Xbox 720 To Be Announced At E3 2012?

By Stephen Johnson

According to a "high-ranking industry source" at developer Crytek, quoted by VideoGamer.com, it's likely that Microsoft will announced the Xbox 720 at E3 2012. The source also revealed that Crytek is already developing TimeSplitters 4 for the new console, and that it was even shown, behind-closed-doors, at E3 this year.

While we don't know any technical details on the unconfirmed, unannounced Microsoft console, according to VG.com's source, TimeSplitters 4 is being built on the CryEngine 3, and the assumption is the Xbox 720 will use Microsoft's DirectX 11, Microsoft's the most current software for PC gaming.

DirectX's features included tessellation shaders, multithreaded rendering, and compute shaders, all of which will add up to a level of detail never seen before on consoles.

The new TimeSplitters will reportedly focus on the series' branching paths and exploratory nature, "with sandbox-style gameplay elements a big priority. The current goal is for levels to feature multiple routes that lead to the same overall conclusion."

E3 2012 is long way away, but I don't think it's unreasonable to think Microsoft might use the show as the launch-pad for its next platform, which you have to figure they're working on (or at least planning!) already. According to Video Gamer, Microsoft's official announcement and launch will beat Sony's PlayStation 4 announcement, but a lot could happen in the next 12 months. We'll keep you posted as to what's going on with the new Xbox... if it exists.

Homefront Sequel Teases By THQ

By Stephen Johnson (G4TV.com)

In a recent interview with Eurogamer, the head of THQ teased a Homefront sequel, and gave some insight into how Homefront 2 will work.

"Everything we learned from [the original] you'll see executed in other games going forward, and including that franchise going forward. We'll have some really interesting announcements in the future about the future of that brand," THQ's core games head Danny Bilson said.

While Homefront received mixed reviews (but very, very good sales for a new IP), the potential of the series is hard to argue with -- it's just a cool setting and idea for a shooter. Bilson's comments show that THQ regard Homefront as a learning experience.

"I would like to get to a place where we don't get mixed reviews, we get all great reviews, as certain games get. We had 40 reviews over 80. 40. And some that were just down in the bottom. I don't want to have games that are so controversial on quality. I want to have consistency across everybody's experience with them."

If the obvious problems with Homefront are corrected in a sequel, I could see it being a long-running, successful franchise.

Source: Eurogamer

Wii U Release Date May Have Been Revealed By Sega Exec.

By Nikole Zivalich (from G4TV.Com)

Sega executive Alan Pritchard may have let the release season for the Nintendo Wii U slip. According to a statement he recently made about Sonic Generations, "the Wii U is coming out next spring/summer."

The Wii and GameCube launched in November and the Nintendo 64 launched in September. Spring is not a season Nintendo usually launches a console in. Do you think Pritchard misspoke or is Nintendo trying something new?

NEWS: Wii U Announcement Video from Nintendo Press Conference E3 2011

"The timing just doesn’t work…Generations releases this November, and the Wii U is coming out next spring/summer. I think one of the things we don’t have to do, or reduce where possible, is we don’t want to port games. I think if there’s going to be a Sonic game for the Wii U, it needs to be built from the ground up…It’s more likely that it would be a separate stand-alone installment or in conjunction with a multiplatform release in the future. But to bring out Generations on a platform six or eight months after we release PS3, 360, and 3DS probably won’t be the best strategy.”

I find it unlikely that Nintendo will release the Wii U in the spring. The summer seems more likely but financially speaking, a holiday release would make the most sense.

New Nintendo WiiU controller

What do you think of this?

E3 2011 Exclusive: Xbox LIVE Arcade: Summer of Arcade

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Hackers claim to have hit Sony again

By Diane Bartz

(Reuters) - Hackers calling themselves Lulz Security said on Monday that they had broken into Sony Corp computer systems again, and posted the results on the Internet.

The group, which has claimed credit for a prior attack on Sony's systems, posted what appeared to be Sony BMG network maps from a New York city office and what they said was 54 megabytes of Sony developer source code.

"We are looking into these claims," Jim Kennedy, a spokesman for Sony Pictures Entertainment, said in an email.

Last week, the group said it had broken into Sony's computer network and accessed information on more than 1 million customers to show the vulnerability of the company's systems. In that attack, the group of hackers, who have managed to keep themselves anonymous, published names, birth dates, street addresses, email addresses, phone numbers and passwords of people who had entered contests promoted by Sony.

On April 26, Sony warned that hackers had stolen personal information from 77 million user accounts of its video game online network. On April 19, Sony pulled the plug on its PlayStation Network after discovering the breach.

On May 2, Sony revealed that hackers had stolen data another 25 million users of its PC games system.

Last week, Lulz Security claimed credit for an attack on an Atlanta office of InfraGard, an outreach center used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to liaise with private business.

InfraGard and the FBI did not respond to requests for comment.

Lulz Security has claimed responsibility for defacing the U.S. Public Broadcasting Service network websites, and for posting on Monday data from PBS servers to protest a "Front Line" documentary about WikiLeaks.

It has also claimed credit for breaking into a Fox.com website and publishing data about contestants for the upcoming Fox TV talent show, "X Factor."

Defense contractor Lockheed Martin and Google Inc have also been hacked recently.

Nobody has claimed responsibility for the attacks that Sony disclosed in April and May.