10 games in waiting

There’s more sci-fi coming from the BioShock team at 2K Boston, formally Irrational Games. A recent post on the studio’s website asked for programmers with PS3 experience. Rumors of a port of BioShock to PS3 were quashed by the developer, stating it ‘preferred to work in new projects’, which suggests we’ll be jumping straight into the planned BioShock prequel rather than a simple rerun of the stellar super-selling Xbox 360 game.

Another game set to make the leap from Xbox 360 to PS3 will be Dead Rising 2. This one has been on the cards since last September but sources inside Capcom have recently been talking openly about wanting to bring the series to PS3. There’s even been talk that Sony has convinced Capcom to develop the game exclusively for PS3. That could be far-fetched, but Dead Rising 2 on PS3, with added co-op gameplay seems a sure thing for late 2008.

Another sure thing is the development of a Batman Dark Knight game. There were rumors that Warner Bros would take its franchise back but EA still owns the rights to the movie adaptations. The big news is that EA’s new studio, Pandemic, is developing the game. The use of the Mercenaries developer is great news, if sources are correct, as it points toward an open-world Gotham adventure that will surely excite anyone who has ever wanted to tear up the streets in the Tumbler.

There’s more movie news from Clive Barker, too. With a film adaptation of his classic short story collection Books of Blood in the works, it appears there’s a game coming as well. Barker has let slip that a game based on the stories will be made. Details are scarce at the moment, but this will suit episodic stages similar to the forthcoming Alone in the Dark. We’d also predict Barker’s previous partnership with Codemasters on Jericho will ensure that the UK publisher gets the game.

It’s not so much of a secret that a new Prince of Persia swashbuckler is in development, and with a Jerry Bruckheimer movie in the works Ubisoft would be mad not to stick with its Persian hero. The sequel is coming, and sources suggest the new adventure will ditch the dark emo of Two Thrones and return the game to its more colourful, fantasy roots. Which is a very good thing. Now, where’s Beyond Good & Evil, Ubi?

Mar 19, 2008