Author - Jerry Paxton

Nintendo 3DS XL Launches in the U.S. on Feb. 13

2015/01/15

REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–During a Nintendo Direct presentation, Nintendo announced that the New Nintendo 3DS XL system will launch in the U.S. on Feb. 13 at a suggested retail price of $199.99. New Nintendo 3DS XL offers a number of new enhancements designed to offer the smoothest and most engrossing portable gaming possible. New Nintendo 3DS XL features a wider range of controls with the addition of a C Stick and ZL/ZR buttons, super-stable 3D via face-tracking technology and built-in NFC functionality that allows for communication with amiibo figures.

All of the new features of New Nintendo 3DS XL make it the ideal way to experience upcoming portable games like The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D, Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate and Code Name: S.T.E.A.M., as well as all other existing Nintendo 3DS software. The system also enhances certain games like Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS with amiibo functionality, faster processing speeds and more control options when compared to the Nintendo 3DS system. In addition to the standard hardware in New Red and New Black, two other New Nintendo 3DS XL designs will be available at launch: a system featuring artwork inspired by The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D and one based on Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate available exclusively at GameStop with the game pre-installed. The three stand-alone New Nintendo 3DS XL models and the Monster Hunter 4 Ultimatebundle will all be available on Feb. 13 at suggested retail prices of $199.99 and $229.99, respectively.

In addition to the New Nintendo 3DS XL news, Nintendo also revealed the Feb. 13 launch date of The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D, a new game in the Fire Emblem series, a line of amiibo featuring classic characters from the Super Mario series, the arrival of amiibo compatibility in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and many details about upcoming Wii U and Nintendo 3DS games, including Code Name: S.T.E.A.M., Splatoon, Kirby and the Rainbow Curse and Mario Party 10.

To view the Nintendo Direct video in its entirety, visit http://www.nintendo.com/nintendo-direct.

“We are only a couple of weeks into 2015, and Nintendo is already starting the year off with a bang,” said Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “With New Nintendo 3DS XL coming very soon and an enormous library of exclusive Wii U and Nintendo 3DS games launching throughout the coming months, it has never been a better time to be a Nintendo fan.”

Some of the other highlights revealed in the video include:

Nintendo 3DS

New Fire Emblem Game: The latest game in the Fire Emblem series is coming exclusively to the Nintendo 3DS family of systems. Developed by the same team that created Fire Emblem Awakening, the new adventure adds challenges never before seen in the series and asks players to make decisions that will affect the game’s world in new ways.
Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate from Capcom: Play alone in a robust single-player experience, join up to three other players locally or, for the first time on a portable system, play online using a wireless broadband Internet connection. Starting soon, select players will receive early access to a demo for the game that includes both single- and multiplayer options. A special-edition New Nintendo 3DS XL bundle, which includes a slick custom-designed system and a copy of the game, launches on Feb. 13 alongside the game’s release.
Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS amiibo Compatibility: In February, a new system update will allow amiibo support for Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS using the Super Smash Bros. series of amiibo and the NFC technology built in to the New Nintendo 3DS XL system. The previously announced NFC adapter for amiibo support on Nintendo 3DS will launch in the future.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3D: In April, a remake of the well-received Xenoblade Chronicles game for the Wii system is launching exclusively for New Nintendo 3DS XL. The new version offers 3D visuals and allows players to view the maps and character stats on the bottom screen. An additional bonus mode lets players view 3D models of the characters and listen to music tracks from the game.
Puzzle & Dragons Z / Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition: Based on the popular Puzzle & Dragons game – a game with RPG and strategy elements that previously launched in Japan – Puzzle & Dragons Z and Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Editionwill launch as one package for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems in May. Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition features characters and worlds from the Super Mario Bros. series.
Code Name: S.T.E.A.M.: A month after the launch of New Nintendo 3DS XL, Abraham Lincoln will bring together heroes from classic literature and American folklore to fend off an alien invasion. Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. launches for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems on March 13 and is one of the first Nintendo 3DS games to use amiibo. By tapping an existing Fire Emblem amiibo character like Marth or Ike, or an upcoming one like Robin or Lucina, on the touch screen of the New Nintendo 3DS XL system, players can enlist their help in battle as playable characters.
Etrian Mystery Dungeon: From ATLUS and Spike Chunsoft comes a Nintendo 3DS exclusive that combines the game play of theEtrian Odyssey and Mystery Dungeon RPG series. The game launches this spring and gives players the freedom to create their own party of heroes and then embark on a near-infinite loot-hunting quest.
Story of Seasons from Marvelous USA and XSEED Games: Combining farming and life simulation, Story of Seasons connects players with other lands across the in-game world and with other players online. The game launches exclusively for Nintendo 3DS in March.
Pokémon Shuffle: Launching exclusively in the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS in February, Pokémon Shuffle finds players putting their puzzle-solving skills to the test by matching three or more Pokémon in the Puzzle Area to deal damage as they battle wild Pokémon across a variety of stages. Clearing Pokémon efficiently is the key to success. Players can download and start the game for free and purchase in-game items using Nintendo eShop funds.
ACE COMBAT ASSAULT HORIZON LEGACY+ from BANDAI NAMCO Games America Inc.: The high-flying Ace Combat series is back with an improved 3D view and added C Stick and ZR/ZL button controls that make playing on New Nintendo 3DS XL the ideal way to experience the game. Players can even tap select amiibo figures to the New Nintendo 3DS XL system to unlock special aircraft skins. The game launches for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems on Feb. 13.
Fossil Fighters: Frontier: A new entry in the Fossil Fighters series is stomping its way onto the Nintendo 3DS family of systems on March 20. Fossil Fighters: Frontier lets two to six players team up and battle each other’s Vivosaurs in local or online tournaments.

Wii U

Splatoon: A central “plaza” that connects to all the different modes in the game also grants access to a shopping center that lets players customize their weapons and outfits with in-game currency. Splatoon launches exclusively for Wii U in May.
Hyrule Warriors DLC: New “Majora’s Mask Pack” DLC will launch for Hyrule Warriors on Feb. 5 for $7.99. The content includes two new characters (Tingle and Young Link), a new Adventure Mode map and three additional costumes.
Kirby and the Rainbow Curse: Kirby, King Dedede and Meta Knight amiibo are compatible with the game. Once a day, players can tap Kirby, King Dedede or Meta Knight amiibo to the GamePad to power up Kirby. Kirby and the Rainbow Curse launches for Wii U on Feb. 20.
Mario Party 10: The new “amiibo Party Mode” brings amiibo compatibility to the classic party-game series. Select amiibo from both theSuper Smash Bros. and Super Mario series will work with the game: Mario, Luigi, Peach, Toad, Yoshi, Bowser, Rosalina, Donkey Kong and Wario. While at least one amiibo is required to play, amiibo Party Mode lets players tap an amiibo to the GamePad to use that character as a game piece, as well as play on a game board themed to that classic character. Mario Party 10 and a limited-editionMario Party 10 bundle including a Mario amiibo figure launch for Wii U on March 20.
Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker: A new update on March 20 will add amiibo support to the charming Wii U game. Tapping the Toad amiibo on the GamePad will make Pixel Toad appear in a stage, waiting to be found by the player.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: The upcoming Wii U game is an open-world RPG that allows seamless access to anywhere in the massive world. Xenoblade Chronicles X is planned for launch in 2015.
Wii Games Coming to Wii U: Starting today, players can purchase and download Wii games directly to their Wii U HOME Menus via the Nintendo eShop on Wii U – no need to access Wii Mode. The first game that is now available is Super Mario Galaxy 2. The future lineup includes Punch-Out!! (Jan. 22) and Metroid Prime: Trilogy (Jan. 29). The Wii U GamePad can be used to control Wii games that were compatible with the Wii Classic Controller. The games will be on sale for an introductory price of $9.99 each during their first week of availability, and $19.99 after.

amiibo

Super Mario Series amiibo: A line of amiibo figures inspired by the characters of the Super Mario series will launch on March 20. The lineup includes new models of Mario, Luigi, Peach, Yoshi and Bowser, as well as the introduction of Toad. Crossover amiibo characters from the Super Smash Bros. and Super Mario lines like Mario, Luigi, Peach and Bowser will have the same functionality in all compatible games, so players can choose which design they like best!
Additional amiibo Figures: Robin, Lucina, PAC-MAN, Wario, Ness and Charizard amiibo figures, which are all compatible with Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS, will launch this spring.

Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS and Wii U

Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars: In this puzzle/platformer hybrid, players guide Mario Minis to the exit door using touch control. As with previous games in the series, players can create their own levels and share them with other players online. In this game, players can “tip” the creators of the user-generated puzzles with stars, which can be used to buy new parts in the robust level creator. Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars will launch exclusively in the Nintendo eShop on both Wii U and Nintendo 3DS on March 5. As a bonus, players who buy one version will receive a free download code for the other version!
IronFall: Invasion from VD-Dev: Created by a small team of talented indie developers, IronFall: Invasion brings fast-paced 60-fps shooting action to the Nintendo eShop on Nintendo 3DS with six-player local and online multiplayer and a dedicated single-player campaign. While playable on Nintendo 3DS or Nintendo 2DS, the C Stick on New Nintendo 3DS XL enhances the control options.IronFall: Invasion launches exclusively in the Nintendo eShop on the Nintendo 3DS family of systems in early 2015.
Third-Party Games: Many great third-party games are coming soon to the Nintendo eShop, including the following:
- Elliot Quest from PlayEveryWare, Blek from Broken Rules & kunabi brother, and Citizens of Earth from ATLUS for Wii U.
- Gunman Clive 2 from Hörberg Productions, Moon Chronicles (eps. 2, 3, 4) from Renegade Kid, Citizens of Earth from ATLUS and SEGA 3D Classics from SEGA for Nintendo 3DS.
- Project Treasure: A new four-player co-op game from BANDAI NAMCO ENTERTAINMENT and Tekken director Katsuhiro Harada is currently in development for Wii U.

For more information about Nintendo, visit http://www.nintendo.com. You can also now pre-order or purchase a number of games directly from a PC or smart device by visiting http://nintendo.com/buydigital.

Remember that Wii U and Nintendo 3DS feature parental controls that let adults manage the content their children can access. For more information about this and other features, visit http://www.nintendo.com/wiiu or http://www.nintendo.com/3ds.

Sierra to Publish Shiftlings this Spring

2015/01/15

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 4 News, Windows PC News, Xbox One News

SANTA MONICA, CA – January 15, 2015 – Sierra™ today announced it has teamed up with Rock Pocket Games to publish the Norway-based studio’s upcoming puzzle platforming game, Shiftlings, coming to consoles and PC this spring.

“Shiftlings was the kind of game we immediately knew we wanted to work on after playing it,” said Bob Loya, Sr. Director of External Development for Sierra. “Rock Pocket’s inventive take on the puzzle platformer epitomizes Sierra’s focus on finding great indie talent within the development community and giving them access to the tools and platforms they need to share their unique creations with the world.”

Set in an intergalactic reality show, Shiftlings is a quirky puzzle platformer about a pair of space custodians who travel the cosmos completing complex challenges. Shiftlings‘ special twist is that these two oddballs are linked by a single air hose, allowing them to pass gas back and forth between their space suits in an instant. This feature lets one character expand massively in size and weight, reducing mobility but providing clever ways to solve objectives and reach new terrain. The full adventure, crafted for both single-player and two-player local and online cooperative multiplayer, sees our intrepid janitorial heroes conquering over 50 levels spread across five unique worlds.

Shiftlings is expected to arrive on Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system and Windows PC in spring 2015. This game is rated T (Teen) by the ESRB. For more information as it nears release, please visitwww.rockpocketgames.com/shiftlings, and follow Rock Pocket Games on Facebook and Twitter.

World of Tanks Gets New Mission System

2015/01/15

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Windows PC News

January 15, 2015 — Wargaming today announced the all new personal mission system for the free-to-play online action game World of Tanks is now live worldwide. The intricate system gives tankers the opportunity to personalize their mission experience by selecting specific missions from a variety of different campaigns and offers unique rewards upon completion.

Each campaign in the new setup is composed of a collection of missions for players to choose from. Players are not restricted to one single campaign, and they may opt to complete missions from different campaigns without playing them in succession.

After completing a chain of missions in a campaign, tankers will be awarded unique prizes specific to each mission. These new rewards include credits, Free Experience points, and high tier vehicles, the StuG IV (Tier 5), T28 heavy tank concept (Tier 7), ?-55 NVA DDR (Tier 9), and Object 260 (Tier 10), all with 100% tank crew, as well as the Sisterhood of Steel perk and female crew members.

Screenshots

Mortal Kombat X Official Gameplay Trailer

2015/01/14

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 3 News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox 360 News, Xbox One News

January 14, 2015 — Today, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and NetherRealm Studios unveiled the Who’s Next? – Official Mortal Kombat X Gameplay Trailer, which shows off Mortal Kombat X’s iconic characters including a first look at Kitana, the beautiful but deadly Edenian princess, and Kung Lao, the powerful martial artist with razor sharp hat tricks.

Fans will also be delighted to discover that Goro lives on. Gamers who pre-order Mortal Kombat X will receive Goro as a playable combatant.

Trailer

Mortal Kombat X will be released worldwide on April 14, 2015 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and Windows PC.

Six Flags Great Adventure Announces El Diablo Looping Coaster

2015/01/14

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News

Jackson, NJ – January 14, 2015 – The devil is in the details for Six Flags Great Adventure’s new looping coaster, set to open this spring. Originally announced in the fall of 2014 as “Looping Dragon,” with an Asian-inspired moniker and location in the Golden Kingdom section, the park’s 13th coaster was re-imagined by park management who opted for a more “devilish” theme – El Diablo.

“The Jersey devil has deep roots in our state’s history, and inspired the new theme for our upcoming thrill ride,” said Park President John Fitzgerald.

The giant, fiery red El Diablo looping coaster will make its home next to the world’s top-rated wooden coaster, El Toro, in the Mexican-themed Plaza del Carnaval section. It features riders sitting in “face-off” seats rocketing forward and backward pendulum style until the train gains enough momentum to complete a full revolution seven stories in the air. The coaster then kicks into high gear, completing full revolutions until it stops momentarily with riders suspended upside down, and then reverses direction for even more thrills.

“El Diablo is the perfect addition to Plaza del Carnaval, as it appeals to both thrill seekers and familiesalike. Rides like El Toro and Tango attract a wide audience to this area, which also provides ample opportunities for dining, shopping and relaxation from the excitement of the world’s largest theme park,” Fitzgerald added.

El Diablo is set to open this spring, and will have a 48-inch height requirement to ride.

For more information on Six Flags Great Adventure and El Diablo, visit www.sixflags.com/greatadventure

Shadowrun: Hong Kong Kickstarter Campaign Begins

2015/01/14

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Windows PC News

KIRKLAND, WA (January 13, 2015) – Today, indie video game developer Harebrained Schemes launched a new Kickstarter campaign to crowdfund it’s third full length stand-alone game set in the cyberpunk-meets-magic world of Shadowrun.

Unlike their smash success at crowdfunding the entire development of Shadowrun Returns, Harebrained Schemes is approaching this Kickstarter differently, asking backers to become co-funding partners so they can add more to Shadowrun: Hong Kong.

“We’ve already begun development of the Hong Kong game,” said Mitch Gitelman, co-founder of Harebrained Schemes and Executive Producer of Shadowrun. “We’re self-funding the first 12 hours of gameplay at the quality level of Shadowrun: Dragonfall – Director’s Cut. But we have plenty of ideas for features and runs that didn’t fit into our budget. We love Kickstarter and we think there’s no better co-funding partner than our fans to help us take our game to the next level.”

Set in the magically awakened city of Hong Kong in 2056, players will find themselves exploring the underworld of triads, tongs, wild magic, and bleeding edge cybertech with a crew of flawed, dangerous runners each with their own backstory and special abilities.

“We couldn’t be more excited to bring our fans an all new, full length standalone tactical cRPG set in Hong Kong,” said Jordan Weisman, co-founder of Harebrained Schemes and creator of the Shadowrun world. “Every time we release a new Shadowrun campaign, we set out to improve on the art, the gameplay and, especially, the storytelling.”

In 2012, Harebrained Schemes funded the development of Shadowrun Returns on Kickstarter and became the first video game company that raised over $1M and delivered the game to backers. More importantly, the game was critically acclaimed and appeared on many Best of 2013 lists and was awarded Game of the Year from Hardcore Gamer.

Their next title, Shadowrun: Dragonfall, was initially released as DLC and was given to Kickstarter backers for free. Last September, the studio released Shadowrun: Dragonfall – Director’s Cut, a standalone upgrade that was made available for free to all Dragonfall DLC owners. The Director’s Cut was one of the highest rated PC Games of the year, appeared on many Best of 2014 lists, and was awarded Game of the Year from RPG Gamer. A tablet version of the Director’s Cut was released for iOS and Android in December.

“We’re very excited to have Harebrained Schemes back on Kickstarter,” said Luke Crane, Community Manager for Games at Kickstarter. “They did a great job with their first Shadowrun project and have continued to release amazing work since. They’ve shown how Kickstarter creators can invite backers into the development process and build a loyal base of supporters. The new project looks like it’s going to continue their streak of excellence!”

Shadowrun: Hong Kong will be developed for Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems only, with DRM-free versions available through GOG and Humble. Harebrained Schemes expects to release the game mid-2015, at a price point similar to their previous games.

To learn more about Harebrained Schemes’ current Kickstarter campaign, now underway until February 17, 2015 at 10am PST, please visit the website here.

About Harebrained Schemes
Harebrained Schemes is a small team of passionate game developers led by Jordan Weisman, the creator of Shadowrun, Crimson Skies, BattleTech, MechWarrior, and many other acclaimed game worlds. Weisman was also the founder of WizKids, best known for its collectible miniatures games such as HeroClix and Mage Knight. Founded in 2011, the Seattle-based studio is centered on deep collaboration between seasoned veterans and fresh talent. Titles include Crimson: Steam Pirates (iOS, Chrome, 2011), Strikefleet Omega (iOS, Android, 2012), Shadowrun Returns (Steam and mobile, 2013), Shadowrun: Dragonfall (Steam, 2014); Golem Arcana (Retail, 2014) and Shadowrun Dragonfall – Directors Cut (Steam and mobile, 2014). For more information visit http://harebrained-schemes.com/.

2015 DICE Award Nominees Announced

2015/01/14

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, Industry News, News

LOS ANGELES – Jan. 14, 2015 – The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences is proud to honor the year’s finest achievements in video games with nominations for the 18^th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards (#DICEAwards), the video game industry’s premier peer-based awards show. Academy members begin voting today at Noon PST; the winners will be revealed at the Awards ceremony on Thursday, Feb. 5, at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas at the conclusion of the 2015 D.I.C.E. (Design, Innovate, Communicate, Entertain) Summit (#DICE2015). The Academy also confirmed comedian, podcaster, voice actor and cartoonist Pete Holmes will serve as host.

Fifty-six games received a D.I.C.E. nomination, representing a range of different platforms from teams of developers both large and small. Leading the charge is Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor with nine nominations, including Game of the Year. Rounding out the Game of the Year nominations are: Destiny,Dragon Age: Inquisition, Far Cry 4, and Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft. Several games received multiple nods, including: Far Cry 4 with seven; Destiny and Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft with six;Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare and Monument Valley with five each; and inFAMOUS Second Son, The Vanishing of Ethan Carter, and Valiant Hearts: The Great War with four each.

“The Academy is thrilled to have Pete Holmes as our Awards host this year – we are big fans of his work, and look forward to infusing our show with his special brand of humor, wit and whimsy,” said Martin Rae, president, Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. “Each year there are so many great games to celebrate, and 2014 was no different – with rich and enveloping experiences to satisfy any demographic and across all platforms. Congratulations to all of our nominees, whose integral work has made a deep impression on our peer panelists – we look forward to unveiling the winners with you all on Feb. 5^th!”

The D.I.C.E. Awards ceremony will live stream in its entirety beginning at 7pm PT/10pm ET via Twitch at www.twitch.tv/dice. Also being honored this year as the Pioneer Award recipients are Ralph Baer, the inventor of the Magnavox Odyssey, and Al Alcorn, the creator of PONG.

New Award Category:
To reflect the evolving landscape of the games industry, the Academy also introduced a new award category for this year’s D.I.C.E. Awards: the D.I.C.E. Sprite Award. The D.I.C.E. Sprite Award will be awarded to a game having disproportionate resources for development and exposure (as compared to AAA titles), represent a higher degree of risk tolerance, and advances our industry with innovative gameplay and experiences. Those nominees are The Banner Saga, Hohokum, Monument Valley,Threes!, and Transistor.

The D.I.C.E. Award Nominees:
The following is a partial list of nominees; the complete list of Awards categories, finalists, and game maker credits is available at: http://www.interactive.org/images/pdfs/18th-Annual-DICE-Finalists.pdf

Game of the Year
Destiny
•   Publisher: Activision Publishing, Inc.
•   Developer: Bungie
Dragon Age: Inquisition
•   Publisher: Electronic Arts
•   Developer: BioWare
Far Cry 4
•   Publisher: Ubisoft
•   Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft
•   Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
•   Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
•   Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
•   Developer: Monolith Productions

Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction
Lumino City
•   Publisher: State of Play Games
•   Developer: State of Play Games
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
•   Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
•   Developer: Monolith Productions
Monument Valley
•   Publisher: ustwo
•   Developer: ustwo
Never Alone (Kisima Ingitchuna)
•   Publisher: E-Line Media
•   Developer: Upper One Games
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
•   Publisher: The Astronauts
•   Developer: The Astronauts

Adventure Game of the Year
inFAMOUS Second Son
•   Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC
•   Developer: Sucker Punch
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
•   Publisher: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
•   Developer: Monolith Productions
Valiant Hearts: The Great War
•   Publisher: Ubisoft
•   Developer: Ubisoft Montpellier
The Vanishing of Ethan Carter
•   Publisher: The Astronauts
•   Developer: The Astronauts
The Wolf Among Us
•   Publisher: Telltale Games
•   Developer: Telltale Games

Action Game of the Year
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
•   Publisher: Activision Publishing, Inc.
•   Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Destiny
•   Publisher: Activision Publishing, Inc.
•   Developer: Bungie
Far Cry 4
•   Publisher: Ubisoft
•   Developer: Ubisoft Montreal
Titanfall
•   Publisher: Electronic Arts
•   Developer: Respawn Entertainment
Wolfenstein: The New Order
•   Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
•   Developer: MachineGames

Mobile Game of the Year
80 Days
•   Publisher: Inkle
•   Developer: Inkle
Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft
•   Publisher: Blizzard Entertainment
•   Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
Kingdom Rush Origins
•   Publisher: Armor Games
•   Developer: Ironhide Game Studio
Monument Valley
•   Publisher: ustwo
•   Develoepr: ustwo
Threes!
•   Publisher: Sirvo LLC
•   Developer: Sirvo/Aeiowu/ BigGiantCircles

D.I.C.E. Sprite Award
The Banner Saga
•   Publisher: Versus Evil LLC
•   Developer: Stoic LLC
Hohokum
•   Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC
•   Developer: Honeyslug
Monument Valley
•   Publisher: ustwo
•   Developer: ustwo
Threes!
•   Publisher: Sirvo LLC
•   Developer: Sirvo/Aeiowu/ BigGiantCircles
Transistor
•   Publisher: Supergiant Games
•   Developer: Supergiant Games

The Academy’s 22,000+ members, comprised of the interactive publishing and development communities, recognize excellence in 23 different interactive game categories in one of the highest forms of recognition in the industry. Titles were played and evaluated by members of the Academy’s Peer Panels to determine final nominees. These panels, one for each award category, are comprised of the game industry’s most experienced and talented men and women who are experts in their chosen fields. Winners are determined as part of a secure voting process and will be revealed on the evening of the show. Included in the Academy’s voting body is the International Game Developers Association (IGDA) – members are invited to vote on the craft categories.

Pete Holmes is a comedian. Maybe you know him from his podcast You Made It Weird. Or The Pete Holmes Show! Or his videos with FrontPage Films. Maybe you saw his hour special Nice Try, The Devil, or his half-hour Comedy Central Presents. Or on Conan. Or Jimmy Fallon. Or maybe you saw him on VH1. Or heard him as the e*trade baby or on Comedy Central’s Ugly Americans. Pete also draws cartoons for The New Yorker, wrote for NBC’s Outsourced and FOX’s I Hate My Teenage Daughter.

To attend the 18^th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards or the 2015 D.I.C.E. Summit, please visitwww.dicesummit.org to purchase tickets.

Heroes of the Storm Enters Closed Beta Testing

2015/01/14

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News

January 13, 2015 — Let the brawl begin! We’re excited to announce that closed beta testing has officially begun in the Americas region for Heroes of the Storm™, our free-to-play, online team brawler featuring iconic heroes from more than 20 years of Blizzard gaming history.

Today’s launch brings a new Battleground, a new Hero, Ranked Play, and much, much more. The closed beta test is expected to launch in all other regions on January 14. Players can opt-in for a chance to join the beta test at www.HeroesoftheStorm.com or through the Beta Profile Settings page in Battle.net^®account management.

The latest features introduced to Heroes of the Storm include:

New Battleground—Sky Temple, a new desert-themed Battleground, challenges players to fight for control of ancient Temples. Once captured, these Temples fire devastating beams of energy toward enemy structures.
New Hero—Thrall, Warchief of the Horde, is the newest melee assassin to join the Nexus, bringing fearsome abilities, including Chain Lightning, Windfury, and Earthquake.
Hero League—This new Ranked Play mode enables players (who are level 30 and own at least 10 Heroes) to queue up alone or in a party of up to five for ranked, competitive matches against other players of similar skill and party size.
Draft Mode—Utilize this mode to build a competitive team composition, counter your opponent’s picks, and dominate the Battleground objectives.

A complete list of our latest game updates can be found in this week’s patch notes, as well as in our new Closed Beta Walkthrough Video.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare – Havoc DLC Pack Preview

2015/01/14

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, PlayStation 3 News, PlayStation 4 News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News, Xbox 360 News, Xbox One News

Santa Monica, CA – January 13, 2015 – The first DLC pack for Call of Duty®: Advanced Warfare, Havoc, is on the way. The epic DLC pack from Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard (Nasdaq: ATVI), and Sledgehammer Games will be available first, exclusively on Xbox LIVE® for the Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft beginning onJanuary 27, with other platforms to follow.

“We’re looking forward to playing the new DLC content with fans. The response to Advanced Warfare has been amazing, and the creativity and gameplay variety of the content coming in Havoc is more exciting than ever,” said Michael Condrey, Co-Founder and Studio Head, Sledgehammer Games. “The entire team at Sledgehammer Games is really excited about the release of the Havoc and we are ready to kick-off a long DLC season filled with new maps, the new Exo Zombies mode and more,” said Glen Schofield, Co-Founder and Studio Head, Sledgehammer Games.

The definitive DLC offering, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Havoc includes four new, epic multiplayer maps, access to the versatile AE4 directed energy assault rifle, the AE4 Widowmaker custom variant, plus an exciting new Zombies cooperative mode called Exo Zombies, that features a story told through the eyes of four employees of the Atlas corporation, played by a celebrity cast consisting of John Malkovich (In the Line of Fire, RED, Burn After Reading), Bill Paxton (Aliens, Titanic, Edge of Tomorrow), Rose McGowan (Planet Terror, Scream), and Jon Bernthal (Fury, The Walking Dead). The actors provide their voice over and likeness in a dark and cinematic experience new to Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. Players enter a world where a DNA bioweapon unexpectedly spawns a bloodthirsty, ravenous mutant horde infecting an entire secret Atlas research facility and sending personnel running for their lives. Following a failed evacuation, four survivors, un-trained and underprepared, must face the most vicious mutations ever unleashed. The Exo Zombies co-op mode ushers in a new breed of Zombies and a truly unique experience, coming first to the Havoc DLC Pack.

Havoc delivers four new, exotic and diverse multiplayer maps set around the globe tailor-made for players to unleash their exoskeleton’s abilities, including:

Core: Deploy to the Gobi desert where the ravaged ruins of a nuclear fusion plant set the stage for a high-octane warzone. Take down enemies through the wreckage in long-range combat or get up-close and personal in the tunnels surrounding the central turbine. Activate decontamination drones using the map-based scorestreak to help clean out the competition.

Urban: Prepare yourself for brutal, high-speed combat in Dallas Ward 3, a future mega structure, funneling players into a close-quarters free-for-all. This modular compound’s verticality unleashes the exoskeleton’s capabilities. Stay focused during the timed event as blast doors alter the map’s flow and sightlines.

Sideshow: In the shadow of Devil’s Tower, Wyoming, this abandoned inn’s open layout amplifies its creep factor. Blast your way through the clown inn with close-quarters battles or use long-range site-lines from the mining facilities and natural terrain. Use the map-based scorestreak to activate the lights, music, and magic of the clown marquee and rain down a barrage of rainbow smoke-trailed cannonballs.

Drift: An idyllic ski resort high in the Rocky Mountains is transformed into a festive high-altitude playground, perfect for an all-out firefight. Make your way to the highly contested over watch in the glass observation deck or take a ride on the carousel to deliver 360 degrees of carnage. Players can use the map-altering timed event to their advantage as an avalanche of snow and debris disorients players, intensifying the battle.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Havoc will be available first, exclusively on Xbox LIVE for a suggested retail price of $15 on January 27. The Havoc DLC Pack is also included in the Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare DLC Season Pass*, where fans can purchase all four epic DLC Packs planned for the year, as part of the discounted bundle offered at a suggested retail price of $49.99 – a discount of $10 off the individual purchase of all four DLC Map Packs**. Microsoft Season Pass holders also now have instant access to the Havoc DLC Pack bonus weapons. The AE4 directed energy assault rifle and its custom weapon variant, the AE4 Widowmaker, combine a versatile firing mechanism with all-around movement speed and handling.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is developed by Sledgehammer Games and Raven Software specifically for Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 and PC, and is available via direct digital download. A current gen version for Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system is developed by High Moon Studios. The title is rated M for Mature with Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Intense Violence and Strong Language.

For the latest intel, check out: www.callofduty.com,www.facebook.com/callofduty, www.youtube.com/callofduty or follow @CallofDuty on Twitter and Instagram.

Trailer

Gaijin Releases War Thunder Soundtrack

2015/01/13

Jerry Paxton

Geek News, News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

January 13, 2015 — Gaijin Entertainment has released the full original War Thunder soundtrack to fans (http://warthunder.com/en/soundtrack). Split into two albums – Air Forces and Ground Forces – the soundtrack contains 50 inspiring orchestral tracks as featured in the epic, breath-taking battles in War Thunder. The soundtrack was created in collaboration with Strategic Music studio to produce an exquisite live-performed orchestral score, and can now be purchased from iTunes, Amazon and Google Play. For more information, visit: http://warthunder.com/en/soundtrack

See the ‘Making of’ the War Thunder soundtrack with the Baltic Symphonic Orchestra at the following links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxEeBH7CMVM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FavJaVxN1bc