Guild Wars 2 Trailer

NCsoft and ArenaNet debuted the very first Guild Wars 2 teaser trailer at GamesCom this week in Cologne, Germany. Show attendees got a mere glimpse of what ArenaNet has in store for players, though a large portion of it was cinematic and not the in-game action we’d have preferred to see. What the teaser trailer does reveal are some of the world-shaking events that set up the story of Guild Wars 2 and the game’s pretty graphics and environments.
Building on the success and lessons learned from Guild Wars, ArenaNet is creating an MMO that gives Guild Wars fans the gameplay mechanics they want, while retaining the no-subscription-fee business model that has made the original so popular.

You can check out that brand new trailer in high definition at www.guildwars2.com.

Fable III officially announced, coming in late 2010

Microsoft and Lionhead Studios officially announced Fable III, the third chapter in the popular open world role-playing game exclusive for the Xbox 360. this time around Lionhead and Peter Molyneux are shaking things up and giving players broader control of the world of Albion, for the player will become a ruler. Confirmed today at GamesCom in Germany by Peter Molyneux, the game will be available exclusively on Xbox 360 in the 2010 holiday season.

“We’ve spent a lot of time at Lionhead thinking about how we can innovate the gameplay and progress the world of the ‘Fable’ games for its third chapter, and we’re confident that players won’t second-guess what we have planned for Fable III,” said Molyneux. “Though I can’t give too much away right now, players should expect to have to make much tougher choices with far wider consequences than ever before in Albion — and with many more interactive adventure elements.”

In this new adventure, players will witness tyranny, poverty and injustice, along with a divided people looking for some kind of change. As the ruler of this land and these people players will be forced to decided what matters: the people’s prosperity or their own selfish gain. How this game will work is still a mystery but Lionhead promises to reveal more at a later date.

Ninja Theory working on new title for Namco Bandai Games

Today at GamesCom, Namco Bandai Games announced a partnership with Ninja Theory to publish a next-generation title for the PS3 and the Xbox 360. The title, an original new IP, will be released in 2010. More details on the game will be divulged in the coming months, says Namco Bandai Games.

Ninja Theory is based in Cambridge, UK and is best known for creating the PS3 exclusive, Heavenly Sword.

More details when they become available.

Dark Void in Jan. 2010, says Capcom

Dark Void will now ship on January 12, 2010 in North America and January 15, 2010 in Europe, according to Capcom - who are currently attending Gamescom in Cologne, Germany. The sci-fi themed action-adventure game for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC, will be ringing in the New Year I guess. Dark Void is being shown off this week at GamesCom in Cologne , Germany where the game will be one of the highlights of the Capcom’s. Capcom is showing a new exclusive demo at the show along with an outdoor skydiving booth and an advertising campaign throughout Cologne.

Dark Void combines jetpack-booster enabled aerial dog fighting and third-person combat that switches between the two different gameplay mechanics seamlessly - at least from what I have seen of it. Dark Void’s vertical combat system allows players to dangle from thousand foot drops as they take cover and hurl enemies to their doom in the air and on the ground. Will, the star of the game, is equipped with a jet pack which allows in-air combat, high speed flight and the ability to gun down any alien scum that might get in his way.

Look for the game in 2010 along with all the other games we won’t get to play this year. Sigh.

Three Beatles albums for The Beatles Rock Band by year’s end

Speaking at Gamescom 2009 this week, Alex Rigopulos, CEO and co-founder of Harmonix, confirmed release details for the three Beatles albums that will be available for purchase as downloadable content in The Beatles: Rock Band Music Store by the end of this year. Abbey Road will be released on October 20, 2009, followed by the release of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band in November and Rubber Soul in December.

Rigopulos also revealed that tracks from Queen, Nirvana, Tom Petty, Elton John, Iggy Pop, The White Stripes, Pantera, Talking Heads, Korn, The Raconteurs and more will be among the artists coming to the various offerings across the Rock Band platform.

Details for downloadable albums coming to The Beatles: Rock Band Music Store are follow after the break:

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Battlefield: Bad Company 2 details emerge from GamesCom

EA’s DICE announced that Battlefield: Bad Company 2 will be available March 2, 2010 in North America and March 5, 2010 in Europe. Hoping to surpass the levels of destruction found in Battlefield 1943 and Battlefield Bad Company, DICE promises that Battlefield: Bad Company 2 will deliver tons of destruction, vehicular warfare, squad-based gameplay and an open world environment. What I’m hoping for is multiplayer that makes a bit more sense and single-player AI controlled squad mates that actually help you when things get hairy.

In Bad Company 2 players use weapons and vehicles to survive and to conquer whatever objectives await. Players choose from 15 vehicles, each providing a tactical advantage and offering a variety of gameplay options - including the new UH-60 transport helicopter that ship an entire four-player squad directly into battle, while allowing two additional team members to use its two mounted rail guns on board.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 players will also have 46 weapons that can be customized into over 200 different, high-powered firearms. There are over 15,000 kit variations possible in the game as well as a wide range of gadgets, accessories and character specializations.

The DICE signature Frostbite engine will deliver new levels of destruction including a new micro-destruction mechanic that allows players to be more strategic on the battlefield by chipping cover away bit by bit or taking down an entire building.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 will be available on the Xbox 360, PS3 and the PC in the first quarter of 2010.

Two new PSP colors and bundles coming later this year

At GamesCom in Cologne, Germany today Sony Computer Entertainment Europe announced two new colors for the PSP: Turquoise Green and Blossom Pink. These colors will be hitting Europe to join other PSP-3000 models providing a lighter touch of color for PSP owners who don’t enjoy black.

The new colors will be available on their own or packed with a game: Turquoise Green will be bundled with LittleBigPlanet along with more packs due to out later this year. But don’t just settle for two colors. There are more on the way including the DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY with Pearl White PSP bundle in Sept.; the FIFA 10 with Piano Black PSP and Gran Turismo with PSP Gran Turismo Edition bundles in Oct.; the Hannah Montana: Rock Out the Show with Lilac Purple PSP , Assassin’s Creed: Bloodlines with Piano Black PSP, InviZimals with Piano Black PSP, and LittleBigPlanet with Turquoise Green PSP bundles in Nov.; and the TEKKEN 6 with Piano Black PSP bundle this winter. All the colors of the freaking rainbow, right?

Check out these full frontal shots of these new colorful PSP’s (click to enlarge):

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