Game Addicts » Game Previews

Closed beta test for World of Warcraft: Cataclysm

Edwin — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 05:00:25 +0000

Blizzard Entertainment has just announced that its closed beta test for World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, the next expansion in this hugely popular MMORPG, has started. Invitations has already been issued for folks to participate in the testing process, targeting a wide range of players from around the world who signed up via their Battle.net accounts. Apart from having the advantage of enjoying an early look at the game, beta testers will also be able to provide valuable feedback to help Blizzard Entertainment look out for bugs, address balance issues, while making sure the new content is ready to rock and roll with minimal fuss, hue and cry when released officially.

Cataclysm is the third expansion for World of Warcraft, the most popular subscription-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game in the world. The first two expansions, The Burning Crusade and Wrath of the Lich King, each shattered PC game sales records upon their release. In Cataclysm, the face of Azeroth will be forever altered by the return of the corrupted Dragon Aspect Deathwing. Players will explore once-familiar areas of the world that have now been reshaped by the devastation and filled with new adventures. In an effort to survive the planet-shattering cataclysm, two new playable races — worgen and goblins — will join the struggle between the Alliance and the Horde. As players journey to the new level cap of 85, they’ll discover newly revealed locations, acquire new levels of power, and come face to face with Deathwing in a battle to determine the fate of the world.

Sounds like more hack and slash, where we are sure that this title will also draw in blockbuster sales figures as well no doubt about that. The thing is, will it cannibalize on sales of their next anticipated title, StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, or does it cater to a totally different crowd?

Press Release

Square Enix lines up Mindjack

Edwin — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 05:00:42 +0000

Square Enix is more often than not associated with new RPGs, but this time round they are offering an all-new action online shooter known as MINDJACK. It will see Japanese game studio feelplus developing the title, where it ought to be ready for an October release later this year on the Xbox 360 and Sony PS3 video game consoles. Just what is MINDJACK exactly? This unique action shooter is set in 2031, where it will attempt to draw players in using superior graphcis and expert storytelling mastery of both Square Enix and feelplus, in order to offer a distinctive experience that throws players into a revolutionary playing field where an engaging solo campaign transitions seamlessly to thrilling, cooperative multiplayer gameplay.

A new era. Sophisticated and complex technologies are now contributing to the advancements of mankind. However, the world’s governments are crumbling, new corrupt powers arise and conspiracies proliferate. The truth behind the proscribed technology could destroy the very core of humanity. Join a rogue team of agents as they fight for survival and entangle themselves deeper into the mystery. MINDJACK offers a unique online experience. Enter a revolutionary playing field upon which an engaging solo campaign transitions seamlessly to thrilling cooperative play. Expand your mind’s reach by “hacking” into enemies, vehicles or civilians and enjoy the freedom to control almost any character. Each bystander becomes an active combatant in this new urban warfare. Your “state of mind” is your only limitation!

Sounds like more than half a decent title, and it has been a while since there was a decent shooter to hit the market. We’re sure that owners of both consoles who want something much more different than their regular FPS titles won’t mind giving this a shot when it is released.

Press Release

Zumba Fitness heads for the Wii, PS3 and Xbox 360

Edwin — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 05:00:45 +0000

Motion sensing could very well be the next big thing – take a look at how the Nintendo Wii did gangbusters sales figures since its release, although time has certainly caught up with its lack of hardware power, and sales figures have started to taper off worldwide for quite some time now. With the introduction of PlayStation Move for the Sony PS3 and Kinect for the Xbox 360, you can be sure that motion sensing games are here to stay – for how long, we’re not quite sure, but it surely ain’t just waggle controls any more as more and more developers jump aboard the bandwagon.

This one-of-a-kind exercise program pairs Latin rhythms with red-hot international dance steps so you can have a blast as you party your way into shape. In Zumba Fitness, players can learn and perfect nine different dance styles: Reggaeton, Merengue, Salsa, Cumbia, Hip-Hop, Mambo, Rumba, Flamenco and Calypso. The game features 30 different infectious music tracks and routines — some exclusive to the game — led by Zumba creator Beto and celebrity instructors Gina Grant and Tanya Beardsley. No matter what your skill level, Zumba Fitness is accessible to all with Learn the Steps training, plus Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced routines in five dynamic venues. As you hit each move in rhythm with your on-screen Zumba instructor, the stage transforms into a high voltage party atmosphere with special effects and additional crowd dancers. Players can also grow that party at home with up to four players on Wii and PlayStation Move, and up to two players on Kinect for Xbox 360. Developed by Pipeworks Software, Zumba Fitness for Wii, Playstation Move and Kinect is expected to release this holiday.

No idea on pricing, but this holiday ought to be a really interesting one. We would think that the pricing structure will adhere to what we are used to all this while.

Press Release

Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock ready to, well, rock the gaming scene

Edwin — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 05:00:24 +0000

When Guitar Hero was first unleashed among the masses, some folks thought that this was a one trick pony, but it seems that many years down the road, detractors as well as naysayers were proven wrong. We have since seen a slew of Guitar Hero sequels, complete with new tunes from different bands, not to mention other games in a similar vein like Rock Band. Well, this fall Guitar Hero fans will find a brand new title to keep them occupied – we’re talking about Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock, where it will redefine music gaming with an all-new, story-driven Quest Mode, alongside a completely redesigned rock-inspired guitar controller.

Running on the powerful Guitar Hero engine that has been expanded and refined, coupled with the return of the critically-acclaimed and fan favorite features like Party Play’s jump in/jump out gameplay, a host of Competitive modes and the ability to play any combination of guitar, bass, drums and vocals, Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock offers the complete interactive and connected experience bringing friends and foes to the stage in the ultimate rock music adventure. In Quest Mode, using any combination of instruments, players will embark on a larger-than-life, epic rock journey from the stage of CBGBs, the infamous punk-rock club in New York City, to the molten lava fields of rock treachery as eight Guitar Hero characters transform into rock warriors that must join together to use their unique, game-changing powers to help the Demi-God of Rock take down “The Beast” and save rock n’ roll.

Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock aims to breathe new life into gamers’ current Guitar Hero music libraries, where it offers literally hundreds of hours of replayability with the introduction of Quickplay+, where it boasts 13 totally unique gameplay challenges for every on-disc track alongside the most downloadable and importable songs from Guitar Hero World Tour. Guess we will just have to wait until this fall to see how well it performs then.

Press Release

Tetris Online announces Tetris Party Deluxe

Edwin — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 05:00:11 +0000

Pac-Man might have celebrated its anniversary recently, but another classic title that deserves worthy mention which occupied a whole lot of quarters and hours from young children worldwide a few decades ago would be Tetris, and Tetris Online pays homage to this classic with Tetris Party Deluxe for the Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS platforms. This new title will offer over 20 exciting game modes, online battles, and multiplayer fun for friends and family, making it a must-have for Tetris and puzzle fans.

In partnership with Majesco Entertainment Company, an innovative provider of video games for the mass market, Tetris Online is proud to be releasing one of the most highly-anticipated summer games this year. Developed by Hudson Soft, Tetris Party Deluxe builds on the previously released smash hit Tetris Party for WiiWare, adding six new modes and many other fun enhancements. Tetris Party Deluxe is rated E for Everyone and is now available for a suggested retail price of $29.99 on both Wii and Nintendo DS.

For folks living across the Pond, details concerning an European release of Tetris Party Deluxe are forthcoming. For those enjoying Tetris Party Deluxe for Wii, you can take advantage of the unique point-and-shoot capabilities of the Wii Remote, or play it using the Classic Controller. Apart from that, you can also use the Wii Balance Board in specially-marked modes, where leaning left and right will move the Tetriminos left or right; while leaning forward or backwards will increase the drop speed; and squatting will rotate them! Boy, we sound tired already!

Press Release

The Mummy franchise could end up as a MMORPG

Edwin — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 05:00:58 +0000

The Mummy movie franchise which starred Brendan Fraser and captured the imagination of millions with its first two movies (the third was a huge flop in my opinion, and rolled out simply to take advantage of eager fans), might make its way back to the hearts of viewers worldwide albeit not in a movie format – this time round, it could very well end up as a MMORPG instead, thanks to the efforts of Bigpoint, where the title will be developed in partnership with Universal Partnerships & Licensing. Known as The Mummy Online, one can look forward to this all action title this coming winter.

In The Mummy Online, a free-to-play Action-RPG MMO game with adventure elements inspired by the films, players will take on heroic roles as adventure seekers with various talents and skills that will allow their characters to be unique within the MMO virtual world. Set in Egypt during the first half of the twentieth century, gamers will experience familiar environments and key characters from the film franchises as they battle against each other and ancient evil. The Mummy film franchise has been an entertainment powerhouse taking its characters across the world to face some of archeology’s greatest mysteries and leading to exciting film sequels, theme park attractions, video games and more.

Expect to jump headlong into a game that is full of exotic settings, supernatural enemies, exciting quests, and over the top action, just like the movie. And with it being a game, the developers will have full creative license to be able to churn out whatever scene that they like without being limited to the physical and technological limits of an actor as well as the movie set, respectively, should they shoot a movie instead. One can only wait and see just how this entire experience will turn out – hopefully it won’t flop like the third outing.

Press Release

Atari will publish Blade Kitten

Edwin — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 05:00:35 +0000

Atari has just secured the rights to publish Blade Kitten, a videogame that is based on the comic book series by creator Steve Stamatiadis. Developer Krome Studios will be th ebrains behind this, as they attempt to bring bounty hunter Kit Ballard to digital life via Blade Kitten. Atari has already slated this title to roll out this coming September on the Xbox LIVE Arcade platform for the Xbox 360, PlayStation Network for the PS3 and as a Windows PC Download from Atari’s website. To get a better idea on just what Blade Kitten is all about, why not check out the excerpt located right after the jump?

Blade Kitten marks the latest creation by Mr. Stamatiadis, who is also the force behind the multi-million selling TY the Tasmanian Tiger series. In Blade Kitten, a prequel to the comics set three years prior, players are invited into the world of Hollow Wish where they take on the role of Kit Ballard, one of the best bounty hunters in the business. With her pink hair and tail, Kit is part cat, part girl – and fully lethal. As one of the last of her species, Kit commands her unique “Darque Blade” hovering sword to defeat enemies. Also along for the ride is Skiffy, Kit’s laid-back sidekick who lends a hand in collecting items, solving puzzles, and when needed, serves as Kit’s protector. Blade Kitten goes beyond most downloadable titles to deliver a strong narrative, with high-quality cinematics, and a colorful, frenetic visual style, that lends to the pick-up-and-play arcade action. Players will jump right in and easily begin exploring and fighting their way through 19 levels, including three exploration levels with Noot (a rideable alien mount). Blade Kitten also features straight forward gameplay mechanics, intuitive “scramble style” exploration, fully voiced dialogue, dramatic narrative and powerful visual direction.

We do hope that this is not only all style and no substance, as games that are nothing but eye candy tend to have a short life span since good looks can only go so far. We are looking forward to an unprecedented depth of gameplay, at least for a title of its calibre, and hopefully Atari as well as the developer will not skimp on quality in a bid to get the game out in time.

Press Release

Sony announces Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures

Edwin — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:11:58 +0000

Sony recently announced Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures, where this will be a free-to-play, action packed virtual world which ought to appeal to fans of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated TV series which was shown on the Cartoon Network. Developed and published by Sony Online Entertainment, this LucasArts-licensed title will launch online and hit retail stores later this fall.

Focused on creating a fun and safe online environment for kids and families, Clone Wars Adventures offers exciting minigames, dynamic activities, lively social events and thousands of customization options. Players can even battle it out with friends alongside iconic Star Wars characters like Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, and Ahsoka Tano. With Clone Wars Adventures a new generation of Star Wars fans can become the next great hero of the Republic and take their rightful place alongside the Jedi, Padawan and Clone Troopers. Players can speed through space in a starfighter, take out waves of battle droids in Tower Defense or test their brains with challenging Droid Programming puzzles. Players can also purchase legendary Star Wars outfits, items and accessories through micro-transactions using Station Cash, SOE’s virtual currency.

Among some of the features in this new title include :-

Extend the Fantasy: Kids no longer have to wait until the next exciting episode of Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated TV series to continue exploring and enjoying the Star Wars universe. With Clone Wars Adventures, kids can go online to experience exciting thrills as you duel iconic adversaries with your own custom lightsaber, speed through the galaxy in your starfighter, defeat enemies and take down starships. Adventure online to discover your destiny!
Play Free or Upgrade: Clone Wars Adventures is a free-to-play game, but players who want to take the galactic action to the next level can purchase a monthly membership. Players can also buy cool Star Wars universe items from within the game through micro-transactions using Station Cash.
Minigames & More: From Droid Programming to Speeder Bike Racing, Clone Wars Adventures puts you in the driver seat to experience epic action in immersive minigames that take you to your favorite locations in the galaxy. Become the proud owner of a tricked out Droid pet or throw a party in your player house – the fun is endless!
Fun With Friends: Whether you are on adventures with old friends or competing for leaderboard status with new ones, Clone Wars Adventures is a lively virtual world that connects players in fun and safe ways. Show off your achievements in your Trophy Room, use safe chat and emoticons to express yourself and celebrate in-world events with the entire galaxy!
Embedded Card Game: Clone Wars Adventures card battles lets players pit a variety of fun characters, creatures and vehicles from The Clone Wars television show against one another in a unique, fast-paced combat similar to the gameplay styles of traditional games such as War and Concentration.
Kid-Friendly: Parental controls allow for the customization of safety options, including pre-canned chat and playtime settings for younger players.

If you think that you still have the Force in you, then you ought to definitely check out Clone Wars Adventures!

Press Release

Babysitting Mama is a Wii exclusive

Edwin — Fri, 28 May 2010 05:00:07 +0000

Mama seems to be one talented lady, and we’re talking about Babysitting Mama this time round who decided she just isn’t going to limit her skills to cooking, gardening or crafting. No sir, Mama has extended her repertoire to include babysitting this time round, and she will do so on the Wii platform exclusively. Guess she’s limited to just being around the home – we can’t wait to see an environment where Mama is able to lay the smack down in other places like say, an office? Well, Babysitting Mama will obviously be brought to you by the good folks over at Majesco, where this innovative simulation game will be delivered with an adorable plush baby doll that the babysitter tucks the Wii Remote into so that you can interact with both the doll and game simultaneously. Darn, and here we are thinking that you can smack the Wiimote across those little ‘uns bottoms without fear of anyone calling the authorities in for child abuse. Disclaimer: You know I’m kidding, right?

Mama makes her babysitting debut in an inventive game that lets players use the Wii Remote in a whole new way! By tucking the Wii Remote into the back of the plush baby included with the game, girls can play the game as they play with the doll. Players can enjoy more than 40 activities using the doll and Nunchuk controller: rock the baby to sleep; bounce the baby; feed, bathe, change and play with the baby, plus much more. Babysitting Mama features six unique babies, each with his or her own personality and needs, along with a range of indoor and outdoor environments that Mama and baby can play in. The game even supports two-player mode, because when it comes to newborns, Mama could use some help!

Babysitting Mama for Wii is tipped to arrive later this holiday season, and good thing is you pay her only a one-off sum instead of by the hour. Sound excited yet?

Press Release

Atari allows you to pre-order Test Drive Unlimited 2

Edwin — Thu, 27 May 2010 05:00:05 +0000

Atari has made available a pre-order for Test Drive Unlimited 2, where it will arrive at retailers in North America on September 21, 2010 for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC. All your pre-orders will be rewarded with a range of collectable limited edition vehicles, complete with matching avatar apparel, to the TDU2: Casino Online. It will definitely allow you to let your hair down, since you can put the top down and turn up the beats in the world’s ultimate party destination: Ibiza. In this title, you can push the most coveted supercars beyond their limits in thousands of challenges. Test Drive Unlimited 2 aims to transform the driving genre where it will be able to add persistency, progression and customization of the latest multiplayer games to the auto racing experience.

Your pre-order can be made from May 28th onwards if you live in North America, and those orders can be placed from GameStop, Amazon.com, Walmart, Best Buy and Atari.com. GameStop pre-order customers will receive TDU2: Casino Online – a complete standalone bonus game, where within it you are able to play a variety of games of chance such as Poker, Roulette, and Slots, in order to unlock two bonus cars in-game. Apart from that, you can meet up with your friends, customize your avatar, and get access to the VIP area – reserved for only the top players.

As for Amazon.com shoppers, they will receive the exclusive iconic Aston Martin V12 Vantage Carbon Black special edition, exclusive avatar apparel and an additional bonus of Amazon Video Games Credit. This carbon edition comes with a bespoke Carbon Black color scheme, and distinctive carbon fibre details, black mesh components, and high polish black 10 spoke diamond turned alloy wheels. Not only that, a bright finished grill and front parking sensors will complete the exterior detailing of this hand crafted masterpiece.

Folks who prefer to jive with Walmart can get a super exclusive Inuit Audi Q7 V12 TDI Quattro, avatar apparel, and a Walmart.com gift card. This Audi Q7 has the breathtaking power of a six-liter twelve-cylinder V12 TDI engine with 500 hp. Already one of the most rare super-SUV models, this Audi Q7 comes in Inuit, a special white that creates a pearl effect reminiscent of the glistening luminance of the polar region. Use your Audi Q7 to play in our all new off road tracks.

Neat, eh? Take your pick as to who you want to play with and pick up a bonus of your choice.

Press Release