Review – 100 Floors (iOS) << Gaming Irresponsibly

callum

UK based gamer who spends too much time with his 360 controller and iPhone

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Review – 100 Floors (iOS)

Oct 202012

Mobile gaming is fast becoming the most popular form of a lot of people’s favourite pass time. Whether its a core gamer on the go who needs something to keep the thumbs busy, or an easy way to keep the kids quiet in the car. While there is pros and cons, one of the best parts of mobile gaming is the free titles where if you’re willing to sift through some pretty dismal releases, you will find the odd diamond in the rough and 100 Floors is one hell of a shiny diamond.

100 floors is a fun puzzler from indie developer Tobi games with a simple premise but tricky solutions. The idea is to hit the button to the elevator door which will take you from the current floor to the next. But if it was all calling elevators, this would hardly be worth any oldies time. The game appears to take place in a tall building that is serious about encouraging you to take the stairs.

Making full use of the iPhones touchscreen, accelerometer and gyroscope means the options for puzzle solutions can be endless. Having a poke around is always the best place to start trying to progress, each level has different decor and most will feature some kind of interactive item. This can range from sliding plant pots, performing a pinch to zoom style move or having to repeatedly tap a well disguised switch. As time goes by more and more movement will be required including holding the handset perfectly vertical before forming an action, tilting, turning twisting and shaking. Could be worth giving this one a miss on a crowded bus.

Spooky Levels For Halloween

On top of multiple touches and throwing your phone every which way, the game will also throw some more conventional levels at you aswell. The odd puzzle can be infuriatingly awkward, with the odd challenge worthy of early Resident Evil games. Some of the items that you will encounter are useable, whether on the level that you find them or 20 floors up. Don’t be alarmed, all seem to be unmissable and if not you can go back through floors as and when you please.

Despite the title, the game doesn’t limit you to a measly 100 floors. There are several playable parts to the game in the levels section. Here you will find the main tower section, the original 100Floors, but having finished with these there is a whole new area for you to take on called The Annex. Keeping up with other popular titles, the game has also added a seasons section which has brought with it whole host of spooky Halloween levels and will no doubt make a big deal of the upcoming holiday season too. On top of all this free goodness the game promises yet more new content coming soon showing that the developers haven’t forgotten about us just yet.

Overall, this is a great title that will let you blow hours of time, even if it does make you look a little crazy in public. For a free app, 100 Floors looks great, everything is well polished, bright and vibrant which is great because you’re probably going to spending quite a lot of time staring at it. While there is sound within the game, for the most part it is unnoticeable and neither necessary nor annoying. As with all ad supported free apps, it can be a little intense on battery for what it is but not to the point where you’re going to need to carry that solar charger around with you and this can easily be solved by paying to remove the ads.

Graphics 85		Audio 70		Gameplay 90
Creativity 80		Execution 80		Offset 80

8.1

How do these ratings work? Click here for descriptions!

Pros

Great value, loads of content
Continual updates add a large amount of content
Really addictive

Cons

No skip/hint option instead a paid for solutions app
Some levels overly challenging, can be followed by a series of simple levels

So if you don’t already have it go download 100 Floors and if you enjoy it as much as I did, give the devs a hand and do your battery a favour by paying to remove the ads.

Review – Hatchi (iOS)

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Oct 192012

Remember the good old days? Back in school, age still in single digits when the only gizmo you needed in your pocket didn’t make phone calls, play music or tweet? Obviously I’m getting over nostalgic about the humble tamagotchi. A small, badly pixelated creature that relied on your care and attention around the clock. Thankfully, for those of us who haven’t quite grown up yet, now we’re in our twenties. There’s an app for that.

Allow me to introduce Hatchi. I meant to review this game last year when I first got hold of it, but now I’m glad that I waited because it has really flourished from a stripped down, fairly basic tamagotchi simulator, to a much more fun and wholesome game thanks to multiple add-on’s and continued developer support which takes the distilled awesome and throws in a ton of new and modern features.

First lets take a look at the basic and more simple side of Hatchi. All the features we remember from our childhood remain, your little creature will grow over the course of about a week with several stages of evolution. Evolution isn’t totally random and can be dictated depending on how you’ve raised your young Hatchi. As well as growing up other old staples include feeding, playing, washing and sleeping, neglect a Hatchi for too long and not only will he get mucky and stink up the joint but there is also the risk of them becoming ill and even dying.

Rather than adding too many new features the game has primarily built upon the older, existing features which makes for a great experience. Keeping your Hatchi entertained has two main features, active and smarts. For those who may be too lazy when it comes to Craig for your virtual pet, there is an instant fix option ether allowing Hatchi to read a book or play with a bouncing ball. If you want to get a bit more out of it though, there is a variety of mini games ranging from tic-tac-toe through to a Rock Paper Scissors variant. Feeding now has a variety of different foods, your Hatchi will have a favourite and least favourite food to be discovered through trial and error. As well as the basic foods such as ham, bread and pizza you can also purchase various food stuffs which will have a range of effects on your Hatchis well being.

The games currency system doesn’t rely on you investing real money, although this is an option. Instead your success with the mini games earns you coins dependant on your scores. The currency system works pretty well, the store has plenty of stuff to purchase which can make your life a lot easier, whether it be food for quickening the process of playing with Hatchi, or pills which will instantly fill a specific trait, it’s loveless Hatchi care.

New features mainly relate to the renewal of a Hatchi. Whereas the old tamagotchi simply killed your little creature and had you reaching for a reset paper clip, Hatchi allows you to make a range of choices. When your Hatchi dies you have the option to revive him with the rather expensive resurrect Hatchi product, bringing your little friend back from the beyond and he won’t be a zombie or anything! His tombstone will remain in the graveyard though meaning you can mourn should you choose to leave him in afterlife it’s time to choose a new companion. Here there are two choices. First is to start a new with a brand new egg and little ball of cute, pixelated love but you also have a second option. The Hatchi adoption agency allows you to select a slightly older Hatchi to adopt, the Hatchi’s in the centre change every 24 hours with three up for grabs at any one time. This option does mean spending a few coins but can be more rewarding than simply grabbing an egg. It isn’t all doom and gloom though, should you get bored of your Hatchi there is no need to sit around and wait for him to die. You can know release your creature as long as it is fully evolved, or you purchased a fake ID, you can send them to live in the Hatchi forest and visit them whenever you please.

Overall, Hatchi has become a really solid game that keeps you coming back for more. It builds on the nostalgia, doesn’t kill too much time in one go and has plenty of features, with updates coming regularly enough that it stays fresh rather than becoming tedious. One omission we’d love to see is a battle option. While it has been speculated that this will come in the form of a separate app sometime in the future, it is the only feature that we really want to see.

Graphics 80		Audio 80		Gameplay 80
Creativity 90		Execution 95		Offset 90

8.6

How do these ratings work? Click here for descriptions!

Pros:

Great for nostalgic gamers
Not too time consuming, you can spend as little or as much time as you want playing
Creative new features

Cons:

Sharing of Hatchi’s through game centre and the adoption centre would be better
Lack of a battle feature leaves out a big original feature

Review: Huebrix (iOS)

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Sep 042012

When it comes to mobile gaming, there are a few things which can guarantee an awesome game. First up it has to be addictive to keep you going back for more, it has to be easy to pick up and go and perhaps most importantly it has to be good value for money. Paying 69c for a game is great but if you can pay close to 3 bucks for a game that is far superior then why should that be a problem? So with that in mind, how does new indie puzzler Huebrix stack up? Pretty damn well.

Visually, Huebrix is a very pretty game, bright colours set against a white background make it a great game to look at, which is handy because you’ll be staring at it quite a bit. The aim of the game is to drag a stream of colour out from the starting block in such a way that all of the white board is covered up leaving behind a funky patchwork of bright and vibrant shades.

It’s not all filling in the blanks though, that would get super old super fast, but to keep the game feeling fresh after the first few plays, a variety of features are added as you progress. These include multiple colours, sometimes eight or nine at a time, they can’t be overlapped and the whole board still needs to be covered. Arrow blocks dictate the direction in which a stream must travel, grey blocks aren’t part of the board and merely serve to block your progress, ‘X’ blocks stop a stream in its tracks, meaning that the block must be zeroed when you hit it. Plus and minus blocks also feature and add to or subtract from a streams number of remaining spaces respectively. Finally, there is the gates, these sit on the edge of the board and allow your stream to travel to the opposite side of the game board. Gates don’t count as spaces on the square and sit on the edge of the board, meaning you do not have to pass through each in order to complete the level but most of the time they are essential to fitting all the colour in.

Gate, ‘X’ & Arrow Tiles

Now that we know how the game plays, what about difficulty? When you first fire up the game, it is well worth going straight into starter, it probably won’t flex the mind muscles to much and certainly won’t make your brain hurt, but it will ease you into the game . The starter levels are also a good starting point because even early level packs will throw you in at the deep end, whereas taking things slow and steady will introduce each new feature as it comes before you’re ready to go out and own the puzzles that are yet to come. Once you get into Huebrix, it becomes apparent that the lines of difficulty sometimes become a little blurred. Some of the levels found in easy packs can leave you stumped for ages, where as some found in higher difficulty packs will be solved almost instantaneously.

While the games difficulty can vary from stupidly easy to fiendishly hard, it is still the replay-ability which makes or breaks a mobile game. Take Angry Birds, the most successful franchise in mobile gaming which has now become a household name and it was all down to how addictive it was. But Huebrix is on a whole new level, it has carved out its own path paved with colours like crack cocaine. If Angry Birds was regular meth, then Huebrix is the bluest of the blue meth (see Breaking Bad) and will keep dragging you back to your phone at any given opportunity, just to work through the next insanely tough puzzle or go back to those already completed and try to better yourself.

Another great feature packed into Huebrix is the social aspect. Nowadays, gaming has become a huge social spectacle whether it be ‘gamerscore’ bragging rights or just topping the leader boards. Being GameCentre enabled, this means you can show off with achievements an the highest scores, but it isn’t all about beating your mates. As well as competition, the game allows you to build your own levels and share them with your friends, allowing you to send the challenge and show off your most deviant challenges.

For the cherry on the delicious cake that is Huebrix there is also a competitive edge, if a game doesn’t have a target or score system then it’s not worth playing. Here we also get to see that the game has a sense of humour. At your expense. Each level has four possible outcomes gold, silver, bronze and absolute failure, you can check how you’re doing using the nifty clock in the upper right of the screen during the puzzle as the icon will change along with the clock so speed is of the essence.

Don’t Judge Me…

Overall, Huebrix is a fantastic game, not just for mobile but overall. It’s creative, challenging, not too tough and as social as you could hope a game to be. While some will consider the price tag a little steep, I merely point out the fact that you probably have a ton of 69c apps sitting on your handset that you’ve probably opened once or twice, whereas the sheer amount of time that you can spend with the game, more than justifies a higher price.

Graphics 85		Audio 60		Gameplay 85
Creativity 90		Execution 85		Offset 85

8.2

How do these ratings work? Click here for descriptions!

Pros

Fun and addictive
Not too easy, not too challenging
Great level builder

Cons

Sound can become a bit irritating, mostly played on silent
Difficulty varies from level to level rather than just through one section

Huebrix will be available for iOS & Android devices sometime soon, featuring over 300 levels and priced at $2.99

Dead Island Riptide Limited Edition Steelbook Available For Pre-Order NOW

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Aug 312012

Perhaps the biggest news of the day has been the announcement of the Dead Island sequel Riptide. Following confirmation of the next addition to the survival horror franchise has quickly been followed up with the games first pre-order incentive.

Starting today, gamers will be able to pre-order Dead Island Riptide in-stores and online at GameStop, Amazon.com and Best Buy and receive an extremely limited edition Steelbook as a preorder incentive. These beautiful Steelbooks will be available at time of game purchase at GameStop, Amazon.com and at Best Buy for those who preorder early. Quantities of these Steelbooks are extremely limited and only available on a first come first served basis while supplies last. Additional preorder incentives are expected to be announced later this year. – Press Release.

Hopefully we’ll see additional content added as future incentives rather than following the trend of Resident Evil 6 and cramming in a leather jacket for a copious amount of cash, unusually for a pre-order incentive or most special editions, it has been highly emphasised that this will be limited numbers and on a first come first served basis so it could be worth getting hold of this one as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Dead Island Riptide is slated for release in 2013 on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

Skyrim Hearthfire DLC Lets You Build Your Own House – Available Next Week

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Aug 282012

^You

Yep you read that right. After the rumours began circulating based around titles found in the games code and a copyright application, Bethesda have just announced that the next DLC pack for Skyrim will be called Hearthfire and available for Xbox next week on September 4th priced at just 400 msp!

We love Skyrim because it is awesome and, well, goddamn dragons! But we all loved The Sims because it allowed us build our dream house and settle down. Now, the two collide because once you have built your Skyrim mansion, you can go onto add new sections, furnish it with display cases, an Arcane Enchanter, Apothecary Table, Kitchen as well as displaying a whole ton of trinkets and statues. Whether they be statues of beasts you have slayed in combat, or just the odd Mudcrab.

While you’re at it, how about settling down and having a few kids? Totally possible. Keep the place tidy though otherwise you could end up with a nasty Skeever infestation. Outside the building you’ll also be able to add to the grounds of your very own skyrim palace including beehives, fish hatcheries and cattle amongst others. Be wary of the odd giant, but to hell with that guy, just Fus Ro Dah him to let him now he’s not wanted and cut him up if he doesn’t take the hint.

Obviously, I’m just a tad excited, but if you aren’t too, then you are colder and more dead inside than a Dwarven Spider. So go watch the trailer below, calm down and start planning the totally awesome, Skyrim mansion you are going to be building come next week! Might be an idea to take the day off work too.

Reddit Rumor: Fallout 4 To Be Set In Boston?

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Aug 202012

Claims have appeared on Reddit, prompting rumours that the next entry in the post apocalyptic series from Bethesda will be set in Boston with a focus on M.I.T aka Massachusetts Institute of Technology. From the post, it would appear that the possibility of Fallout 4 being set in the area is rife among the small community surrounding the prestigious school, with some other users claiming that they have also heard the rumours and that they have enough viability to warrant the attention. You can check out the original post below.

I’ve been hearing reports from people in the Boston area, where my fellow Fallout-obsessed brother lives, that Bethesda has been in the Boston area doing initial research for Fallout 4. It’s highly speculative, but the main rumors surround Bethesda’s connection to “The Institute”, or what we call the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or M.I.T..

M.I.T., although in populated Cambridge and just across the river from Boston proper, still has a small-town feel when it comes to the way news propagates through the community. It is students and staff at M.I.T. that seem to be the ones talking the most about it, and they would be in a position to know. I wouldn’t be surprised, at all, if the rumors prove to be true in coming weeks.

Just thought I’d share! I’m not confirming anything, but all signs point to yes.

Even if the rumours do hold some water, don’t get too excited just yet as an official announcement, let alone progress on the game, is still likely to be months away just yet. What do you think, sound truth? Or just an expectant community feeding the rumour mill? Stay tuned to find out and let us know your thoughts below.

OnLive Address Buyout

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Aug 202012

For the past few days, the internet has been lit up with information regarding financial problems, the formation of a new company and a buyout of the company. Now, OnLive have released a press release, detailed below, filling us all in on what’s been going on with the cloud gaming masters. Along with the statement there is also an FAQ for both staff and customers.

OnLive, the pioneer of instant-action cloud computing, announced today that on August 17th all of its assets were acquired by a newly formed company that will continue to operate under the OnLive name. The OnLive® Game and Desktop Services, all OnLive Devices and Apps, as well as all OnLive partnerships, are expected to continue without interruption and all customer purchases will remain intact; users are not expected to notice any change whatsoever. OnLive’s current initiatives will continue as well, with major announcements of new products and services planned in the coming weeks and months. An affiliate of Lauder Partners was the first investor in the newly-structured company, holding the view that OnLive is the future of computing and entertainment, and a passion to see OnLive’s breakthrough technology continue to grow and evolve. The new company structure enables OnLive to do so.

OnLive, Inc.’s board of directors, faced with difficult financial decisions for OnLive, Inc., determined that the best course of action was a restructuring under an “Assignment for the Benefit of Creditors.” The assignee of the company’s assets then sold all of OnLive, Inc.’s assets (including its technology, intellectual property, etc.) to the new company. Unfortunately neither OnLive, Inc. shares nor OnLive staff could transfer under this type of transaction, but almost half of OnLive’s staff were given employment offers by the new company at their current salaries immediately upon the transfer, and the non-hired staff will be given offers to do consulting in return for options in the new company. Upon closing additional funding, the company plans to hire more staff, both former OnLive employees as well as new employees.

The OnLive Service has been in operation 24/7 without interruption since its launch over two years ago, and is expected to continue to operate smoothly under the new company. All games, products and services remain available, and the company has new product and partnership announcements on the way.

OnLive’s breakthrough instant-action cloud computing technology has been in development for over a decade and, despite immense skepticism, OnLive successfully deployed this highly disruptive technology as a polished consumer offering with commercial-grade reliability across a vast range of devices, including TVs, tablets, phones, PCs and Macs, connected over almost any Internet connection, including wireless and cellular. Only a few major corporations have ever developed and deployed products and services across such a broad spectrum. OnLive is rare among startups in both the depth and scope of its offerings.

The asset acquisition, although a heartbreaking transition for everyone involved with OnLive, allows the company’s core innovation and ongoing offerings–the product of over a decade of hard work transforming the OnLive vision into reality–to survive—and continue to evolve.

FAQ

Q. Will users see any change in the OnLive Game or Desktop Services? What about their purchases?

A. Users should see no change in the OnLive Game or Desktop Services. All of their purchases remain intact and available. OnLive has been up 24/7 since launch over two years ago and expects to remain so. OnLive has over 2.5 million subscribers, with an active base of over 1.5 million subscribers, connecting from a vast range of devices and networks, with many sessions running for hours. The user base is growing rapidly with OnLive’s addition into recently announced devices and TVs from major manufacturers. We expect this growth to continue under the new company.

Q. Is there any cash or stock in the new company provided for any OnLive, Inc. shares?

A. Unfortunately not. The nature of the transaction is such that only assets, not shares, were purchased. This is true for all shares of OnLive, Inc., whether held by investors, employees or executives.

Q. Did Steve Perlman receive stock or compensation in this transaction?

A. Like all shareholders, neither Steve nor any of his companies received any stock in the new company or compensation in this transaction at all. Steve is receiving no compensation whatsoever and most execs are receiving reduced compensation to allow the company to hire as many employees as possible within the current budget.

Q. Did all OnLive, Inc. assets transfer into the new company? Are any assets held by any other party?

A. All of OnLive, Inc.’s assets (e.g. technology, patents, trademarks, etc.) were transferred to an assignee, which then sold the assets to the new company. There was no transfer to any other party.

Q. Have OnLive, Inc. employees been offered positions in the new company?

A. Almost half of OnLive’s staff were offered employment at their current salaries in the new company immediately upon the transfer, and the non-hired staff will be given offers to do consulting in return for options in the new company. Upon closing additional funding, the company plans to hire more staff, both former OnLive employees as well as new employees.

As a company, OnLive have always seemed to me to be fantastic, looking after staff and consumers as much as possible. While they have clearly had some problems, it seems as though they will be able to survive this set back with the vast majority of the staff intact.

SteelSeries Launch New PC & Mobile Peripherals

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Aug 162012

When it comes to off console gaming, a decent set of peripherals can really become what make or break the experience. Poor, unresponsive peripherals, a slightly unresponsive touchscreen and a cheap set of speakers can turn the latest, epic title into a tedious and dull experience. To combat poor peripherals everywhere, SteelSeries have announced a whole new range of audio and control based peripherals that can be used with either, PC, touchscreen or both, allowing for a fuller and more in depth gaming experience.

SteelSeries Free Mobile Gaming Controller

The SteelSeries Free Mobile Gaming Controller is a wireless Bluetooth controller designed for cross-platform use on PC/Mac, Android Smartphones and Tablets, iPod touch, iPhone and iPad. This new breed of gaming controller brings together a compact and lightweight design with the industry’s best cross-platform capability. Users will immediately recognize its familiar, classic button layout similar to Nintendo and PlayStation controllers, which includes, a Dpadbutton on the left, a four-button cluster on the right, select and start in the middle, 2 mini-analog sticks, and 2 shoulder buttons.

Its rechargeable, lithium battery hosts an estimated 20hrs of casual gameplay and 10hrs of non-stop playtime. Its power-save mode willturn the controller off after 3 minutes of idle time, helping to conserve its battery life. The SteelSeries Free can be easily charged by plugging in a USB/mini USB cable to your computer or mobile device. It has play-and-charge functionality, which allows users to connect the cable, charge the battery, and keep playing via Bluetooth.

PC and Mac users will be able to remap and customize all 12 buttons to their liking via the SteelSeries Engine, while mobile users will be able to download and access the SteelSeries Engine App.

Available October 2012 Priced At $79.99

SteelSeries Flux Headset

The SteelSeries Flux is a cross-platform, on-ear headset that can be completely customized from the way it looks to how it’s used. The SteelSeries Flux Headset is lightweight and comfortable, with its adjustable, FluidFIT headband and SteelSeries sound isolating, SNDBlock ear cushions that are created with a breathable, mesh-cloth material. The SteelSeries Flux may be small in stature, but its sound is loud, crisp and clear thanks to its 40mm premium-quality driver units.

Designed for maximum portability, the Flux can fold up neatly in a couple of convenient ways. The headset can fold up towards the band. In addition, each earcup can be rotated to fold the headset flat for easy storage or to comfortably show it off around your neck. The Flux offers two interchangeable cable options, one for PC and one for Mac and mobile devices. With 2 input jacks, one on each earcup, you can choose into which side the microphone cable can be plugged. The remaining input jack can be used to share your sound bysimply plugging another headset into the Flux so multiple users can listen to the same device.

The SteelSeries Flux can also be completely customized with additional colors and designs for the interchangeable outer plates, cushions, and cables. These online-only customization options will be available through the SteelSeries Flux Configurator.

Available October 2012 Priced At $99.99

SteelSeries Flux In-Ear Pro Headset

The SteelSeries Flux In-Ear Pro is an in-ear balanced armature headset, which features a unique cable solution that is designed for interchangeable, cable connections for PC, Mac and mobile devices. Its balanced armature speakers reproduce a smooth, wide-ranging, and balanced frequency response that allows users to hear new layers, levels and subtle sounds that they’ve never been able to experience before. Because balanced armature drivers are smaller in size, SteelSeries designed the in-ear headset to provide excellent noise isolation without sacrificing comfort. In order to achieve the best fit for every user, the SteelSeries Flux In-Ear Pro also includes interchangeable black silicon ear tips in 3 sizes: small, medium, and large.

The headset features an in-line microphone and controls answering/hanging-up phone calls and changing music tracks. The headsets round and flat rubber cable is tangle-free and can be easily wrapped up and stored in its black soft-shell case.

Available November 2012 Priced At $129.99

SteelSeries Free Touchscreen Gaming Controls

The SteelSeries Free Touchscreen Gaming Controls are designed to enhance the gaming experience that is normally found on touchscreen devices. They help improve movement and click controls, especially in gamesthat mimic controller layouts with on-screen controls.

The buttons adhere to the screen with high-grade micro suction cups made of a conductive rubber, which transfers the movement from your fingers, through the rubber and to the screen. The analog stick provides directional movements and adheres to the screen with 9 mini suction cups for an unparalleled grip. The SteelSeries Free Touchscreen Gaming Controls are reusable and can be wiped clean to rejuvenate their stickiness. They are compatible with touchscreen devices including: iPod touch, iPhone, iPad, Windows Smartphones & tablets, Android Smartphones & tablets.

Available Quarter 4 2012 Priced At $19.99

New Screens, Concept Art & Trailer For Star Trek (Gamescom 2012)

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Aug 142012

When it comes to sci fi, there are few names that spring to mind quicker than Star Trek with legions of fans across the globe. Following the release of the J.J Abrams movie a couple of years ago, Namco Bandai have been working on an adaptation which will allow gamers to fill the shoes of Kirk and Spock two of the worlds best known characters, in a new, co-op adventure.

Today at Gamescom, there has been a ton of new stuff released and you can check it out below including concept art, gameplay screens and a brand new trailer to boot.

Concept Art & Screens

FORGE Video Introduces New Classes

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Aug 142012

Indie shooters seem to be getting better and better, bringing along the features that make their older, bigger brothers on the console so addictive and excited. One of the main additions to modern shooters is a class system, with each choice having it’s own perks and shortcomings, class systems have made multiplayer combat a far more socia, team based experience.

Dark Vale games are currently funding on Kickstarter for their upcoming multiplayer shooter FORGE. To promote the game and give potential investors a taste, the latest video shows off two of the games classes known as the Pyromancer and Pathfinder. The game looks sure not to dissapoint, bringing a blend of MMo style abilities and environments, but giving an FPS feel to the whole affair. FORGE looks set to be a unique and fun experience. So check it out below and if you can, head on over to Kickstarter and drop a few bucks down on this awesome looking title.

Polished Warframe Alpha Gameplay Trailer Is Here

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Aug 142012

Over the past few months, Digital Extremes have been hard at work preparing some Alpha gameplay footage of the upcoming free to play, third person shooter Warframe. Ever since the first trailer revealing the game was released, Warframe has looked like something special and very tidy for a F2P title. Promising to bring along a massive amount of variety with the characters and weaponry along with 4player co-op, the gameplay trailer shows off space age, gun toting, sword swinging mayhem and looks set to be a visually stunning and intense experience when it finally hits a computer near you.

Digital Extremes have also promised that a closed beta will be coming soon so be sure to stay tuned for further details as soon as we get them. You can check out the new trailer below.

Riot Games To “Level Up” e-Sports With Millions Up For Grabs In Season 3

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Aug 062012

No one can escape the fact that the gaming industry and community has skyrocketed in popularity right across the board. This influx of new interest over the years has had massive repercussions in the way that we operate too. Like any other community there is a demand for videos and competition which has given birth to e-sports, where millions will tune in across the world to watch some of the best players duke it out against one another.

Riot Games, the guys behind League of Legends, have rolled out a whole new game plan and when Season 3 rolls around, they are ready to inject a whole new level to the competition, levelling it up was not my pun in case you were wondering, but that certainly seems to be the plan.

The stuff you really need to know can be found below in handy bullet point form along with a trailer for the League of Legends championship series.

· Dedicated “Championship Series” Tournament: Season 3 will be a completely separate, dedicated series of tournaments overseen by Riot Games that happen on a much more frequent, scheduled basis

· Salaried Teams: The top eight teams from both North America and Europe from Season 2, as well as top teams from Asia, will be offered salaries by Riot Games as they compete for regional and global dominance.

· Millions of Dollars on the Line: Salaries, prize pools and other compensation for Championship Series teams will ensure League of Legends is a sustainable career choice for professional players.

· Regular Season and Playoffs: eSports fans will watch teams battling in the traditional format of organized sports – a regular season with several matches per week, culminating in regional playoffs and a World Championship, which will crown the world’s bestLeague of Legends team.

· Free, HD broadcast events: League of Legends fans will watch Championship Series matches live online with HD broadcast streaming that is always 100% free.

So if you haven’t already, it’s time to grab some friends and open League of Legends accounts because for the lucky few who truly are the best of the best, Riot’s revolutionised new e-sports system will give them the chance to actually get paid for doing what we all love so much. Gaming.

Oculus Rift VR Headset Will Change The Way You Play Forever

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Aug 032012

The past few years has seen the way we play video games evolve in ways we never thought possible. Light guns and wireless controllers were once the absolute pinnacle of technology for gamers but now we have advanced levels of motion gaming with the Wii and PS Move, while Kinect uses motion capture and 3D imaging so that your entire body becomes a controller. Now, storytelling is deep enough for games to be considered epics but becoming wholly immersed in the environment can still be tough, even with HD graphics and a 3D TV, the Oculus Rift is set to change that.

So what is Rift?

Rift headsets are designed with environmental immersion at the very heart and soul of Oculus’ plan, to allow a player to put on a headset and feel as though they truly are inside the game. Boasting a large HD screen inside which sits as close to the eyes as possible and uses head tracking to provide a great level of control as well as bringing a new level to the way you can explore a games environment.

How will this be the future?

Rather than sitting down and turning on the TV you will instead be able to put on the headset and see everything right before your eyes. No more looking at your game and DVD collection off to the one side, Rift will feature built in stereo sound allowing for total immersion in the game with zero distraction from the outside world.

Awesome! What kind of games are going to be available?

Right now, the Oculus technology is in development stage, meaning the key to it’s success rests on the shoulders of the game developers themselves. But by the time the game is ready to launch, it is perfectly safe to assume that there will be a whole host of games that will be Rift compatible, with the project already having backing from the like of Gabe Newell of Valve, Cliffy B from Epic, Unity CEO David Helgason and id Software liked the idea so much that DOOM 3 BFG is set to be the first title with full Rift compatibility.

So is this technology purely aimed at the bigger developers? What about the Indie developers?

Oculus are planning to roll out their technology right across the gaming spectrum, from indie to the big names. The Kickstarter project means that with a relatively small pledge of $300 developers can secure a headset for development with their games by December if everything goes to plan.

It isn’t just the hardware that is essential to the development, the coding that will need to be added to the game has two main priorities. First up would be integrating the headsets motion tracking control through gyroscope and accelerometer and secondly would be working on the stereo sound effects, so as not to shatter the illusion of being within the game itself.

To make these processes easier, Oculus have developed an easy to use SDK to go with the developer models and make the changes that a game will need as painless as possible for the huge development teams of id right the way through to the humble, bedroom indie developer.

Does it look the part?

Of course it does! Here’s a delectable gallery showing off this snazzy bit of kit.

Ok, it looks great, is easy to develop for but what about the consumer?

The product is only going to be a big seller if the developers get behind it and make there games work with it so Oculus are currently being tentative with a full release date confirmation or even hinting at when and how much this thing will cost. But we know they have the technology and are able to build these devices, so it really is just a matter of having the games library to make it worth releasing.

Price wise, the headset doesn’t have a pricing scheme but Oculus are promising to provide the best experiencve possible at an affordable price, so while it wont be quite as low as some of the $100 glasses currently on the market, it certainly won’t be running into the tens of thousands that similar technology for the military and scientific community costs.

What kind of systems can we expect to see supported?

Being in the early stages, consoles are currently not supported for the device, but it will work with Mac, PC, Linux, Android and iOS as well as having support for both Unity and Unreal.

As it stands the project is definitely in the middle ground and gathering support fast. This is affordable, incredible technology that truly could change the face of gaming. While this stage is currently aimed at the developers, it would be safe to assume that we could see Rift headsets available before the next big console releases from Sony and Microsoft, so if it gets the attention of the right people and the support it deserves. Be ready to play Halo 5 in the most realistic way possible.

Everything You Need To Know About Ouya Game Console

Posted by callum No Responses »

Aug 012012

For years there has been talk of Google launching their own console and now it appears that some people have got bored of waiting and decided to just go right ahead and design, develop and produce their own console running using the search giant’s Android operating system. Allow me to introduce the Ouya.

So, what the hell is Ouya?

As detailed above, Ouya is a brand new console running with the Android operating system and with open source very much in mind. The idea is to get an affordable console, running an open source OS, which can drive down the cost of quality gaming on HDTV. The Ouya team claim they plan to “upend the console market” arguing that as technology costs decrease and we progress to more affordable technology, then shouldn’t the cost to both the consumer and developer go down?

The open source side of things means that the Ouya is also going to be hacker and indie developer friendly. Rooting the device is supposedly not only quick and easy but it will also not void the warranty for the console itself and will allow the next wave of small time developers to show off their skills to the world

Reduced cost would be awesome, but will this just all be Indie and mobile Games?

In a word, no. The Ouya will be able to run these games, but that won’t be all it can do and this shouldn’t be looked at as a negative point. Supporting the bottom of the gaming food chain gives us some fantastic experiences, look at Minecraft despite being “just an indie game” it has become a household name, selling millions of copies and building an enormous following of devoted fans. Minecraft is also strongly rumoured to be making an appearance on the console, but developer Mojang are far from confirming it as a launch title.

But on top of being a great starting point for the indie successes of the future, Ouya is set to take the entire games industry by storm, having already gained some attention from some huge companies within the industry. Game streaming service Onlive have taken a shine to the innovation of the console and have agreed to provide access to their entire games library to the console meaning it will be possible to play titles including Deus Ex: Human Revolution and the Batman Arkham games. It isn’t just Onlive who have taken note, Square Enix have thrown support behind the new boys too, announcing that, for the first time outside of Japan, Final Fantasy III will be a launch title for the game in updated HD graphics on an HDTV.

Anything else confirmed?

Damn straight there is. The key to console survival now seems to be creating full home entertainment experience that can be jacked into the TV. On top of bringing brilliant and affordable gaming to the masses, Ouya is also working on lining up some partners to handle some other aspects of the entertainment industry. First up will be Vevo who have confirmed that they are going to making their massive library of music videos available on the console. Who will be the first TV partner to sign up? Time will tell but it would be safe to assume that it can’t be far off.

While it’s not a TV giant, the growing e-sports market is ready to make the plunge with the new console, with Twitch TV making an appearance on the console when it finally arrives meaning you can keep up to date with some of the biggest games across the e-sports world including Starcraft II and League of Legends.

Ouya has also lined up it’s first exclusive title coming in the form of a prequel to the higly anticipated zombie survival game, Human Element. Details remain scarce but with a former Call of Duty developer happy to support the console, this will definately mean more big things in the future.

So what does this wonderful contraption look like?

I’m glad you asked, check out the video and gallery below for some shots of the gorgeous standard console, limited edition console and the snazzy controller, also fitted with a touchpad allowing mobile games to make the leap easily across.

Right, it looks great, but what about the specs?

The full specifications for the console are listed for your reading pleasure.

Tegra3 quad-core processor
1GB RAM
8GB of internal flash storage
HDMI connection to the TV, with support for up to 1080p HD
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth LE 4.0
USB 2.0 (one)
Wireless controller with standard controls (two analog sticks, d-pad, eight action buttons, a system button), a touchpad
Android 4.0
ETHERNET

You mentioned reducing the cost of gaming…

I did indeed, the console is currently being funded through Kickstarter with a week to go, meaning that you have to live in the USA to pledge money for the project but bagging the console is currently possible by pledging as little as $95 with a limited edition option available exclusively to Kickstarter backers for $140. Once the console is released to the awaiting public, it is expected to retail at around $99.

So it’s cheap, good looking and open source?

Don’t you just know it, Ouya looks set to deliver on it’s promise of revolutionising the console industry and if they succeed, the future could be not only be very bright, but also cheaper right across the board. If the Ouya does what it promises and manages to hold it’s own, the bigger console providers could soon see a drastic change in the way they market their own product.

New Metro Last Light E3 Video Creeps Out The Darkness

Posted by callum No Responses »

Jul 182012

Ready to return to Moscow yet? Of course you are! while we’re all dissapointed to still be waiting for Metro Last Light, that’s no reason to not get excited over a good chunk of gameplay footage. The 13 minute clip can be found below and is from a pre-Alpha version of the game, showing off post apocalyptic Moscow and it’s inhabitants, from both above and below ground. So sit back, relax and don’t get too scared.

Metro Last Light is set for release in Q1 2013

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure HD Coming To Xbla & PSN

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Jul 182012

Capcom are readying a new HD update of classic arcade style fighting game JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure and have confirmed a release date for August 22nd 2012. Based on the classic manga series, the first iteration of the game was seen in 1998 and gained popularity when ported across to PSone and Sega Dreamcast a year later. While there is no shortage of HD fighting games now available on both modern systems, for many fans of the series, this release will be something special with the promise that the game will keep all the original gameplay elements, as well as the option to play in SD mode, for the purists.

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure hits both Xbla and PSN August 22nd priced at 1600 Microsoft points and $19.99 respectively.

Coming August 22nd

Review – Bellator MMA Onslaught (360)

Posted by callum No Responses »

Jul 132012

-Error reading from ESRB datastream-
Please visit ESRB.org for rating information.

Sitting down with Bellator was definitely an experience. While I have dabbled in my share of fighting games over the years, I had yet to lay hands on one based in the realm of MMA thankfully this snappy arcade title blew any doubts I had about the genre straight out the water. Straight from the word go it was clear the game took no prisoners and was going to be a tough nut to crack.

First and foremost, despite the game being excellent as a pick up and play title, if you plan on spending a lot of time with it then I implore you to spend a relatively short amount of time fighting and to make one of the earliest destinations the Create A Fighter feature. Starting here will give you a great introduction, set you up for online play right off the bat and give you the chance to run through some practice exercises and get to grips with the control system nice and early.

You Got…Submitted

Create A Fighter

Before you can hit the practice challenges though you have to first build your fighter. For an arcade game, there is a surprising amount of variation on offer. Naming the fighter is first up, but this can be quickly bypassed thanks to the game generating a random name which isn’t something stupid like ‘Geoff404′ or ‘Plyr1′. Building your fighter does have some restrictions for those who want an exact body double, with everything being preset rather than having a slider option to dictate certain points. Once you have selected the appearance through body type, face type, hair, tattoos, outfit and so on, it’s time to get your moves and fight style laid down.

Initially there are three main styles wrestling and BJJ are all about the force, from laying down hard and heavy hits as a wrestler to the BJJ option which will allow you to perform quick submissions, but as a slow and sluggish player. Kick boxing will bring speed, agility and some hard kicks to the table and finally there is the MMA option which is like the good, all rounder choice and pretty good for beginner.

Having quickly created a fighter, the randomise option means you can be set to go in less than 60 seconds, you can begin to fine tune your moves and get ready for the onslaught. The choice of moves is literally into the hundreds, allowing you complete control over how you will fight. Move and combo sets can be changed as time goes by and as you unlock even more brutal smackdown’s. Everything from the punches you throw, to the moves you make while pinned to the ground can be changed here giving a great depth to the game.

Once your moves are selected, time to hit some challenges, where you can really get to know how your fighter play and earn some EXP in the process. Bellator features a great progression system where EXP will increase your fighters level, which in turn grants skill points which can be used to apply various upgrades to the four main areas of fighting strikes, throws, submissions and technical.

Stamina Matters

Single Player

There are two choices for the single player experience which Bellator has to offer, first up is Super Match. Here you can choose whatever you like. You can fight as one of the 8 preset fighters, all big names from the Bellator tournament or one of your own four custom fighters. Super Match also gives you a choice of opponent, with the options limited to the preset fighters, whether you’ll be able to pit two custom fighters against each other in a future update remains to be seen. This is a great place to get some practice in before heading to the main single player event as you can work out the advantages and disadvantages when taking on some of the smaller players such as Ronnie Mann who will quickly kick you into a bloody mess or some of the bigger fighters including Daniel Straus who can force you into submission early on and incredibly quickly.

The games main single player event lies in the Championship Road. This is easily the most challenging part of the game, with any mistakes instantly punished by a quick and ruthless AI and the word Challenge in the title definitely earns it’s place, forcing you to compete against seven fighters, one after another without failure, lose a fight and it’s back to the beginning, tail between your legs.

While most games these days have a stamina rating along with your health, few seem to be as essential to the gameplay as with Bellator, stamina is easily as important as health if not more so. Where being smashed in the face or kicked to the ground will wear the health bar down, stamina is what you need to get out of a sticky situation and to manipulate a quick and easy victory. When either players stamina runs too low, they will begin to flash red allowing the opposing fighter to end the fight with a single, well placed shot, but low stamina can also destroy your chances of surviving a submission. Once a submission has been initiated it’s time to start bashing the buttons, making it a tense race to the finish where success can be the difference between ending the fight quickly or dragging the bout out for another few minutes.

Overall, the gameplay is nice and fluid experience where the speed and timing of shots is crucial, occasionally if you are eager to land a shot and press the button a few to many times then you can have a fighter wildly throwing the same shot into thin air twice reducing stamina and throwing you off guard. Bellator makes you not only think, but encourages keeping a cool head. Difficulty can be a bit of an issue, with the gap between easy and normal being relatively large but the gap between normal and hard being almost non existent, there is never shame in playing through on easy mode.

Multiplayer

Finally, we get to the overexerted, beating heart of the Bellator experience, the online play on offer here is easily of full game calibre and the greatest online, arcade experience I have ever witnessed. It is full on, fun and intense but does have a few flaws, none of which however, manage to take a lot away from the experience. as with single player, there is more than one possible experience to be had in the multiplayer section.

Daniel Straus Showing You How It’s Done

Local play is an option which can be found in Super Match, giving the arcade option to connect a second controller and go to town on your friends in the comfort of your own home, ranked match allows both the hosting and searching of online games and incorporates a leader board allowing for bragging rights, win the fight by fighting well and the rank and EXP rewards will be great. Ranked matches can only be played using your own fighter. Finally, Player Match is the quickest way to get into a game with friends and allows you to customise match settings and use the preloaded fighters. It is unlikely you will ever feel the need to extend the number of rounds or overall length f an online match though, seeing as most fights are over fairly quickly, rarely making it to the second round.

With the fast pace of the game, the occasional bit of lag can be infuriating at times, but the instances I experienced where so few and far between that it was negligible. Diving into the online play though, it became apparent that until the game gets more online players, finding a match could be difficult. It was not unusual for me to end up in the ring with the same player countless times and finding a game in the first place could take a while. Being on UK time, the small hours of the morning seemed to give up the most players and, being British, I feel the need to point out that I am undefeated against the French menace with one, particularly vocal Frenchman being the only instance I had to suffer someone quitting out early.

While the online experience is great, it does appear it is exploitable. Whilst playing this afternoon I was ‘lucky’ enough to be paired up with one particular player for six games in a row and was quickly destroyed in seconds by their continual use of a low-kicking three hit combo with several games resulting in me downed without landing a single punch. Bad times, but possibly awkward for the developers to fix given the way moves are upgraded and the fact that the game has the option to purchase several, temporary boosters which will increase certain aspects of your fighter for a limited number of online matches, they are reasonably priced but not really essential to the experience.

Overall Bellator has been a fantastic trial by fire experience for my entry into the world of MMA fighting games and I have enjoyed (almost) every minute of it. With the customisation available and up to twelve playable fighters, the gameplay experience is as long as you want it to be. Nothing feels repetitive about the gameplay and mixing up a fighters moves every once in a while is a great way to keep the game feeling fresh and new. It is one of the most in depth arcade games and has a longevity to be desired. So go buy it, right now so I have more people to play online against.

Pros

Fast paced and easy to pick up and play
Has a vast amount of depth, making the play time as long as you like
Looks and plays like a full game

Cons

Can be exploited to an extent online
DLC arenas, characters and moves would be more exciting than boosters
Currently not a lot of online players

Bellator MMA Onslaught is available for PSN and Xbox Live Arcade Now priced at $15 and 1,200 Microsoft Points respectively.

Graphics 85		Audio 70		Gameplay 75
Creativity 85		Execution 90		Offset 90

8.3

How do these ratings work? Click here for descriptions!

Two New Awesomenauts Characters Will Be Free

Posted by callum No Responses »

Jul 122012

On PSN, the MOBA Awesomenauts is getting some big updates”sometime soon” giving players two things that they’ve been asking for, balance and new content. While the balance will be noticible, the new content is what has most excited because it’s coming in the form of two brand new characters. The ew characters will be free along with the patch, whenever it drops and will be in the form of Combat Walker Pilot Derpl Zork and the Lady Space Surfer Coco Nebulon.

Scroll down to see some brand new screenshots for the new characters and to let us now what you think Awesomenauts players.

Hitman: Absolution E3 Gameplay Video Shows Off New Level

Posted by callum No Responses »

Jul 122012

Since it was announced, we have had countless snippets of information to feed on, but now it looks as though IO interactive have outdone themselves, releasing 17 minutes of gameplay showing off a never before seen level, Streets of Hope. the video features voice commentary by game director Tore Blystad and Travis Barbour a member of IO’s community team, for one level there is a lot to take in with five hits and one kidnapping.

*POSSIBLE SPOILERS* The following video contains some relatively minor plot points. While there is nothing massive, some people prefer to go into a game as blind as possible when it comes to story line so I’ll let you make your own choice and let The Streets of Hope do the talking.

Halo 2 Anniversary Is NOT In Development At 343

Posted by callum No Responses »

Jul 122012

Ever since the HD remake of Combat Evolved was released last year we have had a swings and roundabouts situation, a will they, won’t they remake Halo 2, meaning all games in the series would have HD support. Now it appears the questions have been answered with a big fat no.

Despite evidence to the contrary with the UK’s Official Xbox Magazine reporting that the game was on it’s way due to the success of Combat Evolved Anniversary, it now seems 343 Industries have confirmed that the game is not in development. When asked at a Q&A the official response was ”We are not working on that at this time. We are kind of busy.” which was followed by a similar statement from Microsfot when they were approached.

While this could be seen as a blow, it isn’t dissimilar from the way Halo Combat Evolved Anniversary was approached during it’s development and it is still two years until the ten year milestone for the second game. We could even have a new Xbox by then.

Final Fantasy VII Coming To PC

Posted by callum 1 Response »

Jul 052012

Until now the only way you could delve into this classic from the series while sat at the computer screen, you would have had to use the ROM an emulator method, but today Square Enix have confirmed that this epic game from yesteryear will soon be able for the PC through the Square Enix e-store to celebrate the series 25th anniversary.

So far, there is no solid release date, but the promise is that we will be seeing the game some time this year along with several new features to make this classic experience feel new all over again. First up will be cloud saves, allowing you to load up wherever the feeling takes you, next is the confirmation of a save editor which will allow you to make changes such as maximising a characters health, money and magic. Finally will be the addition of an achievement system giving you bragging rights over your friends, as well as a reward system for those who explore just a little more.

Stay tuned for more information as soon as we get it.

Marvel Vs Capcom Origins Coming To XBLA & PSN September

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Jul 052012

Some of the biggest fighters from across video game and comic book history will be pummelling each other into submission in September when Marvel vs Capcom origins arrives for XBLA and PSN.

The title will combine two of the series older arcade titles, but with an HD graphical update and a host of new features. Multiplayer will feature hevily with the option of one-on-one combat as well as two-on-two, bringing with it the chance to perform assists and Wild Duo Attacks. Also included will be 8 player lobbies, spectator mode and replay saving.

There’s no solid release date just yet but pricing has been confirmed as 1,200 Microsoft points on Xbox or $14.99 for the PSN version.

Hitman Absolution: Hope News Times Archive (Issues 1-8)

Posted by callum No Responses »

Jun 292012

Over the past few weeks, IO have begun a weekly newspaper set in the Hitman: Absolution universe which seem to be giving some clues about possible events, perhaps even missions, from within the game. Here you will find an archive for these news papers, normally released on a Thursday, so that you can catch up on any you have missed, or check out the latest issue. So sit back, relax and enjoy.

Hope News Times 1

First up and we have a page full of humour, likely a sign of things to come. To start off with there seems little to be out of the ordinary, but then we have the story on the rich business man. Could he be a future target?

For the next issue, check out the next page.

Introducing Zombeer, Zombies + Beer = Awesome

Posted by callum No Responses »

Jun 292012

There are two things in this world that a lot of us enjoy, killing zombies and drinking beer. Both are incredible pass times that I would highly recommend to anyone, well, anyone legal. Now, thanks to my new heroes at Spanish studio Moonbite we will soon be able to play a great looking zombie game, that adds in the need for beer to survive.

Zombeer is set to be a very tongue in cheek affair and has been branded as “a first-person-survival-horror-comedy” or FPSHC as it’s known in the biz. Rather than being sent out into the zombie apocalypse perfectly healthy or with some immunity, the virus found in Zombeer will only affect people who foolishly allow their blood alcohol level to drop too low. While some would call the game irresponsible by making alcohol the healthy option, don’t worry because should you drink to excess and you risk some dire consequences.

There is no confirmed release date but Zombeer can’t come quick enough. Be ready for a more humorous look at (mature) survival horror when the game finally arrives on HD consoles, PC and Mac. You can check out the trailer below and let us know what you think in the comments.

Zombeer Gets Silly & Sexy [NSFW]

Posted by callum No Responses »

Jun 292012

Zombeer’s title alone suggests a slightly adult theme, the combination of zombies and beer looks incredible, but the guys over at Moonbite have shown off the comedy of the game too. The following videos are definitely not safe for work but do show off some of the games… attributes. So sit back and enjoy both the strange looking, large breasted honey bunny and the how to kill a zombie tutorial which demonstrates how to beat a zombie cheerleader to death… with a star spangled dildo.

New MechWarrior Online Video Gets Chilly In The Frozen City

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Jun 292012

Upcoming, free to play, mech action romp MechWarrior online has just had a shiny new area shown off in a new video, bringing with it some incredible, environmental effects. The new area is the Frozen City which, as you can guess, brings snow, ice and a cold breeze to the desolate future. The environment will affect players heavily, with some areas taking time to thaw out or for glacier bridges to form, when it comes to combat, the cold slows down how your mech will heat up, meaning you can attack for longer without fear of overheating. The changing weather will also cause a few problems, with a clear view becoming almost un-navigable when a giant blizzard blows into town and drastically alters visibility. You can check out the new area in the video below.

New Dishonored Gameplay Videos Show 2 Ways To Play

Posted by callum 1 Response »

Jun 292012

At E3 there was many games on show for all to see, but Dishonored was kept behind closed doors. Now Bethesda have dropped a couple of videos showing off what you can do when the new game finally hits our screens. Each video shows off the same assassination, but in two completely different ways. The first demonstrates the stealthy assassin approach whereas the second shows off a more full on, attacking method, so you can decide how you’re going to play.

Stealth

Violent

So what do you think? Will be sneaky in the first playthrough? Or will you burst in and wipe out half the cities population first time round? Let us know in the comments.

Pokemon Black & White 2 Dated & Detailed, Introducing Pokemon Dream Radar

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Jun 282012

For the first time ever, Pokemon handheld titles are getting official, direct sequels and these to incredible titles will be available for the Nintendo 3DS on October 7th, so get ready to get back out in the field and catch ‘em all because the newest entries to the series look set to over the biggest and best feature set yet.

As well as taking us back to the familiar Unova region two years after the events of the original, the familiar landscape and feel certainly won’t be a stale experience with a whole host of new features. One of the new areas that will be open to players is Virbank City where you will find the new Pokestar Studios. At the studios you will be able to join forces with your Pokemon to make your very own movie which will then be played in the cinema and judged by the viewers. Genres will include romance and horror with scoring depending on things such as script choices and Pokemon moves.

Some old friends have been busy in the past two years as well, you’ll be able to hook up with Cheren who is now juggling the responsibility of being a gym leader and a teacher at the school in Aspertia City, where the new adventure will begin. Bianca will also be making a come back and is now assistant to Professor Juniper, helping out with all the Pokemon research.

Black and White 2 will also feature not only Pokemon from outside of the Unova region including Eevee, Mareep and Arcanine, but also inovotive new ways to catch certain Pokemon by using the Dream Radar. Dream Radar is set to launch in the Nintendo store at the same time as the new games and will allow players to use the 3DS features to catch Pokemon in new and exciting ways, including through the use of augmented reality. As well as the usual creatures from outside Unova, players will also be reintroduced to the new Therian Formes of Legendary Pokémon Tornadus, Thundurus and Landorus. Any Pokemon captured using Dream Radar will be transferable to the main title.

So get set and pencil October 7th onto your calendar ready for the next great adventure packed full of new and exciting features and no doubt a few more surprises to come.

Guild Wars 2 Release Date Confirmed. Final Beta Weekend Next Month.

Posted by callum No Responses »

Jun 282012

For many Guild Wars fans, the wait for this announcement has been unbearable. But finally it has been confirmed that Guild Wars 2 will be available August 28th 2012. The long awaited sequel to the hit MMO Guild Wars which has shifted over 7 million units, Guild Wars 2 looks set to take the series to a whole new level with NCsoft having shown off what looks to be a stunning new title with fantastic visuals and a huge amount of freedom.

Guild Wars 2 is set to keep the same business model as its predecessor and unlike most MMO’s, will see players make a one time only payment rather than a subscription based option. So get ready because it has been confirmed that the final beta weekend will be taking place from July 20th-22nd. To pre order the game and for more information on the final beta weekend, be sure to head over to www.guildwars2.com

E3 2012: ZombiU Trailered (Nintendo Showcase)

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Jun 052012

While Ubisoft gave it a quick mention yesterday, Nintendo appear to have nailed core gaming on the Wii U by presenting, what looks to be, the greatest, most intuitive use of a controller ever for any zombie game. Seriously, everyone can stop with zombie games now because nothing will equate to how incredible this game looks. With the amount of stuff the Wii U controller is capable of, calling it a one piece survival tool is no lie.

Take for example sniping skills, controlled through the regular pads, it is the screen in the controller that is you scope and allows for deadly precision. Following sniper skills, we see that giving the pad a really good shake is what gets an attacking undead from off you. It isn’t the way you shake him off, it’s the way the image shakes, it looks as if you are genuinely struggling to push him away, depth we haven’t had before from button presses.

Finally, is the way the second screen creates a sense of fear while trying to hack through a door. The touch screen becomes the keypad, while the TV allows you to see over the shoulder as a hoard ambles slowly towards you, bashing the keypad to get the right code becomes a stressful experience. In short, this is the game to end all games and with the mention of one bite and you’re dead, ZombiU looks set to be absolutely fantastic.

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