General Gaming Article

General Gaming Article


Zombies, Crowbars And Breadboxes (But Not Vegetables): Just What Is Nvidia Unveiling Tomorrow Night?

Posted: 27 Apr 2012 11:23 AM PDT

Whatever Nvidia plans on announcing at the GeForce LAN/NVIDIA Gaming Festival in Shanghai tomorrow, it's going to be hard-pressed to live up to the hype leading up to its unveiling. The PC gaming community has been a-flutter since the first ominous "IT'S COMING" message hit Nvidia's Facebook page over a week ago. Nvidia's just sent a kick-ass custom crowbar and some cryptic confirmations to the Maximum PC offices in anticipation of tomorrow's big news.

Just what the heck is it supposed to signify? We have no friggin' idea. The mixture of zombies, crowbars and Nvidia is definitely intriguing, though. Gordon managed to pry some additional information out of Nvidia representatives, and no, he didn't need to ironically threaten them with their own crowbar to do it.

Here are some key characteristics of the Big Secret that Nvidia would own up to:

  • It is bigger than a bread box.
  • It is a mineral.
  • It is NOT a vegetable
  • Gordon assumes it's not an animal, either, but all we know what they say about assuming things.

In any case, Nvidia plans on making the official announcement and sending us an update sometime between 7:30 and 8:30 P.M. PST tomorrow night. Stay tuned for details.

Portal 2 Level Editor Coming In May As "Perpetual Testing Initiative" DLC

Posted: 27 Apr 2012 10:50 AM PDT

Last year, Valve teased gamers around the world with the promise of eventually releasing a level editor for Portal 2. The company's been frustratingly close-lipped about details since then -- until yesterday, that is. Valve announced that the level editor is shipping as a DLC offering called the Perpetual Testing Initiative, coming to PC and Macs on May 8th for the low, low price of absolutely free.

Aside from that information, the Valve press release was pretty lightweight:

The "Perpetual Testing Initiative" allows players to easily create, share, and play Portal 2 puzzles. The Initiative comes with a simplified puzzle maker that allows that creation of mind-bending puzzles without ever leaving the game.

The puzzle maker can directly publish maps to the Steam Workshop where users can browse, vote on, and select to play them. Selected puzzles will automatically be downloaded and installed inside Portal 2.

So, yeah, that's about that. Be sure to watch the awesomely humorous video above to get a better feel for the Perpetual Testing Initiative. Will a level editor coax you into blowing the cobwebs off of Portal 2 and taking it for a whirl again?

Maingear Picks Up Where Alienware Left Off, Readies 11.6-inch "Pulse" Gaming Notebook

Posted: 27 Apr 2012 10:28 AM PDT

Most notebooks that are capable of pulling off a true frag fest on the run are portable in name only, being heavy-duty 15- to 17-inch monsters with battery lives briefer than butterfly's lives. To make mobile matters worse, Alienware recently announced that its M11x is being put out to pasture.  Fear not, traveling gamers: all is not lost. Maingear is, well, gearing up a new 11-inch gaming notebook of its own, the Pulse.

Don't worry; even though it sports the same name as an older (and ill-fated) tower/box PC produced by Maingear, this Pulse is a totally different beast. Engadget reports it'll pack in an Ivy Bridge CPU, an Nvidia GT650M with 2GB of RAM, an 11.6-inch 1366×768 display, THX TruStudio Pro audio and up to 16GB of dual-channel RAM. The base model rocks 8GB of RAM, a 320GB hard disk drive and a Core i5 for $1,099. Of course, this is Maingear we're talking about, so expect a flood of customization options to be available.

Look for these portable powerhouses to start shipping on June 3rd.  

Image credit: Engadget

Google Searches Fall Prey To A Devastating ZERG RUSH!

Posted: 27 Apr 2012 10:04 AM PDT

Few things in life are as frustrating as losing a Starcraft match to a Zerg Rush. Falling to a teeming wave of cheap, quickly produced Zerglings flat-out sucks. No matter how many cannons you fire, the fodder just keeps coming. A new Google easter egg brings the doomed gameplay of fending off an unending Zerg Rush to your Google Search results -- but unlike in Starcraft, it's actually surprisingly fun. (You're still screwed in the end, though.)

Just search for "Zerg rush" -- minus the quotation marks -- to get the party started. Legions of little red and yellow "O"s swarm in from the edges of the screen, determined to demolish your search results. (Amusingly, most of those search results talk about the Zerg Rush easter egg. How meta!) Each search result has a life bar, as does each "O"; left-clicking on an "O" two or three times brings it down.

It doesn't matter if you click until your finger goes numb; the Zerg "O"s just keep on coming. (Protip: they attack the sections of the screen you can't see, too, so be sure to scroll up and down occasionally.) Eventually, your last search result will crumble beneath the onslaught, and the "O"s will swirl together to form "GG" -- Starcraft slang for good game. Then you can share your score on Google+ afterwards.

Is the Zerg Rush easter egg a one-day event or here to stay? We're not sure, so you might want to get in on the action soon just in case. And when you're done, be sure to check out more of the easter eggs Google has sprinkled throughout its various services.

AMD Quietly Slashes A-Series APU and FX Series CPU Prices Following Ivy Bridge Launch

Posted: 27 Apr 2012 07:27 AM PDT

Throughout the years, AMD's strategy against Intel has been to undercut the Santa Clara chip maker in price, though that's not necessarily by design. Clock for clock, AMD's processors don't usually pack the same performance punch as Intel's silicon, and that's especially true with the launch of Intel's Ivy Bridge architecture. In response to Ivy Bridge, AMD decided another round of price cuts was in order.

Here's a look at how the FX Series shakes out:

  • AMD FX-4100 Black Edition: $115
  • AMD FX-4170 Black Edition: $135
  • AMD FX-6100 Black Edition: $135
  • AMD FX-6200 Black Edition: $155
  • AMD FX-8150 Black Edition: $205
  • AMD FX-8120 Black Edition: $165

Not all of those represent price cuts. The FX-4100 and FX-4170 are both unchanged, for example, while the FX-6100 and FX-6200 dropped by $10 each. AMD's eight-core processors saw bigger reductions; the FX-8120 dropped by $20 and the FX-8150 by $40.

Here's the updated price list for A-Series APUs:

  • AMD A4-3300: $55
  • AMD A4-3400: $59
  • AMD A6-3600: $95
  • AMD A6-3650: $95
  • AMD A6-3670K Black Edition: $100
  • AMD A8-3800: $105
  • AMD A8-3820: $115
  • AMD A8-3850: $105
  • AMD A8-3870K Black Edition: $115
  • AMD A6-3500: $75

Depending on the processor, APU prices dropped by as much $30 (A8-3850). Bear in mind that these are wholesale prices in 1,000-unit tray quantities, so retail pricing will likely be a bit higher.

New Version of Dropbox Adds Automatic Photo and Video Uploads

Posted: 27 Apr 2012 07:01 AM PDT

Google Drive is the new online storage locker everyone is talking about, but lest anyone forget about Dropbox, there's a new version available that ups the stakes with the ability to automatically upload photos and videos from just about any digital camera, tablet pc, smartphone, or SD card. There's also a new Photos pages on Dropbox's website where you can view all of your uploaded snapshots.

"Getting pictures off your camera has always been a huge pain. So we put our heads down and worked worked worked to ensure that automatic upload would play nicely with anything that might have a photo or video on it," Dropbox explains in a blog post. "With the newest version for Mac or Windows, you can just plug your camera, phone, or SD card into your computer and with a few clicks of the mouse all your photos and videos are in your Dropbox!"

Photos and videos tend to take up more space than Word documents, so to sweeten the deal, Dropbox will give you 500MB of additional free storage space for your first automatic upload and will keep stretching the online container 500MB at a time, up to 3GB extra, pro bono.

You can download Dropbox 1.4.0 here.

Image Credit: Dropbox

Opera 12 Beta Browser is Smarter, Faster, and Theme Friendly

Posted: 27 Apr 2012 06:36 AM PDT

Optionally, the latest version of Opera Software's online browser, Opera 12 (just released in beta form) is Opera like you've never seen it before. That's because Opera 12, or "Wahoo" if going by its codename, supports themes in case you want to change what's already a redesigned interface. From Cookie Monster to a cat wearing sunglasses, there are a bunch of themes to choose from, or you can create your own.

Underneath the hood, Opera Software took a page from Chrome and gave plug-ins their own process. That means if a plug-in hangs or crashes, it won't bring down the entire browser. Opera 12 is also "smarter" and faster with optimized network SSL code and improved tab loading to accelerate start-up and shut-down times.

Perhaps one of the more interesting changes is built-in support for getUserMedia, an API that lets Web apps tap into your webcam and other hardware.

"Woo-hoo! After months of hard work, we're nearing the finish line on Opera 12," said Haakon Wium Lie, CTO, Opera Software. "There are so many new things to try. The paged media project has the potential to change the way browsers handle content, and camera support shows just how web applications can compete with native apps. With so many new features, especially for developers, Opera 12 is a platform to build upon. We're excited to share it with the world and see what people can create."

Go here if you want to give the beta browser a test run.

Image Credit: Opera Software

Nintendo's First Loss in Three Decades is a Doozy

Posted: 27 Apr 2012 05:56 AM PDT

If you're an investor who owns stock in Nintendo, you may have received a financial note that states, "Thank you investor! But our revenue is in another castle!" Not all of it, mind you, but a significant chunk of Nintendo's revenue was a no-show for the game maker's fiscal year ended March 31, 2012. Nintendo posted a loss totaling more than half a billion dollars on $8 billion in revenue, part of which is due to selling 3DS handheld consoles below cost.

Nintendo actually sold 13.5 million 3DS devices, a nice number if not for the fact that it's losing money on hardware. Wii sales, meanwhile, totaled just 9.84 million units, down from 15 million units one year ago. The list goes on. Nintendo DS sales plummeted to 5.1 million units, down from 17.5 million units one year prior, and Wii software sales totaled 102.3 million after topping 171 million a year ago.

Nintendo's $534.6 million loss is the company's first downward slide in its more than 30-year reporting history (as a company, Nintendo is well over a century old), according to The New York Times. It's also a huge turnaround from just one year ago when Nintendo posted a $960.5 million profit on $12.6 billion in sales. The company hasn't hit the panic button, however, and expects its upcoming Wii U console to turn things around to the tune of $10.1 billion in projected revenue and $246.6 million in net income.

You can view Nintendo's consolidated financial statement here (PDF).

MMO News

MMO News


Guild Wars 2

Posted: 27 Apr 2012 10:54 AM PDT

Guild Wars 2 pits five races against the armies of Zhaitan, a deathless dragon who commands vast undead armies. With eight classes to choose from, players can spend quite a bit of time customizing their chosen role to how they want to play. The combat is fast-paced and action-oriented, with dynamic events and personal stories all intertwining to an exceptional quality game.

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Publisher: NCSoft
Playerbase: ??
Graphics: High
Type: MMORPG
EXP Rate: ??
PvP: Yes
Filesize: ??

Pros: +Amazing world and storyline. +Great graphics. +Gameplay changes per class based on race and weapon.

Cons: -Buy-to-play. -Exclusive closed beta testing. -Not enough information available.

official site

Overview

Guild Wars 2 Overview

Guild Wars 2 is the next installment in the Guild Wars series. The game features five races and eight classes. How a class plays depends not only on race, but on the weapons you choose to wield, making each situation and encounter different. The game world features dynamic events, which anyone can enter or leave at any time. Additionally, each character receives their own background, based on several factors, giving the world a much broader scope.

Guild Wars 2 Screenshots

Guild Wars 2 Featured Video

Click here to view the embedded video.

Full Review

Guild Wars 2 Full Review

Coming Soon…

Screenshots

Guild Wars 2 Screenshots

Coming Soon…

Videos

Guild Wars 2 Videos

Guild Wars 2 Trailer

Click here to view the embedded video.

Links

Guild Wars 2 Links

Official Game Page

System Requirements

Guild Wars 2 System Requirement

Minimum Requirements:
OS: Windows  XP (SP2) or better
CPU: Intel® Core 2 Duo 2.0 GHz, Core i3, AMD Athlon 64 X2, or better
RAM:  2 GB
HDD: 25 GB Free
Graphics Card: NVIDIA® GeForce® 7800, ATI X1800, Intel HD 3000, or better (256MB of video RAM and shader model 3.0 or better)

 

AIKA Online releases new content

Posted: 26 Apr 2012 04:22 PM PDT

gPotato has announced four new updates and events for AIKA Online, beginning April 26.

The Lost Mines, which was a standard dungeon, has been revamped with difficult encounters.  Players who manage to clear the dungeon will receive crafting materials for four new accessories that boost stats and show off your accomplishments.  Additionally, players that complete the dungeon the fastest receive additional rewards, and in the event they clear without a single death, they will be rewarded 5x the normal amount.

A new archaeology questline has also been released, which players can complete for gear, and a chance for a rare relic box.  A PvP event has been launched, with the player defeating the most opponents receiving a substantial reward.

gPotato also publishes Allods Online and Rappelz.

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AIKA Online Gameplay Screenshot

Source:

Conquer Hellish Dungeons and PvP Events in Aika Online's Latest Update

A New Dungeon, New Archeology Quest Series, and Two Events Come to Aika Online

Sunnyvale, Calif. – April 26 2012 Prove your skills and become the most feared warrior in Aika Online with four surprise updates and events that begin today, April 26!  Survive the hellish challenge mode of the Lost Mines, unearth powerful gear through archaeology quests, or deal the most deadly blows to other players in a PvP headhunter contest for rich rewards.

The Lost Mines, Aika's classic monster-filled dungeon, have been revamped with special hellish encounters guaranteed to bring the most veteran Aitan to their knees when faced with new monsters and vicious bosses.  Elite players who clear the new East Hell Mode will win the materials to craft four new powerful accessory sets that boost your stats and illustrates your glorious victory.

Explore Lakia's mysterious past and find the keys to open treasures and recover powerful historical relics.  A new archaeology quest series offers Aitan of all levels the ability to recover pieces of powerful ancient gear sets and other extraordinary items spread across the land.  Combine your findings into Ancient Aitan Commander Gear, find a rare Relic Box, and prove you're the most powerful Aitan ever!

Players will need all these upgrades and more when they begin competing today for the title of greatest Dungeon Delver!  The party that clears Lost Mine's East Hell Mode in the shortest time will win a reward for each party member.  If any party manages to get the best time and clear the dungeon without a single death, each party member will get 5x the reward!  The race begins today and final times will be judged on May 2, so find a party now and dive into the terrifying mines.

Aitan may also choose to roam the land and spread fear in the hearts of their opponents to become The Deadliest Aitan.  Whoever slays the most individual opponents in PvP by April 29 will be the proud owner of a complete Shooting Star Armor Set.  Cleric versus cleric and warrior versus warrior, this event is bracketed by class to give everyone a chance to win.

More events and tide-changing battles are happening in Aika right now!  Check them out on the official Aika Website!

Iris Online launches Lost Temple of Atlantis

Posted: 26 Apr 2012 04:13 PM PDT

The Lost Temple of Atlantis update for Iris Online has officially been released.  New zones, items, and quests have been released, and the level cap has been raised to 75.

Players can explore the Abysmal Shore, the Sandfall Desert, Pandahama Island, and Pandan Cove, in addition to the Lost Temple of Atlantis instance itself.  Quests are designed to take players to each of these locations, that are all besieged by the Sahar.

To celebrate, treasure boxes can be found from various monsters, which require keys found at the bottom of dungeons to open.  Costumes, dungeon initializing cards, and change to NPC cards can be found within, among other things.  Players also receive double EXP and SXP until April 29.  On April 28 and 29, item drop rates will be increased to 100%, and enhance rates to 150%.

Iris Online is published by gPotato, who also publishes Allods Online and AIKA Online.

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Iris Online Gameplay Screenshot

Source:

Iris Online: Lost Temple of Atlantis Update Goes Live!

The Latest Update Reveals New Zones, New Items, a Level Cap Increase, and an Entirely New Dungeon

Sunnyvale, Calif. – April 26 2012 Prepare to free Arcana from the tyranny of endless armies as Iris Online unveils new zones, new items, new quests, a level cap increase to 75, and the most challenging dungeon yet – the Lost Temple of Atlantis!  The battle begins today, April 26, and kicks off Iris Online's latest treasure hunting and buff events!

The lords of the Sahar Army have been defeated, but a new threat arises! The portal to the Lost Temple of Atlantis, a once glorious kingdom sunk into the sea by the Sahar, has been opened.  Players must now enter the lair of Arcturis, the temple guardian, and join forces with other heroes to retake this new dungeon!  Treasures like the Wrath Rod and Wicked Blades await deep in the lost temple.

The mainland has also fallen victim to the Sahar with four new zones for players to liberate.  Dozens of new quests will guide players to new regions like the Abysmal Shore, a once blessed forest now home to wild and dangerous creatures.  Adventurous heroes will find their way to the Sandfall Desert, a mysterious archaeological excavation site and the rumored home of a long-buried ancient foe.  Meanwhile the lost regions of Pandahama Island and Pandan Cove, laid waste by the invading Sahar Armies, wait for righteous saviors to liberate them from their enemies.

The heroes of Arcana will receive great rewards for their efforts with several events beginning today! Treasure boxes have been distributed to all the land's vilest beasts. Only the keys hidden in the depths of each dungeon can open these boxes to reveal costumes, dungeon initializing cards, and change to NPC cards!  Plus, players will receive double the EXP and SXP from now until April 29, while for two days beginning April 28, item drop rates will be boosted to 100% and enhance rates to 150%!

Find out more about Iris Online's latest update and upcoming events on the official website!

Sudden Attack continues April of Anarchy event

Posted: 26 Apr 2012 03:53 PM PDT

Nexon has released two new maps, two new guns, and two new female skins as part of their April of Anarchy event in Sudden Attack.

The new maps are called Tracer and Club Night.  Tracer involves the hunt between two factions vying to capture a high-value target in a temple compound located in East Asia.  Club Night returns to let players show off their combat prowess in a night club themed area, complete with dance floor, DJ booth, and the urban streets outside.

Players who have achieved both Supreme Commander and Expert titles can now purchase the AK-47 Infinity(S) and the TRG-21 Infinity(K).  Two female skins for Irina and Yuriko have also been added.  There is a sale in the cash shop until May 10, giving players 30% off of certain Bighead and Vampire mode items.

Nexon also publishes Combat Arms and Vindictus.

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Sudden Attack Gameplay Screenshot

Source:

April of Anarchy Continues in "Sudden Attack"

A triple duo of new maps, weapons and character skins are now available

Fans of Nexon America's anything-goes first-person shooter "Sudden Attack" now have three action-packed pairs of new content to enjoy. With the recent April of Anarchy content update, two new maps, Tracer and Club Night, are now online. Additionally, a pair of powerful guns is available for those who are worthy, and a pair of new female character skins is available for purchase in the NX shop.

In Tracer, an all-new map, two warring factions are on a collision course pursuing a high-value target who has holed up in a temple compound in East Asia. Anarchy is about to engulf the serene halls of the temple grounds, where players will choose sides and swarm both inside and outside the temple in the heart-pounding hunt.

Back by popular demand, players can show off their latest combat moves in the return of the Club Night map. From the dance floor and DJ booth to the urban streets surrounding the club, players will find out that every night is going to be a good night in this bumping venue.

To up the action even further, players who complete the new Chief of Staff achievement by attainting both the "Supreme Commander" and "Expert" titles will be rewarded with the ability to purchase two devastating new guns: the AK-47 Infinity(S) and the TRG-21 Infinity(K).

Two new female character skins are available in the NX Shop: Irina and Yuriko. Also starting today is a 30 percent off sale in the NX Shop for select Bighead Mode and Vampire Mode related items like the Rabbit Hammer and Josephine Coupon. The sale ends on May 10.

For more information about the "Sudden Attack" April of Anarchy content update, visit: http://suddenattack.nexon.net.

Spirit Tales explains Open Beta delay

Posted: 26 Apr 2012 03:41 PM PDT

In response to the sudden delay of the Spirit Tales open beta test, community manager Elliott (Colbeagle) has posted answers to some commonly asked questions on the KoramGame forums.  The team felt the game was not quite ready for release, due to some unforeseen problems that recently cropped up.  The team wishes to make sure the game is polished and ready for players new and returning alike.

With the delay, the release schedule has also been adjusted accordingly.  KoramGame still plans on an aggressive approach to releasing new game content for everyone to enjoy, which has not changed.  Players will be able to download the Spirit Tales client starting on May 3 to prepare for the May 10 launch.

Additionally, the company is doubling the amount of prizes they are giving to players who participated in a contest on Facebook.  They are truly thankful and apologetic the event did not pan out like they expected, which was to bring the game into open beta sooner.

Spirit Tales open beta is set to launch at 4:00pm PST on May 10, to allow the majority of players to get right into the game.

For more information about the upcoming beta, check out our interview with KoramGame.

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Spirit Tales Gameplay Screenshot

Pangya releases collaboration with Nisemonogatari

Posted: 26 Apr 2012 03:25 PM PDT

SG Interactive has announced a collaboration with Nisemonogatari in Pangya.  Two sets based on the popular anime are being planned, with the first set having been released today. Three characters have been given various costume items from different characters in the anime.

Hana players can dress up in Karen Araragi’s yellow jersey and sneakers.  Nell players have the option of Tsukihi Araragi’s kimono, shoes and hair style, as well as Nadeko Sengoku’s outfit, shoes and hair style.  Finally, Kaz players can pick up Koyomi Araragi’s uniform, shoes, hair style and watch.

A new club set and mascot have also been released with this first set as well.

SG Interactive also publishes Grand Chase and Trickster Online.

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Pangya Gameplay Screenshot

 Source:

Famed “Nisenmonogatari” Anime Teams Up
With SG Interactive’s Pangya United MMO

 The Casual Golf MMORPG Collaborates with Famous Anime Series for Exclusive Items

 Irvine, Calif.April 26, 2012 – SG Interactive’s exciting golf MMORPG, Pangya United launches a collaboration for exclusive in-game items with “Nisemonogatari,” a popular anime series published by Aniplex of America. Now, Pangya’s fan-base can don rare attire based on the main characters in the anime and play with unique “Nisemonogatari”- themed items. With two sets of items planned to roll out – the first is available starting today and players can deck out their characters in “Nisemonogatari” garb by registering for free at http://pangya.gamerage.com

The first set of “Nisemonogatari” items includes the following decorative items for these Pangya characters:

  • Hana
    • Karen Araragi’s yellow jersey and sneakers
  • Nell
    • Tsukihi Araragi’s kimono, shoes and hair style
    • Nadeko Sengoku’s outfit, shoes and hair style
  • Kaz
    • Koyomi Araragi’s uniform, shoes, hair style and watch

Players also have the opportunity to gear up with the Deadly Stapler Club Set, Monogatari Comet and Shinobu Oshino, the cute but deadly vampire Mascot – all distinctive items befitting the “Nisemonogatari” story.

The new “Nisemonogatari” items allow players to add an eclectic flair to their in-game characters in Panyga – the anime-themed casual golf MMORPG. For more information or to get a sneak peek at the exclusive “Nisemonogatari” items, please visit the official Pangya United webpage. For up-to-date information about the game, players can become fans by clicking “Like” on the official Pangya United Facebook Page.

Conquer Online launches Invasion of Pirates for iPad

Posted: 26 Apr 2012 03:14 PM PDT

TQ Digital has announced that the first expansion for Conquer Online, Invasion of Pirates, has been launched for the iPad.

Players have access to a brand new class aptly named the Pirate.  New skills and abilities have been released with the class, which dual-wields pistols and rapiers with deadly effect.

Players also have a chance to win a brand new, latest generation iPad through an in-game contest.

Check out the new trailer for the expansion below.

TQ Digital also publishes Eudemons Online and Crazy Tao.

Conquer Online iPad Invasions of Pirates Trailer

Source:

First expansion to the popular mobile Action MMORPG welcomes the gritty dual-wielding Pirate class

HONG KONG – April 5, 2012 – Conquer Online, one of the longest-running, free-to-play online PC games, made its formal debut as a full-featured Action MMORPG on iPad in December of 2011 to great fanfare, breaking into the Top 10 RPGs category in its first week. The game's iPad community has already surpassed 200,000 fans and continues to grow. Today, NetDragon is introducing the first expansion, Invasion of Pirates, to the Chinese fantasy universe. In the new expansion, players will have access to explosive new skills with the newly added Pirate class. An all-new video has been released to showcase the Pirate class in action.

To celebrate the launch, NetDragon is also giving away some real-life loot, including brand new iPads. Players who discover the hidden in-game iPad item (hint: hack-'n-slashers, apply skills here!) will be able to turn it in for the newest generation of iPad for free!

The new Pirate class comes dressed for battle wielding both rapiers and pistols. Their abilities all channel power and precision alongside the most fiery, action-packed combat in the game. Pirates have the advantage of being able to down any foe—on land or sea. With a little strategy and pirate know-how, the new class can easily become the most deadly in PvP battles.

Download Conquer Online HD and get the Invasion of Pirates expansion free now for iPad in the App Store at http://itunes.apple.com/app/conquer-online/id459012102?mt=8.

Learn more about the ways of Conquer Online HD at http://ipadco.91.com.

War of Legends launches new server

Posted: 26 Apr 2012 02:44 PM PDT

Jagex has unveiled the newest server for War of Legends: Praying Mantis.

To celebrate the new server, War of Legends will have a Triple Top Up Weekend, from April 27 to April 30. Players who purchase the game’s in-game currency will get three times the amount this weekend.

War of Legends is a flash-based strategy game featuring a sweeping storyline set in ancient Chinese mythology, while offering the same reliable strategy and tactics that MMORTS players have come to know.

Jagex also publishes RuneScape and 8Realms.

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War of Legends Gameplay Screenshot

 Source:

WAR OF LEGENDS CELEBRATES NEW SERVER LAUNCH WITH TRIPLE TOP UP WEEKEND

 

 

Thursday 26th April 2012, Cambridge, UK – Jagex, the UK's largest independent games developer and publisher, today announced the launch of a brand new server for their real time strategy game set in Chinese mythology lore, War of Legends. As the Praying Mantis is revered for its calculated movements and keen hunting skills – necessary traits of a ruling dynasty – this new server will bear that name, launching to support the thousands of new players joining the battle every day.

 

To celebrate the game's full launch of the new Praying Mantis server, the War of Legends community team has planned a Triple Top Up Weekend! From Friday 27th March to Monday 30th March, any player who purchases War of Legend's in-game currency will receive 3 times the amount for this weekend.

 

"The launch of a new server is always exciting for us," said Daniel Green, War of Legends Associate Producer: "It gives us a chance to offer a new game world for our new players to come and experience War of Legends on a clean slate. The debut of the Praying Mantis server a great opportunity for players to come together, forge new alliances and battle other players in a race for power."

 

War of Legends is a flash-based RTS game based on ancient Chinese mythology, which immerses players in a world where they can build vast empires, appoint legendary leaders and form multi-player alliances to reach eternal glory. This rich back-story is a drastic contrast to traditional RTS games that typically have very fragmented or non-existent storylines. The development quality far exceeds that of similar titles currently in the market, and parallels Jagex's high standard for game excellence, depth of content, graphics and community support.

 

War of Legends is available to play for free by visiting www.waroflegends.com.

War of the Immortals announces Lost Omen

Posted: 26 Apr 2012 02:11 PM PDT

Perfect World Entertainment has released new details for Lost Omen, War of the Immortal’s first expansion.

Lost Omen introduces the Harbinger class, a scythe-wielding master who utilizes psychic and soul powers while mounting the Abyss Crawler. New areas will include the Valhalla Temple, the Defiled Paradise, and other areas in Asgard designed for players level 100+. A new King of Combat battle arena will be released, and players can ride new combat mounts into four Great Wars (Osiris’ Revenge, Siege of Rites, Territory Wars, and the Royal City).  Finally, a new Pet Ascension System and Bloodlines Systems will allow players to tap into more powerful skills.

The expansion will be available on May 10.

Perfect World Entertainment also publishes Rusty Hearts and Blacklight Retribution.

War of the Immortals: Lost Omen Teaser Trailer

Source:

Perfect World Entertainment Unveils War of the Immortals: Lost Omen

MMO Expansion Introduces Harbinger Class, PvP Arena and Powerful Pets

 

(Redwood City, CA) April 26, 2012 — Perfect World Entertainment Inc. today announced Lost Omen, the first expansion to the widely popular free-to-play MMORPG, War of the Immortals , available to download for free on May 10, 2012. Lost Omen takes the Atlantean war between gods to a new level. What does fate hold? Will humanity triumph or will mortal kind be doomed to endless suffering?

 

“We’re pulling out all the stops for the first ever expansion to War of the Immortals. Lost Omen expands the game’s universe, creating a deeper and more immersive experience,” said Thang Phan, Product Manager, Perfect World Entertainment. “We’re catering to the wishes of our community by beefing up our already robust PvP system. With the addition of the new King of Combat battle arena, players are now faced with new challenging game modes as the war against humanity rages on.”

 

Lost Omen will introduce the Harbinger class, updated PvP arenas and modes, new areas and enhanced systems.

 

New Features

 

• Harbinger Class – The Scythe wielding Harbinger is a master of psychic and soul powers. Bring pure devastation to any path, and mount the Abyss Crawler, a fierce cousin to the dragon with a short temperament.

 

• Areas – Cross the Rainbow Bridge of Valhalla Temple and stand with the gods in the realm of divinity. Enter the Defiled Paradise, a surreal and perilous home to the toughest monsters and a new World Boss. Travel to Asgard and partake in new quests and events, now open to level 100 and above.

 

• New PvP Modes – Enter the new King of Combat battle arena and lay waste to the opposing team. Saddle a new combat mount and fight through the four Great Wars: Osiris’ Revenge, Siege of Rites, Territory Wars and the Royal City.

 

• Enhanced Systems – Breed more powerful pets with the new Pet Ascension System and unlock the Bloodline Systems to unleash new incredible skills.

 

For more information about the War of the Immortals: Lost Omen expansion and to play War of the Immortals right now for free, please visit: http://woi.perfectworld.com/

 

RiotZone begins rolling out heavy content update

Posted: 26 Apr 2012 01:57 PM PDT

Mail.Ru has begun a series of updates for RiotZone, scheduled to roll out from now through May.

The update changes the cap on Mercenary Officers from 10 to 40, while reducing the experience required to reach 20. New Dogs of War will be available for veteran players in the Agency, and a new army group, Charlie’s Angels, will be available for players who achieve enough experience. All character stats are overhauled so that each fill their own niche, and Commanders who reach level 20 and complete the Improvement task will get a free item to redistribute their stats.

New missions will send players out to fields and city outskirts, while new Dictator missions expand the RiotZone storyline. Several maps have been redesigned to prevent current bottleneck issues, the Camp Bar’s effect has been increased, and prison production has been improved to reduce babysitting.

Game shops have also been redesigned with an improved UI, new gear and boosts, reduced prices, and color standardizations.

Mail.ru also publishes Juggernaut and Legend: Legacy of the Dragons.

49022  420x310 riotzone trail

RiotZone Gameplay Screenshot

 Source:

FASTER. HIGHER. STRONGER. RIOTZONE.

Huge Game Update Blows Away The Competition!

Hamburg, Germany – April 26, 2012 – Leading publisher Mail.RU Games begins rolling out the most aggressive and wide-sweeping patch for their fast paced PVP war title, Riot Zone. Free to play from anywhere without any downloads, the new content explosion starts today and continues through May and includes everything from shop and map redesigns to new missions, increased Commander levels, and plenty more. With all there is to see and do that’s new and improved, players are commanded to double march over to http://www.riotzone.net/ and sign up via email or Facebook connect.

Commanders, your repertoire has now expanded: Mercenary Officers are no longer capped at 10, and can now reach the lofty heights of 45 – to expedite this process the experience needed to reach 20 has been reduced; the Agency will also stock new Dogs of War for veteran players. In addition, players who are skilled and care for their troops and accrue sufficient experience will now be able to access a third army group, nicknamed Charlie’s Angels. Character stats have also been overhauled, and each now fill their own niche. Commanders who have reached level 20 and complete the Improvement task will be granted an item to redistribute stats for free to reflect all these changes.

Soldiers, prepare yourself as you will train for additional types of combat. New missions will move players out of the inner-island jungles out to fields, city outskirts, and more. Additional Dictator missions have been added to further the RiotZone storyline. Many current maps have also been landscaped to avoid current bottleneck issues, and the effect of the Camp Bar has been significantly increased, and prison production has been overhauled to require considerably less babysitting.

The game shops have also been redesigned for all levels: 1-19 will see an improved UI with few item changes. Levels 20+ will see new armours, deadlier weapons, additional supplies with a variety of effects; superstitious warriors will appreciate the expanded range of lucky charms, and canned drinks providing temporary boosts are also available for the thirsty. Stun grenades have been reduced in price and efficiency, allowing room for a greater variety of supplies in combat. All item have also been standardized by colour, with the grey-green-blue-violet-red system now being universal.

Hot battle for cool heads

Anti-malaria’s? Check. Food? Check. Adequate equipment? Check. Good preparation is essential in “RiotZone”. Gamers will not only fight for one of the two factions – The Red Alliance or the Coalition of the Crown – but also train their soldiers, upgrade weapons and expand their base. These role-playing elements turn out to be authoritative in later gameplay. Only the coolest strategic thinkers will prevail in numerous missions and PvP battles. “RiotZone” scores with many PvP modes: 1on1, 2on2 and 3on3 are just the beginning. Raids on enemy territory, conquest of resource-rich areas and large-scale battlefields require you to surpass just being a gamer, and ascend to the level of a commander. Semi-automatic fights allow dynamic and spontaneous quick battles where players can bring in a lot of extra firepower in the form of various special abilities.

Latest Gaming and MMORPG Updates

Latest Gaming and MMORPG Updates


Microsoft Flight Needs Beta Testers

Posted: 27 Apr 2012 07:10 AM PDT

Microsoft Flight

Unless you were specifically looking for information on it, you may have thought Microsoft Flight had been killed given how quiet things had been. Instead, the development team has continued to give occasional updates on its status through its official website and now it’s turning to gamers to beta test the game beginning next month.

Those who are interested will need a Windows Live ID and an Xbox Live/Games for Windows Live Gamertag to sign up. Not everyone who applies will get in, and the information you’re asked to provide isn’t especially specific, so it doesn’t sound as if it matters how fast your computer is or what beta testing experience you have. The beta will begin sometime in January; testers will be bound to an NDA and therefore disallowed from sharing any impressions, screenshots, or anything else.

Microsoft Flight was one of three games, along with Fable III and Age of Empires Online, announced last year as an indication that Microsoft still supports PC gaming. Many would say those three games don’t prove anything, and the way Games for Windows has been downplayed since its Marketplace was integrated with Xbox.com would only back that up.

Regardless, development on Flight is clearly progressing. And while the game still doesn’t have any sort of a release date, at least some gamers will have the opportunity to play it before long.

Find similar article at: http://www.1up.com/news/microsoft-flight-needs-beta-testers

Seven Mascots That Won’t Make the PlayStation All-Stars Cut

Posted: 27 Apr 2012 04:34 AM PDT

This was

Posted: 04/27/2012 by  VeryMadMage

the first thing I though of too. So wrong, yet so funny.

Find similar article at: http://www.1up.com/features/mascots-won-playstation-all-stars-cut

Dishonored: An Assassination Sandbox That Doesn’t Penalize Sociopaths

Posted: 26 Apr 2012 10:32 PM PDT

Remember the Halo Reach sniper rifle shot heard (and bounced) around
the world? The one that ricocheted in such a crazy way that it
actually went through the head of the very fellow who fired it in the
first place
? Bizarre as that situation may sound, it can serve as one of many crazy
ways to assassinate someone in Dishonored. During the tail end of
a recent hands-off demonstration, co-creative directors Harvey Smith and Raf
Colantonio briefly went quiet as a Bethesda staffer playing showed off a
particularly slick method of taking out multiple targets: Having the
player character, Corvo, slow down time before laying down a spring razor
trap and using his Blink ability to teleport a short distance
away just in time to see the trap detonate when time resumes
flowing at a normal rate. To get back to Reach’s unintentional
suicide, Smith explained, “Sometimes, when you activate Bend Time,
you can actually see the bullet in the air; you can actually then
Possess the guy who shot it and walk him around to the front. When
time resumes, the bullet kills him and he has this very shocked
expression on his face.”

Smith has previously described Dishonored as an action-stealth title in
terms of its overall genre, but he cites titles like Far Cry 2, Ultima Underworld, System Shock, Thief, and Deus Ex as examples of what he,
Colantonio, and the rest of the developers at Arkane are going for with their new creation: An
open-ended game driven more by systemic interaction than by
scripted spectacle. In other words, they want to simply provide a
suite of tools, and objective, and then let players go at it. Corvo has
a number of tools — including gear such guns, daggers, traps, grenades
and weird steampunk treasure detecting devices as well as more supernatural
abilities such as Bend Time, Possession, and Windblast — and his task is simply to find his targets and neutralize them. This can be as simple as
stabbing someone in the face; as odd as possessing fish and mice to
navigate through the sewers below until you find said target before
possessing him to make him jump out a window; or as elaborate and
non-lethal as arranging to have his identity stolen in order to condemn him to work in the very same salt mine that he owns.

Find similar article at: http://www.1up.com/previews?cId=3187040

Import Play Test: Rocket Slime Brings Happiness to the Third Dimension

Posted: 26 Apr 2012 07:10 PM PDT

EverQuest II kind of reminds me of a town I lived in for a few months and then never expected to come back to. Returning after this much time it’s disorienting to see both how much and how little has changed. Most notably, EQII recently joined the ever-growing club of semi-free MMOs, and now relies on sales of expansion content and non-essential perks to make rent. It’s even got one of those nifty streaming clients that allow you to start playing before the full download is finished, so if you’ve ever harbored even the slightest hint of curiosity about the game, there’s really no excuse not to at least pop your head in there for a few minutes.

Next week, December 6 specifically, EQII will be getting its 11th expansion: Age of Discovery. Among other things, this one adds a Beastlord class from the first EverQuest that players have been begging for pretty much since EQ2′s release. As one might expect from a “Beast Master” type class, they can tame cats, wolves, birds, and other critters found all over the world. One animal (or “warder”) at a time joins its master in combat, where in addition to making standard attacks they can notice enemy weaknesses and open up opportunities for more debilitating strikes. It’s a class that offers more complexity than most along with providing an imaginary friend for solo players to talk to. Speaking of, NPC mercenaries are being added in this update. For a regular salary, hirelings can fill a tank, healer, support, melee DPS, or caster DPS role just like a regular member of a party. They take up a group spot and even insist on a share of the loot. On the plus side, they’re less annoying to play with than the average pick up group, and can be given silly names if you don’t like the one they have by default.


Find similar article at: http://www.1up.com/previews?cId=3186320

Phantasy Star Online 2 Impressions: Towards The Future

Posted: 26 Apr 2012 04:32 PM PDT

Besides looking beautiful, the original Crysis stood out for including an absolutely
lovely and bizarre gameplay feature involving the local fauna at the
fictional Lingshan Islands: You could use them as weapons.
As part of the sandbox-driven design of the early parts of Crysis’
campaign, the player could pick up and throw practically anything –
crates, corpses, and even wildlife — and chuck them with lethal
force. A thrifty player could, theoretically, sneak around and sling
crabs instead of bullets.

As visually impressive as Crysis 3 looks so far, with its swampy
streets of Chinatown and verdant takeovers of skyscrapers, it’s the
presence of ambient wildlife that brings this little feature to mind.
During a hands-off demo, director of creative development Rasmus
Hojengaard points out that frogs now hop about in New York’s newest
plumbing development, but the player doesn’t do anything besides look
at them. When I had a brief chance to ask about whether Prophet (a
recurring character throughout the franchise, and now the protagonist
due to events in both the ending of Crysis 2 and whatever has happened in the 20-plus years between Crysis 2′s 2023 time frame and Crysis 3′s setting of 2047 New York) can use frogs with lethal force, Hojengaard became a bit more evasive.

He answered, “We want to give the sensation of a
living and breathing environment, but we don’t want to arbitrarily
have you pick up a turtle and throw it at someone as a gameplay
mechanic, unless we can execute it more elegantly.” Later on, he
added, “We don’t want stuff like being able to throw frogs just for
the heck of it, as that’s too much development time,” and that causes me
some concern. I’m hoping he changes his mind.

Find similar article at: http://www.1up.com/previews?cId=3187038

Madden 13 Improvements Call Into Question the Franchise’s Current Model

Posted: 26 Apr 2012 04:32 PM PDT

Madden NFL 13

EA Tiburon yesterday began to reveal some of what will be different about Madden NFL 13‘s gameplay. The big focus of this year’s title is the passing game, which makes sense both because the NFL is becoming more pass-centric and because my team (the Jets) is increasingly reliant on the rushing game. The changes sound good in theory, though as someone who still plays last year’s game a few times every week, I can’t help but take issue with the post-release support Madden 12 received.

A new Madden is released each and every year like clockwork. Call of Duty may be the target of gamers wanting to lash out at annual releases these days, but Madden was doing it more than a decade before Call of Duty 1 ever hit store shelves. Years ago it made more sense; while there have always been criticisms about too little changing from one game to the next, with no better way to get new rosters into the hands of players, a full retail release was the way to go. Nowadays that feels like an archaic method of delivering content to players, yet it continues to happen — and the game suffers for it.

Those concerned enough isn’t changed from year to year aren’t encouraged by EA owning the exclusive rights to the NFL license, meaning any competition has to come in the form of something like All-Pro Football 2K8. (Considering that is the most recent such title, the ’2K8′ should clue you in on how well that worked out.) It’s an unfortunate situation; ESPN NFL 2K5 was superior to Madden, and it was made available at launch for only $20. Following this, EA gobbled up the league’s exclusive rights — a move you can’t blame the company for, as it only made good business sense to do so considering it could have lost the ability to continue producing Madden — and the following year’s game, Madden 06, turned out to be a joke. Part of that can be blamed on the developer’s attention being focused on the generational leap to Xbox 360, although the past half dozen Madden games haven’t exactly reinvented the wheel. Many football game fans continue to cite NFL 2K5 as the best football sim of all time.

The direction of Madden 13 is being attributed in part to Tiburon’s new general manager, Cam Weber. Weber is said to have “brought with him a new philosophy stressing the importance of gameplay,” something you would think should have already been a top priority. Regardless, Weber’s hiring has led to the studio’s Core Gameplay Team, which contributes to both Madden and NCAA Football, doubling in size. The result of this is the team being “able to incorporate the most changes to gameplay thus far in the current console generation.” Of course, every year brings with it some promise about how the latest game will be the deepest/most realistic/most accessible/etc. entry to date, so a promise of more changes than the past seven or eight games means nothing on its own.

Madden NFL 13

Luckily many of the changes being shared at this stage do sound good. An enhanced system for leading receivers with the left stick should provide you with a chance to complete a pass that would be batted down in the current game. New pass trajectories mean no more ridiculous, time-consuming lobs when trying to toss the ball to a wide open player in the flat. Additional control over the type of passes you throw will make it easier to loft a ball over the heads of linebackers who, in Madden 12, intercept passes at an alarmingly high rate. Shovel passes, revamped defensive alignments, improved pump fakes, receivers not always looking for passes to be coming their way, and easier user catches all sound like positives, too.

Some of the changes address my and many other players’ biggest problems with Madden 12. For instance, defensive backs no longer will swat away balls or make plays if they can’t see the ball. (As it stands, balls coming in their direction are routinely knocked down even when they should have no idea the ball is coming their way.) Play-action fakes will now play out more quickly. More importantly, players will have the ability to abort the sequence in case a blitzing defender gets free and is barreling towards the quarterback. (In Madden 12, opting to use play-action is almost a guaranteed sentence to be sacked, thanks in part to an inability to break out of the excessively long animation that plays out before you assume control of the QB.) And Madden’s control scheme will no longer be at odds with NCAA’s — the pump fake and throw away buttons will no longer be assigned to opposite buttons in the two games.

Many of the improvements Tiburon is talking about — 430-plus new catch animations, for example — are the sort of things you’d expect to find in a sequel. Other issues Madden 12 players will be excited to see fixed are things that should have been resolved in a patch for the current game. I play in an ongoing league where we’re forced to have rules in place so the game can’t be abused. Quarterback sneaks, which are an all-but-guaranteed way of picking up a first down in short yardage situations, can’t be used excessively. Banned outright are nano blitzes, a defensive tactic many consider to be an exploit that ensures the defense gets an unblocked player running at the QB.

Madden NFL 13

Keep in mind these aren’t measures put in place in the weeks after the game’s release until an official fix can be delivered. The game came out in August and these are problems which remain as we approach May. A fix isn’t coming for nano blitzes, psychic defensive backs, linebackers being far too capable of crazy interceptions, or even the illogical control scheme disparity with NCAA Football 12. It’s an accepted fact that many of the problems Madden suffers from each year will go unresolved, and at best all you can hope is for a fix to be included next year. And that’s wrong — players should not see something terribly wrong with a game and think, “Oh, I guess I’ll have to pick up next year’s game so I don’t have to deal with that anymore.”

This is not some niche game made by a few people who can’t afford the costs of updating a game. Obligatory roster updates aside, only two title updates were released for Madden 12. That lack of long-term post-launch support makes it difficult to feel good about dropping $60 on the game every year.

It’s a point that has been made in the past, but it bears mentioning again: in this digital age, is it really necessary for a boxed version of Madden to be released every year? Guitar Hero and Rock Band eventually learned their lesson about annual releases, and the latter is living on through the release of downloadable content. It would make a lot of sense for Madden to come out less often and be supported through downloadable content and title updates in between releases, at least from a consumer perspective. Rosters could still be kept up-to-date and each new release would be far more substantial. The reason EA doesn’t go this route is obvious: it’s far more profitable to have a $60 product out each year. The built-in excuse of coinciding each release with the start of the new real-life sports season only makes it less likely EA, or any other sports game maker, will stray away from this schedule.

However, if Madden ever does move to a sort of subscription model where players pay to play a constantly evolving game, I could see that helping to make the game much better. Rather than buying a new game each year that receives fixes and improvements for only a few months after launch, we could instead have a Madden that is being iterated upon year-round — not one which is forgotten by the time the Super Bowl is over, if not sooner.

Find similar article at: http://www.1up.com/news/madden-13-improvements

War of the Immortals

Posted: 26 Apr 2012 04:31 PM PDT



[Press release] Perfect World Entertainment Inc. today announced Lost Omen, the first expansion to the widely popular free-to-play MMORPG, War of the Immortals , available to download for free on May 10, 2012. Lost Omen takes the Atlantean war between gods to a new level. What does fate hold? Will humanity triumph or will mortal kind be doomed to endless suffering?

“We’re pulling out all the stops for the first ever expansion to War of the Immortals. Lost Omen expands the game’s universe, creating a deeper and more immersive experience,” said Thang Phan, Product Manager, Perfect World Entertainment. “We’re catering to the wishes of our community by beefing up our already robust PvP system. With the addition of the new King of Combat battle arena, players are now faced with new challenging game modes as the war against humanity rages on.”

New features include:

Harbinger Class – The Scythe wielding Harbinger is a master of psychic and soul powers. Bring pure devastation to any path, and mount the Abyss Crawler, a fierce cousin to the dragon with a short temperament.



Areas – Cross the Rainbow Bridge of Valhalla Temple and stand with the gods in the realm of divinity. Enter the Defiled Paradise, a surreal and perilous home to the toughest monsters and a new World Boss. Travel to Asgard and partake in new quests and events, now open to level 100 and above.

New PvP Modes – Enter the new King of Combat battle arena and lay waste to the opposing team. Saddle a new combat mount and fight through the four Great Wars: Osiris’ Revenge, Siege of Rites, Territory Wars and the Royal City.



Enhanced Systems – Breed more powerful pets with the new Pet Ascension System and unlock the Bloodline Systems to unleash new incredible skills.

For more information about the War of the Immortals: Lost Omen expansion and to play War of the Immortals right now for free, visit: http://woi.perfectworld.com/

Find similar article at: http://www.mmoculture.com/2012/04/war-of-immortals-lost-omen-update.html

Torchlight II – Pre

Posted: 26 Apr 2012 04:30 PM PDT



[Pre-order here] A major investor in Runic Games and the owner of Cryptic Studios,
Perfect World Entertainment is now cross-promoting Neverwinter and
Torchlight II. By pre-ordering Torchlight II, gamers will have guaranteed access to Neverwinter’s Closed Beta phase. However, note that access might not necessarily be CBT 1, but perhaps during CBT 2 or 3.



I am sure you have read about Neverwinter, the MMORPG currently in development by Cryptic Studios of Champions Online and Star Trek fame. Bought over by Perfect World Entertainment last year, Neverwinter was sent back to the drawing board for a re-development due to the Free to Play direction. Last I heard, the game will sport action combat. What about Torchlight II?

Developed by Runic Games, Torchlight II is essentially a Diablo-style game, yet with quite a number of differences. The list is kind of long to post here, but you get the drift. Though a single-player setting in the original game, there is now co-op features in the sequel including LAN )local area network) and online. Unlike Diablo III, Torchlight II can be accessed offline during single-player sessions.

Note that this deal is for pre-orders via the official site only. If you pre-order through Steam, you will only get a free copy of Torchlight (the prequel). Below is quote from the official press release:

We’re excited to announce that pre-orders for Torchlight 2 are available today!

As an added bonus to the purchase, anybody who pre-orders Torchlight 2 will receive access to Dungeon and Dragons Neverwinter when it enters closed beta later this year. Torchlight players will be among the first to receive a closed beta key to enter the realm of one of the year’s most anticipated MMOs.

Players can expect to receive an email containing their beta code around the time Neverwinter closed beta kicks off.

(*Beta key holders are not guaranteed immediate first access to Neverwinter closed beta but will be granted entrance dependent on testing needs*)

Find similar article at: http://www.mmoculture.com/2012/04/torchlight-ii-pre-order-and-access.html

5th Cell Heads into Unconventional Territory with Hybrid

Posted: 26 Apr 2012 10:30 AM PDT

Besides looking beautiful, the original Crysis stood out for including an absolutely
lovely and bizarre gameplay feature involving the local fauna at the
fictional Lingshan Islands: You could use them as weapons.
As part of the sandbox-driven design of the early parts of Crysis’
campaign, the player could pick up and throw practically anything –
crates, corpses, and even wildlife — and chuck them with lethal
force. A thrifty player could, theoretically, sneak around and sling
crabs instead of bullets.

As visually impressive as Crysis 3 looks so far, with its swampy
streets of Chinatown and verdant takeovers of skyscrapers, it’s the
presence of ambient wildlife that brings this little feature to mind.
During a hands-off demo, director of creative development Rasmus
Hojengaard points out that frogs now hop about in New York’s newest
plumbing development, but the player doesn’t do anything besides look
at them. When I had a brief chance to ask about whether Prophet (a
recurring character throughout the franchise, and now the protagonist
due to events in both the ending of Crysis 2 and whatever has happened in the 20-plus years between Crysis 2′s 2023 time frame and Crysis 3′s setting of 2047 New York) can use frogs with lethal force, Hojengaard became a bit more evasive.

He answered, “We want to give the sensation of a
living and breathing environment, but we don’t want to arbitrarily
have you pick up a turtle and throw it at someone as a gameplay
mechanic, unless we can execute it more elegantly.” Later on, he
added, “We don’t want stuff like being able to throw frogs just for
the heck of it, as that’s too much development time,” and that causes me
some concern. I’m hoping he changes his mind.

Find similar article at: http://www.1up.com/previews?cId=3187036

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