The GameShadow Blog

GameShadow was in attendance at the 2009 EuroGamer Expo on Friday and got the chance to sample some of the newest and upcoming games.

Among the plethora of titles, there were a few standouts that included Heavy Rain, Split Second and Assassin’s Creed 2.

The crowds also gathered around Left 4 Dead 2 and James Cameron’s Avatar, both of which  are due out within the month.

The fourth and final quarter of the year signals the start of the Holiday rush.

With a host of titles, including the likes of Splinter Cell: Conviction and Bioshock 2, being pushed back to the first quarter of 2010, the odds on what will be top during December have now centred on a select group.

Check out the full list and judge for yourself if it’s worth a gamble on an outsider, or staking your hard-earned money on the front-runner Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.

More game revelations from E3 2009.

The later stages have seen footage from the likes of Dead Rising 2, Singularity and Brutal Legend.

The first looks at Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 and Homefront, both from THQ, plus Bethesda’s Rogue Warrior have also been revealed.

The GameShadow Latest Trailers page continues the flow.

E3 2009 is underway and the usual flurry of big game news is filtering out.

The early stages have seen footage from the likes of Just Cause 2, Splinter Cell: Conviction, Alan Wake and Assassin’s Creed 2.

New titles on the block include Forza Motorsport 3, Crysis 2 and Left 4 Dead 2.

EA has announced it will be publishing All Points Bulletin: APB, the online title developed by Realtime Worlds.

More throughout the week.

One of the big movie and game tie-ins of the year is heating up for its May 1st release.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine is launching across the platforms and is aiming to stand out for good reasons in the movie and game tie-in bracket.

Developed by Raven Software, the action title enables players to take control of Wolverine and learn about his past.

This year has seen the release of WANTED: Weapons of Fate, based on the 2008 movie, plus Terminator Salvation (both developed by Grin) is next on the horizon.

The 2009 Video Games BAFTA winners were announced on Tuesday night in the UK.

The likes of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Dead Space and Left 4 Dead were successful.

The whole list of nominees and winners is on the BAFTA website.

There have been a series of well known releases over the past month, with the likes of F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin, Street Fighter IV and Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2 making a splash in the sales charts.

Over the next month it will be interesting to see the sales and promotion for a brand new series, or IP, competing against the well known ones.

BattleForge and HAWX are two of the strongest heading our way in March, competing against Empire: Total War and the latest Codename: Panzers title, Codename: Panzers - Cold War.

It’s been a busy time for Codemasters this week, as the publisher has released a batch of promotional material for the core of its 2009 line up.

More details on the MMO title Jumpgate Evolution have confirmed a June launch, along with Overlord II, the follow up to the warped 2007 title.

Shooter fans will be excited by the look of Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising, with petrol heads getting their kicks from the open-world inspired FUEL.

Be prepared for more to come as Codemasters turns up the heat on these and more in 2009.

Electronic Arts has announced a new wave of Need for Speed titles due for release in 2009.

The big-selling racing franchise is continuing with a selection of three new titles that will be released across a range of platforms.

Need for Speed: SHIFT will be the next core title (after 2008’s Undercover) and will aim to give an authentic and immersive driving experience for PC, XBOX 360 and PS3 players.

Need for Speed: NITRO will be available for Nintendo Wii and DS owners, with its aim to challenge racing fans of all levels.

Need for Speed: World Online will be a Play 4 Free action racing experience, available only on PC and set to be released in Asia during the summer, before heading to the western world at the end of the year.

Electronic Arts has announced a Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3 standalone expansion pack.

Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3: Uprising will be released in March for the PC and will be available via digital download.

The game will take players into the aftermath of one of the battles in the original Red Alert 3. It will contain additional singleplayer campaigns and a new Commander Challenge game mode.

The majority of people are back in their work mode after the end of year festivities; eating, drinking, being merry and hunting down bargains in the retail sales, despite there currently being an economic slump.

Notably, computer games stores were doing a roaring trade with sales in full flow.

Figures released by ELSPA (Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association) showed UK consumers spent a chunky £4.034 billion on computer software and hardware in 2008.

In particular, the increasing popularity of computer games took total sales to £1.905 billion, compared to £1.552 billion in 2007.

2008 offered a host of new and re-invented gaming characters.

By now, these characters will have been put through their paces, fighting off enemies, stealing precious items, or going about their daily business.

We’ve seen the likes of Lara Croft and Prince of Persia face their latest challenges. We’ve also been introduced to Sackboy in LittleBigPlanet, new heroine Faith, aiming to take back her city in Mirror’s Edge, as well as seeing Niko Bellic discovering the American Dream in Grand Theft Auto IV.

Sergeant “Psycho” Sykes put players through their paces in Crysis Warhead and they even became a mercenary in Mercenaries 2: World in Flames.

Of course, players will have their favourite character of the 2008, or may even prefer their very own one they created in one of the popular titles of the year, Spore.

Looking ahead, GameShadow has produced a list of 12 titles (in no particular order) that will be making a big splash in 2009.

Expect more promotion and suspense to build, as 2009 aims to top the excitement and record sales of 2008.

Empire: Total War
Diablo III
F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin
The Sims 3
Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2
Duke Nukem Forever
Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising
Battlefield Heroes
Starcraft II
Bioshock 2: Sea of Dreams
Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor
Alan Wake

Nearly Made It:

Wolfenstein
Dragon Age: Origins
Star Wars: The Old Republic

As 2008 draws to an end, we here at GameShadow have cast our minds back and put together our top games of 2008.

Those that stood out, made the news and played well for us are included in our (no particular order) definitive 12.

Far Cry 2
Grand Theft Auto IV
Spore
Call of Duty: World at War
World of Warcraft - Wrath of the Lich King
Fallout 3
Tomb Raider Underworld
Gears of War 2
Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3
Assassin’s Creed
Dead Space
LittleBigPlanet

Nearly Made It:

Mirror’s Edge
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Crysis Warhead

Look out for GameShadow’s 2009 Preview List appearing soon.

The American publisher Midway has announced it is cutting 25 percent of its staff, closing its studio in Austin, Texas and cancelling unannounced projects due for 2010/2011.

Midway is struggling badly with large debts and these cost cutting measures are part of the consequences.

Earlier this year, one of the biggest titles Midway released was Mortal Combat vs DC Universe and 2009 should still see the release of The Wheelman and This is Vegas.