New Bayonetta Trailer

Click title for link to the video.

Not much gameplay shown but from what we can tell the game is shaping up really nicely. Is this the Devil May Cry killer the creators claim it to be? Give us your feedback below.

Microsoft Acquires BigPark Inc. - New Game Reveal At E3!

REDMOND, Wash. — May 7, 2009 — Microsoft Corp. today announced its intent to acquire BigPark Inc., an interactive online gaming company based in Vancouver, British Columbia.

BigPark was founded in 2007 by a group of industry veterans who led the creation and growth of two hugely successful software companies, Distinctive Software Inc. and Electronic Arts Canada. BigPark's founding team is composed of business leaders with over 80 years of collective experience in the video game industry, having produced or overseen blockbuster franchises including "Need for Speed," "FIFA Soccer," "NBA Street" and "SSX."

The acquisition will bring BigPark's talented developers into Microsoft Game Studios, where the team will continue development on an exclusive Xbox 360 game. Over the past year, Microsoft and BigPark have worked closely on this project, providing Microsoft with a clear view into the caliber of talent and innovation at BigPark.

"We are delighted by the opportunity to welcome the BigPark team into Microsoft Game Studios," said Phil Spencer, general manager, Microsoft Game Studios. "The team is composed of some of the most experienced and creative minds working in the industry today. The combination of the BigPark and Microsoft Game Studios talent pools will be an accelerant for growth and innovation. We believe BigPark has tremendous potential to create new properties and innovative gaming experiences for our platforms, one of which we're looking forward to showcasing at the E3 Expo in June."

BigPark CEO and co-founder Hanno Lemke, who will report to Spencer post-acquisition, formerly served in executive and development positions with Electronic Arts and Distinctive Software Inc., where he produced or oversaw hit games such as "NHL Hockey," "Need for Speed" and "Skate."

"Given our shared passion for breaking new ground in the online space and producing best-in-class gaming experiences, our partnership with Microsoft over the last year has been a natural fit, which we've thoroughly enjoyed," Lemke said.

"This opportunity provides us with access to the unparalleled talent, resources and exciting innovation taking place within Microsoft," said Wil Mozell, studio president and co-founder of BigPark. "We're looking forward to being part of the Microsoft Game Studios team, where we believe we can successfully contribute to shaping key Microsoft initiatives through fresh and engaging consumer experiences."

BigPark was founded by Wil Mozell, Erik Kiss, Hanno Lemke and Don Mattrick before Mattrick assumed the role of senior vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business at Microsoft. Mattrick's role as an investor in BigPark was fully disclosed to Microsoft before he joined the company, and his ongoing involvement as chairman of BigPark was approved pursuant to the Microsoft Standards of Business Conduct.

BioShock 2 Gameplay Trailer

Click the title to view Bioshock 2's FIRST gameplay trailer! Looks incredible.

NPD: January 2009 Life to date numbers

Multiplatform

Assassin’s Creed - 2.3m (360), 1.15m (PS3)
Bioshock - 998k (360), 106k (PS3)
The Bourne Conspiracy - 103k (360), 83k (PS3)
Burnout Paradise - 371k (360) 306k (PS3)
Civilization Revolution - 96k (DS), 254k (360), 149k (PS3)
The Darkness - 284k (360), 133k (PS3)
Dark Sector - 139k (360), 97k (PS3)
Dead Space - 337k (360), 212k (PS3)
Disgaea - 45k (DS), 78k (PSP)
Dynasty Warriors 6 - 113k (360), 103k (PS3), 26k (PS2)
Eternal Sonata - 98k (360), 33k (PS3)
Fallout 3 - 1.14m (360), 452k (PS3)
Fight Night 3 - 1.19M (360) 526k (PS3)
Guitar Hero 3 - 2.37M (360) 830k (PS3) 2.75M (Wii)
Guitar Hero: World Tour - 924k (360) 466k (PS3) 1.39M (Wii)
Kane & Lynch - 300k (360), 197k (PS3)
Karaoke Revolution Presents American Idol Encore 1 - 85k (360) 46k (PS3)
Karaoke Revolution Presents American Idol Encore 2 - 20k (36o) 16k (PS3)
Lego Batman - 207k (360), 128k (PS3), 507k (PS2), 420k (Wii)
Lego Indiana Jones - 241k (360), 142k (PS3), 456k (PS2), 563k (Wii)
Mirror’s Edge - 207k (360), 125k (PS3)
Mortal Kombat vs DC - 592k (360), 512k (PS3)
N+ - 26k (DS), 21k (PSP)
Prince of Persia - 282k (360), 248k (PS3)
Pure - 158k (360) 92k (PS3)
Rock Band 1 - 1.65M (360) 648k (PS3) 1.03M (Wii)
Rock Band 2 - 1.02M (360) 384k (PS3) 353k (Wii)
Saints Row 2 - 480k (360), 188k (PS3)
Saints Row 2 [Collector's Edition only] - 30k (360), 11k (PS3)
Shaun White - 271k (360), 141k (PS3), 537k (Wii)
Silent Hill 5 - 73k (360), 84k (PS3)
Silent Hill Origins: 80k (PS2), 154k (PSP)
Skate - 606k (360) 202k (PS3)
Sonic Unleashed - 113k (360), 69k (PS3), 315k (Wii)
Soul Calibur 4 - 500k (360), 353k (PS3)
Space Invaders Extreme - 58k (DS), 34k (PSP)
Star Wars Force Unleashed - 823k (360) 464k (PS3) 626k (Wii) 175k (DS) 263k (PSP) 352k (PS2)
Tiger Woods 09 - 216k (360), 174k (PS3), 565k (Wii)
Unreal Tournament III - 164k (360) 219k (PS3)
The World Ends With You - 172k

360
Beautiful Katamari - 96k
Banjo: Nuts & Bolts - 154k
Battle Fantasia - 4,704
Blue Dragon - 189k
Halo 3 - 4.66m (regular), 633k (CE), 479k (LE)
Infinite Undiscovery - 110k
Left 4 Dead - 1.28m
Lips - 46k
Lost Odyssey - 348k
Ninja Gaiden II - 517k
Saints Row 1 - 1.02m
Tales of Vesperia - 107k
The Last Remnant 118k
Viva Pinata 2 - 80k

PS3

Folklore - 109k
Genji: Days of the Blade - 96k
Heavenly Sword - 386k
Lair - 185k
Little Big Planet - 670k
Metal Gear Solid 4 - 1.09m
Motorstorm 1 - 427k
Motorstorm 2 - 138k
Ninja Gaiden Sigma - 316k
Rachet & Clank: Tools of Destruction - 427k
Resistance - 1.07m
Resistance 2 - 640k
Time Crisis 4 - 206k
Uncharted - 534k
Valkyria Chronicles - 74k

Wii

Animal Crossing - 654k (game only), 161k (Wiispeak bundle)
Blast Works - 31k
Castle Shikigami 3 - 7,366
Fantastic 4 - 76k
Mario & Sonic @ at the Olympics - 1.99m
No More Heroes - 208k
Ultimate Duck Hunting - 49k
Ultimate Shooting Collection - 1,126
Zack & Wiki - 117k

PS2

Disney Golf - 59k
Final Fantasy X - 2.46m
Final Fantasy XII - 1.85m
Katamari Damacy - 450k
Kingdom Hearts 1 - 3.28m
Kingdom Hearts 2 - 2.3m
Kingdom Hearts: RE:Chain of Memories - 312k
Marvel vs Capcom 2 - 246k
Odin Sphere - 149k
Persona 4 - 123k
SMT: Devil Summoner - 43k
SMT: Digital Devil Saga 1 - 51k
SMT: Digital Devil Saga 2 - 43k
SMT: Nocturne - 60k
Silent Hill 2 - 512k
Silent Hill 3 - 279k
Silent Hill 4 - 209k
We Love Katamari - 230k
Yakuza 1 - 56k
Yakuza 2 - 24k

PSP

Crisis Core: FF7 - 708k
Patapon - 229k
God of War: Chains of Olympus - 640k
Star Ocean: First Departure - 69k
Yggdra Union - 12k

DS

Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney - 71k
Chrono Trigger - 210k
Contra 4 - 115k
Dragon Quest 4 - 76k
Final Fantasy 4 - 275k
Final Fantasy Tactics A2 - 233k
Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney - 117k
Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Justice for All - 110k
Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations - 92k
Professor Layton & the Curious Village - 340k
Trauma Center: Under the Knife - 225k
Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2 - 61k

Ninja Gaiden Sigma II On The Way

Last week, Famitsu stole Capcom's thunder by offering the first details on Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, a title that was supposed to be announced later in the week at the Resident Evil 5 launch party. Today, the Japanese gaming magazine appears to have once again tossed a wrench in a game publisher's hype machine, following up Tecmo's teaser announcement from last Wednesday with a full reveal of Ninja Gaiden Sigma II for the PlayStation 3.


According to Famitsu, Sigma II will be a PS3 redux of the Xbox 360-exclusive Ninja Gaiden II, released in June 2008, just as Ninja Gaiden Sigma was a redux for the original Xbox release of Ninja Gaiden. (Scans of the announcement were posted to the NarutoFan message boards and translated by GameSpot.) A Tomonobu Itagaki-less Team Ninja will create the PS3 edition of the game, and Sigma producer Yosuke Hayashi will fill the same role on Sigma II.

The Japanese magazine notes that Sigma II offers a number of tweaks over the Xbox 360 original. Dead or Alive ninjitsu master Ayane will be available as a playable character alongside series protagonist Ryu Hayabusa and will wade into the series' notoriously difficult fray equipped with dual short swords. Sigma II will also introduce a new weapon: a spiked hammer called the "Hasaiga Enma." Famitsu also reports that the PS3 edition of the game will offer large-scale boss battles not seen in Ninja Gaiden II.

Famitsu reports that Ninja Gaiden Sigma II is currently scheduled for release in Japan this fall. Tecmo's mystery game will officially be announced on March 24 in San Francisco as part of next week's Game Developers Conference.

Marvel MMOGs back on track

Early last year, Microsoft and Cryptic Studios officially called it quits on Marvel Universe Online, a superhero-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game based on the life and times of Marvel's stable of masked crime fighters. While Cryptic and Atari pushed forward with the idea--repurposing work on Marvel Universe for Champions Online--the Marvel MMOG concept has been dormant since.


Devouring universes with a smile, seven days a week.
That changed today, though, as Marvel and Gazillion Entertainment announced a long-term partnership to build and launch a number of superhero-based MMOGs. According to today's announcement, Gazillion had previously been operating in "stealth mode" as NR2B Research, recruiting talent from Apple, Blizzard Entertainment, Microsoft Game Studios, and Pixar Animation Studios to flesh out its ranks.

The first MMOG to be released under Gazillion and Marvel's MMOG deal will fall under the kid-friendly Super Hero Squad brand. Developed by Amazing Society--one of four wholly owned and independently run studios in Gazillion's stable--the Marvel Super Hero Squad MMOG will offer casual gamers the chance to team up with a number of Marvel's most prominent crusaders, including Iron Man, Hulk, Wolverine, Thor, the Fantastic Four, and Captain America.

Gazillion provided no additional details or launch information concerning the title. Of note, THQ is also producing a Marvel Super Hero Squad for "next-gen consoles," handhelds, and Windows PCs, which is expected to arrive later this year.

A second Marvel-themed MMOG is in development at Gargantuan. Operating under the same title as Microsoft and Cryptic's canceled venture, the Marvel Universe MMOG is in development for PCs and consoles. Additional information on Gazillion's self-published title was not revealed, though the production house did promise to provide more details in the coming months.

NetDevil and Slipgate Ironworks represent the two remaining studios that fall under Gazillion's umbrella. As previously announced, NetDevil is currently at work on the recently delayed Lego Universe and Jumpgate Evolution MMOGs. Slipgate Ironworks is also crafting an MMOG, though details on the project remain undisclosed.

Behemoth's Next Game to come in 2010

Since its inception in 2003, The Behemoth has released two games: the multiplatform shooter Alien Hominid and the Xbox 360 downloadable beat-'em-up Castle Crashers. While the studio's output has been less than prodigious to date, The Behemoth is looking to step up its release schedule by finishing its third game for 2010.


Yup, that's a Behemoth game.
The studio today announced the release window in the first teaser trailer for the as-yet-untitled game. While the game appears to be a platformer, glimpses of the action show a multitude of wrinkles in the standard formula. One clip shows the apparently customized characters working cooperatively to traverse the landscape. Another shows them blowing each other away with guns and grenades. Still others show the characters playing soccer or competitively highlighting portions of the level with their distinct colors.

Beyond the glimpses offered in the trailer, details about the game are nonexistent. The Behemoth said it hasn't determined a price point for the game yet, or even which console it will be on.