The A-Z of the Alien Franchise

With Prometheus landing in cinemas within days, we explore the deepest, darkest corners of the galaxy to present an unmissable alphabetical guide to the Alien franchise. Just beware of franchise spoilers ahead.

A is for... Alien

The movie that gave birth to a phenomenon. Ridley Scott's second feature film after The Duellists, it's a masterclass in sustained tension and economy of horror - the 'monster' is only on screen for seconds at a time. Written by Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett, and formerly titled Star Beast (catchy), it evolved into the terrifying survival horror we know and love. Inducted into the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2002, it remains one of the most terrifying and iconic horror films of all time.

B is for... Burke

Burke by name, berk by nature. The 'corporate dickweed' archetype had been hinted at in the first film, with Ash working on behalf of 'The Company' to bring the beast back alive for bio-weapons, but it wasn't until we met Paul Reiser's Carter Burke in Aliens that we realised The Company was almost exclusively staffed by buttheads. Open-handed and queasily chummy on the surface - like a sort of shifty space politician - he nonetheless puts countless lives at risk for his employers, probably to secure a bigger office or something.

C is for... Chestburster

The most startling scene in a film packed full of memorable moments, the 'chestburster' sequence is one of the most shocking deaths in sci-fi history. Having just had an alien get jiggy with his gob, John Hurt's Kane wakes up feeling woozy, but thinks nothing of joining the crew of the Nostromo for a spot of dinner. Turns out that wasn't indigestion he was feeling: after some terrifyingly realistic convulsions, Kane's stomach is punched open from the inside, and an alien embryo bursts forth, spraying the unprepared cast members with blood. That look of shock on their faces is genuine, captured on film forever.

D is for… David

You may have already met Michael Fassbender's Bowie-inspired android David in Prometheus' promotional material. And given his promise that he can carry out directives that human crew members might consider "unethical" we're guessing he's not entirely on the level. Interestingly - and despite the revised chronology post-Prometheus - the 'synthetic humans' in the Alien franchise have all been named alphabetically (Ash, Bishop and Call in that order). We look forward to meeting Eugene, Frank and Gerard in future instalments.

E is for... Eggs

With the design of the alien being kept a secret, the striking image on the Alien poster was the egg, with green pus oozing forth. You may notice that this egg (belonging to a hen, egg fans) looks different to the ones in the movie – that's because the scene in which John Hurt inspects the more organic-looking facehugger egg was added in post-production. The movement that Kane sees inside is Ridley Scott's hand in a rubber glove, and the innards – if you really must know – were made of cow guts and tripe. Anyone fancy an omelette?

F is for... Facehugger

There's something horribly perverse about the design of the facehugger – the first creature created for the movie. It's the combination of its long, spindly, human-like fingers and its whipping tail that still gives us the fear – that and, of course, its penchant for humping your face and laying eggs in your stomach. It's more than just a freaky creepy-crawlie – the facehugger's disgusting "oral invasion" technique as used on Kane in Alien was intended as a riposte to various scenes of abuse suffered by female horror protagonists at the hands of male monsters.

G is for... Giger

Hans Rudolf Giger is the creative (and potentially quite troubled) genius behind Alien's most twisted designs. The Swiss artist studied architecture and industrial design in Zurich before realising his talent lay in creating disturbing, evocative, impossibly dark imagery – a perfect fit for the Alien universe, in other words. Ridley Scott saw potential in Giger's painting, Necronom IV, and commissioned the artist to birth his beast. The finished product – an asexual creature with a long, smooth, curved cranium – was the perfect nightmare. "It could just as easily f*ck you before it killed you" commented producer Ivor Powell.

H is for... Hudson and Hicks

The twin pillars of the Colonial Marines: Corporal Dwayne Hicks, a gruff, lantern-jawed leader of men; and Private William Hudson, a sarcastic technician who talks the talk but breaks down like a little bitch when the odds aren't in his favour. Despite surviving Aliens, Michael Biehn didn't get the chance to reprise Hicks in the threequel – he was killed off during the opening credits, but successfully demanded almost the same amount of cash for the brief use of his image as he was paid for the entirety of James Cameron's movie. Bill Paxton's Hudson saw an undignified end, but did get some of Aliens' best lines, including the eternally over-quoted cry of defeat: "Game over, man! Game over!"

I is for... Ident

Arguably the scariest moment of Alien 3 comes before a single second of footage has been shown. The movie opens with the customary 20th Century Fox fanfare, but holds the penultimate note and transforms it into a discordant wail, putting the viewer at instant unease. Director David Fincher's idea, this startling opening was intended to unsettle audiences and let them know that nothing, not even the company idents, were safe from harm. Shame the rest of the movie didn't quite deliver in the same way.

J is for… Joss and Jean-Pierre

The red-headed stepchild of the Alien franchise, fourquel Resurrection sticks out like a sore thumb – it's not so much a horror as a sci-fi fantasy adventure, complete with underwater sequences, Ripley shooting hoops and a baffling final baddie that looks like crappy fan art brought to life. Joss Whedon claims his tongue-in-cheek script was mostly left intact, but was poorly adapted by French director Jean-Pierre Jeunet and the studio heads, who "executed it in such a ghastly fashion they rendered it unwatchable." We are not entirely disagreeing, although it does have its moments (see 'U').

K is for... K-Y Jelly

If you ever wondered what they used for the slime slithering out of the alien's mouth, well... now you know! Ridley Scott was the first to lube his beast with K-Y Jelly (steady), but James Cameron took slobbering to a whole new level on Aliens, literally dumping buckets of the stuff on the Alien Queen's snout. It apparently made controlling the hydraulics incredibly difficult because the individual components couldn't get a proper purchase. Job well done, K-Y!

L is for... LV-426

Planets way out there in the furthest reaches of the galaxy don't have cool names like Mars or Jupiter – they just get numbers. LV-426 is the interstellar code for the planet on which the distress signal is picked up by the Nostromo in the first Alien movie. Named 'Acheron' in extended universe fiction, the planet is where we first see the crashed ship (known as The Derelict), the Space Jockey and our friends the facehuggers. It is a travel agent-approved vacation recommendation. It's just a few moons over from LV-223, the planet on which Prometheus is set (see 'Z').



Source : http://www.ign.com

Diablo 3 Guide: Meet Your Followers Ads By Google » Blog Tags Today's Most Popular Videos »

This guide to Diablo 3's Follower system will explore each Follower class and function so that you can get the most out of the revamped system and NPCs you decide to enlist for battle. Taking on Followers isn't required, but trust us -- it's a good idea.

What are Followers?

Formerly known as Hirelings, Followers are NPCs that may be found throughout Sanctuary who are more than willing to accompany you into battle. Not only can they fight on your behalf, but they may also level up, acquire new abilities, and receive new and improved equipment should you choose to provide it. Think of them as aides that you can outfit and grow as you see fit. You may not be able to customize them as closely as your own Hero, but done correctly they can be molded into formidable assistants.

How do I hire a Follower?

Right-clicking on the Follower icon found at the upper-left corner of the screen will open a menu with four options: Talk, Hire, Dismiss, or Retrain. From here you may speak to potential candidates, hire one, retrain a current Follower, or dismiss your current ally. You may hire only one Follower at a time and you may choose from three different classes: the Templar, Scoundrel, and Enchantress.

You may choose to hire additional Followers, but your remaining hires will have to wait back at camp until you return. After you begin browsing through the available Followers, you are given 120 seconds to make your hiring decision. Once you've chosen a suitable companion, your new ally will automatically match your hero's level minus one. Say you've hit level 13 -- your Follower will be at level 12 upon hire. It's prudent to outfit your warrior with equipment that's suitable for their current level and location, as the items they spawn with are completely random.

What happens to Followers in battle?

Your Follower will act as a constant companion in each scuffle, and can be outfitted with weapons and equipment of your choosing. In addition, each class can equip a special accessory exclusive to their lineage: Templar Relics, Enchantment Focuses, and Scoundrel Tokens. They can be healed by special health globes should they take damage, but will not die in combat. Instead, they'll fall to one knee, exhausted. This renders them incapacitated for 10 seconds, after which they will automatically be revived. After the battle has been won, Followers will be awarded XP for the enemies they've downed, but will not be able to pick up gold or equipment.

What does it mean to Retrain a Follower?

Retraining allows you to select new skill sets after you've already established a current path for your ally. It is quite costly to do so, but can be very beneficial should you need an entirely different set of proficiencies for your current situation.

What kinds of Followers are there?

You may choose from three different classes at certain points throughout the game, each with their own specialities and accessories.

Templars

Encountered in: Act 1, Reign of the Black King

Templars are renowned as excellent hand-to-hand combatants, and can also carry a wide range of spears and swords, as well as daggers and maces. You'll first meet up with this class in the Cathedral as you make your way through Act 1. The knights sworn to protect the church are powerful allies to your Hero, as they can heal and taunt in addition to slice through any enemies that may stand in your way.

Templar Skills

Level 5: Templars may Heal you or themselves for varying life, at the cost of a cooldown for 30 seconds. In addition, they may Intervene, which taunts enemies currently attacking your Hero for 3 seconds, only when the Hero is below 50% of health. Cooldown cost is 60 seconds.

Level 10: Loyalty, an improved version of Heal, regenerates hit points per second for the Hero and Templar. Intimidate will slow enemies by 60% for 3 seconds should one dare to lay a finger on the Templar.

Level 15: Charge will launch an offensive Charge on a target that deals 50% weapon damage and stuns applicable, in-range enemies within 8 yards for only 2 seconds and a cooldown cost of 30. An even more powerful offensive skill, Onslaught, can inflict 200% weapon damage for 30 seconds of cooldown -- quite impressive!

Level 20: Inspire can increase resource generation for any ally the Templar follows. Guardian will send your Templar rushing to the side of a wounded ally, with a knockback of enemies within 15 yards and healing the affected Hero. Cooldown is 30 seconds.

Scoundrels

Encountered in: Act 1, Sword of the Stranger

Scoundrels are known as excellent marksmen and can be found in the Fields of Misery. They're fantastic with two-hanged ranged weapons (like bows and crossbows) but unlike the Templar are usually out for blood rather than coming to the Hero's aid. With that said, they're great for offensive onslaughts.

Scoundrel Skills

Level 5: Crippling Shot is a ranged attack that can slow down enemies by 60% for 3 seconds, for a cooldown cost of 6 seconds. Alternatively, Poison Bolts deal 40% weapon damage and an additional 40% as Poison damage over 3 seconds.

Level 10: Dirty Fighting will blind enemies near the Scoundrel for 3 seconds, for a cooldown of 30 seconds. Vanish allows an injured Scoundrel to disappear from the fight with a quick puff of smoke, where he will reappear after 5 seconds, having healed himself with varying life. Cooldown is 30 seconds.

Level 15: Powered Shot sends an arrow hurtling toward enemies that explodes upon impact with 25% Arcane weapon damage to all targets in 6 yards. It's also got a 50-50 shot at stunning enemies for 2 seconds. Multishot is a simple skill that allows a Scoundrel's ranged attacks to fire off 3 bolts one at a time.

Level 20: Hysteria allows Scoundrels and Heroes who land critical hits to increase all damage done by 10% for 3 seconds. Anatomy increases the Scoundrel's Critical Hit chances by 3% for himself and any available allies.

Enchantress

Encountered in: Act 2, Beneath the Burning Sands

Enchantresses are powerful Followers with proficiencies in staves, wands, and other two-handed weapons, with access to helpful buffs and protective abilities. Great for keeping up a good defense, especially if you're headed into an area that requires magical displacement or an additional oomph for attacks.

Enchantress Skills

Level 15: The Enchantress can Charm an enemy into joining the fight for you for 4 seconds at a 25 second cooldown. Forceful Push will summon an Arcane explosion that will deal 100% weapon damage (dealt as Arcane) with a knockback to all monsters within the explosion. Cooldown is 10 seconds.

Level 20: Reflect Missiles allows the Enchantress and allies to deflect any incoming ranged attacks or projectiles for 6 seconds for a cooldown cost of 20 seconds. Powered Armor is a useful buff that increases the Enchantress's and allies' armor by 15%. Any oncoming attackers are slowed down at a formidable 30% for 3 seconds.

Level 25: Disorient casts a veil of confusion on a selected pod of enemies, which keeps the poor saps walking around in circles, disoriented, for 2 seconds, at a cooldown cost of 45 seconds. Erosion creates energy that will deal 50% weapon damage as Arcade for 3 seconds, where any enemies caught in the pool will take an extra 15% damage from any attack for 3 seconds. Cooldown requires 15 seconds.

Level 30: Mass Control will send a hex to any enemies within range of 15 yards, effectively turning them into chickens for 5 seconds. Yes, chickens, who can't attack in any offensive manner...you know, because they're chickens. Massive cooldown time of 60 seconds is required for this spell. Focused Mind, on the other hand, creates an aura that will increase attack speed by 3% for any ally within 40 yards of the Enchantress.

There is an appropriate Follower for any situation, depending on the area you're about to explore. All three are outfitted with useful buffs and attacks that should act as useful enhancements throughout your journey. Which Followers are right for you? Let us know which class you keep coming back to and what works in different types of situations during your travels.



Source : http://www.g4tv.com

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

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/

X-Play Summer Games Preview Week Starts Tonight 6:30/5:30c Ads By Google » Blog Tags Today's Most Popular Videos »

Tune in tonight 6:30/5:30c as X-Play kicks off Summer Games Preview Week, our ultimate guide to all the season's hottest games. Tonight we'll start it off with Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, Diablo 3, Max Payne 3, and more. Get full show details below:

Watch the X-Play Summer Games Preview tonight and all week at 6:30/5:30c!


Source : http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/723725/x-play-summer-games-preview-week-starts-tonight-630530c/

How to Prepare for Diablo 3

A new guide explaining how to prepare for Diablo 3's launch next Tuesday has gone live on the Blizzard Blog.

In it, Blizzard explains what players should expect, how they can prepare, and when they can install and play the long-awaited title. Those who have already bought the game will be able to access the installer from Monday in order to patch the game and troubleshoot any issues they may encounter before launch.

The game will launch at midnight on May 15th, though Blizzard is warning that there may be delays of up to 40 seconds when logging in due to the volume of players. As an added precaution, it advises creating a BattleTag now to avoid queues.

The Global Play service, allowing you to play with friends from other regions, won't launch until the game goes live in North America at around 8am BST. Blizzard is promising to work round the clock throughout the launch period to help players overcome any technical difficulties they may encounter.



Source : http://pc.ign.com/articles/122/1224506p1.html

The Witcher 2 Romance Guide -- Rated-Teen Beat -- The Latest In Video Game Gossip Ads By Google » Blog Tags Today's Most Popular Videos »

The Witcher 2 Romance Guide, the guide that lies before you, will hold your hand through Geralt’s pursuit of almost every woman he encounters. This is the third installment in a little series I like to call Rated-Teen Beat. We're going to be dishing about Geralt and his many conquests. Don't hate the player; hate the game. But don't hate the game either, because it's The Witcher 2 and it's awesome.

Witchers are monster hunters who have been trained, and altered, from a young age, to fight monsters and survive brutal attacks. Your monster hunting skills have been acquired over years of battles, but your love making skills, that’s all you.

Seriously though, Geralt is what one might call a “man whore.” If you need help making sure your Witcher is as slutty as your heart’s content, you’ve come to the right place. I should note, however, Geralt can’t bang every love interest in one playthrough of The Witcher 2. There is a split at the end of Chapter 1. You’ll have to side with Iorveth or Roche, both will allow you access to specific women.  If you want to get with as many ladies as possible, and why wouldn’t you, side with Iorveth. If you do, you’ll be able to get better acquainted with Mottle, the Succubus, and Cynthia, as well as all the whores you can hold with two hands. If you choose Roche, you’ll have to settle with Ves. No matter which path you choose, it leads to prostitutes, so there’s that.

If you’re concerned Geralt’s promiscuity may cause some health concerns, keep in mind Witchers are sterile. They are also immune to diseases, STDs included. Safe sex is happy sex, folks.

Before you even get a sword, you get to sneak a peek at Triss’ boobs. In The Witcher 2’s prologue you can choose “On the day of the attack.” If you do, you’ll wake up in bed next to a totally naked Triss.

Quest: The Rose of Remembrance
When you begin this quest you must allow Triss to accompany you. In the garden, a group of thugs will attack, their defeat activates a cutscene. In the dialogue tree select “You could use a bath.” This initiates a water sex scene, complete with  a magic striptease. No really, she takes her clothes off with magic.

Quest: Ave Henselt!
Defeat all of the challengers in the tournament in Chapter 2. After you take down all your competition, Ves will challenge you. If you want to hit that, make sure you hit that. You can’t sleep with her until you defeat her. Following your victory choose these dialogue options.

Quest: The Prison Barge
In Chapter 1, you have the choice of whether or not to save some girls from a burning tower. If you do, one of the girls will have sex with you in Chapter 2. It’s the reward Mario has always wanted. Once you make it to Chapter 2, complete the quest The War Council, and leave Vergen through the Mahakam Gate. When you see a cart with a red roof, go left, and you’ll see Mottle.

Mottle is one of the elf girls you saved. I guess she’s pretty stoked you saved her because it only takes three words to get her to put out, which has to be a record. Choose “Tempt?” and then choose “All right.” That’s all. Initiate graphic elven sex scene. After the sex talk to her again and you’ll get a key to the Tunnel of the Founders.

Quest: With Flickering Heart

I can’t help you complete the quest: With Flickering Heart, but I can tell you to side with the Succubus. As a general rule of thumb, side with the person you want to have sex with, they like that.

The fastest way to get the Succubus is to first buy surgical tools from Felicia Cori before investigating the corpses in the catacombs. There will be a fresh corpse, check its arms for a metal fragment, then turn the body over to find Dandelion’s poetry book. Talk to Dandelion to convince him to help you lure out the Succubus.

Next meet Dandelion in the village at night. The Succubus will only appear if he correctly recites the poetry from his book. You must use these responses:

When the Succubus appears you can speak with her, or Dandelion can. It’s easier to sway the Succubus with Geralt, but both are possible. If you do go with Dandelion you must say “Like the others?” to begin the proper dialogue sequence. If you stick with Geralt, you’ll skip that first step. Either way you must choose these options:

As you might guess, next you need to speak with Ele’yah. When you do, choose these:

The next conversation will be with Iorveth. It is vital that you acquired the metal fragment from the corpse, if you don’t, the necessary dialogue choice won’t appear. Assuming you’re on track, say the following to Iorveth:

This sets up a cutscene where Iorveth claims Ele’yah has fled town. Head back to the village and Ele’yah will attack you. Defeat him and go see your next conquest, the Succubus. When you go back to her, say “Sounds good to me.” It does sound good to you because you’re about to get some sweet Witcher on Succubus action. Be warned: Everything is fair game when a tail is involved.

Quest: A Tome Truly Rare

Getting Cynthia to give it up can be a bit a challenge. First you have to complete the quest The Secrets of Loc Muinne and the subquest, Dearhenna’s Journal. Not so fast sailor, you have to complete it in the correct manner to trigger the proper version of A Tome Truly Rare. The Secrets of Loc Muinne can end three ways. Only one ending leaves Cynthia alive and in town. Get that one. If you do, you’re on the right path. (That path leads to her pants.)

If you need help going down that path, here are the basic steps:

If Geralt did exactly what I told him to do, Cynthia will be waiting at the Loc Muinne Inn. Find her, and say these things:

Ladies and gents, you’ve just nailed Cynthia.

Quest: Anytime. All of them. Found in the basement of the inn.
The inn has a basement, go down there and the ladies will go down, well, you know. All of the lovely ladies require a bribe of at least 100 orens. Paying them more than that won’t get you a better sex scene, so save your money. Each woman has a unique intro video, but they all share the same sex scene choreography.

If you sided with Iorveth, you’ll only be able to knock +5 boots with the camp followers during the mission: Where Is Triss Merigold? If you sided with Roche, you’ll be able to access these ladies anytime. The women at the Flotsam brothel require a bribe too. 100 orens will get you the basic service package. The generic whores, Birdie, Big Bust Miriam, Arseleta, have the same moves, but the unique whores, Licking Lucy and Whistling Wendy, will do some pretty special stuff.

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Source : http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/723467/the-witcher-2-romance-guide-rated-teen-beat-the-latest-in-video-game-gossip/