BF4Central
has news that DICE is working on additional new content for
Battlefield 4,
and are planning on releasing it for free to all owners of the military shooter
sequel. They confirm this with DICE's David Sirland, who tells them this
includes two previously announced new maps, the upcoming Gunmaster game mode and
new weapons. These releases and any additional content to follow will all be
free for both premium players as well as the unwashed masses. Thanks
GameInformer.
Warning that this should be taken with "a Costco-sized barrel of salt,"
GameInformer makes the case that the Star Wars game Visceral Games is
working on will center around Han Solo. They offer some images from various
tweets that show Solo action figures and other elements they used to formulate
their theory. They summarize this like so: "Over the last year, Stashwick,
Hennig, Warner, and voice actor Nolan North, have tweeted a number of images and
comments that all share similar themes: the mains being Han Solo, the Millennium
Falcon, and a Star Wars version of a pirate flag. The pirate flag in particular
is getting great mileage in Visceral's office." Thanks nin.
Paradox Interactive announces a June 9th release date for the
Common Sense
expansion for
Europa Universalis IV, the grand strategy sequel. Here's
a trailer showing off
the pack, and here's word:
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense was the best
selling pamphlet of Revolutionary America. Paradox’s Common Sense won’t tear
down the pretensions of monarchy like Paine’s did, but it will give Europa
Universalis IV new tools so players can manage the growth of their domains. With
a focus on the art of ruling and national improvement, Common Sense adds depth
to domestic rule and adds a number of major changes to diplomacy.
The most significant modification in Common Sense is the new provincial
development system. Building space in a province is now limited by its terrain
and Development Value. The more developed a province is, the greater wealth and
power you can squeeze out of it. By spending monarch points, you can now
customize your trading hubs or make great recruiting centers. Fewer, more
powerful buildings means that every decision about construction has greater
importance – if you want a manufactory and have no building slots in Champagne,
what will you destroy?
This teaser video highlights another important feature: parliamentary
rule.
Continue here to read the full story.
Ironclad Games announces the official launch of
Sins of a Dark Age
on Steam
as a free-to-play title after about a year of Early Access for their MOBA. The
game had to overcome a
legal
hudle over its title, but with that settled, they are good to go. The
Sins of a Dark Age website is live
with details, and here's word:
After more than a year of Early Access,
Ironclad Games has launched Sins of a Dark Age (Soada) as a Free to Play game on
Steam. Crafted from a rich storyline set in a dark fantasy world, Soada is not
your 'anything goes' cartoon MOBA. The world is brimming with mature themes,
serious backstories, expansive dialog, visual detail, and obvious RPG
inspiration.
The Game’s dynamic Quest system really shakes up the genre. Players can fend off
plagued vermin, resurrect the undead, steal a troll’s treasure, raise a powerful
gryphon ally, earn game-changing treasures and much more!
Before the game even starts players are able to customize their hero’s core
attributes (much like in a traditional RPG) to best suit their personal play
style. They can also equip hero specific gear that can alter abilities used in
the game!
The role-playing doesn’t stop after the match ends either - players get free
loot drops. Collect loot to craft Hero Gear, Skins, Lore Books, and other items,
all for free! Not only are Heroes free to play indefinitely, there is no major
grind, and no ‘pay-to-win’. Friend recruitment gifts and rewards are given out
for good community spirit.
Ironclad takes the community so seriously that they’ve fully integrated the game
with Steam and Twitch. Steam friends, voice chat, market, trading, cards,
badges, achievements...you name it, it's all there! With Twitch, Soada goes the
extra mile with in-game twitch chat, streamer upvotes, and the ability for
streamers to actually gift loot directly to their viewers, and be rewarded in
return!
Players put off by the genre’s toxic reputation may be surprised to learn that
Soada has taken aim at that as well. A Vice and Virtue system rewards good
behavior with free loot and punishes bad behavior by denying it. You can also
report and mute toxic players easily. Gold is shared (with a twist) so you
aren’t left competing with your own team, and supports can really play as
supports.
Continue here to read the full story.
A
new trailer shows
off some new skins and a new mount in development for
Heroes of the Storm.
This includes the
stealthy revelation of plans for a new hero, Johanna, a female
Diablo III
Crusader coming to Blizzard's MOBA. Word is: "While these Skins and Mounts are
not yet available in our in-game shop, they’ll be invading the Nexus soon."
Continue here to read the full story.
There's no time anyone would wish for allergies, but days like today I'm
especially thankful I am pretty unaffected by them, as you can literally see how
bad it is out there. I don't know if it is caused by how late the onset of
spring was around here, but there is a coating of orange pollen in the area so
thick you can draw designs on where it's stuck to cars. Somebody call the bees
for reinforcements... time to make some honey while the sun shines.
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