Today at Games Convention in Leipzig, Bohemia Interactive announced ArmA 2 , its latest military simulation game for PC DVD-ROM and next generation consoles (originally known also as Game 2).

ArmA 2 is set in the near future, year 2009, in a fictional post soviet country called Chernarus. Players will be sent as members of a United States Marine Corps Force Recon squad to this country to prevent further civilian casualties and ensure ongoing stability there.

Arma 2 is based on the latest generation technology, offering large �scale game world, authentic and extremely detailed modern units, weapons, vehicles and enviroments, challenging single player and vast array of multiplayer options.

ArmA 2 is expected to be released in 2008.

You are Beowulf, legendary Norse warrior with the strength of 30 men. Arrogant, self-serving, and lustful for gold and glory, you journey to Denmark to destroy a bloodthirsty beast wreaking havoc on a frigid land. But evil persists, and you succumb to its lure of even greater fame, quietly maneuvering to claim the Danish throne. As King, you must face the consequences of ambition, even as war descends on the realm. Lead your thanes into battle, slay the Titans of a dying age, and crush the enemies that threaten to annihilate both your kingdom and your people. Only then, when you look Destiny in the eye, will you know what kind of hero you truly are�

Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising was today announced as the full title for the return of the leading name in modern military simulation gaming.

Codemasters also revealed an explosive video trailer for the game on its booth (Hall 4, F01) at Games Convention 2007, Leipzig, Germany.

Coming in 2008 for major console platforms and PC, Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising marks the long-awaited return of the total conflict simulator. It will challenge a new generation of players to survive the chaos and rapidly evolving situations of military combat in a new and contemporary theatre.

"Set on a vast oil-rich island, located off the eastern coast of Russia, north of Japan, Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising's fiction occurs during a time of tension between Russia and China over the island's disputed ownership," explains Andrew Wafer, Brand Manager for Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising, at Codemasters.

"The game will open as Chinese forces launch an offensive and, referencing the title, as the dragon rises over the island, players will find themselves in a situation that is set to flare up into a flashpoint like never before."

As depicted in the trailer, soldiers, weaponry and military transportation will be authentic and realistically detailed. The game environment will be a comprehensive simulation of a real world location, densely packed to create a rich and challenging tactical environment.

Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising is in development at Codemasters Studios utilising an evolved variant of Neon technology, the studio's proprietary middleware.

SEGA Europe Ltd. and SEGA of America, Inc. today announced Empire: Total War, the revolutionary new instalment of The Creative Assembly�s wildly successful, multi award winning Total War RTS franchise. Empire: Total War will maintain the series genre leading 3D battles, grand turn based campaign map and rich historical flavour while for the first time introducing 3D naval combat into the series.

Empire: Total War is set in the 18th century, a turbulent era that is the most requested by Total War�s loyal fan base and a period alive with global conflict, revolutionary fervour and technological advances. With themes such as the Industrial Revolution, America�s struggle for independence, the race to control Eastern trade routes and the globalisation of war on land and sea, Empire: Total War promises to be amongst the richest and most dynamic PC RTS games of all time.

Empire: Total War will see the debut of 3D naval combat within the Total War franchise. PC Gamers will be able to intuitively command vast fleets or single ships upon seascapes rich with extraordinary water and weather effects that play a huge role in your eventual glorious success or ignominious defeat. After pummelling your enemy with cannon fire, close in to grapple their ship and prepare to board taking control your men as they fight hand to hand on the decks.

Along with the revolutionary introduction of Naval Combat, Empire: Total War will see further enhancements to the Total War series signature 3D battles and turn based campaign map. Real time battles will pose new challenges with the addition of cannon and musket, challenging players to master new formations and tactics as a result of the increasing role of gunpowder within warfare. And the Campaign Map � for many the heart of Total War � will see new improved systems for Trade, Diplomacy and Espionage with agents, a refined and streamlined UI, improved Advisors and extended scope taking in the riches of India, the turbulence of Europe and the untapped potential of North America.

�Empire: Total War is a huge revolutionary step for the series. We�re delighted to introduce true 3D naval combat, something that adds a totally new dimension to Total War games.� commented Mike Simpson, Studio Director at The Creative Assembly and the father of the Total War franchise. �We�re genuinely excited about what we�re achieving with the naval battles and also by the scale of the improvements being made to the core of the game � the land battles and the campaign. This will undoubtedly be the biggest and best Total War game we�ve ever made.�

Empire: Total War has already been secretly in development at The Creative Assembly�s Horsham studio for over a year and is priming its forces for a release in 2008.

Jaw = dropped.

PC

• Attack on Pearl Harbor - Gameslave - 7/10
• BioShock - PlayReaction - 9.8/10
• BioShock - Game Revolution - A
• Madden NFL 08 - GameSpot - 6.5/10

  360
  

• Hexic 2 - Eurogamer - 7/10

I gotta say, Vista isnt as bad as the rep it has on the boards. I haven't installed or played any old XP games on it (just the "Games for Windows" branded titles), so maybe that explains it. Everything has "worked" so far with little or no effort. If I wanna play old games, I can do that on my old PC just fine. So right now, I have BioShock, Company of Heroes and Supreme Commander. Oh, and the Hellgate London alpha once I redownload and install that badboy. Stranglehold (remember that game?) is coming out next week, I think, too.

Today's question:

How long do you think until Vista becomes "mainstream" for gamers?

Who else has BioShock? What are your first impressions thus far? Try to keep major spoilers to a minimum (like the ending), but feel free to use this thread to talk about the game.

2K Games, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., today announced that it will publish Mafia 2, a sequel to the original Mafia title that sold more than two million copies worldwide and helped popularize the gangster genre. Featuring a deep mobster-driven narrative packed with both behind-the-wheel and on-foot action, Mafia 2 is the sequel fans have been clamoring for. The game is being developed by Illusion Softworks, developers of the original Mafia title, for next generation consoles and Games for Windows.

Like the original Mafia title, Mafia 2 immerses players in the mob underworld of a fictitious late 1940's-early 1950's scenario. Players will easily become engaged in the game's cinematic Hollywood movie experience with strong, believable characters in a living, breathing city. By fusing high octane gunplay with white knuckle driving and an engaging narrative, Mafia 2 looks to be the industry's most compelling Mafia title to date.

"As the original Mafia was a big success, we are excited to leverage the power of next generation console technology to create an all-new experience, while embracing the elements that resonated with the previous game's fans," said Christoph Hartmann, President of 2K. "The 'wow' factor of Mafia 2 is definitely the benchmark-setting visual quality and action that you expect to see only in Hollywood movies."

Hot.

• Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties
  • Chinese Civ Trailer
  • Indian Civ Trailer
  • Japanese Civ Trailer

• Codename: Panzers - Cold War Trailer

• Need For Speed ProStreet Drag Racing Trailer

• NHL 2K8 Pro Sticks Face-Off Trailer

• Nitrobike Announcement Trailer

• Saboteur Teaser Trailer

• Skate Career Progression Trailer

• World In Conflict New York City Trailer

Audio

• Steelseries Steelsound 3H Gaming Headset - Future Looks

  Boards
  

• ASUS Blitz Formula - Bjorn3D
• ECS G33T-M2 Micro-ATX Motherboard - Legit Reviews

  CPU
  

• the AMD 6000+ AM2 X2 Processor - OCC
• Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 2.66 GHz 1333MHz FSB - PCStats
• Core 2 Quad G0-stepping overclocking - Q6700 retail - Hexus
• Intel's E2140 & E2160 - Neoseeker

  Power Supply
  

• ePower Technology EP-1200P10 xScale 1200W - BMR
• SilverStone Strider 1000W - ST1000 - XS Reviews

  Video
  

• Sparkle Calibre P850+ 8500GT 512MB - TechGage
• World in Conflict Performance - Legion Hardware

Developers at Games Conference 2007 - Part 2
Heading into the massive German show, which expects to see 200,000 visitors, more attendees share their intentions

Sacred 2 - Fallen Angel Media #1
The latest trailer for Ascaron's action RPG, created to help showcase it at the massive German Games Convention - An exclusive trailer (North America)

Jonric's Blog
A hectic stretch for shows, conferences and conventions