Bryan Singer on Prepping X-Men: Days of Future Past

Director Bryan Singer has been tweeting details on X-Men: Days of Future Past, which he recently sealed a deal to helm after Matthew Vaughn parted ways to direct The Secret Service instead.

Singer tweeted Thursday, "Well here goes. Beginning full prep on Xmen Days of Future Past. Very excited!"

This was followed by this tweet Friday afternoon: "Scout went well. Looks like Montreal it is."

The sequel to X-Men: First Class is expected to begin shooting in early 2013 for a July 18, 2014 release.

Source : ign[dot]com

Bryan Singer on Prepping X-Men: Days of Future Past

Director Bryan Singer has been tweeting details on X-Men: Days of Future Past, which he recently sealed a deal to helm after Matthew Vaughn parted ways to direct The Secret Service instead.

Singer tweeted Thursday, "Well here goes. Beginning full prep on Xmen Days of Future Past. Very excited!"

This was followed by this tweet Friday afternoon: "Scout went well. Looks like Montreal it is."

The sequel to X-Men: First Class is expected to begin shooting in early 2013 for a July 18, 2014 release.

Source : ign[dot]com

Grand Theft Auto V Details Revealed

The first official details about Grand Theft Auto V have been announced. In the newest digital issue of Game Informer, Rockstar has revealed that the game will have three playable characters -- Michael, Trevor and Franklin. Players will switch between characters “constantly” with a single button press, allowing them to see missions from different perspectives.

Michael is a retired bank robber who is now in the witness protection program, and whose wife has burned through his substantial fortune, causing him to get “back into the game.” His friend Trevor, the second protagonist, is a “drugged out psychopath” who seems prone to violence. The final character, Franklin, is introduced stealing a car. All three come together to perform heists, which are described as “a big theme in the game.”

Game Informer's Cover

Players will experience missions as different combinations of the three, and each will have a different skillset. For example, in one heist mission, Michael rappels down the side of a building while Franklin uses a sniper rifle from afar and Trevor flies in a helicopter above. Players can switch back and forth between Michael grabbing a target inside the building or Franklin trying to snipe enemies inside. Once you escape, everyone meets in the helicopter, and the player can choose to fly it as Trevor, snipe other pilots as Franklin or fire a gun from the back of the vehicle as Michael.

Los Santos will be the biggest open world in Rockstar's history, "bigger than Read Dead Redemption, Grand Theft Auto IV and San Andreas combined." Players will also be able to explore underwater areas of the city.

Rockstar has also changed driving mechanics, noting that cars “hold to the ground a bit better” and have “a little more physics on them,” making driving feel more like a racing game. Shooting and melee combat have also been improved, as have pedestrian models (some pedestrians have now been mapped using motion capture for more realistic movement). Rockstar also hasn’t employed any celebrities to provide voices for the game.

Heists will be a key element, but players will also experience elements similar to Red Dead Redemption’s dynamic encounters, including stopping to check on broken cars and picking up hitchhikers. Players will also be able to chase and catch muggers or rob cash vans.

Characters can be customized by changing clothes, but height and weight customization isn’t included. The phone will also return for obtaining important info, but now allows players to access the internet, among other things. Some items previously only accessible from the phone in Grand Theft Auto IV will simply be accessible on the map.

Each character will have their own social circle -- Michael has his son (Jimmy), Franklin has a "crazy friend" named Lamar and Trevor has a paranoid conspiracy theorist friend named Ron. Separately from missions, players will be able to switch between characters and see them living their daily lives, including some situations that may be "surprising."

Players won't be able to own real-estate, but there will be an economy for players to spend their money. GTA V has non canonical connection to the PS2-era Grand Theft Auto games, so don't expect to encounter C.J. or Tommy.

Grand Theft Auto V was originally announced in October 2011, followed by the first trailer in November. The idea of multiple playable characters was actually rumored early on, first suggested the day after the original announcement.

Rockstar will release the second trailer for Grand Theft Auto V on November 14th. For all the details in the trailer, check out our live Rewind Theater of the trailer that day, plus a ton of additional info throughout next week.

Source: Game Informer

Andrew Goldfarb is IGN’s associate news editor. Keep up with pictures of the latest food he’s been eating by following @garfep on Twitter or garfep on IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

Warner Bros Confirms Mortal Kombat Movie Reboot

Warner Bros. has revealed some new details about the Mortal Kombat movie reboot, suggesting that the new adaptation is already in production.

According to WorstPreviews, Warner Bros executive Lance Sloan confirmed that the film was being developed, as well as its director and budget.

“

We're preparing right now for the film with Kevin Tancharoen, [who] directed the digital series for us. He's at the helm of the forty, fifty million dollar film.

“We're preparing right now for the film with Kevin Tancharoen, [who] directed the digital series for us," said Sloan. "He's at the helm of the forty, fifty million dollar film."

The series he's referring to is Mortal Kombat: Legacy, which debuted on YouTube in April 2011. Aside from this, Tancharoen's other directorial efforts include the remake of Fame, Glee: The 3D Concert Movie and The Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll. Sooo....yeah. Fingers crossed that he draws on resources from Legacy rather than his earlier batch of work when making the movie?

In terms of the proposed plot for the reboot, nothing has been confirmed, but rumours are swirling it'll follow a supermarket employee who discovers he has otherworldly powers and must make the ultimate choice between fighting for the side of good or evil.

The original Mortal Kombat film appeared in 1995 and was directed by Paul W. S. Anderson. This in turn spawned a sequel, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation in 1997, which performed poorly at the box office in comparison to its predecessor. As a result a planned third film, Mortal Kombat: Devastation, was shelved indefinitely until Warner Bros. picked up the rights to Midway's assets in 2009 following the game studio going bankrupt.

Luke Karmali is IGN's UK Editorial Assistant and Mortal Kombat fanatic. You too can revel in mediocrity by following him on IGN and on Twitter.

Source : ign[dot]com

Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse Release Date

Activision has announced that Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse will be released on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on November 23, 2012.

It also revealed details of the game's 'Multiplayer Challenges', which will let you invite up to four friends to assume the roles of popular characters from the show – including Peter, Brian, Quagmire and, of course, Stewie – and head into an "epic battle" or a "wild team battle". No more details were forthcoming but the multiplayer component is said to be in keeping with the Family Guy 'spirit', with "unexpected gags and cameos at every turn".

Here are some new screenshots of the challenges:

There hasn't been much information released on the game so far, but you can find out a bit more about here.

Daniel is IGN's UK Staff Writer, and you can be part of the world's worst cult by following him on IGN and Twitter.

Source : ign[dot]com

Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse Release Date

Activision has announced that Family Guy: Back to the Multiverse will be released on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on November 23, 2012.

It also revealed details of the game's 'Multiplayer Challenges', which will let you invite up to four friends to assume the roles of popular characters from the show – including Peter, Brian, Quagmire and, of course, Stewie – and head into an "epic battle" or a "wild team battle". No more details were forthcoming but the multiplayer component is said to be in keeping with the Family Guy 'spirit', with "unexpected gags and cameos at every turn".

Here are some new screenshots of the challenges:

There hasn't been much information released on the game so far, but you can find out a bit more about here.

Daniel is IGN's UK Staff Writer, and you can be part of the world's worst cult by following him on IGN and Twitter.

Source : ign[dot]com

Next Borderlands 2 DLC Outed?

Captain Scarlett and Her Pirates' Booty just came out but already details have potentially emerged about the next piece of DLC for Borderlands 2.

It's called Mr. Torgue's Campaign of Carnage, and it looks like it might be the second of the four Season Pass packs planned. The information was unearthed by a user on Neogaf who spotted trophies for the expansion after a recent PS3 update.

As with the Captain Scarlett DLC, three trophies are up for grabs:

• Bronze: Explosive – Complete the mission “Long Way To The Top”.
• Silver: Motorhead – Completed all Campaign of Carnage side missions.
• Gold: Obsessed – Collected 10 pictures of Moxxi in Campaign of Carnage.

Nothing's been confirmed, but this was the exact same way in which news of the Captain Scarlett DLC was found. We contacted 2K but they had no comment at this time.

Daniel is IGN's UK Staff Writer, and you can be part of the world's worst cult by following him on IGN and Twitter (or not).

Source : ign[dot]com

Forza Horizon Rally Expansion Pack Announced

Microsoft has revealed new details about Forza Horizon downloadable content, including the Rally Expansion Pack. The Rally expansion will offer “an outstanding off-road racing experience with deeper ruts, higher jumps, and new surface types to explore” along with rally-tuned cars and co-driver calls. The pack is set to arrive on December 18th for 1,600 Microsoft Points, or for free to players who purchase a Season Pass.

Microsoft also detailed the content that will be included in the Forza Horizon Season Pass. As Microsoft previously announced, the Season Pass will be available for 4,000 Microsoft Points and will offer access to six monthly packs each including six cars, and Microsoft has now detailed the first pack, set to arrive on October 23rd.

The Month One Car Pack will include:

• 2012 Ferrari 599XX Evoluzione
• 2012 Lamborghini Aventador J
• 2012 Gumpert Apollo Enraged
• 2012 Alfa Romeo 8C Spider
• 2012 Ford Mustang Boss 302
• 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air

The Month One Car Pack will be free to Season Pass holders or 400 Microsoft Points to everyone else. Microsoft promises that all future packs will include six cars each and will arrive between November 2012 and April 2013, also free to Season Pass holders or 400 Microsoft Points individually.

Season Pass holders will also receive a free bonus car on the third Tuesday of every month from November 2012 through March 2013, starting with November’s bonus car, the 2006 Lamborghini Miura Concept. According to Microsoft, “fans will be able to use their DLC cars in a variety of monthly DLC-focused community events, contests, and challenges, including photo contests, Rivals events, and more.”

Forza Horizon hits stores on October 23rd exclusively for Xbox 360. Curious whether or not you should pick it up? Read our Forza Horizon review.

Andrew Goldfarb is IGN’s associate news editor. Keep up with pictures of the latest food he’s been eating by following @garfep on Twitter or garfep on IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

Darksiders II Wii U Functionality Detailed

THQ has revealed details on the Wii U version of Darksiders II. Set to arrive on November 18th, Darksiders II on Wii U will offer multiple pieces of bonus content not featured on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 or PC versions, including the recently-released Argul’s Tomb content with new dungeons and armor and the Death Rides Pack with three new side quests. Also included will be the Angel of Death and Shadow of Death packs with new legendary armor and weapon choices, plus the upgraded horse speed boost from the Deadly Despair Pack. Players will also have access to additional unique legendary weapon and armor sets from the moment they start the game.

Wii U will also allow players to instantly access inventory and ability menus via the GamePad’s screen, and players will have the choice of using the GamePad or the Wii U Pro controller to play. Darksiders II will also offer the option of using your TV to play, or the choice to entirely use the GamePad’s screen.

Vigil games said back in March that Darksiders II would allow players to access menus without pausing the game and called the Wii U version “an enhancement of the core game."

Darksiders II launched for other systems on August 14th. For more on what to expect, read our hands-on impressions with the Wii U version. Still haven’t decided if you should pick it up on launch day? Read our Darksiders II review and find all the info you need -- including a full walkthrough -- in our Darksiders II wiki guide.

Andrew Goldfarb is IGN’s associate news editor. Keep up with pictures of the latest food he’s been eating by following him on Twitter or IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

Bad Piggies Gameplay Details Revealed

Rovio has revealed the first gameplay details for Bad Piggies, the new Angry Birds spinoff coming next week. In Bad Piggies, you’ll be playing as the pigs, and the slingshot mechanic of Angry Birds doesn’t return. Instead, players will use a grid-based building system to create vehicles for the pigs, which can then be moved around the environment. Vehicles range from flying machines to cars, and players will follow the same scoring mechanic as Angry Birds, aiming to earn the highest score to get three stars in each level.

Players will drag and drop vehicle parts in a “blueprint” mode as they create their ride in a mechanic that seems reminiscent of Rare’s Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts.

"As far as the gameplay goes, Bad Piggies and Angry Birds are complete opposites," Rovio executive vice president of games Petri Järvilehto told Yahoo Games. "Angry Birds smash things up, Bad Piggies build stuff. The pigs are all about making plans and building things, even -- and especially -- when they don't work!"

As announced last month, Bad Piggies will be released on September 27th for iOS and Android, with Windows Phone and PC versions to follow. Keep an eye on Bad Piggies’ official site for more details, and check back to IGN later this month for our impressions and review.

Andrew Goldfarb is IGN’s associate news editor. Keep up with pictures of the latest food he’s been eating by following him on Twitter or IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

Wii U Announcements Discussed

Yesterday marked the long-awaited reveal of the Nintendo Wii U worldwide launch details and pricing news. While many of us here at IGN rushed out to pre-order the unique new console, others remained skeptical. I asked some of my friends around here to see what the consensus was, and -- as it turns out -- Nintendo's first foray into high definition graphics is a lot more polarizing at IGN than I thought it would be.

Mitch Dyer, Associate Editor says - Nintendo’s done little to win me over in the last six months. Everything about Wii U so far has been predictable. It’s hard for me to get excited about another Mario game, charming and entertaining as they always are, because they do very little to shake up the gameplay. Third-party stuff like ZombiU is interesting, but hardly alluring when Xbox 360, PS3, and PC have considerably more games I’m interested in.

This week's big press conference did two things: First, it convinced me the Wii U finally has substance; second, that I absolutely won’t be buying one. Oh, and theTekken characters look awesome in Mario costumes.

Colin Campbell, Features Editor says - It’s a fair price for a good product, and it’s got strong first-party support and okay third-party backing. I’m a family-man and I’ve completely bought into this idea of Wii U as a front-room box-of-fun, in much the same way as Wii was. I’ll be playing this with my kids, and so it’ll be a different model of fun than playing hardcore RPGs and shooters on Xbox 360 and PS3. I doubt I'll bother much with those Wii U games aimed at the hardcore gamer. Family fun is what Nintendo does best, and I’m impressed with the thought that has gone into serving the impulse to play with other people. If I was a single man, I’m not sure I’d be quite so convinced as of yet. Everything hinges on the controller and I’m still not sure that it offers enough to make this console worth buying, when new, more powerful consoles from Microsoft and Sony are likely around the corner. But Nintendo has a free holiday season with this new console, and my gut-feeling is that it will do very well.

Greg Miller, Executive Editor of IGN PlayStation says - Zombie U is a really cool survival game, The Wonderful 101 looks like this DC Comics fanboy's cup of tea, and Wii TVii's live sports integration seems interesting. All of that is cool, but not $300 cool. I'm letdown with this price point. Nintendo has been so guarded about Wii U information, but what has leaked out hasn't been the best buzz builder -- the machine is only slightly more powerful than the PS3 and 360, so when Sony and Microsoft's new consoles come out next year, this will already be an out of date system.

“

Wii U is cool, but not $300 cool.

When the Wii was announced, I was floored, hooked, and ready to pick my console up at its midnight launch. But as the years have gone by and I've seen my Wii age into a PS3 controller charger, I've lost my Nintendo faith. It's a great company with amazing exclusives, but it's not one that speaks to me. The Wii U is going to sell and Nintendo fans are going to love it, but I'll wait for the inevitable price drop and Mario Kart, Mario Golf, or Zelda.

Keza MacDonald, UK Games Editor - I wasn't totally sold on the Wii U when it was first announced,

“

HOLY S--T, BAYONETTA 2.

but since E3 this year I've been warming up to it. When you get your hands on the console and play around with the GamePad it just instantly makes sense. I was worried that Nintendo would overprice it, but $300/£250 seems very reasonable to me - it's cheap enough for me to want to buy one right now rather than save all my pennies for the next PlayStation/Xbox next year, which will almost definitely be way more expensive. The launch line-up could be better, but hey, it's launching with Mario. That hasn't happened in 16 years. Also: HOLY S--T, BAYONETTA 2! THAT was unexpected.

Nic Vargus, IGN Tech Editor says - Nintendo didn't dig into the nitty-gritty specs that I really wanted to geek out on, but maybe they didn't have to. The Wii U looks pretty powerful, at least until it has some next-gen competition. I'd like to pretend that the only thing that matters is Nintendo's first-party exclusives, but I still haven't dusted off my Wii to play Donkey Kong Country Returns, and I used to have dreams that I transformed into Diddy Kong. I'll probably still buy a Wii U, but that's just because I'm irresponsible with money.

Brian Altano, Executive Editor of News & Features says - I snuck out of work in the middle of helping coordinate our Nintendo Wii U news coverage to go pre-order a Nintendo Wii U -- along with Rayman: Legends, New Super Mario Bros., and Zombi U. So yeah, that was my reaction. Oh, and please don't tell my boss I ditched work, or that I might be ditching a lot more come November 18th. Hopefully he doesn't read this.

Charles Onyett, Executive Editor of IGN PC says - I think the price is fine. Apple charges $200 to $300 for a new phone with a payment plan pretty much on a yearly basis. Nintendo charging a little more for a full gaming console every six or so years is perfectly reasonable. While new consoles are always exciting, and I’ll probably wind up buying a Wii U somewhere in the launch window anyway strictly out of pure curiosity, I think its game lineup has issues. There are only a few real standout launch window games like ZombiU, New Super Mario Bros. U, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate, and Pikmin 3. Many of its launch titles have already been released or will be released on platforms millions of people already own.

The Wii U also doesn’t have the same kind of novelty the Wii did when it launched. Nintendo delivered a much more intriguing input device with the Wiimote. By comparison, it feels like the Wii U’s innovations are minor, and many of its dual-screen control mechanics are gimmicky. My opinion could very well change after I pick up a Wii U and get to play all the games over the course of a few months, but for now, beyond the simple fact that the Wii U’s launch -- at long last -- kicks off the next generation of consoles, there aren’t many reasons to get unreasonably excited.

Colin Moriarty, Editor, IGN PlayStation says - I have to be reminded every once in a while that one should never underestimate Nintendo. No matter how down-and-out they seem, no matter how completely irrelevant their hardware appears to be compared to Sony’s and Microsoft’s, and no matter how bitter and jaded the hardcore community seems towards them, they always pull a rabbit out of their hat. I have little doubt that the minds at Nintendo will perform a similar feat with the Wii U.

“

Nintendo simply isn’t the same company to me, and many others, anymore.

With that said, temper your expectations. Many of Wii U’s most appealing games will have already been out on other consoles by the time it launches. Its touch pad -- like the Wii’s controller -- is yet another gimmick, something Nintendo doesn’t even need with its strong library of legacy exclusives that will no doubt find their way in one form or another to the Wii U. And the casual gamer that made the Wii a rousing commercial success will not be back. Nintendo now has to cater again to the hardcore audience, and they lost some of that audience -- including me -- by refusing to give me much, making me long for the glory days of my youth, ranging from the NES and SNES to the N64 and the GameCube. Nintendo simply isn’t the same company to me, and many others, anymore.

Wii U is also too expensive. For a console that -- at best -- is marginally more powerful than this generation’s consoles, a $300 minimum price strikes me as strange. Then again, while the next Xbox and PlayStation will undoubtedly leave Wii U in the dust in terms of technology, it doesn’t really matter if the games are on Wii U. There are already some interesting titles announced and on the horizon, but I need to see more. Just like my wait-and-see approach with the 3DS (I finally acquired one this summer), I will be watching Wii U eagerly, waiting for a price drop and some compelling games for me -- the hardcore gamer -- before I drop my hard-earned dough.

Destin Legarie, Editor says - When I saw the Japanese announcement late last night about the Wii U pricing, I was skeptical.  I worried that it would be too high for the American market, and I was frustrated after hearing how much I would have to pay for a second controller.  When the Japan announcement came through it seemed that the console would set me back about $450 Day 1, which did not fly for my delicate American wallet.  Luckily that all changed this morning.

When I got to work that sour opinion vanished.  Not only did they hit that magical number of $299.99 for the American market (making us feel like we get a deal being one cent under $300) but they also revealed their exclusives. Rather huge exclusives, actually.  Bayonetta 2 being on the Wii U is a huge win for Nintendo and it came along with a list of great titles that will be out on launch day, or at least within the launch window.  The Ultimate Edition of Monster Hunter 3, New Super Mario U, and The Wonderful 101 are all games that have me ready to plop down my pre-order cash.

I do have one question for you though, Nintendo: why wasn’t THIS your E3 press conference?

Ryan McCaffrey, Executive Editor, IGN 360 says - Scoring Bayonetta 2 as a Wii U exclusive is a nice gesture to hardcore gamers on Nintendo’s part, and New Super Mario Bros. U looks excellent. But personally, nothing about the launch window -- be it price or software lineup -- is compelling me to buy Nintendo’s new console in 2012. I’m sure I’ll buy one eventually for the first-party games alone -- hell, I always do with Nintendo’s systems -- but I’m keeping my wallet closed for now. On a side note, Nintendo almost always does things in their own unique way, but it’s interesting that they’ve taken a page from Microsoft and the Xbox 360 launch by offering a “Premium” and a “Core” SKU. I do appreciate that they’ve given me a way to not have to buy Nintendoland whenever I do end up getting a Wii U.

Fran Mirabella III, Senior Director of Video: I’ve observed every Nintendo console launch since GameCube as part of this industry, and Wii U has, by far, felt like the one Nintendo was least prepared for. Until now. The E3 2012 showing was, let’s face it, completely off the rails. It goes down in the books as one of Nintendo’s worst press conferences. One of the major problems was that major playable software was scarcely highlighted, and the stuff you might be most interested in, you barely got to see (Super Mario Bros. Wii U, Rayman Legends, Pikmin 3, etc.). Today, it finally got a $299 price point, a release date, and a substantial amount of software. And, more importantly, I'm finally seeing more gameplay along with their GamePad integrations.

So am I actually excited? Yes. I’ve pre-ordered my deluxe bundle and am ready to get in line. What can I say, I’m a console launch junkie and there’s easily enough to keep me satisfied here. I’m excited to play Rayman Legends, Pikmin 3, and possibly some third-party games I’ve never had the chance to get to yet. But what is still missing is something that is often lacking from major console launches -- a Halo, an Uncharted... a Zelda. This isn’t surprising, but it is the nagging part of the Wii U launch currently. From Smash Bros. to a full-fledged 3D Mario, I just don’t know when that stuff is coming, and there’s no truly exclusive mega-franchise hitters here for core gamers. Most importantly, though, I haven’t seen many single-player GamePad integrations that really excite me. I love the idea of the GamePad for the whole family and things like TV browsing, but how is it going to change the next Metroid? That’s something we all still have to hold our breath a while longer for.

So what do you think? Agree with my co-workers? Despise them vehemently? It's OK, I feel the same way sometimes, and I have to spend all day with them. Sound off below and let me know what you think.

Brian Altano is IGN's Executive Editor of News & Features. Follow him on Twitter.

Source : ign[dot]com

Obsidian's Countdown Continues With New Details

Update: The teaser site for Obsidian's new RPG project we told you about yesterday has been updated, revealing more details about the mysterious "Project X".

The most important change to take note of is the fact that the number four has now become a three, revealing it to be a countdown rather than an indication of what the title may be. This means we should get more answers when the number reaches zero, which will happen on Friday.

New text has also appeared though, which reads, "The book unread is unwritten. The reason we don't explain it is the reason we use it. Its power is in its mystery. That is the Leaden Key, in part, in whole. Is it clear?"

"Digging for truth buries the seeker."

Though that's the only text visible on the page, a quick look its source code reveals a bit more: "Two centuries ago, your divine champion told the people of Dyrwood to grovel at his feet. If you've come on pilgrimage to the blasted crater that was our reply, Godhammer Citadel is *that* way."

So, does this give us any crucial hints about what the game is? The fact the number has changed makes Dungeon Siege 4 a less likely candidate than it was yesterday, but it's still possible. While Obsidian has spent a fair amount of time in the past working on other company's IPs, there's nothing to suggest this couldn't be a brand new endeavour of its own.

We'll find out more over the coming days.

Original Story: A teaser for what appears to be a countdown to the reveal of a brand new game has appeared on popular RPG developer Obsidian's website.

The landing page currently features the number four enveloped by an Ouroboros, an ancient symbol depicting a snake or a dragon eating its own tail. The text below reads: "What do the words mean? Nothing. The Dirge of Eír Glanfath is sound without form, a lone voice crying out in mourning because it must."

Clicking on the image takes you to forum landing page for Project X Speculation & Discussion where Obsidian fans have begun to speculate on what the words mean.

Described as a forum for "Obsidian's next RPG endeavor" it teases said game is so secret "not even its project codename is yet being revealed."

Stick around for updates and speculation.

Source : ign[dot]com

5 Things Star Trek Into Darkness Could Mean

J.J. Abrams runs a tight ship, particularly when that ship is the USS Enterprise, which means that details regarding his upcoming Star Trek 2 have been hard to come by. But still, not even Abrams can keep the warp-core lid on his secrets forever, and so it was that the title for the film was leaked this weekend: Star Trek Into Darkness.

Who Are the Villains in Star Trek 2?

Interestingly, with this title the film will abandon the numbered sequel route that the Trek series had typically adhered to (Abrams' original reboot notwithstanding) as well as the "colon route." Yep, that's not a misprint above: The film is called "Star Trek Into Darkness" -- no colon. The punctuation fanboys are enraged!

But what does "Into Darkness" mean? The secrets of Trek 2 remain safely ensconced in the transporter buffers at Abrams HQ, but that's not going to stop us from speculating… or dropping more geeky Trek metaphors. Energize!

5

The Eugenics Wars

Darkness? You want to talk darkness? How about a war on Earth that takes over 30 million lives and almost lands humanity back in the Dark Ages? Is that "Into Darkness" enough for you?

The Eugenics Wars, of course, was the global conflict in the 1990s (in Star Trek time that is) that saw genetically engineered supermen like Khan Noonien Singh rise to power and almost -- just almost -- take over the world. These tyrants were overthrown eventually, with only Khan and a band of followers escaping to space and cryosleep -- and his inevitable conflict with Captain Kirk centuries later.

With Benedict Cumberbatch rumored to be playing Khan in the new film, it seems that the Eugenics Wars could at least be a possibility for where the film gets its title. Though if it does feature that iconic character, it seems unlikely that Kirk and crew would actually travel back in time to the actual war. Would a mere expository mention of the Wars merit this name, or could it be that the darkness of that time period is somehow carrying over into Kirk's era?

4

Le Morte d'Vulcan

Spoilers! Mr. Spock's beloved (actually, not-so-beloved since he's not supposed to feel emotion… only he does actually feel emotion, so… stifled-beloved?) home planet of Vulcan was destroyed in 2009's Star Trek. Which, you know, is pretty, pretty dark as movie events go. Presumably billions of Vulcans died when the planet was, essentially, sucked into a black hole in that film (into darkness, you might say…). With only 10,000 or so Vulcans surviving this apocalypse, Spock even says that his race is now an endangered species.

This plot point in Abrams' film was such a huge change in Star Trek lore -- and it also affects the Spock character so deeply (both of them!) -- that it's tough to think that it won't be touched upon in some manner in the new film. Perhaps the death of his world and people drives Spock in an entirely different direction than the Leonard Nimoy version of the character, with the Enterprise first officer taking a darker turn in order to protect what's left of his race and culture? Again, this is all speculation, but there's no denying that if Cumberbatch isn't playing Khan he could make for a great Vulcan…

3

The Forehead Foes

The fearsome Klingons almost made it into Abrams previous' Star Trek film before they wound up on the cutting room floor, but it seems to be a guarantee that they're going to show up in some capacity in the new movie. Perhaps the best known race in Trek aside from Vulcans (and duh, humans), the bumpy-headed aliens were usually villains during Captain Kirk's era, and also capable of some pretty troubling activities before they got turned into ice cream with Worf and The Next Generation. (The first time we ever met them, in the classic episode "Errand of Mercy," was almost immediately after arriving on a defenseless planet where they start executing hundreds of civilians.)

As Starfleet and the Federation head out into space, guys like Kirk and Spock put on their bright and shiny shirts and power up their 23rd century iPhone-esque equipment. And they seemingly expect everyone out in space to do the same. But what happens when you meet a savage, warrior race that kills first, cuts your heads off later, and then asks questions?

2

The Final Frontier

Don't forget, the previous film was designed largely as a reboot of the franchise, reintroducing Kirk and Spock and the rest of the characters, not to mention the entire concept of the Star Trek world, to a largely new, modern and mainstream audience. As such, it didn't feature much of the exploring of strange new worlds or seeking out of new life and new civilizations that is inherent in the Star Trek mission statement.

Hopefully, "Into Darkness" implies that the Enterprise will be doing some actual exploring now that all that nasty Nero business is done with from the last film. Kirk is now captain of the ship, her crew is in place, and it's time to check out that thing they call the final frontier… and what's darker than the cold silence and mystery of deep space? And hell, it's not like they could've called this movie The Final Frontier.

1

The Marketing Magic

Trek Movie reports that the title Star Trek Into Darkness was test-marketed over the summer along with several other titles, including at least one that didn't use the words "Star Trek" at all. This should come as no surprise; of course the title of a tentpole picture like Star Trek 2 is not left solely to the creative types.

Star Trek doesn't do the big business in international markets that other high-priced Hollywood films might, and so the name and marketing of the film becomes particularly important in this regard. What does "Into Darkness" mean? Who freaking knows. Yes, there's a Dark Knight thing going on here, and the film's writers themselves have often compared their approach to Chris Nolan's rebooted Batman film series. But it sounds like the title is also in keeping with the trend to make everything "serious, gritty and real" these days. Is that actually the case here, and if so, is it a good thing for Star Trek? We'll find out when Star Trek Into Darkness hits in May.

Listen to Movies Editor Scott Collura's Star Trek podcast, Transporter Room 3. And talk to him on Twitter at @ScottIGN, on IGN and on Facebook.

Source : ign[dot]com

Two New Nintendo Land Attractions Revealed

Early details from the latest issue of Game Informer are starting to come in. According to early details coming through NeoGAF, two new Nintendo Land attractions are revealed in the Wii U-themed magazine - Metroid Blast and Balloon Fight Breeze.

Metroid Blast is very much like the 'Battle Mii' Wii U demo first shown at E3 2011, albeit one that is more themed to Metroid, including classic music from the series, a Norfair level and a mechanical replica of Kraid that can be interacted with. Up to five players can play at one time, with one player always taking the role of Samus's iconic ship through the Wii U GamePad. (The other four use Wii MotionPlus controllers with nunchuks.) Free-for-All, Team and Horde modes seem to be present, and the attraction features several maps.

Balloon Fight Breeze is a side-scrolling challenge, which controls through the GamePad's touch screen and the stylus. Players must navigate their characters through a variety of obstacles, by directing gusts of wind with the stylus, getting as far as they can in the aerial obstacle courses. The Pad itself shows a close up view of the player's Mii while the TV gives a wide perspective of the level.

No doubt more information will emerge from Game Informer's latest issues as it reaches more subscribers. Plus there's always that Wii U Preview Event next week...

Rich is an Executive Editor of IGN.com and the leader of IGN's Nintendo team. He also watches over all things WWE, Resident Evil, Assassin's Creed and much more. Follow him on Twitter, if you dare!

Source : ign[dot]com

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Encourages Multiple Playthroughs

New details have surfaced about the design mantras behind Square Enix's recently announced Final Fantasy XIII: Lightning Returns.

An interview in the latest issue of Famitsu, translated by Andriasang, reveals that the game will come with just one ending and that it'll be a happy one.

Despite this, the game is apparently being designed to encourage players to go through and complete it multiple times, and the length of the game will reflect this (i.e. it's not going to take hundreds or even, apparently, tens of hours to complete).

Depending on your actions, the remaining life of the world can also increase and decrease, meaning the world could end before the previously mentioned 13 days. It also appears that each of these in-game days will last between one and two real-world hours.

So it looks like Lightning's adventure is going to be a very different experience to the ones that have come before. Also in the interview it's mentioned that Hope will make an appearance, guiding Lightning by wireless com, and that this entry in the Final Fantasy XIII series will be "World Driven", asking players to consider how they interact with the changing world.

There's no reference to a potential release window, but the game is apparently about 30% complete. Seeing as we heard at the start of August that the game had only recently entered production, it seems the game is making good progress, regardless.

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII will be the final game to feature Lightning and is due out on PS3 and Xbox 360.

Luke Karmali is IGN's UK Editorial Assistant and long-time Final Fantasy lover. You too can revel in mediocrity by following him on IGN and on Twitter.

Source : ign[dot]com

Report: New Potential Wii U Release Details Appear

New details have leaked about potential SKUs, prices and dates for the release of the Wii U which seem to conflict with what we’ve previously heard.

While we’ve heard multiple reports in the past that suggest Nintendo’s console will arrive in North America on November 18, today’s listing suggests it’ll actually be on November 11.

That's according to a listing spotted on Video Product Distributors, which is a distribution company that supplies Amazon, Blockbuster and Overstock.

According to an entry on the site, the Wii U will become available in North America on November 11. Three SKUs are listed:

• WIIU SYSTEM - GM - 11/11/12 $249.99
• WIIU SYSTEM W/ - GM - 11/11/12 $299.99
• WIIU SYSTEM 349 W/ - GM - 11/11/12 $349.99

While we don't know precisely what each one involves, presumably the $299.99 and $349.99 versions will contain either some extra games or other peripherals like an additional GamePad to justify the beefed up price. To see the entry you'd normally need a trade login, but thankfully a YouTube user has recorded a shot of the page that reveals all.

We've been hit by a slew of information previously that the Wii U would launch on November 18, but this was thrown into confusion last week when peripheral maker PDP denied it had knowledge of the console's release date.

So where does this leave us? Well, it may muddy the waters as to the exact release date of Nintendo's new console, but it seems increasingly likely that the Wii U is destined for a November release. Both November 11 and 18 are Sundays as well, which has been the day that Nintendo traditionally favours for console releases: the Wii launched on Sunday, November 19, 2006 while the GameCube debuted on Sunday, November 18, 2001.

With a Wii U press event taking place in New York on Thursday, September 13, it thankfully doesn't seem like we'll have to wait much longer for some concrete answers.

Thanks, NintendoLife.

Luke Karmali is IGN's UK Editorial Assistant. You too can revel in mediocrity by following him on IGN and on Twitter.

Source : ign[dot]com

Borderlands 2 Will Have Four Add-on Campaigns

Gearbox has announced that upcoming shooter Borderlands 2 will get four brand new add-on content campaigns following the game's launch.

Though specific details are scarce, each campaign is slated to contain several hours of gameplay with new adventures, allies, enemies and environments in each.

While each pack can be purchased individually for $9.99 (on PC/PS3) or for 800 MS points (Xbox 360), Gearbox has also revealed that it will be offering a Borderlands 2 Season Pass which will allow gamers to download each expansion as soon as it's released for no extra charge. The pass will cost 2400 MS points and $29.99 on both PS3 and PC (in the UK it will cost £19.69 on PS3 and £19.99 on PC).

All four DLC add-ons will apparently be released by June 2013. While we don't know what each one will involve, as the upcoming Mechromancer class apparently won't be covered by the Season Pass, it's a fairly safe bet that it isn't being counted as one of the four pieces of DLC.

Borderlands 2 will release on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC on September 18 in the US and September 21 in the UK.

Luke Karmali is IGN's UK Editorial Assistant. You too can revel in mediocrity by following him on IGN and on Twitter.

Source : ign[dot]com

Aliens: Colonial Marines Escape Mode Announced

Gearbox has revealed details of a new multiplayer mode for Aliens: Colonial Marines. It's called Escape, and pits a team of four US colonial marines against – you've guessed it – a team of four playable Xenomorphs. The mode has the added pressure of a time limit, in which the soldiers must stay alive and make their way to the evacuation zone. Meanwhile, the Xenomorphs must hunt down and kill the marines.

The Xenomorphs aren't all the same, however. There are distinct classes (seen in Gamespot's trailer). The Xenomorph Soldier is highly resistant to damage and excels at close combat; the Xeno Lurker is the fastest and most agile of the aliens, possessing a "quick strike" ability which lets them pin marines to the ground; finally, there's the Xeno Spitter which can attack marines from a distance by spraying acid from its "cranial acid pouches". Charming.

SEGA says that players "will have to work together as a team, utilizing each faction’s unique skills, and identifying their opponents’ weak spots to either reach the safety of the escape point or to eliminate their targets". No details were given regarding the abilities of the marines, but presumably one of you will have the nerve-shredding job of monitoring the motion detector.

Daniel is IGN's UK Staff Writer. Alien is one of his favourite films. Prometheus isn't. Follow him on IGN and Twitter.

Source : ign[dot]com

Dumb and Dumber 2 Plot Details Revealed

If the Farrelly Brothers are to be believed, their long-gestating Dumb and Dumber sequel is still on track, with the boys even revealing some plot details.

BEWARE OF DUMB SPOILERS BELOW

Speaking to Digital Spy, Bobby Farrelly said: "It's definitely something we've been hoping for a long time. We always wanted to get the two original guys Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels back together and see what they're up to. Now it's almost 20 years after the original and the other guys are in a point in their career where they had so much fun the first time that they're willing to do it. We will make this movie."

As for the plot, Farrelly explained: “The story revolves around the fact that one of them may have sired a child. They want to go and find the child because he’s having a kidney problem and he wants to ask him for one of his kidneys.”

The brothers hope to shoot the film in spring for an autumn 2013 release, and in case audiences were in any doubt as to the continuing stupidity of their two main characters, Farrelly added “I can tell you that there is no growth out of either one of them.”

Chris Tilly is the Entertainment Editor for IGN and likes the bit with the blind kid and the bird. His idle chit-chat can be found on both Twitter and MyIGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

Dust 514 Vita App Details Revealed

Sony has released the first details on Neocom, Dust 514’s upcoming PlayStation Vita tie-in app. According to a post on the PlayStation Blog, Neocom will allow players to interact with Dust 514 while on the go, including purchasing items, customizing their character and more.

“It’s a companion app to the PS3 game,” said CCP marketing director Cameron Payne. “It brings all the customization, community and commerce features onto the Vita. There’s no direct gameplay but you can use pretty much all the features that the Neocom user interface offers in the main game. You can interact with battles, purchase items on the market, play around with your dropsuit or vehicle and then save it so you can use it on PS3.”

Specifically, players will be able to access Dust’s Fittings system, modifying their weapon load-outs, armor and vehicle configurations. They’ll also have access to the game’s full store, including daily special offers, as well as the in-game mall and social features. Players can also view EVE Online’s entire massive galaxy map from within Neocom.

“There’s the galaxy of Eve in real time on your Vita,” said CCP creative director Atli Mars Sveinsson. “700 solar systems and you can drill down and look at the individual planets. Over time we’d like you to be able to tinker with those planets and manage their surface infrastructure. There are so many parts of Dust 514 that you can take with you and don’t need a PS3 to enjoy, and this was the perfect way to exploit those features. The whole PlayStation ecosystem works really well, allowing these systems to connect and be a nice cohesive experience. It’s MMO on the go.”

Dust 514 is set to enter open beta later this year. A closed beta will be available to PlayStation plus subscribers later this month. For more on Dust 514, read about why it’s the deepest first-person shooter we’ve ever played.

Andrew Goldfarb is IGN’s associate news editor. Keep up with pictures of the latest food he’s been eating by following him on Twitter or IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com