One of the strengths of this extraordinary celebration of crime fiction in general and film noire in particular is that it rarely succumbs to parody or excess. Granted, you encounter the usual assortment of hardboiled stereotypes, including crooked businessmen, dirty cops and fading movies stars, but measured pacing, subdued dialogue, excellent voice acting and subtle art direction ensure that this third person adventure retains a certain dignity throughout. Read the rest of this entry »

NanoBITES captures those small but important morsels of gaming information that otherwise might slip between the cracks.

ITEM! Kaos Studios, the New York based development house responsible for Homefront, is being closed down by parent company THQ. As reported by 1UP, THQ’s new studio in Montreal will be entrusted with future instalments in the series.

ITEM! Finish developer Red Lynx has announced that it is working on a follow up to the wildly popular Trials HD. A physics based motorcycle challenge like its predecessor, Trials Evolution is scheduled for release on XBLA later this year.

ITEM! Nintendo has assigned development of Luigi’s Mansion 2 to Next Level Games, according to a report published on ONM UK. The studio has a history with Nintendo, having contributed to the Mario Smash Football and Punch-Out franchises. Look for Luigi’s Mansion 2 in 2012.

ITEM! Two and half years after third person action game X-Blades was savaged by critics, Konami has announced that Gaijin Entertainment is preparing a sequel. Expect Blades of Time to arrive on 360 and PS3 in early 2012.

ITEM! It looks like we’ll have to wait just a little longer for the latest offering from the creators of Wolfenstein, Doom and Quake. As noted by Kotaku, id Software’s post apocalyptic first person shooter Rage has been delayed until October.

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“That's enough, young lady! Any more cheek and you’ll be back in the tank with your brother.”

Paul Cuisset, best known for his work on atmospheric sci-fi adventure Flashback, is preparing to deliver his latest project. A bleak survival horror game with elements of action and stealth, Amy takes place in the hours following a devastating comet strike. The rogue rock’s arrival appears to have transformed the population of a small Midwestern town into dangerous lunatics. The people who were already dangerous lunatics were presumably unaffected by the phenomena.

As fresh faced heroin Lana, you’ll be forced to deal not only with the aforementioned crazies, but also with the local military and, just to make matters worse, the occasional demon. As daunting as these obstacles sound, your biggest challenge will be babysitting a small child as you battle for survival. Fortunately, young Amy is blessed with mysterious attributes that will make her more of a help than a hindrance.

The game is in development at Lexis Numerique and Paul Cuisset’s VectorCell studio. A PSN exclusive, Amy is scheduled for release this month.

E3 Originals: The Black Panel showcases the new IPs announced at this year’s show.

Just when you thought you couldn’t get enough of the physical-exertion-whilst-gaming trend, Medieval Moves: Deadmund’s Quest arrives on the scene. As the working title of this adventure puzzle game subtly suggests, the game challenges players to wield an assortment of medieval weapons, including swords, shields, bows and… err… ninja stars, by using the PlayStation Move peripheral for the PS3. The game will also be 3D compatible.

The brief announcement trailer showcases the wide variety of actions the player is able to execute with physical movements. Shenanigans are sure to ensue. Putting aside the new opportunities to showcase one’s ability to look like a tool, Medieval Moves promises more in-depth gameplay beyond its gimmick. Footage revealed includes glimpses of RPG-Adventure elements such as drinking health potions and launching grappling hooks.

Having already collaborated on last year’s Sports Champions, developers Zindagi Games and Sony’s San Diego Studio are well placed to make good use of the Move. Medieval Moves: Deadmund’s Quest is set for release on the PS3 in October.

E3 Originals: Killer Freaks From Outer Space l Overstrike l Ryse l Medieval Moves

More E3 Coverage: Microsoft @ E3 l Sony @ E3 l Nintendo @E3 l 3^rd Parties @ E3 l Podcast