Max Payne 3 coming in March 2012

Rockstar Games finally announced some news today about their upcoming video game Max Payne 3. We haven't heard much about this delayed game except for some few pictures and news that it's still coming. 

You can read a post from Rockstar Games official site below. They've also released two new pictures from the game and the box art.

Today, we're proud to announce that Max Payne 3 - the new dark, gritty action experience that continues the tale of former New York City detective Max Payne and is sure to satisfy both newcomers and veterans to the historic franchise alike - is expected to launch on the PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in March 2012 in North America and Europe.

Still haunted by the memories of his traumatic past, Max begins a new life working private security protecting a wealthy industrialist and his family in Sao Paulo, Brazil. When gangs target the family under his protection, Max is forced to fight to save his clients and clear his name, in a bid to, once and for all, rid himself of the demons that have tortured him for far too long.

A true cross-studio collaboration between Rockstar Games’ global development teams that picks up from where series creator Remedy Entertainment's Max Payne 2 left off, Max Payne 3 utilizes cutting edge technology for a seamless, cinematic action experience, incorporating the latest advances in Natural Motion physics as well as a brand new iteration of the Rockstar Advanced Game Engine, resulting in highly-refined gameplay with an extensive range of realistic weaponry, an intelligent cover system and sophisticated Bullet-Time mechanics.

In addition to an expansive single-player campaign, Max Payne 3 will also be the first entry in the series to introduce a thorough and engrossing multiplayer experience. In a unique twist, Max Payne 3 multiplayer delivers a compelling experience that dynamically alters maps and mode progression for all players in a match. Along with traditional multiplayer modes, Max Payne 3 will also include a deep reward and leveling system, persistent clans and multiple strategic load-out options.

Stay tuned for much more news very soon and check out a pair of brand new screenshots from Max Payne 3 below.

Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City first details!

Rumors have been floating around for quite some time about Slant Six, former developer of SOCOM, working on a brand new Resident Evil title. Today, we're here to officially validate those rumors along with giving you the very first detail on the upcoming title.

Hitting this winter, gamers will be able to get their hands on Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The Official Xbox Magazine have the official cover story this month, and while we'll list a few details, you'll have to pick up their May issue to find out everything!

• The game takes place in 1998, a time where Resident Evil fans already know what's set to take place. The title lets you enjoy the series from a new perspective, as the men and women who are technically responsible for it all.
• Rather than continuing the zombie slaying antics of BSAA agents, you're taken back to the original outbreak "that underscored both Resident Evil 2 and Resident Evil 3: Nemesis."
• The game doesn't require any crazy amounts of knowledge of the past titles or characters involved in the series. The title opens up to a "quartet of new faces". Essentially, you're playing as members of the official Umbrella Security Services squad.
• Operation Raccoon City is a team-based shooter allowing four members of the USS team to destroy all evidence of the ongoing outbreak. Along with slaying the zombies, you're looking to "kill pretty much every survivor possible".
• The gameplay is described as "dirty", and the series will feel much darker than it has up to this point.
• The game features three factions that Capcom has stated make up a "three-corner conflict". The other two factions are the US Spec Ops, who are there to repel the USS, and the "bio-organic weapon monsters (BOWs) created by Umbrella.
• The USS team is made up of the following characters: Vector, Beltway, Bertha, and Spectre. Depending on which character you choose, the responsibilities that you're asked to do within your team will variate.
• Hunk, first seen in Resident Evil 2 as a hidden character, is the inspiration behind the USS team.
• "Whichever team you play on, you'll be facing Umbrella-created horrors in between skirmishes with each other".
• Zombies in the game can sense you in three different manners: sight, sound, and smell.
• A situation is described in the game where Vector cloaks himself to stir up previously slumbering zombies to use against the Special Ops military foes.
• Quite a few scenarios in the game aren't "all about headshots". A quote in the article states, "It's about shooting the other soldiers - manipulating the, making them bleed."
• The game will take you through a number of familiar areas if you're a Resident Evil junkie who remembers your journey to Raccoon City.
• Operation Raccoon City, depending on how you play the game, will give you the option to "change the history of Resident Evil". Not only will you have the chance to meet and interact with various characters from the series, but you'll even have the opportunity to kill them.
• One of th mottos repeated to OXM throughout the demo was "Kill Leon". It's also stated that if you choose to represent in the game as the Special Ops team, that you'd more than likely have the goal of trying to save Leon S. Kennedy.
• Slant Six or Capcom won't reveal if any other characters will be playable in the title just yet, but it'd make sense to see quite a few big cameos.
• The title will still see players relying on collecting herbs to heal from any attacks you may suffer. You won't need to hoard any herbs, but they'll still benefit you to collect them throughout the game.
• "This is not a one-versus-one game where you've got one clip full of ammo and zombies on you. If you've ever thought of those times in an RE game when you thought, 'I'd wish I had a big gun', that's what this game is. It's not fair to give people big guns, then take all the ammo away."
• One of the pictures in the article showcases a zombie being used as a "meatshield".
• Operation Raccoon City allows players to earn XP for kills, with these points helping you survive the onslaught, and to help to encourage you to anihilate everything in your path.
• The XP will allow you to earn new abilities, such as Vector's cloaking skill, and new weapons.
• Tyrants will most definitely be included in the title.

There's a ton of details listed above, but there's even more listed in the May 2011 issue of the Official Xbox Magazine. Don't forget to be on the lookout for the issue to hit store shelves to get even more details on Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City!

Dead Island debut trailer

It's rare that, with a single trailer, a game goes from "completely off our radar" to "has complete dominion over our minds" -- yet that's what's happened when we caught the debut trailer for Techland's Dead Island. First announced in the summer of 2009, then never heard from again, the game now has a publishing partner in Deep Silver, plus one of the most invigorating trailers we've seen about zombies in a good, long while. Check it out for yourself after the jump.

IGN's preview of the game has turned out some equally savory details: According to Techland, Dead Island is a "first-person zombie-slasher/action-RPG," set in the luxurious Royal Palms Resort in Papua New Guinea. Players are tasked with escaping the island getaway, using all manner of found melee weapons (axes, pipes, etc.) to carve a bath through disturbingly realistic walking cadavers. Sounds like the camp that usually characterizes the zombie genre is going right out the window for this one.

The game is scheduled for a 2011 release on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. We've got our fingers crossed that it's as good as the trailer lets on.

The Darkness II announced for PlayStation 3

Publisher 2K Games has announced that a sequel to the 2007 shooter The Darkness is in development for a fall 2011 release. The Darkness II, developed by Digital Extreme, takes place two years after the events of the original game. Jackie Estacado is now a mafia don, and an attempted assassination on his life ignites a mob war. The Darkness is unleashed yet again, and it's up to Jackie to figure out who tried to kill him and why.

“Sometimes that whooshing sound you hear is that of comic fans holding their collective breath,” says Marc Silvestri, founder and CEO of Top Cow Productions and co-creator of The Darkness comics. “So often disappointed when a favorite character gives birth to a lame movie or video game, us fans have come to expect the worst. And sometimes we get it. But not with The Darkness II. Yeah, call me biased, but this second installment of Jackie Estacado’s epic saga is – in my humble opinion – one of the most brutally cool games I’ve ever played. 2K Games hammered this one out of the park.”

Paul Jenkins is writing the story, which 2K Games calls a "tightly integrated narrative that weaves dark humor with hardcore tenderness."

The Darkness II is set for release on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC.

L.A. Noire coming to PlayStation 3 May 20, 2011

Rockstar has released the latest look at its upcoming L.A. Noire, in a new trailer that focuses on the hunt for a serial killer. You may have remembered this one from Saturday, when it was briefly posted on YouTube and subsequently pulled by 2K Games. It's official now, so you don't have to worry about it going anywhere.

In addition to showing the game in action, the trailer concludes with a release date: May 17. Also, Take-Two announced L.A. Noire is coming out on May 20 in Europe. I've been covering this one from the start, and it keeps looking better and better, and it's not too far away, either.

Watch the awesome second trailer below!

Duke Nukem Forever coming to PS3 May 6, 2011

It has finally come to the day when we get the real release date for Duke Nukem Forever! I've waited for this day forever. We didn't just get the release date, we got a new trailer also. The next step is to play a demo on PlayStation 3.

Watch the new trailer a the bottom of this post, it's awesome! 

Duke Nukem Forever has been in development for a little while. To give you a sense of just how much time has passed since it was first announced, Gran Turismo--a series known for its punctuality--saw releases 1-5 hit shelves in the intervening years. Skepticism turned to actual anticipation last September, when Gearbox unveiled Duke Nukem Forever in playable form at PAX. OK, so the game was really, really, real. A lingering question remained, however: When would we be able to finally take this thing home and play it?

As it turns out, we now know when that's happening.

"Somehow the guys at Game Informer magazine discovered Duke Nukem Forever's launch date before I did," joked Randy Pitchford, president of Gearbox Software and executive producer of Duke Nukem Forever. "But I cannot imagine any better video game news source team than Game Informer to reveal the moment of truth for the most inconceivable, incorrigible and inspiring turn around story in the history of the video game industry – the coming of Duke Nukem Forever on May 3, 2011."

“The moment fans all over the world have been waiting for is almost here,” says Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “May 3, 2011 marks Duke’s return as he unleashes his brash and brutally honest wit on the world. His return is going to be epic and one that will make video gaming history!”

May 3 is the North American release date. May 6 is worldwide. Check it out below.

Duke Nukem Forever coming 2011 on PlayStation 3

I can't believe it's finally happening! Duke Nukem Forever is being released in 2011! And the best part is that it's coming to PlayStation 3, it has always been a PC game, so I'm very happy! When the game was "canceled" last year I was very sad, and when the rumors started that it might still be released, but by another developer, I thought that this is the only chance for it to be released on PS3. 

I will buy Duke Nukem Forever on the release day, even if it will get bad reviews (I don't think it will), and play the single and multiplayer campaign and feel nostalgia. I think the multiplayer will be bad ass! This is awesome news! I'm really looking forward to this game. I have since 1997.

Below is an atricle from Joystiq.

Duke Nukem Forever coming '2011' on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 & PC, courtesy of Gearbox

It's finally, really, actually ... maybe going to happen at this point. The rumors are true: Gearbox Software and 2K Games have taken on the Herculean task of completing and releasing 3D Realms' unfinished Duke Nukem Forever. The project was officially unveiled today at PAX during a livestreamed  presentation at the 2K Games booth and announced for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. "It's coming out in 2011," Gearbox president Randy Pitchford said during the presentation. (Of course, we're skeptical about any release date associated with this particular title.)

Gearbox began finishing Duke Nukem Forever in late 2009, according to The Wall Street Journal. "Clearly the game hadn't been finished at 3D Realms but a lot of content had been created," Pitchford told WSJ.

"We're in the polishing phase now. This is a game where we can not make a promise we can not fulfill," Pitchford added. "We need to get past the shock and awe, and then we can go to all the retailers and first parties and work out a launch plan."

Duke Nukem Forever is a sequel to Duke Nukem 3D and will feature both a single-player campaign and multiplayer. "Aliens come and say they're going to be our friends, and Duke knows this isn't going to work out," Pitchford revealed of the plot. "Duke once again is in the pivotal spot and it's up to him to save the world."

RAGE out September 15, 2011

id Software took the stage with RAGE at QuakeCon this afternoon in Texas, and we had planned to liveblog the presentation for you, but id requested the presentation not be live streamed.

The game’s out on September 13 and 15, 2011 in the US and Europe, respectively, per creative director Tim Willits.

I pulled some highlights from Kotaku’s liveblog. Get all the best stuff below.

• id had three platforms and screens on stage for RAGE to represent and show the game on each of the three platforms – PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.
• The game looks very Mad Max before Mel Gibson went insane.
• The town of Wellspring was shown for the first time.
• John Goodman is a voice actor in the game – he who did Roseanne, etc.
• Matt Hooper, one of the game’s designers, showed some vehicles.
• Four-wheelers and buggies were shown, as well as vehicle combat some with rocket launchers.
• There will be mini-games. One is called Tombstones, which showed characters holograms on a board and whichever character gets to teh middle first is the winner. The characters have guns.
• There are racing competitions where you can earn money to spruce up or improve your vehicle.
• There are no large cutscenes in the game, as id feels it should come from within the game itself via the action, locations, scenery, and dialogue.
• You can electrocute enemies; a water level was shown where this combat took place.
• The game has three tactical options: you can use turrets, RC bomb cars, or go in like Rambo by peppering bullets everywhere if you prefer. Screens will turn red when you are wounded.
• An area with a dam was shown, where you need to go get vehicle parts and your first buggy. It is inhabited by the Wasted Clan who are not too friendly, apparently, as one fella is in a vehicle firing a machine gun at you.
• You can also fight in melee style – fist-a-cuffs if you will.
• Creative director Tim Willits showed his favorite area, the Dead City, which is a modern day ruined metropolis. In it, enemies have rocket launchers and some are as big in size as anything Team Ico could dream up.
• Some loading issues were noted on the consoles, and the Xbox 360 version even crashed – but all those issues will be fixed before release.