Microsoft just revealed that they've worked out a deal with Eidos to distribute two Tomb Raider: Underworld episodes exclusively through the Xbox Live Marketplace. One set to release this year.
The episodes - one titled "Beneath the Ashes", the other "Lara's Shadow" - will release as episodic DLC sometime after Underworld's November retail release and will provide up to six hours of gameplay per episode. Specifically speaking, "Beneath the Ashes" will release around Christmas time and "Lara's Shadow" will see release in early 2009. Yes sir, exclusivity FTW!
There are a few times the use of Lynyrd Skynyrd's classic track "Free Bird" are not cool to use. Showcasing a violent first-person shooter with zombie-like creatures in a Vietnam setting should be in the top three. However, Eidos have released a trailer for its upcoming shooter Shellshock 2: Blood Trails using that very tune. The Vietnam War is a difficult war to engage in the videogame world as it traditionally does poorly due to, at least in part, the blurry lines of good and evil. How do you combat those blurry lines? Infect people with some crazy disease that turns them nuttier than Mr. Peanut hence making it a monster shooter instead of a realistic one, of course!. Shellshock 2: Blood Trails hits the Xbox 360 this November.
A pair of new Tomb Raider: Underworld trailers have been released, and we'd like to direct your attention to the one above in particular. There are a number of new gameplay elements seen here. For instance, Lara picks up a bar and inserts it into the wall where she can then swing on top of it to reach new heights. Others skills featured in the video include wall jumping, balance beam walking and, our personal favorite, wall climbing a la Assassin's Creed. We'd like to point out that all of these moves are superbly animated.
The second video, embedded after the break, features Lara's new and improved swimming abilities. It also features her blowing up a shark with a sticky bomb, a practice we're not sure we wholly endorse. Doesn't she have any Shark Repellent Bat Spray or something?
So, we've all seen Lara Croft running and jumping and kicking her way through Thailand (and swimming in the deep blue sea) in her latest adventure, Tomb Raider: Underworld, but why? What is she searching for? It turns out that she's looking for Thor's hammer. In the video above, creative director Eric Lindstrom explains that Norse mythology is the underlying thread of the game. Exactly how Norse mythology applies to Lara's journey into Thailand and South America, Crystal Dynamics isn't saying, but it certainly sounds intriguing. It doesn't hurt that it looks great either. Here's hoping it all comes together.
Well good lord. Tomb Raider: Underworld is looking better and better all the time. In this latest video, we see Lara doing her usual acrobatic thing -- check out her spinning on top of a pole and then leaping off: epic -- when suddenly ... OMG TIGER ATTACK! It's no trouble for Lara though as she proceeds to kick the tigers -- in the face -- multiple times. Honestly, there's nothing else we can say about this video. We tried coming up with something, but words fail us. She kicks ... a tiger ... in the face. Seriously, eeny, meeny, miny moe, kick a tiger in the face. Watch it.
Tomb Raider: Underworld just keeps getting better every time we see it. The latest video of Lara Croft's latest adventure is all about her acrobatic skills. Let's say they look pretty damned nice. From climbing to shimmying to swinging, everything looks nice and smooth. At one point it looks like Lara even swings over a pole and proceeds to perch herself on top of it. We have to add that it's all super speedy too. That's a good thing because no one likes to watch their character spend 30 seconds climbing a 10-foot rope. Also worth noting is the lush greenery, so lush in fact that Lara has to brush it away from her face as she runs through it. Why are you still reading this? Watch the video!
Eidos has confirmed its E3 lineup for the big show next month and, not surprisingly, Tomb Raider Underworld is on the list. It's not the only game though. Other 360 titles making an E3 appearance include Just Cause 2 and Battlestations: Pacific. Both Underworld and Just Cause 2 have been kept relatively close to Eidos' chest so far. Hopefully E3 will bring forth plenty of new details on these (arguably) highly anticipated titles. Also worth noting, IGN's report of the Eidos list implies that these games (along with Monster Lab for Wii) are merely the only games confirmed for E3, so it's possible we might see some others as well (GEON 2 here we come!).
Spotted over on Xbox.com UK comes word that new downloadable content for Conflict: Denied Ops is planned and ready for release next Tuesday, April 22nd exclusively through the XBLM. The Denied Ops Eagle Pack DLC will expand the game's multiplayer fun by adding five new multiplayer maps including Lost City, Tank Yard, Sanctuary, Killing Zone, and Adrift. The article makes no mention of DLC pricing, but if we had to take a stab in the dark, we'd say it'd either be cheap (250 MS points) or free (0 MS points). Not that you cared about Denied Ops DLC anyway ...
It's another friendly Xbox Live Marketplace reminder alert. The Kane and Lynch: Dead MenThe Dope Bag downloadable content is now available for download off the XBLM for the gotta have it price of free, free, free! This 442MB download will add four new scenarios to the game's Fragile Alliance including Clean Cut, Hookers' Trail, Flying High and Hasta la Vista. You should also be prompted to download a bug / feature fixing title update and be treated to some new Kane and Lynchachievements as well. Now get back to playing Kane and Lynch, if not at least to give the new DLC a little test run. It is free you know.
According to Godfree over at gamertagradio, tomorrow Eidos will reveal their downloadable content for the controversial Kane and Lynch: Dead Men. Godfree's early info says that the DLC will take the form of four multiplayer maps for the Fragile Alliance gameplay mode. Not only that, but the maps are supposedly free, and are said to go live on April the 17th. The maps will not be separate and will be packaged together in a single piece of downloadable content apparently called, ahem, The Dope Bag, with each map within containing its own specific scenario.
While free DLC is always a good thing, we just can't seem to get excited about this one. How about you readers? Are you Kane & Lynch owners out there ready to give this a try?
We've scanned through these new Tomb Raider Underworld screens several times to no avail. Try as we might, we can't find a single example of the game's hyper-realistic footprint physics. While we're disappointed, we suppose we'll have to make do with Lady Lara doing boring things like walking down a thin stone beam as jaguars slaver below. You know, everyday stuff. Still, we take solace in the fact that the game is apparently shaping up quite nicely, so we'll save our judgments for later. For now, we're happy to see she hasn't lost her penchant for raiding. Check out the new screens in the gallery below.
Posted Jan 30th 2008 3:00PM by Dustin Burg
Filed under: News
IGN UK posted a preview of Avalanche Studios' latest project, a sequel to Just Cause, aptly titled Just Cause 2. And right off the bat it's sounding like development on the sequel is moving in the right direction. Avalanche took gamers' concerns and complaints they had with Just Cause, spun the formula and is shooting for the stars with the sequel. Gone are the dull side missions and overly light gameplay and in comes a reworked targeting system, more mission variety and a new arsenal of weapons to serve destruction. Just Cause 2 promises improved AI, better vehicle mechanics, prettified graphics and a grappling hook that'll be equipped at all times. Avalanche is promising a lot when it comes to the sequel, but they wouldn't have it any other way. Just Cause was far from being horrible and with the small tweaks and improvements that are planned, we believe Just Cause 2 could end up being solid. Or maybe we're just suckers for grappling hooks.
We'd like to promise that we're going to stop making jokes about the upcoming Highlander video game from Eidos, but it ain't gonna happen (we're still frantically trying to find a use for the word "quickening" as a pun). While it may be amusing to poke fun at the aging franchise, we must admit that the recent slew of screenshots to emerge for the game have piqued our interest. Granted, we're not sure if we're seeing actual gameplay or not, but it shows promise, if only conceptually. After all, sword-swinging action that spans multiple centuries sounds like perfect fodder for a video game. You might say these screens are quickening our pulse (there we go). Check them out in the gallery below.
In our many travels, we have met all manner of geek, nerd, and weirdo. Sure, we all know about Trekkies and Browncoats and Jedi wannabes, but there is another more secret class. We are speaking, of course, of the Highlander nerd. The kind of nerd that swings a replica samurai sword as he screams "there can be only one!" his voice distorted by the rattling of a retainer. It is for this fan (and for all the fans that have successfully grown out of their "awkward phase") that we inform the masses about the impending Highlander video game from Eidos. Not only does the game exist, but there is a trailer for it as well. We should warn you though, the video -- much like all the latest entries in the Highlander franchise -- is of extremely poor quality. Also, the fact that the protagonist has lived for hundreds of years and somehow managed to retain his thick Scottish brogue is a little strange. Still, we're sure these annoyances are mere trifles to the dedicated Highlander fan, so click on to see the trailer for yourself.
Despite average reviews and its very own scandal, Kane & Lynch: Dead Men has managed to sell one million copies. As you might expect, the announcement of the milestone also included the very important keyword "franchise." Yup, it looks like a sequel to the game is a certainty now. Furthermore, the game has outperformed the same period of 2006 sales for the previous IO Interactive title Hitman: Blood Money. SCi expects sales to remain high for the rest of its fiscal year. That's good news for SCi, especially in light of their recent troubles. Now all we can do is wait for the sequel: Kane & Lynch 2: Even More Deader Men.
Spotted over on Xbox.com UK comes word that new downloadable content for 
According to Godfree over at gamertagradio, tomorrow Eidos will reveal their downloadable content for the controversial Kane and Lynch: Dead Men. Godfree's early info says that the DLC will take the form of four multiplayer maps for the Fragile Alliance gameplay mode. Not only that, but the maps are supposedly free, and are said to go live on April the 17th. The maps will not be separate and will be packaged together in a single piece of downloadable content apparently called, ahem, The Dope Bag, with each map within containing its own specific scenario.
