New Halo Reach Campaign Trailer Released July 29, 2010

Since E3, Bungie, the developers of Halo Reach, has not shown content of the campaign mode of their game.  Recent previews have focused mostly on the anticipated upgrades to Firefight and Forge, as well as multiplayer in general, but what interests me about a Halo game is its story, and I have been eagerly anticipating any new previews which feature it.

Bungie has released a new trailer for Halo Reach today.  It mostly shows the in-game cutscenes, some of which have not been seen yet, and some of the deep space combat (which reminds me a lot of Freelancer).

Just look at that gang of warthogs!

Halo Reach is coming September 14th, 2010 for Xbox 360.

PS3 Update 3.41 Released July 27, 2010

Sony has released a required update for the Playstation 3, version 3.41.  It doesn’t really add that much to the system itself, just a recommendation system based upon your games owned.  That system isn’t going to go live until the end of the month.

A sister update for the PSP is also coming, which addresses some minor bug fixes.

Currently you can download the update through the PS3’s Update program.

Alan Wake’s First DLC Episode, The Signal, is Out There July 27, 2010

Alan Wake‘s first DLC episode has been released this morning on Xbox Live.

The episode, called “The Signal” picks up where Alan Wake left off, continuing Alan’s journey through the darkness.  New gameplay mechanics are introduced, new cutscenes are included and a new song will be unlocked upon completion.

The episode also introduces eight new achievements for a total of 250 extra achievement points.

“The Signal” requires a full copy of Alan Wake to play.  It is free with a redemption code to people who purchased the game new, 560 ms points otherwise.

A second episode, titled “The Writer” will continue the game’s story, will be 560 ms points on release and currently has no release date.  No other episodes are currently scheduled, but if demand is high enough, there could be an Alan Wake sequel.

Halo Reach Legendary Edition Now Includes DLC Behind the Scenes Content July 25, 2010

Bungie listened to my cries for a behind the scenes documentary to be added to the special editions of Halo Reach.  Well that plus it makes the $150 US price tag a bit easier to swallow, because behind the scenes content is coming to the Halo Reach Legendary Edition.

In their weekly update on Friday, while they were talking about the new capabilities of Forge, they snuck in the surprise that they are going to include a behind the scenes documentary on Halo Reach as Downloadable Content.

Add that upon the Recon Helmet, Spartan Flaming Helmet Effect, Elite Armor, Grenade Belt, and Mark V(B) Chest Armor as the list of downloadable content included for Halo Reach continues to rise.  I understand the majority of this content is going exclusively to day-one purchases and preorders as incentive to buy, and only a few things are going to be strictly special edition DLC, but it would’ve been nice if they decided not to do all this DLC and instead focus on physical content like having FilmOasis making a BTS DVD, since I consider the documentary they did in the Halo 2 Collector’s Edition the greatest gaming documentary in the history of the medium.

Bungie promises they’ll talk more about the BTS content within the next few weeks.

Halo Reach is coming September 14th, 2010 for Xbox 360.

New Star Wars: The Force Unleased II Trailer July 25, 2010

Hot off the heels of Comic-Con, Lucasarts has released a new trailer for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II, which is considered to be the next major chapter in the Star Wars canon.

You will once again play as the apprentice, a clone made by Darth Vader after your death at the end of the good storyline of the first game.  However, you’re far too powerful with the force to be a mere clone.  Armed with only two lightsabers and the full strength of the force at your disposal, you must find the secret behind your return.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II will release multiplatform October 26th, 2010.

DC Universe Online Release Date July 25, 2010

Sony Online Entertainment has confirmed the release date of DC Universe Online as November 2nd, 2010.

You can still visit their website if you want to sign up to beta test the game on either the PC or Playstation 3.  You’ll be able to play the game early and help the developers polish their game before its release.  No word on when the beta is expected to launch.

DC Universe Online will launch for PC and PS3.  Playstation Plus is not required.

Expanded Rock Band 3 Tracklist July 25, 2010

Harmonix has announced during Comic-Con 2010 several more songs that will be appearing in Rock Band 3, as well as a few songs that will be appearing in their Kinect enabled game, Dance Central.

Rock Band 3

• “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” (Tears for Fears)
• “Rock Lobster” (The B-52s)
• “Foolin'” (Def Leppard)
• “Beautiful People” (Marilyn Manson)
• “Hey Man, Nice Shot” (Filter)
• “Cold as Ice” (Foreigner)

Dance Central

• “Drop it Like it’s Hot” (Snoop Dogg)
• “Push It” (Salt N’ Pepa)
• “Bust a Move” (Young MC)

I’m really happy about the inclusion of “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” on top of the previously announced list including “The Power of Love”.  Harmonix really knows their 80s hits.

Rock Band 3 will release for Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii on October 26th, 2010.

Dance Central will release November 4th, 2010 for Microsoft Kinect, which requires an Xbox 360.

Halo Reach Will Feature Forge, Special Edition Unboxing July 23, 2010

Bungie has announced the heavily enjoyed mode from Halo 3, the Forge Map editor, will return.  Forge was a major component of Halo 3 when it was released, enabling gamers to edit their own maps, something that had been previously restricted to PC gamers for Halo 1 and hackers in Halo 2.  Since the release of Forge, new gametypes, play styles and map variants are released every day, and Reach will continue that tradition.  Look really close, you’ll see Blood Gulch in there.

Also, take a look at this if you will.  It’s an unboxing of the special editions of the game.  Really high production values on this one, but seriously, I was really hoping for a behind the scenes DVD.  You’ll also catch in this video the just announced Halo Reach Xbox 360 Slim bundle.

Halo Reach will be released September 14th, 2010 exclusive to the Xbox 360.

Dead Rising 2 Prequel Coming August 31st July 22, 2010

Capcom has announced the release date of the next chapter in the Dead Rising storyline, Dead Rising: Case Zero is the prequel game that will bridge the gap between the events of Dead Rising 1 and 2.

You play as Dead Rising 2’s protagonist Chuck Greene, where you will have to fight your way through an infected desert town, at the same time keeping your daughter, who has been infected with the zombie virus, protected and her condition suppressed.

I’m really looking forward to this game.  I make it no secret I was a big fan of the first Dead Rising when it came on the 360 in 2006.  This game will sport a similar real-time system just like the first game had.  You will constantly be checking your watch to monitor your daughter’s condition while you fight off waves of zombies going from place to place.  This should be a very appetizing setup, and we may get to see just how Greene ended up in the casino city.  I’m personally hoping for a cameo by Frank West, the hero of the first game, but that might be too much to hope for, especially given how many ending possibilities the first game had.

Dead Rising: Case Zero will be released August 31st, 2010 for 400ms points only on the Xbox Live Marketplace.

Epic Gives the Power of Life and Death in Gears of War 3 July 22, 2010

And I thought I was stuck in 1997, Epic seems like they’re stuck in 1993, back in the heyday of the invention of 1-900 numbers.  Remember how that went?  Okay I’ll tell you.

In 1993, DC Comics had this brilliant idea with the heyday of interactive premium telephone and 1-900 numbers to set up a poll of the readership to determine the resolution of a cliffhanger.  But with something like this there had to be something major at stake.  Jason Todd, the second person to carry the title of “Robin” was trapped in a building with a bomb left by The Joker.  The bomb went off, and Batman was unable to get there in time.  Did he survive it?  You call one number and he dies, you call another and he lives.  You’ll be charged for each call.

Well what happened?  Because they had to pay for it, the majority of people who really hated Jason Todd called in.  When the final count came down, Jason Todd was going to die and there was nothing DC could do about it.

DC never did anything like that ever again.

In 2010, Epic is letting their fans vote on the life or death of one of their new characters, a new member of the Carmine family.  They will be offering two different avatar t-shirts for sale on Xbox Live Marketplace, one promoting that Carmine lives, and one promoting Carmine’s death.  Whichever shirt sells more will determine if the character will survive Gears of War 3.  All money from the proceeds are going to benefit Child’s Play.

The entire Carmine family has not done well in the Gears of War games, currently they’re at 0-2, with a different member of the family being killed at or around the beginning of each game.

Gears of War 3 is coming April 2011 only for the Xbox 360.