Titled the Web of Chaos, the new patch brings forth new content for players to explore and the ability to head start their character at the 7th level while beginning the game. Though, one of the latest features actually affects the way players cast spells in the game.
For this patch onwards, players will be required to use Omnispell Dust and/or Omnispell Stone as a catalyst for some of the spells. As well as these two new spell-casting methods, there is also a plethora of new items added to the DDO store for players to purchase with real world money.
This week EA teamed up with Red Bull to host a media-exclusive SSX preview event at the Red Bull Sydney Headquarters. To promote the game and to help convey the awesomeness of extreme sports such as snowboarding, two Australian extreme sport superstars attended the event: BMX racing legend Luke Madill and FMX Superstar Josh Sheehan.
We took a break from all the cool snowboarding action to have a quick chat with Josh about what it’s like being a professional extreme sports competitor and EA’s latest SSX title. Josh talks about not only his personal experiences with competing as an FMX rider, but how the game emulates the adrenaline rush and danger seen in extreme sports. Check out the interview yourself in the video below!
This week Capcom hosted the “Capcom Super Ultimate Showcase” in Sydney, showcasing a variety of upcoming Capcom titles, and us here at Capsule Computers got an exclusive hands-on preview before the event to experience the game for ourselves. I was even lucky enough to experience the game with both the arcade fightstick and the traditional PlayStation 3 controller and long story short – this game is amazing, believe the hype.
Firstly this isn’t Street Fighter. This isn’t Tekken. This is a whole new experience, and you know what – it could be better than both!
Possibly the most impressive feature is how well Capcom have moved Tekken from 3D to 2D. While not in the 3rd dimension, playing as a Tekken character still feels very Tekken. Tekken combos are pulled off in the exact same fashion, and the flow couldn’t be more comfortable. Tekken’s launch attacks and juggling keep gameplay feeling very much like Namco’s classic fighter, while also appearing very organic and not feeling out of place in this Capcom title. Tekken fighters are also given plenty of dodge manoeuvres and such, keeping them on a 2D plane but still staying true to their 3 dimensional roots. While it is a completely new experience, Tekken players should feel right at home here, but their strategies are going to have to change as dealing with Street Fighter projectiles and air combat will put them in new situations they will have to learn to adapt to. While at first Street Fighter players may have a ‘home ground advantage’ as it is in a similar style of Street Fighter IV, when you throw in less projectile-based fighters and more close-combat styled ones as well as the tag system – everything starts to change. It’s gets more faster-paced, more action packed and way more intense!
Almost equally impressive is how epic the tagging is in this title, and in my opinion is the best effort in doing so from Capcom to date. What surprised me is that it’s really more like Tekken Tag than anything, in the sense that you only need to take out one of your two opponents to win a round, of which you must win 2 out of 3, unlike Marvel vs Capcom where you must beat both of your opponents in only a single round to win a match. Furthermore fighters just run in and out to continue a combo, unlike a Marvel vs Capcom title where you’d only get one hit out of tagging in a partner because it would probably result in a knock down. Furthermore tagging this way encourages more juggling, giving the game a really fresh shake up to the classic Street Fighter IV gameplay.
I couldn’t help but drool at how effectively the gem system works. To be honest, I had no idea what the heck kind of gems I was using, but I do know they made me feel like a boss. Whenever a gem is activated, your character glows of the respective colour, helping you to perform particular moves. This system really encourages you to keep playing to improve, and it became clear to me almost immediately how easily this system could benefit any player of any skill level in combat, as well as providing many reasons for re-playability. I was even given the opportunity to take on Seth Killian in a game (who I also got to interview, check it out here) who went easy on me and even let me win a round, what a gentleman! Here Seth showed off some of the jaw-breaking special attacks and ultras players can pull off which are just as crazy as you’d expect from a Capcom game.
I wished I could’ve played more Street Fighter x Tekken, but this was a huge event so I had to get my hands on other awesome upcoming Capcom titles such as Resident Evil: Operation Racoon City and Asura’s Wrath. But with the time I did spend with Street Fighter x Tekken I can confidently say this – this is one of the best fighters I’ve ever played. Don’t question it, don’t consider it, just do it. Pre-order Street Fighter x Tekken NOW!
Street Fighter x Tekken is scheduled for a March 9 release date.
For those who don’t know, Seth Killian is a legend in the fighting game community. Some know him for his commentary, some know him as Capcom’s Special Combat Advisor, some know him for his work in community management, but most know him as Seth – the dude who had a Street Fighter IV boss named after him. Yeah, told you he’s a bit of a legend!
Whilst preparing for Capcom’s Super Ultimate Showcase in Sydney, Capsule Computers was invited for an exclusive hands on preview with a few of their upcoming titles, and I was lucky enough to meet up with Seth there. So we hit record for an interview, discussing Street Fighter x Tekken and how it works. Check out the interview below and see for yourself.
You may have caught Telltale Games’ episodic Back to the Future: The Game last year as a digital download for PC and PSN. But just in case you missed it, the game is now set to be released physically thanks to Deep Silver gaining the publishing and distribution right for game.
All 5 episodes of the game will be packaged into one cohesive retail version for Playstation 3, Wii and PC. Bring back the time travelling adventures of Marty McFly and Doc Brown, to once again restore the space-time continuum.
No release date has been formally announced yet but the game is expected to be released first quarter of 2012.
The Sims Freeplay Developer: Iron Monkey Publisher: EA Mobile Platforms: iTouch, iPhone and iPad (reviewed) Release Date: Price: FREE – Available Here
Overview
The Sims has always achieved a high amount of success over the years, ever since that first PC game. Each title is a sure fire hit (except maybe the furniture packs, but even then), so EA’s choice to let the latest release go for the low, low price of nothing at all is a surprising one. So is there a reason that they’ve let this one slip through free, or are they just being generous?
Gameplay
To start with, Sims Freeplay looks and feels like a normal Sims game, but it really isn’t. The biggest difference is the fact that it all happens in real time. No more lining up a bunch of actions and fast forwarding through them like normal. In fact, once you start on an action you better like what they’re doing because you may have to wait another ten minutes for them to finish. I don’t think I’d ever realised how long a minute was until I had to wait for one of my Sims to finish a social action.
The other big change is that instead of taking care of a family, you take care of a whole town. While this may sound intimidating, it’s actually not that bad, mostly because of the fact that everything is done in real time. At first getting used to the controls and switching between people and houses was bewildering, especially because it is just so different from other Sims games. Once you play it for a little while it becomes natural, and you forget there was ever another way of doing things.
However, there are ways around waiting for things to finish being done. You can spend life points (which are earned by completing wishes, as per usual) instead of your time, with the amount needed changing with the amount of time you’re saving. The life point cost doesn’t change if you’ve already completed half the task though, so if you’re going to bludge off something it’s best to decide so quickly.
You do have the choice of buying life points or Simoleons through as an in-app purchase, of course, which is Farmville-esque. So it’s up to you if you are willing to pay money to speed the game up, although that sort of defeats the point of this installment. For those who are having trouble adjusting to this way of playing it is an option.
Your game is measured by how much your town is worth, not really by how much money you have in the bank. While having money is useful because it means you can buy more buildings to raise your town worth, you can be basically broke and still have a decent net worth. Which I learned on a few occasions.
Something else I discovered was that your Sims don’t really die if they don’t eat, sleep, go to the bathroom, shower, and so on. Shortly after discovering this I took on a different form of saving money by one of my Sims only owning a toilet and a garden to earn some money. Not cruel at all.
I also had a full community feel by having most of the neighbourhood hanging at one of the houses, socializing and eating and whatnot. The way that the new app is designed means that it’s a lot easier for that to happen, with having full control of each of the neighbours and stopping them from staying over too long, or deciding they couldn’t be bothered to come over.
The careers part of the game is similar to what has happened in the past, with the exception that you have to actually build the work environments. As you go on in the game, get more Sims, and have them climb the work ladder, you will have more money and it will become fairly easy for you to pick them up as you go.
Instead of being a game that you can spend hours playing, it takes over your life far more subtly. In a way it’s like Farmville, you end up timing it and keeping an eye on the clock so you do certain things with your Sims after they finish their actions, or make sure to send them to work, or whatever else.
Visuals
As with the standard of Sims games that have already been released onto the market, the visuals are top notch and respond well to interactivity. Even though this app is far cheaper than it’s cousins, you won’t notice a difference in the performance of the app, and certainly not in the graphics.
Audio
Once again, you won’t find a huge deviation from the norm. Everything about the soundtrack screams the Sims, but that isn’t a bad thing in the least. I mean, I have a whole range of memories and nostalgia tied to that soundtrack, so I love the fact that it’s stayed pretty similar.
Overall
Considering the fact that the app is free, offers updates, and hasn’t at all skimped on the features and in fact offers something vastly different from what we’ve seen in Sims installments in the past. This is a definite must get, and not just for Sims fans.
Just like in past years, Electronic Arts is using their football simulation game to predict the Super Bowl Winner. So far, the Madden Series has predicted a few winners and a few losers, so it may be just as accurate as your own prediction. Nevertheless, if you trust electronic machinations, then this video might help you figure out who to root for on Sunday.
Spoiler Alert to follow:
The video predicted that the Giants would win. However, as many Youtube comments point out, EA’s Madden predicted that the Patriots would win in ’08, and we see how well that worked out. However, if you take a look at some of the 2012 Championship Games that Madden 12 predicted, it seems as though this years game may be more accurate than in past years.
Trials Evolution is one of the most anticipated games of this year. And yet, its release date has not yet been revealed. Luckily, the newest trailer for the game gives us a hint as to when the game will hit. The video mentions that the game will be releasing sometime in the Spring of 2012. In addition, the trailer reveals that this iteration of Trials will be crazier and more over the top than the last game. With 4 player multiplayer and an insane track creator, this game looks like it will be 100 times better than the first game.
The rivalry lives on between Street Fighter producer Yoshinori Ono and TEKKEN producer Katsuhiro Harada. The two face off in an amazing battle to promote Namco Bandai’s upcoming title for the 3DS – TEKKEN 3D Prime. Ono has been a rather good sport in allowing himself to take one on the chin in order to promote the rival franchise TEKKEN. Originally aired at Tokyo Game Show last year, the trailer has now been released to the public – which is sure to excite TEKKEN fans across the globe. Although, it may excite Street Fighter a little less. Whatever game you prefer, it’s hard to not laugh at this brand new trailer and get a sense of warmth at this example of good sportsmanship. One the bright side, at least Ono has one more Mii to add to his collect, right?
Rumours ramp up this week as Microsoft is lurking in the shadows with a potential new Xbox Console made out of magic and unicorns and the Wii U may be getting a (much needed) name change. Australia will debate and finally vote on an R18+ rating in February and we talk about our biggest gaming disappointments.
Cast: Alexis Ayala, Matt Vella, Michael Marr & Grace Mitchell
