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Friday, February 1, 2013
01/01/2013 - Frozen Synapse Tacts Announced for PS3 and PSVFrozen Synapse: Tactics Announced
After recently announcing their new digital publishing branch - D11 Games - Double Eleven have now revealed that they
will be working with Mode 7 on a console version of Frozen Synapse. The new title, Frozen Synapse: Tactics, will be released
for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita via the PSN™ store.
Originally released in 2011, the critically praised
Frozen Synapse has sold over 430,000 copies to date. Its unique style of gameplay offers something new to the strategy gaming
genre and is a refreshing change from modern traditional RTSs.
“Frozen Synapse for us represents some of
the best work coming out of the UK and onto the PC. We know there’s also a great console game in there as well waiting
to be realised.” said Mark South, COO for Double Eleven.
Demi Gounari, Art Director on the new project, said
“We are thrilled to be working on Frozen Synapse; our vision is to reinvent the game’s aesthetics and interactivity
in the same way that Mode7 reinvented strategy gaming with this title.”
Mark added that “we don’t
want to give too much away yet, but I will say that Frozen Synapse: Tactics is not simply a transition of the original onto
console; we will be giving it a complete Double Eleven makeover.”
Paul Taylor, the co-founder and joint MD
of Mode 7, said, “Frozen Synapse proved that turn-based strategy doesn't have to be about people with misguided beards
prodding tanks into lonely hexagons. We have put our trust in Double Eleven to translate our original vision for a PlayStation
audience; they have impressed us with their commitment to creating a completely new version for Sony's awesome hardware.
We can't wait to see what they come up with.”
Shahid Ahmad, Senior Business Development Manager at Sony Computer
Entertainment Europe, said “We have a fantastic relationship with Double Eleven and have supported their publishing
model of bringing hit indie IPs to our platform. As Double Eleven’s first self-published game, after releasing LittleBigPlanet
PS Vita, they have chosen a perfect title for PlayStation.”
Frozen Synapse: Tactics is scheduled for release
in 2013. Keep an eye on our website, Twitter and Facebook page for updates.
Submitted By: E. Thomas
01/01/2013 - Call of Duty eSports Championship in HollywoodACTIVISION AND XBOX PARTNER TO BRING LANDMARK CALL OF DUTY® eSPORTS COMPETITION TO THE MASSES WITH THE CALL OF DUTY®
CHAMPIONSHIP, PRESENTED BY XBOX TOURNAMENT
London, UK – 1st February,
2013 – It’s time for gamers the world over to mark their calendars, because the ultimate high-stakes
Call of Duty competition is coming this April, forever changing the face of competitive eSports. The Call of Duty Championship,
presented by Xbox, featuring a $1 million Call of Duty®: Black Ops II tournament, will take place in Hollywood, CA 5-7th
April. Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard (Nasdaq: ATVI) and their award-winning
studio Treyarch, in partnership with Xbox®, Major League Gaming (MLG) and the Electronic Sports League (ESL) will bring
together 32 of the world’s most skilled multiplayer teams on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from
Microsoft to compete head-to-head in Call of Duty: Black Ops II in a live-streamed spectacular to be broadcast to the masses.
"More people play Call of Duty multiplayer every day than watch the average regular season game of the NBA. The
scale and passion of the Call of Duty fan base is simply humbling, and yet there is no formal way to find out who amongst
those millions of players is the best of the best, until now," said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing. "Watching
the performances of the very best Call of Duty players is already a mass spectator sport on YouTube and Call of Duty®
Elite. We are going to bring the best players in the world to Hollywood to compete on the ultimate stage, for the ultimate
prize. And we are going to invite our entire worldwide fan base to join in the fun."
Beginning today,
players interested in participating in the tournament can go to https://elite.callofduty.com/esports and register for a free Call of Duty Elite account – it takes just
a few seconds. Once registered, teams of four can vie for entry into the Call of Duty Championship, presented by Xbox
tournament by competing in the February season of League Play in Call of Duty: Black Ops II on Xbox LIVE®, which opens
today. Following the close of the February season, the top eight eligible teams will earn coveted spots in the Call
of Duty Championship, presented by Xbox, including a trip to Hollywood this April to compete for the $1 million tournament
purse.
“It’s an absolute honour to have players and fans celebrate the thrill of competition on such
a grand stage,” said Mark Lamia, Treyarch studio head. “From the very beginning of development for Call
of Duty: Black Ops II, we committed to making eSports an integral part of the game, and it’s going to be awesome to
watch the best teams in the world battle it out for everyone to see.”
Additionally, teams competing in the
recently announced MLG 2013 Pro Circuit featuring Call of Duty: Black Ops II (www.majorleaguegaming.com) will vie for a chance to enter the Call of Duty Championship, presented
by Xbox. At the MLG Winter Championship, 15-17th March, in Dallas, Texas, the top eight teams will earn trips to Hollywood
to play against the best Call of Duty players in the world. Joining them will be eight winning teams from the ESL’s
European Finals (http://cod.esl.eu) taking place 16-17th March, in the famous ESL Arena live eSports Studios
in Cologne, Germany.
Remaining seats in the 32-team tournament will be made available internationally across Asia,
Australia, and Brazil, with territory-specific qualification details to be revealed locally as they become available and at
https://elite.callofduty.com/esports.
Further details on the Call of Duty Championship, presented
by Xbox, including full rules and regulations, Call of Duty: Black Ops II maps and modes for the tournament, prizing distribution,
travel accommodations and more will be made available at https://elite.callofduty.com/esports.
Call of Duty: Black Ops II is rated 18 by PEGI.
More
information on Call of Duty: Black Ops II can be found at http://www.callofduty.com/blackops2
Also on Facebook www.facebook.com/codblackops.
Fans can also follow @Treyarch on Twitter.
Submitted By: E. Thomas
Thursday, January 31, 2013
01/31/2013 - Evolved Bundle from Indie Royale is now LIVEThe Evolved Bundle from Indie Royale is now live!
All of the games in the Evolved Bundle are new to game bundles!
First up
is the tricky, award winning, puzzle adventure game Unmechanical, available for Windows on Steam, Desura & DRM-free. It was developed
by Talawa Games and is offered thanks to Teotl Studios. Unmechanical was only released in August 2012. You will explore an atmospheric
world of flesh, rock & steel, journeying to freedom through a variety of puzzles with some very difficult challenges later
in the game. Rock, Paper Shotgun called it "a near-perfect morsel of puzzling brilliance".
Next
is The Path from Tale of Tales. A horror game that relies on your imagination, available for Windows from
Steam, Desura & DRM-free. There's a Mac version in there too. The Path is a game about choices and wolves in the woods!
Gamespot said it was "an extraordinary work of interactive fiction". Play the game but be careful if you stray from
the path! The Evolved Bundle includes the game's OST from rock diva Jarboe.
Also featured is the recently released
real-time squad based dungeon crawling game Krater, available for Windows Steam, from Fatshark. The game features fast paced combat, tactical squad management, crafting
and questing all from a classis RTS perspective. It's set in a post-apocalyptic Sweden and includes the specially designed
online co-op dungeons & bosses. The Evolved Bundle also includes the Character DLC.
The next game in this evolutionary
bundle is Sugar Cube: Bittersweet Factory from Turtle Cream, available for Windows from Steam, Desura & DRM-free. This game is the
full version of the IGF China's 2010 winner, Sugar Cube, including the OST. It's all about avoiding becoming a cookie! Multiple
endings and achievements give the game a lot of replay value. Indie Game Magazine said "Sugar Cube presents a short,
sweet, mind-working, challenge".
Last up is the nature themed scrolling platform puzzler OIO: The Game from Uncanny Games, available for Windows from Desura & DRM-free. It's simple but intricate
and, with a metacritic of 75, it's definitely worth your time! Gamepro says of OIO "difficulty doesn't take long to hone
itself to a sharp point" whilst IGN says it has a "truly gorgeous art style". OIO is in Steam Greenlight right
now so don't forget to upvote it if you like this game.
Finally, those who pay $8 USD or their currency equivalent
during the Evolved Bundle will get an ambient electronic treat from Tim Wright of CoLD SToRAGE, the recently released 'SLIPSTREAM [volume 1]'. The album features 64 bit
digital re-mix / re-masters of Tim's tracks from WipEout and WipEout 2097. Each track has been painstakingly E.Q.'d, compressed
and spatially enhanced for the best possible listening experience. It's been a long time coming - we hope you enjoy it!
You can find more information on the Evolved Bundle, including real-time statistics and its current price, on its
official website or via its Facebook and Twitter pages. Grab this bundle now while the price is still low (unless kind purchasers
lower the price) so that you'll have hours of indie games to evolve your skills with!
Submitted By: E. Thomas
01/31/2013 - NASCAR Inside Link Kicks of 2013 Season with New Car DLCNASCAR® The GameTM: Inside Line kicks off the 2013 season with Sixth Generation Car DLC
The NASCAR Gen 6 cars further
Eutechnyx and Activision’s shared commitment to continue to deliver an unparalleled NASCAR experience. Players will
be able to put these new cars through their paces online and in selected single player modes, as well as with the upcoming
Inside Line Highlights (sold separately), a series of in-game DLC packs that utilize telemetry data from actual NASCAR races
to let players relive and rewrite race events just as they unfold for real.
The NASCAR Gen 6 cars will be available
on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 later in February and can be purchased using the in-game Ticket currency or as part of the
Inside Line Highlights Pack.
NASCAR The Game: Inside Line is available now on Xbox 360, PS3, and Nintendo Wii.
Keep track of the latest NASCAR The Game: Inside Line news at www.NASCARTheGame.com or join us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/NASCARthegame) and Twitter (@NASCARTheGame).
Submitted By: E. Thomas
01/31/2013 - Trine 2 Director's Cut Updated on Wii UTrine 2: Director's Cut updated on Wii U
Helsinki, Finland - 31 January 2013 -
Finnish game developer Frozenbyte is excited to announce that its action game Trine 2: Director's Cut for Wii U™ has
received an important update in the North American Nintendo eShop. The update includes support for the Wii U™ Pro Controller,
Voice Chat for online multiplayer, German vocals, improved graphics rendering and a bunch of minor gameplay features and fixes.
"We're happy that the update is now available to all gamers of Trine 2: Director's Cut. It has a lot of much
anticipated features so we can't wait to hear the feedback!" said Lauri Hyvärinen, CEO of Frozenbyte.
Update
contents:
- Support for Wii U™ Pro Controller
- Voice Chat for online multiplayer (supports
headsets and just the
Wii U GamePad)
- Improved graphics rendering (brighter and more vibrant colors)
- Optional German vocals
- Various minor gameplay features and fixes
Trine 2: Director’s Cut is priced
at $19.99 and is available through the Nintendo eShop. The game features a total of 20 exciting levels full of adventure,
including the recently released Goblin Menace expansion campaign and a Wii U exclusive level called the Dwarven Caverns, making
Trine 2: Director's Cut the most comprehensive package of Trine 2 on any platform.
Further Information:
Age rating: ESRB Everyone 10+
Launch trailer: HERE
Submitted By: E. Thomas
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
01/30/2013 - Skulls of the Shogun Now AvailableSKULLS OF THE SHOGUN NOW AVAILABLE WORLDWIDE
SEATTLE, WA (January 30, 2013) – Indie developer 17-BIT today announced that Skulls of
the Shogun is now available worldwide for Xbox 360, Windows 8 PC, Microsoft Surface, and Windows Phone.
The
Xbox 360 version is now available for 1200 Microsoft Points in the Xbox Live Marketplace, and for a limited time will debut
at a discounted price for Windows 8 PC, Microsoft Surface, and Windows Phone. The Windows 8 and Windows Surface version are
now $9.99 (normally $14.99) in the Microsoft Store, and the Windows Phone version is $4.99 (normally $6.99) in the Windows
Phone Marketplace.
Skulls of the Shogun is an invigorating cocktail of 1960’s-flavored sorcery and
strategy. Washed up on the shores of the afterlife, players meet and join forces with vibrant ghost-samurai warriors, magical
animal-monks, and mustachioed samurai generals on the way to capture the Skulls of the Shogun in a 15-hour single-player campaign.
Skulls of the Shogun also features up to four-player local and online multiplayer battles.
Also, for the
first time ever, players will be able to challenge their friends, fight their way through online multiplayer battles, and
even take their single-player campaign on the road asynchronously — whether they’re playing on Xbox 360, Windows
8, Surface, or Windows Phone. Called Skulls Anywhere, this cross-platform gameplay has never been done before on
Microsoft platforms and is available on all four launch platforms!
“After three and a half years, Skulls
of the Shogun is has been released into the wild!” says 17-BIT Founder and CEO, Jake Kazdal. “We’re
ecstatic we could bring Skulls to all four of Microsoft’s platforms, and bring them all together with cross-platform
functionality. We appreciate the excitement and patience by all the Skulls of the Shogun fans, and we here at 17-BIT
believe the wait will be well worth it.”
Skulls of the Shogun will be localized in English, French, Italian,
German, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, and Russian.
ABOUT 17-BIT
17-BIT
is a Seattle-based boutique independent video game developer specializing in revitalizing classic genres with cutting-edge
gaming experiences. Founded in 2009 by game industry veteran Jake Kazdal, 17-BIT aims to deliver iconoclastic games that challenge
the expectations of 2D gaming. With bold, eye-catching art and broad audience appeal, 17-BIT creates fresh game experiences
that hearken back to the 16-bit era of consoles, but with the power and high definition of modern hardware.
Submitted
By: E. Thomas
01/30/2013 - Defiance Launches Globally on April 2ndDEFIANCETM LAUNCHES GLOBALLY APRIL 2nd Preview Your Future Life as an Ark Hunter with “Join the Fight,” the All -New Live Action Defiance
Game Trailer
REDWOOD SHORES, Calif. – JANUARY 30, 2013 - Trion Worlds, the leading
publisher and developer of premium games for the connected era, announced today that the anticipated online open world shooter,
Defiance™, will launch globally on April 2nd. A one-of-a-kind transmedia experience, players and
fans can experience Defiance on the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360® video game
and entertainment system from Microsoft, or a Windows PC and become part of the online world ahead of the April 15th
debut of the Syfy TV show.
“In terms of ambition and scope, Defiance’s transmedia features make it
unlike any other entertainment experience,” said Nathan Richardsson, Trion’s VP of Development and Defiance
Executive Producer. “After five years of development, it brings great pride to the Trion and Syfy teams seeing
Defiance come to fruition.”
For those who cannot wait until April 2nd to get a look into
life as an Ark Hunter in Defiance, Trion released the full version of their highly-anticipated Defiance live action
game trailer titled “Join the Fight” today. Set in the arid desert, this trailer combines the isolated, post-apocalyptic
setting of Defiance with futuristic EGO technology and a Hellbug attack. This live action trailer gives further insight
into the lives behind the Ark Hunters in Defiance, and how there is never a safe moment on this new, terraformed Earth.
The full-length trailer is available at www.youtube.com/DefianceUniverse .
Gamers can now preorder Defiance online and
at major game retailers, and choose from multiple game bundles, digital and physical, starting at USD $59.99: Standard, Collectors,
and a very limited number of Ultimate editions are on sale now. Each package allows players to delve deeper, and more quickly,
into the persistent futuristic universe where the survival of Earth relies on your skills as an Ark Hunter leveling up in
massive co-op battles and fierce multiplayer combat.
View a complete breakdown of all of the Defiance
platform editions here: http://defiance.com/enSubmitted By: E. Thomas
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
01/29/2013 - Muramasa Sequel Coming to PS VitaMuramasa is reborn for the PlayStation®Vita
handheld entertainment system
January 29, 2013 Torrance, CA – Aksys
Games is proud to announce that it will be releasing the Japanese action RPG, Muramasa Rebirth, the follow-up to the critically
acclaimed hit Muramasa: The Demon Blade! Utilizing PlayStation®Vita system’s eye-popping OLED graphics along
with Muramasa’s beautifully hand-drawn artwork, Muramasa Rebirth brings mythical Japan to life!
About
Muramasa Rebirth
Enter the visually powerful and colorful world of Muramasa! Face deadly enemies as they follow
your every step. Become Momohime or Kisuke as they journey through ancient Japan fighting samurai, ninja, monsters, and evil
spirits!
Muramasa Rebirth Features
Redesigned for the PlayStation®Vita system, Muramasa includes hi-res
graphics, enhanced controls, a complete relocalization in English, and more! - Two Stories – Follow Momohime, a princess possessed by an evil spirit, and journey west battling demons and
much more! Or follow Kisuke, a ninja who has lost his memory, and travel east in search of the demon blades.
- Hi-Res Graphics – Using hand-drawn graphics and Japanese artistic styling,
Muramasa Rebirth creates a colorfully painted world on your PS Vita screen!
- 108 Blades – Search and forge new deadly weapons and build an inventory of up to 108 blades. Each blade
has a unique special ability. Equip yourself with these deadly blades and become more powerful as your foes close in
on you!
- Purchase Additional DLC Characters – Play in
four additional scenarios as different characters!
Visit
the website at www.muramasarebirth.com or “Like” the official Muramasa Rebirth Facebook Page for the
most up-to-date information!
Muramasa Rebirth has not yet been rated (RP) by the Electronic Software Ratings Board.
For more information, please visit: http://www.esrb.org/Submited By: E. Thomas
01/29/2013 - Call of Duty Black Ops II Revolution DLC Today on Xbox LIVECALL OF DUTY®: BLACK
OPS II REVOLUTION DLC MAP PACK DEPLOYS TODAY FIRST, EXCLUSIVELY ON XBOX LIVE
London, UK – 29th January, 2013 – The
revolution has begun! Call of Duty®: Black Ops II Revolution, the first of four Downloadable Content (DLC) Map Packs
for the record-setting Call of Duty: Black Ops II launches today! From Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary
of Activision Blizzard (Nasdaq: ATVI), and their award-winning studio Treyarch, Revolution delivers an unprecedented amount
of new and innovative “must-play” content, including four radically diverse multiplayer maps from around the world,
as well as a new Zombies map “Die Rise.” Revolution also features a couple of franchise first offerings;
a brand-new Zombies mode “Turned,” which turns the tables and allows gamers to play as a zombie, as well as a
new bonus multiplayer weapon, the “Peacekeeper.” Revolution is available today first, exclusively on Xbox LIVE®
for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, with other platforms to follow. Fans can purchase
Revolution individually, or pick it up as part of the Call of Duty: Black Ops II DLC Season Pass discounted* bundle.
“Revolution is packed with a ton of fun,” said Mark Lamia, Treyarch’s Studio Head. “We worked incredibly
hard to deliver the most expansive DLC offering in our studio’s history: from four maps in exciting and dynamic new
locations like skate parks and ski slopes, to being able to play as a zombie, and a new bonus weapon in multiplayer –
Revolution is a wild ride, and we’re excited for Call of Duty fans to start playing.”
Revolution delivers
an unparalleled amount of variety and content for all types of Call of Duty: Black Ops II players, featuring four all-new
multiplayer maps set around the globe. “Downhill” is a snowy alpine chateau perfect for hectic close-quarters
combat. “Mirage” is a sand-devastated luxury villa suited for all play styles, while “Hydro”
is a massive hydroelectric dam in Pakistan lined with long-range vantage points perfect for sniping. And “Grind”
is a skate park in Venice Beach, where players must adapt to the map’s unique ramps, bowls and curvatures as they try
and take cover from enemy fire.
Zombies fans get a terrifying double-dose of undead action in Revolution. First,
the new map, “Die Rise,” drops players inside a maze of crumbling skyscrapers amidst a ravaged Chinese city, where
all-new Wonder Weaponry will play a crucial role as they make a valiant stand against the impending zombie hoard. Additionally,
Revolution’s innovative new Zombies mode, “Turned,” flips this new fan-favourite mode around, allowing players
to become the undead and play as a zombie, offering an entirely new style of bragging rights.
Rounding out the
wide breadth of new content in Revolution is the “Peacekeeper,” a one-time offering of a new multiplayer weapon
planned for Call of Duty: Black Ops II DLC.
Call of Duty: Black Ops II Revolution is out now, exclusively
on Xbox LIVE for a suggested retail price of 1200 Microsoft Points. The Revolution DLC Map Pack is included in the Call
of Duty: Black Ops II DLC Season Pass, where fans can purchase four epic DLC Map Packs** for Call of Duty: Black Ops II, and
also receive the Nuketown Zombies bonus map, and an exclusive in-game calling card as part of the discounted bundle offered
at a suggested retail price of 4000 Microsoft Points, a discount of 800 Microsoft Points off the individual purchase of all
four DLC Map Packs.
Call of Duty: Black Ops II is rated PEGI 18. More information on Call of Duty®: Black
Ops II can be found at http://www.callofduty.com/blackops2 or on www.facebook.com/codblackops. Fans can also follow @Treyarch on Twitter.
Submitted By:
E. Thomas
Monday, January 28, 2013
01/28/2013 - GDC 2013 adds New Halo and Hitman TalksGDC 2013 adds Halo 4 web series, BBC, Hitman AI Summit talks
These talks are part of the AI, Localization,
and Game Narrative Summits that will take place Monday, March 25 and Tuesday, March 26 at the Moscone Center in
San Francisco, CA during the first two days of GDC 2013.
Part of the Game Narrative Summit, 343 Industries's Kevin
Grace, Frank O'Connor, Kiki Wolfkill, and Matt McCloskey will speak on creating the Halo 4 web series
in Bringing the Game to Life - Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn (Postmortem).'
343 Industries
will share the challenges of introducing the Halo world via episodic content to newcomers while
satisfying its legion of fans. Along with building partnerships with Hollywood, the studio will also discuss the creation
and marketing of episodic content and how it integrated these episodes into game planning.
For the AI Summit, Mika
Vehkala of IO Interactive and Matthew Jack of Moon Collider will examine more intelligent modern shooter and action game agents
in 'Spaces in the Sandbox: Tactical Awareness in Open World Games.' The two will use examples of Hitman:
Absolution, their work developed at Crytek, and Xaviant's upcoming RPG, Lichdom, to explore two different
approaches to dynamically processing spatial information, which leads to AI acting in believable, tactical ways.
Part of the Localization Summit, BBC Worldwide executive vice president of Digital Entertainment & Games Robert Nashak
will share his global strategy for game development based on TV properties in 'BBC, Cross-Media and Video Games.' Using
case studies for brands such as Top Gear, Nashak will provide insight into what BBC and others want as they seek to build
successful games for multiple territories.
For more information on these or others in the show's growing lineup,
check out GDC 2013's official Schedule Builder, which continues to add new talks every week. The deadline for discounted
Early Bird passes, including a lower-priced Summits, Tutorials & Bootcamps Pass, is February 13th. GDC 2013 itself will
take place March 25-29 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco.
The full announcement is available HERE
Submitted By: E. Thomas
01/28/2013 - Celic Heroes Nominated for MMO AwardCeltic Heroes Nominated For MMO Award
For the last eight years, the MMO of the Year Awards have
rewarded excellence in the rapidly evolving massively-multiplayer gaming market. The competition has categories covering every
platform and type of experience from downloadable and browser-based games, through to greatest innovation, best community
relations and best independent game.
Past winners, chosen by hand-picked jurors as well as members of the public,
have included many of the world's biggest titles and brands from PC and console through to emerging platforms and markets.
Alex Wozniak, Community Manager for One Thumb Mobile, said, “We've worked very hard with Celtic Heroes to show
that a massively-multiplayer experience on mobile devices can be in-depth, challenging, and provide just as much gameplay
as other platforms. We're continuing to expand and evolve the whole Celtic Heroes world, and the nomination in the MMO of
the Year Awards is genuinely gratifying. We'd like to thank the players and jurors who selected the game and we're really
looking forward to the results with our fingers crossed.”
The MMO Awards are announced on February 15th 2013.
You can find all of the categories and nominees online: http://www.mmooftheyear.com/
Celtic Heroes is out now for iOS devices. You can find the game,
plus all of the latest news and information here: http://www.celtic-heroes.com/
Submitted By: E. Thomas
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