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Square Enix mobile title Kuni Yaburete Sanga Ari coming to DSiWare

by Ben Gilbert { Oct 26th 2009 at 12:00PM }

Here's the thing about Square Enix bringing its mobile games to DSiWare -- we want the games over here! (Anything but the clocks and calendars, please!) Andriasang has news that the Japanese publisher will be offering Kuni Yaburete Sanga Ari (translated as "Hills and Rivers Remain") via Nintendo's DSiWare digitial distribution platform starting this week. Unfortunately for those on this side of the Pacific, the game will remain exclusive to Japan for the time being.

Four-player wireless gameplay will be added for Nintendo's handheld, as well as updated stylus controls and "some exclusive maps" in multiplayer. For those of you able to pick it up, the game will run you 800 DSi points ($8) when it's made available this Wednesday. For everyone else, TinyCartridge points out the recent trademark filing by Square Enix for the game's English title. Keep hope alive!

Mushroom Wars begin Oct. 15 on PSN, $10 enlistment cost

by Alexander Sliwinski { Oct 14th 2009 at 3:15PM }

Creat Studios, which has done several PSN titles at this point, will unleash Mushroom Wars on the PS3 this Thursday, October 15. The PixelJunk Monsters-looking RTS has players controlling adorable armies that will slaughter each other in that endless pursuit for control of land, with mushroom bases being the staging ground for the next assault.

Some may say Mushroom Wars' premise and cutesy art don't mix, but after watching the Critter Crunch creatures feed each other through rainbow vomit, we don't know if there is a line anymore between cute and disturbing.

Gallery: Mushroom Wars (PSN)

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C&C 4: Tiberian Twilight screens shoot more beams than a Pink Floyd Laser Show

by David Hinkle { Oct 13th 2009 at 11:00PM }

While the subtitle could use some work, Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight's look is coming along nicely. EA recently deployed some new media from the game, all showing off the ongoing war between the Brotherhood of Nod and the GDI forces. Their conflict is eternal -- kinda like Tom and Jerry, but with way less slapstick and lots moar lazorz.

Hit up the gallery below for the new screens, which are oddly devoid of all that XP we saw in the last batch.

Gallery: Command & Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight (10.13.09)

Under Siege bumped to Spring 2010, adds motion controller support

by Griffin McElroy { Sep 24th 2009 at 1:51PM }

Apparently, Seed Studios was intrigued by the PlayStation Motion Controller demo that was shown off during E3 -- particularly the part that showed how the peripheral could be used in a real-time strategy game. The developer recently announced that the release of its upcoming PSN strategy title Under Siege had been bumped to Spring 2010 in order to incorporate the sphere-tipped device into the game's control scheme.

Seed will also be working to add a few more features to the game before its dealyed launch, including a replay editor, photo mode, and picture-in-picture video chat. That last part is unfortunate -- as with all methods of motion control, we don't really want to circulate footage of us flailing about with a colorful wand grasped in our oafish claws.

Gallery: Under Siege

Square Enix announces Sliding Heroes, an iPhone RTS

by Griffin McElroy { Sep 18th 2009 at 9:30PM }

While we'd hoped Square Enix's trademark for the title Sliding Heroes would result in a rhythm-based playground toy simulator (with the appropriate inclined peripheral), a Facebook fan page for the game revealed its true format. The game will be an iPhone real-time strategy title where players control standard fantasy archetypes (mage, warrior, cleric, etc.) by tilting their cellular device. In addition to conquering baddies, players will need to deftly avoid traps and hazards placed throughout the game board.

That description (and a pair of screenshots) are all we have to go on right now. Keep an eye on Square Enix's Facebook page for more information about this traction-free strategy title.

[Via Siliconera]

Red Alert 3: Commander's Challenge storming XBLA and PSN this week

by Griffin McElroy { Sep 14th 2009 at 3:30PM }

Listen, we know you're excited to finally get your hands on EA's standalone strategy spin-off, Command & Conquer Red Alert 3: Commander's Challenge. You'll be able to fulfill your desires for meticulous action this week; the game is set to launch on XBLA this Wednesday and on PSN the day after for 800

($10). You can temporarily satiate yourself by checking out the game's latest trailer after the jump.

However, before hastily acquiring the title, heed this warning: Commander's Challenge is infused with such a large dosage of Ric Flair that other items in your respective console's hard drive may get totally pumped and begin stylishly pummeling one another. Buyer beware!

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Dawn of War II's 'The Last Stand' mode detailed

by Griffin McElroy { Aug 28th 2009 at 5:00PM }

It seems the increasingly popular "Horde" mode first presented in Gears of War 2 (before spreading to other popular FPS titles in some form) isn't just proliferating through the shooter genre -- GameSpy recently revealed details for "The Last Stand," a similar gametype which will soon be introduced into Dawn of War II.

The new mode, which will come as a free download for those who own the full game, lets three players select either the Space Marine, Ork or Eldar hero classes, then face off cooperatively against wave after wave of computer-controlled adversaries. Between waves, players will be able to level up their heroes and manage their equipment. The series' strategic roots aren't being thrown out the window -- players will need to work together to stay alive and capture score-multiplying control points.

We'll undoubtedly learn more about this intriguing expansion to the well-received strategy title during Relic's panel at PAX 2009.

[Via Big Download]

DUST 514 details revealed, gameplay intertwines with EVE Online

by Griffin McElroy { Aug 28th 2009 at 2:00PM }

A recent interview from German gaming blog Gamona with CCP Games CEO Hilmar Pétursson is likely going to turn a few heads in the MMO gaming realm -- it reveals a few savory details about the recently revealed spin-off of EVE Online, titled DUST 514. It sounds like they're trying something groundbreaking with this new title -- it'll be a console MMOFPS with real-time strategy elements, in which mercenary players take job contracts from EVE Online players.

Considering the constant power struggle between EVE's player alliances (that's space-talk for "guilds"), there'll be no shortage of odd jobs available for DUST 514's hired guns. For more information on how these two games will interact, you can check out the full video interview after the jump.

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FYI: CCP announces 'Dust 514,' FPS RTS MMO in Eve universe

by Alexander Sliwinski { Aug 18th 2009 at 7:30AM }

Eve Online developer CCP has officially announced its next project: Dust 514, a console-based MMO set in the world of Eve. CCP CEO Hilmar Veigar Pétursson said today during GDC Europe that the game will be a hybrid first-person shooter and real-time strategy game. Gamespot UK notes that the title has been in development for three years at CCP Shanghai. Pétursson did not discuss which consoles would be the first to gather Dust 514.

Hints of Dust 514's emergence have been knocking around the online universe since earlier this month. We'll update as we get more information.

Interview: Dustin Browder talks StarCraft 2 development and delays

by Kevin Kelly { Aug 17th 2009 at 5:59PM }

Dustin Browder is the man in the hot seat as Blizzard's lead designer for StarCraft 2. Ultimately, he's the one you can heap the blame (or the praise) upon when the final product finally ships. At the time of this interview, we didn't officially know SC2 would be delayed, but given the sheer amount of things they'd shown us during our visit, it became clear that there was no way StarCraft 2 would make 2009.

Still, Browder talks about the reasons for the delay, and ultimately gamers are going to be happy that they chose to make the game better, rather than rush it out for the holiday shopping frenzy. Read on for the full interview with him where we talk delays, easter eggs, the new matchmaking system, the single player experience, and hidden items in the game, including a fully playable Lost Viking arcade game with a data editor that will let you make your own scrolling shooters.

Gallery: Starcraft 2: Wings of Liberty - Single Player

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Red Alert 3 'Commander's Challenge' costs $10, coming to 360 / PS3 this fall [update]

by Ben Gilbert { Aug 17th 2009 at 12:40PM }

Update: To be clear, the Commander's Challenge content does not require a Red Alert 3 disc and will be sold as a standalone product. We're sorry for any confusion this may have caused.

Though Command & Conquer Red Alert 3's Uprising expansion landed on PCs months ago, it seems a port of at least some of the expansion's content is heading to consoles this fall. The "Commander's Challenge" ~~DLC~~ standalone game is set to run you $10 and offers "50 intense challenges against a set of nine different commanders, including 16-time world champion "Nature Boy" Ric Flair." Sound familiar? That's because the ESRB let slip the first news of the DLC a little over a month ago.

EA's official confirmation of the ~~DLC~~ game also speaks of "giant Soviet war bears" and an "army of psionic Japanese school girls," but that's all old hat for you Red Alert 3 players out there. Given the price and relative lateness of it, we're curious if anyone other than the most hardcore of RA3 fans will bother picking it up. Well, casual Red Alert 3 players?

Command & Conquer 4 screens full of tiny units, XP

by David Hinkle { Aug 12th 2009 at 7:40PM }

Click image for more real-time screens

EA has released some new Command & Conquer 4 screens, which, while bearing a passing resemblance to previous titles in the venerable real-time strategy series, do offer a few glimpses at the gameplay changes EA has in store (like persistent player progression). Just try not to be bummed about the severe lack of Kane in today's Command & Conquer 4 post, okay?

Gallery: Command and Conquer 4 (8.12.09)

Razer announces line of 'tournament-grade' StarCraft II peripherals (and also a bag)

by JC Fletcher { Aug 12th 2009 at 11:36AM }

Serious StarCraft players know the best way to play: using peripherals that have the StarCraft logo, of course. Razer has announced that it will cater to these hardcore gamers with a line of StarCraft II peripherals, including a mouse, keyboard, and headset.

According to the press release, the devices will actually be a little more than cheap USB peripherals with the logo on them: Razer is working with Blizzard to develop the line, which will have "unique exclusive features to cater to the StarCraft II community." They should be really good thanks to the extra time the two companies have to work on them.

Razer is also releasing a StarCraft II messenger bag, which may or may not also be "tournament-grade." Lucky ticket buyers and Ozzy Osbourne will be able to get a look at the bag at BlizzCon.

First video of Battleswarm arrives

by Ben Gilbert { Aug 11th 2009 at 11:30AM }

click to embiggen

We're not exactly sure what Battleswarm: Field of Honor dev Gameworld Tech is trying to show us with its first trailer (found after the break) -- other than low production values, that is. We've got some generic space marines running around and shooting things in a third-person camera view, we've got some generic space bugs attacking the space marines, and we've got a generic battlefield that looks to be ripped from an MMO.

Most importantly though? The logo is shooting itself with electricity. If you're really hankering to get in on the free-to-play action from the mind of Atari founder Nolan Bushnell, the developer has just announced Battleswarm's open beta registration. If you do, feel free to let us know how it is in the comments below. And remember: The only good bug is a dead bug.

Gallery: Battleswarm: Field of Honor (PC)

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See League of Legends in action

by Justin McElroy { Aug 7th 2009 at 6:00AM }

Like any self-respecting nerd who spent time with Defense of the Ancients in their youth, we can't wait to get our mouse finger on Riot Games' League of Legends. If you're still on the fence about this action/RTS/RPG hybrid (or are just now hearing about it) allow the above video to educate you.

Though the gameplay looks good, what we can't so heartily endorse is the video's dialogue. "Now, you may be asking yourself: 'What exactly is a MOBA?'" Really, guys? That's the "A" material?

[Update: Andrew reminds us of a very important fact we neglected to mention: League of Legends will be totally free to play. In fact, you'll only be spending cash if you want to customize the look of your character.]