Press Pass: Call of Juarez Gunslinger, Grid 2, Sniper Ghost Warrior 2 and Bioshock Infinite

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Today’s gaming press roundup!

Welcome to a new feature whereby I reach into my press release mailbox and pull out a few of the day’s news releases from the various publishers.

Every day I am inundated with press releases from those hardworking gaming PR guys and I always feel guilty by not reporting the news. I hope you find the following gaming titbits interesting.

First up it’s Ubisoft with a new game announcement:

Ubisoft Releases Reveal Trailer For Call Of Juarez® Gunslinger

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA— March 15th, 2013 – Ubisoft has revealed the first game-play trailer for Call of Juarez® Gunslinger.

From the dust of a gold mine to the dirt of a saloon, Call of Juarez® Gunslinger is a real homage to the Wild West tales and era.  When justice is bought and paid for, enforced by the man with the quickest draw, who’s to say what freedom, or even justice, means.

Made of memorable encounters with some of the West’s most notorious names such as John Wesley Hardin, Billy the Kid and Jesse James, the game blurs the lines between man and myth.  They all made their choice, and now you’ll make yours.  Call of Juarez® Gunslinger lets players live the greatest legends of the Old West.  It’s time to settle up!

Looks good, doesn’t it. I still need to finish off Bound in Blood. I didn’t bother with that modern day Call of Juarez game. This looks to be a welcome return to the series’ roots.

Next up we have NamcoBandai touting Codemasters upcoming petrol-fest.

GRID2™ ‘WORLD SERIES RACING PART 1: AN AMERICAN DREAM’ TRAILER NOW PLAYING AT WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/GRIDGAME 

In-Game Footage Reveals American Clubs and Locations as Investor Patrick Callahan Outlines Vision for New Global Racing Competition

Sydney – Friday 1th March Today Codemasters® released ‘World Series Racing Part 1: An American Dream’, the first in a new series of trailers for GRID 2™ . The video is narrated by Patrick Callahan, the entrepreneur and founder of World Series Racing, the fictional cross-discipline motor racing championship that runs throughout GRID 2, who introduces his vision for the series and its beginnings in the USA.

In the video, Patrick Callahan outlines his plans for a new motorsports series and introduces players to two key racing clubs he needs to recruit as in-game footage showcases some of GRID 2’s American locations, including Street Racing in Chicago, Track Racing at the legendary Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Road Racing at the dramatic California Coast.  It’s Callahan’s intention to bring the best drivers from different disciplines and styles from all over the world together to compete in one unified league and find the ultimate driving superstar. But to set up a new motorsports series, and get the rewards he craves, he needs a star. And that’s where the player comes in…

As Patrick Callahan’s raw talent, GRID 2 players will travel the world, recruiting race clubs and their drivers to compete in new and traditional racing events, crossing in and out of their established disciplines. Callaghan figures if he can get the best, the crowds will come. And then he’ll bring the eyes of the world onto his new series.

GRID 2’s world will reflect the progress players make in the game. Perform on the track and gamers will grow their fanbase, earning fame – GRID 2’s xp – allowing them access to new events, sponsors, cars and increasing their profile. To immerse players further in this new world of competitive motorsport, Codemasters has collaborated with ESPN to create exclusive in-game ESPN SportsCenter live-action video sequences that chart the rise of World Series Racing as it grows from a grass-roots curiosity to a headline-grabbing championship in the global sports market.

GRID 2, the long-awaited sequel to the BAFTA-award winning, critically acclaimed Race Driver: GRID™, will race into ANZ retail on 30th May for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Windows® PC and is available for pre-order now.

I always felt that the original Grid played second fiddle to the Dirt rally games; the game’s circuit racing seems tame in comparison. Grid was a solid racing game, though, and I’m looking forward to this sequel.

I’m particularly excited about this one, as I’ve just finished downloading my review copy. Check out what CI Games have to say about Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2.

SNIPER: GHOST WARRIOR 2 AVAILABLE GLOBALLY ON FRIDAY MARCH 15th

AS CI GAMES SHIPS OVER 1 MILLION UNITS FOR WORLDWIDE LAUNCH

Free multiplayer DLC coming soon with two new maps, and additional game mode

SYDNEY, Australia — March 15th, 2013 — Line up your sights, brace your nerves and get ready for the sniping event of the year. CI Games, a fast-growing international publisher and developer of interactive entertainment, has shipped more than one million units of Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 to retailers worldwide in anticipation of the global launch. Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 hits the shelves today in Australia at retailers for Xbox 360® and PlayStation®3 for $79.95 RRP, and Windows PC for $69.95 RRP.

“From the suspenseful tactical sniper experience and multitude of real world locations, to the incredible visuals, advanced AI and intelligent physics using Crytek’s, state-of-the-art, CryENGINE® 3, Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 is a game built for the modern military video game enthusiasts,” said Marek Tyminski, CEO of CI Games. “Free multiplayer DLC containing two new maps and an exciting additional game mode is just the first step in our plan to support the Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 experience for our fans after  launch. We will also soon release a dedicated update to the PC version of the game that will allow gamers to enjoy all the advantages of DirectX 11.

The Free downloadable content (DLC) pack will introduce new multiplayer maps (Tower Defense and Temple Crossing) and a completely new game mode. Available in upcoming weeks for Xbox LIVE® Arcade, PlayStation® Network and Windows PC, players will be able to embark on a series of new thrilling multiplayer matches. Additionally, CI Games will soon release an update for the PC version of the game with DirectX 11 support.

Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 is the only multi-platform first person shooter exclusively designed around the modern military sniper experience. Using the advanced capabilities of CryENGINE3, the game delivers deep graphical environments, diverse challenges, a responsive AI system and the exacting precision and accuracy that made the original a worldwide hit.  With unprecedented levels of authentic weaponry, ballistics and environmental factors, Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 offers the ultimate balance of skill, tension and action.

Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2 is available March 15th for the Xbox 360® and PlayStation®3 for $79.95 RRP, and Windows PC for $69.95 RRP.

To learn more about Sniper: Ghost Warrior 2, visit: www.facebook.com/SniperGhostWarrior  & www.sniperghostwarrior2.com

I can’t wait to give this a go later. I discovered the first game by accident last Christmas and loved it to bits. Sniper 2, using Crytek’s CryENGINE 3 promises to be even better.

Lastly, it’s time for another peek at the game that I’m most looking forward to this month. They’ve been a bit quiet of late, but here’s 2K Games with a new Bioshock Infinite trailer. Apparently it’s a bit gory so don’t watch it if you are squeamish…or a kid.

BioShock Infinite puts players in the shoes of U.S. Cavalry veteran turned hired gun, Booker DeWitt. Indebted to the wrong people and with his life on the line, DeWitt has only one opportunity to wipe his slate clean. He’s one man, alone. And the followers of the Prophet Father Comstock will stop at nothing to keep Booker from his Quarry. But with an arsenal of weapons and the incredible powers granted by Vigors, Booker deals death from above on the Sky-Lines of Columbia. And the girl he’s there to rescue might turn out to be the partner he needs to survive.

Very nice. Bioshock Infinite is a fantastic-looking game. I’m a bit worried about the beating than I’m likely to get from some of those boss-types in the video, though!

That’s it until next time!