TopWare Interactive aims to raise the bar for RPGs with it’s upcoming release of Two Worlds II. This sequel to the original hit Two Worlds will take players back to the world of Antaloor to explore the deserts and temples of the East.

Two Worlds II features a brand new engine from Reality Pump that makes the most of dynamic light sources, micro-detail Parallax Mapping, 24 Bit HDR Post Processing, Space Ambient Occlusion and Human Eye Accommodation. The AI and balancing standards have been overhauled as well. The new storyline features the work of experienced authors and the active combat system puts the adventure into this RPG.

When they claim that Two Worlds II will set new standards for graphical excellence, they aren’t bluffing. Just take a look as these screenshots.

Look for Two Worlds II for the PC, Mac and Next-Gen consoles this winter.

EA Sports has released the Season Preview for Madden NFL 10. Predictions are based on a combination of individual player and overall team ratings.

You can find team roster ratings and over all team ratings for the Cowboys, Eagles, Giants and Redskins online at the Madden NFL 10 Season Preview website.

AFC North will be the next division rated leading up to the Madden NFL 10 predictions for the 2009 NFL division winners, season MVP, and more August 3rd. Madden NFL series has been uncannily accurate at predicting the Superbowl winners for 6 years running. It predicted Pittsburgh Steelers’ win over the Arizona Cardinals this years at Pitt 28, Cards 24. The actual score was Pitt 27, Cards 23. I wouldn’t bet against  Madden NFL 10’s prediction that’s for sure.

Look for Madden NFL 10 on the Xbox 360, PS2,PS3, PSP and the Wii.

Battlefield 1943 is coming exclusively in digital format to the Xbox LIVE Marketplace July 8th and the PlayStation Network July 9th. PC gamers will just have to wait until September to get in on the action.

Battlefield 1943 features Frostbite’s next generation destruction technology which packs full Vehicle Warfare FPS multiplayer for up to 24 people into a 560MB download. I can never argue with getting more for less. Read more about the Frostbite engine and the worldwide community challenge to unlock the Coral Sea map after the break.

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Tracks from Green Day’s 21st Century Breakdown release will be coming to the Rock Band and Rock Band 2 Wii catalog. These three new tracks are a stark contrast with 8 choice original masters from artists participating in the RockStar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival. Behemoth, Cannibal Corpse, Marilyn Manson and Slayer are all on the list.

Tracks:

Behemoth                         “Conquer All”

(All tracks are original master recordings)

Tracks from festival artists Killswitch Engine and Bullet For My Valentine are already part of the extensive Rock Band DLC catlog. All these selections will be up for the PS3, Xbox 360 and the Wii the week of July 6th.

Hi, my name is Shawn and I’m a recovering Magic-aholic.

Magic is like paper crack to me. I find it consumes my life when I’m playing it. It becomes my goal in life, I will forsake food, personal hygiene and even intimate relations when I’m on a bender. It’s a sad part of my life but I thought it was behind me.

Struggling through Magic addiction is a daily challenge. I fight to avoid the Magic cards at the grocery, I refused the free Magic tournaments at the local game store. I’d been clean for almost a year when it happened.

I’m ashamed to admit my weakness but here, amongst a gathering of others with my problem I feel relieved to admit it. I had a moment of weakness and I slipped up. It wasn’t with that shiny foil packaging, I wasn’t huddled in the alley behind the game store.. no, I gave in to Magic last in my home and there was no physical evidence left afterward, just a note on my bank account for the purchase of 2500 Microsoft points. ( I only needed 800, but I wanted some extras on hand to buy cards later)

There is something so insidious about the digital version. It’s too perfect a translation in fact. While currently I can’t sidle up to the counter and pay for my next fix of booster packs and I don’t have access to the thousands of cards in my physical library I have little doubt the masterminds behind my addiction already have the plan for my digital downfall in the works.

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Here’s a look at eight new levels for Quake Arena Arcade. The Arena Gate map, which came with Quake 3, is included in the 40 original maps from Arena and Team Arena will be included in the bundle. The latest generation of the classic first-person shooter is headed to the Xbox 360.

According to GamerBytes, Pi Studios is getting busy with a dedicated site for Quake Arena Arcade coming online soon. Unlike certain other titles that have turned out to be big teases, it looks like you and up to 15 of your friends will actually be able to duke it out to see who has the mad skilz.

Red Faction: Guerrilla is one of those life altering experiences for me.. a game where you can freely roam the landscape of a sandbox with all intent and encouragement to maim and destroy property and people. Sure, it sounds a bit aggressive but after playing Red Faction it makes you wonder why more games don’t treat their world so destructively.. I mean, sure there is a bold story of a man revenging himself upon the oppressive government that liberated the people from their original evil corporate overlords, but this is a game that is all about the booms.. like a Michael Bay video game that doesn’t suck (Yes I’m looking at you Transformers!)

Well, if you’re like me and you need even more to do on the martian sandbox then THQ has some good news.. well actually it wants more money but come on.. it’ll make you feel better! Today the publisher revealed that it has three new doses of Red Faction goodness on the way via download.

The press release only really talks about the first pack, which is called Demons of the Badlands and will sell for 800 Microsoft points/ $9.99 via PlayStation Store. The new content will include a new single-player mission arc that expands the game into a new Martian environment. The download is planned for release August 13th, 2009 so that gives us all time to sharpen up our best “Ahnold” impersonation and re-watch Total Recall a few times for good measure.

Oh and since the Total Recall game was utter drek.. you can just act like Red Faction is really a continuation and go looking for Kuato yourself.

Get a chance to see Ryu and Wolverine get it on in the first Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes trailer. The game is the fourth and final Marvel vs. Capcom match up. It seems to runs much smoother than previous versions an has a simplified the engine to make it more user friendly for the casual gamer. You and your friends can get into 3 on 3 tag in New Age of Heroes.

Here’s the Marvel vs Capcom 2 Wolverine vs Ryu Trailer. Since it’s labeled Episode 1, hopefully we can look forward to more of these match ups. I’d like to see Magneto vs. Bison. You can play through that fight yourself July 2nd on Xbox 360 and PS3.

This week’s Rock Band 2 Music Store tracks update features Pearl Jam, Mission of Burma, Lacuna Coil and The Offspring. Wii owners can look forward to a wealth of tracks every week until the catalog catches up to the over 700 Rock Band tracks available for the Xbox 360 and PS3. Each original master recording is an even $2 or 200 points available for purchase at the Wii Shop.

(All tracks are original master recordings)

All the above tracks go online Tuesday, June 30th.

Sumthing Else Music Works is bringing the Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts soundtrack out to videogame music fans everywhere.

The Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts Original Soundtrack features original musical compositions by Robin Beanland (Killer Instinct, Conker’s Bad Fur Day), Grant Kirkhope (Banjo-Kazooie, Banjo-Tooie) and David Clynick (Perfect Dark, Perfect Dark Zero).

The Banjo Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts OST will be available at retail stores June 30 as well as for digital download on Sumthing Digital www.sumthingdigital.com and iTunes.