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Off-Screen Rainbow Six Siege E3 2014 Gameplay Round-Up

  by   David Veselka  
June 16, 2014 11:51 am in News

Much to the completely unexpected but overwhelmingly pleasant surprise of Rainbow Six fans across the globe, Ubisoft took the stage during the company’s E3 2014 presentation to announce a brand new entry in the classic tactical shooter series called Rainbow Six Siege.

During the conference, we were treated to a 5 vs. 5 multiplayer gameplay demonstration of a classic terrorist set up where Rainbows were tasked with breaching and clearing a fortified house as terrorists attempted to make off with a hostage. The full match presentation sent a clear message that Ubisoft is bringing Rainbow Six to next-gen with a strong multiplayer focus while staying true to the series’ roots.

With things a tad calmer following the busy events of E3 2014, we thought we’d gather a few more gameplay demonstrations of the upcoming shooter captured from the show floor. They’re all off-screen, but they give you a different and perhaps more informative angle on the demo we saw earlier.

You can watch one of the demos above, courtesy of YouTuber Chris Reay, via Reddit, as well as a couple of additional rounds thanks to GameTrailers below. Hit play and tell us what you think afterwards.

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Tags: E3 2014 PC PS4 Rainbow Six Siege Xbox One

David Veselka

Musician, Gamer, Geek. Subscriber

Home > News

Destiny Alpha Extended To Allow “Dangerous Experiments,” Teases Bungie

  by   David Veselka  
10:12 am in News

Quick! While you still can. It appears that Destiny developer Bungie is extending the game’s Alpha on the PlayStation 4 for “rigorous Science” and to “allow dangerous experiments,” the studio announced playfully earlier today.

The Alpha was originally scheduled to end today, but according to series of tweets from the developer, it looks like users will get the chance to continue their exploration of Destiny’s post-apocalyptic Earth at their own caution while the studio runs a few experiments.

According to tweets, the tests appear to be in preparation for the Destiny Alpha which is scheduled to launch first on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 this July 17 and a few days later on the Xbox One and Xbox 360.

So, get in while you still can, if you’re willing to experience a few oddities here and there.

How’ve you enjoyed the Alpha so far? What are your initial thoughts on Destiny?

Tags: Alpha Destiny PS3 PS4

David Veselka

Musician, Gamer, Geek. Subscriber

Home > News

Advanced Warfare Exo’s and Gadgets “Won’t Be OP” in Multiplayer, Dev Team Includes Current and Former Pros

  by   David Veselka  
June 15, 2014 12:51 pm in News

According to information Call of Duty YouTube personality Drift0r was handed through a phone call with Sledgehammer Games co-founder Michael Condrey, Exo’s will definitely play a part in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare multiplayer and will have an effect on player movement.

“We spent a ton of time designing them and building our game around them,” said Condrey, one of a number of quotes that Drift0r was able to paraphrase. “Not yet ready to say exactly how they will be in multiplayer though but we didn’t spend all that design time just for the campaign.”

“We wanted to make [movement] feel familiar to other CoD games but also added a few changes. We wanted to make a really fast paced CoD game.”

Condrey wasn’t able to dive into any details on gadgets, but he did want to “make it clear that they won’t be OP.” Many of you might have noticed the modular grenades that could alternate types and other devices like the ballistic shield from the Advanced Warfare gameplay reveal and wondered what sort of effect they might have on multiplayer. But it looks like we won’t have to worry too much to about it.

“Multiplayer is a core part of our game. It is getting a lot of attention and development time,” Condrey assured Drift0r. “We are not ready to reveal what gadgets will be in multiplayer.”

Interestingly, Condrey then explained that “Most of MP dev team are former or current CoD players, some eSports guys. They played through the last few cycles.”

“That’s why we are working hard right now to make sure everything is balanced before launch,” he added.

Commenting on the out-of-the-blue phone call, Condrey once again assured Drift0r that the they “take community and eSports feedback very seriously. The game is made for you to enjoy.”

Be sure to watch Drift0r’s video above for more details.

Tags: Advanced Warfare Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare PC PS3 PS4 Xbox 360 Xbox One

David Veselka

Musician, Gamer, Geek. Subscriber

Home > News

Report – Hidden Battlefield Hardline Weapons, Gadgets, Maps, and Modes Spotted

  by   David Veselka  
12:29 pm in News

It’s clear that the Battlefield Hardline multiplayer beta is a tad short on weapons, as it’s only meant to provide a small taste of the full experience launching later this Fall on October 21.

But, apparently, that hasn’t stopped YouTuber Hattiwatti from digging up a few more details in the game’s files, revealing a handful of new weapons that aren’t normally accessible in the beta. You can check out what was found in the video above or refer to the list below:

  • M93R – Hand Gun
  • M1911 – Hand Gun
  • RS357 – Magnum
  • MAC-10 – Personal Defense Weapon
  • M240B – Light Machine-Gun
  • SR-25 ECC – Designated Marksmen Rifle
  • L96A1 – Bolt-Action Rifle
  • SMAW – Launcher
  • M18 – Smoke Grenade

Thanks, Mack!

In addition, Reddit user SkacikPC was able to peek into some of the game’s audio files that have allegedly revealed a couple of new game modes, map names, and gadgets. Here are some of the findings:

  • “Desert 05 – Hostage rescue (no offical map name so far) – Hostage rescue against gang running a methamphetamine lab. Full transcript available here“
  • “Turf war on High Tension – most likely domination cameo as in recent interviews, Visceral employee said that as of now Conquest is not included in Hardline. Transcript of only audio file is available in above link.”
  • “Hostage sound files (mainly variations of words ‘hey/over here/help me/’ with one exception of ‘Hey man cut me loose’)”
  • “Molotovs/incendiary – Sound files indicate the existence of incendiary bombs, whilst ingame weapon name states Molotov. Most likely will stay as incendiary as currently it uses BF4 incendiary grenade particle effects.”
  • “Map called ‘growhouse’ will have a levolution event with blowing up Van”
  • “There is a singleplayer level nicknamed ‘Chop Shop’, which most likely is a warehouse raided by a player (it will end up in flames).”
  • “Sound files containing impact sounds of empty .45 shell on various surfaces (nicknamed Distraction bullet). May indicate that SP has stealth mechanics.”
  • “If you’re interested, here’s a small package with mentioned audio files”

SkacikPC’s Reddit post also led to another Tweet, again by Hattiwatti, who claims to know some of the map and mode names in Battlefield Hardline. Naturally, we’d take it with a grain of salt, but here’s the alleged list so far.

Looks like some folks just can’t wait to learn as much as possible about Visceral’s next project and as early as possible. But, hey, that’s a good thing. That means the excitement is out there.

If you can hang tight just a little while longer, you’ll be able to get a better feel for the game once the open beta launches this Fall.

Tags: Battlefield Hardline Beta Hidden Weapons PC PS3 PS4 Xbox 360 Xbox One

David Veselka

Musician, Gamer, Geek. Subscriber

Home > Features

Hands-On Titanfall’s New Update With Respawn Art Lead Joel Emslie

  by   David Veselka  
June 14, 2014 5:55 pm in Features

First on my short but busy E3 2014 schedule was an outing with Titanfall‘s latest game update that developer Respawn Entertainment hopes to launch later this month on the Xbox One and PC, and eventually the Xbox 360 as well.

Unlike traditional game updates that look more deeply into bug fixes and polish, Titanfall’s upcoming content-rich patch borders what could be considered paid DLC, except that it’s absolutely free. With new modes, new Burn Cards, new customization options, matchmaking improvements, and a refresher on the game’s entire user interface, Respawn has got a lot in store for fans this month.

I sat down with Titanfall Art Lead Joel Emslie to talk about the upgrades and new content the studio is bringing to their sci-fi shooter this month, as well as what’s next for Titanfall.

“We’re showing off Marked for Death [at E3], and basically, it’s 6v6. Right when the round starts, a team member on your team is marked for death for the enemy team, and someone else is marked on their team. It becomes a hunter – hunted kind of scenario where you’re trying to protect your mark but kill the other team’s mark,” Emslie explained in our preview of the new game mode, one of two being introduced to Titanfall later this month.

“Once you eliminate the mark on the other team, or whoever gets eliminated, it switches marks,” he continued. “So I like it because, for me, I like a lot of pilot kills and it’s really heavy [on] pilot killing and you tend to run through the map really ferociously. You really take advantage of wall-running.” In fact, constantly moving was a tactic I adopted during my hands-on time with the new mode, as I attempted to avoid my hunters after being marked for death. It worked out to my satisfaction, but it’s not the only strategy.

“Big time, I found that because of the way it’s made, because of the game type, you tend to use Titans more,” Emslie explained. “Cause if you’re marked, you want to get into that shell so you can last longer and give your team enough opportunities to get the other mark. It gets pretty tactical.”

While it wasn’t present at E3 this year, Emslie also made mention of another game mode coming along with this month’s update, a smaller more intimate version of Last Titan Standing called Wingman. “We’re not showing it here at E3 but I think in the next update you get Wingman Last Titan Standing where it’s 2v2, so it’s a little bit of a tighter game that way,” he said.

I asked if the studio had any plans to ever add on missions or levels to Titanfall’s campaign as a way to bring players back to it. “I think we’re looking at ways to improve it, make it better so that that isn’t a problem,” Emslie answered. “I mean, they’re always trying to update it and make it so that it’s encouraged, but right now we’re just focused on those other game types. So, we’re thinking about it, they’re looking at it, but I just don’t know what the result is.”

Heavy Titan users will also have a lot of exciting new content to look forward to this month that’s specifically tailored to further improve Titan customization. An entirely new set of Burn Cards specific to Titans is being introduced, along with new customization options that let you further tweak your Titan’s look.

One of Emslie’s favorite new Burn Cards was the Amped Vortex Shield: “The Amped Vortex Shield turns into just a big reflector, so you pop it out and it just literally knocks rounds right back at enemies.” In addition, you’ll find a number of other Amped Titan weapons, abilities, and ordinance within the brand new deck of cards.

When it comes to tweaking the look and appearance of your machine (because we know you want to), Emslie told me that the studio has “added decals that you can unlock with challenges.”

“Then we have these insignias that you can [also] unlock with challenges. For the Gooser challenge, we added this special icon you can get if you were one of the people that hit the 50 Gooser challenge early on before we fixed it.

“You gen-up, you get a gen-tag to go with it,” he added. “And so these are positioned all over your Titan. They’ll be on the rodeo hatches. It’s just a little bit of customization that we’re throwing in there for the players. We’re doing what we can to support it after launch – just get as much as we can in there that makes sense to everybody.”

“We also added two more voices to the – we added two more onboard voices so you can customize your Titan’s voice inside the cockpit.” Emslie then introduced me to Lisa and Jeeves, two of the new personalities in addition to the default Betty voice.

Lastly, I was walked through an entirely new front end which spiffied up a number of the game’s menus and added a few nuances that many players are bound to appreciate.

“We were able to go in and kind of update the shell, so both sides have a different background, there’s a new loading screen,” explained Emslie, all “just to kind of breathe a little bit of extra life into it, kind of refresh it a little bit,” he said.

“There’s stuff based on the feedback where, well it’s not in here right now, but this whole new menu is kind of updated. So once you come out of a round, one thing that kind of – you didn’t see it ship was the last score board from your last match. So, now you can access that right now while you’re in the lobby waiting for the next round.

“One of the other really cool things that I love that – it’s just a detail that we needed to get in – we have a matchmaking auto-balancing that’s happening when you’re in a game. What’ll happen is you’ll both get into a like a neutral lobby and both teams will be set up and while it’s matchmaking, everybody goes grey. Then, once you’ve been cycled and auto-balanced, you’ll get your colors and go into a match together. So it s a nice way to actually color queue to see that the game is matchmaking you and auto-balancing you and kind of moving things around.”

All that and more is coming later this month, though Emslie wasn’t quite able to nail down a specific date for me just yet.

Before parting ways, I commented on the rich universe the team has built with Titanfall’s back story and how it seeps into every detail, including their latest DLC launch, Expedition.

“Yeah. We’re going to explore that later,” he told me. “We’re not making any announcements but we’re actively looking at what’s next for Titanfall. We’re working on it. We’re definitely supporting the main game right now, making sure that it’s solid as hell, because it’s like, whatever we do next, it’s based on how good can we possibly make this while we’re on it. Support it as much as possible, and that all feeds into making Titanfall something more than this.”

Whatever is “next for Titanfall” that Respawn is “actively” looking at, we sure can’t wait.

Keep your sights on MP1st for any future Titanfall announcements that the studio might have up their sleeve, and keep your eyes open for more details on the game’s upcoming June update.

Tags: Featured PC Titanfall Xbox 360 Xbox One

David Veselka

Musician, Gamer, Geek. Subscriber

Home > Features

Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Trailer Analysis – New Abilities, New Armor, and a New Vision?

  by   David Veselka  
12:48 pm in Features

Halo 5: Guardians‘ Xbox One beta trailer that debuted during Microsoft’s E3 2014 media briefing wasn’t particularly revealing, but there were a few things to pick up on if you were paying attention or looked deeper into what was being presented.

Clearly, the trailer wasn’t built on in-game assets, meaning we can’t quite take it as literally as we’d like, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Halo developer 343 Industries were trying to hide anything. In fact, the footage might have given us all we need to determine the studio’s vision for the future of Halo multiplayer.

Next Generation Arena Multiplayer

I believe the first caption presented in the trailer, “Next Generation Arena Multiplayer,” is of significant importance. I think it’s 343’s way of telling us that they are embracing the roots of Halo multiplayer.

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Halo has always been an “arena” shooter at heart, but I’ve never quite heard it marketed that way. It’s also hard to ignore some of the more modern first-person shooter mechanics that have snuck their way into some of the more recent Halo titles, like the ability to sprint, for example.

What I think 343 is trying to tell us here is that they understand you don’t want Halo to become Call of Duty or Battlefield. Halo has it’s own legacy, and one that it can be damn proud of. Look at the arena presented below. This tells me 343 has heard loud and clear that players enjoy the more symmetrical arena-based map designs, though it clearly depicts similarities to some of the smaller and more popular arena maps included in Halo 4’s Majestic Map Pack. It looks like 343 intends to highlight the traditional arena multiplayer experience with the aesthetics of Halo 4’s art design.

Also, with Halo 4, 343 did experiment with upping the pace of gameplay, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Halo 5: Guardian’s multiplayer also adopted a faster pace and perhaps even increased movement speed. But that’s just speculation.

Update:

343 design director Bradford Welch told TotalXbox that “Arena means what you’d expect,” meaning, “Competitive focus, level playing field, map control.”

The map presented in the trailer is noticeably small in size, but I don’t think 343 will be giving up larger maps layouts and vehicle gameplay any time soon. This is just the studio saying, ‘Hey. We know want you want and it will be a focus for Halo 5: Guardians multiplayer.’

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343 is also taking Halo multiplayer to the next level with a two times increase in frames per second, which should ultimately provide a much smoother experience and more responsive controls. Dedicated servers, likely on hosted by Microsoft’s global server database, should also prove best for the game’s online experience. Better connections also lead to more accurate weapon tuning.

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New Spartan Armor

Spartans are sporting a new look. You’ll likely be able to customize yours to your hearts content, but here’s what the default armor set-up might look like.

You’ll notice that each Spartan is numbered (displayed on their helmet) which suggests Halo 5: Guardian’s multiplayer will once again act as a training grounds or even a sporting event for the latest wave of Spartans in training. Like Halo 4, we’re certain 343 will ensure multiplayer somehow fits into the fiction.

Note that you can also make out the return of the Assault Rifle and Magnum in some of the images below.

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It might also be worth noting that the Spartan on the far right in this last image is carrying a Magnum in his left hand, though his right hand is empty. It doesn’t quite confirm the ability to dual wield weapons, but perhaps it’s suggesting it? Maybe players can choose left-handed weapon set ups?

New Spartan Abilities

Say hello to a few new Spartan abilities, says the trailer.

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We’re certain there’ll be more than what was displayed in the gameplay footage, but here are three completely new abilities that we were able to pick out. They could very well be Armor Abilities that you must select in your Spartan’s loadout, but we wouldn’t be too surprised if 343 made these maneuvers available to all players by default.

Update:

Welch noted “Spartan abilities are player mechanics not loadout AAs”. They are “things that every player can do inherently with their Spartan.” (Thanks, Qal!)

Note that you’ll also see the return of the Battle Rifle in some of the images below.

Thrust Tackle

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Slide to Cover

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Ground Slam

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Weapons

The only three weapons we could make out from the trailer were the Assault Rifle, Battle Rifle, and Magnum, but we’re certain 343 will be introducing more than enough new toys to play with, especially if we’re going to see new enemy types in the single player campaign.

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Again, not everything may appear as shown in Halo 5: Guardian’s first multiplayer trailer, but as with any CGI movie, developers tend to at least showcase some of the features and mechanics that they do indeed intend to feature in the final game.

We’ve still much to learn about Halo 5: Guardians, but we’re certain a lot will become clear when you get your hands on the multiplayer beta, to which access is included in every copy of the upcoming Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

The Master Chief collection drops this November 11, with the Halo 5: Guardians multiplayer beta taking place December 27 to January 17.

What else did you pick up from the trailer? Anything I missed? You can watch the entire presentation for yourself below.

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Tags: 343 Industries Halo 5: Guardians Xbox One

David Veselka

Musician, Gamer, Geek. Subscriber

Home > Features

Everything We Know So Far About Mortal Kombat X

  by   Joel Santana  
12:14 pm in Features

The next bone-breaking and the most brutal Mortal Kombat to date isn’t expected to arrive until sometime next year, but developer NetherRealm Studios and franchise co-creator Ed Boon has given out tons of information over these past few days.

So, ‘GET OVER HERE’ and read on up on all the latest details surrounding Mortal Xombat X. Here’s everything we know so far:

Story

According to Boon, the story of Mortal Kombat X takes place after the shocking events of Mortal Kombat 9 and will span up to twenty five years into the future. However, due to the time frame of the game, it’s very possible that some of your favorite characters may not make it into Mortal Kombat X. If they somehow manage to do so, they will look older, as stated by Boon.

Mortal Kombat X is will also feature a main antagonist much like its predecessors. Unfortunately, Boon didn’t exactly reveal who it was, aside from hinting that the bad guy will be a fun surprise and will indeed be a returning character.

Roster / Variants

One the topic of characters, currently, six of the twenty-four kombatants for Mortal Kombat X have been revealed, each with three different variations that specialize in different move sets:

Cassey Cage:

  • Hollywood – Adds Air Akimbo and Nut Krakker
  • Brawler – Adds Air Power Slam and Takedown
  • Spec-ops – Adds Air Assault and American Way

D’Vorah:

  • Brood Mother – Adds Krawler and Bug Blast
  • Swarm Queen – Adds Vortex Swarm and Wasp Grenade
  • Venomous – Adds Bug Burst and ovipositor -based attacks that poison the opponent

Ferra/Torr:

  • Lackey – An enhanced Torr fights solo as Ferra watches from the sidelines
  • Ruthless – Adds Pain and Gain ability which increases Torr’s damage output
  • Vicious – Adds Boss Toss, Little Kutter and increased Ferra damage

Kotal Kahn:

  • Sun God – Adds Sun God Choke and Sun Scrotch.
  • War God – Adds Macuahuitl-based moves.
  • Blood God – Adds Crystal, Obsidian and Blood Totems

Scorpion:

  • Hellfire – Adds Hell Ball, Demon Fire, and Flame Aura.
  • Inferno – Adds ability to summon demonic minions
  • Ninjutsu – Adds unique attacks utilizing dual swords

Sub-Zero:

  • Cryomancer – Adds ability to summon ice weapons
  • Unbreakable – Adds Frozen Aura and Barrier of Frost
  • Grand Master – Adds Ice Clone that can be thrown or used as a shield

In addition, each variant will also include some interesting visual identifiers – a small “attachment” to a character that gives them a different look. For example, when Scorpion is using the Inferno variant, he will have a skull on his hip. Picking his Ninjutsu variant will give him two swords on his back that he can incorporate into his move set. And, yes, each variant will drastically change the way that fighter plays as he/she has access to different moves and combos.

Aside from the six characters to be revealed, it is also possible that the souls of a thousand warriors, Ermac, will make the roster. Not only has the senior character artist over at NetherRealm Studios revealed concept art for the character, but the re-imaging of him also fits perfectly with the darker and more grittier tone that Mortal Kombat X is leaning towards in some of the new character designs.

Speaking of the roster, we also got to see the first glimpse of the character roster and the silhouettes of some of the fighters that might make the cut:

Turn up your brightness and click to enlarge.

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If the above silhouettes don’t look like any characters from your favorite Mortal Kombat game, don’t panic. Boon stated the silhouettes featured in the E3 build weren’t final, though they do contain some hints as to who will be in the game.

Ultimately, don’t expect to see minor characters from Mortal Kombat 9 or those who got into an altercation with Sindel to make it in to Mortal Kombat X. Interestingly, Mortal Kombat X is set to introduce the most amount of new characters in a single Mortal Kombat game. You can expect it to be more than Deadly Alliance’s 11 new character additions.

Online

Not much is known about what NetherRealm Studios has planned for the online component of Mortal Kombat X, but the following excerpt for the game gives us a small hint:

“With  a fully-connected gameplay experience as players are launched into a persistent online contest where every fight matters in a global battle for supremacy.”

It looks very interesting, but it’s way to early to tell what NetherRealm Studios has in store for us when it comes to online play.

Fatalities

Fatalities are pretty much the biggest determining factor that sets this fighting series apart from every other series in existence and with Mortal Kombat X, NetherRealm Studios is adding the most brutal fatalities yet.

Watch them out below:

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Features

Finally, here’s a long list of features you’ll find in Mortal Kombat X:

  • 1080p and 60 FPS on the PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One
  • Runs on a heavily modified Unreal Engine 3
  • Mortal Kart won’t be returning
  • In-game frame data much like Injustice: Gods Among Us
  • New Modes
  • Each fighter will have access to five “finishers”
  • A new ‘ality’ will be added to the game
  • Stage interactive items will be back, however they can be blocked
  • Run feature is back, It’s activated by dashing and pressing the block button
  • Stamina meter is also back, which you can see underneath your health bar
  • Back-dashing will use a bar of your stamina meter
  • Using interactive items drains your stamina meter to prevent you from spamming it
  • It takes two seconds for your stamina meter to replenish
  • Combos feel very Mortal Kombat 3-ish
  • More fluid animation
  • NetherRealm Studio will be handling the PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One version of the game
  • The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 version will be ported by another developer with the utmost care
  • A guest character may be possible
  • Kratos nor Freddy Krueger will be returning as guest characters
  • Set to introduce the highest amount of new characters in a single Mortal Kombat game
  • NetherRealm Studios is looking to improve the netcode to ensure a smoother online experience
  • Possible to meter burn throws, which gives you a positive frame advantage allowing you to attack your opponent aggain if you’re quick enough

If Boon and NetherRealm Studios follow the same marketing for Mortal Kombat X, then it’s very possible that we may get another look at the game during EVO 2014. As Boon stated, he will be attending this year’s tournament to watch some of the biggest names in the Mortal Kombat tournament scene who may or may not participate in a mini tournament to showcase Mortal Kombat X being played at a high level.

Mortal Kombat X is set to release sometime in the year 2015 for the PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.

Tags: Mortal Kombat X PC PS3 PS4 Xbox 360 Xbox One

Joel Santana

Gamer for the past 20 years who loves anything ranging from RPGs, Fighters and of course FPS games. Author

Home > News

Bloodborne Leaked Pre-E3 Gameplay Trailer

  by   James Lara  
June 13, 2014 8:20 pm in News

Originally supposed to air during last year’s Tokyo Gameshow, a leaked gameplay trailer for Bloodborne, containing all of the previous leaked gameplay clips, has finally surfaced .

The title bears a resemblance to the Souls series, which is also developed by From Software. Bloodborne currently has no release date, but it will be releasing exclusively for the PS4, as was revealed during Sony’s E3 2014 presentation.

We assume it won’t hit the Xbox One, since this appears to most likely be a deal between Sony and the development teams themselves, much like the Original Demon Souls.

Check out the new footage above and tell us what you think!

Tags: Bloodborne PS4 Trailer
Avatar photo

James Lara

A gamer at heart, James has been working for MP1st for the last decade to do exactly what he loves, writing about video games and having fun doing it. Growing up in the 90's gaming has been in his DNA since the days of NES. One day he hopes to develop his own game.

Home > News

Nintendo E3 2014 Highlights

  by   Joel Santana  
3:01 pm in News

This year’s digital Nintendo E3 presentation was chalk full of interesting announcements and reveals, especially for Super Smash Bros. fans.

The company revealed new Amiibo figures that interact with your game in different ways, as well as the ability to use your Mii avatar as a fighter in Super Smash Bros. Continuing the multiplayer goodness, Nintendo also lifted the curtain on Mario Party 10 and went into details on Splatoon and Hyrule Warriors.

Of course, it’s not quite a multiplayer-focused game, but we have to mention the new Zelda title that, frankly, looks amazing. You can check out some of the highlights from Nintendo’s digital E3 2014 presentation below, courtesy of GamersPrey:

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Overall, Nintendo had a pretty interesting presentation for E3. What part was your favorite? Let us know in the comment section below!

Tags: 3DS E3 2014 Hyrule Warriors Mario Party 10 Nintendo Splatoon Super Smash Bros. Wii U

Joel Santana

Gamer for the past 20 years who loves anything ranging from RPGs, Fighters and of course FPS games. Author

Home > News

Everything You Need to Know About Halo: The Master Chief Collection

  by   David Veselka  
1:54 pm in News

The ultimate Halo experience is arriving on Xbox One this November 11.

Announced during Microsoft’s E3 2014 press conference, here is everything you need to know about Halo: The Master Chief Collection.

All lists gathered from details provided by VentureBeat and TotalXbox.

What’s Included

  • Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition (Xbox)
  • Halo 2 Anniversary Edition (Xbox)
  • Halo 3 (Xbox 360)
  • Halo 4 (Xbox 360)
  • Halo: Nightfall (Digital Video Series)
  • Halo 5: Guardians (Early Multiplayer Beta Access on Xbox One, runs December 27 – January 17)
  • All DLC for all games, including Halo: CE PC maps
  • Over 100 multiplayer maps

What’s Not Included

  • Halo 3: ODST
  • Halo Reach
  • Any Halo game that does not star Master Chief

Performance Upgrades

  • Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary Edition gets new lighting, now runs at 60FPS and 1080p
  • Halo 2 gets revamped and upgraded “Anniversary” visuals, now runs at 60FPS and 1080p
  • Halo 3 gets new lighting, now runs at 60FPS and 1080p.
  • Halo 4 gets new lighting, now runs at 60FPS and 1080p.
  • Halo: CE Anniversary and Halo 2 Anniversary offer “classic mode,” still 60FPS
  • All multiplayer maps will appear in original form, except for the six Halo 2 Anniversary Edition multiplayer maps
  • Original Halo 2 multiplayer designer Max Hoberman involved in Anniversary Edition redesigns
  • Multiplayer will run on dedicated servers

halo-the-master-chief-collection-51

Similarities / Differences – Campaign

  • Other than visual improvements and the ability to play all four Halo campaigns on an Xbox One controller, everything is presented as is
  • No story changes
  • No gameplay tweaks
  • No new modes
  • No old modes taken out
  • All unlockables in same place
  • Will offer new Terminals in Halo 2 Anniversary Edition campaign
  • Terminals will be easier to find
  • Co-op playable in all campaigns
  • All campaign missions and levels unlocked from start
  • Special achievement for completing all campaigns
  • New epilogue cinematic ties all four Halo titles together and helps set up Halo 5: Guardians
  • 4000 Gamerscore made up of old and new Achievements

halo-the-master-chief-collection-59-e1402450431870-1

Similarities / Differences – Multiplayer

  • Other than visual improvements and the ability to play all Halo titles on an Xbox One controller, all multiplayer suites are left as is
  • No “universal” multiplayer that incorporates all gameplay elements and mechanics from all four games
  • Halo: Combat Evolved multiplayer offered in its original form
  • Halo 2 Anniversary Edition multiplayer is separate from Halo 2 multiplayer
  • Players will have a single rank that spans across all Halo titles
  • Forge returns in Halo 3 and 4 and is introduced to Halo 2 Anniversary
  • Controls change from Halo to Halo, or you can pick a universal controller scheme
  • Halo 3’s specific controller layouts will not be available as a universal controller scheme option

Maps

Halo: Combat Evolved

  • Battle Creek
  • Blood Gulch
  • Boarding Action
  • Chill Out
  • Chiron TL-34
  • Damnation
  • Danger Canyon (PC)
  • Death Island (PC)
  • Derelict
  • Gephyrophobia (PC)
  • Hang ‘Em High
  • Ice Fields (PC)
  • Infinity (PC)
  • Longest
  • Prisoner
  • Rat Race
  • Sidewinder
  • Timberland (PC)
  • Wizard

Halo 2

  • Ascension
  • Backwash
  • Beaver Creek
  • Burial Mounds
  • Coagulation
  • Colossus
  • Containment
  • Desolation
  • District (PC)
  • Elongation
  • Foundation
  • Gemini
  • Headlong
  • Ivory Tower
  • Lockout
  • Midship
  • Relic
  • Sanctuary
  • Terminal
  • Tombstone
  • Turf
  • Uplift (PC)
  • Warlock
  • Waterworks
  • Zanzibar

Halo 2 Remastered in “native” Xbox One engine

  • Ascension
  • Lockout
  • Zanzibar
  • ???
  • ???
  • ???

Halo 3

  • Assembly
  • Avalanche
  • Blackout
  • Boundless
  • Citadel
  • Cold Storage
  • Construct
  • Epilogue
  • Epitaph
  • Foundry
  • Ghost Town
  • Guardian
  • Heretic
  • High Ground
  • Isolation
  • Last Resort
  • Longshore
  • Onslaught
  • Orbital
  • Pit Stop
  • Rat’s Nest
  • Sandbox
  • Sandtrap
  • Snowbound
  • Standoff
  • The Pit
  • Valhalla

Halo 4

  • Abandon
  • Adrift
  • Ascent
  • Complex
  • Daybreak
  • Erosion
  • Exile
  • Forge Island
  • Grifball Court
  • Harvest
  • Haven
  • Impact
  • Landfall
  • Longbow
  • Meltdown
  • Monolith
  • Outcast
  • Perdition
  • Pitfall
  • Ragnarok
  • Ravine
  • Relay
  • Settler
  • Shatter
  • Skyline
  • Solace
  • Vertigo
  • Vortex
  • Wreckage

Playlists

  • Will offer mixed themed campaign playlists across all Halo titles
  • Will offer mixed themed multiplayer playlists across all Halo titles
  • Will offer one giant mixed playlist including maps and modes across all Halo titles
  • Examples:
    • “Vehicle Playground” – vehicle-oriented campaign levels from all four Halos titles
    • “Final Four” – final chapters from all four Halo titles
    • “Hogs” – campaign levels that feature the Warthog jeep
    • “Flood” – campaign levels that feature the Flood
    • “Capture the Flag Hopper” – CTF on all Halo maps

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Other

  • Halo Waypoint details to be announced soon
  • No cross-platform play (Xbox 360 – Xbox One)
  • Will retail for $60
  • Microsoft is discussing discounts for owners of previous Halo titles, though it’s unlikely

Screens

Questions

  • Are you pumped?

Suggestions

  • You should probably get pumped
Tags: 343 Industries Featured Halo Halo: The Master Chief Collection Xbox One

David Veselka

Musician, Gamer, Geek. Subscriber

Home > News

The Division Developers Aiming For 30FPS On Xbox One and PlayStation 4

  by   Den Kovacs  
12:16 pm in News

A desolate New York, a struggle for survival, and one hell of a hype train is what makes The Division so exciting. But what some might find not so exciting is a 30FPS frame rate and an unconfirmed resolution for Massive Entertainment’s open world survival game on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.

Managing director David Polfeldt told GameSpot in an interview during E3 that the studio landed on 30FPS as the ideal choice for a title with a massive and highly detailed open world like The Division.

“I think we’re shooting for 30fps because it’s a trade-off, right?” Polfeldt said. “Graphical fidelity and immersion are more important to us than the frame rate, if we go for [60fps], we’ll have to make a trade-off on fidelity and other things”. 

“But because we want to have very, very complex destruction and extremely detailed environments; a complete weather system, full day/night cycle…at some point you have to make up your mind: where do you invest? And for us, it’s going to be 30fps.”

While the decision might disappoint some, the trade off appears to justify the design choice, considering that The Division isn’t as much of a competitive multiplayer game as something like Call of Duty might be, a game that demands 60FPS. Also, as we saw in Ubisoft’s E3 2014 presentation, The Division is a great looking game regardless.

What are your thoughts?

Tags: E3 2014 Playstation 4 The Division Xbox One

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EA May Let You Test Future Battlefield Games Early To Ensure a Stable Launch

  by   David Veselka  
June 12, 2014 10:03 pm in News

Things seem to be going well for Stockholm-based studio DICE and their military shooter Battlefield 4 since the launch of the game’s Community Test Environment.

Allowing community members to test updates ahead of release has already produced favorable results for the studio, as we saw with the recent High Frequency Server Update. The testing also appears to have ensured a smoother launch of the latest patch as well.

It’s with this in mind that DICE general manager Karl Magnus Troedsson recently told GameInformer that the studio has talked about letting users test future Battlefield titles in advance in order to “create quality” in the studio’s products and ensure a more “stable launch.” In fact, plans already appear to be in place with Visceral Games’ upcoming Battlefield Hardline, as we recently learned about EA’s Game Changer program that involved a number of known community members in the game’s development.

“We have nothing to announce, but we are having discussions when it comes to [early access],” Troedsson told said. “It comes not from a business perspective, but more from a perspective of if it would help us have a stable launch of the game.”

Price points haven’t been discussed, but Troedsson insists that players would be involved in the conversation if it ever took place. “We would ask our players in a controlled way,” he mentioned. “We probably wouldn’t open the floodgates for everyone, but we might do it for geographical territories or people who bought the last game. Yes, it is something we are considering, not from a business standpoint, but from one of creating quality in our products.”

After Battlefield 4’s rocky launch, it might not be a bad idea to accumulate as much support as possible for DICE’s future launches if it means an easier time for developers and a quality product for gamers.

What are your thoughts?

Tags: Battlefield 4 Battlefield Hardline PC PS3 PS4 Xbox 360 Xbox One

David Veselka

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Home > News

PayDay 2 is Coming to Next-Gen, “Details On The Way Soon,” says Overkill Software

  by   David Veselka  
9:30 pm in News

Overkill Software’s cops and robber shooter PayDay 2 is coming to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, according to a recent tweet.

No details were really provided in their announcement, but we can expect more info soon.

The timing works out nicely as additional DLC is in the pipeline, including “The Dentist” which was recently teased.

Stay tuned for more details.

Tags: Payday 2 PS4 Xbox One

David Veselka

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Home > News

Battlefield Hardline Multiplayer Gameplay Round-Up

  by   Den Kovacs  
9:21 pm in News

Earlier this week, we gave you a little taste of what Battlefield: Hardline is all about in our official preview. But now that the cat is officially out of the bag, we’ve rounded up some of the usual suspects on YouTube to give you the rundown on Visceral’s upcoming shooter with a handful of gameplay videos.

Who better to hear from than the folks who play Battlefield day in and day out? Check out the gameplay below and lookout for Battlefield Hardline on October 21.

XfactorGaming

[youtube id=”dKznhvINpeU”]

LevelCapGaming

[youtube id=”-eSd4uM206w”]

[youtube id=”uF0WfHcIL7Y”]

[youtube id=”Yirma-t_hFQ”]

JackFrags

[youtube id=”xcMUSesxbvs”]

[youtube id=”UjTJKFuG-18″]

Westie

[youtube id=”U9mcSEzzv1I”]

ChaBoyyHD

[youtube id=”0jSG-oPaLH0″]

DooM49

[youtube id=”JatWpC5cBx4″]

Tags: Battlefield Hardline Featured PC PS3 PS4 Xbox 360 Xbox One

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Destiny First Look Alpha Now Rolling Out on PS4 and PS3, Watch the “New Beginnings” Trailer

  by   David Veselka  
4:39 pm in News

The video above serves as an introduction to Destiny’s First Look Alpha which is officially launching today on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3, giving anxious Bungie fans a small taste of the studios epic new project.

Bungie has begun rolling out download codes, so if you’ve signed up and got yours, you’ll be able to create your very own Guardian and begin exploring a small portion of Bungie’s brave new world. Take part in Missions, Patrols, Strikes, and even test your will against other Guardians in The Crucible where you can take on some of Destiny’s competitive multiplayer offerings. You’ll also get the chance to learn your way around The Tower, Destiny’s central trading hub, where you can interact with others, buy new equipment, and acquire new missions.

You can find out what we think about the game so far by watching our first impressions video right here.

If you missed out on the Alpha, however, don’t worry. You still have the chance to participate in Destiny’s official Beta, launching July 17 on PS4 and PS3 first, by simply pre-ordering the game.

Be sure to follow Destiny on Facebook and Twitter, and head on over to the official website or Bungie.net to learn more. Destiny launches September 9 on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.

Tags: Alpha Bungie Destiny First Look Alpha PC PS3 PS4 Xbox 360 Xbox One

David Veselka

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Home > News

Rainbow Six: Siege Producer Hints At Possible Beta

  by   Den Kovacs  
4:00 pm in News

Earlier this week, we were unexpectedly introduced to Rainbow Six Siege, the newest installment in the popular tactical anti-terrorist franchise that was on a six year hiatus.

Now, through recent reports, it looks like we might see an upcoming beta, hinted at by producer Sebastien Labbe in a talk with OXM. 

“Maybe a PR will kill me if I say so, what I can say is that for sure, we’re no different from the other online shooters,” he said. “We want to be online – we’re providing a strong PVP game, and if we want that we need to create a community. So if we wait until the launch, I expect it will be too late.” 

Labbe when on to say that “There will certainly be things that will occur, but at the moment we can’t talk about that. It’s not clearly defined because it’s still a lot of work to do, but certainly there will be some announcements about that. So stay tuned.”

The game’s multiplayer-focused set up appears ripe for a public beta at some point, so keep your eyes and ears open for more news.

Are you excited for the revival of Rainbow 6? If so, tell us why in the comments!

For more E3 news, keep an eye out on MP1st.

Tags: E3 2014 PC PS4 Rainbow Six Xbox One

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Home > Features

Destiny – First Impressions

  by   David Veselka  
3:15 pm in Features

We got to play the Destiny First Look Alpha a little early at a pre-E3 2014 behind-closed-doors event with the developers at Bungie.

Here are my first thoughts on what I saw and played.

Destiny’s First Look Alpha launches today on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3. If you’ve already had the chance to check it out, be sure to tell us what you think in the comments!

Tags: Alpha Destiny Featured First Impressions First Look Alpha PS3 PS4 Xbox 360 Xbox One

David Veselka

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Free-to-Play Combat Game Warframe is Coming to Xbox One, First Trailer

  by   David Veselka  
2:23 pm in News

Developer Digital Extremes has, at last, announced the launch of their free-to-play multiplayer shooter on Microsoft’s Xbox One later this year.

Warframe is a third-person combat and shooter game that has already been well received on the PC and PlayStation 4. Digital Extremes will now be bringing it to the Xbox One via Microsofts’s ID@Xbox program that allows independent developers to self-publish their games on the console.

Warframe on Xbox One will be SmartGlass-enabled, allowing players to get real-time alerts to missions and information from the Codec.

Catch the first trailer above.

Tags: E3 2014 Warframe Xbox One

David Veselka

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Home > Features

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare – First Impressions

  by   David Veselka  
12:52 pm in Features

We got to check out Sledgehammer Games’ Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare in a private, behind-closed-door event prior to E3 2014’s opening.

Here are my first impressions on what we saw and what co-founders Michael Condrey and Glen Schofield will be delivering to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC this November 4.

What are your first thoughts on Advanced Warfare? I’d love to hear it in the comments below!

Tags: Advanced Warfare Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Featured PS3 PS4 Xbox 360 Xbox One

David Veselka

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Home > News

Metal Gear Solid 5 Multiplayer To Feature Online Mother Base Invasions

  by   James Lara  
12:01 pm in News

Game director Hideo Kojima recently shared some very light details on one of Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain’s multiplayer features, hinting at an invasion-style feature that was spotted near the end of the game’s E3 2014 trailer.

“I cannot talk too much, but for people who saw the presentation, it ends with your Mother Base being attacked,” Kojima told CVG. “People can infiltrate you, and you can infiltrate other people’s Mother Base.”

Details about Mother Base already surfaced a while back, stating that players will be able to create their own base of operations. It will allegedly offer highly customizable details and, from the sounds of it, will offer players near freedom when it comes to what they can store the base. An example used was that players will be able to capture animals throughout the main game, send them to their Mother Base, and use them for stock, food, or even in a personal zoo.

Though it hasn’t been confirmed, we assume that the traditional Metal Gear Solid Online game modes will be making a return for a more team-oriented, competitive multiplayer experience.

If you missed it, make sure to watch the latest trailer coming from E3 2014 for The Phantom Pain.

[youtube id=”-pPXuFNGEr8″]

No official release date has been announced, though Kojima did state himself that it would likely release when the PlayStation 4 becomes widely adopted. I guess over 7 million units sold still just isn’t enough. The game is also launching on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.

Tags: E3 2014 Metal Gear Online Metal Gear Solid 5 Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain PS3 PS4 Xbox 360 Xbox One
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James Lara

A gamer at heart, James has been working for MP1st for the last decade to do exactly what he loves, writing about video games and having fun doing it. Growing up in the 90's gaming has been in his DNA since the days of NES. One day he hopes to develop his own game.

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