Microsoft announced that Mistwalker’s upcoming sci-fi RPG Lost Odyssey will be released for the Xbox 360 on February 12, 2008. Those who pre-order the game will receive a card with a download code for an additional mission and unlockable weapon in-game. The content is said to be made available to the public, but those who have the card will get access starting day one.

While talking to GameDaily BIZ, Microsoft corporate VP of marketing Jeff Bell revealed that Halo 3 has sold more than 5 million copies since the game’s release in September. The game totaled over 3 million copies in its first month according to sales figures from September.

Bell also noted that Mass Effect, BioWare’s Xbox 360-exclusive action-RPG, has also seen mass sales, shifting over 1 million copies within its first three weeks on the market.

A dedicated game site for BlackSite: Area 51 has gone live, offering up game details, screenshots and other media from the upcoming alien-shooter. It is set for release this October on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360; demos for PC and Xbox 360 will be announced soon.

New screenshots from Gearbox’s sci-fi FPS/RPG Borderlands have been released. The game is in development for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

The latest Bungie update offers word that development work on Halo 3 is winding down and that the highly anticipated game is roughly 99.9% complete. They are currently doing testing and bug fixing, which is the very important .1% bit, through the Epsilon program. It’s a closed, final phase testing for the game, including a lone single-player mission and three multiplayer maps.

The rest of the update talks about playing the game on a huge IMAX screen, their server-side stuff for the game that offers the option for uploading game movies and screenshots (among other things) and storing them online for public viewing, and a sneak peek at a new multiplayer map called Narrows. They have released a couple of screenshots from the map, one of which I have included in this post.

EA and Crytek have sent out word that Crysis will be hitting stores in North America and Europe simultaneously on November 16 exclusively for the PC.

“Crytek is constantly striving to push the boundaries of both game design and technology, while maintaining quality at the highest bar,” said Cevat Yerli, CEO and President of Crytek. “We’re thankful to our fans for their support and patience, and we’re excited to bring them Crysis this year. It’s going to be worth the wait.”

One of the first ever games to make full use of DirectX10 graphics, Crysis offers full open-ended gameplay. Players are outfitted with a Nanosuit and an arsenal of fully customizable weapons, and more. The game will feature multiplayer modes such as Instant Action mode (deathmatch) and PowerStruggle - a unique team-based strategic mode for up to 32 players, where opposing sides battle for control of advanced weaponry and vehicles to overcome their enemies.

Two new screenshots were sent out to celebrate the release date. Check them out:

A countdown trailer for the game, showing off gameplay footage and more, was also released.

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.

Shacknews carries confirmation from Insomniac Games that more content for Resistance: Fall of Man is headed to the PlayStation Network soon. “We actually have some content that hasn’t been shared yet,” said Ryan Schneider, marketing director at the studio. “So I think our fans will be happy in the coming months in terms of ongoing support for Resistance.”

He also teases that a demo for Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction is also headed to the service. “We will touch the PlayStation Network somehow with the Ratchet & Clank Future franchise,” he said. However, he didn’t mention any timeframe as to when to expect the demo.

D3Publisher sent out word that it will be present at the Leipzig Games Convention next month, showing the latest build of Dark Sector on PS3 and Xbox 360 among other titles. Here’s the deal:

Publicly playable for the first time, Dark Sector is Digital Extreme’s breath-taking third-person action title. Set within a plague-ravaged Eastern European city, the player is cast as Hayden Tenno, a Government Agent sent to investigate the heavily patrolled area, but inadvertently infected by a mutagen that is endowing him with ever-increasing powers. Armed with a unique Glaive weapon which can kill multiple targets with one throw, and with a host of adversaries beautifully tied in with the unfolding plot, Dark Sector is a stunning game that mixes exploration, action and puzzles with aplomb. Games Convention will be used to show the latest build of the title, which is now scheduled for a Q1 2008 release.

Ben 10: Protector of Earth is the first of two new Cartoon Network properties on show. Players assume control of the cartoon’s everyday hero Ben Tennyson, as he uses the power of the Omnitrix - an alien artefact embedded in his arm - to change his appearance to battle the evil Kevin 11 and arch enemy Vilgax. Due for release on Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, PlayStation2 and PSP (PlayStationPortable), Ben 10: Protector of Earth perfectly mirrors the adventures of the cartoon series and features a wealth of characters and situations from the popular Cartoon Network show.

Ed, Edd and Eddy: Scam of the Century stars the three ne’er-do-wells as they find their book of schemes stolen by Captain Melonhead and handed out to the local kids. Exploring a wealth of 2D locations, the three ‘heroes’ must pit their assorted skills and retrieve the book before their nefarious plots are used against them. Due for release in October for Nintendo DS, Scam of the Century marks a fitting video game misadventure for the misbehaving trio…

Further showcasing the variety of titles under the D3PE banner, Dragon Blade: Wrath of Fire is a massive role-playing title exclusively for Nintendo Wii. Set in a fantasy world devastated by evil dragons, a young warrior must locate the mythical Dragon Blade of the title - a weapon endowed with the powers of Dragons and capable of seeing off the fire-breathing monsters. Graphically stunning, Dragon Blade: Wrath of Fire uses both the Wii Remote and Nunchuck controllers to offer full control of the player and weapon, with movements from both realised in special attacks on screen. The game also boasts a storyline by Richard A. Knack, creator of the DragonLance range. With its upgradeable weapons and massive battles, Dragon Blade: Wrath of Fire will also be playable on the D3PE stand.

The company will also show off the Vicious Cycle development engine to interested game developers. D3PE can be found at stand K37, hall one.

Akella sent out a development update on Scorpion, an upcoming FPS from B-Cool Interactive, which was last shown at E3 2006. As per the update, the game’s graphical engine CoolEngine is almost finished and is now going through minor bug-fixing. They also note that the AI system has also been completed and that the design team is working intensively on general playability, with weapon balance and overall game difficulty being their main target. Most of the graphic assets and locations have also been completed; their artists are currently working on creating additional visual effects, as well as briefings movies and cut-scenes.

More information on the cyber-punk styled action game can be found after the jump.
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Capcom has announced that it will release new features and a multiplayer map pack for Lost Planet PC tomorrow. It will feature new playable characters, including Frank West of Dead Rising and Megaman, along with an over the should view and a wide view. The multiplayer mode will also be updated and a movie mode will be added to watch the cut-scenes. As for the map pack, it will include four levels: Radar Field, Island 902, Hive Complex and Trial Point.

The company also mentioned that these maps will be available for free on Xbox Live Marketplace for the console version of the game. There will also be a new patch addressing connectivity issues for Xbox 360 players by the end of this month.

As a Christmas present, CryTek released three new screenshots from the highly anticipated shooter. These shots, staying true to the season, showcase the cold environments in the game and show the aliens for the first time. Enjoy.

The sci-fi part of Assassin’s Creed is yet to be explained, but the cat may be out of the bag, thanks to an interview with Kristen Bell. In an interview with IGN TV, the star of Veronica Mars explains her relation to the game, as well as the following interesting bit: “It’s actually really interesting to me. It’s sort of based on the research that’s sort of happening now, about the fact that your genes might be able to hold memory. And you could argue semantics and say it’s instinct, but how does a baby bird know to eat a worm, as opposed to a cockroach, if its parents don’t show it? And it’s about this science company trying to, Matrix-style, go into peoples brains and find out an ancestor who used to be an assassin, and sort of locate who that person is.”

As expected, Ubisoft is yet to comment on this. However, if a certain gameplay video from X06 is any indication, we might be in for a sci-fi game.

Italian game developer Twelve Interactive has announced that it has become an official PS3 developer, and that they are currently working on an “undisclosed sci-fi action game” for next-gen consoles. Further information on the studio can be found after the jump.
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The European publishing rights for WarPath, Groove Games‘ sci-fi FPS, was picked up by Lighthouse Interactive. Developed by Digital Extremes, the game is a combination of single and multiplayer modes “sure to please FPS fans.” It is set for release in the region during Q1 2007.

Further information can be gleaned after the jump.
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