In 2004, id Software released Doom 3. As it turned out, it would be the last game that the famed first person shooter developer would release on its own for some time, although other developers made games based on id"s properties since then. This week, id finally releases Rage, which is not only its first game in seven years but is also the first original game id has developed since Quake way back in 1996.
The game, for the PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 platforms by publisher Bethesda Softworks, takes place on an Earth that"s been hit by an asteroid collision. Your character was put into suspended animation just before the impact and now wakes up 100 years later to a devastated wasteland populated by humans and mutants of all types. While it is a first person shooter, id has put in some RPG-lite elements in Rage such as skill improvements, side quests and more.
Rage may be the biggest new game coming out this week but there"s plenty more that"s due out in the next seven days. Namco Bandai releases Dark Souls, a fantasy action-RPG for the Xbox 360 and PS3 consoles. Activision releases Spider-Man: Edge of Time (Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, DS, 3DS) which has Marvel"s web slinger teaming up with his Spider-Man 2099 counterpart. The multiplayer shooter Payday: The Heist (PC, PS3) is also out this week via download as is Orcs Must Die for the Xbox 360. Finally, 2K Sports releases NBA 2K12, the latest in its pro basketball game series for several platforms. With the real NBA season currently dealing with a lockout, it could be the only way to see pro basketball this year.