Author - Jerry Paxton

Call of Duty: Ghosts Invasion DLC Pack Announced

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Santa Monica, CA – May 29, 2014 – Call of Duty® fans should mark their calendars and prepare for Invasion, as Activision and Infinity Ward today revealed the third massive DLC Pack for Call of Duty®: Ghosts. Launching June 3rd first, exclusively on Xbox Live for Xbox One and Xbox 360, Call of Duty®: Ghosts Invasion delivers four new multiplayer maps from unique locales around the world, each with hidden secrets and unique Field Orders. Invasion also includes “Episode 3: Awakening,” the next thrilling chapter in Extinction’s four-part episodic narrative taking players deep into an alien underworld to discover the truth behind the Cryptid attack.

Invasion is available a la carte for a suggested retail price of $14.99, or as part of theCall of Duty: Ghosts DLC Season Pass, which gives fans access to all four epic Call of Duty: Ghosts DLC Packs** planned for release in 2014 – Onslaught, Devastation,Invasion and Nemesis – at the discounted* suggested retail price of $49.99.

Invasion’s four new small-to-medium-sized multiplayer maps feature the fast-paced gameplay Call of Duty fans crave, each one donning a distinct look, feel and unique killstreak. “Departed” is a medium-sized map set in a rural Mexican town during the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration. The colorfully decorated streets, vendor carts and storefronts provide ample cover for run-and-gunners, and players that complete the map’s unique Field Order will unlock the Death Mariachi killstreak. Armed with dual-wielding pistols, the Death Mariachi settles scores, with each kill turning enemy players into another member of the band, and a temporary squad mate.

“Pharaoh” is the abandoned archeological site of an ancient Egyptian palace. Players will have to be on the lookout for collapsing monuments and urns full of flesh-eating scarabs, among other surprises in this multi-level map. Inside the palace, gamers will battle through multiple chambers ideal for close-quarters combat and short-range weapons, all under the watchful eye of Anubis, the half-jackal/half-human, protector of the dead, who will handsomely reward players who unlock this map’s Field Order.

Invasion’s third map, “Mutiny,” transports players to a remote Caribbean island harboring an eerie pirate hideout complete with abandoned trading posts and prison cells. Speed and stealth are a must as players navigate the narrow and intertwining pathways. However, let ye be warned that gamers taking up positions on the pirate ship moored in the center of the map will become vulnerable to enemy fire from the numerous flanking routes created by the map’s horseshoe shaped dock. Players that unlock “Mutiny’s” Field Order will find themselves escorted by two ethereal ghost pirates, who will happily send enemy combatants down to Davey Jones’ locker on their behalf.

Invasion’s fourth multiplayer map is a refreshed version of the fan-favorite map fromCall of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 2, “Favela.” Since its original release, the Brazilian shantytown has seen substantial change. Buildings once under construction are now complete, while others have crumbled into a state of disrepair. Players must avoid falling to their death as they traverse the map from one building to the next, with ramshackle scaffolding creating varied pathways between structures, and enemy snipers taking advantage of the long sightlines. Players who complete the Field Order in “Favela” will be able to call in heavy air support from a nearby Y-8 Gunship to bring the rain with a 105mm cannon, a 40mm auto-cannon and a 25mm cannon.

Anchoring the Call of Duty: Ghosts Invasion DLC Pack is the next installment in the game’s Extinction mode episodic narrative, “Episode 3: Awakening.” In Awakening, the team descends into the perilous alien underworld to strike at the subterranean fortress of the Ancestors – the mysterious puppet-masters behind the Cryptid invasion. Armed with a range of new hi-tech weapons and equipment, the team must penetrate a series of defensive barriers to reach the Ark and unlock the secrets of the Ancestors’ psychic powers. As the final battle draws closer, the fate of the Earth and the future of the human race hang in the balance.

Call of Duty: Ghosts Invasion will be available June 3rd first, exclusively on Xbox Live for Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and the Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft, with other platforms to follow. Call of Duty: Ghosts is rated “M” (Mature – Blood, Drug Reference, Intense Violence, Strong Language – content suitable for persons ages 17 and older) by the ESRB. Call of Duty: Ghosts Invasion is published by Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI), and developed by Infinity Ward.

For the latest information, be sure to visit the game’s official Web site atwww.callofduty.com/ghosts, and follow us on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/CODGhosts and on Twitter at @InfinityWard.

Europa Universalis IV: Wealth of Nations Release Trailer

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STOCKHOLM — May 29, 2014 — Paradox Interactive and Paradox Development Studio today launched “Wealth of Nations,” the second expansion to the critically acclaimed empire-building strategy title Europa Universalis IV.

Available now for Windows, Mac, and Linux, trade enthusiasts can purchase Wealth of Nations for the current market value of a barrel of spices, or $9.99, from digital storefronts worldwide as well as on the Paradox Store at www.paradoxplaza.com.

Wealth of Nations takes the award-winning franchise into the rough seas of trading where players can now forge their own trade empires and amass large amounts of wealth by legitimate means, such as creating powerful trade capitals and treating with other nations to gain trade power over a region, or by more lucrative methods like hiring privateers to “help” your rivals unload stored goods from their ships to your own.

After being stuck in customs for a bit, a launch trailer for Wealth of Nations has been released:

Simultaneously Paradox Development Studio has also released the customary free patch containing updates, fixes and new features for everyone who owns Europa Universalis IV. The full patch notes are available on the forum. 

For more information on Europa Universalis IV, please visit europauniversalis.com.

Stronghold 3: The Campaigns Announced for iOS

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Stamford, Ct. – May 29, 2014 – Digital Tribe Games, the premier global publisher for independent game developers, announced today that Stronghold 3: The Campaigns will be available next month for the iPad. Stronghold 3: The Campaigns will bring the same addicting level of excitement and in-depth gameplay from the beloved PC series to the ultimate portable platform. Designed exclusively for the iPad, Stronghold 3: The Campaigns uses realistic physics and high-quality graphics to present daily medieval life in stunning detail.

Download the latest batch of Stronghold 3: The Campaigns screenshots HERE:

Watch the Stronghold 3: The Campaigns launch trailer HERE:

“The Stronghold franchise was met with great success and acclaim on PC and is a perfect fit for the iPad,” said Melanie Mroz, VP of Business Development, Digital Tribe Games. “Fans and newcomers alike can enjoy the trademark real-time castle-building gameplay anywhere in the world, and the talented developers have spent a great deal of time, effort, and care to optimize and fine-tune the game specifically for this platform.”

Stronghold 3: The Campaigns is a unique cross between a city builder and real-time strategy game (RTS). The key to the game is the castle – designing, managing, and defending it. Each of these elements is crucial and players will need to consider all of these components to become a true ruler. Since its original launch in 2001, the Stronghold series has sold more than 3 million copies, making it one of the most popular games in its genre.

Key Features in Stronghold 3: The Campaigns
· Design and build mighty castles from which to launch campaigns
· Build and take control of powerful, imposing armies
· Launch sieges and defend against enemy attacks
· Devise personalized tactics and strategies to vanquish opponents
· Run a medieval economy and manage every slice of gritty, grim medieval life
· Fully dynamic castle construction doesn’t confine players to a grid-based system

Stronghold 3: The Campaigns will be available for the iPad in late June 2014 on the App Store.

Fenix Rage New Screenshots and Platforms Unveiled

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TWAIN HARTE, CA – May 28, 2014 – Costa Rican indie dev studio Green Lava Studios, along with indie games’ veterans at Reverb Triple XP, have just one question for gamers: Can you get the cookie? Get ready to stretch those thumb muscles for Fenix Rage, a new 2D hardcore platformer with stylish retro roots and obsessive level-based challenges coming to Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Windows PC, and Mac. Fenix Rage will be coming to Xbox One via the ID@Xbox self-publishing program for independent developers.

“The excitement that our team feels is truly overwhelming,” said Eduardo Ramirez, Game Designer and CEO of Green Lava Studios. “We are extremely proud of what we are creating and are busy polishing every aspect of Fenix Rage.”

An inspired and frenetically-paced 2D platformer, Fenix Rage tests players’ ability to run, jump, and dash their way through a maze of dangerous obstacles, across hundreds of lightning-paced levels, all in an effort to track down a shadowy villain.  Loads of different enemies, slick retro-inspired music, vivid level landscapes await gamers with the mettle to play. Players will struggle mightily to climb the Leaderboard with the best time and fewest deaths and then rub it in the face of their friends.

Fenix Rage epitomizes the kind of games with which Reverb Triple XP partners. Green Lava Studios is working in cooperation with Reverb Triple XP for a ‘powered-up’ custom communications and publishing solution that fits its needs as an indie game developer.

Slated for release in fall 2014, Fenix Rage will be coming to Xbox One, the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Windows PC and Mac platforms.  For the latest buzz follow Fenix Rage on Twitter, “Like” the game on Facebook, check out Fenix Rage on Steam, and visit the official Website at www.FenixRage.com.

Fenix Rage will be playable at the E3 Expo 2014 in Los Angeles, CA.

New Screenshots

Tropico 5 Release Date

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Ridgewood, NJ – May 29, 2014 – Kalypso Media has today confirmed that due to a delay in the packaging manufacturing, the North American retail release of the highly anticipated Tropico 5 on PC will now ship to stores nationwide on June 17. Fans and consumers who pre-ordered Tropico 5 for retail will be glad to know that the teams are working hard to solve the manufacturing issue and that they will receive the complete Tropico 5 retail package on this date.

Versions for Xbox 360® and Mac will be available this summer – with a version for the PlayStation®4 platform following in the fall.

Kalypso Media would like to take this opportunity to apologize to consumers for the delay and hope that this will not dampen their Tropico 5 experience.

Futuremark Announces 3DMark Sky Diver Benchmark

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HELSINKI, FINLAND – May 28, 2014 – Futuremark today announced 3DMark Sky Diver, a new DirectX 11 benchmark test for gaming laptops and mid-range PCs. 3DMark Sky Diver is the ideal test for benchmarking systems with mainstream DirectX 11 graphics cards, mobile GPUs, or integrated graphics. A preview trailer for the new benchmark shows a wingsuited woman skydiving into a mysterious, uncharted location. The scene is brought to life with tessellation, particles and advanced post-processing effects. Sky Diver will be shown in full at Computex from June 3-7, or find out more on the Futuremark website: http://www.futuremark.com/3dmark

Sky Diver trailer:

Screenshots: http://www.futuremark.com/benchmarks/3dmark#skydiver

Jukka Mäkinen, Futuremark CEO said,
“Some people think that 3DMark is only for high-end hardware and extreme overclocking. Yet millions of PC gamers rely on 3DMark to choose systems that best balance performance, efficiency and affordability. 3DMark Sky Diver complements our other tests by providing the ideal benchmark for gaming laptops and mainstream PCs.”

3DMark – The Gamer’s Benchmark for all your hardware

  • 3DMark is the only benchmark that offers a range of tests for different classes of hardware:
  • Fire Strike, for high performance gaming PCs (DirectX 11, feature level 11)
  • Sky Diver, for gaming laptops and mid-range PCs (DirectX 11, feature level 11)
  • Cloud Gate, for notebooks and typical home PCs (DirectX 11 feature level 10)
  • Ice Storm, for tablets and entry level PCs (DirectX 11 feature level 9)
  • With 3DMark, you can benchmark the full performance range of modern DirectX 11 graphics hardware. Where Fire Strike is like a modern game on ultra high settings, Sky Diver is closer to a DirectX 11 game played on normal settings. This makes Sky Diver the best choice for benchmarking entry level to mid-range systems and Fire Strike the perfect benchmark for high performance gaming PCs.

See 3DMark Sky Diver in full at Computex

3DMark Sky Diver will be on display on the ASUS, MSI, GIGABYTE, Galaxy, Inno3D, and G-Skill booths at Computex, June 3-7.

S.Y. Shian, ASUS Vice President & General Manager of Notebook Business Unit said,
“We are proud to partner with Futuremark to show 3DMark Sky Diver at Computex. Sky Diver helps PC gamers choose systems that offer great performance and great value. We invite everyone to visit our stand to experience 3DMark Sky Diver on a range of new ASUS products.”

Coming soon

Sky Diver will be released as an update for all editions of 3DMark, including the free 3DMark Basic Edition. Further details, including the release date, will be announced at Computex and on Futuremark’s website: http://www.futuremark.com/3dmark

Watch Dogs Sets Ubisoft Sales Record

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PARIS, FRANCE – May 28, 2014 – Today, Ubisoft announced that Watch Dogs sold through more copies in its first 24 hours of availability than any previous title in the company’s history*.

Players were understandably eager to get their hands on Watch Dogs, one of the most anticipated and critically-acclaimed titles of 2014. Reviews praised Watch Dogs’ hacking gameplay, breadth of content, seamless nature and the depth of the open-world experience. Notable reviews included the following:

  • “Original and compelling gameplay, intelligent level design and immersion guaranteed.” ² – Jeuxvideo.com, 18 out of 20
  • “It’s huge, diverse and intricately detailed.” ³ – IGN, 8.4 out of 10
  • “Watch Dogs was so well received at E3 2012 not for its looks, but what it promised: a truly new way to play open-world games in which the concept of agency extends beyond choosing where to go and what to do next. And whether you’re on foot, behind the wheel or in combat, Watch Dogs delivers on that promise.” ¹ – Edge, 8 out of 10
  •  “Impressive.” 4– The Escapist, 9 out of 10

Ubisoft’s co-founder and CEO Yves Guillemot weighed in on Watch Dogs’ early success, saying, “Watch Dogs is an amazing achievement and our teams should be proud that the creativity, innovation and long hours they invested in making this game are paying off. It’s great to see so many players enjoying the game, and it shows that Watch Dogs has cracked the code for developing a new blockbuster IP and a thoroughly new-gen experience.”

Watch Dogs is set in Chicago and lets players become Aiden Pearce, a brilliant hacker seeking justice following a violent family tragedy. Pearce hacks into Chicago’s Central Operating System (ctOS), which controls the city’s infrastructure (security cameras, traffic lights, public transportation and more) as well as key data on the city’s residents. The game uses the all-new Disrupt game engine to deliver stunning visuals and an incredibly immersive world.

For more information about Watch Dogs, please visit the official websiteFacebook page and Twitter account.

Bethesda Announces Battlecry

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May 28, 2014 (Rockville, MD) — Bethesda Softworks®, a ZeniMax® Media company, today announced BATTLECRY™, an all-new multiplayer action combat game featuring fast-paced and frenetic 32-player battles under development at BattleCry Studios.

BATTLECRY is the first project for the studio since it was formed in 2012 with one goal: to create fun, high-quality online experiences for a connected world. Led by long-time industry veteran Rich Vogel, the team at BattleCry Studios is comprised of seasoned developers with decades of experience working on critically-acclaimed action and competitive multiplayer franchises. Together they have created BATTLECRY – a fun and accessible free-to-play game that amplifies team-based combat by combining visceral brutality, striking art direction and competitive multiplayer action to create a refreshingly new gameplay experience.

Step into a bold, expressive world envisioned by Viktor Antonov (Half-Life 2, Dishonored) where gun powder has been banned following a cataclysmic world war at the dawn of the 20th century. Traditional warfare is now a relic of the past and all conflicts are settled head-on by elite teams of chosen warriors in sanctioned WarZones. Trained and bred for battle they face off for the glory of their nations.

Choose your faction and progress your warrior through the ranks. Each rank unlocks new abilities and effects allowing deep strategic builds for your warrior on every level. Risk life and limb as the powerful Royal Marines or the fearless Cossacks in imaginative WarZones each designed to combine positioning, spacing and verticality to redefine your core combat experience. Fight with transformative melee and ranged weapons that harness iron and energy and eviscerate your opponents with swords that transform into shields, bows that can punch an arrow straight through an armored skull or electrocute your foes with high powered blades crackling with electro-static energy.

“The BattleCry team is happy to unveil the game that bears our studio’s name,” said Rich Vogel, president and executive producer at BattleCry Studios. “We have been hard at work to create a fresh experience for gamers that brings together multiplayer action with visually stunning combat and are excited to share details about the game and have people play BATTLECRY in Bethesda’s booth at E3.”

The official announcement trailer can be seen today on BATTLECRY’s official site: www.battlecrythegame.com.

The beta for BATTLECRY is set to begin in 2015 for PC. BATTLECRY has not yet been rated by the ESRB.

Announcement Trailer

Dragon Age: Inquisition – First Look at: Halamshiral

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Bioware has posted up a new blog entry showing off Halamshiral and the Winter Palace which will be featured in their upcoming Dragon Age: Inquisition. Be sure to check our their posting to get the full rundown on this location.

From the Official Blog Post

Civil war has ravaged the Orlesian countryside for months, but you’d never know it in Halamshiral. The nobles carry on as they always have, seemingly unaffected by the chaos surrounding them. You certainly won’t hear the merchants complain about that, though. Not so long as the sovereigns continue to line their pockets.

So, with opposing forces engaged in battle outside the city walls, why has the Inquisition come to Halamshiral?