Games Convention Award Winners Announced

Well, the Leipzig Games Convention is over (Scott Jones and Billy Berghammer will have some more content related to the show so stay tuned for that.) and the awards are in. The biggest and best game at the show? Tough to pick an overall winner (well, because they didn’t). But if you want to see what the best games were based on platform and genre, then read on:

Best PC Game: SPORE - Electronic Arts

Best Xbox 360 Game: MIRROR’S EDGE - Electronic Arts

Best PSP Game: RESISTANCE: RETRIBUTION - Sony Computer Entertainment

Best PS3 Game: LITTLE BIG PLANET - Sony Computer Entertainment

Best Wii Game: SKATE IT - Electronic Arts

Best NDS Game: SONIC CHRONICLES: Die Dunkle Bruderschaft - SEGA

BEST MOBILE Game: PES 2009 - Konami

Best Online Game: Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning - GOA (developed by Mythic Entertainment)

Best Hardware: PlayTV - Sony Computer Entertainment

Best PS2 Game: NOTHING!

And if you want to see what we handed out for GC awards, check out this feature.

The Sims 3 Release Date Announced

Electronic Arts today announced at the Leipzig Games Convention that The Sims 3 will be released worldwide at retail and as a digital download on February 20, 2009. The company also announced that The Sims 3 Collector’s Edition will also be in stores on February 20, 2009. The Sims 3 Collector’s Edition will include the full game along with additional collectible The Sims merchandise and a bonus in-game Italian-Style Sports Car unavailable elsewhere.

A limited number of copies of The Sims 3 Collector’s Edition will be available worldwide, and those who pre-order the product from select retailers will receive an additional exclusive in-game vintage sports car and a collectible poster that is a first look at the neighborhood, all available while supplies last.

The Sims 3 Collector’s Edition will include The Sims 3 for PC, The Sims Plumbob USB Drive with matching Green Carabiner, an exclusive in-game Italian-Style Sports Car, a handy dandy tips and hints guide, and The Sims 3 Plumbob Stickers.

EA Details C&C Red Alert 3 Cast

During its press conference at Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany today, Electronic Arts revealed the cast featured in Command & Conquer Red Alert 3. The cast includes Gemma Atkinson (the UK’s Hollyoaks), Tim Curry (Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Hunt for Red October), Andrew Divoff (LOST), Kelly Hu (X2, The Scorpion King), Jenny McCarthy (Scream 3, former Playboy Playmate of the Year), Ivana Milicevic (Casino Royale), Jonathan Pryce (Pirates of the Caribbean), J.K. Simmons (Spider-Man, Juno), Autumn Reeser (The OC), Peter Stormare (Prison Break, Armageddon), George Takei (Star Trek, Heroes), and two of the most recognizable names in competitive mixed martial arts Randy “The Natural” Couture (former UFC Heavyweight champion) and Gina “Conviction” Carano (Undefeated Elite XC fighter, American Gladiators).

Fans longing for more info on the talent in C&C Red Alert 3 can order the Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 Premier Edition - a limited edition copy of the game that includes a bonus DVD with over an hour of exclusive content, including interviews with the talent and a behind the scenes look at the shooting of the game’s cinematic sequences. The Premier Edition is also packed full of additional Command & Conquer Red Alert goodness, including exclusive multiplayer maps, strategy tips from the development team, the official soundtrack and an exclusive beta key to a future Command & Conquer game.

Those who secure the Premier Edition or regular version of Red Alert 3 now via pre-order will also receive a special bonus package, including Command & Conquer Red Alert 2, From Fighter to Assassin (a featurette on EliteXC superstar, Gina Carano), Premier Edition Sneak Peek (exclusive previews of Raising of the Iron Curtain, From Pens to Pixels, Command School, and BattleCast Primetime) a Red Alert Retrospective (a look back at the Red alert series), an exclusive multiplayer/skirmish map for Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 when the game ships and an exclusive Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 desktop wallpapers

Command & Conquer Red Alert 3 is set to ship this fall for the PC and Xbox 360.

More Need For Speed Undercover Details

EA’s Black Box studio revealed new details about the latest action racing game in the Need For Speed series, Need for Speed Undercover. Need for Speed Undercover will let players race through speedways, dodge cops and chase down rivals as they go deep undercover to take down an International crime syndicate - in other words, the latest game finally returns to its roots. The new game brings back the series’ trademark police chases and introduces the all-new ‘Heroic Driving Engine’ - a technology that generates racing moves at 180 miles per hour during highway battles.

Other promised features include an open-world environment featuring over 80 miles of roads, an enormous highway system where combat driving will unfold, high-speeds, high-stakes chase sequences, a new A.I. mechanic that will provide realistic and high-energy action driving, aggressive and intelligent cops whose sole purpose is to take down the player quickly, deep car customization, real-world damage and realistic driving physics, and some of the hottest licensed cars on the market including the Audi R8, BMW M6 and Lexus IS-F.

Need for Speed Undercover is being developed by Black Box in Vancouver, B.C., and will be in stores in North America on November 18 and in Europe on November 21. The game will be available for Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PlayStation 2, DS, PSP, PC and mobile.

EA Sports Reveals Tennis Title

Electronic Arts announced today that an all-new tennis video game is in development at EA Canada in Vancouver under the EA Sports label. The unnamed EA SPORTS tennis franchise will be available first for the Wii in 2009, followed by other platforms, and it will be the first EA SPORTS game that uses Nintendo’s upcoming Wii MotionPlus accessory for the Wii Remote. This means that EA is making promises about how responsive and reactive the game will be.

EA also announced that this game will be the only one to feature the All England Lawn Tennis Club — home of The Championships, Wimbledon. EA sports promises innovative ways to play, both as or against the greatest players from the past or present, letting you control the ball and work the court like you never have before in a tennis video game.

A web site has already been launched for the game at www.easports.com/tennis. EA is showing off its wares this week at the Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany.

More MK vs. DC Universe Characters Revealed

At its Leipzig Games Convention press conference, Midway unveiled four more characters for Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe. In addition to the roster that includes Batman and superman, the game will give players access to Mortal Kombat favorites Raiden and Kano DC Comics super villain Deathstoke, and the legendary Wonder Woman.

The game is being shown to press and fans at Leipzig Games Convention in Germany this week.

Hearts of Iron 3 Announced

Paradox Interactive announced this week that it would continue its popular grand strategy game, Hearts of Iron. The new game, Hearts of Iron 3, formerly codenamed as Project Mayhem, is scheduled for release in Q3, 2009. Details on what’s new in the latest game developed by Paradox were not revealed, but the company promises brand new features and systems, including a huge map with more than 10,000 provinces.

Paradox is exhibiting the game at Games Convention in Leipzig, Germany all this week.