EA Sending NFL Fans To Training Camp, More Details On Alice, Fight Night

Author: by Kris Graft, Chris Remo

As the game industry passes the halfway point of 2010, Electronic Arts unveiled new details on a number of key games for 2011 at a media briefing at its Redwood Shores headquarters. Following the unveiling of Maxis-developed sci-fi action RPG Darkspore, the company revealed the Wii game EA Sports Active NFL Training Camp. The game uses the Wii's motion-sensing capabilities and a pack-in heart rate monitor and wireless motion-tracking device to run players through over 70 NFL training camp workouts modeled after actual drills. The announcement of the game follows the 2009 original EA Sports Active, which sold over 1.8 million units, according to the publisher. The new version will link with the EA Sports Active online hub, which offers community features and allows users to post their data and fitness progress. The game is in development at EA Canada in Vancouver, and slated for a November 16 release for $99.95. EA is also working on EA Sports Active 2 for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii and iPod Touch. Also in development at EA Canada is Fight Night Champion, the latest game in the publisher's boxing franchise. EA said the game will have a "grittier, darker direction" and have a new control scheme called "Full Spectrum Punch Control." The title is set for a 2011 release on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. New details also emerged on American McGee and Spicy Horse's upcoming sequel to 2000's dark fairy tale Alice. The sequel is now dubbed Alice: Madness Returns, and will ship in 2011 for PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 through a deal with EA Partners. Continuing the original's dark backdrop, a press statement described the sequel as "a journey through a wildly corrupted and shattered Wonderland to uncover the truth behind her haunted past and tortured psyche." Spicy Horse senior creative director McGee said that the original Alice sold 1.5 million units when it was released, but it spread much further over the years and gained a cult following. "For many people, the idea of Alice in Wonderland has changed to this Alice," he said. EA's Sims Studio also confirmed the Sims 3 expansion The Sims 3 Late Night, scheduled for a fall release on PC and Mac. The expansion will have a big city backdrop and also give players the option to turn their Sims into vampires. The publisher also confirmed that Klei Entertainment's side-scrolling beat-em-up Shank will be available on PlayStation Network and Xbox Live Arcade on August 24 and 25, respectively, for $14.99.