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Exclusive 3D G.I. Joe: Retaliation Footage to Play Before Hansel & Gretel

Thanks to Paramount Pictures, MGM and Skydance Productions, in association with Hasbro, a 4-minute, 3D preview of G.I. Joe: Retaliation will be shown in front of Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunter 3D showings across the globe, starting from January 24th and running through to the end of Hansel & Gretel’s theatrical run.

Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters will be released here in Australia on February 7th, so we’ll have to wait a tad longer to get to see the movie and the G.I. Joe preview, but it should be worth the wait. The preview will be shown across all Hansel & Gretel screenings in RealD 3D, IMAX 3D and Digital 3D locations around the world. To celebrate, Paramount AU have provided a 90 second chunk of the preview for your viewing pleasure. The video can be seen at the bottom of this article.

G.I. Joe: Retaliation’s national release is March 28th. Here is the official synopsis for the sequel to the box office success that was G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra in 2009:

‘In this sequel, the G.I. Joes are not only fighting their mortal enemy Cobra; they are forced to contend with threats from within the government that jeopardize their very existence. The film stars D.J. Cotrona, Byung-hun Lee, Adrianne Palicki, Ray Park, Jonathan Pryce, Ray Stevenson, Channing Tatum with Bruce Willis and Dwayne Johnson. Directed by Jon M. Chu, and produced by Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Brian Goldner, from a screenplay by Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick based on Hasbro’s G.I. Joe characters.’

A fan of the G.I. Joe franchise? Had the classic action figures? Then you’ll likely be excited for this film, so visit and ‘like’ the official AU G.I. Joe Facebook page. For some of our prior coverage of both films, check out the related articles section below. And don’t forget to check out the 90 second preview trailer!

Dead or Alive 5 patch delayed until February

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It seems that fans of Dead or Alive 5 are going to have to wait a bit longer for the next game patch. It turns out that the patch that was released on January 22nd for PlayStation 3 users has caused a number of issues and now the patch for the Xbox 360 version which was originally scheduled to be released on January 29th is not going to happen.

The patch has an issue that causes problems with stagger escapes and apparently “prevents users from enjoying the intended design of DoA5.” This has also delayed the release of the Hotties Swimwear DLC and the Zack Island Stage DLC for the Xbox 360 version of the game.

One Piece: Pirate Warriors 2 to include Thriller Bark and playable Perona

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Today a few more details for One Piece: Pirate Warriors 2 were revealed in the latest issue of Jump magazine. The magazine states that Namco Bandai and Omega Force have included the missing Thriller Bark arc.

With the inclusion of this arc comes the Gekko Moriah boss battle and a new playable character will be added to the roster in the form of Perona. Perona uses various ghost weaponry, which in the show, can cause her opponents to feel extremely depressed just by touching them. Currently, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 2 has been announced for Western release sometime this Summer on the PlayStation 3 only as the Vita release is not coming to the West.

The Last of Us Survival, Post-Pandemic Editions Detailed

‘The Last of Us’ is getting two sweet collector’s editions in the U.S: The ‘Survival Edition’ and the ‘Post-Pandemic Edition’

The Survival Edition will set you back $79.99 USD. Its contents can be seen above. It includes:

  • The game in a Joel and Ellie branded steelbook case
  • A copy of The Last of Us – American Dreams #1 Comic with special variant cover.
  • 170+ pages Hardcover Artbook from Dark Horse, worth $39.99 on it’s own.
  • Sights & Sounds DLC Pack (specifics in picture)
  • Naughty Dog Sticker Sheet

The Post-Pandemic Edition is a lot more expensive at $159.99. This is because of an awesome 12 Inch Joel and Ellie Statue made by Project Triforce. The statue itself is valued at a whopping $199.99, so when you put things into perspective, $159.99 ain’t that bad a price point. The Survival DLC Pack is also added, however (sadly) the Hardcover Artbook has been removed. Personally, I am a bit miffed at that fact, because being a collector I really want both the statue and the book, and I’m not made of cash! At least they should each be available for purchase separately.

Now, the Post-Pandemic Edition is exclusive to U.S. Gamestop stores. This decision was explained by Mick Perona on the Playstation Blog as he states, “The fact that this edition is exclusive to GameStop is only because the edition is so limited in quantity that we weren’t able to offer them to our other retail partners as well.” Can’t argue with that.

The European/Australian specific edition have also been announced, and you can check them out right here. So, anyone planning on picking either of these up? Let us know!

Polytron: Wind Waker Doesn’t Need an Update

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Today, The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker Reborn was announced during the Nintendo Direct session, and fans everywhere of the often overlooked classic cheered. This HD upgrade has a lot going for it, but it seems not all are going to be fond of the new platform.

Polytron, the team behind FEZ, voiced their own opinion over Twitter with their thoughts on the HD upgrade:

if there’s one game that DOESN’T need to have its graphics updated, it’s windwaker.

Ouch. That sounds a bit harsh, but Polytron continued with this little sentiment:

but hey, windwaker is one of the greatest game ever made, and if re-releasing it means more people are going to play it, that’s great!…but we sure hope there’s an option to play the game with it’s near-perfect, timeless aesthetic.

Indie devs like Polytron are usually criticized for speaking their minds on these sorts of topics (Phil Fish and the Japanese games fiasco, anyone?), but I kind of see where the studio is coming from. Wind Waker indeed had a timeless aesthetic, and popping colors and cell shaded models do wonders to keep the game from aging. However, I think there is no better title for Legend of Zelda fans to be treated to on the Wii U. Of course there will be updates in the gameplay department, but as we seen today – this remake is looking gorgeous and instantly makes the GC version feel a bit dark and gloomy in comparison.

Over time, newer television models have made the transition over to HD, and older games just don’t look as good as a result. That isn’t a problem for myself – as I still play my Gamecube heavily, but this next generation needs to see how beautiful a Zelda experience can truly be, with both high res visuals and the solidly structured gameplay turned up to full blast. Imagine all of the social integration the Wii U has, and think about how we will be able to share one of the greatest games of all time with the world.

Polytron is right, Wind Waker doesn’t need an HD upgrade, but I think it’s safe to say that gamers need an HD Wind Waker – as the best way to cement the legacy of any game is to keep it’s name relevant for the next generation. What do you think? Is it too soon, or is Wind Waker ready to set sail again?

The Cave is Now Available for your Exploring Pleasure

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I don’t know what it is about Double Fine, but every time they put out a game, I get pretty excited. The Cave is no different, as this romp for the Xbox Live Arcade, Playstation Network, and PC (with a soon to be released Wii U version) is now available, and has a lot to offer.

This Ron Gilbert () produced gem lets players explore the mysterious cave, while solving puzzles and going on an all out adventure. Yes, the tone of the game is rather dark compared to other Double Fine offerings of the past, but I would say it suits the brand as a whole, as it looks absolutely enchanting. You can dive in this cave yourself for 1200 points (or $14.99 for you PSN/PC owners) today, and get to exploring what is sure to be an inspired locale.

Demon’s Souls out on PSN Today

Demon’s Souls can now be purchased on the Play Station Network and downloaded from the comfort of your home. Now you can hours of frustrating, couch punching fun without even leaving your home.

If you have no played the game yet, Demon’s Souls is a challenging game with a dark and beautiful atmosphere. This challenging game takes place in the kingdom of Boletaria, a place that is heavily influenced by mediaeval Europe. Follow or ignore hints left by other players, or work together with others to take down awe inspiring bosses. To catch a glimpse of what this game looks like, watch the video below.

THQ CEO’s Letter to Employees

THQ has fallen, although they will not be forgotten. Many of their IPs will continue in development, and have found new homes. We’d like to share with you a letter, posted by Kotaku, that was written by THQ CEO Brian Farrell and President Jason Rubin, directed to all their employees.

To All THQ Employees:

We now have the answers we’ve been seeking through our financial restructuring and
Chapter 11 case. While much will be written, here are the facts of the bids and auction
that occurred t:

  • Yesterday morning, we received a competing bid for the operating business,
    along with Clearlake’s offer, and numerous offers for separate assets.
  • During an auction process that lasted over 22 hours, the final conclusion was
    that the separate-asset bids would net more than a single buyer for the majority
    of the company.
  • Shortly, we will, present the results to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, which must
    concur with our assessment.
  • The proposed sales of multiple assets is as follows :
  • Sega agreed to purchase Relic
  • Koch Media agreed to purchase Volition and Metro
  • Crytek agreed to purchase Homefront
  • Take 2 agreed purchase Evolve and
  • Ubisoft agreed to purchase Montreal and South Park

We expect these sales to close this week.

Some assets, including our publishing businesses and Vigil, along with some other
intellectual properties are not included in the sale agreements. They will remain part of
the Chapter 11 case. We will make every effort to find appropriate buyers, if possible.

What this means for employees

We expect that most employees of the entities included in the sale will be offered
employment by the new owners. However, we cannot say what these owners may
intend, and there will likely be some positions that will not be needed under the
new ownership. You should receive notice this week or early next week if the new
owners intend to extend employment to you. Please note that the terms of your new
employment, including pay and benefits, may be different from the current terms of
your employment with THQ.

If you are an employee of an entity that is not included in the sale, we regret that
your position will end. A small number of our headquarters staff will continue to be
employed by THQ beyond January 25 to assist with the transition. THQ has sufficient
resources to pay these employees for work going forward, and we will be contacting
these employees immediately to ensure their continued employment during this
transition period. We are requesting the ability to offer certain severance pay to
minimize disruption for employees of non-included entities as they determine the next
steps in their careers.

We know you will have many questions about this news. We’ll be meeting tomorrow
when we return to talk through this announcement and to answer any questions you
have. You will receive a benefits fact sheet and FAQs with answers to some questions
that may be on your mind. Please review these materials closely.

A personal note

The work that you all have done as part of the THQ family is imaginative, creative,
artistic and highly valued by our loyal gamers. We are proud of what we have
accomplished despite today’s outcome.

It has been our privilege to work alongside the entire THQ team. While the company
will cease to exist, we are heartened that the majority of our studios and games will
continue under new ownership. We were hoping that the entire company would remain
intact, but we expect to hear good news from each of the separate entities that will be
operating as part of new organizations.

For those THQ employees who are part of entities that are not included in the sale, we
are confident that the talent you have displayed as part of THQ will be recognized as you
take the next steps in your career.

Thank you all for your dedication and for sharing your talent with the THQ team. We
wish you the best of luck and hope you will keep in touch.

Sincerely,

Brian Farrell
Chief Executive Officer

Jason Rubin
President

Again, we offer our gratitude to THQ for all of their great games over the years. Their legacy will live on through a new lens.

THQ Assets Sold: Here’s the Rundown

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THQ just sold the majority of their assets in their Bankruptcy induced auction earlier today. The following is a rundown of who acquired what and for how much:

  • Relic, developer of Company of Heroes 2 and Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War, has been purchased by SEGA for $26.6 million – the highest single bid of the day – with the second-place, and backup bid of$26.3 million from Bethesda parent company ZeniMax Media (according to Polygon).
  • Saint’s Row developers Volition, and the Metro IP, have been bought by Deep Silver owner Koch Media. Details here.
  • Homefront 2, which is already being developed by Crytek, and the entire Homefront IP/rights now has an official home with the company for $500,000.
  • ‘South Park: The Stick of Truth’ will now be published by Ubisoft, who also bought out THQ Montreal. Details here.

I’m sure many will have noticed the lack of news regarding Darksiders and it’s developer studio Vigil. Unfortunately, they were not purchased in the auction and it seems they have been disbanded. Nothing is 100% confirmed yet on that front, but the chances of their survival are slim. We are sorry for all the employees who have lost their jobs due to these events.

THQ CEO Brian Farrell’s letter to his employees can also be found here.

Source: Bloomberg

Crysis 3 Holding Open Multiplayer Beta

Looking forward to the Crysis 3 release? Just dying to get a feel for the game? Well, the chance to try it out for yourself is coming sooner than you’d think thanks to a multiplayer beta coming January 29th. Yep, in less than one week, players can log onto their Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, or PC and download the open beta.

The beta will include two different team modes on two maps where players can go head to head and test what the Nanosuit is packing this time around. Running for 2 weeks, players will have that time to prepare not only for the multiplayer for the retail release, but should have a good handle for the single player as well.

Crysis 3 is the latest in the Crysis series from developer Crytek GmbH and publisher EA, which is set to release on February 19th in North America, followed by the 21st in Australia, and the 22nd in Europe and New Zealand.