As of the time I am writing this article, it is just under 9 days until Edge of Reality’s new free-to-play online slugfest Loadout is officially launched on PC. Since its early access began back in May 2013, Loadout has been experimenting with a lot of different game modes and the latest one to be announced is Annihilation.
Annihilation mode takes elements from the objective based gameplay players have come to know and love and combines it with a level up system that rewards you for individual excellence. Players can use their individual score to purchase performance injections that depending on which you select will either ramp up your power, toughen up your defence, or increase your healing capabilities on the battlefield. By completing a number of different objectives your team score will increase until eventually the shields on your opponent’s dropship will deactivate. When they’re open for attack you and your team have to go on the offensive, charge a huge hammer into their ship and shatter their power supply and any hope they had of victory.
Loadout is a fast paced third person shooter lets you customize your character and their loadout more than I have ever seen before in a video game. Due for launch on the 31st January, this game looks like a lot of fun and being free to play, it definitely looks like a game worth trying out.
Check out the trailer for Annihilation Mode below and let us know what you think in the comments!
Compatibility: Requires iOS 4.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPad, iPod touch (3rd generation), iPod touch (4th generation), and iPod touch (5th generation). This app is optimized for iPhone 5.
Description
SCIENTISTS! Journey through quantum space and fuse the elements in this retro- inspired arcade game for iOS!
The game is FUSION.
Your Role: Quantum Physicist
Your Goal: Create all the known elements of the periodic table by absorbing and manipulating matter, antimatter, plasma waves, and photons.
More Details:
Arm yourself with the sheer power of Photons. Amass this energy to release stronger reactions to
support your journey into the void. But beware! The boundaries of Quantum Space is unknown…there is sure to be mysterious matter that is yet to be discovered.
Key Features
•An enormous quantum playground: 118 elements to fuse
•Become a legend: First Physicist to discover Elements 119 and beyond gets to name them
•Built for competitive Physicists: Place your name in the global leaderboards and earn some bragging rights
•Controls to fit every play style: 3 control schemes to suit right-handed and left-handed players – including the (lucky) ambidextrous
•Achievements Galore: Unlock all the secrets of the (in-game) universe!
•Everlasting challenge: Exponential difficulty equals infinite replayability
Compete against other physicists to see who can name those undiscovered elements and go down in history!
Venture forth into the dark spaces and pioneer the next phase of elemental discovery!
JOIN THE FIGHT! NEW WORLD INTERACTIVE UNLEASHES INSURGENCY ON STEAM TODAY
Indie Studio’s 32-Player First-person Shooter Aims for Tactics, Teamwork, and Leadership
Denver, CO — January 22, 2014 — Indie developer New World Interactive (NWI) is proud to announce the launch of its tactical, team-based first-person shooter INSURGENCY available on Steam. The intense online FPS, that PC Gamer calls “a ridiculously good time,” aims to distill one of the most popular gaming genres to its essence. INSURGENCY is available now for PC and Mac OS X, now at the sale price of $13.49 for a limited time from today, January 22, until Tuesday, January 28, a 10% discount from the SRP of $14.99. INSURGENCY will launch on Linux later this year. NWI has issued a statement to their community regarding their pricing, seen HERE.
“We’re very excited about the progress we’ve made over the past nine months,” said Jeremy Blum, founder and game director of New World Interactive, who was instrumental in the success of the award-winning mods Red Orchestra and Insurgency: Modern Infantry Combat. “Early Access allowed us to build a community and actualize the full potential of our game, that otherwise would not be possible to reach this moment. We are very grateful for our dedicated fans that have remained loyal through this process.”
“This milestone release marks the end of the Early Access phase, since we have discovered the right direction and created a foundation for the game from months of experimentation, years of experience, and a decade envisioning what this gameplay experience should be,” said Andrew Spearin, designer and community manager of Insurgency and the co-founder of Insurgency: Modern Infantry Combat. “Today, we look forward to unveiling what we have to the world, allowing more players to join our rapidly growing community and help evolve the game as we polish, refine, and build on top of the framework we have established.” NWI continues to update the game and has DLC plans included in the full price.
INSURGENCY features:
Tactical squad-based gameplay
Intense 32-player adversarial online action with a focus on teamwork
Six-player cooperative play versus AI bots
10 challenging and fun gameplay defined by matchmaking play styles: Tactical Operation playlist (Firefight, VIP, and Search and Destroy modes), Sustained Combat playlist (Skirmish, Strike, and Push modes) and Cooperative (Checkpoint, Outpost and Hunt modes)
Customizable arsenal featuring more than 20 realistic weapon types, seven attachments, and five ammunition types. Gear changes affect player weight, stamina, and movement speed:
Insurgent weapons: AKS-74U, MP-40, RPK, RPG-7, and more Security weapons: Mk18, UMP-45, M9, AT-4, and more Shared weapons: M67 frag, M18 smoke, C4, and more
Several customizable and asymmetrical squad roles that affect movement and play style on the battlefield.
Highly immersive audio with 3D VOIP to coordinate with and track other players
Seven in-game maps:
Contact – Darkness brings a close quarters clash to the Iraqi streets District – Cavernous streets and alleyways unleash lethality at every corner Heights – With the spring thaw, an insurgent offensive emerges from the foothills Market – Under a bright African sun, a crash site becomes a flashpoint Ministry – An Iraqi government building is the scene of intense room-to-room clearing Siege – Dusty streets and shops clear the way for a shoot out Peak – Deep in the valleys of Afghanistan, a lone combat outpost awaits the inevitable
Full support of Steam Achievements and Stats
DLC post launch – providing updated gameplay, maps, and weapons with new implemented features that players desire to see in game
Built on Valve’s Source Engine, INSURGENCY supports up to 32-person multiplayer and six-player cooperative, and showcases a training level to ease the learning curve for newcomers. The game is built for Windows®PC and Mac OS X and is in development for Linux.
More on INSURGENCY can be found on New World Interactive’s Website www.playinsurgency.com. “Like” the game on Facebook, follow on Twitter, and watch it on Twitch.
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ABOUT NEW WORLD INTERACTIVE
New World Interactive (“NWI”) is an independent game studio specializing in the development of innovative digital entertainment. NWI is one of the pioneering developers of “Early Access” games, leading the way of iterative design and community building to help build the future of gaming.
Overview
Originally born as a mod for Valve’s Half Life 2, Insurgency quickly gained popularity. New World Interactive have poured themselves into delivering a fully realized total conversion to one of the most well received mods in years. Bucking any notions that Valve’s own Counter Strike was a factor, they’ve set out to deliver a top-notch tactical shooter, but how well does Insurgency hold up? Is it a well executed mission or a botched operation?
Gameplay
The staff at New World Interactive boasts some impressive talent. The designers of both the Day of Defeat and Insurgency mods lead a team of about a dozen developers. Just a few rounds into their newest title, you’ll be able to tell they’re putting their skills and experience into crafting a fine multiplayer experience.
First, fans of the traditional run-and-gun shooters should approach Insurgency with a very different mindset. Unlike mainstream shooters that let you take a few shots, find your attacker, and return fire, Insurgency will grant you no such quarter. There are no hit indicators to show where your attackers are. They’d be of little solace. Here, death comes quick and often without warning.
A real sense of danger is a huge part of what makes Insurgency worth playing…over and over again. Though the impatient could quickly become frustrated, the game can be immensely engaging and rewarding for players who play with a cool head. Crouching, leaning around corners, coordinating with teammates, setting up kill shots, and taking objectives constantly feels both rewarding and exhilarating.
While death is swift, it isn’t permanent. Insurgency features an array of game modes, many of which allow players to revive if teammates complete objectives. There are three overarching modes: Tactical Operation, Sustained Combat, and Co-operative.
Tactical Operation is made up of Firefight (my personal favorite), VIP, and Search and Destroy modes, with the latter two pitting a defending team against an attacking team. Firefight forces teams to fight over three control points. The game ends when all three points are captured or a team is eliminated. Capturing a point respawns every slain team member, bolstering your charge. This can make for some incredible moments, allowing a single man to turn the tide of an entire match.
Sustained Combat presents players with Skirmish, Strike, and Push matches. Fans of Battlefield games will recognize Push as Insurgency‘s version of Rush, with one team defending points and the other pressing the attack up the map. Skirmish has five points that must be captured (or the opposing team must be eliminated), making for an entertaining tug of war. Finally, Strike has an attacking team using explosives to take out several weapon caches the defenders must protect.
Finally, Cooperative modes put a team of up to 8 people against enemy AI in various situations, typically conquering and defending objectives. It almost sounds unfair at first, but the enemies get progressively harder and your team can be wiped out quickly if you let down your guard, making for a tense challenge to the end.
Insurgency comes packed out with weapons for you to load out, featuring over 20 weapons with a variety of attachments. Some are faction-specific, while others are shared. Many may be class specific, helping you fill your role on the team. All have a fantastic sense of realism, whether in look, feel, or sound. Using Supply points, which are awarded to you after each round of a match, you can buy attachments or rearrange your loadout. These Supply points stick around until the end of a match, giving you a great sense of reward for team performance without unbalancing gameplay.
Community and teamwork are almost palpable with Insurgency. In my experience, everyone was willing to help folks out, even tolerating occasional friendly fire. Communication is strongly encouraged and microphone use is as common as text chat. After death, these aspects congeal into something even more impressive. Banter between downed combatants can make for some riotous moments as folks cheer wildly for a heroic comeback or lament defeat together. It’s a unique bonding experience you can’t get in games like Battlefield or Call of Duty.
Visuals Insurgency is a great looking game, no bones about it. The Source engine still looks strong, years after its initial release. Environments are quite detailed and well designed. The firearms you brandish not only look real – they feel real too. The attention to detail in both look and feel are great.
I have few complaints to levy against this game, but the environments could use some variety. The maps themselves are well thought out with various vantage points and obstacles, but many of the games are fought on sandy Middle Eastern streets, though the occasional mountain range is a welcome change of scenery. Still, at the risk of breaking the realism, some greenery or more visually varied maps would be a welcome sight.
Audio Insurgency‘s audio design is absolutely fantastic. The music is engaging and fits the theme well. The sound effects are some of the most well implemented I’ve seen in some time, with realistic gunfire, bullets whizzing overhead, explosions rocking your core, and more. Voice chat is also a great feature. Not only is it helpful for teammates, but it’s also directional and proximity-related, meaning you can hear enemy chatter if you’re within earshot. It’s a great touch to an excellent sounding game.
Overall
Overall, there’s very little Insurgency sets out to do that it doesn’t ace. There are some minor bugs and repetitive environmental aesthetics, but overall, those are slight complaints. There’s a wide variety of game modes that will keep you on your toes, the gameplay is smooth and engaging, and the game both looks great and sounds phenomenal. While the intense tactical combat and slower pace may not suit those looking for more twitch-based games, anyone willing to engage Insurgency and give it a fair shot will find a fresh, rewarding experience awaiting them.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Compatibility: Requires iOS 5.1 or later. Compatible with iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPad 2 Wi-Fi, iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G, iPad Wi-Fi (3rd generation), iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular (3rd generation), iPad Wi-Fi (4th generation), iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular (4th generation), iPad mini Wi-Fi, iPad mini Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air, iPad Air Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini with Retina display, iPad mini with Retina display Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPod touch (4th generation), and iPod touch (5th generation). This app is optimized for iPhone 5.
Description
Prepare for high-octane action and the ultimate Motocross adrenaline rush!
NOTE: The iPod Touch 4th Gen is not supported
Push the envelope for big air, speed, and style to become the undisputed champion! Challenge opponents online or in single player events including Motocross, Freestyle, Step Up, and more!
STUNNING VISUALS
Incredible HD graphics put you right in the dirt! Every jump, trick, and crash are rendered with bone crushing clarity.
GET AMPED
Compete for freestyle dominance with over 30 insane tricks. Upgrade your skills to score even higher!
BECOME A PRO
Create your own rider and go head-to-head with real world pros! Tailor your look with apparel from Metal Mulisha, Osiris, and others!
FINE TUNE YOUR RIDE
Outfit your bike with over 800 custom configurations. Be strategic with upgrades and leave your rivals in the dust!
Get ready for Motocross Meltdown!
———————————————
Motocross Meltdown is free to play, but you can choose to pay real money for some extra items, which will charge your iTunes account. You can disable in-app purchasing by adjusting your device settings.
Compatibility: Requires iOS 4.3 or later. Compatible with iPhone 4, iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPhone 5c, iPhone 5s, iPad 2 Wi-Fi, iPad 2 Wi-Fi + 3G, iPad Wi-Fi (3rd generation), iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular (3rd generation), iPad Wi-Fi (4th generation), iPad Wi-Fi + Cellular (4th generation), iPad mini Wi-Fi, iPad mini Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad Air, iPad Air Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPad mini with Retina display, iPad mini with Retina display Wi-Fi + Cellular, iPod touch (4th generation), and iPod touch (5th generation). This app is optimized for iPhone 5.
Description
Suddenly, this peaceful X-planet was attacked by unidentified creatures. They destroyed everything the dogs loved, driving them mad.
Jin’s dangerous, long quest to find his kidnapped daughter.
Fight off all the enemies with powerful action and customized weapons with Jin.
Thrilling actions with free movements.
● You can fight them with kick-ass actions like jumping, rolling, and shooting.
Powerful weapons!
● pistol, rifle, shotgun, explosive weapons, etc.
● customize and upgrade 40 different kinds of weapons
● 90 different kind of gun accessories enhancing quality of guns.
Enhancement items!
● you can add 60 different kinds of defense mechanisms to incapacitate the enemies
Rescue the land of dogs!
● save the land of dogs in 20 different maps from all the enemies. maps will be updated regularly
Battle with the enemies!
● The dogs have many enemies, each one unique….and you can fight them all!
Mighty boss!
● As the bosses you have to fight continue to gain in strength, you can also gain strength by upgrading to more powerful weapons.
Optimized best for the latest apple mobile phones.
● Optimized best for the iPhone5,the iPad, and the Retina.
Linked to Game center
You can download Crazy dogs for free.
You may purchase additional items from item shop.
at the weapon settings under application, you can enable/disable purchasing items.
TEAM NINJA AND DARK HORSE COMICS KICK OFF YAIBA: NINJA GAIDEN Z DIGITAL COMIC SERIES
Comic-Inspired Action Title Confirms New North American Release Date
Team NINJA and Dark Horse Comics today launched the three-part YAIBA: NINJA GAIDEN Z digital comic series, providing insight into the backstory in three revealing vignettes. Yaiba takes a break from slaughtering zombies in the debut issue to tell the tale of how his often bloody sword became to be known as “Heartless” as he recounts the story to Miss Monday. Initially released digitally with an all-new full color print comic to be available with the game, as it launches on its newly confirmed North American release date of March 18, 2014, the series is brought to life by Writers Tim Seeley and Josh Emmons, Artist Rafael Ortiz, Colorist Carlos Badilla with special cover art by James Harren. The comic will be available for free download at the Dark Horse Digital Store, www.digital.darkhorse.com, as well as through the Dark Horse Comics app (available through iTunes & Google Play). Additional information can be found at: https://digital.darkhorse.com/profile/4128.yaiba-ninja-gaiden-z-1/.
In YAIBA: NINJA GAIDEN Z, players will battle fierce zombies as Yaiba, a cyborg ninja who will do anything to get revenge and stay alive. Cleaved in two, he is brought back to life with cyber-technology. Brandishing his ninja sword and the mecha weapons in his cyber arm, he slaughters zombies with brutal, over-the-top abandon. Step into a stylized living comic book where stunning graphics depict a world gone mad. Hordes of undead can only be stopped by Yaiba’s willingness to use any means necessary to get the job done. Will he kill by turning his cyber arm into a razor chainsaw for slicing up undead—or just rip off an opponent’s arms to use as zombie nunchucks? Both possibilities fill Yaiba’s heart with twisted laughter in this collaboration between famed developers Team NINJA and comcept’s Keiji Inafune.
YAIBA: NINJA GAIDEN Z will be available for the PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and Steam® (PC) March 18, 2014. This title has been rated M (Mature) by the ESRB
Warhorse Studios Launches Kickstarter For Kingdom Come: Deliverance
Sets US$500k (UK £$300k) Goal To Fuel Ongoing Investment in the Game
Prague, Czech Republic – January 22, 2014 – Today Warhorse Studios launched a Kickstarter for Kingdom Come: Deliverance, the AAA PC and next-gen console title slated for a 2015 release.
Game Director and Lead Designer Dan Vávra explains: “So far US$1.5m has been invested into Kingdom Come: Deliverance, largely from a single investor outside the games industry. This is a big and expensive game, and we could hardly hope to raise the entire budget needed on Kickstarter alone. Since game publishers are not throwing money at us, we’ve made a deal with our investor: if we raise the relatively reasonable sum of US$500k, it is proof for him that the game has potential, and he would continue to finance us. Anything over the sum we’re asking for will allow us to create additional content and a better overall product.”
Kingdom Come: Deliverance is an open world, action-adventure RPG developed by a veteran team composed of talent that played key roles in the Mafia, Crysis, ArmA and Operation Flashpoint franchises. Set during the Holy Roman Empire during the late Middle Ages, Kingdom Come: Deliverance is rich with historically authentic characters, themes and warfare.
Based in Prague, Czech Republic, Warhorse was founded in 2011 by Dan Vávra, creator of Mafia and Mafia 2, and Martin Klíma, formerly of ALTAR (Original War, UFO trilogy). The team, including Lead Designer Viktor Bocan (Operation Flashpoint), has ramped up in 2013 to include an experienced roster of industry veterans, with a combined track record of dozens of games published and millions of copies sold. For additional information, please visit www.WarhorseStudios.cz.
TECMO KOEI EUROPE ANNOUNCES DOWLOADABLE DEMO FOR TOUKIDEN: THE AGE OF DEMONS
Hertfordshire, 21/01/2014– Tecmo Koei Europe is pleased to announce the release of an extensive free-of-charge demo for upcoming title ‘Toukiden: The Age of Demons’, which is being developed for the PlayStation®Vita handheld system.
The demo will be available through the PlayStation®Network on the 29th of January 2014 and it will serve as an excellent method of introducing players to the vast and beautiful world of Toukiden.
Spanning the entire first and part of the second chapter of the game, this comprehensive 10 hour sample will also include full access to character customisation, all six weapon types and equipment upgrades. It also allows for a trial of the online environment, which plays a pivotal role in the enjoyment of Toukiden. In the full version players will be able to team up with up to three others to try and defeat the Oni. To give prospective fans the opportunity to fully appreciate the battle system and co-op, the demo will allow up to seven multiplayer missions to be completed.
Players can carry on their save data-equipment, obtained weapons/armour/mitama, materials (up to 30 slots), story progress, and a part of their Haku (in-game currency)- to the full version of the game.
Following a ground breaking success in Japan, with sales over 470,000 units (a feat all the more impressive for an original IP) Toukiden: The Age of Demons is bringing the fight for survival across Europe on the 14th February 2014.
To aid Slayers in the beginning of their journey Tecmo Koei Europe announced a series of in game pre-order bonuses. Specifically, those who pre-order Toukiden through the Playstation Network® will receive the Mitama of Momotaro, a warrior’s soul that will strengthen the player’s skill, along with a piece of armour (cat ears). Furthermore, there will be two additional pre-order DLC packs, one including the Mitama of Niijima Yae and a piece of armour (fox mask) and one including two extra mission collections. These will be available through Game, Amazon and independent retailers through Centresoft.
Set against a backdrop inspired by various historical periods of Japan, Toukiden tells the tale of humanity’s last stand for survival. When monstrous demons (Oni) of varying strength and size invaded the world through cracks in space and time and started attacking humans, the only opposition came from the Slayers; a caste that has always secretly protected mankind from their murderous intent.
Eight years after time warped and Oni appeared, a brave young Slayer embarks on a journey to thin the numbers of the enemy and help humanity survive. Players take the role of this young warrior and can fully customise their characters, weapons and armour and form a group of hunters to take down the destructive Oni.
ABOUT TECMO KOEI EUROPE LTD.
TECMO KOEI EUROPE LTD. is a publisher of interactive entertainment software for current generation consoles, handhelds and digital download content based in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, UK. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of TECMO KOEI HOLDINGS CO., LTD., headquartered in Yokohama, Japan. TECMO is best known for the Dead or Alive® and Ninja Gaiden®series. KOEI is best known for its Dynasty Warriors® and Samurai Warriors® franchises. On April 1, 2009, TECMO KOEI HOLDINGS CO., LTD was established as a result of the TECMO, LTD. and KOEI Co., Ltd. merger. More information about TECMO KOEI EUROPE LTD and its products can be found at www.tecmokoei-europe.com.
Wargaming has announced that its free-to-play MMO World of Tanks has set a new record in Russia. On January 19th, the gamers playing concurrently on the Russian cluster reached over 1,114,000 million.
Andrei Yarantsau (Wargaming VP of Publishing) said:
“In 2013, we put a great amount of effort into growing World of Tanks, enriching it with new gameplay features and content. Tankmen on the Russian servers all play at different times of the day and although their overall number has long since surpassed several million daily active users, the PCCU has been hovering around 900,000 gamers for the past few months. Finally, we’ve breached the one million mark. We are set to scale even greater heights with considerable improvements planned for World of Tanks in 2014”.
Combined with players from across the globe, virtual tank users mass over 75,000,000, a number that is growing fast. Check out the screenshots below and head over to the official site to see what all the fuss is about. Hint: It’s tanks.
