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Check out Reckoning's spooky DLC in new trailer
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning's new DLC expansion is coming out next week -- March 20 in North America on Xbox, and the next day worldwide on Xbox, PC, and PS3. Called "The Legend of Dead Kel," the DLC stars an enraged Kenan Thompson who must get revenge on -- all right, we're making that up.What is true is that players will get access to a "gigantic new landmass" called Gallows End, with new weapons, new enemies, and a new "personal estate" to own -- complete with master-at-arms, a scout, a librarian, and other staff. Explore the new surroundings in this trailer.
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning sold 330,000 in the US last month
It was a little surprising to see Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning sitting pretty at number four in the NPD software sales charts for February, an impressive feat for a brand new IP. But what does the number translate to in actual sales? NPD tells Joystiq that Reckoning sold a total of 330,000 copies in the US across Xbox, PS3 and PC last month.It's not a bad number, especially for a new IP, though it isn't quite a blockbuster either. Of course, the figure doesn't include sales in other regions (or even all of North America, for that matter), so we'll have to wait on word from EA to see how Reckoning fared overall.
Exploring the Kingdoms of Amalur with Big Huge Games' Sean Dunn
It wasn't that long ago that Big Huge Games was on the edge of oblivion. THQ put the studio up for sale in 2009, placing its projects and the studio itself in jeopardy. As fate would have it, Curt Schilling's 38 Studios swept in to acquire the ailing developer. Its major project, once on the chopping block, eventually became Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, which released earlier this month to largely favorable reviews.So, how does a studio go from the brink of closure to critical success? How does Big Huge Games prevent another potential disaster, and where does it go from here? Big Huge Games general manager Sean Dunn told us.
The Joystiq Show - 027: Journey to Amalur
Thatgamecompany's Journey has been a long time coming, but it is now on the cusp of release, and Jordan starts the show with his thoughts on this "harmoniously joyful expression of love." As usual, Alexander joins the crew for the news, and there is plenty of it; from the Assassin's Creed 3 reveal and release date for BioShock Infinite to rumors of Doom 4's demise and plans for PAX East.In the second segment, Richard is joined by Sean Dunn, General Manager of Big Huge Games, to discuss Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, the history of Big Huge Games, and how the studio's open-world RPG came together.Part 1 (1:04) - The newsPart 2 (42:04) - Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning interviewGet the podcast:[iTunes] Subscribe to the Joystiq Podcast in iTunes[Zune] Subscribe to the Joystiq Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace[RSS] Add the Joystiq Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator[MP3] Download the MP3 directlyHost: Richard Mitchell (@TheRichardM)Guest: Sean Dunn - General Manager, Big Huge GamesProducer: Jonathan Downin (@jonathandownin - Game Thing Daily)Production Coordinator: Richard MitchellMusic: Trash80, Broke for Free and a selection from Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning.View the news topics and stream the show after the break.
'The Legend of Dead Kel' is Reckoning's second DLC, arrives on March 20
Interested in buying a fancy virtual house? Beyond a handful of new objectives on an island paradise (Gallow's End), that's exactly what you'll get out of the upcoming downloadable content for Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, arriving on March 20 to Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.The content claims to add 15% more space to the overall world map in Reckoning as well, and introduces new enemy types, dungeon areas, and loot. More importantly, though, it introduces Gravehal Keep, a fancy new domicile for your fate-less explorer to, presumably, throw garish parties. No pricing was given for the content, but we'd wager a dollar that it'll cost at least $10 when it arrives later this month.Update: EA confirmed the price at 800 MS Points/$9.99 across all platforms.%Gallery-149106%
Curt Schilling visits Conan, shows off Kingdoms of Amalur
Former baseball player turned 38 Studios founder Curt Schilling made a visit to Conan O'Brien's late night talk show this week. After discussing his beautiful with Tom Arnold and telling a story about some US soldiers playing Call of Duty while at war, he showed off a special "Irish American" version of Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, featuring a virtual Schilling squaring off against "Gnomon O'Brien." You can watch the short interview and clip below. It's cute, even if it's not a good representation of what the game is actually like. Then again, it is a late night talk show, so eliciting a chuckle and getting the name said a few times is probably worth it.
Reckoning rules UK sales chart
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning kicks off life atop the UK charts, which is not a bad place to begin a fateless destiny. This is the first new intellectual property to reach the top spot since Dead Island (another surprise hit) back in week 37 of last year, according to Chart-Track. But, wait, here's where it gets crazy: you have to go back to the year 2000 (the first Pokemon game) to find an original RPG winning the week.Final Fantasy XIII-2 slipped one spot into second, with Darkness 2 premiering in third. The top of the charts are actually stacked with "core" titles this week, with Mario & Sonic London at the 2012 Olympic Games being the closest "family" title. Certainly not a "family" game is Catherine, which debuted in the 20 spot. Check out the UK top ten after the break.
The Joystiq Show - 024: Kingdoms of Double Fine
After our special DICE episode yesterday--which you should totally go listen to right now--the regular show is back. Richard, JC and Ben discuss the week's news in the first segment, and some big things are afoot. Good news: Tim Schafer and the crew at Double Fine have crowd-sourced more than $1 million for a new adventure game. Bad news: Those looking for a way to play their PSP UMD titles on PS Vita will have to repurchase them.In the second segment, Richard is joined by GameSpot's Kevin VanOrd and Game Informer's Philip Kollar to discuss Big Huge Games's sprawling role-playing game Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. Spoiler: It's pretty good.Part 1 (1:03) - The newsPart 2 (24:24) - Review Roundtable: Kingdoms of Amalur: ReckoningGet the podcast:[iTunes] Subscribe to the Joystiq Podcast in iTunes[Zune] Subscribe to the Joystiq Podcast directly in the Zune Marketplace[RSS] Add the Joystiq Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator[MP3] Download the MP3 directlyHost: Richard Mitchell (@SenseiRAM)Guests: Kevin VanOrd (@fiddlecub) and Philip Kollar (@pkollar)Producer: Jonathan Downin (@jonathandownin - Game Thing Daily)Production Coordinator: Richard MitchellMusic: Trash80 and Broke for FreeView the full guest list, news topics, and stream the show after the break.
Metareview: Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
Let's be honest, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning's quality came as the first nice surprise of 2012. Our quibbles with this first installment in what we hope to be a lasting series didn't detract from it being a great fantasy RPG. Although other outlets weren't as smitten as us, the RPG from Big Huge Games, a studio that built its rep on real-time strategy series Rise of Nations, is getting some solid reviews. IGN (90/100): "Its random technical hiccups and inconsistent art style certainly holds it back from even higher levels of greatness. But no matter what you're looking for, whether it be amazing gameplay, immersive storytelling or perhaps a riveting new world to explore as you fully customize and re-customize your character at will, Reckoning has it all." Escapist (80/100): "Reckoning surprised me with its energetic combat, rich story, and dazzling visual style. The weight of all its parts threatens to pull it down, but the rigid skeleton holds strong. ... Don't pass on Amalur just because it's a new IP from a new company. Fans of RPGs with a focus on action won't be disappointed." Giant Bomb (80/100): "But it's hard not to be at least a little disappointed when you start seeing the various spots where the game doesn't live up to the high bar set by its best content. If you finish it fast enough to prevent those doldrums from setting in, you'll have a much better time than the person who digs through every nook and cranny to finish every single side quest." Eurogamer (80/100): "It's an unglamorous kind of success story, admittedly. And perhaps it's worrying for 38 Studios that the bland fantasy world it's hanging its future on is the least enticing aspect of its debut game. But it's not all elbow grease - Kingdoms of Amalur adds a splash of color and a lick of polish to the open-world RPG, and they couldn't be more welcome." Edge (60/100): "At its heart, Reckoning is an interesting tale about disrupting cyclical fate – ironic, considering the game's largely repetitive nature – and when the story gets to shine, 38 Studios and Big Huge Games' friendlier design presents a welcome change of pace."
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning online pass DLC detailed, available now
Project Ten Dollar continues unabated. All new copies of Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning include something called House of Valor, essentially a DLC content pack offering seven exclusive quests and the Valor Arena where players must survive a "barbaric tournament and ultimately seize control of the arena."Players will meet new companions and rivals throughout these quests, earning unique items and other rewards along the way. Players without a code can purchase an online pass for 800 MS Points ($10) through Xbox Live Marketplace or the PlayStation Network.For more on Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, make sure to check out the Joystiq review.
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning review: A tempting fate
Confession time: I have not finished Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. Over the last several days, I've poured over thirty hours into the enormous world. After twenty or so, I resolved to avoid secondary tasks and focus on primary quests, hoping to finish the campaign before composing this review. And then, after reaching a milestone in the story, it occurred to me: I don't want to do that.Please understand, I have no desire to ruin this review for our readers. It's just that I don't want to ruin the game for me. To plow through Reckoning with no regard for the enormous array of tasks and quests, to ignore its hidden secrets, is a disservice to its lovingly crafted world.%Gallery-141585%
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning launches with trailer
Four years ago, Curt Schilling opened a game studio. Two years later he told us the team's upcoming game woud be a marriage between God of War and Oblivion." And today, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning launches, letting you decide whether that union's worth the money. (Don't worry, we'll help you with our upcoming review!)
Meet Kingdoms of Amalur devs at GameStop midnight launch events
You may not know this, but most mages and fantasy archetypes don't get much sleep. If you're sleeping, who will vanquish all the rats in the town cellars and prevent the animals of the wild from threatening their crops? Who will transport arbitrary items from one town to another?That's why the planned midnight launch of Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning at three different GameStop locations is such an appropriate plan. Curt Schilling and R. A. Salvatore, owner of 38 Studios and the game's writer, will be on-hand at the Bellingham, MA location. Todd McFarlane, who was in charge of the game's artistic vision, will be at the Tempe, AZ GameStop to greet fans, while lead designer Ken Rolston and select members from Big Huge Games will be at the Cockeysville, MD location.Doors will open at each location starting at 11:30pm on February 6.
38 Studios head Curt Schilling elaborates on Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning online pass quest lockout
Yesterday, we reported that Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning will make use of EA's Online Pass system, and that used copies of the game will not include access to a specific quest line, similar to Catwoman's Online Pass exclusion from used copies of Batman: Arkham City. Initially, it looked as though the pass granted access to data already on the disc, however this was later clarified by a post made on the 38 Studios Forums, where community manager Muse informed the public that the quest line is in fact day-one DLC, rather than content actually on the disc.38 Studios founder Curt Schilling has written his own statement regarding the situation, and it's just about as frank and honest as we've come to expect from Schilling over the last couple of days: "You can argue the merits and effectiveness of it, but right now it's how it's done and as someone that's as invested as I am in this company, I stand by what has happened."Schilling goes on to say that the free DLC is intended to be an incentive to early adopters and a reward for "fans and gamers who commit to us with their time and money when it benefits the company." He does, however, realize that the situation could have been handled differently: "It is my responsibility as the leader to know of things like this and be aware that it would become an issue, I failed on both accounts. No one else is to blame, but at the same time there is no nefarious attempt to do anything under handed here."
38 Studios head Curt Schilling apologizes for 'buggy' Reckoning demo
38 Studios head Curt Schilling has found the NeoGAF forums, folks, and he is quite pleased with them. In a lengthy letter addressing the community, he starts things off by thanking everyone for a massive thread about his company's upcoming game, Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. And after some minor promotion of said project, he quickly devolves into an apologetic rant about the recently released demo."Let me start by apologizing. The demo? Ya, it is way way WAYYYYY more buggy than anything ANYONE should ever release, much less a demo," Schilling wrote. He said that due to "the depth of breadth of a game that has anywhere from 40-50 hours (main quest line play) to 2-300 hours (for completionist)," it was inevitable there would be bugs. However, rather than releasing a demo with said inevitable issues, he argued with EA to not put out a demo at all. A fight that he said he's glad he lost."The demo has been a God send, especially when I realize even in this thread, how many people became aware because of the demo," Schilling said. "In a partnership there is a lot of give and take, and I believe in my team, they are world class, but when you have a publisher there are things happening you'd rather not choose. Shipping old code out 3 months prior to gold master to a 3rd party with no stake in the demo success can be problematic." Regardless of the issues, Schilling ultimately says he was glad for the exposure the demo granted Reckoning, and he'll be "chatting more" on NeoGAF in the future.[Thanks, Wombat!]
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning locks out questline via online pass [update: 38 Studios and EA respond]
It looks like the House of Valor faction in Amalur's various kingdoms will be joining Catwoman in the limbo-like world of online passes. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning's House of Valor faction questline is dependent on players having an online pass that only comes with new copies of the game, as our reviews editor Richard Mitchell spotted in his retail copy of the game on Xbox 360.According to the insert included in our copy of the game, online pass owners (read: those who purchase new copies of the game) will get access to "seven additional player quests" throughout the House of Valor faction questline. It's unclear whether the PlayStation 3 and PC versions of the game contain the same stipulation, but we've reached out to EA for clarification.Update: 38 Studios community manager "Muse" posted the following statement to the 38 Studios forums, as pointed out in our comments section: "We wanted to post a quick clarification for something we've seen a few comments about. For what it's worth, the House of Valor content was not in the finished game/disc at one point, then removed. It isn't there and we're locking you out of it. The House of Valor was created as stand-alone content, and was always intended to be the first DLC. Instead of holding onto it and charging for it later, we opted to give it to everyone who purchases the game new, for free, on launch day. We hope that helps clarify that point, at least."Update 2: EA issued this response to Joystiq this afternoon: "The House of Valor quest line is free bonus content available to those who purchase a new copy of Kingdom of Amalur: Reckoning for the Xbox 360 and PS3 by entering the Online Pass included with the game. PC players who purchase Reckoning at one of the many digital retailers online including Origin, Steam and more, will also receive the House of Valor quest line at no cost."
Tour the varied ecological landscape of Amalur
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning's world seems to take its cues from Costa Rica when it comes to both ecological diversity and variety of environments. The latest trailer shows off just that as is, but we urge you to turn the volume down low and play this YouTube video in the background for the full effect.
Creating a new world: 38 Studios discusses the formation of Amalur's IP
As MMO fans, we're keeping a close eye on 38 Studios for its development of Project Copernicus, the MMO that will serve as the follow-up to next month's Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. The risk factor of not only developing two major intertwined projects in parallel but to have the additional task of creating a brand-new IP in which to put them must be a pressing one, which is why CVG sat down with Reckoning Lead Designer Ian Frazier to talk about challenges the studio has been tackling. Frazier outlines the balance the studio's struck between its three big-name creators -- Todd McFarlane (art), R.A. Salvatore (story), and Ken Rolston (design) -- not to mention the ideas that pour in from founder Curt Schilling. Fortunately, Frazier says that these larger-than-life personalities mesh well together: "The nice thing that's worked out is, I think if we'd got three famous game designers, it would have been a disaster: big egos, they're all on the same plane, it wouldn't have worked out. What makes this work is they're all different." Even though Rolston previously worked on The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion, Frazier said the designer wanted to try his hand at something fresh with a better combat system. "They're all great games," Frazier said of the Elder Scrolls series, "and I think they're progressively better, but they're all the same game. It's not like they're radically changing with time." Frazier said Reckoning has been compared to a "single-player WoW" as well as Dragon Age and Fable, but he insists that the world and ideas the team's been creating will take it far past those basic comparisons. You can take your first peek into the world of Amalur with the Reckoning demo -- and let us know what you think in the comments!
Big Huge Games strongly recommends Reckoning install on Xbox 360
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning's lead designer, Ian Frazier, calls upon the deities for Xbox 360 owners to install the game if they have the space. Speaking to OXM, Frazier stated quite plainly, "If you have a hard drive, for the love of God, please install."Installed copies will have "much, much smaller" load times, according to Frazier, which will allow players to get back to the "enemy-pounding funfest" as quickly as possible. Those looking to get a taste of Reckoning can try out the demo, downloadable now on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 -- install required.
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning dev diary features soundtrack
This Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning diary features Audio Director Grant Kirkhope talking about the game's orchestral soundtrack and audio design. Make sure you stick around until the end: Kirkhope issues a heartfelt apology for one of the most heinous crimes in video game music.
