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Command line execute: Perpetuum powers up open beta and early access
Do you like robots? We know, look whom we're talking to -- of course you do. Who doesn't? Well, let us ask you this: Do you like piloting hulking robots with enough ordinance to take out a smallish city? Again, that's a mostly rhetorical question. Ergo, it might be of interest to you to know that Perpetuum, the giant city-killing robot simulation MMO, has not only booted up its open beta, but is looking ahead to an early access program as well. Avatar Creations is coming off fresh from a year and a half of closed beta testing and has its sights set on a launch in the not-too-distant future. Interested parties may get their hands on the open beta starting October 18th, and if the game tickles your fancy, you can pay €9.95 to enter the Early Access program, which includes the first month of launch and an extra week prior to Perpetuum's release. Perpetuum boasts a single persistent world where one robot can, in fact, make a difference. We've been intrigued by some of the interesting ideas this dev team has whipped up, so it will be great to get our hands on the beta at last. You can read the full press announcement over on the official site.
Kid's Walker fulfills your child's dream of piloting a kickass robot suit (video)
Four years ago Sakakibara Kikai brought us a $300,000 real-life BattleMech, and the company hasn't sat idle since then -- last December, it put the final touches on a significantly smaller exoskeleton designed specifically for children. The Kid's Walker stands just over five feet tall and weighs four hundred pounds, and though the gasoline-powered creature doesn't exactly walk, its wheeled feet definitely stroll around. The Japanese company told Gizmag the suit isn't presently for sale -- just rentals for now -- but would probably cost about 1.8 million yen (around $21,600) should it come to market. If you ask us, that's a small price to pay; everyone knows it's always the young mecha pilots that end up saving the world. Video after the break.
The end of Exteel
Set the flags to half-mast, put on your blackest mech armor, and raise a glass with us: As of September 1st, Exteel is shutting its doors and powering down its giant fighting 'bots. NCsoft announced the game's cancellation with a bittersweet consolation prize in the form of a late August event where all parts and mechs will be sold for one NCcoin apiece. Exteel has been around since December 2007, a mere month after Massively itself opened its doors. While it was never a title to garner a huge amount of attention, Exteel's combination of a mech-based setting, PvP-centric play and microtransaction funding made it unique to the MMO genre. NCsoft said that the game was no longer "financially viable," adding, "We know that we have many loyal players who love Exteel. Although this decision was a painful one, in the end it was a business decision that had to be made. We encourage everyone to play and have fun with the game that you love in the time you have left."
TUAW's Daily App: 2360: Battle for Cydonia
We've been doing apps and puzzle games a lot on this feature lately, so let's not forget what makes a game really fun: a big robot blowing up lots of stuff. Fortunately, Battle for Cydonia is full of that, as you control a mech armed with dual machine guns through a series of missions on the future planet of Cydonia. It's a pretty simple affair, but the multitouch controls really make it shine -- you draw a path for your mech to take, and then just tap on enemies as they appear to shoot them down. You can upgrade the mech and its weapons over time, but the core gameplay here is just opening up a can of hot lead on anything that crosses your path. And plus, it's a free download right now -- if you like the game, you can pick up a "Signal from Titan" mission pack with new weapons, levels, and enemies to face off with for just 99 cents. Battle for Cydonia is an excellent little sci-fi shooter that's definitely worth the price.
Rumor: Gears of Wars 3 details emerge
With this morning's Dashboard surprise (or slipup), we've learned that Gears of War 3 is scheduled to emerge on Xbox 360 next April. Given that Edge Online's earlier prediction of an April 2011 release for the game was spot on, the latest details from the site's anonymous source, said to be in US publishing, could certainly be accurate. From piloting a mech (allegedly appearing in single- and multiplayer modes) to the sequel's summer setting (reported to feature underwater levels, presumably to cool off), the report makes for an interesting read if you're wondering where Marcus and crew could possibly end up next year. As for the bad guys, the Locust Horde is said to be evolving alongside the game's setting, spawning "tentacle-like appendages," which can attack players that are in cover. We've reached out to Microsoft and Epic for confirmation of any of these details, but, like Edge was told, we imagine the best we'll get is, "We don't comment on rumor or speculation."
Giant Gundam statue returns with beam saber to threaten Mt. Fuji
Want to make a giant Gundam monument more better? Give it a beam saber and erect it just 45 minutes outside of Tokyo by bullet train. The resurrected 18-meter (59-foot) tall RX-78-2 mech will replace the dismantled 30th anniversary statue built at Shiokaze Park, complete with smoke, dramatic lighting effects, and animatronic head. Look for it outside of the Shizuoka station in July assuming the latest LHC collisions don't delay things by inadvertently destroying the mecha in a cloud of Minovsky particles. One more mock-up after the break.
Caption contest: Optimus Prime moonlights as clothes dryer
What does a superpowered Transformer do in his spare time -- you know, when he's not too busy starring in some of the worst written pieces of escapist cinema? Well, for one Taiwanese fella, there's nothing Optimus Prime likes doing more than supporting a bamboo stick used for hanging washed clothes. Seriously, the dude spent $1,600 on scrap metal, built a 14-foot model of his son's favorite mech superhero, and now has it serving as a spectacularly ornamental pivot for his washing. Classy. Oh, and video after the break. Richard Lai: [pumps up hydraulics] "Why hello there, cute little red car..." Tim: "Autobots, spin cycle!" Thomas: "Transformers: Revenge of the Snuggle Bear." Darren: "Man, it's chilly out today. Wait -- these aren't my threads! RAWWRRRR!" Paul: "Oh, sure, Shia said he'll be 'right back.' I hate that kid." Josh F.: "Do these windows make me look fat?" Laura: "Get Michael Bay on the phone. Immediately." Joanna: "Mommm, bathroom!" Chris: "After nine years, Johnny 5 finally admits that he'd been juicing." Joe: "There's not much more to this than meets the eye... sadly." Don: "You think this is impressive? Wait until you see Voltron mowing my lawn." Josh T.: "I need something to do until Transformers 3 rolls around. This cocaine isn't going to buy itself."
Armored Core 5: bigger fights, smaller robots
As usual, Famitsu scans have beaten official sources to the punch, with scans of the magazine's reveal of Armored Core 5 now online. The article reveals that AC5 is a PS3/360 game, built, according to Siliconera, on the concept of "mayhem-like mecha action." The "mayhem" is the result of the new "more complicated" three-dimensional stages, featuring many different heights from which to attack. These stages will be populated by smaller mechs -- the robots will come in at around five meters tall, instead of ten as in previous Cores. The smaller mechs will be more maneuverable, according to Andriasang's summary of the article, and able to traverse smaller areas of the environments, and even hide in some corners.
Mech room for Armored Core 5 in 2010 [update]
From Software has been on a roll lately, with the hit Demon's Souls and the well-received 3D Dot Game Heroes. But what of the franchise that people most closely associate with From Software (among people who associate From Software with things) -- Armored Core? At an Armored Core Silent Line Portable tournament in Tokyo, From Software dated the PSP version of Armored Core: Last Raven for March 4, and (more excitingly) announced a brand-new entry in the mech series, Armored Core 5. No details of the sequel were revealed beyond a release date, though the new AC5 site suggests that more information will be forthcoming January 14 (or when the Famitsu leaks hit). Mysteriously, clicking the big "5" on the site links to a Google search for the word "senjou," which means "battlefield." You mean there's going to be fighting in this mech combat game? Update: Reader Kenoji has pointed us to some off-screen footage of the teaser trailer shown after the event. It's posted after the break.
ESRB rates Armored Core 3 Portable for stateside release
Giant robots on a tiny screen? How unthinkably farcical! From Software managed to see beyond this astute observation earlier this year when it ported Armored Core 3, a six-year-old PS2 title, to the PSP in Japan. It looks like America will also be exposed to this amusing juxtaposition, as the ESRB recently rated a U.S. version of Armored Core 3 Portable. From Software has yet to officially reveal a stateside version of the mega-mech sim, but we predict we'll be hearing just such an announcement soon. Hopefully, it'll be accompanied by a English-language version of the above trailer. (Such drama! It's like a robot-centric soap opera!)
Video: Power Loader has giant freaking robot arms!
We've seen our fair share of useful but ugly and pretty but pointless robotic concoctions, but nothing quite like this. The Power Loader suit, which was directly inspired by the mech outfits in Aliens, is in our humble opinion an exoskeleton done right. With two massive protruding arms, capable of lifting 220 pounds without a sweat, direct force feedback for intuitive control, and even powered legs, we're inclined to believe what we're seeing here is a tiny glimpse of the awesome mech-dominated future we've been waiting so long for. Also known as the Dual-Arm Power Amplification Robot, this is produced by Activelink, a Panasonic subsidiary, and you might be shocked to discover that there are plans afoot to commercialize it by 2015. Entrancing video after the break.
Panasonic commandeers 'Avatar' Powersuit for IFA display of force
Panasonic's IFA press event is just underway, and you know what that means: a whole bunch of TVs. 3D TVs, to be exact, and Panasonic has teamed with James Cameron's flagship 3D feature Avatar to push those wares. Best sign of this blossoming friendship? A few tons of movie prop guarding the Panasonic booth entrance. Hide your pristine wildlife and mystical native forms of understanding, people!
Mechanical cheetah comin' atcha!
Actually, it's just a sculpture with articulated joints, but by all the gods of steampunk, it looks glorious. The product of 60 hours' labor and a selection of used transmission parts, disemboweled household appliances, and 20-gauge steel, the mechanical cheetah stands 24 inches tall and 50 inches long. It looks like a stripped down robocat skeleton, and its joints can be maneuvered to mimic the movements of the real feline or to strike some downright awesome poses. Hit the source link for video of the mech cheetah simulating a run, as well as creator Andrew Chase's thoughts on the project, or click past the break for more images -- including a bonus snapshot of a mech giraffe.
Earthrise devs on risk vs. reward with mechas in organized ganks and looting
The post-apocalyptic MMO Earthrise will have PvP game mechanics tightly integrated into the sandbox game. Given the statements made by Earthrise developer Masthead Studios in the past, it's confirmed that full player looting will be both a driver and reward for PvP in this game. It's interesting to note that the inclusion of mechas in Earthrise will likely play a pivotal role in organized ganks or piracy of a sort. The Earthrise devs explained more about this today in "Mechas, Transit, and Loot" on the game's official forums. The game's community manager Moll writes: "Goliaths of steel used for combat and transit, mechas are definitely not invulnerable to damage and destruction. It takes a bit of effort, but even carefully planned and armed attacks can disrupt a planned resource transportation route and destroy a mecha."
Giant mechanized rhinoceros beetle makes its Japanese TV debut
While it's certainly not all that uncommon to see giant robots wandering the streets of Japan, it looks like even the jaded folks on the Japanese TV show "Nanikore Chin Hakkei" were impressed by this massive beetle robot built by an Ibaraki man, who apparently spent a full 11 years toiling away at it. Of course, it's not a fully autonomous robot (thankfully), but it is able to be controlled from afar with a truly impressive remote control, or from the inside, which is fully kitted out with a spaceship-style cockpit and plenty of seating for passengers. It also isn't quite able to fully stand up on all those legs, which are instead used to pull it along the ground as some wheels provide a bit of extra assistance. Still, it's quite a sight to behold, and we can't think of a single reason why you wouldn't want to check out the video after the break -- unless, of course, you hate things that are awesome.[Via NerdwithSwag.com]
Tabula Rasa's new Mechs: How do I find them?
While we gear up for the official release of Tabula Rasa's Deployment 16 onto the live servers, which is rumored to happen later this week, we find ourselves excited for the features coming along with it. These are features we've been awaiting for months, and even if we can only enjoy them for the remaining two weeks, they're fun to play with nonetheless.One of those features is the drivable Mechs, or Personal Armor Units. These PAUs were announced very early in the game's development and have become almost a joke for the game's skeptics. So we thought we'd take this opportunity to give a quick little guide on how to obtain your PAU on the test server, and eventually the live server.
Tabula Rasa to merge all servers into one
NCsoft has just announced during today's Feedback Friday that they will be merging all four Tabula Rasa servers into one main server, in preparation for the final shutdown next month. This server merge will basically combine all characters and items onto one main server, located on the East Coast of the US.In a situation like this, many factors are to be considered. What about duplicate character or clan names? Will all characters on one account be combined onto the same character selection screen? These questions, and more, are answered by a handy FAQ set up on the main TR website. They also mention a release of Deployment 16 coming during or shortly after the merge itself, which will introduce all the goodies we've been hearing about for awhile.
Rumorong: Steel Battalion Wii collapses like so many downed mechs
Our hearts were briefly aflutter this morning upon seeing news of a Steel Battalion port for the Wii. Could it be? Were we about to get a second chance at buying that insane 40-button, $200 controller/dashboard that shipped with the Xbox original? Well, no, we weren't -- and for two reasons. Reason one: Capcom was planning to develop the game with support for the Wii Remote, the Nunchuk, the Wii Wheel, and the Balance Board, and sell it for a mere $45, sans amazing controller. Reason two: the story isn't actually real. That's right: this was all a prank by Spanish site Vandal.net, which has now posted a disclaimer at the top of its article stating that the story was merely "a joke similar to the English April Fool's Day." Gutted. On the bright side, some sites are still reporting this as the real deal, which makes us feel a bit less stupid for believing it in the first place. [Via Balance Board Blog]
Tabula Rasa's PAUs and Mechs coming in next patch
Just when we thought the Tabula Rasa news couldn't get any better with today's Deployment 15 reaching the live servers, we now get word that the highly-anticipated Personal Armor Units that we've been hearing about for a year now are finally coming in Deployment 16.These PAUs and Mechs will be two separate unit types, obtainable through either a control point mech pad or in the case of the PAU, as a "mount" of sorts. PAUs will only be available to the highest level of Logos Receptives and require a certain skill requirement for usage. Right now, we have word of the Angel PAU for Specialists, the Vulcan PAU for Soldiers, the standard AFS Mech which players are already aware of, the Orson Mech which acts much like a Sapper and finally the Grendel Mech which is described as having the ability to bring down the mightiest of base defenses (it's the big guy in the screenshot above). Check out the complete announcement and let us know what you think in the comments below.
Tabula Rasa finally gets an FPS camera view
Have you ever wondered why a game like Tabula Rasa never utilized that classic first-person view, considering the fact that it's billed as an FPS-style MMO? The over-the-shoulder view never really did it for most players who were looking for more of a shooter aspect in their game. Rest easy in knowing that the FPS view is finally coming to this NCsoft sci-fi MMO, according to the latest Feedback Friday.If that's not enough, there will also be a scope view, allowing players to use their Torqueshell Rifles more authentically and adding to the immersion of playing an actual Sniper class. But wait, there's more! This Feedback Friday also describes a new mech cockpit view and increased camera distance from the character, which will be great news for the support classes who tend to hang back a bit from the front lines. Although there's no date mentioned for the implementation of these improvements, you can check out the entire news story for some impressive screenshots showcasing these new views.
