The MMORPG RIFT, from developers TRION Worlds, has many core gameplay features and the one that we’ll be looking at in these clips is the dungeon run.
This dungeon is the second in the game but requires a solid amount of time leveling to reach. Deepstrike Mines, dubbed DSM by players, it has adventurers traverse a mine in order to stop some evils from gathering in there, or something. This entails walking in, killing a lot of stuff, killing some bosses, killing more stuff and killing the final boss. All the while, you’re collecting loot and items to further upgrade your character. Like in most MMORPGs, dungeons runs are usually one of the best ways to level and to obtain gear for your character.
PARTY – Ayexe Maelcontent Harpsifawk Jhale BBQsaucemix.
The colours are not indicative of anything.
Here are the videos for your enjoyment, hopefully in order.
PART 1 – The beginning section and some combat, also a boss fight.
The Dungeons in Rift can be a rewarding challenge for players in both terms of loot and experiential rewards. They involve teamwork, co-ordination and skill in order to overcome the many obstacles that players are to meet within the dungeon. Each dungeon is different and each offer different quests and quest rewards, which is a nice addition to already fairly nice package.
If you shop at Amazon, you are probably aware about the “Gaming Gold Box” which usually happens at least once a month, giving some huge discounts on all sorts of current titles. Today the online retailer is having some hourly deals during the event but the Deal of the Day that coincides is probably where the most action is as Dragon Age II has now been discounted from $59.99 to $39.99 for the Xbox 360, PS3, PC, & PC download.
Seeing as RPGs usually take a while to drop in price, this is a fantastic deal for those who were waiting on a cheaper price to bite on Bioware’s latest release of the fan-favorite franchise. Our very own Travis Bruno recently reviewed Dragon Age II and gave the game a 8 out of 10 (you can check out that review HERE), and after playing the game a bit myself, I can say it isn’t perfect, but it is certainly well worth this temporary price-point. You can click HERE to be taken directly to Amazon’s sale page for DAII and remember, this deal is only good for the day so if you want the game at 33% off, now is the time to cash in.
For those of you who enjoy puzzlers, TikGames have now released a new version of their popular title “Shapo” for the DSiWare. Shapo plays a bit like your standard puzzler, but actually relies on balance as each ball has a different weight and shape making each move crucial as players try to balance the field to clear all the lines. Power-ups are also given during Shapo with the likes of “line bomb” and “slow scale” helping clear the board and magic balls being used to rack up the extra points.
I am a pretty heavy user of the DSiWare service for the most part and in all honesty, there surprisingly isn’t too many puzzlers for it which makes this title pretty appealing for anyone wanting a new twist on the genre. Shapo also boasts over 150 levels and promises “hours of gameplay”, something that is always a good thing to see when it comes to one of the most addicting genres out there. DSi owners everywhere can now download Shapo for just 500 points as of today in the service. For a better look, check out the trailer below.
Though details may be pretty slim we do know that X-Men: Destiny will involve players taking the role of a newly discovered mutant and then have various decisions to make as to who they actually will be in the role. Will they be on the side of good or evil? And most likely many more decisions down the line, but we have yet to see any of these potential new mutants that we can have access to.
Well don’t worry about that because today Aimi Yoshida was revealed to be one playable character. She is a young teenager and is quite a small girl barely standing over five feet tall but what she lacks in size she makes up for in her acrobatic agility and mutant power usage, although her powers have yet to be revealed.
Aimi hails from Japan where her parents, who were also mutants, smuggled her out of the country on a tanker ship to San Francisco. Although they did this to protect her from being locked up in the newly created mutant camps she is still too young to understand her parents’ actions. Because of this she is full of bitterness and angry at her family for abandoning her.
Madman has an exciting lineup for June 2011, with Oscar nominated films, live action, television series’ and animation to satisfy even the most demanding viewer. When the days grow shorter, our electricity bills will grow larger with an awesome range of entertainment to watch on those cold nights.
We’ve picked out a selection of our favourite DVDs from their lineup to share with all of you.
Film: Howl
James Franco from 127 Hours and Spiderman stars in this docu-drama about Allen Ginsberg, the American poet. Howl tells the story of Ginsberg’s life, his masterpiece, and features a dramatisation of an obscenity court case which followed the publication of his poem, Howl.
Release date: 1st June, 2011
Price: DVD $34.95/No blu-ray
Film: Holy Rollers
Jesse Eisenberg (remember the guy from The Social Network?) stars in this teen drama based on real-life events when Hasidic Jews were used as drug mules for ecstasy in the late nineties. Eisenberg plays Sam Gold, who lives in Brooklyn and has an arranged marriage all lined up for him. When the marriage falls through, an Israeli gangster convinces him to transport ‘medicine’ for money.
Release date: 1st June, 2011
Price: DVD $29.95/No blu-ray
Film: Reign of Assassins
“There will be kung-fu!” is all you need to know about this film. Michelle Yeoh from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon plays an assassin named ‘Drizzle’ who double crosses her master, The Wheel King, and escapes with his loot – the remains of a Buddhist monk which she wants to return to their resting place. Of course, The Wheel King sends his disciples to find her in this swords and sandals epic.
Release date: 1st June, 2011
Price: DVD $29.95/Blu-ray $39.95
Live Action: Evangelion: 2.22 You Can (Not) Advance
Hideaki Anno brings fans of Evangelion yet another live action, following the success of Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone. The deadly onslaught of the Angels is escalating, and it is up to the Eva pilots again to save humanity. Shinji and Rei are joined by Asuka and Mari in this highly anticipated sequel.
Release date: 15th June, 2011
Price: DVD $29.95/Blu-ray $39.95
Television: An Audience with Billy Connolly
Our favourite comedian is back with more stories and jokes to entertain the masses. This show sees Connolly performing for a small audience, swearing and shouting away. The DVD features the 50-minute broadcast and a 100-minute “much swearier” version for those who just can’t get enough.
Release date: 15th June, 2011
Price: DVD $24.95/No blu-ray
Animation: Lucy, the Daughter of the Devil
adult swim provides audiences with yet another dark, comedic storyline. Lucy is an art-school graduate and a bartender who lives in San Francisco…with the Devil as her father. She has to fulfill her destiny as the Antichrist, but at the same time has a crush on a DJ called Jesús who is (you guessed it) the second coming of the messiah.
A few years ago whenever a large game from a popular developer was released, it wasn’t always expected that the game would come with two different versions. The standard edition of course and then the special edition which usually runs a few dollars more. Now it is 2011 and rather than announcing a special edition as news, it is actually news that a highly anticipated game isn’t going to have a special edition.
L.A. Noire will apparently not be having any sort of special edition according to a comment on Rockstar’s own website from Rockstar themselves:
@LiL.A.King There won’t be any special edition release of L.A. Noire, just the preorder bonus content with certain retailers as announced here: http://www.rockstargames.com/newswire/article/14011/presenting-preorder-exclusive-unlockable-bonus-content-when-you-.html Also as mentioned, all that content will be made available as DLC after the game comes out.
So what do you think, was there a chance lost here to have plenty of detective gadgets thrown into a little bundle, or is it better that Rockstar is focusing entirely on the game instead of releasing a legendary/veteran edition of L.A. Noire?
In the world of video games, few voice actors can say they’ve had a character based on their appearance. Even fewer can say they’ve worked with Eliza Dushku and Michael Bay, and there is only one man who has done all that and had a successful career in sports: LaMonica Garrett.
LaMonica Garrett: actor, athlete, awesome.
Garrett is the man behind Fight Night Champion‘s main character, Andre Bishop, a boxer-turned-convict who was wronged by two corrupt cops. But if that’s not where you know his face, then maybe you’ve watched a few matches of slamball where he was the leading scorer, or flicked on the TV to see him on CSI: Miami or Queen Latifah’s new series Single Ladies. If it still doesn’t ring a bell (and you still haven’t Googled him, for some weird reason), then you will definitely know him after you see him in the new Transformers: Dark of the Moon movie which comes out later on this year.
We had a chat to him to find out what it was like playing a boxer, gaming, and his acting career.
Capsule Computers: Many people believe that sporting games don’t really have a deep storyline, but Fight Night Champion’s Andre Bishop has a complicated past which players have to play through in story mode. How did you play a character that is plagued with the stigma of an ex-con and is trying to prove himself to the boxing world?
LaMonica Garrett: Once I studied the script I really got to know who Andre Bishop was as a man. Realizing he was framed and the injustice he suffered but still held true to who he was, and maintained his positive outlook and integrity it was easy to bring this character to life.
Andre Bishop in Fight Night Champion. Notice the EA punchbag and the ‘Andre’ shorts?
CC: A lot of people find their role models and inspiration in characters from video games. After playing Andre Bishop, do you feel that your character is someone that people can look up to?
LG: I do think Andre Bishop is someone people can look up to. This story is a prime example of how sometimes bad things happen to good people. Instead of taking the fast track to a title shot through someone he knew didn’t have his best interest at heart he chose the much tougher route and showed great loyalty to his old friend and trainer Gus. Because of that he was set up, and wrongfully put in prison. Instead of complaining, pointing fingers and giving up he remained true to himself and stayed strong mentally and physically and fought through adversity. Everyone has their own storms to fight through,and usually people with positive attitudes are more successful with those storms. Andre Bishop has a great attitude.
CC: “Being a champion is about having heart. A fighter can get knocked down…a champion gets back up”. What impact would you say that coming from a sporting background had in your portrayal of Andre Bishop as a champion?
LG: Having played football for the majority of my life as well as slamball I was really able to relate to this character. I’m a firm believer in how sports mirrors life, how you respond in certain situations in sporting events is how you’ll respond to adversity later in life. Will you get up and fight back when the chips are down, or will you give up and make excuses? When everything is going your way its real easy to be positive and upbeat. What happens after that first loss? I’m always curious to see how people respond after defeat. To me that’s the true test of a champion.
“Everyone has their own storms to fight through. Usually people with positive attitudes are more successful with those storms.”
CC: Lots of actors also do a few voice acting roles for animated films or games. Do you find you need different skills in voice acting and working with CGI as opposed to the skills you use as an actor on screen?
LG: As far as standing in a booth and just doing voice over Im sure there is a difference. But shooting all the scenes for Champion Mode it felt like we were doing it for film. We physically performed every scene so I was able to able to work off the other great actors around me. I think it would be a little more difficult to pull that same emotion without being involved in the scenes and just standing in a booth.
CC: In film, the audience recognises the actor for the character he has played. In video games, the actor is hidden behind the animated character in the game. Do you feel like actors get less recognition in the video game world?
LG: Actors in the video game world do get less recognition, but if you do a good job people will ask who was that, then IMDB brings you to life. Thanks to EA I was fortunate enough to have my character modeled after me and it looks exactly like me. Even when I used to sport the fro back in the day! With that being said people still don’t recognize me as Andre Bishop, but as long as the game is getting great reviews like it has been that doesn’t matter all that much.
Andre Bishop or LaMonica Garrett? The resemblance is striking.
CC: Are you a gamer? What console do you own, and what are your favourite games?
LG: I consider myself a sports gamer. I’ve been playing on my PS3 for sometime now, but for Christmas I got a Xbox360. Back in the day I use to clean house on Punch Out. I loved playing 10 Yard Fight, and I was a beast at Tecmo Bowl! Madden has always been my favorite game though. I also like FIFA, ironically I’ve always played Fight Night, we would have tourneys at my friends house every time the new Fight Night would drop. I haven’t participated in the tourney this time around yet, gotta get my skill level up. I got dudes gunning for me right now for obvious reasons.
CC: Have you played Fight Night Champion? If you have, is it harder to play as the character in the game, or portray the character in acting?
LG: I have played Fight Night Champion and I would say it was harder to portray Andre Bishop than to play him in the game. I was really into it when we were shooting and I found myself really disliking Frost and I couldn’t do anything about it, so that was hard. In the game I can try and put his head in the first row, that’s fun!
CC: Your role in Transformers 3 is your first role for a major feature film. How was the experience of working in such a high profile film with a director like Michael Bay? Was there a lot of pressure, or was it more exciting?
LG: Working with Michael Bay on Transformers 3 was an adrenaline rush. I felt more excitement than pressure. Working on a film of that magnitude with a great director like Bay, and the great actors I worked alongside I had some nerves going. But they were the good nerves like when your coming through the tunnel for a big game. You settle down after that first big hit then its game on. Great experience, I look forward to that feeling again many times over!
“Will you get up and fight back when the chips are down, or will you give up and make excuses?”
CC: You mentioned in an interview with The Celebrity Cafe that your goal is to be an action star. What is it about action that makes you want to play that role?
LG: Growing up I always gravitated towards action films. If I were to sit here and name 10 of my favorite actors more than half would be from an action genre. Something about the physicality of it all. What Matt Damon did in the Bourne trilogy was masterful to me, as well as Liam Neeson in Taken. As an actor I love challenging myself with different roles but action will always be at the forefront.
CC: Plenty of websites have now said you are an upcoming multimedia star, and that your career is really taking off now. Is this where you see yourself? Is acting in video games going to be on the agenda in the future, or is it all film, TV, and film from here on?
LG: I’m extremely happy with the success I’ve had lately in film, television, and in the video game world. I’m blessed to be apart of a game changer like Fight Night Champion. Being labeled a multimedia star is flattering, but most important I just want to continue to do what I’m passionate about which is acting, and whichever avenue enables me to do that I’m all for it.
Thanks to LaMonica Garrett for taking the time to speak with us. If you want to have another look at Garrett in Fight Night Champion, we’ve included one of the trailers down below.
Upcoming fighter SkullGirls “Available in 2011 on high-definition home consoles”, has had new information released for it. Along with this info comes a new trailer, which shows the game in action.
The game has a story that follows players as they travel through the Canopy Kingdom in search of the Skull Heart, which is said to bestow wishes for those with a pure heart. However, those that do not have a pure-heart will be turned into a corrupted SkullGirl.
The game is developed by Autumn Games and Reverge Labs, featuring the art of Alex Ahad and input from fighting game champion; Mike “Mike Z” Zaimont. So we know it’ll look great and be incredibly balanced.
Key Features
Femme Fatales: Players can choose from eight inimitable characters, including amnesiac schoolgirl Filia and sassy circus performer Cerebella, as they fight their way through a gauntlet of deadly opponents in an attempt to control the enigmatic Skull Heart.
Pretty as a Picture: Using Reverge Labs’ proprietary sprite-based game engine, Skullgirls’ graphics combine 2D art with real-time lighting effects, a feature never before achieved in a game of its type. The Dark Deco visuals are drawn at twice the resolution usually shown on 1080p high-definition screens, allowing for more detailed characters and in-game effects.
As You Wish: Players have various ways to battle it out in Skullgirls, including VS mode, arcade mode, story mode and training mode, encountering different aspects of the fighting experience with each type of gameplay.
Battle it Out in the Canopy Kingdom: As players compete for the Skull Heart, they will fight in numerous themed stages throughout the Canopy Kingdom, including an evil underground labyrinth, an extravagant casino and a moving glass-windowed elevator with dramatic views of the city. Each stage combines static hand-drawn art with lively effects to create dynamic environments.
Bragging Rights: Players can easily share their in-game victories with the rest of the world. Replays and highlights of matches can be uploaded directly to YouTube or Facebook; ideal for tournament recording or simply boasting a successful battle.
The games Key Features look promising and this will hopefully lead to one of the best fighters seen on the consoles.
Bad news for fans of super stylized platformers because Atlus has just released information that stated that Trine 2 would be delayed until late summer when it was originally scheduled to arrive sometime this spring. Fans of platformers should remember when Trine released on the PC and PS3 and became one of the best looking platformers ever to be released as a downloadable game.
Unfortunately at that time there was no Xbox 360 version released, but this time Trine 2 will be arriving on the Xbox 360, PC and the PSN. Despite the delay Atlus also released a new trailer to show off the puzzle mechanics and upgraded physics that will be returning in Trine 2. This way we can at least play the trailer over and over again until the next trickle of information comes out of Frozenbyte and Atlus.
Hello there all you Warhammer fans. We bring good news. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II – Retribution will be receiving a free update on the 6th of April. Included in this update is additional content that will set you back a whopping $0.
Also, the Last Stand game mode, a cooperative survival arena, will add 12 new new achievements to its rosters on Steam. In addition, each unlocked achievement will grant the player a new piece of war gear.
In summary, players of the game will be granted an update, 12 achievements and new armor upgrades for their character. Well done THQ. Well done.
