The next in line in the Grand Theft Auto series has been confirmed by Rockstar Games. The announcement of the appropriately titled Grand Theft Auto V comes with absolutely no details, but the announcement alone is newsworthy. The only tidbits that the Rockstar Games website reveals are the logo for the game and that a trailer will be released on Wednesday, November 2nd.
Blizzard have announced details on their entry in the Multiplayer Online Battle Arena market with Blizzard Defense of the Ancients, and the major changes it will be bringing to classic DOTA gameplay. You can check out the trailer below:
Sure, Battlefield 3: Near-Future Warfare has breathtaking graphics, great sound design and a host of gameplay improvements that make it possibly the most realistic shooting experience this side of actually joining the army and killing real insurgents. But why would you play Battlefield 3, one of the dourest video games in existence, when you could hurl an energy leash thing at a bad guy, yank him off his feet into your boot, kicking him up into the air where you can riddle him with automatic fire before switching weapons and shooting a rocket up his backside? Why indeed?
Night. Helicopters patrol the air overhead, their searchlights tracing a meandering path, no particular prey in mind, but keeping an eye out for any potential problems. Someone in an empty alley screams for help while being held against a wall. He’s done nothing wrong, just worked at the wrong place at the wrong time. No one comes. The only other people around laugh and continue on by, shaking their heads. The knife-wielding thug calmly explains, “I told you to find food and bring it to me. This is your own fault.” He slowly begins to press the knife against the whimpering man’s throat. Unbeknownst to both parties, a dark shape has dropped to the ground from the roof overhead, black wings slowing his fall. The silent hero purposefully approaches from behind this gorilla of a man, quickly wraps one arm around the assailant’s neck, clamps the other hand over his mouth and nose, and holds him still until he passes out. The political prisoner scuttles away and breathlessly calls a “thank you” behind him, but the Batman has already fired his grapnel gun into the air and launched himself away. Arkham City is vast and there’s a lot of work to be done if it’s to be shut down.
Moments like this are what give Batman: Arkham City the feeling of a legitimate environment where other characters and people are going about their own business. You’ll be gliding along and one of several moments will draw your attention: a lone gunshot in the night, a body missing its face on the street, a mysterious figure watching you from the rooftops, or a man calling out for help as he’s mercilessly beaten. All of these things and more, will happen as you traverse the world of Arkham City.
Whether you have played any of the Soul Calibur games or not, chances are you probably know that sinceSC2, one of the quirks of the franchise has been the use of recognizable special characters, starting with the inclusion of Link, Heihachi Mishima, and Spawn in the GameCube, PS2, and Xbox versions of Soul Calibur 2, respectively. Well, those looking forward to the January 31st, 2012 (or February 3rd in Europe) release of Soul Calibur V who are curious about new guests to the roster need wait no longer, as screenshots were leaked last week that show Ezio Auditore da Firenze of Assassin’s Creed 2 fame as one of the secret characters.
The Xbox Live Shocktober event, which
began on October 18 and will conclude on the 31st, features
spooky-related games and add-on content. Gamers looking to get into the
Halloween spirit will be able to purchase games such as Castlevania Harmony of Despair, Zombie
Apocalypse, and Metro 2033 at a
discounted price. While these are the only games on sale, it’s unknown whether
more games will follow, so check out the official Shocktober page for the latest
details. The Shocktober event also features items for your avatar, dashboard
themes, and family-oriented “scary” games such as Plants vs. Zombies.
Mass
Effect 3 developer
Bioware has announced on their forums that a pre-release
demo of the final game in the trilogy will be available in January. While the
exact date is TBA, the demo will include portions of the single and multiplayer
portions of the game. Those who purchase EA’s Battlefield 3 and activate their Online Pass will be granted early
access to the multiplayer demo, regardless of platform. Mass Effect fans who aren’t going to purchase Battlefield 3, don’t fret, because Bioware also announced that “there will be another program whereby
players and fans of the Mass Effect franchise can unlock this early access
(with no purchase necessary) – this will also be announced in late November or
early December.” The length of the early access period is still under
wraps.
