Call of Duty: Black Ops II – Uprising DLC Map Pack launches exclusively on Xbox Live today

Apr 16, 2013

Coming out right on the heels of the inaugural Call of Duty® Championship, presented by Xbox, which set records as the biggest live event ever streamed on Xbox LIVE®, and the largest concurrent viewership for a live streamed console game tournament on Twitch, Call of Duty®: Black Ops II Uprising, is available today, exclusively on Xbox LIVE for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, with other platforms to follow. The second Downloadable Content (DLC) Map Pack from Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard (Nasdaq: ATVI), and its award-winning studio Treyarch, Call of Duty: Black Ops II Uprising includes four new, diverse multiplayer maps and the groundbreaking “Mob of the Dead” Zombies experience, featuring legendary Hollywood actors Ray Liotta, Chazz Palminteri, Joe Pantoliano, and Michael Madsen as four mobster inmates trying to escape a zombie infested Alcatraz.

“Uprising is equal parts creativity and passion, all rolled into four amazing multiplayer maps, and entirely new and ambitious ‘Mob of the Dead’ Zombies experience,” said Mark Lamia, Treyarch’s Studio Head. “We’ve packed a ton of gameplay into the multiplayer maps, including game-changing environmental challenges and opportunities. And with ‘Mob of the Dead,’ the team has pushed the boundaries of the Zombies fiction into new territory, anchored by top Hollywood talent.”

Following tradition of the original Call of Duty: Black Ops fan-favorite Zombies mode “Call of the Dead,” Call of Duty: Black Ops II Uprising’s chilling new “Mob of the Dead” Zombies experience puts players in the shoes of four prohibition-era mobsters, Billy Handsome (Liotta), Al “The Weasel” Arlington (Pantoliano), Salvatore “Sal” DeLuca (Palminteri), and Michael “Finn” O’Leary (Madsen), serving time in Alcatraz Prison only to discover that being behind bars is the least of their problems. In order to survive, players must work their way through the steel cells and aging concrete buildings while fighting off a multitude of zombified prisoners and guards trapped on the island with them.

Uprising also debuts four new, exotic and unique multiplayer maps set around the globe: “Magma” is a modern Japanese village with volcanic eruptions carving multiple paths throughout the town; “Encore” takes place in the aftermath of a deserted London music festival and leaves numerous opportunities for plenty of run-and-gun, close quarters combat; “Vertigo” is a futuristic high-rise mega-structure located in India and features dizzying vistas and multi-tiered pathways; finally, “Studio” is a contemporary re-imagining of “Firing Range,” the fan-favorite multiplayer map from the original Call of Duty: Black Ops. “Studio” is a Hollywood movie back lot with a variety of cinematic themes that range from Sci-Fi to the Old West.

Victoria II: Heart of Darkness is Released, Proven by Launch Trailer

Apr 16, 2013

Real estate is valuable because God isn’t making any more, so if you’re the leader of a growing industrial empire you need to move fast to stake your claim.Victoria II: Heart of Darkness, the second expansion to grand strategy franchise Victoria II—a political simulator where the population reacts to your decisions—has officially released today.

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Metro: Last Light – Dev Diary 2 is Full of Hostiles

Apr 16, 2013

Deep Silver today opened the next chapter in the Ranger Survival Guide for Metro: Last Light. The second video in a series of three, “Enemy Danger” prepares the player against the hostile inhabitants of the Metro, both human and mutant. While deadly creatures control the desolate Moscow wastelands, the human survivors, having splintered into extremist factions, gangs of bandits, and the order of Rangers, try to maintain a hold on the tunnels of the Metro. To stand up to them, the player has a choice: will he try to sneak past the threats, save their lives and rare ammunition, or will he seek direct face-off to wipe them out once for all? Both ways carry risks and every action has consequences within the tunnels of the Metro.

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GTA V Artwork: Cash and Carry by Land and Sea

Apr 16, 2013

Presenting two new artwork releases, both partly glimpsed in the recent reveal of the official Grand Theft Auto V cover. This pair of illustrations depicts two of our three leads, Michael and Franklin getting things done – by sea, or by land.

Of course many other modes of transport will also be available to accommodate your travel needs across Los Santos and Blaine County this September…

Rise of the Triad Multiplayer Mayhem – 18 Minutes of Gameplay

Apr 15, 2013

Official 18 Minutes “Gibbing in Faku” Gameplay Reveal

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SUDA 51’s ‘Black Knight Sword’ is 50% Off on Xbox Live Arcade

Apr 15, 2013

Grasshopper Manufacture’s Black Knight Sword will be on sale April 16-23 for the suggested price point of 400 Microsoft Points on Xbox LIVE Arcade for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system, 50 percent off its release price.

[button link=”http://www.savingcontent.com/video-game-review/black-knight-sword/” variation=”black”]Curious to read our review? Click here[/button]

Co-published by D3Publisher and Digital Reality, Black Knight Sword explores a bizarre world that pits players in the role of The Black Knight as he attempts to rid the world of the villainous and super evil Dark Princess. With a strange spin on a classic fairytale, Black Knight Sword blends traditional side-scrolling action with an unprecedented visual style.

A throwback to the 16-bit era, Black Knight Sword has simple, yet addictive gameplay within a stylized hand-drawn puppet theater world. As an intriguing “Interactive Kamishibia” (paper drama), Black Knight Sword unfolds similar to a virtual pop-up book filled with memorable creatures to encounter and addictive challenges to overcome.

Arma 3 Alpha update 0.54 released

Apr 15, 2013

Bohemia Interactive has released a new update for the Arma 3 Alpha. Aside a wide number of tweaks and optimizations, version 0.54 of the Arma 3 Alpha implements a new fog technology, adjustable sidearm stances and further stability fixes.

To participate in the Arma 3 Alpha, people can choose from the Arma 3 Alpha (24.99 EUR/19.99 GBP/32.99 USD) or Arma 3 Digital Deluxe Edition (39.99 EUR/34.99 GBP/49.99 USD) on Steam or Store.bistudio.com. Alternatively, they can obtain a free invite to the Arma 3 Alpha Lite, which enables you to try out the singleplayer content of the Alpha. The full overview of editions, and their conditions, can be found here.

FROM: Project Lead
TO: Alpha Users
UNIT: Arma 3 Alpha, Arma 3 Alpha Lite
ACTIVITY: Game Update: 0.54 (new fog technology, adjustable sidearm stances, crash fixes)
SIZE: ~380 MB

CHANGELOG

DATA

• Added: improved public debug console
• New light rendering added for bushes
• More detailed middle distance terrain texture added
• Adjustable stances for sidearms added
• Sprint speed decreased
• Tweaked transitions from ragdoll
• Fixed transition from free fall into swimming and onto land
• New animations for swimming with rifles
• Rifle kneel sprinting fix
• Rifle raised idling for AI fix
• Pistol prone movement improvements
• Rifle & pistol evasive move fixes (disabled optics)
• Removed sway in prone adjust low
• Pistol self healing
• Improved pistol kneel sprint animation
• Improved connection prone to sprint
• Player could shoot a sidearm during the healing animation
• Transition from prone to upright sprint while unarmed caused visual sliding
• Priority of actions in action menu adjusted
• Stratis terrain and object placement tweaks
• New post-process effects for injuries added
• Fixed fuel gauges for MH-9 helicopter family
• MH-9 can now carry more soldiers
• Duplicate target icon in Ka60 Helmet-Mounted Display removed
• Ifrit cargo pose added
• Compass visualization changed
• New secondary shadow LODs (glasses, bandoleer, belt, rebreather)
• Camouflage selection tweaks
• Fixed: Sites are no longer placing patrol waypoints on water
• Civilian Sites were disabled
• Logo and tagline splash screens merged
• Main menu game and version indicator could overlap
• Added: Any mission with description.ext has now loading mission box with “Unknown” text
• Added: Unknown author is now displayed also for maps
• Fixed: Mission restart now resets reload counter
• Added: Loading “continue” save will no longer raise the reload counter
• Fixed: Mission failed had two debriefing screens
• Fixed: “Lose” ending no longer shows “Mission Completed” title
• Fixed: Error icon is no longer shown for logics
• Fixed incorrect topic selection after closing and reopening Field Manual
• Fixed: “Respawn” button is no longer enabled in missions with respawn “NONE”, “BIRD” or with missing respawn settings
• Added: “respawnButton” parameter can now enable the button in respawn types which would normally disable it
• Geometry fixing (AI collisions with buildings tweaked)
• Config classes for weapons cleaned
• Fixed: http://feedback.arma3.com/view.php?id=4189 (fish no longer only swim North)
• Fixed: http://feedback.arma3.com/view.php?id=6333 (EBR sight alignment)
• Fixed: http://feedback.arma3.com/view.php?id=6719 (spelling error)
• Fixed:http://feedback.arma3.com/view.php?id=3087 (fire geometry – wall)
• Fixed: http://feedback.arma3.com/view.php?id=1903
• Fixed: http://feedback.arma3.com/view.php?id=3837
• Fixed: http://feedback.arma3.com/view.php?id=5511
• Fixed: http://feedback.arma3.com/view.php?id=5709
• Fixed: http://feedback.arma3.com/view.php?id=5619
• Fixed: http://feedback.arma3.com/view.php?id=6664

ENGINE

• New fog technology implemented
• Picture-in-Picture optimization implemented
• Terrain shadows tweaked
• Fixed: AI no longer fires on targets it does not see (but which are reported by other group members)
• Fixed: http://feedback.arma3.com/view.php?id=5210 (MP rotation synchronization fixed)
• Fixed: http://feedback.arma3.com/view.php?id=1126 (Speed of sound delays tweaked)
• Changes and fixes merged from Arma 2: Operation Arrowhead beta patches
• MP pose synchronization fixed
• Improved performance related to object instancing
• Fixed – AI disembarking when moving to another vehicle position incorrectly
• Game loading with “addAction” crash fixed
• PhysX collisions related crashes fixed
• Fixed: http://feedback.arma3.com/view.php?id=6881 (out of memory crash)
• Fixed: Crash while taking RPG Alamut from ground
• Larger string buffer for the ‘format’ script command
• Fixed: Reloading different magazine type could do nothing but remove the magazine
• Destruction of vehicle while manipulating with objects in its inventory fixed
• Ambient creatures’ position after game load fixed
• Fixed: remote destroyed wheels have now the right distance detection to the ground
• Fixed: healing sound effects were endlessly looped
• Ships are no longer automatically deleted after destruction (consistent with other vehicle types)
• Free fall inventory access fixed
• Magazine manipulation while discarding weapons tweaked
• Items’ behavior while moving from dead body to container tweaked
• Helicopter behavior improved (rotor simulation now does not allow helicopter to fly up-side down)
• AI running up and down hill tweaked
• Command ‘stance’ now returns more consistent values: “PRONE”, “CROUCH” and “STAND”
• Fixed: RMB to equip did not work for binoculars
• Fixed: Vehicle commander stepped optics zoom did not function correctly
• Fixed: artifacts on water near shore when looking from high distance
• Solved issues related to flickering optics

The Arma 3 Alpha will update automatically via Steam. The changelog for 0.54 is provided together with the update or can also be found on the official Arma 3 website.

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NHL 14 checking your Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 on September 13th, 2013

Apr 15, 2013

Electronic Arts announced today the breakthrough features for EA SPORTS NHL 14 that are set to unleash the aggression, speed and skill of NHL hockey through the best technology of this console generation that EA SPORTS has to offer. Deliver game-changing hits with cutting-edge NHL® Collision Physics, built from EA SPORTS FIFA’s revolutionary Player Impact Engine. Drop the gloves with the all-new Enforcer Engine, powered by the same technology used in the critically acclaimed Fight Night franchise. Experience a new level of speed and control with the second season of the critically-acclaimed True Performance Skating engine, and dangle defenders with all-new One-Touch Dekes. In addition, fans can Live the Life of an NHL player in an all-new incarnation of the Be a Pro Career Mode, now featuring on and off-ice elements. NHL 14 will be available for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system, and the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system. NHL 14 releases on September 10, 2013 in North America and September 13, 2013 in Europe.

“We’re very proud of the history of innovation that the EA SPORTS NHL franchise has produced on this console generation, and this year we’re amplifying that innovation by leveraging technology from teams like FIFA and Fight Night,” says Dean Richards, General Manager, NHL, EA SPORTS. “This year fans will feel the speed, skill and aggression of NHL hockey like never before, powered by some of the best EA SPORTS technology to create the best game we could ever imagine.”

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ORIGIN PC Announces The Corsair 900D, Supports up to 4-Way SLI Liquid-Cooled TITANs

Apr 15, 2013

ORIGIN PC announced today the availability of the highly anticipated Corsair 900D full tower chassis to their award-winning line of GENESIS desktops. The Corsair 900D is the perfect solution for hardware enthusiasts looking for a desktop chassis that offers an incredible amount of expansion options with plenty of room for future upgrades. With enough space for up to nine hard drive bays, dual power supplies and support for up to 4-WAY SLI liquid-cooled NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN graphics cards, the Corsair 900D Chassis is a welcomed addition to the ORIGIN GENESIS family.

“The Corsair 900D is a perfect addition to our GENESIS line of high-performance desktops.” said Kevin Wasielewski ORIGIN PC CEO and co-founder. “With plenty of room for upgrades and support for up to 4-WAY SLI Liquid-Cooled TITANs, the GENESIS 900D is the ideal solution for any hardware enthusiast.”

ORIGIN GENESIS Corsair 900D Features:

• Supports Up To Five Radiator Mounting Points, Dual Power Supplies and Nine Hard Drive Bays
• ORIGIN CRYOGENIC Liquid-Cooling Solution for both CPU and GPU
• Supports Up To 4-WAY SLI Liquid-Cooled NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITANs
• ORIGIN PC Custom Automotive Paint Finish Available

The ORIGIN GENESIS starts at $1430.00

“The Obsidian 900D cases are designed to be the ultimate platform for seriously expandable, high-performance PCs,” said Thi La, Senior VP and GM of Memory and Enthusiast Component Products at Corsair. “With the ORIGIN team’s system design expertise and flair for style, I knew they would build an incredible machine around the case. They did in a big way. The ORIGIN GENESIS 900D PC is simply amazing.”

Rockstar puts Grand Theft Auto Radio Playlists on Spotify and iTunes

Apr 13, 2013

As a service for all GTA fans on Spotify as well as for those who’d like to easily browse and find their favorite tracks from Grand Theft Auto radio history on iTunes, we’ve gone ahead and compiled the official set of playlists below, with tracks from all the music stations featured in Grand Theft Auto IV, Episodes from Liberty City, San Andreas, Vice City and more.

Grand Theft Auto IV & Episodes from Liberty City

A reflection of the diverse sounds of Liberty City, the epic in-game soundtrack of Grand Theft Auto IV and Episodes from Liberty City features 19 unique music stations with everything from modern East Coast hip-hop to Eastern European pop. These playlists also include the adrenaline-pumping additions in The Lost and Damned as well as the club anthems and rare disco classics featured in The Ballad of Gay Tony.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

The music of the Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas soundtrack spans the entire FM radio dial of the West Coast during a particularly influential period in American music and culture. From Willie Nelson to Public Enemy, Rick James to Humble Pie, Soundgarden to James Brown, En Vogue to Black Uhuru…

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City

Take it all the way back to the 80s and take the Vice City radio dial with you wherever you go – from the soul stylings of Fever 105 to the chart-toppers of Flash FM to V-Rock’s headbangers and more.

Grand Theft Auto III

The first entry in the Grand Theft Auto series to mix licensed music tracks with original ones created specifically for the game, Grand Theft Auto III’s soundtrack is the perfect complement to the dark and seedy underworld of Liberty City – rock out to Salvatore Leone’s favorite arias from Double Cleff FM, Toni’s glory daze tunes from Flashback 95.6 and more.

Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories 

In addition to including popular mainstays like Double Cleff FM, Head Radio and Lips 106, this 1998 incarnation of the Liberty City radio dial also features the world music stylings of Radio Del Mundo as well as DJ Clue’s The Liberty Jam.

Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories

The saga of the Vance family’s rise to power in Vice City features over 100 songs from the iconic early 80s, including Flash FM’s pop smashes, V-Rock’s metal anthems and Wave 103’s new wave hits.

Please note that this is all the music from these stations that’s currently available on each service – some songs don’t yet exist on either Spotify or iTunes, but we’re hoping to be able to add the original songs within our control where possible soon. And for those nostalgic for some of the commercials from these games, be sure to check out The Advertising Council repository if you haven’t before – a proper collection of radio adverts from the archives of LC, VC and SA’s historical radio dials…

Call of Duty: Black Ops II Double XP Weekend: April 12th to 15th

Apr 12, 2013

To help celebrate the impending launch of Uprising, the 2^nd DLC for Call of Duty: Black Ops II, this weekend is a double XP weekend for Call of Duty: Black Ops II. Double XP starts today at 10am Pacific and ends Monday at 10am Pacific. The Double XP weekend is for Xbox 360, PS3, WiiU and PC.

Uprising will launch Tuesday, April 16^th on Xbox 360. The new DLC, Uprising featuring the Mob of the Dead Zombie map:

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Injustice: Gods Among Us – Heroes and Villains Battling It Out in the Launch Trailer

Apr 12, 2013

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and DC Entertainment today released the official launch trailer for the upcoming DC Comics fighting game Injustice: Gods Among Us. Releasing next week on April 16, this new trailer gives a look into the game’s original storyline, which includes DC Comics most popular heroes and villains choosing sides in a world where the lines between good and evil have been blurred. In the world of Injustice: Gods Among Us, players must ask themselves – what if our greatest heroes became our greatest threat?

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Wargame AirLand Battle – New Screenshots feature The German Units

Apr 12, 2013

Our recon teams are informing us about a huge troop movement in Germany! Wargame AirLand Battle, the sequel to the spectacular real-time strategy game Wargame European Escalation, today presents its German combat units, through 6 new screenshots.

After unveiling its British units, today’s spotlight is now the vehicles and the combat units from West-Germany, but also those from East Germany. Wargame takes place in the middle of the Cold War, while Germany is still torn in two : on one side, the FRG (Federal Republic of Germany) siding with NATO. On the other side, the GDR (German Democratic Republic), siding with the Warsaw Pact.

Today’s screenshots show us units from the two Germanies. Connoisseurs will easily recognize some of the new units of the FRG, especially its aircraft composing its air force, the Luftwaffe, such as the F-104G “Starfighter” and the Panavia Tornado; we can see them flying over the immense urban areas of Wargame’s new maps. On the GDR side, we can observe that most of the vehicles are of Soviet origin. This allows the GDR to access tried and tested equipment, known for its efficency and reliability, such as its own variants of the T-72 main battle tank. The GDR has also access to a large number of combat aircraft, such as the Mig-17 we can see in the screenshots, and among other aircraft, including variants of the Mig-21 that, even though they are not the most advanced planes in the conflict, can be useful in a broad range of situations when used wisely.

On both sides of the Iron Curtain, German troops are now departing to Scandinavia, in order to be the first at the frontline when the conflict starts with Wargame AirLand Battle’s release in May.

Bear McCreary Announces the Launch of a New Music Label titled: Sparks & Shadows

Apr 11, 2013

Composer Bear McCreary announces the launch of Sparks & Shadows, a new boutique record label that will release soundtracks primarily composed by the Emmy-nominated composer.  The first four releases from the label will include two albums for Defiance (the Trion Worlds videogame and the SyFy television series), Da Vinci’s Demons (STARZ, BBC) and the upcoming feature Europa Report (Magnet).  McCreary, listed by Io9 as one of the ten most influential science fiction composers in history, was recently named a “Secret Weapon” by WIRED Magazine.

 “I value the soundtrack album experience, because score records are what first led me down the path to becoming a composer,” explained McCreary.  “I was a fan and collector long before I became a professional musician.  I have always looked for ways to deliver my original scores to fans so they can have the same experiences.”

Sparks & Shadows will release two soundtracks of McCreary’s music for the groundbreaking multimedia science fiction epicDefiance, the first attempt to launch a new franchise in both the television and videogame mediums. The game combines the intense action of a third-person shooter, with the persistence and scale of a massive online game, while its television counterpart exudes the sweeping scope and heroic characters of classic science fiction dramas. The videogame album was released digitally on April 2^nd.

The Defiance TV series soundtrack album will be available for pre-order late May, and will include both original score and songs. For the collectors, a limited edition combined multi-CD set will be released in late summer, featuring exclusive liner notes and bonus tracks.

McCreary recently collaborated with writer / director David S. Goyer, scoring his historical adventure series Da Vinci’s Demons, which premieres on STARZ on April 12^th. The secret history of Leonardo Da Vinci’s tantalizing life reveals a portrait of a young man tortured by a gift of superhuman genius. He finds himself in a conflict between truth and lies, religion and reason, past and future. His aspirations are used against him by the opposing forces of the time—luring him into a game of seduction where those who despise his intellect need him most.

McCreary’s sweeping orchestral score was meticulously researched to accurately represent the time period, without being bound to it.  His score combines full orchestra, Renaissance instrumentation, choir and ethnic soloists with the renowned Calder Quartet and surging contemporary synthesis.  Sparks & Shadows will release McCreary’s main title theme for Da Vinci’s Demons as a digital single on April 12^th and the full album will be available digitally to coincide with the season one finale.  A limited edition CD, with exclusive bonus content, is planned for the summer.

This August, the label will also release the soundtrack for the upcoming feature Europa Report. The film is a science fiction thriller starring Sharlto Copley (District 9) that explores the first manned mission to Jupiter’s mysterious moon, Europa. McCreary’s evocative score will feature string orchestra, solo piano and heavy synthesis.

 “Bear’s relationship with fans is incredibly unique,” said Joe Augustine, the label’s General Manager. “This direct communication gives us a keen knowledge of what his fans really want, and our variable distribution model gives us the freedom and flexibility to deliver it.”

“I am fortunate to have collaborated with La-La Land Records and other labels to release over fifteen albums,” McCreary said.  “While many of these important relationships will continue, Sparks & Shadows has been formed to push boundaries further.”

[box_light]Releases by Sparks & Shadows will be available worldwide, through select retail outlets, and digitally on all platforms.[/box_light]

Sacred Citadel: The Fourth and Final Character is the Seraphim Mage

Apr 11, 2013

Three warriors stand against the evil Ashen Empire – one of them is the beautiful and determined Seraphim Mage.

The companions encounter a particularly fierce group of opponents. While the warriors in the front line of attack struggle to fend off the advancing mountain beasts, from the background of the battle the Seraphim launches one of her powerful attack spells. Caught off guard, the beasts immediately freeze to ice where they stand. Quickly, with the Safiri Warrior ahead of the others, the group of heroes leap on their hapless foes and smash them to the ground.

Deep Silver today revealed details about the fourth and final of the four character classes in the upcoming side-scrolling action brawler Sacred Citadel. The Seraphim represents the Mage class, specialized in offensive magic. She keeps to the background most of the time and casts devastating magic spells that cause elemental damage with various effects. With a spell book or a wand in her hand, she can also cause magic combo attacks using the elements of fire and ice.

The Seraphim were elite warriors, guardians of the gods. But after the Heart of Ancaria had been restored and peace had returned to the lands, the Seraphim went back to their remote cloisters, isolated from the rest of the world.

Sacred Citadel will be released on April 17, 2013 as a digital download title for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system through PlayStation®Network, through Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and through Steam and other ESD partners.

Sacred 3 is also already in development, and further details will be revealed at a later date.