Thứ Năm, 31 tháng 12, 2015

Fallout 4's Nuka Cola Quantum Returns to Target Next Week

By Nicole Carpenter

Homeworld Gets a New, Ground-Based RTS Prequel

Acclaimed RTS series Homeworld is getting a new game, but it's coming in the form of a prequel--and one that takes place on land, rather than in space.

Gearbox and Blackbird announced Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak this week, and surprisingly it's coming to PC quite soon--on January 20. It tells the story of Rachel S'jet, the protagonist of Homeworld 1 and 2, and the investigation of an anomaly discovered in the titular desert.

Most notably, Deserts of Kharak is a more traditional RTS in that it takes place on (or near) the ground. You'll use both land and air vehicles during your fight across the desert, with unit positioning playing an important role as you can ambush enemies.

In addition to a campaign, Deserts of Kharak offers online multiplayer, though there weren't many details shared about what it'll offer beyond ranked play.

This marks the first original entry in the Homeworld series since Homeworld 2 in 2003. Earlier this year, Gearbox released a remastered version of the first two games known as the Homeworld Remastered Collection. Preordering Deserts of Kharak on Steam (where it costs $50) entitles you to a free copy of the collection. Alternatively, if you already own it on Steam, you'll be able to pick up Deserts of Kharak for a discounted price of $40.

Gearbox acquired the Homeworld franchise from THQ in 2013. Deserts of Kharak actually started life as a non-Homeworld game several years ago. At the time, it was planned to be a free-to-play game called Hardware: Shipbreakers before Gearbox and Blackbird decided to partner up on the project later in 2013.

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NFL Player Surprises Family With Free PS4 and Games

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Wallace Gillberry is giving back.

Image credit: Instagram user mackiodaddyLocal news site Fox 19 reports that the professional football player recently gifted a family of seven a new PlayStation 4 (the Star Wars Battlefront bundle specifically), a handful of games, and an extra controller. Here's how the scene played out on Monday night in a northern Kentucky Target:

"With their five children in tow, Angelica Yeager and her husband were walking the store aisles when they encountered Wallace Gilberry, a defensive end for the Bengals. Gilberry stopped Yeager's husband and said, 'I want to bless you and your family tonight,'" Fox 19 reports (via BleacherReport). "He then bought the family a PlayStation 4 and a handful of games."

A passerby in the store snapped a photo of the exchange and posted it on Instagram.

"Just watched Wallace Gilberry of the Cincinnati Bengals buy a young family with a bunch of boys a PS4 and bunch of games at target tonight," the Instagram user said. "The kids and dad were going crazy and the mom was in tears. I was big fan of him before but I'm a even bigger fan now. What a stand up dude."

Yeager added: "We're definitely ordering his jersey now. He's got life-long fans."

This apparently wasn't Gilberry's first random act of kindness. This Reddit page (via Cincinnati.com) is flooded with examples of the NFL player giving back, including one instance where he bought everyone in a sushi restaurant a shot of sake.

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Sandwich-Sized Chocolate Slices Now Available in Japan

Rock Band 3 Export for Rock Band 4 Available Now

By Luke Reilly

Best Comic Book Covers This Week

Every Wednesday is new comic book day and hundreds of comic books hit local comic shops and the digital market. While many readers pick books based on the creative teams involved or the stories and characters contained within, each comic is trying its best to grasp the consumer's attention with its cover.

Each week, we will be highlighting some of the best comic book cover art from the past week's releases and discussing the artists involved. Here's what caught our eye so far:

Vertigo Comics has been delivering some great new series with the revamp of its brand, and the covers have been just as appealing. Red Thorn #2 by Choong Yoon caught our eye for its use of realism, storytelling, and lighting. The cover depicts Isla being crowned by Thorn.

Max Bemis and Tommy Lee Edwards' new series takes a look at the teenage years of Clark Kent. For the cover of Superman: American Alien #2, artist Ryan Sook did the black-and-white rendition of Clark, who has apparently been arrested. The shading here is fantastic and Sook does a fine job with the character's facial expression.

Kamala Khan punches her way into this week's best covers. Ms. Marvel #2 makes the list this week featuring art from Cliff Chiang and Ian Herring. The cover does a fine job of giving people an idea of the tone and the story contained inside. At its heart, it's a book about a young girl trying to be a superhero while also dealing with the same things as any normal teenager.

The cover for Uncanny Inhumans #3 does a fine job at telling the story within the book. Human Torch and Black Bolt (featured on the cover) are in a no-holds-barred fight. This cover was created by Steve McNiven, Jay Leisten, and Justin Ponsor. Ponsor delivers fantastic color work on the fire and the glowing emblem on Black Bolt's head.

Coming out from Valiant this week was Wrath of the Eternal Warrior #2 by Adam Pollina. This is a 1:20 retailer incentive cover, so it's a bit harder to find, but what really stands out is the background. While Gilad looks great, the background lighting and colorwork flesh this out as a whole scene. There are also some great smaller details in Gilad's armor as well.

The variant cover for Illuminati #2 caught our eye this week. Julian Totino Tedesco was the artist here and he does a nice job of balancing the characters with the negative space. He's great at showing movement in this villainous team by blurring some of the elements on these characters.

The next cover on this week's list is probably one of the coolest. Squadron Supreme #1 has a hip-hop variant this month based on the cover art of Wu-Tang Clan's "Enter the Wu-Tang." This cover was created by artist Mike Del Mundo and features the members of this new team with Nighthawk front-and-center.

This week, IDW put out a new Judge Dredd series that thrusts Dredd into a future where Mega-City One is back in the Stone Age. The variant cover above is part of Archie Cover Month and features the artwork of Francesco Francavilla. His signature style has gives this cover a darker and sinister feel, as Archie Andrews flies past Dredd on a hoverboard.

Finally, Harley Quinn #23 is the last cover on this week's list. Artist Amanda Conner and colorist Alex Sinclair created this 1:25 variant cover. Sinclair's colors make Harley pop off the page and help add a lot of texture to the overall piece. Per usual, Conner does a sensational job at giving Harley a tough look while adding a dash of humor to the cover.

That's it for this week. If there's a cover you loved that you think we missed, let us know.

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Thứ Tư, 30 tháng 12, 2015

Get This Gorgeous Star Wars 7 Poster for Free, Just Pay Shipping

Disney's movie rewards site has a nice promotion going on where it's giving away a slick Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens poster for free, provided you're willing to pay shipping and do one easy thing.

The promotion, which is available through the end of January, hands out the poster above in return for connecting your Disney movie rewards and Fandango accounts. Both are free to create if you don't already have them, and by doing so, you'll just have to foot the $3.50 shipping bill to get the 11-inch by 17-inch poster.

It features Daisy Ridley's Rey, as well as BB-8 and the Millennium Falcon. There are also two other, similarly stylish posters--one featuring John Boyega's Finn (and Captain Phasma) and the other Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron (and a stormtrooper). For $19.77, you can get all three posters and avoid paying the $3.50 for the Rey one.

Star Wars Episode VII officially opened in theaters in the US last night, quickly breaking records. Likewise, it's also broken records in international markets, and seems likely to do the same with even more worldwide this weekend.

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Worldwide Opening of The Hateful Eight Moved Up a Week

Street Fighter's Akuma Invades Tekken 7 Roster

Akuma is here to 'repay a debt'. By Michael Martin

The Best Reviews of 2015

2015 sure was awesome! Almost every month had one game that stuck with us through to the end of the year, and it was difficult to find enough time to keep up with the stream of hits. We recently finished counting down through our top 25 games of the year, which we determined via voting, debating, strangling.wait, not that last one. Let’s just say it was difficult to pare down the list of games to 25 candidates, let alone determine where to place them. It’s a good problem to have; when there are so many good games to consider, and so many people in one group moved by an array of games, you know it’s been a great year.

For further evidence, you need only glance at the number of high scores in our reviews section. Over 20 games earned at least a 9 in 2015, with three games taking home the coveted 10. When you consider that GameSpot has only awarded a total of eleven games a “perfect” score since our doors opened in 1996, there’s no denying that we lucked out.

Reflecting on scores and awards is valuable, but it doesn’t answer one very important question: what were the most popular games of 2015? It’s tough to say, but in an effort to answer the question, we’ve compiled a list of the ten most-read reviews on GameSpot from the past year. In reverse order, these are GameSpot’s best reviews, based on the number of unique readers, of 2015.

10. Call of Duty: Black Ops 3"In its undead modes, and the first 10 hours of multiplayer, it excels. But in its campaign, it merely crawls forward. Black Ops III doesn't offer anything remarkable to the series, but does just enough to maintain the Call of Duty status quo. The franchise, however slowly, continues its inexorable march." Score: 7/10

9. Battlefield Hardline"It wasn't that long ago that the ability to eject from a fighter plane and seamlessly continue the battle on foot was one of the most awe-inspiring things you can do in an online shooter. That's why many gravitated to the series in the first place, and Battlefield Hardline isn't short of similar transitional vehicular moments. You can spawn in a chopper, do your part as a gunner to take out valued targets on that ground, and then jump out with a parachute so you can capture a marked car. This isn't Iwo Jima or an Arabian oil field--but it's still pure Battlefield." Score: 7/10

8. Dying Light"I am rooting for Dying Light's success, even as I shake my head at its avoidable foibles. I understand it, I get it, and so I find pleasure in it even as it disappoints me, even when I land between a fence and a rocky cliff and get stuck there, even when I don't grab a ledge or pole after a jump for reasons that I can't quite understand. My dearest Dying Light, I am so grateful for your specialness, for it shines through even when I am prepared to damn you to hell." Score: 7/10

7. Assassin's Creed Syndicate"The game is a triumphant return to form for the franchise, and presents a beautifully structured tale with heart and soul to spare. Ziplining through London is thrilling, and the game allows you to organically discover missions and leaves you open-ended solutions lets you to create a meaningful, personal experience within its world. Coupled with strong, loveable leads and a seemingly endless procession of ways to leave your (fictional) mark on London's history, Assassin's Creed Syndicate is a shining example of gameplay and storytelling." Score: 9/10

6. Batman: Arkham Knight"What Batman: Arkham Knight does well, however, it does really well. Gotham is a dazzling playground where neon lights pierce through the rain and mist; all it takes is a single glimpse to tell you that this is a city in need. Moreover, many individual elements are so carefully constructed, and presented with such flair, that appreciation is the only reasonable reaction. Yet most of these elements--excellent acting, wonderful animations, moody soundtrack--are ones that Batman: Arkham City also excelled in, making Arkham Knight's missteps all the more noticeable. Rather than escape the pull of the games that spawned it, The Bat's newest adventure refines the fundamentals; it is a safe but satisfying return to the world's most tormented megalopolis." Score: 7/10

5. Bloodborne"The finest treasures are found within the city of Yharnam and the forests, lakes, and purgatories beyond it. Only Bloodborne would be so bold as to bury an entire factional player-versus-player mechanic within an optional region, which is in turn buried within a series of oblique steps you might miss if you aren't exploring every nook and cranny, or ignore the game's enigmatic hints. I finished Bloodborne in less time than I did Dark Souls II, yet I treasure it more in spite of its few missteps. In death there is life, and in blood, there is redemption. More hyperbole, yes, but for a game this theatrical, only hyperbole will do." Score: 9/10

4. Star Wars Battlefront"I can't help but smile when the Boba Fett guns down three fighters in a row from his Slave I ship, or a snowspeeder careens past with flames trailing in its wake. The first 10 hours are packed with these moments, and it's worth playing just to watch them unfold. But Battlefront doesn't go much deeper than its ambitious surface appeal. It front loads its best content, only to fade in quality as the hours roll by. Star Wars Battlefront's skin is beautiful, but its legs are shaking, and threaten to buckle with time." Score: 7/10

3. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain"There has never been a game in the series with such depth to its gameplay, or so much volume in content. The best elements from the past games are here, and the new open-world gameplay adds more to love on top. When it comes to storytelling, there has never been a Metal Gear game that's so consistent in tone, daring in subject matter, and so captivating in presentation. The Phantom Pain may be a contender for one of the best action games ever made, but is undoubtedly the best Metal Gear game there is." Score: 10/10

2. Fallout 4"Fallout 4 can be an intoxicating experience. You're often forced to sacrifice something--a relationship, a lucrative opportunity, or your health--to make gains elsewhere. And the deeper down the rabbit hole you go, the more you wonder: what if I chose a different path? You second guess yourself, not just because you had other options, but because you aren't sure if you did the right thing. The fact that your decisions stick with you after walking away from the game is a testament to the great storytelling on hand. Fallout 4 is an argument for substance over style, and an excellent addition to the revered open-world series." Score: 9/10

1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt"And make no mistake: this is one of the best role-playing games ever crafted, a titan among giants and the standard-setter for all such games going forward. Where the Witcher 2 sputtered to a halt, The Witcher 3 is always in a crescendo, crafting battle scenarios that constantly one-up the last, until you reach the explosive finale and recover in the glow of the game's quiet denouement. But while the grand clashes are captivating, it is the moments between conflicts, when you drink with the local clans and bask in a trobairitz's song, that are truly inspiring." Score: 10/10

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League of Legends Team CIS Win International Wild Card All-Stars

Over the weekend the League of Legends International Wild Card All-Stars took place in Melbourne, Australia. The competition featured pro esports teams from Turkey, Russia, Japan, Brazil, South East Asia, Latin America, and Oceania vying for a spot at the 2015 All-Star Event in Los Angeles.

The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) team came out on top with more points to secure victory, and earned themselves a spot at the upcoming All-Star Event. The victory was made possible by Mykhailo "Kira" Harmash, who won the 1v1 grand final and gained 100 points for his region as a result. The CIS team led the score by 10 points in first place, edging out over Turkey.

The Turkish team had won the 5v5 grand final in a convincing 3-1 lead, but none of their players had placed in the top 8 of the 1v1 tournament, thus only earning them 90 points overall.

The All-Star Event will take place at the North American League of Legends World Championship studio in Los Angeles from December 10-13. The event is separate to Worlds, with fans voting in five of their favourite players to represent each regional team.

For more on what's happening in the League of Legends scene, check out more of GameSpot's coverage on G | League.


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James Cameron Hopes Avatar Wasn't a 'Fluke'

By Alex Osborn