Archived News:

Thursday, Sep 24, 2015

Fallout 4 Progression Details

A new article on Bethesda.net outlines how character progression will work in Fallout 4. They offer a special S.P.E.C.I.A.L. chart, and a pretty detailed rundown on how the system will play out in the next installment in the RPG series. Here's a bit:
What’s important is that each of these Perks is actually a mini Perk tree*, with multiple ranks that also do new things. Gun Fu above allows even more damage the more targets you select, increasing to instant Critical Shots. Gunslinger has ranks that up the range of pistols, add a chance to disarm enemies, and even instant limb crippling shots.

These additional ranks do require your character to be a higher level. This allows us to make some powerful Perk ranks that reward your investment in a certain SPECIAL as well as that individual Perk. It also allows us to fold Perks we liked from previous games into Perk ranks in this new system. For example, the Fallout 3 perk Paralyzing Palm (paralyze enemies through hand-to-hand), now becomes the Rank 5 Perk for Iron Fist. But you need to have chosen the previous 4 ranks of Iron Fist and be level 46. We also pushed old Perks to do new things at higher ranks. Strong Back doesn’t just up the amount you can carry; higher ranks of it allow you to fast-travel while encumbered or even run while encumbered at the cost of Action Points.

FIFA 16 Released

EA SPORTS announces the worldwide release of FIFA 16 for Windows and consoles, offering the latest installment in this association football/soccer series. A playable demo was released a couple of weeks ago, and here's news on the release:
FIFA 16 delivers a balanced, authentic, and exciting football experience that lets fans play their way, and compete at a higher level. With innovative gameplay features, FIFA 16 brings Confidence in Defending, Control in the Midfield, and gives players the tools to create more Moments of Magic than ever before. FIFA Ultimate Team, the game’s most popular mode, introduces FIFA Ultimate Team Draft, a brand new way for fans to test their team building skills and compete with some of the best football players in the world. And this season, Career Mode adds two features most requested by fans: Pre-season Tournaments and Player Training that ensure an even deeper and more authentic career whether fans play as a manager or a pro. For more information about FIFA 16 features visit www.easports.com/fifa.

Dawn of War Free Weekend

Steam News announces a big weekend sale on the Dawn of War franchise that includes the opportunity to play any of the games in the real-time strategy series for free until Sunday afternoon. Here's word:
Play the Dawn of War Franchise for FREE starting now through Sunday at 1PM Pacific Time! You can also pickup the Dawn of War Franchise at 75% off the regular price!*

If you already have Steam installed, then you can click on the following to install or play:
Dawn of War – Game of the Year Edition
Dawn of War – Dark Crusade
Dawn of War – Winter Assault
Dawn of War – Soulstorm
Dawn of War II
Dawn of War II – Chaos Rising
Dawn of War II – Retribution

If you don't have Steam, you can download it here.

*Offer ends Monday at 10AM Pacific Time.

Nordic Acquires Codename: Panzers

Nordic Games announces the acquisition of the Codename: Panzers property from Neocore Games:
Nordic Games announced today that it has closed an asset purchase agreement with Neocoregames Ltd. to acquire the remaining intellectual property “Codename Panzers”, including the two iterations “Codename: Panzers – Phase I” and “Codename: Panzers – Phase II”. The deal with Neocoregames was closed approx. 18 months after Nordic has acquired the rights to the third iteration of the franchise (“Codename: Panzers – Cold War”) from MAKE Projects UG, Germany.

The acquisition itself is being handled by Nordic Games Licensing AB, based in Karlstad, Sweden, whereas the day-to-day business (sales and distribution, evaluation of sequels & new content etc.) will be conducted by Nordic Games GmbH, based in Vienna, Austria.

“The constant expansion and diversification of our portfolio always has been a top priority for our long-term strategy”, comments Reinhard Pollice, Business & Product Development Director at Nordic Games. “Having a broad portfolio of IPs guarantees us a comfortable revenue stream, which in turn supports our true cause and our passion: make great games. The Codename Panzers series is known for delivering extraordinaire strategic gameplay with tactical depth and therefore was a perfect fit for our game portfolio.”

Bullet Train Announced

The Unreal Engine blog announces Bullet Train, a new VR game in the works at Epic Games for Oculus Rift and Gear VR headsets. They offer this trailer with a look at the game's Unreal Engine 4 graphics, and say they will be showing this off to attendees of the Oculus Connect conference. Here's a description they provide:
Bullet Train is the latest VR experience from Epic Games. Staying true to form, Epic puts you in the middle of the action: Use motion controls in the role of an agent undergoing an infiltration simulation set inside a modern train station. Master the art of teleportation, time manipulation, and close-quarters combat to blast through resistance forces. Thanks to Unreal Engine technology and the Oculus Touch motion controllers, you can physically interact with an array of weapons, from guns to grenades to missiles, and even feel them through haptic feedback.
Continue here to read the full story.

A Fistful of Gun Released

A Fistful of Gun is now available, offering the chance to get your cowboy on in this nine-player co-op western shooter. The A Fistful of Gun website has links to where to buy this via digital distribution, along with a launch trailer showing things off. Here's the announcement:
Outlaw developer Farmergnome and cow-tipping publisher Devolver Digital have released the nine-player co-op western opus A Fistful of Gun on PC via Steam, GOG, and Humble [fistfulofgun.com]. Players quick on the draw can grab A Fistful of Gun for 15% off the $12.99 price during the launch week or while supplies last – you never know.

Hopeful vigilantes can select from eleven unique playable gunslingers and seek their revenge on evil railroad baron Clayton Boon as a lone wolf or with up to eight other bandits in local and online co-op. Master the specialized controls of each character, collect gold from fallen foes to purchase upgrades, and imbibe a bit of liquid courage and unleash a tornado of lead across the dusty plains.

“It has nine-player co-op so you nerds better make about eight more friends than you have now,” said Devolver Digital CFO Fork Parker. “That’s what the kids call a sick burn.”

A Fistful of Gun launches with the most frantic, untamed content this side of the Mississippi. Noble gunslingers and yellow-bellied cowards can join together to battle through the epic story mode, a frantic arcade mode, and the white-knuckle versus modes. Heck, with some luck you and your mangy gang of misfits might even unlock one of the secret modes…

Star Wars Battlefront Open Beta October 8th

Electronic Arts announces beta testing of Star Wars Battlefront will take place between October 8th and October 12th, paving the way for the release of the Star Wars action game on November 17th. Earlier this month that the beta will begin next month, and just last week they announced this will be open to all applicants. Here's word:
Get ready to be taken to a galaxy far, far away! Today, we are happy to reveal that the Star Wars™ Battlefront™ Beta will be available for PlayStation®4, Xbox One and on PC via Origin for players between October 8 and October 12. The Star Wars Battlefront Beta is a technical test and will give Rebels and Imperials alike just a small taste of the Star Wars™ battle fantasies you can expect to live out when the game launches on November 17.

In addition, you will also get a chance to try out the Star Wars Battlefront Companion experience. Available during the Beta only at www.StarWarsBattlefront.com, the Star Wars Battlefront Companion experience features the strategic card game Base Command, and lets you earn in-game Credits that unlock Star Cards, weapons, and more in Star Wars Battlefront.

Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide Next Month

Fatshark announces an October 23rd release date for Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide, their co-op first-person shooter/melee combat game. You can preorder this on Steam, where this currently carries a 10% discount. They say: "By pre-ordering the Base or Collector’s Edition through Steam, players will get 10% off either the Base or Collector’s Editions and a Beta Key that will provide beta access to Vermintide prior to its commercial full launch." Here's a description of the game:
In Vermintide, the city of Ubersreik is under siege as players select from a band of five heroes with different play-styles and abilities, all equipped with unique gear and personalities. Working together cooperatively, players must use their individual attributes to survive an apocalyptic invasion from hordes of relentless, power hungry Skaven, across a range of environments stretching from the top of the Magnus Tower to the bowels of the Under Empire.

Assassin's Creed Syndicate Story Trailer

Here's a new story trailer for Assassin's Creed Syndicate that shows off more of the upcoming installment in the stealthy action/adventure series. The description of this one is quite brief: "Assassin’s Creed Syndicate launches Friday, October 23. Get ready for Jacob and Evie Frye to bring justice to Industrial London." Continue here to read the full story.

FINAL FANTASY V on Steam

Steam News announces the release of FINAL FANTASY V on Steam, allowing the chance to party like it's 1992. Here's the a refresher on the venerable RPG:
Twenty years after the original FINAL FANTASY V released in Japan, the classic RPG has found its way to PC!

Embark on an epic adventure as four heroes are driven together by fate: Bartz and his chocobo companion, Princess Lenna of Castle Tycoon, the mysterious Galuf, and the pirate captain Faris.

The crystals that bring peace and prosperity to the world – earth, water, fire, and wind – have lost their power and are on the verge of destruction.

Maxis Boss Leaves

The EA website announces "Lucy Bradshaw is moving on from Electronic Arts" after most recently serving as the boss at Maxis. Here's word:
Today we are announcing that Lucy Bradshaw is moving on from Electronic Arts. Through 23 years with our company, Lucy has brought an incredible passion for games and our player community. I want to thank Lucy for her dedication to EA, her contributions to Maxis, and the creative spirit she infused in every one of her teams and projects. We wish her the best as she takes on her next adventure.

There is amazing work happening in our Maxis studios today. Rachel Franklin, who has been leading our Sims Studio, will now take over leadership of the Maxis group. Rachel will continue to lead the teams working on more new content and cultivating the passionate player community in The Sims 4, and now she will drive our efforts on other new Maxis concepts in development as well.

Evening Crowdfunding Roundup

On Sale

Heroes of the Storm Balance Plans

This video features an interview with Blizzard Senior Game Designer Matthew Cooper discussing Heroes of the Storm, focusing on balance issues in the MOBA. Here are some of the topics he touches on:

  • Tyrande and Tassadar are getting buffs and it's "like it's added almost two more supports to the game."
  • They are pretty happy with Kael'thas but may nerf chain bomb a little more.
  • They are looking at nerfing Leoric's (and possibly Johanna's) wave clear, saying this has become a more significant aspect of pick priorities.
  • They are looking at nerfing Zeratul because of his tourney dominance, but don't want to ruin the character for the rest of us, since he generally has about a 50% win rate in pub games. Void Prison, Wormhole, and his burst damage are all being examined.
  • They continue discussing adding bans to ranked play, but are not making any moves in that area right now.
  • They have ambitions for improving the user interface, and have dedicated some programming effort towards improving matchmaking.
  • They will possibly be showing off some new heroes at BlizzCon.

Cities: Skylines - After Dark Dawns

Paradox Interactive announces the release of After Dark for Cities: Skylines, an expansion for the urban planning game that attempts to answer the question of what happens when the lights go out. A new trailer shows off the pack, darkness, street lights, and all. Here's the word:
Paradox Interactive, a publisher of games that are playable at all hours, today released “After Dark,” the first expansion for the smash hit city-building game Cities: Skylines from Colossal Order. Available today for PC, Mac, and Linux, After Dark adds a broad variety of game-changing features to Cities: Skylines, focused primarily on the way in-game cities will behave during the game’s new day-and-night cycle. In addition, all players of Cities: Skylines will receive the new day-and-night cycle as an update to their game today, whether they have purchased After Dark or not. After Dark is available for $14.99 from digital retailers everywhere, including our webshop!

Take a friendly tour of After Dark’s features in a new trailer here:
Continue here to read the full story.

Battleborn Trailer

Gearbox Software now offers a new trailer introducing Lothar Rendain, the "glorious, immortal Lord Commander" from Battleborn, their upcoming team-based first-person shooter. The accompanying update also notes a bonus for those who pre-order the game, saying: "Pre-order Battleborn and receive the "Firstborn Pack" bonus pack -- a set of golden skins for playable heroes Thorn, Reyna, Montana, Marquis and Rath -- when Battleborn releases on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on February 9, 2016." Continue here to read the full story.

Diablo III Bonus Weekend

Battle.net announces Blizzard is offering double caches in Diablo III this weekend, starting tomorrow at 3:00 pm EDT. Here's word on how to cache in while playing the action/RPG sequel:
Kanai’s Cube has changed the face of Diablo III forever, and it’s a hungry Horadric artifact! We hope you’ve been enjoying this versatile addition to the game, and to help you take even greater advantage of its powerful transmutation abilities, for this weekend only each bounty you complete will reward double Caches! This applies to both Horadric and Bonus Caches, so be sure to hit up those bonus acts for extra rewards.

This bonus period begins in the Americas region this Friday, September 25, at 12:01 a.m. PDT and ends on Sunday, September 27 at 11:59 p.m. PDT.

Limit Theory Status Report

Kickstarter update for Limit Theory is the first for the project since the beginning of the year (thanks JDreyer). Developer Josh Parnell apologies for the silence, and admitting that this resulted from "entirely to personal issues of a serious nature." On the bright side, he says this is in the past, and he offers a summary expressing optimism for the future of the crowd-funded space RTS/RPG. Word is:
Second, as a bit of a TL;DR before we even get into it, I want you all to know right now that LT development has been and is continuing at full speed, as of several months ago. So let's just get it out of the way right now that I've not abandoned the project! In fact, I've been working hard to create a healthier, more productive, and more professional development atmosphere for LT.

Source 2 Running on Vulkan

This video from The Khronos Group was released last week, showing their SIGGRAPH 2015 presentation on graphics APIs, discussing the state of OpenGL, OpenGL ES, and the upcoming Vulkan. Thanks Xil for the link, and for noting that at around the 57 minute mark they outline how the Vulkan initiative kicked off after a meeting with Valve, and that AMD donated Mantle to the project. At around 1:41 in Dan Ginsburg discusses Valve's support for Vulkan, saying he personally has been working on porting the Source 2 engine to the API, and that Intel, AMD, and NVIDIA all now have drivers that can run the beta on their hardware. Continue here to read the full story.

Game Reviews

Hardware Reviews

Out of the Blue

Heading into tonight's tackle football games I'm already worried about my standing in our friendly pool, as I managed only five winners last week. The good news is that a lot of us seemed to struggle with early season updates, so I have company on the hot seat. My Giants are in an even worse spot, as an 0-2 start for an NFL team means the season is practically on the line by game three, as starting 0-3 makes the playoffs a long-shot, though all bets are off in the NFC East this season.

Pooled Links: Thanks Ant and Acleacius.
Play: Blocky's Escape.
Two Squares.
Da Best Gaem.
Science: Paraplegic man walks with own legs again.
The surprising geography of American left-handedness. Thanks nin.
Mystery Solved? How Universe's Brightest-Ever Galaxies Formed.
Media: Greece: Syrian Aslan and his puppy Rose. Thanks nin.
Extremely Boston Man Can't Comprehend A Sunfish (NSFW). Doctah Wicked, DVM.
Is it live? or is it Memorex -- for those old enough to recall. NSFW.
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