Author - Jerry Paxton

MechWarrior Online Introduces Testing Grounds and New Cicada Video

2013/03/05

News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

VANCOUVER – Today Piranha Games and Infinite Game Publishing went live with arguably the most important feature to date in MechWarrior Online: Testing Grounds. The new feature enables opportunities for players to become master pilots and battle-strategy experts before they are ever tested in live competition, changing the way players approach the game. New and veteran fans alike are now able to try out their favorite Mechs, get familiar with maps, Mech controls and seek out key vantage points and ambush scenarios behind the scenes and off the scoreboards.

In addition to this gigantic new mode, an epic new Hero Mech, Cicada, is now live in the Mech Lab and ready to rock! Sporting a top speed of 133.7 km/h at 40 tons, the Cicada X-5 Mech is definitely one you want on your side. A brand new trailer sporting the Cicada’s strengths can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vbud123P6U.

Today’s phenomenal update also comes with newly trackable player statistics including Savior Kills and Defensive kills. Savior Kills give rewards upon killing an enemy Mech, if an enemy who had been attacking a teammate who has a critical component that is 50 percent health or lower within the last 10 seconds you will be awarded 7500CBills, and 150XP. Defensive Kills rewards for killing an enemy Mech if that enemy was currently capping a base, anyone who had attacked the capturing mech within the last 10 seconds will be awarded 7500CBills, and 150XP. The game will now track Mech Stats, Weapon Stats, Map Stats, Game Mode Stats and Pilot Module Stats.

Fans can now also trick out their Mechs with the Mountain Lion Mech Pattern and are invited to check out the new hanging items for their cockpit for the ultimate customization.

Additionally, this update sees major enhancements to gameplay including enhanced Mechlab functionality and Host ‘state-rewind’ that is now implemented for instant fire weapons (i.e. lasers, machine guns, flamers); players should now be able to hit fast moving targets with these weapons even when experiencing high latency. More things going boom, faster.

For complete details about this new content drop please visit http://mwomercs.com/news/2013/03/618-2013-march-creative-director-update.

To sign up to fight in the Inner Sphere, go to www.mwomercs.com and play for free today!

Trailer

Strike Suite Zero Patch #3 Video

2013/03/05

Jerry Paxton

News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

The good people over at Born Ready Games have released a video detailing the new features and fixes to be found in their third patch for Strike Suit Zero. The patch is available now. Look for a list of changes below.

Video

Patch Notes

The third patch for Strike Suit Zero is available now, offering some substantial updates to the game. Full patch notes below:

-Implemented the cockpit:

Cockpit view now uses a 3D cockpit Mesh which we enable/disable when we switch camera modes.
New settings option to play Suit in third person or first person
Cockpit uses a small speed shake when boosting
Cockpit reacts when damaged
Cockpit has mesh swap for Suit and Strike modes
Added option to make the cockpit visible or invisible
Checkpoints now saved during a mission — The Player can resume missions from the last checkpoint. Restarting a checkpoint will leave you with the flux you had when you started it
Changing difficulty mid mission requires a restart of the mission
New difficulty modes added: Easy and Hardcore
Choose difficulty in mission select
Score per difficulty uploaded to Leaderboards
Leaderboards filter updated to reflect new difficulties

-Added message to start of the game first time running with new difficulty options

-Created new Targeting Filter: override the current Select Nearest Objective functionality. Use mouse wheel or back button on pad to change Target from dynamic list of targets, press target button to confirm.

-Mission 7 Difficulty change:

Increased number of allied fighters+ bombers
Increased enemy priorities on allied fighters
Separated enemy AI priorities from strike to player/fighter/bomber
Reduced the amount enemy fighters will target the player bomber.

-Mission 3 Difficulty changes:

· Increased time to destroy wreckage in final stage
Removed half the fighter squads and one bomber squad from final stage of the battle

-Mission M8 Difficulty Change:

Removing one corvette squad + escorts from cruiser group.

-Updated lighting on all missions

-Fixed intensities and colours

-OUTPUT/ASSERT macros to allow output to stay on in distribution without performance hit

-Support for direct input force feedback, edit ForceFeedbackEffect.ffe with DXSDK8 tool fedit.exe to make your own effects.

-Fix for windows 8

-Fixed exit message and added fail message in Mission 4

-Fixing for success scores to match gold medals scores across the board

-Fix for Mission 7 upgrade not unlocking in some circumstances

-Fixed plasma projectiles that were not properly targeting the turret platforms.

-Fix crash with hanging entity bug with multiple entities have same name.

-Decreased the explosion screen flash on the doors in Mission 13

-Fixed subtitles issues with the epilogues

-Fixed bug with turret dead zones

-Bug Fixes in Mission 9

-Moved explosion spawns to their own spawn points, and changed swap delay for the supply cylinders on the fuel platform.

Awesome First Screens from Space Hulk

2013/03/05

Jerry Paxton

News, Screenshots / Photos, Windows PC News

March 5, 2013 — Full Control today released the first screens from Space Hulk, its 3D digital turn based strategy game based on the best-selling board game and set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. Revealing a claustrophobic look, classic to the board game, these first screens show off the isolated corridors and tomb-like chambers of an ancient vessel lost in the graveyard of space as a small force of fearless Space Marine Terminators battle in a ferocious fight for survival against hordes of predatory alien Genestealers.

First Screenshots

Arma 3 Alpha Launch Trailer

2013/03/05

Jerry Paxton

News, Trailers / Videos, Windows PC News

Prague, Czech Republic, Tuesday 5th March 2013 — Marking today’s release of the Arma 3 Alpha, Bohemia Interactive has deployed a brand new ‘2013 Sneak Preview’ trailer for its upcoming military tactical shooter game, Arma 3™. The video explores the playable and sandbox content in the Alpha and scans the horizon for what is to come later this year.

The Arma 3 Alpha, which was officially announced one week ago, provides players with the opportunity to try out and provide feedback on the game’s military sandbox gameplay. The content in the Arma 3 Alpha is limited, and includes four showcase missions (Infantry, Vehicles, SCUBA and Helicopter), a subset of weapons and vehicles, two multiplayer scenarios, the scenario editor and modding support. Whereas the final game will also feature the 270 km² Mediterrean island of Altis, the Alpha is positioned on Stratis – which hosts 20 km² of rugged terrain, expansive forests and a man-made airbase.

The Arma 3 Alpha is now available for purchase on Steam and Store.bistudio.com.

For more information, be sure to take a look at the Alpha Briefing on the Arma 3 website. Here, you can also find an overview of the various Arma 3 bundle editions that give people access to the Arma 3 Alpha. Each of these editions include beta-access and a Steam version of the final game later on.

Last but not least, Bohemia Interactive also plans to release a free, limited version of the Arma 3 Alpha on March 14th, 2013. This version, named Arma 3 Alpha Lite, does not include multiplayer or modding – and requires an invite from people who have purchased the regular Arma 3 Alpha.

Trailer

Insurgency Early Access Preview (PC)

2013/03/05

Jerry Paxton

News, Previews, Windows PC News, Windows PC Preview

Insurgency is technically the sequel to Half-Life 2 mod, Insurgency: Modern Infantry Combat, an online shooter where team work and good tactics are what makes winners. New World Interactive has released an “early access” build of the sequel to gamers willing to make a $19.99 pre-order purchase of the game, and we got the chance to check it out. The Early Access build of Insurgency is somewhere between an Alpha and Beta build, but you would rarely notice in actual gameplay. Even in its current, “rough” state, the game plays very smoothly. Opening the server browser in the game’s main menu reveals the some of the various game types available for players to enjoy. My personal favorite is the co-op scenarios where you and other human players take on hordes of AI-controlled enemies. The game’s AI bots are very challenging and we lost just as many rounds as we won. I am interested to see if New World Interactive will include some “Escort/President” game types in the mix. Each game round supports up to 32 players and I did not experience any lag or latency issues.

Upon entering a match (or re-spawning in one), you can choose your loadout based on supply points picked up by you and your team during the missions. These supply points allow you to attach add-ons light optics, fore-grips, etc to your weapons. There are multiple types of weapons available, with the exception of support weapons like the M249 or M240G, although I am hopeful those will be in the final build. I warn you, players should NOT go off on their own – stick in at least two man teams. Team work and tactics are of the utmost importance in Insurgency. It doesn’t take many hits to kill a player and if you run-and-gun, you will be punching a toe tag before you can yell “Leeroy Jenkins!” Insurgency’s game controls are very smooth, with players being able to go prone, crouch, sprint, and even lean around corners.

Early Access Gameplay Clip

Visually, the game is attractive – even with these alpha-level art assets in place. I am excited to see how it ends up looking upon release. The best part is that the lack of Crysis 3 level visuals is nothing to grieve for. It actually helps – this is a game about tactics and too much eye candy would cause players to lose focus. I only played on a few maps in this build of the game, but they are well-planned and have lots of places to hide and use as cover.

Insurgency’s audio is also good, with the weapons all sounding appropriate. The in-game 3D VOIP system is awesome, allowing players to keep in communications with one another. Music is somewhat lacking but that is no loss to the experience. I would mute music anyway to better hear what’s going on in the game world.

I have played quite a few matches and am really enjoying this Early Access build of Insurgency. If New World Interactive plays their cards right and markets this bad boy correctly, they could have a huge winner on their hands. You can learn more about the game over at its official website. Currently, the Early Access build is available to gamer’s who pay $19.99 and pre-order the game. I would suggest that, if you like tactical shooters, you do so. I don’t think you will be disappointed – especially considering how polished the game is already.

Early Access Screenshots

FUSE Infographics Released

2013/03/05

Jerry Paxton

News, PlayStation 3 News, Screenshots / Photos, Xbox 360 News

Electronic Arts and Insomniac Games have released two infographics from their upcoming 4-player action title, FUSE, which is set to be released this Spring one the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms.

Infographics Gallery (Click to make BIG)

About FUSE//

Fuse is a 4-person co-op story-driven action game that invites players to experience what happens when humans access alien technology they were never meant to have. The game follows the worldwide journey of four elite agents who battle a rogue paramilitary organization to prevent a global arms race from spiraling out of control. Even solo players can experience the unique attributes of all four agents by switching between them at will during combat via the game’s LEAP feature. The agents are equipped with unique skills and weapons not only integral for survival, but that also allows for unexpected and extraordinary results. Experimental Fuse weapons are powered by a volatile alien substance that gives players unique capabilities that expand their strategic options in and out of combat. Through lethal teamwork, players can complete objectives and kills to earn Fuse points for powerful upgrades. Players can experience Fuse online or offline and level up along unique character paths, allowing players to unlock more powerful Fuse-driven abilities as the game progresses. In addition, the game’s progression system is unified between different modes, allowing players to continue improving their agents regardless of play style.

Created and developed by Insomniac Games, Fuse is the studio’s first multiplatform launch. It will be available Spring 2013 for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system and PlayStation3 computer entertainment system. For more information on Fuse, please visit www.fusegame.com, and for the latest news visit www.facebook.com/fusegame or follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/insomniacgames. Press assets are available atwww.info.ea.com.

Razer League of Legends Naga Hex and Goliathus Review

2013/03/05

Jerry Paxton

News, Peripheral Review, Peripherals News, Reviews, Tech News

Razer has unveiled a line of “League of Legends Collector’s Edition” branded peripherals, made up of the Naga Hex gaming mouse and Goliathus gaming surface. The Naga Hex gaming mouse features a black mouse body with a lit-up, yellow League of Legends logo and mouse wheel on its upper half while the lower half of the mouse features some very smooth mouse feet and a 3.5G Laser Sensor capable of up to 5600 dpi sensitivity. Additionally, there is a slider switch on the bottom of the mouse that changes the default side buttons from the 1,2,3,4,5,6 keys to the key equivalents on the numeric keypad (page up, end, etc).

Like its non-branded sister mouse, the Razer League of Legends Naga Hex mouse is fully-compatible with Razer’s Synapse 2.0 software package. This makes it insanely-easy to setup and configure the mouse, no matter what PC you plug it into. The more Razer products I test that support their Synapse 2.0 software suite, the more I grow reliant on it and wish other PC peripheral-makers would follow suit.

The biggest selling point of the Naga Hex, as its name implies, is the six octagonal keys on the mouse’s left side. Unlike the buttons on most gaming mice, these are actually mechanical, which means that they are built to last – each rated up to 10 million clicks over their lifetime. The Razer League of Legends Naga Hex is also capable of registering up to 250 clicks per minute. This equates to about 6.5 clicks per second. This mouse has been intelligently-designed for MOBA gameplay – whether tournament level or public matches. The mouse will take every click you can throw at it and translate it to an action on-screen. Using the Naga Hex in League of Legends is very easy and user-friendly. Each of the six side buttons is fully-programmable and their mechanical construction means there is a nice “click” upon depressing them.

I was able to use the Razer League of Legends Naga Hex gaming mouse over the course of a number of League of Legends public matches, and was consistently impressed with its performance. The biggest issue I had in using this gaming mouse is its size. The Naga Hex is a mouse made for small to medium-sized hands. My hands are a bit on the large side and the mouse forces me to use it in a “claw” grip. I could not rest my hand on the mouse for comfort. Now, that being said, keeping your hand in claw grip might be fine for intense matches where your reflexes are key but, after a while, my hand grew a bit tired. It never cramped or anything, but I did not experience the comfort I usually do with larger gaming mice.

Overall, Razer’s League of Legends Naga Hex gaming mouse is a terrific investment for hardcore players of the game, as well as any other MOBA title. Its six mechanical mouse buttons make activating macros or abilities very easy and convenient while its on-the-fly sensitivity and laser sensor capabilities make it easily-adapted to other game genres as well. This product also comes with a code to unlock the barbarian king champion, Tryndamere, in League of Legends.

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Pros

Six mechanical keys are robust and built to last
Lit up League of Legends logo cool for fans of the Riot Games hit
Synapse 2.0 compatibility makes taking your mouse on the go easy

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Cons

Mouse is a bit small for large hands

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[easyreview title=”Razer League of Legends Naga Hex Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”4″] Our Rating Scores Explained

The Razer League of Legends Goliathus gaming surface was also sent our way and, as it is the sister product of the League of Legends Naga Hex, I wanted to make sure we included it in this article. This Goliathus gaming surface measures about 14 inches by 10 inches with a thickness of 3mm. Gaming surfaces, or, “mouse pads” as their ancestors were known, have always been a tad difficult to review. After all, what can one say about a thin piece of fabric? Thankfully, the Goliathus has a lot of good things to mention.

This version of the Goliathus is dubbed the “Speed Edition” due to its slick, weaved fabric. As the feet on the Naga Hex are already very slick, when you put the two together, the friction is all but non-existent. I was blown away by just how easily the Naga Hex glided around the mouse pad. Additionally, the Goliathus features a stitched edging which fray-proofs the entire design. This is such a bonus as I hate getting a mouse pad which begins to fray after a short while of play. The final “pro” of this gaming surface is its size, which is just right for the average gamer – not too big, not too small. Its over a foot wide and almost a foot deep, so you won’t run out of real estate any time soon – especially with the Naga Hex’s high sensitivity levels.

Overall, the Razer League of Legends Goliathus gaming surface is an incredible mouse pad in its own right and a great companion to the Razer Naga Hex gaming mouse. It also sports a cool look that League of Legends players should appreciate. This product also comes with a code to unlock the barbarian king champion, Tryndamere, in League of Legends.

[easyreview title=”Razer League of Legends Goliathus Review Score” cat1title=”Overall Score (out of 5)” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”5″] Our Rating Scores Explained

Product Images

Petroglyph Announces Victory on Kickstarter

2013/03/05

Jerry Paxton

News, Screenshots / Photos, Windows PC News

LAS VEGAS, Nevada – March 5, 2013 – Petroglyph launches the Kickstarter campaign for their recently-announced World War II action strategy game, Victory. The crowdfunding campaign reveals game details that set the stage for Victory to deliver a fresh, new experience in online strategy gaming.

“If World of Tanks, StarCraft and League of Legends had a baby, it would be Victory.”

– Oksana Kubushyna, Victory Project Lead

Visit the Kickstarter campaign page here:

http://www.victoryww2.com/kickstarter

About Victory: Victory is an online, team-based tactical combat game starting with the North African campaign of World War II. Blending collectability with multiplayer arena combat, Victory offers an action strategy game experience that is both competitive and accessible. Game features include:

World War II setting
Online team vs. team tactical battle arena
Choose units from a personal collection to bring into each match
Clear decisive tactics that utilize line-of-sight, high ground, and cover
Quick matches lasting 15-20 minutes
Buy or earn booster Commander Packs containing random, collectible units and more
For PC / Windows

“We’ve already found the Victory prototype to be very fun to play, and we’re just getting started. Even though we have a legacy of making award-winning RTS games, it’s exciting to branch out into a new and different strategy gaming experience.”

– Chuck Kroegel, CEO

The game is already at the playable prototype stage, and Victory‘s core game mechanics have been established. Petroglyph is now reaching out to strategy gaming enthusiasts for their support and collaboration to take the game from concept to a reality. Offering very early playable access to qualified backers, Petroglyph is eager to get the community involved in the development process as soon as the Victory Kickstarter campaign is successfully concluded.

“We’re thrilled to be creating Victory for our fellow gamers, and that the project is on Kickstarter! We’ll be able to take in community feedback right from the start of the campaign. Thanks to crowdfunding, we have an incredible opportunity to bring this amazingly fun game to our backers and fans.”

– Michael Legg, President and Cofounder

Stay up-to-date as the march to Victory continues:

Kickstarter Site: http://www.victoryww2.com/kickstarter

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/victoryww2

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/victoryww2

Petroglyph Site: http://www.petroglyphgames.com

First Screenshots

Razer Launches League of Legends Branded Mouse and Surface

2013/03/05

Jerry Paxton

News, Peripherals News

CARLBAD, Calif. – 5 March 2013 – Razer™, the world leader in high-performance gaming hardware, software and systems, today announced a partnership with Riot Games to produce official Collector’s Edition peripherals for League of Legends, the world’s premiere PC gaming title.

As the only mouse on the planet optimized for Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) gaming, the Razer Naga Hex features six large, mechanical thumb buttons and a custom League of Legends logo and detailed rune script on its scroll wheel. Gamers can pair the mouse with a League of Legends-branded Razer Goliathus mouse mat designed to enhance swift movements during the fast-paced lane wars across the Summoner’s Rift. Both products come with an in-box code to unlock one of the game’s champions and skin*, and they are now available at www.razerzone.com/league-of-legends.

“We’re ecstatic to be able to bring to market peripherals that are custom-designed for domination in the most competitive e-Sports title today,” says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder, CEO and creative director. “Partnering with Riot Games is a step forward for hard-core PC gamers everywhere. We have been strong supporters of the League of Legends scene since its inception and continue to sponsor some of the world’s top teams.”

Razer currently sponsors defending World Champions Taipei Assassins, as well as Counter Logic Gaming, Evil Geniuses, and Korean power-houseKTRolster, making Razer the peripheral brand of choice by most in the professional gaming circuit.

About the Razer Naga Hex League of Legends Collector’s Edition:

Gear up with the right items and dive into combat fearlessly with the Razer Naga Hex League of Legends Collector’s Edition MOBA and action-RPG gaming mouse. In place of the award-winning 12-button thumb grid MMO gamers have come to love with the Razer Naga, the Razer Naga Hex features 6 large thumb buttons optimized specifically for MOBA and action-RPG user interfaces. Spells, abilities, and items from these games can be mapped directly onto the 6 thumb buttons for extraordinary game control.
Validated with some of the top MOBA pro-gamers in the world, the Razer Naga Hex’s 6 thumb buttons are constructed with a mechanical key infrastructure to provide faster key actuation. This allows you to attack quicker than enemies, which can make all the difference in high-pressure battle arenas.

Price:
U.S. $89.99 / EU €89.99

Availability:
Razerzone.com – Now
Worldwide – March 2013

Product features:

6 MOBA/action-RPG optimized mechanical thumb buttons
11 total programmable buttons
Special switches in buttons for 250 clicks-per-minute
10 million click life cycle
Ergonomic curved design
Razer Synapse 2.0
5600dpi Razer Precision 3.5G Laser Sensor
1000Hz Ultrapolling/1ms response time
Approximate size : 116 mm / 4.57 in. (l) x 78 mm / 3.07 in. (w) x 42 mm / 1.65 in. (h)
Approximate weight: 134 g / 0.30 lbs.

For more information about the Razer Naga Hex League of Legends Collector’s Edition, please visit www.razerzone.com/licensed-and-team-peripherals/league-of-legends-razer-naga-hex/.

About the Razer Goliathus League of Legends Collector’s Edition:

The Razer Goliathus League of Legends Collector’s Edition gaming mouse mat is engineered to exceed the exacting demands of the world’s top professional gamers. Its slick speed-enhancing surface blends high acceleration with razor-sharp responsiveness to give gamers the fastest, smoothest glide while maintaining lane domination.

Price:
U.S. $19.99 / EU €19.99

Availability:
Razerzone.com – Now
Worldwide – March 2013

Product features:

Slick cloth weave for unbridled speed
Anti-fraying stitched frame extends mat durability
Pixel-precise targeting and tracking
Rubber base for a secure grip on smooth surfaces
Approximate size : 355 mm / 13.98 in. (l) x 254 mm / 10 in. (w) x 3mm / 0.12 in. (h)
Approximate weight: 188 g / 0.41 lbs

For more information about the Razer Naga Goliathus League of Legends Collector’s Edition, please visit http://www.razerzone.com/licensed-and-team-peripherals/league-of-legends-razer-goliathus-speed-edition/.

Dead Island Riptide Pre-Order Bonuses

2013/03/04

Jerry Paxton

News, PlayStation 3 News, Windows PC News, Xbox 360 News

MARCH 4, 2013 – LARKSPUR, CA – Deep Silver today revealed more details about the upcoming DLC packs for players pre-ordering Dead Island Riptide, the next installment of the Dead Island franchise.

Pre-order DLC #1: The Survivor Pack

A BBQ Blade! This special pre-order pack contains an exclusive weapon only available in the Survivor Pack. How better to dispose of the wretched zombies than with a sharp blade? Add in some workbench-modifying and hook it up to a few fuel tanks to bring some heat to a zombie’s heart. The so-called “BBQ Blade” lets you wade through zombie hordes with ease.
The coveted XP/stats booster: Want that extra edge to level up faster than your peers? Here’s your chance to get ahead of the pack.
Never get lost – A seamless digital strategy map allows you to track collectibles, keep tabs on your quest progress and flag custom strategies to share with your friends.
A special shop! The Survivor Pack will grant you access to a shop offering a special discount on weapons and items. Happy shopping!

The Survivor Pack DLC will be made available to everyone who pre-orders the game before its release in regions where it is available.

Pre-order DLC #2: Fashion Victim

Tired of seeing your character go around wearing the same clothes all the time? The “Fashion Victim” pre-order DLC includes a set of new skins for all the player characters (Logan, Purna, Sam B., Xian Mei, and “the new guy” John Morgan) in co-op mode.

In North America the Fashion Victim DLC will be made available to everyone who pre-orders the game before its release.

Content will be redeemable via download on Xbox LIVE® for versions of the game on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows® PC and via the PlayStation®Store.

These DLC packs are also available for individual purchase with the release of Dead Island Riptide. The Survivor Pack will be available for 400 Microsoft Points on Xbox LIVE® for Xbox 360® or for $4.99 on PlayStation®Store and Steam. Become a Fashion Victim for 160 Microsoft Points or for $1.99.