Surprising approximately no one, Microsoft revealed today that Gears of War will get a sequel. Two, in fact. Following the implied rulebook of every successful game, book or film in history, the critically acclaimed shooter / hider has just transformed itself into the first entry in a trilogy. The confirmation came from a Game Daily interview with Microsoft's Jeff Bell, who stated, "Gamers today demand an excellent story in their games; they need to know what's at stake, and why they should ...
» Read More

With Xbox 360's Gears of War already leaving a trail of bloody competitors in its wake at the top of the UK chart, Microsoft has announced a console-and-game bundle will go on sale this Friday to try and tempt some more newcomers.

Priced at GBP 299.99, the bundle consists of a premium edition Xbox 360 console and a copy of the game, which has been reviewing very strongly, and has already usurped Halo 2 as the most-played game on Xbox Live.
» Read More 

Microsoft has announced launch sales of Gears of War at over a million copies worldwide in its first two weeks.
The company says it's the fastest selling game of the year, and the fastest selling original game it's published for Xbox 360. It's lighting up Xbox Live with 850,000 gamers tackling 10 million gameplay sessions. Registrations for Xbox Live have been up 50 percent since the launch.

"From the very beginning, we knew Gears of War would be an industry-defining hit," said Shane Kim, corporate vice president at Microsoft Game Studios. "As we watched both the game and its hype grow, it became obvious that Gears of War was the rare title that could live up to such incredible anticipation, and judging from the reaction of critics and fans, it's done just that."
» Read More 

Networking with friends reaps new rewards with this highly anticipated Xbox Live Arcade Wednesday release. The frantic multiplayer brawling game "Small Arms" will be available for download on Xbox Live Arcade for Xbox 360 from Wednesday, 22nd November, after 0800 GMT.

Social gaming innovation in Small Arms, which begins with the four developers at Gastronaut Studios, will pass to Xbox Live Arcade gamers from around the world. Small Arms includes a unique social networking Achievement called "Six Degrees of Small Arms" that can only be earned by playing with someone who already has it ¿ and which only the game's creators will possess at launch!
» Read More 

Are you ready to play? No matter what your gaming experience Nintendo has just the game for you to play with your friends and family. Wii Play consists of a selection of nine very different mini-games on one game, which are designed to help you master the unique Wii Remote, whilst also providing hours of entertainment. To ensure you can enjoy Wii Play with your friends, the game comes bundled with a free Wii Remote. Wii Play launches on Nintendo's new Wii console on the 8th December 2006.
» Read More 

Microsoft's stubborn approach to HD-DVD games might settle those not willing to splash out on another peripheral just to play games, but that shouldn't mean that the games that spill onto more than one DVD shouldn't also appear on HD-DVD, surely?

Mistwalker's much anticipated Blue Dragon comes on 3, and whilst that obviously won't mean lots of swapping (come on, surely it's split into three acts or something) it's still a call for a large media solution...
» Read More 

Two once PlayStation 3 exclusives aren't so exclusive any more. Koei announced today plans to bring Fatal Inertia and Bladestorm to the Xbox 360.

In a press release Koei has just announced the futuristic racer Fatal Inertia is now also coming to Xbox 360. Bladestorm: The Hundred Year' S War, announced as a PlayStation 3 exlusive at the time of Tokyo Game Show 2005, is now confirmed for a 2007 release on Xbox 360 as well.
» Read More 

Microsoft's PR gang sends along word that Gears of War has crossed the one million unit mark worldwide, three weeks after its U.S. release.

Other facts:

850,000 players logged by Xbox Live
10 million gameplay sessions
7 million achievement points unlocked
Xbox Live Gold subcriptions up by 50%
» Read More 

Online retailer suggests that Polyphony Digital and Flagship Studios are taking their time with anticipated titles.

The list of developers known for their ability to produce hits has some overlap with the list of developers known for their ability to hold onto games as long as it takes until they're "done." Polyphony Digital and Blizzard Entertainment are two such companies; now it appears that the developers of Gran Turismo and a startup Flagship Studios (headed by veterans of Blizzard's Diablo franchise) could each be carrying on that tradition of tardiness.

Product listings on GameStop.com for Polyphony Digital's Gran Turismo HD and Flagship's Hellgate: London both indicate that the games won't be shipping for another year.
» Read More 

Push your girlfriend off a plane. Right now! C'mon, push her! Ok, fine, if you wait until February 12, 2007, you can get some practice by playing Runaway: The Dream of the Turtle, a new point-and-click adventure for the PC where youll virtually throw that nagging wench off a jet. She has a parachute, she'll be fine. But then youll get sad and nostalgic and think of all the times spent under the sycamore tree showing her the fabric of your soul. And then the music starts playing - ...
» Read More