The Secret World Team Details Plans for Future

If there's one problem most every MMO seems to run into it's a lack of content. Despite having only been out a week, Funcom announced today a plan to add new content every month to The Secret World, with the first update coming July 31st. No specific details are available about what the first update will include, but the press release did detail some bigger picture ideas Ragnar Tornquist, Senior Producer and Writer on The Secret World, first wrote in his initial 'State of the Game' forum post:

• Monthly mission packs, including a slew of new investigation mission


• New weapons (including a big one that will cause even bigger explosions!)


• Raids (clue for the first one: The Big Apple will never be the same)


• Expanded character customization, including plastic surgery


• A player vs. player dungeon set in an entirely new geographical area


• Dungeon finder tool to make grouping for dungeons much easier


• Seasonal events such as Halloween and Winter Solstice


• Two large adventure areas including new characters, missions, monsters, lore and more


• More social gameplay will be added to the London hub


• Combat will be enhanced significantly both visually and mechanically

Many of the planned updates are pretty standard for MMOs, but the monthly update schedule is quite ambitious. Tornquist went into more detail, writing:

The first few packs will contain new investigations for every adventure zone in the game -- but we also have more action and sabotage missions planned for the near future. These missions will feature fully voiced cut-scenes and new media pop-ups, and will match the quality of the missions currently in the game. Oh, and like everything else in our monthly updates, these packs are FREE for our subscribers!

How are you feeling about The Secret World so far? Does the prospect of regular content make you want to keep playing? Maybe start for the first time?

Anthony loves him some action-RPGs and comic books. As a member of IGN's PC team he also loves anything involving a mouse. Anything. You can always hit him up by following him on IGN or Twitter.

Source : ign[dot]com

Star Wars: The Old Republic Offers Free Trial

BioWare has announced a free trial for Star Wars: The Old Republic. Starting today, players can try the game with no time limit up to level 15 at no cost as long as they don’t have a previously active account.

Players in the free trial can use all eight character classes and explore the Origin World for each one, as well as their faction’s Capital World. They’ll also be able to participate in PVP warzones or play with friends through a Flashpoint.

The news comes just one month after BioWare said it was looking into free-to-play options for The Old Republic. The trial is open to players who have previously participated in Weekend Pass Free Trials or the Friends of Star Wars: The Old Republic Trial. Sign-ups are available on the game’s official site.

Plan to try The Old Republic for the first time? Be sure to check out the Star Wars: The Old Republic Starter Guide in our IGN wiki.

Andrew Goldfarb is IGN’s associate news editor. Keep up with pictures of the latest food he’s been eating by following him on Twitter or IGN.

Source : ign[dot]com

Two New Dota 2 Heroes Added

Announced officially on the Dota 2 website, today's game update added the classic heroes Disruptor and Undying to Valve's take on the action-RTS / MOBA genre. Disruptor is an Intelligence hero that focuses on blasting away at his opponents with electricity, while Undying is a Strength-based hero who uses plagues and the undead to unleash hell upon his foes.

The update also fixed numerous bugs for specific heroes, including quite a few changes to wisps. Also updated are the ways that bots work, with some specific bots like Crystal Maiden being  made "even more timid." To get a full breakdown, check out the latest update's notes.

To learn more about Dota 2, you should check out our Wiki, as well as our numerous character profile videos. Rest assured we'll be covering the heck out of Dota 2 leading up to its 2012 release.

Source : ign[dot]com

The Walking Dead: Episode 2 Having Issues on PSN

Today, The Walking Dead: Episode 2 launched on PlayStation Network. But unfortunately for many players trying to get into the experience, they’re unable to. IGN users rhoadesclark informed us of a thread on Telltale Games’ message boards chronicling the issue. As of the time of this story’s publish, the thread spans 14 pages.

The problem is associated with trying to launch the game. From dozens of accounts on Telltale’s message boards, when the game is downloaded, installed and launched, the game refuses to load and kicks gamers back to the CrossMediaBar (XMB). So the problem isn’t somehow in-game; the problem literally doesn’t let people play the game at all.

Telltale Games employees are trying to get to the bottom of the problem by asking users on the message boards questions, including if the game was deleted and then reinstalled and by which method the game was purchased (either individually or as part of the season pass). But there’s still no word on a fix, or when it might be forthcoming.

The problem isn’t only concentrated on Telltale’s forums. I put out a Tweet asking if any of my followers were having issues. They are. We’ve reached out to Telltale Games for official comment and, hopefully, a word on when these issues may be fixed. We’ll update when we hear back. In the meantime, let us know in the comments if you're having issues with The Walking Dead Episode 2 on PSN, and what the nature of your particular problems are, if any.

Colin Moriarty is an IGN PlayStation editor. You can follow him on Twitter and IGN and learn just how sad the life of a New York Islanders and New York Jets fan can be.

Source : ign[dot]com

Zynga Gets Original in Matching With Friends

Zynga’s reputation as a clone factory isn’t entirely undeserved. Today’s announcement that a Sims competitor The Ville and Farmville 2 are both in the works certainly doesn’t help. But not everything the company does is a spin on what someone else did first. Today’s launch of Matching with Friends shows that the social gaming powerhouse is capable of fun and original social gaming experiences as well.

As its name implies, Matching with Friends follows Words, Chess, Hanging and Scramble as the latest title in the “…With Friends” line-up. Like its predecessors the game is built on turn-by-turn multiplayer, allowing you to catch up on all your running games at your own leisure.

The big difference here is that Matching takes the player-friendly asynchronous multiplayer set-up the series is known for and applies it to a wholly original puzzle concept, instead of riffing on already-popular concepts like all the other With Friends titles.

Each round gamers are given a set of multicolored blocks that must be assembled onto the game board. Making sets of like-colored blocks scores points and clears them from the board. 2X and 3X multipliers litter the play field in key spots adding an extra layer of strategy. The player that manages to score the most points over 12 rounds wins.

The concept is very simple – anyone can match colors. But after just one afternoon of play it’s already obvious that Matching contains plenty of hidden depth. For example, if you have no good moves during your round it is a totally viable strategy to simply clutter the play field, making things more difficult for your opponent.

Matching with Friends is free to play with ads, with an ad-free version for sale for $2.99. Players can purchase coins which can be redeemed for power-ups like board-clearing bombs, but in my early games I haven’t ever felt like I needed to take advantage of these items or that the experience was “pay to win.”

Download Matching with Friends Free to try out the multiplayer puzzler for yourself.



Source : ign[dot]com

Zynga Reveals Matching With Friends

During its Zynga Unleashed event today, Zynga announced Matching With Friends, the fifth game in its popular With Friends series. Available now on iOS, Matching With Friends consists of matching colored tiles. Each game lasts 11 turns as players try to match three or more tiles to clear the board and reset their opponent’s opportunity to score. Players can work with tiles that their opponents have already placed to build matches cooperatively, or use different colored tiles to block their opponents’ progress.

Each game board will contain special multipliers that allow for twice or three times the amount of normal points for each match. Players can also place bombs to eliminate opponents’ pieces and will earn extra points for making matches using a bonus color assigned at the beginning of each game. Matching With Friends will also include unique social features, including in-game chat and Facebook connect.

Meanwhile, Zynga also announced the Zynga With Friends network, which will allow players across multiple devices (iOS, Facebook, Android or Zynga.com) to interact via live chat and view live social streams. Look out for more coverage of Zynga’s new social platforms in our full coverage of Zynga Unleashed later today.

Matching With Friends is available for free from the App Store and is compatible with iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. An ad-free version is also available for $2.99.



Source : ign[dot]com

Apple Debuts Brand New Podcasts App

Apple today released a podcast app that allows you a simpler way to find, subscribe, and listen to podcasts natively on your iOS device.

Unfortunately, the podcast app shoots you straight into the Podcast section of the iTunes store as soon as you try to download anything – instead of letting you download natively inside the app.

However, if you already subscribe to a bunch of podcasts, then the app will supply you with a much, much better catalog option.

Top Stations is a new feature that allows for an easy way to discover new stations, and you can loop back ten seconds, loop forward thirty seconds, or even set a Sleep Timer – which will automatically stop playing a podcast after a while (in case you love to fall asleep to Tech Fetish).

Perhaps best of all is a speed adjustment that lets you fly through podcasts at much faster or slower speeds, turning your favorite IGN podcasters into chipmunks or monsters, depending on your mood.

The app is free and has been optimized for iPhone 3GS and newer, as well as iPod touches (3rd generation or newer), and iPads (sporting iOS 5.1 or later).

If you have even a passing interest in podcasts, head to iTunes to download this app. And while you’re at it, make sure to take a look at all of IGN’s awesome podcasts, right here on IGN.



Source : ign[dot]com

Mass Effect 3 Extended Cut DLC Out Now

The Mass Effect 3 Extended Cut DLC is now available on Xbox.com Marketplace for free. The PC version will also be made available today, but the PS3 version won't be released until July 4.

The content takes up about 1.9 GB of space (though Xbox Marketplace lists it as 1.85 GB), though that's not necessarily new content (presumably most of it will be taken up by re-downloading the game's end cut scenes). The DLC "expands on the endings of Mass Effect 3 through additional scenes and epilogue sequences". It's said that these additional content will provide "more of the answers and closure that players have been asking for" and "gives a sense of what the future holds as a result of the decisions made throughout the series".

It is important to note, however, that BioWare stresses on its official Extended Cut FAQ that "The Extended Cut is an expansion of the original endings to Mass Effect 3. It does not fundamentally change the endings, but rather it expands on the meaning of the original endings, and reveals greater detail on the impact of player decisions."

Source : ign[dot]com

Far Cry 3 Delayed

Ubisoft announced today that Far Cry 3 has been delayed. While the game was originally announced for early September, it will now be headed to the UK on November 29th and the United States on December 4th.

According to producer Dan Hay, the delay is because the team is “taking more time to create the best possible gameplay experience.”

Far Cry 3 is an open-world first person shooter set on a tropical island. Players will control Jason Brody, fighting for survival against crazy enemies while taking lots of drugs.

Before Far Cry 3 hits stores, be sure to check out our impressions of the potential greatness of the game’s single player mode and the not-so-greatness of cooperative multiplayer.

Will you be buying Far Cry 3? Let us know in the comments below.



Source : ign[dot]com

Uncharted 1 and 2 Coming to PSN Next Week

Today, the Official PlayStation Blogcast confirmed that Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune and Uncharted 2: Among Thieves will be coming to PlayStation Network this coming Tuesday, June 26th, as digital releases.

Better yet, the games will be available on the cheap. Each one will cost $20, but should you choose to buy them together, you’ll save $10. Both games have Trophies and should be available in their complete form as they were on Blu-ray.

Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune came to PlayStation 3 in November of 2007. We gave it a 9.1. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves came to PlayStation 3 nearly two years later. We gave it a 9.5. Playing both should prepare you for Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception, a game we gave a a perfect 10. Both were developed by Naughty Dog, the Sony-owned studio responsible for the Crash Bandicoot and Jak and Daxter series.

Colin Moriarty is an IGN PlayStation editor. You can follow him on Twitter and IGN and learn just how sad the life of a New York Islanders and New York Jets fan can be.

Source : ign[dot]com

Curt Schilling Discusses the Demise of 38 Studios

Today, former MLB pitcher and 38 Studios founder Curt Schilling gave his first interview since the demise of his Rhode Island-based developer. The interview was given on The Dennis & Callahan Morning Show on WEEI in Boston, a program on a sports radio station that covered Schilling extensively during his days on the Boston Red Sox.

The lengthy interview was distilled by the Boston Globe-owned Boston.com, though you can listen to the extensive interview for yourself. Here’s Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5.

The crux of the issue, according to Schilling, was that 38 Studios was never able to raise additional venture capital. “We tried for a long time to do that and it didn’t come to fruition,” he said. The money was largely needed to continue the development of Project Copernicus, the MMORPG set to take place in the universe of Amalur. This is the same universe where Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning took place, a game released earlier this year to critical acclaim.

38 Studios, at the time of its Chapter 7 bankruptcy declaration, had outstanding debts of over $150 million, with controlled assets valued at nearly seven times less than what’s owed. The state of Rhode Island is on the hook for a majority of the money, according to Boston.com. The Boston Globe report notes that “The company reported it owed money to more than 1,000 people and companies, most of whom likely won’t recover any money.”

Notably, Schilling talked about how 38 Studios began to fall apart at a rapid pace once a $35 million deal with a still-unknown publisher fell through to allow the development of a sequel to Reckoning. When a private investor, according to Schilling, tried to give 38 Studios up to $20 million of the needed money under an agreement with Rhode Island that would restructure the outstanding loan, the deal fell through. “If that happened,” this investor “would come in and save the company,” Schilling claimed.

Schilling also talked a bit about his own financial stake in the company. The Boston Globe notes that “he personally invested more than $50 million in the company, in addition to the $5 million to $10 million from other wealthy investors and a $75 million loan guarantee it received from the state of Rhode Island to entice it to move to Providence last year.”

“I put everything in my name in this company. I believed in it. I believed in what we built. I never took a penny in salary. I never took a penny for anything,” Schilling told Dennis & Callahan. He apparently told his family that “the money I saved and earned playing baseball was probably all gone... life is going to be different.”

Colin Moriarty is an IGN PlayStation editor. You can follow him on Twitter and IGN and learn just how sad the life of a New York Islanders and New York Jets fan can be.

Source : ign[dot]com

Nintendo 3DS XL - First Images

Nintendo has released official images for the 3DS XL. The new system, which was announced during today's Nintendo Direct broadcast, will be available to purchase on August 19 (the same day as New Super Mario Bros. 2). In addition to larger screens, the new system will also sport a longer battery life, and will sell for $199.99.

And now, without further ado, the 3DS XL...

 

For more on the 3DS XL as its launch date approaches, keep it here on IGN.



Source : ign[dot]com

E3 2012: The Last of Us Gameplay Footage Debuted

During its E3 press conference today, Sony showed new footage from The Last of Us.

In the demo shown, Joel and Ellie are in Rivers Cafe and exit to find a flooded city street.

They soon wander (passing a movie poster for Dawn of the Wolf) and end up in what was once a fancy hotel.

Joel soon encounters men in a hotel room and fights with them. Ellie throws a brick at one and Joel is soon in a shootout. He battles against two guys, bashing one into the floor.

Using materials, Joel creates a molotov cocktail and throes it at enemies, burning one alive. Joel soon gets in a hand-to-hand struggle and Ellie attacks the man he's fighting with from behind. He elbows her and Joel pounces. Joel pulls a gun and the man begs not to be shot; Joel shoots him anyway.

More details coming...

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Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/06/05/e3-2012-the-last-of-us-gameplay-footage-debuted

E3 2012: PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale Coming to Vita

After lots of rumors, Sony officially confirmed PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale for the PlayStation Vita today. The news and info about crossplay (PS3 users can play Vita users and vice versa) came at the PlayStation E3 press conference. It was demoed live, with two players battling on Vita while two others used a PS3.

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/06/05/e3-2012-playstation-all-stars-battle-royale-coming-to-vita

E3 2012: Quantic Dream’s Beyond: Two Souls Revealed

As rumored this morning, Heavy Rain developer Quantic Dream revealed its new title during Sony’s E3 press conference today.

The game is called Beyond: Two Souls and revolves around what happens after we die. The main character is named Jodie and is played by Ellen Page. Jodie has a ghostly presence around her, something "in between."

The game will tell Jodie's story over 15 years. A brief scene shown during the conference had Jodie talking to Lt. J. Sherman, a police officer. Jodie has a recent scar on the back of her head.

More details coming…

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Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/06/05/e3-2012-quantic-dreams-beyond-two-souls-revealed

Did THQ Lay Off Employees Today?

Rumors are circulating on Twitter that THQ laid off employees at its San Diego studio today. This comes on the heels of the news that THQ no longer holds the the official Ultimate Fighting Championship license, as EA officially announced a multi-year, multi-title deal with the sports franchise. THQ was asked for comment about the layoffs, but only responded with a press release about the "transition of the ultimate fighting championship videogame rights," so it's unclear if the rumors are true or have anything to do with today's licensing news.

Tomorrow, 6/5 THQ will hold an investor meeting call prior to the Nintendo Press Conference, so hopefully this will be cleared up then. Stay tuned for more details as they're made available.

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/06/05/did-thq-lay-off-employees-today

E3 2012: Ubisoft Reveals ctOS

During its press conference today, Ubisoft revealed ctOS.

After two years of development, is set to “revolutionize the way players interact with each other.”

The game focuses on a computer controlling the city. Our lives are controlled by computers, "but who controls the computers?"

The game focuses on data turning against us. Data is interconnected and "everything can be hacked."

Creative director Jonathan Morin from Montreal hosted a short playthrough of the game, played on a PlayStation 3. The game follows a character named Aiden Pierce who uses his "fists and wits."

The game appeared to be set in Chicago and featured gameplay that included jamming technology, used in a group of people to make their cell phones stop working.

More details coming…

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Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/06/04/e3-2012-ubisoft-reveals-ctos

Dark Knight Rises Tickets Go on Sale Monday

Can't wait to see The Dark Knight Rises? Well, we've got good news for you. Warner Bros. tweeted today that tickets for the final Christopher Nolan-directed Batman film go on sale this Monday, June 11! Tickets will be available for both standard and IMAX screenings.

Furthermore, AMC Theatres reveals that The Dark Knight Rises has an epic running time of 2 hours and 45 minutes. The theater chain will also host a marathon of The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises starting July 19. (TDKR opens July 20.) Tickets for the marathon go on sale at AMC Theatres at 12:00pm EDT on June 11.

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/06/04/dark-knight-rises-tickets-go-on-sale-monday

E3 2012: EA Expands Social Offerings

At its press conference today, EA announced some new additions to its social media presence.

First up was the announcement of SimCity Social from EA Maxis. A collaboration between Maxis and Playfish is bringing the SimCity experience to Facebook, promising a "truly social" version of the game. A colorful reveal trailer shows off impressive graphics on the social media platform. According to EA Maxis' Lucy Bradshaw, the game will be released in "just a few weeks."

EA also promoted its social media tie-ins with two of its biggest sports franchises. Madden 13 Social was promoted as a cross-platform social media game you can "begin on Facebook and finish on your phone," and a new rewards program was introduced into FIFA 13 for members of the EA SPORTS Football Club. A new app for iPhone and iPod touch was also announced, connecting members of the Football Club with their friends.

Check out more E3 news for SimCity, FIFA 13 and Madden NFL 13.

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/06/04/e3-2012-ea-expands-social-offerings

E3 2012: Dust 514 Beta Date on PS3, Vita Details

Today, Icelandic developer CCP – the studio behind the tour de force MMO EVE Online – revealed new information regarding Dust 514, the upcoming free-to-play FPS coming exclusively to PlayStation 3.

For starters, the beta we reported on earlier this year is set to begin on Friday, June 29th. Gamers interested in taking part in the beta can still sign up by going here. Players “will be chosen at random to participate,” so there’s no guarantee you’ll be chosen when you sign-up.

CCP has also finally chronicled the PlayStation Vita-centric “companion app” that will launch alongside Dust 514. The official title of the application is Dust 514: Neocom, an “app [that] integrates services that incorporate the feel and functionality from Dust 514 on PlayStation 3, with a focus on customization, communication and trade. Each character can be customized and configured using Dust 514: Neocom; players can create and edit customized fittings (load-outs) with a huge variety of dropsuits, weapons, equipment, modules and vehicles.”

In other words, Dust 514: Neocom can become an integral part of your Dust 514 experience.

Source : http://www.ign.com/articles/2012/06/04/e3-2012-dust-514-beta-date-on-ps3-vita-details