Archived News:
The Dota
2 blog announces that the beta version of Dota 2 Reborn is now
available for download: The Reborn beta is now available for everyone to
download and play. Check out the
update page for installation instructions and to learn about a number of new
technologies that we’re using to improve Dota 2.
Unlike our traditional Test client, your match history, MMR, cosmetic items, and
friends are shared across the two versions. However, Ranked Matchmaking is not
enabled yet. We anticipate that we’ll be able to turn it on in a few days, but
we need more testing of the basic functionality first. Also, it is possible new
items may make their first appearance in either the beta or the main client.
These items may be temporarily missing from the other client while their assets
are converted.
As you explore the beta, you’ll notice a few features aren’t fully functional
yet, but we encourage you to play regularly and send us your feedback. We’ll be
updating the client frequently over the coming weeks as we bring everything
online.
IO Interactive offers this
video with the first gameplay footage from HITMAN, the next installment in
their assassination-for-hire series. They provide this explanation: "The target is
Viktor Novikov, a Russian billionaire and one of the ringleaders of an enigmatic
spy ring called IAGO. Set against the backdrop of the Sanguine fashion show in
Paris. You have the power and intelligence of Agent 47 at your fingertips and,
with complete freedom of approach, it is your choice whether to use brute force
or orchestrate a genuine masterpiece of assassination." Continue here to read the full story.
This E3 trailer
shows off the tech demo of the Dawn engine powering Deus Ex: Mankind Divided,
the upcoming action/RPG. All they say is: "This is the official Dawn Engine Tech
Demo from the E3 2015 PC Gaming Show, displaying the graphical prowess that is
now possible for Deus Ex: Mankind Divided." Continue here to read the full story.
Here's the E3 2015 trailer
for Total War: Warhammer, titled "Rule the World." The video looks back
at the extensive history of Creative Assembly's strategy series and offers a
look at the first in-engine footage from the upcoming fantasy-themed
installment. This is from the description: "15 years have passed since the first
Total War game launched, and in that time we’ve travelled far and wide. From
Medieval Japan to the Napoleonic wars; from the glory of ancient Rome, to the
machinations of Medieval Europe and back again. Now Total War is crossing into
bold new territory, where the darkening skies echo to the roar of dragons, and
the very firmament is sundered with spells of unimaginable power." They promise
more videos next month.
Publisher Devolver Digital announces co-op support for
Enter the Gungeon,
their upcoming bullet hell dungeon-crawler. Here are a
couple of co-op screenshots, and here's word: "Making its debut at last
night’s PC Gaming Show at E3, the two player co-op mode allows the primary
gunslinger a ‘gun cultist’ back up player to help quell the many disciples of
the Cult of the Undead who will stop at nothing to preserve the very treasure
you seek – the one gun in the world that can kill the past, absolving you of
your deep regrets, wrong doings and bad decisions."
This trailer is
another new gameplay clip from Overwatch, introducing the Winston character in
Blizzard's upcoming teamplay shooter. They say: "Witness Winston's primal rage
in this complete, unedited match from an early version of Overwatch, captured in
60fps on PC. Here, Winston is on the attack in Watchpoint: Gibraltar, a Payload
map set in an abandoned Overwatch outpost perched above the Mediterranean
Sea." Continue here to read the full story.
Here is the teaser trailer
for American Truck Simulator that SCS Software brought to E3 to show off their
upcoming big rig sequel. A
Steam Community Group Announcement (thanks Cutter) also notes that the
American Truck Simulator
website is online as an official home to the project. They say they plan on
attending Gamescom in August to show off more of the game, including an
interactive demo. Continue here to read the full story.
Square Enix celebrate next week's release of FINAL FANTASY XIV: Heavensward with
the launch trailer for
the MMORPG.
Here's the deal: "FINAL FANTASY XIV: Heavensward releases on 23rd June 2015 and
will feature a new story that drops adventurers into the heart of the Dragonsong
War, the bloody, thousand-year conflict between the knights of Ishgard and the
dragons of Dravania." Continue here to read the full story.
Nodbrim Interactive offers a
alpha gameplay trailer
from Acaratus, and announces their "medieval steampunk" tactical RPG will hit
Steam Early Access in February 2016, providing everyone with ample time to clear
their calendars. Word is: "Acaratus is a tactical turn-based rpg set in a
medieval steampunk world where you build your own mecha units (aka battle
suits). You customize them to your play style by adding attachments and building
a deck of ability cards. Then explore the vast randomized world map and fight it
out on gridbased battles! It's a mashup between Heroes of Might and Magic and
Hearthstone." There are more details on the
Acaratus website. Continue here to read the full story.
Consumerist - How Do Video Game Publishers Continue To Get Away With
Mistreating Their Customers? Thanks
HARDOCP.
"But EA is far from alone in adopting a wide array of customer-unfriendly
practices. And despite the surge of popular opinion against certain game
companies in recent years, the truth is they’re not doing anything new. For
as long as consumers have had home consoles, video game companies have been
able to treat those consumers like crap.
And yet the industry continues to grow by leaps and bounds. So why do they
do it, and how do they get away with it?"
Polygon - Five ways to improve E3's (kinda awful) PC Gaming Show.
"I don't necessarily think that the PC Gaming Show needs to invite fewer
presenters next year. But it absolutely needs to be a tighter, snappier
presentation on the whole if it doesn't want its audience dozing off as it
enters into hour two."
The
StarCraft II website announces Whispers of Oblivion, a three mission
prologue to bridge the gap between the previous Heart of the Swarm and upcoming
Legacy of the Void expansions. At the E3 PC dealie last night they announced
this will be free for everyone. Here's
a trailer and here's
word on what this will offer: What is Whispers of Oblivion?
Whispers of Oblivion is a special three-mission prologue series that has been
created to bridge the storyline between Heart of the Swarm and Legacy of the
Void.
What can we expect from these missions?
In Whispers of Oblivion, players will join Zeratul for the first time since
Wings of Liberty to unravel the final piece of the Xel’naga prophecy.
How can I play these new campaign missions?
We will be making Whispers of Oblivion available to all players before the
game’s release, but prior to that, we will be providing early access to the
Prologue missions with pre-purchase of the game. Look for more details sometime
in July.
Continue here to read the full story.
Bohemia Interactive offers a
Tanoa reveal trailer
showing off the terrain and other aspects of the environment in an Arma III
expansion they plan to release in the first half of next year. Here's word: The
video offers a first glimpse of Tanoa – a South Pacific archipelago with a land
mass of over 100 km2, and home to lush tropical vegetation, unique landmarks, a
rich history, and imposing man-made feats of modern engineering. Besides the new
Tanoa terrain, the Arma 3 expansion will include new vehicles, weapons,
attachments and gear, characters, playable content, and more. The expansion is
scheduled to be released in the first half of 2016 and will be distributed as
DLC for the base Arma 3 game.
Continue here to read the full story.
Bohemia Interactive announces plans to begin beta testing of
Take on Mars
this summer, offering the chance to get your ass to the red planet in a
prerelease version of their sci-fi survival game. In the meantime the game
remains in
Early Access on Steam, and is currently part of the summer sale. They offer
a look in this E3 2015
trailer and here's their outline of what we're seeing: Focusing mainly
on the new multiplayer survival gameplay, the trailer teases players with
stunning shots of exciting locations they can experience and explore with their
friends online - including several authentic parts of the Mars terrain, as well
as the Low Earth Orbit or the Moon. Being supported by the games' advanced
simulation of physics, gravity or weather and radiation effects, every location
offers a unique set of challenges that real-life astronauts must overcome to
survive in space.
Continue here to read the full story.
NCSOFT and ArenaNet announce they are now accepting pre-purchases of Guild
Wars 2: Heart of the Storm, saying fans at E3 were "delighted" to learn of
the opportunity. This page is where the
MMORPG expansion can be ordered as a Standard, Deluxe, or Ultimate edition, with
the latter two offering additional perks, but each edition includes access to
all beta weekend events for the game. Here's a new
Welcome to Guild Halls
trailer, and here are more details: NCSOFT® and ArenaNet™, publisher
and developer of the acclaimed Guild Wars franchise, have today used the stage
at the PC Gaming Show at E3 for a surprise announcement. The studio delighted
fans in the audience as well as those tuning into the livestream by revealing
that pre-purchase for Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns, the upcoming expansion to
Guild Wars 2®, is now live across territories in the West. ArenaNet is offering
a unique pre-purchase program with perks for all buyers that include access to
upcoming beta weekend events along with a variety of virtual items available
across three editions, some of which are immediately playable in the core game.
ArenaNet has released a video that showcases all of the virtual items players
can acquire when they buy each of these editions. All virtual items will be
delivered to players’ accounts immediately. The glider skin and guild hall
decorations will be usable when Guild Wars 2: Heart of Thorns
launches.
Continue here to read the full story.
Congrats to the Golden State and their fans for their NBA championship. Also,
hats off to Chicago on the Stanley Cup... To relate this to my local teams in
these sports, the Warriors have as many championships as the Knicks and the
Rangers combined, while the Blackhawks have 50% more titles than both teams.
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