Archive - 2015

Crossout E3 Behind Closed Door Demo

2015/06/21

E3, Geek News, News, Previews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Preview

Gaijin Entertainment's Crossout Screenshot

Russian publisher Gaijin Entertainment certainly has a great stable of games in the online game space. Their War Thunder and Star Conflict games put players against on another in action packed games of combat – both on air, land, and space. At last week’s E3 expo, I got the chance to check out their upcoming vehicular combat title, Crossout, in a behind closed doors preview. Crossout is set in a post-apocalyptic landscape a la Mad Max where players customize and build their vehicles of carnage almost entirely from the ground up.

Building your vehicle is a huge part of Crossout – tweaking it just the way you want it for future battles. You can research new parts and tech in exchange for salvage and old parts and it was really amazing to see the various types of vehicles able to be constructed. You can also take your creations out on a test battlefield to see how they run. In this test area, you will also find an exact clone of the vehicle you are driving so you can shoot at it to see where its weak spots are.

Combat is very fluid and it was extremely satisfying to see the various bits of enemy vehicles explode into pieces. You can literally destroy vehicles piece by piece. After each match, you receive a report of the parts and salvage you received as well as your match statistics. There are a huge number of weapons available in Crossout – all have their own strengths and weaknesses. For example, machine guns have unlimited ammunition but overheat fairly quickly while larger cannons have slower rates of fire and higher damage out put, but limited quantities of ammunition.

Crossout looks like it will be a fun online combat title that will satisfy both players of games like War Thunder and World of Tanks while also appeasing the gear heads out there who like to tweak and customize their rides ad nauseam. Crossout is currently in alpha testing – head on over to Gaijin Entertainment’s official website for more information.

Screenshots

Master of Orion E3 Behind Closed Door Preview #masteroforion

2015/06/20

Jerry Paxton

E3, Geek News, News, Previews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Preview

E3 2015 Wargaming Master of Orion Screenshot

Wargaming.net caught the interest of us classic PC gamers this E3 when they announced a reboot of the Master of Orion space strategy franchise. Master of Orion effectively created a new genre of strategy game knows as a “4X” game (“Xploration”, “Xpansion”, “Xploitation”, and “Xtermination”) back when it was released in 1993. Master of Orion, or “MOO” as it is affectionately known, allowed players to control their own empire as it expanded into the galaxy in search of the mysterious planet Orion. MicroProse and Simtex, creators of the original game, followed it up with Master of Orion 2: Battle at Antares, which continued the series and was met with equal adulation. We shall not speak of Master of Orion 3! For the greater good…. (…the greater good…)

Wargaming has promised to remain true to the original two titles while also bringing it into the modern climate of PC gaming. My concern, of course, is that they would somehow “dumb down” the game to the point where it no longer has any of the charm or core gameplay mechanics that the original games had. While at E3 2015, I got the chance to sit down with the executive producer of the game, Randy King, as well as some other Wargaming staffers, and get a walk through of some of the new Master of Orion’s game mechanics.

The original ten Master of Orion races have returned, and each gets its own cinematic sequence when starting a game. Additionally, Wargaming has taken a cue from the Civilization series and Master of Orion features animated, 3D advisers and leaders for all the races you will encounter in your quest for galactic domination. These characters look amazing and are all fully-voiced. Master of Orion features several paths to galactic victory – from sheer conquest to diplomatic means. The tech tree has a huge number of branches and technologies to research and, in an update from the original games, you can select a technology farther down the tree and your researchers will “fill in the gaps”, auto-selecting and researching the proceeding tech to reach that goal.

Planetary management will be very familiar to Master of Orion players with a similar interface and the ability to move your population around between industrial, agricultural, and mining castes. Planets still come in all shapes and sizes – some will be in the realm of your species’ tolerances and others will need to be terraformed to suit your colonists.

Taking from current 4X games, Master of Orion no longer allows your ships to travel to any system they desire so long as they have the fuel capacity. Now, star systems are all connected by wormholes. The benefit of this is that players can now use special ship types known as space factory ships to build star bases. Building a starbase near a wormhole’s event horizon will effectively blockade that route from foreign space vessels unless that race has negotiated a treaty allowing their passage through your space. This allows players to create a more solid sense of imperial boundaries and borders. Of course, the same restrictions will apply to your vessels if they try to pass through a wormhole guarded by a foreign star base.

Spacecraft will also be able to happen upon random artifacts floating about the cosmos. Sometimes these are credits, sometimes they are technologies and, sometimes, there are even derelict vessels ripe for the capturing! Planets are all randomly generated based upon variables the player sets at the start of the game (when setting up the galaxy) and all feature a cool cinematic when players colonize them. These cinematic sequences are also generated based on the type of planet being colonized so it will all match up.

Continued on Page Two

D23 Expo Announces Consumer Products Showcase #D23Expo

2015/06/19

boothby

Geek News, News

Glendale, Calif. — June 18, 2015 — Disney Consumer Products will unveil unique product experiences and exclusive merchandise at this year’s D23 EXPO, Disney’s ultimate fan event, held at the Anaheim Convention Center August 14–16. Reflecting a ‘Tradition Meets Innovation’ theme, the expansive Disney Consumer Products pavilion will provide interactive opportunities for fans of all ages to explore exciting stories and engaging experiences and products celebrating everyone’s favoriteDisney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars stories.

Throughout the weekend, Disney Consumer Products will give fans the chance to get hands-on with the very latest in product innovations, explore fashion trends, books, apps, and more, as well as shop for collectible Disney Store merchandise at D23 EXPO. Special artist signings and stage presentations also will take place over the three-day event, offering fans the chance to get up close and personal with their favorite storytellers.

Events and attractions within the Disney Consumer Products pavilion include:

Playmation Marvel’s Avengers – EXPO attendees will have the chance to see if they have what it takes to gear up and join the Avengers! Be among the first to experience the recently announced Playmation product, a groundbreaking new system of connected toys and wearables that uses smart technology to inspire kids to run around and use their imaginations, as they become the hero or heroine of Marvel stories.

The Marvel Universe – Fans of all ages collect across the ever-expanding Marvel Universe, and at D23 EXPO they can experience more of their favorite Super Heroes with a preview of the newest large-scale statues, action figures and more. Additionally, attendees will get a first-hand look at how the attributes of Marvel characters – cool, strong, relatable – come together in fashionable apparel and accessories. Attendees are encouraged to follow @StyledbyMarvel on Instagram and to share their own passion for MARVEL with the #StyledByMarvel hashtag.

Evolution of the Star Wars Stormtrooper – Explore the design evolution of the armor-clad legions of Clone Troopers and Stormtroopers that have fought for the light side and the dark side throughout the Star Wars saga.

#TeamMickey – Fans can show off their #TeamMickey spirit and commemorate their visit at a fun-filled Mickey photo booth.

Rock Your #MinnieStyle – The Minnie lounge will feature a nail bar and surprise product giveaways along with an inspired fashion and accessories statement.

D-Style – EXPO attendees will be the very first to preview D-Style, an all-new, curated assortment of fashion items and accessories debuting at DisneyStore.com this fall.

Make it a Tink Moment – Straight from Never Land, #TinkStyle will land at D23 EXPO. Guests can visit the ‘Bun Bar,’ where professional hair stylists will be on hand to give attendees the iconic Tinker Bell top knot while they peruse a glittering Tinker Bell product display.

Disney Junior ‘Fun Spot’ – Fans can experience galactic play with new stellar toys from Miles from Tomorrowland and have the chance to meet Doc McStuffins and Sofia the First at the Disney Junior ‘Fun Spot.’

Unlock Your Inner Disney Princess – D23 EXPO attendees can unlock their inner princess by leaving an empowering message on a special ‘Keys to the Kingdom’ gate.

The Breadth of Frozen – Fans will have the opportunity to check out Frozen products for the whole family and engage in fun activities held throughout the day.

Pixar Storytelling Comes to Life – Pixar films have delighted audiences for more than 20 years with memorable characters that have been brought to life in equally delightful product. Explore some of the newest products from everyone’s favorite Pixar films. Additionally, fans will be able to see the exciting new app from Disney –Cars: Daredevil Garage – that allows you to take your favorite Mattel diecast cars into the virtual world, using them to perform extreme stunts in crazy environments.

Discover Disney’s Descendants – EXPO attendees will get an exclusive look at the wicked world of fashion and toys inspired by Disney’s Descendants, the teenage progeny of Disney’s most infamous villains.

Disney Store

In addition to the exciting events and attractions offered in the Disney Consumer Products pavilion, the Disney Store shop at D23 EXPO invites attendees to shop an array of special products not yet available to the general public. Showcased throughout more than 3,000 sq. ft. of retail space, new collections and Limited Edition items will launch throughout the D23 EXPO weekend.

Offering even more collectible merchandise, Disney Store will be launching “Disney 3D Print Studio” at D23 EXPO, offering fans the chance to personalize new figures, including a Disney Mouseketeer, Star Wars stormtrooper, and Marvel’s Iron Man, with their likeness through the use of facial-scanning kiosks. Marking the first foray into 3D printing by Disney Store, the figures sold at EXPO will feature unique packaging with a special D23 Certificate of Authenticity.

More details about Disney Store merchandise offered at EXPO will be released in the coming weeks.

Disney Publishing

Disney Publishing will take fans into the world of books, apps, and everything in between by showcasing how artists, storytelling, and innovative content come together to create stories full of magic and adventure.

Disney Storytelling Pop-Up Shop – EXPO attendees are invited to take a magical journey into the world of storytelling featuring titles that span Disney’s fascinating history. Look behind the magic through Disney Publishing’s Disney Editions books that showcase a vast array of feature films, Disney Legends, and Imagineers, available for purchase at the Disney Store retail space.

Discover the Magic of Learning with Disney Imagicademy – Dive into the world of technology-driven learning through apps designed to encourage children to learn by creating, doing, and making.

Disney Publishing’s Digital Discovery Zone – Fans can immerse themselves in the exciting world of innovative storytelling through a collection of digital experiences that will engage the imagination of people of all ages.

Whisker Haven Tales with the Palace Pets – Take a journey into a secret realm deep in a fairy tale land between the Disney Princess kingdoms called Animal Royal Kingdom of Whisker Haven, where the Palace Pets characters can meet up with their friends, play, and save the day.

Introducing Star Darlings – Coming this fall, the Star Darlings characters will encourage girls to make wishes from the heart and find their inner star. At D23 EXPO, fans can see a sneak peek into their world, with exciting Star Darlings giveaways being conducted throughout the weekend.

Disney Publishing will also present in Stage 28 at D23 EXPO. Located inside the Disney Consumer Products pavilion, Stage 28 will feature exciting presentations and author signings including:

Friday, August 14

3–4 pm: Stage 28: Exploring the Past, Present, and Future of Storytelling with Ridley Pearson and Marty Sklar

New York Times bestselling author Ridley Pearson joins Disney Imagineering Legend Marty Sklar as they discuss their seemingly different careers and roles as storytellers, along with how their worlds pleasantly and serendipitously collided with the creation of Pearson’s Kingdom Keepers series.

4:30–5:30 pm: D23 EXPO Dream Store: Ridley Pearson autographing

Saturday, August 15

10–11 am: Stage 28: One Little Spark—Mickey’s Ten Commandments and The Road to Imagineering—with Marty Sklar in conversation with Eli Erlandson, Shelby Jiggetts-Tivoni, Daniel Joseph, Dexter Tanksley, and Kevin Rafferty

From the acclaimed author of DREAM IT! DO IT!, Disney Imagineering Legend Marty Sklar joins five well-known Imagineers in a lively conversation about what inspired them to go into the arts, ultimately become Imagineers, and the advice they have for young creative talent who wish to do the same. Sklar will engage his fellow Imagineers in an inspiring discussion that will appeal to young and old alike–those who hope to take that “Road to Imagineering” someday, along with the parents and grandparents who encourage young people to follow their dreams.

11:30 am–12:30 pm: D23 Autograph Central: Marty Sklar signing

2:45–3:45 pm: D23 EXPO Dream Store: #1 New York Times bestselling author Melissa de la Cruz autographing for The Isle of The Lost: A Descendants Novel

Sunday, August 16

1:30–2:30 pm: Stage 28: An Animator’s Gallery: Presented by Dave A. Bossert and Eric Goldberg

Based on the book containing whimsical, deluxe Art Deco-themed art showcasing Walt Disney characters in a style reminiscent of caricatures from the famed walls of Sardi’s and The Brown Derby, join Disney Supervising Animator Dave Bossert and Director Eric Goldberg as they discuss the stylized images in the collection that first debuted as a display within the Roy E. Disney Animation Building in Burbank, California. Fans of all ages, and from all over, will learn what inspired Goldberg to create these playful portraits, starting with Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and Mickey Mouse through characters from Frozen and Big Hero 6.

3–4 pm: D23 Autograph Central: Dave Bossert and Eric Goldberg signing

Additional details and updates about Disney Consumer Products events and activities will continue to be updated on www.D23EXPO.com, on Facebook, and Twitter at “DisneyD23.”

Tickets for D23 EXPO 2015 are available at a discounted price for a limited time. Now through June 30, 2015, tickets are $67 for one-day adult admission and $48 for children 3–12. Tickets for members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club are $58 for one-day adult admission and $42 for children. Multi-day money-saving tickets are also available. D23 Members can save as much as $188 off the price of admission, based on the purchase of four three-day tickets at the D23 Member rate. For more information on tickets and the ticket pricing structure for D23 Members and general admission, visit D23EXPO.com.

CryEngine Adds Oculus Support and Two Additional Platforms

2015/06/19

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News

Frankfurt, Germany – June 19, 2015 – Developers can now tap into the game-changing power of CRYENGINE to create virtual reality experiences following the latest update to Crytek’s all-in-one software solution.

The release of CRYENGINE 3.8.1 adds Oculus Rift support to the engine, granting both full licensees and Engine-as-a-Service subscribers equal access to the new VR toolset. The addition of VR development capabilities to CRYENGINE is complimented by initial support for AMD’s LiquidVR™ technology, which is dedicated to making VR as comfortable and realistic as possible. Future updates will bring support for additional VR platforms into the engine.

Crytek’s Frank Vitz, Creative Director CRYENGINE, said: “Since showcasing our own work with VR, we’ve seen an overwhelming response from developers who want to use CRYENGINE for their virtual reality projects as well. Our experience in stereoscopic 3D, combined with the engine’s rendering power and ability to deliver high resolution images at a high frame rate, means CRYENGINE offers a degree of visual fidelity that many people feel is foundational to a compelling VR experience. We can’t wait to see what other CRYENGINE users create now that they have VR capabilities at their fingertips.”

Today’s update also adds OpenGL support to CRYENGINE, allowing developers to more seamlessly port their PC projects to Linux.

Finally, today’s update also empowers full engine licensees to put CRYENGINE to work when developing games for Android TV systems. With Android devices designed for the living room set to become increasingly popular, CRYENGINE ensures users are equipped to bring their vision to life for a whole new audience.

CRYENGINE is available royalty free for as little as 9.90 USD/EUR per month. For more information visit www.cryengine.com.

E3 2016 Dates Announced

2015/06/18

Jerry Paxton

E3, Geek News, News

Los Angeles, CA – June 18, 2015 – More than 52,200 video game professionals, analysts, journalists, and enthusiasts, representing 109 countries attended this week’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) announced today at the close of E3 2015. On display at the premier global video game event were more than 1,600 products from 300 exhibitors. ESA, which owns and produces E3, also revealed that E3 2016 will take place June 14-16 in Los Angeles at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

“More than any other E3, this year was about the gamer. E3 demonstrated both the remarkable transformation of entertainment taking place on all video game platforms—virtual reality, augmented reality, hardware, mobile and handheld—and awesome games,” said Michael D. Gallagher, president and CEO of ESA. “As a driving force for technological and entertainment trends across the globe, the video game industry clearly demonstrated how it is revolutionizing the way people consume, engage and interact with media. Congratulations to our incredibly creative exhibitors, members, partners and the millions of video game consumers who celebrated a spectacular E3 event.”

With an astounding 6.3 million posts on Twitter alone, E3 broke records for social media numbers across all channels. Engagement on Instagram topped previous records with over 7.5 million likes on E3-related posts this month. Twitch, E3’s official streaming partner, reported that more than one half million concurrent viewers watched the E3 press conferences. In addition, more than one million E3-related videos were posted to YouTube.

Also announced during E3, a blue-ribbon panel of industry professionals and experts selected The DigiPen Institute of Technology as winner of the 2015 E3 College Game Competition with its winning video game,RumbleTV. Finalists for the competition included entries from The Academy of Art University, The University of Utah, Brigham Young University and Savannah College of Art and Design.

E3 is the world’s premier trade show for computer and video games and related products. The show is owned by the ESA, the U.S. association dedicated to serving the business and public affairs needs of the companies, publishing interactive games for video game consoles, handheld devices, personal computers, and the Internet. For more information, please visit www.E3Expo.com or follow E3 on Twitter: @E3.

Making of Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 Video

2015/06/18

Jerry Paxton

E3, Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

WARSAW, POLAND – June 17, 2015 – CI Games will be presenting and providing hands-on demos of Sniper Ghost Warrior 3 in a private meeting room Tuesday through Thursday at the 2015 E3 Convention in Los Angeles. The Warsaw, Poland based studio has also yesterday unveiled the very first glimpse of gameplay for the next title in the sniper franchise.

“We’re deep into development on the game, our next big production that we’ll provide a more in-depth look at during E3 2015,” said Marek Tyminski, CEO of CI Games. “We’re dedicated to taking this franchise to the next level and look forward to giving gamers a taste of what to expect.”

The Sniper Ghost Warrior franchise is CI Games’ most popular, having sold more than 5.5 million titles to date. The third entry into the series will be its first full-fledged triple-A title, featuring open-ended wartime environments and a non-linear narrative to give snipers the freedom and choice necessary to execute the advanced missions that tactically-minded gamers yearn for.

Hot on the heels of CI Games’ first triple-A production, the successful Lords of the Fallen, SGW3 is the studio’s most ambitious title yet. It is being created from the ground up by an experienced development team led by former Marine and CI Games creative director Paul B. Robinson, who, in addition to serving in combat, has an extensive 20-year career in game development. Veteran game designer and writer Jess Lebow, who has worked on a number of high profile games including League of Legends, Far Cry, and Guild Wars also serves as the Lead Narrative Designer for SGW3, and is available for interviews at E3.

Vampyr RPG Announced with Concept Teaser

2015/06/18

Jerry Paxton

E3, Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

June 18, 2015 — Acclaimed game-development studio Dontnod and publisher Focus Home Interactive are pleased to officially announce their partnership for the development of Vampyr, a new role-playing gamepowered by Unreal Engine 4 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.

The studio behind Remember Me and Life is Strange unveils a concept trailer for Vampyr, which sets the mood and universe of this new license, which promises to offer a unique, deeply immersive role-playing experience steeped in vampire mythology.

Vampyr is set in early 20th century Britain as the country is gripped by the lethal Spanish flu and the streets of London are crippled by disease, violence and fear. In a disorganized and ghostly city, those foolish, desperate, or unlucky enough to walk the streets lay prey to Britain’s most elusive predators: the vampires. Emerging from the chaos, a tormented figure awakens. You are Jonathan E. Reid, a high-ranking military surgeon transformed into a vampire upon his return home from the frontline.

Explore the darkly atmospheric streets of early 20th century London, and interact with a multitude of characters with their own identities and importance. Accept and fulfill the missions they give you, but don’t forget: sooner or later, you will have to feed, and make a difficult choice… who will be your prey? Absolutely all characters in the game are potential victims of your vampiric lust. Carefully study the habits of your next victim, his or her relationships with other characters, and set up your strategy to feed, unnoticed: seduce them, change their daily habits, or make sure they end up alone in a dark street…

Be careful who you choose to hunt, as they will be gone forever, and their death will impact in a meaningful way the world that surrounds you. Feeding on human blood will not just keep you “alive”; it will also unlock new vampiric powers to use.

There will be times when exploration and seduction will only get you so far, and you’ll need to resort to engaging in Vampyr’s dynamic real-time combat. It blends hard-hitting melee combat with ranged shooting mechanics and the supernatural vampire powers. You’ll face many types of enemies: different species of vampires and creatures, as well as vampire hunters who want to hunt you down with their weapons, tools and traps. In Vampyr, your health and the “energy” that drives your supernatural powers are one and same! Using powers will drain your own blood, giving you an edge in battle but also leaving you weaker. You will have to find a way to feed during combat to replenish your strength.

Vampyr also offers a deep crafting system. Find and loot materials and components from the fresh corpses of your victims or during exploration, in order to craft and improve tools, melee and ranged weapons, as well as special ammunitions and coating to exploit the weaknesses of your enemies.

As you cling to what remains of your humanity, your decisions will ultimately shape the fate of your hero while searching for answers in the coughing, foggy aftermath of the Spanish Flu.

Vampyr will release in 2017 on PS4, Xbox One and PC.

SteelSeries Announces Siberia Gaming Headsets for Consoles

2015/06/18

Jerry Paxton

E3, Geek News, News, PlayStation 3 News, PlayStation 4 News, Tech News, Xbox 360 News, Xbox One News

SteelSeries P100 PlayStation 4 Headphones

LOS ANGELES – E3 – June 17, 2015 –SteelSeries, the leading global manufacturer of gaming peripherals, today introduced six new console gaming headsets. Combining more than a decade of global gaming expertise with tournament-tested insights from eSports professionals, SteelSeries Siberia headsets are designed to deliver a new level of comfort that console gamers have never felt before. For Xbox One gamers, SteelSeries is introducing the Siberia X100, Siberia X300, and Siberia X800, each featuring a SteelSeries Xbox One adapter giving gamers fingertip control of volume, chat, and settings. For PlayStation gamers, the Siberia P100, Siberia P300, and Siberia P800 are designed for audio and communication on PS4®.

SteelSeries Siberia X800 ($329.99) and SteelSeries Siberia P800 ($299.99)

SteelSeries’ Siberia X800 and P800 Wireless Universal Headsets deliver professional-quality audio with Dolby® 7.1 virtual surround sound and exceptional comfort for limitless hours of gameplay and audio entertainment. The headset wirelessly connects to your Xbox One or PS4 console and other devices, giving you immersive, low-latency, and lag-free, gaming audio. Ultra-soft memory foam earcups offer gamers amazing comfort, and rotate to lie comfortably around the neck during breaks from marathon gaming.

Adjust the volume, mix, EQ, and more with convenient controls directly on your headset. For chat capabilities on Xbox One, connect the headset via 3.5mm cable directly to the adapter and chat clearly with teammates and friends during gameplay. Unlike competitive headsets, there are no tiny blinking lights to try and decipher; instead the beautiful OLED transmitter displays profiles, audio sources, battery life, volume and more. The large display makes it easy to see and operate from the comfort of your couch.

While the competition waits for interference to be detected before changing channels, we avoid it completely. By continuously hopping between frequencies, the Siberia X800 and P800 bypass all possible interference giving you a perfect connection. Additional features include:

5-band EQ – equalizer settings to fine tune your audio
ChatMix – controls the audio level balance between the action in your game and the communication from your team.
LiveMix – automates the ChatMix feature and automatically turns up chat and turns down the game audio when voice communication is detected.

SteelSeries Siberia X300 ($129.99) and SteelSeries Siberia P300 ($99.99)

The SteelSeries Siberia X300 and P300 are the most comfortable console gaming headsets in the world, bar none. The Siberia headset is 70% preferred when tested against the top competitive headsets brands. The dominating results of the Siberia Challenge are due to the combination of the iconic Siberia suspension headband, offering enduring, lightweight comfort, and exceptional sound quality.

Its powerful, next-gen SteelSeries speaker drivers offers a rich soundscape with the support of Microsoft® 7.1 Virtual Surround Sound on Xbox One. The noise reducing memory foam ear cushions isolate the natural sounds and powerful bass while keeping out outside noise. A retractable, flexible crystal-clear microphone can be muted with the flip of a switch behind the earcup.

SteelSeries Siberia X100 ($69.99) and SteelSeries Siberia P100 ($49.99)

Previously a PC exclusive, the Siberia X100 and P100 bring a remarkable audio experience to console games. These affordable headsets allow gamers to experience how professional gaming headsets should feel and sound. The headsets give gamers breathable, soft-padded earcups on an over-ear design that rests easily on the head. The 3.5mm plug connects to the wireless controller and also works great on mobile devices and other platforms for a new level of audio fidelity no matter where you listen.

The SteelSeries Siberia Gaming Headset line for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 players is available exclusively in North America on Amazon. Follow our team on social media for more new product news coming out of E3 2015 at http://facebook.com/steelseries.

About SteelSeries
SteelSeries is a gaming brand that leads the market in building peripherals with quality, innovation and purpose. The company’s passion has been the driving force behind many first-to-market innovations and technologies that continue to become the industry standard and have-to-have requirements of gamers. The global brand continues to support the growth of competitive gaming tournaments and electronic sports leagues through professional team sponsorships, partnerships and community support. The company surrounds itself with the passion and the commitment to being the best. It is with this mentality that SteelSeries chooses to partner with some of world’s most respected and recognized brands that work together to push the growth and evolution of the gaming industry into an even greater proposition. http://SteelSeries.com.

Warface Review (PC)

2015/06/18

Ripper71

News, Reviews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Review

I recently lost a couple of my favorite, long-running free-to-play games on the PC:, Battlefield Heroes, which was cartoonish but loaded with customization, and Battlefield Play-For-Free, which had the quality of a Battlefield game with F2P micro-transaction economy. Both were great in that they allowed players to be competitive without spending money – those titles became just a bit more fun if you did. This left a hole in my gaming life that I have been plugging F2P games into with varying success. The question I came across recently was would Warface be the perfect fit?

In co-op mode, play the part of a Rifleman, Sniper, Engineer or Medic, and master the unique skills of each class to help your team to victory. Daily new missions mean you’ll always have a fresh challenge to face and new rewards to unlock – regardless of whether you tackle Regular, Skilled or Hardcore campaigns. Versus matches see teams of up to eight players battling it out in stacks of competitive modes. Jump into “Team Deathmatch”, “Free for All”, “Plant the Bomb”, “Storm”, “Destruction” or “Capture”, and switch your soldier class at any moment to maximize your contribution to the cause.

Features:

Enjoy a constant flow of new weapons, maps and more!
Tackle new missions in diverse war zones every single day
Brace yourself for explosive Co-op and Versus action
Work as a team and master four unique soldier classes
Crytek’s CRYENGINE tech draws you deep into the heat of battle
Pick your side and fight as the forces of Blackwood or Warface
Play completely free of charge – never pay a penny
Expect the best – Crytek’s trademark quality meets free-to-play gaming

Hands On:

If you are like me, the above description and features sound spot-on for a solid F2P. If you haven’t really understood why people play free-to-play games in the first place – well, there are a bunch of different reasons, top of them for me is the fact that you get a constantly rotating player base that evolves with the game. No one is in there saying this game sucks and what a waste of money it is. Players are playing it because it is a fit for them or they just don’t play it at all. Since it didn’t cost them anything, they don’t feel an obligation to get their money’s worth out of it. For the most part, F2P games are also far less elitist because gamers understand these are all access games and the game didn’t cost them anything unless they chose to enhance their play. It’s about the fun of the game. One of the nice things about Warface is that at a certain level players are classified as “professionals” at the game so they have their own lobbies and games preventing the dreaded level 45 thumping level 1 noobs and chasing them off. Not that there would probably be a problem with that too much in the first place, there really generally is a sense of community play in F2P games and Warface fosters this in a few ways.

One way is that to get to certain locations on game maps requires teamwork, boosting up one player then getting pulled up yourself. Not only does this give the players high ground advantage but they also get a point bonus for working together. Another way Warface enhances comradery is in the simplest but sometimes most overlooked solution: medics and ammo packs. It’s amazing how few people will complain if the bottom player on their team hasn’t gotten a single kill but has revived or healed them several times in the fight. Side Note: I think Warface’s medic class could use some tweaking as it is a bit too time consuming to save a fallen teammate, but I can see erring on the side of caution with this as speeding it up too much could make a team invincible!

The final and most important deciding factor on whether or not a F2P game should be played is whether it can remain free to play. Some call themselves F2P because there is no initial buy-in but when it comes down to it you have to pay to win. Being a guru of the F2P genre, nothing makes me angrier than a free-to-play, pay-to-win game. I don’t mind investing money into a free-to-play, quite the contrary as I understand that this is the only way to keep up support for a game and make updates and play expansions viable. Plus, if they make the game more fun that’s terrific. Also, there are players with more money than time and if they want to pay to unlock things that other players will unlock over time or even just speed up the unlocks with boosts more power to them. As long another player can pay their dues with time and get as much out of the game as the deep-pocketed, great!

Warface is great with all this. I played a while as a rookie with no unlockables and only codes given away on Twitter and had a great time. Then, I played at the professional level with a bunch of unlockables, playing against other pros and watching some well oiled and beautifully brutal action. I probably went to the professional level a little too soon in play, which is a risk for pay to rank players but I still didn’t feel out of my element and I got kills through skills even if I hadn’t perfected the special moves like the slide and slaughter (that might not be its actual name but it sure should be!).

The game’s map sizes, so far, are pretty small. While some have decent sniper roosts, they are mostly based on concealment rather than distance. There are maps with shipping containers where they enemy is always visible then there are some of the more advanced maps with actual concealment. Personally I would like to see more large maps in play but that is a personal taste, maps are voted on at the end of a round and it is very possible that I just never really got any large ones. The Co-Op maps are good size and a lot of fun, loaded with enough enemies for all to get some kills.

Lastly, I feel I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the graphics. Thanks to using the CryEngine as its game engine, it can give you the graphic quality you expect from a AAA game while still being F2P which is a pretty decent accomplishment in itself.

Last Shot:

Warface is one of the best F2P games I have seen in a while and is definitely worth a play in your valuable free time. It is truly free-to-play as they claim and, if you have the time, you can be just as competitive if not more so than someone with more money than time. It has a good community and game mechanics that promote continued goodwill among players. Warface is about playing first person shooter when you have the time and having a blast – isn’t that what all games should really be about?

[easyreview title=”Warface F2P Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]

Arma 3 Tanoa Expansion Announced

2015/06/17

Jerry Paxton

E3, Geek News, News, Screenshots / Photos, Windows PC News

June 17, 2015 — Making its debut during the PC Gaming Show at E3 2015, Bohemia Interactive today deployed a new trailer for Arma 3, revealing the terrain featured in the upcoming expansion.

The video offers a first glimpse of Tanoa – a South Pacific archipelago with a land mass of over 100 km2, and home to lush tropical vegetation, unique landmarks, a rich history, and imposing man-made feats of modern engineering. Besides the new Tanoa terrain, the Arma 3 expansion will include new vehicles, weapons, attachments and gear, characters, playable content, and more. The expansion is scheduled to be released in the first half of 2016 and will be distributed as DLC for the base Arma 3 game.

Situated in the South Pacific, the island province of Tanoa is one of many that, together, compose the Horizon Islands – an independent island nation with historic ties to both East and West. Formerly an outpost belonging to the Empire of Japan, before its liberation by US Marines in 1944, evidence of a long history of conflict and turmoil can still be found dotted across the island – relics from times long-since passed.

Nowadays, Tanoa thrives off rich deposits of rare earth metals exported the world over, but controversy and civil unrest have long surrounded these efforts due to the perceived social, economic and environmental impacts of their exploitation. Tanoa is also believed to be a hub of illicit trafficking in the Pacific, but no formal charges have ever been raised.

In 2035, Tanoa continues to enjoy a prolonged period of apparent peace and prosperity, but the volatile geopolitical situation on the world’s stage threatens to destabilize the region, and plunge it into darkness once more.

Tanoa will be the first South Pacific destination featured in the Arma series. Previous Arma locations included the Mediterranean islands of Altis and Stratis (Arma 3), the Eastern-European country of Chernarus (Arma 2), the Middle-Eastern nation of Takistan (Arma 2: Operation Arrowhead), and various other terrains in the fictional Armaverse.

For more information about Arma 3, please visit www.arma3.com and/or follow Arma 3 on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. To enlist for Arma 3 service, people can purchase the game at a discount throughout the Steam Summer Sale.

Screenshots