E3 EA Update

Blood-thirsty necromorphs attack and YOU must save mankind! Electronic Arts today revealed the highly anticipated launch date for Dead Space 2. The action horror game will be in stores on 28 January in New Zealand. Dead Space 2 pushes the limits of action, horror and terror. After waking up in a sprawling, dark and mysterious location, Dead Space 2 hero Isaac Clarke again finds himself thrust into the middle of a massive necromorph invasion. Surrounded by the screeching cries of undead monsters and the haunting drum of echoing noises, Isaac plots a course through abandoned building after creepy abandoned building. Dead Space 2 is set to deliver best-in-class sound design, visuals and action sequences. In Dead Space 2, engineer Isaac Clarke makes his return in a blood-curdling new adventure on an all new space installation known as “The Sprawl.†The lone survivor of a horrific alien infestation, Isaac finds himself confronting a catastrophic new nightmare. Battling dementia, Isaac will do whatever it takes to save himself and dominate the relentless enemy onslaughts. Equipped with a new arsenal of tools to dismember the necromorphs, Isaac faces the challenge head-on. Players will see Isaac fight bigger, scarier and more epic battles that will keep them on the edge of their seats. “The story of Isaac, the necromorphs and the whole Dead Space fiction has much more to reveal. Dead Space 2 adds another dimension to the complex world and characters that inhabit this universe,†said Executive Producer, Steve Papoutsis. “We were honored and humbled by the response to Dead Space and Dead Space Extraction, and we could not be more excited to add another chapter to the annals of the horror genre.â€Â 
Criterion reinvents Need for Speed Hot Pursuit for the connectedgeneration. Criterion Games, a studio of Electronic Arts Inc. has announced that the award-winning development team is making the latest installment in the renowned Need for Speed franchise. Inspired by the classic game of the same name, Criterion will reveal Need for Speed Hot Pursuit for the very first time today at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles. Launching in November 2010, Need for Speed Hot Pursuit brings the franchise back to its roots with intense cops vs. racer chases. Criterion also ups the ante with the introduction of an all-new online network called Need for Speed Autolog, where players compare racing stats and automatically get personalised gameplay recommendations from their friends – a feature that is poised to transform online racing for the connected generation. Need for Speed Hot Pursuit players will experience the thrill of the chase and the rush of the escape as they play through full careers as both a cop and a racer – solo or connected. The high speed busts and heart-stopping getaways are all connected via Need for Speed Autolog. This network not only connects friends for epic head-to head pursuits and races, but also enables players to compare performances and stats, thereby setting the stage for the ultimate in social competition. Craig Sullivan, Creative Director of the game said, “At Criterion, we’ve been playing Need for Speed since it was first introduced on 3DO. We are honored and excited by the opportunity to reinvent the franchise for today’s connected audience. Our goal has been to create cops vs. racers pursuits that are so fun, fast and exciting it really brings to life the adrenaline and intensity of the high speed cop pursuit experience with your friends.†Developed by Criterion Games, Need for Speed Hot Pursuit will be available on 19 November 2010 in New Zealand on the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and PC. Need for Speed Hot Pursuit will also be available on the Wii™ and is being developed by Exient.
EA Invites Gamers to Join the ‘Gun Club’ Electronic Arts announced the ‘Gun Club’, an affinity program that rewards gamers for doing what they love best – enjoying their favourite games. ‘Gun Club’ members will receive benefits ranging from in-game content unlocks, early access to beta tests and demos, as well as the hottest news and exclusive access to development teams. The ‘Gun Club’ brings together some of the world’s biggest and best games, including Battlefield: Bad Company 2, Medal of Honor and a brand new paid digital expansion pack for Battlefield: Bad Company 2 set in Vietnam. Additional games will follow, including offers from Battlefield Heroesâ„¢ and Dead Spaceâ„¢ 2, among other titles. Starting today, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 VIPs become eligible to redeem Medal of Honor rewards*, including early access to the Medal of Honor beta as well as early access to a Medal of Honor weapon unlock in the retail version of the game – the M24 Sniper Rifle. Using their existing EA profile as their Gun Club membership profile, gamers will access content that just might give them an edge in battle. Players can check out the awards they qualify for at http://www.gunclub.ea.com. “This program takes our games from being individual launches to being part of an ecosystem within our portfolio, while showing fans our appreciation for their loyalty. The Gun Club gives us a platform to cross-pollinate our games, dialogue directly with players and add value to the entertainment experience for fans,†says Jeff Karp, Senior VP of Marketing at EA. “Today, we are launching the Gun Club with Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and Medal of Honor – two of the hottest titles coming out this year… and this is just the beginning.â€
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam Electronic Arts announced the first multiplayer Expansion Pack for the mega-hit Battlefield: Bad Company 2 where gamers will find themselves in an entirely new theatre of war – Vietnam. Fighting as either U.S. Marines or North Vietnamese Army (NVA), the hostile combat terrain of the Vietnamese jungle is brought dramatically to life via the Frostbite engine with a host of authentic vehicles and weapons with which to engage the enemy. The punishing jungles, powerful air invasions and guerilla tactics of an unpredictable enemy deliver non-stop action in this sandbox environment, a signature design style of the award-winning Swedish studio. With more than 5M units sold, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 has been hailed as, “…a better game than Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2†by Seth Schiesel of The New York Times. The Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam digital expansion pack takes all of the intensity, action and addictive gameplay of Battlefield: Bad Company 2 and ups the ante with enhanced persistence, new weapons, vehicles, unlocks, awards, achievements and trophies. Featuring four new maps playable in classic Battlefield modes including Conquest and Rush, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 Vietnam will be available worldwide Summer 2010 for the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and PC. Price will be announced at a later date. Defined by its exceedingly intense vehicular warfare, destruction, variety of weapons and huge sandbox environments, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is one of 2010’s top selling action games. The game is available for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.
Bulletstorm Epic Games, People Can Fly and Electronic Arts revealed the ship date for Bulletstorm, a hot new original property that has already topped many ‘Most Anticipated’ lists at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2010. Set to release in February 2011, Bulletstorm is a blood symphony that combines outrageous gunplay with unique kick, slide and leash mechanics. Players learn to ‘kill with skill’ as they slaughter waves of mutated enemies to rack up points and unlock weapons. Set in a futuristic utopia, an elite peacekeeping force thwarts the rumblings of civil war. But deception within the ranks has caused two members of the most feared unit, Dead Echo, to strike out on their own. Now, washed-up mercenaries, Grayson Hunt and Ishi Sato, are stranded on the abandoned paradise planet of Stygia surrounded by hordes of mutants and flesh-eating gangs. They survive on two objectives: get off the planet alive and exact revenge on the man who sent them there. Taking on the role of Gray, players perform over-the-top combat moves with some of the most uniquely innovative weapons ever seen in a first-person shooter. Every enemy presents a new opportunity for stylish and ever increasingly bloody ways to take them down. The game’s signature ‘skillshot’ system guarantees unprecedented levels of frenetic gameplay rewarding players for inciting mayhem in the most creative way possible. The more insane the skillshot, the more points players collect to upgrade and unlock weapons, which in turn allows them to execute even more inventive moves and exaggerated skillshots.
Crysis 2 Will Be Available in True Stereoscopic 3D Yesterday, Crytek GmbH, the award-winning developers of the Crysis franchise, announced that Crysis 2 will also be available in true stereoscopic 3D. The blockbuster action game will be the first major video game on multiple platforms to take full advantage of true stereoscopic 3D. Crytek is recognised worldwide for being technical pioneers, as showcased in the universally-acclaimed Far Cry and Crysis, as well as their award-winning, proprietary CryENGINE technology. “At Crytek, we always strive to raise the technology bar. As the 3D revolution sweeps movies and television, we are excited to bring Crysis 2 to 3D, making it the first big action game to be available in true stereoscopic 3D,†said Cevat Yerli, CEO and President of Crytek. “The 3D experience represents a quantum leap in interactive entertainment. With all of the same story and action seen in the 2D version of the game, the 3D version adds another dimension of intensity and immersion to the action.†Whether played in 3D or standard 2D, Crysis 2 drops players into a devastated New York in the midst of an attack by a frightening alien species. The alien enemies are armed with deadly weaponry and exceptional sensory abilities that test players’ skill and push them to the limit. These terrifying invaders stalk the streets of New York, leaving the streets in chaos and the skyline in flaming ruin. Surrounded by catastrophic destruction, players harness the superhuman abilities of the Nanosuit to level the playing field, becoming the ultimate weapon on a mission to save New York. Built on Crytek’s new state-of-the-art multiplatform game development system, CryENGINE 3, Crysis 2 will be available for the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system and PC in 2D and 3D.
EA Sports Active In Development for Kinect Electronic Arts announced that EA SPORTS Active 2 is in development for Kinect for Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. The programme will be available in New Zealand on 19 November along with the previously announced PlayStation 3, Wii, iPhone and iPod touch platforms. The EA SPORTS Active 2 console-based fitness programs will deliver true fitness results with an innovative heart rate monitor, wireless tracking, as well as a new online hub to track and share workout data. EA SPORTS Active 2 will make working out simple, effective and go with you wherever you are. “Delivering EA SPORTS Active 2 on Kinect for Xbox 360 is a natural fit for fitness and the ability to track full body movement will create a fluid workout experience that delivers real results,†says Andrew Wilson, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Development, EA SPORTS. “It is the perfect complement to our EA SPORTS Active suite of fitness products and is indicative of our commitment to deliver new experiences for new audiences. We’re excited to expand on the top rated fitness franchise on the market.†Kinect for Xbox 360 tracks full body movement with true 1:1 motion that will register exercises never before possible and create seamless workout experiences, without ever having to use a controller. Users will have complete freedom of motion for a deeper, more effective workout, similar to the experience of the EA SPORTS Active 2 Total Body Tracking system on the PlayStation 3 and Wii that uses wireless motion sensors in leg and arm straps. Unique to Kinect for Xbox 360, users will have the ability to navigate workouts with voice and gesture recognition, which allows for a seamless, fluid workout experience. Included in the packaging is the innovative EA SPORTS Active heart rate monitor that provides constant on-screen monitoring, allowing users to capture intensity and optimise performance over time. Additionally, along with the PlayStation 3, users will also have the ability to download new workouts and exercises to their Xbox 360 console through Xbox LIVE online entertainment network to keep their workouts fresh and maintain motivation. EA SPORTS Active is currently the number one rated interactive fitness program for the Wii on the market and recently met the guidelines for an effective workout as measured against the American College for Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines. EA SPORTS Active focuses on improving muscular strength, endurance and flexibility, as well as improving cardio, which can help achieve fitness goals, including building muscle, increase energy levels and weight loss. EA SPORTS Active 2 products will offer the same, high-quality exercise experience with over 70 new exercises and fitness activities including exercises not possible before the Total Body Tracking wireless control system. EA SPORTS Active 2 provides total body conditioning using progressive exercise in new programs. A 9-week program provides a fitness roadmap to help keep users motivated and on track of their fitness goals. Additional mini-programs will also be available to add on, keeping workouts fresh and inspiring. The EA SPORTS Active virtual personal trainer will walk users through their workout and provide continued encouragement with feedback to ensure an optimal workout experience. – EA