Author - Jerry Paxton

Omerta – City of Gangsters Giveaway (PC) – Expired

2013/02/25
Jerry Paxton
Contests, News, Windows PC News

omerta-giveaway

Kalypso Media has sent over a very swanky download code for their new mafia strategy title, Omerta – City of Gangsters, which we gave our “Seal of Excellence”. This giveaway will end on Friday, March 15th, 2013 @ 11:59pm Pacific. There will be one randomly-chosen winner who must respond to their win within three business days. Otherwise, a new winner will be chosen. The download code is redeemable on the Steam digital platform for Windows PCs.

How to Enter?

This giveaway is a Facebook one – simply LIKE our Facebook profile and then leave a comment on it telling us why you should win this game code. Please start your comment with the word ‘Omerta – ‘ so we know what you are commenting for! Wink

*Note – entrants must stay “liked” to our profile at least until he or she, if selected, take possession of the code.

March of the Eagles Giveaway (PC) – Expired

2013/02/25
Jerry Paxton
Contests, News, Windows PC News
1 Comment

eagles_war

Update: Congratulations to @ercankazaz and @makahli for each winning a Steam code for Paradox Interactive’s March of the Eagles! I will be sending you DMs via Twitter, so look sharp!

We would like to thank the good people at Paradox Interactive for sending over two Steam codes of their new strategy title, March of the Eagles, so that we may give them to two random winners. The contest will end on Friday, March 8th, 2013 @ 11:59pm Pacific. You can checkout more on March of the Eagles over at the official website. More importantly, I would imagine, is how you enter this giveaway?

How to Enter:

This will be a Twitter-based contest. To enter, simply FOLLOW our Twitter account and tweet the following message:

I just entered the @GamingShogun March of the Eagles PC game code giveaway — http://goo.gl/FgL3R

*This contest is open to anyone with a Steam account able to redeem the code. Each winner will receive one code for redemption. There will be two randomly-drawn winners. Winners will be announced on this post and on Twitter. If a winner does not respond within two business days, a new winner will be chosen.

Tomb Raider PC Requirements Revealed

2013/02/22
Jerry Paxton
News, Windows PC News

tomb_raider_new_screenshot_023

LOS ANGELES (Feb. 22, 2013) – Square Enix, Inc., the publishers of SQUARE ENIX® interactive entertainment products in the Americas, today announced that TOMB RAIDER®developer, Crystal Dynamics, has released the system requirements for the PC version of the eagerly anticipated game; scheduled for release on March 5, 2013 in line with Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system.

The PC version of TOMB RAIDER has been developed in tandem between Crystal Dynamics and long-time partner Nixxes; a collaboration that has spanned over a dozen PC titles and dates back fifteen years.

Jurjen Katsman, director of Nixxes stated, “The team at Crystal intended to make the game of their careers and we are extremely proud of the part we have played in the project’s development.”

TOMB RAIDER for PCs has been extensively optimized to heighten the gameplay experience; with the goal of taking advantage of the PC platform. Enhanced features include: full integration with Steamworks, increased detail tessellation, improved SSAO and post-filter effects, and very high resolution textures, shadows and cloths.

“AMD graphics and Crystal Dynamics have partnered to capture the realism of one of video gaming’s most iconic characters, Lara Croft of the TOMB RAIDER franchise,” said Matt Skynner, corporate vice president and general manager, AMD Graphics. “By leveraging the power of AMD Radeon™ and Graphics Core Next, Lara and her environment have come to life like never before.”

Additionally, for PCs that are capable, the game will support AMD HD3D and AMD Eyefinity technologies, the latter of which allows up to six simultaneous displays off a single graphics card.

The game’s enhanced features on the PC version include:

General

  • Full integration with Steamworks to offer cloud storage for saves, multiplayer matchmaking, achievements, as well as automatic updates and new content.
  • Support for Steam Big Picture Mode.
  • Configurable mouse and keyboard support.
  • Gamepad support.

High-end graphics

  • Very high resolution textures with up to 16x the amount of data
  • Detail Tessellation to enhance the detail on many surfaces in the game
  • Higher quality shadows
  • High quality bokeh depth of field with near-blur
  • Tessellation algorithms used to smooth out geometry
  • Improved cloth, SSAO, quality wetness effects, and post-filter effects.
  • LOD quality is adjustable for better quality on higher-end machines.

Low-end graphics

  • Crystal care about TR fans being able to run on older systems, unlike many other games they still support Windows XP.
  • A lot of scalability options to suit a range of machines.

Darrell Gallagher, studio head of Crystal Dynamics commented: “With over a decade of experience working alongside AMD and Nixxes at Crystal Dynamics alone, we had rock solid partners on board to create a superb TOMB RAIDER experience for PC gamers around the world. At Crystal we approach each of our projects with the sole intention of creating the best possible consumer experience for that format, and we are proud to have worked alongside two great partners who hold the very same values.”

The full list of PC minimum and recommended system requirements is listed below:

Minimum system requirements for PC

  • Windows XP Service Pack 3, Windows Vista,7,8 (32bit/64bit)
  • DirectX 9 graphics card with 512Mb Video RAM:
    • AMD Radeon HD 2600 XT
  • nVidia 8600
  • Dual core CPU:
    • AMD Athlon64 X2 2.1 Ghz (4050+)
    • Intel Core2 Duo 1.86 Ghz (E6300)
  • 1GB Memory (2GB on Vista)

Recommended system requirements for PC

  • Windows Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 8
  • DirectX 11 graphics card with 1GB Video RAM:
    • AMD Radeon HD 4870
    • nVidia GTX 480
  • Quad core CPU:
    • AMD Phenom II X2 565
    • Intel Core i5-750
  • 4GB Memory

 

Related Links
Official Homepage: www.TOMBRAIDER.com
Official Twitter: @TOMBRAIDER
Official Facebook page: http://facebook.com/TOMBRAIDER
Official Tumblr: http://officialTOMBRAIDERblog.tumblr.com/
Official YouTube Channel: http://youtube.com/TOMBRAIDER

Ecol Tactics Online Reveals Closed Beta Date

2013/02/22
Jerry Paxton
News, Windows PC News

ecol_tactics_online_screenshot_06

Sunnyvale, Calif. (February 22, 2013)- Leading online game publisher GamesCampus (www.GamesCampus.com), today announced the official closed beta launch date for its first browser title, the tactical MMORPG, Ecol Tactics Online.  The turn-based browser strategy game, inspired by time-honored tactical role playing games, will enter closed beta on March 7th.  A select group of players can start getting their hands on the highly-anticipated keys beginning February 28th.  Players can sign up now for an account at http://EcolTactics.GamesCampus.com

“We are excited to get to the stage where our growing community can finally play the game-they have been waiting to find out when they could finally jump in and test it out,” said Elliott Coward, Project Lead for Ecol Tactics Online.  “Ecol Tactics takes the browser-based MMO to a whole new level with a breadth and depth players aren’t use to seeing in easy to jump into browser games. We’re confident our players will be very happy with the experience when they login March 7th.”

Selected players will get to experience a full tactical MMORPG event right in their browser without any downloads.  With a deep storyline and customization not usually found in most browser games, players will control their characters as they see fit; there’s no set class to get locked into.  Stuck on a quest?  No problem: just switch to a different class and try again, with absolutely no penalties. No more staring at spreadsheets or watching a stamina cool-down renew; it’s all about playing the game at your pace.

Players can find out where to scoop up a closed beta key on the official Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ecoltacticsus or Twitter at @EcolTactics, along with daily hints and tips, with plenty of screen shots, videos and more.

Armored Core: Verdict Day Announced for North America

2013/02/22
Jerry Paxton
News, PlayStation 3 News, Xbox 360 News

armored-core-v

SAN JOSE, Calif., (February 22, 2013) – Leading video game publisher and developer NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. today announced that it will be bringing ARMORED CORE: VERDICT DAY to PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft to the Americas during Summer 2013. The world has been thrown into chaos. Important natural resources needed for the survival of competing factions are scavenged and fought across the world with deadly Armored Core mechs. A strong trigger finger, innovative customization and strategic teamwork will be all that stand between survival and complete annihilation.

Renowned Japanese game developer FromSoftware returns to its hardcore mech action franchise with ARMORED CORE: VERDICT DAY. Command a squadron of advanced Armored Core mechs in a dystopian future ravaged by war and stripped of natural resources. Players will form squads of up to 20 members and enlist into one of the various in-game factions to wrestle control of territories away from other players in the game’s persistent multiplayer mode. New gameplay features will be implemented into ARMORED CORE: VERDICT DAY to ensure that players who choose to play alone will be able to recruit a squad of A.I. controlled mechs and enjoy the robust feature sets of co-op and multiplayer modes, while new matchmaking system ensures that players will always find battles at a moment’s notice.

Operator Mode returns to ARMORED CORE: VERDICT DAY with new upgrades, allowing players to tactically command a full squad of Armored Core mechs from a tactical top-down point-of-view. Operators will be able to set rally points, mark targets and receive real-time in-cockpit views from other players and computer-controlled squad mates to achieve real-time strategic command of the battlefield.

ARMORED CORE: VERDICT DAY will allow fans of ARMORED CORE V to carry over their save data to experience brand new content with their customized Armored Core from the previous title. Players will be able to further customize their Armored Core mechs with hundreds of parts ranging from guns, armor pieces, shields and boosters. The new robust customization options will help players synchronize their mech loadouts with teammates to deliver maximum destruction on the battlefield.

“The ARMORED CORE series has continually found itself a deep and dedicated fanbase,” said Carlson Choi, Vice President of Marketing for NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. “ARMORED CORE: VERDICT DAY expands the level of immersion with more advanced customization fine tuning and streamlined multiplayer modes.”

For more information regarding ARMORED CORE: VERDICT DAY please visit; http://www.armoredcoregame.com, http://www.namcobandaigames.com and http://www.facebook.com/namco.

Star Wars Pinball Boba Fett Table Trailer

2013/02/22
Jerry Paxton
Mobile News, News, PlayStation 3 News, Trailers / Videos, Xbox 360 News

Star_Wars_Pinball_logo

Zen Studios and Lucasarts have released a new trailer showing off the Boba Fett table for the upcoming Star Wars Pinball. The game is due out next week on the Apple App Store, Google Play, XBLA, PSN, Mac App Store platforms.

Trailer

Screens

The Flys, Queensrÿche, and Staind Coming to Rock Band

2013/02/22
Jerry Paxton
News, Nintendo Wii News, PlayStation 3 News, Xbox 360 News

Queensryche large 2

Cambridge, Mass. – February 22nd, 2013 – Harmonix today announced that singles from The Flys, Queensrÿche, and Staind are headed to the Rock Band™ Music Store of downloadable content for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Wii™.

Rock Band provides the deepest and best selection of artists, songs and albums through the Rock Band music platform, which features more than 1,400 artists and more than 4,000* tracks via disc and download purchase (complete list of tracks at www.rockband.com/songs). Rock Band’s gigantic music library dwarfs that of any other rhythm video game on the market. More than 100 million songs have been sold through the Rock Band Music Store since its launch on Nov. 20, 2007.

Tracks downloaded from the Rock Band Music Store are compatible with the award-winning full-band Rock Band 3 experience, as well as the controller-based rhythm-action title, Rock Band Blitz, available now on PlayStation®Network and Xbox LIVE® Arcade!

Rock Band DLC Additions for Xbox 360, PlayStation®3 system and Wii™

Four singles are hitting the Rock Band Music Store on February 26th, starting with “Got You (Where I Want You),” The Flys’ first single from their second studio album, 1998’s Holiday Man. Queensrÿche’s epic “Silent Lucidity” – a Grammy-nominated track from the band’s 1990 album, Empire – will also be available. Finally, two tracks from rockers Staind will be available: “It’s Been Awhile,” the lead single from 2001’s Break the Cycle, and “So Far Away,” from 2003’s 14 Shades of Grey!

Available on Xbox 360, Wii, and PlayStation®3 system (February 26th, 2013):

  • The Flys – “Got You (Where I Want You) X
  • Queensrÿche – “Silent Lucidity” O
  • Staind – “It’s Been Awhile”
  • Staind – “So Far Away” O

(These tracks will be available in Europe on PlayStation®3 system February 27th)

Price:

  • $1.99 USD, £1.19 UK, €1.49 EU (160 Microsoft Points ™, 200 Wii Points™) per song
  • $0.99 USD (80 Microsoft Points™, 100 Wii Points™), £0.59 UK, €0.79 EU per song for eligible Pro Guitar/Pro Bass upgrade

Tracks marked with “O” feature support for keyboards; the track marked with “X” will offer Pro Guitar track.

** Dates and pricing for Rock Band game tracks are tentative and subject to change. **

*Available on-disc, via download and disc export. Internet connection and export key purchase required. Wii™ Shop Channel has more than 1,500 song tracks available for purchase on the Rock Band platform on-disc, via song import, and download. Not applicable to Nintendo DS™.

Obutto R3volution Gaming Cockpit Review

2013/02/22
Jerry Paxton
News, Reviews, seal of excellence, Tech News, Tech Review, Windows PC News
3 Comments

obutto1

Obutto has long been known for their “oZone” gaming cockpit (here is our review). Being the hardcore sim geek that I am, when I learned that they had released a follow-up to the oZone, I had to check it out. That follow-up is on the market as the “R3volution” gaming cockpit. Featuring a similar carbon steel frame, wicked design sensibility, and high functionality, the R3volution is truly a worthy successor to the oZone. It is clear that the company put some serious work in taking their gaming cockpit design to the next level. Read on to find out why this wicked home gaming cockpit is the one to get. Read More

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EA Los Angeles and EA Montreal Layoffs

2013/02/21
Jerry Paxton
Industry News, News

267380-ea_logo_large

Looks like we have more bad news for lots of people working in the video game industry today as, according to an article at Polygon, Electronic Arts has begun laying off an unspecified number of staff at EA Los Angeles and EA Montreal. The news of these layoffs is timed with a statement by EA president of labels, Frank Gibeau. The statement is very carefully-worded to make what is essentially laying off a bunch of people sound like a great part of their “console transition” with yesterday’s PlayStation 4 announcement. Gibeau does mention that those laid off will be given severance packages – so, hopefully that will help them get to their next career destination. We wish all those affected the best of luck.

EA responded to requests for comment with this statement:

“Today EA internally announced some adjustments to select development teams to align staff and skills against priority growth areas, including new technologies and mobile. Many employees are being retrained for new positions; however a small number will be released. These are great, talented people and we wish them well. EA is growing globally, and we expect our headcount to increase this year.

EA Montreal is a key development studio where our long-term plan is to sharpen our teams’ focus on console and mobile games.”