After just 5 episodes into its first season Syfy has already given its news flagship show Defiance the benefit of the doubt. Syfy has renewed the show for another 13-episodes that will start airing in 2014.
The announcement is surprising for several reasons. So far the quality has been uneven. A lot of viewers are confused about the background world. A situation that echoes what happened with Farscape 10 years back. Also the ratings have so far been steadily dropping over the course of 5 episodes. The last episode gaining 2.19 million viewers. Personally I only became enthusiastic about the show after seeing the fifth episode ‘A Well Respected Man’. If you gave up on Defiance before that, than I suggest you read the review here on SciFiEmpire.net.
Though I am happy that Syfy has renewed the show the reason has probably more to do with business than with success. There is of course also an MMO to be considered. It would an epic failure if the first TV-series/MMO tie-in would fail after just one season. As for the MMO, it has it fair share of deficiencies but fans have come to appreciate it.
Defiance will be back tonight with the episode ‘The Serpent’s Egg’ starring Grant Bowler, Jaime Murray, Tony Curran, Julie Benz and Stephanie Leonidas.
Ubisoft has formally announced that their upcoming ‘hack-the-city’ third person shooter Watch Dogs (officially Watch_Dogs) is to be released on November 19th in the US and on the 22nd in Europe.
The announcements places the release a little bit closer us as some commentators had already feared that the game would slip into 2014. The game will be released on PC and all current consoles (Xbox-360, ps3 and Wii U!). The next generation consoles such as PS4 and Xbox-720 will also get their own version. For the former it has already been confirmed. Watch Dogs was of course the sensation of E3 2012 with showing that players could achieve almost total control of electronic devices in the game and turn them on their former users. E3 2013 once again largely featured Watch Dogs as everyone’s favorite.
Here is a new trailer to mark the announcement…
Watch Dogs will be released in 4 versions. Actually 5 if you include the ordinary retail version.
Dedsec version; this is the big one. It will include a figure of the playable character Aiden Pearce (Vigilante). The game in a steelbook cover, a map of the city (Chicago), a artbook and the official soundtrack. Additionally it will contain a set of 4 augmented reality collectible cards and three badges. It will also allow buyers access to 3 exclusive single player mission. Normally I am not a big fan of over-the-top collectible edition but this one sounds fantastic. I might just pick it up.
Watch Dogs Dedsec Edition – Aiden Pearce figurine
Vigilante edition; this version will come in a collector’s box along with Aiden’s cap and mask along with the official soundtrack. Players will have access to 1 exclusive single player mission.
Watch Dogs Vigilante Edition – Aiden Mask and Cap
Uplay exclusive edition; will come in a steelbook format along with all the exclusive single player missions.
Special edition; will come with the Breakthrough Pack. I have no idea what that is but it might be the official designation of exclusive single player missions.
Well, I guess that has gotten everybody drooling. It certainly has me drooling over my keyboard….!%&!:::F*CK~$#@ …. no just kidding!
See you back in November for one very special review of Watch Dogs here on SciFiEmpire.net
Here is a small summary of the news that has been released about Ubisoft’s upcoming game Watch Dogs. The game’s genre is difficult to define but its gameplay seems to be a blend of Grand Theft Auto, Mirror’s Edge and Deus Ex Human Revolution. Which is why it has already won a several awards at games conventions. Despite Ubisoft holding an exclusive preview for the PS4 launch event the game is scheduled to be released on ALL game platforms including Nintendo Wii U later this year.
New Watch Dogs gameplay movie released…
Two nights ago Sony unveiled its new PlayStation 4 platform. While it didn’t show the console itself it did release the specs. Sony move is intended to highlight the platforms functionality and I think that has been a wise move. PS4 is scheduled for a November release with a price tag between 400 and 500 dollars depending on what version you buy. It will allow gamers to test-run games and even play games while they being downloaded. Apart from an updated controller supporting a small touch-screen the PS4 is quite familiar to the PS3 users. Ubisoft also unveiled a new gameplay movie of their cyberpunk hacking game Watch Dogs (officially Watch_Dogs) and have confirmed it will be released in the 4th quarter on ALL platforms. I think we can narrow down the release to November.
Watch dogs will also be released on Wii U….
Watch Dogs has also been confirmed for the Nintendo Wii U. A move that will reassure many Nintendo fans as the drought of third-party games intended for hard-core gamers has been very severe indeed. The Nintendo Wii U launched last November and though sales have been good they have not been excellent either. The console suffers from a lack of ‘killer app’ games to woo new-comers. Nintendo may be hedging its bets poorly by relying on outside developers to plug gaps in its games line-up. If I were Nintendo I would buy some eastern European game developers and start turning out shooters and racing games as quickly as possible. This could proof that the platform is also viable for those genres. Nintendo may have launched its console too soon, it seems that third-party developers are waiting for the Xbox-720 and PlayStation 4 to be launched so they can release their games on all platforms at once. The Nintendo Wii U is comparatively the weaker brother with regards to graphical power compared to the competition and that might hurt them in the long run.
Watch Dogs (Ubisoft) cover art
***UPDATE*** Below are the individual box art cover for Xb0x-360, PS3, Windows PC and Wii U. Alas no PS4, yet…
Watch Dogs (Ubisoft) cover art Xbox-360, PS3, PC and Wii U
PS; Watch Dogs isn’t to be confused with Don’t Nod Entertainment’s ‘Remember Me’. If you can’t wait for Watch Dogs then get Remember Me this May!
This is the poster for Destiny, a first person shooter by Bungie, Inc.
This is a brief preview of the new game Destiny produced by Bungie (Halo, Myth) and set for a 2014 release by publisher Activision. Undoubtedly more information will come in during the coming day and so I opt to update this post instead of creating new one. So stay tuned.
It is hard to believe that for Bungie, Inc. that there was a life before Halo. Actually, they had already established a minor reputation for storytelling with their two Myth games and later on with the cyberpunk shooter Oni. Their reputation was firmly established in 2001 when they released Halo: Combat Evolved for the original Xbox, a game that redefined first-person gameplay and graphics on a console. It also saved Microsoft from losing that round of the console wars and as such the game not only spawned many sequels but Bungie was also bought out by Microsoft to act as a first-party developer. Since 2007 Bungie has been on its own again so it was only a matter of time before they would try to develop something new besides Halo.
The Exclusion zone in Bungie’s Destiny – What the hell is that you might ask!
In a world of Mass Effect and Elder Scrolls the Halo franchise suddenly feels a bit dusty. With their new game ‘Destiny’ Bungie is trying to build on its knowledge and reputation gained with Halo while keeping their competition firmly in their sights, and they just might have what it takes to usher in another paradigm shift in gaming. Below is a trailer for the game. It doesn’t show actual gameplay but it does contain CGI based on the game engine which along with the artwork gives an impression of what to expect.
Here is the official trailer for ‘Destiny’…
Destiny is first-person shooter with role-playing elements set in an open world (sandbox world). So far that sounds little different from Mass Effect, Elder Scrolls or a slew of other games. In this case it is a persistent online open world, meaning that the game is a MMO that can be played either in single player style or in co-op. There is no word yet whether it is possible to interact with other players in single player mode or that the world of Destiny consists solely of AI characters. From the footage above we do see how you can team up with other people using a iOS companion app but it doesn’t show anything like a server chat-room. The game doesn’t require a monthly subscription so you can just buy the game off the shelves and play for as much as you like, but I do expect that a whole system of optional extra’s will be implemented.
In Destiny you can travel to other planets such as Mars.
Though Bungie have so far not released any in-game screenshots or footage there are already some concerns that I have with the gameplay. I fear that the focus will be too much on action with the RPG-elements relegated to merely structuring the game. As such, even though it is an open world game you will still be led through checkpoints at which more content will become available. This was the case with The Elder Scrolls 4, whenever you had a more powerful sword or bow so did the enemy. That Destiny is an online world has me wondering how the interaction between gamers works, will we all be boarding the derelict Cassini spacecraft to fight the aliens? With games such as this there is often an inflation of promises and expectations beforehand that are rarely fulfilled by the final game (with the exception of Elder Scrolls 5 and Half Life 2).
The sphere of the Traveler makes magic possible – Destiny (Bungie)
As for the world of Destiny itself. So far there is a brief premise that shows what to expect….
Humanity is in decline. Where humankind once colonized the stars, Earth was eventually devastated by an event known only as “the Collapse”, which reduced the population to a fraction of what it once was. Humanity would have been wiped out altogether were it not for the sudden and mysterious appearance of “the Traveler”, an enormous spherical construct that floats over the last remaining human city and has allowed mankind to consolidate and avert their own extinction. However, hostile forces have appeared at the fringes of the once-great human empire and are steadily encroaching on Earth. The player takes on the role of a Guardian of the City and is tasked with investigating the threat before it wipes all traces of mankind from the universe.
The above premise does read a bit like the dust-cover of a generic sci-fi space-opera but as it is early days it’s all you can expect. We will have to wait for E3 2013 before we will learn the nitty gritty of Bungie’s Destiny. However, a few background details have emerged relating to the game’s antagonist. Three races have so far been announced. They are ‘The Fallen’ who are insect like zombies, there are time-travelling robots called ‘The Vex’ and the rhino-like creatures known as ‘The Cabal’. So far it looks like you won’t be able to play any of them but it can’t be ruled out. Bungie has announced you can play as either one of three classes; Titan, Hunter and Warlock. The last class has the ability to use magic that is provided by ‘The Traveler’, a mysterious sphere that saved humanity from the previous onslaught of aliens. You as a gamer, play the role of Guardian whose objective is to stop the invading aliens and save humanity.
The Cassini derelict – presumably you can reach this ship, but can you also fly it?
As must be obvious by now is that the player can reach other planets and destinations in the Solar System. In the trailer you can see spacecraft but it is unclear if you can fly them yourselves (point and aim) or that you travel to locations with the use of a cut-screen. In the trailer there is also a brief scene of something that looks a like a portal of some sorts, it is unclear whether this is a time-portal or a teleportation device. Bungie has promised that you can use vehicles for travel and combat. It would strange if you couldn’t, but it is unclear how large the world of Destiny is.
The release date for Destiny is set somewhere in 2014. That is probably a shame for Activision as they were hoping to cash in with the Christmas holiday season. Destiny is scheduled to be released on PS3 and Xbox-360. No word yet on a Windows PC release or Nintendo Wii U for that matter.
PS, there is this odd rumor that Paul McCartney is making the soundtrack. Though with the help of Bungie’s own Marty O’Donnell and Mike Salvatore.
Game developers Namco Bandai have posted this ‘making of’ trailer for their upcoming Star Trek Video Game on Youtube. When I say ‘making of’ it is actually a new trailer with commentary from developers and studio officials. I must say it is the best trailer for the game I have seen so far.
The trailer highlights the co-op elements and suggests that not only have Captain Kirk and Commander Spock different personalities that will show in the storyline but their style of gameplay is also different. Were Kirk relies on shooting his way through an army of Gorn Spock relies on stealth. I am not sure how this works in the co-op mode because I have only ever seen the two characters together in the game. Besides the co-op mode this trailer also confirms you will be able to command the enterprise in battle and fire torpedoes and phasers, that along with the space-diving should make for a varied gameplay. The trailer is entitled part 1, so expect more footage in the coming weeks.
The trailer confirms that the game is still scheduled for a April 23rd release date on Windows PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
Below are some screen grabs, they are not HD unfortunately….
By the looks of it IGN has managed to get a big scoop when it posted a large number of still shots of UCP and Syfy Channel’s upcoming TV-show Defiance. The show stars Jaime Murray, Grant Bowler, Julie Benz and Mia Kirshner. It is set in a future world devastated by a war between humans and Votans (who are an ensemble of races).
Don’t forget that the show has a Massive Multiplayer Online shooter called….. ‘Defiance’. It has a story that ties in with the TV-series. That means that events happening in either the game or Tv-series will affect each other. At least, in theory. I am still skeptical about the entire premise. It sounds too much like a marketing gimmick.
The still pictures below shows who is who and what their family relations are. So it is worthwhile studying should the pilot be a bit overwhelming. The stills seem to have been taken from an official website used to distribute preview content for publications. If anyone got that link it would be much appreciated.
Enjoy the stills below…
Alak Tarr (Jesse Rath) and his parents, Stahma (Jaime Murray) and Datak (Tony Curran)
Christie McCawley (Nicole Munoz) and Alak Tarr (Jesse Rath)
Dewshane Williams as Tommy LaSalle
Graham Greene as mine owner Rafe McCawley
Grant Bowler as Joshua Nolan
Irisa (Stephanie Leonidas) and her adoptive human father, Joshua (Grant Bowler)
Jaime Murray as Stahma Tarr
Joshua Nolan (Grant Bowler) and Amanda Rosewater (Julie Benz)
Julie Benz as Mayor Amanda Rosewater
Mia Kirshner as Kenya Rosewater
Rafe (Graham Greene) and his children, Christie (Nicole Munoz) and Quentin (Justin Rain)
Sisters Amanda (Julie Benz) and Kenya Rosewater (Mia Kirshner)
Stephanie Leonidas as Irisa
Tony Curran as Datak Tarr
Tony Curran as Datak Tarr and Jaime Murray as Stahma Tarr
Tony Curran, Jaime Murray, Julie Benz, Mia Kirshner, Grant Bowler, Stephanie Leonidas and Graham Greene
Namco Bandai has released a new trailer for their upcoming Star Trek Video Game entitled ‘Salvation’. We’re calling it the Star Trek Video Game because it doesn’t have an official subtitle to distinguish it from the 2009 movie. STVG has been getting the same kind of buzz among gamers as the upcoming J.J. Abrams movie Star Trek Into Darkness scheduled for release in May this year.
The Star Trek Video Game is itself scheduled for a April 23rd release on PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
So far, much ado is made about the skydiving (space-diving?) sequences. I think they are OK but there will have to be more than just shooting Gorn behind cover. I am starting to get worried about character development. If the game is heavily scripted then there won’t be much opportunity to make choices and take alternative routes. As the game’s graphics appear to be state of the art the questions arises what will be necessary to play the game on Windows PC. So far no word yet on whether it will be released for any of the next-gen consoles such as Wii U. The Xbox-360 and PS4 won’t be released until holiday season so it is pretty much out of the questions that they will see version released.
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Here is the rather epic cover of the Windows version of the game, a shame it is in black and white….
Star Trek 2013 Video Game Cover – Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto
This is a sort of good news / bad news kind of story. The good news is that MGM is not yet done with the Stargate SG-1 franchise as they are going to release an action video game. The bad news is that it will be exclusively for Android and iOS, meaning it is not a full-fledged console/PC game. It certainly is not the oft rumored Stargate Online game that fans have been drooling about.
Stargate SG-1 Unleashed – pyramids and obelisks
Unleashed is set for a March 2013 release date. So far there has only been a teaser trailer to show the computer generated intro. These scenes merely show that earth is once again under threat and that all 4 members of SG-1 are present and correct to try and stop them against impossible odds.
Here is the teaser trailer…
Now, as far as I can tell the game won’t have any voice-overs from actors such as Richard Dean Anderson or Amanda Tapping because it is a tablet/smart-phone game of which we know little. However, no characters speak in the computer generated teaser so I strongly doubt it. It may well be possible that we won’t know what the game looks like until release.
Stargate SG-1 Unleashed – Samantha Carter
As for the plot, because neither Cameron Mitchell (Ben Bowder) or Vala Maldoran (Claudia Black) from Farscape appear I would place this game’s storyline somewhere in the middle of the series storyline. Stargate SG-1: Unleashed is produced by MGM and Arkalis Interactive and will be released in episodic format.
Alongside Star Trek into Darkness there is also a computer game simply entitled Star Trek that will be released on PS3, Xbox-360 and PC (no word yet on Wii U). This game is almost as hotly anticipated as the Star Trek into Darkness movie.It will have it’s own storyline that takes place between the two Star Trek movie and will feature the Gorn as the principal villains. The release date for the game is still a bit fuzzy, some sources quote Q1 2013 while others say it will be May next year. Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, John Cho and Anton Yelchin will reprise their roles from the film series. From a cursory observation of the screens and artwork below I say that the game will focus Kirk and Spock, which I think is a shame as I had hoped the others would be playable characters as well. The screens also remind me of Mass Effect to some degree, I hope the final product will be as good as well.
Below are a whole slew of new screenshots and artwork from the game which show Kirk and Spock fighting lizard type of villains, it doesn’t explain if these are supposed to be the Gorn but I doubt it.
Next year LucasArts will release Star Wars 1313, a mature no-force epic that will feature coruscant as it primary environment. As such the atmosphere will be cyberpunkish a-la Blade Runner.
Check out the artwork below for proof. I will definitely be using these as my desktop wallpaper.
