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DirectX 11-powered Dirt 2 heading to PCs in early December
GTA IV, Dead Space coming to Xbox 360 Games on Demand this month
The Xbox 360's Games on Demand service is getting quite the booster shot this month, as Microsoft has announced six new titles coming to the service in October. The festivities kicked off earlier this week with the release of Rainbow Six Vegas 2 and Call of Duty 3. Here's what the rest of this month has in store:
October 13
October 20
October 27
There's no word on price for any of these titles right now, so we've checked with Microsoft and will be sure to update you when we hear back.
October 13
October 20
October 27
There's no word on price for any of these titles right now, so we've checked with Microsoft and will be sure to update you when we hear back.
Codemasters' go-to driving dev departs
Gavin Raeburn, the guy who may be most responsible for beloved Codies-brand racers like DiRT 2 and GRID, has resigned from the company, VG247 reports. After a stint lasting more than 20 years, the former executive producer has "moved on to pastures new," said Gavin Cheshire, VP of Codemasters Development.
Cheshire added, "it's positive for any individual to move when they feel they're at the top." "[Raeburn] leaves having built an incredibly talented team that's led by key players who will drive our racing portfolio forward." There's no word on where Raeburn is headed, but there's a good chance it's Disney World.
Cheshire added, "it's positive for any individual to move when they feel they're at the top." "[Raeburn] leaves having built an incredibly talented team that's led by key players who will drive our racing portfolio forward." There's no word on where Raeburn is headed, but there's a good chance it's Disney World.
Dirt 2 is the 'breast' tattoo simulator ever
Somehow we totally missed Dirt 2's reinvention of digital "dirt" -- from dusty rally racing to busty Sally tracing. At least, that's what the ploy at Dirtytats.com (NSFW) would have us believe. The game's promotional site presents visitors with a pair of animated assets to put one's ink on. We decided to give our models a lace bra–like tattoo to cover up the ample skin real estate and express -- in a word -- what we thought about this type of marketing being tied into a racing game (after the break, fellow art lovers).
Now, if Saints Row 2 had done something like this ... brilliant! It's all about context.
Now, if Saints Row 2 had done something like this ... brilliant! It's all about context.
Sony publishing DiRT 2 for PSP, PS3 in PAL regions
Sony continues its third-party publishing strategy in PAL territories today by taking up Codemasters' DiRT 2. Unlike the Ghostbusters venture, however, this is not a timed exclusive for PlayStation platforms. MCV reports that Sony will publish the PSP and PS3 versions of the game, while Codemasters handles publishing duties on all other platforms.
Codemasters' senior VP of publishing for EPAC, Axel Herr, is glad to have Sony take over, citing the series' "great affinity with the PlayStation brand in PAL territories for over 10 years" as one of the key factors behind the decision. We're sure all of the buzz around the PS3 Slim didn't hurt either.
Codemasters' senior VP of publishing for EPAC, Axel Herr, is glad to have Sony take over, citing the series' "great affinity with the PlayStation brand in PAL territories for over 10 years" as one of the key factors behind the decision. We're sure all of the buzz around the PS3 Slim didn't hurt either.
New Dirt 2 trailers feature fancy cars, lots of dirt
Dirt 2 release date all cleaned up
Unless you want to pick up the PC version, which was recently delayed in order to accommodate DirectX 11. Expect it to arrive in December.
First DiRT 2 media lacks polish
Gallery: DiRT 2
DiRT 2 tips its hat to the late Colin McRae
When Scottish rally racer Colin McRae died in a tragic helicopter accident in September 2007, many wondered how his passing would affect the final version of DiRT, the McRae-branded racing game that would come out later that month. The answer? Well, it was too late in the game's development to include any significant changes -- but Codemasters is making sure that the upcoming sequel to the well-reviewed racer adequately tips its hat to the driver who spawned the series.
MTV Multiplayer checked out DiRT 2 during a recent preview in NYC, and reports that players will be working to qualify for the Colin McRae Memorial Cup -- what's more, Codemasters' Mark Turosz explained that players will "hear other drivers talking about him," and that "he's the central figure in the narrative." Rarely do video games dabble in real-life tragedies -- though it looks like Codemasters is handling it with a refreshing touch of class.
MTV Multiplayer checked out DiRT 2 during a recent preview in NYC, and reports that players will be working to qualify for the Colin McRae Memorial Cup -- what's more, Codemasters' Mark Turosz explained that players will "hear other drivers talking about him," and that "he's the central figure in the narrative." Rarely do video games dabble in real-life tragedies -- though it looks like Codemasters is handling it with a refreshing touch of class.
Codemasters signs Ken Block for DiRT 2
DiRT 2 is drifting toward a Fall release on the PS3, PSP, Xbox 360, Wii, ColecoVision, DS, Virtual Boy, and PC.
Codemasters wants 'gamer's games' on Wii, finds other publisher strategies 'bewildering'
Codemasters has a couple new execs talking about the publisher's "cautious strategy" on the Wii -- and, by "cautious," they mean making titles that appeal to core gamers. UK General Manager Jeremy Wigmore and Marketing VP Alex Bertie tell MCV that Codemasters "can't ignore Wii," despite the publisher's emphasis on next-gen titles.
Bertie finds it "bewildering" to see what other companies are doing with Nintendo's juggernaut. He expresses that Codies isn't going to make "cheap, crappy ports" and expects the company to produce "gamer's games." Wigmore believes that other publishers constantly going to retail with a "mass-market product" only makes those games become "white noise." It'll be interesting to see if Codemasters retains its thinking about Wii after Overlord: Dark Legend releases in a few months and the publisher starts seeing sales figures.
Bertie finds it "bewildering" to see what other companies are doing with Nintendo's juggernaut. He expresses that Codies isn't going to make "cheap, crappy ports" and expects the company to produce "gamer's games." Wigmore believes that other publishers constantly going to retail with a "mass-market product" only makes those games become "white noise." It'll be interesting to see if Codemasters retains its thinking about Wii after Overlord: Dark Legend releases in a few months and the publisher starts seeing sales figures.
Codemasters kicks up DiRT 2 for PSP too

[Thanks, David B.!]
Wii to get DiRTy in 2009
The sequel to 2007's gem of a racing game, DiRT, is going to be releasing on Wii, says Codemasters. What do we say? Yay! We're pumped!
The Wii version will release simultaneously with the other console ports of the game next year, and is to include a "tuned-up car-handling physics system" and "new damage engine effects." We're hoping the game will be solid on the Wii, as it could benefit from the Wiimote. Think Excite Truck, but better.
So, who's excited for DiRT 2 next year?
The Wii version will release simultaneously with the other console ports of the game next year, and is to include a "tuned-up car-handling physics system" and "new damage engine effects." We're hoping the game will be solid on the Wii, as it could benefit from the Wiimote. Think Excite Truck, but better.
So, who's excited for DiRT 2 next year?
Colin McRae: DiRT 2 is official, arrives 2009
In a recent interview with IGN UK, Codemasters' Gavin Raeburn spilled some of the first detaiils on Colin McRae: DiRT 2. First, Raeburn spoke to the decision to keep McRae's name in the title -- McRae died tragically in 2007. According to Raeburn, the decision was made by Codemasters in conjunction with the McRae family. He added that Colin McRae's "ventures into events such as the X-Games, Dakar Rally and the Race of Champions have inspired [Codemasters] to look at events covering the extremes of off-road motorsport. Raeburn says DiRT 2 will move in that direction and that "Colin will play a part in that." Raeburn concluded that "DiRT 2 will be a great tribute."
The game will be running on an improved version of the EGO engine, which powered the previous DiRT as well as the more recent GRiD. Among some of the improvements are "more physical modelling of the environment, improving lighting and shadowing" as well as greater use of a streaming system "to allow much higher texture detail." Raeburn adds that Codemasters is "pushing the boundaries of what is possible with the hardware as much as possible, and we're confident in our ability to lift the quality bar again." Given that DiRT is still considered one of the best looking games available, these are some hefty statements to make.
Players can also expect revamped single-player and multiplayer experiences, with Raeburn promising "progressive reward system and community features" for online multiplayer. DiRT 2 is scheduled to launch in 2009.
[Via Joystiq]
The game will be running on an improved version of the EGO engine, which powered the previous DiRT as well as the more recent GRiD. Among some of the improvements are "more physical modelling of the environment, improving lighting and shadowing" as well as greater use of a streaming system "to allow much higher texture detail." Raeburn adds that Codemasters is "pushing the boundaries of what is possible with the hardware as much as possible, and we're confident in our ability to lift the quality bar again." Given that DiRT is still considered one of the best looking games available, these are some hefty statements to make.
Players can also expect revamped single-player and multiplayer experiences, with Raeburn promising "progressive reward system and community features" for online multiplayer. DiRT 2 is scheduled to launch in 2009.
[Via Joystiq]
Codemasters talks Colin McRae: DiRT 2, coming 2009
IGN UK has an interview up in which Codemasters provides some, well, dirt on Colin McRae: DiRT 2, due next year. Yes, the game is in development (for PC, PS3, and 360), and yes, the Colin McRae branding is being retained despite the legendary rally driver's untimely death last year.
So, what's new for the off-road racing series that caused Ludwig bodily injury? Not the engine – it's running on the EGO tech that drove the original DiRT and GRID, albeit an enhanced version of it. "More physical modeling of the environment, improving lighting and shadowing, and broadening the use of our streaming system to allow much higher texture detail," are to be expected, according to executive producer Gaven Raeburn.
It's not just retaining McRae's name, either. "His ventures into events such as the X-Games, Dakar Rally and the Race of Champions have inspired us to look at events covering the extremes of off-road motorsport," said Raeburn. "DiRT 2 will be a great tribute, and we'll be revealing more about this over the coming months."
Hopefully, Ludwig will still be playing Far Cry 2 when DiRT 2 hits, so we won't have to insitute a Joystiq Injury Watch program.
[Via Shacknews]
So, what's new for the off-road racing series that caused Ludwig bodily injury? Not the engine – it's running on the EGO tech that drove the original DiRT and GRID, albeit an enhanced version of it. "More physical modeling of the environment, improving lighting and shadowing, and broadening the use of our streaming system to allow much higher texture detail," are to be expected, according to executive producer Gaven Raeburn.
It's not just retaining McRae's name, either. "His ventures into events such as the X-Games, Dakar Rally and the Race of Champions have inspired us to look at events covering the extremes of off-road motorsport," said Raeburn. "DiRT 2 will be a great tribute, and we'll be revealing more about this over the coming months."
Hopefully, Ludwig will still be playing Far Cry 2 when DiRT 2 hits, so we won't have to insitute a Joystiq Injury Watch program.
[Via Shacknews]























