PSP | 16GB PSP Go revealed early, new PSP MGS confirmed?

Though Sony's E3 Press Conference isn't until 11:00 a.m. on June 2, one of its centerpieces appears to have been prematurely exposed. A YouTube video of what appears to be the next issue of the PlayStation-focused video magazine Qore has revealed that Sony will use its event to unveil a new PSP model, the PSP Go.

As had been widely rumored, the PSP Go will have a sliding form factor like the Mylo, Sony's ill-fated Internet communicator device. The new handheld--which does not sport a second thumbstick--is shown several times in the video, which features Qore host Veronica Belmont and John Koller, director of hardware marketing at Sony Computer Entertainment America.

According to Koller, the main differences between the PSP Go and the PSP-3000 are "on-board memory, the flash memory, and 16 gigs of space. There's Bluetooth on board as well, so you can use a Bluetooth headset, and you can actually tether it to your cell phone as well. But ultimately, it's the portability. Since you can bring all that content with you in a smaller form factor, you've got the most immersive games to play, and now you've got a smaller unit to do it with."

Koller also said the emphasis will be on downloadable games. "Little Big Planet, Jak & Daxter, and even a new Metal Gear Solid coming--all of those games will be available. So will all the first-run movies you can rent or buy on the PlayStation Network. So you can bring so much content over with you and fill up that 16 gig of flash memory." (Emphasis added.) The new MGS PSP game was previously hinted at in a Web post by the Japanese arm of the 7/11 convenience store chain.

Koller also appears to reveal that the long-lost PSP Gran Turismo Mobile game--first shown off in 2004--will resurface at next week's expo. "There are games like Gran Turismo being announced at E3," said the executive.

Host Belmont then asks, "So since it's called the PSP Go, I would image it will work with Remote Play as well." Koller responds with the following blanket statement: "Integration with the PS3 is very important, and it works just like the PSP-3000. A lot of people like to be able to take their PS3 content with them on the go."

As for the PSP Go supplanting its predecessor, Koller said flatly: "It won't replace the PSP-3000. We're going to keep them both on the market." Koller did not mention a price, release date, or whether or not it would have a touchscreen when closed. Sony Computer Entertainment America reps had not responded to requests for comment as of press time.

[UPDATE] A second video from Qore shows the PSP Go in even greater detail, and also reveals its logo. The handheld will have a 3.8 inch screen--versus the PSP-3000's 4.3-inch screen--and will be 43 percent lighter than the original, and will have "all digital content," according to Koller. "The UMD drive goes away?and it has a Memory Stick Micro, so you can add memory to it if you like?It will be something the digitally savvy consumer can really enjoy," he explains, before revealing some new PSP games will be download-only.

The full YouTube video is below, although the sound and images are out of sync. It appears to also show a version of the original Warhawk for the PSP:

Xbox 360 | Ubisoft E3 2009 Press Conference liveblog--June 1, 5 p.m.

LOS ANGELES--So what's likely to happen at Ubisoft's 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo press conference? Seeming locks include Assassin's Creed 2 and the return of Sam Fischer in Splinter Cell: Conviction. The publisher also said that Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage for the Wii will be on-hand, as will the Pele/Mia Hamm-fronted new soccer title Academy of Champions.

Fact: Joel McHale is funnier than Jaime Kennedy.

Other high-profile titles slated for this year that may receive a mention during Ubisoft's E3 2009 press event include Red Steel 2, Ghost Recon 4, Rabbids Go Home, R.U.S.E., I Am Alive, and James Cameron's Avatar. Oh, and if Ubisoft's E3 2008 presser is any indication, senior VP of sales and marketing Tony Key will probably talk about some new Imagine Horsez games, too.

All that said, Ubisoft may use its time in the spotlight to highlight covert or unannounced products, as well. In early May, high-quality video of what appeared to be Beyond Good & Evil 2 surfaced on YouTube. Just last week, Ubisoft filed new trademarks for its presumed-canceled Killing Day as well as Driver: The Recruit.

GameSpot will be on-hand to live-blog and provide streaming video from Ubisoft's E3 2009 press conference, which is slated to take place June 1 at 5 p.m. PDT, and will be hosted by The Soup's Joel McHale. (Hopefully, he won't repeat Jamie Kennedy's infamous performance hosting Activision's E3 2007 event.) GameSpot will also be live-blogging and streaming live video of the Big Three press conferences from Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo--as part of its wide-ranging E3 coverage.

This Live Blog is scheduled to begin Jun 1, 2009 at 4:50PM PDT

PC | Electronic Arts E3 2009 Press Conference liveblog--June 1, 2 p.m.

LOS ANGELES--By the time Electronic Arts' Electronic Entertainment Expo 2008 press conference rolled around in mid-July last year, the publisher had long since announced it numerous new franchises that would debut that year. As such, the publisher's E3 appearance was a bit of a dud, with the headline announcement being a publishing deal with id Software on the post-apocalyptic action game Rage. Ironically, the biggest EA news of the show came after the press event, when CEO John Riccitiello casually confirmed Star Wars: The Old Republic.

EA beckons.

This year, the publisher has once again already revealed much of its plans for later this year and into the next. Headline titles planned for release before the end of the publisher's fiscal year include Mass Effect 2, Dragon Age: Origins, Dante's Inferno, Dead Space Extraction, The Sims 3, Army of Two: The 40th Day, The Saboteur, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, and a Need for Speed trifecta, plus myriad sports simulation titles and EA Partners collaborations.

Still, EA may have a few mysteries and wild cards that could make an appearance during its E3 2009 press event, which will begin at 2 p.m. PDT on Monday, June 1. Candidates include the ongoing Steven Spielberg collaboration LMNO, as well as Project RedLime from Starbreeze and an untitled venture with Goichi Suda's Grasshopper Manufacture, to name a few. The publisher has also already confirmed for GameSpot that at least one online-oriented Madden NFL 10 announcement is en route.

To see just what EA has up its sleeve, check back on Monday for GameSpot's live blog of the event. GameSpot will also be streaming live video of the event--as well as those of Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo--alongside the blog as part of its wide-ranging E3 coverage.

This Live Blog is scheduled to begin Jun 1, 2009 at 1:50PM PDT

PSP | 16GB 'PSP Go' revealed early, new PSP MGS confirmed?

Though Sony's E3 Press Conference isn't until 11:00 a.m. on June 2, one of its centerpieces appears to have been prematurely exposed. A YouTube video of what appears to be the next issue of the PlayStation-focused video magazine Qore has revealed that Sony will use its event to unveil a new PSP model, the PSP Go.

As had been widely rumored, the PSP Go will have a sliding form factor like the Mylo, Sony's ill-fated Internet communicator device. The new handheld--which does not sport a second thumbstick--is shown several times in the video, which features Qore host Veronica Belmont and John Koller, director of hardware marketing at Sony Computer Entertainment America.

According to Koller, the main differences between the PSP Go and the PSP-3000 are "on-board memory, the flash memory, and 16 gigs of space. There's Bluetooth on board as well, so you can use a Bluetooth headset, and you can actually tether it to your cell phone as well. But ultimately, it's the portability. Since you can bring all that content with you in a smaller form factor, you've got the most immersive games to play, and now you've got a smaller unit to do it with."

Koller also said the emphasis will be on downloadable games. "Little Big Planet, Jak & Daxter, and even a new Metal Gear Solid coming--all of those games will be available. So will all the first-run movies you can rent or buy on the PlayStation Network. So you can bring so much content over with you and fill up that 16 gig of flash memory." (Emphasis added.) The new MGS PSP game was previously hinted at in a Web post by the Japanese arm of the 7/11 convenience store chain.

Koller also appears to reveal that the long-lost PSP Gran Turismo Mobile game--first shown off in 2004--will resurface at next week's expo. "There are games like Gran Turismo being announced at E3," said the executive.

Host Belmont then asks, "So since it's called the PSP Go, I would image it will work with Remote Play as well." Koller responds with the following blanket statement: "Integration with the PS3 is very important, and it works just like the PSP-3000. A lot of people like to be able to take their PS3 content with them on the go."

As for the PSP Go supplanting its predecessor, Koller said flatly: "It won't replace the PSP-3000. We're going to keep them both on the market." Koller did not mention a price, release date, or whether or not it would have a touchscreen when closed. Sony Computer Entertainment America reps had not responded to requests for comment as of press time.

[UPDATE] A second video from Qore shows the PSP Go in even greater detail, and also reveals its logo. The handheld will have a 3.8 inch screen--versus the PSP-3000's 4.3-inch screen--and will be 43 percent lighter than the original, and will have "all digital content," according to Koller. "The UMD drive goes away?and it has a Memory Stick Micro, so you can add memory to it if you like?It will be something the digitally savvy consumer can really enjoy," he explains, before revealing some new PSP games will be download-only.

The full YouTube video is below, although the sound and images are out of sync. It appears to also show a version of the original Warhawk for the PSP:

PlayStation 3 | Wolfenstein blitzes stores August 4

Nazis, beware. Activision today announced that the revamp of Wolfenstein is set for an August 4 release on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.

Developed by Raven Software (X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Singularity), Wolfenstein drops players into the army boots of B.J. Blazkowicz, once again sent behind enemy lines to thwart Hitler's occult ambitions. For this go-around, players will be able to fight fire with fire, using the power of a sought-after artifact to combat Hitler's own freakish army of evil.

With the newest installment in the series still months away, eager gamers will be able to pass the time by brushing up on the franchise's 3D roots. Activision will release a downloadable console edition of the original PC shooter Wolfenstein 3D next week.

Wolfenstein 3D sees players blasting their way through 60 levels of carnage on their way to a face-to-face encounter with Mecha-Hitler. The game will be available June 3 on the Xbox 360 and June 4 on the PS3. Wolfenstein 3D will be available for $5 (400 Microsoft points).

PlayStation 3 | Madden NFL 10 gets online co-op, online franchises en route?

At the tail end of March, EA Sports made its customary announcement for the latest season of Madden NFL football, saying this year's edition will arrive on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PSP, and Wii on August 14. Today, EA unveiled one of the headline features that will be introduced with Madden NFL 10, saying that for the first time, the football simulator will include online co-op play.

Fact: The Bengals will be good this year.

Even more intriguing, however, were statements made by senior designer Ian Cummings in a developer diary introducing the online co-op functionality. In talking about the new feature, Cummings notes that an even more requested online feature may also be in route with this year's edition of the game. "[Online co-op] might attract a lot of different people to try out online who maybe they'll go try out online franchise after that," Cummings said. (Emphasis added.)

An online franchise mode was a notable omission from Madden NFL 10, especially considering the feature's high-profile inclusion in NCAA Football 09. Responding to requests for comment, an EA Sports representative wasn't willing to explicitly confirm online franchise mode in Madden NFL 10, saying only, "We'll be making another major announcement regarding our online plans for Madden NFL 10 at our [Electronic Entertainment Expo] press conference on June 1."

GameSpot will be on hand in Los Angeles to deliver news from EA's E3 press event, which is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. PDT on Monday. For more on Madden NFL 10, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

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PlayStation 3 | Sony E3 2009 Press Conference liveblog--June 2, 11:00 a.m.

LOS ANGELES--Of the Big Three press conferences at the Electronic Entertainment Expo, Sony's could be the most newsworthy if even half of the announcements rumored to take place actually happen. Whether it's a UMD-less version of the PSP, a new motion-sensing controller, a redesigned PlayStation 3 (perhaps with a price cut), or, say, actual games, the scuttlebutt and speculation surrounding the press conference has been building for months.

Kratos knows how to deal with leaks.

While much of the anticipation for Sony's conference is built around whispers of what might be, there are some safer bets about titles that might be featured. Sony already has a lineup of heavy hitters confirmed for the show, including God of War III, Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, MAG, Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time, Heavy Rain: The Origami Killer, and Pixeljunk Shooter, all of which will be featured during GameSpot's live stage show direct from the E3 show floor.

To find out just which rumors are true (or even partly true), bookmark this page and come back at 11 a.m. Pacific on Tuesday, June 2, for a live blog of the event. GameSpot will also be streaming live video of the event--as well as those of Microsoft and Nintendo--alongside the blog as part of its wide-ranging E3 coverage.

This Live Blog is scheduled to begin Jun 2, 2009 at 10:50AM PDT

PlayStation 3 | Nintendo E3 2009 Press Conference liveblog--June 2, 9 a.m.

LOS ANGELES--The weeks leading up to the 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo saw plenty of rumors and leaks about announcements from console makers Sony and Microsoft. However, Nintendo has been the subject of relatively few E3 rumors. A trademark filing for "Wii Fit Plus" raised eyebrows, as did an analyst prediction for new Zelda and Mario games, but the only widely held expectation is that the Wii maker will try harder to court the core gamer than it did in its 2008 E3 appearance.

Reggie Fils-Aime at the 2008 Nintendo E3 conference.

Whatever the subjects covered in the conference, there have to be plenty of projects up the publisher's sleeve. On the Wii front, Nintendo has little in the publicly announced first-party pipeline aside from Metroid Prime Trilogy, Sin and Punishment 2, and Wii Sports Resort. Perhaps it's time for rotund puffball Kirby to finally make his proper debut on the system, originally announced by Nintendo months before the Wii actually launched in 2006.

As for the DS, Nintendo has a slate of Japanese titles begging for localization, including Mario & Luigi RPG 3!!!, Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box, and Pokemon Heart Gold and Soul Silver. Then there's the matter of the DSi, the recently released and premium priced iteration of the popular handheld hardware that could benefit greatly from a killer app.

For a blow-by-blow account of the Nintendo conference, bookmark this page and come back at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, June 2, for a live blog of the event. GameSpot will also be streaming live video of the event--as well as those of Sony and Microsoft--alongside the blog as part of its wide-ranging E3 coverage.

This Live Blog is scheduled to begin Jun 2, 2009 at 8:50AM PDT

Xbox 360 | Microsoft E3 2009 Press Conference liveblog--June 1, 10:30 a.m.

LOS ANGELES--At its press event at the 2008 Electronic Entertainment Expo, Microsoft dropped a series of major announcements. Following a pseudo-price drop for the 20GB Xbox 360 Core, the company showed off the New Xbox Live Experience, which introduced a new dashboard, Netflix streaming, and Xbox Live avatars last November. The company also touted Fallout 3 downloadable content "exclusives" for the PC and Xbox 360--which are now also coming to the PlayStation 3. Last but certainly not least, Microsoft shocked JRPG fans by revealing that not only was Square Enix bringing Final Fantasy XIII to the Xbox 360, it was holding back the PS3 version so the two could launch simultaneously.

Can Microsoft top the FFXIII-a-ton?

If rumors are to be believed, a similar shocker might be in store for Microsoft's press event at E3 2009, which is the first official conference of the show. The past several weeks have seen rumors swirl about an Xbox 360 version of the most popular PlayStation 3 exclusive to date, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots. Also rumored to be on hand are the new Peter Molyneux game and a motion-sensing camera controller for the Xbox 360. Already revealed games such as Alan Wake, Halo 3: ODST, and Forza Motorsport 3 are also expected, and naturally the event will have a few surprises.

To see exactly what Microsoft will have in store, bookmark this page and come back at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 1, for a live blog of the event. GameSpot will also be streaming live video of the event--as well as those of Sony and Nintendo--alongside the blog as part of its wide-ranging E3 coverage.

This Live Blog is scheduled to begin Jun 1, 2009 at 10:20AM PDT

DS | Trauma Team operates on Wii

Though gamers may have been avoiding Atlus.com for fear of virus attacks, fans of the surgery series Trauma Center may want to take a look because the publisher has just announced a new entry in the franchise.

We know what you're thinking and no. Just no.

Since the first game was announced for the DS back in 2004, the series has spawned several titles across both the DS and Wii, though all have only allowed gamers to take on the role of a surgeon. Trauma Team, or Hospital as it will be known in Japan, currently only announced for the Wii, marks a new direction for the series as players will be able to take on the role of a general surgeon, diagnostician, emergency medical technician, orthopedic surgeon, endoscope technician, and medical examiner.

The game is also said to feature hand-drawn art, Japanese animation-inspired story sequences, and ?high quality? voice acting. Atlus has not given any details on gameplay, and, in particular, how the new medical roles will differ, but more of the puzzle-based gameplay from the other games in the series is to be expected.

While the game is due for release in the US Spring 2010, a UK release date and publisher has not been announced. Atlus is set to reveal more on the title at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, so keep an eye on our E3 page for more.

Xbox 360 | New Microsoft studio to 'revolutionize' gameplay

With Microsoft's E3 Press Conference less than three days away, speculation about the software giant's announcements are reaching a fever pitch. Besides unconfirmed reports of a Metal Gear Solid 4 port and a new Peter Molyneux game the top rumor is for a new motion-sensing camera controller for the Xbox 360.

The latter rumor got a further boost this week, courtesy of a job listing from Microsoft's Entertainment and Devices division, which makes the Xbox 360 and soon-to-be-Xbox Live-compatible Zune HD. Specifically, the listing is for a "Sr. Environment Artist" at an all-new internal developer at Microsoft Game Studios, publisher of such games as Gears of War 2, Halo 3: ODST, and the just-announced Lips: Number One Hits. Hinting heavily at some sort of new control scheme for an all-new property, the description reads as follows:

Are you interested in shipping innovative games that will change the way people play? If so, we want you to join our team to work on an amazing next-generation project, built from the ground up, in Microsoft Game Studios. We are building a NEW GAME STUDIO from the ground up that will revolutionize both WHAT you play and HOW you play. You have the chance to get in on the ground floor and work with professionals responsible for some of the industry's greatest innovations to date. (Emphasis in the original.)

We're looking for a talented, motivated and experienced Sr. Environment Artist. This is a rare opportunity to join a seasoned, creatively driven team on an exciting next-generation project. Qualified individuals are expected to communicate and collaborate well throughout a development team, and have a proven track record in creating AAA art for games. Candidates will have experience creating a broad range of styles in both 2D and 3D mediums. Be well versed in programs like Photoshop and Maya, as well as demonstrate experience with current console art creation techniques like shader development, normal map creation, and high polygon modeling.

As of press time, Microsoft reps had not commented on the job listing, which may--or may not--pertain to announcements at next week's Electronic Entertainment Expo.

PlayStation 2 | Eminem, Jay-Z fronting DJ Hero

Earlier this month, Activision officially confirmed DJ Hero, the latest spin-off of its rhythm-game franchise, which ditches the guitar and melodic rock in favor of a turntable and scratch-heavy beats. Along with releasing photos of the DJ Hero Turntable Controller, the publisher said the Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 2 game would feature hip-hop, R&B, Motown, electronic, and dance genres, as well as let players produce their own tunes.

Activision's got 99 problems, but publicity ain't one.

Today, Activision announced that hip-hop heavyweights Jay-Z and Eminem will help launch the DJ Hero franchise. Both artists have signed on to lend unnamed tracks to the game, and Activision also said that both artists will be the subject of downloadable content later this year.

Further, Activision said it has partnered with Jay-Z and Eminem on a special edition of DJ Hero. The custom package will include "an advanced version of the game's turntable controller," as well as a metal traveling case that doubles as a "performance-ready DJ stand" and two exclusive CD compilations that feature original mixes from each performer.

DJ Hero is one among a sea of Guitar Hero-related rhythm games set for release in 2009. With Guitar Hero: Greatest Hits penciled in for June and Guitar Hero 5 dated for September 1, Activision also expects to release Band Hero and Guitar Hero: Van Halen later this year.

For more on the FreeStyleGames-developed DJ Hero, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.

PSP | Ghostbusters sliming US PSPs by Xmas

Earlier today, Atari CEO David Gardner spoke with GameSpot about his company's restructuring, the departure of high-profile president Phil Harrison, and its plan to return the seminal publisher to profitability. Although the interview focused on bigger-picture issues, one tidbit of small-screen news emerged as well.

Stay Puft. My old nemesis.

Gardner confirmed that the PSP edition of Atari's upcoming Ghostbusters game--previously announced only as part of Sony's exclusive European copublishing agreement for the game--will eventually make its way to North America. Although domestic gamers can look forward to versions of the game for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, PC, PlayStation 2, and DS on June 16, Gardner said only that the PSP version would be out in time for the holiday season.

Ghostbusters puts the player in the role of a trainee Ghostbuster, who, along with the original characters Spengler, Stantz, and Venkman, is tasked with cleaning up a ghost-ridden Manhattan. The game will feature an all-new story, penned by the original writers and stars Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, who will also appear in the game. In addition, Bill Murray will reprise his role as Venkman.

Saturn | New Kojima/Konami teaser reveals 'Mask'

So far, Konami's publicity department has had a pretty sadistic 2009. After famed designer Hideo Kojima teased "the next MGS" at the end of his 2009 Game Developers Conference keynote address, his publisher partner rolled out a drip-teaser campaign that has bordered on torturous. After teasing a big Kojima Productions announcement as coming May 18, Konami launched a teaser page bearing a countdown timer that ended three days later with...another countdown timer. This was followed five days later with one more countdown timer, accompanied by an image of MGS series character Big Boss, which is set to expire at 3 p.m. on Sunday, May 31--the day before the Electronic Entertainment Expo press events kick off.

Invasion of the E3 Snatchers?

Now the teaser site has changed again, revealing yet another teaser site for what might be an all-new IP. Sometime this week, the Kojima Productions logo in the lower right-hand side of the page was obscured by what looks like a ghostly face. The face also links to the URL www.konami.jp/kojima_pro/mask/, which yields a black page with the Konami and Kojima logos in the top two corners. The center of the page is filled with a metallic mask of a feminine face reminiscent of the classic silent film Metropolis, with a second face in the motif on the mask's forehead.

Though the information in the HTML only says "KOJIMA PRODUCTION 'Mask,'" there is no shortage of theories about what the teaser site is for. Besides the obvious prospect of an all-new IP, the most common hypothesis is that the game being teased is a reboot of Snatcher, the Kojima-designed digital-comic adventure released on various platforms in the late '80s and early '90s. The game's main antagonists are a race of "bioroids"--artificial biomechanical beings like the characters in the anime Ghost in the Shell--leading to speculation that the mask on the page may belong to one.

Another reason to suspect that the mask page is for Snatcher is that Kojima himself has said he is working on a remake. In a 2007 interview with Famitsu spotted by gaming blog Joystiq, Grasshopper Manufacture chief Goichi Suda confirmed that his long-germinating collaboration with Kojima, "Project S," was indeed based on both Snatcher and a radio drama inspired by it. "I think I will call it 'Snatchers.' I can't talk about the details of the story at this point," he reportedly told the Japanese gaming magazine.

PlayStation 3 | Atari CEO: The worst is behind us

In the past three decades, Atari has seen some of the highest highs and lowest lows in the gaming industry. Though the company bearing the name today bears little resemblance to the one that became synonymous with gaming in the 1970s, it has continued a tradition of turmoil. That history may indeed be a thing of the past now, given that Atari Worldwide CEO David Gardner told GameSpot today that the publisher is "most definitely through the worst and the hard patch" of its most recent turnaround story.

Today it was revealed that former Sony Worldwide Studios head Phil Harrison stepped down from his position as president of Atari Worldwide, and the publisher posted more than $319 million in losses for its most recent fiscal year. However, Gardner said that the personnel change and losses (most of which Atari brushed aside as one-time expenses related to the restructuring) aren't keeping the publisher from making headway on its turnaround plan.

"I don't want to pick on any franchises because it hurts people's feelings, but we had a lot of products that needed to be canceled, a lot of franchises written down," Gardner said. "It's like moving house; you throw away the stuff you don't use and don't really need. You figure out how you want to live and what you want in your new place, and that's what you focus on."

For Atari, that means focusing on taking its franchises online, whether it's a massively multiplayer online game sold at retail and built on monthly subscription fees, a digitally distributed game, or traditional retail games with online components.

One thing likely to change in the publisher's future is its reliance on licensed properties. In recent years, Atari has leaned heavily on its licensed Dragon Ball Z and Dungeons & Dragons games to bring in sales. Although Gardner said that the company will continue investing in long-term licenses such as the one it holds for D&D, it needs to strike a balance between working with its own intellectual properties and those of others.

"What we've all realized in the senior management team is that we should be doing more to develop and promote our fantastic catalog," Gardner said.

The IP exchange will flow both ways for Atari. Atari Inc. CEO Jim Wilson told GameSpot that the company's own stable of brands might be available for other developers to work with. Though Wilson didn't specify any brands in particular, the publisher holds a wide-ranging catalog of games, from arcade classics such as Pong and Asteroids to more modern fare such as Baldur's Gate.

"You'll see us developing titles based upon our core IPs, and you could see some licensing activities from IPs that we don't consider core at this time," Wilson said. "We have a stable of at least 80 IPs, and we're going to put some focus on the ones we consider important to the company. Others, we may license off."

Gardner likened the approach to one used by movie studios, who commonly develop projects in-house as well as externally.

"There's a more commercial sensibility around that, and we need to do a better job with it," Gardner said. "Frankly, the whole industry could be a lot smarter about that, I think. It's one of the things we see a big opportunity around."

Xbox 360 | Batman: Arkham Asylum committed to Aug. 25

Eidos and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment led off May with news that Batman: Arkham Asylum needed a bit more time in the development ward. Instead of its anticipated June release, Arkham Asylum would remain remanded until "the end of summer 2009," with additional development time targeted toward ensuring "the highest quality for gamers," according to the publisher.

The gun is probably fake, but the blood is most certainly real.

Today, Eidos attached an exact date to Batman: Arkham Asylum, saying the Rocksteady Studios-developed action adventure will arrive for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC on August 25 in North America. Batman: Arkham Asylum's European release will occur three days later on August 28.

Cowritten by Paul Dini, producer of TV's Batman: The Animated Series, the game begins when the Joker breaks out of jail and escapes to Arkham. There, he orchestrates a plan to kill Batman and wreak havoc on Gotham City with the help of myriad accomplices. As an added incentive, PS3 gamers will be able to play as Gotham City's quintessential madman in the game's challenge map modes.

For more information, check out GameSpot's previous coverage of Batman: Arkham Asylum.

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PlayStation 3 | Front Mission Evolves on 360, PS3, PC

While a full slate of Final Fantasy games will no doubt dominate the Square Enix booth at next week's Electronic Entertainment Expo, the publisher today made clear that its ambitions stretch far beyond the flagship role-playing franchise. Continuing its emphasis on working with developers from all over the world, Square Enix today announced a slate of E3 games expanding beyond its traditional comfort zone.

ED-209's older, meaner brother.

First on the list is Front Mission Evolved for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC, the title Square Enix teased earlier this month. Developed by Irvine, California-based Double Helix Games (Silent Hill: Homecoming, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra), Front Mission Evolved brings the turn-based tactical strategy series into uncharted territory as an "action-packed third-person shooter" with online multiplayer action as well as a single-player campaign mode. Despite those significant changes to the formula, the series' distinctive mechanized war machines (pictured) will return.

Front Mission Evolved isn't the only action-centric title in Square Enix's lineup. The publisher also enlisted Cavia, developer of Bullet Witch and Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles, to create the action adventure Nier for the PS3 and Xbox 360. Nier tells the story of a determined father trying to find a cure for a world-threatening plague called the Black Scrawl virus. At the moment, Nier is relatively far from release, with Square Enix pegging a 2010 launch window.

The publisher will also feature a pair of Western-developed real-time strategy games at its booth, with Supreme Commander 2 from Redmond, Washington-based Gas Powered Games and Order of War from London-based studio Wargaming.net. Developed for the PC and Xbox 360, Supreme Commander 2 will build on the large-scale sci-fi action of the original, while the PC exclusive Order of War will allow players to relive--or reshape--a decisive series of World War II battles from 1944.

Back on familiar ground, Square Enix will also be showcasing a handful of titles from its core franchises. Final Fantasy XIII for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 will command the lion's share of attention, but the publisher will also be showing Dissidia Final Fantasy for the PSP, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers for the Wii, and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Dark Lord for WiiWare.

Two more listings from the publisher narrowed down release dates for anticipated titles. The first episode of Final Fantasy IV: The After Years will arrive on the North American WiiWare service as E3 kicks off June 1, while the DS debut Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days will arrive this fall.

For more from the show, check out GameSpot's complete coverage of E3 2009.

PlayStation 3 | Dragon Age dawns Oct. 20

Under different circumstances, PC gamers could at this very moment be playing BioWare's latest epic fantasy role-playing game, Dragon Age: Origins. However, as told by EA CEO John Riccitiello, the game was shaping up to be so epic in scale, quality, and innovation that Dragon Age would be better served if the PC launch coincided with the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 debuts later in the year.

There's a lot of hellspawn that could use a slaying.

At the time, Riccitiello noted, "Too much quality can make you reassess your options." Options thus reassessed, BioWare confirmed for GameSpot today that the Xbox 360, PS3, and PC editions of Dragon Age: Origins will be released on October 20.

BioWare went all but completely dark on Dragon Age following its initial reveal way back in May 2004. The game, which has been called a spiritual successor to BioWare's acclaimed Baldur's Gate franchise, resurfaced in late-2007, when EA bought out BioWare and Pandemic as part of an $860 million deal.

Since then, BioWare has been far chattier about its fantasy role-playing game. For more information, check out GameSpot's extensive coverage of Dragon Age: Origins.

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PlayStation 3 | Lego Indiana Jones 2 plundering this fall

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and TT Games have had a good deal of success with taking venerated properties, reducing them to block-sized Lego elements, and adding a humorous bent. So it came as no surprise when, in March, an animator revealed the inevitable next installments in the Lego spin-off series, saying J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter was being Lego-ized alongside a second installment in LucasArts' Indiana Jones franchise.

Indiana Jones always was a bit of a blockhead.

Today, WBIE and TT Games confirmed one of those new games, saying Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues will arrive for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PSP, Wii, DS, and PC this fall. Whereas the first Lego Indy game focused on the first three films in George Lucas and Steven Spielberg's classic action adventure, Lego Indy 2 will include elements from all four films--including the most recent addition, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

TT Games has a number of new features that it will be packing into Lego Indy 2. Namely, the title will introduce the ability for gamers to create their own levels and environments--as well as build on existing ones--which can then be shared. The game will also feature a number of characters from Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, as well as new episodes from the original three films.

From a gameplay standpoint, TT Games has also tweaked character animations, as well as added new vehicles and weapons. The game also features 60 playable characters and will support two-player drop-in, drop-out cooperative play.

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PC | Bethesda on the Brink in '10

Two weeks ago, Bethesda Softworks parent company Zenimax filed an application to trademark the title "Brink" with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The filing indicated a reveal was imminent for one of the projects in Bethesda Softworks' stable, with one of the most likely candidates being the closely guarded game in development at Enemy Territory: Quake Wars developer Splash Damage.

Things quickly turn south for this man.

Today, Bethesda pulled the trigger on Brink, launching a teaser trailer loaded with information concerning the game. Namely, Splash Damage is indeed behind the conflict-heavy action title, which is expected to launch spring 2010 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. The trailer also lists Xbox Live and PlayStation Network platforms, indicating Brink will have an online component.

The trailer indicates that Brink will be set in a dystopian future, in which a select few individuals will weather an apocalyptic struggle in the safe confines of a sanctuary--while everyone else battles for their lives.

"They called it the Ark," the voice-over for the trailer begins, showing a towering edifice blurred in the distance. "It was their vision of the future--peaceful, sustainable, the pinnacle of science and engineering." After showing an idyllic sanctuary, the trailer then cuts to a zoomed-in shot of what appears to be a youthful man's eye.

Crackling gunfire replaces the dulcet tones established in the beginning of the trailer, as the narrator continues: "But it became more than that: It became the last promise of salvation on a dying planet. A promise for some, but not for all." The camera slowly zooms out, and the man's eye fluctuates through a range of emotions, with his face seemingly aging in a matter of seconds. As the narrator concludes his discourse, a trail of blood begins to seep from the man's forehead.

Bethesda signed on Splash Damage to a long-term development deal in May 2008. Details on Brink have been few and far between, with Splash Damage only surfacing in the intervening period to announce such high-profile hires as Fable II lead designer and Syphon Filter creative lead Paul Ham and Killzone 2 lead level designer Neil Alphonso.

Bethesda expects to show more of the title during the 2009 Electronic Entertainment Expo, which runs June 1-4. GameSpot will be on hand in Los Angeles to cover the event and deliver more information on Brink as it is revealed.

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Xbox 360 | Atari losses top $319 million, Harrison steps aside

It has been a turbulent few years for the various incarnations of Atari, with its American arm battling with stock-market delistings before being folded into parent company Infogrames last year. After the reorganization, the company continued to bleed cash despite a recent uptick in revenue.

Why so serious?

Things looked to be turning around for the publisher when former Sony Worldwide Studios head Phil Harrison came on board as Infogrames president. Along with new CEO David Gardner, Harrison declared that the company wanted to "stop losing money" and that it was to increase its focus on online and social games. Then, in a dramatic move, it acquired Cryptic Studios, developer of the massively multiplayer online role-playing games Champions Online and Star Trek Online at the end of last year.

The company's recovery seems to be progressing slowly, though. Today, Infogrames reported its full-year results for the 2008/2009 financial year and also announced it was changing its name to Atari. Unfortunately, it also revealed a massive annual net loss of ?226.1 million ($319.5 million, ?197.7 million). The company pinned the massive shortfall--up from 2007/2008's ?55.1 million ($77.7 million, ?48.2 million) loss--on one-time costs relating to the firm's "transformation." These included ?13.9 million ($19.6 million, ?12.1 million) of restructuring charges and a ?40.3 million ($56.9 million, ?35.2 million) impairment of goodwill charge. Once those are disregarded, Atari posted an adjusted net loss of ?50.2 million ($70.3 million, ?43.9 million).

Ironically, revenues were up significantly year on year, with the company bringing in ?136.4 million ($192.4 million, ?119.1 million) during 2008/2009, compared to ?90.3 million ($127.4 million, ?78.9 million) in 2007/2008. Broken down by platform, the Xbox 360 was responsible for more than a quarter of the firm's income last year. The year prior, it was the DS, which led the charge, bringing in almost a third of the firm's revenue. PC titles accounted for 22 percent of the firm's revenues in 2009/2009, followed by the Wii and DS with 15 percent each, followed by the PlayStation 3 (12 percent), PlayStation 2 (8 percent) and PSP (2 percent).

Looking ahead to the 2009/2010 fiscal year, Atari is making some drastic changes. Not only is it shifting primary business operations to the US, but it is also shaking up its management. After taking the presidency to much fanfare just over a year ago, Harrison is stepping down, assuming the role of nonexecutive Director of the Group where "he will continue to assist, support and guide the company's strategy." Board member Jeff Lapin--former CEO of both THQ and Take-Two Interactive--is taking the position of chief operating officer under CEO David Gardner.

Games-wise, Atari made the ominous announcement that it "has cancelled projects which do not meet higher return on investment criteria and require significant working capital investments." No specific games were mentioned. More positively, it touted its lineup for the year, including the recently released Chronicles of Riddick and Ghostbusters: The Video Game, due out next month. Champions Online is due out for the PC in September, and Atari revealed it will arrive for the Xbox 360 during the all-important October to December holiday quarter. Star Trek Online is still expected to launch by the end of Atari's fiscal year on March 31, 2010.

DS | Sonic, Sega All-Stars return to kart racing

Sega got a taste of crossover success with 2007's Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, and the publisher has been making the original gaming speed freak play nice with other brands ever since. Beyond this year's Winter Games follow-up, Sonic also crossed over into Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Sega Superstars Tennis, and now Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing.

Sonic the Gashog is more like it. What kind of MPG does that thing get?

Set for release in 2010 on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, and DS, Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing will bring together characters from throughout the publisher's catalog to compete on a number of fanciful tracks. As in other mascot racing games, All-Stars Racing will mix up the action with a variety of shortcuts and special power-ups to be collected as players make their laps.

All-Stars Racing will also feature another staple of the genre in party-focused multiplayer modes. The game will be playable online with races of up to eight players, or in an offline split-screen mode for four. While Sega did not put a number on the roster of characters, it did reveal that Tails, Amy, Dr. Eggman, AiAi, and Amigo would be joining Sonic at the starting line.

While racing is a regular Sonic pastime (as featured in such games as Sonic R, Sonic Riders, and Sonic Rivals), this will be the hedgehog's first time behind the wheel since a pair of Sonic Drift titles on the Game Gear in the mid-1990s.

PC | Sony to unplug Matrix Online July 31

When the Matrix online was first announced back at E3 2002, few could have foreseen the delays the massively multiplayer online role-playing game would face in the run up to release. The game was to be originally co-published by Ubisoft in conjunction with Warner Bros.; however the deal fell through in 2004 for undisclosed reasons. Ironically, Warner bought the game's developer, Monolith Productions (F.E.A.R.), that same year.

If only the oracle could have foreseen this.

Work on the title continued however, and at E3 2004 Sega announced that it would take over co-publishing duties for the title, before it was finally released in 2005. The story was far from over though, as later that year Ubisoft announced that it was leaving the MMO business, and sold all rights to the game to Sony Online Entertainment.

Controversy continued to dog the game when Sony added in-game advertising, much to the lamentation of users, downsized the game world by two-thirds because of "a sparse population," and then finally tried entice users back into the game with improved combat.

Now the long journey of the Matrix Online has come to an end. A post on the game?s forums yesterday evening has revealed the title is to be unplugged on July 31, after four years online. The cancellation of the game echoes the fate of many other MMOGs, including the six-years-in development Tabula Rasa, which launched in 2007 after several delays and barely made it 13 months. Namco Bandai and EA's single-player/persistent premium MMOG hybrid Hellgate: London also closed its doors after a year following technical difficulties and a weak public reception.

The Matrix Online team have promised an "end-of-the-world event" before the game closes shop, allowing players to "revisit all the things that make MxO the memorable experience it is."

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Xbox 360 | Phil Harrison steps aside as Infogrames rings in changes

It has been a turbulent few years for the various incarnations of Atari, with its American arm battling with stock-market delistings before being folded into parent company Infogrames last year. After the reorganization, the company continued to bleed cash despite a recent uptick in revenue.

Why so serious?

Things looked to be turning around for the publisher when former Sony Worldwide Studios head Phil Harrison came on board as Infogrames president. Along with new CEO David Gardner, Harrison declared that the company wanted to "stop losing money" and that it was to increase its focus on online and social games. Then, in a dramatic move, it acquired Cryptic Studios, developer of the massively multiplayer online role-playing games Champions Online and Star Trek Online, at the end of last year.

The company's recovery seems to be progressing slowly, though. Today, Infogrames reported its full-year results for the 2008/2009 financial year, and also announced it was changing its name to Atari. Unfortunately, it also revealed a massive annual net loss of 226.1 million ($319.5 million, ?197.7 million). The company pinned the massive shortfall--up from 2007/2008's ?55.1 million ($77.7 million, ?48.2 million) loss--on one-time costs relating to the firm's "transformation." These included ?13.9 million ($19.6 million, ?12.1 million) of restructuring charges and a ?40.3 million ($56.9 million, ?35.2 million) impairment of goodwill charge. Once those are disregarded, Atari posted an adjusted net loss of ?50.2 million ($70.3 million, ?43.9 million).

Ironically, revenues were up significantly year on year, with the company bringing in ?136.4 million ($192.4 million, ?119.1 million) during 2008/2009, compared to ?90.3 million ($127.4 million, ?78.9 million) in 2007/2008. Broken down by platform, the Xbox 360 was responsible for over a quarter of the firm's income last year. The year prior, it was the DS which led the charge, bringing in almost a third of the firm's revenue. PC titles accounted for 22 percent of the firm's revenues in 2009/2009, followed by the Wii and DS with 15 percent each, followed by the PS3 (12 percent), PS2 (8 percent) and PSP (2 percent).

Looking ahead to the 2009/2010 fiscal year, Atari is making some drastic changes. Not only is it shifting primary business operations to the US, but it is also shaking up its management. After taking the presidency to much fanfare just over a year ago, Harrison is stepping down, assuming the role of non-executive Director of the Group where "he will continue to assist, support and guide the company's strategy." Board member member Jeff Lapin--former CEO of both THQ and Take-Two Interactive--is taking the position of chief operating officer under CEO David Gardner.

Games-wise, Atari made the ominous announcement that it "has cancelled projects which do not meet higher return on investment criteria and require significant working capital investments." No specific games were mentioned. More positively, it touted its lineup for the year, including the recently released Chronicles of Riddick and Ghostbusters: The Video Game, due out next month. Champions Online is due out for the PC in September, and Atari revealed it will arrive for the Xbox 360 during the all-important October-December holiday quarter. Star Trek Online is still expected to launch by the end of Atari's fiscal year on March 31, 2010.

Wii | Trauma Team operates on Wii

Though gamers may have been avoiding Atlus.com for fear of virus attacks, fans of the surgery series Trauma Center may want to take a look, as the publisher has just announced a new entry in the franchise.

We know what you're thinking and no. Just no.

Since the first game was announced for the DS back in 2004, the series has spawned several titles across both the DS and Wii, though all have only allowed gamers to take on the role of a surgeon. Trauma Team, or Hospital as it will be known in Japan, currently only announced for the Wii, marks a new direction for the series, as players will be able to take on the role of a general surgeon, diagnostician, emergency medical technician, orthopaedic surgeon, endoscope technician, and medical examiner.

The game is also said to feature hand-drawn art, Japanese animation inspired story sequences, and ?high quality? voice acting. Atlus have not given any details on gameplay, and in particular how the new medical roles will differ, but more of the puzzle-based gameplay from the other games in the series is to be expected.

While the game is due for release in the US Spring 2010, a UK release date and publisher has not been announced. Atlus is set to reveal more on the title at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, so keep an eye on our E3 page for more.

PlayStation 3 | Sonic, Sega All-Stars return to kart racing

Sega got a taste of crossover success with 2007's Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, and the publisher has been making the original gaming speed freak play nice with other brands ever since. Beyond this year's Winter Games follow-up, Sonic also crossed over into Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Sega Superstars Tennis, and now Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing.

Sonic the Gashog is more like it. What kind of MPG does that thing get?

Set for release in 2010 on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, and DS, Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing will bring together characters from throughout the publisher's catalog to compete on a number of fanciful tracks. As in other mascot racing games, All-Stars Racing will mix up the action with a variety of shortcuts and special power-ups to be collected as players make their laps.

All-Stars Racing will also feature another staple of the genre in party-focused multiplayer modes. The game will be playable online with races of up to eight players, or in an offline split-screen mode for four. While Sega did not put a number on the roster of characters, it did reveal that Tails, Amy, Dr. Eggman, AiAi, and Amigo would be joining Sonic at the starting line.

While racing is a regular Sonic pastime (as featured in games like Sonic R, Sonic Riders, and Sonic Rivals), this will be the hedgehog's first time behind the wheel since a pair of Sonic Drift titles on the Game Gear in the mid-1990s.

PlayStation 3 | New Phone offers PS3 Remote Play

One of the more interesting features on Sony's integrated hardware front is the PSP-to-PlayStation 3 Remote Play functionality. With it, gamers can access media stored on their PS3 by way of their handheld device. Today, Sony Ericsson announced that it would be incorporating that same functionality into its newest mobile phone, the Aino.

Sony Ericsson's Aino.

Much like the PSP's Remote Play functionality, the Aino is able to interact with the PS3's Cross Media Bar (XMB) through a local wireless hookup or remotely via Wi-Fi Internet. Most of the PS3's XMB components are compatible with the Remote Play functionality, with gamers able to access features such as music, videos, photos, the PlayStation Store, friends lists, and some games.

Sony expects to launch the touch screen-enabled, accelerometer-equipped Aino during its holiday quarter later this year. For more information, check out CNET's in-depth look at the Aino's features and capabilities.

The Aino's unveiling comes just days before Sony's E3 Press Conference. At the event, set for 11 a.m. on June 2, the electronics giant will unveil its latest innovations for the PlayStation family, including the PS3. An increasing number of reports anticipate that a new version of the PSP will be unveiled at the event.

Xbox 360 | UK 360s tuning in Sky TV

While PlayTV has been giving British PlayStation owners enhanced televisual experiences for some time, and the BBC has been working to improve the performance of the iPlayer on the Wii, Xbox 360 owners in the UK have been left in the cold when it comes to TV services. That changed today, when Microsoft and Sky announced a partnership that will allow Xbox 360 owners access not only to Sky programming via their consoles--via a subscription or a pay-per-view basis--but also to "a range of unique interactive services."

So now you can not only watch TV, but also watch your avatar watching TV.
(Image Credit: crave.cnet.co.uk)

Available in the UK and Ireland, the service will be an extension of the Sky Player TV service for PCs that uses Microsoft's Silverlight technology, launched in November 2008. While the full channel lineup has yet to be revealed, Sky and Microsoft said that it is "anticipated" that as well as a range of entertainment programmes and movies, both Premiership football and test match cricket would be available via the service, most likely through live streaming of one or several of the Sky Sports channels. Pay-per-view programming was also promised at the launch event in London today, though few details were offered.

Sky Player over the Web offers a selection of the movies offered on demand to satellite subscribers, as well as episodes of various shows the network broadcasts, such as 24 and Lost, and sports highlights. Live sport, however, is available only to subscribers, rather than to those paying a la carte. Movies from Sky Box Office are charged from ?3.43/?4.40, while those programmes broadcast on the network's flagship channel Sky One are available from ?1.47/?1.91. It is not clear if the pay-per-view options will require a Sky account, as they currently do via Sky Player, or if it will be possible to use Microsoft points for payment, as is the case for the current on-demand services on the console. Pricing for the console-based service was not confirmed either.

As well as being able to enjoy TV and movies, those watching Sky programming via the Xbox 360 will be "able to communicate with one another in real time via their broadband connections," and "be able to check news and access fixtures, league tables and other on-demand information," when watching sporting events, said Microsoft.

Discussing the deal, Neil Thompson, head of Xbox UK and Ireland, tacitly admitted that the Xbox 360 has been lagging behind its competitors in terms of the all-around package being offered, saying that Microsoft was now "one step closer to our goal of offering Xbox owners the best entertainment experiences out there."

To find out more about the newest features for the Xbox 360, come back to GameSpot for the video stream and live blog of Microsoft's E3 Press Conference at 6:30 p.m. BST/10:30 a.m. PDT on Monday, June 1.

Update: For more images, check out cnet.co.uk's Xbox Sky Player photo gallery.