Blog Archives

DESTINY EXPANSION 1: THE DARK BELOW WITH DRCRISPY93

29/11/2014

Why this has Piqued our interest

Destiny has been the bane of sleep for Jon and Phil since its release (as well as countless others). There has however been an issue and that is the content beginning to feel been there done that.

But fear not Bungie is coming to the rescue with its first expansion and the trailer below shows just what we are going to get. So open your eyeholes and enjoy.

Destiny Expansion I: The Dark Below is available December 9. Learn more at www.destinythegame.com.

World of Speed flexes its muscles

25/11/2014

Why this has piqued our interest

World of Speed is finally getting closer and the car reveal are coming thick and fast. Today we get some American Muscle to excite the eyes and deafen your eardrums.

It was obvious we would see the Mustang and Camaro but they are both looking very tasty in the trailer below.

My.com and Slightly Mad Studios have released a new World of Speed dream drive trailer for two truly iconic muscle cars - the Ford Mustang GT and Chevrolet Camaro SS.

In this World of Speed Dream Drive trailer you'll see the modern day Camaro & Mustang go head-to-head on the streets of San Francisco. The city's locations is full of tight ninety degree turns, lots of hills and long straight aways. Perfect for pushing these muscle cars to their limit and proving which one reigns supreme.

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Now Available for PS3 and Xbox 360

21/11/2014

Why this has piqued our interest

Shadow of Mordor will be in many people's Game of the Year list come years end we have no doubt. Our review of the game (Which you can read here) will give you more reasons why I feel comfortable making this statement.
Now though players on the last gen systems will get the opportunity to dive into the game and its revolutionary nemesis system.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (WBIE) today released video game Middle-earth™: Shadow of Mordor™ for Xbox 360™ and PlayStation 3™. The critically-acclaimed game, recently released for PlayStation 4™, Xbox One™, PC and Steam™, is being hailed for its innovative Nemesis System, which allows each player to orchestrate their unique plan of attack on Sauron’s forces and create their own personal nemesis.

Middle-earth™: Shadow of Mordor™ delivers a dynamic game environment where the player orchestrates their personal plan of vengeance as they bend Mordor to their will. The game begins on the night of Sauron’s return to Mordor, as his Black Captains brutally execute the Rangers of the Black Gate. Players become Talion, a ranger who loses his family and everything he holds dear, only to be returned from death by a mysterious Spirit of vengeance. Based on the player’s actions with the in-game Nemesis System, every enemy encountered is distinct and can evolve to become a personal archenemy through the course of the game. As Talion’s personal vendetta unfolds, players uncover the mystery of the Spirit that compels him, discover the origin of the Rings of Power and confront the ultimate nemesis.

Call of Duty: Heroes Available Today on Apple and Windows devices with Android coming soon.

21/11/2014

Gamers Can Play as Favourite Heroes from Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Titles and Call of Duty: Black Ops II in All-New, Free to Play Call of Duty Mobile Game

Capt. Price. Soap MacTavish. Mike Harper. For the first time, players can enlist some of the most legendary characters from the hallowed halls of Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® and Call of Duty®: Black Ops II universes in an all-new mobile experience, Call of Duty®: Heroes. Available now for download on the App Store and Windows Store, Call of Duty: Heroes is a free to play, 3D combat strategy game that gives players an exciting new way to experience Call of Duty on smartphones and tablets. Gamers have the ability to customise their base and train elite forces, including these iconic heroes and more from the famed Call of Duty® lore, to take on enemies in fierce mobile battles with friends and other players.

In Call of Duty: Heroes players take command of a small outpost to build and upgrade it into an impenetrable base, utilising a number of weapons and equipment options, including sentry guns, SAM turrets, mines and more than 30 upgradeable structures. Gamers can direct and level up five legendary Call of Duty heroes such as Capt. John Price and Sgt. John "Soap" MacTavish from the Modern Warfare series and Call of Duty: Black Ops II's JSOC operative Mike Harper and more. Take them into battle while also unleashing epic killstreaks, including the UAV, care packages, drone strikes and chopper gunner as well as tactical expertise unique to each. Gamers even have access to a broad range of hailed Call of Duty infantry and drones, including Juggernauts, Dragonfires and CLAWs. Players can also team up with friends to form alliances, donate troops and take down opponents while earning in-game rewards.

"Call of Duty: Heroes brings back these iconic characters from across the Call of Duty franchise to play once again in an all-new experience created for mobile players," said Jeremiah Maza, executive producer, Activision Publishing, Inc. "And it's all focused on the fun. There's nothing like calling in heavyweights like Capt. Price or Mike Harper and rolling into a new mission right from your phone or tablet."

Published by Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard (Nasdaq: ATVI) and developed by China-based Faceroll, Call of Duty: Heroes is available for free on the App Store for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch* or at www.AppStore.com/CODHeroes. Call of Duty: Heroes is also available on the Windows 8 Tablet and will be coming soon to Google Play and the Amazon Appstore.

Visit www.callofduty.com/heroes, www.facebook.com/CallofDuty, or follow on Twitter @CallofDuty for more information. For free registration of a Call of Duty account, go to www.callofduty.com/.

The Turtle Beach Elite 800 are aiming for players of all levels to improve their game.

18/11/2014

Turtle Beach Elite 800 Fully Wireless Gaming Headset for the PlayStation®4 is Now in Stores

Why this has piqued our Interest

The Headset choices for this generation of consoles has been a bit on the slim side now though Turtle Beach have come out swinging with their newest headset. On the face of it the headset looks very strong but it is the promotional offer they have attached that really peaks some interest.

Bob Picunko, Chief Marketing Officer at Turtle Beach Corporation explains;“The Turtle Beach Elite Membership Program is a unique offering for tournament professionals and competitive gamers, We look forward to providing members with one-of-a-kind opportunities and special benefits.”
(More details about the program below)

This kind of promotion could draw players with aspirations of joining the pro circuit and could create a new wave of gaming merchandising. The big question is how long until we see Pro gaming shirts in Sports shops?

Turtle Beach, the leading audio brand in the video games industry, today announced that the Elite 800 wireless surround sound headset for the PlayStation®4 is now available in stores and online. The Elite 800 is the first and only console gaming headset with active noise cancellation, and joins the recently launched Turtle Beach Stealth 500P as the only DTS Headphone:X 7.1 channel surround sound headsets for the PlayStation® platform. Customers who purchase the Elite 800 are eligible to enroll in the Turtle Beach Elite Membership Program, which includes a range of benefits and member-only events. Turtle Beach is the gaming audio brand of Turtle Beach Corporation (NASDAQ: HEAR).

“The Elite 800 is a completely new design that was engineered from the ground-up to be by far the most advanced wireless gaming headset on the market,” said Juergen Stark, Chief Executive Officer at Turtle Beach Corporation. “We are pleased to bring gaming enthusiasts a new standard in wireless gaming audio along with the benefits of our Elite membership program.”

Compatible with the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3, the Elite 800 utilises DTS Headphone:X 7.1 surround sound and active noise cancellation to create an incredible, immersive audio experience. Both are firsts for console gaming headsets.

A completely reimagined preset system allows DTS surround sound modes to be finely tuned for different types of games, movies and music using presets developed by Turtle Beach. Presets can be customised and managed using a new companion app. Dual invisible microphones provide high-quality chat audio and a clean, boom-free look.

Rocker plate controls make using features easy and keep the Elite 800 looking sharp. Customise the look of the Elite 800 with a wide range of snap-on speaker plates available at TurtleBeach.com. A low profile magnetic charging stand keeps the Elite 800 charged without cables and the rechargeable battery provides up to 10 hours of playing time. High-performance Wi-Fi ensures an interference-free wireless experience, and Bluetooth connects the Elite 800 to mobile devices for phone calls, music and more.

The purchase of any Elite gaming headset includes the opportunity to enroll in the Turtle Beach Elite Membership Program. Membership benefits include discounts, a two-year extended product warranty, a light-weight member hoodie, a membership card, early access to Turtle Beach news and product information, a trial Twitch Turbo membership, and a range of unique, member-only opportunities at gaming events. The Turtle Beach Elite Program is only available to participants who reside in markets where Turtle Beach Elite products are sold. Additionally, specific program benefits vary by market and will also be subject to local restrictions.

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

GTA Online Census: The Story So Far

15/11/2014

As we gear up to usher an entire new population into Los Santos and Blaine County with the release of Grand Theft Auto V on the PS4 and Xbox One next week – we just wanted to say thank you to the awesome and dedicated players that have made GTA Online such a nonstop thrill over the past year on PS3 and Xbox 360 so far. We may have provided the world and the tools, but it’s really you players who have made the Online world as amazing as it has become. We’ve dug up a few bits of Online census info as you can see below that help illustrate that point.

We know you’re all excited for more Updates to come and we’ve got some really exciting stuff in the works to continue adding to, expanding and evolving the world of Grand Theft Auto Online – including the highly anticipated launch of Online Heists which will be available for all four consoles as the first GTA Online Update to happen after the game launches on PS4 and Xbox One. We’ll have some details on that very soon as well.

This War of Mine is set to take you on a different journey into war.

14/11/2014

Why this has piqued our interest

The medium of gaming is extremely diverse and the opportunity to find something rather unique is always just around the corner. In War of Mine 11 BIt Studios have looked to create that something different.

The trailer below and release below go some way to highlight this.

It took 11 bit studios two years to develop This War of Mine. During that time, they didn't work only on graphics, coding and writing. They also tried to grasp the real face of war. They have done a lot of research to find memoirs and stories of the people who saw war with their own eyes. They wanted to learn and find out what hell on earth looks like. Today, the creators of This War of Mine, they would like to thank to all the people for their support and for sharing their stories with them. One of these people is Emir Cerimovic who you'll meet in today's video

Alright, kiddos...It's time for Tales from the Borderlands

13/11/2014

Why this has piqued our interest

Just to reiterate this is a Borderlands game made by Telltale.

But if you need more the trailer below plus the cast announcement has us stoked that the game has managed to capture the comic values of the Borderlands games. As well as the unique the visual tone the franchise is famous for plus the Trailer is pretty sweet.

The season will feature Troy Baker as Rhys, Laura Bailey as Fiona, Chris Hardwick as Vaughn, Erin Yvette as Sasha,Patrick Warburton as Vasquez, and Dameon Clarke as Handsome Jack. Additional casting details from the season are yet to be announced.

Set on the unforgiving world of Pandora after the events seen in Borderlands 2,Tales from the Borderlands is a five part episodic game series full of Borderlands' trademark humor, following two adventurers on their quest for greatness.

You'll play as Rhys, a Hyperion 'suit' with dreams of being the next Handsome Jack, and Fiona, a Pandoran con artist looking to score her biggest ever swindle. Thrown together as unwilling partners in an adventure to recover cash they both think is theirs, their journey will take you on a wild ride where gangsters, bandit lords, and Vault Hunters are just some of the obstacles you'll encounter, in this new take on the award-winning universe created by Gearbox Software.

The season premiere episode of Tales from the Borderlands, titled 'Zer0 Sum,'will soon be available for digital download worldwide across multiple platforms. Stay tuned to Telltale Games on Twitter and Facebook for the latest details on release dates.

Each episode will be available via PlayStation Network for PlayStation 4 andPlayStation 3 for US$4.99 or equivalent. Alternatively, consumers can purchase a Season Pass for US$19.99 or equivalent, which entitles players to all five episodes in the season as they become available.

The season will also be available on Xbox Games Store for Xbox One and Xbox 360 for just US$4.99 or equivalent per episode. Players will also be able to purchase a Season Pass upgrade for US$14.99, which entitles players to Episodes 2-5 as they release.

The series will also be available for PC/Mac via the Telltale Online Store, Steam, and other online digital distribution outlets as a Season Pass for US$24.99 or equivalent that includes entitlement to all five episodes as they release.

The series will also be coming to compatible iOS devices via the App Store and toAndroid-based devices before the end of 2014.

Tales from the Borderlands: A Telltale Games Series - Episode 1: 'Zer0 Sum' is rated 'M' (Mature) for Violence, Blood and Gore, Suggestive Themes, and Strong Language by the ESRB. The series will be published digitally by Telltale Games in partnership with Gearbox Software and 2k Games.

Phil Spencer: “Halo: The Master Chief Collection is a thank you to our fans”

11/11/2014

Head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, last night welcomed the worldwide arrival of Halo: The Master Chief Collection at a launch event in London.

The Halo Nation came out in full force with more than one million people around the world tuning in to live streams previewing the game’s content, with hundreds and thousands lined up at more than 4,300 midnight madness retail events around the world to get their hands on the highly-anticipated game.

“Halo has always been synonymous with Xbox,” said Head of Xbox Phil Spencer, who attended the UK launch party at Shoreditch Studios. “‘Halo: The Master Chief Collection’ allows us to thank our fans and celebrate with an amazing package that will introduce a new generation to the epic Halo universe.”

In early reviews, press have echoed the fan excitement in seeing Master Chief finally welcomed to the next gen. The Xbox One exclusive title has already been hailed by Metro as “everything a Halo fan could wish for”, and currently holds an 89 Metacritic score.

To celebrate the Master Chief’s long-awaited return, fans, media and YouTubers attended the UK launch in East London where they witnessed the UK premiere of the first two episodes of Halo: Nightfall, before four teams battled it out on Halo 2 in a Halo: The Master Chief Collection Anniversary Tournament – all streamed live on Twitch. The competition was closely fought, before Ali-A and his team narrowly secured victory in a finale on the Halo 2: Anniversary map, Lockdown.

Halo: The Master Chief Collection is available worldwide today exclusively on Xbox One for £49.99. Halo: The Master Chief Collection also includes Halo: Nightfall, the live-action digital series from Ridley Scott, David Zucker and Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, as well as access to the Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta, launching Dec. 29.

TerraTech scoops Best New IP win at TIGA Awards and launches open beta on Humble Store

8/11/2014

London, UK. London-based indie developer Payload Studios is celebrating winning Best New IP (Small Studio) at The TIGA Awards for its physics-based, modular vehicle construction and combat game TerraTech, as well as readying the launch of its open beta via the Humble Store, which will be live from 6pm this evening.

To celebrate the launch of TerraTech's Humble Beta, the standard version will be available for the opening week for just £17.49/$27.99/E22.99 (a discount from the normal price of £19.99/$30.99/E24.99). A deluxe R&D Pack DLC edition, featuring exclusive content and forum access for discussing new features with the developers, will also be available for £26.49/$41.99/E33.99 (reduced from £28.99/$45.99/E36.99).

Vehicles in TerraTech are constructed by combining a huge variety of parts that are crafted or sourced from a number of in-game fictional corporations, each with their own distinct style and functionality. The R&D Pack features experimental vehicle blocks, which will only ever exist in the beta versions of the game and which will provide an exclusive test-bed for the development team and players to experiment with new parts and new ideas, allowing community feedback to directly impact the future of the game.

The TerraTech Humble Beta will be available from the Humble Store from Friday

You can read our interview with TerraTech at EGX here

SEARCH FOR MOTOR RACING STAR TO AIR ON ITV4

5/11/2014

Racing legends test Europe's best PlayStation gamers to find greatest talent on the real-life track

Pan-European gamer-to-racer competition brings the UK's best to GT Academy 2014

Champion awarded real shot at racing stardom with Nissan

GT Academy 2014 unfolds on ITV4 from 8pm on Wednesday November 12 in a must-watch five-episode TV series. A revolutionary concept from Nissan and PlayStation(R), GT Academy is a virtual-to-reality competition that tests the skills of elite Gran Turismo(R) video gamers on the real life-track in the bid to uncover Europe's highest car racing potential.

The UK were amongst 12 European countries to participate in the NISMO PlayStation(R) GT Academy 2014, which began in April this year, with hundreds of thousands of gamers competing online through GT(R)6. The GT Academy live events brought the competition to the public, where at the vibrant Goodwood Festival of Speed, avid gamers and curious bystanders alike could try their hand at becoming the next gamer-to-racer champion. Only the very best were then awarded a place in their respective National Final, the first real-life test of race star potential. Finally, six National Finalists from seven regional groups were given a place at GT Academy Race Camp, the final stage of the competition, held at the birthplace of Formula One in Silverstone, UK at the end of July, 2014.

As the decisive test of adaptability from behind the screen to behind the wheel, Race Camp comprises a week of intensive challenges both on and off the race track. Competitors strive daily to build their skills and display their potential to avoid elimination from the competition. In a final seven-man race-off, only the top driver from each group will have a shot at becoming GT Academy champion 2014.

ITV4 now brings you the adrenaline and the emotions of GT Academy Race Camp. Under the wisdom and support of Rob Barff, the UK's six competitors compete amongst Europe's 42 most track-worthy gamers for a once in a lifetime opportunity: a place in the Driver Development Programme, a seat in the Dubai 24 Hours in January 2015, and a chance at an exhilarating career in car racing.

Formula One and Le Mans 24 Hours legend Johnny Herbert continued this year as GT Academy Head judge, having long been an advocate of the programme ever since it began in 2008. The ultimate decision of naming GT Academy's overall winner falls once again to Johnny, while the eliminations of the UK's competitors is decided by Rob Barff himself. Meanwhile, an impressive grouping of expert trainers and racing drivers give each competitor the support they need for a fighting chance in this competition.

GT Academy 2014 marks the sixth ever season of this innovative virtual-to-reality competition, which has seen a legacy of success since the very beginning. Lucas Ordonez, the first ever GT Academy winner, continues this legacy today with unquestionable triumphs including pro-am title win in the Blancpain Endurance Series 2013 and race victory in the Japanese Super GT in October this year, to name a few. This success has been joined by Jann Mardenborough, race winner of Formula One feeder series GP3, while Wolfgang Reip, Mark Shulzhitskiy and Miguel Faisca are just a portion of former GT Academy winners who each strive to set new standards in the worldwide arena of car racing.

ITV4 will bring viewers to the front line of GT Academy to see what it really means to be a virtual-to-reality racing driver. An in-depth look at the science of racing along with the intensive journey from the sofa to the race track bring a TV experience like none other, where video gamers and fans alike can have an emotional close-up of the heartache and triumph of who will be leaving Race Camp, and who will be staying, before only one is named champion.

The progress of the new GT Academy European Champion can be followed on www.facebook.com/GTAcademy and www.twitter.com/GTAcademy.

Grand Theft Auto V: PS3 to PS4 Comparison Video

5/11/2014

Grand Theft Auto V is available for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on Nov 18, 2014 and for PC January 27, 2015.

Andy Serkis joins the cast of 'Volume'

31/10/2014

Mike Bithell of Thomas Was Alone fame has announced that Andy Serkis (Avengers: Age of Ultron, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy) will be playing Guy Gisborne in his upcoming videogame, Volume.
Mike made the reveal this evening, onstage at a special 'Gisborne Industries Launch' event in Nottingham. He has been in Nottingham for this year's Gamecity event and, due to the nature of the location and the Robin Hood themes in his game, Nottingham has always been his favourite location to make these announcements.

Serkis will be bringing life to the villainous CEO who runs England in this near future update of the Robin Hood legends. He joins Charlie McDonnell (charlieissocoollike) as Rob Locksley and BAFTA winner Danny Wallace as Alan, his AI companion.

Volume is a stealth game, in which you play as Rob Locksley, a kid who simulates crimes against the rich and powerful and broadcasts them to a corrupted future England. It is the follow up to break out hit Thomas Was Alone, and has been steadily amassing a good amount of positive coverage ahead of its 2015 release.

The game will initially launch on PS4 and Vita, with PC and Mac versions hitting the following month.

You can find out more about Mike and the game from this interview with him at EGX.