Xenoblade Chronicles arriving in US on April 6

Nintendo reveals Wii Japanese role-playing game dropping in North America in under two months with fan-chosen cover art.

Gamers eager to get their hands on Japanese role-playing game Xenoblade Chronicles now have a specific date to circle on their calendars: April 6.

Xenoblade's fan-chosen box art.

Previously, the Wii-exclusive Xenoblade Chronicles was expected to arrive in North America sometime in April. In addition to announcing the game's release date, Nintendo revealed the title's cover art (at right), which was put up to a fan vote.

Xenoblade Chronicles is set in a fantasy universe where the robotic army of the Mechonis seeks to conquer the flesh-and-blood Bionis. With the help of two companions, players will traverse the world attempting to discover the truth behind a magic sword called the Monado.

Fans of Japanese role-playing games have enjoyed good news today, as not only was Xenoblade Chronicles dated for North America, but Nintendo also announced that The Last Story will arrive this summer on the Wii. Western releases of both titles were long in question.

Xenoblade Chronicles has already been released in Japan, Europe, and Australia. For more on the role-playing game, check out GameSpot's review.

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The Last Story coming to the US this summer

[UPDATE] Nintendo bringing Japanese Wii role-playing game to North America later this year through a publishing partnership with Xseed Games.

The Last Story will be told in North America this summer, Nintendo confirmed this morning.

The Last Story lands on North American shores this year.

As part of its Nintendo Direct video presentation, Nintendo of America executive Reggie Fils-Aime revealed that Xseed Games will publish the Wii role-playing game in North America.

In June, Nintendo said that it had "no plans" to bring the game to North America. However, the game's westward expansion began in November, when Nintendo announced that The Last Story would arrive in Europe on February 24.

[UPDATE] Xseed has confirmed that The Last Story will be out exclusively on the Wii this summer.

The latest game from Mistwalker and longtime Final Fantasy developer Hironobu Sakaguchi, The Last Story puts players in the shoes of Zael and a band of fellow mercenaries on a search for treasure. Set on Lazulis Island, the story follows Zael as he tries to find an escape from his mercenary past to become a true knight. Unique among RPGs, The Last Story features multiplayer modes in the form of co-op, deathmatch, and team deathmatch for up to six players.

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Escape From Mount Stupid: Football Games

We have everything you ever wanted to know about football (all right, soccer) games in one handy video.

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Escape From Mount Stupid: Call of Duty

We have everything you ever wanted to know about the Call of Duty series in one handy video, presented by Danny O'Dwyer.

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D.I.C.E. 2012 PlayStation Vita Thoughts Video Feature

Leaders of the industry chime in on their thoughts of the Sony PlayStation Vita and the future of mobile gaming at D.I.C.E 2012.

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Young Justice: Legacy battling in early 2013

Warner Bros. and Little Orbit bringing action role-playing game based on Cartoon Network TV series to Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, and DS during beginning of next year.

Warner Bros. is digging into its DC Comics license again, this time granting Little Orbit publishing rights for a game based on the Young Justice cartoon series for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, and DS.

Young Justice: Legacy morphs from TV show to game next year.

Due out in 2013, Young Justice: Legacy will be an action role-playing game that is set between the events of seasons 1 and 2 of the animated television series Young Justice. The game is being written with the help of show scribes Greg Weisman and Brandon Vietti.

The game's announcement did not note which character(s) from the television show players will be controlling or what villains players will face. Some DC Comics characters from Young Justice are Robin, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Superboy, Miss Martian, and Artemis.

A website for the title is presently live, and it indicates gamers will be able to control 12 different playable characters and take on 12 villains. The game also sports online and local multiplayer modes, though no mention was made as to how these game types will operate.

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Shippin' Out February 19-25: PS Vita, Syndicate

New release slate led by launch of Sony's newest portable, Starbreeze's shooter reboot; Asura's Wrath, Metal Gear Solid 3D, and PS Vita launch titles also out.

Last week, Sony said the PlayStation Vita will perform better in the United States than it did in Japan. The process of judging whether or not that claim is true begins this week, as the PS Vita is officially released on Wednesday alongside Syndicate, Asura's Wrath, Metal Gear Solid 3D, and a host of PS Vita launch games.

Leading all new releases this week is the PS Vita hardware in North America, Europe, and Australia. Sony's newest portable gaming device will be available on Wednesday in two editions: a $250 Wi-Fi model and a $300 3G version.

The PS Vita is here. React as you see fit.

While many of the PS Vita's launch games, including Little Deviants and Uncharted: Golden Abyss, debuted last week, even more Vita games drop this week. These include Army Corps of Hell, Dynasty Warriors Next, Michael Jackson The Experience, Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen, and Touch My Katamari.

Also out this week is Starbreeze's new shooter Syndicate for the Xbox 360, PC, and PlayStation 3. The game takes place in a grim corporation-run future and has players controlling the technologically augmented EuroCorp prototype agent Miles Kilo. The game also sports multiplayer in the form of cooperative missions.

Another big-name game out this week is Capcom's Asura's Wrath for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The game follows the variably armed and very angry Asura as he pursues a group of seven "Guardian Generals" who killed his wife (framing him in the process) and absconded with his daughter.

While the PS Vita might be the portable highlight of the week, Nintendo's 3DS also welcomes a new marquee title this week. Gamers can pick up Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D for the system this week. The title is a port of the PlayStation 2 stealth game with tweaks designed to take advantage of the 3DS hardware. These include 3D visuals, as well as touch-pad and camera support.

On the downloadable front, Remedy's Alan Wake's American Nightmare arrives on Xbox Live this Wednesday. In the follow-up to Remedy's 2010 horror action game, the titular author journeys to another remote town full of spooky secrets. There, he faces off against a new supernatural villain, Mr. Scratch, and the two do battle using the powers of light (for Wake) and dark (for Scratch).

For further details, visit GameSpot's New Releases page. The full list of downloadable games on the PlayStation Store, Xbox Live Marketplace, and Wii Shop Channel will be revealed later this week. Release dates are based on retailer listings and are subject to change.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21
Asura's Wrath--PS3, X360--Capcom
Dynasty Warriors Next--Vita--Tecmo Koei America Corp.
Fractured Soul--DS--Graffiti Entertainment
Fractured Soul: Deep Void--3DS--UTV Ignition Games
Heavy Fire: Afghanistan--X360--Mastiff
Hustle Kings--Vita--SCEA
Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D--3DS--Konami
Outdoors Unlimited--PC, X360, PS3, Wii--Mastiff
Out There Somewhere--PC--Miniboss
Shinobido 2: Revenge of Zen--Vita--Namco Bandai
Sledge Hammer--X360--Maximum Family Games
Syndicate--X360, PC, PS3--Electronic Arts

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22
Alan Wake's American Nightmare--X360--Microsoft Game Studios
Army Corps of Hell--Vita--Square Enix
Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus--Vita--Tecmo Koei America Corp.
PlayStation Vita Wi-Fi model--Sony
PlayStation Vita 3G model--Sony
StarDrone Extreme--Vita--Beatshapers
Touch My Katamari--Vita--Namco Bandai Games America

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Start/Select - Black Ops 2, Mojang Fundraising

Danny investigates the latest leak in the Black Ops boat and gives us an update on last weekend's "Mojam" fundraiser.

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Jeremy Lin NBA 2K12 Gameplay Video

Jeremy Lin continues his hot streak in this gameplay highlight reel for NBA 2K12.

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Xenoblade Chronicles Official Trailer

Check out the official trailer for Xenoblade Chronicles.

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TMNT game coming from Activision?

Ninja Turtles display at Toy Fair 2012 lists game publisher as a cross-promotional licensor for new cartoon series.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are back with a new cartoon, new toys, and apparently a new game from Activision.

Maybe Activision is just licensing TMNT for a line of waffle irons or something.

The news stems from a series of pictures on ToyArk documenting the Playmates Toys booth at the recently wrapped 2012 Toy Fair in impressive detail. Among the pictured items is a sign detailing Playmates' marketing plans for the toy line, including "Cross promotions with key licensees, including [comic publisher] IDW and Activision." IDW announced its deal to make new TMNT comics last year, but Activision has yet to confirm a game featuring the foursome.

Activision would be the third gaming publisher to try its hand at a Ninja Turtles game. Konami was the brand's first and longest-running publishing partner, with a string of games lasting from the Turtles' NES and arcade games of 1989 through 2005's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3: Mutant Nightmare. Ubisoft took over the franchise in 2007, starting with tie-ins for the computer-animated feature film TMNT, and it produced a handful of titles during the following two years.

As of press time, an Activision representative had not responded to GameSpot's request for comment.

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Black Ops 2 surfaces on developer resume

Employee at contract art studio Nerve Software lists Black Ops sequel as a project currently in development.

The evidence that Activision is in fact working on Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is mounting. As spotted by Joystiq, an employee of contract art studio Nerve Software listed Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 on his resume as a title presently in development.

Is Activision making Black Ops 2? The evidence is piling up.

Nerve Software has worked with Activision before. The studio provided art for the original Call of Duty: Black Ops, as well as James Bond film tie-in Quantum of Solace. Both games were developed by Treyarch.

This is not the first mention of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. Earlier this week, Amazon's French website reportedly listed the game before scrubbing the listing.

Activision confirmed in November that a new entry in the Call of Duty series would be on shelves this year, but the publisher has not confirmed its developer, era, or setting. Treyarch developed the original Call of Duty: Black Ops, which was set during the Cold War. It featured familiar political faces like John F. Kennedy, Fidel Castro, and Robert McNamara.

For more on the original Call of Duty: Black Ops, check out GameSpot's review of the 2010 shooter.

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Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 outed by Amazon - Report

Product listing for Activision's next first-person shooter sequel spotted on retailer's French website, suggests return to Cold War-era combat.

The next Call of Duty game is apparently returning to the Cold War-era intrigue of 2010's Call of Duty: Black Ops. GameBlog reports that the French site of retail giant Amazon posted (and then pulled) a product page for Call of Duty: Black Ops 2.

Did Black Ops 2's cover just get blown?

Activision had already said it would have another installment in the Call of Duty series on shelves this year, but the publisher has not confirmed its era or setting. Previous Call of Duty games have thrown players into World War II, the Cold War, and current-day antiterrorism efforts around the world.

While Activision didn't confirm the existence of Black Ops 2 directly, GameBlog followed up its story with a report that Activision France contacted the site to demand the news be pulled. GameBlog said it refused to do so, and Activision subsequently disinvited the site from a preview event for Transformers: Fall of Cybertron and canceled advertising campaigns it had planned to run on the site.

The original Black Ops set a bevy of sales records, becoming the best-selling game of all time on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC in the US and Europe and racking up $1 billion in revenues in less than two months on sale. Last year's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 has a ways to go to match Black Ops' overall sales, but it came out of the gates considerably more quickly, hitting the $1 billion mark in just 16 days.

As of press time, an Activision representative had not responded to GameSpot's request for comment. For more on Call of Duty: Black Ops, check out GameSpot's review.

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Rare Skylanders toys fetching over $900 on eBay

Collection of six silver and gold action figures drawing huge premium in online auction house with more than a day left to go.

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Hulu Plus now live on Wii

Streaming video service now available for Nintendo's home console; 3DS version coming later this year.

In October, Nintendo confirmed Hulu Plus would be available at some point in the future for the Wii and 3DS. That future date has now arrived for the Wii, but 3DS gamers will have to wait a bit longer.

Hulu Plus is finally available for the Wii, but not the 3DS.

Wii gamers can download the Hulu Plus app today on the system through the Wii Shop Channel, and those without a Hulu Plus account will score a free two-week trial. As for the Hulu Plus 3DS app, Nintendo said only that it was planned for "later this year."

Already available on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, Hulu Plus is a subscription-based service that lets users stream TV episodes from networks like Fox, ABC, NBC, Comedy Central, MTV, and more. It also features a selection of films. The service costs $7.99 a month and includes "limited" advertising in programs.

[CORRECTION] GameSpot originally reported that Nintendo had announced that Hulu Plus would be available by the end of 2011. This information was based on subsequently revised announcement made by Nintendo. GameSpot regrets the error.

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Bit.Trip Complete Screens

6 new shots posted.

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Arkham City, L.A. Noire lead BAFTA nominations

Contenders for the UK's top video game awards revealed; Uncharted 3, Little Big Planet 2 also hotly tipped.

Following on from last week's announcement of the nominees for the ceremony's one publicly voted award, BAFTA today revealed the games up for the rest of this year's British Academy Video Games Awards. Batman: Arkham City and L.A. Noire lead the way with eight nominations each, while Little Big Planet 2 and Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception are nipping at their heels with six nominations.

Mad Men's Aaron Staton is one of those up for the inaugural performer award.

The teams behind Portal 2 and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim will also be donning tuxedos with high hopes after both games secured five nominations each, as will those responsible for Deus Ex: Human revolution, after seeing their game nominated in four categories. Other multiple nominees were Assassin's Creed: Revelations and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, which both received three nods, Bastion, Battlefield 3, Dance Central 2, Dark Souls, FIFA 12, From Dust, Kinect Sports: Season Two, Monstermind, The Nightjar, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Super Mario 3D Land, and Total War: Shogun 2, which each received two.

Arkham City, FIFA 12, L.A. Noire, Portal 2, Skyrim, and The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword will do battle for the big award of the night, the Best Game prize. 2012 will also be the first year that the best performer category will be included, with a number of well-known stars in contention. Aaron Staton, nominated for his portrayal of Cole Phelps in L.A. Noire, is up against Mark Hamill (the Joker in Arkham City), Stephen Fry (the narrator in Little Big Planet 2), Stephen Merchant (Wheatley in Portal 2), and gaming stalwarts Nolan North (Nathan Drake in Uncharted 3) and Togo Igawa (diplomat, advisor, and military general in Shogun 2: Total War).

One existing category that often causes confusion is Best Strategy, this year being contested by Shogun 2, Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars, Football Manager 2012, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Dark Souls, and From Dust. BAFTA defines the strategy category as honouring games "centred around the use of strategic gameplay," rather than simply those that fall into the strategy genre.

The full list of nominations can be found on BAFTA's website.

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Teaser Trailer - The Amazing Spider-Man

Take a look at spidey webslinging his way across New York to take on a mighty foe.

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Famous Planes Trailer - Combat Wings: The Great Battles of WWII

Get a glimpse of some of the famous planes used in World War II in this Combat Wings: The Great Battles of WWII trailer.

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NBA 2K12 GOTY hitting Best Buy March 11

Take-Two partners with retail giant for $50 edition of basketball sim that includes Legend's Showcase add-on and poster featuring Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird.

NBA 2K12 will soon have new life. Today, publisher Take-Two announced that a Game of the Year edition of the well-received basketball simulator will arrive for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 exclusively at Best Buy on March 11.

NBA 2K12 goes big, and maybe to your home, this March.

The NBA 2K12 Game of the Year Edition will retail for $50 and include the previously released Legend's Showcase add-on, as well as a poster featuring Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird. According to Take-Two, it will be available for a limited time only.

No mention was made as to whether or not the NBA 2K12 Game of the Year edition will be available outside of Best Buy.

Developed by Visual Concepts, NBA 2K12 was originally released in October and went on to sell more than 4 million units. For more on the title, check out GameSpot's review.

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