Today, 2K Games announced that BioShock 2, the highly anticipated sequel to 2007 Game of the Year, will be available worldwide on February 9, 2010. The good news being that BioShock 2 stayed within the first half of 2010 time frame – as stated when they delayed the game. The bad news, we’ll still have to wait a bit longer.

Currently in development for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, “BioShock 2 will deliver two unique, yet intertwined experiences that form the perfect blend of explosive first-person shooter combat, compelling storytelling and intense multiplayer action” – reads the press release. Once again, BioShock 2 will be available worldwide on February 9, 2010.

We have some bads news. Director Gore Verbinski has stepped down from directing the BioShock movie for a possible forth installment into the Pirates of the Carribbean movie series, which isn’t all bad news because Pirates of the Carribbean is awesome, and it looks like Juan Carlos Fresnadillo has stepped in as director – SlashFilm reports.

Verbinski will remain involved in the project, but only as producer. However, as we reported back in April, Universal has shut down production of the movie because of the film’s ballooning budget that continues to grow. Also for some reworking of the script, and to explore possible locations outside the country offering financial incentives.

With a pool of talented name brand filmmakers hoping to helm such a project (Guillermo del Toro has been outspoken), its amazing that Universal went with Fresnadillo in the end, who’s best known as the writer/director of 28 Weeks Later.

It’s a good news/bad news situation, depending on how you view it: if you pre-ordered the game for as a Christmas gift, it’s bad. If it’s one of the many games on your Christmas shopping list, and you’re short on holiday money, it’s good – but not all that good.

Yesterday, Take-Two Interactive announced that BioShock 2 won’t be releasing within the company’s fourth quarter, as previously planned. BioShock 2 has instead been pushed up to the “first half” of 2010.

“The decision to shift a release date is never an easy one, especially with a product as highly anticipated as BioShock 2,” said Take-Two CEO Ben Feder. “We felt that it was essential to invest the additional time to ensure that this title will deliver what its fans expect and deserve.”

However, the move is worst for the company’s current fiscal year, which ends on October 31, but good news for its 2010 fiscal year, said Jesse Divnich, director of analyst services at Electronic Entertainment Design & Research in Carlsbad, Calif.

“I expect them to dominate fiscal 2010,” Divnich said. “BioShock 2, Max Payne 3, Red Dead Redemption, Mafia II, additional Grand Theft Auto Downloadable Content (DLC), and the possible launch of Agent should make fiscal 2010 the year of Take-Two. As far as I am concerned, Take-Two is just moving numbers from one financial year to another.”

[Bioshock 2 delayed; Take-Two's stock takes a hit via LA Times]

First, it was 2K Marin and 2K Australia collaborating in the development of BioShock 2. After that we learned that the sequel to BioShock will feature a competitive multiplayer mode, which will be created Digital Extremes.

Now, it seems that Arkane Studios, which developed Dark Messiah of Might and Magic for Ubisoft, will play in the development of BioShock 2.

“Today I’m proud to say that we’ve added another important developer to the mix. Under the direction and leadership of 2K Marin, Arkane is assisting in the creation of levels that embody the aesthetic and gameplay ideals that make BioShock such a unique and exciting experience,” Alyssa Finley, producer for 2K Marin, explained to GI.biz.

[Take-Two brings in fourth studio for BioShock 2 via GI.biz - thanks to TeamXbox]

Last we heard, Universal decided to put the movie on hold because they were trying to explore different ways to cut down on the films budget.

However, in an update on his Twitter account, Wentworth Miller had this to say, “Prison Break may be ending, but I’ve got things in the works. Hint…one word: Bioshock.”

Miller could have meant that he’ll now have time to play Bioshock, but, somehow, I doubt that. Or maybe Miller has a voice part in the upcoming Bioshock sequel, Bioshock 2?

But, then again, since its announcement in August, Hollywood has eyeing a big screen adaptation of this popular first-person shooter. So, it could mean that he has scored a roll in the big screen adaptation of Bioshock, but for now it still a rumor, we’ll keep you posted.

[Rumor: Wentworth Miller in Bioshock Movie? via /Film]

There isn’t a gamer out there that didn’t express a bit of concern when it was announced that BioShock 2 would have a Multiplayer mode. But, luckily, it seems that 2K Games doesn’t want you to worry about it.

When speaking to Gameplayer, BioShock 2’s lead level designer Hogarth de la Plante had this to say about the Multiplayer situation.

“We recognise that people might be cynical about a multiplayer mode,” he stated. “A lot of us are big single player fans also so in no way does it compromise the single-player experience.”

Producer Mellisa Miller added that the decision to include online play had not been taken “lightly,” but refused to detail the new mode.

It looks like this big budget movie may have been too big for its budget. Announced last May, the movie was in pre-production by Universal and 2K with Pirates of the Caribbean director, Gore Verbinski attached to helm the film along with John Logan, responsible for Gladiator and The Aviator, planning the script.

According to a spokesperson from Universal, the film will remain alive in an extended pre-production “so the studio and production can take a look at possible alternate shooting locations, available tax credits, foreign exchange rates and other elements that might help us make the film at a responsible budget.”

“No plug has been pulled on BioShock,” reps told Kotaku. “Universal remains committed to making the project and Gore absolutely remains attached as director.”

The movie was announced to have a budget at about $160 million, which, if you remember, rocked the internet with the announcement.

[Universal Puts BioShock Movie On Hold On Budget Concerns via Kotaku]

She’s mad, she’s bad, she’s Harley Quinn. Anyway, yet another Batman: Arkham Asylum trailer has been released this week. However, this one shows off  Harley Quinn’s barely-encased body instead of a killer roid jockey named Bane. 

“In Batman: Arkham Asylum Eidos and Warner Bros. are building a true action adventure game experience worthy of gamers and fans,” said Phil Rogers, CEO of Eidos Interactive. “Players become Batman, like he has never been seen before in a video game, as he fights through intense circumstances in Arkham Asylum utilizing his intuitive detective skills and aggressive melee attacks.”

In the latest episode of GameTrailers TV, 2K Games revealed the first proper showing of the sequel to BioShock, BioShock 2, in the form of a trailer, which was handed down to GTTV. The sequel looks very remanisant to the first game, but instead of playing a person who stumbled upon the Rapature after a plane cash, you’d be taking on the roll of the first ever Big Daddy. BioShock 2 is set to be released on the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC in late 2009. 

They just couldn’t leave good enough alone. Apparently, 2K games has changed its mind, once again, about the BioShock 2 title.

Here’s the deal, in last months issue of Game Informer it was revealed that there wasn’t a subtitle for BioShock 2, which at the time it was called BioShock 2: Sea of Dreams. However, it was then confirmed that the title hasn’t changed its name and it would still be called  BioShock 2: Sea of Dreams.

Now, it turns out Sea of Dreams was the title of the BioShock 2 teaser, and it’s not at all the subtitle to the game.

“We name most of our trailers at 2K and the name of the teaser trailer we released last October for BioShock 2 is called Sea of Dreams,” 2K’s Charlie Sinhaseni told IGN.

“There was talk about adding that as an official subtitle, but we decided to simply keep it BioShock 2. We’re sorry for the confusion, but we’re glad people are so interested.”

In an attempt to divert from the ways of the first BioShock, a company spokesperson has revealed 2K Games’  plans to release the game ’simultaneous’ on all platforms.

“We’re aiming for simultaneous release on all platforms (Xbox 360, PS3 and PC),” a company spokesperson told CVG, with the promise of details on the sequel’s illusive multi-player mode “soon enough”, and it really can’t be “SOON ENOUGH”!!! The game is anticipated to be released late 2009.

The first BioShock title was all about single player even with the latest re-boot on the PS3 stayed within those factors.

In the latest issue of Game Informer, which included some very in-dept info on the upcoming game, Bioshock 2, it revealed plans for a multi player mode and co-op component.

Detailed for the multi player modes aren’t thin on the ice right now, but we believe they will revealed the modes soon.

We have been patiently waiting for sometime now, but still they haven been candid on releasing any details on the title. But, now it looks like they plan to change that with the release of the 200th anniversary edition of PC Gamer mag.

In an CVG report it revealed that in the 200th anniversaryedition of PC Gamer BioShock 2: Sea of Dreams will be unveiled to the public – screenshots and everything.

The ‘next month’ page of PC Gamer issue 199, which is in subscriber’s hands now, promises a “world exclusive” on the 2K sequel, which after all the teasing we’ve been succumbed to this month surely must be the first proper look.

According to vague hints on 2K’s viral website, the second game takes place seven years after the original when a spree of mysterious kidnappings of young girls are cropping up in coastal towns along the Atlantic – and it looks like something from the sea is responsible. PC Gamer 200 will be on shelves on April 9.

I’m a big fan of the underwater adventure, Bioshock, but one think that really did made me think was a simple question, “who is Rosenberg?” I’m mean the character seemed as if he was way more powerful then Andrew Ryan. And right before you confront Andrew Ryan, in a sub-room, Ryan has a jumbled wall of pictures and news clippings with the words “Would you kindly?”, which shows how every one is connected.

But there was shadowy figure that is the only one that is tied to Ryan, and cut off by Ryan. So Matt of the unofficial Bioshock 2 forums did some digging into it and he found an audio diary that has the only information about Rosenberg.

“Transcript: Diane, my dear, I’m sorry but I’ll be late again tonight… Rosenberg is demanding to speak about this Fontaine business. I’m trying to build a proper financial market and this idiot keeps going on about Adam this and genetic modification that. I’ll go spend an hour pretending to pay attention to the poor fellow and be home as soon as I can.”

Rosenberg is the most likely new character for Bioshock 2, for the simple fact that rumors circulating the Bioshock 2 community state it will be both a sequel and prequel, that fits perfectly for Rosenberg.

I have seen many things and to tell you the truth, I really would love to see Fable II on the PC mainly because I think it’s going to help save PC gaming some more – but it’s not like WoW and L4D haven’t done it already.

A German website has posted a rumor stating that the game will be coming on to the PC. An unnamed “inside source” at Lionhead, who reported the rumor, proclaims that the game would be releasing on the PC on February 15, 2009.

If you didn’t know, the game has been out on the 360 for sometime now and it has been selling fairly well. But when you look at this rumor it isn’t so farfetch’d as it may seem because the original Fable made its way to PC a year after its on the Xbox.

There’s a strongly likeliness that the game would be coming out on the PC, it’s just that the date given is way to early. But anyway if the game comes out on the PC the game will most likely be apart of Games for Windows. Which has seen many 360 games like Bioshock and Gears of War. But we’ll let you know if we hear any more news on this rumor.

Update: According to a source this story was proven fake.

While 360 fanboys are playing the demo for the upcoming 360 game Naruto: Broken Bond, PlayStation fanboys are patiently awaiting the release of Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm. Our friends at GP had the chance to go hands on with the game after receiving it in the mail earlier this week. According to them, the game will have a mandatory install of 4GB which will take about 15-20 minutes to install. As you may remember the game has the same download time as the hit game Bioshock, which was recently released on the PlayStation 3. The game is a PlayStation 3 exclusive and is releasing sometime this week so be sure to pick it up.

[Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm To Have 3.9GB Install via GamersPlatform]

What are the scariest games to play on Halloween? Well, to answer that question you may want to read this list.

10. Silent Hill: The Room

You are locked in your apartment, completely cut off from the outside. It seems that no one else in your building can even hear your cries for help, and you have begun to have terrible nightmares about the very room you are living in.

Finally, you find a way out. No, rather, you find a way deeper into this other realm- the realm of nightmares. True, this game does not follow the same basic formula of its predecessors, and in fact it’s barely has any story links to the classic original, but if you want an experience that has some of the craziest, most disturbing visuals in video game history, you owe it to yourself to play “The Room”. Truly, deeply frightening.

9. Resident Evil 2

It isn’t very often in any form of entertainment when the sequel is better than the original, but this is definately the case with RE:2. I still remember the first time I played this game on my friend’s system, and boy, did I have a blast! The Resident Evil series has always been more about ‘boo!’ scares than truly frightening imagery, but even so, who can deny that fighting a giant blob-like monster straight out of the fifties is tons of fun?

The best aspect of this game for me was how much emphasis was placed on the ’survival’ aspect of the ’survival horror’ label that the game was given. Truly, every bullet counted in this world, and you had to make strategically smart moves along the way, or else you would run out of options for survival later on. Ultimately, this game is much more action-oriented with a bit of a puzzle-solving aspect to it. If you want a classic game that still delivers the scares today, then I suggest you pick up a copy of RE:2 if you manage to find one.

P.S. It’s scarier with the lights off!

8. Fatal Frame

The creators of this Japanese Horror-fest gave a completely different spin on how we saw and played Horror games. In this gem, you play as a girl who is moving throughout haunted locations looking for ghosts. Your means of defense is . . . a camera? :\

Yes, yes, it may not sound all that fun in theory, but truly, play this game for a couple hours and you’ll begin to see what makes it so great. The use of mood and atmosphere is very good here, as well as how sound and visual play intricate parts in giving the player that feeling of dread just before a scare is about to unleash on their timid gamer soul..

It may not be as focused on violence as its fellows within the genre, but “Fatal Frame” delivers if it’s what you’re looking for in a Horror title.

7. Resident Evil: Survivor

This game is tough to address, because many people have alot of problems with it. For one thing, the game is a part of a much bigger series known as biggest Survivor Horror series, yet Capcom made sure that the storyline took place within the gaming experience. As a result, we get a very interesting game story-wise, but a very unusual entry in the RE series due to its completely re-worked and revisioned control scheme.

In this game, you are someone who has no idea who he is or what he is doing here among the zombies. So your goal is to merely find answers. Along the way you will stumble upon clues that will help fill in alot of the gaps, but the first-person perspective in my opinion bumps up the creep factor to the ninth degree.

I have never been so terrified to open a door in my whole gaming life. More often than not, I would end up entering a new room, then hear the sound of raspy breathing right next to me. As the hairs on the back of my neck began to stand up, I had no choice but to look in the direction of the sound. Then– ARGH!!!!

6. BioShock

You are a victim of a plane crash in 1960. You are lucky enough to be the sole survivor of the catastrophe, and among the burning wreckage you manage to see what appears to be a lighthouse and a shore nearby. As you move toward the light, you begin to feel more and more compelled to venture further.

You step inside the tower, and find yourself inexplicably being lowered deeper and deeper underwater by a lift of some sort. This ride leads you into the heart of an underground city known as ‘Rapture’, a place that was envisioned as a paradise where artists and scientists could venture into any curiosity without fear of being reprimanded by a higher authority, but it becomes very clear almost immediately after you take your first steps into the once-happy utopia that something has gone very, very wrong. . .

‘BioShock’ truly is revolutionary because it manages to scare the player without too many cheap moments of merely startling them. Sound is very important in this game, as you can hear the crazed citizens of Rapture talking amongst themselves and/or moving about in the next room before actually seeing them. Other times you will see a long shadow cast on a wall, or you will hear the distant moan of a Big Daddy, and that is when you begin to dread walking any further down your path. The best part about this game is– no undead!

5. Half-Life 2

I know what you’re thinking; Half-Life is more or less an action-oriented game, but let me assure you, HL2 has its moments that send pure fear through one’s body. The most prominent of scary moments in this game is of course the dreaded ‘Ravenholm’; a zombie-infested town that has long been cut off from the rest of the game’s locations, yet you get to take a ’shortcut’ through it’s moaning allyways, oh, goody.

From the terrible screaming of agony from the headcrab zombies to the quick, springy headcrabs that would like nothing more but to swallow your head whole to the strong, cheetah-speed runners referred to as the fast zombies, you will have your survival (and your nervous system) cut out for you in this game.

4. Silent Hill 2

You are James Sunderland, and you have received a letter from your late wife stating that she waits for you in Silent Hill. Personal, searching out the undead incarnation of my nagging significant other within a town that is just crawling with monstrous abominations doesn’t seem like my idea of a vacation, but James here thought it was just what he needed. I guess his life was going a little too normal for his taste, so he needed a good mind-f*ck. This game is argued by many to be the most terrifying of all the Silent Hill entries, and I can definitely see why.

This game was revolutionary in many ways, but something that shouldn’t go unnoticed is the extremely customizable difficulty setting. You can choose to either A: Have extremely difficult enemies and extremely easy puzzles, or B: Have pushovers as enemies and true mind-benders as puzzles. Something that I will never forget about this frightening experience: the sound of metal dragging along the floor announcing the presence of Pyramid Head, the game’s most terrifying enemy. Good times, good times.

3. Dead Space

The newest ’scariest game’, in which you are battling an alien infection aboard a spacecraft that turns crew members into zombie-like antagonists. You’re going to need some diapers if you intend to sit down and play this thing for an extended periods of time.

2. Siren

A truly terrifying experience that is a completely worthy addition to the list. This has been somewhat overlooked for whatever reason, but it still remains one of my favorites. The real-life visuals featured in the game paired with a much stealthier approach at Horror games, playing makes this game a gem worth looking into.

The best part is: a reworked PS3 version of this game is now available for download for PSN in North America and Europe. You owe it to yourself to go and buy it. Off you go.

1. Silent Hill

Yeah, three Silent Hill games in one list may seem like a bit much, but the fact remains that this series has always managed to be the scariest of them all, every time, and that deserves recognition. What better way to tip our hats to this amazing, frightening series than to give the number one spot of our list to the one that started it all?

Well, there you have it, ladies and gents; a comprehensive list of some of the most terrifying virtual experiences available thus far. I hope you enjoy every last one of them. Oh, and . . . you might want to cover the couch with something easily washable.

Bioshock has influenced many people’s look on video games, but little did we know that Bioshock was also influencing something big. When being interviewed by Computer and Video Games, Capcom’s Masachika Kawata admitted that Resident Evil 5 was heavily influenced by the popular underwater video game, Bioshock.

“It’s a classic game which really utilized the next gen power very well. The world is very strong and very believable, and the whole game was quite inspiring”.

He also continues to state that the game was also influenced by many other western gaming titles that they can’t talk about at this time, but they were “incorporated” into the game. The game is right now set to make its way on to consoles this March on both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

[Resident Evil 5 Interview via CVG]

As we are still waiting to get our hands on the PS3 version of Bioshock, yesterday morning we took watch as someone published a video on youtube showing the teaser trailer for Bioshock 2, which is only in the PS3 version of the game. At the end of the trailer it showed the new title for Bioshock 2, which was simply entitled Bioshock 2: Sea of Dreams. Even if many of us don’t know no what to expect from this game, we can still stop and wonder whether this game will be a sequel to Bioshock or a prequel.

According to WhatIfGaming, 2K Marin has decided to revealed some very basic information on the upcoming game. 2K developer, Charles Schechbeck, said this sequel is also part prequel.

“BioShock 2: Sea of Dreams is part of a prequel and at the same time is a sequel, so you’re kind of close on the interpretation of the trailer. The rising replica of Rapture can represent something to do with this or something part of a bigger surprise that everyone has to wait and see to play.”

Microsoft may have paid for this game exclusivity, but that’s ok because not so long ago 2K Games revealed that BioShock will be coming to the PlayStation 3. Now, months later we have recieved news that 2K games have been planning a demo for the PS3 version of the game and they have aready revealed the date of the demo release.

Today, according to a update on the officail website for BioShock, the official date for the BioShock PS3 demo has been set for a October 2, 2008 release date. The game was also recently given a 5Gb mandatory install, which should take little over 10 minutes to complete.

When you first lay eye’s on the trailer you will notice that lighting is just amazing, as the camera slowly comes up and you see Marcus holing one Locust in his left hand while walking and the way the shadows interact with the light makes for one great beginning. Then you start hearing a voice that kind of reminds you of something from BioShock saying “I have a rondevu with death” makes the game look even more amazing. Then right after that when you see Dom laying down on the left side concord sleeping you notice all the shadow that interact with Dom’s face right when he get’s up.

I really don’t need to say much more but this word should cover it “AMAZING” .

But, there was something missing in the trailer, yet they didn’t put it in there, the trailers was missing some Lucost on chainsaw action. Other then that everything in the trailer was done to the best of Epic’s ability from the voicing to the light Epic did a great job.

2K Games has revealed to us a piece of beautiful with this new concept art from there upcoming game Mafia II. The piece of concept art evokes the Max Payne look maybe 2k games is hoping that the game has the same success as Max Payne….maybe a Mafia II movie? The game will be available on PlayStation 3, Xbox360 and PC some time in the next year or so.