EA, in partnership with Def Jam Interactive, has announced Def Jam: Icon, the first next-gen entry in the popular fighting series. Set for release in March 2007 for both PS3 and Xbox 360, the game will infuse hip-hop music, culture and lifestyle into the gameplay, delivering the intensity of no-holds-barred street fights.

“Music is the cornerstone of hip-hop culture so we wanted to incorporate music and rhythm into the actual gameplay mechanics,” said Kudo Tsunoda, executive producer and General Manager of EA Chicago. “In DEF JAM: ICON, we are changing the way fighting games are played! We are completely innovating the role of the environments in the games, moving from the typical lifeless arenas the hip-hop celebrities are fighting in to environments that play an instrumental part in the fight where they will react to the music and interact with both characters like a third fighter.”

EA Chicago is delivering star-stunning action and bone breaking beats as players live out the life of a hip hop mogul, going from rags to riches. Incorporating hip-hop culture into every aspect of the game, DEF JAM: ICON will deliver the intensity of a no-holds-barred street fight but with style and rhythm. Music will effect how players fight in each venue and environmental interactions and hazards will become a key strategy to staying alive.

EA Chicago’s unique fighting gameplay controls introduce a new way for gamers to fight as they assume the role of top celebrity characters such as Ludacris, T.I. and Big Boi. Innovative controls give better feedback to players so they feel like they’re actually throwing the combat moves. Gamers can now fight with the style and flash of the superstar personalities.

And four high-resolution screenshots:

Bad games can be forgiven (and forgotten), but partnering with Uwe Boll to create a movie based on your one and only franchise is… I don’t have words for it. Anyways, to prove that they are still alive, Running With Scissors sent out a press release announcing Postal 3 for PC and Xbox 360.

The game will use the Source engine to deliver a “new and advanced technical level of social satire and politically incorrect virtual violence.”

“We started this series back in 1997,” recalled RWS CEO Vince Desi, “and while the franchise has grown into an international computer game sensation during that time, it has always been our goal to bring it to the videogame console marketplace. For many years I’ve been asked by gamers around the world when POSTAL will appear on console. I’m so proud to be able to answer our fans’ prayers.”

The game will include motion-captured performances by a wide array of celebrities, including Playboy Playmates, as well as a storyline that offers “vast latitude in terms of their behavior.” As expected, Postal 3 will have gamers once again don the role of the nameless “Postal Dude.”

Postal 3 is scheduled for release in 2008.

Rockstar Games has announced that The Warriors, already out on PS2 and Xbox, will be making its way to the PSP this Holiday season. It is being handled by Rockstar Leeds in conjunction with Rockstar Toronto.

“We set out to create a highly sophisticated portable game that delivers a visceral experience previously unseen on the PSP system,” stated Sam Houser, Founder and Executive Producer of Rockstar Games. “We are looking forward to setting the definitive bar for the brawler genre on the PSP system by delivering an extremely stylish and exceptionally deep experience.”

Keeping up the tradition of featuring live-action footage in Command & Conquer games, EA has announced that C&C: Tiberium Wars will feature an all-start lineup for its high-definition, live-action video sequences, with stars from Lost, Battlestar Galactica, The Wedding Crashers, Starship Troopers and more. The cast includes Tricia Helfer, Josh Holloway, Michael Ironside, Billy Dee Williams, Grace Park, Ivana Bozilovic, Shauntay Hinton, and more.

“When I realised that I wasn’t going to be a computer-generated character, but playing a live action role in the C&C 3 game, I was really looking forward to see what was in store,” said Tricia Helfer, famous for her role in the Scifi television series “Battlestar Galactica.” “Having completed my shoots for the game recently, I can honestly say that it was one of the most fun projects I’ve worked on…and my costume was awesome.”

“This is the most fun I’ve had since Star Wars!” said Billy Dee Williams, celebrated actor, on the set of the live action shoot for C&C 3. “The game’s story and universe are immersive and drew me right in. I was intrigued by my character, GDI Director Redmond Boyle, because he has more depth than I expected from a video game personality. His polished exterior gradually breaks down as the world is plunged into chaos and he eventually shows his true nature under extreme pressure.”

C&C3 will also feature real-life news reporters assuming the role of anchors and field reports within the game. These roles will be played by John Huck, anchor of the FOX affiliate in Las Vegas and Shannon Cook, freelance reporter for a major news network. These two will update players on the devastating war and environmental catastrophes in the game’s story.

Additionally, Joe Kucan, who played the main role of the maniacal leader of the Brotherhood of Nod, Kane, will be reprising his role as well.

The game is currently scheduled for release sometime next year.

On FiringSquad is word that S2 Games has delayed Savage 2: A Tortured Soul. The game, previously due this Fall, will now be released in March 2007, with the beta test now slated to begin this December.

Continuing from its recent announcement, Paradox and Nival Interactive have disclosed some new information on Frontline: Kursk, a new RTS series which is inspired by Blitzkrieg. The game is scheduled for release during Q1 2007; it is being developed by Nival Interactive and N-Game Studios.

For the info, hit the jump.
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The ongoing Collector’s Edition fever has grasped Paradox Interactive’s Europa Universalis III which will come in two versions when released during Q1 2007.

As expected, the Collector’s Edition will include exclusive assets such as a 100 page 4-color strategy guide, a special Producer introduction to the game, the official soundtrack, composer’s diary, as well as exclusive download content. This is in addition to a 140-page 4-color manual, a poster map showing all provinces and collectible stickers.

The word ‘exclusive’ just doesn’t mean ‘exclusive’ anymore and if Grand Theft Auto IV is taken as an example, it doesn’t mean anything at all. At last year’s E3, Microsoft announced the development of the game for both the PS3 and Xbox 360; along with word that it will be released on the company’s console on day one and will also be host to exclusive bonus content, seemingly making it superior to the PS3 version. That doesn’t seem to be the case any longer as EuroGamer cites a source “close to Rockstar North” that the studio is working on “exclusive supplemental content for both systems, which will be made available for download via Microsoft and Sony’s respective online services.”

The report goes on, saying that we can expect the “same deal” on PS3, except that it’ll be unique to its own platform. As per the source, the downloadable content will feature brand new areas which will link into the main game world.

It is not known whether this is true or not, as no official word from either Rockstar or Take-Two (its publisher) was released. But rest assured, further information can be expected closer to the game’s release next year. GTA IV is scheduled for release on both PS3 and Xbox 360 in October 2007.

A huge rock/metal soundtrack has been part of the Tony Hawk series for a long time and Project 8 is no exception. Boasting an all-star lineup of more than 50 songs, including stuff from Bad Religion, Nine Inch Nails, Slayer (!) and Kasabian. Here’s the full in-game soundtrack:

• 76% Uncertain - “Radio”
  
• Aurelius- “Hemlock”
  
• Bad Religion - “Social Suicide”
  
• Black Mountain - “Druganaut”
  
• Charizma & PB Wolf - “Devotion”
  
• Claus Grabke - “Cause”
  
• Cryptic Slaughter - “Lowlife”
  
• Damian Marley - “Move”
  
• Dead Milkmen, The - “Punk Rock Girl”
  
• Die Young (TX) - “Anthem of the Prodigal Son”
  
• Eagles of Death Metal - “Chase The Devil”
  
• Funk Face - “Zoo York City”
  
• Gnarls Barkley - “Gone Daddy Gone”
  
• Gym Class Heroes - “The Queen And I”
  
• Hieroglyphics - “At The Helm”
  
• Hold Steady, The - “Your Little Hoodrat Friend”
  
• Immortal - “One by One”
  
• Jaylib - “The Red”
  
• Joy Division - “Interzone”
  
• Kasabian - “Club Foot”
  
• Kool and the Gang - “Summer Madness”
  
• Legitimate Business - “80 on 80″
  
• Liquid Liquid - “Optimo”
  
• Living Legends - “Moving at the Speed of Life”
  
• Ministry - “Stigmata (Remix)”
  
• Mogwai - “Glasgow Mega Snake”
  
• Monty Are I - “In This Legacy”
  
• Nine Inch Nails - “Getting Smaller”
  
• Noise - “Dirty Evil”
  
• Oh No - “Chump”
  
• Pardon My Extinguisher - “Bitch And Moan”
  
• Plus 44 - “Lycanthrope”
  
• Primus - “American Life”
  
• The Ramones - “I Wanna Live”
  
• Revolution Mother - “Second Thoughts”
  
• Slayer - “Angel of Death”
  
• Sonic Youth - “Nic Fit”
  
• Stasera - “Palisades”
  
• Supersuckers - “Goodbye”
  
• The Channeling - “The Frighteners”
  
• The Cure - “Plastic Passion”
  
• The Klaxons - “Gravity’s Rainbox”
  
• The Sword - “Iron Swan”
  
• The Throwaway’s - “You’re Not the Only One”
  
• The Walkmen - “This Job is Killing Me”
  
• Thine Eyes Bleed - “Without Warning”
  
• Thunderlords - “Ice Cream Headache”
  
• Toots & the Maytals - “Time Tough”
  
• Transplants - “Pay Any Price”
  
• Typical Cats - “Any Day”
  
• Ugly Duckling - “Smack”
  
• VanStone - “Skate Town”
  
• Voltera - “Do What Your Daddy Say”
  
• Wildchild - “Wonder Years”
  
• Wolfmother - “Woman”
  
• Zeke - “Kill the King”

To set it straight that it does not favor any particular platform, Bethesda has announced plans to make its new Knights of the Nine content for Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion available for the PC and Xbox 360. The content was previously announced to be in the PS3 version set for release next month with the console’s launch.

The content will be available through Xbox Live Marketplace for X360 and OblivionDownloads.com for PC on November 21. It will also be available as a retail box for PC as a compilation that will include all the other Oblivion downloadable content released till date.

Knights of the Nine introduces an all-new faction dubbed Holy Knights, as well as new quests and more.

Oxygen Games has taken it up to itself to expose bad dancers around the UK this Christmas. Featuring ‘dare to be seen’ dance routines and challenges, Dance Fest for the PS2 will be dancing its way to stores this holiday season. The game will include songs from Sugababes, Pussy Cat Dolls and Steps, and will feature multiple modes as well as multiplayer options. It will retail for £20.

Also coming to the PS2 is Street Dance from the abovementioned publisher. Featuring songs from Kelis, All Saints and The Pussy Cat Dolls, as well as a broad range of this decade’s best-loved R&B hits, the game will include multiplayer function and a recorder mode. There’ll also be a built-in calorie counter that will come in handy for fat gamers. Street Dance will also retail for £20.

Offering the chance to gamers to upload their (fantabulous?) replays is 2K Sports through their “2K Reelmaker” feature for NBA 2K7. Available only to Xbox 360 players, the feature will let players create their own unique video highlight reels from saved replays in the game and share them on Xbxo Live; 2K Reelmaker is now available on the Xbox Live Marketplace for 400 points.

The Reelmaker will let gamers adjust the speed of replays, add special effects, insert sound samples from the commentary team and much more.

Matrix Games and SSG have announced Carriers at War, a recreation of the classic wargame. The game is a simulation of fleet carrier air and naval operations in the Pacific theater from 1941 to 1945, and will let players engage in the greatest naval wars of WW2, including Pearl Harbor, Midway and more; multiplayer games over Internet and LAN; historically accurate ship and aircraft profiles; and more.

It is set for release later this year.

To add to Wii’s already robust launch lineup, THQ announced that it will release four games for the console when it’s released next month. The games are all based on television and movie licenses: Cars, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Barnyard and SpongeBob SquarePants: Creature from the Krusty Krab.

For more details on these games, look inside.
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Utilizing the power of the Xbox Live Vision Camera will be Ubisoft’s Rainbow Six: Vegas, which will use the add-on camera to let players put his/her own face on their character within the game. This will be carried out in two steps: a head-on photo and a profile photo must be taken with the camera; once this process is complete, players will be able to further customize their characters.

Rainbow Six: Vegas is set for release on Xbox 360 this November. Further details on the game inside.
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