Making of Batman Arkham City May 16, 2012

Rocksteady has started to release a behind the scenes documentary series for Batman Arkham City in anticipation for the game’s upcoming Game of the Year re-release as well as the upcoming DLC expansion Harley Quinn’s Revenge.  The new documentary focuses on the game’s sound effects, what went into making them and how sound would be heard in the game.  It’s really interesting to watch this and see where all these sounds in the game actually came from.

Batman: Arkham City Game of the Year Edition will feature all of the game’s DLC and is coming for Xbox 360 and PS3 May 29th.  That is the same day that Harley Quinn’s Revenge will be released through Xbox Live Marketplace and the Playstation Store for $9.99US or 800 Microsoft Points.

Halo 4 Limited Edition Announced May 16, 2012

Back in 2007, Bungie announced that they were going to release not just one special edition of the highly anticipated game Halo 3, but TWO.  One was going to be a special Limited Edition, which would have a comparable price and be similar to previous Collector’s Editions at the time, by coming in a quality metal case and include a bonus DVD, and the other was a SUPER premium edition of the game called the Legendary Edition.  The Legendary Edition included a premium display case for the edition, but also an exclusive bonus DVD which included extra documentaries that were not included with the game’s limited edition.  It also cost $135US.

In 2010, when Halo Reach was on the road to release, Bungie and Microsoft again decided to do something special.  As with Halo 3, they had a three-tier release with a regular game edition, a Limited Collector’s Edition, and a Legendary Edition which included all the content of the Limited Collector’s Edition plus extra exclusive content.  The Legendary Edition this time cost $150US.  Since Bungie did this, they re-defined what could be done with a game’s collector’s edition and other companies have tried doing similar releases.  Gears of War 3 had a three-tier game release (and a pretty much identical price structure that Halo Reach had).  In fact, there were other games which have released Collector’s Editions in the similar style and price of the Legendary Edition, like The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

The official Halo Waypoint Twitter Feed has confirmed that 343 Industries and Microsoft will release a Limited Edition of Halo 4 on November 6th, 2012 for $99.99US.

On the digital side, they plan to include early access download codes for the game’s first map pack, which is coming post release and will include nine new maps.  You will also have immediate access to six new specifications, whereas others will need to unlock those through multiplayer.  You will also have special multiplayer armor sets and weapon skin.  Finally, they’re offering some extra Xbox Live goodies including exclusive emblem, Avatar Props, and SPARTAN-IV Armor for your avatar.

On the physical side, the game will come in a beautiful case and steelbook for the game disc.  You will also get access to a bonus disc which will include the extended 90-minute cut of Forward Unto Dawn, a live action Halo movie detailing the story of a young cadet who came into contact with the Master Chief and what he becomes.  The disc will also include special features for the movie, as well as behind the scenes content.  Also included will be a briefing packet for the UNSC Infinity, which will include content like SPARTAN armor specifications, and what it’s like to serve onboard a UNSC ship.  It looks like there’s going to be some serious attention to detail put into this to make it appear as if it came right off the real ship itself.

You can read all the details about the Halo 4 Limited Edition here at Halo Waypoint.  343 has confirmed they are not releasing a second Legendary Edition for the game.  My wallet thanks them.

Halo 4 will release November 6th, 2011 exclusive to the Xbox 360.

Diablo III Launch Event May 14, 2012

Diablo III is the highly anticipated sequel to 2000’s Diablo II, which is considered to be by many one of the finest games ever made.  In fact, it’s so popular its even still sold in most stores over ten years after its official release (although you’ll probably find it bundled with the original Diablo and the game’s official hint books), which is probably one of the most impressive feats a game can accomplish.

What is Diablo III?  Check this out and find out!

To celebrate the release of Diablo III, Blizzard is having an official midnight release night all over the world, including at the Best Buy in Irvine, California.  Check out this page for all the details if they’re going to host a launch event near you.

Diablo III officially releases May 15th, 2012 exclusive to the PC.

Max Payne 3 Midnight Launch Tonight May 14, 2012

I went in to confirm my preorder yesterday and the folks at GameStop informed me that they will indeed be selling Max Payne 3 tonight starting at midnight.  While not all stores will be having this promotion, be sure to check with whichever store you may have preordered at to get the details for yourselves.

Max Payne 3 is a game that I’ve been waiting for since the release of Max Payne 2 back in 2003.  When the initial screenshots, concept art and previews came out for it (and knowing that a developer other than Remedy was working on it) my initial feelings were one of regret and extreme dissapointment.  But now, one delay later and after a fantastic showing at the New York Comic Con, I must say that my anticipation for this game has become quite high.

One of my early starts in the gaming industry was working for The Deep Six, which was GameSpy’s Max Payne site, from 2003-2005, where I followed the development of Max Payne 2 up to its release and after the game came out, wrote new articles and other site content for the Max Payne community.  Tonight feels almost like a return to the old days for me.  Take a look at the game’s official launch trailer!

Only the Xbox 360 and PS3 editions of the game will release tonight.  For those of you who plan to pick up Max Payne 3 on PC, it will be released later in the month.  A Collector’s Edition will also be released for the game, but will only be sold for people who preordered the game up to last month.  Hopefully I’ll be able to post up an unboxing of it some time tomorrow.

Alan Wake’s American Nightmare Coming to PC May 22nd May 8, 2012

It’s official!  Because of the overwhelming demand for it and the fantastic sales of Alan Wake on the PC, the second game in the Alan Wake franchise, Alan Wake’s American Nightmare, is coming to the PC!

I for one think this is an amazing decision on Remedy’s part.  The sales for the PC version of Alan Wake were tremendous and paid for themselves in a very short period of time, and the PC fanbase that release created has been clamoring for American Nightmare since it released on XBLA.

Alan Wake’s American Nightmare is already out for Xbox 360 through Xbox Live Arcade for 1200 Microsoft Points.  The PC version will release May 22nd through STEAM and GOG.  They’re also promising that people who preorder the game will get a 10% discount off the game.

If you have played through the game and have any questions about just what was going on while playing it, feel free to check out this video we produced which explains the complete plotline of Alan Wake’s American Nightmare.  Have questions about the original Alan Wake?  We have an explanation video for the first Alan Wake game as well!

God of War Ascension Will Have Multiplayer May 1, 2012

It’s a story as old as time itself.  Man pledges his loyalty to a god in exchange for assistance in slaying the barbarians that outnumber his troops.  The god eventually becomes a megalomaniac and makes his servant slay his wife and daughter.  Okay, it’s not that old, it’s the story of Kratos, the protagonist of the God of War series, which we learn in bits and pieces over the course of the first God of War game.

God of War Ascension, the next God of War game coming exclusively to the Playstation 3 will tell the story of just what happened after that night, when Kratos became the Ghost of Sparta and what he had to do in order to break his oath to Ares, who had betrayed him.

However, that single player story is not all that is going to be included with God of War Ascension (in fact it has been announced that the single-player game may be slightly shorter than previous God of War installments)  God of War Ascension will be the first God of War game to offer multiplayer, and it will be coming in the form of eight player competitive play.

In competitive play you will be able to customize your own character to play as, and adjust things like appearance and clothing.  Eight players will be able to battle at one time in an arena and will have access to a full moveset as well as quick-time sequences for finishing moves.  It sounds like all the gameplay and controls we remember from the previous games will not be compromised in multiplayer.

This is hardly the first game series to bring multiplayer into a sequel after previously featuring games which were single-player only but as far as I know this is probably among the latest any game series has added multiplayer.  Five games have already been released in the God of War franchise (not including the HD re-releases) which featured no multiplayer, whereas most game series which didn’t have a multiplayer component initially will usually add it by the second game (Splinter Cell, Uncharted) and the previously latest I saw was the third game (Max Payne).  I think the latest I’ve seen at this point to add multiplayer may have been Grand Theft Auto, which added multiplayer in GTA4.

God of War Ascension is coming exclusive to the Playstation 3.

Diablo III TV Spot May 1, 2012

It’s exceptionally rare for a video game to have one of its trailers broadcast on network television, even rarer for a PC exclusive, but whenever it happens you just know it will be something special.  Here’s the TV Spot for Diablo III, the first new Diablo game in over ten years.  Enjoy.

Diablo III is coming May 15th, 2012 exclusive to PC.

Portal 2 Editor Announced April 28, 2012

Valve has officially announced that they plan to release an editor which will give players at home the opportunity to create their own challenge rooms.  Dubbed the “Perpetual Testing Initiative” DLC this editor, coming for Mac and PC will allow owners of Portal 2 to create their own Portal puzzle rooms and test in them.

I would make a joke here about Wheatley wishing he could have this type of technology but instead I will just show this short informative film.

The Portal 2 Perpetual Testing Inititive will release through STEAM and have fully integrated STEAM functionality.  You can expect it to be released May 8 to owners of Portal 2 on the PC and Mac.

While there was no mention of a console version of this, remember, if you have a copy of the game on Playstation 3 you may also have a CD-Key included in the game’s package for a free copy of Portal 2 for PC or Mac on STEAM.

Quinni-Con 2012 Starts Today April 28, 2012

For those of you close to my neck of the woods I wanted to give you a heads up that a gaming and anime convention is going to be hosted at Quinnipiac University this weekend, and is going on right now as I type this.

Quinni-Con 2012 is a free fan-created convention hosted by Quinnipiac University.  The convention’s primary theme will be anime and otaku culture.  There are going to be panels of all sorts of subjects, cosplay and there will also be gaming tournaments for Street Fighter x Tekken, Super Smash Bros Brawl, and Soul Caliber V.

Details about the convention can be found here.  Online web registration is no longer active but on-site registration is being offered.  If you’re a fan, go and give it a look, it’ll continue on through Sunday!