For this week’s midweek madness, Steam has discount the Spellforce and Magicka series. Spellforce is available at 66% off, while Magicka is a whopping 75% off as usual. You can pick up the game itself for just $2.49, but the entire game and its DLCs is available for just $8.74. I highly recommend Magicka. It is a a very fun game to play with friends as the spell effects and the friendly fire makes an overall hilarious experience. Nordic Games’ Spellforce is purchasable for just $3.39; however, you can pick up the entire series for just $13.59. The complete edition includes Spellforce – Platinum Edition, Spellforce 2: Faith in Destiny – Digital Extras, Spellforce 2: Faith in Destiny, and Spellforce 2: Gold Edition. You can pick these two games up until Thursday, September 20th at 7pm EST. Also you can pick up Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues for half-off at $9.99 until 1pm EST today. Now excuse me, while I continue to go play Borderlands 2.
Steam’s really promoting the indie games lately. Before there was the British indie bundle, now here’s a trip to Sweden! This new bundle features a whopping ten games from Swedish indie developers.
The bundle is a huge 81% off making this original individually totaled price $77.90 for all the games into a dwindling amount of just $14.99 (81% off) for the ten games. If indie games isn’t your thing, you can also pick up the Red Faction franchise for 75% off, making the entire franchise purchasable for just $14.99 as well. If you’re missing some games from the franchise, each game is not more than $4.99 with the lowest price being $2.49 for Red Faction and Red Faction II. Red Faction: Armageddon Path to War DLC is available for just $1.49, while the base game is just $4.99. Pick up these deals before they end on Thursday at 7pm EST.
The community poll at the moment is amongst Mirror’s Edge (75% off), Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light (75% off), and Beyond Good and Evil (75% off). The voting ends in less than four hours and you have a chance to pick up Red Faction Guerilla at $4.99 (75% off) before the community sale ends in less than five hours.
The community poll at the moment is in between Left 4 Dead 2 (75% off), Portal 2 (75% off), and Half-Life 2 (75% off). The voting ends in less than five hours and you have less than six hours to pick up Plants vs. Zombies at 75% off.
Bioware has recently launched their new Allies update into Star Wars: The Old Republic. The new patch also allows new players to continuing playing up the level 15. In addition, it also added a group finder, legacy perks, and adaptive gear. Bioware has talked about making The Old Republic free-to-play, but there is no official statement that it will be at the moment; however allowing players to play their characters up to level 15 is heading a bit in that direction. Starting yesterday, you can log on and play The Old Republic for free regardless of your character’s level. The promotion ends on Tuesday, July 17th in which players will only be able to play of free until level 15 until you decide to pay the monthly fee or wait for another promotion.
For those for you who are interested, below is an hour footage of Star Wars: Battlefront III. I don’t know much about the incident concerning the cancellation of the project, but indeed it was canceled and for those who love Star Wars and the Battlefront series, this video is just another remnant of a much fawned over game.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and its sequel, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: Sith Lords will be combined into a twofer PC-only pack. The reported Star Wars bundle will be available on July 17th and is available from Amazon and GameStop.
Star Wars: The Old Republic is releasing the Allies 1.3 update ahead of schedule. The game will be taken offline for four hours, possibly more as we all know maintenance with a new patch usually overshoots the time minimum for most companies. The servers will go offline from 2AM CDT (12AM PDT/3AM EDT/8 AM BST/9AM CEST/5PM AEST) until 6AM CDT (4AM PDT/7AM EDT/12PM BST/1PM CEST/9PM AEST). Bioware will be introducing the Group Finder tool, Legacy Perks, and Adaptive Gear along with Ranked Warzones. Check out all the information here and check out the trailer for the new update below.
Star Wars: The Old Republic might just be heading into the free-to-play model. SWTOR’s lead designer Emmanuel Lusinchi has discussed the possibility due to the obvious subscriptions drop as well as the recent layoffs that hit the Austin studio last month. Many gamers really don’t care behind the curtains, instead they focus on what their money should be paying for as well as feel privileged to features found in other MMOs. The hardest part is balancing the quality within the competition as well as introducing brand new updates, quests, and features.
According to Emmanuel Lusinchi, “The MMO market is very dynamic and we need to be dynamic as well. Unless people are happy with what they have, they are constantly demanding updates, new modes and situations. So we are looking at free-to-play but I can’t tell you in much detail. We have to be flexible and adapt to what is going on. The players don’t really care about all that, behind closed curtains, but they want what they’re paying for which is a service with new content, new systems, that’s what they’re asking for and we listen to them. That’s what we mean to deliver.”
Update 1.3 isn’t anything special, but Bioware has already incorporated server transfers and soon the looking for group tool will be improved, adaptive gear and class balance changes will additionally be integrated into the MMO.
However check out the trailer below that was featured at E3. The new trailer showcases an increased level cap and a new planet and species that will all be revealed by the end of the year.
Bioware’s The Old Republic will be receiving a free trial edition this July which will allow players to play characters up to level 15. In addition, there will be loads of new extras such as the level cap rising and new combat abilities. There will also be a species people can play, ranked PvP, a better group finder, and a new companion combat droid HK-51. There will also be a nightmare hardcore difficulty mode installed too. Not only all that, but also there will be new quests surrounding the new planet, Makeb, which features the Hutt cartel as well as a new Warzone called Ancient Hyperspace, a new Operation titled Terror from Beyond, and a new Space Mission called Space Station Assault too.
Right now SWTOR‘s Game Update 1.3: Allies is live on its Public Test Servers. It integrates two new titles, players can get through the group finder system.
Strike Team Specialist – In order to get this title, a player will need to complete four pieces of content (meaning Flashpoints, Hard Mode Flashpoints Tier 1/Tier 2 or Story Mode Operations) using the Group Finder tool in its default search setting on a single day OR eight pieces of content (using the Group Finder’s default setting) within seven days.
Strike Team Commander – In order to get this title, a player will need to complete four pieces of content in a single day AND eight pieces of content within seven days. Again, using the Group Finder tool’s default search setting.
Brand new Lucasarts’ Star Wars footage of its’ new game 1313 has finally been shown thanks to E3. Below I have linked a few trailers featuring the gameplay and some awesome combat. Check out this awesome new game for the Star Wars franchise which takes place on level 1313 in Coruscant, the most dangerous planet of the galaxy and home to many criminals and the lawlessness.
The new Star Wars game, 1313, aims to be a mature game for a mature audience. Set as a third-person adventure game, Lucasarts details players will play as bounty hunter who focuses on his wit and gadgets rather than lightsabers and force powers to combat his foes. In addition, the game will take place on Coruscant, “the most dangerous place” in the Star Wars galaxy.
The game will be developed by the Lucasarts organization which includes, but now limited to LucasArts, Industrial Light & Magic, Lucasfilm Animation Ltd. and Skywalker Sound. the game will also use Epic Games’ Unreal Engine.
“Named for Level 1313, a ruthless criminal underground deep below the surface of the planet of Coruscant, the game puts players in control of a deadly bounty hunter as he uses an arsenal of exotic weaponry to hunt down his marks and uncover the truth surrounding a criminal conspiracy”.
Beck/Getty/AFP/Getty Star Wars fans dressed as storm troopers invade the 2007 Rose Parade. George Lucas’ movies, including ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ (below) have helped spawn a ‘May the Fourth Be With You’ Day.
Next week Lucasarts will unveil a brand new Star Wars game franchise to get excited about. The official announcement will occur on Spike TV’s GTTV show next Thursday and will provide details on this currently in-development work, which we still have no idea which platform(s) it will be released on.
Geoff Keighley, host to Spike’s GTTV show, stated, “I am blown away by both the caliber of the team on this project and their bold vision for this new ‘Star Wars’ title. I can’t wait to introduce our viewers to this game and show off the footage that left my jaw on the floor when I first saw it” (Eurogamer).
Most recently for Star Wars and video games, Bioware’s Star Wars: The Old Republic MMO has been huge highlight for the Star Wars name as well as the Kinect Star Wars for the Xbox 360 which came out earlier this year. However, The Old Republic has been falling in its subscribers, especially considering all the recent MMOs scheduled to come out or MMOs that received or will receive notable updates: Tera, Planetside 2, Guild Wars 2, Elder Scrolls Online, and Tribes: Ascend to name some.
Bioware’s Star Wars: The Old Republic is receiving a new update after letting the game be free-to-play last weekend. The pending update is called “Allies” and focuses a lot on being able to group up easier for quests as well as playing with your friends. Check out the details below. There is also a trailer available for the new patch which I will upload onto this post as soon as I can find a usable embed link; however you may click the game update link below and view it from SWTOR‘s official website.
Game Update 1.3: Allies, brings a number of exciting new features to Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ including a Group Finder tool and Legacy Perks! This Game Update will also include an update to the Alderaan Warzone, Adaptive Gear, and more.
See what is coming up in The Old Republic™!
See the new features in Game Update 1.3: Allies!
Game System: Group Finder
Game Update 1.3 brings a Group Finder tool that will help you quickly form groups to take on the many Flashpoints and Operations in The Old Republic™. You will be able to select your preferred role within a group, as well as the type of content that you and your friends want to tackle. whether it’s Flashpoints, Warzones, Operations, or Planetary Heroic Missions.
Game System: Legacy Perks
Allies expands on the Legacy System by adding new bonuses which will allow you to travel the galaxy and customize your gaming experience. This includes Advancement Perks that grant you experience bonuses for taking part in Warzones, Flashpoints, or Space Missions. Some Legacy Perks will even grant you extra experience for continuing a character’s story!
Other Legacy Perks that you can unlock include a spawnable item repair droid, the ability to pilot speeders at level 10, and a number of bonuses for your Companion which increase their affection, improve their item crafting abilities, and decrease the time Companions spend selling items to vendors.
Game System: Adaptive Gear
Game Update 1.3 will allow you to coordinate with your allies and dress up as a band of Sand People or a squad of Republic pilots to tackle any of the exciting missions in Star Wars: The Old Republic.
Essentially, any social gear in the game can now be adapted to match your character’s combat gear, fusing it with the corresponding armor bonuses and adding slots for your best armor modifications.
Game System: Augment Unlocks
For players interested in keeping their gear optimized, Allies offers the ability to craft and sell kits that unlock an augmentation modification slot, previously only obtainable when achieving “critical” success while crafting. Players can now add an augmentation slot to any piece of equippable gear, making it easier to dress.
Bioware has made their MMO, Star Wars: The Old Republic, once again free-to-play this weekend in a four day trial available starting May 17th to May 21st. Wield the power of the Force, lightsabers, and blasters.
No credit card is required to take part in the Weekend Pass Free Trial.
You can play for up to four full days free.
Characters you create during the trial will be saved to your account, so allowing you to continue on your journeys once you’ve purchased the game and redeemed the Game Product Registration Code at the Code Redemption Center.
You’ll be able to experience the first fifteen (15) levels of the game, allowing you to explore the Origin Worlds for each character class, as well as possibly seeing your faction’s Capital World.
You will also be able to join other players take part in Player-vs-Player Warzones, or group with friends to take on one of the numerous Flashpoints in the game.
What happened to Star Wars: Battlefront III? Steve Ellis, the Co-founder to Free Radical Games explained why Battlefront III was canceled to GamesIndustry International here (normally I’d cut and paste the article, but it’s rather long). Also, Free Radical Games is now know as Crytek UK since 2009. They are best known for Second Sight and the TimeSplitters series.
As usual the main talks of Bioware’s Star Wars: The Old Republic has been whether or not it has enough content to keep players logging in and coming back. Not only that, but also if the game has sufficient replay value as well. Their update of the Rakghoul plague event drummed up business and surprised players, but will they be able to keep up events that hook their subscribers?
Daniel Erickson of Bioware stated that as a fully-voiced MMO they have development teams creating scenarios and events far in advanced. If they need something or change course for a particular update, then they’ll prioritize their tasks. As such the developer has focused on convenience features like a group finder as well as Legacy update’s Guild Bank system. They are even trying to implement a new idea into their guild system.
“In our own guilds, the PC Gamer Mint Imperials and PCG Revel Alliance, the cap on membership has made overflow guilds a necessity. Mint Imperials member Bocephus suggested that in the future it might be possible to add a players legacy – all of their characters from a given faction – to a guild, occupying a single slot. Erickson was taken with the idea. ‘We’d actually never thought of this’ he says, ‘but it’s now on the list!'” (PC Gamer)
Ideas like this will keep the game looking and feeling neat, but hopefully despite the Rakghoul plague event ending tomorrow, Bioware can keep players logging in now and in the future and more importantly during their peak hours with excellent replayable and new content. Erickson details his opinion on the recent Rakghoul plague event and what it brought to Star Wars: “’Events are, by their very nature, transient things that build a sense of history within the game’ Erickson explains. ‘Later you’ll pull out your red rakling pet and say, ‘remember when the rakghoul plague hit'” (PC Gamer).
If you happen to play Bioware’s Star Wars: The Old Republic, you’re in for a treat if you have dedicated a huge chunk of your time to it. If you have created a level 50 player, you’ll soon be receiving a free 30 days of game time for your loyalty to the MMO. In addition, you’ll receive a cute Tauntaun pet. When I first played SWTOR, I actually really enjoyed it; it made me really want to learn more about the story line, something of which I could really care less about in World of Warcraft. However, as someone who has dedicated three years into WoW, I find it difficult to immerse myself into another MMO. It’s a lot of time out of your pocket and I thoroughly have more enjoyment trekking through my single player/co-op games (Assassin’s Creed, The Witcher, Borderlands, Indie games, etc). I’m one of those players who you’ll get me through great graphics, interesting gameplay, and for the most part (when I feel like not mindlessly killing crap) an intriguing storyline. WoW and any MMO is great for about a month or so, then it becomes this grueling task of grinding. There is no doubt that I’ll still continue exploring MMOs, but besides the social aspect (which I have certainly met my fair share of assholes and then on the other hand, I have connected with some wonderful people), there is not much any MMO could offer that I couldn’t have from an amazingly developed single player game. Of course, with that being said, I’m still going to check out the updates with the free 7 days of game time for inactive subscribers Bioware has offered from April 13th to April 20th. Besides it’s Star Wars, who doesn’t love clashing lightsabers and destruction through the force?
As divulged from Game Informer, the SWTOR patch update will include new high-level content detailed below:
Flashpoint: Lost Island continues the story of Flashpoint: Kaon Under Siege from Game Update 1.1 – Rise of the Rakghouls. Players must survive a menacing island of mystery on Ord Mantell as they hunt for clues to the Rakghoul virus outbreak that ravaged the Tion Hegemony. But the answers to this riddle may prove fatal! This flashpoint is for groups of four Imperial or Republic players with characters at level 50.
Operation: Explosive Conflict sends players to a new zone on the planet of Denova, where traitors and mercenaries are selling the rare explosive mineral baradium to the highest bidder. Players will battle through hordes of droids, mercenaries and deadly creatures all fighting for control of the planet and its valuable resources. This Operation is for groups of eight or sixteen Imperial or Republic players with characters at level 50.
Warzone: Novare Coast pits two teams in an epic battle to control multiple mortar locations and use them to bombard vulnerable enemy bases. Like the Huttball Warzone, Novare Coast can be played Republic vs. Empire or with players of the same faction fighting each other in a thrilling contest of wills to determine each side’s greatest champions. Like all Warzones, Novare Coast is available for characters over level 10.
For those of you who stopped playing The Old Republic, is this enough to entice you to fire up your hyperdrive and return? If not, maybe these rewards will:
All subscribers with active game accounts on April 12, 2012 or April 21, 2012 will be rewarded with an in-game Legacy Reward: the Tauntaun Ram Pet via in-game mail
New players who subscribe to The Old Republic before April 21, 2012 will also receive the Legacy Tauntaun Ram Pet
All active subscribers who have achieved a level 50 character by April 12, 2012 will receive 30 days of game time at no charge as a reward for their loyalty to the game
Former subscribers with inactive accounts are invited back to play Game Update 1.2 for up to seven days at no charge starting April 13, 2012
Endless Raining 
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