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…)

Konami has announced that the North American launch for Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate on 3DS has been set for March 5, 2013.

Just in case you didn’t know, here’s a quick rundown of Mirror of Fate’s story which acts as a precursor to the upcoming Xbox 360, PC, PS3 release of Lords of Shadow 2:

“Developed by Mercury Steam, Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate takes place 25 years after the events of Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, and is a precursor to the highly anticipated and recently announced Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2 for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360  video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and Windows PC. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow – Mirror of Fate reveals the story of Gabriel Belmont’s descendants, Simon and Trevor Belmont, as they battle their own destiny only to discover their true, shocking fate.”

Do you live in a major population centre in Canada?

Then breakout the dogsled team and warm woolies because the Nintendo is touring the Wii U across the country in advance (and slightly after) the console’s November 18 launch.

Check the listings below for dates and locations from the official press release:

(more…)

Today, at an event in New York, Nintendo announced the release date and pricing for its soon-to-be-released Wii U console.

On November 18, 2012 two models of Wii U will be available. The Basic Set is white and retails for $299.99 and the black Deluxe Set is $349.99.

Besides the 40 “launch window” titles — defined as the period between launch date and March 31, 2013 — Nintendo also announced details of TVii.

Full release follows:

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A match-three game that encourages empire-building? Rising Star Games has something for you:

TORRANCE, Calif. — June 26, 2012 — Rising Star Games, Inc. today announced that its fan-favorite puzzle game, Cradle of Rome 2, is now available at North American retailers for the Nintendo 3DS™ and Nintendo DS™ systems. The sequel to one of the best-selling match-3 games by Jewel Master, Cradle of Rome 2 brings improved features, graphics and high-quality sound to the incredibly successful series.

Cradle of Rome 2 challenges players to race against time by swapping tiles in an intense match-3 game. As players progress, they must earn enough gold and materials to return Rome to its former glory and ascend to the position of Caesar. Providing simple, yet addictive, gameplay on both the 3DS and DS platforms, Cradle of Rome 2 lets players use their earnings to build houses and magnificent palaces as they develop their small settlements into flourishing empires.
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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.
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Coming to Playstation Vita and Nintendo 3DS, the classic Spy Hunter franchise — celebrating 30 years! — is a good fit for portable platforms and should be ready for Fall 2012:

On the eve of the franchise’s 30th anniversary since the original Spy Hunter was released to arcades in 1983, the new Spy Hunter races forward on its most thrilling and dangerous ride yet. The player once again takes on the role of the “Agent,” the driver of the high-tech G-6155 Interceptor supercar, armed extensively with advanced weaponry, and ready to take on a global terrorist organization set on world domination. (more…)

Apparently for the last number of years there’s been this thing called YouTube. Well, The Armchair Empire is finally making some use of it with it’s own YouTube channel, which can be found right here: The Armchair Empire’s YouTube Channel.

Along with gameplay clips (with commentary) you never know what may appear! Check this look at “Insane 2.”

Every day in September, The Armchair Empire will be filling up a big box with miscellaneous gaming (and non-gaming) goodies. One of a kind items, games, and chunks of effluvia that you will want to win!

First item into the box is this:

It’s not really a can of soup! It contains an LA Noire t-shirt. Click here for official details and a breakdown of what’s going in the box!

In a move I thought should have been available out of the box, Nintendo has announced that an update is coming that will allow users to make 3D video clips. Besides that announcement, Nintendo also let loose:

• Metal Mario and Lakitu will be playable in Mario Kart 7, which will also feature a 1st Person mode that will use the gyro functions of the 3DS.
• Super Mario 3D Land (3DS) will hit retail on November 13.
• Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii) arrives November 20.
• The Legend of Zelda Four Swords Anniversary Edition will be available to download between Sept. 28, 2011, and Feb. 20, 2012. Price: FREE. It will also include a single-player outside the multiplayer focus.
• Luigi’s Mansion (3DS) and Paper Mario (3DS) will see the light of day in 2012.
• Kid Icarus: Uprising has been pushed back in 2012 because the team ” has determined that more time is needed to complete the game “

Expect more information to come out of Tokyo Game Show over the next few days.

Reported on Giant Bomb and spread by the likes of Gamesindustry.biz — where I read the story — Nintendo President Satoru Iwata has written an apology letter to early adopters of the 3DS for the incoming price drop for the system. From $249.99 to $169.99 (starting mid-August) is definitely a big drop but matches up well with the “disappointing sales of the system and the drastic reduction in Nintendo’s annual earnings forecast.” (Nintendo wants to sell more so they’re dropping the price.)

For Iwata’s part this is not an empty apology. In a conciliatory action, he also announced that’s he’s taking a 50% cut in pay and that “directors and executives also reduced their salaries by 20 to 30 percent.”

“Those customers who purchased the 3DS at the very beginning are extremely important to us,” [Iwata writes]. “We know that there is nothing we can do to completely make up for the feeling that you are being punished for buying the system early.”

Nintendo has introduced the “Ambassador Program”, which gives 3DS owners 20 free downloadable games from the Nintendo eShop.

Good on Iwata for stepping up and taking it on the chin with action!

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

In case you missed it yesterday, Nintendo has announced that the company is “dropping the suggested retail price of its Wii system to $149.99“ beginning May 15, 2011. Not only that, Wii Sports and Wii Sports Resort have been swapped out for Mario Kart Wii and a Wii Wheel accessory.

To coincide with this price drop, Nintendo will also be launching “Nintendo Selects.” Four games are included in this initial group: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Animal Crossing: City Folk, Mario Super Sluggers and Wii Sports. And the price: $19.99US.

My own $0.02 on “Nintendo Selects” is that it’s missing Mario Strikers Charged.

Every Thursday we will provide an online version of the Imperial Proclamation. This update is for the week of April 11 – 16, 2011.

REVIEWS:
WWE All-Stars (360)

Nintendogs + Cats (3DS)

PREVIEWS:
Dead or Alive: Dimensions (3DS)

FEATURES:
Project: HISTORY Part VI – Chunnel #5

GOODIES:
iolo’s System Mechanic

CLASSIC REVIEW:
Fighting Force (PS1)

Today Majesco Entertainment announced that “Nano Assault” — development at Shin’en, which brought us Nanostray (DS) and Nanostray 2 (DS) — will be available this Fall for Nintendo’s 3DS portable. A “bullet hell” game is always a welcome addition to any game collection!

Nano Assault will feature “3D graphics that resemble electron microscope imagery. It’s within this dangerous microscopic world that players will navigate a Nanite ship through a cellular system, maneuvering through alien cell clusters, fighting off infections, and analyzing and destroying the virus’ core to ultimately save humanity.

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