GamerNode: Latest Industry News

EA shuts down Pandemic Studios

Early this morning a rumor broke out claiming that Electronic Arts had shut down Pandemic Studios, releasing approximately 200 employees in the process. That rumor was later confirmed by EA.

An internal memo from the company confirmed the layoffs, with a "core IP team" being moved to EA's Los Angeles' office. The layoffs even included Andrew Goldman, formerly the studio's CEO; Josh Resnick, formerly the studios president; and Greg Borrud, vice president of product development.

"I want to make it clear that the Pandemic brand and franchises will live on," wrote EA Games Label Senior Vice President Nick Earl in the memo. "In the months ahead, we will announce plans for new games based on Pandemic franchises. This type of change can be difficult. But the situation calls for us to act decisively...

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Dev: Final Fantasy XIII will be "best selling titl...

Hot on the heels of Square Enix's announcement of US and EU launch dates for the incoming Final Fantasy XIII is a confident boast by CEO Yoichi Wada that the latest incarnation of the venerable RPG series will easily become the best-selling title yet, even trouncing the exalted Final Fantasy VII.

Speaking at the Montreal International Game Summit, Wada-san clears up any pre-existing notions of FF XIII establishing anything groundbreaking like FF VII did -- it is the thirteenth game in one of the longest-existing game franchises in history, after all.

Instead, the hopes for the game to sell well will rest with it bringing classic elements of Final Fantasy -- an engaging storyline, solid characters, and drop-dead gorgeous graphics -- to a more receptive Western audience.

"When we say that i...

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Super Street Fighter IV Endless and Team Battle Mo...

Capcom keeps giving us more and more reasons to get excited for Super Street Fighter IV, be it the return of the car-punching and barrel-busting bonus stages or the new and returning fighters joining the roster. Joystiq recently got their hands on a fact sheet detailing two new online modes, Team Battle and Endless. For Team Battle, teams of up to four players will compete in a round robin tournament where winner stays and teammates rotate in with each loss. You can control a team yourself or assign the slots to other players.

Endless Mode is more intriguing though. It is a one-on-one match where the winner stays and fights the next person queued in the lobby. The winner will continue to fight until beaten, when the new winner takes his place. I can see this mode being popular among serious...

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This week's releases: 11/15 - 11/21

Other strong releases coming out Tuesday will be the much-anticipated HD upgrade to God of War and God of War II, God of War: Collection, for the PlayStation 3 and Assassin's Creed: Bloodline for the PSP. Gamer's who purchase Bloodline and Assassin's Creed II for the PS3 will be able to obtain special weapons for Assassin's Creed II from playing Bloodline.

Here is the full list of releases for this coming week:

DS:

Assassin's Creed II: DiscoveryDiscovery Kids: Spider QuestFoto FrenzyImagine: ArtistKamen Rider Dragon KnightLEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues Petz: Dogz Talent Show/Hamsterz Superstars Planet 51The Princess and the Frog

PC:

GyromancerLeft 4 Dead 2LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure ContinuesThe Princess and The FrogThe Sims 3: World Adventures Expansion Pack

PlayStation ...

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Toys 'R' Us Black Friday deals leaked

Just three days after details from a Black Friday Best Buy flyer leaked, details are now emerging for Black Friday deals for Toys 'R' Us. GamerDeals.net is reporting the gaming deals for the store's Black Friday sale.

Without further ado, here is the list of deals that can be found at Toys 'R' Us on the most hectic shopping day of the year:

Xbox 360:- Need for Speed: Shift - $34.99 (Reg. $59.99) 5am Doorbuster- Forza 3 - $34.99 (Reg. $59.99) 5am Doorbuster- Halo 3: ODST - $34.99 (Reg. $59.99) 5am Doorbuster- Wired Guitar Hero Controller - $9.99 5am Doorbuster

PlayStation 3:- Need for Speed: Shift - $34.99 (Reg. $59.99) 5am Doorbuster

Wii:- Nerf-N-Strike bundle - $14.99 (50% off) Midnight Doorbuster- Spore Hero - $24.99 (50% off) 5am Doorbuster- Dead Space: Extraction - $24.99 (50% off) 5am Doo...

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Best Buy Black Friday flyer leaked

Anyone looking to brave the horrors of Black Friday this year should give a serious look into going to a local Best Buy. A sales flyer for the most hectic shopping day of the year has leaked online, with some really great deals for gamers.

Here they are:

* PS3 bundled with Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time and LittleBigPlanet Game of the Year Edition for $299.

* 120GB Xbox 360 Elite bundle with four unnamed titles for $299.

* Brain Age or Mario DSi bundle for $169.99 with a free $20 gift card.

* Brütal Legend, Left 4 Dead 2, Dragon Age for $34.99.

* Older titles will be $20 or less.

* Several Wii titles reduced to $14.99.

* Certain DS titles at $9.99 or less.

The company has released a statement saying that the company is unable to confirm the leak due to its poli...

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All three Assassin's Creed: Lineage episodes now o...

The three-episode backstory to the highly anticipated Assassin's Creed II, titled Assassin's Creed: Lineage, has now become fully available for online viewing. The final two episodes were released today, two weeks ater the initial airing of episode one.

The story centers on Giovanni Auditore, the father of Assassin's Creed II protagonist Ezio Auditore, and his investigation into a conspiracy that looks to divide Italy during the heart of the Renaissance. The series was filmed by Hybrid Studios, the same people behind the effects for 300 and Sin City.

You can find all three episodes of Lineage below.

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Final Fantasy XIII launch dates revealed

A spectacular new trailer for Square Enix's Final Fantasy XIII harbored a surprise for those eagerly awaiting word on the game's release in the West -- launch dates for the US and EU versions appear near the end of the video.

Naturally, Japan gets to romp around the sky city of Cocoon before anyone else when the game hits shelves there on December 17. The rest of the world will just have to be patient until March 9 of 2010, when the game will be concurrently released for the Xbox 360 and PS3 systems in North America and Europe.

Final Fantasy XIII is the first iteration of the successful RPG franchise to be rendered in full HD, while telling a "dramatic story" focusing on bringing the emotional developments of the protagonist to the forefront. Along with an emphasis on vibrant visual imagery ...

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MSNBC talks Modern Warfare 2 civilly with Kotaku e...

A day after Fox News aired a piece on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 that appeared aggressive and biased against the game, MSNBC aired their own segment about the popular FPS from Infinity Ward and Activision. The guest for MSNBC was Kotaku deputy editor Stephen Totilo.

The piece was done very civilly, with the interviewers never cutting off Totilo and asking questions in a non-aggressive, curious manner.

The segment centered on the famous controversial scene in the game where the player, as an undercover agent infiltrating a terrorist organization, is forced to witness and/or join the terrorists he is with in slaughtering civilians in a Russian airport.

"What's happening in this mission is extremely unpleasant," said Totilo when asked about the scene. "You don't have to shoot the civilians b...

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Gamestop combating digital distribution with DLC k...

One of the advantages of the coming digital distribution of videogames is bypassing brick-and-mortar stores altogether. In response to this, GameStop has been looking for ways to combat digital sales. Looks like they have the first salvo ready in their war on digital distribution. At the BMO Capital Markets conference, GameStop COO Paul Raines stated the company is planning to place DLC kiosks in their stores so that shoppers can buy additional content along with their game.

This doesn't bode well at all for consumers. I can only imagine a future where shoppers go and buy Halo 4, only to be offered a DLC map pack, special gun, and mutliplayer skin as well as a pre-order and magazine subscription. You will literally never leave the store.

[The Cut Scene]

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Modern Warfare 2 criticized on Fox News

It shouldn't come as any surprise to many gamers out there after the Mass Effect sex scene controversy, but Fox News and its "fair and balanced" reporting have criticized Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, game creators, retailers, and the industry as a whole once again. It occurred on the program "Fox & Friends" during a segment on Modern Warfare 2 titled, "A game that lets you play as a terrorist?"

The story headline was followed by a pre-commercial quip: "Is the game going too far? We're going to have a fair and balanced debate to find out."

Fox & Friends had Jon Christensen of Slash Gamer and Common Sense media CEO Jim Steyer discuss the issue with the show's host. The following is a transcription of the segment:

Fox Host: Jim, you got some problems with this game?

Jim: It's mainly for adults...

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Modern Warfare 2 sets new record with 7 million sa...

The trend-tracking aficionados at VGChartz have released their initiatory figures for the launch of Modern Warfare 2. Unsurprisingly, the game has obliterated day one sales numbers with a whopping 7 million copies sold and is set to nab the throne of the most successful game launch of all time.

The Xbox 360 emerged on top with roughly 55% of sales, followed by 33% on the PS3 and the final 12% going to the PC. The lopsided numbers may be due to Infinity Ward's infamous decision to yank dedicated server support (along with other crucial multiplayer features) from the PC version of the game; apparently, PC gamers are still miffed about being short-changed--as online game scores and reviews can attest.

VGChartz estimates that if Modern Warfare 2 continues its roll, the total amount of sales afte...

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This week's releases: 11/9 - 11/14

Despite some select GameStop stores beginning to sell the game this weekend, the big release this week is still the biggest release of the year. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has its official release on Tuesday, and eclipses every other game hitting the shelves this week. Here is the full list of games coming to retailers this week.

DS:

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: MobilizedChaotic: Shadow WarriorsDragon Ball Z: Attack of the SaiyansDragonologyFairyland Melody MagicHarvest Moon DS: Sunshine IslandsHot Wheels: Battle Force 5JonasPetz NurseryPhantasy Star ZeroRingling Bros. and Barnum & Baily CircusSatisfashionSpectral Force GenesisStyle Lab Jewelry DesignStyle Lab MakeoverTeenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Arcade AttackWedding Dash

PC:

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2Final Fantasy XI: Vana'diel Coll...

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Faliszek: 360 community "head and shoulders above ...

In a recent interview with CVG where he told of pre-orders for Left 4 Dead 2 being quadruple that of the original, Chet Faliszek had another big statement. Valve's projecct lead took a shot at the PlayStation Network when he said that the Xbox 360 community, lead by Xbox Live, is "head and shoulders above the PS3."

Faliszek stated that the community aspects of both the PC and Xbox 360 "really fit" Left 4 Dead. So PS3 owners should not be looking for a port of the game anytime soon.

"Right now for Left 4 Dead 2 we're looking at PC and 360 because the community aspects really fit the game - it's all about playing with your friends," he said. "But that's the short term. What we're looking at for the long term... if it works out, it works out. Right now don't not buy it on the 360 because you th...

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Left 4 Dead 2 has "four times" the pre-orders over...

With the Left 4 Dead 2 boycott officially dead, Valve is completely focused on the upcoming zombie shooter sequel's release in two weeks. After all, the company has "four times" the amount of pre-orders for the sequel over the original.

"As we get closer to launch we see the reaction to the demo, pre-orders are four times what Left 4 Dead 1 was, people's excitement, the boycott itself and how it's changed... I think people are just excited now," said Chet Faliszek, Valve's project lead.

Looking back at the boycott and how Valve handled the situation, Faliszek said the whole series of events changed "how we talked about it and how we talked with everybody."

"Honestly I made the joke and it's true: If you put $20 in a box and charge $10 for it someone would complain you didn't put $50 in a box,...

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Collector's Edition Roundup: Splinter Cell Convict...

Welcome to Collector's Edition Roundup! This is a new feature we're running where we detail all the new collector's editions of big profile games that are coming out! Okay, this isn't a new feature, but with all these collector's editions being revealed, it feels like we should start one for these goodie-infested versions.

The latest one to get the special treatment is Ubisoft's Splinter Cell Conviction, the latest installment in the stealth action series. This version will set you back $79.99 and will release the same day as the standard version, February 23, 2010. The set will feature a credit-card-sized usb drive with art and a making-of featurette, a prequel comic book, a DLC weapon and player skin, two stickers: a Third Echelon logo and stylsh bullet hole marks. The game also comes in ...

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Infinity Ward declined big budget for MW2

When Activision learned that Infinity Ward had commenced development of Modern Warfare 2, the publisher offered the studio a massive budget to safeguard the standards of quality that every Call of Duty game had possessed so far. The answer? Nah.

Infinity Ward community manager Robert Bowling steps in once more to explain the company's intentions during an interview published at Develop Online. Of note, Bowling divulges the almost extreme lengths Activision took to seeing Modern Warfare 2 succeed.

"Early on -- when we decided to make a sequel -- Activision estimated out a ridiculous budget. And we were like: 'No, we don't need that.'"

Instead, Infinity Ward chose to use a "pretty tight" budget to ensure that the game would conform to quality standards as set by Activision without the hoopl...

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This week's releases: 11/2 - 11/8

A fantasy RPG filled with blood, gore, and sex by acclaimed studio BioWare will be leading the charge to stores this week. Dragon Age: Origins is the featured title in a week where the other two top releases are rhythm-based LEGO Rock Band and Band Hero. Here is the full list of games coming out this week.

DS:

Agatha Christie: ABC MurdersBand Hero (not compatible with DSi)Barbie and the Three MusketeersCOP: The RecruitDisney's A Christmas CarolHidden Mysteries: Titanic - Secrets of the Fateful VoyageImagine: Babyz FashionJewel Quest MysteriesLEGO Rock BandNeed for Speed: NitroNi Hao, Kai-Lan: New Year's CelebrationRabbids Go HomeStar Wars Battlefront: Elite SquadronStyle SavvySushi AcademyStyle SavvyWireWay

PC:

Dragon Age: OriginsFootball Manager 2010Star Wars: The Force Unleashed: Ultimate Si...

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Update: Alice sequel gets first teaser trailer

Update: Turns out the trailer is actually not an official release from EA or Spicy Horse. The trailer was created by Troy Morgan, an artist who has worked with Spicy Horse in the past. He created the site and trailer as an ad pitch to EA. American McGee has commented on his blog, saying, "I wanted to clear up any confusion... it was unofficial, and does not represent any of the final art direction or story elements in Alice 2."

Original article follows:

If you haven't heard, back at DICE 2009, EA announced that it was producing a sequel to American McGee's Alice, a 3D platformer that served as a sequel to the classic story that interprets the events as the dark and sinister imagination of Alice. The sequel is going to be developed by Spicy Horse, American McGee's studio, and would be releas...

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Insomniac could branch out to non-PS3 consoles

At a recent interview, Insomniac community manager James Stevenson has hinted at a possibility of seeing future game titles being released for consoles other than the PS3.

Insomniac is credited with starting successful game franchises in the past with the development of the Spyro the Dragon and Ratchet & Clank series. Most recently, the developer has bumped their efforts onto the PS3 platform with the release of the launch title Resistance: Fall of Man and Resistance 2 along with the continuation of the Ratchet & Clank saga.

While not going so far as to abandon the PS3 entirely by releasing Ratchet & Clank or Resistance titles for other consoles (the IP for both games is squarely in the hands of Sony), Stevenson does not discount the potential of developing games for the Xbox 360 and Wii con...

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