Author - Jerry Paxton

Auto Club Revolution Now in Open Beta

March 29, 2012 – Auto Club Revolution today announced its Open Beta phase following the successful completion of the Closed Beta Test program. Players can now join the game without invitation at www.autoclubrevolution.com

Auto Club Revolution is a free-to-play online racing game and car community built in collaboration with the motor industry. Featuring officially licensed cars from over 40 of the world’s leading motor manufacturers, it delivers a ‘best in class’ racing experience to the free-to-play market while providing a social platform for owning, customizing and enjoying cars online.

From today, Auto Club Revolution will feature both free and premium content providing players with a range of options for car ownership.

Players can unlock free cars at regular intervals through the game’s progression as well as enjoying free access to performance upgrades, tracks, and the game’s many customization tools.  They can also optionally purchase items for the new cash currency E-Bucks which, alongside ‘Credits’ earned by racing and completing challenges, completes the dual currency system.

“We have benefited from the best beta test community a game could ever hope for,” said Team Lead, Doug Wolff. “These are some of the most dedicated players I’ve ever encountered and the amazing feedback that we’ve received has been critical to us reaching the stage where we can open the game to all players.”

Since the launch of the Closed Beta, the game’s dedicated testing community has racked-up millions of miles driving officially licensed cars on a variety of race tracks.

CEO, Brian Jobling explains, “The team has worked incredibly hard to get to the Open Beta phase and we’re very excited to welcome everyone into the game. The fundamental philosophy of Auto Club Revolution is our commitment to producing a premium quality game, built around large quantities of stunning licensed content and deployed in a game world that delivers a ‘best-in-class’ game play experience.”

Auto Club Revolution has already licensed content from over 40 car and over 150 upgrade parts manufacturers plus a raft of licensed race tracks, such as Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, Silverstone and Infineon Raceway plus the game’s range of custom race tracks.

From today, players can register for free today and collect their free starter car at www.autoclubrevolution.com. Auto Club Revolution is designed, developed and published by Eutechnyx. For more information about Auto Club Revolution see Twitter: @autoclubrev and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AutoClubRev

 

About Auto Club Revolution

Auto Club Revolution is a free-to-play online racing game and car community built in collaboration with the motor industry. Featuring officially licensed cars from over 50 of the world’s leading motor manufacturers, it delivers a console quality racing experience to the free-to-play market while providing a social platform for owning, customizing and enjoying cars online.  The game’s front end is web-based, creating a powerful and flexible social platform for communities of car enthusiasts and racing fans to interact with each other and their favorite motoring brands. The racing experience itself is delivered via a downloaded application (client), built on the world class Eutechnyx-owned racing engine. This combination of web and app. empowers the player to manage their game, garage and network of friends on the web from anywhere, while the downloadable element provides the premium quality race experience that separates Auto Club Revolution from all other games in the sector.

About Eutechnyx

Eutechnyx is the world’s leading independent racing game developer. With a history spanning over 24 years, the studio has won numerous awards for its million-plus selling titles and garnered exceptional acclaim in the business sector. As well as its headquarters in the Gateshead (UK), the company has studios in Hong Kong, Chengdu (China) and Charlotte (USA) and a publishing office in London (UK).

For more information, please visit press.eutechnyx.com. Auto Club Revolution and Eutechnyx are registered trademarks of Eutechnyx Ltd. All rights reserved.

Deadly 30 Announced

Montreal, Quebec, Canada – March 29, 2012 – They may walk, but you’ll need to run to survive the unquenchable zombie lust for living flesh in Meridian4’s (@Meridian4) new Deadly 30.  Pure Indie, this classic side-scrolling shooter was developed by the two-man team of Iggy Zuk and Gonzossm, and was discovered by Meridian4’s partner, Headup Games. Deadly 30 will be unleashing the starving walkers tomorrow via digital download.

Deadly 30 is an ode to the classic side-scrolling genre, and adds in a perfect blend of tower defense and even a little RPG to compliment the non-stop shooting action,” said Steve Milburn, Marketing Director of Meridian4.  “Given the recent mainstream appeal of all things zombie, we felt it was the perfect time to release this challenging and addictive game.”

In Deadly 30, players must survive 30 days and nights in a zombie-infested world where they can recruit companions, upgrade weaponry, and fortify their position to fight waves of hungry zombies.  During the day, players can gather resources, enhance their base defenses, and explore their surroundings for useful items in order to prepare for fighting relentless waves of zombie night attacks.  Three different playable characters, A.I. controlled Team Combat and upgradeable weaponry and defenses help keep players alive as they attempt to eradicate the zombie hordes.

Deadly 30 will be available via digital download on GameStop PC Downloads, Amazon, and Direct2Drive for $4.99 with more channels to follow.  For more information, please visit www.meridian4.com, and follow them on Twitter @Meridian4.

About Meridian4

Established 2004 in Montreal, Canada, Meridian4 is an interactive entertainment publisher for today’s popular video game platforms.  Supported by a wide network of international developers, the company’s growing catalog of games is distributed both digitally and through retail.  A strong management team of seasoned industry professionals has strategically grown the company by solidifying and expanding its distribution channel; identifying and securing appealing content, and increasing its consumer awareness via innovative marketing and social media programs.

More information can be found online at www.meridian4.com, or follow Meridian4 on Twitter @Meridian4.

About Headup Games

Headup Games GmbH & Co. KG is an independent games publisher located near Cologne in Germany. Together with its partners, Headup Games focuses on the contentment of their customers and the best gameplay experience delivered at the fairest price-quality ratio. Since its foundation, the company published over 30 SKU’s, including many projects from young, ambitious indie-developers, where much potential and creativity had been seen. The portfolio features high-quality games such as Super Meat Boy, The Binding of Isaac, Terraria, Limbo, Archon: Classic, The Tiny Bang Story, Trapped Dead and Grotesque Tactics.

Furthermore, Headup Games offers to internationally growing companies the possibility to enter the German or European market with an experienced partner on location. Fair and transparent relationships to our developing partners are the basis of our company’s mission statement.

More information can be found at www.headupgames.com

Square Enix Announces PAX East Lineup

LOS ANGELES (Mar. 29, 2012) – Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of SQUARE ENIX® interactive entertainment products in the Americas, today announced its roster of games for this year’s Penny Arcade Expo (PAX) East, set to take place at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (Booth #850), from April 6-8.

PAX East attendees are invited to preview and play the following Square Enix titles:

  • Sleeping Dogs™ – the free-roaming, undercover thriller set in Hong Kong’s Triad underworld will feature a playable demo that encapsulates the game’s combat, narrative, driving and open world elements.
  • THEATRHYTHM™ FINAL FANTASY® – the first-ever music-themed title that commemorates the FINAL FANTASY franchise’s 25th anniversary merges rhythm and role-playing game genres.
  • Quantum Conundrum™ – show attendees will be among the first members of the community to playthe first-person environmental puzzle game from Airtight Games and Kim Swift, co-creator of Portal.
  • HEROES OF RUIN™ – visitors who demo the epic action-adventure title for Nintendo 3DS™ system can receive a raffle ticket for a chance to win their very own Nintendo 3DS™ system; those who upload photos of themselves with hero weaponry props (available at booth) to their own Facebook page can earn another raffle ticket for the drawing.
  • WAKFU® – the recently launched MMORPG from Ankama Studios offers attendees the chance to demo 12 available classes. Upon request, the first 1,500 visitors will receive an exclusive PAX East in-game item, as well as two weeks of free premium game time. Fans will also be eligible to spin the WAKFU Prize Wheel for a chance to win branded merchandise.
  • Risen 2: Dark Waters™ – player decisions will help shape their world in the next installment of Deep Silver’s open world RPG. Featuring a swashbuckling pirate theme, a hands-on demo awaits intrepid buccaneers at the Square Enix booth.

Additionally, Square Enix will host an exclusive evening panel, featuring a gameplay demo and Q&A session with IO Interactive for the much-anticipated fifth entry in the classic HITMAN® franchise, HITMAN: ABSOLUTION™. Panel details include:

  • Speaker: Roberto Marchesi (Art Director, IO Interactive)
  • Day / Time / Location: Saturday, April 7, 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m., Manticore Theater

Finally, Square Enix will celebrate PAX East with a joint HITMAN: ABSOLUTION and Sleeping Dogs themed event at Boston’s famed Faneuil Hall on the evening of Friday, April 6. A PAX East badge and legal identification will be required for this 21 and over event.

About Square Enix, Inc.

Square Enix, Inc. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX®, EIDOS® and TAITO® branded entertainment content throughout the Americas as part of the Square Enix Group. The Square Enix Group operates a global network of leading development studios and boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property, including: FINAL FANTASY®, which has sold over 100 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 59 million units worldwide; TOMB RAIDER®, which has sold over 35 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix, Inc. is a U.S.-based, wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.

More information on Square Enix, Inc. can be found at http://www.square-enix.com/na.

The Witcher 2 Enhanced Edition Gold

CD Projekt RED studio is proud to announce that The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition has gone gold on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.  Both the Enhanced Edition and Dark Edition of the game are now available for pre-sale and scheduled to arrive at retail stores on April 17, 2012.

“We are very excited to have The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition for Xbox 360 in our spring line-up this year,” said Kevin Kebodeaux, Senior Vice President, Sales Americas, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment., The Witcher’s 2 North American distributor  “This game contains all of the elements that make The Witcher a truly immersive experience that will undoubtedly captivate console gamers just as it has and continues to engage PC gamers.”

“The game is truly a masterpiece and we are excited to bring the complex and non-linear story of Geralt of Rivia to console players”  added Olivier Comte, senior vice president, NAMCO BANDAI Partners S.A.S., the game’s distributor for Europe, Asia and Australia.

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition for Xbox 360 is an adaptation of the hit RPG fantasy game on PC.  The game offers more than 40 hours of non-linear gameplay, set in a beautiful dark fantasy setting.  At its core, the game gives players complete freedom to develop the game’s storyline through a series of choices.

“The game will be released in over two weeks, but I think we will surprise players in the following weeks. On the 5th of April we will host a conference and announce something truly extraordinary – so be sure to watch our live stream at 5 p.m. GMT that day.” Said Marcin Iwiński, joint-CEO pf CD Projekt RED

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition features never-before-seen content , making it the richest version of The Witcher 2.  The Enhanced Edition will include a world map, a soundtrack audio CD and a quest handbook.   The Dark Edition includes all of the in-pack bonus items in the Enhanced Edition, plus a Witcher themed medallion, an art book, stickers and a behind-the-scenes DVD.

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Enhanced Edition can be pre-ordered at buy.thewitcher.com

Line of Defense Comic Book Announced

WESTON, FL– March 28, 2012– 3000AD, INC and DC Entertainment welcome comic book fans to the edge of conflict. Designed by videogame veteran Derek Smart, Line Of Defense, developed by 3000AD, takes place in a rich environment where Galactic Command is deep in conflict with opposing forces hell bent on taking over the resources of a distant planet and apparently building a super weapon while they’re at it.

A special limited-edition,“First Issue” comic based on this upcoming videogame will be featured at the DC Entertainment booth at San Diego Comic-Con this year, as well as E3 and several other trade shows during the year. It will also be made available through various online outlets.

For many years the Terran military forces of GALCOM have been engaged in various conflicts with the Insurgents– a splinter group of military personnel opposed to the Terran governing body. In a surprise move, the Insurgents setup shop on the long abandoned planet of Lyrius, previously used by GALCOM for weapons testing, R&D and other forms of military operations. This move wouldn’t normally warrant a deep space troop deployment, except for the fact that the Insurgents were rumored to be developing a super weapon on the planet.

The “Firefight” comic tells the story of the brave direct action team sent by GALCOM to neutralize the threat and destroy the weapon.

Written by Ricardo Sanchez (Resident Evil, Telara Chronicles, Alganon), Firefight features interior art by Brian Ching (Gears of War, Batman: Arkham Unhinged, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic) and Cover art by Puppeteer Lee (Blacklight Tango Down, Storm Lion).

For more information about 3000AD, please visit http://www.3000ad.com

For more information about Line Of Defense, please visit http://lodmmo.com

The Dark Meadow Gets Free Version on iOS

CHICAGO, IL, March 28, 2012 – Nominated by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences for 2012 Mobile Game of the Year, The Dark Meadow, the best-selling iOS game developed by Phosphor Games Studio, tonight is unleashing a major update on the iOS App Store, as well as a new free to play version, Dark Meadow: The Pact.  Then next month, Android owners will receive their chance to get in on the action with the release of Dark Meadow: The Pact, free of charge.  Enjoy console quality gameplay, vivid graphics, in-depth story-telling and a host of updates – without spending a dime.

Phosphor Games is updating the original release with more premium content than ever before, including:

  • iPad 3 retina support;
  • New environments filled with challenging enemies, a new boss creature and more of the beloved Trickster story and voice-over;
  • New premium weapons and amulets, including:

o   Lightbombs to devastate enemies

o   New swords and crossbow weapons with special attacks

  • Healthpacks that can be used in battle and to revive after death to remain in the fight;
  • New “Fast Travel” warps that allow players to instantly move to floors they’ve unlocked;
  • Addition of a world map to prevent players from getting lost;
  • Added language support for Chinese, Russian and Brazilian Portuguese;
  • A new Premium Pack, including:

o   5 health kits;

o   13 bombs;

o   15,000 gold

o   150 Sun coins;

o   Ad free.

As a special thank you to those who have already purchased the game, existing premium users will get the Premium Pack for free once they update their game.

“We are extremely pleased at the overwhelming response by gamers and critics to The Dark Meadow, our very first iOS game, and we are glad to offer Dark Meadow: The Pact free of charge on iOS tonight and Android in April,” said Chip Sineni, Director at Phosphor Games Studios.  “For those ‘early adopters’ who bought the game when it was first released, we hope you enjoy all the new content and enhancements that were designed specifically in response to your feedback and to hardware enhancements that will now make the game more beautiful than ever on iOS.”

Developed utilizing the acclaimed Unreal Engine 3, The Dark Meadow is a stunning first-person, action/adventure game where players fight to escape a nightmare world filled with fantastical creatures bent on destroying them.  You awake in a hospital uncertain of how you arrived there or why.  An old man warns of a beautiful witch whose minions roam the halls seeking to kill the living.  It is only when the witch is destroyed that you will be released from this unrelenting torment.

As you explore the photo-realistic world, you will need both your crossbow for ranged combat as well as your sword for in close, melee combat.  Gesture-based “pull back and fire” as well as slashing combat will be instantly recognizable to touch screen players, and node-based movement through the world makes navigation simple yet compelling.

Role-playing game mechanics enhance the exploration, as a wide variety of items are secreted throughout the world – from hidden scraps of paper that reveal the mystery of your imprisonment, to money which can be used to purchase better equipment and weapons.

When released next month, the Android version of Dark Meadow: The Pact will deliver even more enhanced visuals and physics owing to the powerful new NVIDIA® Tegra® 3 quad-core mobile processor.  The game will be available in English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Italian, Chinese, Russian, and Brazilian Portuguese.

New Krater Screenshots Released

Fatshark AB has released some new screenshots from their upcoming hack and slash RPG, Krater!

Screenshots

World of Mercenaries Announces

WARSAW, POLAND, March 27, 2011— Did upgrading your PC to a hardcore gaming machine leave your wallet a little light? Don’t worry, you’re still entitled to a premium gaming experience and City Interactive SA is going to give it to you with World of Mercenaries, a new free to play AAA first person shooter currently in development exclusively for PC.
Powered by Unreal Engine 3© and to be distributed digitally via Steam©, World of Mercenaries is a skill based competitive FPS with stunning graphics, fluid controls, customizable weapons and focus on teamwork as a core element for player progression. Immerse in the life of a fearless mercenary!
“Our veteran team is comprised of some of the most devoted FPS fans in the world and we’re excited to use our knowledge and experience to fuse the best elements of previously released games in the genre with new and exciting advancements – be it in terms of graphics, controls or skill based game play.” says Bogdan Oprescu, Executive Producer for the title. “Our closed beta program will be an integral part of the development process for World of Mercenaries, as it is our goal to deliver a game made by, for and with FPS fans. We are shaping the future of competitive FPS, and are fully confident it will be achieved with the enthusiasm and help of our beta testers.”
More information on the game and the launch of the Beta registration process will be made public soon at www.worldofmercenaries.com.
Follow us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/worldofmercenaries) and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/wom_TheGame)!

Phantom 410 Special Edition Launched

El Monte, CA – March 27, 2012 – NZXT, a company built on realizing the dreams of gamers worldwide, is proud to introduce new, special edition color options of the widely-acclaimed Phantom 410.  Early this year, NZXT polled the facebook community to see what color combinations were most demanded by gamers and enthusiasts, selected the top choices and made them a reality.  Phantom 410 is now available in Black with Orange Trim, Black with White Trim, White with Blue Trim, and a surprise Gunmetal black edition with a gunmetal interior and exterior matte finish.

Phantom 410 builds off of the legendary qualities of the award-winning case with even more value for every dollar spent.  Effective airflow is paramount with a cooling capability of up to seven fans (2x 120mm and 1x 140mm LED fan included), support for 240mm dual radiator water cooling solution, and an integrated 30W fan controller for customizing your system for silence or performance.

Installation and upgrades are simplified with innovative right mounted HDD rails, a solution for easy hard drive replacement, a removable HDD cage to allow more room for extended video cards, and screwless 5.25” and HDD trays that secures 2.5” SSD.  Additional innovative features include USB 3.0 support and an acrylic window that allows gamers to admire the power of their rig.

“We’re proud to reward the enthusiast community the specific color combinations that they voted for earlier this year” said Johnny Hou, Founder and Chief Designer at NZXT.  “Now you can have the same legendary quality of the highly regarded Phantom 410 in an array of designs that suit your personal preference.  We always pride ourselves on bringing gamers dreams to reality, and this is a great example of how NZXT makes that happen.”

The Phantom 410 will be available in Gunmetal, Black with orange trim, black with white trim, and white with blue trim for $99.99 in late March.  For more information visithttp://www.nzxt.com/new/products/crafted_series/phantom_410