Brokencast: Niamh Schonherr Interview


Posted on January 28, 2016 by Rae Michelle Richards

This week on the Broken Cast we’re joined by Indie game developer Niamh Schonherr whose upcoming game Sofðu litla tófan mín is based around a magical 1900s Icelandic fable. I can’t really do the game justice – here’s the description she wrote on her website about the game:

“It’s a magical realist fable set in rural Iceland circa 1900 about a young girl who suffers from night terrors trying to regain control of her life as it begins to spin rapidly into desolation. I’ve been making it in Twine with music composed by friend Solai. There is also a melody being composed by the Super Marcato Bros for the game’s titular lullaby, so look forward to that! I’ve already heard an early take of the melody and it’s very promising!”

In this podcast we talk about the games Icelandic roots, what it’s like to make independent games among other things. You can find a playable version of her game here or follow her on twitter here.

 


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Ubisoft Takes Us Through Basic Training For The Division


Posted on January 28, 2016 by Rae Michelle Richards

The Division

Ubisoft takes us through a very brief tour of some of the basics that you’ll need to survive the infected streets of Manhatten in The Division’s beta. This narrated trailer covers how to create your agent, what the various functions available to you in your base of operations, how to sell loot to venders and, of course, how to group up with other agents in the field.

The Division feels very much like an MMORPG but designed on a smaller scale. By grounding the game in a real world location Ubisoft have provided potential agents with a setting that feels not too far off from our own world, minus the whole lawlessness and viral contagions thing. It is clear that while the gameplay appears to be action packed there is al an emphasis on statistics – like health, damage per second, damage reduction – that can be found in other roleplaying games. Fusing MMORPG elements with First Person Shooters worked fantastically for Bungie’s Destiny, so let’s see if the same can be said for The Division.

The beta kicks off this morning on Xbox One and will open on Friday at 7 AM EST on Windows PC and PlayStation 4 and runs until an unspecified time Sunday January 31st. Ubisoft’s last open beta, for Rainbow Six Siege, ended up getting extended after server issues caused problems. If the hype around The Division is any indication perhaps the same thing will happen here?

We have staff in the closed beta and we will be brining you as much content as possible over the coming days.

[youtube id=”NBQ5RgYr4M8″]


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Halo Online Gameplay Vid: Team Slayer On Narrows


Posted on January 28, 2016 by Rae Michelle Richards

Halo Narrows

You might be wondering “why another Halo Online video?”. Well we’ve been trying to bring you a mixture of original content based upon the games we are currently playing and breaking news as it happens. This week I’ve been playing quite a bit of Halo: Online after producing a video earlier in the week. I thought I’d share this match because it features one of the classic Halo 3 maps that didn’t make it into our other coverage. Also this video has better synced sound, and music, something our original gameplay snippets seemed to have some problems with (sorry about that).

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PlayStation Plus’ Feb 2016 Line-Up Is Here


Posted on January 27, 2016 by Rae Michelle Richards

February is the month of live and the team at PlayStation have decided to bring six brand new titles to the Instant Games Collection next month.

Helldivers, a futuristic twin-stick shooter published by Sony Computer Entertainment America will make a hard landing on all three platforms. Nom Nom Galaxy and indie game that blends platforming, base construction and tower defense will also come to Sony’s latest console. On the PS3 side we’ve got last year’s Persona 4: Ultimax from Atlus USA and Codemaster’s GRID Autosport – the third title in the GRID franchise.

Here’s the full trailer and line-up as provided by the PlayStation Blog:

Full Lineup:

  • Grid Autosport, PS3
  • Helldivers: Democracy Strikes Back , PS4, PS3, PS Vita
  • Lemmings Touch, PS Vita
  • Nom Nom Galaxy, PS4
  • Nova-111, PS Vita
  • Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, PS3

[youtube id=”Op6ag6oPgT8″]


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Hard Reset Redux Reboots On Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC


Posted on January 27, 2016 by Rae Michelle Richards

Hard Reset

Flying Wild Hog, probably best known for their reboot of the Shadow Warrior franchise, is preparing to rebalance and upgrade their 2012 first person shooter Hard Reset for current generation consoles and a second go at Windows PC due out later this year.

Specific enhancements include graphical upgrades, new enemies, weapons and a glowing cyber katana that looks like it was ripped out of the pages of an indie comic book. Who wouldn’t want to hack apart enemies with a glowing instrument of death?

No price has been announced for Hard Reset Redux as of yet. You can check out the trailer in the embedded player below. Hard Reset was actually one of the first games we reviewed on our site many years ago.

[youtube id=”t13GKrC0Nc8″]

[Source]

 


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EA’s Star Wars Battlefront DLC Plans Unveiled


Posted on January 26, 2016 by Rae Michelle Richards

Electronic Arts has finally outlined its plans for downloadable content for Star Wars: Battlefront for three content drops that will arrive between January and March as well as the mysterious Season’s Pass that has until now only been described in quite vague terms.

Players who chose to not invest in the potentially overpriced Season’s Pass will be treated to a free Tatooine map survival map, new outfits for Luke and Han and the ability to create private matches. February’s update will bring a new Hoth map that supports a number of game modes and the Turning Point mode being available on all maps that support Walker Assault. March’s free update will include a new Endor map for Walker Assault.

If you want a detailed breakdown of what’s included in the Season’s Pass head on over to Game Informer, apparently they’ve found everything including a list of included maps & modes.

I honestly think that the amount of content in the free updates will have me coming back to the game at least a few time in the next few months. The Tatooine survival maps sound interesting as well as a new Hoth map should have me rooting for the Rebels for taking down the Empire’s AT-ATs.

Here are all the details as provided by Game Informer:

January Free Content Drop

  • The Tatooine Survival map (called Raider Camp) will support Blast, Droid Run, Drop Zone, Hero Hunt, and Heroes vs. Villains modes
  • Hoth outfits for Luke and Han (previously unlocked upon completion of the Heroes’ Holiday community mission)
  • The ability to create private matches
  • Daily Challenges and Community Events
  • General weapon and mode balancing tweaks.

Free February Content Drop

  • Survival mission on Hoth (map not disclosed)
  • New Hoth multiplayer map supporting Walker Assault, Supremacy, Fighter Squadron, and Turning Point.
  • Turning Point mode available on all maps that currently support Walker Assault and Supremacy.

Free March Content Drop:

  • New Endor multiplayer map supporting Walker Assault, Supremacy, and Turning Point.
  • Tatooine Survival map.

What’s Included In The Season’s Pass?

  • Star Wars Battlefront Outer Rim (March 2016) – Fight among the factories of Sullust and battle within Jabba the Hutt’s palace on Tatooine
  • Star Wars Battlefront Bespin (Summer 2016) – It’s hunt or be hunted in this action-packed experience set in the Cloud City of Bespin
  • Star Wars Battlefront Death Star (Fall 2016) – That’s no moon! One of the most iconic locations in the Star Wars universe makes its debut in Star Wars Battlefront.
  • Star Wars Battlefront Expansion Pack 4 – Title TBA (Early 2017)

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Video: Rockets Only On High Ground (Halo PC)


Posted on January 26, 2016 by Rae Michelle Richards

Halo 3 High Ground

I just had the most entertaining match of Halo Online that I think I’ve played in the past few days and I just had to cut it out and share it with readers.

High Ground is one of the maps from Halo 3 that will be burned in my mind after playing it so much during the limited beta back in 2007. Basically it’s a sandy, rocky, desert area with some UNSC structures and light vehicles like the mongoose.  Well what happens when you get eight players, through them into Team Slayer with only rocket launchers? A lot of explosions, a lot of laughing… oh and maybe some overturned exploding mongoose!

Check it out – this video is just a straight upload of my gameplay experience. No commentary or editing this time.


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Square Enix & Ubisoft Games On Sale On PSN This Week


Posted on January 26, 2016 by Rae Michelle Richards

Square Enix

Square Enix and Ubisoft games headline the weekly sales available for all PSN members this week. In this latest weekly sale many games from the Final Fantasy and Far Cry series are available at a reduced price, and even more if you have an active PlayStation Plus subscription. If you missed out on the Final Fantasy XIII sequels, both are available for $15.00 USD a piece. Also if you haven’t tried Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn on PlayStation it is also available and includes 30 days game time with the software license!  Other awesome deals include a whole pile of PS1 classic FF titles from the 90s including FFVIII and FFIX.

All prices in USD, not reflective of the PS Plus discount and sales are only available in North America as far as I am aware.

PS1 Classics On Sale

  • Final Fantasy 8 – $5.00 USD
  • Final Fantasy 9 – $5.00 USD
  • Final Fantasy V – $5.00 USD
  • Final Fantasy Origins – $5.00 USD
  • Legend of Manna – $3.00 USD
  • Parasite Eve II – $5.00 USD
  • Final Fantasy VII – $5.00 USD
  • Vagrant Story – $5.00 USD

PS4 Games On Sale

  • FFXIV: A Realm Reborn (Includes 30 Day Game Time)
  • Sleeping Dogs Definitive Edition – $10.00 USD
  • Tomb Raider Definitive Edition – $7.50 USD
  • Murdered Soul Suspect – $7.50 USD
  • Far Cry 4 – $19.80 USD

PS3 Games On Sale

  • Crystal Defenders – $5.00 USD
  • Space Invaders Infinity – $5.00 USD
  • Final Fantasy XIII Lightening Returns – $15.00 USD
  • Final Fantasy XIII-2
  • Far Cry 4 – $19.80 USD
  • Fary Cry Classic – $2.50 USD
  • Far Cry Blood Dragon $3.75 USD
  • Far Cry 3 – $10.00 USD
  • Far Cry 2 Ultimate $5.25 USD

PS Vita Games On Sale

  • Final Fantasy War of the Lions – $5.00 USD
  • Final Fantasy IV Complete – $10.00 USD
  • Final Fantasy III – $10.00 USD
  • Third Birthday (Parasite Eve) – $10.00 USD
  • Dissidia 012 Duodecim – $10.00 USD
  • Final Fantasy X/X2 HD Bundle – $15 USD

[Source]


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Reminder: The Division Beta Pre-load Is Now Available


Posted on January 26, 2016 by Rae Michelle Richards

The Division

Just a gentle reminder that if you have guaranteed access to the Tom Clancy’s The Division beta that runs this weekend that your pre-load is probably available. Redemption varies between platforms and if you didn’t get guaranteed access through pre-ordering the game and you are on the “wait list” then these might not apply to you just yet. For those on the wait list, keep checking your email inbox.

On PC:  Log into U-Play, select “Games”, then select “The Division Beta”
On Xbox One: Check your download histories if your email for instructions on redeem instructions
On PlayStation 4: After redeeming your beta code on the official website it should show up in your download history / PS4 library after today’s PSN Update

We’re already pre-loading the beta on Windows PC so we can bring you coverage this weekend. On PC the beta clocks in at 26.3GB, so you should probably start your downloads soon!

Tom Clancy’s The Division beta will allow players to access early content set in Manhattan in this new persistent world always online RPG set after a massive virus sends the United State’s economy into ruin. As a member of “The Division” it is your job to help remain order and re-estblish democracy.


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Death of a Shooter: Halo 3’s Xbox 360 Multiplayer Is a Ghost Town


Posted on January 25, 2016 by Rae Michelle Richards

Call it yearning for nostalgia, call it reliving the old days but after writing and producing the Halo Online preview that went live today I decided to dust off my Xbox 360 from the back of my entertainment center. After I signed up for a trial for Xbox Live, as it had been at least a year since I last played my Xbox 360 and was ready to see what my favorite multiplayer Halo title had been up too in the past nine years.

What greeted me after logging in was a literal ghost town. Yesterday on a sunny Sunday afternoon only 150 people where playing Halo 3 on Microsoft’s last generation console. The matchmaker couldn’t find me a free for all game, so I wasn’t about to try any of the exotic gametypes like VIP or Juggernaut. Instead I opted for the long time Halo staple, Team Slayer. After waiting 15 minutes to be placed in a match the servers finally found 3 other people and threw us all onto The Pit. We played out the entire match even if finding each other in the expanse of the training complex was a rare occurrence. I think in the end everyone had less than 5 kills before the match ended and I put the console away back in the corner of our living room cabinet.

It’s not surprising that a game that is almost nine years old doesn’t have a strong online community – as time passes people simply move on. There have been three major Halo releases since Bungie’s swansong to Matcher Chief debuted in 2000. 343’s first Halo title on the Xbox 360 had reports of low server populations even a full year before Halo 5 would debut. With less than 2000 people playing that game all the way back in 2014!

Of course almost all of the content to be found in all 4 previous entries in the Halo franchise is accessible on the Xbox One via the Master Chief Collection, but at the time of writing I don’t own one of those.

Goodbye old friend, it’s sad to see the death of a shooter but I send you off with a Salute, at least we got to enjoy one more game together.

Halo Salute


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SEGA Confirms Valkyria Chronicles Remastered For North American Release


Posted on January 25, 2016 by Rae Michelle Richards

Prepare to gather the ragtag group of Squad 7 as they prepare to defend the country of Galloa from the advancing forces of the Empire. As war rages across the Europan continent it will be up to members like Alicia and Welkin will have a secret weapon against the Empire, a prototype tank that will, with your help, defend Gallia’s stores of Ragnite ore.

SEGA originally released Valkyria Chronicles for the PlayStation 3 back in 2009. Last year an upgraded version was made available for Windows PC through Steam. Like the version from last year the PlayStation 4 version will include all previously released DLC. It will also run at 60 frames per seconds at 1080p as well, a significant increase from the original PS3 version. Folks who purchase a first run copy or pre order will also get a limited edition steel case.

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Let’s Take A Look At Halo: Online For PC


Posted on January 25, 2016 by Rae Michelle Richards

Halo Online

Halo 3 was one of the definitive online experiences I got to spend hundred of hours in during the last generation of consoles. Released during my first year of college I can’t recall the number of nights that I spent with friends fragging each other, laughing and getting unfortunately cussed out on Xbox Live until the sun came up. When Microsoft announced that they were going to release a free-to-play FPS based upon the Halo 3 multiplayer suite for PC I was excited – only to find out that the game would be region locked to Russia Only.Read More


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Diablo’s Wizard and Necromancer Highlighted In New Heroes Trailer


Posted on January 22, 2016 by Rae Michelle Richards

Heroes of the storm

Blizzard Entertainment’s Heroes of the Storm development team is ready to share some of the upcoming content they’ve been working on with players. In a brand new trailer we get an up close look at the models and skins for the two newest heroes – Li Ming and Xul  as well as brand new skins for established characters like LT. Morales, Jaina, Arthas and Illidan.

Do any of these new skins appeal to you? I thought Love Dr. Morales was kind of chuckle worthy and to be honest I am probably going to buy that Arthas skin day one even if I don’t play him all that often. As for the new heroes – I’ll have to wait and see what their abilities are before I can really commit.

Here’s a full breakdown of all the newly announced content:

HEROES

  • Li-Ming
  • Xul

SKINS

  • Crimson Count Arthas
  • Love Doctor Lt. Morales
  • Lunar Jaina
  • Lunar Illidan
  • Master Li-Ming
  • Master Xul
  • Serpent King Xul
  • Star Princess Li-Ming

MOUNTS

  • Star Chariot
  • Cloud Serpent
  • Lunar Dragon

[youtube id=”_JybO9iBECA”]

[Source]


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Broken Deals: FFXIV, PSN Flash Sale, Sonic & More


Posted on January 22, 2016 by Rae Michelle Richards

The weekend is finally here – a time for most of us to kick back, relax and possibly catch up on our massive backlog of games. Except with the awesome deals that both Steam and a surprise Sony Flash Sale are offering it is more probably than not that more games will end up in your backlog rather than being completed.

Some of the highlights include: 30 Days of game time with the fantastic FFXIV for $10.99 CDN, Sonic Generations for less than $10 CDN – which is a steal by the way every Sonic fan should play this game, Cross-buy on Rogue Legacy for $4.00 USD and the gory yet surprisingly funny Surgeon Simulator for $3.20 USD.

Here is a partial list of all of the deals available this weekend that I found appealing. Other discounts await you on the other side of these links as well.

Happy gaming!

Steam Weekend Deals

Final Fantasy XIV – $10.99 CDN (includes 30 day game time with new account activation)
Sonic: The Lost World – $11.21 CDN
Sonic Racing All-Stars Transformed – $4.25 CDN
Sonic Generations – $8.25 CDN
Sonic 4 Episode II – $4.24 CDN
Sonic 3D Blast – $1.37 CDN
Sonic The Headgehod II – $1.38 CDN
Sonic Adventure DX – $2.18
Sonic Adventure 2 DX – $2.75

PlayStation Network Flash Sale

Cell Damage HD – $2.00 USD
DiveKick (PS4) – $1.25 USD
Flower (Cross-buy) – $1.05 USD
Outlast (PS4) – $4.00 USD
Surgeon Simulator PS4 Edition – $3.20 USD
Terraria (PS4) – $5.00 USD
Rogue Legacy (Cross-Buy) – $4.00 USD
Velocity 2X (Cross-buy) – $5.00


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