PSP's Next Generation Portable

With Sony being renowned for constantly having it's information leaked, they have finally announced details about their new portable gaming system which is currently codenamed NGP (Next Generation Portable). The hardware specs for this portable device are very impressive and the graphics rival this generation of consoles.

Announcement and details:
http://www.gamespot.com/pages/news/story.php?sid=6287052&tag=topslot;img;1

Uncharted gameplay on NGP
http://www.gamespot.com/ngp/action/uncharted/news.html?sid=6287036&mode=previews&tag=topslot;img;2

Operation Flashpoint: Red River Tajikistan Trailer

Operation Flashpoint is a series of games that attempt to depict war at it's most realistic elements. This game's plot will concern a fictional conflict in Tajikistan in 2013 during a civil war. The US Marine Corps moves in to mediate the conflict. However, the People's Liberation Army of China starts to become suspicious of American intervention, When China order the Marines to leave, they refuse, and the world's next flashpoint erupts. The game will come out on Xbox 360, PC, and PS3 at an unannounced date.

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/exclusive-entry-operation-flashpoint/709790

FF13 Versus Japanese Gameplay Reveal

Finally, we get to see how Final Fantasy 13 Versus is shaping up. I personally feel like it's a shame that Square Enix is devoting more staff to Final Fantasy 13-2 as opposed to this game, but I look forward to seeing this darker Final Fantasy game to renew the franchise of it's stellar reputation.

The game looks amazing for a work in progress, and it's not coming out this year (both good and bad), so the game has even more development time.

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/japanese-gameplay-final-fantasy/709809

L.A. Niore Dated

L.A. Noire is a video game developed by Team Bondi, and is going to be published by Rockstar Games. L.A. Noire is set in Los Angelas during 1947, with players being given an open-ended challenge to solve a series of murder mysteries.

The game is heavily inspired from both plot and aesthetic elements of film noir - stylistic films from the 1940s and 1950s that shared similar visual styles and themes including crime, sex and moral ambiguity and were often shot in black and white with harsh, low-key lighting. The post-war setting is the backdrop for plot elements that reference the detective films of the '40s, such as corruption and drugs, with some smooth classical jazz to boot.

L.A. Noire is also notable for using Lightsprint's real-time global technology, as well as a newly developed piece of technology called MotionScan, where actors are recorded by 32 surrounding cameras to capture facial expressions from every angle and intergrate into the video game cutscenes. The game is set to launch May 17th.

A Killer's Motive Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWltTKgPzzU&feature=feedu

Crysis 2 Multiplayer Demo

Starting tommorow, the Crysis 2 multiplayer demo will be open to all of those who have Xbox Live Gold subscriptions. While Crysis 2 multiplayer offers the typical array of game modes (team deathmatch and the like), one distinguishing factor are the super powered nanosuits that players have equiped during gameplay. These "nanosuits"give players super natural abilities such as invisibility, speed, increased armor, or super strength. To learn more about the game and preview some interesting gameplay footage, copy and paste the following links.

Interview:
http://www.gametrailers.com/video/multiplayer-modes-crysis-2/709694

Gameplay:
http://www.gametrailers.com/video/multiplayer-rooftops-crysis-2/709696
http://www.gametrailers.com/video/multiplayer-streets-crysis-2/709698

Killzone 3 and SOCOM 4 Beta

If you were already planning on picking up Sony’s next big first-person shooter Killzone 3, then you will be delighted to know that your purchase will also give you a voucher to participate in the SOCOM 4 beta. The voucher comes in both the regular and standard editions of Killzone 3, so nobody will be left out in the cold. Unfortunately, no one knows when the SOCOM 4 Beta will begin.

In other good news, PS3 owners who didn't have access to the closed Killzone 3 beta now have a chance to get their feet wet starting on Feb. 2 and running through Feb. 14, 2011. Players can download the Killzone 3 beta and try all three of the game's online multiplayer modes in the Frozen Dam level. This trial period will support 3D displays and PlayStation Move controls. Look for the beta on the PlayStation Network.

Homefront Multiplayer

Homefront is a first person shooter made by Kaos Studios, who previously developed Frontlines: Fuel of War. Homefront is scheduled to ship pretty soon, this March in fact, on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. Recently video game journalists had access to play the game's online modes. Online shooters like Call of Duty Black Ops and Battlefield Bad Company 2 have set high standards for first person shooters. With the release of other games such as Bulletstorm, Killzone 3, Crysis 2, and Brink, it's interesting to see how this one scales up.

Multiplayer interview:
http://www.gametrailers.com/video/multiplayer-interview-homefront/709509

Multiplayer walkthrough:
part 1: http://www.gametrailers.com/video/multiplayer-walkthrough-homefront/709511
part 2: http://www.gametrailers.com/video/multiplayer-walkthrough-homefront/709513

Duke Nukem Forever Reveal Trailer

Finally, Duke Nukem Forever has something few gamers ever thought it would receive--a hard release date. Developer Gearbox Software and publisher 2K Games announced this morning that the long-in-the-works shooter will ship simultaneously for the PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 on May 3 in North America and May 6 worldwide. While this game will most likely not live up to the ridiculous amount of hype, gamers who long awaited the return of the Duke will have something to look forward to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5pDaWaPttU&feature=channel

Brink: Choir of Guns trailer

Brink is an immersive shooter that wants to blend single-player, co-op, and multiplayer gameplay into one seamless experience by allowing you to develop your character across all modes of play. You decide the role you want to assume in the world of Brink as you fight to save yourself and mankinds last refuge for humanity. Brink offers a compelling mix of dynamic battlefields, extensive customization options, and an innovative control system that will keep you coming back for more.

To me, this game feels like a blend of Team Fortress 2 because of its cartoony style and class based gameplay as well as Mirror's Edge for its parkour elements.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tI4y2P0r7K0
Developer Diary: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy4LL2CV1ZQ

Assassin's Creed Brotherhood Free DLC

New downloadable content for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is now available for a free across all platforms. This DLC features a new game type called Treasure Hunt in which hunters are supposed to steal treasure from the protectors without being spotted and eliminated.

Check out this trailer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlNfSmCTKgs&feature=sub

Final Fantasy 13 XIII-2 Announced

Square Enix has just announced the sequel to Final Fantasy XIIII in the 1st Production Department Premier event in Tokyo today. Final Fantasy 13 (which I played) was one out of many video games I actually didn't finish. While the game had beautiful cinamatics, graphics, and high production values, my personal gripe with the game was its combat system, linearity, and Japanese to English dubbing. Frankly I would prefer if I could play Final Fantasy 13 in Japanese with English subtitles.

Hopefully they address my personal gripes with the first Final Fantasy 13 game. Best of luck to you Square Enix.

Teaser Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrRJo5oWLQg&feature=feedu

Black Ops: First Strike DLC

This video contains details on the new downloadable content coming to Call of Duty Black Ops on the 1st of February for $15. In addition to four new maps, a new map for the Nazi Zombies gametype will also be added called Ascension. For those that have played Modern Warfare 2, their last 2 map packs were also $15 dollars, but they only featured two redone maps from Modern Warfare 1 and three unique maps, so the First Strike DLC seems to provide gamers more bang for their buck. So if you have extra money or you sadly didn't buy the Battlefield Vietnam expansion for Bad Company 2, you may pour some money into this piece of downloadable content starting on February 1st.

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/first-strike-call-of/709349

Bulletstorm Weapons, Echoes, and Anarchy

EPIC's next big shooter that looks heavily inspired off the unreal tournament series is coming out February 22nd. Like Unreal Tournament, this game features ridiculous weapons, lots of swearing, and ridiculous combat. For those who preorder the game on Xbox 360 can get access to the Gears of War 3 beta, however given that there are so many shooters coming around February to the beggining of the Summer, I would actually wait for the reviews to come out for this game before you buy and you find yourself short on money. Killzone 3, Crysis 2, Brink, F3AR, Dues Ex Human Revolution will also eventually come out, plus there is a slew of non FPS games like Dragon Age 2 and Little Big Planet 2.

Regardless enjoy the trailer :D http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwOaZyvGHZo&feature=sub

Little Big Planet 2: Launch Center

Little Big Planet 2, the sequel to the platforming game where players can create, play, and share their own customized levels to the rest of the game's community. While the first Little Big Planet was primarily a platformer, LBP2 seeks to expand beyond platformers and take elements from other types of genre's such as strategy, sports, shooter, and racing and incorporate it into the tools gamers use to customize their own levels. To learn more and be enthralled, check out Gamespot's launch center for Little Big Planet 2 along with these trailers.

Launch Center:
http://www.gamespot.com/showcases/lbp2-lc?tag=topslot;img;5

Trailers:

Debut: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oy_a3oCDzRA
Sports: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HC76eo8ve_s
Adventure: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ky-JUL0SDDs
Grappling Hook: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRk4-nOg1-0
Sackbots: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMdFYQA5UjE&feature=channel
Grabinator: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kc9wOT_x2ng&feature=channel
Creationator: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2pflXMBOAA&feature=related

Vizeo News

Vizeo was the reason I was able to buy a cheap TV with 1080p picture quality, so I can't resist talking about them here. Vizeo is a company that primarily produces cheap and decent television sets, but there doing a little more for us gamers. One of these things is that they are working on developing 3D televisions that are less than $300 dollars, and also OnLive has joined hands with to integrate support for its cloud gaming service.

In other news, Vizeo is also ranching out and working on it's own entertainment "tablet" as well as a smartphone. More info at: http://uk.gear.ign.com/articles/114/1143004p1.html

Dragon Age 2: Combat Walkthrough

Here is a walkthrough video on what the Bioware team is doing in regards to Dragon Age 2's combat system. The combat was fairly slow paced and meant to be played strategically by pausing the game and picking out moves you wanted you and your companions to use. PC gamers got the good end of the stick when it came to the game's combat in the first Dragon Age, but console owners got unlucky due to a clunky inferface and mediocre controls. Bioware has mentioned that one of their main goals for Dragon Age 2 was to make the combat more manageable and enjoyable for a console.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyR1fGMCLXo

Personally, this seems like this year is going to be one of the best years for RPG's because two Bioware games are being released this year along with Elder Scrolls 5. Let's just cross our fingers that Elder Scrolls 5 and Mass Effect 3 don't get delayed into 2012.

Here is a list of some amazing trailers for games that are coming out next year. Most of these trailers were featured in the Spike Video Games Awards Show.

Killzone 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QdydrzwdM0

Mass Effect 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnEej1RfqTs

Uncharted 3: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHHcM6aHPnE

Elder Scrolls 5: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0fQWkk9Z6s

Batman – Arkham City: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRW-_wRAyvg

Prototype 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZ5xW-Yo720