Release Trailer For Just Cause 2

When I first say Just Cause 2 I didn't think much of it, as the first one was buggy as hell, and just not really my "cup of tea". However, every time I see something new about this game it looks better and better. So without further a-do, enjoy this explosive trailer.

New Square Enix RPG For iPhone/iPod Touch

Square Enix has just come off their Final Fantasy XIII launch, before that they released FF I&II on the iPhone/iPod Touch, and now they have just released a trailer for a new RPG.
The new game is called Chaos Rings, and it looks like it will be a pretty big hit. They upgraded their FF I&II tech to do 3D models of characters and enemies, which looks pretty cool.
This trailer is mostly in Japanese, but what really matters is the visuals, and they're very well done for an iPhone/iPod Touch game.

Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep Hits North America Soon(ish)

I know you're probably still working on Final Fantasy XIII (I am), but Square Enix has already planned for another major RPG to hit the US market, Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep. This PSP exclusive title hit the Japanese market on January 9 of 2010, and today we were told that North America will get the title during the "Summer of 2010".

I got into the Kingdom Hearts series last year, and instantly became a huge fan. Although I've only finished the first one (slowly working my way through the second), I'm really excited to see that a new Kingdom Hearts game will be coming our way. All of this is bound to lead up to the highly anticipated release of Kingdom Hearts 3, but that will have wait until another time.

PS3 Version Of Final Fantasy XIII Includes Some Extra Goodies

If you haven't heard yet, a little game called Final Fantasy XIII came out today. It avaliabe for both the Xbox 360 and PS3 platforms, but the according to Sony, the PS3 title has something extra for its players.
If you go online to register the game with the Square Enix Members program, you'll be given a special item for use in Final Fantasy XIV. On top of that, you'll also get registered for the Final Fantasy XIV beta access which should start sometime later this year.

Since I only just started playing Final Fantasy XIII, I'm having a hard time trying to even think about a Final Fantasy game so soon. However, its still some pretty cool free stuff!
If you have FFXIII for the PS3, don't forget to register!

New Lara Croft Game Will Be Download Only

There's another Tomb Raider in the works...well kinda.
The next game to come from developer Crystal Dynamics, will be about tombs and presumably raiding them. However, it won't be called Tomb Raider.
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light, is the name of the game(yes that rhymes), and it has a lot of changes aside from just a new title.
For starters, it will be a download only game for XBLA, PSN, and probably PC. Secondly, it sports a classy isometric camera angle, and so changing the way the game is played dramaticly.
These two screens give should give you a pretty good idea for what to expect come late this year.

 

I can really see myself getting into a game like this. It will probably be a bit shorter than some of the previous Tomb Raider games, considering this will be download only. On top of that, I really like the new camera angle, and the gameplay options that come with it. I'll be sure to report more on this interesting title as we draw closer to its release!

Just Cause 2 Vehicle Upgrades

Avalanche's new game, Just Cause 2, is filled with explosions, grappling hooks, guns, fast cars, and now...vehicle upgrades!

I honestly haven't been this excited about a sandbox game since Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.

Blur Beta Keys!!!
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Redeem these beta keys here!

Final Fantasy I & II On The iPhone/iPod Touch Now

Square Enix's stealth release of the first two Final Fantasy titles was earlier today. The two games have been "re-mastered" as far as the graphics go, and each has its own unique UI made specifically for the iPhone/iPod Touch platforms.
I downloaded Final Fantasy I right away, but I'm only about 1hr or so into it. So far the controls work really well because of the turn based battle system, which doesn't require me to do any quick button presses on the virtual d-pad. Other than that, the music is the same as the original (brought back a lot of memories when I heard it again).

The one downside is that FFI and FFII will cost you $8.99 each, but for the amount of gameplay you can squeeze out of them, its not all that bad.
I'll have a Micro-Review up in a week, or maybe a little sooner, but until then if your at all an FF fan I'd recommend you pick one of these classics up today!

Get Your Supreme Commander 2 RTS Fix Now

If you weren't able to get into the elusive Starcraft 2 Beta, there's something else that might be able to scratch that RTS itch. Supreme Commander 2 is due out on March 2nd, but a demo which includes 2 playable missions is up right now!

As you might also be able to see the demo is being offered through Steam, but Supreme Commander 2 will also be connected to Steam when the full game launches early next month. There's some Steam achievements too be earned, and Steam will handle off the game's updates,patches, and in-game DLC.
With the new Steam UI, and a lot of new games launching with Steam built in, I can defiantly see a bright future ahead for Vavle/Steam...unless the Steam service gets bought out later by lets say, Zenimax....Who knows.

Just Cause 2 Won't Run On Windows XP

Unfortunately, for some, Avalanche Studios' next game "Just Cause 2" won't be able to run on the Windows XP operating system. The reason is becuase "Just Cause 2" is a DirectX10 only game, and since XP doesn't support it, "Just Cause 2" won't run on XP.
Although this leaves out a pretty large size of the PC gaming community, I feel that this sort of change had to happen eventually in order for the industry to grow. At least Avalanche didn't try to make a scaled down, but inferior, version of "Just Cause 2" for XP users, and in that respect I fully support this decision.
If your current PC rig can't run Just Cause 2 for whatever reason, don't worry, its still coming to the Xbox360 and the PS3. I personally think that these type of 3rd person games are better played with a controller, rather than mouse and keyboard, so it isn't the end of the world.
Here are the rest of the "Just Cause 2" specs, if you plan on getting it for the PC, make sure to check them out.
Minimum:
- Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista or Windows 7 (Windows XP is unsupported)
- Processor: Dual-core CPU with SSE3 (Athlon 64 X2 4200 / Pentium D 3GHz)
- Graphics Card: Nvidia Geforce 8800 Series / ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro with 256MB memory or equivalent DX10 card with 256MB memory
- Memory: 2GB RAM
- DirectX: Microsoft DirectX 10
- Hard Drive: 10GB of free drive space
- Optical Drive: DVD-ROM drive
- Sound Card: 100% DirectX 10 compatible sound card
- Internet Connection: Internet connection required for product activation
- Input: Keyboard and mouse (Microsoft Xbox 360 controller optional)

Recommended:
- Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista or Windows 7 (Windows XP is unsupported)
- Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 2.6GHz or AMD Phenom X3 2.4GHz
- Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTS 250 Series with 512MB / ATI Radeon HD 5750 Series with 512MB or equivalent DX10 card with 512MB memory
- Memory: 3GB
- DirectX: Microsoft DirectX 10.1 with Vista SP1
- Hard Drive: 10GB of free drive space
- Optical Drive: DVD-ROM drive
- Sound Card: 100% DirectX 10 compatible Dolby Digital 5.1 sound card
- Internet Connection: Internet connection required for product activation
- Input: Keyboard and mouse (Xbox 360 controller optional)

Final Fantasy VII Remake A "Possibility"

Final Fantasy VII is considered by most to be the best in the entire Final Fantasy series, and so its no surprise that fans have been asking for a remake. It seems whenever there's a new Final Fantasy nearing release, this debate for an FFVII remake comes up. It usually ends with Square Enix saying that they want to explore newer concepts rather than remake an old title, but this time we're getting a different answer. Earlier this week Producer of FFXIII, and Director of FFVII, gave the fans a little bit of hope.
"If it were possible that we had all the right facilities and the right environment to be able to make and prepare a Final Fantasy VII remake within a year, we'd very much like a go at it! But even Final Fantasy XIII has taken over three and a half years to create. If we were to recreate Final Fantasy VII with the same level of graphical detail as you see in Final Fantasy XIII, we'd imagine that that would take as much as three or four times longer than the three and a half years it has taken to put this Final Fantasy together! So it's looking pretty unrealistic! But if any such situation came about by any remote chance, then yes, we'd do it!"

Although its far from certain, its nice to know that Square Enix is keeping the idea in the back of their mind. Maybe in a couple years we'll get a FFVII remake, or maybe we wont. The real question to me however, is this. Why would you really want an FFVII remake? To me FFVII wasn't about the graphics, but rather about the awesome combat system and the fantastic story.
I think that FFVII has earned its place in gaming history a classic, and so people aren't expecting such an old game to compete with games of this generation as far as graphics go. What do you think?

Final Fantasy Experience/Launch Party in SF on March 8th

To celebrate the upcoming release, there's going to be an event called the Final Fantasy XIII Experience, to be held on March 8 in San Francisco. Fans will get a chance to preview the game first hand, browse a gallery of artwork, view trailers and meet the development team. Attendees can also win Final Fantasy XII raffle prizes at this event.
If you're really luck, and a Bronze member or above, you could be selected to get in the actual Final Fantasy XIII launch party later that night.

I'm not a Bronze member at the Square Enix site, but I'll defiantly try and get into the door of the Final Fantasy Experience. If I do, be sure to check back here, as I'll post lots of cool pictures and info from the event.

Link to enter the contest can be found here