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SEGA have put out a new trailer for Sonic Unleashed, the 3D platformer being released towards the end of 2008 on practically all formats. The game is generating a lot of buzz online as it’s hoped it will be the first good 3D Sonic platformer since Sonic Adventure on the Dreamcast (although a lot of people didn’t like that either).

The latest issue of GamesTM has revealed the first concrete details on the next installment in the Call Of Duty franchise. VideoGaming247 report the game will be titled  “Call of Duty: World at War”. The game will be going back to a World War II setting based around the time period of the American battles with Japan and the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The magazine goes on to say that the the Call of Duty 4 game engine will be used despite the game being developed by Treyarch who developed Call Of Duty 3 rather than Infinity Ward who developed Call Of Duty 4. The magazine also reports the game will feature online co-op gameplay as well as use of vehicles and squad based tactics in multiplayer modes. The game is being marketed as “gritty”, with the opening sequence apparently setting the tone for the rest of the game which features “a Japanese commander stubbing a cigarette out in the eye of a prisoner before slitting his throat - the blood splatters and dribbles down the side of the tent you are being held in. He turns towards you to deal out the same treatment but help arrives just in time. Cue a daring level-long escape.”

Call of Duty: World At War is released on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, Wii and PSP some time towards the end of this year, most likely in November.

(Image: Call Of Duty 3)

Here’s a round up of a few of the more interesting game footage videos from the UbiDays 08 press conference yesterday:

Tom Clancy’s End War live demo:

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It wouldn’t be a SEGA themed update day without any Shenmue rumours now would it? While the press had their attention drawn away by SEGA’s PlatinumGames announcements, the Shenmue rumour mill was in full swing. Word comes from a forum poster on GameFaq’s by the name of Saikobooru who provides news From Swedish gaming magazine GameReactor. The magazine states that Shenmue 1 and 2 are being ported to the Nintendo Wii and are set to feature all new mini games. Translated into English, the (very short) story reads:

“Shenmue is back!”
“Sega has rereleased classics like Nights,Bass Fishing and House of the Dead lately. Now it’s said that Shenmue is next. But don’t think that it’s about a new game, instead, they’re bringing back the two original Shenmue games with extra Wiimote-minigames which will be released for the Wii.”

The full forum thread available here includes a scan of the small news story in the magazine and so confirming the source of the new rumours. Shenmues wikipedia pages have already been updated reffering to the latest rumours from the magazine. Of course this has re-ignited the Shenmue 3 campaign, with fans of the series encouraging everyone to buy the Wii versions (assuming they even happen)  in support of the franchise and so convince SEGA to release Shenmue 3.

In reality the story is probably just a speculative piece suggesting what old franchises SEGA should bring back, not what they really are. But then again the wording is “they’re bringing back” and “will be released” so who knows…..

Sign the Shenmue 3 petition -  52500 names and counting

Vote for Shenmue 2 on Xbox Originals

MADWORLD, announced today by SEGA is set to be released on the Wii in the first quarter of 2009. Looking and sounding highly original this is definitely one to watch out for as it progresses through development. Using a third person perspective the game sees you play as a guy called Jack who wields numerous unusual weapons to battle opponents. The game uses a unusual black and white art style where the only colour on screen is red blood. MADWORLD is being directed by Shigenori Nishikawa who’s previous works includes Dino Crisis and Resident Evil 4.

Describing the game SEGA say “As players battle opponents, they must master the use of various weapons and items found within their environment, such as chainsaws and street signs, while entertaining sports commentary adds to the third-person gameplay. With its irreverent humour and over-the-top violence, MADWORLD will deliver a unique core gaming experience currently missing on the Wii system.”

The short trailer below shows off the games unique look, unusual weapons and gory violence:

SEGANerds.com were in attendance at the unvieling of the game to the press erlier in the week. Head on over for a full run down of what they thought.

SEGA Europe and America today announced a publishing partnership with PlatinumGames, the studio setup by the main players at Konami’s Clover Studios following it’s closure. Clover Studios were behind the critically acclaimed game Okami which was recently ported to the Wii. The newly formed studio will be creating four titles to be published by SEGA, three of which have been announced today. The games are MADWORLD for the Wii, Infinite Line (working title) for the Nintendo DS and Bayonetta for the Xbox 360.

“The creative forces at PlatinumGames bring a new level of imagination into the SEGA family at a pivotal time in the video game industry when the demand for quality, originality and fun has never been greater,” said Tatsuya Minami, President and CEO, PlatinumGames. “These new titles will contribute meaningfully to SEGA’s brand, while adding a new level of depth to the strategic portfolio of games in our library.”. “We are thrilled to have forged this new relationship with such a talented team of individuals and we are understandably excited about the titles that they are producing for us,” commented Mike Hayes President and COO of SEGA Europe Ltd. “SEGA continually strives to release games for all consumers that are of the highest quality, working with Platinum Games further enhances that strategy.”.

(no there not the ones pictured here!) As has been known/strongly rumoured for a while now, Guitar Hero 4 is set to feature more than just a guitar controller. The folks over at the Power Glove blog on Destructoid have posted a scanned image of Game Informer magazine which reveals the Drum kit instrument set to be sold with the game. The kit features six inputs, with 3 drums, 2 symbols and a foot pedal. It will be interesting to see how exactly this plays out on screen as the drums and symbol pads are not in a straight line with the symbols being above the first and third drum pad. Were not going to reproduce the image here, but feel free to head on over to Destructoid and take a look (if it’s still there).

In the midst of all the GTA IV hype, Sierra released 6 new screenshots from their forthcoming Ghostbusters game. Release date for the game is down as “Autumn” this year on all formats. Check out the screenshots below from the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC versions below:

[Show as slideshow]

Following on From Frosty’s review of Super Smash Bros. Brawl recently, here’s an alternative view of the game:

Warning explicit lyrics

Nintendo will finally get round to releasing Super Smash Bros. Brawl in Europe on June 27th. You can check out our recent review of the game here. The date was included in a big release schedule announcement made by Nintendo today which features many titles across the Wii and DS platforms. Check out the full release list below if you feel inclined to.

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