This weekend Richard Thomas's novel, Transubstantiate, is FREE on the Amazon.com Kindle.
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“They say Jimmy made it out. But the postcards we get, well, they don’t seem...real."
When an experiment with population control works too well, and the planet is decimated, seven broken people are united by a supernatural bond in a modern day Eden. Most on the island are fully aware of this prison disguised as an oasis. Unfortunately, Jimmy is on the mainland, desperate to get back, in a post-apocalyptic stand-off, fighting for his survival and that of his unborn child. Back on the island, Jacob stares at the ocean through his telescope and plots his escape, reluctant to aid the cause. Marcy tries to hide from her past sexual escapades that may be her saving grace. X sits in his compound, a quiet, massive presence, trapped in his body by ancient whispers and yet free in spirit to visit other places and times. Roland, the angry, bitter son of Marcy is determined to leave, and sets out on his own. Watching over it all is Assigned, the ghost in the machine. And coming for them, to exact revenge, and finish the job that the virus started, is Gordon. He just landed on the island and he has help.
Transubstantiate is a neo-noir thriller, filled with uncertainty at every portal, and jungles infiltrated with The Darkness. Vivid settings, lyrical language, and a slow reveal of plot, motivation, past crimes and future hope collide in a showdown that keeps you guessing until the final haunting words.
Transubstantiate: to change from one substance into another.
What's beautiful "AND" dangerous?? These 4 multiplayer maps for UNCHARTED 3: Drake's Deception™! Presented in the Flashback Map Pack #1 are four of your favorite maps from UNCHARTED™ 1 & 2, but these aren't quite the maps you remember. Naughty Dog spent months adding new lighting, particle, and atmospheric effects. In "Fort" it is now raining, and in "Lost City" you'll now find snow and ice. In "Cave" it's now Spring time and vegetation has completely grown-over the environment. And in "Sanctuary" it's now night time and the Aurora Borealis permeates the night sky. Be careful as you take in all of this beauty however, as danger lurks in every corner.
"Heroes & Heralds mode (free DLC for UMvC3) gives you access
to Ability Cards, which grant your team all kinds of new powers.
These are just some of the possibilities..."
The Indie Gala indie bundle promotion is back with it's next bundle. This time, they offer a series of bundles, from a basic "Carebear" bundle of just 3 games, to a big Epic bundle of 11 games (though most are from the last bundle).
The bundles this time consist of the following:
The CareBear Bundle
Fortrix 2
Bunch of Heroes
Critial Mass
The Big Saver Bundle
Critial Mass
Fortrix 2
Bunch of Heroes
Roboblitz
GreedCorp
The Epic Gala Bundle
Critial Mass
Fortrix 2
Bunch of Heroes
Roboblitz
GreedCorp
Inmomentum (from first bundle)
Your Doodles Are bugged (from first bundle)
Hacker Evolution: Untold (from first bundle)
Hacker Evolution: Duality (from first bundle)
Zombie Shooter 1 (from first bundle)
Zombie Shooter 2 (from first bundle)
Once again it's pay what you want, but there is a minimum to pay to determine the bundle you get which changes based on the average payment.
Also, rather than be time limited, there are only about 47k bundles and the event doesn't end until they are all gone.
As usual with these bundles, the proceeds go to both developers and to charity, so head out and grab yours before they are all gone!
On February 8th, 2012, The Playstation network will cease to exist. They will be embracing a new name dubbed "Sony Entertainment Network".
The SEN is the first of many steps with the overall hopes of reconnecting with users and setting themselves up for better access between music, games, movies etc.
The news broke as PSN emails started to trickle out to PSN users. Here is a sample of what was essentially said.
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On February 8, 2012, your “PlayStation®Network account” will be renamed a “Sony Entertainment Network account” or a “SEN account” in conjunction with Sony Computer Entertainment’s PlayStation®3 system software and PlayStation®Vita system software updates. (Note, this change will not be applied to the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system at this time.)
For general purposes, this account change is a change in name only. Your username or password will not change, nor are we asking you to change them. In accordance with this transition, some necessary naming changes will be made to the TOS and Privacy Policy.
This transition is based on Sony’s goal to enhance its unique digital entertainment offering. As a series of these activities Sony started last September, PlayStation®Network will be aligned with “Sony Entertainment Network.” This helps us get closer to our goal of establishing a global comprehensive network platform of services across games, movies, music and more, all accessible from one convenient account.
Thank you for your continued loyalty and support during this transition.
Atari has announced that Test Drive: Ferrari Legends will be releasing this spring. Here is the press release:
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Atari, one of the most recognized names in interactive entertainment, has announced the upcoming release of Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends. The latest chapter of the Test Drive saga focuses exclusively on the storied Ferrari brand, bringing over 70 years of the world’s most recognizable performance cars to the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC. Development of the title will be handled by world-class developer Slightly Mad Studios, bringing their extensive experience in the driving category. Production/Publishing partners Rombax Games and Bigben Interactive are proud to work with Avalanche, who has a partnership with Ferrari, thus ensuring that Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends delivers the ultimate track based racing experience.
Since its inception, the Ferrari brand has been synonymous with speed, performance and prestige. Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends brings this legacy to life; delivering detailed racing physics that underpin a huge variety of entertaining drives spread throughout the brand’s storied history.
Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends explores the legacy of Ferrari Racing, recreating Ferrari’s most beloved and coveted performance racers, from today’s latest models to the legendary vehicles that have dominated racing history.
Key Features of Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends include:
Multiple Race Types - A variety of race types challenges including rally, GT, and Formula 1.
Extensive Online Competition - Single and Multiplayer integration with a selection of racing styles. Up to 8 players can join a single race.
36 circuits, including variations - GP circuits, test circuits, and bonus circuits; a wide variety of driving environments to reflect the best driving the world has to offer. Tracks from the past and present.
Over 50 stunningly detailed cars - The greatest modern and classic Ferrari models are lovingly rendered inside and out – including working switchgear and visible engines. Car dynamics include realistic deflating tires and blow-outs.
Campaign Mode - Players experience the rich history of the Ferrari brand as they unlock tracks and cars throughout Ferrari’s history. Circuits unlocked during the campaign can be raced subsequently using any available cars.
Detailed Racing Physics - Vehicle handling uses a convincing physics model, tuned for exciting pick-up-and-play racing. High speed racing with visual damage effects are the major game play keys.
“Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends is a landmark chapter of the iconic Test Drive saga,” said Jim Wilson, CEO of Atari, “Ferrari has been an essential partner throughout the history of the Test Drive franchise, and the opportunity to celebrate the unrivaled Ferrari Racing Team and the legendary Ferrari brand promises a one of a kind experience for all driving enthusiasts."
Activision has announced the release of new Skylanders Spyro's Adventure characters, Cynder and Double Trouble, along with a new adventure pack, Empire of Ice.
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Cynder is a dragon of the undead element. Dark powers flow through her due to her difficult past, but she's trying to make amends with the other Skylanders. Her Spectral Lightning and Shadow Dash attacks can later be upgraded to the more sinister Cynder Flight, Black Lightning and Shadow Reach attacks.
Double Trouble, once an adept spellcaster, is from the magic element. His spells can be clumsy and misdirected, but he has plenty of ways to beat the baddies, including his Eldritch Beam and his exploding clones.
Last, Slam Bam comes with the Empire of Ice Adventure Pack and is of the water element. This yeti-abominable-snowman-looking guy has powerful Yeti Fists and Ice Prison attacks when bothered by bad guys.
I'm man enough to admit they've got me. I'm going to buy every one of these damn toys so I can play with them on my Wii. "Hail to the Portal of Power, Baby!"
Who said that epic and expansive fantasy RPGs had to have subpar gameplay? For as much as I absolutely adore games like Fallout 3, Mass Effect 2 and Skyrim, gameplay in those titles simply didn't live up to the amazing standards set by their superb settings, narratives and quest structures. In Fallout 3, VATS was simply an excuse for its inherently clumsy combat, and for as much awe as Skyrim instilled in me, in-game fighting is sloppy. Good news, then, that Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning has come along.
Reckoning proves once and for all that great role-playing experiences don't have to sacrifice what matters most in any game -- gameplay -- while still remaining true to all of the minutiae that makes the best RPGs great. And while Reckoning certainly has its own flaws, I still found myself utterly satisfied with my experience and anxious to parlay the good news to fellow fans of the western RPG. Reckoning certainly isn't a game you should sleep on. Quite the contrary: Amalur demands your attention.
ars technica has an article online talking about how the failure of THQ's uDraw controller has damaged the company and we have seen the almost complete cancellation of their game lineup as a result.
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How big was the debacle? While THQ said it had shipped "one million or so" uDraw tablets to stores in 2011, it admitted many of those had to be sold at a reduced price (most retailers are now selling the device for $50, rather than its $70 to $80 launch price).
What's more, THQ says it has over 1.4 million uDraw tablets sitting unwanted and unloved in its warehouses, damaging its bottom line for the quarter to the tune of $100 million and contributing to a dismal $55.9 million loss for the company as a whole.
THQ seems to be taking the weak performance of the uDraw as support for the idea that there's no money to be had in the family-friendly gaming market anymore. The company announced last week that it would no longer make any games based on kid-focused properties like Scooby Doo, Cars, My Little Pony, and Bratz, a move that likely helped it cut 240 employees from its workforce.
The official PlayStation.Blog has posted a short interview with Gearbox head honcho Randy Pitchford talking about the often-delayed shooter, Aliens: Colonial Marines.
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PSB: Are you excited to see Prometheus? Will any of the Space Jockey lore hinted at in the film make it into Aliens: Colonial Marines?
RP: I’m very excited about Prometheus. 20th Century Fox invited us to read the script and check out production and ACM’s director, Brian Martel, had a discussion with Ridley Scott about the matter years and years ago, so it’s been a really interesting seat for us on this one. A bunch of our guys went out to read the script a while back. I chose to decline because I didn’t want the spoilers — I can’t wait to see the final film! Ridley is such a master storyteller and filmmaker and I’m thrilled that he’s spending some more time in science fiction. Oh, and I haven’t dodged your real question. Yes, ACM will bring you inside The Derelict on LV-426. I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll leave it at that!
The Team Fortress 2 blog has been updated with news that something "top secret" is being created for the game.
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A Secret TF2 Project!
The TF2 team is working on something brand new for 2012. We can't tell you what it is, because they won't tell us, but what they WILL say is that it isn't a hat, it isn't a map, and go away. From this we can only conclude that the TF2 team is working on some ungodly hat-map hybrid that you can wear on your head while you run around in it. You heard it here first. Also last, because they just told us it's not that either. But it's really cool.
Cyanide Studios has opened a new website for their tactical RPG Confrontation, which includes several new screenshots. Click the headline to view them all.
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Confrontation is a tactical RPG for PC developed by Cyanide. Based on the universe of the board game of the same name by Rakham, Confrontation focuses on intense and tactical battles, mixing strategy and other elements of RPGs. Every single decision, choice and action you take will be crucial in battle and will determine if you emerge victorious… or dead!
The game unfolds in the original fantasy universe of Confrontation Aarklash. Take the lead of an elite squad of Griffin soldiers, infiltrating enemy territory in order to put an end to the Scorpion threat. The fearsome creatures of the Alchemists of Dirz (the Scorpion), the ferocious Wolfen packs (the Wolf), and the brutal Orcs of Bran-O-Kor (the Jackal) are among the dangerous opponents the courageous soldiers of the Griffin will have to confront during their quest, deep inside the continent of Aarklash.
The solo campaign of Confrontation is rich in dangerous and exciting missions, where you will lead a reckless elite squad of the Griffin. Starting with a few warriors, your squad will soon be completed by many new companions, each having their own characteristics, skills and powers.
Choose with care, for each mission, the soldiers who will fight by your side. Careful management of your units, their powers and equipment, will get you through near-death situations and lead you to epic victory!
Our friends over at Ars Technica is reporting that a Oklahoma Lawyer has introduced HB2696. A bill that would add a 1% tax on all violent videogames.
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Democrat Will Fourkiller has introduced HB2696 proposing to add a one percent excise tax on all "violent video games." The text defines that term as "a video or computer game that has received a rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board of Teen, Mature or Adult[s] Only."
The article goes on to read that even card games that are rated T would be taxed. I have a feeling most of this bill will get thrown out the window, but this is a just another attack on our favorite medium and hobby.
I am playing search New Egg for computer parts as my computer is on life support. After six years of heavy duty work it is starting to give up the fight. But, when I am not doing that, I am looking up parts, I will be eeking out whatever games I can play on the kid's computer. Which leads me to wondering: What are you playing this weekend?
Gametrailers reports that Metro: Last Light has been delayed until 2013, and that THQ has revealed the release schedule for some of their upcoming games.
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The sequel to 4A Games' bleak first-person shooter Metro 2033 won't make 2012, THQ confirmed today. It's now on the books for an early 2013 release alongside the forthcoming action game Devil's Third from Tomonobu Itagaki and Valhalla Studios.
In addition to those two titles, THQ laid out its release schedule for the next year and beyond, a list heavily populated with unknown and unnamed games.
THQ says it has "two unannounced core titles for release in fiscal 2013," meaning they'll be released by March 31, 2013.
After that, THQ's line-up gets even more mysterious. Coming sometime in the publisher's fiscal 2014, which runs April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2014 are:
An unnamed original title from Turtle Rock Studio, the folks who helped make Left 4 Dead and Counter-Strike: Condition Zero.
Dark Millennium Online, the Warhammer 40,000 MMO from Vigil and Relic — a game previously rumored to have been canceled.
inSANE, the horror game Volition is making with director Giullermo del Toro.
Homefront 2, the shooter being made by Crytek UK, the Timesplitters dev formerly known as Free Radical Design.
The unnamed original title from THQ Montreal and ex-Assassin's Creed producer Patrice Desilet.
And on top of all that(!), THQ has "four unannounced core titles for release in fiscal 2014 and beyond." They're busy.
Videogamer.com has reported that during a call during investors, they will be announcing DLC for Battlefield 3 during their event out there.
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Responding to a question about DLC for titles including FIFA 12 and Battlefield 3, EA VP of Investor Relations Peter C. Ausnit said: "You're going to hear some announcements from us on Battlefield actually as early as next week in an event we've got in New York."
Awesome news, this game needs more maps. I hope its an huge expansion.
Plus, play the Retribution multiplayer for FREE starting now through Sunday at 1PM Pacific Time.
If you already have Steam installed you can click here to install or play. If you don't have Steam, you can download it here.
Activision has announced that Call of Duty Elite premium members on the PlayStation 3 will get the Liberation and Piazza maps for Modern Warfare 3 on February 28th.
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We're excited to announce that the Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 3's Content Season for Call of Duty® Elite kicks off for Premium Members on the PlayStation®Network February 28 with release of the first two content drops of the nine month season, Liberation and Piazza.
Call of Duty Elite Drop 1: Liberation, a militarized Central Park in the heart of NYC, featuring a vast landscape ripe for long-range sniper and LMG kills. Mounted turrets on opposing ends of the map offer overwhelming firepower to anyone brave enough to man them.
Elite Drop 2: Piazza, set in an idyllic seaside village, Italian getaway gone rogue, where blind corners and a complex network of branching pathways pose danger at every turn. Visceral close-quarters combat dominates in Piazza, and attacks from above and below are an ever-constant threat.
The open beta for Hanbitsoft's dungeon crawler Mythos Global begins today.
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The open beta test for Mythos Global, Hanbitsoft and T3Fun’s upcoming fantasy dungeon crawler, opens its doors to the public today. With this international OBT, Mythos Global will be available to thousands of new players. The nebula where planet Uld resides will offer players countless quests and adventures fit for any dungeon master.
Mythos’ fantasy universe is home to four different playable character races: the Cyclopes with their ox-like strength, the ever-diplomatic humans, the wily, energetic Gremlins and the mystical, sage-like Satyrs. There will also be three classes unique to Mythos: let the blood be your guide as a Bloodletter, may the flames contain your rage as a Pyromancer or arm traps, bombs and mysterious machinery as a Gadgeteer!
Leading up to the launch of the OBT, T3Fun has launched several trailers to help players get to know each of the races and character class options.
The Myth0s Global open beta is available now on the official website and is also downloadable via torrent.
Shacknews is reporting that Gotham City Imposters will be released February 7th on PC and Playstation 3, and February 8th on Xbox 360.
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After being Bat-delayed mere days before its launch in January, F.E.A.R. creator Monolith's multi-Bat-player first-Bat-person Bat-shooter Gotham City Impostors is now lined up for a downloadable release next week.
Gotham City Impostors will BIFF!!! and FLRBBB! onto PC and PlayStation 3 on February 7, then ZLONK! and Bang-eth! into Xbox 360 on February 8. It'll cost you 15 Bat-dollars (1,200 Bat-Microsoft points).
Today's video and screenshots turn their focus to the troubled waterside town of Riverspring and Sarwyck Keep, the home of its ruling family. A vacant lordship and civil unrest greet Alester Sarwyck, one of the game's two main characters, as he returns home after a fifteen-year self-imposed exile. He arrives as the town mourns the passing of his father, the elder Lord Sarwyck, forcing Alester to consider reclaiming rule of Riverspring and restoring order to his lordship.
The township of Riverspring will be one of the many places the 2 heroes of the game -- Mors, sworn brother of the Night's Watch, and Alester, the Red Priest -- will have to explore but also to fight through. From King's Landing and Red Keep to the Wall, an Epic quest awaits our heroes, guided by revenge, loyalty, honor, and family, along a twisting plot filled with betrayal and violence.
The New York Times has a short quote from Watchmen creator Alan Moore on DC's announcement of new Watchmen comic books,
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“I tend to take this latest development as a kind of eager confirmation that they are still apparently dependent on ideas that I had 25 years ago," Moore told the New York Times.
Examier.com has the jump on the new patch notes to Skyrim.
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Bethesda feels confident enough in the 1.4 patch for the PC version of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim that it brought the patch out of beta testing for a full Steam release on Wednesday. The company also revealed that the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game shouldn't be far behind.
Computerandvideogames.com is reporting that, the XBox 360 demo of Resident Evil 6 will come out a full 2 months before the Playstation version of the demo hits the PSN. Does this mean that Capcom has more faith in the 360 than the PS3?
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According to the official spiel "Purchasers of the Xbox 360 version of Dragon's Dogma will be able to redeem this token and download the Resident Evil 6 demo globally on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace for Xbox 360 60 days earlier than any other platform starting on July 3."
That's pretty crazy considering that they started their fan base for this game on the PS1. Does the 360 have that much of the market share or is this just saying they pushed more units of RE5 on the 360?
IndustryGamers.com is reporting that EA announced that their online distribution service Origin has a total of 9.3 million registered users. 1/4 of what Steam has.
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EA today updated its numbers on the growing Origin digital distribution service. While Valve's Steam probably has nothing to worry about just yet, EA's Origin is doing well for itself with 9.3 million registered consumers since launch, which has led to over $100 million in non-GAAP revenues for the publisher.
For something that pretty much just launched, that is a pretty good start in my opinion. Maybe, the launch of Mass Effect 3 and Kingdoms of Alamur will help boost more users.
Gamasutra has posted a news article covering the problems at publisher THQ.
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Ailing publisher THQ on Wednesday confirmed deep cuts to its headcount, related to recent restructuring measures.
The publisher initiated a plan last week to lay off 240 sales, general and administrative personnel worldwide, according to a regulatory filing.
Company president and CEO Brian Farrell will be taking a 50 percent cut to his base salary, from $718,500 to $359,250, for a one-year period beginning February 13, 2012.
This summer, DC Entertainment will publish all-new stories expanding on the acclaimed WATCHMEN universe. As highly anticipated as they are controversial, the seven inter-connected prequel mini-series will build on the foundation of the original WATCHMEN, the bestselling graphic novel of all time. BEFORE WATCHMEN will be the collective banner for all seven titles, from DC Comics.
“It’s our responsibility as publishers to find new ways to keep all of our characters relevant,” said DC Entertainment Co-Publishers Dan DiDio and Jim Lee. “After twenty five years, the Watchmen are classic characters whose time has come for new stories to be told. We sought out the best writers and artists in the industry to build on the complex mythology of the original.”
Stepping up to the challenge is a group of the comic book industry’s most iconoclastic writers and artists – including Brian Azzarello (100 BULLETS), Lee Bermejo (JOKER), Amanda Conner (POWER GIRL), Darwyn Cooke (JUSTICE LEAGUE: NEW FRONTIER), John Higgins (WATCHMEN), Adam Hughes (CATWOMAN), J.G. Jones (FINAL CRISIS), Andy Kubert (FLASHPOINT), Joe Kubert (SGT. ROCK), Jae Lee (BATMAN: JEKYLL AND HYDE), J. Michael Straczynski (SUPERMAN: EARTH ONE) and Len Wein (SWAMP THING).
BEFORE WATCHMEN includes:
RORSCHACH (4 issues) – Writer: Brian Azzarello. Artist: Lee Bermejo
Each week, a new issue will be released, and will feature a two-page back-up story called CURSE OF THE CRIMSON CORSAIR, written by original series editor Len Wein and with art by original series colorist John Higgins. There will also be a single issue, BEFORE WATCHMEN: EPILOGUE, featuring the work of various writers and artists, and a CRIMSON CORSAIR story by Wein and Higgins.
“The original series of WATCHMEN is the complete story that Alan Moore and I wanted to tell. However, I appreciate DC's reasons for this initiative and the wish of the artists and writers involved to pay tribute to our work. May these new additions have the success they desire,” said Dave Gibbons, WATCHMEN co-creator and original series artist.
“Comic books are perhaps the largest and longest running form of collaborative fiction,” said DiDio and Lee. “Collaborative storytelling is what keeps these fictional universes current and relevant.”
A diary by Production Director, Ashley Cheng as well as a video highlighting
some of the new features that will be made available to the modding
community through the Skyrim Workshop on Steam. The Skyrim Workshop will
allow users to easily upload, download, and install their mods, making sharing
custom content easier than ever before.
