Newsbriefs: Crackdown Gold, Two Worlds This Spring

Author: by Staff

[UPDATED: 2:33pm PST] Today's regularly updated newsbriefs include news of Microsoft and Realtime Worlds Crackdown going 'gold' for the Xbox 360, as well as plans for SouthPeak's Two Worlds to arrive for the Xbox 360 this spring. - Microsoft has announced that the highly anticipated Xbox 360 action title Crackdown has gone 'gold' and is now being manufactured for its February 20th release. The M-rated action sandbox was developed by Realtime Worlds (All Points Bulletin), which was founded in 2002 by managing director, Dave Jones, the creator of popular franchises such as Grand Theft Auto and Lemmings. Hailed as a “GTA killer”, Crackdown will allow players to fully explore the hoodlum filled streets of Pacific City as they play as a genetically enhanced agent, and combat crime either alone or cooperatively throughout a free-form campaign. In addition, as an added incentive Microsoft has also confirmed that specially marked copies of Crackdown will include access to the Halo 3 multiplayer beta program as well. - SouthPeak Interactive (State of Emergency 2) officials have officially announced that the company's TopWare Interactive and Reality Pump Studios developed role-playing epic Two Worlds will be released this spring for the Xbox 360. No information has been released as to previously announced PC version of the game, which looks somewhat reminiscent of Bethesda's popular The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. However, unlike Oblivion Two Worlds will offer both a single player mode as well as a multiplayer mode supporting up to 8 people to adventure together online via Xbox Live. “Two Worlds is quickly shaping up to be an experience that sets the benchmark of what a role-playing experience can be,” said Katie Morgan, Executive vice president of SouthPeak Interactive. “We couldn’t be more excited to be bringing this gargantuan title to both Windows and Xbox 360 gamers.” - The latest updates on Gamasutra sister alt.gaming weblog GameSetWatch include a look at what one blogger calls “the lack of Western developers in the Japanese game market”, an overview of Namco's rather obscure arcade shooting game Tenkomori Shooting, and a first-hand account of Wii and PlayStation 3 stock at retail. - The latest updates from Gamasutra sister website Game Career Guide includes info on a new Game Art and Design Bachelors Degree program at the Ex’pression College for Digital Arts. - Also updated today: the latest Gamasutra job postings, including openings from Appliedinfo Partners, Big Huge Games, Cranky Pants Games, EA Tiburon, Infinity Ward/Activision, K2 Network, Masque Publishing, Midway Games, Rainbow Studios, Sony Computer Entertainment America, Stormfront Studios, and Sucker Punch Productions.