Yeah science!

If you’re fond of Walter White, Jesse Pinkman and their patented* blue crystal meth, you’ll be happy to hear that Season 5 of the award-winning Breaking Bad is coming to Netflix on November 1^st.

This is the first half of the fifth season mind you, with each half having 8 episodes and all previous seasons are still available too. More Breaking Bad than a DEA Agent would know what to do with.

It’s worth noting that Season 5 is debuting on Netflix UK & Ireland before anywhere else in the world where Netflix is available, who ever said we don’t get looked after.

*It’s not patented?! Walter really needs to get his priorities straight…

Full press release below.

Dublin, 16 October 2012 – Breaking Bad season 5 part 1 will be available on an exclusive subscription basis for Netflix members to watch instantly in the UK & Ireland beginning November 1st, 2012, before appearing on Netflix in any other region where the service is available. The release also represents the first-run of the highly-anticipated final season episodes for fans of the show in the UK and Ireland.

Breaking Bad continues to be a huge success on Netflix, driving even bigger streaming figures with each successive season launch, as existing fans watch the new episodes and additional members discover season 1 for the first time.

Starring Emmy-award winners Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul, Breaking Bad follows Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher turned crystal meth kingpin trying to secure his family’s financial future. The fifth and final season of the critically acclaimed series is sure to have audiences gripped to find out how the anti-heroes end their story.

“We are thrilled to bring these highly-anticipated new Breaking Bad episodes on a first-run basis to Netflix members in the UK and Ireland,” said Kelly Merryman, Vice President of Content Acquisition. “Season four broke viewing records for us across the board and we expect fans of the show to be even more excited about season 5 part 1 becoming available so soon after their premiere on television in the United States.”
All previous seasons of Breaking Bad are available now for Netflix members in the UK and Ireland to enjoy. Anyone can begin a free, one-month trial of Netflix by simply visiting Netflix.com.

Breaking Bad is produced and distributed by Sony Pictures Television.
About Netflix, Inc.
With more than 27 million streaming members in the United States, Canada, Latin America, the United Kingdom and Ireland, Netflix, Inc. [Nasdaq: NFLX] is the world’s leading internet subscription service for enjoying movies and TV series. For €6.99 a month, Netflix members can instantly watch unlimited films and TV episodes streamed over the internet to PCs, Macs and TVs. Among the large and expanding base of devices streaming from Netflix are the Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and Sony PS3 consoles; an array of Blu-ray disc players, internet-connected TVs, home theatre systems, digital video recorders and internet video players; Apple iPhone, iPad and iPod touch, as well as Apple TV and Google TV. In all, more than 800 devices that stream from Netflix are available. For additional information, visit www.netflix.com. Follow Netflix on Facebook and Twitter.

You can contact the author of this post, Luke Hoare Greene at Luke@TechTV101.com or Follow him on Twitter.

If you’ve been feeling cramped or claustrophobic in the smaller-than-usual Battlefield 3 maps in the Close Quarters DLC, then fear no more as Armoured Kill is released in September and you can check out its debut trailer right here.

The trailer shows us Bandar Desert which is the largest map in Battlefield history as well as Alborz Mountain.
Armoured Kill will introduce new elements to EAs biggest shooter including an air gunship and rocket artillery (the latter is new to Battlefield 3 but these were in Battlefield 1942).

This DLC will also include a new mode called Tank Superiority where tanks will be the main focus of the fighting to control the map, as the name implies.

Battlefield 3: Armoured Kill will release in September and two weeks early for Premium Members (Whom it will also be free for).

If you have to bail from your vehicle in the middle of these maps, prepare for a long walk.

You can contact the author of this post, Luke Hoare Greene at Luke@TechTV101.com or Follow him on Twitter.

Here’s the Top 10 Games in Ireland, according to GameStop’s records, for last week!

Our good friends at Ubisoft have continued their winning streak this week with Ghost Recon: Future Soldier holding strong in 1st place. The impressive return of Diablo has tempered a lot this week dropping 5 places to sit in 6th. Rockstar’s reboot, Max Payne 3 has continued to “bullet dodge” its way into the hearts of Irish gamers, while Mario Tennis Open is “serving” its way up the charts jumping 3 places into 5th. A little further down the chart you’ll see the Dragon’s Dogma holding in their after it’s less than stunning entry last week (something tells me this hidden gem may again slowly worm it’s way up the charts over the coming weeks).

So can Ghost Recon hold on to spot next week? Guess we’ll have to see…

 SCEA Showcases Blockbuster Content for PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) and PlayStation®3 (PS3™), Enhancements to PlayStation®Plus, HTC Partnership for PlayStation®Mobile, and Much More at the 2012 E3 Media & Business Summit

Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC. (SCEA)recently announced at its annual press conference at the E3 Media & Business Summit an outstanding line-up of PlayStation® exclusive content for PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) and PlayStation®3 (PS3™) systems, brand new products that leverage the unique motion control features of the PlayStation®Move motion controller, an enhancement to the PlayStation®Plus membership program, and a partnership with HTC to support PlayStation®Mobile, which was renamed from PlayStation®Suite today, that further establishes PlayStation as the ultimate destination for fans of compelling gaming and entertainment experiences.

“For more than 17 years, PlayStation has stood for everything gamers love – exhilarating experiences that transcend entertainment. When you play in our world, there are no limitations of the imagination,” said Jack Tretton, CEO and President of SCEA. “Powerful new gameplay experiences delivered on PS Vita, a deep and exclusive software line-up for PS3 that is the benchmark of the industry, and entertainment services that have the gamer at heart, demonstrate that the PlayStation ecosystem is more vibrant than ever. Our commitment to innovation and jaw-dropping entertainment for gamers is at the core of the experiences that you will continue to see from PlayStation in 2012 and beyond.”    

PlayStation®Vita
Since its North American launch last February, the PS Vita system has introduced new ways to play, delivered console-like gameplay experiences and offered the most powerful and connected portable entertainment system ever created. By combining the PS Vita system with the industry’s most popular gaming franchises, consumers get a complete portable entertainment package at an incredible value. Starting on October 30^th, the Assassin’s Creed® III Liberation PS Vita Bundle will be available featuring a crystal white PS Vita Wi-Fi system, 4GB Memory Card and Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed® III Liberation game on a PS Vita game card.

Continuing its legacy of innovative content, SCEA showcased a robust collection of software titles developed exclusively for the PS Vita system. Featured titles including Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time™, LittleBigPlanet™, and PlayStation® All-Stars Battle Royale all utilize the platform’s groundbreaking technology to deliver immersive, interactive and social gameplay available on-the-go. For the first time in the franchise’s 10 year history, fans can now take Sly Cooper with them outside of the home via Cross-Save functionality. With this interoperable compatibility between the PS3 and PS Vita systems, users can save their progress and take their Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time campaign on the road to continue. Also making use of PS Vita’s unique feature set, LittleBigPlanet allows users to Play, Create and Share like never before with the system’s front touch screen and rear touch pad, tilt capabilities, microphone, and its front and rear cameras in this brand new mobile adventure for Sackboy™. Finally, PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale brings together iconic first and third party PlayStation characters for the first time in a classic brawler that allows players to take their PS Vita system and battle PS3 gamers in real time through the title’s Cross-Play functionality. Adding to this selection of innovative games, SCEA featured a collection of PS Vita titles that will be available including Sound Shapes, Smart As, Soul Sacrifice, PulzAR, and Table Top Tanks, and also announced that PlayStation®one Classics will be supported on PS Vita following a system software update, scheduled for this summer.

PlayStation®3
Now in its sixth year, the PS3 system continues to experience tremendous momentum while delivering more entertainment value to consumers than ever before. With more than 63.9 million PS3 units across the world to date and more than 3,100 games available worldwide, PS3 is the premiere destination for at-homeentertainment. Expanding the PS3 system’s industry-leading catalog of blockbuster games, SCEA presented a selection of new entries from fan-favorite series featuring full stereoscopic 3D support including God of War: Ascension™ and Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time™. PS3 owners can also look forward to exclusive AAA content in the form of BEYOND: Two Souls™, The Last of Us™, LittleBigPlanet™ Karting and PlayStation® All-Stars Battle Royale, along with unique PlayStation®Network and indie games, including Sound Shapes, When Vikings Attack, Journey Collection™, and The Unfinished Swan. Additionally, LittleBigPlanet™ 2 will be debuting its cross-control functionality that will allow players to experience the game in a brand new way. LittleBigPlanet 2 owners can now use the PS Vita system as an enhanced controller for the PS3 system, enabling them to Play, Create and Share with their PS3 and PS Vita systems at home together. Furthering its commitment to delivering value to consumers, SCEA today announced the availability of the Assassin’s Creed III PlayStation 3 bundle at major retailers across the U.S. this October, which brings together the PS3 system with Ubisoft’s highly-anticipated Assassin’s Creed III game on Blu-ray disc.

PlayStation®Move
In addition to an extensive software lineup, SCE today announced Wonderbook™: Book of Spells, the first title that uses Wonderbook, the innovative new PS3 peripheral to incorporate augmented reality as a unique way to tell and share stories for children and families. The first product from Sony’s partnership with Pottermore, Book of Spells brings wizardry to life, featuring exclusive content written by J.K. Rowling and introducing players to the Harry Potter universe using the PlayStation®Move (PS Move) and the PlayStation®Eye camera. SCE also unveiled the upcoming availability of the PlayStation®Move Racing Wheel, a new peripheral for PS3 that will work seamlessly with the PS Move motion controller. Designed to deliver the ultimate racing experience, the PlayStation Move Racing Wheel features folding motorcycle handlebars with twist grip throttle, fast access paddle shifters, and enhanced vibration feedback to give consumers a fun and intuitive racing experience no matter what vehicle they are driving. Available this Fall for $39.99 (MSRP), the PlayStation Move Racing Wheel will support recently announced titles such as LittleBigPlanet™ Karting in addition to PS3 favorites like MotorStorm®Apocalypse, Gran Turismo® 5, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, Burnout Paradise™ and many more. Moreover, SCEA featured Sports Champions 2, the sequel to the best-selling PS Move title Sports Champions, which features six pulse-pounding events, including five new games and an update to the fan-favorite Archery event from the first title.

PlayStation®Plus
PlayStation Network announced an enhancement to its PlayStation®Plus premium membership, providing consumers with an instant game collection for less than $5 a month. As of June 5^th at 2:00pm PT, popular titles like Ratchet & Clank: All 4 One™, inFAMOUS™ 2, LittleBigPlanet™ 2, and many more from first-and-third party partners, will be part of a library of great games instantly available to PlayStation Plus members. New games will be added regularly, so subscribers will never run out of fun games to play. As always, PlayStation Plus members also enjoy exclusive access to betas, huge discounts, online storage for games, and much more. PlayStation®Plus can be purchased through PlayStation® Store on the PS3 system by clicking on the PlayStation Plus category. One-year memberships are available for $49.99 (MSRP) and three-month memberships cost just $17.99 (MSRP).  

HTC Partnership for PlayStation®Mobile
SCE announced HTC Corporation (HTC) will join the PlayStation™Certified license program^*1. By collaborating with HTC, a global designer of smartphones and the world’s first company to launch Android-powered devices, SCE aims to deliver the PlayStation® experience to even more users around the world. In addition to third party developers and publishers as well as a wide range of content developers who have agreed to develop content for PlayStation®Suite, SCE Worldwide Studios is developing attractive games. SCE is positioned to grow the world of PlayStation across mobile devices with the progress of content development and the expansion of PlayStation Certified devices. In conjunction with this development, SCE will rename PlayStation Suite to PlayStation®Mobile, and position it as a new platform. SCE will further accelerate the expansion of PlayStation Certified devices and continue to collaborate with content developers to drive the delivery of compelling entertainment experiences through PlayStation Mobile.

Nintendo had their press conference today and the show floor opened to journalists and guests to get hands on with the newest upcoming games.

Read on for some of our highlights below.

Assassins Creed III

Ubisoft gave a lengthy walkthrough showing the new character ‘Connor’ hunting a deer which he then had to defend from a pack of wolves. Afterwards we see a small camp where you can accept and turn in quests (we say accept, one guy just shouts his quest in your face) and it’s here that Connor gets told about his next target – a British official being defended by Redcoats.

Words can’t describe the impressive and fluid combat enough, do yourself a favour and watch it in action.

Then begin your countdown timers to the games’ release on  October 31^st, 2012.

Xbox SmartGlass

Critics of Xbox SmartGlass are calling it an imitation of Apple Airplay, or of the Wii U tablet controller.

It’s neither.

SmartGlass is actually a strange mixture of them both, sprinkled with a Windows touch.

Rather than allowing you to simply send video from your laptop/tablet/phone to your Xbox, when you do – your device turns into an extension of what you’re watching.

A great example from Microsofts’ presser was sending Game of Thrones from a Windows 8 tablet to an Xbox console and rather than the tablet simply becoming useless, it displayed a map of the Game of Thrones’ world and information on the lore.

Likewise if you’re watching a movie, your SmartGlass enabled device will show you bios of the actors in the movie, trivia or similar movies.

Beyond connectivity with movies and tv shows, SmartGlass will also turn your device into the mouse and keyboard for the incoming Internet Explorer for Xbox, although Microsoft aren’t giving away too much on that note.

Xbox SmartGlass will be free and is set for a Fall 2012 release, around the same time that Windows 8 is expected to release, although Microsoft have said that it will work on all devices, not just Windows 8 or Windows Phone.

Watch Dogs

In what many are already calling the game of the show, Ubisoft surprised everyone by ending their press conference with a look at a brand new IP called Watch Dogs.

It looks set to be an interesting mash up of Deus Ex and GTA IV, with some Max Payne thrown in for good measure.

Set in a Blade Runner-esque world where anything can be hacked and anyone can be tracked, the demo shows some great acting and gameplay mechanics such as hacking traffic lights to cause a car crash (which allows for some conveniently placed cover) and hints quite strongly at online multiplayer – MMO, CO-OP or versus though Ubisoft are remaining tight-lipped about.

This could be one of the biggest hits of E3.

Pikmin 3

The gardening adventure game that we first came to know and love on the GameCube is finally returning on the Wii U with multiplayer at least confirmed more info to follow.

We’re very excited about this one.

The Wii U

Nintendo has a successor to the incredibly successful Wii which itself was launched at E3 four years ago, and the Wii U has a unique tablet like controller which caused a lot of controversy  at E3 2011.

It will launch with Netflix, YouTube and Amazon as content partners, support up to two tablet controllers and comes with a ‘hardcore’ controller which is extremely similar to the current Xbox 360 controller.

The Wii U is set to launch this holiday season, complete with NintendoLand -  a ‘free theme park’ based on all the Nintendo games you already know and love.

COO of Nintendo America Reggie Fils-Aime described NintendoLand as the Wii Sports of the Wii U.

SimCity

The Sim City series could arguably called the king of city sims, grabbing the attention of budding mayors long before FarmVille or CityVille existed.

It’s been a long nine year wait since Sim City 4 and the wait will extend a slight bit until February 2013, but the worth looks set to be worth it.

Online Multiplayer, believable living cities and EAs new GlassBox game engine make this one to watch.

Halo 4

The juggernaut that helped launch the Xbox and some would say, the reason for the 360 even existing.
Ok, maybe that’s a bit of a reach but the sheer power and fan base of Halo can’t be denied.

But with Bungie having moved on to a new IP with Activision, the newly formed 343 Studios have big boots to fill.

Fear not, have one look at this new footage and all your fears should fade away, 343 have clearly stuck close to their source material while giving it a new and unique feel to it.

A beefed up multiplayer mode will also be included of course, it wouldn’t be Halo without it.

Look for Halo 4 on November 6^th, 2012.

The Last of Us

The new IP from Naughty Dog, the genius team behind the Uncharted franchise is The Last of Us, a post-apocalyptic zombie action-adventure – we know, zombies, bear with us.

As you would expect, this game looks set to maintain if not improve on the amazing standards set by Uncharted 1 to 3, although a hell of a lot more gory.

Check out the first gameplay demo for a glimpse to the apocalypse. Remember, the zombies aren’t your only enemies…

E3 2012 has only got one day down with two more still to go, we’ll be bringing you more of our highlights throughout the week.

You can contact the author of this post, Luke Hoare Greene at Luke@TechTV101.com or Follow him on Twitter.

Here’s the Top 10 Games in Ireland, according to GameStop’s records, for last week!

After just 1 week the battle of the sequels has ended and it seems that our good friends at Ubisoft have won out with the release of  Ghost Recon: Future Soldier and a strong debut in 1st.The impressive return of Diablo still has all the Irish PC gamers in rapture as it stay in a comfortable 2nd. Rockstar’s reboot has continued to go down a storm, as Max Payne 3 sits pretty with the console players in 3rd and 4th place. A little further down the chart you’ll see the less than amazing debuts of both Dragon’s Dogma and Mario Tennis Open.

So can Ghost Recon hold on to spot next week? Guess we’ll have to see…

And the UEFA EURO 2012™ champion is…Germany! Electronic Arts Inc. today declared Germany the winner of UEFA EURO 2012™ through a tournament simulation using the market-leading football engine that drives EA SPORTS™ UEFA EURO 2012™ <http://www.ea.com/uk/football/euro12> on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system and PC. EA SPORTS™ was able to simulate the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship and test all 16 teams under the same conditions they will face in the weeks ahead. It was determined that Germany will defeat Netherlands 2-1 at Olympic Stadium in Kyiv on July 1 to win The Henri Delaunay Trophy.

The final itself saw the Germans fall behind 1-0 after Robin van Persie struck home a left-footed rocket from just outside the box in the 24th minute. Van Persie finished as the tournament’s top goal scorer with five goals. However, the Dutch lead did not last long as Mesut Özil leveled the score 12 minutes later, setting the stage for the golden goal from Mario Gómez, his fourth of the tournament. Gómez went high into the air between two Dutch defenders on a corner kick by Bastian Schweinsteiger to knock home the winner in the 78th minute, delivering Germany its fourth UEFA EURO championship.

Fans around the globe will compare these results to the real-world tournament as it unfolds beginning June 8. EA SPORTS has predicted that the Germans will win all three group stage matches, and maintain their form throughout the knockout phase, but it took a Miroslav Klose goal in extra time to propel the Germans past Italy 1-0 in the semi-final. Germany’s path to the Final included a 3-2 victory over Netherlands in the group stage and a 3-1 victory over Poland in the quarter-final.

Netherlands finished second behind Germany in the Group Stage after wins over Portugal and Denmark. Their road to the final included a 2-0 victory over Russia in the quarter-finals and a thrilling 3-1 semi-final victory over defending champion and pre-tournament favourite, Spain.  In the semi-final match, Arjen Robben and David Villa traded first half goals before Van Persie put the Dutch ahead in the 64th minute. Spain had several efforts on goal in the final third of the match but couldn’t capitalize on its chances as they pushed all players forward in an attempt to draw even, eventually conceding a counter attack goal in the 86th minute from striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.

England had its hearts broken in the quarter-finals. After an absorbing 2-2 draw with Spain, England went out 4-3 on penalty kicks. The fifth English shooter, striker Andy Carroll, was stopped when keeper Iker Casillas guessed correctly, diving to his right to get a hand on the hard low shot that propelled Spain into the semi-finals. Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard all notched goals for England in the penalty shootout while Carroll and Jermain Defoe were stopped. Spain goals came from David Silva, Xabi Alonso, Andrés Iniesta, and Fernando Llorente.

Italy, after finishing second behind Spain in Group C with a 1-1-1 record, got a goal in the 77th minute from striker Mario Balotelli to defeat Group D winner France, 2-1, in their quarter-final match. Italy scored just four goals in the tournament and couldn’t generate any offence in its semi-final match against the Germans, finally succumbing 1-0 in extra time. The French suffered their only loss in the tournament to Italy, after drawing 2-2 with England and posting 2-0 wins over Ukraine and Sweden in the Group Stage.

EA SPORTS has a proven track record of correctly predicting winners using its game engines across all of its simulation sports franchises. EA SPORTS correctly predicted Chelsea would defeat Liverpool 2-1 to capture this year’s FA Cup and Spain would win the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa™. The Madden NFL franchise has correctly predicted seven of the past nine Super Bowl champions.

EA SPORTS UEFA EURO 2012, the officially licensed videogame of UEFA EURO 2012™, is available now to purchase as a digital expansion pack on EA SPORTS FIFA 12. It is rated “E” for Everyone by the ESRB and 3+ by PEGI in Europe. Visit http://www.ea.com/uk/football/euro12 for more information about the game features. Screenshots can be downloaded at http://info.ea.com.

EA SPORTS UEFA EURO 2012™ results:

Group Stage

• Poland   1   0   Greece   Group A   
• Russia   2   1   Czech Republic   Group A   
• Netherlands   3   1   Denmark   Group B   
• Germany   2   1   Portugal   Group B   
• Spain   1   0   Italy   Group C   
• Republic of Ireland   1   1   Croatia   Group C   
• France   2   2   England   Group D   
• Ukraine   0   2   Sweden   Group D   
• Greece   0   2   Czech Republic   Group A   
• Poland   1   1   Russia   Group A   
• Denmark   1   4   Portugal   Group B   
• Netherlands   2   3   Germany   Group B   
• Italy   1   0   Croatia   Group C   
• Spain   2   0   Republic of Ireland   Group C   
• Ukraine   0   2   France   Group D   
• Sweden   1   2   England   Group D   
• Greece   1   4   Russia   Group A   
• Czech Republic   2   2   Poland   Group A   
• Portugal   2   3   Netherlands   Group B   
• Denmark   1   2   Germany   Group B   
• Croatia   1   3   Spain   Group C   
• Italy   1   1   Republic of Ireland   Group C   
• Sweden   0   2   France   Group D   
• England   3   1   Ukraine   Group D
  

Group A   W   D   L   F – A   Pts
Russia   2   1   0   7-3   7
Poland   1   2   0   4-3   5
Czech Republic   1   1   1   5-4   4
Greece   0   0   3   1-7   0
Group B   W   D   L   F – A   Pts
Germany   3   0   0   7-4   9
Netherlands   2   0   1   8-6   6
Portugal   1   0   2   7-6   3
Denmark   0   0   3   3-9   0
Group C   W   D   L   F – A   Pts
Spain   3   0   0   6-1   9
Italy   1   1   1   2-2   4
Republic of Ireland   0   2   1   2-4   2
Croatia   0   1   2   2-5   1
Group D   W   D   L   F – A   Pts
France   2   1   0   6-2   7
England   2   1   0   7-4   7
Sweden   1   0   2   3-4   3
Ukraine   0   0   3   1-7   0

Quarter-finals   Score               Goal Scorers
Russia   0   2       Netherlands    van Persie; Huntelaar
Germany   3   1       Poland        Gómez, Gómez, Schweinsteiger; Lewandowski
Spain   2   2   (4-3)   England     Llorente, Piqué; Rooney, Lampard
France   1   2       Italy                Benzema; Pirlo, Balotelli

Semi-finals   Score                Goal Scorers
Netherlands   3   1 Spain          Robben, van Persie, Huntelaar; Silva
Germany   1   0 Italy                 Klose

Final   Score                            Goal Scorers
Netherlands 1   2 Germany       van Persie; Özil, Gómez

As we get closer to the EURO 2012 Championship, the country is becoming footie mad and all you FIFA fans can rejoice as the first few details on FIFA 13 have been released and it looks like the development team at EA Canada are working hard to improve upon the last game.

David Rutter, Executive Producer for FIFA 13 said;

“We are perfecting the best sports game in the world with innovations that capture all the drama and unpredictability of real-world football. These are game-changing innovations that will revolutionize our artificial intelligence, dribbling, ball control and collisions to create a true battle for possession across the entire pitch, and deliver freedom and creativity in attack.”

One of the biggest issues noted about FIFA 12 was the physics engine. The engine that enabled players to physically interact with each other more both had good and bad elements. The guys in EA Canada have said they are tweaking it for FIFA 13 to try and remove some of those awkward player interactions that plagued the previous game, while still keeping the physicality of the game.

This year’s version will also feature a refined ball control mechanic, meaning it takes a little more skill to dribble and move the ball based on your player’s strength, speed, technical skills and even the height of the ball itself. The new game will also allow you to face the opposing team, while finding new and creative ways to beat them 1-on-1. Oh and 2 new pass types will be available to you as well.

The guys have also announced that further work on the games AI, which is going to reportable be the most sophisticated AI ever achieved for the FIFA franchise. All-new Attacking Intelligence will now enable the game to analyse space, work harder and smarter to break down defences, and think two steps ahead of gamers. Apparently the game now possess the intelligence to create, curve, or alter runs to capitalize on openings as they occur, make runs that pull defenders out of position to open passing channels for teammates, and better position themselves for new attacking opportunities.

FIFA 13 will also feature:

• Improved Career Mode with major changes developed in response to requests from the most passionate fans of the franchise.
• New features to enhance the massive EA SPORTS FIFA online offering, including improvements to the wildly popular Head-To-Head Seasons mode
• Multiple new features and benefits to EA SPORTS Football Club, the live service that is the heartbeat of FIFA
• Complete authenticity with more than 500 officially licensed clubs.

EA Canada says that more features for FIFA 13 will be announced in the future, so stay tuned. In the meantime, check out the shiny new screenshots released above and below.

FIFA 13 will be released later this year for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation Vita, Wii, PC,  3DS, iPhone, iPad and other mobile platforms.

With the plethora of World War II shooters out there, like Call of Duty: World at War, the Medal of Honour and Brothers in Arms franchises, you have to wonder why 505 Games and Rebellion decided to reboot Sniper Elite?

The game, Sniper Elite V2, like its predecessor is set during the closing days of WWII. As an American sniper (an OSS agent) you’re dropped into Berlin in the last phase of WWII, with orders to either extract or kill scientists working in the Nazis’ rocket research program. As with any good story, things don’t go as planned and you have to improvise… A LOT.

While Sniper Elite V2 looks a bit rough around the edges, don’t be fooled, there’s a gem of a game underneath full of headshot-tastic and gratifying moments.

Firstly – This is not a first-person shooter. The game predominately takes places in 3^rd person, aside from when you’re sniping. This moves the emphasis of the game to tactical stealth and long-range attacks. As Jason Kingsley, CEO of Rebellion, said in a recent interview: “This is no run-and-gun shooter, it’s an authentic sniping experience – rewarding stealth, forcing the player to use their brain as well as their thumbs.”

The beginning of each mission starts out the same – stealthily. You’re behind enemy lines, and your only allies are the weapons and munitions you carry with you. You can carry the typical WWII weapons; a sniper rifle, a submachine gun, and a sidearm. Aside from your rifle, the most crucial weapon is your choice of explosives. Trip wires, land mines, dynamite, and grenades all blow up in different ways, and having enough firepower to set an extra trap or take out a cluster of advancing enemies can be the difference between life and death.

But by far the most effective form of taking out the enemy is your sniping abilities. As you scan the battlefield tagging your enemies using your binoculars, you need to consider your upcoming shot. Before taking the shot, you have to account for bullet drop, wind strength and the effect of holding your breathy when making the shot. Successfully shots brings a very nice prize with it, the celebrated “kill cam” – Skilful shots are rewarded with slow-motion sequence of the bullet running its full trajectory in graphic x-ray detail, showing the bullet entering the body.

The missions play out in properly acted voice-overs and interesting cut-scenes, which all provide a welcome respite and backdrop for your missions. The solid level design makes good use of the setting, as bombed-out buildings and barricaded streets provide lots of nice hiding places for a lone sniper. Obviously, PC players get a much-better-looking version of ruined Berlin, enjoying crisp details and lovely skies while Xbox 360 owners deal with softer, more muted and moodier visuals.

The games campaign is lengthy by FPS standards, clocking-in at just over 10 hours long, and it can be played cooperatively online. There are also some other game types for two players, including Kill Tally and Bombing Run. These offer the same co-op fun of the two-player campaign missions, but Overwatch provides something a bit unique. In Overwatch, 1 player is the sniper, confined to an elevated position, and the other is a foot soldier, carrying out objectives on the ground and spotting for the sniper.

As a whole Sniper Elite v2 has some big points in its favour and these are big enough to make you forget the rough graphics. The game truthfully does a really good job of the main business: sniping.

All-in-all, if you relish a good headshot, Sniper Elite V2 has got you covered.

Final Score – 4/5

Square-Enix and IO Interactive have revealed, an up coming standalone DLC Hitman game that will be only available when you pre-order Hitman: Absolution.

Although details of the offer were leaked earlier this week, via an advert in US magazine Game Informer, (at the time, the exact nature of the package/game wasn’t clear) yesterday Square-Enix revealed that customers who pre-order the title from a participating retailer will receive a code allowing them to immediately download Sniper Challenge from the official Hitman Sniper site. The offer begins on the 15th of May for PS3 and Xbox 360 owners and the 1st of August on PC.

We reached out to the publisher and Square-Enix confirmed that Sniper Challenge is an utterly separate entity from Absolution – it’s not a prequel, and does not contain similar story elements. And there are no plans to make the mini-game more widely available after the release of Absolution.

Check out the debut Sniper Challenge trailer below, as well as a the press details:

From a balcony overlooking a roof-top party, you are tasked with taking out Richard Strong, Jr., CEO of Stallion Armaments, along with his entire staff of bodyguards. Skilled players will capitalize on score multipliers, discover secret extras, unlock equipment upgrades, and marvel at the many creative ways one can discretely dispose of a body while they work to fulfil their contract in the most efficient way possible.

The high-powered Kazo TRG sniper rifle and a host of other upgrades can be unlocked and carried over into HITMAN: ABSOLUTION. Also an online leader board will allow players to compare their sniping abilities with players around the world, supported by various challenges to determine who has the best sniping skills. Keep an eye on www.Hitmansniper.com for more details.

Here’s the Top 10 Games in Ireland, according to GameStop’s records, for last week!

Who knew killing Hitler could be so much fun? Rebellion did, that’s who! Sniper Elite V2 has made a stunning debut at the top spot in the top 10 games in Ireland chart this week.

It’s worth noting that Radical Entertainment’s stunning sandbox game, Prototype 2, CD Projekt’s The Witcher 2 and EA’s FIFA 12 have all take a knock down the charts, while the footie-trickster FIFA Street climbs one place. I’m happy to see the Mass Effect 3 climbing  back into peoples hearts and our Ireland’s top 10.

On a sad note, it’s with a heartfelt sorrow and humming the “Imperial March” theme tune that we must announce that Kinect Star Wars hyper-drives have failed and the game is now out of the running. So long dancing C3P0, we hope to see you again on console not “Far, Far Away”. (Ok final Star Wars pun)

So will Rebellion’s WWII satisfying shooting gallery be holding top spot again this time next week? Only time will tell…

Here’s the Top 10 Games in Ireland, according to GameStops records, for the week starting 2nd May 2012!

It was never in doubt really, as Radical Entertainment’s stunning sandbox game, Prototype 2, has claimed the crown at the top spot in the GameStop charts on its debut week. Surprisingly, CD Projekt’s The Witcher 2 has jumped up the charts to take the 3rd spot. FIFA 2012 is up next, getting a boost in sales thanks to the release of the UEFA EURO 2012 DLC (click here for the review), followed up by FIFA Street after dropping a few places– both titles facing a squeeze from the top spot. It’s good to see Kinect Star Wars still in the running – Who doesn’t love to dance like C3P0?

So will Radical Entertainment’s gorey sandbox be holding top spot again this time next week? Only time will tell…

UEFA EURO 2012 marks the first time EA has released a FIFA tournament tie-in as downloadable content and not a fully-priced and boxed version.

The game allows you to lead your country to UEFA EURO 2012 glory as it attempts to recreate the passion and rivalry of the official tournament. So whether you want to relieve some of the moments from real-life matches as the tournament plays out or build and manage your dream team as you try to conquer Europe in the all-new Expedition mode.

The main draw for the game is of course the tournament, which can be attempted with any one of the teams that made it to the finals. (come on you boys in green) Players can also participate in online tournaments, which once the tournament begins are bound to be aplenty, by playing through the different rounds against opposition from across Europe.

The Expedition mode enables you to build, manage and compete with a customised team against other European counties as you attempt for European domination. Gamers will choose their favourite European player or FIFA 12 Virtual Pro to captain their customised team, win matches to earn better players from defeated nations, and then defeat the best nations to earn the best players in a campaign quest to defeat all 53 countries and complete the journey to conquer Europe.

EA will continue to add to the game through its “Challenges” mode, which enable gamers to relive real-life scenario’s that can be submitted by and voted for by fans. EA’s “Challenges” mode kicks off on the 27th of April and will be updated with new content until the  5th of July.

Gameplay in UEFA EURO 2012 is much as it ever was back in FIFA 12(click here for the review). Passing is still as fast paced, as you  nail an indefensible through pass or completely miscue a pass and leave yourself exposed to a counter attack. Control and dribbling feels like they have been refined a bit, giving better accuracy but this may be just the reviewer. Defending is just as tactical as it has been, with containment the name of the game.

At EA’s April Showcase in London this year, we chatted to Sebastian Enrique, Producer for EA Sports, about the  newly released FIFA 12 DLC, check it out below.

All in all, EURO 2012 is a worthwhile purchase for anybody really excited by this year’s tournament but can’t wait for the activity to begin. The availability of the game as DLC is also a very welcome change of tact by EA. Here’s hoping for more like this.

UEFA EURO 2012 is available now on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC and will set you back €19.99, 1800 MS Points or 2,500 FIFA Points on the PC.

505 Games and Rebellion have revealed Sniper Elite V2’s exclusive pre-order bonus for the ultimate mission, to assassinate the führer himself, Hitler.

Press for the pre-order DLC says:

“You have one chance to change history – intel has been received that Hitler is returning from Berchtesgaden to Berlin via his personal train.”

“Players must intercept the train as it waits at the station and take down the Fuhrer as he hastily makes way for the station on foot. There is only a single opportunity for players to do what so many wish had been done – take out the leader of the Third Reich. One chance. One bullet. Make it count!”

Fans who pre-order Sniper Elite V2 from GameStop prior to its release on the 4^th of May will also get access to two new weapons, the Soviet semi-automatic battle rifle SVT-40 and the standard German service rifle Kar 98.

Developer Rebellion, best known for Alien vs. Predator, is putting the final finishing touches to this sequel of its 2005 game Sniper Elite and puts you the middle of war-torn Berlin amidst a frenzied final battle between Hitler’s remaining SS and advancing Russian troops.

Sniper Elite V2 will be available on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. Check out the trailer for the DLC below.

Well it’s official, the visually amazing Crysis series is getting another outing, as EA today announced that Crysis 3 will be arriving on PC, Xbox 360 and PC in 2013.

The game will return to metal clad protagonist to the New York setting of the second title, but this time the whole city has been encapsulated within a giant bio dome or Nanodome created the Cell Corporation. Encased, nature looks to have overtaken the once great metropolis of New York City Liberty and according to EA, it’s an “an urban forest that’s teeming with trees, dense swamplands and raging rivers”.

This change in environment is no doubt a hark-back to the original game, a more open world feel, something in my opinion the second game lacked. And, from the various screens and artwork released so far, it looks like your Nanosuit has been enhanced and your hero will be complimented by a distinctly Rambo-like compound bow, for some stealth and silent kills.

Speaking about the announcement, Cevat Yerli, Crytek’s CEO said

“Crysis 3 is a thrilling mix of sandbox gameplay, advanced combat and hi-tech human and alien weaponry that shooter fans will love”.

“Leveraging the latest CryEngine technology, we’re able to deliver seven unique themes that offer stunning and visually loaded gameplay experiences. We cannot wait until people get their hands on the game.”

Well time will tell but if Crysis 3 can deliver the sand box elements of the 1st game, and the more refined FPS mechanics of the 2^nd instalment, then we may have the game of 2013 already.

For now, have a look at these amazeball announcement images.

Oh and for gamers that are really eager to pre-order the game, Crytek have also announced the Crysis 3 Hunter Edition. The Crysis 3 Hunter Edition gives players the tools to become the ultimate hunter in multiplayer with early access to the new signature bow and its attachments, plus the Hunter Nanosuit module which adds additional power and functionality to the super-suit. Gamers who pre-order now will also have a head start when playing online with a bonus XP boost up to level 5, a unique bow skin and three exclusive dog tags to hunt in style.

In addition to the Crysis 3 Hunter Edition, selected retailers are offering:

• Stalker Pack – Includes the base game, all Hunter Edition content and the following early multiplayer unlocks: for players who like to stalk their prey from the shadows the Stalker Pack provides early multiplayer access to the deadly semi-auto Jackal shotgun. This powerful, close-range shotgun comes with a unique silencer attachment, custom weapon skin and two exclusive themed in-game dog tags.
• Overkill Pack – Includes the base game, all Hunter Edition content and the following early multiplayer unlocks: the Overkill Pack features early multiplayer access to the Typhoon assault weapon and skin. Spewing 500 rounds a second, the Typhoon gives players the ability to go guns blazing to take back the Liberty Dome. Also included are two exclusive Overkill themed in-game dog tags.
• Predator Pack – Includes the base game, all the Hunter Edition content and the following early multiplayer unlocks: the Predator Pack delivers early multiplayer access to the Feline submachine gun and exclusive camo. With an extremely fast rate of fire and a 60 round magazine the Feline is highly effective and deadly, at short range.

Does the latest instalment of this long-running franchise come out swinging?

PGA Tour 13 is the latest work from the EA Tiburon and comes jam-packed with a host of new modes but in all honesty, these tweaks won’t have you shouting from the rooftops instead the new gameplay mechanics will.

The swing physics in the game have been altered, changed and beautifully refined to allow players really connect and give further input into their shots.

Some of the game’s new features allow players to setup their shots with a host of new options including: tempo, swing plane and shot power controls. Take for example the tweaked “swing arc” function that shows you how to hit the optimum shot with your chosen club.

A new addition to the game, gives players the option to, change the position of their feet so to manipulate the flight of the ball, fine-tune the exact point you hit the ball and an even open or close your stance to create “fade or draw”.

One piece of gameplay I couldn’t of survived without was the caddy, who was always there to dole out helpful hints and tips on the best way to approach a shot.

For those of you using playing the game on an Xbox 360, PGA Tour 13 is the first game EA Sports game to give motion control a huge part of the game. Full body movements are tracked beautifully with the Kinect and create, in my opinion; the most advanced and authentic swing to date in a simulated golf game. Using the Kinect and a host of voice commands provide truly unique gameplay, not seen before in a sports sim.

Being the latest in the series, all the current favourites are available on the roster including Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell, Ricky Fowler, Jim Furyk and Bubba Watson to name but a few.

For any die-hard golf fanatics, EA have thrown in the Legacy Mode, which thrusts players into the role of Tiger Woods in various stages of his career – from playing as toddler Tiger, to him chasing his 19^th major tournament.

Now to the graphics of the game; EA have long won the awards for beautiful looking games and PGA Tour 13 is no exception, each of the courses are masterfully created, players are near photo-realistic and the improved weather engine brings a touch of realism we haven’t seen before.

All in all, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 13 is fun, challenging and in-depth golf sim and a must buy for all golf fans.

Right off to practice my swing!

4 out of 5 Stars

So Capcom is returning gamers to E.D.N. III, as yesterday they announced Lost Planet 3, which due out for PlayStation 3, PC, and Xbox 360 early in 2013.

The 3^rd instalment of the game is said to use the Unreal Engine 3, and is being developed by Spark Unlimited, the team behind Turning Point: Fall of Liberty, Call of Duty: Finest Hour, and Legendary.

Here are the plot details:

Lost Planet 3 is a prequel to the first two games and introduces Jim, a rig pilot who leaves Earth to take on a hazardous but lucrative contract on E.D.N. III. Working for Neo-Venus Construction (NEVEC) who are preparing the planet for colonization, Jim joins his fellow pioneers at the Coronis base and begins surveying the uncharted terrain and obtaining samples of the planet’s energy supply – Thermal Energy.

With NEVEC’s existing Thermal Energy reserve running low the fate of the Coronis mission depends on the natural source of the energy supply being located. Realizing that this is a great opportunity for a huge pay-off and early ticket home to his family, Jim braves the risk of the treacherous environment and threat of the indigenous Akrid. Acting as a home away from home and boasting an array of tools that can assist Jim on the field, the utility rig provides Jim’s safety and is essential for not only his contract work but also his protection against the ever-changing climate.

The game will deliver a wide range of gameplay including on-foot battles and intense first person action while delving deeper into the Lost Planet universe, uncovering hidden truths within the unique and dynamic environment of E.D.N. III. LP3 will also feature a number of multiplayer modes.

Check out the debut trailer below.

The guys over at Ninja Theory have dropped a new DmC: Devil May Cry trailer, which shows our protagonist rudely awoken by demons with a revealing and “risky” look at the new Dante’s lack of sleeping attire.

Meanwhile, a newscaster in the trailer labels Dante as a terrorist and “sexual deviant”, setting up the gritty new take on the series.

DmC: Devil May Cry is the reboot to the amazing original franchise, which shifts the game’s setting to a parallel universe with a younger, grittier Dante.

The game is due to hit our shores later this year on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Check out the trailer for yourself below.

For all you footie-mad gamers out there, good news the lovely guys and gals over at EA have announced a digitial-only expansion to FIFA 12.

The DLC game is called UEFA Euro 2012 and will be released later this month on the 24th. According to EA;

“EA SPORTS UEFA EURO 2012 recreates all the drama and excitement of the official tournament with all 53 UEFA member national teams, all eight official stadiums in the tournament, and all the pageantry and atmosphere of one of the largest and most-watched sporting events on the planet. Fans will be able to compete online* for national pride and glory as their favourite European country in the UEFA EURO 2012™ tournament against rival nations in the group stage, progress through the sudden victory knockout rounds, and ultimately compete for the chance to be crowned UEFA EURO 2012™ champion. Plus, a live service will drive real-life story lines from the UEFA EURO 2012™ qualifying campaign and during the tournament into the game, enabling fans to relive dramatic moments with challenges based on real-life matches. Challenges will enable fans to earn experience points and level up their EA SPORTS Football Club profile.”

The game is being developed by EA Canada and according to producer Sebastian Enrique, the game will

“tap into the passion fans have for their national teams by capturing all of the national rivalries in-game, and re-creating all the emotion of the UEFA EURO 2012 tournament”.

So if you want to re-create all the action of the up-coming EURO 2012 Championship as it happens, you’ll need to fork out €19.99 on the PSN, 1800 MS Points on Xbox Live and 2500 FIFA Points on the PC.

Come on “You Boys In Green”.

Back in 2007, when BioWare announced it was producing a series of RPG’s that would change the face of games, most of us rolled our eyes to the skies and judged it as simple marketing ploy. The company claimed that it was to produce a trilogy of games in which the storyline carried over the actions of earlier gameplay choices. But truthfully upon reflection BioWare has done just that…

The first Mass Effect was like nothing ever conceived, an almost perfect western RPG that pulled you in from the first line of dialogue, mind-blowing action and a crazy experience. Then the second Mass Effect was released and it dramatically built on the first and gave an all-round stunning experience but still couldn’t reach the coveted 100% review mark.

Last week, the third and (perhaps) final game in the trilogy landed on my desk. Within hours the game was in my console and it has yet to leave it. From the first graphic of the opening scene you know you’re in for an amazing journey. BioWare have out done themselves, with what I can only call their masterpiece. The game is the perfect combination of exploration, progression and combat in a vast universe.

The story for this instalment is simple; playing as Shepard you must fight back against the Reapers, who have made it to Earth and launched a devastating attack on the planet, killing millions. For those of you yet to play the original two games, the Reapers are an advanced mechanical race who, every 50,000 years or so, wipe out all organic life in the universe and their first stop on the campaign is Earth.

Side note: if you have yet to play the first two games in this series, stop what you are doing and go get them. Why? Well, because they are brilliant.

Like oh so many good RPG’s, there are six different character classes, each focusing on a different set of tactics, weapons and each with their own special skills, ranging from an Adrenaline mode for the Soldier, to a Tactical Cloak for the Infiltrator or the Biotic Charge for the Vanguard.

The good news for those you who have lost hours honing their Shepard’s skills/character from the first two games, you can still import your profiles again and this time, your previous choices have a huge bearing on how the game and story plays out. If this is your first time, you’ll get a set of choices that the studio has deemed the key decisions but, for the greatest experience, (last time preaching I swear) it’s probably for the best to go and play through the last two titles before going through this new one.

Nearly everything in the game is improved. The graphics are sharper, and so are the enemies. Levelling up is slightly more flexible, and weapons are vastly more customisable. Customization has been brought back from the first Mass Effect and now plays a heavy role when configuring on your armor and weaponry, as you find different add-ons on your missions that offer a variety of bonuses that perk your health, shield power or shield regeneration, melee damage, and even stuff that will make you a better sniper.

Mass Effect 3 delivers an almost flawless gameplay experience, as you’re presented with all sorts of missions and side-missions (many which you can get by simply jogging past the relevant conversation), whether they’re related to the story or just secondary in terms of importance, and the action is neatly structured so that you don’t get the feeling you’re overwhelmed by all sorts of things, all at the same time.

The tedious planet scanning and mining of Mass Effect has been replaced with the gathering of war assets and a “galactic readiness” meter.  This is the element that ties it everything together, the ongoing challenge that sees everything from a unit of Marines to an entire space fleet helping you in your final showdown against the Reapers.

One new element to the game is the co-operative multiplayer. RPG’s and multiplayer games don’t usually go hand in hand but strangely this new element of gameplay proves to be the perfect side dish. Made up of 10 wave survival matches, which can be played across six sprawling maps and even allows you play as races other than humans, with Krogan, Turian and Drell forces each adding their own unique flavour to the battle. A four-player skirmish with experienced players is amazing to watch, as biotic and tech abilities smash into brutal firepower for some spectacular showdowns.

All in all this game is a sum of its parts and is gaming on a grand scale. It’s truly a magnificent finale to Shepard’s epic saga. Apart from some slight graphic slips and lips being out-of-sync, everything about the game is astonishing, as full story lines and loose ends are tied-up, long running comrades return and there are still some significant surprises.

Mass Effect 3 is simple a magnificent game and one gaming experience you can’t miss out on. Think of Mass Effect being the Star Wars of this generation’s grown-ups.

Goodbye Shepard and I hope we meet again sometime in the future.

98% / 100%