Author Richard Morgan, best known for his cyberpunk sci-fi novel Altered Carbon, revealed on his blog that he's been working with Electronic Arts as a consultant on three upcoming games (via A Dribble of Ink). He explains that the relationship started with an email from John Miles at EA about a year ago. A meeting with Miles and fellow EA employees Jeff Gamon and Colin Robinson resulted in an offer to write the script for a project already underway and to consult on future games. Part of the deal included heading off to Berlin the next week and since it seems he accepted we can assume that was his next stop.

While Morgan does not disclose what projects he might be on the names and locations offer plenty of clues. Miles, who initially reached out to him, recently has been working with the EA Partners group which includes developers Crytek and Starbreeze. The quick trip to Berlin put him only a short train ride away from Crytek's headquarters in Frankfurt. Morgan's gritty style would definitely fit well with the Crysis franchise. But hold on, before we forget, Crytek also bought developer Free Radical earlier this year, including the rights to the TimeSplitters IP, and kept the studio in the UK running. That sounds like two perfect fits already.

As to whether Starbreeze is involved that seems too be out. They're currently working on a Bourne game for EA. More likely, given Morgan's strengths, is that he would be working on the Mirror's Edge sequel Patrick Soderlund said a small team was working on already back at E3. So there you go, three games: writing a new TimeSplitters (4), and consulting on the next Crysis game and Mirrors Edge 2.

UPDATE: Or, as Chris just pointed out to me, maybe Starbreeze isn't out of the picture. We reported earlier this year that EA planned to revive Syndicate. At the time rumors pointed to Starbreeze being the studio tabbed to take the project.

EA Partners will publish Crysis 2, Electronic Arts and CryTek announced today. Though devoid of any details on the game and no release date estimate, today's announcement did reveal that the CryEngine 3 powered game will head to PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, in addition to a PC release.

"The development of Crysis 2 marks a major stepping stone for our studio," said Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli, adding "This is not only the next game in the Crysis franchise, it's the first title we are developing for consoles and the first title being built on CryENGINE 3. We are excited to have the support of EA Partners again as we work together to make the launch of Crysis 2 a huge event."

CryTek previously teamed with EA Partners for Crysis and Crysis Warhead.

Crytek, developer of the Crysis games and the CryEngine technology behind them, has filed for three new trademarks-- Gface, Carvatar, and Kingdoms--reports GameSpot.

With the filings covering "computer game software and electronic games," a recent tech demo of CryEngine 3 sporting medieval battle footage, and Crytek's status as a developer, there's speculation that at least one trademark could be a game title.

In addition, Crytek recently filed for a trademark on the phrase "Warface."

More footage from Crytek's multi-platform CryEngine 3 technology has emerged from this year's Game Developers Conference. Over twice the length of the previous trailer, the video offers an extended look at what the Crysis developers can do on consoles.

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The next iteration of Crytek's CryEngine graphics solution, the console-ready CryEngine 3, is making its debut here at GDC in San Francisco, and today the first footage was released by way of IGN.

Check out the video below. We'll have more on CryEngine 3, including an interview with Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli, as the show progresses.

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The third iteration of Crytek's proprietary graphics engine CryEngine will debut at this month's Game Developers Conference, according to a release from the company.

"We've been preparing a long time for CryENGINE on consoles and we're confident that Crytek will again amaze developers at GDC," said Crytek director of business development Carl Jones.

Crytek's release mainly touts the engine's cross-platform development features, including scalability for those pesky next-gen systems.

The Game Developers Conference runs from March 23 through the 27th in San Francisco. Check out the full release below:... Read more

Update: Crytek today confirmed last night's news, announcing it indeed purchasing the assets and business of Free Radical Design. The forty-some people still left at the company following December's layoffs and bankruptcy will be retained. The studio will now be known as Crytek UK.

Original: Though an official announcement on the fate of TimeSplitters developer Free Radical isn't due until tomorrow, staffer Rob Yescombe has already spilled the beans.

Crysis developer Crytek is now the proud owner of the bankrupt development studio, Yescombe, a script writer, told 1UP. "It's the smoothest deal we've ever done. It all went through quickly, efficiently, fantastically," he said.

At present, it's unclear if Crytek will enable Free Radical to regain some of the 140 employees it lost last December, or if work will continue on TimeSplitters 4.

Crysis Warhead (PC) developer Crytek is now open for business in Seoul, South Korea, as the European developer is making a move into the lucrative Asian gaming market.

Industry veteran Young Mok Park will lead the office and will focus on Crytek's engine licensing business for Korean clients, reports Gamasutra.

"Establishing an office in Seoul was the logical step to expand our business in Korea as well as giving our engine licensees in this region the best possible support, through direct access to a dedicated local team," said Crytek CEO Faruk Yerli.

"Crytek's Korean office will take a key role in increasing the quality of service to CryENGINE clients. By establishing the Korean office, Crytek has shown its commitment and strong interest in Korean game companies as well as the Korean gaming industry," Park added.

Asian markets including Korea, China and Taiwan are known for abundant online games--many of them free-to-play--as a counter to abundant piracy. But Crytek's move into Asia symbolizes the moneymaking potential in the region.

PC Gaming Alliance head Randy Stude recently commented that Asian markets, despite their high piracy rates, "are also the top markets for revenue."

While some argue that piracy can increase game sales by letting players take a "try before you buy" approach, Crytek business manager Harald Seeley isn't one of them.

Based on downloads of the last Crysis patch, he argues, there were "a lot more active [Crysis] players than there were unit sales."

And since those pirates are still playing the game months after release, Seeley reasons that "then they were a sale that didn't happen but probably would have had it not been possible to obtain the game illegally."

Crytek, the studio that created the hardware intensive Far Cry and Crysis games exclusively for PC, has repeatedly stated that the upcoming Crysis Warhead will be its last PC-only game due to the abundant piracy of PC games.

But just because Crytek is no longer developing PC exclusives, that doesn't mean the company will abandon the platform. "We want to continue to provide our... Read more

Crysis creator Crytek has officially acquired Black Sea Studios, a Bulgarian company known for its historical PC real-time strategy effort Knights of Honor and the upcoming sci-fi RTS WorldShift.

Under the deal, Black Sea has been renamed Crytek Black Sea. The financial details of the buyout were not disclosed.

"Black Sea Studios already has a very qualified and experienced development team in place and will be continually expanded in capacity to join our tradition of producing highly innovative and creative games which Crytek is known for," explained Crytek managing director Avni Yerli.

It is unknown what effect the acquisition will have on the development of WorldShift, which was announced a PC exclusive. Due to piracy concerns, Crytek has stated that the company will no longer develop PC-only titles following Crysis: Warhead this fall.

When Far Cry and Crysis creator Crytek said it would not develop PC-only titles after Crysis Warhead (PC), it was assumed that the studio would pursue PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 efforts as its CryENGINE 2 technology is being ported to those systems.

Now, a job listing for the company's Budapest studio indicates that, in addition to consoles, the company is eying handheld development--specifically, the PSP.

Titled PSP Programmer, requirements include at least one year of experience on a PlayStation 2, PSP, or Nintendo DS game along with a willingness to relocate.

At present, Crytek Budapest is known to be working Crysis Warhead, which is due out this fall, along with a non-FPS title. The company also has at least one console title in the works at an unknown location, though a job listing for a PS3 programmer indicates that console development is taking place within Crytek's Frankfurt branch.

Following up on yesterday's teasing, developer Crytek and publisher Electronic Arts have officially announced the second entry in the Crysis series of sci-fi shooters.

Due out this fall, Crysis Warhead will arrive exclusively on PCs and is the first title to be developed by Crytek's Budapest studio. The game is said to run on "a new, enhanced and optimized version" of CryENGINE 2, the technology that powered the original.

The game's status as a PC exclusive comes as a bit of a shock, considering that Crytek recently commented it would be moving away from PC-only development due to piracy. "I believe we won't have PC exclusives as we did with Crysis in future," Crytek president Cevat Yerli said then. "Similar games [to Crysis] on consoles sell factors of 4-5 more."

Expanding on the story of the original, Warhead follows Sergeant "Psycho" Sykes as he tackles the other side of the island during the time of the first game. Said to pack more weapons, new vehicles and new multiplayer content, the title carries the tagline of "Maximum freedom, maximum explosions and maximum Psycho!"

On its official forums, Crytek revealed that Warhead was the "main reason" behind the cancellation of future Crysis patches. The entire statement follows... Read more

On Monday, developer Crytek announced it would no longer be developing Crysis (PC) patches for "a good reason" that it hoped to say more about "in the very, very near future."

Apparently, the "very, very near future" meant two days.

The official Crysis website has now been updated with a teaser image for Crysis Warhead (pictured above), presumed to be the next entry in the sci-fi shooting series. No other details, such as platforms or a release date, have been unveiled.

The original Crysis was said to be the first in a trilogy, with Crytek having since trademarked multiple related names, including Crysis Wars, Crysis Annihilation, World in Crysis and Crysis Warhead.

The developer recently commented that it would be moving away from PC-exclusive development due to piracy concerns. "Similar games [to Crysis] on consoles sell factors of 4-5 more," Crytek president Cevat Yerli explained. "I believe we won't have PC exclusives as we did with Crysis in future."

At present, Crytek is known to have at least one console title and a non-FPS game in the works, along with its nearly-completed efforts to bring the Crysis-powering CryENGINE 2 technology to consoles. Thanks TheIneffableBob for the heads up.

Crysis and Far Cry creator Crytek has revealed its intent to focus more on consoles and move away from creating PC-exclusive titles due to the "huge piracy" problems of the platform.

"We are going to support PC, but not exclusive anymore," Crytek president Cevat Yerli told PC Play. "Similar games [to Crysis] on consoles sell factors of 4-5 more. It was a big lesson for us and I believe we won't have PC exclusives as we did with Crysis in future."

The studio had previously revealed it was working on at least one console title and a non-FPS game along with the still-underway efforts to bring its CryENGINE 2 technology to consoles.

The Crytek president noted that piracy had significantly hurt the retail... Read more

"Porting CryENGINE 2 [was] not as hard as we expected."

Harald Seeley is Crytek's engine business manager, and by his estimation, things couldn't be looking better for his company's venture into console development.

While work on the console version of CryENGINE 2 only began after Crysis shipped in November, it is now in a fully operational state. Graphically it appears somewhere between mediun and high detail as compared to Crysis on the PC, and the team hopes to support game worlds as large as those found in its flagship title.

But will Crysis be heading to consoles?

"We're certainly looking at it and considering it," said a tight-lipped Seeley. The studio is currently debating if such a project is the best use of its time. Among... Read more

A feature film based on Crytek's platinum-selling sci-fi FPS Crysis (PC) is in the planning stages, reports Kotaku. "A Crysis movie is definitely planned," revealed Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli. "We are in active talks already. I think we will close this topic before the end of this year."

A film based on Crytek's previous title, Far Cry, is currently in post-production. It was directed by the ever-reviled Uwe Boll before he resigned from big-budget projects, and guest stars Anthony Bourdain, the world-traveling maverick chef.

Though Boll's past efforts have transformed Sega's House of the Dead and Gas Powered Games' Dungeon Siege franchises, among others, into poorly received box office releases, Yerli is still eager to see the film.

"Unfortunately, we have not been involved in the film since very early when it was a script," explained the CEO. "However, I think the script changed and improved radically since then, at least I hope it has, since I can't wait to see the movie."

Other topics discussed by Yerli included the possibility of Crytek being acquired by a larger publisher--"If it were a cultural fit, yes, but we would have strong... Read more

During an awards ceremony last night, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences named Infinity Wards' Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (PC, PS3, X360) as 2007's Overall Game of the Year. The title also took three other awards: Console Game of the Year, Action Game of the Year, and Outstanding Achievement in Online Game Play.

Valve's The Orange Box (PC, PS3, X360) was named Computer Game of the Year, while Outstanding Achievement in Game Design, Game Play Engineering, and Character Performance all went to Portal, one of the three new titles contained within the bundle.

Harmonix's Rock Band (PS2, PS3, X360) was honored as Family Game of the Year along with awards for Outstanding Innovation in both Gaming and Soundtrack. Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS) took Handheld... Read more

Publisher Electronic Arts posted a net loss of $33 million over its third quarter ending December 31, according to the company's most recent financial results released today.

The loss--in part due to higher costs in production, marketing, and R&D costs--comes alongside record sales numbers, with revenues of some $1.503 billion, which it claims as the largest one-quarter take of any third party publisher in history.

The achievement is attributed to strong sales of Need for Speed Pro Street, FIFA 08, The Simpons Game, Madden NFL 08, and others.

Rock Band sales were also listed, with the $160+ Harmonix-developed rhythm-game bundle selling 1.5 million units between its November 20 release and the end of December.

The game drove record performance of EA Partners, the publisher's division that handles games by independent developers. EA Partners also released Crytek's Crysis (PC), Flagship Studios' Hellgate: London (PC), and Valve's The Orange Box (PC, PS3, X360).

EA will release further information in a conference call to be held at 2:00pm PST.

Crytek will be demonstrating a cross-platform version of CryENGINE 2, the technology that powered Crysis (PC), at this year's Game Developers Conference.

The presentation, which will only be open to what Crytek refers to as a "select audience," will showcase the engine running on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Such a move may suggest that the console editions of Crysis, which were discussed in hypothetical terms late last year, are proceeding.

"You cannot get Crysis as it is on PC on any console," Crytek CEO Cevat Yerli said at the time. "What you would have to do is compromise the design and the level design--in order of the PS3 and Xbox 360 regards you have to fulfill the memory constraints."

Other GDC demonstrations from Crytek include a look at the architectural and serious game applications of CryENGINE 2, a showing of CryENGINE 2 performing in "extremely high quality" on a machine that was built for around $600, and a session hosted by key Crytek employees entitled "Crysis in the Making."

With titles like BioWare's Mass Effect (X360), Nintendo's Mario Galaxy (Wii), Crytek's Crysis (PC), and others retailing later this month, lesser-known games have a good chance of being buried beneath the onslaught of big budget releases. Shacknews has decided to step in and rescue these games from relative obscurity with a guide to this season's great under-the-radar titles.

We're not making concessions, either--all these games are worthy of your time based on their own merits. These titles span all platforms and were chosen by members of the Shack staff, with at least one staff member having hands-on time with each title. The bulk of these games have already retailed, so you can enjoy them as soon as you want. Read on to check out our picks.