Assassin’s Creed II is coming to a PC near you on March 16, and the folks over at Ubisoft just released the specs so that you have enough time to ensure that your rig can run it. The PC version of Assassin’s Creed II will launch with the DLC episodes Battle of Forli and Bonfire of the Vanities for $59.99 and there will be a “Black Edition” with additional content that will be available as a digital download only for $64.99.

Minimum Configuration:
Windows XP (32-64 bits)/Windows Vista (32-64 bits)/Windows 7(32-64 bits); Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8 GHZ or AMD Athlon X2 64 2.4GHZ; 1.5 GB RAM Windows XP (2 GB Windows Vista/Windows 7); 256 MB DirectX 9.0–compliant video card with Shader Model 3.0 or higher; DirectX 9.0 –compliant sound card; 8 GB hard drive space

Just when you thought it had all gone quiet on the Halo front, news from Microsoft might warm a few hearts. They have announced a February 2 release date for the three-pack of ODST multiplayer stages. For 800 MS Points ($10) you’ll gain access to three new and distinct kill zones, namely Heretic, Citadel and Longshore. Citadel is a map set in a symmetrical, confining Forerunner structure; Longshore offers you a coastal treat in a deserted harbor; and lastly, Heretic is a remake of Halo 2’s Midship level. Happy days!

The Classic Controller Pro for Wii has been available in Japan for a while, but it’s finally making its way to the US in April. The controller does not plug directly into your Wii, but instead connects to the Wii Remote. For starters, it will be included with Monster Hunter Tri, but will also be sold separately for $20.

The Classic Controller Pro comes in black or white, and is compatible with more than 450 Wii, WiiWare, and Virtual Console games. The design includes a second row of shoulder buttons, and an ergonomic grip.

Source: Gizmodo

A new research study links the size of certain parts of the brain with video game performance. Study participants with minimal videogame experience were asked to play Space Fortress, while researchers monitored their brains via an MRI scan. Specifically, they were interested in a part of the brain called the striatum (linked to our motor skills, learning new procedures, developing useful strategies and adapting to a quickly changing environment). Results suggested that the better a person is at a video game, the bigger their striatum tends to be.

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[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6iNxP-Gg-E[/youtube]Dead to Rights: Retribution, is a ground-up reinvention of the crime action series developed by Volatile Games. The title thrusts players into a mature neo-noir crime drama as hard-boiled vice cop Jack Slate and his trusted canine ally Shadow. The video provides a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the original musical score for the game, at Abbey Road Studios in the UK. Audio Manager Matt Black guides this latest dev diary, discussing his inspiration and direction for producing a score that complements the noir-inspired setting and gritty characters in the game.

Dead to Rights: Retribution introduces new gameplay elements that attempt to unify the third person shooting and brawling genres for a brutal and relentless action-driven experience. The game will be available sometime this year for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

A world full of adventure, danger and intrigue awaits, as Alawar releases Joan Jade and the Gates of Xibalba for PCs worldwide. Her children have suddenly disappeared and the police have no leads, but Joan Jade, archaeologist of the year and mother extraordinaire, wastes no time in getting hot on the trail to recover her missing kids. What she soon discovers is that a dangerous jungle, mysterious Mayan ruins and a gang of relentless thugs all stand between her and being reunited with her beloved son and daughter. Players join Joan in this mystery-driven puzzle game, looking for clues scattered throughout the jungle and solving brainteasers and other mini-games.

Bungie has restated that Halo: Reach will be a standalone entry into the series, and that in terms of content, “Halo: Reach for us is not Halo 4.”

“It’s not a continuation of the Master Chief story, nor is it the start of a new trilogy. For us, it’s a completely standalone game,” executive producer Joseph Tung told the latest issue of Edge Magazine. “Without giving anything away, there’s certainly some cool stuff we’re doing in Reach that will encourage people to replay the campaign. There are going to be some big surprises in the campaign.”

“We desired to make a standalone title, something that is the culmination of a decade of our efforts building Halo titles,” creative director Marcus Lehto added.

Halo: Reach will be released this fall for the Xbox 360.

Here comes the merciless CEO of Tricell, Excella Gionne. Ms. Gionne is a new playable character in Mercenaries Reunion. Don’t let Excella’s looks deceive you, as her extreme mercilessness contrasts with her beauty. With a strong fighting instinct backed up by superior martial art skills, Ms. Gionne can hold her own against any Majini attack. If that’s not enough for you, in the second episode Desperate Escape, heroes Jill Valentine and Josh Stone have some new moves up their sleeves. Josh can tackle Majini to the ground or elbow drop injured Majini while Jill can jump on a Majini’s back and twist its neck. Experience Resident Evil 5 in a new way with strong team-work and these exciting moves.

Electronic Arts has announced their upcoming product lineup for the Tiger Woods PGA Tour franchise, which includes the launch of a Tiger Woods PGA Tour Online open beta and Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 11 on multiple consoles this June.

Golf enthusiasts can now get a free preview of Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online and invite others via Facebook to join the open beta. The game was developed by EA Tiburon, and aims to be the most accessible, authentic and feature-rich golf video game experience available through a web browser, with no game installation, no disc, and no additional peripherals required.

Paradox Interactive has a new website that caters to the fan community, and puts the games in focus, making it easier for people to find the latest information on their favorite Paradox titles. With a new overview page, users can easily browse games by release date or name. Each game info page serves as a one-stop information hub, where users can find links to email newsletters and online forums, as well as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube pages related to that specific game.