Weekly Video Game News and Trailers – 10/19/2012
By Patrick Newman
Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z Revealed
An in-development spinoff to the insanely difficult Ninja Gaiden series, titled Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z, is being prepped for next generation console release, according to a senior design job listing for developer Spark Unlimited. Ninja Gaiden Z will be a third-person combat game like its predecessors, and is further being billed as a shooter, making the new game’s dynamics all the more interesting. Further job listings for AI engineer and multiplayer engineer indicate that the game will also feature a multiplayer/co-op mode.
Mass Effect 4 with NO Commander Shepard
BioWare Montreal’s much-anticipated Mass Effect 4 will be omitting Commander Shepard from the narrative in favor of a new, different and as yet undecided lead character. Producer Fabrice Condominas, speaking with VG247, confirmed the franchise’s newest evolution by saying, “There is one thing we are absolutely sure of–there will be no more Shepard, and the trilogy is over.” Condominas continued, “This is really our starting point. Now the Mass Effect universe is vast, and very, very rich. So at this point in time, we don’t even know what kind of time frame we’re going to be in. All we’re doing is more gathering ideas from the teams, gathering feedback to see several things.”
The Lord of the Rings Online: Riders of Rohan – Launch Trailer
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Black Ops II Weapon Leveling System Improvements
Call of Duty: Black Ops II’s weapon leveling system, last used in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, will see a more rigorous upgrading than seen before, as there are 55 levels and 10 prestige levels to earn. On top of that, Treyarch design director David Vonderhaar tweeted recently that any weapon in Black Ops II can be Prestiged (boosted past the 55 level cap) twice. The military shooter hits stores November 13th for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC, and November 18th for the Wii U.
Burnout for Consoles?
Though developer Criterion has diverted the majority of its energy towards the Need for Speed series currently, there are still future plans to continue the revered Burnout series for consoles. In a Guardian interview with Londoner Craig Sullivan, the creative director at Criterion, he mentions his desire to return to the series. Sullivan asserted, “We will make another Burnout game at some point. Obviously, as we’re working on NFS we’re thinking of really good ideas that aren’t right for this series; there are ideas that we’re going to explore with Burnout. And we wouldn’t be making NFS or Burnout games if we didn’t think the driving genre had a long shelf life and that we could push the boundaries.”
Zombeer – Zombification Process Gameplay Trailer
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Rockstar Wants YOU!
In a welcome democratic maneuver, Grand Theft Auto developer Rockstar is soliciting fans for their opinions regarding GTA V’s fledgling multiplayer component. On Rockstar’s official blog, they call for input about nonspecific player feedback for Crews. Some of the things to consider range from ideas from how to improve the Social Club Crew pages to new competitive features in-game. Gamers can address Rockstar about this issue at GTAVCrewFeedback@rockstargames.com.
Infinity Blade: Dungeons Delayed
Infinity Blade: Dungeons has been delayed until 2013, due to a combination of development issues and new expansions to the game overall. Wes Phillips, a spokesperson for developer Epic Games, told AllThingsD recently that “Ever since the talented team at Impossible Studios got their hands on Infinity Blade: Dungeons, they’ve been busy adding their great ideas to the game,” Phillips said. “There was also the matter of getting the Impossible Studios team up and running with desks, chairs, staplers, and computers. The logistics of a new studio and implementing all these great ideas required a little extra time, so Infinity Blade: Dungeons will hit iOS in 2013.”
Borderlands 2 – Mechromancer Trailer
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More Battlefield 3 DLC on the Way
The fourth DLC pack for Battlefield 3, titled “Aftermath,” is due for multiple platforms on November 27th (PlayStation 3 Battlefield Premium), December 4th (PC Premium and Xbox 360), December 11th (PlayStation 3), and December 18th (standard Xbox 360 and PC). The content will be free with Battlefield Premium service, and $15 as a standalone package. Aftermath includes four new multiplayer maps set in a dystopian Iran, as well as a new weapon (Crossbow), and the “Scavenger” multplayer mode, which starts players off with nothing but short-range weapons to defend themselves with.
PlanetSide Sequel Next Month
The popular PC shooter PlanetSide is receiving its first sequel November 20th, advertising itself as a “reimagining” of the original concept. The free-to-play online game features a “battle ranking” format, where certification in different vehicles and weapons moves the player further ahead. PlanetSide 2, first announced last year, is being partially written by acclaimed comics’ writer Marv Wolfman.
Assassin’s Creed 3 – Official Weapons and Combat Trailer
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From the PunchDrunkGamer Forums:
* Activision to Make All Call of Duty Elite Services for Call of Duty: Black Ops II Free
* Marvel Heroes Unleashes Jean Grey, Nova and Luke Cage at New York Comic Con
* Serious Sam 3: BFE now available on Xbox LIVE!
* Return to Greenvale This Winter with Deadly Premonition: The Director’s Cut
* 505 Games Brings iOS Hit Chimpact to Nintendo DS!
Bonus Video Game Trailer: Doom 3 – BFG Edition Launch Trailer
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