New Zealand Political Parties Use Games to Campaign

As the November General Election approaches in New Zealand, members from both the Labour Party and Green Party have incorporated computer games into their campaigns to more effectively communicate their platforms to young voters. Read more »

Rockstar Reveals L.A. Noire DLC Plans, Rockstar Pass

Today Rockstar Games announced its plans for upcoming L.A. Noire downloadable content. The press release from Take Two also revealed the Rockstar Pass, which gives gamers new way to access and pre-order DLC. Read more »

Breaking Down Call of Duty: Elite

As expected, Call of Duty: Elite was formally unveiled this morning when the press embargo was lifted. The service will be free to all Call of Duty players but will offer additional content to those members who are paid subscribers. While Activision was mum on a price point for Elite, some details have emerged of what exactly users can expect to see once the service launches on November 8, 2011. If you can’t wait for the big launch, Activision and Beachhead studios will be launching a Beta program this summer that will allow gamers to preview Elite with Call of Duty: Black Ops.

Check out a breakdown of a few of the features that will be available through Call of Duty: Elite after the jump. Read more »

Call of Duty Franchise to Add Subscription Service

Just hours before an agreed upon embargo is lifted, the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Activision’s new Beachhead studios will be revealing the long rumored Call of Duty subscription service. Dubbed Call of Duty: Elite, the service will work alongside this fall’s Modern Warfare 3 and will be included in all future installments of the franchise. Read more »

An Hour with Xenoblade Chronicles

I had the privilege to attend my first MCM Expo over the weekend. Never being much of a manga, anime or comic fan, I made my way straight towards the Games Expo where Nintendo were in attendance amongst others.

Only being confirmed for Europe two months ago, I was genuinely surprised to see what looked like a fully localised version of Monolith’s Xenoblade Chronicles taking centre stage at Nintendo’s booth. In fact, I’m sure I played a near-complete build of the same game we’ll be seeing this September in Europe. Read more »

Rumor: Uncharted Vita to be Named ‘Golden Abyss’

Hot off the heels of this morning’s PlayStation Vita rumors, gaming blog Ripten is now reporting that “Vita” is, indeed, the official name of Sony’s new portable. In addition, the post claims that the previously untitled Uncharted game for NGP is to be named Uncharted: Golden Abyss.

Details are sparse now, but the source inside Sony is reporting to Ripten that both names will be officially unveiled at E3 or in the days leading up to Sony’s briefing.

Ready for E3 yet?

Source – Ripten

Rumor: Official Name of NGP Now ‘PlayStation Vita’

Ah, E3 season, what an exciting time. Rumors and leaks run rampant while the gaming masses eat up every crumb of information made available. Today’s big rumor comes in the form of an E3 proof sheet which allegedly reveals that the official name for Sony’s NGP will be the “PlayStation Vita.” Read more »

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk Gives President Obama The Witcher 2

President Obama concluded his four-nation European trip Saturday in Poland by meeting with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to discuss, among other things, the movement for democratic change offered by the uprisings in the Middle East. Also on the European agenda was a little hardcore RPG gaming. Read more »

Gears of War 3 Campaign Trailer Revealed

Gamers got their first look at the Gears of War 3 campaign in a new trailer that debuted during the UEFA Champions League Final. In addition to the return of Adam Phoenix, this official “reveal” trailer features a few new COG faces, a couple of Brumaks, and a whole mess of lambent baddies. The only way it could possibly get any better would be if the whole thing were set to the tune of Black Sabbath’s War Pigs. Oh, wait…

You can expect to hear (and see) a lot more about the final chapter of the Gears of War saga at Microsoft’s E3 Press Conference on June 6.

Trenched Gets Release Date and Price

Double Fine Productions, known for hit titles such as Brutal Legend and Costume Quest, recently sent out a press release revealing a June 22nd release date and a price point of 1200 MS points for it’s upcoming third person tower defense title, Trenched. Check out more information on Trenched, as well as a the new trailer and full press release after the break. Read more »