Speculation online has been also rife about whether that means an Orange Box 2, the original Orange Box came with Half Life 2 Episode 2, Team Fortress2 and Portal. Even on it’s own Portal 2 will do well but if it was bundled with Half life 2 Episode 3 then potentially Valve is looking at a enormous hit.

Portal 2 is set to include a CO-OP mode and is rumoured to return the player to Aperture Science Labs. New surprising characters are also expected to appear in the game with new areas to explore at Aperture.

Just imagine how complex the puzzles will be with a CO-OP mode using two player it promises much, including another cake maybe. The cake is a lie…is a lie but GLaDOS is back

“We thought that the Orange Box didn’t put our best foot forward with the PS3 community. We don’t want to do something like that again on the PS3. We want to give PS3 owners the best possible experience.

“Some of that will come from us learning and getting better. Before we can go onto the PS3 again, we want to make sure we’re better at developing for it.”

The PS3 version of The Orange Box – a huge commercial and critical success on Xbox 360 – was criticised by some quarters after Valve outsourced its development to EA.

The game was marked down by reviewers – with frame rate issues becoming a common bugbear.

To further extend the experience, Visceral plans to release a series of downloadable content packs and expansions beginning in February. In March, Visceral will release Dark Forest, a prequel level that tells the story of Dante’s journey home and features new enemies, puzzles and relics. In April, players can download Trials of St. Lucia, a full expansion to the game that offers a co-operative multiplayer mode, a new playable character, and an in-game combat editor. The easy-to-use combat editor allows players to create custom combat trails, and then upload and share their creations online. In addition to Dark Forest and Trails of Saint Lucia, Dante’s Inferno will offer downloadable packs containing souls, skins, relics and magics to further boost players on their journeys through Hell.

“We cannot wait for players to experience the terrifying and exhilarating vision of Hell that awaits in Dante’s Inferno,” said Jonathan Knight, Executive Producer for Dante’s Inferno. “This team did an amazing job adapting a 700 year-old piece of literature and creating a captivating, thrilling, grotesquely beautiful experience that both gamers and literature fans will enjoy.  And to top it off, we are thrilled to bring online multiplayer and content creation to the game in April.”

Dante’s Inferno is set in Dante Alighieri’s vividly imagined nine circles of Hell – limbo, lust, gluttony, greed, anger, heresy, violence, fraud and treachery. Throughout this journey, players take Dante on an epic descent through hell, battling their way through a terrifying gauntlet of demons to reclaim the soul of his beloved Beatrice. At a blazing-fast 60 frames per second, each circle features unique environments, all new creatures, terrifying demons and story elements that are scored distinctly to set the tone that fits each circle of sinners.

Dante’s Inferno is rated R16 in New Zealand. Dante’s Inferno will be available for the PlayStation Portable on February 26^th. For more information on Dante’s Inferno, please follow Dante’s Inferno on Twitter at www.twitter.com/danteteam, and visit the game’s official web site at www.dantesinferno.com.

“After the success of the PS3 beta, we’re excited to provide gamers — especially our long-supporting, rabidly passionate PC fans — with another opportunity to get into the game before release,” says Patrick Bach, Senior Producer on Battlefield: Bad Company 2. “Our fans have been a huge part of the franchise’s success and we can’t wait for everyone to experience the amazing gameplay and unforgettable Battlefield moments in Battlefield: Bad Company 2.”

The Battlefield: Bad Company 2 console demo and PC beta will feature Port Valdez, a new vehicle focused map where up to 24 players (32 on PC) will compete against each other as either the US or Russian armies in the game’s Rush multiplayer mode. Players will have access to five land and three air vehicles where the Russian side can use everything in their arsenal including Main Battle Tanks as well as the fast-moving Quad Bikes and Mobile Armored AA. The fight will also be packed with plenty of infantry combat fought alongside the waterline towards a great oil industrial landscape in the Alaskan mountains.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 will be in stores in New Zealand on March 5, 2010 for the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and the PC. The Limited Edition can be pre-ordered now on all platforms at no extra cost, with participating retailers worldwide (while supplies last).

For more information on DICE, please visit www.dice.se. For more information on the Battlefield franchise please visit: www.battlefield.com. Or follow on Twitter at http://twitter.com/OfficialBFBC2.

* Internet connection and Xbox LIVE Gold membership required. Demo will end on February 25, 2010.

** Available at participating retailers in New Zealand. Offer and codes expires February 25, 2010.

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The question posed was, “I was highly anticipating the release of The Ballad Of Gay Tony, but just found out that it is only on the XBox360. I am certain that I am not the first person to ask this, but how come it wasn’t released on the PS3?”

Which Rockstar replied, “We know that it continues to be an often-asked question – and believe us, we understand the frustration of PS3 owners like yourself who haven’t been able to play any of our most recent releases. All we can say is that we at Rockstar promise to be very good to you with our releases in 2010. Please stay with us and stay tuned!”

There’s also news on the oft hidden L.A. Noire. The game was originally presumed to be a PlayStation 3 exclusive, but with Rockstar handing Agent to Sony, this game is expected to be for the Xbox 360 and PC also. The question for the past year or so was whether the game actually exists.

A question asked, “Your latest word on L.A. Noire is that it is coming along “splendidly” and that we can expect more details very soon, but that was in September. I’ve been anticipating this game for ages now and I was wondering if you can provide any new information or when in fact you’ll publicly provide more information. By the way, is it still on the PS3?”

And Rockstar replied: “There will be something great to see soon – a proper in-depth look at the game and why it is so ground breaking and innovative, both in terms of the game’s design and the amazing new technology to support it.  Expect to see a long-awaited reveal via a big cover story next

The MMO Champion website reported the man’s character “Little Grey” is the first to complete every achivement in the game.

A Tauren Druid called ‘Little Grey’ has 986 out of 986 achievements on his armory page, along with *deep breath* collecting 100 mounts, 75 pets, completing every quest, visiting every location, and defeating every boss.Along the way he’s virtually slain 390,895 creatures and died 8,543 times while completing 5906 quests, an average of 14.6 quests per day. That means he’s played for about 400 days.

The historic achievement has a tad bit of controversy however, since he’s technically missing a recently released achievement.

(source http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/games/3127323/Man-beats-World-of-Warcraft)

Exclusive previews of “Halo Legends” on Xbox LIVE starting Sunday November 8

AUCKLAND, New Zealand – November 6, 2009 – Halo Waypoint, the new virtual home for all things “Halo,” launches today on Xbox LIVE, and will be the exclusive destination for full-episode previews of “Halo Legends” beginning Sunday, Nov. 8.  Following a successful preview period, Halo Waypoint is now available for “Halo” fans worldwide bringing all the richness of the “Halo” universe together in one place. Halo Waypoint features daily updates of new, exciting content such as developer interviews, trailers and screenshots, exclusive video footage, community activities and the latest “Halo” news.

In addition, Halo Waypoint includes an innovative career system that tracks players’ accomplishments across multiple “Halo” games and gives them new ways to show off their heroic gameplay feats. By downloading and “enlisting” in Halo Waypoint, players will be rewarded with a variety of Bungie-created “Halo 3: ODST” Avatar Awardables for attaining specific Achievements in the game. Rewards vary from stylish T-shirts to full sets of ODST armour. The experience is retroactive, so if players have already unlocked the requisite Achievements, the awards will be ready for them once they enlist in Halo Waypoint.

Players can unlock the following Achievements to gain access to “Halo 3: ODST” Avatar Awardables^*:

As a bonus for enlisting to Halo Waypoint, fans will receive a Monitor accessory for their Avatars modelled after the “Halo” character, 343 Guilty Spark. The Monitor will help fans find their way around Halo Waypoint, the new destination for all things “Halo” on Xbox LIVE.

The rollout of exciting new “Halo” content doesn’t stop there. This Sunday, the first preview episode of the highly anticipated anime series, “Halo Legends,” will debut only on Halo Waypoint. Set to be distributed in early 2010 by Warner Home Video, the rich anthology of anime short films will tell all-new stories in the epic “Halo” saga.

Written and created by an array of renowned anime studios and produced by 343 Industries, “Halo Legends” will explore never-before-told stories based on themes and characters in the vast “Halo” universe. Previews of four new “Halo Legends” episodes will be available only on Halo Waypoint during 24-hour live-streaming events on Xbox LIVE over the next three months.

The first “Halo Legends” preview episode, “The Babysitter,” is created by famed anime house STUDIO4ⅹC, and follows the story of a group of ODST’s who reluctantly accept a Spartan sniper into their strike team. As they embark on a perilous mission to assassinate a high-ranking Covenant Prophet, old rivalries must be reexamined if the mission is to succeed. Watch what happens as the mission progresses into hostile territory, and both the Spartan and the ODST’s discover something important about the other.

Following each preview episode on Xbox LIVE, fans will receive exclusive behind-the-scenes looks at each studio’s creative process through “making of” specials. Below is the current broadcast schedule of upcoming “Halo Legends” live-streaming events (subject to change):

To learn more about “Halo Legends,” visit http://halolegends.com and http://halolegendsdvd.com. For the latest updates on the “Halo” franchise, follow the Halo Waypoint Twitter @HaloWaypoint or visit the Halo Waypoint Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/HaloWaypoint.

BIOWARE ANNOUNCES MASS EFFECT 2 COLLECTORS’ EDITION

Special Edition Includes Exclusive Armor and Weapons,

Comic Book, and Bonus Content

Auckland, NZ (November 6, 2009) – Recruit your crew and fight for the lost! Leading video game developer BioWare™, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that the internationally acclaimed Shooter RPG Mass Effect™ 2 will also be released as a Collectors’ Edition in limited quantities.  Available on January 29 in New Zealand alongside the standard edition, the Collectors’ Edition of Mass Effect 2 comes in a premium, tin case and includes the full version of the game, a 48-page hardcover “Art of Mass Effect 2” book, Issue 1 of the Mass Effect Redemption comic book, and a bonus DVD with behind-the-scenes and making-of videos. In addition, the Mass Effect 2 Collectors’ Edition will include unique in-game weapons and armor that can only be obtained by purchasing this version. With its larger-than-life hero Commander Shepard, intense shooter action, nuanced characters and a rich storyline, Mass Effect 2 is one of the most anticipated titles of 2010.

“We’re really excited to roll out this Collectors’ Edition featuring so many unique items, including special Collectors’ Edition armor and weapons and content that will surprise Mass Effect fans,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, co-founder, BioWare and Group General Manager of the RPG/MMO Group of EA. “The limited edition comic book and bonus DVD will really enhance and expand the overall Mass Effect 2 experience.”

The Mass Effect trilogy is an emotionally charged science fiction adventure set in a vast universe filled with dangerous alien life and mysterious, uncharted planets. In Mass Effect 2, players will once again step into the role of the heroic Commander Shepard, commanding their crew of some of the most dangerous operatives from across the galaxy on a mission so challenging that it’s potentially suicidal. Featuring intense shooter action, a rich futuristic storyline, space exploration and emotionally engaging character interaction, the game delivers an unparalleled cinematic experience.

Mass Effect 2 will be available on the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and PC. Mass Effect 2 assets are available at info.ea.com. Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/masseffect2.   For more information on Mass Effect 2, go to http://masseffect.bioware.com/.

Zombie Blockbuster On Track To Top Valve’s All Time Sales

Oct 5, 2009 – Valve, creators of best-selling game franchises (such as Half-Life and Counter-Strike) and leading technologies (such as Steam and Source), today announced a $25 Mil consumer advertising plan for its upcoming action thriller, Left 4 Dead 2 (L4D2).

“Based on the strength of pre-orders, Left 4 Dead 2 will be the fastest-selling product in Valve’s history,” said Gabe Newell, president of Valve. “Left 4 Dead 2 has consistently run at 300% of Left 4 Dead’s numbers.”

Last year, Left 4 Dead was the top selling new property for both the Xbox 360 and PC. Sales were driven by strong word of mouth, top reviews, and a $10 million advertising campaign.

“We’ll be supporting Left 4 Dead 2’s launch with a $25 million campaign,” said Doug Lombardi, Valve’s vice-president of Marketing. “Left 4 Dead 2 has already set the record for greatest number of pre-orders in our company’s history, and we’re still over a month out from shipping.”

In the USA, the campaign will include Monday Night Football and UFC television broadcasts, roadside billboards, and popular lifestyle and gaming sites.

This year’s European plan is also more aggressive than last year’s, with television advertising in all the major markets appearing during sports and lifestyle programming, plus strong outdoor investments in more cities, as well as online and print advertising.

“Left 4 Dead 2 is expected to once again exceed everyone’s expectations and be an industry best title on PC and Xbox 360 for the year,” said David DeMartini, General Manager of EA Partners. “With Left 4 Dead and now Left 4 Dead 2, Valve has created one of today’s most compelling video game experiences and leading entertainment franchises.”

Coming exclusively to Xbox 360 and PC, L4D2 promises to set a new benchmark for co-operative action games and become one of 2009’s marquee titles. Set for release on November 17, the title adds melee combat to enable deeper co-operative gameplay, with items such as a chainsaws, frying pans, axes, baseball bats, and more.

Introducing the AI Director 2.0, L4D’s dynamic gameplay is taken to the next level by giving the Director the ability to procedurally change weather effects, world objects, and pathways in addition to tailoring the enemy population, effects, and sounds to match the players’ performance. The result is a unique game session custom fitted to provide a satisfying and uniquely challenging experience each time the game is played.

Finally, with new Survivors, boss zombies, weapons, and items, Left 4 Dead 2 offers a much larger game than the original, featuring more co-operative campaigns, more Versus campaigns, new Survival maps, and a brand new competitive mode all available at launch.