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Tag: First Person Shooters

  • Battlefield 4 Engine Preview Trailer Released

    Back during E3, Activision and Infinity Ward were showing off Call of Duty: Ghosts‘ graphics, touting motion-captured dogs and a few new graphical techniques. It was EA and DICE, however, that stole the show with Battlefield 4’s obviously next-gen graphics. A sinking aircraft carrier has never looked so good.

    Of course, Battlefield 4 isn’t likely to look like that on a PlayStation 4 or an Xbox One. Only gamers with a nicely-appointed gaming PC will be able to run the game and have it look that shiny. That doesn’t mean that next-gen consoles won’t look good, though.

    DICE today released a video touting the new game engine behind Battlefield 4, the Frostbite 3 engine. In particular, the developers are most focused on more “dynamic” and “living” environments, though the capability to interact with the game through supplemental devices (such as tablets) is also mentioned. The highly-destructible environments seen in Battlefield 4 are also a big emphasis, with a good example being the collapse of a skyscraper as seen in one recent multiplayer trailer.

    Even those who aren’t fans of modern military shooters should take a look at the video, reminding themselves throughout that this is the same engine being used to develop Dragon Age: Inquisition and the new Star Wars: Battlefront game.

  • New Titanfall Game Preview Released

    New Titanfall Game Preview Released

    Of all the next-generation titles previewed that this year’s E3, Titanfall was, perhaps, the most promising. Though it appears at first glance to be another multiplayer shooter and is being made by the same developers that crafted the modern military shooter, some of the new mechanics being toyed around with in the game could change the status quo for the better.

    Respawn today released a new video showing off some Titanfall gameplay, with developers describing just what is happening in the footage and trying to spell out what their design philosophies for the game were.

    It seems their main focus was on the interplay between ground troops and giant mechs (Titans). Instead of the lumbering mechs seen in so many other games, the Titans are relatively quick and agile. For non-mech-suited players, the game’s mechanics have been tweaked to make them effective against the giant metal beasts. Players can run along walls at high speeds and have a double jump. Certain weapons also have the firepower to take down Titans. It’s a combination that makes the gameplay appear similar to an Unreal Tournament or Quake 3 Arena – which should go over well with PC gamers.

  • New Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Map Pack Coming July 2

    With all the coverage Call of Duty: Ghosts got at this year’s E3, it would be easy to forget that the Call of Duty fanbase is still hooked on Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. But Treyarch and Activision haven’t forgotten.

    Just months away from the launch of Ghosts, the next map pack for Black Ops 2 has been announced. Titled Vengeance, the DLC will feature four new multiplayer maps, a new zombies map, and a new weapon to use against the zombie hordes. The content will be released for Xbox LIVE players on July 2, and later for PlayStation 3 and PC.

    The trailer below gives a short preview of all the new content included in the DLC. The new maps are named Cove, Detour, Rush, and Uplink. Cove is a small map set on a tropical island. Rush is another small map that resembles a paintball arena. Detour is a long, multi-level map set on a war-torn suspension bridge. Uplink will be familiar to Call of Duty fans, as it is a re-make of Call of Duty: Black Ops‘ Summit map, re-skinned with less snow and more monitors.

  • Metro: Last Light Delayed Yet Again, Releases on May 17

    When THQ entered bankruptcy and auctioned off its game properties and studios piecemeal it wasn’t certain that all of the projects would survive. In particular, it was odd to see the Metro series land in the hands of Koch Media, the parent company of Dead Island publisher Deep Silver.

    Today, some good news has come for Metro fans.

    Deep Silver has announced that Metro: Last Light will be released before summer. The game will be released in North America on May 14 and in Europe on May 17. Last Light will be available for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.

    The game had already been delayed twice, and its most recent release date was sometime in March 2013.

    “The new release date is the ideal way to strike the balance between bringing the best out of Metro: Last Light and not keep the fans waiting longer than necessary.” , said Klemens Kundratitz, CEO of Koch Media. “We won’t leave that time unexploited and will work closely together with 4A Games to make the game even better. It will receive all the attention it deserves.”

    Over on the Metro Facebook page, the game’s developers have promised to use their extra time to give the game a “final layer of polish.” They have also stated that pre-order details are being worked out and will hopefully be announced “soon.”

  • Battlefield 3 End Game DLC Trailer Released

    Back in December 2012, Dice and EA teased Battlefield 3 fans with a peek at the upcoming “End Game” DLC. That content still isn’t out, but its March release date is finally close.

    Today, EA released another trailer showing off all the new maps included in the add-on. The four new maps included in the DLC are “Operation Riverside,” “Nebandan Flats,” “Kiasar Railroad,” and Sabalan Pipeline. As shown prominently in the trailer, dirt bikes will also be introduced in “End Game,” as well as a capture the flag game mode, new assignments, new dog tags, and a new dropship that can perform vehicle drops.

    Unfortunately, the tailer does not include any actual gameplay, instead opting to show off the new maps and dirt bikes with frozen panorama shots.

  • Dead Island Riptide CE Features Busty, Bloody Torso

    Deep Silver, the publisher of Dead Island, today announced a “Zombie Bait” edition of its upcoming Dead Island Riptide.

    In a move that’s sure to please groups calling for video games to tone down their violence in the wake of the Sandy Hook school shooting, the package includes a foot-tall, hand-painted resin statue of a de-limbed and decapitated female torso. As seen above, the statue’s ample breasts seem to be the only features that have escaped extensive mutilation.

    The “Zombie Bait” edition is for U.K. gamers, and will include the Xbox 360 version of the game. Gamers in the U.S. and Latin America are getting the “Rigor Mortis” edition, which includes the comparatively tasteful zombie hula girl dashboard statue.

    “Dead Island Riptide is one of the most anticipated releases of the year and is set to build on the original’s reputation for OTT [sic] action, dark humour and brutal zombie bashing,” said Paul Nicholls, sales & marketing director at Deep Silver. “We wanted to provide a unique collector’s edition that was utterly Dead Island and would make a striking conversation piece on any discerning zombie gamer’s mantel.”

    A conversation piece, indeed. Because nothing starts an engaging conversation like an overtly sexual, mangled female torso.

    Deep Silver is only producing a limited run of the “Zombie Bait” editions of Dead Island Riptide. The edition also comes with a steelbook case for the game, artwork cards, and exclusive in-game weapon mods. Dead Island Riptide his stores on April 23 in the U.S., and April 26 in the U.K.

  • Dust 514 Open Beta Starts January 22

    CCP Games, the developer behind Eve Online, today announced that the open beta test for Dust 514 will begin on January 22.

    The news comes just as Dust 514 has been merged onto the server that also hosts the Eve Online universe. CCP states that this accomplishment marks the first time two games from different genres have been linked together into a single MMO.

    “The launch of the Dust 514 Open Beta is another step towards our long-term vision for CCP and Eve,” said Hilmar Pétursson, CEO of CCP. “But this is just the beginning. As we have done with Eve Online, in the coming weeks, and for years to come, we will continually improve upon and add to the Dust 514 experience, as well as add deeper integration between the two games and their communities.”

    Dust 514 is a free-to-play first-person shooter MMO for the PlayStation 3. It is directly connected to Eve Online, and actions in each game will affect the economy, politics, and outcome of battles in the other. Players in Dust 514 can, in some ways, be seen as the shock troops for player corporations that command the fleets in Eve Online.

    PlayStation 3 owners who don’t want to wait until the 22nd can buy closed beta access for $20 via the PlayStation Network Store. The purchase comes with several in-game items, 40,000 Aurum, and 100,000 bonus skill points if a match is played before the open beta begins.

  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Revolution DLC Previewed

    This week Activision and Treyarch released a bit of information on the upcoming downloadable content (DLC) for Call of Duty: Black Ops II.

    “With Black Ops II, the team set out to challenge assumptions about what fans should expect from Call of Duty, and there’s no exception with Revolution,” said Mark Lamia, Treyarch studio head.

    Titled “Revolution,” the add-on will include four new multiplayer maps, “Downhill,” “Hydro,” “Mirage,” and “Grind.” A new map for zombies mode called “Die Rise” will also be included. It pits players against the zombies inside of collapsed skyscrapers in a ruined Chinese city.

    In addition to the new maps, a new SMG called the “Peacekeeper” has been added for multiplayer, and a new zombies mode called “Turned” will allow players to take on the role of zombies themselves.

    The DLC will be available first on the Xbox 360. On January 29 fans can download the update via Xbox LIVE for 1200 Microsoft Points.

  • Painkiller: Hell & Damnation Console Release Delayed to April

    It appears that console gamers will be getting a (very) tiny taste of what PC gamers have had to put up with for the past few years.

    Nordic Games today announced that the console release of Painkiller: Hell & Damnation has been pushed back. The title now has a release date of April 5 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The title was originally scheduled for a mid-January launch. The game will cost $30 for the standard edition or $40 for the Collector’s Edition.

    “We have been working around the clock to bring the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game in line with the quality and standard of the PC game,” said Reinhard Pollice, production and business development manager at Nordic Games. “There has been a slight delay so that the console communities can enjoy the fiendishly ghoulish experience that we know they want and deserve. In taking this additional time to add the final touches, we know that players will realise that the best things do come to those who wait!”

    Painkiller: Hell & Damnation is the sequel to the cult classic shooter Painkiller for PC. Unfortunately, Hell & Damnation was not as well-received as its predecessor, with reviewers pointing out that the game was glitchy when it was released. Here’s hoping the development team takes the next three to get the console version right.

  • Battlefield 3 “End Game” Preview Released

    EA dropped the ball for the shooter genre this year. Instead of a polished competitor to the massively successful Call of Duty: Black Ops II, the publisher released Medal of Honor Warfighter. The game was shipped unfinished, requiring a massive day-one patch. Reviewers criticized it for its of its name, bland gameplay, and over-the-top military bravado/machismo, even for a military shooter.

    Thankfully, EA and DICE are still supporting last year’s Battlefield 3, which was a hit and well-received. Today EA released a teaser trailer for the upcoming Battlefield 3 DLC. Titled “End Game,” the add-on will feature four new multiplayer maps “designed for high speed combat and action.” New vehicles are included as well, including the dirt bikes that feature heavily in the trailer. Also, the capture the flag game mode will be part of the add-on, as well as a dropship that can perform vehicle drops.

  • Rage DLC “The Scorchers” Released

    Bethesda and id Software today released the new downloadable content (DLC) add-on package for Rage. Titled “The Scorchers,” the content will take players to new areas and includes features fans have been eagerly waiting for.

    The content is now available through Xbox LIVE or Steam for 400 Microsoft Points or $5. PlayStation 3 gamers will have to wait until later this afternoon in North America or tomorrow in Europe to download the add-on via the PlayStation Network.

    “The Scorchers” includes a new story, new enemies, six new areas for players to explore, and new characters to help “defend the Hager Settlement from a maniacal bandit clan known as The Scorchers.” In addition, players will get a new season of Mutant Bash TV, new mini-games, and new weapons, including the “overpowering and brutal” weapon called the Nailgun.

    New features with the download include a new hardest difficulty mode for the game: “Ultra-Nightmare.” Also, the much-anticipated “Extended Play” feature will allow players to continue playing past the game’s original ending. Players will now be able to continue collecting items and achievements without avoiding the ending. “Extended Play” is similar to a feature Bethesda included in a Fallout 3 DLC pack that also allowed players to continue playing past the ending.

  • Zero Dark Thirty Movie Tie-In Maps Coming to Medal of Honor Warfighter

    Zero Dark Thirty is the new movie depicting the hunt for and assassination of Osama bin Laden. The movie is directed by Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow and is generating quite a bit of Oscar buzz itself. While the movie has gotten almost universally good reviews, it’s about to get a tie-in to one of the worst-reviewed shooter video games of 2012.

    Today, Danger Close Games announced that new downloadable content (DLC) for Medal of Honor Warfighter will feature multiplayer maps based on the areas in Pakistan where Osama Bin Laden was hunted. The map pack will have two new maps, “Chitral Compound” and “Darra Gun Market,” and will cost $10. Over on the PlayStation Blog, Danger Close Level Designer Marc Janas describes the creation of the maps:

    When creating these levels, the first thing we did was look for reference images for the locations. This helped us decide on compelling objectives for the Combat Mission game mode, which is very story driven. Once we tackled that, the next step was sitting down with the artists and flushing out our vision for the actual play space by creating a broad layout for them to base the terrain on.

    Medal of Honor Warfighter was panned widely for its name, generic gameplay, and a huge day-one patch that was required to fix major issues with the game. Not only that, but in a genre where military violence is heavily glorified, the game was criticized by reviewers for its macho tone. In light of this reception, the inclusion of maps based on the most widely publicized recent military operation both fits the game well and stands as a brazen dismissal of its critics.

  • First Gameplay Footage Released For Dirty Bomb, a Free-to-Play FPS

    Splash Damage today revealed the first gameplay footage from Dirty Bomb, an upcoming PC-only free-to-play first person shooter. Splash Damage is the British developer best known for last year’s tepidly-reviewed Brink.

    Dirty Bomb may remind gamers quite a bit of Brink, for better or worse. The new game will feature a similar class system, where players can choose to take on the role of the engineer, medic, soldier, field ops, or sniper. Teams will then work together to accomplish “military objectives.” The game will take place in a near-future London, a setting no-doubt inspired by the U.K.’s recently announced tax relief for British developers that make games featuring and promoting the U.K.

    Though the game is still in a pre-alpha state, Splash Damage is already offering tiered pricing on the title. For $30, $60, or $120, gamers can get priority beta access and some game-related merchandise. The game will be free when it launches, however, so gamers can still sign up on the Dirty Bomb website to reserve a name and have a “chance” to be part of the beta.

  • Metro: Last Light Trailer Forsakes God

    Metro: Last Light Trailer Forsakes God

    Metro 2033 was a dark game, and its predecessor, Metro: Last Light, is shaping up to be just as dark. Set in the same post-apocalyptic world, the sequel will provide survival horror fans with another trip to a rotten, broken-down Russia.

    THQ and 4A Games today released a trailer for Last Light that’s heavy on flashlights, monsters, and religious symbolism. The trailer is narrated by a voice that reads a pretty faithful version of the opening passages of the Christian Bible. As the narrator describes God creating the Earth and giving dominion over it to man, contrasting images of a broken humanity are shown. The interpretation of the seventh day is a bit off though. Instead of resting, God is said to have abandoned mankind to its fate. It’s a bleak look at what is sure to be an intense title.

    To lighten the mood a bit, THQ is offering gamers a free copy of the original Metro 2033 for liking the Metro Facebook page. It’s a blatant ploy to get the new trailer all over Facebook, but hey – it’s also a free copy of a decent shooter.

    The release of Last Light was recently delayed to March, along with THQ’s South Park: The Stick of Truth.

  • New Far Cry 3 Trailer Previews Co-op Campaign

    It’s another day, and another Far Cry 3 trailer has been released. The release of the game in Europe and Australia is only two days away, and Ubisoft is determined to have released a trailer covering every aspect of the sandbox shooter. Yesterday’s trailer delved into the map editor that players will be able to use to create their own islands and challenges to share with the Far Cry 3 community.

    Today’s trailer provides a glimpse at Far Cry 3’s co-op campaign, which is wholly separate from the single player campaign. Up to four players will be able to take on the role of separate characters, including the foul-mouthed Scottish thug Callum, who narrates the trailer. Players on any platform can play co-op online, but those who play the game on the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 will get the now-rare opportunity to enjoy the campaign with a split-screen mode.

  • Far Cry 3 Map Editor Trailer Urges Players to “Create Their Own Insanity”

    If the active Steam community surrounding Skyrim is any indication, fans of sandbox games will play them forever if given access to good modding tools. And, since one of the blurbs Ubisoft is using to advertise Far Cry 3 is “Skyrim with guns,” the developers have wisely included a map editor in all versions (yes, consoles too) of the game.

    Players will be able to use the Far Cry 3 map editor to create their own island using buildings, trees, caves, waterfalls, and weather. Created islands can also be populated with vehicles, enemies, and wildlife to make things challenging for a unique single player experience. After creating their island, players can then upload created maps to be voted on by the Far Cry 3 community. If a map becomes popular enough, it will be featured alongside official Ubisoft content for the game.

  • Second Far Cry 3 Developer Walkthrough Released

    Far Cry 3‘s European and Australian release date is only days away, and Ubisoft is still pumping out trailers on all of the details included in the game.

    The first developer walkthrough showed off the different dynamic systems present in Far Cry 3 and how they will interact to either help or hurt players. Today’s new developer walkthrough video highlights the different tactics players can use to get the job of killing pirates done. Far Cry 3 producer Dan Hay narrates short clips from the game that show off stealth, ambush, and full-frontal attack strategies.

    Of particular interest are the tattoos that players can get to upgrade their powers in certain areas. The tattoos were also mentioned in the weapons trailer released last week. In short, the heron tattoo upgrades long-range and rapid-fire weapons, the spider tattoo upgrades ambush and stealth, and the shark tattoo improves overall energy, speed, and power.

    Though it’s always nice to see more game footage (that pull the grenade pin trick looks nifty), all of the relevant non-spoilery details about Far Cry 3 are now known. Several in-depth early reviews of the game have given it high marks for its open-ended sandbox gameplay.

  • New Far Cry 3 Weapons Trailer Released

    New Far Cry 3 Weapons Trailer Released

    Ubisoft today released yet another trailer for the upcoming Far Cry 3. While yesterday’s trailer focused on the unique multiplayer modes in the game, today’s trailer focuses on the real star of almost all first person shooters – the weapons.

    Far Cry 3 will feature all of the standard guns expected in a shooter, including pistols, assault rifles, machine guns, and sniper rifles. In addition, the game features a bow, which has become the weapon de jour in gaming (think Assassin’s Creed III, Tomb Raider , and the Crysis series). Of course, with Far Cry 3’s focus on fire and explosions, players will also have access to rocket launchers, flamethrowers, and explosive tips for their arrows.

    The trailer also reveals that different character upgrades during the game will provide specializations for different weaponry and tactics. The upgrades are represented by different character tatoots – heron, spider, and shark. The heron tattoo focuses on long-range and rapid-fire weapons; the spider tattoo upgrades ambush, stealth, and silent kills, and the shark tattoo improves overall energy, speed, and power.

  • Far Cry 3 Developer Gameplay Walkthrough Released

    Ubisoft loves putting out trailers, and today’s Far Cry 3 trailer covers some of the basics about the game. It highlights some of the ways that Far Cry 3 will give players an open-world feeling not usually seen in first person shooters.

    Far Cry 3 Producer Dan Hay narrates the video, providing context for the rather random assortment of video clips from the game. He claims that the new Far Cry is “pushing the boundaries of the genre,” and that the game is imbued with “a spirit of exploration and adventure.” Dynamic is the buzzword here, and it does seem as if Ubisoft has created a world players will be exploring and modding for years to come.

    Then he talks about fire. If there’s anything players have learned watching the previous dozen sneak peak Far Cry 3 trailers, it’s that explosions and fire will be a large part of the game. Players will be blowing up stashes, vehicles, and gas tanks while also setting fires to smoke out pirates from their stronghold or eliminate large sections of foliage.

  • Dark Far Cry 3 Story Trailer Released

    Dark Far Cry 3 Story Trailer Released

    It became clear at E3 that violence and videogames are still bound together pretty tightly and that dark re-imaginings of relatively innocent games (such as Tomb Raider) is going to become a trend the way it has for some movie franchises.

    Far Cry 3 looks as if it might be the most violent of them all, but it also doesn’t seem gratuitous in the way other games do. For the latest Far Cry game, the violence serves the (admittedly, unrealistic) story about a regular man forced to take action to save his friends from the worst people imaginable – pirates, slavers, warlords, and other psychos.

    Today Ubisoft released the latest in a long line of Far Cry 3 trailers. This one focuses on the story aspect of the game and what the player’s motivation will be to cause destruction on a massive scale. Also, there are explosions. No Far Cry 3 trailer would be complete without at least two explosions.

  • Battlefield 1942 Now Free on Origin

    In celebration of the game’s tenth anniversary, EA and DICE have made Battlefield 1942 available for free via Origin. The game is available for download now in the demos section of Origin.

    “When we launched Battlefield 1942 ten years ago, we had lofty ambitions to create a first-person shooter that would push the boundaries of innovation, creativity and design,” said Karl Magnus Troedsson, General Manager of DICE. “We evolved the FPS gameplay formula by introducing the world to all-out warfare via land, air and sea. Since the beginning, the reception to the Battlefield series has been incredible thanks to our amazing fans. Every day, we strive to provide our community with great games and new ways to play as evident with Battlefield 3 Premium. We wanted to thank our fans who have supported us throughout the years by restoring Battlefield 1942 for a digital re-release and give everyone a chance to play the game that started it all.”

    EA doesn’t have a new military shooter out this year to compete with Activision’s Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. There was Medal of Honor Warfighter, but that game received poor reviews that weren’t even related to the massive day-one patch gamers had to download to make the game playable.

    So, instead of marketing Warfighter, EA is pushing subscriptions to its Battlefield 3 Premium service, which gives players access to new maps, weapons, vehicles, and game modes. The publisher announced as part of its second quarter financial results that it has already gotten 2 million Battlefield players to fork over $50 for the service.