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What? Battleship is Evolving… Into a First-Person Shooter?
Battleship was once a strategic board game in which players had to guess where their opponents had placed their war ships. This summer, it will be an action-packed movie in which ships blow each other up. And this May, publisher Activision said today, it will be a video game in which you shoot people. Developer…
By Jason Schreier Published February 8, 2012 -
Here’s How Giants Will Fit Into The Next Skylanders Game
As you might have guessed from the screenshots, trailers, or your ability to read words, Activision’s upcoming Skylanders Giants will feature a set of new figures called Giants. You’ll be able to collect up to eight of the hulking creatures, which are twice the size of normal Skylander action figures both in-game and in real…
By Jason Schreier Published February 7, 2012 -
This Skylanders Giants Trailer Teases a Tiny Bit of Gameplay
Most of this buzz clip that accompanied today’s Skylanders Giants announcement is Activision beating its brawny chest about the success of their new toy-and-video-game franchise. But, you’ll see a snippet of gameplay featuring new larger-than-normal character Tree Rex towards the end of the video. He’s doing big things.
By Evan Narcisse Published February 7, 2012 -
These Are Your New, Super-Sized Skylanders Giants Toys
Activision mashed up collectible toys and video games last year to create an surprise hit last year in its Skylanders franchise. Last year’s Toy Fair was when they announced Skylanders and this year’s Toy Fair sees the reveal of a new franchise expansion after a flurry of rumors. Skylanders Giants introduces a total of 16…
By Evan Narcisse Published February 7, 2012 -
Three New Skylanders Enter the Retail Ring
Battling their way out of the post-holiday shortage, Activision and Toys for Bob have unleashed a trio of new Skylanders at retail, including one that should be familiar to hardcore Spyro fans, should such a thing exist. It’s nice to see some new faces on retail shelves, isn’t it? Three new toys are hitting store…
By Mike Fahey Published February 1, 2012 -
Buy Prototype 2‘s RadNet Edition First, Get Exclusive Challenges
Chances are, you’re already expecting some kind of exclusive DLC/boondoggle from Activision’s big releases. Prototype 2‘s not going to disappoint you, then. Radical Entertainment’s open-world action game will be getting something called a RadNet Edition. The twist here is that the RadNet Edition won’t cost you anything extra. (However, you will need an internet-connected platform…
By Evan Narcisse Published January 31, 2012 -
Activision Goes Indie with Dark Reign on Xbox Live [Update]
Dark Reign Redux, a remake of 1997’s Dark Reign: The Future of War, a real-time strategy game for PC, just published on the Xbox Live Indie Games channel yesterday, without Activision so much as stapling a flyer to a telephone pole or putting up a card on a café barter board for its marketing. [Update]…
By Owen Good Published January 28, 2012 -
Where Have all the Skylanders Gone, Uncle Activision?
Activision’s action figure-driven Skylanders: Sypro’s Adventure was a huge holiday hit last year, with parents buying up starter kits in droves. Now, with hundreds of thousands of children demanding additional figures, empty Skylanders displays have become an all-too-frequent frustration for haggard parents. Yes, all is going according to Activision’s evil plan. The first game to…
By Mike Fahey Published January 24, 2012 -
They Hired Rob Riggle to Sell You On Call of Duty: Elite
Starting tomorrow, the Call of Duty Elite ‘season’ begins with the first of four planned packs of DLC. Activision seems to believe that The Daily Show‘s Rob Riggle (a former serviceman himself) is the guy to sell it to us, and their new commercial features him taking a testosterone-y tour of Elite services, from study-able…
By Kirk Hamilton Published January 23, 2012 -
How Activision Reacted to that Giant Modern Warfare 3 Leak
Last year, we blew the lid off Modern Warfare 3 months before it was due for release. It was the biggest leak we’d seen, let alone written about, in almost a decade. It was, in short, one hell of a story. It was also only half the story. The other side, that of how publishers…
By Luke Plunkett Published January 18, 2012 -
Man Hacks Skylanders, Gets Nasty Letter From Activision
To pass the time, hacker Brandon Wilson – who normally messes around with graphics calculators – decided a few months back he’d take a look under the hood of Activision’s Skylanders action figures, see what makes them tick. After playing around with the figure’s RFID bases, he collected his research and stored it in a…
By Luke Plunkett Published December 29, 2011 -
Call of Duty Says Happy Holidays with Double XP and a Prestige Token for Elite Members
Premium Call of Duty Elite Subscribers got a couple stocking stuffers on Christmas Eve for use in Modern Warfare 3. They’ll get an extra two hours of double XP play, and a Prestige Token that can be redeemed for more XP time or other perks in the game’s Prestige Shop. Beachhead Studio and the Call…
By Owen Good Published December 24, 2011 -
Make Your Own Black Ops Christmas Ornament
Treyarch’s 2011 Christmas card is also a neat little Call of Duty: Black Ops ornament, all ready to be hung in a tree. If you’re a big fan, feel free to print these out, trim the excess, tape them together and hang it in your own tree. Hey, where’s my Call of Duty: Modern Warfare…
By Brian Crecente Published December 23, 2011 -
There’s No Stopping the Epic Call of Duty Lawsuit
Denying request for summary judgment, the Los Angeles Superior Court gave Activision the green light to go to trial with its $400 million contract interference lawsuit against Electronic Arts over Call of Duty creators Jason West and Vince Zampella. The gist of the lawsuit is this: Activision Publishing alleges that West and Zampella of development…
By Mike Fahey Published December 22, 2011 -
If Transformers: Fall Of Cybertron Looks as Good as This, No One Will Complain
Concept art is a guess, a hope and sometimes an unintended lie. Remember that today as you look at the concept art for next year’s Transformers: Fall of Cyberton, the 2012 follow-up to Activision and High Moon Studios’ impressive 2010 Transformers game War for Cybertron People who grew up with the original Transformers—people like me—will…
By Stephen Totilo Published December 19, 2011 -
Embrace The Thrill of the Hunt in This Prototype 2 Trailer
The developers at Radical talk about how you’ll be stalking James Heller’s prey in the upcoming open-world sequel. Eating enemies also gets in this behind-the-scenes look, which also offers new looks at combat and quests, too. You’ll get your chance to hunt through Prototype 2’s ruined New York City when the game hits on April…
By Evan Narcisse Published December 16, 2011 -
Activision Stretches Another Franchise Even More with Skylanders Universe
Activision notched an unexpected hit this year when they mashed up collectible toys and video games to create Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure. The idea of static toys that you could bring to life inside of a playable world appealed to kids and adults alike, including Kotakuites Brian Crecente, his son Tristan and Mike Fahey. Sales for…
By Evan Narcisse Published December 16, 2011 -
The Making of a Transformers Game Trailer So Powerful It Moves Its Devs to Tears
Is it me, or is High Moon Studios president Peter Della Penna on the verge of tears when describing a touching moment between Bumblebee and Optimus Prime in this making-of video for the Transformers: Fall of Cybertron Video Game Awards trailer? This is why the folks at High Moon Studios keep getting to make Transformers…
By Mike Fahey Published December 13, 2011