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All Articles: PAX East 2017
Two new Quake Champions trailers reveal Nyx the Champion and “Blood Covenant” Arena
Bethesda always strides into Boston in the Spring to put on a big show at PAX East, and this year is no exception. All this weekend, the publisher will give congoers the chance to try out Quake Champions, their upcoming free-to-play arena shooter from id Software.
For those of us following along, the publisher has also unveiled a pair of new trailers for the game. The first focuses on one of the game’s Champions, the Fathom Agent known as Nyx:
Nyx (Fathom Agent)
Starting Health: 100
Starting Armor: 75
Speed: 270Active Ability — Ghost Walk: Using the Ghost Walk Active Ability moves Nyx into another dimension, instantly making her invisible and immune to damage. Players can use this ability to escape tough battles, maneuver unseen behind unsuspecting enemies, or even avoid damage from incoming projectiles. Re-materializing in the same spot as an enemy will result in an instant Ability Kill.
Passive Ability — Wall Jump: Nyx’s Passive Ability extends her mobility by allowing her to jump twice – once off the floor and another time off of a nearby wall. Wall Jump can help players traverse wide distances between heights or gain the upper hand in a showdown with foes by creating more space to aim and frag.
The second trailer introduces viewers to “Blood Covenant,” an Arena that’s based on Quake III Arena‘s signature map:
Arena: Blood Covenant
Based on one of the most beloved and played maps from Quake III Arena, The Camping Grounds (Q3DM6), Blood Covenant is a modern re-imagining of the legendary Arena. All the favorite sections remain, including the long Jump Pad to the Rocket Launcher, the Quad Damage spawn, the Railgun ledge, and the tightly spaced battles in the Pillars. However, new tricks and secrets await both veterans and new players alike, offering new ways to fight, move, and use Champions’ Active and Passive abilities.
Both trailers can be found after the break. And don’t forget, earlier this week, Bethesda announced that a Closed Beta for Quake Champions will be available soon. (more…)
Posted in News, PC
Tagged PAX East 2017, Quake Champions
New trailer details additional features and revamped Battle Mode in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
Nintendo has begun preparing fans for the April 28th launch of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with the release of a brand new “Overview Trailer,” as well as more details about its new Battle Mode.
Every racer and course from the original Mario Kart 8 (including the content from both downloadable expansions) will be carried over to Deluxe, but the racing game’s Switch debut will also include five new characters (Inkling Girl, Inkling Boy, King Boo, Dry Bones, and Bowser Jr.), the ability to hold two items at once, returning items like the item-stealing Boo and jumping Feather, a Smart Steering control option, and five ways to play the revamped Battle Mode:
Battle Modes Available in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Renegade Roundup: Making its debut in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, this new mode has one team trying to capture the other and put them into jail before time runs out. The opposing team must try to escape and can break their own teammates out of prison by pressing a button under the jail cell.
- Balloon Battle: In this oldie but goodie, players earn points by popping balloons on the back of their opponents’ karts.
- Bob-Omb Blast: Originally seen in the Mario Kart: Double Dash!! game, this mode finds players throwing a barrage of Bob-Ombs at opponents.
- Coin Runners: By racing across the Battle course, players try to collect the most coins as possible in this fast and frenetic mode introduced in Mario Kart Wii.
- Shine Thief: Steal the coveted Shine Sprite and try to hold onto it for a 20 count in this classic multiplayer Battle mode.
And if you’re in Boston for this weekend’s PAX East convention, you’ll be able to try out a demo of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe if you visit Nintendo’s booth.
Posted in News, Switch
Tagged Mario Kart 8, PAX East 2017
Telltale reveals first screenshots, plot details, and cast for Guardians of the Galaxy
The Boston Convention and Exhibition Center will open the doors to PAX East 2017 in just a few hours, and Telltale Games is using the expo to more fully reveal their episodic series based on Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.
First, the developer announced a few details about the game’s plot, which won’t tie in to the first Guardians of the Galaxy film or the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2:
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series is a brand new story of the universe’s unlikeliest heroes: Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, and Groot. In the wake of an epic battle, the Guardians discover an artifact of unspeakable power. Each of them has a reason to desire this relic, as does a ruthless enemy who is the last of her kind, and who will stop at nothing to tear it from their hands.
From Earth to the Milano to Knowhere and beyond, and set to the beat of awesome music, you wear the rocket-powered boots of Star-Lord in an original Guardians adventure, where your decisions and actions drive the story you experience.
Telltale also confirmed the film franchise’s cast won’t appear in the game, nor will the actors from the Guardians of the Galaxy animated series on Disney XD. Instead, Nolan North… naturally… will replace Bradley Cooper as Rocket, and he’ll be joined by Scott Porter as Star-Lord, Emily O’Brien as Gamora, Brandon Paul Eells as Drax, and Adam Harrington as Groot.
The cast will take the stage at PAX East, alongside several developers from Telltale, as part of the Telltale Games: Interactive Storytelling 2017 panel. The discussion will begin at 6:00 PM (Eastern Time), and if you can’t make it to PAX East, you’ll be able to follow along at home through the convention’s secondary Twitch channel.
Guardians of the Galaxy will also make an appearance at the 2017 SXSW Gaming Expo on Friday, March 17. The game will make its public debut in Austin as Telltale Games plans to host a Crowd Play night for an early version of the first episode. It seems likely that Telltale will release the first trailer for the game shortly after.
In the meantime, you can find the first four screenshots from Guardians of the Galaxy: Episode 1, which will be released this Spring, after the break. (more…)
Posted in Mobile, News, PC, PS4, Xbox One
Tagged Guardians of the Galaxy, PAX East 2017
Tribute Games will release Flinthook on April 18
Tribute Games has announced they’ll release Flinthook for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One on April 18. Like their name implies, Tribute frequently looks to the past for inspiration, which has allowed them to create a procedurally-generated side-scroller where players take control of a zippy little space pirate with a blaster and a grapple gun:
In a galaxy filled with scoundrels and miscreants, everyone seeks treasure and riches! But when a malevolent treasure hunter hatches a sinister plan to unleash an ancient evil threatening the cosmos itself, Flinthook, the galaxy’s smallest but toughest pirate zips into action! Be ready to jump, zip and blast around the meanest fleets the galaxy has to offer! Whether using time-slowing powers or his trusty blasma pistol, Flinthook is ready to take on all pirates, steal treasure and save the galaxy itself!
A new trailer for Flinthook has been embedded above, and if you’re attending this year’s PAX East convention (which begins tomorrow in Boston), you’ll be able to play Flinthook on the show floor at Tribute’s booth (#17116).
Voodoo Vince Remastered will be released for the Xbox One and Windows 10 on April 18
Even though gamers immediately embraced Halo: Combat Evolved, the Xbox struggled to find an identity in the early 2000s. Microsoft released a mish-mash of titles for their first console over the years, and even tried to challenge Mario with several different mascot platformers. None of them stuck the landing, but oddities like Blinx: The Time Sweeper and Grabbed By the Ghoulies still have fans today.
Voodoo Vince was also part of this fraternity, and Microsoft announced today they’re going to re-release the puzzle platformer for the Xbox One and Windows 10 on April 18 as Voodoo Vince Remastered. Originally developed by Beep Industries, Voodoo Vince’s 2003 debut was a quirky adventure that took the title character through the “magical underbelly of New Orleans.” You can reacquaint yourself with the wisecracking voodoo doll in the Announcement Trailer embedded above.
Voodoo Vince Remastered will receive a full graphical makeover, running in 60 FPS at 1080p resolution with 16:9 aspect ratio. The game will also include an updated soundtrack from original composer Steve Kirk, as well as Xbox Play Anywhere support.
If you can’t wait until April, Voodoo Vince Remastered will be available for fans to try out at this weekend’s PAX East convention in the ID@Xbox booth.
Posted in News, PC, Xbox One
Tagged PAX East 2017, Voodoo Vince
Sign up now for the Quake Champions Closed Beta… and play it this weekend at PAX East
Bethesda and id Software have announced that a Closed Beta for Quake Champions will begin “in the coming weeks.” So if you’re interested in re-entering the Arena, head over to Quake.com right now and sign up for the chance to participate.
However, if you’re shipping up to Boston to attend this weekend’s PAX East convention, you’ll also get a chance to play the game in Bethesda’s booth (#18007 and #20007).
To celebrate the Closed Beta, Bethesda has released a brand new gameplay trailer, and they plan to unveil two more gameplay videos (one focusing on a Champion named Nyx and another featuring the “Blood Covenant” Arena) later this week.
Posted in News, PC
Tagged PAX East 2017, Quake Champions
Sony will bring 26 playable PS4 games to PAX East 2017
Sony has announced (via the PlayStation Blog, naturally) that they’re bringing 26 PS4 games to this year’s PAX East convention.
By giving attendees more than two dozen demo options, Sony will be able to showcase a wide variety of titles at their booth including AAA blockbusters (Gran Turismo Sport and Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy), highly-anticipated indie offerings (Cosmic Star Heroine, Tooth & Tail, and What Remains of Edith Finch), and a few PlayStation VR curiosities (Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin and Farpoint).
Here’s a full look at the 26 PS4 games Sony will bring to PAX East 2017 (though a few of them are also in development for the Vita):
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The 2017 PAX East convention will open its doors this Friday, March 10, at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.
THQ Nordic is bringing De Blob, Sine Mora EX, SpellForce 3, and more to PAX East 2017
THQ Nordic has announced plans to bring seven games to this year’s PAX East convention, including a newly-announced re-release of De Blob. The ultra-colorful puzzle platformer originally debuted on the Wii in 2008, and it’ll get a second life on the PC (via Steam) this Spring after its available to download on April 27.
Joining De Blob in THQ Nordic’s booth (#20037) will be Sine Mora EX, an enhanced re-release of the horizontally-scrolling shooter. Set to be released for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One this Summer, THQ Nordic will bring a special High Score Challenge demo to PAX East for fans to try out. If you’re in Boston for the big show, the publisher will also be demoing a trio of RPGs on the show floor… the post-apocalyptic ELEX, the retro-inspired Battle Chasers: Nightwar, and RTS/RPG hybrid SpellForce 3.
Finally, THQ Nordic will have Weappy Studio’s This is the Police and the RTS Lock’s Quest on display.
PAX East is scheduled to begin on March 10, and you can learn more about the games that THQ Nordic is bringing to the show after the break. (more…)
Posted in News, PC, PS4, Xbox One
Tagged Battle Chasers: Nightwar, De Blob, ELEX, PAX East 2017, Sine Mora, SpellForce 3