Most Recent: PC

The Force is with the Dishonored voice cast

Posted on August 3, 2012 by John Scalzo

When it comes to compiling top flight vocal talent to portray the characters in their games, Bethesda is second-to-none. The publisher has previously tapped Oscar nominees (Christopher Plummer, Max Von Sydow, Joan Allen), nerd favorites (Patrick Stewart, Lynda Carter, Ron Perlman), and a Jedi Knight (Liam Neeson) to bring their past games to life.

With Dishonored, they may have outdone themselves. Look at the cast they’ve assembled for their supernatural first person shooter:

  • Carrie Fisher as an unnamed voice broadcasting government propaganda over loudspeakers throughout the city of Dunwall.
  • Susan Sarandon as Granny Rags, an intriguing old blind woman now deranged after years of street life.
  • Brad Dourif as Piero, creator of the iconic mask worn by Corvo as well as a wealth of gadgets Corvo can use.
  • John Slattery as Admiral Havelock, a Loyalist who helps Corvo on his quest.
  • Michael Madsen as Daud, a mysterious assassin.
  • Chloe Grace Moretz as Young Lady Emily, the Empress’ daughter who is kidnapped after her mother’s death.
  • Lena Headey as Calista, Emily’s caretaker.

So let’s recap. Dishonored’s voice cast includes Princess Leia, Annie from Bull Durham, Chucky from the Child’s Play series, the guy from Mad Men, Mr. Blonde from Reservoir Dogs, Hit Girl from Kick-Ass, and one of the stars of Game of Thrones. Wow.

Dishonored will be available for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 on October 9.

Posted in News, PC, PS3, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Unreal Engine 3-powered Rise of the Triad reboot in development

Posted on August 3, 2012 by John Scalzo

The ludicrous gibs are back! Apogee Software used the opening day of QuakeCon 2012 to announce the long-long-awaited return of Rise of the Triad.

Rebuilt from the ground up by Interceptor Entertainment using Epic’s Unreal Engine 3, the new Rise of the Triad will bring back everything that made the cult shooter so memorable. This includes all of the great weaponry (the Flamewall, Split Missile, Drunk Missile and, the Excalibat), the jump plates, the spinning blades of death, the cowering Nazi stand-ins, and all the fantastic modes (God Mode, Dog Mode, Elasto Mode, Mercury Mode, and Shrooms Mode). Players will also have the option to use a reworked soundtrack or the original 90s era music and sound effects.

The Rise of the Triad reboot will be available to download through Steam by the end of the year complete with a 20-level single-player mode and classic multiplayer maps.

Gibs!

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Skyrim “Dawngaurd” expansion now available on PC; PS3 version delayed

Posted on August 2, 2012 by John Scalzo

Here’s some news that doesn’t “suck” (it’s a vampire joke, folks)… Bethesda has announced that the “Dawnguard” expansion for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is now available for PC players. Like the Xbox 360 version, the PC expansion has been priced at $19.99.

But bad news for gamers who get their Skyrim fix on the PS3… Bethesda has announced that the PS3 version has been delayed because the developer isn’t happy with the expansion’s development progress:

We are not satisfied yet with Dawnguard’s performance on the PS3. We would like for everyone to have a chance to play Dawnguard, but we aren’t going to release it for PS3 knowing that some people’s experience in Skyrim will be worse. We do everything we can to have our content available to all; from our free updates, to user mods, to paid DLC. We’re as disappointed as our fans when that isn’t the case, but we’ll continue to push for that reality.

Posted in News, PC, PS3 | Tagged

Final CoD: Modern Warfare 3 Content Collections dated and detailed

Posted on August 2, 2012 by John Scalzo

With the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 getting closer and closer, Activision has begun to close out the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3‘s downloadable “Content Season.” To that end, the publisher has revealed the game’s final pieces of DLC as well as the contents of Content Collection #3 and Content Collection #4.

During the month of August, CoD Elite subscribers will gain access to two new Special Ops Missions, “Light ‘Em Up” and “Special Delivery” as well as the brand-new Chaos Mode. Chaos Mode will transform the “Resistance,” “Village,” “Underground,” and “Dome” maps into a “frenetic form of combat that demands players to outlast waves of enemies, while chaining kills on maps littered in power-ups to achieve the highest possible score.”

All of this DLC (along with the Special Ops Missions “Vertigo” and “Arctic Recon” and the Face Off maps “Vortex,” “U-Turn,” and “Intersection”) will be bundled together as Content Collection #3 for Xbox 360 players on August 9.

Content Collection #4 will be available on September 6 for Xbox 360 players and it’ll be packed with five Multiplayer maps including three that Elite subscribers will get first: “Gulch” sends combatants into a forgotten mining town with mine shafts and equipment sheds for cover, “Boardwalk” features fun in the sun on the Jersey Shore, and “Parish” pits players against one another amidst the rubble of New Orleans. Content Collection #4 will also include the previously released maps “Offshore” and “Decommission.”

Both collections will be priced at 1200 Microsoft Points ($15). And all of the content listed here will be available for PC and PS3 players at a later date.

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The Force is free with this one… Star Wars: The Old Republic goes Free-To-Play this Fall

Posted on August 2, 2012 by Andrew Rainnie

After months of rumours and a dwindling subscriber base, BioWare has finally announced that their MMO, Star Wars: The Old Republic, is rolling out a Free-To-Play option this Fall.

Jeff Hickman, the game’s Executive Producer, took to the SW:TOR blog to explain how the team had arrived at this decision:

“Since launch, our team has spent a lot of time trying to find new ways to be able to bring the Star Wars: The Old Republic experience to as many potential players as possible. We quickly became aware that our subscription only model was a major barrier for a lot people who wanted to become part of The Old Republic universe. In fact, many players who have left the game said they would happily come back if they could play without the commitment of a monthly fee.We feel that flexibility and choice in playing our game is important for all current and future players. For that reason, we began the exploration of expanding the game to include a Free-to-Play option.”

But what does it all mean? Essentially, anyone who is a current subscriber can switch to the Free-to-Play option when it rolls out this fall. However, the option does limit a number of the games features. For example, Free-To-Play members will have restrictions on character customization, and certain species will not be available. There will be an as yet unspecified cap on the number of Space Missions you can embark on, as well as limited access to the Warzones and Flashpoints and no access whatsoever to Operations. Current subscribers will also be showered with gifts in the form of Cartel Coins, while Free-To-Play gamers will have to whip out the old credit card should they wish to make in game purchases. A complete comparison between the Free-To-Play option and a monthly subscription can be found at the game’s official website.

So what do you think readers? Is this a move for the good of the galaxy, or a step towards the Dark Side?

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Gearbox talks authenticity for Aliens: Colonial Marines

Posted on August 1, 2012 by John Scalzo

The big guns at Gearbox Software have released their first developer’s diary for Aliens: Colonial Marines, entitled “Authentic Aliens.” The interview subjects (including CEO Randy Pitchford) mostly talk about their desire to create a game that is worthy of Ridley Scott’s Alien and James Cameron’s Aliens, but in the process, they show off plenty of new footage from the game as well.

Aliens: Colonial Marines will be available for the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 on February 12, 2013. A Wii U version will also be released sometime next year.

Posted in News, PC, PS3, Wii U, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Jay-Z named Executive Producer of NBA 2K13; soundtrack announced

Posted on August 1, 2012 by John Scalzo

2K Sports has announced that Jay-Z, the biggest name in rap and a part owner of the Brooklyn Nets, will serve as the Executive Producer of NBA 2K13. It would be easy to dismiss this partnership as nothing more than a simple soundtrack gig. But, according to 2K, “Jay-Z’s artistic vision and style will permeate the [entire] experience.” This will include “the overall look and feel of the game” as well as interactive in-game menus, and yes, the soundtrack.

NBA 2K13’s soundtrack will include 24 tracks hand-picked by Jay-Z. The collection includes multiple tracks from the man himself as well as his frequent collaborator, Kanye West. Coldplay, Daft Punk, The Dirty Projectors, Nas, Phoenix, Santigold, and many others also made the cut.

You can check out the complete soundtrack listing after the break or you can head over to 2K’s Facebook page to preview some of tracks. (more…)

Posted in News, PC, PS3, PSP, Wii, Wii U, Xbox 360 | Tagged

Kickstart This! Premiere Edition

Posted on July 30, 2012 by Andrew Rainnie

The phenomenon that is Kickstarter has changed the way we look at game development. In the first ever edition of “Kickstart This!” (we hope to make it a regular feature), we delve deeper into five projects that are being financed by gamers like you.” We will try and focus on those we feel offer an innovative or exciting project in the hope that one or two may fiddle your fancy enough for you to give generously to the projects. (more…)

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