Borderlands 2 Confirmed By 2K Games And Gearbox

2K Games and Gearbox have confirmed the availability of Borderlands 2. The video game is expected to arrive sometime between April 2012 and Spring 2013. Borderlands 2 will contain all new characters, skills, environments, enemies, weapons and equipments for gamers to enjoy. The new game will be released for the Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, and PC. We will keep you posted. [Geeky Gadgets]
source: TechFresh

StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty demo upgraded to Starter Edition

If you've checked out the StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty demo but feel that there isn't enough content for you to get a good feel of the game, Blizzard has some good news for you. The company has just announced that they've upgraded the StarCraft II demo and rebranded it as the StarCraft II: Starter Edition. More than just a name change, the StarCraft II: Starter Edition gives additional content for users to experience before they make up their minds about purchasing the game.

StarCraft II: Starter Edition gives users the first four missions of the Wings of Liberty single-player campaign (Mar Sara 1-3 and Tychus or Dr. Hansen's first mission), the first two challenges (Tactical Command and Covert Ops), access to the Terran race in Custom Games and Single-player vs. AI, Access to the following custom maps - Xel'Naga Caverns, Shattered Temple, Discord IV and High Orbit (map selection may rotate over time). And for folks who decide to upgrade from the Started Edition to the full game, campaign progress and achievements will be carried over.

The StarCraft II: Starter Edition is available for free - all you need is a Battle.net account (free) and an internet connection. Head over to Battle.net to download it.
source: Ubergizmo

John Carmack: Video Games Reduce Aggression

"Games don't elevate levels of aggression and violence, they actually reduce those levels according to id Software's John Carmack." Well, that's what he said.

id Software's John Carmack recently spoke with Industry Gamers and said that games are basically cathartic: they reduce aggression and violence rather than increase those levels as many anti-gaming parties would suggest.

Most of his short interview with the site reminisced on a time when DOOM was blamed for the violence that took place in the Columbine massacre back in 1999. Carmack said he never bought into the whole games-causes-violence debate, and seemingly believes that some of it was dished out in order to get a piece of the media spotlight.

“People just play games now and I never took seriously the violence in video games debate,” he said. “It was basically talking points for people to get on CNN and espouse their stuff on there. There was an E3 where all that was going on where I was giving interviews and the reporters would start going into their questions, and I wasn't supposed to talk about any of that. My wife was there and she'd start kicking me when I was about to go, ‘Well, I think...' And in the end it didn't matter, it didn't make any impact on things. I never felt threatened by it and it turned out not to matter.”

Without spouting actual statistics and sources, he then added that there's more evidence to show that games actually reduce aggression and violence. “There have actually been some studies about that, that it's cathartic,” he said. “If you go to QuakeCon and you walk by and you see the people there [and compare that to] a random cross section of a college campus, you're probably going to find a more peaceful crowd of people at the gaming convention. I think it's at worst neutral and potentially positive.”

Carmack also indicated that, despite the controversy surrounding the school shootings, DOOM was the turning point of the gaming industry; it brought games into the mainstream media based on what it could do, not how it reportedly influenced a couple of troubled high school seniors.

“I remember what I think was one of the turning points, really for the industry, when we were developing DOOM and we were at our office and I noticed that the janitor that was emptying the trash had just been sitting there watching… John Romero was playing something and he had just been sitting there, a guy who probably never had played a video game in his life,” he said. “And he was just mesmerized watching this. And I realized that we had reached a point now where we were reaching beyond the self-selected geeky gamer-type audience that used to be all that there was.”

Last week a clinical psychologist said that it was “racist” to place the blame of massacres solely on video games. “I know it's a little controversial to say but there's a certain type of racism in place with these killings,” said Christopher Ferguson of the Texas A&M International University. “When shootings happen in an inner city in minority-populated schools, video games are never brought up. But when these things happen in white majority schools and in the suburbs, people start to freak out and video games are inevitably blamed. I think that there's a certain element of racism or ignorance here.”
source: 2DayBlog.com

PlayStation Vita delayed until 2012 for folks in the West

Boy, is this a piece of wet blanket news – when we read about Sony's PlayStation Vita (PS Vita for short) hitting the FCC and gaining its approval, we were rather pleased, as it normally signals a release that tends to happen sooner rather than later. Well, word has it that the PS Vita will start rolling out this year, although it won't be a global one.

PlayStation head honcho Kaz Hirai has just revealed that the PlayStation Vita will hit the Land the of Rising Sun (that's Japan, in case your geography isn't up to scratch) this year, while the Americas and Europe will have to wait until next year. Of course, next year would mean you will have to play the guessing game as to the exact date where you will have to make 366 guesses at most for the correct answer.

According to Hirai, “We packed so much into the device and made it very affordable. There is no need to lower the price just because somebody else that happens to be in the video game business decided that they were going to lower their price.” Guess that means there won't be any 3DS style price cut in the near future, either.
source: Ubergizmo

Two free Xbox Live games coming to Windows Phone 7 handsets next week

While we're guessing that this piece of news won't exactly sway Android or iOS users over to Windows Phone 7, it certainly is good news for those who currently own WP7 handsets. Come August 10th two new Xbox Live games will be making their way over to the Windows Phone 7 platform, and the best part is that they will be free!

The games in question will be Minesweeper and Sodoku, which aren't exactly groundbreaking, but I guess that while there are plenty of other Minesweeper and Sodoku games out there, these titles are considered to be the "official" version.

While they are considered to be free, they will be ad-driven in the sense that they will come loaded up with a Bing search bar in its interface. Granted that Bing does a pretty good job as a search engine, we don't think that WP7 users will mind terribly. The games will also be designed in the same Metro UI look used by WP7 which makes the overall look pretty consistent with the rest of the phone.

Interestingly enough the games will also feature powerups and achievements, although for games like Minesweeper and Sodoku we're not sure how much powerups and achievements will matter. If you're interested in getting your hands on these games, they will be available from Marketplace come 10th of August.
source: Ubergizmo

“Rezurrection” Call of Duty: Black Ops map pack to be released 23rd August on Xbox 360

Are you a fan of zombie first-person shooters? If you are, perhaps it's time to dust off your copy of Call of Duty: Black Ops and check out the latest map pack that Treyarch is putting out while you wait for Modern Warfare 3 to be released. The map pack is titled "Rezurrection" and it will be coming to the Xbox 360 first followed by PC and PlayStation 3 later.

Unfortunately these maps will not be multiplayer maps but if you enjoy shooting zombies and mowing them down with your guns then perhaps there might be something in these maps for you. It will come with an all new map level called "Moon" along with four re-mastered zombie maps that should be familiar to those who own the Hardened/Prestige version of Call of Duty: Black Ops. They are "Nacht der Üntoten," "Verrückt," "Shi No Numa" and "Der Riese."

The map pack is expected to be released on the 23rd of August for the Xbox 360 first and will cost $15, although if you own the Hardened/Prestige version of the game you will be able to get them for free by simply re-downloading the Classic Zombies pack.
source: Ubergizmo

Video game bras show your love for the game

What better way to tell the world you like gaming than to buy merchandise for showing your love for your favorite video games? While these items usually range from shirts, caps, backpacks and badges, a SceeneShoes from Etsy decided to take things further with some custom-made video game undergarments and shoes. After all, nothing screams “big fan” better than custom-made unofficial merchandise (pirated goods on the other hand is another story).

With prices ranging from $25 to $55, you can get yourself a pair of hand-painted Super Mario, Sonic, or Pokemon sneakers; or Angry Birds, NES controllers or Princess Peach's top painted onto a bra for you. The perfect gift for the video game-loving couple - it's pretty hard to go wrong with bras and shoes like these. Head over to SceeneShoes at Etsy for more images and purchasing details.
source: Ubergizmo

Cut the Rope: Experiments now available for iOS devices

Have you played Cut the Rope, and Cut the Rope: Holiday Gift until you've managed to score 3 stars on all the stages and unlock every single achievement in the game? If you answered yes, we've got some good news for you. ZeptoLab, the creators of Cut the Rope have officially announced the launch of a new installment to the series called Cut the Rope: Experiments. The game adds three level packs (75 levels in total) in colorful new settings.

There will be new mechanics and settings available in the game in addition to new gameplay elements, settings, additional animations, and updated sounds. Fans of the original game won't be lost, while people who are new to the game should have no trouble jumping right into it. There will also be new challenges such as a photo hunt, and social media integration with Facebook and GameCenter. Cut the Rope: Experiments is available now for the iPod touch and iPhone ($0.99) and in HD for the iPad ($1.99).
source: Ubergizmo

Need For Speed franchise gears up for The Run with trailer

Everyone knows that street racing of any ilk is a recipe for disaster. Pushing a machine on public streets is an easy way to end an innocent life, which is why we love the Need For Speed franchise so much. The games allow players to take to virtual tarmac to scratch our persistent illegal go-fast itch. NFS has officially released a trailer for its next title, Need For Speed: The Run, which pits high-dollar metal against each other in a race from Los Angeles to New York. Gamers who opt for the limited-edition game can sink their teeth into three unique cars, too.

Those include the mighty Lamborghini Aventador as well as the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and the yet-to-be-unveiled Porsche 911 Carrera S. We even get a few quick shadowy glances at the Porsche during the teaser. The game looks to promise plenty of fender-to-fender action, crashes and death defying feats of driving skill. Hit the jump to check out the trailer for yourself.
source: 2DayBlog.com

Infinity Blade Price Cut

Epic Games has decided to reduce the price of its “hugely successful” iOS game, Infinity Blade. The game is currently available for $2.99. FYI, the original price was $5.99. Infinity Blade is currently being turned into a premium title for Japan, expected to launch this fall. [Joystiq]
source: TechFresh

Sony: PS Vita Will Not be Ready by Christmas

Sony Corp. Executive Vice President Kazuo Hirai said on Thursday that the PlayStation Vita won't go on sale in Japan until the end of the year. That means we won't see the unit until early next year. Hirai didn't label the new release schedule as an actual delay, but instead stated that the company wants a solid software offering when the hardware launches.

According to Sony, the PlayStation Vita will cost $249 USD / 24,980 yen for the Wi-Fi-only version, and $299 USD / 29,980 yen for the 3G version. Starting August 11, the Nintendo 3DS will cost 15,000 yen in Japan and $169.99 USD here in the States on August 12. Given the sudden price hack, does Sony plan to reduce the PlayStation Vita pricetag before it lands on store shelves?

“We packed so much into the device and made it very affordable,” Hirai told reporters at Sony's Tokyo headquarters. “There is no need to lower the price just because somebody else that happens to be in the video game business decided that they were going to lower their price.”

Guess that's a big no.

Hirai didn't say exactly when the PlayStation Vita will arrive in the States and Europe, only stating “early next year,” but the Associated Press didn't even feel confident that Hirai's “end of the year in Japan” comment even indicated that the hardware would be ready by Christmas. Still, one thing's for certain: Sony will miss a key marketing window in the States by delaying the release until after the holidays. Would the 3DS have done better had it launched in the November/December holiday season window? Probably.

Hirai said that once the PlayStation Vita launches in Japan, the console's shipment schedule will enter into a phased rollout for the other territories.
source: 2DayBlog.com

id Software slashes the prices for Wolfenstein and Doom games on iOS

Quakecon kicked off yesterday, and to celebrate the occasion, id Software has decided to slash the prices of its classic FPS games that are available on iOS devices. It's no surprise that id Software is a huge fan of the platform, with all of its mobile games only available on it at the moment. Not to mention, it seems to be the only platform worth developing for, according to a previous poll John Carmack did at last year's Quakcon.

While you won't be getting Rage at a discounted price (you've probably purchased the game by now), you'll be able to relive those MS-DOS days of blasting pixilated monsters and Nazis away with your whole assortment of guns. If you weren't playing DOOM or Wolfenstein as a kid, then here's your chance to enjoy what you missed out.

Wolfenstein 3D Classic Platinum is now available for $0.99 (was $1.99), DOOM Classic $1.99 (was $6.99), DOOM II RPG $0.99 (was $3.99) and DOOM Resurrection $1.99 (was $6.99). No word on how long these discounts will last, but you should probably take advantage of it while you can.
source: Ubergizmo

Nintendo apologizes about 3DS price cut

Remember the price cut for the Nintendo 3DS that happened last week? You can imagine how the early adopters must have felt about the significant price cut for the console merely months after it went on sale. Well, Nintendo's CEO, Satoru Iwata, has come forward about the whole situation, and admits about the 3DS not doing as well as predicted in terms of sales. The reason for the price cut has been to reassure “software creators and those on the retail side that are not confident that the Nintendo 3DS is a worthy successor to the DS and will achieve a similarly broad user base.”

Consumers aren't the only ones losing hope in the console - developers and retailers feel it too. So this price cut could possibly reinvigorate the sales of the 3DS. And just in case you missed the memo - if you were one of the early adopters of the glasses-free 3D console, you'll be entitled to 20 free games if you log on to the 3DS eShop before August 10, which is a pretty good deal if you were planning on forking out money for those titles. Any of you planning to buy the console at its original price to get the free games or will you be waiting for the price drop before getting it?
source: Ubergizmo

PlayStation Vita a No-Show for the Holidays, Except in Japan

Want to have a Sony PlayStation Vita by Christmas? If you live in the United States or Europe, it is highly unlikely.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Sony's Executive Deputy President Kazuo Hirai says that its next-gen handheld console will not be released in the States or Europe until next year. Hirai even says the device will only be available in Japan by the end of this year.

The executive acknowledged that not selling the Vita during the holiday season would be really costly. “This is going to prove painful for Sony,” Hirai added.

So why the delay? Nobody knows for sure, but let's just hope Sony will not delay its release. They did that with the PlayStation 3 countless times, which ultimately hurt sales when it was launched a year after the updated Xbox 360 was released.

The PS Vita will be available in two different models: The WiFi-only model costing $249 and the one with 3G for $299.
source: Gadget.com