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Lara Croft may have road named in her honor

by Justin McElroy { Dec 1st 2009 at 11:00AM }

They say you can find your stripper name by combining the name of your first pet with the street you grew up on. Keeping that in mind, you may someday find yourself trying to figure out how to politely decline the awkward, compulsory advances of Miss Fluffy Lara Croft. As reported in the Derby Telegraph, the hero of the Tomb Raider series in one of eight potential names for two stretches of a road in the UK city Derby, which was the home of Core Design, the original studio behind Lara.

Surprisingly, Lara Croft is not our favorite option, as the idea of being badgered into buying Scruffy John Flamsteed a $13 drink is just too wonderful to imagine. Voting is currently being conducted via a poll on Derby's official website.

[Via F*** Yeah, Lara Croft!, Thanks, Jose]

Thief 4 development coming along in 'leaps and bounds'

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 28th 2009 at 6:30PM }

Our memory of the announcement of Thief 4 has long since been washed away by other sizable pieces of gaming news and releases -- however, Eidos Montreal boss Stephane D'Astous recently assured IncGamers that the dev team hasn't been slacking off since the game's big reveal. In an interview with the site, D'Astous claimed, "the team is making leaps and bounds," later adding, "personally I have never seen a team, at this milestone (middle of pre-production) in such good shape!"

Wait a second -- the dev team is still in pre-production, and they're already working on the game's jumping mechanic? Get your priorities straight, guys.

[Via VG247]

Deus Ex 3 PC exclusivity rumored, doubted, dismissed

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Nov 26th 2009 at 9:00PM }

An Eidos Montreal community spokesperson has put a dent in rumors of Deus Ex 3 being developed exclusively for PC. "Only the PC version has been announced so far," he wrote on the official Eidos forums, diplomatically addressing a story that originated from a (now corrected) article on Bit-Tech. "I dunno where that website is getting its info from!"

We dunno if these comments preclude an exclusivity announcement in the future but, as John Walker notes on Rock Paper Shotgun, the situation isn't a conspiracy so much as "a matter of crossed wires." The Deus Ex franchise is certainly no stranger to consoles and, considered from a commercial viewpoint, it seems likely that Eidos and Square Enix would want to share their collaborative efforts with as wide an audience as possible.

Square Enix doing CG cinematics for Deus Ex 3, interested in Thief 4

by David Hinkle { Nov 24th 2009 at 4:39PM }

"Deus Ex 3 is going to be the first project which will be a concrete product of joint effort between Square Enix and Eidos," said Stephane D'Astous, general manager of Eidos Montreal. Not to be confused with that other first collaboration between the two, the devs in Tokyo will take care of any CGI cutscenes in the upcoming threequel, while D'Astrous confirmed to Edge that the duty of putting together enticing trailers and the game's intro cinematic will also fall on the CGI-smiths at Square Enix.

D'Astrous says Square Enix was excited to contribute, also expressing interest in Thfourteeneff. It should provide a nice change of scenery for Square Enix, though we're sure it'll find a spot to squeeze in a silver-haired, effeminate hero or three.

Just Cause 2 grapples onto March 23 release date

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 24th 2009 at 3:15PM }

A recent Square Enix press release has dropped some rather unfortunate news in our laps: Just Cause 2 won't be hitting North American store shelves until March 23, 2010 (or March 26 for Europe, Australia and the Middle East). That's quite a ways past the title's original Q3 2009 launch date -- in fact, that's two whole Qs later than we initially hoped.

Oh, well. It's difficult for us to get in a huff about the game's distant launch date. See, as soon as we feel the huff approaching, we simply watch a bit of Just Cause 2's grapple-and-parachute-centric gameplay, and then we feel inexplicably soothed to our very core.

Gallery: Just Cause 2

Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days officially announced for 2010

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 18th 2009 at 10:15AM }

Square Enix Europe has officially announced Kane and Lynch 2: Dog Days, confirming that the trademark application from July and the recent viral video portended the return of the notorious duo -- well, "notorious" for all the wrong reasons. The action vets at IO Interactive claim to have infused Dog Days with "a new visual experience ... inspired by documentary filmmakers and the user-generated era."

We've placed the two K&L2 viral videos after the break. The game will release in 2010 under the Eidos brand for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.

Continued →

Square Enix and Eidos working on first collaboration

by JC Fletcher { Nov 16th 2009 at 7:00PM }

At the Montreal Games Summit, Square Enix CEO Yoichi Wada announced that Square is working with Eidos Montreal, part of the newly absorbed Eidos, on a new game. The studio is also working on Thief 4 (or ... "Thi4f") and Deus Ex 3. Wada said that the new game "would be the first collaboration between Square Enix and Montreal," in addition to being the first work done by Eidos in tandem with its Square Enix overlords.

Wada framed the development as part of Square Enix's effort to think more globally. What he didn't talk about was what the game is, be it new IP or another sequel. Presumably, it's the first of many such collaborations, since Square Enix is unlikely to let its subsidiary work totally autonomously.

Hands-on: Just Cause 2

by Randy Nelson { Nov 13th 2009 at 12:00PM }

Action movie sequels always aim to be bigger and better than the original. Having played two missions from Just Cause 2, we can unequivocally say it's bigger than the first game, a cult favorite open-world romp starring a South American super-agent with an inexhaustible supply of parachutes. But better? That would require much more playtime to answer.

We've posted no fewer than six videos of Just Cause 2 to date, but this week I had my first chance to actually get behind the controls of the Avalanche Studios developed title, which reintroduces us to Rico Rodriguez, who's bringing his Desperado-era Antonia Banderas looks (sans the long locks this time) to the massive -- yet fictional -- island sandbox of Panau.

Gallery: Just Cause 2 (11-13-09)

Continued →

Just Cause 2 trailer calmly explains why grappling hooks are awesome

by Griffin McElroy { Nov 10th 2009 at 6:00PM }

We've seen a great deal of media for Just Cause 2 which shows the protagonist's physics-defying grappling hook in action, but the latest Avalanche Studios mini-doc really displays the tool's destructive properties. Here's just a few uses for the game's grapple-arm, as demonstrated in the video above:

You can use it to stick two enemies together, forcing them in an eternal bro-hug.
You can whip an enemy into the air, then juggle him with bullets.
You can pull down giant statues of presumably evil dictators.
You can attach a man to the back of a small, personal jet, like a can fastened to the back of an automobile carrying a newlywed couple.

Goodbye Eidos, hello Square Enix Europe

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 10th 2009 at 4:20PM }

Eidos is now merely a memory, much like Midway, Brash and Atari ... what do you mean Atari is still around!? Anyway, Square Enix announced today that the Eidos reorganization is complete and the company has been reborn as Square Enix Europe, which we still haven't come up with a clever nickname for: Le SquEnix? Der Europa Enix? SEEurope? Eh, still working on it.

SEE will ~~oversaw~~ watch over development studios Crystal Dynamics, IO Interactive, among others, but the company brand will show up on the box as either Square Enix, Eidos or Taito. Bon Voyage, Eidos (the company), may you find peace in the afterlife. Now, can we talk about how positive you all are that Atari still exists?

Update: Noted the brand "Eidos" still exists, even if the company doesn't.

Source: Square Enix Europe press release [PDF link]

Square Enix summons Earnings Report; Final Fantasy XIII Sales Projections evade attacks

by David Hinkle { Nov 6th 2009 at 10:30PM }

Square Enix recently chose to attack with its annual earnings report, and among the 12-page PDF file's barrage of numbers, things look pretty good for the company. Net sales for the six months ending September 30, 2009 were up 33 percent over the same period last year to 91 billion yen ($1 billion), while operating income was also up by 39 percent to 13 billion yen ($144.5 million) over the same period last year. It's not all roses and Dragon Quest IX sales, however -- net income was down almost 58 percent to 2.7 billion yen ($30 million).

The statement also talks about the acquisition and assimilation of Eidos in direct proportion to Square Enix's games group division -- which includes video games across all platforms and online games for personal computers. Through the aid of titles like Batman: Arkham Asylum, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days and the aforementioned Dragon Quest IX, the games division rose its net sales and operating income by 117 percent and 63 percent to 4.8 billion yen ($53 million) and 1.0 billion yen ($11 million), respectively.

As for the company's upcoming darling, Final Fantasy XIII, Square Enix prez Yoichi Wada spoke about concern regarding the title's projected domestic sales. Basically, he's not concerned at all! "PS3 sales continue to increase. We're bundling PS3 and FFXIII, and can expect even further sales increases. Orders for FFXIII are definitely not bad," he said. While he didn't reiterate anything as bold as six million, Wada did claim that the game is expected to sell in the millions.

Source - Square Enix earnings (PDF) [Via andriasang]
Source - Wada comments on FFXIII sales

Rumor: Kane & Lynch 2 teaser has duo dodging dogs

by Alexander Sliwinski { Nov 6th 2009 at 10:35AM }

MTV Germany has posted a video that could be construed as a viral teaser for Kane & Lynch 2. The clip is mock "surveillance video" of two naked men desperately barging into a Chinese restaurant. The streakers are apparently on the run -- there's some gun fire aimed in their direction -- until one (possibly Lynch by the looks of his hairstyle) trips and falls over a table, only to be attacked a few seconds later by a dog. The other gentleman, perhaps Kane, successfully beats the dog off of his partner with what appears to be a tray, and then the two presumably escape.

Could this be be a viral ad for Kane and Lynch in "Dog Days?" Your call.

[Via Kotaku]

Spector talks initial Disney pitches, hints at spiritual successor to Deus Ex

by Xav de Matos { Nov 3rd 2009 at 10:00PM }

During a London event to showcase Disney Epic Mickey, developer Warren Spector revealed that his initial pitches to Disney were for two very different titles; hinting one -- in many ways -- may have been a spiritual successor to Deus Ex. The other title, according to The Cut Scene blog, was a "big fantasy" story the developer and his wife unsuccessfully pitched to DC Comics.

Prior to the announcement of a new game in the series, Spector said he had previously attempted to acquire the Deus Ex license from publisher Eidos, but was unsuccessful. Since then, Spector's Junction Point Studios has been acquired by Disney Interactive, revealed his latest title and hinted at more from the Epic universe.

While Spector says there are still stories in the Deus Ex universe he would like to tell, the upcoming prequel, Deus Ex 3 -- helmed by developer Eidos Montreal -- will be the first title in the franchise without the original creator's watchful eye. "That story is not done for me," Spector said. "Deus Ex was very much a game of the millennium." Sadly -- with another team on the project -- it appears Spector's dream of continuing the Deus Ex conspiracy personally have indeed come to an end, for the time being.

[Via GamePro]

OK, Japan, you can have Batman: Arkham Asylum Jan. 14

by Randy Nelson { Nov 2nd 2009 at 7:30PM }

Hey Japan. Remember all those games you made for, oh, decades that we couldn't wait to get our hands on in the West? Well, we thought for once we'd give something back. We know you like Batman. And Batman: Arkham Asylum is really wonderful. So of course you've wanted it. Ever since it came out here in August.

So, Eidos is going ahead bringing you the game on January 14, 2010. Unfortunately, it's up in the air whether you'll get the cool extras we did, like a replica Batarang and really big packaging. Seems you will be getting the DLC though, according to Andriasang. So yeah, please enjoy this gift from us to you. We'll be watching the sales numbers closely.

(P.S. If you want, you can return the favor by sending over the Final Fantasy XIII edition PS3.)

Just Cause 2 trailer has fun with the grappling hook

by David Hinkle { Oct 30th 2009 at 4:00PM }

In this new trailer for Just Cause 2, you can see a helicopter tow a speed boat into a factory. How badass is that? You can also see protagonist Rico Rodriguez attach an unsuspecting individual to an airbound plane as it's taking off. It's this kind of inventive grappling that really gives the game a flavor all its own and makes this latest trailer necessary viewing for any self-respecting Joystiq reader.