Eurogamer


The PC version of forthcoming FPS RPG sequel Borderlands 2 ships with Steamworks, publisher 2K Games has announced.


Whether you download the game from Steam or pick up a boxed copy at retail you'll have access to Steam Achievements, all DLC, auto-updating, multiplayer matchmaking, Steam Cloud support and more.


The follow-up to Gearbox's accomplished 2009 shooter, due out on European shores from 21st September, looks to be shaping up rather nicely.


"Borderlands 2 is still about shooting, but there's much more to it than that," read Eurogamer's recent Borderlands 2 preview.


"Its gorgeous world, creative set pieces, and ludicrous humor aim to flesh out the blueprint set out by its predecessor."

Eurogamer


A batch of what appears to be concept art for Sim City 5 has popped up on the web.


The shots, which you can check out below, were posted on NeoGAF along with a crude translation of an article from German magazine GameStar indicating the game is being developed by Maxis for a 2013 launch.


It apparently has a multiplayer mode and shows off a new graphics engine.


There's no indication as to what platforms the game is bound for.


We know for certain that Maxis is hard at work on something new and that an announcement is planned for GDC next week.


It's been nearly nine years since the last mainline entry in the franchise arrived on shelves. Take a look at our Sim City 4 review for more on how that turned out.

Eurogamer


Microsoft has launched a Consumer Preview build of its new Windows 8 operating system, which includes Xbox Live functionality.


Xbox Live for Windows 8 allows you to access the Games Marketplace to buy and browse Xbox 360 and Windows Phone 7 titles.


Video and music are also available to purchase and download to your Xbox 360.


Xbox companion apps are also available. And, of course, your Xbox Live avatar is present and correct to give you a wave.


Windows 8 is expected to launch this winter for desktop and tablet PCs. It utilises Microsoft's new Metro interface, used on Windows Phone 7 and the latest Xbox Live dashboard.

Eurogamer

UPDATE: GAME Group has issued a note to shareholders in an attempt to calm concern over its ability to stock new games.


Its current stock issue with EA is "temporary", and both parties are working to make sure it doesn't happen again, GAME said.


"Today the Group confirmed that it will not be stocking a small number of titles from one supplier, Electronic Arts, during March and notes that this has caused speculation in the market," the statement said.


"This situation, which is a result of ongoing discussions between the Group and EA, is a temporary one and indeed both businesses are already engaged in discussions about future launches together. It is always a matter of regret when customers are inconvenienced, and both the Group and EA are committed to ensuring that this situation does not occur again."


GAME added: "As part of the strategic plan development process which it announced on February 3, the Group has been working closely with its suppliers, as well as other stakeholders. In particular, the Group has been discussing with its suppliers the level of support and engagement it needs from them over the coming months. There have, during that process, been isolated instances where it has not been possible to agree launch plans for individual game titles."

ORIGINAL STORY: Gargantuan US shop GameStop wants to buy GAME, according to a report.


GameStop is particularly interested in GAME's UK and Spanish businesses. It's not interested in the Australian stores, though, MCV said.


According to MCV, GameStop does not wish to "double up" by owning both GAME Australia and its own EB chain.


GAME, which confirmed this morning that it will not stock Mass Effect 3, FIFA Street, Tiger Woods 13, The Sims 3 Showtime or Mario Party 9, held a meeting with publishers last week to try to negotiate improved lending terms for stock.


"We committed to only stocking products on which we could get the right credit terms, regardless of the title or the supplier," an internal memo to staff read.


"We will not stock products if the terms are not right for our business - a position we believe is critical to our long term health as a business - we have taken the very difficult decision to not stock EA's March releases, including Mass Effect 3."


As of September 2011, GAME is a worldwide business of 1287 shops, 615 of which are in the UK.


GAME took £1.625 billion in revenue in its last full trading year. It expects to make an £18 million loss this year.


Today GAME's shares fell nearly 16 per cent, from 5.75p to 4.94p at the close of trading.


Given GAME is a PLC, any discussion with GameStop over a takeover would have to be declared to the stock exchange.


Both GAME, GameStop UK and GameStop US have declined to comment directly on the report.

Eurogamer


Mass Effect 3's chunky Vault console casing allows you to dress your PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 in Commander Shepard's battle armour. It also comes with free Mass Effect 3 "DLC".


We knew this already, but now the nature of this extra in-game content is clear.


Far from being exclusive missions or spoilerific squad-mates, the Vault's "Reinforcement Packs" instead offer gamers more of the randomly selected upgrade packs that everyone can buy in the game's co-op mode.


As seen in the Mass Effect 3 demo, multiplayer progress awards players with coins. You can then spend these coins on various levels of upgrade packs that contain new character classes, weapons and health consumables.


Like a pack of Pokémon cards, the contents of each are entirely random. Some items are common, others are uncommon. Some are rare. None are holographic/"shiny".


This means that people who don't wish to buy the Vault armour (£69.99 by the way) should not be missing out on anything. Sigh of relief.


The Mass Effect 3 Vault casing does however provide increased airflow for your console, achieved by "lifting it off of the ground". The N7 logo also lights up.

Eurogamer


PlayStation Vita is the most powerful handheld system in world, with titles like Uncharted: Golden Abyss and WipEout 2048 representing the current state-of-the-art in gaming on the go. But what if you could play full PC versions of LA Noire, PES 2012, Batman: Arkham City and Assassin's Creed: Revelations on the move? What if you could play them on your existing mobile phone, with frame rates up to 60FPS? That's the mouth-watering prospect offered up by the mobile version of OnLive, and in Sony's Xperia Play the cloud service has found a perfect companion.


Just before Christmas, OnLive launched a smartphone application allowing players to leave behind their OnLive set-top box and go mobile with a range of over 100 PC titles streamed over the Cloud. The result is an experience that, at its best, even the shiny new Vita struggles to replicate; current-gen AAA games playable on a device that slips effortlessly into your pocket and can go with you anywhere.


Of course, there are a couple of problems in achieving this videogaming nirvana. Your average mobile phone lacks the physical interface required to truly enjoy such games, and the dire nature of 3G connection performance makes Cloud gaming viable only when you're in range of a decent WiFi connection.


The criminally underrated Sony Xperia Play solves one of these problems at least. This particular handset boasts slide-out gaming controls, complete with eight-way d-pad, twin analogue touch-pads, four face buttons and two shoulder triggers. The phone's volume rocker - which sits in the middle of the aforementioned triggers - even doubles as the left and right 'bumpers' found on the Xbox 360, PS3 and OnLive pads.

"Xperia Play with OnLive offers a tantalising glimpse of how cloud services could revolutionise the future of mobile gaming."

Mobile Cloud Gaming: Right Here, Right Now

Eurogamer


Stylish PlayStation Vita adventure Gravity Rush will be released in Europe on 13th June, Sony has announced.


The game will launch on an old-school Game Card in bricks and mortar shops, as well as being made available to download.


Cel-shaded Gravity Rush allows you to explore a futuristic world and tinker with the force of gravity. You can walk on walls, fly through the air and fight enemies with force powers.


"If you're drawn to games by the satisfaction offered by their simplest mechanics, Gravity Daze is a total delight," Chris Donlan wrote in Eurogamer's 9/10 Gravity Daze import review.


"You can spin between rooftops and freeze yourself in mid-air; you can drop from the sky and never hit the ground."

Eurogamer


GAME "may" stock Mass Effect 3 in the future.


The embattled high street shop called on its customers to "continue their loyal history with us" in a FAQ designed to address concern following today's news that GAME will not stock Mario Party 9, Mass Effect 3, FIFA Street, Tiger Woods 13, and Sims 3 Showtime.


"What message do you have to gamers who are afraid of pre-ordering with GAME because they're worried they may be cancelled at the last minute because you can't stock them?" GAME asked itself.


It's response: "Well, we know our customers really well. Most of them have a really long history with us, and they know as a business we are absolutely committed to giving the best possible range as much of the time as we possibly can.


"Clearly we have had a small number of issues in the last couple of weeks but we are working to resolve that going forward. We hope our customers will understand that these are temporary issues and continue their loyal history with us."


GAME's FAQ echoes comments made by GAME Group Marketing Director Anna-Marie Mason at the launch of PlayStation Vita last week. She told Eurogamer GAME wouldn't be able to stock "absolutely everything", but promised gamers it would honour pre-orders for titles that were currently on sale.


That, obviously, hasn't worked out.


GAME's problems stem from the loss of credit insurance with the banks, which has had the knock on effect of publishers asking it to pay cash up front for stock - something the retailer is struggling to do.


In an internal memo emailed to GAME and Gamestation staff this morning and obtained by Eurogamer, the company said it refused to stock EA titles because it was "committed to only stocking products on which we could get the right credit terms".


"Last week we held an event for our publishers in the industry and explained the challenges we are facing in the short term - and we asked for their support," the memo reads.


"We asked them to trade with us using manageable credit terms, and for them to continue to do that whilst we work through the strategic review and refinancing of our business.


"We gave the industry commitments - we committed to integrity and openness in our dealings, and working with everyone equally.


"We committed to only stocking products on which we could get the right credit terms, regardless of the title or the supplier. We will not stock products if the terms are not right for our business - a position we believe is critical to our long term health as a business - we have taken the very difficult decision to not stock EA's March releases, including Mass Effect 3."


In today's FAQ GAME said it will contact its customers "if there are issues with any other titles".


But why is this happening?


"GAME are a hugely popular brand with gamers of all ages," reads the statement. "The high street is having a tough time at the moment because people have less money to spend.


"We're doing as much as we can to give our customers the widest possible range during this time, but as flagged before, we need our partners help in order to do this. We want to be in a position where we're selling as much of their products as we possibly can. We need their help to do this and that's what we're working on at the moment."


GAME said it plans to offer exclusives from publishers, such as limited editions, but whether it will be able to do so is "really a question for our suppliers".

Eurogamer


PlayStation 1 Classics Resident Evil 2 and 3 will be available to download on the EU PlayStation Store from today.


Each costs £7.99, while PlayStation Plus members get both free for one week.


Like your shooting more up to date? Killzone 3's multiplayer portion is available for everyone to try. You can test the online shooter for free until you reach the rank of Sergeant I. Playing further will cost you £11.99, although Plus members receive a half price discount.


PS3 gamers get The Jak and Daxter Trilogy to download for £29.99, or individual Jak games for £11.99.


Free demos for FIFA Street and Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations will also be available.


New PS3 DLC includes Subject 16-centric Assassin's Creed: Revelations add-on The Lost Archive and a vampire-themed expansion for Saints Row: The Third.


The full listing lies below, courtesy of the EU PlayStation blog.

PS3 Games

  • Bioshock 2 - £14.99
  • Choplifter HD - £7.99 (Free trial available)
  • Jak & Daxter: The Precursor Legacy - £11.99
  • Jak 3 - £11.99
  • Jak II: Renegade - £11.99
  • Killzone 3: Multiplayer - £11.99 (Free trial available)
  • The Jak and Daxter Trilogy - £29.99
  • Resident Evil 3 - £7.99

PS3 Demos

  • FIFA Street
  • Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations
  • Resident Evil 3 - £7.99
Eurogamer


Zone of the Enders HD launches in the autumn on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, Konami has announced.


No mention was made of the PS Vita version, which Japanese game developer legend Hideo Kojima announced in September last year.


The compilation includes Zone of the Enders and Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner, both developed by Kojima Productions for the PlayStation 2. The games have been re-mastered with HD visuals for this latest release.


"We are looking forward to bringing the legendary Zone of the Enders series to old and new fans in a high definition form," said Konami general manager Martin Schneider.


"We are excited to offer these games on new platforms which will allow gamers to experience the drama and action of the Zone of the Enders like they have never seen it before."

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