It looks like the videogame industry has a new defender in its midst, except he's not exactly the type of person you'd expect to be promoting the videogame industry. How come? Well, he's the so-called Legend Killer of wrestling, and he wants to see even more violence in games. More after the jump!

Here's quite a strong statement coming from a gaming studio that's planning to take on the popularity and success of Blizzard's World of Warcraft: "Warcraft has peaked," said Jack Sorenson of THQ. Does this mean that it'll eventually be easier for its sci-fi MMO to take on the giant fantasy massive role playing game? Check out the full article to read more.

Whoa. Did he say what I think he just said? Brian Farrel, head honcho and the man of the "creative hub" that is THQ, spilled the game publisher's thoughts on their future ventures. And while strumming a few notes to the tune of market segmentation, Farrell revealed that the Warhammer 40k and Company of Heroes franchises were heading online - and in the massively multiplayer fashion, too. More details at the full article.

Oh, yeah! Just when you thought your wallet was safe after last week's releases, this week comes along with absolute must-buys for just about every platform there is. This week, we're going to witness the highly-anticipated launch of Super Mario Galaxy for the Nintendo Wii. The Microsoft Xbox 360 and the Sony PlayStation 3 won't be bullied by the famous plumber though, as Assassin's Creed lets loose the dogs of war in the Third Crusade! 'Nuff said. Dig in!

*Article originally posted Nov 12, 2007 at 07:22AM

 

Vanguard game designer Myka Kairs, Game Designer of the Vanguard Development Team, recently agreed to an interview about herself and about the work that she has been doing for Vanguard: Saga of Heroes. Though she had previously worked as a game tester for both THQ and Relic (she had worked on both Dawn of War and Company of Heroes), she is now a game designer whose primary responsibility is content implementation for the quests and the population of Vanguard. 

Her more recent quest designs include the Ksaravi Gulch Dungeon (She made some minor population changes to it.), part of the Tehatamani Empire, everything in the Fallen Cove and a couple of sections of the River Valley. Her current project is the flying mount quest, which she claims is soloable only in certain parts.

Myka Kairs also dispensed some helpful advice for those who wish to follow in her footsteps as a game designer. First, use a good set of modding tools and pick up any game. Second, send a disc that contains samples of your work along with your resume. Lastly, join a team working on a mod, and use them as references.

As a point of reference though, you also might be interested to know that she likes sour cream apple pie, garlic, and long hair.

Debuting this week is Medal of Honor: Airborne, and as fate would have it, a couple of other war games - even some World War II themed ones like Hearts of Iron - are joining it on the shelves. Stranglehold is also hitting the market for the Xbox 360 and the PC, with the Sony PS3 version coming later this month.

Another game wriggling its way to the Nintendo DS and the Sony PSP this week is Worms: Open Warfare 2. The worms are back with their rocket launchers and grenades ready to do some serious squishy damage.

Medal of Honor: Airborne. Step into the shoes of Boyd Travers, a soldier in the 17th Airborne Division in this first person shooter game set in World War II. You can choose from a wide and authentic range of weaponry as you sent in mission from France to Germany.

• Xbox 360, PC - September 4, 2007
• US$ 59.99 (Xbox 360), US$ 49.99 (PC)
  
• ESRB T (Teen)
• Electronic Arts and EA Los Angeles

Stranglehold. Chow Yun Fat reprises his role as Inspector "Tequila" Yuen in this third-person shooter from director John Woo. The game features an environment where you can destroy almost anything you can see (and shoot.) Battle with the Triad and the Mafia in slow motion with "Tequila Time."

• Xbox 360, PC - September 5, 2007
• US$ 59.99 (Xbox 360), US$ 49.99 (PC)
• ESRB M (Mature)
• Midway and Tiger Hill Entertainment

Worms: Open Warfare 2. The worms are back and they're coming complete with online capabilities for the DS and the PSP. Go to war with the worms in six different scenarios. The PSP version will have downloadable maps as well.

• Nintendo DS, PSP - September 4, 2007
• US$ 29.99 (DS), US$ 29.99 (PSP)
• ESRB T (Teen)
• THQ

Check out the rest of the games coming out this week in the full article!

Buy: [Medal of Honor: Airborne (360)]
Buy: [Medal of Honor: Airborne (PC)]
Buy: [Stranglehold (PC)]
Buy: [Stranglehold (360)]
Buy: [Worms: Open Warfare 2 (PSP)]
Buy: [Worms: Open Warfare 2 (DS)]

One of the biggest factors in an MMORPG is questing. Most especially for a game like Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, quests are the lifeline of your journey. Spinning off from their RTS game Warhammer 40,000 on the PC, THQ and Games Workshop are now flipping forward to the MMO arena with their own quest-driven title.

Before the game gets released, you got to make sure though that you know the ins and outs of the questing system and structure of Warhammer Online. That's what the video below is for. It's nearly 20 full minutes of tutorial, as given by creative director Paul Barnett. There's going to be many forms that quests will come in the game, so get comfy. Your journey starts here:

Really, no surprise here. The Sims 2 Seasons Expansion Pack and the World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade has again pwned all the others and stay up there as the kings of the US Sales Charts for Games for Windows.

There really seems to be not enough Sims games as four of them claimed positions in the recent chart from the NPD. World of Warcraft got two, one for the record breaking expansion and of course for the original. Here's it is:

• The Sims 2 Seasons Expansion Pack (Electronic Arts)
• World Of Warcraft: Burning Crusade Expansion Pack (Vivendi)
• World Of Warcraft (Vivendi)
• The Sims 2 (Electronic Arts)
• Supreme Commander (THQ)
• Titan Quest: Immortal Throne Expansion Pack (THQ)
• The Sims 2 Glamour Life Stuff Expansion Pack (Electronic Arts)
• The Sims 2 Pets Expansion Pack (Electronic Arts)
• Battlefield 2142 (Electronic Arts)
• Age Of Empires III (Microsoft)

Well, which upcoming titles do you think will break this vicious cycle? We'll keep you posted.

For the month of February, Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft and its expansion World of Warcraft: Burning Crusade occupy the top two seats for sales according to NPD. Last week, their weekly reign was disturbed by newly released PC RTS titan THQ and Gas Powered Games' Supreme Commander which sat on the number two seat outselling World of Warcraft.

Now Supreme Commander gets kicked out into fourth place in this monthly ranking as Electronic Arts' The Sims 2 Seasons steals the third seat from under it. As IGN reports, World of Warcraft stands at a whopping five-fold lead against the next five titles following it, despite The Sims 2 Seasons and Supreme Commander's 50,000 and 40,000 sales totals (respectively) for the month.

We went over to Voodoo Extreme and checked out NPD's list of the Best Selling PC Games for the month of February. Currently, it stands at:

1. World Of Warcraft: Burning Crusade Expansion Pack - Vivendi - $38
2. World Of Warcraft - Vivendi - $25
3. The Sims 2 Seasons Expansion Pack - Electronic Arts - $28
4. Supreme Commander - THQ - $49
5. The Sims 2 - Electronic Arts - $41
6. XP Games JC - Viva Media - $10
7. The Sims: Life Stories - Electronic Arts - $37
8. The Sims 2 Pets Expansion Pack - Electronic Arts - $30
9. Battlefield 2142 - Electronic Arts - $42
10. Vanguard: Saga Of Heroes - Sony Online Ent. - $49
11. Age Of Empires III - Microsoft - $49
12. Paws & Claws Pet Vet - Valusoft (THQ) - $16
13. The Sims 2 Nightlife Expansion Pack - Electronic Arts - $31
14. City Of Villains - NCsoft - $4
15. MahJongg XP Championship 200 Platinum JC - Viva Media - $10
16. Halo: Combat Evolved - Microsoft - $20
17. Sim City 4 Deluxe - Electronic Arts - $23
18. The Sims 2: University Expansion Pack - Electronic Arts - $31
19. Zoo Tycoon: Complete Collection - Microsoft - $20
20. Warcraft III Battle Chest - Vivendi - $39

For the high school seniors out there, you've already come to that point where you can look forward to college. In hope or in dread, we can't help you there. Alistair Wallis of GameCareerGuide.com could, though. Although addressed to college seniors rather than high school seniors, "What Game Companies Want From Graduates" helps the shiny-faced, wet-ears high school senior, too. After all, you've got four years to prep yourself to be the kind of guy that Ubisoft wants, right?

The article features interviews with gaming industry recruitment people from Electronic Arts, Insomniac Games, and THQ, and demands the Read link below. Long story short, however:

• (At least EA) encourages the traditional educational route: the hard work through a regular collegiate degree. "Game schools" are nice, too - although the idea is so new as its impact in the industry is, well, "unclear." (We can presume that the first batch of graduates from these courses have more than their merits and skills to prove, but their alma maters, too).
• (Hey, just be glad Harvard won't be on the top of the most wanted list in this department anytime soon - but don't tell Harvard.)
  
• The industry loves people with a passion for the industry (duh): make sure this is reflected in your course work (as much as you could) and internships.
• Flexibility is key, Kim - not to mention good interpersonal skills, diligence in the work, creativity and talent (not to mention endurance). But, as Insomniac's recruitment/staffing chief puts it, they've got no "cookie cutter" in their recruitment office (at least for Insomniac). There really is no mold of sorts to fit - it comes back to the passion and the talent, really.
• Individual companies often have individual requirements (depending on shortages of personnel in key areas, key projects in the pipeline, etc.).
• When you finally decide to submit that application, or sit down for that interview: do your research, bring your "A" game. Demonstrate how you can  stand out of the crowd - you know, like making your own games, for example. Well, the PSP, NDS, and XNA homebrew communities down here have that one nailed.