If you have been living under a rock, then you may not know today, July 27th, 2010, is the release date StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. Developed by Blizzard Entertainment, the long awaited second installment of the popular real-time strategy series has finally made its way to store shelves. It has been twelve years since the first version of StarCraft popularized the RTS genre. Since that time, the game has grown to be an international phenomenon and even a professional sport in other countries.
Wings of Liberty has almost thirty single player missions. There is also a robust online multiplayer component, which features a newly updated Battle.net service, along with a fully adaptable set of mod tools. The CEO of Blizzard Entertainment had this to say about StarCraft II, “We’ve worked hard to deliver an epic continuation of the StarCraft story line as well as the ultimate competitive real-time strategy game with StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty…Combined with the next-generation online environment of the new Battle.net, we believe players will agree that StarCraft II offers an experience unlike anything we’ve ever created, and we’re excited to finally be able to share it with them.”
Available today are the standard edition (here) and limited Collector’s Edition (here) .
Included in the Collector’s Edition is a bunch of great extras that are totally worth the higher price, as follows:
The Art of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, a 176-page book featuring artwork from the game
An exclusive 2GB USB flash drive replica of Jim Raynor’s dog tag, which comes preloaded with the original StarCraft and the StarCraft: Brood War® expansion set
A behind-the-scenes DVD containing over an hour of developer interviews, cinematics with director’s commentary, and more
The official StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty soundtrack CD, containing 14 epic tracks from the game along with exclusive bonus tracks
StarCraft comic book issue #0, a prequel to the comic series
A World of Warcraft® mini Thor in-game pet that can be applied to all World of Warcraft characters on a single Battle.net account
Exclusive Battle.net downloadable content, including special portraits for your Battle.net profile, decals to customize your units in-game, and a visually unique version of the terran Thor unit
If you want to know more about Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty, head on over to the Official Site
Along with today’s release of God of War III comes the God of War III Ultimate Edition. Curious to see what’s packed inside Pandora’s Box? See the God of War III Ultimate Editionunboxing pictures below or here in full screen. In the box you get the standard edition packaged God of War III game disc and box, Pandora’s Box and God of War III Art Book. Inside the God of War III game box is an additional sleeve which includes 3 download codes, which can be redeemed from the PlayStation Store. Upon downloading the additional Ultimate Edition digital content, you’ll see the God of War III game title screen gets updated to say "God of War III Ultimate Edition," a unique little touch.
The God of War III Ultimate Edition includes:
Exclusive Collectibles
– High-End Sculpted Replica of Pandora’s Box
- Limited-Edition God of War Art Book featuring exclusive art, content and interviews
Exclusive Digital Content
(Available via PlayStation Network voucher codes on day of launch)
– God of War Combat Arena containing an exclusive environment and seven challenges
– Premium Kratos Skin – Dominus
– God of War: Unearthing the Legend Franchise Documentary – a full-length movie documentary depicting the history of the God of War franchise
– God of War Trilogy Soundtrack – God of War, II, and III scores from the game (mp3 digital download).
– God of War: Blood and Metal EP – a heavy metal homage featuring original music inspired by God of War (mp3 digital download).
It may be tough to find the God of War III Ultimate Edition online (try Amazon.com), but you may be able to find one at your local store. God of War III is now available for the PlayStation 3 (with a $10 credit here, while available).
XSEED Games has just released Lunar: Silver Star Harmony for the PlayStation Portable. The classic PlayStation RPG is revamped on the PSP platform with new graphics, soundtrack, voiceovers and quests. Lunar: Silver Star Harmony is available in a standard edition ($29.99) and Premium Edition ($39.99).
See what’s in the Premium (aka Limited) Edition in a series of unboxing pictures below (or in high-resolution here. The Premium Edition is a nice collector’s set which includes the Lunar game, soundtrack cd and 13 bromide collector cards packed into a nice foil cover box.
About Lunar: Silver Star Harmony – "Following the epic journey of a young boy whose adventures to become the Dragonmaster eventually set him on a path to save the world of Lunar, this classic RPG masterpiece has been reborn with all new graphics, added gameplay features, and a re-mastered soundtrack. This re-imagined entry welcomes a new audience to the unforgettable series, with added story elements sure to intrigue returning fans."
A demo of Lunar: Silver Star Harmony is available from the PlayStation Network. If you have already played the demo or you’re considering picking up Lunar: Silver Star Harmony, the demo clear data will give you bonus starting equipment in the full version of the game.
2K Games today releases BioShock 2 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. The sequel continues the undersea first-person action adventure from the 2007 hit, BioShock. BioShock 2 also introduces a multiplayer component. More on the single player and multiplayer experience is detailed below from 2K Games.
"BioShock represented a watershed moment in the gaming industry when it illustrated that games, like feature films, can be viewed as art – both in art design and in the rich depth of the narrative," said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. "Most importantly, the media are stating what we’ve known all along; that whether or not you’ve played the original, BioShock 2 is a worthy successor to one of the best games of all-time that should not be missed."
Xbox 360 gamers can get BioShock 2 Avatar items from the Xbox LIVE Marketplace (here). PlayStation 3 gamers who pre-ordered from Amazon.com will be getting a Big Daddy outfit for their PlayStation Home avatar.
BioShock 2 is a production that spans multiple studios from 2K Games (developed by 2K Marin with 2K Australia and 2K China), as well as Digital Extremes for the multiplayer component.
Plenty of information on BioShock 2 and the original BioShock game can be found at the official website at www.bioshock2game.com, the official community and fan site at www.cultofrapture.com and at the teaser and immersive experience website, www.somethinginthesea.com.
2K Games has a special treat for BioShock 2 fans. Check out a unboxing video below of the BioShock 2 Special Edition. Elizabeth Tobey, 2K Games Community Manager, tears open the BioShock 2 Special Edition box (PC edition). Watch it through the end for a surprise.
The BioShock 2 Special Edition includes:
– BioShock 2 game
– "Sturdy Box"
– Vinyl LP with BioShock orchestral score
– "Sounds From the Lighthouse" BioShock 2 orchestral score CD
– Three Rapture posters (rolled, 80lb stock)
- BioShock 2 "Deco Devolution" Art Book (168 pages, hardcover)
Pre-order the BioShock 2 Special Edition now from Amazon.com (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC). Pre-order the PS3 edition to get a code for the PlayStation Home Big Daddy outfit.
BioShock 2 will be available on February 9, 2010. Visit the official community website of BioShock at The Cult of Rapture.
