Darksiders II’s Death Appearing In Metalocalypse

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Adult Swim on Cartoon Network will run a two minute promo Friday night for Darksiders II. It will appear during a Metalocalypse marathon running from 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Adult Swim.

This isn’t the first time that Metalocalypse has done a promo for a video game. Back in 2009, Eddie Riggs from the heavy metal influenced game Brutal Legend made an appearance in the show, and a song from Dethklok (the band that Metalocalypse is based around) was included in the game’s soundtrack.

Source: MTV Multiplayer

Beyond: Two Souls Developer Thinks Industry Suffers ‘Peter Pan Syndrome’

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Many lament the fact that much of AAA gaming is composed of violent shooters that haven’t evolved thematically in a very long time. This trend is something that David Cage, director on Quantic Dream’s Beyond: Two Souls, is particularly dismayed by.

“I think we should have more courage in our industry and take more risks, because I think this is what the industry needs now,” he said. “I mean, how many first person shooters can you make? How many monsters/aliens/zombies can you kill in games? … We need to grow up.”

“I often think that the industry suffers of the Peter Pan syndrome. It’s the fact that we don’t want to grow up, so we stay kids,” added Cage. “But there is a moment where you need to grow up as an industry. And you cannot keep up with the Peter Pan syndrome. You need to grow. And I think this is the right time.”

Source: Gamasutra

League Of Legends Wants To See Companies Grow e-Sports

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E-sports, after many fits and starts over the years, has finally started to take off thanks to the popularity of games like League of Legends and StarCraft II. Riot Games has established a “Championship Series” of e-sports events, with prizes in the millions of dollars that they hope will create an ecosystem where gamers can attempt to go pro.

“We don’t have our sights set on replacing soccer right now, but we definitely think that e-sports has a place as a large, important, mainstream competitive activity,” said Riot Games co-founder Brandon Beck. “I fundamentally believe that e-sports will be an Olympic event in my lifetime.”

“It’s important for companies to not just say they’re excited about e-sports, but to actually make commitments: from a development standpoint and from a financial standpoint,” he said. “These players have to make a massive commitment to become pro-athletes, so there has to be a viable career path for that to grow into anything.”

Find out more about Riot Games and League of Legends in this exclusive [a]list interview.

Source: GamesIndustry International

Ubisoft Uplay Becomes Company’s Digital Distribution Platform

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Ubisoft announced that they have launched the Uplay PC application as a digital distribution platform, replacing the individual game launchers for Ubisoft PC titles and expanding on Ubisoft’s existing 35-million member Uplay platform. Uplay PC will be the company’s community and online retail platform with friends lists, an integrated store and a chat system similar to Valve’s Steam and EA’s Origin.

“Uplay PC is a great way for customers to discover Ubisoft’s games, connect with their friends and gaming communities, and win achievements and content that’s not available anywhere else.” said Stephanie Perotti, Worldwide Director for Online Games, Ubisoft. “For PC gamers that are already fans of Ubisoft’s titles or have been considering trying some of our classics, this promotion is a great deal, and our way of saying thank you for their support.”

ResidentEvil.net Adds Community Features To Resident Evil 6

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Capcom has announced that they are launching ResidentEvil.net, a free service offering in-game stat tracking and community features. Designed to compliment Resident Evil 6 with stat tracking and community features similar to Battlefield 3‘s Battlelog and Call of Duty‘s Elite service, it will add community challenges and unlockable in-game items and is also planned for smartphones and tablets.

“The impetus for ResidentEvil.Net is that we realized a lot of people purchase games and never complete them,” said Resident Evil 6 director Eiichiro Sasaki. “We were trying to figure out how we could get people to enjoy the game from start to finish.”

“I can’t get into specifics on actual numbers for Resident Evil 5 completion,” he said. “We did research and it was less than we expected, which was surprising to us. Sometimes people get stuck in the game and tend to give up. RE.Net is the solution to that. If we notice that people are stopping at a certain time we can create awards or some motivation to move them beyond that point of the game.”

Source: Polygon

Dust 514 Special Beta Event For PlayStation Plus Members

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CCP Games has announced that it is launching a special closed beta event for Sony PlayStation Plus subscribers for Dust 514. From August 21 to September 4, Sony PlayStation Plus subscribers will receive exclusive access to the Dust 514 closed beta, along with those who have purchased a Mercenary Pack and those who already have All-Access Passes.

“August 21 marks an important milestone in the Dust 514 beta as it ushers in the ‘Precursor’ release. This update includes the first live Dust/Eve Online integration, Orbital Strike framework, instant battle matchmaking, new environments, keyboard and mouse support, and tons of other enhancements,” said CCP. “As a bonus, PlayStation Plus subscribers will receive a 50 percent discount on the Mercenary Pack for Dust 514 during the beta event. The Mercenary Pack gives players unlimited beta access, as well as in-game currency, skill boosts, and exclusive gear. Those interested can learn more about the Mercenary Pack by visiting www.dust514.com/mercpack” {link no longer active}.

Spy Hunter Relaunches

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The legendary series Spy Hunter is being brought back by WBIE and it has everything you remember (with improved production values, of course). The Interceptor is ready for even the most difficult missions and can seamlessly transform from supercar to off-road assault vehicle to speed boat and is equipped with new tech gadgets and advanced weaponry.

 

Big Boots Have Launched!

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The new Matchbox Big Boots figures are two-inch figures that have large weighted feet that allow them to stay upright no matter what. They can be launched, tossed, or dropped, and they will always land on their feet thanks to their big boots.

Produced by the Ayzenberg Group, the official URL destination for Big Boots features the heroes saving the day in two diverse locations: Bootsburg and Bootlandia {link no longer active}. The simple, easy to navigate fun site makes it easy for kids and parents both to explore the worlds of Big Boots. Kids can interact with element on the page, explore and discover bits of fun audio, download a cool desktop poster  {link no longer active} or secure some downloadable coloring sheets to extend their experience. The site also performs on a mobile tablet and phone giving kids access to the world of Big Boots anywhere they go.

Click here  {link no longer active} to check out the original Big Boots theme song or explore the world of Big Boots on the official Matchbox YouTube channel  {link no longer active} featuring several commercials also produced by Ayzenberg.