Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. today unveiled the launch date for METAL GEAR SOLID HD Collection, coming to the Playstation®Vita system on June 12. From the critically acclaimed director, Hideo Kojima, METAL GEAR SOLID HD Collection includes two beloved classics, METAL GEAR SOLID 2: Sons of Liberty and METAL GEAR SOLID 3: Snake Eater. Featuring stunning, upgraded graphics from the original releases on the PlayStation®2, both titles include Transfarring. Players can transfer and save data from their PlayStation®3 METAL GEAR SOLID HD Collection to their PlayStation®Vita system and start the action from where they left off.

METAL GEAR SOLID HD Collection for the PlayStation®Vita allows fans to experience the series like never before with optimized controls that take full advantage of the Vita’s unique touch-screen and rear touchpad. Using just their fingers, gamers can zoom in on captivating cut-scenes, peek around corners, interrogate enemies, cycle through weapons, and perform rapid attacks with their knife.

METAL GEAR SOLID HD Collection will be available for the Playstation®Vita system on June 12.

Wargaming.net, the award-winning videogame developer and publisher, introduced ground-attack planes today into its flight combat MMO World of Warplanes, currently in its alpha testing stage. These heavily armed warbirds are a massively threatening class designed to wipe out ground targets.

Several legendary names stand out in the class of ground-attack planes, including the classic Il-2, Il-10, and the highly progressive jet-powered Il-40 “sturmoviks”, which is presented in the Soviet tech tree, and will expand into models from other nations as World of Warplanes gets close to launch later this year.

Ground-attack aircraft are most famous for deadly strafing runs, dive bombing and destructive missile attacks, while their armor provides high survivability and combat effectiveness.

“This is the best example of what a flying tank would be like,” said World of Warplanes Project Manager, Alex Zezulin. “Ground-attack planes are heavy, slow-paced, close to invulnerable machines that might have the most important objective in combat: to eliminate any ground-based resistance and ensure the safety of their lighter allies.”

About World of Warplanes

World of Warplanes is the flight combat MMO action game set in the Golden Age of military aviation. The game continues the armored warfare theme marked in the highly-acclaimed World of Tanks and will throw players into a never-ending tussle for air dominance.

World of Warplanes will allow players to build full-scale careers as virtual pilots offering machines from several key eras, from1930′s biplanes to the Korean War jet fighters that led the way to modern air forces.

World of Warplanes will feature a wide range of warbirds, each of them unique in their effectiveness and behavior. Virtual pilots will choose from three main warplane classes – single-engine light fighters capable of engaging enemies in close dogfights, heavy fighters with their deadly straight attacks, and strafing aircrafts, the fearsome threat to ground targets.

Every plane will feature multiple variations of ammo types, engines, and other crucial modules, and their various combinations will allow players to pick the optimal configuration for the most effective behavior in combat.

Find more about World of Warplanes at:

• http://www.worldofwarplanes.com/

ATLUS and ACE Team today announced that Rock of Ages™, their balls-to-the-walls game of tower offense featuring fast-paced strategy, high art, and gigantic boulders of doom, is now available in North America on PlayStation®Network for PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.  The game, which previously released late last year for Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PC via Steam, releases on PlayStation Network with a host of added features and content.  Also, as a special treat for North American PlayStation®Plus subscribers, Rock of Ages will be available for free for a limited time!

A new game mode, “Obstacle Course,” challenges players to compete head-to-head with a friend (local or online) or an AI opponent to navigate a stage full of randomly placed defenses.  The player to cross the finish line first wins, although the inclusion of boulder power-ups that can be acquired along the way offers an element of excitement and unpredictability that’s sure to satisfy existing fans and newcomers alike.  An enhanced version of the classic “War” mode allows players to utilize defensive units that would otherwise be locked away and inaccessible given the stage and its time period.  There is also a new tactical wrinkle for explosive defenses, added boulder skins to enjoy, and a wealth of tweaks and refinements.  The new features and content in the PlayStation Network release of Rock of Ages are currently exclusive to the console, although that may change at a later date.

Hailed as “a must-have download” by GamePro, Rock of Ages is a treat for the eyes, ears, and mind.  As players progress through nearly two dozen stages of crushing action, rewarding strategy, and breathtaking visuals, they’ll be toured through five distinct periods of classic art history, encountering an assortment of famous historical and literary characters, outlandish and inspired defensive units, and fantastical bosses therein.  The blend of genres and visual elements is so unlike anything else, the overall experience so unprecedented, that Joystiq deemed Rock of Ages “worth playing for the sense of disbelief that results.”

Rock of Ages is now available on PlayStation Network for PS3 system in North America.  It was also previously released on Xbox LIVE Arcade for the Xbox 360 system and PC via Steam.  For more information, please visit www.atlus.com/rockofages.

Beta 3 for Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion has begun, and to join in all you need to do is pre-order the game!

About Sins of a Solar Empire Rebellion:

The time of Diplomacy is over. The length of the war and differing opinions on what should be done to bring the war to an end has led to a splintering of the groups involved. The controlling powers-that-be have depleted arsenals and seemed to have exhausted all efforts of diplomacy. Trapped in a stalemate, sub-factions have rebelled and broken off the main alignments. Rebellion is upon us.

If you already own a copy of a previous Sins game, you can pre-order Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion for $29.95.  All other pre-orders are $39.95.

THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) and Machinima today announced the immediate launch of Nexuiz PC for $9.99 on Steam and other digital download sites. Nexuiz is the CryENGINE® 3 powered Arena FPS from Illfonic.

“Nexuiz is the competitive shooter,” said Kedhrin Gonzalez, creative director at Illfonic. “We’ve done a lot of community outreach, listened to our fans and included their ideas in Nexuiz. It is faster, more intense and more fun than ever. PC gamers, especially competitive gamers, want speed, high-quality graphics and non-stop action.”

The PC version of Nexuiz will include a number of enhancements and changes over the console version including:

Dedicated Server Support and Server Browser

Enhanced, CryENGINE 3 powered graphics with DX11 support

Advanced custom controls, new HUD and a 20% increase to player speed for ultimate twitch-shooter experience

More details can be found on the Nexuiz community forums at Forums.Nexuiz.com.

Nexuiz for PC is now available from Steam at Store.Steampowered.com/app/96800.

ATLUS, a brand of Index Digital Media, Inc., today announced that “Game of Thrones™,” the RPG based on the internationally bestselling book series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin and the critically acclaimed HBO® television series, Game of Thrones®, is now available in stores across North America for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and PC via download.

Replete with the authentic political intrigue and complex narrative the acclaimed fantasy series is known for, this captivating interactive adventure gives fans a new and exciting way to lose themselves in the world of Westeros. With an original story written under the watchful eye of George R. R. Martin, who recently stated, “I’ve sampled the work Cyanide has done, and I’m largely happy with it. I think many of my fans will share that feeling,” the “Game of Thrones” RPG is filled with characters and locations straight from the pages of the beloved fantasy novels. Moreover, the game includes the likenesses of fan favorite characters from the television adaptation. “Game of Thrones” promises to deliver the ultimate interactive roleplaying experience for fans of the series and its gritty, sophisticated medieval drama.

“Author George R. R. Martin’s masterful storytelling have helped make the A Song of Ice and Fire universe into one of the most heralded literary series of all time,” commented Tim Pivnicny, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at ATLUS. “With the official ‘Game of Thrones’ roleplaying game, fans can discover a story crafted under Mr. Martin’s supervision, loyal and respectful to series canon yet full of new characters and locations as well. It’s one thing to read about or watch the towering majesty and bitter cold of The Wall or the alleyways and daunting Throne Room of King’s Landing, but playing is believing!”

“Game of Thrones” is out now in North America for Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and PC via download. For additional information, including game details, screenshots, video, interactive web quests, and more, visit http://gameofthrones-thegame.com.

Bethesda Softworks®, a ZeniMax® Media company, today announced that Dishonored, the supernatural assassin action game under development at Arkane® Studios, will be available in  North America on October 9, 2012 and throughout Europe on October 12, 2012.  Developed under the direction of co-creative directors Raphael Colantonio and Harvey Smith, Dishonored is slated for release on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and Games for Windows.

Dishonored is set in Dunwall, an industrial whaling city where steampunk- inspired technology and otherworldly forces coexist in the shadows. You are Corvo, the once-trusted bodyguard of the beloved Empress who has been murdered. Framed for the crime, you become an infamous assassin, known by the disturbing mask that has become your calling card. In a time of uncertainty, when the city is besieged by plague and ruled by a corrupt government armed with frightening technologies, dark forces bestow supernatural abilities upon you – but at what cost? The truth behind your betrayal is as murky as the waters surrounding the city, and the life you once had is gone forever.

Creatively eliminate your enemies with Dishonored’s flexible combat system as you combine supernatural abilities with weapons and gadgets at your disposal. Pursue your targets under the cover of darkness or boldly attack them head on with weapons drawn. The outcome of each mission plays out based on the choices you make.

“We are pleased that Dishonored has captured people’s attention,” said Vlatko Andonov, president of Bethesda Softworks. “We are looking forward to sharing lots more information about the game leading up to its launch in October, and having a hands-on build of Dishonored in our booth at E3!”

Dishonored has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

For more information on Dishonored visit www.Dishonored.com.

THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI) announced that a sequel to its critically acclaimed strategy game Company of Heroes® is scheduled to be taking gamers to the frozen frontlines of war in Russia in early 2013.

As a true sequel, this game moves the battle away from the common Western Front focus of World War II and refocuses on some of history’s most brutal and devastating conflicts on the Eastern Front, challenging players to take command of the iconic Red Army and repel the Nazi invaders from the very gates of Moscow.

Company of Heroes 2 utilizes Relic® Entertainment’s state of the art proprietary Essence 3.0 EngineTM to bring new technological advancements to the strategy genre in the form of innovative Dynamic Battle Tactics, increased graphical fidelity and new environmental destruction, ultimately putting the player in control with new Commander Abilities.

Greg Wilson, Producer at Relic Entertainment commented, “Company of Heroes 2 is a true successor, introducing a new front, new protagonists and new technology while retaining the unique mix of strategic gameplay and competitive multiplayer that made the original Company of Heroes such a success.”

Danny Bilson, Executive Vice President of Core Games commented, “We are excited to announce a sequel to one of THQ’s best loved properties. Company of Heroes 2 will deliver an amazing strategy experience along with a strong post-launch digital content plan that enhances and expands the product’s lifecycle.”

The original Company of Heroes was released in 2006 to critical acclaim and is currently the highest rated strategy title on Gamerankings.com (with more than five reviews) with an average of 93.82% based on 56 reviews. The game features similar acclaim on Metacritic.com with a Metascore of 93% based on 55 reviews.

Company of Heroes 2 is scheduled to be available for PC in early 2013. Keep checking back for more information.

One-man independent games company, Grubby Hands Ltd is proudly celebrating a special anniversary this month – a year since its official launch.

Having released chart-topping ‘David Haye’s Knockout’ and much-loved ‘Boy Loves Girl’, Grubby Hands has lots to toast as Wednesday 16th May 2012 marks their 1st Appy Birthday!

Since rising from the fall of Activision’s Bizarre Creations, in February last year, Grubby Hands’ Founder and Company Director, Dr Danny Pearce, has been getting his hands dirty by creating the ferociously controversial ‘David Haye’s Knockout’ and cutely unique ‘Boy Loves Girl’.

Moving from being a Senior Programmer at Bizarre Creations where he worked on AAA multi-platform titles: ‘The Club’, ‘Blur’ and ‘James Bond 007: Blood Stone’ to independently releasing iPhone, iPad, iPod touch games has proven to be an instant success. ‘David Haye’s Knockout’ immediately topped the iPhone App Store Charts: reaching #1 in the Sports Chart, #3 in the Action Chart, #5 in the Games Chart and #8 in the App Chart and critically acclaimed ‘Boy Loves Girl’ continues to receive positive recognition: ‘full of charm and originality’ (148apps.com), ‘fiendishly addictive game’ (pocketgamer.co.uk) and ‘cheek-pinchingly charming’ (slidetoplay.com).

Kick-starting their first year with two distinctively different and refreshingly rare games, Grubby Hands are all geared up to begin their new year with continued grit, gusto and innovative games. First on the agenda is a new and explosive ‘David Haye’s Knockout’. Following its notoriously naughty reputation, the game is set to rumble the App Store with its provocative punches, brutal beats and uncompromising fun. Grubby Hands have other ambitious titles up their sleeves that are yet to be revealed and set to be released later this year.