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Survival game 'Valheim' sold four million copies in three weeks of early access
Players have collectively spent more than 10,000 years in the Viking afterlife.
History's hit series 'Vikings' will live on through a sequel on Netflix
Netflix is once again rescuing a TV series that's winding down on conventional networks -- albeit not in the way you might expect. The service has unveiled Vikings: Valhalla, a spiritual sequel to Vikings that will come from series mastermind Michael Hirst. Don't expect to see any of the familiar characters -- it's set 100 years after the end of the History series and focuses on legends from the tail end of the Viking era, including Leif Erikson, Harald of Norway and even William the Conqueror. It'll focus on an "ever changing and evolving Europe," presumably including the rise of Christendom.
Journey through Viking purgatory with Jotun
We've seen games about Vikings and we've seen games about purgatory – but this is the first time we've seen a game about Viking purgatory. Jotun is a top-down, 2D, action-exploration game with mechanics inspired by classics such as The Legend of Zelda and Super Smash Bros. It's not hack-and-slash, and the game uses minimal numbers and text, meaning there are no experience points and few stats. Jotun follows Thora, a Norse warrior who dies a dishonorable death and must prove herself in purgatory, facing off against the gods to enter Valhalla, the glorious Viking afterlife. "Jotun's core loop revolves around collecting Runes to summon and fight the jotun, gigantic Norse elementals," creator William Dube says. "The game focuses on the balance between atmospheric exploration and ferocious combat. Imagine the mysterious romantic mood of Journey mixed with the scale of the boss fights in Shadow of the Colossus in top-down 2D." Jotun was Greenlit after fewer than six days on Steam's brand of community-driven purgatory, and its Kickstarter is well on its way to a CAD$50,000 goal, with almost CAD$34,000 raised and 16 days to go. Jotun is due out on PC and Mac – via Steam, of course – by September 2015, with alpha and beta launches before then. [Image: William Dube]
Ransack Steam for War of the Vikings
Those of you who woke up this morning with a craving for blood and glory will be happy to learn that publisher Paradox Interactive and developer Fatshark have officially launched War of the Vikings. Normally this is where we'd outline the historical action game's features, but in this case we can do you one better. Last week our own Richard Mitchell and Anthony Agnello were joined by War of the Vikings producer Gordon Van Dyke for a Joystiq Stream. Don't worry if you missed the initial broadcast, you can find an archive of the entire thing by visiting our original post. If that hour-long glimpse at the blood-slicked chaos of battle has piqued your interest, you can pick up War of the Vikings from Steam at a price of $25. Alternately, those of you with deeper pockets can spring for the $35 "Blood Eagle" edition of the game which offers an art book, soundtrack and special in-game gear, or the $175 "Valhalla Edition" which features all content found in the Blood Eagle version of the game, along with all future DLC content, a strategy guide, a digital novel, and quite a bit more. [Image: Paradox Interactive]
Funky free roguelike Soul Fjord out now, exclusively on Ouya
Soul Fjord is now available on the Ouya store. Developed by Airtight Games, the rhythm-action game stars an afro-sporting viking named Magnus Jones, who is hacking through enemies to get to the afterlife nightclub Valhalla. The developer describes its gameplay as "an extreme mash-up of rhythm game meets dungeon crawler with a roguelike twist," so death in the Norse mythology-based world holds some permanence, as seen in the game's launch trailer. Soul Fjord is free to download and supported by in-game purchases. Airtight previously launched first-person puzzler Quantum Conundrum for PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. Creative Director Kim Swift also served as co-creator of Valve's hit puzzle-platformer Portal. If that's not enough star power for the funky game, its soundtrack comes from Grammy-nominated Journey composer Austin Wintory.
The Banner Saga marches to PC and Mac in January
Stoic Studio's strategy RPG The Banner Saga will launch on January 14, 2014. The developer announced that the game is essentially "playable from front to back," in an update on its Kickstarter page. Stoic Studios earned $723,886 on the funding platform in April 2012 to develop the full game. The Banner Saga is a hand-animated RPG inspired by Norse culture, complete with horned vikings and characters classes like archers, warriors and raiders. Stoic Studio says the game will feature a conversation system in which player's decisions will merit some form of consequence in the game's story, which is noted as more mature than the animated visuals might indicate at first glance. The developer launched a related stand-alone, free-to-play online multiplayer game on Steam called The Banner Saga: Factions in February as a means of providing backers a taste of the turn-based combat in The Banner Saga early.
Camelot Unchained contemplates a Berserker race
Would the Beserkers make a better race than a class? That's the big question that City State Entertainment's Mark Jacobs is mulling over in today's Camelot Unchained update. The CEO delivers a rundown of what the team's accomplished recently and what the team has next on the list, but he quickly transitions into a story about the Viking warriors and asks the community if they might be better served as a race. "I've always loved these guys and initial plan was to have them as a melee class within the game," Jacobs writes. "However, it might be a heck of a lot of fun if they were their own race. I thought about it and I decided that the idea of a Berserker Mage or Berserker Healer was just way too much fun." Jacobs is soliciting feedback from the community on the topic and wrapped up the update post with an early look at the Dvergr model.
Vikings' Adrian Peterson rehabs using specially-designed games
Adrian Peterson, star running back for the Minnesota Vikings, suffered a torn ACL in December 2011. As part of Peterson's regiment to rehab his injured knee, he played Wii Fit and other specially-designed games to regain strength and balance.As seen in a video on the team's site, Peterson uses a leg press machine to guide an on-screen icon through a maze of boxes in one game, and dodge falling balls in another. The exercise machine strengthens his knee while also providing him with something other than agonizing pain to focus on. With the high-powered training programs they're used to, it's interesting to see a pro football player include games like these as part of their recovery methods.
Explore Vinland and Rome with Uncharted Waters Online's latest update
Ahoy there, sailors. It's time once again to raise your sails, man your oars, and prepare for further adventures on the seven seas with Uncharted Waters Online. A new update to the game brings players a treasure trove of new content to explore, such as the new area of Vinland, which is inhabited by fierce vikings, and the grand city of Rome, where players can test out the freshly revamped ground combat system in new PvE challenges at the historical Coliseum. On top of that, the update is also introducing a brand-new banking system that will allow players to keep their loot safe from plundering (for a minor fee, of course). And finally, players will be granted access to three new vessels in which to make the journey to Vinland. The first is the Immigrant Bark, which is modeled after the historical Mayflower that carried some of the first English settlers to North America. The other two ships are the six-sailed long schooner and commercial long schooner. So choose your vessel, get all hands on deck, and set your course for Vinland by heading over to the game's official site. [Source: Netmarble press release]
Tribal Trouble 2 plows into open beta
Although GameSamba players have had access to Tribal Trouble 2's beta since the beginning of July, the company is now throwing open the door for any and all who want to try out this colorful MMORTS. This is, of course, the sequel to 2005's goofy Vikings-vs.-natives Tribal Trouble. Tribal Trouble 2 allows you to customize a personal chieftain who can set out to try to conquer the world, one village at a time while building one of his or her own. While we question the game's merits as a self-proclaimed MMO, the title boasts both single-player missions and PvP modes, as well as an achievement board. Plus, the game has units like the fearsome Chicken Punishers, so you know it's got to be good. If you're interested, you merely need to hop over to Tribal Trouble 2's website and sign up for the open beta. The game's both free-to-play and browser-based in order to be accessible to all. Additionally, hit the jump to check out the trailer!
The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Mythica
While Microsoft may be the big cheese when it comes to operating systems and worldwide domination, for whatever reason the company has the absolute worst of luck (or worst of decision-makers) when it comes to MMOs. Microsoft Game Studios has proven remarkably skittish when it approached the swimming pool of online RPGs, choosing to dip a toe into the water, give a girlie scream, and run away without taking the dive. True Fantasy Live Online had a bumpy ride with the studio, Marvel Universe Online circled the drain faster than my morning shower, and the less said about its relationship with Vanguard's development, the better. But there was yet another aborted project that Microsoft jumped into -- and then back out of -- between 2003 and 2004, and in my opinion, it was the one the company should've stuck out to completion. I remember when Microsoft first announced Mythica, because I thought "This is gonna be cool." Vikings, Norse mythology, gods made flesh, and a big-name studio funding limitless adventures. In the pre-World of Warcraft era, the field was wide open for a company to come up and rival Sony Online Entertainment for the crown, so why not this one? But... cold water, skittish toes, and another MMO kicked the bucket before it saw the light of its first day. Take my hand (don't worry, I washed today) and we shall travel back to Ragnarök and beyond!
Call of Duty: Black Ops campaign trailer to debut during Vikings vs Jets games
Monday Night Football fans will be the first to see Activision's brand new trailer for Call of Duty: Black Ops, featuring footage of the game's single player campaign. To tease the trailer airing on ESPN next week, Activision has created a teaser trailer of the trailer, teasing you to watch a longer version of the trailer you just watched.
The Game Archaeologist and the Quest for Camelot: The history
After a two-week hiatus to recover from rattlesnake bites and a bear to the face, the Game Archeologist returns to travel to England, but not the England we know today. No, this is the England-That-Could-Have-Been, the England of King Arthur, Excalibur and pointy-hatted Vikings. This is the England of fairy tales and legends and blocky 2001-era polygon models. It is the England of three realms constantly jockeying for supremacy and power. It is Dark Age of Camelot. It's a pretty awesome place to live, even though the property values are way, way down after the last 18 marauding hordes trampled through the neighborhood. This month, the Game Archaeologist is trading in his copyright-infringement fedora and whip for a sturdy suit of armor and a fiery sword as he slashes his way into Dark Age of Camelot. It doesn't matter if it's only a model -- it still inspires him to break out into song anyway.
HDTV to blame for possible NFL playoff blackouts?
The NFL may need to rethink blackout rules in the face of swank HDTV setups and tanking economy. Word is Arizona and Minnesota are both under the gun for possible local TV blackouts of playoff games if enough tickets aren't sold this afternoon. Breaking a string of sellouts for the 0-16 Lions is one thing, being 8,000 tickets short as the Vikings were or 3,700 out for the Cardinals at last count yesterday could leave flat screens dark in the Twin Cities and Tempe this weekend. C'mon folks, someone is going to have to actually go to the game, should we start drawing straws?Read - Arizona gets another blackout deadline extensionRead - Vikings face possible blackout; thousands of playoff tickets still up for grabs
