Gaming Mojo

News from GDC that Green Day: Rock Band, the latest branded entry in the Harmonix music franchise, now has an official release date. But the release sounds messy with the game hitting stores in both disc-only and ‘Plus’ editions; the later of the two ships for the 360 and PS3 only, features free song export to those systems, and six DLC tracks from Green Day.

The disc-only version will still allow song export to Sony and Microsoft consoles for a small fee. The game spans Green Day’s career thus far, features 47 tracks, three-part harmonies, and 100 collectible images as well as 40 minutes of video to unlock. Green Day: Rock Band hits the stage on June 8th for 360, PS3, and Wii

I love Green Day, they have influence in my playing but i dont believe they have the fame nor the quantity of material to make a game purely based on them. Specially competing against Metallica and the Bettles. Yes there music is more of the ‘modern’ era then the previous bands mentioned but still not a saving grace. Rock Band should look at bands like The Stones, Foo Fighters, Powder Finger. Even Bands like GnR and Motley Crue with a badass rep will get sales rolling. Bands that have made major impacts in the music industry

Another avenue could be going back to the roots of GH and RB and have a list of various artist exposing the mass quality of music instead of focusing on one band inpaticular.

Robert Bowling, community strategist extraordinaire for Infinity Ward, posted a link on his Twitter feed that leads to a website which all but says that Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 will be getting its first Map Pack on March 30, 2010 – if you own an Xbox 360. A few minutes later, the good Mr. Bowling Tweeted that the DLC will be released on the PS3 and PC at ” a — yet to be announced — later date.”

Its unclear around the gaming frame why this kind of advertisement will get more kits than a press release but, while the ad offers no details regarding the maps, it does say to check back soon for more information. So perhaps there is more than meets the eye to this not so sly reveal. Who knows what is to following better yet what thet’re playing at, but to say the least, all Modern Warfare 2 player get ready for some content headed your way

Harmonix have officially announced the sequel to Rock Band 2 and The Beatles: Rock Band. Rock Band 3 will be released worldwide in time for Christmas 2010. The tracklist is expected to be shortened, due to royalties from certain music industry companies, being deemed too expensive by Harmonix. More details are due to follow shortly.

Batman’s divisive sidekick Robin could be making an appearance in the forthcoming Arkham Asylum 2, with early cast listings revealing the presence of The Boy Wonder. Mark Hamillis to reprises his performance as The Joker, who’s to be joined by Two-Face with actor Bruce Greenwood taking on the character.

What’s likely to prove more controversial is the inclusion of Robin, to be played by Vincent Martella who most recently voiced Hope Estheim in Final Fantasy XIII.

Warner Bros. has been coy about the news, commenting

“To our knowledge, what you asked about is inaccurate information. We are not yet discussing details for the sequel.”

True or not this inclusion will be a high talking point surrounding this game.

Sorry, been a little absent with new, news updates but even though this is still a few days late fans would not have missed it

The release of Final Fantasy XIII (13) on the PS3 and Xbox 360 long awaited and ever delayed, alas no PC release

The game is a lot more linear then other titles in the series, my opinion similar to Crisis Core on the PSP (only one I have played). The story, as always is the massive strong point in this game, juxtaposed with the stunning cinematics and down right out of this world location, will not disappoint hardcore fan boys of the series. Characters have that almost human feel, even with those funky hair styles and classic Japanese resolve.

Your direction is always clean, and the path directs you in this way removing the illusion of a free roam game and directing the player to the mark destination followed by a cut scene, Final Fantasy Production 101. The sets do change and new locations are always as imaginative and well thought out as the previous, giving the player some interest in where they actually are. There is however a massive open area further into the game, this has been dubbed the ‘grind zone’ as you’ll do most of your quest and farming here, also id you want to max out your characters this will be the number one stop.

Character development give you a ton of freedom, though characters have their specific roles in battle, the way in which you upgrade them to assist in their role is up to you. But as you near the end game it all opens up allowing you to give anyone, any job you want. Alongside is the similar gear crafting system, allowing for some tough decisions whilst you try to perfect your characters.

The combat system starts off slow, introducing each element as you go along, then you’ll gain access to the complete system. This way it allows players to get a grasp of the complex battling system that is in place, although you can ‘auto-battle’ your way through, which applies a set of techniques to your characters this will get old quick. There’s nothing like the thrill of taking down an almost invincible opponent the precise, strategic battle moves. The visuals I’ll let you see for yourself, its classic Final Fantasy moves… Amazing.

This game will divide players, those with short attention spans, that love the action quick and fast, beware. This is a game that takes its time to get to the good stuff, like any classic RPG game. Put in the hours to get there and you will be engulfed in a world of bizarre magic and wonder.

Final Fantasy Review – gametrailers.com

With last day of February upon as, we have really hit the stride in 2010 with past releases. But the 3rd month of the New Year, March 2010 is proving to be a promising month once again. With 9 expected new titles on the main four consoles, plus more content to be delved into handheld, expansion, DLC’s and console cross over’s. Let’s check out the view.

March 3rd:

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (PC, Xbox360, PS3)

Major League Baseball 2K10 (PC, Xbox360, PS3)

MBL 10 The Show (PS3)

March 9th:

Final Fantasy XIII (Xbox360, PS3)

Yakuza 3 (PS3)

March 16th:

Command & Conquer 4 (PC)

God of War 3 (PS3)

March 23rd:

Red Steel (Wii)

Just Cause 2 (360, PS3, PC)

Bad Company 2, FF XIII and God of War 3 the clear favourites for gamers this months, with prediction that God of War 3, the highly anticipated title to continue the series will take March’s most successful game. But also rejoice for PC fans as the 16th holds great promise, not only to release the new Command & Conquer, but to finally have the opportunity to take the creed to the PC, Assassins Creed will finally be released on the PC, as a fellow PC gamer this is very exciting indeed.

Indeed this year has yet to disappoint gamers, to success the mass release of grand titles at the end of 2009, 2010 has risen right from the very start and still has yet to dip. The future of gaming never looks bleak.

A post on the official Mass Effect 2 website delivers word of the new Hammerhead assault vehicle coming our way via the new Firewalker DLC pack coming to the Cerberus Network in late March.

Description of new content:

Free to all Cerberus Network members, the Firewalker pack includes 5 all new missions featuring the Hammerhead. Hovering over the battlefield at up to 120 kilometeres per hour, the Hammerhead also boasts a guided missile system ensuring accuracy even during aggressive maneuvering.

In addition, BioWare stated that ME fans can look forward to a new heavy weapon available to all Cerberus Network members very soon, although there were no details given about exactly what or when we’ll see it. Further news shall be posted asap.

EA announced today that brand new Army of Two: The 40th Day DLC is on its way to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The new content is entitled “Chapters of Deceit” and comes complete with two new campaign maps set in Shanghai where, “players stumble upon information that could lead to ending the invasion by Jonah and his 40th Day Imitative army.” The DLC will arrive April 1  and will run PS3 owners $9.99 and 360 owners a paltry 800 Microsoft Points.

This information on this DLC is vague at the moment, will keep you posted, but unless it extends the campaign from its short 7-8 hrs playthrough i doubt this i’ll be worth the money unless you love the Army of Two games and/or the multiplayer.

Xbox 360 owners will be the first to get their hands on the latest bit of DLC for Gearbox Software’s Borderlands as The Secret Armory of General Knoxx will apparently be released today via Xbox Live for 800 MS Points. This according to TeamXbox.com, who also bring word that the content is then expected to go live for both PC and PS3 this Thursday, February 25, for $9.99.

As Borderlands fans no doubt already know, the promising General Knoxx DLC ups the game’s level cap and includes new areas, enemies, weapons and more.

Really looking forward to this release, haven’t played the game since Zombie Island DLC came about, still got to get Mad Moxxi, but with the news of level cap increase, this will be a must, something to get me back to pandora and killing some skags

2K Games announced today a post-launch downloadable content plan for the game, meant to extend and enhances the single and multiplayer portions of the latest journey to Rapture.

Downloadable content will be made available soon, beginning with the Sinclair Solutions Test Pack, available this March from the Xbox LIVE Marketplace and Games for Windows LIVE for 400 Microsoft Points and from the PlayStationNetwork for $5/£3.19. Future expansions into the world of BioShock 2 are slated to arrive over the coming months and will continue to expand on the stories of the denizens of Rapture.

First images from the DLC have also been released and are available here.

The fans who waited in the snow, rain and cold for the midnight launch of BioShock 2 have spoken and their message is that Rapture still has many fascinating stories to tell,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “Downloadable content is a key part of our efforts to continue to entice the fans that have made 2K a household name – we intend to deliver single and multiplayer content that respects and expands upon one of the greatest fictional worlds ever created.

Sinclair Solutions Test Pack, the first of several planned DLC, contains a number of customization features that will allow players to further their character’s development in BioShock 2’s multiplayer modes and provide a deeper multiplayer experience, it includes:

• Rank Increase to level 50 with Rank Rewards
• New playable characters Louie McGraff and Oscar Calraca
• 20 new trials*
• A third weapon upgrade for each weapon
• Five additional masks*
*Some items are only available after a player achieves a rank of 41 or higher.

In the coming months, 2K Games will also be publishing downloadable extensions of the single player experience that provide new insight into the world of Rapture. These packages will include more narrative, new tools and new challenges that extend the lore and fiction of the failed Utopia under the sea. Personally i don’t think the new DLC will improve the multiplayer experience at all, it’ll still be something that players will pick up for a few hours then go to an old favourite.