By Lorin Baumgarten

There was a lively discussion last week on EBC about the Jason Rubin-inspired topic of new distribution models for video games. When this week’s episode of EpicBattleCry seemed to be returning to the same subject, I was a tad concerned. But it turns out that the topic at hand was a different one: used game sales and what publishers are doing to combat them. I must say that my opinion on this has wavered in light of the recent discussion on EBC. I am no longer convinced that publishers deserve money from used game sales. I have, however, maintained strong ideas about what is being done about it. Read on and let us know your thoughts on the matter – you never know who might be listening!
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Sharpen thine knives and ready thine hammer, its time for another edition of EpicBattleCry! In this week’s skirmish, we check out the Just Cause 2 demo, new Mass Effect 2 DLC, a Batman: The Brave and the Bold game headed to Nintendo consoles, and hope that Alpha Protocol finally has a firm release date.

First up in the main course, we run down the details from last week’s Nintendo Media Summit and get ready for big N to bring the pain in the first half of the year. Next up, we examine how the details of how the launch day DLC for Battlefield: Bad Company 2, may just be the thing to drive down GameStop’s prices.

The Battle Cry of the Week goes to Neo Geo’s recent birthday (and King of Fighters XIII), Joe Danger, Transformers: War for Cybertron, and calls on game publishers to think about creating their own game console.

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Love God of War? Love Vegas? Love…PIZZA!?!?! Well, Sony and GameStop recently announced the “Be the Envy of the Gods” sweepstakes that can potentially turn your God of War III pre-order into a palatable pesto pie. Basically, folks who pre-order the PS3-exclusive can use their receipt code or online confirmation number to enter the contest once per week on the sweepstakes’ website to be eligible to win both instant and weekly grand prizes. Said weekly grand prizes include a new Sony Home Entertainment System, a VIP experience at a premier music experience at either Coachella or Lollapalooza, free pizza for a year, or an MMA VIP experience in Las Vegas.

Anyone who pre-orders will get the “Phantom of Chaos” character skin (accessible after you beat the game) while daily instant prizes include things like Avatars, digital strategy guides, the God of War III Theme for PS3, and more.

Anyway, if you’re interested, you can check the details out here. Unfortunately, the sweepstakes is only open to “legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia”…It’s one of THOSE again.

In case you didn’t know, a little game called BioShock 2 is coming out soon and publisher 2K Games has announced its plans to blow the doors off of the game’s release with a nationwide Return to Rapture including midnight openings, television premieres, and more.

From the press release:

On February 9, more than 2,500 GameStop and Best Buy stores will open their doors when the clock strikes midnight to the hordes of Big Daddy fans hungry to get their hands on and devour BioShock 2. Additionally, those who pre-ordered the game through GameStop will receive two bonus characters – Blanche the Actress and Zigo the Fisherman – to use in the game’s multiplayer mode. The road to the launch of BioShock 2 kicks off tonight, with the debut of a 3 minute 15 second trailer during the first commercial break of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

“One of the most exciting aspects of the original BioShock was how our fans responded with adoration for the game, from creating homemade Big Daddy suits to their own BioShock-inspired art and videos,” said Christoph Hartmann, president, 2K. “We felt it was only fitting to reach out to those passionate fans with nationwide Return to Rapture midnight openings where they can pick up their copy of BioShock 2 as early as possible.” 

And here’s a description of tonight’s commercial:

Debuting during the first commercial block of NBC’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon exclusively in North America, the launch trailer is a realization of the elements that BioShock 2 fans have been clamoring for. Breathtaking action set against the backdrop of a decaying underwater Utopia provides players with the slice of Rapture that awaits them next week, all presented in a style that is distinctively representative of the BioShock universe.

BioShock 2 will be available worldwide on February 9, 2010. For more, hit up one of the following sites:
www.bioshock2game.com, www.cultofrapture.com or www.somethinginthesea.com.

Cover their escape route and move in for the kill, its time for another edition of EpicBattleCry! In this week’s skirmish, we run down the details on The Saboteur’s day-one-DLC, ponder Medal of Honor’s move into *cough* Modern combat, check out the rumors of a possible Mirror’s Edge sequel as well as the announced iPhone game, and discuss the new Prince of Persia entry to the Sands of Time series.

With Black Friday already behind us and the Christmas Holiday moving steadily this way, we discuss what gamers want at retail this year. Will Walmart’s deep price cuts pull shoppers away from specialty boutiques like GameStop? Next up, we take a look at a recent FTC report to Congress that praises the ESRB and calls gaming the most proactive and responsible medium when it comes to keeping adult content away from children.

The Battle Cry of the Week goes to the Gran Turismo 5 Time Trial Challenge, the promise of seeing a new Star Wars game at the Spike VGA’s this weekend, the recent trailer for Red Dead Redemption, and developers who punish skill.

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When the Dragon Age Origins Collector’s Edition was announced I was reading through the press release and this caught my eye:

The Stone Prisoner is available to original purchasers of new copies of Dragon Age: Origins at no additional cost. The Stone Prisoner can also be purchased separately for $15.

Have developers finally had enough of  the used game monopoly GameStop has used to rule the gaming retail market while taking money away from the people who have dedicated the long months to develop the title?  DUH wouldn’t you!?

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The video game hard copy overlords that we love to hate seem to be moving in the direction that no one thought they would. GameStop has announced that it has created the new position of General Manager, Digital Media, and intends to “do what it does best – help create markets.”

Chris Petrovic, the new hire, has more than 10-years senior management experience in digital business operations and his most recent effort was with Playboy and their digital adventures! That’s pretty funny, considering the direction some games have gone.

For more on this, check out EpicBattleCry Skirmish 040; the guys discuss GameStop’s move into digital distribution and what it could mean for them long-term.

Archers to the trees and prepare for their first wave, its time for another edition of EpicBattleCry! In this week’s skirmish we discuss the impending release of WET, the addition of Xbox Avatars in Guitar Hero 5, Warhammer Online heading to the Mac, and the recent faux pass that reset the Halo Wars Leaderboards.

In the main course, we examine the recent GameStop parterning with Real Networks to offer digital downloads of casual games and select PC titles; can Gamestop survive in a digital distribution business model? Next, we take a few moments to contemplate the current state of hardware and ask, what makes a good game console these days?

The Battle Cry of the Week goes to GameStop for discounting the price of a new copy of Street Fighter IV for $20 while still selling the used copy for $35, Spinal Tap heading to Rock Band, the Tron Legacy teaser, and MLB 2K9 for still sucking.

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Backs to the pillars and swords to the gates, its time for another edition of EpicBattleCry! This week, we discuss the new Grand Theft Auto 4 DLC pack, The Ballad of Gay Tony, face front on the news that Stan Lee will be a playable character in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2, take a look at the Wii/DS exclusive Need for Speed: Nitro, and raise a glass to Double Fine for showing us all how to wield the axe as they counter-sue Activision over the attempt to cancel the release of Brutal Legend.

Battlefield 1943 has already sold over 600,000 copies on XBL and PSN. We take a look at the emerging download-only games market and ponder if these cas-core titles will rival on-disc releases in the not-too-distant future. Next up, we run down the movie/game crossover announcements coming out of the San Diego Comic Con including the Warcraft film and the Halo Legends anime.

The Battle Cry of the Week goes to Daigo Umehara, the reigning EVO 2009 Street Fighter IV champion, the Chicago Transit Authority for having its head shoved someplace dark, Warner Bros. for packaging coupons for the special-special edition of Watchmen with the plain old special edition, and Game devs and publishers who complain about Gamestop’s aftermarket profits but still send people into their stores with exclusive DLC.

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Guess what…Gamestop is rolling out another exclusive deal to hit your wallet where it hurts, but for BioWare fans, this one may actually be worth it…

The mega retailer is releasing a Collector’s Edition set for the upcoming game Dragon Age: Origins and they want to pack in something a little extra. Besides the usual stuff you get in the box (soundtrack, cloth map, DVD, etc), fans who will also be picking up Mass Effect 2 will be given an unlockable item to use in the game if you purchase this set.

No word as to what the item is or it’s functionality as of yet, but for all you die-hard Mass Effect fans, we’re sure there’s not much else needed to say to convince you to get the CE version of Dragon Age: Origins if you were planning to buy both games anyways. Of course, the Mass Effect 2 bonus is only in the Xbox 360 and PC box’s of the game…leaving PS3 fans once again on the outside looking in.

We’ve got a full run down on what you can expect in the CE box after the jump for those of you that wanna check it out.
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