Details surrounding Ubisoft’s new open world racing game The Crew have been scarce since the game debuted at E3 2013 but recently 10 new screenshots were released through the developer’s Facebook, showing off some of the customisable cars and locales of the game. The most informative screenshot being of the world map, that reveals most of the cities and places available to race in and the various terrains you will come across. The map size for the game is aiming to impress, with the developers stating it will take about an hour and a half to drive from one side of the map to the other if using a fast car and sticking to the roads, while off road it will take about two hours and a half. Yesterday it was revealed there will be an optional 4 hour race that will take players around the entirety of the map. It’s no Gran Turismo endurance race, but I’m sure most of us are happy about that.
The Crew looks to blend single player and multiplayer seamlessly by combining the two game modes into one as the developers believe this type of innovation will be the core of this console generation as opposed to how HD was the focus of last gen. The game currently has no set release date as of yet but is confirmed for a 2014 release on PC, PS4 and Xbox One. You can check out the screens for yourself below.
At this year’s Game Developers Conference, Danish indie developer BetaDwarf has announced that their RPG hit FORCED is coming to Xbox One.
FORCED is a co-operative 1-4 player action RPG, taking place in a mysterious fantasy universe, where players are trapped as gladiators, forced to fight for their lives. Their only help is their Spirit Guide, Balfus, who’s the only one, who can interact with the many magical shrines, scattered about in the arenas. Combat in FORCED is quick and reaction-based, utilizing a mark system, to allow players to use tactics where they are marking and finishing enemies between them. Players can choose between four different classes, each with its own set of skills and perks. And progress is carried over between classes, letting players experiment without risk.
All great battles require some preparation
After a rather interesting production cycle, that included but was not limited to: living illegally in an unused university classroom, a team working for no pay up front, a Kickstarter and personal loans as security, FORCED launched to rave reviews back in Ocotber 2013. After selling 150,000 copies on PC, Mac and Linux, the game will receive a new lease on life via ID@Xbox, Microsoft’s new tool for indie developers to flex their creativity in the console realm.
Steffen Kabbelgaard (BetaDwarf CEO) said:
“We’re super excited to be working with the newest console technology, and we are really happy to be able to let a whole new group of potential gladiators experience our game….FORCED has been built from the ground up to support twin-stick controls, as well as online and local multiplayer, so the transition to console is completely natural. And with Xbox One, we won’t have to worry about shortage of computing power.”
Go straight for the source
Though there is no firm release date for the Xbox One version of FORCED, Steffen Kabbelgaard has expressed that the process will be “significantly faster” than the development of the original version of the game. So good news there. In the meantime, enjoy the screenshots and visit the official site if you feel like learning more. Though it’s not like your being FORCED to do so…
The FortressCraft Evolvedteam has been hard at work on the game. They have released a major content update that brings some major changes to Survival Mode along with a trailer showing off some of the additions. Players will now be able to automate their base with a variety of new machines, research new crafting recipes, upgrade several machines, upgrade their pet, upgrade their survival suit, and build a turret to defend their base. Additionally, host of visual and interface changes has been added to the game.
FortressCraft Evolved is the PC port of the best selling Xbox Arcade game. It is currently part of Steam’s Early Access program and can be purchased on Steam for $5.99
The third iteration in Deep Silver’s hack ‘n slash series Sacred received its first gameplay trailer and an official launch date today. Players will be able to play classes old and new, like the Seraphim, Ancarian, Khukuhru, Safiri, and Malakhim in Sacred 3. Each class has a unique set of skills and weapons. The game features drop in/drop out cooperative multiplayer that will pit up to four players online against each other for the high score, while they depend on each other for survival at the same time.
Sacred 3 is set to launch in North America on August 26th. The game will launch with the Underwold Story DLC that marks the return of the Black Seraphim from Sacred 2. Sacred 3 will be released on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Windows.
Ubisoft owned studio Massive Entertainment, the team working on the anticipated next gen title Tom Clancy’s The Division, has today released a developer diary that focuses on the powerful Snowdrop Engine, which is the game engine being used to bring The Division (and most likely many future Ubisoft titles) to life. As discussed in the developer diary video which you can watch below for yourself, the powerful Snowdrop Engine has made the lives of the developers much easier as they can create assets much more quickly, edit things on the fly and test them in a real time interactive environment, I’m sure any game devs out there reading this would love to get their hands on it. Some other highlights of what the engine allows developers to do to procedually create all type of environments and achieve an unprecedented level of real-time lightling fidelity.
The Snowdrop Engine was built in response to the ever growing trend of massive AAA games and the simple philosophy of ‘do things better, not bigger’. One important note is that while all those forests and giant flies sure looked great, they were simply there as a tech demo and won’t be featured in Tom Clancy’s The Division, which is coming to PS4, Xbox One and PC sometime in 2015.
The newest RTS title by Eugen Systems and Focus Home Interactive, Wargame: Red Dragon, is now available for pre-order on Steam, just one month away from its release.
People who purchase the pre-order version of Wargame: Red Dragon will be given early access to the game. New maps and features will be available to players, including a new dynamic campaign system, naval units, and warships. With the addition of these new units, the naval aspect of the game will introduce new strategic depth to the game. They’re also giving a special offer to anyone who plays Wargame: Airland Battle. Owners of that title will be given a 25% discount if they purchase Wargame: Red Dragon.
Check out their official site here, and for more information, go to their Steam page here. Make sure to check out this PC title!
Skydive: Proximity Flight Is Now Available on Xbox 360!
Experience Extreme Wingsuit Flying Now with Kinect™ support!
Gaijin Entertainment and Topware Interactive today announced that the exhilarating sport of wingsuit flying is now available for download on Xbox LIVE® online entertainment network as an Arcade game for the Xbox 360® games and entertainment system from Microsoft.
Inspired by the extreme sport of base jumping, Skydive: Proximity Flight sends you soaring over picturesque landscapes and majestic, real life locations. Skydive: Proximity Flight is now available for digital download through Xbox LIVE for £5.59 and €6.99.
“Skydive: Proximity Flight lets players experience the heart-pumping adrenaline of base jumping with realistic graphics, precision sound effects and stunning landscapes, all without the potentially horrifying physical consequences of the real thing”, said Kirill Yudintsev, Creative Director of Gaijin Entertainment. “And with Kinect support, this experience will be all the more real, so try not to hit your living room floor”!
Skydive: Proximity Flight features motion controls allowing you to speed up, maneuver and soar over exquisite panoramas of real life landscapes. Gaining confidence, you can then begin to control your body and execute mind-blowing tricks normally only attempted by professionals. For those of you who are exceptionally adventurous, Skydive: Proximity Flight also allows you to create your own death defying tricks and show them off to your friends.
Skydive: Proximity FlightFeatures:
Xbox 360® users can soar using a gamepad or can choose to use their hands and body to execute dangerous tricks with help of Kinect™;
Game modes include Adrenaline Race, Routes, Tricks and Freestyle:
Adrenaline Race: Race against the computer, friends or other flyers on the leaderboard by using adrenaline to increase speed, rewind time to make adjustments and perform death defying tricks
Routes: Try to fly through increasing more difficult routes marked by rings
Tricks: Execute aerial maneuvers that increase in complexity, adding more danger and excitement
Freestyle: Select any jump off location and create your own routes, incorporating difficult tricks and then sharing them with the community
Gaijin Entertainment is the developer and publisher of the online games War Thunder and Star Conflict, as well as PC, Mac OS, PS4, PS3, Xbox 360, iOS and Android titles across several genres. The company’s diverse portfolio has received a range of mass media and game industry awards including such as KRI Awards, Gamescom Award and many more. For more information, please visit http://gaijinent.com
About Topware Interactive
TopWare Interactive is the first German based company appointed as a licensed Publisher by Microsoft, Apple, Nintendo and Sony for their respective next gen platforms, providing for a solid future product portfolio on multiple platforms and distribution channels. Presently, TopWare develops for, and publishes on PC, Mac, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, and Nintendo DS/3DS, iPhone, iPad and Android platforms. In the PC sector, TopWare retains a close partnership with Intel, AMD and nVidia, striving to propel innovation and remain on the cutting-edge of state-of-the-art technology. For more information, please visit http://www.topware.com
“Xbox 360”, “Xbox LIVE”, and “Kinect” are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Sacred 3 to launch on August 26 in North America, first gameplay trailer introduces fast-paced Hack ‘n’ Slash action
Larkspur, Calif. – March 19, 2014 – Publisher Deep Silver pulled back the curtain on the upcoming and anticipated Sacred 3 today, revealing the first eye-popping gameplay footage for the arcade Hack ‘n’ Slash title. The trailer introduces a selection of unique character classes that will be available giving fans a glimpse of the fast-paced co-op action against countless enemies. The newest installment of the classic Sacred series will be available on August 26 in North America for the Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft and the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system as well as Windows PC.
At launch, Sacred 3 will include the Malakhim class as well as the unforgettable Underworld Story DLC. In Underworld, players have to forge their way to the top of a mysterious tower where they have to confront the Black Seraphim, a notorious rival from Sacred 2.
Sacred 3 features classic arcade Hack ‘n’ Slash action centered around drop in, drop out cooperative multiplayer for both offline (2 players) and online (4 players) play. The game brings back fan-favorite characters such as the Seraphim, Ancarian, Khukuhru and the Safiri, as well as introduces a new character, Malakhim. Each character class features its own unique skills and weapons which can be upgraded to match the player’s very own combat style. As they master the art of war, players will fight their way through enemy hordes and try to outshine their fellow companions on their way to become the greatest hero of all. The inclusion of mission stats and online leaderboards will continue to drive competition both locally and online. Victory Is Ours. Glory is Mine.
Deep Silver develops and publishes interactive games for all platforms, seeking to deliver top-quality products that provide immersive game experiences driven by the desires of the gaming community. The company has published more than 200 games worldwide since 2003, including the best-selling zombie action Dead Island™ franchise, the critically-acclaimed Metro™: Last Light and the smash hit action adventure Saints Row IV™. Deep Silver is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Koch Media, GmbH, and includes the renowned development studio Deep Silver Volition, based in Champaign, IL. For more information, please visit www.deepsilver.com or follow us on twitter at @deepsilver.
Devolver Digital has had quite a bit of success recently with Shadow Warriorand Defence Technica, and with Vlambeer’s Luftrausers they can add yet another game to their list of good calls.
The game can trace its origin to 2011 and the product of a two day game jam- Luftrauser. Put on the backburner whilst the creators completed other projects, the game was eventually brought back to the table for further development by the Vlambeer team in 2012.
Built from the ground up but taking the ideas of the original Flash game, Luftrausers is a 2D dogfighting game that sees players take to the skies in a Rauser fighter jet customised with their choice of engine, weapon, and body. There’s no chance of victory, with the focus on taking out as many enemy planes and ships as possible before exploding in a fiery ball of death (or a nuclear skull of doom, depending on your loadout).
Gameplay
Luftrausers is a non-stop, exhilarating joy ride with one simple objective: blow sh*t up. Chain kills to get a point multiplier bonus and keep going until your plane is blown to pieces. There are objectives to complete that unlock new parts and raise your level, allowing for an ever increasing variety of play styles. Weapons run from the standard machine gun, right through homing missiles, cannons, and laser beams. Engines can be super nimble, well rounded or propelled by bullets.
The variety on offer is huge. Want to ram into enemy fighters without taking damage? That’s possible. Want to avoid the skies entirely and spend every run bobbing in and out of the ocean, blasting ships when you come up for air? Sure. Go ahead. No matter if you’re after speed, endurance, power or a laser beam, every set up is fun to play, and unlocking new parts to test out and combine is a joy. Each Rauser looks, feels, and handles differently, and they even have individual names so that you can get way more attached than you should to ‘The Pig’ (I moved on eventually).
The gameplay is kept frantic by having the assault come from air and sea, with multiple enemy types constantly mixing up attack patterns and formations so that each new run feels like a different struggle. You may be swamped by nimble fighters in one run, bombarded by battleships in the next. Part of the fun, and indeed the satisfaction, comes from learning how to deal with anything the game throws at you.
Luftrausers is relentless, constantly throwing enemy after enemy at you until the screen is more bullet than sky. The only way to repair damage to your plane is to stop firing, so you have to make the call whether to shoot and take out the bomber that’s dogging you or turn tail and run in the hope that a brief moment of respite can get your plane back to full strength. Moments of triumph are always within grasp, whether it’s a perfect parabolic bombing run that takes out multiple enemy ships or a simple aerial maneuver that slips your craft neatly between two streams of deadly battleship fire.
Although the reward of new parts dries up fairly quickly, the gameplay is more than enough on it’s own to drive an addiction, and it is incredibly easy to zone in on Luftrausers to the point that little else matters but the next run. The possibility of new thrills and moments of chaos or genius is more than enough to make dying the briefest of inconveniences, and you can be up and running again within seconds – I needed a reason to stop.
Audio & Visuals
Luftrausers is the sort of game that you want to clear the room for. Remove fellow residents who are not interested, turn up the speakers and let the energy of the soundtrack blast your ears whilst enemy planes fall from the sky. It’s loud and it’s exciting, and likely to be punctuated with a perpetual chorus of swearing and whooping. The soundtrack was created by Finnish DJ Jukio ‘KOZILEK’ Kallio, and well, just have a listen to the main theme. Pairing that track with the gameplay makes for one hell of a good time. And here’s the kicker- there are 125 variations of that theme, one for each of the possible combinations of plane parts.
Next to the awesome soundtrack the visual side of Luftrausers can seem a little unremarkable,old school as it is. But don’t let the 2D pixel style fool you, because every plane looks different, and the game can handle a ton of bullets and enemies on screen at once; things can get very intense and the simplicity of the artwork allows it all to go down easy. The cartoon characters on the menus are a nice touch that break things up and hint at a world beyond the chaos, some crazy team of scientists and generals that just keeps on going no matter how ridiculous it is to put one plane up against an endless horde.
Overall
Luftrausers is a mesmerising package that is an absolute joy to play. A fantastic slice of arcade insanity, it takes some very simple concepts and knits them together perfectly, topping the whole thing off with an electro cherry on top. It demands constant attention but in return makes you feel like an aerial god. I’ve yet to play anything else this year that comes close to having the same immediate impact as Luftrausers: grab it and have a ball.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Cormac McCarthy’s novels have been the source material for some great films, No Country for Old Men and The Road being the most recent examples. The Counselor is his first original film screenplay, and it was quickly picked up by the production company behind the screen adaptation of The Road, with Ridley Scott directing. The cast is laden with Hollywood heavyweights, from current man of the moment Michael Fassbender to No Country for Old Men star Javier Bardem.
Story
Michael Fassbender is the titular Counselor, a rich and successful lawyer who has just proposed to his girlfriend Laura (Penelope Cruz). He seems to have been a good boy for most of his time, not falling into the pitfalls of drug abuse and corruption usually associated with his position of power. His friend and business partner however, has had no such qualms. Reiner (Javier Bardem giving more oddly coiffed oddity) has tried and failed to involve the Counselor in drug trafficking, instead settling on building nightclubs with him. Reiner lives with his pouty, sociopath girlfriend Melkina (Cameron Diaz), who owns a couple of cheetahs and knows a bit more about the drug trade than Reiner wants to let on.
And then, The Counselor decides to do a deal. Just one: but a big one that puts him on the radar of the Mexican cartels (presumably he has to pay for the enormous diamond he’s just put on Laura’s two dimensional finger).
Reiner doesn’t like the sound of it, and tries to convince his friend to back out. When he persists Reiner sends him off to see middle man Westray (Brad Pitt), who also goes to great lengths to turn Fassbender away from the deal, describing in detail just how the cartels deal with people who cross them. Despite all of the warnings the Counselor carries on, so of course things swiftly head south. The septic tank truck carrying the cocaine across the border is hijacked, leaving the Counselor in a bit of a tight spot.
Despite the drugs and the sex and the numerous and varied decapitations, the Counselor isn’t an exciting or a tense film, and it’s certainly not sexy. The vast majority of it is spent watching characters have rambling conversations, then someone dies horribly and it all begins again.
Cormac McCarthy’s screenplay is terrible, a fact that will be hard to swallow for anyone who has ever read his novels or seen their film adaptations. The tone is very similar to his other works and The Counselor does bear McCarthy’s trademark streak of brutality, but the dialogue is trying far too hard to be smart and even the actors seem to know it.
Fassbender, Bardem et al all turn in awkward and humorless performances, with Diaz in particular glaringly miscast. Her character Malkina does get more than her share of ridiculous moments, and by the end of the movie it is fairly apparent that Diaz has no idea what she’s saying. It’s a shame to see such a quality ensemble look so silly.
Speaking of ridiculous moments, if you’ve heard only one thing about this film, it’ll be that there’s a scene in it where Cameron Diaz has sex with a car. Indeed she does, and in addition to that, Melkina tries to seduce Penelope Cruz, then a priest, and in response to Bardem’s accusation that she is a cold person delivers the line, “the truth has no temperature”.
It’s not the only snort worthy line of dialogue in the Counselor, with Bardem delivering several cringe worthy speeches about the nature of women (they don’t seem to be creatures worthy of much praise in this movie), and plenty of clangers whenever sex is involved: “You are a glory”, says Michael Fassbender to Penelope Cruz, “Life is being in bed with you, everything else is just waiting”: The Counselor takes two of the most desirable stars in Hollywood , puts them in bed together and ends up with an awkward tussle underneath the sheets.
And it’s not just the main characters who suffer under the yoke of the screenplay. Little to no exposition is afforded, often leaving the identity of the minor characters a mystery. There’s a brilliant example of this sitting on The Counselor’s IMDb page, which attributes a quote to ” The man who is in a pool room talking to the counselor (at 1:51:48)”. Said man talks to the counselor for an entire scene, but we’re never told who he is or what he has to do with the story. Indeed the motivation of pretty much everyone in this film is a little hazy, but at least we know they can spout long lines of pretentious dialogue when called upon.
Audio & Visuals
Despite it’s shortcomings The Counselor is still a good looking movie, directed with the usual flair by Ridley Scott. We get both sides of the drug trafficking coin- the opulent, garish world of Reiner and Malkina and the dusty, violent reality of the people on the business end of their maneuvers. There are some moments of intense violence that really hit home in their brutality, one in particular demanding to be viewed through the fingers- the world of The Counselor is nothing if not grim. Given that the film is so dialogue heavy the musical score takes a bit of a back seat, but composer Daniel Pemberton provides some haunting, tense pieces that take cues from the numerous locations of the film.
Extras
There are no extras with the Digital HD release, so if you’re after any additional material then the physical releases of The Counselor are the way to go. The DVD has some ‘Viral Pieces” (deleted scenes), whilst the Blu-ray adds a making of clip, the trailer and tv spots, and an extended cut of the movie that adds another twenty three minutes to the two hour run time. The Digital HD release is also the extended cut version of the film.
Overall
When the details about this movie were first released excitement levels ran high – a bevvy of Hollywood’s biggest stars directed by Ridley Scott with a screenplay by Cormac McCarthy, what more could you ask for?
As it turns out big names are nothing in the face of a bad screenplay, and authors who produce fantastic novels are not necessarily going to make great screenwriters. Despite solid direction from Scott The Counselor is a tremendous waste of time for everyone involved, and will have the somewhat sad legacy of being “that one where Cameron Diaz humps a car”.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
