HieroGraphix Game Journal

RuneScape Combat Beta Beginning in June

Garv — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:57:35 +0000

RuneScape will be getting a much needed combat revamp and players will be able to try it before it goes live starting June 26th. The beta will run until sometime in September.

From the press release:

The Evolution of Combat project will see the biggest change in any system in RuneScape’s history. By bringing this eagerly anticipated update to life, Jagex will be completely redesigning RuneScape’s combat system to offer players an even more immersive and involving experience. On release, the Evolution of Combat update will completely revolutionise the way players fight and interact in game.

“It’s impossible to downplay the significance of this update,” stated Mark Ogilvie, RuneScape’s lead designer. “A rework of the combat system has been the most requested update from our community, and thousands of man hours have gone into developing a more fluid, interactive and tactical combat system. The Evolution of Combat update will fundamentally change the way people play and view RuneScape forever.”

Due to the game-changing nature of the release, RuneScape members will have the opportunity to be among the first to trial the new system with a limited access closed beta; the first in the game’s history. Beta registration will open to all RuneScape members on 1st June in preparation for the first beta entry on 26th June. The beta will run from 26th June until September and will allow testers the exclusive chance to preview the expansion before the rest of the world.

Speaking about the beta, Mark Ogilvie continued, “We have always valued the views and feedback our community which is why we are so excited to be launching this game-changing update with a members’ beta. By introducing this update with a limited-access beta, we are able to interact with our community in a completely new way and offer our members the chance to try the new features first, helping to shape the future of one of the most important elements of the game. I know players won’t want to miss out on the chance to take part in this exclusive opportunity, so be sure to register your interest when registration opens on 1st June.”

Further details of The Evolution of Combat update will be unveiled in due course, and those wishing to keep up to date with the latest announcements are encouraged to visit www.RuneScape.com. Players wanting to take part in the exclusive access beta will need to be an existing member or sign up to RuneScape membership by the 1st June, and continue to be a member through the beta period.

With The Evolution of Combat update on the horizon, there has never been a better time to start your RuneScape adventure.

Classic Dragon’s Lair Available on XBLA

Garv — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:50:08 +0000

They said that Dragon’s Lair will end up on every system out there, and it’s looking to be true. Pick up the game on XBLA.

From the press release:

Published by Microsoft Studios, Dragon’s Lair supports both Kinect and the Xbox 360 controller. Now you can literally play as Dirk the Daring in this immersive gaming experience with Kinect. Wield your sword, grapple ropes and avoid all of the obstacles this enchanted castle throws your way!

This version will of course include Worldwide Leaderboards and Achievements, but even more exciting are the exclusive Gamer Pics and Avatar items you can unlock. There are even more Dragon’s Lair themed items to download from the Marketplace!

Haven’t heard of Dragon’s Lair? Well, in Dragon’s Lair, you play the heroic Dirk the Daring, a valiant knight on a quest to rescue the fair princess from the clutches of an evil dragon!

Lead on adventurer. Your Kinect quest awaits.

The Last of Us Story Trailer

Garv — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:52:43 +0000

The graphics for this game are beautiful. Can’t wait to see some actual gameplay footage, but this trailer will get us a hyped in the meantime.

Borderlands 2 Collector’s Edition is Insane

Garv — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:20:48 +0000

2K Games announced the Borderlands 2 Deluxe Edition and we have to say it’s pretty insane. You just have to see it for yourself. There are two editions the Deluxe Vault Hunter’s Collectors Edition ($99.99) and the Ultimate Loot Chest Limited Edition ($149.99). Check your local retailer to see if they have pre-orders available.

From the press release:

The Deluxe Vault Hunter’s Collector’s Edition (MSRP $99.99) includes a copy of Borderlands 2; authentic Marcus Kincaid bobblehead ; Inside the Vault: The Art & Design of Borderlands 2 hardbound book; collectable sticker set; map of Pandora; digital comic download code; and bonus downloadable in-game digital content. The Ultimate Loot Chest Limited Edition (MSRP $149.99) includes all of those items, plus a collectable scaled replica of the red loot chests found throughout Pandora in Borderlands 2; steel book case; Creatures of Pandora wide-format ID chart; lithograph postcard set; field notes from Sir Hammerlock; cloth map of Pandora; and a numbered certificate of authenticity. Both of the special editions will be available for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Windows-based PC.

Gamers who pre-order the Deluxe Vault Hunter’s Collector’s Edition, Ultimate Loot Chest Limited Edition or the standard edition of Borderlands 2 from participating retailers will also gain access to the Borderlands 2 Premiere Club, allowing them to download the Gearbox Gun Pack, a Golden Key, the Vault Hunter’s Relic and an all-new fifth character class – the Mechromancer. The Gearbox Gun Pack is a collection of unique guns to help players begin their journey on Pandora. The Golden Key is used to unlock a rare in-game item in the mysterious Golden Sanctuary Loot Chest found in Borderlands 2. The Vault Hunter’s Relic is an in-game item that boosts players’ gear-hunting fortune while playing solo or teaming up with friends. The Mechromancer character class will be available following launch when development of the character is complete and is free to those who pre-order Borderlands 2, and will be available for purchase for those who do not. To pre-order all editions of Borderlands 2, please visit www.borderlands2.com/preorder.

Borderlands 2 features all-new characters; skills; imaginative, diverse new environments with unique missions and enemies; and more exciting and fun weapons, equipment and loot than ever before. All of these features come together in a story that takes players to the world of Pandora to take down the notorious Handsome Jack and his corrupt Hyperion Corporation as a solo campaign or with up to four cooperative players.

Borderlands 2 will be available in North America on September 18, 2012, and internationally on September 21, 2012.

PopCap Releases Bejeweled 2 for the iPad

Garv — Thu, 17 May 2012 12:53:55 +0000

iPad users can now pick up Bejeweled 2 for $3.99.

From the press release:

“The iPad has become a de facto standard for tablet gaming and is an ideal platform for the Bejeweled franchise,” noted Giordano Bruno Contestabile, Bejeweled franchise business director at PopCap Games. “This native adaptation is one of our best yet, and will enthrall players with fantastic HD graphics and optimized gameplay. As Bejeweled further evolves, we’ll continue to bring exciting new iterations, updates and content to millions of new and existing players.”

Game Features At-a-Glance
◊ Stunning HD graphics; full retina display support for the new iPad
◊ Four great game modes: Play the ever-popular Butterflies and Diamond Mine, along with Classic and Zen for hours of challenge and fun
◊ Game Center Support: Compete against your friends and climb the leaderboards
◊ Create electrifying special gems like Flame gems, Star gems, Hypercubes, and Supernova gems
◊ Earn badges and Game Center achievements to show off your best skills

Ben 10: Omniverse Announced

Garv — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:46:49 +0000

Ben 10: Omniverse will be hitting the various systems later this year. The game looks to tie into the upcoming cartoon due out this fall. The crazy thing is that the game was actually announced for the Wii U as well.

From the press release:

In Ben: 10 Omniverse, players will be immersed in exciting action-brawler gameplay featuring the new art style inspired from the show. Gamers will have the power to switch forms and battle as one of 13 playable alien heroes, including never-before-seen aliens like Bloxx and Gravattack, as they work with either Ben or Rook to defeat the evil plans of a fierce villain, intent on destroying the world.

Ben 10: Omniverse gives fans the option to play single-player or two-player co-op mode (for all platforms except the Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS), where one player controls Ben and his alien forms and the other can play as Rook with his Proto-Tool, a high-tech multifunction weapon designed to battle evil.

Ben 10: Omniverse is being developed by Monkey Bar Games for all platforms except for the Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS, which are being developed by 1st Playable Productions. The Ben 10: Omniverse television series is produced at Cartoon Network Studios with Matt Youngberg as supervising producer. The series will premiere on Cartoon Network this fall.

BATTLESHIP Hits Stores Today

Garv — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:42:01 +0000

We always have to wonder why publishers even bother with this kind of stuff, but if you’re looking to play the game based on the movie it’s in stores today.

From the press release:

“Working with the legendary BATTLESHIP property, and the new epic action-adventure from Universal Pictures, we felt it was important to capture some of the cinematic drama while allowing players to experience the action from a unique perspective,” said David Oxford, Activision Publishing. “We want both movie-goers and gamers of all ages to dive into an all new, fun BATTLESHIP experience.”

Combining military strategy and fast-paced first-person shooter gameplay, players take control of a powerful naval fleet in this re-envisioned version of BATTLESHIP. Trapped in a “dome” of alien-terror on the Hawaiian Islands, where support communications have been put to a halt, players commandeer real-world naval vessels, including Destroyers, Carriers, and even the famous U.S.S. Missouri as action-packed sea battles against alien invaders ensue across land, sea, and air.

“With numerous gaming platforms available today, it is important to showcase BATTLESHIP on many different levels,” said Mark Blecher, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Digital Media and Marketing at Hasbro. “The new BATTLESHIP is the perfect medley that both strategic and action-junkie gamers will fall in love with.”

In BATTLESHIP for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation®3 systems, first person run-and-gun gameplay meets tactical battle command. Playing as Cole Mathis, a first class Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician, players will deploy air strikes and radar sweeps to monitor and dominate the marine battlefield. With killer-combat instincts, players must lock-and-load an arsenal of weapons like machine guns and missile launchers to send the invaders packing.

In the Wii, Nintendo 3DS, and DS versions, players are in control of a wide variety of naval units, including Cruisers, Submarines, and Patrol Boats in exciting turn-based combat with a team of specialized commanders. With different play modes to choose from, including Story and quick-battle Skirmish, players will unlock new maps, units, and leaders to turn the tide of battle.

BATTLESHIP is available for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation®3 system for a suggested retail price of $59.99, and is rated “T” (Teen) by the ESRB. The game is also available for the Wii system for $39.99, the DS for $24.99and the Nintendo 3DS for $29.99. All Nintendo versions are rated “E10+” (Everyone 10 and older) by the ESRB.

Epic Mickey 2 Developer Video

Garv — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:38:18 +0000

Warren Spector and the gang at Junction Point talk Epic Mickey 2.

Mac Version of Pole Position 2012 Also Available Today

Garv — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:32:20 +0000

Looks like a good day to search for Mac games news. Racing management game, Pole Position 2012 now available on the Mac App Store.

From the press release:

Pole Position 2012 challenges players to win the checkered flag by designing the perfect car from the ground up, recruiting drivers, and advancing your racing technology through an all-new tech tree. Pole Position 2012 can be purchased directly from the Mac App Store for £20.99/€23.99.

Pole Position 2012 will put your management skills to the test by putting you in charge of your very own racing team. It’s your responsibility to design the car, buy spare parts and to recruit the members of your team. Once your team is assembled you need to decide which training sessions are the most appropriate for your drivers.

Pole Position 2012 offers more features than ever in a racing team management simulation. The whole technology tree has been built from the ground up allowing you to pick your own research from over 100 new technology projects. A new management system means it’s even easier to create your own crew.

Pole Position 2012 Features:
· Your racing team – take control of an existing racing team or create your very own team
· Driver Editor –create your very own driver using the integrated Driver Editor in the new Pole Position
· Improved tech tree – research more than 100 new car technologies using an improved technology tree, which allows you to see your progress in the blink of an eye.
· Team members – the new team management system has more importance than in the previous games, and it’s also easier and more fun to use.
· Team installations – your team owns its own installations, where you can build different structures, such as a wind tunnel or a fitness centre. And you can even improve those structures as the game progresses.
· Private life – the new Pole Position doesn’t forget you, the manager, also have needs. Make your dreams come true and live a life of luxury: get your own sports car, a villa on the Riviera or even a private jet plane.
· Training schedule – decide on the individual training sessions of your pilots to help them improve their skills.
· Car setup – thanks to an easy-to-use car setup system, you can take everything out of your cars and rebuild them from scratch to improve their performance on each specific racetrack.

Galaxy on Fire 2: Valkyrie Now Available for Mac

Garv — Wed, 16 May 2012 13:27:55 +0000

Mac owners can now pick up the first expansion for Galaxy on Fire 2 for $9.99. Pick it up on the Mac App Store.

From the press release:

Like the main game, the add-on has also been completely revamped in terms of graphics and visuals. In the course of the development of Valkyrie™ Full HD, all 3D models have been re-done from scratch with four times as many polygons and a four times higher texture resolution, in order to take full advantage of the Mac’s hardware capability and rendering power. In addition, each of the 38 space ships in the game does now feature an own texture set for diffuse, normal and specular maps in 2048 by 2048 pixel resolution. Together with the new OpenGL shaders, these graphical enhancements provide stunningly detailed and realistic surfaces on all 3D assets. Furthermore, new post effects as well as re-worked explosions, fire, smoke and atmospheric effects, make for a cinematic experience in state-of-the-art quality. The new lighting and additional light sources round off the title’s stunning Full HD look.

With the release of Valkyrie™ Full HD the players are also finally able to buy their own space station, namely the infamous Kaamo Club. This floating den of iniquity can be obtained from Keith T. Maxwell’s old companion Mkkt Bkkt and used to park several spaceships and store goods of any kind. Furthermore, it is now also possible to freely synchronize save games between all SD, HD and Full HD versions of the main game and the add-on, which means that all games started on an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch can now be continued on the Mac – and vice versa. For reasons of consistency, this full cross-platform transfer of save games between all Apple devices was not possible before the release of the add-on in Full HD.

About Galaxy on Fire 2™ Full HD – Valkyrie:
In the Full HD version of the Valkyrie™ add-on, the dare-devil space adventurer Keith T. Maxwell once more sets out to face a treacherous enemy and save the galaxy from its impending destruction. The kidnapping of an ingenious scientist, the theft of a revolutionary technology and the megalomaniac plans and doings of a shady antagonist put a dark veil over the entire galaxy. In cooperation with the secretive Deep Science society, Keith infiltrates the mysterious Valkyrie station in order to find out what the stations cunning commander Alice is up to. On board, however, nothing is as it seems and the thick net of intrigues and betrayal gets tighter and tighter until it finally comes to a thundering show-down with an unexpected twist and an explosive climax.

Features of Valkyrie™ Full HD:
· New story line with English voice-over
· Two new Vossk ships and three new Deep science ships as well as three re-modeled retro ships from the original Galaxy on Fire™
· Tons of new weapons such as guided missiles, mines and auto-turrets
· Tons of new gadgets and items such as emergency shields, time delays, enemy signatures and repair robots
· Four new star systems with a total of nine planets
· New black market system
· Buy your own space station, the infamous Kaamo Club, via in-app purchase or in-game credits and use it to park additional spaceships and store valuable goods.

Technical Specifications:
· All 3D models and texture sets of the Valkyrie assets rebuilt from scratch in state-of-the-art console-quality
· Four-times higher texture resolutions as well as additional details and multiple texture sets for an extremely detailed design of the new space ships and space stations
· Enhanced background images in 2048 by 2048 pixel resolution for a crystal-clear experience on large HD screens
· Enhanced special effects (explosions, fire, smoke, etc) and atmospheric effects for all new weapons and items
· Additional OpenGL shaders for extremely detailed and realistic surfaces on all of the new in-game assets
· New post effects for a cinematic experience
· Additional light sources for a more realistic lighting of the new star systems
· Fully configurable controls via keyboard, mouse and gamepad

Valkyrie™ Full HD is available for download on the App Store for € 7,99 / $ 9.99 / £ 6.99 via in-app purchase.