Kingdoms of Amalur launch trailer smashes enemies

A lot. I mean, I know it’s an action RPG game, but there really is a lot of smashing going on in this trailer, all perfectly punctuated to the rhythm of a dramatic, orchestral soundtrack (with bonus electric guitar!). But it’s a launch trailer, so therefore it’s got boxes to tick; boxes that are marked “Rousing”, “Exciting” and “Dramatic”.

It gets the job done, that’s for sure. The game promises an open world with a ton of different character customisation options. While the art style might not be everybody’s cup of Black-Briar mead, you can’t fault the game’s combat mechanic. Those who have given the demo a whirl will know exactly what I’m talking about.

Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is out next week Friday, 10 February on PC, PlayStation 3 and PC. Hit the jump for colourful deathblows to a myriad enemy types.

Posted by Miklós Szecsei Feb 02, 2012

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Level 10 GT Case Mod

Oooh sexy case mods, we like! The Taipei Game Show starts today in Taiwan, and Thermaltake will be showcasing some of the Tt eSPORTS product range at their booth.

This Level 10 GT Call of Duty MW3 case mod, created by Brian Carter, can be viewed at their stand. If you’ve seen a Level 10 case before you’ll notice that the handle has been converted into a AT-4 rocket launcher, and the front driver bays sport a six-barrel chain gun that actually rotates when the power is on. There’s also a fully-stocked and functional gamer’s first aid kit that has a USB-powered beverage cooler, and if you look at the five hotswap bays bottom front of the case you’ll notice that they now look like rifle magazine clips. This entry by Brian placed second in Thermaltakes Level 10 GT Mod Contest.

Brian Carter, aka Boddaker, is no stranger to case modding, and some of his other creations such as MYSTIQUE², Battlestar Galactica, and Neptune’s Trident are masterpieces.

Posted by Guardien Feb 02, 2012

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No Online Pass for Syndicate

What on Earth is going on here? It’s like Electronic Arts has suddenly decided that their Project $10 is a crappy idea or something. Last week they revealed that the Online Pass for upcoming snowboarding game SSX wouldn’t be as bad as usual. Now it’s been revealed that there won’t be any Online Pass for Syndicate at all.

The Syndicate reboot has a massive online component with a heavy emphasis on a string of four-player co-op missions, of which there are nine in total. Considering the amount of importance developer Starbreeze is placing on the multiplayer, this decision seems a little odd considering that these Online Passes ordinarily lock away the game’s multiplayer modes.

The decision, however, has its merits for both developer and publisher. What’s more, the fact that this is an EA Partners published game has also helped the decision.

Posted by Miklós Szecsei Feb 02, 2012

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Smile and wave at the Mass Effect 3 voice actors

Let’s do a collective “Squee!” quickly, because Mass Effect 3 is mere weeks away. This means Electronic Arts and BioWare are about to kick into Hyper Punt Mode, and to kick things off they’ve put together a three-minute clip with all of the top actors lending their voices to the various Mass Effect characters.

Of course, nothing drives hype and awareness quite like reveals, and this clip is no exception. IGN’s video presenter Jessica Chobot has been added as a character model and voice actor in Mass Effect 3, much like Yvonne Strahovski plays Miranda Lawson.

Hit the jump for the video and revel in all of the new game footage. I haven’t been as excited as I should have been for Mass Effect 3, but this character promo clip has pretty much fixed that.

Posted by Miklós Szecsei Feb 01, 2012

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Half-Life fans: diarise Saturday 04 February

Because that is the day when you’ll get to rise-up in open demonstration of just how pissed off you are about the lack of communication from Valve. A couple of weeks back, a new Steam group popped up on Valve’s distribution platform; you can read more about that group here. Basically they’re calling for better communication from Valve regarding the status of Half-Life 2: Episode 3 or Half-Life 3 or pretty much anything Half-Life related even if it’s Dance Central: Vortigaunt Beats. (Note to self: pitch Dance Central: Vortigaunt Beats to Gabe next time I run into him.)

This coming Saturday, 04 February, the Steam group known as “A Call for Communication (Half-Life) (HL-CFC)” has organised a mass Half-Life 2 play session. The aim is simple: by getting as many people to play Half-Life 2 this coming Saturday at 19:00 (UK time, so 21:00 South African time) it is hoped that the Freeman’s second outing will be catapulted up the Most Played chart on Steam, thereby creating a greater interest in the game and sending a message to Valve that the serfs are restless.

Personally, I think it’s a great way for the fan community to express their desires and appreciation for the series in general. I will definitely be starting my eighth playthrough of Half-Life 2 at 21:00 this coming Saturday… right after I re-install it and download the bajillion gigs of updates. Anyone care to join me?

Source: Eurogamer

Posted by Miklós Szecsei Feb 01, 2012

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Invest in 3D little buddy

Love it or hate it, 3D is here to stay. Come on, you know Avatar looked amazing even if you won’t admit it in public. Anyway, the clever marketing people over at Marvel have teamed up with the clever marketing people over at RealD 3D and together will be taking more money away from consumers with their Avengers-themed 3D glasses.

They are a little cheesy and we suspect really only made for the little ones (and crazy obsessed fans of course). But hey, if we were put in a corner and forced to choose a pair it would definitely be Iron Man ones, right? They will cost about $5 in the States and there is no news of a plan or anything to bring them to South Africa. Before you ask, no, they won’t improve the quality or look of the 3D movie – just the quality and look of the wearer.

This isn’t entirely a new idea by the way and South African audiences have already missed out on the rounded Harry Potter 3D glasses. There will also be Star Wars: Episode I: the Phantom Menace pod racer goggles released for the 3D release of the franchise, which we probably won’t see either. So, send your complaints to both Ster Kinekor and Nu Metro and make no difference whatsoever. The Avengers is out in May this year.

Posted by NAG Feb 01, 2012

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Gamecca Feb issue is out

Gamecca Magazine, a local online free video games magazine, has just uploaded their February issue. To read it online or to download it just go to their website.

Posted by Guardien Feb 01, 2012

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THQ threatened with stock exchange delisting

Oh man, things are looking really, really bad for THQ at the moment. Last week Friday a particularly angry, open letter was issued to THQ’s Board of Directors; that letter detailed the personal impressions and feelings of those THQ staff members who had lost their jobs. A few days later, it was revealed that THQ’s Asia-Pacific branches had also been hit with massive layoffs, essentially gutting THQ’s global staff.

The reasons for the publisher’s current financial quagmire are numerous: mismanagement, the uDraw Tablet disaster, investing in shoddy cash-in titles, you name it. Now, adding to THQ’s gradual disintegration is the fact that they have been threatened with Nasdaq delisting if they cannot revive their price per share.

As revealed last week, THQ’s stock prices have plummeted from more than $30 a share to $0.70 a share over the last four years. In order for a company to be listed on the stock exchange, its shares are not allowed to drop below the $1 price mark. THQ has until 23 July 2012 to raise their share price to over $1 and keep it there for no less than ten consecutive business days, otherwise the company will be delisted.

Source: Gamesindustry.biz

Posted by Miklós Szecsei Feb 01, 2012

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Huh, so the Online Pass for SSX doesn’t sound unfair

You can thank Electronic Arts for the Online Pass phenomenon that’s now more common than not in games. It all started when the publisher decided to stick it to the second-hand sales market by launching “Project $10”.

Most of the time, the game’s online capabilities are hidden behind these Online Pass activation codes. Sometimes, as is the case with Batman: Arkham City and more recently the upcoming Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning, single player content his held ransom by these Online Passes. This is ordinarily not such an issue, but for first-hand gamers without a reliable internet connection, they effectively remain locked out of content they are entitled to.

EA’s upcoming snowboarding game SSX falls under the EA Sports publishing label and as such will have an Online Pass of its own. This time, however, it actually sounds kind of fair. You’re not going to be locked out of multiplayer if you buy the game second hand.

Posted by Miklós Szecsei Feb 01, 2012

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Steam goes mobile

If you head over to the Steam Mobile website, you’re provided with links to download Steam Mobile for either Android devices, or iOS devices. Steam Mobile is still in beta, but if you want to apply you have to install the app and sign in. The app will let you chat with friends, check out sales, make purchases, view screenshots and read gaming news.

“The Steam app comes from many direct requests from our customers,” said Gabe Newell, co-founder and president of Valve. “Seeing which of your friends are online and playing a game, sending quick messages, looking at screenshots for an upcoming game, or catching a sale — these are all features customers have requested. Mobile is changing way people interact, play games and consume media, and the Steam app is part of our commitment to meet customer demands and expand the service functionality of Steam to make it richer and more accessible for everyone.”

There’s no clarification yet on when Steam Mobile will exit beta.

Posted by Miktar Jan 31, 2012

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