The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing is an All-in-One Action RPG

Dec 19, 2012

Independent developer NeocoreGames presents a terrifying new gameplay trailer for The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing, sending the fabled monster-hunter out of the metropolis and into the gothic wilderness. High up in the Borgovian mountains, among the colossal trees and in the deep valleys, where ancient idols guard the swamps and the village inhabitants barricade their doors at night, a new evil makes even the ancient monsters tremble with fear.

Watch the new gameplay video and see how Van Helsing makes good use of his mighty sword, deadly pistol, and his arcane tricks, while he battles both the menacing creatures of folk tales and the monsters born in the secret laboratories of the mad scientists.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/uYpBe1JQZTY]

Tomb Raider Scavenger Hunt app lets you earn FREE DLC for Retail Game

Dec 19, 2012

Square Enix, Inc., publisher of SQUARE ENIX® interactive entertainment products in the Americas has announced the TOMB RAIDER® Scavenger Hunt is now live. The hunt is a series of weekly trivia and photo challenges designed for TOMB RAIDER commenced December 18th and is available on mobile (iOS, Android, Windows Phone) / tablet devices and online now through the game’s release on March 5, 2013.

Players joining the Scavenger Hunt will have the chance to unlock up to five in-game DLC items, while physical prizes include TOMB RAIDER-themed consoles and life-size statues of Lara Croft. The first runner-up winner will receive a TOMB RAIDER-themed all-terrain vehicle (ATV). The grand prize winner will receive an adventure holiday for two in Fiji with hotel and airfare included, along with an array of activities true to the spirit of Lara Croft and TOMB RAIDER. Winners will be announced in March 2013.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/Cx-XM8tKn4M]

Bully, Midnight Club 3 and Red Dead Revolver Now Available on PSN

Dec 19, 2012

In addition to last week’s release of San Andreas in the PlayStation Network’s PS2 Classics Collection, a trio of Rockstar titles from the PS2 era are now available to download from the PlayStation store – starting today in North America for $9.99 each. The titles will be available in the European and Asian PSN Store early tomorrow.

Epic Games’ Official Store Opens Its Doors

Dec 18, 2012

Epic Games, Inc. announces the launch of its official online store, where fans can get their hands on specially designed merchandise and apparel based on the company’s renowned brands and characters. Collectible items at Epic’s store, located at http://www.epicgamesstore.com/, are exclusive and cannot be purchased anywhere else.

Epic gear and goods may be ordered now with expedited shipping to arrive in time for holiday gifting. Notable mentions include “Gears of War” clothing and artwork, new t-shirts based on “Infinity Blade,” “Unreal Tournament,” “Jazz Jackrabbit” and Unreal Engine, as well as Epic Gamer apparel. Of course, the introductory collection wouldn’t be complete without a t-shirt dedicated to Epic’s Impossible Studios, which comes emblazoned with the Internet-approved Impossibear mascot.

“We’re excited to launch Epic’s official store and provide our loyal fans apparel and merchandise that they can’t find anywhere else,” said Kendall Boyd, Epic’s director of marketing, worldwide studios. “Our hope is to grow our brand via channels such as the Epic Store and celebrate all of our terrific intellectual properties with the community.”

The Epic Store will be continually upgraded and expanded, with many more surprises planned for fans in the coming weeks and months.

MechWarrior Online adds “Conquest” to available Play Modes and Enhances many other elements

Dec 18, 2012

Massive new additions to MechWarrior Online will be live today as Piranha Games and Infinite Game Publishing announce “Conquest Mode” – the highly anticipated mode that allows for capturable locations in the Inner Sphere, greatly altering gameplay strategies. In addition to Conquest Mode, three epic new Mechs are available today as well as a new twist on an urban environment that will force you to walk the precipice of darkness (and ledges): River City Night. For beginners, the developers have addressed ease-of-advancement issues faced by new players by implementing an entirely new reward system enabling a more rapid advancement toward purchasing more powerful Mechs. Existing players will also benefit from economy changes.

“Conquest mode is a huge addition to how the game is played and one that I think veteran players will enjoy” said Bryan Ekman, creative director at Piranha Games. “We’re also excited to see how new players react to the changes in advancement at the beginning of the game. One issue we’ve heard repeatedly is that MechWarrior Online has a steep learning curve. We feel this content update drastically improves this aspect of the game and look forward to hearing the feedback from new players.”

The full run down of content in the Conquest Mode update is below:

• Conquest Mode – a key game mode inspired by the BattleTech franchise, Conquest Mode puts five capturable locations on the map, each of which give players points over time as they are held. Players can neutralize and then capture enemy locations by standing on them. Cooperation among your lance is more important than ever as competing teams will constantly be trying to outflank the other and new strategies will need to be formed to win the match.
• Economy Update and New Cadet Bonus Rewards – Fans who have not yet tried MechWarrior Online have a new reason to jump in and get hooked this holiday. New players will receive a “Cadet Bonus” (C-Bills bonus) for the first 25 games, enabling new recruits to advance faster and purchase more powerful Mechs. Additional economy changes include trial Mechs getting the same rewards as normal Mechs (including Mech XP), a one-time bonus for existing players who have completed over 26 matches and rewards given based on active participation for each round, i.e. gameplay performance for securing a win, loss and kill values among other fairness and balance changes.
• Three New Mechs – All with different combat styles, histories and unique battlefield advantages:

o   Two Hero Mechs – The Twin Dragons: Piloted by brothers, these Mechs have very different styles of combat; one focuses on close range brawling, and the other on long-range attacks. Ever trying to best the other, they can be found side-by-side, but always trying to outshine the other. Born on New Samarkand and part of a noble family, they attended the Sun Zhang MechWarrior Academy together; upon graduation, each was given a Dragon – to Martin, a DRG-1C belonging to his grandmother, and to Donald, a DRG-1N that belonged to their father.

§  Piloted by Martin Takeda, the Dragon DRG-FLAME (http://mwomercs.com/game/battlemechs/hero/flame) is perfect design for those who love to pick off opponents at long range.

§  Piloted by Donald Takeda, the Dragon DRG-FANG (http://mwomercs.com/game/battlemechs/hero/fang) is ideal for those pilots who are all about armor, speed, and getting into the fight.

o   The Stalker Assault Mech – Weighing in at 85 tons and containing multiple missile and energy slots with a terrifying primary variant, this Assault Mech – a giant on the battlefield – may soon be one of the most popular in the Mech lineup.

• River City Night Map – This urban map is extremely dark, which means Night Vision and Thermal Vision are a must. Weapons fired in the background will light up the night sky, but don’t get distracted by the fireworks; make sure to watch out for ledges and avoid falling into the water when scouting for enemies.
• Phranken Mech Pattern and Camo Spec Paint – These newly released badass patterns and paint specs can now be applied to all Mechs in the MechLab.
• New Year’s Items – Seven unique items are available to decorate your cockpit in celebration of the New Year – the year 3050 in the Inner Sphere including:

o   Balloons for that extra cheer

o   Hanging New Years Banner

o   Ice bucket

o   Classy Mech bobblehead, featuring a recognizable Mech

o   3050 hologram – Happy New Years!

o   Champagne glass hologram

o   Top hat to add some class to your cockpit 

• Weapon Speed Increases, Performance and Bug Fixes – The projectile speed of all ballistic weapons (except the gauss and AC/2), has been upped resulting in targets taking incoming fire sooner. Performance and bug fixes are also a noticeable change in this week’s content update.

Neudorf Outpost DLC challenges Sniper Elite V2 players

Dec 18, 2012

Sources in the field report that German forces have established a secret fuel depot, hidden deep in the Harz Mountains. With reinforcements on the way we can’t risk an all-out assault so it’s up to you to take out their sentries, plant the charges and get out of there without tripping the alarms. I’m not going to lie to you Fairburne, this is by far the biggest mission we’ve ever sent you on – the terrain is much vaster, the enemy less contained and far more unpredictable so we’ve provided you with a new batch of weapons for this mission – the Type 99 Rifle, Blyskawica submachine gun and Tokarev TT33 Pistol. It’s not much but it’s all the edge we can give you for this operation.

You’ll need to have your wits about you to figure out the best course of attack. Good luck.

Take on the challenge of the all-new Neudorf Outpost DLC for 505 Games’ Sniper Elite V2 available today on Xbox LIVE® for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for 400 Microsoft points and PlayStation®Network for $4.99.

Rise of the Hutt Cartel is the first Digital Expansion for Star Wars: The Old Republic

Dec 18, 2012

There is a new threat in the Star Wars™ universe and the future of the Republic, the Empire and the entire galaxy is at stake!  Today, BioWare™, a studio of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ:EA), and LucasArts announced that players will face-off against the ruthless Hutt Cartel in the first Digital Expansion: Rise of the Hutt Cartel, coming Spring 2013.  Beginning today, Star Wars: The Old Republic Subscribers can Pre-Order the Digital Expansion: Rise of the Hutt Cartel for only $9.99, 50% of the regular price. Free-to-Play Players can purchase the Digital Expansion for $19.99.  Any player who pre-orders before January 7, 2013 will receive five days of Early Access* to the new fully-voiced story-driven content.

“We know our fans want to keep experiencing the classic Star Wars storylines they love, and that’s what we’re delivering with the Rise of the Hutt Cartel expansion,” said Jeff Hickman, Executive Producer at BioWare Austin. “The planet Makeb is shaping up to be one of our most breathtakingly beautiful settings and the clash with the Hutt Cartel is epic and exciting. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. We have a lot more surprises in store for our fans next year!”

The Digital Expansion: Rise of the Hutt Cartel will send players to Makeb, a dual-faction planet where players will continue their battles with the merciless Hutt Cartel. During their journey, players will meet new allies, make new enemies and uncover the cutting-edge technology on this vibrant planet. Experience five new levels of story-driven missions to an already expansive epic online universe that will raise the level cap to 55. Pre-Order is available now online at www.swtor.com/buy.

Star Wars: The Old Republic is set thousands of years before the classic Star Wars movies. Players are immersed as they team up with friends online to fight in heroic battles reminiscent of the films, exploring a galaxy of vibrant planets, experiencing visceral Star Wars combat, all set to a sweeping musical score. Now, players can experience the complete storylines of the eight iconic Star Wars classes, all the way to Level 50 without having to pay a monthly fee. The new Free-to-Play option complements the existing subscription offering, providing greater flexibility in how to experience Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Peter Molyneux’s GODUS – Prototype Trailer

Dec 17, 2012

Famous video game developer Peter Molyneux and his 22cans team have just finished their first prototype video for their in-development GODUS video game for PC, Mac, iOS and Android devices. GODUS will be a playable game that brings back the God genre of video gaming. It is currently on Kickstarter for three more days.

[vimeo=http://vimeo.com/55796594]

SpellForce 2: Faith in Destiny DLC and Season Pass detailed with a new patch deployed

Dec 17, 2012

Nordic Games is pleased to announce that, over the next three months, they will be releasing three episodic DLC packages with a season pass option for the critically acclaimed SpellForce 2: Faith in Destiny on PC (Steam link).

Furthermore, patch 2.26 has been deployed which – among countless improvements – also contains the coop/“free game” mode for LAN- and Internet-Multiplayer games. Patch notes can be found here:www.nordicgames.at/files/SF-patchnotes/20121217-SF-FiD-Patch-notes_2.26.txt.

The first enthralling DLC released today is Flink’s Secret Diary, exploring the thrilling and humorous story of thief Flink McWinter. Providing approximately four hours of additional gameplay, players will take on the role of the famous thief and scoundrel who has been set the seemingly impossible task of recovering Order Master Matricus’s stolen Fire Ledger. Set in a world full of orcs, barbarians and thieves, players will also meet Flink’s mother, drink wine, meet women and enjoy music.

Flink’s Secret Diary DLC is out now priced USD 3.99, EUR 3.99, and £3.49. The second and third DLC packages will be available to buy on January 18th, 2013 and February 15th, 2013 respectively and will also be priced individually at USD 3.99, EUR 3.99, and £3.49. However those who are looking for a Christmas bargain can purchase the DLC season pass to receive all three for just USD 9.99 EUR 9.99, and £8.99.

Each set before Faith in Destiny, the DLC delves further into the mysterious worlds past. For the first time these three DLCs will allow people to play as one of the non-playable characters from the original story, rather than as the hero himself for a new twist in the tale.

“These great scenarios will allow players to assume characters that they weren’t able to play in the original game but still play with a genuine SpellForce feel,” said Gennaro Giani, Localization and Production Manager at Nordic Games. “There are many faithful SpellForce fans out there and it is important to us to give them something new and thrilling, while remaining true to the RPG and RTS genre that they love.”

SpellForce 2: Faith in Destiny was released for PC in June. Players assume the role of a young man who is supposed to release the entire world of Eo from the threat of a new and nameless evil. Joining forces with a group of diverse heroes and a dragon as trustful companions, players fight to gain information about this mysterious new enemy and thereby discover your own true destiny.

Forza Horizon Rally Expansion Pack Available Tomorrow on Xbox LIVE

Dec 17, 2012

Microsoft, Playground Games, and Turn 10 Studios have announced that the “Forza Horizon” Rally Expansion Pack is available to download starting tomorrow, Tuesday, Dec. 18 on Xbox LIVE. The Rally Expansion Pack brings a thrilling new automotive experience – with new cars, terrain, and off-road racing challenge – to this year’s biggest racing game. The “Forza Horizon” Rally Expansion Pack will be available to download for 1,600 Microsoft Points or as a free download for players who own the “Forza Horizon” Season Pass.

With the Rally Expansion Pack, the Horizon Festival is expanding to include epic rally racing and iconic rally cars that have been specifically tuned to handle the extreme terrain of Colorado’s most formidable off-road stages. Players will test their driving mettle with new multiplayer rally events, leaderboards, and Rivals challenges, as well as a new set of career events that take place on rally stages built across Colorado to push rally drivers and their cars to the limit. These stages feature severe and sudden elevation changes, massive jumps, and more surface variety than has ever been seen in “Forza Horizon,” providing an intense and varied off-road driving experience.

The Rally Expansion Pack will include five iconic rally cars, each with its own storied real-world rally history. Players will be able to upgrade these cars with new rally-specific upgrades including tires, suspensions, transmissions, and body kits specifically created to maximize each car’s potential on the varied terrain of the Expansion Pack’s rally stages. In addition, players will be able to create their own dirt-eating machines by applying rally upgrades to any car in their “Forza Horizon” garage for use in the rally stages and in the main game.

ORIGIN PC Launches A New Line of Ready-To-Ship (RTS) Systems

Dec 14, 2012

ORIGIN PC announced today the availability of their brand new line of Ready-To-Ship (RTS) systems for the holidays. ORIGIN PC’s RTS line of systems come pre-configured using only high quality parts specially chosen by the ORIGIN PC engineers. These high-performance systems are available while supplies last and offer the same unmatched quality and performance as every custom ORIGIN PC without the wait and without any compromise. Every RTS system is put through the same rigorous benchmarking and testing and built and supported in the United States. With included popular PC games, features such as  professional overclocking and award winning Lifetime 24/7 Support, the ORIGIN PC RTS system makes the perfect holiday gift.

Anomaly Korea from 11bit Studios will be Out for Christmas

Dec 14, 2012

11 bit studios announced today that the sequel to their award-winning and critically acclaimed title “Anomaly Warzone Earth” will be officially launching in time for Christmas. Titled “Anomaly Korea,” the game features dynamic, genre-defining tower offense gameplay with new weapons, new levels, and new game styles.

[youtube=http://youtu.be/gFPx0gQnolA]

You Don’t Know Jack about You Don’t Know Jack hitting the App Store Today

Dec 13, 2012

YOU DON’T KNOW JACK®, the multi-million selling interactive trivia franchise, makes its debut on iOS devices today. To download YOU DON’T KNOW JACK for free on the iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch, please visit: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/you-dont-know-jack/id552164252 

“In May, we launched the Facebook version of YOU DON’T KNOW JACK looking to combine the party-atmosphere of console and PC gaming to the asynchronous social gaming space where people could play wherever they want,” said Harry Gottlieb, founder of Jellyvision Games and inventor of YOU DON’T KNOW JACK. “After six months of tweaking the Facebook game, we’re ready for the small screen, starting with iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.”

YOU DON’T KNOW JACK on Facebook, six months past launch, has been received with great critical acclaim and won the “Best Social Game” category for the 2012 SPIKE TV Video Game Awards last week. The iOS version will have persistent play with users of the Facebook version and all key functionality remains the same between apps.

Players of the mobile version can choose to play in guest mode or via Facebook Connect, the latter of which brings party-style play to mobile in three important ways. First, players are automatically matched against their Facebook friends who have already played that specific episode, either on iOS or Facebook. Second, a player is provided a direct option to challenge other Facebook friends at the end of every episode. And third, all players may share results, brag and taunt friends through Facebook, bringing the same fun experienced during a game of YDKJ on the couch into the gameplay experience.

YOU DON’T KNOW JACK will constantly produce new content that engages players with questions on current pop culture and news players are discussing on Facebook, tying gameplay into the social experience more than any previous game.

Players on iOS will access the same content as those using the Facebook version. Cookie Masterson, the game’s popular and sassy host is back, as is the game’s core structure, with outrageous questions that range from Mozart to Psy. The game will be free-to-play with free games provided frequently. Users can also win free games through achievements, and multi-token packs are available for purchase.

This new version of YOU DON’T KNOW JACK represents Jellyvision Games’ latest in a history of innovations within the interactive trivia space. When YOU DON’T KNOW JACK first launched in 1995, it was the first game to truly immerse the user into a fully interactive game show experience, making players feel like the game’s host was talking directly to them. The company also created Who Wants To Be A Millionaire for PC, which at the time was the fastest-selling PC game in history, and the TV game show Smush, which aired on the USA Network. To date, the YOU DON’T KNOW JACK franchise has sold more than 5 million units and generated $100 million in revenue with versions for CD-ROM, consoles, iOS and tabletop.

Hitman HD: Trilogy announced by Square Enix and IO Interactive

Dec 13, 2012

Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of SQUARE ENIX interactive entertainment products in the Americas, and IO Interactive A/S, a Square Enix studio, today announced HITMAN HD: TRILOGY, a deadly combination of games including Hitman Contracts, Hitman 2: Silent Assassin and Hitman Blood Money. Players will experience more than 40 intense missions across three classic Hitman games, all presented in glorious HD. HITMAN HD: TRILOGY will be released for PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft for $39.99 in North America.

The HITMAN HD: TRILOGY is scheduled for release in North America on January 29, 2013 and across Europe and PAL territories on February 1, 2013 for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, and Xbox 360. HITMAN: TRILOGY is rated M for Mature.