EA Sports Offers FIFA 14 Ultimate Team Gold Packs Pre-order Incentive

FIFA 14 Releases September 24 In North America

Electronic Arts has announced that EA SPORTS is offering FIFA 14 Ultimate Team gold packs to fans who pre-order* FIFA 14 on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. The release date for FIFA 14 is September 24, 2013 throughout North America.

FIFA Ultimate Team is the popular game mode within EA SPORTS FIFA that reflects the best recent real-world performances of the world’s best players. Over 3.4 million games of FIFA Ultimate Team are played daily, and over 17 million players are transferred through the transfer market on a daily basis, as millions of fans re-shape their squads based on the real-world performances of their favorite players.

Fans who pre-order the “Ultimate Pass” pre-order package will receive 24 FIFA Ultimate Team gold packs—one per week for 24 weeks—to help build their ultimate team. Each gold pack is a mix of 12 items, including players, contracts, stadiums, managers, staff, fitness, healing, balls, kits, and badges. Gold packs consist mostly of players rated 75+ in-game, and include one rare item, such as enhanced player attributes, longer contracts, and the most coveted players. The “Ultimate Pass” is available until midnight on September 23.

Experience the emotion of scoring great goals in FIFA 14. Innovations to the franchise’s award-winning** gameplay will make FIFA 14 the complete matchday experience, introducing features that inspire fans to build play through midfield, dictate the tempo of a match and create rewarding opportunities. Great matches are achieved through measured build up and incredible finishing. A new feature in FIFA 14 called Pure Shot and a brand-new ball physics system will transform shooting, making every shot attempt feel real, and when players connect with the perfect strike, feel exhilarating. FIFA 14 will deliver engaging online*** features and live services that connect fans to the heartbeat of the sport—and to each other—through EA SPORTS Football Club, making FIFA 14 football's social network, where fans connect, compete and share with millions of others around the world.

Fueled by EA SPORTS IGNITE, FIFA 14 will also release worldwide within the next 12 months on Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, and PlayStation 4, and will be available for pre-order soon. A video showcasing how EA SPORTS games will look and play on Xbox One can be viewed below.
*Conditions and restrictions apply. Please see www.easportsfootball.com for details.
** The FIFA franchise has won over 250 videogame awards since 2010 on HD consoles
*** Internet connection and Origin account required. Must be 13+ to create an account.

Deadpool Reveals His Pre-Order Info

And now another message from our good friend Deadpool:

Every Day on social media I hear it. People stop me on the street just to ask it. “Show me the DEADPOOL videogame marketing!” they demand. “Buzzword the crap outta me!” They want info on retail drivers. They’re all about how I’m incentivizing early adoption. And they freakin’ demand insight on how I’m monetizing my user base.

Well, OKAY. I hear you! Allow me to rest and purchase groceries uninterrupted once more as I establish a new paradigm by unveiling these tantalizing pre-order bonuses for DEADPOOL from the following participating retailers:

Best Buy

• A $5 voucher for ANY Marvel comic book. You could get one from the time I was in the Uncanny X-Force, or one from Daniel Way’s sizzling Deadpool run… And well, yes, I suppose you COULD buy a Marvel comic that DIDN’T star yours truly, but why do that to yourself? – U.S. only (while supplies last).
• An exclusive Deadpool poster for everyone who pre-orders the game from my home country (while supplies last). Vive posters! Vive Quebec! – Canada Only

Steam & GameStop PC Download

• The Merc with a Map Pack DLC! Featuring two new levels – GRT Plaza and Inside the Tower – for Deadpool Challenge Mode and Infinite Mode, as well as two new costumes, the D-Pooly and Uncanny X-Force suits (only available in Infinite Mode). You like maps, don't you?
• Your very own Deadpool digital wallpaper! Look, if you want to be the only one of your friends without a Deadpool digital wallpaper, that's fine. I don't know, I think high school's hard enough already, but it's your choice – you gotta be you.

Alright...that's all the news for today. Deadpool's gonna go pay a stranger now to pre-order HIS bonus if you know wh—ahh forget it.

DEADPOOL is expected to release in North America on June 25, 2013 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC via Steam. It is rated “M” (Mature) by the ESRB.

Release Date For Call Of Juarez Gunslinger Announced

Call Of Juarez Gunslinger will be available May 22nd for $14.99. pc version pre-order campaign begins today

Ubisoft has announced that Call of Juarez Gunslinger will be available May 22nd for $14.99 as a downloadable console title and will release on PC through digital and retail distribution channels.

The PC digital version pre-order will give you immediate full access to the 2nd entry in the Call Of Juarez series: ‘Call Of Juarez Bound in Blood’.

Uplay preorders will also give you access to an exclusive pack of legendary weapons.

For more information about preorders visit: http://shop.ubi.com/promo/92895100

Call of Juarez Gunslinger is a real homage to the Wild West tales and era. Players will live the epic journey of Silas Greaves, a ruthless bounty hunter who spent his life on the trail of the West’s most notorious outlaws. Now it is Silas’ time to tell his story, which is linked to the history of the Wild West era: a mix of myths and historical facts.

Made of memorable encounters with some of the West’s most notorious names such as Pat Garret, Jesse James and Butch Cassidy, the game blurs the lines between man and myth. Call of Juarez® Gunslinger lets players live the greatest legends of the Old West.

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Ubisoft Teases Call Of Juarez Gunslinger

Can you stand against the deadliest gunslingers who ever lived?

From the dust of a gold mine to the dirt of a saloon, Call of Juarez Gunslinger is a real homage to the Wild West tales and era. Players will live the epic journey of Silas Greaves, a ruthless bounty hunter who spent his life on the trail of the West’s most notorious outlaws. Now it is Silas’ time to tell his story, which is linked to the history of the Wild West era: a mix of myths and historical facts.

Made of memorable encounters with some of the West’s most notorious names such as Pat Garret, Jesse James and Butch Cassidy, the game blurs the lines between man and myth. Call of Juarez Gunslinger lets players live the greatest legends of the Old West.

Key Features

Meet the legendary outlaws
Billy the Kid, Pat Garrett, Jesse James… Face down the West’s most notorious gunslingers and live the untold stories behind the legends.
Experience a lawless land
Blaze a trail through the wilderness of the Old West and live an epic adventure through stunning Western landscapes.
Dispense your own justice
With a gun holster tied to your leg, become a ruthless bounty hunter on a journey made of all out gun battles.
Prevail in deadly gunfights
Master the art of blasting pistols, shooting rifles, dodging bullets and unleash lethal combos to gun down multiple enemies in split seconds.
Become the West’s finest
Choose the specific gun fighting skills you want to develop and acquire new shooting abilities to become the West’s finest gunslinger.

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DICE Unleashes Battlefield 3: End Game

Get Ready for Even More Lethal High-Speed Action

DICE has announced that Battlefield 3: End Game, the fifth and final digital expansion pack for Battlefield 3, is now available for Battlefield 3 Premium members on the PlayStation 3. In Battlefield 3: End Game, gamers battle on four new breathtaking maps inspired by each of the four seasons, including Kiasar Railroad and Operation Riverside. Gamers can jump in the seat of the speedy new dirt bike and two AA vehicles to get behind enemy lines, or use the new dropship, which can quickly turn the tide in battle by rapidly deploying air drops of troop transports. In addition to this, gamers will enjoy the return of two classic game modes, Capture the Flag and Air Superiority. In Capture the Flag gamers have to coordinate lightning fast attacks and defenses, while in Air Superiority they take to the sky and engage in massive dog fights. With five new assignments, 16 dog tags and five trophies and achievements, Battlefield 3: End Game is the exhilirating and epic capstone to the award-winning Battlefield 3 experience.
Battlefield 3: End Game Release Schedule:

                                                                      PlayStation 3                    Xbox 360 and PC
Battlefield 3 Premium members                 March 5                            March 12
Battlefield 3 players                                    March 19                          March 26

The Battlefield 3 army continues to grow quickly, capturing more than 20 million players since release in October 2011 and has been lauded by game critics worldwide for its compelling single player campaign, intense co-op missions and world class, all-out-war multiplayer experience. Over the past eight months, more than 2.9 million players have signed up for Battlefield 3 Premium, the innovative offering that delivers five massive, themed digital expansion packs loaded with a wealth of content – Battlefield 3: Back to Karkand, Battlefield 3: Close Quarters, Battlefield 3: Armored Kill, Battlefield 3: Aftermath and Battlefield 3: End Game – all for $49.99 on the PlayStation Network, PC at Origin.com or 4000 MS points on the Xbox LIVE Marketplace.
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SimCity Is Back!

After a 10-year hiatus and more than 23 years of inspiring and entertaining gamers, the king of city builders is back! Electronic Arts has announced that SimCity is now available on PC at retail stores across North America and for digital download via Origin. Winner of 26 PC best of show awards in 2012 and lauded in over 50 Most Anticipated of 2013 lists, the beloved city-building simulator is back with the series creators at Maxis and it’s delivering the most immersive and personal SimCity experience ever, where players can create and destroy the cities of their imaginations.

Lucy Bradshaw, Senior Vice President and General Manager of EA’s Maxis Label comments that,
For more than 23 years, SimCity has been inspiring future mayors and urban planners. The new SimCity is powered by the most advanced simulation engine ever. It is more responsive and expansive than ever before. It is a SimCity where decisions you make at the local level will send rippling waves across an entire region of cities. Building on the core ethos of what made the original SimCity so powerful, this new SimCity is the game we have always dreamed of making.

SimCity is a true rebirth of the franchise that brings the depth of simulation that has been the series hallmark for more than two decades and marries it with next generation accessibility and a robust multiplayer mode, giving players the power to change a world together.

For more than two decades, the king of city-building simulators has sworn in millions of virtual mayors from around the world. With its return in 2013, SimCity will engage an entirely new generation of PC gamers as they take charge of their own customized cities and build a world that co-exists alongside friends. For the first time in SimCity franchise history, players’ decisions will have long-lasting repercussions that will extend beyond their city limits. Together, players will address real global challenges such as climate change, the search for renewable resources and natural disasters. It’s up to the players to decide whether to compete or collaborate to shape the world of tomorrow – for better or for worse.

Everything is intelligently simulated in this new SimCity, from all of the Sims in a city, to every kilowatt of power pulsing through a region thanks to the powerful GlassBox Engine. It is the most expansive city management game yet where multi-city gameplay across regions delivers a larger playing field. No longer are players relegated to playing one single city, now they can manage and play up to 16 cities at once. Each city can have different specializations; they can share services and trade resources; they can help or even hinder each other; every decision a player makes in each city has impact in the broader region. It’s up to the player to decide where and how they play.

For the first time in the series multiplayer is added to the gameplay giving players a new dimension to the game, as decisions impact both the city and the region, creating new ways to play by collaborating or competing to earn achievements. Underpinning SimCity is a live service that simulates real-time updates and pushes them to players in the form of new challenges and achievements. Players will track their progression alongside their friends and the world for the most polluted city, the richest city and more.

With its first release in 1989, SimCity is the premier city-building franchise that has captivated more than 30 million players worldwide. Since then, several award-winning entries such as SimCity 2000, SimCity 3000 and SimCity 4 have been produced by the critically acclaimed Maxis studio. Players step into the role of a mayor as they break ground on the foundations of the next big city. The franchise gives players the means to create highly detailed recreations that are populated with real-world issues and real-world problems. With a powerful toolset at their fingertips, players have the ability to create uniquely specialized cities, everything from a bustling financial haven to an oil-guzzling industrial complex; SimCity compels players to create the world of their imagination.

Whether players play by themselves, with their friends or with the rest of the world, SimCity will challenge players to create the city of their dreams answer the question – what kind of mayor will you be?
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Halo Creators and Call of Duty Publisher Unveil Destiny

Epic, Sci-Fi Universe Introduces Innovative Persistent, Online World Filled with Sweeping Adventures

Multi-platform Game Takes Console Online Gaming to a New Level

A new generation of gaming is upon us as Activision, together with critically-acclaimed developer Bungie, revealed the first sneak peak of their partnership. The game, called Destiny, is an ambitious evolution of the first-person action genre that brings gamers together in a shared, persistent world. The result of a large-scale collaboration between Activision, the publisher of such mega franchises as Call of Duty, Skylanders Spyro's Adventure and Skylanders Giants, and Bungie, the creators of Halo, Destiny is poised to become the next advancement in interactive entertainment by melding first-person action gaming with a persistent, dynamic online world.

Destiny combines Bungie's trademark grand scope, sci-fi storytelling and adventures with visceral first-person action gaming that takes place in an unfolding, cinematic universe. Additionally, Destiny delivers a unique social gaming experience to consoles by offering players a connected, living world that they can explore, combined with vibrant social spaces where they can congregate and celebrate achievements, and share remarkable adventures grouped with friends or solo.

Bungie defined first-person action games over a decade ago with Halo, and with Destiny the genre will evolve once again. Destiny is a world that evolves. It is a world with wide boundaries that allows you to roam and explore. It is a world where, even in story mode, you could encounter other players on their own adventures. It is a world that brings all of this together with the visceral, heart pounding immediacy of an expertly crafted first-person action title in a living social universe filled with other players.

Set in the distant future, Destiny casts players as Guardians of the last city on Earth, who will traverse the ancient ruins of our solar system from the red dunes of Mars to the lush jungles of Venus. Able to wield incredible power, players must battle humanity's enemies and reclaim all that was lost during the collapse of mankind's Golden Age. In a story-driven universe, Destiny's saga unfolds through grand talesand sweeping adventures by immersinggamers in a bold new world filled with cooperative, competitive, public, and social activities, all seamlessly connected. Bungie's new next-generation game engine will allowDestiny to come to life on both the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3, as well as other future console platforms.

Brave New World – Destiny will instantly draw players into a universe of heroes and legends, with worlds and storytelling crafted by Bungie, the creators of Halo – one of the most beloved and critically-acclaimed entertainment franchises of all time.

Your Legend – In Destiny you create your own legend as you and your friends venture out into the solar system to reclaim the treasures and secrets lost after the collapse of humanity’s Golden Age. Over the course of your adventures you become more powerful, able to wield rare and exotic weapons, gear, and powers.

Adventure Awaits – Personalize and upgrade every aspect of how you look and fight with a near limitless combination of armor, weapons, and visual customizations. Take it all with you into every mode, including Destiny’s story, competitive multiplayer, and public combat destinations. Return to The City, Destiny’s third person social space to refuel, repair, and rearm before going out on your next adventure.

Connected Universe – Destiny is more than a disc in a drive, it is a persistent, online universe filled with other players. As the world grows and expands over time, so does the story, the destinations you can access, the activities you experience, and rewards you can earn.

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Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen Details Revealed

Following the announcement of Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen last year, Capcom is now pleased to confirm concrete details about this expansion to the world of Dragon’s Dogma. Scheduled for release on both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 from April 23 in North America and April 26 across Europe, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen is the next exciting chapter in the Dragon’s Dogma franchise. Available as both a physical disc and a full game digital download, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen delivers a huge brand new area, missions, enemies and more, plus all of the content from the original game.

Just off the Gransys mainland is the cursed Bitterblack Isle where gamers will embark on an all-new quest to discover an underground realm, complete with new terrifying foes and incredible treasure. Owners of the original Dragon’s Dogma will be able to export their existing characters and all other saved data to continue their journey as the Arisen, and face a new threat that has emerged from the cavernous depths. Players will be able to take their characters to new heights with brand new high-level skills and augments as well as all new weapons and armor sets. Furthermore, owners of the original Dragon’s Dogma will receive 100,000 Rift Crystals, unlimited Ferrystones and the Gransys Armour Pack consisting of six brand new costumes for free, upon purchasing Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen.

For those that missed Dragon’s Dogma the first time around, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen provides the opportunity to start their journey from the very beginning before tackling the all-new content.

Based on player feedback, Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen will make the Dragon’s Dogma gameplay experience even more satisfying with improvements such as easier travel and a more intuitive menu system. For those who already own Dragon’s Dogma and then purchase Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, these improvements will be automatically retrofitted to their original game save data.

So, what does Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen deliver?

All of the content from the original Dragon’s Dogma plus…

• A massive new underground realm to explore featuring over 25 terrifying new enemies
• More skills/equipment/augments:
• Level 3 Skills
• DD: DA provides each character class with a new tier of skills, giving players new devastating abilities and skills to master
• Over 100 pieces of new equipment
• All new high level weapons and armor sets for players venturing into the underground caverns
• 14 new character/Pawn augments
• New tiers of equipment enhancement
• And there’s more:
• Increased character customization options
• Item appraisal
• Option to select Japanese voice over

Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen will be available at retail stores across North America for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and as a download from PlayStation Network on April 23, 2013 for $39.99.

Title Update Released For Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Online

Ubisoft Releases Title Update for Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Online with New Mode, Map and Clan Matches

Ubisoft has announced the release of the 0.10.0 update for its free-to-play PC shooter Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Online. This latest game update brings a host of new content, including the Holdout game mode, the Balaklava Sub Pen map and the Clan Match feature, as well as several game service improvements and fixes. The 0.10.0 update coincides with the release of the new Triton Pack featuring naval-themed avatars, weapons and armor.

Holdout Game Mode
The teamwork, tactics, and strategies of players will be tested in the newest game mode for Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Online. In the Holdout game mode, both teams will contend over a single capture point set in the middle of the map. Take control of the point, and defend it until the round ends to emerge victorious. With shorter round timers, and both teams converging on a single capture point, players can expect fierce and frantic firefights in Holdout.

Balaklava Sub Pen Map
Designed specifically for the new Holdout mode, the Balaklava Sub Pen map is inspired by the formerly classified, underground submarine facility in Ukraine that was operational until 1993.

Symmetrical and compact in design, with only one capture point, the map gives players of all skill levels plenty of opportunities to jump into the fight and start having fun right away. The map offers a lot of depth with multiple strategic areas and approaches to the capture point – whether it be the folding bridge that offers an elevated vantage point, or the tunnel entrances that provide flanking opportunities.

Triton Pack
Complementing the naval theme of the new map is the new Triton Pack. Players will be able to outfit their Ghosts in brand-new helmets and armor vests, equip them with upgraded weapons, and personalize their profile with custom avatars. The Triton Pack will only be available for a limited time throughout the month of January.

Clan Matches
Following up from the introduction of the Clan feature in October 2012, which gave players the opportunity to create and join clans, players will now be able set up custom matches against other clans.

Form a squad from your own clan mates, pick a map of your choice, and send out a challenge to your rival clans – it’s time for all the GRO clans to show off their skills and find out who is the best.

According to Theo Sanders, the game’s Producer,

We’re really excited about the 0.10.0 update. The Holdout mode and the Balaklava Sub Pen map offer new tactical challenges and experiences to the community, and decking out your Ghost in the new Triton gear makes them look awesome.We’re also keeping our promise to the community with the introduction of the Clan Match feature. Fighting alongside your clan mates and friends, challenging another clan; social competition is such an integral part of the GRO experience, and this feature goes a long way towards fueling this experience.

About Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Online
Developed by Ubisoft Singapore, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Online delivers a premium online multiplayer shooter experience that is downloadable and playable for free on PC. Players can choose between three classes: Assault, Specialist, or Recon, to suit their particular style of play. As they evolve through the game, each Class character can deploy unique Class Devices and other hi-tech equipment to enhance not only their individual combat effectiveness, but also that of their team. Players can enhance their game experience by using either in-game points or premium currency to purchase and equip their Ghosts with weapons, gear and other boosts. Tactical team play is crucial for victory in the fierce online matches with up to 16 players.

Beta Signups For The Elder Scrolls Online Announced

Fans of Award-Winning Franchise Get Chance to Explore The Online World of Elder Scrolls with Friends

Bethesda Softworks and ZeniMax Online Studios today announced that beta signups are now open for The Elder Scrolls Online at ElderScrollsOnline.com. Interested gamers simply have to go to the website and register for a chance to play. Selected beta registrants will be granted early access to beta test the game. They will be among the first to experience this epic world with others in one of 2013’s most highly-anticipated releases. Timing and details of the start of playtests will be provided at a later date to those who register.

Matt Firor, game director of The Elder Scrolls Online comments,

We’re really excited to get the game into players’ hands. We receive invaluable feedback through the beta process, and that helps us ensure that the game will be one of the best online gaming experiences ever offered -- one worthy of The Elder Scrolls franchise.

The Elder Scrolls Online brings the award-winning Elder Scrolls experience online for the first time. Using ZeniMax Online’s Megaserver technology, players will join one connected world with a built in social network that lets them stay up-to-date with everything their friends are doing. Megaserver technology avoids the hassle of shard selection and makes The Elder Scrolls Online one of the most socially enabled games ever created. Whether playing alone, or with hundreds of friends, players can develop their own style of play as they embark upon an epic quest across Tamriel.

The Elder Scrolls Online is the first Elder Scrolls title to be played online after nearly 20 years of these best-selling, award-winning fantasy role-playing games. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is the most recent chapter of the Elder Scrolls story. Skyrim, developed by Bethesda Game Studios, was released in November 2011 and enjoyed worldwide critical and commercial success. As the follow-up to the 2002 Role-Playing Game of the Year, The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind, and the 2006 Game of the Year, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, Skyrim earned hundreds of ‘Game of the Year’ awards and sold over 10 million copies in the first month.

The Elder Scrolls Online is slated for release in 2013 and is being developed for the PC and the Mac by ZeniMax Online Studios. The studio is headed up by industry veteran Matt Firor who has more than 20 years of online game development experience.

Crysis 3 Multiplayer Beta Details Revealed

Become the deadliest hunter on the planet as EA And Crytek deliver the Crysis 3 Multiplayer Beta coming January 29

Stalk Your Prey in the Urban Jungle of New York City in the Multiplatform Beta for the First Blockbuster Shooter of 2013

Electronic Arts and Crytek have announced an open multiplayer beta*for the premiere sandbox shooter experience, Crysis 3, will be available starting January 29th for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. Including two team-based modes and two maps, the extensive beta will give players an opportunity to master the superpowers of the Nanosuit. The Crysis 3 multiplayer beta will be available for two weeks and give players the chance to get a leg up on the competition before Crysis 3 launches on February 22 in Europe.

Cevat Yerli, CEO of Crytek comments,

With Crysis 3 we are delivering the deepest, most robust Crysis multiplayer experience yet. We have listened closely to our fans and have evolved the multiplayer in Crysis 3 by adding a host of new gameplay features including the unique Hunter mode, deadly new weapons like the Predator bow, deeper loadout and unlock options, enhanced upgrade systems and more social features like the New York Feed. Top it all off with the ultimate weapon in the Nanosuit and you have a multiplayer experience that is unlike anything else out there.

Beginning on January 29 and ending on February 12 the Crysis 3 multiplayer beta will feature two of the eight modes included in Crysis 3. In Crash Site, players must secure and defend specific locations, earning points along the way for kills and their ability to hold those locations. The exciting, all-new Hunter mode makes its debut in Crysis 3. This asymmetrical, time based mode pits two players vs. ten (two vs. 14 on PC) in matches that begin with two cloaked hunters stalking 10 opposing CELL troopers. Armed only with enhanced Nanosuits and the lethal Predator bow, hunters must systematically stalk and kill the CELL operatives, who in turn must work together as a team as they fight to stay alive before the round ends. The twist is that once a CELL trooper is killed, that player will then respawn as a hunter, joining the others in their attempt to eliminate the remaining CELL operatives before the clock strikes zero. The Crysis 3 multiplayer beta will also showcase two of the game’s twelve visually stunning maps, Airport and Museum. Both will provide players a taste of the lush, urban rainforest and tactical sandbox that awaits them under the Liberty Dome of New York City.

Also included in the Crysis 3 multiplayer beta is the New York Feed, a brand new in-game social feed that will showcase the accomplishments of gamers and their friends while offering dynamic challenges to complete. Crysis 3 multiplayer also contains exciting new gameplay features including Rip & Throw, which allows players to interact with the elements of the environment to use as weapons or shields as well as the chance to control the Pinger, a fearsome alien tripod war machine that can be used to devastating effect.

Powered by Crytek’s proprietary CryENGINE 3, Crysis 3 advances the state of the art with unparalleled visuals and dynamic shooter gameplay. Players take on the role of ‘Prophet’ as he returns to New York only to discover that the city has been encased in a Nanodome created by the corrupt Cell Corporation. This dangerous new world demands advanced weapons and tactics, including the Nanosuit. Equipped with superhuman powers including cloaking, armor and enhanced visor abilities, the Nanosuit is the ultimate tool that allows players to assess, adapt and attack whatever the 7 Wonders throws at them. In addition to the Nanosuit, players will wield the powerful Predator bow and devastating alien weaponry to become the deadliest hunter on the planet.

Fans who pre-order Crysis 3 before launch will receive an automatic upgrade to the Crysis 3 Hunter Edition, as well as a free digital download to the game that started it all, Crysis for Xbox 360, PS3 or PC. The Crysis 3 Hunter Edition gives players tools to become the ultimate hunter in multiplayer with instant access to the new signature Predator bow and its attachments plus the Hunter Nanosuit module, which adds additional power and functionality to the super-suit. Owners of the Crysis 3 Hunter Edition will also have a head start when playing online with a bonus XP boost up to level 5, a unique Predator bow skin and three exclusive dog tags to hunt in style.

Crysis 3 will be available in North America on February 19, 2013 and in Europe on February 22 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation3 computer and PC.

Beta Details

The Crysis 3 Multiplayer Open Beta will be released on Jan 29th, available to everyone on the PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 platforms!

The beta is designed to give you just a taste of the full Crysis 3 multiplayer experience, and help the development team collect your valuable feedback.

In the Crysis 3 Beta, you’ll be able to suit up, team up with your friends, level up to rank 10, and customize your Nanosuit with different weapons, attachments and suit modules.

Beta Multiplayer Modes

Hunter Mode:

This multiplayer game mode is all about the survival of the fittest. There are two teams, initially comprised of two permanently cloaked “Hunters”, and up to fourteen CELL troopers awaiting extraction. Each trooper slain respawns on the Hunter team to prey on their former allies, building to a frenetic climax. If any of the troopers survive the round, the hunters lose. Whichever way you play, Hunter Mode delivers a heart-pounding test of strategy and survival.

Crash Site Mode:

This multiplayer game mode is the ultimate King of the Hill type experience. An Alien dropship deploys a pod at random around the map. Players on each team must remain near the dropped pod in order to capture the zone and accumulate points. Each alien pod holds two shields players can utilize defensively as weapons. In addition, each Crash Site map will have a “Pinger”, a CEPH-constructed walking weapon of mass destruction. But be careful, other players can hijack the Pinger while you’re inside of it!

Beta Maps:

Museum:

Roam the dark Ruins of Musem in downtown Manhattan and use the verticality to your advantage.


Airport:

Close to the financial district, nature has taken over buildings and planes in this open fields area.

Xbox Live Download Steps

1. From the Xbox Home Menu, go into the “Games” section.
2. From the “Games” menu, select the “Games Marketplace” tile.
3. From the “Games Marketplace” menu, go into the Demos section, then select “New Releases”.
4. Select "Crysis 3" from the Menu.
5. Select “Free Download”
6. Select “Confirm Download”

You can now play the Crysis 3 Beta from the Games menu on your Xbox 360!

The Crysis 3 Open Beta will be available starting January 29th. Come back then for a download link!

PC Download Steps

1. You will need an Origin account and the Origin Client in order to download and participate in the Open Beta. If you don’t already have an Origin Account, simply go to the Origin website (http://www.origin.com) and register using the link on the top right.
2. Once you have an account download the client from the following website: http://o.ea.com/13783 - Run the downloaded file and follow the instructions to install the client.
3. Launch the Origin client and log in to your account.
4. You can now select the My Games tab within Origin to see the Open Beta. From here you can download and install the game.

PS3 Download Instructions

1. From the XMB (Cross Media Bar) of the PlayStation 3 that’s connected to a network, choose the “Playstation Store” option under the Playstation Network menu.
2. From the menu on the left side of the PlayStation Store, scroll up to the top of the screen and select “search”
3. Using your controller and the on-screen keyboard, input “Crysis 3”, then press “SEARCH”.
4. Select “Crysis 3 Beta” from the search results, and follow the instructions on screen to complete your download!

Guild Wars 2 - What's Next?

After Guild Wars 2's three million activations announcement and Colin Johanson's blog post on ArenaNet’s dedication to supporting Guild Wars 2’s live game in 2013, we are pleased to share with you additional highlights of the first update, arriving Monday 28th January.

In the first update of the new year, players will be treated to a number of new features, including:

• A new storyline will play out over the coming months, one that all players can enjoy
• New achievement currency for daily/monthly achievements and new items you can buy with the new currency. There will also be rotating daily achievements every day of the week
• Guesting to allow playing with friends on different worlds.
• One Week, Two-Team PvP Tournaments and a new PvP Map permanently added to the rotation
• Several more game improvements and balancing enhancements

Temple of the Silent Storm Week

From January 28—February 4 the regular eight-team/three-round paid tournaments will be replaced by two-team/single-round paid tournaments in the Temple of the Silent Storm map. After the week is over, Temple of the Silent Storm will be added to the regular rotation of both free and paid tournaments.

Improved Achievement System

A new rotation of daily achievements is being added to add variety and encourage you to explore the open world. You’ll get different achievements every day of the week and a new achievement tracker in the UI to make it easier to track your progress.

New Achievement Laurels

You’ll earn these brand-new laurels as a reward for daily and monthly achievements!

Redeem these laurels for rewards like the new Ascended gear and Infusions!

Guesting

With the new guesting system, you can play with friends on other worlds in the same region (North America, Europe) without changing your homeworld. Guesting is free, but going forward there will be a gem fee for transferring home worlds, so make sure you’re on the home world you want to permanently play on before 28 January!
New Utility Infusions and Ascended Amulets

A wide range of new gear is being added that can be purchased with the new laurels.

With 5 new Utility Infusions and 30 Ascended Amulets to choose from, there’s something for every style of player.

More Upgrades and Improvements

A ton of other improvements are being made to the game this month, such as enhanced performance in WvW, tweaks to the dynamic level adjustment system, and UI improvements, which will be detailed in the release notes.

Developer Reveals Intimate Details on Xbox 720 and PS4

Privy to inside information but under NDA and not able to share specific details, a developer has revealed some amazing details on the next generation of Xbox and Playstation consoles. He has has detailed his thoughts to give an idea of what he's seen and where he thinks they are headed in. At this time he knows more about Durango (Xbox 720's codename) than Orbis (PS4 codename). The information below comes from a Reddit posting where he peiced together a bunch of items that he posted to developer's forums.

So, here we go.

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Ports
When the xbox came out it opened the doors for Bioware to do console development, up until that point Bioware had never released a game on a console but KOTOR was released on both the Xbox and PC. The thing about the Xbox was that it was so similar to a standard PC it just made financial sense to develop for it as it was so easy and didn't cost a lot. This current generation both Sony and Microsoft went with standard GPU's, this is why we have so many ports between the 360, PS3 and PC, go back to the previous PS2 generation and it would have been extremely costly and complex to do porting, Final Fantasy X would have been extremely difficult to get on an Xbox.

If both the 720 and PS4 are running AMD CPU's then that is a revolution, what that means is every developer working on consoles and PC will have a grip on the architecture of all three platforms. The 720 is a Windows PC, the PS4 is a Linux PC. I was wondering how Valve were going to convince developers to put money into developing games for a Linux, they don't need to anymore, Sony just did that for them, porting to Linux just became trivial, you shouldn't be surprised if in a couple of years you end up seeing Max Payne 4 released simultaneously for your Windows or Linux PC, Steambox, 720 and PS4.

How console development works and a few details about the CPU
It's worth noting that development kits don't ship with final hardware, they ship with an "approximation" of what the final hardware will look, the GPU in the xbox 360 was changed around 3 months before the final version came out, they could change the final hardware for either console at any time but with the development kits in later stages we have a decent idea of what they are shooting for. The other thing to note is that both consoles have been in development for at least a year, maybe two. The way it works is that Microsoft will pop over to AMD and say "what are you guys working on" and then AMD will show them and Microsoft will say "hey I like that, can you guys set up a second team and develop a version for our needs".

AMD were working on these "Jaguar" cores for a while and they probably made a second team to work on a version for Microsoft's console. The AMD Jaguar cores are designed to be extremely low powered and they have numerous power saving features. Nowadays you don't really need a very powerful CPU since the GPU can do a lot more. The benefit of 8 cores is that you can switch off the cores that you aren't using. Imagine having a 2 core processor, it consumes 20 watts and each core is quite powerful. Now that 8 core processor, it also consumes 20 watts however each core is weaker than the 2 core processor. However the benefit is that if you can use all 8 cores you can get some serious performance out of it and on the other hand if you only need 1 core, when you switch off the other 7 cores you will only be consuming a measly 2.5 watts. Basically the AMD processor will not kick your i5 or i7's arse but it doesn't need to. Furthermore with this set up you can still call on a lot of power but you can also switch off what you don't need. You might boot up on your 720 and watch Netflix with one core working and the graphics card off, then you boot up Trine 2 and you have 4 cores and 20% of your GPU working, then you put on Battlefield 4 and the 8 cores and 100% of the GPU are singing. AMD are a big believer in heterogeneous computing, in other words everything works together and what isn't needed doesn't draw power, this could be exciting if they pull it off.

The graphics card
On the GPU part, about a few months ago me and colleagues were speculating about what we would see. In the end we whittled it down to two "performance envelopes". One was equivalent to a HD 7850-7870 and the other was equivalent to a GTX 680. It's worth noting that we didn't expect them to throw a GTX 680 in there, we just expected hardware that with the appropriate coding would perform to a similar level. I have to say I was holding out for GTX 680 like performance. The significance of that would have been the possibility of games that look something like Samaritan demo or Agni's Philosophy. Unfortunately at this moment in time it looks like we will be going for something closer to a 7850 but it's worth noting this could change even only months before launch. Either way the current configuration, with writing to the metal we should be able to probably get Battlefield 3 on high with most or all settings turned up full running at 1080P and 60FPS. It's nothing to sneer at but part of me is still holding out for even better. After all consider that if the next generation consoles come out in 2014 by 2016 they will be "base platforms" as PC's will have grown in power. Now if they can get Agni's Philosophy running on a base platform then imagine what they could do with a mid range or high end PC. Either way though with what we know about things expect a giant leap, consoles have an edge since you don't have API overhead, you write to the metal. Even a 7850 equivalent in a console is a big big jump up.

Sony and Microsoft's apparent strategy for next-gen consoles
Last thing I want to say about this is that it seems like Microsoft and Sony are taking different approaches. Microsoft are going with slower DDR RAM but more of it, they seem to be "saving" a lot of RAM for OS functions, in other words it looks like Microsoft have some sort of plans, maybe Kinect 2.0 or something. Sony on the other hand went with less RAM but it is faster GDDR RAM and Sony are also seemingly spending more money on the GPU. In other words the way it looks the PS4 will be engineered to be a pure gaming machine with more power, the 720 will fall in between the PS4 and Wii U in terms of power. It's interesting though because Microsoft are intent on saving a lot of money on memory and GPU from the looks of it and then they allocate a lot of RAM for some sort of software function. I'm thinking maybe it might actually be true that Kinect 2.0 is going to ship with all 720's, I thought it would be too expensive but considering how much they would save by going for slower RAM and a lower powered GPU and the fact that they are allocating a huge 3GB to software functions Kinect 2.0 makes sense. I have to confess I am a little disappointed with Microsoft's direction and I like the fact that Sony are so intent on lavishing every penny on making it a monster console. The two consoles from the looks of it should cost around the same but a lot of the money for the 720 will seemingly go to Kinect 2.0 while Sony will invest all that money in faster RAM and a more powerful GPU.

TL;DR/What to expect
The first version of the next generation consoles should draw less power than the first version versions of the 360 and PS3 which means there probably won't be a power brick and the cases might be a little smaller too. With sufficient RAM resolution becomes "cheap" so you won't be sacrificing much visual detail by going to a higher resolution, in other words 1080P and 60 FPS should be the standard across the entire board. You should have a sleek quiet little box that sits under your TV, has power gating so when you are Netflixing it sips only a tiny amount of power but stays quiet and relatively cool even when it's running full power. Your games will look around Battlefield 3 on high with most/all settings maxed, 1080P60. Basically as a console gamer you will see a huge leap and everybody else will see incredible bang for buck.

The next generation consoles are being designed in mind with components that should mean they can be sold for less and still make a profit. It seems like neither Microsoft nor Sony will subsidise their next generation consoles, they will make a profit with every console sold. In fact they might be able to make a profit with a launch price of $300 to $350 though of course they could sell it for more and just make bigger margins. Either way though this is a healthier strategy and if they don't go for huge margins you should be able to pick one up for a reasonable price. It also seems like Sony and Microsoft could each match each other for price, one companies console doesn't seem to cost much more to make than the others.

A few observations about the directions being taken
Some years ago console developers used to design hardware that was intentionally different, that was the era of exclusives. As games got more expensive it made sense to port them to multiple platforms to maximise sales. This turned out to be a sound strategy for developers and for platforms. With the coming generation this gap is likely to disappear almost entirely, ports will be easy.

There is a big reason for moving in this direction. A large number of console sales are made to "casual gamers", casual gamers largely play games to pass time and they can easily seek out another activity to do the same, gaming is just one of a number of activities for them to pass their time, people who are dedicated gamers, routinely buy games and would say games are important to them are what they call "core gamers". Jeff might pick up an xbox 360 and get a handful of popular games to play a little every now and then but Jeff is not a dedicated gamer and he might pass his time just as well with Fruit Ninja. On the other hand for Frank Fruit Ninja isn't enough, he likes gaming, thinks of himself as a gamer and wants to play Mass Effect 4 and discuss Final Fantasy 15 on the forums. See the thing is Frank isn't going anywhere, you can rely on his custom but Jeff on the other hand is content with his iPad. It might not seem like a big deal but this is happening a lot, casual gamers are really getting enamoured with the likes of Angry Birds. As a consequence of smartphones and tablets the sales of the next generation consoles are probably going to be lower than this generation, say for example the 360 and PS3 end up with 70 million a piece sold this generation, the 720 and PS4 might end up selling 50 million each, basically sales are likely to fall.

It's sort of like Sony and Microsoft are working together but indirectly, they both understand making porting so cheap and easy it's practically trivial benefits them and it benefits the entire industry. Then Valve come along and say "hey let's get our x86 OpenGL Unix box out there" around the same time as another x86 OpenGL Unix box with a remarkably similar architecture is coming out, I think Valve knew something we didn't.

Either way they expect console sales to fall but they are fine with that, they think they can still make plenty of money by better catering to developers and core gamers, they want to be the big boys of gaming and let smartphones and tablets do their own thing. The guys on the PC are in on the party and they are diversifying things to reach other markets. This is all preparation for a changing industry and you have to take your hat off to the parties involved for having vision.

What it means for PC gamers
This carries big repercussions for PC gamers. I mean for one any developer developing for a 720 or a PS4 for any period of time can do the same for a PC. We still have different configurations but that is really quite trivial compared to the current hurdle. Console gamers are going to have a lot of fun but PC gamers are going to go through even more rapid changes.

For one consider that at the moment the 360 and PS3 are "base platforms". In other words they are the weakest platforms the games run on. Now if in a couple of years the new "base platform" is running Battlefield 3 on high with most settings maxed and 1080P60 then what will a mid range PC be doing? Furthermore it may be a matter of time before 120Hz monitors become more common and 3840x2160 monitors appear. It's only a matter of time before you can max out anything at 1080P with a single slot GPU and run most games at 2560x1600 with a future equivalent of a 7850. You can already do that with most games but then consider graphics will be getting an uptick with a new generation of consoles so it'll be a couple of years till we get to that point. We seem to be concluding towards a point whereas a 1080P monitor is relatively low end and a 1440P monitor is mid-range.

Lastly one big downside of this generation was that the current consoles were stuck with DirectX9 while PC's eventually moved on to DX11. With all consoles having DX11 like functions we should see better ports on the PC. They could have low levels of tessellation running on the consoles and very high levels running on the PC. Basically games should scale better this coming generation to tide over those of us with very high end set ups. Priority for console versions probably won't disappear and there will still be issues but they should be much smaller issues and with less time spent on complex re-coding we should get more time spent on improving other aspects. The next generation is likely to be better than the current for PC gamers.

He goes on the further comment:

There's a lot more power to play with which is nice in of itself however the GPU's nowadays are a lot more diverse than the dinosaurs of old. The AMD GPU's ship with Compute Units. Basically your CPU is the programmable one while your GPU is the dumb one, your CPU can do many things but your GPU has been generally limited to graphics. Nowadays the GPU's are also put into supercomputers which is a very lucrative market. As a consequence GPU's are now programmable. To put it in short the GPU inside these consoles will be able to do more than just graphics. Given how powerful modern GPU's are there is going to be more power and space to play with other things. I'm not sure how much they will work on improving AI to be honest but if they wanted to they have more power than ever to play with. Physics and particle effects should improve dramatically. Of course developers could chose to use the compute units for even better graphics but they have those units at disposal for other things if they need them.

The technology for creating 2D graphics hasn't really stagnated, it's more that creating very good looking 2D graphics can be extremely expensive. With the next generation at the very least lighting, shadowing and particles should improve. There will probably be more anti-aliasing available too and cel shading should be better. The biggest problem with 2D is probably still going to be graphics though. 2D is an artform in many ways, it takes very talented people to draw everything by hand and frame by frame, with modern resolutions and graphical expectations it would probably take 6 months just to make an entire sprite. I'm hoping somewhere we see a 2D game that looks something like a Miyazaki film, we do have the hardware but it isn't cost effective.

I'm a fan of 2D myself, I used to day dream about 2D graphics approaching something that resembles anime or a comic book. It would be amazing to see visual novels or 2D fighting games again. The hardware is going to be there, it's up to them to find a market for 2D and start making the games again.

Most platforms start off different and then eventually converge on the "best" standard. Smartphones and tablets at the moment are in a precarious position because there are so many different configurations and furthermore most smartphones are not very powerful. However the power of smartphones and tablets is growing, eventually even a mid-range smartphone will have a decent GPU and when the GPU standards converge games will also start being ported more often. In other words the amount of smartphones and tablets that can play games will grow exponentially over the next few years. Furthermore it shouldn't be that long before it is easy to port from smartphones and tablets to consoles and the PC.

The reason I thought I'd throw this tidbit in is because we have had a number of internal debates about what we are going to do going forward. Nowadays all sorts of games are becoming viable, there is a potentially huge market for point and click games whereas 2 years ago they would have thought you were bonkers for suggesting it. Point and click games are now viable because they not only have an installed market on the PC but they work well on touchscreens and sell well on Live and PSN as well. Over the next few years you shouldn't be surprised to see "niche" genres get a lot more entries. Adventure games, Isometric RPG's, 2D games and turn based games are being treated as financially viable.

Thanks to digital distribution and the rise of the touchscreen a lot of genres and games are slowly coming back. At the moment it's looking like at some point there will be an explosion and eventually even the big publishers are going to get in on the act. I think there will certainly be an uptick in 2D in the next few years but I'm not sure if a big publisher will push 2D. A 2D turn based RPG from Square Enix is at the top of my list and who knows, in about 2 years with a changing gaming world it might be financially viable too if sold on smartphones and tablets as well as Xbox Live, PSN and Steam.

Source: Reddit

Valve Launches Steam Guides

Valve, creators of best-selling game franchises (such as Counter-Strike, Half-Life, Left 4 Dead, Portal, and Team Fortress) and leading technologies (such as Steam and Source), has announced the launch of Steam Guides, a new capability of the platform that allows players to create and/or find guides for their favorite games or Software titles on Steam.

As of the writing of this article 1,594 guides have been created.

Steam Guides lets players create and share guides, walkthroughs, and tips for their favorite games or software to help others who might be stuck or who simply want to learn more about the game. Players may easily create guides through Steam, where they may upload images, add screenshots, and embed YouTube videos. Guides are then quickly accessible through Steam, via the Steam Community and in-game via the Steam Overlay.

You can find guides in the Steam Overlay or from any Community Hub. You can easily find guides from whatever game you are playing on Steam: Simply open the Steam Overlay while playing a game (the default is pressing Shift + Tab). In the overlay, you’ll see a section dedicated to the top rated guides or any that you have recently viewed or marked as a favorite. You can easily browse for more, or open a recent guide directly from there--all without ever having to leave your game.

Or, you can find guides through the Steam Community by visiting any Community Hub and clicking the "Guides" tab.

To learn more, please visit www.steamcommunity.com/guides