Final Fantasy XIII release date: March 9, 2010

Square Enix today officially announced the North American street date for its next Final Fantasy game. And what a fitting day for such an announcement - Friday the 13th. Final Fantasy XIII will be released in North America on March 9, 2010 and will be available for both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 (see the brand new announcement trailer for some inside info from the developers).

The game is being produced by Kitase Yoshinori (Final Fantasy VII, X and X-2), directed by Motomu Toriyama (Final Fantasy VII, X and X-2), will feature character design by Tetsuya Nomura (Final Fantasy V, VI, VII, VIII, X) with art direction being handled by Isamu Kamikokuryo (Final Fantasy X, XII). Rounding out this reunion of sorts is Misashi Hamazu (Final Fantasy X, Dirge of Cerebus) who will create the orchestral score, and Takeshi Nozue (Advent Children), who will direct the cinematics. The game will also feature “My Hands,” a single from Leona Lewis’ upcoming album Echo (set for release Nov. 17, 2009).

Final Fantasy XIII features a brand new world, an improved Active Battle System (ATB), an all new summon system that features the ability (Gestalt mode) to let players combine with their summons (Eidolons) to deliver devastating amounts of damage, a brand new game mechanic called Paradigm that lets players assign roles to part members that can change the tide of battle and high definition graphics and sound enabled by development on the Xbox 360 and PS3.

Look for the game in stores March 9, 2010. Square Enix promises to reveal more about this game in the days, moths and weeks leading up to its release next year so stay tuned. You can learn what there is to know about Final Fantasy XIII by visiting www.finalfantasyxiii.com. The site features new info on characters Fang, Hope and Serah today.�

Alpha Protocol ‘officially’ pushed to 2010

Here’s a bit of a non shocker - SEGA of America and SEGA Europe Ltd. officially announced that Alpha Protocol, Obsidian Entertainment’s much anticipated and first original RPG (an espionage thriller) will be moving to a spring 2010 release date for the Xbox 360, the PlayStation 3 and the PC. Didn’t we already know this and was there any doubt about that fact? Online retailers pushed the date into 2010 awhile ago. Anyway, here’s Obsidian sounding absolutely delighted about the delay - shouldn’t the tone be a little bit somber?

“We’re very happy that SEGA has made the decision to hold back the shipment of the game in order to give it the best chance at becoming the publishing success that we at Obsidian and our partners at SEGA are striving for.“

“We’ve worked in conjunction with Obsidian Entertainment in making the decision to move Alpha Protocol’s ship date to spring 2010 to ensure that we have the best game possible at launch,” said Masanao Maeda, President and COO, SEGA of America.”

And there you have it and it’s official: no Alpha Protocol in 2009.

Mass Effect 2 dated, pre-order items revealed

BioWare revealed that its sci-fi action RPG sequel, Mass Effect 2, will be on store shelves in North America on January 26, and on January 29 in Europe. The company also revealed a number of unique in-game items consumers can get when they pre-order.

In North America, the pre-order bonuses include special-ops armor and weaponry that are designed to boost Commander Shepard’s skills and abilities. At GameStop, Terminus Gear is available with pre-orders, which includes the Terminus Assault Armor and the M-490 Blackstorm Heavy Weapon. The Terminus Armor is designed for use in extreme planetary conditions, increasing run speed and personal shields, and augmenting weapons with an additional magazine of reserve ammo. The M-490 Blackstorm Heavy Weapon generates a high-powered localized gravity well, accelerating particles to near-infinite mass, and ultimately expanding the selection of heavy weapons available to players when they gear up for combat missions in Mass Effect 2.

Players that pre-order Mass Effect 2 at other retailers in North America will receive the Inferno Armor, which gives a negotiation bonus to Commander Shepard and an increase in run speed and augmented damage from combat powers.

Mass Effect 2 will be available on the Xbox 360 and PC.

Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising gold

Codemasters has announced that its military sandbox shooter, Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising has gone gold and will be available on October 6 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. The company also announced that a new video showing off the Eagle Offense mission is now available at www.flashpointgame.com. The trailer reveals how a strategically vital airfield is turned into a bloody, chaotic battleground as a USMC force, accompanied by aerial support, assaults dug - in positions.

Codemasters’ in-house developed military sandbox shooter is loosely based on the original series of games conceived and developed by Bohemia Interactive. The game attempts to deliver the violence, ferocity and carnage of war as troops from two opposing sides use real world weapons, tactics and vehicles to take control of the battle.

Look for the game in stores very soon.

Splinter Cell Conviction street date: Feb. 23, 2010

One of my top picks for E3 2009, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction, will be released on February 23, 2010 in North America exclusively for the Xbox 360 and PC. An investigation into his daughter’s death leads former agent Sam Fisher to discover he’s been betrayed by his former employer, the Third Echelon. This naturally causes him to become a bit unhinged and unpredictable. Think the Bourne conspiracy but with more coolness and violence. Now a renegade, Fisher finds himself in a race against time to stop a deadly terrorist plot that threatens millions.

Combining new gameplay features with a no-holds barred style of action and a gritty storyline, Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction looks like the coolest Splinter Cell game since the first game on the Xbox. For more information about Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Conviction, visit www.splintercell.com.

BioShock 2 coming Feb. 9, 2010

2K Games announced today that BioShock 2 will be available worldwide beginning February 9, 2010. The game is now available for pre-order at participating retailers if you want to get it early. Currently in development for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Games for Windows LIVE, BioShock 2 will feature two unique, intertwined experiences that form to create an interesting story, unique first-person shooter combat, compelling and multiplayer action.

BioShock 2 is set 10 years after the events of the original BioShock, where the halls of Rapture once again echo with the sins of the past. Along the Atlantic coastline, a monster has been snatching little girls and bringing them back to the undersea city of Rapture. This time players step into the oversized boots of a Big Daddy, as they travel through the broken city, chasing an unseen foe in search of answers and their own survival.

Multiplayer in BioShock 2 will provide a prequel experience that expands the origins of the BioShock fiction. Set during the fall of Rapture, players assume the role of a Plasmid test subject for Sinclair Solutions, a provider of Plasmids and Tonics in the underwater city of Rapture that was first explored in the original BioShock. Players will need to use all the elements of the BioShock toolset to survive, as the full depth of the BioShock experience is refined and transformed into a multiplayer experience.

BioShock 2 is currently in development at 2K Marin in collaboration with 2K Australia, Digital Extremes and 2K China.

For more information on BioShock 2 visit one of the following web site: www.bioshockgame.com, www.cultofrapture.com, or www.somethinginthesea.com.

Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga by month’s end

XSEED Games and Marvelous Entertainment USA will deliver Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga to North America exclusively for the Nintendo Wii on September 29. Valhalla Knights: Eldar Saga is an action RPG available exclusively on Wii and the first game in the series to debut on a home console as the original Valhalla Knights and Valhalla Knights 2 were available only on the PSP. The game promises to expand on the series by introducing a new online feature that allows two players to adventure through the land of Eldar co-operatively.

Look for the game at the end of this month. For more details visit www.valhallaknightseldarsaga.com.