Welcome to The Black List, your one stop shop for the stories published on the site this week.

MONDAY TEST TUBE Cities XL 2012 > Whatever happened to Sim City? The last game in the series debuted in 2003 and later ‘versions’ were basically Sim City 4 repackaged. The Cities XL franchise would seem to be its spiritual successor. I spent a few hours with the latest version of Cities XL, the 2012 edition, and this is what I think you’re likely to get out of it. READ MORE

TUESDAY NEWS nanoBITES 67 > Interplay has relinquished its long disputed claim on a potential Fallout MMO. The publisher received US$2m as part of an out of court settlement that restored all rights to the franchise to ZeniMax subsidiary Bethesda Softworks. This is just one of the stories in the latest edition of nanoBITES, our ongoing feature devoted to small but important news items. READ MORE

WEDNESDAY REVIEW Assassin’s Creed: Revelations > Three years after the events he orchestrated in Brotherhood, Ezio returns for another satisfying blend of stealth, combat and traversal. Primarily set in a period rich with culture and conflict, Revelations brings an interesting narrative to an open world packed with side quests. The multiplayer aspect of the game provides a decent break in routine, but flying solo is where it really excels. READ MORE

THURSDAY REVIEW Amy > There are some things I just cannot stand to do in life. Cleaning the oil trap at my Grandma’s house, dealing with two day old roadkill and using a port-a-loo at a rock festival are just some of the horrible things I never want to do again. Well, I just added another item to the list and that is playing Amy. READ MORE

FRIDAY JUST ANNOUNCED Resident Evil 6 > Three years after the last numbered entry in the series, Resident Evil 6 has been confirmed for a 2012 release. The game will feature a range of protagonists, including series mainstays Chris Redfield (Resident Evil) and Leon S. Kennedy (Resident Evil 2). Our heroes will be struggling to contain a series of bioterrorism incidents, one of which has transformed an urban population of 70,000 into bloodthirsty mutants. READ MORE

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Three years after the last numbered entry in the series, Resident Evil 6 has been confirmed for a 2012 release. The game will feature a range of protagonists, including series mainstays Chris Redfield (Resident Evil) and Leon S. Kennedy (Resident Evil 2). Our heroes will be struggling to contain a series of bioterrorism incidents, one of which has transformed an urban population of 70,000 into bloodthirsty mutants.

The game’s announcement trailer suggests that it will retain the slick action sequences that characterised recent entries in the series. According to publisher Capcom, Resident Evil 6 will offer a blend of “action and survival horror”. The question is: can Capcom retain the fans it gained with the fourth and fifth instalments while also placating those pining for the more suspenseful tone of earlier titles?

Resident Evil 6 is slated to arrive on 360 and PS3 in November with a PC version to follow at a later (thus far unannounced) date.

There are some things I just cannot stand to do in life. Cleaning the oil trap at my Grandma’s house, dealing with two day old roadkill and using a port-a-loo at a rock festival are just some of the horrible things I never want to do again. Well, I just added another item to the list and that is playing Amy. Read the rest of this entry »

Reliving history through sophisticated technology is apparently still the best way to resolve the dilemmas of the present. Lab rat Desmond is whisked into the past, this time to 16th century Constantinople, where he again fills the shoes of Ezio, star of the previous two Assassin’s Creed titles. Read the rest of this entry »