TimeShift 360 Gets Untimely Free Map Pack

Prototype Gives Up On 2008 Release

One of this summer's blockbuster attempts from Sierra and Radical Entertainment won't show its face until next year, as GameSpot reports Prototype has been delayed until some time in 2009. Why? According to Sierra reps, "we need more time to deliver the game the team initially set out to create."

Let's hope that the version of Prototype they initially set out to create actually includes the co-op multiplayer portion that was recently axed. We won't hold our breath on that one, as Radical is probably taking the extra six months to perfect hoodie physics or make the explosions more explosion-y.

Prototype pushed to 2009 [GameSpot]

Matt Damon OK With Movie Violence, Not OK With Game Violence

Matt and I don't share the same views about violence in adult films, but we do see eye-to-eye on the importance of protecting children. We both support regulations to stop the marketing of violence in films to children through violent toys, products, and video games.

Sierra Gamer's Day: Ghostbusters to 50 Cent

Man, lots of embargoes have been lifting lately. The latest? Early this morning Sierra lifted the embargo on their Gamers Day, held earlier this month in San Francisco. Our Flynn De Marco attended, churning out impressions of eight upcoming Sierra games, including Ghostbusters and 50 Cent's latest title.

The Bourne Conspiracy Impressions
Ghostbusters Impressions
Sierra Online's XBLA Offerings
The Legend of Spyro: Dawn of the Dragon: Spyro Grows Up,
World in Conflict 360/PS3 Impressions
Crash Bandicoot: Mind Over Mutant Impressions
Prototype Impressions
50 Cent II Impressions

Free Rides At The Bourne Conspiracy Train Depot

While we've heard quite a bit about Sierra's The Bourne Conspiracy, we haven't gotten much of a taste of the straight gameplay. So here's a big, ice cold scoop for your enjoyment. Hight Moon Studios obviously put a lot of time into capturing the quick cuts of the Bourne films. And while it looks like the effect will work, but we'd have to play it to find out. Otherwise, it's actually reminding us quite a bit of Uncharted: Drakes Fortune. You know, on a subway and stuff.

The Ghostbusters Box Art Doesn't Surprise Us

Prototype Gets Comic Treatment

"PROTOTYPE's back-story, visuals and gameplay are stunning, and we have every intention of bringing those core pillars to our book because this is a great opportunity to expand on the world they've created, and build something new and interesting for comic book fans."

We were very much given control of the core experience, what we wanted to create with a 50 Cent game. He took a look at it and he was like, 'You know, it looks really cool, I'd like something a little bit more.' The guy's a gamer, which in and of itself is actually an advantage because he came in with a very honest, very open opinion - 'As a gamer, I want more than just a core experience'.

Prototype's Multiplayer Gets Cut

Sierra's Prototype, once planned to featured online co-op multiplayer, will simply be a single-player affair, according to Radical's Tim Bennison. He tells Team Xbox that the Prototype team decided it wouldn't "be able to pull it off with the same level of quality and polish that we're aiming for with the original single player story." You're going to be going it solo, sadly, but perhaps your friends will get some enjoyment out of pointing at the screen, commanding you to punch that guy or punch that other guy.

Bennison leaves the window open for multiplayer opportunities post-release as DLC, but hints that Prototype would have to do well at retail for them to pursue it. That should comfort those who are interested in paying, say, $70 or so for your games.

Inside The Mind of Prototype's Alex Mercer [Team Xbox]

I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that might actually be a Mercenaries 2 screen, based on the explosions and helicopters and palette and such. Sorry, but it's Prototype. There's no lack of things exploding in this updated look at Sierra's superhuman action game for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. They even throw in some bluish skies to mix it up! Blue skies, punching, blood, 'splosions and helicopters?! Fabulous!

"It was a rewarding experience to score The Bourne Conspiracy video game — I have always been a fan of the series and the pace of the game is an ideal match for my musical tempo and style," said Paul Oakenfold. "I look forward to premiering the soundtrack during "The Bourne Sessions" at WMC."

Activision Force Sierra To Sing For Their Supper

Unbelievably Fake Australian Game Journalist Fight

Watch Australian Games Journalists Fighting [videogaming247]

Jason Bourne Beats People Up Good

No HDD In Core? "Mistake"

In retrospect I wish Microsoft had made the choice to have [mandatory] hard drives like Sony did with the PS3... They did it with the original Xbox. I'm not sure why they decided to not require a hard drive on the 360. From what I understand they don't move many [Core/Arcade] units... Developers certainly benefit [from a hard drive]," he went on to explain, adding: "if you have a hard drive, the whole game loads faster. Obviously you'll be facing a short install time, but the developer benefits from it and you definitely benefit from it as a player... So I think that was one of the mistakes that Microsoft made with the 360.

World In Conflict Slated For Consoles This Fall

Good news, console RTSers! Sierra/Massive Entertainment's acclaimed post-Cold War real-time strategy title World in Conflict is spreading from the PC to the Xbox 360 and PS3. Expected to launch fall 2008, these console versions won't just be a port of the original World in Conflict, instead including extra "new content" planned for both the singleplayer campaign and online multiplayer.

For existing PC players, this new content will come in the form of an add-on. Potential pricing has not been discussed. As for me, I just feel lucky that I'm no longer forced to own a PC to play a lot of games formerly reserved for the platform, even if the authenticity of experience isn't always duplicated.

Al Lowe Says Google Hurts Adventure Games

For those who grew up in the early days of PC adventure gaming, Al Lowe needs no introduction. To those whom need such an introduction, Crecente is coming by your house later to use his feared hair whip fatality. Anyway, here's what the point and click adventure god had to say about developing adventure games in the modern gaming world:

No, not futile, but not mainstream either.

Vivendi, of which Blizzard Entertainment is a division, released its 2007 earnings revenues today, revealing that the World of Warcraft publisher raked in $1.2 billion (€814 million) in revenue last year. WoW's 10 million large subscriber base contributed the lion's share of the Vivendi Games division's $1.5 billion take (€1.018 billion). Blizzard's revenue was up 58% year over year which can be attributed to strong sales of World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade and a subscriber boost of 2 million people.

Vivendi pointed to lower earnings from its Sierra label, with sales of Crash of the Titans, Spyro: The Eternal Night, F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate, Timeshift and World in Conflict as "not as strong as the 2006 release slate." Let's hear it for World of Warcraft, ladies and gentlemen!

Vivendi Full Year 2007 Revenues Increase Significantly (PDF) [Vivendi]