SimCity Social
During E3, I saw mention of a new, reinvented Sim City.. with city specialisation, intelligent Sims who will react to the city you’ve planned and built, and the option to work with friends and interact with their cities or create large projects together. It’s due in 2013.. but I already know I want this game!
In the meantime, EA have released SimCity Social on Facebook.
SimCity Social places you in charge of your own city, which evolves as you interact with it.. placing buildings and roads and interacting with them either as a good or bad Mayor. If friends are playing, you can visit their cities and interact with them too, building up a friendly relationship or rivalry.
Majesty 2 – The Royal Feat
I picked up fantasy kingdom sim Majesty 2 a while back, and though I found the tutorial and first few missions fairly easy, I ran into a bit of a brick wall at The Royal Feat. In order to prove my worth to the people of Ardania, I must perform a Royal Feat: that is, kill Rafnir, the oldest and most cunning of dragons! As Rafnir is nearly invulnerable, thanks to various magic, I also have to seek out a witch and do her bidding so that she will remove this protection.
My Sean Connery sound-alike advisor said that Rafnir would attack if he sees my flag.. but I found him marauding through my kingdom on day 2, before any of my buildings were even completed and certainly before I’d set any flags!
On this first visit, Rafnir informed me that he didn’t come here to eat my underfed heroes. Well, as I didn’t have any buildings yet, I didn’t even have any heroes! Before he flew away again, he blasted away the progress I had made on my Ranger’s Guild..
Pyromania!
Part 3 of Valve’s Team Fortress 2 Pyromania update is finally here: Meet the Pyro!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUhOnX8qt3I] (more…)
Dawnguard out on 360
Dawnguard, the first add-on for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, is now out for the Xbox 360 in the UK, priced at 1600 MSP. French, Italian, German and Spanish players will have to wait for localised versions in mid-July.. and there’s no word yet on a release date for PC and PS3 versions of the game.
The new content will be accessible to all players, though only those above level 10 will hear rumours via city guards, or receive a note about the Dawnguard via courier.
Dawnguard allows players to side with the vampires and become a Vampire Lord, or oppose the vampires as a Vampire Hunter. Vampire Lords get their own upgradeable perk system, and gain the ability to hover, transform into a bat, and levitate their enemies, while Vampire Hunters get crossbows and summonable minions to assist them.
Skyrim’s Vampires and Werewolves
For the second time in Skyrim, I caught Sanguinare Vampiris.. the disease that leads to Vampirism. In Oblivion, the disease was called Porphyric Hemophilia; either disease can be cured by the Cure Disease spell, a potion, or by visiting an altar, and both lead to full-blown Vampirism if left uncured for three days.
I caught the disease early on in my game, but didn’t want the hassle of remembering to feed regularly, or the risk that NPCs might refuse to talk to me.. I wanted to explore the game without too many restrictions.
However, this time, I’d had many hours of exploration, and decided to risk a few annoyed NPCs. Three days later, I had Vampirism, an increased resistance to Frost, and weakness to fire and sunlight.. this last not being quite as I’d expected. I also had three new powers: Vampire’s Servant, Vampire’s Sight, and Vampiric Drain. I only really liked Vampire’s Sight due to my level.. neither raised minions nor a few points health drain could compare with my lovely enchanted swords 😉
World-First Diablo III HC Inferno Clear Confirmed
Blizzard have confirmed the world-first Diablo III Hardcore Inferno Clear, which was completed prior to the 1.0.3 patch. Canadian gamer Kripp was playing a Barbarian, and had help from a Wizard friend, Krippi.
He’s uploaded the video of their fight with Diablo, from the Barbarian’s perspective: and it’s a long fight!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaDA7GxAtXM] (more…)
E3 2012: Second Day’s Offerings
Picking through the news for what’s happened overnight at E3.. there’s been a lot more love for the Wii U, with plenty more games announced for the system.. more mention of the PS Vita, which apparently won’t be getting a price cut, and release dates for a trio of Mario titles for the 3DS.. all later this year.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlTV78t4_rI] (more…)
E3 2012
It’s E3 time again.. the first day starting off with conferences from Microsoft and Sony. I’ve been waiting for more info on a few games, but E3 is usually good for info on new games too..
Microsoft showed footage from 360-exclusive Halo 4 and Call of Duty: Black Ops II, due for release in November, Resident Evil 6, due in October, and Tomb Raider, Spring 2013.
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bc1GaGFEJrc] (more…)
Max Payne 3, Tomb Raider, and More Bundles
Rockstar Games’ Max Payne 3 is out today.. along with the Rockstar Pass, which provides access to all the planned DLC as it is released over the year: five map packs, and Deathmatch and Co-op modes have been confirmed this far. Max Payne 3 is on my wanted list, but I’m probably going to wait for a Game of the Year edition.
Tomb Raider‘s release date has also finally been announced: 5th March 2013, worldwide! There’s also a new trailer out, with some gameplay showing poor Lara being put through her paces!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkBZ6kKeoTI]
Also out at the moment: three more indie bundles! These are the Indie Royale’s Graduation Bundle, the Bundle in a Box, and the fifth Humble Indie Bundle! (more…)
Skyrim DLC: Dawnguard
The first DLC for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Dawnguard, has been revealed with a rather nice trailer..
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PjBSicSVqI]
Additions to the game include new areas and characters, and vampires, crossbows, and mounted combat at last! Players will have the choice of fighting the vampires and undead, or joining them!
Dawnguard will cost 1600MSP when it launches on the 360 in summer.. and has a 30 day exclusivity period before being released to PC and PS3 gamers. More information should follow next week, at E3!