A new generation of racing begins today, and it begins on the PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system! Electronic Arts Inc. today announced that the highly anticipated, high-octane racing game Need for Speed Rivals is now available on PlayStation 4 in North America and will be the only racing game launching with the new PS4 system this year. Set in a world with a variety of stunning environments and effects powered by the advanced Frostbite 3 engine, Need for Speed Rivals is injecting new innovation into the racing genre with AllDrive, a revolutionary feature that destroys the line between single player, co-op and multiplayer. AllDrive will forever change how racing games are played with friends seamlessly connecting gamers to one world where their single-player races and chases can collide at any time.

The game will also be available for the PS4 system in Europe on November 29 and will launch day and date with Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, on November 22.

“At Ghost Games we were given the keys to the Need for Speed franchise to bring new energy into the genre and we’re doing that with AllDrive,” said Marcus Nilsson, Executive Producer, Ghost Games.“Thanks to AllDrive, players can create their own organized chaos, going from driving alone to being in an all-out chase with their friends at an instant. These unexpected moments create the ultimate edge-of-your-seat experience, and this is the direction our team wants to take racing games in the next generation.”

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Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., today uncovered new details for METAL GEAR SOLID V: GROUND ZEROES. Coming on the heels of the launch of Sony Computer Entertainment America’s PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system, Hideo Kojima, creator of the METAL GEAR SOLID series, and head of Kojima Productions, debuted new content for METAL GEAR SOLID V: GROUND ZEROES.

In the 12-minute extended gameplay video, captured from the PlayStation 4 system, Mr. Kojima showcased a “Side Ops” day mission in which Big Boss must use stealth tactics and sophisticated cover techniques to retrieve key intelligence from a double agent. New gameplay mechanics, time of day, weather conditions, refined AI and pristine graphics showcase the innovative gameplay design and the power of the FOX Engine and the PlayStation 4 system.

PlayStation system users will also be thrilled to discover Mr. Kojima announced METAL GEAR SOLID V: GROUND ZEROES will feature an exclusive mission for the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and PlayStation 4 system. The “throwback” mission titled “Déjà Vu,” recreates a mission originally featured in the original METAL GEAR SOLID game AND lets users play as Solid Snake (in all of his low-polygon, pixelated glory) in the high definition Ground Zeroes universe.

METAL GEAR SOLID V: GROUND ZEROES Extended Gameplay Trailer:

METAL GEAR SOLID V: GROUND ZEROES “Déjà Vu Mission” trailer:

METAL GEAR SOLID V: GROUND ZEROES Screenshots:

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There are two ways to look at LEGO Marvel Super Heroes. One is context – here is a game that lets you stomp around as Doc Ock, take Spiderman to Asgard, tear through the skies in Tony Stark’s private jet, take The Thing skydiving from the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, and trek gleefully through a beautifully detailed LEGO rendition of New York City. It’s got a complete open-world, a plethora of playable Marvel characters, and plenty of silly self-aware superhero banter from excellent voice actors. What more could you want from a Marvel game?

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With any successful game franchise, it becomes inevitable that there will eventually be an origin story prequel game that chronicles the events before the games that preceded it. This is hardly any different with Batman: Arkham Origins. However, a change in the hands of developers unfortunately sees a decrease in quality rather than improvements.

Batman: Arkham Origins tells the story of events take place in Batman’s second year of being the Dark Knight, and reveals a more rough, angry and brutal Batman who is also overconfident and reckless. While his previous tactics have worked on thugs, he now has to contend with assassin’s hired by Black Mask will force Batman to change tactics and ally with Captain Gordon. This simple premise of the game is just the promise of a good game that unfortunately goes a bit south. While the narrative of Batman’s growth is done well, the character development and their relationship to Batman is not as fully explored as it could have been. Many of these villains have never even encountered Batman before, so it’s all the more lamentable. Out of the 8 assassins, 5 of them Batman goes to fisticuffs with, with rather ho-hum boss fights laden with quick time events, with only one boss fight being a bit more clever in Firely. The other three assassins are unceremoniously written out of the story, being taken care of by other characters. And only one villain gets the most development, but thankfully those bits are well done. There are some side missions involving other villains, but the payoff for their completion is mostly achievement fodder.

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Digital Extremes, the independent developer and now, publisher, announced today that Warframe, the fastest growing Free-to-Play action game this year on PC, is available on Day 1 for the new PS4 system beginning with Midnight launch events on November 15th throughout North America. With a simple download via the PlayStation Store, all PS4 system owners can play the highly stylized sci-fi third-person action co-op game for free. Warframe does not require a PlayStation Plus membership.

Warframe was announced for the PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system earlier this year and has quickly become one of the top Day 1 launch titles to watch; primarily due to therapid success of the title on PC when it went Open Beta in March. In addition to enjoying a Triple-A gaming experience for free, PS4™ system owners can expect to see frequent free content and feature updates that will continue to broaden the scope and depth of the game over time. To help influence future content and features, players are encouraged to join the dedicated, passionate community found in the official Warframe forums at Warframe.com.

Warframe PlayStation 4 Trailer:

“Warframe offers an incredibly rich gaming experience for the low, low price of Free,” said Steve Sinclair, creative director at Digital Extremes. “It’s a win-win situation for everyone. The Free-to-Play model allows independent developers like us the opportunity to take risks on new ideas that otherwise would never see the light of day in a traditional retail scenario; and the low price-point barrier for gamers gives them the opportunity to experience the game, provide us feedback and then choose to support the game and its continued development.”

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A December system update for the Nintendo 3DS portable system will allow users to combine their Nintendo eShop account balance for both Nintendo 3DS and Wii U. Nintendo announced the news during a Nintendo Direct video released earlier today.

After the Nintendo 3DS system update, users can register their Nintendo Network ID for Wii U on their Nintendo 3DS systems and combine Nintendo eShop account balances. This will enable them to purchase Wii U software using the remaining balance on their Nintendo 3DS eShop accounts, and vice versa. Nintendo 3DS owners who do not own a Wii U system can also create their own Nintendo Network ID for the first time.

This system update will also mark the beginning of Miiverse support on Nintendo 3DS. With a Nintendo Network ID and a wireless Internet connection, users will be able to connect with players around the world to share their experiences and game tips through Miiverse on Nintendo 3DS. For more information and notices from Nintendo about the system update, visit http://www.nintendo.com/3ds/nnid.

To view the Nintendo Direct in its entirety, visit http://www.nintendo.com/nintendo-direct

With the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, fast approaching, Mario and Sonic have been training extra hard to make sure they are ready for the biggest competition of the year. The two iconic video game characters are teaming up with their friends in Mario & Sonic at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games launching on Nov. 15 for the Wii U console. In the game, some of the most loved characters from the Mario and Sonic universes like Mario, Sonic, Princess Peach and Tails compete in Olympic Winter Events like snowboard slopestyle, which is making its debut in both the game and the real-life Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, as well as over-the-top Dream Events that can only exist in the world of video games. And for the first time in the Mario & Sonic series, players with a broadband Internet connection can compete in select events online against other players around the world, earning points for their home countries.

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What will tomorrow look like? Build it today! Electronic Arts Inc. today announced that the SimCity Cities of Tomorrow* expansion pack is now available for PC and Mac at retail stores across North America and for digital download on Origin. SimCity Cities of Tomorrow offers the more than two million players worldwide the opportunity to futurize every aspect of their cities with the help of plausible future technologies, giving players an entirely new way to dream about their city of the future. New MegaTowers, new city specializations, new future technology and new transportation methods will transform the way that cities take shape and evolve.

SimCity Cities of Tomorrow Expansion Pack Screenshots:

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Pokémon simply endures. It’s been around for nearly 20 years now, and doesn’t care whether you’ve been paying attention all this time or not. For many like me the obsession has given way to a resignation that maybe you really don’t need to catch them all, at least as far as the games themselves go. But with a new handheld generation finally comes an update that promises to capture us all over again. This time, Pokémon X and Y arrives with a long overdue graphical update as well as gameplay tweaks that catch the franchise up to some of the things we’re used to nowadays in our streamlined AAA experiences.

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Pokémon has been around for a long time, about 20 years in fact. Many players who haven’t played a game since the Red/Blue/Yellow days are coming back, and more still that have followed the series from the beginning up until now. The series hasn’t changed all that much since its humbler days, only evolving slowly over time, and spawning spin-offs. But the main series has been on a strictly linear path, and this title decided to shakes things up a bit. Although it does lack some features, suggesting it might have strayed off a little bit from the ladder it was stuck on.

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