Today Square Enix announced that it has started to accept beta sign ups for Final Fantasy 14, the second MMO in the Final Fantasy  series. In order to participate, PC gamers need to head over to the official site and register.

According to the site’s FAQ, “Please note that users will be selected by random from all applications for the beta test.” In order to participate you must be over 18 years old and you can only apply once. Square has stated that they plan to roll out the beta in waves, which means that if you don’t get in right away, don’t fret. Read more… »

Achievement junkies rejoice! Games on Demand for Windows Live has finally made its debut. In an attempt to oust Steam as the king of PC digital downloads, Games on Demand is offering a ton of new blockbuster hits, and one oddly free previously released (on Vista Ultimate editions of Windows) puzzle game: Tinker.

Tinker very much dons a minimalist approach, and has a visual style that is strikingly similar to one of your grandparents dusty old board games. Read more… »

Some of you may have seen this teaser for a new Transformers game during the Spike VGA’s. Today publisher Activision released a few new details pertaining to High Moon’s upcoming action/adventure game.

Sub-titled “War for Cybertron,” the new title will serve as a prequel. Like the previous Transformers game, players will be able to play as both Autobots and Decepticons through two unique campaigns. According to Activision “The AUTOBOT campaign tells a story of heroism to save their home planet against overwhelming odds. The DECEPTICON campaign tells a story of an unquenchable thirst for power to control the universe.” Read more… »

Because Microsoft points, filling your PlayStation Wallet, American dollars, and yen are just too complicated for online game payments, Square Enix has invented its own currency.  No, not gil.

It’s called Crysta, and it will be used exclusively by Square Enix for downloading games and soundtracks off of their websites and microtransactions in Square Enix games.  The program is Japan-only for now, but it will hit the States soon enough.

The simplest/dumbest part: one Crysta = one yen.  Instead of converting your money to something new, simply replace the yen symbol in the price tag of a Square Enix game with the Crysta symbol; it will probably look something like this.  Enjoy the future.

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Today publishers bitComposer Games and Viva Media announced that the third iteration in the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series, dubbed S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat, will arrive in North America on February 2.

For those of you who missed out on the previous two S.T.A.L.K.E.R. titles, the game is a PC exclusive open-world FPS set in an alternate history after the Chernobyl Disaster. Players are tasked with fending off paramilitary groups, various mutants, and raiders. Think of it as a less apocalyptic Fallout. Read more… »

Today the parent company Bethesda Softworks and id software, ZeniMax Media, announced that it has obtained the rights to publish id’s upcoming post-apocalyptic shooter/racer Rage.

Originally set to be published by Electronic Arts, Bethesda will now handle all publication duties. This bit of news may come as a surprise considering id and EA penned a deal that allowed EA to publish Rage even after ZeniMax Media bought the developer. Read more… »

Remember when I posted that Ubisoft had announced a new Prince of Persia game? Well today the publisher sent out some more details pertaining to Forgotten Sands.

Arriving on the PC, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, Nintendo DS, and PSP, the platformer will take place between Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and Warrior Within. Players will take control the prince as he tries to save his brothers kingdom from utter destruction. Read more… »

Well, those people who still maintain that Left 4 Dead 2 is an expansion are about to be really confused, as Valve today announced the first of its DLC add-ons for the popular zombie apocalypse simulator.

The ironic part? It’s expanding by looking backward, tapping the four survivors from the first game for encore appearances.

But that’s not all–not by a long shot. Check out the rest of the post below to get the gory details.

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Mass Effect 2’s recent CGI trailer got many us excited enough about the game as it is, but BioWare has now officially confirmed the contents of the Mass Effect 2 collector’s edition box set. As if Commander Shepard did not look cool enough already, this pack also includes a Limited Edition Armor set, so you can kill the Geth in style.

For the who are huge fans of the first game and are now counting the days until the sequel hits the shelves, the box set may be worth it to you.  Hit the jump for the content list.

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For those, like myself, that found it far too painful to watch a “Hollywoodized” video game awards show, Gamer Limit is here to save you from the agony. Spike’s 2009 Video Game Awards had “world exclusive” trailers for the sequel to Batman: Arkham Asylum, UFC Undisputed 2010, Halo Reach, and much more. Oh, and some “awards” were won.

Hit the jump for a full recap. Read more… »

Today developer BioWare launched a new Facebook game described as “the first in a series of compelling social experiences.” Developed by its new R&D group, dubbed BioWare Labs, the mini-game, called Gift of the Yeti, promises to donate money to charity and gives gamers a discount on Dragon Age.

The premise of the game is simple. Santa has been put out of commission thanks to some bad eggnog and it’s up to you, a friendly yeti, to save Christmas by lumbering around town delivering gifts. The real kicker is BioWare will donate one cent per play to the children’s gaming charity Child’s Play, up to $10,000. Read more… »

Today word got out that Australia’s Office of Film and Literature Classification has refused to rate the upcoming movie monster shooter Aliens vs. Predator, essentially banning the game.

Much like Valve’s Left 4 Dead 2, Aliens vs. Predator has been refused classification due to “various types of violence.” Specifically “the Predator collects ‘trophies’ by explicitly ripping off human heads, their spinal columns dangling from severed necks…heads can be twisted completely around…eyes can be stabbed through or gouged, leaving empty, bloodied eye sockets…extensive post-mortem damage, including decapitation and dismemberment, is also possible.” Read more… »