Here are the first screenshots from Stardock’s upcoming, and highly-anticipated, Galactic Civilizations III!
Author - Jerry Paxton
Karlsruhe, 22 November 2013 – In a joint announcement withReality Pump, the TopWare Interactive AG has announced that the RPG adventure “Raven’s Cry” will be released on 7th May 2014. The screenshots released today depict a Caribbean that’s far removed from the postcards – giving you an insight into the brutal life of a man who leaves only scorched earth in his wake.
When you look into the depths of a chasm for long enough, that chasm will surely look into your depths …
Gloomy yet paradise-like images describe a world full of betrayal, greed and brutality. Accompanied by sinister cutscenes, the thirst for revenge leads the main character into an open, free-roaming world. “Raven’s Cry” is the story of Christopher Raven’s personal vendetta – and never forgetting that bloody vendetta, he still has to find ways to supply himself and his crew with all the necessary resources and information. Following the cry of the raven, he oversteps every moral boundary, drawing a bloody trail through the Caribbean.
Tadeusz Zuber, Head of the Development Team: “The idea for Raven’s Cry gives us the opportunity to create our very own image of the Caribbean and piracy, far removed from all the family idylls. Christopher is tormented by his own demons and external threats – and our goal is to make these realistic enough to be actually ‘felt’ by the player. Christopher is a man trapped in the chains of his own demons – and the only way to break these chains, it seems, is the path of violence and revenge which he has chosen.”
RPG elements with hook
“Raven’s Cry” offers various RPG elements, so there will be a complex game skill system and modifications for all the ships in the game, which can be designed to influence the reputation of the individual sailor with the groups and enemies in the Caribbean. Christopher himself will continue to evolve in the course of the story, unlocking new abilities and weapons. His characteristic hook – as seen in the images – plays a vital role, especially in brutal close combat. Regardless of where Christopher’s path leads him to obtain information or money, he will never become a shimmering hero who coincidentally saves the world. For him there’s only one way out of his suffering and that is death … either his own life or the lives of his enemies. The people around him are either for or against him.
“It was important for us to drive Christopher’s sinister story on in a way that would enthrall players – but to give them more role-playing elements at the same time. He will constantly develop his character, his ships and his crew throughout the game and adapt it to his own personal style, which is somewhere between “Bad Ass and Bad Guy”, says Alexandra Constandache, CEO at TopWare.
Screenshots
Tindalos Interactive and Focus Home Interactive have released two new screenshots from their upcoming RTS, Etherium!
Screenshots
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – November 21, 2013 – Prepare your peashooters! PopCap Games, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA), today announced that Plants vs. Zombies™ Garden Warfare will be shipping for Xbox One all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system on February 18, 2014 in North America and February 20, 2014 in Europe. Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare is an action-packed third-person multiplayer shooter that puts players in the shoes—or roots—of their favorite characters from the popular Plants vs. Zombies franchise.
“Gamers across the world have fallen in love with the Plants vs. Zombies characters and now they’ll get to see them in an entirely new light,” said Brian Lindley, Producer on Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare. “Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfaregive the series’ fans and shooter players a fun, new experience that they’ll both enjoy as they blast, chomp and laugh their way through co-op and head-to-head online action.”
Powered by the advanced Frostbite™ 3 engine, Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare features stunning, three-dimensional worlds, blooming with vibrant colors and unique landscapes. The game has more than 10 maps and three distinct modes including two 12v12 competitive multiplayer modes called Garden & Graveyards and Team Vanquish, and a four-player co-operative mode called Garden Ops. In Garden & Graveyards, plants must defend their garden bases from zombies attempting to turn them into spooky graveyards. Players can also square off in Team Vanquish as they try to send the other team to the compost pile. For gamers that just want to have a fun time with their friends, they can work together in Garden Ops battling off waves of zombies on the attack.
On Xbox One, Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare includes two extra modes including local cooperative split screen and Boss Mode. With split screen, players can team up with a friend on the couch to fight against an endless horde of zombies. In Boss Mode, gamers can utilize their Kinect or a SmartGlass device in any of the other gameplay modes to support their teams. Players have a top-down view of the battlefield and can help out their teammates with intel, health drops, revive stations and explosive artillery strikes.
Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare is available for pre-order at major retailers nationwide and at http://www.origin.com for $39.99 for Xbox One and $29.99 for Xbox 360. A PC version will be available at a later date.
For more information on Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare please visit http://www.popcap.com/plants-
2K Sports has sent out a new “Momentous Trailer” for its NBA 2K14 on next-gen consoles.
Trailer
Stoic Studio has released a new trailer for their upcoming single player, turn-based strategy game: The Banner Saga, which is due out on PC and Mac come January 14, 2014.
Trailer
Square Enix has released a new trailer for their upcoming Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII. Enjoy!
Trailer
In this Gamer Fitness review, we are looking at the new formula of MusclePharm’s Assault pre-workout supplement drink mix. The version of Assault we tested was the Pineapple Mango flavor and was sent to us by MusclePharm via Bodybuilding.com.
Packaging
MusclePharm has been a marketing machine for the last couple years – utilizing well-designed labels and strategies to drive their products home and Assault is no exception. The jar itself is a black plastic but the label is bright with its aesthetically-pleasing white and green touches. It also sports the UFC logo which MusclePharm is listed as the “Official Supplement Provider” to.
Usage
The directions instruct the user to mix one scoop of Assault with water and drink about fifteen minutes prior to your workout. They also recommend that the user drinks 1 gallon of water per day! That is quite a bit of water but you will need it to help flush out all of the extra compounds in Assault that your body doesn’t utilize. Also, if you are doing intense workouts, you should be losing a lot of water by way of sweat, so it won’t hurt to drink that much. I have always been leery of sports supplements that tout delicious flavor. In fact – of all the supplements I have ever tried, the best tasting are from Cytosport – but, I digress… Drinking down the pineapple mango Assault with 8 ounces of water, I was pleasantly surprised. The flavor is not close the best I have ever had. However, it was decent and I don’t have any hesitation of tasting it again. I would not recommend trying to drink it down with milk – stick to water like the instructions recommend. Also, cold water helps it taste better than using room temperature water.
Effects
About fifteen minutes after drinking my first serving of Assault, I noticed a slight tingling sensation in the tips of my ears, which eventually moved down to the sides of my neck. I also noticed a little bit of stomach rumbling but nothing too bad. About twenty five minutes after drinking, I felt that slight tingling sensation also around my upper torso. Along with this tingle, I also felt noticeably more aware and energized. I used Assault for a couple weeks, every other day before weight training and running. This tingling sensation did subside somewhat after the first few uses – not sure if my body just needed to adjust to the compounds in the supplement or what. Thankfully, the increased energy did translate to more focused and intense workouts. I run to the iOS app, “Zombies,Run!’ and I noticed that I was able to outrun the random zombie hordes way more often than I did before using Assault. Finally, I should mention that I did not suffer from any “crash” of energy after its effects wore off – kudos to MusclePharm for that!
Conclusions
MusclePharm’s new incarnation of its pre-workout supplement, Assault, seems to provide a good amount of additional energy as well as decent taste. You can check out the official Assault product page for purchasing information.
[easyreview title=”MusclePharm Assault New Formula Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″ ]
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Legal Notice: Please consult a doctor before engaging dieting changes or physical activity.
Santa Fe Springs, Calif. – November 20, 2013 – Swann Security, the global leader in security monitoring solutions, announces its new do-it-yourself Compact Security System. This multi-channel system is part of Swann’s Advanced Series line that uses D1 high definition recording technology. As compared to traditional “CIF” systems, D1 provides a 4X larger and clearer picture without sacrificing real-time (30 frames-per-second) recording and live viewing.
Swann’s 1500 Compact series offers a four/eight/sixteen-channel monitoring system that includes clear resolution and weather resistant PRO-540™ cameras.
The PRO-540 camera uses SwannTruColor image-sensing technology to provide 650TV lines of clear, focused D1 clear definition video. To provide the most detail possible, the camera records in color during the day, but takes advantage of 24 infra-red LED’s to record in black and white at night at a range of 65 feet. These cameras are designed to match any décor for indoor use and are also weatherproof for outdoor applications. For increased security, the camera’s cable is threaded through the stand to prevent intruders from cutting the feed.
To allow for easy, set and forget monitoring, the on-board hard drive allows for up to 30 days of continuous recording. Using the motion-detection feature you can extend continuous recording up to months at a time and the SATA hard drive can be upgraded to up to 4TB for even more storage capacity.
Especially useful with multichannel monitoring systems is Swann’s SmartSearch ™ on-screen activity tracking functionality. This latest technology allows users to easily select key locations, such as doorways or stairwells, and track the video history on-screen with the simple click of a mouse. By identifying activity in these key locations, users can streamline the monitoring process across many channels and know that the most susceptible locations of their home or office are safe and secure.
Each security system includes a unique QR code and ID number to set up and remotely view your home or business. In minutes Swannlink allows quick and easy set up of your Swann security system to the internet, smartphone or tablet with no complicated network configuration.
SwannLink connectivity uses peer-to-peer technology, a new method of connecting to the internet using the SwannLink server in the cloud and a product ID number. Once scanned, the QR code checks the ID number on the server and confirms your username and password. It then connects you directly to your Swann DVR using a secure 128-bit encrypted connection. So, in no time you can watch your security cameras from almost anywhere with ease.
Once your DVR is linked to the Internet and the SwannView plus app, the connection is safe and secure. The SwannLink server performs a handshake between the DVR and your computer, smartphone and tablet, creating an encrypted connection over the internet without the need for network configuration or a local network server.
Perfect for anyone who is frequently away from their home or office for long periods of time, the Compact Security System can be connected to the Internet for secure, remote monitoring. The free SwannView Plus app is compatible with PC, iOS and Android devices and allows for viewing of your system from anywhere in the world.
Compact Security Camera System
Connect the compact DVR system to the internet to know what’s happening day or night for 24-hour security and peace of mind.
• Compact DVR system offers professional, state-of-the-art monitoring in one compact package
• Weatherproof cameras provide color recording during the day and black and white recording at night
• Twenty-four infra-red LEDs provide 65 feet of night time viewing
• D1 high definition is 4x the image quality of traditional “CIF” security systems, with no loss of frame rate
• Set and forget by recording continuously for days onto the on-board hard drive
• Monitor activity remotely via computer, smartphone or tablet using the free SwannView app
• Connects to a TV or LCD monitor for on-location monitoring
• Easily find recorded footage of key locations like doorways and stairwells using SmartSearch on-screen activity tracking
• Housed in a sleek, stylish and compact form, the Security System is designed to match any home décor and fit discretely in any location at home or in the office
• Easy, do-it-yourself installation with cables, connectors and mounting hardware included
Available
Swann’s Compact 1500 security systems are available from Fry’s Electronics, Best Buy (US and Canada) B&H, Micro Center, Brandsmart, Tiger Direct and Sam’s Club in the following configurations:
• DVR4-1500 with four-channel 500 GB D1 DVR and two PRO-540™ 600 TVL cameras $299.99
• DVR4-1500 with four-channel 500 GB D1 DVR and four PRO-540™ 600 TVL cameras $399.99
• DVR8-1500 with eight-channel 500 GB D1 DVR and four PRO-540™ 600 TVL cameras $449.99
• DVR8-1500 with eight-channel 500 GB D1 DVR and eight PRO-540™ 600 TVL cameras $549.99
• DVR16-1500 with eight-channel 500 GB D1 DVR and eight PRO-540™ 600 TVL cameras $649.99
Swann stands by its promise of Lifetime Support to make advanced security easy to use, install and maintain. Everything is included in the package; but if you need assistance, Swann’s help desk is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the life of the product.
LONDON, November 19, 2013 – Most people forget their godfather. He gets lost in the mists of time as we grow older – unless of course excellent birthday and Christmas presents arrive and remind us of his influence on our younger days. With Christmas heaving into view, the folks at Mastertronic are reintroducing two Godfathers of indie gaming and want you to come along for the ride – reintroducing a revamped edition of a classic, unforgettable indie just in time for the holidays, Speedball 2 HD!
Speedball 2 HD has been developed by Vivid Games—hailed as Indie Developer of 2013 by Appster—and designed, directed and produced by Jon Hare and Mike Montgomery (The Bitmap Brothers) and will release on Steam and Get Games on December 5 for $9.99. Featuring over 330 unique players, new formations and six new arenas of frenetic future sports action, Speedball 2 HD is as hard as nails and as lovely as an unexpected gift from a godfather you had somehow forgotten.
In the ‘90s Sensible Software and The Bitmap Brothers were two of the leading lights of the independent development scene, releasing a batch of games that have become classics and inspired many of today’s leading Indies to get into game development. Sensible World of Soccer, The Chaos Engine, Magic Pockets and Cannon Fodder are some of the amazing games Jon Hare and Mike Montgomery helped bring to the world of gaming.
“Over the years so many of today’s Indie developers have been telling us how much our games meant to them, some asking us to bring them back on digital formats and some even begging us to be able to get involved with the development themselves,” said Jon Hare. “Speedball 2 HD proves that the synergy between old classic titles and modern digital formats, along with wise old heads working with fresh new talent has never been stronger.”
“Speedball 2 HD is a faithful remake of the original futuristic cybersports game,” said Mike Montgomery. “It is as arresting and enjoyable as ever and we’ve added some cool updates to allow today’s gamers to connect with it on their favorite platforms.”