News – Page 2 – ManuSLetuM

August 8, 2013

Countdown to ArmA 3

ArmA 3, the newest installment of the popular military simulator is set to be released on September 12. You can get your copy via digital download or as a physical box in retail locations worldwide.

At release, players are going to have plenty to do with the included 12 single-player showcases, 3 faction showcases, 9 multi-player scenarios and 10 firing drills. Modders and community content creators will have access to a new island Altis, a vast terrain of over 270 km and the currently available island of Stratis, at about 20 km. Bohemia Interactive has also announced an official campaign to be added after release via a free DLC.

You can get more details about ArmA 3 and its release at the sneak preview livestream scheduled for August 10 at 5 pm UTC.

August 6, 2013

SWTOR 2.3 Titans of Industry Patch Now Live

Patch 2.3 is now live for Star Wars: The Old Republic. The Titans of Industry patch, as named by BioWare, will allow players to explore a new level 55 Daily mission area along with two associated level 55 Flashpoints. Here are some highlights.

CZ-198, a new Level 55 Daily mission area, is now available! CZ-198 is a small, private moon where Czerka Corporation’s most secret and dangerous data, research and technology is stored. The facility has recently entered an emergency security lockdown, and both the Empire and the Republic have descended on the moon in order to seize control.
New Level 55 Flashpoint: Czerka Corporate Labs! Infiltrate Czerka’s corporate headquarters on CZ-198 and take down Rasmus Blys, the Czerka scientist responsible for developing the company’s most dangerous weaponry.
New Level 55 Flashpoint: Czerka Core Meltdown! Race against time to stop the imminent meltdown of the CZ-198 research facility and battle against the terrifying security system known as “The Vigilant!”
Both new Flashpoints will feature the all-new role-neutral Story Mode, where the Group Finder will match the first four players of any role for fast queue times! Level 55 Hard Mode is also available for the new Flashpoints.
Tauntaun Creature Mounts! Head to Hoth, where players will find the Tauntaun Trainer and Tauntaun Handlers in Aurek and Dorn Bases.
New Companion Character! Treek can now be obtained as an additional Companion Character via the Cartel Market or Legacy Vendors in the new Cartel Bazaar hangar of the Fleet! Cost is 2,100 Cartel Coins or 1,000,000 Credits.
New Event: Bounty Contract Week! Each month, players can undertake contracts and pursue dangerous criminals throughout the galaxy! Adventures begin on Republic and Imperial Fleets with a mission given by mysterious Bounty Hunters who are toting a “friend” encased in Carbonite. The first Bounty Contract Week begins on August 14th.
The Cartel Bazaar is a new hangar on the Republic and Imperial Fleets with an Appearance Designer kiosk, a Galactic Trade Network kiosk, and a cantina. The Cartel Market Reputation Vendors have closed their shops in the Crew Skills area and have moved to the Cartel Bazaar.
PvP, Alderaan Civil War. This Warzone has been updated, and now capturing the side turrets (Objective Control Points) will not spawn a speeder that takes your team directly to that turret.

Head over to the official site for the full patch notes.

August 1, 2013

Get Ready For FFXIV A Realm Reborn With The Character Creator and Benchmark

If you are anything like me, then the process of creating a character for any MMO is time spent lavishing on every little detail. To make sure I’ve seen all the options available, at least twice, before deciding on the perfect hair and make-up combo for my virtual creation. I can spend hours creating a character if the character creation tool is detailed enough. All the while the desire to actually start playing the game is ever-present, like a tiny voice screaming “JUST GET IN THE GAME!!!”.

Well Final Fantasy XIV has the solution. As of today you can download the character creator from the official FFXIV ARR site. Now you can spent as much time as you like, creating your perfect avatar for your adventures in Eorzea. But what will happen at launch? Not to worry, the creator will save your character so when A Realm Reborn is launched, you’ll be ready to go. And the best part is that the character creator is also a benchmark tool. You will be able to see if your current PC has the power to handle ARR or if its time to run out and pick up that upgrade before launch.

July 26, 2013

Activision Blizzard, Now a Small Independent Developer

Well, maybe not small, but Activision Blizzard is now an independent developer after announcing it will break from Vivendi in a deal worth an estimated $8.2 billion. The deal, as reported by the New York Times, has Activision Blizzard buying about 429 million shares and other assets from Vivendi for around $5.83 billion in cash. Current CEO Robert A. Kotick, who bought Activision more than two decades ago, and co-chairman Brian Kelly will remain at the helm of the new independent company. The two current executives along with other investors is also reported to be buying an estimated 172 million shares from Vivendi for around $2.34 billion.

As to what kind of impact this deal will have on the millions of gamers currently playing titles like CoD Black Ops 2, World of Warcraft or Starcraft 2, only time can reveal. Kotick will most likely continue to run the company as he always has, after all he did lead Activision from an almost bankrupt company to the giant game developer it is today. Activision Blizzard is expected to announce an estimated net revenue of around $1.05 billion for the second quarter of 2013.

As a gamer, I can only hope the new found independence will allow Activision Blizzard to become an innovator and start producing content that is new and maybe even risky. While all of the Call of Duty titles are fun to play, they essentially contain the same gameplay elements just dressed differently. As of now the gaming community can only wait and see as to how Activision Blizzard will grow in the years to come.

July 26, 2013

Eternal Crusade Announces Phase Two

Eternal Crusade, the recently announced 3rd person action MMO set in the Warhammer 40K universe from Behaviour Interactive and the Games Workshop has just hit phase two. So what does reaching phase two mean to all the rabid 40K fans out there? The Emperor provides.

Phase two reveals two important aspects of Eternal Crusade. The faction choices and available chapters of the Space Marines at launch.

Initial race choices in Eternal Crusade — Playable factions at launch

Players will be able to wage war in the 41th millennium as:

Space Marines, Gene-seed enhanced super soldiers of the Imperium of Man.
Eldar, mysterious beings with awesome psychic powers.
Orks, the green horde out to destroy everything in its path.
Chaos Space Marines, Space Marines fallen to the corruption of the Warp.

Each faction will provide a completely different play experience, these differences range from combat style to starting areas as well as the UI.

Players who select the Space Marines will able to select from:

Legion XIII, the Ultramarines.
Legion I, the Dark Angels.
Legion IX, the Blood Angels.
Legion VI, the Space Wolves.

The Gene-seed for each chapter of the Adeptus Astartes is unique and will confer upon their members unique bonuses and abilities. While members of each chapter rise from different beginnings, many will come together to defend the Emperor against the enemies of the Imperium.