News::Arma 3 beta brings more vehicles, larger scale

Arma 3 is officially in beta, with four new showcase missions, two new multiplayer missions, and a bunch of new vehicles -- helicopters, transport trucks, minisubs -- in tow. Full beta details follow after the break. The extra realistic military shooter/simulator is available through Steam and its own store. Purchases give you access to the present beta as well as the eventual full release.

My favorite addition over the alpha is the nighttime solo mission that tasks you with wreaking havoc and then slipping away, mostly because when I fail miserably I don't have to worry about the enemies seeing the look of embarrassment on my face.

I'm quite terrible at Arma 3, but I definitely appreciate the nods towards realism and higher stakes it carries. There's natural pacing in the running around and doing military things between actual engagements, chronicles by some amusingly stilted voice acting, and cowering behind a rock for ages is a welcomed strategy. Plus on one mission your squad mate keeps addressing a "Nichols," but it totally sounds like he's saying "pickles." I laughed every time. This is why I wasn't allowed in the military.

Read more...



via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/arma-3-beta-brings-more-vehicles-larger-scale-257007.phtml

News::Exclusive Interview with High Moon Studios on Deadpool | BootHammer

"I want to express our thanks to Dave Cravens from High Moon Studios for taking the time to answer a few questions on their latest exciting release Deadpool. We are working on our review as we speak. Until then, here is some inside information on this explosive adventure (Deadpool approved of course)." BootHammer



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1290452/exclusive-interview-with-high-moon-studios-on-deadpool-boothammer

News::Company of Heroes 2 Review | IGN

IGN: "More sequel-sized expansion than true successor, Company of Heroes 2 repeats many of the original CoHs feats."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1290473/company-of-heroes-2-review-ign

News::Gamespot- Company of Heroes 2 Review

GS:Company of Heroes 2 is an entertaining strategy game that excels when it pulls out all the stops.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1290458/gamespot-company-of-heroes-2-review

News::Deadpool Review | Machinima

Machinima: "Playing for Deadpools banter is a good enough reason to give Deadpool (the game) a shot."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1290463/deadpool-review-machinima

News::Company of Heroes 2 Review | GameTrailers

GameTrailers: "Company of Heroes 2 isnt quite a perfectly oiled war machine, but its a highly effective one, particularly in light of the many rewarding gameplay features brought to bear in its different modes of play. This is a sequel thats more about refinement than innovation, and elements such as the weather effects and the robust Theater of War serve to make an already great franchise just a tad greater. A heavy reliance on the past keeps it from earning the legendary status of its predecessor, but appropriately, Company of Heroes 2 marks a dogged victory for Relic -- these guys have clearly been fighting the good fight."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1290460/company-of-heroes-2-review-gametrailers

News::Valve may have started an ARG for Half-Life 3

SS said, "When Valve first teased Portal 2 they did it with an update to the original Portal. The update came with very vague patch notes; it added radios that held messages to the game and it slightly altered the ending. Ultimately the game ended as Game Informer revealed Portal 2 would premier on their cover. Well, Valve has updated Half-Life 2 today."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1290461/valve-may-have-started-an-arg-for-half-life-3

News::Battlefield 4 Operation Metro and Caspian Border Most Likely to Be Remade in Second Assault DLC

MP1st - Fan favorite Battlefield 3 maps like Operation Metro and Caspian Border might be sneaking their way into Battlefield 4 via the games recently announced expansion, Second Assault.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1290343/battlefield-4-operation-metro-and-caspian-border-most-likely-to-be-remade-in-second-assault-dlc

News::First Skylanders hits Japan in July, gets Wii U port

We are so used to waiting insufferably long periods of time for Japanese games to be localized and brought out West that we often imagine Japan as this floating island of privilege and good fortune. How easily do we forget that the reverse is also true: Western games don't always arrive in Japan in a timely fashion.

Many of the more adult Western games, like Call of Duty or Red Dead Redemption, either receive a near-simultaneous worldwide release or sit tight for a few short months. But what about Skylanders, a kid-friendly series with a focus on collecting tons of adorable real-world figurines? How much more Japanese could you get? I assumed Activision would have tried to bring it over as soon as possible, but it's only now that the first game is making landfall. Crazy.

On July 12, nearly two years after its Western launch, Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure will drop in Japan. The Wii, PS3, and 3DS versions are arriving intact, but the 360 version seems to have been axed in favor of a completely new Wii U port, which will use the GamePad for off-TV play, menu navigation, and the lock puzzle minigames.

I don't know about you, but I find such regional discrepancies fascinating.

Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure finally hitting Japan, getting Wii U version [GoNintendo]

via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/first-skylanders-hits-japan-in-july-gets-wii-u-port-257001.phtml

News::Newest Rise of the Triad dev diary is all about the music

The folks over at Interceptor Entertainment have another awesome developer diary for their upcoming PC game Rise of the Triad , and this time, it focuses on the game's soundtrack. The original composer, Lee Jackson, is on board with the remake to oversee production and you can see a bit of behind the scenes on what goes into developing a videogame soundtrack here.

As a reminder, Rise of the Triad will be 60 frames per second, will have no DRM, will feature mod support, and will offer up free official DLC. It's pretty much '90s PC gaming reborn, and I really hope Rise delivers the same incredible reaction I had to the original.

Read more...



via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/newest-rise-of-the-triad-dev-diary-is-all-about-the-music-256987.phtml

News::From Molydeux To Molyneux: The Weirdest Game Jam Comes Home To Roost

News::Broforce: you're still a bro, and you're still blowing s**t up...and that's still awesome judging fr

News::Leo slices and dices into TMNT: Out of the Shadows

Michelangelo, Raphael, and Donatello have all done their thing; now it's time for Leonardo to step up and show 'em why he is the strongest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.

Leo has always been the blandest of the four. Everyone else has had a defining trait: Donny's the whiz kid, Raph's the abrasive hothead, and Mikey's the practical joker. Then there's Leo who's just... there. Yeah, he may be the leader and all, but he never gets a chance to cut loose.

That's why I'm loving his new Nickelodeon incarnation. He gets all his leadership advice from a sci-fi cartoon that looks Star Trek if done by Hanna-Barbera. He develops a forbidden crush on Shredder's daughter Karai. He's an honest-to-God character now.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows is still on track for a summer release on PC, PS3, and 360. I suddenly realize that I never did play it at E3 this year after promising myself that I would. Whoopsies!

(You know you are awesome, Zak!)

via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/leo-slices-and-dices-into-tmnt-out-of-the-shadows-257000.phtml

News::Diablo III Makes Keywarden Grouping Easier

Hardcore Gamer: Anyone logging into Diablo III nowadays will be pleasantly surprised to find that Blizzard has made doing Key runs with groups much easier thanks to the new Keywarden grouping option in quest selection. Theyve also added more buffs, and rewards for grouping, and having 5 Nephalem Valor stacks. Especially if youre playing on Monster Power 5 or above. While there isnt much in the way of altering difficulty for the uninitiated, the drop rates have been tweaked a little bit, and the game seems more inclined to reward you for investing time in it. Theres also been some console inspired tweaks to the map, UI, and it seems the engine has been overhauled again; as there is a marked increase in performance overall.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1290362/diablo-iii-makes-keywarden-grouping-easier

News::MLG No Longer Working With Blizzard

StarCraft 2 fans as well as followers of the professional gaming industry will disappointed to hear that Major League Gaming, MLG for short, has parted ways with Blizzard and will not be hosting future World Championship Series tournaments.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1290370/mlg-no-longer-working-with-blizzard

News::CastleStorm arriving on Steam this weekend

Zen Studios is bringing their latest super genre mashup to Steam. This summer, PC players around the world get to build and defend their own castles in CastleStorm, a 2D physics destruction meets tower defense brawler.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1290416/castlestorm-arriving-on-steam-this-weekend

News::Half-Life 2 Just Got All Messed Up, And People Are Freaking Out

Normally, when a game is updated and things break, it's cause for concern. When a Valve game updates and things get weird, though, people get excited.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1290412/half-life-2-just-got-all-messed-up-and-people-are-freaking-out

News::Volitions Jim Boone Asks Daily Reaction: What Was the Most Intriguing Game of E3?

After having my interview with Jim Boone, Senior Producer behind the upcoming Saints Row IV game, he decided to ask the Daily Reaction crew of Seb and Dan a question that really made us stop and think. - PSLS



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1290399/volitions-jim-boone-asks-daily-reaction-what-was-the-most-intriguing-game-of-e3

News::Weekly Sales Analysis, 15 June - The Last of Us

Overall hardware sales increased by 36 percent week-on-week. Week-on-week sales are up for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, 3DS, and Vita. Overall year-on-year sales are up slightly. The 3DS is up 84 percent year-on-year and the PlayStation 3 is up three percent. The DS has dropped by 74 percent year-on-year, the biggest by percent. Two games debuted in the top 30 this week. The Last of Us (PS3) debuted at the top of the charts with sales of 1.17 million units. The game launched in North America and Europe.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1290142/weekly-sales-analysis-15-june-the-last-of-us

News::Project Spark Preview: A New Kind of Canvas | GenGAME

GenGAME writes: "Project Spark gives gamers a digital canvas to paint and create whatever they can think of. It really simplifies the concepts of game engines to give players textures, models, and mechanics to be utilized as they see fit."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1290406/project-spark-preview-a-new-kind-of-canvas-gengame

News::Interview With Jamie Cheng - Don't Starve Creator

We got a chance to drag Klie Entertainment founder, Jamie Cheng, away from his busy post E3 schedule to talk more about the popular developers take on hooking up with Sony, where indie gaming is headed in the next gen and how gamers will discover these new and interesting indie experiences moving forward.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1289600/interview-with-jamie-cheng-dont-starve-creator

News::Titanfall is a "super gamble" according to Respawn | Gamereactor UK

GR-UK writes: "We spoke to Titanfall's lead artist, Joel Emslie, at this year's E3 and found out more about the story-driven multiplayer shooter from Respawn Entertainment. Little was known about the game before its reveal during Microsoft's conference at this year's event, and many were intrigued by the way story would be implemented. We asked what kind of world the game would be based in: "It's a grounded, genuine world," Emslie told us. "I think the goal visually, and idea wise, was to take a gameplay that people are really familiar with and comfortable, and start building a bridge into this new kind of gameplay that we're getting into, which is the interaction, the loop with the Titan and the pilot, the multiplayer campaign mode that we've got going, and just really build a bridge into that and get people, first thing boots on the ground, very comfortable, and then start letting them go nuts with it.""



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1290037/titanfall-is-a-super-gamble-according-to-respawn-gamereactor-uk

News::New info revealed about PS4 exclusive The Order: 1886

Coming via the PlayStation Blog, Ready at Dawn studios has confirmed a few details about its upcoming PS4 title, The Order: 1886. For starters, the game is in fact a third-person shooter as some have guessed from the E3 trailer. Still no confirmation on whether or not the multiple characters in the trailer was a hint at some sort of co-op, though.

Outside of this, The Order: 1886 is taking a very cinema-inspired visual design. According to studio co-founder Ru Weerasuriya, 1886 has "true lens distortion. We built physical lenses into our engine so we could get something where people will look it and not be totally disconnected. Games have a tendency sometimes to be too clean and crisp. We thrive in the dirt. We just love the fact that it feels dirty. It’s filmed in a very realistic way."

Third-person shooting with a very realistic, dirty look. I have to admit, my excitement of The Order: 1886 has now simmered down significantly. I'm not totally down on it, just going to pack up my things and move from the excited camp, to the "wait and see" side.

The Order: 1886: Ready at Dawn Divulges New Details [SCEE Blog]

via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/new-info-revealed-about-ps4-exclusive-the-order-1886-256991.phtml

News::The Last of Us vs. The Walking Dead: The Comparison We Had To Make

News::"Alien Anal Probe" Gets Saints Row IV "Banned" In Australia

News::GoD Factory: Wingmen Has Two Weeks To Go, And Needs Your Help To Succeed On Kickstarter

Nine Dots Studios GoD Factory: Wingmen has just under two weeks to go before their Kickstarter Campaign ends: but unfortunately theyre only at $20,659 of their $70,000 goal. With that in mind, they need your help even more than now, and have made a personal letter to their backers: (read on for more)



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1290413/god-factory-wingmen-has-two-weeks-to-go-and-needs-your-help-to-succeed-on-kickstarter

News::Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness Episode 4 Review | The Indie Mine

The creators of "Cthulhu Saves the World" finish up the series from Penny Arcade that started in 2008. How did it end up?



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1289932/penny-arcade-adventures-on-the-rain-slick-precipice-of-darkness-episode-4-review-the-indie-mine

News::Thunder Wolves Review | Indie Game Insider

ThunderWolves' self-set tone blows up in its face.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1290392/thunder-wolves-review-indie-game-insider

News::Magrunner: Dark Pulse Review - GamesReviews

From GamesReviews: "Taking cues from Portal, 3AM Games debut title is one of the many physics-based puzzlers that have been emerging as of late. Initially conceived on Kickstarter, Magrunner: Dark Pulse uses magnetism as its core game mechanic and has a heavy focus on narrative. Regrettably, this ambitious project is held back by some pesky flaws."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1290345/magrunner-dark-pulse-review-gamesreviews

News::Manufacturing Discussion: Ken Levine Reflects on BioShock Infinite

In the three months since it launched, BioShock Infinite has been called many things. Ken Levine, creative director, says he's pleased with the response.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1290374/manufacturing-discussion-ken-levine-reflects-on-bioshock-infinite

News::Review: Pro Cycling Manager 2013 | KaboomShark

Pro Cycling Manager 2013 (by French developer Cyanide Studio) is a game that flaunts its deviation from the norm. In a gaming world dominated by shooter after shooter, it rejects what has become the standard template in favor something different. To be fair, the Pro Cycling Manager series has been around in some incarnation since 2001. Even if it is not exactly new, the game is something of a breath of fresh air.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1290379/review-pro-cycling-manager-2013-kaboomshark

News::Zeboyd Games Announces Cosmic Star Heroines

Zeboyd Games has been teasing a new RPG for a while now and finally we get the big reveal. Zeboyds next game is Cosmic Star Heroines. With Penny Arcades: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 4 finally out to the world, they are ready to move up and on from XNA and begin work with the Unity engine.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1290332/zeboyd-games-announces-cosmic-star-heroines

News::Disney Infinity E3 Hands-On Preview | GameDynamo

GameDynamo - "Disney Infinity at first sight is quite exciting: a game which finally mixes all us Disney fan's favorite characters and worlds into one place. However, upon closer inspection, Disney Infinity takes a queue from Skylanders, where collectable figures will give you the ability to expand game content that's either really cool, or really horrible, depending on if you like the idea of it."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1290358/disney-infinity-e3-hands-on-preview-gamedynamo

News::Grid 2 'Super Modified Pack' DLC released

VVV: "Codemasters Racing has released the first post-launch DLC car pack for Grid 2: the 'Super Modified Pack'. Available to download today from the Xbox Live Marketplace for 480 Microsoft Points and the PlayStation Store for £3.99, the 'Super Modified Pack' features four highly-tuned performance cars that, in the words of Codemasters themselves, have "been modified to squeeze every last ounce of performance out of the car".



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1289908/grid-2-super-modified-pack-dlc-released

News::I Can't Stop Watching These Cars Tumbling Down A Cliff

News::The Xbox One Vs. PS4 Headset War Begins

News::Review: Company of Heroes 2

Company of Heroes 2 comes off strong with its new campaign, and it packs an impressive amount of extra features. Standing on its own, it is an impressive real-time strategy game, but there are people who want to know what makes this better than the beloved original Company of Heroes. The simple answer to that question is that it's more of what they love.

The sequel brings a new campaign, new multiplayer maps and units, new co-op modes, more explosions, more units on the field, and deathly winter combat, all presented with the gameplay that made the first such a hit. It stays true to its roots while bringing in enough new, compelling content to make it worthwhile.

Read more...



via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/review-company-of-heroes-2-256767.phtml

News::Retro City Rampage adds mod support and enhanced graphics

Retro City Rampage was released on almost every system possible last year but the PC version is getting a lot of love today. Not only is it reduced by 75% to just £2.99/$3.74 in Steam's Daily Deal, developer Brian Provinciano has also updated the PC version with a new enhanced graphics mode and mod support.

While the new graphics mode doesn't drastically change the look of the game, the addition of real-time shadows and doubling the colors on-screen are nice touches. The new modding tools look to be a fun addition letting players create new vehicles, characters, and fonts.

It'll be fun to see what retro-game-inspired concepts gamers come up with using these new tools. It seems like if you've been holding off on purchasing Retro City Rampage, then now's the time to take the plunge.

via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/retro-city-rampage-adds-mod-support-and-enhanced-graphics-256988.phtml

News::The Incredible Adventures of Van Helsing Pixel Judge review

Pixel Judge: "Action RPGs are not hard to come by, especially if you have been gaming for a long time. To name but a few recent examples: Diablo 3, Torchlight 2, and Path of the Exile. While most games in the genre stick to a familiar formula with some variations they boil down to the same satisfying mechanics. In all of these games, including Van Helsing, you click on bad guys and they explode in a shower of loot - rinse and repeat. This mechanic is still around for only one reason; it is extremely addictive and has therefore stood the test of time. There is no shortage of Action RPGs out there for you to choose from, so why should Van Helsing earn you hard earned money?"



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1289771/the-incredible-adventures-of-van-helsing-pixel-judge-review

News::TITANFALL: Gameplay Impression The Next Great Shooter - Game Insider

Experiencing the games E3 reception, the unanimous approval for the games innovative multiplayer gameplay was a solid confirmation of the developmental pedigree of Respawn Entertainment as the legit development geniuses behind todays most sought after FPS franchise and now they are full steam ahead to recapture there claim to the FPS thrown.



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1289812/titanfall-gameplay-impression-the-next-great-shooter-game-insider

News::Company of Heroes 2 Review: It's Very Cold in Russia | The Escapist

The Escapist: "Company of Heroes 2 is a shot of vodka. You know what to expect from its real-time tactical combat, and playing one mission or match quickly turns to two, three or four. But watch out for the hangover; the Eastern Front was hell."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1289783/company-of-heroes-2-review-its-very-cold-in-russia-the-escapist

News::Preview: Daylight Brings Horror Until Your Batteries Run Out | The Escapist

The Escapist: "Daylight aims to be replayable, procedurally generated horror."



via N4G: pc news feed http://n4g.com/news/1289781/preview-daylight-brings-horror-until-your-batteries-run-out-the-escapist

News::Yes, You're Going To Have To Go In There, Joel

News::The Daily Hotness: It's not unusual

Or is it?

On this beautiful Monday, Chris Carter reviews the second Guild02 game, BUGS vs. TANKS!; you get a double dose of Jim Sterling hamming it up on camera; Ellen Page doesn't like Ellen Page lookalikes; Sakurai is sad that not all your favorite Smash Bros. fighters will return; and Microsoft throws money into the cloud.

Community:

Community blogs of 6/24

Forum thread of the day: Earth Defense Force 2025

Contests:
Contest: Win the Worms Collection for Xbox 360 or PS3!

Contest: Win 5 Loot Crate swag-filled boxes

Reviews:
Review: BUGS vs. TANKS!

Events:

Sessler & Sterling at ScrewAttack Gaming Convention 2013

Read more...



via destructoid http://www.destructoid.com/the-daily-hotness-it-s-not-unusual-256940.phtml