Resident Evil 5 DLC, Gold Edition details

Capcom revealed a variety of details on the downloadable content and a brand new Gold Edition of Resident Evil 5 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The downloadable content will be released as two new episodes, along with new costumes, and a new mode called The Mercenaries Reunion. The Mercenaries Reunion mode will offer 8 new playable characters and some weapon load outs. The DLC along with the original game will be released at retail as Resident Evil 5 Gold Edition. Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition will be available for $49.99 as a single Blu-ray disc for the PlayStation 3 or as a DVD with a token for the downloadable content for Xbox 360.

The first new episode, “Lost in Nightmares, finds BSAA agent Chris Redfield and partner Jill Valentine investigating Ozwell E. Spencer’s hideaway. Spencer, the evil mastermind and co-founder of Umbrella Corporation, has been hiding a new evil deep within the basement of his mansion. Chris and Jill discover this and enter into the catacombs beneath the mansion. To be released at about the same time, are new costume for Chris and Sheva. They don’t do anything other than make you like poretty,

The new mode, reimagining of Mercenaries Mode, gives players new playable characters and weapon load outs which provide additional challenges. Each piece of downloadable content will contain two new playable characters, while the Gold Edition will offer all eight.

Lost in Nightmares and Costume Pack 1 will be released Feb. 17, 2010 in Europe and the U.S. on Xbox 360 and Feb 18 on PS3. The Xbox 360 versions of Episode 2 and Costume Pack 2 will be released on March 3, 2010 in both regions; while the PS3 versions will be released March 4, 2010. Resident Evil 5: Gold Edition hits North America on March 9 and Europe March 12, 2010.

Xbox 360: 10 million strong in Europe

Microsoft announced this week that it has achieved console sales of 10 million across Europe, the Middle East and Africa in just four years.

Microsoft claims that that Xbox 360 is the only console to achieve year-on-year growth across the region this year. Microsoft also claims more than 20 million Xbox LIVE active members worldwide and over 1 billion downloads of content to date, with movie downloads doubling in the last year alone.

“Reinventing entertainment through, play, watch, connect and share. This is the vision that we have for Xbox 360 and today that vision is the reality for 10 million Xbox owners,” said Chris Lewis, vice president Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft Europe. “European consumers are very discerning and demand a connected entertainment experience. That’s why we focused on providing content that is right and relevant for them and entertainment beyond just gaming to movies, music and social networking.

Next week will bring instant streaming high definition movies, Facebook and Twitter integration and a personalized music channel to Xbox 360 owners. Despite today’s news it has to be a bit disconcerting to know that the Wii has returned to the top of the retail charts in Oct. - even after Microsoft slashed the price of its consoles earlier in the year.

First week sell through of FIFA 10 in Europe: 1.7 million units

Electronic Arts announced that FIFA 10 saw 1.7 million copies sold through at European retail in the first week. EA says that these numbers make it the fastest selling sports game ever and EA’s biggest European launch in history. EA added that, since launch, more than 10 million gaming sessions have been played online, with over 155,000 gamers playing online simultaneously during peak playing hours.

“We were confident that FIFA 10 would be a hit, and this week fans across Europe have shown just how much they love this game,” said Peter Moore, President of EA SPORTS. “We are incredibly proud of FIFA 10 and this kick-off for great, authentic football competition.”

FIFA 10 will be in stores throughout North America on October 20, 2009.

EA Mobile inks distribution deal with Namco Bandai Networks Europe

EA Mobile and Namco Bandai Networks Europe have inked a distribution agreement granting EA’s mobile division the rights to publish existing and upcoming Namco Bandai titles across Europe, Russia, India, Latin America, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. The deal will not impact Namco Bandai’s North American distribution or its iPhone activities, both of which will continue to be handled by Namco Networks America.

The agreement starts on November 1st when Namco Bandai’s mobile content becomes available to consumers through EA Mobile’s mobile distribution channels. Management of Namco Bandai’s content in existing channels will also switch to EA Mobile. Namco Bandai will continue to own distribution in direct channels such as smartphone application stores and through its own direct online store. The agreement will see new games, including Ridge Racer Drift and Time Crisis Elite as well as existing titles becoming available to a much wider base of consumers, says EA.

cdv Software profits soar in first half of 2009

German publisher cdv Software Entertainment AG announced a “significant increase in revenues and profits” for the first half of fiscal year 2009. The company says that during 2009 it has strengthened its position and market share in the interactive entertainment industry. Most of its success so far this year can be directly attributed to the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of Sacred 2: Fallen Angel, which helped the company reach a top 3 market position in North America.

Revenues for the company in the first six months in 2009 were 11.3 million euros, compared to 6.8 million euros for the same period in 2008. The increase of 66 percent was primarily due to revenues generated from the sales of video game software in key territories.

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EA @ gamescom

Electronic Arts revealed the games that it plans to show at gamescom, Europe’s biggest consumer and trade fair for video games. Visitors will have a chance to play EA’s new properties coming out this year. EA will also host a press briefing at the Palladium, Schanzenstraße 36, Gebäude 197, 51063 Cologne. A live stream of the press conference will be available at ea.com/gamescom.

On August 19, will open its booth (Hall 6 / A-71, C-70) to the media and on August 19 until the end of the show on the 23, EA will showcase a variety of games Hall 6.1 including Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Brütal Legend, Dante’s Inferno, Dead Space: Extraction, Dragon Age: Origins, FIGHT NIGHT Round 4, FIFA 10, FIFA Manager 10, GI JOE The Rise of the Cobra, HASBRO FAMILY GAME NIGHT 2, LITTLEST PET SHOP Beach Friends, LITTLEST PET SHOP City Friends, LITTLEST PET SHOP Country Friends, Mass Effect 2, MySims Agents, NBA Live 10, Need For Speed Nitro, Need For Speed Shift, NHL 10, SimAnimals Africa, The Sims 3, Spore Hero, Spore Hero Arena, and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 10.

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Paris Game Festival in late Sept.

Organizers of the Paris Game Festival announced today that its 4th anual event will take place Sept. 17th - 20th on the Paris Exhibition Center, Porte de Versailles. The event brings together European developers, publishers, schools, journalists, gamers and enthusiasts for a celebration of all things gaming, amongst other things. The festival will be open to the public from September 18 - 20, while Sept. 17 is dedicated to press and trade visitors. The Paris Game Festival also hosts the Game Business Summit, a strategic meeting for professionals and investors.

Paris Game Festival organizers also announced a strategic partnership with the SELL (entertainment software association) demonstrating the industry’s commitment in order to make this event a global success. As a result, the Paris Game Festival organizers belive that this makes the event a perfect opportunity for studios and publishers to present exclusive trailers and demos for the 2009 Christmas lineup and beyond.

More details about the event can be found at www.parisgamefestival.com.