In case you missed it, Warner Bros. and WB Montreal have announced “Batman: Arkham Origins” set for release October 25, 2013 on PC, Xbox 360, and Playstation 3, along with a companion 2.5D game, Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate (3DS, Vita). The other item of interest for fans of Batman’s Arkham games is that development of his upcoming adventure is being handled by WB Montreal, not Rocksteady. (more…)

To coincide with the upcoming release of the film of the same name, Activision has announced that The Amazing Spider-Man is now available at retail.

Rated “T” (for Teen) and available for all major platforms, including Nintendo handhelds, The Amazing Spider-Man was developed by Beenox, makers of the previous Spider-Man release, Edge of Time, but brings Spider-Man back to an open-world Manhattan. (more…)

In advance of E3, Square-Enix announced a slew of titles that will be on display at the upcoming show including Sleeping Dogs, Hitman Absolution, and Quantum Conundrum, and truckload of iOS and portable titles. More details below:

HD Consoles and PC Lineup

Quantum Conundrum
Platform: Windows PC, PlayStation®Network for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft
Developer: Airtight Games
ESRB: E (Everyone)
Available: June 21 for Windows PC, Summer for PlayStation 3 system and Xbox 360
From the mind of PORTAL™ co-creator Kim Swift, Quantum Conundrum features engaging puzzle gameplay with the introduction of the Inter-Dimensional Shift Device (IDS), an invention that gives players the ability to shift to and from various dimensions, manipulating the world around them in order to solve puzzles of ever-increasing difficulty.
(more…)

Listen to Mr. Nash and Aaron talk about “Sony All Stars, Half Life 3, TES Online, the Rock Band iOS debacle, Xenoblade, The Walking Dead, Prototype 2, and a slew of other games.” Listen, won’t you?

It has been more than two months since the last “Imperial Proclamation Online” so rather than list every single article posted, I’m just posting the “Best of…” in no particular order.

Read on!

REVIEWS:
L.A. Noire (360)
http://www.armchairempire.com/Reviews/xbox-360/la-noire.htm

Red Faction: Armageddon (PC)
http://www.armchairempire.com/Reviews/PC%20Games/red-faction-armageddon.htm

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12: The Masters (360)
http://www.armchairempire.com/Reviews/xbox-360/tiger-woods-pga-tour-12-masters.htm

F.E.A.R. 3 (PC)
http://www.armchairempire.com/Reviews/PC%20Games/fear-3.htm

MX vs. ATV Alive (PS3)
http://www.armchairempire.com/Reviews/ps3/mx-atv-alive.htm

Duke Nukem Forever (360)
http://www.armchairempire.com/Reviews/xbox-360/duke-nukem-forever.htm

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D (3DS)
http://www.armchairempire.com/Reviews/3ds/legend-zelda-ocarina-time-3d.htm

PREVIEWS:
Jagged Alliance: Back in Action (PC)
http://www.armchairempire.com/Previews/PCGames/jagged-alliance-back-action.htm

Combat Wings (360, PC, PS3, Wii)
http://www.armchairempire.com/Previews/multi-platform/combat-wings.htm

Deus Ex: Human Revolution (360, PC, PS3)
http://www.armchairempire.com/Previews/multi-platform/deux-ex-human-revolution.htm

Star Wars: The Old Republic (PC)
http://www.armchairempire.com/Previews/PCGames/star-wars-old-republic.htm

Another update in a couple of days!

Gamesindustry.biz is reporting that, “US boxed video game sales in May 2011 totalled $743.1 million, a 14 per cent decline on the same period in 2010 and the lowest since October 2006.”

It’s important to realize that those figures are for boxed video game sales just as NPD makes clear, noting that the numbers do not take into account “the growing portion of the industry that is comprised of digital format content distribution.”

Besides the (top ten) best sellers for May (see below), the NPD report also notes “that at the current rate of growth and decline, the Wii will still maintain the lead in the console space” and that “sales of the 3DS were light.”

1. L.A. Noire (360, PS3)
2. Brink (360, PS3, PC)
3. LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean (Wii, 360, DS, 3DS, PS3, PSP, PC)
4. Portal 2 (360, PS3, PC)
5. Mortal Kombat (PS3, 360)
6. Call of Duty: Black Ops (360, PS3, Wii, DS, PC)
7. Zumba Fitness: Join the Party (Wii, 360, PS3)
8. NBA 2K11 (360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP, PC)
9. Just Dance 2 (Wii)
10. LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars (Wii, DS, 360, PS3, 3DS, PSP, PC)

This will likely be the last “Shorts” update:

• Titles seen in depth: F1 2011, Bodycount (Aug.30/11), Skyrim (Nov.11/11), COD: Modern Warfare 3, Batman: Arkham City (“it’s Arkham Asylum but it’s wide open, including side missions”), LOTR: War in the North (feels a lot like Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance), and a bunch of Disney titles.
• Titles watched: Dead Island (guy playing could not figure out how to pick-up a paddle; eaten by zombies soon after) and Dead Rising 2: Off the Record (deliciously ridiculous). My criteria for standing watching someone elese play is simple: It must have “dead” in the title.
• Nintendo Developer Roudtable (minus an actual table) was pretty good this year, even if there was no talk of “Wii U” other than Miyamoto indicating that Pikmin will be coming to the platform. Asking about Pikmin at this particular event is a running gag since he mentioned the game back in 2009. There was also an explaination of the evolution of Mario’s racoon suit. Live demos of Super Mario 3DS (working title) and Skyward Sword were given — both looked like fun to play.
• Next Level Games (based in Vancouver, BC) are the developers behind Luigi’s Mansion 2 (3DS) ! Having worked with Nintendo on a number of titles (Super Mario Strikers, Mario Strikers Charged, Punch Out!!) Next Level Games is a really good fit.
• I’m wondering if the model posing as BloodRayne knew there was a big tear in the seat of the costume.
• By all accounts the Bethesda E3 party was a massive success (or “booze fest!” depending on how  you spell it). It wasn’t all booze though. A mechanical bull and karaoke were involved.

Point format for this edition of E3 2011: Shorts -

• Nintendo’s announcement of “Wii U” was only halfway. The handheld controller, which includes a big touchscreen, and full Wii controls was shown but not the console hardware pushing it. A blurry, placeholder image was present in some of the slides. Arrival: 2012.
• More classic Nintendo franchises on the way for 3DS: Mario Kart, Starfox, and a new Super Mario Bros. title.
• Sony’s “PSVita” handheld will retail in two forms. The wi-fi version will retail for $249.99 and the 3G version will go for $299.99. Equipped with a camera in front and back, and a back touchscreen, there’s some potential for some interesting gameplay mechanics. And amazing graphics! Launch scheduled for later in 2012, though I think they forgot to say if that was Japan or North America.
• “Jane’s Addiction” has nothing to do with flight simulators or strategic weapons (unless that includes “sound bombs”).
• Kobe Bryant can’t play video games.
• THQ’s “Welcome to Steelport” (Saints Row: The Third) parking lot has some really awesome cars.
• “Resistance 3″ has an archaic health system. (i.e. health boxes instead of regenerating health) It always takes a little to get used to that again.
• “Halo 4″ was announced (surprising no one)!
• I’ve seen some of the fastest thumb-typing at this event…
• StreetPass continues to rack up visitors.
• Nintendo didn’t have breakfast at their press conference making me one hungry freeloa– journalist.

- Aaron Simmer

Expect a few more “visual previews” in the next few weeks in the lead-up to E3. This time we have a gallery of screens, concept art, and level sketches for the upcoming SSX. Plus, we have articles with text, too!

REVIEWS:
WWE All-Stars (PS3)
http://www.armchairempire.com/Reviews/ps3/wwe-all-stars.htm

Rift (PC)
http://www.armchairempire.com/Reviews/PC%20Games/rift.htm

Ridge Racer 3 (3DS)
http://www.armchairempire.com/Reviews/3ds/ridge-racer-3d.htm

Pilotwings Resort (3DS)
http://www.armchairempire.com/Reviews/3ds/pilotwings-resort.htm

PREVIEWS:
SSX (360, PS3)
http://www.armchairempire.com/Previews/multi-platform/ssx.htm

Prototype 2 (360, PC, PS3)
http://www.armchairempire.com/Previews/multi-platform/prototype-2.htm

Max Payne 3 (360, PC, PS3)
http://www.armchairempire.com/Previews/multi-platform/max-payne-3.htm

Today Nintendo announced the full list of titles that will launch with the 3DS on March 27, 2011 (each with a SRP of $39.95):

• Pilot Wings Resort (Nintendo)
• Steel Diver (Nintendo)
• nintendogs + cats (Nintendo)
• Super Street Fighter IV 3D (Capcom)
• The Sims (EA)
• Madden NFL Football (EA)
• LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars (LucasArts)
• Ridge Racer 3D (Namco Bandai)
• Super Monkey Ball 3D (Sega)
• Bust-a-Move Universe (Square-Enix)
• Samurai Warriors: Chronicles (Tecmo Koei)
• Asphalt 3D (Ubisoft)
• Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs (Ubisoft)
• Rayman 3D (Ubisoft)
• Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Shadow Wars (Ubisoft)

In the same release, Nintendo restates that they have a whole slate of titles “in the works” for the rest of 2011, including Star Fox 64 3D, Kid Icarus: Uprising, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.