If you haven’t seen the new trailer for South Park The Stick of Truth here is your lucky day then.
If you haven’t seen the new trailer for South Park The Stick of Truth here is your lucky day then.
NCSOFT and ArenaNet, publisher and developer of Guild Wars franchise, today announces the latest Guild Wars 2 content update, A Very Merry Wintersday, which brings back the fan-favourite Wintersday holiday for six weeks beginning today the 10th December, 2013.
It’s an MMO holiday tradition. As the nights grow long and colder in the Living World of Tyria, Toymaker Tixx returns in his massive floating workshop to spread holiday cheer with high-tech toys and festive games. This year the asuran inventor Tixx and his frequently faulty golem assistant Toxx have a bag full of mirth for players of every persuasion.
Wintersday Events and Activities
· The Wondrous Workshop – Round up mischievous toys running wild inside Toymaker Tixx’s holiday workshop!
· Winter Wonderland Jumping Puzzle – Test your skills in a lethal platform puzzle loaded with holiday obstacles and really long drops!
· Bell Choir Musical Activity – Join other players to ring in the season and make sweet, sweet music together!
· Toypocalypse – Enter the Toypocalypse challenge and help save Wintersday from haywire toys run amok!
· Snowball Mayhem – It wouldn’t be Wintersday without a chance to pelt your fellow players in the face with snowballs in this fun team activity!
However, not everything is candy canes and snowflakes in Guild Wars 2 this December. The nightmare still continues in the Kessex Hills and surrounding countryside, as players battle inside the Tower of Nightmares introduced in the 29th October release.
Today, TECMO KOEI Europe is excited to announce that the latest instalment in the long-loved Atelier series for the PlayStation 3, Atelier Escha & Logy ~Alchemists of the Dusk Sky, is now available for preorder. The ship date of Atelier Escha & Logy ~Alchemists of the Dusk Sky~ is planned for March 7, 2014.
Those who reserve Atelier Escha & Logy ~Alchemists of the Dusk Sky~ will receive the following exclusive downloadable costume(s) as a preorder bonus:
Escha “Apple Pirate” Costume
Escha “Enchanted Witch” Costume
Tecmo Koei Europe also launched the official Atelier Escha & Logy ~Alchemists of the Dusk Sky~ website today for fans to begin their exploration of Escha and Logy’s world! Website visitors will get to know more about Escha and Logy, as well as other supporting characters while listening to beautiful Atelier music! www.ateliergames.eu/escha-logy
Story
This world has gone through many Dusks, and is slowly nearing its end. Within this world, in the western reaches of the “Land of Dusk,” there was a nation that prospered thanks to its use of alchemy. There, in order to survive the eventual arrival of the “Dusk End,” the people devoted their efforts to rediscover and recreate lost alchemic technologies. Rediscovered technology from the past era was gathered in the alchemy research city known as “Central,” where research was conducted on how to halt the advance of the twilight. One of the heroes is a young man who researched alchemy in Central, the other a girl living in a small town on the frontier. This girl’s name is Escha. In the process of using her knowledge of ancient alchemy to help others, she was assigned to the Development Department. The young man’s name is Logy. Having learned the newest alchemic techniques in Central, he requested a transfer to this understaffed town to make use of his abilities, and meets Escha when he is assigned to the Development Department as well. The two make a promise to use their alchemy together, and bring success to the Development Department.
Atelier Escha & Logy ~Alchemists of the Dusk Sky~ game features include:
The new Imbue system and the revised Synthesis system deepen the Atelier Escha & Logy ~Alchemists of the Dusk Sky~ gameplay experience. Allowing the player to make a broad range of custom choices is a strong aspect of both systems!
The new Imbuing system allows Logy alone to customize his weapons and armour. Imbuing is a form of alchemy that allows a player to add effects from other items to his weapons and armour. Combining skills to add properties to items allows for some intense customization options!
Escha’s synthesis ability grows along with the player. Only simple syntheses will be available at the beginning of the game, but as the player’s synthesis level rises, more in-depth components to the system will be unlocked. This allows beginners to learn the complex system in deliberately paced stages, while synthesis veteran will come to be able to access a more in-depth synthesis experience!
Two protagonists, two stories, more gameplay. Depending on which protagonist a player selects, the story and events will unfold from different perspectives. For players who enjoy the traditional Atelier series, Escha’s story will fulfill their alchemy RPG needs! For players who enjoy a classic RPG, or are newcomers to the series, they can choose Logy’s story to begin their journey in the Atelier universe!
Battle with more teammates! Traditionally, in the Atelier series, only 3 characters could join the battle party, but in Atelier Escha & Logy ~Alchemists of the Dusk Sky~, players can have a maximum of 6 characters in battle to allow for more strategy and faster-paced fights!
Streamlined synthesis welcomes newcomers and long-time series fans! The synthesis system and interface have been streamlined to make item creation more approachable and enjoyable. As their Synthesis level goes up, players will be able to access more items for synthesis.
Fast-paced, turn-based combat system! Battles are fought using a turn-based combat system, but character actions and command inputs are optimized for fast-paced fights. During battle, players can use support attacks, in which allied characters hop in and appear one after another in an effort to execute impressive follow-up attacks! Utilize the assist attack system to rule the battlefield!
Alchemist-exclusive attack, Double Draw! As Alchemists, Escha and Logy can use the various items they create through synthesis during battle. Atelier Escha & Logy ~Alchemists of the Dusk Sky~ has expounded on that concept and created a new alchemist-exclusive command, “Double Draw,” which allows consecutive item use while also increasing their effects!
Gorgeous graphics with lively characters! Characters’ faces are meticulously animated and show a wide range of expressions. With the newly implemented engine, the characters in Atelier Escha & Logy ~Alchemists of the Dusk Sky~ really come to life!
Get ready for lots of new content updates for Grand Theft Auto Online, beginning with the launch of the free Deathmatch and Race Creators tool coming this week. Here’s a look at what’s on the way in the weeks ahead…
Deathmatch & Race Creators Beta
This week, we will give you the first chance to build your own content in GTA Online (and play content others have made) with the release of the Deathmatch & Race Creators Beta. With access to some of the same tools as our own game design and development team, you can craft your own custom blood-soaked gunfights, high-octane street races, screaming jet dogfights and more. You’ll also be able to publish your original Deathmatches and Races via the Rockstar Games Social Club for the whole community to discover, download, play, rate and share. Players can create and customize Jobs for the following modes:
We’re planning on regularly reviewing some of the best community-created content to recognize and distinguish them as Rockstar Verified Jobs, shared out to the entire GTA Online community. The Deathmatch and Race Creators will come to you via a free update, and you’ll need to have a Social Club account that is linked to your Xbox Live Gamertag or PlayStation Network ID to use them. The Creators are in Beta so please help us iron out any flaws and bugs via the GTA Online email address.
We expect the Creators Beta to become available as soon as today 10th December.
Capture
Also in December, we will introduce possibly our favourite competitive team mode, Capture. A proper GTA twist on classic capture the flag, Capture mode brings territory infiltration and a new form of team-versus-team treachery into GTA Online. Up to four squads battle to steal contraband, trucks, buses or whatever from opponents’ bases using high-speed vehicles, explosive weaponry and cunning teamwork. Craft, cooperation and team tactics are key. The free Capture update will bring a host of new jobs to GTA Online, accessible via the open world and also directly through your phone. Capture is broken down into four variations – ‘Raid’, ‘Contend’, ‘Hold’ and ‘GTA’ – we will give you full details on each of these next week.
Coming in 2014
Expect big things in both Grand Theft Auto Online and Grand Theft Auto V next year including:
GTA Online Heists. We know many of you in the GTA Online community are super excited for the debut of co-operative Heists. Heists are currently in development and we are working very hard to get them as polished and as fun as they can be. Stay tuned for much more detail in the New Year.
GTAV Story Mode Updates. For those ready to jump back into the story of Grand Theft Auto V, we have big plans for substantial additions in 2014 continuing Michael, Franklin and Trevor’s action, mayhem and unexpected adventures in Southern San Andreas.
To celebrate reaching half a million total downloads, the action-RPG BLOODMASQUE will be free to download on iOS devices from today until midnight on Monday December 16, 2013. For those yet to experience BLOODMASQUE, this is your chance to try the game out for yourself and see if you like it!
‘Tis the season for giving, and BLOODMASQUE is spreading some cheer to players everywhere with a special holiday edition of the Hunter’s Gauntlet. Up until Christmas Day, a series of seasonal hunts will be available, where players choose to pursue two unique foes; Rudolph the Red and Holly Mistletoe. Triumph and you’ll be rewarded with their special gear for your hunter. For more details about festive event, visit: http://bloodmasque.com/christmas/en/
In addition, the official BLOODMASQUE Soundtrack is now available on iTunes. Containing 34 original and un-edited tracks from the game, fans can download the OST from Apple iTunes Store for £10.99/€11.99/$11.99.
BLOODMASQUE is a unique action-RPG, set in an alternative version of 19th century Paris. Players take on the role of a Vampire Hunter from a cursed bloodline, who fights back against the lords of the night in a world where humanity is ruled from the shadows.
During this weekend’s VGX event, a live demonstration of the upcoming Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze game for Wii U revealed some exciting details about the addition of Cranky Kong as a playable character. For the first time in the Donkey Kong Country series, players will be able to assume control of the fan-favorite Cranky Kong. Cranky joins Diddy Kong and Dixie Kong as one of Donkey Kong’s partners in the game. At VGX, an event celebrating video games, Nintendo also revealed that the game will launch in North America on Feb. 21 in stores and on the Nintendo eShop.
The bearded Cranky Kong is very spry for his age, using his cane to bounce on dangerous objects like spikes. This ability helps him access areas other characters can’t reach. During single-player mode, Cranky rides on Donkey Kong’s back. In co-op multiplayer, a second player can control Cranky, Diddy or Dixie directly (an additional controller is required for multiplayer play, and is sold separately).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MQFm2JV1jQ
Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is the next installment in the smash-hit Donkey Kong Country series. The new game lets players embark on an original adventure with Donkey Kong and partners Diddy Kong, Dixie Kong and Cranky Kong as they battle The Snowmads, who have invaded and frozen their home, Donkey Kong Island. Players will jump from island to island as they explore a huge variety of new environments, from lush mangroves to burning savannahs and Donkey Kong’s frozen island. The game introduces a number of new features, such as the ability to swim, a dynamic camera that adds dimension and depth to the gorgeous on-screen action, and the ability to play the full game on the Wii U GamePad controller in off-TV play.
Have a look at a few more screenshots of The Evil Within coming out next year for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One, PC and published by Bethesda Softworks and Developed by Tango Gameworks.
Game Description:
Developed by Shinji Mikami — creator of the seminal Resident Evil series — and the talented team at Tango Gameworks, The Evil Within embodies the meaning of pure survival horror. Experience a disturbing reality as you try to break free from warped machinations that could only exist in the most horrifying worlds. Face twisted creatures and experience true terror, all heightened by cutting edge lighting and animation made possible by a customized version of the id Tech 5 engine.
Story:
While investigating the scene of a gruesome mass murder, Detective Sebastian Castellanos and his partners encounter a mysterious and powerful force. After seeing the slaughter of fellow officers, Sebastian is ambushed and knocked unconscious. When he awakens, he finds himself in a deranged world where hideous creatures wander among the dead.
Facing unimaginable terror, and fighting for survival, Sebastian embarks on a frightening journey to unravel what’s behind this evil force.
Key Features:
Pure Survival Horror Returns
Shinji Mikami, the father of survival horror is back to direct a chilling new game wrapped in haunting narrative. Tension and anxiety heighten dramatically as you explore the game’s tortured world. You’ll have limited resources at your disposal as you fight for your survival and experience profound fear in this perfect blend of horror and action.
Brutal Traps and Twisted Creatures
Face unthinkable horrors and cruel traps as you struggle to survive against overwhelming odds. Turn evil against itself by using the same diabolical devices against overwhelming deadly creatures.
Unknown Threats in an Uncertain World
Mysterious and wicked fears loom ahead in a world that warps and twists around you. Corridors, walls, doors, and entire buildings change in real-time, ensnaring players in a reality where threats can appear at any time and from any direction.
The New Face of Horror
Highly-crafted environments, horrifying anxiety, and an intricate story weave together to create an immersive world that will bring players to the height of tension. Defeat insurmountable terror and experience the ultimate thrill by discovering The Evil Within.
Have a look at a few more screenshots of Wolfenstein: The New Order coming out next year for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One, PC and published by Bethesda Softworks and Developed by MachineGames.
Game Description:
Wolfenstein: The New Order reignites the series that created the first-person shooter genre. Under development at Machine Games, a studio comprised of a seasoned group of developers recognized for their work creating story-driven games, Wolfenstein offers a deep game narrative packed with action, adventure and first-person combat.
Intense, cinematic and rendered in stunning detail with id Software’s id Tech 5 engine, Wolfenstein sends players across Europe on a personal mission to bring down the Nazi war machine. With the help of a small group of resistance fighters, infiltrate their most heavily guarded facilities, battle high-tech Nazi legions, and take control of super-weapons that have conquered the earth – and beyond.
Story:
Have a look at a few more screenshot of Elders Scrolls Online coming out Spring next year for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, published by Bethesda Softworks and Developed by MachineGames.
Armed with a mysterious advanced technology, the Nazi’s unrelenting force and intimidation brought even the most powerful nations to their knees. Awakened from a 14-year coma to a world changed forever, war hero B.J. Blazkowicz emerges into this unimaginable alternate version of the 1960s. One in which the monstrous Nazi regime has won World War II, and now rule the globe with an iron fist. You are B.J. Blazkowicz, the American war hero, and the only man capable of rewriting history.
Key Features:
The Action and Adventure
Wolfenstein’s breath-taking set pieces feature intense mountain-top car chases, underwater exploration, player-controlled Nazi war machines, and much more – all combined to create an exhilarating action-adventure experience.
The Story and Characters
Hi-octane action and thrilling adventure weaved together into a tightly paced, super immersive game narrative featuring memorable characters.
The History and Setting
Set against a backdrop of an alternate 1960s, discover an unfamiliar world ruled by a familiar enemy—one that has changed and twisted history as you know it.
The Arsenal and Assault
Break into secret research facilities and heavily guarded weapon stashes to upgrade your tools of destruction. Experience intense first-person combat as you go up against oversized Nazi robots, hulking Super Soldiers and elite shock troops.
Have a look at a few more screenshots of Elders Scrolls Online coming out Spring next year for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC and Mac, published by Bethesda Softworks and Developed by ZeniMax Online Studios.
Key Features:
The Elder Scrolls. Online.
After 20 years of best-selling, award-winning fantasy role-playing games, the Elder Scrolls series goes online. Experience this epic adventure on your own or together with your friends, guild mates, and thousands of alliance members. Explore dangerous caves and dungeons, embark upon adventurous quests across Tamriel, and engage in massive player versus player battles, where the victors reap the spoils of war.
Play the Way You Like
With an enhanced Elder Scrolls combat system, engage in real-time targeting and strategic attacks and blocks. Use any weapon or wear any armor at any time, no matter what type of character you play and develop your own style with deep character customization and abilities.
A Connected Game World
With ESO’s Megaserver technology you no longer choose a server, but instead play in one connected world. The game automatically places you with friends, guild mates, people you’ve encountered before, and other like-minded players. Simply jump in and begin your adventure.
Your Quest to Save Tamriel
A stolen soul. An undead army rising. A quest to recover that which is uniquely yours. Explore the hidden secrets of Tamriel at your own pace using the game’s compass to guide you to areas of interest. Save the world from the evil machinations of the Daedric Prince Molag Bal and his henchman, the first necromancer, the Prince of Worms, Mannimarco.
Clauf GmbH, an online media company dedicated to eSports, has launched two new sites for fans of professional gaming and eSports. ESGN, the eSports Global Network (www.esgn.com), and its web-based broadcast platform, ESGNTV (www.esgntv.com), which has launched into beta, aim to deliver the latest content about eSports from all over the world. eSports is the highly popular and growing professional video gaming where talented professional video game players compete for rewards and fame in tournaments and leagues throughout the world. Partnering with organizations including the ESL (Europe), GameFy (China) and GomTV (Korea), ESGN and ESGNTV cover every facet of the eSports profession, including up-to-the-minute information on competitions, breaking news, event dates and schedules, player profiles and much more from the world’s biggest tournaments. Both sites are available now for free without any registration necessary.
“With ESGN and ESGNTV we aim to be one of the leading content providers in the eSport landscape, providing a fresh approach to the profession and airing incredible content found nowhere else,” said Jong Hwan Lee, CEO, Clauf GmbH. “This is the first step in a truly massive global initiative that will bring eSports to fans like never before. Our eSports experts and partners are eager to launch ESGN and ESGNTV for the masses.”
ESGNTV – The New “Global eSports Network for Gaming”
ESGNTV is a global online 24-hour broadcast network with nonstop coverage of eSports. Hosted by eSports expert Dan “Frodan” Chou and produced by former ESPN producer Morgan Stone, ESGNTV puts competitive gaming on a massive international stage. Through up-to-date news, in-depth discussions, competitive shows, behind-the-scenes analysis, player profiles, player interviews and the most recent tournament results, ESGNTV caters to all facets of eSports and competitive gaming.
The ESGN team broadcasts from a 6,000-square foot studio on the site of the oldest large-scale film studio in the world, the renowned Potsdam Babelsberg. The beta starts with the competitive show “Fight Night,” starring games like Starcraft II, Hearthstone and Street Fighter. The launch of the full ESGNTV schedule is planned for early 2014.
Introducing ESGN Points – Leveling the Playing Field
With ESGN Points, ESGN introduces a cooperative ranking system algorithm among partner organizations from numerous regions, creating a level playing field to evaluate players and teams. This comprehensive point system allows ESGN to calculate separate achievements of players from major events into an overarching competition and weighted scoreboard. From their start to finish, teams and players will have their achievements, roster changes and match records tracked and coordinated to the ESGN Points and ELO rankings. ESGN.com also features an annual schedule of upcoming events and results for past tournaments with an appendix of specific matches, players and prize-money. As a result, the visibility of major tournaments and profiles of professional players are improved on a worldwide scale.
For eSports Enthusiasts, by eSports Enthusiasts
Spearheaded by executives with more than a decade of combined eSports experience, ESGN has employees with a background in gaming and a vast understanding of the pro gaming scene, ranging from eSports professionals to passionate and homegrown community contributors.
With headquarters in Berlin, ESGN aims to bring the video game industry’s attention further to the eSports landscape. Broadcasting across four established channels, including Twitch.tv and YouTube, ESGNTV will deliver its content throughout North America, Europe and Asia to bring the world’s best eSports players and events to all audiences.
“Working together will really enable us all to grow faster and to make professional gaming a true global sport, rivaling the biggest traditional sports out there. One company alone will certainly not be able to make it, so we as an industry have to cooperate and combine our efforts,” said Ralf Reichert, Managing Director, Turtle Entertainment (ESL).
“By introducing brand new features, such as the comprehensive ranking system, ESGN pushes the envelope of eSports as a worldwide phenomenon,” said Jeong Wong Che, Managing Director, Gretech (GomTV). “During the last couple of years, we have seen outstanding development globally that has put eSports closer to the center of attention. ESGNTV will help to progress this even further by producing compelling content that players all over the world will desire.”
“The eSports scene in China has developed massively during the last couple of years. ESGN and ESGNTV will help to further strengthen this development and share our content with a worldwide audience,” said Chen Jianshu, General Manager, GameFY.
Here comes the Fencer, a new kind of warrior determined to put an end to the threat of the giant bugs once and for all. These heavily armoured soldiers come with dual-wielding abilities and can pulverize hundreds of bugs with large weapons. Need a tank? Call a Fencer instead!
Earth Defense Force 2025 will be available in February 2014 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 system.
Green Man Gaming (http://www.greenmangaming.com/), is the world’s fastest growing social commerce platform for core gamers, has announced that it launched the Xbox One tracking BETA on its Playfire (https://www.playfire.com/) service; the social network where gamers can track their in-game achievements.
With over 150 million systems sold globally since launch, the Xbox One’s user base has spent over 50 million hours in games and entertainment, and has achieved over 415 million Gamerscore Points. From today, Xbox One gamers can use Playfire to not only track their Gamerscore and achievements, but to check out what the most popular Xbox One titles are, see what their friends and the Playfire community are playing, and get buzzing about the latest titles.
“We’re pleased that Playfire is one of the first services to support Xbox One game tracking and deliver this so quickly to our hungry community” said Paul Sulyok, CEO of Green Man Gaming and Playfire. “Having a dedicated development team working hard on building a new future for Playfire means we can respond to new platform requirements and changes in a very agile way.”
The Playfire community has already logged 1.5 billion achievements and trophies which is sure to rapidly swell as next-gen gamers are welcomed to the service.
First DLC pack brings three new lethal characters, the infamous Blackbeard, the deadly Orchid and the mystical Jaguar
Today Ubisoft announced that the first DLC for Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag multiplayer, Blackbeard’s Wrath, is available from Wednesday for download on PlayStation Network for the PlayStation 4 and the PlayStation 3 and from Tuesday on Xbox LIVE for Xbox One, and the Xbox 360, and PC.
Three new characters join the hunt, Blackbeard, the Jaguar and The Orchid, each character bringing their unique skill set to battle for the title of best assassin.
Blackbeard, wielding a sword and a short temper is not to be trifled with. His reputation as a feared pirate is justly received and his preferred kill moves include using his tremendous strength to throw his targets off balance and then quickly finishing them with one clean strike.
The Orchid, a Templar-friendly deadly assassin grew up in China, serving as a military advisor in the Quing dynasty where she honed her murderous skills. She executes opponents swiftly and gracefully with her katana, an extension of her mind and body.
The Jaguar, Cuali, an Aztec warrior from Mexico, took to the sea to fight against the Spanish conquest of Central America. A fighter, he survived the destruction of his community and joined forces with a growing contingency of native Templars who sought renewed peace and order. Driven by a mystical force, The Jaguar fights like his namesake, striking swiftly and quietly with his preferred weapon, a discreet axe.
All three characters are available in Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag multiplayer starting Tuesday, where they will join the hunt for survival.
For players interested in the Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag Season Pass, it’s available now and includes Freedom Cry – a nine mission self-contained story featuring Edward Kenway’s first mate Adewale, the exclusive Kraken Ship Pack, additional single-player missions, weapons, skins and collectibles, as well as this multiplayer DLC and upcoming new characters to the multiplayer experience.