Ahead of the Call of Duty: Ghosts Multiplayer Reveal Activision have released an infographic containing some stats on the Call of Duty franchise.
The reveal will be streamed live from LA at 10:30 am today.
You can view the infographic in the link below
It’s the end of the week and time for the industry news round up!
The epic climax of Activision and Treyarch’s Call of Duty: Black Ops II Downloadable Content (DLC) Season Pass culminates with Apocalypse. Available first on the Xbox Live online entertainment network from Microsoft on August 27, the game’s fourth and final DLC Pack delivers four thrilling, diverse multiplayer maps and the all-new wildly creative Zombies experience – “Origins”. In addition one of my favourite bands, Avenged Sevenfold, will be again lending their musical talent to the game with their song, Shepherd of Fire, from their upcoming album Hail to the King, featuring in the opening cinematic.
Marvelous Games, the European division of the Harvest Moon publisher MarvelousAQL, has today unveiled more details on RunBot – the first title to emerge from the recently announced five-game publishing agreement with Touch Racing Nitro developer Bravo Game Studios. Due for release worldwide on iOS on August 22nd, RunBot is a brilliant Parkour/freerunning twist on the endless runner genre, offering phenomenal 3D visuals across a constantly evolving course.
Sources say that Amazon is working on producing its own android based games console, for release later this year possibly around the US thanksgiving season. There’s no real news about what the console will consist of, other than ‘it’s coming’, but given that Amazon has a pretty healthy stock of games and a download service already in place, it could already be one up on the Ouya, whose exclusive developers have been struggling to turn a profit on the system.
The Suikoden Revival Movement has launched the next phase of its campaign entitled ‘Operation Blinking Mirror.’ Between December 10 and December 12, 2013, the Suikoden Revival Movement will be inundating Konami Japan with Suikoden-related paraphernalia such as letters, artwork, cosplay photographs and sculptures. Operation Blinking Mirror – an ode to a teleportation device found throughout the series – has launched its own Facebook page where fans can find out more.
Finally videos have surfaced from Microsoft and Sony unboxing the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. You can view the Xbox One – here and the PlayStation 4 – here.
Dr Mick Donegon, CEO of games charity SpecialEffect, has taken the charity global and started helping people on an international scale.
The video game charities founder has been visiting San Camillo Hospital, Venice, to train staff and collaborate on assessments with their patients who have a range of complex neurological conditions. He got the pleasure of working with Albert Einstein World Award of Science Winner Niels Bierbaumer who is a Professor of Medical Psychology and Behavioural Neurobiology.
This was a great chance for Dr Mick and Professor Bierbaummer to learn from each other and in addition Dr Mick got to spread the word of SpecialEffect to Italy.
SpecialEffect at home
Thanks to all the work that Dr Mick and his team do they are able to help people like Ray who has spinal muscular atrophy which makes it very difficult for him to move.
Ray was introduced to the SpecialEffect team when they were visiting a young man named Jacob who they helped to play FIFA again.
When the team returned to help Ray his face lit up and he said: “All my Christmases have come at once!”
Call of Duty and FIFA 13 are top of the playing wish list for many people at the moment, and Ray was desperate to play them as well. So after an intense session working with his abilities and trying a handful of different access strategies, the SpecialEffect team settled on a set-up that included two switches on his PlayStation joypad, two in his palms and two head-switches on his wheelchair headrest.
It was a hit. Ray’s occupational therapist asked: “On a scale of one to ten, how happy are you?” Ray replied with a hugely ecstatic “Eleven!!”
For Ray this means much more than simply having fun. His disability means that he’s incredibly limited in doing any sort of activity, let alone one that gives such a sense of achievement. The benefits aren’t just personal – while he was playing, an off-duty member of staff jumped at the opportunity to pit his gaming skills against Ray. I’m sure he’s just the first of many new friends, offline and online, that the gift of gaming will give to Ray.
Following the bank holiday the game charts have been released a day later. There is a new number one this week, Resident Evil Revelations have taken the top spot. Other new additions include, Donkey Kong Country Returns which enters at number five and Fast & Furious Showdown which comes in at number fourteen. Following the reveal of Call Of Duty: Ghosts last week, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 has plummeted from number five down to number nineteen.
All formats
Week ending 25 May 2013
| POS. | TITLE | PUBLISHER | LAST WEEK |
|
| 1 | RESIDENT EVIL: REVELATIONS | CAPCOM | – | |
| 2 |  |
FIFA 13 | EA SPORTS | 3 |
| 3 |  |
METRO LAST LIGHT | DEEP SILVER | 1 |
| 4 | |
DEAD ISLAND: RIPTIDE | DEEP SILVER | 2 |
| 5 | DONKEY KONG COUNTRY RETURNS | NINTENDO | – | |
| 6 | |
ASSASSIN’S CREED III | XBOX 360 CLASSICS | 9 |
| 7 | |
TOMB RAIDER | SQUARE ENIX | 6 |
| 8 | |
FAR CRY 3 | UBISOFT | 11 |
| 9 | |
LUIGI’S MANSION 2 | NINTENDO | 12 |
| 10 | |
LEGO CITY UNDERCOVER: THE CHASE BEGINS | NINTENDO | 13 |
| 11 | |
INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US | WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE | 8 |
| 12 | |
LEGO BATMAN 2: DC SUPER HEROES | WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE | 14 |
| 13 | |
POKEMON MYSTERY DUNGEON: INFINITY | NINTENDO | 4 |
| 14 | FAST & FURIOUS: SHOWDOWN | ACTIVISION | – | |
| 15 | NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED | EA GAMES | – | |
| 16 | |
GOD OF WAR: ASCENSION | SONY COMPUTER ENT. | 15 |
| 17 | |
THE WALKING DEAD | TELLTALE GAMES | 7 |
| 18 | |
BIOSHOCK INFINITE | 2K GAMES | 10 |
| 19 | |
CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II | ACTIVISION | 5 |
| 20 | |
SKYLANDERS GIANTS | SKYLANDERS | 19 |
| < previous week |
These charts cannot be reproduced either in print or online without obtaining permission from Ukie. If you wish to reproduce the charts in print or online, please contact david.smith@ukie.org.uk for the appropriate license.
Instead of the normal news round up on a Friday I thought, with the announcement of the Xbox One I would do a round up of the games announced for the next generation machine.
First of is the one that everyone guessed, Call Of Duty: Ghosts. Published by Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, and developed by Infinity Ward, the studio that created the original Call of Duty and the seminal Call of Duty: Modern Warfare series, Call of Duty: Ghosts ushers in the next generation of the franchise. The new title delivers a riveting all-new gameplay experience built on an entirely new story, setting and cast of characters, all powered by a new, next generation Call of Duty engine that redefines the series for the next generation. Call of Duty: Ghosts releases globally on November 5, 2013. You can enjoy the trailer for the game here, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4pqW0Mtc9c
For the war game fans that don’t enjoy the Call Of Duty series, Battlefield 4 was also announced. Developed by DICE, an EA owned Studio, the game will be availble this holiday series for Xbox One and PS4. Powered by the advanced Frostbite 3 engine, Battlefield 4 delivers a genre-defining all-out war experience brought to life with unmatched visual and audio fidelity, superior character animations and dynamic destruction that ensures no two matches are alike. Players that pre-order Battlefield 4 will receive the Battlefield 4 China Rising premium digital expansion pack at no additional cost. In this sprawling expansion, players fight for dominance across the vast and majestic Chinese mainland in four massive multiplayer maps, using all-new vehicles and high-tech military equipment. Separately, players that pre-order the Battlefield 4 Digital Deluxe exclusively on Origin will receive the base game, bonus in-game digital items, the Battlefield 4 China Rising digital expansion pack and access to the exclusive Battlefield 4 multiplayer beta. More information will be released on the game at E3 in June. You can view the trailer for the game here, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Y1PhCzUe2w
Electronic Arts Inc. announced that it has developed EA SPORTS IGNITE, a new game engine that will power EA SPORTS games on Xbox One and PS4. One of which being launched with the Xbox One is FIFA 14. Fuelled by EA SPORTS IGNITE, EA SPORTS games will be alive with players who think, move, and behave like real athletes and dynamic living worlds, transforming the way people play and experience games on next gen consoles. With the new engine players are alive with contextual awareness and instincts—thinking, anticipating, and reacting—just like real athletes, and players are conscious of their environment. In FIFA 14, a player’s sense of urgency increases as the match draws on and a goal is needed, rushing to take a free kick, corner, or goal-kick if time is running down. You can enjoy a trailer for the EA SPORTS IGNITE engine here, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bexvqjJ9TD4
One of two new IP’s to launch with the Xbox One is the next project from Bungie, Destiny. In the game, you are a Guardian of the last safe city on Earth, able to wield incredible power and have to defend the City and the World. The game features an incredible story set within a newly-imagined, always-connected universe filled with action and adventure where you can create your character. You forge your legend by defeating powerful foes and earn unique, customizable weapons, gear, and vehicles. There is an unprecedented variety of FPS gameplay, including story, cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes combined with public and social activities. You can enjoy a sixty second trailer for the game here, http://www.youtube.com/embed/ChicpIzV5vM?rel=0
Finally, the second new IP to launch with the Xbox One is Quantum Break. Created by Remedy Entertainment, the game will feature live-action videos blended with regular gameplay. A Quantum Break television series is also in production, with Remedy stating that “how you play the game impacts the show, and the show informs how you play the game.” This is the same as how the Defiance game for PC is working. Remedy didn’t reveal more than this teaser trailer, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYcHyOo6AWU&feature=player_embedded You can look forward to more information at E3 on this game and, hopefully, many more.
Dead Island: Riptide goes one week better than its predecessor by holding on to number one for a third consecutive week, despite a 55% drop in sales. Bioshock Infinite is the only other title so far this year to record three consecutive weeks at number one. Competition for top spot comes in the form of an unexpected familiar face, Call of Duty: Black Ops II which climbs four places to number two, boosted by strong retailer price promotions only two weeks after dropping out of the Top Ten for the first time. The Walking Dead from Telltale Games and Avanquest – now available on disc has entered at number nine and Luigi’s Mansion 2 being at number ten keeps this week’s only other new entry out of the Top Ten with PQube’s critically acclaimed Persona 4 Arena having to settle for a debut at number eleven.
All formats
Week ending 11 May 2013
| POS. | TITLE | PUBLISHER | LAST WEEK |
|
| 1 | – | DEAD ISLAND: RIPTIDE | DEEP SILVER | 1 |
| 2 | |
CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II | ACTIVISION | 6 |
| 3 | – | TOMB RAIDER | SQUARE ENIX | 3 |
| 4 | |
INJUSTICE: GODS AMONG US | WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE | 2 |
| 5 | |
FIFA 13 | EA SPORTS | 4 |
| 6 | |
BIOSHOCK INFINITE | 2K GAMES | 7 |
| 7 | |
ASSASSIN’S CREED III | UBISOFT | 11 |
| 8 | – | LEGO CITY UNDERCOVER: THE CHASE BEGINS | NINTENDO | 8 |
| 9 | THE WALKING DEAD | TELLTALE GAMES | – | |
| 10 | |
LUIGI’S MANSION 2 | NINTENDO | 9 |
| 11 | PERSONA 4 ARENA | PQUBE | – | |
| 12 | – | FAR CRY 3 | UBISOFT | 12 |
| 13 | |
DRAGON’S DOGMA: DARK ARISEN | CAPCOM | 5 |
| 14 | |
GOD OF WAR: ASCENSION | SONY COMPUTER ENT. | 16 |
| 15 | – | LEGO BATMAN 2: DC SUPER HEROES | WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE | 15 |
| 16 | |
DEFIANCE | TRION WORLDS | 13 |
| 17 | |
THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM | XBOX 360 CLASSICS | 14 |
| 18 | |
NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED | EA GAMES | 17 |
| 19 | – | GRAND THEFT AUTO EPISODES – LIBERTY CITY | ROCKSTAR | 19 |
| 20 | – | GRAND THEFT AUTO IV | XBOX 360 CLASSICS | 20 |
| < previous week |
These charts cannot be reproduced either in print or online without obtaining permission from Ukie. If you wish to reproduce the charts in print or online, please contact david.smith@ukie.org.uk for the appropriate license.
It is the end of the week so it is time for the Train2Game end of week round up!
The first bit of news this weeks come with the release of Injustice: Gods Among Us, the new DC Universe fighting game. Train2Game student Connor Adams did some of the concept art for the game at the company he works at Atomhawk in Newcastle. Congratulations Connor! You can view some of his art work, which I highly suggest, in the following link: http://crayonmechanic.deviantart.com/
The Pokémon Company International recently revealed a mysterious new Pokémon that looks strangely familiar to Legendary Pokémon Mewtwo. Nintendo have now confirmed that this new Pokémon is connect to Mewtwo! How this connection will play out when Pokémon X and Pokémon Y launch in October is still to be confirmed. You can enjoy a short clip, that makes the connection clear, here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tSVBVQzNMg&feature=player_embedded
Bethesda have recently uploaded a couple of six second long clips to the video sharing site, Vine. These little teaser clips had the internet buzzing about what could be coming. It has now been announced that it is the new game from Resident Evil creator, Shinji Mikami. Mikami’s studio Tango Gameworks will reveal ‘project Zwei’ via a debut trailer set for release at 5:00 a.m. Pacific / 8:00 a.m Eastern. Mikami has previously described Zwei as “a true survival horror” in which the player “confronts and overcomes fear”. Mikami has also said this will be his last game as director.
Activision social media manager Dan Amrich has said he expects 2013’s entry in the Call of Duty series, which is most likely going to be Modern Warfare 4, to be revealed no later than E3 in early June. Amrich noted that the last two Call of Duty games were revealed in May 2011 and May 2012. It has been rumoured that Microsoft are revealing their next Xbox on May 21 so it is likely the new COD will be announced around the same time.
Finally, Microsoft reports that Xbox Live now has around 46 million members worldwide. This, is according to the firm’s Earnings Release for FY13 Q3. It represents an 18 per cent increase from the prior year period. Microsoft’s Entertainment and Devices Division posted revenue of $2.53 billion, an increase of 56 per cent from the prior year period. Microsoft sold 1.3 million Xbox 360s during the quarter, which is down 9 percent from the same period but it is still impressive that so many consoles are still being sold, even at the end of this generations cycle.
It is Friday so it is time for another Train2Game game industry news round up.
The saddest bit of news this week was that the new owners of LucasArts, Disney, has shut down the company. LucasArts were responsible for making many of the Star Wars licensed games as well as other games such as Monkey Island. A LucasFilm representative suggested that properties such as 1313 and Star Wars: First Assault could still find a home via a third party.
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment announced that the Injustice: Gods Among Us game is now available on the App Store. Developed from the ground up by award-winning NetherRealm Studios, this free-to-play mobile game delivers stunning graphics and a completely unique fighting gameplay experience. The mobile game features a collectible card mechanic and engages players in 3-on-3 tag team combat that pits many of DC Comics most popular icons such as Batman, Superman, The Flash, Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, Aquaman and more against one another. Fans who also own the forthcoming Xbox 360 and PlayStation3 versions will be able to unlock content in the console versions that will be available in the mobile game, and vice versa, by registering for a Warner Bros. ID (WBID) account and playing the game.
Perfect World Entertainment Inc. and Cryptic Studios are pleased to announce that on April 30, 2013, the free-to-play action MMORPG Dungeons & Dragons Neverwinter is heading into Open Beta, allowing millions of players unrestricted access to the game world. Neverwinter is Cryptic and Perfect World’s proof that Western free-to-play games, when built from the ground up, can compete with even the biggest boxed subscription titles. On April 30, the companies invite all gamers to put that claim to the test. There will be no character wipes or restricted access after the start of Open Beta. Players can still become Founders through Neverwinter’s Founder’s Pack Program. Benefits include exclusive access to Beta Weekend 4, permanent in-game items that are unique to Founders, early access to Open Beta, and VIP perks. To take advantage of these benefits and to gain exclusive access to Neverwinter’s Beta Weekend 4, players may visit: http://nw.perfectworld.com/founderspack/
The latest set of downloadable content for Treyarch’s Call of Duty: Black Ops II has been confirmed for an April 16th launch on Xbox Live. The pack will include four new maps as well as a new zombie mode, available for 1200 Microsoft points or free to existing season pass holders. The four new maps are: Magma, a modern Japanese village featuring volcanic eruptions; Encore, taking place in the aftermath of a London music festival; Vertigo, a futuristic high rise building in India and Studio, a Hollywood movie back lot which describes itself as a “contemporary remake of Firing Range” which was found in the original Black Ops. By far the most intriguing addition to the newest DLC is the new Mob of the Dead mode, which sounds interesting enough to breathe life into the unspectacular collection of zombie content available currently. In it you play as a prohibition-era mobster locked up in Alcatraz whose attempts to escape are “foiled by the rise of the undead.”
Finally, creators of the hit game Castle Crashers, have released a new game. Blocks, Cats, Hats, Betrayal! This is how The Behemoth have described their new game, Battleblock Theatre. This newly released game, that is currently only for XBLA, is all about platforming, a “story of geometric proportions”, several modes of online gameplay and a massive amount of replayability. It has over 450 levels, hundreds of unlockables to find, over 300 prisoners to free and The Behemoth is calling it their largest game to date. The Behemoth said they are considering future ports, just like they did with Castle Crashers, but since they are a small studio it would take them quite some time to port if they do decide to bring the game to PC or PS3.
Crysis 3 holds the number 1 crown for a second week while FIFA 13 is up a place to number 2 rounding off a good week for EA. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance slips a spot to number 3 ahead of non-mover Call of Duty: Black Ops II. Sega’s Aliens: Colonial Marines slips down again to number 7 following its number 1 debut 2 weeks ago. It’s a quiet week for new releases with no new entries into the Top 10 and 4 of its occupants being non movers.
| POS. | TITLE | PUBLISHER | LAST WEEK |
|
| 1 | – | CRYSIS 3 | EA GAMES | 1 |
| 2 | |
FIFA 13 | EA SPORTS | 3 |
| 3 | |
METAL GEAR RISING: REVENGEANCE | KONAMI | 2 |
| 4 | – | CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II | ACTIVISION | 4 |
| 5 | |
FAR CRY 3 | UBISOFT | 7 |
| 6 | |
NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED | EA GAMES | 8 |
| 7 | |
ALIENS: COLONIAL MARINES | SEGA | 5 |
| 8 | |
DEAD SPACE 3 | EA GAMES | 6 |
| 9 | – | ASSASSIN’S CREED III | UBISOFT | 9 |
| 10 | – | HITMAN ABSOLUTION | SQUARE ENIX | 10 |
| 11 | |
THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM | BETHESDA SOFTWORKS | 12 |
| 12 | |
SKYLANDERS GIANTS | SKYLANDERS | 14 |
| 13 | |
HALO 4 | MICROSOFT | 16 |
| 14 | |
SONIC & ALL STARS RACING TRANSFORMED | SEGA | 13 |
| 15 | – | LEGO BATMAN 2: DC SUPER HEROES | WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE | 15 |
| 16 | |
JUST DANCE 4 | UBISOFT | 11 |
| 17 | |
GRAND THEFT AUTO IV | XBOX 360 CLASSICS | 18 |
| 18 | |
LEGO THE LORD OF THE RINGS | WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE | 17 |
| 19 | RED DEAD REDEMPTION: GOTY | ROCKSTAR | – | |
| 20 | – | FORZA MOTORSPORT 4 | MICROSOFT | 20 |
Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2013 UKIE Ltd
It’s the end of the week so it is time for a round up of news from Train2Game!
Ubisoft revealed the name of the next instalment in the Assassin’s Creed saga, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. The evidence is all pointing towards a Pirate theme but whether the Assassin is a Pirate or battling Pirates waits to be seen. Ubisoft are releasing more information on Monday.
Two weeks ago, 11 bit studios offered gamers a chance to buy its secret next game at half price. Today, that secret game was unveiled as 11 bit studios announces Anomaly 2, the sequel to the award-winning strategy game, Anomaly Warzone Earth. Anomaly 2 will deliver a hardcore real-time strategy experience with exceptional tactical variety, intense multiplayer and remarkable visuals. You can view the trailer, here.
2K and Gearbox Software announced today that the Borderlands 2: Add-On Content Pack is now available in stores. The pack is a single packaged product that adds hours of additional gameplay with Borderlands 2’s first two add-on campaigns, Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate’s Booty and Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage, as well as a fifth playable character, Gaige the Mechromancer. In addition, bundled in the pack is The Creature Slaughter Dome battle arena, unique weapons including the Gearbox Gun Pack and Skyrocket Grenade, some extra heads and skins for your character and a Golden Key to unlock the chest in Sanctuary.
The previously canadian-exclusive console, the Wii Mini, has found its way to UK online retailers. Both Amazon and Game are listing the console at £79.99. The Wii Mini is essentially a stripped Wii in that online functionality and Gamecube games support has been removed. The console only supports disc-based games. It will be released in Europe on March 22.
Finally Microsoft are having a huge games sale at the moment. The sale started on February 26 and will run to March 4. The sale is seeing up to 75% off big games such as the Halo, Resident Evil and Call of Duty titles. The games on sale change daily so make sure you keep an eye on it or you might miss something you want at a low, low price.
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