Author - Jerry Paxton

Aliens: Colonial Marines Delayed to 2013

2012/05/23

SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON–SEGA^® of America, Inc., SEGA^® Europe Ltd., Gearbox Software and Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products are thrilled to announce that the highly anticipated first-person shooter Aliens: Colonial Marines™ will be in stores worldwide on February 12, 2013. As the authentic addition to the ALIENS franchise canon, the game’s stunning visuals and adrenaline pumping action will deliver breathtakingly immersive single, cooperative and competitive multi-player modes. Providing for an innovative asymmetrical competitive multiplayer experience, Aliens: Colonial Marines lets players fight in first person as the ultimate combatants – the United States Colonial Marines, or in third person as the universe’s deadliest killers – the Xenomorphs. Plunging into familiar and new environments from the iconic film franchise, players will have to fight the fear and face the true horrors of the ALIENS universe.

“We look forward to working with them and bringing an exciting new way for fans to immerse themselves in the ALIENS world.”

“I am thrilled to announce the definitive launch date for Aliens: Colonial Marines,” said Randy Pitchford, President of Gearbox Software. “Aliens: Colonial Marines is the culmination of a life-time of inspiration from the films and relentless passion and drive from the exceptionally talented development team behind the scenes.”

“We knew this game would be incredible from the moment Gearbox began developing Aliens: Colonial Marines,” said Gary Knight, Senior Vice President of Marketing for SEGA Europe and SEGA of America. “Now that the title is in its final stretch of development, we can confidently release the exact date that gamers will finally get to experience this blockbuster thrill-ride.”

“SEGA has a proven track record with the ALIENS franchise. ALIENS vs. PREDATOR released by SEGA in 2009 became one of their top-selling titles,” said Gary Rosenfeld, Senior Vice President for New Media for Fox Consumer Products. “We look forward to working with them and bringing an exciting new way for fans to immerse themselves in the ALIENS world.”

In partnership with Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products and developed by critically acclaimed studio Gearbox Software, Aliens: Colonial Marines will bring new levels of bone-chilling suspense and adrenaline-filled action to the renowned franchise. Aliens: Colonial Marines begins with an ostensibly abandoned ship, the U.S.S. Sulaco, recovered in orbit around LV-426. Players lead a group of highly trained United States Colonial Marines as they board the deserted craft to uncover the fate of the crew. They will have to fight to survive unspeakable horrors and their own anxieties as they chase down the truth behind a galaxy-spanning deception that places humanity at the mercy of the most murderous and deadly species in the universe. Aliens: Colonial Marines features authentic environments, such as the surface of LV-426 and Hadley’s Hope, weapons inspired by the film series and is designed to provide an exhilarating and engaging new chapter in the ALIENS universe.

Aliens: Colonial Marines will be available in stores across the globe on February 12, 2013 on PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows PC. A release date for the announced Wii U™ version will be revealed at a later time.

For more information, please visit www.sega.com/alienscolonialmarines and for press assets please go to www.sega-press.com.

For more news, follow SEGA on Twitter @SEGA, Gearbox Software on Twitter @GearboxSoftware or like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/aliensgames.

World of Warplanes Closed Beta Announced

2012/05/23

Jerry Paxton

News

22^nd May 2012 — Wargaming.net, the award-winning videogame developer and publisher, announced today that the closed beta testing stage for the company’s highly anticipated flight combat MMO World of Warplanes will take off on May 31 this year.

Since its global alpha launch on February 23, World of Warplanes has secured more than 600,000 invite requests, with 100,000 received within the first 24 hours. Thousands of players have been granted access to World of Warplanes alpha version, and the army of test pilots will be increased drastically once the game enters closed beta.

“We are happy to announce the next big day for World of Warplanes,” said Alex Zezulin, Project Manager for World of Warplanes. “Thanks to our alpha testers, the game looks better and better every day, and we hope beta test participants will contribute as much to World of Warplanes development.”

About World of Warplanes

World of Warplanes is the flight combat MMO action game set in the Golden Age of military aviation. The game continues the armored warfare theme marked in the highly-acclaimed World of Tanks and will throw players into a never-ending tussle for air dominance.

World of Warplanes will allow players to build full-scale careers as virtual pilots offering machines from several key eras, from1930’s biplanes to the Korean War jet fighters that led the way to modern air forces.

World of Warplanes will feature a wide range of warbirds, each of them unique in their effectiveness and behavior. Virtual pilots will choose from three main warplane classes – single-engine light fighters capable of engaging enemies in close dogfights, heavy fighters with their deadly straight attacks, and strafing aircrafts, the fearsome threat to ground targets.

Every plane will feature multiple variations of ammo types, engines, and other crucial modules, and their various combinations will allow players to pick the optimal configuration for the most effective behavior in combat.

Find more about World of Warplanes at:

http://www.worldofwarplanes.com/

Beta Announcement Screenshots

XCOM: Enemy Unknown Gets Release Date

2012/05/23

Jerry Paxton

News

New York, NY – May 22, 2012 – 2K Games announced today that XCOM^®: Enemy Unknown, the highly anticipated action-strategy game from Firaxis Games, will be available for purchase in North America on October 9, 2012 and internationally on October 12, 2012 for the Xbox 360^® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC. Additionally, pre-ordering XCOM: Enemy Unknown from participating retailers guarantees receiving the Elite Soldier Pack, a launch bonus offering top-of-the-line soldier customization features that will only be available for a limited time. There will also be a special edition of XCOM: Enemy Unknown available exclusively for PC that contains a variety of unique XCOM items.

“As we reimagine XCOM, one of our goals is to evolve the experience while recognizing what made X-COM one of the greatest PC games to date,” said Sarah Anderson, senior vice president of marketing for 2K. “It’s important to create an experience that is appealing to both existing fans and newcomers to the world of XCOM, which is what we’re doing with XCOM: Enemy Unknown.”

Gamers looking for the ultimate XCOM: Enemy Unknown experience can pre-order the game to guarantee the launch bonus of the Elite Soldier Pack. The Elite Soldier Pack will provide the ultimate tools for soldier customization in XCOM: Enemy Unknown, including:

Classic X-COM Soldier: Players will instantly receive a new recruit in their barracks inspired by the original X-COM: UFO Defense. The iconic soldier with the blonde, flattop hairstyle will return in his full glory, modernized with the rest of the XCOM universe.
Soldier Deco packs: Players can customize their soldier with several aesthetic upgrades to armor suits, including the new Hyperion and Reaper soldier armor kits.
Complete color customization: A variety of colors and tints for all armor sets in the game allow players complete control to customize their squad’s look.

Available from participating retailers at launch, a special edition of XCOM: Enemy Unknown (MSRP $59.99) will contain a copy of the game for PC and a number of unique XCOM items, including an art book; fold-out poster of the XCOM headquarters; XCOM insignia patch; and a collection of digital bonus assets such as desktop wallpaper, soundtrack and more. A standard edition of XCOM: Enemy Unknown for PC will be available exclusively via 2K’s digital distribution partners.

“XCOM: Enemy Unknown is the answer to the 15-year craving that X-COM fans have been experiencing,” said Steve Martin, president of Firaxis Games. “We wanted to find a special way to honor these die-hard fans, and the special edition and Elite Soldier Pack are just the way to do it.”

Released in 1993, the original X-COM is regarded as one of the best games ever made and has been reimagined as XCOM: Enemy Unknown by the strategy experts at Firaxis Games. XCOM: Enemy Unknown will expand on the X-COM legacy with an entirely new story, enemies and technologies to fight hostile aliens and defend Earth. In XCOM: Enemy Unknown, players will oversee combat strategies and individual unit tactics as well as base management and resource allocation as commander of a secret global military organization, XCOM. With equal emphasis on deep strategy and intense tactical combat, XCOM: Enemy Unknown will allow gamers to control the fate of the human race by defending against a terrifying global alien invasion.

XCOM: Enemy Unknown is not yet rated by the ESRB. For more information, please visit www.xcom.com. For the latest news and information on XCOM: Enemy Unknown, become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/XCOM.

Gamers who wish to experience the greatness of the classic X-COM titles can purchase them via 2K’s digital download partners.

2K Games is a division of 2K, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).

Heroes and Generals Enters Closed Beta

2012/05/23

Jerry Paxton

News

May 22nd, 2012 — The time to enlist is now! Independent studio Reto-Moto proudly announces the launch of the official closed beta for Heroes & Generals, the upcoming massively multiplayer shooter that features explosive online battles between axis and allied forces in a persistent war for European domination.

Heroes & Generals eliminates the formulaic baggage that weighs down the shooter genre by delivering satisfying strategic action in a full blown first-person shooter experience. Players are transported from the comfort of their browsers to authentic WWII battlefields, where they fight alongside thousands of gamers for persistent progression and military supremacy.

We encourage all gamers to enlist for a Beta-key now at our www.heroesandgenerals.com community site.

Heroes & Generals – Beta Videolog 1 showing gameplay examples and a preview of our opcoming iOS and Android app – Heroes & Generals: Mobile Command

From the trenches to the strategy room

Each player in Heroes & Generals chooses their own destiny. You might join the Axis and climb the ranks as a foot soldier, firing off countless rounds in epic battles for crucial landmarks. Or perhaps you’ll become a general in the US army and accept the task of deploying resources and reinforcements across a vast strategic map.

Either way your decisions and actions fundamentally impact the game. Whether you play a fearless infantryman blazing the trenches, a hotshot pilot renowned for precision bombing runs, a brutal gunner assigned to a rumbling tank battalion, or the ace commander directing it all from strategic command – every active soldier contributes to an evolving online war that will soon expand to smartphones and tablets as well.

7 Yanks in a Willys

Your voice and opinion matters

Heroes & Generals takes a cue from the long tradition of multiplayer WWII shooters, but seeks to reinvigorate a genre that some might say has fallen into stagnation. We aim to refresh the genre with the help of the community and beta testers.

The Reto-Moto team has been involved with high-profile action titles in the past, but Heroes & Generals represents the team’s first opportunity to immerse players as active contributors in the ongoing development process. Over the course of beta testing all community members can share feedback on everything game design-related, from map layout to weapon handling. Mass participation and feedback will provide priceless guidance towards our efforts, helping to fine-tune a game that players desire.

Messerschmitt in an attack run

High tech meets easy access

Heroes & Generals is stable, scalable and fully playable in a browser, ideal for hosting a massive range of players, yet it offers state-of-the-art graphics and sound thanks to the proprietary Retox engine. The game is also accompanied by original music from award-winning composer Jesper Kyd, known for his outstanding scores in Assassin’s Creed, Soul Calibur V, Borderlands and Hitman.

Reto-Moto at a glance

Reto-Moto was founded in 1997 and quickly transformed into IO Interactive, which went on to release Hitman and Freedom Fighters. In 2004 IO Interactive was sold to Eidos, however the founding members of Reto-Moto left Eidos and reformed their old company, bringing in some of the core developers from IO Interactive. Heroes & Generals is the first game from Reto-Moto.

Upcoming iOS & Android app – Heroes & Generals: Mobile Command

iPhone Lens Dial Review (Misc)

2012/05/21

Jerry Paxton

News, Reviews

The iPhone Lens Dial is Photojojo’s latest photographic add-on for the iPhone 4/4S from Apple. Constructed out of aircraft-grade aluminum, the sturdy case wraps around the iPhone very tightly, giving it a one-unit feel. After sliding the iPhone into the two pieces of the unit, you seal it by twisting the aluminum screw built into the iPhone Lens Dial structure. The iPhone Lens Dial has a really good weight, coming in at 10 oz. This gives the assembled phone/lens dial a “real camera” weight and helps to alleviate shaky hands.

The iPhone Lens Dial comes with three lenses: Macro, Fish-Eye, and Wide angle. Switching between the three lenses is very simple, as they are built onto a rotating dial (hence the name). Just rotate the dial for the next available lens. The dial stays put with a spring and screw assembly, which does a good job of keeping the dial in place. However, once we did run into the problem where the screw was being loosened as we turned the lens dial through its various lenses. Before we knew it, the assemble fell off the front of the unit and onto the desk. A testament to its construction, the iPhone Lens Dial was not damaged. So, just make sure that all your screws are tightened in order for reliable usage.

The various lenses all have their own pros and cons, with the 1.5x Macro lens being excellent at moving the point-of-view closer to the subject and the 0.7x Wide-angle lens being excellent for bringing in more of the scene to your videos and images. For a super-surreal effect, you can switch to the 0.33x Fish-eye lens. Additionally, the iPhone Lens Dial come with two tripod mounts – one on the horizontal and one on the vertical sides of the unit. This allows for greater customization in how your set your iPhone Lens Dial up. If you take a look at some of the images below this review, you will see the various lenses in action.

Overall, we highly recommend the Photojojo iPhone Lens Dial for the added value it will bring to your iPhone 4/4S photography or amateur filmmaking. It has become a must-bring item in my journalist’s “jump bag” and I can’t stop talking about its sturdy construction.

The iPhone Lens Dial retails for $249 over at Photojojo’s official website.

Images

Alan Wake’s American Nightmare PC Concept Art

2012/05/18

Jerry Paxton

News

Remedy Entertainment has released a ton of concept art from their soon to be released Alan Wake’s American Nightmare on PC – and we have a bunch of it here for your viewing entertainment – enjoy!

Concept Art

E3 2012 Press Conference Schedule

2012/05/18

Jerry Paxton

E3, News

Just to keep everyone up-to-date on E3 2012 goodness, here is the press conference lineup thus far. Each of these is listed in the Pacific timezone.

Monday, June 4, 2012

9:30 AM – Microsoft
1:00 PM – Electronic Arts
3:00 PM – Ubisoft
6:00 PM – Sony

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

9:00 AM – Nintendo

NHL 13 New Features Unveiled

2012/05/18

Jerry Paxton

News

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – May 18, 2012 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) announced today the key features for EA SPORTSTM NHL®13, promising the biggest change to the franchise since the introduction of the Skill Stick in NHL® 07. Headlined by all-new True Performance Skating, and supported by an innovative new A.I. system dubbed EA SPORTS Hockey I.Q., NHL 13 will deliver a revamped gameplay experience that accurately captures the speed, creativity and strategy of NHL hockey. In addition, NHL 13 will also deliver new experiences that connect hockey fans to their friends and the real world of hockey with the all-new GM Connected and NHL Moments Live modes. NHL 13 will be available on September 11, 2012 in North America and September 14, 2012 in Europe.

“The NHL team has been a leader when it comes to innovation in the sports videogame category on this console generation by redefining player control with the introduction of the Skill Stick, creating connected experiences such as the EA SPORTS Hockey League and introducing real world physics to the team sports category,” says Dean Richards, General Manager, NHL, EA SPORTS. “With our feature set in NHL 13, hockey fans and sports gamers have a lot to be excited about as we are again going to deliver major innovations that will change the way you play the game”

NHL 13 delivers an innovative new gameplay experience, accurately capturing the speed, creativity and strategy of today’s NHL through:

· True Performance Skating – A game-changing innovation for the franchise that adds physics-driven skating and over 1000 new animations. True Performance Skating authentically replicates the explosiveness, momentum and top end speed displayed by today’s NHL players. True Performance Skating combined with the Skill Stick, finally gives gamers access to the entire toolset of an NHL player, delivering unprecedented control and unlocking a level of creativity never before possible in a hockey videogame.

· EA SPORTS Hockey I.Q. – An innovative new A.I. system that governs the behaviors of players, goalies and team systems. In previous NHL games, players were only aware of skaters in their immediate proximity and goalies could only react to the player in control of the puck. With EA SPORTS Hockey I.Q., all players are now fully aware of every other player on the ice, resulting in quicker, smarter and more true-to-life decision-making. EA SPORTS Hockey IQ also delivers the deepest and most customizable set of real-world hockey systems and strategies ever for the franchise.

NHL 13 will deliver new experiences that connect hockey fans to their friends and to NHL hockey with:

· GM Connected – The ultimate fantasy league with friends. GM Connected takes the franchise’s most popular offline mode, Be a GM, and allows you to play with and against your friends in your own 30-team NHL. Whether you are a hardcore sports gamer or a hockey fan that moonlights as an armchair general manager, the mode offers unrivaled accessibility and depth by allowing players to manage, play or coach on the road to building your team’s legacy. GM’s can also take their experience with them with a mobile companion app, ensuring that they never miss a single moment.*

· NHL Moments Live – Rewrite or relive history as you replay some of the most thrilling moments from today’s NHL. NHL 13 evolves the concept introduced by other sports games, introducing each scenario with real-world NHL footage to bring players closer to the intensity of the moment. Moments from the 2011-12 NHL season will ship on disc and new moments from the 2012-13 NHL season will be added as and when available throughout the season.

Fans of the franchise can expect several other improvements and innovations in NHL 13, such as:

· Team-First Presentation, which customizes your NHL 13 experience based on your favorite NHL team

· The addition of Customizable EA SPORTS Hockey IQ allowing players to create and record their own player and team strategies to a level never before seen in the franchise.

· Improvements to core offline and online modes, including Hockey Ultimate Team, Be a Pro, EA SPORTS Hockey League, a refined on-ice presentation, and more.

NHL 13 Stanley Cup® Collector’s Edition Available for Pre-Order

Celebrate over 20 years of EA SPORTS NHL hockey with the first ever collector’s edition on this console generation. With Stanley Cup-inspired digital offerings, the NHL 13 Stanley Cup Collector’s Edition includes:

Exclusive collectible Stanley Cup® tin featuring an embossed Stanley Cup image
Two Stanley Cup® Theme Hockey Ultimate Team packs featuring randomized player items from the Western and Eastern Conference Champions
Gold Jumbo Hockey Ultimate Team Pack (Regular) featuring 24 randomized items, including an exclusive Wayne Gretzky Hockey Ultimate Team Legend and six other rare items
A CCM Boost Pack featuring the all-new CCM RBZ stick (For use in Be a Pro and EA SPORTS™ Hockey League)
A 10% discount on a one-time purchase at shop.NHL.com
A complete copy of NHL 13

MSRP: $79.99

Visit the EA SPORTS NHL 13 website for more details and other pre-order offers.

*App not available in France, Gibraltar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Libya, Morocco, Serbia and Montenegro, and Syria

RuneScape: The Evolution of Combat Details

2012/05/18

Jerry Paxton

News

Friday 18th May 2012, Cambridge, UK – Jagex, makers of RuneScape, the World’s most popular and multi-award winning free-to-play massively multiplayer online adventure game, today unveiled the first details of the upcoming RuneScape combat update: The Evolution of Combat.

The Evolution of Combat project will see the biggest change in any system in RuneScape’s history. By bringing this eagerly anticipated update to life, Jagex will be completely redesigning RuneScape’s combat system to offer players an even more immersive and involving experience. On release, the Evolution of Combat update will completely revolutionise the way players fight and interact in game.

“It’s impossible to downplay the significance of this update,” stated Mark Ogilvie, RuneScape’s lead designer. “A rework of the combat system has been the most requested update from our community, and thousands of man hours have gone into developing a more fluid, interactive and tactical combat system. The Evolution of Combat update will fundamentally change the way people play and view RuneScape forever.”

Due to the game-changing nature of the release, RuneScape members will have the opportunity to be among the first to trial the new system with a limited access closed beta; the first in the game’s history. Beta registration will open to all RuneScape members on 1st June in preparation for the first beta entry on 26th June. The beta will run from 26th June until September and will allow testers the exclusive chance to preview the expansion before the rest of the world.

Speaking about the beta, Mark Ogilvie continued, “We have always valued the views and feedback our community which is why we are so excited to be launching this game-changing update with a members’ beta. By introducing this update with a limited-access beta, we are able to interact with our community in a completely new way and offer our members the chance to try the new features first, helping to shape the future of one of the most important elements of the game. I know players won’t want to miss out on the chance to take part in this exclusive opportunity, so be sure to register your interest when registration opens on 1st June.”

Further details of The Evolution of Combat update will be unveiled in due course, and those wishing to keep up to date with the latest announcements are encouraged to visit www.RuneScape.com. Players wanting to take part in the exclusive access beta will need to be an existing member or sign up to RuneScape membership by the 1st June, and continue to be a member through the beta period.

With The Evolution of Combat update on the horizon, there has never been a better time to start your RuneScape adventure. Visit www.RuneScape.com to create your free account today.

The assets (and logo) for this release can be downloaded from: http://bit.ly/EvolutionOfCombat.

DUST 514 Accepting Beta Applications

2012/05/18

Jerry Paxton

News

Reykjavik, Iceland – 17 May 2012 – Today CCP Games is proud to announce that players can register for beta access to its upcoming free-to-play first person shooter, DUST 514, set to launch later this year exclusively on PlayStation®3. The registration page is now live and players can register at www.dust514.com/beta

DUST 514 is one of the most anticipated titles of 2012, and CCP is ready to accept sign ups from fans and gamers eagerly awaiting their chance to try out the revolutionary shooter. If accepted, beta registrants will be notified with an email invitation and instructions on how to access the beta. Thousands of players have already been able to experience DUST 514 during its closed beta, and CCP is beginning to let limited numbers of players join the action. Select players from CCP’s MMO EVE Online will gain entry into the DUST 514 beta this week, as well as all those who attended the EVE Fanfest convention in Iceland this past March. The beta will continue to expand throughout the summer, and CCP will discuss more details at this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3).

DUST 514 brings intense infantry combat, large scale warfare and rich character advancement to the PlayStation®3 in a system-exclusive free-to-play persistent shooter set in, and integrated with, the massive universe of EVE Online. Wage war in the next generation of first person shooters, where your next victory could prove the crushing blow to a galactic empire of thousands of online gamers.

DUST 514 is set to launch in 2012, exclusively on PlayStation®3. For more information visit www.dust514.com and follow DUST 514 on Facebook and Twitter (@dust514).

E3 attendees can experience DUST 514 in Sony’s booth in the West Hall!