OUT THIS WEEK FOR XBOX 360 AND PLAYSTATION 3

With upcoming downloadable content

Square Enix Ltd., the publisher of SQUARE ENIX® interactive entertainment products in Europe and across PAL territories, today confirms that FINAL FANTASY® XIII-2 will be on sale from today in North American territories, and on Friday 3^rd February 2012 in European and PAL territories for Xbox 360 and PlayStation® 3.

FINAL FANTASY XIII-2 is created with the aim to surpass the quality of its predecessor in every way, featuring new gameplay systems, cutting-edge visuals and audio. In this game the player has the freedom to choose from a range of possibilities and paths; their choices affect not only the immediate environment, but even shape time and space.

SQUARE ENIX also announces that extensive additional downloadable content is planned for FINAL FANTASY® XIII-2, for both Xbox 360 and PlayStation® 3.

The planned content includes Coliseum Battles that pit the player against friends and foes from previous FINAL FANTASY titles, that, when defeated can be recruited into the player’s party. The Coliseum battle entitled ‘Lightning & Amodar’ will be available for Xbox 360 on 7^th February via Xbox LIVE® Marketplace and on 8^thFebruary for PlayStation® 3 via PlayStation® Network. In addition, there will be opportunity to explore the game’s secrets through story episodes for some of the key characters, such as Lightning which complement the narrative of FINAL FANTASY XIII-2. Full details on each piece of content will be revealed at a later date.

FINAL FANTASY XIII-2 Key Features                     　　　　　　　　　　                                 　　　　
·         A New Tale Awaits
FINAL FANTASY XIII-2 will reveal further events from the amazing mythology as presented in the original FINAL FANTASY XIII. The story is written in a way that can still be enjoyed without knowledge of the previous title.
·         Larger, More Interactive Environments
Places with multiple pathways to explore, and many secrets to find, offer players the chance to shape the adventure their way.
·         Time Travel - A New Dimension of Exploration
The situation, scenery, flora, fauna and weather conditions all change, depending on when you visit locations. Untangling the threads of time is essential in witnessing the full story.
·         Enhanced Battle System
New elements such as visually dynamic Cinematic Action sequences, and an innovative battle clock that will reward or punish players, creates further variety and choice for the player.
·         Master of Monsters
A wide variety of over 150 different monsters inhabiting the game world can be recruited into the player’s party and battle strategy, with each creature having unique and devastating special abilities.

About FINAL FANTASY XIII-2　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　                            　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
FINAL FANTASY XIII-2 is the sequel to FINAL FANTASY XIII, which has shipped 6.2 million units worldwide since its release in March 2010. The sequel has evolved beyond its predecessor, with level design that encourages exploration, a new battle system allowing players to command monsters and a variety of options that support multiple playthroughs.

Product Information　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　                               　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
Release Date:   3^rd February in Europe and other PAL territories (31^st January in North America)
Age Rating:       PEGI 16 (with violence indicator)           
Genre:              Role-Playing Game (RPG)                                             
RRP:                €59.99 (Standard Edition)
                        €69.99 (Limited Collector’s Edition)
                        €99.99 (Crystal Edition)
URL:                 www.finalfantasy13-2game.com
Facebook:       www.facebook.com/finalfantasy13game
Twitter:             www.twitter.com/SQUARE_ENIX_EU

TOTAL WAR: SHOGUN 2 – FALL OF THE SAMURAI’ RELEASE DATE ANNOUNCED

THE SAMURAI WILL FALL IN LATE MARCH 2012

SEGA ® Europe Ltd. and SEGA ® of America, Inc . today revealed that Total War: SHOGUN 2 ™: Fall of the Samurai, the stand alone expansion to the critically acclaimed Total War: SHOGUN 2 ™, will be available worldwide from the 23 ^rd March 2012.

The ‘Fall of the Samurai’ is the fastest pre-ordered Total War title to date with thousands of copies already purchased. The wait is almost over, so pre-order your copy now to receive an exclusive extra playable faction of your choice.

“We’re delighted that the fans have resonated so positively and quickly towards the latest excellent instalment from Creative Assembly. Shogun 2 has built an incredible audience over the last 12 months and now Fall of the Samurai will continue to build the enjoyment", said John Clark, Director of Digital Distribution.

Total War: SHOGUN 2 pushes forward the hugely successful Total War series by perfecting the features from previous games such as full 3D land and naval battles and a detailed campaign map, whilst adding an exciting new multiplayer experience. Total War: SHOGUN 2 released in March 2011.

 STORY DLC “TREASURE ISLE” EXCLUSIVE PRE-ORDER BONUS FOR RISEN 2™: DARK WATERS

Ahoy, mates! Free booty for all pirates! Experience an exciting new story in the pursuit of Captain Steelbeard’s treasure in the pre-order bonus for pirate RPG by developer Piranha Bytes

Deep Silver today announced a special pre-order bonus that will be available for free for everyone who buys the engrossing pirate RPG Risen 2: Dark Waters before its release at the end of April.

The DLC with the fitting name “Treasure Isle” offers exclusive additional content for the intrepid adventurer. The player will embark on an extra story questline to uncover Captain Steelbeard's legendary treasure – a quest that will continue a plot element from the first Risen game and finally bring it to an exciting conclusion.

The story of the DLC revolves around Harlok, a cook on Steelbeard’s ship Elenor, who stole the secret clues that lead to the pirate captain’s hidden treasure. However it is only with the help of the player that Harlok is able to find it.

This quest will take the hero and Patty, Steelbeard’s daughter, to an unknown island that offers new environments to explore with many puzzles to solve, treasures to loot and mysteries to unravel. The player will discover a legendary item (only available in this DLC) - offering his character a permanent stat boost.

This exclusive pre-order bonus DLC with a value of £8.00 / 800 Microsoft Points, will be made available in selected territories at participating retailers.

About Risen 2: Dark Waters
In Risen 2: Dark Waters, the Inquisition dispatches the hero to seek a remedy against the monstrous sea creatures that are interfering with the shipping lines, thus cutting off the islands' supplies. The pirates seem to know how to deal with these critters ... but they are hardly cooperative.

New gameplay elements add to the diversity of Risen 2; for example, players can also use firearms now. And being pirates, adventurers can also employ special new skills called Dirty Tricks, allowing them to confuse or attack enemies in combat.

Deep Silver will release Risen 2: Dark Waters for Xbox 360, Windows PC, and PlayStation®3 on April 24^th, 2012 for USA and Canada and on April 27^th, 2012 in European countries.

Official Website: http://www.risen2.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/risengame
Community: http://forum.deepsilver.com

RADICAL ENTERTAINMENT UNVEILS

PROTOTYPE ^® 2 ’S RADNET EDITION CONTENT

Pre-Order PROTOTYPE 2 to Secure

Your Free RADNET Access to Over 55 Pieces of Additional Content!

 Radical Entertainment once again ramps up the studio’s signature over-the-top mayhem with the announcement of PROTOTYPE ^® 2’s RADNET Edition content.  Planned to launch on 24 ^th April, 2012 from Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI ), a limited number of the launch quantities of PROTOTYPE 2 on PlayStation ^® 3 computer entertainment system and Xbox ^® 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, will contain free access to RADNET via a one-time use code that gives fans 55 free pieces of additional content delivered for seven weeks following the game’s launch.  This weekly scheduled content will include in-game Events, Challenges, Avatar Items, Dynamic Themes and Behind-the-Scenes videos, as well as bonus Mutations for PROTOTYPE 2's main campaign.  Fans that participate in ALL of RADNET’s weekly challenges and events will unlock the ultimate shape-shifting reward...to be revealed in March 2012.  PROTOTYPE 2’s RADNET Edition content will only be available for free while supplies last.  For more information on RADNET, please visit www.radical.ca/radnet and check out the trailer at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=er9XTcft2Mc .

“Radical Entertainment has always focused on bringing long lasting fun to its fans, and PROTOTYPE 2 ’s RADNET content is our way of rewarding the game’s most loyal supporters – the early adopters, the one’s who will replay it over and over again,” said Ken Rosman, Studio Head, Radical Entertainment.  “We think this is great because we’re giving our fans hours of additional gameplay outside PROTOTYPE 2 ’s main narrative, and cool rewards – all delivered weekly following the game’s launch!”

The sequel to Radical Entertainment’s best-selling open-world action game of 2009, PROTOTYPE 2 takes the unsurpassed carnage of the original PROTOTYPE and continues the experience of becoming the ultimate shape-shifting weapon.  As the game’s all-new infected protagonist, Sgt. James Heller, players will cut a bloody swathe through the wastelands of post-viral New York Zero with unparalleled locomotion, building up a vast genetic arsenal of deadly, biological weapons and abilities as they hunt, kill and consume their way toward the ultimate goal – to kill…Alex…Mercer!

To find out more about PROTOTYPE 2 , follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/radical_ent and check outwww.prototypegame.com for the latest trailers, screenshots, special promotions and more!  And for the truly dedicated, go to www.facebook.com/prototype and join the PROTOTYPE Army – a community of over 380,000 (and growing) fans that receive constant updates from the team at Radical, and early sneak peeks at new information and assets.

PROTOTYPE 2 is currently in development for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Windows PC.

NEW SCREENSHOTS RISE FROM THE DEPTHS

Deep Silver unleashes new images from Risen 2: Dark Waters

Today Deep Silver released new and exciting screenshots from the epic pirate RPG Risen 2: Dark Waters, due for UK release April 27th 2012.

In Risen 2: Dark Waters, the Inquisition dispatches the hero to seek a remedy against the monstrous sea creatures that are interfering with the shipping lines, thus cutting off the islands' supplies. The pirates seem to know how to deal with these critters ... but they are hardly cooperative.

New gameplay elements add to the diversity of Risen 2; for example, players can also use firearms now. And, being pirates, adventurers can also employ special new skills called Dirty Tricks, allowing them to confuse or attack enemies in combat.

Deep Silver will release Risen 2: Dark Waters for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Windows PC, and PlayStation®3.

Official Website: http://www.risen2.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/risengame
Community: http://forum.deepsilver.com

 

GAME UK: This week’s Top 10 Best Sellers

GAME UK are proud to announce this week’s Top 10 UK sellers. With Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 in on top, followed by Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and FIFA 12.

GAME UK
Title	Formats
CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 3	PC,PS3,Wii,XBOX360
ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM	PC,PS3,XBOX360
FIFA 12	PC,PS3,PSP,Wii,XBOX360
BATTLEFIELD 3	PC,PS3,XBOX360
ASSASSINS CREED REVELATIONS	PC,PS3,XBOX360
RAGE	PC,PS3,XBOX360
JUST DANCE 3	PS3,Wii,XBOX360
ZUMBA FITNESS	PS3,Wii,XBOX360
MARIO KART 7	NDS
SKATE 3	PS3,XBOX360

SoulCalibur V graffiti transforms London’s East End

The Great Eastern Street wall in London's East End received a facelift last week, a brand new paint job for 2012, celebrating the release of SOULCALIBUR V.

The visual masterpiece in the heart of Shoreditch took three long days and was painted by the East End's infamous painter decorator extraordinaire, JIM ROCKWELL: Graffiti artist & Creative Director of ENDoftheLINE. A time-lapsed video, filmed and painted on location shows the entire process from beginning to end, capturing the mural in all its glory.



Leading video game publisher NAMCO BANDAI teamed up with the cutting-edge aerosol mural artists ENDoftheLINE to celebrate the release of the game on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The huge 16 metre wall features legendary character Nightmare and new additions to the roster Patroklos and Ezio Auditore from Assassin’s Creed®.  The Great Eastern Wall is an ongoing project from ENDoftheLINE, a permanant Public Art Gallery that, in the last two years has featured some of London's most notorious graffiti artists, and has hosted international artists from around the globe.

SoulCalibur V will be released this Friday (3^rd Feb) on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. For more information visit www.soulcalibur.com

Aliens:™ Colonial Marines Contact Trailer

Resident Evil 6 (PC PS3 X360)DUE FOR RELEASE NOV-2012

 Thirteen screenshots ripped from the bowels of the announcement trailer.

KONAMI ANNOUNCES RHYTHM PARTY FOR XBOX LIVE®ARCADE

Get Yourself Moving with this Kooky, High-Energy Rhythm Game that Brings Dancing Simulation and a Over the Top Style

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. today announced Rhythm Party, a new downloadable game for the Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Designed exclusively for use with the Kinect sensor, no avatars or elaborate customizations are needed in Rhythm Party, because YOU are the star! Use the Kinect sensor to put your own silhouette in the game, giving a whole new level of fun and entertainment.

One of the best features of Rhythm Party is the "open format" dancing. Unlike other music and dancing games, there isn't any contrived choreography, so players can move about the beat and groove freely to create their own performance. Hit the performance "ripples" on screen to collect points and gain multipliers to increase your score.  Players are thrown into a world of vivid color, wild backgrounds and random awesomeness. Zany and outlandish interactive backgrounds such as electric carnivals, wild discos and Spanish cafes will keep players laughing along the way!

And of course, no music game is complete without great music. Rhythm Party includes special collaborations with hit artists, motivating dancers with an interactive music experience unlike ever before.

TRACK, ARTIST
Born This Way, Lady Gaga
Every Little Step, Bobby Brown
Y.M.C.A., Village People
A Midnight Rendezvous, Shanice
Still unbreakable, Des-ROW Ft. Vanilla Ice
SAY A PRAYER, Des-ROW Ft. Maxi Priest
BEFREE, Des-ROW Ft. Vanilla Ice
Summer Fairytale, Design-MAD crew
HEARTBREAK (Sound Selektaz remix), NAOKI feat. Becca Hossany
All Thu The Night, jun feat. Lisa Lisa

Rhythm Party will be available February 1, 2012. For more information, log on to http://www.konami.com/rhythmparty/.

5 MILLION FANS PROVE THEY "LIKE" PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER

KONAMI's Blockbuster Soccer Franchise Hits Social Media Milestone with Over 5,000,000 Pro Evolution Soccer fans on Facebook

Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. has announced that its Pro Evolution Soccer Facebook page is now followed by over five million people. In honor of this milestone, Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the world's most recognized players and PES cover athlete, has recorded a special message for the Facebook fans!

The Real Madrid midfielder, and the new face of the Pro Evolution Soccer series, has recorded a dedicated message to this massive amount of fans. Five entrants in the competition will be chosen at random and will each receive a signed shirt.

The success of KONAMI's Pro Evolution Soccer Facebook page comes following a concerted push by the publisher's newly-established Social & Online Media Department. This division was established in April 2011 when just 1.6 million people were fans. Using a wealth of exclusive material to attract new fans and by increasing efforts to lead direct and credible conversations with them, the division has overseen an increase of over 600 percent in the number of monthly active users, and presided over a 1,300 percent increase in monthly page views.

The Pro Evolution Soccer Facebook page can be found at www.facebook.com/PES.

KONAMI ANNOUNCES PUDDLE NOW AVAILABLE FOR XBOX LIVE® ARCADE
Physics-Based Puzzle Platformer Game and Winner at GDC 2010's Independent Games Festival Comes to Xbox Live®Arcade

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.  Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. today announced that Puddle, a winner in the 2010 GDC Independent Games Festival Student Showcase Division, is now available for Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. A brilliantly designed physics-based puzzle platform game, Puddle initially began as a project from six students from the French videogame school ENJMIN, and was ultimately picked up and developed by Neko Entertainment.

In Puddle, players must guide a puddle of fluid to its target destination, not by moving the fluid, but by tilting the game world. A new experience based on physics and liquid properties, players must work with friction, momentum, and the unique properties of each type of fluid and environment to send as much of each puddle past fires, rifts, spills and more. The challenge lies in the fact that the fluid motion is realistic. If players tilt too quickly, droplets are left behind and if tilted too slowly, they may not be able to make certain jumps. Players also have to control their fluid and safely navigate through pipes, plants, laboratories, a human body, a sewer, a rocket, a foundry and a power station. The end goal- avoid being evaporated away.  With endless twists, turns and surprises, Puddle tests puzzle fans like never before in an unparalleled physics-based puzzle platformer title.

Puddle is rated T for Teen by the ESRB and is now available for download on Xbox® LIVE Arcade for 800 Microsoft Points.  Puddle will also be available for PlayStation® Network on January 31 for $9.99. For assets and more information please visit www.konami.com/download and www.konami.com/puddle.

WORMS™ CRAZY GOLF IOS PRICE REDUCTION TO WARM UP THE WINTER FREEZE!

New update also released, file size significantly reduced

Accomplished annelid annihilators (and ledges with wedges) Team 17, announced that their clubhouse collection of chaos and commotion, Worms™ Crazy Golf is reduced in price from today for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch on the App Store for a limited time only!

Worms™ Crazy Golf is a brazenly bonkers mixture of classic 2D Worms™ and hilarious eighteen-hole high jinks. Spread across a variety of weird and wonderful courses and featuring some mind-bendingly mental power-ups, this is the craziest golf you’ll ever play. With many fan-favourite features from the Worms™ universe such as the sheep, old woman, mole, magnets, mines and crazy chain reactions making an appearance, it is anything but a straight simulation. Set across three surreal 18-hole golf courses (four in the iPad version), with a diverse range of skill-based challenge modes as well, expect to be challenged by increasingly puzzling hole design and an array of obstacles; from castles that teleport your ball, cannons that shoot it across the landscape and even obstructive comedy bats! Only skilful shot execution and clever use of special powers such as the parachute ball, or the ability to slow time down will see you hit par and progress to the next hole. On the iPhone version, the fourth course (‘The Carnival Course’) is available as an In-App purchase.

Team17 have also just released a new update for the App, the latest in a series of updates that have been designed to address feedback and comments from consumers, community members and reviewers to make the critically acclaimed game even more enjoyable and accessible. The main focus of this update is to significantly reduce the file size on both the iPhone and iPad versions (both download and install sizes are considerably reduced now without any impact on the quality of the game itself). The update also adds five ultra-fashionable new golfing hats to the already extensive worm golfer customization options.

• The Worms™ Crazy Golf App is now available at the reduced price of just £0.69/€0.79/$0.99 from Friday 27th January 2012 for a limited time only; from the App Store on iPhone and iPod touch, or atwww.itunes.com/appstore.

• Updated download size - 270.5mb (was 435.3mb)
• Updated install size - 425.6mb (was 709.2mb)

• The Worms™ Crazy Golf HD App is now available at the reduced price of just £1.49/€1.59/$1.99 from Friday 27th January 2012 for a limited time only; from the App Store on iPad, or at www.itunes.com/appstore.

• Updated download size - 274.8mb (was 456.2mb)
• Updated install size - 456.1mb (was 1.04gb)

For more information on Worms™ please visit www.team17.com orwww.facebook.com/WormsTeam17

Friday afternoon fun time! We’re pleased to announce that RAGE HD has updated to v2.0.  This update includes new melee combat, official support for iOS 5, and enables the in-app purchase of  two new episodes, Kraken and Aqueduct. The new episodes are available for purchase for £0.69 via the “Store” button on the RAGE HD main menu.

Battle your way through the hit of the wastelands, Mutant Bash TV, when you’re cast in the starring role of a post-apocalyptic game show. You’ll be stalked by hungry mutants while you scour pulse-pounding levels for ammo and cash pick-ups. Make a deal with J.K Stiles, the show’s menacing host, and see if you have what it takes to survive this carnage-filled carnival of death!

RAGE HD is available for download on iTunes for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch for £1.49.