One of the ways developers encourage gamers to replay single player games is to fill them with easter eggs and special rewards. Gamers can score all kinds of interesting little enhancements for finishing the game twice or playing on the ultra mind blowing difficulty level.

Game Informer has put together some of the most memorable unlockable costumes from popular video games. From the Cod of War to the tongue in cheek tribute to Sailor Moon, complete with cheesy transformation scene, from Silent Hill 3; developers have proved time and again they have a twisted sense of humor.

Check out the coolest and strangest costumes from Ghost Squad Wii, Devil May Cry 3 – Dante’s Awakening Special Edition, Metal Gear Solid, Silent Hill 3 & 4, Tomb Raider Legend, God of War, Dead Rising, Metroid and Bully. They’re all up for display on Game Informer.

Over at the Eidos montreal website, there’s a strange announcement for the recruitment of their “2nd ‘AAA’ project” which they hint begins with the letter “T.” They’ve already announced that they’re working on Deus Ex 3, so this new game must be a doozy. Odds are, considering the hint, it’s either a new Tomb Raider (meh) or a new Thief (woohoo!). Or possibly something completely new, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed for some more medieval stealth action.

Via Eidos Montreal

The wonderful folks over at Tomb Raider Inc. are giving Lara Croft fans something to ogle since Eidos has gone all hush-hush regarding assets and news on gaming’s most illustrious heroine.

All nine of the Tomb Raider: Underworld wallpapers come in four different sizes and range from sultry to simple – so there is something for everyone level of fandom. I am sure that the pic of Lara soaking wet with her body turned in a uncomfortable but flattering way will be the favorite of the bunch, but hey, I am not a guy so I am just speaking from an observational point.

To download all these cool screens, click here, or if you would like the smallest version available (1024 X 768) just hit the thumbnail images below.

Tomb Raider Underworld is the eighth game starring Ms. Croft, and is slated for a 2008 release. Like previous installments, you can expect it to be made available for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

Thanks: Tomb Raider Inc.

Eidos Interactive has announced a new game titled Soul Bubbles and it is coming to the DS. In Soul Bubbles the player controls a young shaman apprentice, who is entrusted with saving lost “souls” and guiding them to safety. He must protect these fragile beings from the hostile and dangerous world around them, and he does this by creating protective bubbles to keep the spirits safe.

“This will be THE new phenomenon on the Nintendo DS,” said Brand Manager Ray Livingston. “Every single person who has picked up this game has fallen in love with it instantly. We can’t wait to introduce the world to Soul Bubbles.”

In the game, you manipulate your bubbles by first drawing them, then deflating them, cutting them or joining them to other bubbles, filling them with water or gas; then escape traps, extinguish fires and avoid all the sticky or dangerous surfaces that will slow the bubbles down. Designed with the casual gamer in mind, Soul Bubbles features 8 worlds, with over 40 levels to explore which will challenge the shaman in a variety of ways.

Soul Bubbles is expected to be released on May 27th. Check back often for more screens and a details as they emerge.

Via: Press Release

Full Press Release After the Jump

Read the full article

Gamers wishing to show the world their sense of fashion along with advertising their favorite game can now do so with little chance of getting a swirly between second and third period. Inno-Wear, a European clothing and accessories company that licenses video game attire, recently signed an exclusive Gears of Wars 2 agreement with Epic Games.

The highly anticipated GoW2 will be joining Inno-Wear’s vast catalogue of the Himmersion line which includes such gaming licenses as: Xbox, Resident Evil,Tomb raider, Devil May Cry, Unreal Tournament,Mario, Sonic, Guild Wars, Zelda and more.

You can expect the GoW2 clothing and accessories line to hit stores around the same time as the game in November.

Via: Press Release

Read the full article

In order to complete a radical restructuring plan, Eidos parent company SCi has announced that it will be cutting 25% of jobs – a maximum staff of 800 – and will cancel 14 projects currently in development to either insufficient quality of an inability to provide an acceptable return on investment.

“Following our business review over the last six weeks, we are initiating a clear action plan based on three fundamental strands of activity: a radical change in our structure to a studio-led business, a top to bottom programme of product improvement and efficiency and a considerable cost reduction plan,” CEO Phil Rogers explained.

“To get SCi on track we have to act rapidly and effect change quickly. We must allow the world-class people that we have within the Group to focus on strong, profitable titles which will create the value our shareholders deserve.

“I am confident our staff share this vision and excitement for the future, and determination to build a working environment where our innovation and creativity can be commercially realized.”

GamesIndustry.biz reports that the company will switch to a studio-led business model that will focus on its major titles, including Tomb Raider, Hitman, and Deus Ex.

“Our quality has slipped below acceptable standards and, through disappointing game development and working within an ineffective operating structure, we are failing to realise the commercial return our creative ability and our shareholders demand,” said the company. “Our infrastructure is too big and expensive for the scale of the business.”

This is a growing trend in the industry, and doesn’t come as much of a surprise. Companies are going to need to rethink their business strategies in order to compete with the growing competition from companies like Activision Blizzard and EA.

Winter seems to just be settling in and with it comes the doldrums of a season with little sunshine, cold winds, and the obligatory ice and snow. While we are cooped up in our houses in a state of semi-hibernation it would be nice to have something new to try out while we wait for GTA IV and Condemned 2 to hit stores. Thankfully, this week we received more demos than last week and the usual barrage of patches came through. Whatever happened to the good ole days of games with zero issues? Or did they even every exist? I can’t remember anymore.

Along with The Sims 2: Bon Voyage and Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines, here are some other patches you may be in need of that hit FileFront this week:

• Loki: Cyanide Studios has released a patch updating Loki to v1.0.8.2.
• World in Conflict: This v1.006 patch fixes balancing issues, additions to the various communications tools in the game, adds new features, including enhanced server filters, improved “Play Now” functions and measures against clan smurfing.
• GRAW 2: Ubisoft has released a patch updating Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 from v1.0 to v1.05.

Besides Shadowgrounds Survivor, and Sam and Max: Night of the Raving Dead, FileFront also received the following demos:

• Need for Speed: ProStreet Porche: EA has released a second demo- this one 2 Porsche cars (911 GT2 / 911 GT3RS) drivable on the Porsche Leipzig testing track.
• Half-Life: Day One: This was the first official demo of Half-Life, including “The first day” playing time.
• The Club: SEGA has released a multilanguage demo for The Club, a 3rd person action shooter focused on addictive and rewarding gameplay. You must go through an age gate for this one.
• Tomb Raider Anniversary for Mac Users: A new playable Mac demo of Tomb Raider: Anniversary has been released, this time giving you the chance to try out one level from Peru

For the full list of demos and patches click on the respective links.

Some new screens from Tomb Raider: Underworld show us some up close and personal pictures of Lara Croft. While these are not actual gameplay screens, they show us the amount of detail we can expect our heroine to reveal during the game. They have done a spectacular job on her I must say, and while she is looking less voluptuous than usual it is pleasing to note that they seem to have aged her a bit as well. On close up view, you can see a bit of crows feet starting to surface around her eyes, which is pretty realistic considering how hard her job is on her.

While revamping her image, I was curious as to whom Crystal Dynamics modeled her after. Granted, she looks basically the same only better, but when I fist saw the close up of her, for some odd reason – Lisa Rinna came to mind. Maybe it is just me, but I think they could be long lost sisters. Tell me if I am just imagining this.

Tomb Raider Underworld is the eighth game starring Ms. Croft, and is slated for a 2008 release. Like previous installments, you can expect it to be made available for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. Check back with us often as more details are sure to emerge soon.

Many people were wondering if we really needed another Tomb Raider game. I’ll admit that the entire ‘Lara Croft’ thing has finally started to get a little old after all these years. I can only assume that the producers of Underworld realized this sand they have taken some steps to make this new experience.

Some of the newness you can expect from this title are:

That’s about it for the main additions to the game. I was honestly burnt out on Tomb Raider long ago, but this game could certainly be a re-birth of sorts for the series. I am looking forward to the release with much anticipation.

Source Of Information: Gameinformer Issue #178

Microsoft may have some serious customer satisfaction issues right now, but the great games keep coming for the system and will certainly have a huge impact on the continued success of the 360. Despite XBLA and XBL issues, I believe that the 360 will have another great year simply because of the great games coming to the system. Below, I have listed 15 games that are at the top of my wish-list for 2008 Xbox 360 titles. For now, all of these games should be releasing this year, but as always, expect at least a few to be delayed. I truly believe that the Sony PS3 will finally have a good year and could possibly outsell Microsoft, but it’s a long year and no one knows how things will go down. The following 15 games certainly look like we could be experiencing another great year in gaming: (note that some of these titles are still rumors)