Activision invests on indie games

With a very forward-looking strategy designed to locate and select the new talent, Activision has invested $ 250,000 in prizes for indie developers to Independent Games Competition.

The publisher has announced the winner of the first round of the contest, offering 175,000 dollars to Peter Dstroyd for the RTS Angstadt and 75,000 dollars to Engient to Rigonauts: Broadside, title based on the fighting between vehicles.

The developers in question will use the money to expand their ideas.

The second phase of the contest will see other 250,000 dollars up for grabs and the details will be circulated shortly. The hope, of course, that this time the initiative is not only open to developers, but that it also broadens the European territory.

Frostbite 2 for Mirror's Edge 2?

Electronic Arts and SAYS have few times talked about a possible sequel to the magnificent and misunderstood Mirror's Edge, but so far there was no official announcement.

In the latest issue of Official PlayStation Magazine UK for appeared an interesting rumor, according to which Mirror's Edge 2 gi developing and will use the powerful Frostbite Engine 2.0.

EA's Frank Gibeau stated recently that the saga deserved a second chance and apparently this possibility already under definition.

Sony Santa Monica clears three games

The LinkedIn profile of Steve Johnson, sound designer at Sony Santa Monica, has revealed that the studio would have cancelled three projects for PlayStation 3.

The titles in question, now deleted, were High Rise, Psynapse and Hand of God. Considering the quality of the works previously released by the God of War, a pity that three projects have suffered a similar fate.

Profile of Johnson, however, also confirmed that the studio currently working on two titles not yet announced. One of these could be God of War 4 since, as we always were told, the adventures of Kratos does not have certainly resulted in the epilogue of God of War III.

King of Fighters XIII bonus

Atlus announced that all those who book The King of Fighters XIII in America will receive four complimentary cd containing the soundtrack of the series.

The bonus of Atlus are well known to fans, who again will be well rewarded for their loyalty. The cd will contain not only the songs of the new chapter of the historical saga of fighting, but also those of all previous episodes.

Atlus also used to offer beautiful artbook and bonus otherwise, but for now not yet been announced anything about it.

Among the other news of the console version of the game will have a substantial history mode, which will be followed by the optics of pi characters, and a series of online options designed to meet the demanding fans.

The King of Fighters XIII come at the end of October for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 and at the moment there are no announcments of any kind for the European version of the game.

Review: TrackMania 2: Canyon

TrackMania 2 engines off: Canyon could also be mistaken for a normal racing game. Models of machines are polished and well-made and asphalt realistically wrinkled, and no matter the track on the horizon seems to have something weird.

Then you press the accelerator and the car comes to life. Once you reach the first jump, which launches the player into the sky by forcing him to make incredible evolutions, the TrackMania difference appears immediately obvious.

The interesting thing, however, that not only focused on TrackMania races but also on designing and construction. In the intriguing title Matchbox, can compete on more absurd that our mind can imagine, and although it seems almost to have always been part of the scene of racing games for PC, the first true sequel to the glorious title of Nadeo is going to get just now.

In the game enthusiasts of old date will feel immediately at home. Driving along narrow paths and intricate by relying on the keyboard or joypad, will find themselves suddenly faced with huge jumps, spins of death beyond the limits of traditional physics and fools ran on the wall. Of course, for the first time TrackMania 2 include damage to drive, but you treat a cosmetic thing. Will not be done anything which might even minimally impacting the soul arcade, indispensable to tame paths occasionally hallucinating (although, to be honest, the car was given a bit of extra weight during the drifting more aggressive).

TrackMania 2: Canyon will be the first part of a project that Ubisoft chose to operate as a kind of platform, where users can purchase additional packages after the launch. Each package contains new scenarios and Canyon, of course, offer a wide collection of mountains and rocks of any kind, showcasing the new textures. As per tradition for the series, for, items made available to the programmer will be merely a starting point.

Straying from the path we're going to examine the editor for the realization of circuits and we find that the menu will allow to use different tools to create their works of art.

Resistance 3: date of beta

Sony and Insomniac have recently announced that the beta of Resistance 3 avr officially start, only for subscribers with the PlayStation Plus, on 10 August.

And those who aren't subscribers? Good question, which, unfortunately, there is still a response. The developers have stated that "there will be a place for everyone" without providing precise information on.

The beta allow access to two maps, one set in Wales and the other in Colombia, each of which will be playable in two modes: Deathmatch and Team Chain Reaction.

Sar can reach up to level 20, acquiring Meanwhile upgrades and extra skills and customize the characters used, all elements which we hope will then "transported" in your account when you purchase the full version of the game.

Sony PS Life producers "indie"

Sony firmly intends to support massively independent developers who wish to carry out projects for PlayStation Life.

Two members of the studio Icon Games, great Great Little War for iOS, announced they have received for free from the giant Japanese not one, not two, not three but four development kit PSVita.

"We showed our game to Sony and liked it so much that they decided to send for free these four kits," said a company representative.

It means that Great Little War will be one of the titles to launch PlayStation Life ... not bad at all!.

Review: Rainbow Six: Shadow Vanguard

Rainbow Six is for several years a landmark in the field of tactical FPS and there is therefore no surprise to see that the franchise is now also on mobile devices.

Shadow Vanguard, available exclusively on Xperia yet for a few days, only the latest in a long line of products dedicated to anti-terrorism Squad, but Ubisoft House the overall quality of the proposal will experience the height of the good name of the brand?

The premise of fiction does not differ much from other productions for Tom Clancy, inspires in a new, intense battle against terrorism that we must conduct acting as captain of Team Rainbow. Our goal of round HRH Free Europe, dangerous terrorist organization intending to destabilize the political landscape of the old continent, but secure peace won't be certain a walk.

The story is not particularly original, however the main 11 campaign missions are able to ensure a good experience for both the presence of co-op, but especially for the usually solid gameplay.

The version for Xperia Play proves the "playable" among those available, highlighting the natural predisposition of the videogame field device. The possibility to control the character with the D-pad or analog with two sliders and shoot using the two bumper side ensures a management bereft of smudges which does not yield the side details also inaccuracies in the game more challenging.

To make the Elimination of enemies a bit more simple there also a semi-automatic coupling, but there remains that manage the most chaotic gunfights in discreet request can manualit and tactics that not everyone might have.

As well as the other editions, even in this case there are several commands available directly through the touch-screen, such as those that regulate the types of RAID team, but most of the actions are however related to the classic schema commands pi.

While not a masterpiece, Rainbow Six: Shadow Vanguard proves to be a well-made product, able to speak to its highest level on the Xperia Play. The main adventure not lacking in excitement and, whereas the historical solidit of the game in the series did not suffer the passage on portable devices, category lovers will certainly not disappointed.

EA: 3D games not worth it

Electronic Arts admits that 3D games are not worth the time and effort required to achieve them and points out that, rather, it is more profitable to move resources to the social and online.

"In those markets there are really high returns, unlike with the 3D. For this we are shifting our resources toward new directions, "said EA boss John Riccitiello during a meeting of the society also by GamesIndustry.biz.

"Frankly, we haven't seen a big growth for the 3D game and even in the spread of 3D televisions in homes, at least not yet. We are not here to lead the market, but to respond to what consumers are looking for ".

Riccitiello's comments will certainly hit Sony, which has invested millions of dollars in 3D TV and 3D game for the PlayStation 3.

co-op coming for Crysis 2

If you have a PC copy of Crysis 2 you'll be glad to know that CryMod guys are now coming to the launch of a mod that the cooperative mode and Sensi for up to 4 players.

The project is divided into "phases", debutter allowing to address the "Second Chance", "Terminus" and "Dead Man Walking" in the company of three other friends, going to be offering the remaining levels of the main campaign in the months to come.

Samsung working on the SP CPU Life

According to the latest news, Samsung realizzer CPUs for PlayStation Life.

The Japanese Semiconductor Industry News has broadcast the news (translated by Andriasang).

According to the Samsung user report production process to 45 Nanometers for their CPU.

There is no evidence in support of the argument, but given the experience of Samsung in making chips for the mobile industry development seems plausible.

PlayStation Life user an ARM Cortex A9 core CPU (4 cores).

PS Life open to indie developers?

Sony apparently would encourage independent developers to work on PlayStation Life, providing them with development kits needed to begin to realize their projects.

Rubicon, independent development studio has confirmed what announcing Meanwhile a porting their game for iOS, Great Little War Game, on new handheld Sony.

The managing director Paul Johnson, through the pages of NeoGAF, has also confirmed the news saying that Sony would be sent "four kits. Free Of Charge. Without any warning. "

"They seem to have focused on independent developers," continued Johnson.

OnePlayS debuts in Europe

The passion for the game, you know, certainly not among the most ecnomiche, but if you were already thinking of making a mortgage on your preferred console to ensure all masterpieces under here until Christmas OnePlayS , could possibly be the solution to your problems.

What is it? Essentially a videogame rental service, but what makes it particularly interesting that the games chosen will be delivered directly to your home.

The service, after having successfully passed a "trial period" limited only to Denmark, now officially available throughout Europe.

OnePlayS is based on a simple system of subscription, which costs 4.99 monthly basis, providing members a catalogue with over 1500 products from all platforms currently in Commerce, PC and laptops including.

"We are extremely happy to offer our services to gamers across Europe," said Lass Jensen, CEO of the company.

Sales decline for SEGA

Sales SEGA games have seen a strong decline in the months of April, may and June, with a loss of 2,224 billion yen (20 million).

The given even more significant when you consider that the Sonic House in the same period last year was in surplus of 7,036 billion yen (63 million euros). What happened in the meantime?

Part of these heavy losses due to the earthquake that hit Japan, causing serious logistical problems to the company, but the problem is also (and mainly) the lack of success from such titles as Virtua Tennis 4 and Thor in the West and Yakuza: Of the End in Japan.

Saints Row 3 in pre-order

It seems that in addition to Star Wars: The Old Republic, also Saints Row: The Third is recording reservations.

Brian Farrell, THQ President, announced that pre-orders of this third installment in days exceeded those of the second.

The release of Saints Row: The Third scheduled for the last quarter of 2012 on PS3, PC and Xbox 360.

The Witcher 2 Xbox 360 delayed

The Xbox 360 version of The Witcher 2 won't arrive in stores between October and November as originally planned, but in the first quarter of 2012.

The usual statement of fact from the developers of CD Projekt: "this will allow extra time to clean up the game and give the fans the best experience possible."

"We'll know more soon the new date, we hope that despite this small delay players continue to wait anxiously for this version of The Witcher 2".

Square Enix acquires rights of True Crime

Square Enix has announced that it has purchased the rights to True Crime after the abandonment of the project by Activision part.

"We have fallen in love at first sight," said Lee Singleton, general manager of the London Studios of Square Enix. "It's fun and represents a new and better approach to the development of third party products".

Apparently the "new owners" seem also intend to rename the product, even if you ignore what might be his new title.

These suffice to make us forget the gamers Activision's statements about the alleged mediocrit of the game in question?

Date of Final Fantasy Tactics iOS

The calvary of iOS version of Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of The Lions finally finished. Square Enix announced that the game will be available on the App Store since 4 August.

It is a conversion of optimal title PSP out on a few years ago, which will be 12.99 and coster played solely on iPhone 3GS and higher models.

A iPad version planned, but will see the light are next fall.

3DS and Wii U to pay for DLC

Nintendo is planning to introduce for the first time paid DLC on 3DS and Wii U.

To confirm it was the President Satoru Iwata, who announced that the new system developed by the company on the Nintendo 3DS will be launched before the end of the year.

Iwata and Shigeru Miyamoto said they were very interested in the possibility of extending the lifespan of upcoming games through subsequent expansions and new objects ... well, better late than never!

Cover of FIFA 12

Electronic Arts announced that Albinoleffe, striker of Inter, will be the kicker of the cover of FIFA 12.

At his side we find the veteran English Wayne Rooney and neo-vimby Philippe Mex's.

"I'm really honored to be on the cover of FIFA 12 and represent a videogame that collects annually increased success of critics and audiences," said Swift.

"I see In 12 FIFA reproduced faithfully physical characteristics and my skill of player ... even my way of celebrating a goal spectacularly realistic."

FIFA will be available from 12 September 30 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PC, PlayStation 2, Nintendo 3DS, PSP, iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.