Newsbriefs: HB Grows, Marvel: UA DLC, Euro VC Gets ZeldaNewsbriefs: HB Grows, Marvel: UA DLC, Euro VC Gets Zelda

Author: by Staff

[UPDATED: 3:15pm PST] Today's regularly updated newsbriefs include the expansion plans of Canada's HB Studios (Wii Madden NFL 07), new downloadable content for the Xbox 360's Marvel: Ultimate Alliance, and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past adventuring to the European Wii's Virtual Console. - A report from Canada's CBC News notes that developer HB Studios, most recently seen co-developing Madden NFL 07 with EA Canada for the Wii, is expected to expand its operations over the next nine months, with the company looking at possible locations in New Brunswick, P.E.I, and Halifax. According to the report, the expansion is set to coincide with the upcoming release of HB Studios' new UEFA Soccer game. Founded in 2000 by CEO and creative director Jeremy Wellard, HB Studios is based in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, Canada, and currently employs over 60 staff, with another 20 expected to be hired in the wake of the the studio's growth. HB Studios is currently working six titles, including four for EA Sports as well as a video game adaptation of the popular Canadian television series Trailer Park Boys for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. - Officials from Activision have announced plans to release new downloadable content for the Xbox 360 version of Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. Expected to debut over the Xbox Live Marketplace in April, the content will include eight new playable characters: The Incredible Hulk, Magneto, Hawkeye, Sabretooth, Doctor Doom, Cyclops, Nightcrawler and Venom, each complete with new signature powers, skins, dialog, conversations and achievement points. These characters will be offered as individuals 'heroes' or 'villains' packs for 500 Microsoft points ($6.25) each, or together for 800 Microsoft points ($10). In addition, heroes and villains themed gamer pic packs will also be available for 80 Microsoft points each ($1). Interestingly, the Xbox 360 version is the only one currently announced as receiving the new content, despite the game being available for nearly all current and next-gen platforms. - Nintendo has released two “new” games for download over the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe. Purchasable from the Wii's online Wii Shop Channel, the region's Wii owners are finally getting the opportunity to download the Super Nintendo classic The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past for 800 Wii Points (€8). In addition, the region's service is also adding Konami's classic side scroller Castlevania for download for 500 Wii Points (€5). - The latest updates on Gamasutra sister alt.gaming weblog GameSetWatch include a new contest to give away four sets of DVD-shaped magnetic poetry from GDC 2007; a debate as to the differences in memory usage between the Xbox 360 and PS3; and a set of links covering such topics as Guitar Hero 2 for Xbox 360 'going green', an interview with Atlus' Nich Maragos, and a review of Cooking Mama: Cook Off! for the Wii. - The latest updates from Gamasutra sister website Serious Games Source include SMU Guildhall student maps released for America's Army: Special Forces (Overmatch), and a call for participation in the upcoming GAME-ON North America. - Also updated today: the latest Gamasutra job postings, including openings from Big Huge Games, Blizzard Entertainment, Electronic Arts, Ensemble Studios, Hudson, Kush Games, Monolith Productions, Rainbow Studios, Redfly Studio, Trion World Network, Vicious Cycle Software, and Wizards of the Coast.