Activision Recommended Extra 08,10,09

NEW SEVEN GAMES N IO ACTIVIS

Publisher: Activision • Developer: Infinity Ward Formats: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC • Release Date: 10th November

Modern Warfare 2 is undoubtedly the most anticipated game of the year.

It may be the most anticipated game of all time.

It is, of course, the sequel to one of the most acclaimed releases of recent times, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, which notched up global sales of over 13 million.

Thanks to a marketing and PR campaign that began in the spring, the release date of November 10th is burned onto the brains of consumers and retailers.

On that day, gamers will flock to stores to pick up their special editions, possibly even Microsoft’s super bundle containing a branded, 250GB hard drive – and a copy of the game, naturally.

This is the game of 2009. It is a true ‘event’ release. The media is boiling over with excitement, retail is fit to burst with expectation and consumers are chomping at the bit. The blue touch paper has been lit. Listen out for the big bang on November 10th.

Following on from the worldwide phenomenon that is Guitar Hero®, DJ Hero™ brings the funk to provide an all-new interactive music experience. Using a unique turntable controller, players can rule the party through a combination of killer DJ techniques and classic tunes across a variety of genres.

They get to play venues that range from intimate parties to giant super-clubs, mixing, sampling and scratching their way to stardom.

Their weapons are their skills and the turntable, as they supply over 93 exclusive mixes from the likes of Grandmaster Flash and DJ Jazzy Jeff, blending the work of world-renowned artists such as David Bowie, Marvin Gaye, Beastie Boys, Gorillaz, N.E.R.D., Nirvana and 50 Cent.

Publisher: Activision • Developer: Freestyle Games Formats: Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PS2 • Release Date: 30th October

Publisher: Activision/Red Octane • Developer: Neversoft (Xbox 360, PS3), Vicarious Visions (Wii, DS), Budcat (PS2) • Formats: Xbox 360, PS3, PS2 Wii, DS • Release Date: November

This November, family and friends will come together to ascend the virtual stage and rock their way to stardom with Band Hero.™ It is packed with today's hottest pop hits and classic anthems that everyone will know and love.

Headlined by some of the biggest names in music, including Lily Allen, No Doubt, the Jackson 5, Duran Duran, Robbie Williams and Kylie, Band Hero™ is the ultimate party game where players of all ages will be able to experience the easy-to-learn but difficult to master Guitar Hero gameplay.

Band Hero™ allows fans to create the band they always dreamed of, using any combination of guitar or drum controllers and vocals, giving a new generation of performers the chance to experience and interact with their favourite music.

They will also be able to take their whole band on the road anytime, anywhere with Band Hero™ for the DS Lite.

Publisher: LucasArts • Developer: Rebellion Interactive (PSP)/n-Space (DS) Formats: PSP, DS • Release Date: Autumn 2009

Star Wars Battlefront: Elite Squadron is back and bigger than ever on PSP and DS. It’s the deepest and most action-packed Battlefront game yet, with a huge variety of environments, a gripping storyline and loads of replayability value.

Players start the fight on foot, commandeer a vehicle, dogfight in space and eventually land and fight on capital starships.

The action, locations, vehicles and characters cut across the entire, epic Star Wars universe – and beyond.

Elite Squadron lets players unleash their inner Sith or Jedi in Heroes and Villains mode, where they can become Luke, Obi-Wan, Kit Fisto, Darth Maul and many others.

LucasArts is getting right behind this major launch with a mainstream marketing campaign that will target existing Star Wars Battlefront fans, as well as attracting new players from the massed ranks of handheld gamers.

Publisher: Activision • Developer: NOWPRODUCTION Formats: PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, DS • Release Date: 23rd October 2009

Bakugan Battle Brawlers brings the world of Bakugan to life in a new instalment packed with battles and adventure.

The Bakugan characters and the universe they inhabit has become familiar to millions of youngsters around the world through a successful TV animation series plus trading cards and collectable figures.

Bakugan Battle Brawlers takes the story further and puts players at the heart of the action. There are 35 Bakugans, including two characters unique to the game, and 19 human characters, again with two unqiues.

There are also 200 player cards, 12 of which have never been seen before.

The action takes place in 24 action-packed levels with eight battlefield environments and six new arenas.

Activision is backing the release with a two week TV campaign aimed at boys aged 4-12, plus a three week online campaign that will generate over 10m impressions.

Publisher: LucasArts • Developer: Traveller’s Tales Formats: PS3, Xbox 360, PSP, PC, Wii, DS • Release Date: Winter 2009

The Lego games based on blockbuster, boysy movie franchises are pretty much all modern classics.

Lego Indiana Jones 2 The Adventure Continues is no exception. It combines the fun and creative construction of Lego with the daring adventure of the Indiana Jones films – all held together with the tongue-incheek humour that has been a feature of all recent Lego/movie tie-ins.

The game covers all the films in the series, including Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, but it throws in completely new levels and obvectives, so it’s like being in a new movie that’s shot using classic sets – sets made of Lego, obviously.

Because creativity and imagination is at the heart of the Lego experience, players can even design and build their own levels and combine them with ones already in the game.

The Adventure Continues is classic Indy and pure Lego.

Tony Hawk: RIDE is a whole new way to play and a whole new way to ride.

For the first time ever, gamers will use an actual skateboard to control the onscreen action. Their movements, on a motion sensitive and totally realistic board, complete with gritty, grippy surface and a contoured base, are translated directly to the screen.

The result is that players don’t just feel like they’re riding a board and performing tricks... they’re really doing it.

Smart sensors at the edge of the board can be pushed for speed, and even grabbed to help perform jumps and tricks.

The game has already been acclaimed after its debut at E3 and the specialist press are, understandably, hailing it as the most realistic game yet in the classic Tony Hawk series.

The game is ultra-intuitive to play, with multiple difficulty levels that can make it as fun or as challenging as each player requires.

Publisher: Activision • Developer: Robomodo (Xbox 360 & Playstation 3); Buzz Monkey (Wii) Formats: PS3, Xbox 360, Wii • Release Date: 4th December 2009

A CT S IV EV IS EN IO N N E GA W M ES

Activision is set for a massive Christmas – and so could you be, with the chance to win a copy of all seven games featured in this very special Recommended Extra. To be in with a shout, just tell us...

What’s the name of the developer behind Modern Warfare 2?

A) Infinity Ward B) Infinity and Beyond C) Emergency Ward 10 Send your answer to warfare@intentmedia.co.uk

www.activision.com