With Vin Diesel starring as the lead in The Wheelman (PC, Xbox 360, PS3), and Midway collaborating with Tigon Studios to deliver the finished product, it's no surprise that expectations are rising high, and the stakes, too. It doesn't hurt as well that Tigon Studios is founded by the Hollywood star himself. Read up after the jump.

While the name Peter Jackson was once associated with the long- buried Halo movie project, a new project involving the renowned Hollywood director has once again surfaced. Microsoft is currently assembling a team willing to "help develop a new experience in the Halo universe". Find out more about this in our full article after the jump.

 

Straight from Barcelona, Spain, an official press release from Microsoft Game Studios revealed that an MMO game themed by the comics world repertoire of Marvel Entertainment is now under development by Cryptic Studios. Marvel Universe Online, which should be available for Xbox 360 owners and Windows Vista PC-goers, will sport interconnectivity play over Xbox Live and Live for Windows, bringing the MMO fans of the PC and fans of the Microsoft next-gen console closer together.

"The vision behind the alliance of Microsoft Game Studios, Cryptic Studios and Marvel is to expand the MMO genre and create an epic gaming experience exclusively for Xbox 360 and Windows Vista gamers to experience together online," Frank Pape said, who's senior director of business development at Microsoft Game Studios.

With MMO veteran developer Cryptic Studios at the development helm, the exclusive team-up of Microsoft, Marvel and Cryptic will attempt to deliver "the best possible experience in Marvel Universe Online." The World of Warcraft-killer we've been searching for, perhaps?

You may know Cryptic Studios for their hit MMO games City of Heroes and City of Villains, which are also superhero-themed like the Marvel MMO should be. Bringing in monsters, villains and Marvel superheroes to your favorite gaming platform, the MMO is expected to bring out the uniqueness of the Marvel IP.

When is it coming out? It hasn't been announced, but expect it to be a long way off from 2007. Still, with an MMO looking to rival that of Fury's graphics, it's definitely worth the wait.

  

In-game advertising goes all-out in NBA Street: Homecourt (PS3, Xbox 360) as EA and Nike have teamed up to bring you ads which do more than just annoy the casual gamer.

In Homecourt, created players can now be draped in authentic Nike gear to provide more than just aesthetics. The shoes actually boost up the experience gained by your created baller so you can raise your stats faster and own the playgrounds faster than you can say "Air Jordan."

Included in the extensive list of footwear is the entire Jordan series, from the brightly colored Air Jordan I's, the VII's that His Airness wore in the Barcelona Olympics to the freshly-released Air Jordan XXII's.

Aside from the shoes, real-life courts which saw the likes of Rip Hamilton and Carmelo Anthony grow to stardom are unlockable, but the legendary Rucker Park in Harlem has got to be the crown jewel of the bunch, and you can download it for free. Here are some of the game's goodies:

• The GOAT - UNLOCKED
• Dirt Bowl - UNLOCKED
• Hometown Park - UNLOCKED
• Venice Beach - UNLOCKED
• Franklin Park - UNLOCKED
• Cloverdale - LOCKED (Unlocked in Homecourt Challenge)
• Rupert Bell Rec Center - LOCKED (Unlocked in Homecourt Challenge)
• Ash Park - LOCKED (Unlocked in Homecourt Challenge)
• Brand Jordan Gym - LOCKED (Unlocked in Homecourt Challenge)
• Hometown Gym - LOCKED (Unlocked in Homecourt Challenge)

All in all, the addition of the Nike gear, the deep customization options and the fast, arcade-style play should give Xbox 360 hoop fans a good fix of hardcourt action.

While co-operative play has been underrated for as long as I can remember, I feel that it's one of those things which can clinch a deal when you're out shopping and confused between two games. I mean, there's no other feeling like getting together with your friend and beating the living daylights out of a computer AI.

And Gears of War has been one of those games which has just about everything. Awesome graphics: Check! Great gameplay: Check! Nice storyline: Check! In all seriousness, Gears of War hype would probably be on par with Halo 3. And why not? I've seen gamers buying the console just so they can play GoW when it comes out. And apart from these new screenshots, it's also been confirmed that it will be getting full co-op gameplay! One of the guys from RewiredMind.com was able to get in a word with Cliffy B. who confirmed the fact. And besides, it's not just some missions in between where they've tacked it in. The full game can be played in co-op mode along with your buddies!

Here's more screenshots released at X06, Barcelona.

 

 

 

Now I don't know about you guys, but I'm foaming at the mouth in anticipation of this kickass game! Heck, I can probably say the same about a few of my colleagues here at QJ too. And trust me, this is gonna be one helluva ride! I've already booked my copy of GoW. You can do it too, from the link below!

Pre-order: [Gears of War]

  

Worldwide publisher Activision has announced that it will show off it's holiday season line-up at Microsoft X06 event, held in Barcelona, Spain this year. The media, including QJ.net will have a chance to get closer than ever to the fury of combat with Call of Duty 3 and experience the most realistic skateboarding game ever with the all-new Tony Hawk's Project 8, the next-generation Tony Hawks game which is being built from the ground up to take advantage of the advanced capabilities of Xbox 360.

Call of Duty 3, the follow-up to the #1 next-generation game that currently sits on the Xbox 360, delivers the intensity of being closer than ever to the fury of combat during the battle for the Liberation of Paris, arguably the most harrowing campaign of WWII, known as The Normandy Breakout. COD3 will live up to your expectations if you have played previous Call Of Duty titles, delivering the adrenaline rush of battle and breathtaking action of the Allied offensive that changed the fate of the world and will be released in November 2006.

The other game which you can expect to see more of before the end of X06 this year is, Tony Hawk's Project 8, which immerses players in a skateboarding experience unique to the Tony Hawks series using ultra-realistic graphics perfectly suited for the X360, enhanced physics and extremely responsive controls in order to get that simulated skating which it's rivals just can't touch. This game is also due to be released in November 2006, and allows you to skate against some of the world's top pros in true to life competitions in the quest become the #1 skater.

We'll have all the latest news when it comes in, so stay tuned to QJ.net!

The battle over exclusives rages on and Microsoft fired another salvo yesterday afternoon in sunny Barcelona when Peter Moore announced that the next iteration of Ubisoft's super successful uber-spy franchise, Splinter Cell, would be an Xbox 360 exclusive. And yeah, by next iteration, we mean the one after Splinter Cell: Double Agent, due out in just under a month. Although there's no definitive word, we've a feeling the next game will be called Splinter Cell: Conviction, thanks to highly publicized Ubisoft information leak earlier this month.

The development makes sense considering Splinter Cell was essentially born on the Xbox platform and Xbox fans have been good to Ubisoft and Splinter Cell especially over the years. To reiterate the exclusive means that the game won't be appearing on any other platforms, including the Wii and even the PS2. That said, one can't help but wonder if a scenario involving large sums of money in shiny metal briefcases and men with dark suits and sunglasses meeting in abandoned warehouses was involved. It also bears mentioning that it's possible the game will still appear on the PlayStation 3 and other platforms at some time in the future.

As far as this humble writer knows this marks the very first time a Splinter Cell game as appeared as an exclusive on any non-handheld platform. Interesting times indeed.

Mass Effect dropped jaws at E3 this year and had anyone who laid eyes on it babbling incoherently about its scale, potential and good looks, personally I never got to see the thing so I had no idea what everyone was on about. Shortly thereafter I managed to get a look at the game in motion when I saw the now infamous bar scene on video. If you've been following the game you know what the hype is about, if not, have a gander at these new screens released yesterday during the opening of Microsoft's X06 event in Barcelona, and commence babbling.

       

       

Microsoft have announced the development of a new title for the Xbox 360 at the X06 event in Barcelona, Spain. Microsoft said that Ensemble Studios, well-known creator of games such as Age of Empires for the PC, is working on a new real-time strategy (RTS) game for the Xbox 360 called Halo Wars - of course based upon Xbox's franchise Halo Universe. Apparently the team have been working on Halo Wars for quite some time, and the the storyline takes place before Halo 1, when the Covenant forces first make contact with the UNSC.

There was no word from X06 on when to expect a release, but it will most probably come a few months after Halo 3. We at QJ also found the official website for Halo Wars up and running today. The website features a Halo Wars trailer, the screenshots which you can see in this article and an FAQ on the game for the 360. Halo isn't simply a First Person Shooter franchise anymore.

 

Stream: [Halo Wars Trailer]
Visit: [Official Halo Wars Website]

Doing your holiday shopping list? Well, we got one more list for you to see before you max that credit card. EA just released their Holiday lineup during the X06 at Barcelona, and here are the games for you to pick & choose to shop for the one you love: your Xbox 360.

FIFA 07--it's got independent ball physics, unique player movements, better graphics, and a great online feature. If you want to be in the sidelines rather than upfront, there's a Manager Mode where you can develop your players and strategies before you step into the field. Game will be out by October.

NBA LIVE 07--the freaky skills movement is on, as the Total Freestyle Control will make defenders lives a hard one. Defense has been beefed up in this game just to make it more interesting. ESPN is an exclusive partner and will be giving up-to-date news online. It's out now.

Need for Speed Carbon--customizing your car shouldn't take more than a few seconds in this game--it has the new Autosculpt technology to ensure you get what you want. Tweak to your heart's content. Out by November.

NHL 07--a game that has photo-realistic graphics won't go wrong, add the new Skill Stick system and you're ready to go smash the other opponent's face in. Remember no sticks boys. Out now.

Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 07--it's got 21 new courses to offer and 50 golfers to choose from (no, it's not Tiger 1, Tiger 2...). UCAP technology just makes Tiger more realistic than ever but it doesn't make losing to him any less painful. Out by November.

Half-Life 2--the entire single player and first two episodes of the continued story in one game. Time to shoot me some critters. Out by 1st Quarter of 2007.

Superman Returns: The Videogame--fly like your favorite superhero and beat some major baddies along the way in this movie-tie-in. Up, up, and away! Out by November.

Looks like you got a lot  of sports and some cool games to choose from this holiday season. Happy shopping!