Recently Electronic Arts and DICE announced that they would be launching a beta for Star Wars Battlefront in early October and that one of the modes would be called “Drop Zone” which at the time had not been fully revealed.
Now the company has chosen to reveal that Drop Zone will be a mode similar to “King of the Hill” where Rebel and Empire teams, each made up of eight players, must fight over and capture drop pods that are falling through the atmosphere and landing on the planet below. A team wins when they capture five pods or by whichever team has the most pods at the end of the ten minute match. Currently Star Wars Battlefront is set to be released on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on November 17th.
Ace Attorney 6 was recently announced for development on the Nintendo 3DS and confirmed for release not only in Japan but also in the West and now Capcom has opened up an official website for the title that reveals not only a few pieces of character art and some screenshots but some details about the game.
Ace Attorney 6 will be taking place in a mysterious country separate from Japan where people have a belief in the spirit of the dead and Phoenix Wright will need to solve yet another case. He will be assisted by a priest in training who also works as a tour guide and happens to be named Bokuto Tsuani. Also revealed in these images is a “Water Mirror” that will apparently play a larger role in Ace Attorney 6’s gameplay, though more details for that are said to be revealed during Tokyo Game Show later this month.
Overview
I remember back in the days of the Genesis and Super Nintendo most did not care about racing games. I mean, there were kids who played them – but even those who were fans of the genre only occasionally pulled out their copy of LOTUS II for a bit of fun. Times have changed now and we have so many different brands trying to pull into first. With the release of two Forza titles already this generation as well as Drive Club, Project Cars, and so on- the racing simulation bandwagon is getting pretty packed across Sony and Microsoft consoles as the fan base is there. These titles are system sellers. Forza 6 is now here to slam its foot down and make a statement though, bringing quality and finesse back with the accessibility that everyone can get behind on the Xbox One. Does it do enough, or is this race over before it begins? Let’s find out.
Gameplay
How fast can you go? Why do we race? How many modes can one game deliver? These are the questions that players are greeted with upon booting up Forza Motorsport 6, and right from the very first ride the player will quickly discover how polished this racer has become. Before I hop into the core of the game though I think it would be best to speak on the specific side entrees that build this racer into the beast it is. The first are Drivatars, which essentially is the artificial intelligence system that pits you against your friends who all operate differently. The purpose of the individually assigned AI is to create a diverse race and keep you on the edge of your seat as the AI can easily make mistakes that can cost anyone the race. I have had several races where a driver would make a mistake and cause me to wreck due to a sharp turn – while other times I would just watch as they flew by, taking advantage of my own error.
Speaking of a uniqueness, Forza 6 also boasts more of about everything this time around. There are over 400 cars and 26 different tracks for this entry, making it the most varied of the entire franchise. If that wasn’t enough, players can earn mods to vary their own challenge. Sure, there are difficulty settings and the famous rewind feature within 6 to appease accident prone drivers, but mods add a new layer by allowing players to gain a boost in credits, earn rare rewards, and even get new challenges that are sure to keep you on your toes. Dares are cards that come in these packs, challenging the player to have at a track with a handicap in place or change up the stats a bit to give you an edge over the opponents. Spins are also awarded, but kind of felt to be a bit out of place entirely. I mean, why offer mods if you could just give them away in a wheel? Sure, its a quick way to get high dollar vehicles, but once you get them all the spinning is rather pointless.
The gameplay – or the driving I should say is where Forza has been known to perform. Thankfully, this is still a very smooth game with tight controls. The feel and grip has tightened up a bit since I last gave the game a go, but most will be pleased by the handling and how easy it is to hop in and drive from the start. That is also my problem a bit here. I talked up a lot of what I liked early on in this review because Forza Motorsport 6 is a lot like an oreo. The outside defines the taste but while you still come for the middle to start with, its still the same old vanilla that you have had for years. I am sorry I compared your game to a cookie, Turn 10, but I feel that comparison is relevant. Outside of the exhilarating F1 races that are a blast to play, I found most races to feel just like the next. Sure there are plenty of cars, sure the AI acts in different ways, but the core is so much of the same that it is almost boring to a degree. Multiplayer changes this as it adds in competitive flavor but once you master the formula for a Forza race, you kind of stay on that track and continue to win. That is why the mods and AI are so important to talk about first as if you are coming for Forza, you are going to get it but if you are coming for a new racing sim, those two options are honestly going to highlight your experience.
That being said, the sense of speed within Forza Motorsport 6 cannot be matched. I am not a die hard fan of this genre but I have played and reviewed a good lot of Forza’s competition. Sure, the others add in their own flare to attract an audience, but Forza simply cuts the player’s teeth by putting them into a car that they would never pick otherwise and somehow has you know the odds and ends of that vehicle and actually grow attached to it through the storied career mode. I feel like that is definitely an endearing and compelling quality to have as I certainly enjoyed getting behind the wheel of several cars that I would laugh at the thought of driving in real life for competition’s sake. Oh yeah, stop with the Top Gear stuff. I get it, you’re cars, their cars, ads and such – but I felt it was a bit cheap to see the logo and other bits plastered frequently throughout the game.
Visuals
Breathtaking. That is the best word to describe the visuals in Forza Motorsport 6. The weather system makes conditions seem incredibly realistic and you will be staring at every drop of water during the rain, trying to see if you can spot one broken pixel. Yes, it is a beautiful game, but one that has taken detail and coated it in polish to create nothing but a pure, visual experience that is both realistic and jawdropping. I have had so many current gen titles that I expected to take it to the level that Forza 6 has completely let me down, so you could even call this gem the Xbox One’s finest from a graphical perspective. Of course the cars look great too, with beaming light coming off of reflective surfaces such as hoods and fins, and that pavement is equally as impressive, showing details such as sealing on the road and grass that you can see each blade of even at high speeds.
Audio
The audio is great as well, but I am not a car person so aside from different ratios of loud – I cannot tell you how crystal clear that engine was compared to the next, but I do know that the game does sound audibly correct (how’s that?). The female narrator of sorts (who I presume is from Top Gear as well) is also on point and makes you feel like this is a special title and definitely the most prestigious in the market for what its worth.
Overall
Forza Motorsport 6 is an excellent entry in the franchise that brings with it the most variation one could ever need in a racing title. The visuals are absolutely amazing and are worth the price of admission alone, as even if you are not that interested in picking up the best racer on the Xbox One, at least consider this as it is definitely the best looking game on the platform. Aside from mods and a few tweaks, Forza hasn’t really evolved a lot in terms of a core experience, but for you longtime fans – that will not be an issue. Forza Motorsport 6 is a more polished and plentiful offering of everything we love, acting as insurance to keep us in the driver’s seat until the next installment.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Harmonix™ and Tilting Point® Reveal Beat Sports™ for the New Apple TV
Music & Sports Meet in Original New Game Designed Exclusively for Apple TV
SAN FRANCISCO – Sept. 9, 2015 – Rock Band™ creators Harmonix Music Systems, Inc. and publishing partner Tilting Point have revealed Beat Sports, an original game for the new Apple TV. Demonstrated on stage at the Apple Event, Beat Sports is a collection of music-infused mini-games based loosely on familiar sports like tennis, volleyball, and golf. Designed and developed exclusively for the new Apple TV, Beat Sports is controlled using the brand-new remote.
“I’m thrilled to announce Beat Sports on this amazing new platform,” said Jon Carter, creative lead at Harmonix. “Apple TV is the perfect home for this unique mixture of music, sports, and wacky fun. The new remote offers limitless possibilities for brand-new gameplay, and Beat Sports‘ controls will have the whole family swinging, spiking, and scoring to the beat!”
“We’re delighted to reveal Beat Sports today as the first game from our partnership with Harmonix,” said Dan Sherman, co-founder and president of Tilting Point. “Harmonix embodies the creative spirit and cutting-edge innovation of a truly great independent developer. It’s an honor to work with them to debut Beat Sports on Apple’s amazing new platform.”
“At Harmonix, we have a long history of using new technology to bring innovative musical experiences to living rooms around the world with games like Rock Band,” said Matt Boch, product manager at Harmonix. “We immediately saw the potential for new ways to play that the Apple TV opens up, and couldn’t wait to start designing an all-new experience for this exciting new technology. We can’t wait to see how this revolutionary gaming platform changes the entertainment landscape.”
Follow @beatsportsgame on Twitter and Beat Sports on Facebook as more details on Beat Sports’ mini-games and soundtrack will be revealed in the coming weeks. Beat Sports will be available exclusively on the new Apple TV on day one. For more information and a press kit, visit: www.beatsportsgame.com.
About Harmonix Music Systems
Harmonix Music Systems, Inc., based in Boston, MA, and established in 1995, is the leading developer of groundbreaking music-oriented videogames. Harmonix was founded to invent new ways for non-musicians to experience the unique joy that comes from making music and has pioneered music and rhythm gaming in the US. For more information please visit www.harmonixmusic.com.
About Tilting Point
Tilting Point is a new-generation games partner for top independent development studios. Tilting Point empowers developers with expert resources, services, and operational support to give carefully selected games mainstream success. The company adheres to a core philosophy of putting development talent first, advancing industry-leading analytics, and overcoming discoverability hurdles with aggressive, best-in-class marketing. www.tiltingpoint.com
NEW DEVELOPMENT STUDIO, POUND SAND, FORMED BY GAME INDUSTRY VETERANS FROM MEDAL OF HONOR, BATTLEFIELD AND CALL OF DUTY FRANCHISES
Studio’s First Game, Third-Person Shooter Fantastic Plastic Squad, Debuted Today at Apple Press Conference EL SEGUNDO, CA (SEPT 9, 2015) — A group of veteran video game developers, with credits that include some of the biggest franchises in the industry, such as Medal of Honor®, Battlefield ®, Call of Duty® and God of War®, have joined forces to found a new development studio, Pound Sand™, in El Segundo, CA. The studio’s first game, Fantastic Plastic Squad™, a free-to-play third-person shooter in which 1980s action figures come to life, was revealed today at the Apple press conference running on the new Apple hardware.
The game will be published by DropForge Games, a mobile publishing arm of Wargaming.net and will release on iOS first, followed by Android, with additional platforms planned.
Led by CEO Greg Goodrich, whose credits include Medal of Honor®, Return to Castle Wolfenstein®, Spyro the Dragon® and The Simpsons®, and partnered with entertainment media moguls Billy and Fernando Rovzar, Pound Sand brings together experienced leaders from the action/shooter category across all disciplines, including design, technology, art, and production.
“Throughout my career, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work alongside some amazing people on some really great franchises, and I’m humbled by the level of talent we’ve been able to assemble at Pound Sand,” said Greg Goodrich, CEO of Pound Sand. “We founded the studio with the mindset to give passionate game developers the creative freedom to do what they do best without having to ask anyone for permission. Having our very first game, Fantastic Plastic Squad, chosen to help show off Apple’s new hardware is a great validation of both our team and game.”
Joining Goodrich at Pound Sand are some of the industry’s most experienced action/shooter game development veterans, including:
Paul Ohanian, Founder and Technical Director, credits include Battlefield 4, and Medal of Honor;
Andy Cheren, Founder and Director of Business Development, founder of Digital Artist Management and Production Road;
Torin Kampa, Lead Programmer, credits include Battlefield 4 and Medal of Honor;
Leon Brazil, Animation Director, credits include Medal of Honor, Battlefield and Harry Potter;
Greg Farren, Design Director, credits include Medal of Honor, Star Wars Battlefront I and II and God of War;
James H. Dargie, Art/Creative Director, credits include Call of Duty: Black Ops, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare3, Final Fantasy, Metroid Prime, and The Matrix movies.
“Fantastic Plastic Squad is a shooter for the ages” said David Bluhm, CEO of DropForge. “Imagine the fun and speed of Call of Duty, but fighting with your 1980s collection of plastic action heroes.”
ABOUT FANTASTIC PLASTIC SQUAD
Pound Sand’s first title is Fantastic Plastic Squad, a free-to-play, fast-paced third-person shooter in which players collect and control dozens of 1980s-style five-inch-tall action figures that have come-to-life to battle against their enemies for control of a house. Each figure is customizable with weapons and accessories, allowing for millions of possible combinations to create truly unique heroes that can be brought into battle or shared with friends.
Fantastic Plastic Squad includes epic single-player missions as well as an exciting and fully featured asynchronous player-versus-player multiplayer mode that will offer advanced competitive features like clan support, tournaments, leaderboards and replays.
Fantastic Plastic Squad will be available later this year for mobile devices with additional platforms in the future. Fans can learn more about Fantastic Plastic Squad on the game’s Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/fantasticplasticsquad) and keep up with Pound Sand at the official web site at www.PoundSand.com and on Twitter (@poundsandgames).
ABOUT POUND SAND
Based in Los Angeles, Pound Sand is comprised of veteran video game developers with proven expertise in the Action/Shooter category, responsible for developing multi-billion dollar franchises including Medal of Honor, Battlefield, Call of Duty, God of War and more. The studio’s first game, Fantastic Plastic Squad, is a fast-pace third person shooter that brings 1980s-style action figures to life in an epic battle for control of the house. Visit the website at www.PoundSand.com
BANDAI NAMCO’s Motorcycle Racing Simulator RIDE Hits Streets on October 6
Developer Milestone’s Intense Moto Racer Hits Stores October 6 on Xbox One and PlayStation 4, Available Late 2015 On PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3
SAN JOSE, Calif., (September 9, 2015) – BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. and developer Milestone s.r.l., will be launching RIDE, the complete motorcycle racing simulator, in the Americas on Tuesday, October 6, 2015 for PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system and Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft. RIDE is rated “E” for Everyone and will also be available as a digital download on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC (Steam) later in the year.
From the grease of the garage to the burning rubber on the racetrack, RIDE offers motorcycle enthusiasts and gamers alike a complete racing experience as players take on a total of more than 100 Superbikes, Supersports, Naked, and Historical bikes across four different categories of racing. The title offers extensive vehicle and rider customization, presenting gamers with a vast array of options to keep gameplay fresh and exhilarating through a huge selection of circuits that range from city, country, and historic tracks from the world of motorcycling.
About BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc., part of BANDAI NAMCO Holdings Inc., is a leading global publisher and developer of interactive content — including all major video game consoles, iOS, mobile and online. The company is known for creating and publishing many of the industry’s top video game franchises, including PAC-MAN®, TEKKEN®, SOULCALIBUR®, NARUTO™, NARUTO SHIPPUDEN™, Dragon Ball®, GALAGA®, RIDGE RACER® and ACE COMBAT®. More information about the company and its products can be found at www.bandainamcoent.com or www.facebook.com/BandaiNamcoUS
The Antagonist is back and ready to yet again spread destruction, but this time he’s not alone. The new free ‘Survival’ DLC planned to be released on September 10th, will allow you to send one of his 3 followers for a killing spree, roaming new maps and improving your skills in the new arcade gameplay mode. Those who have already mastered the game will also be able to challenge themselves in a ‘Story’ and ‘Insane’ difficulty modes and those who until now, were only considering the purchase, can hesitate no more, as starting tomorrow the game will be 35% off.
Watch the DLC announcement trailerHEREand buy the game either from Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/341940/ or directly from the developer’s website: http://buy.hatredgame.com/ You may especially want to do that if you happen to be from Australia or Germany (hint, hint). Also along with the DLC launch the price drop for the game will start. You will be able to purchase Hatred for only 10.83 EUR. That’s 35% off! Make it quick though as the promo lasts only from September 10th until September 17th.
Already own Hatred? Great! On September 10th you’ll be able to download the DLC for free and enjoy all the cool features it has to offer:
3 custom maps available only in ‘Survival’ mode.
3 new playable characters with various combat stats.
Rank systems that include: unlockable perks, specials, weapons and items of mass destruction.
New leaderboards and achievements.
That’s not everything. This new update also brings you:
Cheats (unlimited ammo, ‘God mode’, access to all weapons).
New ‘Story’ and ‘Insane’ difficulty modes.
Additional minor quests for certain levels.
Steam Cards.
Bugs fixes and overall performance improvement.
Hatred is an isometric twin-stick shooter where the player takes the role of a cold-blooded Antagonist, who is full of hatred for humanity.
Femme Focused Fighter Arcana Heart 3: Love Max!!!!! to be released on Steam on September 29!!!!!
Arc System Works Co., Ltd. is pleased to announce, Arcana Heart 3: Love Max!!!!!, the third fighting game from Arc System Works’ catalog to make its way to the Steam (PC) platform after Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R and Battle Fantasia Revised Edition.
Developed by Examu and Arc System Works, Arcana Heart 3: Love Max!!!!! is the latest iteration of the 2D fighting game featuring an all-female cast of 23 fighters, that includes rebalanced gameplay and several new game modes to choose from. Select between 23 adorable anime characters with new attacks, defense skills and newly rendered 3D environments. Mix and match each character with powerful Arcanas (celestial beings) to customize your play style while creating new deadly custom combos! View the Trailer Arcana Heart 3: Love Max!!!!! Features
Pair any of the 23 fighters in the game with one of the many unique Arcanas (A total of 529 possible combinations.)!
A plethora of game modes including Story, After Story, Survival Score Attack, Trial, Time Attack, Versus mode, Training, Replay Theater and Gallery.
Unlock “Memories” as you progress in the After Story and other game modes that let you view the heroines’ daily lives and various other scenarios.
Fight against your friends locally or online!
The Steam version comes with a digital download “Link Anime Drafts Collection” (PDF) that includes 144 pages of information on the in-game characters
Available for $29.99 with a one week 10% launch discount
Minimum System Requirements
OS: Windows 7 / 8 / 8.1
Processor: Intel Core2 Duo
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Graphics: nVidia GeForce 7900 GT or better / AMD Radeon X1900 / nVidia GeForce GT 620 (Windows 8.1)
DirectX: Version 9.0c
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Hard Drive: 8 GB available space
Sound Card: Direct Sound
Recommended System Requirements
OS: Windows 7 / 8 / 8.1
Processor: Intel Core i5 / i7
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: nVidia GeForce 8800 GT or better / AMD Radeon HD3700 / nVidia GeForce GT 650 (Windows 8.1)
DirectX: Version 9.0c
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Hard Drive: 8 GB available space
Sound Card: Direct Sound
About Arc System Works
Arc System Works is a developer and fighting game specialist from Japan—best known for the Guilty Gear series of games and, more recently, the BlazBlue series—that has garnered international critical acclaim for its innovative fighting system and spectacular 2D artwork. For more information, please visit the official website at www.arcsystemworksu.com
ESA Foundation and Extra Life Partner to Raise Funds for Children’s Hospitals
Grant opportunity, video game marathon to benefit Children’s Hospitals
September 9, 2015 – Washington, D.C. – A campaign benefitting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals was launched today by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) Foundation and Extra Life. The ESA Foundation Extra Life Challenge encourages gamers’ fundraising efforts during the annual Extra Life 24-hour gaming marathon, and will provide $30,000 grants to the hospital whose players raise the most money and to the hospital with the highest per capita fundraising total. Since 2008, Extra Life has raised more than $14 million to help provide outstanding pediatric health care to every child in need, regardless of their family’s ability to pay.
“Video games have a tremendous ability to entertain, heal and bring us together. It is only natural that we leverage this power – and the gamer community’s generosity – to help raise funds for children’s hospitals,” said Rich Taylor, senior vice president of the ESA, the trade association that represents the U.S. video game industry. “ESA Foundation is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of our nation’s youth, and we are proud to continue our partnership with Extra Life to support local communities across North America.”
“We’re thrilled to be working with the ESA Foundation again this year to bring this amazing challenge to the Extra Life Community. By combining our passion of playing games and helping sick and injured kids get better, we’re on pace to make 2015 our biggest and largest year yet,” said Mike Kinney, senior manager of Extra Life.
While gamers can sign up and start fundraising any time during the calendar year, Extra Life will host their official 2015 Game Day on Saturday, November 7. Those interested in participating can register on Extra Life’s website.
Created by the American entertainment software industry, the ESA Foundation works to make a positive difference in the lives of America’s youth. ESA Foundation creates educational opportunities by providing scholarships to the next generation of industry innovators and supporting organizations that leverage entertainment software and technology. The proceeds from a signature annual fundraiser, Nite to Unite – for Kids and other charitable initiatives support this mission. For more information, visit the ESA Foundation’s website or follow us on Twitter: @ESA Foundation. For more information on the ESA Foundation’s Extra Life Challenge, watch the ESA Foundation Grantee Spotlight video.
Extra Life is a Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® fundraising program within the gaming community. Participants fundraise year-round and pledge to game for 24 hours with one goal: to save and improve the lives of sick and injured kids. Funds raised stay local to help pediatric patients at 170 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across North America. Since 2008, Extra Life has raised more than $14 million for member hospitals. The movement, formed by gamers bonded by passion, is committed to saving and improving the lives of local kids. Play games, heal kids and join the community today at www.extra-life.org.
Love Rockets Onto Xbox One and Steam Courtesy of Indie Devs Asteroid Base
Toronto – September 9, 2015 – It’s time to leave the capsule if you dare and take on robotic space enemies in independent video game developer Asteroid Base’s 1-2 player action co-op game Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime. Launching today for $14.99 on Xbox One via the ID@Xbox self-publishing program and Steam (Windows PC, Mac and Linux), Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime features frenzied action that forces friends, family members and loved ones to work together while switching back-and-forth between manning the spaceship’s controls, weapons and defenses against monstrous robots. Those looking to take on Lovers’ dangerous campaigns alone can do so with a trusty space-pet by their side to aid in efforts.
Set in a colorful universe, Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime has players use an array of weapons to battle enemies while avoiding galactic forces of nature to rescue kidnapped space bunnies from the evil forces of Anti-Love. Don’t be fooled by the cute themes, Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime features challenging gameplay and 36 power-up combinations to turn the spacecraft into a warship of destruction.
“Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime is all about the relationship between two players,” said Jamie Tucker, Co-Founder of Asteroid Base. “At Asteroid Base, we like to call it a relationship simulator because Lovers tests people’s communication and teamwork skills by having players prioritize with the chaos that’s going on around them. Just like in life, talking is key in bringing love to the universe.”
For more information on Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime please visit the game’s website, or Asteroid Base’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
Formed in Toronto, Asteroid Base is an independent video game studio founded by three friends – an illustrator, an animator and a particle physicist. Asteroid Base has experience developing on various platforms, and the studio’s latest title, Lovers in a Dangerous Spacetime, is now available
