Tribes: Ascend Game of The Year Edition Will Launch on February 15, 2013

Feb 13, 2013

Hi-Rez Studios announced today that a “Game of the Year Edition” (GotY) of Tribes: Ascend will be released on February 15th, 2013 as a single-purchase digital download for the PC.

With five editor’s choice awards and Game of the Year honors, this edition celebrates the critical success of Tribes: Ascend. With this edition players can get access to over 100 weapons, all 9 classes, and all 21 perks. The Tribes: Ascend GotY Edition includes weapon and perk DLC from all ten previous expansions as well as the new Shocklance weapon.

“Nothing changes for players that are enjoying the game with the free-to-play model,” says Todd Harris, Hi-Rez Chief Operating Officer. “But we now also offer an additional single-purchase option to unlock every weapon in the game.”

Hi-Rez celebrates the new edition with new content for all players. The upcoming patch includes six brand new maps (three CTF/Blitz and three Arena maps), the new Shocklance weapon, and two new cosmetic skins. You can find patch notes here.

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UNIGINE’s Heaven Benchmark Releases Version 4.0

Feb 13, 2013

UNIGINE Corp. has released a new, enhanced version 4.0 of Heaven Benchmark, the GPU intensive benchmark that gained massive popularity among overclockers and hardware manufacturers for hammering their graphics cards to the limits. This powerful tool can be effectively used to determine the stability of a GPU under extremely stressful conditions, as well as check the cooling system’s potential under maximum heat output. It provides completely unbiased results and generates true in-game rendering workloads across all platforms, such as Windows, Linux and Mac OS X.

Heaven Benchmark immerses a user into a magical steampunk world of shiny brass, wood and gears. Nested on flying islands, a tiny village with its cozy, sun-heated cobblestone streets, an elaborately crafted dirigible above the expanse of fluffy clouds, and a majestic dragon on the central square gives a true sense of adventure. An interactive experience with fly-by and walk-through modes allows for exploring all corners of this world powered by the cutting-edge UNIGINE Engine that leverages the most advanced capabilities of graphics APIs and turns this benchmark into a visual masterpiece.

Download here: http://unigine.com/products/heaven/download/

Key Features

• Extreme hardware stability testing
• Accurate results due to 100% GPU-bound benchmarking
• Support for DirectX 9, DirectX 11 and OpenGL 4.0
• Multi-platform support for Windows, Linux and Mac OS X
• Comprehensive use of hardware tessellation, with adjustable settings
• Cinematic and interactive fly/walk-through camera modes
• Dynamic sky with volumetric clouds and tweakable day-night cycle
• Real-time global illumination and screen-space ambient occlusion
• Support for multi-monitor configurations and different stereo 3D modes

What’s New in Heaven 4.0?

• Benchmarking presets for convenient comparison of results
• GPU temperature and clock monitoring
• Drastic improvement of SSDO
• Stars at nighttime
• Improvement of lens flares
• New, improved version of UNIGINE Engine under the hood
• Detection of multiple GPUs
• Anti-aliasing support on Mac OS X
• Enhancement of automation scripts in Pro version
• New Advanced edition (see details below)
• Russian and Chinese localization

Recoil Games Announces ‘Hard Times’ DLC for Rochard; Rock Runners Coming to iOS This Week

Feb 12, 2013

Today, Recoil Games is excited to announce brand new upcoming DLC for its critically acclaimed puzzle-platformer, Rochard on Windows PC, Mac, and Linux. Titled ‘Hard Times’, the new content will be available soon and includes four new, incredibly challenging puzzle levels: ‘Container Chaos’, ‘Shaft Shuffle’, ‘Brainyard’ and ‘Assembly Line’. These levels were created as a response to fans that found the original stages a bit too ‘easy’. The ‘Hard Times’ content is designed to use all of the existing game mechanics, with an emphasis on puzzle-solving as opposed to combat, and offers a difficult test for even the most experienced players.

Rochard features a modest hero, nefarious villains, big explosions, even bigger stunts and hilarious one-liners. The game allows players to change gravity at will to solve environmental puzzles and advance through each level. By using the main tool of the game, the upgradable G-Lifter, players can lift and maneuver boxes and heavy objects around the environment and can eventually swing, jump and propel themselves huge distances throughout each level.

The ‘Hard Times’ DLC is available soon for Rochard on Windows PC, Mac, and Linux. You can purchase the game here: http://store.steampowered.com/app/107800/. The original Rochard is also available for download on PlayStation 3 via the PlayStation Network. For more information, visit www.RochardTheGame.com.

Recoil is releasing their first game on iOS this week, the brand new Rock Runners. Leveraging their experience in the genre, Recoil set out to make the perfect touch screen platformer. Rock Runners is a hybrid ‘runner-platformer’ game, featuring over 140 sophisticated levels and instantly accessible one-touch controls. Gamers barrel through trap-filled caverns as they attempt to collect three stars and make the perfect run. The game is broken up into chapters, each consisting of up to 50 different levels that offer various paths for players to progress through. The game features dazzling 3D visuals, a groovy soundtrack and exciting gameplay, and Recoil plans on supporting it with chapter updates after launch.

Edge of Space shows off Box Art and New Screenshots

Feb 12, 2013

Reverb Publishing and HandyMan Studios is pleased to release the official box art and screenshots for upcoming sandbox survival adventure game Edge of Space. Available now in beta, players can purchase Edge of Space for a discount pre-order price of $9.99 before it shifts to $14.99 with launch.

Edge of Space is an open-world, dynamically-generated sandbox survival-adventure game set in deep space where humans were ever meant to travel. The entire game is built from the ground-up with multiplayer in mind, and the reactive environments ensure that all activities (crafting, building, setting traps, healing, etc.) are fast-paced and intense.

Edge of Space has been is on Valve’s Steam Greenlight project (steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=92913728), enabling members of the Steam community to vote for games that they’d like to see available on the service.

The Edge of Space beta is currently available for purchase at Desura (www.desura.com/games/edge-of-space) and at Rain Digital Games (www.raindg.com/title/edge-space).

Serious Sam Double D XXL – XBLA Dev Diary #2

Feb 12, 2013

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March of the Eagles Now Available for Pre-Orders, get Sengoku for Free

Feb 11, 2013

With its release one short week away, armchair strategists and desktop generals can get a jump on their planning by pre-ordering March of the Eagles, the latest historical strategy game from Paradox Development Studio and Paradox Interactive, makers of last year’s hit game Crusader Kings II.

Available February 18 on major digital distribution channels for $19.99, March of the Eaglesserves as a perfect introduction to Paradox’s celebrated grand strategy games with a laser focus on a single decade of play and one major focus of attention – warfare! When placing a pre-order, future conquerors of Europe will receive a 10% discount off the game, as well as a free copy ofSengoku, Paradox Interactive’s character driven grand strategy game, where you play as the head of an illustrious Samurai family in feudal Japan. To purchase March of the Eagles, head to the official site at www.marchoftheeagles.com.

Lead one of the great powers or any of the minor nations of Europe through the eventful years of the Napoleonic Wars. Research new ideas to improve your military skills, seize the objective provinces to establish your dominance, and take down anyone that stands in your way. March of the Eagles is also a cutthroat multiplayer game for players of all skill levels, as alliances shift to whoever has the advantage while always keeping an eye on the balance of power.

Pre-order March of the Eagles now, and don’t forget to tune in to a special multiplayer streaming event on at 7 p.m. GMT (11 a.m. PST) on Monday, February 11 as the development team will split into teams of four and then proceed to backstab each other, showing you how to make yourself the master of Europe. To view the broadcast, head over to Paradox Interactive’s official Twitch TV channel at www.twitch.tv/paradoxinteractive.

GRID 2 Teases via Trailer

Feb 08, 2013

Today Codemasters released a new GRID 2 gameplay teaser trailer, giving a snapshot of the relentless, high-impact and aggressive thrills that lie at the core of the game’s cinematic race experience. The teaser trailer also dates the release of the first extensive gameplay video, which is set to premiere on February 14. 

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Rise of the Triad – Production Diary #3 and New Screenshots

Feb 08, 2013

Rise of the Triad inches ever closer to release, and Interceptor Entertainment and Apogee Software are ready to talk about the game’s environments.

Production Diary #3, detailing how the team is bringing the original ROTT levels to life in the modernized reboot:

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Grimm is now available at Spicy Horse, back with American McGee

Feb 08, 2013

Spicy Horse Games, makers of “Alice: Madness Returns,” “BigHead BASH,” and “Akaneiro: Demon Hunters” announced today that “American McGee’s Grimm” is now available on SpicyWorld at http://spicyworld.spicyhorse.com/main/grimm.html

In “American McGee’s Grimm,” the player takes control of a dwarf named Grimm on a mission to turn the sweet fairy tales of today into the far-darker tales they were originally. Grimm spreads darkness wherever he goes using sophisticated moves like a butt-stomp, while the denizens of each fairy tale try to keep things as sickly saccharine as possible.

Originally released for Gametap, “American McGee’s Grimm” features the unique dark fairytale aesthetic American and Spicy Horse are known for with a slyly subversive take on classic fairy tales, inverting the family-friendly stories known and loved to their far darker original incarnations.

All 23 episodes are now available for purchase and play on PC at http://spicyworld.spicyhorse.com/main/grimm.html for $1.30 per individual episode, $8 for Volumes of multiple episodes, or $20 for all 23 episodes.

Second Closed Beta for SimCity coming soon, Registration Ends February 11th

Feb 08, 2013

Fan excitement for the release of SimCity has been growing. In order to give even more fans a taste of the game before its March launch, Maxis is proud to announce that it will be holding a secondSimCity Closed Beta*. The second SimCity Closed Beta will be running from 1400GMT on February 16 to 1400GMT on February 17 and will feature an enhanced version of the one-hour slice of gameplay that delighted fans in January. Fans who haven’t already signed up for the beta can do so at www.SimCity.com/beta to help contribute to the launch of SimCity. Hurry, sign-ups end at 1400GMT on February 11.

Green Man Gaming offers Zombies (free) for 24 hours

Feb 08, 2013

The first free game has gone live and is now available, as long as users have both Playfire and GMG accounts, and ensure to link them. Follow the instructions on their blog for all the info.

Zombies. game page: http://www.greenmangaming.com/s/us/en/pc/games/action/zombies/

Anna extends the scares in the upcoming Extended Edition

Feb 07, 2013

Kalypso Media Digital is pleased to announce the upcoming release of Anna – Extended Edition for PC and Mac via digital download partners. To promote this impending release, we are releasing a brand new short film to set the scene for this psychological horror game.

Pricing for Anna – Extended Edition and a release date will be announced soon. Fans who have already purchased the standard version of Anna will be able to download the Extended Edition content for free when released.

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Capcom Arcade Cabinet – Full Game Listing

Feb 07, 2013

Starting February 19 until early May, a total of 15 titles from 1984-1988 will be released on a staggered schedule available to purchase digitally either as a series of packs or individually, allowing players to choose what they want to buy. By purchasing all 15 titles, either separately or together, players will gain access to two bonus games absolutely free.

Downloading an individual title or pack will also give access to the Capcom Arcade Cabinet ‘platform’ which provides additional features including DIP switch functionality, a music player, and the ability to capture and share screenshots or video. When playing in standard mode, players will be able to access DIP switch-like settings to adjust their number of lives and difficulty, including a Casual Mode which tones down the difficulty level and makes it more attainable to see the end credits. Further features include 2 player online play for certain titles; a global leaderboard; a training mode with infinite lives to hone your strategy and an option to select either the Japanese or international versions of the individual titles.

In order to share their experiences with friends, PlayStation 3 users will be able to capture video of gameplay to post on YouTube, while Xbox 360 users will be able to upload screenshots to Facebook. Further additions include a sound gallery that allows players to listen to the background music of any of the games in their cabinet, and an art gallery which fills with new pieces as players progress through the games.

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