Monthly Archives: August 2015

Limited Free Trial Announced for Company of Heroes 2: The British Forces

Limited Free Trial Announced for Company of Heroes 2: The British Forces news header

SEGA® of America, Inc. and SEGA® Europe Ltd. today announced a limited free trial for Company of Heroes™ 2: The British Forces from Relic Entertainment which will begin at 10:00am PDT/6:00pm BST/7:00pm CET on August 31 and end at 2:00pm PDT/10:00pm BST/11:00pm CET  on September 2 2015. During the exclusive Steam trial, which is set to take place just before the final game’s release, up to 55,000 players will get hands-on with the British army. The trial includes access to all the content which includes 15 new units, up to six new commanders (three in the base game and three via the War Spoils loot dropping system) and a total of eight new multiplayer maps as well as the four factions and base commanders from all previous Company of Heroes 2 games. Keep your eyes on the @companyheroes Twitter feed for details of where you can grab a key through exclusive media partners or via Relic.

 

The British Forces adds a new dynamic to the Company of Heroes 2 battlefield by giving players the ability to combine powerful, coordinated attacks across two distinct combat styles – the ‘Hammer’, an aggressive, mobile approach; or the ‘Anvil’, a deliberate but highly potent defensive approach. With the addition of the British army, Company of Heroes 2 is one of the most comprehensive World War II RTS games available.

 

The British Forces will be available on September 3, 2015 for $12.99/£9.99/€12.99 as a stand-alone package or as an addition to the existing factions featured in Company of Heroes 2. New players will also have access to all pre-existing Company of Heroes 2 maps via auto-match as well as the ability to battle against all other existing factions.

 

Pre-order on Steam to receive a 10% discount. Owners of any Company of Heroes game will receive a 20% discount.

Perfect World International Riptide Launch Interview

Questions by Andy Skelton (Outfoxed)

Answered by PWI China Dev Team

 
PWI Eclipse Riptide Interview
 

Summer is always a hot time in Perfect World International, and things are getting even better with today’s launch of the Riptide expansion. In addition to the most challenging and advanced water zones ever introduced to the game, there are also expansions in cultivation quests and a new Star Chart system to further differentiate yourself from other characters. We got a chance to talk briefly to the development team out of China to see what to expect.

 
PWI Eclipse Riptide Interview
 

Outfoxed: With the game now approaching seven years in North America, what is Riptide bringing to the game to keep things fresh?

 

PWI: There will be a whole new underwater area, where the quests and adventures will be very interesting. The players will run into horrible sea monsters and a powerful boss. Besides that, the Dark Emperor’s artifact, the Star Chart, is also introduced in this expansion. The Star Chart’s growth is gradual, and the players have to carefully develop their star charts, and have all the fun of the new game.

 

Outfoxed: Will underwater combat be three-dimensional (e.g. being able to fight monsters above and below, rather than in front)?

 

PWI: Yes, the underwater combat is complete 3D, which could be a very different experience. Unlike aerial combat, it’s much harder to get out of a bad situation when you’re in the depths. Players will have to choose their battles carefully, and keep eyes in the back on their head on PvP servers.

PWI Eclipse Riptide Interview
 

Outfoxed: Star Charts seem like an interesting advancement path. Are the birthstars and fatestars random or do different charts offer static buffs?

 

PWI: It is a complicated new system. The star chart is composed of birthstars and fatestars. An activated birthstar will grant stats boosts, while activating two adjacent birthstars can also activate the fatestar they connect to, granting players even higher boosts. Stats-wise and gain-wise, the players can yield a lot from the star chart. The only problem is that they have to experiment to find the best combination for themselves, and find out how to get the best out of it. It takes some serious time and thinking.

PWI Star Chart Flare 1
 

Outfoxed: How will players earn the items needed to upgrade their star charts (daily quests, instances, cash shop, et al.)?

 

PWI: There is a variety of items needed to develop the star chart. Different items can be acquired in different ways, such as daily quests, instances, and other rewards. They don’t have to worry about that as long as they enjoy the game.

 

Outfoxed: Does the new judgment mode for Flowsilver Palace simply increase the difficulty of the instance, or will players need to watch out for brand new mechanics to overcome?

 

PWI: It is a whole new level of challenge. Not just the mobs are stronger, we also introduced a secret boss, the Mad Princess. The new boss will prove to be a tough obstacle for players to overcome. The old boss monsters also require different strategies to defeat on this new difficulty.

PWI Eclipse Riptide Interview
 

Outfoxed: Is there anything you can reveal about expanding and improving cultivation as was teased in the first sneak peek?

 

PWI: Well, we will introduce some new story lines and quests, which are advanced in quite a different way.

 

Outfoxed: What is your favorite part of the upcoming expansion (that you can discuss), so far?

 

PWI: Definitely the star chart system. Players of different classes have different uses of it, and even for players of a same class, they can choose how to develop their star charts as they prefer. It is very agile and flexible.

PWI Star Chart
 

Outfoxed: Thanks for taking the time to answer all these questions! PWI Riptide is out now, and we have a special item pack you can snag to get the most out of the new content, including a gold guardian and spirit charm! Grab one from our giveaway page here and learn more about PWI Riptide on the official site.

PWI Riptide Scout’s Kit Giveaway

OnRPG has partnered with Arc Games to invite players into the new watery depths of the Riptide expansion with a massive item pack known as the Scout’s Kit!

With the launch of the Riptide Update, experienced players will receive a new endgame dungeon difficulty with fresh mechanics and a new boss, as well as both main and daily quests advancing the saga of Perfect World, over five years in the making. Additionally, this update introduces the Star Chart aura system to unlock unique buffs allowing a wider range of character customization, making them more powerful than ever. Check out more in our dev interview here.

The Scout’s Kit Includes:
– 1 Gold Guardian Charm

– 1 Gold Spirit Charm

– 2 Perfect Iron Hammers

– 10 Hyper EXP Stones

– 2 Inventory Extension Stones

– 2 Safe Extension Stones

– 1 Aurora’s Egg

Felspire

Felspire is a western medieval fantasy themed role-playing browser game by 37Games. Players will face trials by countless fierce battles, explore fantasics environments and more, with core gameplay derived from classic ARPGs. Felspire gets rid of some complicated hardcore gameplay to make the game more rookie-friendly and casual.

Features:

Gear customization: Customize your character with over 100,000 pieces of gear. Craft your unique character with talent points and specializations.

Guild combat: Partake in massive guild battles

Group battles: Form powerful groups to take on team dungeons and world bosses

Settle: Settle the score in the PvP arena and cross server battles

WildStar’s Cosmic Rewards Loyalty System Explored

WildStar's Cosmic Rewards Loyalty System Explored news header

Carbine Studios is sharing more information today about WildStar Cosmic Rewards, a loyalty system that rewards players for their investments into the game. This system is progressive, meaning that players will level up through Cosmic Tiers by making purchases in the game, earning greater rewards as they go along. The system is also retroactive, meaning that anyone who’s spent money in the game at any point since it launched last year has already earned Cosmic Points.

 

Cosmic Points are earned by redeeming a WildStar product code, making a purchase on the WildStar website, purchasing or redeeming C.R.E.D.D., or spending NCoin in the WildStar in-game store after the Free-to-Play launch.

 

For more information on Cosmic Rewards, as well as a sample of some of the prize tiers and rewards players can earn, see the deep dive article here.

Magerealm Introduces Mage Poker

GTArcade has introduced poker to the world of Magerealm. Here’s their take on this new system!

Magerealm Introduces Mage Poker news header

Since the launch of Magerealm, most of the functions we designed were competitive and serious, and we feel it is time to add a function more fun and relaxing to the game. We hope the new function will bring balance to the game in terms of competitiveness.

 

So here is is: Mage Poker! Players will get 3 free attempts daily, with additional attempts available for purchase. At the start of each attempt, players are dealt a total of 9 cards. Players should then separate them into groups of 3 into the 3 slots given. The cards in each slot will be compared with the opponent’s cards in the mirror slots. The combination of cards in descending order is thus: Set (3 of a kind)>Straight Flush>Flush>Straight>Pair>High Card.

 

 

Each slot of cards that win will gain you corresponding items as reward and points, while losing will only gain you some participation points. Players get a minute and a half to choose their card combinations. If player fails to set his cards in the given time, the system will assign cards in random.

 

Players will gain additional 100 points if they have either all sets, all flushes, all straights or four of a kind for their 3 slots. Players will also get the choice to peek their opponent’s cards and to let the system to change the cards they are dealt for great improvement in combination.

 

One way we have envisioned that Mage Poker could tie in with the rest of the game is through the Pentacle Function. Heroes have played a crucial role in the game. Integral to the Hero System was the Pentacle Function that allows players to make their already powerful Heroes even stronger! However, Magerealm has found a way to make the function more fun and complex.

 

We are introducing a new concept called: Star Vein, represented as five star icons on the corners of the original Pentacle. While the Pentacle stills functions like before, with players still able to level it up. However, Star Vein plays a more significant role in making a hero stronger. A Star Vein is activated each time players level up the Pentacle.

 

Star Veins can increase a hero’s Growth Stat. Each Star Vein increase the Growth Stat by a set amount, but this amount increases with Pentacle Level. Players will be able to see the additional Growth Stats granted by the awesome Star Vein by the number in brackets behind the normal Growth Stat. Star Vein Badges are required to activate Star Veins. How do players get the afore mentioned badges? That’s right, from Mage Poker!

 

More Accessible Than Ever: League of Angels – Fire Raiders Patch 2.2

More Accessible Than Ever: League of Angels - Fire Raiders Patch 2.2 News Header

The newest update for League of Angels – Fire Raiders is now available! Version 2.2 adds a number of improvements and new content to the game.

 

In order to bring the Fire Raiders experience to an even wider audience, French and German language options are now available. Players can choose these language settings from the menu once they have updated to the new version. Additionally, localization to other languages is still in the works. GTArcade is committed in making Fire Raiders more accessible to players from all corners of the world.

 

The social experience is an important part of Fire Raiders and a new Friend System has been added to let players stay connected. This feature has been heavily requested by the fans and now its here! Players will now be able to add others to their Friends list, as well as communicate with friends using the chat interface. Discuss your favorite Angels and Heroes, Arena strategies, or who is the best at Fire Raiders!

 

Version 2.2 also includes:

 

  • League level cap increased from 85 to 90.
  • New Map Chapters added.
  • Heroes can now be enhanced to Legendary (orange) quality.
  • Various bug fixes and more.

 

This update is another step towards making League of Angels – Fire Raiders the best mobile experience across the globe. Have you tried Fire Raiders yet? Download now and play for free!

 

Call of Duty: Black Ops III Multiplayer Beta Available Now on PS4

Call of Duty: Black Ops III Multiplayer Beta Available Now on PS4 news header

The start of the highly-anticipated Call of Duty ®: Black Ops III multiplayer beta has arrived on PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system. Beginning today, PS4™ system owners worldwide who obtained a beta access code for the Call of Duty: Black Ops III multiplayer beta will experience Treyarch’s new multiplayer gameplay first hand. New maps, modes, specialists, weapon customizations and more, including gameplay progression and the all-new momentum-based, chained movement system will be available for play through Sunday, Aug. 23, with other platforms to follow. Players are encouraged to submit their Beta feedback, directly to the studio team, at https://activision.allegiancetech.com/cgi-bin/qwebcorporate.dll?idx=ET2VTC. As the Beta continues, the Treyarch blog will provide updates as events unfold.

“We have poured our heart and soul into making Black Ops III, pushing ourselves to develop the deepest and richest experience we could for Call of Duty® players. We can’t wait for the fans to get their hands-on multiplayer so they can provide us with the type of feedback at scale to ensure we deliver the best experience we can come November,” said Mark Lamia, Studio Head of Treyarch. “With the new precision fluid movement system, the introduction of Specialists and an all-new weapon customization system, there’s a ton of multiplayer content in the beta and that’s just scratching the surface.”

The Call of Duty: Black Ops III beta represents a fraction of the full version of the game. Fans playing in the Beta can expect to play through three maps that will accommodate various play styles and enjoy high-octane combat that takes advantage of the new momentum-based, chained-movement system, advanced weaponry, new gear and much more. At least seven game modes will be unveiled throughout the Beta, including fan favorites and quite possibly a few surprises along the way. Plus, Beta participants will be able to play as two all-new Specialists in addition to the six previously revealed. The Beta also includes weapon customization featuring both Create-a-Class and Weapon Paint Shop functionality (Weapon Paint Shop not available on PC version of Beta) as well as gameplay progression covering weapons, scorestreaks and equipment (all progression will reset at the end of the Beta).

“The relationship between SCEA and Activision continues to flourish, allowing us to deliver content to PlayStation® fans before they can get it anywhere else,” said Adam Boyes, VP of Publisher and Developer Relations, Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC. “Continuing to redefine the multiplayer experience, Call of Duty: Black Ops III looks and feels incredible, and I’m thrilled fans will have the chance to experience it first on the PlayStation®4 system.”

Old School RuneScape Tournament Succeeds After Cyberattack

Old School RuneScape Tournament Succeeds After Cyberattack news header

Jagex Games Studio – creators and custodians of the fantasy MMORPG, RuneScape – is pleased to announce that ‘The Abusement Park’ team secured a mighty victory in the inaugural Old School RuneScape Tournament. The event, which took place on the 15th/16th August, saw eight teams battle it out for a share of a $10,000 prize pool. Originally scheduled to take part at the start of the month, that first attempt was halted early on due to a significant cyberattack that prevented it from being livestreamed.

 

More than 240,000 unique viewers watched the tournament on RuneScape’s Twitch channel, with peak concurrencies in excess of 13,000 – more than double the usual figures recorded by typical Old School RuneScape livestreams. While the teams fought across a number of maps in game, a team of RuneScape experts commentated at a top secret bunker and watched the ebb and flow of battle, away from further threats of a cyberattack. The tournament was featured on Twitch’s homepage and ensured RuneScape maintained a top eight position on the platform’s most streamed list of games over the weekend.

 

‘The Abusement Park’ ultimately walked away victors and secured a $5,000 prize; ‘Fatality’ took the runners-up prize of $3,000; and ‘Flippergang’ secured the third-place prize of $2,000.