PC, PlayStation 3/4 and Xbox 360/One gamers go to battle today in the free open multiplayer beta for Battlefield Hardline – releasing on March 17. Do battle with other players amid urban settings and action packed scenarios. This beta ends on Sunday, February 8.
It’s easy to assume that everyone out there already has a favorite gaming system, whether it be Xbox, Playstation, Wii, or something else. But what if you are totally new to gaming? What if you want to play, but you have little experience with any of the available gaming options, and you have no idea where to get started?
It is ironic that I started playing Grim Fandango as I was writing up this review. Why? Because it allowed me to compare this game with one of the absolute classics of the genre. The revitalized adventure game genre provides plenty of comparisons, and allowed me to see both good and not so good elements in Supreme League of Patriots.
Wow! 2015 is already off to any amazing start in terms of gaming! We’ve seen great stuff for iOS, Android, consoles, Mac and PC in just these normally quiet first few weeks. Now we are seeing another Steam Early access launch. This time it is for a competitive online shooter, Ratz Instagib which is just out and already popular!
More than two years ago I posted a review of PC action-RPG sequel Torchlight II. I called it “pretty much the realization of the Bop-It Extreme mantra ‘do it the same … but BETTER’.” I also noted the Mac version ‘coming soon’. Apparently ‘soon’ means 28 months, as Runic games announced a February 2nd release in a funny video.
Developed by Dontnod Entertainment and published by Square Enix, Life is Strange releases the first episode (“Chrysalis”) in an interactive adventure drama video game series that will release at least four more episodes, which will be continuously released in six-week periods.
Last summer GRIN Studios had a Kickstarter for their unconventional un-fairy tale Woolfe: The Red Hood Diaries. Woolfe looks at the adventures of an adult Red Riding Hood as she seeks to avenge her parents deaths. The game was successfully funded, and is progressing towards release. Now GRIN announces that the game is available for Early Access on Steam.
Two of the biggest trends for indie games recently are so-called ‘roguelikes’ and space-based simulations. Add real-time shooters and you have the recipe for a fun and addictive game that will appeal to a broad cross-section of players. That is what Stellar, a roguelike space shooter, is offering in a game with a planned 2016 release date. Check it out!
Brian Fargo and inXile Entertainment had a great 2014 with the release of Wasteland 2. Now they are returning to the property that inspired their first game a decade ago, as they have announced officially that they are working on The Bard’s Tale IV. The last official entry in the series was all the way back in 1988!
When I wrote about the official announcement of Avernum 2: Crystal Souls last year I noted that I had missed the initial release of the first three games, and only played parts of them since. In 2012 I played and replayed Avernum: Escape from the Pit, and now I have played Avernum 2: Crystal Souls and completely loved it!
While Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth launched just three months ago, the legendary strategy game create is already preparing his next bold adventure – Sid Meier’s Starships, which is coming later this year to Mac, PC and iPad. The game will offer some connectivity to Beyond Earth, but is its own grand adventure. Check out the announcement info!
I love Phoenix Online Studios because whether they are developing or publishing, they manage to put out some hilarious and high quality games. So when I hear they have something in the works – I want to know about it! The newly announced Supreme League of Patriots looks hilarious and engaging and like just the sort of amazing game I’ll love!
The Baldur’s Gate franchise of epic fantasy role playing games are amongst the most beloved and critically acclaimed of all time. They have recently been re-released as ‘enhanced editions’, and now Beamdog has teased us with pictures of screens and tidbits of information about their ‘Adventure Y’, which is “bridging the gap between Baldur’s Gate and Baldur’s Gate II.”
Wadjet Eye has released some great games recently, creating the Blackwell mystery games and publishing Gemini Rue. So I was intrigued when I heard that they were working on a new game with indie developer Technocrat, which they announced today. The game is Technobabylon, a dystopian cyberpunk adventure coming to PC in spring 2015 and to Mac/Linux after.
The history of gaming is littered with long-forgotten classics, great games rendered unplayable due to compatibility issues, or the lack of a 5.25″ floppy drive! Add the complexity of getting DOSBox configured and optimized, and the bar is simply too high. But now the Internet Archive has set up a portal to play 2400 games on your web browser!
Gear up gamers for fun, flash and functionality! The Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2015) is featuring new and upcoming gaming accessories to enhance video game experiences for all ages. Nyko and Mad Catz are familiar names in gaming peripherals and this year brings more great gaming options including a PlayStation 4 data bank, PS4 Type Pad, innovative gaming headset, Xbox One light grip, and XB1 mini charge dock.
2014 was an incredible year to be a PC or Mac gamer, and even better if you are a fan of classic RPGs. I am both, so I got to enjoy one of the best years of gaming I can recall since before Microsoft entered the console wars! If you love PC or Mac gaming, you must check these out!
Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris has a “top-down” viewing perspective as up to four players can take on adventures in this quality game exclusively available by download. Our “tomb raider” Lara also has a rivals and ancient evils in her midst as develop Crystal Dynamics and publisher Square Enix craft this sequel to the 2010 Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light.
The Sims 4 now gifts new career-related content and a Holiday Celebration pack to their ever-growing set of free content since the initial fall release. The new business and athletic careers branch into two new paths/professions, which unlock four career-reward rooms in the build mode when played through. Sims now get paid time off! Update in-game or on Origin.
The fast paced, double stick, and multi-directional shooter franchise continues as Geometry Wars³: Dimensions features online play, leaderboards, furious music, and new boss fights plus a single player campaign mode called “Adventure” where movement is the key to success as players can enjoy a retro title full of content and fun.
Soldak Entertainment is an indie developer making great games, mostly in the RPG genre. From the incredible Depths of Peril, the never-old Din’s Curse, light-but-fun Kivi’s Underworld to the sprawling space adventure Drox Operative. Now for their next game they are dipping into the undead with Zombasite, a post-apocalyptic fantasy action RPG coming in 2015 to Windows, Mac, and Linux.