Microsoft is looking to get into the digital distribution game hard with their Games for Windows service. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll know that Microsoft recently held a deal on Age of Empires 3, offering it for just 99 cents. Well, it looks like they are continuing the tradition by offering Deus Ex: Game of the Year for just 99 cents.
For those not keeping track, Dues Ex: GotY normally retails for around $9.99 making this deal quite enticing.
What you see above is a supposedly leaked concept art image of a new Tomb Raider game that is in the works. Furthermore, the image was accompained by a few details of the game.
Reportedly, the next Tomb Raider game will feature open-world gameplay with a reworked combat system. And, a hint at the game’s plot lets us know that it will be an origin story of Lara Croft showcasing how she came to be.
I don’t know about you guys, but the image art shows a close resemblance to that of what would be featured in a Final Fantasy game. It would make sense considering Tomb Raider’s developer, Eidos, was bought out by Final Fantasy‘s Square Enix.
When Square Enix took over Eidos, it promised that Eidos would still be “independent”, however, it looks like it will be a little less independent now, since Square Enix is merging several European studios, including Eidos, into one outfit, to be named Square Enix Europe. In addition, layoffs are likely to hit some of the studios to be merged. As for North America, Eidos will simply be renamed into Square Enix.
Just in case you wanted to celebrate the 4th of July in ways other than Double XP, Eidos has you covered. They have recently announced that they are dropping two new DLC packs for their naval warfare title Battlestations: Pacific.
First up is the Mustang Pack which is available now for 160 Microsoft Points. This pack will add 6 new units, including the US P-51 Mustang, along with 18 new designs to paint the front of your ship with.
Second off, the Carriers Battle Map Pack, available on July 23rd for 800 Microsoft Points, will feature 4 new multiplayer maps including Midway, the Leyte Gulf, the Aleutian Islands and the Phillipine Islands.
Make note that both of these packs are/will be available for both the Xbox 360 and PC versions of Battlestations: Pacific.
This was probably expected but is still news anyways — Back in April Square Enix announced that it had effectively taken over Eidos but ever since we haven’t heard much out of the two companies.
Well, Yoichi Wada, Square Enix’s CEO, was recently quoted to say in an interview with Gamasutra that while it was possible that they would be working on Eidos with an existing IP “but what’s more important is that the two companies, for example, are going to be creating a new IP together.”
So, the guys behind the Final Fantasy series will be collaborating with the guys behind the Tomb Raider series for an all new IP. No way of telling what’s in store for us but let’s hope its good, Mr. Wada.
Eidos has released another super villain trailer for the upcoming Batman: Arkham Asylum game. This time, it’s Poison Ivy’s turn to showcase her “uncanny ability to control plants.” Everytime I see one of these trailers for the game, I am reminded how powerful the Unreal Engine 3 can be.
Batman: Arkham Asylum will be hitting stores by the end of the Summer for the PC, Playstation 3, Xbox 360 consoles.
In an interview with GamingIndians, Eidos Life President Ian Livingstone revealed the news that several new sequels are in development.
Among them, a new Hitman game, which is in development at Danish studio IO Interactive (the original creators and developers of the series), and he also revealed that a new Tomb Raider and Kane & Lynch sequels were in development. Livingstone declined to give details on the new games, but we can expect much more at E3 next month, which is shaping up to be one of the best in years.
Bad news for Batman fans: no Arkham Asylum for you till Q4 2009, according to co-publishers Eidos and Warner Bros. The delay was confirmed following a round of rumors – once expected next month, the stealth-action title is now expected “at the end of summer”. This means a release sometime before the end of September.
“This additional time will allow us to ensure Batman: Arkham Asylum is of the highest quality for gamers,” explained Warner and Eidos.
The game is due out on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 and is being developed at Rocksteady.
Let’s see, we’ve heard of the titles President, Chief Executive Officer, and Founder but Life President? Never. That’s why its so peculiar that Edios recently named Ian Livingstone as the companies new Life President.
GI.biz is reporting that his duties include “overseeing franchises such as Tomb Raider and Hitman, as well as acting as a spokesperson for the Eidos group” and that’s all we have to go by.
Now I wonder, if Square Enix hadn’t taken over Eidos, would this title have come to existence? Hell, it almost seems like a translation error. Oh well, congrats Mr. Livingstone.
With a bit over a month left for release, publisher Eidos sent out the system requirements for the PC version of Batman: Arkham Asylum, revealed through a message board post by an official Eidos moderator. Here’s the scoop:
Minimum
CPU: Intel single core 3 Ghz or AMD equivalent
Memory: XP = 1 GB, Vista = 2GB
GPU: Shader Model 3 NVidia 6600 or ATI 1300 or higher
Recommended
CPU: Pentium D 3Ghz or AMD Athlon 64 X2 3800+ (Dual core)
Memory: XP = 2GB, Vista = 3GB
GPU: NVidia 7900 GT or higher
Enhanced for multi-core
The game will be branded under Games for Windows and will support achievements. All three versions of the game are due for release this June.
Bad news for Batman fans: no Arkham Asylum for you till Q4 2009, according to co-publishers Eidos and Warner Bros. The delay was confirmed following a round of rumors – once expected next month, the stealth-action title is now expected “at the end of summer”. This means a release sometime before the end of September.
