MIGHT & MAGIC® X – LEGACY DLC “THE FALCON & THE UNICORN” AVAILABLE NOW
London, UK — March 27th 2014 — Today, Ubisoft announced that Might & Magic® X – Legacy DLC “The Falcon & The Unicorn” is available for £5.49. Owners of the Might & Magic® X – Legacy Deluxe Edition will get this DLC for free.
The DLC “The Falcon & The Unicorn” introduces a large content, an exclusive quest line, 2 new dungeons and an all-new array of enemies from the iconic Haven faction. All of this comes together to create 5 hours of brand new gameplay.
After the epic events of Might & Magic® X – Legacy, in which our favourite group of Raiders has been raised as the heroes of Ashan, in “The Falcon & The Unicorn” the situation has changed.The Holy Inquisition itself wants their heads, accusing them of crimes they didn’t commit. Sentenced to rot away until death on the prison island of Fort Laegaire, the Raiders must once again ally wits and skills to unravel a sinister plot targeting the heart of the imperial court.
Might & Magic® X – Legacy is an authentic solo experience in the classic first-person RPG genre, with a turn-based gameplay system. By creating and leading a group of adventurers in and around the exciting city of Karthal, by battling powerful mythical creatures while collecting ancient magical treasures, players will determine the fate of the Agyn Peninsula.
Might & Magic® X – Legacy is available on Windows PC. The Deluxe Edition is available for £24.99 on both digital and retail channels, the Standard Edition being available for £19.99 on digital channels only.
For more information on Might & Magic® X – Legacy please visit:
Limbic Entertainment is an independent game development studio based in Germany. Limbic’s core competences are game design, programming, hosting and maintaining games. Since Limbic was founded, the company has released more than 60 product versions, published in more than a dozen languages. Limbic has been a third party developer for Ubisoft for about four years now. Their latest work with Ubisoft was on Might & Magic® Heroes® VI Danse Macabre – DLC and Gold Edition. For more information, please visit http://www.limbic-entertainment.de.
About Ubisoft
Ubisoft is a leading producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide and has grown considerably through a strong and diversified line-up of products and partnerships. Ubisoft has offices in 29 countries and has sales in more than 55 countries around the globe. It is committed to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge video game titles to consumers. For the 2012-13 fiscal year Ubisoft generated sales of €1,256 billion euros. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.
Remember Project A16? Well considering it was announced a little over a week ago let’s hope so. Anyways today thanks to the latest issue of Dengeki PlayStation we now know the real name of the game, Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea.
As you can see in the scans below, Atelier Shallie will be similar to Atelier Escha & Logy by allowing players to choose one of two protagonists to play as, the only difference being that this time, both leads are female. The first girl is the black haired girl named Shallistera while the second girl with the green hair is Shallotte Elminus and considering how similar their names are, they have both been given the nickname of Shallie.
The title has been announced for release by Tecmo Koei in Japan on June 26th and you can expect additional details for the game to be revealed soon.
MyDream achieves early Kickstarter success Massive, Realistic 3-D Multiplayer Sandbox Game coming to Market
San Francisco, CA, 27th March, 2014 – MyDream is well on its way to market with the announcement that the game has surpassed its Kickstarter goal of $100,000 in just days. The fast funding demonstrates the excitement for the title and its potential to deliver a new kind of social sandbox game. As a result of the rapid funding, new “stretch” goals have been announced on Kickstarter including general Survival Mode, a rock creature breeding system, a tower defense system, a voxel vehicle creator and more.
MyDream allows players to experience unlimited, user-created adventures that are fun and encourage real-life skills such as creativity and collaboration. Currently in very early private beta testing and by invitation only, MyDream already features over 4.3 million user-generated 3D voxel objects. Through its system of rewards, the game promotes adventure, creation and cooperation. MyDream brings together gaming genres including sandbox, RPG and adventure, with realistic graphics to create a new type of open-world gameplay experience where MyDreamers can create and explore any adventure imaginable. The possibilities are limited only by the players’ imaginations. More than just a game, MyDream is a community built on principles.
“When players enter the MyDream world they become immersed in a 3-D online gameplay experience unlike anything they have encountered before,” said Allison Huynh, CEO of MyDream. “Our Kickstarter campaign will help bring our vision of the final game to market and provide backers with special abilities including wings to fly, X-ray vision to see through walls and even a pet rock monster, all to make their experience even more amazing and fun!”
MyDream features three main “reward tracks” and players can “level-up” each of these at their own pace:
Exploring: MyDream has a massive number of adventures to join, with something for players of every level, from beginner to expert. The number of adventures available will grow by the hour, as every time you login, there will be new adventures to explore, created by the MyDream community.
Building: Players will earn rewards from the creation of three main items – new organic environments; the creation of buildings and other structures; and what many players will find the most fun, the creation of their own adventures to share with others
Cooperation: There will be incentives for players to work together and the MyDream world is built around positive reinforcement and teamwork.
About MyDream Interactive
Headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, MyDream Interactive is a pioneering development studio with the dedicated mission of making people’s dreams come to life in the most ambitious 3-D sandbox game ever created. Designed by an eclectic team of game designers in collaboration with professors and researchers at Stanford University, MyDream is a trail-blazing, realistic first-person game that promotes adventure, creation, and cooperation.
Revealed: the most influential executives reshaping the UK games business
Leading games business publication MCV (The Market for Computer & Video Games) has named the 100 most influential games industry executives – those reshaping the business in the UK and beyond.
The inaugural MCV Brit List features men and women from all different disciplines supporting UK video game businesses. It also names a handful of the famous Brits flying the flag for UK creativity and intelligence on the global stage.
From Twitch to Mind Candy, and Xbox to Apple, the Brit List is a definitive guide to the creative and commercial British brains working in video games.
The list was collated after an extensive entry and lobbying period, and then voted for by a judging panel featuring some of the industry’s most high-profile experts.
Both legends and rising stars feature, with hugely respected leaders such as Rockstar Games founders Dan and Sam Houser, Ukie CEO Dr Jo Twist, and PlayStation CEO Andrew House sat alongside the likes of Tomb Raider writer Rhianna Pratchett, the creators of Yogscast (the UK’s most popular YouTube channel) and Roberta Lucca, co-founder of Bossa Studios.
The full list, featuring interviews and profiles of the 100, is available to download on iPad or view in your browser at: http://www.mcvuk.com/digital-edition. And it’s absolutely free. Featured content will also be posted on www.mcvuk.com over the next seven days.
“The Brit List is a toast to those men and women transforming the games business in the UK – and those flying the flag for British excellence abroad” said Michael French, Publisher of Games at Intent Media.
“The power of UK creativity really means this list could comfortably have been much longer. Congratulations to those that made the list.”
MCV is a video games industry publication that speaks to publishers, developers, retailers, media and services companies in the UK and across the world.
It is published by Intent Media, the UK arm of NewBay Media.
About NEWBAY MEDIA EUROPE | INTENT MEDIA
NewBay Media Europe’s portfolio is focused on six business markets — Games, Music, Toys & Licensing, Mobile & Computing, TV & Audio Visual and Active Lifestyle. Intent’s dynamic media capabilities include over 16 magazines, 20 events and dozens of digital properties delivered across an array of platforms. NewBay Media Europe’s brands include Pro Sound News Europe, TVB Europe, Installation, Develop, MCV, MI Pro, Audio Pro and Licensing.biz. For a complete list of NEWBAY MEDIA EUROPE’s brands, media and reach capabilities, please go to www.newbaymedia.com.
About NEWBAY MEDIA
NewBay Media is positioned at the center of the world’s most dynamic industries—Music, AV/Pro Audio, Consumer Electronics/Gaming, Video & Broadcast, and Education. We connect and inform millions of constituents in these industries through our award–winning content, integrated media capabilities, and high-profile network–building and informative events. NewBay proudly serves some of the broadest BtoB professional and music enthusiast communities in the world through over 60 print and digital publications, 100 integrated web and mobile applications, 75 conferences and conventions, custom marketing services and e-commerce capabilities. Find out more atwww.newbaymedia.com
In a rather sudden and surprising move, up-and-coming Virtual Reality company Oculus Rift was recently acquired by social media giant Facebook. On March 25th, official announcements on both the Oculus VR blog page and Mark Zuckerberg’s own facebook page confirmed that Facebook would be taking ownership of the VR headset company, citing that it was the beginning of a partnership to expand upon the future of interactive media. Zuckerberg himself seem quite personally invested in the partnership, stating:
“The incredible thing about the technology is that you feel like you’re actually present in another place with other people. People who try it say it’s different from anything they’ve ever experienced in their lives… Oculus’s mission is to enable you to experience the impossible.”
The total cost of the acquisition was 2 billion US dollars. While the ultimate impacts of this takeover can only be speculated at this point, there is no shortage of division amongst the gamers and social media users of the world over the acquisition.
The backlash from the wider gaming community was almost instantaneous. One only had to read the scores of negative comments below the announcement on the Oculus blog page to get a feel for the way many gamers, and Kickstarter backers were feeling about the sale. Words like “betrayal” and “corporate greed” were thrown around and frequently as “new potential” and “mass consumption”. Although Zuckerberg was quick to assure everyone that “Oculus will continue operating independently within Facebook to achieve this… (games development);” it hasn’t stopped many other gamers and developers from pulling their support entirely. In what’s likely the most high-profile example of this backlash, Markus ‘Notch’ Persson announced that the Oculus port of Minecraft would be cancelled henceforth, merely hours after the initial announcement.
Even so, Zuckerberg continued to discuss the potential for the Oculus technology in other realms besides gaming, particularly its potential use in, you guessed it, social media:
“This is just the start. After games, we’re going to make Oculus a platform for many other experiences.
This is really a new communication platform. By feeling truly present, you can share unbounded spaces and experiences with the people in your life. Imagine sharing not just moments with your friends online, but entire experiences and adventures.”
We want to know what YOU think about the acquisition. Are you outraged? Hopeful? Excited? Leave your comments below!
A while back we reported on some leaked promotional material marketing the newest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie in development by Nickelodeon studios and today the first trailer for the movie has been released. The trailer reveals this movie will stand in it’s own universe with a brand new origin story where the mutant ninja turtles are born in a science lab but the obvious talking point is the new look of the turtles, with many opinions divided across the Internet. The movie comes from the mind of producer Michael Bay and features Megan Fox in the role of April O’Neil as well as plenty of action and explosions (sound familiar?).
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will be releasing in the USA on August 8th, with an Australian release date yet to be set. William Fichtner, who is playing the role of Shredder, confirmed he has signed on to do three films meaning we can expect at least two sequels. Check out the trailer below and let us know what you think about the trailer including the new look turtles.
As we have already heard, Marvelous AQL is working on bringing Senran Kagura 2: Deep Crimson to the 3DS and while we have seen some gameplay footage through a livestream, that was a few months ago and the quality wasn’t all there yet.
Well today the company has chosen to release an actual debut trailer for Senran Kagura 2: Deep Crimson which can be seen below and in the trailer we witness a large amount of gameplay footage that shows a major improvement both in the game’s character designs as well as the combat system. You can check out the trailer below and as for the game itself, it is currently set to be released in Japan on August 7th.
One of Hollywood’s latest attempts at bringing the anime style to the big screen, All You Need is Kill has received a slight title change and is now dubbed Edge of Tomorrow. The change supposedly occurred due to studios aversion to the prominent display of the word “kill” in the title, wouldn’t want that word being related to a film revolving around a human/alien war now would we? People might get the wrong idea.
Based upon Hiroshi Sakurazaka’s original novel, the film will be directed by Doug Liman (Bourne Identity) and is slated for a June 6th release. Tom Cruise stars as protagonist Lieutenant Colonel Bill Cage and Emily Blunt as Rita Vrataski, a Special Forces soldier who assists our hero with his perplexing problem.
The epic action of “Edge of Tomorrow” unfolds in a near future in which an alien race has hit the Earth in an unrelenting assault, unbeatable by any military unit in the world. Lt. Col. Bill Cage (Cruise) is an officer who has never seen a day of combat when he is unceremoniously dropped into what amounts to little more than a suicide mission. Killed within minutes, Cage now finds himself inexplicably thrown into a time loop—forcing him to live out the same brutal combat over and over, fighting and dying again…and again. But with each battle, Cage becomes able to engage the adversaries with increasing skill, alongside Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski (Blunt). And, as Cage and Rita take the fight to the aliens, each repeated encounter gets them one step closer to defeating the enemy.
Here’s hoping that the title is the only drastic change the film receives, lest it fall into the chasm of poor adaptations that have come before it. Though a war against an alien force is right up Hollywood’s alley, so it should be a grand affair. Either way, check out the trailer below and decide for yourself. Watch. Enjoy. Repeat.
The team at New World Interactive have been hard at work while they were trapped indoors during winter. Insurgency is heating up with the new Molotov Spring content update that brings a slew of gameplay improvements and stability fixes. The update also introduces new content, including the much awaited co-op missions.
Four new multiplayer game modes, co-op missions, two new maps, a large number of new weapon accessories, and new weapons have been added to the game. In honor of the content update’s name, the ANM-14 incendiary grenade and the Molotov cocktail will now provide players an opportunity to create fiery infernos to block off paths or drive your enemies out of their camping spot. Additionally, a new firearm has been added, the classic FN FAL automatic rifle, which fires the punishing 7.62mm round.
Insurgency is a team based first person shooter featuring a highly realistic but easy to control experience. The game available for Mac and Windows through Steam. The game normally costs $14.99, but is discounted to $9.99 for one week to celebrate Molotov Spring.
Noah and the Ark is a parable recognised by most, regardless of religious beliefs. Hell, even atheists are aware of the story. Darren Aronofsky has been clamouring to retell it in his vision for quite some time – since he was 13, in fact, when he first wrote a poem on the subject matter. As is evident after having watched the film, his ambition was to create a new interpretation; a re-imagining of the epic. Starring Russell Crowe as the title character, Aronofsky’s NOAH is successful in doing this while raising moralistic questions, and not once becoming preachy (thank God!)
Story
NOAH begins with a prologue examining the origins of sin and murder in humankind. Adam and Eve succumbed to temptation before birthing three sons – Cain, Abel and Seth. Cain – “The First Murderer” – spilt the blood of his brother Abel, proceeding to leave the Garden of Eden for Nod. Cain’s evil spread, as he roamed the lands a wanderer, but amassing an army of followers who pillaged and populated the Earth, reaping it of its resources. His descendants carried on with the same wickedness. The descendants of Seth lived in harmony with nature and the world, proving polar opposites to their brethren. Ten generations pass until we meet Noah, only a young boy when the responsibility of protecting the land for the future is in the midst of being transferred to him by way of a family ritual. His father Lamech (Marton Csokas) speaks the words, “May you walk alongside the Creator, in righteousness”, but is interrupted by the presence of Men. The unnamed leader approaches Lamech as Noah hides in the background. Claiming the Creator’s land as his own, the man reveals himself to be Tubal-cain (Ray Winstone) before snatching the enchanted snakeskin that would transfer Noah’s birthright from Lamech and killing him, proclaiming “the line of Seth ends here!”
Years later, Noah is married to Naameh (Jennifer Connelly) and the father of three boys, Shem (Douglas Booth), Ham (Logan Lerman) and baby Japheth (Leo McHugh Carroll). Gathering from the land’s gifts, Noah witnesses a single rain drop at his feet sprout a flower instantaneously. That night, Noah has a dream, or vision, prophesying in his mind death by flooding. Upon waking, he knows that the Creator has spoken and he must trek to his grandfather Methuselah’s (Sir Anthony Hopkins) mountain, which he saw in the vision, for guidance. In their travels, the family come across a wounded girl named Ila (Emma Watson) at a depleted mining site, treating her as best they can before being spotted from atop the hill. Speedily, Noah picks her up as the family start to run. They venture into the blackened, desolate and tainted beyond, with very few Men fearless enough to follow suit. As Noah turns around to face them head on, they cower in fear, as a Watcher awakens behind Noah and knocks him out.
Left in a dry valley, Noah rouses with Naameh leaning over him. Huge masses of rock, mud and tzohar emerge, walking with the gait of a tortured soul. They are the Watchers – fallen angels who were punished for disobeying the Creator and attempting to intervene in humankind, promptly melding with the very Earth they plummeted down to save. Judging, they disregard Noah’s claim of being chosen… all but one. The lone Watcher escorts the family to Methuselah, who facilitates another vision of Noah’s with a special tea and gives him a seed of Eden. Planting the seed results in the almost instant growth of a forest, providing the wood needed to build an Ark to survive the cleansing flood. The Watchers offer their aid, and so the story skips ahead as years are spent constructing this mammoth vessel. During this period, where Noah’s offspring are coming into adulthood, that he faces adversity from within and without. Tubal-cain makes his re-appearance, now weathered and battle-scarred. Spewing the same rhetoric as always, he is backed away by the intimidating Watchers, vowing to return to slay them with stronger weapons and board the Ark among the pure and innocent.
Shem and Ila have grown quite fond of each other, and would be the last hope for re-population if it weren’t for the fact that Ila is barren due to her prior wounds. Ham is left alone, with Japheth too young still to worry about not having a mate. Conflict brews between father and son when Noah insists the Creator has given them all they require, which may seem ridiculous to viewers of today, but imagine if you were told that your destiny involved decades of loneliness while everyone else around you weds. That’s a pretty crappy existence! Bolstered further by the looming threat posed by Tubal-cain, ambiguity is instilled in Noah’s character when he realises there is wickedness in all man. Many questions are raised, and topics discussed throughout; most of which are heavy and deeply rooted in humanity’s nature. Once the flood hits, the movie slows down dramatically, though thankfully not for an extended period. Aboard the Ark, it’s not all congratulations and high fives. A tense situation arises that tests Noah’s conviction, and the love and commitment of his family to their purpose. This is where the aforementioned ambiguity creeps it, but it’s executed masterfully, to the point where you never really know for certain how things will end. Maybe purity is a myth? But if that were the case, does that leave room for forgiveness and mercy?
Visuals & Audio
NOAH is surprising in that, visually, it features spectacular moments which veer it towards the fantasy genre more than ever expected. Of note, the Watchers move in stop-motion, and themselves are quite the creative and whimsical representation. Aronofsky also utilises a brilliant stuttering effect on numerous occasions, both during striking montages and combined with time-lapse in scenes such as the retelling of “Creation” (in quotes because it controversially intertwines with evolution). Clint Mansell composed the music for NOAH, continuing his collaboration with director Darren Aronofsky, which began in 1996 when Mansell created the score for Aronofsky’s directorial début, the surrealist psychological thriller π (Pi) – also his introduction to the industry. Performed by Grammy award winning artists Kronos Quartet alongside an orchestra and choir, the score successfully captures the magnitude of events, showcasing many textures. Patti Smith lends her signature vocals for the credits track “Mercy Is”.
Overall
Darren Aronofsky has taken the well-tread biblical tale and twisted it to create an epic film that is at the same time grounded in the human element, but fantastical and surreal in parts of its visual presentation and premise, naturally. Performances all around are strong, with particularly emotional beats delivered by Emma Watson and Jennifer Connelly. The film unfortunately drags once we board the Ark and begin to wait out the flood waters, but the movie soon after introduces a high tension scenario to reel us back in before its too late and we drift too far out. Religious bodies and followers will surely feel the need to point out the differences between the original writings and the plot here, but it is imperative to note the line “inspired by” when watching and discussing the movie. The inherent message, however, is just as potent, with effective commentaries on ambiguity of good vs evil, forgiveness and mercy. NOAH is a stunning take on the source that successfully introduces it to the 21st century in a way only such a visionary director as Darren Aronofsky can do.
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