Author - Jerry Paxton

Razer Announces Mass Effect 3 Product Line

2012/02/16
Jerry Paxton
News

Carlsbad, Calif. – Feb 16, 2012 – Award-winning developer BioWare, a label of Electronic Arts Inc. along with Razer, the world leader in high performance gaming hardware, reveal today peripherals and gear created for the highly anticipated Action RPG Mass Effect™ 3.  Fans of the Mass Effect series can arm themselves for the all-out galactic war with the Razer Mass Effect 3 Edition peripheral line which includes a Razer Imperator gaming mouse, Razer Vespula dual-sided gaming mouse mat, Razer BlackWidow Ultimate gaming keyboard, Razer Onza Tournament Edition Xbox 360® controller, and Razer Chimaera Xbox 360 gaming headset. The cutting-edge peripherals will give fans of the series a competitive advantage in the epic battle to save the galaxy from the ancient alien race known only as the Reapers.

“BioWare is pulling out all of the stops for Mass Effect 3 to ensure it’s the best and boldest game in the series,” said Robert ‘RazerGuy’ Krakoff, President, Razer USA.  “With our official line of peripherals and gear for Mass Effect 3, we’re giving fans the best gaming weaponry and hardware to meet the challenge head on – and come out victorious.”

“With Mass Effect 3 we’re delivering a truly epic experience for both the existing fans and newcomers into the series,” said David Silverman, Marketing Director for BioWare. “Mass Effect 3 is an all-out Galactic war and partnering with Razer gives us an opportunity to raise the stakes even higher and provide gamers with a product line that will certainly help them take Earth back on March 6.”

Fans can also receive gear to protect and safeguard peripherals and gadgets from the intensity of the intergalactic warfare in Mass Effect 3. The Razer Mass Effect 3 Edition gear line includes a sleek, hard protection case customized for the iPhone 4/4S, and a sleek N7 messenger bag for ample storage. Both the Mass Effect 3 peripherals and gear line are emblazoned with Mass Effect iconic N7 design, bestowed only to the highest-ranking soldiers of the Systems Alliance military, worn by Commander Shepard on his armor. Mass Effect 3 peripherals are available now for pre-order from Razerstore.

For more information, head to www.razerzone.com/me3.

Digital Storm 10th Anniversary Sale

2012/02/16
Jerry Paxton
News

Fremont, Calif. – (February 16, 2012) – Digital Storm, the predominant name in computer system integration and engineering, proudly marks its 10th anniversary. From humble beginnings in an East Bay garage, to an expansive facility that produces thousands of custom built PCs a year, Digital Storm’s relentless pursuit of innovation has transformed the brand into one of the world’s foremost system integrators.

“The driving force behind Digital Storm’s growth has been our passion for building the finest high-performance computers with personalized customer support,” commented Harjit Chana, Digital Storm’s Chief Operations and Marketing Officer. “It’s because of this laser focus that our brand has been fortunate enough to double in size every other year.”

Whether it’s winning CES Innovations Awards for developing bleeding edge technologies or being heralded by leading PC enthusiast and gaming media outlets for its benchmark crushing systems, Digital Storm’s passion for excellence has been a driving force for the entire industry.

“It might sound cliché, but it’s our customers who fuel our innovation,” added Harjit. “Digital Storm customers dream up outrageous builds that push our engineering teams to rethink the status quo and develop the most extreme configurations possible. That’s what is so special about our work: it’s the dynamic we have with our customer base that fuels our team to create new options, products and features that we might have never thought of.”

During this year, Digital Storm is poised to release several industry “firsts” for its 10th anniversary. While details will be divulged at a later date, Digital Storm is now offering its customers the biggest discounts it has ever offered. For example, the 2012 CES Innovations Award-winning Cryo-TEC system is being offered $400 below its normal price. To see Digital Storm’s special 10th anniversary pricing, please visit: http://www.digitalstormonline.com/gamingdesktops.asp

Sid Meier’s Civilization V: Gods & Kings Announced

2012/02/16
Jerry Paxton
News

New York, NY – February 16, 2012 – 2K Games announced today that Sid Meier’s Civilization® V: Gods & Kings, the expansion pack for the award-winning Civilization V, is being developed for Windows-based PC. Developed by Firaxis Games, Sid Meier’s Civilization V: Gods & Kings introduces new gameplay content, enhancing the Civilization V experience and providing even more ways for players to achieve world domination. The Gods & Kings expansion pack spans the breadth of human civilization, taking players from founding the first Pantheon of the Gods and spreading religion across the world, to deploying spies in enemy cities to steal information and technology.

“Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword set a precedent in new content and game features in a Civilization expansion pack. 2K Games is continuing that tradition with Gods & Kings,” said Sarah Anderson, senior vice president of marketing for 2K. “The Gods & Kings expansion is the quintessential Civilization V addition, making Civilization more addictive than ever before.”

Sid Meier’s Civilization V: God & Kings takes players through time as they engage in new quests and global competitions, interact with new types of city-states, and master exciting new systems for land and naval combat. Nine new civilizations; nine new wonders; three original scenarios; and dozens of new units, buildings, technologies and resources have also been added, offering even more ways for players to expand their empire on their quest to rule the world.

“Our team has a strong vision for bringing religion and espionage to Civilization V and the incomparable Civ community has expressed their enthusiasm for these features as well,” said Sid Meier, director of creative development for Firaxis Games. “We’re excited to deliver this robust expansion pack that will give players countless hours of new gameplay experiences and more reasons to take just one more turn.”

Key features include:

    • Expanded Epic Game: The core game experience has been greatly expanded with the addition of new technologies, 27 new units, 13 new buildings and nine new Wonders.
    • New Civilizations and Leaders: The expansion features nine new civilizations including Carthage, the Netherlands, the Celts and the Mayans, each with unique traits, units and buildings. Gods & Kings also adds nine new leaders including William I, Prince of Orange, Boudicca and Pacal the Great.
    • New Game Scenarios: Three new scenarios let gamers experience the medieval period, the fall of Rome, and embark on a new adventure in Empires of the Smoky Skies, a Victorian science-fiction scenario.
    • The Return of Religion: A first for Civilization V, players seek out Faith, choosing a Pantheon of the Gods and creating Great Prophets to found and spread their customized religion across the world.
    • World Domination: The fight for world domination is more dynamic than ever. Gods & Kings features a reworked combat system and AI that places more emphasis on a balanced army composition. Additionally, the navy is now split into two different ship types, melee and ranged, making coastal cities vulnerable to a surprise naval attack.
    • Enhanced Diplomacy and Espionage: Establish embassies at foreign courts for closer ties or clandestine operations. As the religions of the world start settling in and the world moves into the Renaissance, spies can be unlocked to establish surveillance of foreign cities, steal advanced technologies from your strongest competitors, or garner influence with City-States through election rigging, or even a coup.
  • City-States: Two new city-state types have been added, Mercantile and Religious, adding new gameplay to a greatly expanded quest system to further the narrative of the game and making diplomatic victories more challenging.

Sid Meier’s Civilization V: Gods & Kings is not yet rated by the ESRB and will be available for Windows PC in late spring 2012. For more information on Sid Meier’s Civilization V: Gods & Kings, please visit www.civilization.com.

Alan Wake Now on PC

2012/02/16
Jerry Paxton
News

HELSINKI, FINLAND (February 16, 2012) – Remedy Entertainment Ltd. is excited to announce that Alan Wake has finally made its way home and is available now for PC through Steam, Valve’s digital distribution platform. Remedy is also working with Nordic Games to bring the PC version of Alan Wake to retail shortly. With their rich history of PC games, with titles like Max Payne, Max Payne 2 and Death Rally, Remedy has always wanted a PC version of Alan Wake, and now, it’s here. This critically acclaimed game has been revamped for the PC with stunning high-resolution graphics and enhanced PC features. Head over to the Steam store right now for a special offer and get the collector’s edition DLC free until February 23! Otherwise, you can grab the normal edition for $29.99 and the limited collector’s edition for $34.99.

The PC version includes the original game along with the two pieces of downloadable content (The Signal and The Writer) and everything you’d expect from a PC version and more. Players will experience Alan Wake’s Pacific Northwest with higher resolutions and even higher fidelity. Players will experience the interplay between light and darkness like never before. With plenty of graphical customization options, every player can get the most out of their rig. Other refinements include a fully configurable mouse and keyboard setup as well as Microsoft gamepad support. Fan sought-after options such as field of view adjustments and “hide HUD” have also been include. Finally, the game supports multiple screens and stereoscopic 3D.

“Since our roots are firmly placed in PC development, we’re delighted to finally be able to bring Alan Wake to the PC” says Matias Myllyrinne, CEO at Remedy. “We’ve worked hard to reward those faithful PC players and did everything we could to make it worth the wait. I hope the fans agree with us, the PC version looks absolutely stunning.”

In Alan Wake, players assume the role of Alan Wake, a best-selling suspense author suffering from writer’s block. Wake escapes to the small town of Bright Falls, only to experience the mysterious disappearance of his wife. Players will unravel the riveting plot through multilayered character interactions, unique problem-solving and intense combat against the darkest of enemies. In this nightmarish world, where the boundaries between reality and fiction become increasingly blurred and ambiguous, Wake must use a variety of weapons to survive, including his most powerful ally against the darkness – light itself.

Alan Wake on PC is available now for PC via Steam. The normal edition costs $29.99 and the limited collector’s edition costs $34.99.  For more information, please check Facebook www.facebook.com/alanwake – Twitter @Remedygames – Website www.alanwake.com and Steam Store: http://store.steampowered.com/app/108710/ .  Can’t get enough Alan Wake? Don’t forget that the standalone spin off adventure, Alan Wake’s American Nightmare, is coming to Microsoft’s Xbox LIVE Arcade on February 22 for 1200 MS Points.

Last Batch of Wargame: European Escalation Screenshots

2012/02/16
Jerry Paxton
News

Focus Home Interactive has released the last group of screenshots for its soon to be released Wargame: European Escalation. Enjoy!

Screenshots

Jagged Alliance Online Goes into Open Beta

2012/02/16
Jerry Paxton
News

Hamburg, February 16, 2012 – Jagged Alliance Online, the next part of the legendary turn-based strategy series with a full-fledged multi-player mode, is leaving closed beta testing today. The game’s publisher, gamigo, would like to thank all the testers for the feedback and is now inviting all players to to experience the quality of the thrilling PvE missions and PvP matches first-hand during the open testing phase.

The advent of open beta testing will also bring a number of new features to the game: Defeated opponents now drop loot that can be collected by the mercenaries during the mission. When a player aims at an explosive barrel or crate, the explosion radius will be shown, making it easier to judge to results of one’s actions. Aiming at an opponent will now show which direction he is most vulnerable from.

2K Sports Partners With SPIN Media for MLB 2K12 Soundtrack

2012/02/16
Jerry Paxton
News

New York, NY – February 16, 2012 – 2K Sports today announced that they have partnered with SPIN Media, the premier resource for music discovery, to create a 13-song soundtrack for the upcoming Major League Baseball® 2K12, the eagerly anticipated next iteration of the popular MLB 2K series, which hits stores nationwide on March 6, 2012.

The release of MLB 2K12 marks the first time that SPIN has collaborated on a video game soundtrack and the first time 2K Sports has worked with a music media company. The baseball-loving team behind SPIN jumped at the chance to curate the game and enlisted a hard-hitting team to select the songs.

The resulting playlist covers all bases with a wide range of musical genres from hip-hop and electronic, to rock and pop, and includes both established and emerging artists, reflecting the true diversity of baseball fans.  Earning themselves the unofficial title of “most valuable players,” Alabama rap duo and SPIN breaking-out artists, G-Side, recorded an exclusive original track called “Put Me in the Game” – hitting a home run with the fresh, futuristic, synth-heavy beat.

G-Side’s exclusive track, which is inspired by “defying odds to achieve something greater in life,” can be downloaded for free at SPIN.com/mlb2k12 starting February 21. The rest of the soundtrack will also be available to stream.

“When the match is right, music and sports can complement each other in a profound way, so curating SPIN’s first video game soundtrack was an exciting challenge. We were thrilled to be asked by 2K Sports, and took seriously the responsibility of sharing some of our favorite tracks with MLB fans,” said Charles Aaron, SPIN Editorial Director. “Many special thanks, of course, go to G-Side for providing an awesome new track.”

MLB 2K12 features AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander on the cover along with a robust list of features and game modes, improved gameplay, and the return of the $1 Million Perfect Game Challenge, which will award one MLB 2K12 gamer the coveted grand prize. SPIN’s hand-picked soundtrack bolsters an immersive baseball experience.

“This year’s soundtrack is easily the best yet thanks to SPIN,” said Jason Argent, vice president of marketing, 2K Sports. “They are experts in the music industry and our fans are really going to enjoy the playlist they selected when playing MLB 2K12. Music is a key element in our sports titles, so when we’re working hard to create the best, most authentic experience for fans we expect the soundtrack to follow the same beat.”

The complete track listing for the MLB 2K12 soundtrack includes:

  1. Bass Drum of Death, “Get Found”
  2. Explosions in the Sky, “Trembling Hands”
  3. The Cool Kids, “Boomin'”
  4. The Vaccines, “If You Wanna”
  5. G-Side, “Put Me in the Game”
  6. Grouplove, “Colours”
  7. JEFF the Brotherhood, “Shredder”
  8. My Morning Jacket, “Holdin On to Black Metal”
  9. Skrillex, “Nice Sprites & Scary Monsters”
  10. Telekinesis, “Please Ask for Help”
  11. The Joy Formidable, “Austere”
  12. Atmosphere, “Just for Show”
  13. Pretty Lights, “Hot Like Dimes”

MLB 2K12 is rated E for everyone by the ESRB and will be available March 6, 2012 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation® 3 computer entertainment system, Wii™ system, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, Nintendo DS™ and Windows PC.

The Walking Dead Game Gets Website, New Screens

2012/02/16
Jerry Paxton
News

San Rafael, CA – February 15, 2012 – Telltale Games and Robert Kirkman, the Eisner Award-winning creator/writer of The Walking Dead, announced that the first episode of Playing Dead, a new online talk show discussing their upcoming game, The Walking Dead, is now live and available to view on the games’ official website, which also debuted today.

Based on Robert Kirkman’s groundbreaking comic book series, The Walking Dead is an episodic Adventure Horror game series set during the same apocalyptic period witnessed by Sheriff Rick Grimes.  Telling the story of a new group of survivors as they struggle to flee the horror of Atlanta and the surrounding communities consumed by the undead, The Walking Dead offers players the chance to experience the very first days of the apocalypse, meeting people and participating in events that intersect with the story seen in the comic books.

Playing Dead is an online talk show that takes fans behind the scenes to reveal what has gone into making the game.  Hosted by AJ LoCascio (the voice of Marty McFly in Telltale’s Back to the Future: The Game series), the nine-part show will feature guests including The Walking Dead creator/writer Robert Kirkman and Gary Whitta, screenwriter for The Book of Eli and story consultant for the game.

After a 24-hour period of exclusivity on the official website, Playing Dead will also be available to watch on YouTube, iTunes and soon after, other online outlets including Xbox LIVE® and PlayStation®Network.

“Telltale has always believed in sharing and interacting with our fans as much as possible as we head towards the launch of a game and Playing Dead is an exciting evolution of that process,” said Dan Connors, Telltale co-founder and CEO. “I don’t think any other developer or publisher has created anything quite like this before and we really hope that people will enjoy it.”

“Collaborating with Telltale on The Walking Dead continues to be a fantastic process.  They understand the world and the characters that I created and what it takes to make a game out of them.  What’s really exciting is that they’re telling a new story with new characters, so you’ll get to see the same world Rick Grimes did, but now from a different point of view,” added Robert Kirkman, creator of The Walking Dead.   “Playing Dead is going to be an awesome way for fans to learn about the game and how it was made.  It makes sense that Telltale are talking to people in this unique way because The Walking Dead is going to be a unique zombie game.”

Screenshots