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Harmonix adds three “intense” metal tunes to Rock Band 4 Music Store in today’s DLC Update; Brutal Mode added in a free update

Posted on December 8, 2015 by John Scalzo

Harmonix is getting loud in this week’s Rock Band 4 DLC Update as they’ve added new music from a trio of progressive metal bands to the Music Store. Priced at $1.99 apiece, Between the Buried and Me’s “The Coma Machine,” Opeth’s “Heir Apparent,” and Symphony X’s “Nevermore” can be downloaded now.

The hits keep on coming as the developer also added a brand new gameplay mode to Rock Band 4 today in a special free update. Brutal Mode will “put even the most hardcore players’ skills to the test” as it modifies the note highway to react to how well you’re playing. As your playing improves, Brutal Mode will push the target line further up the note highway until most of it is hidden. Players who complete this ridiculous challenge, which you can see in the trailer embedded above, will earn the coveted Crimson Star.

A preview trailer for this week’s new tracks can be found after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged

New Hot Shots Golf officially announced for PS4

Posted on December 8, 2015 by John Scalzo

Like the gallery at Augusta National, Sony was super quiet about New Hot Shots Golf during this weekend’s PlayStation Experience. But the cartoony golf franchise is most definitely in development for the PS4, and it was even playable on the show floor for fans looking to tee it up.

New Hot Shots Golf doesn’t have a release date yet, but we know that it’ll feature a “deep set” of character customization options (a first for the franchise), as well as local multiplayer, online multiplayer, and a Mission Mode. In development at Clap Hanz and Sony Japan Studio, SCEA’s Tomoyo Kimura recently talked a bit about the character customization options on the PlayStation Blog:

In past Hot Shots Golf games, unlocking new golfer characters and building a lineup of athletes with various strengths and weaknesses was key. However in New Hot Shots Golf, players start by creating and dressing their very own golfer, utilizing a deep set of customization tools. By playing and completing specific tasks, players can level up their personalized golfer and build strength for long drives, precise control for putting on the green, and more.

New Hot Shots Golf will also offer fully explorable courses for the first time. Players will be able to walk from hole-to-hole or hop in a golf cart and tear things up Caddyshack-style. There will be water hazards stocked with fish… turning your golf game into a fishing game!

Posted in News, PS4 | Tagged ,

Shovel Knight Amiibo will be available in US on January 8 (but EU gets it on December 11)

Posted on December 7, 2015 by John Scalzo

I’m sure everyone that fell hard for Shovel Knight on the Wii U and 3DS last year was hoping to find a little shoveler of their own under the Christmas tree this year. Alas, it’s not to be… unless you live in Europe, that is. Yacht Club Games has announced that the Shovel Knight Amiibo figure will be available across Europe on December 11, but we in North America will have to wait until January 8. The developers apologized for this slight delay in a post on their official website, but they also want their fans to know that “it will not be a limited run, so please don’t feel pressured into importing or buying from scalpers.”

But once you get your hands on the Shovel Knight Amiibo figure, you’ll be able to unlock a full Co-Op Campaign (Wii U Only), five new Co-Op Challenges (Wii U Only), five new single-player Challenges, and the Custom Knight Creator:

Deep Customization with Custom Knight!

  • Level up to a max level of 50 by finding treasure!
  • Earn relics in an all new way while uncovering all-new relics, abilities, and powers you never thought possible!
  • Customize the look of your Shovel Knight with cool and crazy cosmetic options!
  • Use your Custom Knight seamlessly between Nintendo 3DS and Wii U!

Much like the platform-exclusive content available for Shovel Knight on the PS4 and Xbox One, the Co-Op Campaign, Custom Knight Creator, and new Challenges will only be available on Nintendo platforms.

Posted in 3DS, News, Wii U | Tagged

First Day of the Tentacle Remastered trailer released

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Nicole Kline

Double Fine Productions has been killing it lately, especially with this new trailer for Day of the Tentacle Remastered. Community Manager James Spafford had a lot to say on the PlayStation Blog about the game as well.

For those of you who don’t know, the game was “originally released by LucasArts in 1993 as a sequel to Ron Gilbert’s ground breaking Maniac Mansion,” and it’s a mind-bending, time travel, cartoon puzzle adventure game in which three unlikely friends work together to prevent an evil, mutated purple tentacle from taking over the world!” The remaster will have new artwork and remastered audio, “which the original 90’s marketing blurb described as ‘zany!'”

That’s not all. Players will be “able to switch back and forth between classic and remastered modes, and mix and match audio, graphics, and UI to their heart’s desire,” which sounds incredible. Not only that, they’ve “also included a concept art browser, and recorded a commentary track with the game’s original creators Tim Schafer, Dave Grossman, Larry Ahern, Peter Chan, Peter McConnell, and Clint Bajakian.” How righteous!

Day of the Tentacle Remastered is due out in March 2016 on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and PC.

Posted in News, PC, PS4, Vita | Tagged ,

Full Throttle Remastered announced for PS4, Vita, PC

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Nicole Kline

FullThrottleRemasteredThe wonderful James Spafford, Community Manager at Double Fine, wrote an awesome post at the PlayStation Blog about the remastering of Full Throttle!

“With the smell of burning asphalt hanging staunchly in the air, we’re proud to announce that we’ll be remastering Tim Schafer’s classic LucasArts adventure game Full Throttle!” he wrote excitedly. With their Grim Fandango and Day of the Tentacle remasters, this “will complete the trilogy of Tim’s games from LucasArts that we’ve been given the chance to restore.” The original creators will be involved, and the remaster of the game will have new artwork, restored sound and music, and will have lots of special features, including “concept artwork, commentary tracks, and as many other things as we can think of!”

Full Throttle Remastered will be coming to the PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and PC.

Posted in News, PC, PS4, Vita | Tagged ,

Daily Scoop: December 7, 2015 – Last day for Codemasters Humble Bundle

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Nicole Kline

Monday is here again! It’s like it happens every week or something. I played a bunch of – well, I mean, you know what I played at this point. Until I beat Fallout 4 and Persona 4 Golden, they’re going to be running my life. What did you play? Don’t worry, though – if you’ve reached the unlikely point that you’ve run out of games to play, I’ve got some deals for you to check out!

The Codemasters Humble Bundle has less than a day left. Pay what you want for Grid 2 plus Drift Pack, Dirt Showdown, Overlord, Operation Flashpoint Complete, Hospital Tycoon, and Colin McRae Rally. Beat the average to unlock Grid Autosport with the Road and Track Car Pack, Overlord II, Overlord Raising Hell, Grid 2 Spa-Francorchamps Track Pack, Grid Autosport Drag Pack, Toybox Turbos, Grid, and Rise of the Argonauts. Pay $15 or more to unlock the Grid Autosport Season Pass, Dirt 3, and the Grid 2 All In DLC Pack.

There are 132 new Weeklong Deals at Steam. Chaos on Deponia is $3.99, Beep is $0.99, and 100% Orange Juice is $2.37. The Daily Deal is Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II: Retribution, which is free to play until December 14, and costs just $7.49 if you want to buy it before then.

Hit the jump to see today’s t-shirt options! (more…)

Posted in Daily Scoop |

Gone Home coming to PS4 and Xbox One on January 12, 2016

Posted on December 7, 2015 by John Scalzo

After an aborted attempt to bring the game to the Wii U in 2014, The Fullbright Company has announced that Gone Home will finally be released for consoles in 2016. However, Wii U owners appear to be out of luck as the game is only scheduled to arrive on the PS4 and Xbox One next year.

Steve Gaynor, Gone Home’s writer and designer, recorded a special message for fans about the news, and its been embedded above. Gaynor also added a bit more to his statement in a post on Fullbright’s official website:

I think the above video pretty much says it all– but let me just say how excited we are to put the game in front of a whole new audience of players. Ever since Gone Home came out we’ve wanted to be able to bring it to people who maybe aren’t PC gamers, or don’t have a good enough computer, or who just want to play in their living room, maybe to share the experience with a friend or loved one from the comfort of their couch. Our goal wasn’t to add or change things, but just to bring the game that players know and love onto consoles in the best possible form we could. We’re really excited for you all to get your hands on it!

Gone Home won “Best PC Game” and “Best Independent Game” at the 2013 VGX Awards, along with “Best Debut” at both the 2014 BAFTA Awards and the 2014 GDC Awards.

Posted in News, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged

Dirt Rally exits Early Access on Steam; PS4/Xbox One launch scheduled for April 5

Posted on December 7, 2015 by John Scalzo

Codemasters has been quietly offering updates and enhancements to Dirt Rally since its release through Steam Early Access in April. Today, the developer is ready to launch the “full version” of their off-road racing game for PC players everywhere. And they’ve also announced that Dirt Rally will be released for the PS4 and Xbox One on April 5, 2016.

“The launch on Steam Early Access has been a resounding success. We want to thank the community for their valuable feedback and support which has guided our development for the past eight months, resulting in a 92% positive user score. We are now ready to launch the final version of the game on PC,”” said Frank Sagnier, the CEO of Codemasters. ““Following this success on PC and a vocal demand from consumers, we are delighted to bring Dirt Rally to console players on April 5, 2016.”

With the update, Codemasters has also added a ton of “Winter Wonderland” content to Dirt Rally. The Varmland region of Sweden, which is covered in snow and ice, is your destination for this rally course. And a new gameplay trailer, embedded above, will give you a taste of this “Winter Wonderland” and the rest of the game.

Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One | Tagged