halloween
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Teaming up with Hi-Rez for some Halloween SMITE
Halloween is a holiday when people typically dress up in outlandish costumes and go out hunting for treats. This year, I got to put a bit of a different spin on it by dressing up as a mythological god and going out to hunt for gold and items in some games of SMITE. Hi-Rez invited Massively along for its Halloween stream earlier this week, and I tagged along for some great fun. Despite being relatively inexperienced with the game, Reason Gaming's Lassiz was along for the ride as well, and his professional play helped lead us to a decisive victory. Although it's still in closed beta, SMITE currently boasts a surprisingly large playerbase with hundreds of thousands of players and a very unique twist on the MOBA style. If you're looking for more information or a way to try the game for yourself, read on!
Mass Effect 3 goes trick-or-treating with a Halloween Challenge
BioWare is celebrating Halloween with a special trick and treat-inspired multiplayer challenge in Mass Effect 3. Beginning today and running through November 5, there are three new tasks for players to take on to earn a special holiday reward: Players need to run five extractions on the Firebase Ghost map (or its Hazard version), earn 7500 points against zombies (also known as husks or abominations in the Mass Effect parlance) and earn 10,000 points against monsters (which includes brutes, scions, praetorians, and banshees). Completing the tasks on any difficulty will earn players a Halloween Challenge Banner. What's too bad is that you won't get the Halloween-themed characters teased above to join your gang. Bioware doesn't say, but we're pretty sure they're crew members for some other Mass Effect 3 team, maybe helmed by one Commander SCARE-perd of the USS Norman-DIE! Boooooo! [Ed. Note: You're fired.]
Engadget gets animated in 'Gadget, Where Are You?' (video)
Gh-gh-ghosts? Sure, we didn't find any concrete evidence during our trek to central New York earlier this month, but we did have a pretty spooky run-in recently, when the Engadgetmobile broke down outside of a nondescript electronics store. Join Tim, Brian, their robotic dog Gadget and very special guests Free Energy and Jesse Thorn for an animated Halloween adventure after the break.
Killing terror with technology
Welcome to The Level Grind, a column hell-bent on asking questions about video game design from the gamer's perspective. This week we examine scary games, in celebration of Halloween! One of the main points stalwart defenders of Resident Evil 6 seem to be making in comments of many reviews is that we – as reviewers – should have adjusted our expectations. We wanted something classically scary but got an action game, and that was a reason for our staunch dismissal of the game, some have claimed. Though I disagree with that assessment and think what I've played of the game was a mess, it makes me wonder how much advancements in technology have mutated the survival horror genre.In the PlayStation era, games like Silent Hill forced you to baby-step around the world out of genuine fear for what was around the next corner. That game's signature fog helped create an atmosphere such that, even if you knew exactly where to go, you had little idea what to expect on the way to your destination. Though the effect added tension, which in turn morphed into fear, its primary use was in response to processing power issues of the era. Distance Fog, as it is referred to, obscures objects in the distance and loads higher resolution (not high-res, mind you) textures as players approach them. The fog, one of the signature elements of the original Silent Hill, was used to ease limitations of the hardware and Konami brilliantly used it as a narrative device.But as tech has grown more powerful, major developers have typically expanded games. With limitations abandoned, it seems they have no incentive to make reserved experiences. And with that, survival horror games of this generation have lost all mystery.
Puppeteer shows off its spooky 'Hallowee' level
If you're creeped out by things like puppets, dolls, and scarecrows moving around of their own volition, or – less likely – giant pumpkins and vampire disappointment, perhaps you should steer clear of this Puppeteer trailer, which shows off the "Hallowee Ville" environment.The rest of you are welcome to soak up some Tim Burtonesque Halloween fun in this PS3 game video. What's up with those people scared of vampire disappointment, huh?
GOG celebrates Halloween wrong with anti-scary games sale
GOG.com is putting a selection of Halloween-themed games on sale today and tomorrow, the Halloween theme being they're "not scary." Each of the 16 spine-soothing games is priced 50% off, and the hair-settling assortment features entries from Simon the Sorcerer, Worms, and Rayman to name a few.If you ask us, dark magic, weapon-wielding invertebrates, and a legless, armless, and neckless man with feet, hands, and a head that move independent of his body are all plenty scary, thank you very much.
TUAW TV Live at 5 PM ET: Scary Halloween Special Edition
Today is the first time that Halloween and TUAW TV Live have synced up, so today's show is going to be ... special. I'm not giving any hints here, but let's just say that it could be more silly than usual. My guest today is that fun-sized blogger/podcaster from Portland, Ore. -- Kelly Guimont. As usual, I'll be starting the show at 5 PM EDT (2 PM PDT / 10 PM BST) sharp, and we'll take a few minutes to chat before the demos and/or fun stuff start. To join in on the chat and watch the live streaming video, drop by TUAW about five minutes before the start time to get your instructions on how to participate. If you're unable to join us for the show, remember that you can always subscribe to the video podcast and watch the show at your leisure in iTunes or any other favorite podcatching app. The past shows are also available on the TUAW YouTube channel. The chat is on IRC: join us on server chat1.ustream.tv, chat room #tuaw-tv.
Five apps that are wicked fun for Halloween
It's Halloween, which means it is time for scary movies, zombie costumes and bags stuffed full of candy from trick-or-treating. Below, you will find five apps that are perfect for this horror-filled holiday. Dead Trigger (iOS Universal, Free) Dead Trigger is a gory arcade shooter that'll have you slaughtering zombies with weapons like a Colt 1911 and a classic chainsaw. The latest version of the app supports the iPhone 5 and includes a new haunted graveyard. Best of all, this zombie smashing fun won't cost you a penny. Smash Your Food HD (iPad, $2.99) You don't want your kids smashing zombies, so you can have them smash their food instead. Fun and not frightening, Smash Your Food lets you pick a food and pound, smash or crush it. It's not all about destruction as the app also shows the nutritional value for each item you are about to pulverize. An updated version with more smashy is here. Cartoonatic (iPhone, Free) Cartoonatic is a video recording app that adds cartoon-style effects and catchy soundtracks to your videos. The effects are added in real-time so you can see your final video while you are recording it. The app was recently updated with a set of Halloween-themed content, so you can add some spookiness to your recordings. Zombies, Run! (iPhone, $7.99) Just because you're a fitness fan and not a gamer, it doesn't mean you have to miss out on the zombie apocalypse. All you have to do is install Zombies, Run!, an immersive running and audio adventure game. In the game, you are one of a handful of survivors and must collect supplies to rebuild your base and avoid hordes of zombies. Put on your sneakers, plug in your headphones and listen to the story unfold as you run and collect materials. The app tracks your run using GPS and lets you view and share them online. Grimm (iPhone, $0.99) Grimm from Robox Studios is a dark-themed platformer that has you navigate a baby in a stroller through a series of puzzles. You are hunted down by the villainous Mr. Grimm as you try to reunite the baby with his parents. The dark graphics give the app a macabre feel that fits in perfectly with Halloween.
The Daily Grind: What are your plans for MMO Halloween?
Did you wake up this morning and forget it's Halloween? Or were you already dressed in your costume the night before just so that you could get a jump start on the day's activities? Either way, let us be the first to welcome you to this special day of the year -- especially for MMOs. Most every online RPG celebrates the season with quirky scares, eerie delights, and the celebration of the macabre. Massively attempted to round up all of the official events for you, and even that guide is just scratching the surface of possibilities for today. So what are your plans for MMO Halloween, and what are you going dressed up as? 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!
It's a Virtual Console Halloween
Welcome to Living in the Past, a weekly column about what's new in old games. Now get off our lawn. If you're going to be at home this Halloween, waiting to dispense candy and tinny Wilhelm screams to neighborhood children, why not pass the time with some spooky games? While it's easy to tell you to go play the latest zombie whatever or Castlevania, I am opting instead to mine the downloadable retro lineup of our most terrifying console: the Nintendo Wii.There might still be some Castlevania.
Holy Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! Tetris ported to a jack-o'-lantern (video)
What happens when you gut a pumpkin and replace its insides with heat-shrink tubing, solder, 128 LEDs, eight AA batteries, an Arduino board and clever programming? You get what self-proclaimed tinkerer Nathan Pryor calls "Pumpktris." Over the years we've seen the classic puzzle game Tetris ported to some amazing things, but a piece of fruit? Just in time for Halloween, this high-tech spin on the jack-o'-lantern features a fully playable Tetris game controlled from the pumpkin's joystick stem. Whether you're a hardcore do-it-yourselfer, or a diehard Tetris fan hoping to top the system's high score (9,800 points), you can build your very own Pumpktris. Of course, its creator estimates it'll take around 12 hours or longer to build the custom LED matrix and joystem and carve up the gourd of your choice. If you're up to the challenge, you can find a complete walkthrough of the project at the source link below. However, if you'd just like to see this quasi-organic gaming rig in action, check out the groovy video after the break.
Fallen Earth and APB: Reloaded go trick-or-treating
GamersFirst is bringing scary back to two of its biggest titles for Halloween. The publisher announced special events and seasonal sales for APB: Reloaded and Fallen Earth, some of which are happening at this very moment. Players in APB can get a preview of the upcoming Asylum District as they go there to compete in the Fright Club. A costume contest is scheduled for October 31st as well, and GMs will be present to lead a grand parade through the streets. Finally, the pumpkin-happy devs are throwing another Pumpkin Head Customization Contest with even better prizes than last year. In the vast wasteland of Fallen Earth, survivors are encouraged to go trick-or-treating with the devs for exclusive items. The location of said trick-or-treating will be hinted at in chat. Fallen Earth is also selling its cosmetic gear for half off starting tomorrow.
Flameseeker Chronicles: The good, the mad, and the Lunatic
Things have been getting spookier and spookier around the land of Tyria. If you're a Guild Wars 2 player, I sincerely hope for your own sake that you've been able to get some time in-game in the last few days. A lot has been going on -- there've been scavenger hunts, dark tales unfolding, spectral energy levels rising, maddening races up clock towers, and so much more! Have you been missing out? Trying to decide how best to spend your precious holiday time in-game? Let's take a look at some of the big changes that have been creeping in with the shadow of the Mad King.
Closure closes in on 66% off Halloween sale on PSN [update]
Closure is shutting off two thirds of its price, going for $4.99 later today on PSN. Eyebrow Interactive's light-based puzzler is also discounted on Steam for the same price.The Steam offer ends on November 1, while the PlayStation Blog is less clear about the PSN sale's, er, closure. The post simply says Eyebrow is "launching a special Halloween sale this week." We've reached out to the developer to shed some light.Update: Eyebrow confirms to us the sale will last a week.
The War Z's Halloween beta launch includes new content, special offers
Halloween might be the only time of the year when no one is surprised by streets full of zombies. And for players waiting to get into the spirit by destroying the ravenous flesh-eating hordes, The War Z's closed beta client is ready and willing. Today's launch features new content in the form of all-new zombies to slaughter, new skins, special holiday-themed items, and a map that has doubled in size. And for folks who previously missed out on the Legend package, Hammerpoint Interactive is offering it again for a limited time. Purchasing this package will grant a player full access to the game, $30 of in-game funds, six months of server hosting, three weekend pass keys for friends, and special player recognition both in-game and on the forums. For more information, check out the official site. [Source: Hammerpoint Interactive press release]
Watch Nathan Fillion, Wil Wheaton, and Felicia Day play Firefall
You can't beat getting some Halloween treats without having to go out in the rain knocking on doors. It's no trick -- Red 5 Studios is giving out plenty of goodies to FireFall fans this week. First up is hours of video featuring famous gamer stars checking out the upcoming shooter. Last week, the studio livestreamed FireFall Fest, an event depicting a number of celebrities -- Nathan Fillion, Wil Wheaton, and Felicia Day, to name just a few -- playing FireFall along with the community. But even if you missed an episode or two, Red 5 has saved the recordings for your viewing pleasure. Check out the highlight reels of day one and day six after the break, then head to the official site for links to watch the full two-plus-hour videos for each day. FireFall is also offering fans a special Halloween patch. Along with spooky masks and other appropriate decor, beta players will find new monsters to kill and new abilities to use. For a full list of all of the Halloween goodies, head to the patch notes.
They Bleed Pixels hemorrhages price for Halloween, adds free level
They Bleed Pixels will be on sale on Steam for $3.39 through November 1. It's a gentle suggestion from developer Spooky Squid Games that you should spend your Halloween spilling blood and setting custom checkpoints.Along with the sale, Spooky Squid is adding a totally free new Halloween-themed level in which you earn candy for killing enemies. It'll show up in the "Extras" section of all copies sometime within the sale period.%Gallery-169591%
Weekly Webcomic Wrapup is in costume
It shouldn't come as a surprise that everything seems to be Halloween-themed these days. With the spooky holiday upon us, let's reflect on some of our favorite scary games and hilarious gaming-related Halloween costumes.... Ahh. It's fun to think back fondly on the memories, isn't it? Feel free to share your favorite spook-tacular games and (safe for work) costumes in the comments below while we continue to reflect quietly. Be sure to check out last week's webcomics, then vote for your favorite after the break while you compile your list!Faster than Pie (Life in Aggro)Elections (Manly Guys Doing Manly Things)Dark Versions (Brawl in the Family)Omega 13 (Virtual Shackles)Spyrim (Angimoto)History Lesson (Dave the Direman)Videogame-o-Lanterns (Dorkly)Gambling Problem (Awkward Zombie)
Guild Wars 2 preparing a Halloween surprise for tomorrow
Is it a "surprise" when you know it's coming? Perhaps it's a convenient surprise that's considerate of your busy schedule. In any case, Guild Wars 2's Halloween event is building up to a big moment that happens... tomorrow. The dev team posted a heads-up for gamers to be in a certain location at a certain time on Sunday: Act 2 of the Guild Wars 2 Halloween event is live -- enjoy the festivities! DO NOT MISS Act 3 of Shadow of the Mad King which kicks off at the lion statue in Lion's Arch at [3:00 p.m. EDT] on Sunday, Oct 28 with a very special, one-time only surprise! Will this be a trick or a treat -- or both! -- from the Mad King Thorn? We'll just have to wait and see with the rest of you until it happens.
Team Fortress 2 becomes 'Scream Fortress' once again, adds zombies and potions
Team Fortress 2's fourth-annual "Scream Fortress" festivities have begun, bringing with them the usual blend of spooky items and ghastly baddies. This year's event, which runs until November 8, is also accompanied by a now-customary comic book, which explains how such terrifying circumstances came to be.Said circumstances include haunted King of the Hill matches, during which players must battle the powerful ghost/wizard Merasmus and his book of bomb magic, the Bombinomicon. Additionally, control points have been booby trapped and now trigger the "Wheel of Fate" with each change in power, which has as much potential to harm as it does to help.Item-wise, the ghoulish update adds magic spells in the form of potion bottles that can be applied to other inventory items; changing their colors, summoning ghosts or performing any number of other possible magical happenings. "One of the spells might even give you Glenn Danzig's eldritch phone number," Valve's announcement reads.Mann vs Machine isn't left out of the fun either, gaining a brand-new mission called "Wave 666," which replaces the usual robotic enemies with those of an undead variety.
