No Man’s Sky is a complete different game from the developer of Joe Danger, Hello Games and is a complete surprise to all when it was shown at VGA over the weekend.
“If you see the stars, those are real stars, they have their own planets around them, and you can go there,” said Sean Murray of Hello in describing the game. “It’s a science-fiction game, but it’s not like most other sci-fi games. We set out to make a game that challenges what it means to be next-gen, and what it means to be an indie title.
“It’s going to mess with people’s perceptions of Hello Games, and I have no idea how people will react. It’s different, and pretty much the furthest thing from what we’ve done before.”
Also at the VGX it showed of the Snowdrop engine for the new game from Ubisoft called The Division, which releases for PS4, Xbox One and PC towards the end of 2014.
The spectacular visuals are amazing one game we are looking forward for next year here at Connected Digital World, as well as destructible environments in the game, it has varied weather conditions and some stunning lighting effects.
From the first VGX last Saturday night Crystal Dynamics, a Square Enix studio announced TOMB RAIDER: DEFINITIVE EDITION is coming to Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 on 28th January 28, 2014.
TOMB RAIDER: DEFINITIVE EDITION is the character defining action-adventure where a young and inexperienced Lara Croft transforms into a hardened survivor. This fully re-built version for PlayStation4 and Xbox One features an obsessively detailed Lara and a fully realized lifelike world.
Lara Croft presented in unprecedented high definition detail:
– An all new Lara model created to take advantage of the power of next-gen consoles
– TRESS FX technology that delivers realistic hair simulation and motion with every strand being physically active
– Shader and lighting reworked to showcase the raw physicality of Lara’s journey through sweat, mud, and blood materials and effects
A physical world put in motion thanks to brand new hardware architecture:
– The world has been dynamically brought to life using complex physical world simulation on trees, foliage, cloth, weather, lighting and effects
– All texture resolutions have been created at 4x resolution for maximum resolution and detail
– In-game characters, enemies and destructibility have been enhanced for added depth and realism
– Subsurface scattering technology implemented to capture the most physically accurate lighting simulation and deliver a great sense of believability
– Native 1080p gameplay gives outstanding visual fidelity and showcases the beauty of Yamatai in all its high definition glory
The Definitive Edition of the award-winning action-adventure includes all of the original downloadable content, plus digital versions of the Dark Horse comic, Brady Games mini-art book and the Final Hours developer videos. Customers who pre-order will receive special art book packaging featuring never-before-seen concept art.
“’Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition’ is so named as it’s exactly what we’ve custom built for the Xbox One and PlayStation®4 system consoles,” said Crystal Dynamics Executive Producer, Scot Amos. “The new hardware let us finally express the original vision in all of its glory. This was a continued labour of love. We pulled the game apart and rebuilt it with painstaking detail to add enhanced visual storytelling but without changing the award winning tale. The end result is a cinematic living world. We can’t wait for fans and newcomers alike to experience this rebuilt epic adventure.”
TOMB RAIDER : DEFINITIVE EDITION will be available on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 28th January, 2014, priced at $RRP59.99.
From the arcades of 2002 and soon after, a port to the PS2, original Xbox and Gamecube, Soulcalibur II makes it’s inevitable leap to the times of HD. The PS3 and the Xbox 360 play host to one of Namco Bandai’s all time classics, but can it still hold it’s own against the modern day fighters as the king of the hill?
For the uninitiated, the Soulcalibur plotline, such as it is, revolves around each character’s goal to either destroy, or use the ‘Soul Edge’ for their own nefarious deeds. Each character has their own extensive biography to read through if you desire. Despite being fairly interesting, the brick’s of text for each character, and unlockable weapons, are painfully uninspiring to browse. The game offers little in the way of cutscenes to explain what’s going on either, so if you like a little plot development with your characters, you’ll have to go digging.
Fortunately, the pure, all out brawling makes up for the lack of narrative on offer. With all the original modes to pore through, something is bound to tickle your fancy. Along with the standard Arcade mode, the ever addictive, if not slightly infuriating, Weapon Master mode makes it’s appearance. Essentially the story mode, it pits you against enemies with occasionally unfathomable odds, such as defeating four opponents with the same bar of health. Other, less irritating, sometimes inventive conditions also appear, a constant gust of wind pushing you sarcastically backwards for example, or only being able to do meaningful amounts of damage by striking them against the edge of the arena. Whilst fun in their own right, unless you know the specific ins and outs of your character, caveman like button mashing will suffice for most of the encounters.
In terms of the actual fighting mechanics, nothing has changed from it’s previous incarnations, of which I’m sure is peace of mind for the Soulcalibur veterans. Horizontal and vertical attacks still function in their intended roles; blocks and counters are still gleefully satisfying and there are no convoluted button inputs to wrap your head, and hands, around. Timing and knowledge of characters should still win over the Neanderthal’s methods, yet you don’t have to be a pro gamer to accomplish a basic grasp of the mechanics. Which is a good job seeing as the tutorial in Soulcalibur II, like a vast majority of fighting games, is plain awful. The game tells you what each of the moves are called; then proceeds to thrash the life out of you for the remainder of the game until you learn.
Unfortunately, one of the games largest draws, nostalgia aside, is the inclusion of online multiplayer. The problem being, is that it’s not only fraught with problems in the netcode, but also lacks any sort of commonplace features such as a spectator mode or a party of friends. It feels cold, clinical and even when you can get into a lag filled mess of a bout, it kindly kicks you to the main menu once you’ve finished. Rude.
At least there’s still the old pass-the-pad fun to be had. Couch play is still and always will be the most fun to be had in this genre for me, no lag, jovial banter and many other perfect world factors that don’t require the internet can all be yours. With a diverse multitude of characters, of which some are only available after progression in the Weapon Master mode, plenty of unique weapons with not only different damage and defence modifiers but also their own entries in the aforementioned ‘brick of text’, there’s no shortage of content to unlock. Another nice gesture being that two of the previous system exclusive characters, Heihachi Mishima from Tekken fame and Todd McFarlane’s Spawn are also both playable in this version. No word on Link but hey, you can’t have everything.
The other main downside, also mentioned in the title of the game, is the HD part. Yes, it’s upscaled and looks crisp enough, but the menus, the text; even the small thumbnails on the arena select screen look vastly aged and bland. It’s not only the looks that have aged either, little things crop up every now and again that just infuriate. For example, when you fail a particularly irksome battle in Weapon Master mode, and you will, there is no restart button. Instead, it takes you back to the stage select screen, making you endure yet another surprisingly long loading screen.
In the end, Soulcalibur II HD Online fails on several important levels, conversely it also maintains the success of which the original created. The mechanics are sound, the roster plentiful and the fun is still there to be had. The issue really being is whether or not it deserves it’s rather steep price tag for essentially the same game but with iffy online multiplayer and slightly shinier graphics. For the truly nostalgic only.
Yogscast, the UK’s most watched YouTube channel, run an annual charity drive for the month of December. This year, they are teaming up with SEGA and taking the drive to the next level in a race against the fastest Hedgehog in the world. The Yogscast’s very own Simon Lane, aka Honeydew, will be available from today as a brand new DLC character in Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed priced at £2.99/€3.99/$4.99 with 100% of all SEGA and Yogscast proceeds being donated to the Special Effect charity.
Special Effect put fun and inclusion back into the lives of people with disabilities by helping them to play video games. Using technology ranging from modified joypads to eye-control, they are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life of people with disabilities.
Independent Polish developer Incuvo have today released their innovative game creation app Createrria, the first application that allows players to create and publish their own games. Free to download, Createrria is available for iPhone, iPad and iPod with an Android version to follow next year.
Createrria turns the fun and joy of making games in to a game itself. Become an instant game designer by creating the games you always wanted to play or construct your own improved version of world famous franchises! Want to tell a story or create an awesome action game? No problem. Have a great idea for a puzzle game or platformer? Go right ahead. Createrria offers quick and easy tools to create any game you want without any technical or programming skills. With just a few taps you can craft your own games and share them with your friends.
“Nowadays you can create almost anything on mobile devices; Take photos, paint, compose music, even shape virtual pottery – you name it. But until now there hasn’t really been a good app for game creation. We want to change that with Createrria. And remember, this is meant for players, not developers.” commented Jakub Duda, Incuvo co-founder.
“I often start Createrria early in the morning just to check new crazy game ideas that appeared in the community the previous night. It’s a great feeling when players surprise you with new creations.” said Wojciech Borczyk, Incuvo’s second co-founder.
Want to create that great 8-bit classic? Then the Pixel Art Theme is for you. How about a Grimm fairy tale with a twist? The Fable Theme is what you’re after. Featuring a variety of powerful and easy-to-use tools, all the graphic styles in Createrria comes with its own set of backgrounds, terrain, items and enemies!
Already the recipient of critical acclaim including making the final of the ‘Game Connection 2012 Best Project’ Createrria will unlock the game making dreams of aspiring creators everywhere.
The Crystal Tower has opened its doors for adventurers to explore its vast halls. Can you – the heroes of this realm – stand together and battle your way through the Labyrinth of the Ancients to find your way to the entrance to the Tower? Or will you venture into the Wolves’ Den, the newly open arena wherein adventurers may test their battle prowess against one another?
With a wealth of new content, A REALM AWOKEN, the Patch 2.1 update for FINAL FANTASY XIV: A REALM REBORN is scheduled for release 17th December.
The Crystal Tower
Reaching to the heavens, this massive monolith, long thought to be a legend from eras past, has been unearthed in the wake of the Calamity. What could be the purpose of this crystalline construct, and what forgotten relics now stir within its walls? Those who would unravel these mysteries must first win their way through the Labyrinth of the Ancients, the perilous maze that leads to the entrance of the tower proper.
Tackle this new dungeon with up to 24 players and do battle with the dark forces that have awoken within.
The Wolves’ Den
Named after a crew of Roegadyn Sea Wolves that first discovered this odd crucible-shaped island off the shores of Limsa Lominsa, this PvP Arena will soon open to all the Grand Companies of Eorzea, in the hope that the staged battles held here will raise the realm’s defences.
Housing
The Lavender Beds (Gridania), the Goblet (Ul’dah) and Mist (Limsa Lominsa) are the three distinctive residential districts of each of the city-states. Enjoy creating a unique base of operations for your free company members to call home. Purchase a plot of land and then start your build, with customizable fixtures for the house, as well as interior and exterior decorations and furnishings.
Thornmarch
The Moogles are trying to resurrect their legendary leader, Good King Moggle Mog XII. Will the return of this mythical being pose a threat for the Warriors of Light?
Beast Tribe Quests
Learn about the beast tribes of Eorzea in these daily quests.
Treasure Hunt
Search for buried treasure with up to four players to obtain rich spoils.
Aesthetician
A new quest has been added that will allow you to befriend an aesthetician of great talent. Completing it will allow you to change your hairstyle, face paint, and more.
Hildibrand, Agent of Enquiry
Nashu Mhakarraca, Hildibrand’s faithful assistant will need to muster up all her powers of deduction to unravel the many mysteries that beleaguer Eorzea. Unusual zombie activity in Ul’dah, you say? This smells like a case!
Pharos Sirius
This abandoned lighthouse, strikingly pierced by corrupted crystals, has been made the domain of the siren of Umbra. Adventurers must venture within and defeat the seductress and her legion of undead minions if this beacon of civilization is to shine once more.
Haukke Manor (Hard)
Copperbell Mines (Hard)
New dangers and formidable foes await those who would dare revisit and test themselves against the new hard mode for each of these dungeons.
Duty Roulette
The Duty Roulette allows players to enter instanced dungeons, trials and guildhests at random. There are four roulette categories, each of which can be selected once per day and adventurers can reap some great bonus rewards.
The Howling Eye (Extreme)
The Navel (Extreme)
The Bowl of Embers (Extreme)
New extreme battles against three primals: Garuda, Titan and Ifrit.
The Minstrel’s Ballad: Ultima’s Bane
Test yourself against the Ultima Weapon once more in this new hard-mode boss battle.
Main Scenario Quests
Where there is light, there is always shadow. The beast tribes persist in their efforts to summon the primals. The once defeated Garlean forces resurface, harbouring renewed ambitions of conquest. And the baleful Ascians lurk in the shadows, their presence rousing dark forces long since forgotten.
As new threats emerge, adventurers must once again heed the Crystal’s call.
FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn is available now on the PlayStation®3 system and Windows PC and comes to PlayStation 4, April, 2014. A free 30-day trial is included for new accounts, with monthly subscriptions starting at £7.69 / 10.99 €.
Here are few new screenshots from the Dark Souls II world, each player can choose to help, rescue, invade, protect, and take on several positions within the world. But remember that no one is safe in this odyssey…
Dark Souls II will be launching in Europe and Australasia on March 14, 2014 on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 with the PC edition to follow shortly in 2014. To learn more about Dark Souls II and pre-order the game, please visit http://www.darksoulsII.com/.
Payday 2 is back with yet more DLC in the shape of the first weapons pack from the series’ go–to arms dealer, Gage.
Frag Grenades make their first entry into the PAYDAY series and are bound to spice things up. With the new Grenade Case asset, players can share
grenades with each other in the heists.
Three new weapons are added and players can now toggle between Single- and Auto-fire with all full autoweapons. Four new animal masks have been added, as well as new patterns and materials.
The Gage Weapons Pack #1 is available now from Steam and is priced at £3.99
Kabam today released The Hobbit: TheDesolations of Smaug Expansion Pack for its popular mobile game The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle-earth. Inspired by Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit Trilogy, a production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), the free-to-play strategy game challenges players to build their own empire in Middle-earth and features fan favourites Gandalf, Bilbo, Legolas and Tauriel.
In the new The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Expansion Pack, the evil Dragon Smaug awaits to wage a mighty battle. Players will earn new armor and weapons to equip their heroes to challenge Smaug when he is unleashed. By defeating Smaug, players will make a name for themselves in Middle-earth’s glorious history.
The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle-earth has grossed nearly $100 million since its November 2012 release. Everyday millions of players worldwide immerse themselves in the epic world of Elves, Dwarves and Goblins, building kingdoms, forging powerful alliances, and strategizing with other gamers to purge Middle-earth of all who oppose them. Key game stats include:
· More than 1 million alliances have been created
· Nearly 16 million cities have been built
· More than 4 million battles are waged every day
The Hobbit: Kingdoms of Middle-earth App is available for free from the App Store and on Google Play.
Today Ubisoft has announced that the next game in the Assassin’s Creed franchise, Assassin’s Creed Pirates, is now available for iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad and select high end smartphones and tablets on the App Store, on Google Play and on the Amazon Appstore for £2.99.
The year is 1716, the dawn of the Golden Age of piracy in the Caribbean. Players take on the role of Alonzo Batilla, a young and ambitious Captain who is embarking on an epic quest to find La Buse’s legendary treasure. Along his way Alonzo will cross paths with famous buccaneers including Blackbeard, Bellamy and Hornigold and find himself caught in the middle of the ancestral fight between Assassins and Templars.
In Assassin’s Creed Pirates,players will be tasked to manage their crew, upgrade their ship, recruit new crew members and engage in massive and brutal real-time naval battles to become the most feared pirate in the Caribbean.
Ubisoft Paris has developed a brand new mobile engine to bring groundbreaking 3D visuals to Assassin’s Creed Pirates. This engine is responsible for the breathtaking moving waters, lush islands, and gorgeous graphics that set new visual standards for mobile platforms.
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment has released the Initiation Challenge Map Add-On for Batman : Arkham Origins is available now on the Xbox LIVE, on the PlayStation Network, Steam and Nintendo eShop for £5.49.
The Initiation Add-On focuses on Bruce Wayne before he donned his cowl, and introduces a new challenge campaign with four unique challenge maps and two original skins – Initiation Bruce Wayne and Vigilante Bruce Wayne. Players who have purchased the Batman: Arkham Origins Season Pass and are connected to the Internet will have instant access to the content.
Set high in the Paektu-San Mountains of North Korea, the Initiation Add-On follows a young Bruce Wayne as he faces his ultimate test. Players will embark upon a series of challenge maps that test their martial arts training across exotic locales, including a bamboo forest and a mountain top monastery. Fans will face fresh enemies along with an epic final test to prove their worthiness to Bruce’s greatest and most pitiless teacher, Kirigi.
Hey Ash, Whatcha Playin’? She’s playing Saints Row IV, that’s what. Ash. Anthony. Papa Burch. Now available as homies. Who better to back the Boss than the Saints’ biggest fans?
Get the Burch family to your console today, for only $2.99! Would you kindry buy this pack?
Ashly’s bored! Check out what Volition does to relieve her from boredom:
Today Microsoft has announced the first developers who will publish games for Xbox One under the manufacturer’s new ID@Xbox program, that was unveiled at Gamescom this year. The program’s director Chris Charla, “thousands” of developers have expressed an interest, and Microsoft has now shipped development kits to more than 50 companies.
Here is a list of so far confirmed companies making games for the Xbox One.
– iNiS (Lips, Elite Beat Agents, Gitaroo Man)
– Comcept (Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z, Soul Sacrifice)
– Vlambeer (Serious Sam, Ridiculous Fishing)
– Double Eleven (LittleBigPlanet PS Vita, PixelJunk Shooter)
– Slightly Mad Studios (Need for Speed: Shift, Project Cars)
– Born Ready (Strike Suit Zero)
– Crytek (Crysis, Ryse: Son of Rome)
– Happion Labs (Sixty Second Shooter)
– Team 17 (Worms, Alien Breed)
– Panic Button (Kinect Star Wars, Injustice: Gods Among Us)
– Double Fine (Brutal Legend, Psychonauts)
– Drinkbox (About a Blob, Guacamelee)
– Team Colorblind (Aztez)
– Signal Studios (Ascend: New Gods, Toy Soldiers)
– Zen Studios (Castlestorm, Marvel Pinball)
– Bongfish (Motocross Madness, Harm’s Way)
– Half-Brick Studios (Fruit Ninja Kinect, Raskulls)
– NinjaBee (A Kingdom for Keflings, Dash of Destruction)
– Zeboyd Games (Cthulhu Saves the World, Penny Arcade Adventures)
– Nicalis (Cave Story, VVVVVV)
– The Men Who Wear Many Hats (Organ Trail, Max Gentlemen)
– Iron Galaxy (Divekick, Wreckateer)
– Jackbox Games (You Don’t Know Jack)
– High Voltage Software (The Conduit, Kinect Star Wars)
– Capybara Games (Below, Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes)
– Behaviour Interactive (Naughty Bear, MySims SkyHeroes)
– Hidden Path (Defense Grid: The Awakening, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive)
– Gaijin Games (Bit.Trip series)
– The Odd Gentlemen (The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom, Slap Happy Sam)
– WayForward (Adventure Time: ETDBIDK, DuckTales: Remastered)
– Other Ocean (Iron Brigade, Stacking)
