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All Articles: Gamescom 2014
Is Mortal Kombat X the end for the Mortal Kombat franchise?
NetherRealm Studios has an ambitious plan for Mortal Kombat X‘s Story Mode. After recreating the first three entries in the long-running franchise for 2011’s Mortal Kombat, Ed Boon and company want to visit the far-flung future in next year’s sequel. Ultimately, the campaign will send the player 25 years into the future, but Mortal Kombat X will begin by examining the direct aftermath of Shao Khan’s defeat in the previous game. From there, NetherRealm will check in on characters both old and new in five-year intervals. So after this epic bit of storytelling, what do you do for an encore?
IGN asked Ed Boon this question at Gamescom today and the answer is that this could be the end of the Mortal Kombat saga:
“One thing that’s certainly on my mind after jumping ahead 25 years, is I don’t know where we’d go from here,” Boon tentatively begins. “We wanted to do something bold, and this is a bold new story, despite the fact it’s the tenth game. But when you jump ahead 25 years it’s like… what do you do now? Do you jump in time again? Do you go back 25 years? Do you introduce a whole new cast? We’ll worry about it when we reach it, but I do think it could be hard to continue, if we do another one.”
While Boon might be willing to walk away from the franchise, the hard reality of financial success may force the developer to reconsider. The 2011 reboot became the best-selling game in the entire franchise and if Mortal Kombat X lives up to the early hype, it may sell just as well. If Boon really is out of ideas, WB Games might “persuade” him to think harder.
But that’s all far in the future. Check out the IGN interview and read up on some of the neat ideas Boon has for Mortal Kombat X.
Posted in News, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Gamescom 2014, Mortal Kombat X
Geometry Wars 3 coming to PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One; first screenshots inside
I think it’s safe to say that if you’ve played Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2 for any length of time, finding out that Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions is in the works is like Christmas, Hanukkah, and Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day all rolled into one. But what do Sierra and Lucid Games have planned for the threequel? Thankfully, IGN is on the ground in Cologne, Germany with the first preview.
According to the report, Geometry Wars 3 will expand the horizons of the series in new ways. Instead of a flat plane, Dimensions will warp the playing field into 3D shapes such as spheres, cubes, and cylinders. Players will be able to completely circumnavigate the shape and fire bullets all the way around:
Right from the very first stage, Dimensions was as hectic and maddening as the Geometry Wars I fell in love with back on the 360. Additions such as a customizable drone ally, landscapes that morph throughout the round, and bullets that fire all the way around the circumference of a level make each round even more chaotic, but the smart design, easily-digestible color pallette, and UI make sure that the action never becomes truly disorientating.
Wow. Each level in Dimensions will also include its very own leaderboard and a variety of special objectives that players will have to complete to earn Stars. Like many games nowadays, Stars are the currency required to open up new levels and modes in Dimensions. Finally, IGN was able to confirm that the game will appear on the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One before the end of the year.
If you’d prefer to see it for yourself, you can find Geometry Wars 3’s first screenshots after the break. And by the way, Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day is January 27. (more…)
Posted in News, PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Gamescom 2014, Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions
Rise of the Tomb Raider also coming to Xbox 360; exclusivity deal “has a duration”
After a stealth Silent Hill announcement and Rise of the Tomb Raider‘s Xbox exclusivity, yesterday was a big day for Gamescom surprises. But, as we all expected, that exclusivity won’t be permanent and Rise of the Tomb Raider will be free to appear on other platforms someday.
The news was confirmed by Eurogamer, who tracked down Microsoft’s Phil Spencer and got him to admit that their deal with Square Enix “has a duration.” He couldn’t say what Square Enix plans to do with the game after this deal expires, but he could confirm that the game will also launch on the Xbox 360 next year:
Spencer: “I have Tomb Raider shipping next holiday exclusively on Xbox. It is Xbox 360 and Xbox One. I’m not trying to fake anybody out in terms of where this thing is. What they do with the franchise in the long run is not mine. I don’t control it. So all I can talk about is the deal I have. I don’t know where else Tomb Raider goes.”
Eurogamer: “Is there a time limit on the exclusivity period?”
Spencer: “Yes, the deal has a duration. I didn’t buy it. I don’t own the franchise.”
If history is any guide, Square Enix will likely announce Rise of the Tomb Raider’s future destinations (cough PC, PS3, PS4 cough) sometime after the game’s 2015 release.
Posted in News, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Tagged Gamescom 2014, Rise of the Tomb Raider
BioWare reveals the game “You’ve Been Chosen” for is called Shadow Realms
BioWare has been teasing out new trailers for their “You’ve Been Chosen” project for a few weeks now. We knew that the game was set in the modern day and centered on superpowers in some way, but the developer was saving the full reveal for Germany’s Gamescom event. Today, BioWare’s Austin team unveiled Shadow Realms, their new 4v1 RPG.
With its 4v1 structure, BioWare wants to make Shadow Realms resemble the pen-and-paper RPGs that many gamers grew up on. Four players will battle hordes of monsters as Hero characters while the fifth will control the Shadowlord, a evil mastermind who can set traps, possess monsters, and cast spells in opposition to the Heroes:
In Shadow Realms, Modern Heroes on Earth are being awakened and recruited, because of magical powers they never knew they had, to fight in a new and dangerous war against the Shadow Legions of Embra. The Shadow Legions, who have been battling on Embra for years against the members of the Radiant Empires, have gained new strength with the coming of a powerful, unknown force that we call the Shadowlords. And, they have just figured out how to leave Embra and invade Earth.
BioWare will release Shadow Realms episodically through EA’s Origin service, though a release date for the first episode wasn’t announced. Prospective players are encouraged to visit the game’s official website to sign up for a closed alpha test. Once you’re there, you can also read up on some behind-the-scenes secrets courtesy of the BioWare team.
Posted in News, PC
Tagged Gamescom 2014, Shadow Realms
Hideo Kojima and Guillermo Del Toro team up for Silent Hill reboot
If Hideo Kojima wasn’t already considered the Clown Prince of Game Development, he’s certainly earned that title now. Yesterday, Sony uploaded P.T., an “interactive teaser” for a horror game from unknown developer 7780s Studio, to the PlayStation Store. But once players reached the end of the demo, they were in for a massive surprise… P.T. is actually a teaser for Silent Hills, a reboot of the long-running horror franchise produced by Hideo Kojima at his Kojima Productions studio with director Guillermo Del Toro serving as a consultant.
Whoa!
Silent Hills will star Norman Reedus (Daryl from The Walking Dead) and it’s in development for the PS4 (and possibly other platforms). That’s about all we know at this point, but hopefully an official announcement from Sony or Konami will clear things up a little more.
Posted in News, PS4
Tagged Gamescom 2014, Silent Hills
Three new Xbox One bundles announced
Microsoft is already gearing up for the upcoming holiday season, unveiling a whopping three Xbox One console bundles. Each bundle is sure to scratch the many itches of gamers, whether you’re a sports fan, a FPS freak, or a zombie fanatic.
The Xbox One Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare bundle releases on November 3rd, and includes a digital copy of the “Day Zero” version of COD, which gives you early access to the game as well as double XP on November 3rd. The bundle also includes a 1TB hard drive, chat headset, in-game content, and a really sweet-looking console and controller. Retail price is $499.
The Xbox One Sunset Overdrive bundle includes the oh-so-sexy white console (and a controller to match), a standard size 500GB hard drive, a chat headset, a digital copy of Sunset Overdrive, and all the bonus content included with the “Day One” edition of the game. This bundle will release alongside Insomnaic’s wild-looking game on October 28, and will be priced at $399.
Finally, the Xbox One FIFA 15 bundle includes a digital copy of the game, a chat headset, 14-day Xbox Live trial, and the Ultimate Team Legends Gold Pack. This bundle is set to release on September 25, but will only be available in Europe (for €399.99).
Don’t worry American sports fans – you can still get your Madden NFL 15 bundle on August 26th. And interestingly enough, it appears that none of these bundles will include a Kinect sensor. Hmm…
Posted in News, Xbox One
Tagged Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Gamescom 2014, Madden NFL 15, Sunset Overdrive
Tearaway Unfolded will enfold the PS4 soon
Another in the slew of games Sony announced during Gamescom this week is a PlayStation 4 version of Media Molecule’s Tearaway. Originally released for the Vita, the PS4 version will be known as Tearaway Unfolded. While it is technically a remake of the portable title (which heavily incorporated many of the Vita’s unique features), Tearaway Unfolded will take advantage of the DualShock 4 in the same unique way to bring the immersive experience to a home console.
Players will be able to swipe the touchpad to create wind gusts, use the light bar as a flashlight, and listen to items rattle around inside the controller. No release date has been announced. Stay tuned to Warp Zoned for more info as it becomes available.
Posted in News, PS4
Tagged Gamescom 2014, Tearaway
Journey and The Unfinished Swan to hit PS4 in 2014
Today, Sony confirmed that PS3 classics The Unfinished Swan and Journey – no, not that Journey – are being updated for the PlayStation 4. Even better, both titles are planned for release before the end of the year!
Minimal information has been released on the games, other than that they will both run in gorgeous 1080p and that they will be both be Cross-Buy compatible. So if you’ve already purchased the PS3 originals, you’ll be able to upgrade to the PS4 versions for free. As the titles get closer to release, more info will surely become available. Until then, enjoy the fancy “Announce Trailer” for Journey above.
Posted in News, PS4
Tagged Gamescom 2014, Journey, The Unfinished Swan