Game Xbox Wire |
- British Cold War Tanks Arrive in World of Tanks
- Tracks – The Train Set Game: Free Advent Calendar Update Brings Holiday Joy
- This Holiday Season, Sam & Max Are Going to Hell
- Destiny 2: Bungie’s 30th Anniversary Event Begins
- Ever Forward Brings a Mysterious Puzzle Adventure Today to Xbox
- Designing Gold Rush, a More Free-Form Mode for Stealing and Stealth in Hood: Outlaws and Legends
- Welcome to Fortnite Battle Royale Chapter 3 – Season 1: Flipped
- Outbreak: Contagious Memories Demo Available Now
| British Cold War Tanks Arrive in World of Tanks Posted: 07 Dec 2021 01:00 PM PST Summary
The Centurion. The Chieftain. The Challenger. These are some of the British tanks that defined tank warfare in the second half of the 20th century. But you don't have to be a military history buff to enjoy their power. These tanks and several other British behemoths are coming straight to your console in World of Tanks, arriving in waves throughout our latest season: British Invasion! British Invasion is packed with new challenges and new rewards. Gold, Silver, Premium Time, season-themed Emblems, and more can all be yours! And players can access rewards at three possible tiers: Free Rewards, Season Pass Rewards, and Ultimate Season Pass Rewards. All players automatically get access to the Free Rewards tier, which gives you rewards for every three levels you complete out of the season's 100 total levels.  To get more from British Invasion, though, check out the Season Pass. With a Season Pass, you'll get rewards for every level you complete in addition to the rewards from the Free Rewards tier! And this season, the Season Pass Rewards include the game's first British heavy tank from the Cold War era: the powerhouse FV4211. Want the ultimate British experience? Snag the Ultimate Season Pass. You'll get everything from the Free Rewards and Season Pass tiers plus even more rewards, including exclusive access for one month to the game's first Cold War British light tank: the nimble RDF/LT. Not only that; the Ultimate Season Pass is available at an amazing discount just in time for the winter holidays. Don't miss this chance to give yourself a real gift! These new tanks and new rewards are only the first wave of our British celebration, which drops on December 7. On December 14, an entire brand-new line of British vehicles will arrive for the game's Cold War mode of gameplay! Supporting the invasion will be flexible medium tanks and hard-hitting heavy tanks, including historical vehicles like the Conqueror that players have been looking forward to ever since Cold War mode debuted in World of Tanks.  Then, in January, reinforcements arrive! Take command of the new fast-moving British light tanks or unleash the firepower of the new British tank destroyers to dominate Cold War mode and help lead the Western Alliance to victory. It'll be up to you: choose the brand-new British tank that fits your playstyle and claim your win! And that's not all: the British Invasion season has even more exciting game content to put into tankers' hands. By popular demand, contracts to earn Mercenary tanks return to the game, giving you the chance to prove your skill and earn a legendary tank for your work! You'll also see a new garage and a new UI to immerse you even further into your tanking experience. The British are coming… and they're bringing an exhilarating new season of console-based tank warfare! Are you ready to strike out for hope and glory? Then don't miss the British Invasion in World of Tanks. Roll out!   World of TanksWargaming.net Xbox One X Enhanced World of Tanks is a global online multiplayer free-to-play game dedicated to tank warfare in the mid-20th century. Custom built for Xbox, World of Tanks features realistic vehicles and environments, enabling players to command history's most powerful tanks and experience combat on Xbox like never before. Features: • Strategic, fast-paced 15 vs 15 online action. • Over 700 authentic tanks to choose from among 12 nations. • Battle across a variety of environments with varying terrain and weather effects • Built-in support for Xbox One X pushing the boundaries of graphic fidelity. • Regular updates offer new content and frequent special events. Warframe: The New War Launches December 15 The Latest Paladins Update Descends on the Realm KartRider: Drift Returns to the Tracks This December with New Closed Beta Event |
| Tracks – The Train Set Game: Free Advent Calendar Update Brings Holiday Joy Posted: 07 Dec 2021 01:00 PM PST The holidays are almost here – the countdown is well underway, both IRL and in Tracks – The Train Set Game! Our free Advent Calendar Update is out now, with new items and decorations to unlock every day up to 24 December. Don't worry if you're yet to play the update: all previous days are still available to be opened/unlocked. Today I want to give you a quick look at just a handful of the many new decorations included in the update and give you a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing. First though, a quick recap on Tracks – The Train Set Game for those of you who are yet to jump aboard! Tracks is a calm, cosy toy train set builder which gives you the tools to play without limits. Open the toybox to discover a huge array of decorations, passengers, animals and buildings, build your world and then jump into the driver's cabin to see it all to scale. If you're yet to play, you're in luck! We're currently offering a 67% discount on Xbox as part of the Family Time Sale.  Santa's Sleigh We couldn't launch an Advent Calendar Update without including Santa's sleigh! Why not place it under a Christmas tree or on a shelf? Tracks allows you to place decorations in the air too, so you could even place the sleigh in the night sky!  Snowman One of the new passengers you'll unlock is the snowman! Turn on snow to add a light, fluffy layer of white to your toy worlds, and the new snowman passenger type will look right at home. Why not accompany them with reindeer or even Santa himself?  Spiral Bush With this update we also wanted to introduce more decorations which can be used year-round, rather than just for the holidays. One of these new additions is the spiral bush – this can add variety to your gardens and parks – or why not spruce up your towns by putting them outside shops?  Steamroller Even in the world of Tracks there's plenty of roadwork and construction sites. We've added the Steamroller, which fits right in with warning signs, rocks and workpeople!  Panda While pandas may not be the most traditionally festive animal, they're adorable all the same. Why not set up a zoo, where the pandas can live alongside other furry friends? Or how about out in the wild? The choice is yours.  This is just a handful of ideas, and a look at just a few of the new decorations available in the Advent Calendar Update! The update is free for all Tracks players, and is available now, so why not jump in?  Tracks – The Train Set GameExcalibur Games $19.99 $6.59 Xbox One X Enhanced Tracks is a beautiful toy train set builder which gives you the tools to play without limits. Jump into an expansive sandbox and lay down track pieces, create bridges and build towns with Tracks' easy to get to grips with gameplay. Once you're ready, hop into the driver's seat and ride your little train in first-person view – controlling the speed and direction, as you ride the rails. Jump into the Ultimate Toy Sandbox Start with a pre-made environment, be it a modern lounge or a night time Winter wonderland or jump into an entirely blank world canvas. Add trees and foliage from various world biomes, buildings, stations, animals, vehicles, decor and more. Customise your world further by altering terrain and fog colours. Make your train your own, selecting colours and patterns. Play with boosters, musical bells and ramps to make your train set an exciting ride! For a more complex railway system, add junctions and even introduce multiple trains. Build the Train Set of Your Dreams From sprawling green countryside to desert towns, and atmospheric foggy industry sites to vibrant circus setups, countless options await you and your train set. Let your imagination thrive and build the toy train set of your dreams. This Holiday Season, Sam & Max Are Going to Hell Ever Forward Brings a Mysterious Puzzle Adventure Today to Xbox Crazy Athletics Is Available Now for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC |
| This Holiday Season, Sam & Max Are Going to Hell Posted: 07 Dec 2021 12:00 PM PST The second season of Telltale's Sam & Max games, Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space, will launch tomorrow in a newly remastered version, and it's available for preorder right now. If you've already played Sam & Max Save the World, you know what's in store. But maybe you haven't touched a Sam & Max game since the mid-2000s, or the early 1990s? Maybe you've never even heard of the Freelance Police? Consider this post your crash course. Sam & Max are an irreverent dog and rabbity-thing team whose bewildering wit and esoteric crime-fighting methods have entertained people with questionable taste for almost 35 years. They've appeared in award-winning comics by Steve Purcell, a 1990s LucasArts adventure game, a short-lived Canadian TV show, and three seasons of episodic games released by Telltale Games (a company I co-founded) between 2006 and 2010. Most of Telltale's early employees came from LucasArts, where we'd worked together on Sam & Max: Freelance Police, a game that was cancelled in 2004.  After Telltale shut down in 2018, I teamed up with three other members of the Sam & Max development team to acquire the rights to the studio's Sam & Max games. We're now remastering those games with help from several other former Telltale employees. The first season, Sam & Max Save the World, came to Xbox in August. Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space kicks off with an unexpected delivery from the North Pole: a giant battle robot sent to destroy Sam and Max by Santa Claus himself. It seems jolly old St. Nick has gone off his rocker, and he's sabotaging Christmas with gifts that would send the Consumer Product Safety Commission into high alert. Not a problem! The Freelance Police are on the case.  But saving Christmas isn't enough. Next a rogue Bermuda Triangle sucks Sam and Max through a portal to an island populated by bickering moai heads, barfly babies, and a volcano about to blow. Then there's a detour to Stuttgart to face off with an emo vampire who has his eye on Sam and Max's souls. And after that, things start to get weird. By the end of the five-episode story, our heroes will travel through time, hurdle through space, and peek beyond the veil that separates the dead from the living. But when they come face to face with the demons calling the shots for Hell, LLC, the Freelance Police may have reached the end of the line.  Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space is an adventure game with lots of strange spaces to explore, weird characters to chat up, and baffling (but never punishing) puzzles to solve. The game detects when you're stuck and provides subtle hints—you can crank this up if you want more help or turn it off if you want to fly solo. There are also four optional driving mini-games with decals to collect for Sam and Max's De Soto, 12 achievements, and new Easter eggs that should amuse longtime Sam & Max and Telltale fans. But beyond a few Easter eggs, why buy the remaster when the original plays reasonably well with backward compatibility? For starters, because the new version looks and plays like a game made in 2021, not 2007.  We've overhauled the lighting, scaled up the textures, and improved the lip-sync. The original audio, which was compressed like crazy to keep download sizes small, has been remastered and re-encoded from the original source files. Plus, the new version has 4K graphics on Xbox One X and newer, as well as redesigned gamepad controls that work much better than in the original point & click port. But some of our favorite changes bring the game closer to the look and feel of Steve Purcell's comics. All of the character models have been tweaked, including Sam and Max with Steve's input. A new main menu and opening credits sequence make the game feel like one cohesive whole instead of five separate episodes. Many scenes have been punched up with new acting and camerawork, and composer Jared Emerson-Johnson contributed eight new jazz tracks that are performed by some of the original musicians.  If you haven't played Sam & Max Save the World, you might be wondering if you can dive in with the second season. Sam & Max: Beyond Time and Space stands alone, but some recurring characters, jokes, and plot elements do carry over from the first season, just like on TV. If you want to start from the beginning, you're in luck, because Sam & Max Save the World is 25% off through December 13. This holiday season, give yourself the gift of a gumshoe dog in a baggy suit and a naked rabbity-thing with no internal filter. Trust me, it'll be a much better present than whatever you're getting from Santa.   Sam & Max: Beyond Time and SpaceSkunkape Games LLC $19.99 Xbox One X Enhanced Join the Freelance Police on a bizarre adventure from the North Pole to the Fountain of Youth, from outer space to Hell and back. Sam & Max Beyond Time and Space is a remastered version of Telltale's second season of episodic Sam & Max games, lovingly updated by a small team of the original developers. Sam is a six-foot canine detective with a nose for justice. Max is a hyperkinetic rabbity-thing with a taste for mayhem. Together, they're the Freelance Police—an irreverent comedy duo whose esoteric crime-fighting style has been entertaining comic book and video game fans for more than thirty years. In this five-episode collection of interconnected cases, Sam & Max are back on the crime beat in a showdown with Santa Claus, a race to subdue a giant volcano, and a face-off with a Eurotrash vampire. And then things get even weirder. Is paranoid shopkeeper Bosco on to something with his talk of a grand conspiracy? Is diner proprietress Stinky hiding the truth about what happened to her grandfather (also named Stinky)? Will flaky neighbor Sybil Pandemik ever find true love? Did someone say… BIRTHDAY?! Hop into the DeSoto for a hilarious outing that won IGN's Adventure Game of the Year award the first time around and now looks and sounds better than ever, with gorgeous HD graphics, overhauled lighting and lip-sync, finessed cinematography, remastered audio, and eight all-new musical tracks featuring live jazz musicians. Zombies will dance. Mariachis will sing. A giant battle robot will trash the streets. And when their friends' lives are on the line, Sam and Max will risk their very souls to set things right. Tracks – The Train Set Game: Free Advent Calendar Update Brings Holiday Joy Ever Forward Brings a Mysterious Puzzle Adventure Today to Xbox Crazy Athletics Is Available Now for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC |
| Destiny 2: Bungie’s 30th Anniversary Event Begins Posted: 07 Dec 2021 08:00 AM PST For 30 years, Bungie has been on an incredible journey with an amazing community of passionate fans by our side. Starting today, we'd like to take the opportunity to celebrate more than a few gaming experiences that have stood the test of time. We hope you'll join us. From early titles like Marathon and Oni to our evolving space epic, Destiny, our drive to make great games has remained steadfast. Thank you for playing. None of this would have been possible without you. Given that our shared adventure continues today, we think it's fitting to celebrate by launching a new Destiny 2 experience that brings us all together — we hope you enjoy the party. Now let's go spin a wheel in front of a horse.  Everyone's Invited Within the Destiny universe exists a mysterious realm that defies explanation. In addition to being endlessly fascinating, the realm of the Nine makes a great setting for activities that push the boundaries of imagination (like the Prophecy dungeon). It also allows us the freedom to reference games that might not totally make sense within Destiny canon. It is here that Xûr, Agent of the Nine, has invited us to play a game.  Dares of Eternity In this free six-player matchmade activity, players will travel to a new destination and meet with Xûr and a new companion known only as Starhorse. (Seriously. It's a horse made of stars.) There, they'll spin a wheel to determine the type of game they'll play.  Players who complete a Dare (hopefully to the horse's delight) will receive access to Xûr's treasure hoard filled to the brim with treasure that celebrates 30 years of Bungie games. Everyone who finishes a Dare will get into the treasure room, but players who pick up the 30th Anniversary Pack can unlock additional rewards. An Inspired Collection For this momentous occasion, we've reached backwards through time and found inspiration in the worlds we've created over the last 30 years. Fueled by that inspiration, we built a collection of new rewards that pay homage to games from our past that you might recognize. Rewards like the Myth Claymore (Myth) and Marathon (Marathon) armor ornament set. 30th Anniversary Pack owners will immediately unlock a new set of universal ornaments that celebrate the timeless fashion of the 90s as well as a flaming helmet that promises to brighten even the darkest of loot caves. These are only a few of the rewards available today. Hop in and discover the entire collection!  The Loot Cave Beckons There are few things that inspire adventure more than the allure of unclaimed riches. Players who pick up the 30th Anniversary Pack will gain access to a new dungeon inspired by famed Cosmodrome loot caves of yore, their dizzying treasure rooms, and the treacherous lantern-lit caverns that must be explored to enjoy the fruits of their triumph. Grasp of Avarice This three-player dungeon will invite Guardians to reveal a tale of riches and regret as they follow an adventurer who traded his humanity for treasure. If they persevere, an iconic weapon and a new set of… sharp looking armor awaits.  Gjallarhorn Returns The Exotic Rocket Launcher that made its name in Destiny returns with a few new tricks that are sure to blow your fireteam's mind. We don't want to spoil the moment for you if you haven't finished your quest yet but suffice it to say that Gjallarhorn is happy to welcome any Legendary Rocket Launcher into its wolfpack. In addition to its Destiny 2 update, we've also included a couple of ornaments to collect as well as a catalyst that will take its timeless power to even greater heights. Every Cave Has its Thorn Do you gravitate towards the ominous shaders in your collection? Are you more into being spoopy than silly? Do you have a long list of enemies that have fled to orbit questioning whether what they just faced was a Lightbearer… or something else? If any of this sounds like you, you're going to love one of the most metal (literally and figuratively) armor sets I've ever seen in Destiny. Deluxe Edition 30th Anniversary Bundle If our anniversary celebration sounds awesome, but you're also curious about our new expansion launching on February 22, 2022, look at the bundle we've assembled. It includes everything in the 30th Anniversary Pack and adds The Witch Queen Deluxe Edition which includes a full year of Season Passes and more. Pick it up before the expansion launches and you'll also snag the expansion's pre-order instant unlocks. The Journey Continues Thank you for joining us on this wild 30-year journey! We hope you're as excited as us for the next 30 years. Enjoy the celebration and, while you're in the game, look at what's currently happening in Season of the Lost. It doesn't end until The Witch Queen launches next year, and we think you’ll love the story we're telling. Thanks for reading and we'll see you starside.  Destiny 2: The Witch QueenBungie $39.99 Pre-order to unlock the Cosmographicum Exotic Ghost Shell, The Enigma Exotic Emote, and a new emblem The Definitive Destiny Campaign Delve into Savathûn's Throne World to uncover the mystery of how she and her Lucent Hive stole the Light. Learn the secrets to crafting new weapons, the new Glaive, and survive the truth within her web of lies. New Destination A twisted wonderland of corruption and splendor, Savathûn's Throne World plays host to a fragile balance of power. From her palace to the swamp, all that she hides can be found here. Weapon Crafting Create custom weaponry with unique mod, shader, and stat combinations. Master the new Glaive weapon type and unleash powerful melee combos, projectile attacks, and a deployable energy shield. 105 GB hard drive storage space required as of November 10, 2020. Subject to change. Requires broadband internet. After November 10, 2020 see www.destinythegame.com/size-requirements for current requirements prior to purchase. Destiny 2 may contain flashing patterns and images that may produce adverse effects for a small percentage of people sensitive to them. Bungie, Inc. makes no guarantee regarding the availability of online play or features and may modify or discontinue online services with reasonable notice at any time. Using the software constitutes acceptance of the Destiny Software License Agreement available at www.bungie.net/sla. © 2021 Bungie, Inc. All rights reserved. Destiny, the Destiny Logo, Bungie and the Bungie Logo are trademarks of Bungie, Inc. Published and distributed by Bungie, Inc.  Destiny 2: The Witch Queen Deluxe EditionBungie $79.99 Pre-order to unlock the Cosmographicum Exotic Ghost Shell, The Enigma Exotic Emote, and a new emblem The Deluxe Edition includes Seasons 16-19, two Year-5 Dungeons, an Exotic SMG, catalyst, ornament, and an Exotic Sparrow. The Definitive Destiny Campaign Delve into Savathûn's Throne World to uncover the mystery of how she and her Lucent Hive stole the Light. Learn the secrets to crafting new weapons, the new Glaive, and survive the truth within her web of lies. New Destination A twisted wonderland of corruption and splendor, Savathûn's Throne World plays host to a fragile balance of power. From her palace to the swamp, all that she hides can be found here. Weapon Crafting Create custom weaponry with unique mod, shader, and stat combinations. Master the new Glaive weapon type and unleash powerful melee combos, projectile attacks, and a deployable energy shield. 105 GB hard drive storage space required as of November 10, 2020. Subject to change. Requires broadband internet. After November 10, 2020 see www.destinythegame.com/size-requirements for current requirements prior to purchase. Destiny 2 may contain flashing patterns and images that may produce adverse effects for a small percentage of people sensitive to them. Bungie, Inc. makes no guarantee regarding the availability of online play or features and may modify or discontinue online services with reasonable notice at any time. Using the software constitutes acceptance of the Destiny Software License Agreement available at www.bungie.net/sla. © 2021 Bungie, Inc. All rights reserved. Destiny, the Destiny Logo, Bungie and the Bungie Logo are trademarks of Bungie, Inc. Published and distributed by Bungie, Inc.  Destiny 2: The Witch Queen Deluxe + Bungie 30th Anniversary BundleBungie $99.99 Pre-order to unlock the Cosmographicum Exotic Ghost Shell, The Enigma Exotic Emote, and a new emblem The Deluxe Edition includes Seasons 16-19, two Year-5 Dungeons, an Exotic SMG, catalyst, ornament, and an Exotic Sparrow. The 30th Anniversary Pack includes a new Dungeon, Gjallarhorn Exotic Rocket Launcher, new weapons, armor, and much more. The Definitive Destiny Campaign Delve into Savathûn's Throne World to uncover the mystery of how she and her Lucent Hive stole the Light. Learn the secrets to crafting new weapons, the new Glaive, and survive the truth within her web of lies. New Destination A twisted wonderland of corruption and splendor, Savathûn's Throne World plays host to a fragile balance of power. From her palace to the swamp, all that she hides can be found here. Weapon Crafting Create custom weaponry with unique mod, shader, and stat combinations. Master the new Glaive weapon type and unleash powerful melee combos, projectile attacks, and a deployable energy shield. 105 GB hard drive storage space required as of November 10, 2020. Subject to change. Requires broadband internet. After November 10, 2020 see www.destinythegame.com/size-requirements for current requirements prior to purchase. Destiny 2 may contain flashing patterns and images that may produce adverse effects for a small percentage of people sensitive to them. Bungie, Inc. makes no guarantee regarding the availability of online play or features and may modify or discontinue online services with reasonable notice at any time. Using the software constitutes acceptance of the Destiny Software License Agreement available at www.bungie.net/sla. © 2021 Bungie, Inc. All rights reserved. Destiny, the Destiny Logo, Bungie and the Bungie Logo are trademarks of Bungie, Inc. Published and distributed by Bungie, Inc. October Was a Great Month for PC: Back 4 Blood, Age of Empires IV, Windows 11, and More 10 Spooky Halloween Events to Enjoy on Xbox Destiny 2: Xbox Game Pass Updates and Festival of the Lost 2021 |
| Ever Forward Brings a Mysterious Puzzle Adventure Today to Xbox Posted: 07 Dec 2021 02:00 AM PST Summary
 Ever Forward is not only a puzzle game, but a story of Maya. Maya is lost in a strange world somewhere between reality and imagination and is alone to confront her despair on her journey of discovery, where she must unlock her memories and confront her fears to unravel the secrets of the world. For more than three years, the team at Pathea racked their brains together in designing puzzles with "the puzzle gamer" in mind. The story and art style are both attractive and good at catching the player's initial attention, but the puzzles are everything. Ever Forward also brings style to the genre with a relaxing color pallet of soothing pastels and electric future tones designed to simulate the absurd nature of false reality effectively. Many elements of the art may confuse players as to what is what, to further express dreaming's capacity to be obscene. However, if a puzzle can't be solved, there are alternate ways to complete the game without solving 100% of the tasks. Moreover, some puzzles have various ways of being completed to fit different kind of thinkers and logical processes.  Portal & Gravity The Portal in Ever Forward is a gateway between the two ambiguous planes of Maya's consciousness. Players can quickly enter puzzles or explore in the vast open free world while manipulating the directional gravity pull. Change in gravity can further challenge the player's mind and grasp of proximity and spatial relationship. Get your brain exercises in as Ever Forward is now available for Xbox One and coming soon to Xbox Series X|S.  Ever ForwardPM Studios, Inc. $14.99 Ever Forward is an adventure puzzle game — it is the story of Maya. Maya is lost in a strange world somewhere between reality and imagination. She is alone to confront her despair on her journey of discovery, where she must unlock her memories and confront her fears to unravel the secrets of the world. Players will need to use their observational skills and intelligence to solve multiple puzzles to piece together the mystery of Maya's past and what dark secrets she has buried. Puzzles For more than three years, our designers racked their brains, designing puzzles with the ""puzzle gamer"" in mind. Players will feel deeply challenged and motivated to solve each puzzle, and some puzzles have multiple ways of being completed to fit different kinds of thinkers and logical processes. The Art A color pallet of soothing pastels and futuristic tones designed to simulate the absurd nature of the dream world. Adventure Players can collect fragments of memories in the world to unlock new areas and new puzzles. Mechanics Mechanics range from simple movement and jump to teleportation and gravity control; the player must use stealth and observational skills to navigate each puzzle. Tracks – The Train Set Game: Free Advent Calendar Update Brings Holiday Joy This Holiday Season, Sam & Max Are Going to Hell Crazy Athletics Is Available Now for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC |
| Designing Gold Rush, a More Free-Form Mode for Stealing and Stealth in Hood: Outlaws and Legends Posted: 06 Dec 2021 01:00 PM PST Hood: Outlaws & Legends is a third-person, cooperative multiplayer heist game, set against a medieval-inspired backdrop. Gold Rush is our exciting new game mode that pits Outlaw teams against each other to collect and bank as much gold as possible within a time limit. You can collect gold by killing guards, discovering hidden treasures, and stealing treasure chests. You'll need to stay vigilant however as you can be killed by the opposing team and have your gold wallets snatched! Remember to bank held gold regularly at any claimed capture point, and don't get too greedy or your overburdened wallet may slow you down.  A bit of contextBefore we discuss the design choices we've made during the creation of Gold Rush it's important to provide context to some of the terms that will be use in this article when discussing the systems and philosophies I'll be referencing:
 Evaluating a heistBefore discussions began for what the new game mode should be, it was important for the team to stop and evaluate our current game modes. The purpose of this was to help inform us on what areas we should look at. Both in terms of areas for improvement, as well as areas of success so we can incorporate these learnings when creating our new game mode. The two main game modes are State Heist and Outlaw heist. We examined these to identify core issues and frustrations and see how they could be resolved for Gold Rush:
With these core issues identified our next step was to create a set of design pillars that we wanted our new game mode to adhere to. Pillars for successWhen designing a feature or mechanic for a new game mode, the design pillars are used to determine if a feature is a good fit and delivers the intended gameplay. For Gold Rush we used:
 Objectively speakingStarting with the first pillar as our filter we created mechanics that allowed players multiple ways to contribute to the game mode's objective. To do this we created various ways that the player could obtain gold.
 Information is keyThe next pillar to look at is information. We wanted to provide the players with more choice when dealing with situations that arise during play. The way we solved this was to give them more knowledge on the game state. This then allows them to decide how they want to act or react to the given situation. As there are now multiple keys, vaults, and treasure chests in play there is a lot of possible game states that the players will want to react to. It is important that the games HUD informs the players of these states in a clear and concise manner. The game state was broken down into the following:
It was also important that the UI shows the total gold each team has banked as well as the total gold that each team is carrying. This is represented by two bars. A bar that solid bar that shows the total team gold banked, and a transparent bar that shows how much gold the team is carrying. In addition to the bar, this information is also shown in numerical values.  Even though this information is important, we didn't want it to distract or confuse players as to which team is winning. Therefore the team with the most banked gold bar has a highlight that pulses to show they're in the lead. The last, core bit of information we wanted the players to have is how much gold a player, or guard is carrying in their wallet. To achieve this we decided to add the information to the tagging system. When players see a guard or another player, they can tag them to see how much gold is in their wallet. While it's important to provide the players with access to a lot of information, we also need to balance against overwhelming them with too much data which could cause analysis paralysis and prevent the player from enjoying the game. Player ChoiceHaving multiple objectives and providing the player with lots of information gives the player plenty of choice on how they want to approach decisions when playing the game mode. I'll highlight this with a few examples below. Which strategy should I use to acquire gold? Do I focus on stealing treasure chests, do I assassinate guards, or collect sub treasures? Most likely players will do a hybrid of two or three of these objectives, but it gives them plenty of opportunities to contribute to the main goal throughout. Do I play offensive or defensive? Do I go and harass the enemy team making it hard for them to collect gold but also reducing my team's gold collecting efficiency? The enemy team has a treasure chest. Do I go and hunt for the treasure chest or do I go and claim all the capture points to prevent them from banking? Do I kill a guard, or do I wait and assassinate him to get a better reward? We need gold fast to catch up with the enemy team, but will it be enough? These are just a few of the choices the player could make, but none of these choices is a sure thing. They all have a risk associated with them to varying degrees. This means there isn't a dominant strategy so in some games if the player made the less optimal decision this time, next time it might be the more optimal decision. Player typesPlayer choice is also influenced by the player's type. Player types are the categories that players can be sorted into, these categories however aren't rigid as many players fit in multiple categories. The types do influence the player’s choices. Below are examples of the player types in Hood and how their playstyles can fit into gold rush.
Final ThoughtsIt's been a fun and challenging experience to create a new game mode that supports both the existing game pillars of Hood and brings something new to the gameplay. I believe we've created a fun and engaging game mode that provides players with plenty of options and the flexibility to support more emergent gameplay and playstyles. I hope you find Gold Rush as enjoyable as the team did in creating it, and I look forward to players getting their hands on it and sharing their experiences. As with all live games, this is just the start of the journey. Its time to get stealing and fill those wallets!  Hood: Outlaws & LegendsFocus Home Interactive $19.99 Xbox One X Enhanced We are all Outlaws… but some of us will become Legends. Faced with a merciless, unchecked state, rebels and rogues battle to claim their place among legends. To win influence with an oppressed people, rival gangs compete in daring heists to hit the wealthy where it hurts. Folk hero or gold-hungry outlaw, only the best will escape with hard-earned riches. Two teams of 4 players compete to execute the perfect heist, in medieval environments patrolled by deadly AI guards. With the unique skills and mystical abilities of each character, moving in stealth to steal treasures unseen or dominating through loud and brutal combat. Blood will be spilled. Riches will be stolen. Legends will be reborn. • Outplay opponents in intense PvPvE multiplayer heists • Experience a violent medieval world where mysticism competes with man-made power and corruption • Claim your loot and invest in perks, weapons and bold new looks • Post-launch support with new maps, characters, game modes and events A Deadly Defender Joins Hood’s Outlaws for Season One: Samhain Free Play Days – The Elder Scrolls Online: Tamriel Unlimited, Hood: Outlaws and Legends, and I Am Bread Designing the Felony System and Stealth Mechanics in Hood: Outlaws & Legends |
| Welcome to Fortnite Battle Royale Chapter 3 – Season 1: Flipped Posted: 06 Dec 2021 09:00 AM PST Fortnite fans, Welcome to a brand-new chapter of Fortnite! With the Island flipping, a whole new one has been uncovered! New places to explore, new weapons to wield, new people to meet, and much more in Chapter 3 – Season 1: Flipped! It goes without saying that getting flipped over can be disorienting, so hopefully this Chapter 3 – Season 1 Orientation will help you get a sense of things on the new Island! News Spots to ExploreA new winter wonderland emerges. The western half of the Island is a frosty biome where you can find such places like the suburban Greasy Grove and industrial Logjam Lumberyard.  More of a warm weather dweller? Well there's a perfect spot for you. Head to the southern desert and, once there, revel in cozy living at Condo Canyon, "come on down" to the freshly returned Butter Barn, test your off-roading skills at Chonker's Speedway, and more.  You will find many outposts on this Island dedicated to the long-time inhabitants of it: the legendary group known as The Seven. Their main home, the Sanctuary, is found in the tropics. There you can also get a nice view of the towering statue of The Seven's leader, The Foundation. A building in the area that can compare with the statue in size is none other than the Daily Bugle covered in web… I wonder who could have done that?  New Island, New ItemsA hefty new slate of weapons are waiting to be wielded. Here's a quick rundown on what to look out for! Try to find the Ranger Assault Rifle that's useful at both long and medium ranges or the MK-Seven Assault Rifle, a weapon with a high rate of fire that comes with a handy sight for aiming. If you are more of a close range combatant, then try out the new Shotguns! The Striker Shotgun shoots many pellets and boats high burst damage, and while the Auto Shotgun is not quite as impactful as the Striker per shot, it has a faster fire rate and reloads two shells at a time. There are many more new weapons to look forward to wielding, such as the ferocious Stinger SMG, trusty Sidearm Pistol, and the hard-hitting Hunter Bolt-Action Sniper. The flipping of the Island may have led to a lot of chaos, but it's also too scenic to skip on the chance to sit back and camp! Go out and find the all new Tent item, throw it down to assemble it, and then rest in it to heal. You can also safely stash up to three items in your Tent to use in future matches. Two item slots will be automatically available inside the Tent, and a third can be rented with Bars. A Crowning Achievement!If you place highly enough in a match, you will be granted a Victory Crown. You'll start your next match wearing a crown. A great honor, , but it also means you'll stand out to other players seeking a Victory Crown of their own. If you are able to hold onto your crown, you will be rewarded with bonus XP during your match. If you're skilled enough to win while wearing the crown, you'll get an exclusive Emote that shows off the total number of Crown Victory Royales you have earned during the Season!  Slide into the Action!You can now perform a sliding maneuver to up your speed and avoid enemy fire. Just hold the crouch button while running to pull off a slide! Starting December 11 at 7 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. ET, you'll be able to equip Spider-Man's Web-Shooters. Use it to swing on buildings ( the Daily Bugle included!). Also, retreat has become more graceful. While in a Down But Not Out state, you can crawl faster to help reach the safety of your squad. You can also pick up items, sort your inventory, and open Chests and doors.  Spider-Man Swings into the New Battle Pass LineupWith the Chapter 3 Season 1 Battle Pass, unlock characters like Spider-Man and, later on in the Season, The Seven leader himself: The Foundation! Unlocked immediately with the Battle Pass is the "Lotus Walker" Shanta. Earn those Battle Stars to unlock even more unique characters such as the no-nonsense Lt. John Llama, optimistic outlaw Harlowe, and more! And now that Spider-Man is in Fortnite, expect friends and foes of the web-slinging hero to drop into the Item Shop throughout the Season. The Weather & Wildlife The Storm is of course an ever-present force on the Island, but meteorologists predict gameplay- impacting lighting and tornadoes in the not-so-distant future!  Weather isn't the only thing to watch out for, as researchers believe there's a mysterious and undiscovered creature on the Island. Raptors have not been roaming around the Island, unlike the previous one. Perhaps they're afraid of this supposed beast? You're now re-oriented for the flip side — so drop in with confidence! Welcome to Fortnite Chapter 3 – Season 1: Flipped.  FortniteEpic Games Inc. Xbox One X Enhanced The Island you once knew has been turned upside down…literally. Step foot onto the new Island and explore every corner of an undiscovered world in Fortnite Chapter 3 Season 1: Flipped. Swing through the iconic Daily Bugle or slide into Sanctuary, homebase of The Foundation and The Seven. Join The Seven as they prepare for a looming war against the Imagined Order across a once-frozen landscape filled with new POIs and dangerous new weather conditions to test your skills. Plus earn XP beyond Battle Royale to level up your Battle Pass and unlock Spider-Man, The Foundation, and all the new Battle Pass cosmetics. See you on the flip side! Fortnite is the completely free multiplayer game where you and your friends collaborate to create your dream Fortnite world or battle to be the last one standing. Play both Battle Royale and Fortnite Creative for FREE. Download now and jump into the action. This download also gives you a path to purchase the Save the World co-op PvE campaign during Fortnite's Early Access season. Claim Victory with the New Xbox Series S – Fortnite and Rocket League Bundle Naruto and Team 7 Bring the Ways of the Ninja to Fortnite 10 Spooky Halloween Events to Enjoy on Xbox |
| Outbreak: Contagious Memories Demo Available Now Posted: 06 Dec 2021 08:00 AM PST Summary
Hey Survivors! Outbreak: Contagious Memories just premiered at The Game Awards Xbox Game Fest Demo Event and you can play it right now! This small preview of the game will be available through December 14th and is playable on both Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One via Smart Delivery. Return to the world of '90s-inspired retro survival horror in this narrative-driven undead nightmare as you team up with fellow survivors to escape a city overrun with zombies! Read on to learn more about what you'll be experiencing in this new title, as well as a peek behind the scenes during development.  '90s Meets Next-Gen The goal of the Outbreak series is to return to the roots of survival horror – crushing difficulty, intense inventory management, retro gameplay, b-horror tropes, and modern graphics, controls, and more. Outbreak: Contagious Memories propels this forward by delivering the ultimate experience – full voiceovers and next-gen visual upgrades combine in the deepest gameplay ever offered in the series. Everything from fluid 60FPS performance, quick load times, your choice of retro fixed camera, over-the-shoulder, or first-person shooter controls, cheesy voiceovers and cutscenes, and much more await. For the first time, you'll meet fellow human survivors (NPCs) and work together with them to escape a city overrun with monsters and the undead.  A Deeper, More Terrifying World The nightmare has never been more real, and you'll finally get to learn more about how the nation is dealing with the undead epidemic. From news broadcasts, views of a destroyed city overrun with the undead, and overhearing your fellow survivors plan how they're going to survive, you'll be thrust into a world reeling from this plague. When playing on Xbox Series X|S, you'll experience a more beautiful apocalypse featuring real-time reflections, extreme violence with blood, gore and bodies that stay in the environment and high-resolution real-time shadows. Sometimes all you'll have is a tiny flashlight to illuminate your way, with shadows jumping in the distance. Everything is out to kill you, and you'll need to manage your tight resources while making the call to fight or flee your undead assailants.  Never Turn away from a Friendly Face The entire game is designed to play either as a solo or optional split screen co-op experience. Unable to cope with what lurks in the shadows? Bring a friend along as you experience the entire campaign to provide another flashlight, carry resources and deal with the threats hellbent on your destruction. But be warned, another set of hands isn't always going to make your life easier, you'll still need to make hard decisions on how to share your limited weapons, ammo and healing items. Make use of your linked storage caches when you can find them, and plan carefully how you'll survive. You live and die together, if one of you is killed that's the end for both of you!  Behind the Scenes As a solo indie dev, every aspect of the Outbreak experience is organized, curated or created by a single person. But it's the great support from Xbox, alongside their incredible hardware, that allows me to focus on creating engaging content and not fighting endless technical hurdles. Xbox Series X|S's incredible GPU allows small developers like me to bring next-gen visuals like full real-time reflections across the entire title, while still ensuring a smooth 60FPS and lightning-fast load times. Persistent blood as you fight off the undead is thanks to the next-gen CPU and large amount of memory. The Xbox toolchains also allow the game to scale back a bit, so it runs and looks great on base Xbox One hardware. It's an absolute dream to develop for Xbox and I'm so excited for everyone to experience all these effects in real-time which bring the atmosphere to the next level.  More Nightmares Are Waiting for You Looking to brush up on the larger Outbreak story prior to the launch of Outbreak: Contagious Memories in 2022? You can grab the entire series up to this point in the Outbreak: Complete Collection bundle at a great price. You'll experience six adventures in the Outbreak universe, each one paying homage to a different era of survival horror, and tailored towards Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. Don't wait, pick it up today!  Good Luck Thank you again for previewing Outbreak: Contagious Memories, and to all the fans and supporters of the series since 2017. As a solo indie developer, it has been such an amazing experience to see each title grow in quality with deeper gameplay. Stay tuned, we have plenty more to share including new content for Outbreak: Endless Nightmares, and the launch of Outbreak: Contagious Memories in 2022!  Outbreak: Contagious Memories TGA21DemoDead Drop Studios LLC Xbox One X Enhanced Return to the world of '90s survival horror with this brief glimpse into Outbreak: Contagious Memories. Experience Lydia's desperate escape from an overrun urban center as she meets fellow survivors, scrounges for supplies, fights off undead monstrosities in brutally gory combat, and manages a limited inventory. Attempt to survive the nightmare with your choice of retro fixed camera, over-the-shoulder, and first-person shooter views, which you can change at any time during gameplay. Mo-cap animations, cheesy voiceovers and enhanced visuals await as you solve puzzles and fight for your life. Play the entire game in optional split-screen co-op or face the darkness alone. Can you survive the outbreak, or will you become yet another victim of the undead hordes? Join the UNTURNED Beta on Xbox One beginning August 4th! A New Microsoft Store Experience is Coming to Xbox Insiders CrossfireX Open Beta Begins June 25, Play 3 Days Early Starting Today |
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