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Xbox 360 deals: BioShock Infinite, Modern Warfare 3
Today is the final day of Microsoft's Xbox 360 Ultimate Games Sale, and it's going out with a bang, a burst of speed and an "Ode to Joy." First, the bang: BioShock Infinite is 67 percent off ($9.89 / £6.59 / €9.89) today on Xbox Live, joined by Modern Warfare 3 at 60 percent off ($19.99 / £19.99 / €27.99) and Painkiller Hell and Damnation at 80 percent off ($5.99 / £4.99 / €5.99). Two racing games are discounted through Xbox Live today: NASCAR 14 and Split Second. Eutechnyx's NASCAR 14 is 58 percent off ($20.99) and Split Second is 75 percent off ($4.99 / £2.99 / €3.74). The best way for the Xbox 360 Ultimate Games Sale to close is with an Ode to Joy provided by Peggle 2, the lone discounted XBLA game in today's sale. PopCap's popular peg-destroying game is half-off today ($11.99 / £9.99 / €9.99). Remember, the final day's sales are joined by other ongoing deals, which also expire at the end of the day. [Image: 2K Games]
Print your own 3D Evolve figures
The age of purchasing video game figurines from a store, like a peasant, has ... evolved. You can print out your own 3D Evolve hunters and monsters using files direct from Turtle Rock Studios and 2K Games. Find the 3D file for each character on their individual hunter and monster pages, and print them out at home on the 3D printer that you definitely own, right next to your Twitter-connected refrigerator, talking air conditioning unit, hologram phone system and cotton candy maker. That said, if you don't own a 3D printer, Turtle Rock suggests uploading the files to Sculpteo, Shapeways or Thingiverse, and following the instructions to get the figurines direct from there. See the Evolve 3D printing overview in video form below. [Image: 2K Games]
Humble 2K Bundle offers up BioShock trilogy, The Darkness 2
Publisher 2K Games headlines today's newly launched Humble Bundle, offering Steam-redeemable versions of BioShock, The Bureau: XCOM Declassified and other featured games for a price of your choosing. All bundle buyers receive copies of 2K's undersea FPS BioShock, comic book-based action game The Darkness 2, and alternate-history shooter The Bureau: XCOM Declassified. Purchases that exceed the bundle's average purchase price will also receive BioShock 2, Mafia 2 and Spec Ops: The Line, and customers who pay $20 or more will get bonus copies of BioShock Infinite and XCOM: Enemy Unknown. A buyer-chosen portion of proceeds benefits the American Red Cross and Action Against Hunger charities. The Humble 2K Bundle will be available through July 22. [Image: 2K Games]
Borderlands studio mixes MOBA and FPS in Battleborn
Battleborn is a brand-spanking new IP from Gearbox Software (the Borderlands people), published by 2K Games and due out for Xbox One, PS4 and PC by March 31, 2016. Battleborn is a first-person arena shooter with cooperative narrative and competitive multiplayer modes, all set in a futuristic, sci-fi fantasy world. A team of diverse warriors are tasked with defeating a consuming, evil force in order to save the universe's last star. "If Borderlands 2 is a shooter-looter, Battleborn is a hero-shooter," Gearbox President Randy Pitchford said in a press release. "As a genre-fused, hobby-grade, co-operative and competitive FPS exploding with eye-popping style and an imaginative universe, Battleborn is the most ambitious video game that Gearbox has ever created." According to the Battleborn Facebook page, the game is due out in 2015, though the press release is more conservative, placing the due date any time before March 31, 2016, during Take-Two's fiscal year 2016. Get a little more information on the main Battleborn site. [Image: 2K Games]
In a parallel universe, BioShock Vita is a tactics game that's real
Ken Levine stoked laments for what could have been when he took to Twitter last night to discuss the now-fabled BioShock Vita game. When asked what he had in mind for his pet project that never got off the ground, the Irrational Games president said, "I was thinking a Final Fantasy Tactics-style thing set in a pre-fall Rapture." Well, damn.
These Borderlands: Pre-Sequel tips came from the moon
Want advice on surviving Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel's treacherous lunar landscapes? Let the galaxy's most dashing rogue tell you how it's done; Handsome Jack is here to help you study for the Pre-Sequel's deadly tests with an overview of the game's features. Test date: October 14. [Image: Gearbox]
Evolve wants you to try its alpha
Today of all days, America needs you to sign up and do your duty. By which we mean sign up to try the Evolve alpha, which this Euro reporter sadly notes is limited to North America. Personal grievances aside, here's what you need to do for a chance of being selected. Head to the sign-up site, and when asked enter the password "happyhunting" and referral code "JoinTheHunt" along with all required details. Also, make sure you have a Steam account as you'll need one. 2K Games aims to have its participant list nailed down by tomorrow, July 5, so don't procrastinate before you celebrate today.
Civilization: Beyond Earth enters orbit on October 24
Civilization: Beyond Earth will launch October 24, Firaxis Games announced today. Those that preorder the PC game will receive the Exoplanets Map Pack at launch, which features six maps that were inspired by real exoplanets, such as the Earth-like, forest-filled Kepler 186f, the arid Rigil Khantoris B and Tau Ceti d, a "planet of seas and archipelagos" that has a "wealth of resources." Beyond Earth was first announced at PAX East in April, and breaks free from history by having its roots in space exploration. The game is deemed a spiritual successor to Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, as Firaxis Games discussed with Joystiq at E3 last month. It's also inspired by sci-fi authors such as Isaac Asimov and Arthur C. Clarke. [Image: 2K Games]
Civilization Revolution 2 charges onto App Store, out now
Civlization Revolution 2 is the first game in the series "developed and available exclusively for mobile devices," and you can get it now on iOS, priced $15/£10.49. Publisher 2K Games says Android owners can expect the follow-up to siege their storefronts "soon." Released originally for consoles back in 2008, the first Civ Rev garnered a warm reception by combining the series' core strategy with smoother, friendlier design that suited the platforms. A DS version was also released with top-down 2D visuals in contrast to the 3D look on consoles, and that was mirrored in an eventual mobile port. In the words of one Alexander Sliwinski, the iOS version "may not be all it could have been on the eyes, but it definitely pokes the organ it's supposed to properly -- your brain." Apart from a sleeker 3D look, Civ Rev 2 introduces new units, technology, buildings and wonders to the first game's arsenal, while Winston Churchill and John F. Kennedy join the 16 returning leaders. However, according to multiple reports the mobile follow-up doesn't feature multiplayer, meaning you'll only be battling wits against AI opponents. That maybe isn't too surprising given 2K dropped multiplayer for the first game's iOS port, although it did introduce it in an update some years later. [Image: 2K Games]
Civilization: Beyond Earth not just the new Alpha Centauri
Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth is unabashedly the spiritual successor to Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri, which Electronic Arts retains the licensing rights for, keeping it safe deep within Yucca Mountain for never use. We spoke with Pete Murray of Firaxis Games about how Beyond Earth will balance what Alpha Centauri fans expect with delivering a new experience for the uninitiated.
Seen@E3: Evolve's gentleman Goliath
Walk through the doors into the LA Convention Center's West Hall and you'll come face to ... uh ... face(?) with the Goliath from Turtle Rock Studios' 4v1 monster hunting simulator, Evolve. Don't worry, he's actually quite nice. Why, just as we snapped this picture, he told us we looked good enough to eat! What a nice guy.
Tales From The Borderlands nets a nerdy voice cast
Tales From The Borderlands, the upcoming adventure game spin-off from the Borderlands series, will feature the voice talents of Nerdist's Chris Hardwick, developer Telltale Games revealed today. Hardwick's character, named Vaughn, is described as the best friend of Rhys, one of the game's primary protagonists. The promo art revealing Vaugh shows him with a scared expression, but what's there to be scared about? Pandora is just a planet overrun with insane robots, psychopathic bandits, telepathic mercenaries and giant monsters, after all. Other names attached to Tales From The Borderlands include Patrick Warburton (Family Guy) and Mr. Video Game Voice himself, Nolan North - or does that title go to Troy Baker now? Tales From The Borderlands is expected to make its debut sometime this summer. [Image: Telltale Games]
Watch 15 minutes of Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel narrated gameplay
Gearbox' has a new 15-minute gameplay video of Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel that's based off the demo showed at PAX East. The shooter's butt-stomping, enemy-shattering, playable-Claptrap action is coming to Xbox 360, PS3 and PC this fall. [Image: 2K Games]
Evolve's hunters tracked down in gameplay video
This trailer for Evolve introduces each of the game's four hunters in video form, showing their unique abilities in action as they team up to take beasts down. Turtle Rock Studios' four-versus-one shooter will launch October 21 for PC, Xbox One and PS4.
GameStop nabs exclusive pre-order content for Evolve
Customers who pre-order Turtle Rock Studios' competitive shooter Evolve at GameStop will receive an array of exclusive in-game content at launch, the retailer announced today. GameStop's pre-order bundle includes exclusive skins for Markov's Lightning Gun, Maggie's Machine Pistol, Hank's Laser Cutter, and Val's Anti-Material Rifle, along with a Monster Expansion Pack that adds the Savage Goliath skin and a post-launch monster character. The offer applies to the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC versions of the game. Evolve will hit retail on October 21. You can check out our video preview here. [Image: 2K / GameStop]
Evolve picks a fight in October
Turtle Rock Studios' Evolve advances worldwide onto Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC on October 21, Take-Two announced today. Take-Two also revealed pre-orders of the four-versus-one first-person shooter come with a Monster Expansion Pack, which includes a Savage Goliath skin and an extra monster character that will be made available at some point after Evolve hits stores. Check out our new preview for a look at some of the human hunters hoping to take down the big beasties in Evolve. [Image: 2K Games]
Borderlands 2 on Vita: Mostly Handsome, Jack
It is complete. With today's launch of cross-save support for Borderlands 2 on Vita, the game is fully fleshed-out and filled with finger-flicking delight. That isn't a euphemism – since it's on Vita, there's plenty of touchscreen and rear touchpad action in this latest version of Borderlands 2. Some of it works, and some of it feels designed in the bowels of frustration hell. Borderlands 2 wasn't conceived as a Vita game, and at times that fact is obvious – when it runs into framerate issues or the graphics pop in (usually leaving my character's irises and pupils for last on the home screen), it feels like a big game ported onto a tiny device. These issues are mostly ignorable, but they contribute to a few annoying gameplay problems.
NBA 2K14 promo offers rare Nikes exclusively to virtual ballers
Acquiring the latest pair of Nikes used to be a simple process, requiring either lots of money or a handgun and poor impulse control. Would-be owners of Nike's special limited edition version of the LeBron 11, however, need to prove their skills on the virtual hardwoods of NBA 2K14 before the athletic wear giant will even deign to take their cash. Officially dubbed the "LeBron 11 2K14," the kicks you see above are essentially the same as the existing LeBron 11 line, only with a new (intensely gaudy) color scheme and a limited run of 2,014 pairs. To earn the right to pre-order a pair, players must spend roughly 80 hours with NBA 2K14, while completing at least 60 games in MyCareer Mode, earning an elite ranking and designing your own shoe in the Nike Innovation Kitchen, among other tasks. Once that's been completed, virtual ballers will then be allowed to give Nike $220 for the privilege of sporting basketball shoes with baffling tiger stripes and a gold Nike swoosh that would not seem out of place hanging from the neck of Rick Ross. Before you rush off to earn new shoes in the virtual NBA, you should know that despite the odd requirements for pre-ordering the LeBron 11 2K14, Nike has already selected owners for all 2,014 pairs. If you're among that lucky group, Nike should be sending you a notification shortly, and your shoes will follow quickly after. [Image: Nike]
Asimov, Heinlein among inspirations for Civilization: Beyond Earth
Unlike its predecessors, Civilization: Beyond Earth is set among the stars instead of firmly on Earth's verdant soil. Why? Because you screwed it up. Well, not you in particular, but all of humanity. According to a new Q&A with lead designer David McDonough and Will Miller, the game's story is one of redemption. After destroying our planet through wanton greed, pollution and just generally being a ravenous, bipedal blight, humanity has decided the only way to continue our species' existence is to blast itself into space. Specific details of this mass diaspora are scant, though the Q&A does mention something called "The Great Mistake" which the designers describe as "a mysterious event that is partly interpretive to the player." Based purely on the name, we're guessing this Mistake wasn't a choice to pair red wine with fish. As a result of this wholly new setting, the Civilization: Beyond Earth design team had to create a new universe of technologies, lifeforms and extant cultures. The designers cite both modern and classic sci-fi as inspirational to the project, and specifically name such genre luminaries as Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Ray Bradbury and Robert Heinlein among key influences. [Image: 2K Games]
Borderlands 2 caps co-op play on Vita at two Vault Hunters
In sad news for fans of the frenetic multiplayer gunplay found in Borderlands 2, it has been revealed that the game's upcoming Vita incarnation will only support a maximum of two players during co-operative play. "We checked in with the SCEA Third Party Production team, who confirmed that while they strived to include four-player co-op in the game, they made a decision late in their development cycle to focus on providing the best two-player-only co-op experience possible," a Sony representative wrote on the PlayStation.blog. "As a result, the maximum co-operative player count for Borderlands 2 on PS Vita is capped at two." While this is disappointing, players can look forward to the wealth of content otherwise found in the handheld Borderlands 2. Not only are saves cross-compatible with the PlayStation 3 version of Borderlands 2, but the Vita game includes six of the DLC packs released for its console counterpart after launch. Plus, online multiplayer is available for anyone suddenly depressed that they can't shoot up Pandora with three nearby pals. [Image: 2K Games]
