Medal of Honor Campaign Footage Features Three-Minutes of Helicopter Anarchy
The latest gameplay footage for EA’s upcoming military-shooter Medal of Honor features three minutes of high-flying action.
In the footage–pulled directly from the single-player campaign–developer Danger Close showcases a mission that is heavy on both explosive gunfire and destructible environments.
Also, the footage features some chatty soldiers. Sorry, folks. Can’t talk right now. Too busy tearing the world a new one. In the footage–pulled directly from the single-player campaign–developer Danger Close showcases a mission that is heavy on both explosive gunfire and destructible environments.
Also, the footage features some chatty soldiers. Sorry, folks. Can’t talk right now. Too busy tearing the world a new one.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Multiplayer Gets Currency, Wagers, Bots, and More
At last night’s Call of Duty: Black Ops Multiplayer Reveal event, it became clear that developer Treyarch is putting a lot into the next online Call of Duty.
Players will now unlock guns, grenades, equipment, attachments, killstreaks, and everything else through in-game currency, which is earned through playing the game. You will still level-up through experience points, which may unlock the privilege of purchasing some new guns, but everything will be purchased. This means that players can unlock the weapons they want without having to grind through guns that they’ll never use.
Its said that this currency is entirely in-game and will not be sold through microtransactions, which is something what was immediately expected when the system was introduced. Since it is tied to the game’s progression system so closely, it will not be something to buy with real money.
There are two ways to earn more currency, dubbed “CoD Points” or “CP” for short: Wager Matches and Contracts. Wager matches consist of four free-for-all gametypes that are different than the standard CoD gameplay. Only the top three players will win money and everyone has to ante-up to compete. They are:
- One in the Chamber – Everyone starts with a pistol and a single bullet. Each kill earns an additional bullet. One-hit kills only. Waste your bullet(s) and you’re left with your trusty knife.
- Sticks and Stones – Everyone gets the crossbow, ballistics knife, and a tomahawk (throwing knife, basically). Kills with the crossbow and knife earn points. Kills with the tomahawk will bankrupt the unlucky recipient.
- Gun Game – The first to get a kill with all 20 weapons wins the game. Everyone starts with the same gun and a kill instantly switches you to the next gun in line. Melee kills will drop the killed player back a gun. The guns go, roughly, from pistols, to shotguns, to submachine guns, to assault rifles, to machine guns, to sniper rifles, to explosive weapons, and finishes off with the crossbow and then ballistics knife.
- Sharpshooter – Everyone has the same gun, always. Guns switch automatically every :45 seconds to something random. The final gun nets double points.
The second way to earn more CP is through Contracts. These can be purchased and are time-limited challenges with payouts if completed. Harder challenges net more CP. A player may have one active contract in each of the three categories–Mercernary, Operations, and Specialist–and can be tracked along any statistic in the game.
These might be things like getting 5 kills with an assault rifle without dying, winning two team deathmatch games, or stabbing three enemies in the back. Contracts can yield both XP and CP, depending on the specific challenge. Treyarch can also post new challenges directly to the game without the need for an update, similar to the way new playlists can be created.
For those players that aren’t ready to jump online, Treyarch is adding “Training Dummies” for some botmatches in “Combat Training”. Players will level-up and unlock new gear offline, but it will be separate from the online persona. The bots will have three difficulty levels and can play on any map in free-for-all and team deathmatch games. This mode can also be played cooperatively with friends against bots.
As teased in the multiplayer trailer, Black Ops will also include a theater mode, which will allow players to view replays of their most recent matches, chop out video clips and screenshots, and share their creations with the community at large. It will allow players to view the action, in both first- and third-person, from any participant in the match. All in all, it’s extremely similar to the theater mode in Halo 3.
Kinect Voice Controls Limited to Select Regions at Launch, Available to English-Speaking Canadians
Eurogamer Spain reported that the upcoming motion-sensing peripheral would not support Spanish-speaking users for its voice commands. According to Microsoft Spain’s PR & Event Manager Lydia Pitzalis, the device’s voice-recognition feature is only set to support users in the U.S., U.K., Mexico and Japan at launch. Other regions would see voice support added in Spring 2011.
Although Pitzalis also stated that Canadian users would be left without the feature, Microsoft has told Shacknews that this was a misunderstanding.
“In Canada, English voice controls for Kinect will be available on November 4, 2010, with French support available in Spring 2011,” a Microsoft Canada representative told Shacknews .
According to Pitzalis’ original statements, the limitations to French-speaking Canadians makes sense since France will also see voice support held until 2011. Eurogamer Spain notes that users who purchase the hardware in “locked” regions will not be able to speak English to the unit. The functionality is actually disabled in the hardware and won’t be available until the peripheral is updated in 2011.
Shacknews has asked Microsoft to provide a list of countries that will see voice support added in 2011, but has yet to hear back at the time of publishing.
GTA: Chinatown Wars HD Coming to iPad September 9
Rockstar has announced that Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars is making its way to iPad soon, in a graphically-updated, high-definition version of the game that was previously released for the DS, PSP, iPhone, and iPod touch.
The HD iPad version will include the same features developed specifically for the previous iPhone and iPod touch versions, including different difficulty modes, the iTunes customizable radio station (Independence Radio), and full Multi Touch interface controls.
Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars HD hits the App Store on September 9 for $9.99
Aion footage shows Gelkmaros zone as Balaurea precursor
Assault of Balaurea sure likes like a pretty war.
NCsoft has put out an HD look at Aion’s new Asmodian zone, Gelkmaros.
This will debut with the launch of expansion Assault on Balaurea later next month.
Apparently, “Reports from the front line indicate that the Elyos have secured a base of operations in Inggison, while the Asmodians continue to defend their region of Gelkmaros.
“This thrust is merely the first battle in a war that will be fought by all Daevas and consume all of Atreia.”
As it ever was, this is a seriously good-looking MMO. Watch out for the upside mushrooms and obligatory flying.
BFBC2 Ultimate Edition trailered
If you don’t already own this, you’re about to have no excuse to catch up.
EA just said put out an HD trailer for an Ultimate Edition of Battlefield Bad Company 2, confirming all its contents.
The pack includes the game, four-player co-op-based Onslaught mode, Battlefield 1943 and access to six vehicle and weapon upgrades in alternate vehicle fire, improved vehicle armour, a new SMG, the M1911 pistol, a tracer dart pistol and something else that either isn’t listed or we missed. Que sera.
The last hurrah for EA Dice’s much-loved shooter releases on September 3 for 360 and PS3.
Transforming 360 d-pad update confirmed, new controller out November 9
Nelson just confirmed that a new 360 wireless pad, with the much-rumoured revamped d-pad, will release on November 9.
The d-pad switches from a disc to a raised cross, amazingly. Pics and video after the break.
In addition to the new d-pad, the matte silver controller also features concave analog sticks and gray A,B,X,Y buttons for added style.
The controller will only be available with the new Play & Charge Kit that will launch on November 9th for US $64.99.
They’re going to be showing a few of these at PAX in Seattle this week. Otherwise, you’ll just have to wait till November.
Mafia II dates Jimmy’s Vendetta DLC
Fresh off a UK number one this morning, 2K’s just announced a date for the second piece of Mafia II DLC.
Titled Jimmy’s Vendetta, the content adds 30 new missions and follows Jimmy, a hitman from the look of it, as he travels about. Killing people.
It’s out on September 7 for both 360 and PS3 at $9.99/800 MSP.
The game’s first piece of DLC, The Betrayal of Jimmy, was a PS3 exclusive.
GAME now offering full games via “Downloader”
Want Medal of Honor day one and can’t be bothered to go to GAME? No worries. Just go to GAME.
UK retailer GAME’s now offering full game downloads via its “Downloader,” as you can see here.
You can buy the full version of Mafia II to download right now, and, as you can see here, the biggest games in the coming quarter will be available day and date with the High Street discs.
GAME will be looking to push away from solely relying on brick and mortar sales after recent, disastrous results.
Company of Heroes Online gameplay movie shows tactical options
A new Company of Heroes Online trailer has shown of a ton of gameplay today, detailing the Allies various tactical options. Did we mention this is free to play?
Players can pick between Infantry, Armored of Airborne forces, all of which have their strengths and weaknesses.
The MMORTS features Hero units, unlockable abilities and loads of other gumph.
Relic made this, so pay attention. You can register now at CompanyOfHeroes.com for a chance at beta testing and more.
There’s no exact date on this, but it was “fall” at the latest count, so you shouldn’t have too long to wait.
Dungeon Defenders Protecting PC, PSN, and Xbox Live Arcade This Fall
Trendy Entertainment has announced Dungeon Defenders, a new arena-based downloadable title that combines role-playing, tower-defense, and action gameplay.
Due out sometime this Fall, Dungeon Defenders will support online and offline co-operative play for up to four players, and feature four playable character classes, fifteen arenas, and multiple gameplay modes.
Developed using Unreal Engine 3, a quick look at the trailer and screens reveal a very colorful experience. PlayStation 3 owners will also be happy to note that their version of the game is compatible with the PlayStation Move and supports stereoscopic 3D.
“Dungeon Defenders turns the tower defense genre on its head and adds a degree of depth seldom seen in a digital title,” asserts Trendy Entertainment’s director of development, Jeremy Stieglitz. “There is meaty character leveling and customization, awesome loot drops and plenty of team-oriented defensive strategy to manage, but then you have this action-packed wave-based standoff that gets continually more intense. It’s as deep as it is instantly fun.”
Hit iPhone Game Angry Birds Headed to Playstation Store This Fall
Angry Birds always comes up in conversations about must-have iPhone games; this fall it hopes to find a new audience as a downloadable PlayStation Mini. Along with the general announcement press release, Johnny Coghlan, head of publishing at Chillingo, hopped on the PlayStation blog where he promised, “visuals are optimized for the PSPgo to ensure the overall experience is the best it can be on the platform.”
On Apple’s devices, the game no doubt owes much of its success to how well-suited it is to touch controls. The player launches cannonball-like birds from slingshot catapults at rickety castles in an attempt to bring them down. The trick to it is using your finger to drawback the shot at just the right tension and angle to get the desired trajectory. Translating this intuitive sense of launching the birds to the traditional controls of an analog stick and buttons poses a challenge for the port.
The Minis version of Angry Birds will include four worlds—featuring a new 4th world, “The Big Set Up”&mdash with over 120 levels, a bonus Golden Egg World, and a new “big brother” bird.
Guild Wars 2’s necromancer detailed, glowing eyes confirmed
An MMO necromancer that’s a “practitioner of the dark arts” and can “cheat death”? Who knew?
ArenaNet’s dropped full details on Guild Wars 2’s necromancer, as you can see here.
This dude raises the dead. He has glowing eyes. He has a stick. He “feeds on death and decay”. He’s a “real swell guy”.
The necromancer’s key trick is to continue fighting after death. Rather than “dying” when he runs out of health, he automatically activates his Death Shroud ability, meaning he can continue fighting in ghost form form until “he either runs out of life force or he gets a kill, rallying back into his own corpse.”
We got to talk to Guild Wars 2’s developers at gamescom, and they’re either unwisely confident or they have a game-changing product on their hands.
The video below, showing a necromancer in action, suggests the latter.
BioWare announces Dragon Age DLC – Witch Hunt
BioWare’s announced another piece of story DLC for Dragon Age: Origins, known as Witch Hunt.
Danger: Origins’ end is spoiled below the fold.
According to the info via the game’s website, it’s been a year since the Archdemon was defeated, and now you’re going to have to find Morrigan in what the developer’s called the “dramatic conclusion to the Origins storyline.”
It’ll be available on September 7 – the same day as the new Mass Effect 2 DLC – for 560 MS/BioWare points and $6.99 on PSN.
You can get screens here.
Your Origins DLC well is about to run dry; Dragon Age 2 releases on March 11, 2011 on PS3, 360 and PC.
Kinect, Move won’t extend lifespan of PS3, 360, says Ubisoft
Ubisoft’s Alain Corre has told GI he doesn’t expect Kinect and Move to extend the lifespan of either 360 or PS3, saying that the motion tech will only bring a short-term boost to the market.
Instead, Corre – the publisher’s European managing director – said next year’s big success will be 3DS.
When asked if both hardware would extend the current hardware cycle by at least another two years, he said: “I don’t think so, no.”
He added: “Yes, it’s a good extension of the lifecycle for a certain length of time and it’s also a good way to capture some consumers they didn’t have on the casual side, because Microsoft’s 360 and Sony’s PlayStation 3 do not have the casual customers. So it will bring in a new category of customer for them.”
Corre’s comments clash with those made recently by 360 Euro boss Chris Lewis, who said Xbox 360 will be offered for another five years, thanks in part to Kinect.
The Ubi exec reckons both MS and Sony are already hard at work on new hardware.
Mac OS accounts for only 5% of Steam use
Valve’s published its latest Steam usage stats, showing that only 5.07 percent of the download service’s users are playing with Macs.
MacOS 10.6.3 64-bit accounted for 4.3 percent of total Steam use, with MacOS 10.5.8 64-bit adding the extra 0.77 percent.
Of those using Steam on Macs, a whopping 47 percent owned MacBook Pros. Nearly 54 percent of all Mac users packed 4Gb of RAM.
The Mac version of Steam launched in May, with Portal given away for free.
Windows XP 32-bit is still the most popular Steam OS at 32.73 percent of total use.
Second is Windows 7 64-bit at 28.24 percent, followed by Windows Vista 32-bit at 13.71 percent.
You can look at the entire stat page here.
Mafia II reviews come in, Eurogamer shocks with 4/10
Following the lifting of the Mafia II’s review embargo yesterday, Eurogamer has now gone live with a bone-crunching 4/10 score, by far the lowest published. Get the lot after the break.
The scores for 2K Czech’s crime caper are a mixed bag. A bit like a body-bag. In someone’s “trunk”. This is going nowhere.
Get the full list below below. It’s out in the US today and in Europe on Friday.
- Eurogamer.net – 4/10
- Eurogamer.fr – 10/10
- MTV Multiplayer
- Kotaku
- D’Toid – 6.5 (360), 7.5 (PS3)
- NowGamer – 8.3 (PC), 8.0 (360) and 8.1 (PS3)
- Joystiq – 3.5/5
- IGN – 7.0
- GamePro – 3.5/5
- G4 – 4/5
- CVG – 8/10
- Crave Online
- Multiplayer – 9/10
- Gamespot – 8.5/10
- 1UP – B
If you have any more links to add, do so below.
Mafia II releases tomorrow in the US, with a UK launch on Friday for PS3, 360 and PC.
ME2 DLC, Lair of the Shadowbroker, out on September 7
BioWare will release the next piece of story DLC for Mass Effect 2, Lair of the Shadowbroker, in two weeks time.
The developer’s confirmed t’ll be available for 800 MS/BioWare points from Tuesday, September 7.
There’s four new screens of the DLC through here.
The content sees the return of Liara, and charges Shepard to find out more on the Shadow Broker.
There’ll also be five new achievements to boot.
PS3 owners should also expect this to come along with the full game in January, BioWare boss Ray Muzyka told VG247 in Germany following its formal announce last week at gamescom.
D&D “co-op RPG” Neverwinter confirmed for Q4 2011
Cryptic’s announced its next project, as promised: it’s a “co-op roleplaying game” called Neverwinter, a PC exclusive for next year.
The game, which has been rumoured as an MMO, is “inspired” by an upcoming RA Salvatore book trilogy.
Fans will be thrilled of a chance to return to Neverwinter: Neverwinter Nights is widely regarded as one of history’s greatest RPGs.
The story focuses on a Neverwinter that’s “faced a great many disasters in the past hundred years.”
Rule of the city remains unclear following the death of the last Lord of Neverwinter, and “factions still battle for dominance after the all-consuming Spellplague took a high toll on the population. Even Neverwinter’s dead are beginning to rise from their graves and march upon the city they once called home.”
Spooky.
Players will be able to choose from five D&D classes and team up with friends or computer-controlled allies to form five-person co-op groups.
Players also create their own storylines and quests utilizing an “extremely user-friendly content generation system,” codenamed Forge.
You’re going to be waiting a while for this: it’s not out until the fourth calendar quarter of 2011.
Book one in Salvatore’s Neverwinter trilogy, titled Gauntlgrym, releases on October 5 of this year and lays the groundwork for the Neverwinter storyline.
The novel previews the settings, characters and monsters from the game.
There’s a splash site here.
Fallout: New Vegas has too many “major” events to not have an end, says Obsidian
If you’re wanting to know if you’ll be able to travel around the Vegas wastelands after the end of Fallout: New Vegas, here’s your answer: you can’t.
Obsidian’s said New Vegas’s ending includes too many “major” events, meaning players will have to start a new game and not continue on as before.
“We put a lot of effort into the ending slides – we know those slides are really popular with people so we want to make sure there’s a huge amount of variety and reactivity with that stuff. We weren’t really focused on new features so much as to add a really rich sense of reactivity to the players and the choices they make,” Josh Sawyer, project director on the game, told 1UP.
“We want to make it a definitive ending. Initially, we talked about trying to support post-game play, but because the changes that can happen at the end of the game are pretty major, this is what it basically came down to: either have the changes feel really major in the end slides and then have them not be very major after the end of the game, or make them really minor and not that impactful.”
So. No Broken Steel-type DLC at the end like Fallout 3. Doesn’t mean there won’t be any DLC, mind: the developer’s Chris Avellone told VG247 back in April that publisher Bethesda does have “plans” for add-on content.
Fallout: New Vegas releases on October 22 in the UK for PS3, 360 and PC.
