Namco Bandai Games has released the second part to the video prologue of their upcoming action-RPG, Dark Souls.
Author - Jerry Paxton
There are several games out on various mobile App Store which require players to use “virtual joysticks”, where you must slide your thumb along a smooth surface to simulate moving a “real” joystick. Unfortunately, this system has never worked well for me. ThinkGeek finally has a solution for us gamers yearning to use real joysticks on our iOS devices: The Joystick-IT. Basically, the Joystick-IT is a small joystick made from milled-aluminum which a padded base and suction cup. The base is capacitive screen-compatible and it the entire stick pivots on the suction cup. Installing the Joystick-IT is very simple. Just make sure you clean the surface of your iPad or Android tablet carefully and then pop the stick onto it. It holds very well, even when inverted, and should not pop off accidentally. Moving the Joystick-IT is a very nice experience – whether it be Galaga or Pac-Man, the movement felt natural and I saw immediate improvement in scores over the standard virtual joystick. The only think you have to be careful with is that you position the Joystick-IT exactly on the on-screen virtual stick. Otherwise, of course, you will not get the Joystick-IT to contact the virtual stick when in use. You can also use multiple Joystick-ITs on your screen at one time, suffice it that the game offers more than one virtual joystick.
The Joystick-IT for iPad and other tablets retails for $17.99 for one and $29.99 for two. ThinkGeek also makes a Joystick-IT for mobile phones, which is a bit smaller than the tablet model.
LINK: Official Product Page
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Microsoft and EPIC Games have released a new trailer for their upcoming shooter, Gears of War 3, titled “Dust to Dust”. The trailer is set to the music of Mazzy Star’s “To Dust” and features a look at the heroes of Delta Squad as the game nears its September 20, 2011 launch date.
Sony Online Entertainment has announced that “Fight for the Light”, the Green Lantern-based expansion for DC Universe Online will be released to the public on September 6, 2011. As a gesture of appreciate to their current subscribers, the new expansion pack will be given to them for FREE! No word yet on how much it will cost non-subscribers to join up and get the expansion pack. The new DLC pack allows players to join up with either the Green Lantern Corps or Sinestro Corps and do battle using the green and yellow light powers.
Rockstar Games has announced that its upcoming Myths and Mavericks bonus content pack for their wildly-successful Red Dead Redemption will be available for FREE on September 13, 2011 for the PlayStation Network and Xbox LIVE. The pack adds numerous single-player game characters into the multiplayer modes as well as a number of new map locations and strongholds for players to take on. Checkout the official list of features below!
Maps/Modes (bolded locations are brand new to multiplayer)
Cochinay – Gold Rush, Shootout, Gang Shootout, Stronghold
Nekoti Rock – Gold Rush, Shootout, Gang Shootout
El Presidio – Gold Rush, Shootout, Gang Shootout
Plainview – Gold Rush, Shootout, Gang Shootout
Gaptooth Mine – Shootout, Gang Shootout
Pike’s Basin – Shootout, Gang Shootout
Rio Bravo – Shootout, Gang Shootout
Perdido – Hold Your Own, Grab the Bag
Benedict Point – Hold Your Own, Grab the Bag
Beecher’s Hope – Stronghold
Torquemada – Stronghold
Armadillo – Stronghold
Chuparosa – Stronghold
Tumbleweed – Stronghold
New Multiplayer Characters
Landon Ricketts
Vicente DeSanta
Drew MacFarlane
Deputy Eli
Deputy Jonah
Javier Esquella
Nastas
Uncle
Petroglyph has announced that its upcoming online battle arena title, Rise of Immortals, will be commercially available Monday, September 12, 2011. The game is still in beta testing up until its official release, so if you are interested in playing it head over to the game’s official website to register.
“The Rise of Immortals development team is a passionate group of battle arena fans, and we are all eagerly awaiting the game’s official launch on September 12,” said Steve Wetherill, executive producer of Rise of Immortals for Petroglyph. “Throughout the development process, we’ve worked internally and with our fans to create a MOBA game that adds all kinds of exciting new features to the genre, and we can’t wait to open it up to the world.”
Activision has announced a new racing game for the Xbox 360, Wii, 3DS, and PlayStation 3 platforms called NASCAR Unleashed. NASCAR Unleashed will, of course, feature 15 real-world NASCAR drivers as well as their sponsors and rides. The game is due out this holiday season and, unlike their previous NASCAR the Game 2011, is geared more towards an arcade/action experience instead of a simulation.
“NASCAR has been tremendous in that they’ve given us the flexibility to design different kinds of racing games for their vast audience,” said David Oxford, Executive Vice President of Activision Publishing. “We really wanted to make something electrifying for all NASCAR fans, not just the hardcore. NASCAR Unleashed gives players a new style of speed and excitement, without sacrificing accessibility.”
Announcement Screenshots
While we are currently finishing up our review of Wargaming.net’s online tank battle game, World of Tanks, you should know that Wargaming.net has announced that the game is now available in retail stores across North America. Previously, the free-to-play title was only available via digital download.
The retail version of critically acclaimed World of Tanks is priced at only $19.99. The box contains the following items for aspiring tank commanders – a $30 value:
- 1 T2 Light Tank
- 1 week premium account
- 1,050,000 credits
- 1,800 gold
Sound Blaster has announced the launch of their highly-anticipated Recon3D, a portable audio processor for gaming consoles as well as the Mac and PC platforms, which brings THX TruStudio Pro features to all audio inputs. The Sound Blaster Recon3D is slated for availability in October for $129.99.
“We designed the Sound Blaster Recon3D to enable seamless audio enhancement for all platforms – whether it’s a console gaming system or a Mac or PC, Sound Blaster Recon3D provides the best audio experience and voice communications available,” said Ryan Schlieper, product marketing manager for audio and gaming at Creative Labs, Inc. “We’ve been able to accomplish this based upon our heritage of designing and selling more than 400 million sound cards. This simple-to-use solution leverages the evolution of our audio engineering expertise, the Sound Core3D, resulting in the Sound Blaster Recon3D, which enables all gamers to experience dramatically improved sound quality, regardless of platform or content.”
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Utherverse has announced that they are putting on a virtual, online fan convention for Blizzard Entertainment’s MMO, World of Warcraft, called “WowFanCon”. The virtual convention will be held using Utherverse’s fully-3D virtual world software. The convention will feature speakers, community gatherings, prize drawings, and more. It will take place from October 7th, 2011 through October 8th, 2011.
“World of Warcraft is the most popular online game, and we are the largest virtual-world company,” said Brian Shuster, Utherverse founder and CEO, “so it’s the perfect marriage. For the first time ever, millions of our users and millions of WoW players can come together and experience a massively multi-user online convention, for free, without leaving home. Virtual conventions like this one are the next killer app for the web, and Utherverse has been investing heavily to become the leader in this breakthrough trade-show concept.”
You can find out how to register to attend the free online event over at its official website.