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All Articles: GDC 2012
Forza Horizon skids onto schedule in Fall 2012
Microsoft has decided to pull an Activision and split the development of the Forza series between two studios. Games carrying the “Forza Motorsport” name will still be racing sims developed by Turn 10. But this Fall’s Forza Horizon will be handled by debut developer Playground Games and is definitely leaning more towards the arcade style of racing:
Forza Horizon is a fast-paced, pick-up-and-play racing game and the newest entry in the Forza Motorsport franchise. Available this Fall, the game is being created in partnership with acclaimed racing development studio Playground Games.
While you may not have heard of Playground Games before, you definitely know them by reputation. The team is made up of developers from Bizarre Creations (creators of the Project Gotham Racing series) and Black Rock (creators of Split/Second).
So it sounds like Forza Horizon is in good hands.
Posted in News, Xbox 360
Tagged Forza Horizon, GDC 2012
Get your first look at Halo 4 in this video
Microsoft and developer 343 Industries (I originally wrote Bungie, that’s going to be a hard habit to break) have pulled back the curtain on Halo 4 with the video above. The video gives us a first look at actual in-game footage as well as the updated Battle Rifle, and some multiplayer tidbits.
Halo 4 will be available for the Xbox 360 this Fall.
Xbox.com outs Fable Heroes, release date for Fable: The Journey
Lionhead Studios is counting down to a big Game Developers Conference announcement tonight, but it looks like Xbox.com spoiled things a might early. Microsoft’s site for all things Xbox has revealed a release date for Lionhead’s Kinect-powered Fable: The Journey (September 4, 2012) as well as a product page for Fable Heroes. What is Fable Heroes you ask, read on young adventurer…
Fable Heroes is a fresh spin on the beloved Fable franchise in which up to 4 players play both cooperatively and competitively in this hack-and-slash adventure. Work together as heroes of Albion to defeat familiar foes and new enemies while collecting as many gold coins as possible to unlock upgrades, characters, and items in both this game and Fable: The Journey for Kinect for Xbox 360.
From the description, the game doesn’t sound too far afield from what the Fable series is known for. That is until you realize that Fable Heroes is a cartoony, four-player beat ’em up planned for release through the Xbox Live Arcade. There also appears to be a board game component akin to Mario Party. Say what?
Don’t believe me, check out the first screenshots after the break. (more…)
Posted in News, Xbox 360
Tagged Fable Heroes, Fable: The Journey, GDC 2012
USC is the top Video Game Design school for third year in a row
The University of Southern California (USC) has topped a Princeton Review report as the best undergraduate and graduate Video Game Design program for the third straight year. Actually, many schools that appeared on the 2011 list made a repeat appearance this year. The one big addition, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which landed at #2 on the undergraduate list and #3 on the graduate list.
The results of the report were gathered through a survey conducted during the 2011-2012 academic year of administrators at 150 institutions. The 50-question survey gauged the quality of the curriculum, faculty, facilities and infrastructure of the selected schools.
All told, the Princeton Review created a top ten list for both undergraduate and graduate programs along with selecting 30 honorable mentions.
The complete list can be found after the break. (more…)
Give me Assassin’s Creed III or give me death!
Ubisoft released the boxart for Assassin’s Creed III today and, as rumored, the franchise will be jumping forward to Revolutionary War times.
While we don’t know which of Desmond’s ancestors this is, the white robe shows he’s definitely an assassin. And the tomahawk and quiver show that he’s likely part Native American (or he was captured as a child like Mary Jemison). But Native American or not, that Redcoat’s brain is definitely about to get very drafty.
Assassin’s Creed III will be released for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 on October 30. More details will be revealed in a few days, probably during the Game Developers Conference.
Lionhead Studios counting down to GDC announcement
Lionhead Studios plans to launch a new version of their website at 7 PM (Eastern Time) on March 5. But the developer is also being a bit of a tease by also saying “Who knows what other surprises are coming…”
Oh, did I mention March 5 is the first day of the Game Developers Conference? Coincidence, I think not!
So what’s your guess? Will Peter Molyneux and company announce Fable IV? Or will it just be a status update on the previously announced Fable: The Journey? Or are we looking at something else entirely?
My money’s on the return of Milo & Kate! (Not really).
Posted in News, Xbox 360
Tagged Fable: The Journey, GDC 2012
Epic will unveil Unreal Engine 4 at GDC behind closed doors
Two weeks ago, Epic’s Mark Rein told the world that the developer would reveal their Unreal Engine 4 sometime in 2012. Apparently he meant “really really soon” as the company has confirmed that the Unreal Engine 4 will make its worldwide debut at this year’s Game Developers Conference.
Naturally, the Unreal Engine 4 will be shown off “behind closed doors” during the March 5-9 industry gathering. Epic is also asking prospective clients to sign a non-disclosure agreement before viewing the UE4 demo, so I’m not getting my hopes up too high about learning something new about the next-generation graphics engine.
Medal of Honor: Warfighter revealed ahead of GDC
Rumor was that the sequel to 2010’s Medal of Honor would be revealed at the Game Developers Conference. Today, Medal of Honor: Warfighter was announced as Official Xbox Magazine’s April cover.
According to Game Informer, the game – both campaign and multiplayer – will be developed by Danger Close using the Frostbite 2.0 engine, and will be released this October. DICE will not be involved in the multiplayer this time around.
I’m a little bummed DICE won’t be involved, but I’m eager to see what Danger Close can do with an entire game under their control. I’m also surprised to see the game being revealed in OXM, seeing as Sony had the sweet deal with EA before (with Medal of Honor: Frontline included in copies of Medal of Honor).
Either way, I know I’m eager to see more, which will hopefully happen in just a few short weeks at GDC.