Source: videogamesblogger.com

This week on Zero Punctuation, Condemned 2: Bloodshot and the phrase “errant turds.” The horror, the horror! Foul language and story spoilers ahead in this review.

Source: seganerds.com

It seems that Sega has had quite a successful week in the UK All Formats Charts with not one, not four, but three games in the top 10.

Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games is still doing incredibly well, staying up at number 2 - beaten out by Gran Turismo 5: Prologue (much to my personal disgust - I hate the GT games).

Also despite some mixed reviews and opinions among fans/reviewers, Viking: Battle for Asgard is sitting a very respectable 7.

And just released, in Europe, is Condemned 2 - which jumps into the charts at a very cool fifth place.

But it doesn’t all end there Sega Nerds. While making the top 10 is the accolade companies like to aspire to, Sega has another 4 titles making it into the top 40.

Just outside the top 10 is Sega Superstars Tennis, hitting no. 12. Then creeping (slowly) up the charts is House of the Dead 2&3: Return at no. 17 - which was at 21 last week. At 21 we have Football Manager 2008 (Still hanging in there), then last and sort of least (in this case) we have the surprising, for me at least, appearance of Sonic and the Secret Rings!

Top 10 List:

(1) - 1 - Gran Turismo 5: Prologue SCE
(3) - 2 - Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games SEGA
(2) - 3 - Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 Ubisoft
(4) - 4 - Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 Konami
(-) - 5 - Condemned 2 SEGA
(5) - 6 - Guitar Hero III: Legends Of Rock Activision
(8) - 7 - Viking: Battle For Asgard SEGA
(11) - 8 - Wii Play Nintendo
(10) - 9 - Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training Nintendo
(7) - 10 - Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Activision SCE

Let’s hope Sega can keep this trend of having several titles in the top 40 (preferably most in the top 10 though) and confirm themselves as being one of the great gaming companies once again.

(Damn, that last paragraph was almost bordering on fanboyism - Apologies)

[Source: Spong and Chart Track]

Source: seganerds.com

Sega Australia has created possibly one of the most disturbing websites ever.

The website has been made to help promote Condemned 2: Bloodshot. However unlike other Condemned sites, which contain dark settings, with scary monsters and brutal scenes of violence, Sega Australia has decided to go the other way and make a site using bright flowery meadows and pretty little pony’s all the colours of the rainbow. AHHH!

But seriously, this is all quite freaky really. You are treated to a pretty field with butterflies and lollipops, and “Percy the Pretty Pony.”

However the site has a darker, underlying purpose…

If you click on Percy, you are then treated to a wonderfully disturbing video (shown above), and then you play a game, whereby players need to move a large heart under the path of the ponies, as they try to jump across “the stream of smiles”, to get to a field of “heart flowers”. As you rescue the ponies they cry out “I love you!” and if you let them fall into the river, they shout out “It’s ok, I still love you!”

The game is basic, but there is a reason to the cute madness. As players help more and more ponies, and get higher scores, they unlock new items on the main page - like exclusive footage of Condemned 2 or a survey, asking how many hobos you have killed and whether you like to laugh at the finishing moves within the game.

Just by exploring the site you can find all sorts of random things, like a news article on some new Polar Bear Cubs or tickets to see Priscilla Queen of the Desert…

Check out the insanely brilliant website here.

[Source: Sega Blogs]

[Special Thanks: ShadiWulf]

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) announced what new PlayStation Network downloadable games, expansions, demos and videos were released for PlayStation 3 today.

American Games (Demos):
* Condemned 2: Bloodshot demo
* Flat Out: Head On demo (PSP demo download via PC/PS3 Store)
* Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee (PS1 game via PS3 Store)
* SEGA Superstars Tennis demo

American Games (Content):
* Tiger Woods 08 add-ons:
– Tiger Woods 08 - “Doral Golf Resort, Blue Monster Course” add-on - $4.99
– Tiger Woods 08 - “Maxed out player” add-on - $2.49
– Tiger Woods 08 - “Turnberry Golf Resort” add-on - free
* Rock Band tracks - $1.99 each or $5.49 for the pack:
– At the Gates - “Blinded By Fear” (master)
– Evile - “Thrasher” (master)
– The Haunted - “D.O.A.” (master)

American Trailers:
* Ape Quest - “PS3 Spec”
* Condemned 2: Bloodshot - “Launch”
* Eye of Judgment - “Set 2″
* Gran Turismo 5 Prologue - “Japan Intro”
* MotorStorm 2 - “Teaser”
* Soul Calibur IV - “Character Reveal”
* Turning Point

American Extras:
* Ape Quest theme (PSP via PC Store)
* (3) Ape Quest wallpapers (PSP via PC Store)
* Hot Shots Golf: Open Tee wallpaper (PSP via PC Store)

European Games (Content):
* PAIN game - £4.99 / €9.99
* PAIN - “Muffy” add-on - £0.69 / €0.99
* PAIN - “Cookie” add-on - £0.69 / €0.99
* PAIN - “Hung-Lo” add-on - £0.69 / €0.99
* PAIN - “Santa” add-on - £0.69 / €0.99
* PAIN - “Scurv Dogg” add-on - £0.69 / €0.99
* PAIN - “Ginger” add-on - £0.69 / €0.99
* PAIN - “Fun with Explosives” add-on - free
* Stranglehold map pack - £9.99 / €14.99

European Trailers:
* MotorStorm 2 - “Teaser”

The Asian PlayStation Store had a free Metal Gear Solid 4 wallpaper (click link to make it pop up in a new window).

Also released for PlayStation 3’s worldwide today was the PS3 Firmware update version 2.20. The update adds, amongst other things, support Blu-ray Disc Profile 2.0 AKA BD-Live. — Via Neogaf & Sony

Source: videogamesblogger.com

In the first-person action horror game Condemned 2: Bloodshot players will assume the identity of Ethan Thomas, former Serial Crimes Unit investigator, who has been called back to duty to track down his missing partner. The disturbing events from Ethan’s past have left him a broken man –- a desperate burnout drifting aimlessly through society in an inexplicable decline. Fighting inner demons throughout his one-man investigation into a sinister conspiracy, Ethan will need to use anything and everything in the environment to survive as he unravels the mysteries shrouding the city in darkness.

Is this a true horror show, or is it just horrible? Find out in the Condemned 2: Bloodshot video review:

To quote the video review: “A lot of games try to creep you out, but very few succeed. The original Condemned was one that delivered, plunking you down into an oppressive environment with all manner of lowlifes. It was an underappreciated 360 launch game that was unlike anything that came before it. It’s been a while, but the follow-up, Condemned 2 Bloodshot is finally sulking on store shelves, waiting to deliver another dose of isolated terror.

Taking place directly after the first game, Bloodshot picks up the story of Ethan Thomas, a forensic investigator slash SWAT team stalwart. Since the first game Ethan’s fallen prey to the bottle, and who can blame him after a serial killer sliced off one of his fingers. He’s battling demons both figuratively and literally, while the city runs wild—its denizens prey to sonic-induced violent urges.

The original Condemned was really the first of its kind. The first-person pugilism, investigative challenges, and somber tone have been expanded for Bloodshot. Still, the experience remains relatively the same—just more supernatural and less plausible this time around. The anything-is-a-weapon aesthetic is still ace, but the combat system is too unwieldy when tackling multiple foes. It’s a game of ups and downs, but horror fans will be more than satisfied with its bleak and gloomy disposition.”

Story: 8.4
Design: 8.5
Gameplay: 7.7
Presentation: 7.5
Overall: 8.0

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Condemned 2: Bloodshot will be released by Sega on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 has a release date in America of March 11th and in Europe of March 14th, 2008. Time to get reacquainted with the cast.

First let’s watch the Condemned 2 opening cinematic. If this intro is an accurate representation of the intensity and anxiety of this game, prepare for one intense ride!

Check out the voice actors and their input into this investigative action horror title! Watch the voice over trailer:

Source: seganerds.com

The guys at Monolith Productions have been touting this revamped combat system in Condemned 2: Bloodshot, and this newly released eight-minute video is probably the best evidence yet.

The game will be released on March 11 in the US, and March 14 in Europe, so get ready for some good ol’ fashion bum killing!

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Sega has announced Condemned 2: Bloodshot (Xbox 360, PS3) has been given a release date in America of March 11th and in Europe of March 14th, 2008. While in single player the first-person action horror game lets players assume the identity of Ethan Thomas, former Serial Crimes Unit investigator, who has been called back to duty to track down his missing partner. This time around there are also several multiplayer modes features.

The new online multiplayer modes for up to eight players include:

* Crime Scene is an innovative round-based competition to find and protect valuable evidence within the Condemned universe. One team will use their forensic tools to track and scan the evidence while the opposing team will do everything in their power to keep the evidence hidden and protected.

* Bum Rush is a team-based race against time. With three minutes before one team can safely be evacuated, players must hold off an onslaught of attacks by the other team until the timer runs out in order to stand a chance of survival.

* Deathmatch is the classic free-for-all mode. Players can use every weapon they can find to dispatch enemies as quickly as possible in this melee battle royale. The player with the highest score at the end of the time limit wins.

* Team Deathmatch is the team-based version of the classic free-for-all mode. Working together, players pick up weapons from the environment and fight off as many enemies as possible before the clock runs down. The team with the highest score after the time limit wins.

Multiplayer Axe Murdering gameplay video:

Multiplayer Face Slam gameplay video:

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Condemned 2: Bloodshot is the sequel to the Xbox 360 (and PC) hit-launch title and this time will be coming to the Playstation 3 as well as the Xbox 360 again. In the first-person action horror game players will assume the identity of Ethan Thomas, former Serial Crimes Unit investigator, who has been called back to duty to track down his missing partner. The disturbing events from Ethan’s past have left him a broken man –- a desperate burnout drifting aimlessly through society in an inexplicable decline. Fighting inner demons throughout his one-man investigation into a sinister conspiracy, Ethan will need to use anything and everything in the environment to survive as he unravels the mysteries shrouding the city in darkness.

Check out the first Condemned 2 gameplay trailer:

Source: thexboxdomain.com