This year’s Leipzig Games Convention will be host to the world premiere of THEY, an upcoming first-person shooter for PC and next-gen consoles. The game will be presented to media at the business center in Hall 1 at booth K36.

The press release itself didn’t reveal much on the game except that the engine which powers it is a “3D engine with next-generation effects, brand new gameplay elements and a revolutionary weapon system.” Apparently, the game will make heavy use of physics and destructible environments; it will also feature versatile multiplayer modes and an unique weapon system that will make you “love your weapons.”

THEY is set for release sometime in 2008/2009. A lone screenshot has been released ahead of its debut:

Rare and Microsoft have announced that Viva Pinata is in development for DS through their Comic-Con panel. The DS game follows up on the PC port of the original Xbox 360 game, claiming to execute the original game’s concept rather than being a completely new title.

In a post on Pinataisland.info forums, Rare developers claimed that “everyone was really impressed about the quality” referring to the game. In a follow up thread, the company also revealed that an internal Rare team is developing the DS version of the game, which they state is “basically the same game, same principles as the 360 version.” However, he notes that the hardware had to be taken into account, but that the touch screen offers “cool things”.

New indie game developer Dark Motif has announced the launch of their official website as well as the production of Adam Syndrome, an upcoming adventure game for PC. Here’s the deal:

In a desperate attempt to discover what happened to his beloved wife, Professor Adam Reed becomes entangled in a web of conspiracy that threatens to tear apart the tapestry of his own life. Through a shocking series of revelations, Adam learns that he has unwittingly been playing a major role in a dark and mysterious conspiracy. By following a 400 year old trail left behind by John Dee, the 16th-century occultist and famous advisor to Queen Elizabeth I, he unearths secrets of the biblical giants known as the Nephilim and the ancient myth of the Great Flood, and finds himself facing powerful adversaries - the members of a strange and elusive society - as he uncovers a malevolent plot. With time running out, Adam must stop these men from wreaking monumental catastrophe by unveiling a secret buried thousands of years ago by blood and by time itself - a shocking truth that will shake the very foundations of humanity.

The game will have players travel to more than fifteen unique locations all over the world, including ancient lost cities, futuristic laboratories, underwater complexes and more. It will have a dark atmosphere and a soundtrack described as “moody and suspenseful”. The puzzles in the game have been written originally into the plot, with the game using a third-person perspective. There will be real-time weather effects, over 150 pre-rendered 3D backgrounds and more than 50 fully interactive characters.

Adam Syndrome is set for release during Q3 2008.

Lexicon Entertainment has announced Voltage, a futuristic racing game with real-time strategy elements, for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. The game, which is being developed by IBA Group in Czech Republic, will feature races taking place far in the future on the planets of the solar system, having players compete against aliens to acquire the title of the solar system’s best racer.

There will be a number of vehicles in the game that run on electricity, nuclear and tachyon fuel, among other things. Futuristic elements include teleport, electromagnetic platforms, and more. It will feature a total of 15 non-linear tracks on seven planets in three modes of play - Championship, Quick Race and Multiplayer.

Voltage is set for release during Autumn 2008.

This year will also see the return of the GC Art exhibition, showcasing various computer and console art again. The exhibitions this year are titled public_play, Telespiele 1972-2007, Machinima and Digital Beauty - 3D Character Design. They will be on view in Hall 5 August 23-26, providing visitors a look into different aspects of digital games; there will also be workshops for interested visitors, giving them the opportunity to create some minor artwork themselves.

Detailed information on these exhibitions right after the jump.
(more…)

Wham-O, the manufacturer of Frisbee, Hula Hoop and other such products, has announced a deal with FOG Studios to create games based on their products for PC and console, as well as mobile phones.

It didn’t, however, mention which games are currently in development and when to expect them.

On BeyondUnreal are shaky-cam videos of Unreal Tournament 3 from Comic-Con. These videos show multiplayer deathmatch, as well as the sniper rifle in action for the first time. The videos are also mirrored on Youtube for those who prefer to stream.

In more video news, the first episode of The Guild, a sitcom about online gamers, is now live on Youtube. The series has been created by Felicia Day (Buffy’s Vi) and is directed by Jane Selle Morgan. Worth a watch. Embedded below:

LucasArts and Traveller’s Tales have officially announced Lego Indiana Jones, the next franchise following the runaway success of Lego Star Wars. The game will have players play through the three released films and is scheduled for release in 2008 on unspecified platforms.

“LucasArts and TT Games are setting the bar for next-generation family entertainment with the LEGO Star Wars franchise, and our incredible relationship continues with LEGO Indiana Jones,” said Jim Ward, president of LucasArts. “In addition to providing the quality bonding time inspired by any good family game, LEGO Indiana Jones delivers something a little different for everyone. Parents will enjoy the humorous take on some of their favorite movies, and their kids get some rousing action/adventure gameplay that may also introduce them to Indy’s original adventures for the first time.”

They’ve also released a trailer from the game, showing off gameplay as well as cinematic footage. You can watch it streaming below, or download it from Rapidshare.

According to this post on the PlayStation Blog by Michael Shorrock, director of third party relations at SCEA, Rockstar is going to develop a franchise exclusive to the PS3. Though the post does not go into any detail on the project itself, it does mention Sony’s relationship with Rockstar Games, which is very good, to say the least.

Rockstar is hoping to make a game that will truly make use of the PS3’s resources, exploit the power of CELL and Blu-ray. The franchise is not LA Noire, but something all new that will be detailed soon, according to the post.

Revealed some time back, Namco Bandai has officially announced that the online add-on pack for the PS3 version of Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection will be available in North America later this year. To be purchasable through the PlayStation Store for $9.99, the multiplayer add-on pack will add four different modes: Opti Match, Quick Match, Custom Match and Friend Match. An online news ticker will keep players notified of noteworthy movement on the leaderboards. The add-on will also add Practice and Survival modes to the game.

Interestingly, this add-on pack will be sold only to current owners of the game. Those looking to get the game once the add-on is released will be able to get the pack plus the game at its original $20 price point.

Gamespot reports of Prototype, the next project by Radical Entertainment, the studio behind The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction. Revealed in the latest issue of Game Informer, the game will follow on from its precursor, featuring free-roaming destruction as an integral part of its workings. It follows the trials and tribulations of Alex Mercer, who has acquired superhuman abilities from a science experiment gone wrong.

Radical’s unique twist on the Grand Theft Auto style of play is that as Mercer kills people, he absorbs their memories, abilities, and appearance. As a result, players gain the ability to shapeshift into any one they’ve absorbed, and they also gain knowledge and skills. Absorbing dead foes and innocent bystanders alike also augments Mercer’s biomass, making him stronger and giving him the ability to morph his body into a weapon or harden his skin in defense.

Prototype will use Radical’s proprietary fourth-generation Titanium game engine. The game takes place in Manhattan, and depending on whether players employ brute force or stealth tactics in the game, the city either acts as a labyrinthine maze or becomes a decimated warzone.

The game, as per the article, will feature online two-player co-op, letting players use tag-team moves and powers. Prototype is headed for release on PS3 and Xbox 360 sometime next year.

Microsoft Game Studios and Ensemble are going to release Age of Empires III: Gold Edition on September 25 in North America. It will retail for $40 and will include the full game and The Warchiefs expansion.

Building on the success of its Godfather franchise, EA has revealed that a sequel to the game based on Mario Puzo’s classic book. The game is simply dubbed The Godfather 2 and is expected to appeal to the “older demographic.” No other information, including platforms, was revealed.

Apparently, this was brought up by a shareholder who asked the company how it deals with “more mature, edgier titles”. Frank Gibeau, head of EA Games, answered the question, saying that games such as Crysis, Army of Two and the aforementioned Godfather game are being developed to appeal to the “older customer” and that they have a “good critical mass of franchises and brands” for such an audience.

Designer of such legendary games as Twisted Metal and God of War, David Jaffe has announced that he is leaving Sony to found his own development studio with Incognito Games founder Scott Campbell. Dubbed EAT SLEEP PLAY, the new company has signed a three game deal with Sony that will see them developing exclusively for the PS3 and PSP.

Although his blog post didn’t reveal any of the games they are developing, he does mention that he’s “crazy in love with game #1 already”. They are currently working on a PS2 port of Twisted Metal: Head On, which was released for the PSP. Set for release this Christmas, the game will feature all the content from the PSP title, but running at 60fps and better textures and gameplay tweaks; five to seven levels from a previously unreleased Twisted Metal game; and a documentary on the history of the series. It is pointed out that this is not part of their three-game deal with Sony.

Further information on Jaffe’s projects are expected soon.

Football fans can now look forward to Football Manager 2008, an upcoming entry in the footie simulation series, for PC and Mac this Christmas. The latest version will be fully updated for the new season and will allow players to select their favorite club or international team and guide them through Cup matches, Leagues, European Championships and even major international tournaments. It has been improved since the last game, thanks to fan feedback, resulting in over a hundred new features, including a brand new advisory system to help new players through the game.

More information after the jump. The official website also has further details.
(more…)