On Today's gaming headlines, we talk about Bioware's latest MMORPG project Star Wars: The Old Republic and their newly release Beta openings. Enslave, is it going to be living the hype or will it be a dud? and Sega's futuristic shooter Vanquish and what Gamestop has to offer if people pre-ordered it.

All this and more on today's gaming headlines.





In September 2009, a year after the game was officially announced, BioWare began accepting applications for Star Wars: The Old Republic's closed beta. Almost a year later, the gate has opened, and the developer is letting the first wave of volunteer testers get their hands on the game.
According to a post on SW: TOR's Web site, the game testing process is composed of several phases. The first waves, which BioWare says are "small" and "focused" tests, are limited to North American users. However, as the testing window progresses, it will open to "other territories."

Those interested in getting their hands on the Star Wars-flavored massively multiplayer online role-playing game can express their interest by registering with SW: TOR's community Web site. Additionally, those who are already members can travel to the Game Testing Portal and opt in for selection, though there is no guarantee for admittance into any of the testing periods. More information on The Old Republic's testing phase can be accessed at its FAQ page.

SW: TOR takes place approximately 300 years after the events of the original game but some 3,600 years before the events of LucasArts' quintessential films. Players can choose to align themselves with either side of the Force, taking on professions like the Sith warrior and bounty hunter for the dark side and the trooper and smuggler for the Galactic Republic.

Star Wars: The Old Republic is scheduled to be released on the PC during spring 2011.


Enslaved on sale October 5th



Namco Bandai has nailed down the release date for the next outing from Heavenly Sword developer Ninja Theory. The publisher today confirmed that Enslaved: Odyssey to the West will launch in North America on October 5.
Set in a postapocalyptic America, the game tells the story of slaves forced to work together for survival. The game's protagonist, the muscular Monkey, is captured by slavers along with the techno-savvy woman Trip. The pair escape, but Trip hacks a slave headband to tie her life to Monkey's, forcing him to protect her as they search for refuge.

The game is inspired in part by Chinese mythology and includes elements common to many such treatments in popular culture, including the staff-wielding, cloud-riding Monkey King escorting a youngster on a journey westward. Gamers may be familiar with facets of the story through games like Capcom's SonSon, the highly regarded Saiyuki: Journey West, or the Dragon Ball series.

Like Heavenly Sword before it, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West will feature Andy Serkis (Gollum in The Lord of the Rings films), with the actor providing voice work and motion capture for Monkey. The studio has also enlisted Hollywood talent to handle the game's story, with 28 Days Later writer Alex Garland penning the script. Previously, Garland had been the screenwriter behind the scuttled Neill Blomkamp Halo film.

Sega Vanquished on October 19th.

Resident Evil 4 director Shinji Mikami's first project with PlatinumGames has finally received a release date. Sega today announced an October 19 North American launch for Mikami's Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 shooter Vanquish, as well as a preorder promotion with specialty retailer GameStop.
Customers who preorder the title with GameStop will be given exclusive access to three new weapons in the form of a downloadable content update on the day of the game's launch. The three weapons include a more powerful and faster-firing machinegun, an armor-piercing pistol, and a laser cannon Sega says is the most powerful weapon players can use on foot.

A third-person shooter with an emphasis on action, Vanquish will follow a government-backed one-man army named Sam as he takes on robotic enemies in a world where an energy crisis has once again put the United States and Russia at odds. Unfortunately, this conflict isn't another Cold War, with hostilities started by the obliteration of San Francisco from an orbital laser cannon.

Vanquish is the last of four games that fall under a publishing deal PlatinumGames signed with Sega in 2008. Other titles released as part of the deal include Madworld, Bayonetta, and Infinite Space.