Midway Games today announced The Suffering: Ties That Bind, sequel to the genre-defining and award winning action/horror game, The Suffering. Developed by Midway’s internal studio, Surreal Software, The Suffering: Ties That Bind is scheduled to ship for the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, the Xbox videogame system from Microsoft and PC in Fall 2005.

"The Suffering: Ties That Bind is a sequel that will surpass the original in every way, with more action, a darker storyline and plenty of disturbing and twisted creatures," said Alan Patmore, president, Surreal Software. "The terror expands outside of the prison walls as players’ actions and moral choices are now tied to the new multi-leveled insanity mode, directly affecting the game’s plot with each path providing an entirely different experience."

The Suffering: Ties That Bind is a revolutionary action-horror game that emphasizes the disturbing terror of its predecessor, with new twisted creatures and a few familiar faces. Set in the unforgiving streets and prisons of Baltimore, the player once again controls Torque as he seeks revenge against the mysterious grand manipulator Blackmore, a man somehow tied to the death of Torque’s family. Players will explore the tough inner-city, with poverty and urban injustices trapping people just as effectively as a physical prison. The unique morality system returns, as players delve into the perverse world of Torque’s sanity to discover his past and struggle to control his future.

Area 51 is a new First person shooter coming to the Xbox April 18^th. It will also support Xbox Live (16 players). We have managed to get our hands on 5 new screenshots for you alien enthusiasts.

Game Details:

The
U.S. Army has received a distress signal from Area 51 where a viral
outbreak has just shut down the research facility. A small Hazardous
Materials unit led by specialist Ethan Cole is sent to investigate. As
Cole, players will delve into the mysterious confines of Area 51,
discovering a deadly mutagenic side effect of the virus that controls
the minds of those infected, as well as an ancient alien colony buried
beneath the facility. Chilling conspiracies such as the
extraterrestrial crash at Roswell and the staged lunar landing, are
investigated in order to solve the enigma of Area 51 before the viral
mutagen is released and irrevocably mutates all life on Earth. 

Today Midway announced the latest addition to the upcoming trilogy, Midway Arcade Treasures 3. The third addition to the series comes after the second having sold one-million-plus units in 2004, and the first in 2003.

Midway Arcade Treasures 3 will give gamers more of their favorite arcade classics in a pint-sized form on their Xbox. Player rankings will be kept via Xbox Live this time around though, allowing you to prove you’re the best.

"The Midway Arcade Treasures brand continues to be one of Midway’s strongest-selling and most popular franchises," said Steve Allison, chief marketing officer, Midway. "Midway Arcade Treasures 3 provides the same, classic feel as the previous two Midway Arcade Treasures installments while bringing back several of the most popular racing games in the industry’s history to today’s next generation consoles."

Midway Arcade Treasures 3 is set to include:

• Eight classic arcade racing games including:
• Badlands
• Hydro Thunder
• Off Road Thunder: Mud, Sweat ‘N Gears
• Race Drivin’
• San Francisco Rush The Rock: Alcatraz Edition
• San Francisco Rush 2049
• S.T.U.N. Runner
• Super Off Road & Bonus Tracks Pack
• Multiple Courses – Many new tracks to choose from and play
• Xbox Live – Player rankings and score posting abilities
• Multiplayer Gameplay – Play against 3 of your friends for all out carnage(*different for various titles)

Midway Arcade Treasures 3 is set to ship in the fall of 2005 with an expected price tag of $19.99.

The Inquirer and other sources have revealed that Microsoft may be planning to develop a first-party wireless controller as the standard for the next Xbox. This controller is expected to follow the design of the controller-s and with Microsoft’s vast experience dealing with wireless, it can be done easily.

"Well, there is now a blossoming market for wireless peripherals for all three major consoles, and Microsoft has spotted this. The Xbox was lauded for having controller wires that were incredibly long, and now they have gone one better by making wireless controllers standard on the Xbox 2. We don’t think the controller is going to change much in size or shape from the Controller S design that is currently shipping, apart from this added wireless functionality," stated The Inquirer.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Electronic Arts and Ubisoft are holding talks regarding Ubisoft’s dismissal of EA’s potential acquisition of 20% stock in Ubisoft due to hostile reasoning.

Ubisoft has considered EA’s potential purchase in the stock as hostile and says they will hold that stance until the two companies talk. “It’s completely normal that the two should be talking; the Ubisoft management had mentioned this would happen,” said Laurent Lamagnere, an analyst with CA Chevreux. “They don’t mind talking, what they’re more reluctant to do is to give EA a seat on the board.”

Expect a definate outcome to resolve of the discussions. Stay tuned for more information!

Earlier today at a joint press conference in Seoul, Korea, David Jones(the creator of Grand Theft Auto) and Webzen, Inc.(publisher) unveiled Mr. Jones’ All Points Bulletin title. In the press conference it was announced that Webzen was awarded the rights to worldwide publication of the online game, being developed by David Jones’ UK-based development firm, Real Time Worlds.

David Jones had this to say: "As an avid gamer and creator of many single player games, it has been my dream to create an online game experience that provides the player with the ultimate freedom to do whatever he wants, in a thriving, living environment."

"When looking for a publishing partner for APB, it was imperative to find a company that was a worldwide leader in online games and we found that in Webzen, Inc," added Jones.

"APB is an online game that we think will fuel the worldwide growth of online gaming," stated Nam Joo Kim, CEO of Webzen, Inc. "As Webzen, Inc. continues to expand into new markets around the world, it was important to find a property that translated to a broad audience. We are very excited about APB’s potential."

All Points Bulletin is a massively online multiplayer game which allows thousands of gamers to play in huge cities, seperated into two divisions. Those divisions are squads and gangs, with squads having their duty of upholding the law and fighting off gangs, and gangs trying to create havoc. All Points Bulletin is slated to release in early 2007, with no specific target platform set, but with XNA’s possibilities of a common PC and Xbox enviroment the Xbox 2 would be a great suitor.

All Points Bulletin will be showcased at E3 this year as well, allowing gamers to get a first glimpse of the game and it’s marvel.

Today, according to various video game vendors, the release date for Conker: Live & Reloaded has been delayed to June 2005 from it’s March 2005 release date. This change is unexpected and out of the blue, with no response from Rare as of yet.

Stay tuned for more information on the future of Conker and it’s release date!