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Sunday, September 28, 2008

Latest Free Gracia update for Lineage II attracts new players

lineage gamezplay.org
Free update for its award winning MMORPG Lineage II - The Chaotic Throne http://www.discoverlineage2.com. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive for the Gracia update, with the record for concurrent users on EU servers now broken for six weeks running. At the same time, the number of new characters created has risen substantially alongside daily raid figures. The changes brought to the game mechanics have satisfied and pleased both newcomers and existing players.

Gracia features a new vitality system which radically accelerates the rate at which players can level up their characters. Before this update it took an average player one week to achieve 1st class transfer; players can now reach it within one day. Gracia has also introduced a range of additional benefits such as free teleports and special buffs, new skills, innovation within the crafting system, and new and challenging instanced dungeons.
“We are very pleased with the feedback we've received so far for Gracia,” commented Christian-Peter Heimbach, European Product Manager of Lineage II at NCsoft Europe. “We were expecting Gracia to signal a huge change for Lineage II, but the increase in new players as well as a new record for concurrent users was still fantastic to see. Furthermore, the feedback for the new raiding areas in Lineage II is terrific. We're thrilled to see players taking another look at what Lineage II has to offer. Our war isn’t coming; it’s getting better every time."
The Lineage II: The Chaotic Throne – Gracia retail box has been available since the 19th September 2008 across stores in Europe, and can also be downloaded.

Rock Band - Guitar Hero rip off or copy cat?

gamezplay.org
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but they neglected to mention that it’s also a crushing chokehold on the windpipe of creativity. Nowhere is this fact of life more apparent than in this fall’s lineup of upcoming and recently released video games. Look a little closer and you’ll realize—with a few exceptions—that it’s not just this season’s selection of pixelly diversions that suffer from a general lack of originality; it’s a long-running ailment endemic to the entire video game industry.

Read the full story here...


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Top Ten Video game cars...

Mario Kart gamezplay.org
In honor of the vehicular hoonage video games allow us to safely perpetrate, we've selected these, the ten greatest cars from the annals of video game history.

They have challenged the deftness of our readers thumbs, the quickness of their eyes and the flexibility of their notions of how gravity works.

Whether in a racing sim, an action title or crime-ridden universe, these ten vehicles represent generations of rubber-burning enjoyment. Hit the jump to see them all.

Read the full blog entry here...

Dead Space video game - Fact Sheet

dead space gamezplay.orgDead Space video game - Fact Sheet

Electronic Arts and Image Comics present a new comic book series based upon the upcoming original survival horror video game Dead Space. This new six-book series set in the Dead Space universe will be written and illustrated by Ben Templesmith and written by Antony Johnston.

The Dead Space comic is the prequel story for the game. This series tells the gut-wrenching tale of a deep space mining colony that unexpectedly pulls an ancient and vicious alien life force from the dark rock.

dead space gamezplay.org

dead space gamezplay.org“The world of Dead Space has such a deep storyline that it’s easily adaptable to other mediums,” said Executive Producer of Dead Space, Glen Schofield. “We love the fact our story is being told across multiple forms of media, providing different experiences to different audiences, which all lead to the same dark place.”

Ben Templesmith is an Australian commercial artist best known for his work in the American comic book industry - most notably Fell with writer Warren Ellis, published by Image Comics, and 30 Days of Night with writer Steve Niles published by IDW Publishing. The 30 Days of Night novel provoked a bidding war between film studios for the movie rights when the story was pitched a second time with Templesmith's artwork. Ben has been nominated for multiple Eisner Awards three years in a row for his comic work. He has also created book covers, movie posters, trading cards, and concept work for film.

Antony Johnston was born and raised in the Birmingham, England area and is the author of thirteen graphic novels, including Stormbreaker and Point Blanc (adapted from Anthony Horowitz' best-selling Alex Rider novels), The Long Haul, Julius and Three Days in Europe. He writes two ongoing serials, the sci-fi epic Wasteland and the children's fantasy Texas Strangers. He has adapted many of Alan Moore's prose stories to comics, written for the Texas Chainsaw Massacre comics license, and is the only other writer to have penned a story for Greg Rucka's award-winning Queen & Country series. He also writes novels; his debut Frightening Curves won the 2002 American Independent Publishing Award for Best Horror. His second novel, Stealing Life, was published in 2007.

dead space gamezplay.org
Under development at EA Redwood Shores, Dead Space ships Fall 2008 for the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, the Xbox 360 videogame and entertainment system and the PC.

Daily Telegraph game review here...
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Brothers in Arms Hell's Highway - Fact Sheet

brothers in arms gamezplay.org
Brothers in Arms Hell's Highway - Fact Sheet

Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system, PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, PC

Brothers in Arms Hell’s Highway brings the critically acclaimed squad-based WWII shooter into the next generation of gaming with amazing graphics and sound, new cutting-edge gameplay features and a totally redesigned online component.

Delivering on the franchise’s compelling story, unrivaled authenticity and intense squad-based action, Brothers in Arms Hell’s Highway drops you into Operation Market Garden, the largest paratrooper operation in World War II.

Key Features

• Brothers in Arms Hell’s Highway – next generation: The classic authentic, squad-based combat series explodes on next-generation hardware, offering unprecedented graphics and features.

• New story, new setting. Join Matt Baker, Joe Hartsock and the rest of the 101st Airborne Division in Operation Market Garden as they fight to open the infamous Hell’s Highway in a daring bid for a quick end to the war.

• Live the life of an enlisted man: Get orders from HQ, go on patrol, spot the enemy and set up a devastating ambush. For the first time, finding the enemy before they find you is part of the challenge.

• Unprecedented character design: Lifelike characters look, talk, move and think with incredible realism. Game characters interact with the player and each other like true brothers in arms, trading ammunition, helping wounded allies and civilians, working together to man team-operated weapons, and more.

• Rich cinematic experience: As the squad leader, you interact with and get to know your brothers. Each character has his own distinct personality, unique story and background, and grows throughout the game.

• Powerful new units under your command: Players can use or command combined arms teams – machine gun crews create intense fire, bazooka crews destroy buildings and tanks, and mortar crews pound the enemy from a distance.

• Play your own way: Players can choose to use their squad to execute a tactically elegant flanking maneuver or charge in with guns blazing.

• Destructible cover: Keep your men moving and choose your cover wisely – modeled using real physical properties and behaviors, weapons will damage, dent, scorch and destroy the world around you.

• Completely new multiplayer experience: Fight major multiplayer battles with dozens of players on each side, combining all the intensity and accessibility of Deathmatch with the squad-based gameplay that helped make Brothers In Arms famous.

Publisher: Ubisoft
Developer: Gearbox Software
Ship Date: August 2008
Category: First-Person Shooter

Brothers In Arms Hell's Highway Q&A

brothers in arms gamezplay.orgQ: BIA has always been a violent series, mostly because of the topic it’s covering. Will BIA HH follow the same path?
A: BiA HH will continue to show the horrors of war be they physical gore or mental trauma. We feel it's important to treat the subject with respect but at the same time help people feel the intensity of the violence. War is at its core a violent act and gore is something that goes with the territory.

Q: We all have in mind the incredible opening scene in Saving Private Ryan and BIA has always tried to be very realistic. How did you reach a decision for the level of gore that you wanted in the game?
A: Really it was a very straightforward decision. Each area of the game that depicts violence is specifically to illustrate an important story point or convey the terrible nature of war. We never really ask ourselves about the "Gore Level" instead we focus on the drama and purpose of the scene or game system. If gore happens to be a part of that experience then so be it.

Q: What is the biggest technical challenge that you had to face during the development of the new gore system?
A: The main challenge was making sure the physics was fast enough on each of the different platforms. Since each platform has different performance characteristics we had to tune the simulations to match. As well it was a challenge dealing with the additional memory required to break apart different enemy types in so many ways.

Q: Finally, did you cut some of the gore features you planned on implementing in the game originally?
A: Actually the gore system landed a fair bit ahead of where we had originally planned. Since our game is not about gore we generally wanted to keep it in the background and thus we didn't plan on spending big into the tech. However there were a number of features the team promoted internally such as headshot specific gore and dripping blood on walls that weren't in the original plan.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Will UK get World of Warcraft Lich King collector's Edition?

UK gamers are up in arms and venting spleen in forums over fears that the Collector's Edition release of World of Warcraft - Wrath of the Lich King will not be be released in Blighty.

According to a statement from publisher Blizzard Entertainment, the CE version will only be available in “select regions”.

We contacted the firm to find out which locations will be favoured, but so far the company hasn’t returned our calls.

More from The Register here...

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LEGO Batman - The Videogame - Fact Sheet

lego batman
LEGO Batman - The Videogame

lego batman
LEGO Batman: The Videogame is the latest game from the award-winning team behind the LEGO Star Wars series of games. With trademark LEGO fun and charm, the game takes you into the world of the ultimate crime-fighting hero.

LEGO Batman: The Videogame brings the one-and-only Caped Crusader to life in a completely original storyline. Players will take control of the Dynamic Duo, Batman (Bruce Wayne) and Robin, as well as bonus hero Nightwing to fight Gotham City’s most notorious criminals including The Joker, The Penguin, Catwoman, Scarecrow, Killer Croc, The Riddler, Mr. Freeze, Harley Quinn, Two Face, Bane, Clayface, Poison Ivy and many more. The criminals have broken out of Arkham Asylum and are set to wreak havoc on the city.

Players will also be able to explore their wicked side and fight their way through the game as the villains, experiencing the game from a completely different point of view with all-new criminal objectives. With a collection of high-tech suits, gadgets and cutting-edge vehicles on hand, players will be able to step into the unique LEGO Batman universe to bring super villains to justice – or, as the villains, to run amok in Gotham City!

GAME FEATURES:
  • Fight for justice as Batman and Robin or create chaos as The Joker, Catwoman and other villains, as you save or destroy Gotham City.

  • Rocket through sewers and bound across rooftops as you take the fight to the criminals across classic locations in Gotham City.

  • Fight on land, sea and in the air using a number of powerful Batman, Robin and villain-controlled vehicles, including the rocket-powered Batmobile, sleek Batboat and stealthy Batwing.

  • Enhance the abilities of the Dynamic Duo by unlocking Batman’s Demolition, Sonic and Glide suits and Robin’s Gravity, Magnetic and Dive suits to help fight Gotham’s villains.

  • Enjoy numerous game modes and levels:

  • Play through the game in Story Mode from both the hero and villain sides.

  • Replay any level in Freeplay Mode with any characters you’ve unlocked. Access previously hidden areas to find additional rewards and bonus content.

  • Collect LEGO studs and special LEGO bricks throughout the game to unlock tons of extra content including special power-ups and bonus levels.

  • LEGO Batman on the Xbox 360 features Gamer Achievements and 720p/1080p display support.

  • The PLAYSTATION 3 system version offers 720p/1080p display support.

  • The Nintendo DS version will offer touch screen interaction, and two-player co-op using the DS local wireless network capability.

  • LEGO Batman: The Videogame features top voice over talent, including Tom Kenny, with hilarious results.

  • LEGO Batman: The Videogame also features Danny Elfman’s iconic The Batman (1989) musical score.

PLATFORMS: Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the Wii and Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2 and PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment systems, PSP (PlayStationPortable) system and Windows PC.
RELEASE DATE: Fall 2008
PUBLISHER: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
DEVELOPER:
Traveller’s Tales
ESRB RATING: Expected - Everyone 10+
GENRE: Action-Adventure

Watch Batman video game gamezplay.org video on YouTube here...

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Mirror's Edge video game update sexy hero PS3 Xbox 360 and PC

mirror's edge gamezplay.org
Once this city used to pulse with energy; dirty and dangerous, but alive and wonderful.
Now it is something else.
The changes came slowly at first. Most did not realize or did not care, and accepted them.
They chose a comfortable life.
Some didn’t…
They became our clients.
In a city where information is heavily monitored, agile couriers called Runners transport sensitive data away from prying eyes. In this seemingly utopian paradise, a crime has been committed, your sister has been framed and now you are being hunted.
You are a Runner called Faith - and this innovative first-person action-adventure is your story.
Mirror’s Edge delivers you straight into the shoes of this unique heroine as she traverses the vertigo-inducing cityscape, engaging in intense combat and fast paced chases. With a never before seen sense of movement and perspective, you will be drawn into Faith’s world. A world that is visceral, immediate, and very dangerous.

Live or die? Soar or plummet? One thing is certain, in this city you will learn how to run.

From the makers of the groundbreaking Battlefield franchise, Mirror’s Edge is an action-adventure experience unlike any other
mirror's edge gamezplay.org
Key features
  • Move yourself: String together an amazing arsenal of wall-runs, leaps, vaults and more, in fluid, acrobatic movements that turns every level of the urban environment to your advantage and salvation.

  • Immerse yourself: In first person every breath, every collision, every impact is acutely felt. Heights create real vertigo, movements flow naturally, collisions and bullet impacts create genuine fear and adrenaline.

  • Challenge yourself: Fight or flight. Your speed and agility allow you not only to evade, capture and perform daring escapes, but also to disable and disarm unwary opponents, in a mix of chase, puzzles, strategy and intense combat.

  • Free Yourself: Runner vision allows you to see the city as they do. See the flow. Rooftops become pathways and conduits, opportunities and escape routes. The flow is what keeps you running – what keeps you alive.


Watch Mirror's Edge gamezplay.org video on YouTibe here...

FIFA 2009 The Clubs Questions and Answers Q&A


Q: What is FIFA 09 Clubs?
A: FIFA 09 Clubs is a mode designed for PLAYSTATION 3 and XBOX 360 that enables gamers to form or join user-controlled ‘clubs’. These clubs are ranked within divisions based on total points. Clubs will be relegated and promoted within divisions based on their points. If a club has more points than the second best club in their division and more points than the last club in the division above, they will move up a division and send the last placed squad down a division.

Q: How will the best club be determined?
A: The best club will be the one with the most points. They will hold the Division 1 - Rank 1 position.

Q: How many players can you recruit to your club?
A: FIFA 09 Clubs supports up to 50 players in each club. However, only ten players can play for the team during a match.

Q: Who selects the team each game?
A: The Club Manager can change the club’s team at any point. The team selected will not impact the playing field, since all teams and their players will be set to the same attribute levels. The outcome of the match will be based on the performance of the players on your team.

Q: Will FIFA Clubs support substitutes?
A: The Captain can make substitutes as would be done in a normal match, but only the club members that started the match can play. So if the captain does a sub, the real world player will switch to that virtual player.

Q: What happens to players who aren’t selected for the first team or the substitute’s bench? Do they watch the match in spectator mode?
A: Instead of limiting matches based on the availability of a few club members, a club can play a match as long as 3 members are present. A club can be playing several matches at once based on how many members are available. There is no club spectator mode in FIFA 09.

Q: Can consumers join more than one club?
A: No you can only be in one club at a time.

Q: Who’s going to want to play left-back?
A: There are a lot of people who appreciate the importance of defense on a football team as well as midfield and attack. We hope that the kind of guys who are very good on defense and very disciplined on defense will become a commodity that teams will want to play with and suddenly they will become very valuable. We envision a landscape where teams try to recruit the best players at each position to build their teams into the best in the world. If you want a good buzz in a 10 vs. 10 match you might not necessarily be involved in the action all of the time but for the shorter moments that a real footballer would be in a football match it takes on a whole different level of stress and excitement. When you get your touches at left back, for example, you know you can’t fail because you will be letting down nine human players on your team if you make a mistake. Every interaction takes on an exponentially greater significance. Instead of thinking as an individual you have to play and react as a team.

Q: What happens if you have less than 10 players?
A: The CPU will control players if you have less than 10 players. If you have less than 10 players, say 7, than each user can choose the option of being fixed to a position or being able to switch between their position and the 3 CPU controlled positions. The key is you have to make this decision before the game and choose to be able to swap between your player and CPU controlled players when you are setting up the game. So some users may choose to remain fixed to their player the entire game while others may choose to be able to swap between their player and the CPU controlled players.

Q: What happens if you disconnect during a game?
A: If a user on your team quits mid-game or you disconnect than the CPU takes over that player. If you drop to less than 3 players in a match, the match will be forfeit.

Q: If you get disconnected – can you rejoin your team after being reconnected?
A: No, there is no way to join a match that is already in progress. If you become disconnected then the CPU will take control of your player.

Q: Will there be a fixed schedule? How will consumers schedule a game?
A: No, there is no fixed schedule. Matches can be held at any time. When there are enough players ready to play (minimum of 3) then they will be matched up against another club for competitive play.

Q: Is there a tool for scheduling matches?
A: No see above.

Q: How long is the FIFA Clubs season?
A: The season begins as soon as FIFA 09 hits shelves and ends after the FIFA 10 game releases Please check that this is correct and we will support FIFA09 club up until FIFA10 launches.

Q: How can you recruit players to your club?
A: Managers can scout players based on position, rating, wins, losses and games played. Other detailed information can be reviewed such as shots on goal, passing, tackles, cards, fouls and offsides. When a manager sees a player that fits his or her requirements, they can invite them to join their club.

Q: What stats will you keep?
A: Clubs will track stats for Wins, Losses, Ties and Total Points. Total points is the most important stat for your club.

Q: How have you improved the online play?
A: The framework we established with FIFA 08 Be A Pro: Online Team Play (5 vs 5) is sound and supports 10 vs. 10. The challenge for us is to make sure those rare occasions where the game might go out of sync are eradicated. When you have one console versus one console it happens infrequently. When you have 5 versus 5 the frequency is suddenly significantly more because now you have 10 consoles rather than two. When you look at 20 consoles connected online to each other suddenly the stability of the game and the rareness of the occasions when the game goes out of sync become more manifest so we have really needed to work hard on those issues. We have daily 10 vs 10 sessions in the studio and the game is very stable.

Q: What’s the future for Online Clubs?
A: We envision a time when you have managers, an economy system where players will be able to move clubs, where playing FIFA becomes an alternate reality to the real world of football. The day will come when there are virtual equivalents of Wayne Rooney or Ronaldinho, from different parts of the world, who are expert FIFA gamers and clubs are clamoring to recruit them to represent their side, just like the real world. Ultimately our ambition is to have the best 11 English FIFA football players at each position playing against the best 11 American, German, or Italian FIFA football players at each position to actually stage a virtual world cup to earn the right to be the world’s best FIFA football team.

Q: Was it always in the plan to have 10 vs. 10 this year?
A: We established 5 v 5 last year and the plan has always been to create a virtual 11 vs 11 football game for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. While that has always been an ambitious project we felt this year we could push pretty hard to reach 10 vs 10. This is quite an achievement. It feels like FIFA 09 Clubs is the next great frontier in sports gaming.

Q: Will the strength of the goalie be the same in all clubs?
A: Yes, all players are levelled to an 85 overall.

Q: What kind of strength will the CPU controlled players have? Will a Rooney be stronger than a Pantelic or will all CPU players have the same strength?
A: All players are levelled to an 85 overall. The individual attributes have all been set to relative strengths of the player’s preferred position. So all CBs will have the same set of stats and all RWs will have the same set of stats, but their attributes will be different based on the needs of their position. If a user moves a player out of their preferred position, their overall rating may drop.

All FIFA posts on gamezplay.org here...

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