Scheduled for release this Christmas, SingStar Legends will feature classic rock tunes to rock out to. SCEE has proudly announced the current lineup for the game:

• Elton John - Rocket Man
  
• The Beach Boys - Surfin’ USA
  
• The Police - Roxanne
  
• Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire
  
• The Jackson 5 - I Want You Back
  
• Tina Turner - What’s Love Got To Do With It?
  
• John Lennon - Imagine
  
• Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit
  
• Ben E King - Stand By Me
  
• David Bowie - Life on Mars?
  
• The Righteous Brothers - Unchained Melody

Even though Activision saw a net loss of $18 million this quarter, the publisher spent $100 million on purchasing RedOctane, the studio behind the Guitar Hero series. RedOctane’s price weighed in at $99.9 million, $31 million of which was paid in cash, $30 million in Activision common stock and $40 in additional Activision stock payable over two years.

Various sources are reporting that From Software has cancelled Black Blade and Dark RPG, two of its RPG games for the PS3; both titles were announced at TGS 2005. This comes from Famitsu, which also reports that Armored Core 4 will be a launch title for the PS3.

It may seem like the PS3 is losing many titles, but PS3Land has come up with a list of 200 in-development PS3 titles that is sure to excite many. That list doesn’t even include the many unannounced titles out there.

Since the Leipzig Games Convention is just a few weeks away, many companies have come forward and announced their lineup. Here are some:

Micro Application

• Horse Racing Manager 2
  
• Experience 112
  
• Fenimore Filmore’s Revenge
  
• The Westerner

• Dark Messiah of Might and Magic
  
• Splinter Cell: Double Agent
  
• Call of Juarez
  
• The Settlers II - The Next Generation
  
• The Settlers (DS)
  
• Horsez
  
• Open Season

• ANNO 1701
  
• ParaWorld

Following up on the MMORPG revelation, Acclaim has officially announced 2Moons, a free MMORPG specifically for “adult gamers.” Headed by David Perry, former Shiny head (pun intended), 2Moons is based upon a successful Korean MMO called Dekaron.

The press release (after the jump), full of hyperbole and hype, lets us know that interested users may register for the closed beta that will let players “kick @$$ for free!”
(more…)

Setting new records everywhere, and making itself filthy rich in the process, is Nintendo with its Brain Age game which has sold more than 4 million units worldwide. The Americas have gobbled up 600,000 copies, the Japanese 3 million and Europeans 500,000, making it one of the best-selling handheld titles ever.

Brain Age first took Japan by storm with its edition that includes a series of math and memory puzzles designed to keep the mind agile. Even after selling 3 million copies in the 15 months since launch, Japanese sales are not showing any signs of slowing. The title was launched in the Americas and Europe this year and maintains a similar trend of steady weekly sales. Around the world, game players, baby boomers and seniors are intent on keeping their minds sharp by making Brain Age part of their daily routine. For many of them, Brain Age is the first video game they’ve ever played, showing Nintendo’s efforts to expand the audience of players is highly successful.

Brain Age is a cornerstone of Nintendo’s new Touch Generations brand, which helps gaming newcomers identify which titles might be appropriate for them. The second title in the brain-training series, Big Brain Academy™, launched in the Americas on June 5 and already has sold more than one quarter million units. Both titles have helped to lay the foundation for Nintendo’s upcoming Wii™ console, which also will include fun, simple games that everyone in the family will want to try.

It is now even easier to Sin: the Steamy game is now available for $14.95, down from $20, through Valve’s broadband delivery service. This offer covers the upcoming Sin Episodes Multiplayer when it’s available.

From Famitsu comes word that Armored Core 4 will launch with the Japanese PS3 this November. The game has been confirmed as a launch title for the PS3, though the Xbox 360 version has now been tagged with a “TBA” date.

More details are expected soon.

A Surreal Software job listing for a Senior Associate Producer confirms that the Midway studio is working on a completely new IP, refuting rumors that they just might be working on next-gen follow-ups to Drakan or The Suffering.

The listing states that it is a “new, exciting IP, on a new technology base, with a concept which will blow you away.” The person who will be hired will get the chance to be the “keystone of a large and experienced development team.”

As expected, neither Midway nor Surreal had anything to say about the project.

Gamers have been pondering on the greatest contemporary mystery of all time: who will be the director of the Halo movie? Well, Xbox.com broke the word, and, surprisingly, took down the announcement too, that Neil Blomkamp will be the film’s director.

Most will not know him by name, but his IMDB entry shows some impressive work. He has worked as a 3D animator on various television series such as Smallville and Stargate SG-1; he has also worked on a variety of commercials as well. Blomkamp is, however, mostly known for his short film Alive in Joburg, which deals with an alien invasion, futuristic soldiers and spaceships, subject matter that is not too far away from the Halo universe.

Gamespot reports that Spore will not be released until the second half of 2007. This comes straight from Will Wright, the guy behind the game (and The Sims), who states that this release window is “for now”, implying that the release hasn’t been set in stone yet.

The site also reports that the highly anticipated next-gen entry in the Alone in the Dark series has been delayed. Atari, the game’s publisher, revealed that the game is in development for release during its fiscal 2008, which runs from April 2007-March 2008. Curiously, the company only mentioned the title’s presence on PS3 and Xbox 360; the PC edition went unmentioned.

Slovakia-based Mayhem Studios announced Vampire Story, an adventure/RPG, for release during early 2007. Not to be confused with A Vampyre Story, the website for the game has gone up along with a couple of screenshots. Here’s a bit on the Story:

Vampire Story uses our own game engine that has been in development for five years. Here are some of its features:

• advanced material support (pixel shader version 2.0, with optional downscale for weaker hardware)
  
• normalmapping, environment mapping, specular, per pixel lighting
  
• hierarchic visibility detection
  
• particles with programmable dynamics

Other technological features of the Vampire Story project include:

• Character face animation support (including lip synchronization with speech)
  
• Advanced sound engine with the support of 3D sound, EAX 2.0 and EAX 3.0

Locations:

• Storyline will take the player to four different locations: abandoned docks, lighthouse district, old factory and a merchant ship. The graphics is stylized in a way that the player will be engulfed in the dark yet rich atmosphere.

Game system:

• Full 3D display with the camera placed behind the character
  
• ATBS (active time battle system) adding dynamics to combat as well as the possibility to use a lot of hits, blows, weapons and special combos. (Similar system is used for example in the Final Fantasy series)
  
• The possibility to create your own spells using the rune system
  
• A lot of adventure-like items and non-linear dialogue branching
  
• Character development through the improvement of skills and abilities

Financially ailing publisher Atari has announced that it has signed a publishing agreement with AQ Interactive to bring over Bullet Witch from Japan to North America and Europe.

In the works at Cavia, Bullet Witch is set on Earth in 2013 when human kind is attached by demons. Humanity’s survival rests on Alicia, a witch blessed with magical skills and a “swift” trigger finger. The game will combine magic and shooting, and will take advantage of Xbox 360’s advanced physics engine by showcasing environmental damage, explosions and destruction. It will also support Xbox Live, providing fans with download content post-launch such as character costumes and extra levels.

No release dates were mentioned.

If you needed any more reasons to go to the Games Convention in Leipzig, this is it:

Special games have a need for special measures and loyal fans deserve a reward. Developer Piranha Bytes, publisher JoWooD Productions and co-publisher Deep Silver are proud to announce the official Gothic 3 camp in the very heart of the Games Convention in Leipzig.

From the 23rd to the 27th (the camp is opened on 24th) of August, the exhibition space between halls 2 and 4 of the fair in Leipzig will be transformed into a fantastic scene. Utilizing hundreds of square meters, a medieval market, live action role playing swordfights and the public barbecuing of a suckling pig will ensure a Gothic-styled atmosphere. Other attractions will be provided as well as the opportunity for fans to deploy their own tents to provide a base while spending exciting hours with the developers. Only a few days after Piranha Bytes called their followers to arms, more than 300 fans enrolled for the campsite.

Gothic 3 is scheduled for release this October.

TotalVideoGames carries confirmation from Atlus USA that Trauma Center: Second Operation will be a launch title for the Wii when it launches later this year. An updated version of the DS title, Trauma Center will take advantage of the Wii-mote and will have graphical enhancements and new missions.