Monthly Archives: May 2014

Shards Online Heats Up Its Kickstarter Campaign

Shards Petra

Citadel Studios is kicking off the second week of its Kickstarter Campaign for Shards Online today with some explosive new developments, including the reveal that players will get access to the game’s playable build very soon.

Kickstarter backers have now been promised the chance to play Shards Online as soon as the fundraising campaign completes. Any backer at the $20 pledge level (or above) will get a CD key when funding completes, and get access to pre-alpha playtests for two weeks. Backers will also get three months of free subscription time on top of their current campaign level.

New exclusive live events for backers have been announced, which let backers participate in special events streamed live on Twitch, starting with a special “Battle of the Backers” event happening Saturday, May 24th at 4pm EDT.

Backers can also increase their pledge reward amount by recruiting new backers, granting both referrer and referee special in-game rewards. A new video has also been released today (watch it here).

The full details of these promotions can be seen on the Shards Online Kickstarter Page.

Missing BomberMan? Hello Blast Zone! Review

by: Ojogo, Mobile Guru

 

 

BlastZoneReview1

Blast Zone! Is an action packed bombing game from Kabam, the company that brought other mobile game titles such as Dragons of Atlantis and Kingdoms of Camelot. The game revolves around participants for a game show that puts you at odds with other bombers for a high octane match of cat and mouse in instanced arenas against the AI or other players.

 

 

Gameplay

The game is highly reminiscent of the already classic game Bomberman where your avatar can drop bombs inside square arenas that are littered with blocks that you can destroy. Bombs are immediately activated once they are deployed which you can use to blow blocks up and blow your competitors away.

BlastZoneReview4

You can improve your inherent abilities in matches as you acquire avatar or bomb upgrades that pop out in destroyed blocks in matches.

 

The game has two modes of play where you go through the solo-player campaign modes where you’ll be facing against various unique AI monsters in thematic arenas that have specific goals set to push forward. Multiplayer mode on the other hand practically just sets up you in a room with five other players playing against each other in deathmatch style bombing.

 

BlastZoneReview5

Upgrades

On paper it doesn’t seem like much does it? I mean it’s fun playing around bombing each other to kingdom come but what’s the appeal to keep you playing? Well, the game ups the ante, Bomberman style, by allowing you to upgrade your bombs midmatch by picking up drops that appear randomly as the stage slowly gets destroyed. Both blocks and opponents have a chance to drop upgrades as they explode.

 

That’s right, you can in fact increase either the amount of bombs you unload at a time or even increase your bomb’s blast area as you acquire all these match-locked upgrades in the arena. Upgrades also include some avatar centric ones such as the ability to pick up bombs and toss them over blocks or people. Another notable power-up involves going ghost mode, allowing you to pass through bombs and other obstructions without worry for collision detection. The bomb kick ability is ideal for turning the tides on foes by sending their own weapons flying back into their face.

 

Upgrades provide the tactical advantage over your opponents to catch them off guard long enough to score first blood. They aren’t only integral in your matches but are in fact entertaining enough to make you feel like you’re in a Michael Bay film blowing everything to bits.

 

BlastZoneReview3

Fashion

Aside from the explosions in the matches you are in, another game element that takes the cake in Blast Zone! is the inclusion of fashionable attire that doubles as your bonus stats as you fight fashionably. These clothes vary from Jock themed attire to gritty grunge looking clothes that provides the necessary appearance to set yourself apart from the crowd. Beyond just looking shiny, these clothes can be pretty functional in the chaos to make your character flashy enough to not disappear in the chaos of explosions. Losing track of your character is the fastest route to getting blown up!

 

This is where the money making business model of Blast Zone! comes in. A lot of the clothes you can purchase in-game are easily obtainable through the usual means of going through the game’s campaign mode or the daily drops. But a lot of the better looking fashion items require you to purchase the game’s premium currency. While most of them are cheap – the really cool looking fashion items requires a whole lot of financial commitment from you.

BlastZoneReview7

The one good thing about the paywall being primarily focused on fashion is it prevents the game from becoming too pay to win. Sure you can purchase bomb upgrades to get an edge in battle, but at the end of the day, it’ll be your bombing skills and positioning, not your fashion sense,  that dictates who will win.

 

 

PvP

So moving on to the game’s bread and butter, PvP. You need to either create your own room or join another player’s room to join part in real-time six man deathmatch battles. Everything is on the table in PvP as you use your tactics, bomb upgrades (including your fashion bonuses) and past experiences to see if you have the luck and finesse to be the last bomber standing.

BlastZoneReview2

The battles are fast-paced and exciting. As more upgrades drop, the battles become more explosive, escalating into fiery finishes. The diversity of upgrades available are quite entertaining, and can push your mental limits reacting and counterplaying anything your opponents may throw your way. Just don’t mistake Blast Zone! as another twitch game. Strategic positioning and proper use of your upgrades is just as important as knowing when to run and when to fight.

 

 

Critique

All in all, I must say that I truly enjoyed my run with Blast Zone! It’s Bomberman all over again, a title that kept my group of friends spellbound afternoon after afternoon with its zany multiplayer element that never gets old. However, the thing is, playing Blast Zone! feels so much like Bomberman that I can’t shake the feeling that Blast Zone! is just a reskinned Bomberman clone, since a lot of the game’s features pretty much comes directly from or has a Bomberman equivalent.

BlastZoneReview6

That said, I wouldn’t really look too much into that since there hasn’t been a Bomberman game released on mobile and Blast Zone! just covers that absence. The game is solid, fun, and really enjoyable, and its cash shop elements don’t hinder the party too much either. The sheer replayability of the game matches the Bomberman legacy as your skill, more so than your gear, is what will develop you as a player over the long run.

 

My only gripe with Blast Zone! is the virtual controls since it tends to move after having your finger over it for extended durations. They need to do something about that since I’ve lost a lot of matches because suddenly my direction pad would move up or down at key points during that match when I needed a critical manoeuvre to pull off victory.

 

Rating: Great

Space Hulk: New Cooperative Mode and Introduces ‘Harbinger of Torment’ Campaign

Space Hulk

Danish independent studio Full Control today announced that Space Hulk now includes cooperative play mode, as part of the latest free game patch that also has a number of updates and bug fixes. The patch also coincides with the new campaign ‘Harbinger of Torment’ which is now available for PC, Mac and Linux. Space Hulk is the digital adaptation of the classic Games Workshop board-game, set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, and is available on PC, Mac, Linux and iPad,

“We are excited to release the new co-op mode in Space Hulk. It’s been in development for several months now, as we made a complete overhaul of the multiplayer mode to make it a seamless experience so players can easily jump into a co-op game”, said Thomas Hentschel Lund, CEO of Full Control. “In honor of launching co-op we are also releasing a new five-mission campaign, ‘Harbinger of Torment’, that is now available to Windows, Mac and Linux players”.

Players can now challenge friends, in up to 4-player co-op battles where three gamers each control a squad of terminators and one player controls the Genestealers. To support co-op gameplay, Full Control has given multiplayer a complete overhaul and is introducing a lobby system where players can see other gamers who are online and ready to play. The new co-op functionality is free with Space Hulk, so all players need to do is log in, visit the new lobby and play.

For more info, visit http://www.spacehulk-game.com/

Wargaming Announces E3 2014 Presence

Wargaming

Wargaming today announced details of the company’s presence at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) 2014 in Los Angeles on June 10 – 12. With a massive 10,000 square feet booth located at 623 in the South Hall of the Los Angeles Convention Center, Wargaming plans to showcase a number of titles to E3 attendees.

The company’s multiplatform lineup will include the PC sensation World of Tanks, with its major overhaul currently underway, and World of Tanks: Xbox 360 Edition with a brand new line of vehicles. Rounding out the lineup, Wargaming will announce the release date of the mobile MMO action game World of Tanks Blitz that successfully soft-launched in Scandinavian countries and will go live globally soon.

Visitors at the booth will be able to participate in exclusive giveaways during the show and try their hand at a number of Wargaming titles, including World of Tanks, World of Warplanes, World of Tanks: Xbox 360 Edition, and World of Tanks Blitz at one of the many gaming stations.

Wargaming will also exhibit two armored vehicles at E3: the M4 Sherman medium tank will be on display outside of the South Hall, while the T-62A medium tank will be featured within the booth during the expo.

For more info, visit www.wargaming.com

Granado Espada (EU): Official May Update for 20th of May, 2014

Granado

EuroGamez GmbH has announced today, they launched the official May update with many attractive events in Europe.

May update is focusing on the shop change by gamer suggestions and Events that give many useful items for playing and material of gear creation.

Playtime event will give rare character and Punisher Stance Book and Elite Le Noir recipe and Clair’s Mission Event will give many of material items for creating gears.

Eurogamez think these rewards will give a good chance to players for having an upgraded gears and good motivation of enjoying.

Additionally EXP Boosting Event is running during 2 weeks and gamers can level up faster than before abnormally with this update.

Eurogamez announced also about the monthly special Event for gear up items and they will provide that event with monthly basis for more comfortable situation for Granado Espada gamers.

For more info, visit: www.granado-espada.eu

Black Gold Online Devs Talk Faction Inspiration

Snail Games has released a new developer diary zeroing in on the artistic styles and clashing worlds that define their upcoming Steampunk Fantasy Faction Warfare MMORPG, Black Gold Online. And while at a glance some might mistakenly see it as simplistic tech vs nature warfare, a much deeper truth of inspiration exists.

Black Gold Isenhorst Inspiration

Isenhorst for instance draws its background on a future western setting accented by Victorian style mixed into a society run by Steampunk mechanisms. They carry all the hope and glory of the expansionist era along with the realistic modern dread of resource monopolization and limited supplies.

Black Gold Erlandir Inspiration

Erlandir on the other hand is built out of a combination of primarily Mayan and Polynesian cultures, but with plenty of reference to lesser known tribal societies from around the world. Transforming the natural world into living weapons to defend their bountiful landscape is the driving motivation of these people, seeing Isenhorst as a sharp corruption of their ideals.

Be sure to catch the official post for more artwork and the full discussion.

Intel Masters Season IX Annouced

Intel Masters

ESL announced today that the Intel® Extreme Masters’ ninth season is to begin in China for the second consecutive year. Premiering in Shenzhen on July 16-21, the elite pro gaming tour will once again sweep the globe showcasing the best of competitive gaming.

Season IX’s first event in Shenzhen marks the fifth time that the Intel® Extreme Masters visits China, the previous stops taking place in Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu in past seasons. The ‘Road to Shenzhen’ begins June 1st, with the extended qualifiers for the event.

An integral part of the Intel® Extreme Masters and a constant since Season III, China has played host to some of the most impressive Intel® Extreme Masters events with over US$270,000 in prize money paid out in the region since 2009. The local community has been consistently eager to consume Intel® Extreme Masters tournaments: over 450,000 concurrent Chinese viewers tuned in to consume the Season VIII’s League of Legends final in Katowice, Poland helping to break eSports records worldwide. Ahead of the upcoming season, Managing Director of Pro Gaming at ESL, Michal Blicharz, is eager to see records broken once again and explains the reasoning behind the Shenzhen event:

“With its tradition in eSports and continuously growing fan base, China is a sleeping giant in professional gaming. Last season the IEM recorded its highest Chinese viewership yet and we want to continue to involve Chinese gamers in global competitions. This is why we come to China every year.”

The opening of the 9th Intel® Extreme Masters season marks the longest ongoing pro gaming event sponsorship in the world with Intel sponsoring ESL’s premier competition since 2006. George Woo, Event & Sponsorship Programs Marketing Manager at Intel voiced his excitement ahead of the upcoming tournament series:

“Eight seasons long we’ve had one goal: to provide the best PC gaming technology to the best players from around the world. I couldn’t be happier to see this goal extending into the ninth season of the Intel Extreme Masters. I’m confident that with the things we have in store, it’ll be the best Intel Extreme Masters season yet!”

Intel® Extreme Masters Shenzhen will feature competition that will offer its participants a chance to qualify for the Intel® Extreme Masters World Championship in 2015. More details on the competitions and games will follow in the upcoming weeks. For more information please visit: www.intelextrememasters.com

Guild Wars 2 Celebrates Chinese Launch with Festival of the Four Winds

Guild Wars 2 bazaar

ArenaNet, developer of the acclaimed Guild Wars franchise, today released “Festival of the Four Winds,” the newest update to Guild Wars 2 that brings back the popular Zephyrite festival and helps mark the game’s recent launch in China. Players are invited to experience a new version of the Four Winds bazaar, as the Zephyrites return to battle-scarred Lion’s Arch and Queen Jennah launches an all-new Gauntlet and Boss Blitz to help raise funds for the stricken city. “Festival” features new game play and adds new atmospheric touches that draw from Chinese art and culture, a unique in-game homage to Guild Wars 2’s entry into China and the many new Chinese fans now entering the player community.

“Festival of the Four Winds” comes to North America and Europe today. The release is slated for China later this week, making it the first new content update since the game launched there on May 15, and a quick taste of the game’s ever-changing Living World for China-based players.

Guild Wars 2 biconics

The Zephyrites have returned to Labyrinthine Cliffs in their large-sailed flying ships to support Lion’s Arch in its time of need. Although Lion’s Arch suffered a devastating blow as a result of Scarlet’s nefarious plans, Captain Ellen Kiel of the Captain’s Council is grateful to see the Zephyrites return with their generous offer of materials and moral support. And to help reinvigorate trade and provide some joy to its citizens, the Zephyrite Master of Peace and Queen Jennah of Kryta are hosting a festival to honor Lion’s Arch. Visit Labyrinthine Cliffs and experience the rush of Aspect movement skills, take part in the Sanctum Sprint, or enjoy one of the brand-new events; then take a hot-air balloon to Divinity’s Reach and enjoy the reopened Crown Pavilion, including a new version of the Queen’s Gauntlet, the Boss Blitz. Join Braham, Rox, Marjory, Kasmeer, Taimi, and Scruffy as they enjoy the festivities and usher in the return of Lion’s Arch services!