If you look closely at this set of screenshots for Deep Silver and Koch Media's Prison Break game for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC, you will indeed see a prison. Delve further, and you might catch a glimpse of a man trying to break out of said prison. Looks like developer Zootfly completely nailed this one!

Piranha Byte's latest single-player action RPG Risen hits store shelves this week, with the PC version dropping in North America on October 2nd, and the Xbox 360 scheduled for sometime in the beginning of next year. The title refers to a series of ancient ruins that have recently risen from beneath the tropical island where your character finds himself washed up following a nasty shipwreck. You know, as opposed to those pleasant shipwrecks. with all the candy.

Risen will be available on Steam Friday for $44.99.

But nope. All you get is some guy saying the name of the game right at the end. I guess that's why they call it a "teaser" trailer.

Actually, I'm not as excited about the voices of Serkis and Rhys-Davies as I am about Lena Headey's addition to the cast. I hadn't heard of her 'til 300, but now that she's cast as Cersei Lannister in the upcoming pilot of HBO's Song of Ice and Fire adaptation, I can't get enough of her. (Though I say she was wasted on Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles — wasted!)

Risen is out on PC October 2 and will hit the Xbox 360 sometime early next year.

Slovenian developer Zootfly, made famous for their work on Panzer Elite Action and that Ghostbusters video game concept, will be the ones responsible for the Prison Break game. It's due to be released on PC and "next generation consoles." Which, we assume, actually means current generation consoles, like the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

The game was unofficially announced last summer, via a Prison Break DVD insert. Then the Brash "business" model went to pot and left developer Zootfly in the lurch. Now everything's just peachy again.

Prison Break, the video game, will put players in the lace-less shoes of Tom Paxton in a storyline that runs parallel to the television show's first season.

I'm sure there's a large symphonic/gothic metal band scene that I am completely unaware of. In fact, the comments section could potentially fill up with arguments on which of those bands is the most successful, but as far as Deep Silver is concerned, Nightwish here is the end all and be all. Listening to it a few times, my definition of symphonic/gothic metal has transformed from 'huh?' to 'music most likely to be included in future Twilight movies to try and make them appeal more to the poor boyfriends who get dragged along to the theater. This is sure to make me a pariah among the symphonic/gothic metal purists out there.

Cursed Mountain is a survival horror game for the Wii about a mountaineer searching for his lost brother. It looks creepy and seems to involve a lot of flailing based on Producer Marin Gazzari's playthrough shown in the video. Don't be too skeptical of the motion controls, though — if a bunch of mountaineering zombies suddenly jumped you on a frozen clifftop, wouldn't you start flailing?

I love zombies as much as the next girl, but I've got to say I'm more curious about how religious beliefs are addressed in the game. The video doesn't actually say that the main character, Eric Simmons, is Buddhist, so I wonder how our hero will or will not buy into the mythology that drives the plot.

Cursed Mountain doesn't have a definite release date, but supposedly it'll hit shelves this year. Check out the website for more eerie music and other points of interest.

Cursed Mountain: Exclusive Story & Mythical Behind the Scenes HD [GameTrailers]

Maybe it's just me, but I find the concept of scratching to music much more compelling on the DS than I do sitting in front of my television with a special controller, my ineptitude and lack of rhythm laid bare for the world to see. Not sure how I feel about the music in the trailer, but the game play looks like something I could really get into.

Announced less than a year ago, Risen sees the player washed up on a mysterious volcanic Mediterranean island, after which they will be caught up in an epic tale involving inventory management and combat of some kind. If you want more details they have a website. The point here is the game is now scheduled for release on October 2nd, and I find the fact that they've come so far so fast is either extremely heartening or extremely worrisome.

"We're excited to be able to announce the release date for Risen this far in advance," said Cathy Tische, VP Sales and Marketing for Deep Silver. "We've been in beta for a few weeks now and are focusing on stamping out the remaining bugs and optimizing gameplay."

Well, they certainly do seem confident. Here's hoping for a great RPG epic to help pass the time during the slow holiday season. *gulp*

The Gothic developers have made so many roleplaying games at this point that they could make them in their sleep and still have them turn out looking slightly like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. One of these days I'm going to write about Risen without mentioning Oblivion, I promise. It's just...well, look!

Following the closure of Duke Nukem Forever developer 3D Realms last week, Apogee's Chief Operating Officer Terry Nagy teased an impending Duke announcement via Twitter, leading many to believe the company had plans to pick up the dropped ball. Instead, Apogee and Deep Silver have announced that they are increasing the scope of their search for a live action Duke from a three-city search to a nationwide, internet-based operation. Fans can visit www.dukeisback.com and upload their audition video for consideration. The winner will travel around the world promoting the upcoming Duke Nukem Trilogy and generally making a fool of themselves.

There are several audition clips already uploaded, each one more sympathetically embarrassing than the next. Enjoy.

Following rumored reports that Duke Nukem devs 3D Realms had given up the ghost, reps for publisher Deep Silver issued a statement that everything was going full steam on the Duke compilation. Additionally, the recently revived Apogee, as a separate entity, would continue.

"Deep Silver and Apogee Software are not affected by the situation at 3D Realms," reads the statement. "Development on the Duke Nukem Trilogy is continuing as planned."

Announced last year with a brilliant trailer, Duke Nukem Trilogy consists of Duke Nukem: Chain Reaction, Duke Nukem: Critical Mass and Duke Nukem: Proving Grounds.

First they set the mood with the more wild areas of the volcanic island on which Risen takes place, and now the developers take us into the more populated areas. Children play and adults go about their business in a stone city that looks like something straight out of Bethesda's Oblivion. That's not a bad thing, of course. If your game is going to be reminiscent of another, it might as well be reminiscent of one of the best.

Sacred 2 media has skewed heavily towards the Xbox 360 up until now, so it's nice to see some images from the PlayStation 3 version. Not seeing a big difference between this and the 360, other than the fact that someone at Ascaron has been boning up on how to create compelling screenshots. Definitely looking good. Here's hoping the delays that have plagued the console version were used to make sure the game plays as well as it looks.

Published by Deep Silver in Europe and Australia, DJ Star is a game where players start off as a lowly hobby DJ, gaining experience until the finally end up scratching in front of stadiums filled with 100,000 screaming fans. Players can mix their way through "40 famous tracks" across a variety of genre, saving their creations on their DS card and swapping them with their friends through the magic of wireless communications.

Yes, the era of the rhythm game is truly in full swing. I'm beginning to look forward to 10-15 years down the road when we can look back on today and fondly remember all those music games they used to release.

Risen takes place on a volcanic tropical island, which explains why one could easily confuse the opening of this "Mood" trailer with an old Far Cry video. The similarities soon end, however, as Far Cry didn't have those birds they keep showing off or those mutant porcupine things. It certainly didn't have little goblin creatures sitting around a campfire. Do you think they timed that one little critter's standing up to coincide with the whispering of the word "Risen", or was that just a happy coincidence for dorks like myself to giggle at?

What the screens actually do is give us a look at Cursed Mountain's expansive scale and some of the unique enemies you'll come across on your journey to find your lost brother, who mysteriously disappeared atop the sacred Mount Chomolonzo in the Hiimalayas. The game combines man's struggle against nature with man's struggle against the supernatural in such a way as my 9th grade English teacher would have been very proud that I had noticed.

This isn't just your average survival horror game. It's survival horror...on a mountain. Now imagine the movie trailer guy saying that. Chills, right?

DEEP SILVER REVEALS NEW BONE-CHILLING CURSED MOUNTAIN SCREENSHOTS
HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. – Jan. 22, 2009 – Deep Silver today released new screenshots for Cursed Mountain, an upcoming survival horror game developed exclusively for Wii™. These new images highlight the scale of environment, eerie Himalayan setting and the terrifying enemies players will face, including a boss and angry spirits.

In Cursed Mountain, players take on the role of Eric Simmons, an expert mountaineer who climbs Chomolonzo, a sacred mountain in the Himalayas, to unravel the mystery surrounding the sudden disappearance of his brother. Reminding the players of how far they’ve come – and how far they’ve yet to go – the entire mountain can be seen at all times. As they climb, the mountain itself becomes an enemy – prone to the travails of altitude sickness and oxygen deprivation, players may not be able to tell the difference between real enemies and hallucinations.

Taking full advantage of Wii’s motion-sensitive controls, as well as the rumble features and embedded speaker in the Wii Remote™, Cursed Mountain looks to create an immersive horror experience set against the backdrop of the haunting atmosphere of the Himalayas.

Cursed Mountain will be available exclusively for Wii in 2009.

Rather than the guns 'n' hos approach of the Grand Theft Auto franchise, 7 Million looks to be taking its cues from Ocean's Eleven, Thief and Leverage - crime with style, in other words, with a refreshing lack of violence and emphasis on skill and planning.

The game has entered closed beta, and anyone who fancies a caper or two can register via the game's website. The first wave of testers have already begun to steal, with more to be added before the game goes live in the Spring.

Closed Beta Underway! [7 Million]

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky Hits US Retail Sept. 15; Steam Release Date Not Yet Determined? [Shacknews]

Publisher Deep Silver had to recall the copies because of a printing error that left the game distributed without CD keys (that detail comes via Blue's News forums, which also have claims that some retailers are listing the game's new release as Sept. 15).

Now, obvious question, WTF about getting it via Steam? Hrm. Steam says it's available Sept. 6 — think rationally, what are the odds something goes out digitally before its commercial release? So consider that a moving target date that only means "not Sept. 5."

In the end, it's some bona fide facepalm when a game is delayed a second time (original date was supposed to be Friday) and then called back because of a printing error.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky Delayed Again, Recalled from North American Retailers [Shacknews]

They'll also be showing off a range of family-friendly DS titles, including their Let's Play line (Let's Play Teacher, Let's Play Vet...Let's Play Doctor, perhaps?), along with two pet sims from Game Life - Horse Life and Baby Life. Okay, so a baby isn't technically a pet. They'd just be much more enjoyable if you treated them as such. "Honey, did you let the baby out?" See? Much more entertaining. Hit the jump for more details on Deep Silver's line up!

Deep Silver & Partners at the Games Convention 2008

Larger exhibition spaces in the exhibition hall and the Business Center

Deep Silver & Partners are presenting a broad range of different games for every taste at the Leipzig Games Convention 2008. From long-awaited action RPGs to thrilling adventures, from the fantastic Japanese RPGs to dark RPG first-person shooters, from educational handheld games for a young audience to challenging strategy games – Deep Silver and its Partners will offer all of this to the visitors of the Games Convention 2008.

On each day of the convention, there will be live presentations with the game developers, trailers and video shows as well as numerous other surprises that will take place at Deep Silver's exhibition booth, on an area of over 440 sqm (approx. 4736 sq.ft), which is even larger than in the previous year.

Visitors can experience the following titles at the Deep Silver booth in Hall 3, Booth A02:

Cursed Mountain: For Wii™ only: The survival horror game that takes place in the Himalayas gives the ultimate thrill. The presentation at the Deep Silver booth will give visitors a chill – guaranteed! (Action adventure; Wii) Publisher: Deep Silver

Secret Files 2 – Puritas Cordis: The second part of the Secret Files series (Adventure; PC) Publisher: Deep Silver

Risen: The developers of the Piranha Bytes team will be on stage in several presentations to answer questions about their new RPG hit. Publisher: Deep Silver

Sacred 2 - Fallen Angel: The sequel to the most successful German role-playing game of all time (Action RPG; PC, PS3, Xbox 360) Publisher: Ascaron Entertainment / Deep Silver

S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky: A unique blend of action-packed first-person shooting and complex role-playing against the backdrop of the contaminated zone surrounding the Chernobyl power plant (FPS; PC) Publisher: GSC Game World / Deep Silver

X³: Terran Conflict is a brand new, stand-alone game set in the universe of X³. It is the culmination of the X trilogy, with a grand finale that takes us all the way back to Earth's own solar system. (space strategy; PC) Publisher: Deep Silver

Deep Silver will be presenting exciting new games for young gamers at a separate booth in the children's area, Hall 2, Booth K12:

Let's Play range: Titles such as Let's Play Teacher, Let's Play Vet, and Let's Play Fashion Designer (Nintendo DS) Publisher: Deep Silver

Horse Life 2: The sequel in the horse simulation series, exceptional in both visuals and game-play (Nintendo DS) Publisher: Game Life / Deep Silver

Baby Life: In Baby Life the player takes care of its own, unique baby. As a parent your task is to help the baby grow from 9 months until it is 15 months old. (Nintendo DS) Publisher: Game Life / Deep Silver

More information and current news on Deep Silver and its partners is available from the website http:/live.deepsilver.com.