Repel their cavalry and advance, its time for another Skirmish of EpicBattleCry! In this week’s episode we relish the news that Gearbox Software will be completing Duke Nukem Forever, place our bets on the Call of Duty: Black Ops wager matches, ponder the possibilities of Dead Space 2 and Batman: Arkham City getting multiplayer, open a savings account to but a 3D television and Killzone 3 next February, and run down the deals from Microsoft’s Fall Game Feast.

First up in the main course this week, we discuss the recently announced $10 per year price increase for Xbox Live and whether this is a necessary bump or just taking advantage of gamers ahead of the fall gaming onslaught. Next up, with the recent introduction of a new iPod Touch, price drops across the Nintendo DS line, and the announcement of a God of War: Ghost of Sparta PSP bundle, we talk Handheld gaming. Are casual games all that portable platforms are good for?

The Battle Cry of the Week goes to Epic Games’ Epic Citadel demo for iOS, Retro City Rampage, and Mafia II

If you’ve got a comment on the show, sound off below, if you’ve got a Battle Cry you want to share, click here and sound off on the latest topic-started post! Stay sharp.

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Ready your earth and water to receive victims of sparta-ing, its time for another edition of EpicBattleCry! In this week’s Skirmish, we revel in the release date of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, snuggle with a companion cube for Portal 2 next February, check out the collectors edition of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, moan and groan on the pre-order madness for Hunted: The Demon’s Forge, and roll our eyes as F.E.A.R. 3 is delayed.

First up on the main course, we reflect on the recent news that Mass Effect 2 is headed to the PS3 and the announcement of Dragon Age 2. With all the talk of streamlined combat systems and selling games to the widest possible market, we ask the question: Is EA’s corporate influence beginning to sink BioWare? Next up, Sony had a strong showing at GamesCom 2010; with exclusives like Resistance 3 and Ratchet and Clank: All 4 One as well as the newly announced console bundles for PlayStation Move, we discuss what lies ahead for Sony.

The Battle Cry of the Week goes to Gran Turismo 5’s cart racing mode, Virtua Tennis 4, and Dead Space 2.

If you’ve got a comment on the show, sound off below, if you’ve got a Battle Cry you want to share, click here and sound off on the latest topic-started post! Stay sharp.

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Ride! Ride now; its time for another edition of EpicBattleCry! This week we welcome a new member of the EBA team in a debut appearance on EpicBattleCry. Please extend your most epic welcome to EpicBattleAxe features writer Lorin Baumgarten, filling in while Tony is on vacation.

In this week’s skirmish we ponder the Call of Duty: Black Ops prestige and hardened editions, run down the cast of voice talent for Fallout: New Vegas, marvel at the rumors of Duke Nukem Forever may be in active development, and discuss Quake Live’s subscription business model and what it might mean for other titles.

With the big event in NYC last week, the big news in gaming is undoubtedly BioShock Infinite. With that title consciously moving away from familiar territory, the Axe Crew talks sequels and the balance developers must find between forging new ground and alienating fans hunger for more of the same.

The Battle Cry of the Week goes to BioShock Infinite, Mafia II, and Little Big Planet.

If you’ve got a comment on the show, sound off below, if you’ve got a Battle Cry you want to share, click here and sound off on the latest topic-started post! Stay sharp.

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Shields forward and hold the line; its time for another edition of EpicBattleCry! In this week’s Skirmish we relish the announcement of Batman: Arkham City, revolt over the news Assassins Creed: Brotherhood is getting a PlayStation/GameStop exclusive multiplayer beta, fein surprise that Crysis 2 is being pushed back to 2011, sing a hearty song at word Torchlight 2 is coming our way, and bemoan the announcement that NBA Jam is coming to PS3 and 360 for free, but only, with NBA Elite 11.

We talk about gaming a lot round the Axe, but this week we take a step back to ponder the greater existential question our hobby/lifestyle raises: why do we game? Whether its for story, social interaction, the challenge, or just fun, we all have a reason (probably several) for doing what we do. So, this week, we, your humble Axe Lords, try to answer that question and we’re inviting all of you to do the same throughout the week here on EpicBattleAxe.com. Vote in the EBA poll over in the sidebar, hit up our Member Battle Cry post to share your thoughts, or leap in the discusion going on right now in the EBA forums. Whatever your course, be sure to Cry Havoc and Let Your Voice Be Heard!

The Battle Cry of the Week goes to Plunder, Vanquish (the game, not the tailer), and IGN’s decision to switch up their scoring system.

If you’ve got a comment on the show, sound off below, if you’ve got a Battle Cry you want to share, click here and sound off on the latest topic-started post! Stay sharp.

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Spears down and advance; its time for another edition of EpicBattleCry! This week, we revel in the announcement of Street Fighter X Tekken, ponder the new Dragon Age: Origins DLC headed our way, settle in to wait on SOCOM 4 in 2011, and discuss the newly emerged details for Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions.

In last week’s skirmish, we tackeld one of the most significant topics in gaming: reviews and review scores. During the conversation, one reviewer in particular drew our condemnation: Destructoid.com reviews editor, Jim Sterling. This week, Mr. Sterling boldly goes Under The Axe, to answer the criticism leveled against him and discuss his position on ratings, reviews, and ruffianism. Be sure to check back this week for the full, un-edited interview with Jim; only on EpicBattleAxe.com!

The Battle Cry of the Week hails Street Fighter IV on the 3DS, raises a glass to voice-acting legend Frank Welker, calls on BioWare to not let the accountants run the studio, and puts reviews in perspective.

If you’ve got a comment on the show, sound off below, if you’ve got a Battle Cry you want to share, click here and sound off on the latest topic-started post! Stay sharp.

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Ready your weapons and prepare for attack its time for another skirmish of EpicBattleCry! This week, we check out the Sly Cooper Collection, ponder the recently announced charity contest for Gears of War 3, team-up for some co-op Shank details, and try to make sense of the Halo: Reach 360 bundle.

With the price of Microsoft Kinect officially unveiled, we discuss the motion-sensing controller’s fate and whether its been priced too high for gamers to take a chance on. The release of StarCraft II is looming and with it comes the inevitable onslaught of reviews. How much weight do reviews carry with gamers and what could be done to improve them?

The Battle Cry of the Week goes to Super Street Fighter IV, annoying gamers online, Rush being featured in Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, and Final Fantasy classic titles on PSN.

If you’ve got a comment on the show, sound off below, if you’ve got a Battle Cry you want to share, click here and sound off on the latest topic-started post! Stay sharp.

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Sound the horns and lay waste the city, its time for another edition of EpicBattleCry! In this week’s skirmish, we mull over the news that Zelda: Skyward Sword is on track for an early 2011 release, check out the trailer for James Bond 007: Blood Stone, discuss the 360 exclusive window for Lara Croft and The Guardian of Light, and the PS3-exclusive DLC for Mafia II.

First up in the main course this week, we go Under The Axe with Zombie Studios’ Jared Gerritzen, lead designer on Blacklight: Tango Down. We talk platform exclusives, milking gamers, and changing expectations for downloadable games. Be sure to check out the full interview with Jared only on EpicBattleAxe.com!

With the slew of Limited Editions, DLC goodies, and promotions that were announced this week, we take a moment to consider whether or not these premium priced goodies make sense and whether game publishers and marketers get gamers.

The Battle Cry of the Week goes to King of Fighters XIII, The teaser-announcment-trailer for Mega Man Universe, Breach, and Assassin’s Creed 2.

If you’ve got a comment on the show, sound off below, if you’ve got a Battle Cry you want to share, click here and sound off on the latest topic-started post! Stay sharp.

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Raise your axes, raise your glasses, its time for another edition of EpicBattleCry! In this week’s Skirmish we banter on Enslaved, which now has a release date, prepare for Red Dead Redemption’s own zombie apocalypse, reflect on the announcement of Dragon Age 2, and discuss the Blizzard Real ID fiasco from last week.

With the release late last week of Blacklight: Tango Down, and plenty of chatter in the EBA Forums on the subject, we sit down to talk about wether or not gamers are ready to give up discs in favor of Downloadable Games. Services like Steam are doing well on the PC, but are console gamers onboard with DLG?

The Battle Cry of the Week goes to the devs behind Super Stardust HD for making everything better (in 2d or 3d), Microsoft’s (and Valve’s) Summer Sales, the beginning of beta testing for Star Wars: The Old Republic, and John Marston, for being quite the character.

If you’ve got a comment on the show, sound off below, if you’ve got a Battle Cry you want to share, click here and sound off on the latest topic-started post! Stay sharp.

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Raise the pain-sticks and prepare for ascension! Its time for another edition of EpicBattleCry! In this week’s Skirmish, we run down the release date for Final Fantasy XIV, check out BioShock 2’s latest DLC, discuss the news Fable III is going episodic, and ponder whether Raiden has what it takes to carry the Metal Gear Series on his own.

With Shigeru Miyamoto’s recent comment that Nintendo “needs new characters,” we sit down to discuss what makes a great game character and why Nintendo’s mascots have stood the test of time. Will Marcus Fenix or Nathan Drake have the same longevity as Mario and Link?

The Battle Cry of the week goes to the remote deletion of content, an HD ICO/Shadow of the Colossus Collection from Sony, the prowess of three year old gamers, and calls on the gaming gods for fal tor pan of the Full Spectrum Warrior IP.

If you’ve got a comment on the show, sound off below, if you’ve got a Battle Cry you want to share, click here and sound off on the latest topic-started post! Stay sharp.

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Fell deeds awake! Now for wrath. Now for ruin. And the red dawn! Its time once more, for another Skirmish of EpicBattleCry! This week, we get a release date for DeathSpank, ponder the laundry list of new features announced for Gran Turismo 5, make some Ice-T in Gears of War 3 jokes, and discuss if Sony’s rumored move to prioritize the PlayStation Move over Heavy Rain’s next DLC is a portent of things to come.

With E3 2010 over, we look back and discuss our take-away moments and games from this year’s show. What inspired us; what infuriated us; what made us question the nature of the universe? We’ve got everything from Zelda: Skyward Sword, to Marvel vs. Capcom 3, XCOM, and even Onlive; five things each, in no particular order, that we had to share from this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo.

If you’ve got a comment on the show, sound off below, if you’ve got a Battle Cry you want to share, click here and sound off on the latest topic-started post! Stay sharp.

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Into the long boats and ready the battering ram, its time for another edition of EpicBattleCry! In this week’s Skirmish, we ponder the news the Lord of the Rings Online is going free this fall, rally around the news that His Airness, Michael Jordan will be the cover athlete for NBA 2K11, try to keep up with the plethora (Yes Jefe, a plethora) of PSP promotions falling out of the sky, and discuss the ‘unique’ approach Call of Duty: Black Ops has taken with its Co-Op mode.

First up in the main course, we take a bite out of the Big Three. With Sony having already announced a slew of titles pre-show, what will they have left to surprise us with? Will Microsoft and Nintendo deliver the goods with some big announcements they’ve kept close to the vest? Can some well-placed booth babes turn things around for OnLive?

Next up, EA, Activision, Ubisoft, THQ, and more are bringing down the thunder next week and we’re putting together a hit list for our picks from the third party devs. What are the must-sees, what might surprise us, and what are going to watch drown in a bathtub?

The Battle Cry of the Week goes to the possibility PSN might become a paid service, Star Wars: The Battle for Hoth, the downloadable games of E3 2010, and the need for motion controls and 3D gaming to get some backup from kick-ass games.

If you’ve got a comment on the show, sound off below, if you’ve got a Battle Cry you want to share, click here and sound off on the latest topic-started post! Stay sharp.

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Unite the clans and ready the forge; its time for another edition of EpicBattleCry! This week, we’re checking out Killzone 3…in 3D, contemplating the delay of Sonic the Hedgehog 4 (and its arrival on the iPhone), mulling over the new media for Bulletstorm, and screaming ‘why?!’ to the heavens over the Heavy Rain film adaptation.

After last week’s discussion around the Online Pass initiative, we were hoping to spend this episode doing something constructive, like destroying a sock drawer, but THQ had other plans. They’ve just announced that they will be implementing a one-time $5 fee in order for gamers who pick up a used copy of UFC Undisputed 2010 to access the online content of the game. So, armed with fresh feedback from the EpicBattleAxe community, we charge once again into the melee. Why don’t game publishers just compete at retail with GameStop; how far will they go to tax players for shopping there; can we speak with our wallets and still play the games we love? Saddle up friends, this ride has just begun.

The Battle Cry of the Week goes to Castlevania Puzzle: Encore of the Night, Google’s Pac-man mashup, the Axhead Army, and calls for a sensible approach to annual game releases.

If you’ve got a comment on the show, sound off below, if you’ve got a Battle Cry you want to share, click here and sound off on the latest topic-started post! Stay sharp.

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UPDATE: The server goblins massed an attack on the eastern wall earlier tonight. We repelled them, but many brave comments were lost in the struggle. We pray mighty Odin shall resurrect the fallen that they may live to cry again. But seriously, just repost your comments please…sorry about the mess.

Rejoice for on the morrow…BATTLE! Its time for another edition of EpicBattleCry and this week we check out the next pack of DLC headed to 360 for Modern Warfare 2, mark the date for Alan Wake’s downloadable episode, peruse the resume of Shank’s writer, lament no new space-buddies in Mass Effect 2’s Overload DLC, and welcome Onslaught mode to the console versions of Battlefield: Bad Company 2.

This week we’re all about taking on EA’s Online Pass: pit-fighter style! With the announcement that EA will begin charging gamers who pick up a used copy of Tiger Wood’s PGA Tour 11 (and other titles moving forward) ten bucks to get access to online play, we weigh in on the motives, the money, and what this will ultimately mean for gamers.

The Battle Cry of the Week goes to Call of Duty: Black Ops, Portal on Mac, Fable III, and User Generated Content getting some love with MMO’s

If you’ve got a comment on the show, sound off below, if you’ve got a Battle Cry you want to share, click here and sound off on the latest topic-started post! Stay sharp.

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Swords and spears and no prisoners! Its time for another edition of EpicBattleCry! In this week’s Skirmish, we check out the new Medal of Honor trailer, run down what we know on Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, scope out the first Red Dead Redemption DLC, drool over God of War: Ghost of Sparta, and bask in the glory of StarCraft II’s recently announced release date.

First up in the main course, we check out the newly announced Little Big Planet 2 and discuss if Sony’s ambitious title will end up being a game changer. Next, Nintendo was in the news recently declaring victory over Sony and setting their sights on Apple; where is Big N headed next and will gamers follow them?

The Battle Cry of the Week goes to the Humble Indie Bundle, beating Super Mario Bros. with the Dance, Dance, Revolution pad, Star Trek Adventures: Year One, and some of the greatest movie tie-in games ever: The Super Star Wars series!

If you’ve got a comment on the show, sound off below, if you’ve got a Battle Cry you want to share, click here and sound off on the latest topic-started post! Stay sharp.

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Make ready chains for the war machines, and bring down the city walls! Its time for another edition of EpicBattleCry; this week we discuss the alliance between Bungie and Activision, check out the Dead Space 2 trailer, ponder the indefinite delay for Game Room releases, consider the APB pricing structure, and mull over Alan Wake’s free DLC.

First out of the gate, we check out the trailer for Treyarch’s new entry in the Call of Duty franchise: Black Ops. We discuss our impressions of the teaser and what the future holds for CoD. Next up, with the summer movie season about to kick off (and Iron Man 2 and Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands waiting in the wings), we talk movie tie-in games and offer some thoughts on how devs could actually manage a good one.

The Battle Cry of the Week goes to the rumored Castlevania title, Gaming Heads‘ collectible Valve statues, UFC Undisputed 2010, and Mega-Man Legends.

If you’ve got a comment on the show, sound off below, if you’ve got a Battle Cry you want to share, click here and sound off on the latest topic-started post! Stay sharp.

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