Another day, another series to be produce into an anime. Mardock's Scramble series has been picked up by Sentai Filmworks. In the story, a teenage prostitute named Rune Balot is murdered in an explosion. However, Dr. Easter saves her, and Balot is resurrected as an advanced cyborg. Balot takes on the worst of Mardock City's criminals as she looks for vengeance. The movie already came out last year in Japan and now its making it's way here to the states. As when it will happen we have to wait and find that out.

reported by Anthony Beanes
sources: http://www.japanator.com/licensing-get-sentai-gets-mardock-scramble-19774.phtml

As E3 comes to a close. the game critics awards were released today and out of the games that were in it, Bioshock Infinite was the one that won the most awards or came very close to. Bioshock Infinite is the 3rd based game in the Bioshock series by Irrational Games. The group who worked in the first Bioshock is hard at work on this game for PC, Xbox 360, and PS3. Along with other games here is the list of who won what in the game critics awards from E3:

Best of Show
- Batman: Arkham City (Rocksteady/WB Games for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
- WINNER: BioShock Infinite (Irrational Games/2K Games for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
- Tomb Raider (Crystal Dynamics/Square Enix for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
- Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception (Naughty Dog/SCEA for PlayStation 3)

Best Original Game
- Bastion (Supergiant Games/WB Games for PC, Xbox 360)
- WINNER: BioShock Infinite (Irrational Games/2K Games for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
- From Dust (Ubisoft Montpellier/Ubisoft for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
- Journey (Thatgamecompany/SCEA for PlayStation 3)
- Sound Shapes (Queasy Games/SCEA for PS Vita)

Best Console Game
- Batman: Arkham City (Rocksteady/WB Games for PS3, Xbox 360)
- Mass Effect 3 (BioWare/EA Games for PS3, Xbox 360)
- WINNER: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda for PS3, Xbox 360)
- Tomb Raider (Crystal Dynamics/Square Enix for PS3, Xbox 360)
- Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception (Naughty Dog/SCEA for PlayStation 3)

Best Handheld/Mobile Game
- Contre Jour (Mokus/Chillingo/EA for iPad, iPhone)
- Mario Kart (Nintendo/Nintendo for 3DS)
- WINNER: Sound Shapes (Queasy Games/SCEA for PS Vita)
- Super Mario (Nintendo EAD Tokyo/Nintendo for 3DS)
- Uncharted: Golden Abyss (SCE Bend Studio/Naughty Dog/SCEA for PS Vita)

Best PC Game
- Battlefield 3 (DICE/EA Games for PC)
- WINNER: BioShock Infinite (Irrational Games/2K Games for PC)
- End of Nations (Petroglyph Games/Trion Worlds for PC)
- Star Wars: The Old Republic (BioWare Austin/EA Games for PC)
- Torchlight 2 (Runic Games/Perfect World for PC)

Best Hardware
- WINNER: PlayStation Vita (Sony Computer Entertainment)
- Rocksmith (Ubisoft San Francisco/Ubisoft for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
- Sony 3D Display (Sony Computer Entertainment)
- Wii U (Nintendo)
- Zoom for Kinect (Nyko)

Best Action Game
- WINNER: Battlefield 3 (DICE/EA Games for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (Infinity Ward/Sledgehammer/ATVI for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
- Gears of War 3 (Epic Games/Microsoft Studios for Xbox 360)
- Prey 2 (Human Head Studios/Bethesda for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360)
- Rage (id Software/Bethesda for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360)

Best Action/Adventure Game
- Assassin's Creed: Revelations (Ubisoft Montreal/Ubisoft for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360)
- Batman: Arkham City (Rocksteady/WB Games for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
- WINNER: BioShock infinite (Irrational Games/2K Games for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
- Tomb Raider (Crystal Dynamics/Square Enix for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
- Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception (Naughty Dog/SCEA for PlayStation 3)

Best Role-Playing Game
- Dark Souls (From Software/Namco Bandai Games for PS3, Xbox 360)
- Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning (Big Huge Games/38 Studios/EAP for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360)
- Mass Effect 3 (BioWare/EA Games for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
- Star Wars: The Old Republic (BioWare Austin/EA for PC)
- WINNER: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (Bethesda Game Studios/Bethesda for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)

Best Racing Game
- Driver: San Francisco (Ubisoft Reflections/Ubisoft for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
- WINNER: Forza 4 (Turn 10 Studios/Microsoft Studios for Xbox 360)
- Mario Kart (Nintendo/Nintendo for 3DS)
- Need for Speed: The Run (EA Black Box/EA Games for PC, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii)
- Wipeout 2048 (Studio Liverpool/SCEE for PS Vita)

Best Fighting Game
- Skullgirls (Reverge Labs/Autumn Games for PS3, Xbox 360)
- Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike Online Edition (Iron Galaxy Studios/Capcom for PS3, Xbox 360)
- WINNER: Street Fighter X Tekken (Capcom/Capcom for PS3, Xbox 360, PS Vita)
- Soul Calibur V (Namco/Namco Bandai for PS3, Xbox 360)
- Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (Namco Bandai Games for Arcade)
- WWE 12 (Yuke's/THQ for PS3, Xbox 360, Wii)

Best Sports Game
- WINNER: FIFA Soccer 12 (EA Canada/EA Sports for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
- Madden NFL 12 (EA Tiburon/EA Sports for PS3, Xbox 360)
- NBA 2K12 (Visual Concepts/2K Sports for PS3, Xbox 360)
- SSX (EA Canada/EA Sports for PS3, Xbox 360)
- UFC Undisputed 3 (Yuke's/THQ for PS3, Xbox 360)

Best Strategy Game
- Age of Empires Online (Gas Powered Games/Microsoft Studios for PC)
- End of Nations (Petroglyph/Trion Worlds for PC)
- WINNER: From Dust (Ubisoft Montpellier/Ubisoft for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
- Skulls of the Shogun (Haunted Temple Studios for PC, Xbox 360)
- Trenched (Double Fine/Microsoft Studios for Xbox 360)

Best Social/Casual Game
- Dance Central 2 (Harmonix/Microsoft Studios for Xbox 360)
- Disneyland Adventures (Frontier Developments/Microsoft Studios for Xbox 360)
- Rocksmith (Ubisoft San Francisco/Ubisoft for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
- Rhythm Heaven (TNX/Nintendo for Wii)
- WINNER: Sound Shapes (Queasy Games/SCEA for PS Vita)

Best Motion Simulation Game
- Dance Central 2 (Harmonix/Microsoft Studios for Xbox 360)
- Fruit Ninja Kinect (Halfbrick/Microsoft Studios for Xbox 360)
- Sesame Street: Once Upon a Monster (Double Fine Productions/WB Games for Xbox 360)
- The Gunstringer (Twisted Pixel Games/Microsoft Studios for Xbox 360)
- WINNER: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Nintendo EAD/Nintendo for Wii)

Best Online Multiplayer Game
- WINNER: Battlefield 3 (DICE/EA for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (Infinity Ward/Sledgehammer/ATVI for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
- Gears of War 3 (Epic Games/Microsoft Studios for Xbox 360)
- Star Wars: The Old Republic (BioWare Austin/EA for PC)
- Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception (Naughty Dog/SCEA for PlayStation 3)

Best Downloadable Game
- WINNER: Bastion (Supergiant Games/WB Games for PC, Xbox 360)
- From Dust (Ubisoft Montpellier/Ubisoft for PC, PS3, Xbox 360)
- Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet (Fuelcell Games/Microsoft Studios for Xbox 360)
- Journey (Thatgamecompany/SCEA for PlayStation 3)
- Papo & Yo (Minority/SCEA for PlayStation 3)

What is telling for me is that there isn't that many games without sequels in there. My guess is that since games cost millions to make now a days if you want a AAA game there is less chances to make in some of the video game companies. Though just something I point out from looking at these awards.

-Anthony Beanes
sources: http://www.gamespot.com/news/6321454/e3-2011-bioshock-infinite-scores-at-game-critics-awards?tag=topstory%3Btitle

In a 7-2 decision announced today, the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional a California law which sought to ban the sale or rental of violent video games to children.

For those of you not living in California, or the other 9 states, you probably had no idea about the law they passed in 2005 which fined retailers up to $1000 dollars for selling violent video games.

Which now means that minnors are allowed to buy rated M games now with out parental consent due to 1st amendment protections.

When I worked gamestop we used to get rode pretty hard about checking ID for those M-rated games... I wonder of those retailers will still follow this?

You can read the courts various comments and dissents here:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/27/988686/-Supreme-Court-declares-violent-video-games-are-protected-speech


-Sean Chapman
Sources:
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/08-1448.ZS.html
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/06/27/988686/-Supreme-Court-declares-violent-video-games-are-protected-speech

In a recent surprise announcement Valve is planning on turning Team Fortress 2 into a free to play game. This comes as a bit of a shock as Team Fortress 2 was already doing micro transactions with hats and weapons you can buy with your own money. Now that it's turned free to play it makes sense with all the changes they made to the game to have these free to play qualities. With Team Fortress 2 now free to play, will this essentially effect other free to play games out there? I suspect this will boost more people not only to play Team Fortress 2 but also use steam as their PC platform of choice. Valve you sly dog, is there anything else you can't do? This weekend Team Fortress 2 will be free to play and you can check it out this weekend to see what is soon coming to you for free.

reported by Anthony Beanes
sources:http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/06/23/valve-team-fortress-2-to-be-free-to-play.aspx

UPDATE: here is the new video meet the medic. Also note, its actually free to play starting today. So welcome new team fortress 2 players!

Anime Expo is the biggest anime convention in the united states and often haves big names, first screenings of movies, and other perks fans get to see that no other anime convention haves. Well the good news keeps coming for Anime Expo fans as several anime movies will be premiered for the first time at Anime Expo. I am going to assume dubbed in each movie since for the rest of us we are already watched it online with subs. The movies as listed are:

Onigamiden- Onigamiden revolves around the war between oni (demons) and humans in the former Japanese capital of Kyoto, 1,200 years ago during the Heian period.

The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya- The story takes place from December 16 until December 24, a month after the cultural festival. The SOS Brigade, led by Haruhi Suzumiya, make plans to have a nabe party for Christmas. However, on the morning of December 18, Kyon arrives at school and finds out everything has changed.

Mobile Suit Gundam 00 the Movie: A Wakening of the Trailblazer- The year is 2314 AD, two years after Celestial Being's last great battle and the world faces a new crisis. A derelict Jupiter exploration ship, abandoned 130 years ago, has left its orbit and is approaching Earth. The ESF has also begun to exploit the power of Innovators through Descartes Shaman.

Also to add to this already exciting line up, a few new tv anime series are also making thier debut at Anime Expo this year which includes Supernatural: The Anime Series, Gonzo's and Last Exile: Fam, the Silver Wing. Hope you guys that do go have alot of fun there.

-reported by Anthony Beanes
sources: http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-06-23/onigamiden-to-make-its-u.s-premiere-at-anime-expo

Well for those of you who been waiting for Diablo 3, are going to have to wait a bit longer. MTV has reported that Diablo 3 will release a beta for people to sign up for to be a part in. The beta will be up on its way very soon, as late as August. As quoted from the article,

"It's simple, really. Seems that Blizzard is holding a July press event dedicated to the "Diablo 3" beta at their campus in California. Information and assets from that event are embargoed until August 1, which means the beta won't be out before then...unless Blizzard really wants to screw over those in attendance of the event, which seems unlikely."

It's not like we haven't seen this before, we seen this when Starcraft 2 was in the beta stages that everyone was playing prior to it's release. So no surprise Blizzard is planning to do the same with Diablo 3. So from this I am guessing the full game won't be released until spring of next year.  I could be wrong here but It would make sense to release Diablo 3 in the spring and then Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm in the fall. They did say if Diablo 3 didn't make it this year they release two Blizzard games next year.

-reported by Anthony Beanes
sources: http://multiplayerblog.mtv.com/2011/06/22/diablo-3-beta-details-coming-your-way-on-august-1st/

In case you didn't know this story for the game:

The story for Arkham City takes place about one year after the events of Arkham Asylum. Quincy Sharp, former warden of Arkham Asylum, has taken credit for stopping the Joker, and used the notoriety to become mayor of Gotham City. As neither Arkham nor Blackgate Prison are in any condition to detain inmates, Sharp buys out a large section of Gotham's slums and arms the perimeter with private military contractors from a group called Tyger in order to create "Arkham City". The prisoners are brought into Arkham City and are given free rein, as long as they do not attempt escape. To oversee the city, Sharp hires psychiatrist Hugo Strange who appears to have his own secret agenda for the city. Batman maintains a vigil over the city, worried that the situation may get out of hand. Part of the setup for "Arkham City" was contained in plans in a hidden room in Sharp's office in Arkham Asylum.

The events of the game are set in motion when Two-Face, seeking to gain notoriety among the inmates and other villains outside the city, devises a plan to publicly execute Catwoman. Batman decides for both the safety of Gotham and of his past relationship with Catwoman that he must stop the execution by entering Arkham City.

-----

I like it! What do you guys think?

-Sean Chapman

Yes its true! those words are the sweet words most valve fans have been waiting for a long time. Thanks to a valve fans site, Lambda Generation, interviewed an ex valve employee about Vavle in house devlopment. This was posted in the steam forums and has been removed and banned the user for posting it, but luckly it was screencapped before the information was taken away. Here is post about Half Life 3:

"Mike Dussault, a long time programmer at Valve, recently left the company. I didn’t know him until last week. Let me introduce myself. I’m a freelance artist. I do contract work for a studio in Seattle, through the internet. They have a client access system on their site. I came across Dussault’s resume, while browsing the files section. Now, I know you’re all curious about Valve’s in-house development, but I’m only going to talk about the Half-Life series.

"According to his resume, Episode Three was put on hold when Valve decided to move away from the episodic model in late 2007, right after Episode Two’s release. He was a techinal advisor on a cancelled Half-Life title, made outside of the company. Dussault’s work on Half-Life 3′s world programming, and the scripting system (between 2008 and 2010) is also mentioned in the resume."

Now some of you may not even believe this but I did some researching on my own and checked my sources and I can say this is true. Valve has not responded to this leak, but many fans are so glad to hear that Valve is working on the game. I can safely say this is probably the best news we have seen in a long time about Half life 3. 

reported by Anthony Beanes
sources: http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/06/15/half-life-3-hints-surface.aspx

So you’d think the bigger news with the Call of Duty franchise would be the release for Modern Warfare 3, but it’s actually about the planned service to be launched to the public with the release of the game. They’re calling the service “Elite.”

Elite is going to be a charged service, the price which hasn’t been stated yet, is going to a monthly service. The rumor is that it will be roughly 8 bucks a month. Which if you’re an Xbox Live user, this on top of your already charged XBL fee.

Heres some of the features they plan to offer for free:

• Access Elite through the web as well as Elite's free custom iOS and Android applications for smartphones and tablets
• Communicate any way you want across mobile, console and the web with your friends
• Track and share thousands of stats with friends -- k/d ratios, score-per-minute, win % and loads more, all represented in easy to understand charts and infographics
• Create your own custom leaderboards to track friendly rivalries -- who is moving up and down in your group of friends?
• Analyze advanced heat maps detailing your match-by-match performance -- where you killed or got killed, when it happened, and more
• Analyze your weapons performance -- which weapons you are best with in which situations
• Upload and share videos of your greatest moments through our exclusive theater mode with the touch of a button
• After you analyze your performance to your heart's content - Customize your loadout -- search through all the weapons, attachments and perks, and push them directly into the game menu from the web or your mobile device with the touch of a button
• Join dozens of groups and find other players with common interests to play with and compete against -- find people who make the game the most fun for you -- TDM, Lakers' fans, Weekend Warriors, whatever you choose.
• Create a private Clan with players who share your interests and skill level
• Bring your Facebook friends right into the game, easily taking your existing network into the Call of Duty experience.
• Seamlessly be placed into matches into Groups who share your affinities and interests based on your Facebook profile to elevate your in-game experience.
• Start tracking your Call of Duty career -- everything you wanted to know about your performance across the franchise starting with Black Ops

A pdf which you can find “here” can answer some more questions. They still won’t tell us what we get for actually paying for their service. It’s mostly all rumors.

Everyone, Elite subscriber or not, will be able to purchase downloadable content just as you've been able to in previous games. If do pay for Elite,  you'll get all of the "playable game DLC" for Modern Warfare 3 free of charge. That includes any map packs, though it's unclear  with  "playable game DLC"  which  means there might be some sort of non-playable DLC that even Elite subscribers will have to pay for, or it could simply mean things like avatars and themes for PSN and Xbox Live.

In all honesty, the drawback is if they can get away with making us pay for things we should get for free and already offered by some other games, it sets a precedent for studios to charge us more. We’re paying around 65 for games, 5-10 for monthly online gameplay (Xbox Live) and then this fee? That adds up. So hopefully the fee will be cheap, or at least offer some really great content.

Call of Duty's Elite service will begin being beta tested by the public in a month, on July 14. You can sign up to be invited for the beta, http://www.callofduty.com/elite, but be warned; over 2 million people have already applied for the invitation to play it.

Now, people wanting to play a free beta is one thing. People willing to pay for it is another.

-Sean Chapman
Sources:
http://oneofswords.com/pdf/CODEliteFAQ.pdf
http://www.1up.com/news/call-of-duty-elite-beta-attracts-2-million-sign-ups

The website of anime company I.G. has recently revealed a trailer for their new upcoming anime called, Usagi Drop which is to be aired next month. In short the anime is about a 30 year old single guy who unintentionally adopts his late grandfather's 6 year old daughter. You can check out the trailer here.

-reported by Anthony Beanes
sources: http://www.animenation.net/blog/2011/06/10/first-usagi-drop-anime-spot-streaming/