Two New Arenas and Ranking System Introduced Tonight
IRVINE, CALIF.– Sept. 11, 2015 – As announced earlier this week, ESTsoft, Inc. has provided the next free update for CABAL 2, “Trial of Champions.”
The new update features two new arenas; one featuring PVE challenges for individual players brave enough to go alone, and one which pits two players against each other in fierce one-on-one PVP combat. Both arenas require players to be level 10 or higher to enter.
There is also a new ranking system that will track players in the new arenas and in-game battlegrounds. This feature tracks the amount of points that players rack up during these events and gives them a ranking. At the end of each season players will be awarded prizes based off of their ranking.
Evolving from the wildly-successful CABAL Online, which hosts nearly 30 million users from more than 60 countries around the world, CABAL 2 is a high-fantasy MMO for PC which combines deep, immersive RPG elements with epic skill-based battles. This next chapter in the CABAL series bring a unique style of gameplay sure to appeal to players who are both nostalgic for the classic MMOs of the past, but also still enjoy the technical advancements of modern PC gaming.
For more information, and to download CABAL 2 and check out the “Trial of Champions” update, please visit www.cabal2.com.
About ESTsoft, Inc.
ESTsoft Inc. is the North American publishing and operations arm of ESTsoft Corp, a leading Korean software company since 1993. ESTsoft delivers essential software products and innovative online games around the world. ESTsoft has been a KOSDAQ listed company since 2008.
CHARGE THROUGH THE ENEMY LINES WITH THE HARD-HEADED PACHY IN ARK: SURVIVAL EVOLVED
Furthering its relentless effort to expand the diversity of lifeforms on ARK: Survival Evolved, Studio Wildcard has brought forth the next creature from its extensive library of dino dossiers, the hard-charging, bone-headed Pachycephalosaurus (“Pachy” to its friends). For players who own ARK, update the game and find him hanging out within the Jungles and Grasslands.
See the Pachy in action via its announcement gameplay trailer on YouTube HERE
The rather svelte Pachy is a nimble creature and easy-to-tame herbivore, with a singularly exceptional ability: it can execute a “charge” attack that rapidly builds speed, and the harder it hits anything with its bone-plated spiked skull, the more “torpor”-inducing damage it causes. It can even charge straight through structures with this powerful attack, making it a one-of-a-kind creature for quickly causing a KO on your enemies!
Also in today’s ARK“v207” update, among many new features, Studio Wildcard has added a Raft to explore the oceans & live a life at sea, and a massive new system for building structures on top of large platforms including mobile Bronto bases, providing Tribes with tremendous new tactical possibilities.
The most popular open-world Early Access game on Steam, ARK: Survival Evolved brings a new level of depth to the survival genre with a unique blend of emergent multiplayer cooperation and competition. Players awake naked and starving on the beach of a mysterious island among a herd of other confused humans and must explore the vast island of ARK to survive. What is the secret to survival?
Developed by Studio Wildcard, in conjunction with Instinct Games, ARK: Survival Evolved will launch in June 2016 on Xbox One via the ID@Xbox program, PlayStation®4 with Project Morpheus support, and full release on Steam. The game is currently in Steam’s Early Access program and includes Oculus Rift VR support and an integration of Steam community features such as Steam Economy and Steam Workshop for custom maps and mods. Players can host private/LAN servers and have access to a custom-built version of the Unreal Engine 4 Editor for creating mods. The world of ARK is designed to be modder-friendly and ever-expanding!
To join our growing band of survivors, journey over to Steam to download the game. For the latest updates follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, subscribe to us on YouTube, visit the Website at www.playark.com and watch us tame and train leviathan dinosaurs on Twitch.TV.
Overview So Warhammer 40000 Regicide is a turn-based strategy game who takes inspiration from an in-universe chess-like game in the 40k universe. I previewed the title a couple of months ago (which you can read about here) and I wrote that I felt the game provided an interesting scaffold upon which more could be added. I return once more, into the maelstrom of battle, to give you my final verdict on whether or not this game has provided the substance I felt it needed.
Story The story follows the exploits of a contingent of the Blood Angels Space Marine chapter as they fight regain a world lost to Greenskin forces… or something to that effect. To be honest I am not entirely sure as it wasn’t conveyed in a particularly engaging way. Besides an opening cinematic which was released in one of the trailers, pretty much everything is told in voiced dialogue between characters before each mission. I stopped paying too much attention to the story largely because the information it was giving me was rather banal and was disjointed from what was happening in the missions themselves (which were actually quite good). Although the universe of Warhammer 40000 is rich and dark, you won’t really find much of that here…
Gameplay A ‘cynical Warhammer license cash-in’ this game is not and it’s in the gameplay where the devs effort shines through. The game does feature a regular version of chess with the various 40k models representing pawns, bishops, rooks, etc. It’s the chess we all know and love but with pretty cool looking models.
Where the game gets interesting is with its ‘Regicide’ game mode. Here pieces move and can capture other pieces just like in chess. Unlike chess however, these units also have secondary abilities as well as attacks which can kill other units. This extra element seemed shallow to me at first glance, but then I grew to appreciate the intricacies which these added elements brought in to the traditional chess gameplay.
In Regicide, the turn is split up into movement and initiative phases. The movement phase is essentially the same as chess while the initiative phase allows you to use a limited number of points to activate unit attacks and special abilities. Each unit has its own health and armour which can go down with attacks against them. It is entirely possible to wipe out another player without capturing a single piece. It would be time consuming, but it is definitely possible.
Furthermore you can spend these points on abilities which have a variety of effects, ranging from increasing your units offensive and defensive capabilities, preventing enemy units from using their abilities, or creating shields. This does add an extra layer of randomness to what is essentially a game of pure logic but it’s a strategic randomness in a similar vein to the likes of XCOM with the player able to manage risk with reward.
The single player campaign introduces you to all these abilities and tactics at a gradual pace. It isn’t however just training for a multiplayer endgame as the design of some of these missions is quite nefarious. I would compare them to logic puzzles which require you to consider all the variables and options before making a decision.
In one example, I was tasked with escorting my captain (king) piece to the other side of the board with only tactical marines (pawns) to keep him company. The opposing ork forces outnumbered me with pawns, knights, and bishops. I lost my captain many times doing that mission, but finally succeeding felt like quite an achievement as I figured out a strategy to get my captain to run the gauntlet.
My one problem with playing against the computer in the campaign is that the AI can be very erratic at times with determining when to capture a piece. On many occasions, I had pieces which were open and unguarded but were not captured by the AI. Instead, the computer would actually retreat its pieces back. This could have been the result of a very cautious strategy but it didn’t appear to have much sense to winning the match or being in-keeping with the ork mentality…
Visuals The visual design here is fairly damn spot-on. The unit models are intricate and close attention to detail have been paid to make these units look beautiful. During certain occasions when a unit attacks or captures another piece, the camera will zoom in to an over-the-shoulder shot to show the two units fighting each other. Once again, this very reminiscent of XCOM but also appears to have taken quite some inspiration from the kill animations of the Dawn of War series.
My main concern with the visuals is how the units are animated. Most of the time, things look awesome and fluid as units eviscerate, mow down, and generally brutalise each other in very macabre but beautiful little scenes. This is very much in keeping with the grim dark style of the 40k license but there are several instances however where the animation feels clunky or untrue to the universe. The walking animation for some units (like the devastator and meganob) looks less like a stride and more a waddle which is certainly amusing but kinda defuses the awesome factor of the models.
One instance I found a little disconcerting was when the space marine captain basically shanks an ork with a power sword repeatedly. The disconcerting part wasn’t the violence but rather the inelegant way in which the captain was using the sword. Maybe I’m just being pedantic but from what I know (and imagine) from the lore, power weapons are more akin to ‘lightsabers’ than they are to conventional weapons. But hey, maybe I’ll be the only one to split this particular hair.
There are also a number of visual bugs with shots not connecting properly (when they should) and hitting their target (when they shouldn’t). Most of the time this isn’t a problem, but it is still frequent enough in a single match that it’s worth mentioning.
Audio The music in the game is basically a lot of deep orchestral movements interspersed with some industrial tones and chanting. These tones I’ve encountered in other 40k strategy games like the aforementioned Dawn of War series and it works well to accompany the strategic play style of the game.
Where the audio does fall down is in regards to the voice acting of various characters within the game. The voice acting for the units themselves is solid and everyone sounds suitably superhuman/orky in this aspect. The narrative campaign, however, features some pretty bad voice acting. I’d be willing to look past this if the dialogue had something of value to say, but unfortunately this isn’t the case. You’ll probably end up reading through everything yourself… assuming you don’t skip it entirely and just read the mission briefs.
Overall Overall, I have mixed feelings about this game and I’m a little disappointed with the execution of some aspects. It has some of the best unit models I have seen in a 40k game but also some pretty bad unit animations to go along with it. The campaign narrative is a mess while the actual mission designs you play out are actually quite fun to figure out. The sound design is solid but has some glaring faults when it comes to voice acting in its narrative aspects. I found certain aspects of the gameplay to be quite fun but I was disappointed with a lack of polish in other parts. If you’re fan of chess and the 40k universe then get it on sale but if not; then this game is not for you.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
LONDON, UK — September 11th, 2015 — Today Ubisoft announced that the Rabbids Invasion TV Show has been adapted for interactive play on mobile devices with the launch of Rabbids Appisodes The Interactive TV Show. Developed by Ubisoft Paris, Rabbids Appisodes The Interactive TV Show is now available to download on Google Play and the Amazon Store.
Rabbids Appisodes The Interactive TV Show is based on the successful Rabbids Invasion TV show created by Ubisoft Motion Pictures, broadcasted in the UK on Nickelodeon. Launched in 2013, the hit TV show has already been viewed more than 450 million times worldwide*.
Rabbids Appisodes The Interactive TV Show is a brand new experience in which kids can not only watch their favorite animated TV show, but also play along to unleash the Rabbids’ silliness. While the episode is playing, kids will interact alongside the Rabbids on their crazy adventures. Kids can mimic the Rabbids through fun-filled activities such as finding hidden objects, and various mini-games using touch, movement and voice controls.
Download all seven Appisodes for only £2.49 on Google Play and the Amazon Appstore.
* Sources: Nickelodeon and France Télévisions
About Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a leading creator, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and services, with a rich portfolio of world-renowned brands, including Assassin’s Creed, Just Dance, Tom Clancy’s video game series, Rayman, Far Cry and Watch Dogs. The teams throughout Ubisoft’s worldwide network of studios and business offices are committed to delivering original and memorable gaming experiences across all popular platforms, including consoles, mobile phones, tablets and PCs. For the 2014-15 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,464 million. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.
Bigmoon Entertainment announces first story details for classic-style RPG Demons Age
Gaia, Portugal — September 11, 2015 — Bigmoon Entertainment today shared the first details of the backstory for Demons Age, a classic-style turn-based roleplaying game with modern graphics and a deep, rich storyline. Currently slated for release on PC, PS4 and Xbox One in Q1 2016, Demons Age takes place in the kingdom of Moragon, a peninsula located in the northern regions of the Abidon Sea.
“It’s important for us to involve players in the lore of Demons Age because, true to the classic turn-based RPG that we have drawn inspiration from, the backstory plays a big role in where you are and what you are aiming to accomplish”, said Paulo J. Games from Bigmoon Entertainment. “Stories are a key aspect in every game I have the opportunity to direct. In Demons Age we wanted to create a story that forms the basis for an experience which combines adventure, mystery and revelations!”
For centuries, Moragon had been a peaceful land where Elves, Dwarves and Halflings have lived their lives with little or no interaction between their respective communities. But when humans arrived, they brought with them trade and in the process established routes from the north to the south of the peninsula, radically changing the lives of the inhabitants as mutual benefits were enjoyed by all throughout. Yet, as is often the case with financial success, greed, jealousy and aggression soon followed, resulting in vicious power struggles amongst the different beings of Moragon. Taking advantage of the disarray, the opportunistic Vazuhr, the Lord of Darkness who had lain dormant for thousands of years in the depths of Moragon, seized the chance to rise again. He soon found a perfect ally in Zogalon, a powerful warlord who had already conquered the biggest port in Moragon and recruited Orcs into his ranks. Together, Vazuhr and Zogalon managed to open the portals of hell and unleash Vazuhr’s legions, but the people of Moragon stood firm and defeated the army of demons, banishing Vazuhr once again to the depths of hell, and restoring peace to the peninsula.
After a century of peace, rumors of strange events and demon sightings made their way to the current king, Konrad Lijak, who investigated the rumours. The news that was delivered to him by his mage, Kaldulor, drove him insane, and Konrad dissapeared without a trace. Despite Kaldulor’s attempts to explain what had happened, he was accused of treason and the King’s children, Princess Pellora and Prince Karan, were left to to rule in his stead. They tried to re-establish order in the peninsula, however the news that a sect is trying to open the gates of hell to unleash demons on Moragon plunges the kingdom into further chaos.
In the midst of this chaos, you are washed ashore when the ship you were being held prisoner on runs aground during a terrible storm. You wake up on the beaches of this dangerous land without weapons or equipment, making your first task to find something in the wreckage to defend yourself against the monsters of Moragon. Thus, your adventure begins.
In the coming months, Bigmoon Entertainment will be releasing details regularly about the lore and gameplay features of Demons Age, so keep an eye out for more information and follow them on http://www.demonsage.com.
About Bigmoon Entertainment
Since its foundation, BIGMOON has set a simple goal: “Develop the best games possible”.
Immersive stories, fantasy world exploration, innovative challenges and great characters are in our DNA as we focus our drive and passion on developing Core RPG, Action-adventure and Strategy games for Core gamers. BIGMOON is an authorized developer for all major game platforms, including Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo. BIGMOON also developed “Trapped Dead: Lockdown” and “Space Empires V: Battle for Artemis” as well as produced art for well-known racing games, such as “WRC 5”, “WRC 3” and “MotoGP 13”. For more information on BIGMOON, please visit: www.bigmoonstudios.com.
Rockstar are excited to announce the arrival of Freemode Events to Grand Theft Auto Online next week, on September 15th. The new advancement in open world gameplay, allows players more access to a range of seamlessly integrated games and challenges in GTA Online’s Freemode. With next gen consoles, it’s never been easier to open the Freemode session with your crew, without the hassle of waiting in lobbies for friends to join in the game.
In GTA Online Freemode, there are plenty of spontaneous events for players to choose from, as well as customise their session to decide exactly which ones they want to occur. Freemode Events offer tons of unique new experiences – insane stunt challenges, all out turf war in King of the Castle and team chase in Hunt the Beast – and more opportunities for reaping GTA rewards online. See the trailer below:
The Freemode Events Update next week will also include two brand new Adversary Modes:
Hunting Pack: players are part of a team tasked to deliver a priority vehicle rigged to explode if it drops below a minimum speed, while their opponents race, ram and batter to take it down.
Cross the Line: heavily-armed squads face off across a neutral zone, with the goal of having all team members strategically penetrate their opponents territory to claim victory.
The Grand Theft Auto Online update brings Rockstar Editor to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One with new features (also being added for current PC users as well), such as an ambient audio and sound effects library, Snapmatic integration, Director Mode updates and more. Let us know what you think of the new updates, in the comments section below.
Experience Inc, the developers of Demon Gaze, have announcedthat they are working on bringing their dungeon crawling RPG, Stranger of Sword City, to the Xbox One in Japan. Previously the title was released for the Xbox 360, PlayStation Vita and PC but now they are seeking a bit of a larger audience.
As translated by members of NeoGAF, Stranger of Sword Citywill be released on Xbox One between January and March 2016 and will feature updated artwork that can be previewed below. Experience went on to say that they do hope on bringing the title to the West as a digital release though they did not specify any details.
CREATE, SHARE AND PLAY A NEAR INFINITE ARRAY OF SUPER MARIO LEVELS WITH SUPER MARIO MAKER FOR Wii U – OUT TOMORROW!
Celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Super Mario Bros. series by creating and sharing your Super Mario levels with players around the world
11th September 2015 – The Super Mario Bros. series arrives on Wii U tomorrow in the shape of Super Mario Maker, the game that lets the imagination of fans run wild by bringing their very own Super Mario levels to life.
To date, the Super Mario series has sold more than 310 million copies globally, with Mario, one of the world’s most recognisable entertainment characters, at its centre. With the release of Super Mario Maker, friends – for the first time ever – can have fun playing through Super Mario levels they create for one another! With the game containing a toolkit packed with iconic Mario enemies, items and areas at their disposal, fans can share their creations online, while checking out and rating an almost limitless supply of levels constructed by fellow players from across the globe.
Aside from the game releasing at retail and on Nintendo eShop for Wii U as a standalone product, there are a range of other purchase options for fans who want to get involved with the level-creating fun:
Super Mario Maker Wii U Premium Pack: a black Wii U Premium console, a physical copy of Super Mario Maker, a Hardcover Artbook and a Classic Colours Mario amiibo from the Mario 30th Anniversary Collection (SRP AU$439.95)
Super Mario Maker Limited Edition Pack: a physical copy of Super Mario Maker, a Hardcover Artbook and a Classic Colours Mario amiibo from the Mario 30th Anniversary Collection (SRP AU$89.95)
The Classic Colours Mario amiibo from the Mario 30th Anniversary Collection will also be available on its own from 12th September, while the Modern Colours variant will go on sale from 24th October.
Super Mario Maker releases just in time for a special landmark on 13th September, when video game fans from all over the world will be toasting the 30th anniversary of the Super Mario Bros. series. With three decades having passed since the Japanese release of Super Mario Bros. in 1985, and Mario having traversed hundreds of memorable levels and defeated the dastardly villain Bowser on countless occasions, fans can check out some classic Mario moments over at the Super Mario Bros. 30th Anniversary website.
Meanwhile, none other than the creator of the Super Mario series himself, Shigeru Miyamoto, has been helping clear up some long-running fan debates in his own inimitable way in a “Mario Myths with Mr Miyamoto” video.
Whether it’s littering a level with multiple Bowsers, transforming Mario into other Nintendo characters such as Pikmin, Wii Fit Trainer or Link using an in-game Mystery Mushroom item, or creating custom sound effects to insert into a level, with Super Mario Maker it’s the first time in 30 years that fans get to write the rules! Releasing this Saturday, fans picking up a copy of the game at retail can even learn more about the boundless possibilities in the game by perusing a Hardcover Artbook* coming with their copy of the game.
For more information on Super Mario Maker, please visit the game’s website.
Note to Editors: * For fans who purchase Super Mario Maker on Nintendo eShop, a PDF of the Artbook will be made available for download on the Super Mario Maker website.
Pumped BMX+ Landing on Consoles and PC Starting September 18th
Big-Screen Follow-up to Acclaimed Mobile BMX Series to Make Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Wii U and PC Debut
LONDON – September 10, 2015 – Indie developer YEAHUS, in conjunction with Curve Digital, the world’s largest publisher of indie games on console, today announced that Pumped BMX+ will hit digital storefronts worldwide on Xbox One and PC on September 18, on PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and PlayStation 3 on September 22, and on Wii U on September 24. Pumped BMX+ takes everything that made the original series so well-loved and brings it up to date for the console generation.
Pumped BMX+ is the latest in the series that has captivated both the BMX and gaming communities alike. The original games first appeared on iPhone and Android to considerable success, hitting the number one spot in over 20 countries and being downloaded millions of times.
Like its inspiration, Pumped BMX+ boats 50 heart-in-mouth courses, a comprehensive collection of authentic tricks, and 500 in-game challenges, but the console and PC debut comes with completely redesigned control system which makes pulling off epic rides a real pleasure. In addition, every visual aspect of the game has been enhanced with completely new art and animations, as well as a fully-licensed soundtrack from up-and-coming artists to complete the package. Players will also have access to online leaderboards, enabling them to brag to their friends, and completing the game’s many achievements will provide a test for the very best virtual BMXers.
“I began designing the original game in between jobs – and the fact it’s become such a global success is still unbelievable,” says Adam Hunt, Founder of YEAHUS. “I wrote the game purely because, as a keen BMXer myself, the one I wanted to play didn’t exist. I can’t quite believe it’ll soon be sitting alongside the likes of FIFA, Grand Theft Auto and Metal Gear Solid – it’s quite surreal.”
“The reaction we’ve been seeing to Pumped BMX+ when we’ve shown it to the public is really exciting,” adds Jason Perkins, Managing Director of Curve Digital. “The game’s heritage is without question – and we’re excited to be involved in bringing the franchise to console and PC audiences.”
Pumped BMX+ will hit digital storefronts worldwide on Xbox One and PC on September 18, on PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and PlayStation 3 on September 22, and on Wii U on September 24, and will retail for $9.99, €9.99, and £7.99. 20 percent launch discounts will be available for the first two weeks post-launch.
Curve Digital is the largest publisher of independent video games on console formats in the world. Working with high profile developers such as Mike Bithell (Thomas Was Alone), Dan Marshall (The Swindle) and Olli Harjola (The Swapper), Curve helps individuals and small teams bring their games to a larger audience. Curve actively publishes on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Wii U and 3DS.
Return to the classic tale of magic, monsters and friendship in FINAL FANTASY V on PC
Coming to STEAM on 24th September, Pre-orders will also receive a 10% discount
LONDON (10th September, 2015) – Square Enix Ltd., today announced that over twenty years after the original FINAL FANTASY ® V launched in Japan, the classic RPG will be making its way to PC across Europe and PAL territories on 24th September.
Embark on an epic adventure as 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.
FINAL FANTASY V for PC will bring updated controls and active-time battle system optimized for fluid combat on PC, as well as full STEAM trading cards and achievements. Veteran character designer, Kazuko Shibuya, has returned with characters and graphics updated from the Game Boy® Advance version for an enhanced experience. In FINAL FANTASY V, players can customize characters with an unprecedented degree of freedom with the job and ability system – with 26 unique job classes! The new version also includes “The Sealed Temple” from the 2006 release, as well as the Tetsuya Nomura designed optional boss Enuo, and an extraordinary soundtrack.
FINAL FANTASY V will release on STEAM on 24th September 2015. Those who pre-purchase will also receive a 10% STEAM discount. For more information, please visit;http://store.steampowered.com/app/382890/
About Square Enix Ltd.
Square Enix Ltd., a part of the Square Enix Europe business unit, develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX, EIDOS® and TAITO® branded entertainment content in Europe and other PAL territories as part of the Square Enix Group. Square Enix Ltd. also has a global network of leading development studios such as IO Interactive™, Crystal Dynamics® and Eidos Montréal. The Square Enix Group boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY, which has sold over 110 million units worldwide, DRAGON QUEST® which has sold over 66 million units worldwide and TOMB RAIDER® which has sold over 42 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix Ltd. is a London-based, wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.
