mercenaries-2 posts (Subscribe to this feed)

Gitcha SecuROM de-authorization tools! Git'em ova hur!

by James Ransom-Wiley { Apr 1st 2009 at 12:17PM }

EA's perpetual joke -- on you -- comes to an ironic end on April Fools' Day with the release of de-authorization tools for each of its 19 PC games with SecuROM copy protection (full list and download links after the break). If you've been working on that class action lawsuit against EA for bundling SecuROM with The Sims 2: IKEA Home Stuff, you can drop it now -- your flat-pack furniture can finally be moved to a new machine.

In the spirit of generosity, EA's giving you two options for managing your authorizations:

Option 1: Download and install yet another "tool" in order to scan your computer for EA's SecuROM games and find out how many computer authorizations you have (or don't have) left for each title.
Option 2: Cut to the chase and download the game-specific de-authorization tool you need.

Continued →

Mirror's Edge and Mercenaries 2 fail to excite Japan

by JC Fletcher { Feb 20th 2009 at 4:00PM }

Anecdotal evidence suggests that neither Mirror's Edge nor Mercenaries 2 took off in Japan. This picture shows stacks of new copies of both games on sale for ¥1,980 ($21). Mirror's Edge was released on December 11 in Japan, and Mercenaries 2 followed one week later. Both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions are marked down, so the blame for poor sales doesn't fall solely on 360's lowly reputation in Japan.

Japan has no rental services, so people tend to buy games, complete them immediately, and then sell them back to stores asap, before the prices are slashed, leading to a precipitous drop in used prices of popular games. Even that isn't the case here -- these games are new, and retailer Sofmap's website shows used copies of Mirror's Edge at ¥4,780 for PS3 and 360, while new copies are marked down to a mere ¥1,980.

Would Mirror's Edge have benefited from a lead character redesigned for Asian audiences? Maybe, if that redesign had also encompassed not making the game a first-person shooter.

Target clearance: Too Human, Mercenaries 2, Fracture and others

by Dustin Burg { Jan 29th 2009 at 4:30PM }

Everyone's favorite aggressive clearance retailer, Target, is discounting their old video game stock. This means that your local Target has cut the price of Xbox 360 titles including Fracture, Virtua Fighter 5, Too Human, Viva Pinata: Trouble in Paradise and others by as much as 30%. Playstation 3 titles including Mercenaries 2, Web of Shadows, EndWar and others have also seen a price cut. As always, your mileage may vary depending on your local store's selection and price cutting schedule.

For those willing to tempt fate by not making a purchase just yet, expect what's left of the clearance selection to be discounted by as much as 50% in the next week or so. It's Target tradition.

FanPoll'08: Most Disappointing Game or Issue

by Xav de Matos { Dec 26th 2008 at 2:00PM }

While 2008 certainly brought us new and exciting titles, we did encounter our fair share of disappointments. Surprisingly, some of our biggest disappointments came from titles we actually loved due to issues that drove us mad! Online problems and game ending glitches broke pieces of our favorite titles. Bugs may just be bugs but sometimes they destroy an entire experience, for example the broken online play and subsequent four-month-long wait for a patch kept one of our favorite XBLA titles -- Castle Crashers -- off our XBLA Game of the Year list. That in mind along with other titles we were really hoping would be fantastic or bug free in spots, here are our nominees for Most Disappointing Game or Issue of 2008.

Read more about these five nominees:
Castle Crashers Online Problems
Gears of War 2 Matchmaking Issues
Mercenaries 2: World in Flames
Mirror's Edge
Fable II Game Ending Bugs

Voting closes at 12:01am on December 30, 2008. Results will be revealed on December 30, 2008.

Mercs 2 Blow it Up Again DLC available for free

by Dustin Burg { Dec 15th 2008 at 2:15PM }

Releasing a day earlier than expected is new Mercenaries 2: World in Flames downloadable content. Available for 0 Microsoft points (that mean it's free), you can own your very own Blow it Up Again DLC and be the talk of town. The 377MB download adds four new missions to the mix along with some patriotic characters. The bigger question remains ... will it be grenades or TNT?

Mercenaries 2 is ready to Blow It Up Again

by Dustin Burg { Dec 13th 2008 at 2:00PM }

Because they're aware your interest in Mercenaries 2: World in Flames has probably dwindled, EA and Pandemic Studios are set to release a new bundle of Blow It Up Again content pack joy. It's destructive DLC.

This expansion content is scheduled for release on Tuesday, December 16th and will be 100% FREE throughout the rest of the year. Included will be four additional game modes as well as a few "patriotic characters" to wreak havoc with. Per the Blow It Up Again teaser trailer, we're moderately impressed, because it looks so darn boom-riffic!

[Via TeamXbox, Thanks Lightsout565]

EA: 'There will be a Mercenaries 3'

by Randy Nelson { Nov 3rd 2008 at 10:30PM }

EA boss John Riccitielo is the latest company bigwig talking up more sequels, just as his publishing megalith struck gold with Dead Space, one of the best original titles it's had in years. This time it's Mercenaries, which Riccitielo confirmed will see a third installment developed by series creator Pandemic.

"There will be a Mercenaries 3," Riccitielo said during an investor call, adding, "and, if I have anything to do with it, there will be a Mercenaries 10." With nearly two million copies sold worldwide, a sequel to the open-world action game was a given ... but another seven beyond that? Mattias will be 'jacking other residents' wheelchairs at the mercenary retirement home by that point.

Palin and Obama team up and blow sh-t up (as Mercenaries 2 DLC)

by Andrew Yoon { Oct 31st 2008 at 9:30AM }

Have you ever wanted to see Republican darling Sarah Palin grab a bazooka and shoot down ~~a moose~~ a tank? Do you wonder if ~~Socialist~~ Democrat Obama is capable of taking on terrorists ... with his bare hands? Well, EA and Pandemic are letting you live out your wildest political dreams. Both Palin and Obama will be available as DLC characters for Mercenaries 2. Unlike Saints Row 2, Pandemic has created some truly accurate renders of these two candidates.

We're not sure what the legal ramifications of creating such accurate character models will be. At the very least, they can say the in-game Sarah Palin is actually Tina Fey. As for Obama? Well, we don't think he minds being in video games. See the trailer, after the cut. And then, don't forget that election day is on November 4th.

[Via Joystiq]

Continued →

Mercenaries 2 Trophy patch now available in Europe

by Jem Alexander { Oct 23rd 2008 at 10:45AM }

It's raining trophies. We honestly didn't expect so many games to have Trophies patched in, not to mention all these great games that are being released with built-in Trophy support. Anyone else notice how EA is doing a marvelous job of pushing its developers to add the functionality? Dead Space, Mirror's Edge, Battlefield: Bad Company, Burnout Paradise. Hats off to them. Mercenaries 2 is no exception and the Trophy patch has now gone live in Europe. No doubt it'll reach the US sometime later today, if it hasn't already. We'll keep you informed.

[UPDATE] The patch is now available in the US, too. Thanks to everyone who emailed us to let us know.

Trophies: Mercenaries 2

by Andrew Yoon { Oct 22nd 2008 at 9:15AM }

Mercenaries 2 'Total Payback' update is M.I.A.

by Dustin Burg { Oct 15th 2008 at 10:00AM }

Mercenaries 2: World in Flames fanboys who were excited to get their hands on the new Total Payback title update will, sadly, be dissapointed. Pandemic Studios has yet to release the new update, which was supposed to release on October 13th. The Mercenaries 2 forums are abuzz with angry gamers, so much so that forum moderators have been deleting threads that make mention of the Total Paypack update being delayed. We aren't sure what Pandemic's reason is for the delay or when it'll finally be released, but we've contacted them for comment and will update when we hear back.

[Thanks, Chris]

Deals: Mercenaries 2 for $45, free gift card with 360 and more

by Dustin Burg { Oct 5th 2008 at 1:45PM }

As is customary every Sunday, we diligently looked through the Sunday retail ads on the search for Xbox 360 related deals, discounts and offers. So here you go shoppers, enjoy the money savings fruit of our ad searching labor.

Starting off with Best Buy, they're giving away a free RC Centaur tank with Gears of War 2: CE pre-orders (available when game picked up) and Toys R Us has the Guitar Hero: Aerosmith bundle for $79. Over at Circuit City, they're giving away a free $20 game with purchase of an Xbox 360 Elite, are giving out life-size Tony Parker growth charts with NBA Live 09, and they're selling Mercenaries 2 to $45. Finally, Target stores are offering a free $40 gift card with the purchase of NBA Live 09 and an Xbox 360 Pro 60GB. Shop on!

Mercenaries 2 'Total Payback' update coming this month

by Jem Alexander { Oct 1st 2008 at 9:30PM }

Did you enjoy Mercenaries 2? Don't answer that just now, because it's not over yet. EA has announced that a patch will be made available for the PS3 version on October 20th. This patch will add a few new features to the game (even though you'll probably be too busy playing Dead Space to notice.) First on the list are cheats, which will allow you to access all the weapons and give yourself infinite ammo and health. Because a game with no challenges is extra fun, right?

The patch will also include six new characters to play as. It will also allow for cross-region co-op play, so you can play with your pals across the world. Not bad for a free update. EA also states that more downloadable content will be following in November, though we suspect this is probably of the paid-for variety. Still, fans of the game have plenty to look forward to. For the rest of us, we'll have to keep ourselves busy with the ridiculous avalanche of games that's about to fall on top of us.

[Via Xbox 360 Fanboy]

Mercenaries 2 receives Total Payback on Oct. 13th

by Dustin Burg { Oct 1st 2008 at 2:00PM }

Mercenaries 2: World in Flames will be receiving it's first ever title update on Monday, October 13th with the release of a "Total Payback" update that's aimed at connecting gamers from around the world, adding more variety and enabling cheaters to, well ... cheat.

The Total Payback update will add an additional six characters to the Mercenaries 2 mix, give players the ability to enter cheats and (this one's a biggie) enable cross-region support of Xbox Live multiplayer. Huzzah! Again, this is an update, meaning it'll be applied instantly and for free come October 13th.

Also, Pandemic revealed that they'll be releasing the first set of Mercs 2 downloadable content sometime this November. So, keep an eye out for that.

[Thanks, Fox]

American PSN releases for September 18th

by Jem Alexander { Sep 18th 2008 at 4:00PM }

If you ask us, Europe wins this week. But two demos are never to be sniffed at. The Call of Duty 4 map pack has lowered in price to $4.99 until the 25th, in case you haven't already picked that up. Please be sure to check out the Valkyria Chronicles video if you're even slightly intrigued in that game. Or even if you're not. Here's the full release list:

Playable content