Set in 2069, Syndicate takes players into a dark, Machiavellian world where corporations are vying for market dominance with no government oversight. The people become the causality of this war as these corporations have the technology and power to influence the public via bio-chips installed in their heads. Syndicate blends fast paced action and futuristic settings with innovative chip breach gameplay to provide a unique and brutal sci-fi first person shooter experience.

In the game, players take on the role of Miles Kilo, Eurocorp’s latest prototype agent. Through DART 6 bio-chip technology implanted in their heads, gamers can dilate down time, see through walls, breach the digital world and enemies around them using a variety of upgradable hacking mechanics. Gamers that reserve* Syndicate will receive The Executive Package at no extra charge, which includes unique perks for the game’s deep 4-player co-op campaign. Like every good executive, players with The Executive Package will be able to stand out amongst their friends as they flaunt their solid gold versions of all loadout guns, utilize golden dart vision, and showcase the executive gold Syndicate logos during co-op missions.

*CONDITIONS & RESTRICTIONS APPLY. SEE www.syndicate.ea.com for details.

In addition to the class packs, the update will also ship 14 new holiday-themed weapons, hats and cosmetic items by the TF community’s item creators, using the Steam Workshop. “CP_Foundry,” a new five-cap control point map designed by Valve’s TF2 team, comes with 12 map-specific achievements.

As part of the holiday celebration, over 50 items in the Mann Co. in-game store will be on sale for up to 75% until January 2nd, 2012. Additionally, the in-game item drop rate will be doubled for the first week of the event.

In DiRT Showdown, players will jump into a new world of competitive and combative racing, boosting, tricking and smashing their way to ‘Showdown’ finals on a chaotic tour of motorised mayhem. The first trailer capturing the unique atmosphere and high-octane thrills of DiRT Showdown is now playing at www.dirtgame.com.

“DiRT Showdown is not the sequel to the authentic rally-centric DiRT 3, but a brand new experience from the DiRT team,” said Julian Widdows, VP, development. “We’re building on Codemasters Racing Studio’s world-class strengths in track design, graphics, AI, damage and online to create a new theatre of racing with the emphasis on accessibility and fun from race one.”

“DiRT Showdown charges into the arcade racing space with a uniquely Codemasters feel,” said Mike Chapman, senior games designer.  “Whether players are using nitrous to boost, smashing into their opponents or pulling off stunts, DiRT Showdown’s fresh handling system and super-charged damage engine embed excitement into every event.”

The Boss has managed to obtain some early DiRT Showdown screenshots – click the thumbnails below to view them in all their glory!

There are three broad categories to DiRT Showdown’s action-sport racing. Players will use nitrous to blast past rivals and negotiate courses filled with ramps, multiple routes and obstacles in full-contact Racing events. Gaming’s most advanced damage engine is unleashed in Demolition Derby themed events where players smash and crash their way to victory in bone-jarring style. Finally, in Hoonigan events, gamers will send fans wild in huge stunt parks where accessible new controls offer every player the chance to become a freestyle driving hero.

From San Francisco to Miami and London to Tokyo, players will dominate their rivals and wow the crowds. Pyrotechnics, lasers and thousands of fans give each venue a sports entertainment atmosphere, becoming the perfect stage for players to perform. Over 50 different events across four championships will challenge gamers in a variety of conditions – sun, snow and rain – through the day and under the floodlights at night.

DiRT Showdown will feature an exciting new line up of off-road machines. Ken Block’s all new Gymkhana FOUR H.F.H.V. Ford Fiesta debuts alongside an eclectic mix of vehicles across a range of classes. From saloons and muscle cars to pick-up-trucks, hearses and vans, players have a wide selection of custom cars to trick, race and destroy.

DiRT Showdown will be Codemasters’ most connected game ever – split-screen multiplayer, eight-player online racing, on and off-line quick-fire party games and YouTube integration all come as standard. Players will also be able to issue ‘Showdown Challenges’ to compete with friends whether they are online or not.

Powered by the award-winning EGO Game Technology Platform, DiRT Showdown will be uncaged May 2012 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft®, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and PC.

After distinguishing himself in kart and football, Mario will set the Just Dance floor on fire with a fun dance routine showing off some of the most iconic environments and music of the Mario games. Now fans will be able to dance along with one of their favourite characters and experience his moves firsthand.

This new track joins seven other recent DLC additions: Anja’s Baby Don’t Stop Now, Studio Allstars’ Jump, Olé Orquesta’s JamboMambo, The Girly Team’s TwistShakeIt, U Can’t Touch This and Soul Searchin by Groove Century and In the Style of Irene Cara’s Fame, all priced at 250 Wii Points each.

Ancestors Character pack extends the Assassin’s Creed Revelations experience with features that include:

• New multiplayer characters: the swashbuckling Privateer, the devious siren Corsair, the battle-tested Brigand and the bloodthirsty Gladiator;
• Personalized taunts, weapons and stylized assassination moves;
• New achievements and trophies to earn;
• Multiplayer customization items.

In Assassin’s Creed Revelations, master assassin Ezio Auditore walks in the footsteps of his legendary mentor, Altaïr, on a journey of discovery and revelation. It is a perilous path – one that will take Ezio to Constantinople, the heart of the Ottoman Empire, where a growing army of Templars threatens to destabilize the region.

In addition to Ezio’s award-winning story, the acclaimed online multiplayer experience returns, refined and expanded, with more modes, more maps and more characters that allow players to test their assassin skills against others from around the world. The latest chapter in the Assassin’s Creed saga also includes revolutionary gameplay, allowing players to manipulate the construct of Desmond’s memories and the Animus to decipher the mysteries of his past and gain insight into the future.

Published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and developed by Rocksteady Studios, Batman: Arkham City builds upon the intense, atmospheric foundation of Batman: Arkham Asylum, sending players soaring into Arkham City – five times larger than the game world in Batman: Arkham Asylum – and the new maximum security “home” for all of Gotham City’s thugs, gangsters and insane criminal masterminds. Set inside the heavily fortified walls of a sprawling district in the heart of Gotham City, this highly anticipated sequel introduces a brand-new story that draws together a new, all-star cast of classic characters and murderous villains from the Batman universe, as well as a vast range of new and enhanced gameplay features to deliver the ultimate experience as the Dark Knight.

“We are excited to finally reveal what we’ve been working on the past couple years,” says Mikael Nermark, CEO of Starbreeze Studios. “It’s been a great experience working with EA, and an amazing opportunity for us to use our expertise in the first person shooter and action genres to bring back, and reignite, the signature action/espionage gameplay of Syndicate.”

Set in 2069, Syndicate takes players into a dark, Machiavellian world run without government oversight with many syndicates vying for total dominance of their local market place. With no one to question their intentions or actions, three mega corporations – Eurocorp, Cayman Global, and Aspari – are at the forefront of this brutal war for control of the pivotal American market. In the world of Syndicate, everything is digitally connected, including the people. Players aren’t limited to the weapons in their hands. Through DART 6 bio-chip technology implanted in their head, players can slow down time and breach the digital world around them to take down their foes using a variety of upgradable hacking mechanics. Syndicate’s blend of fast-paced, futuristic, action shooter settings and story combined with innovative chip breach gameplay instantly immerses players in a unique digital world.

“Our goal with Syndicate is to provide a challenging action shooter for today’s gamers as well as fans of the original. I’m sure they will enjoy and recognize the legacy that made it such a classic,” says Jeff Gamon, EA Partners Executive Producer. “Fans of the franchise will recognize many weapons and environments in the game, but in a whole new way. The game also provides a separate and deep 4-player co-op mode featuring missions from the original cult classic, which adds another layer of depth to the overall experience.”

“OnLive, the pioneer of cloud gaming, launches its breakthrough on-demand video game service today at the 2011 Eurogamer Expo in London, bringing amazing new gameplay experiences to the UK. Gamers across the UK can sign up for free at www.onlive.co.uk and instantly play about 150 top-tier games via almost any broadband Internet connection on their HDTV, PC or Mac®, and soon on iPad® and Android® tablets.”

The Boss has given it a go and has been blown away by the capabilities. He tried the service using a humble 2008 MSI Wind Netbook, which on all accounts wouldn’t be able to run hardly any of the games on offer at an acceptable standard. The results were phenomenal; graphics  rivaled the current console offering and gameplay was seamless with full wired X-box 360 controller support.  The Boss had to keep checking that his netbook hadn’t been replaced with alienware components.

With various ways to play including renting, buying and subscribing, many of the latest top titles and a fantastic pricetag for all, coupled with a wonderfully intuitive and stimulating dashboard, is it possible that the life of the console could be nearing it’s end?

Most games are available to play as a demo for up to 30 minutes and they’re usually full game including multiplayer functions, so you’re able to get a great feel for the game before you commit to purchase, or even rent. The dashboard allows observation of other players around the country and the unique idea of rating their skills during the game, which gives a fantastic community feel. This couples with social media integration means the clever clog’s over at OnLive have really pushed to tick all the boxes.

What’s more they’ve rolled out a staggering offer to join the bandwagon early (no purchase required). If you setup an account before 9th October, you can purchase any of their games for £1, YES £1 (providing full access for life). If you’re a lucky BT Broadband customer however, that offer will be greatly overshadowed by the fact that you’ll be able to get free access to over 100 titles for 3 months.

If you’re new to gaming, on a budget, don’t have much space, want a selection of ways you can get access to games etc. then this could be the ideal solution for you. I for one can’t wait to get more stuck in.

Check out what it can do in the video below:

The Boss says, pull you’re socks up and visit www.onlive.co.uk now. It won’t cost you anything to give it a go, and you WILL be surprised. 

To mark the game’s launch, Codemasters® has released a new video which shows the world’s fastest sport in glorious slow-motion. Capturing how Codemasters Birmingham has authentically reproduced the unique physics and visual detail from the most advanced racing cars on the planet, the video features key racing moments including dynamically changing weather, the new DRS (Drag Reduction System) in action and the 2011 Safety Car. Watch the FORMULA ONE™ cast of stars, including Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso, race wheel-to-wheel and battle the elements in the new trailer now showing at www.youtube.com/formula1game.

F1 2011 will challenge players to ‘be the driver, live the life, go compete’, with wide-ranging technical and gameplay advancements on and off track and vastly extended competitive and co-operative multiplayer components. Players will be able to race against 16 players online plus 8 AI cars to simulate a full 24 car grid, team up with a friend to play through a full season in a new co-op Championship mode or enjoy multiplayer racing from the sofa in split-screen mode.

F1 2011 will feature all of the official teams, drivers and circuits from the 2011 FIA FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP™. The 2011 season sees the debut of the 2011 FORMULA 1 AIRTEL GRAND PRIX OF INDIA at Delhi’s Buddh International Circuit and the return of the iconic Nürburgring to the calendar.

Bespoke handheld editions of F1 2011 are also in production for Nintendo 3DS™ and PlayStation® Vita, each designed to take advantage of the new platforms’ unique capabilities; specific release dates for the handheld editions are to be announced. To get all the news straight from the studio race over to www.facebook.com/formula1game or follow the team on twitter at www.twitter.com/formula1game

THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN – LEGENDARY WWE SUPERSTAR THE ROCK TO APPEAR ON FRONT COVER OF WWE® ’12 COLLECTOR’S EDITION

THQ today broke the brilliant news that the legendary WWE Superstar The Rock will grace the collector’s edition cover of WWE® 12.

The forthcoming release from the renowned WWE flagship videogame franchise, WWE® 12 is currently in development, with release scheduled towards the end of November.

The Rock was the people’s choice through a vote in a franchise-first opportunity to choose a cover Superstar for a WWE videogame.

We’re told that the WWE ’12 collector’s edition is to include the following items:

• Foil sleeve cover packaging featuring The Rock
• Copy of WWE ’12 videogame
• The Rock playable in-game character
• WWE Blu-Ray/DVD featuring:
• WWE Championship Match – Booker T vs. The Rock – SummerSlam – 19th August, 2001
• Intercontinental Championship Match – Chris Jericho vs. Rob Van Dam – Raw – 16th September, 2002
• World Heavyweight Championship Match – Triple H vs. Kane – Raw – 23rd June, 2003
• 60-Minute Iron Man Match for the WWE Championship – Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar – SmackDown! – 18th September, 2003
• WWE Championship Match – Eddie Guerrero vs. Rey Mysterio – SmackDown! -18th March, 2004
• Exclusive Foil Topps Trading Card featuring The Rock
• Art Image of The Rock

WWE ’12 is currently in development for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system and Wii, with a scheduled release date of 25th November, 2011 in UK and Europe.

For more information on the WWE ’12 Collector’s Edition, please visit wwe.thq.com/RockVsCena, facebook.com/WWEgames and twitter.com/WWEgames.