Battlestar Galactica Online is coming to a Web browser near you this fall. Bigpoint and Unity Technologies announced on Tuesday that Battlestar Galactica Onlinewill be released this Fall. The MMO (massively multiplayer online game) will debut on Syfy Channel’s site first, as a 30-day exclusive, and will use browser-based 3-D software Unity.

Though situated in a cross-platform Web browser, the game features full 3D graphics and sees players assuming the role of either humanity’s remnants or the Cylons.

As for gameplay, Battlestar Galactica Online will include tactical space combat, exploration, and mission-based quests, which flesh out the game’s overarching storyline. The game will also feature assets taken directly from SyFy’s Emmy Award-winning TV show.

“‘Battlestar Galactica’ has a huge and passionate fan base,” CEO and Bigpoint founder Heiko Hubertz said. “We are proud to be able to publish such an internationally famous title as one of our online games. For the first time ever, we’re relying completely on Unity in order to offer our users fantastic game graphics right in their browsers.”

Battlestar Galactica Online is hardly SyFy’s only venture into the gaming market of late. In 2008, the television network announced a deal with Trion Worlds to develop massively multiplayer online games that integrate with its broadcasts. Last month, SyFy entered into a joint development deal with game-publishing heavyweight THQ that sees the two collaborating on adapting existing franchises and creating new properties for cross-media use.

Source: Gamespot

Just a few months after topping Billboard’s Rock Songs Chart with lead single “Check My Brain,” Alice In Chains is maintaining chart domination with “Your Decision,” their second consecutive No. 1 single from new album Black Gives Way To Blue.

“Your Decision” is also the 12th top ten mainstream rock hit of Alice In Chains’ illustrious career. The track’s debauchery-filled video, inspired in part by the film Eyes Wide Shut, is currently the Most Played Video on MTV2.

The band is also gearing up for a very special live chat with fans today at 7PM EST on their Livestream profile. With Livestream as the exclusive streaming provider for the chat, the player widget for the webcast can be embedded anywhere. Integration with Facebook and Twitter allows viewers to engage in an online conversation with other fans and the band. Fans of the band will not want to miss out!

A new trailer for ‘Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time’ has been unleashed! The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Alfred Molina and Ben Kingsley.

‘Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time’ is currently slated to hit theaters on May 28, 2010.

Official Synopsis: From the team that brought the “Pirates of the Caribbean” trilogy to the big screen, Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films present PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME, an epic action-adventure set in the mystical lands of Persia. A rogue prince (JAKE GYLLENHAAL) reluctantly joins forces with a mysterious princess (GEMMA ARTERTON) and together, they race against dark forces to safeguard an ancient dagger capable of releasing the Sands of Time—a gift from the gods that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world.

THQ announced today that Brock Lesnar will appear on the cover of UFC Undisputed 2010, the follow-up to last year’s 3.5 million-unit selling mixed martial arts game. Check out the cover art below.

UFC Undisputed 2010 will feature more than 100 league fighters, as well as ringside commentary from Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg.

THQ has also introduced a new sway and posture system to enhance a player’s ability to defend and deliver coups-de-grace attacks, as well as incorporated new moves from the sambo, karate, and Greco-Roman wrestling disciplines.

UFC Undisputed 2010 will be available for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on May 25.

Check out the official site for the game at www.ufcundisputed.com

Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) has announced the North American launch of MAG exclusively for the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system. Developed by Zipper Interactive—creator of the best-selling SOCOM series and one of the first studios to bring the PlayStation 2 online with SOCOM: U.S. Navy SEALs—MAG features unprecedented online action on a scale never before devised. A first-person, online-only shooter, MAG lets players experience battles with up to 256 real people across a global battlefield, and employs a sophisticated command structure that aligns players into squads of eight to work together in order to progress through a persistent world known as the “Shadow War.”

“By introducing a scale never before seen on a console, MAG is expected to revolutionize the shooter genre and create entirely new, large team-based strategic gameplay,” said Scott A. Steinberg, Vice President, Product Marketing, SCEA. “Only with PS3’s technological advancements, such as the SPUs and Blu-ray™ Disc player, as well as new proprietary dedicated server architecture, can MAG deliver such revolutionary large-scale console gaming at 30 frames-per-second with no lag.”

MAG is set in 2025 when the world’s nations are supposedly at peace, but under the surface a war rages. This “Shadow War” is the secret conflict fought between Private Military Corporations (PMCs) vying for dominance across a global battlefield. As the private military industry starts to flourish, it is dominated mainly by three companies: Valor based in Alaska, Raven headquartered in Vienna, and S.V.E.R. based out of Grozny. It is with selecting an allegiance to one of these three PMCs that the player enters the world of MAG.

MAG’s PMCs are distinct in their own history, personality, and style, including unique soundtracks, user interfaces, character aesthetics, and geographical regions – each PMC has its own “home base” map for each gametype within MAG and is effectively camouflaged within that area. Players choose a character in one of the PMCs and begin to fight for that PMC’s control of the Shadow War. Each battle victory or loss contributes to the PMC’s world standing by gaining or losing contracts, and moving them to the offensive or pulling them back to the defensive. When a PMC earns a contract, a variety of in-game rewards ranging from experience bonuses to upgraded gear, weapons, and vehicles are bestowed upon all players of that particular PMC.

Using MAG’s experience point (XP) system, which is vital to progressing players’ characters, players can unlock new items in the skill tree, further specializing themselves on the battlefield. Through incentives of bonus experience points, players are motivated to follow the chain of command and work together to accomplish objectives and advance their PMC within the Shadow War.

After gaining enough experience points to reach level 15, players become eligible for the squad leader position. By gaining leadership points through completing objectives as a squad leader, players climb their way up the chain of command to reach the next levels of leadership: platoon leader of a 32-person platoon, and ultimately the “Officer in Charge” (OIC) of a 128-person army. Experienced players who choose to become a leader on the battlefield are able to communicate with their squad or platoon to assign objectives, call in airstrikes, and execute advanced command abilities that benefit the team. In addition to giving orders via the fragmentary order (FRAGO) system and over voice chat, leadership roles have their own set of abilities and enhancements they provide to nearby squadmates. While Squad Leaders focus on the tactics of the eight-man squad, Platoon Leaders coordinate the four squads under their command, and the OIC coordinates the four platoons — all while they are still boots on the ground, running and fighting with the rest of the operatives. All of this coordination is supported through built-in voice communications channels and directive game mechanics.

MAG’s advanced matchmaking system groups players into squads, platoons, and armies by taking into account each player’s geographic region, leadership standing, and the specialization of that player’s character. MAG features deep levels of character customization, including aesthetic options of different head and voice types, as well as more functional choices of gear and weaponry. Rather than using a traditional class system, MAG focuses on character loadouts and takes players through a robust skill tree, whereby they can spend earned experience points to unlock new weapons, equipment, and inherent skills. The equipment and skills that players purchase will determine their specialty as a sniper, commando, direct action, field support, or rapid assault operative.

Experience points are also used to progress players through MAG’s different gametypes. Before players can reach the full 256-player Domination battle, they must progress through the 64-player Suppression and Sabotage maps, followed by the 128-player Acquisition battles. Suppression missions, which do not impact the Shadow War, are PMC practice exercises with the objective to maximize casualties on the opposing force. Players also have the option of going through offline training missions to gain skills and experience points before leveling up to the Sabotage, Acquisition, and Domination gametypes that affect the Shadow War.

The 64-player Sabotage missions are the simplest game types in the Shadow War. The objective of the missions is for attackers to secure a pair of satellite uplinks. Once both are simultaneously held, a final objective will be activated which attackers must then demolish. The 128-player Acquisition missions involve two platoons of attackers trying to steal prototype transports. Defenders must stop them, destroying escaping transports if necessary. Should any two vehicles escape, regardless of which platoon takes them, the attackers are victorious. Finally, 256-player Domination missions require attackers to destroy the defender’s fuel facilities. Attackers must secure two subsequent pairs of burn off and cooling towers, destroying one pair to activate the next. When all towers are destroyed, securing and holding the final control panels causes progressive damage to the facility.

The independent Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rates MAG “T” for “TEEN” (Descriptors: Blood, Mild Language, and Violence). For more information about the ESRB, visit www.esrb.org.

Atari, Inc., one of the world’s most recognized videogame publishers, and Syfy, the broadcast leader in imagination-based entertainment, have announced an exclusive partnership promoting the highly anticipated massively multiplayer online game (MMO), Star Trek Online, releasing for the PC on February 2, 2010.

This exciting initiative explores uncharted territory, empowering Syfy.com to build a one-stop “hub” for Star Trek Online, where fans and gamers alike will be able to view explosive new content, participate in special contests and sweepstakes, and even purchase an exclusive bundle via digital download. The deal furthers Syfy’s mission to leverage multiple platforms, transcending just the television screen, to reach its broad audience and leverage the affinity they have with the most mainstream and profitable genre world wide: science fiction.

Star Trek fans can visit Syfy.com/StarTrekOnline and purchase the limited time “Syfy Bundle” to digitally download the game and receive a variety of bonus offers, both in-game and out of game!

* “Neodymium Deflector Dish” — An in-game item grants a bonus to Auxiliary power, boosts maneuverability, and increases the effectiveness of a ship’s Science abilities.

* “500 Cryptic Points” — These micro-transaction credits can be used to purchase in-game items and unlock unique bonuses.

* “Syfy Store Discount” — Purchasers of the Syfy bundle will receive 15% off their next purchase at the Syfy.com store.

In addition, to celebrate the launch of Star Trek Online, Syfy will air a two-day Star Trek marathon on Monday, 2/1 8 am to 5 pm of “STAR TREK ENTERPRISE” and Tuesday, 2/2 8 am – 9 pm of “STAR TREK NEXT GENERATION”.

“Syfy is the perfect home for Star Trek Online,” said Jim Wilson, President and CEO of Atari, Inc. “By offering broadcast support, exclusive content and in-game bonuses, fans of Star Trek and the science fiction genre will be able to take part in this title’s much anticipated release.”

Alan Seiffert, Senior Vice President Syfy Ventures, added, “The Syfy audience has immense passion for video games. With that said, we are making a significant commitment to growing our presence in gaming and establishing Syfy.com’s Game Center as a leading destination for cutting edge interactive entertainment from a news, entertainment and even sales perspective. This joint venture with Atari helps showcase the types of unique partnerships we will look to develop to provide our audience with exclusive experiences tied to today’s hottest interactive entertainment.”

This exciting – and first time – sales partnership between a media property and a gaming publisher will be supported with TV and Digital advertising and promotional units throughout the month of February.

Taking place in the year 2409, Star Trek Online boasts extraordinary features and lets fans both new and old experience unparalleled adventures. Players have the opportunity to become a high ranking Starfleet officer and participate in missions that take them into the depths of space, across exotic planets and even inside other starships. Star Trek Online offers total customization, from a player’s avatar to the ship he captains.

Star Trek Online is a licensed product from CBS Consumer Products. For more information, please visit: www.startrekonline.com and www.atari.com.

Alice in Chains have just released their behind the scenes clip for the “Your Decision” video on AOL’s Noisecreep. The band decided to go with Director Stephen Schuster, who also directed the band’s video for “A Looking In View”.

In the making of clip vocalist William DuVall describes the clip’s imagery, “Your Decision is a song about choices and their consequences. The character is the camera who will encounter a beautiful girl he cannot resist so he follows where the temptation leads…so he comes to this place and sees a lot of crazy stuff going down. We got torture chambers, chairs with spikes, people wearing masks, we got it all here.”

Drummer Sean Kinney made no bones about the drummer usually having the hardest job in a video featuring performance footage, saying “I am like a ficus plant or a set piece. The drummer is always blurry in the background, and the other guys are the ‘glamour shots.’ I am OK with that.”

“Your Decision” is the second single to be lifted from Black Gives Way To Blue, which sold 126K copies in the US in its first week to land at No.5 on the Billboard Top 200 chart.

Harmonix and MTV Games have announced that a five pack of songs from Alice In Chains will be added this week (Xbox 360 and Wii on 1/12, PS3 on 1/14) to the Rock Band Music Store of downloadable content for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation® 3 computer entertainment system and Wii™.

Alice In Chains is among the more than 390 bands currently available through the Rock Band platform. With more than 1,000 songs available, Rock Band is, without question, the industry leader in providing the best selection of interactive musical content, songs and artists.

The band released Black Gives Way to Blue on Virgin Records Sept. 29, 2009, their first album in 14 years. Black Gives Way to Blue debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200, and “Alice In Chains Pack 02” features two songs from this album, “Last of My Kind” and “Your Decision,” the latest single from the band’s new album. The pack also includes “Grind” and “Heaven Beside You,” from the band’s double-platinum, self-titled 1995 album; as well as “We Die Young” from their 1990 debut, Facelift.

Available on Xbox 360 and Wii (Jan. 12) and PlayStation 3 system (Jan. 14):

• Alice In Chains – “Grind”
• Alice In Chains – “Heaven Beside You”
• Alice In Chains – “Last of My Kind”
• Alice In Chains – “We Die Young”
• Alice In Chains – “Your Decision”

(All tracks are original master recordings)

These tracks will be available for purchase as “Alice In Chains Pack 02,” as well as individual tracks on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system, and as individual tracks on Wii.

Price: $1.99 USD, £.99 UK, €1.49 EU (160 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) per track

$8.49 USD, £4.39 UK, €6.59 EU (680 Microsoft Points for Xbox 360) for “Alice In Chains Pack 02”

$2.00 USD (200 Wii Points™) per track

** Dates for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change. **

Electronic Arts Inc. announced today that EA SPORTS™ is developing one of the most popular and culturally influential arcade basketball games ever made – NBA JAM — for the Nintendo Wii™. EA SPORTS NBA JAM™ revives the classic franchise with vintage NBA JAM gameplay, and all-new features that deliver a fresh new take on the game. Featuring the sights and sounds that fans of the franchise will instantly recognize, EA SPORTS NBA JAM mixes the old school with the new, to deliver a one-of-a-kind sports presentation on the Wii.

“NBA JAM is one of the most recognizable franchises in videogame history,” said Peter Moore, President, EA SPORTS. “Diehard fans of the original game have been asking for a remake for more than a decade. We’re very excited to give them their wish this year with the return of this iconic franchise.”

Featuring gameplay that is true to the original, NBA JAM will have players spinning with ankle breaking moves to the basket and on the way to high-flying, backboard-smashing dunks. In addition to the classic experience, EA SPORTS NBA JAM will also introduce new game modes, characters and gameplay depth.

NBA JAM brought an all-new visual style to the sports videogame genre when it debuted in 1993. Now, the new EA SPORTS NBA JAM re-defines the visuals for a sports game yet again by bringing true-to-life body types, updated physics and visible player emotion to the over- the – top experience.

EA SPORTS NBA JAM is currently in development at EA Canada in Vancouver, BC and will be available for the Nintendo Wii videogame system in 2010. The game has not yet been rated by the ESRB or PEGI.

For more information, visit nba-jam.easports.com.

Green Day

Multi-platinum selling and Grammy® Award winning group Green Day, along with Harmonix, the leading developer of music-based games, MTV Games, a part of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), and Warner Bros./Reprise Records today announced at the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards that they are collaborating on the standalone title Green Day: Rock Band(TM).

“We’ve worked with the Rock Band team in the past year to enable our fans to play tracks from 21st Century Breakdown, and we’re excited to now be working on a game, spanning our entire career,” said Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong. “We want people to fire this up, choose their favorite Green Day tracks, and play along with us as Rock Band avatars so they can feel what it’s like to perform on stage as Green Day.”

The game is an extension and expression of Green Day’s most-defining albums and key moments throughout their career to date. It will feature likenesses of Green Day members Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Tre Cool, as well as select venues and art specific to the band’s history. The title will be available globally in 2010 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Wii(TM) system from Nintendo. In addition, the track list will be fully exportable, giving players the opportunity to play the songs in Rock Band(TM) and Rock Band 2(TM) on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation3.

“Green Day’s music and explosive live performances transcend age barriers,” says Tom Whalley, Chairman/CEO, Warner Bros. Records. “By partnering with the band and Harmonix, Warner Bros./Reprise is thrilled to help create a Rock Band experience devoted exclusively to their impressive catalog. This game will appeal to fans of all ages, including those who love their recent best-selling albums and those who’ve loved Green Day throughout their long, incredible career.”

“It’s very exciting to work closely with Green Day to create an experience that captures the incomparable sound, look and feel of the band,” said Paul DeGooyer, SVP of Electronic Games and Music for MTV Networks Music Group. “‘Green Day: Rock Band’ is yet another example of how music fans can connect with some of the greatest music ever recorded via the Rock Band platform.”

“This game will feel like a natural extension of Green Day and their music that will deepen the fans’ connection to the band and their history,” said Alex Rigopulos, CEO and co-founder of Harmonix Music Systems. “Fans will be able to enjoy some of the greatest songs from the Green Day catalogue in this standalone game or via Rock Band due to full export capability. We are thrilled to work with Green Day to revisit key moments from their career, including their likenesses, content and imagery, through our innovative form of musical interaction.”

This latest Rock Band title aims to encapsulate the spirit and energy of a band that has sold more than 50 million records worldwide and been hailed as one of the best live acts touring today. Green Day has won critical acclaim and numerous accolades, including Grammy Awards for Best Alternative Album for Dookie, Best Rock Album for American Idiot and Record of the Year for their smash hit “Boulevard of Broken Dreams.” Earlier this year, Green Day released their eighth studio album, 21st Century Breakdown, on Warner Music Group’s Reprise Records. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, as well as on the Rock, Active Rock and Alternative charts, fueled by the alternative radio No. 1 single “Know Your Enemy.”

In addition to the game announcement, Green Day will bring three more tracks from 21st Century Breakdown to the Rock Band Music Store as downloadable content on Tuesday, December 15th. The three pack of songs will include, “Christian’s Inferno,” “Last of the American Girls,” and “Viva La Gloria!,” all from 21st Century Breakdown. These songs, as well as Green Day tracks previously released on the Rock Band platform, will be supported in Green Day: Rock Band .

The Rock Band platform stands next to none with more than 1,000 songs available from more than 390 artists. With more choices for fans than any other music-based videogame, Rock Band is, without question, the industry leader in providing the best selection of interactive musical content, songs and artists. Rock Band offers content in a unique way, through on-disc gameplay, game export, downloadable content, and soon with the Rock Band Network, which allows bands and labels to author their songs into downloadable playable Rock Band tracks. The Rock Band platform allows fans to interact with their favorite music in a unique and hands-on way, as well as giving artists the ability to reach fans through a whole new channel.

To see the world premiere package that aired during the 2009 Spike Video Game Awards, please visit www.spike.com/event/vga2009.