City of Heroes - City of Villains forthcoming expansion Issue 13: Architect facts

I wanted to be the first to let you all know that the primary Feature list for Issue 13: Architect is now live! That said, I’d like to take this opportunity to talk to you about some of the new features in more depth. First off is the issue name, Architect. I liked the correlation that the name has between some of the improvements we are making to bases (in the way new things are purchased for them) and to our Mission Architect feature. Players can now be architects of their own story arcs that other players can play. When I first mentioned this system in the 4th Anniversary post, I had no idea how wildly popular that single concept would be. The thread that followed that post had a plethora of ideas of how such a system could, and should work from a player’s perspective.

With virtually no information to go on, some people very much underestimated what would be possible with the Mission Architect. Some got it spot on, and some people wanted features that were simply impossible to get into the system at launch. Even so, we are very proud of the system as it stands. Players can make their own story arcs using a customised version of the tool used by our mission writers, in some cases rivalling our own internal tools in ease-of-use. I am really looking forward to playing the stories you all create with this amazing tool!

I should probably take this moment to talk about what the Mission Architect is not meant for. It is not meant for “easy levelling”, “badging” or “farming”. Those are things that we specifically wanted the Mission Architect NOT to do. This may be a disappointment to some, I know. The goal was to give creative minds an outlet to tell the stories they have in their heads. We didn’t want the system clogged with Farm missions, so actually finding someone’s story that they lovingly crafted became more a chore than it was worth.

To that end, the Rewards in the Mission Architect are something we, ahem, discussed with raised voices time and time again. How much was too much? How little was too little? What limits needed to be put into place to stop farming? Should we even have such limits? Etc. In the end, we made a system that we believe is best suited for what the Mission Architect was made for, and made sure it cannot be abused. Time and testing will tell if that is really the case though. Like the Invention System, there will be many iterations on the Mission Architect to make sure we get it right before it goes to the Live servers.

Next I want to talk about Day Jobs. This started out as a kind of “secret identity” system, but we wanted to save the term Secret Identity for a system that fit that name better. Day Jobs works well because it is “what your character is doing when not being a Hero or a Villain”. It’s their “day job”. A character who logs out in the Hospital is assumed to be working in a medicinal capacity, and they will receive a themed bonus when they log back in, that sort of thing. We even made it possible to have your character’s Day Job to be “On Patrol” or “Committing Crimes”, just in case you couldn’t envision your character having a “normal life” while you were not actively playing them.

There are plenty of other features in Issue 13: Architect as well, like the new powersets, including the much requested “Villainous Version of Empathy” called Pain Domination. We’re also adding some great new missions to Issue 12’s Roman Zone “Cimerora,” as well as a brand new reward system that will hopefully see the end of “necessary” Task Force farming trying to get that one specific Recipe you have been dying to get. The Issue 13 Feature List explains more about that. We’ll be announcing more specifics of each of these features between now and the beta testing for Issue 13.

Finally, I want to tell you about two “Booster Packs” that will be available in a month or so. Many players have requested the ability to buy the 30 day temporary jetpack that comes with the new City of Heroes Game Cards. Once the retailer exclusive period ends next month, we are making the same jetpack available for purchase for £2.99/€4.49. We are also excited to launch our Super Booster I: Cyborg Pack for £5.99/€8.99. This pack has an awesome set of costume pieces, emotes, auras and a power. We’ll be sharing all of the details shortly.

So thank you players for the enthusiastic support! I can’t wait to get these new features into your hands and to answer your questions about Issue 13 over the coming months and at Hero-Con in October.

Heroes Over Europe PC game Fact Sheet

Heroes Over Europe PC game Fact Sheet

The sequel to the mighty World War II flight combat game Heroes of the Pacific, Heroes over Europe takes aspiring combat pilots into the bullet-ridden heart of major World War II European air battles in glorious dogfight-friendly high definition. Heroes over Europe follows the Allied campaign from the attacks on London to the destruction of Berlin, with players under orders to strap themselves into the authentically rendered cockpits of the campaign’s iconic aircraft. Their mission: to survive the most ferocious dogfights ever seen in a flight combat game.



PRODUCT FEATURES:

• Best tactical dogfights in HD: relive the best tactical dogfights in over 40 types of ultra-realistic iconic warplanes of the era, all presented in stunning high definition graphics with realistic localised damage on aircraft;
• Meticulously rendered environments: detailed landscapes and landmarks recreated in painstaking detail including faithful representations of London and Berlin to bring war-torn World War II to life;
• Legacy of ‘Heroes’ series: new instalment in the Heroes series builds on its impressive legacy with highly detailed realistic visual presentation and more online options;
• Comprehensive online gameplay: fight for the skies with 4 modes of online multiplayer action for up to 16 players;
• Downloadable content: additional downloadable content will be available from launch.

Title: Heroes Over Europe
Platform: Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, Windows PC
Release Date: 2009
Publisher: Atari / Red Mile Entertainment
Developer: Transmission Games (formerly IRGurus)
Category: Air Combat/Dogfight

Natasha Bedingfield track in Boogie Superstar for Nintendo Wii

Hot Song List Features Hits Made Famous By The Jonas Brothers, Britney Spears, Alicia Keys, Kanye West, Katy Perry, Fall Out Boy and Leona Lewis.

International music sensation Natasha Bedingfield was today unveiled as the featured spokesperson of Boogie™ SuperStar, the upcoming Nintendo Wii title from the Casual Entertainment Label of Electronic Arts. Bedingfield lends three songs to the Boogie SuperStar soundtrack, also announced today, which features a total of nearly 40 hit singles made famous by some of today’s hottest artists.

Bedingfield, who has topped the charts with number one singles and albums in both the U.S. and the U.K., has joined forces with EA to promote the game, which allows girls to perform their favourite Bedingfield songs including her current single Angel, Love Like This, and the title track from her new hit album Pocketful of Sunshine.

“Boogie SuperStar brings to life all the fun and excitement of performing,” said Bedingfield. “Being on stage is such a thrill and it’s great to be a part of an EA video game that lets girls experience how much fun it is to express themselves and explore their own creativity by performing.”

In Boogie SuperStar, players don’t just play along, they are the star of the game. Girls will have a blast belting their favourite tunes into the microphone, and performing real dance moves that are captured on screen using the Wii’s motion-sensing technology and the journey to stardom doesn’t have to be a solo! girls can also sing and dance with or against their friends in fun competitions that show off their singing and dancing talent.

“Boogie SuperStar represents a new level in the convergence of games and music,” said Steve Schnur, EA Worldwide Executive for Music and Marketing. “We have combined the very best interactive capabilities of the Wii technology with the Boogie brand to form an unprecedented soundtrack featuring the hottest new tracks made famous by the biggest artists in the world. We’ve been actively involved in Natasha’s career since its inception, and we’re proud to have a star like her actively involved.”

Featuring nearly 40 of today’s hottest tracks plus additional tracks for an International version, Boogie SuperStar will have girls bursting with excitement as they discover they can both sing and dance to their favorite songs in one game.

Boogie SuperStar global song list featured in both North America and International versions of game includes:

1. Angel, Love Like This [remix], Pocketful of Sunshine - Natasha Bedingfield
   
2. Dance Like There's No Tomorrow - Paula Abdul
   
3. Bullseye, Like Whoa, Potential Breakup Song - Aly & AJ
   
4. The Great Escape - Boys Like Girls
   
5. Everytime We Touch, What Hurts the Most - Cascada
   
6. Fancy Footwork - Chromeo
   
7. Thnks Fr Th Mmrs - Fall Out Boy
   
8. Glamorous - Fergie
   
9. Elevator - Flo Rida feat. Timbaland
   
10. I Don’t Want to Be in Love (Dance Floor Anthem) - Good Charlotte
    
11. Wake Up - Hilary Duff
    
12. Hold On, SOS, That’s Just the Way We Roll, When You Look Me in the Eyes [remix] - The Jonas Brothers
    
13. No One - Alicia Keys
    
14. Take You There - Sean Kingston
    
15. Girlfriend - Avril Lavigne
    
16. Bleeding Love - Leona Lewis
    
17. Shake It - Metro Station
    
18. What You Got - Colby O’Donis
    
19. I Don't Think About It - Emily Osment
    
20. Nine in the Afternoon - Panic at the Disco
    
21. Hot N Cold - Katy Perry
    
22. Jump to the Rhythm - Jordan Pruitt
    
23. Don’t Stop the Music, Shut Up and Drive - Rihanna
    
24. Yahhh! - Soulja Boy Tellem
    
25. Radar, Toxic - Britney Spears
    
26. He Said She Said - Ashley Tisdale
    
27. Makes Me Wonder - Maroon 5
    
28. Stronger - Kanye West
    

Dogz own a dog - mobile video game out now on N-Gage

Love, feed, train and exercise your own pooch with Dogz from Gameloft. Using your N-Gage compatible device, you’ll be able to raise your own 3D canine and access your new pet anytime, anyplace.

Just like a real dog, your companion isn’t just there to entertain you; it’s your job as a responsible owner to make it the happiest dog possible by giving all the love and attention it deserves. Choose your doggy from three different breeds and colors and watch as it explores nine different locations, including a house, the street, the beach and even a stadium!

Take advantage of an ultra-intuitive interface to pet and play with your dog on the move and use the eight mini-games, including slalom, Frisbee and tug-of-war to develop it. Plus, with scoring and online rankings, you’ll be able to see how Fido compares to other users’ dogs and find out how good an owner you REALLY are.

Dogz is now available at http://www.n-gage.com

Satellite images integrated into Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. video game

GeoEye, a premier provider of satellite, aerial and geospatial information, has provided high-resolution images taken from its commercial Earth-imaging IKONOS satellite for integration into Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the Sony PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system and on Windows-based PC. Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X will be available in early 2009.

The H.A.W.X development team is working closely with specialists at GeoEye to integrate realistic satellite images for every location throughout the game, including Rio de Janeiro, Cape Canaveral and the Middle East. With more than 16 international locations in the game, every mission will have players flying over GeoEye-provided satellite imagery in a three-dimensional environment creating an unparalleled, dogfighting experience.


GeoEye's IKONOS satellite was the world's first commercial Earth imaging satellite and its imagery is currently being used for US national security, mapping, air and marine transportation, environmental monitoring and insurance risk management. The amazing quality and detail of the IKONOS images will lend realism to Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X giving gamers a feeling of immersion that will plunge them into the air combat mission of the game.

"High-resolution satellite imaging is moving from the black world of intelligence to the white world of commerce and Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X will bring that reality to gamers," said Mark Brender, vice president, corporate communications and marketing at GeoEye. "With video game graphics becoming more realistic, the use of high-quality photographic ground textures in H.A.W.X adds true photo-realism to the air combat experience."

During the development process the H.A.W.X team has also worked with the U.S. Geological Survey and the Center for Earth Resources Observations and Science (USGS/EROS) to understand how to best create a topographical 'underpinning' for the satellite imagery, creating a very realistic representation of the Earth.

"We are extremely grateful to GeoEye for their collaboration with Ubisoft and pleased with the level of quality and service we've received," said Travis Getz, authenticity coordinator for the H.A.W.X development team. "GeoEye's amazing imagery, combined with the intense aerial combat experience in H.A.W.X, makes this a perfect partnership for everyone-especially gamers."

About Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X
Developed by Ubisoft's Bucharest studio, Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X delivers an intense and authentic aerial combat experience by fully leveraging the benefits of the next-generation platforms. The story begins in the year 2014. As the era of the nation-state draws quickly to a close, the rules of warfare evolve even more rapidly. More and more nations become increasingly dependent on private military companies (PMCs), elite mercenaries with a lax view of the law. The Reykjavik Accords further legitimize their existence by authorizing their right to serve in every aspect of military operations. While the benefits of such PMCs are apparent, growing concerns surrounding giving them too much power begin to mount.

Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X is the first air combat game set in the world-renowned Tom Clancy video game universe. Cutting-edge technology, devastating firepower and intense dogfights bestow upon this new title a deserving place in the prestigious Tom Clancy franchise. Soon, flying at Mach 3 becomes a right, not a privilege.

Penumbra - Requiem expansion download

Paradox Interactive today announced the release of highly anticipated expansion Penumbra: Requiem. The expansion requires Penumbra: Black Plague and is available exclusively via download on GamersGate and Direct2Drive. The expansion will tie together the previous Penumbra games and give the series its climactic resolution.

Requiem takes up where the last game ended and sees Philip, the game's protagonist, falling deeper into madness which forces him to fight some inner demons as well as outer ones.

Players will be taken on a tense journey filled with psychological horror and the most unspeakable things lurking in the darkness. This time telling what is real and what is not will be even harder and questioning your senses will be essential to survival. Your decisions could make the difference between life and death.

Trademarks of the Penumbra series include:

• A creepy and disturbing ambient atmosphere.
  
• An immersive and thought provoking story line.
  
• An advanced physics system, allowing the direct manipulation of objects.
  
• Detailed and highly interactive environments.
  
• Advanced AI, enabling enemies to cooperate and use the environment.
  
• An environmental audio system, to heighten the senses.
  
• A wide array of challenging puzzles.
  

Penumbra: Requiem will be a download only expansion and available via GamersGate and Direct2Drive. Suggested retail price is euro 9.99. A Gold pack including both Penumbra: Black Plague and Requiem will also be available for euro 19.99.

Gamersgate download site...

Advanced Tactics: World War II Is Updated to version 1.2

More multiplayer features and random game capability for even more replayability!

release of the comprehensive v1.20 update for the popular World War II turn-based strategy game, Advanced Tactics: World War II. The update chiefly brings more multiplayer random game fun with things like new support for weather seasons, diplomacy, sharing line of site, and even nukes! The update also fixes a handful of issues and increases PBEM security.

David Heath, Director of Operations at Matrix Games, said “The versatility and random map capability found in Advanced Tactics: World War II raise replayability to a level rarely found in gaming these days. VR Designs is continuing to add more reasons to play Advanced Tactics with every update. With fun and historical gameplay, superb editing and modding support and nearly infinite replayability it’s no wonder why this title is so popular!”

Advanced Tactics is a versatile turn-based strategy system that gives gamers the chance to wage almost any battle in any time period. The first module in this series is Advanced Tactics: World War II, which allows gamers to command a mighty army and storm across Europe. Complete with a streamlined interface and an addicting style of gameplay, Advanced Tactics offers a unique and infinitely replayable experience for any strategy fan.

Depending on the scenario, you can decide what your towns should produce, which HQs receive reinforcements, how your chain of command is formed, what sort of troop and equipment mix you put in each unit, if you use air, land, or sea strategies or maybe even call in the paratroopers – the possibilities are endless! Almost any type of strategy or tactic can be used effectively in Advanced Tactics. Perhaps the most powerful feature in Advanced Tactics is the ability to generate random maps and scenarios, giving the player endless hours of strategic fun without having to repeat a single battle or campaign!

Get more information on Advanced Tactics: World War II from its product page. This update is comprehensive and will bring the version of the game up to 1.20.

Castle Crashers 4 player online beat-em up on Xbox Live arcade

Castle Crashers 4 player online beat-em up on Xbox Live arcade

Magic, mayhem, floating face-biting bat buddies, fish-swords...what's not to love?

Castle Crashers, one of the most eagerly anticipated games for Xbox LIVE Arcade, releases today from independent game developer The Behemoth. The studio's award winning second title stays true to the nostalgic 2D side scrolling style with the humor and quality of gameplay we have come to expect from The Behemoth. Featuring all hand-drawn art from talented Dan Paladin, Castle Crashers delivers unique hi-res illustrated visuals like nothing you've seen before.

Castle Crashers (rated T for Teen) features a unique mix of beat-em-up action along with mild RPG elements letting you hack, slash and smash your way to victory. Along the way adorable Animal Orbs can be discovered who will do everything from helping you find buried items to chomping on the enemy's head. For the masochistic, the game also features an "Insane Mode" unlocked after beating the game in regular mode, which is... well… insanely hard! When beating up the bad guys just isn't enough, battle it out in the Arena mode for a free for all, 4-player deathmatch. Add to all this a liberal sprinkling of blood and gore (which, by the way, parents, you can turn off), and you have a game with endless replayability online or on your own.

Priced at 1200 Microsoft points Castle Crashers boasts 20 levels, over 40 weapons, and more than 20 unlockable characters, making this one of the largest games available on Xbox LIVE Arcade. As an added bonus, the game comes with a free dashboard theme and 2 free gamerpics!

Madden 09 gets awesome reviews

MADDEN 09 GETS AWESOME REVIEWS!

Brand-new features, including the Adaptive Difficulty Engine, make Madden NFL 09 the first game that adapts to you! See what game experts had to say about it:

• The new commentating team, Backtrack replays, soundtrack, and improved graphics really packs that extra punch of realism making this game a must buy — G4TV

• The game will satisfy the appetite of both casual and hardcore football fans and it mixes those two worlds together very well — XboxAddict

• Madden NFL 09 is the most loyal translation of America's favorite sport I've ever seen — IGN

Play Sacred 2 - I Heart Geeks and My Little baby at Penny Arcade Expo 2008

cdv Software Entertainment USA today announced their lineup for the 2008 Penny Arcade Expo, to be held at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle from August 29 to 31, 2008. cdv, located in booth No262, will allow gamers to get hands-on time with the following exciting titles from their 2008 release lineup –

Sacred 2 - Fallen Angel – playable on next-gen consoles and PC at the show, Sacred 2 will immerse players in an unparalleled action/role-playing experience set in the mystical world of Ancaria. Sacred 2 contains a massive world, hundreds of quests, six playable characters, parallel light and shadow campaigns and endless treacherous opponents. Intelligent enemies, steadily adapting in number and difficulty based on player progress, challenge the player in heroic single-player and seamless drop-in, drop-out multiplayer battles. Sacred 2: Fallen Angel will be released for PC and next-generation platforms this November.

I Heart Geeks! – created in cooperation with Marc Ecko Entertainment, I Heart Geeks! is the ultimate combination of humor and physics-based puzzles for the Nintendo DS handheld. The game features a tongue-in-cheek story and hip art style where the brainy geek overcomes the brawny (and bullying) jocks, winning the heart of the beautiful cheerleader.

My Little Baby – a complete "life simulation" title for the Nintendo DS, My Little Baby is a family-friendly game that gives players the opportunity to raise a virtual baby – all without the real-world messes, sleepless nights, or "terrible two's."