Source: videogamesblogger.com

World of Warcraft: Wrath of the Lich King has become the best-selling and fastest-selling PC game of all time, and already Blizzard has brought up the fact that they are already thinking about the next WoW expansion.

In an interview with MTV Multiplayer, Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime had this to say:

“We will continue making expansions as long as we have players that want to play World of Warcraft — we want to keep them entertained.” Asked if that means Blizzard will be making expansions forever, Morhaime replied, “Well, probably not forever. But for the foreseeable future, we’d like to be doing regular expansions.”

What exactly is a regular expansion? Well originally Blizzard planned to release a new expansion every year, but that hasn’t quite worked out. “Our goal that we’ve talked about is to put out an annual expansion, but we haven’t quite been able to do that. We had one early last year and now we’re sort of late this year, but we do want to decrease the amount of time in between expansions. Although we’ll probably never get it down to a year between each one because there’s just so much content. We do want each expansion to be considered a big value for players.”

World of Warcraft is the most popular franchise in MMO gaming and perhaps in the gaming industry in general, given it’s sales figures. World of Warcraft has topped 11 million subscribers making it by far the biggest MMORPG around, and the most successful.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Konami today released the newest Metal Gear Online MEME Expansion Pack.

It is available to download via the PlayStation Network store at a price point of $10, or $15 in a bundle with the previous “GENE” Expansion pack.

The pack comes with three new maps: Silo Sunset (from Portable Ops), Forest Firefight and Winter Warehouse.

Here are the additional features of the expansion:

Contains two new special characters:

* Liquid Ocelot – Has the ability to manipulate the Sons of the Patriots lock system with the Guns of the Patriots ability. In multiplayer, the Guns of the Patriots deactivates targeted enemies’ entire weapon system.
* Mei Ling – Has three special techniques – Trench Mortar, Soliton Sonar, and the ability to transfix an enemy.

Additional Rules and Settings (These can be played without purchasing the second expansion pack):

* No Headshot Setting: In this setting, headshots do not equal instant death. Headshots will cause the same amount of damage as a regular shot to the body
* Stealth Death Match: In this mode, you will begin the match with stealth turned on
* Interval: In this mode, players can practice strategy and also chat with each other without worrying about ranking or records

Official Tournament Lobby:

* Enables players to compete in a series of difficult battles where the winning player wins in-game gear and/or reward points that can be spent on character customization

New Avatar Gear – Players can also customize their avatar with comical gear

* Crocodile Cap: featured in Metal Gear Solid 3
* New Hair Styles
* Ghillie Suite: Metal Gear Solid 3’s sniper boss camo

Metal Gear Online is the multiplayer portion of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots which is available exlusively on the PlayStation 3 from Konami.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

The fifth expansion pack for EverQuest II, entitled EverQuest II: The Shadow Odyssey, released for the PC yesterday and thus is out now. The newest expansion follows in the success of the award-winning, best-selling previous expansion, EverQuest II: Rise of the Kunark.

The new pack will take players both new and veteran alike on a journey through a substantial amount of exquisite content with more than 20 new zones, including the Moors of Ykesha, a massive outdoor zone once known as Innothule Swamp, and the legendary dungeon Guk.

Check out the launch trailer for the game.

In an age long passed, a band of extraordinary heroes embarked on a journey to free Norrath from the clutches of a shrouded threat.

Key features of EverQuest II: The Shadow Odyssey include:

* New Zones: Journey through more than 20 new zones, including the new overland zone, Innothule Swamp
* Dungeon Adventures: Experience nostalgic EverQuest dungeon themes, such as Najena, Mistmoore and The Sebilisian Empire, and adventure through more than 18 goal-based dungeons, such as Ruins of Guk and Befallen
* Achievement Point: An achievement level cap increase to 200 that offers new achievements for class-specific lines
* Dungeon Delving: A new mission system for players to replay content with new and different experiences.
* Heritage Quests: Five new quests with unique rewards being added
* Shard Reward System: A new, mysterious group of erudites with powerful new armor and equipment will barter for void shards earned during players’ encounters
* Epic Tales: Stories told through battles with dozens of new creatures and hundreds of new quests.
* New Deities: Rodcet Nife and Anashti Sul are introduced into Norrath
* Access to All Previous Content: Includes all previous expansion packs and adventure packs.
* Legends of Norrath: Includes strategic online trading card game, digital starter deck and booster pack

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Lots of PC Expansion Packs just hit store shelves, including Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir, which just released yesterday, November 18th, for the PC.

There have been several interesting blogs posted by the developers of the game, particularly this one about Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir’s orchestral musical score. So be sure to check those out.

About the game:
In the aftermath of the defeat of the King of Shadows, the Sword Coast is in the midst of an uneasy economic recovery. Trade syndicates have sprung up to exploit the post-war confusion for their own ends and the players’ party will wade into this uncertain environment. In order to increase their own fortunes, they can either ally with a syndicate to create a trade empire, or cut their own path through Faerun by preying upon caravans and selling the goods on the black market. As they attempt to extend their influence, players will become aware of a new faction working behind the scenes: the evil, shape-shifting, serpentine Yuan-Ti.

In addition to trading and economic manipulation, the Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir Overland Map allows players to explore the Chultan Peninsula and Sword Coast in a non-linear manner never before seen in any of the Neverwinter Nights games. Exploration will take players from well-known locations, like Neverwinter and Crossroad Keep, to more exotic areas, such as the xenophobic jungle nation of Samarach. Groups of highwaymen and monsters populate the Overland Map and the farther from civilization the player roams, the more difficult the encounters become. The 15-hour campaign in Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir is also packed with new classes, spells, creatures, and playable races.

Key Features of Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir include:
* Travel the Sword Coast and Samarach using the open-ended exploration of the new Overland Map. Use skills like Spot and Survival while on the Overland Map to avoid ambushes and even find hidden locales and lost artifacts
* Create your own full party of adventurers. Devastate your foes with a squad of fireball-flinging Sorcerers, form a solid wall of steel with a party of Fighters, or strike the perfect balance in your party by spreading out the classes you choose for your characters
* Improved party gameplay including streamlined party conversations, a new Teamwork Benefit System, and powerful party feats
* The world’s economy reacts to your adventures and choices. And, through trading and quests, you can expand your merchant company into a massive trading empire

Last but not least, here is a developer interview from E3 2008.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

The expansion pack for Gothic 3, Gothic 3: Forsaken Gods, for the PC, is out now and ready to purchase on store shelves.

Gothic 3: Forsaken Gods is a third-person RPG expansion pack that offers a new episode for a new glimpse into the amazing world of Gothic. Forsaken Gods includes new quests, new monsters and many of the old friends whom gamers around the world got to know in previous episodes.

Features of Gothic 3: Forsaken Gods include:

* Lively and interactive environment which reacts to the player’s actions, creating a very intense and realistic atmosphere
* Improved graphics quality thanks to updated engine technology
* Enhanced user interface
* 15-20 intense hours of gameplay
* Improved combat system with new combat rules
* Plenty of new weapons, armor, monsters and quests

Source: videogamesblogger.com

The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria is the first expansion pack for The Lord of the Rings Online, the MMORPG game based on the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien (i.e., NOT based on the flims). Like all expansions packs, the game will add a bunch of new content for players of the subscription based MMO. The game was released today for PC.

The game is available in a normal as well as Collector’s Edition. The Collector’s Edition includes:

*Unique premium book packaging
* 3 in-game item tokens
* Exclusive 22” x 22” premium cloth map of the Mines of Moria
* Exclusive special gold plated replica of The One Ring complete with chain and pouch
* Mines of Moria poster
* Middle-Earth map
* Exclusive The Lord of the Rings Online Art and Music Collection with the official Mines of Moria Soundtrack
* Full color Collector’s Edition Starter Guide
* Exclusive Online Community Badge for The Lord of the Rings Online forums

The Lord of the Rings Online: Mines of Moria expands the online world of Middle-earth to let players explore the ancient underground cities of the dwarves, battle epic characters in the depths, face off with the Watcher, be a part of the fateful release of Durin’s Bane, and more.

Here is a list of features in the expansion:

* Speak Friend, and Enter – Moria, called Khazad-dum by the dwarves, was their capital and the grandest of cities. This enormous underground cavern in north-western Middle-earth, comprises an immense network of tunnels, chambers, mines and huge halls that run beneath and ultimately through the Misty Mountains. For the first time, players of The Lord of the Rings Online will enter this ancient city which has served as the foundation for the modern-day dungeon-crawling adventures to battle the hordes of goblins and the Nameless of the Deep and journey through hundreds of new quests within six new kinds of stunning environments
* The Epic Continues — The Mines of Moria represents the beginning of Volume II of The Lord of the Rings Online. Players can experience six new books as part of this update and participate in the release of Durin’s Bane, battle the Watcher, aid Galadriel and more
* Increased Level Cap — Players will be able advance their characters up to level 60, gaining access to new traits, virtues, skills and class quests. The crafting system will also expand, giving players the ability to craft even more powerful items
* Discover Two New Classes — The Rune-keeper and the Warden, the first new classes to be introduced since the launch of the game, allow players to build exciting and powerful new characters in The Lord of the Rings Online in diverse new ways
* Forge Legendary Items – The Mines of Moria will introduce Turbine’s new item advancement system to The Lord of the Rings Online. Players will be able to forge weapons and class-related equipment and evolve them to build a legacy the likes of Bilbo’s Sting and Gandalf’s Glamdring. These legendary weapons will level-up along with the player, allowing customization by advancing the item’s virtues, adding runic legacies, modifying its titles and forming fables

Source: videogamesblogger.com

David Hasselhoff aka “The Hoff” has entered the building! Or rather, entered the PAIN.

Sony has announced that David Hasselhoff is going to be added as a playable, flingable, “feel free to run me over with a car or fling me through a glass window” character in Idol Minds PS3 downloadable game, PAIN. You will be able to download him on November 6th, 2008 as part of the PAIN Movie Lot expansion (which isn’t free).

So how did this come about? Here are some details straight from the mouth of The Hoff via the PlayStation blog:

“What am I doing in PAIN you ask? It’s the Movie Studio! What’s a movie studio without The Hoff? You can now put The Hoff into a launcher and fling me into harm’s way – exploding crates, cars, people – everything is fair game. And best of all, you’ll never even put a scratch on this mug of mine!

When I was first approached about PAIN, I really didn’t know what to think. I mean, it’s great to think that someone would want to put me in a game, but THIS game is all about flinging people into walls, smashing them into cars, and spanking monkeys. While I wholeheartedly approve of the monkey spanking, I wasn’t too sure about the rest of the game. When I finally got my hands on PAIN though, everything changed, and I “got it”. If anybody can understand silly fun, it’s me.”

In addition, David Hasselhoff recorded an exclusive song which is a cover of Culture Club’s “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me”.

Another really cool tidbit revealed in the comments section by the creator of PAIN is the fact that he “honestly tried to get Chuck Norris”! Come on Chuck! PLEASE RECONSIDER!

By the way, Chuck has finally gotten his own game, called Chuck Norris: Bring on the Pain . . . but now he needs to TAKE THE PAIN!

It’ll be interesting to see what other celebrities Idol Minds will be able to add to pain. What celebrities would you like to see?

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Unreal Tournament 3 has sold 1 million copies worldwide and a new expansion pack is on the way announced developer Epic’s Vice President Mark Rein.

He told GameSpot that the deal between Epic and publisher Midway isn’t a licensing deal, but rather a publishing agreement, and added that the new expansion is a “major” one that will “excite and grow” the customer base. He did not mention whether the new expansion is a full-on retail product, or if it will be released as downloadable content or reveal any other details.

Mark then mentioned that Unreal Tournament 3 has sold over a million copies worldwide, 476,000 of those sales at U.S. retailers. This should help qualm any fears that gamers had of Midway potentially dropping the franchise due to a recent announcement in which Midway said they would drop any titles that were underperforming due to recent financial troubles. That is, of course, unless Epic themselves decide to seek another publisher.

Although Unreal Tournament 3 has been sitting in the shadow of Epic’s OTHER shooter (the Gears of War series whose latest offering, Gears of War 2, hits next month), the game has apparently performed well enough to green-light the expansion, which is good news to those fans of the series.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

About a month after the release of the PC life sim Spore, the first Spore expansion has been revealed by Electronic Arts as the “Creepy & Cute Parts Pack”. The pack isn’t so much a gameplay expansion as it is an item add-on pack. It will set you back $19.95. You can pre-order it for digital download via the EA Store for its release date on November 18th, 2008. It’ll be available at retail stores as well.

I don’t know if you’ve seen Spore’s YouTube upload page or the Sporepedia, but editing together new creatures keeps proving to be really popular with nearly 37 million creations so far.

It’s expected the second Spore expansion pack will be for a Flora Editor.

Source: videogamesblogger.com

Halo 3: Recon is Bungie’s brand new campaign experience for Halo 3 on Xbox 360, that was previously titled Halo 3: Keep It Clean. No further info was revealed except for a Fall 2009 release.

With the slogan “New Hero. New Campaign. Prepare To Drop.” it looks like Master Chief is taking a holiday.

Check out our official announcement trailer which builds upon the teaser and provides new insights into what awaits this mysterious new Orbital Drop Shock Trooper/ODST (a United Nations Space Command/UNSC Marine Corps Special Forces unit) recon marine and the A.I. helping him/her around enemy (invaded) territory.

Photo by Joystiq