Archived News:

Thursday, Jan 23, 2014

The Elder Scrolls Online Voice Cast

The Bethesda Blog reveals the star-studded voice cast for The Elder Scrolls Online, their upcoming MMORPG. Here's word: "The Elder Scrolls® Online ensemble includes Academy Award nominee John Cleese ('A Fish Called Wanda,' 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'), Golden Globe winner Bill Nighy ('Pirates of the Caribbean'), Kate Beckinsale ('The Aviator,' 'Pearl Harbor'), Alfred Molina ('Spider-Man 2') and Golden Globe nominees Michael Gambon ('Harry Potter'), and Malcolm McDowell ('A Clockwork Orange'). In addition, Lynda Carter ('Wonder Woman') returns to the Elder Scrolls series to reprise her role from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim."

Free Sanctum 2 Weekend

Sanctum 2 is free to play on Steam now through Sunday at 4:00 pm EST, and the tower defense/FPS combo is on sale for 85% off between now and Monday at 1:00 pm EST. Here's the pitch on the game:
Sanctum 2 is the sequel to the world’s first Tower Defense/FPS hybrid game. Pick from four unique character classes and embark on a mission to protect the oxygen-producing Cores from hordes of deadly aliens who are threatened by their existence. Outfit your character exactly the way you want through the new and extensive customization system. Choose your own loadout of towers, weapons and perks, but choose wisely because you are humanity’s last defense against the unrelenting hordes set out to destroy it.

Ships Ahoy - Might & Magic X Legacy

The Might & Magic X Legacy website announces the official launch of Might & Magic X Legacy, which is now available on Steam as a Standard or Deluxe Edition, though the RPG sequel is also available on GameStop PC Downloads, and probably other digital distributors as well. Here's the launch trailer, and here's word:
Might & Magic X - Legacy is an authentic solo experience in the classic first-person RPG genre, with a turn-based gameplay system. By creating and leading a group of adventurers in and around the exciting city of Karthal, and by battling powerful mythical creatures while collecting ancient magical treasures, players will determine the fate of the Agyn Peninsula.
Continue here to read the full story.

The Golf Club Announced

HB Studios announces The Golf Club, a next-gen golf simulation they are bringing to Windows, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. They outline plans for open and closed betas in the coming weeks and a launch this spring:
The game is due to launch in the spring but that won’t be the end of the development on our side. We will continue to support the game through updates, feature additions, HB designed courses, new objects for the course creator and, of course, listening to the golfers within The Golf Club by making tweaks, changes and additions that the community is seeking. The development team members are a committed bunch who love the game they are making. They want to engage with the community and listen to what people like and don’t like about the game. You will find all of us on the forum at different times.

In the coming weeks we will be commencing a closed beta phase followed by an open beta stage. More information about how to get involved will be posted through the forum, the website, Twitter and Facebook so if you monitor one or more you will be sure to hear about it.

Close Combat: Cross of Iron Multiplayer Campaign Support Ending

Matrix Games announces they are ending multiplayer campaign support for Close Combat: Cross of Iron, saying it was "generally dormant," saying this will allow them to keep focus on the future of the series. This ends third-party support, but still allows players to start their own multiplayer games, as they explain:
In the view of focusing our efforts to develop and expand the Close Combat franchise we are rolling out a few changes to Close Combat: Cross of Iron. We are looking at the future, with one more release soon to be announced under the current engine and the big brand new Close Combat multi-platform engine currently in development.

In order to keep focus on the future of Close Combat, we have made the decision to stop the multiplayer campaign support for Cross of Iron.

This decision was made after carefully evaluating traffic and matches being played and finding that the multiplayer campaign was generally dormant. You will still be able to play by starting you own sessions, but third party multiplayer services that were previously included will now be unavailable. The new version of Cross of Iron now in the store and available shortly as an official update removes these elements.

Rest assured normal support for Cross of Iron and all other Close Combat games will continue and we are working full time to make the best Close Combat series going forward.

Call of Duty: Ghosts Extinction Trailer

This video offers another look at the Onslaught DLC for Call of Duty: Ghosts, focusing on the new extinction mission this will offer when its released for Xbox LIVE next week and later for other systems (presumably about a month). Here's the story: "At a remote facility in the Alaskan wilderness, the shadowy Nightfall Program has been researching the origins of the "Alien" threat. When the scientists lose control, a small team of elite soldiers must retrieve the intel, exterminate hordes of hostile creatures, and survive a three-story tall terror unlike anything they've faced before. Get ready for Episode 1: Nightfall, the first installment in Extinction's four-part episodic narrative!" Continue here to read the full story.

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Trailer

Here's a new trailer showing off Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor, the upcoming Tolkien-inspired action game. The clip runs over eight minutes, featuring loads of gameplay using "pre-alpha" code, and there is an accompanying narration explaining what we're seeing. On a related note, CVG reports on tweets from former AC team lead Charles Randall who says he sees Assassin's Creed 2 code and assets in the video, saying Ubisoft has not responded to these allegations. Continue here to read the full story.

Snow Trailer

A new trailer highlights the changes in Snow as of the latest update to the winter sports game, which is available via Steam early access. Here's word on what's new:

  • Multiplayer is now available for all users
  • Main Menu updated with new functionality
  • Visual and Gameplay options added to Main Menu
  • Store redesigned
  • Skis now use both left and right graphics
  • You can now customize your character while in-game
  • Session Markers have been implemented
  • New in-air rotation system
  • Rework persistent player profile
  • Improved half-pipe gameplay
  • In-game UI and Spawn Selection have been updated to a new style

Continue here to read the full story.

On Sale

  • The Bureau: XCOM Declassified on Steam. Save 75%.
  • The Debut 9 bundle on Indie Royale.
  • Humble Roguelike Weekly Sale on Humble Bundle.
  • The Raven - Legacy of a Master Thief on Steam. Save 75%.

Evening Previews

Into the Black

Link of the Day: How many Justin Biebers could you take in a fight? 27. Thanks nin.

Hearts of Iron IV Announced

Hearts of Iron IV is one of two games announced today by Paradox Interactive at their Paradox Interactive Convention in Miami, revealing a continuation in the World War II grand strategy series is in the works. You can sign up for more information at the Hearts of Iron IV website, where they also offer this trailer, which contains historical footage and no gameplay. Here's the announcement:
Hearts of Iron IV challenges players to face the brutal conflict of World War II in a multifaceted grand strategy game, where history can be fully relived or rewritten from the perspective of a global superpower attempting to change the world, or a small nation simply trying to survive.

Strategy fans will discover the most authentic real-time simulation of World War II to date, with authentic historical figures battling on land, sea, and air with period-accurate armies, vehicles, and newly discovered weapons of mass destruction – along with plenty of diplomatic and trade tactics.
Continue here to read the full story.

Runemaster Announced

Paradox Interactive announces Runemaster, a fantasy-themed RPG in development for Windows PCs at Paradox Development Studio. The Runemaster website is online, accepting signups for their newsletter and offering an announcement trailer with a look at the game. Here's word:
Runemaster is an RPG set in a fantasy realm based in the rich, majestic traditions of Norse mythology, casting each player in the role of a unique champion in a time of chaotic upheaval. Procedural maps and quests will ensure that no two playthroughs are identical, allowing players to tell a saga that is uniquely their own. Explore vast vistas through the six worlds of Norse myth, command troops in tactical combat, and define your champion through the choices they make.

"Creating an RPG is something new for Paradox Development Studio, and it's been a dream project we've wanted to undertake for a long time now," said Johan Andersson, Studio Manager at Paradox Development Studio. "We're always playing RPGs in our spare time and discovering new things we love about them as a game genre; it was only natural that sooner or later we'd have to design our own. Runemaster is the result, and we know our fans will love it."
Continue here to read the full story.

The Elder Scrolls Online and Thief Each Rated "M"

The Bethesda Softworks Facebook page has word that the ESRB has advised them that The Elder Scrolls Online is getting an "M" rating, designating it for mature audiences only. They say they disagree with the rating, but do not plan on challenging it because they "are unwilling to change the game’s content to achieve a different rating." They note they are in the process of updating the game's marketing materials to reflect this rating. In the meantime, there's this video where three of the game's developers discuss group content in a clip which runs almost eight minutes. The clip does not end with an age-rating, perhaps the last time the game will go commando. Similarly, the ESRB listing for the Thief reboot also shows that game with an "M" rating (thanks Lazygamer). The description suggests violence plays a part in the rating, though, similar to many rock stars, it was the sex and drugs that did the game in:
During the course of the game, players can roam through a brothel environment in which several prostitutes are depicted topless. The central character has the ability to spy on couples engaging in sexual activity (topless characters); suggestive moaning and dialogue can also be heard. Some settings depict opium vats or characters under the influence of the drug. The words “f**k” and “sh*t” can be heard in the dialogue.
Continue here to read the full story.

The Amazing Spider Man 2 Trailer

This trailer shows off cinematics from The Amazing Spider Man 2, Beenox's upcoming superhero sequel that ties in with the upcoming film sequel of the same name. The clip shows off all sorts of web-slinging and wall-crawling, accompanied by narration from Kraven the Hunter, who sounds like he may be related to Pandora's Marcus Kincaid. Continue here to read the full story.

Morning Screenshots

Game Reviews

Hardware Reviews

Out of the Blue

The nasty weather yesterday inspired me to cook up something in the kitchen I'd been considering for a long time: I made a Monte Cristo sandwich using some of my chili as the meat. So from bottom to top, this was: butter, rye bread, Swiss cheese, chili, sauerkraut, Russian dressing, more chili, more cheese, another slice of rye, and more butter. This all got a good fry on each side, and the outcome was so awesome I want one for breakfast. I am so pleased with this I want to fire up a Montecristo cigar and declare myself the Count of Monte Cristo. Update: It's been correctly pointed out is that I actually made a Reuben sandwich. I hereby reserve the right to re-use all those jokes again if I actually do make a Monte Cristo.

Fried Links: Thanks Ant and Acleacius.
Play: Pandesal Boy.
Skeletons Extermination.
Links: Will It Snow? Weather Forecast for MetLife Stadium on February 2, 2014.
Pixar Joining Star Wars Universe. Thanks nin via Kotaku. Just a rumor.
Story: Supreme Court considers cases on 'Raging Bull' authorship.
Science: Jimmy Fallon tries to hide his Mac from Bill Gates.
A New Thermodynamics Theory of the Origin of Life.
Fight the Flu, Hurt Society? Thanks Slashdot.
Media: The Big Lebowski - 8 Bit Cinema.
TDS: Jon Stewart Skewers Obama's NSA Speech.
Auctions: For Sale: The Ugliest Super-Rare Videogame of All Time.
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