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Enter to win World of Warcraft: Dark Riders
Have you ever wondered just what's up with the Dark Riders of Deadwind Pass? Now's your chance to find out. We've got not one, but two hardcover copies of World of Warcraft: Dark Riders to give away. The latest graphic novel to hit the shelves courtesy of DC Comics, Dark Riders is written by Mike Costa and features some amazing art by Neil Googe. It's 144 pages of Alliance entertainment, filling in the gaps in the story of the mysterious Scythe of Elune, as well as the mystery of the Dark Riders themselves. Thanks to Blizzard Entertainment, we've got a couple of these graphic novels to give away. Take a look at our spoiler-free review if you'd like more information on the graphic novel -- it's a amazingly well-done book, well-deserving of a spot on the bookshelf. To enter for a chance to win, leave a comment on this post before 11:59 p.m. ET, Wednesday, June 26, 2013. You must be 18 years of age or older and a legal resident of the United States or Canada (excluding Quebec). You can only enter once. Two winners will be chosen at random and we will contact you via whatever method you've used to comment. Official rules here.
Infinite Crisis joins competitive arena with Major League Gaming
Some folks may wonder whether the upcoming superhero title Infinite Crisis can make it in the big leagues of MOBA gaming, but it is already assured a place in the majors. Major League Gaming has announced a partnership with Turbine's DC Comic-based game, one that will kick off at E3 with a live competition between two top teams. Fans wanting to check out the action can stop by the WB Games booth (South Hall 1637) beginning at 3 p.m. EDT (12 p.m. PDT) on Tuesday, June 11th, or watch it livestreamed on MLG's and Infinite Crisis' official sites. This collaboration will introduce Infinite Crisis to the e-sports community and ultimately lead to Infinite Crisis' inclusion at MLG Pro Circuit competitions. The game's executive producer, Jeffrey Steefel, is quoted as saying, "We look forward to working closely with MLG to introduce players to the DC Multiverse and building a world-class gaming community." [Source: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment press release]
Infinite Crisis adds Cyborg to the mix
While the last superhero to join the Infinite Crisis lineup was mystically imbued, the newest member is a mix of man and machine. Today Turbine announced the addition of Cyborg to the roster of champions as well as released new art for the Green Lantern. Like you'd expect a man with an energy cannon for an arm, Cyborg is a ranged fighter, doling out powerful blasts while dodging direct confrontation with melee. His various skills include Cybernetic Targeting, Cascade, and Plasma Cannon. Charged Burst is an AoE attack and Tracer Shot marks opponents and adds a debuff that can be triggered for additional effects by his other skills. Check out the reveal video after the break for some tips on fighting as -- and fighting against -- this newest champion. After the video, take a look at the newest Infinite Crisis art, showing off Arcane, Prime, and Atomic versions of Green Lantern. [Source: Turbine press release]
Shazam gives Infinite Crisis lineup a jolt
Even as a mere mortal, Billy Batson stood up to injustice. And now, thanks to the powers granted him by the ancient wizard Shazam, Billy can turn into a mighty lightning-infused warrior to fight against injustice, evil... and whatever opponents happen to queue against him! Joining the pool of available champions in Turbine's upcoming MOBA Infinite Crisis, the superhero formerly known as Captain Marvel (name officially changed to Shazam in 2010) hails from the Prime Universe and brings the power of lightning front-and-center as a melee enforcer. Want to catch of glimpse of Shazam's powers and abilities like Speed of Mercury, Power of Zeus, Lightning Field, and Mystic Power/Defense? Then watch the champion reveal video after the break. [Source: Turbine press release]
Scribblenauts Unmasked amasses thousands of DC Comics characters
The creators of Scribblenauts have ceaselessly documented and cutely illustrated nearly everything in the known universe, so why not turn to the parallel worlds of DC Comics? Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure contains a number of heroes, villains and weirdos – that number being over 2,000. Developer 5th Cell claims to have scrutinized every single superpower, series and universe in DC Comics history, all to serve the game's trick of summoning whatever or whoever the player commits to a magical notepad. Maxwell returns as jotting protagonist, joined this time by his twin sister Lily. If Scribblenauts Unmasked doesn't have the best Batmans (Batmen?), it certainly has the most at 33 pairs of pointy ears in total, joined by an extravagant 130 Green Lanterns. That emerald grouping includes Mogo, a sentient planet with a lot of gravitational pull in the Green Lantern Corps. Scribblenauts Unmasked is hinged on using adjectives and objects to complete "heroic feats," a bombastic term for puzzles procedurally generated from a dynamic list of DC characters, locations and potential tasks. Custom-built characters can also be thrown into the mix, though only DC's official figures get a written biography on the Batcomputer. Scribblenauts Unmasked will be available on 3DS, Wii U and PC this fall.%Gallery-188375%
Infinite Crisis celebrates closed beta with The Joker
Turbine's Infinite Crisis is launching into closed beta today, and to help celebrate, the team has released a new Champion Profile to spotlight The Joker's involvement in the highly anticipated DC Comics-based MOBA. We've seen everyone from Cesar Romero to Heath Ledger play the part of The Joker, but that evil grin is always there to remind us of just how warped this character really is. In the game, The Joker is equipped with explosive dolls and boxing glove-adorned rocket launchers to keep you on your toes. Be sure to check out the highlight video featuring The Joker just after the jump, and sign up for closed beta if you haven't already. [Source: Warner Brothers press release]
New Infinite Crisis videos show off Poison Ivy, Gaslight Catwoman
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment today released two new character videos for the upcoming DC Comics-based MOBA Infinite Crisis, and we've got 'em both for your eyeballs. First we have Gaslight Catwoman, a stealthy assassin who sneaks around and teleports to finish off enemies when they least expect it. She has the passive ability to deal more damage to already-injured foes. She also launches her claws in a cone-shaped attack! MeOW! Next we have Poison Ivy, who's all about protecting the environment. Her passive ability creates a healing ring for every sixth spell she casts; she can also cast Deadly Flora, an area-of-effect spell that heals teammates and damages foes at the same time. Bammo! You can sign up for the closed beta at the official site, but hurry because it's due to start on May 8th, right around the corner. Click past the cut to check out the videos.
Report: Batman Arkham Origins doesn't feature voice actor Kevin Conroy
Batman mainstay Kevin Conroy is reportedly not voicing the caped crusader in Arkham Origins. According to South African magazine NAG, Warner Bros. Montreal passed on Conroy, who played Batman in Arkham Asylum and Arkham City, as well as most of the hero's animated adventures across the last 20 years. NAG says the developer wanted another actor to portray Origins' younger version of the dark knight.The report adds up with WBG Montreal's approach to the upcoming prequel. In a Game Informer interview, DC Comics Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns explained Origins is about "Batman's initiation into that insane world" of the other Arkham games."It's called Arkham Origins and it really is the introduction of what Arkham means," Johns told Game Informer. "Arkham evokes a sense of insanity and chaos embodied in the twisted minds and colorful villains of the Batman universe. That had to start somewhere."As revealed earlier this month, Batman: Arkham Origins swings onto retail shelves this year; the bat-time is October 25, and the bat-channels are PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U, and PC. Companion game Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate drops onto the Vita and 3DS on the same day.
Rumor: Scribblenauts DC comics game in development
Scribblenauts Unlimited developer 5th Cell is reportedly working on a DC super hero entry in the write-em-up series, called Scribblenauts Unmasked. According to IGN sources, the game is currently mired in redesign and may even lose the Scribblenauts Unmasked moniker altogether, though the game is assuredly focused on the DC Comics license.The original design called for a game where Max would embark on adventures to help out DC super heroes, but that may not be indicative of the final product. One scenario detailed includes Max trying to bypass a hungry Killer Croc to infiltrate Wayne Manor through the sewers below. Another anecdote provided presents Max with two seemingly identical police officers, yet one is the villain Clayface and must be discovered.IGN's sources say the game announcement is due at this year's E3, with PC, Wii U and 3DS being listed as supported platforms.
DC promises Injustice action figures among us this summer
NetherRealm's interpretation of select DC comic heroes and villains in Injustice: Gods Among Us are being turned into action figures. Twelve different figures are coming in the first run, available only in pre-determined two-packs for $29.95 each.Each figure stands 3.75 inches and has over 20 points of articulation. On May 31, the first two packs will ship: Wonder Woman vs Solomon Grundy and Green Arrow vs Deathstroke. The other packs – Superman vs Nightwing, Flash vs Raven, Aquaman vs Black Adam and Cyborg vs Harley Quinn – will have staggered releases, available this summer on through September.With Batman conspicuously missing from the list of figures, we're left wondering if he's the action figure we want, but not the one we deserve.
The Daily Grind: What would get you to try a genre you don't like?
I don't particularly like MOBAs. PvP in general doesn't do it for me, and e-sports are closer to unintentional comedy than to actual sports that I play and watch. That said, I'll very likely play Infinite Crisis at some point simply because I'm a fan of DC Comics. Yeah, I'm a sucker for certain IPs, and marrying one of them to various game genres guarantees that I'll give you my money. I suspect that I'm not alone here, otherwise companies like Turbine would spend more time developing original products. What about you, Massively folk? If not IPs, is there anything else that would make you try a game in a genre that you dislike? 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!
GDC 2013: Hands-on with Infinite Crisis
We just learned of Infinite Crisis' existence on Monday, but don't expect a long wait to get your hands on the game's various DC Comics characters. The new title is well beyond the here's-an-idea-for-you stage -- in fact, it's already playable! So what did this MOBA noob think of the game? Does it do justice to the Justice League? When is beta going to happen so others can get in on the action? And how on earth did Turbine keep Infinite Crisis a secret so far into its development? After my play session I sat down with Creative Director Cardell Kerr to discuss some of these burning questions.
Turbine Entertainment unveils Infinite Crisis, a DC Universe MOBA
Ready to unleash your own Crisis on Infinite Earths? Warner Bros. Interactive, Turbine Entertainment, and DC Comics are teaming up to let you do just that with the upcoming Infinite Crisis, a MOBA set against the backdrop of the DC multiverse. If you ever wanted to know who would win in a matchup between normal Batman and steampunk Batman, you'll have the opportunity to find out here. Infinite Crisis isn't in beta yet, but the launch trailer (embedded past the break) makes it clear that there are already several alternate versions of iconic heroes planned for inclusion. Players can also look forward to destructible environments, major events, and even an overall story arc. If you're worried about breaking your wallet, the game is already planning on launching as a free-to-play title, so everyone can jump in for all of the DC-related antics. You can sign up for beta testing now on the official site.
Injustice: Gods Among Us fight tapes show off Bane, Harley Quinn
NetherRealm Studios and DC Comics are hosting a series of popularity contests over on the official Injustice: Gods Among Us website, pitting heroes and villains against each other in a tournament-style bracket where fan votes determine the hypothetical outcome.Sounds fun and everything, but what we're primarily interested in are the gameplay videos released once a winner has been determined, the first two of which can be found above and beyond the veil. We're not going to spoiler the outcome of either fight, obviously, but we will say that Bane's abilities look very reminiscent of Kabal's from Mortal Kombat, while Harley Quinn has more than a little bit of Mileena about her.The next round of voting starts on February 11, so we're anticipating more videos in a couple weeks.
MMO Burnout: Revisiting Gotham City Impostors
Remember that scene in 2008's The Dark Knight where those nerdling Batman-wannabes were running around in imitation capes and cowls shooting at criminals with shotguns? That's pretty much what you get when you log into Gotham City Impostors, Monolith's garish, goofy first-person shooter set against the sprawling backdrop of DC Comics' legendary mythos. And for all you MMO historians in the crowd, yes, that's the same Monolith that originally developed the late, great Matrix Online. %Gallery-174397%
Deathstroke carves himself into the Injustice: Gods Among Us roster
Slade Wilson is a mercenary and assassin (and hater of teenagers) in the DC Comics world known as Deathstroke – and now he's the latest brawler to throw down in NetherRealm's Injustice: Gods Among Us. Keen observers will remember he also made an appearance in Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe.Deathstroke likes guns and has a steel sword for close-quarter combos, evidenced in the video above. Plus, he's kinda got this whole Two-Face thing going on with his mask, but we're sure Batman accidentally punched him like eight times so he must know already.
DC Comics' entire lineup released to iBookstore
Comic book publisher DC Entertainment has announced that its complete line of periodical comic books is now available on the iBookstore. The release includes all DC Comics and Vertigo periodical titles, perfect for fans of the Justice Leagues, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and more. The announcement comes one day after DC announced that it had inked deals for distribution by the three largest electronic book resellers. The titles are also available from the Amazon Kindle bookstore and NOOK Store. A full press release from DC Comics is included below. Show full PR text DC Comics' Entire Line-up, Including Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Batgirl and Many Others, Now Available for Direct Download from All Major e-Bookstores DC Entertainment, the #1 comic book publisher in the U.S., announced today its entire line of periodical comic books are now available for download from the top three e-bookstores including Kindle Store, iBookstore and NOOK Store™. The precedent setting new digital availability brings bestselling DC Comics and Vertigo periodical titles, including JUSTICE LEAGUE, BATMAN, SUPERMAN, DETECTIVE COMICS, ACTION COMICS, BATGIRL, WONDER WOMAN, GREEN LANTERN, FABLES and AMERICAN VAMPIRE, among many others, to an even broader audience of digital readers. "As e-readers and tablets continue to explode in popularity it's important for us to offer consumers convenience and choice in how they download digital comics and graphic novels and these new distribution deals with the top three e-bookstores do just that," said Jim Lee, co-publisher, DC Entertainment. "We're very excited to work with Amazon, Apple and Barnes & Noble to bring bestselling DC Comics and Vertigo periodicals to their e-bookstores." DC Entertainment is now the only comic book publisher to offer its periodical line-up across all major e-bookstore platforms. The deals reinforce a long track record of digital comics industry leadership and innovation from DC Entertainment that dates back to its game-changing decision to make its entire line available same-day digital with the launch of DC COMICS – THE NEW 52 in Sept. 2011. That launch is widely seen as reinvigorating the comic book industry, and has led to increased sales of both digital and print comics. Lee continued, "We were the first to offer our entire comic book line same-day digital and now we are the first to offer fans the convenience of multiple download options." In addition to now being available for direct download through the top three e-bookstores, DC Entertainment will continue to deliver periodical comics online at www.readdcentertainment.com, through the DC Comics and Vertigo apps, and all comiXology platforms. Prior to this announcement only DC Entertainment graphic novels were available through the top three e-bookstores.
DC Comics makes deal for Kindle, iBookstore, and Nook
I've written a few times here about Comixology and its strong hold on comics on the iPad, and DC Comics has now signed a deal to put its funny books on three big digital platforms, including Apple's iBookstore. iBooks already had some DC graphic novels available, but this deal is set up to bring DC's monthly releases to customers there as well. DC says that digital sales per title top out at about 40 percent, but overall are up 197 percent year over year, showing that there's a huge amount of potential in selling digital comic books over devices like the iPad. This news is bad for Comixology. While that company still has a great app, a huge userbase and licenses for all kinds of awesome content, you have to think that the iBooks audience is bigger, and Apple's licensing department can eventually get whatever it wants. If comics become a big deal on the iBookstore, that seems like it can only hurt Comixology's sales. Comixology is a company that's being run very well, and I have no doubt that they're already thinking about how to compete with iBooks. But for now, this is just good news for comic book fans; you'll have one more way to grab your monthly issues on the iPad.
Free for All: Five gripes about DC Universe Online
I enjoy the heck out of DC Universe Online. It's a fantastically fun, action-based romp through a wonderfully drawn universe of wacky characters and amazing adventures. Even for someone who never really enjoyed almost anything that DC Comics has released (Superman? Ha!) the game provides tons of linear, quest-based fun when I want it or loose, open-world destruction when I feel like exploring. I have to admit that the game did not seem that complex or deep when I first started playing it but now I see how much has been added and just how much can be done with what seemed like a limited. This is no perfect relationship, however. I have some issues with the game. Of course I am not a typical player and have not yet climbed my way to the top of the level mountain, so many of the issues I have will more-than-likely not be the same issues most other gamers have. I just don't worry about stuff like lock-out timers or loot drops. That stuff's all part of the math of the game, and that bores me. No, my gripes stem from customization or making the game your own. So, at the risk of making it seem like I dislike the game in some way, here's my list of five things I want to see either go away or be remedied.
DC Comics brings a veritable justice league of titles to Kindle, iBooks and Nook Stores
Not that there's been any lack of ways to get Batman or Supes on your chosen tablet, between Comixology and the devoted DC app, but if you happened to need on more, the publisher announced today that it will be bringing its entire line to three prominent e-bookstores. Justice League, Batman, Superman and a slew of others are hitting the Kindle Store, iBookstore and Nook Store. Never let it be said that your tablet doesn't support Flash. check out some thoughts from co-publisher, cartoonist and all around awesome dude Jim Lee after the break.
