theHunter Simulation to Go Multiplayer?

Today in gaming: Starting this Monday, April 8, 2013, registered players of the Expansive Worlds online hunting title theHunter [sic] will have an opportunity to sign up for an alpha test of their new co-op version of the game. This multiplayer feature will allow gamers to go out together in hunting parties to bag deer and such.

Of course, there is also the possibility that theHunt could devolve into the greatest hardcore shooter in the history of gaming, with hunters actively stalking each other through the woods and building hides in trees just trying to keep alive. We'll see how it all plays out. I for one would gladly play this game if could go all Dick Chaney on the hunter next to me for making noise while I'm hunting grouse.

Expansive Worlds is an independent subsidiary of Avalanche Studios.

• [LINK] theHunter Home Page

X360 Black Ops 2 Uprising Date

Today in gaming: mark April 16, 2013 on your calendar XBOX 360 Black Ops fans. Though this information was leaked three days ago, Treyarch and Activision have officially announced the release date for the second DLC expansion to Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. Uprising will feature four new maps:

• Magma is a Japanese town that is undergoing a facelift thanks to the help of a friendly local volcano.
• Encore is a London-themed music festival map
• Vertigo is a labyrinth of pathways inside of a highrise tower in India
• Studio is a remake of the map Firing Range from the original black ops. I... can... not... wait for this one, as Firing Range was my favorite map from the original.

... and a new zombie mode game called Mob of the Dead -- that takes place on Alcatraz between zombies and gangsters from the 1920s. It features voice over acting from Ray Liotta (Billy Handsome), Chazz Palminteri (Salvatore“Sal” DeLuca), Joe Pantoliano (Al“The Weasel” Arlington), and Michael Madsen (Michael“Finn” O’Leary). Really cool stuff.

No word as yet about the release dates for PC. The XBOX release will cost 1200 points ($15US). I'll keep you informed and I plan to promote it on my YouTube channel, the link to which you can find in the nav bar on the right.

• [LINK] COD: Black Ops 2 Home Page

Podcasters Launch Game for Atari 2600

Today in gaming: The guys at RetroGamingRoundup.com -- an old-school video game podcast -- have actually developed a game that you can buy and run on an Atari 2600. Let me repeat that... this game comes on a cartridge the fits into and plays on an Atari video game console.

How about that? The game plot revolves around the members of the podcast and the events of CGE 2010 -- which apparently involve a thief who stole some CDs from them.

• [LINK] CGE Adventures Home Page
• [LINK] GameGavel.com - Buy CGE Adventures

Farming Simulator 2013 Port to 360, PS3

Today in gaming: Swiss video game development studio Giants Software GmbH shocked a lot of people when their game Farming Simulator exploded on the market in Europe -- selling millions of copies. The company is now expanding into the North American market with new versions of the game for XBOX, 3DS, and Playstation 3 -- slated to come out some time in September 2013. They will include climate conditions specific to North America and new animals.

• [LINK] Farming Simulator Home Page
• [LINK] Giants Software Home Page

Trailer - Metro Last Light

Today in gaming: Steam has a trailer for a new game called Metro Last Light -- the much anticipated sequel to the video game Metro 2033. The games are based on the popular novel Metro 2033 by Dmitry Glukhovsky.

This game is a thematic retelling of the events within the Third Reich reset in a bleak future post-apocalyptic Earth. Apparently, in this game you begin play as a little boy and then grow into a man who must single-handedly destroy the entire infrastructure of the empire and save it's inhabitants from annihilation at the hands of it's sadistic dictators.

The game is rated-"M", but the trailer is sedate in that it only features people being tortured and murdered. No gameplay footage on this one -- I'll keep you up to date on future trailers for this title.

• [LINK] Steam Trailer for Metro Last Light
• [LINK] Metro Last Light Home Page