In this dev diary, developers go in depth about the sequel with the changes made, the differences in the character, and the setting.

Get it at FileFront!

“Command & Conquer is a powerful franchise with an amazing 15-year legacy. We are thrilled to bring the dramatic Tiberium saga to a conclusion in Command & Conquer 4. This game is designed to give fans all the answers they’ve been looking for,” said Mike Glosecki, Lead Producer of Command & Conquer 4 at EA Los Angeles. “With its objective-based multiplayer mode, persistent player progression and all-in-one mobile base, players will experience Command & Conquer like never before.”

Much of the information on C&C4 is being kept under wraps and doled out as exclusive content. For more details on Command & Conquer 4 make sure to catch BattleCast PrimeTime on the July 24th episode. They’ll be revealing exclusive information C&C4. The first glimpse of the game will be the premier cinematic trailer aired exclusively on the July 23rd episode of Gametrailers TV on SPIKE TV. The ETA for Command & Conquer 4 is sometime in 2010.

Behold disciples of Nod, the end is soon upon us. Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today announced that, after almost 15 years and 30 million games sold, EALA is bringing the award-winning Tiberium series to an epic conclusion with Command & Conquer™ 4. Shipping in 2010, Command & Conquer 4 will introduce a multitude of innovations to the to the classic fast and fluid Command & Conquer gameplay while retaining the core compulsions that fans have come to love over the series’ history. Introducing new class-based gameplay, mobile bases and persistent player progression throughout all game modes, Command & Conquer 4 offers players new, innovative and compelling strategic depth. The story of Command & Conquer 4 takes place after the events of the critically acclaimed Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars™. The year is 2062 and humanity is at the brink of extinction. With only six years left until the mysterious crystalline structure Tiberium renders the earth entirely uninhabitable, the two opposing factions – Global Defense Initiative (GDI) and the Brotherhood of Nod – inevitably find themselves in desperation for the same cause: to stop Tiberium from extinguishing mankind. The unthinkable becomes reality and Nod’s enigmatic leader Kane takes off for GDI headquarters. What is Kane planning in the heart of his enemies’ base? Command & Conquer 4 draws the epic conclusion to the beloved Tiberium universe, where fans will learn the fate of Earth, Nod, Tiberium, GDI and most importantly, Kane’s motivations behind his decade-long plan. In addition to the two campaigns on the epic battles of GDI and Nod, which players will get to conquer alone or in a cooperative mode, Command & Conquer 4 will also feature a new 5v5 objective-based multiplayer mode, promoting teamwork and cooperation and delivering a social real-time-strategy experience never seen before in a Command & Conquer game. Command & Conquer 4 is being developed at EA Los Angeles and will ship to retailers in 2010 for the PC. The game has not yet been rated by the ESRB or PEGI. For more information about the game, please visit www.commandandconquer.com or follow the community and development team on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ea_apoc.

Tracks:

Dixie Chicks                                           “Sin Wagon”
GLaDOS and Jonathan Coulton                  “Still Alive”
The Pixies                                             “Here Comes Your Man”
R.E.M.                                                 “Losing My Religion”
Stevie Ray Vaughan                               “Pride and Joy”

All tracks, except for “Still Alive” which is free, are available for purchase for $1.99 each on the in-game Rock Band Unplugged music store.

As an aside, if you like “Still Alive” I highly recommend checking out Jonathan Coulton’s website. He specializes in comedic songs based on videogames and gaming culture. Some of our family favorite are “Re: Your Brains“, “Creepy Doll” and “Code Monkey“. A dedicated fan and World of Warcraft player, Mike Spiff Booth has made a whole series of very funny and well done WoW machinima to Coulton’s songs.

Although I may not always agree with his opinion, I always enjoy it. Yahtzee isn’t afraid to cut anyone down to size including himself.

You can view the Zero punctuation videogame review archives on The Escapist.

John Harris, a writer over on the industry news site/blog Gamasutra,  writes a regular series of articles entitled Game Design Essentials. These long and exhaustively researched story discusses his position on many topics important to modern game design and the lessons learned along the way.

His latest installment discusses 20 RPGs that all designers should be familiar with and why. The feature article is interesting from the perspective of someone who has studied game design and as someone who has been using RPGs for storytelling and  enjoyment over the years. Aspiring designers could do far worse than to dig through this fairly dense statement of information covering RPGs from the classic pen-and-paper Dungeons & Dragons through the evolution of Wizardry, Ultima, Wasteland and more contemporary games like World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy and the Elder Scrolls titles.

You can check out the entire article here.

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.

For those of you who want a play by play but can’t attend, keep tabs on the events on the THE BIGS 2 forums. The full details on how to get signed up for these THE BIGS 2 party events follow the jump.
Gamers can pre-order THE BIGS 2 for Xbox 360, Wii Ps2, PS3 and PSP. The game launches July 7th.

On June 30th and July 1st, from 6-8 PM local standard time, we’re giving you guys a chance to try the game for yourself, free of charge, before it’s released to the general public. Check out when and where you can see The BIGS 2 for yourself:

The BIGS 2 fans over the age of 18 (or over the age of 13 if they will be accompanied by a parent or guardian) can sign up to participate by doing one of the following:

1) Follow our Community Manager Ronnie on Twitter and send him a direct message about your interest in coming to an event:http://www.twitter.com/Ronnie2K

2) Respond to the thread about it on our online forums: http://2ksports.com/forums/showthread.php?t=221305

3) Post a wall message on The BIGS 2 fan page letting us know you want to attend: http://www.facebook.com/BIGS2

4) E-mail us at contests@2ksports.com letting us know you are interested.

Please let us know which city you are planning on attending to see The BIGS 2 before it becomes the video game sensation of the year. We will get back to you immediately with follow-up steps . We are excited to meet our most loyal fans and hook you up with the total 2K Sports VIP experience. Do you have what it takes to step up to the plate and come check out
The BIGS 2? We accept any challengers!

For those of you who cannot attend, please check out our online forums for ongoing fan reports and see what your fellow gamer community is thinking about The BIGS 2: http://2ksports.com/forums/.

For more information on The BIGS 2, please visit the official website at http://2ksports.com/games/thebigs2.

- 2K Sports

Space may be limited, and will be made available to eligible participants on a first-come, first-serve basis.  2K Sports reserves the right to reschedule or cancel the above-referenced events at its sole discretion.

All information collected in connection with the above-referenced events is subject to, and will be handled in compliance with, 2K Sports Privacy (http://www.2ksports.com/info/privacy).

Gamers and Harry Potter fans should watch the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Quidditch Preview for four minutes of gameplay footage. The new motion capture setup for quidditch is really great. It’s more believable than ever before.

Check out the star studded Making of the Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince trailer as well.

You’ll hear from EA developers Kevin Tuite, Art Director, and Chris Roberts, Lead Designer, of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince game as well as Executive Producer Jonathan Bunney as they talk about the new virtual Hogwarts built from all the information from the books and films. Gamers will be able to fully explore the castle and the grounds for the first time. You also play seeker, mix potions, and duel other students in addition to completing the storyline.

As usual, there’s a lot of other stuff in the update. Some of it is interesting, like Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter for the PSP. Some of it is mindless, like Qore (Seriously, does anyone actually watch that?).

You can also choose the demo for EA Sports’ NCAA Football 10, as well as the usual weekly song downloads for Rock Band and Guitar Hero. Rock Band gets Spinal Tap this week, something guaranteed to make people my age smile with nostalgia.

If you want to see a full list of what’s available this week, it’s available after the break.

PS3 Content:

• Metal Gear Solid PS1 game ($9.99)
• Qore yearly subscription ($24.99)
• Qore episode 13 ($2.99)
• NCAA Football 10 demo (free)

Add-on Content:

• MotorStorm Pacific Rift Jester Signature Livery pack (free)
• 3x Cross Edge packs (free)
• Guitar Hero World Tour DLC
• Rock Band DLC

Guitar Hero World Tour DLC

• Guitar Hero On Tour: Modern Hits Theme – S.U.P.R.A.H.U.M.A.N (free)

Ben Harper and Relentless7 Track Pack ($5.49)

• Fly One Time by Ben Harper and Relentless7 ($1.99)
• Number With No Name by Ben Harper and Relentless7 ($1.99)
• Shimmer & Shine by Ben Harper and Relentless7 ($1.99)

Rock Band DLC

Spinal Tap Pack 1 ($6.99)

• Back From the Dead – Spinal Tap ($1.99)
• Rock ‘n’ Roll Nightmare – Spinal Tap ($1.99)
• Saucy Jack – Spinal Tap ($1.99)
• Warmer Than Hell – Spinal Tap ($1.99)

Evanescence Pack 1 ($5.49)

• Bring Me to Life – Evanescence ($1.99)
• Call Me When You’re Sober – Evanescence ($1.99)
• Weight of the World – Evanescence ($1.99)

Video

• Mini Ninjas E3 trailer

Themes

• American Pride theme ($1.49)
• Jungle Jane theme ($1.99)
• Warrior Girls theme ($1.49)
• Azmodeus Dark Angels theme 3 ($1.49)
• 4th of July Pinups theme ($1.49)

PSP Content

• Metal Gear Solid PS1 game ($9.99)
• Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 full game ($19.99)
• American Pride theme ($1.49)
• Jungle Jane theme ($1.49)
• Warrior Girls theme ($1.49)
• Azmodeus Dark Angels theme 3 ($0.99)
• 4th of July Pinups theme ($0.99)

My first thought was that other than the size of the unit, the PSP Go really wasn’t all that different from the PSP I already own. Over the weekend, I read an interesting article on Ars Technica, where they reached a similar conclusion. I thought I’d share it, as it tracks closely with my early impressions of the system.

The bigger news, according to Ars Technica, is the news that Sony is moving all their PSP distribution to digital, as well as on UMD. However, there’s no reason to buy the new handheld to take advantage of this move to digital. After all, with the right Memory Stick, I can download all these nifty new games onto my existing PSP. So, how will the PSP Go do at retail?

Says Ars Technica,

“The value and audacity of what Sony will be offering has nothing to do with the hardware and everything to do with the ubiquity of downloadable games and content. Sony already offers the ability to download video from the PlayStation Network directly with your existing hardware, and that allows you to keep your larger screen and ability to play your classic games. Not to mention you can take advantage of inexpensive used games that exist on UMDs. Sure, the system is slightly bigger and doesn’t support bluetooth, but you won’t have to buy new cables. The value of the “classic” PSP systems has never been better.

But the more important point here is this: How many people will be interested in shelling out $249 for what is basically a re-packaged PSP 3000 with no UMD drive? Sure, the Go is targeted squarely at the iPhone generation, but when you can buy a used PSP for a hundred dollars less, and Memory Sticks for way less than a hundred bucks, where’s the draw? Also, what happens to stores like Gamestop when a big box retailer, like Wal-Mart, decides to speed its sales by slashing the price?

So, to answer my own question, I don’t think the PSP Go is a miscalculation in and of itself, but I do think Sony will be very dependent on the volume of its download sales to realize their investment. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how it shakes out, but I’m a bit skeptical of how the sales of the unit itself will go. Sony’s digital distribution may be the real winner in all of this though, and it could offset any sluggish sales of the hardware itself.

So, are you planning to pick up a PSP Go when it’s released this fall? If so, are you replacing a PSP you already own?

With E3 2009 in full swing Gaming Today is swimming in trailers for so many awesome games, you’ll forget how slow the first five months of 2009 were. I’ll try to fire off as many as I can in short bursts. Enjoy the Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker E3 trailer after the break.

Kojima promises he’ll do his best to use the PSP to it’s full extent to make this a riveting edition to the Metal Gear Solid storyline. It looks good so far and obviously his sense of humor is quite intact. Gotta love those boxing moves.

Gamers can expect to see Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker on the shelves in 2010.

The Sony press conference for E3 2009 is set to prepare gamers for the return of a juggernaut. Sony’s had a tough year for its PS3 console, but things are looking up. This is Sony’s year to make the most expensive console on the market profitable. With God of War III, Heavy Rain, Batman Arkham Asylum, Modern Warfare 2 and MAG on the horizon, this year’s E3 press conference promises to give gamers a reason to pick up a PS3. I’ll be blogging live as Sony wows gamers with 364 new PS3, PSP and PS2 titles. Check out the running commentary after the break.

2:11 EST – The Sony intro has One Vision of Queen which has me excited already. After looking at Wii games, the PS3 graphics are fantastic.

2:18 EST – PS2 has 100 new games headed its way in 2009.

2:19 EST – Playing inFamous nonstop since last week? Guilty as charged, except when Shawn gets it first.

2:20 EST – Uncharted 2: Among Thieves multiplayer starts tonight at midnight. It’s intense action multiplayer in the most gorgeous game I’ve seen on a console.

2:26 EST – MAG is unveiled for the first time with 256 man multiplayer running on the game floor.

2:34 EST – PSP getting makeover for younger audience with a Hannah Montana bundle. Rock Band is also in the works.

2:35 EST – PSP is going pocket sized with the PSP Go. It still has integrated WiFi and plays all PSP games on disc or downloaded from the PSn network. It does not replace the PSP 3000 or the UMD which will continue to be supported.

2:40 EST – New application for the PSP is Sense Me which matches your music to your mood.  Sony is also lowering the tool kit price which means more, less expensive PSP games on UMD and digital distribution.

2:41 EST – PSP Go launches October 1st in NA and Europe and November 1st in Japan.

2:42 EST – Video service will be native to the PSP. Showtime, Starz TV,  T.N.A. and tons of anime launch today.

2:44 EST – The full Gran Turismo game will run on the PSP Go at 60 FPS. It includes legacy cars and the works. PSP exclusive features include 4 player multiplayer and the ability to trade cars with your friends.

2:45 EST – Surprise! Hideo Kojima makes an appearance to announce Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker for the PSP. It takes place in 1974, ten years after Metal Gear Solid 3, so it’s a true sequel. Peace Walker will use all the PSPs capabilities.

2:47 EST – Fantastic trailer I’ll have to get up soon. Solid Snake becomes the world’s next deterrent for peace. You’ll love the box at the end. It’s an inside joke.

2:58 EST – Resident Evil coming to PSP with an original game. Little Big Planet, Hannah Montana, Harry Potter, Persona and many more are on the way.

3:05 EST – Final Fantasy VII is available PSN as of today!

3:11 EST – The sheer number of games both exclusive and cross platform is mind numbing. Brutal Legend, Ghostbusters, Dragon Age, and Singstar Queen for the PS3 are just a few I’m looking forward to. There are quite a few kid friendly games mingles with God of War, and Modern Warfare.

3:15 EST – Rockstar bringing Agent to the PS3. The shadowy world of the super spy is coming at you.

3:18 EST – Assassins Creed 2 Renaissance Italy and Florentine noble Enzio take flight with DaVinci’s flying machine gliding through Italy to reach new heights. New assassination techniques are smooth as silk with the double blades and distractions like smoke bombs. New A.I. archetype Seeker. 30 weapons in your arsenal.

3:22 EST – Final Fantasy XIII this spring combines man, machine and magic in an adventure that has a distinctively Sci-fi touch. Familiar summons are back including Shiva. It’s as beautiful as FFXII but feels more traditional.

3:26 EST – Final Fantasy XIV is coming in 2010 exclusively for the PS3 as a new online adventure.

3:28 EST – Motion control gaming gets a boost with the Playstation motion controller. Live technology demo of  the motion controller engineering prototype working with the PlayStation Eye. One to one movement that brings virtual peripherals into the game itself. Use flashlights, rackets, swords, and golf clubs. First person mode allows guns, and whips. You’ll be able to draw, write, and spray paint.

Character control is demoed in an arena type melee battle with Sword and shield style gladiator combat. The most impressive demo is the one for archery using full body motion. I can imagine an MMO using this. People could get a good work out.

3:40 EST – The Playstation motion controller launches Spring 2010.

3:42 EST – William Ho introduces ModNation Racers. Think LittleBigPlanet with race cars only the track environments are much more realistic looking. Design your terrain, track, obstacles and weapons. You can manipulate lighting and it looks like weather as well.

3:50 EST – Following Ico and Shadow of the Colossus, The Last Guardian is on the way. The main character is a boy with his very own luck dragon that looks like a four legged bald eagle with a hyena head. Very bizarre.

3:56 EST -  Gran Turismo 5 gives you racing anyway you want it; on the track, in the dirt, through city streets and cross country.

3:59 EST – Concluding with a live demo of God of War 3.

• Not as visually stunning as Uncharted but intensely violent on a mythically massive scale.
• Harpies with middle aged boobs. Hope they censor that.
• Hey when did Kratos sprout wings?
• Awesome Chimera design. However the Titan looks great but didn’t do much in the demo.

Still GoW3 seems to be everything you want from a series finale.

The Big Wrap up… no price break too bad but all in all an incredible showing by Sony. The motion control demonstration was the highlight.

The E3 2009 video shows off, the new blur motion options. It also gives gamers a glimpse of the new character customization options. Watch the Tekken 6 E3 Trailer after the jump.

Tekken 6 is due out this fall for the PS3, Xbox 360, PSP and the Arcade.

Music fans have new bands and features to bump and grind to with Guitar Hero 5 and can explore new genres with DjHero. Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 is ready for show and sci-fi buffs can get their fill with Singularity and PROTOTYPE. I’m putting Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen in with sci-fi because I can’t quite make the leap to call them superheroes. Get the full list complete with details on each game after the break.

Activision’s Full E3 Game Slate Includes:

Blur is set to revolutionize the racing genre as the ultimate wheel-to-wheel racing action experience with spectacular power-ups, real-world locations and over 60 licensed cars. The pick-up and play game drops players into heart-pumping, electrified racing action with 20 cars on track all targeting the finish line and battling each other as they trade paint and collect intense power-ups, including the ability to blast other cars out of the way with huge bursts of energy, boost their speed and more. Gamers can also engage in competitive and team-based multiplayer with up to 20 racers online, or on a single console via 4-player split-screen; plus create custom groups to design their own complete game mode. (Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Games for Windows®; not yet rated by the ESRB).

In DJ Hero, faces in the crowd are transformed into the life of the party as the game’s turntable controller – created exclusively for DJ Hero and featuring familiar DJ tools including a fully-rotating turntable, sample buttons, effects dial and cross fader – immerses fans into the authenticity of DJ culture and a sea of music. (Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment systems and Wii™ system from Nintendo; not yet rated by the ESRB).

Guitar Hero 5 features the strongest, most varied set list to-date comprised of master tracks from 85 of the hottest bands of today and the biggest classic acts including Kings of Leon, The Rolling Stones, The White Stripes, Santana, Vampire Weekend, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, plus more than 25 artists from a variety of music genres that will be making their music video game debut. (Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system, Wii and PlayStation 2 system; not yet rated by the ESRB).

The greatest Super Hero™ action/RPG of all time is back with the world’s largest army of heroes and villains in Marvel™: Ultimate Alliance 2. Incorporating elements of the acclaimed Marvel Civil War storyline, the game allows players to choose their side and team up with revered heroes and villains, including Spider-Man, Wolverine, Hulk, Iron Man, Deadpool, Venom, Green Goblin and Captain America. Players can combine characters’ powers and unleash astonishing new attacks. (Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system, Wii, PlayStation 2 system, PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) system and Nintendo DS™; not yet rated by the ESRB).

On November 10, 2009, Infinity Ward will make its return with the release of Modern Warfare 2, the most-anticipated game of the year and the sequel to the best-selling first-person action game of all time, Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare™, which has sold more than 13 million copies to date. Modern Warfare 2 continues the gripping and heart-racing saga with an unprecedented level of action as players face off against a new threat dedicated to bringing the world to the brink of collapse. (Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system and Games for Windows; not yet rated by the ESRB).

An all-new, third-person open-world/action game, PROTOTYPE lets gamers feel the power of being the ultimate shape-shifting weapon. You are the PROTOTYPE: Alex Mercer – a genetically mutated man without memory, armed with amazing shape-shifting abilities, hunting your way to discover what created you and determined to make those responsible pay. As Alex, gamers tear through a densely populated contemporary New York City with Parkour-style agility, consuming anybody that gets in their way…assuming their physical identity, memories and abilities. (Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system and Games for Windows; the game is rated “M” by the ESRB).

Singularity pits shooter and sci-fi fans against a devastating fracture in time. As players attempt to unravel a conspiracy, they must fight their way through ever-shifting epic sci-fi environments, occupied by Russian soldiers and time-ravaged creatures, while sudden time waves hurl them back and forth between 1950 and the present day. Use time as a weapon as you attempt to unravel the mystery and prevent a catastrophic event that threatens all humanity. (Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system and Games for Windows; not yet rated by the ESRB).

Featuring an innovative skateboard-shaped controller, Tony Hawk: RIDE redefines the sports genre by offering a dynamic hands-free gaming experience. Using full motion sensing technology, players physically control the action by performing various movements and gestures on the board that directly translate into amazing tricks in the game in a variety of settings and half pipes. The new wireless skateboard controller provides an accessible and social gaming experience that allows players to feel what it’s really like to skate. Without complex button combinations or analog sticks, gamers can literally step on the board to play the game. (Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system and Wii; not yet rated by the ESRB).

Based on Hasbro’s legendary TRANSFORMERS property and Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Pictures’ upcoming feature film, Transformers™: Revenge of the Fallen, the video game thrusts players into a battle for supremacy across the globe as either AUTOBOTS or DECEPTICONS to drive, fly, fight and blast their way through intense, pressure-packed levels. Delivering more control than ever before, players can select from an extremely diverse range of playable TRANSFORMERS characters and jump straight into action as they instantly switch between robot, vehicle and weapon modes to fight for the preservation or annihilation of all mankind. Players can also fight the epic war between the AUTOBOTS and DECEPTICONS online in explosive, multiplayer combat. (Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system, Wii, PlayStation 2 system PSP system, Nintendo DS and Games for Windows; the game is rated “T” for the console and PC versions and “E10+” for the handheld versions by the ESRB).

Wolfenstein™ brings the Nazi’s dark obsession with the occult to life, by intertwining fast-paced, intense story-driven combat with a diverse sci-fi experience. As BJ Blazkowicz, a highly decorated member of the Office of Secret Actions (OSA), you are sent on a special mission into the heart of the Third Reich to investigate evidence that the SS hierarchy may possess a new and mysterious power. Wolfenstein is scheduled to be on store shelves on August 4, 2009. (Xbox 360, PLAYSTATION 3 system and Games for Windows; not yet rated by the ESRB; the game is rated “M” by the ESRB).

Gamers in North America who haven’t had sufficient incentive to pick up a PSP yet can get a Limited Edition Rock Band PSP Entertainment Pack. It comes with Rock Band Unplugged, A ‘piano black’ PSP and a 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo. The US version includes permission for a free download of the School of Rock. I found the movie hilarious and loved the Gene Simmons reality series it inspired but your mileage may vary.
Details on pricing for specific regions follow the break.

Harmonix, the world’s premier music video game development company, and MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), along with distribution partner Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), announced that Rock Band Unplugged™ for the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system ships to stores in North America and Europe today!

Developed by Harmonix in partnership with Backbone Entertainment, a Foundation 9 Entertainment studio, Rock Band Unplugged creates a full band experience in the palm of players’ hands by combining traditional beatmatch gameplay with key elements from both Rock Band™ and Rock Band™2. The hands are the “peripherals” in Rock Band Unplugged allowing players to take direct control of the lead/bass guitars, drums and vocals. In addition, players can capture a deep and interactive Rock Band experience by taking their band on the road in World Tour mode, practicing their chops in the Band Warmup Mode, or by taking on the most extreme musical challenge imaginable in Band Survival mode.

Rock Band Unplugged features 41 master recordings including nine songs new to the Rock Band music catalog that are exclusive to the PSP system for a limited time! Plus, Rock Band Unplugged features the first in-game store for downloadable content on the PSP system leveraging the PSP system’s wireless capabilities and powered by PlayStation®Network.

Rock Band Unplugged Pricing Information:

• Rock Band Unplugged software (North America) MSRP $39.99
• Rock Band Unplugged software (Continental Europe) MSRP €39.99
• Rock Band Unplugged software (United Kingdom) MSRP £29.99
• Limited Edition Rock Band PSP Entertainment Pack (North America) MSRP $199.99

The limited edition Rock Band PSP Entertainment Pack from Sony Computer Entertainment America includes the game, a “Piano Black” PSP system, a 4GB Memory Stick PRO Duo™, and, in the United States only,a voucher to download Paramount Pictures’ School of Rock from PlayStation®Store. The Rock Band PSP Entertainment Pack will be available in North America only.

Rock Band Unplugged is rated “T” for Teen with descriptors of Lyrics and Suggestive Themes by the ESRB. Rock Band Unplugged is rated PEGI 12+.Please visit www.pegi.info for rating information.

For more information on Rock Band Unplugged and Harmonix Music Systems please visit www.rockband.com/unplugged and www.harmonixmusic.com.

If your looking for a good reason to play the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen videogame, listen up. Composers Steve Jablonsky and Bobby Tahouri are collaborating with electronica artists Julien-K on the soundtrack. These musical masters have put the excitement in several familiar movie and videogame soundtracks.

You’ve probably heard Jablonski’s work on both the latest Transformers live action movies. If you haven’t seen them, you may have listened to his hard driving score while beating down the Locust Hordes in Gears of War 2. Tahouri worked on the Iron Man film soundtrack and Julien-K was featured on the 2007 Transformers movie with their track “Technical Difficulties.”

More details on these artists and the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen videogame follow the break.

Jablonsky is best known for contributing music to the original score for 2007’s live-action Transformers movie and, more recently, the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen movie. Jablonsky is also highly regarded for his work in the original score to the video game Gears of War 2.

Tahouri is best known for his contributions to the score for the 2008 blockbuster movie Iron Man. Julien-K’s “Technical Difficulties” was included on the soundtrack to the 2007 Transformers movie and was featured in the film’s closing credits. Their debut album, “Death to Analogue” was released on March 10, 2009 through Metropolis Records. The band was featured on the main stage of the 2007 Projekt Revolution tour and has toured as an opening act for rock band Evanescence.

The Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen video game, based on the upcoming live-action feature film from DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures in association with Hasbro, lets players take on the role of their favorite AUTOBOTS or DECEPTICONS, picking from the largest, most diverse range of playable Transformers – each with their own distinct abilities and weaponry. Set in unique environments across the globe such as Cairo and Shanghai, the game allows players to instantly switch between vehicle and robot modes as they drive, fly, fight and blast their way through intense, pressure-packed levels. After engaging in single player action, players for the first time ever will be able to go online and battle friends in all-new multiplayer modes.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen launches June 23, 2009 for all major platforms and handhelds. If you happened to have missed the latest Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen trailer, check it out on Gaming Today.