Developed by YAGER, Spec Ops: The Line features an intense single-player narrative that unfolds within Dubai after a series of cataclysmic sandstorms cut the city off from the rest of the world. Playing as Captain Martin Walker, gamers fight through Dubai in this gripping third-person shooter in their search for Colonel John Konrad and his missing battalion, The Damned 33rd. Players will blast their way through sandstorms with a variety of weapons and explosives, even using sand as a weapon to strategically bury enemies in their path. Combining brutal action and combat with a riveting narrative and the unique setting of a sandstorm ravaged Dubai, Spec Ops: The Line is unlike any other military shooter.

“Spec Ops: The Line is a fresh take on the military shooter genre,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “With a story that takes a dark look into the consequences of warfare, Spec Ops: The Line has the ability to shake the player to their moral core.”

In addition to the single-player campaign, Spec Ops: The Line features an expansive, class-based multiplayer experience set in visually stunning and unique environments. Players are encouraged to use their sand-filled surroundings to thwart their enemies; however, the environment can quickly turn from advantageous to treacherous with the onset of sandstorms – which impact visibility, team communication and weapon handling.

Free cooperative bonus content for Spec Ops: The Line will also be available for download to anyone who purchases the game when the mode is complete post-launch (current estimate approximately August 2012). The bonus content features a series of objective-based cooperative multiplayer scenarios set in same sand-ravaged scenario as the single-player campaign prior to Captain Walker and his squad’s arrival. It includes four fast-paced missions, each with its own unique objectives, environments and playable characters. Players must work together to fight through waves of enemies and blinding sandstorms to complete their objectives, emphasizing teamwork and utilizing a variety of weapons and explosives.

Spec Ops: The Line is rated M for Mature by the ESRB and is available now for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. For a complete Spec Ops: The Line experience, including the latest news, downloads, information and more, please visit www.specopstheline.com. Check out Spec Ops: The Line on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/specops.

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By Dave Carpinello

 

“The Queen of Spades” Shayna Baszler returns to action on July 28th at Invicta FC 2 in the main event against former Olympian Sara McMann. Baszler recently took some time to talk with PDG about the fight, where she has been the last couple of years, Invicta FC and Halo.

PDG:  Congrats on your upcoming fight against Sara McMann in the main event at Invicta FC 2 on July 28th. What are your thoughts on facing the former Olympian?

Shayna Baszler:  We have grappled each other before in tournaments so it won’t be the first time that we have faced each other. That being said, Olympic athletes are at a whole different level personally and physically than most other athletes. Which is why the fact that we have faced each other in the past will make it a little easier because nothing will come as a surprise.

PDG: Who won the grappling matches?

Shayna Baszler:  We each won one.

PDG:  You have had an extremely long inactive period, when will you start your training camp for this fight?

Shayna Baszler:  I was scheduled to fight Kelly Kobold on April 21st and even though the fight was cancelled a ways out, my team had been telling Invicta FC that if anyone pulled out of their scheduled fight (Invicta FC 1 – April 28th) I would be ready to step in. So besides taking last week off, I have been in a constant training camp for the last couple of months. I am in pretty good shape right now so I will probably stick to the norm and put together an eight to ten week camp after I watch Josh Barnett kick some ass in Strikeforce.

PDG:  Before your rematch against Kelly Kobold at Cage Fighting Xtreme was cancelled you spoke about integrating some of the pro wrestling that you have been working on into your catch wrestling. Do you plan on trying the same against Sara McMann even though she is a completely different fighter than Kobold?

Shayna Baszler:  I do like to watch pro wrestling to see what submissions they are using that I could turn into real submissions that would work with my style. So I am not really practicing pro wrestling but I do always have new moves cooking up in my kitchen. My style has always been my style and it usually includes some crazy, unorthodox moves and against McMann I am just going to do the things that I do… the unexpected.

PDG:  It will be just under two years since your last fight when you get into the cage with McMann; what have you been doing?

Shayna Baszler:  The funny thing about that is that I have had three fights scheduled during that time that were cancelled for one reason or another and then what always happens is the promoter tells you to keep training because they will find a replacement and then that never happens. So even though I have been inactive to the public eye, I have had several training camps over that time period.

PDG:  You were cageside at the inaugural Invicta FC event; what did you think of the event overall?

Shayna Baszler:  Boy, I have to tell you that it was awesome! It was just recently that Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey were the main event in Strikeforce and finally a women’s bout was the headliner and not on the undercard or the first fight on the main card. I wouldn’t say that prior to that Strikeforce treated the women fighters badly, they were always good to me, but Invicta treated every girl on the show like they were a star. I think that with someone like Shannon Knapp (President of Invicta FC) who has been in fight business for a long time that they are off to an awesome start. They had everything at that show that you would expect to see at an all men’s show from Mauro Renallo working the microphone down to the some of the best cornermen in the business. I went to college in Kansas City so I met up with an old friend and got her tickets to show. She does follow MMA, just not as much as others so when I was pointing out the people in the audience to her, she was surprised that every big name in women’s MMA was in attendance. It was huge event for us and I think the second show is going to be even bigger because of the rave reviews the first show received.

PDG:  Do you know if the show was sold out?

Shayna Baszler:  It wasn’t sold out by any means but I was told that the live free stream of the event had over 250K viewers. Before the event, Shannon Knapp had said they were hoping for 25K viewers so I would say that it was a huge success.

PDG:  Have you heard if the event you are fighting in will be live streamed or broadcast on something like HDNet?

Shayna Baszler: I haven’t heard anything yet but imagine it will be one or the other.

PDG:  Even though you had a long layoff, you are still on a four-fight win streak. Were you surprised it was Invicta and not Strikeforce that came through with an offer?

Shayna Baszler:  Yeah that whole situation with Strikeforce has been annoying because I was told that if I won the Freestyle Cage Fighting Women’s Bantamweight Grand Prix, which I did, that I would get a Strikeforce contract. I think the big issue was that Zuffa purchased Strikeforce and Shannon Knapp left the company and she was the one that was behind that deal with FCF. So that deal must have fell through the cracks and it was super-frustrating but the great thing about the Invicta deal is that I am getting a real opponent, not someone to just kick the rust off. McMann is tough opponent and so it will be a good win for me to notch on my belt, another skull to add to the pile.

PDG:  How would you compare your upcoming opponent McMann, a former Olympian to the current Strikeforce Champion Ronda Rousey, who is also a former Olympian and do you see any similarities?

Shayna Baszler:  Honestly I think that McMann is being smarter as far as the way she is progressing in her career. She has been taking progressively tougher fights each time and I think that is the way to build your career. She has neither padded her record nor has she jumped into top-ranked competition right away which has allowed her to work on the holes in her game with each fight. Whereas Rousey has had a lot of success but I don’t think her game has changed at all since the first time we saw her fight. We also haven’t seen a tired Rousey fight in the third round to see what she really has. Her fight with Tate was a great performance and she showed great composure when Tate had her back not to mention that Tate came out firing strikes at her. That being said I think we need to see how she performs when the pace slows down, both fighters are tired and beat-up, and it is the third round. Whereas McMann has done that but it is also a style thing… McMann is from a wrestling base and that style is not going to finish a lot of fights, whereas judo has a few more submissions and is a different paced style.

PDG:  In other Women’s MMA news since the last time we talked, Cris Cyborg tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. What were your thoughts when you first heard the news?

Shayna Baszler:  Cyborg has always been very nice to me when we have hung out so I don’t want it to sound like I am talking a bunch of trash about her but I don’t think that there was anyone who was surprised by the news. I am a big proponent of waiting to judge someone until all the legal crap is taken care of and the fighter gets to present their case because I have fought at big shows and I know how chaotic the testing process can be. So I refrained from saying anything until that process was over but it is what it is. Since then though people have been asking me if she was on the PED’s when we fought and I just want to be clear, whether she was or she wasn’t that isn’t the reason that she won. She beat me that night because I beat myself and PED’s had no bearing on the outcome of that fight.

PDG:  Back to your fight with McMann, what advantages do see for yourself going into this fight?

Shayna Baszler:  For one I am a finisher and I don’t see anyway that McMann submits me and I don’t think she is knocking anyone out. The only way she wins this fight is if she bores everyone watching to death with lay ‘n pray and no one wants to see that type of fight. I think that her strengths, taking me down and working on the ground, is my world so her strengths play right into my style. So it will be up to her to decide, whether she wants to get beat-up standing or if she would prefer to get submitted on the ground.

PDG:  Ok, let’s talk a little gaming; are there any upcoming video games that you are looking forward to playing?

Shayna Baszler:  I will probably wait until after my fight but I will eventually be getting Mass Effect 3, the only reason I haven’t got it yet is because I want the Kinect version and I haven’t picked up the Kinect yet. I want to do all of the cool direct my team with the hand signals stuff. The first two games in the Mass Effect series were absolutely awesome. I also want to check out the new/old Halo, those are two of the big ones on my brain right now.

PDG:  Combat Evolved or Halo 4 in the fall?

Shayna Baszler:  Probably Combat Evolved until Halo 4 is released.

PDG:  Cool, we always appreciate your time; is there anything else you wanted to add?

Shayna Baszler:  Just a big thanks to all my fans and the fans of Women’s MMA in general and be on the lookout either on Twitter or my PDG Blog for my training camp updates and videos!

Post your comments directly below! You can also discuss the latest MMA & Video Game News in the PunchDrunkGamer Forums and don’t forget to Follow PDG on Twitter @PunchDrunkGamer and Like the PDG Official Facebook Page!

Key Features:

* Get plunged into frantic and relentless infantry combat.

* Check your corners as death can come from any angle.

* HD destruction lets you reduce entire locales to ruin.

* Earn new weapons and bring them back to the base game.

* Complete new assignments and equip unique dog tags.

* Play in new ways, mixing team play and instant action.

The HD Destruction in Close Quarters lets players riddle the environment with bullets, reducing entire locales to ruin. Everything from furniture to plaster can be shot to pieces, and players can see the result of the mayhem as rubble and broken pieces pile up on the floor. The tight level design and many opportunities for vertical gameplay mean players will need to bring their A game if they want to stay alive in this highly competitive theater of war. Battlefield 3: Close Quarters will be available on PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 June 2012.

Battlefield 3: Close Quarters – ‘Destruction Time-lapse’ Trailer:

Battlefield 3: Close Quarters – Screenshot Gallery:

[Show as slideshow]

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By Patrick Newman

 

Guild Wars 2 to hit Consoles

A console iteration of the fantasy MMO game Guild Wars 2 is being prepared by NCsoft, according to gaming news outlet Gamespot. A “small development team” is apparently hard at work porting the title over, which places players into a continuously unfolding fantasy realm. Though a fee is required to register the game, a monthly subscription will not be required in order to play.

Sazh: Heads or Tails for Final Fantasy

The ever-popular Final Fantasy series is receiving its newest update (for XIII-2 Sazh) on February 28th. Called “Sazh: Head or Tails?”, the package allows players to control the Sazh character in a story that runs parallel to the main narrative of Final Fantasy XIII. It will cost 400 Microsoft Points, or $4.99 on the PlayStation Network.

The Darkness II – Executions “Inside & Out” Trailer

New Xbox codenamed “Durango”?

Kotaku, that online wellspring of far-flung gaming rumors and speculation, has reported that the successor to the Xbox 360 is being codenamed “Durango” by Microsoft. In addition to being a Mexican state, “Durango” is also the name of a city in Colorado, for all the good that does at evoking the console’s attributes. At this time, reports have surfaced of everything from Blu-Ray capability to tablet controllers that will be featured with the new console, which will likely be announced at E3 this year.

Free COD on Steam

The multiplayer campaign of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is being offered for free download on Steam, and will last throughout the weekend. As a promotion for the game-download service, a post on the Steam site states that the company “will let you play the entire multiplayer portion of the base game.”

SSX: Uber Mondays – Moby Jones Trailer

More Gears of War 3 DLC

Forces of Nature, the upcoming DLC for Gears of War 3, will hit the online marketplace March 27th. This new pack of content contains three new multiplayer maps, as well as revised versions of Raven Down and Jacinto. It also features four new characters and seven new weapon skins (two of which need to be unlocked).

Black Ops 2 News

While the announcement has not been officially made by Activision, it has indeed been confirmed that Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is the next installment in the military FPS franchise, after fervent speculation suggested a variety of directions the series could go. According to GameBlog, a product listing from the game was posted, and then pulled, from Amazon France after Activision contacted the site and told them to continue keeping the project under wraps. With this mess finally bringing the nature of the new Call of Duty to light, it’s fair to expect an official press release soon.

Uncharted: Golden Abyss – Launch Trailer

No PS4 Announcement for 2012

Despite the insistence of many that 2012 would be the year that Sony unveiled its PlayStation 4 console, SCEA President Jack Tretton has made an announcement that claims otherwise. In an IGN interview, Tretton plainly said, “I, quite frankly, would be very distracted if I had to be talking about next generation hardware this year,” and “Right now, we’re focused on PlayStation 3, and I’ve got another platform (PlayStation Vita) to get out the door in seven days, so I don’t want to be thinking about trying to launch new technology any time soon.”

New TMNT game in the works?

If the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figure photos on ToyArk are to be believed, Activision might be pushing forward a new game based on the popular characters. The key bit of evidence in the photos is a sign implicating Activision in licensing and cross-promotion. Activision hasn’t yet confirmed if it would be tackling the Turtles franchise for consoles.

Dark Legends – Teaser Trailer

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As a special surprise, the Professor has allowed his very own Genki Girls to theme the new games after themselves. Sail through the skies with Sad Panda Skyblazing. Fight through dark, shark-infested jungles in Angry Tiger’s Apocalypse Genki. And crush your way to victory in Sexy Kitten Yarngasm. But don’t forget to help Professor Genki maintain his excitement before any public appearances in Super Ethical PR Opportunity.

Available for download on January 17th on Xbox Live, PlayStation Network and Steam, GenkiBowl VII will feature such mind-bending games as Sexy Kitten Yarngasm, Sad Panda Skyblazing, Apocolypse Genki, and Super Ethical PR Opportunity. The first downloadable mission pack for Saints Row: The Third, Genkibowl VII is included with the Saints Row Season Pass, and promises to mostly if not completely blow your mind. For this is Genkibowl: Where ridiculous happens.

Saints Row: The Third – GenkiBowl VII Teaser Trailer:

Saints Row: The Third – GenkiBowl VII Screenshot Gallery:

[Show as slideshow]

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By Patrick Newman

 

Lego Batman 2 Announced

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment recently announced that a sequel to 2008’s Lego Batman is due on consoles in summer 2012. Called Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes, the game offers new vehicles (such as the Batmobile and Batwing), as well as new abilities, gadgets and suits. So far, the consoles it will be available for include the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, Wii, DS, 3DS, and PlayStation Vita.

New Miyamoto Title in the Works

As reported by ZoomIn, Zelda and Mario creator Shigeru Miyamoto is working on a new original title, in addition to Pikmin 3 and Luigi’s Mansion 2. When pressed for comment, Miyamoto said, “’Is it too much pressure to try to come out with something new?’ I have to say no, I’m enjoying myself. When I make something I always try to do my best.”

Snake Skin for your 3DS

The re-mastered version of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater will now be available with a special “Snake Skin” version of the 3DS. While the full press release can’t be seen until January 20th, a picture of the refurbished 3DS was recently posted to creator Hideo Kojima’s Twitter account. The new version of Snake Eater will feature 3D visuals, camera and touch pad support.

New PS4 & Xbox at E3 2012

MCV, a gaming industry outlet based in the UK, has reported via Twitter that both the PlayStation 4 and the new Xbox will be on display in June at 2012’s Electronic Entertainment Expo. As told to IGN, Editor-in-Chief Michael French elaborated, “Even if we don’t see the hardware itself, or know a price or date, key publishers and developers are expecting some nod towards what direction PS4 will take at E3 this year. Sony isn’t stupid – it knows that if Microsoft is planning to also say something about its next console, it can’t be left behind.”

Game of Thrones – The Wall Trailer

SoulCalibur V Finished

Development has finally wrapped on SoulCalibur V, which is due in North America on January 31st, with a February 3rd bow in Europe. Namco Bandai is releasing the game in two editions: the $60 standard edition, or an $80 collector’s release with the game, its soundtrack, a book of concept art, making-of videos, a download token for two new armor sets, and a letter officially signed by the developers.

New Shenmue Details

ShenmueMaster, a Shenmue fansite, has recently posted an interview with Yu Suzuki (the series director) that brings to light new plot details. He also discusses the potential of buying the rights to Shenmue back from Sega. Apparently, Suzuki has already written 11 new chapters of the story. He also addresses rumors about the ending, saying that the climax would not be a face-off between Ryu and LanDi.

HOD 3 & HOD 4 Hit the PSN in 2012

Both of Sega’s lightgun shooters House of the Dead 3 and House of the Dead 4 are due as downloadable titles on the PlayStation 3 this year. February 7th sees the release of House of the Dead 3 on the PSN, with its successor following in the spring. The re-booted titles will support the PlayStation Move, and include HD graphics as well as trophy support.

New Microsoft Flight taking off!

A new edition of the simulator Microsoft Flight, which hasn’t released an installment in five years, will be available in the spring for free download. The Big Island of Hawaii can be explored for hours, while gamers looking for an expanded amount of locations can buy them as DLC later. New planes and customization options can also be purchased. The closed beta test for the game is already in effect.

Microsoft’s Halo 4 – Teaser Trailer

Get Twisted Metal Black with Twisted Metal Re-Boot

A recent post on the PlayStation Blog reveals that early buyers of SCEA’s re-boot of the Twisted Metal franchise will also receive download vouchers for 2001’s Twisted Metal: Black. According to project co-director David Jaffe, the developer is making available the original, offline version of Black, which was the series’ first foray into a darker tone and more extreme forms of violence.

New Modern Warfare 3 DLC

Infinity Ward has reached out to fans through Twitter to tease a picture of an upcoming DLC map for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. Titled “Park,” the level seems to be set in and around NYC’s Bethesda Fountain in Central Park. Creative Strategist Robert Bowling, who has set a January 24th launch date for the DLC, described the Bethesda tease as “some of the first” game DLC for Modern Warfare 3.

Last Call for Microsoft at the CES

Though 2012’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is expected to draw record attendees (over 140,000), with 2,700 exhibitors to sate their appetite for games and gadgets, Microsoft has announced that it will not be returning for 2013’s CES. In an official statement from Frank Shaw, Microsoft Corporate Communications VP, he said, “We’ll continue to participate in CES as a great place to connect with partners and customers across the PC, phone, and entertainment industries, but we won’t have a keynote or booth after this year because our product news milestones generally don’t align with the show’s January timing.”

Project Ogre Details

In an interview with CNN, Metal Gear Solid godfather Hideo Kojima provided some welcome hints as to the nature of his next project: Project Ogre. “Rather than making something very cinematic, [I plan to] make something very free,” Kojima told CNN, implying that the game would shy away from the on-rails approach of the Solid franchise and embrace a philosophy more akin to a Fallout or Skyrim. In past reports, Kojima has stated that he wants to provide gamers with content in Ogre even after more than 100 hours of play.

Fortnite – Teaser Trailer

Fenix Rising January 17th

The Fenix Rising map pack, the next in what is expected to be a long rollout of Gears of War 3 DLC, will be available to gamers January 17th. A central component of the DLC will be the added ability for gamers to “Re-up” their skill levels, so that they can potentially embark on multiple tours of duty to earn new weapons skins. The map pack will additionally contain five new multiplayer battlegrounds, as well as four new character skins (Clayton, Cole Train with Thrashball uniform, a Savage Marauder, and Kantu).

Tekken 3D for Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day will see the release of Tekken 3D Prime Edition for the Nintendo 3DS, according to a press release from Namco Bandai. This marks the first Nintendo portable entry for a Tekken title since Tekken Advance in 2002, and will include more than 40 fighters. Additionally, 60 fps wireless multiplayer action will be a staple of the game’s experience, as well as 3DS Street Pass support.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Cancelled

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, the open-world sequel to the post-apocalyptic PC shooter, was recently cancelled, despite a promising new multi-platform game engine and a vocal fan base. However, a recent tweet from developer GSC saying “There is cause for hope” leaves the project’s true fate undefined.

New Dragon Age to add more Open World Experiences?

The gargantuan success of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has clearly influenced Dragon Age developer BioWare, as reflected in label head Ray Muzyka’s recent interview with Wired. “[The next Dragon Age] is going to have the best of features from the prior Dragon Age games, but it’s also going to have a lot of things I think players are going to find compelling from some of the games that are out now that are doing really well with more of an open-world feel.” He went on to praise Bethesda’s work on Skyrim specifically, saying, “We’re checking [Skyrim] out aggressively.”

Transformers: Fall of Cybertron – Cinematic Trailer

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By PDG Staff

 

It is that time of the year again, Holiday Parties, Christmas Lights, Insane In-Laws, Alcohol Fueled Egg Nog, Vacation Time and Hopefully some Gaming Time and with that… There were definitely some incredible video games that were released in 2011 and here is a recap of some of the top titles. So regardless of what holiday you are celebrating in the coming weeks, here are PunchDrunkGamer’s choices to ask for as gifts!

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Read the PDG Review)

The Empire of Tamriel is on the edge. The High King of Skyrim has been murdered. Alliances form as claims to the throne are made. In the midst of this conflict, a far more dangerous, ancient evil is awakened. Dragons, long lost to the passages of the Elder Scrolls, have returned to Tamriel.

The future of Skyrim, even the Empire itself, hangs in the balance as they wait for the prophesized Dragonborn to come; a hero born with the power of The Voice, and the only one who can stand amongst the dragons.

Key Features:

The next chapter in the highly anticipated Elder Scrolls saga arrives from the makers of the 2006 and 2008 Games of the Year, Bethesda Game Studios. Skyrim re-imagines and revolutionizes the open-world fantasy epic, bringing to life a complete virtual world open for you to explore any way you choose.

* Live another life, in another world – Play any type of character you can imagine, and do whatever you want; the legendary freedom of choice, storytelling, and adventure of The Elder Scrolls is realized like never before.

* All new graphics and gameplay engine – Skyrim’s new game engine brings to life a complete virtual world with rolling clouds, rugged mountains, bustling cities, lush fields, and ancient dungeons.

* You are what you play – Choose from hundreds of weapons, spells, and abilities. The new character system allows you to play any way you want and define yourself through your actions.

* Dragons return – Battle ancient dragons like you’ve never seen. As Dragonborn, learn their secrets and harness their power for yourself.

Crysis 2 (Read the PDG Review)

The world has been ravaged by a series of climatic disasters and society is on the verge of total breakdown.  Now the aliens have returned, with a full invasion force bent on nothing less than the total annihilation of mankind, starting by trying to rip the heart out of Earth’s most iconic city.

In New York, terrifying alien invaders stalk the streets and a nightmare plague strikes down the city’s myriad inhabitants with brutal epidemic speed.  The city’s systems are in chaos, its streets and skyline are smashed and in flaming ruin. This is New York City like you’ve never seen it before.

Neither paramilitary law enforcement nor the might of the US military machine can stand against the invaders, and all who choose not to flee are dead men walking.  Just to survive in this maelstrom of death will require technology beyond anything any modern soldier has ever seen.

One man will inherit that means to survive. One supersoldier, wielding the combat enhancement technology of the future with Nanosuit 2, will make the last stand to save humanity from destruction in the urban jungle that is New York City.

Key Features:

* New York New York: Crysis set the visual benchmark for PC games that still stands today. Crysis 2 will redefine the benchmark on console and PC platforms, shifting their attention to the rich urban jungle of New York City.

* Amazing Aliens and AI: Challenging best-in-class AI with unique group coordination and group behaviour systems which give realistic responses to your actions.

* Nanosuit 2: Adapt your combat tactics by customising your Nanosuit and weapons in real time with revised modes, unlocking a variety of supersoldier abilities.

* Multiplayer: World-renowned multi-player shooter studio Crytek UK is going to reinvent multiplayer with the dynamic intensity of Nanosuit 2.By using Nanosuit technology the player has nearly unlimited ways to approach the dynamic combat environment.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Modern Warfare is back. The best-selling first person action series of all-time returns with the epic sequel to multiple Game of the Year award winner, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

Key Features:

* Prepare yourself for a cinematic thrill-ride as only Call of Duty can deliver. Engage enemy forces in New York, Paris, Berlin and other attack sites across the globe. The world stands on the brink, and Makarov is intent on bringing civilization to its knees. In this darkest hour, are you willing to do what is necessary?

* Special Ops returns with a bevy of additions, including 16 new objective-based missions and the all-new Survival Mode. Team up online, locally, or play solo and face endless waves of attacking enemies throughout every multiplayer map. Purchase and customize your weapons, air support, equipment and abilities to stand up against increasingly difficult forces and land a spot on the leaderboards.

* Earn experience and rank up with the newly implemented progression system. The higher the rank, the more weapons, air support, and gear armories you will have available to customize so you can change your tactics on the fly. In addition to the action packed battle for freedom, the cooperative Survival Mode also serves as an effective training tool for competitive multiplayer action.

* Modern Warfare 3 delivers a multiplayer experience that continues to raise the bar by focusing on fast-paced, gun-on-gun combat, along with innovative features that support and enhance a large variety of play-styles. Now, you can truly define your approach with a toolkit more expansive than any previous title.

* Killstreaks have been redesigned, new game modes are being introduced, and a gun progression system evolves your weapons over time. Along with new perks, 16 maps and enhanced private match customization, multiplayer has been completely re-balanced and polished into the most intense and rewarding experience possible.

Mass Effect 2

Two years after Commander Shepard repelled invading Reapers bent on the destruction of organic life, a mysterious new enemy has emerged. On the fringes of known space, something is silently abducting entire human colonies. Now Shepard must work with Cerberus, a ruthless organization devoted to human survival at any cost, to stop the most terrifying threat mankind has ever faced.

To even attempt this perilous mission, Shepard must assemble the galaxy’s most elite team and command the most powerful ship ever built. Even then, they say it would be suicide. Commander Shepard intends to prove them wrong.

Key Features:

* Prepare for a suicide mission to save humanity.

* Choose between 19 different weapons.

* Devastating heavy weapons (that) can end a battle in seconds.

* Recruit a team of the galaxy’s most dangerous operatives.

* Explore the galaxy — scan planets to uncover unique secret missions.

* Train and equip your team to survive insurmountable odds.

* Control your conversation with physical moments of intense action.

Red Orchestra 2: Heroes of Stalingrad

Heroes of Stalingrad will take the award winning Red Orchestra franchise into the next generation of gaming. Cutting edge graphics and audio built on Unreal Engine 3, inventive features and streamlined realism will deliver an unrivaled WWII experience. Focusing on the Battle of Stalingrad and the surrounding operations, both German and Russian, from July 1942 to February 1943 the game allows the player to experience one of the most brutal battles in all of human history. For the first time ever in a first person shooter gamers will be able to experience WWII from the Axis side in a German single player campaign. As always with the Red Orchestra franchise, Tripwire will aim to deliver unrivaled accuracy and attention to detail, along with gritty, vicious combat in multi-player, co-op and solo modes. Again, Tripwire have listened to the fans and have designed a whole set of new features to make the game more accessible and easy to get into – all while delivering the tactical shooter realism fans of the original game loved.

Key Features:

* RO multiplayer taken to new heights: Tripwire’s renowned MP already exceeds that of much of the competition – the new game will stretch that lead even further. With highly addictive and fun varieties of game-play online, the game will feature everything from quick, brutal firefights, through to more intricate and challenging simulation modes.

* Persistent Stats Tracking and Player Progression: Persistence constantly gives the gamer something to strive for and keeps them playing. Grow in rank, earn medals, improve your abilities, and become a Hero – all visible to the complete online gaming community and embedded within the game.

* Heroes: Obtain the ultimate goal and become a Hero online. Players with hero status inspire troops around them and cause fear in their enemies. Heroes have access to the best and rarest weapons and equipment, and will stand out visually from the rest of the soldiers.

* Unique Focus – the Battle of Stalingrad in depth: takes the familiar WWII genre into a unique direction. Far removed from the well-trodden Normandy setting, gameplay is based on fresh scenarios and actions the player has never experienced before. Follow the German army as they assault the city of Stalingrad, to the banks of the Volga. Follow the Soviet army as it holds the city against all the odds then destroys the Axis forces.

* First person cover system: Experience the ultimate firefights that a cover system allows, from the immersion of a first person view. Peek or blind fire over and around cover and more.

* Squad Command: Command fire teams on the battlefield using an easy to use first person interface. Suppress the enemy, send a fire team to flank them and hit them where it hurts!

* WWII weaponry redefined: true to life ballistics, bullet penetration, breathing, adjustable sights, free aim, weapon bracing, photo-real graphics and more, create WWII weaponry that has no equal.

* Morale: Experience what it is like to be a soldier in one of the bloodiest conflicts in history and the importance of a soldier’s state of mind and how it can turn the tide of battle.

* Single Player Campaigns: Play through a full German campaign AND a full Russian campaign, in iconic engagements from the Battle of Stalingrad.

* Enhanced Unreal Engine 3: Built on an enhanced version of Unreal Engine 3 the game features cutting edge visuals and features.

Dragon Age II (Read the PDG Review)

Experience the epic sequel to the 2009 Game of the Year from the critically acclaimed makers of Dragon Age: Origins and Mass Effect 2. You are one of the few who escaped the destruction of your home. Now, forced to fight for survival in an ever-changing world, you must gather the deadliest of allies, amass fame and fortune, and seal your place in history. This is the story of how the world changed forever. The legend of your Rise to Power begins now.

Key Features:

* Embark upon an all-new adventure that takes place across an entire decade and shapes itself around every decision you make.

* Determine your rise to power from a destitute refugee to the revered champion of the land.

* Think like a general and fight like a Spartan with dynamic new combat mechanics that put you right in the heart of battle whether you are a mage, rogue, or warrior.

* Go deeper into the world of Dragon Age with an entirely new cinematic experience that grabs hold of you from the beginning and never lets go.

* Discover a whole realm rendered in stunning detail with updated graphics and a new visual style.

Batman: Arkham City (Read the PDG Review)

Batman: Arkham City builds upon the intense, atmospheric foundation of Batman: Arkham Asylum, sending players soaring into Arkham City – five times larger than the game world in Batman: Arkham Asylum – and the new maximum security “home” for all of Gotham City’s thugs, gangsters and insane criminal masterminds.

Set inside the heavily fortified walls of a sprawling district in the heart of Gotham City, this highly anticipated sequel introduces a brand-new story that draws together a new, all-star cast of classic characters and murderous villains from the Batman universe, as well as a vast range of new and enhanced gameplay features to deliver the ultimate experience as the Dark Knight.

Key Features:

* Become the Dark Knight – Batman: Arkham City delivers a genuinely authentic Batman experience with advanced, compelling gameplay on every level: high-impact street brawls, nail-biting stealth, multifaceted forensic investigation, epic super-villain encounters and unexpected glimpses into Batman’s tortured psychology.

* Advanced FreeFlow Combat – Batman faces highly coordinated, simultaneous attacks from every direction as Arkham’s gangs bring heavy weapons and all-new AI to the fight, but Batman steps it up with twice the number of combat animations and double the range of attacks, counters and takedowns.

* New Story – Five-time Emmy-Award-winner Paul Dini returns to pen a brand-new story for Batman: Arkham City, taking gamers deep inside the diseased heart of Gotham.

* Huge Cast of Characters – Players encounter numerous characters from the Batman universe, including Catwoman, Two-Face, Harley Quinn, Penguin, Hugo Strange, Victor Zsasz, Calendar Man, The Joker, The Riddler and other iconic characters yet to be revealed.

* Arkham Has Moved – Following the closure of Arkham Asylum and Blackgate prison, Gotham’s new mayor, Quincy Sharp ordered the relocation of all inmates to Arkham City – a sprawling new super-prison five times bigger than Arkham Island, enclosing a wide variety of industrial districts, iconic locations and Gotham landmarks.

* Play as Catwoman – Catwoman is a fully playable character in Batman: Arkham City who has her own storyline in the main game which is seamlessly interwoven with Batman’s story arc. Her navigation skills, combat moves and gadgetry have been specifically designed and animated to deliver a fully featured and unique experience.

* New Gadgets – Batman has access to new gadgets such as the Cryptographic Sequencer V2 and Smoke Pellets, as well as new functionality for existing gadgets that expand the range of Batman’s abilities without adding extra weight to his Utility Belt.

* Featured Voice-Over Talent – Mark Hamill and Kevin Conroy reprise their roles as The Joker and Batman respectively.

Portal 2 (Read the PDG Review)

Welcome to Aperture Laboratories

The highly anticipated sequel to 2007′s Game of the Year, Portal 2 is a hilariously mind-bending adventure that challenges you to use wits over weaponry in a funhouse of diabolical science.

Using a highly experimental portal device, you’ll once again face off against a lethally inventive, power-mad A.I. named GLaDOS. And this time you won’t be alone. Meet an expanded cast of characters as you think your way through dangerous, never-before-seen areas of Aperture Laboratories.

Break the laws of spatial physics in ways you never thought possible, with a wider variety of portal puzzles and an expansive story that spans a single player and co-operative game mode.

Key Features:

* Extensive single player game featuring next generation gameplay and a wildly-engrossing story.

* Complete two-person co-operative multiplayer game featuring its own dedicated story, characters, and gameplay.

* Advanced use of physics allow for the creation of a whole new range of interesting challenges, producing a much larger but not harder game.

* Original music.

* A massive sequel to the title named 2007′s Game of the Year by over 30 publications worldwide.

Dark Souls (Read the PDG Review)

Dark Souls is an upcoming action role-playing game from the developers who brought you Demon’s Souls, FromSoftware. Dark Souls will have many familiar features: A dark fantasy universe, tense dungeon crawling, fearsome enemy encounters and unique online interactions. Dark Souls is a spiritual successor to Demon’s, not a sequel.

Prepare for a new, despair-inducing world, with a vast, fully-explorable horizon and vertically-oriented landforms. Prepare for a new, mysterious story, centered around the King’s Crowns and the original, now dying flame at the center of the world. But most of all, prepare to die. You will face countless murderous traps, countless darkly grotesque monsters and several gargantuan, supremely powerful demons and dragons.

You must learn from death to persist through this unforgiving world. And you aren’t alone. Dark Souls allows the spirits of other players to show up in your world, so you can learn from their deaths and they can learn from yours. New to Dark Souls is Beacon Fire, where you can share the experiences of your adventure with the spirits of other players. Around the Beacon Fire, you may find the only warmth and calm that exists in this dark world. Beware: There is no place in Dark Souls that is truly safe. With days of game play and an even more punishing difficulty level, Dark Souls will be the most deeply challenging game you play this year. Can you live through a million deaths and earn your legacy?

Key Features:

* Extremely Deep, Dark & Difficult - Unforgiving in its punishment, yet rewarding for the determined – learn to strategize freely and conquer seemingly impossible challenges. You will organically design your own gameplay style by developing your character and continuously trying different strategies to finally achieve successful progression.

* Fully Seamless World - Explore a completely integrated world of dark fantasy where dungeons are seamlessly intertwined, with great height.

* Mastery Earns Progression - Contains 60 hours of gameplay, with nearly 100 uniquely despair-inducing monsters & an incredibly nuanced weaponry & magic spells system, the effectiveness of which is determined by combat situation, fighting style and character attributes. Player success depends on their eventual mastery of how and when to use the magic spells, choice of armor, the number of weapons, the types of weapons, and the moves attached to the weapons.

* Network Play - Players may cross paths with one another, interacting with each other throughout the game even as each player plays their own game. Networked play allows users to cross paths with one another to enhance the single-player gameplay experience without destroying it.

* Flexible Character Development & Role Play - As the player progresses, they must carefully choose which of their character’s abilities to enhance as this will determine their progression style. Players can choose to play as a sword master and a wizard, for example.

* Community - See other real players and empathize with their journey, learn from seeing how others died, find and leave messages for your fellow players; helping them or leading them into death.

* Symbolic of Life & Hope - The Beacon Fire is an important feature of Dark Souls for many reasons. Though in gameplay it serves as a recovery and re-spawn point for players whose health gets low, it is also where players can emotionally share experiences with other players, and is the one place in the dark world where players can find a fleeting moment of warmth and calm.

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Once the world’s most fantastical city, Dubai is now its most opulent ruin. Ravaged by cataclysmic sandstorms, the city lies buried, reclaimed by the desert. Abandoned, it has become a no-man’s-land for refugees and outlaws.

While most people fled the now-barren wasteland, U.S. Army Colonel John Konrad and the 33rd Infantry remained behind to protect those incapable of escape.

Unable to contact anyone in Dubai, the world believed Konrad and his team dead, until they picked up a weak distress signal. As Captain Walker, you and your squad of Delta Operators infiltrate the treacherous region to locate survivors.

There, you and your men will experience madness – A world shattered by the failings of great men. You will face an enemy you were never trained to fight – Fellow soldiers prepared to accept the consequences of their actions. You will walk a line – That razor-thin edge separating your mission from your duty.

There is no escape from Dubai. It is the end – of honor and duty – when the storm has stripped you to the bone and only The Line remains.

Spec Ops: The Line – “The Journey” Trailer:

Spec Ops: The Line – Screenshot Gallery:

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Key Features:

* Predator Technology - Engage in the WWE experience like never before through a dynamic gameplay system that looks, feels and plays better than ever before. The brand new Breaking Point submission system, new Attributes and control layout, as well as major changes to Momentum and Stamina systems make for the best WWE gameplay to date.

* Dynamic Presentation - Observe impressive visual changes to gameplay presentation, including new animations, camera positions, lighting arrangements and significantly improved rendering, all delivering an authentic and striking representation of WWE programming.

* WWE Universe 2.0 - Embrace the virtual WWE experience through new and more impactful elements of unpredictability, as rivalries, alliances, matches and spontaneous action will dramatically evolve based on individual player decisions.

* Create and Share - Develop and customize Superstars, entrances, finishing moves, storylines, Highlight Reels and all-new, to-be-announced capabilities in the franchise’s best-in-class creation suite.

* Road to Wrestlemania - Explore in the franchise’s popular story-based mode through compelling new storylines and major gameplay improvements.

* Extensive Roster - Compete with WWE Superstars, WWE Divas and WWE Legends from one of the largest rosters in franchise history, including John Cena, Randy Orton, The Miz and Alberto Del Rio.

WWE ’12 – Launch Trailer:

WWE ’12 – Screenshot Gallery:

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