EA Sports UFC 2, Salt and Sanctuary, Paragon, more added to PS Store

Posted on March 16, 2016 by John Scalzo

Sony uploaded a massive number of new titles to the PlayStation Store this week, so let’s get started…

This week’s top release is most likely EA Sports UFC 2 (PS4), the latest mixed martial arts simulation from Electronic Arts. In the sequel, players can take control of more than 250 fighters, or use the Create-A-Fighter mode to enter The Octagon as themselves. EA has also promised that EA Sports UFC 2 will include a deeper Career Mode and a “revolutionary new Knockout Physics system.”

This week also marks the kickoff of Sony’s Launch Party 2016 promotion, and the first game to be released is Salt and Sanctuary from Ska Studios. The PS4 game is a “brutal” side-scrolling adventure with “richly developed RPG mechanics.”

Paragon, Epic’s upcoming MOBA for the PS4, will also be available this week on March 18. The game will eventually be free-to-play, but the $19.99 Founder’s Pack will be the only way to play during the game’s current “Early Access” period.

Finally this week, the arcade classic Bubble Bobble is now available to download on the PS4. If you’ve never had the chance to spit bubbles as Bub and Bob, now’s your chance to fill a major gap in your knowledge of video game history.

More information on all of these games (and a few other new releases) can be found after the break. And, as always, a complete rundown of this week’s new game add-ons and discounts can be found at the PlayStation Blog.

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The top Game Design programs in 2016 are at University of Utah, University of Central Florida

Posted on March 16, 2016 by John Scalzo

universityofutah-logoWith the Game Developers Conference in full swing, the Princeton Review recently published their annual evaluation of Game Design programs for 2016. More than 150 schools were examined by the group, which awarded top honors to the University of Utah (undergraduate) and the University of Central Florida (graduate).

“For students aspiring to work in game design, the 58 schools that made one or both of our 2016 lists offer extraordinary opportunities to learn and to hone one’s talents for a successful career in this burgeoning field,” said Robert Franek, The Princeton Review’s Senior Vice President/Publisher. “The faculties at these schools are outstanding. Their facilities are awesome. And their alumni include legions of the industry’s most prominent game designers, developers, artists, and entrepreneurs.”

In addition to earning the top spot on the undergraduate list, the University of Utah also qualified as the third-best graduate program for Game Design this year. A number of other schools appeared in the top ten on both lists, including the University of Southern California, the Rochester Institute of Technology, Michigan State University, Drexel University, and New York University.

The Princeton Review’s complete ranking can be found after the break. And more information about their survey methodology and how to apply to each of these programs can be found at their website.

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Conan O’Brien challenges Conor McGregor in EA Sports UFC 2

Posted on March 16, 2016 by John Scalzo

EA Sports UFC 2 was released for the PS4 and Xbox One yesterday, but Conan O’Brien got to try it out last week with UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor during the most recent “Clueless Gamer” segment.

EA produced a Create-A-Fighter character based on the copperheaded comedian for the segment, while McGregor played as himself. Conan got the first punch in, but even in a video game he was overmatched by a real UFC fighter. But Conan seemed to be having a blast.

Be sure to stick around until the end, as Conan absolutely towers over McGregor and it is just bizarre to see that a professional mixed martial artist is so diminutive next to the guy that pulled the “Walker, Texas Ranger Lever” all those years.

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Daily Scoop: March 15, 2016 – Big Down Under sale

Posted on March 15, 2016 by Nicole Kline

It’s another wretchedly cold and rainy day here in Philadelphia, and I wish I was home snuggled under a blanket playing video games. But alas! Adulting is a necessary part of adulthood, and so I’ll have to wait until later to fall asleep while holding a controller.

Humble Bundle is having a Big Down Under sale in their store. Get Armello for $14.99, Hurtworld for $19.99, Hacknet for $7.49, and Crawl for $7.99.

The Midweek Madness at Steam is early access to Ark: Survival Evolved which is on sale for $17.99. The Daily Deal is Primal Carnage, which is just $1.59.

Hit the jump to see today’s t-shirts!

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Microsoft brought more than three dozen ID@Xbox games to GDC 2016

Posted on March 15, 2016 by John Scalzo

xboxone-logoWhile Microsoft took their sweet time in embracing independent development on the Xbox One, they’re certainly making up for it now with their ID@Xbox initiative. In addition to yesterday’s news that the consolemaker will be begin offering “Cross-Network Play” on some of their upcoming Xbox One and Windows 10 titles, Microsoft has confirmed that more than three-dozen games will be on display during this week’s Game Developer Conference.

If you’re unable to attend GDC this year, Microsoft has posted the complete list at the Xbox Wire, which gives us a pretty nice glimpse into the future of the ID@Xbox program.

Capy’s Below, Insmniac’s Song of the Deep, and Chair’s Shadow Complex: Remastered are just some of the titles you can try out this week at the Xbox Lobby Bar. The full list is available after the break, and hopefully Microsoft will bring at least some of these titles to next month’s PAX East expo.

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan will be released on May 24

Posted on March 15, 2016 by John Scalzo

The pizza chefs at Activision and Platinum Games have been hard at work on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan for a while now, but they’re finally ready to offer up a delivery guarantee. According to a new trailer posted by IGN, the game will be released for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One on May 24.

And speaking of that new trailer, it features a double order of boss battles including Bebop, Rocksteady, Karai, Krang, Shredder, and Super Shredder. You should definitely check it out… and don’t forget to tip your delivery boy.

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RBI Baseball 16 will be available to download on March 29; Retail disc is on deck for April 5

Posted on March 15, 2016 by John Scalzo

rbibaseball2016-header

Video Games! Get Your Video Games Here!

MLB Advanced Media has announced that RBI Baseball 16 will be available to download for the PC, PS4, Xbox One, and mobile devices on March 29. The publisher also revealed the game will be released as a retail disc a week later, on April 5, for the PS4 and Xbox One.

RBI Baseball 16 will add a number of new features to the retro-styled sports sim including the opportunity to simulate a single game or an entire season, the ability to dive for a hard hit ball, the chance to make pre-game changes to the lineup, and an improved batting engine. And in a first for the franchise, RBI Baseball 16 will be available as a digital download throughout Europe.

And don’t forget, Opening Day is April 3. Let’s play ball!

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Fallout 4: Automatron will be available on March 22… and here’s the first trailer

Posted on March 15, 2016 by John Scalzo

Bethesda has announced that Fallout 4‘s first downloadable expansion, Automatron, will be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on March 22. They’ve even released an official trailer for the robot-wrecking adventure, and it’s been embedded above.

In the expansion, players will be able to build a variety of robot companions using hundreds of pieces and parts, all so they can do battle with the Mechanist and his army of evil robots:

In Automatron (for characters level 15 or higher), the mysterious Mechanist has unleashed a horde of evil robots into the Commonwealth, including the devious Robobrain. Hunt them down and harvest their parts to build and mod your own custom robot companions. Choose from hundreds of mods; mixing limbs, armor, abilities, and weapons such as the all-new lightning chain gun. Even customize their paint schemes and choose their voices!

Bethesda has big plans for Fallout 4’s downloadable content. Players will be able to expand their settlements this April in Wasteland Workshop. And beginning in May, the massive Far Harbor expansion will add “the largest landmass Bethesda Game Studios has ever created for post-release content” to the game.

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