Archive - 2014

EVE Online’s Rhea Content Update Launches

2014/12/09
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Windows PC News

ccp-rhea

9 Dec 2014 – Reykjavik, Iceland – Following the tremendous reception from players and critics alike to its recent “This is EVE (2014)” game trailer, which featured actual EVE player audio recordings with stunning space visuals, CCP Games has today delivered 2014’s largest update to the massive, sci-fi universe of EVE Online. The Rhea release adds dozens of major features, new ships and innovative areas of space to the EVE universe. It continues the long tradition of co-creating the game with player feedback within a very quick 5-6 week development cycle that ensures the next free update to EVE is just around the corner.

New features in Rhea include:

  • 100 new wormhole systems have been discovered in the wake of mysterious events in New Eden
  • A newly revealed wormhole system, Thera, is a location unlike any other in the universe and is home to four fully-equipped stations with a staggering amount of entry points. At over 340 astronomical units (AU) end to end, it is unparalleled in size and scope
  • New exploration sites sit amidst the shattered remnants of heavenly bodies, all pieces of a curious puzzle that may include the emergence of ominous Sleeper scouts from their wormhole havens into known space.
  • With some of the most stunning visual updates since the Trinity expansion, EVE has added physically based rendering to support the tremendous beauty and artistry of each of its hundreds of spaceships. In addition, the iconic EVE star map has undergone renovations and a functionality overhaul and a new beta version is open for testing
  • EVE‘s User Interface (UI) is modernized with more recognizable icons and an epic science fiction feel. A new opt-in keyboard ship control “WASD” feature means pilots can feel the full power of navigating their deadly ships
  • In the name of more explosions, the clone upgrade system and skillpoint loss upon death have been eliminated. Veteran players are expected to put more on the line in battle and new players feel less of a sting upon their first defeats
  • Lethal new polarized weapons deliver superior damage and tracking in exchange for all damage resistance, allowing for the perfect “glass cannon” setup
  • Two new unique ships provide gameplay opportunities in EVE‘s massive sandbox. The Amarr Confessor tactical destroyer is able to switch seamlessly between defensive, speed and sniper modes during a fight. The ORE Bowhead freighter is a logistics behemoth able to carry fully fitted battleships throughout the galaxy. The ongoing ship redesign effort brings glorious new visuals to the Blackbird, Rook, Falcon, Incursus, Onyx and Eagle

A few unannounced features and many more smaller improvements round out the epic Rhea release.

Those wishing to learn more about EVE Online and Rhea should visit the feature page, the patch notes, and recent developer blogs.

Crusader Kings II: Way of Life Release Date

2014/12/09
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Windows PC News

wol_white_stag

STOCKHOLM – December 9, 2014 – Paradox Interactive and Paradox Development Studio today announced that Crusader Kings II: Way of Life, the next expansion for the award winning strategy franchise, will be released on December 16th via digital storefronts worldwide. Way of Life will be available on PC, Mac, and Linux for $7.99.

Way of Life delves into the role-playing aspects of Crusader Kings II, giving players the ability to fine-tune their methods of seduction and break ups, and also the ability to set a Focus for your character that will influence the types of events that befall your character during their lifetime. Featuring hundreds of new events as well as over 20 new event pictures, Way of Life will give players control over their characters in ways never before available—for better, for worse, or for entertainment.

Way of Life features:

New diplomatic interactions – Dispatch foes by challenging them to duels, choose who to seduce, break up with lovers, spy on people, free prisonors from captivity, and more are now available to players.

Set a Focus – Give your rulers a “way of life” by assigning them a Focus that will give an immediate boost to their skills and help shape the course of their development through events and decisions – new and old. There are ten different Focuses available to your characters:

•    Rulership – Be a better king!
•    Business – Gold is good
•    Hunting – Kill the beast!
•    War – What’s yours is mine
•    Family – the most important thing, right?
•    Carousing – ahem
•    Seduction – double ahem
•    Intrigue – sneaky, sneak
•    Scholarship – We love to learn
•    Theology – Do it for the big guy upstairs

New events – Hundreds of new events have been added into Way of Life, alongside 20 new event images, which tie in directly to a character’s Focus. Specific events can be triggered only if a character is assigned a corresponding Focus.

To learn more about Crusader Kings II, visit http://www.crusaderkings.com/

World of Warships Sneak Peak Weekend Announced

2014/12/09
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

World-of-Warships

December 9, 2014 — Wargaming today announced they will conduct a sneak peek testing event for its upcoming naval online combat game, World of Warships. The event, dubbed “World of Warships: Rock-Paper-Scissors”, will take place December 12–14, 2014.

“This weekend with World of Warships, we are starting with a new model of testing and are looking forward to seeing the results of this new approach,” stated Daniil Volkov, World of Warships Development Director. “The game is still in the early stages of development. Opening it to a larger audience will allow us to get a lot of relevant feedback that will be instrumental in defining player expectations and outlining what we are to focus on in the coming months.”

The event will feature three classes of military vessels, offering players the chance to experience the unique “Rock-Paper-Scissors” approach to naval combat. Players will have the opportunity to command American cruisers and destroyers as well as Japanese battleships, cruisers, and destroyers.

World of Warships will offer its first testers the chance to experience a guided learning curve as they progress across four levels of difficulty. Players will start with cooperative PvE battles (a team of players vs. AI-controlled ships). Having grasped the basics, players will then proceed to three more tiers of difficulty, each with its own intense naval combat missions.

To learn more about World of Warships and the upcoming testing event, please visit:

http://worldofwarships.com/en/news/common/rock-paper-scissor-test-weekend/

Metal Gear Online World Premiere Trailer

2014/12/09
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 3 News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Xbox 360 News, Xbox One News

mgsv_mgo_tga_01_web

El Segundo, CA – Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. has shown the first footage of METAL GEAR ONLINE, while also confirming that the multi-player content will be released as part of the highly anticipated METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN.

METAL GEAR ONLINE is a dedicated multi-player mode that segues into elements of the main game and will be included with the single player campaign in METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN at no extra cost. KONAMI showed METAL GEAR ONLINE in a four-minute debut trailer, aired during The Game Awards show held in Las Vegas and streamed online on December 5th.

METAL GEAR ONLINE represents the third iteration of the popular multiplayer game, newly redesigned with the familiar gameplay and aesthetic styling of its companion single-player campaign METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN. With a focus on Tactical Team Operations, the game features a ‘class system’ that more uniquely defines the strengths and abilities of player characters on the battle field. Key characters from the series including Venom Snake and Ocelot will also make appearances in the anticipated multiplayer feature. Further information regarding the development and content of METAL GEAR ONLINE will be unveiled approaching launch. Fans can also follow twitter.com/metalgearonline and facebook.com/mgs for more information.

Concluding the METAL GEAR SOLID V experience, METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN is the largest and most ambitious addition to the series to date. It focuses on the hero of the series, Snake, and follows the events of the recently released prologue, METAL GEAR SOLID V: GROUND ZEROES. Set within a series of huge open-world environments, METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN is brought to vivid life via changing weather conditions and the gradual change from day to night within missions. The change in lighting as the day progresses has a huge impact on the series’ famed stealth-based gameplay. Powered by the new FOX Engine, which delivers stunningly beautiful graphics, the game offers total strategic freedom of choice in how the user approaches missions, including the use of various modes of transport and key infiltration techniques. Such freedom ensures that METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN will set new standards for player immersion.

To pre-order METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN, please visit: https://www.konami.com/mgsv/
Product page: http://www.konami.jp/mgs5/

Trailer

Razer Comms Adds Stream Viewer

2014/12/08
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, Windows PC News

razer-zomms

CARLSBAD, Calif. – Razer™, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, today announced the launch of Stream Viewer for Comms, a new feature for the gaming VoIP messenger.

Stream Viewer for Comms seamlessly integrates popular streaming providers such as Twitch, the world’s leading video platform and community for gamers, to enhance the social experience of gaming.

The three main challenges with stream viewing today are:

  • Discovery of new streams; and
  • Being alerted when streamers go live; and
  • Social interaction on streams due to the amount of spamming in the popular channels;

The new Stream Viewer for Comms will allow the millions of Razer users to address all of the above issues. With the new Stream Viewer for Comms, streams can now be recommended to users based on interest, games and also via recommendations by friends. Further, Comms will also send an alert to all stream followers when a streamer comes online. Finally, Comms allows private hosting of chat groups to watch streams as they come live – so that groups of friends can interact and communicate with each other.

The public release of the Stream Viewer for Comms followed a two-week, early-access event where over 4000 users tried the software.

The full list of features for the Stream Viewer for Razer Comms will include the following:

  • Watch streams with friends
  • Discover streams based on interests and games
  • Host private chats while watching streams with friends
  • Create playlists to group favorite streams together
  • Receive notifications when streams go live
  • Share playlists

“Broadcasting and watching gameplay is now a global phenomenon – Twitch, alone, has attracted more than 60 million unique visitors and more than 16 billion minutes of content in a month,” says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder and CEO. “Maximizing this new and exciting form of media content and consumption, Razer Comms with its Stream Viewer feature aims to push the social experience in gaming and provide Razer’s millions of users with access to a refined streaming content experience.”

“Our goal is to be everywhere gamers are,” said Matthew DiPietro, VP of Marketing, Twitch. “Stream Viewer for Razer Comms, Razer’s promising new desktop software, provides one more way for the Twitch community to connect.”

ABOUT RAZER COMMS:

Razer Comms is a free all-in-one communications solution for gamers, offering crystal clear VoIP and versatile instant messaging with group chat capabilities. Built with advanced in-game overlay functionality and cross-game chat support, Razer Comms allows you to get in touch with your friends without compromising your gameplay. This is how gamers were meant to communicate.

Razer Comms also includes the following features:

  • Instant Messaging – Instant message and voice with friends on your list, colleagues at work or your raiding guild party members quickly and easily.
  • In Game Overlay – Stay notified of all your messages, notifications and even connect with voice to friends without ever losing your focus on the game screen with the minimal real estate overlay feature of Comms.  
  • Gaming on the Go – With an Android application and the ability to forward calls and messages to your PC when linked, you are always connected to your guild and friends no matter where you are.  

You can learn more about Razer Comms at http://www.razerzone.com/comms.

Dying Light Story Trailer

2014/12/08
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

dying-light

December 5, 2014 – Warsaw, Poland/ As the rules that govern our civilization crumble, a new order of things is bound to emerge. In the latest trailer for Dying Light, Techland for the first time ever give a sneak peek into the storyline of their open-world, action survival game.

Looking for inspirations for Dying Light, we delved into classics of international literature, such as Albert Camus’s The Plague and Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness” – explains Rafał Orkan, a novelist and co-author of Dying Light’s story. “With our game, we wanted to evoke similar emotions and offer players an insight into how people react to the extreme.”

Roaming a city devastated by a mysterious epidemic that turns people into zombies, players will assume the role of Kyle Crane, an undercover operative sent to infiltrate the quarantine zone. Sheer chaos, warring factions and a suspicious mission all tug at Crane’s decisions for what he has been told is “the greater good”. Yet who decides when greater good turns into necessary evil?

“Going into Dying Light, I was blown away by the visuals of the game and was surprised by such a mature, intense script. I’m honored Techland let me be a small part of this gritty tale of survival. Can’t wait to see people’s reactions when they find out what’s really going on in the story and I can’t wait to play the game myself!”– says Roger Craig Smith, the voice behind Kyle Crane and known from such popular titles as Batman: Arkham Origins and many more.

Trailer

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt Delayed Another 12 Weeks

2014/12/08
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

the-witcher-3-1

Here is an official letter for cd Projekt RED, the developers of the upcoming The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, announcing that they will be delaying the game for another 12 weeks. I propose that we give them kudos for being so open on the delay and I, for one, am still on the edge of my seat to play it.

Official Letter

Dear Gamers,

Ever since we started working on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, we knew it would be an ambitious game. We wanted, and still aim, to give you an incredible experience, an epic adventure in a vast, completely open fantasy universe.

The sheer size and complexity of The Witcher, key features of the title, have had a decisive impact on production. Now, nearing the end of our work, we see many details that need to be corrected. When we release the most important game in our studio’s history, we must be absolutely sure that we did everything we could to limit any bugs to a level that will allow you to enjoy the game thoroughly.

With this in mind, we took another look at current workloads and what they mean for the team. Even though everyone is working at full speed, we concluded that we need another 12 weeks, so we are shifting the release date of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt to May 19th, 2015.

We owe you an apology. We set the release date too hastily. It’s a hard lesson, one to take to heart for the future. We know what we want to do to make Wild Hunt one of the best RPGs you will ever play. And we continue to work hard to achieve just that. So, we apologize and ask for your trust.

Thank you for the all support you show us on a daily basis. We truly do appreciate it. It has fueled us in our passion since the start and will continue to do so.

– The Board of CD PROJEKT SA

King’s Quest Game Awards 2014 Reveal Trailer

2014/12/08
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 3 News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox 360 News, Xbox One News

kingsquest

The Odd Gentlemen and Sierra have released the reveal trailer for their upcoming King’s Quest, a reboot of the original Sierra classic PC game from 1984. King’s Quest is expected to launch in fall 2015 on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 computer entertainment systems, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, Xbox 360, and Windows PC.

Trailer

Dungeon Defenders 2 Now on Steam Early Access

2014/12/08
Jerry Paxton
Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

dd2-logo-1

Gainesville, FL – December 5, 2014 – Trendy Entertainment today paved the way for new armies to bring the fight to the malevolent Old Ones with the release of Dungeon Defenders II, an action tower defense video game, to Steam’s Early Access program. A sequel to 2011’s widely praised Dungeon Defenders, this newest entry in Trendy’s flagship franchise launches in conjunction with The Game Awards 2014 ceremony, where it was revealed that the full game will also come to the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system next year.

“We’ve been partnering with many of our most engaged community members through our Defense Council program to make Dungeon Defenders II an experience worthy of its namesake,” said Trendy Entertainment CEO Darrell Rodriguez. “Early Access allows us to take that process of transparent, player-engaged development even further with a wider set of voices from which to draw feedback and enhance this shared adventure.”

Players that purchase Dungeon Defenders II through Early Access will gain entry to a pre-alpha build that opens up the entire first region of the game along with four of the series’ most iconic champions. In addition to receiving specific in-game gifts, Early Access participants will be able to vote directly on gameplay decisions made during this stage of production through the new Influence System.

Dungeon Defenders II is a third-person action-strategy role-playing game with both single-player and vibrant cooperative multiplayer. As the land of Etheria is besieged by the innumerable swarms of the Old Ones, players must build up their heroes and defenses to survive the onslaught. The sequel advances the core mechanics of the original Dungeon Defenders with new combat, defense and progression systems, including new abilities, loot, enemies and an elemental combo system.

And that experience will soon be open to PlayStation®4 owners. “Bringing the first Dungeon Defenders to the PlayStation®Network was a proud accomplishment for this team,” Rodriguez added. “It’s a privilege to once again have the PlayStation® community playing alongside us.”

Dungeon Defenders II is now available on PC via Steam Early Access. Early Access, priced at $24.99 standard but on sale now for $19.99 for a limited time, includes $30 of in-game currency and an exclusive Hero Embellishment set. An upgraded bundle with exclusive skins and more is also available.

The final version of the title, available on PC, Mac, Linux and PlayStation®4, will be free-to-play, supported by ethical in-game purchases. For more details, visit www.DungeonDefenders.com, and follow along at www.facebook.com/DungeonDefenders and www.twitter.com/TrendyEnt.