Monthly Archives: September 2015

SMITE Alien Attacks Patch Notes Revealed

Hirez Studios reveals a new minor tweak patch for third person MOBA, SMITE. In addition to sweet new alien themed skins for Ah Puch and Khepri, this patch seems major changes to blink, Zeus, and Xing Tian nerfs.

The biggest change coming this patch is the update to blink, featuring longer early game cooldowns, the removal of the movement speed buff on greater blink, and overall reduced impact on game flow. Death Bringer also takes a 10% hit to its critical strike damage boost, making it a less absolute buy on ranged carries.

Zeus’ receives a partial rework centered around his cast and forget Aegis Assault shield. The shield is now a more active cast, tossing it away from Zeus to form an area similar to Neith’s spirit weaves but persistent, allowing Zeus to channel his auto attacks and chain lightning into the shield to send a shock to any enemies within its field. Zeus becomes a bit more mobile as well with the ability to cast his ultimate without being pinned down during the animation, as well as transitioning his slow from detonate charge to chain lightning. The bounce on chain lightning also has sped up, allowing users to more actively set up wombo combo damage with Aegis Assault and Lightning Storm.

New God Xing Tian also sees nerfs across the board, though his abilities have been given more obvious damage to reflect the impact player’s feel they’re having on the fight. The most noticeable post-launch change comes with his ultimate, Whirlwind of Rage and Steel. Players inside the spin are now immune to CC, but are incentivized to escape early. This is done by reducing the initial damage of the ulti, but adding amplifying damage depending on how long an enemy remains trapped in the spin.

SMITE Alien Invasion Ah Puch

For full patch notes, including a list of updated god cards, check the official notes page.

Imperial City Now Available for The Elder Scrolls Online Across All Platforms

Imperial City Now Available for The Elder Scrolls Online Across All Platforms news header

Following a successful launch on PC/Mac, Imperial City, the first DLC game pack for The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited is now available worldwide for Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

Imperial City, the heart of the Cyrodiilic Empire, has fallen to Daedric Prince Molag Bal and now all three alliances must battle not only against the Daedric forces, but against each other as well!

Developed by ZeniMax Online Studios, the first DLC game pack for the largest Elder Scrolls game ever created is packed with new content. Featuring new areas, quests, enemies, and exclusive items, Imperial City adds hours of additional gameplay for players adventuring through Tamriel on their own, in small groups, or with hundreds of others:

  • New PVE and PVP Content: Featuring six distinct Imperial Districts, battle against the forces of Molag Bal as well as the other Alliances.
  • Additional Dungeons: The extensive Imperial Sewers network offers new PVP and PVE challenges for small groups of adventurers, while White-Gold Tower and Imperial Prison challenge PVE adventurers with both Normal and Veteran difficulties.
  • New Quests, Enemies, and Characters: Whether participating in massive PVP battles in the Imperial Districts or adventuring in one of the new dungeons, players will be introduced to new quests and enemies, including the Xivkyn.
  • Additional Weapons, Armor, and Currency: Fight the forces of Molag Bal to plunder Tel Var Stones, a new form of currency you can use for exclusive Veteran Rank 16 weapons and armor, or search for new Treasure Vaults containing other rare finds.
  • Imperial City-Exclusive Collectibles and Items: Exploring Imperial City or visiting the Crown Store will reward the player with a host of new collectibles including pets, mounts, costumes, and polymorphs!

Imperial City is included with an active ESO Plus membership or is available for 2,500 crowns via the Crown Store.

PWI Celebrates 7 Year Anniversary

PWI Celebrates 7 Year Anniversary news header

PWI’s 7 Year Anniversary is this month and to celebrate, we’re running in-game events and giveaways throughout the rest of September.

For starters, all players will earn 3x XP and drops each weekend through the end of the month. We’ll also be running Tsuchun’s Trease, Smoke over Archosaur, and the Scholarly Challenge at various times throughout September. As an added bonus, all players who have played during this anniversary year will also receive an item to aid in completion of these events.

Last month’s release of the Riptide update added an all-new level of character customization with the Star Chart system, endgame challenge with the Judgement difficulty for Flowsilver Palace, skill enhancements for Blademasters as well as Stormbringers, and much more.

Come celebrate PWI with us and enjoy the Riptide update!

For complete details on PWI 7th Anniversary Events including dates, times and prizes, check out Arcgames.com.

Ace Combat Infinity Delivers Update 11

Ace Combat Infinity Delivers Update 11 news header

BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America’s free-to-play flight-shooter game, ACE COMBAT Infinity, brings players Update 11 today!  This spectacular update delivers new aircraft, new online co-op missions, a new aircraft category and more.

Update 11 introduces an impressive twenty three new aircraft to the ACE COMBAT Infinity lineup, including six standard aircraft (Tornado etc.) and a massive formation of seventeen special aircraft.

The A6M5 ZERO, P-38L Lightning, Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Ixe, and Bf 109 G-10 are featured as new aircraft within the new aircraft category, “PISTON FIGHTER.” These aircraft can be used in the “Piston Aircraft Restricted Online Co-Op Missions” and the “Piston Aircraft Restricted Team Deathmatch” ranking events.

In addition, the F-15E -Garuda1- and ASF-X -Ridebacks- are returning via the “Back again” online co-op missions ranking events. This is your chance to obtain these aircraft once again if you missed out on them previously!

Players can also look forward to the “Alps Air Corridor (HARD)” Online Co-Op Mission, “Retro Combat Evaluation” Online Co-Op Mission and the “Retro Combat Evaluation (HARD)” Online Co-Op Mission. Also, Free Flight mode now features the new “Alps” map!

In addition to these updates, many events and special challenges have also been added which include:

  • 4 Online Co-Op Missions Ranking Events
  • 2 Team Deathmatch Ranking Events
  • 6 item drop events
  • 10 types of Challenges

Don’t miss out on these events and special challenges! Try to obtain as many rewards as possible!

Other updates include:

  • New Aircraft Parts and Special Weapons 
  • New Instant Radio Messages
  • Additional Nicknames, Aircraft Skins and Emblems
  • Aircraft Level Cap Increased to Level 15 or 20
  • Bomber Type Aircraft Level Cap Increased to Level 10 or 15

Co-Op Roguelike Rogue Continuum Blasts into Early Access

Co-Op Roguelike Rogue Continuum Blasts into Early Access news header

Publisher Surprise Attack Games and developer Rocktastic Games today launched Rogue Continuum into Early Access on PC and Mac. The co-operative roguelike planet-crawler will be in Early Access for around seven months, leading up to a full release on PC, Mac, Linux and consoles in the first half of 2016.

Rogue Continuum tells the fantastical tale of four borderline psychopaths as they travel back in time to prevent the destruction of Earth the only way they know how – by killing all the possible alien culprits before they have a chance to do the dirty on our home planet.

With a persistent progression system, unique characters, each with their own specific abilities, weapons and play-styles and up to four player co-op, Rogue Continuum is a barrel full of crazy.

In development for over a year under the name, Space Sluggers, Rocktastic Games and Surprise Attack are launching the freshly renamed Rogue Continuum into Early Access to continue development in conjunction with the community. The Early Access launch features all four characters and almost all core features but with local multiplayer only. Regular updates on the way to the full launch in 2016 will add Linux support, online multiplayer, more environments, characters, weapons, enemies and items.

Daybreak Announces New Expansions for EverQuest and EverQuest II

Daybreak Announces New Expansions for EverQuest and EverQuest II news header

Daybreak Studios has announced not one but two expansions coming to the EverQuest universe.

EverQuest will gain its 22nd expansion, adding new zones for level 105, two new scaled instanced raids for 75-105 (the original Plane of Fear and Plane of Hate), and over 15 total new raids. Players will also be treated to new missions and Heroic Adventures and more. Details are available here.

Meanwhile EverQuest II‘s 12th expansion will get a new overland area, solo and heroic dungeons, multiple raids, and an updated Deity system. Some of this information is explained here.

More details on both expansions will be revealed on October 1, on the games’ websites, forums, and livestreams.

Kicktracker Report 8 (September 2015) – Divinity: OS 2, Socuwan, 12 is Better Than 6, and More!

Mikedot recaps the biggest online indie game development news and current Kickstarter campaigns in our September 2015 edition of the show. Catch links to all related games below!

Divinity Original Sin 2 Smashes Many Stretch Goals
http://www.onrpg.com/games/divinity-original-sin-2/
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/larianstudios/divinity-original-sin-2

20XX (Previously titled: Echoes of Eridu) Heads For Steam Early Access
http://www.onrpg.com/games/20xx/
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/batterystaplegames/echoes-of-eridu-co-optional-roguelike-megaman-styl

Armello: Tabletop Adventure Game Now Available

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/leagueofgeeks/armello-bringing-tabletop-adventures-to-life

Undertale: Charming SNES style RPG Now Available
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1002143342/undertale

Disciples of the Storm fails to meet funding goal; Smaller scale release announced
http://www.onrpg.com/games/disciples-of-the-storm/
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/525138512/disciples-of-the-storm-rts

Blackwake (Success)
http://www.onrpg.com/games/blackwake/
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2000479544/blackwake-reboot

Submerge, Underwater RTS (Failed)
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/icebirdstudios/submerge-underwater-rts

ECO – Global Survival Game (Success)
http://www.onrpg.com/games/eco-global-survival-game/
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1037798999/eco-global-survival-game

Socuwan – Community Driven MMORPG (Ongoing)
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1465468930/socuwan-the-community-driven-indie-mmorpg

“12 is Better Than 6” is a Hotline Miami Ripoff?
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1926605606/12-is-better-than-6

Camelot Unchained Introduces Senior Engineers from Stretch Goal

After a lengthy search, and one rather rough false start, CityState Games has officially introduced the two hired senior engineers for Camelot Unchained promised in a stretch goal hit earlier in 2015.

Camelot Unchained Senior Engineers

The first member to join the team is Marc Hernandez, a server engineer with previous experience working with Kixeye and WildStar, as well as a lengthy decade long career working with Wild Tangeant, the Odd World franchise, Insomniac Games Deadlocked and Resistance, and Ratchet & Clank Future.

The client programmer position has been filled by George Davidson, with previous experience working on a number of Star Wars titles, the LOTR War of the North and Shadow of Mordor games, and Destiny, the hit online shooter from Bungie.

The livestream announcement was focused purely on introducing these two senior engineers to the team. No mention of the delayed beta date. However Mark Jacobs closed out the presentation before Q&A with a mention that two follow-up livestreams will be coming in the next few weeks, one focusing on a class presentation, and the other bringing some light to the crafting system that has long remained hidden in alpha locked forum discussions.