Star Citizen

I've been konked out with a sudden attack of the flu, which is definitely not how I wanted to spend the past four or five days.  The nice part was that I was finally able to watch the BBC Sherlock, and Pinterest has suffered under my massive Sherlock pinning spree.

But now I'm finally feeling well enough to write logically and not grunt and snuffle like a zombie.  It's Thursday, and that means game spotlight!


For the longest time, my dad wanted to be a commercial airline pilot.  While he never saw that dream to completion, he did spend enough time with airplanes to get his pilot's license (which I've heard is yours for life once you get it) and told me and my siblings about it quite often over the years.  I'm acrophobic (extremely afraid of heights), but I've always loved airplanes.  When I was twelve, I wanted to fly B2 Wing bomber planes and then choppers for the military when I was about fourteen or fifteen.  I decided pretty quickly that a) I wouldn't be able to physically take military training and b) that the thought of being blown up by a SAM wasn't exactly wonderful.  Even so, I still want to learn how to fly someday.

That's the audience that Chris Roberts knows how to address.

Most non-gamers and even a few gamers have never heard of Mr. Roberts, which is kind of a shame since the guy practically invented the space simulation game genre.  Wing Commander, Privateer, those are franchises he designed.  And now we can add Star Citizen to that list.

Star Citizen is an MMO whose emphasis is on getting your bird, flying it, and not getting shot down.  According to IGN, "The game brings the visceral action of piloting interstellar craft through combat and exploration to a new generation of gamers at a level of fidelity never before seen.  It offers a complete universe where any number of adventures can take place, allowing players to decide their own game experience.  Pick up jobs as a smuggler, pirate, merchant, bounty hunter, or enlisted pilot.  A huge sandbox with a complex and deep lore allows players to explore or play in whatever capacity they wish."

The game calls for players to "Immerse [themselves in] high quality, cutting-edge visuals and technology, a virtual world that is massive and detailed, a sophisticated storyline that is wide in scope, and visceral space combat that will make your heart pound."  (IGN)

Like many other projects that are looking for direct consumer funding, Roberts took Star Citizen on Kickstarter.  It's a strategy that's worked amazingly for him so far, earning $10 million and counting from gamers eager to be part of the project.  Critics are jokingly serious that Roberts could easily afford his own universe now.

If the funding keeps up this brisk pace, he could probably own two.

Probably the biggest aspect of Star Citizen is ship customization.  I mean, when you play flight simulation you spend most - if not all - of your time staring at your ship.  It might as well look perfectly sick, right?  Roberts Space Industries (the company developing the game) shared a lot of info with PCGamer concerning this vital area of the game and, needless to say, it's a bit complicated.  Concisely speaking (and all quoted material is courtesy of PCGamer)...

1.  "Customization...rewards ingenuity and mechanical understanding over stat vs. stat showdowns"

2.  There are multiple components required to mod ships (like power consumption, heat load, mass, CPU, durability, etc.), but it's been built in such a way that there's no micromanaging during combat.

3.  As opposed to EVE Online - a longstanding space flight simulation MMO - the intricate systems management required in Star Citizen is entirely optional.

4.  There are 14 customizable parts to all ships, including: afterburners, hull, avionics, main thrusters, and intake, among others.

If you'd like more specific information on all of this stuff, check out this article at PCGamer.  It's pretty interesting stuff.

All in all, Star Citizen looks like a pretty solid game, and I'm definitely interested in seeing if it will be a big competitor to EVE or if it will splutter and not reach the level that is EVE.  I say it a lot, but only because it's true: time will tell.

Star Citizen will be available on PC (not sure about Mac, yet) sometime in 2014.  An official release date has not been set yet.

DISCLAIMER!: Star Citizen has not yet been rated by the ESRB, but the target rating is T for Teen or higher.

For more information on the game, you can visit the developer's website (which is currently experience an update blackout).  And if you'd like to check out the competitor - EVE - then you can click here to find out more.


Now let's hope the flu bug stays away for good and doesn't come back to haunt me, as it usually likes to do.  =P




 - Edessa, signing off

Fuse

Overstrike 9 strikes back...

There's nothing quite like being told that you can't have something.

Some people just submit when they've been told they can't have something they want.  Some (like a few very young kids I've seen at the mall) throw themselves on the ground and scream like a howler monkey on steroids.

And then there are people - like those in the Raven corporation - who say "Well, yeah, boo, sucks to be you," steal most of your high-tech alien weaponry, and attempt to blow you up multiple times.

That's the basic premise of Fuse, a new shooter from Electronic Arts and Insomniac Games: leading four elite agents of contact team Overstrike 9 in reclaiming the high-tech weaponry stolen by the Raven corporation before they obliterate everything.

According to IGN, Fuse is a "story-driven, cooperative action [in which] players must thwart a rogue paramilitary organization called Raven from stealing the deadly alien energy source known as Fuse.  Your team -- Dalton Brooks, Izzy Sinclair, Jacob Kimble and Naya Deveraux -- will pursue Raven around the world, from the fortified desert facility to underwater bases, island strongholds, icy mountain peaks, palatial hideouts and beyond."

Even though the game is mainly centered on co-op play, there is also a solo player option.  When playing solo, players use "the game's LEAP feature to switch between the four characters at will during combat," so much like a similar ability employed in the LEGO video games.  Each agent has his own set of skills and specializations that are unique from all the others in the group, and you're also given access to some pretty sweet experimental Fuse weapons that make gameplay even more interesting.

Besides solo and co-op options, Fuse can also be played online or offline and characters can "level up along unique character paths, allowing players to unlock more powerful Fuse-driven abilities as the game progresses.  In addition, the game's progression system is unified between different play modes, allowing players to continue improving their agents regardless of how they play," (IGN).

All in all, it really seems like EA and Insomniac are doing their very best to give their players the most options they possibly can, which is always good in my book.  What's really interesting is that the game is being described as "Bringing the best bits of Ratchet and Resistance together," and that sounds pretty fun.


Fuse will be releasing in the U.S. on May 28th (May 31st in the UK, May 30th in AU, and at a yet to be determined date in Japan) for the XBox 360 and the PlayStation 3.

DISCLAIMER!: Fuse has not yet been rated the ESRB, though the target rating is T for Teen and above.


Get out the magnum, ladies and gents.  You've got a corporation to stop.




 - Edessa, signing off

Lost Planet 3

Ah, the first upcoming video game post of 2013. This will be a fun year... at least, if the movie and game lists have anything to say about it.

This week we're highlighting Lost Planet 3, the sequel to Lost Planet 2 which, in turn, was the sequel to Lost Planet. As though that was not very obvious... =)


Lost Planet is a sci-fi Action trilogy that takes place on the planet E.D.N. III.

And, of course, whenever a planet is called "Eden" it's always everything but a Garden of Eden.

Developed by Spark Unlimited and Capcom, and published by Capcom, "Lost Planet 3 introduces Jim, a rig pilot who leaves Earth to take on a hazardous but lucrative contract on E.D.N. III working for Neo-Venus Construction (NEVEC.) NEVEC's existing Thermal Energy reserve is running low, and the fate of the Coronis mission depends on the natural source of the energy supply being located. Realizing the opportunity for a huge pay-off and early ticket home, Jim braves the risk of the treacherous enviroment and threat of the indigenous Akrid. Acting as a home away from home and boasting an array of tools that can assist Jim on the field, the utility rig provides Jim's safety and is essential for not only his contract work but also his protection against the ever-changing climate" (IGN).

It's basically a survival game. Stay alive long enough to get the rare whatever and try really, really hard not to get blasted or eaten alive or frozen to death in the proccess.

According to IGN, Lost Planet 3 is not only a survival game. It also serves a secret-leaking function, revealing "new truths about the forboding planet and the colonial history of E.D.N. III." Players are also warned that the climate conditions on E.D.N. III are much harsher than they were in the last two Lost Planet games.

But even with the harsher conditions, Lost Planet 3 has much to offer both new and returning gamers.

The game is a mixture of both first person combat within Jim's utility rig and third-person shooter when he's running around on the surface of the planet. The Akrid - E.D.N. III's original alien species - are also "bigger and angrier and demanding a more tactical approach during combat" (IGN). For those who don't like to solo, Lost Planet 3 also offers a wide assortment of different multiplayer modes. And since the game was developed using the Unreal Engine 3, you can expect that the cutscenes and the in-game graphics will be beautiful to behold.

Plus Jim looks like a mix between Tim Allen and Nicholas Cage. I kid you not. I leave it up to you to decide whether or not that's a good thing.


DISCLAIMER!: Lost Planet 3 has not yet been rated by the ESRB, though the target rating is T for Teen or above.

Lost Planet 3 will releasefor the XBox 360 on January 15th in the U.S. The exact date for the Australian, United Kingdom, and Japanese releases have not been confirmed yet, though it will also occur this January.




 - Edessa, signing off

Top 10 Video Games of 2012

Since my last post concerned the Top 20 Highest Grossing Films of 2012, I decided to do a similar post on the highest grossing video games of 2012 (albeit the Top 10 instead of the Top 20).

Let's see which games were elite enough to snatch up a spot in the Top 10, shall we?


#10 - Kingdoms of Alamur: Reckoning

Kingdoms of Alamur is the first game made by 38 Studios, a video game developing company owned by former Red Sox player Curt Schilling. The game boasts rich story-telling and beautiful graphics, but even though it is quite popular the sales alone weren't enough to keep 38 Studios from going bankrupt due to an unpaid $75 million loan. Somebody's gonna need a finance professional ASAP.


#9 - UFC Undisputed 3

Sports games have always been popular, and the UFC franchise seems to be getting more popular every year. This third entry in the franchise has been very solid, which is good for its developer THQ who hasn't been doing so hot lately despite its other fairly well-known games (Darksiders II, Saint's Row 2, etc.). The Mixed Martial Arts of UFC seems to be here to stay.


#8 - Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure

Now this is one game I've wanted to play ever since it first came out. It looks very fun, and I love that the digital characters are also figurines. And with Skylanders: Giants already out, I think this game will continue to be a hit. Wonderful job, Activision and Blizzard! Not just anyone could fuse physical toys and video games and make it successful.


#7 - Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City

I have officially lost track of how many Resident Evil games and movies there are; however, the franchise is aptly named. This Evil is definitely Residing and not going anywhere any time soon. Sure, critics really didn't like this particular game, but from what I've seen over the past few years fans will always buy virtually anything related to their fandom no matter what the critics say.


#6 - Battlefield 3

One of the biggest rivalries in the video game industry is between Battlefield and Call of Duty, mainly because the two games are so incredibly similar. Some people dared to hope that Battlefield 3 would beat CoD: Modern Warfare 3 in terms of sales, but that didn't happen. Nevertheless, the game was still popular enough to grab the #6 spot in the 2012 Top 10 list. And, hey, that's pretty good if you ask me.


#5 - Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Bethesda Softworks created a real winner with Skyrim. It's an incredibly popular game. After all, it won the most Game of the Year awards in 2011, is the highest-selling game of the entire Elder Scrolls franchise, and solf 3.4 million copies in its first two days on the market. If that's not successful, then I don't know what is. I will also refrain from pointing out that this fifth Elder Scrolls game is in the #5 position on this list... never mind, I guess I just did.


#4 - Just Dance 3

Like sports games, dance games also seem to be here to stay. I've never played a dance game before, but I'm pretty sure I would fail miserably. Also I prefer to waltz and swing than dance the "popular way," but I digress... What's different about Just Dance 3 is that it's consistently been a top seller ever since 2009, and global sales have just gone over the 7 million mark. Skyrim has a ways to go to catch up.


#3 - NBA 2K12

Ah, more sports games. There's really not much to say about Take-Two Interactive's NBA 2K12 besides the fact that it's a basketball game and it's already sold 5 million copies (whether that's a domestic or global total has yet to be revealed).


#2 - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

And here is the winner of the Battlefield vs. Call of Duty rivalry... for now, at least. Even though Modern Warfare 3 is in the #2 overall position, Activision-Blizzard is still not incredibly happy with the game's sales. That's because two of its predecessors - Modern Warfare 2 and Black Ops - have done much better. Still, the #2 position is nothing to be ashamed of. Add to that, Activision-Blizzard also has the #8 position with Skylanders. I'd say they're in a pretty good position, wouldn't you?


And the #1 Highest Grossing Video Game of 2012 iiiiiiiis.....

(Drum roll)


#1 - Mass Effect 3

Welcome to the #1 spot, Commander Shepherd. Despite player complaints about the game's ending, Mass Effect 3 was the most popular game of the 2012 gaming season, outselling hundreds of other games domestically and (likely) globally. BioWare hit a real winner with this one, even though it also had to offer a free downloadable pack to explain the ending to its players. Congradulations, Electronic Arts and BioWare, on having the highest grossing game of 2012. I wonder what you'll have in store for us in the years to come?


And there you have it: the Top 10 Highest Grossing Video Games of 2012 (courtesy of CNBC).

One thing that surprised me, though, is that this list did not contain the recently released Halo 4. However, since that game was released not all that long ago, maybe it will make most of its money in the 2013 season. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Thank you for a fun year of gaming, 2012.

Let's see what impression you'll make, 2013.




 - Edessa, signing off

Skylanders Giants

Bring on the Giants!

There are some days when I just really, really wish that I had a PlayStation 3 or an XBox 360 instead of my PSP.

True, my PSP is smaller and lighter with a built-in screen, so it's much more portable than a full-sized console. So that's a win there.

But there are quite a few games - like LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars, for instance - whose PSP editions are very watered down, so you don't get all of the levels or all of the content (which is all available on normal-sized consoles, by the way). That, and then there are a number of games that are only available on the larger consoles.

Like Skylanders Spyro's Adventure.

I've heard so many good things about this game, and I love the way it looks. The unfortunate thing is that I don't have a PS3 or an XBox or even a Wii, so I can't play it.

It's a big, fat bummer, and it's even more of a bummer when I find out that the new Skylanders sequel is releasing later this month.

I really gotta buy myself a full-sized console...

But for everybody else who does have a normal console, you really might want to check out this new game. It looks like it's just as much fun as the original!


Published by the ever-famous Activision and developed by Toys for Bob and XPEC, Skylanders Giants takes off where Spyro's Adventure left off.

The synopsis (courtesy of IGN): "The follow-up to the blockbuster Skylanders Spyro's Adventure, Skylanders Giants builds upon the breakthrough fundamentals of the first game, once again merging the physical and virtual realms with an innovative line of cross-platform toy figures that have 'brains,' which players everywhere can magically bring to life in the world of Skylands. This second installment of the franchise features a variety of new characters, new challenges and a thrilling new story-driven adventure."

I'm hooked. How about you?

The game introduces eight new playable characters (which are also toy figures), and they're twice the size of every other previous Skylanders character. It's called Giants for a reason, right? According to IGN, these giant characters' "in-game powers and abilites [also] reflect their colossal scale."

I'm thinking crushing and stomping are both going to have some part to play in these new characters' abilities. Skylanders, SMASH!

Some of the new Giants figurines are also coming with built-in lights that light up when they're around the Portal of Power. These characters also have some in-game benefits that the others don't and, best of all, they don't require batteries!

Besides the eight giant characters and the light-up figurines, the game is also introducing eight other regular-sized Skylanders that are all playable.

In addition to all of these figurines, Giants is one hundred percent compatible with the original Spyro's Adventure with all of your previous stats and customizations intact, new arenas, a new mode called Battle Mode, enhanced Elemental Zones, new Hero Challenges, and a bunch of other related features (information from IGN).

DISCLAIMER!: Skylanders Giants has been rated E 10+ for Everyone 10 and older by the ESRB for Mild Cartoon Violence.

Giants releases to the U.S. on October 21st - October 19th if you live in the U.K. - for the PlayStation 3, Wii, and XBox 360.

And here's the official trailer from E3:

Oh, and one quick little thing before I'm done for today: if you follow HNED and like what we do, please consider showing your support by Liking us on Facebook! Not only can you show your support in this way, but you also get access to a lot of other film, game, Star Wars, and media industry news that I only post of Facebook (mainly because there's so much of it that I don't want to clutter up the blog). I update the HNED page every day with not only breaking news, but also contest news from other companies (mainly IGN), every HNED and Holocron post is linked on the page, and I also have special tidbits like Song, Picture, and Question of the Day. Click on the little Facebook icon over there to check out HNED's official page! *points to the left sidebar*

And to those of you who have already Liked HNED, thank you soooo MUCH! You're all so very awesome, and I really appreciate your continual support. You guys rock!




 - Edessa, signing off

Guardians of Middle-Earth

PvP like a boss in "Guardians of Middle-Earth"

Ah, Lord of the Rings.

Arguably the best book in the history of the world (after the Bible, of course), and by far one of the most complex. The Hero Cycle is almost perfect in LOTR, and the circular plot, characters, allegory, symbolism, and virtually everything else is spot-on perfect.

LOTR is one of those books that I never grow tired reading, and I've already read it about ten or eleven times since fifth grade. It's just that good!

Over the years there have been quite a few LOTR-themed video games (Aragorn's Quest, LOTRO, Battle for Middle-Earth, just to name a few), and the newest one will be stepping up to the plate later this month. Whether it lives up to its humungously awesome namesake or not will have to be determined later by the players themselves, but if LOTR and video games are two of your favorite things then I would encourage you to consider Guardians of Middle-Earth.


Published by Warner Bros. Interactive (the same company that is currently developing and hosting Lord of the Rings Online) and developed by Monolith Productions, Guardians of Middle-Earth takes place in the Third Age, around the time of the War of the Ring.

The synopsis (according to IGN): "A shadow grows over Middle-earth as the greatest armies of the Third Age prepare for the coming battle. Take up arms in the clash over Middle-earth with the most powerful heroes from the greatest fantasy epic of all time."

While not exactly an MMO, per se, Guardians is a specifically PvP (or Player vs. Player) game that "brings up to 10 players together in five versus five competitive multiplayer battle arenas in the epic setting of Middle-earth" (IGN). I imagine it sort of along the lines of a Marvel vs. Capcom or Super Smash Bros. sort of game, albeit set in Middle-Earth.

The best part, in my opinion?

"The game offers more than 20 iconic guardians, including Gandalf, Sauron, Gollum, Thrain and many more, for players to control in player vesus playerplayer (PVP) matches" (IGN).

Sauron?? Seriously??! That's AWESOME!

The IGN article goes on to say that "Gamers will have the ability to connect with other players via an in-game voice communication system, as well as access to a comprehensive onlie stat and leader board system where they can track their friends' victories and defeats, and more."

If PvP isn't your thing, Guardians also offers an option to play against the game's AI system. You can also purchase items and buffs through the store with in-game currency, and Warner Bros. Interactive has promised to release more LOTR playable character post-launch. Several of the new PCs (or Player Characters) will be in conjunction with the Hobbit film releasing this December.

DISCLAIMER!: Guardians of Middle-Earth has been rated T for Teen by the ESRB for Fantasy Violence.

Guardians will be available for purchase on an undiclosed date sometime in 2012 (some places say that it will release on September 25th, but that hasn't been confirmed yet). The game is exclusive to the XBox console, unfortunately for everybody else. =)


Here's the official E3 2012 trailer. Enjoy! (I know I did!)

 

 

AND REMEMBER! Today is your last day to give Stilwater and me topics and questions you would like us to discuss in our Cad Bane vs. Boba Fett debate! Check out this link for more information, and to submit your discussion topics!

 - Edessa, signing off

More Storage, More Free

Quick questionnaire:

1. Do you have a PlayStation 3?

2. If you do, are you a PlayStation Plus member?

3. If you are, do you like that it only has 150 MB of online save storage?


If you answered "yes" to the first two questions and "no" to the third, then I have one word for you.....

.....V4.25.

Ok, that's technically a letter and a bunch of numbers, not a word, but I wasn't sure what else to call it.

Anyway, Sony just announced that they have a new firmware update for the PS3 (V4.25) that "increases PlayStation Plus members' online save storage from 150 MB to 1 GB" (Game Informer).

Here's what the Official PlayStation Blog had to say concerning the specifics of the update:

"After you've intalled the update, simply go to the Saved Data Utility under the Game column of the XMB. From there you can access the Online Storage folder and find any existing game saves already uploaded, as well as the increase in space to a 1 GB.

"So set your automatic download to upload every game save for every compatible game you play and enjoy the additional breathing room. You can also continue to use this feature to selectively upload game saves you specify."

So if you're a PS Plus member who has been wanting more online save storage, be sure to download firmware update V4.25. A whole gig of memory will give you quite a bit more save space.

And a quick Borderlands 2 update (if you haven't yet, you can read this article I wrote concerning the game).

The Mechromancer class character now has a name - Gaige - and she is free if you pre-order a copy of Borderlands 2. The game comes out next Tuesday, so if you've been seriously considering buying this game you only have a few more days to pre-order to get Gaige free.


And that's been just some of the news in the ever-changing world of video games!




 - Edessa, signing off

Borderlands 2

A monster from "Borderlands 2"

Sometimes I wonder what the world would look like if there was no such thing as sequels.

Would such a world cultivate more original, creative ideas?

Or would that same world just fall prey to parodies?

It's an interesting issue to think about. Either way, sequels have been around for a long time, and sometimes they even surprise us by being even better than the original.

Whether Borderlands 2 will be such a game has yet to be determined, but considering the hype going around the Internet a lot of gamers are hoping that it will be just as good - if not better - than the original Borderlands.


Borderlands 2, like its predecessor, is a role-playing shooter, an action game developed by Gearbox Software and published by 2K games. According to IGN, "Borderlands 2 is the epic sequel to the ultimate four-player role-playing shooter loot fest. Combining incention and evolution, Borderlands 2 features all-new characters, skills, enviroments, enemies, weapons and equipment, which come together in an ambitiously crafted story. Players will reveal secrets, and escalate mysteries of the Borderlands universe as they adventure across the unexplored new areas of Pandora."

One thing I find incredibly interesting (or maybe annoying, I'm not sure yet) is that "Pandora" seems to be a favorite name for a lot of fictional places. Pandora was the name of the Na'vi planet in Avatar, for instance, but I digress...

According to the game's official IGN wiki, Borderlands 2 sports five distinct classes for players to choose from: Gunzerker, Assassin, Siren, Commando, and Mechromancer. All of these classes are very similar to the ones offered in the original Borderlands, and playable characters from the first game (Lilith, Brick, Mordecai, and Roland) all return as non-player characters (or NPCs). For more information on the classes, characters, vehicles, and equipment available in this sequel, you can visit this link: http://www.ign.com/wikis/borderlands-2

There are three versions of the game that will be available for purchase on the same day.

The Standard version is, of course, standard.

The Deluxe Vault Hunter Edition (one of two special edition packages) includes a Marcus Kincaid bobblehead, a copy of Inside the Valt: The Art and Design of Borderlands 2, a collectible sticker set, a map of Pandora, a digital comic download code, and downloadable in-game content. This set is selling for $100 U.S. dollars. Be aware that this particular version is reportedly on back-order from most suppliers, but I haven't checked to see if this is still the case.

The Ultimate Loot Chest (the second, and more expensive, special edition package) includes all of the items listed in the Deluxe Vault Hunter Edition, plus a collectible scaled replica of the red loot chests found throughout Pandora, a steelbook case, a Creatures of Pandora wide-format ID chart, a lithograph postcard set, field notes from Sir hammerlock, a cloth map of Pandora, and a numbered certificate of authenticity. This version is selling for $150 U.S. dollars

DISCLAIMER!: Borderlands 2 has been rated M for Mature by the ESRB for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol.

Borderlands 2, in all three editions, will be available for purchase on September 18, 2012. You can also pre-order through stores such as GameStop or through online retailers like Amazon and eBay. The game will be available for the XBox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, and possibly the PlayStation Vita.




 - Edessa, signing off

Coming Soon: SWTOR Free-to-Play

It is official. After losing a little over one million subscribers, Star Wars: The Old Republic (or SWTOR) will soon be available as f2p, or free-to-play.

According to Matthew Bromberg, the GM of BioWare Austin, "Players want flexibility and choice. The subscription-only model presented a major barrier for a lot of people who wanted to become part of The Old Republic universe."

Since its launch, SWTOR has had a monthly price tag of $14.99, making it one of the more expensive games to play. Every game purchase does come with thirty days of gameplay free, and it appears as though many gamers leveled their characters all the way up to the 50 level cap and then quit when their thirty free days expired. After reading various articles on SWTOR, most gamers I read about admitted that they would either return to the game or start playing it if there was an f2p option.

If you are one of those individuals, then BioWare has heard your cries and has responded very positively.

An f2p option will bring in a lot of excited new players, but it may also cause a rift between gamers who pay for subscriptions and those who are "freebies." Most - if not all - online games that offer subscription and free options have faced a division between payers and players. Those who pay for a subscription sometimes believe that they are being gyped because freebies are getting the whole game experience free, whereas the freebies wonder why the payers don't like them. It's an unfortunate occurance, but it does happen.

Thankfully, though, BioWare is giving good incentives for their subscribers to continue paying by giving them special perks that freebies can't get without a monthly fee. So what do you get out of monthly subscription and f2p accounts?


If You Pay (Subscriber):

• Access to a new currency called Cartel Coins
• Full access to levels 1-50 (the level cap will be raised soon)
• Full access to the Character Creator
• Full access to all Warzones
• Full access to all Flashpoints
• Full access to all Space Missions
• Full access to all Operations
• Full access to all travel features
• Priority access during login (subscribers will get into the game faster than freebies)
• 50 available listings on the Galactice Trade Network

If You Play (Freebie):

• Full access to levels 1-50 (the level cap will be raised soon)
• Limited access to the Character Creator (some species are only available to subscribers)
• Limited access to Warzones (access is limited to a certain weekly cap)
• Limited access to Flashpoints (access is limited to a certain weekly cap)
• Limited access to Space Missions (access is limited to a certain weekly cap)
• No access to all Operations
• Limited access to all Travel Features (no details available)
• Normal access during login (subscribers who login at the same time will get into the game faster than a freebie)
• Limited access to posting on the Galactic Trade Network (no details available)

If you're a Subscriber or are considering subscribing, you might be wondering what these "Cartel Coins" are. Basically they're a special type of currency that only subscribers have access to, a reward for those who are willing to buy a monthly subscription. These Coins will be used to purchase special in-game items that can only be bought with Cartel Coins, like a Kowakian Monkey Lizard Pet, a Sith Meditation Throne, and the Lost Helm of Darth Nihilus.

If you're a current subscriber, you might also want to consider looking at what special rewards you can start receiving today. Visit the link below for more information on all the stuff you can start getting today. If you're interested in more specifics concerning the f2p option for SWTOR, you can also click on the link for more information: http://www.swtor.com/free

Physical copies of SWTOR will also go on sale in the U.S. for $14.99 just prior to the launch of the f2p option. SWTOR goes f2p sometime this Fall, though the exact date has not been released yet.

As for the reason why SWTOR has decided to go f2p so soon after its launch, BioWare wants to bring its subscriber base back up. Losing one million players is disastrous, even for a game as popular as SWTOR. According to Jeff Hickman, the game's Executive Producer, on the official SWTOR blog: "We [at BioWare] feel that flexibility and choice in playing our game is important for all current and future players. For that reason, we began the exploration of expanding the game to include a Free-to-Play option." If you would like to read more of his post, please visit http://www.swtor.com/info/news/blog/20120731.


If the inclusion of an f2p option is as successful for SWTOR as it was for LOTRO, I wonder what kind of effect it will have on other popular MMOs, such as World of Warcraft. WoW introduced a "play free to level 20" option in response to SWTORs original launch, but will Blizzard Entertainment cave in and go f2p if SWTOR is successful with its inclusion of freebies? I'll keep tabs on that and let you know if anything like that develops over at WoW.

What do you think of this new step for BioWare and SWTOR? Do you think more gamers will join and stay on? Is this a good financial decision for BioWare? And is the coming f2p option affecting whether or not you will start playing, or whether you will continue to play?

Personally, I believe that f2p is how all online games will function eventually, and I like that BioWare is going to allow more players to join with the inclusion of an f2p option. True, freebies will have restrictions on parts of their game, but I don't think that will ruin their overall gaming experience. And by giving subscribers special rewards for paying, BioWare is giving payers more new reasons to keep buying monthly subscriptions and to stay on even when the rush of freebies start charging in. In my opinion, I think this is a good step forward for BioWare and SWTOR, but I would love to know what you all think of this!

For more information of the f2p option, please visit the links I posted above. And if you would like to know more about SWTOR itself, please visit the official website at http://www.swtor.com/. SWTOR can be purchased physically from stores like Target, Walmart, and GameStop, or ordered online through places like eBay and Amazon, or downloaded digitally from Origin at http://buy.swtor.com/us/.




 - Edessa, signing off

New Super Mario Bros. 2

Gold is in for "New Super Mario Bros. 2"

Mario has been around for quite a long time. Arguably the most famous Nintendo character in the world, Mario first debuted in 1981 in the game Donkey Kong, an arcade game. Since then, the little Italian plumber has been seen in a little over two hundred other video games and, after selling more than 210 million copies as of 2009, the Mario franchise has become the all-time best-selling video game series.

With the newest Super Mario game releasing in about two weeks, the world's favorite plumber returns to do what he does best.


Published and devloped by Nintendo, New Super Mario Bros. 2 has a very familiar storyline: "Bowser has once again kidnapped Princess Peach, but this time, Mario has another objective. The Mushroom Kingdom is bursting with more gold coins than before. Each level is littered with gold as coins rain down from overhead pipes, trails of coins are left behind special gold enemies and gold pipes transport Mario into coin-filled caverns. It's up to players to collect as many coins as possible throughout their adventure" (IGN).

The game will record how many coins players collect throughout the game, and there are even some neat new gold tricks. For example, there's a ring that will turn your enemies into gold, and there's a Gold Flower that let's you transform virtually anything into coins. Raccoon Mario also returns to this game, so you can fly and gain access to secret areas. Additionally, this platformer also includes a two player co-op option.

New Super Mario Bros. 2 will be released on August 19th exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS. Players can purchase the game one of two ways: either through a retail store (such as GameStop) or as a download from the Nintendo eShop.

DISCLAIMER!: New Super Mario Bros. 2 has been rated E for Everyone by the ESRB for Comic Mischief.


Since Mario has been around for a little over thirty years, what do you think has contributed to his worldwide success?




 - Edessa, signing off

Ratchet & Clank Collection

You do not mess with the R.Y.N.O.!

Ratchet & Clank is one of those special kinds of franchises that seems to have everything: awesome weapons with equally awesome mods that can all be leveled up, cool armor suits, interesting plotlines, good voiceover work (particularly by James Arnold Taylor), and a fuzzy alien hero with a seriously epic name for players to control. I play Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters on my PSP, and I would definitely reccomend the game to anyone who likes third-person shooters. Sure, it's not an easy game (I still can't seem to beat the last Quodrona level in Master Mode), but it sure is a lot of fun.

If you love Ratchet and his robot companion, Clank, or if you've never played any of the games before, the Ratchet & Clank Collection will likely be a good investment if fun third-person shooters are right up your alley.


Published by Sony Computer Entertainment and Developed by Idol Minds Digital Entertainment and Insomniac Games, the Ratchet & Clank Collection is a box set of three R&C classic games: the original R&C, Going Commando, and Up Your Arsenal. All of the games have been "remastered in 1080p...with additional upgrades such as Trophy and 3D support" (IGN).

Here are the synopsises (synopsi? Whatever the plural of "synopsis" is) for all three games, courtesy of IGN: "In the original Ratchet & Clank, save the galaxy as Ratchet, a wrench-wielding Lombax, and his robot buddy, Clank, in this action-adventure with a multitude of crazy weapons.

"In Ratchet & Clank: Going Commando, Ratchet and Clank return as heroes for hire. Upon taking a job to find a stolen experiment for mega-corporation Abercombie Fitzwidget, Ratchet and Clank meet a large cast of character who will help them along the way.

"In Ratchet & Clank: Up Your Arsenal, gamers return to Planet Veldin, the setting of the original game, where the duo set off on a gripping new adventure through a multitude of diverse planets to fight for galatice peace. Up Your Arsenal includes a multiplayer feature that allows up to eight players to play at once."

According to the official PlayStation 3 blog, this box set of three classic R&C games has been created "to commemorate the achievements of the Ratchet & Clank saga," a saga that is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year (the first game was originally released on the PlayStation 2 in 2002).

If you live in Europe then the collection was released in the spring of this year, but North American fans will have to wait until this fall to get their version.

Why do North Americans have to wait longer? "...It's becuase we have something very special planned for our North American fans to celebrate the 10th anniversary" (The Official PlayStation Blog). What is this "special" something that Sony has in store?

*NOTE: Skip over the next paragraph if you're the type of person who likes surprises and wants to find out the special something for yourself!*

For North American gamers only - sorry, international gamers - the Collection will come with a demo for Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, the new game in the Sly Cooper franchise. The reason why North Americans get this bonus content is because Sony wants to reward the gamers here for their patience, since the game released internationally in the spring and the North Americans have had to wait an extra few months.

*NOTE: Continue reading here if you like surprises.*

The Ratchet & Clank Collection will release in North America on August 28, 2012, for the PlayStation 3.

DISCLAIMER!: The Ratchet & Clank Collection has been rated E 10+ for Everyone 10 and Older for Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes.


Who here plays Ratchet & Clank, and what do you love about the franchise?

My favorite thing about R&C is the weapons. I adore my dual, double barreled Lacerator pistols, my Acid Bomb Glove, Agents of Doom (mine are Agents of Dread because I've leveled them up to Titan 4), and the Rocket Launcher. Currently I'm saving up for the R.Y.N.O. and I can tell you right now that I am gonna have so much fun with that bad boy when I finally get Ratchet's fuzzy hands on it!




 - Edessa, signing off

Halo 4

Master Chief is back in the new Halo sequel

Halo is one of those types of game that even if you've never played it you've most likely heard of it. In fact, the futuristic First-Person Shooter is one of the best video game franchises out there. Even people who don't particularly like or play Shooters or Mature-rated games will admitt that Halo is one of the most iconic, highest grossing franchises of all time.

Coming soon from Publisher Microsoft Game Studios and Developer 343 Industries is the newest installment in the Halo series: Halo 4. The synopsis (courtesy of IGN): "Master Chief returns in Halo 4, part of a new trilogy in the colossal Halo universe. Set almost five years after the events of Halo 3, Halo 4 takes the series in a new direction and sets the stage for an epic new sci-fi saga, in which the Master Chief returns to confront his destiny and face an ancient evil that threatens the fate of the entire universe."

It seems as though there's always some ancient evil or another threatening the universe, not just in Halo but in many different books, games, and movies.

One of the newest options available to Halo 4 players is the Halo Infinity Multiplayer. "The hub of the Halo 4 multiplayer experience is the UNSC Infinity - the largest starship in the UNSC fleet that serves as the center of your Spartan career. Here you'll build your custom Spartan-IV supersoldier, and progress your multiplayer career across all Halo 4 competitive and cooperative game modes" (IGN).

Two editions of this game will be available: the Standard for $60.00 and the Limited for $100.00 (all U.S. currency).

"The Limited Edition includes early access to six Specializations, the UNSC Infinity Briefing Packer, which includes an armor customization schematic, a blueprint of the massive ship itself, and insight into what it means to be one of humanity's finest warriors: the Spart-IVs, bonus digital content and access to nine maps - three future competitive multiplayer map packs, each including three locations" (IGN).

Both of these editions will be available on the same release date - November 6, 2012 - and Halo 4 will only be available for the XBox 360.

Speaking of XBoxes, GameStop is offering a Limited Edition Halo 4 320 GB XBox 360 console. The package includes a custom designed console, 2 Custom Halo 4 wireless controllers with blue LED lights and a D-pad, 320 GB HDD, Halo 4 Standard edition, XBox LIVE code for bonus Halo 4 downloadable content, wired headset, and custom sounds when the console is turned on and when the Eject button is pushed (GameStop). If you pre-order the console today, you will also recieve the customizable Forest armor skin. For more information on this limited edition console, please visit http://www.gamestop.com/xbox-360/consoles/xbox-360-320gb-limited-edition-halo-4-console/103352

DISCLAIMER!: Halo 4 has not yet been rated by the ESRB, though it is targeted for the M for Mature rating or higher.




 - Edessa, signing off

Journey (Collector's Edition)

screenshot from "Journey"

There are many genres of video games in the world, from Puzzles and Racing all the way to RPGs and Shooters. The most popular games currently are Shooters and RPGs. Even so, there are still developers like thatgamecompany (TGC) that make innovative, original games that pull away from the traditional shoot-as-many-bad-guys-as-you-can model. Journey is one of those games.

The Journey Collector's Edition is a compilation of three of TGC's games (Journey, flOw, and Flower) with a whole hoard of bonuses (more on that later). The synopsis for each game is as follows (from IGN):


"JOURNEY: An exotic adventure with a more serious tone, Journey presents a unique vision of an online adventure experience. Awakening in an unknown world, the player walks, glides, and flies through a vast and awe-inspiring landscape, while discovering the history of an ancient, mysterious civilization along the way. Journey's innovative approach to online play encourages players to explore this enviroment with strangers who cross their path from time to time. By traveling together, they can re-shape the experience -- creating authentic moments they will remember and discuss with others.




screenshot for "flOw"

FLOWER: Playing as the wind, the player guides and grows a swarm of pe[t]als by interacting with other flowers and the surrounding enviroment. The goals and journey in each level very, but all involve flight, exploration and interaction with the level. Guiding the lead petal through the world, you accumulate a swarm of flower petals as you moves at your own pace withing the enviroment, causing the on-screen world to change with your interaction.

FLOW: Maneuver your aquatic organism through a surreal biosphere, consuming other organisms, evolving, and diving into the abyss. With an embedded design of DDA (dynamic difficulty adjustment), players with differing skill levels can intuitively customize their game experience and enjoy the game at their own pace."


Included with these three games is also a veritable treasure trove of bonus features, including: a thirty minute behind the scenes documentary on the making of Journey, creator commentaries on all three games, three exclusive TGC mini-games, concept art, screenshot galleries, original soundtracks for all three games, PS3 dynamic themes and wallpapers, PSN avatars (including eight new releases), game trailers, developer diary videos, and reversible cover art.

DISCLAIMER: Journey Collector's Edition has been rated E 10+ for Everyone 10 and older by the ESRB for Mild Fantasy Violence. (this rating descriptor only applies to Journey specifically. flOw and Flower are rated E for Everyone with no rating descriptors.)

Journey Collector's Edition will be available from Sony Computer Entertainment on August 28, 2012, for the PlayStation 3.




 - Edessa, signing off

Resident Evil Umbrella/Darkside Chronicles

Resident Evil is a special kind of franchise, a popular video game series that spawned equally popular film adaptions. Not many video games can boast a good film adaption (The Prince of Persia: Sands of Time couldn't) or vice versa. But Resident Evil can, and Capcom's not done churning out more and more sequels and prequels to their hit shooter.

In this post, we'll look at the two newest Resident Evil games coming soon.



The evil returns with two new "Resident Evil" games from Capcom

First up is The Umbrella Chronicles, a games that "reveals the back story behind the fall of the Umbrella Corporation by exploring locations from past Resident Evil 0, 1, 2 and 3 as well as new never-before-seen locations, such as Umbrella's stronghold" (IGN). This first-person shooter boasts a 2 player co-op option and a 3D mansion for players to explore. The game will be in stores on July 17, 2012, for the PlayStation 3. DISCLAIMER!: Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles has been rated M for Mature by the ESRB for Blood and Gore, Violence.

Secondly, we have The Darkside Chronicles. The synopsis, according to IGN: "Arm yourself against the horrors of the city in this sequel to the gun shooting game Umbrella Chronicles. Darkside Chronicles takes place in Resident Evil 2's Racoon City. It's September 29, 1998, and the city has turned to hell due to the effects of the T-virus. Players take control of Claire Redfield and Leon S. Kennedy to deal with the undead. Only this time, the enemy is not the Umbrella Corporation... instead, players venture into the unexplored areas of the Resident Evil story, along with the darker passages of the characters' histories." Like The Umbrella Chronicles, The Darkside Chronicles supports a 2 player co-op, and also has different difficulty settings that "will adjust automatically based on the player's skill level so that both old and new fans can have a fun and challenging experience" (IGN). The game will be released on July 17, 2012, for the PlayStation 3. DISCLAIMER!: Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles has been rated M for Mature by the ESRB for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language.

For fans who would like to have both games but don't want to buy them individually, Capcom has bundled both Chronicles into the Resident Evil HD Collection, which has been available since June 26, 2012. The HD Collection combines both Umbrella and Darkside into one box for $27.00 (US dollars). Both ratings still apply.




 - Edessa, signing off

Star Wars 1313

Lately the Star Wars community has been going nuts over the newest SW video game.

Star Wars 1313 is "Named for Level 1313, a ruthless criminal underground deep below the surface of the planet of Coruscant. Star Wars 1313 puts players in control of a deadly bounty hunter as he uses an arsenal of exotic weaponry to hunt down his marks and uncover the truth surrounding a criminal conspiracy. Star Wars 1313 emphasizes epic set pieces and fast-paced combat with a hero who uses human skills and gadgets, rather than supernatural Force powers, to make his way through this dangerous world" (IGN).

Developed and Published by Lucasarts, Star Wars 1313 is a third-person action shooter that has been called a sci-fi version of the Uncharted video game franchise. From what I have seen in the trailers, the game has amazing graphics, especially in the surroundings.

Currently, SW 1313 is in the development phase, so no platforms have been announced and the release date is TBA until further notice.

DISCLAIMER!: With Star Wars 1313, Lucasarts has specifically stated that they are going for a rating of M for Mature. It should not be rated AO, but don't expect it to go any lower than M.

Demo for Star Wars 1313.

Demo #2 for Star Wars 1313

More details about Star Wars 1313



So, what are your thoughts on this game? Do you think the Mature rating will bring down sales, or is it a good idea? Would you play this game?




 - Edessa, signing off

Starbound

The genre of science-fiction as been a love of mine ever since I watched my first Star Trek episode when I was about seven. Reading and watching sci-fi is a lot of fun, but sometimes I just need to get into the world myself. And that's where games like Ratchet & Clank and Starbound come in and make my day.

Every planet in "Starbound" is different

Starbound is a new sci-fi action game that was published and developed by Chucklefish, which is an indie game company. The synopsis (from IGN): "Starbound begins with you fleeing your homeworld in a space shuttle, just as it's destroyed by an unknown enemy" - sounds strangely like Superman's origin, but anyway - "With nothing to guide it, the escape pod shoots into space without direction, becoming hopelessly lost in a sea of stars. As luck would have it, the space shuttle makes contact with an abandoned space station and an adventure begins that will take you hunting across the universe."

This online game is both quest and story-driven, and contains a huge universe to explore. "Throughout your travels you'll find new ways to upgrade and repair [the station], restoring it to its former glory. You'll need to find a crew, conduct research, catch rare creatures, and unlock its multitude of facilities. From a factory capable of producing mechs to labs where captured enemies can be studied and trained, the space station contains everything you need to explore the universe" (IGN). Starbound is a "fully cooperatively and competitively multiplayer" online game with multiple servers (PlayStarbound). I do not yet know if there will be a monthly fee, but the people at Chucklefish specifically want to make the game accessible to all people.

Starbound is currently in development, but they will be introducing Beta Testing soon. For updates, go to http://playstarbound.com/. Starbound has a TBA release date of sometime in 2012, though that could change between now and the end of the year. It wll be available for the PC, Mac, and Linux.

DISCLAIMER!: Starbound has not yet been rated by the ESRB, though it will likely be rated E 10+ or higher.




 - Edessa, signing off

Pikmin 2

I played Pikmin only once a very long time ago (wow, now I feel old XP), and it was very entertaining. Even though I only played it once, I still remember that my two favorite Pikmin were the red ones and the blue ones, though I don't even remember why. I guess I thought that red and blue just looked very nice together. :D

But for those of you who are Pikmin fans, you have new game to look forward to this summer: Pikmin 2.

There are now five types of Pikmin: Yellow, White, Purple, Blue, and Red

"Part of Nintendo's New Play Control! series of titles of classic Nintendo games remade for the unique control systems of the Wii, this game brings back the first in the Pikmin series with controls designed around the Wii Remote" (IGN). Basically, Pikmin 2 is a revamp of the original Pikmin series, but made specifically for the Nintendo Wii console.

According to IGN, "This second game in the Pikmin franchise improves and expands on the real-time fun offered in the first. In Pikmin 2, Captain Olimar returns to the planet he was originally stranded on, to collect trinkets for his dailing company to see back at home."

The game supports a new two player co-op, which "allows players to switch between two spacemen while collecting items. Along with the new playable character, two new Pikmin types have been included -- large hulking purple Pikmin, and small and feisty white Pikmin. Two-player co-op challenge missions and a competitive mode are also available" (IGN). You can command up to 100 Pikmin at a time to carry, follow, and fight for you as you race to find the items you need.

This Real-Time Strategy game was published by Nintendo and developed by Nintendo EAD, and will be in stores on June 10, 2012.

DISCLAIMER!: Pikmin 2 has been rated E for Everyone for the ESRB for Comic Mischief, Mild Violence.


If you've played Pikmin before, which Pikmin is your favorite?




 - Edessa, signing off

Dr. Who: The Eternity Clock

Dr. Who is one of those shows that everybody tells me I have to see but that I never actually get around to seeing. I don't know much about it, other than there's this guy who does a lot of time travel and his name is Dr. Who. Personally, I don't like time travel all that much (mainly because my brain tends to overheat because I'm trying to figure out how in the world that could work and exactly what kind of ramifications time travel would have on history).

But for those of you who do like time travel and Dr. Who, then the new video game Dr. Who: The Eternity Clock will probably be just up your alley.

A screenshot from Dr. Who: The Eternity Clock

Developed by Supermassive Games and published by BBC Multimedia, Dr. Who: The Eternity Clock has a very interesting combination of 2D and 3D. All of the cutscenes are 3D, but the game itself is played as a 2D side-scroller. "Made using the Unreal 3 engine it's a mixture of platforming, puzzling and exploration that's lightly reminiscent of the likes of Shadow Complex - but Supermassive's been smart enough to make sure all those elements serve the licence well" (EuroGamer).

The plot, from EuroGamer: "The Tardis has crashed, leaving you stranded and allowing Matt Smith...to do what he does best, manically tending to chattering brass devices and dancing around like a drunken octopus. It's present-day London that the Doctor finds himself in, exiting the Tardis to a handsomely realised Bank of England. It's a part of London that you'll get to know well over the course of The Eternity Clock, as it's all set within the same locale, but across four different eras..."

Dr. Who offers both single and two-player modes, and no worries, Who fans: EuroGamer promises that the game is "...a smart and thoughtful handling of the source material."

The game was originally planned to be released on June 30th, but it has been postponed for now. I'll let you know as soon as I find out when it will release. It will be available for the PC, Mac, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Vita.

DISCLAIMER!: Dr. Who: The Eternity Clock has not yet been rated by the ESRB, but will likely be rated E +10 or higher.


Here is the trailer for the game:

 - Edessa, signing off