By Eli Green
May 14, 2008 - 21:30
Earlier this week, Electronic Arts' Games Label announced it is preparing to release eight blockbuster titles, from seven of the world's most critically acclaimed development studios, this year. From BioWare, Criterion, DICE, EALA, Maxis, Pandemic and EA partner, MTV Networks' Harmonix Music Systems, comes a lineup featuring games in a number of genres, and spanning every current platform.
Here's a look into this summer's EA Games Label titles.
Battlefield: Bad Company
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ESRB – T for Teen
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Platforms – Xbox 360 and PS3
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Ship
Date – June 23, 2008
Burnout Paradise
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ESRB – Rating Pending
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Platforms – PC, Xbox 360 and PS3
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Download Date – June 2008
Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath
Command & Conquer is coming to the Xbox 360 this summer, with the revolutionary all-new CommandStick, a control system that simplifies the console RTS experience for new and hardcore RTS gamers alike. A follow up to last year’s critically acclaimed Command & Conquer 3 Tiberium Wars, Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath for Xbox 360 includes all the units, structures, and powers from Tiberium Wars, a deep storyline campaign told through the series’ trademark HD video cinematics, six diverse new sub-factions, giving players no less than nine armies to choose from, and all-new game-changing Epic Units. The Xbox 360 version also includes over 50 multiplayer maps and the 360-exclusive Kane’s Challenge mode, where players will battle through over 80 matches versus a gauntlet of deadly sub-faction leaders. Best of all for 360 gamers, Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath features a full complement of 1000 achievement points – all for $39.99 USD.
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ESRB – T for Teen
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Platforms – Xbox 360
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Ship Date – June 2008
Mass Effect
As the first BioWare/Electronic Arts title, players take on the role of Commander Shepard as they set out to save the galaxy from imminent destruction. Wrought with treachery, heroism and difficult decisions, Mass Effect features a compelling storyline and a universe filled with unique creatures. Originally released for the Xbox 360 in 2007, Mass Effect has won over eighty awards globally including several ‘Game of the Year’ nods. Fully optimized for the PC, Mass Effect features higher resolution graphics, the ability to map biotic powers to ‘hot keys’, a new decryption mini-game, an enhanced inventory system and fast loading times. PC gamers are now able to control their individual squad mates with the new Tactical Heads-Up Display, allowing for deeper and more efficient control during combat.
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ESRB – M for Mature
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Platforms – PC
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Ship Date – May 28, 2008
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames
The first rule for Mercenaries is: Everyone pays. But when sleazy Venezuelan Industrialist Ramon Solano breaks this simple rule, it is no longer about business; it is about payback, Mercs style. Mercenaries 2: World in Flames delivers over-the-top action, big explosions and world-class production values in a fully destructible, beautifully detailed Venezuela.
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ESRB – Not yet rated
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Platforms – PS3, Xbox 360, PC and PlayStation 2
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Ship Date – August 31st 2008 in North America; September
5th 2008 in UK and Europe
Rock Band
Rock
Band is an all-new platform for music fans and gamers to interact
with music like never before. The game challenges players to put
together a band and tour for fame and fortune – all while learning
to master lead/bass guitar, drums and vocals.
Featuring the
most master recordings of
any music game ever by the world’s biggest rock artists,
Rock Band includes tracks that span every genre of rock
ranging from alternative and classic rock to heavy metal and punk.
The Wii version will feature 63 songs including five bonus songs for
the Wii. Rock Band is developed by Harmonix, published by MTV and
distributed by EA.
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ESRB – T for Teen
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Platforms – Wii
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Ship Date – June 22, 2008
Spore Creature Creator
In anticipation for the launch of Spore in September, the Spore Creature Creator gives Spore fans, and anyone who is creatively curious, a first hands-on opportunity to design their own species and share it with their friends. All creatures designed with the Spore Creature Creator can be imported into the full version of Spore . The free demo version of the Spore Creature Creator will be available worldwide via download from www.spore.com. The free demo lets players shape, paint and play with an unlimited number of creatures, using 25% of the creature-making parts from Spore . People can then share these creations with their friends, including seamless uploads to YouTube. The demo will also be included in the The SimCity Box , which ships on June 23.
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ESRB – E
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Platforms – PC, Macintosh
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Ship Date – June 17, 2008
Spore
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ESRB – Not yet rated
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Platforms – PC, Macintosh, Nintendo DS and mobile phones
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(*NDS version is titled “Spore Creatures”)
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Ship Date – September 7, 2008