Incoming Battlefield 3 Double XP Event open only to Premium members

If you aren't a Battlefield 3 Premium member then you suck, and EA is letting you know by announcing a Premium-exclusive double XP weekend event.

Battlefield 3's second Double XP weekend event came to a close last night, but those who are Premium members will have their own exclusive event to help boost them through the ranks. Everyone who is a Premium member will get double XP throughout the entire upcoming weekend and, like before, this is valid across all maps and modes as long as you play on ranked servers.

It is set to begin on Saturday, June 23 at 7:01 AM PDT and conclude on Monday, June 25 at 6:59 AM PDT.

This is the first of many Premium-exclusive events planned by EA and DICE spanning through the months until March. The Premium Calendar includes at least one exclusive Double XP Event per month while introducing unique in-game content and expansion packs scattered throughout the upcoming months.

Battlefield 3 Premium was officially made available earlier this month. For $49.99 players can get early access to all future add-on content along with a slew of bonus content and features available only to those who pay. Fair or not, this is the future of Battlefield 3.

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Throw your money at this awesome Spider-Man shirt

Gear up for the upcoming release of The Amazing Spider-Man with this awesome t-shirt brought to us by the fine people at welovefine.com. The shirt is called 'Spidey Nouveau' and it's designed by ninjaink. It has Spider-Man giving a thumbs-up while hanging from a strand of web between the sexy Mary Jane and Gwen Stacy. Above the art it says "does whatever a spider can." I'll tell what he can do... both of them. KA-POW!

You can head over to welovefine.com and buy it for $25. It comes in coffee (fancy for brown) and red.

It's the perfect nouveau tribute to Peter Parker! (Plus it makes both MJ and Gwen fans happy. Eyyy! ;) ) -- their description... not mine.

You can follow Lance Liebl on Twitter @Lance_GZ. He also like t-shirts... send him t-shirts. KCCO.

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Warren Spector speaks out against the 'ultraviolence' in games

Epic Mickey designer Warren Spector believes we're too focused on violence in video games.

"The ultraviolence has to stop," he told GI.biz. "We have to stop loving it. I just don't believe in the effects argument at all, but I do believe that we are fetishizing violence, and now in some cases actually combining it with an adolescent approach to sexuality. I just think it's in bad taste. Ultimately I think it will cause us trouble."

Spector said he left Eidos in 2004 because of the overwhelming theme of violence he noticed in the company's line-up.

"We've gone too far," he said. "You know, Deus Ex had its moments of violence, but they were designed — whether they succeeded or not I can't say — but they were designed to make you uncomfortable, and I don't see that happening now. I think we're just appealing to an adolescent mindset and calling it mature."

The industry veteran also noticed an emphasis on Netflix and other non-gaming interfaces at E3 this year.

"When the games are the least interesting part, there's a problem," he said.

Follow @wita on Twitter for tales of superheroes, plumbers in overalls, and literary adventures.

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Diablo 3 hotfix stalls increasing monster damage

With all of the excitement of E3 last week, the incoming hotfixes for Diablo 3 may have been lost. Over the weekend, Blizzard detailed several changes coming to Diablo 3, noting that monster damage in cooperative games will no longer increase when additional players join the game. As usual, you've also got your typical bug fixes.

Below are the list of fixes as of June 8:

General

Bug Fixes

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Apple announces Macbook Air and Macbook Pro, available today

Apple has unveiled its next-generation MacBook Air and MacBook Pro laptop computers today at the company's annual developer conference. Both feature significant improvements featuring new Intel Corp. processors, USB 3.0, and enhanced resolution.  Even better, the new models are available for purchase today.

Updates to the MacBook Air include new Ivy Bridge processors, up to 2GHz dual-core i7, up to 8GB of 1600MHz memory and "60% faster graphics." It features 512 GB of storage with support for USB 3.0 (2 ports). It also boasts 720p FaceTime HD camera.

The 11-inch MacBook Air starts at $999, with an upgraded version for $1099. The default 11-inch CPU is now a 1.7GHz Intel Core i5 and it boasts a 1,366x768 resolution.  The 13-inch starts at $1,199, with a $1,499 upgraded version available. The screen resolution for 13-inch is 1,440x900. The default RAM for all Air models is 4GB.

Apple didn't stop with their Air models, but also introduced the new MacBook Pro, also available today. The new MacBook Pro includes Ivy Bridge chips, up to 2.7GHz quad-core i7's. It has 8GB of 1600MHz memory and, again, 60% faster integrated graphics. Once again, they support USB 3.0.

Apple also unveiled their stunning retina display for the MacBook Pro. For starters, the 15.4-inch display has a pixel density of 2,880x1,800, or four times the number of pixels than the previous generation of MacBook Pro display. It's the world's highest-resolution notebook display. At .71-inches thin and weighing 4.46 pounds, it's also the lightest Pro ever.

The 13-inch starts at $1,199 and goes up to $1,499 if you prefer the dual-core i7. The 15-inch will sell for $1,799 and goes up to $2,199 for the faster model.

As of right now the Apple store is down for maintenance, but once it is back these new MacBooks should be available for purchase. We'll also be sure to update you with any additional information we receive from Apple regarding these new laptops.

[Image from Engadget]

Via: Apple announces Macbook Air and Macbook Pro, available today

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The International Dota 2 Champsionships on sale tomorrow

Ticket sales for Dota 2's The International go on sale tomorrow, Tuesday, June 12th. The first batch of tickets will be available starting at 9:00 AM PDT/17:00 GMT via the Dota 2 store for $49.99.

Tickets will grant you access to all three days of The International. The ticket itself has no value unless you attend the event, so don't try for one of those get rich quick schemes either.

Valve expects tickets to sell out quickly. If you don't get a ticket this time, Valve will be releasing an additional batch each day at the same time concluding Saturday, June 16th.

After purchase, the ticket will be located in your Dota 2 inventory and can be traded like any other Dota 2 item. Upon use the item will be consumed and your Steam account will be flagged as attending. Your confirmation and access pass required to enter the event will be emailed to you at a later date so make sure your Steam contact info is up to date.

There is also a limited amount of first come, first served seating for those with PAX Prime passes.

Via: The International Dota 2 Champsionships on sale tomorrow

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Apple previews iOS 6, coming this fall as free software update

At today's Worldwide Developer's Conference, Apple previewed iOS 6, introducing over 200 new features to the world’s most advanced mobile operating system, and released a beta version to iOS Developer Program members.

iOS 6, which will be available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch users this fall as a free software update boasts a ton of new features including:

...an all new Maps app with Apple-designed cartography, turn-by-turn navigation and an amazing new Flyover view; new Siri features, including support for more languages, easy access to sports scores, restaurant recommendations and movie listings; Facebook integration for Contacts and Calendar, with the ability to post directly from Notification Center, Siri and Facebook-enabled apps like Photos, Safari and Maps; Shared Photo Streams via iCloud; and Passbook, the simplest way to get all your passes in one place.

“iOS 6 continues the rapid pace of innovation that is helping Apple reinvent the phone and create the iPad category, delivering the best mobile experience available on any device,” said Scott Forstall, Apple's senior vice president of iOS Software. “We can’t wait for hundreds of millions of iOS users to experience the incredible new features in iOS 6 including the new Maps app, expanded Siri support, deep Facebook integration, Shared Photo Streams and the innovative new Passbook app.”

The all-new Maps app features "vector-based" map elements that make graphics and text smooth. Tilting and zooming is said to be "incredibly fluid". The new app includes turn-by-turn directions along with a Flyover feature that has photo-realistic interactive 3D views. With new real-time traffic information, you will be informed on how long it will take to get to your destination with the option to choose alternative time-saving routes if traffic conditions change. Local searches includes information for over 100 million businesses.

Siri is also getting an upgrade. Currently available for the new iPad and iPhone 4S, it adds support for Spanish, Italian, Korean, Mandarin, and Cantonese. Siri will also update your status on Facebook, post to Twitter, and launch an app (if you can get the damn thing to understand you). There is even a new Eyes Free mode that enables you to interact with your phone using nothing more than your voice.

Built-in Facebook integration allows you to sign in once and post from Notification Center, Siri and Facebook-enabled apps, including Photos, Safari and Maps. In addition, your Facebook friends' info is kept up-to-date across all of your iOS devices and updates automatically.

Perhaps the coolest new feature, and possibly dangerous, is the new Passbook app. This new app gathers all of your passes, like baseball tickets or boarding passes, in one place for your convenience. Passbook will scan your iPhone or iPod touch to use a coupon, get into a concert, or check into your hotel.

Additional new iOS 6 features include:

The iOS 6 beta software and SDK are available immediately for iOS Developer Program members at developer.apple.com. iOS 6 will be available as a free software update for iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, the new iPad, iPad 2 and iPod touch (fourth generation) this fall. Some features may not be available on all products.

Via: Apple previews iOS 6, coming this fall as free software update

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Blizzard warns of cheating in Diablo 3

In an attempt to curb cheating in Diablo 3 before it becomes rampant, Blizzard has issued a warning to all of you thinking of using hacks, bots, etc.

In a post today, Blizzard emphasized that they take cheating of any form in Blizzard games "very seriously".

"If a Diablo III player is found to be cheating or using hacks, bots, or modifications in any form, then as outlined in the Diablo III end user license agreement, that player can be permanently banned from the game," Blizzard warned. "This means that the player will be permanently unable to log in to Battle.net® to play Diablo III with his or her account."

For those of you hoping to find a way around this, Blizzard clearly outlined what constitutes as cheating.

"Playing Diablo 3 legitimately means playing with an unaltered game client. Doing otherwise violates our policies for Battle.net and Diablo III, and it goes against the spirit of fair play that all of our games are based on."

"We strongly recommend that you avoid using any hacks, cheats, bots, or exploits. Suspensions and bans of players that have used or start using cheats and hacks will begin in the near future."

I think we can all agree that cheating in any form ruins the gameplay experience. Diablo 2 was a great game ruined by hacks and duping.

Diablo 3 was supposed to counter cheaters with its controversial DRM that required constant internet connection to play.  In light of the recent videos released that show duping is possible in Diablo 3, I think it's safe to say it has failed. Blizzard likely issued this response to prevent anyone possibly thinking of performing this action, or other variations, from actually doing so.

Via: Blizzard warns of cheating in Diablo 3

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The Secret World Beta Weekend 3 takes you to hell

The Secret World Beta Weekend #3 is set to take place this weekend on June 15 opening up even more of the game for you to explore.

This weekend beta test is being called Hell Raised after the epic dungeon you will experience beyond Kingsmouth in the massive new region known as The Savage Coast.  Hell Raised isn't the only dungeon available; a wrecked supertanker known as "The Polaris" has been spotted off the coast of Solomon Island.

For those of you who have participated in past weekends, you can continue your progress with the same character. If you want to participate in this Beta Weekend and the Beta Weekend starting June 22, all you need to do is preorder the game.

"The game has received significant enhancements since the last Beta Weekend, with improved content, gameplay mechanics and performance," Funcom added. "In addition you will get to experience the updated combat system as well as full DirectX 11 graphics! We are very excited to share all this with you."

The Secret World Beta Weekend #3: Hell Raised starts at 9am PST on June 15th and lasts until 11.59pm PST on June 17th.

Via: The Secret World Beta Weekend 3 takes you to hell

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Mass Effect 3 'Earth', 'Extended Cut' DLC rumored

Reddit user derptemp6698, the same person who accurately detailed Mass Effect 3's Rebellion Pack weeks ahead of its official announcement, has made new claims surrounding the next DLC add-on, Mass Effect 3: Earth.  Although he offers no citation, he claims the DLC will introduce new gear, weapons and maps for Rio, Vancouver, and London.

derptemp6698 writes:

The fighting is fiercest when it's your home at stake! Mass Effect 3™: Earth adds mods, gear, and new maps for Rio, Vancouver, and London. It features 3 new weapons: Piranha assault shotgun, Acolyte pistol, and Typhoon light machine gun. Six new human N7 classes are also available: Destroyer, Paladin, Demolisher, Slayer, Shadow, and Fury!

The tipsters also mentioned Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut - free DLC designed to provide "closure" to the sharply critisized ending - although he really didn't share any information we didn't already know.

An expanded ending for Mass Effect 3. Additional scenes and an extended epilogue reveal the impact of Shepard's choices on the future of the galaxy.

Extended Cut, announced back in April, is BioWare's response to fan outcry over the ending of Mass Effect 3. It will not be a re-imagining of the endings or a new ending. The end goal is to give players a sense of "personalization with the endings", BioWare originally said.

Unfortunately, derptemp6698 indicated no release date for either add-on, but did note that they are separate expansion.

[Kotaku]

Via: Mass Effect 3 'Earth', 'Extended Cut' DLC rumored

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Watch Dogs releasing in 2013 on PC and 'consoles'

Ubisoft's sandbox action game Watch Dogs, which was revealed last week at E3 and arguably stole the show, could be releasing in 2013. Ubisoft posted, then removed the tweet confirming the 2013 release date, likely in an attempt to steer clear of speculation.

During the gameplay demo, there was no mention of a release window or platform. In the same tweet, it was stated that Watch Dogs would be released on PC and "consoles". This, of course, paves the way for rumors surrounding the game's next-gen possibilities. If you had seen the gameplay you could make a case that Watch Dogs is a next-gen game, possibly arriving on the PS4 and Xbox 720, which could be why no platforms were stated.

Aside from the stellar gameplay and compelling idea, the graphics looked stunning. The textures, reflections, and models were all impressive and when time was slowed down you could literally see each individual raindrop bouncing off the surface. While the demo was likely shown off the PC, it's still hard to fathom the aging Xbox 360 or PS3 capable of reproducing something similar.

The tweet has since been removed, but not before GameTrailers captured a screenshot.

Watch Dogs is an open-world action-adventure that "blends cutting-edge technologies and sophisticated game design into a realistic and living open world where players must use any means at their disposal to take down a corrupt system." Watch Dogs enters the dangerous world of Aiden Pearce, a "new class of antihero" who has the ability to hack into any connected electronic system.  It's a game that focuses on the concept that all people can be identified and tracked based on their electronic interactions, be it through the internet or their cell phones.

[GameTrailers]

Via: Watch Dogs releasing in 2013 on PC and 'consoles'

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Ready for PS4 and Xbox 720? Dead Island: Riptide price 'reflects end of console cycle'

Although Dead Island: Riptide will release for Xbox 360 and PS3, its lower-than-standard price point could indicate the end of the current console generation.

When asked about the game's $49.99 price point when it launches, Deep Silver marketing and PR manager Aubrey Norris confirmed the publisher's belief that the PS4 and Xbox 720 will be close to release by the time the game arrives, likely some time next year.  For that reason, Deep Silver believes the $49.99 price "makes a lot more sense".

"That's not a placeholder :) that's the real price!" she told Ripten when contacted about retailer listings for the game. "It's the end of a console cycle - we think this price makes a lot more sense given that."

Norris also confirmed that Dead Island: Riptide is a new game and not a remake in a similar fashion to Dead Rising 2: Off the Record.

Dead Island: Riptide is planned for release on PC and current-gen consoles. Although it was announced during E3, a more extensive reveal is lined up for this summer.

Who knows, maybe this new price could indicate a change in the overall pricing for the entire game industry. Last July, EA Sports boss Andrew Wilson suggested the days of the $60 games business could be numbered, noting that 45% of revenues made by games in 2010 were digital.

At the same time, it's also possible that Deep Silver is just saying this rather than admitting the lower price is an attempt to help boost sales for a game that many may be hesitant to pick up, possibly due to the somewhat disappointing launch of Dead Island.

[RipTide]

Via: Ready for PS4 and Xbox 720? Dead Island: Riptide price 'reflects end of console cycle'

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Ubisoft planning to 'annualize' Assassin's Creed franchise

Ubisoft's successful Assassin's Creed franchise could be getting the Call of Duty treatment.

Speaking to Gamasutra, Ubisoft North America executive director Laurent Detoc suggested the idea of "annualizing" the franchise meaning we could possibly see a tenth installment to the Assassin's Creed series.

"I hope we will," Detoc responded to the idea of creating possibly an eighth, ninth, or even tenth installment.

"I also hope we'll be able to branch out from within the franchise. It's very simple to me: There's no such thing as not being able to annualize a franchise. If it's good, people will come."

That seems to be Activision's approach with Call of Duty which is now set to release the ninth installment later this year. In one sense, Detoc is correct in that people will come to a good franchise. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 received rave reviews and reached record-breaking sales numbers.

With that being said, Ubisoft has to be careful with their approach in annualizing Assassin's Creed. Despite the success of Modern Warfare 3, many fans were disappointed in the most recent release. Unless companies make significant changes to the gameplay or introduce a unique feature, the annualization of games can lead to stale gameplay and eventually less sales - which is actually what I predict will happen to Call of Duty.

Ubisoft seems to be off to a good start with Assassin's Creed 3 impressing many at E3 with not only a new setting and character, but with stunning visuals and gameplay that consists of brutal executions. If Ubisoft can continue to make the strides with future installments that they have with Assassin's Creed 3, then I'm all for new titles for the franchise. The key is to not fall into the success lull that hurts so many sequels.

[Gamasutra]

Via: Ubisoft planning to 'annualize' Assassin's Creed franchise

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New StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm unit update

A new video has surfaced on the highly anticipated StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm expansion that details some of the new multiplayer units that will were unveiled at BlizzCon last year.

Here are the new units as stated in the video:

Protoss units

Terran Units

Zerg Units

Follow me on Twitter @Tatiana__GZ /meow.

Via: New StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm unit update

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Photos from E3 2012: Day 3

E3 was a blast and we love bringing you guys all of the news and previews from this weeks events!

Andrew gets his power loader face on!

Master Chief makes an appearance for his fans!

The rally club brought to you by Focus ST.

Nothing better than seeing Master Chief taking center stage again.

Matt meets with Stephanie from Focus Home Interactive and sees their awesome new line-up of games.

The GameZone guys get a hands on of the new Epic Mickey 2 game.

Matt and Lance try their hand at some Epic Mickey Co-op.

Mike loves cute bears!

Far Cry 3 had a good showing at E3 2012!

Everyone makes their final rounds at E3, getting a last glimpse next years hot games.

Stay tuned for GameZone's E3 wrap-up and find out who we thought won and lost at E3 2012.

Via: Photos from E3 2012: Day 3

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Amazon highlights E3's bows and helicopters

Amazon eyed up E3's showcase of games and noticed a theme: bows and helicopters. They've also created a page that groups them all together for easy access.

From Tomb Raider to Resident Evil 6, Beyond: Two Souls to The Last of Us, they're all there ... replete with bows and helicopters.

What were your favorites from this year's event?

Follow @wita on Twitter for tales of superheroes, plumbers in overalls, and literary adventures.

Via: Amazon highlights E3's bows and helicopters

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Tomb Raider team comments on 'rape' scenes in the E3 trailer

Crystal Dynamics head Darrell Gallagher and game producer Ron Rosenberg expressed their views on reactions to the violent Tomb Raider trailer shown at E3.

In one part of the video, Lara appears to be fending off a would-be raper, kneeing him in the groin and struggling to shoot him when he pins her to the ground.

“To actually see what she goes through, to become hardened, to become this tomb raider than we know and love, or at least a new version of it," Gallagher told the Penny Arcade Report. "A big part of that journey is seeing some of the hits she’s taken along the way and why she had to get that inner strength and the inner core to become the woman that we all know. There is that sense of seeing it and being explicit about that. It’s part of the narrative.”

Rosenberg explained that the emphasis on Lara's suffering was intentional — and that their research into survivors of extreme situations revealed a common mantra: keep moving.

“You see that in the beginning of the game, where we begin to build her up and give her confidence to cross the ledge, cross the plane, she forages for food and she’s feeling really successful," Rosenberg said. "Then towards the end we start to really hit her, and to break her down. Her best friend is kidnapped, she’s taken hostage, she’s almost raped, we put her in this position where we turned her into a cornered animal.”

Tomb Raider, scheduled for release on March 5 of next year, is better considered as a reboot than a prequel. The Lara Croft that we've seen before is not necessarily the one we'll know by the end of the new game.

“They share many traits so you can recognize the iconography, it’s the same character, but it’s a more modern version," said Gallagher. "It doesn’t necessarily lead directly into Tomb Raider 1, with hot pants and a braid.”

Follow @wita on Twitter for tales of superheroes, plumbers in overalls, and literary adventures.

Via: Tomb Raider team comments on 'rape' scenes in the E3 trailer

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Hacking simulator game Uplink now on iPad

Introversion Software has the PC hacking simulation game Uplink for the iPad with an Android tablet version soon to follow. The game was initially released in 2001 for the Mac, PC, and Linux and recieved critical acclaim with indie gamers upon its arrival.

The game puts you in the position of a freelance Uplink Agent that makes a living by hacking for major corporations. Your missions are to break into classified computer systems and steal any information you come across or change peoples records, making them innocent if guilty or framed if innocent. The app store description reminds you to  "be sure to cover your tracks, and remember that trust is a weakness."

The game is set for $4.99 with an average of 4 stars.

Via: Hacking simulator game Uplink now on iPad

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Dishonored E3 trailer shows off supernatural gameplay

With E3 just a few days away, Bethesda is looking to show off their upcoming first-person action game, Dishonored, early with a new, supernatural gameplay trailer.

What would you do with a drunken whaler?  How about combine supernatural abilities with weapons and gadgets to dispose of him?  In this new trailer you see Corvo, a supernatural assassin driven by revenge, perform a series of brutal attacks under the cover of darkness.

In Dishonored, Corvo is framed for the murder of the beloved Empress and becomes an infamous assassin known only by the disturbing mask he dons.  But in a time of uncertainty, when the city is besieged with plague and ruled by a corrupt government armed with strange technologies, dark forces bestow supernatural abilities upon you.

Dishonored will be available in North America on October 9, 2012 and throughout Europe on October 12.  It is slated for release on Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.  At this point, details about Dishonored remain vague, but we should get more info come E3 next week.

Via: Dishonored E3 trailer shows off supernatural gameplay

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Quantum Conundrum PC date announced

Quantum Conundrum, a new puzzler from the co-creator of Portal, will be available on June 21 exclusively for Steam on PC.

Square Enix announced that pre-orders for the first-person environmental puzzle game are now available on Steam. Fans can now pre-order either the standard edition or a season pass of Quantum Conundrum through Steam.  The season pass includes three exclusive Team Fotress 2 items, an exclusive downloadable Quantum Conundrum soundtrack, and future downloadable puzzle packs.  Both the regular game and the season pass are 10% off during the pre-order period, from now until June 20.

In addition, fans who pre-order the PC version of the game are automatically entered into a sweepstakes to have their likeness painted by the painted by the Quantum Conundrum art staff and hung in Professor Quadwrangle’s mansion.

For those looking to purchase Quantum Conundrum on consoles, it will be available on the PlayStation Network for the PS3 and on XBLA for the Xbox 360 this Summer.

Via: Quantum Conundrum PC date announced

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Sony Online reveals SOEmote for EverQuest II

At E3 next week, Sony Online Entertainment will be unveiling the SOEmote, an "innovative new facial recognition and voice technology feature" available for EverQuest II players.

The new SOEmote will bring an all-new level of immersion within EQII through the real-time personal expression of characters.

Using "revolutionary" motion tracking software created by Image Metrics, SOEmote will map your facial movements onto your in-game character via a webcam.  It will also integrate Vivox's Voice Font technology so that other players will hear your voice as your character voice.

Sony hasn't confirmed when the new feature will go live, but it will be on display at E3 next week so we'll be sure to fill you in on all the details once we learn more.

Via: Sony Online reveals SOEmote for EverQuest II

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Battlefield 3 Armored Kill slated for September 2012 release

DICE has announced that Armored Kill, the second of three planned downloadable content packages for Battlefield 3, will arrive sometime in September 2012.  It was previously slated to release "in the autumn".

In March, DICE revealed plans to release three add-on for Battlefield 3 starting this June with Close Quarters which will be released one week early on PS3 and include 10 new weapons and four new maps all themed around close quarter combat.

Armored Kill will be the second DLC released and is said to feature all-out vehicle warfare with new tanks, ATV's, and mobile artillery.  It will also contain the largest map ever seen in a Battlefield game. 

There was no mention of the final add-on content, End Game, which is still expected to arrive in the winter.  Fans looking to pick up all of these Battlefield 3 expansion packs may be interested in the Battlefield 3 Premium service, which EA is expected to announce and roll out on June 4th.  This one-time payment will include not only include all (past and present) expansions for Battlefield 3, but other "unique in-game items not available anywhere else."

At the EA press conference, set for Monday, June 4 at 4:00pm EDT, EA promises to "feature never-before-seen video and gameplay" of hte publisher's biggest titles - which likely means Battlefield 3 will be highlighted.  Meanwhile, at the EA booth, both Battlefield 3: Close Quarters and Armored Kill will be playable for attendees so we'll be sure to get you our impressions of the upcoming DLC.

[Joystiq]

Via: Battlefield 3 Armored Kill slated for September 2012 release

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Max Payne 3 available for PC today

If you are strictly a PC gamer then you probably already know this, but Max Payne 3 is now available worldwide for PC at retail and via digital download.

"Max Payne's roots are with the PC community, so it was essential to us that Max Payne 3 live up to that heritage," said Rockstar Games founder Sam Houser. "We're proud to deliver the PC community the next installment in Max's dark and twisted journey."

Developed in parallel with the critically acclaimed console versions, Max Payne 3 for PC delivers the "ultimate Max Payne 3 experience", supporting a wide range of PC specifications, plus advanced graphics options, scalable high-resolution textures and character models, DirectX11 features, LAN support, multi-monitor support and stereoscopic 3D compatibility.

Last week, Rockstar's lead PC designer Kevin Hoare promised owners of higher-spec PC hardware can "sink their teeth in to" Max Payne 3.

"It’s when you get towards the top end of that range that you can really push a game to its limits, and the game will look and run incredibly on the most advanced current machines around at the moment and well into the near future," he promised.

During Take-Two Interactive's annual fiscal conference call, the parent company revealed Max Payne 3 sold "approximately" 3 million units during its inital launch on consoles.

You can find Max Payne 3's PC specs here.

Via: Max Payne 3 available for PC today

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Battlefield 3 Premium trailer leaked ahead of EA's E3 briefing

The trailer for Battlefield Premium, EA's new premium content service for Battlefield 3, has been leaked just a bit early from its grand debut set to allegedly take place during EA's press briefing later today.  In just a few hours we'll be getting our first "official" look at the new service, but in the meantime we have this trailer which will likely be the same one shown.

The trailer confirms a lot of what we'd already heard previously - in terms of content - from the alleged fact sheet that was leaked last week. The new announcement trailer shows off two weeks early access to all future Battlefield 3 add-on content, as well as access to all previously released content.  Combined, the Battlefield 3 expansion packs include 20 maps, 20 new weapons, 10+ new vehicles, 4 new game modes, 30+ Assignments, and 20+ dog tags.

It also promises vaguely that Battlefield Premium will include "more".  They didn't post exactly what else it contains, but the fact sheet leaked a ton of features including the ability to reset your stats, unique in-game items, and server queue priority.

The trailer said Battlefield Premium is "available now" so I expect it will go on sale when EA announces it later today.  The trailer didn't mention price, but the fact sheet said $49.99.  We should find out for sure today.

Via: Battlefield 3 Premium trailer leaked ahead of EA's E3 briefing

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Warface debuts official gameplay trailer

Trion and Crytek released the official Warface trailer today. Warface is one of three first-person shooters that Crytek is developing and is promised to be a AAA shooter game for the PC that offers good graphics for anyone. The game itself offers both player versus player (PVP) and player versus environment (PVE). Warface is the first, first-person shooter that provides daily missions for PVE and a growing amount of PVP missions.

Warface is going to be free to play, making it available to anyone that owns a computer and is a fan of shooters. The game has co-op missions and is frequently updated offering new things to users often. You can sign up for their Closed Beta test today. Many details haven't been revealed about the game itself, other than what is promised on their site. In lieu of that, I'm sure that sometime during E3 we will hear more about the game.

Enjoy the trailer below.

Via: Warface debuts official gameplay trailer

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Connor slaughters Redcoats in this Assassin's Creed III E3 trailer

At their press conference, Ubisoft debuted the official trailer for Assassin's Creed III.

The video shows main character Connor, born of a Native American mother and British father, assassinating countless Redcoats as the Colonists watch with interest. Players will shape history in a new direction.

While the trailer doesn't show any actual gameplay, it does provide a sense of scale and atmosphere. Let us know what you think.

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Via: Connor slaughters Redcoats in this Assassin's Creed III E3 trailer

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Dungeonland coming to PC later this year

Dungeonland is a cooperative action game that puts players in control of adventurers as they visit a medieval theme park. The Evil Lord Dungeon Master, tired of them foiling his schemes, plans to enact his revenge on the group.

Publisher Paradox Interactive and Brazilian developer Critical Studio say players should expect to “expect to die a lot.”

In multiplayer, three players assume the roles of the Rogue, the Warrior, or the Mage, while the fourth plays as the Game Master, setting traps and unleashing monsters to stop the heroes.

Players can customize their character and acquire new skills as they dungeon-crawl through jungles, magical gardens, a dragon's lair, and other environments on their way to the Dungeon Master's tower.

Below is a list of core features:

The "co-op-dungeon-looting-monster-exploding-lunacy-fest" is coming to PC in Q4 2012.

Follow @wita on Twitter for tales of superheroes, plumbers in overalls, and literary adventures.

Via: Dungeonland coming to PC later this year

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Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto to provide voice work for Star Trek game

Actors Chris Pine And Zachary Quinto (Kirk and Spock, respectively) from J.J. Abram's modern Star Trek film will lend their voices to publisher Namco Bandai and developer Digital Extremes' upcoming game.

Star Trek will arrive for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC in early 2013. It emphasizes co-op play and is a third-person action-adventure title.

The game is expected to faithfully represent Abram's movie while following its own unique narrative.

Follow @wita on Twitter for tales of superheroes, plumbers in overalls, and literary adventures.

[Game Informer]

Via: Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto to provide voice work for Star Trek game

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Trine 2: Director's Cut bringing new features to Wii U

Finnish game developer Frozenbyte is releasing Trine 2: Director's Cut — a new version of their puzzle-platformer that hit Xbox 360, PS3, and PCs last year — on the Wii U.

The Director's Cut will feature a new, unlockable level and integrate several minor tweaks. The revamped controls will better use the Wii U GamePad, and the exclusive "Magic Mayhem" mode will support local or online multiplayer for up to four players.

The game will also contain the upcoming The Goblin Menace expansion, which will also release as DLC for the PC edition of Trine 2 but is not planned for existing console versions. According to NeoGAF, the content will introduce six levels, character skills, and environments — such as the insides of a sand whale. Players can expect the add-on to launch with the Wii U.

Check out the E3 trailer below.

Follow @wita on Twitter for tales of superheroes, plumbers in overalls, and literary adventures.

[The Verge]

Via: Trine 2: Director's Cut bringing new features to Wii U

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Photos from E3 2012: Day 1

Day 1 did not disappoint us and the GameZone crew is working hard to bring you all of the coverage from E3 2012. Here are some photos from our Day 1 walkthrough.

Shigeru Miyamoto starts off the Nintendo Press Conference at E3.

Fan Favorite Reggie Fils-Aime talks about all of Nintendo's new lineup.

Super Mario U is going to be an awesome twist on the old game for the new Wii U.

Show favorite ZombieU is taking the zombie market to a new level with its innovative play style.

Call of Duty Black Ops 2 kept things hush hush at their revel at E3.

Activision does nothing less than big here at E3.

Square Enix booth draws a crowd.

Star Trek fans wait to see the new game and hopefully get a play through.

Spec Ops The Line has a creative way to show their game and has a ton of people talking about it.

Borderlands 2...enough said!

Get your Alien on with some Colonial Marines Cos Players.

Madden '13 lines were packed with sports fans flocking to see their new favorite players and graphics.

Hitman Booth shows its true colors.

Players get to play some Hitman at the booth as well.

Tomb Raider is also a fan favorite also here at E3.

Bethesda shows off Elder Scrolls online behind closed doors.

Resident Evil had some "unique" marketing strategies during the show.

Don't Forget to follow us on Twitter @gamezoneonline for all E3 news, previews and updates!

Stay tuned for GameZone's Booth babe gallery and see which one of your favorites makes the cut.

Via: Photos from E3 2012: Day 1

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