the next bend. Drop-in styled cooperative multiplayer gameplay ensures players will enjoy the game alone or seamlessly with friends at any time. Five unique multiplayer modes round out the experience and offer a refreshing, first-class gaming experience in Sacred 2: Fallen Angel.

360 Rant Rave is trying to get word on whether or not this title will also be at PAX next week. If it is, we’ll grab all the info we can for you.

Game on!

360 Rant Rave founder, Frag Monger, has just been named as Xbox.com’s newest forum moderator. 

GT: Frag Monger

This has been a long time coming and some of the other Mods & Vip’s over at Xbox.com think it was long overdue.  Frag Monger will be a great addition to the Xbox.com team. 

Game on!

Hit the mountains on your quest to become the next snowboarding phenomenon in Stoked, the open-world, back country snowboarding experience from Destineer and developer Bongfish GmbH. Coming exclusively to the Xbox 360(r) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft in November, Stoked features five huge open-world mountains, changing weather patterns, and the sponsorship and cooperation of some of the most respected and influential names in the sport.

Developed in conjunction with world-renowned snowboarding movie creator Absinthe Films, Stoked captures the pioneering spirit of professional back country riders. Exhilarating snowboarding experiences are born from dynamic backcountry conditions. The riders who brave and master these conditions are the stuff of legend in Absinthe videos and the pages of snowboarding magazines. The look and style of these riders are emulated across the world. In Stoked, it’s your turn to become a legendary rider and wow the world on Xbox LIVE(r) online entertainment network by becoming an absolute snowboarding phenomenon.

“It’s all about defining your riding style and crafting the line that suits you,” said Peter Anthony Chiodo (”Tony”), Destineer’s Director of Product Development. “Stoked leaves well-worn resorts behind and gives players absolute freedom to ride wherever they want and trick off of anything they can find in some of the most famous backcountry locations the world has to offer. Gameplay is focused on style and finesse, not button mashing; Destineer and Bongfish have created a game that looks and plays like a snowboarding movie.” 

Adds Patrick “Brusti” Armbruster, co-founder of Absinthe Films: “Developing a snowboard video game has always been a dream of mine. There are endless synergies between a snowboard film production and a game developer that were just waiting to be activated. Bongfish and Destineer have realized this potential, and have shown a real passion for snowboarding, and together we’ve worked to bring snowboarding luminaries from across the planet together for this project.” 

In Stoked, craft a snowboarding career with your own customizable style and ride five famous mountains featuring over 45 square miles of open terrain in each location. Discover new drop points by helicopter. Dynamic and ever-evolving weather conditions await riders as they choose where they ride and what they ride in by tracking conditions that suit their tastes.

Riders get instant drop in access to multiplayer action where they team  up with friends to create a wide variety of riding experiences, both cooperative and competitive. Players can also go up against other riders on Xbox LIVE in a series of sponsored events to boost their fame! 

Stoked features some of the most influential professional riders in the world: Travis Rice, Nicolas Mueller, Wolle Nyvelt, Annie Boulanger, Romain de Marchi, Tadashi Fuse, Gigi Ruef, and Bjorn Leines. An impressive line up of 30 authentic sponsors also appear in Stoked including but not limited to: Burton, Dragon, Arcus, Von Zipper, Eleven, 686, Billabong, DaKine, Electric, LibTech, Nitro, Northwave, Oakley, Quiksilver, Ride, Hart, Rome, Salomon, TechNine, Vans, Volcom, and more!

Own trick spots, show up rivals, and build your reputation. Take pictures of friends and capture video of your best moves to win the kind of attention that lands you on the cover of a snowboarding magazine. Conquer massive mountains and carve your path as a snowboarding phenomenon in the deepest, truest backcountry snowboarding video game yet: Stoked. 

Stoked is scheduled for release in November of 2008.

Game on!

During a press conference at Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany, Electronic Arts Inc. today announced the all-star ensemble cast featured in this holiday’s highly anticipated real-time strategy video game Command & ConquerTM Red AlertTM 3. Starring in the Command & ConquerTM franchise’s trademark live-action movie sequences, the diverse group includes a host of award-winning actors, action stars, science fiction legends, up-and-coming starlets from around the globe and even mixed martial artists.

The cast of Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 follows (in alphabetical order by last name): Gemma Atkinson (the UK’s Hollyoaks), Tim Curry (Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Hunt for Red October), Andrew Divoff (LOST), Kelly Hu (X2, The Scorpion King), Jenny McCarthy (Scream 3, former Playboy Playmate of the Year), Ivana Milicevic (Casino Royale), Jonathan Pryce (Pirates of the Caribbean), J.K. Simmons (Spider-Man, Juno), Autumn Reeser (The OC), Peter Stormare (Prison Break, Armageddon), George Takei (Star Trek, Heroes), and two of the most recognizable names in competitive mixed martial arts Randy “The Natural” Couture (former UFC Heavyweight champion) and Gina “Conviction” Carano (Undefeated Elite XC fighter, American Gladiators).

“This is by far the most exciting cast we have in over 13 years of shooting live-action movies for Command & Conquer,” said Chris Corry, executive producer at EALA. “The caliber of the performances we received, both individually and collectively, have really raised the storytelling bar for the franchise. We are really excited that we will be delivering such a high quality production that is on par with movies and television shows.”

“I wasn’t sure what to expect when I came in to work on a video game,” said Jenny McCarthy from the set of Command & Conquer Red Alert 3, while playing Tanya, Allied commando and the most beloved heroine in the history of the Command & Conquer universe. “What I realized is Red Alert 3 is not just a video game, it’s absolutely an interactive movie. This is where the people at home get to move the story forward, and where seeing the plot thicken is a reward for a job well done. And that’s really cool.”

“I think video games are one of the new frontiers for actors and using live action is just another way to connect more easily to the gamer rather than CG or animation techniques,” said J.K. Simmons from the set of the game, who is playing the anti-Communist U.S. President Howard T. Ackerman. “To be in a groundbreaking game like Red Alert 3 where we are using full on shooting of live actors and to be with Jonathan Pryce, Tim Curry and Peter Stormare, it was a great opportunity for a character actor like me to have some fun.”

Fans searching for an opportunity to see even more of the talent in Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 can now order the Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 Premier Edition - a limited edition copy of the game that includes a bonus DVD with over an hour of exclusive content, including interviews with the talent and a behind the scenes look at the shooting of the game’s cinematic sequences. The Premier Edition is also packed full of additional Command & Conquer Red Alert goodness, including exclusive multiplayer maps, strategy tips from the development team, the official soundtrack and an exclusive beta key to a future Command & Conquer game.

Those who secure the Premier Edition or regular version of Red Alert 3 now via pre-order will also receive a special bonus package*, including:

* Command & Conquer Red Alert 2 - One of the most beloved RTS games of all time!
 * From Fighter to Assassin - A featurette on EliteXC superstar, Gina Carano.
 * Premier Edition Sneak Peek - Exclusive previews of Raising of the Iron Curtain,
From Pens to Pixels, Command School, and BattleCast Primetime
 * Red Alert Retrospective - A look back at Command & ConquerTM Red AlertTM,
Command & Conquer Red Alert 2 and Command & ConquerTM: Yuri’s RevengeTM
 * Exclusive multiplayer/skirmish map for Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 when the
game ships
 * Exclusive Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 desktop wallpapers

Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 is set to ship this fall for the PC and Xbox 360. Gamers who want to get a head start on the return to Command & Conquer Red Alert can do so by purchasing Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath, which includes automatic entry into the Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 beta** happening right now. More information is available at http://www.ea.com/redalert/beta.jsp.

Game on!

Capcom has just released a new trailer for their upcoming title, Resident Evil 5.  The more I see about this one, the more I’m looking forward to it. 

To view the trailer, click HERE (R-Click & Save Target As - 497MB High Def .mov file.)

The biohazard threat has not ended: Just when it seemed that the menace of Resident Evil had been destroyed, along comes a new terror to send shivers down player’s spines. Chris Redfield, returning Resident Evil hero, has followed the path of the evil literally around the globe. After joining a new organization, Chris heads to Africa where the latest bioterrorism threat is literally transforming the people and animals of the city into mindless, maddened creatures. Chris must take on the challenge of discovering the truth behind this evil plot. In Resident Evil 5, Capcom will teach players to fear the daylight as much as they have feared shadow in previous games.

Co-producer and series veterans Jun Takeuchi (Lost Planet) and Masachicka Kawata (Resident Evil 4 Wii Edition, Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles) unleashes an unprecedented level of fear for the next generation in Resident Evil 5, the sequel to one of the highest-rated videogames in history, according to Metacritic.com and Gamerankings.com. Promising to revolutionize the series by delivering an unbelievable level of detail, realism and control, Resident Evil 5 is certain to bring new fans to the series. New technology developed specifically for the game, as well as incredible changes to both the gameplay and world of Resident Evil will make this a must-have game for gamers across the globe.

The latest in the Resident Evil series, which has sold over 34 million units since the original game was released in 1996, as well as spawned a multi-million dollar trilogy of films from Sony Pictures. Resident Evil 5 will revolutionize the Resident Evil series, just as Resident Evil 4 did.

Key features
• Chris Redfield, protagonist of the original Resident Evil and Resident Evil: Code Veronica, returns
• New environments and a diverse assortment of locations
• New enemies bring new challenges: speed and intelligence make adversaries as dangerous singly as they are in groups.
• An arsenal of weapons at the players command to keep the evil at bay, including knives, pistols, machine guns, sniper rifles and more.
• Lighting effects provide a new level of suspense in both harsh light and deepest shadow
• True high definition gaming on multiple game platforms, using an advanced version of Capcom’s proprietary game engine, MT Framework, which powered the next-gen, million-plus hit titles Devil May Cry 4, Lost Planet and Dead Rising.

Game on!