On the week of E3, many gaming companies must be taking a break from releasing new games to plug games they’ll eventually be releasing in the future. Unfortunately this week is quite vacant with games. While low in volume, there are quite a few interesting titles and quite possibly the most deserving game for the “What Were They Smoking?!” Award. 

The Porsche brand has become an icon and no other car brand in the world can match its history, racing pedigree, individuality, or is as easily recognized as those innovative German pieces of art and performance gracefully rolling off the line in Stuttgart.

A little history

Dr. Ferdinand Alexander Porsche cut his engineering teeth at Lohner, where he created the world’s first front wheel drive car, at Daimler-Benz where he created the Mercedes supercharged roadsters the SS and the SSK, before starting the Porsche and Volkswagen brands in the late 30s. It is interesting to note that Adolph Hitler himself conducted the groundbreaking ceremony at the Wolfsburg VW plant in May 1938.
 
Dr. Ferdinand Alexander Porsche
(1875-1951)

Also credited with the development of the first gas-electric hybrid Beetle, Porsche made tanks and bombers for the Nazis during WWII, and was consequently imprisoned in Dijon, France for his role in the Nazi war effort. He died January 30, 1951 just months before the production of the 356 was finished, the first Porsche with the now world-famous Stuttgart horse coat-of-arms emblem.

What's happening in the world of Skyrim? Check out the latest from our ongoing gaming news feature devoted solely to one of this year's favorite RPGs.

Update 1.6 available for PC users

It’s exciting that almost a year later Bethesda is still supporting Skyrim. While not a huge update, 1.6 continues the trend of detailed, specific updates that not only repair known issues but bring new avenues of gameplay we didn’t necessarily ask for, like additional kill cameras. The biggest new feature is mounted combat. Both melee and ranged weapons are supported. 1.6 is available now for the PC version through the the latest Steam Beta Update. Official word on when this update releases to consoles is pending.

The full list of bug fixes and downloading instructions for Update 1.6 can be found on the Bethesda Blog.

Lesser News

Skyrim on Gameboy

We get it, Bethesda has the best office ever

Girls of Skyrim

Happy Memorial Day week to everyone! This week is full of games and a heap of DLC. This week has consoles covered in DiRT, a MMO with an evil United Nations, some SEGA games brought back from the dead, and a What Were They Smoking?! game that may actually looks fun!

Multiplatform Releases

DiRT Showdown (PS3, XBOX360) - This latest version of the popular racing series takes a different direction from DiRT 4. Showdown is a bit more arcadey and the majority of gameplay focuses on multiplayer. Includes racing events, demolition derby, and “Hoonigan” events which focuses on exploration and stunts. [$59.99]

Playstation 3 Releases

Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland - Japanese Role Playing Game is the thirteenth of the Atelier series and the third of the Arland series. [$49.99]

PC Releases

There’s a new boss in Arkham City and boy is she pissed! Harley Quinn is focusing her psychotic wrath on Batman seeking revenge for the Joker’s demise.

Harley Quinn’s Revenge drops for 360, PS3 and PC on May 29th. The DLC adds two hours of original gameplay to Rocksteady's critically acclaimed gem. Players return to Arkham City to play as both Batman and the boy wonder, Robin.  The DLC features a new storyline, environments, achievements and Harley’s brand new band of baddies.  Working together, Batman and Robin must fight and use their sleuthing skills to uncover Harley’s evil plan and forever close the gates of the notorious prison.

Check out the Harley Quinn’s Revenge trailer below.

Fans who do not own Batman: Arkham City can check out Batman: Arkham City Game of the Year Edition.  The GOY edition drops on May 29th and features all the previous DLC - the Catwoman Pack, Nightwing Bundle Pack, Robin Bundle Pack, Challenge Map Pack and Arkham City Skins Pack plus Harley Quinn’s Revenge. All together fans get three playable characters, seven maps, multiple character skins and new gameplay!

Today, in a gesture that greatly pleases this writer, SEGA, in conjunction with Gearbox Software, announced the release date of February 12, 2013 for their highly-aniticipated new game set in the Aliens Universe, Aliens: Colonial Marines. This date is good for the 360, PS3, and PC with a future release date yet to be disclosed for the WiiU.

For those that are unfamiliar with the game, it is set onboard the Sulaco, still in orbit around LV-426, the planet from the first two movies, and puts you in the role of a Colonial Marine attached to a search and rescue squad sent to discover the whereabouts of Ellen Ripley, Sergeant Apone, Corporal Hicks, and the remainder of the squad portrayed in Aliens. The game has been adopted as part of the official Aliens canon and is set in the universe’s timeline to immediately follow the events seen in Aliens 3.

The following is the newly released trailer featuring actual gameplay footage.

Parting Thoughts

Recently, a friend confessed to me that he never saw either Alien or Aliens and I immediately, on behalf of men everywhere, revoked his man card until he viewed them and returned to me with no fewer than five Hudson quotes that he could utter with the proper tone and inflection. Luckily, I had copies of the films on hand for just such an emergency and have now returned his card to him on a probationary basis.

Welcome to another week of game releases! Many are still in Diablo III hysteria, but the releases must go on! This week includes a return of Ghost Recon, some PS Move magic, Mario playing some tennis, and some pretty terrible aliens.

And now... the releases.

Pulse’s Pick of the Week!

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier (PS3, XBOX360) - Tactical third person shooter is back with a futuristic approach. Reconnaissance, camouflage and counter abilities are all state of the art. Game includes 50 weapons and every single piece is customizable. Game includes multiplayer and a full co-op campaign. [$59.99]

Multiplatform Releases

Dragon’s Dogma (PS3, XBOX360) - Capcom’s latest game is an open world action role-playing game. There are nine available classes and uses a new idea called the “pawn system”. Your character plays with three NPCs, one of them is from your world and the other two are from other players online. These NPCs not only fight, but give valuable information such as tips and is compared to the message system in Demon’s Souls. Players also have the ability to grab onto enemies and climb on them. [$59.99]

Gearbox today announced more ways for you to give them money when Borderlands 2 launches on September 18, 2012. Whether you just want to play the game, you're a fan or even a super fan, it looks like Gearbox has you covered.

JUST WANT TO PLAY THE GAME EDITION

First there is the regular $60 edition if you just want to own the game.  If you pre-order however you can enhance it with access to the Borderlands 2 Premier Club.  Members of this elite club will be able to download the Gearbox Gun Pack, a golden key,  a Vault Hunters relic and a fifth character class.

I'M A FAN EDITION

Master Chief is slated to return this November in Halo 4, developed by Microsoft and 343 Industries. Over the next few months, and especially at E3 next month, I expect that we will see a lot more about this next chapter in the Halo saga. If you're excited for the game, like I know many 2old2play members are, you will be pleased to know that you can now pre-order the Limited Edition of Halo 4.

Halo 4 Limited Edition

The Halo 4 Limited Edition [$99.99 USD] will include the following:

War Games Map Pack Access  Access to nine maps. This is really three competitive multiplayer map packs that each have three locations and will be available for download post-launch on Xbox LIVE.

Specializations Early access to six specializations, available at launch on Xbox LIVE. These help you achieve higher ranks in your Spartan career and unlock additional customization options.

UNSC Infinity Briefing Packet Packet that includes armor customization schematic, a blueprint of the UNSC Infinity, and insight into what it means to be a Spartan-IV.

As if that's not enough to entice you, you will also get access to a bunch of bonus digital content via Xbox LIVE, such as:

Diablo 3 isn’t the only new nugget of gaming goodness we get this week! Max Payne 3, developed by Rockstar Games, dropped at midnight. Narrated by Max himself, the trailer is comprised entirely of in game footage. The trailer illustrates his struggle moving forward with his life. Time moves forward around him and nothing changes-he’s stuck in the past and intends to press on with maximum badassery and guns blazing!

Check out the official launch trailer below.