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Friday, July 17, 2009 Shipping Announcements

by Rainier on July 17, 2009 @ 3:36 a.m. PDT

Another day, another batch of games shipped to stores. Instead of giving them all their own posts, we grouped them, and so far there are announcements for:

Bionic Commando (PC) - Europe Only

Taking its inspiration from its 8-bit namesake released on the Nintendo Entertainment System back in 1988, Bionic Commando features Nathan Spencer (voiced by former lead singer of Faith No More, Mike Patton), a government operative who represents the ultimate fusion of man and machine. After distinguishing himself in a fierce conflict against the Imperials, Spencer is betrayed and falsely imprisoned by the very people he unquestioningly served.

Three years later, on the day he is due to be executed for his supposed crimes, an experimental weapon detonates in Ascension City, unleashing an immensely powerful earthquake coupled with a radiation shockwave that leaves the city in ruins, wiping out its populace. Military intelligence suggests that a large terrorist search force has moved in and occupied Ascension City, but as yet their motives remain unclear. With the terrain in ruins and the terrorists in control of Ascension City’s air defences the FSA has only one option open to them – the reactivation of Nathan Spencer.

Bionic Commando harnesses the power of the latest generation of hardware to fully exploit the swing mechanic that made the original title so unique. The ruins of Ascension City and its surroundings provide an engaging environment of towering buildings, suspended roadways and monorails, deep canyons and sheer rock faces that allow gamers to traverse each area via multiple routes using swinging, rappeling, climbing and wall-walking techniques.

An expertly trained operative, Spencer is able to target and take out enemies while hanging upside down, climbing a building or even in mid-swing. At close quarters, the bionic arm packs a mean punch, while from a distance, objects such as boulders and cars can be grabbed and launched at enemies.

The development team behind Bionic Commando represents a unique and compelling collaboration of cultures and skills, consisting of an American Producer living in Japan, a Japanese Creative Advisor and highly-rated Swedish developer GRIN providing a European influence. This partnership provides a further example of Capcom’s strategy to work with the best developer talent, whilst maintaining the unique elements of creativity and approach to game design for which Capcom is renowned.

Bionic Commando for PS3 and Xbox 360 is currently available worldwide, while the PC edition will ship on July 17, 2009 in Europe, July 28 in North America..

The Bigs 2 (X360) - Europe Only

Featuring MLB All-Star first baseman, Prince Fielder of the Milwaukee Brewers, as the cover athlete and spokesman for The BIGS 2, fans now have the thrilling opportunity to enjoy bigger power-ups, amazing visual effects, and legendary game modes that elevate the arcade-style baseball experience to new heights like never before.

In addition to new player animations and improved pick-up-and-play controls, The BIGS 2 offers fans the ability to make more strategic decisions with the added Batter’s Wheelhouse, execute new Legendary Catches, and pull off amazing Big Slams. Exciting new game modes have also been added this season, including Become a Legend and the heavily fan-requested Season mode. Become a Legend picks up the story from the end of the Rookie Challenge mode from The BIGS, as gamers take on the role of a player that suffered a career threatening injury and is challenged to regain his Major League career by fighting his way back at the Mexican league to the Majors. Along the way, players compete in boss battles against MLB legends and steal players from other teams, eventually earning enough votes to get into the Hall of Fame. The BIGS 2 also features a brand new Season mode that offers full MLB team schedules, stat tracking and roster management that adds another layer of depth to the already addictive baseball experience.

The fan favourite Home Run Pinball mode is back, and lets players smash home runs into windows and neon signs in either single player or co-op action in Times Square or three new environments - Las Vegas, Shibuya in Tokyo, and Retro Times Square. Several new skills mini-games are featured in The BIGS 2, and give players the opportunity to practice their hitting, fielding and running ability against a variety of MLB stars in exciting challenges.

Hysteria Hospital (PC) - Europe Only

At Hysteria Hospital, life will prove to be a manic challenge. Players will have several levels of the hospital to navigate, and they will have to reach desperate patients and demanding doctors within a set period of time. The frenzy inside the hospital will increase as the game progresses with more and more demanding patients desperate to be cured!

Features

  • You play as a female or male nurse and organise the ward and direct the patients to treat their conditions as quickly as possible
  • You can design and improve your ward for life-saving efficiency to be the best head nurse in America and save the Hospital from being overrun!
  • Each of the patients have many humorous conditions, all with cures using the latest, bleeding-edge treatment machines ranging from basic X-Ray’s to steam therapy to the hilarious De-Stress machine
  • There are 7 different wards to run, from a local Maryville clinic through to New York Central Hospital; over 60 levels including the ‘Endless’ mode that steadily increases in challenge as you progress.

Oxygen Games' Hysteria Hospital: Emergency Ward is released on Wii, NDS and PC.

WW2: Time of Wrath (PC)

This massively improved sequel to the grand strategy game WW2: Road to Victory comes with deep turn-based grand strategy gameplay, including the ability to play any of the minor countries as well as fully modeled land, air and naval combat, research, production and logistics. Additionally, owners of WW2: Road to Victory can upgrade to Time of Wrath and enjoy all the new features and benefits completely FREE of charge! Owners of WW2: Road to Victory should check the WW2: Time of Wrath forum and the Matrix Games’ Members Club for more information on the free upgrade offer.

To kick off the launch of WW2: Time of Wrath, a veritable barrage of media and art is also available including a wallpaper, sample unit reference cards, splash screens, and tons of unit models! Be sure to check them out!

David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said “WW2: Road to Victory has enjoyed a strong and positive community response, so we’re very happy to see this exciting new game system progress. WW2: Time of Wrath is a massive improvement over its predecessor and anyone who was interested in Road to Victory should definitely check Time of Wrath! In cooperation with Wastelands Interactive, we’re also pleased to offer WW2: Time of Wrath as a free upgrade to WW2: Road to Victory owners as a thank you to them for supporting this series.”

From the front lines in France and Russia to the deserts of North Africa and the airfields and convoys of Britain, the campaigns of World War II are yours to command in WW2: Time of Wrath! This turn-based grand strategy title, the highly improved and expanded sequel to WW2: Road to Victory, puts the player in charge of the political, economic and military decisions of one or more Axis or Allied nations, including minor nations. A diplomacy system based on political points allows you to sway possible allies to your side. An upgraded and expanded naval combat system includes fleet engagements, combat patrols, massive aircraft carriers, elusive raiders and U-Boats as well as a convoy system.

Concentrate precious industrial resources on building, training and upgrading a wide variety of combat units from airborne soldiers and armored divisions up to nuclear weapons! Historical leaders enhance the performance of your armies and hundreds of historical events like the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Lend-Lease and more give you choices that can change the course of history. WW2: Time of Wrath is fought across turns that vary in length by season and 25 km hexes with divisions and corps, giving the player a broad strategic picture of the war while still leaving enough room for operational decisions.

Features include:

  • Four Grand Campaigns (1939, 1940, 1941 and 1944) cover the full war in the European Theater, lasting up to 1948 for maximum flexibility
  • Two Scenarios (Fall Weiss and Overlord)
  • Simple and intuitive user interface with engrossing historical gameplay
  • Hundreds of historical events such as Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Vienna Dictate, Lend-Lease, and many more.
  • Play as any nation and as any combination of countries to experience the war through a unique perspective.
  • Air and Land Combat, including Sieges, Interceptions, Strategic Bombardment, Air Recon, Fleet Air attacks, Bombardment.
  • Enhanced naval system that includes Aircraft Carriers, Battle, Patrol and Submarine Groups. Managing fleets, convoys and raiders in Sea Zones.
  • Air forces now extend their power over nearby sea zones.
  • Advanced weather system simulates spring and autumn / rainfall and snow. Beware of General Winter! Weather conditions have a different effect on each country.
  • Any combination of move and attack is allowed as long as Action Points are available.
  • Technological race in research of new more powerful units.
  • Mulberry harbors now available as a helpful and powerful tool in preparation for huge landing operations.
  • Paratroopers conduct airborne landings help to take distant key point locations.
  • Fully historical, detailed orders of battle in all scenarios with historical names for hundreds of land, air and naval units.
  • Land units divided are into Divisional and Corps size allowing the player to choose what best fits his economy and play style.
  • Historical commanders boost the effectiveness of units under their care.
  • Improved A.I. to perform better at the strategic and tactical level.
  • An innovative naval combat model and realistic supply convoy attack system
  • A simple yet immersive political point system for diplomatic relations – alienate enemies and solidify ties with allies
  • A healthy variety of combat units to command from armored and airborne forces to strategic bombers and battleships – even nukes!
  • Random historical events that can guide and shape the course of the war

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