Author - Jerry Paxton

Total War: ROME II Release Date, Pre-Order Bonuses, and More

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SAN FRANCISCO & LONDON – May 9, 2013 – SEGA® of America, Inc. and SEGA® Europe, Ltd. today revealed the release date, final pack art, pre-order bonus and Collector’s Edition for Total War™: ROME II.

Release Date:

The global release date for the most keenly-anticipated Total War game yet will be September 3, 2013 across all territories on both physical and digital formats.

The game is now available for pre-order from the SEGA Store (http://download-store.sega.com/eshop/total-war/rome-2-3418.html) and other retailers world-wide http://www.totalwar.com/preorder

Pre-order Bonus:

Those gamers who pre-order any edition from participating retailers will receive ROME II’s first DLC for free alongside the game on release day. This first DLC, the Greek States Culture Pack, adds three additional playable factions to the game: Epirus, Athens and Sparta.

These factions have their own unique units, buildings, missions and win conditions alongside a distinct tech tree and, in the case of Sparta, will present a considerable challenge to the advanced player wishing to restore the famous city state to its former glory.

Collector’s Edition:

The Total War™: ROME II Collector’s Edition will be produced in a single, extremely limited run; only 22,000 individually numbered copies will be manufactured. The CE contains a wealth of custom, Roman-themed games and items, bound in a leather-effect presentation box, complete with gold logo and magnetic closure, including:

  • Numbered copy of Total War™: ROME II

The most ambitious and expansive game in the Total War™ series to date, ROME II brings the statecraft, politics, intrigue, diplomacy and epic battles of the ancient world to life in thrilling detail. This version comes in a debossed Steelbook™ case, laser-etched with your unique collector’s number in Roman numerals.

  • Tabula set

o   The Roman forerunner to Backgammon, this Tabula set comprises 30 bone-effect game pieces supplied in their own burlap drawstring bag; the board itself is built into the base of the Collector’s Edition box.

  • Tesserae Dice

o   Three replica bone-effect dice for use in a variety of games. The design is based on original Roman Tesserae, found at the archaeological site of Herculaneum.

  • Total War Cards™: PUNIC WARS

o   Designed from the ground up to echo elements from ROME II, Total War Cards is a game of skill and luck for two players. Involving combat, territorial control, resource management and technological development, PUNIC WARS consists of 58 high-quality playing cards and a game-board printed with the PUNIC WARS tech-tree.

  • Canvas Campaign Map

o   A reminder of the world you must conquer, this ribbon-tied canvas map depicts each of the 57 provinces of the ROME II campaign.

  • Roman Onager

o   A complete, fully-functional Onager, or Roman siege catapult. This easy-to-assemble kit is constructed from weathered wood and steel, measures 26cm x 12cm x 12cm, and is capable of unleashing small projectiles at a variety of inanimate objects which may have affronted the glory of your empire.

A remarkable way to mark over 10 years of Total War games and Creative Assembly’s 25th Anniversary, the Total War™: ROME II Collector’s Edition is only available through selected retailers. Follow the link to pre-order from a list of participating retailers: http://www.totalwar.com/rome2_collectors

The award-winning Total War series returns to Rome in 2013 with the hotly anticipated Total War: ROME II, setting a brand new quality benchmark for strategy gaming. Players can become the world’s first superpower and command the Ancient world’s most incredible war machine. Find out more about ROME II at www.totalwar.com

Anomaly 2 Pre-Order Bonuses Announced

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11 bit studios has announced the bonuses to players who pre-order its upcoming Anomaly 2, which is scheduled to launch on May 15th, 2013.

Official Pre-Order Gift Descriptions

  • Anomaly Korea, which has never been available for PC, is announced as the bonus gaming gift for people who buy Anomaly 2 via the official site.
  • That means that if you pre-order Anomaly 2 on the official site, you get two copies of Anomaly 2, as well as a copy of Anomaly Korea. For $14.99. It’s ridiculous.

The Wolf Among Us Screenshots

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Telltale Games has sent out the first screenshots from its upcoming The Wolf Among Us, based on the comic book “Fables” by Bill Willingham. The game will be shown at the upcoming Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, so stay-tuned for more on this one.

Screenshots

After Earth The Mobile Game Announced

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LOS ANGELES, Calif. – May 8, 2013 – Reliance Games, a leading international developer and publisher of mobile games, Sony Pictures Consumer Products and Overbrook Entertainment, today announced a creative collaboration to bring the action-packed After Earth digital mobile game, based on the upcoming movie, in theaters May 31. Reliance Games is working closely with Sony Pictures and Overbrook Entertainment to craft an interactive experience to supplement the movie; Behaviour Interactive is developing the game.

The action packed runner game features two modes: one that lets users play the story and a second that challenges their skill with an endless level. Players must confront and defeat an array of vicious enemies in epic battles and explore the stunning environments inspired by the film.

“We are thrilled to work with Reliance Games to bring a high-quality, immersive experience to our fans,” said After Earth Producer, Caleeb Pinkett. “The game brings to life lots of the action and suspense of the After Earth universe.”

Throughout the After Earth gaming experience, players must show no fear as they dodge attacks and collect hidden and unique artifacts to enhance the game experience.

“We’re excited about this great opportunity to bring After Earth to mobile by creating a challenging game with stunningly beautiful 3D environments that were inspired by the film,” said Manish Agarwal, CEO of Reliance Games. “We have experience translating popular IPs into mobile and we aim to continue that success with our partnership with Sony Pictures and Overbrook.”

The After Earth game will launch this summer on smartphones and tablets. For more information, watch the teaser video here:

In After Earth, a crash landing leaves teenager Kitai Raige (Jaden Smith) and his legendary father Cypher (Will Smith) stranded on Earth, 1,000 years after cataclysmic events forced humanity’s escape. With Cypher critically injured, Kitai must embark on a perilous journey to signal for help, facing uncharted terrain, evolved animal species that now rule the planet, and an unstoppable alien creature that escaped during the crash. Father and son must learn to work together and trust one another if they want any chance of returning home. Columbia Pictures presents an Overbrook Entertainment/Blinding Edge Pictures production directed by M. Night Shyamalan from a screenplay by Gary Whitta and M. Night Shyamalan and a story by Will Smith, and produced by Caleeb Pinkett, Jada Pinkett Smith & Will Smith, James Lassiter, and M. Night Shyamalan.

UFO Online Now in Open Beta Testing

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MAY 8th, 2013 — The factions have formed, the fight against the aliens has opened. gamigo sends UFO Online: Fight for Earth into open beta testing today. The tactical multiplayer game has been constantly refined throughout the closed beta testing with thanks to the valuable feedback from the community. Now all gamers can join the battle to protect the Earth from the extraterrestrials at http://ufoonline.gamigo.com. There’s a comprehensive tutorial to get an easier start in the game, which explains all characters and factions as well as all the important features of the game, not to forget a few hints and tips. The commercial launch is to follow shortly.

Aliens have landed on Earth in the strategy MMOG and want to take our resources. However, they didn’t reckon with the fearless resistance fighters. Even before the Skum attack the three factions were fighting for world domination. Now that the aliens are also making their claim to power all three factions have joined together against these invaders. Operating from self-built outposts, it’s imperative to defeat the aliens using technology and weapons. To do this, players have a team of specialists at their disposal with abilities from five class-specific skill trees.

During the course of the beta testing, the development team once again tightened some screws and carried out final optimizations. Thereby, the PvE content has been expanded, a comprehensive task system has been integrated, research and weapon upgrading have been improved, and new, dynamic missions now challenge players. Furthermore, the base has been completely reconstructed so as to offer a better overview and more interaction opportunities. Varyingly armored character hit zones also increases the tactical game depth in UFO Online.

A mixture of flash technology and a Unity Engine ensures for crisp detail 3D graphics sets the scene well for both the soldiers as well as the Skum. Graphical improvements were also undertaken for effects, for example with the weapons. Performance was once again optimized, especially regarding the flash part of the game. Users can also look forward to an improved interface with expanded functions like drag and drop and keyboard shortcuts.
In the turn-based, tactical battles the people who win are those who find the right mix between tactics and research. In the long run it’s all about achieving world domination with one of the three factions.

The most essential innovations and improvements at a glance:



  • Substantially expanded PvE content with new task and mission systems
  • Completely reconstructed base which offers a better overview, more interactivity, and visual feedback
  • Reworked and expanded research and upgrade systems
  • More tactical game depth thanks to varyingly armored hit zones of the characters
  • Improved user interface with expanded comfort functions (drag and drop,direct control via double-click, keyboard shortcuts)
  • Comprehensive tutorial that explains all of the most important game features
  • Improved effects graphics in general and especially weapon effects
  • Optimization of the performance, especially the flash part of the game

Battlefield 4 New Single Player Screenshots

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EA and DICE have released some new screenshots from the single player portion of their upcoming Battlefield 4. Check them out, below!

Screenshots

DC Universe Online Origin Crisis Release Date Announced

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SOE has announced that its upcoming Origin Crisis DLC pack for DC Universe Online will be released very soon, on May 14, 2013, for both Windows PC and PlayStation 3 platforms.

Official DLC Description:

This DLC will offer high-level multiplayer and solo adventures, as well as introduce the Quantum power set! Players will be able to journey through time and alternate realities with Future Batman or Future Lex Luthor in an attempt to save or change the origins of important heroes and villains.

Origin Crisis will feature:

  • New Quantum Controller Power Set
  • Two challenging new Raids
  • Two new Hero Origin Operations
  • Two new Villain Origin Operations
  • Iconic Anomalies – Two new Solo Simulation Challenges
  • New Gear, including Tier 5 PvE Gear and new Iconic-inspired Gear
  • New Feats, Collections and Trophies

The Showdown Effect Free Content Update

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NEW YORK — May 7th 2013 — Paradox Interactive, a publisher of games and writer of checks their bodies can’t cash, today unleashed a monstrous content update for The Showdown Effect, the ridiculously explosive multiplayer action title from Arrowhead Game Studios. Featuring new stages, characters, and costumes, the update is available today for free to all players of The Showdown Effect.

For gamers who are not players of The Showdown Effect, Paradox offers two suggestions on how to become players of The Showdown Effect: defeat a current player in a sword duel and absorb their immortality and game collection, or purchase The Showdown Effect in today’s Daily Deal on Steam at a hefty discount.

Witness the Western Sci-fi espionage explosion chaos action insanity in a new trailer:

In today’s update players receive two new levels, South Eastwood and Fort Fiesta, inspired by classic ‘spaghetti Western’ films – with an unhealthy dose of 1980s monster movies mashed into the mix. The levels are available for free and will be immediately available to pick in both ranked and custom matches. Players will also meet two new characters: Thelma Vaine, British super-spy with a cloaking device and a sharp tongue – and Dr. Johnny Bionic, a cyborg who must fight every day to keep his drill-saw-arm from murdering all humans. These characters, plus a series of Reddit costume pieces, can be redeemed for free using in-game AC. An additional set of Western costume pieces can be purchased for a fistful of dollars.

A streamdown effect will occur on Paradox’s TwitchTV channel on May 7th at 8 p.m. CEST (11 a.m. PDT, 7 p.m. BST, 6 p.m. GMT) to show off the new stars, stuff, and strangeness. Come towww.twitch.tv/paradoxinteractive if you want to live.