Flo Rida, My Chemical Romance, Travie McCoy, 3oh!3, and More Partner with EA on the Uber Popular Life Simulator Series The Sims

More Than Three Dozen Global Artists Re-record Their Current Hits or Upcoming Singles in ‘Simlish’ for The Sims 3 for Consoles and The Sims 3 Late Night

REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sul sul zeedab nas! The Sims fans will turn up the volume on their HD and PC hardware this fall and rock out while playing The Sims™ 3 game on their PlayStation® 3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, and Wii™ or when firing up The Sims™ 3 Late Night Expansion Pack* for the PC or MAC. The EA Play Label of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:ERTS) announced today the robust music line-up for The Sims 3 for console platforms and The Sims 3 Late Night PC/MAC that includes music from a variety of genres such as hip-hop, alternative, pop, rock, electronic, and more. Artists from around the world including Travie McCoy, 3oh!3, Flo Rida featuring Jovi, Kelly Rowland, Kelis, and more recorded current or upcoming hit singles from their latest albums in an entirely new language, ‘Simlish,’ which is the official language of The Sims franchise.

“I’ve always been a fan of The Sims games and could never figure out what the characters were saying in the game. I’m not sure if Simlish can be translated, but it’s darn fun to speak!”

“The Sims may be one of the biggest and best-known brands in popular culture today and for a major artist to be asked to re-record their music in ‘Simlish’ has become one of the most unique and exclusive opportunities in the world of entertainment,” explained Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive, Music and Music Marketing, EA. “Over the past decade, hundreds of artists – including superstars as diverse as Katy Perry, Lady Antebellum, Flaming Lips, Damien Marley, Depeche Mode, Nelly Furtado, Matt And Kim, and so many more – have all become a part of this global phenomenon. For more than a hundred million The Sims players and fans every day, we are truly providing the soundtrack to their lives.”

“I’m always trying to find new ways to reach different audiences with my music and The Sims 3 was a perfect way,” explained Flo Rida who laid down his lyrics from “Fresh I Stay” in Simlish with Jovi.

The experience is unlike any other for some of the artists and can even prove to be challenging. “We couldn’t stop laughing while re-recording `Double Vision' in Simlish because it just sounds super bizarre,” 3oh!3’s Sean Foreman commented during their recording session. “I’ve always been a fan of The Sims games and could never figure out what the characters were saying in the game. I’m not sure if Simlish can be translated, but it’s darn fun to speak!”
“Singing in Simlish was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but it was a blast!” said Travie McCoy who sang his upcoming single “Need You” in the game’s one-of-a-kind language. Kelly Rowland added, “I have to say it was quite challenging to sing `Rose Colored Glasses' in Simlish, but also incredibly fun!”

Global artists and Simlish re-recorded songs featured in The Sims 3 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Wii include:

22-20’s – “Latest Heartbreak”
3oh!3 – “Double Vision”
Aceyalone and RJD2 – “Ever Seen This”
Aeroplane – “We Can’t Fly”
Alpha Rev – “Phoenix Burn”
Cody Simpson – “IY IY IY”
Crash Kings – “You Got Me”
deadmau5 – “Some Chords”
Flo Rida featuring Jovi – “Fresh I Stay”
Free Energy – “Free Energy”
Hot Chip – “We Have Love”
Innerpartysystem – “American Trash”
Jasmine V – “All of These Boys”
Jessica Mauboy – “Saturday Night”
John Butler Trio – “Gonna Be a Long Time”
Kidz in the Hall – “Flickin’”
Lazee featuring Apollo Drive – “Calling Out”
Mickey Factz – “Dreamland”
Ozomatli – “Are you Ready?”
School Of Seven Bells – “Dust Devil”
The Dirty Heads – “Stand Tall”

As the world’s greatest life simulation on console, The Sims 3 combines the freedom of open world life simulation where players can create Sims – the unique characters found in The Sims games - with distinct personalities, fulfill their desires…or not, and control their lives with the guided gameplay of an all-new achievement system. As players complete challenges and collect dozens of achievements they will earn Karma points – all the while deciding the destinies of their Sims. Karma points can be used to unlock and unleash all-new Karma Powers to the grand benefit or wicked detriment of their Sims making it easier than ever to play with life. Players can help their Sim “get lucky,” bless them with “instant beauty” or be deviant and curse them with an “epic fail.” But players should use these powers wisely—they may have unexpected results and karma may come back to bite. The game will also be connected to the worldwide community through a seamlessly integrated creation exchange on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360**. Players can design, build, and share creations, or download content from other players around the world – and for the first time ever – without ever leaving the game.

The Sims 3 Late Night includes:
3oh!3 – “Double Vision”
Bryan Rice – “There for You”
Chiddy Bang – “Here We Go”
Electrolightz – “Miss Outta Control”
Eliza Doolittle – “Rollerblades”
Foxy Shazam – “Unstoppable”
Hadag Nahash – “Lo Maspik”
Hadouken! – “M.A.D.”
Jessica Mauboy – “Saturday Night”
Junkie XL – “Live Wired”
Kelis – “Brave”
Kelly Rowland – “Rose Colored Glasses”
King Fantastic – “All Black Ying Yang (The Party Song)”
My Chemical Romance – “Na Na Na”
Nikki & Rich – “Next Best Thing”
The Ready Set – “More Than Alive”
Soulja Boy – “Speakers Going Hammer”
Travie McCoy – “Need You”

The Sims 3 Late Night gives players all-access and lets them loose on a vibrant, active downtown scene where they’ll rub elbows with celebrities at the hottest parties, hit the local bar after work, tour the scene with their Sims’ band, kick back in a plush hot tub, and discover what’s lurking in the thick of the night. Players will be able to take their Sims into the bustling urban setting where they’ll be able to become a celebrity, member of a music band, mixologist, director, and more. To gain entrance into the most elite clubs in town, players need to keep their attitude in check otherwise they’ll be given the cold shoulder by tough bouncers or find another way onto the list. If chilling is the player’s forte, their Sims can lounge at a chic club or dive bar. If they like to live on the edge, they can be initiated into the dark life of a vampire. Whether embarking on a new career, painting the town red, or throwing a party on the rooftop of a penthouse, it’s always up to the player to tell their unique stories with The Sims 3. What will happen when the lights go out and Sims get all-access?

For more information about The Sims 3 games or The Sims Late Night, please visit www.TheSims3.com. To download artwork, please visit www.info.ea.com.

*Requires The Sims 3 for PC/MAC to play.

**INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED, Conditions and restrictions apply. See back of pack for details.

That's right folks.  Like everyone in the world is reporting, DUKE NUKEM IS BACK!!  2K Games and Gearbox are bringing Duke Nukem Forever to market, FINALLY, in 2011 to PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.  After a few days of heavy hinting, Randy Pitchford from Gearbox has made it official at PAX. The game is actually playable as well.

Check out the synopsis straight from the game's fact sheet:

And a picture worthy of being your new background image (Click for the larger version):

Keiji Inafune, one of the creators behind the blue bomber, admits the teaser may have been a bit TOO teasing, so he offers us a minute of gameplay that...seems to just give us more questions than answers.  But the game is definitely showing its roots, as the footage appears to take heavy influence from Mega Man 2, arguably the most critically acclaimed entry in the series, as we are treated to 2.5D renditions of Metal Man's, Crash Man's, and Air Man's stages.  Also, many of the classic baddies from that era show up to hassle our hero, who moves a lot like the Mega Man in "Mega Man: Powered Up!" but with a less chibi design.  And of course, the teaser at the end just continues to heap speculation and wonder.  More info is expected to be given at this year's Penny Arcade Expo.

Video courtesy of Gamevideos.com

Officials say that 22 year old Timothy Hammerstone from Polk City, Florida lured boys ages 10-16 by using  Facebook accounts where he claimed in one that he was 15 and said he was gay. He then told the boys if they would send him naked photos of themselves posing in various positions, he would in return give them 1600 MS points. The boys naked photos were stored on a flash drive on his Xbox 360.

Hammerstone also told the boys that he was the founder of a video game group known as the Relentless Society of  Brothers and used the gamertag RSB Phoenix CO.

When Polk City police arrested Hammerstone they discovered 16 images of underage boys and movies of boys saved onto a flash drive attached to his Xbox 360.  Police also believe that there are other boys out there that he either received pictures of or attempted to.

Timothy Hammerstone who worked at Walt Disney World is being held at the Polk County jail on 16 counts of child pornography and more charges may be added depending on what they find on his laptop, Xbox 360, and PC.

The Ledger

Bay News 9

"The problem was, the Spartans couldn't take their fight into space.  Every minor victory on the ground turned into a major defeat in orbit.

Soon there would be no more colonies, no human settlements-and nowhere left to run...."

-Eric Nylund "The Fall of Reach"

One of the most epic series in video game history is set to reach a conclusion on September 14, 2010.  Halo: Reach follows Noble Team as they battle the Covenant on planet Reach.  The fate of those on Reach are already known and for that reason the Remember Reach monument has come to be.

Once entering into the monument you can "send your light" if you have a Facebook account.  You can then pick which Spartan from Noble Team that you want your "light" on.

Besides sending your light, you can also watch videos that show what the people of Reach were doing the day that the conflict began.

Halo: Reach releases at a video game store near you on Setember 14, 2010.

-Skylark95

• causing resentful displeasure; highly irritating, angering, or annoying
  
• unpleasant or disagreeable to the sense


• repugnant to the moral sense, good taste, or the like; insulting


• pertaining to offense or attack


• characterized by attack; aggressive

Con-tro-ver-sial

• of, pertaining to, or characteristic of controversy; polemical
  
• subject to controversy; debatable


• given to controversy

Did anything in a video game ever cause you to stop playing and question if what you just saw or heard was offensive?  Maybe it was the scene in Infinity Ward's Modern Warfare 2 where you walked through the airport slaughtering  innocent civilians.  Or was it an openly gay flamboyant character who thinks of himself as a female like Makoto in Ubisoft's RPG Enchanted Arms? Regardless of what you may have seen or heard, gamers are on the fence when it comes to what makes a game offensive.

"In my honest opinion, people are WAY too sensitive. I have never been offended by a Video Game. That's like the big uproar over Resident Evil 5. Everyone thought it was racist. People have a right to be offended, but I think it gets a little out of hand. Games are meant for fun. When I was playing through Limbo, I didn't even think once about how the main character was a child, and he could die in graphic ways. So I wasn't offended by Limbo either. Maybe its just me, but I feel adults shouldn't be so up in arms over Video Games, they are there to be enjoyed."

-Elite Effect

Rac-ism

• 
  
  a belief or doctrine that inherit differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
  
  
  
• a policy, system of government, etc., that based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination


• hatred or intolerance of another race or races

"I was only offended once by a video game, and it was just an idea for a video game I heard about quite awhile ago.  I don't think it ever actually made it into development.  The idea was a sandbox game where you play a rapist or something.  Horrible!"

-Nomadik Kitty

"Agreed with Kitty.  Games like that shouldn't be made: RapeLay"

-CoyAndChris

Dis-taste-ful

• unpleasant, offensive,  or causing dislike
  
• unpleasant to the taste


• showing distaste or dislike

"Whenever I hear or read a news story about violence in games, I think back to Bugs Bunny and friends, Popeye, The Three Stooges etc. I was raised on those shows as a kid, and I turned out fine. I'm sure if I started hooking up 3 ton weights above the neighbors dog, my parents would have stepped in. They knew I didn't take it seriously. The same applies to videogames. There are ratings for games, just as there are for TV shows and movies. It's our jobs as parents, to decide what is okay for our children to watch and play."

-PeeKnuckle

Art imitates real life.  So can we really blame video game developers for something being controversial when most of the time the developer's art is depicting something involving real life or close to it?  The sight of a woman breastfeeding her child in a video game might not seem so offensive, but in real life that heated topic is still viewed as either a natural act or something that should be done in private.  What about the images of children dying on television in an infomercial?  Those aren't considered to be offensive, but yet the sight of a child dying in a video game like Limbo is considered to be controversial or offensive.

From the topics mentioned above, to others such as homosexuality, spanking a child, or legalizing marijuana, controversy exists in all forms of life, real or not.

"The only time I've been offended while playing games is while in chat with pk... and that really had nothing to do with the game at all. He also made me cry once... from being a damn bearded bunny."

-sedington86

Hilarity, boobs, and plenty of action occur when Ghost from Modern Warfare 2 and Solid Snake from the Metal Gear Solid series meet up.

"i stray away from them. after the novelty wore off, you'd be wanting for a classic look."

-MajorWhiteBoy

Microsoft is one of those companies that tend to put out a video game themed console bundle everytime they get a whiff of money to be made.  Are all of these different consoles necessary?  Let's take a look at a few that have released since the Xbox 360's release.

Resident Evil 5 was undoubtedly a disappoint in many hardcore Resident Evil fan's eyes, but what about the limited edition Resident Evil 5 console?  Did fans buy into one of the most ugliest looking console bundles ever to grace the video game market?

Soon after the announcement of the Resident Evil 5 LE Bundle, sales for the console on Amazon.com shot up to #17.  Currently the console bundle is sitting pretty at #21 on the bestsellers list for consoles sold on Amazon.com, but was this console worth the $399.00 price tag it came with?

The red LE Elite bundle came with the 120 GB HDD, one matching wireless controller, the standard edition of RE5, Xbox 360 headset, HDMI cable/ethernet cable, and the free downloads of a premium premium dashboard theme and Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, but no other Resident Evil items.

Siren's Verdict: This console is hardly worth the price.  With the lack of Resident Evil items and the ugly red color of the console that makes my eyes bleed for days, I say this console was just a way for Microsoft and Capcom to make a quick buck.

"They definitely do not sway me into buying the game.  If I'm interested in a console bundle, then that means I plan on purchasing the game in the first place.  One reason I'm not interested in console bundles; they give you the regular edition of the game...."

-Elite Effect

Enter the Modern Warfare 2 LE Xbox 360 console bundle.  When the bundle was announced on September 15, 2010 Modern Warfare fans everywhere wanted a piece of this Modern Warfare inspired designed console as much as they wanted to just experience the game.  Fans finally got their hands on the bundle on November 10, 2009 and made it the #12 selling console on Amazon.com's bestseller's list for consoles.

The $399 bundle came with a special designed Modern Warfare 2 console and was the first Xbox 360 console bundle to get the 250 GB HDD.  The bundle also included the standard version of Modern Warfare 2, two black wireless controllers, one black headset, one A/V cable/ethernet cable,  a one month Gold subscription to XBL, and a free Netflix trial offer.

Siren's Verdict: Call of Duty is one of the best selling series ever to grace the Xbox 360 with it's addiciting presence so this was one of the smartest marketing ideas that Microsoft could have done.  Add in the 250 GB HDD with this package and it's pure gold.  Definitely worth the money if you are a hardcore Call of Duty fan and/or looking to upgrade your HDD.

"They have never really swayed me much before until the new Halo Reach console came out. I will say out of all the bundles that they have released before, the think the thing that always would attract me a little bit is the extra hard drive space (250 GB). Now that the new console has come out, I can get 250GB without getting a bundle, however the Halo Reach Console is tempting because of my desire for the new console as well as my interest in the game (something that the previous bundles have not done)..."

-Skylark95

Arguably one of the reasons that the original big black box survived was because of Halo.  The Halo series became Microsoft's flagship for moving consoles and making money.  Taking advantage of the outrageous number of fans, the Xbox 360 has seen one Halo themed console bundle and one newly announced Halo themed bundled console among other Halo accessories and items easily making the Halo series one of the most successful series in video game history.

The $399 Halo 3 SE themed console bundle was designed with Halo fans in mind.  The 360 itself was Master Chief green with Halo inspired designs and a matching wireless controller, headset, and Play & Charge kit.  It also featured a 20 GB HDD, HD A/V cable/ethernet cable, HDMI connection,  a detachable faceplate, a standard edition of Halo 3, and exclusive gamer pics and dashboard theme.  The Halo 3 console bundle is currently #13 on the Amazon.com list of bestseller's for a video game console.

"In all honesty, I think it's ugly. It looks like a cheap toy, and not a next gen console. With that said, if there was a Lilith(Borderlands) or Joker 360, I'd be all over 'em."

-PeeKnuckle

Halo ReachThe newly announced Halo: Reach LE console bundle has Halo fans everywhere wishing the release date was yesterday.  The console will release on September 14, 2010 to the tune of $399.  Included in the silver Halo: Reach designed bundle is the newly redesigned Xbox 360 that features built in Wi-Fi and five USB ports.  It also comes with matching two matching Halo: Reach inspired wireless controllers, 250 GB HDD, black headset, A/V cable, one month XBL Gold membership, and a one year limited warranty.  It is already ranked #9 on Amazon.com's bestseller's list for consoles.

Siren's Verdict: Hands down either of these Halo inspired console bundles do the Halo fan justice.  Each features unique Halo designs and matching accessories.  Pure marketing gold for Microsoft.  Halo is by far one of the biggest money makers for Microsoft and I have no doubt that the Halo: Reach bundled console will sell well because of the new redesigned look of the 360, built in Wi-Fi, and Halo theme-age."

"I think many games that have come out with a console bundled are not really worth it, yes I understand it's a valuable thing for most die-hards and I could see myself getting a Gears of War 3 themed one if they weren't so expensive or if I had money to spend. As for this Halo Reach one, it's a lot better than all the other Xbox 360's that have been "limited edition" so I must say if I didn't already own a Xbox 360 Slim and was in love with the Halo: Reach Beta (which I was not) I would purchase it because I needed a new console."

-UND3RxOATH

Final Fantasy is another epic series that has seen video game console themed bundles on both the Xbox 360 and the PS3.

The PS3 version of the bundle was released in Japan only and features a white console with a pink design of Lightening, one of the characters in the RPG.  It came with a matching white controller, a 250 GB HDD, and a copy of FFXIII.  Was a 41,600 yen ($458) price tag worth it?

"Normally i dont buy the themed ones, i figure my current one is working fine now so why replace it....."

- StealthyShadows

What about the 360 bundle?  It only featured a standard white console with either a plain white faceplate or a Lightening faceplate (limited numbers) that was designed by Tetsuya Nomura.  Included with the bundle is a 250 GB HDD that is labeled "Final Fantasy XII", two white wireless controllers, an avatar item, and a standard edition copy of FFXIII.  It retailed for $399 on it's release.

Siren's Verdict: While the PS3 version looks better than the 360's version of the bundle, both are a waste.  This is just another excuse for fanboys to argue over who has the best looking FFXIII console.

"I'm happy with my Elite.  Never needed more nor wanted more.  Besides my console is an entertainment center.  I'd never really see what makes it different...."

- Nomadik Kitty

When it comes down to it, the companies that put out these video game themed console bundles know what they are doing.  They know what games will sell and for that reason these overpriced behemoth packages will move not only games, but consoles which means more money in their pockets.  The real question is, are you buying it?

Deal of the Week

Assassin's Creed II

Sequence 12: Battle of Forli - 400 MS points

Sequence 13: Bonfire of the Vanities - 240 MS points

Sequence 13: Bonfire of the Vanities and Secret Locations - 240 MS points

Da Vinci's Flying Machine - 160 MS points

Guard Armor - 240 MS points

Avatar Items

Avatar Marketplace

Halo Reach T-Shirt - 80 MS points (male and female)

Headshot T-Shirt - 80 MS points (male and female)

Firefight Hoodie - 160 MS points (male and female)

UNSC Boonie Hat - 80 MS points (male and female)

Noble Six Armor - 400 MS points (male and female)

Legion of the Dead Armor - 320 MS points (male and female)

Darkspawn Staff - 240 MS points (male and female)

King Calian's Armor - 320 MS points (male and female)

Duncan's Armor - 320 MS points (male and female)

Legion of the Dead Helmet - 160 MS points (male and female)

King Calian's Helmet - 160 MS points (male and female)

Blood Dragon Helmet - 160 MS points (male and female)

Joining Goblet - 240 MS points

Xbox Live Arcade

Limbo - 1200 MS points (Just a reminder, if you buy all of the Arcade games that are slated for release during the Summer of Arcade, you will receive 1200 MS points)

Destination Arcade - Free download that is only available during the Summer of Arcade event.  Comes with two avatar items.

Games on Demand

Stuntman: Ignition - $19.99 (Not available in Japan)

NFL Tour - $19.99 (Not available in Asia)

FaceBreaker - $19.99 (North America only)

Game Add Ons

BlazBlue: Continuum Shift

Additional Character Pack #1 - 320 MS points

Additional Character Pack #2 - 320 MS points

Additional Character Pack #3 - 320 MS points

Additional System Voice Type-K - 400 MS points

Additional System Voice Type-M - 400 MS points

Additional System Voice Type-C - 400 MS points

Unlock Unlimited MU - 40 MS points

Unlock Unlimited Hazama - 40 MS points

Unlock Unlimited Tsubaki - 40 MS points

Unlock Unlimited Lambda - 40 MS points

Unlock Unlimited Haku-men - 40 MS points

Unlock Unlimited Ragna - 40 MS points

Unlock Unlimited Carl - 40 MS points

Unlock Unlimited Bang - 40 MS points

Unlock Unlimited Arakune - 40 MS points

Unlock Unlimited Litchi - 40 MS points

Unlock Unlimited Tager - 40 MS points

Unlock Unlimited Taokaka - 40 MS points

Unlock Unlimited Rachel - 40 MS points

Unlock Unlimited Noel - 40 MS points

Unlock Unlimited Jin - 40 MS points

Unlock All Unlimited Characters - 400 MS points

Unlock Playable Character Mu - 160 MS points

Guitar Hero 5

Disturbed Track Pack - 440 MS points (songs can be purchased seperately for 160 MS points each)

• "Down With The Sickness"
• "Indestructible"
• "Stricken"

Lips

Lips Music Store

"If You're Not The One" - 160 MS points

"Kingston Town" - 160 MS points

"Respectable" - 160 MS points

"If I Could Turn Back Time" - 160 MS points

Ninety-Nine Nights 2

Map Pack - 320 MS points

Record of Agarest War

Unlock Voices - 800 MS points

Unlock Gallery - 800 MS points

Additional PP Pack 2 - 800 MS points

Rebellious Pack - 320 MS points

Playful-Cat Pack - 320 MS points

Ultimate- Equipment Pack - 320 MS points

Rock Band

Rock Band Music Store

The Stooges Pack 1 - 440 MS points (songs can be purchased seperately for 160 MS points each)

• "1969"
• "I Wanna Be Your Dog"
• "No Fun"

From July 22 until July 25 at 8:00 pm est, Gears of War 2 is running the 20x multiplayer XP event.  The event started over Epic Game's Rob Fergusson's tweet on Twitter where he stated that the more followers he gained, the more XP players would receive during the weekend of Comic-Con.  He received over 11,000 new followers after that tweet.

The 20x XP multiplier is for every multiplayer mode available for Gears of War 2.  Horde mode was also revamped for the event.

On November 4th 2010, Xbox 360 users can get their hands on the Kinect for the price of $149.99. Included with the purchase of Kinect is Kinect Adventures.

If that was not enough to blow everyone’s minds, there will also be a Kinect Holiday Bundle coming out for the holiday season. This bundle includes the Kinect, Kinect Sensor, Kinect Adventures, and the super matte and incredibly sexy Xbox 360 with built in Wi-Fi and a 4 GB internal flash memory. That’s right, a whopping 4 GB of memory for your tiny gaming pleasure. If you just wet your pants at that, be prepared to drop $299.99 for the bundle.

If you don’t want the bundle and just want the super huge 4 GB internal flash memory Xbox 360, you can purchase the console on August 4th 2010 for $199.99. Don’t worry, we won’t judge you.

With so much going on at E3 this week, I’m going to try and cover as much as I possibly can, which is no small feat.  I will miss some things, I’ll guarantee you that.  Head over to the forums and post about anything I missed, or to discuss what I’ve listed.  I won’t cover everything in depth, but I will hit the major announcements.  Let’s get started:

• Microsoft finally announced the real name for Project Natal, Kinect.  They showed Kinect Sports, a few fitness games, a Sonic game, a Forza game and an exclusive Star Wars game.  They also detailed Kinect video conferencing, voice controls for movies/music, and the motion controls for video/music as well.  The add-on hits stores on November 4^th with a rumored $150 price tag.
• Microsoft and ESPN announced their exclusive partnership that will have about 3500 previous games from the MLB, NBA, NCAA, and more.  The ESPN content will also be Kinect enabled.  It is free for Xbox Live Gold Members.
• Bungie showed the first glimpse of the Halo Reach single-player campaign.  It included a good bit of Spartan ass-kickery and even showed us space based dog fights.
• Epic showed us some pretty awesome footage from Gears 3.  The footage was 4 player story mode Co-Op.
• Hideo Kojima and Co. showed us Metal Gear Solid: Rising.  It showed Raiden slicing and dicing his way through numerous people, cars, and even a watermelon.
• Fable 3 was shown, as was a new Crytek game called Codename: Kingdoms.
• Microsoft unveiled the Xbox 360 Slim.  It retails for $299 and goes on sale later this week.
• Call of Duty: Black Ops trailer was shown.
• The new Madden will feature 3-on-3 online play.
• Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit was announced
• Assassain’s Creed Brotherhood was shown and given a release date of November 16^th

• The trailer for Dead Space 2 was shown and given a release date of January 25^th.
• Medal of Honor multiplayer beta starts on June 21^st.
• Battlefield Bad Company 2 is getting a Vietnam add-on.
• A demo for Crackdown 2 will go live on June 21^st.
• The 3^rd Summer of Arcade was announced, with the flagship games coming to XBLA being Konami’s Castlevania: Harmony of Despair and Square’s Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light.

I’m sure I’ve missed a TON of stuff.  As I said, hit up the forums and tell me what I’ve missed.

[imagebrowser id=1]

This is somewhat a viral set of games released for Star Wars Force Unleashed 2.  There are 3 mini games (With more to come) to play and 1 audio clip.  I'll leave the speculation up to you guys to determine what the videos and audio mean.  Take a look at the countdown clock and underneath that you can click to find the "games".

http://www.lucasarts.com/games/theforceunleashed2/cloningtank/

As you may know, HBO has their own download service and to curb any issues the PSN store may cause to that business model, shows will only become available when the DVDs are released.  DVD releases are typically a year after the original airing of the shows.  Shows will run about $2.99 per episode and will kick off with HBO staples like Curb Your Enthusiasm, True Blood, and Entourage.

With MLB TV and Netflix also on PSN, there is really no shortage of television on PSN for the current userbase.

After finishing the Green Day: Rock Band demo the above picture shows the standard Rock Band bass, drum, guitar, and mic icons, but as you can see there is also what appears to be a piano icon.

What does this mean for the franchise?  What will the set list look like for the next game?  Only time will tell, but I think Stevie Wonder (Better than has been previously done with this one hopefully), Ray Charles, Elton John, and other great pianist could easily make their way in to the music gaming fray with this new instrument.

Gamestop has announced their new "PowerUp Rewards" program, which rewards its members for spending money in their stores.

Standard membership is free and entitles you to earn points against every dollar you spend, and oddly rewards more for purchasing pre-owned games, accessories and consoles. You get ten points per dollar spent on new items whereas buying pre-owned or trading-in will net you twenty points.

The PowerUp card also gives you access to giveaways, exclusive news, offers and events as well as rewards as you amass points. With enough points on your card you can choose from a changing list of rewards that includes things like GameStop gift cards and merchandise, iTune Gift Cards, NetFlix and Xbox Live subscriptions, codes to unlock exclusive in-game content and more.

Pro membership costs $14.99 a year and gives you all of the above plus  a 250 point bonus, a buy 2, get 1 free introductory offer on pre-owned games, 10% discounts on purchases, 10% credit on trade-ins and a year's subscription to Game Informer magazine.

It seems like a pretty worthwhile program and you get 500 points for signing up.  The program is currently tagged with a "Beta", so who knows if this will actually stay as a program they keep.

There are 3 Deals of the Week this week on Xbox Live and 2 games coming to XBLA.

Lazy Raiders, Band of Bugs and Madballs in Babo: Invasion are all reduced from 800 Microsoft Points to 400 this week, while Avatar Wave Snowball Fight is also available for 80 points.

Voodoo Dice will be coming to the Xbox Live Arcade for 800 MS Points.  However the biggest news this week is the arrival of Doom II on XBLA.  I'm sure this one will come in at 800 MS Points as well, but a price has yet to be confirmed.  This is really great news for fans of the Doom series and I assume we can look forward to Doom 3 hitting Games on Demand pretty soon as well.

The much anticipated release date for Halo: Reach has been announced as September 14th (9/15 in Japan).  The pre-order, Limited Edition, and  Legendary Edition bonuses have also been announced.  Check after the break for screens of the new skins.

The Legendary Edition will come with the "Flaming Spartan" skins seen below:

While the Limited Edition will get the "Elite Officer" armour for the Covanent:

And pre-orders will get the "Spartan Recon Helmet" which has some weird looking antenna or satellite on top of his head:

Not bad in this day and age of pre-order and bonus crap for most games.

In a move that really should surprise no one, Legendary Pictures has acquired the rights to bring a Mass Effect movie to the big screen.  With the success of the game(s), this is no real shocker for anyone.  With the likes of Halo, Bioshock, and rumors in the industry of a God of War film, a game with such a deep story could easily be brought to your local cinema.

Mark Protosevich (I Am Legend) has been hired to pen the script.  His work hasn't really impressed me thus far, but with him being a more character driven writer, it could be a good thing for this project.  Also, if the studio could snag Matthew Fox (Who Commander Shephard's look was modeled after) fresh off his Lost career, the film may have even more of a fan base built in.  Let's just hope this project can actually get off the ground, unlike some of the other major game franchise to movie adaptations.

Character Customization

Once the Reach menu was shining in all of its glory on my TV, I couldn’t think straight what I immediately wanted to do. Customize my character? Matchmaking? The Arena? I needed to make myself a unique Spartan, so I first headed off to customize my Spartan III. The UI for customizing your Spartan has drastically changed and it’s very impressive. The old style of two different columns to select your emblem and then background is out. It’s been changed to a horizontal and vertical axis where you can see in real-time what your emblem will look like on a specific background. Changing your primary, secondary, and emblem colors still have the same UI. Now the biggest change to customization: Armor. Much like the armor customization of Halo 3, you can customize your helmet, left and right shoulders, and chest piece. With the helmet now though, you can purchase “accessories” for it such as visors. However, different armor pieces do not enhance your character whatsoever. They’re simply visual flair for the battlefield to distinguish you from someone else. I’ll touch more on the process of getting new armor in the next section about Matchmaking when I discuss Credits (cR).

Matchmaking

Matchmaking, arguable the system that Bungie created back in 2004 that led the way to the success of online multiplayer on Xbox LIVE, is back and better than ever! We’ve seen some improvements in Matchmaking over the years, but now it’s seemingly perfect. The search options we saw in Halo 3 such as finding a match based on language, connection speed, etc. have been greatly improved. This time your search options actually work! Even though there are only a few thousand people who have access to the beta right now, it’s never been longer than a minute to find a match. Now the greatest feature of Matchmaking is earning Credits (cR). Credits are earned on various factors such as individual performance, winning , etc. As you earn credits, you can purchase more armor for your Spartan. That’s really the gist of Matchmaking, you know and love its earlier versions, and you’ll sure love Halo: Reach’s Matchmaking.

Armor Loadouts and Weapons

When I first saw the Jetpack as an available Loadout, my first reaction was literally, “All of the noobs are going to be using this.” It turns out I use the Jetpack nearly every time I spawn! Bungie has once again created the magical formula of adding new features to multiplayer, but at its core is still the Halo gameplay that we’re familiar with. Every Loadout is useful , there’s not one that just seems pointless. Depending on the type of player you are, the gametype, and map, you’ll see every Loadout has a unique advantage to it. Invisibility is great for the gametype ‘3 Plot’ as you need to hold territories around the map. Sprint and the Jetpack are great for CTF for getting into the enemy base to take your prize. And lastly, Armor Lock is a great for those players who like more close-quarters action. Evade for the Elites has saved me countless times as I roll away from whoever is taking a shot at me.

Now time for a breakdown on some of the new weapons. If you expect to be as good with the DMR (Designated Marksman Rifle) as you were with the BR (Battle Rifle) from previous games, you are in for a rude awakening. While I’ve always used the BR as my primary weapon and have been a deadly force to be reckoned with when it’s in my hands, the DMR takes some time to adjust to. Don’t expect to be a master with it instantly, you’ll be surprised how much you’ll suck with it initially. The pistol is actually useful again in Halo and I find myself using it constantly, especially for mid-range situations. My only complaint with it is the sight is hard to see when you zoom in as it’s a light blue and very hard to tell where you’re aiming. Hopefully this will be changed for the retail game since it’s way too hard to see it at this point. There’s plenty of new weapons I could go over, but honestly, these two are the ones I find myself using the most so I have the most hands-on experience with them.

Overall

While there might be some minor adjustments that need to be made such as the sights on the good ole’ Pistol, this game delivers way more than I expected. I was skeptical of all the new changes to multiplayer, but they work so well it seems like we’ve been missing out far too long on these great features in Halo. They all flow into the core gameplay mechanics so well that it’s going to be difficult playing Halo 3 once the beta is over. If you have any specific questions about the beta, feel free to hit me up.

**UPDATE**

Looks like it's real.  Here is the official press release:

CAPCOM®, MARVEL® LIFT VEIL ON LONG-AWAITED FIGHTING GAME

MARVEL® VS. CAPCOM®3: FATE OF TWO WORLDS

After a Decade, the Most Iconic Characters in Entertainment Return To Face Off

In One of the Most Popular Game Franchises of All Time

SAN MATEO, CA — April 20, 2010 — Capcom®, a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, and the legendary Marvel Entertainment, LLC today announced the latest installment in their epic fighting game series with Marvel® vs. Capcom ®3: Fate of Two Worlds.

It’s been a decade since MarvelTM vs. Capcom® 2: New Age of Heroes was first released and now the most popular Marvel and Capcom characters join forces again in a re-envisioned team fighting game for a new generation. Fill the shoes of legendary characters from the most beloved franchises in entertainment as you battle in the first VS. Fighting game powered by Capcom’s MT Framework.

“We are so pleased to be working with Marvel again. Marvel vs. Capcom 3 has been one of the most requested titles for us to produce by our fans,” said Christian Svensson, Corporate Officer and Vice President of Strategic Planning and Business Development at Capcom. “Our Capcom development studio is creating the most epic fighting game ever developed and Marvel’s input into that process has been invaluable.”

Get set for the ultimate faceoff when Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds hits PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360®video game and entertainment system from Microsoft in Spring 2011.

Two years ago, when Street Fighter 4 was in the preliminary stages of revive the fighting game market, Japan released SF4 in the arcades as a sort of beta test.  Now, according to a video announcement on Shadowloo and confirmed via Arcade Infinity, Super Street Fighter IV will be released in the arcades around July or August, about 4 months after the console release at the end of April.  Sure, this makes sense in Japan, with it's thriving arcade market, but still, with an online system connecting fighters from all over the world, joysticks that recreate the arcade sticks almost perfectly, and the lack of having to pump the equivalent of 3 games worth of quarters/tokens into a machine over a game's lifetime, you'd think they'd at least released the game into the arcade first.