Siliconera has reportedly heard from a "retail mole" that another God Of War HD collection is headed to the PS3. Entitled God Of War Saga, it's likely that this third GoW compilation would include HD versions of the PS2 and PSP games along with the PS3 titles, thus providing a perfect way for players to catch up on the lore before prequel God Of War: Ascension releases next year.

According to the source, God Of War Saga is slated for a "late August" release. We'll keep an eye on it.

Quantic Dream's David Cage, after stunning GDC with his studio's tech demo 'Kara', has suggested that there aren't enough games developers out there actually making games designed specifically for mature audiences.

"We make games - I keep saying this and this is not a very popular to be honest, but I'm not trying to be popular - I think we make games for kids and teenagers," said Cage. "And I think we totally ignore adults out there."

Won't Return To God Of War Unless It's Gameplay-Driven

You can always rely on Twisted Metal and God Of War creator David Jaffe to deliver a frank and uncompromising opinion about game development, and his most recent blog post has shed new light on his hatred for linear and cinematic games that value style and set pieces over substance. As far as he's concerned, fully interactive gameplay is the most important thing our medium can offer, and he won't return to the God Of War franchise unless it focuses on gameplay over storytelling.

We've got the full story and quotes after the break.

It's time to slam a celebratory tequila, God Of War fans... but be sure to grab yourself a massive pinch of salt first.

A "trusted source" has apparently told PSM3 Magazine that God Of War 4 is dated for September 2012, and that recent CVs featuring "God Of War 4 cinematic tests" are exactly what they appear to be. Apparently Santa Monica Studio is also working on another "related project" in parallel with the sequel.

PSM3 has heard from another source that God of War 4 is coming, and will hit in September 2012. Our source works closely with the God of War universe, and let slip he'd be working on a related project at the same time.

There you have it. We'll keep an eye on the situation.

The Soul Calibur franchise is famed for its fluid combat and pixel-perfect mechanics... but since the second game, it has become (in)famous for its platform-exclusive guest characters. We've had Todd McFarlane's Spawn, Tekken's Heihachi Mishima, Nintendo's Link and even the Star Wars crew getting involved in the eternally-retold tale of souls and swords.

We know that a new Soul Calibur is in development, and naturally, one of the biggest questions is who'll be bulking out the roster this time! Project Soul have got videogames, films and even comics from which to pluck their characters, so without further ado, here are the top ten heroes we'd love to see in the next game.

You might be surprised by some of the choices.

10: Kratos

This one's a bit unlikely, what with the God Of War already starring in the PSP version of Soul Calibur and turning up in Mortal Kombat. But you'd better believe that Project Soul are thinking about it signing him again. His varied arsenal, brute strength and surprising speed make Kratos an unstoppable force of bloodthirsty horror, as well as a perfect fit for fighting games.

Plus, let's face it, PS3 fanboys would have thrown a right old tantrum if I hadn't put him in the list. Moving on... to another fan favourite.

9: Master Chief

Sigh. You knew this was going to happen at some point, so let's get the big green galoot out of the way early. Bungie created a whole new female Spartan for the Dead Or Alive series, but we reckon that 343 Industries wouldn't be above pimping out their favourite cash cow for some more exposure. We've had anime shorts, Marvel comics... so why not a cameo?

The idea of wielding a plasma sword and Hunter shield sounds pretty good to us, actually.

8: Darth Maul

Yes, we know that Star Wars has already been done. But it hasn't been done properly. Darth Vader is slow and ponderous, Yoda is a cheap little sod and The Apprentice is instantly forgettable despite his cackhanded fighting style. If only there was a Star Wars character who wielded a unique double-bladed weapon... and blended his strikes with balletic and fluid movements.

Wait, what? Darth Maul does exactly that? Well then, it's time for a mulligan.

7: Jack Cayman

The psychopathic and charismatic star of MadWorld has a  retractable chainsaw on his arm.

Job done.

Ken Levine was right. Although the technology is getting better, characters becoming more photo-realistic, modes of storytelling more mature, and aspirations more lofty, sometimes what should be a tender, intimate moment just gets ruined by the dawning realisation that what one is watching more closely resembles mashing Barbie and Ken dolls together than anything else.

Of course, although technological shortcomings have broken the spell of romance for many a gamer, sometimes you can't just blame the jagged pixels and horrifically animated kissing. Sometimes the writers are to blame too. Sometimes the flirtatious banter is more cheesy than Stilton dunked in fondue, more stilted than...well...stilts.

Of course, some scenes are shot very tastefully indeed and really add something to the experience. I was really impressed with Mass Effect's incorporation of sex, it didn't need to show anything hugely explicit at all and was actually far better for it. Indeed, my seconds-long montage with Liara was all mood-lighting and airy close-ups of relatively inoffensively nude body parts.

But then, there are Team America-esque sequences, scenes that make you cringe, and some that make you burst out laughing - intentionally or otherwise. There are also some that make absolutely no sense in the grand scheme of things whatsoever.

We've picked out six of our favourites. Scenes that have made us laugh, cringe, groan and sometimes just let out a small noise of perplexity. Let's get sexy...

Hit the jump for pixellated puppets, mid-fun sex changes and being an interspecies wingman...

• What: God of War III
• Current Price: £18.85
• Where: Simply Games
• Platform & Price Comparison: PS3
• Review: God of War III

Kratos is back and we all know just what to expect. There's little new or surprising in God of War III but that in no way hampers the sheer enjoyment of playing this deliciously over the top game. The graphics are predictably spectacular and the very visceral combat is even more exciting than ever and often leads to glee/cringe inspiring execution sequences that might have even the hardiest of gamers squirming in their seat. The story takes a while to get going but overall God of War III is an artistic and technical triumph and pretty much a must have for PS3 owners. Thanks to goonertillidie at Hotukdeals!

If this series has taught us anything it's that you should never trust anyone who's cropped up in a Greek myth. The whole crew are back in another tale of betrayal and backstabbing as the terminally pissed-off Kratos essentially tries to kill off anyone ever mentioned by Homer and Apollodorus.

So, the deal at GAME may have run out, but you can still nip over to Gamestation to get to grips with Kratos' third adventure for under £20 and save yourself around £8 in the process.

• Click here to buy God of War III for £19.99 from Gamestation

If you ever played the first two games expect to see more of the same, but shinier....and that's no bad thing. grabbing the concept of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' with both hands, sony's Santa Monica studio have really excelled themselves this time around. If there's a word to describe this final chapter in the trilogy it would be 'epic'. I'm not really talking in terms of the the size of the game, but rather the thrill you get when playing it. The sheer scale of the thing, most effectively realised in the staggering, breathtaking battles with the gigantic titans, has to be seen to be believed. Everything from the level design to the weapons, Kratos' movements to the vast array of enemies he faces, from the visceral combat to the intelligent puzzles, has been polished and enhanced.

And then there's the story itself.

Reading like an Apollodoran Who's Who, there are a vast number of mythological cameos - a large number of whom inevitably end up dead (this is Kratos we're talking about after all...he doesn't do afternoon tea with the family) - the narrative has Kratos marching upon Olympus with the titans to try and topple the Big Man once more, only everything goes wrong, the titan Gaia betrays him, and he wakes up in the Underworld with all of his vicious trinkets gone. Cue an epic journey from the depths of hell to the highest peak of power.

If you've got a PS3 and you don't own this then frankly you should take a good long hard look at yourself in the mirror before purchasing it immediately. If you don't own a PS3 then buy this anyway, then start saving for a PS3. It'll be worth it.

Volume 1

With the aftermath to the Lost finale still brewing, we at Dealspwn thought it was a perfect time to remember our favourite, and not so favourite, videogame endings, from the emotional and the exhilarating, to the downright bad and ugly. So put on your nostalgia goggles, and if you spot a game you've been holding off on, I advise you avert your gaze to our lovely list of writers and current competitions!

Good: Shadow of the Colossus

With the last colossi vanquished, you return to Dormin's lair to claim your reward and resurrect Mono. Only Lord Emon's men stick a sword in your chest, and you're then possessed by Dormin himself, who reveals the sixteen colossi contained all his power, and with each of their deaths, Wander's been storing Dormin's fractured essence, making him the perfect vessel. The Dormin-possessed Wander is ultimately slain by Emon, who casts Wander's sword into a magical pool.

It seems like all is lost, but then Mono awakens from her deathly slumber, and with a somehow still-alive Aggro, she finds a baby infant with horns sprouting from its brow, in the same pool which destroyed Wander and Dormin. Ico anyone?

Bad: Halo 2

So not only do you not play the Master Chief in the final level, putting a stop to a rampaging King Kong wannabe wielding Thor's hammer, then, just to tease you, the game switches perspectives to Master Chief, aboard the Prophet of Truth's Forerunner dreadnought, on-route to Earth.

Epic finale? The last clash of swords to decide the victor? Nope. Just a succinct marketing quote and a credits roll. It soon became clear Bungie stumbled a few times during Halo 2's development, and half the game was sheared off, resulting in this jarring ending. But come on? Not even a climactic race to escape the dreadnought and return to Earth? Or a Grunt-suit to sneak around in?

Click here to check out Felix's other picks...

Kratos's ultra violent tale of rage and retribution is a must have epic for the PS3 and so it's pretty exciting to see that Game are currently offering it for just £24.98, both online and instore.
Even with their current £5 voucher code, the price for God of War 3 from Tesco Entertainment comes to £31.38. As this is the next best price, you stand to make a saving of at least £6 by buying from game, even the cheapest pre-owned version I have seen has been at least £5 more expensive.

• Click here to buy God of War III for £24.98 from Game now

As one would expect from a God of War title, the graphics are spectacular and the game is filled with spectacle, over the top awe inspiring moments to feast your senses upon and absurdly epic boss battles. The carnage factor is turned up to eleven with some moments that even the most hardened gore fans may find hard to watch; the squeamish are advised to steer well clear.

The combat remains as satisfying as ever and, while it hasn't evolved much, it does feel a little more fluid, especially when pulling off a heavy attack. It's a shame that some of the diversity of the earlier titles has been lost, with less emphasis on puzzle elements for example, but this does keep the pace zipping along, making the game a thrill ride from start to finish.

Pretenders to Kratos's epic action crown have flocked onto consoles and while some have been undeniably great games, nothing has been able to beat being back in ancient Greece, riding a massive titan towards an orgy of destruction.

Thanks to cowkiller at Hotukdeals!

April 2010 Game Releases

Last day of the month appraoching and it would appear that all of the publishers having been saving themselves up for this Friday. Lots to be excited for whatever your genre preference, there's God of War Collection for action junkies, 2010 FIFA World Cup for footie lovers, Iron Man 2 hopes to change the bad name of movie tie-ins and Monster Hunter Tri sets out to prove that actually, it is possible to create a stunningly good third party game for the Wii even if your name is not Nintendo.

How to use: Click on the title of the video game if you would like to see the cross platform possibilities. Click on the game cover of the platform of your choice to see the price comparison for that particular game, showing you the cheapest prices from UK online retailers.

NB. Game developers are notoriously flighty so be aware some of these dates may well change.

30th April 2010:

Video Game	PC	PSP	PS3	X360	Wii	DS
2010 FIFA World Cup 30th April 2010
God Of War Collection 30th April 2010
Iron Man 2 30th April 2010
Monster Hunter Tri 30th April 2010
Splinter Cell: Conviction 30th April 2010
Super Speed Machines 30th April 2010
Super Street Fighter IV 30th April 2010
WarioWare D.I.Y. 30th April 2010

April 2010 Game Releases

We're hurtling towards the end of April, and here comes another new releases post. It seems that everyone's just waited until the last week of the month to release their titles.  Dead To Rights: Retribution comes out along with Square's action-RPG Nier this week before an exciting end-of-month avalanche on the 30th.

How to use: Click on the title of the video game if you would like to see the cross platform possibilities. Click on the game cover of the platform of your choice to see the price comparison for that particular game, showing you the cheapest prices from UK online retailers.

NB. Game developers are notoriously flighty so be aware some of these dates may well change.

22nd - 28th April 2010:

Video Game	PC	PSP	PS3	X360	Wii	DS
Dead To Rights: Retribution 23rd April 2010
NIER 23rd April 2010

It wasn't too long ago that it was very easy to justify being a gamer without a PS3, so few and far between were its decent exclusive titles. However this is no longer the case and with God of War 3, Sony have added yet another essential title to their roster.

Simply Games have now knocked their price down to one that rivals even the best preorder deals and undercuts the next cheapest, Zavvi, by £3.

• Click here to buy God of War III for £33.89 from Simply Games

There have been plenty of attempts to steal Kratos' epic crown from the sublime (Bayonetta) to the very disappointing (Dante's Inferno) but as good as some of these contenders have been, there's never been a game which has quite scaled the dizzy heights of delicious over-the-top awesome-itude in the way that the God of War series makes look so effortless.

Much like the previous instalment, God of War III, serves not only as a brilliant piece of entertainment but also as a testament to just what can be achieved by the current generation of consoles. The graphics are literally awesome, with an incredible opening spectacle that will surely blow you away. Furthermore Sony up the ante even further, offering boss fights beyond anything we have ever seen before (even in the previous GoW games)

The combat has not really evolved much but it's still just as satisfying and fun as ever and does feel a bit more fluid, especially where the heavier attacks are concerned. The story may take a while to get going, with cut scenes that feel a little repetitive for the first two thirds but towards the end another side of Kratos is revealed, adding far more weight, depth and heart to the tale.

Overall, God of War III is a triumph, both artistically and technically and well worth investing some time and money into.

Not convinced? Check out Brendan's review!

Although Play have the release date for thi particular bundle as April 1st, we're pretty sure it's not an April Fool. With God of War III currently retailing for around £35-40 at the moment and considering that most merchants are stocking this version of the PS3 Slim alone for this price you can look at it either as you're getting God of War III for free, or a 250 GB PS3 Slim for around £230. Pretty good eh?

• Click here to check out Play's upcoming PS3 bundle of awesomeness

As with their previous two consoles, it didn't take long for Sony to put the PS3 on a diet and help it shed a few pounds. The Slim model is 33% smaller, 36% lighter, and consumes 34% less power than its larger brother, with a redesigned cooling system that means not only is it quieter, but it won't set fire to your house either. Additionally, as we've seen, Slims are pretty well defended against things like hacking and the Millennium Bug.

We've had a little look at God of War III and found it to be pretty darn special, in fact you can check out Brendan's review here. No, it hasn't changed much - lopping off heads in beautifully rendered surroundings and felling gigantic mythical beasts in amongst the occasional puzzle is, as ever, the order of the day - but that's no bad thing at all.

If you've been waiting for the return of the angry, bald Greek before taking the PS3 plunge, then this is most definitely for you.

Thanks to andylu at HUKD

It's seems that some copies of God of War 3 got shipped with some nutritional info...

[JoystickDivision]

Dealspwn Rating 9/10

Platform: PS3 (Exclusive)

Developer: Sony Santa Monica Studios

Publisher: Sony

Kratos and God of War III have patiently sat atop Mount Olympus watching the likes of Bayonetta, Darksiders and Dante’s Inferno clamber their way upwards in their efforts to usurp him. He’s let them get tantalisingly close, before stirring and smiting them from the mountain in amused rage at their audacity.

The end of the trilogy begins where GOWII ended, with Kratos clambering up Mount Olympus with his new Titan buddies for the climactic war to kill Zeus and any gods that cross his path. There’s seemingly nowhere for the Olympians to hide anymore seeing as he’s dispatched pretty much every mythological monster they’ve thrown at him already.

It’s great see that Kratos himself hasn’t changed over the years. He’s still so gloriously f***ked off with everything and everyone. There are several points where you might think the game’s going to offer you a ‘moral choice,’ but no, you just kill everyone. It’s a pretty clear message to Dante’s Inferno and its conscience.

Click here to find out exactly why Kratos is still the mack daddy....

It's not long now until God of War fans can get their hands on the final instalment in Kratos' epic revenge trilogy. For those who absolutely have to have it the day it arrives, The Game Collection currently have the best preorder price, at just £33.99, it's £4 down from the next best offer of £36.95 from Blah DVD (and affliates).

• Click here to preorder God of War III for £33.99 from The Game Collection now

GoW III picks up where the previous instalment ended, with Kratos on the massive Gaia's back, surrounded by an army of titans, all hungry for his revenge and glory. After this spectacular opening scene, the game sees Kratos journey from the giddy heights of Mount Olympus to the depths of Hades in his quest to avenge the wrongs committed against him.

All the previews, video reviews and demos suggest that this will be an unmissable game for Playstation owners delivering an epic experience in a world with a ridiculous sense of scale. Fans of gore will relish the opportunity to rip out cyclops' eyes and stab minotaurs to death with their own horns. While it has sacrificed some of the diversity seen in God of War II, the fantastic combat and incredible, benchmark setting visuals are present. Reviews suggest that the story is a tad slow to start but once it gets going it provides an excellent and very satisfying resolution to Kratos' tale.

Read Dealspwn's God Of War 3 review here!

Thanks to henrymalcam at Hotukdeals!

March 2010 Game Releases

Week three, and here comes another new releases post. The big one this week is, of course, the hotly anticipated God of War III, but it might be keeping an eye out for post-apocalyptic FPS Metro 2033 and also the return of the much-loved EA RTS in Command and Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight.

How to use: Click on the title of the video game if you would like to see the cross platform possibilities. Click on the game cover of the platform of your choice to see the price comparison for that particular game, showing you the cheapest prices from UK online retailers.

Stay tuned, folks, as we'll be updating you with all of the new releases for next week along with their cheapest prices in just a few days' time.

15th - 21st March 2010:

Video Game	PC	PSP	PS3	X360	Wii	DS
BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger 19th March 2010
Calling 19th March 2010
Combat of Giants: Mutant Insects 19th March 2010
Command & Conquer 4: Tiberium Twilight 19th March 2010
Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening 19th March 2010
Fireburst 19th March 2010
Fragile Dreams 19th March 2010
God of War 3 19th March 2010
Metro 2033 19th March 2010
Rugby League 3 19th March 2010
Scene It? Twilight 19th March 2010

Although it's not released until the end of March, stores have started accepting preorders for this year's new God of War title and, while it's bound to be a popular title, it's a lot less likely to be subject to a supermarket price war than the likes of Final Fantasy XIII, so it's worth investigating the online deals.

The Game Collection are currently leading the way with the best price of £36.99 but if you use a voucher code then Gameplay pip at the post, taking their price down to just £32.99 and giving you a £4 saving.

• Click here to pre order God of War III for £32.99 from Gameplay

In order to get the game for this reduced price you will need to enter the following discount code: hv9vjvytk

God of War III picks up exactly where the second instalment ended, with Kratos hungry to destroy Olympus as he stands on Gaia's back. After scaling the dizzy heights of Mount Olympus, the plot sees Kratos travelling down into Hades' dark realm of Hell as he continues on his quest for vengeance.

The game looks set to be every bit as high in quality and excitement as its predecessors, with phenomenal graphics and an epic new depth of scale. On the backs of Titans, Kratos will be able to hack his way through entire, vast, armies as he traverses huge environments, up to four times the size of anything seen previously in the series. The signature gameplay that makes the God of War games so darn enjoyable is back with a selection of new weapons and magic for Kratos to have his brutal way with.

God of War III looks set to be a must have for any fan of the series and well worth picking up if you are a newcomer to the games.

Read Dealspwn's review of God of War 3 here.

Thanks to adsldave at Hotukdeals!

Today’s news roundup sees a Ubisoft CEO suggest Splinter Cell will forever remain on the Xbox 360, Sony reveal the extravagant God of War 3 Collector’s Edition, and Microsoft begin banning hundreds of members of Xbox Live for playing pirated games.

Splinter Cell to Remain on Xbox 360 for Time Being

Splinter Cell is typically seen as more of an Xbox game than anything else, even though the franchise appeared on the PS2 and GameCube.  This generation however, it looks like Ubisoft are keen to keep the series on the Xbox 360, most likely in exchange for a big fat pile of money.  When Ubisoft Toronto and Montreal CEO Yannis Mallat was questioned on the likelihood of Splinter Cell appearing on the PS3 or elsewhere, he replied “Until further notice [the franchise is staying on Xbox 360]. However, I'm only the one making the games, you should talk to the people in Paris [for a final answer].”

Microsoft is notorious for their timed exclusives, releasing a game before anyone else to forever associate the game with the 360.  This will most likely be the case with Splinter Cell: Conviction, eventually seeing release on the PS3 and PC.  [GamingUnion]

God of War 3 Collector’s Edition Revealed

Collector’s editions seem to get bigger and badder with every new release that appears on the shelves.  Halo 3 kicked the whole thing off with their ‘Legendary’ edition of Halo 3.  Since then a number of ludicrous collector’s edition has been announced, including night-vision goggles for the prestige edition of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.  Sony has now joined in on the fun, announcing the “Ultimate Edition” for God of War 3, due for release next year.

The release offers all the usual stuff you can expect with any collector’s edition, including: a limited edition art book, exclusive downloadable content vouchers, a “Dominus” skin for Kratos, a documentary on the making-of, and the original soundtracks for the entire God of War trilogy.  The whole lot comes packaged in a gigantic 8.3” wide x 10.5” long x 5.9” tall replica of Pandora’s Box, taken from the first God of War.  No price has been confirmed, but expect to pay upwards of £70 for the pack.  [1UP]

Microsoft Begin Mass Banning On Xbox Live

Microsoft has recently begun a mass banning on Xbox Live of anyone owning a modded console and playing pirate copies of games.  According to a Microsoft spokesperson  "We have taken action against a small percentage of consoles that have been modified to play pirated game discs.  In line with our commitment to combat piracy and support safer and more secure gameplay for the more than 20 million members of our Xbox LIVE community, we are suspending these modded consoles from Xbox LIVE."

A look at the official forums shows hundreds of complaints in the past week, with many threads in the technical feedback forum protesting they’ve been banned from Live.  The spokesperson points out it should be clear modifying their Xbox 360 to play pirated games violates the Xbox LIVE terms of use, voiding their warranty, and resulting in a ban.  He adds “The health of the video game business depends on customers paying for the genuine products and services they receive from manufacturers, retailers, and the third parties that support them.”  [IGN]