Bad Company ships

Haggard

Electronic Arts Sweden-based studio, EA Digital Illusions CE (DICE), announced that its new first-person war shooter, Battlefield: Bad Company began shipping to retailers across North America and Europe today. Bad Company throws players into a war zone with the “B” Company, a wayward band of soldiers more interested in personal financial gain than codes of conduct.

Preston

Players take on the role of Preston Marlowe, a young soldier whose antics land him in the division with the highest mortality rate. Alongside other lowlifes Sarge, Haggard and Sweetwater, players will face harsh terrain, and even harsher enemies while on their search for an elusive treasure. The game features dozens of vehicles, weapons and plenty of destructible environments. There is also a full online multiplayer mode, including the Gold Rush mode, which pits players as either attacker or defender, attempting to destroy or protect crates holding gold. EA will also be making Conquest mode available as a free download for the game later this summer. Battlefield: Bad Company is rated T for Teen, and will be available either tomorrow or Wednesday, June 25 ^th at retailers across North America and on June 27 ^th in Europe for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 for $59.99 USD/CAD. A Gold Edition will also be available for $69.99 USD/CAD.

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C&C 3: Kane's Wrath ships for 360

Since we're already on the topic of Electronic Arts games shipping to retailers, Electronic Arts also announced that Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath began shipping for Xbox 360 today. The game includes all of the key features from the PC version, as well as exclusive enhancements for console play, including the CommandStick interface, the all-new Kane's Challenge mode and all of the units, structures and superpowers from Tiberium Wars .

"Our team has been very passionate about delivering the same fast, fluid and fun gameplay that has defined the Command & Conquer franchise on the PC to consoles,” said Jim Vessella, Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath producer. “Each time we release a new RTS (real-time strategy) on consoles, we want to make sure we help continue to bridge that platform gap, and with the CommandStick in Command & Conquer 3: Kane’s Wrath we are giving players an unprecedented amount of control.”

The console version features four gameplay modes, the first of which is the 13 mission story-driven campaign mode that spans two decades of Tiberium Lore. The campaign mode also includes over 40 minutes of high-definition, full-motion videos starring Natasha Henstridge (Species), Carl Lumbly (Alias) and Joe Kucan as Kane. The other modes are Skirmish and Multiplayer – supporting up to four players over Xbox Live, with VisionCam support and over 50 maps to choose from – and the previously mentioned Kane's Challenge mode, which is a gauntlet of 90 matches against nine deadly armies, which features exclusive cutscenes and taunts from Kane. Command & Conquer 3: Kane's Wrath will be available for Xbox 360 later this week for $39.99 USD/CAD and is rated T for Teen.

THQ gets into summer sports

THQ announced the release of its new, Wii-exclusive IP, Big Beach Sports , today. Developed by HB Studios, Big Beach Sports brings six popular summer sports – volleyball, soccer, football, boccie (lawn bowling), disc golf and cricket – into your living room. The game includes two main gameplay modes – single player tournament and multiplayer for up to four players.

“ Big Beach Sports lets gamers play summer sports they’re familiar with and, in many cases will teach them games they’ve never played before,” said Steve Dauterman, senior vice president of product development for THQ. “Compelling summer sports, an intuitive, easy-to-pick-up control scheme and a fun-filled beach setting make Big Beach Sports a perfect title for all Wii gamers.”

Like so many mini-game games and multi-sport games we've seen come to Wii over the system's short existence, Big Beach Sports uses simple, minimally detailed models. Actually, they almost look like a mix between Miis and LEGO. If you own a Nintendo DS though, you will be able to export your avatar to it and customize it even further. Big Beach Sports is available for Wii across North America for $29.99 USD/CAD and is rated E for Everyone. The game will also be available in Europe on June 26 ^th and in the Asia Pacific region on June 27 ^th .

EA bringing Brain Quest to DS

Brain Mode

Electronic Arts' Casual Entertainment label announced plans today to bring the highly popular educational game Brain Quest to Nintendo DS. In partnership with the New York-based Workman Publishing Company, EA will release two Brain Quest games; one for third and fourth graders, and the other for fifth and sixth graders. The games will stay true to the card deck series, containing over 6,000 unique questions each, developed specifically for their grade levels to educate and entertain kids at home, on the road, or anywhere for that matter.

“ Brain Quest is EA Casual Entertainment’s first educational game and we are thrilled to bring this beloved brand into the videogame space,” said Robert Nashak, VP of Casual Studios for EA Casual Entertainment. “By adapting the series to the DS, we are able to reach today’s tech savvy children and provide them with an educational experience that is interactive, engaging, and fun.”

The games will include a Brain Mode, which lets kids jump directly to gameplay, into fast-paces quiz games, as they answer questions in English, history, math, science and geography, and Quest Mode, which follows a light storyline and pits them

Quest Mode

against increasingly difficult challenges in each category. Players will also be able to challenge their friends or play with each other cooperatively in the Multiplayer Mode. Throughout the game, players who answer questions correctly score points to redeem collectibles that can be unlocked by winning achievements. These collectibles can then be used to customize up to six scenes in the game.

Both Brain Quest games are currently scheduled to be available in North America in September, around the beginning of the school year, for $29.99 USD/CAD.