Archived News:

Friday, Sep 18, 2015 National Cheeseburger Day (USA)

Rocket League Revenge of the Battle-Cars DLC Announced

This Steam Community Group Announcement has word on a second DLC pack coming to Rocket League, adding more new content to the motorized sports game. They don't yet have an exact release date for this Revenge of the Battle-Cars pack, but say will come in late October. In addition to the paid DLC, they also outline plans for more free content as well. Here's word:
A wise, heavily-bearded Greek man once said, "The beginning is the most important part of the work," which is why the team here at Psyonix is looking back to 2008 and our very first football-game-without-feet, Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars. It's with that history and creative motivation in mind that we're happy to announce that our next Rocket League DLC Pack, Revenge of the Battle-Cars, is almost ready to go!

Currently driving through Sony's certification process, Revenge of the Battle-Cars has all sorts of cool stuff inspired by our first official trip to the pitch! When it arrives just a few short weeks from now, our "new-but-old-school" DLC will feature a number of awesome customization items that longtime SARPBC fans should immediately recognize. Including...

  • 2 Classic SARPBC Battle-Cars, Scarab and Zippy
  • 12 New Decals (six for each new car)
  • 3 New Paint Types (Toon Glossy, Toon Matte, Toon Wood)
  • 2 New Wheels (Scarab and Zippy)
  • 2 New Rocket Boosts (Accelerato and Battle-Stars)
  • 4 New Toppers (Cavalier, Locomotive, Pixelated Shades, Shark Fin)
  • 2 New Antennas (Retro Balls from SARPBC)
  • 5 New Achievements

Besides our paid Revenge of the Battle-Cars DLC, we're also continuing our tradition of giving everyone extra FREE stuff to go along with it. This time around, it's the debut of two new variations of our existing arenas, Urban Station (Night) and Utopia Coliseum (Dusk). These variants are the last "regulation-style" maps you'll see for while, by the way, as our next few arenas after that will focus on more "unusual" layouts and settings (more on those later this year). Additional FREE goodies, like new music, Community and Country flags, and our customary updates and optimizations will ship alongside the DLC.

Revenge of the Battle-Cars will retail for $3.99 USD when it releases later this October. See you on the pitch!

DCS Mirage M-2000C Preorders

The DCS World shop and the RAZBAM shop each now offer preorders of the Mirage M-2000C, a new plane coming to DCS World. This is not being developed by The Fighter Collection, but rather by RAZBAM, who have created a number of add-on aircraft for Flight Simulator X. This trailer shows off a little work in progress footage, and here's part of the announcement:
The M-2000C is a multi-role, French-designed, 4th generation fighter. It was designed in the 1970s as a lightweight fighter and in excess of 600 M-2000C aircraft have been built. The M-2000C is a single-engine fighter with a low-set delta wing with no horizontal tail. It has excellent maneuverability given its relaxed stability and fly-by-wire flight control system. The M-2000C also includes a multi-mode RDI radar that is capable of tracking and engaging targets at beyond visual ranges. In addition to engaging other aircraft with cannon and missiles, the M-2000C can also engage ground targets with cannon, rockets and bombs. The M-2000C is a perfect fit for the battlefields of DCS World!
Continue here to read the full story.

Blood Bowl 2 Video

This video offers a look at some orc versus high elf gameplay in Blood Bowl 2, the upcoming Warhammer-themed tackle football sequel. They describe what's shown in the clip, while also warning that time is running out to take advantage of their preorder bonuses before the game is released next week:
Blood Bowl 2, the sequel to the video game adaptation of Games Workshop's famous board game that combines American football with the fantasy world of Warhammer will release worldwide on Tuesday, September 22 on PC and consoles. Players only have a few days left to benefit from all the pre-order offers, while Steam pre-ordered players have already invaded the pitches of the pre-order beta.

Today, we're unveiling the last video from the series of videos dedicated to Blood Bowl 2 races: this one is dedicated to the Orcs and the High Elves, two teams that have nothing in common.

Orcs teams are very well protected, with a high average armour value. The reasonably priced cost of their players and the strength of their Blitzers and Black Orcs allow for really offensive tactics. A little bit less versatile than Humans, Orcs still offer a certain variety in their game that is not given to other equally strong races.

Having access to almost unlimited funds, High Elves can afford to have better armour than other teams. They can also count on their ability to play a superb aerial game, thanks to their first class passers and catchers. First they distract their opponents by luring them to one part of the pitch, and then they throw the ball to the opposite side of the field, laughing all the way they score touch down after touch down.
Continue here to read the full story.

On Sale

Into the Black

Link of the Day: GTA Kursk City (NSFW). Thanks VideoSift via Ant.

Star Wars Battlefront Beta Open to All

The beta testing of Star Wars Battlefront expected next month will be open to all, announces Electronic Arts, saying this will apply to the Windows, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 editions of the Star Wars action game (thanks GameInformer). Word is: "Now that we have officially announced the beta, most of you are just itching to know how you can get in. Well, we're excited to say that the beta is open to everyone! Get ready for the beta release date and also make sure your system is ready to download the beta the moment it goes live. Keep your eyes peeled for myself and many other developers during the live beta as we have some cool stuff planned." Here's word on what this will include:
So... How about that beta news? Yes, we have a beta incoming and the final date will be announced as soon as we have the final details locked in. For now, I can tell you this: the beta will consist of both our offline and online modes including co-op and split-screen co-op, and it will take place on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and via Origin for PC, so we have you covered regardless of your next generation platform of choice.

Beta: Multiplayer Offerings

Beta Multiplayer
Get ready hit the battlefront on Hoth via Walker Assault and check out our newly revealed mode, Drop Zone on Sullust. Now, I have to state my excitement here as this is by far my favorite mode and I can't wait for you to check it out for yourself.

Is online Multiplayer with more than two players just not your thing? We have you covered.

Beta: Star Wars Battlefront Missions

Missions

Stranded on Tatooine solo, with a friend online, or couch co-op, you’re going to want check out our beta Survival Mission mode.

Battle.net and Twitch Promotion

Battle.net and Twitch announce a promotion Blizzard announces a limited-time promotion to reward Battle.net users who watch a Heroes of the Storm regional championship with a special "Storm Watcher" HotS portrait. Your Twitch and Battle.net accounts must be linked to qualify, and the first chance to earn the portrait will come this weekend with the Americas Championship Live from Vegas. Here's word:
Your first opportunity to secure this portrait is quickly approaching. Tune in to the Americas Championship on September 19 and 20, and you’ll be among the first to receive the new portrait. After watching the Americas or other regional championship events, the portrait will be awarded to qualifying players starting in October, when it will appear in your in-game portrait collection.

SOMA Trailer

With SOMA due next week, Frictional Games offers an update on the PlayStation.Blog about their upcoming survival/horror game. Their link to a new story trailer from the game is broken right now, but you can view that here. Their post is a little heady, as it gets into some of the deeper mysteries of the mind. Here's the outline: "SOMA, our upcoming sci-fi horror game, delves deep into the mysteries of subjects such as identity and consciousness. In this post I would like to explore the real world inspirations that have shaped our game." Continue here to read the full story.

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex – First Assault Online Beta Signups

Nexon America announces additional details about their plans to release Ghost in the Shell Online: First Connection outside of Asia, saying the western version of the multiplayer shooter will be called Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex – First Assault Online. They have launched the game's official website and offer a first trailer showing off gameplay. They are accepting signups to beta test, and say testing will commence next month. Here's the announcement:
Nexon America, Inc. today revealed details for Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex – First Assault Online (First Assault). In this tactical team-based shooter, players take on the role of an augmented soldier fighting terrorists on the streets of a future cyberpunk world. The online first-person shooter (FPS) game is being developed by Neople and will be available to PC gamers in 2016. Fans can sign up now for the chance to be part of the upcoming closed beta tests beginning Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015.

Licensed by Nexon from Kodansha Ltd. and Production I.G, Inc., First Assault is based on Shirow Masamune’s acclaimed manga the Ghost in the Shell, one of the core originators of the Cyberpunk genre. First Assault references the anime source material while advancing the dark near-future universe and bringing it to a frenetic but tactical first-person shooter game environment. As an elite, augmented soldier, players will advance and master their character with upgrades and unlocks as they succeed in combat. Each character has exclusive attributes that reflect features of the original franchise, such as Motoko Kusanagi’s ‘Therm-optic Camouflage’ cloaking technology or Saito’s ability to enhance his vision and highlight enemy soldiers.
Continue here to read the full story.

Morning Previews

Game Reviews

Hardware Reviews

Out of the Blue

The unofficial end of summer in these parts passed a couple of weeks ago on Labor Day, and now the reality sets in that this is the actual last weekend of summer according to the calendar. It's not like I was seeking relief, as it was a very pleasant season in this area. We had some heat, but it never got oppressive, and we also were spared the frequent thunderstorms that have been so prevalent the past few years. I mentioned my plans to barbeque a brisket, so that can be part of sending the summer off in style.

Summery Links: Thanks Ant and Acleacius.
Play: MonsterCraft 2.
Imperium 4.
Sports Heads Tennis Open.
Link: How to Not Get Attacked by a Bear.
Stories: The 2015 Ig Nobel Prize winners.
FIFA secretary Jerome Valcke suspended.
Vets Say There Are 11 Symptoms You Should NEVER Ignore. I'm SO Glad I Know.
Science: Hervé This and the Future of Food. Thanks Cutter.
Making 3-D objects disappear- Ultrathin invisibility cloak created.
The contribution of outdoor air pollution sources to premature mortality on a global scale.
Media: Puppy caught eating paper decides killing witness is the only way out.
How to Make a $1500 Sandwich in Only 6 Months. Thanks j.c.f.
Killer whales (orcas) chase our boat near San Diego Bay. Thanks Joshag.
Follow-up: Newly Risen From Yeast- THC. Thanks j.c.f.
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