Plants vs. Zombies Slated for July 2013 Release

PopCap Games has finally dated the release of one of their most anticipated sequels, Plants vs. Zombies 2. I guess, the term dated is a bit generous, but they have narrowed the release window from sometime this year to sometime in July. Also, a nifty promo video was released today from the official Plants vs. Zombies YouTube page showing various fans of the franchise voicing their disapproval at the drawn out development and release of the game. I recommend checking it out, as you might notice a few familiar faces. Although barely anything concrete has been released about the game, I feel it's not too hard to predict a few basic details. Eventually we will probably see this game on every platform imaginable (the original made it to iOS, Android, WP7, Blackberry, Xbox 360, PS3, DS, PC, Mac and Chrome). I could see the streamlined tower defense gameplay working especially well on Nintendo's Wii U console. Seeing as the publisher for this title is EA, social features will probably be integrated, along with some form of microtransactions. These negatives can sometimes ruin a game, but hopefully PopCap will use them in a way that is less obtrusive and doesn't distract from the core shrubbery planting experience.

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Forza Horzion - Hex19 Playdate

Here is a quick look at the latest entry in the Forza series - Forza Horizon. This title puts a new spin on the Forza formula, with an open world map and a more casual feel. Although I don't think that it fits very well within the Forza series, it's still a game worth playing. Thanks for watching, and be sure to subscribe to our Youtube channel to get all of our latest videos.

Grand Theft Auto V Cover Art Revealed

When it comes to its upcoming titles, Rockstar Games is a master of manipulating the press cycle to their whim. With one of our most anticipated releases of 2013, Grand Theft Auto V, it has been no different from the norm. We've waited months between the tiniest of reveals, like screenshots and teaser trailers. Today we received another small morsel of fresh content - the cover art for the game. One can argue how important box art is in a market that is quickly being taken over by digital sales, but I still have a soft spot for the artistic style that is now closely associated with the GTA franchise. I feel that it emphasizes the characters, plot, and feeling you get from being immersed in the world that Rockstar creates (rather than embracing the "mindless violence" angle bestowed upon the game by the media). Check out the full resolution of the cover after the break.

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AMC's 'Geek Out' Reality Show to Spotlight Super Fans and Their Obsessions

AMC has picked up the pilot for a new unscripted reality series called Geek Out. Hosted by Fanboys writer Ernest Cline, the show will follow the touching stories of geeks and superfans of all different kinds——from movies, video games, comics, to even sports. Each episode will highlight the extraordinary fandom of one person in particular, ultimately rewarding the fan with some sort of surprise wish-fulfillment to make their geek dreams come true. While there's no news on when the show might premiere, it definitely has a concept that makes it worth following. Movies like Confessions of a Superhero, Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope, and Indie Game: The Movie, have proven that a true geek's story is one worth sharing. Plus the wish-fulfillment aspect should make for an incredibly interesting watch. 

Source: Hollywood Reporter

Our Five Most Anticipated Games of 2013

2013 is shaping up to be another great year for video games, possible even better than 2012. With major releases in every genre and for every system, as well as rumours of some impending console announcements, 2013 should be an exciting year for gamers. Continue after the break to see our five most anticipated games of this year.

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Behind the Scenes of the 'Cyberpunk 2077' Teaser

A few days ago we shared the first trailer released for CD Projekt RED's next big RPG - "Cyberpunk 2077". Today Platige Image, the polish production company behind the video, posted an extensive document detailing the creation of the teaser. It features images from each step of the process, including concept art, motion capture and 3D modelling. To accurately capture the likenesses of real human actors, Platige Image utilized a special 360-degree camera array developed by Infinite Realities. It consists of 72 high quality SLR cameras, each capturing an 18-megapixel image. The realism that this technology brings to the characters in the teaser is immediately noticeable. It is mind blowing how much work goes into producing high quality computer generated images, especially when you realize that a completely separate team had to immerse themselves in the "Cyberpunk 2077" world just to produce a 2 minute promotional short. Check out the entire behind the scenes gallery on Behance.net.

'Pandemic' Getting a Revamp for its Fifth Anniversary

Z-Man Games has announced that a new version of their excellent co-op board game, "Pandemic", will be released this February to celebrate the fifth birthday of the original release. Players will be able to participate in the worldwide fight against disease with a new art style, a redesigned cover, and two brand new player cards to choose from. I think that the new cover is bright and eye-catching, with a Hollywood epic feel to it - a large improvement over the previous design. The only downside may be that it sells the game's mechanics short, making it seem more theme driven than it actually is. Pandemic is a deep game that excels at creating interesting dilemmas for a group of players to struggle with. Risk management, strategic board position, and good teamwork factor into every playthrough. Paired with the the refresh announcement is the reveal of a new Pandemic expansion - "In The Lab". It will be available later this year, along with a version of the existing "On The Brink" expansion sporting the updated 5th anniversary look. You can read more about Pandemic on the Z-Man Games website, and check out the full resoltuion version of the new box art after the break.

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ViDoc Parody Examines the Weaknesses of Forge Mode in Halo 4

Constant improvement is an expectation in the video game industry. Even if your work is just "on par" with what came before it, you'll get lost in the shuffle of new and creative games out there. If your new product is even just slightly worse than what came before it, you're in for a world of hurt from fans. The reaction to Halo 4's forge mode has been blasé at best. The map editor doesn't have too much we haven't seen before, and some of the great features added in Halo: Reach's forge mode are mysteriously absent in this new iteration. The community's feeling are wonderfully encapsulated in a new parody ViDoc posted on YouTube by Black Plasma Studios. In the classic "talking head" style used by 343 Industries, Bungie, and many other developers, a few Spartans explain how Halo 4's Forge mode is the worst one yet. It may be overly harsh, but most of the complaints they bring up are completely valid. I think Halo 4's map editing capabilities are still excellent for being on console, but it is far from the improvement over Reach I was expecting.

'Cyberpunk 2077' Teaser Trailer Fights Futuristic Crime

CD Projekt Red has released its first trailer for Cyberpunk 2077, a game first teased back in May, 2012. The brand new 2-minute teaser gives us a taste of what the dystopian future of the RPG will look like. The cut scene in the video focuses on the "Psycho Squad" a special branch of the police force tasked with dealing with rampaging psychos that have abused technological implants and enhancements. While I'm excited to see how this title will allow CD Projekt to flex their graphical muscles, I'm more interested in how a futuristic setting will affect the writing of the game. Although Geralt's encounters in the world of The Witcher presented fantastic choices to the player, Cyberpunk 2077 will be able to go in directions that would be impossible in a medieval world. We can already see that biological enhancement will be an important issue in the game, and I can't wait to see CD Projekt's unique take on all kinds of other Sci-Fi tropes. My favorite part of this teaser may be the very end of the clip, where we see the release date teased only as "Coming: When It's Ready". You can watch the new video embedded after the break, or on the official Cyberpunk 2077 YouTube channel.

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Steam Console Codenamed 'Piston' Unveiled at CES

Looking for a quick and easy way to play your Steam library on your HDTV? Well modular PC developer Xi3 may have you covered. Backed by Valve, the makers of Steam, Xi3 is developing a console gaming system designed specifically to work with the widely popular PC gaming platform. While rumours of such a device have been circling for some time, a prototype system codenamed 'Piston' has been unveiled for hands-on review at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Expo. 

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