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Friday, January 17, 2014
01/17/2014 - Composer Austin Wintory Scores The Banner Saga OSTBAFTA-Winning, Grammy-Nominated Composer Austin Wintory Scores the Long
Awaited Video Game The Banner Saga
(Hollywood,
CA) January 16, 2014 — Grammy-nominated, BAFTA-winning composer Austin Wintory scores the highly anticipated
video game The Banner Saga for Stoic Studios. Funded by Kickstarter, The Banner Saga is an epic role-playing
game inspired by Viking legends. The game features hand-painted landscapes that portray a world eerily suspended in perpetual
daylight. Cities and towns begin to crumble into chaos. Heroes abandon their hearths and homes to traverse the snowy countryside,
gaining allies along the way to help battle a strange, new threat. With visuals evocative of the golden age of animation,
The Banner Saga brings skillfully crafted art, story and strategy to gamers waiting to re-experience classic adventures
and tactics.
For The Banner Saga, Wintory created an earthy, multi-layered orchestral score for the single
player role-playing tactical game that is currently available on PC and Mac. The score features the Dallas Winds orchestra,
recorded in Texas at the Meyerson Symphony Center concert hall, in addition to a trio of famous YouTube soloists: vocalists
Malukah and Peter Hollens, and violinist Taylor Davis.
Alex Thomas, a developer of The Banner Saga, originally
assumed the score would need to be produced in-house, without employing a freelance composer. Mr. Thomas said. “But
when Austin got involved, what had begun as a side note changed to an integral part of the storytelling.” Austin Wintory
spent hundreds of hours playing the game as it was being made and learning about the lore and history of its fictional world.
“He understands game design, programming and technical implementation, and he makes music that is part of the game instead
of sitting on top,” Thomas said. “There aren’t many writers, designers and composers who are able or willing
to work at that capacity.”
Last year, Wintory was Grammy nominated for his score for the video game Journey
alongside all Oscar-winning film composers: John Williams, Ludovic Bource (The Artist), Hans Zimmer, Trent Reznor
and Atticus Ross, and Howard Shore. The Journey score album charted on Billboard higher than any previous
video game score in history, and was the #1 soundtrack on iTunes worldwide. Austin Wintory won two British Academy Awards
for “Best Original Music” and “Outstanding Achievement in Audio” for Journey, as well as
“Best Original Score” at the Spike Video Game Awards. Wintory has conducted the Journey score with orchestras
around the world.
Austin Wintory is hailed by The Hollywood Reporter as one of 15 composers “primed
to take their place on the A-list.” The 29-year old has already amassed over 300 composing credits including over 40
features, a dozen video games, and numerous concert works. Wintory’s works have been performed by orchestras and chamber
ensembles around the US and Europe. His accolades include two BAFTA wins for Journey and the following nominations
for flOw: two Hollywood Music in Media Awards for “Best New Composer” and “Best Original Score,
Mobile Video Game,” and the Game Audio Network Guild Award for “Rookie of the Year.” flOw was honored
at the Smithsonian Museum last spring as part of The Art of Video Games exhibit. His film, A Little Help,
starring Jenna Fischer (The Office), won “Best Feature” at several film festivals. Other accolades for Wintory
include the Fangoria Chainsaw Award nomination for “Best Original Score” for the Sundance hit Grace,
which was also named one of Vision in Sound’s Top Ten Scores. The Sundance Audience Award winner Captain
Abu Raed put Wintory on the short list as a contender for the Academy Awards for “Best Original Score.” He
was also nominated by the International Film Music Critics Association for “Breakout Composer of the Year.”
Submitted by: E. Thomas
01/17/2013 - CrossFire Announces E-Sports Initiative CrossFire Announces E-Sports Initiative
Qualifiers to CrossFire Stars to be hosted through
E-Sports Genesis
Toronto, CANADA – January 16, 2014 – After a successful 2013, SG North (Formally
G4Box), publisher of the hit free online FPS CrossFire, have welcomed the New Year by announcing a partnership with competitive
gaming organizers E-Sports Genesis. The partnership promises to bring forth tournaments with cash prizes to the CrossFire
North America/UK community in 2014, starting with “The ESG Winter Series”. Alongside this announcement was the
reveal of the qualifier finals to the official world-wide CrossFire competition, CFS, which had a huge cash prize of $180,000
USD last year. The qualifier will be hosted by ESG and will be broadcasted through their Twitch TV channel at 8 PM EST on January 18th.
Signups for The ESG Winter
Series started on January 6th and will last until January 19th. The tournament will begin on January
20th and features a grand prize of $500 cash. “Competition in CrossFire has always been a focus, partnering
with E-Sports Genesis gives us amazing new options to expand the community and it is an important first step for us”,
said Christian Brellisford, Associate Producer of CrossFire at SG North. Participation is open to all CrossFire players. Although
the cash prize is only available to North American users, E-Sports Genesis assures players that “there are cash prize
tournaments for all regions in the works for future tournaments”. Additional prizes include over 150,000 ZP for use
in game.
Players can sign up for The ESG Winter Series on The E-Sports Genesis website: http://esportsgenesis.com. There users will find additional tournament information, including rules,
restrictions and scheduled match times.
CrossFire Official Website: http://crossfire.z8games.com/CrossFire Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crossfireonlineSubmitted by: E. Thomas
01/17/2014 - Marvel and Aeria Mobile Launch X-Men Battle of the AtomMARVEL AND AERIA MOBILE
LAUNCH X-MEN: BATTLE OF THE ATOM MOBILE GAME FOR iPHONE
New Mobile Game Celebrates 50 Years Worth of X-Men Stories and Characters
SANTA
CLARA, Calif. – Jan. 17, 2014 – Marvel Entertainment has teamed up with developer Aeria Mobile to launch X-Men: Battle of the Atom for iPhone. Featuring gorgeous
original art by Marvel artists and stories adapted by prolific X-Men writer James Asmus, the new free-to-play card
battle game (CBG) stars everyone’s favorite Uncanny X-Men in a battle across time and space.
Relive 50 years
of X-Men as they call on past and future allies to combat some of the most dangerous villains ever known. Building a roster
from a staggering amount of characters including Wolverine, Storm, Iceman, Beast, Kitty Pryde, and many more, players will
tackle more than 45 missions and experience upcoming events based on landmark stories like Schism, Messiah Complex,
Age of Apocalypse, and of course, Battle of the Atom!
Join 20-player X-Teams to participate in
epic 20 vs. 20 battles in real time. Multi-month story arcs will also feature raid events in which these X-Teams can square
off against the most iconic and powerful villains in X-Men history, including Magneto, the Hellfire Club, Apocalypse, and
Dark Phoenix. The real-time ranking system also stirs up all-out competition as players vie for recognition as the top Super
Hero teams. Regular content updates will consistently introduce new characters, stories, and art; giving players an ever-expanding
universe in which to play.
“It’s an honor for us to develop a game for such a storied and beloved franchise,
one that is a personal favorite of mine,” said Lan Hoang, founder and CEO of Aeria Games. “X-Men: Battle of
the Atom captures the amazing artwork and drama of the greatest comic book storylines, bringing them to life with
exciting, dynamic battles between dozens of players in real time.”
“With the release of X-Men:
Battle of the Atom, Aeria Games has done a tremendous job of celebrating 50 years of X-Men,” said Andreea Enache-Thüne,
Senior Vice President, Games and Digital Distribution at Marvel Entertainment. “We’re especially excited that
the game will include hundreds of characters who have populated the X-Men universe over the years, spanning limitless timelines
and alternate realities. Fans will be hard pressed to think of any characters not in the game – and if the characters
are not there now, they likely will be eventually via one of the numerous classic story adaptations in store for players.
It’s a great time to be an X-Men fan.”
X-Men: Battle of the Atom is available as a free download
for iPhone. For more information, find the game on the App Store.
About Marvel Entertainment
Marvel
Entertainment, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world's most prominent character-based
entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over seventy
years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information,
visit marvel.com.
About Aeria Mobile
Aeria Mobile
is a subsidiary of Aeria Games & Entertainment, Inc., focusing on fun and engaging free-to-play multiplayer games for
mid- and hard-core mobile gamers. Aeria Mobile delivers games that busy players can enjoy for a few minutes at a time, while
also providing high quality, extensive experiences to those who invest significant time playing mobile games. Aeria Mobile
is rapidly expanding through both internal development and the acquisition of new titles through strategic global partnerships.
Learn more about Aeria Mobile’s current and upcoming mobile and tablet offerings at http://www.aeriagames.com/games/mobile.
Submitted
by: E. Thomas
Thursday, January 16, 2014
01/16/2014 - Unity 4.3 Coming to PlayStation VitaPlayStation® Vita Unity
deployment announced
Today, Unity announced that with Unity 4.3 they are releasing Unity
for PlayStation®Vita to the public.
Developers with a licensed developer agreement from SCE for PS Vita
will now be able to deploy their game to PS Vita via the Unity engine and make use of platform-specific functionality including:
·Motion sensors
·Front and rear cameras
·Dual analog sticks
·Rear Touch
pad
Furthermore, Unity for PS Vita will allow them to integrate the full suite of PSN features into their games,
including Trophies, Friends and Matching functionality into your game.
Unity for PS Vita allows developers to develop
their game once, without rewriting the code from scratch; simply build and run it on the PS Vita devkit. Not only that, developers
can now create both 2D and 3D games with Unity 4.3, animate almost anything with the native animation system Mecanim, and
implement awesome graphics.
Zoink! has just released their new game “Stick It To The Man” developed
in Unity for both PS3 and PS Vita. Check out “Stick It To The Man” at http://www.stickitgame.com/
Submitted by: E. Thomas
01/16/2014 - Company of Heroes 2 Steam Free Weekend AnnouncedCOMPANY OF HEROES 2 STEAM
FREE WEEKEND ANNOUNCED – FREE TRIAL, FREE COMMANDERS AND SALES PROMOTION
SEGA® of America Inc. and SEGA Europe Ltd. today announced that its award-winning strategy game Company of
Heroes™ 2 will receive a massive STEAM promotion this weekend, including free offerings for new as well
as current players. During the STEAM Free Weekend, prospective new players now have the chance to try out the popular RTS
(real time strategy) game by simply hitting “play” in their STEAM library. The entire base game will automatically
appear in every user’s library for free between today, January 16, 2014, 10 am PST and Sunday, January 19, 2014, 1PM
PST.
During the same period, all paid multiplayer commanders for Company of Heroes 2 will be available
for free as well, including for those players participating in the free trial. Additionally, SEGA also announced that Company
of Heroes 2 will be seeing a 66% off sales promotion over the weekend, offering the game at $13.59.
For more
information, please see www.companyofheroes.com as well as http://store.steampowered.com/app/231430/?snr=1_7_15__13.
Submitted by: E. Thomas
01/16/2014 - Peter McConnel Scores Double Fine's Broken Age OSTPETER MCCONNELL SCORES DOUBLE FINE'S BROKEN AGE
(San Francisco, CA) January 16, 2014 - Award-winning composer Peter
McConnell has crafted an original orchestral score for the highly anticipated graphic adventure game Broken Age,
created by visionary designer/writer Tim Schafer and Double Fine Productions. McConnell previously composed the acclaimed
musical scores for Double Fine's Brutal Legend and Psychonauts as well as several classic adventure game
soundtracks for LucasArts including Grim Fandango and Monkey Island.
"I've worked
with Peter for twenty years now, and have loved every soundtrack he's created, but I have to say that this could possibly
be my favorite," said Tim Shafer. "There are several points in this score that make the hair stand up on my neck.
Also the hair on my back. And those weird little patches of hair on my upper arms that look like sheriff badges. Anyway, it's
an amazing soundtrack."
Fluent in classic film scoring styles ranging from the whimsical to the epic, Peter
McConnell's sublime and often playful, narrative-driven score for Broken Age features a variety of colorful acoustic
textures including live recordings with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and small ensemble performances recorded with wind
and string instruments. The official soundtrack will be available on BandCamp.com to coincide with the game's release on January
28. Music samples are now available to preview on SoundCloud.
Broken Age tells the story of Vella Tartine and Shay
Volta, two teenagers in strangely similar situations but radically different worlds. The player can freely switch between
their stories, helping them take control of their own lives and facing the unexpected adventures that follow.
The
development of Broken Age began two years ago in a historic, record-breaking Kickstarter campaign-and Act 1 of the
game is nearly here, in all its beautiful, 2D, hand-painted glory, with an original orchestral soundtrack by Peter McConnell
and an all-star vocal cast starring Elijah Wood, Jack Black, Wil Wheaton, Jennifer Hale, Pendleton Ward, Masasa Moyo, and
many more. For more information on Broken Age visit www.brokenagegame.com.
Peter McConnell has composed award-winning scores in the interactive
entertainment industry for nearly two decades. His credits include Broken Age, Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare,
Plants Vs. Zombies 2, Sly Cooper series, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Psychonauts, Brutal
Legend, The Sims, Grim Fandango, Full Throttle, Monkey Island series, and many more.
McConnell studied music with Ivan Tcherepnin at Harvard University, graduating with High Honors. In addition to being a composer,
he has been involved in the technology of music and digital media, and is co-inventor of LucasArts' patented iMUSE interactive
music system. For more information on Peter McConnell visit www.petermc.com.
Submitted by: E. Thomas
01/16/2014 - Plants VS Zombies Garden Warfare Coming to Xbox Systems February 25thCALLING ALL ZOMBIES! YOUR DATE TO FEAST ON BRAINZZZZZZZ HAS
MOVED TO FEB 25 Plants
vs. Zombies™ Garden Warfare is coming to Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft,
and Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system on February 25 in North America and starting February 27 in Europe.
Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare is a 3rd person shooter like no other. It is the only game where you
shoot peas from your face, invade the skies as a garlic drone and… get to play as a zombie with a dolphin gun! Crazy
Dave also wants you to know that plants will have all-new reinforcements – Ice Pea, Hot Rod Chomper, Future Cactus
and Mystic Sunflower - characters outfitted with special abilities, new gameplay mechanics and cool costumes.
More Brainzzzzz… A brand new gameplay developer diary launched today that showcases four-player co-op gameplay
mode Garden Ops where the Yeti and Giga-Gargantuar bosses make their debut in Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare!
In Garden Ops, you play in squads of four working together to defend a garden base until Crazy Dave arrives to extract
our heroes. Successfully defend the garden through the 11 zombie waves and earn huge rewards.
One of the most anticipated
games of 2014, Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare features three distinct modes - two 12v12 competitive multiplayer
modes called Garden & Graveyards and Team Vanquish, and the four-player co-operative mode Garden
Ops. In Garden & Graveyards, plants must defend their garden bases from zombies attempting to turn them
into spooky graveyards. Players can also square off in Team Vanquish as they try to send the other team to the compost
pile.
For more information on Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare please visit http://www.popcap.com/plants-vs-zombies-garden-warfare. To join the conversation, visit
us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter® and #PvZ.
Plants vs. Zombies is a trademark of
Electronic Arts Inc. Xbox One and Xbox 360 is a trademark of Microsoft, Inc.
Submitted by: E. Thomas
01/16/2014 - Baldur's Gate II Enhanced Edition Out Now for iPadBaldur's Gate II: Enhanced
Edition Out Now for iPad
Finally you can take
one of the greatest role-playing games of all time with you wherever you go. Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition is out now on iPad for $14.99, with additional party members and portrait packs available via in-app purchases.
“He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster... When you gaze long
into the abyss, the abyss also gazes into you...” Kidnapped. Imprisoned. Tortured. The wizard Irenicus holds you captive
in his stronghold, attempting to strip you of the powers that are your birthright. Can you resist the evil within you, forge
a legend of heroic proportions, and ultimately destroy the dark essence that haunts your dreams? Or will you embrace your
monstrous nature, carve a swath of destruction across the realms, and ascend to godhood as the new Lord of Murder?
Baldur’s Gate II: Enhanced Edition includes the original Shadows of Amn campaign, as well as the following
expansions:
·Throne of Bhaal: Travel to Tethyr in this thrilling conclusion to the Bhaalspawn saga,
and delve into the treasure-filled halls of Watcher’s Keep!
·Fist of the Fallen: Help the Sun Soul
Monk Rasaad find peace in his quest for vengeance, and determine the fate of a heretical sect.
·Unbound:
Join the Blackguard Dorn in carving a swath of destruction across the Realms, as he struggles to appease the increasingly
bloody demands of his dark patron.
·A Shadow’s Life: Recruit the mysterious Thief Hexxat and take
up her mission of retrieving long lost artifacts from tombs as far away as Zakhara..
·In Defense of the
Wild: Protect the innocent and stand with Neera the Wild Mage against a ruthless school of Red Wizards.
·The
Black Pits II: Gladiators of Thay: Explore the tactical depth of high-level Dungeons & Dragons combat. Turn your captors
against each other while you dodge traps and battle for your life against Demi-Liches, Mind Flayers, and the legendary Githyanki.
·Gallery of Heroes II: Keiren Yanner: Expand your character collection with these six beautifully painted hero
portraits from acclaimed artist Keiren Yanner!
·Easy Multiplayer: Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition makes
it easy to find, list, and join multiplayer games, even while behind a firewall.
Widescreen and More: Baldur's Gate II:
Enhanced Edition features full widescreen support, remastered area artwork from original renders, and a host of other interface
and gameplay improvements.
Submitted by: E. Thomas
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
01/15/2014 - Age of Zombies Now Available on PlayStation VitaAge of Zombies launches
worldwide for PS Vita!
Age of Zombies is a PS Vita adaptation of the acclaimed mobile hit by Halfbrick (Fruit
Ninja, Jetpack Joyride). Prepare to come out guns blazing in this frantic twin-stick shooter where players take on the
role of Barry Steakfries, part 80s action hero and part time-travel extraordinaire. Our wisecracking badass wants nothing
more than to stop the evil Professor Brains in his tracks and save the world in time to enjoy his hearty breakfast.
Shoot up zombie ninjas, mummies, cavemen and all manner of historical undead (including the legendary Zombie T-Rex) while
fighting through time to halt the zombie apocalypse.
The main story takes players through many levels filled with
new weapons and explosives, while Barry dispenses his cheesy one-liners in the midst of battle. The most hardened Age of Zombies
players can then try their skills in Survival mode, racking up higher scores with bigger kill chains.
The extremely
powerful PS Vita hardware enables players to enjoy the zombie-blasting action with its crisp cartoon art style in silky smooth
60 FPS.
Age of Zombies for PS Vita is the definitive version of the Halfbrick classic, remastered and redefined
in its first ever truly dual-stick debut!
The game is rated T for Teen/PEGI 16 and retails for US$4.99 and 4.99
€.
Submitted by: E. Thomas
01/15/2014 - Vapor Traile Bundle from Indie Royal Now AvailableThe Vapor Trail Bundle from Indie Royale is live!
PixelJunkTM
Shooter, Gun Monkeys, Megabyte Punch, Stronghold HD, Ride 'em Low and Hexcells are
in this week's bundle. All the games are available for Windows via Steam & Desura except Hexcells which
is in Steam Greenlight. Four of the games are on Mac and three are also on Linux.
The bonus target is $7 to
get all the games plus the Goldbach Conjecture 23 track chiptune album Brian
Peters (available in FLAC and MP3).
There is a Daily Royale deal for 4 player co-op retro arcade-action RPG Wanderlust:
Rebirth at 70% off running right now.
You can find more information on this Indie Royale bundle,
including real-time statistics and its current price, on its official website or via Indie Royale’s Facebook, Google+ and Twitter pages.
The full announcement and trailer can be found at
http://www.indieroyale.com/blog.
Submitted by: E. Thomas
01/15/2014 - Realms of Arkania Now Available on SteamRealms of Arkania
– the classic series now available on Steam
Munich, January 16th 2013; UIG Entertainment is proud to present the „Realms of Arkania“ Classic
Series for download on Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/sub/36470/Get one of the most exciting role-playing-series of gaming history
now and travel back to the 90s where the „Realms of Arkania“ Trilogy entered the gaming market and the gamers
hearts!
About UIG Entertainment;
UIG was set up in 2005 by Managing Director Christoph
Bayer and acts as an independent distributor and publisher in the international gaming market. Successful brands including
the "Giant" brand, the Role-Playing Company, supported by high-quality developments and
a wide selection of “simulator titles“ are published and marketed throughout the
worldwide market. The extensive product catalog is completed by casual games the label “Red Rocks“.
UIG is always searching for new business opportunities and products for worldwide distribution on all platforms. For
more information, visit http://www.uieg.de
Submitted by:
E. Thomas
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
01/14/2014 - Activision Announces Call of Duty Ghosts Onslaught DLCACTIVISION AND INFINITY WARD’S CALL OF DUTY: GHOSTS ONSLAUGHT REVEALED
AS THE FIRST OF FOUR EPIC DLC PACKS PLANNED FOR 2014
Fans
Can Purchase Onslaught Individually, or as Part of the
Call of Duty: Ghosts
DLC Season Pass Discounted* Bundle
London, UK – 13th January, 2014 – Gamers mark your
calendars as the first of four massive Downloadable Content (DLC) Pack offerings for Call of Duty: Ghosts,
the #1 most played multiplayer title currently for Xbox 360 on Xbox Live online entertainment network from Microsoft, is on
the way with Call of Duty: Ghosts Onslaught. Set to launch on 28th
January first, exclusively on Xbox Live for both Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft and
the Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft, Onslaught debuts four unique multiplayer
maps, each with their own distinct environments, small to medium scale and varied gameplay, as well as the all-new “Maverick”
dual-purpose Assault Rifle/Sniper Rifle. Anchoring Call of Duty: Ghosts Onslaught is “Episode
1: Nightfall,” the first instalment in Extinction’s four-part episodic narrative that delves deeper into the storyline
and features new characters, a new weapon and new alien species including a towering, three-story tall alien enemy.
Onslaught is also included as part of the Call of Duty: Ghosts DLC Season
Pass, which gives fans access to four epic Call of Duty: Ghosts DLC Packs** planned to release in
2014 – Onslaught, Devastation, Invasion
and Nemesis. Additionally, Call of Duty Ghosts DLC Season Pass holders
get instant access to the downloadable multiplayer map, “Free Fall,” as well as the Team Leader Digital Pack,
which comes with a unique multiplayer character head, weapon camo, reticle, player patch, player card and player background.
"We know our fans have an appetite for new gameplay content all year long and the team here is committed to delivering
a full season’s worth of amazing new maps, weapons and more, starting with Onslaught in January,”
said Mark Rubin, Executive Producer at Infinity Ward. "This year will see an assortment of content for players to dig
into, with new, uniquely themed maps, new multiplayer weapons and an episodic Extinction story arc that introduces new characters,
new locations and new weapons as they try to uncover the genesis of the aliens’ existence.”
Call
of Duty: Ghosts Onslaught will deliver the fast-paced multiplayer experience fans love, with four classically
designed Call of Duty® multiplayer maps, each with their own distinct environments, small to medium scale and
varying gameplay. The first map, “Fog,” is a small to medium sized map set alongside the banks of a murky lake.
Every area within “Fog” is a chilling homage to classic horror films, from an eerie campsite, flickering TVs,
torture chamber and seemingly abandoned structures as players try to unlock the map’s dark secret. If a player
happens to find and complete a specific Field Order, they become the embodiment of evil and don the persona of one of cinema’s
most iconic horror characters, Michael Myers. Additionally, the entire soundscape changes to the eerily familiar Halloween
Theme music so other players know to run for their lives. Next is “BayView,” a close-quarters map set
on a coastal Californian boardwalk packed with seaside gift stores and an aquarium, offering players fast-paced run-and-gun
matches. Players must also be wary of the deadly artillery strike enemies can call-in from a Naval Destroyer anchored just
offshore.
The third map “Containment,” transports players to a war-torn Mexican village, where the
battle rages along both banks of the dried out riverbed. The action in this compact map centres on the remains of a
small bridge holding a hi-jacked truck filled with leaking radioactive material. Surrounded by a myriad of abandoned bars,
cafes, a church and a pool hall, “Containment” also features elevated rooftop vantage points for players who prefer
longer-range engagements. Onslaught’s fourth map “Ignition,” launches players
into an aging Florida space launch facility. Inspired by “Scrapyard” – the fan-favourite multiplayer
map from Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 2, reimagined with dynamic gameplay elements – “Ignition”
packs plenty of action both above and below ground amongst abandoned warehouses, flame trenches and a massive transport crawler.
As if rockets crash-landing into the map weren’t enough, the close-quarters combat is further complicated via two separate
rocket test engines sites that opposing forces can trigger, sending massive fireballs into the already intense firefights
and the failed launch of a massive rocket has a dramatic effect on the combat.
Call of Duty: Ghosts
Onslaught also arms players with a deadly new addition to the Call of Duty: Ghosts’
weapons arsenal with the “Maverick,” a dual-purpose Assault Rifle or Sniper Rifle that players can choose how
to use depending on their tactical needs – a first for Call of Duty. Outfitted with a lightweight wood
stock this weapon can be selected in either the Assault or the Sniper Rifle class. As an Assault Rifle the weapon’s
fire rate becomes fully-automatic with high damage at a decent range and as a Sniper Rifle the “Maverick” sports
an advanced scope and a semi-auto rate of fire.
Included in Call of Duty: Ghosts’
initial DLC Pack is the first instalment in Extinction’s four-part episodic narrative, “Episode 1: Nightfall.”
Introducing a narrative driven by two new characters and featuring two all-new alien species and an exclusive weapon, “Episode
1: Nightfall” is a fast and frenetic, action-packed continuation of the original Extinction experience in Call
of Duty: Ghosts. Set in a remote facility hidden deep within the Alaskan wilderness, the shadowy Nightfall Program
has been researching the origins of the newly revealed alien threat. A small recon team of elite soldiers must infiltrate
the site to retrieve intel and exterminate the hordes of savage creatures and along the way uncover a three-story tall terror
unlike anything they’ve faced before.
From Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision
Blizzard, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI), Call of Duty: Ghosts is rated PEGI 18. Call
of Duty: Ghosts Onslaught is created by Infinity Ward, with additional development by Neversoft. For more
information, please visit www.callofduty.com/ghosts, www.facebook.com/CODGhosts, or follow on Twitter @InfinityWard.
Submitted by: E. Thomas
01/14/2014 - 2K and Turtle Rock Studios Announce Evolve2K and Turtle Rock Studios Announce EvolveTM
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash tag #4V1Windsor, UK – January 14, 2014 – 2K
and Turtle Rock Studios, creators of the cooperative shooter classic Left 4 Dead, today officially announced Evolve™,
an all-new multiplayer shooter experience. Evolve will be available this autumn for Xbox One, the
all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, and Windows PC.
Evolve expertly blends cooperative and competitive multiplayer experiences as a team of
four hunters face off against a single, player-controlled monster. Set on an alien planet in the distant future, gamers hunt
their prey in adrenaline-pumping 4V1 matches. Players experience Evolve as a first-person shooter
when playing cooperatively as the four hunters, while they control the monster in the third-person perspective, providing
a gameplay experience unique to Evolve.
“Our philosophy is to build incredibly
fun game experiences that we can’t find anywhere else,” said Chris Ashton, co-founder and design director at Turtle
Rock Studios. “Evolve’s co-op vs. lone wolf formula has created some of the most intense
multiplayer matches we’ve ever experienced.”
“Evolve will be a generation-defining
multiplayer experience,” said Christoph Hartmann, president of 2K. “As our first new IP for next-gen systems,
2K is working with Turtle Rock Studios to deliver a game that’s instantly entertaining and impossible to put down.”
Evolve is available for pre-order beginning today at participating retailers. Those who
pre-order the game from participating retailers will be rewarded with the Monster Expansion Pack,
which includes the Savage Goliath skin at launch and a new monster character as soon as it becomes available after Evolve
is released. To see a list of retailers that you can pre-order Evolve from now, please
visit www.evolvegame.com/preorder.
Evolve will be available in autumn
2014 for Xbox One, PlayStation®4 system and PC. Evolve is not yet rated by the PEGI. For more
information on Evolve, follow us on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook, subscribe on YouTube and visit www.evolvegame.com.
Submitted by: E. Thomas
01/14/2014 - Insurgency Early Access Launchs January 22nd on SteamINSURGENCY LEAVES EARLY ACCESS, LAUNCHES JANUARY 22 ON STEAM
Watch the new INSURGENCY
pre-launch teaser trailer HERE
While this marks the end of the Beta phase for
INSURGENCY, this does not mark the end of development by indie studio New World Interactive (NWI).
Future updates and DLC are provided to anyone who purchased the game as NWI continues to polish and build content on top of
the game’s foundation.
“We’ve gained tremendous feedback from our community during early access,
and in the process have grown accustomed to providing frequent updates to the game based on user experience,” said Jeremy
Blum, founder and game director of New World Interactive. Blum was instrumental in the success of the award-winning mods Red
Orchestra and Insurgency: Modern Infantry Combat.
This hardcore multiplayer experience deploys players
into a squad-based shooter reliant upon strategic teamwork to gain victory in close-quarters combat. In an FPS market packed
with blockbuster titles, INSURGENCY distills the genre down to its essence. Gamers must hone their
skills to master the robust, high-quality gun mechanics, while coordinating suspenseful attacks upon their enemy.
“Insurgency is an evolution from the original mod experience, to finish what we started,” said designer Andrew
Spearin, who co-founded Insurgency: Modern Infantry Combat. “We have created an experience gamers can’t
find with any other game. It’s a gritty representation of contemporary conflict, where every life and bullet counts.
To win, the difference factor typically comes down to the team with the most communication and superior tactics, not just
who has the twitchiest mouse.”
Built on Valve’s Source Engine, INSURGENCY
supports up to 32-person multiplayer and 6-player cooperative, and showcases a training level to ease the learning curve for
newcomers. The game is built for Windows®PC and Mac OS X and is in development for Linux.
More on INSURGENCY
can be found on New World Interactive’s website www.playinsurgency.com. “Like” the game on Facebook and watch it on Twitch.
Submitted by: E. Thomas
01/14/2014 - Guild Wars 2 Begins Origin of Madness EventsEvents to Rock Guild Wars® 2 to the Core Begin with ‘Origins of Madness’ Teaser Trailer for the First Release of
2014 Unveils Huge New Threats and a Tyria Soon Terrorized by Scarlet Briar BRIGHTON, UK – 14 January, 2014: NCSOFT
and ArenaNet, publisher and developer of the acclaimed Guild Wars franchise, has just given gamers around the world
their first taste of where the living world of Tyria is headed in 2014. In a teaser for “Origins of Madness, the year’s
first release coming 21st January, the game makers offer a glimpse of incredible new adversaries
and the beginning of an epic end to a storyline that began more than a year ago.
Beginning with “Origins
of Madness”, Guild Wars 2 players will once again find themselves pitted against the forces of arch-villain
Scarlet Briar. The sinister sylvari engineer has worked behind the scenes throughout 2013, wreaking havoc through her minions
and clockwork creations. Her exact motivations remain a mystery, for now.
As players will see in the “Origins
of Madness” teaser video, Scarlet will unleash a brand-new mechanical monstrosity on the living world of Tyria: the
Twisted Marionette! A gigantic robotic weapon of mass destruction, the Twisted Marionette can only be stopped by a concerted
effort on the part of players.
That’s not the only threat awaiting players, as the teaser video reveals.
Scarlet’s machinations have unearthed something ancient and angry in Bloodtide Coast. The Great Jungle Wurm is a huge
multi-headed creature so powerful that only an army of players can challenge it.
Guild Wars2 is a visually
stunning MMO that offers players the epic grandeur of a massive role playing environment combined with innovative combat mechanics,
dynamic events, and customised personal storytelling. Building on the success of Guild Wars, NCSOFT and game developer
ArenaNet™ have created an MMO that lets gamers play the way they want, while at the same time retaining the no-subscription-fee
business model that made the original Guild Wars so popular.
For more details on Guild Wars 2
and the living world releases, visit www.guildwars2.com.
Submitted by: E. Thomas
01/14/2014 - OlliOlli is officially coming to PlayStation VitaOlliOlli is officially rolling its way onto PlayStation Vita!
Just don’t slam on
your face*
OlliOlli is a 2d skateboarding game that mixes addictive one-life gameplay
with over 120 tricks and grinds with 100 deviously crafted levels & 250 challenges across four gameplay modes.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9RqtCk7YYo OlliOlli rewards the most skilful and riskiest of players, always tempting you to go for that massive
360 Inward Heelflip and ludicrous chain of combos. Leaving you to time your landing to perfection - or risk losing your score!
The whole game is hand-drawn in pixelly loveliness, which is no mean feat considering the number of tricks, grinds,
slams and stages.
"At PlayStation, we're delighted to be working with the talented Roll7 to bring the
savagely addictive genius of OlliOlli to the PS Vita" said Shahid Ahmad, Senior Business Development Manager, Sony
Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE). "We loved OlliOlli from the first prototype and can't wait for PlayStation
fans to play this beautifully crafted game on their PS Vitas"
Features: • Perfect landing and grind mechanic that rewards players for timing tricks
to perfection
• Battle online for the number 1 spot on EVERY mode
• Five different stages, each with their
own unique levels and obstacles
• 120 tricks and grinds
• 250 challenges
• Sick hand-picked
soundtrack including the Qemists, Dorian Concept and Flako
• Four gameplay modes Career Mode:
• 50 levels filled with skill, score, combo and trick challenges
•
5 Challenges per level
• Amateur and Pro levels, complete Amateur challenges to Unlock Pro levels
• Unlock
'Spots' by completing any level
Spots Mode:
• 50 spots, each built with one massive
combo opportunity
• Challenge the world to the best score on the Spots you've discovered in career mode
• Get the highest score and become the King of the Spot
Daily Grind:
• Each day
there’s a new Spot to challenge the world at
• Each Daily Grind Spot is only open for 24 Hours!
•
Practice the spot as many times as you want but you only get one chance to set your score… Go big, but don’t
slam on your face!
RAD Mode:
• Complete all 250 challenges and RAD Mode awaits you
• Anything other than a Perfect Grind and a Perfect landing will end in a slam!
OlliOlli is
developed and self-published by Roll7 and will be available for digital download exclusively on PlayStation Vita. North and
South American Release 21st January 2014. European Release 22nd January 2014.
For more information please contact Cosmocover.
Follow us: Facebook Twitter YouTube
*You will slam on your face.
Submitted by: E. Thomas
Monday, January 13, 2014
01/13/2014 - Dig-It! Games Announces Winner of Mayan Mysteries Character ContestDig-It! Games Announces Winner of Mayan Mysteries Character Drawing Contest
Bethesda, MD (PRWEB) January 09, 2014
Dig-It! Games, an independent developer of
educational interactive games founded by a former archaeologist and middle school teacher, today announced the grand prize
winner of its Mayan Mysteries Character Drawing Contest.
The winner, representing the top character sketch submission
from dozens of entries from across the United States, was chosen by more than 1,500 votes submitted by the general public
on Dig-It! Games Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/digitgames.
Congratulations to Michaela of West Valley City, Utah. Michaela
created the original character, Anna, who specializes in deciphering codes and identifying artifacts.
“We
are thrilled for Michaela who demonstrated fantastic creativity when designing her character sketch along with a very thoughtful
back story,” said Suzi Wilczynski, president and founder of Dig-It! Games. “Michaela’s character, Anna,
will make a great addition to Mayan Mysteries’ Team Q. Stay tuned to see what their journey will teach them in the next
edition of the educational game coming in February!”
In addition to having her character sketch featured
as an animated character in the latest edition of Mayan Mysteries, Michaela will receive a 16GB iPad 2 with Wi-Fi and a free
Single-User online license of the new Mayan Mysteries edition. She will also be added to the game’s credits, and will
be featured as the Timeline graphic for the Dig-It! Games Facebook page for one week.
“I an really happy,
excited, and relieved that I won! I am excited that people will be able to see my character in the game,” said Michaela.
“I am so excited that I get an iPad and that I can do things on it for school. I will get apps for studying and learning
new things.”
The two finalists, Yahaira and Amber, who earned more than 800 total public votes, will also
be rewarded for their hard work and creativity in entering the contest, receiving a free Single-User online license of the
new Mayan Mysteries edition and a 16GB iPod Touch.
“On behalf of the entire judging panel, comprised of Mayan
Mysteries developers, designers, and artists, we’d like to genuinely thank Michaela, Yahaira, and Amber, and all of
the other participants who submitted such creative and imaginative entries to the contest,” said Wilczynski.
Mayan Mysteries, first introduced in October 2012, is a one-of-a-kind puzzle-based game that takes kids on an exciting journey
through history to learn about the ancient Maya civilization. Players are turned into archaeologists as they embark upon an
expedition with “Team Q” and gather clues hidden across ancient sites in order to catch the secretive thief, Ladrone.
The new character will join the adventure as an archaeological assistant, excited to learn about the Maya culture and willing
to get their hands dirty.
About Dig-It! Games©
Dig-It! Games is an independent game developer dedicated
to encouraging kids to explore the world around them. The company designs and develops age-appropriate games specifically
for the important middle school demographic to ensure engaging and educational experiences for children in grades 5 and above.
At Dig-It! Games, we know that fun and learning can, and should, go hand in hand.
To learn more about Dig-It! Games,
please visit http://dig-itgames.com.
Submitted by: E. Thomas
01/13/2014 - CID The Dummy lands on MAC and LINUXCID THE DUMMY for MAC
and LINUX available on Steam
Twelve
Games, the International Game Development studio is pleased to announce the release of the MAC
and LINUX versions of CID THE DUMMY on Steam. Utilizing
the cutting-edge porting capabilities of CodeWeavers, CID THE DUMMY’s new Mac and Linux versions will expand the availability
of this innovative title to a wider gaming audience.
CID THE DUMMY is a playable action/platform game starring
CID, a crash test dummy whose goal is rescuing the beautiful daughter of his inventor. In the process, CID has to navigate
a fast-changing world, and fight a variety of foes. Filled with an amusing blend of action and puzzle-filled game play, CID
THE DUMMY blends classic platform elements such as timed jumps, collecting pick-ups, defeating enemies, and challenging boss
battles with more cerebral elements such as puzzles, clever weapon use and route finding.
“We’re very
excited that CID will be able to entertain Mac and Linux gamers now,” Twelve Games CEO, Giuseppe Crugliano. “We
know that the Mac and Linux game markets are expanding, particularly with Valve’s rolling out many of its own titles
for those two platforms. CodeWeavers was able to get us to that space quickly and easily, and we’re very pleased to
be in this new market.”
While CID THE DUMMY is an action game, with a sophisticated fighting system, it’s
still friendly. There’s a minimum of gore, and a maximum of fun, with lots of electrifying elements, humor, and addictive
gameplay. The game’s sophisticated fighting system presents hysterical confrontations, but ironically enemies die with
no gore!
“We’re amused at the irony that our platform game is now truly multi-platform,” said Crugliano,
“CID can now compete on any operating system, and we’re certain that he’ll be able to prevail in any situation!”
Submitted by: E. Thomas
01/13/2014 - Monster Warlord reaches 10 Million InstallsInfographic: Monster Warlord rings in 2014 with 10 million installs
Since first launching
more than 18 months ago, Monster Warlord has become a global hit, ranking top-10, top-grossing overall in 29 countries'
Google Play and 23 countries' App Store. The game’s success is attributed to live services and events, with support
across 11 different languages: English, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese,
German, French, Russian, and Indonesian.
Through GAMEVIL’s global services, Monster Warlord recorded
more than 2 billion KRW ($1.9 million USD) in sales last month.
With hundreds of different monsters to
collect, Monster Warlord provides the "collect them all" experience on mobile for users
around the world. By questing and upgrading monsters in endless combinations, players can build the ultimate team of rare
and powerful monsters. Players can then put their lineups to the test by facing World Bosses, conquering Dungeons, and battling
others in Global PvP.
Players are invited to join the community at https://www.facebook.com/MonsterWarlordGAMEVILMonster Warlord is available for free on Google Play for Android devices and on App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
About GAMEVIL
GAMEVIL®, with over 330 million game downloads and experience publishing hundreds of games on multiple platforms, is
one of the most active and innovative mobile game companies in the world. Established in 2000 and with offices in Los
Angeles, Tokyo, Beijing and Seoul, GAMEVIL is an experienced global mobile game publisher working with more than 70 top studios
around the world.
With deep industry and regional knowledge, GAMEVIL has been able to craft numerous award winners
through a diverse portfolio of games. Backed by unparalleled expertise in mobile, GAMEVIL continues to lead the sector with
a commitment in establishing mobile gaming as a way of life.
GAMEVIL is currently listed on the KOSDAQ Market (Ticker:
063080, Bloomberg: 063080:KS, Reuters: 063080.KQ)
Follow the Twitter feeds at http://www.twitter.com/gamevil and Facebook Pages at http://www.facebook.com/gamevil
Submitted by: E. Thomas
01/13/2014 - Puzzle game ZEZ arrives on iOS Platforms. ZEZ - 60 second puzzle action comes to iOS
ZEZ is a 60 second puzzle action game designed for quick and intense play sessions.
Playing is simple: you line up same colored robots, smash them and rise as high as you can until the time runs out.
Collect parts to unlock awesome features and new rocket fists for Zez.
FEATURING:
-Innovative
combination of cartoon and vector graphics.
-Easy to learn, impossible to master gameplay.
-Exclusive soundtrack.
-Character customizations.
ZEZ was 16 months in development by a team of two people focused on delivering the
ultimate casual game with enough depth too keep hardcore players hooked. The time may be limited, but there’s no limit
to how high you can reach and how fast you can play.
The well-known match 3 gameplay mechanics are paired with
action elements to create an exciting, unique and fresh new experience.
Smash robots, make combos, unlock Frenzy
mode and reach insane new heights!
It’s easy. You have 60 seconds.
ARTBIT STUDIOS has released
three games on the Android platform since 2011 as a one man company in Porto, including the Play Store featured Shane Reaction.
ZEZ marks our entrance in the iOS platform and our first game as a team of two.
www.zezgame.comSubmitted by: E. Thomas
01/13/2014 - Six PS One Classics coming to PSNMonkeyPaw Games to Start
2014 with a Retro Rush
Six PSone® import games to arrive between January and February
Hokkaido,
Japan - January 13th, 2014 - The start to the New Year signals bright horizons. For MonkeyPaw Games, Inc. the
start to 2014 will bring six new Japanese import titles to the PlayStation®Network Store. This rapid-fire release
campaign, dubbed “Retro Rush” will deliver some hidden gems along with the much-anticipated sequel to Tomba,
Tomba! 2.
Starting January 14, 2014, MonkeyPaw Games will be releasing one PSone® import game a week,
for six weeks. The Retro Rush titles are some of the most exciting games MonkeyPaw has uncovered to date and run the
gamut of genres including Fighting, Action, Platforming and Fire Fighting RPG.
The Retro Rush culminates
in the release of one of the most requested, most anticipated, and most pink-haired of PSone® classics - Tomba! 2:
The Evil Swine Return.
For the full schedule of Retro Rush events, check out the release list below:
● Jan. 14 - Double Dragon
● Jan. 21 - Lucifer Ring
● Jan. 28 - The Firemen
2: Pete and Danny
● Feb. 4 - Hyper Crazy Climber
● Feb 11 - Wolf Fang
●
Feb 18 - Tomba! 2: The Evil Swine Return
More information about each individual game will arrive weekly and all
of the Retro Rush titles will appear via the PlayStation®Network for the PlayStation®3, PSP® and PlayStation®Vita.
All titles will retail for $5.99, except Tomba! 2, retailing for $9.99.
Stay tuned for more information from
MonkeyPaw Games in 2014.
Submitted by: E. Thomas
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