EA has announced that Crytek 3 and confirmed that they are aiming for a 2013 release date. Players will once again play as Prophet as he returns to New York City to find it encased in a Nanodrome created by the Cell Corporation. This drome has become full of diverse environments like urban forests, dense swamplands, and raging rivers. On top of this there are seven distinct environments which have come to be known as the Seven Wonders.

“Crysis 3 is a thrilling mix of sandbox gameplay, advanced combat and hi-tech human and alien weaponry that shooter fans will love,” said Cevat Yerli, Chief Executive Officer of Crytek. “Leveraging the latest CryENGINE technology, we’re able to deliver seven unique themes that offer stunning and visually loaded gameplay experiences. We cannot wait until people get their hands on the game.”

Set in 2047, Prophet is on a revenge mission after uncovering the truth behind Cell Corporation’s motives for building the quarantined Nanodomes. The citizens were told that the giant citywide structures were resurrected to protect the population and to cleanse these metropolises of the remnants of Ceph forces. In reality, the Nanodomes are CELL’s covert attempt at a land and technology grab in their quest for global domination. With Alien Ceph lurking around every corner and human enemies on the attack, nobody is safe in the path of vengeance. Everyone is a target in Prophet’s quest for retribution.

The team also announced a limited edition of the game which is already available for preorder. The Crysis 3 Hunter Edition includes early access to the composite bow in the multiplayer and the Hunter nanosuit module which gives users more power and functionality to their suit. It will set you back the standard $59.99.

Anyone who preorders will receive an instant XP boost to level five, a unique bow skin, and three exclusive dog tags.

On top of this certain retailers will offer additional bonuses which include:

• Stalker Pack – Includes the base game, all Hunter Edition content and the following early multiplayer unlocks: for players who like to stalk their prey from the shadows the Stalker Packprovides early multiplayer access to the deadly semi-auto Jackal shotgun. This powerful, close-range shotgun comes with a unique silencer attachment, custom weapon skin and two exclusive themed in-game dog tags.
• Overkill Pack – Includes the base game, all Hunter Edition content and the following early multiplayer unlocks: the Overkill Pack features early multiplayer access to the Typhoon assault weapon and skin. Spewing 500 rounds a second, the Typhoon gives players the ability to go guns blazing to take back the Liberty Dome. Also included are two exclusive Overkill themed in-game dog tags.
• Predator Pack – Includes the base game, all the Hunter Edition content and the following early multiplayer unlocks: the Predator Pack delivers early multiplayer access to the Feline submachine gun and exclusive camo. With an extremely fast rate of fire and a 60 round magazine the Feline is highly effective and deadly, at short range.

Well this is it. SSX is finally upon us. For fans, it’s been an eternity and then some since SSX Tricky and its predecessors released. So hopes were high and nerves grew shaky when EA Canada began teasing the latest entry in the franchise. Many thought the trailer made it look too gritty and realistic, but EA has scrapped that and in it’s place comes a shiny new game that we can’t wait to play more of.

Honestly, the single player just gives the game a reason to exist. Griff has left the SSX team and now makes headlines across the world with his stunts. In an attempt toreclaim their crown, the SSX team visits various mountain ranges throughout the world to beat his runs.

Every mountain range will have you play as a different character, each with a different challenge awaiting them. Every time you move to a new range, you will go through a series of races and trick it events in an attempt to get you ready for the Deadly Descent. It’s these mountains that will require you to be at your peak performance if you hope to survive.

Some game types are better than others, but ultimately “Survive It” as these runs are called, are the worst out of the three. Simply trying to make it to the bottom of the mountain before your oxygen tank runs out is downright annoying as you have to balance your attention between where you’re going, doing tricks, and not blacking out. Others such as gravity are more fun; avalanche on the other hand puts the camera in front of the rider and at a distance, challenging you to outrun any avalanches that you cause. It’s interesting at first, but it feels out of place and gets really stupid because you can’t see where you’re going.

However, other than that the gameplay fits the series identity very well. Sure it’s evolved a bit now that bailing once can ruin an entire run, but that added factor just makes the game that more addicting. Here racking up those huge combos is really important with “good” scores lying between 15 and 20 million points, you have to keep the Tricky rolling.   Getting in that perfect run keeps you biting your nails all the way to the end. The tricks are ridiculous and over the top with environments that are supposedly pulled right off of the actual mountain ranges using NASA satellites. We say supposed for a good reason, once you play the game you’ll understand, these levels are just as ridiculous as everything else in the game.

Each mountain range has an overhanging theme. The mountains in Alaska prominently rely on grinding the pipelines while Siberia is full of industrial buildings like nuclear reactors. The constant switching between themes keeps things fresh and gives each mountain range it’s own identity beyond the obvious structural differences.

Explore mode simply has you drop at over 150 total locations in an attempt to get a gold medal on all of them. However, this is simply your impromptu challenge mode. The real action is online where it’s time to put your money where your mouth is.

Many fans were upset when they heard that the online would not have X many players starting at the same time and fighting to get the highest score or fastest time. Instead Electronic Arts went with RiderNet (a play on Need for Speed‘s Autolog) which keeps a consistent world going around the clock. These Global Events are available for the allotted amount of time – be it minutes, hours, days, or even weeks – at the end of which, the standings are tallied and winnings divided up. As these runs end, begin, and become more popular, RiderNet lets you know so you can get a piece of the action. It even tells you where your friends, or rivals, as the game prefers are seeking to get their winnings from.

As we mentioned before, instead of everyone starting at the same time, the mountains run as a consistent world. As you attempt to set your high score going down the mountain you’ll see other riders who are playing alongside you along with ghosts from some of the top players. Those who wish to have a more classic style of multiplayer can start up custom events and have just you and your friends doing the same runs at the same time.

And you can do all this while listening to one of the best soundtracks around? That’s a plus. With bands such as The Qemists, Camo & Krooked, and Skrillex to keep you company, you’re sure to have a blast playing SSX.

Nothing feels better than to launch yourself skyward with the simple flip of a stick as your rider does some of the most insane tricks you’ll ever see. We’re glad SSX is back and it looks like it’s here to stay.

Pros: 

• Consistent online world encourages replaying over and over to get a higher score.
• Lots of customization options with boards and suits being randomly generated.
• It’s SSX!

Cons:

• Old school fans might not like the online mode.
• Deadly Descents are kind of a fluke.
• Story exists to exist.

Score: 8.5 out of 10

Here are the promised screenshots from the DLC due out in June this year.

Players will have new environments to play with, but the controls will be familiar to veterans.

New weaponry and missions will be assigned to players in the DLC.

Players will have to dodge falling rubble as they take on enemies.

Battlefield 3 Close Encounters DLC will be released in June of this year.

Grand Theft Auto V may be getting an early release date, for the summer of 2012.

According to the industry website MCV, Grand Theft Auto V may see an autumn release date. This may come as a shock to many as the general consensus was the game would see a release date in 2013, something Rockstar alleged too. Rockstar has not yet made a comment on the proposed release date found in the report, but here’s to hoping.

The report also mentioned UK retailers would see summer releases for a Dark Knight Rises video game tie in for both the Xbox 360 and the Playstation 3. No actual release date has been set yet.

Another big rumour floating around the report is the release of a game called Battlefield Evolved. There are no details on the game yet, but if the rumours are true, expect too see something on the game pretty soon. The report does mention the release of a completely new Battlefield seems entirely unlikely as EA are heavily pushing the release of Medal of Honour: Warfighter this quarter period. It is entirely more likely the above Battlefield title will be released as a DLC for Battlefield 3. 

Keep it locked here for all news regarding both big title rumours, Grand Theft Auto V and Battlefield Evolved. Details should be released soon.

It’s almost been 10 years since the last SimCity graced our computers. So Maxis and EA have announced a 2013 release date for the next installment in the series.

Players can now affect their neighboring cities which adds a social element to the game. Oh, and EA says their goal is to make building fun, which makes sense if you think about it.

One of the many vehicles the player may use to fight opposing parties in Command & Conquer Generals 2

Starting in 2011 and carrying over to 2012, BioWare has become the most talked about developers in years. Much like EA is now a household name for families who aren’t into gaming as much, Bioware is slowly making its name known. With the release of Star Wars: The Old Republic back in December and the massive launch, pardon the pun, of Mass Effect 3, it seems as if every loading screen has a Bioware logo popping up.

The amazing feat from this company is they still show no sign of slowing down. Following the release of Mass Effect 3, the company’s website has already began their trek forward, posting videos of upcoming major release Command & Conquer Generals 2 , a game they hope will become “one of the most anticipated games of 2012,” according to a statement on the game’s portion of the website.

Below is one of the trailers posted for C&C, and shows an even more in-depth look at gameplay, combat style, and environments players can use and abuse in the first person shooter. The game is currently set for a release date sometime in 2013, although the pre-order is currently available for PC users on EA’s Origin website for $59.99

Whether it’s slaying dragons in Dragon Age II, powering your Sith Lord in Star Wars: The Old Republic, or taking back Earth with Commander Shepard in Mass Effect 3, you can be sure you’ll be playing a BioWare title at least once this year.

EA has unveiled that Back to Karkand isn’t the only expansion that will be available for Battlefield 3. Three new expansion packs have been revealed, with release dates of June onwards.

The first expansion pack strays away from vehicular combat, instead focusing on an infantry-only mode. It also adds new weapons, assignments, and unique dog tags. This will be available in June, followed by Armored Kill in autumn and End Game in winter.

Battlefield 3: Close Quarters – In Battlefield 3: Close Quarters, players are dropped into a frantic, infantry-only theatre of war. Frostbite 2 high definition destruction makes the environment come alive as everything from furniture to plaster gets shot to pieces. Players will feel the intensity of the world exploding around them as rubble and broken pieces pile up on the floor, while tight level design and vertical gameplay create a highly competitive environment. Battlefield 3: Close Quarters also introduces new weapons, assignments and unique dog tags to bring back to the base game.

Battlefield 3: Armored Kill– Following the tight infantry gameplay of Battlefield 3: Close Quarters, DICE will release Battlefield 3: Armored Kill that ups the ante for vehicular mayhem as only Battlefield can do. Featuring new driveable tanks, ATVs, mobile artillery and more, Battlefield 3: Armored Kill also delivers huge battlefields for an all-out vehicle assault, including the biggest map in Battlefield history.

Battlefield 3: End Game – The fourth expansion pack will ship in the winter but details remain tightly guarded.

Those looking to expand their Battlefield 3 multiplayer in the meantime can purchase the Back To Karkand expansion for 1200 Microsoft Points.

Every year, Electronic Arts takes the time to simulate the Super Bowl to predict a winner. This time with, three seconds left in the fourth quarter and the Giants are within field goal range. Luckily for them, they had Lawrence Tynes and not Billy Cundiff as this one sailed through the uprights to clinch the win. Check out the action for yourself.

EA has announced that the Mass Effect 3 Demo will be available on the day we feel the most in love. In addition to keeping you warm on Valentine’s Day the demo will include all of the Kinect features (team voice command and dialouge) and both single player and multiplayer excerpts. Here is the quote from EA:

“There are two sections in the Mass Effect 3 demo, both included as part of a single download: The single player section includes 2 areas: the opening level featuring the Reaper attack on Earth, and a level further into the game where Shepard travels to an alien home world to seek their assistance in the war effort. This will be approximately 1 to 2 hours of content.The co-op multiplayer section includes 2 maps: Slum and Noveria. This section will be open to players who have qualified for the early multiplayer access as of Feb 14, and will then open up to all players on Feb 17″

So get ready for your big date…..with Commander Shepard!

Looks like Electronic Arts has yet another strange case on their hands. This time Textron, the parent company of Bell Helicopters, is looking for the removal of its helicopters, the AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter, the UH-1Y Venom ”Huey,” and the the V-22 Osprey VTOL from the game.

Both EA and Textron had been having talks over the issue but those have seemingly fallen apart and EA is expecting a court decision to be made so they have already gone ahead sought court judgement.

“The Bell-manufactured helicopters depicted in Battlefield 3 are just a few of countless creative visual, audio, plot and programming elements that make up EA’s expressive work, a first-person military combat simulation,” says the suit.

via Kotaku