What exactly is the Call of Duty Time you ask? Well it is now the time in which Call of Duty: Ghosts is released as the game is now available for Call of Duty maniacs. To go along with this amazing release of this phenomenal game from the incredible video-game publisher Activision, an infographic has been released that details the history of ‘Call of Duty Time’.
Want to know all the intriguing statistics behind the wild world of Call of Duty and ‘Call of Duty Time’? Well just take a gander at the image below which features all the interesting information on these topics. Call of Duty: Ghosts is available now on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.
Bigger, Bolder, Better. Those three words definitely define Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag as it takes the Assassin’s Creed franchise’s first major steps off the mainland, and sails out to the seven seas. Combining elements of traditional Assassin’s Creed stealth gameplay with the loud and aggressive pirate lifestyle was no easy feat, but Ubisoft have managed to pull it off. The game offers players the freedom to play how they want and to make their own fun through the variety of side-missions, collectibles and other goals to accomplish. This gameplay freedom, combined with an unrivaled visual beauty and audio that really captures the pirate lifestyle results in Black Flag being the best game in the franchise by far.
Story
Taking place prior to the events of Assassin’s Creed III, we are placed in the role of Edward Kenway (father of the Templar Haytham Kenway, and grandfather to the protagonist of Assassin’s Creed III; Connor Kenway), a young pirate who becomes entangled in a life or death struggle against an a member of the Assassin Order. After learning that the Assassin was part of a Templar plot that could result in fortunes unforetold, Edward is ready for treasure and ready for adventure.
A great facet to this game is how Edward grows as a character. Older Assassin’s Creed games would have the protagonist remain largely the same throughout. Most of Ezio’s character development happened in-between games, while Connor remained a stoic brat for the entirety of his story. Edward however starts off as a brash pirate captain with the clear goal of amassing a fortune enough for him to buy some land and a little bit of respect back home. Through his travels he will don the stolen robes of an assassin, fall into a Templar meeting, and realise that there is more to life than being happy at the expense of others.
While it delves into some serious topics, Assassin’s Creed IV is an overall more lighthearted and fun story than its predecessors. Pirates work surprisingly well with the themes and motifs that the Assassin’s Creed franchise has been built on, namely the Assassin Order’s goal of freedom for all. This lofty and happy vibe to the gameis in no small part due to Captain Kenway himself, who is witty, charismatic and a downright smart-ass at times. He is a much happier character than we have come to see from the series recently. Not only is he light hearted and a bit of a jokester, he is also incredibly likeable and downright relatable at times, not only in his demeanor but in his dreams and goals in life.
We also can’t forget that the Assassin’s Creed series is constantly filled with cameos and appearances from famous historical figures, and Black Flag is no exception. Aside from Blackbeard himself; Edward Thatch, we also get to meet other famous sea dogs like Calico Jack, Mary Read and Anne Bonny.
Gameplay
Assassin’s Creed IV had a difficult road to travel – combining the elements that have defined Assassin’s Creed with a new, nautical setting. Prior to playing Black Flag, I was concerned that this was going to be difficult to tackle and that we would simply end up with Pirate’s Creed. However, from the moment I picked up the controller and entered the game, I happily realised that this was far from true.
At this point in its life, the Assassin’s Creed has definitely defined itself. The slow, methodical and precise gameplay makes the series what it is (for better or worse) and taking it out, or changing it too wildly will result in a game that just shares a name. Luckily, all of the typical Assassin’s Creed gameplay mechanic that players know and love have made it into Black Flag, and are still very much the focus. This slow gameplay approach can make it difficult to play Assassin’s Creed for marathon sessions, but is a staple of the series and is still incredibly fun.
For the crux of the game you play as Edward, (and only Edward), who already has the skills to be a top assassin, but lacks the knowledgeof what being an assassin truly means (largely because he ISN’T an assassin when the game begins). This is one of the game’s strengths. In the last game, you were treated to a lengthy (and I do mean lengthy) tutorial sequence featuring Haytham Kenway, before ever getting to play as Connor (and then doing a lot more tutorial). Black Flag instead throws you straight into the role of Edward, and provides you with hints and on-screen prompts to help you along your way. The tutorial sections for new skills as you unlock them are integrated into the story near seamlessly, that it doesn’t feel like you are being guided at all.
The game is split so that you will roughly spend most of your time on-land completing storyline missions, while the seas are for travel and side-quest stuff. The story missions follow the same style as the previous games; having you either hunt down a particular person, sneaking up on unsuspecting soldiers, or eavesdropping on conversations. Combat on land has also remain largely unchanged, however the way in which Edward fights really changes up the flow and pace of the game. Unlike previous protagonists, Edward’s standard arsenal includes two swords, his wrist blades, and more guns than you could count. His attacking style is much more brutal and a lot less elegant, which helps define him as a pirate.
While you are out at sea, there are a thousand and one different things you can do. The ocean really is your playground and much like a pirate, you are free to travel it as you see fit. The game’s massive map means that you will often be sailing towards your next main plot quest, only to find a small island worth investigating. Some islands are populated, and have more treasure to discover and villainous types to kill, while others are smaller and may only have one or two collectables for you. These collectibles come in the form of Animus Fragments, Treasure, Mayan Stones, and a few other secrets that I wont spoil for you here. The game is filled with Assassin’s Contracts, which can shake up the game. You are told to sail to a particular island, and find a Templar commander, and ending him quickly. These let you use all of the tricks in your assassin’s arsenal, and are a great way of earning money.
There are also sections of the ocean filled with aquatic creatures to hunt. Everything from great white sharks to the elusive white whales are available, and hunting them will give you certain bonuses (like the ability to craft new items and clothing). Some animals are easier to hunt than others, with the White Whale providing the toughest challenge (despite its difficulty, there is just something inherently cool about gabbing a spear and going all Captain Ahab on the creature). If hunting isn’t your style, then you are also able to dive to the depths in search of lost treasure. This ability isn’t unlocked until later in the game, but is a lot of fun, and the underwater sections are a sight to behold.
The sea-faring sections of the game are some of the most fun you will have with a controller in your hand to date. A lot of the mechanics have been taken from Assassin’s Creed III, and improved on substantially. Your ship is bigger, and you are tasked with keeping it maintained, as well as upgrading its look and combat efficiency. As a pirate captain you are constantly on the look out for new crew members, which become vital during your naval battles. You gain crew either by paying them, or by rescuing wayward pirates who are in trouble.
Sea combat has undergone a substantial upgrade from ACIII, not only in the way you do battle, but in the end result. Firstly, the weapons have all been made more fluid to access, with each camera direction giving you access to a different weapon. Facing forwards will give you the Chain-Shot designed to take out enemy masts. Facing backwards brings up your fire barrels, which serve as floating mines, and aiming port or starboard brings up your broadside cannons, which do the most damage to your enemies. The game also has a swivel gun that is firable whenever the enemy’s ship has an exposed weak point, and a new weapon; mortar, which help you rain down on distant ships. It is up to you to drive your ship in and around opposing vessels, to use the best weapons for the job.
Following tiring battles, you can either sink ships to the briny deep, or board them. Boarding them takes longer and there is a risk of losing crew members, but the rewards are usually worth the risk. More salvage, and the chance to repair your ship, lower your wanted meter, or recruit another vessel into your fleet are well worth the extra trouble that boarding an enemy can be.
There are also the sections of the game set during the present day. Here you will play in a first-person setting, acting as a new employee for Abstergo Entertainment. You are in charge of playing through the Animus memories of Edward Kenway to determine the most fun and exciting memories that players of future Abstergo games will enjoy. There is a lot of tongue in cheek humor here, and a lot of real-world easter eggs, such as the memo that details how Ubisoft and Abstergo teamed up to release Assassin’s Creed: Liberation. Overall, these sections aren’t necessary to the gameplay, and most of them have you performing small hacking minigames to get access to files. These files to give players a clue as to where the series is going from here. Since this is Abstergo, players will know that there is a more sinister plot involved, and the files you unlock through these present-day sections tell the story of just what that devious plot is.
Multiplayer is also back, and follows the same formula as pervious entries in the series. It does away with the traditional deathmatch style of competitive multiplayer, in favour of a stealth based cat and mouse game, where you have to lure your opponent into thinking you are a normal NPC on the map before making your kill. The ability to customise your character and their skills as you improve is nothing new, but it allows you to really branch out and create the multiplayer character you want to make. While it isn’t a game-changer, its inclusion is always welcome, and is a fun alternative to the rest of the multiplayer games out there.
Visuals
There is no other way to describe Assassin’s Creed IV than to call it beautiful. On the brink of the new console generation, Black Flag really shows how far we have come in seven years of gaming. The thing that will capture most people’s eyes first, is the clarity and picturesque appearance of the water in-game. The water, especially the shallower areas are by far the best looking water sections I have ever seen in a video game. The crystal blue shallows of the tropical islands fill you with the desire to just stop, stare and wish you were on a holiday to some tropical beach somewhere so that you can just stare at water like this for hours on end. However, it isn’t just the shallow water that stands out in Black Flag. The dark and murky depths are really well defined too, although sometimes the jump from shallow to deep is sometimes really jarring, especially if you are looking down on the ocean floors as your ship crosses over.
The rest of the game is similarly beautiful, and really captures the feel of the Caribbean seas during the 1700s. Ships all look fantastic, and the locations all look stunning. Everything from the trees to the rocks and the differences in the houses really makes Black Flag come alive. It is definitely the best looking Assassin’s Creed game, and as I said above, the best looking game I have ever seen, which makes it a fitting bridge to cross over console generations.
Audio
When dealing with the ocean, it is the subtle sound effects that can make or break your immersion, and luckily Assassin’s Creed IV really captures them perfectly. Black Flag is a game that you can just listen to. The sounds are all magnificently done, and really add to the whole theme and feel of the game. I think it is safe to say that at one point or another, everyone has imagined being a pirate. The freedom, the gently rolling waves, wind through your hair and the sounds of a crew singing a sea chanty all make the dream seem glorious. Well Black Flag has got you covered there. Simply standing on your ship, listening to the gentle wind blow against your sails while your crew whistle and sing really makes you feel like a pirate captain.
The voices of the characters are all incredibly well done too, with the voice actors giving their all. Matt Ryan (Of Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior fame) in his first video game appearance leads the cast of stellar voice actors, and really brings life to Captain Edward Kenway. His voice manages to convey that brash, cocky persona that Edward needed, and he is a lot of the reason that the character is so charismatic and charming. The rest of the crew all exceptionally voice their respective characters, including Nolan North, who is in not only every main-series Assassin’s Creed game, but just about every game of the generation.
If there is any fault to be had with the audio, it is that at times it can grow incredibly repetitive. There was a section of the game, where I was sailing the seas instead of heading to my next destination. Whenever I would fast travel, load a save, or have my ship be brutally torn asunder by an opposing fortress, I would be treated to the same page of dialogue about heading to meet Master Kidd and collecting treasures for the crew along the way. It was fine the first time, and the second time, but every time after that it really started to become tiresome.
Overall
Taking to the seas was a bold move for a franchise so heavily rooted on land, but it has paid off spectacularly. Black Flag is the biggest, boldest and best game of its genre. The combination of traditional Assassin’s Creed mechanics, with an updated sea-faring system really makes for a game that is as wild and varied as the lifestyle it aims to emulate. While the game’s slow, methodical pace makes it difficult to play long marathon sessions, it is still an outstanding experience, and with its visual beauty, and subtle audio nuances that really capture the pirate lifestyle, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag is a near-flawless package, and is the strongest and most enjoyable entry in the series to date.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Broken Sword 5 – The Serpent’s Curse: Episode One to release December 4th 2013
Cliffhanger ending to Revolution’s greatest adventure – will be concluded January 2014
Revolution Software has today confirmed that Broken Sword 5 – The Serpent’s Curse will release worldwide for PC on December 4th. In addition, the developer has revealed that this Broken Sword adventure will, unlike any before, run over two thrilling episodes, concluding in January 2014.
The game set crowdfunding records for a UK-developed game back in September 2012, when it raised $850,000 from 15,000 backers on Kickstarter. Those that pledged to receive a PC, Mac or Linux copy of the game will get each episode as it become available.
The first episode will debut on PC / Mac / Linux through Steam, GOG.com, and Revolution’s own website store on December 4th, with a PlayStation Vita version to follow later in the month. The concluding episode of the game will be published on PC in January 2014. iOS and Android versions will follow shortly after each PC episode.
“Whilst this is very much a classic BrokenSword game in terms of production values and sense of adventure, we’re really breaking new ground with The Serpent’s Curse,” says Charles Cecil, Founder & CEO, Revolution Software. “The success of our Kickstarter appeal has allowed us to be hugely ambitious – each episode is a full sized game in its own right. So we will be publishing two action-packed adventures in close succession. The response to those that have seen the game so far has been hugely positive – some suggesting that this is the best Broken Sword yet.”
When a mysterious painting is stolen during an armed raid on a Paris gallery, George Stobbart and Nico Collard are thrown, seemingly by chance, into the investigation together. From Paris to London and beyond, the trail becomes a race against time as dark forces from Europe’s turbulent past are woken from their slumber. Broken Swordcharacters old and new are encountered – but who can George and Nico trust? The journey they are on reveals a conspiracy as old as the written word, whose ancient heresies will cause innocent blood to spill once more…
A classic point and click that feels utterly contemporary, Broken Sword 5 – The Serpent’s Curse has re-united key members from the Broken Sword team, with layout artists from studios such as Disney, Aardman, and Universal who have created sumptuous, classically drawn backgrounds. The rich, lavish HD art, evolves the art-style so loved in the previousBroken Sword games.
Episode 1 will be released on December 4th for PC, priced £9.99 per episode / £14.99 if both episodes are bought together. Price and release dates for other formats to be confirmed.
Broken Sword 5: the Serpent´s Curse – The Adventure Continues
About Broken Sword 5: the Serpent´s Curse
Paris in the spring. Shots ring out from a gallery… A robbery – a murder – and the beginning of another epic, original Broken Sword adventure.
An adventure that will hurl intrepid lawyer George Stobbart and sassy journalist Nico Collard onto the trail of a murderous conspiracy forged in the cauldron of war-torn Europe. A conspiracy whose roots lie in mysteries older than the written word.
Armed only with logic, integrity and a wry sense of humour – can George and Nico outwit evil forces both ancient and modern and save mankind from disaster? From a Curse forged by the Devil himself?
Broken Sword is one of the world´s best loved adventure series, having been played by over 10 million players and earned exceptional reviews (including a Metacritic score of 91% for Broken Sword – Director’s Cut – iPhone). Broken Sword 5 – the Serpent’s Cursebuilds on this rich heritage.
About Revolution
Founded in 1990, Revolution is a world-leading developer / publisher of narrative-driven adventure computer games, with titles such as the Broken Sword series, which has earned over $100 million at retail, Beneath a Steel Sky and numerous major licenses. The company is a pioneer of digital self-publishing, and in 2011 ‘Broken Sword’ went to #1 on the Apple App store in every major European territory, achieved 5 million downloads, and was one of the world’s top 10 most Tweeted keywords.
The Shape of Things to Come: Forge of Empires Announces Upcoming Features
InnoGames about to bring Winter Event, Modern Era and Guild vs. Guild to the game
Hamburg, November 5, 2013. InnoGames just announced several massive feature updates for its strategic browser game hit Forge of Empires. One of the biggest upcoming gameplay elements of Forge of Empires is now playable in a very first draft version on the beta server: Guild vs. Guild! The feature will introduce large-scale PvP to players. Additionally, Forge of Empires is also working hard on progressing through the ages: The modern Era will introduce the fabulous fifties and swinging sixties!
With the new age comes the dawn of the American dream to players – commercial flights, drive-in cinemas, neon lights and pink Cadillacs – and of course a new single player campaign and the tactical challenges surrounding it will be part of the modern era.
The Guild vs. Guild feature will introduce large-scale battles involving massive numbers of players and increase the relevance of team play and PvP (Player versus Player) in the game drastically. The feature is still in development, but the release in beta aims at involving interested community members in the process and receiving feedback early on.
On top of those features, there will be a winter event soon, containing a new, unique quest line, rewarding players with the chance to pick up buildings from former events as well as entirely new ones.
Forge of Empires is a browser-based strategy game, where players, tasked with leading their own city to prosperity can research new technologies, build impressive historical buildings and enlarge their sphere of influence through military campaigns and skillful dealing. The game has recently been awarded the title of “Best Browser Game 2013” at the German Computer Game Award (Deutscher Computerspielpreis).
With about 110 million registered players, InnoGames is one of the world’s leading developers and providers of online games. The Hamburg-based company has scored major successes with games such as Tribal Wars, The West and Grepolis.
Konami has announced today that the price of their Metal Gear Solid series spinoff, Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, will be dropping to a reduced price of $29.99 from today. Players that purchase the game will also receive the Jetstream and Blade Wolf DLC packs for free. Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance released in February to great acclaim (Check out the review here). The Jetstream DLC features Samuel Rodriguez as a playable character and is a side story to the main campaign featuring the origins of the character. The Blade Wolf DLC features LG-841 as a playable character with unique abilities and also features a story focused on his past. An exciting new boss battle waits at the end of this campaign.
From the information we have we gather this is for retail copies that will come with codes to access the DLC, meaning the codes may only come with newly printed editions. While the price drop definitely applies to the United States we are unsure if the offer will go worlwide. We will provide clarification on this as more details become available.
Call of Duty®: Ghosts Now Available in Australia and New Zealand
Innovative New Title Delivers Next Generation Call of Duty with a
New World, Story, Characters across Single Player
Raises the Bar on Multiplayer with
Unrivaled Customization, Dynamic Map Events, Seven New Game Modes and Squads
Completely New Call of Duty: Ghosts Extinction Co-Op Mode Brings
Survival Action Against Aliens
DLC Season Pass Offers Fans All Call of Duty: Ghosts DLC Map Packs at a Discounted Rate
Play Call of Duty: Ghosts Today on Xbox 360 and PlayStation®3 and Take all Multiplayer Stats, Progression, In-Game Achievements and your Season Pass With You to the
Next Gen Consoles When You’re Ready to Upgrade
Sydney, Australia – November 5, 2013 – Time to earn the Mask, as Call of Duty: Ghosts is here to define the next console generation. Now available in Australia and New Zealand, the all-new title ushers in the next generation of Call of Duty. From Activision and its award-winning studio Infinity Ward, the developer that brought players the original Call of Duty and the Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare®series, Call of Duty: Ghosts features a new, intense story, and new innovations in multiplayer, all brought to life by a next generation engine that delivers a full package of entertainment as only Call of Duty can.
“The launch of Call of Duty has become a pop-cultural event shared by millions around the globe. We consider this a huge honour and it drives us to exceed our fans’ expectations each and every time,” said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing Inc. “Call of Duty: Ghosts delivers on this promise with an epic thrill ride which takes the franchise to new heights on both current and next gen consoles. The teams at Infinity Ward, Raven and Neversoft have poured their hearts and souls into making this the must have gaming experience of the next generation. And of course, none of this would be possible without the most passionate fans in the world. Today is for them.”
In Call of Duty: Ghosts, for the first time ever in the series,gamers play as the underdog against an enemy that has superior numbers and firepower. The story opens with a strike from the ODIN (Orbital Defense Initiative) space station, a weapons platform which was designed to protect us. An intense firefight in space turns the most powerful weapon ever devised against us, and the attack reshapes the world as we know it. As your home lies in ruins and everything around you is destroyed, you and your brother come across the remnants of a group of elite soldiers, shrouded in mystery, known only as the Ghosts. Together you must not only defend what’s left, but also take the fight to the enemy before they complete the destruction and end our way of life. Co-written by Stephen Gaghan, the Academy Award® winning writer, Call of Duty: Ghosts is a stunning leap forward for the blockbuster franchise.
“From Day One, we’ve set out to create the next generation of Call of Duty with Ghosts,”said Mark Rubin, Executive Producer, Infinity Ward. “With an all-new single player story, our best multiplayer game yet, character customization, squads mode and an all-new Extinction mode that lets you battle it out against aliens, this game is the complete entertainment package. We’re excited today is finally here and can’t wait for our fans all over the world to start playing.”
Call of Duty: Ghosts delivers an unparalleled online multiplayer experience, empowering fans to customize their soldiers and squads as male or female characters for the first time, bringing over 20,000 possible character combinations. With seven new multiplayer modes, 14 maps out of the box, a new Squads mode for up to six-player cooperative play, over 30 new weapons, including a new Marksman Rifle weapon class, and over 20 new Killstreaks, it’s the complete online experience on both next gen and current gen systems.
Call of Duty Ghosts also introduces Extinction, a completely new co-op game mode featuring a unique blend of fast-paced survival gameplay, base defense, player customization and class leveling. Teamwork and communication are essential when playing Extinction, as your team faces an alien menace that has overrun an isolated Colorado town and the team must eliminate the threat via any means necessary.
Call of Duty: Ghosts players on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation®3 who plan on picking up the Xbox One or PlayStation®4 can play today and upgrade seamlessly to the next generation when they are ready for as little as $9.99 via a variety of global retailers, as well as Microsoft and Sony. When you upgrade, your current gen Call of Duty: Ghosts multiplayer stats, in-game achievements, progression, and Season Pass, all go with you to Call of Duty: Ghosts on the next generation machines. For more information about all the program elements, visit http://www.callofduty.com/ghosts/nextgen.
Also available today is the Call of Duty: GhostsSeason Pass. The Season Pass lets gamers access all four Call of Duty: Ghosts DLC Map Packs to be released in 2014 at a bundled discount (discount based on a suggested retail price of $64.95 and four DLC Map Packs at a suggested retail price of $20 each). The DLC Map Packs will be available on the Xbox Live online entertainment network from Microsoft first, and pricing and release dates may vary by platform.
Published by Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI), and developed by Activision Publishing’s award-winning developer Infinity Ward, with additional development by Neversoft and Raven Software, Call of Duty: Ghosts is available today on Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, PC and Wii U™. Call of Duty: Ghosts is also be available day one for Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and PlayStation 4, which both release later this month. The title is rated MA15+ by the Australian Classification Board. For more information, please visit www.callofduty.com/ghosts, www.facebook.com/CODGhosts, or follow on Twitter @CallofDuty_ANZ or @InfinityWard.
Activision Press Center
Members of the media can visit Activision Publishing’s Press Center to download broadcast quality video, web-ready video and high-resolution images. Press Center: www.activision.com/presscenter.
About Activision Publishing, Inc.
Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision Publishing, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products.
Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Australia, South Korea, mainland China and the region of Taiwan. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company’s website, www.activision.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Information in this press release that involves Activision Publishing’s expectations, plans, intentions or strategies regarding the future, including statements about the expected Call of Duty: Ghosts, are forward-looking statements that are not facts and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause Activision Publishing’s actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements set forth in this release include unanticipated product delays and other factors identified in the risk factors sections of Activision Blizzard’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon information available to Activision Publishing and Activision Blizzard as of the date of this release, and neither Activision Publishing nor Activision Blizzard assumes any obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements believed to be true when made may ultimately prove to be incorrect. These statements are not guarantees of the future performance of Activision Publishing or Activision Blizzard and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond its control and may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations.
# # #
ACTIVISION, CALL OF DUTY, MODERN WARFARE and CALL OF DUTY GHOSTS are trademarks of Activision Publishing, Inc. All other trademarks and trade names are the properties of their respective owners.
Forge Reply, in partnership with Atlantyca Lab and BulkyPix have announced that their newest title Joe Dever’s Lone Wolf – Blood on The Snow on iOS and Android. As the name suggests, the story of the game is written by Joe Dever himself, the multi-awarded author of the famous Lone Wolf saga and is the first in a four episode series.
The story begins when you arrive in the Rockstarn village and see it invaded by Giaks monsters. The inhabitants seem to be hidden or dead. What happened? Where are they? Will you be able to rescue them? Gear up and show to the world what the deadly Kai warriors are made of!
Blood on the Snow will immerse players in the unique world of Magnamund. In keeping with the classic saga, they will become Lone Wolf, the only surviving member of an ancient warrior order: the Kai Lords of Sommerlund! Choose your fate, select your abilities and decide how to fight. Will you use your strength, your mind or your agility to succeed? Explore the mysterious lands of Magnamund and fight against your foes in epic turn-based combats. Use your legendary Sommerswerd to finish them with great lethal moves. Because your choices have an impact on the storyline, try to play the game again to see how your fate can be changed!
The solitary hero
The game will feature:
A brand new adventure written by multi-awarded Joe Dever himself
Read a real game-book and write your own interactive story
Multiple paths, for multiple stories and great replay value
High-end graphics and gorgeous Heroic Fantasy atmosphere
Active turn-based combat system in full 3D
Blood on the Snow is set for a November 14th release, so keep an eye out. Check out the screenshots below and prepare to write your destiny. Make it epic!
Overview
Avoiding anything too revealing such as the words death or race, this title seeks to emanate the meaning of both. Having played a few aggressive racing titles like Mario Kart Racing, Crash Team Racing, Gran Turismo, and Death Rally – I believe I had a good basis for Gas Guzzlers Extreme to test against (not to mention watching the iconic movie). What kinds of weapons can you equip? What kinds of vehicles can you drive? Is there enough death for all of us? I’m glad you asked…
Story
Gas Guzzlers Extreme sheds off the storyline coating and prepares a metallic blood bath for you to sink head deep into. Of course a cinematic trailer was induced to provide a dramatic lead into the title, but for those that read text well we know that the previous driver did not come down with chicken pox.
While not incorporating a story, the game maintains itself well enough to provide exciting events as well as ‘interesting’ sponsors. Dare I say “Happy Smoke” anyone? And yes, your car will be painted with several lovely green plants if you so choose.
Gameplay
Keyboard playing style suited my needs for Gas Guzzlers Extreme since I did the same with the top down racing shooter “Death Rally”. At first I thought the control schematic to be bit funky, but I adapted quickly and saw the functional advantages of the layout. Utilizing the arrow keys for directional movement was a given, however I noticed that the A, S, D, X, and spacebar were the remaining controls. In order to use your weapon in a race, you user the ‘S’ key. If the weapon has the functionality, ‘X’ can be used to shoot the projectile behind you. ‘A’ is the special items drop for smoke screens or even mines, and ‘D’ is your nitro boost when available. Lastly is the spacebar which controls the vehicles’ handbrake. This button can be extremely useful for those that do not use the railings as bumper boards.
Another healthy tidbit to note is the available pick-ups that you may come to encounter. Along your journeys you may come across items such as wrenches, money stacks, oil barrels, mines, and nitro boosts. Wrenches will provide a much needed health boost to help protect you from being eliminated/destroyed during a race. Going out of your way to protect yourself means a lot in this title. Money stacks give a small amount of cash just in case you become poor or money hungry. Oil barrels provide a slick surface for those that drive into it. These are typically used on turns to cause tailgaters to crash sidelong into rails. Mines are also a great tool to deal minor damage to opponents – too bad they aren’t more lethal. And last but not least are the nitro boosts. These handy dandy doo-dads give you that extra boost when you need it the most. Interesting fact… running into objects during races generates a little bit of nitro in your tanks.
In the campaign mode the objective is to work your way up the ranking list in order to qualify for a tournament. Initially, you are able to choose from three variations of races: power race, battle race, and knockout. The power race consists of players racing to the finish without using weapons with the exception of using power-ups and slamming against other cars. Mines are completely legit as well as oil barrels.
Next up is the battle race which is perhaps one of the most deadliest races to partake in. In this race opponents are geared up with weaponry to take each other out. The objective in this match is two-fold. You can either take your opponents out of the race, and/or try to finish first. The bonuses in this race are larger considering the potential repairs that one must undergo.
Knockout matches may be one of the hardest races to complete because you must finish first in order to attain a prize. Each car has a detonation device implanted in their vehicle, and there are seven laps to the race. Every lap the last of the eight participants is eliminated from the race by detonation. Therefore, you need to decide if its worth taking out the person ahead of you or passing them to stay in the game.
Eventually, a sponsor may rise to offer you extra money in races in turn for you to wear their logo. Not only is this a great way to add some extra cash to the garage, but you will in turn be invited to sponsor events if you continue to win. These events typically break down racers into two teams with objectives like: capture the flag, team deathmatch, and team race. Now you are not only tasked with how well you are doing, but how your team is doing. If you are able to come out one top in one of these matches, your reward will be substantial.
Multiplayer is disconnected with campaign, thus any improvements that you made within your garage will not be reflected online. For the online multiplayer, you are able to join rooms with or without people and begin a series of events against people, AI, or a mixture of both. You are able to start off with any vehicle along with any weapon to customize your own ‘preset’ options. This promotes a fair competition among players as you decide the type of vehicle as well as the artillery you want to use in the fight/race. During my time playing multiplayer, I experienced a small handful of players on Gas Guzzlers Extreme’s dedicated servers. Though playing deathmatch with other online players was fun, the purpose to play online is purely to attain a higher rank/leaderboard status. This could be considered fun to some death race junkies, but I prefer my cup of tea with something a bit sweeter – unlockables.
Audio
When creating your first profile, you will recognize the easily discernible voice overs available for your choosing. Clearly this is meant to be a guy’s guy title with Duke (Nukem), William (Wallace), and Arnold (Schwarzenegger). Whether you feel like unleashing your meaning of “freedom” or showing off your “balls of fury”, you’ll have enough time to test each voice over out thoroughly.
Sound effects were believable through special effects and impact moments. The combination of animations and sound especially worked for weaponry such as the M-143A “The Spindoc” because the item requires a build-up prior to firing the ammunition. For those that prefer immediate devastation, rocket launchers can be made at your disposal.
Visual
While I enjoyed the setup for detailing and optimizing individual vehicles (18 total in game), I felt Gamepires could have taken customization a bit further with implementing multiple decals/colors. When I build a car, I want to have the access to freely design the vehicle no matter how god awful my taste is. This includes being able to have an expansive list of decals that I can freely manipulate by growing or shrinking the graphic. Sponsors may give that extra flavor, but having a bit more freedom in design would increase replayability.
What you can expect from this title is plenty of visual candy elsewhere. This stems from an array of environments to the damage to your vehicle. For example, the front cover on your car is becoming unattached due to incoming damage. Closer inspection by entering a close up view (C – changes view) shows us that your visibility has reduced because of the flapping cover. Furthermore, damage to the vehicle can be noticed by zooming out (also C) removing the obstructed view.
Overall
Gas Guzzlers Extreme has some fantastic qualities that should be experienced over and over again. First, the campaign has a sound foundation that entails blowing up any/all competition. Second, the title is visual eye candy considering both special effects and detailed environments. Lastly, you get to blow vehicles up! (Wait, I think I said that one before…)
Areas that the game lacks could be helped further ultimately by involving more customization. While there are 18 different vehicles with their own decals, I felt that more freedom in this environment could allow players to truly manifest their own creations. And to add further effect of the multiplayer, Gamepires could have involved a tiered unlocking system for garage themes or unique decals available once certain online achievements have been accomplished.
In conclusion, Gas Guzzlers Extreme did well to drown me in a metallic blood bath. I’ll admit the price might be a tad high, but delivering a rocket to the face is probably worth it.
Capsule Computers review guidelines can be found here.
Jon “Bones” Jones has been announced as the EA Sports UFC cover star, but he won’t be alone. Sharing the spotlight with the Light Heavyweight Champion will be one of 16 other fighters, to be voted through as the people’s choice via the organisation’s official website and Twitter.
Presented by MetroPCS – regular sponsor of the UFC – the bracket includes not only fellow champions of different divisions, but also general fan favourites, from Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre, Women’s Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey, Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis and Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman to Johny Hendricks, Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo, Alexander Gustafsson, Miesha Tate and more. Fans can cast their vote now at ufc.com/covervote to ensure their favourite gets to experience the honour of being co-cover star of the inaugural iteration in the new video game series. Numerous representatives made quotes regarding the competition;
It’s a huge honor to be selected as one of the fighters to appear on the cover of EA SPORTS UFC. I am a big fan of EA SPORTS and appearing on a cover is one of those things you dream about as a kid. I’ll definitely be following the Cover Vote to see which fighter the fans choose to join me as the face of the game. – Jon Jones
It’s going to be exciting to see these 16 fighters square off outside of the Octagon in a fan vote to see who is ultimately selected for the EA SPORTS UFC cover. The UFC continues to engage fans in new and innovative ways. There will be some great conversations and debates amongst UFC fans across social media as they determine the second fighter. – Tracey Bleczinski, UFC Senior Vice President of Consumer Products.
Maybe a female fighter on the cover would make waves.
The EA SPORTS UFC Cover announcement represents a landmark announcement for EA. The UFC is the first new major sports league partnership for EA SPORTS in over a decade and to stay true to the sport, we’re featuring two fighters on the cover. We couldn’t be more excited to be working with Jon Jones, the youngest champion in UFC history, and we can’t wait to see who fans choose to join him in sharing the spotlight. – Dean Richards, EA SPORTS UFC, GM.
MetroPCS is all about giving our customers freedom and choice in wireless, and that’s exactly what the EA SPORTS UFC Cover Vote does — put the decision in the consumer’s hands. Since the start of our partnership with the UFC two years ago, we’ve strived to take fans beyond the octagon and give them an interactive and personal experience with the sport – you can’t get much better than walking out with a fighter in the final moments before they step into the cage. – Patrick Wong, Director of Strategic Partnerships for MetroPCS.
Fans can double their voting power by using fighter specific hashtags on “Twitter Vote Thursdays.” Each fighter specific hashtag used on Twitter on Thursdays will be counted as two official votes. Fans can join the conversation about the cover vote every day by using #EASPORTSUFC on Twitter and Instagram.
That’s MY cover spot!
EA Sports UFC Cover Vote Schedule:
Round of 16 : Prelims
Voting live from Mon, Nov. 4th – Sun, Nov. 10th
Round of 8 : Main Card
Voting live from Mon, Nov. 11th – Sun, Nov. 17th
Final Four : Co-Main Event –
Voting live from Mon, Nov. 18th – Sun, Nov. 24th
Finals : Title Fight
Voting live from Mon, Nov. 19th – Sun, Dec. 1st
Voting by round will close each Sunday night at 12:00am and reopen Monday morning at 10:00am.
November has appeared already, casting shadows of Christmas and presents and not knowing what to buy. Handily there are several boxsets being set loose in the near future for the SBS DVD Highlights courtesy of Madman; with comedy, crime, thrillers and young adult drama all getting a look in. Several TV shows have wrapped their final season and let loose with complete collections, whilst other releases bring something new to the table.
The Fall November 20, 2013 $39.95
Gillian Anderson stars in this psychological thriller set in Ireland. A Metropolitan Police detective arrives in Belfast to hunt a serial killer who has been stalking his own prey, seemingly at random. The show contains five episodes that follow the race of the investigative team to catch the killer before he strikes again. Anderson’s character Stella has gained cult status nigh on instantly, and a second season is already in the pipeline.
The Killing Trilogy November 6, 2013 $99.95
Following the release of the third and final season last month comes The Killing Trilogy, a collection of all three seasons of the hit Danish crime show. All 40 episodes are collected across 12 discs, making this boxset the perfect chance to catch up on or introduce someone to the adventures of Sarah Lund.
Skins Series 7 November 6, 2013 $29.95 Skins has seen a lot of characters come and go over the years, and series 7 returns to some of the key personalities from the three generations visited in the previous seasons Effie, Cassie, and James. The episodes fall into three stand alone, two part films, which revisit the characters in their young adult lives.
Skins – Complete Collection Series 1 – 7 (Limited Edition)
November 6, 2013
$129.95
Season 7 is the final outing for Skins, so if you want to pick up every bit of the show then the Complete Collection hits shelves just in time to appear on a Christmas wishlist. All 55 episodes of the BAFTA winning show are here, packaged together in a limited collector’s boxet.
Legally Brown November 6, 2013 $29.95
Nazeem Hussain is the star and host of this new comedy series, which in addition to stand up comedy also features hidden camera stunts and comedy sketches. Hussain explores issues of everyday Australian life for a Muslim, from race relations to politics in the ten part show.
Housos Box – Series 1 & 2 November 6, 2013 $49.95
From the creators of Fat Pizza comes the adventures of Shazza, Dazzy, Frank and the rest of the gang, who while away their less than epic lives in the fictional housing commission of Sunnydale. This two season set collects the 18 episodes of the satirical show, which was initially mistaken for a documentary by one of Australia’s major media outlets.
Lost Kingdoms of South America November 6, 2013 $29.95
This four episode series sees archaeologist Dr Jago Cooper explore some of the hidden gems of South American history and culture. Chimor in Peru, Muisca and Tairona in Columbia, Chachapoya in Peru and Tiwanaku in Bolivia are all up for examination in a series that aimes to uncover some of the centuries worth of civilisation that was all but lost upon the arrival of European invaders.
