Weekly Video Game News and Game Trailers – 04/26/2013
By PDG Staff
Call of Duty: Black Ops II Uprising DLC Map Pack Coming to PlayStation 3 and PC
Activision has announced that on May 16th, PlayStation 3 and Windows PC players will have the opportunity to play Uprising, Activision and Treyarch’s second epic DLC Map Pack for Call of Duty: Black Ops II. This includes four new multiplayer maps, plus “Mob of the Dead,” a bone-chilling new Zombies experience that takes players to the notorious prison island of Alcatraz. Several of Hollywood’s most iconic actors round out the cast of Prohibition-era mobsters, including Ray Liotta, Michael Madsen, Chazz Palminteri and Joe Pantoliano to bring this horrifying adventure to life. Uprising also debuts four new diverse multiplayer maps, each set around the globe – Magma, Encore, Vertigo and Studio.
The Bureau: XCOM Declassified set for August
According to 2K and 2K Marin, The Bureau: XCOM Declassified is set to be released in August 2013. Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K had this to say about the upcoming third-person shooter – “We’re thrilled about 2K Marin’s refined vision for The Bureau: XCOM Declassified, the game has evolved through a creative and iterative development process, and the result is a narrative-driven experience that is smart, engaging, and challenges players to think tactically.” Set in 1962 at the height of the Cold War, The Bureau tells the origin story of the clandestine XCOM organization’s first encounter with a mysterious and devastating enemy. Originally established as America’s covert defense against the Soviet Union, The Bureau must adapt and overcome a threat unlike anything the world has faced before. As special agent William Carter, players will call the shots and pull the trigger, leading their squad of agents in the high-stakes secret war for humanity’s survival. Paramount to repelling the outside threat is The Bureau’s ability to cover-up the enemy’s existence in order to prevent worldwide panic.
Dragon’s Dogma – Dark Arisen Launch Trailer
[hana-flv-player video=”http://videos.punchdrunkgamer.com/videos/Dragon_s_Dogma_Dark_Arisen_Launch_Trailer.flv”
width=”560″
height=”420″
description=”Dragon’s Dogma – Dark Arisen Launch Trailer”
player=”4″
autoload=”true” autoplay=”false”
loop=”false” autorewind=”false”
/]
Ubisoft Introduces ‘The Watch’ for the Assassin’s Creed Community
This week Ubisoft revealed further details about its first VIP program, ‘The Watch’, dedicated to the Assassin’s Creed community, which is now available for all players who pre-order Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag. ‘The Watch’ will allow members to delve deeper into the Assassin’s Creed Universe and enjoy exclusive tailored content, as well as early access to the latest information, ensuring the community are the first to know about upcoming events, shows, talks and releases on the brand. Amongst other features, ‘The Watch’ will also introduce unique member quests to compete in, unlock specific missions, special rewards and bonuses. These timed missions will only be available through ‘The Watch’ and participants will be able to track themselves and other members through global leaderboards.
Looking to Make Some Cash? Just Create Some Counterstrike Maps
The Counterstrike: Global Offensive Blog has announced that Operation Payback is now live, offering players the chance to payback map creators for their efforts. According to the blog – “Operation Payback” marks the first of an ongoing series of limited-time updates aimed at giving a well-earned financial reward to some of CS:GO’s most popular and prolific mapmakers. For a limited time, you can buy a pass half-priced for $2.99. That’ll get you unlimited access to a Classic Casual map group featuring seven of the highest-voted Workshop Maps. Invite your friends (even if they don’t have a pass) and enjoy uninterrupted low-ping play on official servers—all while rewarding CS:GO’s top-voted virtual mapmakers with real money. Buying a pass also gets you a one-of-a-kind challenge coin, upgradable by playing and viewable wherever your avatar is shown. “Operation Payback” will be live from now until July 31st, and it’s currently half-priced, so get in there! And remember: “Payback” is just the beginning. Future Operations will highlight all-new collections of popular maps. So stay tuned, keep mapmaking, and keep upvoting!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows – Michelangelo Trailer
[hana-flv-player video=”http://videos.punchdrunkgamer.com/videos/TMNT_OOTS_MikeyTrailer.flv”
width=”560″
height=”420″
description=”Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows – Michelangelo Trailer”
player=”4″
autoload=”true” autoplay=”false”
loop=”false” autorewind=”false”
/]
Kendall Boyd Leaves Gears of War Studio for Halo
The Director of Marketing for Worldwide Studios at EPIC Games, Kendall Boyd has reportedly left his current position for a new challenge as Director of Halo Global Marketing for Microsoft. According to a Microsoft spokesman – “We can confirm that Kendall Boyd has joined Microsoft Studios as Director of Halo Global Marketing, we’re thrilled to welcome him into the Halo fold, but have no other details to share at this time.” Boyd’s exit just adds to a laundry list of high-profile personnel that have departed Epic Games in the past year, including design director Cliff Bleszinski, president Mike Capps, Gears of War executive producer Rod Fergusson, and People Can Fly co-owner and creative director Adrian Chmielarz.
Barry Sanders Named Madden 25 Cover Athlete
After six rounds and a record-breaking 40 million votes, Barry Sanders stands triumphant as the cover athlete for EA Sports Madden NFL 25. The results were revealed during a 1 hour primetime special on SportsNation on ESPN 2 last night, when Old School bracket champion Barry Sanders defeated New School bracket winner Adrian Peterson by taking 58% of the final vote. During his run to the cover, Sanders triumphed over a who’s who of NFL legends, including Ray Lewis, Marcus Allen, Joe Montana and Jerry Rice. Sanders’ win is historic in many ways, as not only will he be appearing on the cover of the 25th anniversary of the Madden NFL franchise, but he is the first athlete ever to appear on back-to-back covers after sharing the NCAA Football 13 box with Robert Griffin III last year. This also marks the first time players from the same team have secured consecutive covers as Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin, Johnson, Jr. appeared on the cover of Madden NFL 13.
Gears of War: Judgment – Call to Arms Map Pack Trailer
[hana-flv-player video=”http://videos.punchdrunkgamer.com/videos/Gears_of_War_Judgment_Call_to_Arms_Map_Pack_Trailer.flv”
width=”560″
height=”420″
description=”Gears of War: Judgment – Call to Arms Map Pack Trailer”
player=”4″
autoload=”true” autoplay=”false”
loop=”false” autorewind=”false”
/]
Xbox 720 to be Revealed on May 21st
Microsoft announced this week that it will hold a press event on May 21st at the company’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington, during which the Xbox 720 will be unveiled. Here is a portion of the statement released by Microsoft – “On Tuesday May 21st, we’ll mark the beginning of a new generation of games, TV and entertainment, on that day, we’ll be holding a special press event on the Xbox campus and we invite you to join us via the live global stream that will be available on Xbox.com, Xbox Live and broadcast on Spike TV if you are in the US or Canada. On that day, we’ll share our vision for Xbox, and give you a real taste of the future. Then, 19-days later at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, we’ll continue the conversation and showcase our full lineup of blockbuster games. We are thrilled to pull back the curtain and reveal what we’ve been working on.” All I can say is hell yeah!!
Bungie – Despite Success of Halo Franchise, We Will Take Destiny to Another Level
With Halo in the rear view mirror, not to mention success like few developers have ever seen, Bungie is confident that another level can and must be reached with Destiny. In a recent edition of the Bungie Mail Sack, one developer had the following comments – “It’s important to take pride in one’s work, and we do, but I don’t see anyone here resting on their laurels, the ancients are hell-bent on outdoing themselves. The newbies are possessed with a hunger to prove that they truly deserve to keep the company into which they’ve been invited. The bar gets raised every time Bungie ships a game, it’s been said that the fall could kill you. You’ll be the judges of our vault. Bungie.net was designed to provide the players of Halo with a bunch of ways to extend and share their experiences. Those priorities won’t change with Destiny, it’ll be a great place to maintain a relationship with the people who are making this game, with the other people who are playing this game, and even with yourself as a character in this game.” Destiny is currently in development for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 4.
Assassin’s Creed 3 – The Tyranny of King Washington Official Redemption Trailer
[hana-flv-player video=”http://videos.punchdrunkgamer.com/videos/Assassin_s_Creed_3_Tyranny_of_King_Washington_Official_Redemption_Trailer.flv”
width=”560″
height=”420″
description=”Assassin’s Creed 3 – The Tyranny of King Washington Official Redemption Trailer”
player=”4″
autoload=”true” autoplay=”false”
loop=”false” autorewind=”false”
/]
From the PunchDrunkGamer Forums:
* EA Sports and NHL.com Launch NHL 14 Cover Vote
* UNCLE SAM WANTS YOU … TO PRE-ORDER: Saints Row IV Commander in Chief Edition Announced
* Atomhawk Launches Kickstarter Campaign For The Realm
Bonus Game Trailer – Injustice: Gods Among Us – Arkham Catwoman vs. Arkham Harley Quinn Battle Arena
[hana-flv-player video=”http://videos.punchdrunkgamer.com/videos/Injustice_Gods_Among_Us_Arkham_Catwoman_vs_Arkham_Harley_Quinn.flv”
width=”560″
height=”420″
description=”Injustice: Gods Among Us – Arkham Catwoman vs. Arkham Harley Quinn Battle Arena”
player=”4″
autoload=”true” autoplay=”false”
loop=”false” autorewind=”false”
/]
Post your comments directly below! You can also discuss the latest MMA and Video Game News in the PunchDrunkGamer Forums and don’t forget to Follow PDG on Twitter @PunchDrunkGamer and Like the PDG Official Facebook Page!
