In an interview with Game Informer, Bayonetta director Hideki Kamiya has teased a sequel to the fabulous action game

 
“We obviously have love for the work we have created, so I don’t see anything wrong with Bayonetta 2. Personally, I’d like to approach the world of Bayonetta from a different angle, in the form of a spin-off.”

 

That sounds like excellent news to me. Bayonetta has had me captivated since release and is the first game I have ever played through 3 times in a row. The implications of a spin off also sound excellent. I would love playing as Jeanne, or even better as Rodin, in a future game.

“The release of the Mythic 2 Map Pack brings the total number of “Halo 3” multiplayer maps to 24. The Game Add-on includes three action-packed maps: Heretic, Citadel and Longshore.

- Heretic brings players to familiar ground as the “Halo 2” arena Midship returns in “Halo 3.” The stark interior of the Pious Inquisitor might appear austere on first glance, but Heretic’s symmetrical spaces require players to execute complex strategies in order to outplay their opponents.

 
- Citadel may be a long abandoned Forerunner stronghold, but its small, symmetrical confines are far from secure. Two opposing bases offer little safety for players looking for solace. Instead, Citadel forces small squads to stay in constant communication, keep their heads on a swivel, and be prepared to adjust combat tactics in close quarters.

- Longshore lacks the commercial ships that once made it a lucrative port for Old Mombasa, but it still bustles with activity. Designed for large-scale combat and well-suited for smaller affairs, Longshore’s multitude of industrial buildings, elevated walks, and open inlets conspire to create a complex battleground tailored for multiple combat scenarios. “

 
The pack will be released on the marketplace on the 2nd February, and will be priced at 800MSP.

In an interview with IGN,
Crackdown 2 producer James Cope has confirmed:

You can definitely expect a demo to hit Live before the game is out but I can’t say when that will be… yet. The Crackdown demo was fantastic and we want to carry on in that form.

As someone who pre-ordered the original game simply for the Halo 3 beta but then was blown away by both the demo and the game itself I am very much looking forward to this.

‘The Cerberus Network’, an in-game portal in Mass Effect 2 that will keep fans engaged with the rich and dynamic Mass Effect universe through downloadable content (DLC) and news. ‘The Cerberus Network’ is activated exclusively by original purchasers of Mass Effect 2 through a single-use unlock code that comes included in retail and digital versions of the game worldwide. ‘The Cerberus Network’ is a conduit for players to receive bonus content as well as daily messages and news on upcoming releases for Mass Effect 2 for no extra charge. For players who do not buy the game new, ‘The Cerberus Network’ can be unlocked through a one-time, in-game purchase of a new activation code*.

Mass Effect 2 is the first blockbuster video game release of 2010, having recently been named as one of the “Most Anticipated Games of the Year” by the New York Times, IGN and Wired.

 
“The Cerberus Network augments and extends the rich universe of Mass Effect 2,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, co-founder, BioWare and Group General Manager of the RPG/MMO Group of EA. “We’re thrilled to be able to reward loyal BioWare and Mass Effect fans with ongoing, high quality content and provide a direct channel for our players to dive deeper into the intriguing lore of Mass Effect.”

 
Players who access ‘The Cerberus Network’ will receive the first DLC pack on January 26th (launch day in North America) featuring new missions and in-game items. Included in this pack is a mission that introduces Zaeed, a rugged and deadly gun-for-hire who is recruited to join Commander Shepard’s mission to save mankind.

 
After launch, BioWare will release another DLC pack for Mass Effect 2 that introduces the Hammerhead, a new vehicle in the Mass Effect universe. This agile hover tank features improved handling on rough terrain and maneuvers deftly in combat — a necessity for players traveling across harsh planetary environments throughout the galaxy. In addition to this new vehicle, BioWare will release new missions and unique in-game items, including Cerberus Assault Armor which boost shields, health and heavy weapon ammo and the M-22 Eviscerator Shotgun.

 
The Mass Effect trilogy is an epic science fiction adventure set in a vast universe filled with dangerous alien life and mysterious, uncharted planets. In Mass Effect 2, players will step into the role of the heroic Commander Shepard, commanding a crew of the most dangerous operatives from across the galaxy on a mission so challenging that it’s potentially suicidal. Featuring intense shooter action, a rich futuristic storyline, stunning space exploration and emotionally engaging characters, the game delivers an unparalleled cinematic experience.

In this weeks show Punker likes to say the word thingy ALOT. We discuss what we have been playing including Darksiders, FIFA 10, MW2 and much more. Lots of news this week some good and some bad.

Don’t forget to leave those all important Itunes reviews

DagBladet, a Norwegian newspaper has reported the likely chance of downloadable content being available for the much anticipated game, Mass Effect 2, on the day of release, or extremely close to it. The content is said to contain multiple new weapons and armor, and probably most shocking of all, an unlockable companion and an entirely new planet. There is also said to be a ‘dragon age’ like DLC store on the game named, ‘Cerberus Network’.

As you can imagine fans started an uproar at the possibility of having to dish out Microsoft points just minutes after buying the game.

Anyway, BioWare came to the rescue using the medium of Twitter. BioWare VP of Marketing Patrick Buechner, tweeted;

“Mass Effect 2 won’t be charging for DLC on launch day…BioWare will have more DLC details next week.”

 
It seems that there may be content for free on launch day, however this has neither been confirmed or denied.

I guess we have to wait till next week folks…sit tight!

In other Mass Effect 2 related news. The game was the ninth game to receive a perfect score from magazine, Gamestm. For a full list of the games, check here.

Ubisoft making the news once again, but this time with some Creed goodies.

It was announced that Assassin’s Creed 2, the increasingly popular game, will not be getting any downloadable content. Instead the game is going to have multiple ‘episodes’ where players will be able to continue playing as Ezio Auditor in all new and exciting challenges.

This content is not, or in any way related to Assassin’s Creed 3. The episodes are not to be released any day soon so it looks like we have a while before we get our hands on them….damn.

Finally on to Assassin’s Creed 3 news, the game is going to star the Italian hero, Ezio. The game will also follow on from AC2.

Oh, and had I mentioned Assassin’s Creed 3 has confirmed online mode?

Good times.

By all things holy upon this planet, the most is Assassin’s Creed II. I had thought that I wouldn’t be able to play this game for a long time, but lo & behold, I received it through Boomerang. At first my humble In-box displayed to me the usual letter, but telling me that it was Bayonetta being shipped to me. Not an hour later, I received another letter from Boomerang saying that the wrong e-mail had been sent to me & that I was in fact getting Assassin’s Creed II instead. I didn’t know whether to cry or cheer, so, on the suggestion of a friend, I shed one tear for the delay in playing Bayonetta, & then cheered most heartily for getting Assassin’s Creed II.

I was not disappointed at any time in this game. From the moment I got it, shoved it in my 360, replacing Assassin’s Creed I in fact, I played the hell out of it. Several days later & 43 hours of total time I gained 1000/1000 & finished the game. I actually beat the game with three achievements left & 98% completion, but that was easily fixed. I must say that through-out the game, I was not concerned with the achievements for the most part. The story was so captivating, the graphics so impressive, that I lost myself almost completely during my play time.

There was never a time I was irritated, bored, or annoyed at the game. Not any collections, not any questing, not any storyline. When I finished it, I put down the controller with a sense of sadness. A terrible aching inside me that I was done with Ezio’s adventure, though I know there will be DLC to glorify the game further, & I know there are still DS games to revel in… it was like coming down from some amazing euphoria. I enjoyed Ezio’s story so much, but I will not say more or less than Altaïr’s because Ezio is a different kind of assassin. A different person, a different personality. He is changed & acts in his own fashion. My heart will always belong to Altaïr first & foremost, though, as he was the first, but Ezio’s story is incredibly awesome. Doubly so that he is Italian & so shares some of my heritage.

Being in Venezia was breathtaking. It’s amazing to see how little it’s changed since the 1400′s to be honest. Because I’ve been to Venezia, I was able to mostly run around the city without the map! Running through the squares & waterfronts, recognizing all these things. It brought a tear to my eye, seriously. They did such a fantastic job in this game. I cannot give it enough praise & yet any praise I give to it is lacking in wonderment & fascination.

So upon finishing the game & achievements, I still had a few things to do for completion, but I decided to take a break from it & let myself settle in with the idea of Ezio’s tale being done for now. It made me really really want to play Assassin’s Creed I again… so I did. I still have a couple achievements to do on it; namely the Templars & some Flags. Originally, when I was playing this last, I went through the Kingdom & got all the flags, each one… except one. I went through every location four times, & still I didn’t find that one. It angered me so much that I rage-quit for months. Now, I return. A new game of Assassin’s Creed I & I am at Acre for the first time, enjoying my time with Altaïr again as always. Sigh, my hero.

I’m sure all of us have seen the dreadful images of suffering from the earthquake in Haiti. You can’t help but want to do something to aid the people caught up in such a nightmare.
Well, Bungie are giving us gamers a chance to help the people over there simply by plaing halo next Wednesday & Thursday. For details on how you can do so, check the bungie website here.And for anyone looking to party up and take part in this event, check the gamernight sign up here

“Who: The Carphone Warehouse is searching for the Fifa 10 ‘Supreme Gamer’ (open to people aged 16 and over)
What: Compete against other players live on big screens in stores for a chance to win the coveted title and some great prizes.
Where: 32 people (in each of the following areas) who have signed up online will be drawn at random and invited to play at Carphone Warehouse’s flagship stores: Manchester, Ipswich, Exeter, Cardiff, Salisbury, Oxford, Brighton and Hanley
When: The in-store contests will take place week commencing Monday 15th February.
How: If you want to prove you’re the best at Fifa 10, sign up online at http://supremegamer.ning.com/ before Monday 8th February. You’ll then be entered into a draw and allocated your first opponent.
Why: The winner in each area will win a Sony Ericsson Yari handset, a £50 Carphone Warehouse voucher and an invitation to compete in the UK final. Runners-up will receive a £25 Carphone Warehouse voucher. The overall UK ‘Supreme Gamer’ will win a 32in HDTV, a gaming console of their choice, 2 accompanying games and a Logitech Squeezebox

For full instructions and competition terms and conditions visit http://supremegamer.ning.com/“