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Transistor preview: A beautiful, tactical twist on action-RPG
Red is a fallen star, beautiful and talented yet broken and nearly defeated – until she finds the Transistor. In Supergiant Games' demo of Transistor, Red stumbles upon this giant, pulsating sword immediately, embedded in the gut of a corpse. The Transistor speaks with the voice of that dead man, urging her to take it and run. She does, with little hesitation; Red may have known this dead man once, as suggested by the stream of apologies and compassion overlaid on the gameplay.Transistor is gorgeous, seemingly hand-painted in muted neons backlit by futuristic skylines, similar in style to Supergiant's first game, Bastion. It plays, at first, with similar mechanics, as Red uses her initial two attacks to take down two robotic members of The Process, the main enemies of Transistor. In Red's world, more than 100 people have gone missing in the past year, and the imprints of the dead litter the streets, lorded over by floating white robots with glaring red sensors.%Gallery-183226%
PAX East 2013: Blizzard announces Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft CCG
What's the "something new" that Blizzard promised at PAX East? Is it Titan? A Diablo III expansion? The Lost Vikings Online? Nay, it's Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, a digital collectable card game. Blizzard announced Hearthstone in the opening minutes of the convention. The game is being developed by a new, smaller team at the studio that wanted more freedom to experiment and create quicker titles. Hearthstone is a free-to-play title that will pit players against each other over an animated 3-D table with nine classes from World of Warcraft. It will use Battle.net matchmaking to pair up users. Packs of five cards (with varying degrees of rarity) can be either earned through playing the game or purchased separately. The team wanted to make the game intuitive and simple to play, as well as dynamic and exciting to watch. Duplicate cards can be disenchanted to create new cards as well. You can watch the trailer after the jump. [Update: To be clear, the cards are earned through Hearthstone play, not WoW play.]
Ms. Splosion Man bringing power-ups to iOS by the end of March
Ms. 'Splosion Man will launch on iOS by the end of March, Twisted Pixel told Joystiq at PAX East. The game introduces power-ups, which will be specific to the iOS version of the game. Power-ups include "nuclear 'splode," a bullet-time item and a option to cheat on the game, skipping a level entirely.The "cheat" power-up isn't new to the series, as Ms. 'Splosion Man originally gave players the option to move past a level should they fail a little too much. In this case, the iOS version offers that choice via power-ups in the in-game power-up store. The game is also coming to Steam and Windows Phone.
Dean Hall: DayZ standalone alpha won't launch until at least June
DayZ, the standalone zombie survival game spawned from the popular Arma 2 mod, will enter official review in June, with plans for a widespread alpha sometime after then, creator Dean Hall tells Joystiq."We're going to review the situation in June," Hall says. "So there'll be no release between now and June. And we're quite hopeful that we'll go then. I know that people get really frustrated because they want to play, but I just think this is the best option."DayZ is basically ready for an alpha run, but Hall and his team are waiting to perfect the client-server architecture. Hall currently has 25 people in a small pre-alpha, and he hopes to get a few hundred playing DayZ before opening the alpha. DayZ alpha keys will go live in batches, possibly 50,000 at a time, and Hall is looking at a possible Kickstarter-inspired distribution model, where players would pay certain amounts to opt into the alpha and snag other goodies, in tiers."We want to release the keys in chunks of what we have servers available," Hall says. "The idea is to very, very quickly try to release something out there, because that allows us to start capacity testing. We've got one final thing we're waiting for with the release date, which is the completion of our client-server architecture. It's basically making the game into an MMO, and pretty much the moment that's done, we'll release."
Blizzard announces HearthStone at PAX East 2013 live blog
We don't have any idea what it's going to be (besides something new), but Blizzard is going to be announcing it at PAX East today. We'll keep run a live blog of the announcement right here! Expect more throughout the day. The live blog will begin in your timezone at: 10:00 a.m. EDT 9:00 a.m. CDT 8:00 a.m. MDT 7:00 a.m. PDT 2:00 p.m. London
PAX East 2013: Repopulation's crafting detailed in 21-minute video
Earlier this week The Repopulation's dev team released a combat-focused trailer on the eve of its trip to PAX East. Today, Above & Beyond Technologies has another clip to share, this one a 21-minute dive into the game's crafting mechanics. Lead dev Joshua Halls walks us through crafting events, resource attributes and refinement, and shows off the general complexity of the tradeskill mechanics. There's a brief mention of the game's crafting achievement system as well, so be sure to check out the video after the cut. If you're heading to Boston for PAX East, you can see The Repopulation at booth 581 on Friday and Saturday.
PAX East 2013: Say hello to MechWarrior Online's new trailer
There's nothing quite like convention season for bringing out a bumper crop of new videos and trailers. Today we're bringing you MechWarrior Online's new PAX East 2013 trailer, which shows off some new gameplay and highlights the title's newest features and perks. MechWarrior Online went into open beta late in 2012 and has had six major content patches since then. New testing grounds, cockpit items and consumables, a whole passel of UI and user control updates, and new 'mechs and maps have been added to the game since the open beta launch. March will also see several in-game events going on, which folks are invited to sign up to enjoy. Skip below the cut to check out the newest trailer.
Magic 2014: Duels of the Planeswalkers summoned this summer
Wizards of the Coast has announced that Magic 2014: Duels of the Planeswalkers is coming to PC, Xbox Live Arcade, the PlayStation Network, iOS, and (for the first time) Android devices this year. The new game will contain all of the cards from the Magic 2014 Core Set, as well as a new storyline teaming the player up with Planeswalker Chandra Nalaar.Neither the press release or the short teaser trailer for the game (seen below and above) mentions developer Stainless Games, but Wizards of the Coast has confirmed to Joystiq that the same team that made Duels of the Planeswalkers versions is indeed on the job again. Wizards has a demo planned at PAX East this weekend. and Magic 2014: Duels of the Planeswalkers will see release later on this summer.%Gallery-183463%
PAX East 2013: Blizzard showing off console Diablo III, 'something new' at PAX East
We're still getting over the shock that Blizzard is coming off the mount to attend PAX East this weekend, but we'll work through that to bring you some of the new details about the studio's appearance at the show. Blizzard will be planting roots at booth #1036 in the Expo Hall and has promised to show "something new" in the Naga theater at 10:00 a.m. EDT tomorrow morning. If you're not there, don't worry; Blizzard is streaming the event on Twitch.tv as well. The PlayStation 3 version of Diablo III will be available to check out via demo stations. This edition has been tailored to the console with a "reimagined" interface, new monsters, and different character controls. The team is also giving away lots of swag to those who pop by during the day. Massively's on the ground in Boston during the weekend of March 22nd to 24th, bringing you all the best news from PAX East 2013. Whether you're dying to know more about WildStar, DUST 514, or any MMO in between, we aim to have it covered!
The Daily Grind: What do you want to learn from PAX East?
Silly season is upon us folks, and no I'm not talking about NASCAR. I'm talking about gaming conventions that stretch seemingly from Easter to Christmas, and first out of the gate is this weekend's PAX East 2013 shindig in Boston. Massively is sending a trio of reporters (Eliot Lefebvre, Karen Bryan, and Matt Daniel) to bring you all the news that's fit to print about The Elder Scrolls Online, WildStar, Firefall, EVE Online, The Repopulation, and more. We'll also be kidnapping luminaries from SOE and Hi-Rez and getting them drunk enough to tell us their deepest, darkest secrets. We'll be sitting in on a number of industry- and game-specific panels, too. My point is that there's Massively's PAX East coverage, and then there's everyone else's. So if you've got burning questions on the games above or others you might have seen on the convention schedule, post them below and we'll see about wrustling up some answers. Massively's on the ground in Boston during the weekend of March 22-24, bringing you all the best news from PAX East 2013. Whether you're dying to know more about WildStar or DUST 514 or any MMO in between, we aim to have it covered!
World of Keflings dev NinjaBee to debut 'Nutjitsu' at PAX East
Developer NinjaBee (makers of XBLA hits like Cloning Clyde, A Band of Bugs and A World of Keflings) is revealing a brand new game at this weekend's PAX East show, titled Nutjitsu. That title is all we have so far; NinjaBee says it'll be playable at the show (booth #599, if you're going), but doesn't say anything else about what it is. It's kung-fu fighting squirrels, right? Can it be kung-fu fighting squirrels?In addition to the new game, NinjaBee is also showing off A World of Keflings for Wii U and the recently released version for Windows 8. It's also giving away prizes, including a free copy of Kingdom of Keflings for PC to anyone who plays any of the demos, and 1600 Microsoft points to the high scorer on Nutjitsu every day. If you can't be at the show, don't worry, because we will. Stay tuned for coverage this weekend.
PAX East 2013 live stream schedule
We're shipping up to Boston for PAX East 2013, which runs Friday, March 22 to Sunday, March 24, but you may not be so fortunate. Or maybe you just didn't snag tickets in time, or you couldn't find someone to watch your cats this weekend. Whatever the reason you can't come out to PAX East, Twitch has you covered with live streams of main stage panels, concerts and the Omegathon tournament.Check out the PAX channel on Twitch this weekend for live streams such as Storytime with Cliff Bleszinski on Friday, Indie Studios Founded by 38 Studios Alumni on Saturday and You Game Like a Girl: Tales of Trolls and White Knights on Sunday. The full schedule is below. If Twitch shows any footage of the show floor, be on the lookout for your favorite Joystiq staff: We'll be the ones grinning maniacally and/or teetering on the edge of a claustrophobic breakdown.
Tiny Brains is first project from former Assassin's Creed, Dead Space devs
Tiny Brains is the first game coming from a new Montreal-based developer called Spearhead Games, made up of developers from popular franchises like Assassin's Creed, Dead Space, and Army of Two. Developers Simon Darveau (who served as design director on Assassin's Creed 3), Malik Boukhira, and Atul Mehra are starting their company together with this co-op puzzle game in which four players, in the guise of test animals, escape a lab and defeat the scientists who have captured you. Platforms for the game are still unannounced, but Spearhead tells us it will be playable this weekend at PAX East. Given the pedigree, we look forward to seeing exactly what these guys have made.%Gallery-183228%
Mark of the Ninja 'Special Edition' DLC adds flashback level, new play style
Klei Entertainment is adding to its delightful 2D stealth game Mark of the Ninja with a "Special Edition" DLC meant to evoke a "Criterion Collection" release of the original. The DLC, due this summer for a mysteriously invisible price, adds a flashback level starring the tattoo artist Dosan, a new equippable play style including a "nonlethal takedown ability," a new stealth-focused item, and a "more direct" new item.As a "Criterion Collection" addition, Klei also recorded developer commentary, which can be accessed at "commentary nodes" throughout the game, in six different languages.If you successfully infiltrate PAX East, you'll be able to get a sneaking peek at the Special Edition at Klei's booth. It will be released on both Steam and XBLA.
The Elder Scrolls Online invites fans to a PAX party
You, yes you, are cordially invited to attend one of the least exclusive but most festive shindigs at PAX East this weekend. The Elder Scrolls Online team is throwing a party on Saturday evening for any and all who show up (on a first-come, first-served basis, of course) at the Castle Meeting Space in downtown Boston. Starting at 6:00 p.m. EST, the party includes Tamriel-inspired foods, music, contests, and the opportunity to play TESO in person. The event is open to anyone 13 and older, so you don't have to be attending PAX to get an advance peek at one of the hottest upcoming MMOs!
SOE meet and greet at PAX East open to everyone
Want a chance to rub elbows with some of the movers and shakers in the SOE world? Then head to the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel on March 22nd for a meet and greet during PAX East. Don't worry if you don't have tickets for the convention itself; the event on Friday night from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. EDT is open to the public. Representatives from a number of SOE's titles will be there to chat, share stories, and even answer questions about the various games. You could discuss PlanetSide 2 strategies with Community Rep Maggie Krohn, discuss EverQuest's latest expansion with Sr. Community Manger Eric Cleaver, or even corner EQ franchise director Dave Georgeson and see what news about EQ Next he might let slip! Dragon's Prophet Senior Producer Todd Carson will also be on hand to answer your questions about, well, dragons. And rumor has it that the drinks are on Brasse! What's a con event without swag? Dragon's Prophet priority access beta keys as well as T-shirts will be given out on a first come, first served basis. EQ goodies might be had as well. Folks planning to drop by can RSVP on the official Facebook event page and follow updates on the various games' respective twitter accounts.
Capcom bringing two new projects to PAX East, full schedule up now
PAX East 2013 takes over Boston from Friday, March 22 to Sunday, March 24, and those days are jam-packed with top-tier panels (and all those other talks that people sit through to get to the good ones). Check out the entire PAX East schedule on the official site.Notable in the lineup is confirmation that Capcom will announce two new "products" during its World of Capcom panel at noon on March 22. Capcom will discuss Remember Me, Lost Planet 3, Resident Evil Revelations, Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen and the two new projects, the panel description reads. There are 16 other events at the same time as World of Capcom, including a Magic: The Gathering 4 Booster Sealed Deck tabletop tournament, a discussion with Crystal Dynamics about the new Tomb Raider and a Persona 4 Arena tournament.We suggest starting to schedule now.
Neverwinter's Great Weapon Fighter playable at PAX East
Perfect World has announced its plans for PAX East, and Neverwinter will be prominently featured on 18 demo stations. The event marks the public's first chance to lay hands on the Great Weapon Fighter class, and long-time Forgotten Realms author R.A. Salvatore will also be dropping by the Neverwinter booth for a book signing on March 22nd and 23rd. PAX East runs from March 22nd through March 24th in Boston, Massachusetts. Neverwinter may be found at booth 624 on the show floor. In other news, Perfect World has released a new teaser video focused on the title's mounts. You can view it after the cut. [Source: Perfect World press release]
EVE Online hits 500,000 subscribers, heads into second decade
Most modern MMOs launch to an initial flurry of sales followed by a steady decline in player activity, but sci-fi MMO EVE Online has lived life in reverse. The game initially failed to secure a large number of launch sales but has since grown organically into one of the most successful subscription MMOs on the planet. EVE developer CCP Games told Massively today that the game has now officially broken the 500,000 subscription barrier. Subscription numbers hit the 450,000 mark following the relaunch of EVE's Chinese server Serenity in December of last year, and they have continued to climb ever since. This new subscription milestone is attributed to the success of EVE's recent Retribution expansion and the anticipation building over upcoming console MMOFPS DUST 514, which is set on actual planets in the EVE universe. EVE is due to hit its 10th anniversary this year on May 6th, and developers have been taking the opportunity to look forward at what the coming decade will bring to the game. We caught up with CCP for a quick peek at the studio's plans for the future and to find out what kind of announcements we can expect from EVE Fanfest in April of this year.
Final warning: PAX East 2013 almost totally sold out [update: all gone]
The official PAX twitter account notes that PAX East is "down to the last 500" tickets for Sunday, March 24. Three-day passes sold out last year and tickets for Friday and Saturday have been sold out for a while.Take this as your final warning if you have any intention of attending the Boston event, being held March 22-24. Grab a Sunday ticket here. Tickets aren't likely to last the next 24 hours.Update: And it's sold out!
