Weekly Gaming News – 07/18/11
By Patrick Newman
Avatar Type Graphics On New Xbox
According to claims made through examiner.com by AMD, the supplier of the Xbox 360’s graphics hardware, the succeeding console to the 360 will feature graphics on par with the visual detail of James Cameron’s Avatar. Beyond just graphics capabilities, AMD Director of ISV Relationships Neal Robinson has said that the AI and physics capabilities would also be ramped up for Microsoft’s new system considerably. Only time will tell if the hyperbole rings true.
Mega Men Legends 3 Cancelled
Mega Men Legends 3, Capcom’s much-anticipated new chapter in the franchise, has been cancelled during its prototype phase. According to Capcom’s website, “Unfortunately it was not felt that the Mega Man Legends 3 Project met the required criteria, and it is with regret that we must announce that the Mega Man Legends 3 Project has been cancelled, meaning that Capcom will not be releasing the Prototype or the full game.” To assure dedicated fan’s of the series’ future, Capcom also noted that “Mega Man is still an important franchise within Capcom’s portfolio and we will continue to pursue opportunities to create new titles in the series.”
Child Of Eden Gets PS3 Street-Date
Development guru Tetsuya Mizuguchi’s Child of Eden, the Xbox 360’s Kinect action game being published by Ubisoft, has finally been given details for a PlayStation 3 launch. Ubisoft has confirmed a September 20th North American release date for the PlayStation 3 version, which will run for the retail price of $49.99 and also include Move support.
Sony 3D Updates
At Las Vegas’s Consumer Electronics Show, Sony was on hand to promote a wide array of 3D products, truly aiming to break ground in bringing gamers into a virtual space. A key component of this presentation was a prototype wraparound headset that not only delivered high quality 3D imagery, but could potentially be designed to host virtual reality experiences in the future. According to Sony Europe Group Studio Manager Mick Hocking, “The head-mounted display has twin-OLED screens; very high quality. At the moment it’s just a head-mounted display; the head isn’t being tracked–but that’s something we’re doing R&D on… We’re working with a couple of games at Sony that are experimenting with virtual-reality-type experiences.”
Battlefield 3 Literary Adaptation
Though October sees the long-awaited release of Battlefield 3 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC, fans can also anticipate a literary adaptation of its narrative due to hit around the same time. Written by Andy McNab, the battle-seasoned SAS soldier turned military and tactics adviser for filmmakers like Michael Mann (Heat, Collateral), the novel will be true to the realities of combat and accurately reflect the game’s tension-fraught story. Prior to taking on the world of Battlefield, McNab has also penned the military-themed novels Bravo Two Zero and Immediate Action.
Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 To Be Unveiled
According to strong intel from gaming enthusiast site The Quarter Bin, a re-release of Marvel vs. Capcom 3 is on the horizon for San Diego’s Comic-Con, which begins July 21st. Though Capcom was unavailable to officially confirm the rumor, the title is believed to be called “Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3”, a redux version of the original game similar Super Street Fighter IV. The game is said to contain 12 additional characters on-disc, as well as a lowered price of $39.99 sticker tag. Fans should stay tuned for the Con’s official announcement.
Final Fantasy XIII-2 – January 2012
After much internal debate, Square Enix has decided on a release date for Final Fantasy XIII-2, the latest sequel to the long-running RPG franchise. Set for North American release in January 2012, the game will be available for the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3. Attendees of the San Diego Comic-Con can play and preview the game this upcoming weekend.
Uncharted 3 Gets 1.9 Billion Beta Kills
The online beta version of Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception (recently ended) is being touted by developer Naughty Dog as the most heavily-trafficked beta in the history of the PlayStation 3. Called “jaw dropping” by Arne Meyer of Naughty Dog, the statistics tracking the beta’s activity certainly fall in line with this description. The Uncharted 3 beta reportedly ran a record 1.53 million total unique beta players, 1.9 billion total kills, 1.4 trillion cash collected, 48 billion shots fired, 22 million total matches, and over 362 years of total playtime. The game’s full version seems destined to be a massive hit.
