Popular gaming site GameSpot posted the exclusive fist look at next month's BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY #1, the comic book miniseries that bridges the storyline gap between the critically acclaimed BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM video game and the highly anticipated sequel, BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY, which hits stores this October.
Check out the preview to get your first look at Paul Dini's script and Carlos D'Anda's stellar interior work!
Highly Anticipated Batman: Arkham City™ Launches in Stores Beginning October 18
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today announced that the highly anticipated videogame Batman: Arkham City™ will step out of the shadows and onto store shelves in North America beginning October 18, in Australia beginning October 19 and in Europe and other global territories beginning October 21, for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Games for Windows PC and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system. Developed by Rocksteady Studios, Batman: Arkham City is the follow-up to the award-winning hit video game Batman: Arkham Asylum™ and delivers an authentic and gritty Batman experience.
Batman: Arkham City builds upon the intense, atmospheric foundation of Batman: Arkham Asylum, sending players soaring into Arkham City – five times larger than the game world in Batman: Arkham Asylum – and the new maximum security “home” for all of Gotham City’s thugs, gangsters and insane criminal masterminds. Set inside the heavily fortified walls of a sprawling district in the heart of Gotham City, this highly anticipated sequel introduces a brand-new story that draws together a new, all-star cast of classic characters and murderous villains from the Batman universe, as well as a vast range of new and enhanced gameplay features to deliver the ultimate experience as the Dark Knight.
Batman: Arkham City is based on DC Comics’ core Batman license. Fans can visit www.batmanarkhamcity.com to sign up to receive updates regarding the game and join the discussion on the recently launched community site at http://community.batmanarkhamcity.com to participate in forums, read upcoming developer diaries and stay abreast of all the latest Batman: Arkham City news.
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About DC Entertainment
DC Entertainment, home to such iconic DC Comics properties as Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, The Flash, MAD Magazine, and Fables, is the creative division charged with strategically integrating across Warner Bros. and Time Warner. DC Entertainment works in concert with many key Warner Bros. divisions to unleash its superheroic characters across all media, including but not limited to film, television, consumer products, home entertainment, and interactive games. Publishing over 1,000 comic books, graphic novels and magazines each year, DC Comics is the largest English-language publisher of comics in the world.
About Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, a division of Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group, is a premier worldwide publisher, developer, licensor and distributor of entertainment content for the interactive space across all current and future platforms, including console, handheld and PC-based gaming for both internal and third party game titles.
About Rocksteady Studios Ltd
Rocksteady Studios is a multi-award winning videogame developer based in London, England. Located in a spacious, purpose built converted factory, with full motion capture and audio studio capabilities, Rocksteady is an energetic company formed by a core team of senior industry professionals. This creates an ideal balance of drive, talent, proven methods, experience and cutting edge technology to make AAA games. Now employing over 90 people, Rocksteady's mission is to be a highly professional, efficient company whose purpose is to make great games, and have happy and healthy team members. This philosophy is the heart and soul of the company. Rocksteady received the coveted ‘studio of the year’ award at the 2009 VGA awards.
BATMAN and all characters, their distinctive likenesses, and related elements are trademarks of DC Comics © 2011. All Rights Reserved.WB GAMES LOGO, WB SHIELD: ™ & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s11)Batman: Arkham Asylum was one of the most successful video games of 2009, and earned a Guinness World Record for the “Most Critically Acclaimed Superhero Game Ever.” This May, find out what happened between Batman: Arkham Asylum and its highly anticipated sequel in BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY, a six-issue miniseries that bridges the gap between the two games, and leads into the game’s release this fall.
Written by Batman: The Animated Series writer Paul Dini (who also penned both Arkham games) and drawn by Batman: Arkham Asylum and Batman: Arkham City concept artist Carlos D’anda, BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY picks up one year after the original game, where former Arkham Warden turned newly elected Mayor of Gotham City Quincy Sharp has decided to close down the infamous institution. In its stead, he establishes “Arkham City,” the new maximum security “home” for all of Gotham City’s thugs, gangsters and insane criminal masterminds. Set inside the heavily fortified walls of a sprawling district in the heart of Gotham City, inmates can roam free and do whatever they want as long as they don’t try to escape. To run this urban prison, Sharp has appointed Dr. Hugo Strange, a man who knows that Bruce Wayne is Batman.
Each issue of the miniseries will be available day-and-date digitally worldwide for $2.99 each. These releases will alternate with 8-page digital-first interludes that will expand on the story included in the miniseries. Written by Dini and drawn by a variety of artists, these digital stories will focus on The Dark Knight’s many enemies as they vie for power in this new city within a city. Each eight-page digital-first interlude will be available for .99 cents, releasing in between issues of the miniseries, and will later be included in print in the BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY collected edition.
“The digital first stories offer a unique incentive for fans to experience interesting and exciting stories beyond the pages in the printed comic,” said Jim Lee, DC Comics Co-Publisher, “The additional pages will serve as interludes within the regular issues and won’t be necessary to follow the main story of the miniseries. Fans will also be able to read these interludes in print later, when we publish the collected edition.”
Read the comic before you play the game, and keep an eye out for the issue #1 variant cover, utilizing in-game graphics.
BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY will double-ship in its first month, with issues 1 & 2 landing in May.
Batman: Arkham City #1 cover by Carlos D'Anda
You’ve played the first game. You’ve seen the teaser trailers. Now we’ve got a title for the most highly anticipated video game sequel in years.
Today, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment announced BATMAN: ARKHAM CITY as the title for the follow-up to the award winning and critically acclaimed videogame BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM.
The game, which will be available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC next fall and developed by Rocksteady Studios, expands upon the gritty, atmospheric scenery and characterization that catapulted BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM to the forefront. It is set in a sequestered section of Gotham City that has become the home for the criminally insane. Players are introduced to a brand new story that bring together an ensemble cast of characters and villains from the Batman universe, as well as enhanced gameplay features that build upon the ultra-realistic Dark Knight experience that fans enjoyed with BATMAN: ARKHAM ASYLUM.
You've played the game, but why stop there?
Today, we get to unveil the second wave of DC Direct's hyper-detailed ARKHAM ASYLUM figures, based on the bestselling game, which pits the Dark Knight against his deadliest foes -- on the frightening Arkham Island.
With the Joker inciting most of the inmates, Batman faces a riot from a cadre of Gotham's most wanted killers and nutcases.
Based on designs of one of the most critically-acclaimed Superhero games ever, the second wave features POISON IVY, ZSASZ, BATMAN (ARMORED) and BANE. All four figures feature multiple points of articulation and include a display base. Character-appropriate accessories are also included.
Look for these to hit stores in February 2011.
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