Tag Archive

Electronic Arts Kisses Online Passes Goodbye

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Joshua Rust

This could quite possibly be some of the best news I’ve heard in quite a while in regards to Electronic Arts (EA). It’s been known for quite a while that EA’s upcoming game Fuse will not require an Online Pass to play the multiplayer component of the game, but who knew that EA was actually listening to its fan base (for lack of a better word) when we say that Online Passes suck!

According to a recent interview with GamesBeat,  EA senior director of corporate communications John Reseburg, told them that, “Yes we’re discontinuing Online Pass. None of our new titles will include that feature.”

I think the question remains is how EA will get around this. It’s not a matter of “if”…just “how” and “when”. This could have something to do with the possible success of micro-transactions through games like Mass Effect 3 and Dead Space 3. But, either way it’s good to see that they are doing away with these Online Passes that were “supposed to extend the server life” of games because the them being bought used. Which we all know that didn’t happen as most of the game servers are still taken down pretty much two years after the games have been released – mostly sports titles though.

Anyways, what are your thoughts on EA getting rid of the Online Passes? Perhaps EA is trying to get back on the right track with consumers…?

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Disney and EA Announce Multi-Year Star Wars Games Partnership

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Joshua Rust

The House Of Mouse and publishing giant Electronic Arts have agreed to multi-game and multiyear agreement that will put the Star Wars brand in the hands of studios like Visceral, DICE, & Bioware. Of course Bioware is no stranger as they have put out one of the best Star Wars games ever created, in my opinion, Star Wars: The Knights Of The Old Republic. No, I’m not talking about that MMO one either. Unfortunately, I don’t think this means that the impressive and promising Star Wars 1313 game will be resurrected – but one can hope.

Electronic Arts will be handling the ‘core’ Star Wars games, while Disney will focus on the casual games – ranging from phones, tablets, consoles, & PC. Here’s hoping that we will get some quality titles out of this deal. For the official press release, keep reading after the jump.Read More

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Dead Space 3’s Awakened DLC Is A Great Addition

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Les Major

It took approximately three and a half to four hours for Ghostwalker and I to clear the new Dead Space 3 DLC and we enjoyed the journey! That’s on par with the main campaign considering we got about an hours worth of entertainment out of DS3 for every $3 and change we’d spent on the retail copy. Three and a half hours for $10 is a fair deal in comparison. Want more details? There’s spoilers to come, so be wary!Read More

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Dragon Age 3 And Next Mass Effect Using Frostbite 3

Posted on March 31, 2013 by Les Major

Remember that absolutely beautiful Battlefield 4 video we saw just last week? Well the general manager for Bioware Edmonton and Montreal Aaryn Flynn has confirmed Dragon Age 3 and the next Mass Effect will use the same engine!

This is definitely amazing news! The characters, details and realisim level in the Battlefield 4 video are stunning. Even the video itself was produced more like a short movie told from a first person perspective. Of course that doesn’t mean the other games will be first person, just that they’ll be potentially as beautiful. Hopefully this means other EA titles will be adding this wonderful engine to their games as well.

Previous reports revealed that Dragon Age 3 would be using Frostbite 2 by DICE, and it’s great to see this upgrade. Artists on DA3 were already impressed with switching to the earlier Frostbite, seeing what they come up with now should truly be amazing!

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Battlefield 4 Looks Visually Stunning

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Les Major

EA’s big contender in the FPS genre has released an incredible preview of the latest Battlefield installment. Playing out more as a movie than a video game (through gameplay, not cut scenes mind you) this guided in game tour is filled with so much visual candy it’s hard at times to remember this isn’t real. From the suns glare to many of the videos other small details that really boost the immersion it’s a absolute treat to behold.

It’s definitely worth checking out the video. As lengthy as it is I found myself quite eagerly watching the whole presentation. Battlefield 4 is due out in the fall of this year. Read on the for the trailer!Read More

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EA Launches ‘Origin Gamer’s Appreciation Sale’

Posted on March 19, 2013 by Rae Michelle Richards

EA wants to show you, the gamer, that they love you, buy offering you heavily discounted PC / Xbox 360/ PS3 titles for the next week. Over 200 titles are discounted up to 70% off including some big names from last year.

Some of the noteworthy deals include Battlefield 3 Premium for $24.99, Crysis 3 for $29.99, Mass Effect 3 for $9.99 and Hitman Absolution for $15.00. They’re also throwing in free shopping on physical item orders over $25. I couldn’t possibly list all of the games here, so check out the Origin Store Front for all of the deals.

Will this be enough to sway users to Origin after the disastrous launch of Sim City? I’m sure that EA will be a huge influx of cash from these deals, and Crysis 3’s inclusion is surprising considering the game came out only a few weeks ago. Although players who purchased Sim City and then were offered free copies of Battlefield 3, among other games, must be pissed off that the company is discounting the games used as an apology– effectively tarnishing it.

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Dead Space 3 | Review

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Les Major

Version tested: PC

Dead Space is a great game series. Roaming the USG Ishimura in the first game, then exploring Titan Station in the sequel was an absolute survival horror treat. There is that magic about Dead Space, and it’s the kind of game you can play with your friends around as you wander the halls watching out for Necromorphs and items to pick up. However, many fans, including myself, were scared the most to see the bright snowy landscape of Dead Space 3. Thankfully, these fears were unfounded.Read More

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Army Of Two: Devil’s Cartel Trailer

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Broken Joysticks

When the first game came out, I was really impressed with what EA Montreal did with the series. Their second entry added a morality feature which made you wonder how good or evil your thoughts were playing with Salem and Rios. Army of Two: Devil’s Cartel however is being co-developed by EA Montreal and Visceral Games of Dead Space fame. EA released today a new trailer for the game, as we had no updates on the game in a while. Read More

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Mass Effect 3’s Omega DLC Released

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Les Major

Noted as being the biggest expansion in the franchises history by our own Joshua Rust, the latest single player DLC for Mass Effect 3 focuses on Aria’s battle to reclaim Omega with Commander Shepards help. The announcement for the DLC asks “Forced to rely on Aria’s unique knowledge of the station and faced with her lust for revenge, how far will you go to retake Omega?” Read on for the launch trailer.Read More

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Battlefield 3: Aftermath Launch Trailer

Posted on November 28, 2012 by Les Major

As Rae pointed out yesterday, the new Battlefield 3 expansion has been released on PSN for BF3 Premium subscribers. Four new maps, three new modified vehicles, and a new scoped crossbow are included. Also the expansion adds the Scavenger game mode where gamers begin with only a pistol and must seek out more powerful weapons. The DLC is also available to non-subscribers at a cost of $14.99. The Xbox 360 and PC version for Premium subscribers is set to be released on December 4th. Meanwhile the regular release for non-subscribers will land on December 11th for PS3 and December 18th for Xbox 360 and PC.

Check out the action from these earthquake ravaged maps where you’ll be fighting for supremacy among the ruins in the launch trailer below:

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Battlefield 3 Expands With Aftermath DLC Tomorrow On PSN

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Rae Michelle Richards

Last year’s Battlefield 3 gets a little larger with the launch of the latest expansion, Aftermath, on the PlayStation 3 tomorrow in North America as long as you are a subscriber to the Battlefield 3 Premium service. Xbox 360 subscribers are going to have wait a week before joining in on the fun. None-Subscribers will be able to snag this add-on as a stand alone DLC for $14.99 on December 18th for Xbox 360 / PC and December 11th on PlayStation 3.

The Aftermath Expansion adds the following maps: Epicenter, Markaz Monolith, Azadi Palace and Talah Market. As well as several vehicles including the Phoenix, Barsuk and Rhino. Aftermath’s hook is that its content takes place in the epi-center of the 8.1 magntitude earthquake which kick-starts the game’s plot.

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Mass Effect 4 Powered By Frostbite Engine – Headed New Direction

Posted on November 12, 2012 by Joshua Rust

Mass Effect 3 may have been the end of a trilogy, but that doesn’t mean that EA/Bioware are done with the franchise just yet. In the early stages of development is a new Mass Effect game being labeled as Mass Effect 4 (not the “official” title yet, mind you).

Over on the Bioware blog, Yanick Roy – studio director, has let loose some new information regarding the next installment in the franchise.

“This is the goal we have been working toward for years now, and every member of our team is proud, excited, and humbled to take on the responsibility for the next game,” Roy wrote.

“To ensure a proper and effective transition, we’ll continue to be supported by the Edmonton studio through the game’s development, working with and learning from them on some critical initiatives,” he added.

“On top of that, Casey [Hudson] remains the Executive Producer, but he will have a Project Director under him, working in Montreal, leading our development team and making day-to-day decisions for the game. We all care very much about Mass Effect and make our decisions based on what’s best for the game.”

The studio boss said the new Mass Effect will be respectful of the heritage built over the course of the first three games, however it’s “exploring new directions”, both on the gameplay and story fronts.

“You can still expect the pillars the franchise is known for to be fully intact though, including diverse alien races, a huge galaxy to explore, and of course rich, cinematic storytelling.”

“There is really not much I can tell you about the game right now, except that it will be built with the amazing technology of Frostbite as its foundation, enhanced by many of the systems that the Dragon Age III team has already spent a lot of time building.”

I’m a fantasy lover by nature, but Mass Effect is one of my favorite franchises to come out of this generation of consoles. I’m hoping that the next iteration of Mass Effect lets us pick what race we want to start out as. Possibly giving us different starting locations depending on who we choose and have the storyline alter a bit depending on that choice as well.

Hey…we can all dream right?

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