Popcap launches a new studio

Now we all know and love Popcap Games for their titles such a Peggle and Plants vs Zombies as perfect time killers. They're great games but are nothing like caliber of console or even handheld games that we really sink out teeth into. Now they're trying something different by putting up a new mini-studio called 4th & Battery whose main focus is to create games involving unique ideas that have been shot down and might not have gotten the same buzz as the games I just mentioned.

Popcap’s Ed Allard says

Making games at PopCap is crazy and chaotic. We’re constantly prototyping wacky ideas in search of the next great thing, but very few of those ideas make it through our intense internal filters to become full-blown PopCap titles. That means there are lots of fledgling games hiding within our walls that never see the light of day,” he added. “Enter 4th & Battery. 4th & Battery is a new label we’re using to bring some of our more experimental ideas to customers. It’s a way to lift some of our internal filters and let us stretch our creative legs a little.

As to whether or not these "wacky ideas" need to see the light has yet to be seen but with Popcap's recent brilliance I think its a safe bet. For now, all they can grace us with is a teater for one of the new games by the new studio. No gameplay is shown but the theme it depicts isn't as cutesy as its art style and gives a more.. demented feeling.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LV-102ezYdM&w=640&h=390]

Resident Evil 15th Anniversary Trailer

Yes it's been that long. Capcom celebrates 15 years of Resident Evil and released a trailer showing us a short history of Resident Evil, plus the new Titles all line-up showing that Resident Evil isn't slowing down. New titles include Revelations, The Mercenaries 3D, HD revamps of Resident Evil 4 and Code Veronica X and Operation Raccoon City.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=reT_Y-LmQx4]

New Brink trailer shows off abilities

The new trailer for Brink gives us a taste of the abilities we can play around and exploit. Molotov Cocktail, Sticky grenades, Gatling gun turrets, and a lot more. This is a Bethesda game so i have high hopes for this FPS. If you don't know what Brink is, think Mirror's Edge or Assasin's Creed movement combined with FPS game play.

Brink will be released on May 17 on Xbox 360, PC and Playstation 3.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJCNXCPojtY]

Brink GDC 10' Trailer

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-kVnw4RA80]

New Call of Duty Map Pack info leaked

It's called the Escalation Pack. The next Map Pack that will include 5 new maps to Call of Duty: Black Ops Multiplayer. An Australian retailer GAME supposedly leaked an add about the new Map Pack . They pulled the ad out but it's too late now, the info is out.

Of course it will arrive on Xbox 360 first because of their 3 year exclusive deal with Activision. It said to arrive on the Xbox on May 3. PS3 and PC is of course not yet announced and will be probably released a month after the Xbox release.

The Map Pack will include four multiplayer maps and one new zombie map just like before and will probably around $14.99.

Will update when there is official word from Activision but for now see the ad for yourself below.

Thor: God of Thunder (Wii)

"Here I stand with Wiimote in hand. I am THOR! *crackle*"

To be perfectly honest, the Wii version of Thor: God of Thunder looks better than the PS3 and Xbox 360 counterparts. The Wii trailer makes Thor look powerful, which he should be. The Next Gen trailers are less than stellar to say the least. I also heard that there won't be a lot of flailing involved in the Wii version but I'm sure they'll sink in a motion gimmick or two.

I've heard good things about the DS version too. I'll also be looking more into that version as well.

Of course it all comes down to gameplay in the end but this is a movie tie in game that I can say I'm looking forward to.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uf1x9saRIBI&w=640&h=390]