Morning News Wrap (29 Jan 2013)

Yes!  It’s the 29th day of the year 2013…  Can it just be the end of the year already please?  Or maybe just the weekend even?  Please?  We promise to stop eating human braaaaaiiiiiiinnnnssss for a week if we get our wish.  No?  Fine.  News then.

China is apparently considering lifting a 12-year game console ban that prevents the manufacture, sale and import of game consoles in the country.  The news had an almost immediate positive effect on the shares of Sony and Nintendo.  Sony’s stock jumped 9.1% in Tokyo trading to 1,407 yen (highest since April 2012), while Nintendo’s increased by 3.4% to 9,630 yen in Osaka, the highest since 7  December.

February’s PlayStation Plus update has been detailed by Sony and features new games, in the shape of Sleeping Dogs, F1 Race Stars and more, and discounts on titles including Just Cause 1 and 2, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, the Dust 514 Mercenary Pack and Alien Breed Trilogy.

Crytek has snapped up “core” staff from Vigil Games, after the Darksiders developer struggled to ensure a buyer after the THQ auction.  The new Austin, Texas-based studio - Crytek USA Corp. – will be headed up by former Vigil GM and co-owner David Adams, along with some “35 experienced developers” under his wing, according to Gamasutra.

Two new teaser images have been released by BioWare for some upcoming new DLC for Mass Effect 3.  The screens came from the Twitter feeds of exec producer Casey Hudson and Producer Michael Gamble.  No additional details were offered.

Square Enix has released the launch trailer for the Hitman HD Trilogy which brings Hitman 2: Silent Assassin, Hitman: Contracts and Hitman: Blood Money, to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in HD.  The trilogy of Agent 47 adventures is scheduled for release in North America on 29 January (today) and across Europe and PAL territories on 1 February.

Videos of the Revolution DLC for Black Ops 2 have hit the internet and show off the new maps which can be expected when the DLC hits Xbox Live today.  The DLC  will be priced at 1200MS Points (£10.28) and is expected to hit PS3 and PC about a month after its Xbox 360 release.

Remedy – the developers of Alan Wake – are looking for new staff members.  As part of their recruitment drive, the Finnish studio has released this behind-the-scenes video.

A new piece of artwork for GTA V has emerged via AllGamesBeta.  It features a guy.  On a bike.  With a gun.  So nothing we haven’t seen before.

And to end with, some South African eSports news.  Following the recent trials for the team to enter the Battlefield 3 Nation’s Cup, and the naming of Barry Louzada as team captain, the MSSA has revealed the names of the players who will make up the full team participating.  The group stage of the tournament will run until 18 March, and Team South Africa will be up against some stiff competition in Group C.  The players to try and take South Africa on to the next round are:

The MWEB National Battlefield 3 Team consists of the following Cyber-Athletes: