Thursday, March 17, 2016

New Games

New Games


These new Xbox One controllers sure are slick

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 02:00 PM PDT

I've heard it's hard to use the Xbox One Elite Controller and go back to the system's still-good standard gamepads, but I wouldn't know. I haven't used one yet! I'm completely free to gawk at these new colors -- Copper Shadow and Dusk Shadow -- in sweet, ignorant bliss.

They're priced at $69.99 each and will be available to buy online next week, with pre-orders open now. If you're interested but want to shop at a physical store instead, Microsoft has more specifics about where you can find them and when. There's some exclusivity stuff to sort through.

Dusk Shadow And Copper Shadow: Two New Xbox One Special Edition Wireless Controllers [Major Nelson]

These new Xbox One controllers sure are slick screenshot

New Destiny content update drops next month

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 01:00 PM PDT

At long last, Destiny is getting some new content. It's just too bad it's coming at a time when practically the entire player base has abandoned the shooter for that hot new Tom Clancy jam.

"As promised," Bungie says, the update "will have something for every type of Guardian," including:

  • New PvE Challenges
  • New and Updated Gear 
  • New Quest featuring the Blighted Chalice Strike
  • Increased Max Light and Rewards 
  • Sandbox and Crucible Updates
  • And more…

The new content will go live on April 12 and will be available for free (so long as you have The Taken King). Perhaps that will tide over the Destiny faithful until the next full expansion arrives later this year.

This Week At Bungie - 03/17/2016 [Bungie]

New Destiny content update drops next month screenshot

Supergiant releases stylish Transistor vinyl and updates digital OST

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 12:30 PM PDT

The soundtrack for Transistor contains some of the coolest, chillest, sit-in-a-dark-room-and-vibe tracks I've ever heard from a video game. So while I normally don't think much of premium vinyl editions, I'm pretty curious about this one. Supergiant Games is selling a very slick looking vinyl version of the OST complete with killer album art and liner notes. 

There's still an upside to this news even if you're broke. Supergiant has updated all digital versions of the soundtrack (Steam, Bandcamp, or its online store) with the single "She Shines" that was released back in November. I'm hoping the continued support and merchandising means Supergiant is considering another game in the same universe. I'm not sure a direct sequel was ever in the cards given how the game ends, but even something with the same tone and feel would be cool 

Supergiant releases stylish Transistor vinyl and updates digital OST screenshot

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Blizzard is going all out for Overwatch with art, animated shorts

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 12:00 PM PDT

I can appreciate that Blizzard doesn't go into anything half-cocked. I mean, look at Titanfall. It's a great shooter with well-crafted mechanics, but who gives a shit about that world and the characters in it? I couldn't recall anyone important if you paid me.

But with Overwatch, Blizzard's first new IP in a while, they're handling it differently. Not only is there a ton of art to flesh out the character's backstories, but there's also going to be a graphic novel (the art for McCree looks so badass!), and a series of animated shorts. You can check out a teaser for the first short below, coming later this month.

Exploring the World of Overwatch [Battle.net]

Blizzard is going all out for Overwatch with art, animated shorts screenshot

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Are these leaked images of the Nintendo NX controller?

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 11:45 AM PDT

Back in December of 2015, Destructoid reported on a Nintendo patent for a game console controller, which many assumed to be for the upcoming NX hardware Nintendo has been teasing.

Are these leaked images of the Nintendo NX controller? screenshot

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Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is now playable on Xbox One

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 11:30 AM PDT

Xbox One Backward Compatibility is chugging along, and it gets a couple of great titles this week. According to a tweet from Xbox's Major Nelson, Alan Wake, Pac-Man, and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night are now available on Xbox One. I can't speak much for Alan Wake, but hugmonster Brett Makedonski lists it as one of his favorite games of all time. It's just a shame it's overshadowed by Symphony of the Night, one of my favorite games of all time.

Infiltrating Dracula's castle, taking down vampire hunter Richter Belmont, turning into a bat/wolf/cloud of mist, thinking the journey is over when it's actually only half done, all of this is now possible on the Xbox One. I've lost count of the number of times I've played through this masterpiece, but it seems like every time it comes up in the news it makes me want to do it all over again. If you're like me in that way and you've got an Xbox One, now you can.

Castlevania: Symphony of the Night is now playable on Xbox One screenshot

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Mobile phenomenon Crossy Road is crossing into Disney

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 11:00 AM PDT

You just can't predict success these days. Frozen was doing fairly mediocre at the box office, then the "Let it Go" performance videos went viral a few weeks in, and every kid in America saw it enough times to push it over a billion dollars.

Likewise, no one probably could have predicted the boom of Crossy Road. It's a well-crafted, refined experience with a free-to-play scheme that doesn't feel predatory, sure, but this level of fame? It's crazy.

Anyway, in addition to its many updates that the core version has received since its launch, and the Pac-Man spinoff, developer Hipster Whale is now releasing a Disney version "soon." They've officially reached peak commercial efficiency.

Mobile phenomenon Crossy Road is crossing into Disney screenshot

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Eye-tracking tech makes The Division's cluttered UI way more bearable

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 10:30 AM PDT

For as much as I like admiring The Division's take on a New York City that's mid-social collapse, it's hard sometimes. There's so much happening on the screen that it distracts from the environment. Several different augmented reality-type interfaces leave their permanent mark on the game. It's tough to look past all those numbers, because they are absolutely everywhere.

Tobii's SteelSeries Sentry eye-tracking tech makes that somewhat more tolerable. In a quick hands-on at GDC, I saw how using your eyes could make all that UI clutter fade away. All it takes is glancing somewhere else.

Ubisoft's smart implementation means that the various interfaces only light up when you're actually looking at them. For instance, the mini-map will probably fade into the background while in combat because you'll be preoccupied with shooting. But, when using the mini-map to navigate, the health and ammo interface will likely near-disappear because, again, that's not what you're looking at.

Eye-tracking tech makes The Division's cluttered UI way more bearable screenshot

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Arena shooter LawBreakers won't be free to play

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 10:00 AM PDT

Boss Key Productions has taken this week's Game Developers Conference as a chance to announce a few big changes to its upcoming Nexon-published multiplayer shooter LawBreakers. Namely, the free-to-play scheme is out. It "wasn't the right fight," says studio founder Cliff Bleszinski.

The new cost hasn't been announced yet, but it "will not have the $60 price point of a traditional box product." Additionally, LawBreakers is now going to be exclusive to Steam "at launch" (though these things tend not to stay tied down forever and console ports aren't out of the question).

The game has also undergone a shift in art direction, which you can see a bit of in these screenshots. "Being constantly compared to the current slew of colorful shooters on the market made us realize we needed to stand out from the crowd," said Bleszinski. "We decided to take a step back and explore how we could dial up the maturity in LawBreakers, going back to our original vision."

Trying to differentiate from Blizzard's Overwatch seems like a smart decision.

Arena shooter LawBreakers won't be free to play screenshot

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BREAKING NEWS: You can pet your mii in Miitomo

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 09:45 AM PDT

I'm totally from Japan. At least, that is what Apple and Nintendo believe as I've been playing the currently Japan-exclusive Miitomo today. And I have some hot news for all you virtual petting fans: you can pet your miis to your heart's content. 

Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on your outlook), you can only pet mii heads and not their naughty bits, so you'll have to stick to touching your real-life no-no zones instead of your virtual self.

Choose your reaction: 
A. Based Nintendo!
B. Blasted Nintendo! 

I'll have my full impressions of Miitomo once I have a bit more time with it, but so far I'm digging it; it is like Tomodachi Life meets OkCupid and Twitter.

BREAKING NEWS: You can pet your mii in Miitomo screenshot

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XCOM 2 rebels against dad with Anarchy's Children DLC

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 09:30 AM PDT

I've always been...a 'lil twisted (winky face smiley) and now XCOM 2 lets me express this dark side of my personality with the "Anarchy's Children" DLC, a $5 aesthetic pack that "features more than 100 new exotic soldier customization options." It's also included as part of the $20 Reinforcement Pack. 

"XCOM soldiers can now sport styles that are downright deranged including menacing new hairstyles, face paints, armor, helmets, masks and more." You can unleash your inner juggalo or Borderlands fan-fic today, or just download the free mod to give all your soldiers Hatsune Miku hair.

If anything is going to entice me into another round of XCOM 2, though, it'll be the performance fixes patched in shortly after I finished the damn thing (also, RIP mimic beacon) rather than $5 worth of digital Hot Topic attire.

XCOM 2 rebels against dad with Anarchy's Children DLC screenshot

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The T-Virus is on sale at the Capcom cafe

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 09:00 AM PDT

I'll never forget the Avon Resident Evil face cream promotion. I wanted to get one so badly just as a novelty but never got around to it!

If I ever visit Japan anytime soon I'll get a second shot though, as Capcom is releasing an official T-Virus fragrance over at their cafe in Saitama. The location is literally called the "Capcom Cafe," and the item itself will go on sale on March 26. It won't break the bank either, as it's priced  at 4,200 yen ($37).

T-Virus [Inside Games via Kotaku]

The T-Virus is on sale at the Capcom cafe screenshot

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Until Dawn: Rush of Blood channels its inner House of the Dead

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 08:30 AM PDT

By now, you've probably heard that Supermassive is making a new Until Dawn game for PlayStation VR, Rush of Blood, and that it's an on-rails shooter (literally! you're on a mine cart). With virtual reality dominating this week's Game Developers Conference, some new footage has come out.

It looks... all right? I mean, VR games don't show particularly well in trailers online, so you have to keep that in mind to a certain extent. I'll probably want to play it, but I hope the rest of the studio is cooking up something bigger. I would love another full-fledged Until Dawn-style horror adventure.

Until Dawn: Rush of Blood channels its inner House of the Dead screenshot

Rime developer takes back publishing, IP rights from Sony

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 08:00 AM PDT

Rime was announced all the way back in 2013 by Tequila Works, who had crafted the promising, though ultimately flawed Deadlight. It looked like a massive step up for them visually, and on top of that, they announced that Rime would become a Sony exclusive with the backing of Sony.

But plans have changed, because as of yesterday, the studio announced that they had reacquired the rights, and that Sony was no longer involved. While we may never truly know what happened, you can probably bet on a PC release at some point.

Tequila Works [Twitter]

Rime developer takes back publishing, IP rights from Sony screenshot

Star Wars Battlefront adding Hutt Contracts and other free content next week

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 07:30 AM PDT

You've heard enough of me blabbering on about the Outer Rim DLC coming to Star Wars Battlefront (March 22 for season pass holders; April 5 for standalone purchasers), so I'll keep this brief.

DICE is also adding free content to the game next Tuesday, which is reassuring to hear. We'll get "new missions with Hutt Contracts, a new Spectator Mode to watch others play, an increased level cap, weapons, and more," according to the studio.

As for Outer Rim, I like the look and sound of Greedo, but I'm not sure I'd be able to consistently make good use of his multi-target ability. Hero characters (especially ones controlled by me!) tend to attract a lot of gunfire and don't last long on the battlefield.

Star Wars Battlefront adding Hutt Contracts and other free content next week screenshot

Review: Deadbolt

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 07:00 AM PDT

As someone who was way into Risk of Rain, a tough side-scrolling shooter that only grew tougher as time ticked by, I should have believed its designers when they called their next game "extremely challenging." But after clearing the first set of missions in Deadbolt, their stylish new stealth-action title set in the underworld, I was feeling confident. "This isn't so hard," I foolishly thought.

Then I made it to the second level of the second act. Karma mercilessly kicked my ass 50 times in a row.

Review: Deadbolt screenshot

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Indie developer Digital Homicide sues Jim Sterling

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 06:30 AM PDT

[Disclosure: Jim Sterling is a former reviews editor at Destructoid]

On March 4, 2016, James Romine (one-half of Digital Homicide, along with his brother Robert) filed a civil suit against our old friend Jim Sterling, seeking $10,761,000 in damages; $2,261,000 in "direct product damage," $4,300,000 in "emotional, reputational, and financial distress," and $5,000,000 in "punitive damages." Add up those three numbers and you get $11,561,000 -- I do not know where the missing $800,000 went and I've read every publicly available court document.

According to court documents filed by Romine, the lawsuit centers around ten specific counts of libel. The complaint states that "The Defendant (Jim Sterling) falsely accused The Plaintiff (Romine) and caused damage to reputation, damage to product, loss of product, and causing severe emotional distress to The Plaintiff, The Plaintiff has right to receive restitution for these damages."

The feud between the Romine brothers and Jim Sterling can be traced to a video where Sterling played a game called The Slaughtering Grounds, released under Digital Homicide's previous nom de plume ImminentUprising. If you've seen one video where a snarky gamer plays bad Steam games, you've seen them all -- Sterling's is no different. Since the video's release, Sterling and Digital Homicide have engaged in a near-litigious back-and-forth, culminating in this month's lawsuit.

Indie developer Digital Homicide sues Jim Sterling screenshot

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Doom will have nine multiplayer maps at launch, here's a gander at some of them

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 06:00 AM PDT

The next Doom is still arriving in May, and later this month, the beta will be available. But for now, you can anaylze this multiplayer trailer to your heart's content. It shows four of the nine multiplayer maps that will launch with the game, which include hazards and objects like teleporters.

It looks kind of neat, but nine maps doesn't sound all that exciting, and I'm curious if Bethesda will actually support the game with balance patches and fixes post-launch -- or at least, frequently enough to hold my interest. For now, I have my heart set on the campaign.

Doom will have nine multiplayer maps at launch, here's a gander at some of them screenshot

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Heroes of the Storm is getting a new level soon that eliminates map objectives

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 05:00 AM PDT

Heroes of the Storm is getting a brand new battleground very soon in the "next big patch" (which is also said to see the introduction of Tychus and Gazlowe reworks).

It's called the Lost Cavern, and it eliminates map objectives to focus in on a single-lane arena situation. You cannot heal at the starting area anymore -- in essence, this is the ARAM gametype you see in other MOBAs, without the "random pick" element.

There's several caveats though, as it will only be available in custom games at the moment, and it looks like a re-imagining of Tomb of the Spider Queen, aesthetically. There's no timeline for a full release.

Check out a full layout of the map as well as some screenshots below.

Heroes of the Storm is getting a new level soon that eliminates map objectives screenshot

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Toadette is making her way into Super Mario Maker

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 04:30 AM PDT

When Captain Toad was added to Super Mario Maker, it made sense that Toadette was only a matter of time. Nintendo confirmed her appearance this week as a Mystery Mushroom character, to be added in shortly alongside of the new update characters and Wolf Link.

I hope, like Splatoon, that there's at least a year of support for Maker. It grows on you over time as Nintendo adds more and more items into the mix, changing the dimension of how you approach each creation.

Toadette is making her way into Super Mario Maker screenshot

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Nintendo Download: Pokken Tournament

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 04:00 AM PDT

Nintendo's newest console is getting a massive addition to its library tomorrow in the form of Pokken Tournament -- a Japanese arcade game turned worldwide Wii U release. The HORI Pokken Tournament Pro Pad is out on the same day (mine shipped from Amazon last night), but note that it can only be used by one player on the same console for versus (one must use the GamePad), and it only works for Pokken. Also on Wii U is Mutant Mudds Super Challenge, Dig Dug II, Bird Mania Party, and U Host.

The 3DS is getting Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games tomorrow, but review copies aren't going out, so beware! Mudds is going to 3DS too -- it's Cross-Buy capable with the Wii U edition, and also comes with a 15% discount if you own the original or downloaded the Challenge demo last year.

Oh, and in other download news, Miitomo is out in Japan today, and it brings a few new games along with it. We're still waiting on news for other regions.

Nintendo Download: Pokken Tournament screenshot

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Pokemon series sales topped 279 million as of last month

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 03:30 AM PDT

I mean, everyone knows how big Pokemon really is, with its massive game line and merch/media empire, but this recent sales number really puts things into perspective. According to Famitsu, as of February 29, 2016, Nintendo has sold 279 million copies of Pokemon. That number includes spinoffs as well as the core entries, but still, very impressive.

Breaking down that number further, Famitsu reports that the main series is responsible for 210 million of that figure. It looks like the "multiple game" concept they created over 20 years ago paid off. It makes sense, as nearly every family I knew had both copies of each game, and for the past decade my wife and I have bought two for every launch.

Pokemon [Famitsu via Kotaku]

Pokemon series sales topped 279 million as of last month screenshot

Developers Choice Awards crafted a loving tribute to Iwata

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 03:00 AM PDT

Grab your tissues, folks.

The Developers Choice Awards were held last night, and during the event, a special tribute to Satoru Iwata was shown, who sadly passed away last July. It's three minutes long, and spans some of his accomplishments, and provides a few nods to his projects, as well as his legacy.

It's a touching tribute that really shows what Iwata left behind, and reminds us of his famous quote -- "In my heart, I'm a gamer." He truly was one of a kind.

Developers Choice Awards crafted a loving tribute to Iwata screenshot

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Sony is not going to tolerate drops below 60fps for PlayStation VR

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 02:00 AM PDT

While you can debate the merits of framerate until the cows come home (read: it's fine for some games, not fine for others), for VR, the situation is a little different. As many VR companies have noted, you basically need 60fps at an absolute minimum to provide a comfortable experience.

Sony is on this train too, as Gamasutra notes that at GDC this week, the publisher stated, “Frame rate is really important; you cannot drop below 60 frames per second, ever. If you submit a game to us and it drops to 55, or 51...we’re probably going to reject it.” Sony will also launch a consultation service of sorts to assist developers, and is pitching "VR party games" as a core focus -- ruh roh, shovelware, here we come!

The Gamasutra piece has a few other inside baseball tidbits in there if you want to read the whole thing.

Here's what Sony wants devs to know about making PlayStation VR games [Gamasutra]

Sony is not going to tolerate drops below 60fps for PlayStation VR screenshot

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This Frog Fractions promotional art is amazing

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 01:00 AM PDT

These stickers for Frog Fractions III (which is actually Frog Fractions VI in Japan) were found floating around GDC, and they might just be my favorite promotional materials ever.

Of course, I'm still waiting on Frog Fractions II (also known as Frog Fractions IV). It's got to be out there somewhere!

Have you played Frog Fractions yet? If not, what are you waiting for?

This Frog Fractions promotional art is amazing screenshot

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My Nintendo details revealed, new games confirmed

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 12:00 AM PDT

Now that My Nintendo (the successor to Club Nintendo) is out in Japan, users have been logging in and acquiring data, a lot of which is in English.

Nintendo Everything is reporting in on the whole shebang, from Miitomo items, to discounts, to free games. Most notably are the currencies (Platinum Points, Gold Points), and the "missions" (for your perusal in the gallery below) in which to earn them. You can earn points through anything from linking your Twitter account to purchasing software.

It's all standard reward club stuff, but here are a few big takeways. One, the Twilight Princess Picross game was real, and is going for 1,000 Platinum Points. Another thing is that WarioWare: Touched, a DS game, is apparently playable -- some are speculating through DSi emulation. Lastly, most of the rewards expire on July or August 1, so it seems like there will be a rotating set of rewards just like Club Nintendo.

We'll keep you updated as the program expands to other regions.

My Nintendo Launched in Japan [Nintendo Everything]

My Nintendo details revealed, new games confirmed screenshot

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And the award for the GDC's Game of the Year goes to...

Posted: 16 Mar 2016 10:00 PM PDT

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has been crowned Game of the Year at this year’s GDC Awards.

The RPG also received recognition with a Best Technology Award.

It wasn’t the biggest winner of the ceremony, however; Sam Barlow’s Her Story toke home three awards - Best Handheld/Mobile, Best Narrative, and Innovation Award.

Ori and the Blind Forest was awarded Best Visual Art and Best Debut for developer Moon Studios. Other winners include Rocket League (Best Design), and Crypt of the NecroDancer (Best Audio). Bethesda’s Todd Howard was recognised with a Lifetime Achievement award, and Minecraft creator Markus “Notch” Persson honoured with a Pioneer Award.

Despite nominations in four categories, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain did not pick up any awards on the night. Poor Snake. :(

And the award for the GDC's Game of the Year goes to... screenshot

Capybara Games' Below drops in this summer

Posted: 16 Mar 2016 05:30 PM PDT

Below was one of my most anticipated games last year, but it was delayed into 2016 at the last moment. We won't have to wait for it much longer though, as Capy's new roguelike adventure will be coming this summer to Xbox One and PC.

The newest trailer is looking lovely. The sense of scale and the slight vision blur around the edges of the screen create a neat effect, perfect for the massive caverns and dungeons that seem to swallow up the tiny explorer. I can't wait for more of those magical Jim Guthrie tunes either!

For more information about Below, be sure to check out our preview here.

Capybara Games' Below drops in this summer screenshot

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MMO News

MMO News


Battleborn Motion Comic Chapter 1: Running The Numbers

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 03:34 PM PDT

The first chapter of the Battleborn Motion Comic, offering an animated introduction to the game’s backstory.

The post Battleborn Motion Comic Chapter 1: Running The Numbers appeared first on MMOHuts.

Neverwinter: Maze Engine Rare Howler Mount Giveaway

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 03:12 PM PDT

MMOHuts has partnered with Perfect World Entertainment to celebrate the launch of Neverwinter: The Maze Engine with a limited supply of rare Howler mounts! Supplies are extremely limited so act fast!

Neverwinter is a free-to-play action MMORPG that features fast-paced combat and epic dungeons. Players explore the vast city of Neverwinter and its surrounding countryside, learning the vivid history of the iconic city in the Forgotten Realms and battling its many enemies. Neverwinter is currently available on PC and digitally for Xbox One, available free-to-play with Gold* from the Xbox Games Store.

Neverwinter-Howler-Screensh

To Use Your Key In-Game:

  • Visit www.arcgames.com/en/redeem
  • Log into your Arc account and enter your code.
  • Enter the game and claim your item from the Reward Claims Agent in Protector's Enclave.

The post Neverwinter: Maze Engine Rare Howler Mount Giveaway appeared first on MMOHuts.

Discordia: Guardians of the Domain

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 03:04 PM PDT

The post Discordia: Guardians of the Domain appeared first on MMOHuts.

Blazblue: Chronophantasma Extend PC Port Review

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 02:43 PM PDT

When I think of Blazblue, I think of intense, fast-paced fighting game action. I also think of fanservice in the form of ridiculous breasts and huge muscles, swearing, violence, and a story that I [still] don't bloody understand. The series started on both Xbox 360 and the PS3, and transitioned to the One and PS4 as time went on. It does admittedly suffer from SF2 syndrome in that it had a BUNCH of "insert title expansion" updates before it finally moved on to the sequel. We had Calamity Trigger, Continuum Shift, Continuum Shift II, Continuum Shift EXTEND, Chronophantasma, and finally Chronophantasma EXTEND. But for reasons unknown, only until recently has ArcSys delved into the world of PC Gaming. As Guilty Gear showed PC could be profitable, we've slowly gotten the rest of their fighting game line-up. That's going to be the future of fighting games, and you can see it in their product Guilty Gear XRD, Street Fighter IV and V, as well as the current Mortal Kombat – all on PC. The rumor mill was that Blazblue Continuum Shift was leaked online [the arcade release] and so many people pirated it, forcing ArcSys to jump ahead to Chronophantasma EXTEND instead. I can't confirm it, but it makes for a hell of a story!

Blazblue: Chronophantasma Extend PC Port Review

Exhibit A: Solid story telling in progress.

Chronophantasma EXTEND is important right now. The PC release is definitely a smart move. It's faster than Calamity Trigger was, that's for sure. . . that one took about three to five years to hit PC! But as I have yet to see a release date on the current game, Central Fiction, EXTEND's existence on PC to drive up interest in the franchise is definitely a smart short term move. While some of the combos and moves might be seen as unforgiving, and the balance might be viewed as. . . rough. . . it is a very good starting point for new players getting into BlazBlue to get a feel, and your skill in it can even transfer over well to Guilty Gear. I also hear those guys at Bottom Tier worked up a video on Blazblue and why you should be playing it! I hear it's coming soon! Blazblue is a hard series to master, but it's got some features that will make learning this particular game quite feasible and fun.

As I reported on in Guilty Gear XRD, the ArcSys tutorials on PC are second only to possibly Skullgirls. Blazblue evolves what worked so damn well in Guilty Gear Xrd, taking it a step farther than I've seen in recent games. In addition to the basic tutorial that shows you the unique mechanics for Blazblue games, it also has starter tutorials for every character in the game that show their Drive Moves, Special Moves, and STRATEGY. Yes, there's a tutorial that shows basic strategies for that character: What makes them powerful/weak, combo openings, moves that have priority that can be used as anti-airs, etc. This is amazing, because yes, Blazblue has a ton of characters. Without the tutorial you will feel lost for quite a while jostling around in the school of hard knocks. Go through the tutorial, and I guarantee as a new player, you'll figure out who is fun for you and who isn't in a day or two. Though there are only two new characters to worry about if you're familiar from the franchise – Celica A. Mercury and Lamba, -no. 11-, Bullet, Kagura, Relius, Yuki, Amane and Azrael are new as of Chronophantasma. Basically newbies have a lot of characters to get a feel for!

Blazblue: Chronophantasma Extend PC Port Review

The roster is diverse and about as colorful as it gets in fighting games.

Speaking of characters, one of the big gripes I have about the game is that most of the -old- characters have clones, or alternate forms, or Magical MacGuffin versions of themselves. Just an example or two: Jin Kisaragi is also Haku-Men; Haku-Men is Jin in the Susonooh armor in an alternate timeline, or the future, or some ridiculous reason. Tsubaki Yayaoi is also Izayaoi, which is Tsubaki once the true form of her weapon, Izayoi, took over her body. And finally, my favorite example, Yuki Terumi inhabits the same body as Hazama, and is pretty much the big asshole of the series, and most of the evil deeds in the franchise are either his doing, or Relius Clover. It can be just as damn confusing as the story, but I love the depth the characters have. Part of the reason I still play is for the fantastic character interactions, of which there are plenty.

Blazblue: Chronophantasma Extend PC Port Review

After spending too many hours figuring out the story, this is how I felt too.

There are plenty of modes to play in as well. Of course, Network [Online] normal and ranked; I didn't find many people in ranked but it was still quite early in the games' PC launch. I'm sure that will change. There's the previously mentioned Tutorial. There's a mode that explains the story so far [as best it can], Arcade Mode which speaks for itself, and the "Score Attack" modes. There's the normal Score Attack, which is pretty challenging. You fight through one of three sets of predetermined foes, and go for the highest score possible. But then there's "Unlimited Mars" mode, for the truly masochistic. This is the same as Score Attack, but with "Unlimited" versions of characters. Blazblue features something called "Unlimited" forms, which are not usable in tournaments or ranked play. They are broken, busted, and ridiculously powerful. Hence, Unlimited. Any restriction that may have been placed on their moveset to balance the game is gone. They are definitely fun for casual play with friends, but you will not likely have fun against the Unlimited Mars mode, unless you're like me, and use that mode to try and survive being completely outclassed. That's how I get ready for ranked.

REBEL ONE: ACTION

Score: Great 4/5

Is the story convoluted? Sure. Far more fanservy than there needs to be? Without a doubt. But is the gameplay crisp, clean, and without all of the hassle and frustration that other new fighting games have dropped with? You better believe it. The only trouble I had was with some of the resolutions. My PC runs 1920×1080, and recording video with Nvidia's Shadowplay did NOT want to cooperate in full screen. Quite vexing, but I don't know if that's ArcSys's fault. Fortunately Xsplit worked. I love that they included the Japanese "Library" mode for all the characters/terms for the game. I like that you can switch between EXTEND and Chronophantasma mode, and it shows on screen which you are in. This is a Steam exclusive mode, and you can use the balance for Chronophantasma, if that's what you want.

Blazblue: Chronophantasma Extend PC Port Review

10/10, would waifu abuse simulator again.

Characters:

+ Lots of characters, each one's unique "Drive" ability is actually fairly inspired. Lots of variety and style of characters. Easy to find something you enjoy.

  • The storyline makes it so that there are quite a few "clone" characters. Same person, different setting, different moveset. Can be a little confusing and terribly annoying.

Gameplay:

+ Lots of interesting and powerful characters; gameplay is crisp, sharp, and easy to get the basics of. Easy to learn, hard to master.

  • Pretty steep learning curve though to get to advanced levels of gameplay, and the character balance isn't always so great. There are amazingly ridiculously powerful characters. . . and some that are not so hot.

Modes:

+ Cool gameplay modes, lots of stuff to take your mind off Network/Online play if it becomes frustrating.

  • Some of the modes are just clones of one another, like Score Attack/Unlimited Mars. Several Modes are only there for fans of the story, and don't really do anything but let you do some reading you could do on a website. Still kind of neat to have it in the game client though!

Full Gameplay Image Gallery

The post Blazblue: Chronophantasma Extend PC Port Review appeared first on MMOHuts.

LawBreakers will Launch Exclusively on Steam

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 02:21 PM PDT

In a panel presented at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) today, industry veteran Cliff Bleszinski and the team at Boss Key Productions announced that their upcoming multiplayer FPS LawBreakers, will be available exclusively on the Steam platform at launch. Fans are able to add the game to their Steam Wishlist starting today, by visiting http://store.steampowered.com/app/350280.

LawBreakers is an upcoming new first-person shooter in which even the laws of physics can be shattered, creating intense gravity-based combat and resulting in an ever-evolving and bloody arena. Set in a futuristic rebuilt America, players will choose whether to kill for the nobility of the "Law," or go out for blood as a "Breaker," as they take part in the conflict raging across iconic locations including the boiling oceans off the Santa Monica coastline, to a gravity ravaged Grand Canyon and nearly unrecognizable Mount Rushmore.

Boss Key also announced LawBreakers will be a digital premium title when released. While the price has not yet been announced, they assured the audience it will not have the $60 price point of a traditional box product.

"As the game continued to take shape, we realized free-to-play wasn't the right fit for what we're building," said Cliff Bleszinski. "LawBreakers is a competitive game at heart and that means balance is a big priority to me, my team, and our community. Using a digital premium model helps ensure an even playing field by giving fans access to every available role without any barriers."

Addressing how to make a new FPS stand out among heavyweights in the industry, the panel – titled "Surrounded by 800 lb Gorillas! Standing Up to the Competition" – also revealed LawBreakers' shift in design to embrace a more mature look and feel, and gave attendees a first look at a revamped logo, game models and screenshots illustrating the new tone and attitude, which will feature variable gravity effects, unique roll-based movement systems and truly three-dimensional combat realized through grappling blades, reverse blind-firing, time dilation, jetpacks and more.

"Being constantly compared to the current slew of colorful shooters on the market made us realize we needed to stand out from the crowd" Bleszinski continued. "We decided to take a step back and explore how we could dial up the maturity in LawBreakers, going back to our original vision. The new look and feel embraces the innovative and vertical nature of our game elevated by violence, intensity and competition."

Fans who want to be among the first to experience the R-Rated gravity-based combat and dominate the competition will have a chance to get their hands on LawBreakers at PAX East next month in booth #5116 in the Boston Convention Center. Everyone who plays will get exclusive swag and a chance to commemorate their best kill with a custom-made video clip.

Additional details on availability and public tests will be announced in the coming months.

F.A.Q.

  1. Why Steam?

We explored all of our options and determined Steam is the best fit for our community and the competitive game we're building.

 

  1. Why did Boss Key/Nexon decide to make changes to the game's business model?

After careful consideration of how the game has been progressing, we realized free-to-play wasn't the right fit for what we’re building. Lawbreakers is a competitive game at heart and that means balance is a big priority. Using a digital premium model helps ensure an even playing field by giving fans access to every available role without barriers.

 

  1. How much will LawBreakers cost at launch?

The price at launch hasn't been revealed yet, but we want to provide a high quality, digital downloadable game at a compelling price. LawBreakers will not have the $60 price point of a traditional boxed product.

 

  1. Are you developing LawBreakers exclusively for PC? / Will LawBreakers release on additional platforms?

We're initially developing LawBreakers for PC, then… who knows what the future holds?

  1. When can I play?

We are planning to run a number of upcoming tests before launch. Exact timings are still to be confirmed, but we encourage players to Wishlist the game on Steam to be first in the know about our upcoming announcements.

The post LawBreakers will Launch Exclusively on Steam appeared first on MMOHuts.

Heroes of the Storm Reveals New Lost Cavern Battleground

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 01:35 PM PDT

Heroes of the Storm has announced a new battleground coming to the Nexus in the next patch: The Lost Cavern.

The Lost Cavern is only available in custom games currently. It eliminates all map objectives and multiple lanes, creating a single-lane team fight experience. Hearthstones and Starting Area heals are also missing, and players will need to rely on regeneration orbs and each other for healing.

Here’s the official information and screenshots of the new map:


Welcome to Lost Cavern

This new battleground eliminates Map Objectives and creates a slimmed-down play area in order to remain laser-focused on one constant, single-lane team fight. The Hearthstones and Starting Area heals have been removed so that Heroes have no reason to fall back from the fight. Regeneration Orb spawns and brushes, meanwhile, have been strategically placed around the lane to keep the fights active and interesting.

We’ve seen that players have been creating one-lane matches on Heroes’ existing maps, so we wanted to create a full-fledged Battleground that makes things a little easier–and maybe even a little more exciting–for everyone who enjoys these games. Lost Cavern is meant to be a free place to experiment and play however you like. Think of this map as a sandbox in which you can express yourself creatively—as well as have fun playing.

 

How to Access Lost Cavern

Lost Cavern will only be available in custom games to start. You can create a custom game through the "Custom Game" tab of the play screen and then invite your friends, or use our Lobby Link system to invite players through chat channels. Here's how:

  • Create your Custom Lobby on Lost Cavern
  • Open the Chat channel where you want to link your game
  • Type /lobbylink Description
  • Press Enter
  • Players can now simply click your link and will be automatically placed into your Custom Game Lobby

Heroes of the Storm Reveals New Lost Cavern Battleground

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Star Wars The Old Republic Reveals Visions in the Dark

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 12:34 PM PDT

BioWareTM and Lucasfilm today announced details of the next chapter in the episodic adventure, Star WarsTM: The Old RepublicTM – Knights of the Fallen Empire.

In Visions in the Dark, releasing April 7, players will venture deep into the savage wilderness of the planet Odessen to face the immortal Emperor Valkorion for the first time since becoming the Outlander. As part of the confrontation, you will uncover dangerous secrets about your destiny that bind you to your dark enemy. For those that can master the challenge, there is a great reward waiting – a powerful new weapon inspired by some of the greatest Force™ users in the galaxy. Meanwhile, your Alliance will risk everything in a life-and-death mission to strike at the very heart of the Eternal Empire – this intense battle offers the chance to shatter Arcann's forces forever.

Subscribers of Star Wars: The Old Republic can play the Knights of the Fallen Empire story and unravel the truth of their destiny in Visions in the Dark for free* during their subscription period. Players subscribed by April 1 will receive added firepower with the bold new HK-55-inspired Weapon Set that includes in-game items such as HK-55's Sniper Rifle, Blaster Pistol and Vibrosword.

It's a great time to jump into Star Wars: The Old Republic to experience the entire Knights of the Fallen Empire story from the beginning of Chapter 1 and continuing your saga as new chapters release monthly. As the Outlander in Knights of the Fallen Empire, players are able to start a new Level 60 character to get right into the game and begin building their Alliance.

The post Star Wars The Old Republic Reveals Visions in the Dark appeared first on MMOHuts.

SWTOR: Knights of the Fallen Empire – Visions in the Dark Teaser Trailer

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 12:24 PM PDT

SWTOR continues its Knights of the Fallen Empire story this month with Visions in the Dark. Get your first taste of what’s to come!

The post SWTOR: Knights of the Fallen Empire – Visions in the Dark Teaser Trailer appeared first on MMOHuts.

Gloria Victis Update 0.5.8 Expands World

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 12:14 PM PDT

Today's update for Gloria Victis expands the available world, introducing new vast areas for either newcomers and more experienced players. In the nearest future these lands will soon be filled with numerous bandit's camps and outposts held by deserters, as well as new challenging event chains. This expansion will allow to handle more players when Gloria Victis finally moves to Steam Early Access, which is going to happen within the next few months.

The update introduces new bosses as well – the tough individuals of the numerous species of animals, which were inhabiting the primeval, medieval forests, such as bears, wolfs or aurochs. They impress with their age and size and their hides are required to craft brand new unique items, which will be a great reward for any hunter who manages to slay any of those.

Another great improvement is implementation of the guild's reputation. It reflects any meaningful action taken by the guild members, rising when they fight the enemy warbands, claim lands or develop structures under the control of the motherland. On the other hand, oppressing the countrymen and, in future, waging wars against the ally guilds will have a negative impact on the guild's image.

Read the full changelog here.

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Magerealm Introduces Aries

Posted: 17 Mar 2016 11:48 AM PDT

Magerealm, GTArcade's action MMORPG, is ready to welcome a new Angel to the fray. Introducing Aries, the Angel of Retribution!

There are few Angels whose name carries as much weight as Aries. Known for taking action first and asking questions later (or not at all), Aries believes true peace cannot be achieved without conflict. Aries' rather radical views has always put her at ends with other Angels, but in this time of crisis many have come to embrace her ideals. They believe that the passiveness of the Angels led to the rise of the dark forces. If only the Angels had swiftly crushed evil before it grew out of control.

Aries is a firm believer of the old saying "an eye for an eye." Her skill grants a powerful damage shield on the player. For 10 seconds, half of any damage the player takes is reflected back to the attacker. With Aries at your back, your enemies will think twice about picking a fight!

Turn your enemy's strength against them with Aries, the Angel of Retribution! Join Magerealm today and experience the MMORPG you've been waiting for.

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