During Electronic Arts E3 2011 press conference two of its hottest upcoming titles’ release dates were announced. Battlefield 3 will be hitting shelves on October 25 for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. We’ll be taking a look at the game in the upcoming days and will have a full preview of Battlefield 3′s E3 demo within the week.

Mass Effect 3 will be landing on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC on March 6 of next year. Additionally, the N7 collectors edition of the game will feature a hardcover Mass Effect book, a comic book, in-game appearance packs, an extended soundtrack, lithograph, N7 patch and instant access to the N7 Arsenal Pack, which includes four additional weapons, for a measly $79.99. You know you want it.

Read more… »

Today the National Basketball Association (NBA) announced that it’s extending its partnership with both EA and Take-Two Interactive. These multi-year agreements ensure that both publishers have the rights to use NBA teams and players in their games, and to associate their game marketing efforts with the NBA license.

NBA global merchandising executive VP Sal LaRocca stated, “We have had successful and longstanding relationships with both 2K Sports and EA Sports. Extending our agreements with the top sports video game developers continues to maximize our presence in this category, while ensuring our fans the best selection of NBA video games. Read more… »

Yesterday EA launched Battlefield Play4Free, a free-to-play first-person shooter developed by the team behind Battlefield Heroes. Featuring classic maps from Battlefield 2, the classes and weapons from Battlefield: Bad Company 2, and 16 vehicles, Battlefield Play4Free sounds like a great introduction for gamers who may not be too familiar with the Battlefield franchise.

In order to get in on the action, all you need to do is head over to the Battlefield Play4Free site, sign up, create a soldier and download the client. Read more… »

Yesterday EA announced that, in an effort to become more environmentally friendly, it will no longer include printer manuals in game packages. According to EA, this move will reduce printed materials in its packaged goods by 40%.

Now before the fans of printed manuals start to freak out, EA has stated that all future manuals will be released in a digital format. In fact, you will now be able to access the manual while in game via the main menu and pause screens. If you’re like me and prefer read manuals when you’re not playing a game, EA will also make full digital versions available in multiple languages in the game manuals section on EA’s support site. Read more… »

Shadows of the Damned has the potential to be my favourite game of all time. No, it’s not just because it looks like a cracked out version of Dante’s Inferno. While that is pretty sweet, the fact that the game is produced by the creative minds behind No More Heroes and Resident Evil is even more exciting. Also, the soundtrack will be composed by legendary Silent Hill sound designer AkiraYamaoka. Yeah, I’m absolutely stoked.

Burn the date June 7th into your mind and prepare for the most punk rock psychological action thriller of the summer.

After months of teasing we finally get a real look at Spicy Horse Games’ follow up to American McGee’s Alice. Soon we have the opportunity to once again delve into American McGee’s twisted incarnation of Wonderland. It’s looking positively insane, so we will definitely be following this game closely over the coming months.

The madness returns on June 14th. Try not to let the wait drive you too crazy.

Are you afraid that there might not be a Madden NFL 12 this year? With all the pandemonium going on right now regarding labor negotiations between the NFL and NFL Player’s Association, it appears that many Madden fans are indeed pretty frightened about a lockout affecting the next installment of their yearly fix of football. Luckily, EA is here to assure us that all will fine on our 360s and PlayStations - regardless of what happens in real life.

“Fans of Madden NFL will not have their seasons interrupted regardless of when the labor issues are resolved. EA SPORTS will release Madden NFL 12 in August, complete with exciting new features and product innovation that will allow NFL fans to fill their desire for football. NFL players will continue to be featured, as always, in Madden NFL 12. The only credible source you need is right here. Any other information you get is inaccurate.”

Personally, I wouldn’t mind too much if EA eased up on the yearly sports sequels (and what better time to do so than a lockout season), but it appears as though I’m in the minority on this one. Oh well, don’t mind me while I sit here and pull out my GameCube for some NFL Blitz 20-02.

[Via GoNintendo]

Read more… »