After Viacom President and CEO Philippe Dauman let the cat out of the bag, Rock Band developer Harmonix updated its Facebook page to reveal that the third, “revolutionary” installment in the mega-popular franchise will be heading our way this holiday season.

From the post:

Harmonix is developing Rock Band 3 for worldwide release this holiday season! The game, which will be published by MTV Games and distributed by Electronic Arts, will innovate and revolutionize the music genre once again, just as Harmonix did with the original Rock Band, Rock Band 2 and The Beatles: Rock Band. Stay tuned for more details!

Also, as IndustryGamers points out, Dhani Harrison, son of the late Beatles great George Harrison who also helped sell the idea of The Beatles: Rock Band to rights holders Apple Corps, said that he was working to make the instruments for Rock Band 3 “more real so people can actually learn how to play music while playing the game.”

Hmmm…Interesting.

Of course, we’ll keep you posted on any new Rock Band 3 details as they emerge.

Empowering the EBA Community with a voice to collaboratively review the industry’s hottest titles, the EpicBattleAxe.com uREVIEW (about) delivers real insight from real gamers about The GOOD, The BAD, and The UGLY pertaining to the biggest games in the world. This is the EpicBattleAxe.com uREVIEW for Final Fantasy XIII. Let’s get started:
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Well, it’s time to jump back on the BattleCry train folks as we feature yet another Member created Cry pertaining to this week’s topic; the impact of delays in gaming. We’ve got some great feedback on the topic thus far and with the long-awaited and often delayed Final Fantasy XIII hitting store shelves today, I’ve decided to use Axe Head Ares‘ MBC to sum up how some long-time Final Fantasy fans feel about the game. Now, this MBC is of the negative variety, but keep in mind that this is just ONE SIDE of how FF fans feel and to be honest, I would really like to hear from fans that are pleased with how Square Enix has handled the delay and overall game design if you’re out there. So, check out today’s MBC after the jump and then sound off with YOUR thoughts in the comments section below.
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Well, GDC 2010 has started with a bang as Bigpoint and NBC Universal have announced Battlestar Galactica Online, a new browser-based MMO not-to-surprisingly based on the hit Battlestar Galactica series.

From the press release:

Battlestar Galactica Online, a tactical space combat and adventure MMOG based upon Syfy’s Battlestar Galactica series. The MMOG, inspired by one of the most popular science fiction series in television history, will launch worldwide exclusively this fall on Syfy.com for a 30 day period. The Unity co-developed MMOG will offer state of the art graphics that can be played directly in an Internet browser.

“Battlestar Galactica is a supremely gameable intellectual property, with compelling character classes, a fantastic array of ships and weaponry, multiple worlds, and a dramatic storyline,” said Bill Kispert, VP & GM, Digital Platforms, Universal Partnerships & Licensing. “We are excited to work with Bigpoint – and our partners at Universal Cable Productions and Syfy – to bring an epic, accessible, and ‘always on’ BSG experience to fans of the franchise and online gamers alike.”

“Cooperation between Bigpoint and NBC Universal is a very important strategic step for us,” explains Heiko Hubertz, CEO and founder of Bigpoint. “Battlestar Galactica has a huge and passionate fan base. We are proud to be able to publish such an internationally famous title as one of our online games. For the first time ever, we’re relying completely on Unity in order to offer our users fantastic game graphics right in their browsers.”

And here’s a bit more about the game:

Players will be able to choose to play as cylons or humans in a constant struggle to control the universe or just survive its perils. A blend of tactical space combat, exploration, and mission-based gameplay will provide a diverse experience. The dramatic missions will define the game’s overall storyline, enabling the player to delve into mysteries of the Battlestar universe. Battlestar Galactica Online will create a new standard for web games, with beautiful 3d graphics and innovative game mechanics bringing a new level of game play to browser based MMOG. Assets from the television production will be integrated into the game to deliver an even more authentic experience.

So, who’s excited about this??? Feel free to discuss below and as always, we’ll keep you posted on any new details as they emerge. Until then, you can check out this teaser site for the game.

EA has sent word of the all-new Exotic Racing Series pack for Need for Speed SHIFT which, come March 18th, will deliver access to seven new cars and a new track in the game. So, “What makes it so exotic?” you ask…Well, highlighting this exclusive pack of cars are the McLaren MP4-12C and the legendary BMW M1 and according to EA, players won’t find more brilliance, innovation, or drama than in these magnificent machines, each being a “potent mix of race car and road car.”

The Exotic Racing Series pack will be available worldwide on the PS3 for $10.00 or the 360 for 800 Microsoft Points. You can check out a TON of new photos featuring the new content right here.

In addition, over 50 new events have also been created specifically for these cars including time challenges, endurance and sprint races. The challenging and spectacular new Riviera track boasts four unique layouts, each with daring corners, multiple blazing straight-aways and a few hairpins that will push these cars to the limit. Players that complete the package will receive an additional 125 Microsoft gamerpoints or 5 PlayStation Trophies as a reward for undertaking various exciting challenges.

The Exotic Racing Series pack cars include:

1. Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione
2. BMW M1 Procar
3. GUMPERT apollo
4. Honda NSX
5. McLaren MP4-12C
6. Maserati GranTurismo S
7. Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Stirling Moss

Nice.

For more info, hit up www.needforspeed.com.

EA today announced an agreement with 38 Studios, LLC to publish the company’s first video game, which is being referred to as “an epic single-player role-playing game” codenamed ‘Project Mercury’. For those that haven’t heard, 38 Studios is the creative enterprise of World Series MVP and avid gamer Curt Schilling. ‘Project Mercury’ is being developed at Big Huge Games, a wholly-owned subsidiary of 38 Studios, under the leadership of Ken Rolston, former lead designer of the critically acclaimed hits, Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind and Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. The game marks the first entry into the universe created by New York Times best-selling fantasy author R. A. Salvatore, with artistic direction by Todd McFarlane, the creator of Spawn.

“From day one, 38 Studios has been focused on creating the next generation of entertainment experiences that embrace all mediums, including film, television, comics, novels, toys and, of course, games,” said Curt Schilling, Founder and Chairman of 38 Studios.  “We are creating an enormous world, with heroes and villains and a rich back story from the brilliant minds of R. A., Todd and Ken at its heart, and I can think of no finer partner than the global powerhouse that is EA Partners. Being able to leverage the expertise of EA’s publishing organization to bring our first product to market is a dream come true for 38 Studios.”
 
“We are thrilled to be working with 38 Studios. The world of RPG gaming is so rich and it is a perfect complement to our partners and title portfolio in EAP,” said David DeMartini, Senior Vice President and General Manager of EA Partners. “Project Mercury is bursting with first-rate talent, with passion that spans across the board, from Curt to R. A. to Todd and Ken.  We look forward to collaborating with them to create an amazing game set in this incredible new world.”

Of course, no new information about the game itself was released, but we’ll hope to hear more soon and we’ll get you an update when we do.

Tecmo Koei Europe has sent word that it “heralds” the arrival of all new Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce downloadable content as a thank you to fans over the forthcoming Easter period. Basically, one piece of content will be given away on PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 each week until the middle of April as a big fat “thanks” to the thousands of people who have bought Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce (assuming they could find it).

Featuring three new missions and a new challenge in every pack, the Easter gift DLC delivers several hours more game time to enjoy while, as Tecmo Koei puts it, “feasting on their chocolate eggs!”

“Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce has been a tremendous success for us at Tecmo Koei Europe, so we wanted to give something back to the fans this Easter”, said Will Curley, VP Sales & Marketing. “From the Battle of Tong Gate, to the epic Defense of Yi, we want players to engage with Dynasty Warriors: Strikeforce over the Easter break, and free weekly content is a great way of saying thank you.”

Content for each console will be released on the following days:

Pack 1 – PS3 March 18, 360 March 4
Pack 2 – PS3/360 March 18th
Pack 3 – PS3/360 April 1st
Pack 4 – PS3/360 April 15th

For more, wipe the chocolate off your fingers and hit up the game’s official website.

I’ll be honest…When I came across the below press release confirming Codemaster’s new IP Bodycount for the PS3 and 360, my initial thought was to extract the best info and produce a concise story detailing the announcement. The more I read, the more I realized that this press release NEEDS to be shared with the masses, in its entirety, for it is somewhat a thing of poetry…Tantalizing its reader with each new over-the-top sentence while producing laugh-out-loud moments that simply can’t be missed. So, I present to you the full, unedited version of said press release after the jump that you simply must read to believe…Honestly, if nothing less, you need to read the part about an “orgy of bullets”…You can also check out the first two screens right here. Now, let’s hope the game is worth a damn.
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No matter how hard I try, I can NEVER be TOTALLY fine with a game being delayed…I don’t know about you, but hearing about a project that you’ve longed for being pushed back once, twice, and maybe even more tends to dampen my sense of enthusiasm to the point where I almost give up. Sure, some delays prove to be SUPER BENEFICIAL and if the end result is an awesome game, then we as gamers should be patient enough to understand, but when a project falls into the delay abyss and releases as nothing more than mediocre…man…that pretty much just sucks.

If you haven’t figured it out just yet, we’re discussing the impact of delays on the gaming industry in this week’s Member BattleCries here on EpicBattleAxe.com. To be clear, we’re not just looking for NEGATIVE feedback, but also those cases where a delay helped to better a project and produce something that delivered beyond expectation.

While you certainly don’t have to provide an example of BOTH a positive and negative delay to be featured (either/or will do just fine), we’re gonna kick things off with a Member BattleCry that does just that. It comes from Axe Head PocketStation and deals with both Nintendo’s delay philosophy (or lack thereof) and a game that made a great developer feel all too human.

Hit the jump to check it out and be sure to chime in with your thoughts in the comments section below!
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While most games attempt to entice prospective players with the chance to “become a member” or “an experience to remember”, the dudes at Visceral are going a different route, inviting fans to “Get Dismembered” in Dead Space 2.

A new contest, hosted via Facebook and running now through March 26, invites fans to think up the coolest way for the game’s main character Isaac Clarke to rip apart a necromorph in the highly-anticipated sequel. The community will then vote for a winner among ten finalists (with the finalists being selected by the Dead Space 2 team themselves), who will then have his or her move programmed into the game. Also, his/her face & body will be programmed into the game to be torn apart by a necromorph. Nice. Nine runners-up will get their names in the game and the “almost” claim to fame that accompanies digital dismemberment.

Interested? Just head to the contest’s home page right here on Facebook, but be sure to put your bloody, demented thinking cap on before you do. Good luck!