Mark Darrah, Executive Producer of the Dragon Age franchise, has made a new blog post detailing the changes that the development team at Bioware have made to the EA-published Dragon Age: Inquisition since the PAX Prime build back at the start of September. To go along with this update are three fresh screenshots seen within this article.
The blog – which can be read in its entirety here – specifically notes the additions and enhancements found in Bioware’s “Holiday Build”, which is an in-house tradition allowing the dev team and others in the company to play as complete a version of the game as possible. Mark includes some visual accompaniments to better communicate the progress. Check it out for your latest look at the title.
Ahead of the launch of their huge update for Dofus and Wakfu, we got to chat with Ankama Games Marketing Director David Talmat, the man behind the cult-classic MMO games that have captured the imaginations of millions of players across the globe. We talk about what’s new with the update and what they have in store for the 10th anniversary of Dofus. Read on for our interview with Olivier Comte.
CC: To start things off, you have a new update out for Dofus and Wakfu, can you tell us what new features will be included with the update?
A: The most interesting feature in the latest update is the whole new sidekick system, which has been introduced with the Multimen. This update also offers players a load of Christmas content for both games. In DOFUS, players can also try to get their hands on one of the Dofus (powerful dragon eggs) through a new quest which is part of the game’s main quest.
CC: What exactly are the Multi-men and how will they be featured in both Dofus and Wakfu?
A: The sidekick system, which includes the Multimen, lets players control one or two extra characters alongside their main character. This opens up the possibility of new combat tactics and can take battles in different directions than their used to.
CC: In what way do you feel that the Multi-men will change the way players play Dofus and Wakfu?
A: Whatever the engagement of the player in the game, with the help of the Multimen they can access content that was previously only unlockable while playing with other players.
It’s also very tactical. You can choose a character that is totally different than yours in order to combine your skills and see what happens.
CC: How important do you feel updates are to MMO games?
A: It’s one of the most important things to consider when developing MMO games. You have to make your game evolve, keep the players interested in it, and offer them new quests and experiences regularly. Having an update almost every month is one of the keys to our success.
CC: For those who haven’t played Dofus or Wakfu, how would you describe these games to them?
A: Both are humorous and colorful games with manga inspired graphics. They’re set in a rich fantasy universe called the Krosmoz, which includes many references to heroic-fantasy, but also to pop culture, history and mythology. I should also mention the tactical gameplay which is central to the experience – it has similarities with Final Fantasy Tactics for example – and also the 15 different character classes in each game.
CC: Dofus and Wakfu are incredibly unique types of games, they are something different to the normal MMO games. Do you feel that this has contributed to their success?
A: Absolutely it has! Our games feature a tactical turn-based combat system which is quite unique in online games. But they also have strong political and economic systems.
CC: Both of these games are quite distinct from one another, what do you think is the main thing that sets them apart?
A: WAKFU is set in the same universe as DOFUS but a few hundred years in the future. Both games have complex gameplay systems under the surface with 15 character classes and turn based combat alongside a lot of other features that fans of the genre will be familiar with. Other major differences with WAKFU are its more complex political and economic systems plus a very interesting housing feature. In WAKFU, everything is down to the players.
DOFUS was launched nearly 10 years ago and today its content is very rich. We have the same commitment to developing the content for WAKFU. DOFUS has very distinctive graphics but also a different set of spells. On top of that, the way the characters are built in DOFUS is not the same and the PvP play is more challenging than WAKFU.
CC: These games have somewhat of an anime style to them. Is there any particular anime that influenced these games?
A: The various Japanese animated series broadcast in France in the 1980’s that we grew up with are a great source of inspiration, as is the output of Studio Ghibli and comic books from both France and the US.
CC: With the 10 year anniversary of Dofus coming up soon, what can we expect in terms of celebrations?
A: We’re currently planning a lot of events to celebrate, both in game and in real life. Among these will be retrospectives where we will go through the archives and dig out the best stories about the development of the game to share with our players.
CC: What new things can we expect from Dofus and Wakfu as we head into 2014?
A: Both games will get a new theme and a new innovative feature each year, and the sidekick system (of which the Multimen are a part) is going to be significantly developed. We have a lot of different ideas to expand the world of DOFUS and WAKFU and offer new experiences, and we’re very excited about sharing them with our players.
CC: What would you like to say to all of the Dofus and Wakfu fans out there?
A: Are you ready for another decade with us? Because we’re ready for you.
You can check out Dofus and Wakfu on Ankama’s official website here. The new update for the games are now available for download. Update your game to see the mighty power of the Multi-Men. Special thanks to Ankama Games for setting up this interview and for the opportunity.
It’s Christmas time, and we all know what that means! It is time for EA‘s annual Holiday price drops on their impressive lineup of mobile games. Over 40 titles for iPhone and iPad are dropping down to either $0.99 or totally free! Everything from Tetris to Lemonade Tycoon is included in the sale, so you are sure to find something to suit your tastes. Here are some of the more noteworthy titles:
Tetris Need we say more? The world-renowned, world BELOVED puzzle gaming extravaganza is now heavily discounted for the holiday period. Put blocks in their rightful place along with the ever-catchy theme.
MONOPOLY The ender of friendships, Monopoly is now available for a heavily reduced price on iPhone and iPad. Telling your younger that they don’t get to pass go, and don’t get to collect $200 is still as satisfying digitally as it is with a big physical board in front of you.
Need For Speed Most Wanted Put your pedal to the metal and speed around the race tracks in the mobile edition of Need for Speed Most Wanted. This edition of the game also allows for multiplayer with your friends in cross-platform play. So customise those supercars boys and strap in for another wild ride.
Dead Space One of the scariest games on the last console generation – Dead Space’s transition to mobile was a resounding success. Play a brand new story set in the Dead Space universe, and battle against the Necromorphs in what is easily the most terrifying game on iOS.
Mirror’s Edge
Don’t look back! Keep running in the mobile version of Mirror’s Edge. Immerse yourself in Faith Connors’ world, and run/jump and slide yourway to freedom against the sinister actions of a ruthless “perfect society.”
Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 12 For all you golfing enthusiastits out there, Tiger Woods PGA TOUR 12 has made it easier for you to get that elusive hole-in-one.Pick your club, and swing your way to glory just like the man himself… except without the indiscretions.
The Sims 3 EA have two great Sims games available on mobile devices – Sims 3 and Sims FreePlay, and while the latter is fun because, well it is free – The Sims 3 just has so much going for it to be ignored. At this price you would be mad not to pick it up and get stuck into the house building, people making, god-complex inducing mobile game.
These are just some examples of the impressive lineup, so be sure to click here to see the rest and get onto it. The sales will run until January 1, 2014 – so you have enough time to grab anything that catches your fancy.
In addition to the awesome holiday sales, EA are also proudly celebrating the fact that The Sims FreePlay is 2 years old. FreePlay is EA’s longest-running free to play game, and now allows for creation of up to 32 Sims. To mark the special occasion, in addition to the recently released holiday content update, the guys over at EA have put up a little infographic that shows some of the impressive statistics that have come out of the game.
Click here to see the impressive stats from The Sims FreePlay
Well that’s it for another round of EA Mobile Weekly News. Will you be downloading one of the many, many games that are discounted for the holiday period, or did you already get most of them last year? Let us know in the comments below and as always, stay tuned to Capsule Computers for all the EA news as it becomes available.
Did the article’s title confuse you? Then it’s likely that Paramount Pictures‘ upcoming time-travel flick Welcome to Yesterday will confound the heck out of you.
The debut trailer for the film – out in February, 2014 – can be seen embedded at the bottom of this article. The handheld-shot movie is produced by Michael Bay and deals with a group of teenagers who discover the schematics to a time machine. Naturally, they choose to assemble it and return to the past… unfortunately, they learn about the butterfly effect the hard way and must find a way to undo every alteration they unwittingly made in history, including their initial time travel. Imagine Chronicle, but instead of superpowers, involving time travel.
Check out the clip below and stay tuned to Capsule Computers for future updates on Welcome to Yesterday. Visit the film’s Facebook page for more info.
We previously reported that Hanabee planned on creating a AKB48 dance video for the song ‘Koisuru Fortune Cookie’. The video was to be compiled of Hanabee fans attempts at the AKB48 dance. Well the video is now online and can be seen below.
The video featured anime fans across Australia dancing along to the song. It also features Capsule Computers staff as well as Hanabee staff. All of this is to celebrate the release of the anime series AKB0048 from Hanabee.
Be sure to check out the video below in all of its groovin’ and shakin’ glory. Let us know what you think in the comments section.
Activision has shared a new trailer for Call of Duty: Ghosts, detailing the game’s season pass. Players that purchase the season pass before May 31, 2o14 will receive the content for both generations of a console family, for those upgrading to next-gen.
The season pass includes four DLC packs: Onslaught, Devastation, Invasion and Nemesis, providing new maps, bonus weapons and a 4-part episodic Extinction experience. Once purchased, players get instant access to the multiplayer map Free Fall as well as the Team Leader Digital pack containing a character head, weapon camp, reticle, player patch, player card and background.
You can learn more about the season pass, priced at $49.99, on the official site.
Last year saw the Australian screenings of the “Madoka Magica” films “Beginnings” and “Eternal” sell-out big time, cinemas were packed and fans were running wild with excitement and anticipation for a theatrical viewing of the films. Considering how well the movie screenings did last time, Madman Entertainment have decided, as part of a Reel Anime Special Event, to organise for the third “Madoka Magica” movie “Rebellion” to have its very own screenings across Australia and New Zealand in February of next year. With seven locations around Australia and one location in New Zealand screening the movies they’ll certainly be sold-out films so be ready to pre-order your tickets from the selected locations as soon as we roll into 2014.
AUSTRALIA
MELBOURNE – CINEMA NOVA, 1st Feb, 2.00pm
SYDNEY – DENDY NEWTOWN, 1st Feb, 2.30pm
BRISBANE – DENDY PORTSIDE, 1st Feb, 2.30pm
CANBERRA – DENDY CANBERRA, 1st Feb, 2.30pm
HOBART – STATE CINEMA, 1st Feb, 2.00pm
ADELAIDE – PALACE NOVA EASTEND, 1st Feb, 2.00pm
PERTH – LUNA LEEDERVILLE, 1st Feb, 2.00pm
NEW ZEALAND
AUCKLAND – ACADEMY CINEMA, 1st Feb, 6.00pm
Ticket holders will receive 1 of 5 Mini Autograph Boards on the day of the event as well as an A2 movie poster, select venues will also be offering original Japanese theatrical programs for sale. Madman would also like to let all you cosplayers out there know that these locations will also be holding cosplay competitions that are obviously themed around “Madoka Magica“, there will be a bunch of prizes to be won like DVDs, Blu-Rays and even some limited edition “Madoka Magica” merchandise for al you die-hard fans. Just as a reminder; pre-orders for the screenings open up in 2014 so contact any of those locations to pre-order your tickets for “Puella Madoka Magica The Movie: Rebellion”.
Madman Entertainment have announced their next title acquisition as part of their #12AnnouncementsOfXmas promotion. Today’s announcement is none other than the currently airing series Samurai Flamenco.
Samurai Flamenco is a bizarre super-hero action anime that is sure to grab the intrigue of anime fans. The series is airing currently in the legendary noitaminA anime block in Japan.
Madman plan to release the series in 2014, though no details have been revealed as to their releases plans. Stay tuned as those details are sure to be revealed soon. Be sure to let us know what you think of Madman’s #12AnnouncementsOfXmas promotion in the comments section below.
Today, DC Entertainment and major comic book publisher Madefire have announced a new partnership that will bring Batman back to mobile devices for a brand new graphic novel adventure, spanning out of the events of the recently released Batman: Arkham Origins.
Starting today, you can download the first chapter of the brand new story on your iPhone or iPad, which will continue every two weeks for a total of eight chapters. The book will operate a lot like a choose-your-own-adventure novel, and will allow you to make decisions that will impact the future of the story.
Readers will be able to grab the issues individually, or through a season pass which will make future chapters automatically appear for you. Anyone who completes the series will be rewarded with two skins for Batman: Arkham Origins; Injustice Batman and New 52 Metallic Batman. Customers who purchase the season pass will be rewarded both skins upfront. You can grab the new book through the Madefire app on the App Store.
A week has gone past us already, and it is time for the awesome folks over at Disney to shower us with free Disney Infinity maps in this week’s Toy Box Challenge. As with previous weeks, there are five free maps for Disney Infinity owners to download, as well as a new Toy Box Submission Challenge, and a video that showcases the winners of the previous challenge. Without further adieu, lets get into it!
TOY BOX SUBMISSION CHALLENGE
This week’s Toy Box Submission challenge will be a tricky one. The theme for this week is the Frozen Challenge! In celebration of the (Northern Hemisphere’s) wintery season, and the soon to release Frozen animated movie, you can take to the Toy Box and do your best recreation of the Kingdom of Arendelle.
As always, you can create and share your Toy Box creations though, using these instructions:
Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U
Bring up the Pause Menu and select “Online/Multiplayer.”
Then select “Toy Box Share” > “Disney’s Toy Boxes” > “Submit to Disney.”
Follow the prompts. You’ll be asked to give your Toy Box an original name and description. Choose carefully – they will be shown to everybody if your Toy Box is featured.
iPad
Bring up the Pause Menu and select “Toy Box Share.”
Then select “Disney’s Toy Boxes” > “Submit to Disney.”
Follow the prompts. You’ll be asked to give your Toy Box an original name and description. Choose carefully – they will be shown to everybody if your Toy Box is featured
TOY BOX COUNTDOWN
This week’s Toy Box Countdown features the top 5 user generated maps that were submitted to Disney for the previous North Pole Challenge Check out the video below to see the top 5 entrants in the challenge. All of which you can download right now!
You can check out last week’s winning Toy Box maps here.
That’s another week of Disney Infinity updates for you passionate Disney fans out there. Were you happy with the Toy Box Countdown winners? Will you be downloading any of the maps (wither from the winners, or from Disney)? Let us know in the comments below, and remember that for all the Disney Infinity news as it becomes available, stay tuned to Capsule Computers.
