Awakened by the End of Days, Death, the most feared of the legendary Four Horsemen, embarks upon a quest to restore mankind, and redeem his brother's name. Along the way, the Horseman discovers that there are far worse things than an earthly Apocalypse, and that an ancient grudge may threaten all of Creation . . . Can Death really become mankind's savior?
Developed by Firaxis Games, Civilization V reinvigorates the classic turn-based strategy genre with an astonishing new engine built from the ground-up for this flagship edition of the Civilization franchise. Players are introduced to an entirely new combat system, deeper diplomatic interactions and a cavalcade of expanded features that deliver a fully immersive experience. Players build and defend their empire on their quest to become the greatest ruler the world has ever known.
Patrons will also receive entrance into the AirMech Steam beta, as well as an Indie Royale in-game pet. Anyone who pays over $8.00 for the bundle will be gifted Pixeljams Volume 1, a chiptune collection of music from Pixeljam's catalogue of work. As with all previous Indie Royale bundles, the price you pay is based on the prices of the transactions that have come before you, so get in there and ruin the bell curve.
Blending classic tactics gaming with the fast-paced action of modern casual titles, Hero Academy delivers tense one-on-one battles with quick bursts of gameplay. The balance of power can shift in a single turn, and victory requires a carefully crafted strategy. Deploy different character classes, defend your turf with countermeasures, and with the placement of a few special items, you'll conquer your opponent.
"Working with Valve on this major franchise and bringing their popular characters into our world is groundbreaking in the world of gaming. It marks the first time we've seen a major crossover of characters from the PC to mobile devices and from the first-person shooter genre to turned-based strategy," said Robot Entertainment CEO Patrick Hudson. "It's a great testament to Valve as a visionary partner and their passion for giving gamers what they want."
Watch the new teaser trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcCUDsMdpYc
Hero Academy is asynchronous, so a player may battle friends across multiple simultaneous games on iOS or Steam, whenever they have a few moments of free time. Select your moves from a range of options, like advancing across the playing field, attacking, defending, or adding powerful items to the fray. Once you're satisfied with your five moves, submit your turn or add an animated taunt. The game's built-in chat system lets you talk smack or simply stay in touch with friends. The first player to destroy their opponent's crystals is declared the winner, but a range of strategies ensure that no two games are alike. The game launches on PC with two unique teams included, each with a variety of playable units. More heroic teams, avatars and add-ons are available via in-game purchase. Teams purchased in either the iOS or the Steam version of Hero Academy will work on all platforms.
Hero Academy Features:
· Cross-Platform Multiplayer Gaming ' Challenge friends on Steam or iOS to asynchronous one-on-one battles via online multiplayer. Play a heated bout in twenty minutes or across a full day, whenever you have a few moments. Play all of your Hero Academy matches at your desk, on your iPad, or on the go with your iPhone!
· Exclusive TF2 team ' The Steam version of Hero Academy includes the Council starter team and an exclusive new team featuring characters, upgrades, and abilities from Team Fortress 2! You can only unlock this team via Steam, but once unlocked you can use them anywhere that you play Hero Academy.
· Team Fortress 2 unlockable items ' Each expansion team purchased in Hero Academy on Steam will unlock a unique cosmetic item in Team Fortress 2.
· Quick to Learn ' Casual players can attack without mercy, while tactics game buffs will love the strategic cat-and-mouse gameplay
Hero Academy is an asynchronous multiplayer tactics game from Robot Entertainment that can be played on iOS and Steam. Featuring humorous fantasy visuals, Hero Academy is a mix of classic strategy and fast-paced casual gaming and has something for every player. For more information about Hero Academy, please visit http://www.HeroAcademyApp.com.
Rock Band 3 is the third main release in the iconic video game series that challenges gamers to live out their Rock and Roll fantasies together in a band situation, both locally and online. The game features an ever expanding song list from every era of Rock and Roll history, easy to pick up yet challenging addictive Note Highway gameplay, compatibility with earlier releases in the series and all platform-specific instrument controllers including most Guitar Hero controllers, extreme in-game character and band customization, and a slew of new features. These new features include: new setlist search functionality, the addition of 3-part harmonies and a keyboard peripheral and expanded play modes, including the advanced Pro Mode.
TOKYO GAME SHOW 2012 to Expand the Exhibition Scale
Advance Tickets and TGS Supporters Tickets go on sale on July 11!
Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association
Nikkei Business Publications, Inc.
The Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA; Chairman: Shin
Unozawa; location: Minato-ku, Tokyo), in cooperation with Nikkei Business
Publications, Inc. (Nikkei BP; President & CEO: Kohei Osada; location:
Minato-ku, Tokyo), will hold the TOKYO GAME SHOW 2012 over a four-day
period from Thursday, September 20 to Sunday, September 23, 2012 at
Makuhari Messe in Mihama-ku, Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture. The number of
exhibitors and their names (as of June 26) was announced today, along
with ticket information and other updates.
[TOKYO GAME SHOW 2012 (as of June 26, 2012)]
Number of Exhibitors:171 companies
Number of Booths:1,592 units
*See the attached file for details on exhibitors.
As many as 1,592 units are expected to exhibit in the event this year,
which far exceeds last year's 1,250 units. Of the 171 exhibitors to date,
68 exhibitors from overseas are going to exhibit at this time, which is
ultimately far higher than the final number of 63 overseas exhibitors
last year. Not only Japanese game-related companies, but also
international game-related companies are expected to provide information
in a positive way at the TOKYO GAME SHOW 2012. Don't miss the wide
variety of organizer's projects, including the TGS Forum, Asian Game
Business Summit, "e-SPORTS" event, and Cosplayers event as well as
company exhibitions.
The popular TGS2012 SUPPORTERS CLUB tickets (\3,000 with privileges, tax
inclusive) and advance tickets (\1,000, tax inclusive) will go on sale
on Wednesday, July 11. We will also be accepting "Advance Registration
for Business Days," exclusively for those in the gaming industry, as we
did last year.
[Tickets for general visitors]
Advance tickets for general visitors and TGS2012 SUPPORTERS CLUB tickets
with special privileges go on sale on Wednesday, July 11.
'Advance tickets
'Sale date: Wednesday, July 11
'Price'': Adult(junior high school age and older):\1,000 (tax inclusive)
'Sold at': TGS official website
'TGS2012 SUPPORTERS CLUB tickets
'Sale date: Wednesday, July 11. Sale of these tickets will be finished
as soon as the predetermined number of tickets sells out.
'Price: \3,000 (tax inclusive) *If they wish to receive privileges,
these tickets will be required also for children of elementary
school age or younger (excluding infant babies).
'Sold at: TGS official website
'Privilege: The package includes a TGS SUPPORTERS CLUB T-shirt and a
special pin. Ticket holders will be given priority admission
to the Show for a set period of time from the door open.
'Remarks: Please note that only a limit number of TGS 2012 SUPPORTERS
CLUB tickets are available.
[Business Days registration]
The TOKYO GAME SHOW 2012 will welcome Business Days visitors who can be
attended either one of the following two methods: "invitation ticket" or
"Advance registration for Business Days." If you have an invitation
ticket,
admission is free. If you don't have, one will be issued after a
preliminary
review to confirm that you are in the gaming industry after you fill in the
entry form on the "Advance Registration for Business Days" page on the TGS
official website. Entries will be accepted from early August. These tickets
can be used for admission during the two Business Days: Thursday, September
20 and Friday, September 21. The advance registration fee is 5,000 yen (tax
inclusive).
[Organizer's Projects]
'TGS Forum 2012
Keynote lectures as well as four special paid sessions -"Console Game
Session," "Cloud Game Session," "Social Game Session," and "Gamification
Session" - will be held. Details will be announced in July.
'Asian Game Business Summit
"The Asian Game Business Summit" held last year will also be held this
year. Details will be announced in July.
'Cyber Games Asia
An "e-SPORTS" event will be held at a special site at Hall 1. Top players
who have won preliminaries in Asia and Japan will be invited to participate
in a competition centering around the game title such as the FPS. Details
will be announced at a later date.
'Cosplayers Event
Cosplayers event site will be expanded more than that of last year. A stage
event attended by Cosplayers from Japan and overseas is scheduled to be
held on the first public day. Details will be announced at a later date.
'TGS Tours
Domestic and international TGS official tours are planned this year as
well. Tours from overseas include those from Asia, North America and Europe.
These official tours combine accommodation for the day prior to admission
and an entrance ticket with "jump-to-the-front-of-the-line" admission.
Entries will be accepted at http://tgs.cesa.or.jp/tour/en within the
official website of TOKYO GAME SHOW.
'TGS Official Goods
TGS official goods will be sold this year at TGS official shops inside
and outside the venue during the show. The lineup will be expanded with a
wider variety of products. Details will be announced at a later date.
-EVENT OUTLINE-
Event Title: TOKYO GAME SHOW 2012
Organized by: Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association (CESA)
Co-organized by: Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. (Nikkei BP)
Supported by: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
Period: September 20 (Thursday) Business Day (10:00 - 17:00)
September 21 (Friday) Business Day (10:00 - 17:00)
September 22 (Saturday) Public Day (10:00 - 17:00)
September 23 (Sunday) Public Day (10:00 - 17:00)
*Admissions on Business Days are limited to members of the industry
and the media.
*On Public Days, the doors may be opened at 9:30 depending on circumstances.
Venue: Makuhari Messe (Mihama-ku, Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture)
Exhibition Hall 1-8, and International Convention Center
No. of visitors: 195,000 (estimated)
No. of exhibitors: 171 companies and organizations (as of June 26)
No. of booths: 1,592 units (as of June 26)
Tickets: Adult: advance tickets, \1,000; at the door, \1,200 (tax inclusive)
Elementary school age or younger: free
TGS Support Club: advance tickets \3,000 (tax inclusive)
[Download site for the press]
Various press materials, such as photographs from last year's venue, are
available from the download center. They are available for use after
logging on to the address below.
URL: https://www.filey.jp/tgs/
'' (A press ID must be entered. ID: tgs_press, password: press_tgs)
'TOKYO GAME SHOW Official Website: http://tgs.cesa.or.jp/english/
Distribution partners in place across Europe
LONDON ' 28th June 2012 ' SEGA® Europe today confirmed that as a result of the recent restructure it will be shifting business to focus on developing new and existing digital content as well as driving key IP for packaged goods. SEGA has therefore realigned its business strategy and will be closing their offices in France, Germany, Spain, Australia and Benelux.
Koch Media have been appointed to assist SEGA with distribution across Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France and Spain of packaged goods, Level03 Distribution and 5 Star Games will assist with distribution across Benelux and Australia respectively which will be implemented from the 1st July 2012.
All other territories will continue to be run through the same channels as before, and along with Koch, Level03 and 5 Star, will be managed through the SEGA Europe Headquarters based in London.
"SEGA is entering a new and exciting phase that will position the company as a content led organisation maximising sales with strong and balanced IP such as Sonic the Hedgehog, Total War, Football Manager and the Aliens franchise", commented Jurgen Post, COO of SEGA Europe. "The company will benefit from a clear focus and realigned strategy for our digital business and packaged goods and we are confident that this will lead to a successful future."
SEGA will continue the sales, marketing and distribution of London 2012' - The Official Video Game of the Olympic Games which will be launched on the 28th June in Australia and the 29th June across Europe for PC, the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.
About SEGA® Europe Ltd.:
SEGA® Europe Ltd. is the European Distribution arm of Tokyo, Japan-based SEGA® Corporation, and a worldwide leader in interactive entertainment both inside and outside the home. The company develops and distributes interactive entertainment software products for a variety of hardware platforms including PC, wireless devices, and those manufactured by Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. SEGA Europe's web site is located at www.sega.com.
About Five Star Games® Pty Ltd:
Five Star Games Pty Ltd is founded by Darren Macbeth the ex -Managing Director of SEGA Australia and prior to that MD of Ubisoft Australia. Five Star is focused exclusively on selling, marketing and distributing premium quality video games in the Australian market.
Level03 Distribution®:
Level03 Distribution is the new turnkey solution in the Benelux that ensures the best possible attention, visibility and results for your products. Level03 provides the following services: sales, marketing/pr and distribution. Level03 has a strong focus on entertainment related products such as video games, gaming peripherals and merchandise. More information: www.level03.com.
Fast-paced, highly advanced and furiously violent, Max Payne returns to reinvent the shooter genre with the most sophisticated, stylized shooting action, and a dark and deeply immersive story following one of the most iconic characters in video games. 12 years after the events of Max Payne 2, Max finds himself in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where security work is plentiful but the risks are high. But murder and betrayal dog his every step, and once again, Max is thrust into the heart of a brutal city with nothing but his weapons and his instincts in a desperate search for the truth and a way out.
King Mickey and Yen Sid prepare for an impending threat by putting Sora and Riku through the Mark of Mastery exam. Sora and Riku are sent into the Sleeping Worlds, where they will face enemies and allies that have never been seen before. If they can successfully complete the task they are given, they will be deemed true Keyblade Masters
What's more, Nintendo was showing off more than just the WiiPad (what we're calling the Wii U's tablet controller) ' a Nintendo rep gave us a thorough look at the console itself. As she points out in the video, neither the Wii U console nor the WiiPad are final hardware, so if you see some funky looking metal sticking out from the back of the system, know that it won't be there when the units arrive at your local brick-and-mortar.
We also got a chance to check out the Wii U Pro Controller (otherwise known as "the Nintendo-born child of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 controllers"), and to see how it works with the gorgeous Rayman Legends. Normally, one player mans the WiiPad while the other navigates with the Pro Controller, but somebody had to hold the microphone, so the rep was forced to do both himself. If it looks awkward, blame us, not the Wii U.
Anyway, if you were looking for an opportunity to marvel at just how long the Wii U console is, here's your chance.
Irvine, CA - June 26, 2012 - VIZIO, America's #1 LCD HDTV Company*, announced today the launch of the highly anticipated VIZIO Co-Star' Stream Player. Using the latest version of Google TV', the VIZIO Co-Star makes it easy to transform any HDTV into the ultimate smart TV, merging live and streaming entertainment into one intuitive and easy experience. With VIZIO's new stream player, users get instant access to thousands of apps, full-screen web browsing capabilities-via Google Chrome' with Adobe® Flash® Player and HTML 5 support-and the best in streaming entertainment.
Unique to the stream player market, the VIZIO Co-Star offers the distinct advantage of connecting to a cable or satellite box. This allows viewers to enjoy live TV along with the web, apps, OnLive cloud gaming, and other streaming entertainment without interrupting what they're already watching. This integrated experience along with the universal touchpad remote with keyboard eliminates the need to switch TV inputs or remotes to access alternative content and provides viewers with a truly smart TV experience
"Our focus to deliver the best consumer experience continues with today's announcement of the Co-Star, which delivers a superior smart TV interface that anyone can add to their existing HDTV" said Matt McRae, VIZIO's Chief Technology Officer. "We combined the powerful features of Google TV' with an intuitive and easy to use interface, giving users the power to enjoy an entire world of entertainment."
The added benefit of Google TV's powerful search feature lets viewers easily browse websites, hunt for streaming movies or locate their favorite TV shows; and with picture-in-picture technology, it can all be done while simultaneously watching live TV action.
In addition to favorite apps such as Netflix, Amazon Instant Video, YouTube® and iHeartRadio, the VIZIO Co-Star is the first stream player to offer video games on demand through the OnLive® Game Service. OnLive allows users to demo, watch and play hundreds of top-tier video games directly from 'the cloud' via their VIZIO Co-Star, eliminating the need for users to own an independent game console. With easy access to thousands of apps through Google Play, Co-Star offers the most comprehensive stream player available today.
Complementing the overall experience, the VIZIO Co-Star includes a universal Bluetooth® remote with an innovative touchpad that lets you touch, tap, scroll and drag. A full QWERTY keyboard helps users search for their favorite entertainment. Plus, its universal feature makes it easy to control home entertainment devices with one remote.
The VIZIO Co-Star incorporates a number of power user features intended to satisfy the variety of user demands, starting with support for 1080p Full HD and 3D entertainment. Built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi provides easy wireless Internet access without unsightly wires. Integrated USB port connects to hard drives, keyboards and other peripherals. The VIZIO Co-Star even enables viewers to enjoy photos, music, and movies from any DLNA-enabled phone, tablet, or computer on the TV screen.
The VIZIO Co-Star exceeds expectations by combining a definitive user experience with a powerful smart TV platform, resulting in an all-in-one, solution that brings the ultimate smart TV experience to any HDTV.
The VIZIO CO-Star will be available for pre-orders in July 2012 on VIZIO.com for $99.99, with an introductory free shipping offer, while supplies last.
*IHS iSuppli Corporation Research Q2 2012 Market Tracker Report of Q1 2012.
**High-speed/broadband internet service and access equipment are required and not provided by Vizio. Additional fees and/or subscriptions may be required for certain content and services. Vizio makes no warranties, representations, or assurances of any kind as to the content, availability, or functionality of third party content or services.
About VIZIO
VIZIO, Inc., "Entertainment Freedom For All," headquartered in Irvine, California, is America's #1 LCD HDTV Company. In Q2 2007, VIZIO skyrocketed to the top by becoming the #1 shipping brand of flat panel HDTVs in North America and in Q3 2007 became the first American brand in over a decade to lead in U.S. LCD HDTV shipments. Since 2007 VIZIO LCD HDTV shipments remain in the top ranks in the U.S. and were #1 for the total year in 2009 and 2010. VIZIO is committed to bringing feature-rich consumer electronics to market at a value through practical innovation. VIZIO offers a broad range of award winning consumer electronics. VIZIO's products are found at Costco Wholesale, Sam's Club, Walmart, Target, BJ's Wholesale, and other retailers nationwide along with authorized online partners. VIZIO has won numerous awards including a #1 ranking in the Inc. 500 for Top Companies in Computers and Electronics, Fast Company's 6th Most Innovative CE Company of 2009, and made the lists of Ad Age's Hottest Brands, CNET's Editor's Choice, CNET Best of CES 2011 - Television, IGN Best of CES - Television, Bluetooth.org Best of CES, Good Housekeeping's Best Big-Screens, PC World's Best Buy, Popular Mechanics Editor's Choice and OC Metro's 10 Most Trustworthy Brands among many other prestigious honors. For more information, please call 888-VIZIOCE or visit on the web at www.VIZIO.com.
The V, VIZIO, VIZIO Internet Apps (V.I.A.), Theater 3D, Full Array TruLED, Edge Lit Razor LED, 240Hz SPS, 480Hz SPS, Entertainment Freedom and Entertainment Freedom for All names, logos and phrase are registered or unregistered trademarks of VIZIO, Inc. All other trademarks may be the property of their respective holders.
Source: VIZIO, Inc.
About OnLive
OnLive is the pioneer of on-demand, instant-action cloud computing and instant-play video game services, delivering real-time interactive experiences and rich media through the Internet. With groundbreaking video compression technology, OnLive harnesses cloud computing to provide the power and intelligence needed to instantly deliver full-featured, media-rich applications and the latest, premium game titles to tablets, smartphones, PCs, Macs and HDTVs via the OnLive® Game System or connected TVs. OnLive is available in North America and the UK and will continue expanding into Europe and Asia. OnLive's technology is backed by hundreds of patents and patents pending. The company is headquartered in Palo Alto, California. OnLive investors include Warner Bros., Autodesk, Maverick Capital, AT&T, British Telecommunications (BT), The Belgacom Group, HTC and Juniper Networks. More information is available at www.onlive.com and www.onlive.co.uk.
To cut out the middleman (and potentially any fresh content included in the missions prior to the end of the game), players who have completed the game can load up an auto-save that zips Shepard to the end of the game, labeled (spoilers!) "Citadel: The Return." Again, while you might miss added scenes during the final missions in the game, you'll go straight to all the explanatory stuff at the end.
It's worth noting that we performed this act of trickery on Xbox 360, so we can't confirm that this works on PS3 or PC just yet.
The pioneers that brought you the award-winning PlayStation Network titles flOw and Flower are back with another title that challenges traditional gaming conventions. With Journey, thatgamecompany (TGC) continues its tradition of delivering simple gameplay and accessible controls in a rich interactive environment that invites players to explore and experience emotional chords that are still uncommon in video games. An exotic adventure with a more serious tone, Journey presents TGC's unique vision of an online adventure experience. Awakening in an unknown world, the player walks, glides, and flies through a vast and awe-inspiring landscape, while discovering the history of an ancient, mysterious civilization along the way. Journey's innovative approach to online play encourages players to explore this environment with strangers who cross their path from time to time. By traveling together, they can re-shape the experience, creating authentic moments they will remember and discuss with others.
The pioneers that brought you the award-winning PlayStation Network titles flOw and Flower are back with another title that challenges traditional gaming conventions. With Journey, thatgamecompany (TGC) continues its tradition of delivering simple gameplay and accessible controls in a rich interactive environment that invites players to explore and experience emotional chords that are still uncommon in video games. An exotic adventure with a more serious tone, Journey presents TGC's unique vision of an online adventure experience. Awakening in an unknown world, the player walks, glides, and flies through a vast and awe-inspiring landscape, while discovering the history of an ancient, mysterious civilization along the way. Journey's innovative approach to online play encourages players to explore this environment with strangers who cross their path from time to time. By traveling together, they can re-shape the experience, creating authentic moments they will remember and discuss with others.
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"To be clear, Q and I are parting company on the best of terms," Mielke told CVG, referring to Q? Entertainment. "For a lot of reasons I won't bore you with the time felt right to shift gears and move forward."
If his first project at Q-Games is called "Pixeljunk Luminous" or is a Pixeljunk Eden spinoff for children, we quit.
Let's take a moment to appreciate just how wonderful crowd-funded gaming is. When indie developers take to Kickstarter to fund their projects, the relationship between the consumer and producer is a personal one. Players can pay up-front for developers to create expressive content free from any potential ties a publisher could bestow on said creators. A crowd-funded game creates a clear path of communication between producers and players, cutting out the middle-man.
Better yet, funding projects also shines a spotlight on individual designers. The intimate feeling of the crowd-funded indie scene results in talented developers being rewarded for their work. Personally, I'd rather know an artist by name than shake my fist at a monolithic company. There are some amazing video game projects in the crowd-funding space right now, and many could be considered "risky" by the industry's standards. Supporting the crowd-funding initiative might be just as important as supporting the games themselves.
I encourage you to support our featured webcomic artists by checking out last week's comics and voting for your favorite after the break!
Survive (Ctrl+Alt+Del)
Battletoads 2013 (No Line of Sight)
Going Bananas (The Gamercat)
Nintendo Fun Club (Magical Game Time)
Drop on in (Virtual Shackles)
Dichotomy (Penny Arcade)
Great Debate (Legacy Control)
This was the first cover vote for the NHL series, which EA Sports said resulted in over 26 million votes. Unlike the Madden cover votes in the past, tournament voting was hosted directly on the league's website, underscoring the sense of value both the NHL and players have for the opportunity to grace the cover of the game.
NHL 13 will launch September 11 in North America for Xbox 360 and PS3, and September 14 in Europe.
So is LEGO Cuusoo user Czar, whose Castle Crashers prototype set (seen above) is doing its damnedest to gain traction over on the crowdsourcing service. If made, the kit would come with four knights, two barbarians, a forest set piece and the War Machine mini-boss. Anyone interested in proclaiming their interest in such a product can do so here. Hopefully Castle Crashers will be seen as more of a LEGO-friendly brand than Firefly was.
[Thanks, Shaun!]
"Forza Motorsport 4" will be the most expansive and vividly realistic automotive experience across any console, bringing you closer to the edge than you've ever been before. Through the power of Kinect, players will be able to step through the TV screen and jump into the driver's seat while the engaging controller-based experience will let you take on the bone-jarring physics, unparalleled levels of customization, and rosters of dream cars and tracks. Offering gameplay that will electrify racing fans and excite car lovers and novices alike, the highest-rated racing franchise of this generation returns in fall 2011.
We have so many questions. Is Saito hinting at some kind of holiday announcement, or even better, some kind of holiday release? Do kids these days even remember Seaman? Is this related to that Nikkei report? Was this whole post just an excuse to publish that picture of Santa Seaman?
Answers, in order: We hope, probably not, maybe, and definitely.
Clearing the Xbox 360 cache "should resolve the issue." If that doesn't work, however, "there is no known workaround." In other words, you probably shouldn't play Fez until Polytron patches the patch.
Rock Band 3 is the third main release in the iconic video game series that challenges gamers to live out their Rock and Roll fantasies together in a band situation, both locally and online. The game features an ever expanding song list from every era of Rock and Roll history, easy to pick up yet challenging addictive Note Highway gameplay, compatibility with earlier releases in the series and all platform-specific instrument controllers including most Guitar Hero controllers, extreme in-game character and band customization, and a slew of new features. These new features include: new setlist search functionality, the addition of 3-part harmonies and a keyboard peripheral and expanded play modes, including the advanced Pro Mode.
Two decades have passed since the demonic lords, Diablo, Mephisto, and Baal, set out across the world of Sanctuary on a vicious rampage, twisting humanity to their unholy will. Yet for those who battled the Prime Evils, the memory fades slowly. When Deckard Cain returns to the ruins of Tristram Cathedral seeking clues to defeat new stirrings of evil, a fiery harbinger of doom falls from the heavens, striking the very ground where Diablo once entered the world. This fire from the sky reawakens ancient evils and calls the heroes of Sanctuary to defend the mortal world against the rising powers of the Burning Hells once again.
Dishonored is an immersive first-person action game that casts you as a supernatural assassin driven by revenge. With Dishonored's flexible combat system, creatively eliminate your targets as you combine the supernatural abilities, weapons and unusual gadgets at your disposal. Pursue your enemies under the cover of darkness or ruthlessly attack them head on with weapons drawn. The outcome of each mission plays out based on the choices you make. Dishonored is set in Dunwall, an industrial whaling city where strange steampunk- inspired technology and otherworldly forces coexist in the shadows. You are the once-trusted bodyguard of the beloved Empress. Framed for her murder, you become an infamous assassin, known only by the disturbing mask that has become your calling card. In a time of uncertainty, when the city is besieged by plague and ruled by a corrupt government armed with industrial technologies, dark forces conspire to bestow upon you abilities beyond those of any common man ' but at what cost? The truth behind your betrayal is as murky as the waters surrounding the city, and the life you once had is gone forever.
Dungeon-Crawling RPG Adventure Prepares for Release on PlayStation®Network, Launches New Website
Torrance, Calif., (June 19, 2012) ' XSEED Games, an independent-minded publisher, is pleased to announce today that the dungeon-crawling RPG title, Unchained Blades, will be released in North America on June 26 for the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system as a digital download title on PlayStation®Network at a price of $29.99. A Nintendo 3DS version will follow later in the year.
Released in Japan as UnchainBlades ReXX and developed by FuRyu, Unchained Blades is a role-playing game that utilizes a first-person perspective and is set in a monster-filled world. The game was directed by Toshio Akashi of the Lunar series, while the game's story was penned by Grandia series veteran Takashi Hino.
Unchained Blades follows the story of the vengeful dragon emperor named Fang. After being stripped of his powers by the goddess Clunea, Fang embarks on a journey for revenge, hoping to regain his true form. Along the way, Fang is joined on his quest by a cowardly golem prince, a shy medusa priestess, a young phoenix clan maiden, and many other mythical beings seeking to meet with the goddess.
Boasting a veritable who's who of famous Japanese artists, Unchained Blades represents a collaboration between some of the best talent in the industry. The main character Fang was designed by Pako, most famous for his work on the Shining Force series, while other characters were fashioned by artists such as Toshiyuki Kubooka (Lunar), Shinichiro Otsuka (Summon Night), and Kazushi Hagiwara (Bastard!!), to name a few.
In Unchained Blades, players journey through the game with a party of up to four characters, moving through dungeons in a first-person perspective and engaging in turn-based combat along the way. The game features a unique "Unchain" system, which enables players to try and convince monsters to follow them and help them on their quest. If an enemy monster is successfully "Unchained," that monster will then join the player's party and help them in the future by blocking attacks or supplying players with special offensive abilities. Each character in the player's four person party can hold up to four "unchained" creatures, ensuring plenty of combat variety. The game has also been completely redubbed with new English voice-overs and boasts over 60 hours of gameplay.
Developed by FuRyu and published by XSEED Games in North America, Unchained Blades will release as a digital download on the PSP system on June 26, and Nintendo 3DS later in 2012. For more information, check out the game's all-new website at www.unchainedblades.com
In Duels 2013, players can compete with friends or the AI as they travel across fantastic planes, take on mini-bosses, attempt to solve puzzling challenges, and team up with others in the updated Planechase multiplayer format. The digital game will also be the first place to check out new cards from the Magic: The Gathering 2013 Core Set launching later this summer.
The Washington-based company intends on opening up that level of access in the future, but Valve's Leslie Redd told attendees of today's Games for Change festival that "children need that walled garden." In the future, Valve hopes to allow more openness.
Valve isn't receiving any outside funding or grants for the program. "Valve is a commercially successful company," Redd explained with a smile. Of course, facilitating a massive education program for free is pretty great public relations. Other publishers aren't involved just yet, but Redd said there've been some initial talks.
For more information, Valve's "Teach with Portals" website is now open and will expand in the coming months.
Two decades have passed since the demonic lords, Diablo, Mephisto, and Baal, set out across the world of Sanctuary on a vicious rampage, twisting humanity to their unholy will. Yet for those who battled the Prime Evils, the memory fades slowly. When Deckard Cain returns to the ruins of Tristram Cathedral seeking clues to defeat new stirrings of evil, a fiery harbinger of doom falls from the heavens, striking the very ground where Diablo once entered the world. This fire from the sky reawakens ancient evils and calls the heroes of Sanctuary to defend the mortal world against the rising powers of the Burning Hells once again.
I lean into the viewport, watching through the tiny window as the VT rumbles forward and my remote target grows closer. Once we're within range, I pull down the periscope, which will lend much greater accuracy than the viewport's iron sights at this distance. Adjusting my aim slightly above the target, I let loose a shell. The armor-piercing round impacts the enemy VT's leg with such force that it is shorn clean off, sending the tank tumbling to the ground. I silently congratulate myself, but the celebration is cut short when an enemy shell comes screaming out of nowhere, slamming into our VT and knocking me back into my seat.
As my team and I regroup, a second shell rocks the cabin once more, shattering the viewport glass and filling the cockpit with smoke. The panel that houses the ventilator control is tucked away to the right. I pull it forward, lock it into place, reach for the ventilator chain and ... accidentally flick on the headlights. On my second attempt, instead of pulling the ventilator chain, I put the entire control panel away again. I pull the panel out again, reach for the ventilator chain and put the control panel away again. I pull the panel out a third time and reach very, very carefully for the ventilator chain ... at which point my entire crew dies of smoke inhalation.
The technology behind the Kinect is capable of enabling incredible fantasies, and it has allowed me to interact with virtual worlds in ways I never thought possible. What Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor has taught me is that, should that technology fail just once, the entire fantasy comes crashing down in an instant.
The year is 2082 and the world is a frightening place. In the early part of the 21st century, some sort of electric apocalypse rendered all of our precious technology useless. The globe is now ruled by the iron fist of a Chinese-run United Nations, and America is embroiled in a seemingly endless war. Somewhat paradoxically, the death of technology has given rise to new, more advanced technology, though all of it looks as though it were designed in the 1940s. The most advanced of this retro-themed tech is the Vertical Tank, known also as the VT or just "veet."As the almost entirely silent protagonist Sergeant Winfield (Winfield?) Powers, America's top VT pilot, it's your job to take the fight to the UN ' colloquially known as "Uncle" ' and free the world from its tyranny. The campaign sees Powers and his platoon blasting its way through New York, Africa, Russia and, ultimately, Berlin. Along the way, Powers and company uncover Uncle's top secret project: unbelievably powerful Heavy Vertical Tanks (HVTs) that threaten to end the war in one fell, brutal swoop.
All of this serves primarily as window dressing for Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor's main event: the realistic simulation of actually piloting a walking tank entirely from a first-person perspective. The controller offers basic movement and weapons controls, allowing Powers to maneuver and take out enemy forces. Heavy Armor isn't content, however, to let you just point at bogeys and fire away. You'll also have to deal with the realities of being cooped up with three other people in a lumbering iron box as it slowly marches across the battlefield. And it is slow ' each step of the VT is replete with real weight and significance, and course corrections generally require a full stop.
These actions are accomplished through an appropriate physical movement using the Kinect. To use an item, you have simply to reach for its rough area on-screen. Once it is "selected," the right gesture will activate the proper device. Pushing both hands forward will cause Powers to lean into the viewport, giving a clear view of the battlefield and basic aiming via the iron sights. Reach out and "press" one of a pair of buttons on the viewport, and he will arm either armor-piercing or high-explosive rounds. Raise a hand skyward and he will pull down the periscope.
When the [Kinect] tech fails ... it fails in such a fundamental way that it's impossible to ignore.
While the slow, methodical combat may add a sense of realism to the proceedings, the Kinect's shortcomings also make it feel necessary. Using nothing but gestures, it takes a long time to 1) pull away from the periscope, 2) pull out a control panel, 3) activate the ventilator, 4) put the panel away and 5) pull down the periscope again. When everything is running smoothly, the deliberate actions can be deeply rewarding. It feels great to take out an enemy transport with a high-explosive round, retreat to cover and smack the armor-piercing ammo button on the console, finally swinging back into action to destroy an approaching VT.
But the second that Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor fails to execute the action you intended, the entire experience breaks down. The scenario described in my introduction, in which Powers and company die of smoke inhalation, isn't a fabrication. Numerous times I found myself desperately trying to vent the cockpit of smoke, only to idiotically swing the ventilator control panel into and out of place or activate the headlights instead. The ammo selector buttons are equally finicky and are made even more maddening when you can actually see Powers' hand floating over the correct button, only to watch it whack the wrong one.
For the record, I abided by the instructions, setting up my play space between 6 and 10 feet in front of my television. Some levels played flawlessly, while others were subject to all the problems I've mentioned here. It's a shame, because the technical issues manage to overshadow every other aspect of Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor. A few of the better moments ' saving a crew member from a knife attack, tossing a live grenade from the cockpit, the joy of blowing off a VT's leg ' are lost to every accidental pull, press, activation and undeserved death.
"You are the controller" is Microsoft's tagline for the Kinect, but there's also a second, secret tagline that the company never intended. If you own a Kinect, you may have articulated it yourself: "It's great, when it works." Whenever the recognition is working, Kinect really does enhance the experience of Steel Battalion, enabling the fantasy of piloting a very real walking tank and delivering a thrill of satisfaction with every confirmed kill. When the tech fails, however, at least in my experience, it fails in such a fundamental way that it's impossible to ignore.
There are worthwhile ideas in Steel Battalion: Heavy Armor, and those hoping to glimpse the possibilities of Kinect should definitely try it, but I can't in good conscience wholly recommend it.
Joystiq's review scores are based on a scale of whether the game in question is worth your time -- a five-star being a definitive "yes," and a one-star being a definitive "no." Read here for more information on our ratings guidelines.
The classification law now puts games on equal footing as movies and other media forms.
[Thanks, Yetimilk]
Developed by Firaxis Games, Civilization V reinvigorates the classic turn-based strategy genre with an astonishing new engine built from the ground-up for this flagship edition of the Civilization franchise. Players are introduced to an entirely new combat system, deeper diplomatic interactions and a cavalcade of expanded features that deliver a fully immersive experience. Players build and defend their empire on their quest to become the greatest ruler the world has ever known.
For Immediate Release
Hong Kong - June 18, 2012 ' Sharpen your sword, the long wait is finally over!
eastasiasoft, the Hong Kong-based developer and publisher of interactive entertainment today announced that their highly anticipated role-playing game Rainbow Moon for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system will be available on PlayStation®Store this July.
Rainbow Moon launches in Europe and Australia on July 4th, 2012 at a price of just '12.99/£9.99. A release in North America and Southeast Asia follows at a yet to be confirmed date in July at US$14.99.
Also available during the first month of the game's launch will be a variety of more than 20 free and premium additional content packages, including character-boosting items such as Rainbow Coin and Rainbow Pearl Sets, Starter Packs and Amulet Sets.
Brand new screenshots, videos and additional game information are available on Rainbow Moon's official website at www.rainbowmoongame.com and at www.facebook.com/RainbowMoonTheGame/.
KickBeat is a music game; it just doesn't look like one. Its martial arts theme combines with heavy, aggressive music that goes well with punching and kicking to create a refreshing new take on music-rhythm games.
You can imagine the excitement and wonder in his eyes when I explained how far back the Pokemon series spans. I even found myself falling into a nostalgic lull while talking about my time with Pokemon Red, and how "there's nothing like the original 151." After informing him that Pokemon Black and White 2 are due next in the series, his remark was, "So... did they pretty much run out of ideas?"
While he's a smart kid, it's easy to forget how perceptive all young players can be. Even though he loves the series in the same way I did years ago (he draws his own Pokemon creations), he noticed that each subsequent game feels like a lot like the last one. He also bashed "ace trainers" in the games, and wondered "how they can even think their bad Pokemon will win." I hadn't even wondered that myself.
While I work on devising a way to actually beat him in a game of Pokemon, I invite you to catch all of last week's webcomics, and then vote for your favorite after the break.
Just Married (Brawl in the Family)
Asteroids (Blow the Cartridge)
Outsider (Legacy Control)
Ellen Page (Digital Pimp Online)
Catching a Pokemom (Dorkly)
The game will support Steam achievements and stats, and some in-game items will be created specifically for Steam users. No (re)release date has been announced, but we have an idea of what the price will be.
League of Legends developer Riot Games was caught with its hands in the domain name cookie jar this week when it registered the URL supremacy.com, WhoIs records revealed.
Companies will often use means of privately registering domain names related to as-yet-announced projects, making confirmation of upcoming projects difficult. So while URLs such as leagueoflegendssupremacy.com and its variations are listed as owned by private domain companies, supremacy.com is now registered to Riot Games.
Riot Games recently dealt with security breaches on EU League of Legends accounts, though billing information on accounts went untouched.
Beyond the stuff you'd expect, the document also claims Microsoft has Augmented Reality glasses in the works named "Fortaleza" (presumably built at Brazil-based Innovation Center Fortaleza) ' the document says we won't see through MS' AR until some time in 2014, post-console launch. Additionally, it claims the "Xbox 720" will have some form of "always on" functionality, as well as the ability to run apps at the same time (read: multitasking).
Now before you go getting all excited, you should probably know that this document surfaced in some form back in early May on Nukezilla. Moreover, even if it's totally legit, the document itself appears to be rather old ' dating back to August 2010 at least. That said, some of the info detailed in the document has since been announced by Microsoft (most notably Smart Glass). We've seen some pretty thorough fakes in our time, but this would be the most thorough if it were.
We've reached out to Microsoft for comment, but, well, you know.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
SimCity Social brings the real city-building simulation to the masses, giving players the freedom to create sprawling cities that come to life as a result of player-driven choice. In SimCity Social, players don't just build a city ' they choose the kind of city they want and watch its soul come to life as it grows and reacts to their decisions.
Rock Band 3 is the third main release in the iconic video game series that challenges gamers to live out their Rock and Roll fantasies together in a band situation, both locally and online. The game features an ever expanding song list from every era of Rock and Roll history, easy to pick up yet challenging addictive Note Highway gameplay, compatibility with earlier releases in the series and all platform-specific instrument controllers including most Guitar Hero controllers, extreme in-game character and band customization, and a slew of new features. These new features include: new setlist search functionality, the addition of 3-part harmonies and a keyboard peripheral and expanded play modes, including the advanced Pro Mode.
Heroes of Ruin challenges players to carve their own adventure, either venturing alone or joining forces with other heroes through seamless drop-in/drop-out co-op multiplayer. Players will enter an ever-changing world where danger waits around every corner. Heroes can explore and fight through wild, varied and dynamic environments, discovering new layouts and routes each time they play.
BioShock takes place among the ruins of an underwater utopia. After your plane crashes into icy, uncharted waters, you discover a rusted bathysphere and descend into Rapture, a city hidden beneath the sea. Constructed as an ideal society for a hand-picked group of scientists, artists and industrialists, Rapture collapsed under the weight of its own idealism. Now the city is littered with corpses, wildly powerful guardians roam the corridors, mutated little girls scavenge the dead, and genetically modified citizens ambush you at every turn.
The list has both the aforementioned Microsoft and Sony applications for .xbox and .playstation (respectively), as well as ones for ".live," ".bing," ".skype," and ".windows," while Sony applied for ".sony," and ".xperia." Microsoft put up $2.035 million for its 11 name bids, and Sony put up $555K, according to New Statesman.
Bidding for personalized (er ... company-ized) URL abbreviations costs a minimum of $185K (just for "evaluation"), so those diabolical plans to squat on ".sexytimes" might be more expensive than you planned. Additionally, when multiple bidders are involved, ICANN assesses the applicants based on a variety of criteria, and applicants can object against others' claims to a particular top-level domain. Regardless, it'll be another 9 to 20 months before ICANN's evaluation process completes, so it'll be a little bit before we find out how this all plays out.
[Image credit: Pavel Ignatov]
Said talks apparently didn't conclude with a plan. A variety of potential outcomes are up in the air: renting out part of the building, selling the whole thing and leasing back part of it, and outright sale are all proposed in the piece.
"Sources familiar with the structure" valued the building at somewhere between $700 million and $1 billion, and Sony outright owns the structure ' that kind of capital infusion would significantly impact the ailing hardware manufacturer's bottom line. The company's fiscal 2012 results depict a grim reality for Sony, with even its Consumer Products & Services division (read: PlayStation) suffering losses.
[Image credit: Rafael Chamorro]
59.99 USD
Oct 30, 2012
Action
Scale, developed by Steve Swink (who teaches interactive design in Phoenix, but might be better known as Kyle Pulver's roommate?) is similar to Portal, which is a quality ascribed to a lot of great indie games these days. That's probably not too surprising, given that Portal was also an indie student project, before it got processed through Valve's chaotic engine of creativity. Scale is similar to Portal in that it too has a gun that doesn't kill, bit is instead used to manipulate a colorfully-rendered 3D world.
Portal, it could be said, played around with the functions of space, creating portals to bypass and bend it. Scale, on the other hand, is all about that stuff in between space. Namely: mass.
Like Portal, it also starts simple: There's a ledge in front of you, and a small rock that's not big enough to climb up the ledge. But you have a gun, and you presume the left mouse button shoots it, so fire away. The gun grows the rock up a size (complete with a bouncy inflating motion), and you can climb up the rock and onto the ledge in front of you, and on through a door to the next level.
That's the first stage. Later on, there's a house, but you can only grow it a few times before the gun runs out of power. The solution is to use the other mouse button to shrink the trees around you, and then pump that mass into the house, growing it up to full size, and then even further if you like. You can then go in, find a key, and move on.
And there's more. At one point I come across another ledge, with a collectible orb on top of it, and no clear way of getting up. But there's a sign below it, and sure enough, the gun also works on the sign. Pull mass off of objects around you, jump up on top of the sign, and grow it up to the top of the ledge.
I grin inwardly, with Swink standing behind me. I have broken his game: I have used his rules to get somewhere I wasn't supposed to be.
But of course he knows. "Oh, you did the sign thing," he says. "That's one way to do it. There are a few others."
Finally, Swink shows me a later level, something that shows off what he's been thinking about during development. It's a desert level, with a big Grand Canyon gap running through it. "You can't get across the gap, see?" he says, showing that it's far too wide to jump across. And then he lowers the gun and shoots downward.
The camera suddenly jumps upward and hovers, like he's turned on God Mode and is about to fly around. He shoots down a few more times, and the camera zooms up farther, putting the whole level on the screen, with the gap far below. The weird change in perspective is puzzling.
And then I slowly realize what's going on. The world itself is shrinking, with the player staying the same height. The gap is now a small ditch at your feet. The mind bends into a new place. Just like Portal.
"Now you can jump the gap," says Swink with another shrug, and then makes the jump, a few times back and forth. "Anyway, it's something I'm working on."
"We must stress that these are temporary layoffs, which means we are working very hard on new business prospects so we can reinstate every single person affected," a company statement reads. "As an independent and close-knit studio it is a very difficult but necessary business measure due to the current project cycle demands."
The developer is currently working on two projects, one of them is a contract with a "major publisher," and the other is its first self-published title, Strata Scavenger, a downloadable post-apocalyptic flight simulation for PC and consoles.
That being said, the Free Fighter isn't necessarily the prettiest arcade stick I've ever seen, but it is certainly striking in an angular, industrial way. The lack of surface area isn't as much of an issue as it originally seemed like it would be, and resting my hands on the stick felt comfortable, be it on a table or in my lap. Nyko says the stick's small footprint was designed with portability in mind, so as to make the stick easier to transport from event to event.
Launching for the PS3 this holiday at a $180 price point, the Free Fighter is $30 more expensive than its strongest competition, the Mad Catz Round 2 Tournament Edition FightStick, which also uses Sanwa Denshi parts. Nyko told us that if successful, the Free Fighter could be adapted into a platform for other peripheral modules, like a flight stick or racing wheel. Xbox 360 and Wii U versions are expected to launch sometime next year.
Check out our awkward hands-on video above, as well as pictures of the Free Fighter and Nyko's other E3 offerings (Power Grip for Vita, Power Grip Pro for 3DS, Powerpad and Powerpad Pro for Android) in the gallery below.
Sam is back in his tactical suit and goggles, and he's more deadly than ever. He is the only secret operative with the power to act above the law, and uses ruthless methods to interrogate enemies in order to extract crucial information that will prevent the next Blacklist attack
I thought the interface in combat worked great. Out of combat, it's all about the mood. Firaxis has given you something called "the anthill" for your command center, portrayed from a Wes Anderson-style sideview, with little scientists and soldiers all running around doing your bidding.You can set orders and start missions from a central hub, and then from there you can grow out your operations into research (powered by resources earned during missions), and even a bar in the basement, complete with memorials to fallen team members. It's all targeted to make you believe the game's central premise: That you're in charge, your decisions have meaning, and the way you as commander (you, on the couch there, not an avatar) run XCOM can make or break the entire world.
"You don't have to sit there and power up your fucking machine and go through legal screens and load screens and load the game," Jaffe said. "I know that sounds kind of petty but when you think of all the distractions and fragmentation of entertainment today, for me that's kind of a pain. I'll choose to do other things rather than sit down and load up a triple-A game unless it's super, super special."
Jaffe is in the process of building concept art and forming a team of like-minded individuals, all with the goal of creating a free-to-play game that is "genuinely for gamers."
"You can listen to developers all day long tell you it's not pay to win, but you know, it kind of is pay to win. I'm not saying they're evil or they're lying - but one of the things they like to say is pay with your time or pay with your money. Well both of those are really shitty."
None of that matters though, because the Game Boy version of Tetris holds a special place in my heart, primarily due to the way I play the game. After selecting Type A music (this is crucial), I often pick a starting level between five and eight, then stack blocks erratically until they fill a little over half the screen. After taking a moment to allow a wave of stress and anxiety to wash over me, I get to work, diving block-first into the mess I just created until I'm either taken under the current or I clear every line away. This is all despite the fact that the game's second play mode accomplishes this for me; it's more satisfying when I clean up my own mess.
Modern "AAA" games don't always leave room for this kind of play style. Collecting hundreds of trivial feathers or solving every side-quest possible fills that gap in our minds that screams "clean this mess up" because it is given directly to players as achievable goals. Still, nothing ages well like your own imagination. Bringing your imagination to a favorite video game can make that experience better.
I encourage you to check out last week's imaginative webcomics, and then vote for your favorite after the break.
Book Club (Brawl in the Family)
The Final Bottle (Virtual Shackles)
The Best Part of E3 This Year (VG Cats)
Tales from the Blizzard (Nerf NOW!!)
Chordata (Awkward Zombie)
Wii U (Magical Game Time)
Ninja Theory's task is to make the new Devil May Cry accessible to new players and those who "may have abandoned" the franchise, chief designer Tameem Antoniades said at an E3 demo of DmC. If "fast-paced, demonic action with giant swords and guns" is "accessible," then Ninja Theory has nailed its market.
Not everything about DmC is a brazen departure from its roots. The world may be more colorful, but it is still Dante's world, and he owns it with the same wit and flair of his predecessors. The heart of Devil May Cry lies in action, and DmC features plenty of moments for brutal, multi-weapon attacks and quick strategy to uphold this legacy.The extended demo has Dante run an obstacle course constructed by Lilith, the ruler of all demons in Limbo City. The course itself is one of the more obvious attempts to modernize the series, as it's a parody of reality television contests, which Lilith calls "The Devil Has Talent." Dante runs through several stages, with "Round 1! Fight!" announcements introducing each battle, and hilariously altered catch phrases from shows such as America's Next Top Model being sprinkled throughout Lilith's taunts.
Dante uses his classic human sword, Rebellion, along with the angel scythe Osiris, and Arbiter the demon axe. He also relies on his trusted firearms, Ebony and Ivory, to fight off The Rage, fire demonsand ice demons, among a few others. Fire demons can only be destroyed with demon attacks, ice demons only with angel attacks, and The Rage is a pair of beasts that become enraged when one partner is killed.
The strategy behind killing each brand of enemy is the crux of DmC's intrigue as a character-action title, and Ninja Theory made sure to focus on that aspect ' not necessarily making the game "hard," but creating challenging, engaging battles and including a variety of enemies.
When Dante activates Devil Trigger mode his hair turns white and he takes on the face of a demon, lending him more power and speed while restoring his health. The white hair isn't a thowback to classic Dante's appearance, but it does hold some significance, Antoniades said."These are the early formative years for Dante," he said. "It has a story point that leads somewhere else later on in the game."
Antoniades promised, without revealing who exactly would show up, that DmC will feature a cast of classic franchise characters, all stylized to fit the new title's world. Alex Garland, who wrote the screenplays for 28 Days Later and Sunshine, is a consulting writer on DmC's story, so expect those new characters to be literally reborn, or really, really tan.
DmC is slated to launch on January 15, 2013 for consoles, and will hit "soon after" for PC. Ninja Theory is still working on porting the console build to PC and configuring the controls, Antoniades said. The title has been delayed once, and for good reason, as Antoniades opened the demo with a warning: "The cut-scenes are unfinished."
Capcom had previously expressed plans to release a new Devil May Cry game every 2.5 years, but for now, Antoniades said, Ninja Theory isn't even thinking about a sequel. DmC will, of course, have DLC post-launch.
DLC in this day and age? How rebellious.
The rest of the booth was populated by the company's ambidextrous, 8200 dpi Taipan mouse ($79.99, July), a Battlefield 3-branded, helicopter-style Blackshark headset ($129.99, July) and the Blade laptop, all of which can be seen in the gallery below.
After Isaac's ship crashes on Tau Volantis, he emerges from the wreckage covered in blood, limping through knee-deep snow and a blinding snow storm. Necromorph enemies emerge from beneath the snow's cover when you least expect it, evoking the same tension we first felt in the corridors of the Ishimura.
Dead Space 3 aims to throw a lot of new things at you beyond that sense of dread over what's around the next dark corner. You can invite a friend into the game at any time, and upon reaching the next checkpoint or reverting back to the last one, Isaac Clarke is joined by John Carver. He's a foul-mouthed, hostile man with a scarred face and little love for Necromorph disposal.
Should you play in co-op mode, though, Carver and Clarke are together at the start of the scene. Their little exchange doesn't happen and the two take on the cicadamorph together. EA is billing it as two different campaigns in one, though the changes ' at least seen here ' come off as a neat bit of fan service, more than anything that actually alters the events of the game. However, taking on a boss monster with a friend at your side definitely changes the balance of the battle.
Dead Space 3 also introduces human enemies for the first time, and Necromorphs who try their best to wield assault rifles. There's a moment when a Necromorph possesses a dead soldier and tried to shoot Isaac with a gun, but its feeble monster brain can't grasp the concept of aiming. Instead, the Necromorph ends up spraying from the hip in clumsy fashion.It's a decidedly awkward scenario that I think detracts from the core Dead Space experience. Unitology soldiers want Clarke and Carver dead; Necromorphs have no problem possessing the dead Unitology soldiers and pursuing their failed goal. While the shifting alliances in these sudden three-way skirmishes are interesting, these more action-heavy moments are the exact opposite of what I value and look for in the Dead Space series.
Later on, Clark and Carver descend into a mining facility and become trapped in an arena with a giant, spinning top-like drill. It's a major co-op moment where the two must defend against swarms of Necromorphs and warn each other of the drill's location as it slides around in the room. The two must hit the drill with stasis and, upon slowing it down, shoot the fuel pods inside to ultimately destroy it. There's a lot to juggle here, and results in a tense encounter.
The moments where Isaac is alone and scouring the ice planet resonated the most with me. I felt unease while walking across the frigid surface of Tau Volantis ' a feeling Visceral Games has gotten very good at capturing and conveying. Let's just hope those moments ultimately outnumber the ones in which you're shooting human enemies.
Dead Space 3 launches in February 2013 for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.
