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Fallen Enchantress: Legendary Heroes
Review by: Tom Bitterman
Will removing "Elemental" from the title help? READ FULL REVIEW...
Adapting to Reality in GRID 2
Preview by: Mike Mahardy
With Grid 2's release only a few weeks away, developer Codemasters looks back on lessons learned during the game's development. READ FULL PREVIEW...
Thunder Wolves Interview
Article by: Charles Husemann
Want to know more about this new helicopter game? READ FULL ARTICLE...

News Roundup - 05/14/2013

by: Jeremy - - Add a Comment

EA opens up a new DICE studio specifically for Star Wars games

by: John - - Add a Comment
Let's just forget they let go 10% of their workforce recently. EA is opening up a nice studio in Los Angeles to handle their recent acquisition of the Star Wars license. This DICE studio has some staff members that worked on Medal of Honor and should be 60 strong by the end of the year.

With it being a DICE sister studio, it's a safe bet that the game they will be working on will be a first person shooter. There's been some tries at modding the Battlefield game with Star Wars vehicles and weapons, but we'll finally be able to play a game that's officially licensed and professionally worked on. Not to say the mod folks don't do good work, they do. 

Now are we going to get a new Battlefront? Or would a new Jedi Knight game be on hand? I'm down with either personally, but probably lean towards a new Battlefront game.

Three Polish guys making Darkwood, use "roguelike-like" to get crowdfunding

by: Randy - - Add a Comment
The game doesn't have zombies or a slender man, so that already separates it from 90 percent of the horror games out in the past two years. Three dudes from Poland are building Darkwood, tree by tree, and are scraping together crowdfunding monies on Indiegogo. (If you've never visited Indiegogo, for all intents and purposes, it works just like Kickstarter.) 

Darkwood is survival horror from a top-down perspective, with inky-black nighttime encroaching on your flashlight beam, a mouth-breathing, heart-squeezing soundtrack, a few neatly scripted gotcha moments, and a population of surreal characters--wait until the power generator starts griping about the freakish child playing the piano. It's driving him nuts, he says. It says. The power generator says. It's weird. Also, Darkwood features randomly generated levels and permadeath, which obligates me to use the word "roguelike" when checking off its feature set. If you're unsure what a roguelike is, don't worry, many of us are, too. Suffice it to say, randomly generated levels and permanent death. There: done.

Darkwood's inventory screen appears extensive, even for adventure games, but it looks like you'll need all those tools to board up windows and Macaulay Culkin some Home Alone traps out on the front lawn. I just hope Darkwood doesn't turn into too much of a guess-what-items-go-together game. It's hard to be scared when you're angry.

 

Dead On Arrival 2 Beta registration now open!

by: Nathan - - Add a Comment
The beta for Dead on Arrival 2 starts June 1st and if you want to get in then you should sign up quickly because it will get shut off very soon. The beta will include a first look at the Multiplayer action of the game. 

Details will be emailed to you once you sign up. 

You must have the following in order to get into the beta.

Must have:
  • Android Device
  • Minimum spec equal or better than Tegra 2
  • Recommended Tegra 3 or higher
Android Version
  • Minimum 3.0
  • Recommended 4.0 or higher
Also recommended
  • Have a stomach for wave after wave of bloodshed and mayhem!
  • Aren't scared of the dark.
  • Don't need aspirin for headaches.
  • Have no problem shooting your zombie friend in the head if you had too.
If you got all that then sign up to get in! You can sign up here! 

Also check out the video below of Dead On Arrival 2 running on the Nvidia Shield
 

Resident Evil: Revelations gets a demo on Steam

by: Russell - - Add a Comment
It's no secret that Resident Evil: Revelations is coming to consoles and the PC in a week or so.  It's also no secret that Resident Evil: Revelations is one of the best 3DS games for the system and (at least in my opinion) should see similar success on current gen consoles and PC.  However, if you're not quite ready yet to take the plunge on the PC version, Steam has released a demo for the game if you want to check it out prior to its launch.  If you're a fan of Resident Evil, I'd definitely recommend at least checking out the demo.  I'm not the biggest fan of the series (stupid typewriters and always running out of ribbon), but I really enjoyed my time with the 3DS version (well, at least until my ammo ran dry, but a lot of that was my own fault).

Payday 2 has been promoted to full retail disc

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Payday 2 used to be nothing but a cute little downloadable game, but now 505 Games has revealed that it has achieved a level that can no longer be covered by simply downloading a file.  You're going to need a car, or at least a credit card because Payday 2 has escaped into the physical world as a full retail disc release.  You can still downloaded if you want to, but now, even if you live in a shack surrounded for miles on all sides by landmines and the last radio signal made it to you in 1965, you're not locked out of that sweet Payday 2 action.  

Payday 2 will be available on Steam, and on disc for the Xbox 360 and PS3 in August.  Find out more on Facebook, Twitter, and www.overkillsoftware.com.  For more details on today's news, follow the jump.

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Remember Me, Antoine's journal, and Devinsupertramp energy drink

by: Nathaniel - - Add a Comment
Remember Me is set in a pretty scary sounding time and place - cyber-Paris, 2084.  Memories are bought and sold, and the giant corporation called Memorize has gained control of 99% of them.  That sounds scary to me.  Is a person still a person if they no longer own their own memories?  And any corporation owning 99% of anything is eyebrow-raising.  An obviously evil videogame corporation owning 99% of something means they must have learned how to use it to control society.  Scary scary scary.

If you're interested in the backstory of the whole "owning memories" racket, then check out Antoine's Journal.  Antoine Cartier-Wells is the man that developed the Sensen engine that first allowed the storing, and subsequent buying, selling, and trading of memories.

If you just want a smile put on your face, then the following video should be just what the doctor ordered.  Produced by Devin SuperTramp, the short film offers more insight into Antoine Cartier-Wells and his motivation to create the next generation of social networking.  Don't ask me how NERF gun battles and extreme dog washing accomplish that.

Remember Me comes out on June 4 in North America and June 7 in Europe.  
 

Trion Worlds' Rift goes free-to-play

by: Mike - - Add a Comment
Online game Rift is going free-to-play, offering every dungeon, zone and level for free.

Players who pay a base subscription will receive "patron" benefits that grant them in-game rewards.

“We have been listening to feedback from our players and watching the continuously developing MMO community, and are now ready to launch RIFT as a premium free-to-play experience,” said Bill Fisher, creative director of Rift
. “After taking our time and planning a careful transition; we are very excited to bring an enhanced game experience to everyone, without barriers.”

Create your own Witcher RPG with REDkit

by: Mike - - Add a Comment
CD Projekt RED, developer of The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, released REDkit, the tool behind their acclaimed RPG.

Now in open Beta, REDkit allows players to return to The Witcher 2 to create their own mods and "non-linear RPGs."

"For CD Projekt RED, RPGs are all about telling amazing stories," said Adam Badowski, head of CD Projekt RED. "We want to give players the power to tell the same kind of non-linear, branching stories that made The Witcher games so popular. Our fans have helped us for years to make our games the best they can be, and REDkit is part of embracing our community as a partner in game development."

The developer kit allows players to create new characters, place cameras, create dialogue, and create a dynamic day/night cycle to make the world more believable.

To download REDkit, head here.







 

Plow through bandits with Borderlands 2's Krieg

by: Mike - - Add a Comment
Gearbox Software released Krieg the Psycho, a new playable character with a split personality, for shooter/loot fest Borderlands 2.

For 800 Microsoft points ($9.99) you can take control of the new melee-based character. His Buzz Saw Action Skill lets him eliminate enemies up close or at range with a thrown attack. 

As with all of the other characters, Gearbox has spent a fair amount of time writing contextual dialogue for Krieg, so expect a good amount of taunts and quips.

Check out the trailer below for a more in-depth introduction to the bandit psycho.


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XCOM Declassified gameplay is no longer classified

by: Jeremy - - Add a Comment
So much for the top secret concept as 2K Games and 2K Marin are showing off quite a bit of official gameplay footage of their upcoming game The Bureau: XCOM Declassified. The pacing definitely appears to be picking up in the new game as it shifts to a third-person, squad based shooter. THe action looks a lot more intense as you are right in the thick of things this time rather than playing out as a strategy game.

You can check out the new footage below. The Bureau launches on August 20, 2013 for the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.


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PS Plus discounts and deals for this week

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When the PlayStation Store updates later today, it will bring with it a some great deals for members of the PlayStation Plus program. First off, Knytt Undergound is joining the Instant Game Collection for both the PlayStation 3 and the Vita. Cyril reviewed the game back in January and found it to be an absolutely marvelous experience.

As great as that is, it is also worth noting that the best deal coming with the update might be the deep discount being offered on the stellar Metro: Last Light. Members of the program can purchase the digital release of the PS3 game, which launches today, for $47.99. That is a 20% discount on a day one release! Not a bad deal, especially considering it is a phenomenal experience.

Project Shield is now NVIDIA Shield and it's up for pre-order on May 20th for $350

by: John - - Add a Comment
Finally, NVIDIA's Shield is an official product and today they've announced the pricing information and pre-order option. For $350, you can own this 5" IPS Tegra 4 hand held that can play Android games and stream Steam games when it comes out in June. Pre-ordering starts May 20th.

Seeing it at CES, I was really impressed by it and was hoping the pricing wouldn't be too bad. At $350, it's at the upper echelon of what I would pay for, but the package is pretty cool. 

Shield will be coming out with Android 4.2.1 and NVIDIA promises monthly updates. We'll see how that goes, but I would love it if they kept up with any OS improvements that Google releases. Apps that don't support landscape will be an issue. When I talked with NVIDIA at CES, I was told this would be unlocked out of the box so if that's the case, I can't wait to see what some hackers can do with it.

I know a lot of folks are going to be interested to see how Shield does. It's a brand new type of product for NVIDIA and it's going to compete with plenty of smartphone options out there. It'll be the first product, if I am not mistaken, to use Tegra 4 and I think it'll be a good example of how powerful the mobile chip can be from Team Green.

News Roundup - 05/13/2013

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32 Indie PC games on sale for the next 7 days

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Who loves sales? I know I do. Who doesn't like sales? Maybe the same people who think ET for Atari 2600 is the greatest game of all time! 

Anyways, showmethegames.com is hosting its summer sale, and for the next 7 days, over 32 Indie PC games will be on sale. Some of these games are up to 75% off . You can check out the sale at the following link. http://www.showmethegames.com/sales.php

The sales on the site are made directly though the websites of the developers so showmethesales.com won't be getting any money from this. All the money goes to the developers so this is a good way to show your support for Indie game companies.

Some of the games on sale include Hegemony Gold, Defcon, Revenge of the Titans and Voxatron. The sale runs from May 12 - May 18th so if you want to pick up some Indie PC games on sale, be sure to check out the site. 

2K Games will release WWE 2K14 on October 29th

by: John - - Add a Comment
Do you smell that? Do you smell when the Rock will be cookin' on your console? WWE 2K14, which 2K Games acquired after THQ went bye bye, will be released on October 29th according to 2K Games' fourth quarter report.

The Yukes developed game will feature The Rock as the cover star and will make it's 2K debut this Fall. The last THQ published WWE '13 game was released last October. This will be the first in a five year agreement with the WWE to publish their games. 

The game should hit all current consoles EXCEPT for the Wii U. That is, if rumors are to be believed that there are no WWE games planned for the Nintendo console for the foreseeable future. 

New Killzone Mercenary trailer

by: John - - Add a Comment
I knew a few folks are looking forward to Killzone Mercenary for their VITA, so here's a new trailer showing off some of the game. It looks OK to me, and there seems to be a bit of lag here and there. Let's hope the final game runs a little more smoothly.  I've never been a fan of hand held shooters, but I might give this one a try on a friend's VITA.
 

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Now Loading for the week of May 13, 2013: Pay Your Fare Edition

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We told you last week that the dry spell wouldn’t last long! This week hits the ground running with a bunch of titles for fans of all genres. I will be honest, it is hard to just pick 3 recommendations for this week. There area bunch of great choices out there but since I must limit my selection, I will go with the following trio of sequels:

Anomaly 2: It is time to go back on the tower-offense as the sequel to Anomaly Warzone Earth finally makes its way to the PC. Things are getting really interesting this time around as part two introduces players to the world of a versus tower defense / offense game. Let’s see how you stack up against not only the computer, but your friend.

Sanctum 2: First person-tower-defense at its finest returns in Sanctum 2! If you never played the original, you definitely missed out. The game meshes together two of my favorite genres for an completely original experience. This time around you will get to choose from multiple character classes and a variety of enhancements for both your towers and your character.

Metro- Last Light: This is, without a doubt, THE big title for the week in my books. The original Metro 2033 was such an amazing experience and a game that I consider to be one of the finest of the current generation. After spending countless hours with the sequel, I have no doubt that Last Light will continue in that tradition. From developer 4A Games, the new chapter continues the adventures of Artyum as he learns to live with his decision to wipe out the Dark Ones at the end for the first game. Keep an eye out for our full review VERY soon and just know ahead of time that you are definitely in for a treat with this one.

This week’s full lineup:

Weekend News Roundup - 05/12/2013

by: Jeremy - - Add a Comment
5/10/2013 5/11/2013

Resident Evil Revelations Dev Diary 3: Shock and Panic

by: Sean Colleli - - Add a Comment
One of the things the Resident Evil series lost over the last couple installments was the terror and panic that constantly stalked you in Resident Evil 4. In the latest dev diary for Resident Evil Revelations HD, programmer Go Ozawa and composer Kota Suzuki explain how they used their development skills to instill that same sense of shock, dread and panic in the game, bringing it back to the series' roots. I missed RE Revelations on the 3DS so I'm very excited to try it on Wii U later this month. Focusing more on horror and panic can only be a good thing after the jumbled mess that was RE6.
 

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Relive Super Mario Bros. 2 this week

by: Sean Colleli - - Add a Comment
Super Mario Bros. 2 reminds me a lot of Bioshock 2. It's one of those sequels that is unfairly maligned and under-appreciated, just because it's a little bit different or wasn't part of the series creator's "original vision," whatever that means. The heck with it. Mario 2 is still a lot of fun, and it will be available on the Wii U Virtual Console this Thursday for about $5. I downloaded Kirby's Adventure last week and so far I like the Wii U's VC interface; the save state ability is very useful, especially now that I'm a busy often-interrupted adult and not a kid who can spend hours playing Nintendo. Personally I'm a little more excited about the limited 30 cent release of Super Metroid later this week (I never get tired of that game) but it's nice to have Mario 2 again as well.
 

Build your Deck ins Wargame Airland Battle

by: Sean Colleli - - Add a Comment
Wargame Airland Battle is one heck of a niche game, mostly because it combines two other niche genres into one of the niche-iest strategy titles out there. It works as a standard wargame strategy sim but you set up your units by literally building a deck out of them. For all of its strategic granularity the game also looks pretty too. Check out the trailer below to get a look at the graphics and deck-building mechanics. The game will be out in the next couple weeks on May 23rd.
 
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Pre-order Sanctum 2 on Steam to receive some bonuses...like a free copy of Super Sanctum TD

by: Russell - - Add a Comment
Next week Sanctum 2, a tower defense game by Coffee Stain Studios that blends in FPS aspects, will hit Steam and Xbox Live with a PlayStation Network launch coming soon after.  Until then, players can pre-order Sanctum 2 on Steam to receive a couple pre-order bonuses.  While one is an exclusive Britech CG Elite Edition DLC Skin Pack, the other is a free copy of Super Sanctum TD.  Super Sanctum TD is a retro-style tower defense game where it's not only about building mazes and constructing towers, but you can also use active abilities such as an air strike to tilt the battle back into your favor.  If you don't wish to pre-order Sanctum 2, Super Sanctum TD can also be purchased on Steam for $3.99.

As a reminder, you can also play the original Sanctum on Steam for free through 1pm PDT Sunday and purchase it for 75% off.
 

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Learn about culture and tourism in the first video for Civ V's next expansion

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2K and Firaxis Games have recently released the first video in a new series for Civilization V's next expansion Brave New World.  In this video, we get a sneak peak at how culture and tourism can help lead you to victory.  You can meet new people and obtain famous works of art and music, plus the new Archeology system helps boost tourism as well as you dig up stuff from past events.  If you're a fan of Civilization V, get ready to Enter a Brave New World in July 12th.
 

System Shock 2 now on Steam...and on sale

by: Russell - - Add a Comment
Last Friday we posted an article where our own Travis Huinker took a trip through System Shock 2.  Granted everyone has their own reactions to the game...and the article...but  it got me wanting to check it out for myself.  Imagine my disappointment when I found out that System Shock 2 wasn't available on Steam (my PC gaming service of choice)...until now.

If you have Steam and would like to experience System Shock 2 for yourself, not only is it now available but it's also on sale.  Until May 17th you can pick it up for $6.99, which is 30% off of the full price of $9.99.  Definitely worth picking up if you've been wanting to give this game a shot.