Diablo 3 Advanced Guide: Bring On The Demon Hunter Ads By Google » Blog Tags Today's Most Popular Videos »

We've put together this Diablo 3 Demon Hunter guide to get you up to speed on the most relentless class coming to Blizzard’s upcoming action role playing game. This handy guide gives you all the most important info on the Demon Hunter from Diablo 3 at a glance.

You Should Play A Demon Hunter If: If you love standing back and slaying enemies from afar, or finding the most strategic way to take down a monster, then the Demon Hunter could be for you. Specializing in ranged weaponry and traps, Demon Hunters, unlike some of the other Diablo 3 classes, need to take their environment into account when bringing down their enemies.

Background: Demon Hunters are a group of fanatical warriors who have but one purpose: to avenge their friends and families who were butchered by demons and hellspawn. Every arrow that a Demon Hunter launches is "dipped in spite" and "delivered with hatred." This fuels them to keep hunting, as every demon who falls to their deadly attacks makes the world that much safer.



The key features of the Demon Hunter include ranged weapons, shadow magic, traps, and battle tactics. A Demon Hunter has more precision with a ranged weapon than any other class in Diablo 3, and they use this extra skill to equip various artillery like longbows, grenades, hand-thrown weapons, and even dual-wielded crossbows. With shadow magic, the Demon Hunter can cloak themselves and slip between the shadows to sneak up on their enemies.

Demon Hunters are extremely agile but they can't withstand much damage. Therefore, they use traps to slow their enemies down so that they can kite, or run and fire at their enemies while they're slowed down. Using mines, grenades, caltrops, or steel-jawed traps are just a few of the ways that Demon Hunters soften up their prey. Finally, a Demon Hunter uses battle tactics like hamstring arrows or entangling bolas to debuff and slow enemies, making them more vulnerable to the Demon Hunter's attacks.

How You Play A Demon Hunter: Demon Hunters are the only class in the game with two different resources: Hatred and Discipline. Hatred is the resource which is available for a Demon Hunter's offensive skills and it regenerates quickly. Discipline on the other hand is the resource available for defensive maneuvers and traps and it regenerates very slowly.

Therefore, to successfully play a Demon Hunter you have to carefully balance how you generate and spend your Discipline in order to not only ensure survival, but also to kill demons as efficiently as possible.

Demon Hunter Equipment: Like all of the classes in Diablo 3, the Demon Hunter gets their own one-of-a-kind equipment including hand crossbows, quivers, and cloaks. Hand crossbows are "quick-reloading, fast-firing ranged weapons" that the Demon Hunter can actually dual wield. Double the hand crossbows, double the fun, as they say. The Demon Hunter's quiver contains not just arrows, but mystic properties that allows the DH to fire faster as well. Finally, as every class needs a stylish flair, Demon Hunters can equip cloaks which not only provide chest protection, but allow them to move acrobatically while defending themselves against their foes.

Demon Hunter Skills: Demon Hunters have 23 available skills in total in Diablo 3 which are divided in to three different types: Offense, Discipline, and Utility skills. Whereas other classes have skills that feel like they could be interchanged between any tree, the Demon Hunter's three types of skills are all very distinct. It will be up to your personal playstyle to choose which skills will be the best for you.

Skills which use Hatred will cause the most damage to enemies, as well as debilitating them, depending on the skill. Discipline skills are all of the Demon Hunter's defensive maneuvers. These skills will allow you to use traps and turrets, summon companions, or even vault out of harm's way. These are non-direct spells that generally help protect your Demon Hunter while dealing out some damage to foes in the process.

Like all of the other Diablo 3 classes, Demon Hunters can only have six skills active at a time. You start out with one active skill at level one and you unlock the ability to use a extra skills at levels 2, 6, 12, 18, and 24. Demon Hunters also unlock passive skill slots at levels 10, 20, and 30.

As you're making your way through Diablo 3 as a Demon Hunter, there are a few skills to keep in mind. These are skills that will prove to be the most useful, or are a bit more potent than others.

Hungering Arrow: Unlocked right off the bat at level 1, Hungering Arrow is a magically imbued arrow that seeks out targets and deals 115% weapon damage to them, with a 35% chance to pierce through targets. It also generates 3 Hatred. I liked this skill a lot because it was sort of a homing arrow, and no matter which direction I aimed, it would always find a target to kill.

Caltrops: Unlocked at level 4, Caltrops costs 6 Discipline and the skill allows you to lay a trap of caltrops on the ground that slows enemies within 12 yards by 60% once activated. This skill is a great way to slow enemies down so that you can get as far away as possible and deal damage to them while they can't catch up to you. With this kiting method, you can solo just about any standard enemy in Diablo 3.

Chakram: Unlocked at level 12, Chakram costs 10 Hatred to use. It sends a Chakram towards enemies, dealing 150% weapon damage to any enemies that it hits along its path. It's basically a huge swirling ninja star of death that deals tons of damage and looks very cool in the process. Getting a good angle to send out the Chakram is fun, and watching it impale multiple enemies at once is awesome.

What's great about the Demon Hunter is that because they're adept with both ranged weapons as well as traps and explosives, you can choose the way that best compliments your playstyle and set your Demon Hunter up in that way. Balancing your Hatred and Discipline might be somewhat difficult when you first start with the class, but eventually it makes sense and once it does using both types of skills pays off.

Passive Demon Hunter Skills: In Diablo 3 you can only equip one passive skill at level 10. Your choices at level 10 are Tactical Advantage and Thrill of the Hunt. At level 13 Vengeance unlocks, while at level 16 you get access to Steady Aim. When you unlock your next Passive Skill slot at level 20, you'll also unlock Cull the Weak and Night Stalker. Passive Skills are just that: abilities that you don't have to cast but grant passive advantages to your Demon Hunter.

Tactical Advantage gives the Demon Hunter a 60% boost to movement speed for 2 seconds every time you use Vault, Smoke Screen, or backflip with Evasive Fire. Thrill of the Hunt makes your attacks immobilize your target for three seconds once every ten seconds. Vengeance allows you to gain 20 Hatred, 2 Discipline, and increases your maximum Hatred by 25 for ten seconds whenever you consumer a health globe. Steady Aim increases your damage by 20% as long as there are no enemies within 10 yards of you.

Cull the Weak will have you utilizing traps to an extreme, as this Passive Skill increases damage to slowed enemies by 15%. Finally, Night Stalker is useful if you find yourself struggling to fight defensively, as it causes critical hits to have a chance to restore 1 Discipline.

I went for the Vengeance passive skill for my Demon Hunter. Increasing my Hatred by 25 every time I ate one allowed me to spam a lot of Hatred Spender skills and deal a ton of damage to my enemies. I also just love the Steady Aim passive skill in general. I think that it will make players play the Demon Hunter how Blizzard intends for the class to be played, and that's brilliant game design in my opinion.

For my Demon Hunter's Active skills I chose a mix between Hatred Generators, Spenders, and Discipline spells (what a surprise!). My staple Hatred Generators were Hungering Arrow and Evasive Fire, the latter of which shoots enemies for 125% weapon damage, and if an enemy is at close range you back flip away 15 yards. This mix of Hatred Generation was strong enough to take out enemies out quickly, and then I'd spend my Hatred on Chakram which could rip through packs of foes quickly. Finally, I used Vault as my Discipline skill to both get away from enemies quickly, as well as a way to stylishly get from one pack to the next. In sticky situations I'd throw down a caltrop trap, but in general I didn't need to do this too much.

Like the Monk, the Demon Hunter is one of the more skill-based classes in Diablo 3. You really have to focus on balancing your Hatred and Discipline in order to use your skills, and it will be interesting to see how different types of players utilize the Demon Hunter. Not only that, but a lot of the Demon Hunter's skills will be more beneficial for those people who strategize more with class, lay traps, etc., rather than those who just run into every situation with their crossbows out.

What do you think of the Demon Hunter in Diablo 3? Let me know in the comments below, and tell me how you set up your Demon Hunter's skills if they're different than the ones that I used. Also be sure to check out our Diablo 3 Witch Doctor Guide, Diablo 3 Wizard Guide, and our Diablo 3 Monk Guide for everything you want to know about the other Diablo 3 classes.



Source : http://www.g4tv.com

Max Payne 3 Review

Like it or not, times change. When Max Payne last appeared in a game in 2003, he blasted his way through countless enemies with reckless abandon, aided by his signature ability to slow time and deal graceful death. Today, reflecting modern sensibilities and perhaps his own age, Max takes things slower and makes judicious use of a new cover mechanic. Yet the addition of this contemporary element doesn't mean that Max Payne 3 plays like every other third-person shooter. Far from it. With its gripping narrative, brutal violence, and fantastic implementation of Max Payne's bullet-time ability, this is a distinctive and outstanding game through and through, and it's easily a worthy successor to the Max Payne games that preceded it.

Working security for a wealthy Brazilian playboy? Sounds cushy.

Wherever you go, there you are. It's a truth Max Payne knows better than anyone. Fleeing his New York life to take a job working security for a wealthy family in Sao Paulo, the hard-drinkin', pill-poppin' Max finds that his demons come along for the ride. Though the details of the plot add up to your typical story of conspiracy and corruption, of the rich and powerful preying on the poor and helpless to become even more rich and powerful, the writing, acting, and presentation elevate this tale well above a boilerplate video game crime story.

It's hard to stay ambivalent once you see the horrors being suffered by the innocent here, and you'll likely want to see Max's quest for vengeance through to its conclusion just as badly as he does. Max reveals a complexity here not seen in earlier games, as he hits rock bottom and must either stay there or face his demons head-on and make himself anew. Other characters, too, reveal a surprising humanity. You might be tempted to write off Marcelo, the youngest brother in the wealthy Branco dynasty Max is hired to protect, as the shallow playboy he often appears to be. But in moments of disarming honesty, he reveals to Max a depth that lies beneath the facade he presents to the world.

Cutscenes use multiple moving panels to pay homage to the graphic-novel-style storytelling of previous games without feeling beholden to it, and the considered use of blurring and other visual effects echo Max's state of mind, perhaps making you feel as if you're the one who has been hitting the bottle a little too hard. James McCaffrey does an excellent job reprising his role as Max, bringing a wider range of emotions to a character who has previously often been one-note. The writing is terrific; Max's world-weary wit is as bone-dry as ever, and as he ruminates on things like loyalty and loss, much of what he says has the sound of hard-earned wisdom. Subtle touches throughout the game make Max seem convincingly alive, such as the complex look that crosses over his face at the start of one stage when bloodshed seems inevitable; it's as if he dreads what's coming, but does his best to mentally prepare himself for it.

Max brings death from above. Also from below, the front, the back, and the sides.

Max Payne 3 has far more sunlight and color than earlier Max Payne games, but the menaces Max faces here are at least as dark as those he's faced before. The locales Max has to gun his way into or out of are alive with authenticity and detail. Nightclubs throb with dance music and light shows; children play soccer in the favelas; run-down hotels are packed with leftover junk from their earlier days of luxury. And it's not all tropical locations and bad Hawaiian shirts for Max Payne here; a few great flashbacks that take place in Hoboken, New Jersey, reflect the snowy weather and urban atmosphere of earlier Max Payne games, as well as Max's previous fashion sensibilities, and connect his new life with his old one.

Though some things may have changed for Max Payne, one thing that hasn't changed is his ability to blow bad guys away by the hundreds. Three aiming options for the campaign let you customize the gunplay to your liking: hard lock takes much of the challenge out of things, snapping on to the nearest enemy; soft lock sticks to enemies once you've got them in your sights; and free aim leaves it all up to you. Regardless of the option you choose, shooting in Max Payne 3 feels terrific. This is partially due to the game's unflinching violence. Bullets visibly tear through bodies, leaving holes that spurt blood as your enemies die. Each encounter with a group of enemies ends with a bullet cam, showing your final, fatal bullet soaring through the air and striking its target in grisly detail, and giving you the option to pump excessive, unnecessary ordnance into the poor bastard. It's a cathartic and satisfying way to end each firefight.

Bullet time, the defining mechanic of the Max Payne series, lends gunplay a cinematic intensity that remains exhilarating from the start of the substantial campaign until its finish some 12 hours or so later. When bullet time is enabled, you can see every pellet that bursts forth from a shotgun, every bullet that whizzes past your head. Windows break apart beautifully; concrete shatters to reveal the rebar underneath; and all other sorts of believable destruction to the world around you takes place as you and your enemies try to gun each other down.

New Jersey. Brazil. There are scumbags the world over.

Bullet time slows your enemies down significantly, letting you aim and fire faster than they can respond. But despite the significant edge this gives you over your foes, they are no pushovers. They make smart use of flanking tactics, so you need to stay aware of what's happening on all sides, and, yes, you need to make effective use of cover. There are still situations aplenty where an old-fashioned head-on approach can get the job done, but by and large, you need to approach combat in Max Payne 3 a bit more defensively than in past games.

Max's vulnerability, and the feeling of danger that accompanies it, makes combat much more nerve-racking than it was in earlier Max Payne games, but it does come with a downside: Max's signature shootdodge has suffered. You can still leap through the air in slow motion like a John Woo action hero, attempting to blow your foes away before you land, but because your enemies also make good use of cover, there's a good chance some of them won't be vulnerable to your airborne assault, and as you get up from the ground after a shootdodge, you're something of a sitting duck. The result is that you may end up using shootdodge from time to time not because it's a particularly effective tactic but because, risks be damned, it just looks so cool.

Source : http://www.gamespot.com/max-payne-3/reviews/max-payne-3-review-6376816/

Wrestling Wrap Up: The Big Show Cries!

So Cena has to lose at Over the Limit now, right?

- WWE

Yes, after last night's half-hour comedy hour of Gleaming the Cube references, Ace Ventura impressions, and f***ing Puck puns, Johnny's gonna go over.



Unless we can believe that the WWE is ready to put an end to the whole "Johnny as dual GM/Overlord" angle so quickly. Which, personally, I can't. Plus, the ultra-scientifically accurate science meter – the Opposite Momentum Rule – scientifically dictates that Cena will scientifically lose. BEAKERS!!!



Something else to consider? What kind of match would Johnny vs. Cena one-on-one be? Yeah, the WWE is trying to sell this PPV as a sort of "watch Johnny get his ass handed to him" deal, but we all remember what a tedious trudge it was to watch Vince get completely thrashed by Bret back at 'Mania 26. It went from being cathartic to being suicide-inducing in, like, no time flat.

- WWE

So the key to Johnny's upcoming win probably lies in Big Show's emotional firing. For a while, some thought that Lesnar might help Johnny win, but he seems to have been shifted away from Cena and into the "Heyman/Triple" story, so it's gotta be Show, right? After all, they quickly made his apology storyline a big deal, with a video package and all. It was only a week old! And suddenly, a story that most of us figured would drag on a bit longer got a big huge, strangely emotional, segment on
RAW last night. Now, it's clear that
Big Show has way fewer days ahead of him, wrestling-wise, than he does behind him, but it was still a stretch to sell that an on-the-spot firing would affect him on such a Lee Strasberg level. Maybe it's because they knew it would be a hard sell, being such a quick turnaround on the story and all, that they figured that Show really, desperately had to nail it. I mean, that was his freakin' Emmy clip. And yes, I do believe that Big Show loves what he does, and loves all the fanimals out there, but the guy cried more than Edge did when Edge had to legitimately retire from the business forever.








I mean, the guy cried as if he'd just seen a school bus full of orphans go up in flames, while careening off a cliff. As if he'd just watched one of those Sarah McLachlan SPCA commercials where they threaten to execute kittens in front of you. The guy wept as if someone pulled his dad's coffin out of the ground with a tow chain and dragged it down across the lawn of a cemetery, with him on top holding on for dear life.








As ridiculous as Show's over-reaction was, I suppose it was necessary. And I have to commend him for being able to actually emote like that in a live segment. That was some intense scene-work. That was sense memory-meets-childhood regression. That was advanced "lie on your mat and become the color blue" workshop stuff. That was "you can't cry like this unless you've got past trauma to readily sift through" s***.

Come on, WWE.com. YOU HAD ONE JOB TO DO!

---

More from Big Show's cry-cry, plus Heyman and
Triple H, on page 2…

Source : http://tv.ign.com/articles/122/1224618p1.html

Diablo 3 Guide: How To Kill Diablo Ads By Google » Blog Tags Today's Most Popular Videos »

Diablo, The Lord of Terror, is risen from the depths of the Burning Hells to end the world of man and it's up to you to stop him. But you needn't feel alone. We at G4 are here to guide you through the Diablo 3 boss fight against the Prime Evil himself, Diablo. Want to know how to kill Diablo in Diablo 3? We'll give you all the necessary tips and tricks to survive the Diablo battle.

First of all, congratulations on making it this far! You've climbed the steps of the tallest tower in all of existence to reach the Crystal Arch, where Angels are born. This very special place is what remains of the creator Anu, whos body forms the High Heavens. This also makes it a strategic target for the Lord of Terror, and should you fail, its destruction will spell the doom of all things. No pressure.

In other words: Good luck!

First, let's take a look at Diablo's stats, broken down by difficulty.

Normal: Diablo is level 30 on Normal difficulty, with 127,000 health. He grants those who defeat him 925 XP as well as various treasure. He has no special traits or resistances.

Nightmare: Diablo is level 50 on Nightmare difficulty, with 2,688,000 health. Quite a jump from the previous difficulty! He grants 3400 XP and various treasure. He has no special traits or resistances.

Hell: Diablo is level 60 on Hell difficulty, with 19,304,000 health(!) Putting this monster down will net you 7750 XP and some sweet loot for the hardest difficulty in Diablo 3, Inferno. He has no special traits or resistances.

Inferno: Diablo is level 63 on Inferno difficulty, with a whopping 76,499,000 health. At this point you've exceeded every limitation a human being should be capable of, yet you'll still be rewarded with 8000 XP and some ultra fantastic treasure. Even on this, the hardest boss fight of Diablo 3, he still has no special traits or resistances.

On all difficulties, the tactics and fight against Diablo remain the same, as do Diablo's abilities and attacks. In addition to standard melee attacks, Diablo can also use:

Ground Stomp: This attack radiates damage in all directions, so don't stick close to Diablo for too long. It inflicts one-time damage when it hits.

Charge: A basic attack that tramples over anything in its way, Charge will allow Diablo to cover immense distances, taking away any safety you may have felt at range during this fight. More of a nuisance than a real worry, Charge is there mostly to keep you on your toes and be spatially aware.

Ring of Fire: And you thought listening to the song stuck in the backseat of your parents' van was torture. This Ring of Fire will deal continuous fire damage as it sets your hero aflame. In later phases and higher difficulties, these can be cast in rapid succession, overlapping one another. Steer clear!

Hell Spikes: While the spikes themselves don't do any damage, Diablo's Hell Spikes will encase your character in a cage, trapping him/her there until the demon lord makes his way to them, grabs hold, and slams them into the ground for massive damage, as well as the Curse of Destruction debuff. The ground will turn dark where they are about to appear, so always be on the move.

Shadow Vanish Grab: This is technically the grab mentioned above that gives the Curse of Destruction debuff, which deals damage over time to your character and any allies as well. Wham!

Shadow Clones: In the second phase of the final battle against Diablo, the setting shifts to the Realm of Terror. Here you'll face plenty of adds, just like the first phase, but every now and again Diablo will summon a shadowy doppelganger of your hero. They have access to the same Passive and Active Skills as your class, even ones you may not have equipped.

Overdrive: For the final phase of the Diablo fight in Diablo 3, the Lord of Terror will spam attacks and spells with increased power, speed, and smaller cooldowns thanks to being in Overdrive mode.

Lightning Breath: During the final phase, Diablo will also unleash his most devastating attack, Lightning Breath. Diablo will spray this foul attack across the stage in a 180-degree arc, and if you get hit, prepare to pay big time. If you're not protected against non-physical damage in this fight, it can even kill you instantly.

So now that you know what the Prime Evil is capable of, how do you protect yourself against such power? Well, since Diablo comes from the Burning Hells and many of his attacks revolve around fire, you'll want to buff up on fire resistance. Diablo's Lightning Breath can be an insta-kill if you're not protected against non-physical damage with Passive Skills or Spell Runes.

In other words, don't try to go for a glass cannon-style approach. The best tactics to use in the final fight of Diablo 3 include being patient, avoiding or weathering attacks, and hit-and-run damage dealing. You want to spec for survivability, not badassery against Diablo.

In fact, here are some suggested builds for each class to help you survive Diablo's onslaught. Note: each of these builds are for characters who have reached at least level 30.

Barbarian: For the best Barbarian Skills against Diablo, equip Pound of Flesh, Bloodthirst, and Superstition in your Passive slots. Pound of Flesh and Bloodthirst will help keep your hit points up, and Supserstition will help you survive should you be hit by an attack. As for Active Skills, go for Sprint, Overpower, Bash, Weapon Throw, Call of the Ancients, and Hammer of the Ancients.

Demon Hunter: For the best Demon Hunter Skills against Diablo, use Vengeance, Brooding, and Steady Aim as Passives. Vengeance and Brooding will help you stay alive so long as you avoid Diablo's attacks, and Steady Aim will keep you firing from outside his melee range. For Active Skills, equip Cluster Arrow, Entangling Shot, Impale, Marked for Death, Shadow Power, and Vault.

Monk: The best Monk Skills against Diablo will be, as above, those that balance survivability with damage. Go for Chant of Resonance, Exalted Soul, and Transcendence for your Passive Skills. Combining Transcendence and Exalted Soul will turn your Spirit into a practical second health bar, while Chant of Resonance will help keep you from running dry. For best Active Skills, use Mantra of Conviction, Mystic Ally, Serenity, Exploding Palm, Wave of Light, and Way of the Hundred Fists.

Witch Doctor: To choose the best Witch Doctor Skills against Diablo, go for Jungle Fortitude, Zombie Handler, and Spiritual Attunement as your Passive selection. Zombie Handler will give you extra ammo against your foes, while Jungle Fortitude will keep you and your dogs alive. Spiritual Attunement meanwhile will keep you from running out of Mana should you need to summon more. For Active Skills, try Summon Zombie Dogs, Firebats, Fetish Army, Spirit Barrage, Sacrifice, and Haunt.

Wizard: When selecting the best Wizard Skills against Diablo, you'll need to balance resources, health, and damage dealing. Use Blur, Astral Presence, and Cold Blooded. Blur and Astral Presence will keep you up and fighting, while Cold Blooded is great against Diablo, who can be chilled or frozen. With regards to Active Skills, go for Ray of Frost, Blizzard, Storm Armor, Archon, Teleport, and Spectral Blade.

Okay, so now you know your enemy's tactics, his abilities, and what you can do to prepare against him, but what do you actually do during the fight? There are three phases to the fight against Diablo, each more difficult and adrenaline-pumping than the last.

For the first phase, Diablo will start off pretty basic. Adds will spawn while Diablo casts Ring of Fire and Hell Spikes. Avoid these as best you can, weaving in and out to make your way to attack range and get a few hits in before retreating. Stick to the edges of the map as best you can, taking a moment to fill up at the health wells on either side. Each of these has a 30-second cooldown, so the waiting line isn't too bad. Just don't abuse them!

Once you've knocked Diablo down to 50% health, he will teleport to you and suck you both into the Realm of Terror. This shadow world can be difficult to see through and seem suffocating, but your tactics should remain mostly the same. There are more adds here however, so use AoE attacks or summonable allies to help you deal damage to Diablo while you manage the other enemies.

Every time you chip off a third of Diablo's health, he will summon a Shadow Clone of your hero. With the damage these doppelgangers can deal out, it's almost better to focus on them and burn them down quickly than fighting Diablo himself. No worries, they go down pretty quick.

Finally, once you've defeated Diablo's shadow in the Realm of Terror, you'll return to the Crystal Arch. Now fully energized and ready to stomp you into dust, Diablo will go into Overdrive, increasing his casting capabilities. Your tactics should stay the same, though it will be harder and harder to get a shot in, especially without taking damage yourself. The only new thing to watch out for here is Diablo's Lightning Breath, which sweeps across the field in a slowly turning 180-degree arc. If there is one thing you don't want to get hit by, it's that.

Don't get greedy and hang around inside Diablo's melee range too long, keep a careful eye on your health, don't be afraid to prolong the fight by sipping from the health wells or downing potions, and eventually the Prime Evil will topple. It's a slow, painful and risky fight, but he wouldn't be the Lord of Terror if it wasn't, would he?

Slay the beast, save the High Heavens, and become a hero! You've just learned how to kill Diablo and complete the final act of Diablo 3! Now let's crack our knuckles, pop open a new energy drink, and do it all over again on the next highest difficulty. Woo!

Source : http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/723819/diablo-3-guide-how-to-kill-diablo/

Guild Wars 2 Release Date Revealed? Ads By Google » Blog Tags Today's Most Popular Videos »

According to an ad spotted by game blog Kotaku, Guild Wars 2's release date is June 28. Before you mark your calendar in pen though, the ad was supposedly spotted at a Fry's in Texas, and retailers are notorious for using estimated dates for retail products. So it's unconfirmed.

Developers NCsoft has this to say in a statement: 

"We have not released an official launch date within 2012 as feedback from our closed and open marketing betas will help us determine an exact release date. We will release Guild Wars 2 when it is ready."

So who's playing Guild Wars 2's beta (other than half of G4's office)?

Source : http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/723814/guild-wars-2-release-date-revealed/

South Park: The Game delayed to 2013

South Park: The Game will not ship this fall as was previously announced. THQ today announced that the Obsidian Entertainment-developed role-playing game has slid to a release date of sometime during the company's Q4 2013.

Cartman and pals aren't making it out this year.

The publisher did not provide a reason for the delay, and as of press time, the company had not responded to GameSpot's request for comment.

The news comes as part of THQ's latest financial report, which saw the company's net sales for the 12 months ended March 31 rise to $830.8 million, up from the $665.3 recorded a year ago. It wasn't all rosy for THQ, as the company posted a net loss of $239.9 million for the period, worse than the $136.1 million hit the firm took the year prior.

The company's digital business was a boon for THQ, as revenues in this sector for the year spiked 62 percent to $59 million.

THQ also parsed statistics and let loose some new information for some of its biggest brands. The company said Saints Row: The Third has shipped more than 4.25 million units since its launch in November. Additionally, THQ revealed that the Enter The Dominatrix expansion for Saints Row: The Third will arrive this September. Previously, it was expected sometime this fall.

The company also broke down shipment figures for its major fighting games. THQ said WWE 12 has shipped more than 2.2 million units since its launch in November 2011, up about 20 percent on like-for-like platforms in North America since last year's game. Additionally, UFC Undisputed 3 has shipped 1.4 million units since it debuted in February, the company said.

In terms of platform revenue, the Xbox 360 proved most successful for THQ. Microsoft's home console accounted for 36.7 percent of total sales, generating $306.42 million in the process. The PlayStation 3 came in second place, accounting for 27.4 percent of the share, totalling $229.2 million. The Nintendo Wii (14.3 percent share, $119.5 million) and the PlayStation 2 (.4 share, $3.3 million) rounded out the rest.

THQ unveiled a new, streamlined business strategy earlier this year, and today, the company said when the plan is fully realized in fiscal 2013, it is expected to result in a reduction of costs totaling $180 million. Additionally, THQ said it has reduced its commitments to children's licenses properties by about $30 million, and reiterated that it is no longer creating software or hardware for the uDraw GameTablet.

Source : http://gamespot.com/news/south-park-the-game-delayed-to-2013-6376812

Tonight On Attack Of The Show: The Dictator's Jason Mantzoukas & DVDuesday Returns Ads By Google » Blog Tags Today's Most Popular Videos »

Attack of the Show returns tonight 7/6c with Kevin Pereira, Candace Bailey and Jason Mantzoukas from The Dictator live in studio. Chris Gore brings this week's DVDuesday reviews with a look at Chronicle, The Grey and The Devil Inside. We also check out three new crowd-funding campaigns that blends textbooks with comics and help save the sharks! See you tonight.

Source : http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/723797/tonight-on-attack-of-the-show-the-dictators-jason-mantzoukas-dvduesday-returns/

Diablo 3 Beginner Guide - Welcome To Sanctuary Ads By Google » Blog Tags Today's Most Popular Videos »

This Diablo 3 Beginners Guide will help anyone who's either new to the Diablo series or even someone who's just a bit rusty jump right in to all of the epic action that Sanctuary has to offer. In this guide, we'll go over things like the classes in the game, how to control your character, the health and resource system, the skill rune system, followers, crafting and artisans, and the auction house. It's a lot to get through, so let's get started.

What is Diablo 3?

Diablo 3 is an action role playing game from Blizzard Entertainment. You can expect a lot of challenging quests, monster hunting, and fast paced action that will keep you entertained for hours and hours on end. The game picks up twenty years after the events of Diablo 2 when Mephisto, Diablo, and Baal have been defeated. Unfortunately, the Worldstone that shielded the people of Sancutuary from the forces of Heaven and Hell was destroyed in the effort, so our heroes have to pick up their weapons once again in order to save Sanctuary from these new threats.

How Do I Play Diablo 3?

Right off the bat, you're going to have to choose one of five classes to play as. You can only play as one class at a time, but you can create one of each to test them out and see which your favorite is. They are the Barbarian, Monk, Wizard, Demon Hunter, and Witch Doctor.

Here's a quick description of each class:

Barbarian: They're a tough melee class who have been shaped to be "as strong and unyielding as stone." As they're the only class to carry over from the previous games, their story has evolved from where we last left them. Twenty years after the events in Diablo 2 devastated their culture, Barbarians are now a nomadic people who wander around Sanctuary looking for battles in order to forget about their broken homeland.

Monk: These sacred warriors can channel the divine power of the Sahptev faith and use healing waves, mantras of protection, and attacks empowered with holy might. Through their training, Monks learn, "skills that allow them to master both unarmed combat and a diverse array of weapons."

Wizard: Officially, Wizards are renegade spell casters who "use their bodies as vessels for arcane energy, forsaking the more careful path favored by other magic users." They don't care about the caution and safety that mages and sorcerers learn in the academies throughout Sanctuary. Instead, they use arcane power to disintegrate, burn, and freeze their foes while also having the ability to manipulate light and time to teleport, create illusions, and deflect oncoming attacks.

Demon Hunter: Demon Hunters are a group of fanatical warriors who have but one purpose: to avenge their friends and families who were butchered by demons and hellspawn. Every arrow that a Demon Hunter launches is, "dipped in spite" and "delivered with hatred." This fuels them to keep hunting, as every demon who falls to their deadly attacks makes the world that much safer.

Witch Doctor: Also known as spiritual warriors, Witch Doctors of the Umbaru Tribe are are new to the Diablo universe. According to the lore, only a few select men and women among the tribe can ascend to the role as they must possess the talent for communicating with spirits.

How Do I Control My Diablo 3 Character?

Now that you've picked your class, it's time to play the game! If you've never played an action RPG before, to move you left click your mouse where you want to go and your character will run to that location. You'll also use left click to open things, loot items, attack enemies, and click just about everything.

Additionally, you can use right click to assign to your first skill and other skills will automatically go on the number keys 1 - 6 as you level up. When you want to use one, just click the corresponding number and it will activate the ability. As you level up and earn more abilities you can assign them to the number keys however you want.

What Are Health And Resources?

The big glowing red orb is called the life orb and it represents your health. When it empties completely, you'll die, so make sure to carry health potions with you to replenish your health whenever it gets low.

Each class has its own resource in Diablo 3, represented by the second globe. Barbarians use Fury, Demon Hunters use Hatred and Discipline, Monks use Spirit, Witch Doctors use Mana and Wizard uses Arcane Power. Each class generates and spends their resources differently, so be sure to check out our in-depth class guides on how to use it effectively for your character.

What Are Skill Runes?

Skill runes are a way to customize your character's abilities. They generally make your character's abilities more powerful and a few alter them completely. Each character can equip a maximum of five Skill Runes, and they're unlocked as you level up. The runes can be swapped out at any time, so you can mix and match them to see what suits your playstyle best.

What Are Followers?

Followers are characters who will fight with you throughout your journey on Sanctuary. Think of them as your personal party members. Each followers has 12 skills to buff their skills and you can pick four of them at a time for them to use. They can also equip armor and give you passive benefits.

What's The Auction House?

The auction house allows you to put all of your unwanted items on sale for real word money or in-game gold. You can also purchase items for your characters at the auction house for real world money or in-game gold.

What Are Artisans?

Artisans are the merchants who buy, sell, and craft items and weapons for your characters. As you train them throughout the game, they'll begin to craft stronger items and their wagons will improve aesthetically. There are two types of Artisans in Diablo 3:

Blacksmith: He can craft weapons, armor, and add sockets to items. He can also repair your gear.

Jeweler: He can create gems, which add bonuses to items when they're placed in sockets, as well as amulets and rings. He can also un-socket gems or combine them.

Now that you're equipped with all the knowledge you need to know to get you started on your adventure, itís time to let you loose out into the glorious Hellbeast-ridden world of Sanctuary. Good luck out there, and be sure to check back to G4TV.com for more Diablo 3 coverage.

Source : http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/723793/diablo-3-beginner-guide-welcome-to-sanctuary/

Activision Pays Ex-Infinity Ward Developers $42 million, But It's Not A Settlement Ads By Google » Blog Tags Today's Most Popular Videos »

According to Polygon, Activision has paid ex-Infinity Ward developers in the Infinity Ward Employee Group $42 million, but this is not a settlement of the ongoing employment lawsuit between Infinity Ward founders (and Modern Warfare creators) Jason West and Vince Zampella, EA and Activison.

The $42 million payment was offered during the discovery phase of the larger trial. Activision reportedly decided that the gathered evidence didn't implicate the Infinity Ward Employee Group, so a decision was made to pay them what Activision believes they are owed. The $42 million figure includes ten percent interest and is in addition to $22 million already paid for the promised first quarter launch bonus.

The case goes to trial next week, and according to  Bruce Isaacs, attorney for the Infinity Ward Employee Group, the payment is a "cynical attempt to look good before the jury trial."

"I can also tell you that although it is a meaningful payment it is only a small portion of what we are seeking in litigation," Isaacs said. "It is outrageous that they made us wait, they obviously knew they owed the money and this just shows that they breached the contract."

Isaacs says the case will go forward. "We are seeking all kinds of bonuses per the contract. This payment relates to one particular game and one particular time period and one particular bonus."

If you want to read up on the lawsuit, you can catch up with all of our Fall of Duty stories, but here's the short version:

A trial on all remaining claims is scheduled to begin on Tuesday. Get your popcorn ready. We'll be bringing you coverage here on G4tv.com.

All of the best people are following Stephen Johnson's twitter feed. Also, email me if you wanna.

Source : http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/723791/activision-pays-ex-infinity-ward-developers-42-million-but-its-not-a-settlement/

Diablo III game-breaking bug found

Gamers have found a game-breaking bug in Blizzard Entertainment's just-released Diablo III. The issue triggers Error 3006, which boots users from Diablo III servers and prohibits them from logging back in, according to reports on the Battle.net forums.

Evil has returned…in the form of a game-breaking bug.

As detailed on Blizzard's Diablo III known issue page, while playing a Demon Hunter, players who equip a shield to a Templar follower run the risk of being disconnected from the game's servers. Blizzard is currently investigating the issue, and according to the company's European customer service Twitter feed, a fix is on the way.

Diablo III launched today for the PC and Mac. It is the first title in the series since 2001's Diablo II: Lord of Destruction expansion and adds a variety of new features, character classes, and a new auction house system, which charge gamers a range of fees. It launched without player-vs.-player multiplayer, and set preorder records at Blizzard and Amazon. For more on Diablo III, check out GameSpot's latest preview.

Source : http://gamespot.com/news/diablo-iii-game-breaking-bug-found-6376781

Capcom 'Re-evaluating' Its On-Disc DLC Policies Ads By Google » Blog Tags Today's Most Popular Videos »

Gamers continue to express their dissatisfaction with the idea of on-disc DLC and Capcom has been specifically targeted as one of the more egregious offenders, a fact that the publisher is now setting out to take ownership of. A message from senior VP Christian Svensson on Capcom Unity (via GamePolitics) reveals that the approach taken in the past with offering bonus game content post-release is now being given a second look.

Svensson admits that Capcom has begun the process of re-evaluating how such additional game content is delivered in the future," though he asks that fans be patient since the process only just started within "the past month or so." He then goes into an explanation of the extra content that you'll be able to get when Dragon's Dogma arrives on May 22, 2012, since that stuff is apparently on the disc. 

Product pimping aside, the important takeaway here is that your complaints are being heard and considered. There are valid arguments on both sides of the on-disc DLC discussion, but the customers wield the most power in the end and it's good to see Capcom recognizing that. Now we just have to hope that the promise to give the established policies another look results in some real action, or at least a more open and frank dialogue.

Read on for the full text of Svensson's statement:

Hey guys,

We've been getting several questions, here and elsewhere about the future of on-disc DLC.

We would like to assure you that we have been listening to your comments and as such have begun the process of re-evaluating how such additional game content is delivered in the future. As this process has only just commenced in the past month or so, there will be some titles, where development began some time ago and that are scheduled for release in the coming months, for which we are unable to make changes to the way some of their post release content is delivered.

One such title is Dragon’s Dogma, where the decision to include some additional (but not all planned additional) game content for the game on disc was made at the beginning of the game’s development cycle as at the time this was determined to be the most efficient way of ensuring certain content was made available. Owners of Dragon’s Dogma will be able to further their gameplay experience with the release of additional quests, weapons and other items in the months following the game going on sale.

Dragon’s Dogma’s post-launch content will extend the lifespan of a title that already offers around 30-40 hours of gameplay by following the main story thread, but if a player was to complete all the side quests Dragon’s Dogma ships with, that increases to around 100 hours. Players will also be able to add to the stock of 100s of weapons and 1,000s of customization options to create not only their ideally equipped, but also their most elaborately designed character.

Just wanted people to know in advance the whys, wherefores and where we're going in the future. You are being heard. Thanks.

Source : http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/723783/capcom-re-evaluating-its-on-disc-dlc-policies/

Halo 4 Box Art Revealed Thanks To Group Puzzle-Solving Effort Ads By Google » Blog Tags Today's Most Popular Videos »

Microsoft is using the lure of Halo 4's box art as an excuse to teach the fan community about a little thing called cooperation. A series of e-mails were sent out to the community, with each one containing a chunk of an image and a note that read: "Your piece of the Halo 4 puzzle." The NeoGAF hivemind then put its many heads together to assemble the image (via Kotaku), revealing the official box art for Halo 4.

It's a pretty sweet image, wouldn't you say? We all got our first glimpse of the post-Halo 3 Master Chief in an announcement trailer at E3 2011. News has been trickling out slowly since then, with the latest big one being the long-awaited confirmation of the game's release date: November 6, 2012. We'll certainly be seeing more of the game at E3 2012, so stay tuned for more news in the coming weeks.

Source : http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/723782/halo-4-box-art-revealed-thanks-to-group-puzzle-solving-effort/

Diablo 3 Error Message Blocks Out Game Access Ads By Google » Blog Tags Today's Most Popular Videos »

Diablo 3 is here at last, but the release hasn't gone as smoothly as Blizzard would like thanks to some launch day hiccups in the form of an "Error 37" message. Some players are reporting (via Shacknews) that they're greeted with a message upon launching the game that reads: "The servers are busy at this time. Please try again later. (Error 37)"

An update from the developer on Battle.net confirms that the issue is related to the servers being slammed hard with the influx of new users. "Due to high concurrency the login servers are currently at full capacity. This may cause delays in the login process, account pages and web services. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your patience while this is being resolved." There are also apparently issues affecting character creation that Blizzard is looking into.

This is a huge launch and issues were to be expected. Kudos to Blizzard for getting out in front of it and commenting quickly. How has your first-time Diablo 3 experience been so far? Is the game working fine? Running into these issues or any others? Let us know!

Source : http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/723780/diablo-3-error-message-blocks-out-game-access/

Activision pays $42 million to ex-Infinity Ward members - Report

Reports have surfaced today on both Polygon and Gamasutra claiming that Activision has paid a sum of $42 million to a group of 40 former Infinity Ward members implicated in an upcoming lawsuit with the Call of Duty publisher.

Activision wants to focus its efforts entirely on ex-Infinity Ward heads West and Zampella.

According to the reports--both of which cite an anonymous source close to the case--Activision paid the $42 million to the group representing former Infinity Ward heads Vince West and Jason Zampella after reviewing the evidence for the ongoing lawsuit over West and Zampella's 2010 firing, and subsequent establishment of Respawn Entertainment with Electronic Arts.

Both Polygon and Gamasutra reported that the sum paid by Activison is not part of a settlement.

Instead, the sum is what the publisher believes the former employees are owed after reviewing trial evidence and reportedly finding that it does not implicate the group's 40 members. It is reported that Activision will now focus its legal efforts entirely on West and Zampella.

In March this year, Activision scored a partial victory in the suit, when a judge dismissed one of two fraud claims brought against the publisher by West and Zampella.

Activision claims that it fired the pair because they were secretly planning to start their new studio with the help of Electronic Arts, while still employed with the Call of Duty publisher. West and Zampella claim that the real reason they were fired was so that Activision wouldn't have to pay them millions of dollars in royalties associated with Modern Warfare 2. Beyond the performance-based payout and any other court-awarded monetary damages, West and Zampella are seeking to gain co-ownership of the Modern Warfare brand. If successful in court, West and Zampella would have the right to create and release both old and new installments in the Modern Warfare franchise.

According to the reports, the trial is set to take place on May 29.

Source : http://gamespot.com/news/activision-pays-42-million-to-ex-infinity-ward-members-report-6376776

Elder Scrolls Online Faction Daggerfall Covenant Detailed Ads By Google » Blog Tags Today's Most Popular Videos »

There are three playable factions spread across the land in the newly revealed Elder Scrolls Online, and today we have the first details on one of them: the Daggerfall Covenant. Made up of Bretons, Reguards, and orcs, this faction is largely based in and around the regions of High Rock, where the capital city of Daggerfall can be found, and Hammerfell.

High Rock is the region situated to the west and slightly south of Skyrim. It's more southerly, coastal location results in a much more temperate climate than the frozen tundras to the north. Bretons and orcs dwell here, primarily. Hammerfell sits to the south of both High Rock and Skyrim, a region composed primarily of deserts, mountains, and flat grasslands. The Redguards call this region home, having built up its multiple cities and ports.

The Game Informer feature revealing all of these new Elder Scrolls Online details says that the Daggerfall Covenent is "a lot more democratic than" the other factions. The next faction to be highlighted is the "ruthless" Aldmeri Dominion, so stay tuned for added details soon.

Source : http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/723779/elder-scrolls-online-faction-daggerfall-covenant-detailed/