Grand Theft Auto V: Trailer #2 revealed

Unveiled by Rockstar Games, the second trailer to the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto V is finally online and ready for viewing! Learn more about what's to come for the next sandbox style open-world action adventure game, including the fact that you can play three protagonists in this installment - Michael, Trevor, and Franklin! Check out the trailer, and get a taste of how things will spill and interconnect with these three during the game itself!

Grand Theft Auto V officially announced for Spring 2013

Following months of teasers and sneak peeks, Rockstar Games has finally announced when Grand Theft Auto V will be released: by Spring 2013!

Metal Gear Solid 5 Confirmed by Hideo Kojima & Using Fox Engine

Despite saying the opposite and stating that the story of Solid Snake is finished, Hideo Kojima apparently isn't done with the legendary soldier yet, and has confirmed in an interview with Eurogamer that Metal Gear Solid 5 is in the works!

The Diablo III Epic Philippine Press Launch!

Via Geekmatic correspondent Timzster's own blog, here is an account of what transpired during the Diablo III press launch!

Today will forever be a day of infamy for gamers worldwide... For Diablo III has finally arrived, and adventure begins anew!

Held today, May 15, at the National Sports Grill in Greenbelt 3, bloggers and press alike covered the official Philippine press launch of the much anticipated role playing game "Diablo III"! IP E-Games, together with Blizzard Entertainment Inc., team up and bring together gamers, journalists, and enthusiasts alike as the stage is set for a gaming experience like no other!

Batman: Arkham City GOTY and Harley Quinn's Revenge announced

Expected by a lot of fans since hints of possible new content were coming, players now have a good reason to return to Arkham City, as Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Rocksteady Studios gear up to release a new DLC adventure called "Harley Quinn's Revenge" for Batman: Arkham City! The new content picks up right after the final events of the game, and players will guide Batman and Robin in stopping The Joker's crazed girlfriend from unleashing her mad scheme. A Game Of The Year Edition for the game was also announced, and will feature all the DLC content in the package for a very reasonable price. Check out the trailer below for both announcements, and if it's your first time visiting Arkham City, you've come at a good time!

God Of War: Ascension info and trailer goes online!

Anyone who owns a Playstation and knows the name Kratos certainly knows God Of War... And now news has leaked that will excite those itching for a return to bloodbath and action gaming galore!

When we last left the man also known as The Ghost of Sparta, Kratos destroyed everything and took out just about everything standing in his way in God Of War III for the Playstation 3. Following that, another prequel was released for the Playstation Portable, God Of War: Ghost of Sparta, which added another layer of tragedy and conflict to his story. Now, people are waiting for God Of War IV... But there has yet to be an official announcement for that sequel. However, a new trailer has popped up, as well as details for a new game: God Of War: Ascension. It is indeed the newest chapter of Kratos' journey... but it looks like another prequel.

Assassin's Creed III Box Art revealed

Via the official Assassin's Creed Facebook page, Ubisoft has revealed the official box art to their next chapter in the Assassin's Creed saga, Assassin's Creed III! 3 versions of the artwork, for the Xbox 360, Playstation 3 (seen above), and PC have been uploaded in the FB page for fans to see, but no details have come up yet regarding who exactly the new protagonist will be. What can obviously be taken from the pic is that it's set during the American War of Independence, and Desmond Miles will live through the memories of another ancestor of his, as the adventures of Altair and Ezio Auditore have since wrapped up after the end of the last game, Assassin's Creed: Revelations. Stay tuned for more details as they come. For more info, visit the official Assassin's Creed Facebook page!

Assassin's Creed III, which is expected to be bigger than its predecessors, hits consoles and PC on October 30 this year!

*Originally posted by Timzster in The Crusader's Realm

TTT2 gets updated to Tekken Unlimited Tag Tournament 2

In a move that's sure to get Tekken fans burning up with excitement, Tekken Producer Katsuhiro Harada has tweeted and unveiled photos from the Japan AOU Amusement Show 2012 of the newest upgrade to the current Tekken game "Tekken Tag Tournmanent 2". Billed as "Tekken Unlimited Tag Tournament 2", the changes to the engine are just more than simply addressing balancing issues and tweaking the game aesthetically.

All things RE in 2012 with Resident Evil 6 and Re5ident Evil: Retribution!

It seems Capcom is having a big 2012 with all things Resident Evil (also known as Bio Hazard in Japan). Not only do we get a trailer for the next movie starring Milla Jovovich as Alice, but also one for a NEW GAME slated for release at the end of this year, and it stars none other than the main male leads of the series, Chris Redfield and Leon S. Kennedy! Thanks goes to Kotaku and Comic Book Movie for the news!

*Originally posted by Timzster in The Crusader's Realm

Farewell, Gamepro...

Sad news came to me just a few minutes ago, and probably the wave of overwhelming nostalgia I'm feeling right now rides up there when EGM initially shut down operations the first time around.

Gamepro, one of the longest running video game magazines in existence, is shutting down operations for good in the US, showing signs of the times and the end of an era. The news, which hit the web instantaneously in sites like Venture Beat as soon as the publication posted the announcement, has sent ripples and shockwaves in the gaming community, and there are certainly a lot of mixed reactions to its sudden and surely inevitable demise. Beginning in 1989, the magazine was slowly going to shift from a monthly publication schedule to a quarterly one, but that doesn't seem to be the case any longer, as parent company IDG has formally announced it will shut down operations. Gamepro's website, which has been in operation for 13 years, will now be absorbed into PCWorld, and will take effect come December 5th.

As with all cease and desist operations, Gamepro's offices will be closed down, and people will be laid off and lose their jobs as a result. In the article by VentureBeat, the shutdown is described as the "creative success not falling in line with business success", and that can be attributed to the times and lack of push the publication industry has because of the influence and presence the internet generates today.

As a gamer and person who grew up in that generation, Gamepro was one of my initial sources for news, walkthroughs, tips, and tricks related to the world of video games. I used to buy a handful of issues back in the day, and I still have said copies stored and kept in my collection. Despite being out of touch with it in recent years, reading this bit of news now has weighed down heavily in my heart, and I feel for those who have remembered the magazine for its contributions to the video game news industry. It may have had its shortcomings compared to the likes of EGM, but it still delivered hot and potentially interesting news to gamers worldwide. Truly, the mag shall be missed. For more details and the rest of the story, visit the source post at Venture Beat or Gamepro's soon to be gone official website itself.

Here's a final salute in the form of an issue cover I had and remember well from the 90's. It was during the 90's console war era, and back then I had a Sega Genesis and played Street Fighter II: Special Championship Edition, with this particular magazine serving as a guide to me. Those were the good ol' days of gaming, which were arguably blissful and simple.

Rest In Peace Gamepro, and thanks for everything.

*Originally posted by Timzster in The Crusader's Realm

Timzster Reviews: Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3

*Originally posted in Timzster

When Marvel Vs Capcom 3 exploded onto the console scene this year, it brought back a lot of that old school flair, nostalgia, and appeal fighting game fans were long craving for. Following the path of Street Fighter IV, it swapped two dimensional graphics in favor or a brush art styled 3D graphics engine, whilst retaining classic 2D brawl gameplay so as not to alienate veterans of the series.

Now, a new "upgrade" of the game has finally been released. Called "Ultimate Marvel Vs Capcom 3", new characters, stages, and gameplay additions have been added to this latest entry of the VS series. It pretty much lives up to the reputation Capcom has garnered with its fighting games by rereleasing them with "updated features" and quirks. 

SDCC '11 Update: The Walking Dead gets a Special Edition and Video Game release soon

Fans of AMC's TV Adaptation of Robert Kirkman's blasting zombie comic book series "The Walking Dead" will have reason to shout in terror or joy with this piece of news via Bleeding Cool. In anticipation for the next season slated to premiere this October, AMC is going to release a NEW Special Edition of the first season of the TV series in Blu-Ray and DVD, with tons of "Never-Before-Seen" footage included. Being one of the people who bought the first release of the entire Season 1, this makes me both excited and disappointed that I'll have to chug out another set of bucks if I want this in my collection. Below is a camshot from Bleeding Cool of what the box art looks like for the upcoming rerelease.

UPDATE: A clearer box art pic has appeared in an updated article from Bleeding Cool. Here it is!

UPDATE: There's also a video game on the works. Pics and details on that can be found on the link below.

For more details and pictures, visit the source post at Bleeding Cool.

The Walking Dead Season 1 reissue will be released this October, to coincide with the release of Season 2, slated for 13 episodes, which premieres on AMC on the same month.

*Originally posted by Timzster in The Crusader's Realm

Playstation Tablets Unite!

In the midst of the week long Playstation Network downtime, Sony revealed some new products that may attract players and consumers the world round. If you like Tablet devices and video games, then you'll be happy to hear what Sony just unveiled today.

Freshly reported by Kotaku, the media giant just revealed two new devices, the S1 and S2. Both platforms will carry the Sony "Playstation Certified" Label, and will allow players to play PS1 games and other Sony approved apps and software specifically tailored for the mobile units.

UPDATE: What you see above is the S1, A standard shaped touch screen tablet akin to an iPad. It's 9.4 inches in size, and pretty much works like any touch screen device. More pics from this link here.

UPDATE: The S2 on the other hand is going to be a unit that is shaped like a Nintendo DS and can fold into a clamshell. It has a 1024 x 480 display, and both screens of the unit are 5.5 inches in size. More info and screens can be seen over here via Kotaku.

This is still fresh and ongoing news, so for more scoops and updates, check out the stories from the source posts at Kotaku, with the S1 Link here and the S2 Link here.

UPDATE: Here's the official trailer of the Tablets from Sony themselves...

Playstation Tablets Trailer

The S1 and S2 are expected to hit this Fall, with no price available yet. Both are powered by Andrioid 3.0 tech, and have wifi as well as 3G and 4G connectivity.

*Originally posted by Timzster in The Crusader's Realm

Captivate 2011: Crossover Battles and New Sequels heat things up!

Taking place last week at Miami, Capcom just recently lifted their embargo on news pertaining to their major showcase event, Captivate 2011, which revealed and teased some of the new games and updates the company had to offer this year and the next. Capcom-Unity and gaming news sites like Kotaku had the scoops on the program, and a lot of noteworthy titles came up in the list.

Batman: Arkham City Update: Riddler revealed as a top baddie!

Another somewhat big update has arrived for Batman: Arkham City, in the form of the revelation of another "big cheese" who returns from the previous game and is pulling the strings of our dear Caped Crusader, and it's none other than the master of riddles himself, Edward Nygma, aka The Riddler!

Via a post in Kotaku, it seems that Mr. Nygma will not only return to plague Batman with puzzles and riddles which he must solve, but he'll also be manipulating the Dark Knight in a manner similar to the Scarecrow, who by inducing Bats with his fear-toxin transported the hero to "nightmare worlds" that gave him more than just a simple trap to overcome. If the reports about the demo prove to be true, then the Riddler may just provide a greater challenge to Batman that's in the level of Dr. Jonathan Crane's alter ego. Given how interesting and irritating Mr. Nygma and his puzzles were in Batman: Arkham Asylum, I'll brace myself for the worst The Riddler has to offer in Arkham City. We'll just have to wait and see how his role gets expanded once the game comes out this October! For more info and additional reading on this, visit the source post at Kotaku!

Batman: Arkham City unleashes chaos in Gotham this October 18!

*Originally posted by Timzster in The Crusader's Realm

Screen Gems buys rights to "Devil May Cry"

If you know the history of the Resident Evil/ Bio Hazard franchise, then you'd be wise to know that any of the big screen movies you've seen with Milla Jovovich starring in them are unlike anything that follows the video game series' canon, instead opting to use elements here and there from the game and establish a timeline of its own. With that said and being a fan of the games, I have respect for the direction the movies went through, but it still didn't accomplish the job of translating a video game concept into the big screen. With so many sequels already made and still more on the way, one has to wonder what else will be milked into a Hollywood movie? Well, Screen Gems, a subsidiary company of Sony Pictures Entertainment responsible for distributing said Resident Evil films, has gone out and made their move, as they have secured the rights to another Capcom property that was originally intended to be a Resident Evil sequel, but spun out into a franchise of its own: Devil May Cry.

Those familiar with DMC should know that it deals with the story of Dante: an arrogant, wise-cracking demon slayer who happens to be the son of the legendary Sparda, a demon who rebelled against his own kind and possesses extraordinary powers. Created by Hideki Kamiya, Dante and the DMC series were meant to represent "cool and stylish" to the video game genre, and boy did the series take off with some serious ass kicking gameplay that was both highly addicting and simply amazing to watch and pull off at the same time. Because of its popularity, the Devil May Cry series has already gotten 4 games, an anime series, toys, and several other merchandise under its belt, and even a remake is on its way (which in itself looks controversial due to Dante's major makeover). Now that movie rights have been secured by Screen Gems, with Kane & Lynch movie adaptation writer Kyle Ward handling the screenplay, one has to wonder how Hollywood will handle this property. Only time will tell for sure. For more info on the story, visit the source post at Slash Film.

*Originally posted by Timzster in The Crusader's Realm

Crusader Video Game Review: Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow

Castlevania... That word alone evokes pleasant and frustrating memories from my videogame childhood that I dare not get into lest I provoke a lengthy nostalgic discussion. No, I come before you now to review the latest chapter in the saga that has redefined gaming time and again, and this time, the adventure sets itself up with ambitious goals via the power of next gen technology. That's right, the new game, Castlevania: Lords Of Shadow, is a new 3D adventure that departs from the traditional and establishes a new direction for the series. Does it falter, or does it manage to prove itself worthy of the mantle?

Video Game Review: Dead Rising 2

Zombie season seems to be in full swing these days, especially with a lot of great stuff popping out of the woodwork that use the undead ghouls as plot material to bake into stories full of blood, carnage, and gore. Thanks to the influence of zombie lore godfathers like the great George A. Romero, you can expect popculture to utilize the "zombie apocalypse" scenario anywhere at any given time, and it could literally explode in your face just as fast as the ghoulish epidemic spreads with just a single bite.

Mario Bros. Celebrates 25 Years!

09.14.2010 - Mario Bros. is celebrating its 25th Anniversary. Originally released for the Super NES in 1993. Nintendo will be releasing an All-Stars compilation featuring enhanced remakes of Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 2, Super Mario Bros. 3 and Super Mario Bros.: The Lost Levels. The game is known as Super Mario Collection in Japan and a second version was created that bundled in Super Mario World on a single cartridge.

Jump after the cut...