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Shadow of Mordor enemies less devious on Xbox 360, PS3
Monolith Productions is doing "whatever we can" to ensure feature parity between the Xbox 360, PS3 versions of Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and the Xbox One, PS4 offerings. But the developer admits this may be an impossibility and reveals the game's core hook, the Nemesis system driving its procedurally-generated enemies, will likely lack some complexity on Xbox 360 and PS3 when the game launches this year. "To break it down, some of the stuff we're pretty confident will still be very similar on current gen: the core mechanics, like combat, stealth, ranged and movements; the basic control and gameplay, that should all be really solid," Monolith Design Director Michael De Plater told IGN. "What it won't have is the same level of depth and variety and simulation within the 'Nemesis system.'" De Plater added that the Nemesis system is "just so huge in terms of content, calculations and AI we'll just have to try and get as much of it in as we can." The Nemesis system is the mechanic driving Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor's core gameplay loop. Protagonist Talion, on a mission of revenge, explores Mordor and isolates Orcs in order to extract information on Sauron's army. This information reveals not only Orc hierarchy, but also the vulnerabilities and strengths of individual Orc commanders, each of which are procedurally-generated by the game. We were able to go in-depth with Shadow of Mordor's Nemesis system last month, though admittedly all we saw was the next-gen version running on a high-end PC. Monolith was unwilling to discuss the planned Xbox 360 and PS3 versions at the time. [Image: Warner Bros.]
Batman Arkham Origins Blackgate Deluxe hits PC, consoles April 1
Batman Arkham Origins: Blackgate will receive a Deluxe Edition version on April 1, Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment announced today. The Deluxe Edition will launch digitally on PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U and PC via Steam after Blackgate was previously only available on Vita and 3DS. The transition to consoles and PC isn't a total surprise: Blackgate was spotted on the Xbox Games Store earlier this month and on Steam in January. Batman Arkham Origins: Blackgate Deluxe Edition will include "enhanced high-definition 2.5-D graphics" as well as a new map and hint system. Deluxe Edition owners will be able to unlock a Zero Year Batsuit skin in addition to all the outfits in the game. The game will cost $20 on the PSN, Xbox Live, Nintendo eShop and Steam digital platforms. [Image: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment]
Turbine suffers another round of layoffs
Gamasutra and Twitter are reporting that an unspecified number of Turbine employees have been fired today in a new round of layoffs. A Warner Bros. representative responded with an official statement: "As part of our normal business process, we're routinely looking at the strategic alignment of our company. Unfortunately, in order for us to invest in growth areas at Turbine, we have to eliminate some positions. These are always tough decisions, which we don't approach lightly, but it's crucial that Turbine is structured in a way that reflects the current and coming marketplace." Massively has reached out to Turbine for additional comments.
Infinite Crisis brings Star Sapphire into the fold
Just in time for Valentine's Day, Turbine has announced that the "champion of love," Star Sapphire, is coming to Infinite Crisis. Star Sapphire wields her namesake's ring, able to channel love and keep the Predator entity in check. In the game, she's a ranged damage dealer who's best kept out of immediate harm's way. She can choose to unleash the Predator to do damage or to keep it attached for a speed boost. Star Sapphire will be added to the game on February 26th. You don't have to wait until then to check out her moves, however, as we've got her champion spotlight video after the break! [Source: Turbine press release]
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate appears on Xbox Games Store
Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate is lurking in the shadows of the Xbox Games Store, a month after it was caught sneaking around Steam. The Armature Studio-developed 2.5D platformer came to 3DS and Vita alongside the main Origins game, and now it's listed to hit Xbox 360 in an HD "Deluxe Edition," with the release date noted as March 25. Let's work what this means by channeling the spirit of Adam West. Hmm,... Steam. Take the "s" out of Steam and you get "Team." Teams... soccer teams... soccer teams get the ball into the penalty box to score a goal. Box! And as we all know, X marks the spot. X... Box. Xbox! The clues all point to a multiplatform arrival in the near future, although we're still waiting on official word from Warner Bros. on any of this. Quick, to the Announcement-mobile! [Image: Microsoft]
DC Animated to tap Batman: Arkham franchise for 2014 film
Warner Bros. Entertainment will be adapting the Batman: Arkham series of games into an animated film for release sometime later this year, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Details, much like Riddler trophies and Chronicles of Arkham, are rare, scattered and a bit confusing. For example, we know the name - Batman: Assault on Arkham - and what the adaptation isn't. According to Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. is remodeling its DC Animated Movies line so that they share a single continuity - think of how Marvel Studios built up to The Avengers and you've got an idea of how this will work. WB plans to release two movies per year that will fall into this new continuity, as well as a third film that does not tie into the DC Animated Movies continuity. Batman: Assault on Arkham is slated as that third film for 2014. Jay Olivia, director of Justice League: War is set to direct. According to the film's IMDB page, Mark Hamill will not reprise his role as Joker, though Kevin Conroy will once again take up the cowl as Batman. [Image: Warner Bros.]
Lego Star Wars Microfighters zooms to iOS
You won't need to use the Force to play Lego Star Wars Microfighters, the new top-down shooter from TT Games - unless "the Force" is what you've nicknamed your iPod, iPhone or iPad. The iOS game is based on the Lego toy line of the same name, and allows you to pilot iconic spacecraft from the Star Wars universe. Players can choose to strap in to a number of craft from the Clone Wars and Galactic Civil War eras. X-Wings? They're in there. Millenium Falcon? You betcha. Snowspeeder? Of course. For those megalomaniacal and evil enough, there's even a Death Star to be piloted. Ships are flown through 18 levels take take place on Endor, Hoth, Yevon and Geonosis. The cost for entry into this brick-and-pegs-filled wonderland is pretty micro as well: just $0.99 puts you in the pilot seat. Good luck, and may the Force - you know, your iOS device - be with you. [Image: Warner Bros Entertainment]
Infinite Crisis travels to Russia
Russian-speaking DC Universe fans across the pond will be able to play Infinite Crisis in their native tongue thanks to the combined efforts of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Fabrika Online. The MOBA will be available in Russia, Ukraine, the CIS countries, and Georgia with full Russian language support. David Haddad, Senior VP of Digital Publishing at WBIE noted that this was just the first step toward delivering this competitive experience to gamers around the world. Regarding the collaboration with Fabrika Online, Haddad stated, "We are very excited about the launch of Infinite Crisis in Russian and are especially thrilled to be working with Fabrika Online. The company has a huge footprint in the local online gaming market with the ability to activate the community and provide customer support." The Russian closed beta is available now; interested players can sign up on the language's official site. [Source: WBEI press release]
Batman: Arkham Origins story campaign DLC canceled on Wii U
Wii U owners won't be getting the upcoming Arkham Origins story campaign DLC, after Warner Bros. made the decision to cancel it due to a lack of demand. WB confirmed the news in a statement given to VG247, after GoNintendo published a supposed Nintendo of America email spilling the bat-beans. The Nintendo system and the latest Batman haven't been a dynamic duo, starting with WB not bringing multiplayer to the Wii U version for similarly quantitative reasons. WB's belated call to not give the Wii U further single-player content is curious, especially since there's other DLC from the game on the eShop, such as skins and challenge packs. The one ray of good in today's news is that, going by the email published by GoNintendo, Nintendo of America is issuing a full refund to those who bought the season pass, despite some of the DLC it covers already being out. Whether that decision is WB's or Nintendo's, it is at least the right one.
Research is a vehicle for revenge in Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is more than mindlessly killing scores of Orcs. Sure, there's plenty of that, but more important are the game's main hooks surrounding guerrilla information-gathering and systematic assassination of key targets in a growing military force. Like an undercover cop busting a drug addict on the street and climbing the chain to the top, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor sets players on a course of disruption as they ascend through the ranks of the Dark Lord Sauron's army on a mission of revenge.
Infinite Crisis reveals the Man of Steel as a champion
Modeling Superman in any video game is kind of problematic, since his whole schtick is that he's faster than anything, invulnerable, and strong enough to fling the moon into the sun if he really wanted to. This already presents some problems when balancing for a single-player game, but in a game like Infinite Crisis, how can you make sure that the Man of Steel feels like himself without making him massively overpowered? The video past the cut shows off Turbine's take on the character. In essence, each of Superman's skills gives him a damage shield, with subsequent skills improving the shield, making him much harder to take down. His iconic abilities are all in place -- super-speed, strength, heat vision, and the like -- all adding up to a character that hits hard while being difficult to take down. Take a gander at the video to see just how the Last Son of Krypton will perform in the arena. [Source: Turbine press release]
Infinite Crisis adds Atomic Poison Ivy
A new villain has joined the Infinite Crisis lineup, and she uses her nuclear-imbued powers to protect friends and entrap her enemies. Atomic Poison Ivy, created when a nuclear fallout withered and mutated her world's plant life as well as transformed her into a human/plant hybrid, is none-too-happy with humanity for causing the destruction. Her skills, Poisoned Earth, Bramble Rapture, and Wall of Thorns, deal power damage. Atomic Poison Ivy's passive, Toxic Growth, marks opponents for additional damage and her ultimate, Secrets of the Forest, provides an AoE stealth and power armor buff for allies. Check out all these skills in action and get a few tips and tricks for playing Atomic Poison Ivy in the video below. [Source: Turbine press release]
Dying Light hits the streets in nighttime gameplay video
This gameplay walkthrough video for Dying Light, which is nearly ten minutes long, guides players through the game's changes from day to night and shows the amped-up zombie threat as light in the game, well, dies out. The game will launch in 2014 for PC, Xbox 360, PS3, Xbox One and PS4.
Batman: Arkham Origins unleashes 'Hunter, Hunted' multiplayer mode
Warner Bros. has released an update for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC versions of Batman: Arkham Origins adding the new competitive "Hunter, Hunted" mode to the game's online multiplayer component. "Hunter, Hunted" is a 3v3v1 mode that throws three Bane thugs, three Joker henchmen, and one very pissed-off Batman into the same map for a chaotic team-based battle to the death. There are no respawns in this mode, making thugs especially fragile and keeping the stakes high throughout. "Hunter, Hunted" is available as part of a free update, and follows up on the recent launch of Arkham Origins' Initiation DLC. The game's upcoming "Narrative DLC" pack will complete Arkham Origins' planned Season Pass content next year.
Lego: The Hobbit trailer is looking to share in an adventure
Coming just after the second Hobbit film hit cinemas, this trailer reminds us how very much we've seen of the Lego and Lord of the Rings properties in recent years. Then we see the bit with the washing machine and the pig, and we're ready for a bit more. Lego: The Hobbit is based on the first two films in Peter Jackson's trilogy of adaptations, and it ventures onto a teeming fellowship of systems in spring 2014, including the Xbox One, PS4, Wii U, PS3, Xbox 360, Dreamcast*, Vita, 3DS, PC, Mac, and Atari Lynx*. *What, were you expecting a disclaimer saying these ones weren't real? No, they're real. They're really real** **Alright, no they're not.
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Infinite Crisis trailer introduces Robin
While full of plenty of superheroes to play, Infinite Crisis has not forgotten about the sidekicks that fight alongside them. The latest playable hero to join the MOBA's roster is none other than Robin, based on Tim Drake. Cast as (what else) a melee support role, Robin benefits his team with skills such as This Guy, Bo Master, and Dynamic Duo, each skill offering various team buffs and enemy debuffs. Robin's ultimate, Emergent Leader, combines AoE damage with team buffs. Gather some hints and tips for utilizing Robin in the reveal trailer below. Folks interested in playing Robin -- or any of the other heroes -- for themselves, can sign up for closed beta on the official site. [Source: Turbine press release]
A Mild-Mannered Reporter: Superhero games across November
After a couple of very active months, November was a bit calmer for superheroic games as a whole. It makes sense, of course, since pretty much every game is calmer during November and December aside from sales and holiday events. But there were few big Kickstarter campaigns, a lot of updates that everyone knew were coming, and of course a very poignant anniversary for pretty much everyone reading this column today. That having been said, the entire month was not a slow funeral dirge for the loss of City of Heroes. In fact, one game apparently decided that the otherwise quiet month was a great time to make some big changes right off the bat, so that's pretty cool. Venture on past the cut with me and we'll take a look at the superhero news from November in review... and possibly bow our heads briefly in respect for the departed.
Infinite Crisis brings out Mecha Wonder Woman
She may be metal and gears, but underneath that she's all woman too. She's Mecha Wonder Woman, the newest champion to come to Infinite Crisis. Mecha Wonder Woman originated as a diplomatic robot for Queen Hippolyta, but decided to get into the superhero vengeance game when the queen was assassinated. The Justice Consortium upgraded her, giving Mecha Wonder Woman the ability to dispense justice with an iron fist. We've got your first look at Mecha Wonder Woman in a video after the break, so check it out and see if this MOBA champion might be calling to your own sense of justice. [Source: Turbine press release]
Lego: The Hobbit confirmed, sets off for lots of systems this spring
Warner Bros. has officially announced the Lego: The Hobbit video game, after promotional material leaked last week. It's based on the first two movies in Peter Jackson's adaptive trilogy, and it's due in spring 2014 on Xbox One, PS4, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii U, Vita, 3DS, PC and (pause for breath) Mac. Lego: The Hobbit looks to follow developer TT Games' much-tried-and-tested formula, with players guiding the film's myriad of characters, large and hobbit-sized, as they solve puzzles and explore some of the "key locations from the films," including Bag End, the Misty Mountains, Hobbiton, Goblin-town, Mirkwood, and Rivdendell. And since he stars in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, we get to say that Lego-las will probably feature too.
Dying Light trailer is a fly-by tour of the apocalypse
In this trailer for Dying Light, the next zombie game from Dead Island developer Techland, we get a glimpse at the world humanity has lost. Dilapidated buildings, shuffling corpses, small bands of survivors and god beams seem to be all that's left on Earth.
