content
Latest
Issue #7 of The Secret World lets you be a secret agent
The Secret World has given players plenty of conspiracies to uncover, villains to put down, and dangerous traps to escape. The latest update, Issue #7, takes that one step further and lets you go full-on into secret agent territory. A Dream to Kill features a hunt through corporate secrets, a dangerous alliance against the Orochi Group, and a high-speed snowmobile chase while evading goons. No Daniel Craig, but you can't have everything. You can, however, enjoy a new auxiliary weapon in the form of the flamethrower, which deals damage over time and provides several additional flame-related abilities. And as you could guess from the game, your fight against goons and corporate machinations includes plenty of disturbing imagery, strange symbolism, and all of the groundwork you need before players can finally begin exploring Tokyo. If you're still not convinced, jump on past the break to see the full trailer for the game, complete with narration by director Joel Bylos. [Source: Funcom press release]
Neverwinter unveils the Campaign system
The first major content addition to Neverwinter isn't just bringing new dungeons, it's bringing a new way to experience the game's content. The new Campaign system will see its debut in the region of Sharandar. This isn't just another name for a series of quests, but rather a new way for players to unlock both new rewards and new areas simply by adventuring and completing larger goals. The Campaign window is a new UI element that lists a number of Projects players can undertake. Questing in the area, running solo instances, or diving into the new dungeons will provide new rewards that can be spent on clearing projects, unlocking new regions, new dungeons, and so forth. Players can also earn new equipment by completing other Projects, which offers several methods to reap the benefits of hard work. The new system, like the rest of the content, is still due out for sometime this summer.
Guild Wars 2 might never have an expansion [Updated]
Whether or not you like the "Living World" style of Guild Wars 2, you may very well see it as a long-running prelude to a full expansion. ArenaNet's lead content designer Mike Zadorojny recently went on record puncturing that particular balloon, saying that if the team manages these updates correctly, it will "probably never do an expansion and everything will be going into this Living World strategy." This stands in direct contrast to previous speculation and forecasts that the game would receive one on some sort of timetable. According to Zadorojny, the end goal is to provide the same sort of content as in an expansion, simply at a faster pace with a more episodic nature. He likens the experience to television, providing constant motivation to tune in next week for something new and exciting. While he declined to offer hard numbers on the game's performance, he did say that the game is doing quite well and has no plans to sell powerful items in the gem store, with the current business model supporting the game without any need for an expansion. [Update]: Game director Colin Johanson has posted a clarification on the GW2 forums. Just to clarify a bit, as Mike said there are numerous teams beyond our Living World teams, and some of them are working on much longer term projects which we'll go into details on much further down the road. It's entirely possible some of the types of content which you might traditionally find in expansions would be released through an expansion in the future for Gw2, and it's possible we'd try something different when it comes to integrating those type of releases. We have no final plans one way or another about expansions at this time, and certainly haven't ruled them out, it's something we'll discuss more in the future. Edited to add: Our primary focus right now is on making the core Gw2 experience as strong and compelling as possible, we'll release a blog post later this month detailing more specifically our plans for Gw2 in the second half of 2013.
Badland gets new levels in Day 2 update
Badland is a wild little platformer from Finnish developer Frogmind, and it now boasts 10 new levels thanks to a new update. The developers have been working on delivering a set of content they call Day 2, with 10 levels of "Dawn" released about a month ago. Now, they've added the "Noon" levels for Day 2, which adds 10 new areas for you to explore with the game's little flapping hero. There are also 30 new missions and five new achievements to try and conquer. Frogmind has even released a new trailer for the additional content, so you can see it in action. Badland is an excellent little game that's US$3.99 right now, and with new content like this coming all the time, that price just keeps getting more worth it.
Guild Wars 2 announces the Bazaar of the Four Winds
After four hours of tantalizing speculation, Guild Wars 2 has officially announced the game's next major update, the Bazaar of the Four Winds. Once again, there's something coming in from the sky, but this time it's not a group of pirates that seek to murder you and take all your stuff; it's a group of traders and merchants on the Zephyr Sanctum, bringing a new air of excitement to the normal proceedings of the eponymous bazaar. In a more practical sense, the update offers three new minigames (with one sticking around as a permanent addition), a reward system for account achievements, and a new PvP map. The improved achievement UI should help getting those rewards a bit easier, while the addition of Build and Repair Mastery in WvW should help out players more prone to smashing one another with weapons. So get ready for drinking, racing, exploration, and trading when the update touches down a week from today.
Amazon Studios now accepting short video bids for feature films
Amazon Studios is hell-bent on developing movies and TV series, and on top of script submissions, it's now asking filmmakers to send in 2-15 minute long shorts to pitch their feature-length film ideas. Those would serve as a foundation for your project and "express an idea that's begging to be seen on the big-screen, in full-length, full-budget form," according to the division's Hollywonk blog. Amazon Studios will spend 45 days evaluating each submission, and those added to the development slate will receive $10,000. After that, you'll get put into the development pipeline, which could get you paid writing and directing opportunities, guidance and feedback from partners like Warner Bros., and up to $400,000 if your baby hits theaters. Private submissions are welcome, but if you're feeling brave, you can also post it for the world to see -- hit the source or More Coverage link for more info.
Firefall's final beta milestone and live action trailer [Updated]
The last closed beta milestone for Firefall is live now will be live this Thursday, June 27th, and it's a big one. Closed beta testers can explore the new e-sports-styled PvP game Jetball while taking part in the game's first story-based episode, Blackwater Anomaly. And this is meant as a big thing, big enough that there's even a live-action trailer (starring Tybee Diskin, whom you might recognize from the Nuka Break Fallout fan film) past the cut to help get potential players psyched about just what might be going on. Designed for five-person squads, Blackwater Anomaly sends players out into the storm to examine the eponymous anomaly at Blackwater Marsh, leading to a closer examination of why the Chosen have arrived and what motivates the attack on humanity. If you're intrigued and want to get in on the action before the start of open beta on July 9th, the Founder's Packs will still be available through July 8th. Everyone already in the beta can start enjoying this new content immediately. [Update: Red 5 has contacted us to let us know it has moved the milestone date from today to Thursday.] [Source: Red 5 Studios press release]
The Daily Grind: When has a beta left you hungry for more?
I'm going to be completely honest and say that I logically have no real need for the Final Fantasy XIV beta any longer. I know enough about the game that I'm ready to jump in once open beta rolls around, I don't doubt that I'll enjoy the relaunch, and everything else I do is just going to be wiped away. So I find myself thinking that really, I can pass on taking part in the testing. Except every time another weekend approaches I find myself ready to jump right back into Eorzea because what I have played has just made me want more. The mark of a good beta isn't just that it allows you to provide feedback on broken parts but that it gets you excited about all the stuff that is working. There's an element of enthusiasm to this phase of testing, a desire to keep playing and keep trying new things. So today I ask, when has a beta left you hungry for more? When has the version of the game that isn't ready for launch made you feel a desire for the launch edition more keenly? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
Age of Wushu getting new factions and character trading in China
While you can't be certain about the future of a game in your country based on what happens in its native country, that's certainly the way to bet. So the good news is that Age of Wushu players can look forward to some neat stuff in the future, including new factions and schools. A recent preview highlights the Villa of the Beasts, a school deep in the wilds that focuses on hand-to-hand combat in nature. There are even rumors that the school will eventually allow for pet companions. The game is experimenting with a character trading service, allowing you to directly list characters for sale without having to sell your entire account and risk hacking. Whether or not the service on a whole is a good thing for the health of the game is an exercise for the reader. There's no timetable for any of this coming over to the game in the West, but in all likelihood it's just a matter of time. [Thanks to Dengar for the tip!]
The Xbox One and live TV -- here's what to expect
What's in a name? A whole lot, if you're asking yours truly. "All Your Entertainment. Input One." Such intriguing statements were declared in a document that leaked from Redmond last summer. The slogan "All in one, input one" was on the Microsoft banners decorating the LA Convention Center for E3 this year. But this probably left many wondering: what is "input one," exactly? It didn't go unnoticed by those who follow the TV industry. Input one is commonly used in the biz to refer to the TV input most Americans use to access the majority of their content. This is the input that's displayed when the TV is turned on, and it's the input that most connect their set-top box from their cable or satellite provider to. Naturally, it's a highly coveted position in the content industry and one that is well fortified by the incumbents. Microsoft has had its sights on input one for a long time, and this particular go-round isn't all that unfamiliar. The Xbox One intends to share input one in what I'd call a man-in-the-middle attack. How well it works won't be revealed until later this year, but clicking through will reveal how I think it'll play out, why this attempt is a direct result of industry constraints and finally, how it matches up with the competition.
Knights of Pen and Paper now updated to +1 edition
The excellent iOS RPG Knights of Pen and Paper has been updated to the +1 Edition (as we heard it would be back at GDC) and is now available as a free update on the App Store. This new version, which is technically 2.02, brings lots of new content, game updates, new dungeons to explore and many other extras. For example, there's now a place called The Tavern, where you can keep old heroes and swap in new ones. Several new battle options nearly turned Knights of Pen and Paper into entirely new game. The +1 edition was spurred on by the game's new publisher, Paradox. Thanks to that collaboration, the game is also now available on Steam for US$9.99. But again, the iOS version is a free update, so if you've grabbed the game already, do be sure to download and give this version a try. If you haven't purchased it yet, you can grab it now for $2.99.
Next3D's plan to bring recorded video to the Oculus Rift
The dream of wearing a lightweight headset, like the Oculus Rift, in order to simulate physical presence isn't limited to the imaginary worlds of video games. One man's vision is that of immersive TV shows, movies and live sports. In fact, David Cole, co-founder of Next3D and an industry veteran who helps content creators and providers produce and deliver 3D, has been using his Rift dev kit to bring TV and film to life since the kits started shipping in March. The company is combining its video processing and compression technology with its experience in content production and stereoscopic delivery to offer what it's called Full-Court. Next3D hopes to leverage its existing relationships with creators and providers to assist them in jumping into the world of live-action VR content. This includes both pre-recorded and live broadcasts. We wanted to see this firsthand, so we jumped at the opportunity to witness the creation of content and experience the results. This trial run of Next3D's stereoscopic, 180-degree field-of-view camera rig, and the post-processing to adapt it to VR, was part of the production of the paranormal investigation show, Anomaly, at Castle Warden in St. Augustine, Fla. Being nearby, we braved the perils of the haunted surroundings to tell you about what we hope is only the beginning of virtual reality content.
Flameseeker Chronicles: Raiding in Guild Wars 2
Guild Wars 2 has been criticized in the past for not having having much PvE content for guilds and large groups of players. Several months ago, guild missions were added and helped fill that gap, but apparently we have more to look forward to. ArenaNet's Chris Whiteside was chatting with players in the game and was asked whether or not we'd ever see raiding in Guild Wars 2. His reply was, "Our answer to raiding may very well be in the works! It is something I am very excited about and will be unique to GW2." What could this mean for Guild Wars 2 and its players? What kind of unique spin could ArenaNet put on raiding? Let's dive into those questions after the break in a video edition of the Flameseeker Chronicles!
E3 2013: Final Fantasy XIV shows off the vicissitudes of FATE and the new jobs
As Final Fantasy XIV dazzles onlookers at E3, those not at the convention have been getting a closer look at the title in anticipation of its relaunch. The latest official video keeps up that pattern, giving potential players a look at one of the relaunched version's major new features -- Full Active Time Events, abbreviated as FATEs. Which is a long way to say "dynamic events," admittedly, but that's just the way you roll in Eorzea. FATEs appear all over the world, with some triggered randomly and others coming in at reliable intervals or via talking to an NPC. Once within range of a FATE, you are automatically added to the event and given a rundown of objectives and progress, with rewards being distributed based on overall participation and involvement. Sounds kind of routine? Then perhaps rather than watching that video, you'd like to see a first look at Summoner, Arcanist, and Scholar. Because there's a new video just past the break that also gives a first peek at these as-yet-unseen classes. So even if you know all about FATEs, you'll want to take a look here.
Flameseeker Chronicles: Temporary content in Guild Wars 2
Dragon Bash hits Guild Wars 2 today, and if you haven't yet checked out our video preview of the festivities, what are you waiting for? Dragon Bash is a holiday event, so much of what we'll be seeing in this update will be temporary content. These limited-time events have been the subject of much conversation in the community of late and, consequently, they're the topic of today's video edition of the Flameseeker Chronicles. Let's get to it!
Watch Dogs gets exclusive outfit, hour of content on PlayStation 4
Ubisoft just showed a quick demo of Watch Dogs at Sony's E3 press conference, featuring some new police-escaping gameplay by hero Aiden Pearce, and a hacking ability that allows him to apparently blackout all of Chicago, if only temporarily. Sony also announced that Watch Dogs would have exclusive content on the PlayStation 4, including a new outfit for Pearce, and a full hour of content exclusive to the platform. You may remember this deal from Ubisoft's other series, Assassin's Creed. Watch Dogs is set to arrive on November 19.
Diablo 3 on PlayStation will have exclusive Sony-related items
Sony has announced that Blizzard's release of Diablo 3 on the PlayStation 3 and 4 will boast some exclusive, Sony-related items, including something called Drake's Amulet (named after none other than Uncharted's Nathan Drake). A few of these items will be available when the game launches on the console, but Sony said more items would be coming in the future.
MechWarrior Online adds 'Firebrand' as newest Hero unit
MechWarrior Online's latest Hero mech is the FireBrand JM6-FB, a JagerMech variant with dual PPCs, AC/2s, RLAGPRGs, front-facing GRMBLCKS, DENNIS capabilities and 14 different Doctor-class Tennant injectors with Moffat tracking modules. Okay, maybe some of those are made up, but which ones?
New Badland levels available now, more coming soon
The weird but gorgeous iOS platformer, Badland, has ten new levels available now. The new levels introduces more powerups and puzzles for your little flying critter to take on. All of the new content is free in the update, and developer Frogmind says more will come in late June or early July. Badland recently won the Nordic Game Conference's Indie Sensation award, and boasts over 150,000 players according to Frogmind. You can download Badland, with this free update, on the App Store for $3.99.
Big updates coming for Skylanders, Real Racing 3
We've got news of two major updates coming to high profile iOS games recently. First up, Activision's Skylanders: Lost Islands (the iOS town-building title based on the very popular toy/game series) just got a new substantial update, featuring Facebook integration, and lots of new companions to place in your town. There's also a new feature called "#1 fans," which will have players finding little extra creatures to add power to their current Skylanders. If you have a little fan in your house, make sure to update the free app soon. And second, EA's Real Racing 3 is getting a big update as well, with new tracks, new cars, and an official version of the Dubai Autodrome, a real racing location over in Dubai. That update, just like the game itself, will also be free, and should be out soon. Both of these games are already very popular, and these updates should make them even more so.
