Author - Jerry Paxton

Wargaming.net League Grand Finals to be Held in Poland

Wargaming.net_League_Logo_Red

March 7, 2014 — Wargaming today announced details about its first ever Wargaming.net League Grand Finals, slated to take place on April 4–6 at the Multikino Zlote Tarasy in Warsaw, Poland.

“In the first year of the Wargaming.net League we’ve seen tears of joy and tears of anger from some of the best World of Tanks players around the entire world,” said Mohamed Fadl, eSports Director of Europe and North America at Wargaming. “The Grand Finals in Poland are going to be the ultimate culmination of that intense competition, and we cannot wait to finally crown our very first world champion.”

The championship will assemble 14 top-performing teams from around the world, including Fnatic and SIMP from North America, ARETE and NOA from South Korea, PVP Super Friends and UAD from Southeast Asia, Energy Pacemaker and E-Sports Club from China, and Na’Vi and RR-UNITY from CIS region. The European game’s cluster will be represented by Virtus.pro and Synergy, as well as two wildcard teams—Lemming Train (Poland) and Team WUSA (Germany). After taking part in three seasons of qualification matches, tournaments and championships, teams will battle each other over three days until only one is awarded the title of world champion.

The event is organized in cooperation with the Warsaw’s city authorities and sponsored by Razer, Alienware, and PayPal.

“World of Tanks is a tour de force that brings the excitement of tank warfare to the top of competitive gaming, requiring unprecedented skill, focus and strategy, which the global eSports community has taken to at a massive rate,” says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder, CEO and creative director. “It is our pleasure to support Wargaming in every way possible, as we partner together in uniting World of Tanks athletes from around the world at the Grand Finals tournament.”

For more information on the Wargaming.net League Grand Finals, please visit: www.thegrandfinals.com

Hegemony Rome: The Rise of Caesar Gets Early Access Patch

CaptureCows copy

March 7th, 2014, Ridgewood, NJ – Secure your supply lines, rally the troops and prepare to continue your campaign of conquest under the ruling hand of Julius Caesar. Steam Early Access for Hegemony Rome: The Rise of Caesar updates today: adding chapter 3 to the campaign, improved enemy combat AI and many other features, tweaks and bug fixes.

Hegemony Rome: The Rise of Caesar is available to play now via Early Access. For more information on Steam Early Access head over to the Steam page here.

Full Update Change Log:

Content:
– German Localizations
– Chapter 3 added
– New objective rewards in chapter 2
– Miscellaneous AI, balance, and objective tweaks in chapters 1 & 2

Features
– All friendly unit formations are now visible on the battlefield
– Randomised enemies for some battles
– Improved enemy combat AI
– New background asset loader to improve performance
– Unit selections can now be assigned to the number keys

Bugs:
– Fixed bug with non-english characters in the load/save game screen
– Fixed “Unit formation index” bug
– Fixed some “Error caching brigade” bugs
– Diplomacy options that would break the campaign are now locked
– Fixed potential freeze when units rout
– Fixed bug with drag selection when a lot of units were onscreen

Hegemony Rome: The Rise of Caesar takes you to the plains and forests of ancient Gaul where Julius Caesar wages a decade long war to subjugate the barbarian hordes. It will immerse you in history like no other real time strategy game ever before, forcing you to pay close attention to the changing seasons and rapidly changing military situations.

For more information on Hegemony Rome: The Rise of Caesar please visitwww.kasedogames.com

Razer Unveils New Razer Mechanical Gaming Switches

RZR_BWUlt2014_AngledV_WBG

CARLSBAD, Calif. – Razer™, the world leader in entertainment devices and software, today announced the launch of the world’s first mechanical switch designed by Razer specifically for gaming – the Razer Mechanical Switch.

While traditional mechanical switches were originally designed for typing, the all-new Razer Mechanical Switches have been designed and engineered from the ground up for gaming. In order to achieve that, Razer decided to go back to the drawing board to completely re-engineer the traditional mechanical switch.

After extensive research, Razer’s multi-award winning engineers identified the optimal actuation distance for a gaming switch to a fraction of a millimeter and reduced the distance between the actuation and reset point by almost half to allow for faster, more precise gaming commands when compared to standard mechanical switches. Furthermore, the all-new Razer Mechanical Switches are made using an ultra-precise manufacturing technique that, along with gold plated contact points, result in a lifespan of up to 60 million key strokes.

While Razer scientists and engineers designed the new Razer Mechanical Switch from ground up, mass production was done by a third party manufacturer. However, to ensure that each switch met to its demanding specifications, Razer placed its own quality assurance experts on the production floor to make sure each switch meticulously follows the design blueprint and specifications defined by Razer.

Finally, these switches were tested extensively by the world’s most demanding eSports athletes who validated the new Razer Mechanical Switch in some of the most intense professional gaming tournaments.

“The new switches on the Razer BlackWidow have a lighter and smoother feel, allowing me to play at a faster pace than before,” says Jens “Snute” Aasgaard, Team Liquid StarCraft player. “It’s comfortable and solid – perfect for long practice sessions and tournaments.”

“Instead of focusing solely on typing comfort, as traditional mechanical switches have done, we had to completely rethink the conventional approach behind the actuation and reset points of mechanical switches in order to fine-tune them for gaming,” says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder, CEO and creative director. “Our engineers’ focus for the specification was on speed, accuracy and durability to bring the unfair advantage to gamers worldwide. The new switch makes the most popular gaming keyboard in the world even better.”

The Razer Mechanical switch is available on the new Razer BlackWidow family of mechanical gaming keyboards, and is open to other gaming peripheral makers who wish to manufacture the highest quality gaming-grade mechanical keyboards.

The all new Razer Mechanical Switch comes in two types: The Razer Green switch that is tactile and clicky, requiring a force of 50 g to actuate; and the Razer Orange switch that is tactile yet silent, requiring a force of 45 g to actuate.

For more information about the Razer Mechanical Switches along with the Razer BlackWidow range of gaming keyboards, please visit http://www.razerzone.com/razer-mechanical-switches

Panzer Tactics HD Coming to PC and iOS

Screenshot_00001

Eschborn, March 6, 2014: Hardcore strategists and hobbyists alike are in for a real tactical fireworks display, as bitComposer Games and Sproing announced today that Panzer Tactics HD, the popular hex map strategy classic from 2007, is coming to PC and iOS in Q2 of this year. Featuring a full graphical makeover with the familiar tactical depth that made the 2007 version so popular. For more information, please visit: http://www.panzertactics.com/

In 2008, Panzer Tactics for the Nintendo DS won the German Developer Award for the best console game.

Panzer Tactics HD offers all the tactical depth and the hard-hitting gameplay of the original with progressive levels of difficulty and three single-player campaigns with over 60 hours of gameplay to provide a real challenge.

“The strengths of the game clearly lie in the almost limitless variety of tactical possibilities and its demanding level of difficulty”, said Harald Riegler, CEO of Sproing. “Nevertheless, the changes will be more than visible. All maps and units have been completely remodeled, and weather and terrain significantly affect the battlefields, thus strategy for the next move. In short, with Panzer Tactics HD, we are taking the game to a new level.”

Screenshots

Indiegogo Launches Campaign for Shaq-Fu: A Legend Reborn

shaqfu

SAN FRANCISCO, March 6, 2014 – Indiegogo, the world’s largest crowdfunding platform, today announces that basketball legend and notable Renaissance man Shaquille O’Neal has launched his campaign for Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn on Indiegogo. Often labeled as one of the worst games of all time, with websites dedicated to destroying it, Shaq Fu has reached a cult status in the game industry. Considered a blight on Shaq’s career, he is setting out to right the wrongs of Shaq Fu and is reaching out directly to fans through Indiegogo to get their support.

“I’ll admit it, Shaq Fu was a horrible game. I’m a huge fan of videogames and want to have my name associated with a Shaq Fu game that I’m proud of and would like to play,” said Shaquille O’Neal. “This is my second chance and it’s even better this time since I’m able to partner with the fans to make this happen.”

In order to make the fighting game that fans deserve, Shaq has partnered with Big Deez Productions, a team of video game industry veterans that have deep experience making quality games with titles such as the Halo series, Street Fighter, Max Payne, Duke Nukem, Madden Football and dozens of others under their belt. The game’s soundtrack will be created by Steve Molitz, a world-renowned musician and composer. He will be creating a soundtrack that remixes and modernizes classic Shaq songs from his collection of Platinum and Gold albums including the remake of “Don’t Stop the Reign”.

The game is a modern day twist on the classic beat ‘em up. Play as Shaquille O’Neal as he kicks butt and take names on his quest to defeat the mysterious and deadly Black Star Ninja and his immeasurable horde of deadly ninja assassins. Players will be able to learn and unlock hundreds of classic and unique moves, strategic battle techniques and brutal finishing moves to keep the game rooted in traditional brawlers while also providing an over the top, in-your-face, slam dunk experience fans have come to know and love with Shaq.

The game will feature combo and character skill progression systems that allow players to hone a variety of fighting styles and tactics to create the ultimate bad ass warrior. Players can pimp out their character with modifiers that will allow players to change their appearance as well as enhance their skills. Power-ups littered throughout the levels will feature every nickname Shaq has ever had with a few new ones added for good measure.

Players will battle it out in detailed, deadly and destructible locations such as the slums of Asian cities, rooftops of skyscrapers, seedy nightclubs and in crowded markets. Gamers will be able to use the environment to their advantage as they pick up the nearest manhole cover or car door to throw, smash an enemy through the floor to leap down to lower levels, or collapse structures with earthquakes of unprecedented power to silence the enemy.

“Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn is a great example of how developers and celebrities can directly reach and partner with the fans to create something that otherwise wouldn’t get made,” said John Vaskis, Gaming Lead, Indiegogo. “We are thrilled to be able to be part of Shaq’s videogame redemption story.”

Through the Indiegogo rewards, as a thank you for supporting him in his quest, Shaq is providing unprecedented access to him and his life with several unique rewards based on the amount of money that funders contribute. A few of these rewards include: playing basketball with Shaq on his own court at this house, signed original size 22 Shaq Attack sneakers, a personalized voicemail recorded by Shaq, lunch or dinner with Shaq, the ability to participate in the taping of a TNT NBA show and much more.

Find out more information about the game and fund it here:
www.igg.me/at/shaqfu

Tropico 5 Gameplay Trailer

Tropico5-PreAlphaShot-02

March 6th, 2014, Ridgewood, NJ – El Presidente invites you to take a historical tour around the beautiful island paradise of Tropico in the first gameplay trailer for Tropico 5. Bask in the Caribbean sun and watch Tropico develop through the ages from a small colonial state of the Crown to a sprawling metropolis of the future. See how small farming communities evolve into thriving industrial powerhouses under the glorious leadership of El Presidente and his new family dynasty. Tropico 5 will be available in early summer for Windows PC, Mac, Linux and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft – followed by PlayStation®4 later this year.

Trailer

Packed with a whole host of new gameplay features and all new artwork designed from scratch, Tropico 5 takes the series into a new and exciting direction – dynasties!

You, as El Presidente, will first take control of the infamous island of Tropico during early colonial times and then guide it through the centuries as the world changes and moves ever forward. You must tackle the changing needs of your people, as well as opposing governments and factions, and thus lay the foundations for your own dynasty. As you move through your years in office you can promote members of your extended family on the island to positions of power: such as ambassador, commanding general or even Supreme Ruler, to ensure your legacy thrives through the eras.

As well as a wealth of other new features, including advanced trading mechanics, technology, scientific research trees and island exploration, Tropico 5 will add cooperative and competitive multiplayer for up to four players for the first time in the series’ history! Viva El Presidente!

Download the Tropico 5 box art here
Download the latest Tropico 5 screenshots and press kit here
Sign up the Tropico 5 Beta test here

For more information on Tropico 5 please visit the Kalypso Media website atwww.kalypsomedia.com or the official Tropico 5 website at www.tropico5.com.

Next Games Working on AMC’s The Walking Dead Mobile Game

TWD_Next_Games

New York, NY and Helsinki, Finland – March 6, 2014 –Next Games and AMC today announced that the Finnish games company is in production of a mobile game based on AMC’s incredibly successful TV seriesThe Walking DeadThe Walking Dead is, for the second season in a row, the #1 show on U.S. television among adults 18-49, and incredibly popular around the world. The mobile game will be the first time players see this iconic and enormously popular TV series come to life through gameplay exclusively developed for smartphones and tablet devices.

AMC and Next Games will join forces on the marketing of the title as the game launch coincides with season 5 of The Walking Dead TV series. The project will be global at scale with distribution and marketing across continents in collaboration with the best local partners.

“We chose to team up with Next Games because of their outstanding creative and technical talent, as well as a willingness to re-imagine the unique and compelling world of The Walking Dead, which has built a significant and passionate global fan community,” said Charlie Collier, AMC president. “We’re thrilled to be part of this next wave of games innovation and participating in a project that – like the show itself – is in service of the fans.”

“Our take on the undead survival franchise will match the against-all-odds action and moment-to-moment tension of the TV series. We want to find that sweet spot where gameplay and narrative inform and reinforce one another,” said Teemu Huuhtanen, CEO at Next Games. “Like AMC’s The Walking Dead itself, we’re not giving away too many details right out the gate, but I can confidently state it’s unlike anything we’ve seen fromThe Walking Dead franchise on home or mobile gaming hardware before.”

Founded by design veterans from Rovio, Supercell and Disney, Next Games has assembled a team with a profound love for games and a burning desire to develop lasting global entertainment. The studio is focused on crafting majestic narrative-driven games with engaging free-to-play mechanics.

The companies will announce additional details related to The Walking Dead game in the coming months.

Website: www.NextGames.com

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/NxtGms

Twitter: @NxtGms, www.twitter.com/NxtGms

New Screenshots for Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z

groupI_032 copy

March 6, 2014 — Team NINJA today released a new batch images which finds Yaiba healing himself after some serious slaying and then following a river of blood to the most unusual of locations. In preparation of the Steam® (PC) of YAIBA: NINJA GAIDEN Z on March 21, 2014 the game will be available for pre-order at a special discounted price of $49.99 for two weeks prior to launch, beginning March 7. The PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft versions will launch on March 18, 2014.

In YAIBA: NINJA GAIDEN Z, players will battle fierce zombies as Yaiba, a cyborg ninja who will do anything to get revenge and stay alive. Cleaved in two, he is brought back to life with cyber-technology. Brandishing his ninja sword and the mecha weapons in his cyber arm, he slaughters zombies with brutal, over-the-top abandon. Step into a stylized living comic book where stunning graphics depict a world gone mad. Hordes of undead can only be stopped by Yaiba’s willingness to use any means necessary to get the job done. Will he kill by turning his cyber arm into a razor chainsaw for slicing up undead—or just rip off an opponent’s arms to use as zombie nunchucks? Both possibilities fill Yaiba’s heart with twisted laughter in this upcoming collaboration between famed developers Team NINJA and concept’s Keiji Inafune.

YAIBA: NINJA GAIDEN Z for the PlayStation®3 and Xbox 360® will launch on March 18, 2014 for a suggested retail price of $59.99 in North America. The Steam® (PC) version will follow and launch on March 21, 2014 and is available for pre-order at a special discounted price of $49.99, beginning March 7. This title been rated M (Mature) by the ESRB.

Screenshots

OUYA Coming to M.O.J.O. Micro-Console

mad-catz-mojo-product-photo-061

SAN DIEGO, CALIF. & SANTA MONICA, CALIF. – March 6, 2014 – Mad Catz Interactive, Inc. (“Mad Catz”) (NYSE MKT/ TSX: MCZ) and OUYA announced today a content agreement to bring OUYA® to the Mad Catz M.O.J.O.Micro-Console for Android In addition, the price of M.O.J.O. will be reduced to an MSRP of $199.99 in the United States with similar price adjustments taking place in all major territories.

Announced earlier this week, the OUYA Everywhere initiative aims to bring OUYA to a wide variety of devices, with the M.O.J.O. Micro-Console being the first.  OUYA on M.O.J.O. is expected to debut later this spring with all existing and upcoming OUYA content available on the Mad Catz Micro-Console.

“Up until now, the game console experience has been locked inside a box,” said Julie Uhrman, CEO and founder of OUYA.  “Together with the hardware veterans at Mad Catz, we end that.  Today’s announcement signifies the inception of a truly open platform where independent developers can bring their creations to the platforms where gamers actually play: everywhere.”

“With more than 680 games and 33,000 developers signed up, OUYA features an impressive catalogue of content from AAA developers and independent publishers, all of which are designed to replicate the core gaming experience, taking advantage of the TV and controller,” said Darren Richardson, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz Interactive, Inc.  “This agreement with OUYA encapsulates our vision of an open software platform powered by M.O.J.O.’shigh-performance hardware, and supported by the entire ecosystem of GameSmart™ gaming accessories.  We believe today’s announcements will widen the appeal of M.O.J.O. introducing it to a greater number of passionate gamers.”

For additional information and to order, please visit: www.madcatz.com/mojo/

For more information on OUYA, please visit: www.ouya.tv