Paradox Interactive and Arrowhead Studios today announced Magicka: The Stars are Left, a new upcoming expansion in the series.
"Designed for players who love to craft the hundreds of different spells available in Magicka, this new campaign will pit up to four wizards at once against a horror-mystery inspired by the popular Cthulhu Mythos. The Stars are Left will boast a much requested feature from the players – a new adventure campaign, including several terrifying new enemies, bosses awakened from the depths of insanity, and several other miscellaneous Miskatonic minions. Other spoofs ending in “-craft” may or may not also be included.
In an act described by industry colleagues as “more insane than a black goat with a thousand young,” Magicka: The Stars are Left will be available not only to players who purchase the expansion, but to all of their friends, as well. So long as the host player in a co-op group owns the content, every one of their co-wizards will be able to co-experience the mind-killing terror of the new expansion.
The Stars are Left includes:
An all-new adventure, several levels long, allowing players to get lost in space and time
2 new challenge maps
2 new robes
2 new bosses
5 new achievements
7 new enemies
Considerably more than 2 new items and Magicks
Also, we make fun of Minecraft this time
Magicka: The Stars are Left is scheduled to launch this winter."
A new trailer for Anno 2070 was released today, giving viewers a look at the new installment in the RTS series by Blue Byte.
"Developed by Related Designs in collaboration with Blue Byte , Anno 2070 takes place in a near-future environment where climate change has forced humanity to adapt to rising sea levels that have left stretches of once-fertile land completely inhospitable. Players need to master new technologies while facing numerous ecological challenges to build their empires. Anno 2070 offers players the ability to be architects of the future and create the world of tomorrow. "
7sixty and Firefly Studios today announced that Stronghold 3 has been shipped and is now available worldwide.
"Stronghold 3 is the true sequel to the much-loved original, which sees the return of the franchise’s most notorious enemy: The Wolf. After seemingly falling to his demise following defeat by The Boy, he has cheated death and is back for revenge, along with some of his old supporters and new, more dangerous, allies. The game also includes refined graphics, dramatic night time sieges and a new physics engine that ensures every single catapult blow packs a real punch.
“We’re pleased fans can finally take to the battlefield to try and stop The Wolf from dominating the kingdom,” said Simon Bradbury, lead designer, Firefly Studios. “Stronghold 3 is a leap forward for the series and we’ve worked very hard to refine the core Stronghold mechanics as well as adding lots of exciting new features.”
Square Enix today announced the release of Dungeon Siege III: Treasures of the Sun, a content pack that expands to the game to the new Aranoi Desert environment.
"On their search for a lost Legion hero, players will fight through hordes of new villains only to find a forgotten abbey hiding a long-lost secret: the greatest treasure of the Azunite faith.
Further supporting the hours of new content in the expansion, developer Obsidian Entertainment has introduced several refinements to the systems and mechanics of DUNGEON SIEGE III:
New abilities: Players are now able to attain mastery of the arcane through powerful new attack, defense and healing abilities.
Level up to 35: DUNGEON SIEGE III: TREASURES OF THE SUN raises DUNGEON SIEGE III's existing level cap from 30 to 35.
More monsters and items: Players will encounter new monsters in the Aranoi Desert—including mummies and giant skeletons—and will find more powerful items, adding to the thousands already available in DUNGEON SIEGE III.
Reallocate Talent & Proficiency Points: Players can reallocate points spent in Proficiencies and Talents, enabling changes to character customization throughout the campaign.
New Enchanting System: Transmuting items now gives players chances at gaining powerful new Vials that allow them to enhance their weapons and armor through the DLC’s new enchanting system.
DUNGEON SIEGE III: TREASURES OF THE SUN is available at a cost of 800 Microsoft points via the Xbox LIVE® Marketplace (XBLM) for Xbox 360, and $9.99 on the PlayStation®Network and Windows PC platforms. "
EA DICE today announced that Battlefield 3 has been shipped to North American retailers and is now available.
"Battlefield 3 goes above and beyond the competition with the state-of-the-art Frostbite™ 2 game engine that creates a massive sense of scale, completely destructible environments and enables players to pilot a range of vehicles from jets and tanks to choppers and jeeps. With the addition of Battlelog, the Battlefield social network service, fans old and new can stay connected as they rise to the challenge to become one of the world’s best soldiers. To accompany the game, Orion Publishing will release a novel called Battlefield 3: The Russian written by the highly decorated ex-SAS operator and best-selling author of Bravo Two Zero, Andy McNab, with co-author Peter Grimsdale. McNab worked with the creative team at DICE to ensure the authenticity of today’s warfare is experienced in the single player, co-op and multiplayer campaigns.
Battlefield 3 is available now in North America and will be available in Europe on October 27, 2011 for the Xbox 360® videogame and entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and PC. Battlefield 3 is rated “M” for Mature by the ESRB. Fans of the game and DICE can purchase one of-a-kind merchandise online at the all-new DICE store at www.store.dice.se. For more information on Battlefield 3, please visit www.battlefield.com"
A new TV spot for Battlefield 3 began airing, which includes a mix of live action and gameplay footage. The game is set to launch tomorrow.
"Battlefield 3 allows you to feel the full impact of battle like never before. Powered by Frostbite 2, the next generation of DICE's cutting-edge gaming engine, Battlefield 3 delivers spectacular visuals, earth-shattering destruction and real as hell combat gameplay providing a dramatic immersive First Person Shooter experience. One moment you may be marching down a hilltop listening to the hypnotic sound of a firefight in the distance or admiring the way the light reflects off the smoke plumes of ground to air missiles rising from the city you're about to engage. The next you're on an urban street, surrounded, claustrophobic, fighting for your life and looking eight ways at once with all your senses on high alert, chilled at the knowledge that the building you're hiding behind can be your best friend or your worst enemy."
A live action trailer for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was released today, offering a more realistic interpretation of the anticipated RPG by Bethesda Softworks.
"The next chapter in the highly anticipated Elder Scrolls saga arrives from the makers of the 2006 and 2008 Games of the Year, Bethesda Game Studios. Skyrim reimagines and revolutionizes the open-world fantasy epic, bringing to life a complete virtual world open for you to explore any way you choose."
Paradox Interactive and Turbo Tape Games today announced the launch of closed beta sign-ups for Naval War: Arctic Circle, the RTS that's scheduled to be released in Q2 of 2012.
"Do you want to dominate your enemies above, upon and beneath the open seas?
Opening today, applications are being accepted for a limited number of spaces until midday on Friday October 28th.
If you are selected for a place in the Closed Beta,
you will receive a confirmation e-mail on Monday November 7th.
About Naval War: Arctic Circle
Naval War: Arctic Circle will challenge players as they navigate the world’s deadliest ocean vying for dominance and complete control of the arctic seas, strategically controlling naval units above, below and on the surface of the frigid waters. The time has come where global peace has expired and tactical warfare is the only means to secure the treasures of icy depths. Will you be able to reign over the waters in the struggle for the valuable resources in the Arctic?"
Valve today announced the development of the next Portal 2 update, which will feature an in-game editor. The update is scheduled to be released early next year.
"This major update will feature an easy-to-use in-game map editor that will let users design, build and share their own single-player and co-op test chambers with the community, who will be able to view, play and vote on them with a simple click.
Portal 2 was released April 19, and currently holds a Metacritic score of 95%, making it the top-rated multiplatform game of 2011. Its first content update, "Peer Review", came out two weeks ago.
A hilariously mind-bending adventure that challenges you to use wits over weaponry in a funhouse of diabolical science, Portal 2 features expansive single and cooperative multiplayer game modes. For more information on Portal 2 and its downloadable content, please visit https://www.thinkwithportals.com."
Blizzard Entertainment today announced World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria, a new expansion in the immensely popular MMORPG series.
"Unveiled to a sold-out crowd at the company’s BlizzCon® gaming festival, World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria™ lifts the fog of mystery surrounding a long-lost continent that has been newly rediscovered following the events of World of Warcraft: Cataclysm™. The new expansion reintroduces the elusive pandaren, originally seen in Blizzard’s real-time strategy game Warcraft® III, as a playable race and adds a brand-new player class: the martial-arts-focused Monk. While exploring the mysteries of an exotic new land and advancing to the new level cap of 90, players will experience a range of new content and game features, including new quests and dungeons, group scenarios and “challenge” modes, pet battles, and more.
“Players have been asking to see the pandaren in World of Warcraft since the game’s launch, and we’re excited to finally be able to give them a proper re-introduction to Azeroth,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “In addition to the new playable race and class, Mists of Pandaria contains a huge amount of new content, and we’re looking forward to sharing more information about all of it at BlizzCon and beyond.”
In the upcoming expansion, players will be able to explore the long-lost continent of Pandaria, which has remained hidden from the world since the sundering of Azeroth over ten thousand years ago. In the aftermath of the Cataclysm played out in World of Warcraft’s third expansion, Pandaria’s heroes are emerging from their land’s lush forests and cloud-ringed mountains to choose sides in the escalating war between the Alliance and the Horde and to share the extraordinary secrets of their ancient martial arts. As tensions between the factions near a breaking point following the discovery of this new world, players will be called upon to explore Pandaria’s exotic expanses, make contact with its strange indigenous creatures, and unlock the world-changing secrets that have been hiding in the mists for millennia.
New features coming in the game’s fourth expansion include:
New Playable Race — Pandaren: Adventure through Azeroth as World of Warcraft's first neutral race and decide whether to side with the Alliance or the Horde.
New Playable Class — Monk: Unlock the secrets of pandaren martial arts and do battle as a damage dealer, healer, or tank.
Level Cap Increased to 90:Learn potent new spells and abilities while exploring uncharted zones and taking on challenging new content.
New Zones:Explore the lush Jade Forest, treacherous Kun-Lai Summit, and other exotic areas of Pandaria designed for high-level characters, and uncover the mystery of the Wandering Isle.
Scenarios: Join up with some friends to achieve a common goal, such as mounting a defense against invading monsters, in a flexible new type of PvE challenge.
Dungeon “Challenge” Modes: Master the ultimate five-player time trial to earn prestige rewards in a new dungeon mode that will put your resolve and coordination to the test.
Pet Battles: Challenge other players’ companion pets with your own collection in a new tactical mini-game, and find out who's king or queen of the pint-sized battlefield.
New Talent System: Customize your character to suit your play style with the newly overhauled and improved talent system.
For more information on World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria, visit Blizzard Entertainment’s official website at www.WorldofWarcraft.com."
A launch trailer for Battlefield 3 was released today, giving viewers more of a look at the single-player storyline. The game is set to launch next week.
"Our launch trailer gives you a preview of the intense single player campaign. A sinister power is rising in the Middle-East, and Marine Sergeant "Black" discovers how far he would go to defend his country."
Sony Online Entertainment today announced that more than 20 million users have registered for Free Realms, the free to play MMORPG that was released in April of 2009.
"To celebrate the rapidly growing community of players, SOE will offer a special promotional in-game varsity letterman jacket to each character, for players that log in at least once from October 21 through October 31, 2011 PDT.
SOE is also hosting a Free Realms Spooktacular in-game event where fun tricks and treats will be available for players to claim when they log in. From October 24 through November 7, 2011, players can log in to take part in several bone-chilling special events such as the Vampire vs. Werewolf Dance-Off in the Bone Bog Cemetery. Additionally, players will have the opportunity to purchase a new Werewolf mount for haunting in style, as well as new ghoulish Halloween costumes, including a Ghost, Grim Reaper, Mummy outfit, and more.
Set in a fantasy-themed world, Free Realms allows players to do whatever they want, when they want. Players can customize their characters, explore, quest, battle monsters, and play a wide variety of mini-games in a safe, family-friendly world, packed with stunning visuals, distinctive environments and social networking capabilities.
Ten new screenshots for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim were released today, giving viewers more of a look at the anticipated sequel.
"The next chapter in the highly anticipated Elder Scrolls saga arrives from the makers of the 2006 and 2008 Games of the Year, Bethesda Game Studios. Skyrim reimagines and revolutionizes the open-world fantasy epic, bringing to life a complete virtual world open for you to explore any way you choose."
Focus Home Interactive today released an official trailer for Cities XL 2012, giving viewers more of a look at the upcoming next installment in the city building series. The game is set to be released tomorrow.
"With more than one minute of impressive video, players can discover part of the immense new content offered by Cities XL 2012. In this new edition, Cities XL provides a staggering choice of over 1000 different structures (300 new ones) for you to build the cities of your dreams. 15 new maps make their appearance (for a total of 62), each bringing its load of challenges for all virtual city-planners. The flooded canyons around Lake Powell, the basin of a dried lake, an oasis lost in the middle of a harsh sandy desert, and the Cayman Islands are just some of the new, original maps that offer players new, varied challenges such as a fractured or rugged landscape, landlocked constructible areas and restricted access to natural resources. All this is superbly illustrated in the video trailer we are pleased to unveil today.
Cities XL 2012 will be available on Tuesday 20th of October in retail stores (Europe and Australia) and for download (Worldwide). For all owners of the 2011 edition of Cities XL, Cities XL 2012 will be available for download in an "expansion" version at a reduced price. "
