It looks like there’s a new map pack coming to Call of Duty: Black Ops. The pack, titled Escalation, includes the Zoo, Hotel, Convoy, Stockpile, and Call of the Dead (zombies). According to a flyer from GAME in Australia, the pack will be available for 360 on May 3rd. Based on the exclusivity deal Activision has with Microsoft, PS3 users will probably see it a few weeks later.
If you can’t get enough Mass Effect, you’ll get a slight reprieve before Mass Effect 3 comes out this holiday season. Mass Effect: Deception, the fourth novel in the series, will be released this Fall. It is written by William C. Dietz.
If that still isn’t enough Mass Effect, BioWare, EA, and FUNimation are bringing an anime version of the space saga to digital and home video in Summer 2012.
Maybe you haven’t got enough of Mass Effect because you haven’t actually played Mass Effect 2? Maybe you also haven’t played Dragon Age II. Bioware wants you to do both and they’re giving you a great deal to make it happen. Because Dragon Age II beat its predecessor to the million mark, they want to reward you by giving you a free PC copy of Mass Effect 2. To take advantage, simply register your online pass code from Dragon Age II (console or PC) on their website before April 30th. You’ll then be able to download a free copy of Mass Effect 2 for your PC.
And that’s all well and good. But what about Mass Effect 3? Some details have finally surfaced regarding this incredibly anticipated next chapter in Shepard’s saga. There may be some spoilers here about Mass Effect 2, its DLC, and other mediums, so be warned. The action begins when Reapers invade the court proceedings where Shepard is on trial for the events in the last game. If you skipped the last game, you’ll have an interactive comic to get you up to speed and make the critical decisions, much like the one that came with the PS3 version of ME2. Besides Shepard, there will be many more previous characters appearing: Garrus, Liara, Ashley/Kaiden, Wrex, Mordin, Legion, and Anderson. Your interactions and their involvement will depend on how you finished the previous games/interactive comics. Cerberus, who now wants to kill Shepard will also be returning, along with the Illusive Man. Gameplay? The RPG elements are increased, striking a balance between the first and second games. Skill trees are larger and you have more freedom in their use. Certain powers will have more opportunities to be increased. Weapons will be similar, but with added ability to customize attributes and appearance. Also, weapons are not class restricted, but the number each class carries is. As expected, there will be multiple endings. Thankfully they’ve not tried to cram a multiplayer aspect into the game, but it is being considered for future spin-offs after this game ends the primary trilogy.
I’m not really sure how I feel about the growing wave of workout video games. They’re basically just the same workout videos we’ve always had, but now you get little more feedback and maybe earn some trophies or achievements while you’re at it. If they can make it as fun as a video game but get you some exercise at the same time, I guess it’s a good idea. For those wanting to try one of these games, UFC Personal Trainer: The Ultimate Fitness System actually looks pretty good. The idea of fight training seems like it would cross into the video game world a little better than zumba or basic aerobics. The game, developed by Heavy Iron and Published by THQ, will be coming to Wii, 360 Kinect, and PS3 Move in June. The UFC name isn’t just for promotional purposes either. Several off their top MMA trainers were involved in the creation. Top fighters in the organization have also lent a hand – including the current light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, and being trained by the Martian Manhunter has got to be cool.
EA Sports has announced their upcoming plans for their NBA titles. First, coming to your consoles’ online store in October, is NBA Jam: On Fire Edition. Also, after cancelling their more realistic basketball game, NBA Elite 11, EA will be coming back to the sport in 2012. The new NBA sim is not yet named but is in development at the the Tiburon Studio in Orlando.
Speaking of EA Sports, if you’re a sports gamer you’ve undoubtedly played more than a few of their titles. Which means you might be interested in a new plan they’re kicking around. Peter Moore, president of EA Sports, has said their future games will be “connected experiences that recognize users and reward them for playing multiple games.” Essentially this means you would have a persistent profile with the company that would save your progress in games to a cloud, which will be recognized when you load up another title. This means last season’s football game could affect your gameplay next season when you buy the next game. Moore went on to say “this is how we envision the future of our industry, and this is how we at EA Sports individualize and personalize this as the future of our brand and ultimately the future of what Electronic Arts as a whole is going to do across all of its titles.” I’m not entirely sure what that means outside of sports games, but that doesn’t mean I’m not curious to find out.
If you have fond memories of Sniper Elite from 2005, you’ll be glad to know the sequel, Sniper Elite V2, will be coming next year. Being published by 505 Games and developed by Rebellion, the sequel brings the WWII action stealth gameplay to the new generation of consoles.
I haven’t heard a lot about the upcoming PSN-exclusive AMY, but if you have and want to know more, some details have been released. The game takes place in a 2034, with the world suffering the effects of global warming, plagues, and natural disasters. After a midwestern town is hit by a comet, Lana wakes up to find that basically everyone else has been infected with a virus that turns them into monsters. She’s been infected as well. Helping her along is Amy, an autistic 8 year old with super powers. The announcement I read used the term “co-operative experience” but didn’t specify if that meant two players or in-game cooperation. Apparently Lana’s virus can be kept in check by Amy, but she can blend in with the other victims if she lets it go. The visual quality of the game looks on par with some retail products, something you don’t see often in downloadable games. It will be available on PSN in June.
Dungeon Siege III from Square Enix has taken a slight delay. Originally scheduled for May 31st in the US, it is now set for June 21. According to Mike Fischer (president and CEO, Square Enix Inc.), “Square Enix is committed to delivering the ultimate Dungeon Siege experience. Although the final polish phase has demanded a bit more time than originally planned, we want to assure fans and followers that the additional effort will allow us to deliver an action-RPG worthy of its rich heritage.” The game is scheduled for PC, 360, and PS3.
I know we’re all excited for the reboot of Mortal Kombat coming next month, and now we have reason to be even more excited. Beginning April 12th, on machinima.com, is a live-action digital series known as Mortal Kombat: Legacy. The series will star Jeri Ryan, Michael Jai White, and Darren Shahlavi. That’s some pretty good talent for a web series. It is directed by Kevin Tancharoen, the man behind the Mortal Kombat Rebirth fan film. But make no mistake, this one is not a fan film, it’s released with full cooperation from NetherRealm and Warner Bros. The series will run for nine episodes and reveal the reasons several key characters are participating in the deadly tournament.