Batman X-Box pics

Ever since I bought my own X-Box a couple of months ago, I haven't necessarily turned into a "gamer" per se (other than massive NHL HOCKEY tournies with The Shootin' Surgeon and Indiana Sev), but I have started paying a lot more attention to upcoming games, including the BATMAN BEGINS tie-in game, featured exclusively in this month's XBN magazine. Below and above are a few screen-shots from the game, that will be released around the same time as the film (July 1st ), that can be enlarged when clicked upon. As for the game, here are a few of the goodies mentioned about it-- although even the producers of the game admitted that they could not say all that much, "There are some special guest appearances that are exclusive to the game."

• "This is a harsher, darker hero. This is about this guy who's troubled, who has real problems. He has a purpose, he's angry, and this is about vengeance."

• "Every area in the game is designed as a theater of fear, and that represents a fundamental shift in how the level design works for the game."

• Having witnessed early stages of the fighting in the game, they were described as being akin to that of FIGHT CLUB's (the movie, not the game), "It's lots of elbows, lots of knees-- it's down, it's dirty and it's hardcore fighting."

• "We want to keep players in control of the action-- when they're in control, that's when it's the most exciting."

• "We want to keep cut-scenes to a minimum. We're really following the "Splinter Cell", "Halo" and "Half-Life" model, trying to do as much possible-- not everything, obviously-- as scripted events where we leave the player in control. Because once you grab control of that camera, you immediately rip them out of that situation, that scene."

• "You'll see a lot of characters from the original of Batman, including Commissioner-- then Lieutenant Gordon." Wayne's English butler Alfred Pennyworth will also feed Batman intelligence during the game.

• Most, if not all, of Batman's toys will be included in the game. It will be possible to use Batarangs, optic cables, and flashbang grenades (among others) either found in environments or including in Batman's wondrous utility belt-- two devices can be mapped to the XBox controller's White and Black buttons for easy use.

• And EA (Electric Arts-- the company creating the game) has not forgotten about the Batmobile, although no one will discuss its role within gameplay.