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
Go
for the gold!
Battlefield: Bad Company drops gamers behind
enemy lines with a squad of renegade soldiers who risk it all on a
personal quest for gold and revenge. Featuring intense multiplayer
action as well as a deep, cinematic single-player experience loaded
with adventure and humor, the game delivers the
Battlefield
series’ trademark sandbox gameplay in a universe where nearly
everything is destructible.
-
ESRB – T for Teen
-
Platforms – Xbox 360 and PS3
-
Ship
Date – June 23, 2008
Burnout
Paradise

|
The
Year of Paradise Continues! Following the launch of
Burnout
Paradise for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and
Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system in January, EA Criterion
is continuing to support the game’s players throughout the year by
delivering significant, game-changing content and regular broadcast
activities. The first game-changing content will be coming to the
PLAYSTATION Store and Xbox LIVE® Marketplace in June free to
download. This will include 3 all-new online game modes (Road Rage,
Marked Man, and Stunt Run), 70 new multi-part, timed Freeburn
challenges and 7 new cars, instantly adding many hours of additional
gameplay. Also being introduced is a new “Live” Global Paradise
news system where players will be able to receive the most up-to-date
information on the game and a schedule of upcoming online events, and
the much requested custom soundtrack support for the PLAYSTATION 3.
This is to bring the community of Burnout players together with the
makers of the game to create a social online gaming experience that
evolves throughout the year. To meet the team and get more details,
please visit criteriongames.com.
-
ESRB – Rating Pending
-
Platforms – PC, Xbox 360 and PS3
-
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.
-
ESRB – T for Teen
-
Platforms – Xbox 360
-
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.
-
ESRB – M for Mature
-
Platforms – PC
-
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.
-
ESRB – Not yet rated
-
Platforms – PS3, Xbox 360, PC and PlayStation 2
-
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.
-
ESRB – T for Teen
-
Platforms – Wii
-
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.
-
ESRB – E
-
Platforms – PC, Macintosh
-
Ship Date – June 17, 2008
Spore
Get
ready for the next Big Bang this fall!
Spore, the highly
anticipated game from the creators of
The Sims, gives players
their own personal universe in a box. Create and evolve life,
establish tribes, build civilizations, sculpt entire worlds and
explore a universe created by other gamers.
Spore gives
players a wealth of creative tools to customize nearly every aspect
of their universe: creatures, vehicles, buildings, and even UFOs.
Players can then seamlessly share their creations with the world or
explore infinite new galaxies created by other people
.
-
ESRB – Not yet rated
-
Platforms – PC, Macintosh, Nintendo DS and mobile phones
-
(*NDS version is titled “Spore Creatures”)
-
Ship Date – September 7, 2008