Square Enix will add Final Fantasy IV: The After Years to Steam on May 12

Posted on April 23, 2015 by John Scalzo

Final Fantasy IV: The After Years was originally released in 2008, exclusively for Japanese mobile phones. In typical Square Enix fashion, the game was eventually ported to a variety of different platforms including the Wii (2009) and the PSP (2011). An iOS/Android remake was released in 2013 that ditched the Super NES-style graphics. Today, the publisher announced that this version of the game will make its way to Steam on May 12.

Priced at $15.99 ($14.39 if you pre-order), the game takes place 20 years after Final Fantasy IV, with another moon threatening the planet’s very existence:

Seventeen years have passed since the war’s end, and the son born to King Cecil and Queen Rosa of Baron has grown into a young man. Prince Ceodore has enlisted in the airship fleet known as the Red Wings, eager to meet the expectations demanded of his blood and station. Yet once more another moon has appeared in the sky, and with it vast hordes of monsters intent on destruction. The brief peace enjoyed by the Blue Planet now stands threatened under the shadow of impending catastrophe.

In addition to revamped graphics, the Steam version of Final Fantasy IV: The After Years will support for Steam Achievements and Steam Trading Cards.

Posted in News, PC |

Nintendo Download: Mario Kart DS, Mario Kart 8 200cc update, more

Posted on April 23, 2015 by John Scalzo

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It’s a Mario Kart kind of day in the latest Nintendo Download. First, one of the best games to ever grace the franchise, Mario Kart DS, is now available to download through the Wii U eShop. Also available today is the free 200cc update for Mario Kart 8.

In addition to adding an entirely new race class to the game, Nintendo has added the game’s second downloadable expansion, the Animal Crossing X Mario Kart 8 DLC Pack, to the Wii U eShop as well. Available on its own for $7.99, or as part of a two-pack for $11.99, the second DLC Pack adds three new racers and eight new tracks to the game.

In other DLC news, Mewtwo will be available to download in Super Smash Bros. For Wii U and Super Smash Bros. For 3DS on Tuesday, April 28. The popular Pokemon character can be yours in a single version of Smash Bros. for $3.99 or in both for just a buck more.

To keep the spotlight shining on their new DLC offerings, only two additional games were added to the eShop today. Cube Creator 3D is a Minecraft-like game for the 3DS while Suspension Railroad Simulator is a suspension railroad simulation.

More information on all of these games can be found after the break.

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Posted in 3DS, News, Wii U | Tagged , , ,

Daily Scoop: April 23, 2015 – Back to my winter coat

Posted on April 23, 2015 by Nicole Kline

So, winter decided to come back again, as it was in the 30s last night and this morning. I played it safe and wore my winter coat because I don’t want to make this cough any worse than it is already! I knew I was in trouble when I woke up and the heat was on, because it has to be cold indeed for that to happen. Soon I’ll be complaining that it’s too hot out. I can’t wait!

Anyway, let’s talk deals! There’s a brand new Humble Weekly Bundle, and this one’s all about Multiplayer Mayhem! Pay what you want for Primal Carnage, God Mode, and early access to Boid. Beat the average to get Chariot, Blade Symphony, and GoD Factory: Wingmen. Pay $10 or more to unlock early access to Homebrew. And you have one more day for the Shooter Sale, so get on it!

Over at Steam, the Midweek Madness is everyone’s favorite Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. You can play for free all weekend, and if you decide you want to buy it, it’s on sale for a measly $4.99. The Daily Deal is the Worms Collection, which includes Worms Clan Wars, Worms Armageddon, and Worms Crazy Golf, among others. You can get the whole collection for $22.49.

Finally, let’s check out today’s t-shirts!

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Posted in Daily Scoop |

Kickstart This! 10 Pointers To Get More Gold For Your Game

Posted on April 23, 2015 by Andrew Rainnie

Nearly two years ago, I augmented my regular Kickstart This! column with a guide for prospective campaign creators called “How To Get More Coin For Your Game.” Since then, there has been an explosion in games funded via crowdfunding platforms. There have been highs and lows, ups and downs, and despite a recent decline in donations, it is apparent that crowdfunding is here to stay as an alternative way of independent financing.

Yet whenever I browse those vying for my coins, gold rings, or rupees, I am often disheartened by how many of these projects appear to have been cobbled together in a Katamari-like rush, with strips of duct tape covering over the cracks. Finding projects I feel passionately enough about to fund has gone from an exciting trek of discovery to an aimless slog through a myriad of garbage bags and run-down half-way houses. Wander too far and you will get lost among people trying to fund their own lifestyles rather than a game project to be enjoyed by the masses.

Kickstarter, by the nature of its funding model, manages to dissuade those attempting to fund the purchase of a new PS4 or an upgrade to their YouTube Channel, which are found on other platforms such as Indiegogo. Both of these examples were lazily set up, with the Indiegogo placeholder descriptions left in place rather than writing their own. The world is saturated with gaming channels on YouTube and Twitch, bedroom podcasts, and one-man gaming blogs, so if you do need money to fund these endeavours, it is going to be a hard sell, even more so if you are asking for someone to simply buy you a PC, turning a crowdfunding platform into a crowded begging centre.

Yet, at their core, all of these people want to celebrate games, and the more games that are funded through crowdfunding, the more independent voices there are to counter the stale sequelitis being spewed by EA, Ubisoft, Activision and their ilk, the better.

So, armed with a stern brow and steadfast determination, I have revisited my original guide to bash it into a slightly different shape, remoulding it with some blunt advice for anyone looking to run a successful campaign. Follow this, and your project will stand a better chance of reaching its funding goal.

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Posted in Features, Top Story |

Mad Max gameplay trailer takes us beyond The Wasteland and into Thunderdome

Posted on April 23, 2015 by John Scalzo

Did you catch a glimpse of the Thunderdome in this brand new gameplay trailer for Mad Max? The blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment occurs right around three minutes and 55 seconds into this extensive look at how players will take control of “Mad” Max Rockatansky.

Max’s car is at the center of who he is and this focus carries over to the trailer. Prospective players will learn all about building his car, the Magnum Opus, and the vehicular combat it’ll open up. Scavenging parts, talking to other Wasteland inhabitants, and forging alliances will also play a big role in the game.

Mad Max will be available for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on September 1. Maybe you’ll even be able to barter for it.

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

Activision released another CoD: Black Ops III teaser ahead of “World Reveal” on April 26

Posted on April 23, 2015 by John Scalzo

“Mankind’s grestest mistake will be its inability to control the technology it has created.”

Activision has released another teaser for Call of Duty: Black Ops III in their continued pursuit to prep gamers ahead of the game’s “World Reveal” on April 26. Today’s teaser, titled “Ember,” focuses on the technological advancements that will push humanity to new heights over the next 50 years. The world of 2065 is one of replacement limbs that perform better than the real thing and replacement eyes that can see everything. Faster, stronger, better isn’t just the motto of the Six Million Dollar Man anymore. And a scared populace has begun to fight back against these “altered” humans.

The comparisons to Eidos Montreal’s recently-revealed Deus Ex: Mankind Divided practically write themselves.

The trailer closes with snippets from an interview with an Edward Snowden-like whistleblower. Faux Snowden is attempting to blow the lid off a US Government-sanctioned “Super Soldier” program, because the final ominous images of the teaser lead me to believe these boys aren’t quite as wholesome as Captain America.

Call of Duty: Black Ops III will be released this November. A PC, PS4, and Xbox One release is assured, though a PS3/Xbox 360 launch is also likely.

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

Is your PC prepared for Batman: Arkham Knight’s “Ultra” system requirements?

Posted on April 23, 2015 by John Scalzo

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Is your PC prepared for the June 23 launch of Batman: Arkham Knight? If you’re not sure, Nvidia is here to help. The video card producer has released three sets of system requirements for the game, alerting players as to what components they’ll need to run the game on minimum, recommended, and “Ultra” settings. The “Ultra” requirements aren’t asking for a Batcomputer, but they’re pretty close.

Ready? Here… we… go…

Minimum System Requirements

  • OS: Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1 (64-bit Operating System Required)
  • Processor: Intel Core i5-750, 2.67 GHz | AMD Phenom II X4 965, 3.4 GHz
  • Memory: 6 GB RAM
  • Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 660
  • Graphics Memory: 2 GB
  • DirectX: 11
  • Network: Broadband Internet Connection Required
  • Hard Drive Space: 45 GB

Recommended System Requirements

  • OS: Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1 (64-bit Operating System Required)
  • Processor: Intel Core i7-3770, 3.4 GHz | AMD FX-8350, 4.0 GHz
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 760
  • Graphics Memory: 3 GB
  • DirectX: 11
  • Network: Broadband Internet Connection Required
  • Hard Drive Space: 55 GB

Ultra System Requirements

  • OS: Windows 7 SP1, Windows 8.1 (64-bit Operating System Required)
  • Processor: Intel Core i7-3770, 3.4 GHz | AMD FX-8350, 4.0 GHz
  • Memory: 8 GB RAM
  • Graphics Card: Nvidia GeForce GTX 980
  • Graphics Memory: 3 GB
  • DirectX: 11
  • Network: Broadband Internet Connection Required
  • Hard Drive Space: 55 GB

If PC gaming isn’t your thing, Batman: Arkham Knight will also be released on the PS4 and Xbox One.

Posted in News, PC | Tagged

Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey is the next game from the creator of Assassin’s Creed

Posted on April 23, 2015 by John Scalzo

Jade Raymond is the name that gamers most commonly connect to the creation of the Assassin’s Creed franchise. But did you know that the Creative Director behind the first two games was a man named Patrice Desilets? After a contentious split with Ubisoft in 2010, Desilets teamed up with Ubisoft to being work on a game known as 1666: Amsterdam. However, after THQ’s declaration of bankruptcy, the rights to 1666 were purchased by Ubisoft and Desilets was once again out of a job.

Resilient, the developer formed Panache Digital Games last year. And this morning, at the Reboot Develop conference in Croatia, he announced Panache’s first project. Known as Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey, the third-person action-adventure/survival game will, according to the official announcement, reach back to tell the story of humanity’s beginning:

Through each episodes, we want the player to relive the greatest moments of mankind with a documentary twist. Our civilisation is one idea away from extinction… or evolution.

Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey will be released episodically and a wide variety of “great moments” are mentioned in the short teaser that Desilets showed the audience. Modern achievements such as the Human Genome Project and Dolly the Sheep are included alongside older discoveries like Isaac Newton’s theory of calculus in 1666 and “The Missing Link” in 5,000,000 BC.

It’s currently unknown when Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey will be released or what platforms it’ll be available for. But Desilets has promised to reveal more details about the episodic game throughout the year.

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