Well, here is the list of the best games for Hardcore gamers from 2010. The list is not in any particular order. These are the games that gamers WANT to own and all would make excellent Holiday gifts.

#1 – Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood - I seriously did not think UBI Soft could top Assassin’s Creed 2, my favorite game of last year. Well kids, Ezio is back and better than ever. Everything that made Ezio cool, as a Master Assassin, is back to allow for more gameplay, and there’s more. You can also play as different character classes, in one of the most graphically detailed and stunningly beautiful virtual worlds to ever be designed. This time, Ezio is fighting as a part of the Brotherhood, as he leads a group against the evil order of the Templar. This battle will take Ezio into the heart of Italy, to Rome, as he vows to take down the Templars and save the guild of Assassins. This takes Assassin’s Creed gameplay to a whole new level, providing endless amounts of fun with brand new Multiplayer Modes where assassin’s compete to be the best. Of course, the Single Player Campaign is just as good, making this one of the hottest titles of the year.

#2 – Medal of Honor - It doesn’t get more realistic than this. In Medal of Honor you’ll step into the middle of combat. This is a reboot of the classic Playstation game of the same name, which takes players into the center of the current day conflict in Afghanistan. While the single player mode is decent, the graphics aren’t always flawless. However, the best part about this game is the Multiplayer. If you are a fan of shooters you can really get in on playing this game. There may have been controversy about getting to play the role of the “Taliban”, but whatever you call it, you still get the chance to play as an Opposing Force. In Single Player, you’ll play through the same campaign U.S. soldiers fought while in Afghanistan, while the multiplayer allows for gameplay as a Rifleman, Special Ops, or Sniper. Whatever mode of play you choose, FPS action encapsulates the whole of gameplay, making it worth the purchase for hardcore shooter fans.

#3 – Fallout: New Vegas - The place to be after nuclear fallout is Las Vegas, which was not directly hit by any nuclear attack. Four years proceeding the successful Fallout 3, players are taken into the wastelands of the post-apocalyptic Mojave Desert and nearby New Vegas. Traversing through parts of Nevada and California, the player is essentially in another part of the states, in the same world of the last title. There seems to be no major link between Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas. The world is the same, but instead of being in the Capital Wasteland, you’ll traverse across the familiar landmarks of Las Vegas. This game is as wicked as its predecessors, with throwbacks to both Fallout 3 and Fallout 2, such as the New California Republic (NCR) from the later. There have been vast improvements in the gameplay of this title, with a massive land to explore, expanded quests, and obsessively entertaining encounters with a plethora of hostile enemies. While the graphics may be slightly off, this is a sequel worthy of purchase by fans of the Fallout series, and post-apocalyptic shooters.

#4 – Fable III - Okay, so this game isn’t all blood and guts like some of the other titles on this list. However, Fable III expands upon the past two Fable titles while still maintaining its RPG adventure core. Playing as the son of the hero from Fable II, you set out to lead a rebellion against the tyrannical king, who just happens to be your own brother. If you are successful, you take over the kingdom and rule it as you see fit. Along the way you can marry various women (and men), have a slew of kids, get STDs from the town prostitutes, make yourself look like a fool while dancing, and choose between being heroic and wicked to earn you the favor (or hatred) of the people who lived in the once great Albion. What makes this game so much fun is the ability to play at your own pace. There are an endless number of side quests, and a variety of ways to interact with people, allowing you to gain extra favor from the citizens (which comes in handy when buying upgrades) and keep you from the straight and narrow path your mission leads you on.

#5 – Shaun White Skateboarding - When I saw this at E3 I knew I would enjoy this game. I am not usually one into the skateboarding games, but for the hardcore sports fan, Shaun White is the authority at making a decent, realistic boarding game. The element I found to be the most interesting was the coloring/repairing of the world, as you skate through it. If I could skate, I would totally want to skate up and down buildings, along bridge edges, and up and down railings. This game takes it to the ultimate. You spend the majority of the time skating as the character you create, which I prefer, but by the end of the game, you can unlock the ability to free skateboard through the world as Shaun White. Really, I picked this for the wicked color scheme and ability to skate around the world, and I have not been disappointed.

#6 – Call of Duty: Black Ops - This has to be the most anticipated title of the holidays. Following the success of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 earlier this year, Call of Duty: Black Ops had tough shoes to fill, and fill it did, surpassing sales records and maintaining a positive image for the Call of Duty franchise. Though this game is a sequel to World at War, Black Ops is far better than its predecessor. The game offers an engrossing campaign for single players as well as a fast-paced Multi-Player element. All modes of gameplay are entertaining, though there is a level of difficulty associated that keeps the game fresh. In single-player mode, you are a part of a CIA Black Ops team during the 1960s Cold War. This game combines stealth with kick buttery, taking warfare to a whole new level. Next to Halo Reach, Call of Duty: Black Ops is the best, most hardcore shooter you WILL buy this holiday season.

#7 – Halo Reach - As much as I love the latest release in the Halo franchise, it also pisses me off. This game is HARD. Gameplay is challenging, no matter the level, and I have played on all of them. The game will appeal to long term Halo fans, because it follows the typical structure for a Halo game. There are many familiar elements, from the missions to the stylistic design of enemies. However, the developers were not kidding when they said they were working on making harder enemies and developing a more compelling world for the characters of Halo Reach. You play as a replacement for a wounded member of Noble Team, who discover the Covenants is involved in nefarious things. It is your goal to take down the Covenant, though the ultimate sacrifice you’ll make is for the greater good of Reach. Multiplayer offers the chance to take on another player locally or online, as well as through Xbox live and a variety of modes, like the Slayer and Stockpile. Whatever mode you play, Halo Reach is the most solid FPS on this list, which makes it worthy for purchase this holiday season.

#8 – James Bond 007 – Bloodstone - Yeah, so this game is not quite as hardcore as the shooters I typically play, but I absolutely love playing as James Bond. Continuing on with a gaming structure similar to Quantum of Solace, Daniel Craig returns as the world’s most famous spy. The story, for me, is irrelevant. I prefer going from scene to scene and taking down a slew of bad guys. To do this, players can do silent takedowns, where they stealthily take out enemies. I have always been one to prefer to use my guns, especially ones with silencers, but there is something ultra satisfying about waiting around a corner, ready to choke hold an enemy into submission. This has the feel off a big budget, action flick, where you get to be the bad ass, kicking butt while taking no prisoners. Though some of the harder gamers may scoff at this title, this provides more than a few hours of mindless, James Bond inspired fun.

#9 – Alan Wake - There aren’t very many authentic, hardcore, psychologically thrilling games out there. Alan Wake is one of them and the game psychologically thrills quite well. The stunning graphics compliment the hardy world of Bright Falls. You’ll feel like you are in a movie, playing the central character of Alan Wake. Alan loses consciousness, after attempting to save his wife Alice, who has been dragged into a lake. Upon awakening, Alan enters a deluded world of darkness and horrors too terrifying to see the light of day. What makes this work as a game is its episodic nature. The story is compelling and builds upon itself, until it reaches the ultimate climax. The thing is, instead of being the spectator, as you would when watching a movie, in this game, you are the star who must go through the experience to see the story played out until the very end.

#10 – God of War III - The ultimate adventure of Olympian proportions, God of War III returns to the time of the Ancients. Though I am not fond of the idea of storming Mount Olympus to kill Zeus (my own personal preference) it does seem fun to have Kratos and the Titans take on the famed Gods of Olympus. The gameplay is more brilliant than the graphics. That is saying a lot because God of War III looks absolutely stunning. I have always felt the games for PS3 were graphically superior to those on other systems and this title boasts what I am talking about. It is a dream come true to see the Gods personified, and they are done so well in this game. This is the final chapter in the fate of Kratos, but this action adventure story is worthy of comparison to any of the Greek legends that have been told over time.

All of these games I’ve had a chance to check out personally, and can say, without a shadow of a doubt, they ROCK!

Honorable Mention

Here are a few mentions of games we think would be great for hardcore gamers, but cannot recommend with first hand/knowledge or experience. Buy at your own risk!

Mafia II - Having played through the Mafia II demo for Xbox 360 I can honestly say if the game is anything like the demo, it’s pretty hardcore. Who doesn’t want to step into the shoes of a mobster, at least in a video game? The glitz and glamor that made a generation clamor for The Sopranos is encapsulated within this game, which features music and a backdrop straight out of America’s Golden Era. Featuring a brand new, 2K Czech game Engine, play in this gorgeously designed virtual world is smooth and precise with gun fights, explosions, rifle targeting and even hand to hand combat working seamlessly. With the amount of violence you’ll endure in Mafia II, 2K offers this title as an M for Mature game, and if you’re mature enough to handle it, this game is bound to reward you with all its cool new features, an upgrade from the original Mafia title.

Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare - What’s more fun than some wild, wild west shootin’ fun? How’s about adding in zombies to the mix? I never thought I’d see the day when the undead would infest the old west, but here Rockstar Games has done just that. More of a set of DLC packs, that add on to the original Wild West, 3rd person shooter game, this set includes the Undead Nightmare Pack, the Liars and Cheats Pack and the Legends and Killers Pack. While all of these sound pretty cool, I think I’ll stick with the zombies. There’s nothing like dueling with someone already dead, with nothing to lose in such a fight. This set includes a complete overhaul of the original game, with John Marston fighting to find a cure to the zombie infestation, with new weapons and a new world design. While all that made Red Dead Redemption worthy of play remains, these packs appear to add the right amount of zing to freshen up this old title.

Technorati Tags: Gamerrazzi, Holiday, 2010 Gift Guide, Top Ten, Must Have Games, Hardcore Gamers, Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood, Medal of Honor, Fallout: New Vegas, Fable III, Shaun White Skateboarding, Call of Duty: Black Ops, Halo Reach, Dragon Age: Origins Ultimate Edition, Alan Wake, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon

Of course, you won’t catch me dancing. I tried it and this game is not too friendly, in a dance sense, for the gamer with a disability who has limited arm movements. That’s okay because I have a lot of fun watching and can sometimes be heard singing (though not in these videos).

The cool thing about Singstar Dance is that everyone can enjoy the game because it allows for grading on both dancing and singing. Even those who do not feel their dancing capabilities are up to par, can enjoy making a fool of themselves on vocals!!!

As you can see, none of us are professional singers or dancers (ok, the singer part is a lie for me – I have years of vocal training, but then I am not singing in this set of videos!). But, we still manage to have quite a bit of fun. This game is a blast to play alone, with a few, with a party. SingStar Dance is awesome in any environment, so check it out!

Technorati Tags: Games, Video Games, Playstation Move, Singstar Dance, Bye Bye Bye, NSync, Dance Game, Fun, Friends, Video, Blondie, Heart of Glass, Playstation 3

Perhaps these other reviewers did not gather a group of friends to rock out to tunes like “Uprising” by Muse, “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen, and “Pour Some Sugar On Me” by Def Leppard, as I did. Perhaps they do not like these particular songs. I do not know why they do not like this game as much as the others, but I can say with quite a bit of certainty, as a party game, Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, truly ROCKS!

The big issue seems to be with the Quest Mode. While that is all fine and good, I must say just choosing QuickPlay, selecting a song, and going to it is a lot more fun than any other option.

I had a get-together with my friends, Anthony, Joey, Andy and Katie. Ash (my longtime girlfriend/partner, for those new to this blog) and I hosted this shin-dig, and we had a blast.

I’ve included two videos, featuring the gameplay, as we talk and sing in the background.

I hope you enjoyed seeing how much fun we had. For fans of Guitar Hero, I implore you to give Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock a try. It’s a lot more fun than other reviewers are claiming.

Note: Just for reference, this was played on the Playstation 3.

Technorati Tags: Gameplay, Video, Guitar Hero, Warrirors of Rock, Video Games, Gaming, Music, Guitar, Money for Nothing, Dire Straits, Playstation 3, Free Ride, Edward Winter, Video

The Music (Well, at least some of it):

1960s:
· Jimi Hendrix, “Crosstown Traffic”
· The Doors, “Break On Through”

1970s:
· Queen, “Bohemian Rhapsody”

1980s:
· Dio, “Rainbow in the Dark”
· Huey Lewis and the News, “The Power of Love”
· Joan Jett, “I Love Rock and Roll”
· Night Ranger, “Sister Christian”
· Whitesnake, “Here I Go Again”
· The Cure, “Just Like Heaven”
· Ozzy Osbourne, “Crazy Train”

1990s:
· Jane’s Addiction, “Been Caught Stealing”
· Smash Mouth, “Walkin’ on the Sun”
· Spacehog, “In the Meantime”
· Stone Temple Pilots, “Plush”

2000s:
· Metric, “Combat Baby”
· Rilo Kiley, “Portions for Foxes”
· Them Crooked Vultures, “Dead End Friends”
· The Vines, “Get Free”
· The White Stripes, “The Hardest Button to Button”
· Phoenix, “Lasso”
· Ida Maria, “Oh My God”
· Juanes, “Me Enamora”

Tracks I am most definitely interested in playing include: “Been Caught Stealing,” “Sister Christian,” “Just Like Heaven,” and “Break on Through.”

Redesigned Library for Better Music Management
Rock Band 3 allows players to create and save setlists and share them with friends, both in-game and through RockBand.com. New song filters make it easier to find the types of songs fans want to play and hide the songs they don’t, while a built-in song recommendation system will suggest tracks from Rock Band’s colossal music library, based on personal fan preference.

Expand the Band
In addition to guitar, bass, drums and solo vocals, Rock Band 3 adds three-part vocal harmonies that were introduced with The Beatles™: Rock Band™ and, for the first time ever, a keyboard peripheral to the band. Up to seven players can rock together for the ultimate social gaming experience.

Go Pro: Play Just for Fun or Rock for Real with Rock Band Pro
Rock Band 3 empowers players to develop actual musical skills through the fun of fully scalable Rock Band Pro gameplay. Fans can dive in on Easy to try out basic skills and work their way up to Expert for real mastery.
Pro Drums supports three expansion cymbals, with gameplay differentiation between toms and cymbals.
Pro Keys features pitch-accurate keyboard performance across a two-octave range, displayed on an easy-to-read keyboard track.
Pro Guitar features notated guitar and bass performances, available for play with either the new Fender™ Mustang™ PRO-Guitar™ simulated guitar controller from Mad Catz or the Rock Band 3 Squier® by Fender Stratocaster® Guitar Controller that is a real guitar/controller hybrid. The Rock Band 3 Squier Stratocaster is a fully functional, full-sized, six-string electric guitar that also functions as a game controller.

Something for Everyone (New Gameplay Modes!)
For the casual player, Rock Band 3 has great new party modes that allow fans to get rocking with friends quicker than ever, including party shuffle and persistent drop-in/drop-out and difficulty selection from any gameplay screen.For the serious player, the revamped Career Mode features 700+ goals and rewards and seamless leaderboard integration for an endlessly deep campaign experience. Rock Band 3 also adds a suite of social networking tools to the game so fans can engage friends and fellow rockers over Facebook, Twitter and more. Whether players want to jump in for a quick song or take their band to the top, Rock Band 3 has a mode for everyone.
Developed by Harmonix, the world’s premier music videogame company, published by MTV Games, and distributed by distribution partner Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), Rock Band 3 will ship simultaneously worldwide this Holiday 2010 in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and other territories for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the Wii™ system from Nintendo, and Nintendo DS™. Rock Band 3 will be compatible with all Rock Band and The Beatles: Rock Band peripherals, as well as most third-party instrument and microphone controllers. Mad Catz is the official peripheral manufacturer and distributor for Rock Band game controllers.

The Rock Band platform stands next to none in music content, with more than 1,500 songs already available from more than 400 artists, including Jimi Hendrix, The Who, AC/DC and Green Day, who are exclusive to Rock Band. With more choices for fans than any other music-based videogame, Rock Band is, without question, the industry leader in providing the best selection of interactive musical content, songs and artists. Rock Band pioneered offering content in a variety of ways, through on-disc gameplay, game export, downloadable content and the Rock Band Network. The Rock Band platform allows fans to interact with their favorite music in a unique and hands-on way, as well as giving artists the ability to reach fans through a whole new channel.

Technorati Tags: Rock Band 3, Features, Games, Harmonix, Annoucement, Video Games, Music

Defeating the corrupt tyrants entrenched there will require not only strength, but leadership, as Ezio commands an entire Brotherhood who will rally to his side. Only by working together can the Assassins defeat their mortal enemies.

And for the first time, introducing a never-before-seen multiplayer layer that allows you to choose from a wide range of unique characters, each with their own signature weapons and assassination techniques, and match your skills against other players from around the world.

It’s time to join the Brotherhood.

Key Features
MASTER THE POSSIBILITIES – As Ezio, a legendary Master Assassin, experience over 15 hours of single-player gameplay set in the living, breathing, unpredictable city of Rome.
LEAD A LEGENDARY BROTHERHOOD – Recruit and train promising young Assassins. Deploy them across the city as you see fit, or call upon them to aid you in your quests.
EXPERIENCE A RICH HISTORICAL TAPESTRY – Collaborate with real historical characters such as Leonardo da Vinci, Niccolo Machiavelli and Caterina Sforza.

WIN THE HEART OF A CITY – Use your hard-won currency to revitalize the crumbling capital city. Rally the citizens to your cause and unlock extra factions and missions.
DEPLOY SECRET WEAPONS – Swiftly eliminate your enemies using tools such as poison darts, parachutes, double hidden blades, hidden guns, and an advanced flying machine at your disposal.
MEMORABLE MULTIPLAYER – Choose from multiple authentic character classes, each with their own signature weapons and killing moves. With richly-detailed maps and a wide variety of unique multiplayer modes, you’ll never fight the same way twice.

Assassins Creed: Brotherhood is set to be released Holiday 2010

Technorati Tags: Assassins Creed Brotherhood, Xbox 360, PS3, Sony, Holiday 2010, Video Game, Screenshots, Game Info

The Victory Track Pack features the following singles:
A Day To Remember – “NJ Legion Iced Tea”
The Sleeping – “Bomb the World”
Silverstein – “I Am The Arsonist”

Eagles of Death Metal Track Pack, available July 16th:
“Anything Cept The Truth”
“Cherry Cola”
“I Only Want You”

Vagrant Records Track Pack, available July 23rd:
Thrice – “All the World is Mad”
Alexisonfire – “Young Cardinals”
Senses Fail – “The Martyr”

Knuckle Sandwich Track Pack, available July 30th:
Protest the Hero – “Bloodmeat”
Dropkick Murphys – “I’m Shipping up to Boston”
Against Me! – “New Wave”

The Victory Track Pack is available now via Xbox LIVE Marketplace for 440 Microsoft Points and from the PlayStation Store for $5.49. The songs are also available as singles for 160 Microsoft Points, $1.99 from the PlayStation Store and 200 Wii Points.

Technorati Tags: Guitar Hero World Tour, Games, Track Listings, Upgrade, PSN, Xbox Live, Songs, Music

The sequel to Heroes of the Pacific, the World War II flight combat game, Heroes Over Europe builds on the game’s impressive legacy with intense dogfights, a highly detailed realistic visual presentation and even more online options.

Developed by Transmission Games in Melbourne, Australia, and powered by an all-new engine, Heroes Over Europe is set to raise the bar for flight combat games with the all new “Ace Kill” close combat action, four online modes supporting up to 16 players and fully customizable aircrafts with localized damage.

Visually, the game takes no prisoners with meticulously rendered environments including faithful recreations of London, Berlin and the French Alps, and ultra-realistic iconic warplanes of the era, all presented in stunning high definition graphics.

Heroes Over Europe is scheduled for worldwide release in September 2009.

Technorati Tags: Ubisoft, Games, Xbox 360, Playstation, Heroes Over Pacific, Heroes Over Europe, WWII, Shooter, Game, Gamer, September 2009

Cambridge, Mass. – May 1, 2009 – Harmonix and MTV Games today announced the addition of 10 songs from six popular rock bands to the Rock Band™ Music Store of downloadable content including a three-pack from Franz Ferdinand and music from The Allman Brothers Band, Prong, The Distillers, Alien Ant Farm and Luscious Jackson.

Franz Ferdinand has produced a string of memorable, chart-topping hits since the band’s formation in 2001. The Scottish band’s signature song, “Take Me Out,” from their self-titled 2004 album will debut in the Rock Band Music Store next week. The Franz Ferdinand 3-pack also includes “Do You Want To” from You Could Have It So Much Better (2005) and “Lucid Dreams” featured on the album Tonight: Franz Ferdinand (2009). The tracks will be available for purchase as a three-pack or as individual tracks.

Southern-rock outfit The Allman Brothers Band makes its first appearance in the Rock Band Music Store with “Midnight Rider,” featured on 1970’s Idlewild South, and “Blue Sky,” featured on the band’s 1972 classic album Eat a Peach. The band has received numerous awards and was named one of Rolling Stone’s “100 Greatest Artists of All Time” in 2004. Eat a Peach was the band’s final album to include legendary guitarist and founding member Duane Allman before his tragic motorcycle accident death in 1971. Rolling Stone magazine listed Allman as the second greatest guitarist of all time, behind only Jimi Hendrix. The Allman Brothers Band made it’s Rock Band debut with “Ramblin’ Man” on the Rock Band 2 soundtrack.

New York City metal band Prong makes its Rock Band debut with “The Banishment” and “Idealistic Types,” both featured on Prong’s latest album Power of the Damager (2007). In addition, The Distillers deliver their brand of energetic punk rock power in their Rock Band debut with “Drain the Blood,” the lead single from their third album Coral Fang (2003).

Rounding out this week’s line-up is “Smooth Criminal” from Alien Ant Farm featured on ANThology (2001) and Luscious Jackson’s “Naked Eye” from Fever In Fever Out (1996).

Release Date:
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 (Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360®)
Thursday, May 7, 2009 (PlayStation®Store)

** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change **

Tracks:
Franz Ferdinand “Take Me Out”
Franz Ferdinand “Do You Want To”
Franz Ferdinand “Lucid Dreams”
Alien Ant Farm “Smooth Criminal”
The Allman Brothers Band “Blue Sky”
The Allman Brothers Band “Midnight Rider”
The Distillers “Drain the Blood”
Luscious Jackson “Naked Eye”
Prong “Idealistic Types”
Prong “The Banishment”

(All tracks are original master recordings)

Price:
$1.99 or 160 Microsoft Points per track
$5.49 or 440 Microsoft Points for Franz Ferdinand 3-pack

Locations:
Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360
PlayStation®Network

Technorati Tags: Rockband, Tracks, Music, Playstation 3, Xbox 360, Luscious Jackson, Prong, The Allman Brothers, The Distillers, Alien Ant Farm, Franz Ferdinand

Are you a huge X-Men fan? GameStop wants to give you exclusive access to bonus content on the upcoming “X-Men Origins: Wolverine” game. Pre-ordering the Uncaged Edition for PS3 or Xbox 360 at http://www.gamestop.com/wolverine is the only way you will gain access to the four bonus rooms of the “Weapon X Arena”.

Custom Combat Arena: This huge space lets players select any combination of enemies from within the game, beam them into the arena, and attempt to defeat them. Face ten hulking Leviathans or a blend of towering W.E.N.D.I.G.O. Prototypes, Machete Champions, and Machine gunners. It gives players endless permutations of exciting battles.

The site also features sneak peek videos and images from the game.

Environmental Kill room: This large room features small set-ups of each of the various environments found within the main game. All of these environments contain sharp objects on which Wolverine can impale his enemies. By pushing a red button, players can teleport in a group of soldiers and to see them creatively skewered.

Ladder Challenge room: This features an array of teleportation disks against the far wall. Pushing a red button will cause a group of enemies to beam into the room. Each time the red button is pushed, the enemies get tougher and more numerous, laddering up the challenge for Wolverine.

Dismemberment Room: Using a control panel, this room lets players select various limbs and body parts on a holographic soldier. Once the selections are locked in, the soldier appears in a tiled room viewed and the selected limbs are severed with spectacular results.

Who: GameStop and “X-Men Origins: Wolverine”

What: GameStop offers preorder with 4 bonus rooms

Where: http://www.gamestop.com/wolverine

When: Now until May 1, 2009

Technorati Tags: Gamestop, X-Men Origins, Wolverine, Video Game, Gamers, Pre-Release, Bonus Rooms

- Features Brand New ‘Dark Athena’ Campaign, Thrilling Online Multiplayer and High-Definition Remake of Classic ‘Escape from Butcher Bay’ -

- Xbox LIVE and PLAYSTATION®3 Demos Available Now -

NEW YORK, NY – April 7, 2009 – Atari, one of the world’s most recognized video game publishers, announced today that the latest chapter in the Riddick franchise, The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, is available now at retailers across North America.

In conjunction with Universal Pictures Digital Platforms Group, Tigon Studios and acclaimed developer Starbreeze Studios, Atari is bringing the franchise – featuring Vin Diesel reprising his role as anti-hero Riddick – to the new generation of consoles for the first time.

Featuring the series’ signature blend of stealth, action and gripping narrative, all presented in glorious high- definition, the highly anticipated new chapter in the Riddick saga is available at retail in North America for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft ($59.99), PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system ($59.99) and Windows PC ($49.99).

The Chronicles of Riddick Assault on Dark Athena contains a brand new full-length Riddick campaign in addition to a high-definition pixel-by-pixel remake of the universally acclaimed title Escape from Butcher Bay. In addition to the thrilling, visceral single player action, The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena brings Riddick into the multiplayer arena for the first time, with six intense online multiplayer combat modes including the unique Pitch Black mode.

Reprising his role as Riddick, Vin Diesel brings his unique vocal talent to The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, creating a powerful anti-hero with a talent for chilling one-liners. Diesel is joined by a high caliber cast of actors including Lance Henriksen, Wade Williams, William Morgan Sheppard, and Michelle Forbes who brings depth and weary malevolence to Riddick’s chief adversary on the Dark Athena, Captain Revas. Starbreeze Studios’ proprietary ‘vo-cap’ technology ensures that every nuance of the actors’ vocal and physical performance ends up in the game, creating a uniquely absorbing experience.

In The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena the player takes the role of Riddick, as played by Diesel, using stealth and action to overcome the merciless crew of the predatory Merc-ship Dark Athena which awaits its prey in the dark reaches of space. Cheating death through a series of spectacular battles and events, Riddick will fight for his life amid a storm of malevolence and horror. The Chronicles of Riddick series of games takes the player deeper into the universe of Universal Pictures’ films The Chronicles of Riddick and cult classic Pitch Black, which first introduced Diesel as enigmatic anti-hero.

Playable demos of The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena for both Xbox 360 and PLAYSTATION®3 system are currently available for download, showcasing the game’s evocative art style, exceptional production values, and the breadth and ferocity of gameplay.

For more information on The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena, please visit the official website at http://atari.com/riddick/.

Technorati Tags: Chronicles of Riddick, Assault on Dark Athena, Demos, Multiplayer Game, Video Game, Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Vin Diesel, Download