Winter is coming...  

Game of Thrones fans got a peek into what the upcoming RPG game, based on the popular novels penned by George R.R. Martin and HBO TV series, looks like as five new screenshots were revealed by Cyanide Studios.

The new screenshots depicts more combat situations, with players having to rely on tactics to win difficult battles as opposed to button-bashing arcade style fighting. According to Cyanide Studios, the game will feature a vast variety of character classes, comprehensive skill trees as well as a broad range of weaponry and armour.  

 

According to the Guardian, the game will not neglect story quality, as befitting its origins as bestselling fantasy books, and will follow an original storyline of its own. The game, which is set to take between 25 to 40 hours to complete, will still give players a chance to visit well known locations, such as The Wall, King's Landing and Red Keep.

 

Apparently it will not be as free roaming as Skyrim, though, but more along the lines of Mass Effect; while branching conversations will also be available. 

 

In short we have high hopes and equally as steep expectations of this one; a great game would make Game of Thrones one of the few franchises that have managed to succeed at all three mediums of novels, screen, and interactive entertainment. 

The role-playing game will be released this month for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. For a deeper look in the game’s combat system, check out the trailer posted below.

 

 

• Thermobaric Boom-Stick
• Force Multiplier Powers: Warp Vortex; Anti Gravity Field and Air Time
• Custom skins: Heller Test Subject; Infected Heller and Infantry Heller

• Viral infector grenade launcher
• Force Multiplier Powers: Shockwave; Chaos creator mode and Medusa’s wrath

• Custom Skins: Armored Heller; Agile Armor Alex Mercer and Zombie Mercer

 

New free content on its way for Modern Warfare 3

Infinity Ward has announced two freely available maps for its new Face Off mode for Modern Warfare 3 on the Xbox 360. The new mode is apparently designed for intense combat in contained areas between two or four people (either one on one or two on two).

According to Joystiq, the free maps include Aground and Erosion. While Aground is set on a beached ship off the coast of Scotland, Erosion takes place in the midst of a volcanic eruption (for those who like their heated firefights a bit more literal) on the Italian coast.

Unfortunately for players of the PC and PS3 versions of the game, due dates for the new content on those platforms have not yet been announced. Face Off mode is set to be released on Tuesday (May 15).

Also forthcoming, though almost two weeks away for anyone not a Call of Duty Elite subscriber, is Content Collection 2, which will include two additional Face Off maps, three new multiplayer maps, and two new Spec Ops missions. Visit the video below for a complete rundown of what to expect.

 

Bioshock Infinite delayed

Unfortunately, Irrational Games’ much anticipated Bioshock Infinite will not be released in October this year as previously planned. Instead, the company announced that players will have to wait ‘till February 2013 to immerse themselves in the floating city of Columbia.

What’s more, players can also expect to hear and see no more about the title until early next year, as Irrational Games’ have pulled it from the forthcoming Electronics Entertainment Expo (E3) and Gamescon.

According to a post by creative director Ken Levine on the studio’s blog, the end result though will only mean a better game nine months from now.

“When we announced the release date of BioShock Infinite in March, we felt pretty good about the timing. Since then, we’ve come to realize that some specific tweaks and improvements will make Infinite into something even more extraordinary. Therefore, to give our talented team the time they need, we’ve decided to move the game’s release to February 26, 2013,” he explained.

Tantalizingly, Levine added that BioShock Infinite is a very big game, adding that the company was “doing things that no one has ever done in a first-person shooter.”

Admittedly, the news will be disappointing to those who remember Bioshock fondly and were looking forward to what was arguably shaping up to be one of the bigger releases of this year. However, it also makes sense, as shipping in February rather than so close to November would give it more space to breath amid the usual end of the year title crush.

Max Payne 3 official trailer launched

As the anticipation mounts for the latest release in the Max Payne series, Max Payne 3, Rockstar Games aims to add more PR fuel to the sales fire, by unveiling the official launch trailer for the game. Max Payne 3 dives out of the way of oncoming fire and onto the Xbox 360, PC and PlayStation 3 on 15 May Stateside and 18 May in Europe.

This dark, gritty action game continues the tale of former New York City detective Max Payne, who is still haunted by the memories of his traumatic past. He starts a new life working private security, looking after the interests of a wealthy industrialist and his family in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

When gangs target the family under his protection, Max is forced to fight to save his clients and clear his name. Rockstar Games also recently played its DLC hand, by declassifying the details concerning the DLC packs for this title.

 

Mario Tennis Open walks onto Nintendo’s 3DS court

Nintendo is looking to serve up a sports game ace with its upcoming Mario Tennis Open. This title will take to the Nintendo 3DS’ portable gaming court locally on 25 May 2012.

Besides the conventional exhibition and tournament modes, Mario Tennis Open will also provide gamers with access to special modes like Super Mario Tennis. Within this mode, players will get to use their tennis swing to stomp Goombas and Koopas, familiar species to anyone who is ever taken a trip through the Mushroom World of Super Mario Bros.

Gamers can play as their favourite characters from the Mushroom Kingdom or compete as their own Mii characters. Opting for the latter, allows you to customise your Mii character with Mushroom Kingdom-themed tennis gear, such as Princess Peach’s tennis shoes or Bowser’s favourite power racket. This won’t just change their look, but it will also boost their stats. 

Insomniac to launch a Facebook game

The studio well known for producing triple AAA franchises for the PS3, such as Resistance and Ratchet and Clank, announced this week that it will be trying its hand at a Facebook game, called Outernaughts.

The action role playing game will apparently put gamers in the shoes of the United Earth’s elite Outernaut force, and give players the opportunity to “capture and train exotic alien beasts for battle, discover mysterious planets, harvest loot, and fight alongside or against friends to master a wild, untamed universe.” In other words, it’s Ratchet and Clank meets Pokemon, with friends.  

However, the sole reason why we are excited about this Facebook game is its pedigree. The developers has promised that it will deliver “a deep story with real strategy,” and no doubt their trademark wit and humour.

Hit the video below for a look at the trailer.