Sometimes, a game comes around that totally engulfs your free time, spins in your head all day, and annoys the hell out of your girlfriend.  DJ Hero is just that game, and MAN am I having a blast with it!  I used to play on the ol’ wheels of steel back in the day, and this has completely given me the itch to play again.  Forza 3 is temporarily on the shelf folks, and the DJ is in the hizzouse!  Oh yea, some Left For Dead 2 co-op action will also be had in between sets…and some sucking up to my better half of course. Zoltan N.
Demo pick of the week: Has to be LFD 2.  Co-op zombie smashing with frying pans FTW!
Gamertag: zzzoltan

This weekend is going to be split up between me continuing my quest to unlock all the songs in DJ Hero (yes, it’s been a week and I haven’t done so yet), and also continuing to unlock all the characters and ending cinemas in Tekken 6.  Other than that, the MAG private beta ends this weekend so I’m planning to put some final shots in before it closes and the public beta subsequently opens.  I also received my review copy of Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier and have already been playing the first couple levels and am pleasantly surprised since the last time I played it was at Fan Expo 2009 where I was not very intrigued.  Sean C.
Demo pick of the week: Bucking the trend this week, I also got early access (for Canadians at least) to the God of War 3 E3 demo that will be available if you buy the God of War Collection or District 9 Blu-Ray or immediately if you pre-order the GOW3 Ultimate edition (just not in Canada yet).
PSN/Steam: shonathan

This weekend I’ll jump into the House of the Dead: Overkill Director’s Cut (the section I just unlocked) on the Wii and then get back to spinnin’ on DJ HERO.  Our very own ZOLI (former DJ of 15 yrs) and myself (former DJ on TV) will continue are DJ HERO acheivement competition we’ve started.  Z- dog currently leads…but he’s gotta sleep sometime! Giving my wrist a break from all the scatchin’, more Smackdown vs Raw 2010 will be in the mix.  James S.
Demo pick of the week: Left 4 Dead 2! I missed the whole experience the first time around, but after checking it out at X’09 -Count me in! Using frying pan is so satisfying. CLANG!
Gamertag/PSN: elSCIENTIFICO

This week has been an eventful one for me. First of all, I’m enjoying the Grand Theft Auto series for the first time. I used to get bored after half an hour of killing rampages, but the two expansions to GTA4 (which I will be reviewing shortly) have pleasantly surprised me and held my attention for the last week. I also got to try DJ Hero, which is a lot of fun but I doubt I’ll actually buy it. Finally, I’m still chipping away at 100% completion for KH 358/2 days during my travel time, which is currently diminished because of all the November assignments I have to do for school.  Mike D.
Demo pick of the week: (big surprise) Left 4 Dead 2! The first one was pretty fun, and I’m hoping the developers can match the mayhem of the original.
Gamertag: Retneug

This week’s update is headlined by the debut of Military Madness: Nectaris on the PSN while we see a corresponding demo for that game as well as for the recently released (last week) Trine.  DLC for the PS3 celebrates the 1 year birthday of Little Big Planet with 2 free costumes and Brutal Legend also offers it first DLC temporarily free on the PSN for two weeks.  DLC also comes in the form of two initial Dragon Age expansions with Stone Prisoner and Warden’s Keep.   Both Pulse and Qore have new editions available for download this week featuring Qore’s visit to Canadian studio United Front Games as they take a look at their debut title: ModNation Racers.  Finally, two new PSP games make their debut via the Playstation Store this week with Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Sqaudron and Ghostbusters.  Sean C.

Full listing below:

Updates
Mercury Bundle 2 Sale – Includes Archer Maclean’s Mercury and Mercury Meltdown (now $9.99)
This is Shane Bettenhausen from Ignition Entertainment with a quick heads-up about a killer PlayStation Store promotion that kicks off today. For a limited time, you’ll be able to snag two great PSP games–the classic Archer Maclean’s Mercury and its supercharged sequel, Mercury Meltdown—for the shockingly low total of only $9.99. Check out this video!

TV Show King Price Drop (now $6.99)

X-Men Origins: Wolverine Weapon X Arena Pack Price Drop (now $4.99)

Qore
Qore Episode 18: November 2009 ($2.99)
Episode 18 of Qore: Presented by the PlayStation Network gets creative with ModNation Racers, goes behind the scenes at ILM and takes a closer look at Star Trek on Blu-ray, and revisits the world of Assassin’s Creed II.

Qore Annual Subscription: November 2009 ($24.99)
Qore: Presented by the PlayStation Network is a high-definition monthly interactive video production covering the world of PlayStation. Qore provides its audience with exclusive behind-the-scenes access to upcoming titles from both the SCE Worldwide Studios and third-party developers across the globe.

Downloadable Games
Military Madness: Nectaris ($9.99)
The Military is back for a new generation of recruits! The classic turn-based strategy series Military Madness, a.k.a. Nectaris, is exploding onto PlayStation Network. With an all-new graphical barrage, an all-new commander unit, online team and vs. multiplayer, and a platoon of other new features, this is the maddest game in the series yet!

Numblast ($4.99)
Prepare yourself for a number puzzle game that’s easy to play, totally addictive and laced with dreamlike, surreal undertones: are you ready for Numblast™?

PSone Classics: PS3/PSP
Gex ($5.99)
Gex, the lovable couch-potato lizard, has been sucked into the wild worlds of the media dimensions! Help him escape in this classic side-scroller from Crystal Dynamics.

Game Demos (free)
Trine Demo
Download the Trine demo which contains the first two levels. You can play in solo or with friends in co-operation. Adventure, Action and Contemplation await you in the world of Trine. Lots of traps and an army of skeletons are waiting for you!

Military Madness: Nectaris Demo
The Military is back for a new generation of recruits! The classic turn-based strategy series Military Madness, a.k.a. Nectaris, is exploding onto PlayStation Network. This demo features four single-player campaign maps and local multiplayer for 2 people on one 2-player-specific multiplayer map. The full game also showcases online team and vs. multiplayer and a platoon of other new features, making this the maddest game in the series yet!

Add-on Game Content
LittleBigPlanet Anniversary Costume (free)
A special new costume for Sackboy!

LittleBigPlanet Spaceman Costume (free)
A special new costume for Sackboy!

Dragon Age: Origins Stone Prisoner ($14.99)
Shale, a recruitable party member and one of the few golems that remain in the world, may prove to be the Grey Wardens’ most effective weapon.

Dragon Age: Origins Warden’s Keep ($6.99)
Two centuries ago, the Grey Wardens were expelled from Ferelden amidst a storm of blood and betrayal. Now comes a chance to unearth their lost fortress at remote Soldier’s Peak, to unravel the mystery behind its fall, and finally reclaim it for the order!

Brutal Legend Tears of the Hextadon Map Pack (free)
Tears of the Hextadon Map Pack expands the addictive Brütal Legend multiplayer experience with two new maps. In “Circle of Tears”, vile waters have carved a rough-hewn circular battlefield into a forsaken land that players must circumvent to destroy their opponent. In “Death’s Fjord”, players find themselves on an icy mountain pass. A dense cluster of fans lie below, waiting to be harvested by those brave enough to capture them without cover from enemy attack. BONUS: includes a free axe, the Blade of Ormagöden.

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 Character and Mission Pack ($9.99)
The Largest Army of Super Heroes is back! Jump into the heart of battle with 5 all-new playable characters to add to your Super Hero roster! Discover new fusions and alternate costumes for Carnage, Psylocke, Magneto, Cable and Black Panther. Then, unleash massive power and destruction with 4 all-new missions!

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 Character Compatibilty Pack (free)
Allows the player to play with friends who have downloaded the “Character & Mission Pack.”

Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 Juggernaut Playable Character ($1.99)
The Largest Army of Super Heroes is back! Jump into the heart of battle with this new exclusive character; the one, the only, the gargantuan, unstoppable force JUGGERNAUT! Unleash massive power and destruction with Juggernaut and the rest of your team!

topatoi: Arcade Style Pack (free)
Topatoi for PlayStation 3 brings your screen to life with classic platforming gameplay over a variety of dynamic levels. Angry barbarians and tricky puzzles will challenge you at every step in the world of the Great Tree, but overcome these obstacles and you’ll unlock an extra fourteen bonus levels!

Way of the Samurai 3 Weapons DLC (free)
Fun & crazy, exclusive weaponry content for your character!

Rock Band
“Best of You”— Foo Fighters ($1.99)
“The Pretender”— Foo Fighters ($1.99)
“Wheels”— Foo Fighters ($1.99)
“Word Forward”— Foo Fighters ($1.99)
Foo Fighters Pack 03 ($6.99) – Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game track pack: Foo Fighters Pack 03. This pack includes “Best of You,” “The Pretender,” “Wheels,” and “Word Forward” by Foo Fighters.
“Fake Friends”— Joan Jett & the Blackhearts ($1.99)
“About a Girl”— Nirvana ($1.99)
“Blew”— Nirvana ($1.99)
“School”— Nirvana ($1.99)
Nirvana Bleach Pack ($5.49)

Game Videos (free)
Pulse 11/5 Edition
Join host Christina Lee for PULSE presented by the PlayStation Network. This edition features Jak and Daxter: The Lost Frontier, Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron, LocoRoco: Midnight Carnival and Numblast. Video releases include Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, The Proposal, and anime favorite Naruto Shippuden Uncut.

God of War Collection Trailer
PlayStation 3 TV Commercial – “Candle”
PlayStation 3 TV Commercial – “Montage”
Assassin’s Creed 2 Dev Diary 4
Dragon Age: Origins City Elf Origin Trailer
Dragon Age: Origins Dwarf Commoner Origin Trailer
Dragon Age: Origins Mage Origin Trailer
Numblast Trailer
NIER TGS 2009 Trailer

Themes
Tekken 6 – Returning Characters Theme (free)
Tekken 6 – The Fight Card Theme (free)
Tekken 6 – The New Faces Theme (free)
Family Guy Theme ($1.99) (U.S. only)
Roadkill Theme ($1.99)
DarkMatter Quadrilogy Theme Pack ($5.99)

Wallpaper (free)
FIFA Soccer 10 Wallpaper
Let’s FIFA 10 Wallpaper
FIFA Soccer 10 Blanco Wallpaper
FIFA Soccer 10 Rooney Wallpaper
FIFA Soccer 10 Rooney Wallpaper 2
Tekken 6 Alisa Wallpaper
Tekken 6 Asuka Wallpaper
Tekken 6 Hwoarang Wallpaper
Tekken 6 Jin Wallpaper
Tekken 6 Kazuya Wallpaper

PlayStation Store for PSP

Downloadable Games (also available from PS3 storefront)
Ben 10 Alien Force ($19.99)
Ben 10: Protector of Earth ($14.99)
Crimson Room: Reverse ($7.99)
Class of Heroes ($39.99)
Dungeon Maker: Hunting Ground ($14.99)
Creature Defense ($7.99)
Numblast PSP ($4.99)
Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron PSP ($29.99)
Star Wars Clone Wars: Republic Heroes ($29.99)
Dissidia Final Fantasy ($39.99)
Ghostbusters The Video Game PSP ($29.99)

Game Demos (free)
MotorStorm Arctic Edge Demo (free)

Add-on Game Content
Rock Band Unplugged (also available from PS3 storefront)
“Toxicity”— System of a Down ($1.99)
“Waking the Demon”— Bullet for My Valentine ($1.99)

Game Videos (free)
Pulse 11/5 Edition
PlayStation 3 TV Commercial – “Candle”
PlayStation 3 TV Commercial – “Montage”
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars “Out For Revenge” Video
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars Trailer
Numblast PSP Trailer
2 for 1 Mercury Bundle Trailer

PSP Themes
Lemmings PSP Theme (free) (also available from PS3 storefront)
DarkMatter Quadrilogy PSP Theme Pack ($4.49) (also available from PS3 storefront)
Roadkill – Animal PSP Theme ($1.49) (also available from PS3 storefront)
Roadkill – Human PSP Theme ($1.49) (also available from PS3 storefront)

It was among the most heinous incidents in video game history: In 1986, Princess Zelda™ was kidnapped from the land of Hyrule, setting off an intrepid rescue adventure for young hero Link™. Unfortunately for Zelda, this offense has been repeated more than a dozen times since, leaving her largely out of sight while Link traversed dark dungeons and confronted monstrous enemies alone in order to save her.

This time, in the new Nintendo DS™ and Nintendo DSi adventure The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, that all changes.

For the first time in the 23-year history of The Legend of Zelda series, Princess Zelda is leaving the villainous clutches of the underworld behind and joining the adventure with Link. In The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, the spirit of Zelda accompanies Link on his quest to save Hyrule. Directly impacting game play like never before, Zelda’s spirit can take control of hulking suits of armor known as Phantoms, allowing the player to direct both Link and these new allies as they battle enemies, solve puzzles and uncover secrets. Zelda also rides alongside Link on his customizable train, offering wisdom that will help players find new areas, storylines and items. The team of Link and Zelda presents countless new storyline details for fans to enjoy, including a closer look at Princess Zelda herself, one of the most iconic video game characters of all-time.

“More than two decades into its rich history, The Legend of Zelda has introduced another historic first for players as Link and Zelda unite to save Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Combining these unprecedented new story and game-play elements with the series’ innovative touch-screen interface on Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi, the game is sure to surprise and delight new and longtime fans.”

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks launches in North America on Dec. 7.

Electronic Arts announced today that STRIKEFORCE, a world-class mixed martial arts fight promotion, will be featured as a premier league in the upcoming EA SPORTS MMA video game.  In addition, Brett Rogers and Jake Shields, both of whom will be competing in the STRIKEFORCE and M-1 Global co-promoted fight on November 7 (broadcasted live by CBS), join the EA SPORTS MMA roster of fighters.

With this partnership, the STRIKEFORCE cage and the league’s commentary team of Frank Shamrock and Mauro Ranallo, as well as ring announcer Jimmy Lennon Jr., will be incorporated into the game.  Legendary mixed martial arts referee “Big John” McCarthy will preside over the in-ring action and bring his in-depth knowledge of the sport to help deliver a truly authentic MMA experience.

“We are honored that EA SPORTS has selected STRIKEFORCE to serve as a premier league in its forthcoming MMA title,” said STRIKEFORCE President Scott Coker.  “EA SPORTS has long been recognized by gamers as a highly innovative, ground breaking provider of sports gaming entertainment.  We are confident that EA SPORTS MMA will function as a great ambassador for STRIKEFORCE’s fighters and effectively promote our sport to a new audience as well as to longtime fight fans.”

“We are very excited to be working with STRIKEFORCE and feature them as a premier league in our game,” said Executive Producer Dale Jackson.  “They have a wealth of mixed martial arts expertise, put on great shows and have a great stable of top-notch fighters.  Together we look forward to growing the sport and delivering an immersive interactive gaming experience.”

Tomorrow night’s STRIKEFORCE fight, to be broadcast on national network television by CBS, will undoubtedly be one of the most watched mixed martial arts fights in history.  EA SPORTS MMA fighter roster will feature four of the main card’s fighters, including Fedor Emelianenko, Brett Rogers, Jake Shields and Jason Miller.

Brett Rogers is preparing for the biggest fight of his career as he gets set to take on Fedor Emelianenko tomorrow night.  A 6’5”, 265 pound heavyweight, Brett is currently undefeated and holds a record of 10-0-0.  In his last fight, he knocked out Andrei Arlovski in just 22 seconds in the first round of action.

Jake Shields, a native Californian, will be taking on Jason “Mayhem” Miller for the STRIKEFORCE middleweight title.  This 5’11”, 170 pound fighter, holds a current record of 23-4-1 and comes into tomorrow night’s middleweight title bout with a 12-fight winning streak.  He is also the first and last Elite XC Welterweight champion and holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

Also slated to appear on the fighter roster for EA SPORTS MMA are STRIKEFORCE stars Jason “Mayhem” Miller and Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal.  Miller and Lawal were announced via a video last month during their visit to the development studio.

EA SPORTS MMA will feature the most authentic, intense and broad mixed martial arts experience to date – complete with a vast array of top fighters and fighting styles from around the world.  EA SPORTS MMA will be available on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system and the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system in 2010.

I owned my first pair of cleats at age 5; growing up in Germany, this was nothing out of the ordinary. Dreaming of playing for the big teams like HSV, Bayern Munich or Werder Bremen rather than doing homework, or playing afternoon matches with your friends until the sun went down, were constant and joyful activities – back then you KNEW that one day you too were going to stand on the pitch in one of Europe’s largest stadiums, hearing the crowd cheer and whistle to show their dismay at the opponent who had just fouled you.

Although I have (hopefully) grown up since then, to me there still is nothing quite like the sound and the atmosphere of a packed soccer stadium, 22 players and a ball.

So it was with great anticipation that I received the latest installment of EA Sports FIFA franchise, FIFA 2010. Ready to forgo any pending Halloween activities I could not wait to settle in and start up the game. The last version I had played since then was FIFA Soccer 2005 for XBOX – a game I had spent a significant portion of my life on, yet, I truly did not know what to expect from EA’s latest showing.

Impatiently I waited for the start up screens to pass…and within seconds was presented with Wayne Rooney ready to play a one-on-one with a goalie….sweet! 2010 does not mess around…it KNOWS it’s a gorgeous looking game and it lets to take a look the minute all the needed loading is completed. Running Rooney through the initial paces already made me fall in love with the games’ physics; animation is awesome, ball physics spot on and timing, a really key component when barreling toward your opponent, is superb.

Make NO mistake, this is not an easy button mashing game and it is highly advisable to actually run Mr. Rooney through his paces by working the one-on-one against a goalie; it’s fun, easy and gives you a real appreciation for the awesome graphics, the ball aiming engine and the shoot, lob and pass options.  Extensive use of actually useful videos teaching you the “finer” art of ball and pass control were also needed to get my rusty soccer thumbs into some semblance of shape.

...and just like that! You're on the pitch!

Pros

This is a *#&^$ awesome looking game. Playing a match looks almost perfect. The player animations and physics are so detailed, you almost want to jump out of your seat and yell at the opposing team for having fouled your favorite midfielder.  Game controls are also tight – passing, lobbing and shooting are very effectively tied into the overall aiming system – as I said before, this game DEMANDS accuracy and timing; if your aim is off by just a bit and your timing is out of sync, you see your original vision of glory fizzle into a completely misplaced ball or a successful legal tackle by your opposing defender.

FIFA 10 is a passing game. You must maintain a steady passing flow forward or backward to maintain ball control. Slowing down your player is very effective in using some of the more elegant ball control combos you practiced so much earlier (and practice you did, right? Otherwise forget about that fancy option). Alternatively, you can use the fast forward option, speeding up your player but you will run into a heck of a lot of trouble if you do not chose wisely on when to leverage all that speed – the opposing AI players are no dummies and are quite good at frustrating your unplanned and impulsive rushing play.

As will all FIFA games, individual player statistics are detailed down to the tiniest degree – a statistician’s dream, but it is not a requirement to thoroughly enjoy this game. The interface is well designed and easy to use.

The real  game mode that really stands out in this version – the introduction of Virtual Pro where you have the ability to create your own player, design his playing style and have the freedom to even slap on your own face.  Once created, you can play with your Virtual Pro player in any game mode you choose to play. Wow – this should be an option for any future EA game releases.

Cons

There is really very little not to like about FIFA 2010. I am a big XBOX Live Gamer however, and although the game does a great job at matching you up with online players of similar skills, I did notice quite a bit of lag during the matches. That can be a significant source of frustration when trying to line up a strategic passing play where all of the sudden your player gets stuck for a split second.  This however, does not happen very often and could be attributed to the usual heavy usage of Internet in my house.

Here’s the Deal

If you, like me, have ever dreamt about crowds cheering at you while playing that perfect match FIFA 2010 is your game! With its awesome graphics, wonderful visuals and fluid motion it is not difficult to imagine actually being there. Yes, it is that awesome an experience. The game play is tight with lots of options to keep players who just want to play the game and statistics/management addicts engaged for hours to come. This game demands time from you to get good at playing it, button mashers need not apply, even if you opt for the assisted amateur mode. With new 360 degree viewing modes, the days of playing straight diagonally off the pitch are gone. EA has done a superb job in making a great game even greater. This is well worth your money. PD 9.5/10

SEGA has released a 2nd Gameplay trailer for the upcoming game Bayonetta for the Xbox360 and PlayStation 3!

Bayonetta is in stores Jan. 5^th, 2010!

This exciting new trailer features all of your favorite characters from Resident Evil along with the new characters in the game, Javier and Manuela.   Before you buy the game on November 17, wet your appetite with this new action-packed trailer which also includes glimpses of new scenes, new enemies, new big bosses and lots of head shot zombie awesomeness!

Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles sends a full cast of characters into a world where the lines between good and evil are blurred and the potential to go to the dark side lies within everyone.   Leon S. Kennedy, Claire Redfield, Jack Krauser, Steve Burnside, and Chris Redfield all play their part in an engrossing storyline that will fill in the missing pieces from Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles.

The game’s on-rail, arcade shooter game-play first featured in Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, has been radically upgraded in Resident Evil The Darkside Chronicles.   With the focus on creating a more terrifying experience than ever before, the camera now mimics the first person point of view, providing a more cinematic and immersive experience.   Combined with an eerie soundtrack and a new graphics engine utilizing state-of-the-art technology, Resident Evil The Darkside Chronicles delivers the most fun and accessible horror game on the Nintendo Wii yet.

Electronic Arts Inc. announced today that a playable demo of NCAA Basketball 10 is now available for download on Xbox LIVE Marketplace for all Xbox LIVE Gold Subscribers. Gamers can play out the storied rivalry between Duke and 2009 National Champion, University of North Carolina, presented with full CBS broadcast integration. The demo will be available to Xbox LIVE Silver members on November 12, 2009 and on the PlayStation Network on November 19, 2009.

NCAA Basketball 10 captures all the energy and excitement that is unique to college basketball. The latest edition of the number one selling college basketball franchise* has experienced a renewed focus on gameplay improvement, and features a deeper concentration on team styles of play. NCAA Basketball 10 has also revolutionized the presentation of sports video games by fully integrating CBS and ESPN broadcast features.

NCAA Basketball 10, which is licensed by The Collegiate Licensing Company, is currently in development under the EA SPORTS brand by EA Canada in Vancouver, B.C., and will be available in North America on November 18th. The game will be available for the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, and Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

*Based on total franchise sales through February 2009 according to the NPD Group, Inc.

DICE, an Electronic Arts Inc. studio, today announced the upcoming Battlefield: Bad Company 2 multiplayer beta exclusively on the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system. Starting November 19, PlayStation 3 gamers will be able to experience the unprecedented action, destruction, vehicular warfare, squad play and open sandbox environments that only Battlefield can deliver. Battlefield: Bad Company 2 provides a true all-out war experience like no other modern warfare game.

For beta key distribution details go to www.battlefield.com.

“This is an outstanding opportunity for PlayStation gamers to get early access to one of the most action-packed and polished shooters in the marketplace with Battlefield: Bad Company 2,” says Rob Dyer, SVP, Publisher Relations, SCEA. “We’re happy to help DICE achieve their superior level of multiplayer excellence in the game.”

“With Battlefield: Bad Company 2 we’re looking to raise the bar across all aspects of our multiplayer experience, setting a new standard for online play,” says Patrick Bach, Senior Producer on Battlefield: Bad Company 2. “From the graphics to the vehicles, weapons and destruction, we are delivering the best online multiplayer game next year, and we want gamers to experience it themselves by playing the beta and demo.”

The Battlefield: Bad Company 2 multiplayer beta will feature the Arica Harbor map, where up to 24 players can compete in one of the game’s four intense multiplayer modes called Rush. This new map displays a superb balance of vehicle and infantry combat, as the American assault unit attacks the Russian army base with full force, advancing further through a beautiful desert town and towards the industrial area in a desperate attempt to overtake the Arica Harbor. Heavy vehicle warfare on the first bases gradually turns into an intense infantry fight as the level progresses, showcasing this best-in-class online war experience.

In December 2009, DICE will invite players to participate in a PC open beta. Then, early next year, all players worldwide will get to experience this premier shooter when DICE releases a Battlefield: Bad Company 2 multiplayer DEMO on the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system, PlayStation 3 and PC.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 will be in stores on March 2, 2010 in North America and March 5, 2010 in Europe for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and the PC. The Limited Edition is available now for pre-order at participating retailers worldwide (while supplies last).

Fuse Powers with Magneto, Carnage, Psylocke,
Cable, Black Panther and Juggernaut in New Missions

Activision announced today that the greatest Super Hero action/RPG team-up just got a super-powered upgrade with Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 downloadable content, now available until December 31, 2009, for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system.

Players can now experience Marvel’s epic Civil War storyline with five all-new playable characters in their arsenal: Carnage, Psylocke and Cable make their Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system debuts in the Marvel: Ultimate Alliance series alongside returning fan-favorites Magneto and Black Panther. The downloadable content also includes four new challenge missions, including all-new boss encounters, dangerous gauntlets and more, all downloadable from Xbox LIVE Marketplace for 800 Microsoft Points and from the PlayStation Store for $9.99. Also joining the dream team will be Juggernaut, now available for download from Xbox LIVE Marketplace for 160 Microsoft Points and from the PlayStation Store for $1.99.

The official game demo will also be available to download from Xbox LIVE Marketplace for free and allows players to play through the Washington, D.C. mission as either a pro-registration or anti-registration team.