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Huge Xbox Games on Demand sale next week

Xbox Live's Games on Demand has the value of convenience, but the games are frequently priced well above their prices at retail. That issue will temporarily be resolved from February 26 through March 4, with the "Ultimate Game Sale."

Specific prices aren't offered, but games are being marked down up to 75% for the sale, and the list includes, like, everything. All the Calls of Duties, the Halos, the Batmen, Borderlandses, Metal Gear Solid HD, Dead Island, The Orange Box, etc. Even El Shaddai. Check the list after the break for many more.

Yes, these could all be discounted 1% and one game nobody cares about discounted 75%, but XBLM will be worth a look next week just in case.

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MechWarrior Online gets biggest map ever, new matchmaking system in latest update

MechWarrior Online gets biggest map ever, new matchmaking system in latest update
Free-to-play shooter MechWarrior Online has added a new update to the game, this one containing the biggest map yet. The environment is called Alpine Peaks, and features lots of cold, open areas, separated by some very tall high ground. In addition to the new map, the update also includes five new versions of a mech called the Trebuchet, which specializes in long range combat and carries medium weight.

Finally, the newest update also adds in what Pirahna Games is calling "Phase 3" of the matchmaking system, which will allow players of the same skill to find and compete against each other in a balanced way, despite what mech they're driving. The new system also allows for cosmetic holograms in the cockpit, so you can now show off any House Faction loyalties you happen to have. Us, we're partial to Winterfell, but -- oh wait, wrong setting. At any rate, the update is now live on the servers, so go get that Mech a Warrior-in'!

Bethesda: Prey 2 teaser site is 'not something we're doing'

Alien Noire teaser site updates with Prey 2 logo
Remember the "Alien Noire" website supposedly counting down to a revelation about Prey 2? A recent update added a Prey 2 logo and more to the site. The site now also features logos for both Bethesda Softworks and Human Head Studios, Prey 2's publisher and developer, respectively.

Furthermore, the hidden message in the site's source code has been expanded. Previously reading "Tommy needs your help," it now reads "Tommy needs your help with a stranded human who wants to go home." The message refers to Tommy, the protagonist from the original Prey, who plays an important role in the sequel.

You might think that using official logos would substantiate the site's legitimacy, but apparently that's not so, according to Bethesda. A spokesperson tells Joystiq, "I don't know what that is or who is doing it. It's not something we're doing." So there you have it.

Duke Nukem 3D, Shadow Warrior, ROTT, more 60% on GOG this weekend

Duke Nukem 3D, Shadow Warrior, ROTT, more 60% on GOG this weekend
GOG.com is running a sale on Apogee games this weekend, knocking several titles down to $2.39 apiece. That includes crude classics like Duke Nukem 3D, Shadow Warrior and Rise of the Triad, as well as great granddaddy shooter, Blake Stone (pictured). You can also nab the original, side-scrolling Duke Nukem games, or the awesome-for-its-time flight game, Terminal Velocity.

NIS America bringing Disgaea D2, The Guided Fate Paradox, and Time and Eternity west


NIS America's lineup of RPGs for this year includes the required Disgaea game, and a couple of surprises.

This year's Disgaea is Disgaea Dimension 2: A Brighter Darkness for PS3 sees the return of Laharl, Etna, and Flonne from the first Disgaea, and adds a "master/pupil" system to the insane tactical strategy gameplay to help you transfer skills and boost stats. It's due this fall in North America and Europe.

The Guided Fate Paradox is a PS3 roguelike developed by NIS's Disgaea team. NIS bills it as "the spiritual successor to ZHP Unlosing Ranger vs. Darkdeath Evilman" for PSP, which suggests Disgaea-esque humor and a lot of customization. It's out this fall.

Time and Eternity for PS3 was published in Japan as Toki to Towa by Namco Bandai. It's a role-playing game by Imageepoch with a weird 2D/3D hybrid style, in which hand drawn anime-style characters move around in 3D backgrounds (see what that looks like after the break). It stars a time-traveling princess who can switch personalities to her alter ego Towa. NIS will release it both retail and digitally this summer.

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Rock Band Weekly: The Flys, Queensryche, Staind

Image After years of writing Rock Band Weekly, we're coming close to its conclusion, with the DLC announcements for April 2 the end of the line. 275 consecutive weeks (over five years) is an impressive run and Harmonix deserves much respect for pulling it off. ... Continue Reading

Xbox 320GB hard drive to include NFS: Hot Pursuit, Ms. Splosion Man

The Xbox 360 S-compatible 320GB hard drive is getting a new batch of games, forcing out the formerly bundled-in Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars.

As of sometime next month, the additional storage space includes downloadable copies of Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, Ms. Splosion Man, and Pinball FX 2 with the Sorcerer's Lair DLC. As for the price, that sticks at $129.99.

Arma 3 a Steam exclusive

Bohemia Interactive starts petition to get Arma developers home
Arma 3 will go Steam-exclusive, with the development team at Bohemia Interactive stating the move will ensure a 2013 launch.

"We have evaluated the pros and cons, but in the end Steam enables us to release Arma 3, brings massive advantages to the game, and improves the end-user experience. Not to forget, the majority of our players already come from Steam," said Bohemia Interactive CEO Marek ŠpanÄ›l.

Bohemia is also exploring more Steamworks integration to "enable game features that are impossible to develop in-house, on time." Further details will be announced later, but the intention is to provide access to user-generated content and multiplayer.

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PS Plus brings Europe Mass Effect 3, DOA5, MGS HD, more next month

European PlayStation Plus subscribers can rub their hands and smack their lips at another decent haul of Instant Collection games in March. For PS3 there's Mass Effect 3, Dead or Alive 5, and Joe Danger 2: The Movie, while on the way to Vita are Puddle and Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, which includes MGS2: Sons of Liberty and MGS3: Snake Eater.

The newbies start rolling out on March 6 with a triple substitution: Mass Effect 3, DOA5, and Joe Danger 2 are in, while Sleeping Dogs, Vanquish, and Limbo depart the service. Next up are the two Vita games, with MGS HD Collection swapping in for Wipeout 2048 on March 13, and Puddle for Lumines Electronic Symphony on March 20.

Those are some very brief runs for Sleeping Dogs, Wipeout 2048, and Lumines ES, which all came to PS Plus in February, so now's the time to snap them up.

Infamous: Second Son coughs up details on smoky hero, Seattle setting

Infamous Second Son puffs out details on smoky hero, Seattle setting
Sucker Punch announced Infamous: Second Son at this week's PlayStation 2013 event, following an intro by game director Nate Fox that can only be described as... disturbing. So can the electric series' latest entry live up to his intensity? Well, there's a ways to go yet before we'll find out - Sony hasn't revealed if Second Son will be at the PS4's launch - but Sucker Punch took to the PlayStation Blog to shine a bit more light on the game.

Second Son is set seven years after Infamous 2, and in Seattle - a real-life location as opposed to Empire City, which was based on New York. It stars 24-year-old Delsin Rowe, who Sucker Punch paints as a self-described underachiever. Whereas previous protagonist Cole McGrath was all about electricity, Rowe's superpowers, at least initially, revolve around smoke. That may not sound as badass as electric powers at first, but the game's debut trailer showed a smoked Rowe can whip up plenty of havoc.

As for Fox's (melo)dramatic intro, that was designed to underline the paranoia and restricted freedoms of Second Son's world in the wake of the last game's cataclysmic events. As you might expect, the prohibitory forces in charge and new hero Rowe aren't exactly best mates.

On a final gameplay note, Sucker Punch suggested we could see the return of good/evil choices as per previous games: "As with all games in this series," said producer Brian Fleming, "the path the gameplay and story take will depend on the decisions you make along the way."

Mass Effect 3 Citadel DLC stars late Zaeed actor, BioWare pays multiplayer tribute

Mass Effect 3 Citadel DLC stars late Zaeed actor, BioWare pays multiplayer tribute
Mass Effect 3's newly announced Citadel DLC features Zaeed and the work of Robin Sachs, the late actor who portrayed the bounty hunter. BioWare producer Mike Gamble revealed Sachs' involvement, marking one of the very last pieces of his acting work to be published. Sachs, known for his roles in other BioWare games as well as TV shows Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Babylon 5, passed away earlier this month at the age of 61.

BioWare, following a suggestion from fans on its forums, is also paying its respects to the actor through this weekend's Mass Effect 3 multiplayer operation. The aim of the operation, called 'Tribute,' is to "honor and avenge our comrades who fell – and let the Reapers know this was a mistake, not a victory." The goals are to earn points using the M-8 Avenger and Inferno Grenades, referencing Zaeed's old 'Jessie' rifle and his loyalty power from Mass Effect 2. The operation begins today and runs through to Sunday, February 24.

[Thanks, Sigfodr]

PS4 demo with Killzone: Shadow Fall on Jimmy Fallon


The Late Night with Jimmy Fallon show got the first PS4 demo outside of the PlayStation event this morning, and it saw Killzone: Shadow Fall taking the limelight. Guerrilla Games managing director Hermen Hulst first showed off the DualShock 4 controller before taking Fallon and guest Anthony Anderson through a hands-on demo of Shadow Fall.

While the three-minute demo was essentially the same sequence showcased in the reveal trailer, a couple of interesting morsels did emerge. While talking about the greater range of possibilities with the PS4's boosted hardware, Hulst noted the demo's climbing segment as something Guerrilla wasn't "able to do with Killzone before." Secondly, we got a clearer look at Shadow Fall's slowdown mechanic in action, which Hulst called "Focus Mode."

Also, as much as we'd prefer to see useful footage of just-announced hardware, we did snigger at Anderson pointing the controller all over the shop like a man trying to hold on to a wriggly kitten. What good is a hands-on demo, Mr Anderson, if you're unable to play it?

Killzone: Shadow Fall is coming to the PS4 at launch, which is due Holiday 2013.

Tomb Raider fires up combat trailer, PC specs published


The third Tomb Raider Guide to Survival webisode focuses on something that's always been something of a pitfall for Ms Croft: combat. Clearly Crystal Dynamics hopes to address that with this reboot, and thankfully we've not seen any evidence of shark-punching (yet).

Square Enix also sends us the game's newly revealed PC specs, which we've published over the break. PC stalwarts may be pleased to see Tomb Raider bucks the growing trend of dropping XP support.

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Hell Yeah! engulfs iOS in a Pocket Inferno


Arkedo Studio's hellacious downloadable game Hell Yeah! is spinning off, as rabbits in giant sawblade vehicles are wont to do. Hell Yeah! Pocket Inferno, developed by Polm Studio, lets you navigate through an automatically scrolling hellscape by tapping the left half of the screen to jump, and uses the right side to activate the machine gun you use to blow up enemies and environmental hazards.

Collectible skulls and Jetpack Joyride-style goals drive replayability, with the twist that the game is broken up into specific levels, each with pre-designed challenges, rather than a random endless gauntlet.

Is Pocket Inferno on the App Store now for 99 cents? Emphatically confirmed!

PSA: VVVVVV now flipping around Linux via Steam

Terry Cavanagh's reorientation-oriented platformer VVVVVV is now available on Linux by way of Steam, Cavanagh announced earlier today. The port requires Ubuntu version 12.04 LTS (aka "Precise Pangolin") running on a machine only slightly more advanced than a George Foreman grill, so chances are good that your box can handle it.

Cavanagh recently revealed that testing has begun on an iOS version of VVVVVV, though its release shouldn't be expected anytime soon. Meanwhile, our desperate pleas to have Xbox 360 controller support patched into the PC version of the game have thus far gone unanswered. Sources familiar with our deepest desires inform us that we'd be prepared to offer Cavanagh upwards of five dollars and a sizable baguette in exchange for this functionality.

Unity co-founder Nicholas Francis leaving to make games

Unity cofounder Nicholas Francis leaving to make games
Unity Technologies, licensor and proprietor of the popular 3D engine Unity, co-founder and COO Nicholas Francis revealed he will step down from the company. His next project: making games.

"So I will be leaving Unity in order to join your ranks and dedicate myself to creating games," Francis writes on the Unity site. Francis says that in more recent time he's actually felt more fulfilled when creating things in Unity, rather than working on the engine itself. "As great as it has been building Unity, I have come to feel that actually using it is what really scratches my itch. On days where I can just get into the zone and fidget around with some shaders, gamecode, a custom editor tool or whatnot, I feel really fulfilled."

Francis has yet to reveal what his new project is, whether he'll found a studio or, well, anything about what he's up to, really. But we're almost positive it'll be a mobile game ... running on the Unity engine.

Plants vs. Zombies goes free on iOS this week

Plants vs Zombies goes free on iOS this week
For the first time in the game's history on iOS, Plants vs. Zombies has dropped to the low price of completely free. On either the iPhone or in HD on the iPad, you can grab the full-featured app for free through the rest of this week.

Statistically, given how many copies of the game have sold already, you probably already own it on at least one of your gaming devices, but just in case that list doesn't include iOS just yet, there you go. And now that PvZ has finally and truly achieved total platform domination, PopCap can start it on the sequel; It's due out sometime this spring.

StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm lets you recover lost games, take command during replays


StarCraft 2 community manager Kevin Johnson produced the above video, a quick rundown of some major additions to the StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm eSports suite and multiplayer experience. Chief among these new features is "Take Command," which allows you to jump into a replay and take over as any player – you can rewrite history, prove your strategy yields better results or relive the conquests of your favorite eSports match-up.

You can now also recover games. No matter how your game ended prematurely, you can round up all the original players and pick up from where you left off. Or not, there's an option to set the start time in the recovered game to whenever you want.

Additionally, players can watch replays in a group, and individual units now benefit from new physics – the example above shows a cadre of Terran soldiers being torn apart in rather animated fashion as they fight off some Zerg. Remember, kids: the only good bug is a dead bug.

StarCraft 2: Heart of the Swarm launches on March 21, 2013. The game's ongoing public beta is slated to end on March 1.

Black Ops 2 free this weekend, cheap on Steam

Play Black Ops 2 for free this weekend on Steam then buy it for cheap
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is free-to-play this weekend on Steam and it's on sale for 33 percent off, $40 for the standard game and $54 for the Digital Deluxe edition. The sale runs through Monday, February 25, and the free weekend ends on Sunday, February 24 at 1 p.m. PT.

The Digital Deluxe Edition includes the Nuketown Zombies and Nuketown 2025 bonus maps, weapon camo skin, two player card backgrounds, the game's official soundtrack and a download of Call of Duty World at War. It's a war-torn weekend, with another massive shooting game available for free on Steam over the next few days: Gratuitous Space Battles.

Learn how to rush rockets in Halo 4's Landfall map

Image Here's a video for the Landfall map in Halo 4, with is part of the upcoming Majestic Map Pack. The rockets are in the back. What else do you need to know? ... Continue Reading

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— Bungie's Joseph Staten on earning success with Destiny after Halo.

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