• EA Acquires Firemint

    // Gradly // blog, Games, iPad, iPhone, News No Responses

    Indie Studio Firemint, the Australian company that has produced iPhone and iPad gaming hits like “Flight Control” and “Real Racing,” which have 4.5 million and about 2 million downloads in the App Store, is about to be acquired by the game giant within the next four weeks. EA announced that they’ll likely close the deal soon, giving no financial details regarding the acquisition.

    “The Firemint team is remarkable for its critical and commercial success,” said Barry Cottle, Executive Vice President and General Manger of EA Interactive. “Having them as part of EAi will accelerate our position as worldwide leader in game development for mobile devices and online gaming platforms.”

    The agreement follows EA’s recent acquisition of Mobile Post Production Inc. (MPP), the worldwide leader in high quality cross-platform development and porting of games for smartphones.

    Late last month, Firemint released an HD version of “Real Racing 2,” which allows users with the iPad 2 to hook up the device to a 1080p HDTV. Users can disconnect without interuppting the game, Firemint said.

  • Battlefield 3: Amazing New 12 Minute Gameplay Trailer

    // Gradly // blog, Consoles, Games, PS3, Wallpaper No Responses

    EA and developer DICE have just released their amazing new 12 minute gameplay trailer for Battlefield 3. If you had reservation about the ambitions of Battlefield 3, we believe this latest footage should give you a piece of mind.

    Based on this trailer, the game is looking spectacular and looks to play even better. Battlefield 3 is launching later this year for the PS3, Xbox 360 and PC.

  • Battlefield 3 New Spectacular Gameplay Trailer

    // Gradly // blog, Consoles, Games, News No Responses

    EA / DICE has just unleashed a brand new gameplay trailer for Battlefield 3. It’s pretty spectacular. Take a look below.

    The video is called “Fault Line: Episode 2 Good Effect” and features some earth-shattering physics effects powered by their new frostbite 2 engine – as well as some scrabbling about on rooftops. Oh, and plenty of destruction.

    DICE has called out its rivals in the latest OPM, claiming “our competitors are getting lazy… they had better watch out. We are coming for them.”

    The studio’s general manager, Karl Magnus Troedsson, has added that the developer regrets its past neglect of the PC community, and that it’s intent on making it up with Battlefield 3.

    Oh, and here’s part one, in case you missed it earlier this month!

    Battlefield 3 comes this fall

  • Unsurprisingly, Dante’s Inferno Not Available in Middle East

    // Gradly // blog, Consoles, Games, PS3 4 Responses

    Dante's Inferno Banned in Middle East

    It’s officially official, Dante’s Inferno is not being released in the Middle East. In a statement that surprises absolutely no one, EA announced that, “Electronic Arts has decided not to release Dante’s Inferno in the Middle East after an evaluation process which is based on consumer tastes, preferences, platform mix and other factors.”

    After first setting our eyes on Dante’s Inferno last year, it seemed like one of those titles that might never hit the retail shelves in UAE. Dealing with the afterlife, the game focuses on Hell and its 9 circles of sinners within. Such a premise itself is a very touchy topic within the region, one of the reasons why we think Darksiders got banned too.

    In fact, this region is so sensitive to such topics that God of War is also banned over here just because it has the word ‘God’ in the title, despite being based on Greek mythology! After playing the demo last year we were pretty damn sure that Dante’s Inferno will be banned, not least because it goes out of it’s way to shock you with obscenity and total disregard for being subtle in anyway. So no surprise then, that EA decided to back off completely and not even bother trying to get the game past the Media Council. Out of the 4 big action games this year (Bayonetta, Darksiders, Dante’s Inferno and God of War 3) three are not officially available! Still, Bayonetta’s one hell of a game, and banning a game has never stopped anyone from playing it if they really want to.

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