Friday Frugal Findings - Pre-Order Edition

We’re giving you something a little different this week with a round up of the cheapest prices on pre-release titles coming in the near future. So sit back and check out some of the best ways to spend the early part of the summer.

Hunted: The Demon’s Forge; at Gamestation
Release Date; 3rd June 2011
Xbox 360 and PS3 - £32.99/$54.41/38.11 Euro
PC - £24.99/$41.21/28.87 Euro

Promising to deliver all the thrills and spills of a modern day shooter, Bethesda’s Hunted: TDF, puts you and your gaming partner in control of the ranged weapons expert E’lara or the sword wielding Caddoc as you descend into the dark and dangerous world of Kala Moor. Built on the Unreal 3 engine this Co-Op title will certainly attract both fantasy fans and non fantasy fans alike, with combat ranging from out and out kill-fests to choosing the right tactics to combine your powers as you take down your enemies with brutal combo moves. The game will also include The Crucible feature, a level editor that lets you build and share your fiendishly designed dungeons.

The Sims 3 - Generations; at Amazon UK
Release Date; 3rd June 2011
PC/Mac £24.91/$41.10/28.78 Euro

Another expansion for the interactive dollhouse that is The Sims 3 is on the horizon, this one is suppose to give your Sims a richer life experience. For your kiddy-wink-sims you’ll be able to dress-up as dinosaurs, fairies and alike, play in tree houses and generally be mean to each other if the trailer is anything to go by. You can also relive the drama of your own teenage years, (although Lord knows why you would want to do that, I seem to have spent most of mine lying on my bed hating everyone and listening to The Smiths, although that hasn’t changed much now I’m an adult come to think of it) with the possibility to play pranks and graduate from high school. The adults don’t get left out either, you can engage in gossip with others about who is engaging in relational fornication with who. I am sure fans of The Sims series will be looking forward to this one and hoping its not just another opportunity for EA to get them to part with hard earned reddies.


Duke Nukem Forever; at Amazon UK
Release Date; 10th June 2011
Xbox 360/PS3 £34.70/$57.13/40.04 Euro

“Hail to the king, baby!” He’s back and he’s looking bigger, badder and more politically incorrect than ever. With the joyous news that the game we’ve waited for, for so long went gold this week, it actually looks like we’re going to get our grubby mitts on a game that has almost become mythical. The aliens are back to take over the world, but as you’d expect Duke isn’t having any of it, as well as the hilarious one liners and badass FPS action we’ve come to expect from a Nukem title, we are now let loose in a massively interactive environment, including everything from lifting weights to “interacting” with urinals if your so inclined. There is also a vast range of multiplayer modes for your and your mates to enjoy all bundled together with The Kings bawdy humour. Probably one to avoid if your easily offended, for the rest of us, get ready once again to kick ass and chew bubblegum.


inFamous 2; at Amazon UK
Release Date; 10th June 2011
PS3 £36.99/$60.91/42.65 Euro

The continuation of the Cole MacGrath saga, sees the modern day superhero attempting to build on his powers to take on “The Beast” who is destroying the whole of the East Coast and potentially the whole world. As seen in the original title, this action-adventure follow up takes place in an open world setting, with our protagonist collecting new powers as he goes along, but there are also some new features including a morality system which will lead you to one of the two possible endings, depending on your choices and user created content meaning you can knock out some devilish side missions to share with other gamers.


The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D at Amazon UK
Release Date; 17th June 2011
Nintendo 3DS £29.91/$49.28/34.50 Euro

A classic from the days of the Nintendo 64 gets a remake in glorious 3D on the latest handled, pleasing the many fans of Link. Ocarina of Time is being released with all new content including quests, boss battles and much more. If you didn’t get the change to experience the game back on the N64, don’t miss out this time around.

Forza Motorsport 4 Pre-Order Details and Trailer

This fall, the highest rated racing franchise of this generation returns with “Forza Motorsport 4”, the biggest racing game of the year. Starting today, fans can pre-order the game at U.S. retailers for $59.99 (US ERP). For even more incentive to pre-order, Turn 10 Studios confirmed today that fans who pre-order “Forza Motorsport 4” at participating U.S. retailers will receive a token to unlock one of the following five cars, while supplies last:.





Available at Amazon.com- Subaru Impreza WRX STI:
The Subaru Impreza WRX STI is the highest standard-edition trim in the Subaru compact car line. The STI is recognized as a speed demon on race tracks, winning first place at Super GT in 2008.

Available at Best Buy- BMW 1 Series M Coupe:
Reaching top speeds of 250 km/h, the 1 Series M Coupe is the high-performance version of the famed BMW 1 Series Coupe.

Available at GameStop- Alfa Romeo Giulietta Quadrifoglio Verde:
The creation of Italian automaker Alfa Romeo and first introduced at the March 2010 Geneva Motor Show, the Giulietta contains an exclusive Quadrifoglio Verde configuration with a 1.7L turbocharged engine that will steer you to victory.

Available at Wal-Mart- MINI John Cooper Works Clubman:
MINI enthusiasts around the world rejoice! The JCW Clubman sports a 1.6-liter four-cylinder MINI engine that has been tuned and turbocharged to include 208 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque.

Available at Target - Honda CR-Z EX:
The Honda CR-Z EX is Honda’s sport hybrid with an ultra-modern and sporty look, featuring 16” wheels and tires, low-to-the-ground stance and swooping bodywork. Additionally, its six-speed manual transmission makes it the only hybrid with three pedals.

This same list of cars is available in other regions worldwide and more information for those regions is coming soon.

For “Forza” fans who crave the VIP treatment, a Limited Collector’s Edition will also be available. Stay tuned for more details on the exclusive content the Limited Collector’s Edition will offer.

A limited quantity of “Forza Motorsport 4” games at retail will include an exclusive in-game car pack available at launch that boasts five incredible cars for fans to race, tune, paint and share. This car pack, limited to the first production run of “Forza Motorsport 4” game discs, will include:

Ford Mustang GT Coupe 1965:

Take to the road in this classic American stallion, one of Ford’s most successful launch cars behind the Model A.

Koenigsegg Agera 2011:

“The Agera--from the Swedish verb “to act”--celebrates 15 years of Koenigsegg’s uncompromising philosophy of making dream cars.”

Lexus SC300 1997:

A classic personal luxury coupé, the SC300 combines a powerful racer with a 225hp I6-powered engine.

RUF RGT-8 2011:

The spectacular RGT-8 is powered by a 4.5-liter V8 engine that has been fine tuned to deliver unmatchable sports car power and curb appeal.

Tesla Roadster Sport 2011:

For luxury car fans, the Roadster Sport is electric heaven. Get behind the wheel of this electric two-seater and go zero to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds with a peak rating of 288 horsepower.

Turn 10 Studios is also revealing that the cover car for the standard edition of “Forza Motorsport 4” is the Ferrari 458 Italia. The Ferrari 458 Italia is an 8-cylinder two-seater berlinetta with a mid-rear mounted engine, and represents a genuine break with the past in terms of Maranello's previous high-performance sports cars. The Turn 10 team has worked closely with Ferrari to include every intricate detail of the Ferrari 458 Italia in the game, from its sleek aerodynamic design to its exquisitely modeled 4499 cc V8 engine, offering players the most realistic driving experience off the track.

“The Ferrari 458 Italia was a perfect fit for the ‘Forza Motorsport 4’ hero car. It has the ideal blend of style, creative flair, cutting-edge technology and power that makes it just as gorgeous to look at as it is thrilling to take to the track,” said Dan Greenawalt, creative director of Turn 10 Studios. “We’ve worked closely with our partners at Ferrari to bring this amazing car to life in your living room.”

For those who have invested tireless hours in “Forza Motorsport 3”, Turn 10 Studios is pleased to announce a unique “Forza Motorsport 4” feature called Profile Import, which rewards fans for their time. Based on your player level and the cars in your garage in “Forza Motorsport 3”, gift cars will be automatically added to your “Forza Motorsport 4” garage and you’ll also receive bonus gifts and credits. And for those who spent hours creating intricate layers and liveries in the “Forza Motorsport 3” Livery Editor, you will be able to import those layers, so your time isn’t lost!

Stay up to speed on all things Forza Motorsport at http://ForzaMotorsport.net and stay tuned for more announcements at E3 in Los Angeles starting June 6, 2011.

Assassin's Creed Revelations - New Teaser Trailer

Its not long now before E3 will be upon us and as always the rumour mill is spinning with gusto, normally this causes at least a handful of developers to crumble under the pressure and give us a glimpse at what they are going to announce. Today Ubisoft has released a teaser trailer for their latest release in the Assassin's Creed line which will be the last title focusing on the the trials and tribulations of Ezio Auditore da Firenze, who to be fair has not had an easy life, family bumped off here and there, the love of his life jibbing him and falling from enough high structures to guarantee more than a scrapped knee, to be honest if I'd had to endure all these shenanigans I think I'd have become an assassin.

It is expected that we'll get so see some game play footage come E3 or if not at least another full length trailer, but even this little video has already gotten us drooling like people who have to ride on those "special" buses.

Dublin teen responsible for Modern Warfare 2 hack; gets support from Microsoft

According to Herald.ie, a 14-year-old from Tallaght, Dublin was responsible for millions of computer users being alerted after the popular online game Modern Warfare 2 was hacked. The Dublin schoolboy caused a worldwide alert when he attempted to hack into Microsoft Xbox Live system. Microsoft feared  that sensitive information about their customers was in danger of being compromised.

Microsoft has come up with a unique way of handling the situation. General manager of Microsoft in Ireland Paul Rellis said that Microsoft "is working with the teenager to develop his talent and help him use his skills for legitimate purposes".

Well it's certainly a different approach to Sony's 'throw 10,000 lawsuits at the wall and see what sticks' methodology.

Dead Island - Gameplay walkthrough.

The walking shit-bags are back in Dead Island, which is looking like a little bit of 'Dead Rising', a bit of 'Left 4 Dead' and a splash of 'Fallout 3' - all of which are cracking good games! If this romp through zombieland is half as good as it looks from the video below (via G4TV) then I recon I might as well lock myself away for at least a week with the game and some supplies - smokes, booze, snacks - you know, the bare essentials! If it really is that good then I might play it till the propper zombie Apocalypse is upon us... Wha?! It could happen!! I'll be well trained for it when it does... er, I mean - IF!

Keep an eye out for Dead Island at E3 and if your itching for a trailer then jump to Techland's site here.

Bioshock Infinite - New Screenshots

As the run up to E3 picks up pace, the good folks at Irrational Games and 2K Games have given us a further sneak-peak into the third installment of the Bioshock series, Bioshock Infinite. Previously known as Project Icarus, the game will take place in the same universe as seen in the first two games, yet this title is neither a direct sequel nor prequel and rather than finding ourselves in Rapture we'll be taking control of a former member of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, who is in search of a young woman name Elizabeth, on the floating city of Columbia.

With some fans being left a little disappointed with Bioshock 2, here's hoping that a trip outside of Rapture will bring a refreshing new outlook to the series.

Modern Warfare 3: New Gameplay Trailer

Here is the first game play trailer for Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 and as you'll see the previously rumoured release date has been confirmed. The trailer shows a number of different global locations including the US, England, Germany and France.

In short, it looks more attractive than a Sloth in a basque, in fact I'm so overwhelmed I'm going to have to take some painkillers and have a cold shower.