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EA announces a stand-alone expansion to RA3, City of Heroes is available for Mac gamers, Nyko shows off at CES, EVE Online expands, SmackDown vs. RAW 09 gets some DLC and much, much more in today’s Rundown. Right after the jump…
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Welcome to the first Rundown of 2009. Are you ready for 2009? I hope this year won’t suck as bad as last year. Now onto today’s light news stories: Street Fighter IV controllers, and update to A Murder of Crows, a new Elebits game hits retails, more MySims games announced and the release of Saint’s Row 2 for PC - all after the jump.
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THQ’s Destroy All Humans! Path of the Furon is now in stores for the Xbox 360. The latest chapter in the popular action-focused alien invasion game series promises hi-fidelity destruction, new alien weaponry, open-world environments and new online multiplayer modes, putting players in the role of Crypto the alien as he embarks on a journey of destruction and enlightenment in the 1970’s. The game is available for the Xbox 360 at a suggested retail price of $39.99.
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THQ will put six World Wrestling Entertainment legends on the cover of WWE Legends of WrestleMania, an upcoming tribute game to the popular annual wrestling event. Legends Andre the Giant, Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock, along with managers Bobby Heenan and Jimmy Hart will grace the cover of the game on multiple platforms.
WWE Legends of WrestleMania promises a unique experience that separates itself from the SmackDown vs. RAW series, with a distinguished roster, arcade style gameplay and a historic, vintage presentation. Other promises include a new grapple system, a WrestleMania Tour Mode that allows players to participate in key matches from multiple WrestleMania events, a Create-A-Legend system to develop the Legends of tomorrow, as well as online functionality for players to compete on the biggest stages in WWE history.
WWE Legends of WrestleMania is scheduled for release in March 2009 to coincide with WrestleMania 25 in Houston, Texas.
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THQ and the Microsoft owned video game advertising firm, Massive Inc., announced yesterday that they have agreed to a global, multiyear deal naming Massive as the exclusive in-game advertising partner for THQ’s upcoming lineup of games on the PC and the Xbox 360. Massive’s collaboration with THQ will include advertising in several of THQ’s owned properties, including the recently released Saints Row 2.
“By aligning with THQ, Massive is now poised to represent new content and franchises that are realizing enormous market success globally,” said Eric Bassman, COO of Massive. “And with an open-world, mission-based game such as Saints Row 2 coming into the Massive network, we can work creatively with advertisers to place their brands in new, edgy environments.”
“We have entered into a strategic agreement with Massive because it is a leader in the emerging industry of in-game advertising,” said Scott Guthrie, executive vice president of publishing at THQ. “The Massive team has a strong track record of collaborating with game developers, sports leagues and advertisers to find a unique way to place brands and products that enhance the gameplay experience.”
(No Ratings Yet) THQ has released Age of Empires: Mythologies, a portable game inspired by the real-time strategy game series originally created by Ensemble. Obviously this hand held game is a remarkably different in scope and focus; Age of Empires: Mythologies features epic turn-based combat and fast-paced multiplayer skirmishes between Greek, Egyptian and Norse civilizations. For the first time in the series’ history, players will control legendary heroes, battle mythical beasts and call upon the divine power of gods.
If the theme sound familiar; that is because it is loosely based on age of Mythology as well. That game offered the same kinds of epic settings, races and mythological creatures. Age of Empires: Mythologies is rated “E10+” and is now available for the suggested retail price of $29.99.
(+2 rating, 2 votes) THQ, already known for its hit WWE SmackDown vs. RAW series, apparently has enough stroke to even put the fighters of the Ultimate Fighting Championship down for the count. According to a Sports Illustrated report, UFC fighter Jon Fitch has been terminated from the franchise (along with many of his American Kickboxing Academy teammates) for refusing to sign away rights to his image for use in THQ’s upcoming UFC video game.
According to the report, the problem stems from UFC’s requests that fighters sign a merchandising deal giving the UFC rights to use fighters’ likenesses in various licensing deals for life. The issue with Fitch apparently finally came to a head when he was approached with the THQ deal.
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