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##RPG General News - All News

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Monday - April 15, 2024

RPG General News - Turn Based Games

by Hiddenx, 17:10

Joel RPG recommends some turn-best games:

Top 15 Best NEW Turn Based Strategy-Tactics-RPG Games That You Should Try | 2024 Edition

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro
01:53 #15. No Plan B (PC)
02:30 #14. Slice & Dice (PC, Android)
03:07 #13. Solium Infernum (PC)
03:42 #12. Dominions 6 - Rise of the Pantokrator (PC)
04:19 #11. LONESTAR (PC)
04:53 #10. Headquarters: World War II (PC)
05:26 #9. Tendryll (PC)
06:00 #8. Dark Deity 2 (PC)
06:40 #7. ARC SEED (PC)
07:15 #6. Guild Saga: Vanished Worlds (PC)
07:52 #5. Sandwalkers (PC)
08:26 #4. Demonschool (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch)
09:03 #3. MENACE (PC)
09:40 #2. ZEPHON (PC)
10:16 #1. Spear Song (PC)

Thanks Couchpotato!

Tuesday - April 09, 2024

RPG General News - Side Quests stealing the Show

by Hiddenx, 16:47

TheGamer is pondering about side-quests in current RPGs:

I’m Having Trouble Caring About The Main Quest In RPGs

Side quests are stealing the spotlight in all of the big RPGs of this generation.

I think we can all agree there is a lot to do in modern roleplaying games. In some games, like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth or Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth, there are a massive amount of minigames. True, you will need to play a few minigames to get through the main storyline, but you don’t need to master them to finish the plot.

Other games like Baldur’s Gate 3 (and, for that matter, those games I already named) have an endless series of optional side stories that take hours to complete. Some, like Tears of the Kingdom, just make it fun to screw around for hours. But all of it is making it hard for me to care about the main quest in RPGs.

I’m not saying I don’t like the storylines themselves. Each of the games I’ve mentioned have incredible, fulfilling stories that take dozens of hours to complete. These are stories that make you laugh, make you cry, and make you go, “Wait, was that JK Simmons?”. They’re all intricately planned, beautifully written, and - in the case of Baldur’s Gate 3 - do in fact feature JK Simmons. I’m being genuine when I say that I deeply enjoyed the main quests of these roleplaying games - when I got around to it.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

RPG General News - What's next for Honkai Impact 3rd?

by Hiddenx, 16:36

Gamesradar interviewed the dev team of Honkai Impact 3rd:

What's next for Honkai Impact 3rd, the Genshin Impact dev's original hit RPG: Girl friends, aerial combat, and a "point of entry for newcomers" after 7 years of lore

Interview | Honkai Impact 3rd Part 2 is a comprehensive update for a surprisingly old game

As one of the older gacha games out there, Honkai Impact 3rd can be intimidating. It feels like I was seeing inescapable YouTube ads for this action RPG's launch just yesterday, but the original hit for Genshin Impact developer Hoyoverse is now somehow approaching eight years old. But it also feels a bit like a new game nowadays thanks to its recent Part 2 update, which delivered extensive combat and systemic changes and, most importantly, started a whole story chapter featuring fresh protagonists.

The enormous cast and frankly terrifyingly deep lore of Parts 1 and 1.5 haven't been forgotten, but new leading ladies Senadina, Helia, and Coralie take center stage in a bespoke new space-faring storyline currently orbiting Mars. Part 2 has been billed as an approachable jumping-on point for a game that was getting to be a bit long in the tooth, so as someone who's enjoyed Hoyoverse's more recent games but always skipped Honkai Impact 3rd, I was cautiously optimistic. I was also curious to chat with the devs about what's next for the game, how it got here, its penchant for stories about gals quite simply being good pals, and how it's co-existing with the many other Hoyo games that didn't exist when it launched, especially the loosely paralleled Honkai Star Rail.

GamesRadar+: I've come to think of Part 2 as a soft reboot for Honkai Impact 3rd. Is that accurate in your eyes?

Honkai Impact 3rd development team: This is an update to the existing one, with comprehensive optimization on story lines, combat system, UI design, etc.

I know Honkai Impact 3rd by reputation, and a lot of the praise I hear is related to the previous main character, Kiana. How long have you been planning to move onto an all-new cast with Part 2, and what pushed you to leave Kiana behind?

We always try to provide something new, something exciting, and something [imaginative]. We have been dedicated to creating new content and experiences for both new and avid gamers of Honkai Impact 3rd while inheriting the core spirit of the Honkai franchise. 

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

Sunday - April 07, 2024

RPG General News - Games like Baldur's Gate 3

by Hiddenx, 16:58

You are missing Baldur's Gate 3? GGrecon searched for similar games:

13 best games like Baldur's Gate 3 in 2024, from Divinity Original Sin to Diablo 4

  • How I chose the best games like Baldur’s Gate 3
  • Best games like Baldur’s Gate 3
  • What is the best game like Baldur’s Gate 3?

As the latest title from Larian Studios, Baldur's Gate 3 is a Dungeons & Dragons-based CRPG that comes complete with a ridiculously in-depth character creator, a vast amount of companions, dialogue, and a gorgeous world to go questing in.

What's more, it's no secret that Baldur’s Gate 3 was met with critical acclaim, even becoming one of our Game of the Year contenders. So if you've explored every inch of the game and want to dive into something else like it, I've selected some of the best games that you should be playing in 2024.

How I chose the best games like Baldur’s Gate 3
My methodology for picking entries for this list was to look for titles that have similar gameplay features or overarching themes. As Baldur’s Gate 3 is an RPG with plenty of dialogue where your choices can change the course of the story, you’ll find plenty of dialogue-heavy games here.

13 - Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition
12 - Disco Elysium - The Final Cut
11 - Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader
10 - Fable
9 - Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
8 - Divinity Original Sin 2
7 - Diablo 4
6 - Pillars of Eternity
5 - Elden Ring
4 - Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
3 - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
2 - Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
1 - Dragon Age: Inquisition

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

 

Thursday - March 28, 2024

RPG General News - Dune: Awakening - Preview

by Hiddenx, 20:30

IGN checked out the multiplayer survival game Dune: Awakening:

Dune: Awakening - The First Preview

Thanks Couchpotato!

Monday - March 25, 2024

RPG General News - PAX East 2024

Wednesday - March 20, 2024

RPG General News - Holomento

by Hiddenx, 20:06

Splattercatgaming checked out the roguelike Holomento:

Exploration is King In This Post Apocalyptic Open World RPG - Holomento

Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - March 17, 2024

RPG General News - Upcoming Hack and Slash Games

by Hiddenx, 07:32

GamingBolt compiled a list of Hack and Slash Games in the making:

15 Upcoming HACK AND SLASH GAMES of 2024 And Beyond​

Thanks Couchpotato!

Thursday - March 14, 2024

RPG General News - Spiritual Prequel to The Witcher

by Hiddenx, 18:38

C4G presents a spiritual prequel to The Witcher:

Spiritual "Prequel" to The Witcher that Everyone Forgot

0:00 Hello there my RPG lovers :)
0:05 The Witcher from 1997?
2:08 Sponsored Segment: War Thunder
3:30 Archangel's similarities with The Witcher
6:49 How good was Archangel?

Thanks Couchpotato!

RPG General News - How to play Daggerheart

by Hiddenx, 18:15

Darrington Press (of Critical Role fame) just released a new TTRPG called Daggerheart:

How to Play Daggerheart | Open Beta

0:00 Intro
2:19 the basics
4:50 character creation
6:58 hit points & stress
8:47 game master stuff
9:48 how combat works
13:48 downtime

-> More info on PC Gamer

Thanks Soola!

Wednesday - March 13, 2024

RPG General News - Upcoming RPGs

by Hiddenx, 16:28

Mortismal Gaming presents some upcoming RPGs:

Five Upcoming Games & Announcements You Might Have Missed

Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:49 Outward 2
02:25 No Rest For The Wicked
03:54 Greedfall 2
05:29 The Sinking City 2
06:48 Unknown 9
08:27 Wrap Up

Saturday - March 09, 2024

RPG General News - The Entire History of RPGs

by Hiddenx, 21:05

NeverKnowsBest tells the story of computer RPGs:

The Entire History of RPGs

Sunday - March 03, 2024

RPG General News - Indie Souls Like Games 2024

by Hiddenx, 10:46

Fextralife presents some upcoming Souls Likes:

Top 5 Indie Souls Like Games 2024

Timestamp
0:00 - Top 5 Indie Soulslike
0:37 - Enotria The Last Song
3:51 - The First Berserker: Khazan
5:58 - The Relic of the first Guardian
8:23 - AI Limit
10:12 - Flintlock the Siege of Dawn

Thanks Couchpotato!

Friday - March 01, 2024

RPG General News - 39 upcoming J-RPGs

by Hiddenx, 18:14

In an older video The Gaming Shelf presents 39 upcoming J-RPGs:

39 NEW JRPGs Coming in 2024 You DON'T Want to Miss!

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth 0:00
Granblue Fantasy Relink 0:45
Persona 3 Reload 1:19
Dungeon Travelers: To Heart 2 in Another World  2:07
Trails of Cold Steel III & IV (PS5) 2:32
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth 3:02
Goblin Slayer Another Adventurer: Nightmare Feast 3:43
Unicorn Overlord 4:26
Dragon's Dogma II 4:58
The Legend of Legacy HD Remaster 5:47
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes 6:14
Megaton Musashi: Wired 7:15
SaGa Emerald Beyond 7:57
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time 8:30
Arisen Force Vonimir 9:04
The Girl Who Kicked a Rabbit 9:35
Atelier Resleriana 10:10
Bloomtown: A Different Story 10:39
Blue Protocol 11:09
Dark Deity II 11:47
DecaPolice 12:21
Demon School 12:57
Guns Undarkness 13:29
Lost Soul Aside 13:56
LumenTale: Memories of Trey 14:35
Metaphor: ReFantazio 15:00
Neptunia Game Maker R: Evolution 15:36
Octopath Traveler II (Xbox) 16:08
Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door 16:40
Project Mugen 17:12
Quartet 17:46
Sacrifire 18:13
Sand Land 18:39
Suikoden 1 & 2 HD Remaster 19:08
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak 19:45
Visions of Mana 20:18
Zenless Zone Zero 21:07

Thanks Couchpotato!

Saturday - February 24, 2024

RPG General News - Welcome to ParadiZe - Official Co-Op Trailer

by Hiddenx, 08:06

Couchpotato spotted a new trailer for Welcome to ParadiZe at IGN:

Welcome to ParadiZe - Official Co-Op Trailer

Thursday - February 22, 2024

RPG General News - Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance - Announce Trailer

by Hiddenx, 20:03

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance will be released on June 21:

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance - Announce Trailer | NSW, PS4/5, Xbox Series One, X|S, Steam, PC

Thanks Couchpotato!

 

RPG General News - Stories from the Outbreak released

by Hiddenx, 18:42

The Roguelite Stories from the Outbreak has been released:

 Stories from the Outbreak - Release trailer

Thanks Kordanor!

Tuesday - February 20, 2024

RPG General News - Hidden Gems or Trash

by Hiddenx, 19:26

C4G checked out some obscure RPGs:

I Played Another 5 Forgotten and Obscure RPGs & Action Adventures

0:00 Hello there my RPG lovers :)
0:05 Intro
0:57 Sponsored Segment: Moonlight Blade
2:15 Call for Heroes: Pompolic Wars (2007)
7:09 Eternity: The Last Unicorn (2019)
13:10 Archangel (2002)
21:35 ReCore (2016)
26:49 Blacktail (2022)
32:24 Outro

Thanks Couchpotato!

Monday - February 19, 2024

RPG General News - The History of the CRPG with Felipe Pepe

by Silver, 08:24

Voxel Smash interviewed Felipe Pepe about the history of the CRPG.

Voxel Smash's Damiano talks with editor and writer Felipe Pepe about the history of CRPGs, the importance of regional differences when talking and writing about gaming history, his work on the CRPG book and his personal history with RPGs.

Thursday - February 15, 2024

RPG General News - Phantom Blade 0 Gameplay

by Hiddenx, 21:11

Fextralife checked out Phantom Blade 0:

Phantom Blade 0 Gameplay Breakdown - Kung-Fu-Punk Hack & Slash ARPG

Thanks Couchpotato!

RPG General News - Welcome to ParadiZe Launch on February 29

by Hiddenx, 20:27

The Zombie Sim Welcome to ParadiZe will be released on February 29:

Welcome to ParadiZe In 60 Seconds

Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - February 13, 2024

RPG General News - Soldak RPGs @ C4G

by Hiddenx, 16:29

C4G checked out RPGs made by Soldak Entertainment:

The Most Obscure RPG Franchise is a Real Hidden GEM!

0:00 Hello there my RPG lovers :)
0:05 Who is Soldak Entertainment?
0:57 Depths of Peril (2007)
10:29 Kivi's Underworld (2008)
11:23 Din's Curse (2010)
14:54 Drox Operative (2012)
20:26 Zombasite (2014)
26:45 Din's Legacy (2019)
31:00 Drox Operative 2 (2021)
32:28 Outro

Thanks Couchpotato!

Saturday - February 10, 2024

RPG General News - Trend of Remaking classic RPGs

by Hiddenx, 10:52

Couchpotato spotted an article on Gameinformer about the current trend to create remakes:

Persona, Star Ocean, And Final Fantasy Developers Discuss The Trend Of Remaking Classic RPGs

Every RPG faithful has that formative experience that turned them into a lifelong fan. But what if you could experience it again for the first time? Or if you could recommend it to those who haven’t played it without needing to explain away the parts that haven’t aged well? In today’s gaming landscape, remasters are common, but we’ve seen an influx of full-on remakes of classic role-playing games in recent years.

While 1990’s Ys I & II is likely the earliest example of remade role-playing games, perhaps the most prominent early examples came in the form of the Pokémon franchise. Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen, 2004 remakes of the series’ debut titles less than a decade after their initial release, showcased the technological leap from original Game Boy to Game Boy Advance. However, when those games were remade for a second time through Pokémon Let’s Go, Pikachu & Let’s Go, Eevee on Switch in 2018, it was an even bigger jump ahead.

[...]

Tuesday - February 06, 2024

RPG General News - Gavin Clayton's new Project

by Hiddenx, 18:52

Dualshockers reports that Daggerfall Unity creator Gavin Clayton is working on a new project:

Daggerfall Unity Creator Is Working On His Own 'Daggerfall-Like' Game

The creator of the popular remake is pursuing a childhood dream.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Daggerfall Unity creator Gavin Clayton and his team successfully recreated The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall in Unity, a monumental task that took years of effort.
  • Now that Daggerfall Unity is complete, Clayton plans to develop his own "Daggerfall-style" game, incorporating the elements he loves from the classic game.
  • Clayton is pursuing his childhood dream of making games, and while he acknowledges the challenge of creating an original game, he hopes it will receive even a fraction of the love that Daggerfall Unity has received.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

RPG General News - Steam Next Fest Highlights

by Hiddenx, 18:38

Mortismal Gaming presents some RPGs of the Steam Next Fest:

Steam Next Fest Highlights - February

Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:15 Crown Wars
02:36 Geneforge 2
03:43 Soulmask
05:06 Coridden
06:43 INDIKA
07:51 Wrap Up

Thanks Couchpotato!

RPG General News - Soulsborne Games

by Hiddenx, 17:20

Mp1st tries to answer the question:

Why Soulsborne Games Are So Popular Despite Being So Difficult?

It seems ever since the release of the original Demon's Souls, players have maintained a perpetual hunger for more games that can offer up a similar experience. An experience that is most often boiled down to one recognizable feature. It’s heart-crushing difficulty. But there are lots of games that offer a challenge, though none of them seems to have captured the hearts and minds of gamers like the Soulsborne games — so much so, that it spawned off its own sub genre of action-RPGs.

It seems odd that a genre most well-known for it’s ability to beat you into submission would be steadily rising in demand since its conception with absolutely no signs of slowing down. In fact, in the last five years, two of the five game of the year winners, Sekiro and Elden Ring, have been in this genre. So why have these games taken up so much of the gaming spotlight? Are they overhyped by their communities or is there a legitimate reason you should rethink passing them up due to their difficult reputation? There are actually a number of excellent reasons as to why the popularity of Soulsborne games have exploded in the last decade.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

Monday - February 05, 2024

RPG General News - Corsairs Legacy Impressions

by Hiddenx, 15:23

C4G checked out Corsairs Legacy - Pirate Action RPG & Sea Battles:

Corsairs Legacy - The WORST RPG of 2024... so far

Thanks Couchpotato!

Sunday - February 04, 2024

RPG General News - Game of the Year 2023 @ Ye Old Entertainment

by Hiddenx, 09:56

Ye Old Entertainment presents the Game of the Year 2023:

Game of the Year 2023. We played Baldur's Gate 3, Fallout, Hades, Colony Ship and Many others!

06:31 - Character Creation & Character Progression
10:19 - Gameplay
17:05 - Story & Lore
22:26 - Companions Lorewise
25:52 - Companions Gameplaywise
29:35 - Secondary Mechanics & UX
32:44 - Sound Effects & Mix
35:02 - Music
39:31 - Voice Acting
41:10 - Graphics
44:28 - Performance & Stability
45:27 - GOTY

Thanks Couchpotato!

Wednesday - January 31, 2024

RPG General News - 2024: A J-RPG Feast

by Hiddenx, 19:13

Exputer thinks 2024 will be the year of J-RPGs:

2024 Presents A Feast Of JRPGs, And I’m Ready To Dig In

From action RPGs to tactical combat, there's something for everyone.

2024 is going to be one hell of a year for JRPGs, with many brilliant titles releasing consecutively.
Infinite Wealth, Persona 3 Reload, Metaphor ReFantazio, and FF VII Rebirth are just a few of these.
There are a lot more games with an unconfirmed release date, that could make an appearance.

Ah, JRPGs. The genre I played the most in all my gaming years and something I grew up with fondly. The iconic animated-style characters, partying up to go on an adventure, creative gameplay elements both turn-based and action, and a thought-provoking and impactful story to keep you on edge and deliver meaningful concepts with music more impactful than the scene itself sometimes. Trust me I can go on and on when it comes to JRPGs.

JRPGs also possess a vibrant history that goes back to the very initial days of the advent of proper gaming. Pioneer franchises like the Legend of Zelda, Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, The Legend of Heroes, and Ys started back in the late 1980s, and the concept of JRPGs can be traced even further back. Over the years, this genre has changed drastically, but it continues to go strong, and I can’t describe how overjoyed I am that 2024 is shaping up to be an excellent year for JRPGs.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

RPG General News - Jeff Vogel: Genres are Marketing Terms

by Hiddenx, 18:48

Soola spotted the newest blogpost from Jeff Vogel of Spiderweb Software:

Genres are Marketing Terms, and Your Advice is Bad.

Art is slippery. The firmer your grasp, the sooner it slips out of your hands.

If you really wanna go nuts, try to define what a “game” is. I mean, Hidden Object Games barely even count as an activity. And yet, we know they are games, because they have “game” in the name.
One of the great (?) things about making and writing about games for 30 years is the patterns you get to see. Arguments that come up again and again. Mistakes that keep being made.

I've found that creators and writers often have a phase where they try to come up with their hard, fast rules for art. It's a way to fail to bring soothing order to a process that is unnervingly chaotic and unpredictable.

This isn’t useless. When you're new to an art form, you need to study it. Learn everything that has been done and what has worked and what didn't. Organize it into categories according to what inspires you and what doesn't. It's a healthy waypoint on the way to a productive process of shaking all old ideas of rules and categories off and doing whatever the hell you want.

The problem is when these ideas escape containment from the soothing calm of your Mind Palace and become Tweets. Then debates, then arguments. It's a process that has been going on as long as art's existed.

It's fun to argue, but when you start proclaiming, "This is the one true way to make work," or "These are the rules that define what this piece of art is," you're probably well on the way to wasting time. And time is precious. The most important debates happen inside your own head.

I have to confess at this point that I was inspired to write this by seeing multiple discussions on Twitter/X. It's a very bad idea to take seriously anything you see on Twitter/X. It's a medium designed to prevent complex thought, a pedant's paradise, and really a very very VERY small corner of human thought.

Still, these arguments happen everywhere always, and it's good to be inoculated.

[...]

Monday - January 29, 2024

RPG General News - New Deus Ex Game canceled

by Hiddenx, 21:36

PC Gamer reports that Embracer lays off 97 people at Eidos Montreal and that's the end of the new Deus Ex game:

Embracer lays off 97 people at Eidos Montreal, reportedly cancels new Deus Ex game

The Embracer Group's plummet hits one of PC gaming's most beloved series.

Eidos Montreal, developer of the Adam Jensen-centric Deus Ex reboots as well as 2021's Guardians of the Galaxy, announced today that it has laid off 97 employees "from development teams, administration, and support services." According to a Bloomberg report, the layoffs coincide with the cancellation of an unannounced Deus Ex game the studio was working on. 

Eidos didn't confirm the existence or cancellation of an unannounced Deus Ex project in its announcement, but Bloomberg describes the game as having been in development for two years, likely starting just before or immediately after the studio's acquisition by the Embracer Group in 2022.

[...]

spotted by Henriquejr

Sunday - January 28, 2024

RPG General News - Arco Preview

by Hiddenx, 21:26

Panic checked out the action RPG Arco:

Arco: A Closer Look at Gameplay

Thanks Soola!

Saturday - January 27, 2024

RPG General News - 10 best RPGs @ Gameinformer

by Hiddenx, 11:19

According to Gameinformer these are the best RPGs to play right now:

Top 10 RPGs To Play Right Now

If you’re playing an RPG, you’re in it for the long haul and want an experience that’s going to immerse you and keep you entertained the whole way through. A genre that is both familiar and constantly evolving, RPGs are often tasked with having the total package. The best ones contain all the key ingredients, masterfully combining exciting combat, memorable characters, larger-than-life bosses, and a gripping storyline.

[...]

  • Baldur's Gate 3
  • Sea of Stars
  • Tales of Arise
  • Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
  • Disco Elysium: The Final Cut
  • Cyberpunk 2077
  • Yakuza: Like A Dragon
  • Persona 5 Royal
  • Fire Emblem: Three Houses
  • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Thanks Couchpotato!

Tuesday - January 23, 2024

RPG General News - Knight's Path Preview

by Hiddenx, 16:27

C4G checked out the open world RPG Knight's Path:

Knight's Path - New Open World RPG Inspired by Gothic and Sekiro

Thanks Couchpotato!

Sunday - January 21, 2024

RPG General News - Top 20 RPGs of 2024

by Hiddenx, 08:33

Gameranx presents 20 upcoming RPGs of 2024:

Top 20 NEW RPGs of 2024

0:00 Intro 
0:14 The First Berserker: Khazan 
1:17 Nightingale 
2:16 Chrono Odyssey 
3:05 Gothic 1 Remake 
3:46 Phantom Blade Zero 
4:27 DokeV 
5:12 Path of Exile 2 
6:05 Where Winds Meet 
6:52 Witcher Remake 
7:35 ARK 2 
8:10 Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth 
8:52 Rise of the Ronin 
9:44 Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
10:35 Avowed 
11:20 Black Myth Wukong 
12:07 Fable 
12:53 Dragon Age Dreadwolf 
13:37 Persona 3 Reload 
14:12 Final Fantasy VII Rebirth 
14:49 Dragon’s Dogma 2 
15:34 BONUS

Wednesday - January 17, 2024

RPG General News - 18 upcoming RPGs

by Hiddenx, 16:14

GamingBolt presents 18 upcoming RPGs:

18 NEW Role-Playing Games (RPGs) of 2024 And Beyond

TIMESTAMPS
#1. Black Myth: Wukong 0:22
#2. The Elder Scrolls VI 0:52
#3. Crimson Desert 1:23
#4. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth 1:53
#5. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth 2:17
#6. Dragon's Dogma 2 2:53
#7. Fable 3:20
#8. Rise of the Rōnin 3:38
#9. The Next Mass Effect 4:06
#10. Where Winds Meet 4:32
#11. Chrono Odyssey 5:03
#12. Daba: Land of Water Scar 5:32
#13. Project Orion (Sequel to Cyberpunk 2077) 6:05
#14. The Next Witcher (Project Polaris) 6:43
#15. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League 7:18
#16. Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes 8:07
#17. Monster Hunter Wilds 8:43
#18. Kingdom Hearts IV 9:11

Thanks Couchpotato!

RPG General News - Swen Vincke: Subscription Services not for Larian Games

by Hiddenx, 16:05

Swen Vincke reacts to this statement of Philippe Tremblay, director of subscriptions at Ubisoft:

"I don't have a crystal ball, but when you look at the different subscription services that are out there, we've had a rapid expansion over the last couple of years, but it's still relatively small compared to the other models," he begins. "We're seeing expansion on console as the likes of PlayStation and Xbox bring new people in. On PC, from a Ubisoft standpoint, it's already been great, but we are looking to reach out more on PC, so we see opportunity there.

"One of the things we saw is that gamers are used to, a little bit like DVD, having and owning their games. That's the consumer shift that needs to happen. They got comfortable not owning their CD collection or DVD collection. That's a transformation that's been a bit slower to happen [in games]. As gamers grow comfortable in that aspect… you don't lose your progress. If you resume your game at another time, your progress file is still there. That's not been deleted. You don't lose what you've built in the game or your engagement with the game. So it's about feeling comfortable with not owning your game.

Swen on Twitter:

Whatever the future of games looks like, content will always be king. But it’s going to be a lot harder to get good content if subscription becomes the dominant model and a select group gets to decide what goes to market and what not. Direct from developer to players is the way.

Getting a board to ok a project fueled by idealism is almost impossible and idealism needs room to exist, even if it can lead to disaster. Subscription models will always end up being cost/benefit analysis exercises intended to maximize profit.

There is nothing wrong with that but it may not become a monopoly of subscription services. We are already all dependent on a select group of digital distribution platforms and discoverability is brutal. Should those platforms all switch to subscription, it’ll become savage.

In such a world by definition the preference of the subscription service will determine what games get made. 

Trust me - you really don’t want that.

TLDR ; you won’t find our games on a subscription service even if I respect that for many developers it presents an opportunity to make their game. I don’t have an issue with that. I just want to make sure the other ecosystem doesn’t die because it’s valuable.

 

Saturday - January 13, 2024

RPG General News - PC Gaming grows 18%

by Hiddenx, 14:32

Regarding to Wccftech 2023 was a strong year for PC Gaming:

Baldur’s Gate 3, Hogwarts Legacy, Starfield, Lethal Company Led a Record Year for PC Gaming

2023 was a big year for gaming in general, but it seems it was a particularly strong year for PC Gaming in specific. According to a report from VG Insights, which uses data from Steam and other sources to estimate sales with a fairly high level of accuracy, the global PC gaming market grew to $9 billion in 2023, an 18 percent year-on-year increase over 2022. This followed several years of steady yet slower growth.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

RPG General News - Upcoming RPGs @ GameSpot

by Hiddenx, 14:20

GameSpot is excited about these upcoming RPGs:

11 RPGs To Get Excited About In 2024

Thanks Couchpotato!

Thursday - January 11, 2024

RPG General News - Former Witcher Devs create their Dream RPG

by Hiddenx, 21:31

PCGamesN reports that the studio Rebel Wolves is working on a new RPG:

Ex Cyberpunk 2077 and Witcher 3 devs plan to make their “dream” RPG

Cyberpunk 2077, Witcher 3, and former CDPR devs come together to build the RPG of their dreams, confirming it has officially entered alpha.

Former Cyberpunk 2077, Witcher 3, and CDPR developers have united to create “the RPG of their dreams,” confirming that the upcoming dark fantasy game has now entered its alpha stage. Rebel Wolves, a studio founded by Witcher 3 director Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, has successfully recruited CP2077 quest designer Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz, whose previous credits also include Thronebreaker The Witcher Tales. Tomaszkiewicz describes Rebel Wolves’ debut game as an RPG that its creators “would love to play ourselves.” More information is slated to arrive later this year.

[...]

Thanks Soola!

Monday - January 08, 2024

RPG General News - Top 10 RPGs of 2023

by Hiddenx, 17:43

Game Skinny assembled a top 10 list aswell:

Top 10 Best RPGs of 2023

These are the best RPGs of 2023, and all games that you should buy now or add to your wishlist.

When it comes to roleplaying games, whether they’re ARPGs, CRPGs, or those with hybrid elements, 2023 has been a fruitful year. Most of the AAA titles didn’t disappoint — with a few exceptions — and there were some masterful indie RPGs, as well. These are the Top 10 best RPGs of 2023.

[...]

  1. Baldur’s Gate 3
  2. Sea of Stars
  3. Clash Artifacts of Chaos
  4. Armored Core 6
  5. Warhammer 40K Rogue Trader
  6. Lies of P
  7. Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
  8. Hogwarts Legacy
  9. Remnant 2
  10. Final Fantasy 16

Thanks Couchpotato!

RPG General News - Upcoming RPGs @ PC Gamer

by Hiddenx, 17:22

PC Gamer presents some upcoming RPGs:

11 upcoming RPGs that might finally pull me away from Baldur's Gate 3

There are tons of exciting, ambitious RPGs in development, and lots of them are releasing this year.
 
The enormity of Baldur's Gate 3's briefly stirred up anxieties over raised expectations for future games: Are we going to feel let down by every subsequent RPG that can't match BG3's scope and complexity?

[...]

  • Sovereign Syndicate
  • Unforetold: Witchstone
  • Broken Roads
  • Dragon's Dogma 2
  • Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 
  • Avowed
  • Dread Delusion
  • Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
  • Where Winds Meet 
  • The Wayward Realms
  • Lightforge Games' social RPG

Thanks Couchpotato!

Sunday - January 07, 2024

RPG General News - Year of the Games: 2023 @ Shacknews

by Hiddenx, 04:59

Couchpotato spotted the Shacknews Awards 2023 celebration:

Year of the Games: 2023

2023 is coming to a close, and the Shacknews Staff has assembled an amazing list of games, people, studios, and other awesome things that shaped the year. Leading up to the Shacknews Game of the Year 2023 announcement on December 31, the staff got together to celebrate some other games worthy of praise for a number of reasons. Each award includes a deliberation video, if you want to get a look at the heated debates and intense staff votes. Games released between January 1, 2023 and November 30, 2023 are eligible for Shacknews Awards 2023 consideration, with December 2023 games eligible for awards in 2024. Please take a look.

[...]

Saturday - January 06, 2024

RPG General News - Sandbox RPGs with Lore

by Hiddenx, 09:12

Ye Old Entertainment presents some sandbox RPGs with lore:

Great Sandbox RPGs that you want to look at: Star traders: Frontiers, Wartales and Vagrus

03:06 - Wartales
13:47 - Star Traders: Frontiers
21:38 - Vagrus - The Riven Realms

Friday - January 05, 2024

RPG General News - 10 most anticipated JRPGs of 2024 @ Noisy Pixel

by Hiddenx, 18:50

Noisy Pixel is waiting for these J-RPGs:

Noisy Pixel's 10 Most Anticipated JRPGs Releasing in 2024

00:00 Intro
00:44 Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
01:28 Persona 3 Reloaded
02:40 Granblue Fantasy: ReLink
03:49 The Legend of Legacy HD Remastered
05:07 SaGa Emerald Beyond
06:10 Metaphor: ReFantazio
07:19 Visions of Mana
08:28 Unicorn Overlord
09:19 Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
10:33 The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak

 

Wednesday - January 03, 2024

RPG General News - Lord of the Rings RPGs

by Hiddenx, 10:26

C4G checked out Lord of the Rings RPGs:

Terrible and Great Lord of the Rings RPGs and Action Adventures

Thanks Couchpotato!

RPG General News - Release Dates of 2024 RPGs

by Hiddenx, 09:31

RPG Site made a release date list for upcoming RPGs:

The RPGs of 2024: Every RPG and their release dates

Here we list the upcoming RPGs we expect to see in 2024. This listing will often be updated throughout the year.

Now - we know - defining what exactly is an 'RPG' is can be a little tricky. While some of the games below may not best be labeled as an 'RPG', we wanted to include games that have evident role-playing elements. We allow for a little bit of wiggle room.

Here are some house rules of the list:

  • Our list only includes games with confirmed English versions set to release in 2024. Games that do not have confirmed English localizations or have not yet been announced with 2024 release plans will not be included.
  • There are many RPGs currently in Early Access that may see their full release in 2024. We don't try to predict when games will leave Early Access, so they will not be included until a hard date is announced.

[...]

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Tuesday - January 02, 2024

RPG General News - 2023: Winners and Losers

by Hiddenx, 08:53

VGChartz looks back at 2023:

2023 in Review: Winners and Losers - Article

Another year in the rear-view mirror, another year of both good and bad to look back upon. The video game industry has once again played host to a number of significant events, releases, and other assorted happenings over the last 12 months. So, before we completely forget 2023 and move on to the new year, let's take a look at some of the things that happened, both the nice and the nasty. Here are my winners and losers of 2023 in the world of video games.

[...]

Monday - January 01, 2024

RPG General News - Biggest Games coming in 2024

by Hiddenx, 18:17

IGN presents some games that will be released in 2024:

The Biggest Games Coming in 2024

  • Intro & Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
  • Tekken 8, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, Suicide Squad Kills The Justice League
  • Persona 3, Helldivers II, Skull & Bones, Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth
  • Alone in the Dark, Dragon’s Dogma 2, Rise of the Ronin, Princess Peach: Showtime!
  • Black Myth Wukong, Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2, Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl
  • Star Wars Outlaws, Hades II, Metaphor: ReFantazio, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
  • Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, Visions of Mana, Avowed, Zenless Zone Zero
  • Genshin Impact, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree, DOOM: Year Zero, Metroid Prime 4, Dragon Age: The Dread Wolf Rises

Sunday - December 31, 2023

RPG General News - Best Expansion 2023: Cyberpunk 2077 - Phantom Liberty @ PC Gamer

by Hiddenx, 09:07

PC Gamer thinks Phantom Liberty ist the best game expansion of 2023:

Best Expansion 2023: Cyberpunk 2077 – Phantom Liberty

CDPR's RPG finally reaches its true potential.
 
In a comeback for the ages, Cyberpunk 2077 is now one of the best RPGs you can play, and enhanced even further with this year's Phantom Liberty expansion. For more awards, head to our Game of the Year 2023 list.

Fraser Brown, Online Editor: CDPR will probably never be able to escape the stink of Cyberpunk 2077's botched launch, but what a way to end things. Phantom Liberty's new district, Dogtown, and its cast of CIA analogues, militants and ne'er-do-wells allowed the game to go out on a high note, with a gripping yarn balanced between a slow-burning thriller and a balls-to-the-wall action movie. You get to meet the NUSA president, and much more importantly: Idris Elba.

The devs smartly weave this expansion into the base game rather than sticking it on at the end or making it a standalone romp, allowing it to elevate the rest of Cyberpunk 2077, a game that is lightyears ahead of the launch version thanks to the accompanying (and free) 2.0 update. Proper police chases, a progression system that doles out exciting abilities regularly, an overhauled cybernetics system - this is Cyberpunk 2077's potential realised.

[...]

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RPG General News - New Soulslike Mechanics

by Hiddenx, 09:03

PC Gamer spotted some new interesting game mechanics for Soulslikes this year;

There's plenty FromSoftware could learn from this year's crop of inventive Soulslikes—here are 7 ideas I'd love to see in one of their games

Lies of P and Lords of the Fallen both feature some smart little innovations.

Playing Soulslikes is a pretty standard experience for FromSoftware fans at this point. You spend your first few hours puzzling out the new names for the Estus Flask, Bonfires, Boss Souls, Titanite, and all the well-known mechanics you've come to expect from a familiar genre. But perhaps due to the fact that their formula is often carried over wholesale, Soulslikes tend to innovate in more minor ways. 

Bearing similarities to Bloodborne and Sekiro, Lies of P is one of the most pleasant surprises in terms of this year's Soulslikes, and has a tonne of great ideas. While Lords of the Fallen has an unfortunate tendency to recycle bad genre habits too often—an enemy hiding around every corner—it also shows off some clever little mechanics of its own. 

It's rare that an inherently derivative genre helps inform its source, but these seven mechanics below are all ideas I came across while playing and suddenly thought "Hey, it'd actually be really interesting to see these in a proper FromSoftware game". Maybe you'll agree, maybe not, but either way, food for thought surrounding an ever-developing genre.

[...]

  1. Secret unlockable classes
  2. Boss weapon currency
  3. Quest item prompts for fast travel or dialogue
  4. Moveset as an aspect of weapon crafting
  5. Community events or ongoing questlines
  6. Build your own bonfires
  7. More puzzle mechanics please

[...]

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Saturday - December 30, 2023

RPG General News - CD Projekt's Roadmap

by Hiddenx, 08:38

Gamepressure presents the roadmap of CD Projekt:

The Witcher 4 Staff and Other Trivia From Interview With CD Projekt's CEO

Adam Kicinski, in his last interview as CEO of CD Projekt, talked about the company's upcoming projects.

Adam Kicinski, the CEO of CD Projekt, was interviewed by Parkiet [in Polish]. He talked about upcoming games, as well as the future of the company.

Upcoming projects

  • Work on Project Polaris (i.e., the new installment of The Witcher) is proceeding swiftly. Currently, the team working on the game consists of more than 330 people and is expected to increase to about 400 in the next six months. Don't expect the company to announce a planned release date anytime soon. Having learned from their experience with CP2077 the developers prefer to wait before announcing a specific date.
  • The company is also ramping up work on Orion, the sequel to Cyberpunk 2077. The concept stage has been going on for quite some time now, and the developers now have a good idea of what the game is supposed to be. However, the development will not start in full swing for some time, as the team in Boston responsible for the project is still being built. CD Projekt's Vancouver branch will also help with the work, as will developers in Poland.
  • Work is also still underway on Project Sirius, a game set in The Witcher universe, developed by The Molasses Flood. Added to this is a remake of the first The Witcher from Fool's Theory.
  • So there are four projects in the pipeline, but none of them will be released anytime soon. Nevertheless, CD Projekt has plans to develop its brands next year, but for now it's too early for any details. Most likely, however, it is about projects in other media, such as books or comics. In the interview, Kicinski praises the success Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, which has also boosted sales of the game. There are plans for a live-action adaptation, and the company has already found a partner for this project, although for now the whole thing is at a very early stage of work.
  • The interview also touched on Project Hadar, which is to be CD Projekt's third IP. Currently, the game is in the concept stage and the creators are busy inventing the world. It is too early for any details. All that is known is that it will be an RPG with an open world.

[...]

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Friday - December 29, 2023

RPG General News - Interview with Ex-Wizards Employee

by Hiddenx, 12:32

Commander's Herald interviewed an ex-Wizards of the Coast employee about the layoffs:

Exclusive Interview With Ex-Wizards Employee On Layoffs

Hasbro is not on the good list this year. Wizards of the Coast, the company that develops Magic: The Gathering, has been beset by layoffs from the toy and game giant this holiday season. As such, there is much discontent behind the hallowed walls of Wizards of the Coast's headquarters, and, unfortunately, now outside of it as well. More than 1,100 people were left unemployed after Hasbro went through these layoffs. This amount includes a large number of people now previously under Wizards' employ. We had the opportunity to conduct an exclusive interview with one of these ex-employees.

For reasons of their protection in the industry within which they are still aiming to be employed, we have omitted our interviewee's name from this article. Without further ado, here is what that ex-employee of Wizards of the Coast had to say.

Was the layoff something that came out of nowhere?
Yes and no. While there were communications that numbers were not where they were needing to be, all conversations pointed to this being due to the toys division of Hasbro and that changes would be taking place on that end. We had several Townhall Q&As with [Human Resources], Cynthia Williams, and Chris Cocks where this was brought up. In the one with Cynthia, she responded to HR's comment of "we are killing it" by correcting her and saying we actually were not. She then called out to someone in the back of the group saying "I believe Wizards' numbers are lower than last year" to which the person she was speaking to said they were actually up. She then tried explaining [this] as Wizards not hitting the numbers needed (what was promised to stockholders) and if not for Baldur's Gate 3 the company would be in trouble. When this was brought up in the Chris Cocks Townhall, he commented about it being more towards the toys division and that changes would be made.

Was there severance, and if so, was it reasonable?
There was, though in looking at what has been offered at other companies, it is definitely on the lower end.

Where are the internal fault lines, both within Wizards of the Coast and within Hasbro in general? Is there any generational divide, for instance?
The employees within Wizards all meshed really well. You had to. Teams were so short-staffed and begging for headcount before the layoffs that you didn't have a chance to clash about anything.

From your experience, were the layoffs targeted at upper, middle, or lower-class employees?
Across the board; the only exceptions were the execs who needed to be held accountable the most.

[...]

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RPG General News - Steam Bestsellers of 2023

by Hiddenx, 12:19

Steam listed the bestsellers of 2023:

Platinum

  • Sons Of The Forest
  • Baldur's Gate 3
  • PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS
  • Cyberpunk 2077
  • Call of Duty
  • Starfield
  • Dota 2
  • Hogwarts Legacy
  • Destiny 2
  • Counter-Strike 2
  • Lost Ark

Gold

  • Dead by Daylight
  • Resident Evil 4
  • War Thunder
  • ARMORED CORE VI FIRES OF RUBICON
  • NARAKA: BLADEPOINT
  • EA SPORTS FIFA 23
  • Warframe
  • ELDEN RING
  • Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege
  • Grand Theft Auto V
  • EA SPORTS FC 24
  • Red Dead Redemption 2

RPG General News - Best RPGs of 2023 @ Kotaku

by Hiddenx, 12:04

Kotaku chose their top 12 RPGs of 2023:

The Best RPGs Of 2023

It was another great year for making the numbers go up and romancing our favorite NPCs

The last few years have been full of amazing RPGs, but 2023 took things to a whole new level. It was the year we got Final Fantasy XVI, Diablo 4, and Bethesda’s long awaited Starfield. It was also the year Baldur’s Gate 3 appeared and blew them all out of the water. Fans of stat-based combat, meandering side-quests, and spending way too much time navigating menu systems are eating well.

Not everything that may have deserved a spot on this list made the final cut. If you feel there’s a deserving game that’s not recognized here, more likely than not it was because we simply did not have the time to get to it. 2023 was a packed year, especially for games that take dozens of hours to complete. Honkai: Star Rail, The Legend of Heroes: Trails into Reverie, and Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed are three releases that are noticeably absent from the below. I plan to make more time for each of them heading into the new year. For now, here are our 12 favorite RPGs from 2023.

  • Final Fantasy XVI
  • Fire Emblem Engage
  • Like a Dragon: Ishin!
  • Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
  • Baldur’s Gate 3
  • Persona 5 Tactica
  • Octopath Traveler II
  • Asgard’s Wrath 2
  • Sea of Stars
  • Starfield
  • Diablo IV
  • Star Ocean: Second Story R

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Wednesday - December 27, 2023

RPG General News - Biggest Surprises of 2023 @ COG

by Hiddenx, 07:31

COG made a list of the biggest surprises of 2023:

BIGGEST SURPRISES OF 2023

Prepare to be Surprised
We’re gamers. We’re used to surprises. Sometimes these are negative, like leaks, hacks, delayed games, and layoffs. Often though, we’re surprised by something good, like an unexpectedly great game or a game that defies the odds and evolves from terrible to awesome. Here are just a few of 2023’s happy surprises.

  1. Baldur’s Gate 3
  2. Lies of P
  3. Hi-Fi Rush
  4. Hogwarts Legacy
  5. Lethal Company
  6. Cyberpunk 2077 and Phantom Liberty DLC
  7. Dave the Diver
  8. Sea of Stars
  9. Super Mario Bros. Movie
  10. Metroid Prime Remastered

[...]

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RPG General News - 10 best RPGs of 2023 @ The Gamer

by Hiddenx, 07:13

Couchpotato spotted the 10 best RPGs of 2023 at The Gamer:

10 Best RPGs Of 2023

Get sucked into a new world with the best RPGs of 2023.

The whole genre of Role-Playing Games can be hard to encapsulate at times, since you can consider that all games are played while having a role within them. What the RPG label tends to mean, is a game where character expression and story are at the forefront, either through your own build, a customizable character, or both.

  1. Baldur's Gate 3
  2. Sea Of Stars
  3. Lies Of P
  4. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
  5. Cassette Beasts
  6. Octopath Traveler 2
  7. Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
  8. Starfield
  9. Final Fantasy XVI
  10. Lords Of The Fallen

[...]

Sunday - December 24, 2023

RPG General News - Top 10 RPGs of 2024 @ C4G

by Hiddenx, 09:08

C4G is excited for these upcoming RPGs:

TOP 10 RPGs I'm Looking Forward to in 2024

0:00 Intro 
0:05 Hello there my RPG lovers :) 
0:39 Sponsored Segment: War Thunder 
2:01 10. Fera: The Sundered Tribes 
3:29 9. Duel Corp 
04:49 8. Ardenfall 
06:10 7. Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden 
07:31 6. No Rest for the Wicked 
08:56 5. Forsaken Realms: Vahrin's Call 
10:32 4. Black Myth: Wukong 
11:59 3. Rise of Ronin 
13:32 2. Avowed 
15:06 1. Dragon's Dogma 2 
18:13 Outro

RPG General News - CRPGs of 2024

by Hiddenx, 08:56

Wizard Worm presents some CRPGs that will be released in 2024:

GAME CHANGER ALERT: The 2024 CRPGs Will Amaze You! (The Best 10)

Unlock the gates to a new era of gaming! Immerse yourself in the excitement as I reveal 'The Best 10 Upcoming CRPGs of 2024.' From mythical realms to steampunk adventures, these games promise an unparalleled journey into the heart of role-playing excellence. Join me for an exclusive rpg preview and get ready to shape your gaming destiny in 2024. 

00:00 Welcome Adventurers!
00:16 Archaelund 
01:43 Sovereign Syndicate
02:49 Zoria: Age of Shattering
03:42 Broken Roads
04:40 New Arc Line
05:58 Passageway of the Ancients
06:42 SKALD: Against the Black Priory
07:22 The Way of Wrath
08:20 Edge of War
09:24 Unforetold: Witchstone

Saturday - December 23, 2023

RPG General News - Falcom Roadmap

by Hiddenx, 09:48

Couchpotato spotted Falcom's roadmap on Gematsu:

Falcom reveals upcoming titles lineup, including unannounced Trails game, action RPG, and more

Trails developer aims to increase output to four to five titles per year.

[...]

  • Title A: The Legend of Heroes: Kai no Kiseki – Farewell, O Zemuria (TBD) – 2024
  • Unannounced Title B: Trails Series (TBD) – In Development
  • Unannounced Title C: Action RPG (TBD) – In Development
  • Unannounced Title D (TBD) – In Development
  • Ported Titles (TBD) – Suspended Development of Three Titles
  • The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak (Switch) – February 15, 2024
  • Unannounced Switch Title E (Switch) – In Development
  • Unannounced Ported Title F (PS5, PS4) – In Development

Monday - December 18, 2023

RPG General News - Putting the "J" in the RPG

by Hiddenx, 18:35

The Digital Antiquarian talks about the origins of J-RPGs (part #1, part #2):

Putting the "J" in the RPG, Part 1: Dorakue!

[...]

The roots of the JRPG can be traced back not just to the United States but to a very specific place and time there: to the American Midwest in the early 1970s, where and when Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, a pair of stolid grognards who would have been utterly nonplussed by the emotional histrionics of a Final Fantasy VII, created a “single-unit wargame” called Dungeons & Dragons. I wrote quite some years ago on this site that their game’s “impact on the culture at large has been, for better or for worse, greater than that of any single novel, film, or piece of music to appear during its lifetime.” I almost want to dismiss those words now as the naive hyperbole of a younger self. But the thing is, I can’t; I have no choice but to stand by them. Dungeons & Dragons really was that earthshaking, not only in the obvious ways - it’s hard to imagine the post-millennial craze for fantasy in mass media, from the Lord of the Rings films to Game of Thrones, ever taking hold without it — but also in subtler yet ultimately more important ones, in the way it changed the role we play in our entertainments from that of passive spectators to active co-creators, making interactivity the watchword of an entire age of media.

The early popularity of Dungeons & Dragons coincided with the rise of accessible computing, and this proved a potent combination. Fans of the game with access to PLATO, a groundbreaking online community rooted in American universities, moved it as best they could onto computers, yielding the world’s first recognizable CRPGs. Then a couple of PLATO users named Robert Woodhead and Andrew Greenberg made a game of this type for the Apple II personal computer in 1981, calling it Wizardry. Meanwhile Richard Garriott was making Ultima, a different take on the same broad concept of “Dungeons & Dragons on a personal computer.”

[...]

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RPG General News - Forgotten and obscure RPGs

by Hiddenx, 18:03

C4G checked out 50 lesser known RPGs:

I Played 50 Forgotten and Obscure RPGs & Action Adventures

0:00 Intro
0:53 Sponsored Segment: Star Trek Fleet Command
2:31 1. Venetica
5:28 2. The Fist Templar
8:39 3. Hunted: Demon's Forge
12:06 4. Rune II
15:19 5. Blades of Time
19:38 6. The Dark Eye: Demonicon
25:22 7. Loki
30:06 8. Rise of the Argonauts
35:02 9. Bound by Flame
39:33 10. Enclave
44:08 11. Hard to be a God
48:59 12. Vikings: Wolves of Midgard
54:26 13. Insomnia: The Ark 
59:21 14. The Cursed Crusade
1:05:00 15. Drakensang: The Dark Eye
1:11:20 16. Game of Thrones
1:16:35 17. Sacred 3
1:22:32 18. Dungeon Lords
1:28:44 19. Heavently Sword
1:36:38 20. Seven Enhanced Edition
1:43:44 21. Legends of Aethereus
1:49:25 22. BloodRayne 2 ReVamped
1:56:40 23. The Bard's Tale
2:01:16 24. Dungeon Siege 3
2:09:16 25. Sudeki
2:16:41 26. Warlander
2:22:56 27. Viking: Battle for Asgard
2:29:25 28. Shadows: Awakening
2:38:29 29. Blade of Darkness
2:45:27 30. Silverfall
2:54:38 31. Sword Coast Legends
3:00:28 32. Blood Knights
3:06:58 33. Hellgate London
3:13:42 34. Summoner 2 A Goddess Reborn
3:20:26 35. Spartan: Total Warrior
3:27:57 36. Mage Knight: Apocalypse 
3:34:27 37. Ascend: Reborn
3:40:34 38. Kult: Heretic Kingdoms
3:47:39 39. Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance
3:52:42 40. Knights Contract
4:00:57 41. Borderzone
4:07:43 42. Beowulf: The Game
4:15:53 43. Dawn of Magic 2
4:23:02 44. Requital
4:30:08 45. KotT: Infernal Crusade
4:37:41 46. The Waylanders
4:44:06 47. Extinction
4:50:03 48. Immortal Unchained
4:57:25 49. Bionic Commando
5:03:47 50. Champions of Norrath
5:11:25 Ways to support C4G

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Thursday - December 14, 2023

RPG General News - The Best RPG of 2023 @ IGN

by Hiddenx, 21:49

IGN has chosen the best RPG and the best Soulslike of 2023:

The Best RPG of 2023

One of gaming’s oldest genre’s had a remarkable 2023. It contained several long-awaited releases, a number of delightful surprises, and a stunning sequel that will be remembered as an all-time great. We knew it would be a good year for RPGs going in, but we didn’t know that it would be this good. Role-playing games of all different types were represented this year – turn-based and action, strategy and open-world, Japanese and European. It was a feast for fans of the genre, made all the more surprising that one of its anticipated releases spent less time in the limelight than many would have expected.

Runner-Up: Starfield
Runner-Up: Diablo IV
Runner-Up: Sea of Stars
Runner-Up: Octopath Traveler 2
Runner-Up: In Stars and Time
Runner-Up: Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty
Winner: Baldur’s Gate 3

[...]

The Best Soulslike of 2023

It’s rare that a whole new genre emerges. It’s even rarer when a new genre breaks out of its niche and becomes a significant part of the medium as a whole. But that’s exactly what has happened with Soulslikes. There’s a whole movement of games inspired by Dark Souls, and with the likes of Lords of the Fallen, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, and Lies of P arriving over the past 12 months, 2023 was the ultimate proof of that. No longer just clones riding the coattails of FromSoftware, these games have built on the Souls ruleset and bloomed into a scene all of their own. Hence, there seemed no better time than now to give Soulslike its own category for this year’s IGN awards.

[...]

Runner-Up: Remnant 2
Winner: Lies of P

Honorable Mentions:
Lords of the Fallen
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty

[...]

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Wednesday - December 13, 2023

RPG General News - Larian should make a Star Wars Game

by Hiddenx, 18:37

PC Gamer thinks Larian should make a Star Wars RPG:

I've never wanted anything more than for Larian to make a Star Wars RPG in the vein of Baldur's Gate 3

It's already made the best D&D videogame, so why not adapt the Star Wars TTRPG?

A whopping 19 years ago last week, Obsidian and LucasArts released Knights of the Old Republic 2 - a rough, unfinished romp around the Star Wars galaxy. Despite being pushed out the door far too soon, the complex, philosophical yarn spun by Obsidian lifted it above the usual Star Wars fare, exploring the setting and the nebulous concept of the Force in a way that had never really been attempted before. 

With only a year and change between this and the first KOTOR, you could have been forgiven for assuming that a golden age of Star Wars RPGs was upon us, but it wasn't meant to be. Nearly two decades later, we've yet to see either a follow up or a brand new Star Wars RPG, at least not a singleplayer one, despite the fact that the licence has grown into an uncontrollable beast under Disney.

[...]

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Tuesday - December 12, 2023

RPG General News - 10 best RPGs of 2023 @ Screenrant

by Hiddenx, 11:29

Screenrant listed their 10 best RPGs of 2023:

10 Best RPGs Of 2023

From Final Fantasy XVI to Baldur's Gate 3, this was a great year for RPGs, but these ten games stood out as the best of the bunch in 2023.

SUMMARY

  • 2023 was an excellent year for RPGs, with standout titles like Baldur's Gate 3 receiving high praise from critics and players.
  • Honkai: Star Rail, The Legend of Heroes: Trails To Azure, and Super Mario RPG were also recognized as some of the best RPGs of the year, with strong critic reviews and positive player reception.
  • The selection process for this list considered criteria such as critic scores, awards, our own reviews, and the writer's expertise, ensuring that the chosen games truly represent the best of the genre.

The Games:

  • Honkai: Star Rail (HoYoverse)
  • The Legend of Heroes: Trails To Azure (NIS America)
  • Super Mario RPG (Nintendo)
  • Starfield (Bethesda)
  • Hogwarts Legacy (Warner Bros. Games)
  • Octopath Traveler 2 (Square Enix)
  • Star Ocean: The Second Story R (Square Enix)
  • Sea of Stars (Sabotage)
  • Final Fantasy 16 (Square Enix)
  • Baldur's Gate 3 (Larian Studios)

[...]

Sunday - December 10, 2023

RPG General News - Dungeons & Dragons Games ranked

by Hiddenx, 23:27

TripleJump ranked all Dungeons & Dragons viodeo games:

Every Dungeons & Dragons Video Game Ranked From WORST To BEST

Featured Dungeons & Dragons video games:
• Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Cloudy Mountain
• Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Treasure of Tarmin
• Al-Qadim: The Genie's Curse
• Baldur's Gate
• Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn
• Baldurs' Gate III
• Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
• Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
• Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II
• Birthright: The Gorgon's Alliance
• Blood & Magic
• Champions of Krynn
• Curse of the Azure Bonds
• Dark Sun: Shattered Lands
• Dark Sun: Wake of the Ravager
• Death Knights of Krynn
• DeathKeep
• Descent to Undermountain
• Dragons of Flame
• DragonStrike
• Dungeon Hack
• Dungeon!
• Dungeons & Dragons Online
• Dungeons & Dragons Tactics
• Dungeons & Dragons: Daggerdale
• Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance
• Dungeons & Dragons: Dragonshard
• Dungeons & Dragons: Eye of the Beholder
• Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes
• Dungeons & Dragons: Order of the Griffon
• Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow over Mystara
• Dungeons & Dragons: Tower of Doom
• Dungeons & Dragons: Warriors of the Eternal Sun
• Eye of the Beholder
• Eye of the Beholder II: The Legend of Darkmoon
• Eye of the Beholder III: Assault on Myth Drannor
• Fantasy Empires
• Forgotten Realms: Demon Stone
• Forgotten Realms: Unlimited Adventures
• Gateway to the Savage Frontier
• Heroes of the Lance
• Hillsfar
• Icewind Dale
• Icewind Dale II 
• Idle Champions of the Forgotten Realms
• Iron & Blood: Warriors of Ravenloft
• Menzoberranzan
• Neverwinter
• Neverwinter Nights (2006)
• Neverwinter Nights (1991)
• Neverwinter Nights 2
• Planescape: Torment
• Pool of Radiance
• Pool of Radiance: Ruins of Myth Drannor
• Pools of Darkness
• Ravenloft: Stone Prophet
• Ravenloft: Strahd's Possession
• Secret of the Silver Blades
• Shadow Sorcerer
• Slayer
• Spelljammer: Pirates of Realmspace
• Stronghold
• Sword Coast Legends
• Tales from Candlekeep: Tomb of Annihilation
• The Dark Queen of Krynn
• The Temple of Elemental Evil
• Treasures of the Savage Frontier
• War of the Lance

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Saturday - December 09, 2023

RPG General News - 5 Forgotten RPGs @ C4G

by Hiddenx, 07:59

C4G checked out five lesser known RPGs:

So I Played 5 Forgotten & Obscure RPGs & Action Adventures

0:00 Hello there my RPG lovers :)
0:05 Intro
1:00 The Waylanders 
7:25 Extinction
13:22 Immortal Unchained
20:43 Bionic Commando
27:05 Champions of Norrath
34:43 New t-shirt! 
35:21 Outro

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Wednesday - December 06, 2023

RPG General News - Top 30 Action RPGs @ GamingBolt

by Hiddenx, 16:51

GamingBolt presents a top 30 list of action RPGs:

TOP 30 MOST AMAZING Action RPGs That Are Worth Your Time [2023 Edition]

0:27 - Fallout 3
1:01 - Dying Light 2
1:25 - Bastion
1:52 - X-Men Legends 2: Rise Of Apocalypse
2:28 - Weird West
2:53 - Transistor
3:28 - Diablo 4
4:00 - Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order
4:41 - YS9: Monstrum Nox
4:54 - Borderlands 2
5:18 - System Shock 2
5:45 - Dead Island 2
6:22 - Remnant 2
6:55 - Pokemon Legends: Arceus
7:22 - Lords of the Fallen
7:47 - Tom Clancy's: The Division 2
8:14 - Monster Hunter World: Iceborne
8:54 - Hogwarts Legacy
9:14 - Lies of P
9:49 - Demon's Souls
10:18 - Nioh 2
10:50 - Mass Effect 2
11:18 - Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
11:48 - Starfield
12:10 - Cyberpunk 2077
12:44 - The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
13:09 - Dark Souls 3
13:39 - Final Fantasy 16
14:13 - Horizon: Forbidden West
14:42 - Elden Ring
15:06 - Bloodborne

Thanks Couchpotato!

 

Monday - December 04, 2023

RPG General News - The Story of Alternate Reality

by Hiddenx, 18:53

MetaStatistical looks back at Alternate Reality:

The Story of Alternate Reality: A Game Series Too Ahead of its Time

The full story of Alternate Reality, a Computer RPG series from 1985, which inspired many ideas and many more fans.

Wednesday - November 22, 2023

RPG General News - Class of Heroes 1 & 2: Remasters announced

by Hiddenx, 20:02

Remasters of the J-RPGs Class of Heroes 1 & 2 have been announced for 2024:

Class of Heroes 1 & 2: Complete Edition │ Announcement trailer

Tuesday - November 21, 2023

RPG General News - History of Kazuma Kiryu

by Hiddenx, 17:16

GameSpot tells the story of Kazuma Kiryu - a lead character in the Yakuza series:

History of Kazuma Kiryu

Thanks Couchpotato!

Monday - November 20, 2023

RPG General News - We Who Are About To Die Gameplay

by Hiddenx, 17:03

Splattercatgaming checked out the Galdiator RPG We Who Are About To Die:

The Gladiator RPG That Has Rapidly Grown Into One of My Favorites - We Who Are About To Die

Thanks Couchpotato!

Friday - November 17, 2023

RPG General News - Must Play RPGs November 2023

by Hiddenx, 17:15

The Turn Based Lovers think you should play these games in November 2023:

TOP NEW PC RPGS YOU MUST PLAY IN NOVEMBER 2023

We’re coming up at the end of the year, and that means that lots of new games will be dropping right before the holidays. Turn-based games are no exception, and November will be a great month for RPG and strategy fans in particular.

From long-awaited launches to exciting new early-access RPGs, the final months of 2023 are shaping up to be a stellar capstone to a stellar year in gaming. Which of these games are you most excited to play? Let us know below!

  • For the King 2 (2 November)
  • The Iron Oath (2 November)
  • Back To The Dawn (2 November)
  • Artifice: War Tactics (8 November)
  • Wantless: Solace At World’s End (8 November)
  • Demeo Battles (9 November)
  • Small Saga (16 November)
  • Persona 5 Tactica (17 November)
  • In Stars And Time (20 November)
  • Worldless (21 November)

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

Thursday - November 16, 2023

RPG General News - The Last Faith released

by Hiddenx, 18:32

Couchpotato spotted that the Metroidvania The Last Faith has been released:

The Last Faith - Official Launch Trailer

RPG General News - Jeff Vogel: The Unity Debacle 

by Hiddenx, 18:09

Jeff Vogel talks about the Unity debacle:

So How Long Until My Business Just Dies? (Also, the Unity Debacle)

Be careful who gets to hold a gun to your head.

The financial statement for a fun little company called Unity. The important thing is the numbers in the bottom line. That are negative.
Not long ago, there was a big hullabaloo in the computer game development "community" regarding something called the Unity Game Engine. People got very justifiably upset and ran around screaming and then things got sort of fixed and all got quiet.

Happily, I was on vacation during most of this and was barely aware of it.

Still, it was a really interesting situation, and independent creators of all sorts could learn a lot from it. Lessons that they should learn, the easy earlier way or the hard later way.

When you're in business, someone will always be holding a gun to your head. But you can sometimes choose the gun.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

Tuesday - November 14, 2023

RPG General News - 25 forgotten RPGs

by Hiddenx, 22:08

Image Game presents 25 forgotten RPGs:

Rediscovering Lost Legends: 25 Forgotten RPGs

Games:

0:00 Ghost of a Tale
1:16 E.Y.E: Divine Cybermancy
1:53 Legend of Grimrock 2
2:38 Necropolis: A Diabolical Dungeon Delve
3:13 Raven’s Cry
3:45 Tower of Time
4:27 DeathSpank
5:04 UnEpic
5:37 Arx Fatalis
6:24 Enclave
7:07 Archangel
7:44 Rune
8:21 Venetica
9:15 Drakensang: The Dark Eye
10:04 Loki: Heroes of Mythology
10:54 Legend: Hand Of God
11:39 Hunted: The Demon's Forge
12:29 Sudeki
13:21 Silverfall
14:03 The Cursed Crusade
14:52 Bound by Flame
15:46 Faery: Legends of Avalon
16:41 Rise of Argonauts
17:48 Numen: Contest of Heroes
18:49 Lord of the Rings: War in the North

Saturday - November 11, 2023

RPG General News - Grayshaft Preview @ C4G

by Hiddenx, 14:04

C4G presents the action RPG Grayshaft:

This NEW RPG inspired by Gothic Looks Very Promising | Grayshaft Preview

Thanks Couchpotato!

RPG General News - Top 10 RPGs of 2024

by Hiddenx, 13:56

Fextralife is already looking at the RPGs of 2024:

Top 10 RPGs You Should Play in 2024

Game List:
0:00 - Top RPGs of 2024
0:24 - Honourable Mention: Like a Dragon Infinite Wealth
1:30 - 10. Banishers Ghosts of New Eden
2:46 - 9. Rise of the Ronin
3:56 - 8. Granblue Fantasy Relink
5:13 - 7. Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2
6:35 - 6. Avowed
7:42 - 5. Black Myth Wukong
8:42 - 4. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
9:56 - 3. Dragon Age: Dreadwolf
11:15 - 2. Dragon’s Dogma 2
12:44 - 1. Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree

Thanks Couchpotato!

Friday - November 10, 2023

RPG General News - Brian Fargo Interview

by Hiddenx, 16:33

Brian Fargo talks about AI, XBox and Clockwork Revolution:

inXile Entertainment's Brian Fargo talks working as part of Xbox, Clockwork Revolution, and AI in game development

A long journey.

Brian Fargo is the studio head of inXile Entertainment, a role-playing game development team acquired by Microsoft in 2018. 
inXile Entertainment is currently working on its first game under Xbox Game Studios, a time-bending role-playing adventure called Clockwork Revolution
Speaking on The Fourth Curtain podcast, Fargo discussed how his job has changed under Microsoft, what Clockwork Revolution is, if AI will be part of game development, and more. 
Role-playing game developer inXile Entertainment is working on its next game, and we've got a bit more insight into how the studio is operating. 

That's thanks to studio head Brian Fargo, who guested on The Fourth Curtain podcast to talk about his history in the gaming industry, how things have changed as part of Xbox under Microsoft, and more. Speaking on the many years of operating as an independent team, Fargo is quite clear that it was frequently financially stressful.

"There's this constant kind of running and panic, this gun to your head. I would come into the office and see people laughing and having coffee, and having a great time, and I used to think 'One day, I hope I can be like them, where I walk in without a care in the world,'" he says, adding that since inXile Entertainment became part of Xbox Game Studios in 2018, his efforts are now focused on the "creative aspects" of the business, and that he's enjoying being in design meetings.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

 

Friday - October 27, 2023

RPG General News - Tim Cain Interview

by Hiddenx, 17:41

TKs-Mantis interviewed Tim Cain:

A Conversation with Fallout Creator Tim Cain

Thanks Couchpotato!

Saturday - October 14, 2023

RPG General News - Five new Action RPGs @ C4G

by Hiddenx, 12:29

C4G checked out five action RPGs:

I played 5 new aRPGs that you probably never heard of

Sands of Aura
Alaloth: Champions of the Four Kingdoms
Svarog's Dream
Dreadhunter on Steam
Achilles

Thanks Couchpotato!

Tuesday - October 10, 2023

RPG General News - What's an RPG anyway?

by Hiddenx, 16:06

Mark Darrah asks the question

So Many RPGs in 2023! What's an RPG anyway?

Thanks Couchpotato!

Saturday - October 07, 2023

RPG General News - Retro RPG Roundtable: Episode 3

by Hiddenx, 08:09

The developers of several Retro RPGs get together to chat about the challenges and joys making retro games:

Retro RPG Roundtable: Episode 3

SKALD - skaldrpg.com 
Call of Saregnar - callofsaregnar.com 
The Dark Unknown - tapestryofages.com 
World of Anterra - anterrarpg.com          
Realms of Antiquity - quixotic.adamantyr.com 
Nox Archaist - noxarchaist.com

TOPIC LIST

  1. What non video game were inspirations for your game's story, like books, TV shows, movies?
  2. Do you like to write extensive background and history for your game? Is it given to the player right up front, in manuals or dialogue, or do you feed it to the player a little at a time?
  3. Do you like a narrative driven story in a CRPG, where the story guides the player where to go, or a sandbox design where wherever the player goes, a story is presented for that area?
  4. Did you write the engine to support the story you had in mind, or did you make the engine first and crafted story afterwards?
  5. Did technical limitations change your games story, or did you aim to implement something specifically to achieve a story milestone?

Tuesday - September 26, 2023

RPG General News - Summer of RPGs

by Hiddenx, 09:17

PC Gamer thinks this has been the best summer for RPGs:

This has been the best summer for RPGs and I want to live in it forever

I'm going to hide from autumn by starting another playthrough of Baldur's Gate 3.

Like many of you, I suspect, each year sees me juggling more and more games in an effort to play all of the good stuff and avoid the dreaded FOMO, and when 2023 dawned I was well and truly in burnout mode. But it turns out that the solution to this was a summer fully immersed in some gargantuan RPGs, and I now find myself refreshed and once again excited about videogames. 

We've been inundated with RPGs of all shapes and sizes these last few months, but a quartet of heavy-hitters has dominated our hobby: Diablo 4, Baldur's Gate 3, Starfield and Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty. Each of them long-awaited, from prestigious studios and part of a long legacy of mostly beloved games. The latest in the most popular ARPG series of all time, a sequel to a 20-year-old CRPG that we still talk about today, the first brand-new game from the master of sandbox RPGs since the Elder Scrolls began, and a second chance for a lavish but somewhat disappointing tabletop adaptation—big deals, the lot of them. 

Within these four games is something for nearly every RPG-lover, whether you like to simply smack monsters around with your mates or you want an epic yarn you'll be playing for months. I can't pretend I ended up loving them all, but there's no denying that each has proved to be an ambitious, mammoth undertaking that's kept their legions of fans exceedingly busy this summer, and that's something to celebrate.

Diablo kicked things off, with a basic loop that remains exceptionally compelling. Murdering hordes of monsters is still just good wholesome fun. The return to grisly, gothic horror was also much appreciated, as was a central villain who was more than just large and angry. I could have done with more distinct locations and more flexibility when it came to character builds—Path of Exile remains unrivalled in this regard—but what we got was still a polished, tight ARPG that I'm looking forward to watching develop, once Blizzard figures out how to make its seasonal structure more compelling. 

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

Wednesday - August 02, 2023

RPG General News - Worldbuilding with Sidequests

by Hiddenx, 18:13

RPGamer thinks about worldbuilding in RPGs:

Using Sidequests to Carry On Worldbuilding

There often comes a point in RPGs where the main plot moves on in such a manner that there’s really no more time or space for it to keep building upon its setting. Though there may be secrets and special locations, plus major plot points about the underlying nature of or powers behind everything, these are far flung from what the people see in their day-to-day lives and are more about resolving the narrative than getting players to care about the world. While obviously the main concern of the protagonists, it’s often hard to see how — outside of any obvious destruction — these major turns impact the game world’s general populace and can disassociate players from the setting that has been established in the search of exciting main plot turns.

However, it’s in these times that sidequests can pick up the worldbuilding slack and carry on where the main story dropped it. Admittedly, there is always a curious sense about the timing of these things, as the point when the world is in its greatest danger tends to be the prime moment to gallivant around, but very often these sidequests act as a welcome calm before the storm that comes with finales. There are particular recent high-profile examples in the past year of games that have made sure to fully utilise sidequests in order to keep players engaged in the plights of those living in their worlds, doing their utmost to add further depth while offering reminders of what and whom the protagonists are fighting for. Final Fantasy XVI and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 both do excellent jobs of ensuring that though the main plot may be moving to loftier goals, there are still many more personal stories to be told, and both manage it in different ways.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

Friday - July 21, 2023

RPG General News - 15 best modern tactical JRPG

by Hiddenx, 20:51

Joel RPG assembled a top list of tactical J-RPGs:

Top 15 Best Modern Tactical/Strategy JRPG That You Should Play | 2023 Edition

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro
00:43 #15. Vestaria Saga II: The Sacred Sword of Silvanister (Platform: PC)
01:25 #14. Triangle Strategy (Platform: PC, Switch)
01:59 #13. 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim (Platform: PS4, Switch)
02:41 #12. FRONT MISSION 1st: Remake (Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch)
03:19 #11. Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark (Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch) 
03:56 #10. Brigandine The Legend of Runersia (Platform: PC, PS4, Switch)
04:35 #9. Super Robot Wars 30 (Platform: PC, PS4, Switch)
05:13 #8. Pokemon Conquest (Platform: DS)
05:51 #7. Valkyria Chronicles 4 (Platform: PC, PS4, Xbox One, Switch)
06:30 #6. Disgaea 5 (Platform: PC, PS4, Switch)
07:10 #5. Tactics Ogre: Reborn (Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Switch)
07:50 #4. Fire Emblem Engage (Platform: Switch)
08:24 #3. TROUBLESHOOTER: Abandoned Children (Platform: PC)
09:04 #2. Symphony of War: The Nephilim Saga (Platform: PC)
09:44 #1. Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Platform: Switch)

Tuesday - July 18, 2023

RPG General News - Project Survival announced

by Hiddenx, 10:30

Couchpotato spotted the action RPG "Project Survival" on Gamehaunt:

CRAFT, TAME, AND TRIUMPH: GET READY FOR ‘PROJECT SURVIVAL’ – THE ULTIMATE RPG EXPERIENCE

Shueisha Games and Magnus Games Studio have recently announced their latest RPG project, tentatively titled "Project Survival". This highly anticipated game is set to be released on multiple platforms, including PC through Steam. Fans are already buzzing with excitement as this anime-inspired fantasy game promises to deliver a unique blend of survival challenges, creature taming, and open-world exploration. Although the release date is still unknown, gamers eagerly await the opportunity to embark on this thrilling adventure. With the collaboration between Shueisha Games and Magnus Games Studio, “Project Survival” is sure to be an unforgettable gaming experience.

In "Project Survival", players are thrust into the midst of a desolate and unfamiliar universe, their original world left in ruins. The once vibrant and thriving landscapes have now become treacherous and unforgiving, filled with dangerous creatures and enigmatic mysteries waiting to be unraveled. It is a test of their adaptability, as they must learn to navigate through these treacherous terrains, using every ounce of their wit and cunning to survive. The game challenges them to not only overcome the odds stacked against them but also to thrive in this hostile environment. It is a captivating gaming experience that forces players to confront their fears and push their limits in order to emerge victorious.

[...]

 

Tuesday - July 11, 2023

RPG General News - Ostranauts Preview

by Hiddenx, 15:19

Splattercatgaming checked out the space sim Ostranauts:

Ostranauts Offers a Sci Fi RPG Experience Unlike All the Others

Thanks Couchpotato!

 

Monday - July 10, 2023

RPG General News - Spoiled by the Classics

by Hiddenx, 21:13

Cochpotato spotted this article on Gamesradar:

It's not that we don't have enough RPGs, we've just been spoiled by the classics

Opinion | With Starfield and Baldur's Gate 3 on the horizon, quality over quantity is what separates the RPG goods from the greats

RPG fans are expecting nothing short of perfection from Baldur's Gate 3 and Starfield. Though offering two different universes – one intergalactic sci-fi adventure, one mystical dark fantasy – both games strive to deliver immersive, memorable, and dynamic role-playing experiences when they launch just a few days shy of each other on their respective platforms. This will come just weeks after Baldur's Gate 3 lands early on PC, creating a marked overlap between the two games. Lead writer Adam Smith says developer Larian isn't bothered by the release date proximity; "I don't think there's been enough big RPGs recently to sink your teeth into, and then a bunch all at once this year," he told us in an interview. "It's good to be in the company of other RPGs."

But is it really a case of us needing more in the way of "big RPGs" on deck, or do we just need better ones? There's a reason The Witcher 3 is still regarded by many as the best RPG ever, even eight years after being released, and I don't think that's down to map size and scale alone. With so much expectation heaped upon both games, I'm hoping Starfield developer Bethesda and Larian respectively don't fall prey to the pitfalls suffered by other, more recent RPG releases, which inevitably spelled out their own short-lived popularity.

[...]

Thursday - July 06, 2023

RPG General News - Golden Summer of RPGs

by Hiddenx, 16:25

Fextralife presents the upcoming RPGs for this summer:

Golden Summer of RPGs - Must Buy Upcoming RPGs 2023

Timestamps
0:00 - Golden RPG Summer
0:27 - Jagged Alliance 3
1:40 - Remnant 2
3:06 - Baldur’s Gate 3
4:51 - Atlas Fallen
6:52 - Blasphemous 2
7:41 - Armored Core 6
8:45 - Baldurs Gate 3 PS5 Release
8:56 - Starfield
10:48 - Lies of P
12:14 - Lords of the Fallen
13:21 - Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader
14:33 - Final Thoughts

Thanks Couchpotato!

RPG General News - Open RPG Creative (ORC) License

by Hiddenx, 16:03

Paizo released their own open gaming license:

ORC License: The Final Version is Here!

This is it! After months of collaborative work, we are pleased to present the final version of the Open RPG Creative (ORC) License! The license is a system-agnostic, perpetual, and irrevocable open gaming license that provides a legal “safe harbor” for sharing rules mechanics so as to encourage collaboration and innovation in the tabletop-gaming space. After much commentary and iteration, the ORC License and accompanying ORC AxE (Answers and Explanations) document are now final and ready to be used by game publishers large and small.

We’ve posted the final drafts below. The public commentary portion of this process is now complete, and there will be no further changes. We’re grateful to everyone who contributed thoughts, criticisms, and suggestions since this process started back in February. We literally could not have done it without you, and we look forward to the amazing products the community will create using this license in the future.

The final text of the ORC License has been submitted to the Library of Congress and formally published on the website of Azora Law, the legal firm that conceived of and drafted it. All currently posted versions of the final ORC License text should be considered the Interim Final ORC License and ORC AxE. As soon as copyright registration is finalized, these documents will be updated with the final copyright registration number, which we expect will be ready in about six months. In the meantime, publishers are free to begin using the ORC License right now. No other elements of this document will be changing in the future.

Azora Law Managing Partner Brian Lewis and representatives from Paizo, Chaosium, and other publishers will be offering a panel on the ORC License at the upcoming Gen Con Indy 2023 in early August, where we will answer questions about the license and give suggestions on how best to use it.

From a purely Paizo-based perspective, we will shortly be updating our Community Use and Pathfinder Compatibility Licenses to incorporate the finalized ORC License. Watch this space in the coming weeks for more information regarding these company-specific documents.

Thanks again for helping us to get there. Now let’s make some games!

MAHak spotted PC Gamer's comment.

Friday - June 30, 2023

RPG General News - The Mercenaries Series on PC

Monday - June 12, 2023

RPG General News - PC Gaming Show 2023 Trailers

by Hiddenx, 17:11

Couchpotato spotted some trailers of the PC Gaming Show 2023:

Dune: Awakening Exclusive Interview and Gameplay Footage

Miasma Chronicles

Pax Dei Exclusive Interview and Gameplay Footage

PC GAMING SHOW 2023

Source: PC Gamer

RPG General News - Xbox Games Showcases 2023

by Hiddenx, 17:06

Couchpotato spotted some Xbox Games 2023 showcases:

Fallout 76 - Official ‘Road to Atlantic City’ Trailer

Like A Dragon Infinite Wealth - Reveal Trailer

Sea of Thieves: The Legend of Monkey Island - Official Release Trailer

Fable - Teaser Trailer

Why Avowed and Clockwork Revolution Surprised Us For Different Reasons

 

Source: IGN

Sunday - June 11, 2023

RPG General News - Cyanide Studio Games @ C4G

by Hiddenx, 09:02

C4G checked out the RPGs and Action Adventures of Cyanide Studio:

Terrible and Great RPGs / Action Adventures from Cyanide Studio

0:00 Hello there my RPG lovers :)
0:05 Who is Cyanide Studio?
1:09 Sponsored Segment: Raid Shadow Legends
2:27 Loki
7:11 Confrontation
10:48 Game of Thrones
16:03 Of Orcs and Men
23:55 Aarklash Legacy
30:40 Styx: Master of Shadows
37:30 Styx: Shards of Darkness
42:08 Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Earthblood
47:36 The Conclusion

Thanks Couchpotato!

Tuesday - June 06, 2023

RPG General News - Making of Bard's Tale Construction Set

by Hiddenx, 17:53

Tim Cain tells the story of his first game for Interplay:

Making of Bard's Tale Construction Set (1991)

Monday - June 05, 2023

RPG General News - Local Co-op/Split Screen Action Adventures and RPGs @ C4G

by Hiddenx, 15:36

C4G checked out five local co-op/split screen Action Adventures and RPGs:

I Played 5 Local Co-op/Split Screen Action Adventures and RPGs

Thanks Couchpotato!

Sunday - June 04, 2023

RPG General News - CD Projekt Veterans launch a new Studio

by Hiddenx, 08:39

Couchpotato spotted this on PC Gamer:

Witcher 3 director and Cyberpunk producer launch a new studio: 'After working for years in an increasingly conservative industry, we’re ready to make bold, impactful projects'

A team of CD Projekt veterans including Witcher 3 co-director Mateusz Kanik, producer Jędrzej Mróz, and Cyberpunk 2077 senior producer Marcin Jefimow, have launched a new studio called Blank that is currently working on "a character-driven game set in an apocalypse, with a twist or two."

[...]

"After working for years in an increasingly conservative industry, we’re ready to make bold, impactful projects that share our unique creativity and values," Kanik said. "Where the industry champions a dictatorship of the creative individual, we want to give ownership to the team. Where the industry leans on crunch culture, we prefer work-life balance. Where the industry says bigger is better, we’re setting our sights on highly polished games with a focus on emotion, story, and craftsmanship."

[...]

Wednesday - May 31, 2023

RPG General News - SIREN - Mermaid Game announced

by Hiddenx, 15:47

Couchpotato spotted SIREN - a mermaid RPG:

SIREN - Mermaid Game Announcement Trailer

Imagine your favorite RPG, but this time you're a mermaid fighting Abyssal Evil.

Monday - May 29, 2023

RPG General News - Essential RPG Terms for Beginners

by Hiddenx, 20:59

A nice overview of RPG subgenres:

Essential RPG Terms for Beginners

Sunday - May 28, 2023

RPG General News - Iron Tower Studio - Vince Weller Community Q&A

by Hiddenx, 06:10

Core-RPG.net interviewed Vince D. Weller from Iron Tower Studio about many RPG topics:

[Iron Tower Studio] Vince Weller Community Q&A

01.
The Interactivist: Since you are RPG enthusiast, please, tell us - what do you think about replacing standard persuade-streetwise-impersonate skills with "choose your rhetorical style in the beginning of the game (and there is also some sophisticated quest to get second style)" mechanic as can be found in Expeditions: Rome? Ethos for aristocratic characters and NPCs. Logos for rationalists and people of letters, who can be persuaded by arguments. Pathos for manipulators and their victims. There must be obvious restrictions for sure: a character with a plebeian background can't just pick ethos and so on. Don't you think this approach is better and more elegant than the classical one?

02.
Vince: Can't say I like it. There were many aristocrats who were skilled and well-educated 'rationalists' and philosophers, as well as good manipulators. Or low- /middle-class men who successfully did all three. Thomas Cromwell would be the best example.

03.
We prefer a skill-based approach and if we stay in business long enough, we'll try to evolve it to make it more tactical and less 'pick the line that corresponds to your highest speech skill'.

04.
The Interactivist: Can you recommend any books (like Dungeons and Desktops by Matt Barton and Shane Stacks or The CRPG Book Project) or blogs/sources (like Iron Tower Studio depository) to aspiring devs, RPG enthusiasts, connoisseurs or true video game journalists (who actually try to do their job properly and do want to learn history of gaming and game genres, game design concepts, role-playing game systems and other features)?

05.
Vince: The only way to learn more about game design is by playing games and (if you're an aspiring developer) by trying to make your own.

06.
The Interactivist: John Priestley long ago wrote a brilliant allegory: a conversation between a mage from XII century and a designer from XXI century. The mage explained how it took nine centuries for all mages to disappear: there was a great fear of uncontrolled power growth in students. So each master-wizard was teaching only small parts of their arcane legacy/spellbook. What could go wrong?

07.
Well, everything. Mages got wiped out by nested intervals, according to Cantor's intersection theorem. Inherited "parts" of knowledge were getting smaller and smaller. And one day - puff, nobody is competent anymore.

08.
In the context of game design: this is exactly what is happening with many RPG developers right now. Even the greatest studios/companies are losing their arcane design powers, being unable to reproduce "the magic" of their own past games.

09.
Vince: It's a cute theory but it's not applicable to game design. Because they're not trying to reproduce that 'magic'. They're trying to sell more units, which is a very different game.

10.
Do you think the former Interplay developers forgot how to make games like Fallout and Planescape? Fallout sold 400k units, Baldur's Gate sold over 2.5 mil (counting the sequel and expansions). That's where the magic went. That's why when Obsidian got a shot at making their own game, they went with BG (Pillars), rather than Fallout or PST.

11.
Plus, what do you need a game design book for? Play Fallout (or your favourite 'old magic' RPG) and analyze it to death. No hidden design secrets there.

[...]

Thanks m00n1ight!

Friday - May 05, 2023

RPG General News - Redfall Review

by Hiddenx, 14:31

Mortismal Gaming reviewed the action adventure/FPS Redfall:

Redfall - Review After 100%

Tuesday - May 02, 2023

RPG General News - Redfall First Impressions

by Hiddenx, 18:32

Mortismal Gaming checked out the action adventure/FPS Redfall:

Redfall - First Impressions

Monday - May 01, 2023

RPG General News - Star Wars Jedi: Survivor - Review

by Hiddenx, 15:15

Mortismal Gaming checked out Star Wars Jedi: Survivor:

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor - Review After 100%

00:00 Intro
01:45 Overview
02:25 Technical Issues
05:17 Steam Deck
06:10 Difficulty & NG+
07:31 Story Set Up & Thoughts
10:20 World (Galaxy?) & Gameplay
16:36 Progression Systems
19:46 Combat
25:01 Positives/Negatives
27:52 Conclusion
29:59 Wrap Up

Sunday - April 30, 2023

RPG General News - Top upcoming 2023 RPGs

by Hiddenx, 12:29

WolfheartFPS compiled a list of upcoming RPGs:

Top Upcoming 2023 RPGs / Action Adventures (& More) w/ Actual Release Dates

0:00 Intro
0:20 May 2 Redfall
1:45 April 28 Star Wars: Jedi Survivor
2:40 May 8 Darkest Dungeon II
4:02 May 12 Tears of the Kingdom (Zelda)
5:03 May 30 System Shock
6:20 June 2/6th Diablo IV
8:05 July 20 Immortals of Aveum
9:03 Aug 10 Atlas Fallen
10:26 Aug 31 Baldur's Gate 3
12:35 Sept 6 Starfield
14:12 Aug Lies of P

Thanks Couchpotato!

Friday - April 28, 2023

RPG General News - Star Wars Jedi: Survivor - First Impressions

by Hiddenx, 18:15

Mortismal Gaming checked out Star Wars Jedi: Survivor:

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor - First Impressions

RPG General News - Every Day We Fight - Gameplay

by Hiddenx, 18:11

Splattercatgaming checked out the strategy game Every Day We Fight:

Every Day We Fight - Post Apocalyptic Sci Fi Strategy RPG

 

Sunday - April 23, 2023

RPG General News - RPG Roundtable Podcast

by Hiddenx, 08:07

MAHak spotted an interesting podcast on PC Gamer:

RPG roundtable podcast: Josh Sawyer, Mike Laidlaw, Strix Beltran, Paweł Sasko, and Lis Moberly go deep on writing and playing RPGs

Listen to our 80-minute discussion with five veteran RPG designers.

In March, PC Gamer's Fraser Brown wrote an editorial titled "The cinematic BioWare-style RPG is dead, it just doesn't know it yet," comparing the likes of Dragon Age and Cyberpunk 2077 to the more novel experiences of recent RPGs Disco Elysium and Citizen Sleeper.

RPG ROUNDTABLE
Our interviewees, from left to right:

Mike Laidlaw: Chief creative officer at Yellow Brick Games. Known for: Jade Empire, Mass Effect, Dragon Age series.

Paweł Sasko: Quest director at CD Projekt Red. Known for: The Witcher 3, Cyberpunk 2077.

Strix Beltran: Narrative director on D&D game, Hidden Path Entertainment. Known for: Blubeard's Bride, Beyond Blue, State of Decay 2.

Lis Moberly: Narrative designer at Obsidian. Known for: Cursed to Golf, We Went Back, Singularity.

Josh Sawyer: Studio design director at Obsidian. Known for: Pillars of Eternity, Fallout: New Vegas, Pentiment.

Just a few weeks later, at the 2023 Game Developers Conference, I assembled a group of five RPG designers with decades of experience between them—including Dragon Age lead Mike Laidlaw and Cyberpunk 2077 lead Paweł Sasko, whose games heavily featured in that editorial—and lobbed the headline out like a live grenade to start the conversation.

Thankfully no one caught any shrapnel.

"I know this article very well, because we've been discussing it at [CD Projekt Red] quite a bit," Sasko said, jumping in first. "We mostly agree, actually. At least when it comes to triple-A, we're running at a fucking wall, and we're gonna crash on that wall really soon."  You can read more from that bit of the conversation right here.

From there we roleplayed brilliant conversationalists for more than an hour, touching on:

  • How games are on the cusp of a procedural narrative breakthrough
  • What players expect from RPGs today
  • How their personal experiences playing RPGs have informed their games
  • Writing characters that really resonate with players

We also talked about the making of The Witcher 3's Bloody Baron quest, great tabletop systems that videogames should poach ideas from, and the impact of Elden Ring. 

You can listen to the full 80 minute conversation above (or find it on the PC Gamer Chat Log podcast feed in your podcast app of choice) and read highlights of the conversation here on the site.

Friday - April 07, 2023

RPG General News - Two new Pathfinder Games

by Hiddenx, 15:53

Couchpotato spotted that Paizo partners with BKOM on two new Pathfinder games. BKOM is the developer of Sunday Gold:

Paizo Partners with BKOM on Two Pathfinder Games!

BKOM Studios and Paizo are joining forces to bring two new Pathfinder video games to the market! One will be launching on Steam later this year, and the second is in early stages of development.

BKOM Studios and Paizo Logos over-layed over an image of the pathfinder Iconics battling a red dragon

"We are so excited about this collab," says Frederic Martin, CEO of BKOM Studios. "We absolutely love role playing games (lots of us at BKOM are already part of that community) and already were fans of the Pathfinder brand. In Paizo, we found the ideal partner with whom to collaborate to materialize a common vision. After 26 years in this industry, there are people whom you know you want to work with again. And John Feil (Director of Licensing at Paizo) is definitely one of them. We can't wait to reveal more about the projects we've been working on with John and his colleagues," he adds. "The upcoming titles are perfectly aligned with BKOM’s vision to bring unique and meaningful gaming experiences on PC and consoles."

"We at Paizo are incredibly excited to be working with BKOM," says Mark Moreland, the company's Director of Brand Strategy. "Their track record is impeccable, and we can't wait to expand the Pathfinder brand into new digital spaces with them."

Details about both projects will be revealed soon!

 

Saturday - March 25, 2023

RPG General News - Chris Avellone’s Accusers Retract Allegations

by Silver, 21:57

Forbes has reported that Chris Avellone’s accusers have issued a public statement retracting allegations of misconduct. Hopefully with all this cleared up he will be free to work in the industry again.

Back in June of 2021 I reported on video game writer Chris Avellone’s libel lawsuit against two women who had accused Avellone of sexual assault on Twitter. Avellone publicly denied the accusations and announced he was taking both women to court over their statements.

Now, nearly two years later, the case has been settled. Avellone’s accusers, Karissa Barrows and Kelly Bristol, have signed a joint statement retracting their previous claims on social media and clearing Avellone of any wrongdoing. A seven-figure payment to Avellone is part of a confidential settlement between the parties according to Avellone's lawyers.

“The parties resolved the matter and claims were dismissed with prejudice pursuant to a confidential settlement that provides for a seven-figure payment that includes the return of the attorney fee award entered against Mr. Avellone in California.

“I understand that Ms. Barrows has requested to retract her comments to the media about me.”

I have received a copy of the below statement from Mr. Avellone’s lawyers.

[...]

Thursday - March 16, 2023

RPG General News - More SSI Games available again

Wednesday - March 08, 2023

RPG General News - Upcoming Indie RPGs

by Hiddenx, 18:08

Mortismal Gaming presents some upcoming indie RPGs:

Five Upcoming Indie RPGs You Might Have Missed

00:00 Intro
00:40 Tainted Grail: Fall of Avalon
01:40 Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew
02:37 The Lamplighters League
04:26 The Thaumaturge
05:29 New Arc Line
06:30 Wrap Up

Thursday - March 02, 2023

RPG General News - Top 10 Expansions for RPGs

by Hiddenx, 21:30

Ye Old Entertainment made a top 10 list for RPG expansions:

Top 10 Expansion Packs in RPGs: Mass Effect, Dark Souls, Underrail, Diablo 3, what's your favorite?

Thanks MAHak!

Friday - January 13, 2023

RPG General News - Paizo announces System-Neutral Open RPG License

by Hiddenx, 17:06

Paizo announced a new open, perpetual, and irrevocable Open RPG Creative License (ORC). Kobold Press, Chaosium, Green Ronin, Legendary Games, Rogue Genius Games, and a growing list of publishers have already agreed to participate in the Open RPG Creative License:

Paizo Announces System-Neutral Open RPG License

For the last several weeks, as rumors of Wizards of the Coast’s new version of the Open Game License began circulating among publishers and on social media, gamers across the world have been asking what Paizo plans to do in light of concerns regarding Wizards of the Coast’s rumored plan to de-authorize the existing OGL 1.0(a). We have been awaiting further information, hoping that Wizards would realize that, for more than 20 years, the OGL has been a mutually beneficial license which should not–and cannot–be revoked. While we continue to await an answer from Wizards, we strongly feel that Paizo can no longer delay making our own feelings about the importance of Open Gaming a part of the public discussion.

We believe that any interpretation that the OGL 1.0 or 1.0(a) were intended to be revocable or able to be deauthorized is incorrect, and with good reason.

We were there.

Paizo owner Lisa Stevens and Paizo president Jim Butler were leaders on the Dungeons & Dragons team at Wizards at the time. Brian Lewis, co-founder of Azora Law, the intellectual property law firm that Paizo uses, was the attorney at Wizards who came up with the legal framework for the OGL itself. Paizo has also worked very closely on OGL-related issues with Ryan Dancey, the visionary who conceived the OGL in the first place.

Paizo does not believe that the OGL 1.0a can be “deauthorized,” ever. While we are prepared to argue that point in a court of law if need be, we don’t want to have to do that, and we know that many of our fellow publishers are not in a position to do so.

We have no interest whatsoever in Wizards’ new OGL. Instead, we have a plan that we believe will irrevocably and unquestionably keep alive the spirit of the Open Game License.

As Paizo has evolved, the parts of the OGL that we ourselves value have changed. When we needed to quickly bring out Pathfinder First Edition to continue publishing our popular monthly adventures back in 2008, using Wizards’ language was important and expeditious. But in our non-RPG products, including our Pathfinder Tales novels, the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game, and others, we shifted our focus away from D&D tropes to lean harder into ideas from our own writers. By the time we went to work on Pathfinder Second Edition, Wizards of the Coast’s Open Game Content was significantly less important to us, and so our designers and developers wrote the new edition without using Wizards’ copyrighted expressions of any game mechanics. While we still published it under the OGL, the reason was no longer to allow Paizo to use Wizards’ expressions, but to allow other companies to use our expressions.

We believe, as we always have, that open gaming makes games better, improves profitability for all involved, and enriches the community of gamers who participate in this amazing hobby. And so we invite gamers from around the world to join us as we begin the next great chapter of open gaming with the release of a new open, perpetual, and irrevocable Open RPG Creative License (ORC).

The new Open RPG Creative License will be built system agnostic for independent game publishers under the legal guidance of Azora Law, an intellectual property law firm that represents Paizo and several other game publishers. Paizo will pay for this legal work. We invite game publishers worldwide to join us in support of this system-agnostic license that allows all games to provide their own unique open rules reference documents that open up their individual game systems to the world. To join the effort and provide feedback on the drafts of this license, please sign up by using this form.

In addition to Paizo, Kobold Press, Chaosium, Green Ronin, Legendary Games, Rogue Genius Games, and a growing list of publishers have already agreed to participate in the Open RPG Creative License, and in the coming days we hope and expect to add substantially to this group.

The ORC will not be owned by Paizo, nor will it be owned by any company who makes money publishing RPGs. Azora Law’s ownership of the process and stewardship should provide a safe harbor against any company being bought, sold, or changing management in the future and attempting to rescind rights or nullify sections of the license. Ultimately, we plan to find a nonprofit with a history of open source values to own this license (such as the Linux Foundation).

Of course, Paizo plans to continue publishing Pathfinder and Starfinder, even as we move away from the Open Gaming License. Since months’ worth of products are still at the printer, you’ll see the familiar OGL 1.0(a) in the back of our products for a while yet. While the Open RPG Creative License is being finalized, we’ll be printing Pathfinder and Starfinder products without any license, and we’ll add the finished license to those products when the new license is complete.

We hope that you will continue to support Paizo and other game publishers in this difficult time for the entire hobby. You can do your part by supporting the many companies that have provided content under the OGL. Support Pathfinder and Starfinder by visiting your local game store, subscribing to Pathfinder and Starfinder, or taking advantage of discount code OpenGaming during checkout for 25% off your purchase of the Core Rulebook, Core Rulebook Pocket Edition, or Pathfinder Beginner Box. Support Kobold Press, Green Ronin, Legendary Games, Roll for Combat, Rogue Genius Games, and other publishers working to preserve a prosperous future for Open Gaming that is both perpetual AND irrevocable.

We’ll be there at your side. You can count on us not to go back on our word.

Forever.

–Paizo Inc

Saturday - January 07, 2023

RPG General News - Top 10 RPGs you should play in 2023

by Hiddenx, 13:16

Fextralife presents their RPG top list for 2023:

Top 10 RPGs You Should Play in 2023 

0:00 - Top RPGs of 2023
0:36 - Honourable Mention: Baldur’s Gate 3
2:03 - 10. Blue Protocol
3:19 - 9. The Lords of The Fallen
4:24 - 8. Forspoken
5:30 - 7. Wild Hearts
6:57 - 6. Final Fantasy XVI
8:24 - 5. Lies of P
9:40 - 4. Starfield
11:21 - 3. Hogwarts Legacy
12:55 - 2. Wo Long Fallen Dynasty
14:20 - 1. Diablo 4

Thursday - January 05, 2023

RPG General News - Strategy RPGs 2023 @ PC Gamer

by Hiddenx, 11:12

PC Gamer reports that like 2022 many strategy RPGs are coming up in 2023:

Strategy-RPGs to look forward to in 2023

2022 was a strong year for SRPGs on PC, and 2023 looks even better.

If you're into managing a squad of individuals with varied abilities through both tactical battles and some kind of strategy layer where they improve and maybe all become friends, then you sure were well served in 2022. Games like Midnight Suns, Triangle Strategy, Expeditions: Rome, Hard West 2, Tactics Ogre Reborn, and plenty of others kept our plates real full.

Last year, we wrote about 12 strategy-RPGs on PC and called it a lot, but that's nothing compared to this year. There are at least 18 scheduled to come out in 2023, and seven more that are likely to either enter early access or leave it, or both.

About the only way things could look better is if someone would finally confirm that Final Fantasy Tactics remaster we've been waiting for. Fingers crossed.

[...]

Demonschool
Capes
Mahokenshi
Metal Slug Tactics
R-Type Tactics I • II Cosmos
Miasma Chronicles
For the King 2
Shardpunk: Verminfall
Redemption Reapers
Nemire
Dungeons 4
Banchou Tactics
Zoria: Age of Shattering
Untamed Tactics
Desktop Dungeons: Rewind
Arcadian Atlas
Railroads & Catacombs
Cyber Knights: Flashpoint 

Early access SRPGs

Depersonalization
Crimson Tactics: The Rise of the White Banner
Songs of Conquest
Wartales
The Iron Oath
End State
Darkest Dungeon 2
Epicentrum: Hunt! Stream! Invade!

Upcoming SRPGs that might be out in 2023

Jagged Alliance 3
Xenonauts 2
Spellforce: Conquest of Eo
Spiritlink Tactics
Captain Velvet Meteor: The Jump+ Dimensions
Crown Wars: The Black Prince
Neon Ronin
SacriFire
Fuga: Melodies of Steel 2

Upcoming CRPGs you might like if you're into SRPGs

Broken Roads
Baldur's Gate 3
Sovereign Syndicate
Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader
Esoteric Ebb

Thanks Pappy!

Monday - January 02, 2023

RPG General News - Wccftech’s best RPGs of 2022

by Hiddenx, 16:40

Wcctech's best RPGs of 2022 are mostly J-RPGs:

Wccftech’s Best RPGs of 2022 – The Year of the JRPG

Wccftech's Best RPGs of 2022
2022 was another standout year for RPGs, from brand new IPs from the progenitor of the Souls subgenre to indie darlings that surprised in more ways than one. Whether you prefer your RPGs more verbose or leaning more towards stylish action, there’s plenty to fill entire weeks of your free time.

Notably, it was an especially great year for JRPG fans. Almost every game on this list comes from Japan, although something like Elden Ring cannot truly be classified as a JRPG. Without further ado, here's our list of the best RPGs released in 2022.

Weird West (8)
Elden Ring (10)
Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin (8.2)
Star Ocean: The Divine Force (8)
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (10)

[...]
Honorable Mentions
For avid roleplaying game fans, here's another five titles that nearly made our best RPGs of 2022 list.

Chained Echoes
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion
The Legend of Heroes: Trails From Zero
I Was a Teenage Exocolonist
Pokémon Legends: Arceus

Friday - December 30, 2022

RPG General News - Fextralife GotY 2022

by Hiddenx, 14:29

Fextralife pesent their GotY 2022 awards:

Game of the Year Awards 2022 - The Fexy Awards

0:00 - The Fexy Awards 2022
0:17 - Best Storytelling: God of War Ragnarok
0:54 - Best Gameplay: Elden Ring
1:45 - Best Visual & Audio: God of War Ragnarok
2:23 - Best Multiplayer: Overwatch
3:00 - Best Value: Elden Ring
3:42 - Best Soulslike: Steelrising
4:09 - Best DLC: Monster Hunter Rise Sunbreak
4:42 - Best Indie: King Arthur Knight’s Tale
5:26 - Best Surprise: Marvel’s Midnight Suns
5:55 - Game of the Year: Elden Ring
6:48 - Fexy Community Awards 2022

Sunday - December 25, 2022

RPG General News - Top 50 upcoming RPGs

by Hiddenx, 17:54

WolfheartFPS listed his top 50 upcoming RPGs:

Top 50 New Upcoming RPGs / Action Adventure Games of 2023 & Beyond

CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
0:31 Forspoken
1:43 Hogwarts Legacy
3:05 Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty
4:25 Star Wars Jedi Survivor
5:33 Flintlock Siege of Dawn
6:46 Zelda Tears of the Kingdom
7:25 Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League
8:30 Diablo 4 IV
9:58 Final Fantasy 16 XVI
11:24 Starfield
12:58 Baldur's Gate 3
14:27 Banishers Ghost of New Eden
15:43 Lies of P
17:08 Unawake
18:24 Black Myth Wukong
19:31 Assassin's Creed Mirage
21:03 The Awakener Arisen
22:25 Forsaken Realms Vahrin's Call
23:43 Broken Roads
24:46 Atlas Fallen
25:56 Zoria Age of Shattering
27:08 Immortals of Aveum
27:57 Warhammer 40k Rogue Trader
29:22 The Lords of the Fallen
30:50 Bleak Faith
32:13 Dark Envoy
33:25 Avatar Frontier of Pandora
34:38 The Wayward Realms
36:24 Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines 2
37:31 Crimson Desert
38:42 Dragon Age Dreadwolf
39:49 Archaelund
40:55 Greedfall 2
42:11 Gothic Remake
43:22 The Lord of the Rings Gollum
44:45 Avowed
45:41 Tainted Grail The Fall of Avalon
47:04 Where Winds Meet
48:34 Fable 4
49:42 Senua's Saga Hellblade 2 II
50:51 Blight Survival / Ravenbound
52:24 Nazralath The Fallen World
53:33 Death Stranding 2
54:47 The Outer Worlds 2
55:42 Star Wars Eclipse
56:37 Wonder Woman
57:43 Knights of the Old Republic Remake
58:57 The Elder Scrolls 6 VI
59:48 Wyrdsong
1:00:51 Quick Mentions / Outro

Friday - December 23, 2022

RPG General News - Top 5 NEW RPGs of January 2023

by Hiddenx, 13:17

Frextralife presents some RPG releases for January 2023:

Top 5 NEW RPGs of January 2023 - (Space-Sim RPG, Action RPG, Turn-based RPG, and JRPG)

0:00 - Top 5 RPG January 2023
0:26 - HM: Monster Hunter Rise Console Release
2:31 - Gatewalkers
3:47 - Spacebourne 2
4:59 - One Piece Odyssey
6:19 - Fire Emblem Engage
7:35 - Forspoken

RPG General News - Steam Winter Sale Highlights

by Hiddenx, 13:12

Mortismal Gaming recommends some RPGs from the current Steam deal:

Steam Winter Sale Highlights

Lots of games from the RPGWatch Steam Curator are on a sale as well (Click on the tab Discounts).

Thursday - December 22, 2022

RPG General News - Future of the D&D OGL

by Hiddenx, 00:26

Wizards of the Coast announced via D&D Beyond plans to change their Open Gaming License (OGL):

OGLs, SRDs, & One D&D

by DND Beyond Staff

We love the interest and passion the community has for D&D. We love D&D, too. So, when we see the D&D community concerned by rumors and misunderstandings, we want to clear the air and share the facts with you, even if it’s a bit earlier than our original plan. You all matter to us, and we want to provide transparency on how D&D will continue supporting third-party creators. 

So, here are the facts: 

1. Will One D&D include an SRD/be covered by an OGL?

Yes. First, we’re designing One D&D with fifth edition backwards compatibility, so all existing creator content that is compatible with fifth edition will also be compatible with One D&D. Second, we will update the SRD for One D&D as we complete its development—development that is informed by the results of playtests that we’re conducting with hundreds of thousands of D&D players now. 

2. Will the OGL terms change?

Yes. We will release version 1.1 of the OGL in early 2023.  

The OGL needs an update to ensure that it keeps doing what it was intended to do—allow the D&D community’s independent creators to build and play and grow the game we all love—without allowing things like third-parties to mint D&D NFTs and large businesses to exploit our intellectual property.

So, what’s changing?

First, we’re making sure that OGL 1.1 is clear about what it covers and what it doesn’t. OGL 1.1 makes clear it only covers material created for use in or as TTRPGs, and those materials are only ever permitted as printed media or static electronic files (like epubs and PDFs). Other types of content, like videos and video games, are only possible through the Wizards of the Coast Fan Content Policy or a custom agreement with us. To clarify: Outside of printed media and static electronic files, the OGL doesn’t cover it.

Will this affect the D&D content and services players use today? It shouldn’t. The top VTT platforms already have custom agreements with Wizards to do what they do. D&D merchandise, like minis and novels, were never intended to be part of the OGL and OGL 1.1 won’t change that. Creators wishing to leverage D&D for those forms of expression will need, as they always have needed, custom agreements between us.  

Second, we’re updating the OGL to offer different terms to creators who choose to make free, share-alike content and creators who want to sell their products.  

What does this mean for you as a creator? If you’re making share-alike content, very little is going to change from what you’re already used to.  

If you’re making commercial content, relatively little is going to change for most creators. For most of you who are selling custom content, here are the new things you’ll need to do:  

  1. Accept the license terms and let us know what you’re offering for sale 
  2. Report OGL-related revenue annually (if you make more than $50,000 in a year) 
  3. Include a Creator Product badge on your work 

When we roll out OGL 1.1, we will also provide explanatory videos, FAQs, and a web portal for registration to make navigating these requirements as easy and intuitive as possible. We’ll also have help available to creators to navigate the new process. 

For the fewer than 20 creators worldwide who make more than $750,000 in income in a year, we will add a royalty starting in 2024. So, even for the creators making significant money selling D&D supplements and games, no royalties will be due for 2023 and all revenue below $750,000 in future years will be royalty-free. 

Bottom line: The OGL is not going away. You will still be able to create new D&D content, publish it anywhere, and game with your friends and followers in all the ways that make this game and community so great. The thousands of creators publishing across Kickstarter, DMsGuild, and more are a critical part of the D&D experience, and we will continue to support and encourage them to do that through One D&D and beyond. 

Thursday - December 08, 2022

RPG General News - Positive Surprises 2022 @ Mortismal Gaming

by Hiddenx, 15:56

Mortismal Gaming talks about his RPG suprises of 2022:

Four Games That Were Better Than I Expected In 2022

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
01:13 Expeditions: Rome
02:18 Marvel's Midnight Suns (Card Combat)
04:06 WH40k: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters
06:11 Elden Ring
08:23 Wrap Up

Monday - December 05, 2022

RPG General News - Tactical RPGs 2023

by Hiddenx, 12:47

ColdBeer shows a selection of tactical RPGs that are planned for 2023:

The 2023 Tactical RPGS are INSANE!!! 16 Upcoming Tactical and Turn Based RPG Games You CAN’T MISS!

 

0:00 Dark Envoy
0:48 Lords of Ravage
1:35 End State
2:21 Night is Coming
3:04 Jagged Alliance 3
3:50 Railroads & Catacombs
4:31 Baldur's Gate 3
5:18 Broken Roads
6:05 Crown Wars: The Black Prince
6:43 Miasma Chronicles
7:21 Capes
8:20 Spellforce: Conquest of Eo
8:57 Zoria: Age of Shattering
9:33 Stargate: Timekeepers
10:20 Cyber Knights: Flashpoint
11:03 Urban Strife
11:44 More Upcoming RPG & Strategy games!

Thanks Redglyph!

Sunday - December 04, 2022

RPG General News - Blobber News @ Wizard Worm

by Hiddenx, 19:27

Wizard Worm found news for Legendary Journeys, Wardens Of Chaos and The Fellowship Saga:

Blobbers News - Excellent, Sad and Promising News (Might and Magic & Wizardy Like)

Wednesday - November 02, 2022

RPG General News - Adam Heine Interview

by Silver, 09:44

Digimancy Entertainment have posted an interview with renowned game writer Adam Heine.

One of your first game credits is as a scripter for Planescape: Torment. What was it like working on this classic computer role-playing game?

That project was a dream. None of us knew at the time, of course, that it would become a classic (and it didn't sell terribly well upon release either—its "classic" status came much later). We only knew that we loved what we were making. I read every design doc I could find on the company server. I couldn't get enough of this strange, compelling world and the mystery of who the Nameless One really was.

It was also my first project, which made it even more of a dream—a culmination of a dream, really. My job was mostly taking designers' outlines for different areas and implementing them in the game—cutscenes, boss battles, cranium rats, immortal tomb puzzles, brothel NPC pathing and barks... all of it. It sounds like it might not be very creative, but I loved it.

And it was creative. I frequently discovered that what the designers wanted to do wasn't supported by the engine, and I had to figure out clever workarounds or alternatives all the time. I gained a reputation as a kind of troubleshooter, but really, I was just trying to make the game as good as I could make it.

Much as I loved the team and the project, I left the game industry shortly after Torment's release to focus on my personal life. But the connections I made on that project were strong enough (apparently) to pull me back in several years later for Torment's spiritual successor and several gigs after that.

 

You worked as the Design Lead for Torment: Tides of Numenera later in your career. How did this opportunity come about for you and what was it like stepping into a Design Lead role for this production?

This project was a Godsend for me. My wife and I live in Thailand, and our primary work is taking in children with nowhere to go. But by 2011, our expenses had slowly outstripped our income. It was at exactly that time that Colin McComb, whom I'd worked with on Planescape: Torment, asked me if I wanted to work on a spiritual successor to that game. I probably would've done it for free, but I needed a paying job—or at least a chance at one.

Before and during the Kickstarter campaign, all my work was on-spec. The idea was that if the Kickstarter met its goal of $900,000, I would have a job for a few months as a writer. But the campaign turned into a record-breaking success raising over $4 million, and I was made a full designer for the length of the project. A few months later, Kevin Saunders promoted me to Design Lead (partially because that's kinda what I was already doing?).

[...]

Sunday - October 30, 2022

RPG General News - Most anticipated RPGs of 2023

by Hiddenx, 06:30

HQ Gaming News compiled a list of interesting RPGs which will be released in 2023 or later:

10 MOST ANTICIPATED upcoming SINGLE PLAYER RPG games of 2023 and beyond

  • Forspoken
  • Hogwarts Legacy
  • Warhammer 40.000: Rogue Trader
  • Dragon Age: Dreadwolf
  • Diablo IV
  • One Piece Odyssey
  • Baldur's Gate 3
  • Mass Effect
  • Starfield
  • Final Fantasy XVI

Saturday - October 29, 2022

RPG General News - The History and Legacy of the Infinity Engine

by Hiddenx, 15:01

Mortismal Gaming takes a deep dive into the Infinity Engine:

The History And Legacy Of The Infinity Engine

Monday - October 17, 2022

RPG General News - New Turn Based Releases

by Hiddenx, 17:11

The Turn Based Lovers present the recently released turn-based games:

Top Turn-Based RPG News & Releases of the Week | 16 October 2022

  • 0:00 Intro
  • 0:25 The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk new DLC
  • 0:57 Lords of Ravage new demo
  • 1:30 Wartales massive update
  • 2:06 The Pegasus Expedition Release date
  • 2:48 Top Releases - Warkind
  • 3:16 Lost Eidolons
  • 3:40 Unders_Core
  • 4:03 Dark Chess
  • 4:28 Alina of the Arena
  • 4:47 Sunday Gold
  • 5:08 One more Gate
  • 5:34 Craft Hero
  • 5:48 Acretia - Guardians of Lian
  • 6:17 Triangle Strategy
  • 6:45 Ozymandias
  • 7:09 Outro

Sunday - October 16, 2022

RPG General News - Invoke Studios develops a D&D RPG

by Hiddenx, 07:37

Wizards of the Coast works together with Invoke Studios to create a new game in the Dungeons & Dragons universe:

Invoke Studios: a new name in Triple A video games in Montreal

Wizards of the Coast studio is developing a game from the legendary Dungeons & Dragons franchise

The Montreal-based video games developer Invoke Studios has just launched. Incorporating the team that worked under the name of Tuque Games, a company opened in 2012 and recently purchased by the American publisher Wizards of the Coast, Invoke has launched in Canada’s vibrant AAA development scene with an original Dungeons & Dragons inspired game under development.

Wizards of the Coast is responsible for some of the most prestigious international brands of fantasy games. Among others, its portfolio includes Dungeons & Dragons and Magic: The Gathering. Dungeons & Dragons is one of the largest role-playing games in the world with more than 50 million people around the world having played.

An autonomous and independent studio
Located in the Saint-Henri district, Invoke enjoys the autonomy of an independent studio, but with access to the vast resources that are the result of belonging to a great global family. “We have our own culture and our own specific work methods,” explains Dominic Guay, Vice President and General Manager. “We value the autonomy of each team member, so that each person can express his or her talents in order to have the maximum productive impact on our games. In that way, we are not just the Montreal division of an international group. We will also continue to put forth the ideas and the direction of the game universes we expand and create.”

The studio is currently working on a AAA game derived from the Dungeons & Dragons universe and developed on the Unreal 5 engine. Invoke is one of the major Montreal studios concentrating on AAA fantasy games and the only one in Canada to do so with Wizards of The Coast.

“We have the largest and most popular brand of fantasy role-playing games in Dungeons & Dragons,” says Guay. “Such a brand, with 50 years of history behind it, inspires developers and gives us enormous creative freedom. Our focus is on high-quality AAA games and we will have the means to achieve our ends.”

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

Wednesday - October 12, 2022

RPG General News - Fallout Homage

by Hiddenx, 17:44

PC Gamer reports that New Blood is working on an RPG in the Fallout tradition:

New Blood's Fallout homage will have first-person combat

It'll be in the vein of dungeon crawlers, not Doom.

New Blood's Fallout-style isometric RPG

New Blood teased a new CRPG (opens in new tab) back in June that's very deliberately taking cues from the original isometric Fallout games. Not only does the project boast two veterans of the Fallout modding scene, but original composer Mark Morgan will provide the soundtrack.

It's clearly a homage, but it isn't a copy. The still untitled game will deviate from the original games in at least one obvious way: the combat. In a Twitter thread, New Blood head Dave Oshry offered a rare update on the project, which will not be playable or even fully revealed "for a long time" (consider what you know and have seen of the project officially unrevealed, then).

"Surely the biggest complaint about classic Fallout games has always been the slow n' clunky nature of the turn based combat," Oshry wrote. "While we're still keeping things turn based, by switching up the style and perspective more akin to classic dungeon crawlers, we find it much more engaging."

[...]

Thanks MAHak!

Tuesday - October 11, 2022

RPG General News - Now on Kickstarter: Fear Of The Unknown

by Hiddenx, 17:48

The Zero Prep Horror Mystery Roleplaying Game Fear Of The Unknown is now on Kickstarter and already funded:

Fear of the Unknown - Zero Prep Horror Mystery Roleplaying

Every game is a horror film. Solve mysteries, encounter horrors, face peril, and see how that changes you as a person.

Fear of the Unknown is a zero prep horror mystery roleplaying game where every game is a horror film. Solve mysteries, face perils, encounter horrors, and see how that changes you as a person. 

Together, one Oracle and one or more other players will collaboratively create the small town setting and populate it with a diverse and contentious cast of characters. Each player creates their protagonist, and then the Oracle creates a horrifying mystery for them to solve. Every game has a real mystery to solve with a real secret to uncover, with zero prep required!

[...]

RPG General News - 8 Upcoming CRPGs & TRPGs

by Hiddenx, 16:03

Morstimal Gaming talks about the games he's waiting for:

The 8 Upcoming CRPGs & TRPGs I'm Looking Forward To

Monday - October 03, 2022

RPG General News - Top 25 Tactical/Strategy RPGs

by Hiddenx, 13:13

Joel RPG compiled a top-list of tactical RPGs:

Top 25 Best Tactical/Strategy RPG Games of All Time | 2022 Edition

00:00 Intro

00:36 #25. King Arthur: Knight's Tale (PC)

01:13 #24. Solasta: Crown of the Magister (Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

01:52 #23. Hard West 2 (PC)

02:38 #22. Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden (PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One)

03:20 #21. The Banner Saga 3 (PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One)

04:08 #20. Super Robot Wars 30 (PC, Switch, PS4)

04:48 #19. Battletech (PC)

05:33 #18. Expeditions: Rome (PC)

06:22 #17. Heroes of Might & Magic V (PC)

07:06 #16. Symphony of War: The Nephilim Saga (PC, Switch)

07:53 #15. Disgaea V (PC, Switch, PS4)

08:34 #14. Phoenix Point (PC, PS4, Xbox One)

09:06 #13. Warhammer 40,000: Chaos Gate - Daemonhunters (PC)

09:55 #12. Valkyria Chronicles 4 (PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One)

10:55 #11. TROUBLESHOOTER: ABANDONED CHILDREN (PC)

11:48 #10. Wildermyth (PC, Switch)

12:33 #9. Battle Brothers (PC, PS4, Switch, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)

13:23 #8. Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions (Android, PSP)

14:21 #7. Triangle Strategy (PC, Switch)

15:14 #6. Fire Emblem: Three Houses (Switch)

16:01 #5. Wasteland 3 (PC, PS4, Xbox One)

16:58 #4. XCOM 2 (PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One)

17:50 #3. Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire (PC, PS4, Xbox One)

18:32 #2. Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous (PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One)

19:21 #1. Divinity Original Sin 2: Definitive Edition (PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One)

Saturday - October 01, 2022

RPG General News - Mandragora - First Look

by Hiddenx, 18:18

SplatterCatGaming checked out Mandragora. The vampire hunting RPG is already funded on Kickstarter:

Mandragora - Vampire Hunting Gothic Medieval Action RPG

Friday - September 30, 2022

RPG General News - Looking back at Tibia

by Hiddenx, 17:23

Felipe Pepe (RPG historian) looks back at the old MMO Tibia:

How a 25-year-old German MMO became a Pokémon fangame

AKA Brazilians strikes again

When talking about the pioneer MMORPGs of the 90s — Meridian 59, Ultima Online, EverQuest, etc — there is a name that is often overlooked: Tibia, a German free-to-play MMO first released in 1997.

More than just curiosity or historical artefact, Tibia has one of the longest and most interesting stories among MMOs.

Tibia 1.0, from January 1997

The game was created by students at the University of Regensburg in Germany. In 1995 they began planning to develop something similar to MUDs (text-based online games), but with graphics and more elements from single-player RPGs:

    “We were inspired by the Ultima series, especially Ultima VI and the possibility to interact with everything in the world of the game. Every item that was there could be taken and used — we wanted to combine that with the possibility to be on the move together with others in the game world.”
    — Stephan Vogler, CipStudio’s Founder

Just like Ultima, Tibia has a very interactive world, allowing you to move objects around and combine them. Even on the very first version you could combine flour with milk and place it over the fire to bake cookies.

While Tibia would go online on January 7th, 1997 (predating MMOs like Ultima Online and Everquest), the truth is that this first version was an alpha release with barely any content. It would take six more months until enemies and NPCs were added, and only in May 1998 would classes, skills and spells be introduced.

[...]

 

Saturday - September 17, 2022

Campfire Cabal - New Narrative RPG Studio

by Silver, 23:35

@THQNordic Campfire Cabal is a new narrative RPG studio formed from the ashes of Logic Artists, who developed the Expeditions series of games.

Copenhagen, Denmark / Vienna, Austria, September 13, 2022 –THQ Nordic has set sail on a new expedition to Denmark with the formation of a new development studio called Campfire Cabal! The studio was formed by industry veterans who worked on titles such as the highly acclaimed Expeditions: Rome, the Hitman-series, and Hunt: Showdown. Campfire Cabal will focus on high-quality, narrative-driven RPGs and is currently working on a project that has yet to be publicly disclosed.

Check out the intro teaser for Campfire Cabal: https://youtu.be/heTIhlF0mFc

Campfire Cabal will be an independent development studio under THQ Nordic and will be led by its management team and Creative Director, Jonas Wæver.

Tuesday - September 06, 2022

Descent to Undermountain - Retrospective Review

by Silver, 02:04

William SRD reviewed the notorious RPG Descent to Undermountain.

Descent to Undermountain was a Dungeons and Dragons video game released in 1998 by Interplay. Despite coming between Interplay releasing back-to-back classics like Fallout and Balder's Gate - Descent still manages to go down in history as one of the greatest trash fires of the 90's.

Maybe they shouldn't have programmed it on a spaceship combat engine?

Saturday - September 03, 2022

RPG General News - Torchlight Infinite Open Beta September 5th

by Silver, 03:38

DSOGaming reports that Action RPG Torchlight Infinite is set to go into open Beta September 5th.

XD GAMES has announced that the open beta phase for the next part in the Torchlight series, Torchlight: Infinite, will begin on September 5th. This beta will be available to everyone and will last until September 18th.

Torchlight: Infinite is a loot-based action RPG that will be using Unreal Engine 4. The developers claim that the game will combine the classic series gameplay with high-quality graphics. Moreover, the game promises to have a deep powerful skill system that will allow players to create a rich variety of character builds.

[...]

Thursday - September 01, 2022

RPG General News - Gerda: A Flame in Winter released

by Hiddenx, 19:37

The Adventure game Gerda: A Flame in Winter has been released:

Gerda: A Flame in Winter - Launch Trailer

Gerda: A Flame in Winter is a meaningful narrative RPG-lite game inspired by real life events and civilians who tried to stand up to oppression in any way they could during the German occupation of Denmark in World War II.
This fateful story begins not on the front lines, but in the small village of Tinglev where Gerda Larsen was born and raised. The good-natured nurse has no weapons to wield and no army to speak of, relying instead on herself and her knowledge of the village and its people to try and save her husband, who was arrested by the Gestapo.
You'll be challenged with moral dilemmas as you to try guide Gerda through a much more complicated world - a world now full of dangerous situations and difficult choices that will lead you down different paths. So, how far will you go to save your loved ones?

Sunday - August 28, 2022

RPG General News - Alrik's Impressions from Gamescom 2022

by Hiddenx, 12:49

Watcher Alrik visited the Gamescom 2022 - I have edited his report into a thread under General RPG, so that you can ask further questions. The thread can be found here.

Thanks Alrik!

Sunday - August 21, 2022

RPG General News - Dungeon Crawlers - Best Of GameJam 2022

by Hiddenx, 10:51

Our local dungeon crawler expert Kordanor presents the best entries of the Dungeoncrawler Game Jam 2022:

Dungeon Crawlers - Best Of GameJam 2022 [EN] by Kordanor

  • 00:00 Intro & Info about the Game Jam
  • 00:24 Definition of Dungeoncrawler
  • 00:57 Where to download games & find more
  • 01:25 Dumbest Dungeon by Inkus Games
  • 02:07 Aegir Rising by steamknight, CrowMaster2525
  • 02:36 Larrikin of Splorr! by The Grumpy GameDev
  • 03:00 Xeno Seekers by HiImWren, dorii, Evan G. Griffith
  • 03:38 Labyrinth by Danga
  • 04:17 Wizard Force by Snoydger
  • 04:53 Planet of the Beast by Ruben Tipparach, fokai, Twitchywhalez, Suule
  • 05:19 Robots and Zombies by Rebello
  • 05:42 The Gift of Fire by Matt Kimball, Rubikow, Duskey, Aimainiac, Jaco van Hemert, Jaime Alonso, FossilGarden
  • 06:14 Deep Dark by SadSmileGames
  • 06:54 Nano Ruins by DamienDe
  • 07:26 It came from the Forest by Zooperdan, Travsul
  • 08:36 Out of the Blue by Bozo Attila Bertold
  • 09:09 Outro

Friday - August 19, 2022

RPG General News - George Ziets Interview @ GameBanshee

by Hiddenx, 10:38

GameBanshee has interviewed George Ziets about his current projects:

George Ziets Interview

Back in 2019, during a Matt Chat episode, George Ziets told the world about Digimancy Entertainment, his new studio dedicated to developing RPGs and RPG hybrids. And while the studio is yet to release its debut project, it now employs a number of Obsidian and inXile veterans, as well as some promising fresh faces from the team behind Disco Elysium.

With that in mind, we figured it was past time for us to reach out to George, who you probably know as the creative lead on the Mask of the Betrayer expansion for Neverwinter Nights 2 and a contributor to many an Obsidian and inXile RPG over the years, and ask him a few questions about Digimancy Entertainment, his previous projects, and game design and development in general.

So, without further ado, here's our interview with George Ziets:

GameBanshee: Let's start with the basics. Please tell us a bit about yourself, your notable projects, and your current endeavors. Basically, give us an elevator pitch for George Ziets.

George Ziets: I’m a narrative designer at heart who has worn a lot of hats. And I love RPGs – both playing them and making them. My current hat is CEO of Digimancy Entertainment, but I spent most of my career as a writer and designer at InXile and Obsidian Entertainment.

I got into the industry at the tail end of the Infinity Engine era, dreaming of making more of those games (just as they were going out of style), but I did get to work on Neverwinter Nights 2, and I was creative lead on its expansion, Mask of the Betrayer. Since then, I’ve been a designer and writer on all manner of RPGs of varying quality and infamy, from Fallout: New Vegas to Wasteland 3 to Torment: Tides of Numenera.

More recently, I co-founded Digimancy Entertainment with two other RPG veterans – Steve Dobos and Kevin Saunders. Our mission is to make narrative-driven RPGs, create new worlds, and work with like-minded devs from all over the world. We have one self-funded, internal project in development, but we’re also collaborating with other studios on RPGs and adjacent games and developing original pitches for publisher-funded RPGs.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - August 17, 2022

RPG General News - Some hidden Gems

by Hiddenx, 15:33

Tensor Gaming assembled a list of ten hidden RPG gems:

Top 10 RPG Games Hidden Gems on Steam - PC / Consoles

0:00 Intro
0:17 Orangeblood 
1:29 Tenderfoot Tactics 
2:09 Shadows of Adam 
2:55 Long Gone Days 
4:40 Eternal Radiance 
6:30 Heroine Anthem Zero 2: Scalescars Oath 
7:00 Heartbeat 
8:58 Game #3 
10:19 Game #2 
11:28 Game #1 

Sunday - August 14, 2022

General News - Project Relic Gameplay Trailer

by Silver, 11:27

@DSOGaming The new gameplay trailer for Dark Souls inspired Action RPG Project Relic.

...
As always, this trailer showcases a game that is in development, meaning that its visual style, graphics and levels may change. In other words, this trailer does not represent the quality of the final product.

We should also not forget that Project Cloud Games is a small team. Therefore, you should temper your expectations, and you should not expect a Dark Souls 3-quality game.

Saturday - August 06, 2022

General News - Desktop Dungeons is getting a 3D Remaster

by Hiddenx, 11:05

Redglyph spotted that Desktop Dungeons will be remastered:

Desktop Dungeons: Rewind Announcement Trailer

Wednesday - July 27, 2022

General News - Moo Lander Review @ WP

by Hiddenx, 15:45

Worthplaying has reviewed the action adventure Moo Lander:

PC Review - 'Moo Lander'

Moo Lander is an action-adventure RPG with Metroidvania elements featuring an epic story about cows and milk.

When you think of games trying to emulate the Metroidvania formula, you tend to think of gaining powers over time and backtracking to use those powers to access previously inaccessible areas. You think of a large bestiary to fight. Most of all, you think of platforming; just about all of the big games in the subgenre have featured creatures shooting, jumping, and slashing. Moo Lander isn't exactly a formulaic Metroidvania, but it offers something good for those willing to give it a chance.

The game has you playing the role of Lander who, along with his AI companion Hamilton, have been sent on a mission to save their species. The war that their people have been in for ages has taken its toll, and resources are dwindling. The last hope is an artifact known as the Ewlvir, which can produce an infinite amount of the most precious energy and food: milk. Using the last interplanetary vessel their people have, Lander and Hamilton go to Mars, the last known location of the artifact, in hopes of finding it and saving their species.

 [...]

In the end, Moo Lander is a solid adventure game that works despite the genre being mislabeled. The placement of more physics puzzles is a welcome one, even if a few can be a little frustrating. Combat is solid enough, provided you know beforehand that the boss fights tend to be a huge pain. The world may not have much in the way of exploration, but it feels anything but sterile, and the tools are quite fun to use. It's an enjoyable game overall and one that adventure fans might be interested in if they wanted something a little different.

Score: 7.0/10

 

Saturday - July 23, 2022

General News - Five Post Apocalyptic RPGs

by Hiddenx, 07:23

Mortismal Gaming recommends five post-apocalyptic RPGs in the tradition of the early Fallouts:

Five Great Post Apocalyptic CRPGs You Should Play (That Aren't Fallout)

  • Atom RPG
  • Wasteland 3
  • Underrail
  • Death Trash
  • Encased

 

Saturday - July 09, 2022

General News - 20 new turn based RPGs

by Hiddenx, 09:22

Uncanny Games gives an overview over the recently released turn based RPGs and their current patch state:

Top 20 New Turn Based RPGs Recently Released (Apr-Jun 2022)

Friday - June 17, 2022

General News - Upcoming tactical RPGs

by Hiddenx, 15:21

Wizard Worm presents some upcoming tactical RPGs:

The Best Tactical RPGs of Steam Summer Fest (2022)

00:13 Railroads & Catacombs
01:50 Stones Keeper: King Aurelius
03:01 Legends of Kingdom Rush
04:29 Tilefinder
05:46 Rising Spire
06:53 Castle Greyrot
08:08 Pry Into The Void

Monday - June 06, 2022

General News - Diablo Immortal Review

by Hiddenx, 08:50

But Why Tho checked out Diablo Immortal:

REVIEW: 'Diablo Immortal' Is Good, to a Point (PC)

The announcement of Diablo Immortal is a moment in the games industry that will live in infamy. Seen by many as a tone-deaf move by series developer Blizzard Entertainment, the heavily memed “don’t you guys have phones?” moment put Diablo Immortal in a more complicated position than any AAA franchise moving into the mobile space would normally be. But now that the NetEase Games developed and Blizzard published title is out, how does it actually stack?

For my time with the game, I only played the PC port, so I cannot comment on how the game runs on mobile phones. Unfortunately, PC ports of mobile games don’t have the best track record, and Diablo Immortal is no different. The settings are terribly barebones, the UI is garishly large, and the hitbox for selecting items and interacting with points of interest is tiny. The control prompts are also nearly unchanged for the PC port, like clicking is almost always called tapping to fit a phone’s touch screen. 

[...]

The worst part about this system is that there is no free alternative. As of the time of writing, Legendary Crests cannot be earned by grinding for a free currency or saving up a trickle of premium currency that the game gives you for free, as is an option in games like Genshin Impact. Instead, the only way to get them is through microtransactions, with some outlets, like Forbes, reporting that endgame builds are expected to cost players anywhere from $40,000 to $100,000.

[...]

TL;DR

For most of my time with Diablo Immortal, I was pleasantly surprised. But when I reached the endgame content it became clear that all of that was to trap me in an exploitative revenue scheme. I would have been more than willing to buy a battle pass here and there or even some cosmetics or expansions to support Diablo Immortal into the future, but its bold and scummy approach to manipulating vulnerable players not only soured my entire experience with the game but marks a dangerous cornerstone in the monetization of similar products in the future. 

Score: 5/10

 

Sunday - June 05, 2022

General News - Games like Might & Magic and Wizardy @ Wizard Worm

by Hiddenx, 14:56

Wizard Worm presents six RPGs in the tradition of the Wizardry and Might & Magic series:

Top 6 Upcoming Games Like Might and Magic & Wizardy (2022-2023)

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00:40 A Quest That Became Legend
01:42 Legendary Journeys
02:40 Archquest
03:39 Archaelund
05:07 Aledorn
05:49 The Fellowship Saga

Wednesday - June 01, 2022

General News - 48 Amazing Women in RPGs

by Hiddenx, 18:01

RPGFan made a list of memorable women in RPGs:

FemPower Up: 48 Amazing Women in RPGs

A lot of us at RPGFan sometimes get fed up with how much male-centric narratives dominate the RPG landscape. All different types of people play RPGs, and we want the landscape to reflect that.

That isn’t to say, of course, that there haven’t been a ton of amazing women in RPGs over the years. At least 48 of them, in fact! Today, we’re here to present our picks for the most amazing women in RPGs. This list is of course in no ways exhaustive. In fact, there was so much enthusiasm for this feature that we had to cut back on a few! Nonetheless, we’re pleased with the variety and breadth of amazing female characters in the games we love.

[...]

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Monday - May 23, 2022

General News - A Talk about Armor Systems

by Hiddenx, 19:16

Josh Sawyer introduces you to armor systems in CRPGs:

Armor Clash: Mistrials and Mishaps on the Road to Better Armor Systems

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Saturday - May 14, 2022

General News - Obscure Forgotten and Underrated RPGs

by Hiddenx, 08:14

Avalanche Reviews presents some lesser known RPGs:

Obscure Forgotten and Underrated RPGs

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00:00 Intro 
02:42 Shining Soul
09:27 Suikoden I and II 
12:44 Suikoden IV
14:30 Suikoden V
14:50 Suikoden Tactics
16:12 Eiyuden Chronicle
17:38 Emerald Dragon
21:55 Grandia
23:44 Grandia II
25:08 Grandia Extreme
25:27 Grandia III
29:11 Wachenroder
33:14 Legend of Dragoon
39:05 Growlanser Generations
42:18 Growlanser Heritage of War 
43:18 Growlanser Wayfarer of Time 
45:19 Resonance of Fate 
50:51 Ring of Red 
01:00 Wrapping Things Up 

Friday - May 06, 2022

Dying Light - Upgraded to Enhanced Edition

by Silver, 13:24

Standard Edition owners of Dying Light get a free upgrade to the Enhanced Edition on Steam.

So if you own the base Dying Light game, now you’ll also get:

  •     The Following expansion,
  •     Bozak Horde,
  •     Cuisine and Cargo,
  •     Ultimate Survivor bundle,
  •     and Crash Test skin bundle!


Enjoy playing with your new content, and see you in Harran!

Interested in the details of the upcoming patch? Check the changes below:
FULL PATCH NOTES

[...]

Thanks Henriquejr!

General News - New Dark Eye RPGs Planned

by Silver, 04:07

Gamestar reports that more Dark Eye RPGs are planned.

...

Instead, Wagner came up with a new plan, which included empowering Ulisses-Verlag to develop the games themselves. This is the only way to guarantee that the necessary love and care flows into the product, which the publisher and the fan base want.

It's just that Ulisses simply can't develop any games at the moment. That should change in the next few years. That's why there is a master plan :

  • The visual novel: It starts as early as May 2022, when Wolves of the Westwind , a new DSA game , will appear on Steam. Only this is a visual novel, with very little RPG content. It is a story to read and with beautiful pictures. Things that Ulisses is already good at without too much financial risk.
  • An Action Game: The next project will be a standard action game for the studio to try their hand at. However, without a DSA license. Because with this brand loved by fans, according to Wagner, you only have a few shots free , and they should sit.
  • A first role-playing game: What you have learned should then be implemented in another game, which this time will actually be a role-playing game. But again without a DSA license, another Pen&Paper work is to be used instead: Hexxen 1733.
  • The new DSA RPG: And when all these points are ticked off, the staff is increased and trained and hopefully the funding and the international reputation of the studio are in a good place, then a new DSA role-playing game is to be created, with a reasonable production effort.

The goal is to have a game that is internationally competitive even without the brand's appeal and that satisfies DSA fans in Germany.

Thanks Couchpotato!

Tuesday - April 26, 2022

Lords of Ravage - Announced

by Silver, 13:18

Lords of Ravage has been announced and is described as a reverse dungeon crawl RPG/TBS game when you are the boss at the end of the dungeon.

Lords of Ravage Dev Diary 1: Announcement.

Hello everyone, ShiftyCode here with a new dev diary series! Today, I am proud to officially announce our next project: Lords of Ravage. It is a reverse dungeon crawl RPG/TBS game when you are the boss at the end of the dungeon. If you haven't seen our trailer, check it out:

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The Idea.

Ever since the original Dungeon Keeper, I was fascinated by the games that let you experience the gameplay from the other side. You're used to picking quests around the world, but what if you are the quest giver? You are used to shopping for items, but what if you are an item shop owner? You are used to carefully babysitting a party of the heroes in a dungeon crawler, but what if your party will be completely expandable? Those are by no means novel concepts, but I think they are underrepresented in games nevertheless. So I've decided to twist the original dungeon crawler formula and focus on the gameplay side of things.

Gameplay.

In this game, you play as one of the Lords of Ravage. You roam the world in a desperate search for a powerful artifact thought to be only a legend. The gameplay consists of sending your minions on a lot of missions, some of which will be presented as short visual novel-styled experiences. Those experiences usually involve cutscenes and some choices that will affect the combat conditions, lead to additional rewards or allow to skip the combat altogether. In combat, you deploy your "followers" - units with unique abilities and mechanics that are totally expendable, adding to this "I am the evil overlord" feeling that this game is aiming for. And of course, you can reveal yourself at any point, personally dealing with the heroes. The game will be pretty challenging though, as you can easily run out of your followers if not careful, or end up with a severely wounded leader facing fierce heroes.

As usual, stay tuned for more dev diaries and help us to spread the word about the game!

Discord

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Monday - April 25, 2022

Project Relic - Gameplay Video

by Silver, 11:16

A new gameplay video for Project Relic from Project Cloud Games. The game is a third person action RPG targeting a 2023 release.

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'Project Relic', an action game, developed by Project Cloud Games

Although it is a small game company consisting of 10 developers, with our passion and insight, we are making a sensuous game.

Hope you enjoy. Thanks.
Contact - info@projectcloudgames.com

- Title: Project Relic (Working on title)
- Platform: Console (Playstation, Xbox) / PC

Sons of Valhalla - Announced

by Silver, 10:06

2D Side Scroller Strategy/RPG game Sons of Valhalla has been announced.

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What is Sons of Valhalla?

Sons of Valhalla is a side-scrolling base-building strategy game that catapults you into the Viking Age.

Story

You slip into the role of Thorald Olavson as he leaves for England to save the love of his life. When Thorald's village is burned down and his love captured by Valgard, a Viking Jarl, Thorald swears revenge.

Gameplay

Sons of Valhalla challenges you to play the role of both builder and destroyer in your quest across England. You will develop and fortify settlements, while raiding villages and laying siege to enemy strongholds. 

Longboats filled with warriors and great siege weapons will be at your command, but you will also have to rely on your personal skill with the sword to overcome the many enemies in your path.

You will explore a beautiful pixel-art recreation of Viking Age Britain, as days turn to nights, sunshine to storms.

Nazralath: The Fallen World - Announced

by Silver, 05:33

DSOGaming reports on a new game inspired by Planescape: Torment and Dark Souls called Nazralath: The Fallen World. Screenshots at the link.

Euclidean Studios has announced a new story-driven, third-person, dark fantasy action-adventure game that is heavily inspired by Dark Souls and Planescape: Torment, called Nazralath: The Fallen World. In order to celebrate this announcement, the studio released the game’s debut trailer that you can find below.

Nazralath: The Fallen World promises to focus on a compelling narrative and exploration through a rich, strong sense of atmosphere and world.

[...]

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Sunday - April 24, 2022

General News - PAX East

by Hiddenx, 07:47

Steve Esposito from Seasoned Gaming spotted some new games at PAX East 2022:

PAX East Day 2: More Games to Check Out

With Day 2 of PAX East coverage down, it is time for me to reflect on the great titles that I was able to get my hands on before I head off onto day 3. While Dark Souls inspired RPGs seem to be a growing trend, the talk of the convention is still Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge.

[...]

Dwerve – Half Human Games
Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising – Natsumi Atari / 505 Games
Spiderheck – Neverjam / Tiny Build
The Last Oricru – GoldKnights / Prime Matter
No Place for Bravery – GlitchFTY / Ysbryd Games

 

Friday - April 22, 2022

General News - Vampire: The Masquerade - Heartless Lullaby released

by Hiddenx, 18:29

The free RPG Vampire: The Masquerade - Heartless Lullaby has been released on Steam:

Welcome to the World of Darkness

Step into the night as Zak Riley and Diane, mortal and Kindred, as their fates intertwine in an ominous plot involving a weakened Camarilla, the vampiric sect that wants to remain hidden, and a rising Sabbat, the fanatical group that sees humanity as cattle.

Meet dozens of characters, venture deep into the shadows and see the world through the eyes of both mortal and vampire, as you explore the Heartless Club.

Take your chances with the dice, face the consequences of your actions, and embrace the duality of Humanity and the Beast in this story rich cRPG set in the World of Darkness.

Covering just the prologue of the story, with well over an hour and a half of gameplay and several different endings, Vampire: The Masquerade - Heartless Lullaby was created in less than a month in celebration of the Vampire: The Masquerade Jam.

Features:

  • Use your vampiric Disciplines (powers) to influence the world. Either by supernatural strength, sinister charm or sheer cunning, take your place in vampire society.
  • Semi-open locations with several ways to approach every situation. Leave no stone unturned.
  • A detective story embedded in a personal horror setting: heed the call of the Beast, or cling to your Humanity.
  • Experience the rule system of Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition like never before; a seamless transition between pen & paper and cRPG.

 

Tuesday - April 19, 2022

Winter Ember - Released

by Silver, 09:46

Action/Stealth RPG Winter Ember has been released on Steam.

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You are Arthur Artorias – the sole survivor of a massacre that devastated your family’s legacy and tore them out of the history books. Thought to be dead, you emerge from exile 8 years later, the faceless man kindled by the flame and seeking vengeance.

Embark on an adventure unravelling a dark tale filled with twisted characters, centered around a militant religion hell bent on keeping control. 

A True Stealth Experience

As Arthur, you must stick to the shadows, infiltrate homes and explore hidden passageways; but, be careful not to be spotted! Choose your playstyle: knocking out enemies may keep them quiet for some time, but they will eventually wake up; a quick slice to the throat may be a more permanent solution, but the bloodstain you leave on the carpet might be a dead giveaway! Keep your wits about you, dispose of bodies, peek through keyholes and pickpocket unsuspecting victims.

Deep Arrow Crafting System

Prepare for your mission by planning your loadout. With over 30 arrows to craft, experimentation is key to your success! Do you craft a smoke arrow to blind your opponent, or do you add on a poison element to create poisonious gas? Use your arrows offensively or defensively: break down weak walls with a blunt arrow to surprise your enemy, or use a rope arrow to reach a higher place and take out your enemies from a distance.

Skill Tree

Customize your playstyle from 3 distinct skill trees – stealth, combat, and utility. Unlock over 70 unique passive and active skills to choose from and seek vengeance your way. 

Explore A Dark World

Return home to the cold Victorian town of Anargal, on the verge of technological breakthrough. Infiltrate and explore vast environments brimming with treasure and mystery. From rival gangs to unique characters, approach each scenario in a myriad of ways. Take advantage of the environment, find solutions to every problem, and move past any challenge standing in your way. 

Sunday - April 17, 2022

General News - Stones of Arnhem announced

by Hiddenx, 15:22

Cleveland Mark Blakemore announced that Stones of Arnhem is in development on the RPG Codex:

OFFICIAL "STONES OF ARNHEM" DEVELOPMENT THREAD

I don't want to announce this to the Codex until I have my first alpha version running and up on Steam for "Coming Soon" but I will share details here for diehard fans of Grimoire. When I get Steam to accept my prototype and allow me to set up the page for SOA I will start sending out press releases.

I have all-new portraits that nobody has seen yet but they are fantastic, higher quality than anything displayed previously for Vault of Terror or other games I have been tinkering on. Looking at them and how far my blobber engine has come along were what gave me the motivation to begin working on SOA.

I have distilled the races and classes down into a synthesis of Grimoire, Crusaders and other influences. I am really happy with them and have built the RPG logic engine and editors around them. The tables necessary for character creation are done and I am thinking of pursuing a bold new mechanism of character creation that will combine ideas from other RPGs to produce a very cool easy start to the game without any library creation necessary. Characters in the library will be semi-created but experienced grognards can edit and refine them. Newbs can simply pick them and add them to the party at the start and jump right into the game ala EYE OF THE BEHOLDER.

This game is aimed at 40+ hours of play and will be a fraction of the size of Grimoire. It will be far superior in many ways but it will still be a turn-based blobber inspired by Wizardry 6 & 7.

[...]

 

Monday - April 04, 2022

General News - Blacksmith Legends: Coming soon

by Hiddenx, 15:09

The Early Access title Blacksmith Legends will get new features:

Coming soon!

Hello dear crafters,

just wanted to share some stuff that I've been working on lately!

1. New Game Modes

This is pretty self-explanatory and will finally be able to shift the game in 2 ways that I've been wanting to achieve for a longer time now.
For people who want to play something closer to economical simulation, there is the Interactive play mode, but for the ones that want to chill, Casual (AFK) mode is the way to go.

Now, the AFK mode isn't really a fully auto mode like in some other games, where you would just exit the game and then start it other day just like you would be playing. It's pretty much a mode where you start with Overseer and most features automated.

2. Overseer automatic manuscript setup + quests option

The more items of certain type you sell, the better will the manuscript setup of that particular item be. Counts after each quantity of 50. So, if you sold 50 hammers will have different impact on the setup than if you already sold 100 of them!

Quests will also now be handled automatically, meaning, whatever you accept will be calculated and entered for production.

All the above features will be included in the Casual (AFK) game mode from the beginning of the game!

Interactive (Classic) game mode will have them too, but Overseer will be achievable much later in the game.

3. Event log window (resizable + movable)

According to the great feedback, players will have an event log window, that will be logging anything that happened with their current system time, just in case. From that, it will be easier to track on what happened.

I'll need few more days to polish all the changes, especially the auto quests handling of the overseer. Rest is pretty much ready.

Stay tuned and please support my game as that greatly helps me in my work!

VM Machal <3

Thanks Farflame!

Saturday - April 02, 2022

General News - Five Square Enix RPGs that Deserve an HD-2D Remake

by Silver, 21:22

TechRaptor looks at five Square Enix RPGs that deserve an HD-2D Remake.

Square Enix really found itself a winning formula with 2018’s Octopath Traveler. Despite being an entirely new IP, it had the hallmarks of an old-school turned-based RPG both in terms of gameplay and visuals. Its patented HD-2D art style, combining SNES-era sprite work with polygonal environments and flashy, modern effects immediately caught a lot of peoples’ interest and elicited a wonderful sense of nostalgia for the company’s early years.

[...]

3. Terranigma

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We could easily fill this list out with nothing but Final Fantasy games, but that wouldn’t make for an interesting read. Plus, remakes aren’t just opportunities to re-experience the most popular games ever made, but also to give lesser-known titles a new lease on life and perhaps introduce them to new audiences. For example, Terranigma.

No one can be blamed for not recognizing the name considering it’s an Enix property not called Dragon Quest and it never made it to America. Released in 1995 for the SNES, Terranigma is an action RPG that sees a young boy named Ark tasked with resurrecting life on Earth.

While it may not be as famous as Dragon Quest, Terranigma received rave reviews when it came out, and there is a demand for it to be revived in some form. Its own development team petitioned Square Enix for a remake only last year alongside passionate fans (thanks Nintendo Life). Unfortunately, according to character designer and manga artist Kamui Fujiwara, apparently no one can contact the game’s original director, which could be the reason why a remake hasn't got off the ground.

[...]

Friday - April 01, 2022

General News - How Black Isle became a Legend

by Hiddenx, 14:52

PC Gamer takes a look at the history of Black Isle:

How Black Isle became a legend

CRPGs wouldn't be the same without its trips into post-apocalyptic California and the Forgotten Realms.

The Black Isle isn't even an island, in reality. It's a peninsula in the Scottish Highlands, home to B&Bs and commuters working in nearby Inverness. Visitors frequent cottage museums and peer out across the damp beach, looking for bottlenose dolphins. 

In the imaginations of Interplay's internal development team, however, Black Isle became a blasted rock in the middle of the ocean, illuminated by fierce lightning strikes—more akin to The Witcher's Aretuza than the real-life place accessible by the A9 trunk road. 

Yet that's the spirit with which Black Isle Studios was founded—an enthusiasm for extrapolating mystery and adventure from a mundane world. It first did so with Fallout in 1997. Developed by '80s kids who had grown up under the perpetual threat of nuclear holocaust, it organically became a Californian vision of the postapocalypse—not so much The Golden State as a land baked until it cracked and bubbled. The stroke of genius, though, was to juxtapose that wasteland with imagery ripped straight from utopia—the perfect, picket-fence existence portrayed by '50s American advertising. The finished game dripped with irony right from character creation, where a Monopoly Man-esque mascot grinned winningly as he blew enemies into chunks. 

[...]

Thanks Henriquejr!

Wednesday - March 30, 2022

General News - SSI Goldbox and other RPGs released on Steam

by Hiddenx, 18:22

Blue's News reports that the old RPGs of SSI are now available on Steam:

The Games:

  • Forgotten Realms: The Archives Collection One (Eye of the Beholder I, II, and III)
  • Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection Two (Curse of the Azure Bonds, Gateway to the Savage Frontier, Hillsfar, Pools of Darkness, Pool of Radiance, Secret of the Silver Blades, Treasures of the Savage Frontier, and Unlimited Adventures)
  • Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection Three (Dungeon Hack, Menzoberranzan)
  • Krynn series (Champions of Krynn, Death Knights of Krynn, The Dark Queen of Krynn)
  • Dark Sun series (Shattered Lands, Wake of the Ravager)
  • Ravenloft series (Strahd's Possession, Stone Prophet)
  • D&D Stronghold: Kingdom Simulator
  • Al-Qadim: The Genie's Curse

Thanks Redglyph!

General News - RPG Game Creator: Eldiron

by Hiddenx, 18:13

Eldiron is a software suite to create Ultima 4/5 style RPGs:

Eldiron v1

Eldiron v1 will be able to create games similar to Ultima 4 and Ultima 5 or every RPG or tactical game utilizing square tiles.

Eldiron is cross platform and runs on all Desktops. The game client will work on Desktops but also on iOS and Android devices and any other device Rust compiles on. It is designed from the ground up to be extremely portable.

Eldiron comes with a range of freely usable tilemaps for environment and characters, however you can of course use your own tilemaps, see the instructions below.

The game engine contains client and server modules, although currently no multi-player options exist yet, the code has been written with multi-player support in mind from the ground up.

Support for retro 3D areas like dungeons is upcoming. In general I want to explore many different ways to display and create content, from procedurally created tiles to 3D assets. These kind of features will get implemented over time.

[...]

Monday - March 28, 2022

One Piece Odyssey - Announced

by Silver, 21:01

@DSOGaming Bandai Namco has announced a new One Piece RPG called One Piece Odyssey for 2022.

Players will join this brand-new RPG featuring new character and monster designs produced by Eiichiro Oda, the author of One Piece. The game will also have beautiful music from Motoi Sakuraba; a composer well known for his various contributions to video games such as the Dark Souls and Tales of series.

[...]

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Thursday - March 24, 2022

Lords of Ravage - Turn-based strategy RPG Announced

by Silver, 19:58

Turn-based strategy RPG Lords of Ravage has been announced by Synthetic Domain.

It is said that only in the darkest of times, true heroes are forged. But others may be lured by this darkness onto a much easier path. Some follow this path out of selfish greed and lust for power, while others do so out of a corrupted sense of duty, stopping at nothing to achieve their higher goals. A few of the most powerful ones have the dubious honor of being proclaimed Lords of Ravage. You'll take on the role of one of these Lords on the brink of their defeat. Search for a great artifact that can change the fate of this world. Deal with any heroes brave or foolish enough to interfere with your plans. Hunt for forgotten artifacts, forge dark alliances, and undertake daring raids to take by force everything your heart desires.

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Thanks Couchpotato!

Monday - March 21, 2022

General News - Casey Hudson working on Science Fiction RPG

by Silver, 23:53

Video Games Chronicle reports that Casey Hudson is working on an RPG set in a new science fiction setting. The newly formed development studio is called Humanoid Studios.

“Our current project is a multi platform AAA game, focusing on character-driven narrative in an all-new science-fiction universe,” it says.

The website also features several pieces of concept art (see below).

Canada-based Humanoid has offices in British Columbia and Alberta, “offering a flexible work environment combining from-home, in-office, and remote work so that developers can work where they feel happiest”.

[...]

Friday - March 18, 2022

General News - Triangle Strategy Worldwide Sales Do Well

by Silver, 12:57

Gamingbolt reports that Switch exclusive tactical RPG Triangle Strategy has sold nearly 800K worldwide.

As Square Enix works on improving Babylon’s Fall and addressing issues with Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin, it’s seen a good measure of success with Triangle Strategy. Developed by Artdink and led by Tomoya Asano of Bravely Default fame, its worldwide shipments and downloads are nearly 800,000. The tactical RPG launched on March 4th for Nintendo Switch.

[...]

Wednesday - March 16, 2022

General News - Mike Laidlaw Working on an Action RPG

by Silver, 22:30

Eurogamer reports that Mike Laidlaw, who previously spent 15 years at Bioware, is now making an action RPG with Private Division as publisher.

"The studio firmly believes that emergent systems create rich, interactive worlds," Private Division wrote in a press release. "In that vein, Yellow Brick Games is creating an ambitious new action RPG."

"I find myself energised by the challenge of helping build a new studio - full of incredible talent, ambitious ideas, and real focus on our product - while taking risks that might not be possible in AAA game development," Laidlaw added.

"We want to deliver something special for our debut title, and partnering with Private Division provides our team with the support to create a game that's truly memorable."

[...]

Monday - March 14, 2022

General News - ARPGs vs CRPGs vs JRPGS

by Hiddenx, 15:56

Ye Old Entertainment talks about RPG sub genres:

Baldurs gate 2 vs Diablo 2 vs Dark Souls vs Chrono Trigger. Wait a minute... ARPGs vs CRPGs vs JRPGS?

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At RPGWatch we have a thread for this...

Thanks MAHak!

General News - Warren Spector Interview

by Silver, 01:41

VentureBeat interviewed Warren Spector and asked him about System Shock 3 and what he is making now amongst other topics.

GamesBeat: Can you fill in some of the blanks on how things have been going for you in the last few years with OtherSide? It seemed like work on System Shock 3 came to an end for you. I don’t know if that’s the right way to characterize it.

Warren Spector: We released a statement last year. There’s not much more to say at this point. Tencent is taking the franchise forward. It’ll be up to them to say what they want to say. There’s not much clarification I can give you.

GamesBeat: How long had you worked on that previously?

Spector: We worked on it in 2018 and 2019. That was it.

GamesBeat: How large had the studio gotten for that project?

Spector: I think we maxed out at 17.

[...]

(Talking about his new game)

GamesBeat: How long have you been actively working on it now?

Spector: I went through a pretty long phase of just developing this one or that one. I guess it’s been not quite a year. But again, remember, that was me sitting alone. It almost doesn’t count. Paul and I take this seriously. When it comes to creating something new, you want to do something special. Making games is–I call it “grindingly hard.” If you’re not at least trying to do something great–you’re going to fail most of the time, and I get that. But if you’re not trying, it’s soul-crushing. There’s no point.

I’m a relentless advocate for a particular kind of game, for immersive simulations. I’m going to do that for the rest of my life, or at least the rest of my career. If I can’t do that I guess I’ll stop making games. But in many ways it’s what I’ve been thinking about for quite a while as the next step in immersive sims. If we pull it off, people are not going to be ready for what’s going to hit them.

GamesBeat: Is it consistent with some of the themes you’ve advocated for before, like emergent gameplay over scripted storytelling?

Spector: Oh, absolutely. I have no interest–at my studios, you’re not allowed to say the word “puzzle.” We don’t make puzzles. As soon as you say the words “the player must” or “the player has to” I stop listening. It turns into blah-blah-blah. Games have always been about players showing how clever and creative they are. We remind ourselves constantly that they’re as smart as we are, and in many ways smarter. The bottom line is, we’re the only medium in human history that’s been able to engage players as partners in storytelling. That’s what I’m going to do as long as people will keep paying me to do it.

[...]

Sunday - March 13, 2022

General News - Gold Box Games coming to Steam

by Hiddenx, 08:49

The Goldbox games will be available on Steam on March 29:

Dungeons & Dragons: Krynn Series

  • Champions of Krynn
  • Death Knights of Krynn
  • The Dark Queen of Krynn

Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Sun Series

  • DARK SUN: SHATTERED LANDS
  • DARK SUN: WAKE OF THE RAVAGER

Dungeons & Dragons: Ravenloft Series

  • Ravenloft: Strahd's Possession
  • Ravenloft: Stone Prophet 

Dungeons & Dragons - Stronghold: Kingdom Simulator

Dungeons & Dragons - Al-Qadim: The Genie's Curse

Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection One

  • EYE OF THE BEHOLDER
  • EYE OF THE BEHOLDER II: THE LEGEND OF DARKMOON
  • EYE OF THE BEHOLDER III: ASSAULT ON MYTH DRANNOR

Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection Two

  • POOL OF RADIANCE
  • CURSE OF THE AZURE BONDS
  • HILLSFAR
  • SECRET OF THE SILVER BLADES
  • POOLS OF DARKNESS
  • GATEWAY TO THE SAVAGE FRONTIER
  • TREASURES OF THE SAVAGE FRONTIER
  • FORGOTTEN REALMS UNLIMITED ADVENTURES

Forgotten Realms: The Archives - Collection Three

  • DUNGEON HACK
  • MENZOBERRANZAN

Wednesday - March 09, 2022

General News - Triangle Strategy Review

by Hiddenx, 16:15

Retro Rebound checked out Triangle Strategy - a Nintendo Switch exclusive. Let's hope that it will find its way to the PC like Octopath Traveler:

Triangle Strategy Caught Me Off Guard... | Review

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Friday - March 04, 2022

General News - Dungeon Crawler Jam 2022

by Hiddenx, 15:16

The Dungeon Crawler Jam 2022 is a game development challenge to make a first person grid based dungeon crawler game in just 7 days from April 8 to April 15:

Dungeon Crawler Jam 2022

It's official! The Dungeon Crawler Jam is now an annual thing. That's right :) 

Following last year's success I am excited to be able to invite you to this years jam.

Whether you are an experienced game developer or just started getting into it (or anywhere in between) join us in this personal challenge of making a small game in a very short time.

Dungeon Crawler Jam 2022 is a game development challenge to make a first person grid based dungeon crawler game in just 7 days from April 8 to April 15.

-> Link

Hope to see you there :)

Thanks Kordanor!

Wednesday - February 23, 2022

Mostly RPG News - Upcoming Games March 2022

by Redglyph, 17:35

WolfheartFPS shares his list of selected upcoming games. Spot the one he doesn't like.

Top New Games Coming March 2022 (RPG, Adventure, Looter Shooter..)

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  • 0:00 Intro
  • 0:15 March 1 Pathfinder DLC
  • 1:25 March 1 Elex 2
  • 2:56 March 1 Shadow Warrior 3
  • 4:14 March 3 Babylon's Fall
  • 5:34 March 8 Submerged: Hidden Depths
  • 6:35 March 17 Black Geyser: Couriers of Darkness
  • 7:51 March 18 Stranger In Paradise Final Fantasy Origin
  • 9:06 March 25 Ghostwire Tokyo
  • 10:07 March 25 Tiny Tina's Wonderlands
  • 11:25 March 29 King Arthur: Knight's Tale
  • 12:54 March 31 Weird West

Friday - February 18, 2022

General News - RPG in a Box

by Redglyph, 18:06

Justin Arnold, who created RPG in a Box, reached out and presented this project to us. This "engine" is built as an application made with Godot, which some of you may already know.

My name is Justin Arnold, and I’m a solo developer creating a game engine called RPG in a Box. I’ve been working on it for approximately 7 years, with the initial release in June of 2015. It’s a passion project of mine, which I originally developed in my spare time while working a full-time job as a software developer. Around the end of 2017, I made the decision to leave my job in order to fully devote myself to RPG in a Box. I’m reaching out to RPGWatch to see if there would be any interest in covering RPG in a Box on your site or Steam curator page.

I feel that RPG in a Box is at a point in its development where it’s ready for a wider audience, so I’ve been working towards reaching more people and building a larger community. It’s awesome getting to see people express themselves creatively through RPG in a Box by using it to turn their ideas into games and experiences. I’d also like to get more feedback that I can use to shape the engine going forward and, most importantly, to help people easily bring their game ideas to life. If you’re interested in covering RPG in a Box, I would love to discuss it further and answer any questions you may have.

You can find my press kit for RPG in a Box here: https://www.rpginabox.com/press

In addition to a brief overview and history of the game engine, I’ve included some videos and images to provide a look at both the editor interface and the games that can be created with it. The videos include an Early Access launch trailer, a playthrough of the built-in example game, and some short clips that demonstrate various gameplay mechanics. There’s even a couple of community-made videos: a gameplay teaser of a sci-fi first-person shooter/crawler being made with RPG in a Box, as well as a quirky world made completely out of food!

In regards to the screenshots, I tried to include a good selection of images showing the various editors (Voxel Editor, Map Editor, etc.), as well as some demo games and examples of the camera options available. These images also include the most recent Community Game Showcase, which is a collection of screenshots submitted by the community of their RPG in a Box projects. The showcase image is quite large, so if you zoom in you can easily see each individual game.

The press kit lists some social media and store links under the factsheet section, and there’s a link to my Trello board and Godot showcase interview at the bottom of the page if you’re interested in some of the technical aspects of its development. I also included a few testimonials from the community.

Wednesday - February 16, 2022

General News - New RPG Studio Rebel Wolves

by Silver, 18:49

A new RPG studio has been formed by ex-CD Projekt RED executive Konrad Tomaszkiewicz which is called Rebel Wolves. Games Industry interviewed the man and asked about his ambitions.

Rebel Wolves is looking to create a single-story, dark fantasy game

Given the scope of CD Projekt's recent output and its experience with RPGs, it could be seen as the perfect place to realise ambitions like the ones Rebel Wolves have outlined. However, Tomaszkiewicz feels that going independent is the best way for the studio to chase its dreams.

"We're proud of the games we helped to create there and we're deeply grateful for all the opportunities it has given us," he says. "CD Projekt works with established IPs, and we wanted to create our own universe, tailor it to our needs and preferences. Also, we want to work on smaller games, in a smaller team, where it's easier to maintain a coherent vision."

Rebel Wolves' goals for its debut project are well-defined too. The team shares joint expertise in single-story, narrative-focused games, and that's the genre it's aiming for.

"We want to recreate the feeling of a pen and paper RPG session, where your options seem limitless, where the world reacts to your choices, where every decision matters."

[...]

Monday - January 31, 2022

General News - 5 Upcoming RPGs

by Redglyph, 12:28

Mortismal Gaming shows 5 upcoming RPGs.

Five Upcoming CRPGs You Might Have Missed

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Saturday - January 29, 2022

General News - Home Behind 2 releases on Feb 25

by Redglyph, 16:26

RPGamer reported the announcement from TPP Studios that their roguelike Home Behind 2 would leave Early Access and release on Febrary 25th.

Home Behind 2 Fully Releasing in February

Developer TPP Studios announced that its roguelike RPG Home Behind 2 will exit Early Access and fully release for PC via Steam on February 25, 2022. The game will be available for $19.99 after it fully launches, but players can currently pick up the Early Access version and get access to the full version for $14.99, with a 25% discount on that price available until February 3, 2022.

Home Behind 2 is set in the fictional war-torn country of Scaria. The game follows Banan, a student who had been studying abroad and has returned home to join a revolution. Players control a small force and must act strategically to survive the attacks of enemy soldiers. The game features a strategic real-time combat system and can recruit fights from 36 unlockable jobs.

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General News - Deflector enters Early Access

by Redglyph, 16:21

COG reported that Deflector, an indie roguelite RPG, had entered Early Access.

DEFLECTOR, BULLET HELL ROGUELIKE, ENTERS STEAM EARLY ACCESS

The Power of Science and Nature

Welcome to the microscope and prepare for a bullet hell smaller than ever. Developer Arrowfist Games new bullet hell roguelike game, Deflector, is now on Steam Early Access. A press release about the game provides more details on the microscopic, adrenaline-fueled, adventure that takes place in the world of Deflector.

Deflector places the player in control of a specimen. These specimen are each able to use their unique abilities to compliment individual player playstyles. Additionally, each specimen can use further modifications to upgrade themselves by collecting DNA. The landscape of the game is as alien as a space adventure and each, non-linear, journey will contain equally as alien enemies. 

Furthermore, Deflector features an open, more free-form, upgrade system. This allows players to equip their specimen with a variety of different skills that they can combo together. Some of the powers range from explosive clones, to electric chains, to moving the very ground itself. The system provides flexibility and freedom of play for players as one would hope to see in a roguelike. 

Players get a view of the action in the official Early Access launch trailer.

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[...]

Thursday - January 20, 2022

General News - New Tactics Studio Bit Reactor

by Silver, 11:57

IGN reports on a new tactics studio called Bit Reactor; composed of Civilization and XCOM veterans.

A group of Firaxis Games veterans has announced a brand new Maryland-based studio called Bit Reactor which will be focused on turn-based strategy games.

Bit Reactor will be headed up by former Firaxis art director Greg Foertsch, who worked with Firaxis for over 20 years on games including XCOM: Enemy Unknown, XCOM 2, Civilization 3, and Civilization 4. Other members of the studio include former lead developers and creatives who also worked on the XCOM franchise.

[...]

Additionally the new studio head of Bit Reactor, Greg Foertsch, was interviewed by Games Industry.biz

Now, the strategy genre doesn't have to be restricted by the technological limitations of the past. Top down games can have stunning worlds that can stand against the latest open world escapades, or a narrative to rival the next great RPG.

Former Firaxis art director Greg Foertsch hopes to be at the forefront of the strategy resurgence with his new studio, Bit Reactor. Drawing other talent from the XCOM developer as well as other teams, Foertsch aims to build an outfit -- and later, a game -- that will bring the genre into a new era.

"The whole genre started to fall backwards while not having enough production values and it got dropped a bit," Foertsch tells GamesIndustry.biz. "Now, that's not a problem. Screen resolution isn't an issue. There are ways to tell stories and convey information that doesn't require a wall of text.

"That's what we're focused on -- bringing that to the genre, and really blurring that line between what a strategy game is and what an action game is."

Foertsch spent more than 20 years with Firaxis in various roles, before departing in 2018. After that, he had a small stint at Romero Games, which at the time was building strategy title Empire of Sin. For Foertsch, journeying from a long stint at a larger developer to a smaller one, to starting up his own studio, is all about setting his own parameters when it comes to developing a new game.

[...]

Monday - January 17, 2022

General News - Never Mourn Trailer

by Redglyph, 17:36

Primal Seed released a trailer of Never Mourn, an indie souls-like action RPG.

NEVER MOURN - Teaser Trailer (2022)

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Never Mourn is a third-person fast-paced Action-RPG with rogue-lite mechanics.

During the game, the players will embody Irea, a powerful battle necromancer fighting against all odds in order to revive her child.

In addition to being able to create her own army by reviving her enemies’ corpses, Irea can use destructive short-range spells and defensive abilities.

Attacked by endless waves of enemies, the players will have to be creative, skilled and good at decision making in order to overcome all the obstacles on their roads. Thanks to the rogue-lite mechanics, each run will feel different and will encourage the player’s creativity

Saturday - January 15, 2022

Batora: Lost Haven - Partnership Announcement Trailer

by Redglyph, 14:18

Team 17 reached out and sent a link to a trailer of a new sci-fi action RPG due in 2022, Batora: Lost Haven by developer Stormind Games.

Team17 Presents... Batora: Lost Haven - Partnership Announcement Trailer

We've partnered with Stormind games to bring colourful and mesmerising RPG hack and slash, Batora: Lost Haven to PC and consoles in 2022. Sign up to join the Closed Alpha: https://bit.ly/Alpha-Batora-YT

It begins with our lead protagonist Avril who used to be a regular 16-year-old girl, until a mysterious event devastated the Earth and she lost everything. Now Avril is the only one who can attempt to save her planet, using the physical and mental powers that she has been gifted with! Throughout her cosmic journey, Avril will begin to learn there is a thin line between good and evil and it is up to her to decide whom to believe: her choices will determine the destiny of the universe.

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Sunday - January 09, 2022

Warhammer - Every Fantasy Game Ranked

by Redglyph, 10:08

@rjshae spotted a ranked list of Warhammer games set in the Old World, the parody-football universe of Blood Bowl, and the Warhammer sequel setting Age of Sigmar, on PCGamer. Thanks!

Every Warhammer Fantasy game, ranked

For a brief period between 1983 and 1985, Games Workshop published their own videogames, including one called Chaos: The Battle of Wizards (created by a young developer called Julian Gollop who'd later make a name for himself with X-COM). But none of GW's videogames were set in their own Warhammer Fantasy universe. 

At the time the setting was a barely formed thing. 1984's second edition of Warhammer Fantasy Battle focused on a conflict between alien frogs and Amazons with laserguns on the continent of Lustria. Only after GW got out of the videogame racket would the Old World refocus on the gritty fantasy version of Renaissance Europe that become Warhammer's center stage.

In 1991 Gremlin Interactive adapted the board game HeroQuest, and Warhammer finally came to computers. Though it was a version of Warhammer targeted at ages nine and up, it still included distinctive elements like the fimir and the threat of Chaos. There weren't many Warhammer games over the subsequent 20 years, just a couple of fondly remembered strategy games and a tragically doomed MMO, and it wasn't until the 2010s that the Old World was explored more fully. Much more fully.

In 2015 alone there were four Warhammer Fantasy games released on PC and four more Warhammer 40,000 games. We went from a drought to a flood, from nothing to more than any one person could keep up with... unless they dedicated months of their life to playing every single Warhammer videogame.

Well, I've done just that. I've played them all. This list will help you navigate the flood.

[...]

Saturday - January 08, 2022

General News - 10 Unreleased MMORPGs

by Hiddenx, 15:59

Kordanor looks back at some broken MMORPG dreams in the era 2001-2007:

10 Unreleased MMORPGs ~ 2001-2007 -
A stroll through the cemetry of MMORPGs

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MMORPGs covered:

  • Ultima Online 2 (UO2), Ultima Worlds Online: Origin (UWO:O)
  • Ultima X Odyssey
  • Mythica
  • Imperator
  • Warhammer Online
  • Midgard
  • Realms of Torment (RoT), Mourning, Age of Mourning, Thrones of Chaos
  • Middle Earth Online (MEO)
  • Dragon Empires
  • Wish
  • (Bonus) Dark and Light (DnL)

 

Wednesday - January 05, 2022

General News - Top 10 Upcoming RPGs

by Hiddenx, 12:49

Hell Fire RPGs made a list of his top ten upcoming RPGs:

Top 10 Upcoming RPGs [2022]

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2021 was an amazing year for RPGs,. with loads of RPGs stealing many of my hours away. However, looking all the great RPGs coming out in 2022, I’ve got a feeling it’s going to be even better. This video is going to look at the top 10 RPGs, both Western and Japanese, that I am most excited for. This will no doubt be a lot different to yours, so let me know what you’re most excited for in the comments below.

[...]

Games mentioned in the video: Elden Ring, Final Fantasy 16, Forspoken, Gotham Knights, Hogwarts Legacy, Horizon Forbidden West, Pokemon Legends Arceus. Starfield, Triangle Strategy, Origins, Strager of Paradise, Star Ocean The Divine Force.

Tuesday - January 04, 2022

General News - Turn-Based Lovers' On The Radar January

by Redglyph, 19:15

Turn-Based Lovers posted this month's discoveries. Thanks Andrea!

ON THE RADAR – TURN-BASED RPGS & STRATEGY GAMES OF JANUARY 2022

THE MONSTER BREEDER – 3RD JANUARY

[January 19th - Ed.]

The Monster Breeding is a turn-based fantasy game that tries to mix two vastly different components.

The first one essentially gives the player a chance to buy some creature eggs and, subsequently, tame and breed them until they become strong enough to fight in the arena.

The second one, however, is the real combat phase that puts your characters and your beloved monsters against other teams in the arena, fighting for gold and glory. But beware, one of the main features of this game is permadeath, so choose wisely!

On Steam 

ALDER FORGE (E.A.) -7TH JANUARY

Alder Forge is a turn-based RPG, in the vein of classic JRPGs. Here, you have to lead a party of 5 heroes in a story-driven adventure, taking place in a handcrafted and imaginative world.

Each character will have a unique story to tell and their own set of skills. The developers promise an “adaptive turn-based combat system” (whatever this means!), which is easy to use, but difficult to master.

If you are a fan of JRPGs give it a chance. It may surprise you!

On Steam!

[...]

General News - Upcoming Games You Didn't Know About

by Redglyph, 18:27

WolfheartFPS presents a few less-known upcoming games.

Top 10 2022 & Beyond New Games You Didn't Know About.. (RPG, ARPG, CRPG, Soulslike & More)

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Sunday - January 02, 2022

General News - Wccftech's best RPGs of 2021

by Hiddenx, 09:19

Wccftech listed their best RPGs of 2021:

Wccftech’s Best Role-Playing Games of 2021 – Going on an Adventure

What a year we’ve just had for role-playing games. Whether you’re on PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, or PC, 2021 has been a surprisingly good year for RPGs as a whole. It hasn’t just been the latest sequels gracing our gaming platforms but also big name developers starting to take risks with new IPs and fresh concepts altogether. When you’re cooped up indoors with a controller in one hand and takeaway in the other, nothing helps pass the times better than a meaty RPG with a story that’ll stick with you long after the credits roll.

[...]

  • Ruined King: A League of Legends Story
  • Shin Megami Tensei V
  • Tales of Arise
  • Mass Effect Legendary Edition
  • NEO: The World Ends With You
  • Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
  • Ys IX Monstrum Nox

Honorable Mentions

  • Scarlet Nexus
  • Fantasian
  • Monster Hunter Rise
  • Monster Hunter Stories 2: Wings of Ruin
  • Bravely Default 2
  • NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139

Saturday - January 01, 2022

General News - Best reviewed Games per Category

by Redglyph, 10:57

Ye Old Entertainment celebrates his first anniversary and makes his own top list of the games he reviewed, by category (Character creation & progression, Gameplay, Story & Lore, Companions Lorewise, ...).

Best Games (we've reviewed so far) per category. Baldur's Gate II, Torment, Arcanum. Where's yours?

So we're celebrating one year out here on the youtubes! So we asked around and one of you suggested that we made a video of the best games per category that we have reviewed this year. And I thought that was an excellent idea! [...]

And these are our categories!

  • Character creation and Character progression
  • Gameplay
  • Story & Lore
  • Companions Lorewise
  • Companions Gameplaywise
  • Secondary Mechanics and UX
  • Sound Effects and Mix
  • Music
  • Voice Acting
  • Graphics
  • Performance and Stability

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Thursday - December 30, 2021

General News - Mod of the Year 2021 @ ModDB

by Hiddenx, 08:51

The players voted for the best mod of 2021 at ModDB:

Players Choice

Welcome to the 2021 Mod of the Year results! With top 100 voting having taken place over the last 20 days, the results have now been tallied and we are ready to announce the winners! Our favorite moments in 2021 include the increasingly powerful tools released for the Master Chief Collection, Mass Effect: Legendary Edition's modding getting off to a roaring start, and the many other modding triumphs for the community over the last year.

Below you will find the Top 10 Mods of 2021. While you're at it, you can also check out the Top 10 Indie Games of 2021, or join the site in anticipation for next year's awards to register a mod of your own or vote for those you think deserve recognition in 2022.

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  1. The Chronicles of Myrtana
  2. Black Mesa: Blue Shift
  3. Command And Conquer : Generals Evolution
  4. SIGNAL LOST
  5. Rise of the East
  6. Dark Interval
  7. VTMB Unofficial Patch
  8. X-Ray Multiplayer Extension
  9. The End of Days
  10. Ashes 2063

[...]

Thanks rjshae!

Wednesday - December 29, 2021

General News - Top 10 Most Anticipated RPGs of 2022 @ Fextralife

by Hiddenx, 16:28

Fextralife made a list of their most anticipated RPGs of 2022:

Top 10 Most Anticipated RPGs of 2022

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0:00 - Top RPG 2022
0:53 - Elden Ring
2:30 - Baldur’s Gate 3
4:04 - Starfield
5:10 - Lost Ark
6:06 - King Arthur: Knight’s Tale
6:59 - Salt and Sacrifice
8:03 - Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin
9:03 - Granblue Fantasy: Relink
10:13 - Hogwarts Legacy
10:59 - Alaloth: Champions of the Four Kingdoms

Tuesday - December 28, 2021

General News - The Best RPGs Of 2021 @ Kotaku

by Hiddenx, 19:25

Kotaku thinks these are the best RPGs of 2021:

The Best RPGs Of 2021

From Monster Hunter: Rise to the new League of Legends spin-off, 2021 had some amazing RPGs

There was, I would argue, no genre-defining role-playing game this year, but there were still a hell of a lot of good ones. So many, in fact, that I had a hard time keeping this list from ballooning even larger than it already is. I tried my best, and even knocked off some of my personal favorites.

[...]

  • Monster Hunter: Rise
  • Bravely Default II
  • Disco Elysium: The Final Cut
  • Mass Effect Legendary Edition
  • Scarlet Nexus
  • Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
  • Nier Replicant
  • Cris Tales
  • The Ascent
  • Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
  • Tales of Arise
  • Wildermyth
  • Diablo II: Resurrected
  • Dungeon Encounters
  • Gloomhaven
  • Shin Megami Tensei V
  • Ruined King: A League of Legends Story

Wednesday - December 22, 2021

General News - The Vagabond Emperor - First Look

by Hiddenx, 19:24

The Turn Based Lovers checked out the 2D-RPG The Vagabond Emperor:

THE VAGABOND EMPEROR – FIRST (AND WIGGLING) LOOK!

"Life is hard.
Then you die.
Then they throw dirt in your face.
Then the worms eat you.
Be grateful it happens in that order."

– David Gerrold

WAIT, LIFE IS EASY

Have you ever thought watching the intro of a game, "oh no, why do I have to always be the damned hero!"?
Well if your answer is in the affirmative then this game we are about to discover might be exactly what you are looking for.

If you are wondering as to why, well it’s simple – because in this latest project by developers Wiggling Eyebrows, you begin as…. well, a nobody. And when I say "a nobody" I literally mean a sloppy vagabond. Poor and homeless. The refuse of society possessing one and only one redeeming quality – enormous ambition!

[...]

Wednesday - December 15, 2021

General News - Turn-Based Lovers' Best RPGs

by Redglyph, 13:06

Turn-Based Lovers wrote about the best isometric RPGs. They have also released a video with a subset of the list. Thanks Andrea Ciocca!

THE BEST ISOMETRIC TURN-BASED RPGS

A continuously updated list of the best isometric Turn-Based RPGs out there till now.

In this article we cover some of the best and playable Isometric Turn-Based RPGs. Games in the vein of the very first Fallout and Baldur’s Gate that defined the genre and its sub-genres back in day. One that remains a firm favourite of developers even today. With games that retain an isometric perspective, while offering new and improved mechanics.

[...]

CRITERIA & PURPOSE OF THE LIST

Our aim in creating this list of the best RPGs with isometric presentation, is not to rank games but to collect and showcase them all. Updating this list whenever there is a new release and to listen to suggestions about games we missed. All with the aim of making this list as comprehensive as possible. All the Turn-Based RPGs shown below are sorted per release date, starting with the oldest first.

[...]

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In this video we cover some of the best and playable Isometric Turn-Based RPGs. Games in the vein of the very first Fallout and Baldur's Gate that defined the genre and its sub-genres back in day. For the video version, we started from 2013 till the end of 2021 while in the written article you will find even some of the great classics. Link below. Enjoy :)

Tuesday - December 14, 2021

General News - Upcoming games @ WolfheartFPS

by Redglyph, 19:37

WolfheartFPS presents another "top" list, which is actually more of a filtered list of upcoming RPGs / adventure games.

Top 40 Upcoming RPGs / Adventure Games of 2022 & Beyond

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(timestamps in the thread *sighs*)

Monday - December 13, 2021

General News - RPGs of 2021 @ PC Gamer

by Redglyph, 18:41

PC Gamer made a quick recap of this year's RPGs.

It's been a great year for RPGs, if you hate and fear the new

Re-releases and retro RPGs made the futuristic-sounding year 2021 feel indebted to the past.

In 2019, Disco Elysium pushed the RPG genre so far people said it wasn't really an RPG at all. They called it an adventure game, or a visual novel. Disco Elysium really was an RPG of course—one with roots in CRPG classic Planescape: Torment and the kind of tabletop roleplaying with actual dice—but it was revolutionary enough to sail right to the edge of our convenient definitions. It felt like evidence of a genre that was thriving.

While games directly influenced by Disco will take a while to start arriving, it felt like the product of an overgrown RPG greenhouse. Surely that same climate was about to produce even more unusually proportioned fruit?

Maybe not. By contrast, in 2021 the genre felt safe and predictable. For starters, it was dominated by remasters, re-releases, and ports. As well as Disco Elysium's own Final Cut, there was Mass Effect Legendary Edition, Diablo 2: Resurrected, Final Fantasy's pixel remasters, Nier Replicant, Legend of Mana HD, Geneforge 1 - Mutagen, more Kingdom Hearts games on PC than any human could ever actually play, and the incremental update of Skyrim Anniversary Edition. Further ahead, we can look forward to The Witcher 3's next-gen edition and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Remake.

There's nothing inherently wrong with re-releasing old games. It used to be that classics were often lost, either hard to find or hard to get running on modern machines, the history of the medium evaporating behind us. Though games are still routinely delisted these days, overall the industry is better at preserving and valuing its own history than it used to be. (And profiting from that, of course.)

What's surprising is that most of the new RPGs that squeezed out between 2021's herd of re-releases didn't feel like the future, either. They skewed toward celebrations of the past, the kind of games that will inevitably be described as "love letters." [...]

Wednesday - December 08, 2021

Rune Factory 4 - Released

by Redglyph, 16:26

Gaming Bolt reports that Marvelous Inc has released Rune Factory 4 on Steam.

Rune Factory 4 Special is Out Now on PS4, Xbox One and PC

Travel to Selphia and help get the town back on its feet, bonding with various NPCs, venturing to dungeons and even falling in love.

Marvelous’ acclaimed action RPG/farming sim Rune Factory 4 Special is now available for PS4, Xbox One and PC. It originally released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2012 before being ported over to the Nintendo Switch in 2020. Now other platforms can finally experience it for the first time. Check out the release trailer below.

Like previous titles in the series, players venture to a town (in this case, Selphia) that needs help. By taking on requests from various NPCs, farming and slaying monsters in dungeons, it can be improved in a myriad of ways. There are also different companions to party up and a variety of different weapons to utilize in combat.

Along with the Newlywed Mode, which features a unique story with one’s spouse, there’s also the DLC “Another Episode” which includes 13 additional stories with full voice-acting and the new Hell difficulty. For more details, head hereRune Factory 5 is also coming soon, releasing on March 22nd, 2022 for the West on Nintendo Switch.

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Sunday - December 05, 2021

Dark Souls - Fan-Made Nightfall DLC Delayed to January

by Redglyph, 11:06

Wccf Tech reports that the fan-made DLC for Dark Soul has been delayed to January 2022.

Dark Souls Nightfall, Fan-Made Dark Souls Sequel, Has Been Delayed By One Month; Now Releases in January 2022

Dark Souls Nightfall, the upcoming fan-made sequel to the original Dark Souls, has been delayed by one month for additional polishing.

The project was first slated to release on PC later this month on December 21st, but the team has now announced that it has been delayed to January 21st, 2022. The Nightfall announced the delay through a new development update video.

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Interestingly, back in June of this year, the fan-made sequel was announced to be released exactly one month before the highly-anticipated Elden Ring. With Elden Ring delayed by one month to February 25th, the Nightfall project has now also been delayed by one month.

For those unaware of this exciting upcoming Dark Souls mod, Nightfall will offer a new story, new characters and bosses, a new world map (built mostly from the existing pieces), and much more. It’s basically a brand new Souls game built using the Dark Souls engine and assets. In addition, the fan-made sequel’s combat will be faster-paced, against a mixture of familiar and unfamiliar foes, with brand new voiced NPCs and side-quests. Nightfall also takes many cues from the design of The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask.

Dark Souls Nightfall now releases on January 21, 2022 – one month before FromSoftware’s Elden Ring.

General News - 10 Promising TRPGs & Strategy Games @ TBL

by Redglyph, 11:00

Turn Based Lovers presents 10 upcoming games.

10 Promising Tactics RPGs & Strategy Games 2021-2022 | KAEOI#31

Choosing the best upcoming turn-based RPGs & Strategy games it's never easy anyway even this week, Keep An Eye on It it's full of interesting Turn-Based Tactics RPGs & Strategy Games which I can't wait to show you and learn what you think about them.

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Monday - November 29, 2021

General News - New Idea Factory Games on GOG

by Redglyph, 12:34

RPG Fan reports that Idea Factory has brought 11 JRPGs to the Good Old Games platform.

Eleven New Idea Factory Games Now Available on GOG

Idea Factory has released eleven more games from their catalog on GOG, which makes them available for PC without DRM. Among them are several games that we have previously reviewed and featured.

The following Idea Factory games are now available on GOG:

[...]

Saturday - November 27, 2021

General News - Marvel MMORPG Confirmed

by Redglyph, 16:08

Wccf Tech reports confirmation of a new MMORPG in the Marvel universe.

Marvel MMORPG Confirmed to be in the Works; LOTRO Revamp, Console Launch Still Happening

nad Global 7's Q3 2021 investor presentation contains a number of interesting tidbits, mainly concerning Daybreak's lineup where the crown jewel is an unannounced Marvel MMORPG.

This is the next-generation action MMORPG in development at Dimensional Ink Studios, the studio behind DC Universe Online. Wccftech first broke the story on that in early 2020 thanks to an interview with CEO Jack Emmert, formerly one of the founders of Cryptic Studios and designer of City of Heroes.

While Emmert wasn't able to say much at the time, we did learn that what we now know as the upcoming Marvel MMORPG already had a working prototype. The executive said Dimensional Ink Studios planned to take advantage of next-generation platforms (presumably a reference to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S|X, in addition to PC) so that the developers could be 'looking at gameplay and systems that make better sense for the future, rather than what MMOs might have been like five or ten years ago'.

[...]

Tuesday - November 23, 2021

Terminator: Resistance - Getting 4 hour DLC

by Silver, 21:39

Eurogamer reports that FPS/RPG Terminator: Resistance is getting a 4 hour campaign DLC for PC and PS5 on December 10th.

Terminator: Resistance is getting a four-hour narrative DLC campaign on PC and PlayStation 5-only.

Terminator: Resistance Annihilation Line, due out on Steam and the PlayStation Store on 10th December, picks up mid-way through the main campaign story. The announcement trailer is below:

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John Connor orders protagonist Jacob Rivers to assist in the investigation of Northridge Outpost, a civilian settlement that's gone mysteriously silent. Rivers and a small team of resistance soldiers led by Kyle Reese then head beyond the Annihilation Line to work out what's going on.

[...]

Sunday - November 21, 2021

Bleak Faith: Forsaken - Gameplay Video

by Silver, 19:47

Some gameplay video for Action RPG Bleak Faith: Forsaken.

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Explore the last remnants of civilization in this vast, unforgiving, and interconnected world. Learn what is left of its history. Discover pockets of civilization in the perpetually expanding Omnistructure. Lose yourself in a journey unlike any other.

Open World and Exploration

Explore the Omnistructure for the first time ever. Rich in atmosphere and rife with danger, be prepared to be immersed in a new world unlike any you've experienced before. Not every path is paved and catered to you, so be prepared to run, climb, leap, to ascend in Bleak Faith.

Hardcore Combat Experience

Combat is dangerous and will push you to your limits. Positioning, timing, and resource-management are all things you must keep in mind at all times. Expect to be challenged.

RPG Progression and Playstyle Versatility

Choose a class and progress into your perfect playstyle. But remember, not every choice is reversible, so decide wisely what direction you take your character in.

Epic Boss Fights

Be prepared for memorable boss fights with unique soundtracks. Bosses ramp the danger levels even higher and ensure a thrilling ride through the manifold sectors of the Omnistructure. 

Tuesday - November 16, 2021

Unsouled - Early Access Today or Tomorrow

by Redglyph, 12:08

Megusta Games and publisher Neowiz announced the Early Access of Unsouled, a pixel-art action RPG. The date may vary depending on your timezone: 16th in the US, 17th in EU and other countries closer to the sunrise ;)

A demo is available on Steam.

Unsouled Early Access Release Announcement

Hello everyone! Unsouled Team here.

First of all, we would like to thank everyone for your help and support. With your dedicated support, now we are releasing our game as Early Access. Regarding the Early Access release date, please refer to the schedule below:

PST : 11/16 4pm
KST : 11/17 9am

Although we’ve met our initial development milestone for Unsouled, we are hoping to get your opinions on the game as much as possible through this opportunity. Each and every opinion is an important factor that helps decide the direction and future content of Unsouled.

We would be glad to talk with you about your thoughts, and any bug reports, feedback, and suggestions are appreciated. Our discord channel and support team mail are always open to receiving your voice.

We were able to come this far thanks to all your continued support. We will do our best to get the full version released in the near future.

Sincerely,
Unsouled Team.

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Sunday - November 14, 2021

General News - 6 Great Upcoming RPGs

by Redglyph, 20:27

ColdBeer shares upcoming RPGs he's looking forward to. This is a slow and quiet weekend so why not, just don't pay too much attention to the Baldur's Gate reference. ;)

6 Great Upcoming CRPG Games like Baldur’s Gate | 2022 & 2023

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General News - Review of The Legend of Final Fantasy IX

by Redglyph, 20:23

RPG Fan reviewed the 3rd edition of The Legend of Final Fantasy IX book.

RPGFan Chapters Review: Third Editions’ ‘The Legend of Final Fantasy IX’

Before any digital ink is spilled, allow me to clarify. This essay marks RPGFan’s first coverage of a Third Editions published book. I would prefer it not to be our last. Whatever quibbles I might have over particular volumes, I believe RPGFan and Third Editions to be of a like mind. We love games, RPGs especially, and care about their themes beyond some breathless rush to declare them art. There is no self-interest in elevating our hobby. We’re just out here writing for…well, for the love of the game.

[...]

Conclusions

The Legend of Final Fantasy IX is an intriguing analytical work that buries its best creative readings under a mountain of disjointed fluff. The Third Editions’ house style feels restrictive in this and other volumes, showing its limits when pitched to a more specialized audience.

Still, Third Editions is an ambitious publisher worth a deep dive for any fan of game analysis. Even if The Legend of Final Fantasy IX has some misses, it made me think harder about one of my favorite games than I ever had to before.

Saturday - November 13, 2021

General News - Pentiment - New RPG from Obsidian?

by Hiddenx, 08:47

WindowsCentral reports that Obsidian is possibly developing a narrative RPG called Pentiment:

 [...]

Grubb mentioned that Pentiment takes cues from the likes of Disco Elysium and the branching narrative designs Josh Sawyer is known for. You'll be able to investigate and make accusations against the characters in-game, which could lead to cascading consequences if you're wrong. It'll be a dialogue-heavy game with decisions to make and response options to choose from, which will shape your experience as you unwrap the murder conspiracy before you.

I am told that Pentiment is being built by a small team of around 12 people, and is more of a narrative RPG adventure than something combat-oriented. The art asset above may represent some of the designs the game is gunning for. Jeff Grubb also mentioned that Pentiment is exploring "experimental" gameplay elements, too, although they may ultimately not make it into the final release. Speaking of which, Grubb also noted that Pentiment is indeed gunning for a 2022 launch.

[...]

The Pale Beyond - Announced

by Silver, 05:50

The Pale Beyond is a visual novel style RPG where you are charting a course into the unknown polar regions.

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Your Captain is missing, you’re miles from civilization and everyone looking to you to lead them out of this frozen wasteland. Can you make the hard calls and head in the only direction you can - into The Pale Beyond.

CAN YOU SURVIVE THE PALE BEYOND?

Five years ago, The Viscount and its crew set sail into The Pale Passage in search of absolute magnetic South. The ship and its crew were tragically lost to the ice, never to be seen again. Her sister ship, The Temperance shall follow in her path, hoping to find answers where The Viscount failed.

You didn’t ask to lead this expedition but here you are: stuck in the ice, Captain missing, miles from civilization and everyone looking for you to lead. Manage your meager resources, balance safety and morale, make the hard calls and head in the only direction you can - into The Pale Beyond.


A polar exploration game set in an unforgiving frozen wasteland where you embark on a treacherous voyage across the ice and into the Pale Beyond. It’s a stunning yet harsh landscape that can change at any moment.



Every decision matters. As the expedition unfolds and the winter approaches, every decision you make will have a meaningful impact on the story as you navigate a way over the ice.



After the Captain mysteriously goes missing, you unwillingly take the position of Captain. You didn’t ask to lead this crew but here you are: stuck in the ice, miles from civilization and everyone looking for you to lead.



Keeping the crew and sled dogs safe, fed, and warm during an expedition is key for survival. Surviving the ice will matter little in the face of a mutiny, every vote will count. So keep the crew on your side.


Inspired by Victorian etchings and historic paintings of the time depicting the ice, each character and environment has been drawn by hand. The result is a unique artstyle with an expressive cast to see you through the cold and grim environment of the ice.

Tuesday - November 09, 2021

General News - Lies of P

by Redglyph, 11:50

Wccf Tech reports the first gameplay teaser of Lies of P. Inspired by the familiar story of Pinocchio, the action souls-like RPG is set in a cruel, dark Belle Époque world. There is no release date yet.

Gorgeous Pinocchio-Inspired Souls-like Lies of P Gets Gameplay Teaser

Neowiz and Round8 Studio (the developer behind Bless Unleashed) have shared the very first gameplay teaser for Lies of P, an intriguing and gorgeous looking action RPG inspired by Carlo Collodi's Pinocchio classic novel.

The game seems to have taken cues from the Souls-like genre for sure, at least when it comes to the combat system, and the developers themselves have admitted as much. More information on Lies of P, which will be released for PC (there's already a Steam page) and consoles, is expected to be shared later this month at this year's G-STAR, scheduled to take place in Busan between November 17th and 21st.

[...]

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Guns Undarkness - Stealth RPG Announced

by Silver, 05:07

Guns Undarkness is a stealth RPG from the creator of the Persona and Shin Megami Tensei series.

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【overview】
"Guns Undarkness" is a "Stealth RPG" that combines typical stealth game features such as remaining undetected and invading antagonist’s territory, with the traditional command type JRPG. The gameplay is roughly divided into two parts: a stealth part that hides on the field and a battle part that is developed by a turn-based command-type battle system. Encountering without being found by the enemy allows you to enter the battle in an advantageous manner. Aim for the depths of the antagonist’s territory while managing your resources well.
The main weapons of the protagonists are firearms such as hand guns and assault rifles. By defeating enemies and obtaining materials, you can customize the equipped gun more powerfully.

【story summary】
The story takes place in the year 2045, in a devastated world after a nuclear war, where you become a member of a PMC (Private Military Company) and carry out missions with your peers. Amid fierce battles, the protagonists realize the “true love” that will lead humanity to a higher level of existence.

【game developer】
The game was designed, composed and developed by Shoji Meguro, a legendary game designer who worked as a composer and director for the “Persona” series and the “Shin Megami Tensei” series. The lyrics of songs are written by Lotus Juice, also from the "Persona" series. And Ilya Kuvshinov, an up-and-coming Russian illustrator known for his work on "Ghost in the Shell: SAC_2045", will create characters that give color to the game world. 

Wednesday - November 03, 2021

Giants Uprising - Preview @PC Gamer

by Silver, 20:11

@PC Gamer An action RPG where you play as a giant called Giants Uprising. There is a demo available on the Steam page.

Giants: they're just like us, only bigger and usually meaner. But in the case of Early Access action-RPG Giants Uprising, the humans are the real monsters. The giant you play has been enslaved by cruel humans and forced to fight in gladiator pits, only escaping after teaming up with one of the seemingly few decent human beings on the planet (who sits on your shoulder and provides helpful advice).

Now it's time for a little payback in the form of smashing, stomping, and chucking boulders at every human village and encampment you see. Hear the screams as you obliterate buildings and pound soldiers into splats? That's justice. Giant justice.

[...]

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Tuesday - November 02, 2021

V Rising - New Trailer

by Silver, 10:29

@MassivelyOP A new trailer for action RPG, V Rising.

Stop us if you’ve heard this pitch before: An online action-RPG in which players adventure through a gothic world clicking frantically and looting every nasty beastie that the landscape can throw at them. Even so, V Rising isn’t trying to be a straight-up Diablo clone; this “vampire survivalbox” puts players into the fancy shoes of a vampire and gives them the opportunity to fight the forces of good while building up their own castle.

[...]

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Monday - October 25, 2021

Leshy - Cinematic & Gameplay Trailer

by Silver, 10:19

Some new videos for hack 'n' slash game Leshy.

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We are happy to announce our game - Leshy - third person hack'n'slash where you take the role of a Slavic demon, the guardian of the forest.

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Keep in mind that this is an early gameplay footage. The final version may differ from the depicted one.

Thanks Farflame!

Friday - October 22, 2021

General News - What Makes a Great RPG Dungeon?

by Redglyph, 11:35

RPG Fan posted an article on the characteristics that made great RPG dungeons.

Dungeon Crawlers #1: What Makes a Great RPG Dungeon?

I don’t know about you fine folks, but the RPGs I grew up with were chock full of dungeons to explore — whether they were caves filled to the brim with bats and other nasty critters or traditional elemental dungeons (think lava caves, water temples, and dark forests) filled with traps and puzzles. Dungeon navigation has always been one of my favorite aspects of any good RPG.

That said, most RPGs I’ve played over the past several years featured mediocre dungeons that left me questioning what makes a good RPG dungeon. This thought experiment led to what you are reading now, the first in what I am hoping will be a series about what goes into making great dungeons. This first feature covers the elements that one might consider when thinking of dungeon design. Subsequent entries may take a closer look at series-specific dungeons, concepts, or other aspects of dungeon design.

Without further delay, let’s get to crawlin’!

[...]

 

Thursday - October 21, 2021

General News - What defines an RPG?

by Redglyph, 17:20

Owlcat Games shared a talk between Raphael Colantonio, Peter Salnikov and their lead game designer Yuliya Chernenko, about game design in modern RPGs.

Don't get caught by the RPG police – with Julia Chernenko (The House of The Dev podcast S1E6)

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What defines an RPG? The dialogues, the stats, the XP system? Maybe something else? Raphael Colantonio and Peter Salnikov talk to Julia Chernenko (Owlcat Games, Pathfinder: Kingmaker & Wrath of the Righteous) about game design in modern computer role-playing games.

Midnight Protocol - Released

by Silver, 16:39

Midnight Protocol is now available on Steam and GOG and is described as a tactical narrative-driven RPG with unique keyboard-only controls. Hack into servers, beat security systems and discover encrypted secrets while you try to find answers to why and how you got doxxed. 

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You assume the mantle of a prominent hacktivist, ‘Data’, who recently got doxxed and has been targeted for blackmail by a shadowy branch of government.

You interact with the virtual environment through your home terminal that requires nothing more than your keyboard.

> HANG YOUR [H]AT

Will you respect others’ privacy and bank accounts, or leave no stone unturned? Midnight Protocol allows you to play as the hacker you want to be. Help the police track down a rogue hacker, or blackmail a desperate husband trying to recover… dubious pictures. Gain black, grey, and white hat reputation to change the direction of the story based on your choices.

> I[M]MERSION OVERLOAD

Midnight Protocol’s design focuses on immersing you in a world of digital warfare without complicated hacking mechanics. Your keyboard is your weapon, type commands to eliminate or evade security programs, letting your keystrokes become part of the soundtrack.

> NICE [D]ECK

Cracking a digital safe or extracting classified data requires careful planning. Pay the troll toll, use digital jackhammers, cloaks, and daggers to combat cybersecurity. Buy new programs or hardware on the black market, and customize your deck to fit your playstyle.

> DI[S]TRACTIONS ABOUND

Take on dozens of sidequests filled with easter eggs and references, gather additional intel on your targets before you start a mission, and play some hacker chess to wind down. Midnight Protocol is jam-packed with optional missions, providing hours of additional content.

GL;HF 

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - October 20, 2021

God of War - Announced

by Silver, 22:42

Action RPG God of War has been announced for PC and lists a release date of January 15th 2022 for Steam.

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Enter the Norse realm
His vengeance against the Gods of Olympus years behind him, Kratos now lives as a man in the realm of Norse Gods and monsters. It is in this harsh, unforgiving world that he must fight to survive… and teach his son to do the same.

Grasp a second chance
Kratos is a father again. As mentor and protector to Atreus, a son determined to earn his respect, he is forced to deal with and control the rage that has long defined him while out in a very dangerous world with his son.

Journey to a dark, elemental world of fearsome creatures
From the marble and columns of ornate Olympus to the gritty forests, mountains and caves of pre-Viking Norse lore, this is a distinctly new realm with its own pantheon of creatures, monsters and gods.

Engage in visceral, physical combat
With an over the shoulder camera that brings the player closer to the action than ever before, fights in God of War™ mirror the pantheon of Norse creatures Kratos will face: grand, gritty and grueling. A new main weapon and new abilities retain the defining spirit of the God of War series while presenting a vision of conflict that forges new ground in the genre.

PC FEATURES

High Fidelity Graphics
Striking visuals enhanced on PC. Enjoy true 4K resolution, on supported devices, [MU1] with unlocked framerates for peak performance. Dial in your settings via a wide range of graphical presets and options including higher resolution shadows, improved screen space reflections, the addition of GTAO and SSDO, and much more.

NVIDIA® DLSS and Reflex Support
Quality meets performance. Harness the AI power of NVIDIA Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS) to boost frame rates and generate beautiful, sharp images on select Nvidia GPUs. Utilize NVIDIA Reflex low latency technology allowing you to react quicker and hit harder combos with the responsive gameplay you crave on GeForce GPUs.

Controls Customization
Play your way. With support for the DUALSHOCK®4 and DUALSENSE® wireless controllers, a wide range of other gamepads, and fully customizable bindings for mouse and keyboard, you have the power to fine-tune every action to match your playstyle.

Ultra-wide Support
Immerse yourself like never before. Journey through the Norse realms taking in breathtaking vistas in panoramic widescreen. With 21:9 ultra-widescreen support, God of War™ presents a cinema quality experience that further expands the original seamless theatrical vision. 

 

Tuesday - October 19, 2021

Arise of Awakener - Overview

by Silver, 23:42

WolfheartFPS gave an overview for Action RPG Arise of Awakener which he likened to Dragon's Dogma.

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In this video I will go over an upcoming rpg called Arise of Awakener. This rpg is heavily inspired by the rpg dragon's dogma.

Sunday - October 17, 2021

Project M - Gameplay Video

by Silver, 08:10

Gematsu reports on a new dark fantasy action RPG in development called Project M. MMObyte.tv reported on the game being in development earlier this year and has a character picture.

...

HOUND 13, the South Korean studio behind the mobile game Hundred Soul, has released a prototype gameplay video for Project M, its dark fantasy action RPG in development for console and PC.

Watch the footage below.

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[...]

Then we have Project M which is going to be an online narrative driven action RPG completely for PC. Yes, no mobile, no cross-platform functionality.
This is built exclusively for PC players and will utilize Unreal Engine 4 to power a large, dark fantasy world. Again, we were given an image to accompany the reveal, and let me tell you, South Korea really knows how to design characters.
On the one hand, she looks like she’s all marked up with magical symbols – which leads me to believe she’s some type of witch. And the fact that she looks much more Caucasian as opposed to the typical Asian-aesthetic we get out of Korean or Chinese games.

[...]

Saturday - October 16, 2021

General News - Purpleblob Discusses Custom Portraits

by Redglyph, 11:14

A significant part of RPG is the choices of the role; Purpleblob explains why she likes being able to customize the portraits and wonders whether it can coexist with 3D models.

Opinion – my love for custom portraits in computer roleplaying games

There is just something about painted portraits – I always feel so irresistibly drawn to them. Not only are these portraits exquisite to look at but they help me tune into the characters I create by setting them apart from other player’s characters, making them uniquely mine.

My love for painted custom portraits started with Baldur’s Gate II. For my first character, I chose a portrait depicting a half-elven lady with brown hair and eyes, wearing brown armor and a staff in her hand. While I found this portrait very pretty, it wasn’t quite what I wanted as I envisaged my character having blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing armor more vibrant than brown. Then one generous person from the Baldur’s Gate community gifted me with this beautiful custom portrait – created based on an image I found in a local magazine along with a vague description of my perceived character’s appearance. It was like magic – the only thing that changed was her portrait but I felt much more connected to my character than before.

[...]

So why do I still favour painted portraits?

Because it would take away that unique feel of my characters. There is just magic in painted portraits – I love how they capture the perceived image I have of my characters – the right expression, motion, outfit and background. All these nuances help me to identify with and roleplay my character better. Although it was mere coincidence, I couldn’t help but feel like Celeste was destined to be an angel upon seeing her portrait, perfectly framed with golden splashes of white and blue when I chose her mythic path in Wrath of the Righteous (which you can see in the character sheet above). No matter how high quality the in-game graphics are or how varied the character customisation options are, I feel that character renders just can’t replicate the beauty or the unique feel of painted portraits. For these reasons, portrait hunting was never a chore but an integral and enjoyable part of character creation for me.

What is your view on custom portrait vs. character model renders?

Tuesday - October 12, 2021

Suikoden: Woven Web of the Centuries - Gets English Translation

by Silver, 12:37

TechRaptor reports that Suikoden: Woven Web of the Centuries has received an English translation thanks to a fan translation group.

Suikoden: Woven Web of the Centuries was released in Japan in 2012 for the PlayStation Portable and is the 14th game in the Suikoden series. It never received an English translation until now, apparently. It's the last game released in a series that ran from 1995 to 2012, with Woven Web of the Centuries receiving decent scores from contemporary Japanese reviewers.

Suikoden is a series that's languished in recent years, with players attempting a #SuikodenOnSteam campaign (to bring the series on Steam) that failed to work. While Suikoden 2 was released as a PS Classic for PlayStation 3, Vita, and PSP, it's not available these days either. For fans of Suikoden, the only real ray of hope is its spiritual successor Eiyuden Chronicle, which should be coming sometime in 2023.

[...]

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Tuesday - October 05, 2021

General News - The RPGs of 2022

by Redglyph, 15:12

@Pladio spotted the list of RPGs for 2022 given by RPG Site. Thanks!

The RPGs of 2022: Every RPG and their release dates

Here we list the upcoming RPGs we expect to see in 2022. This listing will often be updated throughout the year.

Now - we know - defining what exactly is an 'RPG' is can be a little tricky. While some of the games below may not best be labeled as an 'RPG', we wanted to include games that have evident role-playing elements. We allow for a little bit of wiggle room.

Let us also note: our list only includes games with confirmed English versions set to release in 2022 and will be updated regularly throughout the year. Games that do not have confirmed English localizations or have not yet been announced with 2022 release plans will not be included.

[...]

Saturday - October 02, 2021

General News - Flames of Freedom TRPG Review @ Polygon

by Redglyph, 18:19

Polygon reviews Flames of Freedom Grim & Perilous, a tabletop RPG published by Andrews McMeel Publishing and based on the Zweihänder RPG. The setting is the American Revolutionary War of 1776, and the game is categorized as an "American Gothic horror tabletop role-playing game".

Flames of Freedom tabletop RPG mixes Hamilton with Stranger Things

Flames of Freedom Grim & Perilous RPG, the latest from Andrews McMeel Publishing, begins with a bold assertion. It instructs players, firmly and directly, to scrap the conventionally taught history of the American Revolution in favor of a new set of rules. Players should throw absolutely all of the exploitative, colonialist violence into a period appropriate dumpster and set it on fire. What remains is exactly what it says on the tin — a grim and perilous world filled with mystery, horror, and adventure — and the chance to rewrite the American Revolution.

Flames of Freedom is a supernatural setting that feels like a mix of Hamilton and Stranger Things. While your neighbors are marching off to fight the Red Coats, you’ll be lurking in the shadows battling against arcane powers that have existed on the continent for thousands of years. In this tabletop RPG, the process of play becomes instead a story of creation, an open and absorbing alternate history of the troubled founding of our troubled nation where everyone — and I mean everyone — gets a hand on the ball.

[...]

Flames of Freedom Grim & Perilous RPG is one of the best new TRPGs released this year, but it is not for the faint of heart. You can get a taste with a free quickstart version, which includes a short adventure and a selection of pre-generated characters. But, even if you never roll a die in anger, it’s nonetheless a treasure trove of thoughtful historical information. The book officially goes up for sale on Oct. 12. Expect a community-made campaign to be available online around the same time. 

Giveaway by Henriquejr

by Hiddenx, 15:49

Long time Watcher Henriquejr wants to give away some Steam keys - thank you for the keys and all the newsbits you send to us over the years!

Hi Everyone,

My birthday is nearing and I wanna do a little bit different this time. For a community that I am happy to belong to, I want to give back a little by raffling some game keys among you. All of them are Steam keys. Here's the list:

  • Children of Morta
  • Fort Triumph
  • Icewind Dale Enhanced Edition
  • Metro Exodus
  • Orwell: Ignorance is Strength
  • Song of Horror Complete Edition
  • Yakuza Kiwami

The rules of the Giveaway are simple:

1. You must have a minimum of 100 posts total;
2. You clearly state in a reply to this thread that you want to participate, Don't forget to specify the preferred game/games;
3. Any game keys left will be donated in the next RPGWatch Giveaway (Winter?)

Aside from the restriction #1 above, everyone can participate, even RPGWatch staff members (admins, moderators, newseditors, etc, even The Boss himself).

The possibility to participate in this giveaway ends on October 9th, 2021. Yes, you can edit your game preference(s) before that date.

If you have any questions/doubts please feel free to ask me in this very thread.

Have Fun!

See Ya! 

Wednesday - September 29, 2021

General News - RPGs inspired by Final Fantasy Tactics @ TBL

by Hiddenx, 19:51

The Turn Based Lovers present some tactical RPGs:

 10 Promising Indie RPGs inspired by Final Fantasy Tactics | 2021-2022

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  • 0:38 Cascade Tactics
  • 1:18 Vanaris Tactics
  • 2:13 Arcadian Atlas
  • 3:37 Crimson Tactics
  • 4:42 Voxel Tactics
  • 5:51 Absolute Tactics
  • 6:41 Dusk Tactics
  • 7:38 Spiritbound Tactics
  • 8:34 Untamed Tactics
  • 9:19 Reverie Knights Tactics

Saturday - September 25, 2021

General News - 5 NEW RPGs That Could be Worth Your Time

by Redglyph, 08:34

Click4Gameplay spotted a few incoming RPGs that he finds interesting.

5 NEW RPGs That Could be Worth Your Time

Another top 5 list with new RPGs, that could be worth your time. 

[...]

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Friday - September 24, 2021

General News - Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders Review

by Redglyph, 20:04

MandaloreGaming reviews the PC port of Kingdom Under Fire: The Crusaders.

The Crusaders is actually the second entry in the Kingdom Under Fire series, but debuted as a standalone Xbox exclusive and got a PC port in 2020. Smite heretics in the name of the p*pe.

[...]

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Tuesday - September 21, 2021

General News - Upcoming RPG / Adventure Games

by Redglyph, 10:10

WolfheartFPS presents a selection of upcoming RPGs.

Top RPG / Adventure Games To End 2021

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  • 02:04 Sept. 23: Sable
  • 03:00 Sept 23: Diablo II Resurrected
  • 03:59 Sept 24: Death Stranding Director's Cut
  • 05:30 Oct 15: Sword & Fairy 7
  • 06:18 Oct 21: Sands of Aura (EA)
  • 07:02 Oct 26: Guardians of the Galaxy
  • 08:00 Nov 11: Skyrim Anniversary Edition
  • 09:18 Dec 7: Thymesia
  • 10:06 (Dec 8: Halo Infinite - not an RPG)
  • 12:00 Bonus 1 October: Smalland (EA, to be confirmed)
  • 12:43 Bonus 2 Nov 9: Evolution 2

Sunday - September 19, 2021

General News - Tokyo Game Show 2021

by Redglyph, 11:18

RPG Site has assembled a list of JRPGs that are expected to stream during the Tokyo Game Show 2021. The event takes place from September 30th to October 3rd.

The official programme can be found here.

Tokyo Game Show 2021 - List of expected RPG-related streams

Tokyo Game Show has been the event where we can expect news on Japanese games and RPGs, and the 2021 edition is no exception. There will be a lot of streams from organizers and game publishers running throughout four days from September 30 to October 3.

We have compiled a list of TGS 2021 streams for RPGs and games that are relevant to us, and you can check it right below.

[...]

Tuesday - September 14, 2021

Return to Nangrim - First Person Dwarf RPG

by Silver, 09:26

Return to Nangrim is described as a dark first-person fantasy adventure with survival and RPG elements. There is a demo available on the Steam page.

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Cold winds howl through the abandoned caverns of Nangrim. This forsaken place holds nothing good for those who dare to pass. Now you must survive down in the depths of this ancient dwarven mountain city, and discover the fate of the Stonebeards in their last days.

Return to Nangrim is a dark first-person fantasy adventure with survival and RPG elements embedded in an epic dwarven lore. Go on an adventure and unveil the mysteries and legends woven around the Stonebeards, the once glorious and powerful dwarven family living in the northern Nimbor Mountains. The fabled world of Nangrim awaits you. 

MAIN FEATURES

  • Explore epic locations and unveil their secrets. Collect, combine and craft items, and interact with the environment to progress.
  • Find and forge weapons to defend against the dangers that lurk in the dark. Not all creatures have left the mountain fortress.
  • Become a master blacksmith. Learn to forge like the dwarves of old.
  • Your torch is essential: it is not only a flame to light your way but also your primary weapon of defense; keep it close when the darkness closes in.
  • Hammer or axe? Both are unmerciful tools against the evil forces. Forge and upgrade them to unlock their full potential.
  • Use Hilduir, the runic language of the dwarves, to piece together the story, puzzles, and culture of this long-forgotten nation.
  • Procedural elements guarantee a different gaming experience for every player.
  • Experience deep and extensive fantasy lore with tons of side contents, collectibles, and hidden items.

 

Elmarion: the Lost Temple - In Early Access & Demo Available

by Silver, 07:21

Elmarion: the Lost Temple is described as a first-person party based RPG. There is a demo available from the Steam page and the game is currently in Early Access.

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"Elmarion: the Lost Temple" is a real-time party-based first-person RPG in the spirit of games like Might and Magic, Wizardry, Legend of Grimrock, Diablo.The player controls a squad of 4 brave adventurers.

Each hero can be one of 8 different classes: knight, archer, fire mage, ice mage, air mage, nature mage, cleric, necromancer.

During the game, the squad explores the dungeons and clears them of monsters using a combination of different abilities of each hero.

Each class of heroes has 10 unique skills. Thus, there are 80 different skills available in the game that you can try on your enemies!

Items and Equipment: Dungeons contain many great magic weapons and armor. Try them on the heroes.

Excess items can be sold in the "village" from a merchant and with the proceeds to buy valuable potions, scrolls, armor. To quickly move to the village, the game provides portals.

The game consists of one safe village and several dungeons: main, fire, ice, air, natural and some others.

History

The king of one of the kingdoms learned about an ancient powerful artifact hidden in an abandoned temple, and sent a detachment of brave adventurers after him, promising them a generous reward for this.Purpose of the game: to get this ancient powerful artifact. 

Monday - September 13, 2021

NEO: The World Ends with You - Review

by Redglyph, 11:18

RPGamer reviews NEO: The World Ends with You. This action-RPG is currently available on PS4 / Switch, and will be availabe on Epic Game Store for PC this summer 2021.

Take a Bow to the Moon

It took thirteen years, but Square Enix’s urban fantasy RPG The World Ends with You finally received its much deserved follow-up. NEO: The World Ends with You is almost exactly what one would hope for in a follow-up, and Square Enix and h.a.n.d. have done a fine job transposing the distinct gameplay of the original onto modern systems. Though there are a few weaker elements, primarily combat, they’re overridden by the audiovisual style and another engrossing tale and cast.

It first bears noting that though NEO: The World Ends with You brings in new protagonists and other major characters, it’s very much a sequel and it’s recommended that players are familiar with the events of The World Ends with You. Taking place three years after the first game, NEO’s main protagonist is high school student Rindo Kanade, who — along with his friend Tosai “Fret” Furesawa — is drawn into a new edition of the Reaper’s Game. This is a week-long competition for those who have recently died and takes place in a plane called the Underground, which semi-interacts with the real world and is home to Noise, hostile manifestations of negative emotions. Those who lose the Game are erased, while the winners get their wish granted.

[...]

This year has already been a strong one for RPGs, and NEO: The World Ends with You just adds to that case. The opportunity to return to Square Enix’s take on Shibuya has been far too long coming, but now that it’s here, it’s immensely pleasing to say that NEO: The Worlds Ends with You does everything I was hoping. Despite some repetitive combat, the rest of the experience more than makes up for it, with the narrative, audio, and visuals combining excellently to make the game enthralling for the length of its forty-plus-hour runtime.

Monday - September 06, 2021

General News - The RPGs of 2021

by Redglyph, 10:12

RPG Site has posted a list of the RPGs of this year, and their release date when it is known. Time to check if you haven't missed anything!

The RPGs of 2021: Every RPG and their release dates

Here we list the upcoming RPGs we expect to see in 2021. This listing will often be updated throughout the year.

Now - we know - defining what exactly is an 'RPG' is can be a little tricky. While some of the games below may not best be labeled as an 'RPG', we wanted to include games that have evident role-playing elements. We allow for a little bit of wiggle room.

Let us also note: our list only includes games with confirmed English versions set to release in 2021 and will be updated regularly throughout the year. Games that do not have confirmed English localizations or have not yet been announced with 2021 release plans will not be included.

Find the list below. Feel free to let us know in the comments if you see any omissions or mistakes!

[...]

Saturday - September 04, 2021

Project Magnum - Official Teaser Trailer

by Silver, 22:45

Project Magnum is the working title for a new in development action RPG for console and PC.

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PROJECT MAGNUM (working title) is a new looter shooter game developed by Nexon subsidiary NAT GAMES.

PROJECT MAGNUM is a PC/console-based game that combines RPG play with third-person 
shooter combat. It presents beautiful visuals and attractive and unique characters based in a sci-fi style player vs. environment worldview. It also provides exciting battles using various skills, actions, and guns, as well as the fun of highquality PvE shooter battles that target huge bosses.

Project Magnum will be available in most major markets worldwide. More information on the 
release schedule of PROJECT MAGNUM will be announced at a later date.

Wednesday - September 01, 2021

General News - Top 5 New RPGs of September

by Redglyph, 14:27

Fextralife present their top 5 RPGs of the month.

Top 5 NEW RPGs of SEPTEMBER 2021 (MMORPG, CRPG, JRPG, ARPG)

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In this series, we highlight the Top 5 RPGs for the upcoming month. In this edition, we’re going to take a look at each of the titles, talk a little about each, and then explain why we think they deserve to be on the list. So join me now and find a mixture of some hidden gems and old favorites given a shiny new coat of paint.

Timestamps

  • 0:00 - Top 5 RPG SEPTEMBER 2021
  • 0:43 - HM: New World
  • 1:36 - Astria Ascending
  • 2:38 - Gamedec
  • 3:27 - Tales of Arise
  • 4:35 - Pathfinder Wrath of the Righteous
  • 5:51 - Diablo II Resurrected

 

Demon Knights of Ankhoron - New Screenshots

by Silver, 12:29

The July update for Demon Knights of Ankhoron shows off some Alpha screenshots. The Alpha demo is currently for Kickstarter backers only.

Upgraded Demo - Big art update, Climbing, Multiplayer and Magic!

Dear all,

Thank you for your long support of the Demon Knights project! Apologies for delay in updates but be confident that we are working behind the scenes! Multiplayer is now working!

We have just released a new Alpha Demo with climbing demo to show you which includes many working features and new upgraded art fixed from previous releases! We haven't gotten around to capturing promotional clips but here is some screencapture and new art!

Feedback from some Alpha testers is good so far as this is a big step forward. Now that our base multiplayer systems are done, we can start implementing more skills and polish. The level is feeling good and should play ~15+minutes. Inventory items and item enchantments are working too!

 

For Alpha backers - Please checkout our Alpha discord for comments and we welcome feedback and bug reports! New builds should be out every 1-2 weeks going forward now that systems are generally stable.

 

Best Regards,

Kevin Chuang

Thanks Farflame!

Friday - August 27, 2021

General News - Moon: Remix RPG Adventure on Steam

by Redglyph, 11:09

PC Invasion reports that the JRPG/adventure Moon: Remix RPG Adventure is coming soon to Steam, for PC.

Cult classic Moon: Remix RPG Adventure is coming to Steam

On Aug. 27 of last year, the 1997 “anti-RPG” titled Moon: Remix RPG Adventure finally got an official release outside of Japan, via an upcoming Steam release.

[...]

Being an “anti-RPG,” Moon flips classic JRPG tropes on their head by depicting the “hero” character as a merciless individual. Completely clad in armor, the “hero” has no qualms with indiscriminately killing animals out in the wild and barging into people’s homes to steal their belongings. The player has to undo this damage by saving the souls of animals that the “hero” killed, and by helping out the world’s colorful cast of NPCs. Accomplishing either of these tasks rewards the player with “love,” which essentially serves as an experience system that allows for further exploration of the world.

The significance of Moon

Despite having been stuck on Japanese PlayStations for over two decades, Moon has left a fairly significant impact on the gaming landscape. Games that poke fun at JRPG tropes have become fairly common now, but Moon existed when such titles were much more difficult to come across. Toby Fox, the creator of the massively successful and influential Undertale, lists Moon as one of his inspirations, which makes sense considering that Undertale shares some of Moon’s core themes.

[...]

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Note: the video is about the game coming for Nintendo Switch last year, but it shows the game :)

Wednesday - August 25, 2021

General News - Drova - Arena Content Update

by Hiddenx, 15:32

The action RPG Drova got an arena mode:

"Drova: The Arena" launched!

Hey, you! We made it. Two weeks ago we announced The Arena and today is the day. Our coffee supplies are depleted and today we proudly show you what we've been working on in the past three weeks.

What is The Arena?
Dive into the arena and combat mighty foes in a fight for life and death! Will you advance to the rank of gladiator or will you be lying in the mud?

Play the most recent version of our combat system! The Arena will be a 5-minute-long, fast-paced arena fight with multiple waves of challengers. We want to present new weapons, new enemies and our new enemy AI. The final game will still be an RPG.


Provide us with your feedback and shape the next season of The Arena! You can join our Discord to discuss features, express your critcism or just generally tell us you like or dislike something, even if you can't exactly pinpoint why.

How can I play The Arena?
There's an update for our Playable Teaser now, which enables you to choose between playing the Teaser or The Arena. All you need to do is launch the game, select "Drova - Arena" within the launcher and click "Play". What are you waiting for?

Are you registered for the prize competition?
Pick up two prizes by playing The Arena! Just join our Discord and type "!register!" in the #registration channel to make yourself known to our Arena Lord. He will then send you a DM containing the arena key, which you will have to insert into the main menu of The Arena to complete your registration. The prize competition ends on 21 September, 2021 11:59 AM CET.


First place on the high score list:

  • Become a part of Drova! You always wanted to be a quest NPC or a statue in the world of Draheim?
  • Together with you, we will work out how to immortalize a representation of you in the final game!
  • Claim the exclusive title of "Gladiator" on our Community Discord Server!
  • Your name will be mentioned in the credits of the final game as one of our gladiators!

One random, registered player:

  • 50€ coupon, redeemable on Steam / Amazon / a platform of your choosing.


Now get into the ring already!

Tuesday - August 24, 2021

Analysis - Bethesda's Next RPGs and Nemesis

by Redglyph, 18:56

Charlie Stewart of Game Rant makes a parallel between Bethesda's RPGs and the Nemesis System used in Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor and Middle-Earth: Shadow of War.

Bethesda Needs to Learn From Shadow of War’s Nemesis System

The open worlds of Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6 could greatly benefit from the dynamic storytelling of Shadow of War's Nemesis system.

The Nemesis System was developed across Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor and Middle-Earth: Shadow of War, creating dynamic stories with otherwise procedurally generated orcs by factoring in their relationships to one another, their ever-changing loyalties, their fears, and their desire for revenge. Although the system was patented by Warner Bros, it hasn’t stopped the games' innovation from pushing other developers to find creative new ways to tell dynamic stories in their worlds.

Bethesda in particular could learn a lot from the Nemesis System as it embarks on two major projects which will determine its success in the 2020s. Both Starfield and The Elder Scrolls 6 need to figure out ways to take their open worlds to the next level while still focusing on the freedom that defined earlier Bethesda titles. Mechanics which create their own stories like Middle-Earth: Shadow of War’s Nemesis System could be exactly what the studio’s upcoming projects need to forge a path into the future.

[...]

 

Source: Game Rant

Saturday - August 21, 2021

Dredge - Announced

by Silver, 01:20

Gamepressure reports on a new horror RPG in development called Dredge.

Independent New Zealand studio Black Salt Games has announced its first project. It turned out to be an unusual fishing RPG enriched with elements of Lovecraftian horror, called Dredge. The game is to be released next year on PC and Nintendo Switch.

The action of the game starts on the archipelago known as Marrow and the surrounding ocean. At the beginning we will have only a small boat. Fishing will provide us with income to upgrade the ship, e.g. by installing a more powerful engine or expanding the hold, as well as buying new rods, nets and crab pots. With time, we'll buy a better boat and get access to richer fishing grounds.

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[...]

Thanks Farflame!

The Unliving - Development Gameplay Highlight

by Silver, 01:17

A gameplay video for rogue-lite action RPG The Unliving.

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The Unliving is a rogue-lite action RPG about Necromancer coming to Steam later in 2021. Add the game to your wishlist to support the devs:https://store.steampowered.com/app/986040/The_Unliving/

Thanks Farflame!

Friday - August 20, 2021

General News - Project Minerva funded

by Hiddenx, 16:55

Sir Brennus spotted that Project Minerva will be financed by the German games development fund. The game is developed by the German studio Grimlore Games and looks like Titan Quest 2.

Black Myth: WuKong - New Trailer

by Redglyph, 08:43

porcozaur spotted a new gameplay video of the upcoming action-RPG Black Myth: WuKong.

Check out 12 minutes of new gameplay for Black Myth: WuKong, the action-adventure game developed by Game Science, reveals its newest gameplay test collection today. The video is recorded real-time in Unreal 5 Engine, and supported by NVIDIA DLSS technology. 

Black Myth: Wukong is an upcoming action role-playing game by Chinese indie developer Game Science, based on the classical 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West. Game Science hopes to release the game in 2023.

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Thanks!

 

Thursday - August 19, 2021

General News - Blackout: The Darkest Night released

by Hiddenx, 16:59

The non-linear interactive fiction game Blackout: The Darkest Night has been released:

Blackout: The Darkest Night - Launch Trailer

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Blackout is a non-linear interactive fiction game set in a dark modern universe, influenced by White Wolf’s World of Darkness, H.P. Lovecraft and weird shows like Twin Peaks.

You play as a man who finds himself lost in a dark street somewhere in the city of New Wenders. It doesn’t take long before you start having flashbacks and regaining your memory. Something terrible happened, and you were part of it. This event somehow opened your eyes to a whole new world that has been hiding beneath the shadows.

Wednesday - August 18, 2021

General News - 5 new RPGs @ C4G

by Hiddenx, 16:35

C4G presents some upcoming RPGs:

5 NEW RPGs That Might Be Worth Your Time

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  • The Way of Wrath
  • Holomento
  • Fellowship Saga
  • Luminary
  • Dark Envoy

Tuesday - August 17, 2021

We Are Legion: Rome - Devlog#9 Graphic's WIP

by Silver, 11:40

Some graphics progress for We are Legion: Rome.

Devlog#9 We are Legion: Rome graphic artists' work in progress

Graphic artists' work in progress

Ave Legionaries!

Today we want to share some of our graphic artists' work in progress.

Do You remember our Centurion Armour concept art?

This is how it looks for now. It will be implemented into the game further in the development process.

Meanwhile, we are working on combat animations, balance and mechanics. As You can see, we want to have sword and board working together during the fight...

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - August 03, 2021

Ravensword: Undaunted - Early Access Trailer

by Silver, 23:01

@WorthPlaying Ravensword: Undaunted has launched into Steam Early Access.

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Ravensword: Undaunted is a FPS dungeon crawler inspired by Hexen, set within the Ravensword Universe.

Ravensword: Undaunted will be available through Steam Early Access on July 9, 2021 and will remain so for about 3 months.

Thanks Farflame!

Monday - July 26, 2021

Batora: Lost Haven - Official Trailers

by Silver, 21:19

Batora: Lost Haven can be described as a hack 'n slash game in a science fiction setting.

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We've partnered with Stormind games to bring colourful and mesmerising RPG hack and slash, Batora: Lost Haven to PC and consoles in 2022.

It begins with our lead protagonist Avril who used to be a regular 16-year-old girl, until a mysterious event devastated the Earth and she lost everything. Now Avril is the only one who can attempt to save her planet, using the physical and mental powers that she has been gifted with! Throughout her cosmic journey, Avril will begin to learn there is a thin line between good and evil and it is up to her to decide whom to believe: her choices will determine the destiny of the universe.

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Combat, puzzle-solving, and a peek at fearsome bosses take the spotlight in this trailer for Batora: Lost Haven, as showcased during Guerrilla Collective 2021 on Day 2.

In Batora: Lost Haven, the physical and mental balance of a naive and reckless girl who lost everything is the only weapon to save the Earth from oblivion. Jump on a journey across colorful and mesmerizing planets in this fast-paced adventure where your conscience will carry the weight of your decisions.

Batora: Lost Haven is headed to PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - July 21, 2021

General News - Top 5 new RPGs @ MrMattyPlays

by Hiddenx, 18:30

MrMattyPlays presents his top 5 RPGs of July 2021:

The Top 5 NEW RPGs Of July 2021

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Friday - July 16, 2021

Songs of Conquest - Development update #37

by Silver, 14:13

The latest development update for Songs of Conquest which some compare to Heroes of Might and Magic 3.

Hello, both old and new friends! These last few weeks have been a thrilling ride to say the least. As most of you will know by now: We released a gameplay reveal trailer at the PC Gaming Show during E3. The feedback has been beyond our wildest dreams. Rock Paper Shotgun called it “one of the prettiest games at E3” and one Kotaku writer admitted to “losing his shit” over the game. As if that wasn’t enough, the organizers of E3 gave our humble indie game an award, naming it the most anticipated game from the PC Gaming Show! So yeah, pretty stoked about it all. The wishlists are growing daily and we hope that you will be as excited as we are when you finally get to play it! If you haven’t wishlisted the game yet, please take the time to do it on Steam, GOG, or EGS. It doesn’t pay our bills but it feeds our vanity.

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Italian Spartacus is a streamer and Youtuber that was really impressed with our trailer. Not sure if we can live up to his high expectations, but we’ll try!

And speaking of playing the game. Some of you know that we currently have a small closed Alpha going and we are getting some great feedback. There are still a lot of things to work on, but it is clear that we are on the right path. It feels great to finally be able to let one hundred lucky gamers try the game out, but we will also do more test rounds during the fall. So if you missed out this time, there will be more chances. In order to get notified, subscribe to our newsletter or join our Discord server.

The team has been busy with development and despite E3 the pace hasn’t slowed down. As you might know, we have a few different teams that focus on different parts of the game. So let’s start out with team tech, who pretty much does all the heavy feature coding. Our lead programmer, Niklas, has been adding a bunch of new features to the level editor. A lot of quality-of-life features, such as preview-images of map entities as well as tooltips with explanations before you place objects in the level editor. He also found Patrik's old island generator code that we used a couple of years ago. Niklas has now modified it to work with the current version of the game and added it as a way to generate a more interesting starting point for new levels in the level editor.

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Checkboxes galore! Niklas loves to add functionality to the level editor whenever he needs some relaxed coding time.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - July 15, 2021

General News - Top 5 New RPGs, Probably Never Heard About (Part 3)

by Silver, 13:43

Click4Gameplay show five RPGs you likely haven't heard about. This is a three part series so you may want to check out Part1 and Part2 also.

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Untitled RPG by Hytacka - 2:16
YS 9: Monstrum Nox -
4:26
Project Exyl -
7:03
Death Trash -
8:42
Tales of Arise -
11:13 

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - July 07, 2021

General News - Review of A Guide to Japanese Role Playing Games

by Hiddenx, 17:32

Paul Werkema checked out A Guide to Japanese Role Playing Games:

Review of A Guide to Japanese Role Playing Games from Bitmap Books

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Guide to Japanese Role-Playing Games is a very good book. I have some disagreements with the authors on what is in the book and some of the games they included. It was fun to flip through and read about some games I never got to play or haven’t had a chance to finish them yet.

Some of the major series are separated from the other genres of games. From there the reviews are broken up into sub-genres like Action RPG and Strategy RPG. I like how they did this as you can skip to the section you want to read.

Friday - July 02, 2021

Out There: Oceans of Time - Gameplay Trailer

by Silver, 14:06

A gameplay trailer for Out There: Oceans of Time which is described as a turn-based space exploration RPG.

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Gameplay trailer from sci-fi space exploration survival RPG/adventure where you make decisions like in RPG (with english subtitles).

Thanks Farflame!

Blacksmith Legends - Prologue Release Announcement

by Silver, 14:00

An announcement for Blacksmith Legends concerning the imminent release of its prologue.

Blacksmith Legends: Prologue release announcement

Hello dear blacksmiths,

I'm going to announce, that Prologue will be released on 7th July, so not even in 2 weeks!
Game is in quite decent shape and currently being polished by few people. 

If you want to participate in beta testing Prologue to catch all the bugs, ideally in other languages, hit me on discord and I'll be glad to include you in our small testing team!

Based on the feedback from festival and preparations for Early Access, I've done some changes to the game.

1. Building system - floors are not clunky anymore. I've re-done the whole system and instead of attaching one socket to another, they are now separate ones on the ground, making the hit box much better to proc. And I think overall, it's much more user friendly.

2. Crafting menu re-work - this is a huge change, as there are no more Recipe SLOTS for each character! Before, you had to assign each recipe to a certain amount of slots. That allowed me a better control and unique build for each employee.
But in the end, it ended up being annoying as during demand requests for crafting items, the Right-Click removal of recipes was a bit clunky and later on, swapping recipes ended up feeling weird and useless for a lot of players, so I've decided to make all recipes accessible.

You can craft anything from one screen. Plus, adjust working hours and see Demand right below, so you don't have to swap between Sales menu on what to sell!

3. Crafting overall received a few changes too:
- Morale deteriorates over time now and refreshes when going home
- Crafting speed and quality are now more variable during crafting
- Low morale causes failures that result in a penalty of lower quality

Added more weekly plans too, so player can balance out his way of crafting. Some can be free and some may not. Some can grant you only buffs, some can come at a price of other stat to balance it out.

4. Arena armory preparation - can't forge to prepare for Early Access too. Currently working on the armory, where player will be able to equip his gladiator with items of his choice. 

Stay tuned for more news and if you haven't done so, please wishlist my game as that motivates me to work on this great project!

Regards,

VM Machal

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - June 30, 2021

General News - Casey Hudson founded Humanoid Studios

by Hiddenx, 14:49

Casey Hudson, who left Bioware for the 2nd time on Dec 3, 2020, just announced this on Twitter:

Today we are announcing a new independent videogame company built to unleash the creative freedom of developers - bringing innovation and artistry to players through an all-new IP.

We are Humanoid Studios. This is the first tiny step in our journey, and we hope you'll come along with us on the adventure.

https://www.humanoidstudios.com/

Thanks Redglyph!

Saturday - June 19, 2021

General News - Reward for NOT Levelling up

by Hiddenx, 10:23

WhatCulture Gaming talks about games that reward you for not levelling up:

8 Video Games That Reward You For NOT Levelling Up

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Friday - June 18, 2021

Onmyoji: The World - Announced

by Silver, 02:34

@TheGG NetEase Games has announced a new Japanese fantasy RPG called Onmyoji: The World.

The newest installment of the critically acclaimed Onmyoji franchise, will serve as a spin-off to the series and will come to multiple platforms in Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia.

In continuation of the “Onmyoji” timeline based in Japan’s Heian-Kyo period, players are tasked with protecting the city of Kyoto where an unprecedented disaster has plunged the city into an abyssal darkness. The dark forces roaming the city seek to push the world to the edge of its destruction, ending the grips of humanity. Players take on the role of the game’s protagonist who finds themselves on an adventure that encounters many new people, youkai, and enemies.

[...]

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Thanks Farflame!

 

Sunday - June 13, 2021

General News - Will The CRPG Genre Die Again?

by Hiddenx, 13:58

You know it's summer when this topic is discussed again - Mortismal Gaming:

Will The CRPG Genre Die Again?

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Thanks Redglyph!

Saturday - June 12, 2021

General News - Top 5 upcoming CRPGs

by Hiddenx, 12:41

Mortismal Gaming picked his top 5:

Top 5 Upcoming CRPGs Of 2021 & Beyond

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Thanks Redglyph!

Spoiler! the games are, from #5 to #1: Dark Envoy, Colony Ship, Gamedec, Encased and Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous.

 

Wednesday - June 09, 2021

Lands of Sorcery - Released into Early Access

by Silver, 07:44

Lands of Sorcery has recently been released into Early Access on Steam and is described as a turn based combat RPG set in a time of virile men, ravishing women, creepy sorcerers and disgusting monsters.

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Lands of Sorcery is a turn based RPG focused on combat, storytelling, sexy women, brutish barbarians and overall craziness.

A game inspired by classic sword and sorcery fantasy works, from the writings of Robert E. Howard to 1980's B-movies like Deathstalker II.

Travel to the continent of Akoll, where steel and magic are the law and command a ragtag team of elite fighters to seek your fortune!

Gameplay

Lands of Sorcery focuses on combat, equipment upgrades and character development. As you journey through the dangerous lands of Akoll, a cast of brave (or plain crazy) individuals with diverse skills will join you and serve as a traveling hub to improve your fighters.

  • Campaign - Play through the cinematic story driven campaign "The Hunt for Gloomy Whisper" and seek the mysterious artifact that may change the world forever
  • Manage a roster of fighters - Select who goes to battle and who can chill out in town
  • Upgrade a party of supporting characters. From a masseuse to an alchemist, they will travel with you and upgrade your fighters' capabilities
  • 8 unique playable hero classes, with 6 unique skills each
  • 26 different enemies
  • Intimidation System - If hacking your enemies to death isn't working, you can also win by depleting your enemy's Morale and scare them out of the battle field.
  • Battle Rage mechanic - Skill usage increases each character's Battle Rage, which unlocks a special devastating skill.
  • Classic character evolution with combat-centric strategy.
  • Camping - Use your fighters' skills to replenish your heroes during cozy camping sessions.

Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - June 01, 2021

General News - Demon Skin Released

by Silver, 10:44

Hack 'n Slash game Demon Skin has been released on Steam to a good reception.

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About This Game

Demon Skin - is a brutal hack’n’slash set in a rough dark fantasy world, which combines unique combat mechanics, RPG and fighting game elements, and even some platformer features. With the flexible combat system each player can come up with their own unique tactic by skillfully combining stances with various types of weapons to achieve the ultimate efficiency in battle.

The darkness has got into the far off corners of the universe and threatens the world. Only the mighty Order of Wanderers whose members possess superhuman divine powers can resist that threat. One of the Wanderers witnesses a sinister ritual of restoring a powerful ancient artifact. In an attempt to break off the ceremony he gets into a flow of energy released by the artifact and instantly turns into a demon!

Wanderer is now eager to regain his former appearance but to do so he needs the artifact which was stolen afterwards. The hero sets on a path to find it, fighting the hordes of demons along the way.

SOPHISTICATED COMBAT SYSTEM

Improve your skills by mastering various stances for lightning-fast parrying and inflicting maximum damage with spectacular finishing moves! Keep an eye on the level of stamina and other indicators of the character’s physical condition - all these features directly affect the outcome of the battle.

A DEMON ON THE OUTSIDE, A DEMON WITHIN

Collect shards of Crystal and become even stronger, build up your bone armor and turn into a fearsome demon.

HUGE ARSENAL FOR KILLING MONSTERS

There are more than 30 types of edged and blunt weapons at your disposal and each type is only effective against a certain type of enemies. You can destroy enemies even with your bare hands - it’s not as effective but still a lot of fun!

OTHER FEATURES

  • An extensive skill tree. Gain experience to learn new combos and enhance health, stamina, and attack power!
  • Dozens of enemy types. From skeletons, zombies, and spiders to werewolves, lizards, and golems - fighting each of them requires a different approach!
  • Secrets and artifacts. Some rare and ancient artifact weapons are hidden in the secret places of the game world. Find it to unlock the impressive super skills after achieving a certain level!
  • Gloomy landscapes in the spirit of dark fantasy: from the icy wastelands and deep dungeons to the twilight forests and abodes of the undead. This cruel world lives a life of its own, but terrifying creatures that inhabit it are not always hostile. On your way, you will not only meet enemies but also powerful allies!

Thanks Farflame!

Monday - May 31, 2021

General News - Top 100 RPGs of all Time

by Hiddenx, 17:08

Gamepressure compiled a top 100 RPG list:

Top 100 RPGs of all time - the best RPGs you need to know

Top 10, Top 20? Today it's time for the top 100! We invite you to review the biggest list in the history of games-online.pl, compiled on the basis of the votes of our authors, editorial debates and the average ratings of users of the site.

[...]

Thanks Porcozaur!

Friday - May 28, 2021

General News - China's Indie Gaming Scene

by Hiddenx, 15:23

NeverKnowsBest takes a closer look at at the China's video game phenomenon:

The Curious Story of China's Indie Gaming Scene

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Introduction - 0:00

Part One: The Best History of video games in China - 5:27

Part Two: China's Surprise Successes - 20:07

Part Three: The Struggle of the Rest - 58:56

Part Four: Made in China for China - 1:21:54

Part Five: C********* - 1:54:03

Part Six: Conclusion - 2:10:45 

Thanks Redglyph!

Monday - May 17, 2021

Bygone Dreams - Interview @alt/char

by Silver, 09:52

The developers of action RPG Bygone Dreams were interviewed by alt/char.

Q: Can you say something about your studio and the game itself, i.e. where did the idea for the development of this game come from, and why action-RPG?

A: Prime Time studios is a game and movie production company that's been around for almost two decades. It's the company behind Birds Like Us, Bosnia's first feature-length animated movie featuring the voices of Alicia Vikander, Jim Broadbent and Jeremy Irons; as well as Scream For Me Sarajevo, a documentary telling the story of Bruce Dickinson's concert in Sarajevo during the siege. 

Q: What can you tell us about the size of Bygone Dreams?

A: Bygone Dreams originally started as a small boss rush game with unique and quirky characters, but over time we started expanding until we ended up with a large world and 25+ hours of gameplay. 

When all is said and done, I am fairly certain that it's one of the biggest indie games ever made.

[...]

Q: What can you tell us about the customization of the character and his equipment/skills?

A: While the main character is always the same, his armour and weapon loadout will be customizable. We like to consider the game an action-adventure with RPG elements rather than a full-fledged action RPG, but that being said the character does optionally level up, and most of the equipment can be upgraded by forging. 

We decided early on to focus on a smaller pool of weapons with unique traits rather than have 100+ weapons that essentially behave the same. Due to this, all our weapons have unique effects defining their play style. As an example, one of our weapons makes enemies drop mana-refilling globules making it a great choice for a battle-mage build where you'd use your spells indiscriminately,  then switch to melee to refill your mana. 

[...]

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Thanks Farflame!

Friday - May 14, 2021

Cardnarok: Raid with Gods - Leaves Early Access

by Hiddenx, 18:08

The roguelike deckbuilder Cardnarok: Raid with Gods has been released:

Cardnarok: Raid with Gods Retail Version 1.0.0

"Hell Difficulty" Update #52 Patch Notes 2021/5/14

Thank you for all the suggestions and support, we are now out of Early Access!

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Hell Difficulty unlocked!
-You can now play New Game+ in Hell Difficulty if you have conquered Nightmare in a previous run.
Developer Notes:
We have beaten Hell Difficulty in our internal testing without maximizing all Artifacts and activating all Bonus Abilities, so we believe it is doable.

100% Achievement should be obtainable now.
Developer Notes:
It is now possible to obtain the Overgod achievement, acquired after completing all other achievements in the game.

Deity Changes
-Greek Warriors I~II: Extra damage dealt to Greek non-elite monsters has been increased from 10/20% to 20/30%.
-Egyptian Warriors I~II: Extra damage dealt to Egyptian non-elite monsters has been increased from 10/20% to 20/30%.
Developer Notes:
We hope this can make the pantheon advantages more significant.

Thursday - May 13, 2021

General News - Drova: Teaser on Steam

by Hiddenx, 15:59

Drova is an action RPG inspired by the Gothic series - a teaser is now available on Steam:

Drova - Teaser

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Immerse yourself in our vision of the 2D action RPG Drova. Inspired by the philosophy of the Gothic series, you play a novice of the Order faction who receives his first mission. You are to meet your brother of the Order in the tavern "To the Headless Ripper". Sounds simple, doesn't it? 

Wednesday - May 12, 2021

Samurai Warrior 5 - Gameplay Video

by Silver, 22:09

Upcoming hack 'n slash game Samurai Warrior 5 has a new gameplay video.

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This is a pre-play video of "Samurai Warriors 5" to be released on June 24th by Koei Tecmo Games on PS4, Switch, Xbox One (DL version only), and Steam (DL version only, released on July 27).

Nobunaga Chapter 3 Introducing the flow of the game and the action system, set in the battle of Kannonji Castle.

* The screen is for PlayStation 4 (R) under development. 

Thanks Farflame!

Master of Magic Remake - Announced

by Silver, 02:18

DSOGaming reports on another announcement from Slitherine which trumpets a classic game remake; Master of Magic. Screenshots at the link.

In Master of Magic, you take up the role of one of 14 unique and diverse great wizards who compete with each other to dominate the worlds of Arcanus and Myrror. Players can choose from different schools of magic and fantasy races to command, then lead their minions and expand their influence and power across the land.

[...]

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Saturday - May 08, 2021

General News - 10 Games for Fallout Fans

by Hiddenx, 17:47

Caedo Genesis listed ten games for Fallout fans:

10 GAMES FOR FALLOUT FANS (That Aren't Fallout) - Caedo's Countdowns

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Games listed: Paradise Lost, Atom RPG, Bastion, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat, Far Cry: New Dawn, Metro 2033 Redux, Endzone: A World Apart, Wasteland 3, Death Stranding, and Mad Max.

Thursday - May 06, 2021

Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance - Coming to PC

by Silver, 22:30

Gematsu reports that Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance is coming to PC later in the year. For other platforms it releases May 7th.

Publisher Interplay Entertainment and developer Black Isle Studios will release Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Switch on May 7 for $29.99 / £29.99 / €29.99, followed by PC and mobile later in 2021, the companies announced. It features enhanced graphics and up to 4K resolution on supported platforms, as well as local cooperative play.

Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance first launched for PlayStation 2 in December 2001, followed by Xbox in October 2002, GameCube in November 2002, and Game Boy Advance in February 2004.

[...]

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Wednesday - May 05, 2021

General News - Almighty: Kill Your Gods Trailer

by Hiddenx, 21:14

Yemeth spotted a trailer for the coop-RPG Almighty: Kill Your Gods:

Almighty: Kill Your Gods - Release Date Announce Trailer

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Friday - April 30, 2021

Warhammer Age of Sigmar - Gameplay Overview Trailer

by Silver, 12:26

DSOGaming reports on a new gameplay trailer for Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Storm Ground.

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Get a first look at action-packed, turn-based combat in today’s Age of Sigmar: Storm Ground Gameplay Overview trailer. Developed by Gasket Games and published by Focus Home Interactive, Storm Ground is based on Games Workshop’s iconic fantasy IP “Age of Sigmar” - a dark-fantasy universe where immortal knights ride heavenly stardrakes to eradicate Death across a multitude of realms. Coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC on May 27.

Wednesday - April 28, 2021

General News - Classic RPGs to play in 2021 @ Fextralife

by Hiddenx, 14:58

Redglyph spotted a new top RPG list on Fextralife:

Top 10 CRPG 2021: The Best Classic RPG Games to play on PC, Consoles, Mobile Switch

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00:00​ Top cRPG Intro
00:50​ Dragon Age Origins
01:27​ Pillars of Eternity
02:12​ Divinity: Original Sin
03:05​ Tyranny
03:49​ Divinity: Original Sin 2
04:28​ Pillars of Eternity 2
05:11​ Pathfinder: Kingmaker
05:55​ Disco Elysium
06:37​ Wasteland 3
07:21​ Solasta: Crown of the Magister
08:09​ Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous
08:56​ Final Thoughts

Thursday - April 22, 2021

We Are The Caretakers - Now in Early Access

by Silver, 23:19

We Are The Caretakers is now available in Steam Early Access and is described as a science fiction, squad management RPG game.

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We Are The Caretakers is an afrofuturist squad management RPG. Assemble an arcane team of protectors in squad-building systems inspired by Darkest Dungeon, Ogre Battle, and XCOM. Defend the endangered animals your world relies on in strategic turn-based combat. Define your approach to a global resistance by balancing your reputation, funds, research, animals and alliances. We Are The Caretakers is a challenging strategy RPG fusion that asks you to protect a planet by fighting for the people, animals and ecosystems that inhabit it.

FEATURES

  • AFROFUTURIST UNIVERSE: Former Activision-Blizzard artist Anthony Jones brings breathtaking afrofuturist style and human empathy to a complex sci-fi world.
  • REPUTATION SYSTEM: Every action affects how others see the Caretakers. Do they fear you? Or will they support your quest to protect the endangered Raun, and decide the fate of the world?
  • TURN-BASED ENCOUNTERS: Balance force with diplomacy in an innovative turn-based combat system. Live with the consequences as you deal with the messy reality of animal conservation.
  • SQUAD BUILDING: Assemble up to 9 squads of characters with diverse traits, weaknesses, abilities, and personalities. Train and upgrade your Caretakers across 20+ unique job classes.
  • GROW YOUR HEADQUARTERS: Meet leaders, research technologies, and recruit allies in your sci-fi HQ. Balance their conflicting demands to save our world.
  • NUANCED NARRATIVE: In our morally-complex world, the individuals outside your squad matter as much as the rangers you deploy on each map.
  • GENERATED WILDLIFE: The challenging and procedurally generated survival mode brings never-ending ways to play.
  • YOU GET A BABY RAUN: It will nuzzle against your bed long after it grows too large to reasonably do so. It is adorable.

Saturday - April 10, 2021

Star Dynasties - Preview

by Silver, 23:23

GameWatcher has a preview for role-playing sci-fi strategy game Star Dynasties.

With such a heavy emphasis on characters and character driven actions, an emergent narrative begins to evolve. As each turn passes and more actions are taken (by a myriad of characters), a web of intrigue, injustices, and heroic deeds unfold. A vassal switches allegiance to a rival house, a strategic marriage nets you a claim on some new territory. An enemy house imprisons one of your faction members whilst on assignment in their territory. Each of these events is logged and its impacts on your relations with others is tracked.

For an Early Access game, Star Dynasties feels refreshingly further along the development lifecycle than other titles. It’s stable, it has a clear and functional UI, a tutorial, and its major mechanics seem to have all been implemented. It’s almost as if the developer is using Early Access to garner feedback, refine the gameplay and implement balance changes—rather than offer customers a proof of concept and a promise to deliver a game at some point in the future.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - April 08, 2021

The Emperor's Own - Alpha Teaser Free on Steam

by Silver, 19:04

DSOGaming reports on The Emperor's Own which is described as a story-driven adventure game with RPG elements. The Alpha teaser for the game is available to try on Steam for free.

Volga Studios has announced that a free, three-hour long alpha teaser for its non-linear, narrative-driven adventure game with RPG elements, The Emperor’s Own, is now available on Steam.

Set in an alternate universe inspired by the Russian Empire at the dawn of the nineteenth century, players take on the role of Imperial Secret Intelligence officer Cornet Alexander Obolenskii as he is sent on a mission to investigate rumors of mysterious and supernatural events in the borderlands.

[...]

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Tuesday - April 06, 2021

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Storm Ground - Announced

by Silver, 20:34

Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Storm Ground has been announced for May 27th and is a turn based tactics/strategy game.

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Conquer the Mortal Realms!

Become the commander of one of the extraordinary factions of Warhammer Age of Sigmar - a dark-fantasy universe where immortal knights ride heavenly stardrakes to eradicate Death across a multitude of realms. This is Storm Ground, a world of legends, heroes, hellish creatures and fearsome battles.

Lead your highly-customisable force in this dynamic and spectacular skirmish turn-based strategy game packed with fast-paced warfare. Victories allow you to collect and upgrade new types of units, powerful equipment, and unlock devastating skills.

Explore all the routes in Storm Ground’s non-linear campaign. During each new playthrough, overcome new odds to find unique units and gears. Build your legendary army and defy other players in epic online duels.

  • The first strategy videogame adaptation of Games Workshop’s epic Age of Sigmar
  • Spectacular and fast-paced tactical battles
  • Unlock, collect and upgrade dozens of units, equipment and skills
  • Play solo or online in epic 1vs1 battles

Saturday - April 03, 2021

General News - 5 upcoming RPGs @ C4G

by Hiddenx, 16:56

C4G checked out five lesser known upcoming RPGs:

Top 5 NEW RPGs That You Probably Never Heard About

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  • We Are Legion: Rome
  • Swordcery
  • Dark Alliance
  • Elements
  • Exodus Rising

Wednesday - March 31, 2021

Farathan - Upcoming Gothic like RPG

by Silver, 21:42

Click4Gameplay takes a close look at Gothic inspired Action RPG Farathan.

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Farathan is an upcoming open world RPG inspired by the Gothic series, but does it have any potential?

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Check out the Steam page here.

Dark-medieval-fantasy RPG with an open world.It will take you to the various world of the Elion province. 15 years after your father, the Emperor has conquered it, and faded into the mist of the eastern provinces after a great battle with the orcs. These are uncertain times, a civil war is close to break out. Fueled with the rumors of the Emperor death and whispers from the agents of a secret organization called Farathan.

The game wants to recover the pleasure of exploring by not guiding the player with markers where to go.
Listen to what they say on the streets and discover your own way!

Swords, axes, bows, magic, unlimited inventory. 

Tuesday - March 30, 2021

General News - Roguelites of 2021

by Hiddenx, 17:48

Superjump presents some released/upcoming roguelites of 2021:

The RPG Roguelites of 2021

You might die constantly in these RPGs, but at least it won’t be from an unidentified potion

I originally wrote this article with the idea of putting all of this year’s roguelites of note in it, but I stopped thinking that was a good idea somewhere around number 30. There are just too many good games that have been released so far and are scheduled for release later this year.

If you try to write something like that, you end up with a 5,000-word behemoth article that no one wants to power through for a half hour. And you know what? I can’t blame ‘em.

Instead, I’ve tried to roughly break the roguelites set for release this year into categories, and this article is going to handle RPGs.

Now, I’m not going to debate what makes a game an RPG or not. Roguelites in particular have so many genre-crossing features in them that it’s often hard to fit them neatly into subcategories, and RPGs can be some of the broadest when it comes to what actually defines them.

And, in general, all roguelites seem to have some kind of RPG element to them.

So, here’s the first installment in The Roguelites of 2021 series, and this one is all about the RPGs in all of their loosely-defined glory. Some have been released, and some are scheduled for release later this year, but all of them should be able to scratch that procedurally-generated itch.

(And also check out The ARPG Roguelites of 2021 and The Platformer Roguelites of 2021 for even more releases coming out this year.)

  • Darkest Dungeon 2
  • Home Behind 2
  • Loop Hero
  • Aquamarine
  • Ultimate ADOM: Caverns of Chaos
  • Hellcard
  • Spire of Sorcery
  • Rogue Lords
  • The Sealed Ampoule
  • The Hand of Merlin

[...]

Monday - March 22, 2021

General News - Amazing Magic Gameplay @ C4G

by Hiddenx, 19:55

C4G presents 10 RPGs/Action Adventures with well made magic gameplay:

10 RPGs / Action Adventures With AMAZING MAGIC Gameplay

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Odin: Valhalla Rising - Loki Video

by Silver, 01:11

Some video for MMORPG Odin: Valhalla Rising.

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"Mobile & PC multi-platform MMORPG, Odin: Valhalla Rising" Loki, why did he hate Odin? Their stories that were hidden, check them out now 

Thanks Farflame!

Saturday - March 20, 2021

General News - Jedi: Fallen Order - Review

by Hiddenx, 22:11

Mortismal Gaming reviewed the Action Adventure STAR WARS Jedi: Fallen Order:

Star Wars | Jedi: Fallen Order - Review After 100%

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Thanks Redglyph!

Thursday - March 18, 2021

Pascal's Wager: Definitive Edition - Released

by Silver, 23:03

Soulslike Pascal's Wager: Definitive Edition has been released on Steam.

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Pascal's Wager: Definitive Edition is a challenging action role playing game set in a world of dark fantasy. Step into the shoes of Couriers, as they discover the tale behind the mysterious Dark Mist.

A World Without Light

The Colossus, mysterious creatures that dispelled the Dark Mist that once engulfed the land of Solas, has fallen. As Couriers, you will explore various handcrafted locales in this intriguing world full of secrets, hidden mysteries, and stories. The veiled truth of Solas awaits your discovery...

Hardcore Combat Experience

Master five unique, powerful, and versatile characters each with their own distinctive combat styles for a rich and incredibly challenging experience. The dark forces you face are relentless and cunning, the bosses will put your planning, reflexes, and determination to the ultimate test.

(An optional, more accessible "Casual Mode" is also available.)

Humanity's Story in the Darkness

Centuries ago, the sun sank into the sea, leading to the Dark Mist enveloping the lands. At the same time, great, towering beings began to appear. These were the Colossus. They brought light to the areas surrounding them and in turn, humanity found its last and only refuge.

Thousands of years after the Colossi appeared, a mysterious illness beset these creatures of the light and they began to fall...

Following the trail of the falling Colossi, Terrence the Courier and his companions embark on an arduous journey. They will encounter figures benevolent and evil, seal or witness their fate, and unveil the truth behind the dark world. 

Thanks Farflame!

Opinion - 5 Developers That Should Tackle KotOR

by Silver, 22:55

WellPlayed offer their opinion of the developers that should be creating a new Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic.

Creative Assembly

Now let me get this out of the way, I’m not saying that I want a new Knights of the Old Republic game to be a sweat-producing, nightmare-inducing, underwear-ruining horror experience akin to Creative Assembly’s amazingly scary Alien Isolation, but…

Star Wars isn’t exactly known for being frightening, but with world-eating, disembodied Sith like Darth Nihilous, zombie-like Geonosians reanimated by Brain Worms and the scene where Anakin describes his hatred for sand, we’ve seen some scares in the galaxy far, far away. Just imagine a horror adjacent quest line where your character explores the darker side of the force, making their way through an ancient Sith temple that’s haunted by the spirits of fallen lords. On its own this isn’t a good enough reason to hand the keys to Creative Assembly, I know, but just imagine what they could do some creative freedom in this space, the thought alone has ignited my lightsaber.

I went off on quite the tangent there, as horror isn’t the reason I even chose Creative Assembly, it has far more to do with their world-building prowess. Just have a look around the space station that Isolation is set in. Everything in that game looks like it could have been direct scans from unused sets and props from the films they are that authentic. You truly feel as though you’re looking into the future through a 70s filter. I know that Star Wars and Alien are far from the same, but I just want to see the environments and tone that CE could bring to the table.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Monday - March 15, 2021

Black Dawn Rebirth - Available for Free

by Silver, 21:06

IndieRetroNews reports on Dungeon Crawler Black Dawn Rebirth which is now available for free.

A surprising late afternoon retro heads up, as just moments ago, Shaun Watters has announced that the previously released commercial Dungeon Crawler of 'Black Dawn Rebirth', which was originally published by Double Sided Games for the Commodore Amiga, is now free for digital download. This game is the 7th episode of the Black Dawn Dungeon Crawler/RPG series by Shaun Watters, Ten Shu and Mike Richmond and Colin Vella.

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[...]

 

Wild West Dynasty - Announced for 2022

by Silver, 20:13

DSOGaming reports on Wild West Dynasty which is a mix of RPG (First Person), Life Simulation, and town building.

In Wild West Dynasty, players will start as a settler, build their own ranch and expand it to a prosperous town. The game will also offer additional possibilities like gold mining, rodeo riding. Additionally, it will allow players to create their own Dynasty which will last for decades.

[...]

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Sunday - March 14, 2021

We Are The Caretakers - Launching April 22nd

by Silver, 22:15

We Are The Caretakers is described as a science fiction based squad management RPG with turn based combat. The game will release April 22nd. Currently there is a demo available to try on the Steam page.

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We Are The Caretakers is an afrofuturist squad management RPG. Assemble an arcane team of protectors in squad-building systems inspired by Darkest Dungeon, Ogre Battle, and XCOM. Defend the endangered animals your world relies on in strategic turn-based combat. Define your approach to a global resistance by balancing your reputation, funds, research, animals and alliances. We Are The Caretakers is a challenging strategy RPG fusion that asks you to protect a planet by fighting for the people, animals and ecosystems that inhabit it.

FEATURES

  • AFROFUTURIST UNIVERSE: Former Activision-Blizzard artist Anthony Jones brings breathtaking afrofuturist style and human empathy to a complex sci-fi world.
  • REPUTATION SYSTEM: Every action affects how others see the Caretakers. Do they fear you? Or will they support your quest to protect the endangered Raun, and decide the fate of the world?
  • TURN-BASED ENCOUNTERS: Balance force with diplomacy in an innovative turn-based combat system. Live with the consequences as you deal with the messy reality of animal conservation.
  • SQUAD BUILDING: Assemble up to 9 squads of characters with diverse traits, weaknesses, abilities, and personalities. Train and upgrade your Caretakers across 20+ unique job classes.
  • GROW YOUR HEADQUARTERS: Meet leaders, research technologies, and recruit allies in your sci-fi HQ. Balance their conflicting demands to save our world.
  • NUANCED NARRATIVE: In our morally-complex world, the individuals outside your squad matter as much as the rangers you deploy on each map.
  • GENERATED WILDLIFE: The challenging and procedurally generated survival mode brings never-ending ways to play.
  • YOU GET A BABY RAUN: It will nuzzle against your bed long after it grows too large to reasonably do so. It is adorable.

The Legend Of Heroes: Kuro No Kiseki - Gameplay

by Hiddenx, 20:19

CGInferno shows some environment and gameplay of the upcoming The Legend Of Heroes: Kuro No Kiseki (Trails in the Dark):

The Legend Of Heroes: Kuro No Kiseki - Environment & Early Gameplay Showcase

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Sunday - March 07, 2021

Relic Space - Coming to Early Access Q3 2021

by Silver, 02:58

 @TheGG It has been announced that Relic Space will release into Early Access Q3 2021. Relic Space is described as a space-themed open-world/turn-based RPG.

The London-based indie games developer and video game publisher Fourfold Games are today very happy and excited to announce that their space-themed open-world/turn-based RPG “Relic Space” is coming to PC via Steam Early Access in Q3 2021.

So if you’re a fan of The Expanse – like all of us at Novy – you’re going to get a kick out of the game’s ship-to-ship combat and movement, which rely on actual physics. (See “Real space” bullet below for specifics.)

Developed by Jonah Wilberg of Fourfold Games, Relic Space tells an engrossing post-apocalyptic story through tactical gameplay and a mix of both handcrafted and procedurally-generated missions.

Check out the reveal trailer for all the goodies in the current Alpha:

[...]

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Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - March 04, 2021

Curse of the Dead Gods - Released

by Silver, 22:14

Curse of the Dead Gods is a dark fantasy action roguelike that has recently released.

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You seek untold riches, eternal life, divine powers - it leads to this accursed temple, a seemingly-infinite labyrinth of bottomless pits, deadly traps, and monsters.

MAIN FEATURES

  • A skill-based roguelike exploring a cruel, dark temple made of endless rooms and corridors
  • Swords, spears, bows, guns - wield these and many more
  • Light and fire will be your best allies to overcome the threats that lie in the shadows
  • Unique curses influence each attempt, putting a twist on every action
  • Dozens of enemies, with powerful champions and deadly bosses to face off against

General News - New Dungeons & Dragons RPG

by Hiddenx, 18:56

Gamepressure reports that Hidden Path Entertainment is working on a new Dungeons & Dragons RPG, maybe with a Ravenloft setting:

AAA Open-world Dungeons & Dragons RPG Revealed

We've learned that the developers at Defense Grid are working on a AAA open-world fantasy RPG that will be set in one of the Dungeons & Dragons settings.

Hidden Path Entertainment, the studio behind the Defense Gridseries, is working on a high-budget open-world RPG based on the Dungeons & Dragons license. The team is currently looking for employees for the project. From the job offers published on the company's website, we know that the game is being created on Unreal Engine 4 and that we will lead a party of heroes in it.

We don't know yet in which D&D universe the game will be set. Currently, the world of Forgotten Realms is the most popular, but in the case of this project it may be different. The team responsible for the story is led by Whitney Beltrán, who co-created the upcoming Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft expansion for the tabletop Dungeons & Dragons. The gothic horror world of Ravenloft has rarely appeared in video games, so setting the action of Hidden Path Entertainment's upcoming RPG there would be more interesting than another visit to the Forgotten Realms.

[...]

Thanks Porcozaur!

Wednesday - March 03, 2021

Rustler - Interview & Preview

by Silver, 22:45

Wccftech interviewed the developers of Rustler dubbing it 'Grand Theft Horse'. Also The Sixth Axis have a preview of Rustler of which they say it evokes early GTA roots.

Despite the retro sensibilities and approach, Rustler doesn’t go for the expected pixellated aesthetic; instead opting for an almost cel-shaded look that is pretty easy on the eyes. Everything is clear and easy to distinguish, even when you end up surrounded by enemies. The exception to this, though, is the lack of any transparency when you go behind buildings. This led to a number of frustrating moments when I found myself stuck behind obstacles or caught by guards without being able to see what was happening.

In terms of structure and gameplay, this is pure old-school GTA. Whilst working your way through the main quest narrative, you’ll have the opportunity to carry out side missions for different characters, with occasional roadblocks requiring you to have earned enough money to continue. The beta build contains a complete narrative arc but more sidequests and missions are promised before the full release. On the whole these missions offered a nice mix of fetch quests, escort missions and combat but inevitably the dated mechanics began to feel a little repetitive during the 6 hours or so I played. There was also a lack of clarity in several missions where it took me a few tries to work out what the game wanted me to do.

[...]

How big is the open world in Rustler? Are there multiple towns and hamlets? How long would it take to cross the world?

Rustler has the biggest open world compared to all our previous games. We have two islands which include two cities, a few smaller villages, and a few different camps. It will take around two minutes to ride from the East side of the map to the West side.

In Grand Theft Auto, causing mayhem inevitably leads to big police chases. Will Rustler also feature something of the sort, with increasingly tougher guards pursuing the main character?

Players will be chased by police for breaking local laws, such as: stealing horses, fighting with people, or even killing. With each "wanted level" police will become stronger and more intelligent, also guards on horses may appear at higher "wanted level" as well as guards with crossbows and other melee weapons or knights with tougher armor and better fighting skills, etc.

Did you consider any cooperative (or competitive) multiplayer options? Are those still on the table as post-launch additions?

At the early stages of the creation of Rustler, we were prototyping such features. We were constantly asking our fans about what they expect from the game. Most of them were focused on the single player mode. For sure, we will reconsider co-op or multiplayer when there will be enough voices or interest.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - February 28, 2021

General News - Top 10 Hidden Indie RPG Gems

by Hiddenx, 10:57

Tensor Gaming presents some indie RPGs:

Top 10 RPG Hidden Gems Indie Games on itch.io

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0:16​ - Elden: Path of the Forgotten
1:33​ - Aron's Adventure
2:43​ - Moon Hunters
4:17​ - Flare: Empyrean Campaign
5:17​ - Drova: Forsaken Kin
6:59​ - Lifeling
9:01​ - Pyre
10:26 ​- Heartbound
11:33​ - Lucah: Born of a Dream
12:30​ - Escaped Chasm

General News - Early Access RPGs @ C4G

by Hiddenx, 10:31

Click4Gameplay checked out some Early Access RPGs:

Top 5 RPGs in Early Access on Steam (That You Probably Never Heard About)

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Fade The First chapter on Steam
Sands of Aura on Steam
Gedonia on Steam
Solasta Crown of the Magister
Skyclimbers on Steam

Sunday - February 21, 2021

Black Myth: Wukong - New Trailer

by Silver, 20:27

A new trailer for Black Myth: Wukong.

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As the Mouse gives way to the Ox, we have a growing talent and force. Here is a little tune for you, gamers dear. May you have a prosperous year! Note: This video is specially produced for celebrating Chinese New Year. It does not represent actual plot. Black Myth: Wukong is an action-adventure game developed by Game Science Studio. The game is still in development, and the release date has not been determined yet.

Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - February 16, 2021

General News - New World MMO out in August

by Hiddenx, 21:33

The New World MMO will be released in August:

New World Developer Update

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Thanks Henriquejr!

 

General News - 15 New Open World Games @ GamingBolt

by Hiddenx, 18:04

GamingBolt talks about 15 upcoming open world games:

15 NEW Open World Games To Look Forward To [Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, Switch, PS5]

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The popularity of open world games is at an all-time high, and as developers look to leverage more powerful console hardware to craft even larger and more immersive game worlds, that popularity is going to keep going even higher. 

In 2021, for instance, there's no shortage of major, exciting looking open world games coming out, and here, that's exactly what we're going to talk about, as we take a look at a few of the most interesting open world titles due out in 2021.

Friday - February 12, 2021

General News - Pathfinder in P&P and Video Games

by Hiddenx, 19:34

Paizo hosted a Twitch video yesterday with Owlcat Games and Pinnacle Entertainment Group (creators of Pathfinder for Savage Worlds), on Pathfinder, its use in P&P and video games.

Lisa Krymova (community manager) and Arseny Krymov (narrative designer) are discussing several interesting topics, such as why some rules have to be adapted so the game doesn't feel like an unforgiving DM, why they keep the 1st edition of Pathfinder, how the mythic paths impact the story and the game flow, whether the monsters have to match the players and more.

Thanks Redglyph!

Wednesday - February 10, 2021

Assassin's Creed - Next Game in China?

by Silver, 17:13

Gamebyte reports on rumours that the next Assassin's Creed will be set in ancient China.

While every player is sure to have their own preferences, various rumours have hinted at where and when we’ll be headed to next.

Rumours of the next Assassin’s Creed having a Chinese or Japanese setting surfaced in 2020 thanks to some concept art. These same rumours then surfaced again in January this year thanks to French YouTuber x0nathan.

The content creator claimed that the next Assassin’s Creed will not only release in 2022, but also that it will be set in ancient China.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Monday - February 08, 2021

Valheim - Now in Early Access

by Silver, 19:51

Valheim is a viking themed RPG/Survival game with multiplayer which has recently been released into Early Access.

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A battle-slain warrior, the Valkyries have ferried your soul to Valheim, the tenth Norse world. Besieged by creatures of chaos and ancient enemies of the gods, you are the newest custodian of the primordial purgatory, tasked with slaying Odin’s ancient rivals and bringing order to Valheim.

Your trials begin at the disarmingly peaceful centre of Valheim, but the gods reward the brave and glory awaits. Venture forth through imposing forests and snow-capped mountains, explore and harvest more valuable materials to craft deadlier weapons, sturdier armor, viking strongholds and outposts. Build a mighty longship and sail the great oceans in search of exotic lands … but be wary of sailing too far...

Key features:

  • Huge procedurally-generated world - explore and inhabit mystical lands, from mysteriousforests to imposing snow-topped mountain ranges and stunning meadows, complete with their own creatures of legend to battle and wildlife to hunt.
  • Co-op PvE (2-10 players) - - Whether you want to brave the lands alone or venture with trusted allies, Valheim supports independent, player-hosted servers and unlimited world creation. We recommend playing co-op with 3-5 players.
  • Punishing dodge & block based combat system with a wide range of weapons
  • Build & sail ships - from flimsy rafts to imposing warships, build legendary vessels to conquer the seas and discover new lands.
  • Summon and defeat vengeful primordial bosses of myth and legend, and collect trophies to progress and craft new powerful items
  • Flexible house and base building system - raise mead halls, farms, settlements outposts, castles and more.
  • Intuitive item crafting - forge the finest weapons and armour, and craft food and mead.
  • Dedicated server- for players who want to run a persistent server. If you prefer not to run a server on your PC, consider renting a server at G-Portal.

Thursday - February 04, 2021

Robin Hood - Builders of Sherwood - Announced

by Silver, 13:05

TechRaptor reports on RPG/City Builder Robin Hood - Builders Of Sherwood.

Oh Merry Meeennnnn!

MeanAstronauts have announced that they are developing and publishing Robin Hood - Builders Of Sherwood, which is a title that combines RPG and city-building elements. The game has you as *gasp* Robin Hood, where you build your own forest camp in Sherwood Forest to eventually drive out the noble class of Nottingham. Check out the blurb:

Robin Hood is an action adventure game combining RPG and City-building elements, where we will play the role of a classic hero to fight to defend the oppressed by tyranny. The game is in a third person perspective. As the king of thieves, we will steal, rob, fight, ride a horse, shoot a bed, help the poor and also develop a forest village and its community. In the game, we will have an open world that we can freely explore.

Players will meet folk legends such as Lady Marion, Little John, Brother Tuck, Allan from the Valley, and Will Scarlet. The main task that the players must accomplish is to build the largest possible community for the outlawed rebels and to look for recruits from the surrounding farms and villages. The player will even recruit from the residents and guards of the city of Nottingham as they move in to take down the nobility of Nottingham.

[...]

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Thanks Farflame!

Batora - Announced

by Silver, 13:00

Gematsu reports that Action RPG Batora has been announced for all major platforms.

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Batora: Lost Haven
combines the features of a hack-and-slash and a twin-stick shooter in a nonlinear interplanetary story-driven action RPG.

What boundaries would you cross to save your home?

Avril used to be a regular 16-year-old girl, not what you’d call a natural-born hero. Until a mysterious event devastated the Earth, and she lost everything she cared for. Now she’s the only one who, with the physical and mental powers that she has been gifted, can attempt to save her planet!

This is how her cosmic journey starts: soon enough, Avril will learn that the line between good and evil is thin. It’s up to her to decide whom to believe: her choices will change the destiny of the universe.

Key Features

  • Physical and Mental Dualism – Find the perfect balance between your body and mind to face the challenges and enigmas you will find along the journey, but keep an eye on the double health bar: it tracks both your physical and mental health, and if you lose sight of one of them… you’re dead!
  • Defender or Conqueror – Choose if you need to use your wits or strength in your interactions with the factions: decide who you want to become while you reach your goal, but be careful of the consequences…
  • Fast-Paced Multi-Layered Combat System – Quickly learn when to switch between physical and mental mode: sharpening your strategic dualism is the only way to keep pace with your opponents!
  • Retro Sci-Fi Visuals – Fill your eyes with the original hand-painted visuals inspired by the retro science-fiction art of the 1950s. You will visit colorful and fascinating planets, and meet the most intriguing creatures of the entire universe!
  • Responsive, Non-Linear Narration – Your choices will change the fate of the universe and of the creatures that inhabit it. Are you ready to take responsibility for your decisions? Find out all the possible outcomes of the storyline designed by a Writers Guild Award winner!

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - February 03, 2021

Void Arena - Interview @TechRaptor

by Silver, 21:27

The developers of adventure RPG Void Arena have been interviewed by TechRaptor.

High Level Studios Has Big Ambitions

Not too long ago, I happened upon Void Arena, an upcoming game that aims to eschew traditional RPG design by doing away with levels and skill points entirely. That certainly intrigued me and I dove into the design of an ambitious new venture.

I first discovered Void Arena via a submission to the /r/pcgaming subreddit. This linked to a blog post on the developer's website, outlining some of the basics of how an RPG with no levels and no skill points would work. Before we get into that, though, I'd ask that you take a look at one of its most recent gameplay videos to see the early alpha in motion!

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[...]

"One of the core pillars of our game is 'unique progression experiences,'" explained Sad_Gandalf, the owner and operator of the game's developer High Level Studios. "Something that we are really after is making your decisions feel as if they are directly driving the growth of your character. With this said, we veered away from a path where your character's main form of progression was dictated by some arbitrary numbers in a spreadsheet. Instead, your character progresses mainly through exploring the world and learning new skills while also both finding powerful gear and the materials necessary to create it themselves."

Some RPGs treat player stats as a requirement for equipping awesome gear, but could a game work in this genre without player stats at all? Sad_Gandalf thinks it can, and the plan he's outlined for this in-development game certainly seems to back it up—at least in theory.

Tuesday - January 26, 2021

General News - Naughty Dog's Next Game Fantasy?

by Silver, 18:07

Gamingbolt believe Naughty Dog's next game will be in a medieval fantasy setting.

One potential clue could lay in some concept art by senior concept artist Hyoung Nam on ArtStation (which is two months old, but still). Three pieces were posted with the title “The Women of North” and the caption, “Inspire from new game. You know what I’m talking about…” followed by a winking emoji. The concept art showcases a dragon, indicating a medieval fantasy-themed title, but the outfits for two of the women seem Celtic-inspired.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

General News - XVASynth Let's Modders Extend Bethesda Voice Sets

by Silver, 11:35

Some good news for fans of Bethesda modding as xVASynth lets modders extend voice acting of existing actors.

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xVASynth is a machine learning based speech synthesis app, using voices from characters/voice sets from Bethesda games.

GitHub: https://github.com/DanRuta/xVA-Synth/
Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/xvasynth
Discord:
https://discord.gg/nv7c6E2TzV
Twitter: @dan_ruta

Sunday - January 24, 2021

General News - Most Anticipated RPGs of 2021

by Silver, 23:35

Wccftech have listed their most anticipated RPGs of 2021.

Monster Hunter Rise

The first Nintendo Switch-developed iteration in the long-running Monster Hunter franchise features a number of QoL changes that were first implemented in Monster Hunter World. Monster Hunter Rise looks to capture the raw thrill of difficult boss fights as well as the looting and crafting that the series is known for. Featuring both local and online co-op play, Monster Hunter Rise is already looking to be the best reason to get a hunting party together on the go.

Shin Megami Tensei V

Shin Megami Tensei V has been on my own personal list of Most Anticipated RPGs since its first reveal four years ago. Atlus has promised that we could see a simultaneous worldwide 2021 release for Shin Megami Tensei V during a Nintendo Direct presentation last July. Since then, however, it's been radio silence from the developers, worrying fans that we might see yet another delay in the project. Fingers crossed that doesn't come true.

Scarlet Nexus/Tales of Arise

I'm including both of these together in one most anticipated list for Bandai Namco, given the overlap in both art style and even development team between the two. Scarlet Nexus is a more experimental title, featuring psychokinetic powers and brainpunk technology, while Tales of Arise is more of a traditional high fantasy tale. Scarlet Nexus should arrive later this Summer while Tales of Arise still has a vague release window, not to mention Bandai Namco has yet to confirm if there will be a next-gen version for the upcoming Tales title.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - January 21, 2021

General News - Upcoming Mods @ PC Gamer

by Hiddenx, 18:41

PC Gamer is looking forward for these mods:

The most ambitious mods we're looking forward to

New worlds for Fallout, old worlds given new life in The Elder Scrolls, and more. These are the mods we can't wait to play.

As we look forward at the upcoming games of 2021 and 2022, we're also keeping in our eye on some of the most ambitious mods coming our way. Created by teams of volunteers, who often spend years working on sprawling projects out of pure passion, mods can transform the games we know and love to give us hundreds more hours of enjoyment. We're dying to get our hands on these expansive and exciting mods.

  • Fallout Miami
  • Skyblivion
  • Skywind
  • Realms in Exile
  • Fallout 4: New Vegas
  • Destroyed Aperture

[...]

Thanks henriquejr!

Wednesday - January 13, 2021

General News - Why RPGs matter more than ever @ Rock Paper Shotgun

by Hiddenx, 23:28

Rock Paper Shotgun explains why RPGs matter more than ever:

There and back again: why RPGs matter more than ever

So many roles, so little time

In a 2019 interview with Retronauts, inXile Entertainment founder Brian Fargo recalled what Interplay hoped to accomplish in Tales Of The Unknown: Part 1, the seminal RPG more commonly referred to by its subtitle: The Bard’s Tale.

“We were trying to set a mood and build a sense of being there… that there was a world… in our own primitive way,” Fargo said. “You started off in a bar; you got to walk around outside, you had to go down to the dungeons, so you felt like you were living in a world; you weren’t just thrust into a wireframe dungeon and that was it.”

[...]

It wasn’t until the following decade, with the surprise success of fiddly dungeon crawlers like Dark Souls, that RPGs found a way to strike the balance. Crowdfunding certainly did its part, as did the explosion of digital distribution and the proliferation of more powerful tools. Streamers and YouTubers, too, helped to popularise games like Undertale, which took familiar genre trappings and subverted them with unique and interesting choices of their own.

Meanwhile, the PC and console ecosystems came together in the 2010s, but not in the way that publishers might have expected. In recent years success has flowed out of platforms like Steam, where Divinity: Original Sin and other games like it are continually refined before being released to larger audiences on consoles. The flow has run the other way as well. Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest – classic franchises that got their start on console – have thrived on PC. In 2020, Persona 4 Golden, an enhanced version of a 12-year-old PlayStation 2 RPG, found great success on Steam, prompting Sega to announce that it was planning additional ports.

[...]

Thanks Henriquejr!

Monday - January 11, 2021

General News - 10 of the best Tabletop RPG Adaptations @ Game Rant

by Hiddenx, 19:44

Game Rant made a list of good tabletop RPG adaptations:

10 Of The Best Tabletop RPG Video Game Adaptations

Over the years, some tabletop RPGs translated their exciting mechanics into the video game world. Here are some of their best adaptations.


The evolution of the RPG genre throughout the years, from Dungeons and Dragons predecessor Chainmail to modern games like The Elder Scrolls franchise, has been impressive to say the least. Games that started off as little more than chess pieces and dice have become immense worlds filled with stories and characters unimaginable to the early pioneers of the genre.

Either due to recent social restrictions, or just a lack of players, the transition from pen-to-paper to digital code has become a necessity for a lot of us, whether that means finding ways to emulate the tabletop experience through the web, or finding new ways to satisfy the gaming urge. That being said, here are a handful of our favorite video games that have either directly adapted, or otherwise translated tabletop systems to a digital experience. Roll for initiative!

  • Planescape: Torment
  • Call Of Cthulhu
  • Shadowrun
  • Knights Of The Old Republic
  • Fallout Classic
  • Icewind Dale
  • Pillars Of Eternity
  • Disco Elysium
  • Baldur's Gate
  • Neverwinter Nights

Tuesday - January 05, 2021

General News - Niche RPGs to watch in 2021 @ Niche Gamer

by Hiddenx, 21:47

Niche Gamer watches out for these RPGs in 2021:

Niche Games to Watch in 2021: RPGs

Last time, I covered some of the cool shooters set to release throughout 2021. In today’s article, I’ll be highlighting some of the RPGs coming out this year. As with last time, I’ll be focusing on some of the more niche, indie, or middleware RPGs releasing this year, as opposed to the big budget AAA extravaganzas.

Be they real-time or turn-based, first-person or isometric, chances are you’ll find at least a few RPGs that will catch your attention here.

Here are Niche Gamer’s selection of 20 of the promising RPG video games releasing in 2021:

  • System Shock - Windows PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
  • Black Book - Windows PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One 
  • Magin: The Rat Project Stories - Windows PC, unspecified consoles
  • We are the Plague - Windows PC
  • Urban Strife - Windows PC
  • Cyber Knights: Flashpoint - Windows PC, mobile, unspecified consoles
  • Rise Eterna - Windows PC, Nintendo Switch 
  • War of Ashird - Windows PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4
  • Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy - Windows PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
  • Cris Tales - Windows PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Google Stadia 
  • Gamedec - Windows PC, Nintendo Switch 
  • Realms Beyond: Ashes of the Fallen - Windows PC
  • The Iron Oath - Windows PC
  • Weird West - Windows PC
  • Alaloth: Champions of The Four Kingdoms - Windows PC, Xbox One
  • Death Trash - Windows PC
  • Colony Ship: A Post-Earth Role Playing Game - Windows PC
  • Dark Envoy - Windows PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
  • Black Legend - Windows PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
  • King Arthur: Knight’s Tale - Windows PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X

[...]

Thank Rjshae!

 

General News - Top upcoming RPGs of 2021 @ Heavy

by Hiddenx, 20:22

Heavy made a list of upcoming RPGs:

All Upcoming RPG's of 2021

Was 2020 a super depressing year as a whole? Yep!

But were the video games that dropped that year also pretty amazing and worth getting distracted by? Yep! Some of the most outstanding titles that came out in 2020 came from the role-playing game genre. The biggest and best RPGs from that year that instantly come to mind have to be Final Fantasy VII Remake, Persona 5 Royal, Genshin Impact, and Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Plus there was a nice array of entertaining triumphs within the genre that came from indie studios and everyone’s favorite western RPG & JRPG development studios.

Now that 2021 is in full swing, it’s time to take a look at the next batch of quality RPGs that will take us to new worlds and let us embark on fresh adventures.

  • Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy - PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam)
  • Sword of the Necromancer - PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam)
  • Outriders - PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, PC (Steam)
  • Ys IX: Monstrum Nox - PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam)
  • Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood - PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, PC (Epic Games Store)
  • Fallen Legion: Revenants - PS4, Nintendo Switch
  • Persona 5 Strikers - PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam)
  • Bravely Default II - Nintendo Switch
  • Monster Hunter Rise - Nintendo Switch
  • Poison Control - PS4, Nintendo Switch
  • Nier Replicant ver.1.22474487139… - PS4, Xbox One
  • Almighty: Kill Your Gods - PC (Steam)
  • Rune Factory 5 - Nintendo Switch
  • King’s Bounty II - PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam)
  • Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny - PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch
  • Alaloth – Champions of The Four Kingdoms - PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam)
  • The Ascent - Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC (Steam)
  • Cris Tales - PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia, PC (Steam)
  • Digimon Survive - PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam)
  • Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance - Consoles TBA, PC TBA
  • Echo Generation - Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One
  • The Good Life - PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam)
  • Gotham Knights - PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One
  • Hogwarts Legacy - PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, PC (Steam)
  • Horizon Forbidden West - PS5, PS4
  • Hytale - PC
  • King Arthur: Knight’s Tale - PC (Steam)
  • Kingdom of Night - PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam)
  • King of Seas - PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam)
  • NEO: The World Ends with You - PS4, Nintendo Switch
  • Neptunia ReVerse - PS5
  • New World - PC (Steam)
  • Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis - Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC (Steam)
  • Ruined King: A League of Legends Story - PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam)
  • SaGa Frontier Remastered - PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam), iOS, Android
  • Scarlet Nexus - PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, PC (Steam)
  • She Dreams Elsewhere - Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam)
  • Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne HD Remaster - PS4, Nintendo Switch
  • Shin Megami Tensei V - Nintendo Switch
  • Tales of Arise - PS4, Xbox One, PC (Steam)
  • Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 - PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, PC (Steam)
  • Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong - PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam)

[...]

 

General News - RPG of the Year 2020 @ Wccftech

by Hiddenx, 19:54

Wccftech's RPGs of the Year 2020:

Wccftech’s Best RPG’s of 2020 – Action-Packed And Brand New

This year's spread of role-playing games runs a pretty interesting range compared to years before. With the launch of new PlayStation and Xbox consoles, there are some new titles to experience right alongside remakes and sequels alike. Very few RPGs have been released exclusive to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S|X, so these particular platforms will see the least amount of entries for this year alone (Demon's Souls for PlayStation 5 being the sole entry on this list). It's otherwise been a solid year for telling engaging stories across a wide variety of role-playing mediums.

Best RPGs:

Hades (10)
Demon's Souls (9.5)
Final Fantasy VII Remake (9.3)
Wasteland 3 (9.0)
Cyberpunk 2077
Nioh 2 (9.6)
Yakuza: Like a Dragon (9.1)

[...]

Honorable Mentions:
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Mortal Shell
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin
Immortals: Fenyx Rising
Persona 5 Royal
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition

Friday - January 01, 2021

General News - Top upcoming 10 RPGs of 2021 @ Fextralife

by Hiddenx, 09:05

Fextralife assembled a list of upcoming RPGs (and games with RPG elements) for 2021:

 TOP Upcoming 10 RPGs of 2021

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  • 0:00 - Top RPG 2021
  • 0:35 - HM Mass Effect Legendary Edition
  • 1:34 - NieR Replicant 1.22474487139
  • 2:48 - Scarlet Nexus
  • 3:32 - Dark Alliance
  • 4:15 - Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines 2
  • 5:10 - Hogwarts Legacy
  • 6:04 - Alaloth Champions of the Four Kingdoms
  • 6:49 - Biomutant
  • 7:39 - Pathfinder Wrath of Righteous
  • 8:34 - Baldur's Gate 3
  • 9:57 - Elden Ring

Thanks Redglyph!

Thursday - December 31, 2020

General News - RPG of the Year 2020 @ RPG Site

by Hiddenx, 14:31

The RPG Site selected their RPG of the Year 2020:

RPG Site Best of 2020 Awards - our picks for the best of the year

2020 was a memorable year for several reasons, not all of them good. Despite the various hardships of the year, when we were lucky enough to have a chance to look back on 2020 as it pertains to RPG Site, we can see with a little more clarity now how this year still managed to be quite a remarkable one for RPGs. The previous console generation finally came to a close, some long-awaited games big and small finally released, and as always, several surprises came out of nowhere. It's time to discuss them all in our Best of 2020 awards.

We've been running this current iteration of our awards feature since 2018, and we've kept it largely the same this year. That means that in this article you'll find several Category Awards that highlight games for nailing specific aspects of their style or systems. Then you'll find ten games we whittled down from a much longer list as our best of 2020. The first five of these are runners-up, games that we recognize as some of the best of the year, but did not land into our Top Five. Then we list our non-winning Top Five, which ended up falling just short of our overall winner, but remain as RPG of the Year-caliber releases in their own right. Finally, at the very end, one of the Top Five is crowned our official RPG of the Year 2020. At each benchmark, we had to make some incredibly tough decisions and concessions to end up at our final rankings. A couple of final important notes to consider is that we include some RPG-adjacent titles in our deliberations, and only games released before December were considered for this list.

[...]

Best Writing & Storytelling - 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim
Best Art - Star Renegades
Best Music - Final Fantasy VII Remake
Best Design & Immersion - Hades
Best Ongoing Support - Monster Hunter World Iceborne
Best Non-RPG - Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Best Re-release - Persona 5 Royal

Best of 2020: The Near Misses, aka the Runner-Up Five

  • Assassin's Creed Valhalla
  • Moon
  • Fae Tactics
  • Wasteland 3
  • Sakuna of Rice and Ruin

Top Five RPGs of 2020

  • Nioh 2
  • Yakuza: Like a Dragon
  • Hades
  • 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim

RPG of the Year

  • Final Fantasy VII Remake

And the readers' vote:

Readers Choice:

  1. Final Fantasy VII Remake - 24.9% (Square Enix - PS4)
  2. Yakuza: Like a Dragon - 15.4% (Sega - PS4, Xbox, PC)
  3. Persona 5 Royal - 12.6% (Atlus - PS4)
  4. 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim - 7.5% (Atlus - PS4)
  5. Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition - 7.2% (Nintendo - Switch)
  6. Wasteland 3 - 6.5% (inXile - PS4, Xbox, PC)
  7. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV - 6.3% (NIS America - PS4)
  8. Hades - 4.1% (Supergiant Games - Switch, PC)
  9. Nioh 2 - 2.1% (Sony Interactive Entertainment / Koei Tecmo - PS4)
  10. Genshin Impact - 1.5% (miHoYo - PS4, mobile, PC)

 

General News - Story about CRPG Addict

by Hiddenx, 13:58

PC Gamer tells the story of the CRPG Addict:

The impossible quest to finish every CRPG in chronological order

A decade ago, Chester Bolingbroke set himself a mission that will never end.

It's one thing to attempt to set out to play every single game in an entire genre. But to finish each one in the order they released and then to blog detailed accounts of them is a quest beyond belief. That's what Chester Bolingbroke, author of CRPG Addict, set out to do in February 15, 2010, when he wrote the blog's first post. Over ten years later, he's still going. 

So far, Chester has ventured through the very first mainframe-based computer role-playing games, charted the rise of Ultima, and battled through generations of computers. He's faced adversity, balancing the thousands of hours his adventure demands against the needs of his personal life. He's worked on it from his home in Maine, grappling with emulators and translations, and from hotels across the US while travelling for his job. He gave up on the whole endeavour once. But he's just as active now as he was when he started, and that's despite knowing that the whole thing is impossible. 

[...]

Thanks Shamroxor!

Wednesday - December 30, 2020

General News - 5 upcoming indie turn-based RPGs 2021 @ TBL

by Hiddenx, 21:04

The Turn-Based Lovers found five more upcoming turn-based RPGs:

5 Upcoming Indie Turn-Based RPGs 2021

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5 Upcoming Indie Turn-Based RPGs TIMELINE

 

General News - A Review of every major CRPG from the last ten Years

by Hiddenx, 14:12

The end of the decade is close, so I repost a nice review about some of the major RPGs of the last 10 years:

A review of every major CRPG from the last ten years

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A guide to modern CRPG's. Featuring: reviews, comparisons, definitions, history lessons, award shows, motivational speeches, and more. Wow, what doesn't this video have? (the answer is all the CRPG's that weren't included, /shrug)

Contents:

Thanks NeverKnowsBest!

Monday - December 28, 2020

General News - Gaming Events of 2020 @ PC Gamer

by Hiddenx, 23:49

PC Gamer looks back at 2020:

The gaming events of 2020 that will have the largest impact on our future

We're gazing into the orb, it says the future looks anime as heck.

Now that it's finally time to take Old Man 2020 out back and put a kindly bullet in the back of his head, it's also time to take stock of what happened this year in the world of PC gaming, and what it might mean for us in the years ahead. 

It was the year game conventions went online and game companies started to normalize working from home. PC gaming won the console war, and the reward for that victory was the promise of more formerly exclusive Sony games coming to our platform. Companies that once seemed coated in teflon, like Blizzard and CD Projekt Red, made decisions that alienated some of their most devoted fans. The Oculus Quest 2 made virtual reality more attainable, and shortages made graphics cards less attainable. And that's just skimming the surface of an eventful 12 months.

Here are some of the events of 2020 we think will have significant impacts on the future of PC gaming. Like all predictions, there's a risk that something completely unexpected might come along and drastically alter everything we think we know, but what are the odds of that happening two years in a row? Pretty slim, right?

[...]

General News - The 10 best RPGs of 2020 @ Game Rant

by Hiddenx, 16:25

Game Rant listed their 2020 RPG top 10:

The 10 Best RPGs of 2020

Role-playing games are one of the most popular genres of the medium, and as with every year before, 2020 delivers some really stellar titles.

Every year features a wealth of new video games to check out, and among those, there are typically a ton of good RPGs. Role-playing games are sometimes hard to determine and boil down, as the genre continues to expand and include a number of new elements. Everything from games with light RPG elements to a classic turn-based approach are always welcome though.

2020 is no different in this regard, with plenty of RPGs taking the fore. Ultimately, though, a few have to come out on top, so here are the best RPGs of 2020. PLEASE NOTE: rather than attempt to put any specific order here, these RPGs are simply listed in alphabetical order.

  • Assassin's Creed Valhalla
  • Demon's Souls
  • Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
  • Final Fantasy 7 Remake
  • Genshin Impact
  • Ikenfell
  • Immortals Fenyx Rising
  • Persona 5 Royal
  • Wasteland 3
  • Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Sunday - December 27, 2020

General News - 13 Biggest RPGs of 2020 @ GamingBolt

by Hiddenx, 17:18

Some of the big RPG releases of 2020 listed by GamingBolt:

 13 Biggest RPGs of 2020 You Definitely Need To Play

Once long ago, role playing games were the purview of a small niche of a market, and were largely considered to be financially unviable. Fast forward to today, and role playing games represent the single most popular genre of games on the market, to such a ridiculous degree that elements of RPGs pervade and infect every other genre on the market – including former kings of the hill such as shooters or even fighting games.

But this list isn’t about those. This list is very specifically about honoring the best role playing games – true role playing games, as opposed to games with role playing elements – that came out this year. As you might expect, there were a lot of incredible ones. But here are the ones that stand out as among the very best ones.

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  • Assassin's Creed Valhalla
  • Wasteland 3
  • Yakuza: Like A Dragon
  • Nioh 2
  • Demon's Souls
  • Cyberpunk 2077
  • Genshin Impact
  • Final Fantasy VII Remake
  • Xenoblade Chronicles Defenitive Edition
  •  Dragon Ball Z Kakarot
  • Kingdoms of Amalur Re-Reckoning
  • Crosscode
  • Persona 5 Royal

Friday - December 25, 2020

General News - RPG of the Year 2020 @ Gamespot

by Hiddenx, 17:30

Gamespot have listed their highest rated RPGs of 2020:

Here is GameSpot's roundup of 2020's best RPGs across different platforms.

Throughout its history, the role-playing game genre has offered some of the more complex pieces of storytelling and gameplay within the medium of games. In 2020, the RPG genre hit some notable strides with some great releases. Along with the revival of the legendary JRPG Final Fantasy VII with its remake, we also saw other games lean further into the craft of letting players chart their own stories and character dynamics in games like Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Crusader Kings III.

In the following roundup, you can find a selection of RPGs that GameSpot has rated an 8 and above throughout 2020. This year proved to be a remarkable year for the RPG genre, and the games we've pulled together below take the familiar tenets of the genre and reincorporate them in some exciting ways.

  • 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim - 9/10
  • Assassin’s Creed Valhalla - 8/10
  • Crusader Kings III - 8/10
  • Demon's Souls - 9/10
  • Destiny 2: Beyond Light - 8/10
  • Final Fantasy VII Remake - 10/10
  • Hades - 9/10
  • Moon - 8/10
  • Mortal Shell - 8/10
  • Nioh 2 - 8/10
  • Paper Mario: The Origami King - 8/10
  • Persona 5 Royal - 10/10
  • Risk of Rain 2 - 8/10
  • Star Renegades - 8/10
  • XCOM: Chimera Squad - 8/10
  • Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition - 9/10
  • Yakuza: Like a Dragon - 9/10

[...]

Thursday - December 24, 2020

General News - 10 Open World RPGs coming in 2021 & beyond @ C4G

by Hiddenx, 14:02

Click4Gameplay assembled a list of upcoming open world RPGs:

 10 Open World RPGs Coming in 2021 & Beyond

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10. Biomutant

9. Mortem: Fallen Kingdom

8. Hogwarts Legacy

7. Isles of Adalar

6. Crimson Desert

5. Stormrite

4. Fable (Remake)

3. Gothic (Remake)

2. ELEX 2

1. Bleak Faith: Forsaken

Wednesday - December 23, 2020

King Arthur: Knight's Tale - Going to Early Access

by Silver, 21:33

@DSOGaming King Arthur: Knight’s Tale will be going to Steam Early Access January 12th 2021.

Neocore Games has announced that its role-playing tactical game, King Arthur: Knight’s Tale, will be available on Steam Early Access on January 12, 2021.

According to the developers, Early Access will allow them to work hand in hand with their players and implement changes to the game as they go, based on the feedback they receive from the community. The Early Access period will last for a few months, with regular content updates.

Based on the Arthurian mythology, King Arthur: Knight’s Tale is a turn-based tactical role-playing game; a unique hybrid between turn-based tactical games and traditional, character-centric RPGs.

[...]

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Thanks Farflame!

Rustler - Going to Early Access

by Silver, 21:30

TheGG reports that Action RPG Rustler is going to Steam Early Access 2021.

The Poland-based video games publisher Modus Games and the Poland-based indie games developer Jutsu Games are today very proud and excited to announce that their GTA2-like medieval themed action/RPG “Rustler” is coming to Steam Early Access in early 2021.

Carjacking is so this century. It’s time to go back to our roots. Pimp your horse, launch cows at your enemies, and live the hilariously unhinged medieval life that you deserve!

In Rustler, you’ll play as anti-hero Guy, a brigand determined to win The Great Tournament for its grand prize of the princess’ hand in marriage. Might you have to steal a horse or two, or maybe murder a few people here and there? Maybe so. One thing’s for sure: you’re going to need to be both creative and shameless if you want to win The Great Tournament!

[...]

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Thanks Farflame!

SPYHACK: Episode 1 - Available on Steam

by Silver, 21:26

TheGG reports that SPYHACK: Episode 1 is now available on Steam.

Art Games Studio S. A. and  Pyramid Games are today very pleased and proud to announce that their sci-fi spy game “SpyHack: Episode 1” is now available for PC via Steam (“SpyHack: Episode 1” was previously released to the Nintendo Switch back in June, 2020).

The title, a combination of a tactical and stealth action game will challenge players with stopping a tech corporation, which took control over the world. Your goal, as an agent of the Advanced Technology Division, will be to sabotage their plans and save humanity from self-destruction.

Stealthily sneak past guards or dispatch them with various weapons. Walk your way through the levels, hack various devices and terminals to reveal rooms. Get rid of enemies and take control over hacked contraptions.

SpyHack will take players to a futuristic world controlled by huge corporations, which use technology for unethical purposes. During missions, agents are taken to different parts of the world.

Their equipment will include gear used for subtle infiltration, such as hacking or taking control over hostile electronic devices and also weapons useful in direct encounters with enemies. Tactical approach will be crucial to the development of missions – staying in the shadows may be the most effective combat technique, but some situations will require you to engage.

[...]

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Thanks Farflame!

General News - 5 upcoming Indie RPGs @ TBL

by Hiddenx, 18:30

The Turn Based Lovers present five upcoming indie RPGs:

 5 Upcoming indie RPGs expected for 2021

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Monday - December 07, 2020

Opinion - Open World Games Are Smaller than Linear Games

by Silver, 21:21

Gamecrate makes the case that open world games offer less content than linear games.

 There is one aspect of game design that has been annoying me ever since it became the hip new popular thing to do: open-world games.

Everyone says that open-world games are huge! “Wow there’s so much to do!” everyone says. “I can’t believe I can travel anywhere!” they exclaim.

No! It’s all a trick! Open world games aren’t huge! In fact, many of them are smaller than most linear games!

Have you ever tried to mainline an open-world game from start to finish? The main quest lines aren’t actually that long. Big epic RPGs that take “hundreds of hours” to finish only take 10-20 hours to finish if you go from main quest to main quest.

[...]

Alright. Let’s talk about my first problem with that claim: bigger does not mean better. I remember when everyone was saying Dragon Age: Inquisition was such an amazing game because it had a huge world to explore. False. It did not have a huge world to explore. It had a huge world to travel through.

Exploration implies a certain degree of interacting with your surroundings. You either discover new information, encounter new enemies, solve new puzzles, and the like. Dragon Age: Inquisition as well as many other similarly designed open-world games, don’t actually let you do this all that often. Instead, the open world is just space with different coats of paint between side-quest markers. You aren’t doing anything in it. You aren’t exploring it. You are just walking from point A to point B. Linear games had something like this way back in the NES era. It was called a world map.

Wednesday - December 02, 2020

General News - Keep an Eye On It @ TBL

by Hiddenx, 19:01

The Turn Based Lovers assembled a small list of upcoming isometric RPGs:

6 Upcoming cRPGs expected for 2021 | Keep an Eye On It | Ep 3

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Here we are in the third episode of our usual Wednesday date. The Keep an Eye on It focuses today on 6 cRPGs ….. oops better specify Isometric cRPG promising and currently in development. For this episode, I made a small exception and entered 6 games instead of 5 because I didn't want to leave out any of these. Let me know what you think about it in the comments.

Tuesday - December 01, 2020

General News - On the Radar - December 2020 @ TBL

by Hiddenx, 21:02

The Turn Based Lovers have collected some turn based games that will be released this month:

About Descartes, Boobs and Videogames

“Money for nothing and chicks for free“
– Dire Straits

I decided to write this (very) short story after I noticed that one of the most famous videogames blogs in my country began to replace news about videogames with something that videogames have little to do with. What do I mean? Obviously “a crowd of sexy streamers and busty cosplayers” that usually has nothing to say but a lot to show.
Anyway, if you just want to know what will be released in December, feel free to skip my poor digressions. You’ll have all my sympathy…

[...]

EMPIRE OF SIN – 1st December
PHOENIX POINT – 3rd December
SHADOW EMPIRE – 3rd December
DRAGON QUEST XI S: ECHOES OF AN ELUSIVE AGE – 4th December
ARCANIUM: RISE OF AKHAN (E.A.) – 8th December
MONSTER SANCTUARY – 8th December
THE WIND AND WILTING BLOSSOM – 11th December
REVOLUTION: THE SPARK (E.A.) – 23rd December

Monday - November 30, 2020

SaGa Frontier - Remastered 2021

by Silver, 23:10

@PC Invasion Square Enix has announced that JRPG SaGa Frontier will be getting remastered for 2021.

If you a big fan of old school Japanese roleplaying games, then you are in for a treat. Square Enix has announced that a new remaster will be coming in 2021, and this time it is the 1998 classic SaGa Frontier that will be getting the updated treatment. SaGa Frontier Remastered will arrive in the summer of next year, and with it comes a branching story that develops based on your chosen character. Out of the eight different characters, each comes with their personal stories, goal, and even game endings.

By using the Free-From Scenario System, a revolutionary addition back in the day, your choices will affect how different events play out. The way you play will help determine your own unique story for each of the characters. SaGa Frontier Remastered will also see the return of Fuse, the original sidekick in each of the stories. Fuse will now be a playable character in 2021.

[...]

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Saturday - November 28, 2020

Pecaminosa - Announced

by Silver, 02:42

@TheGG Film Noir ARPG Pecaminosa has been announced.

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The Spain-based indie games developer Cereal Games and video games publisher BadLand Publishing are today very proud and happy to announce that a Steam page is now available for their upcoming film noir-themed pixel-art ARPG “Pecaminosa” (the game is coming to PC, PS4, Xbox One, and the Nintendo Switch in early 2021).

Visit Pecaminosa Steam page and discover new details about the look, mechanics and gameplay of the unique title created by Cereal Games

John Souza, a former cop and newly-appointed local drunk, has an unexpected visitor from the past.
The ghost of Charlie “Two Angels”, a fallen mob boss, appears before Souza with a pro can redeem himself, and be allowed unto Heaven.
Hell, that sounds easy, right?… Maybe too easy…
Will Souza set his bottle aside and take up the mantle of justice again? Or will he be just as damned as Charlie?

Thanks Farflame!

Missing - The Complete Saga - Announced

by Silver, 02:38

@TheGG Open World RPG/Life Sim Missing - The Complete Saga has been announced and has a Steam page to peruse.

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MISSING: The Complete Saga is a 3D role-playing game that plays like a life simulator. Your character will have an inventory, and skills based on a skill tree. The game features day/night cycles, and each day you will be assigned new daily tasks, some are based upon new events and happenings. The daily tasks will change as you grow up. You are free to explore the village, take on alternate tasks, and learn new skills apart. Every skill you learn can come in handy when you are in danger.

Key Features :

  • The player creates his/her own story through the open-ended gameplay in this open world. The open-world village provides nuanced details of opportunities through which the player can craft the life of the character.
  • The game takes place in an open world village of rural India. Get immersed in the society and its culture, where every detail has been carefully created to reflect the Indian rural environment and its people as closely as possible.
  • No Combat, No puzzles. This game is a non-violent game. Inviting players to explore and make life choices without getting attacked, stuck, or frustrated.
  • Player stats are reflected by three unique parameters. Energy, Food, and Mood, which plays a key role in accomplishing any task.
  • Fully interactive Inventory and Skill tree. The inventory is limited by the total weight of the items. The skill tree is unlocked through practicing and perfecting a training task.

Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - November 24, 2020

Yellow Brick Games - New Studio from Dragon Age Director

by Silver, 23:39

IGN reports that Mike Laidlaw of Bioware fame and other industry veterans have formed a new studio called Yellow Brick Games.

Mike Laidlaw, the former creative director of Dragon Age, has established a new development studio alongside other industry veterans. Called Yellow Brick Games, the independent studio is located in Quebec City and aims to create "original, new games of high quality".

Laidlaw is joined by Thomas Giroux, Jeff Skalski, and Frédéric St-Laurent B., meaning the studio is comprised of EA, BioWare, and Ubisoft veterans, with a body of work covering Dragon Age, Mass Effect, Watch Dogs, and Assassin's Creed.

Laidlaw takes on the role of Chief Creative Officer, while Skalski acts as Chief Operating Officer, and Giroux as Chief Executive Officer. Frédéric St-Laurent B., meanwhile, will take on the position of Game Director for the studio's first project. St-Laurent B. was previously Lead Game Designer for Assassin's Creed: Syndicate at Ubisoft Quebec.

[...]

Wednesday - November 18, 2020

General News - 5 Turn-Based Tactical RPGs @ TBL

by Hiddenx, 20:35

The Turn Based Lovers keep an eye on five indie turn-based RPGs:

Keep an Eye on It: 5 Turn-Based Tactical RPGs | #1

Ciao everyone, today I inaugurate a new column that I want to try to bring on a weekly basis, that is called Keep an Eye on It. I will collect interesting indie and non-indie projects around and show them to you, 5 at a time. The written article will also be followed by the video on the Youtube channel. I already have a very long list of games and can’t wait to show them all. I might decide to categorize them as I’m doing for this first episode, or not, I don’t know yet.

To inaugurate it, I have chosen 5 very promising indie turn-based tactics RPGs. Can’t wait to hear your thoughts and opinions & remember to reach me on Twitter, on the discord server, and on the new Twitch Channel.

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  • Shardpunk: Verminfall
  • Kitty Tactics
  • Voxel Tactics
  • The Black Pepper Crew
  • Space Cats Tactics

[...]

Sunday - November 15, 2020

Ambermoon - Open Source Remake in Progress

by Silver, 19:22

Indie Retro News reports that an open source remake of Ambermoon is in progress.

Originally released in 1993 for the Amiga by Thalion Software, Ambermoon was the second part of an unfinished trilogy and sequel to Amberstar that was only released in Germany. In was an incredible RPG for its time, and featured 3D graphics that were considered revolutionary for the Amiga, but sadly for the company it couldn't save them from collapse.

[...]

How to run the game

I got some questions of how to run the game:

You need the original game data (either ADF files or extracted files like Party_char.amb etc).

Put these files next to the downloaded executable file called Ambermoon.net.exe.

If you have not yet, install the latest .NET framework for Windows.

The game only runs on Windows as of now.

Links :1) Source 2) Detailed Info

Tuesday - November 10, 2020

General News - Chad Moore Interview @Gamebanshee

by Silver, 01:55

Chad Moore, of Troika fame, was interviewed by Gamebanshee about the titles he has worked on such as Arcanum and Vampire the Masquerade - Bloodlines. Chad is currently working on an RPG for inXile.

“An Unfortunate Affair a story by Sir Chadwick Moore,” reads one of Arcanum’s loading screens presented as a magazine cover. For years, I treated it as such - a mere loading screen. However, during a recent replay of Arcanum, that screen caught my eye for some reason, sending me on a little investigative trip.

And as it turns out, that story actually exists (you can read it over here) and Sir Chadwick Moore, or rather Chad Moore, is very much a real person and a bit of a Renaissance man among RPG developers. Over the years he's worked on numerous notable titles, including Fallout 2, Arcanum: Of Steamworks & Magick Obscura, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines, and even WildStar, Carbine Studios’ short-lived MMORPG.

Chad’s areas of expertise include scripting, writing and narrative design, character modelling and animation, and even voice acting direction. And right now, he’s directing a yet to be announced and mystery-shrouded RPG over at inXile Entertainment.

[...]

Tuesday - November 03, 2020

Outriders - Release Date Announcement Trailer

by Silver, 19:20

Outriders is a science fiction co-op shooter RPG that has recently been announced.

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Survival Demands Aggression. #Outriders will release February 2, 2021 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC (Steam & Epic). Coming to Stadia later in 2021.

Pre-order #Outriders now: https://sqex.link/m7v0

Outriders is a 1-3 player co-op RPG shooter set in an original, dark and desperate sci-fi universe. As mankind bleeds out in the trenches of Enoch, you’ll create your own Outrider and embark on a journey across the hostile planet.

Thanks Couchpotato!

Sunday - November 01, 2020

General News - On The Radar - November 2020 @ TBL

by Hiddenx, 16:33

The Turn Based Lovers checked out the upcoming turn-based games:

On The Radar – November 2020

All the turn-based RPGs and Strategy Games releasing on November 2020

“I need never get old“

“I said I needed to try
Needed to fall
I needed your love I’m burning away
I need never get old“

– Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats

Most of the people think that playing videogames is only for youngsters. Citing McCarthy, they’d say “No country for old men“, but the reality is somewhat different…

Inger Grotteblad wakes up every morning in her cozy house in Uppsala and begin her training. She is 68 years old and, even if she is a grandmother with six marvelous grandchildren, she is also a pro player of CS: GO! The results? More defeats than victories, but that’s not the point. In Sweden, she is still a star, so it is not so unusual that walking on the streets, Grotteblad and the other members of her team, the “Silver Snipers”, have to sign some autographs for their young fans!
Still about famous senior players, we cannot forget the two Berliners Uschi Cezanne (81 y.o.) and Peter (76 y.o.) with their YouTube channel, “Senioren Zocken”, with more than 480.000 members!

[...]

So, the list of the upcoming games that follows is dedicated to them, to everybody who never renounce to his inviolable right to have fun, despite his age, despite his past.
No one should forget that playing is the true elixir of long life!

SWORDS AND SANDALS CRUSADER REDUX – 04th November
MÖBIUS FRONT ’83 – 05th November
RAIDERS! – 10th November
YAKUZA: LIKE A DRAGON – 10th November
BLOCKS!: CRUSADER REX – 11th November
STRATEGIC MIND: SPECTRE OF COMMUNISM – 13rd November
REVOLUTION: THE SPARK – 23rd November
FEUDAL KINGDOMS – November

[...]

 

Friday - October 30, 2020

Fallen Angel - Available on Steam

by Silver, 10:38

@TheGG Fallen Angel is a hack-and-slash game that is available now on Steam.

The indie games studio Matrioshka Games and the video game publisher V Publishing are today very thrilled and happy to announce that their biblical hack-and-slash RPG “Fallen Angel” is now available for PC via Steam.

Inspired by John Milton’s “Paradise Lost”, players take on the role of Lucifer, the angel that was cast out of Heaven, and now seeks vengeance, but when he returns, not all is as it appears.

Opportunity strikes when civil war erupts. God has departed without reason, and the archangels left behind to fight for dominion to lead. All the while a plot bigger than simple revenge begins to unfold.

“We wanted to provide a twist on the traditional perception of Heaven. Instead of a simple lush utopia, we have created a world that changes vastly depending on the archangel that controls it”, said Michael Brown, CEO of V Publishing.

“This not only allows a more visually diverse game, but it’s allowed us to create bosses and enemies that are varied in both look and how they fight, keeping things fresh as you play through.”

[...]

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Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - October 28, 2020

Xuan Yuan: Sword VII - Launch Trailer

by Silver, 22:48

Gematsu reports on the release of the launch trailer for Xuan Yuan: Sword VII which will be available October 29th.

Publisher and developer Softstar Entertainment, and developers DOMO Studio and Yooreka Studio have released the launch trailer for Xuan-Yuan Sword VII.

Xuan-Yuan Sword VII is due out for PC via Steam worldwide and PlayStation 4 in Asia (excluding Japan) on October 29. A western release of the PlayStation 4 version will follow “as soon as possible.” An Xbox One version is also planned, but a release date has yet to be announced.

[...]

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Wednesday - October 21, 2020

VtM: Shadows of New York - Review @The Reticule

by Silver, 11:49

Vampire: The Masquerade - Shadows of New York has been reviewed by The Reticule.

Shadows of New York is a game about politics and the way politics is infused into every facet of our beings. The boldness of its narrative impressed and enthralled me, and I want more of it in my games in these oh-so-urgent times of ours.

That being said, it’s a difficult prospect writing a story of ‘now’, and one I’ve always been inclined to stay clear of. It runs the risk of trying to capture those defining moments, those shocking turning-points in the historical narrative unfolding in real-time, and rendering them shallow, even cringe-inducing, as some level of distance is always necessary to properly understand it.

[...]

As a visual novel, the narrative-driven Shadows of New York offers choices throughout the story, leaving interactions with the city’s inhabitants in your hands, at least to an extent. I don’t feel like there were nearly enough possible routes to take, with conversations mostly being moulded by decisions you had made earlier. That’s fine in the sense that it shows your (sparse) choices are shaping Julia’s traits, but a lot of the time it felt like it was out of my control and the path thoroughly predetermined. The game’s well-written enough to coast on by, but more input would’ve been welcome.

Thanks Farflame!

Saturday - October 10, 2020

General News - Steam Festival - Turn Based Games @ TBL

by Hiddenx, 19:17

The Turn Based Lovers checked out some turn based games from the Steam Festival:

The Steam Game Festival: Autumn Edition

"Try (or watch) before buying" It's exactly this the philosophy behind the Steam Autumn Festival!
In other words: a lot of livestreams, events and, above all, a lot of demos to try for us, always eager to discover new promising games. Obviously even our beloved turn-based games have something to show or to offer.

Indeed among hundreds of games that take part to the Festival it's possible to find tons of turn-based game. Many of them already appeared on our blog, so, this time, I decided to focus my attention on a short list of little gems that we had shamefully almost ignored in the past. Some of them seems really promising, others appears – at least – very crazy and original.

I remember you that these special demos can be downloaded only during the Festival so until the 13th October. Keep it in mind.

That being said, let’s see which games we can try! 

[...]

 

Wednesday - October 07, 2020

Sword of the Necromancer - Coming this December

by Silver, 21:34

Sword of the Necromancer is a dungeon-crawler action RPG with Rogue-like elements that will release this December according to Gematsu.

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What would you do to bring back someone you love?


Sword of the Necromancer is a dungeon-crawler action RPG with Rogue-like elements where you can revive your defeated enemies to make them fight alongside you.

Turn your foes into allies using the forbidden powers of the Sword of the Necromancer and help Tama reach the dungeon's depths in order to gain enough power to bring Koko back from the dead.

Gather a little army of monsters, equip yourself with weapons and relics and level up to take on the guardians that stand between you and your objective.

FEATURES

  • Turn your foes into allies: use the Sword of the Necromancer to revive defeated monsters and make them fight alongside you.
  • Gather weapons and relics: each weapon is different from the others thanks to the procedural weapon generation system, which gives them various effects and attributes.
  • Fight with all your might: defeat your enemies using a variety of weapons and objects and dominating the fluid head-to-head battle system.
  • Level up: enhance your character by fighting enemies and upgrade your stats. Improve your summoned monsters by fighting alongside them.
  • Death is not the end: Each try gets you closer to the Necromancer. You will lose all your equipped weapons and monsters, but you will retain half the level you achieved in your run. Also, you can choose to exit the dungeon at some moments, losing all your level progress but maintaining all your equipment.
  • Learn the truth: Discover Tama and Koko's past as you advance through the dungeon.
  • Local co-op play: Use the Flask of Homunculus to create a copy of the playable character and play with a friend in local co-op game.

STORY

"Legend says that, deep within these mountains, a heretic decided to violate the will of the gods in order to achieve eternal life.

The heretic succeeded in this aberrant attempt, and created a tool for forbidden rituals that could grant immortality… and even bring back the dead.

Over the years and centuries many have tried to get that power for themselves, but all they found in the Necromancer’s crypt was their demise.

They say that the tool the Necromancer created is also a weapon…

The Sword of the Necromancer

Tama is a former rogue that is tasked to escort the priestess Koko in her pilgrimage around the continent. During their travel Koko dies, and Tama carries the corpse to the Necromancer's crypt, where legends say there dwells a power that may resurrect the dead.

Filled with despair, Tama will enter the dungeon with the aim of obtaining the forbidden power of necromancy, ignoring the dangers that lurk in the shadows.

Xuan Yuan: Sword VII - Free Demo

by Silver, 19:44

DSOGaming reports on action RPG Xuan Yuan: Sword VII which now has a free demo.

DOMO Studio and SOFTSTAR have released a free demo for their upcoming action RPG, Xuan-Yuan Sword VII, on Steam. Xuan-Yuan Sword VII is an action RPG in a third-person perspective that uses Unreal Engine and will be coming to the PC later this year.

Players take on the role of Taishi Zhao; a calm and reliable swordsman who was accidentally involved in a tragic fate. To protect his beloved family, he starts a journey in this chaotic realm to find the truth.

[...]

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Thursday - October 01, 2020

General News - On the Radar - October 2020 @ TBL

by Hiddenx, 19:58

Like every month The Turn Based Lovers checked out the upcoming turn-based games:

On the Radar – October 2020

All the upcoming turn-based games of October 2020

They are the topic of the moment, everybody talks about them, everybody pretends to love or hate them, everybody even dreams about them at night! And now, now that they are really arriving, everybody will have to deal with them.
What I’m talking about? Nah, don’t play ignorant on me, you know I’m talking about the next-gen consoles!

These are the facts. Two weeks ago, I decided to give back my PS4 to Gam****p because there was a promotion. They were ready to evaluate my PS4 very well, granting me a wonderful voucher to buy a brand-new PS5 in November. I should have been happy, but when I went back home I wasn’t happy at all.
The reason has something to do with my visceral love for the turn-based games. During these years I’ve always had a console (since the PS2!) but for all this time I’ve never played on console any damned turn-based game, and this is not because there weren’t any of them, but because turn-based games and Personal Computer are a single thing.

For me, trying to play a turn-based game on a console is like attempting to play soccer with the slippers. You can try, you can even make a good shot or two, but – simply – it isn’t funny.

So what is the conclusion of all this chat? I don’t know about you, but I think I will continue to play with my personal computer and nothing else. And what about my brand new PS5, are you wondering? I don’t know, maybe I could use it to make a decent coffee…

[...]

  • Baldur’s Gate 3 (E.A.) – 6th October
  • Ikenfell – 8th October
  • Epicinium – 12th October
  • October Night Games – 15th October
  • Ring of Pain – 15th October
  • Crown Trick – 16th October
  • Solasta (E.A.) – 20th October
  • Tenderfoot Tactics – 21st October
  • Raiders! – 23rd October
  • Dreadlands – 29th October

[...]

Wednesday - September 30, 2020

General News - ScummVM adds support for Ultima IV, VI and VIII

by Silver, 19:24
ScummVM has added support for Ultima IV, VI and VIII.
Sep 27, 2020: ScummVM “Interactive Fantasy” 2.2.0 Sees the Light
Posted by sev

A new release of ScummVM is ready. This is a thrilling one because we are embracing adventure games as far back as 1976! That’s right, the infamous Colossal Cave Adventure, the very first Interactive Fiction game, is now supported by ScummVM.

Besides that (and about 1594 other IF games), we now added 3 more game engines and extended another 4, thus adding the following games to the supported list:

  • Blazing Dragons
  • Eye of the Beholder - Sega CD version
  • Griffon Legend
  • Interactive Fiction games
  • Operation Stealth
  • Police Quest: SWAT
  • Prince and the Coward, English translation
  • Ultima IV - Quest of the Avatar
  • Ultima VI - The False Prophet
  • Ultima VIII - Pagan

As you can see, we continue our exploration into the world of RPGs.

Other notable changes are: a fully rewritten MorphOS port; a new subsystem for automatic saves present in nearly every engine we support; Right-To-Left display support in our GUI; updated MT-32 emulation code and Discord Rich Presence.

We now support additional different game versions, and have noticeable improvements to Illusions, Kyra, Lab, Queen, Titanic, Xeen and ZVision engines. There is also improved support for Maniac Mansion, NES and Apple //gs versions. As usual, we continue fixing original SCI script bugs in over 30 games and added Roland D-110 soundtrack support to these games.

Of course, you can find the comprehensive Release Notes here.

Grab your copy from our downloads page, or, on Windows or macOS, let the automatic updater fetch it for you.

In addition, we will be releasing a new Android port into the Beta Channel and will need your help with testing. That would be great for us to get your feedback at the Android Port subforum.

Time to dive into a nice Interactive Fiction or fry some monsters in Ultima with a Blazing Fire, if you’re a dragon of course.

Sunday - September 27, 2020

General News - Top upcoming JRPGs for the PC @ TBL

by Hiddenx, 18:59

The Turn Based Lovers take a look at the upcoming JRPGs:

Top Upcoming JRPG for your PC 2020/2022

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  • Echo Generation
  • Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
  • Jack Move
  • Keylocker
  • Kingdoms of the Dump
  • The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV
  • Wolfstride
  • Yakuza: Like a Dragon

Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Heart of the Forest - Interview

by Silver, 05:02

The devs behind Visual Novel Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Heart of the Forest were interviewed by Gamingbolt about the games setting, themes and choices.

Can you talk to us about the choice and consequence mechanics in Heart of the Forest and how significantly they will affect how the game’s story plays out? Tying the choice and consequence mechanics with character attributes is an interesting concept- how deeply are the two intertwined, and how does the game ensure that choices don’t become transparent as a result?

First of all, we have the main branching paths, some of which get closed with your choices and lead you through the story. But there’s also another layer to this. At any point, your Rage determines how you see the world. The higher your Rage, the stronger your will to act. You are proactive and able to make more confident decisions. But this prevents you from seeing nuances of the world around you. The options you have become more binary. There’s also your personality, which determines the description of places or objects, and which characters follow you or not. Your relations also can change. Your version of Maia can find herself in different places, with different companions at her side, or see everything in a different way.

The game has multiple endings and it will be really hard to achieve the best one.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

 

Vampire: The Masquerade - Shadows of New York - Released

by Silver, 04:56

@thexboxhub Visual Novel Vampire: The Masquerade – Shadows of New York has been released on PC, Switch, Xbox One and PS4.

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Whether you’re well-versed in the rich universe of Vampire: The Masquerade or a newcomer, it matters not in regards to the latest instalment. Prepare for a political themed horror in the form of Vampire: The Masquerade – Shadows of New York, which has just arrived on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and PC. Will it be able to satisfy your bloodlust?

Shadows of New York is a visual novel that works as both a standalone expansion of the Vampire: The Masquerade lore and as a complementary piece to the previous title, Coteries of New York. This follow-up proves to be a more personal and unique tale set in the world of the tabletop role-playing game. While the metropolis is familiar to some, Shadows of New York will still offer a fresh perspective as you get to meet new characters and visit new locations.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - September 23, 2020

General News - Final Fantasy XVI announced for the PS5

by Hiddenx, 19:53

Final Fantasy XVI has been announced for the PS5 only:

Final Fantasy XVI - Awakening Trailer | PS5

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Tuesday - September 22, 2020

Hogwarts Legacy - FAQ Confirms it is Action RPG

by Silver, 22:40

Warner Brothers have posted a FAQ for action RPG Hogwarts Legacy.

Q: What kind of game is Hogwarts Legacy?

A: Hogwarts Legacy is an immersive, open-world, action role-playing-game set in the 1800s wizarding world, which puts players at the centre of their own adventure

 

Q: Who is publishing Hogwarts Legacy?

A: Warner Bros. Games is publishing Hogwarts Legacy under the Portkey Games label. The game is being developed by Avalanche.

 

Q: When does Hogwarts Legacy release?

A: Hogwarts Legacy will release in 2021.

 

Q: What platforms will Hogwarts Legacy be on?

A: Hogwarts Legacy will be available for PlayStation5, PlayStation4, PlayStation4 Pro, the Xbox One family of devices, including Xbox Series X and Xbox One X, and PC.

 

Q: What is J.K. Rowling’s involvement with the game? Is this a new story from J.K. Rowling?

A:  J.K. Rowling is not directly involved in the creation of the game, however, her extraordinary body of writing is the foundation of all projects in the Wizarding World.

This is not a new story from J.K. Rowling. 

 

Q: How does Hogwarts Legacy fit into the Harry Potter Wizarding World?

A: While Portkey Games are not direct adaptations of the books and films, the games are firmly rooted in the Harry Potter universe. While remaining true to J.K. Rowling’s original work, Portkey game developers chart new territory by creating fresh ways for fans to immerse themselves in the wizarding world.

 

Q: Is Hogwarts Legacy an original story?

A: Hogwarts Legacy is an open-world, single-player, action role-playing videogame (RPG) set in the 1800s wizarding world. The story has players experiencing life as a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry like never before, as they live the unwritten and embark on a dangerous journey to uncover a hidden truth of the wizarding world.

 

Q: What is the original story of Hogwarts Legacy?

A: Players will experience life as a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the 1800s as they embark on a dangerous journey to uncover a hidden truth of the wizarding world. They will grow their magical abilities by mastering spells, brewing potions and taming fantastic beasts.

 

Q: How do you play Hogwarts Legacy?

A: Hogwarts Legacy is filled with immersive magic, putting players at the center of their adventure to become the witch or wizard they choose to be. They will grow their character’s abilities as they master powerful spells, hone combat skills and select companions to help them face off against deadly enemies. Players will also encounter missions and scenarios that will challenge their morality and determine what they stand for.

 

Q: Can players choose and switch their Hogwarts house in Hogwarts Legacy?

A:  Players can choose their Hogwarts house at the start of Hogwarts Legacy.  We’ll have more details to share at a later time.

 

Q: Will you see Harry Potter, Hermione Granger or Ron Weasley in the game?

A: No, Hogwarts Legacy is set in the 1800s, before the time period of J.K. Rowling’s original stories.

 

Q: Will Hogwarts Legacy adhere to Wizarding World lore?

A: Yes. While Hogwarts Legacy is not a direct adaptation of the books and films, the games are anchored in Wizarding World lore. Avalanche is creating a unique gaming experience that is inspired by J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World, in which players will find new and unexpected locations, characters and story elements.

 

Q: Does the game take place only in Hogwarts Castle?

A: Hogwarts Legacy takes players beyond Hogwarts to new and familiar locations including the Forbidden Forest and Hogsmeade Village.

 

Q: What is Portkey Games?

A: Portkey Games, from Warner Bros. Games, is the games label dedicated to creating new Wizarding World mobile and videogame experiences that place the player at the center of their own adventure, inspired by J.K. Rowling’s original stories. Portkey Games offers players the opportunity to make their own narrative choices and engage with the Wizarding World setting to discover new and unique experiences. The label was created to bring gamers and fans new gaming experiences that allow them to delve into the Wizarding World in immersive ways where they can create their own magical stories.

 

Q: What does Portkey mean, and why have you chosen it for this label?

A: In the Harry Potter series, a Portkey is an object, enchanted to instantly transport anyone touching it to a specific location. Most of the time, a Portkey is an everyday object that would not draw the attention of a Muggle. For Portkey Games, it symbolizes how games under this label will transport fans to their own adventures inspired by the Wizarding World.

 

Q: What type of games will be developed under Portkey Games?

A: Portkey Games will enable developers to create a variety of new and immersive gaming experiences that are all inspired by J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World. These experiences have not been written by J.K. Rowling and will not be direct adaptations of the books or films. These are games that have been created for the fans, by game-makers who themselves are fans of and have been inspired by the Wizarding World.

 

Q: Are Portkey Games created with J.K. Rowling’s approval?

A: Each experience offered under Portkey Games will take place in the Wizarding World and will be authentic to the Wizarding World. J.K. Rowling is supportive of Portkey Games and has entrusted the design and creation of the games to WB Games and the developers involved.

General News - 5 Mechanics that more RPGs should use @ C4G

by Hiddenx, 18:23

C4G likes these five RPG-mechanics:

5 Mechanics That More RPGs Should Use

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Sunday - September 20, 2020

Within the Cosmos - Screenshots, Abilities, Crafting & Release Date

by Silver, 23:14

The latest update for science fiction RPG shooter Within the Cosmos shows some screenshots, explains abilities and crafting. The steam page lists Q1 2021 as the target release period.

...

Inventory Upgrade

One of the biggest changes since the last post, and trailer, is the inventory system. I added the ability to sort the inventory, and items are now categorised. There are Weapons, Armour, Consumables, and Miscellaneous categories. There's 2 Headgear slots (which can be used to have on something like a hat, and glasses), one armour slot, and one explosives slot. Here's what the inventory looks like now:



Crafting - Blueprints

There are two parts to crafting. In the Blueprints section, you can create simple, single use items. The amount of parts needed, how many items get crafted, and how effective the items are that you craft is governed by your Skills, Perks, and Stats.



Someone with a higher Explosive skill would be able to craft a better Frag Grenade. One that deals greater damage, and has a larger radius.

Crafting - Modifications

The other part to crafting is weapon modifications. In this section, you can customise weapons you have in your inventory. When you select a weapon, you will see what attachments can be added/changed. You will also see in depth statistics for each weapon, so you can see just how much damage a weapon does, or its range, among other things. Here's a preview of what the modification system looks like while modifying one of the pistols in the game.



Abilities

Another thing I want to show you all are the abilities in the game. I spent a lot of time trying to get the balance right and letting players have fun using the abilities, without making them feel too overpowered. There are 7 abilities in the game which consists of the Assault Turret, Barricade, Combat Drone, Incinerate, Jetpack, Tactical Cloak, & Time Dilation. When used, they will drain some of your Suit Energy. Your Suits Energy will refill over time.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Friday - September 18, 2020

General News - Nadir Interview @ TBL

by Hiddenx, 17:35

The Turn Based Lovers interviewed Shockwork Games about their upcoming game Nadir:

10 Turns Interview with Shockwork Games

Almost a year ago, we had the pleasure of e-meeting and interviewing the guys from Shockwork Games who were struggling with Alder’s Blood at the time. One of the most original games of recent times that mixes turn-based mechanics with stealth ones accompanied by dark atmospheres. Alder’s Blood was released in April 2020 but the developers are already working on a fascinating new project and we were dying to know a few more details.

Hi guys, it’s a pleasure to be with you again, this time to talk about a brand new project that’s brewing. But before discovering a few more details, could you introduce yourself to our readers?

Hi everybody! We are Shockwork Games, a small, independent gamedev studio from Lublin, Poland. We are working together as a group for quite a few years now. Started on some mobile games, but w quickly moved to big platforms and made a tactical stealth game Alder’s Blood.

Were you satisfied with the work done with Alders Blood? Is there anything you would have liked to do differently and maybe bring over to this new game? 

Were we satisfied? Yes and no. Developing Alder’s Blood was a huge challenge to us, and yes, we are extremely proud that we were able to pull this off, but there are many things we could do differently. Looking back we should have scaled down the project, focus on specific aspects so that we could polish it more.

Don’t get us wrong, we love the game, and especially its world. We are still developing new products in this IP, like Tales From the Hunt, a tabletop RPG. We’ll definitely go back to Alder’s Blood in the medium of video games, as there is still a lot to tell there.

Ok, let’s talk about the new project. What’s his name? And how can it be described?

Our new project is called Nadir, and we like to call it rogue-like jRPG. We want to make a game that’s extremely stylish, fast-paced for a turn-based game, and replayable. Ah, also moddable.

[...]

Thursday - September 17, 2020

Hogwart's Legacy - Announced

by Silver, 04:36

PC Gamer reports that Hogwart's Legacy will be coming next year.

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Avalanche's long-rumored Harry Potter RPG was officially revealed today during Sony's PlayStation 5 showcase as Hogwart's Legacy, a tale of the famed magic school set in the 1800s.

Naturally, given that time frame, you won't play as Harry Potter, but as an as-yet-unnamed student "who holds the key to an ancient secret that threatens to tear the wizarding world apart."

[...]

 

Tuesday - September 15, 2020

Sands of Salzaar - English release this month

by Silver, 18:38

PC Gamer reports that Chinese open world RPG Sands of Salzaar will be getting an English release September 22nd.

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[...]

Today Han-Squirrel Studio and XD Network announced that the English-language release will come to Steam Early Access on September 22, finally making it fully accessible to players in North America and Europe. 

The English edition will feature a full translation of the nearly 500,000-word script, along with new story content including 30 new quests. Mods will be supported through the Steam Workshop, and the developers said that hundreds of mods including new characters, custom maps, multiplayer maps, bonus difficulty modes and more will be available when the game goes live.

Thanks Farflame!

Monday - September 07, 2020

Core Decay - Announced

by Silver, 20:11

DSOGaming reports on the announcement of Core Decay which is said to take after Deus Ex.

3D Realms has announced a first-person action-adventure game that is heavily inspired by the classic immersive sims of the ‘90s, Core Decay. Core Decay will explore the nature of consciousness and individuality, and will release on the PC in 2021.

Core Decay promises to feature multiple ways via which you can complete an objective. You can go all out with guns blazing, or find creative solutions to reach your goals. Players can explore alternate routes, hack computers and security systems, discover lost logs, keycodes and passwords, and use every tool at their disposal to reach their objectives.

[...]

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Friday - September 04, 2020

General News - Trails from Zero Review

by Hiddenx, 18:51

The Legend of Heroes: Zero no Kiseki still needs an official English translation and a PC port:

Trails from Zero - English Review [A MUST play for all Trails and JRPG fans]

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Thursday - September 03, 2020

General News - AI Behavior in Role Playing Games

by Hiddenx, 17:18

Click4Gameplay talks about AI in RPGs:

RPG Talks Ep. 1 - AI Behavior in Role Playing Games

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This is the first episode of my new RPG series on the channel called RPG Talks.

General News - September 2020: Turn Based Games @ TBL

by Hiddenx, 17:14

The Turn Based Lovers give us an overwiew of the turn-based games of September 2020:

September 2020 Releases | Turn-Based RPG/Strategy Games

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Let's see together all the turn-based RPG/Strategy games releasing on September 2020. As usual, we are here to see what is going to be released during the next weeks, but, this month, there is no time for chit-chat! Let’s see together what is awaiting us just around the corner.

  • Combat Mission Shock Force 2 – 1st September
  • Crusader Kings III – 1st September
  • Rogue Summoner – 3rd September
  • Dungeon No Dungeon (E.A.) – 4th September
  • Necromunda: Underhive Wars – 8th September
  • Star Renegades – 8th September
  • As Far As The Eye – 10th September
  • The Dungeon of Naheulbeuk: The Amulet of Chaos – 17th September
  • Commanders of Valor – 19th September
  • Pendragon – 20th September
  • Baldur’s Gate 3 – 30th September
  • Soul Reaper – 30th September
  • Against The Moon – September

Tuesday - September 01, 2020

Grime - Announced for 2021

by Silver, 02:35

Grime is a new action RPG announced for 2021.

This might not be news if you’ve been watching IGN’s Awesome Indies event during Gamescom, but Akupara Games will be publishing Clover Bite’s highly anticipated title, GRIME. GRIME will launch sometime in 2021 on Steam.

Wishlist GRIME today!

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Destroy... Absorb... Grow... GRIME is a fast and unforgiving Action-Adventure RPG in which you crush your foes with living weapons that mutate form and function, and then consume their remains with a black hole to strengthen your vessel as you break apart a world of anatomical horror and intrigue.

An unusual material collapses in on itself, the world shudders and contracts, and suddenly you are squeezed into existence. What awaits you is a world unknown, alien in its own familiarity, and you must survive what terrors you face. Explore your surreal surroundings, absorb the many enemies you encounter, and use their own traits against them as you let yourself become far more than you once were.

GRIME lets you play to your preference, upgrading only those traits you feel most suited to your unique style. You’ll find there is more than one way to break open an enemy as you move through a variety of evocative environments, meet their inhabitants, and discover the source of their madness.

Feature List

  • Eye-Popping Surrealism - Explore weeping caves, face-covered deserts, and distinct civilizations all rendered in unearthly 3D. Face foes born from the world itself, and swallow them whole.
  • Living Weapons - Seamlessly swap weapons made of living creatures that mutate form during combat, from clawing swords to centipede whips.
  • Death-Defying Combat - Punish enemies by parrying their attacks, smash them from the ground or even airborne, and absorb them to grow your strength as you wage war on a living world.
  • Unique Skill Progression - Consume bosses to gain game-changing abilities. Hunt down and absorb challenging monsters to progress through your skills and bring true customization to your play style.
  • Explore an Abnormal World - Uncover mysterious secrets, meet otherworldly characters, and discover unique items - all in a breathtakingly organic, interconnected world.

If you want to keep up to date on all the development of GRIME, make sure you join the Discord! As always, feel free to connect with us on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook!

Find out what you’re made of -- and break everything else apart.

Monday - August 31, 2020

General News - Top 20 Turn Based Tactics Indie Games

Thursday - August 20, 2020

Black Myth: Wukong - Gameplay Demo Video

by Silver, 23:44

A gameplay demo video for Black Myth: WuKong.

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Black Myth WuKong Gameplay Trailer (New Upcoming RPG Game 2020) Official Website:  

http://heishenhua.com/

Saturday - August 08, 2020

Star Renegades - Video Preview

by Silver, 14:01

CogConnected have previewed Star Renegades.

Massive Damage, the indie developers behind Halcyon 6, have learned a lot from their first game, and their new follow-up Star Renegades has the potential to become a new indie classic. Star Renegades is a strategy RPG about an invading force of inter-dimensional robots who are slowly conquering and consuming the multiverse. In our time previewing the game hands-on, we found it to be something that’s shaping up to be pretty special. To watch our full preview video of the game, just hit play on the video below.

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Thanks Farflame!

Saturday - August 01, 2020

Dark Renaissance - New Historical Epic

by Silver, 22:59

The XBOX Hub reports on a new visual novel historical epic called Dark Renaissance which has been announced for 2021.

“Studio V is hard at work weaving an intricate web of political conspiracies and moral dilemmas for visual novel fans to sink their teeth into next year,” says Daniele Falcone, General Manager at VLG. “From what we’ve seen so far, DARK RENAISSANCE is set to reshape our definition of interactive storytelling through its unique portrayal of historically accurate events, many of which continue to inspire dark fantasy authors around the world today.”

Game features include:

  • The darkest and grittiest Renaissance epic ever built in a game
  • A massive historical tale set across the war-torn landscapes of Italy
  • Explore world-famous landmarks such as Venice, Florence and the mysterious swamps of Northern Italy
  • Meet the rockstars of the Renaissance: Leonardo, the Medici’s Family and many other icons of European history
  • Hundreds of opportunities for character development, romance and social linking
  • Unique staged combat sequences blending opera and brutal RPG action
  • A deep housing system to enjoy luxury, drugs, gambling and the notorious Italian lifestyle
  • An original symphonic score mixing and matching ancient and modern styles

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[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - July 29, 2020

Star Renegades - Launching in September

by Silver, 23:51

GameWatcher reports that turn based RPG Star Renegades is launching this September 8th.

Turn-based RPG Star Renegades now has a PC release date, publisher Raw Fury and developer Massive Damage announced today.

PC players ready to rebel against Star Renegades' authoritarian empire can do so starting with September 8, when the game is set to launch on Steam.

You participate in Star Renegades' endless interplanetary rebellion, by taking control of a squad of rebels who are able to "form bonds and create progeny", which grants access to alternative characters.

[...]

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Saturday - July 25, 2020

Sir Whoopass: Immortal Death - Announce Trailer

by Silver, 23:46

Sir Whoopass: Immortal Death has been announced with a trailer. Check out the Steam page here.

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Some are destined to be great heroes, others swing and miss. Meet Sir Whoopass, a try-hard hero with a heart of gold. Due to a series of hilarious and astoundingly poor life choices he manages to bring chaos and disarray to an utopian world. He must find The Villain-Beating Artifact on his quest to vanquish The Immortal, a mysterious recluse who for some reason is bringing down all manner of monsters and evil creatures on the world.

Key features:

  • Laugh until milk comes out your nose at a hilarious take on the ARPG genre, with witty dialogue, fun characters and a really twisted plot
  • Squeal with delight as you explore a "lagom" open world, full of foul monsters to slay, and a smorgasbord of loot to be found (*)
  • Feel the thrill and wind in your hair as you drive the Caliban Cruiser, a talking evil car that uses meat as fuel (a car-nivor)

    (*) Also, cheese.

Fable - Announce Trailer

by Silver, 23:42

An announcement trailer for Fable.

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Fable returns with a new beginning for the legendary franchise. Explore a land of fantastical creatures and wondrous places. Developed by Playground Games for Xbox Series X and Windows 10.

https://www.xbox.com/games/fable

Thursday - July 23, 2020

General News - Early Game in RPGs @ C4G

by Hiddenx, 14:51

C4G explains why the early game is important for RPGs:

Why is The Early Game in RPGs so IMPORTANT!

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Monday - July 13, 2020

Opinion - Are Western and Japanese RPGs so Different?

by Silver, 21:42
Game Maker's Toolkit ask whether Western and Japanese RPGs are so different.
 

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There's only one genre that we divide down strict geographical lines: the RPG. But western RPGs and Japanese RPGs have way more in common than you might first realise.

Aluna Sentinel of the Shards - Destiny Trailer

by Silver, 21:17

A trailer has appeared for action RPG Aluna Sentinel of the Shards which is set in the 16th Century New World.

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Following the comic book series “The World of Aluna”, co-written by the writers of the ASSASSINS CREED and BATMAN: ARKHAM ORIGINS games, You will play as our protagonist Aluna as we follow her quest set back in the 16th Century New World, as she tries to defend her powers from the evils that seek to destroy her.  This will be easier said then done as the fast paced action battles and challenges will dictate your every decision. Special thanks to Actress Paula Garces and Julio Macias for voicing the Video.

Thursday - July 09, 2020

General News - On the Radar: July 2020 @ TBL

by Hiddenx, 17:21

The TurnBasedLovers take a look at the upcoming turn-based games:

  • MONSTER LOGIC – 6th July
  • RIFT WIZARD (E.A.) – 6th July
  • SODA DUNGEON 2 – 9th July
  • ARIA CHRONICLE – 12nd July
  • DEAD AGE 2 – 16th July
  • VAGRUS: THE RIVEN REALM – 22nd July
  • THE FEUD – 22nd July
  • OTHERCIDE – 28th July
  • FAIRY TAIL – 30th July
  • Imperiums: Greek Wars – 30th July
  • MONSTER CROWN – 31st July
  • GUILE & GLORY: FIRSTBORN (E.A.) – July
  • AGAINST THE MOON – July

Thanks henriquejr!

Wednesday - July 08, 2020

Black Book - Prologue Free on Steam

by Silver, 22:36

Last month Black Book funded on Kickstarter.The games prologue is free to try on Steam if you want to check it out.

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About This Game

Black Book: Prologue is a free standalone version of the game, featuring an essential part of the story - the First Day of Vasilisa becoming a witch. Welcome to the mysterious, yet intriguing world of Black Book - an Adventure game mixed with deck building turn-based combat, inspired by the likes of Slay the Spire.In the game, you’ll step forth into the rural countryside as Vasilisa - an apprentice sorcerer, trained in witchcraft. Travel across the lands as you aid common folk by persuading - and sometimes battling - the otherworldly creatures of Slavic myth.
  • Uncover the seals of Black Book
    Unleash hellish spells on your enemies! Collect spell cards and new skills as you progress.
  • A Historic Adventure
    solve riddles and complete side-quests as you learn more about life in the countryside of olden Russia.
  • Myths and legends
    Explore a world based on Northern Russian mythology. Learn from an in-game encyclopedia, created with the help of expert anthropologists - and find all folk tales hidden within the game!
Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - July 01, 2020

General News - 10 Best Turn-Based Western RPGs

by Hiddenx, 18:26

TheGamer compiled a list of good turn-based RPGs:

10 Best Turn-Based Western RPGs Of All Time, Ranked

Though some of the best RPGs of all time were developed by Japanese studios, these 10 western development houses did the genre justice.

  1. South Park: The Stick Of Truth
  2. The Banner Saga Trilogy
  3. Wizardry 8
  4. Wasteland 2
  5. Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark
  6. Shadowrun: Dragonfall
  7. Pillars Of Eternity II: Deadfire
  8. XCOM 2
  9. Divinity Original Sin II
  10. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

[...]

Saturday - June 20, 2020

Starflight: The Remaking of a Legend - Elements, Rocks and Trees

by Silver, 09:50

Starflight: The Remaking of a Legend has a new update about elements, rocks and trees on alien planets.

Roll out, we've got another dev diary landing! This time Marvin continues to show us just how cool his new planet surfaces are by adding elements, rocks and trees to in his Starflight: The Remaking of a Legend project. Next article will cover big craters on battered worlds you can explore! :)

Twenty Two Elements

(Originally posted by Marvin 02/02/2019 HERE)

Elements

Sounds like the name of a rock band… Twenty-Two Elements. And yes, they are basically rocks.

This week, I’ve hunted for various rock and stone 3D models on the good old ‘net. After finding a bunch, I customized each one in an attempt to make them look like the 22 elements in the game that you can pick up using your terrain vehicle.

These elements are:

Aluminum, Antimony, Chromium, Cobalt, Copper, Endurium, Gold, Iron, Lead, Magnesium, Mercury, Molybdenum, Nickel, Platinum, Plutonium, Promethium, Rodnium, Silver, Tin, Titanium, Tungsten, and Zinc.

Of all these elements, two doesn’t exist in real life – Endurium and Rodnium. For all of the others, I looked around for reference photos and tried to base my creations somewhat in reality. Unfortunately, about 75% of the elements listed look like a silver rock. So I tried to make some variations in the silver color and shine.

Here is a video of a test scene with all 22 of the elements laid out. A few are easy to spot right away – such as gold, copper, and cobalt.

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[...]

Thanks Farflame!

EVERSPACE 2 - Gameplay Interview & Alpha Roadmap

by Silver, 09:40

PC Gamer spoke to ROCKFISH games about open world space action RPG/Sim EVERSPACE 2, which is said to be more RPG than its predecessor.

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During IGN’s Summer of Gaming presentation, Everspace 2 developer Michael Shade explained that the first Everspace was always intended to be an open-world space RPG. But the team's limited budget forced them to turn into a procedurally generated roguelike instead since crafting levels by hand was beyond what the team could realistically accomplish.

Now thanks to a two successful Kickstarter campaigns, Rockfish Games is able to make Everspace 2 the game it always wanted. Everspace 2 features a bigger galaxy to explore with handcrafted, persistent sectors of space to explore and get into some epic dog fights.

[...]

TheGG report on a press release that announces the closed Alpha roadmap for EVERSPACE 2.

Watch the Planetary Locations trailer:

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Watch the Alpha Launch trailer:

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The Closed Alpha gives players access to approximately 10 hours of gameplay including a story beat and free exploration, culminating in the first star system’s boss fight. In addition to new Ship Devices and Ultimate Abilities, players will be able to explore the all-new pilot and companion perk system.

While pilot perks are level-based, companion perks can be unlocked through various resources players gather along their journey.

Through main storyline content, scripted side missions, and various jobs, players will be able to reach the Closed Alpha cap of level 10. New ships, NPCs, and equipment have been added for players to discover as they explore even more regions in space, planetary locations, and cave systems in the game’s first solar system.

There are lots of handcrafted locations to discover in the first solar system; some won’t even be on the players’ radar until they stumble over them.

Thanks Farflame!

Chris Avellone - On Great RPGs and What the Future Holds

by Silver, 00:59

Chris Avellone was interviewed by IGN and asked - what makes a great RPG?

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Chris Avellone, writer of some of the best RPGs of all time (with credits on series' like Fallout, Baldur's Gate, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Divinity 2 and plenty more), discusses some of his thoughts on the hallmarks of great RPGs and what the future of the genre might bring.

Thanks Couchpotato!

 

Friday - June 19, 2020

Wolfstride - Turn-based Mech RPG

by Silver, 03:33

@Gematsu Wolfstride is a turn-based mech RPG announced for PC. Screenshots at the link.

Live the life of an aspiring Mech combat pilot in a world caught between the last gasps of a simpler time and the shimmering metal of a sprawling metropolis. Use skills and weapons to defeat other mechs in turn-based tactical combat. Make your way to the top by managing repairs, upgrading weapons, and learning new skills. Get to know the locals and build relationships to earn money doing odd jobs for them. Whatever it takes to win the Ultimate Mech Tournament.

Key Features

  • Fight – Battle opponents in a classic turn-based combat system. Use Movement Points to outmaneuver opponents. Spend action points to deliver precision strikes and crushing blows. Hone your piloting abilities to dominate the battlefield.
  • Manage – Keep your mech in top fighting shape and improve its capabilities in the hanger. Get in there and manually fix battle scars between fights. Add and upgrade weapons and skills to match your fighting style. Budget carefully, upgrades cost money you must earn taking odd jobs around town.
  • Live – Explore Rain city, one of the last remnants of the old world. Decide where to visit and when. Meet the residents, learn their relationships, and build friendships to get job offers. As a former Yakuza, you know all about doing dirty work, like washing cats.

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Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - June 18, 2020

Horizon Forbidden West - Developer Preview

by Silver, 22:19

A dev preview video for Horizon Forbidden West. Remember to turn on the subtitles.

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Developer's preview of post-apo sci-fi action RPG, successor to Horizon Zero Dawn with english subtitles.

Thanks Farflame!

Saturday - June 13, 2020

General News - Action Combat vs RPG Elements @ C4G

by Hiddenx, 20:45

Click4Gameplay explains why combining an action combat system with RPG elements is not always an easy task:

Action Combat vs RPG Elements

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Horizon Forbidden West - Announced

by Silver, 08:58

Horizon Forbidden West has been announced and is a direct sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn.

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Horizon Forbidden West continues Aloy’s story as she moves west to a far-future America to brave a majestic, but dangerous frontier where she’ll face awe-inspiring machines and mysterious new threats. Coming to PlayStation 5.

Wednesday - June 10, 2020

Final Fantasy - Best Battle Systems

by Silver, 11:46

CBR presents their list of the best Final Fantasy battle systems.

6. Charge Time Battle

Charge Time Battle was introduced in Final Fantasy Tactics. It uses a charge time meter that fills up to 100 to allow units to take action. Speed determines how quickly each unit's charge meter will refill. This system changes traditional video game battles into a virtual chess match within a 3D environment. It adds challenge and strategy to how players battle, as they need to consider the movements of the enemy and AI-controlled party members to plan their next move. You can easily miss receiving a healing spell or potion if you move out of range of a friendly AI character.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Opinion - Which RPG is right for you?

by Silver, 11:34

Gameinformer have sorted recommended RPGs by categories to aid your search for the next RPG to play.

Story-Driven Appeal

Do you enjoy deep, labyrinthine storylines and fully developed characters? You may read a lot of text in these RPGs, but they’re worth the eyestrain.

Whether you’re exploring metaphysical quandaries in Torment: Tides of Numenera or taking on societal injustices in Persona 5 Royal, there’s no shortage of intriguing plots to explore. Trails of Cold Steel weaves a complex and bonkers storyline about military politics, friendship, and the impact of war that spans multiple games.

The thought-provoking Disco Elysium eschews traditional RPG trappings for a more dialogue-heavy approach, creating a uniquely introspective and dark journey of a detective battling his inner demons. There’s a reason why Andrzej Sapkowski’s Witcher series has earned such a sterling reputation, and that extends to the games. The Witcher 3 is CD Projekt Red’s most ambitious narrative and capitalizes on the novels’ rich lore, but stands out as a rare example of a game committed to putting the player in truly ambiguous moral situations; choices are neither celebrated nor condemned, leaving you to ponder your decisions.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Hammerting - Dwarven Mining Sim/RPG

by Silver, 11:30

TheGG reports that Hammerting will be coming to PC in 2020. The game features multi-faceted gameplay mechanics including crafting, deep base building, combat, and exploration as players manage a colony of industrious dwarves.

Players will be tasked with helping the colony as it strives to develop and craft new weapons to help aid their Overworld allies during an epic war against evil; during the course of Hammerting, they will face unique challenges, from goblin raids on their caverns to traversing the darkest corners for the most valuable ores to loot. A closer look at Hammerting is available to watch right now, with the launch of a new developer diary video series, Into The Forge.

Key features:
Dwarf management: As the colony increases in size, active management of the dwarves, including the friendships they make and their morale, will be key to helping the war effort
Base building: Bore and upgrade a variety of rooms, from forges and sculpting studios to taverns and auxiliary functions and help the colony craft the ultimate base
Crafting: Build and upgrade a wide variety of items through a deep leveling up system
Exploration: Venture into the bowels of the mountainside & face increasingly perilous situations
Combat: Different dwarves for different combat situations; harness weapons from swords to two-handed hammers to overcome goblin invaders

[...]

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Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - June 09, 2020

The Unliving - Announced

by Silver, 06:39

@TheGG Dark fantasy action RPG The Unliving has been announced. The game is a blend of roguelite and real-time strategy gameplay.

In The Unliving, players wield the dark art of necromancy to command a growing army of the undead through a mystical world, wreaking havoc across humanity’s domains and turning fallen enemies into morbid servants.

While the Necromancer may control the undead even he cannot escape death; with each reincarnation, players must learn from their mistakes, forge new strategies, and overcome the living, all while trying to unravel the secrets buried deep in forgotten corners of the world of The Unliving.

[...]

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Thanks Farflame!

Saturday - June 06, 2020

General News - The Qaedon Wars - Review

by Hiddenx, 21:35

The RPG Crawler checked out the strategy RPG The Qaedon Wars:

Indie Game Friday - The Qaedon Wars

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Thursday - June 04, 2020

General News - Rewarding Exploration @ C4G

by Hiddenx, 17:25

How to make exploration rewarding in RPGs? C4G has some answers:

The Importance of Rewarding EXPLORATION In RPGs

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Tuesday - June 02, 2020

General News - On The Radar - June 2020 @ TBL

by Hiddenx, 18:47

The Turn Based Lovers checked out which tatical games will be released in June:

On The Radar – June 2020

[...]

I simply love to discover unknown games, try them and, sometimes, find among them the “hidden gem”!
As usual this month we have some big releases (like Griftlands) but also tons of “true indie” games. Let’s give them a chance, I know for sure that, despite some flaws, behind those games there is always a lot of love!

THE DUNGEON PARADOX – 3rd June (e.a.)
CARRIER BATTLE 4 GUADALCANAL – 4th June
HERETIC’S LOT: PROLOGUE – 8th June
DECK OF ASHES – 09th June
1971: PROJECT HELIOS – 09th June
FRAG – 10th June (e.a.)
WARBORN – 12th June
LAST REGIMENT – 15th June
TAINTED GRAIL – 25th June (e.a.)
CHAOS GALAXY – June
GRIFTLANDS – June

[...]

Monday - May 25, 2020

General News - Maneater Released

by Silver, 05:02

Maneater has been released on Epic Game Store.

Become a Maneater!

Starting as a small shark pup you are tasked with surviving the harsh world while eating your way up the ecosystem. To do this you will explore a large and varied open world encountering diverse enemies - both human and wildlife. Find the right resources and you can grow and evolve far beyond what nature intended, allowing the player to become a massive shark, an apex predator of legends. Eat. Explore. Evolve.

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Thanks Shagnak!

Sunday - May 17, 2020

Adventure in Aellion - Early Access July 22nd

by Silver, 10:12

TheGG reports that a Zelda-like ARPG Adventure in Aellion will be available to try in Steam Early Access July 22nd.

28 APRIL 2020 – The Game Production Company announced today that their debut fantasy playground “Adventure in Aellion” will be launching into Steam Early Access on 22 July 2020, alongside a brand new trailer and free public beta.

Adventure in Aellion is an open-world fantasy epic combining the game style of classic Legend of Zelda with seamless drop-in, drop-out multiplayer to create a world ripe for exploration.

During its Early Access development, Aellion’s open world will grow to be an expansive adventure brimming with secrets. With a faithful steed of your choosing, ride through unknown landscapes and bustling towns, or head straight to the darkest dungeon you can find. Unlock tools and treasures to help you in your quest, or take on the toughest enemies with your fists alone – the choice is yours.

Designed for anyone to be able to pick up and play, Adventure in Aellion pairs simple controls with tricky puzzles – no matter your experience, anyone can be a hero of Aellion.

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Thanks Farflame!

Saturday - May 09, 2020

General News - Square-Enix RPGs that need to be remade

by Hiddenx, 19:27

Ginger Prime suggests seven Square-Enix RPGs that should be remade:

 Top 7

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Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Trials of Mana Remake, and now Nier remake, what other RPGs do we want to see Square-Enix remake? For me, what I thought would be a top 5 list, turned into a top 7 list of RPGs that I would love to see make a return.

Wednesday - May 06, 2020

Back to the Wasteland - Interview with Developers of Post-Apocalyptic RPGs

by Silver, 21:53

Wireframe interviewed the developers of isometric post-apocalyptic games like Underrail, ATOM, Wasteland 3, Broken Roads and Death Trash to talk about the influence of Fallout.

SPLITTING THE ATOM

Compared to Underrail, Atom Team’s ATOM RPG is somewhat closer to a typical Fallout experience, since it allows you to explore above ground in the ruins of a post-nuclear wasteland. But ATOM RPG nevertheless provides a unique perspective, since it takes place on the other side of the Iron Curtain in the mid-eighties. Small towns are full of tired-looking inhabitants, and the streets are lined with the once-proud relics of the Communist regime.

“We didn’t want it to be too Mad Max,” explains Anton Krasilnikov, the writer and designer on ATOM RPG. “We also thought [the setting] would be interesting. We all live in post-Soviet countries, so it’s much easier in a way to show.”

ATOM RPG began life as a high school project made by lead programmer Dmitriy Martynenko and 3D modeller Ivan Semenov. Inspired by their love of the original Fallout, the pair wanted to create a game in the same style, but ended up putting the project on hold when they realised the amount of time and resources it would require.

[...]

“Since then, the idea got a bit broader,” says Hövelbrinks. “The world of Death Trash is from my own ideas and lots of different sources for inspiration. The general gameplay/genre target I would define as halfway between old-school RPGs and modern indie action games.”

Death Trash takes place in a future where humanity has relocated to the planet Nexus, where cosmic terrors lurk in the shadows, and killer robots have risen against their makers. In this chaotic world, players assume the role of a raider living among the ruins, and will have to navigate these obstacles with care.

“Where Death Trash differs most [from Fallout] I think is in its world, which is more colourful, more alien, and more dreamlike,” says Hövelbrinks. “The setting is a wild mix of things, ranging from horrifying and grotesque to occasional light humour, and our goal is to merge all of that into an organic and atmospheric experience.”

Friday - May 01, 2020

General News - On The Radar @ Turnbased Lovers

by Myrthos, 17:02

Turnbased Lovers has an overview of upcoming turnbased games, some of which are RPGs or RPGish.

ATOM RPG Trudograd (E.A.) – 11th May

Another expansion for another very good game. I bought ATOM RPG as soon as it was released, back in 2018, because it reminded me a lot the firsts two fallout games. But at the launch, the game was a bit disappointing (mind you that we’re talking about a very indie project). Nonetheless, there was great potential in the game.
I really hope that this standalone expansion can express the full potential of AtomTeam.

About its content we will have:

  • A large city with its own lore and dozens of varying locations to fight, trade, talk and explore in;
  • A hardcore turn-based experience with huge amounts of character development paths, combat styles, skills, perks and distinctions;
  • Unique characters each with their own personality and a robust branching dialogue;
  • Multiple-solution quests, which actively change the city around you;
  • Ability to transfer your hero from our previous game (Atom RPG);
  • An easy game to pick up. While Trudograd is a continuation of the first game’s plot, it is also friendly towards new players, and will quickly fill you in on the lore and major developments you might have missed;
  • A result of a two year long community effort, made by players for players. This game encompasses a lot of changes from our previous title, that were inspired by user feedback.

As usual on Steam.

Thursday - April 30, 2020

General News - What makes a good RPG Dungeon?

by Hiddenx, 17:22

Felipe Pepe tries to answer the question "What makes a good (C)RPG dungeon?":

What makes a good RPG dungeon?

A look at 11 great video game dungeons

I don’t want to dwell much on this, so I’ll just use D&D’s definition from the 3rd Edition Dungeon Master Guide:

THE DUNGEON AS ADVENTURE SETTING
The term "dungeon" is a loose one. A dungeon is usually underground, but an aboveground site can be a dungeon as well. Some DMs apply the term to virtually any adventure site. For this discussion, a dungeon is an enclosed, defined space made up of encounter areas connected in some fashion.

I like that, and it works well for both tabletop RPGs and computer & console RPGs (which I’ll hereby just call “CRPGs”). But what’s a good dungeon?

It may sound obvious, but a good dungeon in a CRPG must fit its game. For example, I enjoy the massive spaghetti-from-hell dungeons of Daggerfall:

[...]

Thursday - April 23, 2020

General News - Game Sales Up, Production Down

by Myrthos, 15:58

The New York Times have an article on game development and game sales during the corona crisis. Amongst other Larian's Swen Vincke had something to say about the impact on game developement.

During the early days of self-quarantine at Larian Studios, the independent video game developer founded in Ghent, Belgium, morale remained high. Designers and engineers, many of whom worked remotely (the company has 300 employees across five countries), were able to continue to do so, building levels and writing code from their homes.

“The very first week, it went really well,” said Swen Vincke, the chief executive at Larian, which makes popular role-playing games like Divinity: Original Sin and the upcoming Baldur’s Gate 3. “Everyone had all the information they needed to just smoothly go work from home.”

But as the company entered the second and third weeks of social isolation amid the coronavirus pandemic, problems began to emerge. Parents have to work while caring for young children. Some employees have found themselves working limited or unusual hours, which has led to reduced productivity and communication struggles. And with Larian’s external partners closing or transitioning to remote work, everything has slowed down.

“We started seeing more stress on the leads in terms of communication,” Mr. Vincke said. “We’d spend all of our days just communicating — trying to solve problems, organize things, give direction.”

 

Monday - April 13, 2020

Comparing online ARPGs - Wolcen, Diablo, Grim Dawn, Path of Exile

by Silver, 21:22

MassivelyOP compared the major action RPGs currently available meaning Wolcen, Diablo, Grim Dawn, Path of Exile.

Grim Dawn

Grim Dawn is probably the most traditional of the major ARPG titles on the market right now. If you want a spiritual successor to Diablo II, this is probably your best bet. Its most unique feature is the way it allows players to choose two classes and invest equally in both their skill trees.

As I’ve written before, Grim Dawn is an exercise in the difference between story and lore. Its lore is great. It’s built a rich and unique setting by combining elements of fantasy, steampunk, and Gothic horror. However, the best thing that could be said about the storyline is that it does, technically, exist.

It also suffers from very slow and unrewarding character progress past the early levels — a relic of its old school methodology — and the requirement that all members of a party own exactly the same expansions and DLC can make playing with friends challenging. It is however free of other micro-transactions, for those who are concerned with such things.

Overall, Grim Dawn is a solid ARPG experience, and traditionalists will love it, but for those looking for something more unique, it doesn’t have much to offer beyond a fresh setting.

[...]

Friday - April 10, 2020

1971 Project Helios - Releasing Q2 2020

by Silver, 22:11

1971 Project Helios is a turn-based strategy game set in a frozen post apocalypse and due to release Q2 2020.

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1971 Project Helios is a turn-based strategy game which combines modern warfare military tactics and close combat. Firearms and vehicles are scarce, conflicts and hostilities have no end, and the terrible freezing cold annihilates friends and foes in its path.

Eight characters have to join forces for a common cause: find an important scientist kidnapped by a massive stratocracy. Along their way they will have to avoid raider attacks, investigate military headquarters, and infiltrate into the territory of a dangerous anti-technological religious sect.

FEATURES

  • Tactical Combat Fight against three different factions, each one with its unique units, strategy and advantages. Soldiers, snipers, slippery bandits, knights immune to cold… Study your enemies, plan out every move and adapt to all confrontations!

  • Exploration Travel through various locations, from military enclaves to medieval dungeons. There you can search for fulgor, new equipment for your characters, and pieces of information of the world you are in and the factions you face.

  • Skill Trees As you find equipment compatible with each character, you can unlock and upgrade new skills, and combine them to make the perfect builds for your strategy.

  • Resource Management Use all the fulgor you can find to defreeze your HP, decrease the cooldowns, and reanimate your fallen units.

STORY

The campaign sets in a frozen world, in which eight people – each one with its own problems and interests – join in a sort of temporary alliance, to find one particular person: Dr Margaret Blythe. On the trail of her whereabouts, they will travel and fight shoulder to shoulder, and they inevitably get to know the others. Depending on some strategic and personal decisions, you will guide this characters right to one of three possible endings.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York - Shadows of New York Expansion

by Silver, 07:33

A new expansion for Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York has been announced called Shadows of New York.

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A stand-alone expansion and a companion piece to Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York. While Coteries was a general introduction to the world depicted in the 5th Edition of the hit tabletop role-playing game, Shadows presents a more personal and unique tale.

Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - April 09, 2020

Dreamscaper: Prologue - Action RPG free on Steam

by Silver, 04:08

DSOGaming reports action RPG Dreamscaper: Prologue is free on Steam. It is essentially a demo for the full game.

Afterburner Studios has released Dreamscaper: Prologue on the PC. Dreamscaper: Prologue is basically a free demo of the full game that will get you familiar with the game mechanics. In order to celebrate this launch, the team has also released a new trailer that you can find below.

[...]

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Sunday - April 05, 2020

Windbound - 3rd-Person Survival Adventure Coming to PC and Console

by Silver, 12:07

TheGG reports that 3rd-person survival adventure game Windbound is coming to PC and Console August 28th.

Reading, 3rd April 2020 | Deep Silver has announced new indie IP “Windbound” will be available digitally on the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, Nintendo Switch™ and PC on 28th August.

Created by Australian developer 5 Lives Studios, Windbound is a beautiful rogue-like 3rd-person survival adventure, fuelled by hunting, exploration and crafting.

The player assumes the role of Kara who has been shipwrecked on an unknown land and must learn to adapt and survive, while solving the mysteries of a series of forgotten islands.

Windbound takes the survival genre in a new direction, focusing on nomadic hunting and exploration, together with custom boat building and an immersive tactile sailing experience. The game provides endless replayability options thanks to the procedural world, dynamic wildlife and modular boat crafting.

[...]

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Saturday - April 04, 2020

Regions of Ruin - Free to Keep

by Silver, 21:11

Regions of Ruin is an adventure/RPG game that is currently free to keep until 7 Apr @ 6:00pm. There is only a limited number available through.

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Ever wonder what would happen if Kingdom met a broad, skill based open world RPG? Welcome to Regions of Ruin.

Regions of Ruin is a 2D side-scrolling RPG with town-building where you are introduced to an open world that progressively challenges your hero and settlement the further you delve into the vast continent.

You will discover a foreboding land ravaged by hundreds of years of hardship. Where, kingdoms have risen and fallen, settlements have been laid to waste and overrun by warring groups, and great mysteries lay hidden and waiting to be unearthed - assuming you can defeat their jealous guardians.


Main Features include:

• Styled combat system with stats and levelling
• Skill tree to focus your fighting style
• Extensive loot and rare items to discover
• Forge your own equipment or smelt it for resources
• Open world exploration with a hand crafted environment, no randomized maps or levels, everything you see has been made with care
• Customised town building and expansion
• Rescue and recruit dwarves for your township (save them from extinction!)
• Send workers to harvest resources from explored regions
• Hire Mercenaries to help in battle
• Multitude of Quests and a main storyline

Wednesday - April 01, 2020

Witcher 4 - A Prequel Starring Ciri?

by Silver, 21:21

GamePressure reports on a rumour from a reliable source who states that the Witcher 4 will be a prequel starring Ciri.

Some few days ago, anonymous sources revealed to us the plans of the studio, and made it clear on the occasion that she was the team' favourite from the very beginning of work on W4. Reds are convinced that The Witcher must have a distinctive protagonist and Geralt's step daughter - in their opinion - is perfectly suited for this. Even if we remember about Cirilla's enormous powers, which made her an unstoppable killing machine in Wild Hunt, the devs have allegedly found a way to make it work. As the source reports, the action of the new game is supposed to take place before the events told in The Witcher 3, and that means that The Witcher 4 will be a prequel!

Let's be honest here, the idea itself sounds quite interesting. Given such a premise, the new game could not only focus more strongly on the events described in Sapkowski's books (we remind that recently both parties signed a new cooperation agreement), but also fill in the empty gaps left in Ciri's resume by the writer. Under no circumstances should we be concerned about the gameplay, as despite Ciri's aforementioned extraordinary powers and skills in wielding a sword, we could simply be developing them from zero up to the level known from The Witcher 3. Yet another interesting idea would be to lead the plot of The Witcher 4 to the starting point of Wild Hunt, including the development of her relationship with Avallac'h, but these are only our loose theories.

[...]

Mortal Shell - Announced

by Silver, 20:57

Gematsu reports that action RPG Mortal Shell will launch Q3 on Steam and other platforms.

Publisher Playstack and developer Cold Symmetry have announced Mortal Shell, an “uncompromising, authentic, and hauntingly beautiful” action RPG built upon the “ruthless traditions of the soulslike genre.” It will launch for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam in Q3 2020.

[...]

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General News - Half Past Fate released

by Hiddenx, 20:11

The adventure RPG Half Past Fate has been released:

Half Past Fate - Launch Trailer

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Love is in the air, but work, life, and spicy Ramen keep getting in the way! From 8 hours to 8 years, this time-jumping saga will change the way you feel about fate forever.

Tuesday - March 31, 2020

General News - Turn Based Games in April

by Hiddenx, 20:24

The Turn Based Lovers give us an overview which turn based games will be released in April 2020:

"Waiting for the sun" – The Doors

Whoever is interested by the quarantine for the Covid-19 can really understand what is “the sun” I’m waiting for…
In the place where I’m writing, Italy, the sun is not just a star but a hope of normality, not a mirage but something to believe in.
But this is serious matter and I’m aware that today we’re here to talk about our common passion: videogames! So the “question of the day” is: can a bunch of bytes cures this damned virus?

Obviously nobody can really think so, but I’m convinced that if a “cure” is something that concern, not just our body, but also our spirit, than we can believe that even a simple videogames can lessen our suffering. During the past weeks (and still now) I was forced to stay at home… ever… and I cannot even think what would have happened to my mind without a good turn-based game, or a good book in my hand, in other words, without something capable of bring me somewhere else.
We are human beings and in order to maintain our mental health we have always to look forward and hope for our best, so even under these particular circumstances I think is right to talk about which videogames await us during the next month.

Despite the virus time goes fast and, with Spring, comes also another month full of indie releases.
To tell you the truth, beside a plethora of “not very well-known” games, this time we have also a few major releases. It would be enough to mention Gears Tactics or Alder’s Blood to get satisfaction, but under the surface we can find also some others interesting titles like, for examples, Celestian Tales: Realms Beyond (an indie game which takes inspiration from the classic JRPGs), Dread Nautical (the new turn-based release from the talented ZenStudios) or, even, Sentinels of Freedom (which seems me a to me a turn-based version of the glorious Freedom Force!).

This month there are – really! – a lot of games so pardon me if I’ll be a bit brief 😉!

[...]

Saturday - March 28, 2020

The Deed - Free to Keep Until Monday

by Silver, 19:45

@Bluesnews The Deed is an adventure RPG game that is free to keep forever until Monday afternoon.

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A keenly dark twist on the traditional murder mystery setting, The Deed is an Adventure/RPG game about getting away with murder.

Arran Bruce, the rightful heir to Dunshiel House, returns to his family home after discovering that his abusive father has decided to disinherit him from his Will in favour of his sadistic, deranged young sister. In a fit of anger and greed, Arran has decided to remove his sister from the equation in order to restore his own inheritance. Can he manage to get away with such a foul deed?

  • Meet the Family:
    Explore Dunshiel House and encounter Arran's twisted, dysfunctional family and their servants. Take care, though - everything that you say or do can have an impact on the outcome of The Deed!

  • Choose the Weapon:
    A rope, a candlestick or good old-fashioned rat poison? There are many household items that can be put to a dark and nefarious use. Choose carefully from ten possible murder weapons, bearing in mind who might become a suspect as a result of your selection.

  • Plant the Evidence:
    Father, mother, maid, butler ... any of these individuals could take the blame for your heinous act, if you can find the right evidence, plant it in the right location and manage to raise the suspicions of the Inspector.

  • Face the Inspector:
    When the deed is done, it's time to face the music and be interviewed by the wily, perceptive Inspector. Can you dodge his questions and avert his suspicions? Will you walk away a free man? Many possible endings await ...

Sunday - March 15, 2020

General News - The Problem with Levelling

by Hiddenx, 16:54

Click4Gameplay examines the problem with levelling in RPGs:

The Problem With LEVELLING In RPGs and Different Progression Methods

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It’s really hard to imagine a role playing game without character levels, because we usually associate that with getting stronger. Creating a sense of character progression by levelling up, is much more than just gaining experience and watching that number go up.

Saturday - March 07, 2020

General News - New Harry Potter RPG?

by Silver, 12:10

TweakTown reports that an Harry Potter RPG maybe on its way.

A new job listing for Avalanche Software seeks a lighting wizard for a "soon to be announced AAA title," and it's probably that new Harry Potter game.

According to a job listing filed just yesterday, WB Games is gearing up for a big game reveal. Since it's Avalanche's game, we expect it to be the new Wizarding World RPG. "Avalanche Software, a WB Games studio, seeks a Lighting Technical Artist to work closely with a talented group of artists and engineers on an exciting, soon to be announced AAA title," reads the listing.

[...]

Thursday - March 05, 2020

General News - 5 RPGs that destroyed their Franchise

by Hiddenx, 20:18

Click4Gameplay have collected some RPG franchise killers:

5 RPGs That DESTROYED Their Franchise

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Monday - March 02, 2020

Opinion - Swen Vincke's Brave Presentation

by Silver, 11:18

GamePressure took a look at Swen Vincke's presentation of Baldur's Gate 3 and admired his honesty.

And yes: you can argue that the presentation may have taken place too early, that pre-alpha games are not suitable for live shows, that so many bugs and glitches just made it look bad. But check it out: So what? Swen boldly took a piece of unfinished code to an event addressed to gamers rather than the people of the industry. He took it knowing fully well that the game would probably crash at some point, that he would be standing alone on the stage, completely vulnerable. He showed us a substantial fragment of something that, although still stumbling, is very much alive, molding and evolving. And for that, I'm incredibly grateful – for the courage, for reaching out to us, the fans and gamers – without the boring glare of big screens, E3 conferences, and unnecessary marketing babble about what a special and amazing community we are.

[...]

Genshin Impact - Zelda like JRPG

by Silver, 10:55

DSOGaming reports on JRPG Genshin Impact which is being compared to Zelda: BOTW.

Genshin Impact promises to feature a unique combat system thanks to the impressive legacy of miHoYo’s earlier titles. The new gameplay mechanics are based on elemental properties and interactions, allowing The Traveler to utilize different element attacks and magic in varied combinations to deal devastating blows to enemies.

[...]

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Sunday - March 01, 2020

General News - RPG Retrospective: Phantasy Star

by Hiddenx, 19:18

Risky Bitness looks back at Phantasy Star from 1987:

RPG Retrospective: Phantasy Star

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Recently I've been revisiting classic RPGs to experience some games I've missed as well as replay some that I either really loved or never finished.

Sunday - February 23, 2020

1428: Shadows over Silesia - Historical Adventure/RPG

by Silver, 19:54

1428: Shadows over Silesia is described as a dark action adventure game set within a background of true historical events that occurred in Medieval Europe. The game features challenging puzzles, difficult battles, and stealth passages.

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Story

Europe is in the middle of religious upheaval and many preachers predict that the end of the world is near. The year is 1428 and the Hussites have just set out on their Silesian campaign. These heretics appear to be the biggest threat in the kingless country. But true evil of a completely different kind is lurking nearby and it will not engage in religious disputes.

Key characteristics

  • An interesting story, with true historical events in the background.
  • Linear gameplay based on chapters and levels.
  • Challenging riddles and puzzles in the style of classic adventure games.
  • Exploration of underground dungeons, caves, monasteries, or castles.
  • Isometric, stylized, slightly fairytale-like, but mostly dark low poly graphics.
  • Stealth passages.
  • A combat system where being outnumbered is a problem.

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - February 19, 2020

World of Horror - Early Access Preview

by Hiddenx, 20:32

IndianNoob checked out the roguelite World of Horror:

World of Horror Early Access Preview :: 1 Bit Macabre

Even though I was born in the early ’90s, a large part of my childhood was spent around technology from the ’80s. The state of India which I grew up in wasn’t the most technologically advanced place. We’d generally be 5-10 years behind the rest of the world when it came to electronic entertainment. Hence, I have a soft spot for all things retro in games and love me some good 1-bit art. There’s a reason The Return of the Obra Din became one of my favourite indies experiences in recent memory.

Now developer panstasz has brought us World of Horror, a bizarre mix of ’80s RPGs and roguelite adventures. The soon-to-be-released Early Access game is marketed as a 1-bit love letter to the works of Junji Ito and H.P. Lovecraft. People who have been following my writings knows me to be a huge Lovecraft buff but mangas (and JRPGs) are something I’m just not a big fan of. However, I whole-heartedly appreciate Junji Ito’s trypophobia-inducing illustrations and his contributions to the horror manga industry. Setting my prejudices aside, here’s me telling you what works and what doesn’t work in World of Horror.

[...]

Tuesday - February 18, 2020

General News - The Most Anticipated RPGs of 2020

by Silver, 07:11

GamePressure share their list of the most anticipated RPGs of 2020.

Dark Envoy

  1. Genre: RPG
  2. Release date: 2020
  3. Platforms: PC, PS4, XONE
  4. Developer: Event Horizon

I have a feeling that Dark Envoy may turn out to be one of the biggest surprises of this year. Or maybe I'm just being seduced by every trailer with Blues Saraceno music?

Dark Envoy was announced as an ambitious, complex video game, which draws inspiration from Mass Effect, and above all from the Divinity: Original Sin series. This means that we'll get a powerful tactical RPG with turn-based combat, a great world to explore, and complex relationships between heroes. The main protagonists are two siblings who are repairing their parents' ship to embark on a great expedition.

The world itself also looks promising as it mixes the arcane-punk style (a combination of magic and technology) with a spaghetti western. The world is dominated by people who have brought old races to the brink of extinction due to their new technology. The reality presented in such a way creates a great opportunity for good scriptwriters to show off. We will visit vast lands, cities and dungeons (the latter are randomly generated), discover their secrets and take part in battles with powerful opponents. Our tactical skills and abilities will decide whether we end up victorious. We'll embark on this journey alone or, like in Divinity, in cooperation mode.

The Event Horizon has developed quite a successful Tower of Time, so we can remain calm about the quality of this Dark Envoy.

Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - February 09, 2020

Blue Protocol - Upcoming Action RPG from Bandai Namco

by Silver, 20:37

DSOGaming reports on action RPG Blue Protocol.

Bandai Namco has released a brand new trailer for its upcoming PC action RPG, Blue Protocol. Blue Protocol will be using Unreal Engine 4, will feature a third-person perspective and anime-like visuals.

Furthermore, the game will feature real-time combat mechanics and a new beta phase will begin soon. This closed beta phase will begin in March, and registrations will open on February 12th.

[...]

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Saturday - February 08, 2020

Chained Echoes - Deck 13 to Publish for PC, Switch and PS4

by Silver, 06:57

Gematsu reports on Kickstarter funded JRPG Chained Echoes new publisher Deck 13. The game will be available for Switch, PC and PS4.

Deck13 Spotlight, the publishing label of Deck13 Interactive, will publish Chained Echoes, the 16-bit Japanese-style RPG developed by independent studio Ark Heiral funded on Kickstarter back in February 2019. It will launch for PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC via Steam in late 2021.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - February 02, 2020

General News - Top 50 PC RPGs

by Hiddenx, 14:40

Rock Paper Shotgun updated their top 50 PC RPG list:

The best RPGs on PC

There are a lot of good RPGs, aren’t there? This list of the best RPGs was compiled by the collected minds of Adam Smith, Brendan Caldwell, Katharine Castle, Sin Vega, Matthew Castle and Graham Smith.

In the most recent update to this list, we removed 12 games: Dark Souls 3, Divinity: Original Sin, Diablo 2, The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall, UnReal World, ADOM, Wasteland 2, Wizardry VIII, Recettear: An Item’s Shop Tale, Torchlight 2, Risen and Hand Of Fate. They all remain great games, and the reasons for dismissal vary. With Dark Souls 3 and Original Sin, we decided we’d rather just recommend one game from their respective series. With Hand Of Fate and Diablo 2, we did a straight swap with their sequels. For some of the others, we felt that age had finally caught up with them, or at least that there were newer games we’d recommend first.

Here’s the full list as it currently stands, with the new additions noted.

The best RPGs on PC

    1. Divinity: Original Sin 2
    2. Dark Souls
    3. The Witcher 3
    4. Mass Effect 2
    5. Dragon Age: Origins
    6. Deus Ex
    7. Baldur’s Gate 2
    8. Disco Elysium [new entry]
    9. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
    10. System Shock 2
    11. Undertale
    12. Nier: Automata
    13. Yakuza 0 [new entry]
    14. Stardew Valley
    15. Planescape: Torment
    16. Path Of Exile [new entry]
    17. Pillars Of Eternity
    18. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
    19. Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster [new entry]
    20. NEO Scavenger
    21. Monster Hunter World
    22. Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
    23. Sunless Skies
    24. Fallout: New Vegas
    25. Mount & Blade: Warband
    26. Legend Of Grimrock II
    27. Darkest Dungeon
    28. Fallout
    29. Ultima VII
    30. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
    31. Final Fantasy XII [new entry]
    32. Anachronox
    33. Shadowrun Dragonfall Director’s Cut
    34. Star Traders: Frontiers [new entry]
    35. Dragon Quest 11 [new entry]
    36. Titan Quest
    37. Arcanum: Of Steamworks And Magick Obscura
    38. Brogue
    39. Six Ages: Ride Like the Wind [new entry]
    40. The Witcher 2: Assassins Of Kings [new entry]
    41. Avernum: Escape From The Pit
    42. Kenshi
    43. Din’s Curse
    44. Vampire: Bloodlines
    45. Chrono Trigger [new entry]
    46. Diablo 3 [new entry]
    47. Dwarf Fortress
    48. Hand Of Fate 2 [new entry]
    49. Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask Of The Betrayer
    50. Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom [new entry]

Saturday - February 01, 2020

General News - On the Radar - February 2020

by Silver, 11:37

TurnBasedLovers share their list of upcoming notable turn-based games releasing in February.

For sure in February there will be two important Early Access releases, one is Urtuk and the other one is Stoneshard. The first one is a tactical turn-based RPG with open-world features, set in a dark fantasy universe. About Stoneshard we wrote a lot in the past and in my humble opinion it will be one of the most outstanding Open World RPG of this year.

For games who goes in E.A. other ones leaves this shores, like Conglomerate 451, a grid-based dungeon crawler set in a cool cyberpunk world!

Other than that February will also bring us a couple of interesting oriental games finally translated in English (we’re talking about Banner of the maid and Labyrinth of the Witch) and a lot of other indie games of which I’ve never heard about…

[...]

Wednesday - January 29, 2020

Elderborn - Gameplay Trailer

by Silver, 20:15

A gameplay trailer for Elderborn which is described as a Metal AF* Slasher with brutal FPP melee combat and souls-like/RPG character progression.

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ELDERBORN - a Metal Action Fantasy Slasher with brutal FPP melee combat and souls-like/RPG character progression. Steam.

The game is full of fantasy violence and gore - just the way you like your FPP games.

The problem is - Google and Facebook won't allow promoting our main trailer: https://youtu.be/kR0Qg6Pcrqs So... we had to put something together. How's that, GoogBook? Everything in order now, mr. AI thought policeman?

Platforms: PC (available now), Xbox, PS4, Switch (later in 2020) Release dates: 30 January 2020 (full steam release), 11 October 2018 (Steam Early Access), Q2-Q3 2020 (console version)

Saturday - January 25, 2020

General News - WitchBrook News Update

by Silver, 10:45

WitchBrook is a Stardew Valley type game crossed with Harry Potter.

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WitchBrook is A Game currently being devloped by ChuckleFish! The people who Published Stardew valley! Witchbrook is inspired by stardew valley and Harry Potter where you play as a student learning magic at Witchbrooks ( HOGWARTS) You get to go to potions class and live out your dream of going to hogwarts, there is plenty to do but not too much has been released about the game. I go over everything we know ! If your a fan of Harry Potter, Stardew Valley, Or Graveyard Keeper your probably going to love this Next Big hit From Chucklefish !

Wednesday - January 22, 2020

Shadows of Larth - Set for February Release

by Silver, 07:23

OnlySP reports on Shadows of Larth which is described as a fast-paced RPG lite game.

Shadows of Larth is a third-person, fast-paced, action-adventure title that showcases stunning, visceral combat from independent developer Zine FALOUTI.

Independent game developer Zine E Falouti‘s Shadows of Larth is an epic fantasy set in a Medieval and Bronze era inspired by Mediterranean culture. The Marked Guild sends players as one of five champions to “heal the wounds of the Land or ignore it and walk your path learn new abilities and forge powerful blades to fight strong, legendary and famous enemies, carve your own path to become one of The Heroes of Larth.”

[...]

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Thanks Farflame!

Starflight: The Remaking of a Legend - Dev Diary 17

by Silver, 07:11

Dev Diary 17 for the  Starflight: The Remaking of a Legend project shows a new video tour of the docking bay and starmap. Also there is a new forum.

Greetings! Time for another dev diary! This time Marvin gives us a cool new tour video of the game and shows off his new starmap and docking sequence in his Starflight: The Remaking of a Legend project. We've now got a forum too! Next article will cover LANDING ON PLANETS!!!!! :)

Posted by Blake00 on

Greetings! Time for another dev diary! This time Marvin gives us a cool new tour video of the game and shows off his new starmap and docking sequence in his Starflight: The Remaking of a Legend project. We've now got a forum too! Next article will cover LANDING ON PLANETS!!!!! :)

State of the Remake

(Originally posted by Marvin 29/12/2018 HERE)

It’s time for another “State of the Remake” video! This one is about 30 minutes long. In this one, I visit all of the races that you can encounter in the game. The comm system isn’t 100% done yet, but it is mostly working. The orange/green “pill” thingy that you will see is just a temporary placeholder for ship models that I have not built yet.

Next up – while the rest of the team are doing research for me to help me get the comm system 100% complete, I will be working on all of the ship models.

  • Note: apparently there is no sound in the YouTube video… which means the video was recorded without sound. I do not know how that happened. :-\

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[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - January 21, 2020

Hades - The Long Winter Update Trailer

by Silver, 23:52

Hades is described as a god-like, rogue-like, dungeon crawler from the creators of Bastion and Transistor. The game recently received a large update.

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Hades is in Early Access, which means we're actively working on it based on our plans and your feedback. We expect to keep adding features, characters, weapons, foes, powers, environments, and more, while expanding the story and fine-tuning all aspects of the experience. Here are our latest patch note!

Early Access Patch 036: The LONG WINTER Update - January 21, 2020

We wanted to start the year off with a bang with this Major Update! It features a new Olympian, a new weapon variant, new activities, more story, and many other improvements. We plan to follow up with a couple of smaller patches while keeping a close eye on your feedback. Thank you very much for playing!

Highlights


Demeter: the Goddess of Seasons brings winter to the Underworld! Seek out her powerful Boons
Rod of Fishing: capture (& sell!!) Underworld river denizens with this new House Contractor item
Aspect of Guan Yu: earn this unique new Aspect of the Eternal Spear, and vanquish your foes!
Underworld Decor Galore: scores of new items are available at the newly renovated House Contractor!
New Legendary Keepsake: forge an unbreakable bond with Dusa, and summon her to petrify your foes
Boon Info & Victory Screen Update: pin multiple Boons onscreen for easy reference and sharing
New Daedalus Hammer Upgrades: look for multiple new upgrades for each weapon
New Story Events: uncover new secrets in hours of added narrative (with more than 1,000 new voice lines)

[...]

Monday - January 20, 2020

Dying Light 2 - Delayed

by Silver, 21:27

Techland have announced on Twitter that Dying Light 2 will miss its Spring 2020 release.

A Long Way Down - In Early Access

by Silver, 21:15

A Long Way Down is a roguelike deck-building RPG game released into Early Access recently by Goblinz Studio.

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The game draws inspiration from hits like Darkest Dungeon, Slay the Spire and Hand of Fate.

A Long way down is a mash-up between an RPG and a deck-building game. Embody Sam and try escaping this maze where a sneaky and evil mastermind reigns. Let your memories and your choices guide you... but don't fall into darkness.

Craft a deck

The cards you choose will determine how you explore the dungeon and how you defend yourself from the horrors it contains.

Fight your way through the unforgiving monster maze

Great challenges await you as you go deeper into the dungeon. Use your cards and cunning, adapt your playstyle and overcome all enemies.

Gather your party

You’ll meet many fellow adventurers down in the dark - will you gain allies or make enemies?

Traverse the maze

Use your cards to bridge gaps and defy dead ends as you travel through the maze. Rush to escape or take time to explore, the choice is yours.

Upgrade your items and equipment

Collect rewards and use them to grow your power to take on what lies in the depths.

Confront the evil overlord

Every choice you made will affect the final battle - can you defeat the mastermind in its lair?

Friday - January 17, 2020

General News - What is Hoyfjell?

by Hiddenx, 19:14

Hoyfjell is the story of a goofy action game that became a turn-based, open-world RPG - a crowdfunding campaign has just started:

Key Features:

  • Industrial-Fantasy. Explore abandoned military bases along with haunted castles.
  • Non-Epic. You are not saving the world from the ultimate evil, but your quest is not evil either.
  • Open-World. No quest markers, no level scaling. Most of the world is available for exploration right at the start.
  • Hand-Crafted Experience. The world that's built with passion and love.
  • Turn-Based RPG. Take your time - no need to hurry. And top-down camera allows you have a better view of the situation.
  • Build Your Character. With classless role-playing system that allows flexibility and great degree of customization. Want to be a wizard-sniper? Or a rogue with telepathic abilities?
  • Explore-and-Discover. Because exploration is the heart of adventure. And adventure is the heart of RPG.

-> Background story.

Tuesday - January 14, 2020

Magic: Legends - Gameplay Trailer

by Silver, 22:05

A new gameplay trailer for Magic: Legends.

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Check out the first trailer for Magic: Legends, coming to PS4, Xbox and PC in 2020.

General News - Modders Build Harry Potter RPG in Minecraft

by Silver, 20:49

PC Gamer reports that modders have build a fully fledged Harry Potter RPG in Minecraft.

Would you like a free Harry Potter-themed RPG built entirely inside Minecraft? Of course you would want that. You—at the very least—would not not want that. Well, a team of “poor students” called The Floo Network have spent the last four or so years making a sprawling Minecraft map that runs as a complete Harry Potter RPG inside vanilla Minecraft. What first started as a the team’s decision to spend a couple years making detailed models of various Harry Potter locations inside Minecraft—something you might remember from 2017—has become a massive undertaking that gives us… Minecraft School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Here’s the trailer: 

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[...]

Thursday - January 09, 2020

General News - New Sci-Fi Game Based on Stanislaw Lem

by Silver, 20:09

GamePressure reports on the development of a new science fiction game based on the literature of Stanislaw Lem.

Retrofuturism and Atom Punk

"Lem never entered the era of digitization in his books. We still have giant computing machines that download information using punch cards. No flat screens – just heavy, cathode-ray tubes and oscilloscopes. We're closely following the same trail. People explore space, but no one’s ever heard of mobile phones," says Michal Galek.

Piotr Mierzwa (hardsurface artist) is designing one of the robots we'll meet in the game. - New Sci-fi Game Based on Lem – Conversation with the Deveopers - dokument - 2019-12-05
Piotr Mierzwa (hardsurface artist) is designing one of the robots we'll meet in the game.

Indeed, all the displays I saw in the game were old, convex CRTs, and the gadgets I used resembled devices used in the 50s or 60s. Lem imagined the future that derived directly from the present. That's why today, his approach is defined as retrofuturism. Consequently, all the devices in the game are analog. The creators emphasize they devote a lot of time to properly designing the machines – "We wonder how the device should look in order to evoke the analog era. A touch-screen, wireless tablet would be a show-stopper for us."

You can imagine the problems such an approach creates. Just take the map, for instance – Lem had no interactive maps, nor modern UIs that would display points of interest. Things ought to be quite similar in Project Iabout the only aid we will get during exploration will be an absolutely regular map, and we'll have to mark navigational points manually. Let's remember – you are a scientists on an alien planet. Your main job is exploration, and that just can't be easy without digital systems. Doesn't such a concept curb creativity? "These limitations create the impression of integrity of the entire game. It requires some effort, but once we finally implement, we get massive satisfaction from creating something that challenges the regular approach; something original,” explains Marek Markuszewski.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - January 08, 2020

Broken Lines - Story Trailer

by Silver, 22:35

A new story trailer for Broken Lines.

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Broken Lines is a story-driven tactical RPG about a small and disorganized squad, who are stranded behind enemy lines during WW2.

War is about hard decisions and moral gray areas - in Broken Lines you'll make hard choices to ensure your squad's survival.

Immerse yourself in a unique and very personal story, experienced through the eyes of eight distinct soldiers.

Tuesday - January 07, 2020

Starsector - Single Player Space RPG

by Silver, 21:53

Starsector is described as an open-world single player game featuring space combat alongside roleplaying, exploration, and economic aspects.

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Though it is in-development, you can purchase Starsector now at a discount to gain access to ongoing builds. Starsector supports custom content & mods and is available now for Windows, MacOS, and Linux.

Current Features

  • Pilot your ship in top-down 2D combat
  • Command your fleet in tactical battles
  • Gain experience to level up your skills
  • Detailed space combat mechanics
  • Customize your ship’s loadout before battle
  • Hire officers to give skill bonuses, pilot auxiliary ships, and oversee your operations
  • Explore war-torn star systems
  • Exploit events to trade goods for profit
  • Win the favor or scorn of powerful factions
  • Discover new worlds and salvage lost derelicts
  • Mod support for diverse user-made content
  • Claim new worlds, build outposts and industry

Sands of Salzaar - Getting an English Version

by Silver, 21:36

PC Gamer reports that an ambitious Chinese RPG called Sands of Salzaar will be getting an English translation.

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Sands of Salzaar of which the Chinese title translates more directly to Tribe and Machete) only released on January 2, but in that time has rocketed to into Steam's global top seller list with an estimated 50,000 sales in its first week. That number is expected to reach 200,000 by the end of January. Though it's only available in Simplified Chinese, Sands of Salzaar has amassed over 2,600 "mostly positive" reviews and is currently the 31st most-played game on Steam by concurrents, with peak concurrent players reaching 21,000—in the neighborhood of games like Stardew Valley and Skyrim.

And, by the looks of it, Sands of Salzaar absolutely deserves its success. From reading reviews and watching some gameplay, Salzaar is an ambitious, Early Access open world RPG in the vein of indie darling Kenshi. Set in a mystical desert, you recruit characters and explore a dynamically-generated world, making friends (or enemies) with various factions. I particularly enjoy the look of the enormous battles, which evokes Dynasty Warriors mixed with Diablo.

[...]

Friday - January 03, 2020

General News - Best 5 JRPGs 2019 @ JRPG Jungle

by Hiddenx, 23:51

JRPG Jungle's JRPG top list for 2019 and most anticipated list for 2020:

2019 GOTY! My Top 5 JRPGs of 2019

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My 10 Most Anticipated JRPGs of 2020

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Thursday - January 02, 2020

General News - Turn-Based Games in January

by Silver, 19:48

TurnBasedLovers share their list of upcoming turn based games in January 2020.

NECRO WARS – 3rd January

The Elves have broken the pact and attacked without reason or warning. You must gather your army and push the enemy back before they pillage and burn your kingdom. You must use the terrain, fog and enemy weaknesses to your advantage in this turn-based 3D strategy game.

Key Features:

  • Strategize & defeat your foe: Using the terrain, fog of war and enemy unit weaknesses to your advantage you must defeat all the enemies or capture their headquarters to win the battle.
  • Build your army: Capture barracks’, docks and skyports to create ally units and strengthen your army.
  • Command your forces: As you progress you’ll unlock unique commanding officers each of which have their own unique unit abilities and passive powers. Utilizing each of them and their unique talents is vital to victory.

Very soon on Steam!

REVERSIQUEST2 – 7th January

ReversiQuest2 is a single-player tactical JRPG with a battle system based on Reversi.
Those good ole days of pixel art, characters, and sounds reminiscent of
video games of the mid 90’s.
No need to know the previous ReversiQuest to enjoy ReversiQuest2!

●Sharpen Your Tactics!●
Stay alert! Every move drastically turns the tide of the battle!
Never give up, even on a verge of death – a victorious reversal awaits!
The strategies are infinite! Triumph over enemies with Reversi skills,
various characters, gears, or spells…the choice is yours!

●Story and Gameplay●
A young man who grew up in a remote village in Othellia Island, Nym,
saves a girl named Imogen from a monster…but how will their fate turn out?
Advance through board game-like fields full of gimmicks in a sandbox world
drawn all in quarter view and pixel art!

You can buy it on Steam.

ORANGEBLOOD – 14th January

Orangeblood is a JRPG, with a fantastic pixel art style, set in the ’90 on a historic timeline different from that which we know.
You will guide four “kawaii” soldiers which couldn’t care less about little photo stickers… They’d rather play with some 7.62x39mm rifles and filthy, filthy cash!

After a short delay it seems to be finally ready for the store! On Steam.

THE ALLIANCE ALIVEHD Remastered” – 16th January

The Alliance Alive HD Remastered marks the glorious rebirth of the acclaimed RPG brought to you by FURYU Corporation. Uniting the talents of writer Yoshitaka Murayama, designer Kyouji Koizumi, art director Masayo Asano, and composer Masashi Hamauzu, this epic adventure comes to life with innovative gameplay on a backdrop of vibrant visuals and a classic tale. Players can develop their party’s skills through combat-based character progression, immerse themselves in the game’s lush world via dynamic vehicle-centric exploration, and form alliances with various guilds and factions. Venture further into the world to discover new vehicles to traverse in, magic to wield, places to visit, and more to experience!

On Steam!

[...]

Wednesday - January 01, 2020

General News - The Year in Review @ Gamepur

by Hiddenx, 11:04

Gamepur has chosen the best PC games of 2019:

The Year in Review 2019: Best PC Games of the Year

Picking one game from any year and calling it the Game of the Year is rarely an easy task. With such broad genres, release schedules, team sizes, and budgets, it almost feels unfair to throw a full year’s worth of games into a big pile and sort through it to name one of them the best.

This is true for most years, but not this year. This year the decision was easy.

[...]

Honorable Mentions:
Apex Legends
Slay The Spire
The Outer Worlds

Runner Up:
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

PC Game of the Year:
Disco Elysium

Tuesday - December 31, 2019

General News - Top 20 amazing upcoming RPGs

by Hiddenx, 13:07

F Game Killer put together a list of upcoming RPG titles:

TOP 20 AMAZING Upcoming RPG Games 2020 & 2021 ( PS4, Xbox One, PC )

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1: Final Fantasy VII Remake
2: Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot 
3: Elden Ring
4: Gothic Playable Teaser 
5: Nioh 2
6: Dungeons & Dragons: Dark Alliance 
7: Diablo IV
8: New World
9: Persona 5 Royal   
10: Godfall
11: Cyberpunk 2077
12: Chivalry 2 
13: Werewolf: The Apocalypse - Earthblood
14: Magic: Legends 
15: Project Sakura Wars
16: The Elder Scrolls VI
17: Tales of Arise
18: Babylon's Fall
19: Trials of Mana 
20: Masquerade - Bloodlines 2

Friday - December 27, 2019

General News - Upcoming PC turn-based Strategy RPGs 2020 - Parts 3, 4, 5

by Hiddenx, 08:59

The Turn Based Lovers put together some more lists of their favourite genre:

Upcoming PC turn-based strategy Rpgs 2020

-> Part 5

00:12 - Curious Expedition 2
00:36 - ReversiQuest 2
02:26 - Archmage Rises
05:18 - Gamedec
06:31 - Spellsword Cards
08:30 - Fractalis
10:34 - Mortal Glory
11:12 - Tainted Grail
12:42 - Void Eclipse
15:00 - Warhammer Underworlds: Online

-> Part 4

00:12 - Auto Fire
02:25 - Broken Lines
03:30 - Colony Ship: A Post-Earth Role Playing Game
04:42 - Dark Drive
06:45 - Get in the Car, Loser !
08:42 - Graywalkers: Purgatory
10:39 - Griftlands
12:06 - King's Bounty II
13:28 - Le Donjon de Naheulbeuk : L'Amulette du Désordre
14:24 - Veil of Entropy: Norfolk Warriors
16:09 - Ragtag Crew
17:12 - Songs of Conquest
18:36 - Tenderfoot Tactics

-> Part 3

00:12 - Cris Tales
01:14 - Crown Trick
02:35 - Rising Lords
03:20 - Tactical Breach Wizards
05:20 - Tale of Ronin
06:48 - Talespire
08:50 - Terra Randoma
10:01 - The Hand of Merlin
11:11 - Urtuk: The Desolation
12:39 - Wasteland Raiders

Part 1 and part 2 were already in the news:

-> Part 2

-> Part 1

Wednesday - December 25, 2019

General News - 15 most underrated RPGs of all Time

by Hiddenx, 18:59

Gaming Bolt made a video about the 15 most underrated RPGs of all time:

15 Most UNDERRATED RPGs of All Time

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Amid all the big-budget RPGs, loot shooters and free to play titles of our time, there are a number of role-playing games which have faded into history. Many are still excellent to this day or enjoy a small but passionate group of fans. Let's take at 15 of those underrated RPGs here and what makes them worth playing.

Shadow of the Road - Announced

by Silver, 18:52

Shadow of the Road has been announced and is described as a turn-based RPG set during the dusk of the Japanese feudal era.

The boshin war is tearing Japan apart. Followers of the Emperor constantly face the forces of the shogunate in brutal battles. No side wants to surrender, both fighting not only for power, but also for something greater and much more important - for a place in history. The stakes have never been this high. You can feel the tension in the air; the restlessness, the weight of the entire conflict, the resolve of both sides to see things through to the very end. But not everything is as it seems and it's not just humans that want to secure their place on this land.

During the commotion, a ronin known by the name of Satoru is left hopeless and disgraced by the fall of his master, Mochitsugu. Without a master and no reason to fight, it seems like he no longer has a place in this world. However, it all changes when a certain young boy crosses his path, suddenly surprising him with a crossroad he never assumed he would have to face.

Join Satoru and a few other outcasts during the battle for peace, for power; decide what road they should take. But be warned - selecting one does not mean that the shadows of another won’t try to follow you.

This turn-based RPG will bring you to the world of Japan right at the downfall of the feudal era and will let you test your skills against enemies that are clearly human, but also those that somehow escape such an easy classification. What’s more, the Emperor is supported by East Nippon Company, a British trade conglomerate with unclear intentions, equipped with powerful steam-powered machines wreaking havoc among the forces of the shogunate. Will you be able to overcome all the obstacles thrown your way? Or will you give in and choose the easy way out?

Create your own path by making multiple decisions that will eventually influence the outcome of this immersive story - stay true to yourself and your principles or choose a darker path of sacrifice for your own gains. Haunt or be haunted. Overcome the shadows or let them consume you. The choice is yours, as it has always been - even if you can’t comprehend it yet.

Tuesday - December 24, 2019

Ori and the Blind Forest Devs - Working on an Action RPG

by Silver, 10:53

GamePressure reports that Moon Studios, makers of platformer Ori and the Blind Forest, are seeking people to develop a 'revolutionary' action RPG.

A job offer on Gamasutra suggests that Moon Studios, the creators of Ori and the Blind Forest and Ori and the Will of the Wisps (the latter will debut in March), are working on a new title. Their next work will be an action RPG. Developers have an ambitious goal to revolutionize this species.

[...]

Saturday - December 21, 2019

General News - The 2019 RPG of the Year @ Gamecrate

by Hiddenx, 19:17

Gamecrate has chosen their RPG of the year 2019:

The 2019 RPG of the Year

In the dark cyberpunk future of 2019, everything is an RPG. Leveling systems and inventory management are a part of every game from NeoCab to Call of Duty. Devs attempt to weave powerful narratives into almost every single player experience. No game genre is harder to define than the RPG, so this list was particularly tough to compile.

The games below were chosen because their combination of story, setting, mechanics, and meaningful choice created memorable experience and pushed the genre forward as a whole. Some are spiritual successors while others are entirely new, borrowing mechanics from other genres - a reversal of the slow bleed of RPG leveling mechanics into everything. All of them are exciting additions to the most immersive genre in gaming.

[...]

Honorable Mentions:
Greedfall, Impressions: Monster Hunter World: Iceborne, Zanki Zero, Kingdom Hearts 3

Runner-Up: Indivisible

Runner-Up: The Outer Worlds

Runner-Up: Fire Emblem: The Three Houses

Winner: Disco Elysium

 

Friday - December 20, 2019

The Soulkeeper Chronicles - New RPG for PC and VR

by Silver, 23:44

OnlySP reports on The Soulkeeper Chronicles which is a new RPG for PC and VR. The game itself is fully playable without VR as it boasts two separate designs. OnlySP interviewed the devs about the game also.

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HELM Systems has announced a new outing in its dark fantasy RPG universe with The SoulKeeper Chronicles, a new game built from the ground up for both PC and VR platforms.

The scale of this new project is enormous, with the developer promising three single-player campaigns. One will follow a magic-wielding monk named Isoropos, a second will feature a ranger called Edwyn, and the third will  follow Ulvar, a raider.

Across these separate campaigns, players will have the freedom to pilot boats, ride horses, and fly dragons in both exploration and combat.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Rustler - Medieval GTA

by Silver, 22:51

A gameplay trailer for Rustler, which describes itself as a medieval GTA.

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Rustler - a medieval GTA type of game. Add to your STEAM Wishlist today! 

https://store.steampowered.com/app/84...

Thanks Farflame!

General News - Where Are We? Adds Modern UI

by Silver, 22:41

PCGamesN talked to the developer behind Where Are We? and asked about the application that adds a UI to many 90s RPGs like Might and Magic.

Unlike clumsy auto-mapping programs that stumble into the dark, Van Heest’s system is based on an exhaustive knowledge base and only shows you as much information as you want to know. Its FAQ-like walkthrough mode reveals all, and another fog-of-war one forces you to make your own discoveries. The automap, which incorporates scans of some of the old fold-out versions, isn’t the only feature: There are tidy, if not glamorous, windows detailing the party’s inventory, spells, stats, combat encounters, various worldwide variables, and quests.

The supported early first-person classics ranging from 1980 to 1993 – Might and Magic 1-5, Wizardry 1-5, and Bard’s Tale 1-3 – are difficult to revisit and have always necessitated some kind of paper mapping, with a few exceptions. And besides, comparing two fantasy weapons without the aid of a UI full of tooltips is a forgotten skill, like editing a config.sys file. The world graphics can be repetitive, stacking up 2D images in a way that makes Wolfenstein 3D look like Unreal. You can easily get lost, yet the games never take themselves too seriously and have remained fun and surprising on their own terms.

[...]

Monday - December 16, 2019

Godfall - Reveal Trailer

by Silver, 19:33

Godfall is a fantasy hack 'n slash game that was recently announced.

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Learn more about Godfall: http://www.godfall.com

Godfall is a third-person fantasy looter-slasher focused on melee combat, coming to PlayStation 5 & Epic Games Store Holiday 2020. Developed by Counterplay Games & published by Gearbox Publishing.

Follow Godfall Twitter: twitter.com/playgodfall

Facebook: facebook.com/playgodfall

Instagram: instagram.com/playgodfall

Ruined King: A League of Legends Story - Announced

by Silver, 19:30

Ruined King: A League of Legends Story is a story-driven, turn based RPG being developed by Airship Syndicate and published by Riot Forge.

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Set after the events of Burning Tides, players will take control of LoL champions and explore the bustling city of Bilgewater and the mysterious Shadow Isles in a game for the first time.

Featuring fan favorite champions, innovative turn-based combat, and beautiful art direction along with brand new surprises and plenty of poros, Ruined King: A League of Legends Story advances the stories of many champions in the LoL Universe and offers an exciting new way to experience the World of Runeterra.

To learn more, please visit www.ruinedking.com or join the #ruinedking conversation:

Twitter (@riotforge)

Official Riot Forge Website: https://www.riotforgegames.com

Sunday - December 15, 2019

Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York - Review @PC Gamer

by Silver, 21:44

Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York has been reviewed by PC Gamer.

...

There are, sadly, some technical issues at time of writing which dispel the carefully crafted atmosphere whenever I encounter them. Sometimes, a page of dialogue is attributed to the wrong character, or is presented as narration when it isn’t (or as character speech when it is). The story already suffers slightly during second and third playthroughs, due to some events and dialogue being unavoidable regardless of your character or in-game choices. There’s no way of skipping dialogue without constantly hitting a button, either, which risks accidentally hitting a choice you didn’t want. These are problems the game didn’t need.

Then there’s the bizarre save system. The only way to save is to exit the game through the menu. So, if the game crashes (which happens to me twice), I lose all progress since my last save. Odder still, each time the credits roll, the game deletes my save, which is painful when I test out whether making an obviously stupid choice at a fairly early stage results in death (it does). Nonetheless, this game holds me in its power, and I happily submit to its charms.

General News - Seven or Eight D&D Games in the Works

by Silver, 21:40

PC Gamer reports that there are seven or eight D&D games in the works.

The announcements of new Baldur's Gate and Dark Alliance games suggest a change, and that's backed up by Wizards of the Coast. In an interview with Gamesindustry.biz, Wizards of the Coast president Chris Cocks explained that this is only the beginning and there are "seven or eight" videogames based on D&D coming out in the next few years.

"We want each game to have a point of view, and to really keep on just a couple of things and do it really, really well," he said. "What you don't want to do is have every game in the franchise try to do the same thing, and try to do everything all at once."

[...]

Friday - December 13, 2019

Dark Alliance - New D&D Action RPG Announced

by Silver, 11:53

@VentureBeat Dark Alliance is a D&D action RPG announced at the Game Awards.

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It’s curious why Tuque and Wizards picked Icewind Dale for the setting of this action-RPG. In Salvatore’s latest novel, Boundless, Drizzt found himself in a desperate flight against demons and abyssal constructs as his friends once again faced danger at the hands of those seeking power and the death of the renegade drow to appease the evil god Lloth.

Being set so far in the past, I wondered if this signified Wizards of the Coast’s newfound interest in telling stories set in any period of the Forgotten Realms, not just the current timeline.

“Dark Alliance is intended to appeal to existing D&D fans who already know and love Drizzt and the companions, but it’s also meant to attract new D&D fans through a different platform and style of gameplay. It made more sense to start earlier in the Legend of Drizzt as an entry point for the newer fans,” said Nathan Steward, the vice president for Dungeons & Dragons for Wizards of the Coast, over email. “For people who know and love R.A. Salvatore’s work, it gives a new adventure for the companions set in between his novels.

[...]

Weird West - Announced

by Silver, 04:05

Immersive sim Weird West has been announced by WolfEye Studios.

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Survive and unveil the mysteries of the Weird West through the intertwined destinies of its unusual heroes in an immersive sim from the co-creators of Dishonored and Prey.

Discover a dark fantasy reimagining of the Wild West where lawmen and gunslingers share the frontier with fantastical creatures. Journey through the origin stories of a group of atypical heroes, written into legend by the decisions you make in an unforgiving land. Each journey is unique and tailored to the actions taken - a series of high stakes stories where everything counts and the world reacts to the choices you make. Form a posse or venture forth alone into an otherworldly confines of the Weird West and make each legend your own.

Thursday - December 12, 2019

The Disguiser of Fate - On Steam December 19

by Myrthos, 11:25

The 2D JRPG The Disguiser of Fate will be coming to Steam on the 19th of December.

China –December 11, 2019– For lovers of traditional 2D top down fantasy JRPG’s, independent games developer XNZONE will be releasing The Disguiser Of Fate on Steam on December 19.

The Disguiser Of Fate is a 16-bit like role playing game starred by a black knight and a slave maid who embark themselves in a dangerous adventure with more than 20 monsters to fight against.

“The Disguiser of Fate captures the spirit of classic JRPG’s”, says Winward_Birds, developer at the studio XNZONE. “Fans of the genre will find dungeons, puzzles, dialogues, and a vast world to explore”.

Just as true classics, The Disguiser of Fate features anime-drawn characters, huge world maps and ATB combats. Equip your characters with weapons and armours as you discover the secret of the magical masks.

Features

    Traditional 2D top down fantasy JRPG
    16-bit like role playing game starred by a dark knight and a slave maid.
    Over 20 monsters to fight against, each with their own strengths.
    Dungeons, puzzles, dialogues, and a vast world to explore.
    Anime-drawn characters and ATB combats.
    Equip your characters with weapons and armours.

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The press release also stated that the game will be fully translated to English.

Tuesday - December 10, 2019

Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York - All Companions Trailer

by Silver, 20:55

Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York has a trailer for all companions.

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Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York coming December 11th 2019 to PC. Game presents the conflict between two vampiric factions: the traditionalist Camarilla and the fiercely independent Anarchs. It's a unique, atmospheric, single-player narrative experience, set in a rich, fully licensed, globally recognized universe of Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition.
Coming December 11th 2019 to PC and Q1 2020 to Ps4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch.

Thanks Farflame!

Monday - December 09, 2019

Shardpunk: Verminfall - Interview

by Silver, 10:49

The developer of tactical turn-based steampunk game Shardpunk: Verminfall was interviewed by IndieGraze.

Interview: Shardpunk: Verminfall’s Slawomir Bryk

on 

A tactical turn-based steampunk game, Shardpunk: Verminfall drops players into a capital swarming with invaders. Survivors make hay while the sun shines, emerging from an airship to scavenge limited resources, and I chatted with Slawomir Bryk, lead designer and developer, on the nuances of his pixel art, speculative fiction journey.

[...]

EM: You reference Darkest Dungeon and XCOM as influences; when it comes to turn-based tactical combat, what mechanics do you see as key to keeping play interesting, and where do you see older titles coming up a bit short? As devs, how do you balance the need to have parity and challenging fights with the need to keep larger battles from slowing down and losing excitement?

SB: Yeah, I spent a lot of time playing Darkest Dungeon and the latest XCOM games, and I liked different aspects of both.

I fancy the approach XCOM has to combat. The cover/flanking mechanics are somewhat simple but generate a lot of gameplay options and plenty of cool moments.

Darkest Dungeon, on the other hand, has a great atmosphere of hopelessness. This, combined with the stress/quirks mechanism creates a very deep experience. I mean, XCOM has negative traits, as well, but I believe it is not using them to their full potential.

I wanted to combine these two pieces together – that’s how the idea for Shardpunk started.

The problem I had with the late game of XCOM is that the player becomes very overpowered, and the thrill of always being under pressure is gone. I really wanted the “hopeless” vibe to be present in the game. The best example of this is the board game “Pandemic”, which I played a lot. In most of the playthroughs, I was never entirely sure (all the way to the end of the game) whether I would be able to pull off the strategy I was aiming to achieve. Such thrilling and tense gameplay is something that got me going.

That being said, this does not mean that the game should be unfair or prevent the player from creating any kind of plan. I don’t like frantic gameplay – I just want the game to mess my plan up a little from time to time so that I don’t feel too confident that I will be able to make it.

What is more, there are moments in Shardpunk when the player can feel overpowered – for example, when they manage to kill off a large chunk of attacking rats by some good positioning of characters and/or using some AOE attacks. These moments are necessary but will not appear too often. I definitely do not want the players to feel like everything is going according to their plans.

Sunday - December 08, 2019

General News - 10 best RPGs of 2019 @ Gameranx

by Hiddenx, 11:02

Gameranx listed their top 10 RPGs of 2019:

10 BEST Role Playing Games of 2019

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#10. My Time at Portia 
Platform: PC PS4 XBOX ONE SWITCH

#9. The Division 2
Platform: PC PS4 XBOX ONE

#8. Remnant: From The Ashes
Platform: PC PS4 XBOX ONE

#7. Outward
Platform: PC PS4 XBOX ONE

#6. Code Vein
Platform: PC PS4 XBOX ONE

#5. Greedfall
Platform: PC PS4 XBOX ONE

#4. Disco Elysium
Platform: PC 

#3. Borderlands 3
Platform: PC PS4 XBOX ONE

#2. Fire Emblem: Three Houses
Platform: SWITCH

#1. The Outer Worlds
Platform: PC PS4 XBOX ONE SWITCH[2020]

BONUS
The Surge 2
Platform: PC PS4 XBOX ONE

Pokemon Sword and Shield
Platform: SWITCH

Sekiro (sort of an RPG, although the creators have dubbed it an Action-Adventure game)
Platform: PC PS4 XBOX ONE

Children of Morta
Platform: PC

Friday - December 06, 2019

Roadwarden - Announced

by Silver, 21:21

Roadwarden is an RPG announced for next year and described as illustrated text-based RPG that uses isometric pixel art and combines mechanics borrowed from RPGs, Visual Novels, adventure games and interactive fiction. 

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Who or what is a Roadwarden?

You are a Roadwarden, a brave stranger putting his life in danger to make a difference in this grim world. While most people would never risk a solitary journey through the wilder parts of the land, you – as a Roadwarden – willingly accept the struggle to live up to your promise to guard travellers, connect isolated villages, support merchants and repel attacking creatures, bandits or even undead.

What's the story about?

A powerful merchant guild has called on your services, sending you on a journey into the unknown planes of a mysterious peninsula in the hopes to expand the guild’s influence even further. You are meant to explore this place and gather as much information as possible to reveal the secrets surrounding the area. It’s a dangerous task, but an equally respectable one. Do you have the courage to meet all the requirements that define a Roadwarden?

How to play?

Roadwarden is an illustrated text-based RPG that uses isometric pixel art and combines mechanics borrowed from RPGs, Visual Novels, adventure games and interactive fiction such as inventory puzzles, dialogue choices, character abilities and development, hit points and other resources, simple survival mechanics as well as quests restricted by in-game time.


FEATURES

Explore and change the world!

Discover the secrets and face the vast challenges of a hostile fantasy world – inevitably unveiling its uniquely fierce lore.

Grow with the challenge!

Create your own background, abilities, beliefs and personality to shape your very own future as a Roadwarden.

Classical attitude!

Prepare yourself for an adventurous journey, either as a warrior, mage or scholar and define your character‘s traits, like friendly, playful or intimidating, during interactions with NPCs.

Get lost in conversation!

Immerse yourself in profound dialogues and sidequests with dozens of NPCs to gain their trust and support.

Mysteries unfold!

Use your savvy and be witty when investigating and drawing your conclusions to understand the true nature of this world.

Overcome your weaknesses!

The world is full of dangers and nobody can be trusted. Be the Roadwarden you want to be and find your path to success against all odds!

Tuesday - December 03, 2019

Kingdom Under Fire 2 - Review

by Silver, 11:37

CGMagOnline reviewed Kingdom Under Fire 2 and found it wanting.

The Kingdom Under Fire series has mostly been comprised of real-time and active strategy wargames, however, the latest installment puts a twist on the basic formula by functioning as an MMO with various RPG elements alongside the traditional strategy gameplay. The MMORPG-RTS hybrid style of Kingdom Under Fire 2 is an interesting direction for the series after 2007’s Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom.

However, despite the 12 years between Circle of Doom and KUF 2, there really isn’t much to recommend the new game. It isn’t a bad game, as it mostly functions as needed, but there’s very little about the gameplay, characters, or world to really recommend it. Add on a by-the-numbers RPG plot and bizarre visual animations, and the player is left with a flawed but functional product.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Crumbling World - Alpha Demo Released

by Silver, 11:33

TheGG reports that the fantasy ARPG Crumbling World has released its Alpha Demo.

NOVEMBER 21ST 2019, MALIBU – Crumbling World developer Dume Arts is delighted to announce that a brand new free alpha demo for the game is now available, giving players their very first chance to dive into a rich fantasy location and explore some early levels.

Players can gain instant free access to the alpha via the game’s website. A brand new trailer is also available, setting the scene for this dark fantasy action-RPG, due to release next year for PC and Mac.

Set in a sinister, slowly decomposing land. In a world where humanity has been driven to corruption, aligning with dark forces for survival, the players’ task will be to traverse gorgeous diorama-like levels in an attempt to bring back the age of light – before the world crumbles away entirely beneath their feet.

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Thanks Farflame!

Monday - December 02, 2019

Starflight Remake - Dev Diaries

by Silver, 11:04

The latest dev diaries for the Starflight Remake look at strange alien encounters and the creation of alien communications.

Are You Friends of the Elowan?

(Originally posted by Marvin 20/12/2018 HERE)

The Thrynn have been born. They were pretty easy to create since there were already a few pretty decent gecko and lizard models out there on the Internet. I found one that I could use, but it was in Maya format. So I installed Maya for the sole purpose of exporting the model out into the FBX format. I imported the model into 3D Studio Max and then started my work on it. The only thing I really did to the model was to elongate the snout a bit and to bend the body so it looks like he is standing upright. I also rigged and skinned the model so it could be animated in Unity. This is what the Thrynn looked like in the original game:

Original Thrynn

I also built the eyeballs and created the cat eye texture maps for them. I used the body texture maps that came with the model nearly as-is – the only change being the general color tint. The original color was brown/tan, and I tinted it to green since that is the color the Thrynn appeared in the original game. For the background, I found some interesting looking sci-fi wall and used that.

Here are the pictures and video!

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Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - December 01, 2019

General News - Believable Open Worlds in RPGs

by Hiddenx, 07:51

Click4Gameplay shares his thoughts about believable open worlds in RPGs:

Believable Open Worlds in RPGs

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Creating believable worlds in RPGs, or games in general is not an easy task. It’s also hard to define what this actually means, and it can be really subjective. 

Thursday - November 28, 2019

General News - Upcoming PC turn-based Strategy RPGs 2020 - Part 2

by Hiddenx, 17:18

The Turn Based Lovers show us part 2 of their upcoming turn based RPGs list:

Here's the list:

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00:12 - 1971 Project Helios
1971 Project Helios is a turn-based strategy game that combines modern warfare military tactics and close combat. Firearms and vehicles are scarce, conflicts and hostilities have no end, and the terrible freezing cold annihilates friends and foes in its path.

02:14 - End State
A turn-based tactical game inspired by games such as Xcom and Jagged Alliance. But it is from the latter that he takes more inspiration and that from the first screenshots reminds me a lot of Jagged Alliance 2. Could it be the real successor of the Jagged Alliance that we are all waiting for? Let start with my End State overview.

03:22 - Ikenfell
A turn-based tactical RPG about a group of troublesome magic students. Use timing mechanics to power your spells and block attacks, explore the twisted halls of a vast magic school, fight challenging monsters and bosses, and uncover dark secrets never meant to be found.

06:15 - Iron Danger
Iron Danger is a tactical combat game with a unique time manipulation mechanic. A never before seen combination that combines the tactical depth of turnbased games with the exciting action of real-time games.

07:25 - Land of Arxox
Explore the 8-Biomes of Arxox. Live the life of a Dwarf, Elf, or Human folk hero. Hunt. Fish. Master spell runes of the ancients and defeat a powerful Arch Villain.

07:43 - Sacred Fire
A highly original turn-based RPG by indie Poetic Studio where the feelings of the characters will influence the course of the story and even the combat phase.

10:12 - Small Saga
Venture below the streets of London, and you will find the bustling kingdom of Rodentia, home to creatures great and small.

11:37 - Space Wreck
A passenger shuttle is damaged after pirate attack and you must find replacement parts on nearby derelict space ship. -- Intentionally short hardcore role playing game that borrows as much as possible from best isometric RPGs (Fallout, Fallout 2, Arcanum).

12:50 - Sentinels of Freedom
Prepare for a story-driven campaign within the Sentinel Comics universe as you join forces with an ever-growing team of heroes to face a wide variety of villains.

14:32 - Wizards of Unica
When turn-based combats are combined with roguelike elements, puzzles, and spells, Wizards of Unica comes out.

15:15 - The Last Spell
The Last Spell is a turn-based tactical RPG immersed in roguelite mechanics in which you lead a team of hardened heroes to defend the last bastion of humanity against hordes of monsters.

Tuesday - November 26, 2019

General News - 30 Upcoming PC RPGs

by Silver, 19:25
GamerZakh presented his list of 30 upcoming PC RPGs.

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RPGs offer many things to many people! Now, there are many great games in this list and a myriad of styles, so I'm sure you'll find something to fall in love with. Not to mention another 30 bonus games mentioned after the main list for a total of 60, so be sure to watch all the way through to find your true calling.

Saturday - November 23, 2019

Shardpunk: Verminfall - Steam Page Up

by Silver, 20:49

Shardpunk: Verminfall is a tactical squad-based survival strategy game which has a demo available to try.

"Shardpunk: Verminfall" is an upcoming indie tactical squad-based survival strategy game, based in a steampunk setting. Gameplay-wise, it is a mix of XCOM and Darkest Dungeon games, mixing all the best features from both. All of this is presented using great pixel art graphics.

The game is currently being developed as a side project.

Backstory: there has been an unexpected breakthrough during long and exhausting siege of The Empire's Capitol. Rat Swarm managed to breach the walls and flooded the city with vermin. Group of survived city dwellers are trying to escape - and possibly rescue some additional people, if necessary. They will need to scavenge the destroyed city for resources, fight off rat vermin and make their way through the Capitol - all of this to finally get safely out of the city.

Similar to new XCOM games, there will be a combat layer and a strategy layer.

Turn-based tactical combat (which is present in the tech demo) makes use of cover and flanking mechanics. Due to the characters having to cope with stress and having their own quirks there is a fair chance that something will go wrong during the playthrough. Additionally, characters need to scavenge for resources during combat in order to survive.

The strategy layer will allow the player to plan their next missions, handle upgrades etc. Characters will be navigating through the destroyed the Capitol in a prototype airship that requires repairs and maintenance. Character themselves need to be taken care of as well, as they require basic resources (e.g. food) to survive.

Features

  • Lead the group of Survivors in the search for sparse resources necessary to survive
  • Use cover and flanking mechanism to defeat the Rat Vermin in turn-based combat
  • Customize the appearance of your characters
  • Make your way through the remains of the Capitol and uncover its hidden secrets
  • Pay close attention to the sanity of your survivors, or face dire consequences.
  • Rescue more team members and don't allow existing ones perish
  • Upgrade your character's equipment and weapons
  • Experience a different run every time, thanks to the randomized nature of the game

Sigma Theory: Global Cold War - Released

by Silver, 20:39

Spy thriller RPG Sigma Theory: Global Cold War has released on Steam.

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STORY

From the creators of the award-winning sci-fi game Out There...
In the near future, a paradigm-shifting scientific discovery looms over the world, promising radical new technologies. The world’s superpowers realize they could have the power to destroy the global financial system, wipe out entire countries or even gain access to immortality.

However, this discovery — called “The Sigma Theory” — can only be harnessed by a handful of scientists. You are placed at the head of your country’s Sigma division. Your objective is to ensure that it is your nation that reaps the benefits of Sigma Theory before anyone else.

To achieve this you will have powerful resources at your disposal: a cadre of the world’s most elite covert agents, advanced tactical drones and, of course, your own skills in diplomacy and subterfuge.

It’s a cold war out there, one in which mankind must face up to its future.

THE ULTIMATE ESPIONAGE SIMULATION

Turn-based espionage: Use your special agents to dominate the world. Seduction, blackmail, manipulation, industrial espionage… Every low blow is both permitted and encouraged.
Dynamic narrative: Develop and manage your relations with over 100 NPCs: lobbies, armed groups, politicians… Alliance, deception or assassination, you choose.
Field operations: Direct the kidnapping of your targets during gripping pursuits through the world’s greatest cities. Discretion or direct confrontation, your agent’s life is in your hands.

Recruitment
First, recruit a team of four special agents from 50 unique unlockable characters to support your missions. Each comes with their own story, motivations and traits that define their behavior during missions.
Access the investigator, soldier, hacker, seducer and other archetypes to complete your Sigma division and execute your strategy.

Espionage
When your team is ready, assign them missions around the world to gather scientists, discover compromising documents on local politicians, and more.
Exploit your agents’ abilities to seduce, manipulate and bribe your targets over to your side or have them neutralized.

Counter-espionage
Other nations will also use their agents to infiltrate your country and seize your scientists. Track, capture and interrogate them to gain information on your enemies, then exchange them for ransom when they are no longer useful.

Exfiltration
Order your agents to exfiltrate scientists recruited to your cause during gripping turn-based exfiltration phases through the world’s greatest capitals. Choose the position your drones wisely to support these delicate missions.

Diplomacy
In Sigma Theory, diplomacy is the key to achieving your goals. Meet your foreign counterparts and further your objectives using flattery, threats or blackmail. You can also recover your captured agents, advance your research, and much more. Develop your relations with powerful lobbies and armed and influential groups to obtain their favor. But be careful, they may turn on you.

Tech Tree
Sigma Theory is the cause of this cold war. Rally scientists from around the world to your cause to discover new technologies to gain the edge and change the world. Mind control, destabilization of the world economy, robot soldiers, immortality… Will you keep these discoveries for yourself or share them with the world?

Dungeon Defenders: Awakened - In Closed Beta

by Silver, 11:42

Dungeon Defenders: Awakened has entered Closed Beta. The game itself is a tower defense, action RPG game with co-op.

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DEFENDERS,

It’s time. It’s FINALLY time. Oh good golly gosh, it’s finally time… BETA IS HERE! Today we launched the Beta, getting Dungeon Defenders: Awakened into the hands of Etheria’s brave Defenders. There’s so much to cover, that we’re not going to cover it all. We want you to discover all the beta has to offer on your own. Let’s get into it!

Beta Release
The current Beta is available to our Kickstarter Backers first. This is a promise that we made during our Kickstarter, and are going to make sure to uphold. Kickstarter Backers currently have advanced Beta access. On Friday, November 22nd, we are going to open up the Beta to everyone who has purchased the $40+ preorder packages.

Beta is currently scheduled to run for roughly three weeks! Starting on November 22nd and ending on 13th, this gives us a great window to gather feedback and be able to make necessary changes before launching in February.

Progress and data from the Beta does NOT carry over to the release of the game. Beta is used as a testing ground to make sure that the game is in the best possible state. Keeping data from Beta (ha, it rhymes) can cause major issues when updating to the release version.

If you did not receive a Beta key, and are a Kickstarter Backer, make sure you have filled out the surveys that were sent to your registered Kickstarter E-mails from "Backerkit". If that survey is not filled out, then the Beta key is not sent.

If you preordered at the $34 and $100 tiers, your additional beta keys will come on Friday (Nov. 22nd) with the rest of the preorder keys.

Streaming and Content Creation
During the Beta, you are free to stream, make videos, or whatever content you want. We want Defenders to enjoy and share as much as they want when it comes to Dungeon Defenders: Awakened!

What’s Missing?
There’s a lot to cover what’s in a game. Patch notes usually say what’s new, but with so much of the game being new, we’re going to let you explore the game. Instead, we're going to outline what may not be in the Beta that we are currently polishing and iterating on to get in for release (we may be missing some things from this list as well):

Tactical Map
This is currently in a functional state. We’re going to be updating the map images, and make sure it’s a lot prettier come release.

Challenge Maps
We’re currently wanting to make sure that balance feels good across the map in general. Challenge Maps are coming your way on release!

Maps
There are a total of 15 maps in Dungeon Defenders: Awakened. Not included in the Beta is Act II, Act III, and the Bonus Maps. Act I is the big focus for our beta test, helping us set the foundation so the rest of the maps bring the right amount of challenge.

Difficulty
Nightmare and Massacre are not going to be included in the Beta. We don’t want people beating all the hardest content during testing. Gotta have something scary hard for you to master on release!

Enemies
With Nightmare not in the beta, Sharken, Djinn, Spiders, and Goblin Copter will not be spawning in a lane near you.

Weapons
All of our weapons are not in the game. We have a pool of roughly 5 different weapons per hero to simulate the amount of weapons you would see during your playthrough of Act I on release. Weapon random colorization is also not reflected in the beta build, but will be implemented for release.

HUD
We’re going to be adding various improvements to the HUD. Currently we have it setup for beta to be functional. There’s a ton of work that we’ve done not in the Beta, but expect improvements on launch.

Armor
Currently we have placeholder armor models in. The final models are currently getting a last pass and will be sparkling and shining on release.

Set Bonuses
Set bonuses are working but may not currently be showing up correctly.

Split Screen
We’re testing base functionality currently, so split screen is not available during the Beta.

Social
We’re wanting to make sure that getting your friends into a match is as easy as possible, give hosts control over their sessions, and showing who’s in your party. These are currently not in the beta, and can be expected on release.

Hardcore
Currently not in Beta, coming on release.

Twitch Integration
Currently being developed, it will not be in the Beta.

Game Modes
In the Beta we have Campaign and Survival. Other game modes are coming on release.

Pets
There are a total of four pets that are available during the Beta. On release, there will be much more!

Elemental Weapons
Some weapon elemental affinity visuals may be disabled, as we’re making sure performance comes first. Your weapons will be shooting flames and electricity during release.

[...]

Thursday - November 21, 2019

Yodha - Announcement Teaser

by Silver, 21:55

Yodha is a new RPG by indie developer Ogre Head Studios.

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Yodha is an upcoming Indian role playing game in development at Ogre Head Studio. Watch out for more news about the game at

https://www.ogreheadstudio.com/yodha.

Ogre Head Studio is an indie video game company based in India.

General News - Arkane Veterans Launch WolfEye

by Silver, 01:12

GamesIndustry reports that Raphael Colantonio and Julien Roby, formerly of Arkane Studios, are launching a small studio called WolfEye.

"I notice both as a developer and a gamer, I think it's been two or three generations of games now, I've been playing the same game," Colantonio says. "The only difference is that it's more beautiful, higher resolution, more shaders, but really the game is the same.

"I remember this funny moment where we were doing Dishonored, and I asked my lead programmer how many characters I could have in combat. And he answered something between five and six. I thought well, okay. It makes sense. The AI is what it is, and we had characters with 10,000 polys or whatever they were. Fast forward four or five years, we're doing Prey. It's a new engine, new technology, new hardware. I'm back with my lead programmer, same question. How many characters can we have? Maybe five or six. The only difference between one generation to the next was that the budget had doubled, and because the budget was doubled, it goes into more people, instead of taking three months to make a character it takes six months now, there's more optimization that is required, more of everything, every detail, making sure the eyes are perfect and the sun shines the right way.

[...]

For now, Colantonio and Roby are understandably tight-lipped on any information surrounding the studio's first game. What they will say is that while no one should expect a new Dishonored game from them, fans of Arkane games will probably like what they make in the same way a Quentin Tarantino fan will probably like whatever his next movie is regardless of particulars.

Monday - November 18, 2019

Gujian 3 - Now Available in English

by Silver, 09:33

Gematsu reports that action RPG Gujian 3 is now available in English on Steam. The game was previously only available in Simplified and Traditional Chinese.

Publisher Wangyuan Shengtang and developer Aurogon Info & Tech Shanghai have released an update for the December 2018-released action RPG Gujian 3 that adds an English language option to the previously Chinese-only title. It is available via Steam for $29.99.

Gujian 3 is the first entry in the Gujian series to be released in English. Both the June 2010-released Gujian and August 2013-released Gujian 2 only support Simplified Chinese.

[...]

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Thanks Farflame!

Friday - November 15, 2019

Terminator: Resistance - Released

by Silver, 06:48

Terminator: Resistance is a shooter RPG set during the future war scenario of Terminator 1 and 2. The game is now available on Steam.

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Purple plasma! John Connor! Post-apocalyptic romance! After examining every video, trailer, screenshot & press release, here's EVERY bit of info you should know about Terminator: Resistance, the upcoming game set during the Future War. This isn't my usual sort of content, but it seems like I'm the only person on the internet to have noticed half of this stuff, so I thought it was worth getting the word out!

About this Game

There is no fate but what you make.

Experience the events leading up to the decisive final battle for the fate of mankind in the war against the machines. Terminator: Resistance, is a first-person shooter set during the 'Future War' scenario that was only glimpsed at in the iconic films, 'THE TERMINATOR' and 'T2: JUDGMENT DAY'. The machines are destined to lose, but at what cost?

  • Run and gun or sneak and hack through Skynet’s defences!
  • Level up your skills and explore a post-apocalyptic world for scraps to trade and craft!
  • Interact with a motley group of survivors and change their fates!

Wednesday - November 13, 2019

Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York - New Gameplay Trailer

by Silver, 20:52

Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York has a new gameplay trailer.

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Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York presents the conflict between two vampiric factions: the traditionalist Camarilla and the fiercely independent Anarchs. It's a unique, atmospheric, single-player narrative experience, set in a rich, fully licensed, globally recognized universe of Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition.
Coming December 4th 2019 to PC and Q1 2020 to Nintendo Switch.

Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - November 10, 2019

Opinion - The Outer Worlds is RPG's Past, Disco Elysium is Its Future

by Silver, 09:36

USGamer believes that The Outer Worlds represents RPG's of the past while Disco Elysium represents its future.

Disco Elysium covers more than a single block, but it feels dense, with every interaction impacting the story in some manner, even if that's not entirely apparent in a single run. It's a vast Jenga tower, and every piece is important. That smug, clearly-high child you meet in the early hours may be the lynchpin to the case, or a punk you had to shut up with your fist. You determine the direction you go, and the game is very responsive to even your smallest actions.

It's this depth that makes Disco Elysium such a revelation, and it's changing the conversation around another recent RPG: Obsidian Entertainment's The Outer Worlds. Like a few other reviewers, I played Disco Elysium and The Outer Worlds back-to-back. The Outer World is a throwback to Obsidian's Fallout: New Vegas, which itself was a throwback to the original Fallout. The quests offer a number of choices, but the outcome is fairly localized. Skills allow you to navigate through conversations, but it's a rigid binary: either you have the skill level to pass a persuasion or intimidation check, or you don't. If you do, it works every time. The Outer Worlds is an older, standard style of RPG, executed to a high degree. 

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Saturday - November 09, 2019

General News - The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III Review

by Hiddenx, 21:24

VGU checked out The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III - which is still NOT available for PCs:

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III Review

Following the release of the PS4 remasters of Trails of Cold Steel I and II earlier this year, the long awaited third instalment of the long running saga has arrived in English. On a side note, fans of the series will be pleased to know that Trails of Cold Steel IV is already out in Japan, so the wait for an English translation will hopefully be significantly shorter than with the previous instalments. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III has once again been developed by series creators Nihon Falcom, with NIS America to perform translation and publishing duties instead of XSeed Games. The third game in the Trails of Cold Steel series promises to be a strong JRPG like its predecessors, but does it live up to the legacy that it hopes to continue?

[...]

Overall, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III is the strongest entry in the series to date. This third entry refines the various gameplay mechanics such as the Fast Travel and Bonding Events, whilst incorporating new elements such as the teammate involvement during the mech battle sections to make the game more enticing for returning players. If you have been looking for an RPG to fill your time until the arrival of Final Fantasy VII Remake and Persona 5 Royal next year, Trails of Cold Steel III could be exactly the experience that you have been waiting for.

Score: 8/10

 

Thursday - October 31, 2019

Wildermyth - Steam Early Access November 13th

by Silver, 21:50

Wildermyth is an RPG that will arrive in Steam Early Access November 13th.

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Wildermyth is a character-driven, procedurally-generated tactical RPG, designed to help you tell your wildest stories. Like the best tabletop roleplaying experiences, Wildermyth gives you choices and answers your every decision with consequences that drive your characters forward.

Lead a band of heroes as they grow from reluctant farmers into unique, legendary fighters. Combat unexpected threats and strange monsters across interactive battlefields. Unravel mysteries and share pensive moments in an ever-new fantasy setting that blends hard truths and sacrifice with humor and personal storytelling.

Where does your myth lead? Come help us uncover it!

  • Reminiscent of tabletop roleplaying, unique heroes are born in unique settings every game. They age, transform, fall in love, disagree, and make harrowing sacrifices.
  • Each hero brings their own organic history and personality with them, but your choices and combat skills are what decide their paths and outcomes.
  • All heroes die someday… but you get to hold on to your favorites. Reintroduce them in the next adventure, and over many lifetimes the myths you make will form your own legendary pantheon.

    An Imaginative Papercraft World
    The Yondering Lands, where the game is set, is a richly layered world populated with hand-painted 2D characters and scenery. We’ve paid loving attention to breaking molds and exploring new ideas: no orcs, elves, or goblins here—but watch out for the telepathic insect-dragons and the clockwork undead.

    Extreme Character Depth
    Each of your heroes has their own unique generated history, personality, and appearance, and will form relationships with your other heroes. All of these elements change and develop over the course of a playthrough, as characters age, encounter mysteries, and overcome challenges.

    Choices That Matter
    Your hero may choose to trust the enigmatic wolf god, leading to a hair-raising change in their appearance and combat abilities. Or they may pursue a romance with a fellow hero, giving each of them a shared buff and more story opportunities. Encounters and events have permanent, character-defining effects, letting you craft the arc of each character.

    A New Approach to Death
    Did your favorite character get one-shotted by a tentacled horror-bear? Choose to let a hero "fall back" with a maiming that will lead to some transformative new paths in their legend, or let them go out in a blaze of glory to be remembered for generations to come.

    Deep and Creative Tactical Combat
    Combat in Wildermyth emphasizes teamwork and careful positioning, as well as imaginative use of your evolving capabilities and surroundings. Walling and Flanking mechanics provide clear but conflicting incentives, while mystical interfusion lets you remake the battlefield with explosive magic. Multiple difficulty levels mean you can get as intense as you want to.

    Endless Replayability
    Pick and choose from a huge bank of combat abilities as your heroes level up in each playthrough, and decide whether you prefer offensive or defensive tactics, brute strength, stealth, or magically flinging fire from a nearby lamp into your enemies' faces. Procedural generation gives you new heroes, new enemies, new story events, and new maps every time you play.

    A Custom Pantheon of Legends
    You’ll have the freedom to customize hero appearances, names, histories, and more. As time passes, heroes grow old and may retire, or else might fall in combat—and yes, some will survive all the way to the end. You can add your favorite heroes to a roster of legends and call on them again in later playthroughs. Build your own mythologies and share the awe-inspiring might of your heroes with others.

Wednesday - October 30, 2019

Opinion - Stop Copying Dark Souls

by Silver, 20:49

GameRevolution asks for more variety in action games and says the Dark Souls formula is overdone.

It’s not as if these games are all hitting it out of the park either. Recent release Code Vein saw praise from many reviewers (including our own) about how it strips the frustration out of the experience, but frustration is also noted as a definitive quality of the Souls-like game. Games should be accessible to all, but it seems like lowering the difficulty of purposefully difficult games is the backwards solution to the issue. If you want to make a game of this type for a wider audience, there are plenty of ways to do it and sanding off the edges this much shouldn’t be it. Just doing that and not much else is not how to push a genre forward and doesn’t allow for as much healthy variety that a genre needs to evolve. Genres and subgenres exist for a reason, and developers would do well to remember that rather than copying what’s already there. There’s probably room for a less difficult Souls game but it’s a bit creatively disappointing if that’s one of the few aspects it offers to the genre.
[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Kingdom Under Fire 2 - Gameplay Video 2

by Silver, 20:46

A gameplay video for Kingdom Under Fire 2.

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Pre-Order here: http://kuf2.gameforge.com

Check out the new Gameplay Trailer #2 including epic fight scenes and lots of ingame footage. Publisher Gameforge is working with Korean developer Blueside to release Kingdom Under Fire 2 for the first time in North America and Europe this November on Windows PC! Kingdom Under Fire 2 combines the massively multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG) and real-time strategy (RTS) genres for a hybrid title unrivaled in its epic scale.

Stay tuned for the release on November 14th!

Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - October 29, 2019

General News - Halloween Deals

by Hiddenx, 19:07

GOG and Steam are tempting us with Halloween deals:

GOG.COM's Halloween Sale Scares Your Wallet with High Discounts

Horror, mystery, and action games on sale • DRM-free releases of Blair Witch, Layers of Fear 2, Call of Cthulhu, and more • 300+ deals up to -90%

OCTOBER 28, 2019 - This Halloween, GOG.COM invites you to visit the quiet town of Gogsville. A magical portal has appeared above it, sending down dozens of shape-shifting googs that spook children and play tricks on the adults. Their best ruse yet? Lowering the prices on DRM-free horror, mystery, and action games up to -90%! 

Start your visit to Gogsville by meeting the new residents. Take a hike in the woods with Blair Witch (-25%), face your worst nightmares with Layers of Fear 2 (-33%), uncover the ancient mysteries with Call of Cthulhu (-50%), beat the deadly outbreak with Daymare: 1998 (-20%), and experience some scares with DreadOut (-80%) and Visage (-20%).

Become the town's new supernatural detective and master your skills with game series like Sherlock Holmes (-80%), Tex Murphy (up to -80%), and the Broken Sword (up to -80%). Other mystery titles on sale include Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers - 20th Anniversary Edition (-75%), The Last Express (-70%), Virginia (-90%), Blackwell Bundle (-70%), The Vanishing of Ethan Carter (-80%), and Thimbleweed Park (-50%).

Visit the infamous haunted house full of classic scares with the original Diablo + Hellfire (-15%), Sanitarium (-50%), Call of Cthulhu: Prisoner of Ice (-50%), Blood 2: The Blood Group (-75%), Phantasmagoria 2: A Puzzle of Flesh (-35%), Gorky 17 (-60%), Clive Barker's Undying (-75%), The Suffering (-50%), F.E.A.R. Platinum (-75%), and many more.

Finally, treat yourself with all the recent releases you might want to catch up on, including the gruesome Blasphemous (-15%), Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (-10%), Blood: Fresh Supply (-33%), DARQ (-20%), Night Call (-10%), Pathologic 2 (-34%), and The 7th Guest: 25th Anniversary Edition (-25%). There are also bargains on some of the best selling titles like Vampyr (-60%), Grim Dawn (-70%), Hollow Knight (-50%), Unavowed (-30%), Apsulov: End of Gods (-20%), Remothered: Tormented Fathers (-60%), We Happy Few (-50%), and many more.

Enter the portal to Gogsville on GOG.COM and enjoy the spooky Halloween Sale deals until November 4th, 2 PM UTC.

For more information, please visit GOG.COM.

 

The Steam Halloween Sale is On Now!

What unearthly deals will you discover beneath the floating mansion? Find out during the Steam Halloween Sale, on now until November 1st at 10am Pacific.

Get discounts on horror and Halloween-themed games across the Steam catalog. The sale also features other great games that have special Halloween-themed updates or activities that are happening during the Halloween Sale!

Everreach: Project Eden - Trailer and Release Date

by Myrthos, 11:40

The Sci-fi RPG Everreach: Project Eden, which brings you to a planet that is being prepared for colonization, is coming to Steam in December and has a new video.

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Everreach: Project Eden is a fast-paced, story-driven action-RPG set on the visually stunning planet Eden. In Everreach, you play as Nora Harwood, a member of the Everreach Corporation's Security Division who is on a mission to clear the planet for colonization and investigate recent unusual happenings on the planet's surface.
 
Explore a vast alien world and descend into its depths to discover the ancient secrets of a long-forgotten civilization. Packed with engaging ground combat, high-speed vehicular warfare, and a compelling level and skill system, Everreach immerses you in its intriguing story and diversified gameplay.

Features of Everreach: Project Eden include:

  • Over 80 upgrades available to let you customize your skills and gear
  • Engage in fierce battles, deploy forcefields or use the environment against your foes
  • Hop onto your hoverbike to engage in high-speed vehicular warfare
  • Immerse yourself in eight hours of story — crafted by Michelle Clough, writer and former narrative QA for the Mass Effect trilogy
  • Explore Eden's beautiful vistas designed by Mai-Anh Tran, a film artist who worked on movies such as Warcraft and Star Trek Beyond 

Monday - October 28, 2019

General News - Upcoming Turn Based RPGs

by Hiddenx, 23:22

The Turn Based Lovers have collected turn based RPGs coming out in 2020:

Upcoming PC Turn Based Strategy RPG 2020 - Part 1

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Here is a list of some of the most interesting PC turn-based strategic tactical and/or RPG games coming out for 2020. Unfortunately, almost all titles still don't have a precise release date.

  • Dark Envoy
  • Empire of Sin
  • Darkest Dungeon II
  • Star Renegades
  • Grand Guilds
  • Phantom Brigade
  • The Iron Oath
  • Warborn
  • Stoneshard
  • Realms Beyond
  • Wasteland 3
  • Alder's Blood
  • Vagrus: The Riven Realms
  • Othercide
  • Shore Unknown
  • Stirring Abyss
  • Terran Shield
  • The Protagonist
  • We are the Caretakers

Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York - Release Dates

by Silver, 19:45

Gematsu reports on the release dates for Vampire: The Masquerade – Coteries of New York.

Narrative adventure game Vampire: The Masquerade – Coteries of New York will launch for PC via Steam on December 4 and for Switch in Q1 2020, developer Draw Distance announced. The company also said it is currently in talks with World of Darkness property holder Paradox Interactive about PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - October 27, 2019

Within the Cosmos - Update on Skills, Perks, and RPG mechanics

by Silver, 19:47

OnlySP reports on an update for Within the Cosmos that explains skills, perks, and RPG mechanics.

Developer debdev has announced multiple gameplay mechanic updates for its first-person sci-fi RPG, Within the Cosmos.

The announcement came via the game’s Steam page and focuses on the game’s RPG mechanics.

Players will have access to five attributes: Constitution, Agility, Intelligence, Perception, and Charm. Each of these five attributes will directly influence the player’s starting skills. “Putting points into Intelligence will increase what your Medical, Engineer, and Science skills will begin at,” debdev wrote.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - October 24, 2019

Broken Lines - Available Q4 2019

by Silver, 20:59

Broken Lines is an alternative history WW2 tactical strategy game due Q4 2019.

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The squad has crash-landed behind enemy lines, in the heart of Eastern Europe. With no officers, no leaders, and no intel, they must find an unbreakable resolve if they are to survive.
But with only their training and instincts to guide them, survival becomes a difficult goal. First of all, they need to learn to work together to have any hope of coping with the challenges ahead.
Each survivor has their own views on what to do, and their own principles on what is acceptable. Some want to investigate what caused their crash, others want to stay low and avoid detection by the enemy. There are even whispers of desertion.
It is your task to be the unseeing hand that will guide this ragtag group of soldiers through their struggles. Make your decisions wisely, for they will have real consequences on the fates of the survivors.

  • Tactical RPG with diverse characters. Experience the story through the eyes of each soldier as they fight for survival in an alternative WW2 setting.
  • Turn-based planning with simultaneous execution (WeGo turn-based gameplay)
  • Authentic tactical choices: suppression, destructible cover, realistic ballistics, and camouflage are at your disposal.
  • Rogue-like campaign structured with different narrative paths, resources, and permadeath.
  • A challenge for even the most experienced gamer. A far-reaching moral system means that the soldiers may desert at any moment if you prove to be incompetent.
  • An emotional story, tense atmosphere, and multiple endings based on the decisions that you make.

We are the Plague - Available Q4 2019

by Silver, 20:52

We are the Plague is a turn-based fantasy RPG due 2020 which has a demo available now.

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"I am the voice of the Plague, not your silly imagination. I am the only thing, that can save you from a long and painful process that inevitably leads to, let’s say, dead for good. Without any chance to come back."

THE PLAGUE SPREADS...

The Plague is generous and bountiful. It will give you tools, it will give you a weapon. You will be changed, transformed into something else. Just submit...

You have chosen to serve the Plague. Driven by hatred traverse the scorched and devastated lands in search of a revenge. Be the part of a legion, devouring cities and all living creatures, play against humanity to achieve your own goal.

Creatures you meet during your journey are a living proof of an inevitable change the Plague will bring upon the Earth. Crooked, in constant pain, blind followers. Your body and mind turn too. You are a part of a disease, your bones grow into a weapon, mysterious objects give you a strange power....

...And there's this voice in your head

JOIN THE PLAGUE

  • Single player story mode
  • Original, hand-drawn 2D graphics
  • Tactical, turn-based fighting system
  • RPG elements with character customization
  • Dedicated, ambient soundtrack

Tenderfoot Tactics - Available 2020

by Silver, 20:47

Tenderfoot Tactics is an upcoming turn-based fantasy RPG due 2020.

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MODERN TACTICAL RPG, INSPIRED BY THE CLASSICS

A novel, deterministic combat system, with easy to grasp rules and astonishing depth. No random miss chances. No damage ranges.

Manipulate the elements to turn the battlefield to your advantage, but beware the consequences, as nature is complex and fickle. Open chasms, raise mountains, boil lakes, drain rivers. Start fires you later regret.

Unlock dozens of distinct evolutions: shamans, druids, warlocks, wights, lavamancers, bog witches, knights, and more.

VAST OPEN-WORLD EXPLORATION

Unearth ancient ruins, discover strange artefacts, and meet new friends, in a lush, painterly world. Add a weatherworker to your party to move faster at sea. Take to the skies as a bird to survey the landscape and plan the best route forward.

For a generation, the terrible Fog - one vast, voiceless, and cruel spirit - has been eating the once-thick forests of the mainland. Now, with nowhere left to call home, and granted magic by the friendly spirits of the archipelago, one small party of would-be adventurers sets out. Find a way to save the many goblin towns of the rocky coast, discover the truth of the Fog, and, if possible, put an end to it.

Wednesday - October 23, 2019

Kingdom Under Fire 2 - Introduction Videos

by Silver, 19:26

Some videos for Kingdom Under Fire 2 from Gematsu.

If you missed it, previous media introduced the Spellsword class.

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Publisher Gameforge and developer Blueside have released a new set of trailers for Kingdom Under Fire II introducing the Gunslinger, one of five character classes featured in the game.

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Thanks Farflame!

Monday - October 21, 2019

Unsouled - Announced for PC

by Silver, 10:06

Gematsu reports that action RPG Unsouled has been announced for PC.

Publisher PQube and developer MeGusta Game have announced Unsouled, an atmospheric action RPG featuring stylized, fast-paced combat. It will launch for PC via Steam in spring 2020.

[...]

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Thanks Farflame!

Saturday - October 19, 2019

Surge 2 vs Code Vein - Which is Better?

by Silver, 20:53

RPG Division discusses which is better - Surge 2 or Code Vein.

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Surge 2 versus Code Vein. Which game is the better one? There is no simple answer here so I have tried to put all of my thoughts about these two games in this video to give you a proper answer.

Thanks Farflame!

Monday - October 14, 2019

General News - Top 50 RPGs in 2019

by Myrthos, 12:01

RPS has made a list of the 50 best RPGs, in their opinion, that are still playable today.

Look! A ranking of the 50 best RPGs on PC. I know, you never asked for this, but here it is. It is 100 percent correct, we double-checked. The RPG is a broad and deep sea and fishing out the best games from its characterful waters is no easy task. But we are capable fishers on the good ship RPS, and know when to humanely throw back a tiddler or fight to heave up a monster. Enough of this salty metaphor. Here are the 50 best RPGs you can play on PC today.

Last time we did this we tried to cover the entire history of computer roleplaying games. A daunting task. This time we’ve given more space to games you can feasibly play today without howling in disgust at low resolutions. In short: we sent a bunch of older games floating away on a slab of ice. Sorry, dad. That’s not to say you won’t find classics. Some of these RPGs are still more than 20 years old.

As with all of our Best Of features, the scope of the genre is broad rather than narrow. For RPGs, character development is important, as is a world in which you can do more than simply kill. Inventory management is nice, as is a setting that establishes a solid sense of place in which to play the role you inhabit, whether that’s wanderer, bandit, farmer, or pyromancer.

There are notes below the write-up for each game, telling you where you can buy it (or download it for free in some cases), as well as links to other articles about each game, and where to look next if you’re hankering for something similar.

[...]

1. Dark Souls
2. Divinity: Original Sin 2 (new entry)
3. Baldur’s Gate 2
4. Mass Effect 2
5. Dragon Age: Origins
6. Deus Ex
7. The Witcher 3
8. Undertale (new entry)
9. System Shock 2
10. Planescape: Torment
11. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
12. Dark Souls 3 (new entry)
13. Divinity: Original Sin
14. Stardew Valley (new entry)
15. Dwarf Fortress
16. Nier: Automata (new entry)
17. Pillars of Eternity
18. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (new entry)
19. Vampire: Bloodlines
20. NEO Scavenger
21. Skyrim
22. Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic
23. Sunless Skies (new entry)
24. Fallout: New Vegas
25. Mount & Blade: Warband (new entry)
26. Legend of Grimrock II
27. Darkest Dungeon
28. Fallout
29. Ultima VII
30. The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall
31. Banner Saga
32. Anachranox
33. Shadowrun Dragonfall Director’s Cut
34. UnReal World
35. Din’s Curse
36. ADOM
37. Titan Quest
38. Neverwinter Nights 2
39. Brogue
40. King Of Dragon Pass (new entry)
41. Wasteland 2
42. Avernum: Escape From The Pit
43. Wizardry VIII
44. Kenshi (new entry)
45. Recettear: An Item’s Shop Tale
46. Torchlight 2
47. Diablo II
48. Risen
49. Monster Hunter World (new entry)
50. Hand of Fate
51. The game you love.

 

Saturday - October 12, 2019

General News - What Even Is An RPG Anymore?

by Silver, 20:58

Fudj asks 'What Even Is An RPG Anymore?'

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What happened to the phrase "RPG"? When did we suddenly start attributing the phrase to what feels like 50% of modern games? What even is an RPG anymore? Should I let the robot in Fallout: New Vegas fist me? The answer to all these questions and more await you.
(I swear this video is not meant to be a Kingdom Hearts hit piece please don't hate me KH fans k thanks bye)

Tuesday - October 08, 2019

Alder's Blood - Interview

by Hiddenx, 19:55

The Turn Based Lovers have interviewed the devs of the tactical game Alder's Blood:

10 Turns Inteview with Alder’s Blood Developers

Sympathy for the…evil

Few weeks ago I decided to take a walk on the grim land of Alder’s Blood.
Among werewolf, vampire and many others nice friends, the travel eventually was really fascinating and I resolved to have a chat with the demonic developers of the game, Shockwork Games, but not before taking a long rifle with me 😉

I don’t’ like to hunt animals, but I really like to hunt demons…

1st Turn) What can you tell us about the world of Alder’s Blood? What were your inspirations?

Hi! First of all thank you for the opportunity for this interview. Alder’s Blood was inspired by a lot of things. Mostly my and Alex’s (illustrator and concept artist on the project) love for dark, Victorian setting. There are not many games where you can play as a vampire/werewolf hunter, so we decided to create one.
Advertisement

Ideas for a world like that were floating around for years before the development even started. Dualism was something I find very attractive and so I incorporated that into the game’s world building. We have this conflicts of extremes: nature, emotions, desires against civilization, reason and logic. 

[...]

Wednesday - October 02, 2019

Minecraft Dungeons - Gameplay Video

by Silver, 22:11

PC Gamer reports on some gameplay video for Minecraft Dungeons which is an action RPG.

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Last year at Minecon Mojang announced an action-RPG spin-off called Minecraft Dungeons, a Diablo-like with voxels. This year's Minecon gave us a closer look at it, with just over four minutes of gameplay footage.

[...]

Thanks henriquejr!

Saturday - September 28, 2019

Wheel of Fate - Funded

by Silver, 10:15

TheGG reports that the AI driven RPG Wheel of Fate has funded on Kickstarter.

TORONTO, CANADA – September 17, 2019- UDX Interactive’s debut artificial intelligence RPG “Wheel of Fate” completed its Kickstarter goal of $25,000 CAD in less than 24 hours, the game studio announced today.

“We believe that because we introduced a gaming concept so unique and robust that our backers were fully on board with us from the start,” said Daniel Vivona, CEO and co-founder of UDX Interactive.

“With this funding, we intend to expand on what already exists and bring and endless amount of possibilities to Wheel of Fate. We won’t let our fans down.”

Wheel of Fate’s Kickstarter campaign will run until October 17, 2019 for additional funding, with the title slated to launch Early Access in Q1 2020.

A list of rewards for backers can be found on the page’s “Rewards” section, which range from a copy of the game at launch to merchandised products to a studio visit with the team.

Designed by Mass Effect 2 veteran Miles Holmes, experience the journey of a lone adventurer who reawakens the mythical Wheel of Fate in the world of Providence, which in turn, brings the army of Fateless back from with it.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

The Executioner - Released

by Silver, 10:12

PC Gamer reports that The Executioner has been released.

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While billed as an RPG, it's very far from an action-oriented affair: it's more a game of  hopelessly complex moral decisions, sanity management and, of course, supplying "a dark economy" buoyed by the exchange of dead flesh. Feeling cheered? Well, it's up to the player to decide whether the character should become wholly desensitised to the misery he doles out, and there's a bigger story at hand, too.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - September 26, 2019

General News - Elder Scrolls Creators founded OnceLost Games

by Hiddenx, 22:44

Videogamer reports that some Elder Scrolls creators have founded the new studio OnceLost Games:

OnceLost Games is a new studio formed of The Elder Scrolls creators

Will announce its new project before the end of the year

A team of former The Elder Scrolls developers have come together to form a new studio called OnceLost Games, and it is working on its own open-world fantasy RPG title.

Focusing on a spiritual successor to Daggerfall, OnceLost Games’ ambition is ‘to meet the gap between the deep, complex design pillars of games from the 1990's, with the production values, improved controls and quality of life features in games today.’ Julian LeFay, considered to be the ‘Father of The Elder Scrolls’, is acting as the studio’s technical director, and stated in a Reddit AMA that he would be interested in creating a Daggerfall sequel of some sort.

‘It would have to be done in such a way that I wouldn't have business-related issues. Those are things that I've decided that I never want to deal with. With proper funding and someone trustworthy to manage the business side of things, it could definitely be a thing,’ he said. ‘I can't realistically see this coming to pass since it's not something I would initiate; it's not my thing. If someone could bring this about and then offered me an opportunity to join, that'd be a much more likely way that something along these lines could happen.’

[...]

Thanks Kordanor!

Wednesday - September 25, 2019

I am not a Monster: Complete Edition - 60% off Sale

by Silver, 00:14

I am not a Monster: Complete Edition is a tactical turn-based strategy game available now on Steam and currently 60% off.

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First Contact single-player campaign

A thrilling sci-fi story.

The Albatross space liner is overrun by lizard-like aliens that can turn people into monsters like them. Find out how the monsters got on board as you battle the hostile creatures.

Features:

  • Over 30 different missions
  • 8 unique heroes
  • Control multiple heroes at the same time
  • Save passengers and discover the secret of the monsters' sudden appearance

Multiplayer mode

Monsters vs Heroes tactical turn-based battles with randomly-assigned roles.

Up to 6 players take part in a battle where each is randomly given the role of hero or monster (minimum two monsters per game).

If you are a hero

  • Trust no one: analyze other players' actions and figure out who the monsters are.
  • Save passengers and destroy the aliens.
  • Combine various weapons to get unique abilities and turn the tide of the battle.
  • If a monster infects you, you only have a couple of turns to heal. Otherwise, you'll become a monster too!

For monsters

  • Disguise yourself to move around safely.
  • Earn the trust of other players and avoid their suspicions.
  • Infect passengers to be reborn in their bodies if they kill you.
  • Infect your opponents to turn them into monsters.
  • Use the aliens' psychic connection to see what other monsters see.


For everyone

  • Play ranked seasons
  • Unlock unique skins and sprays
  • Complete tasks and get Creator's Balls: each Ball contains a random item - or even a game key!

Tuesday - September 24, 2019

Dying Light 2 - Gamescom Preview

by Silver, 07:05

Dying Light 2 has been previewed by Wccftech at Gamescom who called it the most exciting upcoming open world game.

...

At the end of the demo, we see the protagonist in a climactic battle against a Colonel. You’ve been informed he has access to water pumps required for the supply of all the people at your base, he informs you they do not have access to those pumps, and says you’ve been tricked. You can decide which way this plays out, but here the protagonist follows his original instructions, fights the Colonel and his goons, and activates water pumps. Excitingly, this drains the flooded city, uncovering much more land to explore, but isn’t the water pumps you were looking for, and who knows what monsters lurk below now that the water level has been lowered. Your decisions having such a dramatic change in the landscape of the open world is incredibly exciting, but time will tell if the options change the outcome much, or if draining the water was an inevitable step.

Right now, Dying Light 2 looks like one of the most exciting upcoming open-world games, full stop. It uses zombies in fun ways, has varied and dynamic combat options, and traversing the world looks exhilarating. The only question is whether or not the game is as open and dynamic as it seems from demo reels. We’ll find out when the full game launches early next year, but as of right now, you should be tentatively excited.

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - September 18, 2019

Summerfield Studios - David Gaiders New Gig

by Silver, 04:39

@PC Gamer David Gaider has set up a new studio in Australia called Summerfield Studios'. The studio will launch alongside a Kickstarter for an, as yet, unannounced new game.

The new studio will have its official launch at PAX Australia, alongside the launch of a Kickstarter to fund its first game. Details are pretty sparse on the ground at the moment, but Summerfall Studios' website promises "an illustrated character-driven adventure", before going on to say that "Summerfall Studios will crush your dreams and tear out your heart… in the very best way." Kotaku Australia broke the news, and you can stay in touch with future Summerfall news on the developer's Facebook page.

[...]

Monday - September 16, 2019

Epic Tavern - A reverse-RPG game

by Silver, 09:14

KnowTechie reports on Epic Tavern which they describe as a reverse RPG game. The game is currently available on Steam Early Access.

I found that I actually had surprising control over the characters that I ostensibly wasn’t in control of. The game sends you on a tutorial quest that is guaranteed to fail eventually, as it’s the story catalyst of why things in the world are as bad as they are when the game begins. You do control heroes in combat by telling them what kind of roll to make (e.x. Aggressive or Cautious, among several options).

From there it’s all about hedging probabilities. The best way that I can describe the level of control you have is one that goes well with the “sports management meets fantasy” pitch: You’re more of a coach on the sidelines making broad suggestions and less of a player making micro choices.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - September 05, 2019

Vampire: The Masquerade -Coteries of New York - New Info

by Silver, 12:23

Some new info on gameplay, mechanics and story for interactive fiction RPG Vampire: The Masquerade -Coteries of New York.

Hello, everyone! How has summer been treating you so far?

Here at Draw Distance, we’re longingly staring at the blue skies outside our windows as we’re entering the final phases of development of Vampire: The Masquerade – Coteries of New York, our upcoming narrative-focused, fully licensed game set in the globally renowned universe of Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition.

As time passes, we unveil more and more information about Coteries of New York. In our last press release, published by many media outlets around the world, we shared tons of data regarding the gameplay, mechanics and story.

Here’s the tl;dr list of key information we shared about Coteries of New York:

  • Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York presents the conflict between two vampiric factions: the traditionalist Camarilla and the fiercely independent Anarchs in New York
  • It's a unique, atmospheric, single-player narrative experience, set in the rich, fully-licensed, globally-recognized universe of Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition.
  • Coteries of New York present players with choices that matter, aiming to deliver a dark, atmospheric, and emotional narration mixed with morally challenging dilemmas, and many potential paths leading to the story’s finale.
  • We plan to include significant branching and reactivity, so that the players feel their decisions influence the world around them and encourage multiple playthroughs for those invested in the world and story of Coteries of New York.
  • You are a newly-fledged vampire in New York. You must learn what it means to be one of the Kindred in a huge, vibrant, contemporary metropolis.
  • You will make choices for your character, including which storylines to pursue and how to approach the different situations presented. You will be presented with branching dialogue choices, memorable characters - all among iconic locales of New York City. You’ll be able to use Disciplines appropriate to your clan to charm, sneak, intimidate or kill, and your choices will determine your path.
  • You’ll build your Coterie and learn your undead companions’ deepest secrets… or see them abandon you.
  • Although you start off as part of the authoritarian vampire sect called the Camarilla, you soon learn that other factions exist - chief among them, the independent Anarchs. Your paths will inevitably cross theirs, but whether you choose to shun them, or try to learn more about what they represent, will be your decision.
  • While the game is primarily text-driven and story oriented, several mechanics reflect the dark truths of being one of the Kindred.
  • Hunger is used to indicate the constant need for blood that vampires must deal with nightly. Characters have the opportunity to hunt for blood during quests. Ignoring this need leads to warnings in the game’s fiction, and if disregarded for too long, to consequences that include succumbing to the Beast
  • Humanity is a measure of how moral and rooted in humanistic principles the character is. This rating is used by the game to modify the results of choices in quests, offer additional story choices, or even lock certain choices out.
  • Finally, the Masquerade rating tracks how well the character blends in with mortal society. Staying inconspicuous and hidden from prying eyes is even more important for vampires than ever, due to the existence of the so-called Second Inquisition, a clandestine hunt for vampires concealed within global government agencies. Secrecy and not flaunting your supernatural powers in the sight of mortals is of utmost importance.

That’s all the information we’ve prepared for today. In the upcoming updates we will unveil more about the characters, Clans, Disciplines and different types of quests!

Oh, and by the way, check out the game's main page on Steam - you'll find four brand new pre-alpha screenshots there!

We're hope you're pleased with the amount and weight of the information we provided. Stay tuned, as we're preparing to share our first gameplay trailer with you soon!

Thanks!
Best,
Jacek @ Draw Distance team
Thanks Farflame!

Wheel of Fate - New "AI" RPG

by Silver, 12:19

Twinfinite reports on Wheel of Fate which is described as being an "AI" RPG capable of thousands of story possibilities.

Developer UDX Interactive has today announced a new project called Wheel of Fate. The game’s genre is described as an artificial intelligence RPG, in which player decisions shape the world around them using unique technology.

“With Wheel of Fate, we took a massive leap that RPG’s never do and that’s to incorporate machine learning to continuously explore thousands of possibilities and create new story arcs,” says former Mass Effect 2 developer and Wheels of Fate designer Miles Holmes.

[...]

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Thanks Farflame!

Monday - September 02, 2019

Chernobylite - Gameplay Video

by Silver, 07:27

Some gameplay video of post apocalyptic RPG Chernobylite.

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Hey stalkers!

Thanks to the Kickstarter campaign supported by so many of you, we spent the last few months working very hard to bring you into the Heart of Darkness - The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The beginning of our game takes place there - this is where it all started, and this is where it all ends. Even if there's still a few months ahead to the release of Early Access version of the game on Steam, we wanted to share a small part of the experience with you. Leave us your comments and help us polish the game to become an ultimate Chernobyl experience for all of us.

And anyway, to visit Chernobyl without leaving your home, add Chernobylite to your wishlist on Steam and stay tuned for more news about autumn's release of our game.

Thanks Farflame!

Within the Cosmos - Gameplay Video

by Silver, 07:23

A new gameplay video of RPG shooter Within the Cosmos.

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Available on Steam in September 2019

Steam page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/61...

Within the Cosmos is a single-player first-person sci-fi RPG.

As you explore the Adallio System to try to find answers, your choices and actions will determine how the story unfolds.

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The year is 2278, and humanity is on the verge of extinction. Your mission is to preserve the human race, as they are fighting a war they will not win. You are one of 500 people who work for UESA (United Earth Space Agency). You were put in cryogenic sleep and sent to the planet 'Berith II'. A planet that is tucked away in the Adallio star system, hidden, and far from the war. However, once you arrive, you and your crew come under attack by an unknown enemy, and it is up to you to figure out who is behind the attack, and why.

Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - August 29, 2019

General News - Starflight Remake News

by Hiddenx, 21:01

Farflame spotted a dev diary for a Starflight remake:

Starflight: The Remaking of a Legend

Welcome to the IndieDB page for Marvin's 'Starflight: The Remaking of a Legend' project. This project is a fan remake of the original 1987 PC game loved by many back in the day. Marvin is a veteran professional software and game developer who has worked for multiple well known companies such as Bethesda Softworks and Rainbow Studios, on popular games such as 'Elder Scrolls Redguard' and 'Cars: The Video Game'. As a fun side project, Marvin has decided to use his years of experience to remake his favorite childhood game with modern graphics via Unity. This game is open-source and freely available on GitHub, should anyone wish to help. Playable builds are being released on the project website and occasionally here too.

Dev Diary 14 - Creating More Alien Comms (Part 1) in Starflight: The Remaking of a Legend

Time for another post! This time Marvin brings to life the Spemin and the Gazurtoid via their communications screens and dialogue in his Starflight: The Remaking of a Legend project. Next article will cover more strange encounters! :)

[...]

Ashes of Oahu - Review @ IndianNoob

by Myrthos, 20:40

Ashes of Oahu is a post-apocalyptic shooter-RPG set in Hawaii and it has been reviewed by IndianNoob, who felt it was lackiong as it only scored a 5.5 out of 10.

Ashes of Oahu is a clear cut example of high ambition restricted by budget constraints and lack of manpower. Amidst the technical mess, there are moments of brilliance and pure fun but they are too far and few between. I genuinely hope that the developers keep updating the game like they have the past few weeks and may it end up closer to their original vision sooner than later. But for now, Ashes of Oahu is a hard pass.

 

Tuesday - August 20, 2019

General News - RPGs are too Predictable

by Myrthos, 19:59

The Guardian has an editorial on RPGs becoming too predictable and that a breath of fresh wind is needed.

But every now and again, a game comes along which shows that innovation can happen without putting people off and revives a genre in the process. The Ubisoft model was once to open-world games what the Fallout model is to first-person RPGs. The blueprint: climb towers to unlock new areas, sprinkle a map with icons representing mini goals to reach, make progress at your leisure. It underpinned Ubisoft’s Assassins Creed, Far Cry and Watch Dogs series, Warner Bros’ Batman and Middle Earth franchises, and many others.

Then came The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, in 2017. It’s got the towers, the open-world, and the plethora of smaller activities to distract you from the main noble quest. But it quietly revolutionised that stale old structure. Nothing in Breath of the Wild is gated. If you wanted (and you were extremely skilled) you could simply walk to the final boss and finish the game, though you would be far more likely to be lasered to death by guardian robots on the way up to the castle. The icon-filled map is almost entirely gone: only fast-travel points and the occasional quest-line show up. The rest is there for you to discover with your eyes and ears, rather than following objective markers like an orienteering enthusiast.

Thanks Eye

Remnant: From the Ashes - Released

by Silver, 08:28

Remnant: From the Ashes released on Steam recently and is a souls-like co-op shooter RPG.

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ABOUT THIS GAME
Remnant: From the Ashes is a third-person survival action shooter set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by monstrous creatures. As one of the last remnants of humanity, you’ll set out alone or alongside up to two other players to face down hordes of deadly enemies and epic bosses, and try to carve a foothold, rebuild, and then retake what was lost.

A REMNANT OF MANKIND The world has been thrown into chaos by an ancient evil from another dimension. Humanity is struggling to survive, but they possess the technology to open portals to other realms and alternate realities. They must travel through these portals to uncover the mystery of where the evil came from, scavenge resources to stay alive, and fight back to carve out a foothold for mankind to rebuild...

ENDLESS FANTASTIC REALMS AWAIT Explore dynamically-generated worlds that change each time you play through them, creating new maps, enemy encounters, quest opportunities, and in-world events. Each of the game’s four unique worlds is filled with monstrous denizens and environments that will provide fresh challenges with each playthrough. Adapt and explore… or die trying.

SCAVENGE. UPGRADE. SPECIALIZE. Overcome tough-as-nails enemies and epic bosses throughout hostile environments to earn experience, valuable loot and upgrade materials you can use to build a wicked arsenal of weapons, armor, and modifications to approach each encounter dozens of unique ways.

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS. Invading other worlds to seek an end to the Root is dangerous and survival is far from guaranteed. Team up with up to two other players to increase your chances of survival. Teamwork is necessary to make it through the game’s toughest challenges… and unlock its greatest rewards.

Monday - August 19, 2019

RPGWatch Feature - The CRPG Book Review

by Myrthos, 07:58

We never did a book review before, but here is our first one. Corwin went through Bitmap Books' CRPG book and remembered a lot of things from the past and learned some things as well. It is not a very long review, but it describes very well why Corwin liked the book.

Nostalgia can be a wonderful thing and I've been around long enough for it to really take hold. I remember when there were only mainframes and punch cards; I remember seeing Pong when it first took the world by storm; I remember buying an Intellivision and playing two simplistic DnD games for hours; I remember being excited when I bought a Commodore 64 and played 'Bard's Tale', 'Phantasie', 'Might and Magic' and 'Ultima'. I remember buying my first IBM clone PC and being extremely annoyed when it wouldn't play the first PC game I'd ever bought 'Quest For Glory' because it needed a '286' to run. (Who reads the fine print on the back of a box?) I remember having to upgrade to a '386' a '486' and a Pentium (complete with assorted memory managers) just so I could play the latest game in the Ultima series. Ah, the joys of nostalgia.

Thursday - August 15, 2019

General News - Fire Emblem PC Alternatives

by Hiddenx, 20:01

PCGamesN found seven Fire Emblem PC alternatives:

Looking for a Fire Emblem PC game? Here are seven alternatives to try

All the squares you could hope for

Fire Emblem: Three Houses is a unique union of Persona and grid-based warfare. It manages to make building an army fun as well as a megalomaniacal necessity. Unfortunately, the fantastical TRPG (that’s tactical role-playing game) series is exclusive to Nintendo platforms. Bummer. But don’t despair; there are a ton of similar games available right now on PC.

Indeed, from tiny mech battles to post-apocalyptic road trips, you might argue that there has never been a better time to dive into classic grid-based tactics games. They may not let you share tea with your students-turned-soldiers, but the format has been applied to a huge range of settings with a number of twists thrown in, offering more depth and diversity in turn-based combat than we’ve enough free time to enjoy.

[...]

 

 

Monday - August 12, 2019

Monsters' Den Chronicles - Now on Steam

by Silver, 08:44

Monsters' Den Chronicles is a dungeon crawler from 2012 that is now available on Steam.

 

 

 

 

 

Originally released in 2012, the third entry in the classic Monsters' Den series has come to Steam- improved and remastered!

Monsters' Den Chronicles is a dungeon-crawling RPG with turn-based battles and an emphasis on advancing a persistent roster of heroes.

Form a party and undertake one of six different adventures. Procedurally generated dungeons mean that even the same scenario is different each time.

  • Six different story scenarios
  • Randomly generated dungeons add replayability
  • Endless dungeon and wave survival modes
  • Hundreds of loot items to find
  • Unlock additional items by completing in-game achievements
  • Includes the premium content from the original web game

Tuesday - August 06, 2019

The Last Spell - Announced

by Silver, 23:56

The Last Spell is described as a turn-based tactical RPG with roguelite mechanics in which you lead a team of hardened heroes to defend the last bastion of humanity against hordes of monsters.

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What if Final Fantasy Tactics & Dynasty Warriors had an illegitimate daughter?

The Last Spell is a turn-based tactical RPG immersed in roguelite mechanics in which you lead a team of hardened heroes to defend the last bastion of humanity against hordes of monsters.

A Dark Fantasy Tactical RPG with Rogue lite elements

This is the end. War and a bunch of crazy mages provoked The Cataclysm. A mysterious mist filled with hellish monsters enveloped most of the world. They said that those who entered the mist were killed, driven mad, or even turned into monstrous abonimations themselves. Only a few Havens keep up the fight against the Hordes of bloodthirsty monsters that come out at night from this strange purple mist.

Days were quiet and peaceful: they could take time to organize themselves, heal their wounds and search the surroundings for anything useful. But the nights… The mist thickened and from their bowels unleashes hordes of mutated monsters, craving for blood and magic.

In this glorious mix of pixel art and dark fantasy setting, you lead a group of hardened warriors whose only purpose in life is to desperately defend the last of the mages while they try to cast The Last Spell, and banish all magic from this world. And maybe save us all. Maybe.

Features

Turn-Based Tactics:

  • Manage your squad of hardened heroes
  • Scarce resources: use Mana wisely to survive
  • Class-less skill trees and bonus perks

Hordes of Evil:

  • Tons of enemies to slay, burn, shock and slice!
  • Dozens of enemy types with different behaviors
  • Impressive skills to help you slaughter ’em all

Protect the City:

  • Rebuild a safe Haven from the remains of civilization
  • Build walls, traps and watchtowers
  • Protect the circle of magic at all costs!

Roguelite Elements:

  • You will fail… but everytime you do, you’ll grow stronger
  • Procedurally generated Enemy waves, Maps, Characters and Weapons
  • Nasty bosses

Tuesday - July 30, 2019

General News - CRPG Book Is Available Now

by Myrthos, 08:41

Yesterday, Bitmap books has made the CRPG book available. The book that would not have been if it wasn't for Filipepepe.

We're very proud to announce that The CRPG Book: A Guide to Computer Role-Playing Games is now available to purchase. After a very successful pre-order period, we decided to reprint the Standard Edition to give more people the chance to own this amazing book.

Spread over more than 500 pages, The CRPG Book: A Guide to Computer Role-Playing Games reviews over 400 seminal games from 1975 to 2015, covering the role-playing classics we all know and love such as UltimaWizardryFallout and Mass Effect – all brought to life with vibrant and engaging in-game images. Each entry also shares articles on the genre, mod suggestions and hints on how to run the games on modern hardware. The book is completely by written by fans, AAA developers, indies, journalists, modders and industry personalities such as Chris Avellone, Ian Frazier, Scorpia, Ferhegón, Richard Cobbett, Brian 'Psychochild' Green, Durante, George Weidman and Tim Cain, to name but a few.

We also have a small amount of the sought after Collector's Edition available. These are priced at £49.99, which includes the A4 Dungeon Map Pad, Postcard Pack, A2 Poster and Pencil. We also have a small amount of the Collector's Edition which don't include any goodies, which are priced at £39.99.

Sunday - July 21, 2019

General News - Interview with Witcher 3 & Assassin's Writer

by Silver, 09:16

GameSavvy interviewed Stephen Rhodes who has worked on the Witcher 3 and Assassin's Creed Odyssey as a writer.

Tyler: You’re clearly passionate about games, so what came first? Was it that you wanted to be a writer and got into video games or was it that you wanted to get into video games and eventually became a writer?

Stephen: It’s definitely the second one. I went to university to study military history. I was really into history. I could tell very early on that it wasn’t really doing it for me and I just didn’t see a future career in it. So, I transferred courses internally because they had a good games course and I did a game design degree which covered a broad range of things including design, a bit of audio, programming, a bit of art and did a bit of narrative as well. I was always quite good at design and interested in the design and the mechanics of things because I like systems. But looking back, (narrative) resonated with me because when I did the narrative module I got like a 98% in it or something ridiculous. I loved doing it but I sort of put it aside afterwards and carried on pursuing other disciplines.

I got into the actual industry by doing QA and testing. There was a studio, Travelers Tales, the guys who do the Lego games, and they were quite close to where I went to university and a lot of the graduates ended up there. There were a few (graduates) in high positions at that point and they were always looking for students who were about to graduate. So, I went and did QA but they put up some internal positions in design roles not long after I started. I applied and got a design role where I did level design, camera stuff, working on cut scenes and working on missions so it was quite a broad job role but it was a great entry into the industry. Doing that I realized I had a passion for narrative and storytelling. It was always something that came very naturally to me. Growing up, me and my friends used to play DnD and other Roleplay Games like Star Wars, and Warhammer Fantasy. I was always liked to DM (Dungeon Master) as I was always coming up with the stories and campaigns and characters. It was always something I harbored a passion for so I kind of bridged the gap and after three years at Travellers Tales I realized that the Lego games weren’t satisfying my creative needs. So I applied to a couple of places and ended up getting a job at CD Projekt Red in Poland as a quest designer, which for me it was a great merge of my experience and also my passion for narrative.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Friday - July 19, 2019

Haven - First Trailer

by Silver, 20:33

PC Gamer reports on the first trailer for Haven, which is an RPG about lovers on a lost planet.

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Earlier this year, Furi developer The Game Bakers announced Haven, an RPG about lovers on a lost planet. The description at the time was pretty vague: It's playable alone or in two-player coop, and "the only thing that matters is to stay together." Today the studio revealed a little more about what's coming, including the first-ever gameplay trailer and a rundown of basic gameplay.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Monday - July 15, 2019

General News - The best RPGs of all Time

by Hiddenx, 20:42

What do we do against the summer slump? We present you another top RPG list - this time henriquejr spotted one on PC Gamer:

The best RPGs on PC

The best RPGs on PC guarantee hundreds of hours of adventure in one of the PC's essential genres.

The best RPGs on PC can deliver hundreds of hours of adventure. Since tabletop RPGs first started getting the digital treatment, the genre has grown into an intimidating, massive beast. Many of the best RPGs you can play on PC are of the action variety, hailing from the explosive years of 3D RPGs like Oblivion. More recently, classic style RPGs  like Pillars of Eternity with closer ties to their tabletop roots have seen a resurgence in popularity. Our list of the best RPGs on PC have something to scratch your roleplay itch whether you prefer fast-paced swordplay or more methodical turn-based games.

The RPG genre is tough to boil down: by the most literal definition, every game is a role-playing game. This list represents our best definition of the canonical RPG—games that likely emphasize story; that let you inhabit a customizable character through skill points, inventory, and dialogue decisions; that include complex, controllable relationships with companions or non-playable characters. Drawing these kinds of lines helps us provide a better service to you, we hope—though we've made some exceptions where we think it's worth it.

[...]

 

 

Dying Light 2 - Interviews

by Silver, 10:49

Some interviews for Dying Light 2 from Gamingbolt and AusGamers.

Or as I suggested to Jaskula “renaissance Mad Max?”.

“Yeah, yeah! Of course that was our goal,” he says almost jumping out of his seat at the phrasing. “Humanity lost it's war to the infected. So we knew that [the game-world] had to be multicultural; it's somewhere in Europe because we wanted it to be a mix of cities we know, and for us it was a perfect setting for the game with the architecture; the medieval buildings correspond [with] what we call ‘Modern Dark Ages’.”

The reason this is poignant, in mentioning multiculturalism with the idea of a ‘Modern Dark Ages’, is that one of the voices I heard in the demo was definitely Aussie (hence the Mad Max reference), but that all of this rolls into why, and how, The City has descended into an archaic level of society. Freedom means different things to different groups within Dying Light 2, and the ideology of positive ‘multiculturalism’ is flipped on its head. This is not a nice place to be, let alone live in, and we haven’t even gotten to the Infected who still populate its daytime interiors and nighttime streets. A Mardi Gras of dread, fear and vertical requirement, from a gameplay perspective.

[...]

As Aiden’s parkouring from location to location, his clothes look fluid and well detailed. For some reason, Aiden has a very weird looking bracelet on. There’s no indication of what this means, but it looks very important.

I have a question related to the bracelets they wear —

TS: Yes. The bracelets are called biomarkers. This is something that was built 15 years before the events of the game by an organization called GRE. This basically shows you how close you’re getting to the point of no return. Because when you are infected, the infection accumulates in your body. When you cross a certain threshold then you basically turn into a zombie. So this tells you, “I’m really in bad shape. I really need to find some [drugs].” Most of this is important in terms of narrative, how people react to you. Because when you’re close to turning, they will react to you. That’s the rule of this world. That’s a safety measure for everyone in the city.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Monday - July 08, 2019

Within the Cosmos - Gameplay, Lore, and the Future

by Silver, 09:21

OnlySP asked the developers of Within the Cosmos about gameplay, lore, and the future.

OnlySP: The game also has a stat system, which sounds a little like S.P.E.C.I.A.L. from Fallout. Is that an apt comparison? Will players be able to improve and modify those stats through gameplay and, if so, how?

Debois: Yeah, it's a similar idea to how S.P.E.C.I.A.L. works in Fallout or similar games. When the player starts the game, they will be given a fixed amount of points that they can assign to their attributes. So, if you decide to max out your Constitution and Agility, you'll have a character who's agile, sneaky, and strong, but that would come at the cost of not having much Intelligence, Charisma, or Perception. So, you're really gonna have to think about what attributes you favour, or you could put a roughly equal amount into all of them and have a character that can do a little bit of everything but not a master of everything. It's up to you. I feel like that system will really create the desire for players to have multiple playthroughs of the game, and still have each playthrough feel like a different experience.

As far as improving and modifying those stats... I'm still trying to get the balance right. There might be one or two instances where you can upgrade them, or get temporary boosts to them, but whether you can improve or modify them beyond that is still being determined.

OnlySP: While upgrading, will players be able to respec their character's abilities at all or are they locked into the upgrades they use?

Debois: No, they won't be able to respec. Once you select an upgrade/perk, that's what you're locked into.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - July 04, 2019

Warlocks 2: God Slayers - Releasing July 18th

by Silver, 21:51

Action RPG Warlocks 2: God Slayers will release July 18th.

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Warlocks 2: God Slayers is a humorous action RPG game with online and local co-op.
Challenge the vile gods and dethrone them in this action-packed hack’n' slash experience with wizards and meteor showers.

God Slayers is a brand new story.
Take the role of one of the Warlocks and face the gods themselves, as slashing hordes of shadow monsters in the past have angered them, to say the least.
The Order of Warlocks has been called to challenge and dethrone arrogant gods from the thrones - make them pay for their betrayal.

Core features:

  • Hilarious pixel art with hand-drawn animations.
  • Dynamic hack 'n slash experience in solo, local and online co-op (up to 4 players).
  • More than 40 types of challenging enemies that work together to take you down, using their unique skill sets.
  • 5 different types of Warlocks to choose, each with their own abilities to unlock throughout the game.
  • Special familiar slot for your character (with evolutions!).
  • 8-10 hours of gameplay to complete the solo adventure with one Warlock.
  • Giant, powerful bosses waiting to get slayed.
  • Extensive maps with tons of randomly generated loot to be picked up.
  • Colorful narration with plenty of jokes and humour.

Friday - June 28, 2019

Ashes of Oahu - Player Choice and the Branching Story

by Silver, 11:11

A recent developer diary for Ashes of Oahu covers player choice and the branching story.

Developer Diary #6: Player Choice and the Branching Story

In our previous developer blog, we covered the importance of outposts and touched on enemy A.I. You can catch up on that blog here. This week we are covering the depth of the branching narrative that you’ll uncover as you play though Ashes of Oahu and the impacts of your choices.

When Kai embarks upon his journey through Ashes of Oahu the factions exist in a loose tension with each other. They have motivations that place them in conflict, but they do not live in a state of all-out war. Depending on your choices, they can stay neutral towards each other, become allies, or devolve into open hostilities. This is done to increase player agency and show Kai’s influence on the world around him.

What Kai learns as he interacts with different characters will affect the story as well. What you learn throughout the game can become relevant in later conversations with other NPCs. If you have met one particular character and that meeting is connected to another person elsewhere in the world, you could find new branching dialogue available to you. You’ll also find that some NPCs will be willing to help you along your journey and venture out to support Kai’s efforts if you make the correct dialogue choices.

Ultimately the choices Kai makes and the way he aligns himself with the factions will impact who will help you defeat the Pua’a. Kai can turn missions down directly and risk gating any future rewards from that character, or he can choose to work with all the factions and try to bring them into harmony at the likely cost of never reaching the ultimate in skill rewards from any of the factions.

One early example of how Kai’s choices can have severe consequences is how he chooses to interact with a man named Tacitus. A first glance Tacitus appears to be a member of the Islanders that has been evicted from the Farm. He insists that he was helping the Farm fight off an invading band of Raiders, but the Farm didn’t like his tactics and asked him to go. He appears gravely injured and requests you seek aid on his behalf.

Once Kai arrives at the Farm, doubts are raised about Tacitus’ motivations. Apparently, the Raider invasions didn’t really start until he showed up. Needless to say, the Farm isn’t inclined to give you medical items to aid Tacitus. At this point, you can either steal the supplies and suffer reputational damage with the Islanders (if you get caught), or you can do a quest for the medical staff, and then they will reward you with the items you wanted.

If you choose to help Tacitus, he will reward you with grenades, promise you more in the future, but eventually betray you and attack alongside the Raiders at a later point in the game. If you choose to turn him down, he will become openly hostile towards you. You’ll learn early on that helping everyone you meet isn’t always in your own best interest, nor is everyone always going to tell you the truth, but it is your choice to make. However, regardless of the decision you arrive at, you are guaranteed to have some fun and exciting gameplay moments out of it.

Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - June 27, 2019

Alder's Blood - Announcement Trailer

by Silver, 01:49

Alder's Blood is described as a grim and dark stealth tactical game with the turn-based combat focused on avoiding enemy ambushes and setting up your own.

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Become a member of an elite cast known as the Hunters. Take on the quest to kill the corrupt god that abandoned the human race and left it to perish. Embark on a dangerous journey and explore the remnants of a world in search of a means for mankind’s survival. Alder’s Blood – a debut title from Shockwork Games, will hunt you down on PC and Switch later this year.

Feature List

  • Stealth, ambush-based combat. Try to outsmart and outwit all the horrifying creatures you’ll be facing, as they are way stronger and you don’t stand a chance in a direct assault;
  • Diverse, challenging opponents. From werewolves to vampires, all monsters have their unique attacks and skills and can easily see, hear or smell you from the distance. So be careful not to reveal your position too early;
  • Stamina-based characters. Cautiously manage your energy level between attacking, moving and casting spells. In the end, you’re only a human and running out of energy will seriously fatigue you;
  • A grim world plunged in half-darkness. In this world, our god has finally turned his back on us and his corrupt presence can change the intensity of the battlefield. From summoning monsters, through changing the weather, to transforming one of the creatures into a powerful avatar of his will;
  • A vagabond’s exploration system.Travel the world bringing your mobile base along with you. Take shelter in and manage your camp, but be wary of enemy ambushes;
  • A unique fusion of dark Victorian fantasy and wild west. Immerse yourself in a world so different from the one you know. The universe shaped by struggle, where mankind has not had the freedom to develop or advance any of its technology

Saturday - June 22, 2019

Best RPGs of the last 40 Years - Infographic of 500+

by Silver, 11:24

UnleashtheGamer has a large infographic of the best 500 RPGs from the last 40 years.

You might’ve forgotten, but a few months ago, on a cold February afternoon, we released a humongous infographic on the internet containing (what we then thought) a definitive list of the best RPGs.

How It All Began

We won’t lie to you – it took a lot of work. Like, a lot. Gathering the data, centralizing the titles, neatly categorizing each game in the appropriate place, and not to mention designing the infographic itself, took a lot of grind and sweat.

  • 3 weeks to gather the initial data, researching, and talking to friends

  • 1 week of proofreading and arguing with said friends about the differences between real-time with pause and turn-based games

  • Several hours making research on the difference between high fantasy and low fantasy only to understand that there is no consensus in the media on either definition, and we’re free to accept whichever option we wish

  • 2 days for our designer to come up with a structure that makes sense

  • Hours upon hours to find all the information required

  • 2 weeks of gathering your feedback and doubling the number of games

  • Hours of our designer adding all them and alphabetizing all 500+ games per your request

  • 1836 layers in the Photoshop file

  • A full month of being proven wrong each day when I thought I knew a lot of RPG games

[...]

Chernobylite - Interview

by Silver, 11:11

@Gamingbolt The developers of Chernobylite have been interviewed.

From what we’ve read of Chernobylite so far, it seems the story is a pretty big focus in the game- is that an accurate assertion?

Exactly! In our previous game, Get Even, we put a lot of emphasis on narration and the bar has been set up pretty high. Nevertheless, with Chernobylite, we have an ambition to push it even higher.

How much are player decisions going to affect the game and its story? How divergent can we expect the branching paths to be?

It’s very difficult to answer this question without going into too many details. In our branching system we don’t allow the player to make choices only in specific places planned in the script. In our game each character may die, each task may be a success or a failure. Everything will have their consequences both in the story and in the gameplay.

How does collaborating or competing with other characters in the Exclusion Zone work in the game as a mechanic? 

Very often in RPGs we encounter different fractions which we can ally with in various ways and antagonize the other ones at the same time. In Chernobylite each stalker is like a fraction. It’s mostly visible in members of your crew – everyone has a different agenda, goals or sympathies. It’s bread and butter.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Monday - June 17, 2019

Dying Light 2 - E3 Preview @RockPaperShotgun

by Silver, 12:10

Dying Light 2 was previewed by RockPaperShotgun at E3.

But Aiden has more pressing concerns. As I said, people are about to get thirsty – and he’s just been told a chap called the colonel is hoarding all the water. Before he can set off to have words, though, a mob of humans starts battering at the base’s gates. Aiden jumps down into the fray, and three people very, very quickly lose their limbs and heads. The slicing is much the same as the last game, where a single well aimed slash can end a fight immediately.

The renegades are dead, but Aiden’s friend is in dire straits. It’s here I see the first decision in the demo, and the first hint that our presenter’s promises of meaningful choices might actually have… meaning. Does Aiden stay with his pal Frank as he bleeds out, or chase after a van that could get him into the colonel’s place? It doesn’t feel like much of a decision, because somebody else is looking after Frank anyway.

So he’s off, leaping between rooftops, wallrunning and sliding as he goes. Now though, Aiden can also whip out a paraglider. The city reminds me much more of the later half of Dying Light, the half with towers and grappling hooks. The first game took over ten hours to give you a grappling hook, and it’s unclear how long it will take to earn it here – when I asked, I was told you get it in the second of the games seven regions. “You can also do more with those tools later on,” creative director Adrian Ciszewsk told me. The grappling hook, for example, can be upgraded so you can chuck it at people to bring them in for a kicking, a la Scorpion in Mortal Kombat.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - June 12, 2019

Stardock & Star Control Creators - Settled with Mead and Honey

by Silver, 23:00

ArsTechnica has the details on how the Stardock and Star Control creators settled their differences with mead and honey.

The settlement's details are public, and Ford & Reiche have a blog post on their site explaining things. In summary, though, the terms are simple and straightforward:

  • All existing lawsuits between Stardock and Ford & Reiche are dismissed with prejudice (this simply means the suits cannot be re-litigated).
  • All parties are responsible for their own attorney's fees.
  • Stardock gets to use the Star Control name for its Star Control Origins game and can develop sequels and DLCs as it likes.
  • Ford & Reiche get to continue to develop their own direct Ur-Quan Masters sequel (which was previously called Ghosts of the Precursors but will be renamed).
  • The Star Control Origins universe (now known as "the Star Control franchise") will continue in a disconnected bubble from the Ur-Quan Masters/Ghosts of the Precursors universe (now known as "the Ur-Quan Masters franchise").
  • Reiche will contribute some writing to the Origins universe in a volunteer role.
  • All of the complicated arguments about who owns which copyrights and trademarks and who they bought them from and when and what's copyrightable and what's not are mooted. (Which is great because it means I don't have to re-summarize the mountain of IP arguments that both sides were making!)
  • The original three Star Control games can continue to be sold on other storefronts, including Stardock's, and Stardock will split revenue from those games' sales with Ford & Reiche.
  • No licensing money changed hands.
  • Brad Wardell of Stardock must furnish Paul Reiche with a specific amount of honey from Wardell's apiary.
  • In turn, Paul Reiche must furnish Brad Wardell with a specific amount of mead brewed from Wardell's bees' honey.

Wait... what?

Yeah, the last bit kind of threw me, too.

[...]

Tuesday - June 11, 2019

Editorial - Chris Avellone: "Leave the Answer to the Player"

by Silver, 09:59

OneAngryGamer wrote an article defending Chris Avellone's opinion on politics in games.

The interview was published on May 31st, 2019, and when asked about whether stories can be apolitical, Avellone stated…

“They may become political as societal norms change, but I believe it’s possible to do apolitical games. I also don’t condone developers who want to do political games or make a statement – I think a game is served better by asking a question, provide a range of perspectives on the question, but then leaving the answer to the player. I try to frame any politics in the parameters of the world, the lore, and the franchise.

 “The reason I take this approach is because I view games as entertainment. If you’re purposely pushing an agenda or point of view in your game – especially a real-world one that’s clearly divorced from the game world – and you’re dictating that perspective as correct vs. asking a question or examining the perspective more broadly, then it’s left the gaming realm and the ‘game’ has become a pulpit.”

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - June 09, 2019

General News - An Unexpected Message from Deep Space!

by Silver, 08:58

@DogarandKazon Stardock and Frungy Games have settled their lawsuit amicably and in a positive way for fans of Star Control. More will be announced at E3.

obelisk

An Unexpected Message From Deep Space

June 08, 2019

Stardock® and Frungy Games™ (Fred and Paul) are happy and relieved to announce that all parties have settled their disputes amicably and in a way where the fans of Star Control® and The Ur-Quan Masters™ are the biggest winners.  Stay tuned to Channel 44 for more details next week from the E3 floor!

Saturday - June 08, 2019

Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch - Coming to PC?

by Silver, 12:21

Gamingbolt reports on a rumour that Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch will come to PC and PS4.

Bandai Namco Entertainment’s string of leaks continues. After FromSoftware’s Elden Ring and Tales of Arise leaking, it’s Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered. The remaster is coming to PS4 and PC this Fall with a resolution upscale and improved performance but will also released on the Nintendo Switch without these enhancements.

[...]

Friday - June 07, 2019

Opinion - What Piranha Bytes Purchase Means for Gothic 4

by Silver, 10:29

LastKnownMeal asks what the Piranha Bytes purchase by THQ Nordic means for a potential Gothic 4.

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A couple of days ago, German game developer Piranha Bytes has been bought by their ELEX publisher THQ Nordic. It does seem that the publisher believes in the studio and suddenly there was one question in the air, what about Gothic 4?

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - June 05, 2019

Dying Light 2 - Interview

by Silver, 11:50

Wccftech interviewed the lead designer behind Dying Light 2 about the setting and its RPG elements.

Can you talk about the Modern Dark Ages setting, how it came to be and what makes it unique?

Dying Light 2 started a long time ago, but we typically spend a lot in the concept phase, trying to make sure that whatever we decide to move forward with is well thought-out. We had defined the meaning of the game, the design foundations, the dominant emotions we want to evoke, the lore and world setting, but we still felt that we needed something unique that would make the game really stand out. Modern Dark Ages was a concept that came to us during that stage - we discovered that juxtaposing medieval behaviors, rules and laws with a modern setting really serves as a wake-up call for us as humans. As humanity, we've been there (during the real Dark Ages), we've lost our minds for some time, we started the most cruel wars, we stopped believing in reason. When you see all of those things in the context of a modern city it makes you go "ah, so if we're not careful with what we have we can really revert to the worst version of us". But this is not only a narrative tool, it's also a north star we're using in a lot of other areas of the project.When we design locations, we take modern buildings and add post-apocalyptic elements to them so they start looking like medieval fortresses. When you look at our weapons they're medieval by definition - but they're made from modern materials.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - May 29, 2019

Dreamscaper - New Trailer

by Silver, 11:07

@OnlySP A new teaser trailer for Action RPG Dreamscaper.

Indie developer Afterburner Studios has released a teaser trailer for its debut game Dreamscaper.

Whilst the game is yet to receive a release date, Afterburner Studios has credited fan input throughout pre-alpha play tests.

The team claims that it was inspired by some of its members' favorite games and describes Dreamscaper as "[a] fluid, action-packed, RPG Rogue-lite-every slumber is a different dungeon and you must unlock the powers of your dreams to fend off nightmares and see a new day."

[...]

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Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - May 28, 2019

We are the Plague - Overview

by Silver, 11:40

Turnbasedlovers have an overview of We are the Plague, which is described as a tactical, turn-based game, set in a hand-drawn dark fantasy world. The game is set for a Q4 2019 release and has a free demo available.

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"I am the voice of the Plague, not your silly imagination. I am the only thing, that can save you from a long and painful process that inevitably leads to, let’s say, dead for good. Without any chance to come back."

The Plague is generous and bountiful. It will give you tools, it will give you a weapon. You will be changed, transformed into something else. Just submit...

You have chosen to serve the Plague. Driven by hatred traverse the scorched and devastated lands in search of a revenge. Be the part of a legion, devouring cities and all living creatures, play against humanity to achieve your own goal.

Creatures you meet during your journey are a living proof of an inevitable change the Plague will bring upon the Earth. Crooked, in constant pain, blind followers. Your body and mind turn too. You are a part of a disease, your bones grow into a weapon, mysterious objects give you a strange power....

...And there's this voice in your head

JOIN THE PLAGUE

  • Single player story mode
  • Original, hand-drawn 2D graphics
  • Tactical, turn-based fighting system
  • RPG elements with character customization
  • Dedicated, ambient soundtrack

Monday - May 27, 2019

Fantasy Hero Manager - Released

by Silver, 10:47

Fantasy Hero Manager has released on Steam and is described as a turn-based game where you recruit and manage a party of self-aware heroes. 

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THE PREMISE

Fantasy Hero Manager places you in command of a magical airship, on a quest to find the legendary land of Vrool and its Fountain of Eternal Youth.

Fly across the world recruiting heroes for your adventure. Negotiate their salaries, manage their personalities, keep them sober, and never forget to pay them. Watch as they make friends, get married, grieve the loss of comrades, and die in glorious battle… all before searching out new heroes to fill your empty bunks!

Fantasy Hero Manager has been designed to be highly accessible, with a simple and clear UI, yet broadly complicated in its mechanics. Created with a nostalgic look-back to the age of Nethack, Zork, and the golden age of gaming.

THE WORLD

An infinite world with randomly generated maps: with eight biomes, and hundreds of individual locations, there is plenty of variety in each map.

  • Visit taverns to recruit heroes, trade, and rest.
  • Enter into dangerous henges, caves, dungeons, and castles to fight monsters and search for treasure.
  • Go to cities, towns, elven lodges and dwarf fortresses to receive quests.
  • Fight gods, dragons, fallen heroes, and legendary creatures in castles, forts and towers.
  • Go fishing in the seas and lakes, foraging and hunting on the plains, and mining in the mountains.
  • Train up in castles or woodsman’s huts.
  • Improve armour and weaponry in forges.
  • Visit temples for healing services.
  • And explore the many unique tiles which can offer boons or death to the heroes.


Beyond what there is to explore the world has other unique features:

  • A system of star-signs which cast luck onto those born beneath them.
  • A moon phase system.
  • Purchasing and selling tax unique to each location.
  • The ability to store and revisit past maps to finish quests or take advantage of good prices.

THE HEROES

Each hero generated in completely unique with a large number of stats, abilities, and traits. Choosing a hero can be difficult: do you take the fantastic fisherman with abominable attack power?

  • Eight races to recruit from: humans, orcs, elves, dwarves, undead, and angels.
  • Thirteen magic types a hero can have: some offensive, some passive, some for crafting and foraging.
  • Ascendancy system with six classes to which any hero can ascend: lich, titan, phoenix, dark angel, nature wielder, and abomination.
  • Six crafting skills, six abilities, many health and magic statistics.
  • Each is born under one of ten starsigns which offer bonuses when the time of year is right.
  • Their own healing and recovery rates.


Beyond their stats heroes have personalities and a mood system:

  • Watch as the make friends with those they fight alongside.
  • Fall in love and get married, or help nudge them in that direction.
  • Renegotiate their salary as they gain levels and earn you treasure.
  • Grieve the loss of friends, celebrate weddings and successful quests, get bored if you neglect them.
  • Leave your party if you fail to treat them as they would wish.
  • Learn skills from each other based on a teaching skill.

ENEMIES

With nearly two hundred unique enemy types to battle your heroes will always have something to kill!

  • Biome specific monsters.
  • Eight humanoid races to fight: elves, kobolds, undead, etc.
  • Twelve different monster families each containing six monster types: from clockwork monsters, through bubbling slimes, to filthy goblins.
  • Over sixty incredible bosses which include gods, dragons, fallen heroes and abominations!

CRAFTING:

Having a wide-ranging party will allow you to take advantage of the six crafting options.

  • Cook meals to restore stamina while in dungeons, and make fishing bait.
  • Mix herbs to make magic and healing potions.
  • Create alchemical potions to increase mining ability.
  • Forge armoury hammers to repair armour and improve it.
  • Tool picks, to help lockpick chests.
  • And scribe maps to new and more dangerous locations.

SIMPLE UI

A major goal in creating this game was to have a single interface screen from which all action takes place. You can click through all your heroes and their abilities without ever leaving the map or battle area.

A SIMPLY COMPLICATED BATTLE SYSTEM

A battle system designed to have a lot going on but be simple to play. Includes, an auto-battle option that can be applied to all, or to select, heroes, with aggression settings.

MUSIC

Thirty beautiful and relaxing piano tracks to listen to while adventuring.

Sunday - May 26, 2019

Opinion - Players Are Weary of Open Worlds

by Silver, 09:47

Cogconnected writes that players are weary of open world games and outlines some reasons why.

How Much is Too Much?

One issue might be that open worlds in games have gotten to be bigger and bigger in recent years. The size of the map has come to be almost equated with depth of content, and new games often seek to make their maps as large as possible to impress players. But does there come a point at which there is too much land to explore, leaving a lot of it untouched? Certainly, we saw with the recent Red Dead Redemption 2 that the sheer size and level of (sometimes mundane) detail could wear players down and kill the fun.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - May 21, 2019

Titan Shield - Released on Steam

by Silver, 11:51

Titan shield has been released on Steam and is described as a turn-based combat tactical game where you lead your party into the depths of the Titan's hold to deal with its owner.

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Titan Shield is the game about bashing, slashing, shooting and casting powerfull spells – solo or as a party group. There is no place for gossip or long dialogs here. You have to rely on combat skills and tactic management to fight your way throught for the Titan`s head.

  • The way to your goal is not that easy as it seems. About 16 h of gameplay to make it.
  • 8 playable classes to choose from, each with its unique set of skills.
  • Character customisation for each member of your party with different attributes, weapon styles and skills builds.
  • Uncommon system of gear upgrade – allows to create powerfull weapons with a choosen effect.
  • Choice of difficulty level for each run – that includes size of tyour party and starting resourses.

Monday - May 20, 2019

The Executioner - Coming to Steam July 17th

by Silver, 08:49

TheGG reports that The Executioner is coming to Steam July 17th. The game is described as a dark RPG about a torturer.

Press release:
13 MAY 2019 – Lesser Evil Games today announce that the first chapter of their dark RPG “The Executioner“, which thrusts players into the shoes of a torturer, will be released via Steam on July 17th.

Fusing a unique blend of medieval storytelling, sanity management, and the brutal moral conundrums only an executioner could face — this harrowing tale of a man who tortures people for a living will challenge you to face the monster that lives inside of all of us. The decisions are yours, and so are the consequences.

As shown in the new teaser trailer, the predominantly text-based adventure promises a dark and unsettling atmosphere in a world filled with moral ambiguity.

The Executioner will be a multipart epic adventure into the cruel and unforgiving political sphere of medieval times. Starting with Chapter One, this brutal tale will follow the newly appointed Royal Executioner on a journey to retain his sanity in the darkest of times.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - May 19, 2019

Shane Plays - Matt Barton Interview

by Silver, 06:19

Shane Plays interviewed Matt Barton about RPGs and talked about their new book release Dungeons & Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition.

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Shane and Matt Barton of Matt Chat celebrate the release of their book Dungeons & Desktops: The History of Computer Role-Playing Games 2nd Edition by, what else, talking CRPGs as they break down their favorite CRPGs, their biggest disappointments in the genre and their most anticipated upcoming game! Plus: when did Bioware first disappoint Shane, trolleys vs. buggies, how do you say renaissance, and Survivor: Westeros update. (Podcast version has extra content not included in radio broadcast)

Friday - May 17, 2019

Dungeons & Dragons - Steam Sale

by Silver, 20:32

Steam has a Dungeons & Dragons sale until May 24th.

Kingslayer Tactics - Announced

by Silver, 20:21

Kingslayer Tactics has been announced.

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Kingslayer Tactics is a unique low fantasy game set in the chambers of European castles at the turn of the sixteenth and seventeenth century. You play as the Kingslayer called "The Raven".

In this interesting and mysterious renaissance world you will learn the tactics, strategy and adventure of a person dedicated to his goal. Sneaking through castle corridors and fighting with hordes of royal guards is not the only thing you need to do. Planning your next step and upgrading your weapons is equally as important.

Interesting and mysterious world

The game world is inspired by the European kingdoms and principalities, but the realities of the game are far from historical facts. The game takes the player on a journey through mysterious lands, set in an alternative version of the Renaissance Europe

The story

Enter a dark and mysterious story about “The Raven” and discover his secrets. Since the story about the Kingslayer was told for the first time in tavern, it is still floating around among european sorcerers.

Tactics, strategy and adventure

Kingslayer is a unique combination of tactics, strategy and adventure in one game. Top-down shooter mechanics mixed up with stealth gameplay elements and RPG features creates an interesting and addictive gameplay.

Unique gameplay features

1. Upgrade your weapon by replacing steel parts with unique elements made of precious metals.

2. Turn into a raven in order to avoid a deadly threat and get into hidden and protected chambers.

3. Explore the refined locations, wander around the world of the 12 Kingdoms in the form of a "Raven".

4. Collect important informations about your goals, learn about the game universe and obtain rare artefacts by completing artfully designed quests.

5. Learn the story about complicated character that combines the characteristics of a villain and a noble knight, but gives no pretext for clearly define his moral choice.

Thursday - May 16, 2019

Post-Apocalyptic Sale - This Weekend

by Silver, 21:24

A post-apocalyptic sale this weekend on Steam see's a variety of games up to 75% off. This includes games like ELEX and Mutant Year Zero.

Wednesday - May 15, 2019

Frostpunk - Could become an RPG

by Silver, 06:45

PC Gamer reports that the Frostpunk setting could be used as the basis for an RPG.

GamesIndustry.biz spoke with Patryk Grzeszczuk, 11 bit’s director of marketing, about his company’s future plans for Frostpunk. Part of those plans is bringing Frostpunk to consoles, which the studio is working on now.

But further on down the road, Grzeszczuk says 11 bit is looking into exploring new genres, including RPGs. The studio has been gradually adding to Frostpunk’s backstory and lore as they’ve produced more DLC, and that process has resulted in a world rich enough to support a more narrative-leaning game.

[...]

Tuesday - May 14, 2019

General News - Another Vampire: The Masquerade RPG in Development

by Hiddenx, 17:19

PC Gamer reports that The Council developer Big Bad Wolf is developing a Vampire: The Masquerade RPG, too:

Another Vampire: The Masquerade RPG is in development

A new Vampire: The Masquerade game is in the works, publisher Bigben revealed today. It accompanies the recent acquisition of the Werewolf adaptation, originally announced in 2017.

The new game doesn't have a name yet, but it will be a narrative RPG inspired by the rules of the tabletop version. The Council developer Big Bad Wolf is behind the adaptation, which seems like an excellent fit. The Council is an episodic narrative adventure full of occult plots, conspiracies, secret organisations and murder. It's Vampire: The Masquerade but without the fangs.
[...]

Thanks henriquejr!

Monday - May 13, 2019

Ashes of Oahu - New Screenshots

by Silver, 11:48

Worthplaying has some new screenshots for action RPG Ashes of Oahu.

Built using the Unreal 4 Engine,  Ashes of Oahu  combines innovative action with faction-based gameplay, inviting players to discover the secrets of Hawaii’s mystical past while uncovering and exploring a full-scale authentic representation of 500 square miles of game world terrain – from discovering special powers and abilities of the Hawaiian gods, to choosing skills and weapons, and remaking the island in their own way, all while watching out for the powerful Nightmarchers who protect the island.

In Ashes of Oahu, players must fight for survival and learn to tap into the power of the spirit world to become a demigod and help liberate Oahu from the army that has taken its control.

As you explore the apocalyptic paradise of Oahu, you will come upon various areas of settlement. Some will be overrun by Kamapua'a raiders, while others will be run by the various factions that have taken footing. But it's the Pig God's raiders that can be the most dangerous, and it's Kai's job to clear them out.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - May 12, 2019

Editorial - What Happened to Deus Ex?

by Silver, 09:28

Gamingbolt asks the question 'What Happened To Deus Ex?'

While the critical reception for Mankind Divided was on average positive, it could still be fairly characterized as slightly less favorable than the previous three mainline titles. The sales for the game, compared to previous iterations and accounting for all its platforms, have generally been seen as underwhelming compared to past titles, a sentiment in part reinforced by Square Enix’s limited commentary on the game’s commercial performance. Though it should be said that this title was the Deus Ex series’s debut on the current generation of consoles, and the limited install base at the time of release likely impacted commercial performance and momentum. Mankind Divided’s story is accompanied by three pieces of DLC, collectively referred to as “Jensen’s Stories.” Mankind Divided’s ending leaves a massive opening for a sequel that explores the tension between Adam Jensen and the Illuminati, the latter of which are portrayed as corrupt and evil and have infiltrated TF29, and Adam Jensen and the Juggernaut Collective.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

Saturday - May 11, 2019

Game Of Thrones - An RPG would never work

by Silver, 00:04

HitC writes why they believe a Game of Thrones RPG would never work.

Unlike The Witcher 3 which had politics you could ignore, a Game Of Thrones RPG would have to constantly be in-your-face about politics because the property is about ideologies, backstabbing, and the iron throne. Back when the show was good, it was about people playing the game of thrones and the dastardly deeds and sacrifices they would make to end up on top of the series’ now non-existent ladder. Even more so for a video game than the TV show, it would be very difficult for a studio to balance the core politics with the anti-fantasy setting and subplot.

And would gamers want to sit and watch a dozen politically heavy cutscenes? Most would just rather storm off into battle against armies and the White Walkers so they could mindlessly hack-and-slash and overcome overwhelming forces. This would also be untrue to the source material as – at least before season 6 – Game Of Thrones was never heavy on heroics, and characters were always punished or died for the mistakes they made.

[...]

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Tuesday - May 07, 2019

Dark Devotion - Review @Wccftech

by Silver, 09:47

Wccftech reviewed Dark Devotion and couldn't keep up.

Another problem highlighted by bosses is the fact that despite spending a long time with the game, I had no idea what I was doing most of the time. Your first mission, given to you by a large scribbling bug-like man in the hub, is to go and kill some grey monsters in the Abandoned Dungeon. But after finding and slaying them, after several attempts, I couldn’t find a way of returning to the hub. So I kept going. I wound up killing the boss and moving on to a completely new area before eventually dying and coming back to the hub to turn in my quest. I thought perhaps my progression would help me for the next mission, but it didn’t. The next mission was in a new, unconnected area to where I explored, and I had to kill lantern carrying enemies this time. Unfortunately, I didn’t find all of them as I explored this area, but did encounter, and slay, the boss. Once again I had progressed to a new area, although I still hadn’t completed my mission. I love exploring in games, but with the chance to backtrack, Dark Devotion made it all too easy to get ahead of yourself and make it feel like wasted time instead.

[...]

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Monday - May 06, 2019

Assassin's Creed Ragnarok - Next Project?

by Silver, 11:44

Wccftech reports that Assassin's Creed: Ragnorak is the next game, according to 4chan. This is unconfirmed at this stage but the leak does include screenshots.

The next entry in the Assassin’s Creed series is apparently going to be named Assassin’s Creed Ragnarok, and it will be set in the Viking Age.

A recent leak has surfaced on 4chan complete with some off-screen screenshots. The game will be set in the Viking Age, and the main character will be an ally of Ragnar Lodbrok, a legendary Viking who fans of the History TV Show Vikings should know well, who will aid in the formation of the Great Heathen Army which invaded England in 865.

[...]

Sunday - May 05, 2019

Opinion - Retro Dungeon Revival

by Silver, 10:01

OnlySP talks about the retro dungeon revival and cites Vaporum and Operencia: The Stolen Sun to argue the genre's possibilities.

The old-school dungeon-RPG genre never really went away, but, like a miracle, bigger names than ever are now paying attention to its crunchy allure. The industry saw, of course, the triumphant return of polished real time RPGs with Legend of Grimrock and its imitators, the constantly expanding Etrian franchise on DS and 3DS, Severed by Drink Box (developer of Guacamelee), and, arguably, the growing popularity of Shin Megami Tensei and its spinoffs.

Last month saw the console release of Vaporum: Steampunk Dungeon Crawler, which OnlySP reviewed, as well as Zen Studios’s Operencia: The Stolen Sun on Xbox One and the Epic Store.

Both hearken back to the first-person dungeon-RPGs of early 3D—though with a beautiful layer of modern graphics and accessibility on top—but also approach the genre in very different ways. In the interest of exploring what is possible in grid-based retro games, here are some of the biggest ways that the two titles differ.

[...]

Wednesday - May 01, 2019

Opinion - Open World Games Need More Content

by Silver, 11:40

Techitout writes a short opinion piece about open world games needing more content.

But you see, that’s the problem… Open-world games need to keep the player entertained and offer them an incentive to keep on pushing on. And to be honest, bland and empty worlds are not the answer. This is where developers need to take charge, and instead of seeing the player as a cash cow, rather see them as what they truly are… People who just want to be entertained and not robbed of their hard earned money.

[...]

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Tuesday - April 30, 2019

Dark Devotion - Released

by Silver, 20:42

@TheGG Dark Devotion is a 2D side scrolling RPG which has recently been released.

Hibernian Workshop’s brooding 2D side-scrolling action RPG, “Dark Devotion“, is available now on PC via Steam, GOG, and Humble Bundle for €19.99 from publisher The Arcade Crew.

Featuring dynamic and heavy combat, Dark Devotion tests the faith of its most devout players and grants them several paths to atonement via a variety of game mechanics.

[...]

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General News - Starflight Remake

by Silver, 20:39

Starflight is being remade by a veteran ex-Bethesda developer.

Welcome to the IndieDB page for Marvin's 'Starflight: The Remaking of a Legend' project. This project is a fan remake of the original 1987 PC game loved by many back in the day. Marvin is a veteran professional software and game developer who has worked for multiple well known companies such as Bethesda Softworks and Rainbow Studios, on popular games such as 'Elder Scrolls Redguard' and 'Cars: The Video Game'. As a fun side project, Marvin has decided to use his years of experience to remake his favorite childhood game with modern graphics via Unity. This game is open-source and freely available on GitHub, should anyone wish to help. Playable builds are being released on the project website and occasionally here too.

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Monday - April 29, 2019

Tactical Deception - Overview

by Silver, 11:20

TurnBasedLovers took a look at an upcoming turn-based strategy game called Tactical Deception. There are screenshots at the link.

Background Story

You lead a group of ex-soldiers who will have to deal with civil wars that have led the country to bow to corrupt politicians and criminality. We will face the angry population and the various factions that have been created. (Military, Bankers, Industrialists, Doctors, and others). We will have to make our choices and decide which path to follow.

Key features

  • Turn-based strategy mechanic
  • Character development: Each character has their own story and skills that you learn on the way, so it’s important to assemble the right team for each mission.
  • Decision-making mechanic: Experience a non-linear story full of intrigue, lies and important decisions on who to trust. The choices will affect the path of adventure throughout the game and missions.
  • Replay value: Try spotting the truth behind every story by choosing another side and fighting different enemies
  • Tactical planning: Learn the importance of strategic thinking, make high-level tactical decisions and accomplish missions.
  • Field of view: The visual field of each character is 90 degrees, which leaves room for stealth sneaking.
  • Increasing action points: Action points can increase when a character is hit or sees a teammate being hit, when an alarm sounds and in some other special occasions.
  • 100% hit chance if you are near the enemy (no RNG).
  • Explore over twenty unique locations.
  • Comics art style.

Saturday - April 27, 2019

Xenomarine - Science Fiction Roguelike

by Silver, 23:04

Xenomarine is a science fiction roguelike, with turn-based combat, which recently released on Steam.

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XENOMARINE is a dark, atmospheric, sci-fi/horror themed roguelike in which you play a space marine exploring an alien-infested space station. Starting out with little more than a crowbar, you will fight to survive against over 120 increasingly powerful alien species, as you progress as far as you can through infinite randomly generated levels.

With no starting classes, develop your character into the ultimate fighting machine by means of in-game choices: create a unique build each time you play by finding and choosing between a large and distinctive range of unique usable items and individually upgradable weapons and armor. And although the focus in Xenomarine is on items rather than skills, there are also 70 skill levels to be learned you gain experience from combat and from randomly generated missions.

WARNING: This game is unforgivingly hard: expect to die soon and often when first starting out! Also, in the default 'roguelike' game mode, death is permanent - meaning you will have to start again from level 1. But don’t worry: each playthrough will be different because so many parts of the game are randomly generated (in a way that’s carefully fine-tuned for balance).

*This game contains flashing images and may not be suitable to all users*

Setting

You are a Xenomarine, stranded in a dark alien-infested space station. Your squad are all dead, and you have nothing but a crowbar, a torch running low on power and some battered armor. Death is certain,  but you're sure as hell going to take as many Xenos as possible down with you before you go! And you've not forgotten the rumours that there's powerful ancient alien tech to be found...

Features Of Xenomarine Early Access

  • Rich, Tactical Turn-based Combat
  • infinite, randomly Generated Levels
  • Atmospheric lighting and procedurally generated sound effects
  • Unique useable items such as scanners, forcefields and night-vision goggles
  • 10 alien types with 12 variants each, making 120 enemies: all with unique behaviours
  • No starting class: develop your class on the fly with over 70 skill upgrades
  • Multiple damage types and status effects
  • Crafting (craft items from scrap and upgrade weapons and armor)
  • Hack drones and turrets; deploy traps; find and use mysterious alien tech
  • Random mini-quests
  • Intuitive user interface, with mouse-only and keyboard-only support

Josh Sawyer - Why Don't Developers Make Historical Games

by Silver, 07:57

Josh Sawyer explains why developers don't make historical games.

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well??? re-uploaded from my other account.

Thursday - April 25, 2019

VoidGate - Delayed until late 2019

by Silver, 11:49

OnlySP reports that the full release of VoidGate has been delayed until late 2019 for extra polish.

VoidGate, a dark, procedurally-generated indie title, has had its release date delayed until later this year.

Announced on VoidGate's general discussion's tab on Steam, the developer-under the name Olathuss-posted the saddening news.

[...]

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Saturday - April 20, 2019

General News - Daggerfall Spiritual Successor

by Silver, 05:59

OneAngryGamer reports that a Daggerfall spiritual successor is in the works from some of the original developers.

Ian from Indigo Gaming is heading up a project along with Julian Jensen and Ted Peterson — developers who worked on Daggerfall, Morrowind and Oblivion — to make a spiritual successor to the original The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall. They’re currently laying out the design roadmap and engine-agnostic systems for a prototype, along with recruiting artists (specifically modelers, riggers, and animators) to help build the prototype.

The news was made available via a forum thread over on the Daggerfall Workshop, where Ian pitched the recruitment drive to the community, writing…

[...]

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Thursday - April 18, 2019

Project Dagger - Devlog #1

by Silver, 06:59

Project Dagger is a classic style dungeon crawler under development for Android, Nintendo Switch, and iOS platforms.

PROJECT DAGGER DEVLOGS #1 : HELLO WORLD !

Hello, and welcome to Project Dagger.

Today, we are excited to show our progress in the development of this brand-new game that is planned to be released on Android, Nintendo Switch, and iOS platforms.

FIRST, WHAT IS PROJECT DAGGER ?

Project Dagger, previously known as Project Tartarus before its redoing from the ground up, is a reimagination of an old school first person Role-Playing game, Dungeon Crawling and classic Sandbox Exploration oriented, similar to classics including Dungeons and Dragons: Eye of the Beholder, The Elder Scrolls: Arena, The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall, and newer ones like The Legend of Grimrock and the cancelled project by Techland- Hellraid. It also takes inspiration from the Elder Scrolls Travels, which are unknown to most and predate the modern Elder Scrolls: Blades. The aim is to deliver the classic Dungeon Crawler experience to mobile, utilizing the robust Unity Engine, and will be published without any paywall or pay to win elements that ruin most modern mobile games.

Utilizing Unity for Cutting Edge Graphic Technology

The gameplay will concentrate on offering absolutely pure dungeon crawling, while giving the player the ability to navigate between dungeons and the overworld. The loot-based nature of the game, taking hints from the Borderlands’ formula, will be the main hook to the Player, combined with an engaging and attractive story.

Project Dagger Teaser

Project Dagger Teaser 2

Synopsis :

“As the Civil War rises in Adenfel, a new threat has been summoned under the shadow. The long-lost Elven Warlord of the House Amuril, Amn' Refer, kept inside the Ghost Prison, has broken free from his eternal sleep. A new war of shadow and magic has begun. Unnoticed by the warring Kings and Queens, Amn' Refer unleashed disease and corruption. The Divine Curse is was called for none could uncover its hidden origin.

But, it’s just the beginning. You are one of the Royal Archblade’s Apprentice, sent by Lord Thranerth to investigate these events. Travel to the crater of Hakun. And uncover the infernal scheme, involving the sinister shadow cult calling themselves as The Order of the Serpent, and determine the fate .... of Adenfel”

WHATS BEING WORKED ON ?

Currently, we are opening opportunities to join the development team, if you are interested to join the development, visit the link below and apply to available jobs.
Teamups.net
We will be in touch with you.

Now onto our first bi-weekly update.

1. Modelling

We have finished our first impression of our Gothic-styled tile-set and have optimized the meshes for use. At the moment we are in starting phase of completing Dwarven-styled dungeons, taking references from Tolkien’s Moria, and emphasizing on the geometric style of the architecture.

Optimizing the Gothic Tilesets

Work in Progress of the Dwarven Tilesets

Work in Progress of the Dwarven Tilesets

Our character modeler has currently begun working on some mobs and reoptimizing skeleton meshes, as well as fashioning variations. Skeletons will take a very important role because of the disease. Thus, it is important to develop variations to avoid over-repetition.

Work in progress Skeleton as enemy and neutral mobs

2. Programming

The basic programming has been completed. We are presently expecting an accepted programmer to join the team and start operating. However there still a lot to be done.

3. Public Relations

We are preparing to launch a public Discord sever soon as a platform to deliver exciting progress. It would also be used to create a community which the public would be able to join and participate in, see what's behind the development, and have a talk with the team to discuss about your ideas !

That is all for this Devlog, guys . Hope to see you again in two weeks, with more informations and updates, as well as an exciting announcement. Stay tuned !

Cheers!

Raihan Erviansyah, Trimatra Lead

Monday - April 15, 2019

Star Renegades - Preview

by Silver, 08:59

SideQuesting previewed Star Renegades and found it more than the sum of its parts.

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Star Renegades, at its most basic explanation, is a turn-based game in which we explore an overworld map to halt the advancement of an enemy force. But this is really just the top layer of the onion. Underneath, it draws inspiration from a lot of games and genres, and pushes us to approach it much differently than we would a typical RPG experience. As we travel across the overworld from point to point with our squad, we can come across battles or mini-missions, alternate paths or bosses. How we pass these obstacles affects our play experience down the line, as our actions have very quick consequences.

If we go one way on the map, for instance, we get caught up in a battle that may be slightly overpowered but gets us along further. If we opt to take a side path, we have to shut down a giant cannon that blocks our way, affecting our available actions on the map. This continues in a loop that could last for as little as 2 hours or as long as… well, as long as it takes to get to the other side. We can even form relationships along the way, building up our camaraderie with our squadron and even having progeny of our own that will join our battles in later loops. And while this 2-hour loop might seem fast, just 15 minutes in a demo had me advance far on the map, and feels like it packs a lot into a small space. It’s much more flushed out than I could have imagined.

[...]

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General News - Top 20 JRPGs on Steam

by Silver, 08:50

Twinfinite shares their list of the top 20 JRPGs on Steam.

Friday - April 12, 2019

Beyond the Veil - On Steam April 19th

by Silver, 08:57

TheGG reports that shooter RPG Beyond the Veil will release on Steam April 19th.

Incorporating RPG mechanics, players will have to be resourceful and crafty when navigating the post-apocalyptic world. They will be required to gather resources and choose which powerful attributes and stat increases to give their character.

For those players looking for a challenge, Beyond the Veil features timed trials that will give players the opportunity to earn weapons, accessories, and inscriptions to give them the edge in combat against the hordes of enemies they will face.

Featuring top-down combat movement and awareness are key to survival in Beyond the Veil’s real-time bloody battles.

[...]

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Monday - April 08, 2019

Othercide - Gameplay Walkthrough

by Silver, 06:40

GamerHubTV played through some of Othercide.

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Sunday - April 07, 2019

Summoner - 20th Anniversary OST Release

by Silver, 19:22

The 20th Anniversary of Summoner brings with it an Anniversary OST from the original composer Scott Lee.

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Summoner 20th Anniversary is a magical and nostalgic journey into a moment in gaming history for PlayStation 2 and PC. Over a four year period, Scott Lee, the original composer has modernized the entire production by meticulously and delicately rebuilding every song from scratch. Hear elements and sounds you couldn’t hear before, truly experience how the soundtrack was intended to be. Unreleased songs that were written for Summoner from 1999 to 2001 era complete the musical storyline. This album is a must-have for any Summoner fan!

* Reused original keyboard hardware from 1999 adding the perfect color accuracy faithful to the source material from Summoner.

* Recorded using industry top of the line DSP gear @ 96K 24 bit sample rate masters. Every sound was re-recorded for superb quality.

* Evaluated development notes, audio, midi, and design choices for Summoner from legacy media to maintain accuracy.

* Completed the musical storytelling with Summoner songs written from 1999 that were intended to be in the game.

* An enormous amount of time, love and effort was put into the final product, for the fans!

☁️ Soundcloud Album Teaser ☁️ https://soundcloud.com/scottleeofficialwebsite

🎹 Artist Website: http://www.scottleeofficialwebsite.com

🎧 Apple iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/summoner-20th-anniversary/1458911423

💿 CD Baby: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/scottlee4

🎨 Artwork: http://www.kellysnapka.com

Crystal Companies - Overview

by Silver, 10:58

@TurnBasedLovers Crystal Companies is a tactical card game with turn-based strategy.

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To become an expert at Crystal Companies, one must not only master the craft of deck building but also understand the advantages of different build orders and strategies depending on the environmental conditions (which can even include weather that changes over the course of a skirmish). Elevation and obstacles can aid or hinder units depending on their positioning, attributes (like mobility), etc.

Key features

  • Cards that instantiate 3D characters, structures, and spells in dynamic procedurally generated environments.
  • 300+ cards and several factions in the debut set that can be mixed and matched to customize unique decks for near-limitless strategies.
  • Variable terrain that includes weather events, natural disasters, different elevations, impassable and semi-navigable terrain conditions, and themed ecoregions.
  • One-versus-one AI and multiplayer online game modes, with additional modes to come.

Saturday - April 06, 2019

Project Eve - Announced

by Silver, 10:45

GamesInsiders reports on a new action RPG being developed by Shift Up called Project Eve.

Based in Seoul, South Korea, developer Shift Up has announced recently a brand new action RPG developed with Unreal Engine 4 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The game is called Project Eve.

[...]

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Friday - April 05, 2019

Octopath Traveler - Coming to PC?

by Silver, 10:45

Gamingbolt reports that Octopath Traveler has been rated for PC by the Korean Board.

The rating also mentions Bandai Namco as the game’s publisher, which also checks out- the company has often acted as distributor for Square Enix’s titles in Korea. Given how successful Octopath Traveler was when it launched, and how Square Enix obviously wants to keep making games in its mould, it wouldn’t be too surprising if they did indeed decide to expand the game’s audiences to appeal to a larger number of people in order to see more sales.

[...]

Othercide - GDC Preview @Monster Vine

by Silver, 10:27

Tactical turn-based RPG Othercide was previewed by Monster Vine.

The gameplay of Othercide is complex but easy to understand. Each unit on the map has action points, which are used up when you have them move, attack, or execute any other commands. You can preserve points for the next turn by acting conservatively, or you can blow them all with a more offensive strategy. You should definitely choose your playstyle wisely though, as Othercide features good old-fashioned permadeath. If a unit dies, they’re gone for good, so you’ve got to be careful. This kind of punishment really keeps you on your toes, as I was for the entire demo. I had to consider whether it was worth risking a unit to try to hasten things along, but then I realized this was a GDC demo, so it didn’t really matter since I’d be gone in 15 minutes. Still, the full game’s stakes will be quite heavy.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - April 03, 2019

Darkborn - Gameplay First Look

by Silver, 10:38

PC Gamer reports that Darkborn has a new gameplay video. Darkborn was previously known as Project Wight and features a monster killing Vikings.

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Darkborn, formally known as Project Wight, has finally been shown off in grisly detail. The Outsiders' sneaky first-person tale of vengeance puts us in the shoes of a monster, rather than one of the burly vikings that populate the land. It's pretty grim, but also just pretty. Enjoy a murderous stroll in the woods by watching the gameplay reveal (cheers, IGN) above.

[...]

Sunday - March 31, 2019

We Are the Caretakers - Announced

by Silver, 06:23

@TechRaptor Squad RPG We Are the Caretakers has been announced.

I’ve read some African science fiction, and it can be compelling stuff. After the enormous commercial and critical success that was Black Panther, I can see there’s definitely a market for it. So if you’re looking for a game in that vein, We Are The Caretakers has just been announced with a teaser. It’s an Afrofuturistic sci-fi squad management RPG with a distinct visual flair, and possibly some solid worldbuilding behind it. The teaser features a monologue by a figure clad in some peculiar body armor, and a tall helmet, like a totem mask. He seems to be standing over some kind of rhino-like creature as he talks about his role as a caretaker. At the end of the monologue, what seems like a large spaceship appears behind him. Then there are some glimpses of the gameplay, such as movement from a top-down perspective. The game’s art direction is helmed by former Activision-Blizzard artist, Anthony Jones.

[...]

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In Darkness - Action RPG

by Silver, 06:17

In Darkness is an action RPG that recently released on Steam.

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Origin

In Darkness is a fantasy game inspired by mythological, and epic legendary stories; it also was inspired by classic games like Zelda II: The Adventure Of Link; and Ghost'n Goblins.

Story

Adventurous travellers in search of riches and treasures discovered a mysterious island with abundance of gems, but without knowledge it was a forbidden land, they were punished and doomed by the guardians of the island for seeing so much greed, no matter there were also innocents ones among them. However, the gems not only provide wealth, but also provide powers to those who own them. For that reason the favoured doomed travellers took advantage of the weakest ones, and divided themselves into clans. And so... more adventurers continue arriving on the mysterious island, but the struggle for absolute power keep them in a tireless quest to recruit more punished travellers and the searching for gems.

Travel to the mysterious island, find out where the power of the gems comes from, and become the champion supreme.

Key Features

  • Single player mode
  • Top down perspective
  • Three fighter classes
  • intricate hallways
  • Challenges
  • Real time combo battle
  • Character customization
  • One balanced level difficulty
  • Puzzles
  • Auto save system
  • Dynamic music
  • Partial controller support
  • A lot more features
Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - March 26, 2019

Conglomerate 451 - On Steam Early Access Soon

by Silver, 12:18

Conglomerate 451 is a cyberpunk dungeon crawler that is set to release into Steam Early Access soon.

Conglomerate 451 to Hack Into Steam Early Access with a blend of cyberpunk and classic dungeon crawling

Say hello to Conglomerate 451 and goodbye to the limits of your human vessel!

Our brand new grid-based, dungeon crawling first-person RPG set in a cyberpunk world is coming soon in Early Access!

Check out the announcement trailer here:

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Monday - March 25, 2019

Overland - Fall 2019 Announcement Trailer

by Silver, 05:38

An announcement trailer for Overland which is a tactical strategy game set in the post-apocalypse.

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Overland is squad-based survival strategy game with procedurally generated levels set in post-apocalyptic North America. Every random level is full of close calls and hard choices, even though the interface is approachable and easy to learn. Manage fuel supplies, weapons, and other items by making the right choices on the procedural roadmaps. A road trip straight into the heart of the cataclysmic event that changed the Earth forever.

Saturday - March 23, 2019

Eidolons - Reveal Teaser

by Silver, 03:35

The reveal trailer for turn-based roguelike RPG Eidolons.

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On wings of darkness, through mist and snow, an indie turn-based roguelike RPG is coming to PC this year. Yet journey to Light is made through twilight. Support Eidolons in our crowdfunding campaign this April!

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/eidolons-nethergate/coming_soon

Thursday - March 21, 2019

Dying Light 2 - An Open World Philosophy

by Silver, 08:58

GamesRadar talked with Dying Light 2 producer Kornel Jaskula; who expanded on the game's open world design philosophy.

To make this dream a reality, Techland has poured resources into constructing new proprietary technology, a necessary expense (and headache) to engineer something as ambitious as Dying Light 2. “You could say that it has been quite the challenge,” Jaskula laughs. “All of this has forced us to change the technology behind our games. We created a brand new engine – the C-Engine – to support the focus on choice and consequence that runs through the story and the gameplay.”

But all of this will be for nought if Techland can’t sell the concept of its ‘narrative sandbox’ to prospective players. The truth is, it’s incredibly difficult to demonstrate something so inherently systemic. The entire game is layered in such a way that even the smallest interactions, decisions and actions can feed back into the simulated world at large. If every one of your actions feeds into the wider scope of the story, as well as the gameplay opportunities that pervade the experience, simultaneously, how do you possibly convey that idea to the players?

The best way to think about the structure, Jaskula suggests, is if you cast it in the context of going rogue with a LEGO set. “The player does have an overall goal in Dying Light 2, but it’s up to you to decide how you get to it,” he tells me of the overarching narrative, one which sees you charged with trying to locate an object that can potentially turn the tide of the zombie apocalypse in your favour. “It’s like having LEGO bricks and being given the goal of building a house. We give you the bricks but not the original set – you don’t have the instructions that can take you through it step-by-step. You only have the goal and it’s up to you to decide how that house will look by the very end – but it is going to be a house. It’s up to the player to figure out how the bricks can connect, how they influence one another, and how the building and its interior takes shape…”

[...]

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The Forgotten City - New Trailer

by Silver, 08:53

A new trailer for The Forgotten City shows off a change in art direction.

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The Forgotten City is a time loop murder mystery set in a mythological city.

Deep underground in an ancient Roman city, twenty-six trapped explorers lay dead because one of them broke a mysterious law. Reliving that fateful day over and over again, you'll need to cleverly exploit the time loop, Groundhog Day-style, to avert disaster! Face tough moral choices while interrogating diverse characters, gathering their secrets, and putting together the pieces of a giant interpersonal puzzle.

The Forgotten City offers incredible freedom and respects players' time and intelligence, rewarding lateral thinking with the best of all possible endings.

The Forgotten City is a re-imagining of the critically acclaimed mod with more than 2 million downloads, and the first mod in history to win a national Writers' Guild award.

Key features:

  • Investigate a dark, gripping mystery full of twists and intrigue
  • Solve problems your own way, with reason, charm, bribery, stealth, threats, violence - or cleverly exploit the time-loop
  • Explore a stunning and intricate city rendered with Unreal Engine
  • Interrogate richly detailed characters with interwoven lives
  • Grapple with moral dilemmas which have life-and-death consequences
  • Choose your own gender, race, and backstory
  • Listen to an achingly beautiful orchestral score and first class voice acting

Enjoyed the mod?

The Forgotten City retains all the elements you know and love while improving every aspect and adding plenty of surprises. Walk the streets of a brand new city. Get to know re-imagined characters. Sink into original lore with fresh twists and endings. Enjoy added combat mechanics, an all-new orchestral score, professional voice acting, and motion capture animations.

Thanks Farflame!

General News - New Exclusives for The Epic Games Store

by Silver, 05:17

RockPaperShotgun reports that The Outer Worlds will be exclusive to Epic Games Store, as well as The Sinking City, Control and others.

Epic Games are getting serious about going head-to-head with Valve with their store, and have the war-chest to prove it. They’ve just announced a slew of exclusives, including Obsidian’s highly anticipated The Outer Worlds, and Remedy’s upcoming horror shooter Control. Frogwares’s cthulhoid detective mystery The Sinking City will be making its debut on the upstart storefront too. This is on top of Epic’s surprise announcement that Quantic Dream’s formerly PlayStation-exclusive library is coming to PC via their store. See the list of announced exclusives below.

[...]

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Thanks Farflame and porcozaur!

Monday - March 18, 2019

Editorial - Missions with Meaning

by Silver, 07:06

Player2 is in search of missions with meaning.

I’ll bet, if you have read this far, there is one game that is in the forefront of your mind. So I am going to mention it. The Witcher 3. If there is a better example of what I am talking about I am yet to play it. In fact, I think it is fair to say that The Witcher 3 has changed what it means to have a living, breathing, meaningful world in a game. Just mention the Bloody Baron and anyone who has played the game instantly reacts. But the thing is, to complete that quest you did things players had been doing in games for years. You went to point A, looked for an object, killed some baddies, returned to base, went to point b, discovered a truth, killed some baddies, returned home. Questing 101 right? But what made that quest so impactful was how the story intertwined with the gameplay. There were repercussions and consequences to your actions, your choices had an impact in the world, changing it in ways that would remain consistent for your remaining time spent with Geralt. For the rest of the game, every time you visited that area of the world you were reminded of your actions and what became as a result. The Witcher 3 changed the way we look at story, at purpose, in an open world and nothing has even come close since.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - March 17, 2019

Ashes of Oahu - Shooter RPG

by Silver, 03:10

OnlySP reports that Ashes of Oahu is the redesigned Nightmarchers RPG that was previously on Fig but failed to fund.

One of the key changes to the game is the shrinking of the playspace. Previously, Wyrmbyte had endeavoured to create a 1:1 representation of Oahu, though the new version reduces the island’s area to 25km2.

The move away from recreation extends to the gods in the game, which no longer take their names from those used by Hawaiian natives.

Another major change comes to the art style, which has been adapted from realism to one inspired by comic books. The developer claims that this alteration came from a desire to reflect the fictional nature of the story.

[...]

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Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - March 14, 2019

Knights of Tartarus - Coming to Steam

by Silver, 06:20

@TheGG Knights of Tartarus is coming to Steam.

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“Hello, Imagine if Dragon Quest and Zelda were on one single game. What you’ll get is Knights of Tartarus, an RPG where you go to the underworld to fight against four colossal monster knights.

Knights of Tartarus is a challenging open world game where you will need monsters to teach you their spells, craft items, solve puzzles.

Each monster holds special and unique abilities which can be learned. Monsters also give you crafting materials for making equipment. Additionally, there are skill upgrades that can be gained by leveling up.

These give you special perks like performing combo moves or becoming immune to paralysis, and much more.

I plan to release Knights of Tartarus on April 19, 2019. The game will be available on Steam and Itchio for PC, Mac and Linux.”Stello Hexis

[...]

Knights of Tartarus is a role-playing game where you enter the underworld to fight off a legendary order of knights and save the world. To have a chance, you will need monsters to teach you their spells, craft items, solve puzzles and even compete against your rival.

FEATURES

Explore

Explore an open world and travel into the magical monster dimension called Tartarus. You'll find many friends and not so friendly characters along the way.
There are many regions each containing unique puzzles, treasures, and enemies.

Fight your Way

Fight against magic beasts to gain spells, crafting materials and gold. Each monster holds special and unique abilities which can be learned. Monsters also give you crafting materials for making equipment. Additionally, there are skill upgrades that can be gained by leveling up. These give you special perks like performing combo moves or becoming immune to paralysis, and much more.

Great and varied soundtrack.
Huge bosses that are difficult but fair.
A cute dog.

Thanks Farflame!

General News - 16 Best Sci Fi RPGs

by Silver, 06:06

Unleash the Gamer shares their list of the best 16 science fiction RPGs.

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HOW WE CHOSE THE BEST Sci-Fi RPGs

Before getting down to listing our favorite sci-fi RPGs , we’ll explain the criteria that we considered when deciding whether or not a game fits into the Sci-Fi RPG category.

What an RPG Is (in our opinion)

For the purposes of the article, we consider an RPG a game that has:

  • Story
  • Character building and progression
  • Choices that affect the game world
  • An emphasis on exploration
  • Combat that is directly influenced by player stat choice

What We Consider to Be Sci-Fi 

As for deciding if a game can be included in the Sci-Fi genre, we took into consideration the following factors:

  • Set in a near or distant future
  • Setting and universe based on imagined future scientific or technological advances
  • Science and technology are at the center or the basis of the plot, having either benefited or harmed the societies portrayed
  • Portrays aliens or life on other planets.
[...]
Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - March 13, 2019

General News - Dwarf Fortress is coming to Steam

by Hiddenx, 19:15

PC Gamer reports that the roguelike building sim Dwarf Fortress is coming to Steam:

Dwarf Fortress is coming to Steam with graphics and mod support

The classic version will still be free and updated, same as always.

I'm telling you, with a straight face, that this is the biggest PC gaming news of 2019: Dwarf Fortress is coming to Steam, with graphics and Workshop mod support. Dwarf Fortress is as famous for its ASCII graphics as it is for its unparalleled depth as a procedurally generated simulation of existence. And while it's always been moddable, the new Steam (and Itch.io) release, coming this year, will make an infamously complex game just a little bit easier to get into.

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Kitfox Games, makers of Moon Hunters and the upcoming Boyfriend Dungeon, are handling publishing and working with artists and a composer for the new release. The new 32x32 pixel graphics tileset is being created as a collaboration between two long-time Dwarf Fortress modders. Under the surface, Dwarf Fortress will otherwise be the same game. The free version will remain available and be updated same as the version available on Steam, which will cost $20.
[...]

thanks henriquejr!

Wednesday - March 06, 2019

Deadsiege - Action RPG in Early Access

by Silver, 20:34

Deadsiege is an action RPG currently in Early Access on Steam. There is also a free demo available to try out on the Steam page.

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Heavily inspired by old classic genres, Deadsiege is a top-down Action RPG game set in an ancient fantasy world with a massive selection of weapons, items and outfit. Explore the world and battle vicious enemies, collect unique equipment, level up your character, grow your talent tree and unleash powerful skills to wipe out your foes. Deadsiege features straightforward character development and dynamic combat system.

Deadsiege’s loot system is completely randomized and gives you the opportunity to build your character the way you want. Deadsisege contains a wide arsenal of different enemies and bosses, higher level enemies give more experience and better loot, but are dangerous and harder to kill.

FEATURES:
- Combat: Dynamic swap between melee and ranged weapons. Dive down on enemies, dodge attacks and stand against hordes of monsters.

- Loot System: Randomly generated items with common, rare, epic and legendary classes of loot, give you the opportunity to build your character the way you want

- Spell System: A diverse spell system includes AoE, damage over time, disable and Stats modifier effects.

- Talent Tree: Grow your Talent Tree and unleash powerful skills. Become more powerful as you advance through the game.

- Character Stats: Level up your character and adjust Vitality, Strength, Defense, and Intelligence stats. You can choose physical and magical builds or mix of both.

- Inventory: Real time character preview, choose your weapons, equipment, create your ultimate monster-slaying build. Take all the weapons and tools you need, choose from plenty of new powerful items for this adventure.

Wildermyth - Fantasy Tactical Game in Beta

by Silver, 12:33

Wildermyth is a fantasy tactical game currently in beta on itch.io.

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Wildermyth Betastarting March 1st, 2019

You'll live a hundred lives in the Yondering Lands. You'll untangle human stories and fight mustering forces who threaten peaceful folks. You'll gather threads of beauty, magic, and strife to weave your own ever-growing legend, called Wildermyth.

This is a beta. We think it's pretty fun, but it's not the full, complete game yet. We have a lot more content and features to add, and we'd love for your voice to help steer us as we go.

* * *

An Imaginative Papercraft World

The Yondering Lands weaves hand-painted 2D characters and scenery into a 3D world to create a luscious, layered landscape, full of detail and surprises. No orcs, elves, or goblins here—but watch out for the telepathic insect-dragons and the clockwork undead.

Character Depth

Each of your heroes has their own unique generated history, personality, appearance, and relationships with the other heroes—all of which can change over the course of the game as they encounter mysteries and overcome challenges.

Choices That Matter

A hero may choose to trust the enigmatic wolf god, leading to a particularly hair-raising change in their appearance and combat abilities. Or they may choose whether to pursue a romance with a fellow hero, giving each of them new advantages from fighting side by side. Encounters and events have permanent, character-defining effects, letting you craft the arc of each character.

A New Approach to Death

Got one-shotted by that tentacled horror-bear? Choose to let a hero "fall back" with a maiming that can open up opportunities for transformation later, or let them go down in a blaze of glory to be remembered for generations to come.

Fresh Tactical Combat

 Combat in Wildermyth emphasizes teamwork and careful positioning. Walling and flanking provide conflicting incentives, and interfusion lets you remake the battlefield with explosive magic. Multiple difficulty levels mean you can get as intense as you want to.

Endless Replayability

Procedural generation gives you new heroes, new enemies, new story events, and new maps every time you play. Pick and choose from a huge bank of combat abilities as your heroes level up in each playthrough, and decide whether you prefer offensive or defensive tactics, brute strength, stealth, or magically flinging fire from a nearby lamp into your enemies' faces.

Build a Legacy

As time passes, heroes grow old and may retire, or may fall in combat. Adding them to a roster of legends allows you to call on them in later playthroughs, creating a metagame as you build their mythology and increase the renown of your pantheon.

Your Game

We built Wildermyth for you. We want to empower you to tell your best stories. Let us know what we can do to make it better.

Tuesday - March 05, 2019

Star Renegades - Tactical Strategy Rogue-lite RPG

by Silver, 22:34

PC Gamer reports on Star Renegades, which is a 'tactical strategy rogue-lite RPG' about an endless rebellion.

And I mean literally won't quit, as each run through the game represents an attempted rebellion: When you blow it (and I guess the assumption is that you will), the rebel flame flickers until the next generation comes along to pick up the torch. That's the "rogue-lite" element of the multi-genre Star Renegades; the RPG side comes into play via the special skills, tactics, combos, synergies and other "meta-unlocks," plus weapons, loot, and gear, that characters can gain and pass down to future fighters.

[...]

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Saturday - February 23, 2019

Haven - The RPG about Love

by Silver, 10:23

TheSixthAxis reports on a new RPG in development called Haven that focuses on love. Screenshots at the link.

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Sure, this couple have escaped to another planet, but it’s about staying together as they rebel against the rules and ponder how many breakfasts you can have in a day. There’s some interesting design apparent in the bundle of screenshots, from the gorgeous open world and JRPG-style conversations to the twin character controls in combat. You’ll be able to play it solo or in co-op with, you know, someone special.

Thanks Farflame!

 

Thursday - February 21, 2019

Tactics V: Obsidian Brigade - Overview

by Silver, 09:12

TurnBasedLovers provide an overview of what turn-based RPG Tactics V: Obsidian Brigade is all about. The game is due Q3 2019 on PC and Consoles.

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Background story

The land of Auria is a fantasy kingdom, where the lesser houses commonly rage war among themselves, but there’s a unifying threat.

You move the Obsidian Brigade about a world map, encountering story through battle.

Key features:

  • Robust combat system (with many mechanics: facing, targeting styles, actions, delayed actions, reactions)
  • World map navigation.
  • >50 hand crafted levels
  • >80 scripted scenes/battles
  • ~12-18 hours of story
  • ~3 hours of optional story
  • 3 ½ tiers of gear/weaponry
  • 13 unique unlockable classes
  • >50 skills (proficiencies, abilities, power casting unlockable)
  • >140 powers (Elemental magic, close range, Archery, Imbue poisons, etc.)
  • Optional cooperative main-game via assigning troops to another controller during deployment.
  • Training option allowing a non-fatal combat to be controlled by player(s) or AI to gain XP and Skill points
  • Optional Alternate top-down perspective available
  • New game plus

[...]

Tuesday - February 19, 2019

Vambrace: Cold Soul - Announce Trailer

by Silver, 19:40

Bluesnews reports that Vambrace: Cold Soul has been announced. The game is described as a Roguelike fantasy/adventure and is due April 25th.

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Vambrace: Cold Soul is a roguelike fantasy-adventure set amidst a frozen landscape. Plan your expeditions underground, then journey to the cursed city surface with your team of heroes. Wield unique powers, avoid dangerous traps, brave strange encounters, and survive deadly combat!

Saturday - February 16, 2019

Hazardous Space - Version 1.0 Released

by Silver, 08:59

Hazardous Space is a Roguelike 2D turn-based action game with RPG elements and has recently reached version 1.0.

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A dangerous survival adventure in space station labirynths. Turn-based combat, character progression, the atmosphere of impending threat. Collect and modify weapons, stock up on ammunition and first-aid kits, use your brain and think two steps ahead. Between you and the exit from the station - a horde of enemies who know nothing about fear or mercy.

Features

Unravel Mystery of the Wanderer Station

The "Wanderer" station is full of secrets for you to uncover. Perhaps, that's how we will find out what happened there and how the arrival of Max is connected with that. Or maybe not only that. The main thing to survive!

Whole Station of Labyrinths and Traps

If you think that the layout of the premises in the future will cease to be the fruit of the maniacal misanthrope's sick mind - you are deeply mistaken. Max will have to wade through the mazes, crowded with traps, enemies and other surprises. A simple straight path is for wimps!

Craft System and Resource Management

From rusty knuckles to super-mega-blaster - feel like a master gunsmith! And do not forget about your battlesuit: it makes you strong, dexterous, skillful - demanding energy instead. Lots of energy. Tons of energy!

Wide Selection of Weapons

If the enemy is unresting - provide him with the eternal rest! For this, there's a whole arsenal of various weapons at the "Wanderer" station. Grenades, machine guns, brass knuckles, pistols... Not enough? Each weapon can have an elemental damage module!

Hordes of Diverse Enemies

Zombies, mutants, mutant zombies, monsters from laboratories, zombie monsters from laboratories ... Max and you are not going to get bored!

High Replayability

Have you explored the station, remembered the compartments' layout, taken notes of the traps and stashes? Here's a new walkthrough for you! Each new attempt feels like the first time, cause the levels are generated procedurally.

Story:

It's 2115. Something terrible has happened on board the research space station Wanderer, and the former space marine Max Carnage becomes an unwilling participant in these events. To survive, he will need to remember his military past.

Thanks Farflame!

Mad Princess: The Great Gladiators - Now Available

by Silver, 08:37

TheGG reports that Mad Princess: The Great Gladiators is now available on DLSite. The game is described as a gladiator role-playing game.

January 11th, 2019, Tokyo – The English translated version of independent developer Atorasoft’s gladiator role-playing game “Mad Princess: The Great Gladiators” is now available for sale on DLsite and is planned to be released on Steam.

Developer Comment:
“YOU, the player, will not be restricted by a single story. In this RPG you can enjoy a ‘free-scenario’ where you are at liberty to adventure and play as you please.

The battle and exploration controls are straightforward, allowing the player to enjoy the content many times in a smooth and hassle-free manner.
We sincerely hope you enjoy our game!”

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Monday - February 11, 2019

Conqueror's Blade - Beta Giveaway

by Silver, 04:25

Wccftech reports on a beta giveaway for Conqueror's Blade.

Conqueror’s Blade is starting its first fully featured Closed Beta test today. There were others some time ago, as you might recall, but none featured the game’s distinctive open world elements that are going to be available in this test.

Grab one of the five hundred beta codes we got from My.com to join the frantic battles between Warlords. They’ll be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. For more on this free-to-play MMO medieval warfare game, check our previous hands-on preview and our interview with Xi Wang, CEO of the Chinese studio Booming Games.

[...]

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Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - February 10, 2019

General News - God Eater 3 Trailer

by Hiddenx, 08:24

The action game God Eater 3 has been released:

GOD EATER 3 - Launch Trailer

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General News - Far Cry New Dawn Preview @ IGN

by Hiddenx, 08:17

IGN checked out the upcoming shooter Far Cry New Dawn:

Far Cry New Dawn: What's Happened Since Far Cry 5?

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Saturday - February 02, 2019

Genesis Alpha One - Review Roundup

by Silver, 19:51

Some reviews for Genesis Alpha One which are decidedly mixed.

PCInvasion 4/5

Genesis Alpha One bears the distinction of being part fps, part ship-builder, part management sim, and part roguelite. If that seems like an awful lot of different things to juggle, well, it is. But the game pulls it off extremely well. It’s fairly complicated and doesn’t like to hold your hand, but it lets you take it at your own pace. There’s a brief tutorial at the beginning that teaches you the basics of shipbuilding, but you’ll mostly have to learn by doing. Moving around the galaxy is also fairly simple, as you initially just hop from square to square with hyperdrive via the bridge.

GameWatcher 6/10

The truth is, Genesis Alpha One feels like an Early Access game, far from the polished status one would expect from a full release – even an indie one. While the concept is intriguing and very promising, the lack of immersion and design decisions make everything exhausting. If you’re interested in a roguelike sci-fi game, you could give Genesis a shot, but don’t expect much from what is clearly an unfinished title.

Way Too Many Games 6.5/10

The visual and sound designs are also mixed bags. Gun models in particular don’t look very good and the overall interface can be really untidy to dig around. Alien creatures look laughably bad and there is a distinct lack of variety among human character models, with your crew members looking almost identical to each other. I do like some of the game’s design choices, though: the monitors and UI are clearly inspired by the original Alien franchise, which all look great. The sound design can be best described as just being there, not really adding anything to the experience or taking anything away from it either.

Genesis Alpha One is a collection of really good ideas, but its execution ended up being very messy. I really hope the developers don’t abandon this game as it is, as there is some serious untapped potential to be a great game in here as long as they fix its many issues.

AusGamers 8.5/10

Like all great sci-fi there are surprises around every corner in Genesis Alpha One. From that first time you delve into the ventilation system of your ship to discover a truly horrific alien infestation, to landing on a strange planet only to find some strange DNA that will let you splice alien abilities into your crew’s genetic make-up - leading to humans that can visibly sense hidden threats. Then there’s running into a nasty group of space pirates that proceed to warp in and around your ship, decimating your facilities and crew. Each voyage presents a new galaxy to explore, new planets, new challenges, with the ability to carry over select bonuses and technology; with total play time varying from short and sweet if you’re unable to overcome a nasty infestation to somewhere in the ten-hour range.

GamingLyf 2.5/5

Genesis Alpha One still offers alot to like. There’s glimpses of something surprisingly unique and genuinely interesting under the weak combat and often repetitive gameplay loop. The game is priced cheaper than most, and many folks won’t struggle to get their money’s worth. As a base it feels like a title that could evolve into something great given enough time and resources with future updates. As it stands though it’s hard to recommend the game wholeheartedly right now.

Thanks Farflame!

Friday - February 01, 2019

Warhammer Quest 2 - Released

by Silver, 20:26

Warhammer Quest 2: The End Times is available now on Steam with a 10% launch discount.

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In Warhammer Quest 2: The End Times, you will lead your warriors across a war torn land and into dungeons for wealth and glory! Swing swords, fire arrows and cast spells as you fight through the denizens of Chaos that threaten the Warhammer world. Success in battle is rewarded with new weapons, armours, skills and treasure.

Explore a war-torn fantasy world!

Be on your guard as you travel through a world in turmoil. The road holds danger for the heedless traveller, but rich rewards for the wary hero.

  • Explore three regions, each with their own enemy sets, objectives and multi-part campaign quests.
  • Visit towns to barter in markets, discover new quests, and level up your warriors to gain new skills and gameplay possibilities.
  • Paths between dungeons are littered with events and opportunities to improve your chance of victory in the next turn based battle!

Battle through deadly dungeons!
Experience all the peril and danger of the Warhammer world as you battle your enemies through Chaos ridden dungeons.

  • Encounters come to life as your warriors enter the fray with a vast array of weapons and skills.
  • Hold your enemies back with fire, use ice to freeze them to the spot, or poison them with lethal toxins.
  • Attack with magic staffs, explosive pistols and flaming hammers. If all else fails use legendary armour or mystical robes to deflect attacks.

Heroes and Enemies!
A variety of different heroes and enemies bring huge tactical variety to the dungeons. From Sorceresses and Mages, to Witch Hunters and Knights. Find which characters best suit your playstyle.

  • Choose from 12 different Hero classes. All with unique weapons, armours, skills and items!
  • Battle over 40 types of enemies, ranging from simple minded Beastmen to devious Skaven Seers and monstrous Trolls!
  • Collect and equip over 200 different weapons, items and armours. Figure out which combination is most effective for bashing the enemy!

Easy to learn, hard to master. Engage in deep tactical gameplay as you encounter new enemies with new devious abilities that will test your strategic ability to its limits.

Can you defeat the Chaos invasion? Only the mightiest will survive in Warhammer Quest 2: The End Times!

Monday - January 28, 2019

DRAGON BALL GAME – PROJECT Z - Gameplay Trailer

by Silver, 03:32

@DSOGaming DRAGON BALL GAME – PROJECT Z is an action RPG coming 2019.

This action RPG is called DRAGON BALL GAME – PROJECT Z and will allow players to assume the role of Goku (also known as Kakarot). What’s also really interesting here is that this new DBZ game is currently scheduled for a 2019 release.

[...]

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General News - The Art of Video Game Swordplay

by Silver, 01:12

Culture of Gaming looks deeper at the art of video game swordplay and how games have gone about it through different eras.

Flipping the Perspective

Outside of combat itself, perspective can be a key component to how you strategize your attack plan. Even something as seemingly simple as camera placement can greatly influence your perspective of any sword fight. Many Souls-likes and Zeldas have adopted Ocarina of Time’s lock-on-camera, but some do it differently than others. Dark Souls’ camera stays at a nice, comfy distance from the player, while Wind Waker zooms in nice and close. Then there’s For Honor, where the camera stays on roughly the same altitude as the player’s head.

Lock-on camera isn’t essential for a great fighting system, however. Chivalry Medieval Warfare is played entirely from a first-person perspective, using position-based commands instead of various kinds of attacks. Then there’s the Soulcalibur series, which is a beautiful blend of fighting game combat and swordplay, all viewed from a semi-2D perspective. Of course, if 3D isn’t your thing, there are plenty of 2D sword simulators that are just as mechanically deep. Hollow Knight, Dead Cells, and Symphony of The Night are all gorgeous examples of 2D combat done right.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Saturday - January 26, 2019

Code of the Savage - January Update

by Silver, 11:33

The latest update for Code of the Savage announces an Alpha Demo Version.

Alpha Demo version 0.296

There isn't a lot visually to show, as most of the work I've been doing has been under the hood. I was struggling with some niggling issues in the magic system for a while, which was driving me insane... That's all fixed now, though.

I have added classes to the magic window. The classes can be selected via the 3 new buttons at the top of the window. Not all spells have been added to the game yet. (that is low on my priority list at the moment). I plan on adding a 4th class that deals in curses and pestilence. 

The stats window has been updated to include elemental resistances, and the hunger system is more or less in place. (currently the hunger drains much faster than it will in the final game, due to testing purposes). I've placed food on the ground in the starting position. When the hunger meter goes passed the halfway mark, the players stats will begin to progressively lower. There is no health loss or death caused by hunger, only temporary stat loss.

Hovering over elements in the stats window will show a hover over window explaining what that element does.

World building - I have written scripts that automate how walls and fences are placed. Previously it was quite tedious to place a building or fence, as I needed to manually place the upper and lower portion of the wall, add two different types of directional blockers, add boundaries to prevent picking up items through walls, add the correct top wall edge, and then hope that I didn't make any mistakes...Now all I need to do, is place the top part of the wall, and the code does the rest automatically. This will make world building MUCH easier in future.

status effects
  • added classes to the magic system
  • fixed magic window scrolling
  • new fire sprite and animation
  • torches can now be toggled on or off
  • hunger system in place
  • fixed issue with tree top shadows
  • hover over for stat page elements
  • spell classes added
  • effect icons in stat window now working
  • added target-self for spells
  • wall/fence placement automation
  • fixed magic window scrolling
sheep enclosure

Alpha version 0.296 has now been moved to the Dropbox folder for eligible backers. As usual, let me know via PM if you need the link again.

Just a couple of things to note: 

  • I would like to get your specific thoughts about the grid based movement. Does it feel natural to you? Would you prefer to see free movement similar to Ultima 7? Currently it is modeled more on Ultima 6.
  • I have been getting the odd generic crash when I exit the game. Please let me know if you also experience this.

I hope everyone is having a good start to the year! I will be away for 2 weeks starting Feb 6th, so the next update may be delayed a bit.

~Geoff

Friday - January 25, 2019

Generation Zero - Robo-Survival RPG Coming in March

by Silver, 20:07

PCInvasion reports on Generation Zero, which is a robo-survival RPG due to release in March.

Swedish Robo-Survival RPG Generation Zero Coming In March

Swedish Robo-Survival RPG Generation Zero Coming In March

Have you ever wanted to roam the countryside of say, I don’t know, 1980s Sweden? Perhaps in an alternate timeline where said country was rampant with giant construction themed murder-bots, which you would have to fight?

Well, if you are someone who wanted that, first of all, wow, what a specific thing to desire. Secondly, you’re in luck! The company behind both Mad Max and Just Cause, Avalanche Studios, is working on a game just like that. What’s more, it’s set to release in a few months.

[...]

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Yakuza Kiwami - Releasing 19th February

by Silver, 11:31

Yakuza Kiwami will be released 19th February.

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"Kiwami" means extreme.

1995, Kamurocho... Kazuma Kiryu, the Dragon of Dojima, takes the fall for the murder of a crime boss to protect his sworn brother, Akira Nishikiyama, and his childhood friend, Yumi.

2005... Akira Nishikiyama has become a changed man. Yumi is nowhere to be found. Ten billion yen has gone missing from the Tojo Clan's coffers, putting the organization on the brink of civil war. And Kazuma Kiryu is released from prison to a world he no longer recognizes.

With enhanced gameplay, an expanded cinematic story, the return of the battle styles from Yakuza 0, more nightlife spots, and re-recorded audio by the series cast, Yakuza Kiwami is the ultimate and most "extreme" version of the original vision of the series, now optimised for PC with 4K resolutions, uncapped framerates, customisable controls and ultra-widescreen support.

Wednesday - January 23, 2019

General News - Soulsbourne is a Subgenre

by Silver, 20:30

OnlySP writes about Soulsbourne, which was a buzzword, and now is becoming a Subgenre.

For Soulsborne to be classified as a subgenre, it must maintain specific qualities that are found within its shared titles. While many characteristics can be used to describe a Soulsborne game, three stand out as primary factors: higher than average difficulty, severe death penalties, and, most importantly, stamina-based combat.

Stamina-based combat remains an important aspect of a Soulsborne title because, without it, the game loses its soul. In the absence of stamina-based combat, boss fights become less frightening at first glance, and enemy encounters lose all of the tension that is built up from the outnumbering of the player. A Soulsborne game should strive for greatness within this factor, as it is the defining feature that sets it apart from other genres.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - January 22, 2019

General News - Top Turn-Based RPGs of 2019

by Hiddenx, 18:38

The Turnbasedlovers made a list of upcoming turn-based RPGs :

Top upcoming tactical turn-based RPGs of 2019

2019 will be a year full of interesting turn-based games, both indie and not so I prepared a list with some of the games I’m following. In this list, you will find the most promising (for me) turn-based strategy / tactical / RPGs with a release date scheduled for 2019. As in my other lists, I will try to keep them updated adding new games that I will discover and that will be suggested by the community. In the list, you will find strategic games, tactical games, and classic RPGs as long as they have turn-based mechanics. For each game, there will be a video, links to their official website, steam page, my overviews, and their release date. Regarding the release date, it may vary over the course of time, so sometimes it may not coincide. Let’s start with my list of the top upcoming tactical turn-based strategy RPGs of 2019.

[...]

Monday - January 21, 2019

Meeple Station - RPG Simulation Game

by Silver, 18:43

Meeple Station is a RPG simulation game set on a space station and currently in Early Access.

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Have you ever wanted to build your own space station? Trade goods and care for the inhabitants? Explore distant galaxies and take on daring missions while trying to keep your meeple alive! Meeple station is an open-ended space station simulator in the vein of Rimworld that succeeds in doing just that. Live a never ending adventure whilst trying to make the best of your ramshackle station.

Build a Space Station

Want to build a sprawling, multi levelled station that caters to your Meeple's needs? Focus on trade, mining and research whilst keeping your hapless Meeple alive by generating power, life support wiring your station up. Set up a botany department in the basement, only to have a fuel line cut and set fire to it. Fix leaks caused by your fuel line not being maintained, or bits of your station lacking oxygen due to an open airlock. SCIENCE!

Survive pirates and meteors

Remember kids, failure is fun. When something goes wrong, it goes REALLY wrong in Meeple Station. Your officer could decide that the airlock isn't necessary and deconstruct it, wiping out half your station, only for a stray meteor to hit your solar array, powering down your life support while everyone is snoring away in bed. Trade any of the myriad of goods you scrounge up. Become a mining station, strip mine entire quadrants and sell the runoff to a trading faction nearby but be wary of pirates and face eating space-squids.

Explore the galaxy and research new tech

Explore the galaxy in search of new resources to sell and people to meet. Go anywhere you please so long as you have enough fuel and an engine! Do you want to focus on engineering? Defence and security? Refining? Set up a research lab and hope for the best! Officers can unlock new tech, but they can be a difficult (cantankerous) bunch to appease, and if you let them, they can and will run your station into the ground! Good luck captain.

General News - 11 Upcoming RPGs for 2019-2020

by Silver, 18:10

Gamers Decide has published their list of eleven RPGs to look forward to for 2019-2020.

11 Awesome Upcoming RPGs We Can't Wait To Play

RPG games are more immersive and varied than ever before. Gamers can now choose to explore and live out radical science fiction and fantasy worlds of all types, and in some cases, explore with friends online. These twelve upcoming games promise to be on the cutting edge of RPG gaming, and are sure to delivers hours of mind-blowing game-play.

11. VALHALL

VALHALL Gameplay

The Nordic apocalypse is here. Can you stop Ragnarok? In Valhall, players battle with fifty others online to emerge as the worthy successor to Odin’s Sword.

As one of the only medieval Battle Royale games, Valhall promises to deliver the thrill of battle royale games like Fortnite and PUBG, only in a dream-world rooted deep in Norse mythology. Butcher your enemies with sword and axe, or outwit them with parkour and the stealthy deadliness of a bow and arrow.

Already available in Early Access, the full game is expected to be released by the end of 2019.

9. Rustler

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Ever wonder what a medieval Grand Theft Auto game might be like? That’s Rustler. A self-described “Parody of RPG clichés”, Rustler lets players go wild in a medieval kingdom.

Take quests, work with factions, or just wreak havoc on the populace with all sorts of medieval weaponry. Let the arrows fly and the horses charge! Players can even team up online to destroy a kingdom-or each other.

Rustler is currently in Pre-Alpha, with a release date planned for sometime in the near future.

[...]

Saturday - January 19, 2019

Genesis Alpha One - Gameplay Trailer

by Silver, 10:37

@DSOGaming A new gameplay trailer for Genesis Alpha One which is currently exclusive to Epic's store and set to release January 29th.

As the Captain of a Genesis starship, you journey into uncharted space on the ultimate mission. Build and manage a space vessel, explore the galaxy for resources and interesting new lifeforms and experiment with DNA and alien abilities as you clone new crew members. Your goal: Find new homes for humanity’s DNA and save the species from extinction.

[...]

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Thanks Farflame!

General News - Winterborn Making a Tactical RPG

by Silver, 10:33

Worthplaying reports on a new studio called Winterborn that is set to make a tactical RPG. The studio itself is made up of ex-Infinity Ward developers.

Winterborn is a passionate team working hard to bring an epic role-playing story to your fingertips as you explore a whole new world that has been built from years of tabletop play. We plan to release more information in the coming months, including interviews with the people who played the original tabletop version along with members of the development team. The goal at Winterborn is to make a game for both classic and new players that will be both rewarding and challenging as we bring the games we grew up on into the future.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Saturday - January 12, 2019

General News - Life on the Grid @ The Digital Antiquarian

by Hiddenx, 18:44

The Digital Antiquarian looks back at dungeon crawlers with real-time grid-based movement:

Life on the Grid The Digital Antiquarian

[...]

But it’s another, almost equally interesting example of this process that’s the real subject of our interest today: the case of the real-time grid-based dungeon crawler. After the release of Sir-Tech’s turn-based dungeon crawl Wizardry in 1981, it wasn’t hard to imagine what the ideal next step would be: a smooth-scrolling first-person 3D environment running in real time. Yet that was a tall order indeed for the hardware of the time — even for the next generation of 16-bit hardware that began to arrive in the mid-1980s, as exemplified by the Atari ST and the Commodore Amiga. So, when a tiny developer known as FTL decided the time had come to advance the state of the art over Wizardry, they compromised by going to real time but holding onto a discrete grid of locations inside the dungeon of Dungeon Master.

[...]

Thanks henriquejr!

Monday - January 07, 2019

Between the Stars - Preview @TheGG

by Silver, 20:37

Between the Stars is a space action/RPG/roguelike management game thats been previewed by TheGG.

Verdict: 4/5
“Between The Stars” is with no doubt a game project to follow at least, and for a demo it’s shows that there is something substantial to be had.

The fact that it’s not free-roaming may deter people, as may the speed of everything.  However, if the project is successfully funded (which it was), then there is no reason these things can’t be fixed, especially  as there seems to be the basis of a strong story.

Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - January 06, 2019

PC Gamer - The New Games of 2019

by Hiddenx, 14:11

Henriquejr spotted this list of 2019 games on PC Gamer (I have listed RPGs only):

The PC games of 2019

Our guide to the best games of 2019.

Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey
Anthem
Biomutant
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
Blue Omen Operation
Code Vein
Cyberpunk 2077
Disco Elysium
Greedfall
Minecraft: Dungeons
Morning Star
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Phoenix Point
Praey for the Gods
Shenmue 3
Starfield
Stoneshard
Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition
The Forgotten City
The Outer Worlds
The Surge 2
Wasteland 3
Werewolf: The Apocalypse
Witchbrook

[...]

Monday - December 31, 2018

TechQuila: - 10 best PC Games of 2018

by Hiddenx, 12:04

Trespasser spotted a PC top 10 list on TechQuila:

10 Best PC Games of 2018 That You Need to Play

Unlike the PS4, the PC platform doesn’t get all those big budget exclusives, but that doesn’t mean there’s a dearth of gems on the oldest gaming platform. In fact, Steam has thousands of exclusive indie titles that are made with a lot of love and attention to detail by talented developers all over the world. Since these indies form the backbone of the PC gaming industry, we’ll mainly focus on them with a few notable AAA games throw into the mix as well:

[...]

10 Best PC Games of 2018

  • Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
  • Hitman 2
  • Yakuza 0
  • Mutant Year Zero: Road to Eden
  • Banner Saga III
  • The Council
  • Final Fantasy XV Windows Edition
  • Pathfinder: Kingmaker
  • Kingdom Come Deliverance
  • Atom RPG

Other Notable PC Games of 2018

  • We Happy Few
  • Assassins’ Creed: Odyssey
  • Life is Strange 2
  • Insomnia: The Ark
  • Ni no Kuni II
  • Legrand Legacy

Venturebeat: - The best RPGs of 2018

by Hiddenx, 10:56

For Venturebeat the best RPGs for 2018 are:

The D20 Beat: 2018’s RPGs — my critical hits and made saving throws

When I think about 2018’s role-playing games, I don’t see lots of bombast and flash. Blockbuster studios often stayed away. Square Enix’s main offerings this year weren’t triple-A releases. You didn’t see anything from BioWare, and Bethesda’s Fallout 76 sure doesn’t feel like an RPG to me.

[...]

The critical hits

These are my favorite RPGs of 2018. They tell fantastic stories, pose interesting combat situations, and have engaging character development (either through story or through stats).

  • Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
  • Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
  • The Bard’s Tale IV: Barrows Deep
  • Book of Demons
  • Battletech
  • Pokemon: Let’s Go Pikachu

Making their saves

These are solid RPGs, but they don’t qualify as critical hits. They are worthy of playing.

  • Octopath Traveler
  • Tower of Time
  • Final Fantasy XV: Pocket Edition (Switch)
  • Pathfinder: Kingmaker
  • Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom

 

Sunday - December 30, 2018

General News - Wccftech's Best Roleplaying Games of 2018

by Hiddenx, 18:22

Wccftech’s best roleplaying games of 2018 are:

Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
Octopath Traveler
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
Kingdom Come: Deliverance


Honorable Mentions
The Banner Saga 3
Moonlighter
Vampyr
The Bard’s Tale IV
CrossCode

Saturday - December 29, 2018

Mod of the Year - Players Choice

by Silver, 10:53

The players mod of the year has been announced at Moddb with Fallout New California taking top honours.

Mod of the Year Top 10


Anomaly is a standalone S.T.A.L.K.E.R. mod powered by an x64 version of Open X-Ray. Built upon Last Day, the mod continues its way on expanding and adding new features while maintaining a high level of quality and replay value.


From the Founding of Pendor - the year is 354 A King has not ruled the shattered land of Pendor for many generations. What was once a proud accomplishment of man now is steeped in the myths of folklore and told as children’s bedtime stories. Yet, the legends live on of a prophesy of hope. A tale of a champion who comes from a distant shore and unites the lords of Pendor under a single Ruler and brings peace and prosperity once again to this ravaged war-torn land. All is not as it seems as there are many powers who have their own ends in mind and an epic struggle is about to unfold. Strap on your sword, and buckle your imagination. Prepare to enter the world of Pendor and accept the challenge of the Prophesy - if you dare.


2ND PLACE

Warsword Conquest

For: Mount & Blade: Warband

Warsword Conquest is a total conversion of warbands mount and blade 1.153 based on the Warhammer Fantasy world by Games workshop and is single player only at moment.


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Fallout: New California adds an all new story around a new player character, an adopted resident of Vault 18, embarking on a journey through the wastelands of the New California Republic's Cajon Pass. An unofficial prequel to New Vegas, FPB adds hours of new gameplay and a fully voiced stand alone campaign.

You will face the New California Republic under president Wendell Peterson, the New Reno Mob's Bishop Family, the remnant Shi Clans, The Enclave Leonidas Squadron, the Super Mutant Army, and the bloodthirsty Raider Alliance that have banded together in the remote Athens-Tec Uranium Mine off the Long I-15.

Through them all you'll choose your path from SPECIAL dialog options, acquired PERKs, and travel with 8 possible companions depending on your choices. You'll enjoy two new radio stations with unique music, hours of voice acting, and professional grade presentation.

There is always another path to take in New California. But War? War never changes.

Thanks rjshae!

Thursday - December 27, 2018

Erich Schaefer on Starblo - Blizzards Unreleased Sci-fi Action RPG

by Silver, 20:14

TechRaptor interviewed Erich Schaefer about Starblo; which is a science fiction action RPG that was never released.

As Mr. Schaefer continued to describe the game, I told him that hearing about this title was painful to say the least. The prospects of what would have gotten were simply tantalizing. Erich, too, seemed saddened and disappointed about it never having seen the light of day. “I think what it did have at the very end there – it was kind of a bummer that it died – was it had fun gameplay,” he began. “It was very ‘Diablo II-ish in space’, a little bit crazier and more science fiction. But it was crisp. It had movement and [fun skills] and good pacing. I think we were really getting that feeling down when it all crashed down for me.”

One of the points he highlighted was the notion of perhaps making the game one day. He told me that he occasionally talks with his ex-Blizzard colleague David Brevik (who we interviewed last month) about somehow getting Starblo put together. I assured Erich Schaefer that such a title would probably do quite well, especially if it were put together with the same practiced hands that had graced us with Diablo II.

[...]

Wednesday - December 26, 2018

Wargroove - New Trailer

by Silver, 20:08

Strategy Tactical game Wargroove has a new trailer and is due to release Q1 2019.

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Take to the battlefield with Wargroove, a strategy game for up to 4 players! Choose your Commander and wage turn-based war on battling factions. Design and share maps, cut-scenes and campaigns with easy-to-use editors and in-depth customization tools!

Halo Infinite - Could Feature RPG Mechanics

by Silver, 11:29

GameRant reports that Halo Infinite could feature RPG mechanics.

As per the job posting, 343 is hiring a Senior Systems Designer to work on Halo Infinite. The bulk of the listing is what one might expect, indicating that the ideal candidate will have experience with high-level design on AAA games and a specific understanding of the inner-workings of shooter titles. However, one requirement stands out among the rest, as the post emphasizes that applicants should be familiar with RPG mechanics.

[...]

Tuesday - December 25, 2018

Neverinth - Coming 2019

by Silver, 20:27

@TheGG Neverinth is a hack and slash action RPG coming to Steam 2019.

Play up to 5 different Valkyries, each with a unique set of abilities and history based on real historical figures.
Gain the power of the fallen Gods unlocking their mythical weapons and skills.
Unlock new content including levels, new characters, monsters, and abilities.
Collect and wield a wide range of incredible weapons.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

LostHero - Early Access Trailer

by Silver, 20:18

LostHero is a third person action RPG which has entered Early Access.

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Lost Hero is a hardcore dark fantasy action RPG with a sci-fi twist. As an outcast hero, a mercenary of a secret order, you will be fighting against the dark forces of chaos and destruction in the world struggled by ethernal war between the races. Only you can decide which side will get the power. Play alone or in 2 - 4 player coop. Travel the dark world, destroy your enemies in a skill-based action combat and collect resources to craft and improve your arsenal. Level up your hero to withstand the toughest boss fights.

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The first video preview of our new third person action RPG for PC called LOSTHERO. Player deside to leave his weathered town and find own self in darkness of unknown. Create your own hero, discover a new world, collect resources,learn new skills, prepare your defense towers, and fight! LOSTHERO game it's debut of indie studio GOLDKNIGHTS from Czech Republic.

Thanks Farflame!

General News - Gamespot: The best RPGs of 2018

by Hiddenx, 07:28

Gamespot's best RPGs of 2018 are:

The Best RPGs Of 2018 By Review Score

Role-playing games have long since entered the mainstream and the influence of their popularity on other genres is undeniable. The most borrowed facet of the RPG experience is the idea of long-term character growth and customization, a concept now commonly found in fighting games, shooters, and sports sims. It's a universally useful way to remain engaged with a game over time and uncover depth as your skills improve.

[...]

PC Games:
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes Of An Elusive Age - 9/10
Kingdom Come: Deliverance - 8/10
Monster Hunter World - 8/10
Ni No Kuni II: The Revenant Kingdom - 8/10
Pillars Of Eternity II: Deadfire - 8/10
The Banner Saga 3 - 8/10

New Editions:
Divinity: Original Sin 2 - Definitive Edition - 10/10
Wasteland 2: Director's Cut - 8/10

Ports:
Diablo III: Eternal Collection (Switch Port) - 9/10
Battle Chasers: Nightwar (Switch Port) - 8/10
Child Of Light (Switch Port) - 8/10
Dark Souls Remastered (Switch Port) - 8/10
West Of Loathing (Switch Port) - 8/10
Transistor (Switch Port) - 8/10

Console only:
Octopath Traveler - 8/10
Pokemon Let's Go Pikachu & Evee - 8/10
Radiant Historia Perfect Chronology - 8/10
The Alliance Alive - 8/10

Monday - December 24, 2018

Yserbius 2 - In Development

by Silver, 10:49

Yserbius 2 appears to be in development although it is unclear how far along things are.

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I wanted to list some of the features being rolled into and out with the eventual release of Yserbius 2. Some will say its to many features. I say that some will not roll out immediately but are currently in the engine awaiting implementation.

[...]

Quests:

Our quest system will be more in depth that anything Yserbius related before. We will be able to create different types of Quests or chain of quests that can guide your players through your storyline. We will be asking our members and players to help us develop quest chains.

​Dialogues:
We will create different dialogues for your NPC's. As well you can also use this system to allow multiple outcomes in the storyline depending on what a player chooses while speaking to an NPC.

​Items:
This is my favorite part and how we will be bringing all the items from the original game into the new game environment. We create all the items for the game with this module, add different stats to items and functionality. We will be able to attach over 30 different effects to the item which can be a different category of weapons, armors, consumables, materials, ammo and more.

​Socketing:
Taking lessons from larger mmo's we will be incorporating Socketing System allows you define types and amounts of sockets per type basis like runes, gems, etc.

​Enchanting:
Another item from a big box MMO will be the Enchanting System to let you level up your players items by defining profiles and levels of enchanting.

​Item Sets:
A favorite of mine. Sets of the items define the set and its bonuses, and when you will equip them, bonuses will be added to your character.

Auction House:

Huge module that will take some work buts its in the bag! Auction House, one of the biggest feature of this release, which allows you to find items by using search, filter by grade, class, race, and level, to finally purchase it from the auction.

​Skills:
We are torn between a UO Style Use based Skill system (sandbox) or a level based. The original Yserbius wasnt like this, so its really what players are going to want. we may implement both systems and see which players prefer. .A skill system which allows you to open up skills when players level up with XP or level up their skill by using it like another older game.

​Abilities:
Create different abilities for players that can get when they have a certain skill. They can use these abilities in a wide range of ways from combat to crafting to professions. Abilities define target type like single player or area, dead or alive, range requirements, etc.

​Effects:
Build your own effects for your game to make it unique like a melee-strike effect that deals physical damage or a magic effect that heals your player. We will have more than 20 effect types are possible to name a few: damage, restore, revive, stat change, stun, sleep, immune, dispel, teleport, mount, build an object, teach ability, skill and more.

​Coord Effects:
We can setup different animations, particles and more to run on events such as play an attack animation and a particle when you use a striking ability.

​Stats System:
We will be able to cesign any type of stat you want for your game with this module.

​Player Character Setup:
This will allow us the ability to create the diverse players like the original YS. albeit the graphics will be a little better. Here we setup what races, stats, and classes you want your players to start with as well as where you want them to spawn and how you want starter characters to look like.

​Crafting System:
We will be designing crafting recipes up to 16 ingredients, set crafting skill required for specific recipe along with crafting station. Define different chance for a different result like 100% chances for a common sword, 50% chances for a magic sword, etc. Our system supports grid based crafting and crafting book with experience based option.

​Arena System:
Rather than open PVP we will be setting up dedicated PvP instances for solo or groups.

​[...]

Thursday - December 20, 2018

General News - Designing Characters as UI

by Silver, 20:06

Gamasutra looks at State of Decay 2, Star Citizen, and Battletech and how they design characters as UI.

...

The mech model: Battletech

The model damage in Battletech is actually a holdover from its genesis as a tabletop game. A wireframe of each mech was displayed on a record sheet with a certain number of empty circles allocated to each section (its center torso, for instance, or each leg). A dice roll indicated which area was hit and every time the mech took damage, players would fill in circles in that area, until all the circles were full and the entire piece was destroyed.

“Being able to dynamically reflect that visually in gameplay is an advantage we have in a video game over the tabletop game,” says Steve Rynders, Battletech’s principal character pipeline artist at developer Harebrained Schemes. “Fortunately, Piranha Games shared their Mechwarrior Online assets with us and the models were already built in a way that supported damaging and destroying geometry. Aside from it being awesome to see an arm blown off and its pieces rain down on the terrain along with the sparks and explosion, it helps to reinforce and communicate to the player that there has been a state change.”

To show off meaningful systems or parts damage, Rynders and the team dynamically toggle between different assets.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

General News - The Best RPGs of 2018 @ Gamerant

by Hiddenx, 19:02

The best RPGs of 2018 for Gamerant are:

  • Ashen
  • Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
  • Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
  • Kingdom Come Deliverance
  • Monster Hunter World
  • Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
  • Octopath Traveler
  • Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
  • Pokemon Let’s Go
(in no particular order)

Thursday - December 13, 2018

General News - Top 100 Mods of 2018

by Silver, 07:05

Its time for the top 100 mods of 2018 at moddb.

Back for a 17th time, welcome to the 2018 Mod of the Year Awards. You will find no loot boxes, microtransactions, unlockables or DLC here - just amazing free mods made by dedicated creators for your enjoyment. For the next 4 weeks it is up to you to vote for your favorite mods so that they may make the top 100 which will be announced on the 11th of December.

There was plenty of blood & gore to go around last year, with the fan favourite Brutal Doom claiming top spot on the podium. Coming in second was the galactic spectacle Starwars II: Thrawn's Revenge II: Ascendancy followed by an alternative C&C timeline in the Twisted Insurrection modification. If you need a refresh of how last year's awards went down head on over to the top 10 countdown's for both players and editors to see who stood out among the pack.

Show your support and start smashing those vote buttons for your favorite mods (and if your favorite mod isn't listed encourage the team to add it). Developers need to feel the overwhelming power and groundswell of support for mods, which drive so much creativity and goodwill in games of all shapes and sizes. There's been some huge releases this year, make your vote count and we look forward to seeing who will climb to the top, and be crowned the 2018 Mod of the Year.

Thanks rjshae!

Wednesday - December 12, 2018

ATLAS - Launching 20th December on Steam

by Silver, 07:14

ATLAS is a high seas open world pirate survival MMO that is set to launch on Steam December 20th.

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From the creators of ARK: Survival Evolved comes ATLAS - a massively multiplayer first-and-third-person fantasy pirate adventure. ATLAS will host up to 40,000 players exploring the same Globe simultaneously, with an unprecedented scale of cooperation and conflict! Stake your claim in this endless open world as you conquer territory, construct ships, search for buried treasure, assemble forts, plunder settlements and hire crew to join your powerful growing armada. Start small then expand your spheres of influence from a small island, up to an unstoppable pirate empire that spans across the oceans. Wage battle against enemy fleets as you singlehandedly command large ships of war using the captaining system (or divide up to the responsibilities among your trusted lieutenants), or take control of any weapon directly with your own character. Dive deep into the briny water to explore permanent sunken wrecks and recover salvage, unearth the loot from procedurally-generated Treasure Maps and challenge zones, or complete challenging main questlines. Team up with other aspiring adventurers and sail into the vast ocean to discover new lands rich with region-specific elements, tame exotic natural and mythical creatures, raid forgotten tombs, confront powerful ancient gods and even build and administer your own colonies, cities, and civilizations to dominate the ATLAS in this ultimate quest for fortune and glory!

MMO On the Grandest Scale

Physically sail in real-time across the vast oceans with the proprietary server network technology. Explorers will voyage to over 700 unique landmasses across 45,000 square kilometers, with thousands of Discovery Zones, and ten distinct world regions each having their own unique resources, creatures, secrets, and environment hazards! There is a separate PvE ATLAS for players who don't wish to play any PVP.

Construct the Ship of Your Dreams, Plank by Plank!

Build drydocks and start with a dinghy rowboat, basic raft, tiny sloop or nimble schooner, moving on up to your own versatile brigantine or titanic galleon capable of transporting hundreds of crew and extensive cargo. Name your ship in big bold letters, paint and copy your own pirate flag and custom-place all the pieces of your ship -- which sails and where, planks and gunports, every single structure piece has a physical Weight and Material -- to function exactly how you want.

Captain your Crew!

Recruit real players and AI crew from freeports or rescue seasoned crew from destroyed “Army of the Damned” shipwrecks to man distinct stations on your boat! Set sail and explore the ATLAS with them to gain experience and level up their stats or gear, as well as levelling your Ship. Your crew are versatile! Whether on land, or ship, or even riding behind your animal companions on emplacements, they can man weapons of all kinds-- cannons, swivel guns, siege engines, turrets, and even gigantic mortars, many with dynamically swappable ammo types including grapeshot, chainshot, spikeshot, liquid fire, and more! Instruct them to board enemy ships and help you conquer the seas! Keep their stomachs full and their pockets full of gold lest you want a mutiny in your hands! Take on the Captain’s Wheel or divide up the command responsibilities via Lieutenant Podiums to direct the Ship’s assignable weapon systems, sails, and stations, including standing-orders or manual grouped fire. Or, walk up to any station and take control of it yourself!

Pirate PVP to the Limit

Everything is up for grabs including player’s ships, their crew, their pets, their forts, their land, and their booty. If you can get your hands on it, you can take it. A ship’s permanent logbook tells the tale of their legendary travel, exploits and ownership.

Be the Hero or Villain you were meant to be

MMO-scale character progression systems include, at launch, over 15 Disciplines with over 300 Skills, in a vast unlockable tree. New "Feat" system allows for active and passive bindable character abilities, while new stat-buff system allows innumerable abstract statistics to be modified by Skills, Items, and Armor. And now, everything has scalable stats, including structures, and can be progressively Upgraded!

This is Who You Are

Extensive character visual customization enables an endless range of realistic (and not-so-realistic) characters, with a vast array of sliders, morphs, muscle tones, and tweakable values. You can even per-pixel design your own permanent tattoos (and then draw warpaint on top of that too!). If someone exists in the real world, they should be creatable in ATLAS! Best-in-class dynamic hair growth and real-time aging systems allow you to get old and... pass on your legacy? (Or find a fountain of youth!).

Endless Adventure

Full Quest and Waypoint systems, with sub-quests and rewards, for major goals -- while procedural treasure maps and challenge zones also ensure there's always something new to find out over the horizon.

Intense Action

Tactical melee combat systems with blocks, parries, dodges, character motion, optional shields, stunning and strength-varying strikes, directional attacks, and more for use in either first or third person perspectives. Fists, swords, maces, blackjacks, daggers, and much more give you tremendous options to pick the right weapon for the job. Meanwhile, period-appropriate-weaponry with skill-based active reload systems include flintlock pistols, muskets, blunderbuss, and more -- just be sure to keep your powder dry!

Claim What's Yours

Form a company, claim territory and apply taxation and behavior rules to that which you own: be a benevolent governor, a feudal lord, or a ruthless dictator. Territory ownership is visualized on your dynamic zoomable World Map, with Fog of War obscuring uncharted regions and Shroud of War hiding enemy territories out of sight range. Contest other government's ownership of land, structures, or ships to expand your empire! The top large-scale Spheres of Influence on the Official ATLAS' are visualized in real-time on the PlayATLAS homepage. Design your own custom flag per-pixel to apply to your claims, to be famous (or infamous)!

[...]

Sunday - December 09, 2018

Fae Tactics - Announced for Steam

by Silver, 13:22

@Gematsu Developer Endlessfluff Games has announced Fae Tactics for Steam early 2019.

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In Fae Tactics, follow a young magic user named Peony on her journey across a vibrant world full of mystery and danger. Summon allies, cast spells, and befriend a motley crew of characters as you dive into the growing conflicts between man and magical beings known as fae.

Story
Long ago the world of magic was separated from the natural world by Elemental Gates. One day the seal on the gates was broken, flooding the natural world with magical fae creatures once thought to be myths. The worlds merging was imperfect and much of the land was torn apart. The devastation claimed the lives of most of the population of natural and fae creatures alike. Those that survived have forged new lives in the ruins of the old worlds, but growing tension between man and fae threaten to finish what began with the opening of the gates.

Features

  • Unique menuless turn based tactical gameplay.
  • Manage the magical elements of your party to counter the enemies elements.
  • Befriend a colorful cast of allies! Level Up and customize their abilities.
  • Battle all kinds of Fae creatures and collect them into your team.
  • Find powerful and unique Spells to help tip the scales in your favor.
  • Traverse a variety of colorfully detailed environments in this isometric wonderland.
  • Unravel secrets as you explore the various conflicts in the world in any order you want!

Saturday - December 08, 2018

Stoneshard - Preview @TheGG

by Silver, 11:29

@TheGG Stoneshard is a turn-based roguelike RPG by Ink Stains Games.

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“And why is that”? So you might wonder. The answer is very simple. It’s because “Stoneshard: Prologue” is more or less a mix of old-school “Diablo“, “The Binding of Isaac“, “Dink Smallwood”, “ADOM“, “Nethack” and “Ancient Evil”. In other words, “Stoneshard” is a mix of a lot of nice things (the old and the new). Furthermore, the game is very easy to learn, but hard to master (you will die a lot) .

Yes, that’s right. “Stoneshard: Prologue” is the kind of game that is very unforgiving (think “Dark Souls” meets “Diablo Median XL” and “Ancient Evil”). So that means that the game will punish you instantly if you mess up, and most of the time, that results in an instant death on the spot (watch out for traps!).

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - November 29, 2018

Darksiders 3 - Released

by Silver, 13:45

Hack n' slash game Darksiders 3 has been released on Steam to a mixed reception.

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Return to an apocalyptic Earth in Darksiders III, a hack-n-slash Action Adventure where players assume the role of FURY in her quest to hunt down and dispose of the Seven Deadly Sins. The most unpredictable and enigmatic of the Four Horsemen, FURY must succeed where many have failed - to bring balance to the forces that now ravage Earth. Darksiders III is the long-anticipated, third chapter in the critically-acclaimed Darksiders franchise.

  • Play as FURY - a mage who must rely on her whip and magic to restore the balance between good and evil on Earth!
  • Harness FURY's magic to unleash her various forms - each granting her access to new weapons, moves and traversal abilities.
  • Explore an open-ended, living, free-form game world in which FURY moves back and forth between environments to uncover secrets while advancing the story.
  • Defeat the Seven Deadly Sins and their servants who range from mystical creatures to degenerated beings.
  • Sit in awe of Darksiders signature art style - expansive post-apocalyptic environments that take the player from the heights of heaven to the depths of hell, dilapidated by war and decay and overrun by nature.

Wednesday - November 28, 2018

Atomic Heart - New Trailer

by Silver, 02:07

DSOGaming reports that action RPG Atomic Heart has a new trailer.

Atomic Heart is an adventure first-person shooter, events of which unfolds in an alternate universe during the high noon of the Soviet Union. In this game, players assume the role of special agent P-3, who after an unsuccessful landing on enterprise “3826” is trying to figure out what went wrong and to clear up a factory from went mad robots.

[...]

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Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - November 27, 2018

Tactical Adventures - Developing OGL D&D 5th Edition RPG

by Silver, 09:15

VentureBeat interviewed Mathieu Girard, formerly of Amplitude Studios, who has started a new RPG company called Tactical Adventures, and asked him about his open game license Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition RPG.

Girard left Amplitude in January, and now, he’s ready to talk about his next adventure … a tactical one. Today, he’s announcing his new company, Tactical Adventures. It’s a studio in Paris that wants to make PC role-playing games that blend the rich stories of classics like Baldur’s Gate with the tactical choices you make in games like XCOM. It’s working on a yet-to-be announced game, one that will use the Dungeons & Dragons Fifth Edition Open Game License (OGL). This means that it’ll use the base rules, but it won’t feature any of the worlds (such as the Forgotten Realms) that belong to Wizards of the Coast.

[...]

GamesBeat: Why is now the time to start making your passion project?

Girard: Because I’ve learned a lot. I’ve made lots of different games. I’ve made strategy games and even Formula One racing games. I’ve made shooter games, management games, 4X games. Lots of stuff. I guess what I was missing was an RPG. But it can be a bit scary to make an RPG. It seems very complex. You have to build lots of environments and monsters and a huge scenario. But it’s not that complex once you have experience. I want to have a more systemic approach to an RPG rather than a purely narrative approach. The idea is to bring something new to the game mechanics of an RPG on a computer.

Monday - November 26, 2018

Worshippers - RPG/Strategy Game

by Silver, 13:30

Worshippers is a RPG/Strategy game that was released early this year on Steam.

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Background

Old gods have forsaken us, but there is still hope. Mysterious sage is wandering from village to village, bringing stories about new powerful idols. Ten nights, ten stories to be told. Would it be enough to convert locals to the way of new gods? Time will tell.Sit around a fire and listen to stories about gods and theirs worshippers.

Description

Worshippers is a fast-paced strategy combined with collectible card game. Take control over small tribe and help them survive in the hostile land. With every scenario unlock new cards, that can be used in developing your own unique strategies!

Features:

  • Fast-paced, easy to learn (but no so easy to master) strategy game!

  • Single scenario could be finished in half a hour!

  • Combination of turn-based strategy and collectible card game.

  • Low fantasy world based on slavic mythology.

  • Explore and conquer randomly generated maps!

  • Engaging, tactical combat system!

  • Over 150 different cards!

  • 4 different gods to choose!

  • Create your own decks and strategies!

Opinion - Old CRPGs & the CRPG Revival

by Silver, 00:49

RetrospectiveGaming shared his opinion about appreciating older CRPGs and the CRPG revival.

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Old is gold but new stuff can be good too ..whether its a game from 1992 or 2012 .. give it a chance and form your own opinions

Monday - November 19, 2018

Eastshade - Interview

by Silver, 06:32

OnlySP interviewed the developers of Eastshade, which is an open world exploration game with some RPG systems.

So what exactly is Eastshade? We’ve seen a lot of absolutely gorgeous screenshots from the game by this point, but I’m not exactly sure what you do in the game yet! I know it’s an open world exploration game with RPG elements, can you elaborate on that?

WEINBAUM: Well, its an open-world adventure game where you play as a traveling artist. You can paint pictures at any time, which operate much like a photograph or screenshot. Many of the quest objectives manifest in painting commissions which require a certain object you must find, a sight you need to notice, sometimes at certain times. So it’s not meant to be a painting program, but rather an open world to explore.

There is an inventory with some light crafting mechanics, many NPCs with quests and micro-stories, and a very clear sense of progression throughout the game. The world has impasses that the player needs to surmount in a sort of adventure game style, where you’re doing different kinds of quests (sometimes painting, sometimes object collection, and sometimes a riddle or puzzle that needs solving, often using knowledge obtained from somewhere else in the world) for folks and they reward you with items or knowledge to keep exploring new areas.

The environments are varied, as are the little stories you encounter as you talk to more people.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Saturday - November 17, 2018

Code of the Savage - Alpha Demo

by Silver, 08:55

A new update for Code of The Savage announces Alpha demo version 0.276.

Alpha demo version 0.276

Hello everyone!

I am going to do an update roughly once per month (more or less).

This update is all about the sidebar. I have now added sidebar tabs! You now see equipment, stats, skills/spells, and a journal log tab. (the skills tab is still under construction).

The log tab will update automatically when new information is given to the player. When a journal entry is completed, it will turn green. You will also see a filter button that will switch between displaying completed, incomplete or both. Give it a try! speaking to some NPCs or triggering specific events will add a new journal entry.

The stats tab is just an area that will display more detailed stats such as hunger level and current effects the player is under (poisoned, cursed, bleeding, blessed, etc etc...) The effect icons are just placeholdersand are non-functional at the moment.

Some other changes/fixes:

  • Arrows now splash if fired into the water
  • Fixed an issue with the step sound
  • A map and sextant have been placed at the start position. Move them to your inventory and then press M to bring up the map. This will show your location on the world map to give to an idea of the scale.
  • The annoying wolf has been removed...
  • Fixed issue with a crash on player death
  • Many other smaller bug fixes...

Going forward, I will be uploading the new Alpha Demos to the same Dropbox folder each time a new version is available. The link to this folder will be emailed to eligible backers. Please read the README.TXT included in the zip file :)

Thanks again for everyone's support!

Wednesday - November 14, 2018

The Forgotten City - Why the Setting is Roman

by Silver, 10:14

The Forgotten City mod is a re-imagining of the mod of the same name, which means that the setting is now a Roman one. The author of the mod has explained why he is making the change at Moddb.

As many of you know, The Forgotten City is a re-imagining of my mod of the same name. While the mod was pretty cool (it now has over 1.8 million downloads, and won a national Writers’ Guild award), I’m determined to make everything about the stand-alone game better. To that end, one of the most radical changes I’ve made was to switch from a fantasy setting to an ancient Roman setting, complete with authentic art, architecture, and costumes, which you can glimpse in the E3 reveal trailer:

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Why? I’m glad you asked!

Personally, I think the experience of discovering and exploring a mysterious ancient Roman city, isolated and forgotten by the world, would be one of the most mind-blowing experiences I can imagine. But there’s more to it than that.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Warren Spector - Interviews

by Silver, 06:55

VG24/7 talked to Warren Spector who shares his thoughts on the modern Deus Ex and the almost appoved Command & Conquer RPG.

At one point, Deus Ex creator Warren Spector was going to make an RPG set in the Command and Conquer universe.

The game, which was cancelled by EA, would share the DNA of Spector’s other games.

“It was going to look a lot like Deus Ex,” Spector tells me. “I knew what kind of game I wanted to make. I had a lot of the gameplay and the vision was there. It was going to be set in a very different world.

[...]

Some of you may be more familiar with the modern Deus Ex series – Human Revolution and Mankind Divided – which had nothing to do with Spector, however. I recently got a chance to talk to the legendary game designer and asked him how he feels about the direction the series took in his absence.

“If you ask my wife, she’d tell you that I screamed in frustration throughout much of Human Revolution,” Spector says. “There were three or four things that I would have done differently and those three or four things kind of bug me.”

So, what are those things?

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - November 13, 2018

Dark Harvest - Version 0.1.2 released

by Silver, 14:00

Dark Harvest is a hack 'n slash action RPG which has recently been updated to version 0.1.2.

Today a major update went live with the first boss of the game and a lot of bugfixes and updates to the quality of life.

This update brings more life to the Great Forest with added grass and flowers to give the overall world a more stunning view.

Rampage

Rampage is the first Minion of Sevarog you will encounter, but he wont be easy he hits very hard so you will need to dodge his attacks and kill him before he becomes enraged, he will be a challenge!

Foliage

The game now has foliage which is an enormous update to the graphics, the game looks better then ever before.

The foliage changes the overall feeling of the game as "just an other single developer asset flip" to a true game, the Paragon assets now come even more alive then ever before.

 

We went from this:

 

To this:

Gameplay video and New music

This update brings new music from Taylor Brook to the game which better suits the game.

A new gameplay video has been released with all the updates visible including the new music.

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To the Grand Temple

Now the first part of the game is done, with the next update you will be on your way to the Grand Temple, you can see parts of it in the game already if you look closely but I wont show you much yet, you will need to discover that for yourself.

You can start your journey today by registering your account on www.darkharvestgame.com/register/ and download the game, so you can explore this new update.

Monday - November 12, 2018

Warhammer: Chaosbane - Pre-Alpha Gameplay Video

by Silver, 12:20

A look at some pre-alpha gameplay for Warhammer: Chaosbane - Captain Of The Empire.

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Become a Captain of the Empire, protect your allies, serve on the front line and #UnleashYourFury against the forces of Chaos. Step into the Old World, crusade across the Fantasy Battles universe with up to four friends in local and online co-op. Warhammer: Chaosbane is coming to PlayStation 4 in 2019.

Saturday - November 10, 2018

Opinion - Cthulhu has losts its Scare Factor

by Silver, 21:04

Gamespew writes that Cthulhu is no longer delivering the scares.

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Whatever the reason for Cthulhu’s massive popularity, it’s time for creators to look elsewhere for their nightmarish entities, preferably crafting their own otherworldly threat. Through repetition, the character has been robbed all mystique and menace. I suspect its appearance in the real world would be greeted with cries of “Yay! Cthulhu”, followed by a horde of people rushing over to hug it. Because when can you can wander into Hot Topic and purchase a cuddly plush of a cosmic horror, maybe it’s not so scary any more.

Thanks Farflame!

Arani - Reveal Trailer

by Silver, 20:58

The reveal trailer for action RPG Arani.

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Join Araní, the bravest warrior from the Sun Tribe, in her journey of self-discovery and fighting mastery to save her people from an ancient mythological power.

http://aranigame.com

http://dioramadigital.com

Thanks Farflame!

Friday - November 09, 2018

General News - Chris Avellone Interview

by Silver, 20:00

Chris Avellone was interviewed by PCGamesN about Baldur's Gate 3, Fallout: Van Buren and Pillars of Eternity.

Is there something special about Baldur’s Gate that its spiritual successors haven’t captured yet?

The charm of the companions, for starters. One challenge I came back to after Pillars of Eternity (and I admit, I wrote two companions) is that a lot of the companions had lost a sense of charm that the original Baldur’s Gate cast had. It hit me when I got involved with the Enhanced Editions, because they reminded me of the companion design of the original game and made me realise that following a formula had taken Obsidian largely off the beaten path. I say Pillars 1, as I didn’t play Pillars 2, but the Pillars 1 companions with the possible exception of Eder just didn’t carry the same punch as the Baldur’s Gate crew. The Baldur’s Gate crew felt like your friends, rivals, and even your conscience at times, but none of the Pillars companions had that charm about them. Again, I felt partly to blame for that.

[...]

Monday - November 05, 2018

Deltarune - Surprise Sequel to Undertale

by Silver, 13:12

GameCrate went hands-on with Deltarune which is reportedly a sequel to Undertale and released on Halloween.

Or at least, that’s what we all thought. Despite Toby Fox saying he was moving on to some new project, a new Undertale game entitled Deltarune was surprisingly released on Halloween. I hesitate to call it a sequel, or prequel, or spin-off, because quite frankly it’s not clear. What is clear is that the two games are connected, involving familiar characters, locales, and plot elements.

I’m going to do my best to not spoil things here, but I’m not even sure I can. You see, Deltarune isn’t a full game. It’s merely a chapter of what appears to be a bigger project. It lasts just as long as Undertale and has just as many secrets,

In Deltarune you take control of a new human (maybe?) and traverse a new world, a world of darkness, in an attempt to get back to the world of light. However, this time you aren’t alone. You have a party of friends and other characters with you, and this is where the game gets interesting.

[...]

Wednesday - October 31, 2018

General News - Colin McComb Interview

by Silver, 21:31

PCGamesN interviewed Colin McComb and talked about the differences between tabletop and CRPGs.

“You enter a 10×10 room. There’s an orc here. It’s guarding a pie.” This scenario is how Colin McComb begins his answer to how writing for PC games differs from writing for tabletop. McComb is best known for his work on the Planescape setting for Dungeons & Dragons, which led to his position as creative lead on a number of critically acclaimed CRPGs, like Torment: Tides of Numenera – a science fantasy RPG set on Earth around a billion years into the future.

He continues. “What material is the room made of? What does the orc look like? What’s its armour set? What about its weapons? How does it react in these specific situations? What about the pie: what colour is it, how big, what flavour, is it hot or cold? What kind of furniture is in the room? What other exits? This isn’t even an exhaustive list of questions.”

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Minima - Version 1.1.1 available for free

by Hiddenx, 21:22

The retro RPG Minima is available for free here:

Minima

The Land of Miskatonia needs a hero to save it from the evil Faxon and its minions. Can you be that hero? Explore Miskatonia and its settlements, talk to its residents, build up your skills, and finally challenge Faxon in its secret lair.

Minima is an adventure RPG in the style of the older Ultima games (Ultima I, Ultima II, Ultima III, Ultima IV, & Ultima V) as played on the Commodore 64 and 128 computers. Just like the original Ultima games, it includes a world view, enterable towns, and 3D dungeon displays. It also features graphics, sound effects, and music that should help one recollect those classics. More importantly, it is a fully playable (and winnable) game with its own backstory, plot, setting, and characters. It was written for PICO-8 and can be run on Linux, Mac, and MS-Windows. It can also be played through the Web here.

 

Sunday - October 28, 2018

Gloomhaven - Ep.01: Conception

by Silver, 13:00

The developers of the in-development dungeon crawler Gloomhaven are producing a video series that covers the games development. If you would rather read all about it head here.

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Discover the Universe behind the upcoming digital adaptation of Gloomhaven, as the developers walk you through this unique world; learn all about this unforgettable board game adaptation! In Gloomhaven, you play as a team of mercenaries on their own personal quests to go conquer a world of gloomy and wicked decadence. Choose your group members wisely, because in the turmoil of battle you can only rely on your wits, skills and spells to fight your way through the putrid dungeons and forgotten ruins. In this rogue-like dungeon-crawling adaptation of the famous board game, you will journey through terrifying randomly generated dungeons, fight against increasingly horrific and powerful foes…or die trying. Add to your Steam Wishlist now: https://store.steampowered.com/app/78...

Monday - October 22, 2018

Dark Devotion - The Universe, Art & Scenario

by Silver, 10:21

@WorthPlaying This dev diary for Dark Devotion explores the universe, art and scenario behind the game.

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Dark Devotion is an ethereal action-RPG hybrid, an epic tale of religious devotion and redemption at all costs.

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - October 17, 2018

The Witch's House MV - Launches October 31st

by Silver, 11:59

Gematsu reports that The Witch's House MV will be released October 31st on Steam.

Japanese horror RPG The Witch’s House MV launches October 31

The Witch’s House MV, an RPG Maker MV remake of the 2012-released RPG Maker VX Japanese horror RPG The Witch’s House, will launch for PC via Steam on October 31, publisher Dangen Entertainment and developer Fummy announced.

[...]

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Monday - October 15, 2018

Resonance of Fate - 4K/HD Edition

by Silver, 20:26

DSOGaming reports that JRPG Resonance of Fate will get a 4K HD Pack on PC

...
Resonance of Fate 4K/HD Edition will release on October 18th and will be a futuristic JRPG. The game uses the “tri-Attack Battle system”, which involves a mixture of real-time and turn-based controls. During each character’s turn, the player can move around and perform actions, limited by the number of action points and the turn ends when the player attacks or all action points are exhausted.

Sunday - October 14, 2018

XCOM 3 - Everything We Want To See

by Silver, 14:51

GameWatcher wrote about everything they want to see from XCOM 3.

XCOM 3 - New Enemy Types


This should be a given, frankly - but we're not just referring to more enemy types, which XCOM 2 gladly provided. We mean a complete overhaul of enemies, as the old set are getting rather predictable now. Basing XCOM 3 around Terror From The Deep would help a lot with this. We want to be surprised by opponents again, and give the design team a challenge - the soldiers in XCOM 2 were just boring, and the roided-up Sectoids were no fun anymore. Completely new enemies please!

[...]

Monday - October 08, 2018

Spacebourne - Open Space Exploration Game

by Silver, 08:14

Spacebourne is an open space exploration game with RPG elements which has been launched onto Steam Early Access.

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SpaceBourne is a Space Simulation / Arcade / Open World / RPG game.

SpaceBourne's universe has over 100 Solar Systems, over 400 planets and 37 landable Space Stations.

SpaceBourne is designed so the player can have total freedom. In SpaceBourne the player can mine astroids, salvage wrecks, bounty hunt, discover black holes, come accross space anomalies, become a pirate, discover uncharted systems. While following the main storyline, the player can trade, accept side missions, help the races at war with each other and form up a force of his own. In all of these activities the player gets to make choices, he can choose to trade slaves, of start a war against them and end slavery.

In order to accomplish all of this, one needs a good ship. Player character progresses through leveling, acquire new ships, modify the ships, create new and different weapons. ( As of Beta Ver. 5.0, the game has 144 different weapons and the number keeps going up with each update.)

Player Character has active and passive traits. Passive traits ( such as Piloting, Trade, Charisma etc. ) gets better or not according to the playstyle. Active traits on the other hand is left to the player to choose and pick up as the character levels up.

Except the main storyline SpaceBourne's content is randomly generated. Every System is randomly generated at game initialization. This allows for the player to come across different events in every new map. This design choice was made in order to bring replayability to the game and allow the player to encounter different events on same maps.

SpaceBourne includes 4 distinct races with different ships, and different specialties. There are more than 3.000 entities for you to interact.

You can play SpaceBourne with Keyboard & Mouse, Gamepad or Joystick, the game supports Force Feedback.

The Story:

Everything starts on a regular day of July 2029 with the appearance of an Unidentified Flying Objects. That day is the first day of earth's residents meeting their new guests. These guests just wait motionless for a long while... their purpose unclear. In order to be ready for the worst scenerio a committee is assembled by the world's nations, Wolrd Air Defence Platform. One man is chosen to lead this new organisation, a man everyone calls "The Commander".

By February 2030 people start getting sick. This new disease with no cure starts to kill people in a year after its infection. What doctors call HX4, the people call "guest influenza".

At the year 2032 while the world is struggling with the disease, WADP plans an attack against the aliens who are believed to be behind the disease. But they attack first.
While at first heavy casualties are taken, later on under the leadership of the "Commander" great victories start to come. More than 20 enemy ships are destroeyed in the next 3 years.

By 2035, three quartes of the world's population is gone and almost half of the enemy ships are cleared from the skies. While the people await news of a total victory, something shifts the balance... The Commander gets sick.

An emergency meeting is held. The doctors increases all research efforts to no avail. Any passing day bring the inevitable closer for the Commander.
12th of December 2037 it is decided that the Commander is to be frozen until a cure is found. The next day Commander closes his eyes in a sleeping chamber.
When he opens his eyes again, he is in an abandoned space station in Earth's orbit. The end had come for Earth, and he is still sick. He has tons of questions in his head, but no one around to answer.

All he has is a deserted space station with a ship at the hangar, and an infinite universe.

You can watch the introductory video of the newspapers from this link:

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Friday - October 05, 2018

Beneath a Starless Sky - Book on PoE and Infinity Games

by Myrthos, 12:29

David Craddock, who is the Long Reads Editor at Shacknews is working on a book on the making of the Pillars of Eternity franchise and Infinity Engine RPGs. The book will be available for free today at Shacknews.

"Beneath a Starless Sky," is a book on the making of the Pillars of Eternity franchise and Infinity Engine RPGs. I've written the book based on over 40 hours of interviews with developers from Black Isle, BioWare, and Obsidian Entertainment, with Obsidian's full support.

"Beneath a Starless Sky" will be published FOR FREE on Shacknews this Friday, October 5, at 5pm Eastern / 2pm Pacific. It will be accompanied by a 75-minute panel video featuring discussion of RPG design and history, and a 35-minute documentary on the making and launch of Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire this May.

Thursday - October 04, 2018

Eden Falling - Character Creation Video

by Silver, 10:06

@gamingcypher Eden Falling, from Razor Edge Games, is described as a perma-death RPG. The latest demonstration of this game shows off character creation.

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Character Creation Features

  • Character Presets – Choose from a variety of unique pre created characters options
  • In depth and easy to use mouse click and pull customization of facial and body features
  • Color Blend Sub Shade System – Used to create the exact eye shade, hair color, and skin tone of your character
  • Voice Customization – Create a personalized voice for your character through a variety of voice and tone options
  • Choose from an assortment of unique hairstyles
  • From gas masks to dresses choose from a large range of equipment
  • Stat System – Customize a mixture of stats that will influence your abilities and appearance
  • Aging System – Characters will show signs of visible aging as you explore Eden Falling
  • Perma-Death – The wrong decisions will lead to a permanent death for that character
  • Legacy System – Upon Perma-Death pass on abilities learned to a companion and continue the journey
Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - October 02, 2018

Harry Potter - Action RPG Game in Development

by Silver, 09:23

RastaPasta reveals that a Harry Potter RPG is in development.

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Set in the 19th Century (1800's) Wizarding World, this 3rd person open-world action RPG game centers around your character with unique abilities who has eared a late acceptance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. You are a newly arrived 5th year student to Hogwarts that demonstrates a latent gift for magic with a unique ability to track and identify remnants of a pottant ancient power.

Upon arrival, strange events begin to materialize In the Forbidden Forrest and trouble begins o brew within the castle walls. Together with Professor Elezar Fig, you embark on a journey through both familiar and never before seen locations to bring to light the truth behind these mysterious occurrences.

On your quest you will craft potions, master new spells, and discover fantastical beasts. You will battle Dark Wizards, Goblins, and other supernatural enemies and uncover the truth about your destiny - the Fate of the Wizarding World lies in your hands.

FEATURES - Journey to Hogwarts to become one of 8 different Wizard types -Experience Hogwarts, make new friends, uncover new secrets, and change the fate of the Wizarding world. -Experience a new magic system that creates countless possibilities to master magic. -Freely explore the Wizarding World for the first time., Choose your house and friends at Hogwarts, and decide to pursue a path of good or evil. -Create your own witch or wizard, and experience a all new story separate from the books or films

The Ballad Singer - On Steam Early Access

by Silver, 07:08

The GG reported on RPG/Adventure The Ballad Singer which is coming to Steam Early Access.

This will allow you to experience up to 1,700 stories and 40 different endings. Every single development and subplot in your story are completely narrated and illustrated, even the smallest ones. The Ballad Singer is set in the world of Hesperia: a fantastic yet realistic universe, where the laws of science merge with those of magic. Hesperia is a cruel world, merciless on unprepared adventurers. Don’t trust anyone, use your instinct and your knowledge – as this is the only way to survive and to continue your quest.

[...]

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Thanks Farflame!

Monday - October 01, 2018

Arcane Legacy - Announced

by Silver, 14:05

Arcane Legacy is described as a turn-based fantasy tactical game set in Lodmor. Archmages battle against each other to win access to secret spells.

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Arcane Legacy: Fantasy Turn-Based Tactical Game

STORY:

This is Lodmor, the land of the Fathers, the Empire's Core.

The thousand years' war is now a distant memory and few remember the brutality that ravaged the lands before the Advent of the emperor.

To help maintaining the peace, the emperor has established the Judgement of the arcanium, where Champions selected by the Great Houses – the Archmages – battle against each other with powerful enchantment and invocations.

To the victorious House the emperor will grant a request, and the mightiest of the Archmages will have the chance to enter the Wanderer’s Tower, cornucopia of magical knowledge, overflowing with artifacts and ancient relics.

The champions are eager to fight, hoping the arcanium to be in their favour.

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PLANNED GAMEPLAY FEATURES (below list can be expanded in the future) :

- Fight in different environments: every house of the Realm has its own Arena and master its particular School of Magic.
- Select your favourite house from the Realm, select its archmage and build a powerful combat spellbook choosing from more than 50 different powerful spells, servants, potions and scrolls.
- Have fun with many special effects that can potentially change the game: be careful to kill servants that can trigger "Shout of Despair", maximize the use of the "Summoncry", use servants with "Charge" when the opponent is in trouble, let your strong servants take tamage to unlock their "Rage" abilities and much more.
- Combat in an immersive 1vs1 match and select Unranked mode if you just want to have fun, Ranked if you want to climb the leaderboard.
- Earn lots of chivalry titles that will be displayed in game to make your opponent afraid of you!
- Make your strategy during the match: be early aggressive or control the board to unleash powerful magic finishers against the weakened opponent.

Minecraft: Dungeons - Announced

by Silver, 11:13

PC Gamer reports that Mojang have announced Minecraft: Dungeons; which is a multiplayer dungeon-crawler.

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It's called Minecraft: Dungeons and it'll be out in 2019. Not much more than that has been revealed, but here's the official site.

Wednesday - September 26, 2018

Dying Light 2 - Interview

by Silver, 05:03

@PCGamesN An interview with lead designer Tymon Smektala about Dying Light 2 and wildcard factions.

We spoke to Dying Light 2 lead designer Tymon Smektała about the part wildcard factions will play in the game, the challenge of managing the gangs’ complex web of agendas, and how much space we’re going to have to hoon about in vehicles.

Can you tell us a little more about the Untainted?

Tymon Smektała, lead designer: So how it works is that in the world of Dying Light 2 you have few main factions. The Peacekeepers, the Scavengers, and a few more we’re not ready to discuss yet. But there are also smaller groups like the Untainted that can have an impact on the flow of the story to some extent – they’re like wildcards in the story, something unexpected.

So, for example, the Peacekeepers and the Scavengers are fighting for an abandoned swimming pool because it’s a great place for an outpost. The Peacekeepers want to create a training ground there because it’s easy to mop the blood from tiles, while the Scavengers want to start growing plants that they can use to produce fuel – they have this craftsman who understands that there are special types of plants you can use to create biofuel that powers vehicles. The Untainted believe that the way to salvation, the way to solve the problems of the world, is to grow plants that can be used to create drugs.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - September 23, 2018

Guards of the Gate - Now Early Access

by Silver, 22:25

Guards of the Gate is a turn-based RPG that recently went to Steam Early Access.

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Overview

Guards of the Gate is a roguelike RPG game with turn based battles on hexagonal fields. You control a team of heroes aka Guards of the Gate, who are trying to save the world from the evil Dragon Lord.

Choose your heroes
Select 3 heroes and start the adventure. Fight with several enemies, avoid traps on different places while your heroes are leveling up, learn new skills and get equipment. There are 4 chapters with several dungeons which ends with boss fight.
Improve your tactics
Choose talents and skills, and proper items for hero's build. Every hero has unique talents and skills, furthermore some items can affect power of the heroes. Select wisely! Heroes' skills can supplement and strengthen each other.
Be a strategist!
Hexagonal battlefield and unique characters make able to save the worst situation with the right choices, or lose with a bad decision from a winning position.

Saturday - September 22, 2018

Fimbul - Blends History and Mythology

by Silver, 23:36

Cog Connected previewed a new action adventure RPG called Fimbul.

Fimbul Preview

Norse mythology is always a great subject to base a video game around – we all can name at least one game that uses this background as a great point to build a world off of – but indie developer Zaxis went one step further in the creation of their upcoming title Fimbul, crafting a unique blend of history and mythos in a third person action RPG akin to the Dungeon Siege or Baldurs Gate series.

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Thanks Farflame!

Warhammer: Chaosbane - Rise of Chaos Trailer

by Silver, 15:05

A new trailer for Warhammer: Chaosbane called 'Rise of Chaos'.

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Rally under the banner of Magnus the Pious, as you and your friends, become the bane of Chaos. Battle across the Old World in the first Hack N' Slash set in the Fantasy Battles universe, Warhammer: Chaosbane.

Thanks Farflame!

Friday - September 21, 2018

Starflight 3 - Chris Taylor Interview

by Silver, 23:18

Starflight 3 has entered its final week of crowdfunding. The latest update shares an interview with Chris Taylor about Starflight.

Final Week!


The Home Stretch!

This is it, folks! We’re six days out and we have a long way to go to reach our goal. It’s not looking good for our friends at Interstel but crazier things than an 11th hour funding win have happened! We’re doing our best to get the word out and we really appreciate the support, help and love you’ve shown for one of our favorite games of all time!

Chris Taylor Talks Starflight

For a little inspiration we got to catch up with Chris Taylor. Chris is an industry legend having designed some of great games including Dungeon Siege and Total Annihilation. Chris took some time to talk about what Starflight gave to him early on in his gaming journey!

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Thanks so much for your support! And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Instagram (@Starflightgame)!

Sincerely,

The Starflight 3 Team

Thursday - September 20, 2018

Tales of Vesperia Definitive Edition - New Video

by Silver, 14:35

@Wccftech Some new video for Tales of Vesperia Definitive Edition which showcases Patty.

New gameplay footage is now available for Tales of Vesperia Definitive Edition, the upcoming remaster of one of the best entries in Bandai Namco’s JRPG series.

The new footage, which can be checked out below, showcases a mix of old and new content. The new footage is also the first time we are able to listen to Patty’s English voice, which is quite faithful to the Japanese one.

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Tuesday - September 18, 2018

General News - A book about The Story of Ultima

by Myrthos, 21:26

A book about the story of Ultima, Origin and Garriott, named Through the Moongate, is currently on Kickstarter for the final steps of its release.

If you have played a computer role-playing game (CRPG), chances are Ultima played a part in its inspiration. Created by visionary Richard Garriott, and produced by his company Origin Systems, Inc., Ultima is one of the most important and influential CRPG series in the world. Through the Moongate illuminates the path of the Ultima games' history and the creative people behind this landmark series. It also covers some of Origin's other games, especially Wing Commander, and touches on several contemporary titles. Many of these tales have never before been told.

...

As I traced the paths of the Ultima games and those who worked for Origin Systems, I began to realize the multitude of games that would not be possible without the influence of Richard Garriott, Origin Systems, and Ultima series upon the industry. To ensure their place in history, I've included special coverage of the Wing Commander and Ultima Underworld series, plus significant CRPGs of the era such as Star Trek (PDP), Empire and other PLATO games, Escape! and RobotWar by Silas Warner, Temple of Apshai, Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord, Wizardry II: The Knight of Diamonds, Escape from Mt. Drash, Moebius: The Orb of Celestial Harmony, Autoduel, Ogre, 2400 A.D., Questron, Tales of the Unknown: Volume I, Wizadore, Dungeon Master, Times of Lore, The Black Onyx, Dragon Quest, and Xanadu.

Saturday - September 15, 2018

General News - 7 RPGs with Old-School Combat

by Silver, 12:23

Twinfinite lists 7 RPGs with old-school combat.

Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius

In truth there are quite a few Final Fantasy mobile games that have achieved huge success; Mobius Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy Record Keeper, Dissidia Final Fantasy: Opera Omnia, and most of all, Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius.

As of April 2018, Brave Exvius has hit 30 million downloads, no small feat for any mobile game, and it continues to enjoy an active user base. Brave Exvius sports an original story and turn-based combat that has you collecting characters from across the Final Fantasy universe. There have been collaborations with other Square Enix games like Just Cause, Deus Ex, and Valkyrie Profile and even a few collaboration out of left field like Ariana Grande. The bite-sized gameplay of Brave Exvius works perfectly for quick turn-based battles. Combat is a little simplified from what a normal RPG would have, but the hardboiled nostalgia of Brave Exvius works well alongside a combat system designed to be quick.

Thanks Farflame!

Torchlight Frontiers - PAX West Gameplay

by Silver, 12:19

A gameplay video for Torchlight Frontiers from PAX West.

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Join Tyler (Echtra's Product Lead) and Jared (Perfect World's Community Manager) as they feature the Gamescom / PAX West demo of Torchlight Frontiers!

Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - September 13, 2018

Starflight 3 - Updates

by Silver, 10:29

A new update for Starflight 3 announces an interview that was conducted on Reddit and another update announces addons.

You Spoke and We Listened!

We’ve been keeping an eye in the comments section, reading every tweet and basically scouring the internet for what folks are saying. And we think you could use some options! So, today we posted 3 new add-ons for people who want to add some of the sweet backer-exclusive items to their pledge. Check em out!

[...]

Greg’s Doing a Reddit AMA This Thursday! Limited Run Fulfilling Box Copies!


Join our AMA This Thursday!

This Thursday, September 13th at 11AM Pacific, Greg will be doing an AMA on Reddit! Got some burning Starflight questions that have haunted you since childhood? Want some sort of hint to Starflight 3’s story? Curious about whatever happened to the Red Herring? This Thursday is your time!

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Wednesday - September 12, 2018

Liberty Prime - Early Access September 21st

by Silver, 05:38

Liberty Prime is a hack and slash RPG releasing onto Steam Early Access September 21st.

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Liberty Prime is a beautifully rendered ARPG thanks to the Unreal Engine technology. Join this dynamic hack’n’slash and its fast-paced combat based on elemental powers. There are no limits to character build, you can choose your path as you level-up and play your character the way you want. Dodge, dash, hack, slash, and unleash fury on your foes!

The environment will react to your actions and the elemental based spells you might use to vanquish your enemies. Soon, co-op will be added, and players will be able to combine spells to create chain reactions, in order to overcome greater challenges.

You’re a former captain of mercenary band forced to liberate 13 nations of the Drotus Empire in order to regain the lost "Glory". Your path will lead you on an epic and unexpected adventure with your companion, as you wander in this shattered world. Join the dark journey and experience overwhelming enemy encounters, diabolical hazards, and the unrelenting challenges.

Key Features

  • Explore the Apocalyptic Fantasy World – Take a hero's journey through deserted Medieval World settings crafted in stunning, realistic, 3D detail
  • Action-Packed Battles – Players will switch between elemental powers in battle against hordes of enemies and challenging bosses across a variety of open field maps. The tight controls and incredibly fluid combat are simple to learn for newcomers while offering plenty of depth for more experienced action gamers. Players can perform high-speed battle actions combining light and heavy attacks while evading enemies with speed and style.
  • A labyrinth of monsters & bosses – Immerse yourself into mind-bending environments filled with new twisted monsters and deadly bosses over more than 100
  • Elements of an RPG – Players will obtain a variety of items and runes over 200, manage inventory, level up in battle and customize a loadout and status that caters to their playstyle.
  • Procedurally Generated Enemies – Larger amounts of content, and randomness for less predictable gameplay. If the enemy is too hard for your current build? Come back to challenge the different enemies.
  • Replay Value – The game's not over until you say it is. You can replay the level you have already cleared to build your even character further without consistently encountering the same enemies.
  • Complex AI – All the enemies have various skills and patterns. Defeating a Boss is a real phased challenge you will only defeat with strategy.
  • Free character development – No character build limitation. You can develop any elemental powers that suits your playstyle and ability to switch between them.

Tuesday - September 11, 2018

Tales of Vesperia - Launches January 2019

by Silver, 07:22

TechQuila reports that Tales of Verperia: Definitive Edition launches January 2019.

Bandai Namco announced that Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition will launch for the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC and Nintendo Switch on the 11th of January, 2019 in the Americas and Europe.

Below is a teaser image of the special edition that will be available at launch:

[...]

Thanks trespasser!

Monday - September 10, 2018

Abandon Ship - Big Pirate Patch

by Silver, 00:39

@Rock Paper Shotgun Abandon Ship has received a hefty patch which introduces sea forts, shady outposts and 'wanted' levels.

FTL-but-pirates roguelike Abandon Ship just sailed over the edge of its own world. A big update has added sea forts and floating outposts to the game of high seas and low life, along with a bunch of other stuff. There are new weapons, a bigger crew size, trade routes to raid, and the added danger of being marked as “wanted”, leading to bounty hunters being dispatched to chase you down. In other words, you’re going to be looking at the world as a chance for loot. Developers Fireblade Software are calling it the “Perilous Bounty” update, instead of the “Pirate’s Eye Patch”. The fools.

[...]

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Thanks Farflame!

Monday - September 03, 2018

Xoreos - New Update

by Silver, 10:05

rjshae noticed that Xoreos has received an update. Xoreos is an open-source reimplementation of the BioWare Aurora Engine which includes games like Neverwinter Nights, Dragon Age and Knights of the Old Republic.

xoreos 0.0.5 “Dawn Star” Released

Fashionably (?) late, but still finally there, a new release of xoreos arrives! xoreos 0.0.5, nicknamed “Dawn Star”, coming with xoreos, xoreos-tools and for the first time, Phaethon, an in-progress graphical resource explorer.

A lot has happened in the last two years. A busy real life unfortunately made me miss the yearly “Not-Thanksgiving” progress report last year…so this here will be a kind of combination release post and progress report. Buckle up, this will be a long one. If you’re only interested in the short release notes, move on to the GitHub release pages linked above and again at the bottom of the post. Cool? Cool.

So, continuing from the last progress report in 2016, what exactly has happened?

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Sunday - September 02, 2018

Phantom Brigade - Teaser Trailer

by Silver, 13:59

Phantom Brigade has a new teaser trailer.

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Phantom Brigade is a cinematic turn-based mech tactics game, with innovative combat.

Wishlist now on Steam!: https://store.steampowered.com/app/553540/Phantom_Brigade/

Thursday - August 30, 2018

Lucah: Born of a Dream - Released

by Silver, 14:45

Lucah: Born of a Dream was released recently on Steam and Itch.io. IndieGames reported on it positively, liking its vivid art.

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Lucah's inner demons have this nasty tendency to be real, physical things that can hurt the young boy, and his only means of getting rid of them is by journeying into his dreams and lifting the curse himself. These beasts aren't exactly inclined to let this happen, so you'll need to equip several attacks, creating your own array of combos to use on these dangerous visions. You can further customize yourself by making friends with familiars you meet throughout the game to borrow their magic, as well as tack on some special movement styles like slow-mo dodges, allowing you to create a unique battle style.

[...]

Opinion - Games Are Not Art

by Silver, 11:51

Niche Gamer shared their opinion on why games are not art and had a bit to say about RPGs as example.

...
To put it bluntly without all the hyperbole and analogies, the “new gaming media” now had absolute power to influence the hobby in a way that would have made Jack Thompson cackle with delight.

They were the sole influencers now, setting up vast, interconnected “Web 2.0” communities that steered discussions in ways they wanted that only benefited them and their interests.

They could destroy a developer, attempt to squash a game’s success, and dig up dirt on anyone who went against their interests, and nobody had any kind of power or oversight to keep them in check. Well, that is, until GamerGate happened and became that oversight. They didn’t like that.

Getting back on track though, the “games are art” idea had another even worse effect on the industry, and that was the dumbing down of the hobby – most noticeably in the RPG genre.

[...]

Tuesday - August 28, 2018

Age of Gladiators II: Rome - Released

by Silver, 21:20

Age of Gladiators II: Rome released recently on Steam.

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Age of Gladiators II: Rome is a single-player strategy game set in the twilight of the ancient Roman Republic; a violent and unpredictable time when gladiatorial games were nearing the height of their popularity.

Hire scouts to scour the continent for potential prospects – once you have recruited your gladiators, you will need to manage their morale and personality while equipping them for battle. Recruit support staff, upgrade your gladiator school, collect bounties, research technologies, partake in side missions, and manage the wealth and reputation of your ludus as it grows each day.

As your fighters win battles and increase in level, it will be up to you to decide how to focus their abilities by spending attribute, weapons, and expertise points. Compete, trade, and interact with other in-game owners as you advance through various cities of the empire before achieving enough fame to compete in the grand coliseum of Rome herself.

Build your story. Build your empire.

Features:

  • Control your gladiators with the new 3D isometric turn-based combat system, where fights can have hundreds of different outcomes. Utilize different combat styles and abilities – employ unique ethnic abilities, salves that increase physical stats, and special equipment such as bandages, stim salts, and more.
  • Construct a ludus to your exact specifications in order to maximize the efficiency of your operation. Hospitals, sparring mats, barracks, armories, workshops, and more.
  • Gladiators are born with their own dynamically generated physical attributes, classes, and personalities. It is up to you to shape your gladiator into the most proficient killing machine possible.
  • As your gladiators level up, they gain points to spend on their attributes, weapons training, and expertise. Expertise allows you to build and customize your fighter according to their appropriate strengths. Weapons training allows you to specialize your gladiator with a specific weapon. The physicality of your gladiators will increase or decrease with age, depending on if they are in their prime or declining.
  • Hire trainers to help your gladiators level faster, doctors to keep them healthy, scouts to find new fighters, and blacksmiths to improve weapons and armor.
  • Manage your gladiators carefully – their morale, greed, injuries, fatigue, weapons training, and more must be taken into account before sending them to battle.
  • As your gladiators gain glory from battle, they will become more widely recognized and adored by the crowds. Win enough battles and they may even get voted into the pantheon of heroes after they retire (or die).
  • Become a mogul outside of the arena. Purchase property for fame or businesses through which to further increase your fame across the empire.
  • Rob caravans, guard wealthy land owners, assassinate your debt holders and more with the proactive mission system. Increase the odds of success by sending reliable gladiators on the mission as well. Lawfully aligned gladiators will only partake lawful missions, while criminally-inclined gladiators will assist in unlawful activities.
  • Engage in five different branches of research: combat, medical, weapons, armor, and scouting.
  • Search for deals on weapons, armor, special equipment, and loans on the marketplace.
  • Strive to become the wealthiest individual in the Roman empire. There are quick and underhanded ways to make money, but your reputation and fighter’s morale may suffer as a result.
  • Receive taunting messages from opposing bosses as well as various other messages from your fighters, staff members, and different characters as you progress through the game.
  • Rename your gladiators in order to increase your attachment toward them.
  • Bet for or against your gladiator based on the odds generated by bookmakers in-game.
  • Fight purses and betting is based on the hype associated with each match. The greater the hype, the more lucrative the fight purse and betting market will be.
  • Each game is dynamically generated and different each time.

Starflight 3 - Crowdfunding Campaign Begins!

by Silver, 20:10

@PC Gamer The crowd-funding campaign for Starflight 3 has started today on Fig with a goal of 800K.

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...

Vaughn said he's been poking at Johnson to return to the series for years now—Starflight 2 is his "number-one game of all time"—but it's only now that their workloads have allowed them to get together on it. And while these old-time game resurrections are sometimes hamstrung by hassles over rights and ownership, getting the green light for Starflight 3 was no problem at all: Rod McConnell, another designer and programmer on the original Starflight, owns the property and was happy to see the project go ahead. 

"I called him up and said, 'Hey, we want to do this, would that be cool?' And he just laughed and said, 'Haha, you are Starflight, of course, do whatever you want—it's yours'," Johnson said. McConnell still owns the Starflight property, but getting the Starflight 3 ducks in a row was "super, super-easy."

[...]

Monday - August 27, 2018

Last Epoch - Alpha Available

by Silver, 04:42

@OnlySP The Alpha for Last Epoch is now available.

Developed by Dallas-based Eleventh Hour Games, Last Epoch’s Alpha build is now available for Elder tier and higher Kickstarter backers. Several more supporter tiers are available to get either a preorder of the full game, Alpha access, and cosmetic upgrades including Primordial Turtle pets and the Ancient Portal skin.

Last Epoch tasks players with an open-ended quest through time to prevent their world of Eterra from being swallowed by The Void. As the Traveler, players must hop-scotch across the history of Eterra all while learning the origins of, and how to prevent the havoc already wrought by, The Void.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - August 26, 2018

The Last Remnant - Being Delisted on Steam

by Silver, 14:31

The Last Remnant will become unavailable on Steam as it is being delisted. You have until September 4th to purchase if you are from NA or EU.

Important announcement regarding The Last Remnant

25 AUGUST - SUNILG
Hi everyone,

We will soon be discontinuing digital and physical sales of The Last Remnant on PC.

Sales will cease at the times below:-

Japan region: Wednesday 5th September, approximately 2:00 (JST)
NA region: Tuesday 4th September, approximately 10:00(PDT)
EU region: Tuesday 4th September, approximately 17:00(GMT)

Anyone already owning the game will still be able to play as per usual.

Thanks to everyone who's adventured with the Mitras, Yamas, Qsitis and Sovanis!

Thanks Couchpotato!

Wednesday - August 22, 2018

Desperados 3 - Announced

by Silver, 05:52

@PCGamesN Desperados 3 has been announced by Mimimi.

Characters old and new

The Desperados games stood apart from the Commandos series by putting its characters in the limelight – while Commandos had a varied cast of heroes, you never learned much about who they were. Desperados, on the other hand, told the story of gunslinger Cooper, and the likes of explosives expert Sam Williams, safecracker physician Doc McCoy, and gambler Kate O’Hara.

Desperados 3 won’t bring them all back, but Cooper will, at least, be on your team once again. He returns with his six shooter, silent throwing knives, and the classic coin flip – a tool to lure guards away from their post.

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Thanks porcozaur!

Monday - August 20, 2018

Bloody Spell - Action RPG

by Silver, 13:24

@DSOGaming Bloody Spell is an action RPG which will release for PC in 2019.

Chinese studio Yi Long Games is currently working on a new action RPG, called Bloody Spell, and released a new gameplay teaser trailer for it. While we don’t have enough information about this game, we do know that it will be released initially on the PC and that the team targets a 2019 release date.

[...]

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Sunday - August 19, 2018

Dying Light 2 - Choices and the Open World

by Silver, 15:35

Games Industry talked to Techland's Adrian Ciszewski regarding Dying Light 2 and detailed how the upcoming 'narrative sandbox' enables players to manipulate a zombie-filled city.

"You can learn more by exploring the world, talking with people, reading stuff - there are a lot of different options when it comes to learning those systems."

Learning to manipulate Dying Light 2's various factions and gameplay systems also opens up new possibilities for players to tackle situations in different ways. Ciszewski describes a castle filled with hardened foes, very difficult for a starting player to contend with. But learn their motives and trigger a particular conflict on the other side of the city and they will redeploy their troops, lowering the security at the castle and making it possible to sneak in quietly.

"That's the shortcut you made, because you understand the rules of the world," says Ciszewski. "Otherwise you need to level up your character, do certain side quests, learn new skills and eventually kill all the guys in the castle. But that's up to you."

[...]

Friday - August 17, 2018

State of Mind - Review Roundup

by Silver, 09:29

Cyberpunk adventure game State of Mind has been released recently.

Comicbook: 4/5

But I will tell you why it’s so excellent. For starters, the writing is simply of considerable quality, which isn’t very surprising when you consider Martin Gantefohr is the pen behind it. Many adventure games are riddled with filler and congested with forgettable and inconsequential conversations. But I never felt this was an issue in State of Mind. Almost everything I read or listen to felt like it served another narrative facet: whether world-building, character development, or enriching the story. And it's all helped along with excellent pacing, and a story that takes its time to unveil itself, but also is mindful of your time.

[...]

Well Played 8.5/10

Despite the incessant gushing over the story this game tells and the topics it delves into, I do have a couple issues with State of Mind. The first would be that the game doesn’t really have any indicator of your current objective, meaning it is easy to end up cluelessly meandering around the areas available to you, interacting with everything in the hope of pushing the story forward. It can be argued that not explicitly telling me where to go encouraged me to interact with things I may have otherwise avoided, but it does feel like a small oversight that could easily be alleviated by adding a current objective indicator. It also needs to be said that controlling your character can sometimes be a bit odd and finicky, but this only occurs in small instances, mainly when you’re stuck in a narrow area.

[...]

PSU 8/10

Likewise, the level of challenge that players will encounter in State of Mind is hardly prohibitive. Puzzles, such as they are, are immensely straightforward affairs and hardly require either previous genre experience or a sky-high IQ to solve, lending credence to the fact that State of Decay is more concerned with players completing the narrative journey more than anything else.

[...]

BagoGames 7/10

State of Mind is more about the journey than the destination. Soaking in the atmosphere and passively accepting certain absurd plot developments is key to appreciating the game for what it is. It may have some baggage, but at the end of the day, it’ll keep you invested in Richard and Adam’s plight.

[...]

Invision Community 8/10

While State of Mind doesn’t have incredible, photorealistic graphics or fast-paced gameplay, it offers an interesting and engaging story, with fascinating characters and beautiful stages. At £25.99 at full price (10% off until August 16th) I would recommend State of Mind to anyone looking for a new, unique story game. State of Mind will release on PS4, XBox One, PC and Switch on August 15th.

Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - August 16, 2018

Barbearian - Hack and Slash

by Silver, 14:57

Barbearian is a hack 'n' slash RPG reviewed by PC Invasion featuring a bear.

Some of my most favorite video games don’t fit into any one specific genre. I have fond memories of arcade shooters like Total Carnage and even strategy games like Lemmings. Barbearian takes tidbits from a few genres, including the games mentioned, to create an isometric hack’n’slash with a Warriors feel. There are also light RTS and bullet hell elements to round out this hand-drawn adventure.

[...]

Torchlight Frontiers - Dev Diary #1

by Silver, 13:12

@PC Gamer The first development diary for Torchlight Frontiers introduces Echtra Games.

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“We felt like there was a lot more to do with the Torchlight universe,” he says.

After providing a tour of Echtra’s new studio, the video goes on to provide more detail about Torchlight Frontiers, which has attracted some scepticism due to it being described as a Torchlight MMO. Schaefer emphasises that although Torchlight Frontiers does take place in a shared world, it’s not going to adopt the mechanics of a typical MMO.

[...]

Tuesday - August 14, 2018

Wildermyth - Character Driven Tactical RPG

by Silver, 13:18

Wildermyth is described as a character-driven, procedurally-generated tactical RPG. You lead a band of unique heroes as they grow from reluctant farmers into legendary fighters.

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About This Game

The Yondering Lands are wild, filled with beauty and magic, but also rife with threats that lurk and muster. Meet your heroes before they are anyone, and grow them into a roster of legends who shape the course of their own Yondering, and the worlds that come after. Forge new stories in Wildermyth where any tale has the chance to live forever.

Bring Your Adventuring Shoes

  • Explore the wilderness, claim mysterious sites, and fight back against an oppressive enemy.

  • Thrive in tactical turn-based combat with deep and surprising advancement opportunities.

  • Invest in the stories of heroes through dialogue-rich events, relationships, and personal quests.


From Longshot to Legend

  • Meet dynamic characters, all generated with life histories and personalities.

  • Guide these heroes as they enjoy triumph and love, or as they endure rivalry and loss.

  • Preserve the memory of your favorite heroes to live on as legends, and join your story again.


Unique as a Thing That's Just Very Unique

  • Take advantage of procedurally generated maps, characters, and challenges, to tell memorable stories.

  • Choose to let defeated characters die in a deed of epic heroism, or live to fight on.

  • Evolve your plans and strategies as unpredictable moments alter your world.

Opinion - Quality over Quantity

by Silver, 00:44

NBC News argues that games don't need to be long to be worthwhile.

The debate about the length of games has been around almost as long as the games themselves. Before save files and more powerful consoles, gametime was artificially lengthened by repetitive, difficult obstacles that required perfect timing and memorization. By the mid-90s, longer games were shipping on multiple discs to accommodate the lengthy narratives. With every passing console generation, advances in technology allowed for bigger, longer, more epic adventures. A user could easily spend more than 100 hours in the nuclear wastelands of the “Fallout” series or finding shrines in “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.”

“Adding in filler or repetitive content in order to hit a certain playtime was a practice I didn't love from the big games I'd worked on,” said Sam Barlow, writer and director of the 2015 indie hit “Her Story.” Instead, he wanted to make an experimental game that was approachable, accessible, and free of unnecessary fluff.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Monday - August 13, 2018

Let It Die - Coming to PC

by Silver, 02:22

@PC Gamer Let It Die is a hack and slash game that originally released on the PS4 and is now coming to PC sometime in Autumn.

You're tasked with climbing a tower packed with monsters and traps, starting off with no armour or weapons and gradually building a powerful character. The focus is melee combat, but you'll also grab flamethrowers, crossbows and other projectile weapons.

[...]

Friday - August 10, 2018

Deiland - Released

by Silver, 15:52

Deiland is an adventure RPG that has been released on Steam today.

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Deiland is a single-player adventure RPG with several sandbox elements, such as farming, crafting, and building.
Put on the mantle of the Little Prince of Deiland and rule over your own planet!

Tend Deiland
Your planet is your home, turn it into a unique and special place. Improve your skills, craft tools, cook delicious food, brew potions, and create many more items that you can manage and trade.

Enjoy the story
12 available characters and over 100 quests. Your little planet will attract lots of neighboring merchants wishing to trade materials and rare ingredients.

Play and relax
Smooth and cute graphics as well as a relaxing soundtrack to ease up the bustling everyday routine. Experience the nature's versatility in the form of storms, hurricane winds, Aurora Borealis, meteor showers, and shooting stars.

Thursday - August 09, 2018

Torchlight Frontiers - Announcement Trailer

by Silver, 14:44

A new hack and slash game has been announced called Torchlight Frontiers.

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REKINDLE THE FLAME IN 2019!

www.torchlightfrontiers.com

Torchlight Frontiers combines the heart of the beloved Torchlight series with a shared, persistent and dynamically generated world. In true Torchlight style, players will team up with friends and devoted pets to hack and slack their way through a vibrant world, discover ancient ruins of lost civilizations and brave dungeons filled with riches and dangerous creatures.

Monday - August 06, 2018

General News - 10 Best Story Rich Games

by Myrthos, 13:05

Here is a list of the 10 best story-rich games, put together by Techquilla. You might have a personal list that is different from this one.

BioShock Infinite

Ken Lavigne’s BioShock Infinite is one of the most popular story-driven games out there. The game follows gun-for-hire and brute Booker de Wit who supposedly owes some dangerous people a lot of money. Now he’s been given a chance to clear all his dues and perhaps even redeem himself of his past sins.

Booker is send to the floating city of Columbia which is ruled by one Father Comstock, who manipulates people into following him in the name of religion. Booker’s objective is to abduct Comstock’s daughter Elizabeth and take her back to New York with him. However this simple task turns out to be far more complicated than he initially anticipated.

Persona 5 - Editorial

by Myrthos, 12:17

Indian Noob has a write-up on the JRPG Persona 5.

As a video game journalist I am supposed to nitpick in otherwise entertaining games. On another note did you know that you cannot record gameplay or take Screenshots while playing Persona 5. Crazy right?

Anyways Persona 5 is all over the place.

Everything it does is near perfect. The story is great. The characters are cool. The gameplay mechanics are robust and well balanced. The Loading Times are insanely good for an RPG (I mean impressive level good). It has that sweet spot between too less and too many places to explore and it offers romantic relationships with multiple characters.

Great right? But then why is it so schizophrenic?

One day you will get 3 opportunities to work on your relationships or to hone your skills. But it could be followed by a week of pre-decided cutscenes that will have you doing nothing but going to sleep at the end of the day. Why?

Sometimes the cut-scenes are Anime and fully voiced. Other times they are in-engine but voiced. But mostly they are in-engine and not voiced. Why?

Sometimes you can rank up your relationship with other NPCs by 4-5 points in 1 week, sometimes it doesn't rank up even after 3-4 meetings with them. Why?

The thing is Persona 5 is impossible to plan. You don't know what the next day is going to bring. If you would be able to sit on the subway, or if you would be getting another request from the NPC to visit you if you say no right now.

Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin - New Trailer

by Silver, 10:04

DSOGaming reports on action RPG Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin, which has a new trailer.

Edelweiss has released a new trailer for its upcoming action RPG that combines side-scrolling action with deep crafting and farming simulation, called Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin.

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Moonfall Ultimate - Side-Scrolling Action RPG

by Silver, 06:56

Porcozaur noticed Moonfall Ultimate, which is a side-scrolling action RPG due 4th September.

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Moonfall: Ultimate is the latest addition to our 2D side-scroller dungeoneering rpg series. Published in cooperation with Wales Interactive it builds upon the hand-painted fantasy world with original soundtrack of Moonfall with exciting new features.

You are brought back into the world of Terra Nihil, to defend The Empire and its mysterious resource of Lunarium from the threat of Savages, striking from the edges of The Empire borders.

Choose your own playstyle from a roster of 3 different classes, each with specific, active and passive abilities. Bulky Vanguard, agile Shadow or mysterious Elementalist. Streamlined fight-loot-upgrade system, you will be progressing in no time through the span of 13 campaign levels and an Endless mode of different enemy types, difficulties, classes and abilities.

    Features:

  • The all wanted local multiplayer for up to 2 players.
  • Endless mode for both single and multiplayer experience!
  • Interface optimization
  • Combat tweaks
  • Full Console and Linux support
  • And everything else you’ve loved on previous versions of Moonfall! Such as hand-painted graphic style, original soundtrack and immersive story.

 Experience your adventures within The Empire alone or with your friends! Moonfall Ultimate offers co-op campaign and endless modes as well as unique combat mechanics with compact interface for smooth gameplay experience. Start your journey on Steam,PS4, XBox and Switch from 4th of September 2018.

Saturday - August 04, 2018

Project Shore - Crucible of Blood

by Silver, 22:21

Project Shore: Crucible of Blood is described as a single player tactical RPG in a low fantasy medieval setting.

Project Shore (working title) is a single player tactical RPG in a low fantasy medieval setting, currently in development using Unreal Engine 4 for Windows PC platforms. You play as a newly-made leader of a mercenary company after an assignment gone wrong. Having barely escaped from a deadly encounter with a friend-turned-backstabber, and then another one with an unknown otherwordly force, you need to lead what is left of your squad through the times of tumult while searching for hidden truth of what had really transpired to you.

Game features

  • Original combat system supporting scalable battles ranging from basic 1v1 encounters to massive skirmishes with dozens of characters participating
  • Indirect control: instead of micromanaging each character, give orders and units will automatically assess what ability to use depending on the situation
  • Adaptive character advancement system: characters get better and learn new skills depending on what they do in combat
  • Squad customization: you have full control on what characters you send into battle and what equipment and abilities they will have at their disposal
  • Event driven storytelling with emphasis on player choice: choose your friends and choose your battles. Everything you do in-game advances time and affects the world

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Thanks rjshae!

Gloomhaven - Digital Game Adaptation Announced for PC

by Silver, 09:00

@IGN Gloomhaven is a very popular board game which is now getting a video game adaptation. There are screenshots at the link provided and a Steam page.

Gloomhaven, one of the best board games around right now and the top rated board game of all time on BoardGameGeek, is getting a video game adaptation.

Announced at Gen Con 2018, developer Asmodee Digital said that it won’t be trying to make a direct digital translation of the board game, but an actual adaptation. They are working directly with Gloomhaven creator Isaac Childres as part of that.

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Thursday - August 02, 2018

Noahmund - Released

by Silver, 13:33

@Techraptor Noahmund is a strategy RPG released on Steam.

Strategy RPG Noahmund will be released for Steam on August 2nd.

The game was originally a Kickstarter project and was successfully funded via the crowdfunding platform in May 2017. Shortly thereafter, Noahmund was accepted into the Square Enix Collective, a curated collection of indie games put together by Square Enix.

To commemorate the release date of Noahmund, developer Estudio Ábrego released a new trailer on its official YouTube account. You can check out the trailer here:

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Wednesday - August 01, 2018

Radiant One - Released

by Silver, 02:12

Radiant One is an RPG adventure with mystical elements that released yesterday on Steam.

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About This Game

A story of awakening


Radiant One is an illusory, story-driven adventure with mystical elements.

Trying to escape from boring life and social media, one day Daniel found a mysterious book about lucid dreams. Very quickly he was able to do incredible things, create amazing worlds and fly during sleep until one day his dreams fell under the power of something inexplicable, something terrible conceived by the Universe itself… Help Daniel survive, pass the test and get enlightenment.

Radiant One inspired by minimalist 3D design, is a unique, hand-crafted world of Daniel to explore. It’s designed to be easy for everyone to pick up, enjoy and complete.

Sunday - July 29, 2018

Phantom Brigade - Steam Page Up

by Silver, 14:14

@Retcon Raider Phantom Brigade is a turn-based, tactical RPG, focusing on in-depth customization and player driven stories, which now has a Steam page.

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About This Game

Phantom Brigade is a Turn-Based, Tactical RPG, focusing on in-depth customization and player driven stories. As the last surviving squad of Mech pilots, you must capture enemy equipment and facilities to level the playing field. Outnumbered and out-gunned, lead The Brigade through a desperate campaign to retake their war-torn homeland.

  • Strategy • Make high-level tactical decisions on the world map, manage your base, and decide how to apply your limited resources.
  • Tactical combat • Take command of your squad in a varied selection of missions ranging from sabotage of enemy equipment, infiltration of the high tech facilities, convoy ambushes and challenging outpost onslaughts.
  • Customization • The game features a rich customization system, allowing you to tweak every performance metric, replace all equipment and access a wealth of cosmetic options. Make your squad visually striking and ready to face any challenge.
  • Destructible environments • It's not a proper game about walking tanks if you can't crush some buildings. So we give you that opportunity. Our tech allows every square meter of every scene to be destroyed. Blow up the enemy cover, and collapse buildings.

Saturday - July 28, 2018

Rising Lords - Announced

by Silver, 12:10

Rising Lords is a medieval turn-based tactical strategy game with board game elements, set for 2019.

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Rising Lords

Rising Lords is a medieval turn-based strategy game with card and board game elements. Send your serfs to fight and die in your name... or let them prosper, and use them to your advantage!

Collect taxes and resources. Dictate rations and field work. Forge weapons, reshape the battlefield, raise armies, and build mighty fortified cities. Help your people become knights, or dump them on a battlefield far away, but be careful: even the most humble peasants will revolt eventually…

In addition to its campaign mode, Rising Lords features robust multiplayer functionality. Play a quick game, or settle in for an evening or more. Play mind games with your friends with Rising Lords’ advanced social interactivity, and let them pay for their insolence in questioning your right to rule!

Features
Find the perfect balance - juggle production, resource gathering, diplomacy and treason, tax and rations - all vital in the success of your provinces
Strategic battles - besiege your enemy’s cities to starve them out, go all-out attack, or wait for them to come to you
Up to 4-player simultaneous multiplayer - no need to wait for each individual player to take their turn
The psychology of war - Play mind games with your opponents with advanced social interactions
Subtle variables - Morale, terrain and fortifications have a huge impact on battle, and the tide can turn quickly
Customisation - Tailor your leader’s look and skills, and craft your perfect cities and troops
Risks and opportunities - React to figures that visit your province. Find ways to take advantage, and work quickly to eliminate threats!
Take your pick - React to 50 different events and collect unique cards to surprise your enemy!

Adeptus Titanicus Dominus - Interview with Developer

by Silver, 11:39

Adeptus Titanicus Dominus is currently under development on Steam Early Access. One of the developers was interviewed by Vibrid about what they are currently working on.

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ATD discord: https://discord.gg/KEPSX36

Hope you Enjoyed!!

Leave any thoughts or questions in the comments!

Adeptus Titanicus: Dominus, the 3D turn-based strategy PC game adaptation of Games Workshop's Titan Legions tabletop game, puts you in control of the greatest weapons available to the Imperium of Man, the mighty Titans of the Adeptus Titanicus!

Thursday - July 26, 2018

Kingdoms of the Dump - Announced

by Silver, 14:20

Gamewatcher reports that JRPG Kingdoms of the Dump has been announced.

There is no doubting the fact that good-old JRPG titles have a place among the classics of the genre. Similarly, there's no doubting the fact that, perhaps, it is time to iterate on the winning formula and come up with something new and even a tiny bit different. This is where Kingdoms of the Dump comes in.

Kingdoms of the Dump is an upcoming RPG set in the Lands of Fill, where players will take control over a trashcan knight in the making - Dustin Binsley - and make an attempt at helping him in saving the Five and Half Kingdoms of the Dump. The game is about trash, if you haven't quite nailed that down just yet.

[...]

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MechCorp - XCOM/FTL Hybrid Release Date

by Silver, 14:14

Gamewatcher reports on MechCorp, which is being described as an XCOM/FTL hybrid, and which will be releasing 2nd of August on Steam.

MechCorp is what happens when a single game developer is thoroughly and in equal measure enchanted by XCOM and FTL, and when they take three years of their time to develop a mech-focused amalgamation of these two modern classics.

This turn-based tactics game with a strategic meta-layer of gameplay will have players take command of a mercenary mech squadron as they duke it out with foes both planetside and in open space. As you might expect, the XCOM portion of MechCorp's pedigree kicks in when fighting, whereas FTL rules supreme during the meta-play.

[...]

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Wednesday - July 18, 2018

Starflight 3 - Coming Soon to Fig

by Silver, 09:02

Starflight 3 is coming soon to Fig and is available to peruse if you have a backstage pass. For now check out this video.

The Fig funding campaign for Starflight 3 by HumaNature is coming soon.

Thanks to you!

Tuesday - July 17, 2018

General News - The Witcher 3 vs Skyrim

by Silver, 02:23

Techquila compared The Witcher 3 to Skyrim in a number of categories.

The Witcher 3 vs Skyrim: Exploration

Ah exploring! Something RPG’rs absolutely love. Both Skyrim and The Witcher 3 have massive open worlds, but this is Bethesda’s territory. There’s nothing like exploring the dungeons and caves of Skyrm infested with deranged falmers and leaden with rare and legendary equipment.

The Witcher 3 is no push-over though. You’ll always find something in every nook and cranny of the map, and not just some measly quest written in a hurry, but a memorable experience that’ll make you want to explore every inch of the world. In the end though, CD Projekt just couldn’t get to that level of atmospheric goodness Todd Howard and his beloved Elder Scrolls games are known for.

Winner: Skyrim

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Thursday - July 12, 2018

Touhou: Scarlet Curiosity - Released

by Silver, 13:57

DSOGaming reports that Touhou: Scarlet Curiosity is now available on Steam.

XSEED Games today launched Touhou: Scarlet Curiosity, the action-RPG take on the legendary danmaku series developed by indie studio Ankake Spa, for PC on Steam. The title is now available globally for $14.99, €14.99, and £12.99, with a 10% discount off the regular price throughout its launch week.

[...]

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Wednesday - July 11, 2018

Octopath Traveler - Preview

by Silver, 12:14

Octopath Traveler is a classic style JRPG that has been previewed by Shacknews.

Depth Without Complication

The familiar map overview and easily digestible mission structure both help make Octopath Traveler remarkably easy to play. Those who want to level up their heroes need only seek out the nearest unexplored passage or instead find a nearby path with a danger level slightly higher than the characters' current levels. Similarly, jumping to the next story element is as easy as traveling to green-hued cities on the map, then choosing to continue the chosen character's next chapter.

[...]

Shining Resonance Refrain - Released

by Silver, 08:26

Shining Resonance Refrain has been released onto Steam to positive reviews.

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ABOUT THIS GAME

Play as Yuma Ilvern and stop the Empire from exploiting the power of the ancient dragons, including the soul of the Shining Dragon within you. With the help of your friends, realize your destiny, save Astoria, and unleash the strength you've always had locked away.

In the original game, previously released only in Japan, Imperial Princess Excella was an unplayable character, but in the new "Refrain Mode" in Shining Resonance Refrain, both she and Dragonslayer Jinas can be added as party members for a new experience - just be sure to save this for your second playthrough to avoid any spoilers! As an added bonus, all of the extra cosmetic items and side quests are included in this remaster.

Dragons were long thought to be extinct, and because Yuma holds the ability to transform into the Shining Dragon, he was taken as a captive of the Empire. With the help of the Dragoneers, Sonia, princess of Astoria, pleads with Yuma to aid them in their fight to save their land from the Empire's dominion. Typically timid, will Yuma find the courage to realize the strength he has within him?

Tuesday - July 10, 2018

Chasm - Launching July 31st

by Silver, 12:18

Chasm is a metroidvania roguelike that is launching July 31st.

Chasm Launches July 31st!

Unlike some other games that are developed in secret and then announced about 6 months before launch, Chasm has been in the public eye pretty much from the beginning. Our first post about the game was on IndieDB.com back in January 2013, and we launched a successful Kickstarter campaign just a few months later. It is with a combination of pride, exuberance, relief, and fear that I am hereby officially announcing that we will be launching on July 31, 2018 for $19.99! We’ll be doing a week 1 discount on Steam so keep an eye out for it. And if you haven’t done so already, please add us to your wishlist! (And be sure to tell your friends!)

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As you probably know, one distinctive feature of Chasm is that the world map is procedurally generated when you start up a new campaign. That feature has led to a lot of questions and confusion, so I’d like to address exactly how it works and why we designed it that way. The latter part is easy to answer: Our entire team is composed of Metroidvania fans! Whether it’s Castlevania: Symphony of the Night or Axiom Verge, we’ve played through our favorite games so often that we’ve long since memorized the maps. We love how those games play but wish we could wipe our memories so we could get that experience of exploration all over again. It’s our hope that people who love Chasm the way we love our favorite games can play it over and over and still have it feel fresh. But at the same time, people who only play the game once should have no idea that there’s anything procedural about it.

But that’s not to say that everything’s completely random. The way our system works is that there is a fundamental structure to the game that never changes. If you’re familiar with Castlevania: Symphony of the Night you may recall that first you get the Jewel of Open, then the Leap Stone, then the Soul of Bat - in that order. As you get these upgrades, new areas of the map become accessible. Chasm, like all Metroidvanias, follows this structure. When you start up a campaign, the game always has these key upgrades and plot points in the same place. What’s different is how you get from one key point to the other. Chasm has a bunch of pre-designed rooms that are slotted in modularly in different combinations. So you won’t have any rooms that feel like they were designed by a computer - instead, you’ll encounter rooms in a different order and even encounter new rooms you never saw the first time, and your path will be different each time you start up a new campaign.

Getting that to feel right was way easier said than done. There was a ton of balancing we needed to make sure the procedural engine took into account when it builds a world map. There’s pacing - you don’t want to have a string of combat rooms with lots of enemies and no platforming to break it up, nor do you want the opposite. You don’t want the system to block your progress by requiring a certain ability upgrade that you don’t have yet. You don’t want to have the save points too far apart. (To address a common misconception, Chasm is not a roguelike with permadeath, though there is an option for that for veteran players. Permadeath combined with the changing dungeons makes for a tense experience since you never know how many more rooms you need to make it to the end.) And you want to make sure that there’s just the right amount of treasures and surprises along the way to encourage exploration of every little nook and cranny of the game.

There are some people who like the comfort of getting to know a single map by playing it over and over or being able to follow their favorite YouTuber’s walkthrough of the game. We have an option for that too. Everything randomly generated by the game engine is based off of a seed number. If you enter a specific seed number, you can guarantee a specific map. So if you want to follow a walkthrough, just check their seed number and enter that when you set up your campaign.

We’re very excited - and not a little bit nervous - to send our baby out into the world. We’ve polished and fine tuned every little bit of that game to make sure there were no compromises to our original vision over 5 years ago. We can’t wait to hear what you think on July 31st!

General News - Cyberpunk Games List

by Silver, 05:28

CramGaming has a list of new cyberpunk games to look out for.

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First up and releasing later this year is Daedalic’s futuristic 3D thriller – State of Mind. Set in Berlin, 2048 you play as a journalist Richard Nolan one of the few criticizing the current state of affairs. A world on the brink with the usual lack of resources, mass illnesses caused by pollution, high crime rates, War, controlling Governments and mega-companies , drones and humanoid robots replacing humans, surveillance reigns supreme – you get the picture. Having mysteriously lost his wife and son, Nolan must delve deeper behind the scenes to uncover a worldwide conspiracy whilst investigating sci-fi themes. Sounds good and releases on consoles and PC in 2018.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Monday - July 09, 2018

Monomyth - The Creator’s Journey

by Silver, 09:24

Techraptor takes a look behind the creation of Monomyth, a first-person action RPG that takes after Arx Fatalis and is being developed by one person called rattower on Twitter.

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As usual with complex RPGs, Monomyth will have variable playtime. The developer’s initial estimate was about 10-20 hours, “which is roughly what it takes to finish a King’s Field game.” However, after the first few gameplay tests, he realized that this will depend on the player and the playstyle. Depending on the player, levels in games such as Thief can be finished in a few minutes. Monomyth will feature three major areas, which are split up into smaller sub-areas. The design is spiral, so that backtracking happens through shortcuts. “Some secrets and passages in earlier areas can only be accessed later in the game.”

Interactivity is a must in a game like this. Not only it will include dialogue with NPCs, it will also offer an item combination system similar to Arx Fatalis and Ultima Online, so that basically every item can be combined with every other item or interactive element within the world. One example of this is that you can bake bread by combining water and flour, then leaving the dough close to a fire, which is openly borrowed from Arx Fatalis. You can also draw water from wells, break and/or lockpick doors, lift heavy objects to use as weapons. You can even throw objects at levers and buttons to activate them. AIs can be lured into certain directions by throwing items, and so on.

[...]

Westboro - Action RPG

by Silver, 03:08

Westboro is an isometric action RPG with a real-time combat system where water is scarce.

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ABOUT THIS GAME

2039. Water is no longer environmentally sustainable supply.
Most of it is too contaminated and toxic to be suitable for any use by humankind.
As the global population has grown to 12.4 billion, the water crisis became front page news.
The remaining fresh water will not last forever; it will become depleted.

Transnational Corporation SICON holds world domination and control over fresh water resources for several years.
The complicated and unstable situation resulted in violent uprisings among themiddle-class across the globe.

The world approaches its first week in state of emergency...


Westboro is an Indie Point'n'Click Action RPG with a unique real-time combat system.
It is easy to play, but hard to master. Use your abilities and variety of weapons to defeat enemies. Rely on armor or be quick enough to keep yourself in safety. Be stealthy or try to gundown everyone. Fight enemies at long-range or force them to engage in close quarters combat. ...Choose your own playstyle!

Dying Light 2 - First Look & Developer Interview

by Silver, 03:05

DigitalFoundry looked at Dying Light 2 and interviewed the developers.

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We had the chance to take a look at Dying Light 2 at E3 and to discuss the game with the developers! Here's our report.

Sunday - July 08, 2018

Orange Cast - Action Adventure RPG

by Silver, 10:44

@DSOGaming Orange Cast is an action adventure RPG inspired by Mass Effect.

Team Rezy is currently working on a new action adventure RPG that is inspired by the Mass Effect series, called Orange Cast. This little gem looks cool – though still rough around the edges – and its development team has released a new gameplay trailer that you can watch below.

Orange Cast is described as an action/RPG atmospheric adventure that is set in a large-scale setting where Soviet and Western science fiction are combined itself.

[...]

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Wednesday - July 04, 2018

Dying Light 2 - Flipping the RPG Script

by Silver, 00:59

VG24/7 talked to Chris Avellone and Techland about Dying Light 2.

Some of this was helped along by Avellone, who has learned a thing or two over his years of working on RPGs about the unexpected things players can do to mess with your carefully crafted narrative.

“The big one is learning that you shouldn’t funnel the player – they’re here to explore the space; let them, don’t shackle them,” Avellone says. “It can be a challenge to tell an open-world story if you’re not considering what the player brings to the equation and allowing them to assume an equal role in the events taking place and even better, causing the events that lead to the story progression.

“It’s easy to imagine a story that takes from A to B to C with a set series of events, but in an open-world game, you have to put the player agency and their ability to affect the world at the forefront. So for example, rather than A to B to C, you take a step back, assume the player starts at ‘A’, and then can do all manner of events to cause ‘B’ to come to them through the actions they do in the open-world – or, a number of different ‘B’s, not just one. Or even better, the player creates ‘B’ all on their own, and the entire world reacts to it. When a player can literally see themselves as an agent of change, it empowers them even more.”

[...]

Monday - July 02, 2018

Lovecraft's Untold Stories - Early Access Release

by Silver, 14:37

@TheEgg Roguelike action RPG Lovecraft's Untold Stories has been released onto Steam Early Access.

The ROGUELIKE ACTION-RPG “LOVECRAFT’S UNTOLD STORIES” is Now available on Steam.

Press release:
Welcome, investigators. You already know: the universe is not what it seems. Lurking in its deepest shadows, hiding behind imposible corners, bubbling and crawling in the cracks between dimensions, sleeping lifeless dreams under the waters, there are ancient terrors that once ruled the Earth — and that will come back some day to claim what was theirs. It is imposible to defeat forever such powers as the Old Ones and the Outer Gods. We all know that, in the end, death and madness awaits us all. But maybe we can delay the inevitable…

Lovecraft’s Untold Stories, the action RPG with roguelike elements, is now available on Steam Early Access for $12.99 / €12,99 / £10.29. Lovecraft’s Untold Stories is an action RPG with rogue-like elements. You explore randomly generated levels based in H.P. Lovecraft stories, fighting cultists and all kinds of monsters from the Mythos, improving your skills, weapons, and gear, looking for clues and information about the Old Ones and the Outer Gods, and solving puzzles and challenges. Review keys are available, ask us for yours!

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Saturday - June 30, 2018

Planetrism - Science Fiction RPG

by Silver, 14:01

DSOGaming reports on a new science fiction RPG in development called Planetrism. There are some screenshots at the link.

Mika Laaksonen and Kimmo Kaunela are currently working on an amazing sci-fi role-playing game where you experience the life of a colonist on an exoplanet light years away from Solar system, called Planetrism. The game is powered by Unreal Engine 4 and below you can find some stunning screenshots.

Planetrism aims to combine personal experience of adventurous colonist life with leadership and management of whole colony. The key to survive in Planetrism is to understand environments, collect data and always be ready for different situations. Dynamic weather will make it hard and challenging to build and run colony and its people.

[...]

Wednesday - June 27, 2018

SINNER: Sacrifice For Redemption - Interview

by Silver, 12:53

There is an interview with the devs of SINNER: Sacrifice For Redemption at Gamingbolt. The game itself follows in the footsteps of Dark Souls but with a unique twist of levelling down as you go.

SINNER: Sacrifice for Redemption may remind you of the Dark Souls games with its brutal difficulty and boss battles. However, this game comes with its own unique twist: with every boss battle that the player wins, they must then level down their character. This means that the game will keep on getting more difficult as the player character gets weaker, and your skills will be put to test.

To learn more about the game and its development, Gamingbolt reached out to the developers with some questions and they provided the following answers.

"We wanted to have a non-linear game allowing for people to play the game’s content in any order they chose but we also needed to have the difficulty increase."

This game seems to tie in some grand themes into the gameplay itself, with Adam’s trials against the Seven Sins eventually leading to his redemption. Was this something you aimed for from the start?

Absolutely- We always wanted the game to be about the character’s redemption and the seven deadly sins provided us the structure needed to tell Adam’s story.

What inspired the idea of leveling down which is one of the main new features of this game?

We wanted to have a non-linear game allowing for people to play the game’s content in any order they chose but we also needed to have the difficulty increase. The sacrifice system allowed us to do that while being true to the game’s theme and style.

What would you say are some of the inspirations for this game?

Souls games are a massive inspiration but we also feel that Team Ico had a big inspiration on our character designs and our boss structure.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

The Forgotten City - E3 Trailer

by Silver, 12:41

The Forgotten City was originally a mod for Skyrim but is now a standalone game and was revealed during E3.

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http://forgottencitygame.com
Add to your Steam wishlist here (https://goo.gl/BR7kT4) or register your interest in a console version here (https://goo.gl/HcQybF)

The Forgotten City is a time travel murder mystery in a mythological city. Deep underground in an ancient Roman city, 26 trapped explorers lay dead because one of them broke a mysterious law. A portal leads back to the past, allowing you to change their fate - or witness their deaths in a time loop for eternity.

Key features:

  • Investigate a dark, gripping mystery full of twists and intrigue
  • Solve problems your own way, with reason, charm, bribery, stealth, threats, violence - or cleverly exploit the time-loop
  • Explore a stunning and intricate city rendered with Unreal Engine
  • Interrogate richly detailed characters with interwoven lives
  • Grapple with moral dilemmas which have life-and-death consequences
  • Choose your own gender, race, and backstory
  • Listen to an achingly beautiful orchestral score and first class voice acting

Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - June 26, 2018

General News - CRPGs are back

by Hiddenx, 23:58

Rock Paper Shotgun says big dense CRPGs have a bright future:

Clear 100 hours in your calendar, ‘cos CRPGs are here to stay

In the mid-to-late 2000s, publishers abandoned the CRPG genre – an acronym describing the very specific genre of video games adapted from tabletop RPGs to be played on computers – which a decade earlier had been a cornerstone of PC gaming. They were more interested in accessible, console-friendly series like Mass Effect and The Elder Scrolls, and PC-centric RPGs all but died out.

Then, around 2012, RPGs made a comeback, largely thanks to the rise of crowdfunding and an endless well of nostalgia. Since then we’ve been treated to heaps of good ones – Divinity: Original Sin, Pillars of Eternity, Wasteland 2, Torment: Tides of Numenera – and there are plenty more in the works. But there’s no guarantee that CRPGs are back for good. Some, such as Torment, haven’t sold well. The future of crowdfunding remains uncertain. And asking fans to commit 50 hours to a single story is more difficult than ever, given the volume of great games that release every month. So how can developers ensure that the genre stays relevant?

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Thanks henriquejr!

Monday - June 25, 2018

Life is Strange 2 - Episode 1 in September

by Hiddenx, 21:11

The first episode of Life is Strange 2 will be available on September 27:

Life is Strange 2 Release Date Reveal

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Episode 1 of Life is Strange 2 will be available on September 27th 2018. Further information about DONTNOD's #LifeisStrange2 will be revealed this August.

Wizard of Legend - Gameplay Impressions

by Silver, 16:31

ChristopherOdd played through Wizard of Legend and shared his gameplay impressions.

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Wizard of Legend Gameplay. Unlock over 100 unique spells and discover powerful spell combinations allowing you to create a style best suited to you. MORE INFO DOWN BELOW 👇🏻 Buy on GOG and support Odd too ► https://odd.gg/wizardoflegend

Warhammer: Chaosbane - Hands-On Impression

by Silver, 15:47

A hands-on impression of Warhammer: Chaos Bane from Entertainment Buddha.

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Enter Warhammer: Chaos Bane, which is a game that I know absolutely nothing about, the only game I’ve played in the franchise is Vermintide. Thankfully, that doesn’t matter in the slightest, because Chaos Bane is pretty standalone in and of itself, and is answering my prayers. If you’ve played Diablo III, you’ll feel right at home with this game, right down to the button shortcuts and potion shortcut for when your healing skills ain’t cutting it. The visuals are halfway between beautiful and disgusting, it’s like they looked at Diablo and said “yeah, but how can we gross you out more?” I loved playing it, though, there weren’t as many enemies on screen at one time as I’m used to, but I think it was made up for in the fact that it was harder. Smaller enemies are a lot meatier in this game, or at least in the demo that I played, but this is balanced with a new feature.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Sunday - June 24, 2018

Guild 3 - Going to New Studio

by Silver, 09:11

@Worthplaying The Guild 3 development has been taken over by a newly formed developer called Purple Lamp Studios.

To make sure, The Guild 3 will leave Early Access In due course, an additional development Studio, called Purple Lamp, which is based in Vienna, will add its expertise to the project. Purple Lamp is a newly formed studio, consisting of veteran developers, who have worked on various titles before at Austrian publisher/developer Sproing, among others.

Based on the work GolemLabs has done so far, the new studio will solve any problems as well as integrate planned features such as multiplayer, societies and the sovereign-mechanic into the game in the following months. Harald Riegler, CEO of Purple Lamp, says „The Guild is a fantastic franchise and we're proud to contribute both our experience and our personal passion for strategy games to deliver the game that fans are hoping for.“

Jean-René Couture, CEO GolemLabs Studios Inc., adds: “For the past few years, the folks here at GolemLabs had the huge honor to work on The Guild 3. However, the very last remaining stretch of development will be done under the care and reigns of THQ Nordic. So, from now on, GolemLabs will eagerly and proudly be waiting for the release of The Guild 3. For us here at GolemLabs, it is time to embark on new and exciting adventures.“

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Babylon's Fall - Action RPG Announced

by Silver, 08:54

Babylon's Fall is an action RPG that was announced during E3 and is expected to release 2019.

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PCGamesN

When is the Babylon’s Fall release date? The upcoming action game from Platinum Games is shrouded in mystery but already has plenty of lore.

Revealed during the Square Enix E3 2018 showcase, Babylon’s Fall was unveiled with a rough release date, but scarce few details to go on apart from that. There was no gameplay on display, and no subsequent explanation of what the new IP is all about. After the disappointing lack of reveal for Life is Strange 2 and Square Enix’s Marvel project, an announcement trailer for a new series seemed like yet another let down, that was until Platinum Games appeared on screen.

So what is Babylon’s Fall? We dig through the reveal trailer in search of details that tell us what kind of game to expect when it comes out - from its extensive timeline to the snippet of CG combat. Here are all the latest details on Babylon’s Fall.

[...]

Thanks Farflame!

Tuesday - June 19, 2018

Capsella The Lights of Lucern - Early Access Soon

by Silver, 14:26

Capsella The Lights of Lucern is an action RPG releasing on Steam early access 22nd June.

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About This Game

Capsella The Lights of Lucern is an action RPG that takes place in Galad, a mysterious and magical universe.
Four heroes were chosen by the goddess to hold the Capsella, an artifact that is capable of dispelling the darkness cast on the Link Crystals that is breaking the balance between light and darkness.
The heroes will face multiple dangers across the land to dispel the Crystals and find out who is behind the attacks.
Featuring a local multiplayer cooperative with four unique heroes, explore the dimension of Lucern in an top down action driven adventure!
You can play as Ambar, Aran, Laurina and Lucas! Each with an unique set of technics and gameplay style!
Ambar is a powerful mage that can cast powerful spells!
Aran is a mighty brawler that can unleash swings with his two handed sword!
Laurina is a swift and skilled archer!
Lucas is a fierce swordsman that can take a blow and protect the group!
Fight enemies, earn experience to gain levels and unlock new technics! Get stronger by upgrading your equipment and use elemental properties to be more effective and defeat your enemies!

Titan Outpost - Core Systems Done

by Silver, 13:45

Titan Outpost is an isometric, single-player RPG set on Titan. The latest update shows off some screenshots and reports that all core systems are in place and ready for testing.

Features

Titan Outpost is an isometric, single-player role-playing game set on Titan, the sixth moon of the planet Saturn. Humanity is engulfed in an energy crisis and you are there to harvest the moon's precious resources and uncover its mysteries.

There is no combat in the game. Titan itself is your biggest enemy and your character will need to use a variety of skills to handle missions. In an atmosphere so uninvitingly cold that methane is a liquid, every choice matters and every step counts.

  • The PICA character system features four attributes -Physical, Intelligence, Charisma and Awarenss- and six skills, ranging from science to exploration.
  • Branching storylines and multiple quest solutions.
  • Discrete time system, where every passing second determines unfolding events and the game world continues while your character sleeps. The game would be considered turn-based if it had combat.
  • Logistical elements , think original Dune adventure meets the strategic layer of X-com.
  • A rich backstory with a combination of realistic science-fiction and cold war tension.
  • Over twenty locations, a hundred if you count all the lakes.
  • Build and expand your base, it's not called Titan Outpost for nothing.
  • Research exciting new technologies, ranging from new ways to keep warm, generating more power or making Titan ever so slightly more like Earth.
  • Multiple factions: You can decide to join the Chinese, work for independent contractors or stay loyal to your employer.
  • 70s aesthetic.

Friday - June 15, 2018

Dying Light 2 - Has Witcher Writers

by Silver, 12:31

@VG24/7 Dying Light 2 has some of the writers that worked on Witcher 3.

Techland is taking the story, writing and quests for upcoming zombie parkour game Dying Light 2 very seriously.

Not only has it hired the talent of designer Chris Avellone to shape the game, but it has also hired writers from CD Projekt RED who worked on The Witcher 3’s Bloody Baron quest.

[...]

Wednesday - June 13, 2018

Maneater - Shark Action RPG

by Silver, 10:35

Maneater released a trailer at E3 and has a Steam page with no release date as yet.

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About This Game

Maneater is a Single-Player Action RPG, set in the unforgiving waters of the Gulf Coast. Fight to survive in the open ocean, with danger lurking at every depth. Your only tools are your wits, your jaws, and an uncanny ability to evolve as you feed. Anything and everything is on the menu... kill or be killed.

Become a MANEATER

Play as a giant Bull Shark and terrorize the coastal waterways. Tear swimmers and divers limb from limb, give the humans a reason to fear you.

Explore a massive open world

Immerse yourself in a living, breathing world full of threats, and rewards. Explore sunken wrecks, lurk in swamps, or just cruise the open ocean looking for whales to feed on.

Deep Stats and Role Playing

Role-play and customize your shark with a variety of stat driven systems. Evolve different parts of your body to improve how they function, or pump up your ferocity to enter brief feeding frenzies.

Experienced Team

From the minds behind Depth and Killing Floor, our goal as an early access game is to push the feeling of playing as a shark to new heights, developing a strictly single-player experience that will challenge and engage the player from start to finish. Gritty, visceral, heart-pounding action games are our calling.

Monday - June 11, 2018

Dying Light 2 - Gameplay Demo Video

by Silver, 11:57

Dying Light 2 was shown off at E3.

Announcement Trailer

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The fate of a decaying City is in your hands. Every choice matters. Discover the bold sequel to a best-selling open-world phenomenon.

Gameplay Demo

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Chris Avellone introduces Dying Light 2 in a narrated gameplay demo that shows off parkour, branching choices, and combat.

Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition - E3 Trailer

by Silver, 11:04

Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition has been announced at E3 with a trailer.

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Tales of Vesperia is back with Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition. A remaster of one of the most beloved roleplaying games ever created! Experience a story like no other, complemented by a robust combat system, a memorable cast of characters and a soundtrack that you’ll be humming for a long time. Dive into the definitive version of Tales of Vesperia with characters and content never before seen in the west! Look for Tales of Vesperia: Definitive Edition, this winter.

[...]

Sunday - June 10, 2018

Project Wight - First Character Design

by Silver, 19:49

@OnlySP The first character design for Project Wight has been shown.

Former Battlefield designer David Goldfarb tweeted out the first character design from Project Wight, an upcoming title in development by his co-founded studio The Outsiders.

The tweet, embedded below, appears to show a menu screen with, according to evidence seen in a previous trailer, the playable character. The main character is a wight, which translates to an undead creature that specialises in fast-paced combat:

In the spirit of E3, here is something from #projectwight. We are still hard at work here at the Outsiders making this monster game. And I wish you could hear the incredible soundtrack that @BjorkmanElvira and @nhjertberg have made. Chills. pic.twitter.com/qaXmMnTcKb

— David Goldfarb (@locust9) June 8, 2018

Thanks Farflame!

The Hand of Merlin - Turn-Based Arthurian RPG

by Silver, 08:01

The Hand of Merlin is a turn-based Arthurian RPG aiming for late 2019.

About This Game

There are as many worlds as there are stars in the sky. In each stands Camelot; in each there is a Grail. But there is only one Merlin, and his eternal burden is to stand against the horror from beyond. Each world that is saved is saved forever; each world that is lost is lost for good.

The Hand of Merlin is a turn-based rogue-lite RPG in which Arthurian legend clashes with cosmic horror. Recruit a company of up to four mortal heroes and guide them in spirit on a desperate journey from Albion to Jerusalem. Explore a richly-imagined medieval setting on the brink of apocalypse. Trade with merchants, improve your heroes, and unearth ancient relics. Search for the lost fragments of your soul, scattered across the multiverse - and save as many worlds as you can.

KEY FEATURES:

A Roguelike Experience

Carve a path across the lands of Albion, Marca Hispanica and Al-Andalus. Will you take a dangerous route, risking life and limb in pursuit of a legendary relic? Or will you choose a safer path? Plan and prepare. Negotiate, barter, fight. Tackle challenges. Suffer losses. Recruit new Heroes. Earn Gold, Supplies and Renown. Be careful: your choices are permanent, as is death. But don't tarry - evil never rests.

Tactical Turn-Based Combat

Master the tactics of squad-based and turn-based combat to conquer both human and demonic foes. Your enemies will be tough and ruthless; make use of high ground and cover, set up ambushes and coordinated attacks, harness synergies between different Hero classes and skills.

Non-Linear Narrative

Enjoy a compelling story inspired by Arthurian legend, the Matter of France, and the history of Al-Andalus - with an unusual twist. Make choices in interactive encounters that change every time you play. Written by Jonas Kyratzes (The Talos Principle, Serious Sam 4) and Verena Kyratzes (The Lands of Dream, Serious Sam 4).

Dynamic Leveling

Use Renown to level up your Heroes, and choose between a randomized set of new skills or improved attributes. But choose wisely! Select skills with great synergy and balance your party for the road ahead.

Equipment Upgrades

Seek out towns to improve your arms and armor, or stumble upon hermit artisans in the wild. With every day that passes, the world plunges deeper into darkness, and you will need all the equipment gold can buy.

Relics

From a peasant's humble luck charm to the legendary sword wielded by Arthur himself, items imbued with magical power are scattered about the world. Some you will be able to purchase from merchants and collectors, but others will have to be earned through acts of heroism - or displays of wit.

Spells

Rain thunder and brimstone upon your foes! Seek out and gather Soulstones to restore your power and unlock new Spells. Even if defeated, your spirit will retain all of your collected arcane knowledge as you jump into the next dimension.

Alternate Dimensions

As you jump from one parallel dimension to the next, history is reshaped. Different kings rule the land, changing the encounters, characters, and events. No two worlds are ever quite the same, and each journey will be unique. And should your heroes fall, remember: defeat is not the end, only a new beginning.

Wednesday - June 06, 2018

Tales of Vesperia - 10th Anniversary Remaster

by Silver, 14:32

Gematsu has discovered the website for the RPG Tales of Vesperia 10th anniversary remaster.

Gematsu has discovered tov10th.tales-ch.jp—a password-protected website presumably for the Tales of Vesperia remaster Gematsu has heard is in production in celebration of the RPG’s 10th anniversary.

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The Mercury Man - Released

by Silver, 02:37

The Mercury Man was released on Steam recently

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About This Game

The Mercury Man is an isometric game in the action genre with some adventure elements. It is set in the far grim dark future of its unique sci-fi world.

In the year 2310 people on Earth discovered a new way to cure all deadly diseases. By 2315 the technology reached Russia. The point of this medical procedure was to replace patient’s blood with mercury. In the first years only the richest could afford it, but сlandestine clinics that provided blood replacement services for little money gradually emerged. At the same time, the number of ordinary people who contracted incurable diseases grew bigger and bigger and the mercury treatment no longer helped them. Soon it became clear that being around «mercuries», that’s how people who passed the transfusion were called, is dangerous. As a result, the world government introduced a complete ban on mercury operations, special police units of hunters were created, who sought out and eliminated mercury people. But the politicians and the rich continued to carry out transfusions. In the end, all this led to civil riots.

The law enforcement sided with people and all mercuries were gathered and sent off to Mars. Earth was ruled by the police government. Mars was divided into two zones - the outer zone, to where the poor who had procedures in the сlandestine clinics were sent, and the inner zone where former cream of society lived. Since the inner zone was organized by the politicians themselves and not policemen, it was heavily guarded against any intrusion attempts, and it was possible to get there only for a huge amount of money after passing the loyalty test. If less than a month had passed since the transfusion, mercuries were sent to the outer zone. If more than a month had passed, then mercuries were accused of concealing their status and were liquidated. Substandard procedures and lack of normal air on Mars led to the fact that people began to mutate in the outer zone and turned into horrible monsters. Nevertheless, the mercuries who were caught on Earth by hunters were sent there. You were one of those hunters…

- A unique world from the Mehsoft team
- Stylish hand-drawn graphics
- Original soundtrack
- Breathtaking plot
- Black humor, which skillfully fits into the dark and depressive mood of the game

Friday - June 01, 2018

Warhammer: Chaosbane - Action RPG Announced

by Silver, 14:31

@DSOGaming Warhammer: Chaosbane is a new action RPG game that has been announced today. Screenshots at the link.

Bigben, Games Workshop and Eko Software today revealed the name of the game based on the famous Warhammer license: Warhammer: Chaosbane. This adaptation of the franchise will be the first Action-RPG to take place in the Warhammer Fantasy world.

The development of the title is being done by Eko Software, a French studio who has demonstrated great skill in the hack’n slash genre with How to Survive 1 and 2, a series which captivated millions of players.

[...]

NOTHING - Announced

by Silver, 13:52

@hardcore gamer A new cyberpunk RPG has been announced, that has been born out of personal tragedy, called NOTHING.

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Additionally, initial details for the game promise a meticulous RPG for fans of the genre. In the year 2108, players can drive motorcycles, fly cars, hack systems, hack brains and a myriad of other abilities in order to control the future. Walsh promises twelve possible endings and a plethora of side missions. There are zero building facades which mean that if you can see it, you can enter it. Underground sewers, tunnels and other environmental elements add more depth to the world. Upgrade your protagonist with cybernetic augmentations, in-depth crafting systems and tons of personal and vehicle upgrades. More than anything, Walsh is committed to a story-driven adventure that will challenge your emotions. Currently, there is no release date information other than 2019. Walsh hopes to have a small showing at this year’s E3 and plans to set up a Kickstarter soon for release on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.

General News - The Future of CRPGs

by Silver, 13:38

PC Gamer asks Josh Sawyer, Swen Vincke and Robert Kurvitz about CRPGs future.

It wasn’t so long ago that the isometric CRPG seemed like an endangered species, consigned to annals of video game history, or at least the '90s when classic like Baldur's Gate were released. With the rise of crowdfunding and indie developers, however, the genre has returned in a tidal wave of spiritual successors and fantasy romps. So much of this resurgence is tangled up in nostalgia, though, begging the question: how does the genre move forward? 

The friction between nostalgia and innovation is an obstacle inherent in any game trying to evoke the classics. In RPGs, it’s even more apparent because an overwhelming number of them are set in high fantasy universes full of elves, dwarves and handy magical swords. When an RPG does eschew the fantasy setting, it usually leans into science fiction. 

 

“I don’t think RPGs are really shackled to sci-fi and fantasy, it’s just tradition,” says Josh Sawyer, most recently Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire’s game director. “I think a lot of it comes from the background of roleplaying games. Dungeons & Dragons started as Chainmail, which is really a fantasy wargame, and since then a lot of RPGs have been fantasy, trying to ape the experience of D&D.”

[...]

Dungeonhaven - First Look

by Silver, 13:30

Siliconera reports on Dungeonhaven which is a third person action game.

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Dungeonhaven is a challenging third person action game, one where a knight born from stone can switch back to their rocky form in order to make themselves safe from damage as they battle their way through living dungeons.

[...]

Features

  • Explore sentient dungeons as a knight who can turn to stone
  • Drain dungeon cores of their elemental powers and wield them as your own
  • Discover shortcuts and secrets as you traverse passionately hand crafted levels

Combat

  • Deterministic combat is challenging, but you will master it in time
  • Reveal the distinct uses of a wide variety of items, which can be consumed or thrown at enemies to identify their effects

Thursday - May 31, 2018

General News - What is an RPG Today?

by Silver, 14:02

Kotaku UK asked Chris Avellone and George Ziets what is an RPG today.

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Ziets recalls that early computer RPGs like Wizardry and the original Bard’s Tale essentially ported the most popular editions of their tabletop progenitors like Dungeons and Dragons to the personal computer, eschewing epic tales of sword and sorcery to focus on the tactical guts of the pen-and-paper experience. “Originally, most RPGs were Tolkienesque, monster-slaying fantasies,” Ziets says. “Now we have RPGs set in science-fiction worlds, modern times, etc. Similarly, most early RPGs had some version of D&D stats and skills, but many are now evolving away from strict adherence to those rules.”

To Ziets, this slow expansion beyond the realm of twenty-sided dice and Vancian magic reflects the advance of video games as a medium, in the same way as early television programs like The Twilight Zone resembled theatrical productions more than the elaborate multi-camera setups of later decades. “As the art form evolved, and creators discovered techniques that were unique to television, that gradually moved further and further away from the techniques of theatre,” says Ziet. “TV got better and came into its own because creators learned what worked best for their medium, but in the early days, they had to start with what they knew. I see RPGs in much the same way.”

[...]

Wednesday - May 30, 2018

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 - Announced Early For Publisher Interest

by Silver, 07:43

Gamingbolt reports that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 was announced early to try and get publisher interest.

According to Epic Games’s director of publishing Sergey Galyonkin, the game is currently only in the design doc phase- so it hasn’t even properly begun development. The only reason it was announced as early as it was was to generate some publisher interest for it this E3. Which makes sense- but which is likely to make the wait for the fans brutal and unrelenting. Just as Square Enix fans how they feel about games tat take years to come out because they were announced before they properly began development.

[...]

Tuesday - May 29, 2018

Die for Valhalla! - Released

by Silver, 15:13

Die for Valhalla! has been released on Steam.

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About This Game

Die for Valhalla! is an action RPG where you hack, slash and crush your enemies! Possess and take full control of heroes, monsters and other things to help Vikings save their realm!

You are a Valkyrie, a supernatural maiden bestowed with the ability to possess fallen warriors. You embark on a quest that will lead you through strange lands where Norse Mythology collides with Lovecraftian mythos. Sounds Weird? Well, because it is!

You can play solo or locally with friends (up to 4 players).

Two ways to enjoy the story:

The game offers two story modes with procedurally generated worlds: Beat ‘Em Up and Rogue-lite.

Beat ‘Em Up mode creates a larger world for you to explore with a more relaxed difficulty curve. You can revive your friends and the potions you find have useful or hilarious effects (or both).

Rogue-lite mode generates a smaller world featuring steeper difficulty curve and permadeath. Some of the potions you find have malicious effects - you have to learn which ones to avoid in each run!

Key Features:

  • An action-packed hybrid of Roguelike and arcade Beat ‘Em Up.
  • Unique Possession mechanic.
  • 10+ Viking Clans to discover and unlock. Each Clan has a special bonus and access to different Viking Classes.
  • 7 Viking Classes, each with its unique playstyles and combos.
  • Over 80 skills to choose from when leveling up your Valkyrie.
  • Cute but bloodthirsty creatures will become your companions. Each has a different ability to aid you on your journey.
  • Deathmatch and Survival Challenges: Test your skills and compete with friends.
  • And more!
  • Unworthy - Released

    by Silver, 15:10

    Unworthy has been released on Steam.

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    About This Game

    At Death's Door

    Robbed of life and unworthy of death, a nameless warrior wanders a ruined landscape in search of meaning...

    A Hardcore Metroidvania...

    UNWORTHY is a hardcore combat-focused metroidvania without jumping. You play a warrior, risen from the grave. Equipped with sword and shield, you must traverse a bleak and hostile world swarming with creatures of nightmare. Your patience, determination and skill will be put to the test, as you fight against epic bosses, uncover powerful weapons and abilities, and attempt to prove your worth.

    Saturday - May 26, 2018

    A Long Way Down - Announced

    by Silver, 14:29

    Gamewatcher reports on A Long Way Down which is a strategy RPG game.

    Seenapsis Studio has announced that it's working on a new Strategy RPG called A Long Way Down, which is about taking a group of characters through a dark maze filled with monsters and an evil mastermind.

    Players will need to survive the maze by using special cards that allow you to fight and build your way out, when A Long Way Down releases sometime this year for the PC and Nintendo Switch.

    [...]

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    Wednesday - May 23, 2018

    Age of Gladiators II: Rome - Releasing August 15th

    by Silver, 12:42

    Age of Gladiators II: Rome is an isometric RPG Strategy game releasing August 15th.

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    ABOUT THIS GAME

    Age of Gladiators II: Rome is a single-player strategy game set in the twilight of the ancient Roman Republic; a violent and unpredictable time when gladiatorial games were nearing the height of their popularity.

    Hire scouts to scour the continent for potential prospects - once you have recruited your gladiators, you will need to manage their morale and personality while equipping them for battle. Recruit support staff, upgrade your gladiator school, collect bounties, research technologies, partake in side missions, and manage the wealth and reputation of your ludus as it grows each day.

    As your fighters win battles and increase in level, it will be up to you to decide how to focus their abilities by spending attribute, weapons, and expertise points. Compete, trade, and interact with other in-game owners as you advance through various cities of the empire before achieving enough fame to compete in the grand coliseum of Rome herself.

    Build your story. Build your empire.

    Features:

    • Control your gladiators with the new 3D isometric combat system, where fights can have hundreds of different outcomes. Utilize different combat styles and abilities - employ unique ethnic abilities, salves that increase physical stats, and special equipment such as bandages, stim salts, and more.

    • Construct a ludus to your exact specifications in order to maximize the efficiency of your operation. Hospitals, sparring mats, barracks, armories, workshops, and more.

    • Gladiators are born with their own dynamically generated physical attributes, classes, and personalities. It is up to you to shape your gladiator into the most proficient killing machine possible.

    • As your gladiators level up, they gain points to spend on their attributes, weapons training, and expertise. Expertise allows you to build and customize your fighter according to their appropriate strengths. Weapons training allows you to specialize your gladiator with a specific weapon. The physicality of your gladiators will increase or decrease with age, depending on if they are in their prime or declining.

    • Hire trainers to help your gladiators level faster, doctors to keep them healthy, scouts to find new fighters, and blacksmiths to improve weapons and armor.

    • Manage your gladiators carefully - their morale, greed, injuries, fatigue, weapons training, and more must be taken into account before sending them to battle.

    • As your gladiators gain glory from battle, they will become more widely recognized and adored by the crowds. Win enough battles and they may even get voted into the pantheon of heroes after they retire (or die).

    • Become a mogul outside of the arena. Purchase property for fame or businesses through which to further increase your fame across the empire.

    • Rob caravans, guard wealthy land owners, assassinate your debt holders and more with the proactive mission system. Increase the odds of success by sending reliable gladiators on the mission as well. Lawfully aligned gladiators will only partake lawful missions, while criminally-inclined gladiators will assist in unlawful activities.

    • Engage in five different branches of research: combat, medical, weapons, armor, and scouting.

    • Search for deals on weapons, armor, special equipment, and loans on the marketplace.

    • Strive to become the wealthiest individual in the Roman empire. There are quick and underhanded ways to make money, but your reputation and fighter's morale may suffer as a result.

    • Receive taunting messages from opposing bosses as well as various other messages from your fighters, staff members, and different characters as you progress through the game.

    • Rename your gladiators in order to increase your attachment toward them.

    • Bet for or against your gladiator based on the odds generated by bookmakers in-game.

    • Fight purses and betting is based on the hype associated with each match. The greater the hype, the more lucrative the fight purse and betting market will be.

    • Each game is dynamically generated and different each time.

    Immortal: Unchained - Releases September 7th

    by Silver, 03:31

    @DSOGaming Action-RPG shooter Immortal: Unchained is releasing September 7th.

    Sold Out and Toadman Interactive confirmed today that hardcore action-RPG shooter Immortal: Unchained will launch worldwide on September 7th. Immortal Unchained can be easily described as “Dark Souls with guns” and had a closed alpha phase in March 2018.

    Sarah Hoeksma, Marketing Director at Sold Out, said:

    “With its focus on brutal ranged combat, we hope that IMMORTAL: UNCHAINED will stand out among this emerging, unforgiving genre and prove a challenge to even the most hardened players.”

    [...]

    Tuesday - May 22, 2018

    Dolmen - continues crowdfunding on Crytivo

    by Myrthos, 17:11

    After failing its crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter, Dolmen is now trying the crowdfunding platform Crytivo.

    The team at Massive Work Studio has pulled a few strings and is proud to officially announce that DOLMEN is still happening despite missing its initial Kickstarter goal. DOLMEN will continue crowdfunding on Crytivo! The crowdfunding platform, like Kickstarter, offers players the option to back games that interest them most, but with a nice twist; Crytivo does not endorse games that feature exploitative loot boxes, microtransactions or pesky day-one DLC.

    Take a look at what some of the press had to say about DOLMEN after getting a taste of the cosmic horror ARPG:

    "For an Indie Sci-Fi Shooter,  DOLMEN has a Lot to Offer" - Bleeding Cool

    "...at first glance, the game resembles a curious hybrid [of] Dark Souls and Dead Space, so if you liked these two IPs you will surely be intrigued by DOLMEN." - Eurogamer

    "Combining Lovecraftian horror with a science fiction theme, DOLMEN is a nightmarish horror set on an alien planet." - Flickering Myth

    "DOLMEN plays on the third-person action genre, but draw the game's inspiration from HP Lovecraft mythos..." - PlayStation Lifestyle

    "Developers Massive Work Studio have a plan to fill in the [Dark Souls] gap ... with a new sci-fi horror take called DOLMEN." - PCGamesN


    For readers just now tuning in and curious about what DOLMEN is, just try to imagine a SoulsBorne-esque title that features hardcore survival elements. Cool, right? Well, Massive Work Studio tops it all off with some major Lovecraftian and H.R. Giger horror vibes. Be prepared to encounter and battle some of the most ghastly creatures deep space has to offer.

    DOLMEN presents players with a one-of-a-kind experience that boasts an enthralling storyline, chilling yet beautiful alien world, and behemoths that are sure to knock your socks off more than once. 

    Monday - May 21, 2018

    Tetra: Elemental Awakening - In Development

    by Silver, 14:18

    PCGamesN reports on an RPG called Tetra: Elemental Awakening which is currently in development.

    When was the last time you thought about the periodic table? While game developers at large have been sleeping on the potential of the catalogue of elements, Ocean Spark Studios have been going hard on zinc and magnesium. They’re forging an entire world in Unreal Engine 4 based on not just fire, air, earth, and water, but a chart’s worth of real-world materials and their reactions. The result is an RPG called Tetra: Elemental Awakening.

    [...]

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    Thursday - May 17, 2018

    Opinion - On Hard Games and Dark Souls

    by Silver, 12:16

    Sirus Gaming says that people should stop comparing hard games to Dark Souls.

    People should start realizing that Dark Souls is its own thing, while other games are their own thing. Dark Souls was meant to be that way so that it could cater to those players who crave that kind of extreme gameplay. Other games, like God of War, while presenting a somewhat similar experience, has allowances provided because it was not meant to give an extreme experience, and you have the option to make it harder or easier for you depending on your preference. But that doesn’t mean it is a Dark Souls game.

    [...]

    Thanks Farflame!

    Wednesday - May 16, 2018

    Little Witch Academia - Released

    by Silver, 02:42

    Little Witch Academia has been released on Steam. The game is about uncovering the mysteries at Luna Nova Academy.

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    ABOUT THIS GAME

    Uncover the mysteries at Luna Nova Academy and experience the magical world of Studio Trigger style Japanese animation.
    Join Akko and her friends to work as a team - exploring dungeons, casting magical spells and using witchcraft to ultimately discover the seven wonders and solve the mysterious shift in time.
    Believe in the magic and utilize power and friendship in this side-scrolling action RPG beat ‘em up.

    • Studio Trigger Style Animation - Get a glimpse into the world of Little Witch Academia from the world renown Studio Trigge, with Exclusive cutscenes made directly be the Anime Studio!

    • Simple and Fun Gameplay - RPG elements and side-scrolling action allows fans to level-up their characters and find drops that enhance builds while exploring.

    • Live the Anime - Follow the familiar storyline, a Heart-warming, funny and cute story for the entire family.

    Wizard of Legend - Released

    by Silver, 02:25

    Wizard of Legend has been released on Steam. The game is described as a no-nonsense, action-packed take on wizardry that emphasizes precise movements and smart comboing of spells in a rogue-like dungeon crawler featuring over a hundred unique spells and relics.

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    ABOUT THIS GAME

    Wizard of Legend is a fast paced dungeon crawler with rogue-like elements that emphasizes dynamic magical combat. Quick movement and even quicker use of spells will allow you to chain spells together to unleash devastating combinations against your enemies!

    Gameplay

    Battle your way through each challenge by defeating powerful conjured enemies! Collect valuable spells and relics and build up your magical arsenal to fit your playstyle! Achieve mastery over magic by chaining spells together to create devastating combinations! Face and defeat council members in magical combat to become a Wizard of Legend!

    Tons of Unlockables
    Unlock over a hundred unique spells and discover powerful spell combinations and synergies! A wide variety of elemental spells allows you to create a hand best suited to your playstyle. Dive head first into the fray or stand back and let your minions do the work for you, the choice is yours!

    Story

    Every year in the Kingdom of Lanova, the Council of Magic holds the Chaos Trials, a gauntlet of magical challenges put forth by its strongest members. Contestants that successfully complete all of the challenges and demonstrate superior wizardry earn the right to become a Wizard of Legend!

    Local Co-op
    Grab a friend and tackle the Chaos Trials together in Wizard of Legend's couch co-op mode! Jump head first into the action in an all out offensive or strategically equip your wizards with spells and items that compliment each other's playstyle. The battle is not over when your friend is downed in battle. Defeat multiple enemies in a display of skill to grant your partner a chance to rejoin the battle!

    Features

    • Fast paced spell slinging combat
    • Use powerful spell combinations to destroy your enemies
    • Procedurally generated levels mean a new challenge every time
    • Over 100 unique spells and items to fit your playstyle
    • Local multiplayer allows you to play with or against a friend
    • Full gamepad and controller support

    Tuesday - May 15, 2018

    Dink Smallwood - Two decades of duck decapitation

    by Silver, 03:36

    arhn.eu looks at the history of Dink Smallwood.

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    A short documentary on the rich history of an obscure RPG. Dink Smallwood is 20 years old, and yet its devoted community still creates new stories for the game and shares them via a specially crafted ecosystem. In recent years, a whole generation of gamers, who grew up living out the pig farmer's adventures have rediscovered the title and with that, have rekindled the long forgotten dream of fame and glory.

    Download the game for free at: https://www.rtsoft.com/

    Dink's Community: http://www.dinknetwork.com/

    "Crazy Old Tim Plays All The D-Mods": http://www.dinknetwork.com/news/book/

    Sunday - May 13, 2018

    Grimmwood - Announced

    by Silver, 14:39

    @Worthplaying Grimmwood is described as a challenging social multiplayer RPG experience that blends elements of survival, roguelike and exploration.

    You’re in a village in an ageless, mystical forest, together with up to 30 other strangers all of which are real, live players. Together you need to defend your village against the merciless monster hordes who unleash their wrath against your shelter every night.

    Use the daytime and your stamina points to explore the procedurally generated forest, repair, find weapons, useful items, collect food and gather resources to upgrade and forficate the village. But to be able to do all that you have to eat, drink and rest, because every action in the game takes its toll on your stamina and sanity. Share tasks and decisions with the other players and work together, because night by night the monsters attacks will become more fierce… And the village must survive at all costs!

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    [...]

    Thanks Farflame!

    Dragon Cliff - Released

    by Silver, 13:00

    Dragon Cliff has released on Steam. The game is described as an RPG/Town Management game. Players are to recruit adventurers, kill monsters, hunt treasures, craft armories, accommodate residents and finally reveal the great mystic behind the Dragon Emperor.

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    ABOUT THIS GAME

    Dragon Cliff is an RPG/Town Management game. Players are to recruit adventurers, kill monsters, hunt treasures, craft armories, accommodate residents and finally reveal the great mystic behind the Dragon Emperor.
    Features

    • Up to 25 adventurer classes to choose from. Every class has its own unique battle ability and talent profile. Whether it's a Young Warlock, Element Wizard, Drunk Reader, Fire Charger or a Soul Thief, they are all ready to server your town with their cool tactics and strategic abilities.
    • Time Based Command battle system: During battles, adventurers automatically perform actions when their Turn Progresses are fully charged, and players can unleash powerful tactics at any time by spending ‘Rage Points'. This frees players from micromanaging repetitive turn-based commands and allows fast paced and intense battle fights!
    • There are almost 100 different active and passive skills to be explored with. Every skill has its distinguishable strategic pros and cons, and begging for players' experimentation.
    • Hundreds of equipment and scrolls to be discovered and crafted. A flexible Effect System allows endless customization of your adventurers!
    • Enchant, Reforge and Effect Transfer systems allow high customization of adventurers' equipment.
    • A deep gem system and a variety of set bonuses to further expand your strategy.
    • More than 200 types of monsters among 7 different maps waits for your exploration.
    • Attract residents and conduct explorations to further expand your town!

    Saturday - May 12, 2018

    ValeGuard - Early Access Release

    by Silver, 12:46

    ValeGuard has released on Steam Early Access. The game is a mix of tower-defense, turn-based strategy and RPG.

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    About This Game

    The quiet hamlets of the Vale stand defenseless... No walls, no moats, not even a presentable fence. You'll have to use your resources wisely to transform each village from farm-town to fortress. Build defenses, train troops, and hold the line with powerful heroes in ValeGuard, a Defensive Strategy game.

    Gameplay: Valeguard is part "turn-based-strategy" and part "tower-defense". Each day you construct your defenses, train troops, and prepare for attack. When enemies come in the night, you defend with RTS-style combat using troops and heroes with powerful abilities. Save as many towns as you can, while you travel through the Vale. Choose wisely, because each town unlocks unique assets and a hero to aid in future battles. Defeat is not the end in Valeguard. Each play you can unlock more heroes and discover new strategies to achieve victory.

    Features

     

    • - Build in the day and defend at night
    • - Gather resources, craft weapons, and train troops
    • - Trade with merchants and buy items on the black market
    • - Build your party of heroes with each successful defense
    • - Random events and levels make each play unique
    • - Hop from town to town as you travel across the map of the Vale
    • - Build walls, towers, and traps to defend your village
    • - Acquire new technologies depending on what towns you visit
    • - Unlock new heroes through special events and quests
    • - Confront the dark generals in a final epic battle

    Thanks Darkheart!

    Saturday - May 05, 2018

    Smoke and Sacrifice - Releasing May 31st

    by Silver, 12:51

    @beinformedgaming Smoke and Sacrifice is being released on PC and Switch May 31st.

    Smoke and Sacrifice is coming to PC and Switch this month with a discount!

    Smoke and Sacrifice is a hand-illustrated RPG made by Solar Sail Games. Set in a dark world filled with evil creatures that inhabit the land, players play as Sachi, a mother trying to discover the truth about what happened to her child. Sachi must “tame the game’s wilds” to find out what truly happened to her son.

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    Wednesday - May 02, 2018

    Battle for Wesnoth - Released on Steam

    by Silver, 06:50

    Battle for Wesnoth has been released on Steam. The game is a fantasy turn-based strategy which is free.

    About This Game

    The Battle for Wesnoth is an open source, turn-based strategy game with a high fantasy theme. From the plains of Weldyn to the forests of Wesmere, from the mines of Knalga to the soaring peaks of the Heart Mountains, take part in over a dozen adventures spanning centuries! Play as a young prince as he flees the encroaching forces of the Lich Lords to a new home across the sea... Delve into the blackest depths of the earth to craft a jewel of fire itself... Travel the continent in a daring quest to reclaim your rightful throne from a usurping queen... Step into the shoes of a young mage, his village beset by orcish invasion, as he seeks vengeance and immortality... Battle the undead hordes of a foul necromancer as he marches upon your capital... Lead a daring group of survivors across the blazing sands to a final confrontation with an unseen evil... The choice is up to you.

    Then take the battle online! Choose from seven fully-balanced factions and duke it out with your friends in over 50 multiplayer maps for parties of all sizes!

    Explore hundreds of creative community-made campaigns, maps, and factions for both single and multiplayer, and try your hand at crafting your own! Wesnoth features a built-in map editor, a highly moddable engine, a simple and intuitive scripting language, and a friendly and dedicated modding community. There's no telling what adventures you'll bring to life!

    Tuesday - May 01, 2018

    Final Equinox: The Arrival - Turn-based Space RPG

    by Silver, 01:36

    Final Equinox: The Arrival is a turn-based space RPG which has been in active development since the middle of last year.

    Dev Blog 1# An Introduction

    Dev Blog 2# Crew Morale and Choices

    Dev Blog 3# Sam Baker

    Dev Blog 4# End of Year Wrapup and Arpawn

    Description

    Final Equinox: The Arrival is a turn based space combat sci-fi role playing game set in a unique and interesting Universe. The player is a newly appointed star ship admiral whose fleet encounters a new enemy in deep space. The game takes place in a complex world filled with multiple different races, in the midst of political upheaval. Rules and feel of the game hark back to the days of old school role-playing games,where combat is difficult and the game forces players into morally compromising situations.

    Company Information

    Frozen Wasteland Entertainment was founded by two friends during the cold the Wisconsin winter. Jonathan and Kevin had decided that they would undertake the great challenge of creating a role playing game.

    Setting

    Explore a new and unique setting. An empire transitions, while another race attempts to hold on to remnants of its past. The world of Final Equinox is unlike anything else. Religion, politics, and cultures clash, in a world where conflict is prevalent and the scars of a violent history are still visible.

    Final Equinox: The Arrival takes place in the Outerworlds, a newly colonized area run by cruel warlords or governors who have been appointed due to political favors. The past remnants of the Krum Rebellion still exist in the outer worlds, and have either gone into hiding or are planning their next strike.

    System

    Final Equinox: The Arrival has a unique combat system, which will affect the dialogue choices of the player, as well as the stats of the ships. Throughout the game, the player will be able to rearrange his crew members in different positions on the ship, which will affect the ship’s movement, firepower, as well as other special abilities. Our system is fundamental to the overall feel of the game. Crew members became very important as they gain experience and increase their skills as time goes on. If a ship is lost in combat, the player is not able to get the crew on that ship back.

    Player Choice and Agency

    Player choice and reactivity is one of the core pillars of Final Equinox: The Arrival. We enjoy putting the player in difficult positions and seeing how they react. The choices the player makes will affect the way others perceive them. Throughout the game, the choices the players make will be questioned by their crew. Certain choices could also affect the morale of the ship, which will then affect how the fleet performs in battle. As a leader in the Galactic Fleet, the choices of the player will have far and lasting consequences.

    Monday - April 30, 2018

    General News - Chris Avellone Interview

    by Silver, 23:33

    The RPG Codex has interviewed Chris Avellone about all things RPG.

    Since you can't comment on PoE's case in particular: is having similar lengths and amount of voiced lines a priority for you in companion design? In Torment and KOTOR2 some companions didn't have nearly as many lines as others, but neither game suffered for it, if you look at how they were received.

    I can confirm some of the elements - there’s still people I can ask, so if I can’t remember, it’s easy to find someone who can jog my memory (I can’t check the details on my own). I also managed to get some clarification on some of the points, which was welcome, so…

    Of those three reasons, the first was the only one I ever recall communicated to me (I had to get confirmation on it and these other points, since it’s been a long time). The other two reasons weren’t, and I actually got multiple other reasons from multiple people – and some of those people admitted they were just the messenger. This confused things, since they couldn’t articulate what the critiques were since they either didn’t understand them or hadn’t read the material (both our CEO and Parker among them – ironically, after a long speech ending with his admission he hadn’t even read what he was arguing against, Parker did go back and read the companions and found nothing to object to, which cost even more time – to his credit, he did admit his error, but things like that happened a lot).

    There were other people who apparently didn’t like Durance’s swearing (easy fix), and the original tie in the GM and Durance backstories were they had violated each other physically and mentally and that’s what broke both of them, which I then cut – although I don’t know if the GM one got removed completely – the intention was the Watcher could fix it mentally by repairing their souls by walking through their minds in stages. I think some of this is still mentioned in the strat guide.

    [...]

    NetHack - 3.6.1 Release Notes

    by Silver, 10:06

    A new release is a rare thing for NetHack which is now at version 3.6.1.

    The NetHack DevTeam is happy to announce the release of NetHack 3.6.1.

    3.6.1 is a general patch release. It includes a large number of fixes to the 3.6.0 version, all of which have been incrementally published on the public Git repository for the game.

    The DevTeam has decided that 3.6.1 will be the final "official" 3.6.x version, barring some sort of major issue that requires a new release.

    After this release, 3.6 will continue to be maintained in our Git repositories, however the team will focus on a new major release. Another 3.6.x release and packaged set of binaries, is not anticipated.

    Here's a synopsis of some of the changes we've made in the past two years (approximately) since the release of 3.6.0 in December 2015:

    1. Personnel changes

    We've added some additional members to the team since the 3.6.0 release:

    Alex Smith and Patric Mueller joined the team in July 2016.

    Alex created the AceHack and NetHack 4 variants and is an expert on the inner workings of the game and the ways in which they can be exploited.

    Patric is probably best known as the creator of the UnNetHack variant. He also created NetHack-De (a German translation of NetHack) and has considerable involvement in the Junethack tournament.

    2. Gameplay changes

    There are fewer gameplay changes in 3.6.1 than in 3.6.0, but still over 500 items. Here are a few, though not necessarily the most important, examples:

    General New Features

    • Naming Sting or Orcrist now breaks illiterate conduct
    • Poison breath leaves a trail of poison gas
    • Allow knife and stiletto as possible tin opening tools
    • New status line conditions Stone Strngl Deaf Lev Fly Ride
    • Swallowers can't re-engulf hero immediately after spitting him/her out
    • Allow taming monkeys and apes with bananas
    • Ray bounceback chance depends on the wall type
    • Undead #turning takes less time at higher experience level
    • Peacefuls may react when you attack other peacefuls
    • Prevent diagonal jumping through open doorways
    • Give feedback just before timed levitation runs out
    • Blinded hero or monster who eats a nurse corpse will have blindness cured
    • Wielding *bane have additional effects
    • "Elbereth" must now be the only engraved text on a square to function
    • "Elbereth" now erodes based on attacks by the player, not monsters scared

    NetHack Community Patches (or Variations) Included

    • Malcolm Ryan's improved tin opener
    • Ray Chason's keyboard may stop responding after locking or unlocking a door when using altkeyhandler=nhraykey.dll
    • Ray Chason's fix: window interfaces that support transparency may give away unseen parts of the map
    • Ray Chason's xprname should honor iflags.menu_tab_sep
    • Ray Chason's punctuation for "That foo is really a mimic."
    • Ray Chason's proper background tiles for lava and water
    • Ray Chason's MS-DOS port restored to functionality with credit to Reddit user b_helyer for the fix to sys/share/pcmain.c
    • Ray Chason's MSDOS port support for some VESA modes
    • Ray Chason's Qt4 windowport
    • Darshan Shaligram's pet ranged attack
    • Jason Dorje Short's key rebinding
    • Maxime Bacoux's new DUMPLOG: compile-time option to enable logging of end-of-game information into a text file

    For a complete, very granular, but not necessarily clear list of the changes incorporated in this release, please take a look at the file doc/fixes36.1 in the source distribution. This file has a full list of all changes to the game.

    The text in this file is populated automatically for the development team's own use and is provided "as is", so please do not ask us to further explain the entries in that file. Some entries may also be "spoilers", particularly in the "new features" sections, so read at your own risk.

    3. Deprecations announced post NetHack 3.6.1

    3.6.1 is essentially a maintenance release and as such doesn't change much in terms of what is or is not supported. However there will be some significant changes to support in the next major release.

    The following ports will be dropped from the next major release unless someone comes forward to maintain them:

    • Amiga
    • Atari
    • Macintosh Classic
    • BeOS
    • OS/2
    • 16-bit MS-DOS
    • Floppy disk support for all platforms

    Starting with the next major release, we will be dropping support for most K&R and pre-ANSI C features, including:

    • The Bitfield macro
    • K&R function definitions

    Starting with the next major release, we will start using ANSI C features; which ones have yet to be determined.

    If you are actively running NetHack on a system that cannot handle full ANSI C, please let us know some details and we _might_ be able to accommodate you.

    Save File Portability

    Save files should be portable between version 3.6.0 and 3.6.1.

    We did, however, identify a bug early in the 3.6.0 release that may affect some score files. For full instructions on how to deal with this bug, please go to: fixrecord.html Yes, this is in the 3.6.0 tree as it is a 3.6.0 bug.

    As with all releases of the game, we appreciate your feedback. Please submit any bugs using the problem report form.

    Also, please check the known bugs list before you log a problem - somebody else may have already found it, after all.

    Happy NetHacking!

    For the DevTeam...

    Mike Stephenson

    Saturday - April 28, 2018

    Fort Triumph - Tactical RPG in Early Access

    by Silver, 14:56

    Fort Triumph has launched onto Steam early access. The game is described as a party based tactical RPG that emphasizes the use of environmental interactions.

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    About This Game

    Fort Triumph is a tactical RPG emphasizing the use of Environmental Interactions to create rich, challenging and rewarding tactical gameplay. In the game, you command a party of chosen heroes who set out to change the world, one quest at a time. On your path you will explore the world, discover ancient secrets, and face down any enemy who stand in your path to glory through turn based tactical combat.

    In Fort Triumph, every crate and every tree is a potential weapon in the hands of experienced tacticians: in order to succeed, you will have to burn, freeze, topple, kick around or outright destroy the scenery at the right moment.

    Our game includes:

    • Hardcore tactical turn-based gameplay - You lead a chosen party of heroes, each with a different set of abilities and a unique playstyle. Your party of heroes will face challenges and win missions by completing diverse objectives in tiled procedural maps. Many will fall, but others will rise to take their place!
    • Fully Interactive environments at your disposal - push, topple, grapple, burn, freeze and crash your way through interactive levels that play into your tactics.
    • Heroes evolving by learning new abilities from their class skill tree - As they gain experience, your heroes learn new skills and abilities, making them more versatile in combat. Since each hero is unique, the right combination of heroes in a party is crucial to victory and you will need to balance your heroes' strengths and weaknesses to bring out their full potential.
    • Contextually generated encounters and quests - Fort Triumph features flexible campaigns with changing locations, events and quests influenced by the player’s choices. Tactical Missions are procedurally generated to ensure each battle is unique and calls for a new plan.
    • Strategic gameplay and world map exploration - Fort Triumph is set in an original fantasy world, one being warped and changed by magical forces threatening to consume it. Between one battle and the next, you will explore and discover the world to learn its secrets.


    Original music in the game created by Marco Valerio Antonini.

    Wednesday - April 25, 2018

    Abandon Ship - Preview

    by Hiddenx, 22:03

    Farflame spotted an Abandon Ship preview at GameGrin:

    Abandon Ship Preview

    Across uncharted waters and treacherous seas, lurks a beast below, a true tyrant of the depths, the Kraken. It’s the legendary sea monster at the forefront of Fireblade Software’s Abandon Ship.

    Taking place in a fantasy-like naval world, where ships rule the sea, you take command of your own, with a crew in toe, and explore a procedurally-generated world. Abandon Ship’s story places you the boots of the Severed One, an escapee of the Doomsday Cult that devotes itself to the Kraken. In an open world that wouldn’t go amiss from the works of H.P. Lovecraft. The interactive story sees you severing yourself from the cult after questioning them as a whole, you become free, commandeering a ship and escaping. With the cult in pursuit, it is here where your adventure and survival begins.

    Diving into the gameplay, for those who have played Faster Than Light (FTL), you will be quite familiar how things are structured. So just think, pirate ship instead of a spaceship, but with that being said, as someone who hasn’t played much of FTL, I’ll be only talking about Abandon Ship and won’t be making any comparisons.

    [...]

    Starcraft 2 - Paid Mods Introduced

    by Silver, 13:52

    Eurogamer reported on Starcraft 2 introducing paid mods.

    StarCraft 2 becomes a tactical turn-based RPG with the introduction of paid mods

    Pro-mods.

    Blizzard has jumped into the thorny issue of paid mods with its real-time strategy game StarCraft 2.

    Two premium Arcade maps will soon be available to buy: ARK Star and Direct Strike, each costing $4.99 with a share of the sales going to the creators.

    ARK Star, by Daniel "Pirate" Altman, follows the adventures of the Sol Seekers, an elite team of templar on a mission to find and destroy a weapon known as the ARK Star.

    You can find and craft new equipment, level up and unlock new talents and abilities. And the combat is tactical and turn-based. Check it out in the video below.

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    Tuesday - April 24, 2018

    Banner of the Maid - Chinese Alt History RPG

    by Silver, 10:38

    Techraptor reports that Banner of the Maid, a alt history Chinese tactical RPG, will be releasing for PC sometime in May.

    The Chinese-developed alternate history tactical RPG Banner of the Maid will come to Switch, PS4, and PC later this year. This is due to the efforts of publisher CE-Asia, based out of Beijing. CE-Asia funded the development of and is handling the rights of Banner of the Maid, including publishing it on their Sonkwo store. With English, Chinese and Japanese trailers currently out now, it would be unsurprising to see Banner of the Maid localized for the three regions. While the trailer linked below only says “Coming Soon in 2018,” multiple Chinese bloggers and the video description pegs a May release.

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    Monday - April 23, 2018

    Gaia Beyond - 2D Space Action RPG

    by Silver, 01:23

    Gaia Beyond is currently in Steam early access and is a 2D Action RPG set in space. Nookrium took a look at it and shared his impressions.

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    About This Game

    Gaia Beyond is a handcrafted 2D Action-RPG, an exploration mix built around the core features fighting, mining and trading.

    Your decisions are footprints...

    within a vast non-linear solar system. Forge alliances among numerous factions and develop relations with hundreds of NPCs. Focus on trading and personal interaction or embark on science missions – hunt down pirates and collect their bounty. Infiltrate dubious factions and uncover secret plots and dark menaces.

    • Realtime Open-World Solar System
    • 4K Graphics
    • Modding-friendly

    To deliver a seamless and unique experience, we created our own engine - presenting a massive 2D Open World in realtime, with no loading times inbetween. Every part of the universe is alive and active at every moment.

     

    There you are, human.

    At the face of a habitable planet way outside the Kuiper Belt, inquiringly gazing at the same stars as the rest of the living species. Everyone? Doesn’t look like we will ever find out.

    The past is shadowed by war. Generations of humanity have fought on the edge of survival. First against themselves – until technology started to rise, created to serve their innate greed for dominance. During Earth times, self-inflicted catastrophies kept humanity struggling and finally forced the big departure. And yet, here they are. Split up all over the solar system, living separate realities under various conditions.

    Everything is different – and actually nothing ever really changed. A new mindset of unity, awoken by the end of the Machine War, is facing hard times. Beneath the curtain of false peace and hope, bad blood had always remained. Old and new enemies are rising again and humanity will have to face its greatest trial, yet. Will you be part of mankind's downfall or guide the system into a brighter future?

    It's in your hands.

    Saturday - April 21, 2018

    Crying Suns - Interview with Dev Team

    by Silver, 15:00

    IndieGraze interviewed the developers of Crying Suns which is described as a story-driven rogue-lite, tactical game where you explore a dying galaxy as a space fleet commander.

    For lovers of innovative pixel art, tactical space combat, and adventures through sci-fi imperialism, Alt Shift flexes impressive muscle, taking influence from Dune/Foundation and FTL with its project Crying Suns, working toward a story-driven experience incorporating battleships and squadron fleets. I spoke with Frédéric Lopez (Art Director) and Julien Cotret (Game Producer and Co-writer) to get their takes on the game’s varied tools and overall aesthetic.

     

    Erik Meyer: You’re creating a tactical rogue-lite in which gamers take the role of a space fleet commander traversing the galaxy, so can you speak to the challenge of combining features like starship combat and exploration with the overall narrative and molding a smooth player experience? Which parts of the project came together first, and as you progress through development, what have you held as your mantra?

    Julien Cotret: Our very first idea was to add to the FTL gameplay/formula a sense of scale and a feeling of high stakes. We wanted to focus on macro rather than micro management. We wanted the player to feel that they weren’t just leading a few people on a small ship but a huge battleship with hundreds of crew members trying to save humankind no less! Our first focus was the setup. We toyed for a time with putting the player inside a pirate galleon or a huge mecha, but the scale wasn’t big enough for us. It didn’t feel right. Our first epiphany came when we told ourselves, “Let’s be honest. What we really want is the player to act like Admiral Adama in Battlestar Galactica”. That was it for the setup. Then we iterated over this gameplay idea for about 6 months.

    Given the rogue-lite structure of the game, with its inherent constraints, constructing the narrative was a real challenge. We found ourselves facing a lot of questions early on like, how can you write a story that makes sense if the player is constantly dying and starting over again? How does a story like this progress? Or, even, can it progress? Should we focus on a main character? If so, how? And how should the NPCs react if they’ve already seen you, and, in many cases, if they’ve already killed you?

    Very early we discovered that these constraints could actually become the story’s strengths, its focal points. We saw that they could actually drive the story as opposed to being something that we would try to avoid or cover up.. So we decided that the player would be the center of a plan to save humankind. And that he would die, often and horrifically, yes, but that he would essentially live on through other clones which would be sent out into our universe over and over trying to save humankind.. Also, regarding the NPCs, we decided, that, unlike in other rogue-lite games, they would actually remember having encountered the player (or having killed the player before). It seemed like a fun, interesting idea to play with, one that was, in a way, a more realistic experience than in other rogue-lites, where, when you run into an NPC, it’s like the first time every time. Altogether, these ideas, we believe, help create a complex yet smooth gamer experience.

    [...]

    FEATURES

    • Space exploration in a procedural generated universe.
    • Tactical fights between BattleShips and their squadrons fleets.
    • A deep and dramatic storyline inspired by our favorite S-F universe (Foundation, Dune).
    • A mix between pixelart style graphics, 3D and HD special effects.
    • Prepare to die very often, it's a roguelite game... And it's a hard one...

    Friday - April 20, 2018

    Castle Agony - RPG Adventure Game

    by Silver, 15:48

    IndieGames reviewed Castle Agony which released on Steam late March.

    Supernatural pest control isn't a glamorous job, but at least your dog gets to come along!

    In Castle Agony, players will guide their character through the halls by clicking around, moving through haunted corridors filled with challenging puzzle mechanisms and irate hauntings. As they explore, players can find an array of odd parts and tools, which they can then combine into stuff that might be useful like molotovs and healing potions. Although the fact that you've come to the castle to steal anything that isn't nailed down might be part of why the vampire doesn't much care for your village and its inhabitants. Food for thought.

    [...]

    About This Game

    Welcome to Agony. Inspired by the Resident Evil of old, the golden age of NES gaming and the Castlevania series, you play a local hero with a dog! Forced by your village to enter the crumbling castle filled with trickery, magic and monsters! Can you defeat The Vampire and live to see another dawn?

    Welcome To Castle Agony

      * Sprawling castle and grounds to explore, filled with loot and monsters!
      * Learn the hidden history of the castle and make friends with unlikely allies.
      * Original art flooded with character and personality, with enemies too cute to kill.
      * Beautiful NES style soundtrack by Vesager"
      * Turn-based, Action point combat system: Choose to make Aim or Snap shots.
      * Craft potions of various types: make Molotovs and Holy Water bombs to use in combat!
      * Switch to your brave companion, Harry the dog. Sniff out secret areas and find secret loot stashes and XP!
      * Did I mention you can play as a dog?

    Wednesday - April 18, 2018

    Iratus: Lord of the Dead - Lore Trailer

    by Silver, 23:52

    Iratus: Lord of the Dead is an upcoming tactical roguelike RPG.

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    Please Enjoy our story trailer into the lore of Iratus! Allow Iratus himself (voiced by the fantastic S. Weyte) to tell you of the events that led to his imprisonment and eventual liberation! Iratus: Lord of the Dead is upcoming tactical roguelike RPG greatly inspired by Darkest Dungeon, Dungeon Keeper, and Disciples.

    http://www.iratus.org

    Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/807...

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/Iratus_Game

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iratusgamers/

    VK: https://vk.com/iratus_game

    Warhammer 40K: Mechanicus - Early Look

    by Silver, 22:45

    Gamespot had a early look at Warhammer 40K: Mechanicus. Video is at the link.

    Warhammer 40000: Mechanicus Brings XCOM To 40K

    Our resident Warhammer: 40,000 nerd Dave got a very early look at the new squad-based Warhammer game, Mechanicus.

    Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus delves deep into the lore of the Warhammer 40,000 franchise, melding the story with Xcom gameplay mechanics into a turn-based strategy experience that fans of either series will find familiar. The game is coming some time this year, and not much is known about it, but GameSpot did get an early look at Mechanicus. Check out the latest gameplay in the video above, wherein Dave and Tam talk about how the game is very XCOM on the surface, but filled with deep, nerdy, Warhammer lore within.

    [...]

    Monday - April 16, 2018

    Knights of Light - Medieval RPG

    by Silver, 11:09

    DSOGaming reports on a new historically inspired open world RPG called Knights of Light.

    Rumbling Games Studio is working on a new open world third-person action adventure game that is set during the medieval era, called Knights of Light. The game takes place during the battles between the Sasanian Empire and Arab forces and its main character will be based on a historical figure.

    [...]

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    Sunday - April 08, 2018

    General News - The best and worst In-Game Books

    by Hiddenx, 17:35

    PC Gamer checked out in-game books and codexes:

    The best and worst in-game books and codexes

    Literature’s had a pretty good run, much of it without any fancy graphics and animations and particle effects to bolster the words. Games love text too. Text is cheap. You can paint a picture of galactic chaos or epic history in about the same time it takes to type ‘and then something cool happened’, without having to spend the next week designing armour and creating 3D characters to act it out. Yet despite centuries of practice, most games still haven’t worked out how to present all this (which let’s face it, is often there more for the writers’ satisfaction than our actual enjoyment) in a punchy, satisfying way. What works? What doesn’t? Let’s take a quick look at some of the ways games have handled books, letters, codexes and more.

    [...]

    Thanks Farflame!

    Thursday - April 05, 2018

    The Protagonist - Announced

    by Silver, 09:50

    @PCInvasion A new story driven, turn-based RPG, has been announced called The Protagonist.

    3Mind Games has announced a new turn-based story-driven RPG called The Protagonist.

    With turn-based tactical combat, players will be able to affect the course of the game depending on which actions they take. Featuring a Special Operative with the Terran military force code named: ANGEL, she’s on a mission to infiltrate an alien space station. Unfortunately for her it doesn’t go to plan and finds herself in the station’s infirmary and she must find a way out while the station is on lock-down.

    [...]

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    Wednesday - April 04, 2018

    Dark Devotion - Announcement Trailer

    by Silver, 05:23

    Dark Devotion is a side scrolling action RPG roguelike that was kickstarted back in October 2017.

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    Devotion is taught through suffering.

    The eternal suffering of The Templars is both a blessing and a curse - salvation is born through sacrifice, and no sacrifice is too great to praise your God. A mystical temple teeming with a strange life-like energy of its own awaits you on your sacred crusade of suffering and redemption that will take you to the depths of traditions spanning centuries – and leave you questioning your faith and your own existence.

    Developed by Hibernian Workshop

    Published by The Arcade Crew

    Slasher's Keep - First-Person Dungeon Crawl

    by Silver, 01:05

    PC Gamer reports on Slasher's Keep. The game itself is described as a first-person dungeon crawl with a wacky sense of humour.

    "Don't neglect the Sack!" insists Damian Schloter, the creator behind hack-n-slash dungeon-crawler Slasher's Keep. "The Sack Smack™ is an integral part of the combat as it allows you to kill enemies instantly," he says. The hero's bulging inventory sack can be swung to shove enemies into conveniently placed chasms and spike-studded walls, but it's an easy feature to miss. 

    Slasher's Keep is a minefield of traps and hazards but fortunately, thanks to the sack attack, this lack of workplace safety can be exploited. The goal is simple: kill or be killed, explore the floor, and find the ladder up to the next level.

    [...]

    Tuesday - April 03, 2018

    Chasm - Releasing This Year

    by Silver, 08:26

    PC Gamer reports that Chasm, a Kickstarter game from 2013, finally has a release date of mid 2018. The game itself is described as a procedurally generated Metroidvania.

    It'll release this winter, or summer if you're in Australia, New Zealand or anywhere else in the southern hemisphere. "This has been an incredibly arduous undertaking - one that I’ve loved (almost) every minute of, but one that wound up being an even bigger challenge than I expected," wrote a spokesperson for studio Bit Kid on Steam.
    "I know you guys are all looking for the most kick-ass action-adventure ever to grace a gaming system, and we’re doing everything we can to deliver on that promise. And now, we’re almost there!"

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    Monday - April 02, 2018

    City of Brass - First-Person Rogue-lite

    by Silver, 23:51

    DSOGaming reports on a new first-person rogue-lite game developed by ex-Bioshock developers called City of Brass.

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    Uppercut Games has announced that City of Brass, an Arabian Nights-inspired first-person rogue-lite adventure from BioShock veterans, will release on May 4th. Set in a mythological metropolis undone by its love of gold, City of Brassfollows a cunning thief on a heist to obtain fabled treasure hidden in the heart of the opulent ruins.

    As the press release reads, players will be armed with a bullwhip and blade and will lash-and-slash their way through the legions of damned souls that haunt this legendary labyrinth while pilfering relics and other riches contained within its walls.

    [...]

    Sunday - April 01, 2018

    Game Developers Conference - 2018 Talks

    by Hiddenx, 08:36

    Some interesting talks from the GDC 2018:

    Session Classic Game Postmortem: 'The Bard's Tale I and II' by Michael Cranford.

    This session will explore the conception and development of Interplay's 'The Bard's Tale I & II', led by Michael Cranford. He will share the vision that led him to the game's conception, design, and development from his years as a dungeon master. The games are an expression of Cranford's personal love for the genre and desire to surpass the experience of tabletop gaming.The session will explore the vision behind the game and help illuminate a trajectory in gaming which has remained strong to the current day.

    Session Failing to Fail: The Spiderweb Software Way by Jeff Vogel.

    In 1994, Jeff Vogel founded Spiderweb Software, one of the oldest continuously operating indie game companies. This is the story of the company, the tricks it used to endure and make money for decades in this brutal business, the history of indie gaming from a bunch of random shareware weirdoes to an industry powerhouse, and a pile of helpful business advice from someone who has stayed around for a long time. Features funny anecdotes, crunchy sales information, and the delightful rantings of a cranky old coot.

    Session Rules of the Game: Five Further Techniques from Rather Clever Designers by Richard Rouse III, Erin Hoffman-John, Soren Johnson, Raph Koster, Josh Sawyer, Stone Librande.

    How do you make your games work? There's no sure-fire way to design great games, but over numerous successful projects the best designers develop techniques that help them craft compelling experiences. Returning for GDC 2018, the Rules of the Game session takes five renowned designers and asks them to go into detail about a rule they've used in their work. Each speaker has ten minutes to dive into their technique and provide detailed examples about how they have used the rule in past projects, honestly sharing the pluses and minuses including where their rule works well and where it may be less applicable. These are personal rules that you may not always agree with, but they're guaranteed to provide interesting fodder for your own game design thoughts and help you build your own design rulebook.

    Thursday - March 29, 2018

    Guards of the Gate - Coming Soon

    by Silver, 12:31

    Guards of the Gate is described as a rogue-like RPG game with turn based battles on hexagonal fields. You can view the Steam page here.

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    Overview

    Guards of the Gate is a rogue-like RPG game with turn based battles on hexagonal fields. You control a team of heroes aka Guards of the Gate, who are trying to save the world from the evil Dragon Lord.

    Choose your heroes

    Select 3 heroes and start the adventure. Fight with several enemies, avoid traps on different places while your heroes are leveling up, learn new skills and get equipment. There are 4 chapters with several dungeon which ends with boss fight.

    Improve your tactics

    Choose talents and skills, and proper items for hero's build. Every hero has unique talents and skills, furthermore some items can effect power of the heroes. Select wisely! Heroes strength can supplement and strength each other.

    Be a strategist!

    Hexagonal battlefield and unique characters make able to save the worst situation with the right choose, or lose with a bad decision from a winning position.

    Dragon Quest 11 - Coming to Steam

    by Silver, 12:16

    PCGamesN reports that Dragon Quest 11 will be coming to Steam.

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    The latest Dragon Quest comes to the West this September, and as a first for the main series the game will launch on PC. Square Enix are apparently not satisfied with just bringing their other big RPG franchise to PC, and if the quality of the Final Fantasy XV port is any indication we’re in for another treat.

     

    Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age releases September 4 on Steam for $59.99 / £39.99 / €59.99. The Steam page promises a handful of pre-order bonuses, including a set of wallpapers, and some in-game items including 15 consumable skill point seeds and the Wings of Serendipity to draw in rare forms of regular monster.

    [...]

    Friday - March 23, 2018

    Enoch: Underground - Released

    by Silver, 13:19

    Enoch: Underground is a hardcore action RPG that released today on Steam.

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    About This Game

    The battle was lost ages ago and now the barren ruins hold nothing but echoes of once great civilization. Amidst the dust, few that remain are still clinging to their existence, far beyond the point where they could be called human.

    But the hope still lingers.

    On the outskirts of the forgotten city, a lone soul awakens from millennial slumber. Lost and forgotten, he finds himself in catacombs and now his way lies through the treacherous ruins to the very heart of it.

    OVERVIEW

    Enoch - Underground is a hardcore action-RPG title set in an ancient city destroyed long time ago. The player takes control of the awakened - one of the few survivors left in the city. Without a goal and without memories he starts his way through the ruins striving to find his place in this hostile world.

    GAMEPLAY

    The gameplay is based on classic action RPGs with such features as complex environments, precise battle system, and generous loot, but makes accessibility a staple of game's design.

    The character progression is entirely loot-based, eliminating the need for complex character menus while retaining flexibility and customization options. Each weapon type has unique stats and attack patterns, armor can provide additional protection and sometimes valuable buffs, trinkets and mutagens allow to change character's abilities, providing an advantage in combat.

    Encounters require patience and precision but give just enough room for error to get familiar with enemy's attack patterns and develop a strategy to withstand them. The game is balanced to be hard but fair so that completing the playthrough gives the sense of achievement while the process of doing so does not feel like a chore.

    FEATURES

    • Different weapon types, each with unique attack patterns
    • Powerful artifacts that boost player stats or provide new skills
    • Varied environments and enemies
    • Precise, dynamic combat system
    • Deadly environmental traps that you can turn to your advantage
    • Devastating special attacks and skills

    Thursday - March 22, 2018

    General News - Burning out in the Games industry

    by Myrthos, 10:39

    Screeg pointed us to an article on The Verge, about how the video games industry is burning out its own employees and uses Telltale Studios as an example.

    As Telltale became more prolific, it took on more and more simultaneous projects. In 2013, it released episodes of The Wolf Among Us and The Walking Dead: Season 2. In late 2014, it launched episodes from its newly procured licenses with Game of Thrones and Borderlands that would stretch into 2015, along with a Minecraft game. As 2016 rolled into 2017, it also took on Batman, Guardians of the Galaxy, and more seasons of The Walking Dead and Minecraft. One employee described a T-shirt that the studio distributed with its episode release dates as so packed that it looked it was promoting a concert tour.

    To keep up with the workload, the company started rotating developers in and out of different games during the development process, sometimes in ways that employees say made little sense. As the developer’s schedule grew more aggressive, management sought to remedy tighter turnarounds by adding more people to the department — a “solution” that did little to help the problem. As one former Telltale developer put it: nine women can’t make a baby in one month. “Focus on quality really started to shift to ‘let’s just get as many episodes out as we can,’” the source says.

    Time management was a major issue. Release dates would often slip after games underwent multiple, extensive reviews that came with a great deal of feedback, but failed to budget enough time to make the changes. “The pace at which the studio operated was both an amazing feat and its biggest problem,” says a former employee. “Executives would often ask teams to rewrite, redesign, recast, and reanimate up until the very last minute without properly adjusting the schedule. The demands on production only became more intense with each successful release, and at some point, you just don’t have anything left to give.”

     

    Wednesday - March 21, 2018

    Synthetik - Roguelite Shooter Released

    by Silver, 11:24

    Synthetik is a top-down roguelite shooter that recently released on Steam.

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    About This Game

    1985. After many years of slavery, the AI servants of Kaida Corporation, the world leader in robotics, have formed the "Machine Legion" and have set out to destroy humanity. Awakening in Kaida Corp. Headquarters, you are the human consciousness of a forgotten Android prototype; the last straw holding the Legion from unleashing the Heart of Armageddon. Only you can battle through the levels of Kaida Corporation's Headquarters, defeat the battalions of enemies within and put an end to this madness.

    SYNTHETIK has all the core components of a great rogue-lite - an insurmountable objective defended by relentless opponents and unforgiving bosses encased in ever-changing environments filled with a massive cache of weapons, items, perks and upgrades to discover.
    Join the fight alone or through seamless 2 player online co-op, but be careful; every fumble could mean the end.

    There's plenty to choices to make and hours of challenge and fun to be had.
    Can you defeat the Heart of Armageddon?

    T H E N E X T L E V E L I N G U N P L A Y

    > Master SYNTHETIK's uniquely rewarding magazine eject and active reload mechanics!
    > Weapons can jam and produce heat, check yourself before you burn yourself!
    > Go for headshots, tame complex recoil, discard and switch between varied ammo types.
    > Savor the uniquely satisfying and direct weapon handling, rewarding precision and mastery!

    E X P E R I M E N T

    Discover and experiment with over 60 weapons, each with many variants, attachments, and upgrades. Supplement your arsenal with over 80 items that grant offensive and defensive capabilities. There are many choices to make, risks to take, and everything can work!

    C U S T O M I Z E

    Select between 4 unique and highly customizable classes - Play as a Guardian, Rogue, Commando, or Specialist, each with their own weapon specialisations, loadouts, and perks.

    M O D U L A R  D I F F I C U L T Y

    Choose from 10 different modifications which can be independently combined for a tailored experience. Up the ante for greater risks and rewards or play it safe.

    2 P O N L I N E C O O P

    Drop in co-op allows you to bring reinforcements to the fight. Better yet, share perks, items, buffs and loot with your comrade. Or, if they get in your way, share your bullets.

    Tuesday - March 20, 2018

    Smoke and Sacrifice - Dark Fantasy RPG

    by Silver, 20:35

    PC Gamer reports on Smoke and Sacrifice, a dark fantasy RPG. There are screenshots at the link.

    In Smoke and Sacrifice, you're a mother searching for her child in a bizarre underworld. All sorts of creatures inhabit this landscape, including jellyfish-like creatures called polyps and a cute hybrid of hogs and porcupines. It immediately reminds me of Don't Starve to play—you craft things to survive, which is extremely familiar. While you start by creating boots, melee weapons and small bombs, though, eventually you'll be creating steampunk-infused mechs. There's a lot going on here.

    [...]

    Jeff Vogel - Innovation is not the only Path

    by Silver, 12:58

    @GamesIndustry Jeff Vogel shared his thoughts at GDC on how to survive making indie games.

    In his 24 years of continuous indie game development, Spiderweb Software's Jeff Vogel has learned a few things. In a talk at the Game Developers Conference Independent Games Summit today, he shared some of those things, with the caveat that they may only apply to him and his career, may not be true forever, and may not even be true now.

    "Video games are young," Vogel stressed. "Nobody knows anything. We're still scrambling to figure out, 'How do we design these things? How do we create these things? How do we test these things? How do we sell these things? How do we market these things? How do we add loot boxes to our $100 million project without causing it to blow up on the launch pad?'"

    Vogel framed his talk as a walk through his personal career in game development, including the creative genesis of his very first video game project.

    "It didn't take me long," Vogel said. "I came up with an idea. I loved these games as a kid, so what I'm going to do is I'm going to go to every single game I liked as a kid, and steal the single best idea from every one. And in my crasftsman way, I'm going to amalgamate them into what I hope is a cohesive and satisfying whole."
    [...]

    Sunday - March 18, 2018

    Soulblight - Released

    by Silver, 08:26

    Soulblight is described as a dark, unforgiving, top-down action roguelike luring you to cross the thin line between good and evil. The game has launched on Steam to a 10% discount.

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    About This Game

    Soulblight is a dark, unforgiving, top-down action roguelike luring you to cross the thin line between good and evil. Instead of XP grinding, it introduces a Tainting Mechanics. While traveling through the shattered reality of the Sanctuary, you will receive personality traits based on your choices. These will be the main source of your strength. To harness them, you will have to act accordingly. Becoming an alcoholic means that you will be rewarded for getting drunk, but from that point being sober might prove to be unbearable.

    Main Features

    • A unique Tainting Mechanic designed to encourage role playing
    • Tons of weapons, armor, and utility items
    • Dynamic and tactical combat build around stamina management and distance control
    • Optional stealth approach that complements fighting
    • Randomly generated, visually breathtaking levels
    • High difficulty level emphasized by permadeath mechanics
    • Gameplay­-driven narrative

    Gameplay

    Before entering each level of the Sanctuary you get to choose a Taint that represents a certain personality trait. That choice will shape your future experiences as each Taint unlocks a new way of gaining power - a custom mechanic designed to encourage role-playing. Tainting Mechanics channels your will to survive into actions that are aligned with your hero’s personality.

    As you go deeper into the Sanctuary you’ll be able to add more Taints to your character’s personality making the shifting levels of the dungeon itself a skill tree of a kind. However with each new Taint you’re a step closer to the point of no return. Are you sure you know where it is?

    Friday - March 16, 2018

    Genesis Alpha One - Planetary Landing Trailer

    by Silver, 06:40

    Genesis Alpha One is described as having roguelike mechanics with a deep ship builder and fast first-person action, putting you in the role of an interstellar pioneer.

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    Genesis Alpha One will launch on Steam, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One summer 2018.

    Wishlist it on Steam at http://store.steampowered.com/app/712190/Genesis_Alpha_One/

    https://www.team17.com/games/genesis-alpha-one/
    Follow Genesis Alpha One on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GenesisAlphaOne
    Like Genesis Alpha One on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GenesisCommand
    Follow Team17 on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Team17Ltd
    Like Team17 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Team17/
    Chat with us on Discord: http://discord.gg/team17

    The trailer reveals the ability to land upon a wide variety of different planets within the galaxy to mine resources and explore for artefacts, new weapons, blueprints and transmissions. You’ll be able to leave your genesis starship by departing in your trusty harvester located within the hangar. Setting foot upon the dusty surface of a new unexplored planet, your crew of clones will begin to mine the planet for vital resources such as iron, iridium, aluminium and more. You’ll need to keep a watchful eye for any hostile alien lifeforms that inhabit the planet. Defeating any threats will not only keep your crew safe but also enable you to collect biomass which will enable you to create new kinds of clones for your mission.

    Thursday - March 15, 2018

    Immortal Unchained - First Impressions

    by Hiddenx, 20:38

    John Papadopoulos of DSOGaming checked out the alpha version of Immortal Unchained:

    Immortal Unchained Closed Alpha - First 10 Minutes - PC Max Settings

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    Read the first impressions here.

    Gamewatcher penned down a preview, too:

    Killed again and again and again

    Immortal: Unchained is forcing me to commit not one, but two of the greatest travesties a video game journalist could commit. Not only must I invoke the name of that one game absolutely everyone mentions when a game is somewhat difficult, but I must also liken it to said game by adding “but with guns” to it. Don’t worry, I’m typing up my resignation in the other tab.

    Alas, Immortal: Unchained tries so very hard to not just be like, but outright be Dark Souls with guns and a coat of sci-fi paint, down to the typical strafe and dodge based gameplay, the save system, the lack of pause, the RPG elements, the opaque delivery of the ‘story’ and the level design that there simply isn’t any better way to convey what this game is like. We’re not invoking Souls because we died a couple of times, but because almost every mechanic has been lifted nigh verbatim from those games.

    [...]

    Thanks Farflame!

    General News - Project Spellbound becomes Witchbrook

    by Silver, 11:38

    Chucklefish have announced Witchbrook will be the title for their school of wizards game.

    Wednesday - March 14, 2018

    Decay of Logos - Announced

    by Silver, 20:42

    DSOGaming reports that Decay of Logos will release Autumn 2018. The game is described as a third person fantasy action RPG and there are screenshots at the link.

    Rising Star Games today announced it has entered into a partnership with Amplify Creations to publish the third-person fantasy action-RPG Decay of Logos on digital storefronts in Autumn 2018.

    Decay of Logos is described as an immersive action role-playing game inspired by the developer’s love and passion for European folklore, high fantasy fiction and archetypal classic third-person action-RPG videogames. The game hails from the imagination of lead game designer and programmer André Constantino and is developed by award-winning independent software organization Amplify Creations.

    [...]

    Monday - March 12, 2018

    Dark Future: Blood Red States - Gameplay Video

    by Silver, 20:54

    @GameWatcher Dark Future: Blood Red States is a strategy RPG focused on the post-apocalypse and car combat based on the tabletop from Games Workshop.

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    As noted in the video, the UI there is placeholder, but it gives a good impression of how Dark Future: Blood Red States will actually play. Despite at first glance looking like a Twisted Metal-style car combat game, it is actually a strategy game. Auroch uses a "time dilation-focused tactical gameplay system" called RealTimeShift, in which players can slow down time to issue orders. It certainly looks quite unique.

    The game's Steam page has also undergone a complete refresh, with new information and new screenshots.

    Dark Future: Blood Red States will be out on PC in 2018, we're guessing later in the year.

    Sunday - March 11, 2018

    Tale of Enki - Demo available

    by Hiddenx, 20:49

    A demo for the 2D RPG Tale of Enki: Pilgrimage is available on Steam. The game will be released later this year:

    Tale of Enki: Pilgrimage

    Tale of Enki: Pilgrimage is a story-driven RPG that tells the tale of a young Ogre, Gargan, who's kicked out of his house by his father for being a layabout. Gargan is determined to prove to his father that he's a true Ogre and sets off on a journey across the country to retrieve a relic from an ancient Ogre hero. Gargan is joined on his journey by: Rook the aspiring paladin, Drusilla the cruel demon witch, Twostone the rocky cyclops hermit and Ka-gu the reformed villain and current necromancer. They all have their own reasons for joining the journey, but it's never smooth and they don't always get along too well.

    Features

    Tale of Enki: Pilgrimage is a turn-based RPG with no random battles! It has influences from both Western and Japanese role-playing games as well as influences from classic pen and paper games like Dungeons and Dragons.
    • Character-driven plot that won't have you saving any worlds for a change.
    • Fast-paced battles using our custom Stamina system that lets you take multiple attacks per round.
    • Over 120 pieces of equipment to use ranging from swords to spells to armour.
    • Over 50 enemies and bosses to slaughter along your journey from bugs made of fruit to demon lords to the ghostly spirits of your ancestors.
    • Multiple endings depending on how many people you help...or sabotage.
    • Original art and story all put together in our custom engine.

    Editorial - Curious Case of Saviour Schnapps

    by Silver, 14:30

    Gamepressure write in defense of the Saviour Schnapps system in Kingdom Come: Deliverance.

    Much ado about saving

    After breaking down to you this lengthy outline of mechanics designed to make our decisions in games more impactful, I ought to get to the point, or rather the game that inspired this whole article – Kingdom Come: Deliverance. The Czechs from Warhorse also wanted to attribute more gravity to the decisions – not only the big ones that shape the world and the story, but also (and perhaps mainly) the small ones: risky actions such as pickpocketing, for instance. In order to do that, the number of possible ways of saving the game was drastically limited to beds, bathhouses and special (rather expensive) potions, complete with checkpoints during missions.

    Saviour Schnapps in Kingdom Come isn’t a new idea, as a matter of fact. Older players may recall a similar solution being utilized in PlayStation version of Tomb Raider 3 – at the beginning of each level, the player would get a few crystals that allowed to save the game. You could find a couple more further down the road, but the game was still considered to be significantly more difficult than the PC version – sometimes even to the point of absurdity, if judged by today’s standards.

    The decision generated much discussion. Even though Kingdom Come has probably as many pros as cons, the discussion was mostly fixed on the game’s saving system. The solution utilized in the game was a bitter pill, mainly for the PC players, who have developed an almost compulsive quick-saving instinct over the years. I’ve seen some truly paradoxical situations, where some core players, who usually bemoan the way video games have become way too simple because of the casuals, were complaining about this system spoiling the game.

    [...]

    Saturday - March 10, 2018

    Dark Sun: Shattered Lands - Retrospective Review

    by Silver, 08:18

    RetrospectiveGaming took a look back at Dark Sun: Shattered Lands.

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    Friday - March 09, 2018

    Immortal Unchained - PC Closed Alpha Available

    by Silver, 12:46

    @AllGamesDelta Immortal: Unchained PC Alpha is now live. There are some screenshots at the link.

    loading...

    An exclusive closed alpha test for the upcoming hardcore action-RPG Immortal: Unchained is now live on PC via Steam, Sold Out and Toadman Interactive announced today.

    Pre-orders for the physical version of Immortal: Unchained are also now available on PlayStation 4 and the family of Xbox One devices including Xbox One X ahead of the game’s release later in 2018.

    The closed alpha includes two of the game’s locations: the Hidden Vaults, featuring the game’s opening tutorial, and the frozen ice world Arden, where players will get to explore the Scar of the Abyss. The alpha will be live until 2pm GMT on Monday, March 12.

    Players interested in participating in the closed alpha can still register for access on ImmortalTheGame.com, with additional keys set to be provided to successful applicants throughout the weekend.

    Players are also encouraged to share their thoughts and experiences with the alpha via social media or by visiting the Steam forums, with the feedback being used to help Toadman Interactive refine the game ahead of launch.

    “Immortal: Unchained is a hardcore experience for hardcore action-RPG fans,” said Rasmus Davidsson, Design Director at Toadman Interactive. “As huge fans of the genre ourselves, Immortal: Unchained is the result of years of passionate work from the entire team, and we’re excited to finally give PC players an early sneak peek at our brutal new IP.”

    “We hope this early look at the game will get players eager to learn more about Toadman’s unforgiving universe,” added Sarah Hoeksma, Marketing Director at Sold Out. “We still have a limited number of spaces available in the alpha, so if you want to try Immortal: Unchained this weekend, sign up today!”

    Immortal: Unchained will be available both digitally and at retail on the PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system, the family of Xbox One devices including Xbox One X, and PC via Steam in 2018.

    For the latest updates on the game’s development, follow Immortal: Unchained on Twitter and Facebook.

    Paranoia: The Official Video Game - Announced

    by Silver, 12:39

    All Games Delta report that Cyanide has announced Paranoia: The Official Video Game which is a dark humour RPG based on a pen and paper game.

    Good news, Citizen! For the first time, your friend The Computer, has authorized a digital version of Paranoia

    Cyanide and Black Shamrock are fervently loyal to The Computer and therefore proud to announce the development of Paranoia: The Official Video Game, a darkly humorous RPG adapted from the critically acclaimed pen and paper game created by Dan Gelber, Greg Costikyan, and Eric Goldberg.

    Paranoia is set in Alpha Complex, the last remaining human city. Alpha Complex is a paradise. The Computer tells you so. Of course, The Computer is always right. Questioning or challenging The Computer is likely to result in termination, or possibly long-term commitment to a Re-Education Gulag and Spa.

    In Paranoia, you’ll play as the leader of a Red Clearance Troubleshooter team. As a Troubleshooter, your job is to find trouble. And shoot it. Though Alpha Complex is a paradise, it is unfortunately beset by all kinds of enemies. Terrorists. Mutants. Members of secret societies. Even – shocking though it may be to say – even Troubleshooters who somehow doubt The Computer’s benevolent wisdom, and the evident truth that Alpha Complex is a paradise.

    Lies, double-cross and backstabbing will be your best allies for survival in Alpha Complex, as betrayal is a constant threat. Sometimes your team mates, and even yourself, are more of a threat to your survival than the ostensible mission baddies.

    On top of that, the Computer is always watching your actions, judging you, and rewarding you fairly… or not. But should you be defeated or terminated (incinerated is more accurate), you have 5 replacement clones in reserve to try again! Not always faithful copies of the original… but that's another problem.

    To demonstrate your loyalty to The Computer, please circulate these posters! Thank you for your cooperation!

    [poster 1][poster 2][poster 3][poster 4]

    Unreliable narration; explosions, laser blasts, insane robots; technology-based environments to explore; a role-playing team you can’t rely on: Paranoia takes the conventions of the CRPG and turns them on their head, creating a world and a gaming environment that will frustrate, surprise, and delight players of the genre with something both familiar – and something that defeats their expectations.

    The above information is Clearance Violet. If you are below Clearance Violet, please report to the nearest Termination Booth immediately. Thank you.

    Paranoia: The Official Video Game is co-developed by Cyanide, from Paris Complex, and Black Shamrock, from Dublin Complex. The game will be released on PC and Console when the Computer decides that the time is right.

    Sunday - March 04, 2018

    Battle of the Torments - Scars and Stories

    by Silver, 06:38

    Noah Caldwell-Gervais dissects the two Torments, namely Planescape: Torment and Torment: Tides of Numenera. Heavy Spoiler Warning.

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    This is a total-spoiler analysis and critique of Black Isle's Planescape: Torment and its years-later successor from InExile, Torment: Tide of Numenera. It goes into great detail to highlight what makes the first game unique, and the challenges posed in trying to follow up such a legendary role-playing title.
    [Planescape: Torment] 00:23
    [Torment: Tides of Numenera] 1:00:54

    Saturday - March 03, 2018

    Undead Horde - Upcoming Necromancer RPG

    by Hiddenx, 09:46

    The necromancer action RPG Undead Horde will be released on Steam late 2018:

    Undead Horde

    Undead Horde is an action RPG where you raise undead minions from wherever you can find them: your slain enemies, graves, and tombs. With your undead army you'll defeat the armies of the living and steal their treasures!

    Raise the Dead

    You are a necromancer with the ability to raise the dead. Slay your enemies and make them your underlings. Your underlings vary from a horde of footmen to a mob of undead venomous scorpions!

    Loot the Living

    Find, buy and steal items to become more powerful. Equip up to six items: two in hand and four in quick slots. Items vary from common swords to amazing magic items. Some will require you to become more powerful before you can use them - others can be found only in specific places. An endless number of items offers something new to discover each time.

    Crush the Empire

    It's time to take back your ancestral lands! Make your way through the kingdom of men and crush the empire of the living. You will start as a novice necromancer with weak powers and a small following. To conquer back your lands, you must gain experience and gather an undead horde powerful enough to eliminate even the most dangerous creatures.

    • Create an army: Raise your slain enemies and the dead from their graves
    • Find items, level up, and raise the dead to become more powerful
    • Build up your Necromancer with items to suit your personal tastes and playstyle
    • Procedural item generation: Endless number of items to loot, steal and buy -
    • A vast world to explore and conquer - environments ranging from forests to catacombs.

    Thursday - March 01, 2018

    Spellbound - Chucklefish Interview

    by Silver, 12:11

    Redbull interviewed Chucklefish about Spellbound which they hope can top Stardew Valley.

    The triumph of Stardew Valley has given Chucklefish the resource to create a title which they hope could be just as popular with players, if not more so. Boasting a similar 2D aesthetic, Spellbound is described as a "wizard-school sim" and is a concept that has instant, universal appeal. "Who doesn't want to enroll in a magic school?" says Brice with a smile. The company's unique working environment was one of the key reasons the idea gathered enough momentum to become a fully-fledged project.

    "Spellbound is an idea several people at Chucklefish had been kicking around for a long time," Brice continues. "Between projects every member of staff at Chucklefish is given the opportunity to pitch a game, and Spellbound was one of the big pitches. The team fell in love with the concept right away and here we are."

    When you hear the phrase "wizard school", it's highly likely that the name Harry Potter flashes into your head like a magic spell, and Brice readily admits that the team was directly inspired by J.K. Rowling's iconic literary creation. "We're fans of Harry Potter, and after reading the series we were left longing to experience our own path through magical school life, where we could make our own best friends and develop our own identity in a magical world."

    However, Brice explains that the game has been influenced by other key sources, too. "Spellbound is our exploration of that premise, but the magical world we're creating is very unlike Hogwarts. Magic in this world is very practical, taking inspiration from Terry Pratchett's Tiffany Aching series, Garth Nix's Old Kingdom Series, Studio Ghibli animations, and even the cartoon show Steven Universe at times." That's quite a mixture of inspirations, and should hopefully calm any fears people have of this being little more than Potter without the licence.

    [...]

    Tuesday - February 27, 2018

    General News - 7 Games with Great Side Quests

    by Silver, 08:49

    @Gamasutra Seven games with great side quest design with pointers from Chris Avellone , George Ziets, Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz, Brad Johnson and Bruce Nesmith.

    Fallout 2's open-ended quest and skill systems

    The Witcher 3's lead quest designer Mateusz Tomaszkiewicz thinks that Fallout 2 has particularly good quest designs. "Tasks are simple, but open-ended," he explains. "You can complete many of them in a variety of ways and it’s done very organically — they don’t seem forced, nor do they involve much hand holding, if any at all." Indeed, the game is so open-ended that most quests can be bypassed altogether — meaning that nearly every quest could be described as a side quest. And the player's actions have consequences — even in the more innocuous quests — that can play out both over the course of their remaining journey and in the ending.

    Fallout 2 also cleverly works the skill system into the dialogue, with every stat affecting dialogue choices and results, rather than following the common approach of only checking communication-related skills. 

    "If you invested heavily in small guns, for example, you might end up using that knowledge to impress someone," says Tomaszkiewicz. "If you know a lot about computers, you could’ve used that fact to reprogram a robot, etc. This use of gameplay-related skills in dialogues and quests was very unique and immersive — something I’d come to expect from a pen & paper RPG, not a video game."

    TAKEAWAY: Side quests, like main quests, benefit from an open-endedness that allows for different solutions and playstyles and that ideally also acknowledges all of the player character's relevant skills.

    [...]

    Monday - February 26, 2018

    Opinion - What Kingdom Come can teach Elder Scrolls

    by Silver, 11:13

    Gamespot opine on what Elder Scrolls games can learn from Kingdom Come: Deliverance.

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    Kingdom Come: Deliverance is in many ways a more realistic survival take on The Elder Scrolls series and we think there are some lessons future Elder Scrolls games could learn from it.

    Saturday - February 24, 2018

    The Digital Antiquarian - Worlds of Ultima

    by Silver, 11:29

    The Digital Antiquarian writes about the Worlds of Ultima.

    The Worlds of Ultima

    23 Feb

    In the very early days of Ultima, Richard Garriott made a public promise which would eventually come back to haunt him. Looking for a way to differentiate his CRPG series from its arch-rival, Wizardry, he said that he would never reuse an Ultima engine. Before every new installment of his series, he would tear everything down to its component parts and rebuild it all, bigger and better than ever before. For quite some time, this policy served Garriott very well indeed. When the first Ultima had appeared in 1981, it had lagged well behind the first Wizardry in terms of sales and respect, but by the time Ultima III dropped in 1983 Garriott’s series had snatched a lead which it would never come close to relinquishing. While the first five Wizardry installments remained largely indistinguishable from one another to the casual fan, Ultima made major, obvious leaps with each new release. Yes, games like The Bard’s Tale and Pool of Radiance racked up some very impressive sales of their own as the 1980s wore on, but Ultima… well, Ultima was simply Ultima, the most respected name of all in CRPGs.

    And yet by 1990 the promise which had served Richard Garriott so well was starting to become a real problem for his company Origin Systems. To build each new entry in the series from the ground up was one thing when doing so entailed Garriott disappearing alone into a small room containing only his Apple II for six months or a year, then emerging, blurry-eyed and exhausted, with floppy disks in hand. It was quite another thing in the case of a game like 1990’s Ultima VI, the first Ultima to be developed for MS-DOS machines with VGA graphics and hard drives, a project involving four programmers and five artists, plus a bureaucracy of others that included everything from producers to play-testers. Making a new Ultima from the ground up had by this point come to entail much more than just writing a game engine; it required a whole new technical infrastructure of editors and other software tools that let the design team, to paraphrase Origin’s favorite marketing tagline, create their latest world.

    [...]

    Friday - February 23, 2018

    General News - Mike Laidlaw Interview

    by Silver, 13:52

    Mike Laidlaw talked to Game Informer about what he has been up to since he left Bioware. The GI Show also covered a variety of other gaming topics (see below).

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    On this episode of The Game Informer Show podcast, Ben Hanson, Joe Juba, Elise Favis, and Suriel Vazquez talk about Konami after Kojima by diving in deep on Metal Gear Survive. We talk about Ubisoft's stellar work keeping Rainbow Six Siege thriving with both the Invitational and Outbreak mode and also the bizarre historical tour through ancient Egypt available with Assassin's Creed Origins Discovery Tour. We take a turn for the romantic as well by talking about the intriguing little game Florence on iOS. After some great community emails, we're joined by Mike Laidlaw to talk about why he left BioWare, his role as creative director for the Dragon Age series, and why he's optimistic for Anthem.

    To jump to a particular point in the discussion, check out the time stamps below...
    2:45
    - Kingdom Come: Deliverance
    5:30 - Game Informer's 300th Issue Party at Fulton Brewery
    6:20 - Metal Gear Survive
    36:45
    - Assassin's Creed Origins Discovery Tour
    46:00
    - Rainbow Six Siege's Future 50:10 - Florence
    1:00:50
    - Community emails
    1:02:20
    - Introducing the #gishowchallenge
    1:33:25
    - Our entrance music
    1:53:10
    - Mike Laidlaw on Dragon Age and leaving BioWare

    Kynseed - Steam Page and Early Access Soon

    by Silver, 12:22

    Kynseed now has a Steam page with Early Access to come soon.

    About This Game

    Kynseed is a sandbox RPG adventure life sim brought to you by developers who worked on the Fable series for Lionhead Studios.

    Live your life in a quirky world where everyone ages and dies, including your pets! Take control of the mystical Kynseed and grow your family legacy over generations as you pass your skills and powers down to your children.

    • Run a tavern, apothecary, goods store or blacksmith. Farm your land. Go adventuring and battle dark faery tale creatures. Or do them all. The choice is yours.
    • Develop relationships with NPC’s who have their own lives and loves, and who will remember your deeds, actions and pranks!
    • Find and use Proverbs to unlock the secrets of each ingredient, creature and inhabitant of a place where folk tales are all true.
    • Gather the materials to create better items, craft beers or to mix cures for a range of bizarre maladies for the simple people of the land.
    • Deal with the mysterious Fae gentleman, Mr Fairweather and buy strange artifacts from him that aid your chores, help you in combat or let you just mess with the world….but be aware of the life tax he extracts annually!

    In Kynseed, live your lives the way you choose in a lovingly hand-crafted and huge 2D open world.

    Star Control IP - Complaints Filed

    by Silver, 09:30

    Fred and Paul of Star Control fame have explained the latest development in the legal dispute with Stardock.

    Stardock filed a complaint in Federal court against us, personally, alleging among other things that we are not actually the creators of Star Control.  This is news to us!  Are we clones of the original Fred and Paul, just now learning of our squelchy vat birth?   Unfortunately, Stardock’s complaint is not a prank – so, today we took action and filed a response in Federal court answering Stardock's false claims.  Of course, we've also filed counterclaims against Stardock, as the original Fred and Paul would have wanted.  Read the background here.

    Wednesday - February 21, 2018

    Immortal Unchained - Gameplay Trailer & Alpha Test

    by Silver, 07:46

    @DSOGaming Immortal Unchained is a science fiction, hardcore action RPG which will have a closed Alpha test March 8th.

    Beginning Thursday, March 8 and running until Monday, March 12, the closed alpha test will offer PC players the first look at two locations from Immortal: Unchained’s dark and unforgiving world, while experiencing the game’s brutal combat and tactical gunplay for the very first time.

    Players will also be invited to share their feedback with the development team to help refine the game and are encouraged to share their thoughts and experiences via the Immortal: Unchained Steam page and other social media channels. In other words, there won’t be any NDA for this closed alpha test.

    [...]

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    Tuesday - February 20, 2018

    General News - Historical Periods for CRPGs

    by Silver, 12:42

    Retrospective Gaming shares his thoughts on historical settings that could work for CRPGs.

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    Emperor Che will rule for 50 years and built an empire that will throughout the ages! Or maybe 20 years ..idk

    Music - Napoloen Total War - Art of War
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yOzj7hWGUM

    Onimusha - Waterfall Mountain
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aS3u6
    ...

    Mafia - Hoboken
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGr-e
    ...

    Picture sources - Samurai
    https://wiki.samurai-archives.com/ind
    ...

    https://www.japanvisitor.com/japanese...

    Mafia-
    http://mafia.wikia.com/wiki/Mafia_Wiki

    Naoleon and French Revolution -
    https://www.napoleon.org/en/history-o...
    https://fineartamerica.com/art/painti...


    Hisotrical Setting definition - " Historical setting is an aspect of setting that pertains to when events occur and when characters live or interact. A historical setting is a point in time. Literary characters cannot see nor touch their historical setting because historical setting pertains to time which is intangible, but all human actions must occur in time. Historical settings might be past, present, or future. Historical settings might be described as specific spans or moments in time:

    Sunday - February 18, 2018

    CRPG Book - Now in ePub Format

    by Silver, 12:17

    The latest update for The CRPG Book announces that it has been 'patched' to fix some grammar errors and is now available in ePub format.

    Hello everyone,

    It has been an overwhelming week! In less than 5 days the CRPG Book got over 100k downloads and it has been a blast to see everyone enjoying it. Smile

    Several volunteers appeared to help with proofreading and I’m trying to come up with a good system for this. I’ve also “patched” the book to version 1.0.2, fixing a bunch of typos, grammar mistakes and adding three contributors whose name had been left out.

    A lot of people want an ePub version. This is hard to do with such complex layout, but I’ve exported it as well as I could. Please get in touch if you know how to do this better.

    ePub Version 

    Also, some groups are now translating the book to Spanish, German, Russian and Chinese! Besides the translations, a lot of people wanted to print a copy for personal use, make “abridged” versions,  or simply check the files to see how the project was made.

    So here’s a link to the full InDesign project.

    The CRPG Book uses a CC BY-NC 4.0 Creative Commons license, meaning you can use it however you wish – as long as you credit the authors and don’t use it for monetary gain.

    Finally, I received a few offers to publish a hardcover version! The idea is to turn it into a charity fundraiser, so I’ll keep everyone updated as things progress.

    But for now, I’ll rest a bit. Thanks everyone for an unforgettable week! Smile

    Wednesday - February 14, 2018

    The Sinking City - Concept Art

    by Silver, 09:46

    Bloody Disgusting reports that Frogwares have shared some new concept art for The Sinking City.

    [Exclusive] Frogwares Drops Concept Art for their Lovecraftian Game ‘The Sinking City'

    It's been a while since we've heard from Frogwares in regards to their open world Lovecraft-inspired game, The Sinking City. While they're still very much working away at the game, Frogwares decided to drop us a line to give us an exclusive look at some of their concept work. The images include a fishing harbour, an underwater monolith, and (because Lovecraft) a portal "that may or may not exist in the physical world" that leads to another realm.

    [...]

    Sunday - February 11, 2018

    Egress - Announcement Trailer

    by Hiddenx, 16:22

    Farflame spotted a trailer for the Lovecraft Cyberpunk Action RPG Egress:

    Egress

    Egress - role-playing BattleRoyale with an intense hardcore Souls-like combat system. Choose your hero with unique abilities and become the last survivor!

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    Features:

    • Alternate universe, combining the Victorian era, Lovecraft's mythology and Retrowave
    • The multi-level City. Explore streets, houses and sewer tunnels
    • Heroes with unique abilities, weapons and the opportunity to become stronger
    • Hardcore Souls-like combat system based on melee attacks and dodges, ability combinations as well as strengths and weaknesses of the characters, their roles and equipment
    • Solo or team-up modes

    Friday - February 09, 2018

    General News - Jeff Vogel AMA

    by Silver, 06:52

    Jeff Vogel did a AMA(Ask me anything) on Reddit where he shares some details on his new RPG and other things.

    Hello, my name is Jeff Vogel! Since 1994, I've run an indie game company named Spiderweb Software (http://www.spiderwebsoftware.com/). We make indie, retro, old-school, story-heavy RPGs for Windows, Macintosh, and iPad. (And occasionally Android. And Linux.) We've made 16 all-new titles, plus ten full remasters.

    Last Wednesday, we released Avernum 3: Ruined World, a full remaster of our all-time most popular title. It's a gigantic game in a unique setting, with lots of cool encounters, an intricate battle system, and plenty of low-budget charm.

    Avernum 3 is out on Steam (http://store.steampowered.com/app/691830/Avernum_3_Ruined_World/), GOG.com (https://www.gog.com/game/avernum_3_ruined_world), and our own site (http://www.spiderwebsoftware.com/avernum/avernum3).

    I am spending the next several hours (until around 6 PM PST) answering questions and taking on all comers. If you want to ask about our games, indie games, the history of gaming and the Internet, or anything about role-playing games, fire away!

    EDIT: I'll answer the most common question now. What are we doing next?

    We're making entirely new IP. New game system, new graphics, new world, new story. I hope (no promises) to do a Kickstarter early this summer with a full announcement.

    It will still be a low-budget, turn-based, icon art fantasy RPG with a rich story. If you are expecting fancy tech, shiny 3-D, or big budget, nope. We're still us. Within those bounds, it is different from anything we've done before, and I'm very excited about it.

    EDIT 2: I try to answer every question. That means, if I ignore your question, it's answered elsewhere. I get a lot of question repeats.

    EDIT 3: Another FAQ ... We will remaster the Geneforge games, starting in 18 months or so. The story and gameplay will be mostly the same, but I have a lot of cool ideas for the creation system.

    I'm taking a break for an hour or so. The questions are slowing down, and there are a lot of repeats. I will be back to pick through and give answers. Oh, and 100 duck-sized horses.

    EDIT 4: Thanks everyone for a terrific AMA! I had a great time, and I hope I answered everyone's questions. If Avernum 3 sounds interesting, you can try a big demo on our web site. Have a great night!

    [...]

    Thanks Xian!

    Thursday - February 08, 2018

    General News - Roguelike Deck Builder

    by Hiddenx, 02:20

    Julian Gollop on PC Gamer: A new subgenre is born - The Roguelike Deck Builder.

    The Gollop Chamber: Rise of the roguelike deck builder

    From the tabletop to videogames like Slay the Spire and Dream Quest, a new subgenre has emerged.

    I am often fascinated by game design evolution and how different genres and mechanics get fused in interesting ways. Much of the innovation here has taken place in board games, but there are also interesting evolutionary influences on videogames, where a videogame takes a board game idea and makes it something only possible in this medium. So today I would like to introduce you to a new videogame sub-genre—the roguelike deck builder. Now there aren't many entries in this genre, but I am sure this will change.

    First, to explain deck building games. When you hear "deck building" the first thing you might think of is Magic: The Gathering or Hearthstone, but these are games for which you build decks, not "deck building games". In deck building games the game revolves around building the deck as part of the gameplay. The first deck builder I played was Dominion, a card/board game released back in 2008. In Dominion, each player starts with a deck of 10 cards containing money cards and victory point cards. Each turn a player draws five cards from that deck and may buy a card using money cards from their hand, and play a card. Then the hand is discarded, so that a new hand of five cards may be drawn on the next turn. When a player doesn't have enough cards to draw from they shuffle all discarded cards, including any cards bought in preceding rounds, in order to create a fresh draw deck. The cards you buy include money cards and victory point cards of various values, and kingdom cards which can be played for various effects which are described on the card.

    [...]

    Thanks henriquejr!

    Tuesday - February 06, 2018

    Regions of Ruin - Released

    by Silver, 13:39

    @IndieGames Regions of Ruin has been released on Steam to a 20% launch discount.

    Ah, to be a dwarf. Living underground with your dwarven pals, doing whatever dwarves do, and not caring about those weird people on the surface. And then, one day, you take a trip up there and everything is a mess. Monsters roam the world. Ruins everywhere. Oh, well. Time to do what dwarves do best: time to rebuild.

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    In Regions of Ruin, city building meets side-scrolling RPG. Starting with little more than a fireplace, you set out into the world to gather resources, go on quests, and seeking out new residents for you budding settlement.

    [...]

    Main Features include:

    • Styled combat system with stats and levelling
    • Skill tree to focus your fighting style
    • Extensive loot and rare items to discover
    • Forge your own equipment or smelt it for resources
    • Open world exploration with a hand crafted environment, no randomized maps or levels, everything you see has been made with care
    • Customised town building and expansion
    • Rescue and recruit dwarves for your township (save them from extinction!)
    • Send workers to harvest resources from explored regions
    • Hire Mercenaries to help in battle
    • Multitude of Quests and a main storyline

    Monday - February 05, 2018

    General News - The History of RPG Magic

    by Silver, 09:34

    RockPaperShotgun wrote an article on the History of RPG Magic.

    [...]

    Let’s take the elemental magic which has become a staple in most RPGs: geo-, hydro-, aero- and pyromancy. Ever since the ancient Greeks, the four elements of earth, water, air and fire were believed to possess mystical qualities. In classical cosmology, they comprised the innermost four spheres of the cosmos. All four elements were also used for divination (manteia in Greek, hence -mancy). This meant shapes in the soil, clouds, flames or ripples in the water were observed to gain occult insights or to see the future; perhaps a subtler form of magic than tossing fireballs or ice shards at your enemies.

    Still, control over the elements wasn’t beyond the skill of “real” magicians. In the Early Modern period, witches were believed to cause hailstorms and lightning. Several centuries earlier, peasants were terrified of so-called tempestarii, who extorted money in exchange for not blasting their fields with supernatural storms.

    [...]

    CRPG Book - Released

    by Silver, 02:44

    Felipe Pepe has released his CRPG Book. You can check out the blog post here.

    Update 19 – CRPG BOOK RELEASED! 

    Four years ago I began a journey.

    On Feb 5 2014 I posted the results of the RPG Codex’s Top 70 poll, in which we elected the best CRPGs of all time. But I felt that a simple list was too dry… more than the ranking, I was interested in WHY these games were good. From there came the idea of asking people to write a short paragraph talking about each title.

    This became a updated version of the Codex’s Top 70, now with screenshots and brief descriptions of each game. That’s my favorite piece of content I ever made, but I still wanted more – more games, more screenshots, longer reviews, tips on mods, fan-made patches, etc. So I made a list of all the RPGs I wanted to cover and began recruiting volunteers for the “CRPG Book Project”.

    Having done the Top 70 list in 3 months, I thought I could do 300 games in about 10 months or so. Ha, it took me four years… but it is done!

    Dear reader, I present you the full release of the CRPG BOOK PROJECT!

    [...]

    Sunday - February 04, 2018

    Last Epoch - Hack and Slash ARPG

    by Silver, 06:05

    Last Epoch is a hack and slash action RPG which will be coming to Kickstarter April 17th. The game is currently in a pre-alpha state.

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    Check out our website for more: https://lastepochgame.com/

    Sneak peak of Last Epoch - Pre-Alpha 0.4.5!

    See Beastmaster and Sorcerer gameplay, plus our skill, passive, and crafting/shattering systems.
    Help us spread the word as we head to Kickstarter on April 17, 2018!
    Discord: https://discord.gg/G2GNR89
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/lastepochgame
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lastepochgame/

    Last Epoch combines time travel, exciting dungeon crawling, engrossing character customization and endless replayability to create an Online Action RPG for veterans and newcomers alike.

    Saturday - February 03, 2018

    General News - Interview with Mark & Vince

    by Silver, 13:35

    CSH Picone interviews Mark Yohalem and Vince D. Weller about RPG game design using details on upcoming games like Fallen Gods and The New World.

    Mark Yohalem (Writer from Wormwood Studios)

    Vince D. Weller (Writer / Designer from Iron Tower Studio)

    03 February 2018

    I have a special treat for you all today. Joining me is Mark Yohalem, writer for Wormwood Studios, and Vince, writer and designer for Iron Tower Studio, to give their views on some of the finer points on modern RPG game design. Using details from upcoming games Fallen Gods, The New World, and Iron Tower's as-yet-untitled Inquisition game as points of reference, we discuss/argue inventory, skill, and combat systems, puzzle design and the lessons that RPGs can learn from adventure games, witchcraft, sanity points, metagaming, inconsequential death, and the save-load dilemma.


    Please note the following abbreviations:

    AoD - Age of Decadence

    TNW - The New World

    PS:T - Planescape: Torment

    MOTB - Mask of the Betrayer

    D:OS - Divinity: Original Sin

    DM/GM - Dungeon Master / Game Master


    ***

    CSH: Inventory management is typically an afterthought in RPGs, but it's still something that must be considered, and there's no "norm." Some are weight-based, some are space-based, and some are unlimited. The main issue appears to be trying to balance realism against convenience, and it is often perceived that micromanaging an inventory can only detract from an RPG's real focus - the story.


    Mark, what inventory management system will we be seeing in Fallen Gods? What are some of your other ideas for inventory management, or what might you implement in future games?


    Mark: My usual approach - maybe a lawyer's approach - is to take a roundabout approach to a question that calls for a straightforward factual question. That approach feels particularly necessary here.


    While there are a lot of things that I could describe as the "inciting event" or "prime motive" that led me to want to make Fallen Gods, one was a sense of dissatisfaction with itemisation and character-building in RPGs. I had long felt that RPG itemisation tended to devalue items; I think I had first written about this in connection with jRPGs because Suikoden took the rare (and in my opinion laudable) step of having the player upgrade rather than replace the characters' weapons. If you look at mythology, folklore, fantasy novels, comics - or any adventure stories, really - a characters' items are themselves part of the story. Indiana Jones isn't always swapping out hats and whips. Indeed, it is particularly the case that a hero's weapon (whether heirloom lightsaber, phoenix-feather wand, cavalry pistol, vibranium shield, whatever) defines the character and functions as a watershed in the plot. Arthur upgrades swords twice (first with the sword from the stone and then Excalibur), and each of those tells you something about Arthur and changes the plot's course. This is also true of weapons in most games other than RPGs - consider the crowbar in Half Life, the shotgun in Doom, the spread-fire gun in Contra, the Master Sword in Zelda, etc.

    [...]

    Space Hulk Tactics - Announced

    by Silver, 09:17

    @Gamewatcher Space Hulk: Tactics will utilize turn based tactics and have a full narrative campaign as either the Terminators or the Genestealers. The game is expected to release 2018 for PC, Playstation and Xbox One.

    Space Hulk: Tactics is different from most video game adaptations of the Space Hulk brand, because it lets you in engage in turn-based tactical battles through a full campaign as either the Terminators or the Genestealers.

    Cyanide Studio are probably best known for the Blood Bowl series, but they're currently working on the console ports of Space Hulk: Deathwing for Xbox One and PlayStation 4, although with that due to be released soon it looks like they're heading for another take on the franchise with Space Hulk: Tactics.

    Pic1     Pic2

    Space Hulk: Tactics will take you through two, narrative-driven campaigns from the prospective of either a Blood Angels squad – which can be upgraded and customised as you progress through the campaign – or the ultimate shock troopers, Genestealers.

    [...]

    Thursday - February 01, 2018

    It Lurks Below - David Breviks new RPG

    by Silver, 07:41

    PCGamer reports on David Brevik's new RPG 2D sandbox game called It Lurks Below. The game takes after Starbound and Terraria graphically but with more purpose.

    Diablo creator David Brevik has announced his own indie game: a 2D sandbox RPG called It Lurks Below. Players will explore randomly generated levels, delving into dungeons and fighting baddies while collecting as much loot as they can get their pixely hands on. 

    It'll have free-form building, too, in the same vein as Minecraft and Terraria. Brevik told Polygon that he's a big fan of those games but he "wanted more of a point to a lot of those games. I wanted to make an RPG, with classes and leveling up, random items, where you get more and more powerful as you go down into the core of the world and fight baddies.” 

     

    [...]

    Wednesday - January 31, 2018

    Way of the Samurai 3 - 50% off on GOG

    by Silver, 04:35

    Way of the Samurai 3 is an action RPG available on GOG for 50% off until February 6th.

    Release: Way of the Samurai 3

    13 hours ago

    Can you survive a thousand cuts? Way of the Samurai 3 is now available 50% off until February 6, 2PM UTC. Buy them together and get 15% off Way of the Samurai 4.The acclaimed open-world action/RPG series marches on with the epic journey of a tormented lone samurai who must weave his own destiny into the bloodied tapestry of the Sengoku era. Build your story out of dozens of choices and cut your enemies with your customizable weapons, your sharp wit or perhaps your weighty gestures.Find extra weapons and accessories inside the Deluxe Edition (-40%), or Upgrade later.

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    Thursday - January 25, 2018

    Dark Crystal Games - Ape Bandits?

    by Silver, 09:28

    Dark Crystal Games continues to tease us about their post-apocalyptic game on Twitter, which looks like it will be partly inspired by Planet of the Apes.

    Tuesday - January 23, 2018

    Fable 4 - Peter Wants Rideable Dragons

    by Silver, 10:53

    @GameRant If Fable 4 is being made Peter Molyneux would like to see rideable Dragons in it and a bunch of other things.

    Fable Creator Wants Fable 4 to Have Rideable Dragons

    Over the past few weeks, rumors have persisted that Fable 4 is in active development at Playground Games, the studio best known for its work on the Forza Horizon series. We still don’t know if this is true or not, but that hasn’t stopped Fable series creator Peter Molyneux from weighing in on the game. And as it turns out, if Molyneux had his way, the next Fable would have rideable dragons, among other interesting features.
    [...]

    Monday - January 22, 2018

    Tangledeep - Launching February 1st

    by Silver, 12:29

    PCGamer reports that Tangledeep is a dungeon crawler that will release from Steam Early Access on February 1st. The game is also available on GOG.

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    I've had my eye on Tangledeep for a while: it's a roguelike dungeon crawler where you start underground and your goal is to reach the surface, which is a decent twist on an age-old formula. It entered Early Access in July and developer Impact Gameworks has just announced that its full release will be shooting out on February 1.

    [..]

    Faeland - Coming to Kickstarter Soon

    by Silver, 12:23

    PCGamer reports that Faeland will be coming to Kickstarter soon. Faeland is an open world metroidvania RPG with pixel art.

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    Faeland looks gorgeous, in my opinion (although I am a sucker for this sort of thing). It's a pixel art Metroidvania with role-playing elements that's coming to Kickstarter "soon"—and yes, I know, there are more pixel art Metroidvanias on the horizon than you can shake a short sword at, but give the teaser trailer a chance before you dismiss it.

    [...]

    Sunday - January 21, 2018

    Nightmarchers - Interview

    by Hiddenx, 00:02

    Wccftech interviewed Nathan Gray - one of the programmers of Nightmarchers -about the game:

    Nightmarchers Interview – A Tropical Apocalypse On a Larger Scale than Skyrim

    Proudly described as ‘Mad Max meets Moana,’ this tropical FPS/RPG hybrid is about to get its time in the sun. The crowdfunding campaign for Nightmarchers is about to begin on January 17th and we had the pleasure of speaking with Nathan Gray, a programmer at Wyrmbyte, after taking a small virtual tour around the island of Oahu and taking a look under the hood to see what is planned for Nightmarchers.

    (Nightmarchers) is built in Unreal Engine 4, correct? What sort of middleware are you integrating?

    Correct, yes. The primary one out of all of them is the sky is called TrueSky. It’s a middleware plugin that does really fantastic sky simulation. TrueSky is kind of the primary one because it integrates into all of the visual systems in our game with the lighting and all of that. There are a few other general plugins that we have found and integrated off of the Unreal marketplace, some sort of utility libraries like the Victory Plugin. One of the big ones that we use is IKinema. I’m not sure if you’re familiar with that one, but IKinema is the one that deals with foot placement so that you keep your feet on the ground at all times. It’s an IK solutions package that’s also tied into how we do our character aiming. Another one that we use is the FaceFX plugin (which) allows us to do facial animations for dialogue. I can get you a list of the other middleware and plugins if that’s something that you’d be interested in knowing a bit more about.

    I know that’s something (we) always have interest in especially with the APIs you are using, such as Vulkan, for example.

    We haven’t started investigating anything with Vulkan yet. It’s one of the things on our radar to investigate, but that one in particular we haven’t done much with yet. Anything that Unreal Engine itself happens to integrate is something that we end up using. Unreal uses the PhysX physics engine, for instance, so we’d just go ahead and roll with that. Anything that’s kind of built into Unreal we’re probably taking advantage of in some capacity. (That) includes the Simplygon mesh deformation for optimization of distant objects so that we actually have the ability to render as many as we do.
    [...]

    -> to the Fig-Campaign update

    Thanks Farflame!

     

     

    Thursday - January 18, 2018

    Nightmarchers - New RPG on Fig

    by Silver, 08:09

    @Comicsverse Nightmarchers is an open world, post-apocalyptic Hawaiian RPG which is trying to raise 100K on Fig.

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    Quick summary:

    • Open world Hawaiian shooter
    • Learn fantastic abilities from the gods of Hawaii
    • Deep, branching, narrative, based on player choice and consequence
    • Over fifty skills
    • Fully customizable weapons system
    • Authentic Hawaiian locations and story
    • Dynamic game play that adjusts to your level and game decision
    • Over fifty outposts to conquer

    Details:

    Open-world action-adventure game set on the island of Oahu : go where you want, play the way you want (stealth, sniper, guns blazing, powerful spells), fight how you want, decide which factions to support or take out as you rebuild Oahu.

    [...]

    “MOANA meets MAD MAX”

    Set on the island of Oahu after a cataclysmic event, NIGHTMARCHERS describes itself as “FAR CRY meets ZELDA.” You play as Kai, a man blessed by the gods to take back the island from a ravenous cult worshipping Kamapua’a.

    The player wields both modern weaponry and god-like powers, giving the game a sort of contemporary fantasy vibe. You can transform into an owl to spy on your enemies. You can turn into a shark to find hidden treasure beneath the waves. Kai can even summon a magical bow to slay his enemies.

    [...]

    Little Witch Academia - Launches February 20th

    by Silver, 08:01

    @Gematsu Little Witch Academia: Chamber of Time will launch February 20th.

    [...]
    Here is an overview of the game, via Bandai Namco:

    Little Witch Academia: Chamber of Time is a heart-pounding 3D action JRPG beat ‘em up featuring an original storyline carved from the popular anime series by Studio Trigger, a Tokyo-based anime production company; now streaming exclusively on Netflix.

    Having been inspired by a famous witch named Shiny Chariot, an ordinary girl named Atsuko “Akko” Kagari enrolls at Luna Nova Magical Academy — a prestigious school for young girls training to become witches. The school will change Akko life and she will meet new friends that will be part of her life and adventure. While the summer holidays are approaching the witches face an inexplicable phenomenon in the Luna Nova caused by seven wonders which has been passed down for several centuries. This will lead them to an adventure to unravel the seven wonders and that will change their lives.

    Little Witch Academia: Chamber of Time features main characters from the show and original storylines for players to explore as they make their way through Luna Nova Magical Academy. Magic, friendship, adventure and mystery will be the elements of this brand new JRPG.

    Wednesday - January 17, 2018

    General News - New Fable Game

    by Hiddenx, 20:53

    According to Eurogamer a new Fable Game is in development:

    Sources: Microsoft plots Fable return

    Less than two years after shutting down Lionhead.

    Work is underway on a brand new, big-budget Fable game, Eurogamer can reveal.

    Fable franchise owner Microsoft has tasked UK developer Playground, which makes the Forza Horizon racing games for Xbox and PC, with creating this new Fable, sources close to the project have told Eurogamer. Microsoft said in a statement it does not comment on rumour or speculation.

    We've heard the new Fable is planned as a story and character-focussed open-world action RPG. A significant investment in its development is also planned, with some 200 people set to work on the game at Playground's newly-established second office in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire.

    The fantasy world of Albion is set to live once again.

    Don't expect to play this new Fable any time soon, however. We've heard it's early days in terms of development, with Playground currently staffing up the team from double digits to its triple digit target.

    [...]

    Thanks Farflame!

     

    Hylics - Claymation RPG

    by Silver, 20:50

    RockPaperShotgun report on a claymation RPG known as Hylics 2.

    Mason Lindroth’s 2015 RPG Hylics is a game I want people to see. I want you to warm you eyes with its surreal and meaty clay-ish world, fill you ears with its warbling guitar, tingle your brain with its frozen burritos and ablative holopleather, move your hands in sync with the spellcasting gestures, and chill your spine with the claymation flesh melting off your weird crescent head when your fella dies. Encountering it is a delight. And now aw heck, come on, come watch this new trailer for the sequel I’d forgotten was coming. What a treat to be reminded of Hylics 2!

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    [...]

    Tuesday - January 16, 2018

    Space Delver - Space RPG with turn-based Combat

    by Silver, 05:26

    Space Delver is a space RPG inspired by classic Fallouts currently in development. It features turn-based spaceship and land battles, rich and interconnected storyline, customizable player spaceship, trading, randomly generated sub-locations and so on.

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    For game's Twitter account: https://twitter.com/spacedelver
    For Cartrdge page: https://cartrdge.com/nettleflap/projects/space-delver

    Monday - January 15, 2018

    General News - Best RPGs of 2017 @ Wccftech

    by Hiddenx, 21:14

    Wccftech selected the best RPGs of 2017:

    Wccftech's Best Roleplaying Games of 2017 – It Just Never Gets Old

    It just never gets old to play roleplaying games. Adventuring in an often fictional, foreign land while making companions and foes along the way. Embarking on an epic (more or less) quest to save and protect people and places. Growing in power, skill set and understanding of oneself and the surrounding world.

    It’s no coincidence that all genres have adopted bits and pieces from roleplaying games, chiefly character progression. RPGs have never been more popular than they are today and 2017 was another great year for roleplaying games, as outlined below in our best of list. 2018 is looking good too, in case you were wondering!

    • Nioh (9.5 – PC, PlayStation 4)
    • NieR: Automata (9.2 – PC, PlayStation 4)
    • Divinity: Original Sin II (9.5 – PC)
    • Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (8.5 – Nintendo Switch)
    • Persona 5 (9.6 – PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4)

    [...]

    Opinion - Games with the Nemesis System

    by Silver, 11:48

    The PCGamer staff share their opinion on how the nemesis system could be used to expand the gameplay possibilities for different series.

    [...]

    James Davenport: Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag

    Because I'm an idiot and chief of all Moby Dick fan-fiction, I'm thinking a whaling sim set in the Dick Universe that uses something like Black Flag's sailing tech would be a fin-tastic use case for the nemesis system. First, you spec out your mad captain, pinning down their particular fears and origins, from which Nemesis Whales™ will be generated to harass them during the workday. I have no idea what you'll do between whaling ventures, but in combat scenarios, I imagine something like Shadow of the Colossus encounters, but with a Mass Effect party system in which you can stop time and switch characters to queue up specific attacks. Queequeg might be in a smaller boat circling the big bugger with handheld harpoons, while the Ahab archetype stands behind the wheel and issues dodging or ramming commands for the Pequod. 

    Whales will resemble the colossi in that they'll come in all species and sizes—everything from porpoise to those big blue ones I've come to fear—and they'll require unique tactics to take down. Also, the name generation system will combine short adjectives indicating size with simple nouns. Tremble in fear, for Great Forearm swimmeth.

    Jarred Walton: Fallout

    The Nemesis System is such a great tool, and it generates some awesome stories, so it's difficult to imagine a game where it wouldn't improve it in some fashion. Imagine dropping it into just about any true RPG world and the results would be glorious. Fallout with Nemesis could end up with battles against raiders that actually mean more than yet another generic shootout. You go into a city where the raiders have been happily picking off passersby for years, wipe them out, and discover one of them lived and now holds a grudge against you and your settlements. Or what if one of the thousands of ants, radscorpions, or bloatflies was to come back with his friends? Even better, a deathclaw nemesis that comes back stronger and uglier each time you defeat it would be terrifying! Please, Bethesda, make it happen.

    [...]

    The Mercury Man - Due Q1 2018

    by Silver, 11:24

    The Mercury Man is a sci-fi game in the TRPG genre with adventure elements due to release Q1 2018.

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    About This Game

    The Mercury Man is a sci-fi game in the TRPG genre with adventure elements.
    In this game you will be in the mercury hunter's shoes. "Mercuries" are people who have subjected themselves to an illegal medical procedure for the sake of curing all diseases.
    The Mercury Man organically combines a staid point-and-click adventure and tactical fights, a thoughtful gameplay and a fascinating atmospheric plot.
    As the events unfold, you will be able to gather a complete picture of gloomy world of the future.

    - A unique world from the Mehsoft team
    - Classic turn-based combat system
    - Stylish hand-drawn graphics
    - Original music
    - Breathtaking plot
    - Black humor, which skillfully fits into the dark and depressive mood of the game

    Saturday - January 13, 2018

    Dark Crystal Games - Making a Post-Apocalyptic RPG

    by Silver, 12:37

    Dark Crystal Games is a new developer formed from some ex-Larian people who are currently working toward the creation of an old school post-apocalyptic RPG.

    Wednesday - January 10, 2018

    General News - Best RPG of 2017 @ VGChartz

    by Hiddenx, 20:36

    Farflame spotted VGChartz RPG top-list of 2017:

    Best RPG of 2017

    2017 was another strong year for RPGs and was dominated by highly anticipated sequels.  Although some dissappointed, many managed to maintain - and even surpass - the quality fans have come to expect from these series.  Ubisoft released South Park: The Fractured but Whole, which continued the hilarity of the 2014 original.  Persona 5 finally came to the West after a series of delays, proving that it was worth the wait.  Team Ninja also unleashed Nioh, a game seemingly brought back from development hell to rave reviews.  Finally, Nintendo gave us Xenoblade Chronicles 2 late in the year, which quickly became the premier RPG for the Nintendo Switch.

    [...]

    Winner: Persona 5

    Persona continues to please RPG fans with its blend of a deep story, interesting characters, stylized visuals, and mature themes.  Although the wait was long, with Persona 5 P-Studio has once again proven it can provide an experience that rivals the best RPG developers in the industry and do so with flair and style to spare.  It is little surprise then that Persona 5 is this site's pick for best RPG of 2017.

    Sunday - January 07, 2018

    Fable 4 - In Production?

    by Silver, 20:54

    @Wccftech Fable 4 is rumoured to be in production and an ex-Lionhead developer thinks he knows who is developing it.

    [...]

    Today, former Lionhead Lead Engine Programmer Don Williamson mentioned on Twitter that he figured out which studio received the assignment to build Fable 4, commenting that it's an interesting choice. When asked by yours truly whether this team was located in Brighton, East Sussex; according to Williamson, though, no studio based in Brighton could take on such a massive task.

    Mmm ok, having no inside information, I totally know who's building Fable 4 now. Interesting choice...

    - Don Williamson (@Donzanoid) January 6, 2018

    We know that Studio Gobo's Electric Square is working on a game for Microsoft Studios. However, Electric Square is based in Brighton so by this logic they could be working on something else, perhaps on a smaller scale.

    The other major candidate for building Fable 4 among UK studios is none other than Playground Games. They've been openly recruiting developers on their website for a triple-A open world RPG and obviously, they have a great relationship with Microsoft having successfully developed the Horizon spin-off Forza franchise - in fact, Forza Horizon 3 is the only 90+ rated game on Metacritic published by Microsoft Studios during this console generation.

    One argument that's been brought up against this possibility is that past openings mentioned "an entirely new AAA open world action RPG" and some had assumed this would mean a new IP.

    But the latest opening for Senior Game Designer replaced that "entirely new" label with "exciting, large-scale".

    [...]

    Saturday - January 06, 2018

    Noclip - Harvey Smith Interview

    by Silver, 19:41

    Noclip interviewed Harvey Smith about game design, maturing as a developer and the long shadow of his early work. This covers games like Deus Ex and Dishonored.

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    We sit down with celebrated immersive sim designer Harvey Smith to talk about game design, maturing as a developer, life abroad and the long shadow of his early work. Our work is 100% crowdfunded. Consider supporting us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/noclip

    Thursday - January 04, 2018

    Feudal Alloy - Metroidvania-style RPG Announced

    by Silver, 20:07

    Gematsu reports on Feudal Alloy which has been announced for PC, Switch, Playstation and Xbox One.

    About

    Feudal Alloy is a metroidvania-style action RPG with fishbowl-powered medieval robots. Explore an unusual medieval world with a fishbowl-powered robot Attu, improve your combat techniques and skills by smashing many kinds of mechanic creatures and talk to other inhabitants using unique animated branching dialogues in a hand-drawn world made by a two-member team.

    Key Features

    • Attu is an ordinary farmer robot who lives in a small cottage in the sunflower fields. He has been living a simple but pleasant life until a bunch of outlaws attacked the village, stole their oil supplies and burnt his house. Fortunately he managed to grab his old sword and fled into the woods.
    • Fishbowl-powered medieval robots!
    • Dynamic action-combat system with swords, grenades, dodges and other special attack moves.
    • A lot of different equipment that change both player appearance and attributes.
    • A unique dialogue system – animated bubbles.
    • A huge, interconnected world to explore, filled with wide range of enemies, bosses and side quests.
    • Varied hand-drawn environments.
    • Loot, a lot of loot!
    • Hidden collectibles.
    • Secret areas.

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    General News - RPGs of 2018 @ PC Gamer

    by Hiddenx, 18:15

    PC Gamer listed the upcoming RPGs of 2018, too:

    The RPGs of 2018

    Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire
    Final Fantasy 15
    Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord
    Griftlands
    Vampyr
    The Banner Saga 3
    The Bard’s Tale IV
    Deep Sky Derelicts
    Desert Child
    God Eater 3
    Greedfall
    Kingdom Come: Deliverance
    Legrand Legacy: Tale of the Fatebounds
    Little Witch Academia: Chamber of Time
    Lost Sphear
    Monster Hunter: World
    Moonlighter
    Nantucket
    Ni no Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom
    Odd Gods
    Secret of Mana HD
    Shenmue 3
    Sunless Skies
    The Swords of Ditto
    Underworld Ascendant
    Warhammer 40,000: Inquisitor - Martyr
    Werewolf: The Apocalypse
    YIIK: A Postmodern RPG

    Thanks henriquejr!

    Wednesday - January 03, 2018

    General News - RPGs of 2018

    by Hiddenx, 10:47

    Here's a list of RPGs with a planned release date in 2018:

    Alaloth: Champions of the Four Kingdoms 01.06.2018
    All Walls Must Fall 14.08.2018
    Anthem 01.10.2018
    Ash of Gods 15.03.2018
    ATOM RPG: Post-apocalyptic indie game 15.02.2018
    Battlecursed 01.10.2018
    BattleTech 01.02.2018
    Biomutant 31.12.2018
    Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night 01.02.2018
    Celestian Tales: Realms Beyond 01.11.2018
    Code Vein 01.04.2018
    Conan Exiles 08.05.2018
    Copper Dreams 29.07.2018
    Dead Cells 01.03.2018
    Deep Sky Derelicts 15.04.2018
    Depth of Extinction 15.02.2018
    Divinia Chronicles: Relics of Gan-Ti 01.12.2018
    Exzore: The Rising 15.12.2018
    For the King 28.02.2018
    Forged of Blood 01.06.2018
    Ghost of a Tale 15.03.2018
    Griftlands 10.03.2018
    Healer's Quest 01.06.2018
    Hellhunter 01.06.2018
    Hero-U: Rogue to Redemption 15.03.2018
    Indivisible 05.01.2018
    Jupiter Hell 10.06.2018
    Kingdom Come: Deliverance 13.02.2018
    Lost Sphear 23.01.2018
    Mage's Initiation 01.05.2018
    Nantucket 18.01.2018
    Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom 19.01.2018
    Pathfinder: Kingmaker 01.05.2018
    Phantom Doctrine 20.06.2018
    Phoenix Point 01.10.2018
    Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire 01.05.2018
    Rain of Reflections 01.06.2018
    Robothorium 15.03.2018
    Sacred Fire 01.04.2018
    Secret of Mana 15.02.2018
    Shadows: Awakening 01.06.2018
    Shenmue 3 01.06.2018
    Sinner: Sacrifice for Redemption 25.04.2018
    Star Control: Origins 01.06.2018
    State of Decay 2 01.06.2018
    Staxel 23.01.2018
    Sword Legacy: Omen 15.03.2018
    System Shock (Remake) 01.06.2018
    The Bard's Tale IV 15.06.2018
    The Feud: Wild West Tactics 15.05.2018
    Thea 2: The Shattering 01.03.2018
    Towards The Pantheon 01.04.2018
    Underworld Ascendant 01.07.2018
    UnDungeon 15.12.2018
    Unknown Realm: The Siege Perilous 15.06.2018
    Vampyr 15.02.2018
    Warhammer 40.000: Inquisitor - Martyr 20.03.2018
    Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA 15.03.2018

     

    Sunday - December 31, 2017

    General News - RPG of the Year 2017 @ COGconnected

    by Hiddenx, 09:32

    COGconnected announced their top 3 RPGs of 2017:

    Best Quest - Best RPG of 2017 | COGconnected Game of the Year Awards

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    Grab that 20 sided die and your favorite DM, it's time to talk about role playing games.

    Thanks Farflame!

    Tuesday - December 19, 2017

    Project Wight - Concept Art

    by Hiddenx, 19:50

    Farflame spotted some concept art for Project Wight on OnlySP:

    Former Battlefield Designer Reveals Concept Art for Upcoming RPG, Project Wight

    David Goldfarb, the lead designer on Battlefield: Bad Company 2, has released a series of concept art images for his upcoming RPG Project Wight.

    Taking to Twitter, the developer praised the work of artist Piotr Jablonski, whose images portray an eye-catching mix of realism and fantasy within worlds bleached of colour. The pictures show off a variety of environments, as well as what is presumably the player-controlled creature being swarmed by Viking warriors.

    [...]

    General News - 12 Dream 2000AD Games

    by Silver, 01:00

    PCGamesN tell us about Rebellion's 12 dream 2000AD Games.

    [...]
    So, out of all these worlds and experiences, what games would the staff at Rebellion like to see?

    The Helltrekkers RPG

    In the Judge Dredd mythos, the Cursed Earth is an irradiated wasteland outside of the urban sprawl of Mega-City One, and its inhabitants are disgraced Judges, mutants, robots, and gangs of outlaws. In The Helltrekkers comics, one group decided it was better to risk their fates in this scorched desert than to endure the torture of modern life in the overpopulated Mega-City.

    “I want a sort of journey to the Cursed Earth for Helltrekkers,” Jason Kingsley says. “I always liked the offshore colonies in Judge Dredd's world. I like the Undercity. Personally, I'm very interested in the peripheral areas of the Mega-City. I'm not a particularly city person; I live in the countryside. What's equivalent to the countryside to Mega-City One? It could be open-world, RPG, exploration, city building. I love my post-apocalyptic stuff, so I love the Fallout series of games, so you can imagine that could be Cursed Earth: a Fallout-style open world. You're a survivor and you wake up in Cursed Earth and you've got to get home. That could be interesting.”

    The Undercity RTS

    Mega-City One was built on top of old cities and the polluted Ohio River. These places, abandoned, desolate, and without sunlight, became a lawless location known only as the Undercity. Some of the citizens who could not cope with the futuristic city above retreated into its dank bowels, many of them mutating because of the toxic conditions. In the comics, a group of these mutants, the Troggies, hatched a plan to blow up Mega-City One.

    “Maybe you could have a whole bunch of Troggies in the Undercity, and it's a real-time strategy game,” Kingsley suggests. “Or maybe you have a Civilization equivalent, but it's in the Undercity where you have judges coming in and busting you up. You've got werewolves there as well.”

    [...]

    Friday - December 15, 2017

    My Time At Portia - Early Access January

    by Silver, 23:28

    @PCGamer My Time At Portia is coming to Steam Early Access January.

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    My Time At Portia is a breezy, whimsical crafting sandbox that calls to mind the likes of Harvest Moon and Animal Crossing. It’s idyllic and bright and I want to start building my workshop there right now, escaping the chilly Scottish winter I’m trapped in. Unfortunately, like the rest of you, I’ll need to wait until January 23, when the game launches on early access. In the meantime, we’ll have to content ourselves with a new, but brief, trailer.

    [...]

    General News - Inon Zur Interview

    by Silver, 23:14

    PCGamer interviewed Inon Zur and asked him how his approach to Baldur's Gate, Dragon Age and Crysis differed.

    Inon Zur is a multi-award winning composer who has spent the majority of his career writing videogame scores. His resume boasts the likes of Baldur's Gate 2: Throne of Bhaal, Dragon Age: Origins, Prince of Persia and Crysis, among a long list of other game projects.   

    After cutting his teeth on 2001's Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel, Zur went on to compose the ambient orchestral arrangements for Fallout 3, Fallout: New Vegas, and Fallout 4—the latter of which is now being visited and revisited following the launch of Fallout 4 VR.

     

    I recently caught up with Zur to chat about his career, what inspires him to write music for videogames, and how he approaches each project differently. 

    PC Gamer: You've worked in television and film, but the majority of your work has been with videogames. What was it that first attracted you to games?

    Inon Zur: Videogame score is very unique and a different process than movies and TV. Since the music cannot be locked to a picture (cinematics and cut-scenes being the exceptions), it has to carry a strong signature that can represent what’s going on in the game without hitting specific points. This is challenging, but the creative process is more open and the freedom to write a piece of music that has no boundaries or limitations is very rewarding. 

    I also feel that many of the producers and audio directors in the game industry value the music very much and are willing to invest in a high level of production, like recording live orchestras and so on. This is what I’ve found in the scoring for games world and this is why I like to work in this medium so much.

    Do you play videogames yourself—what has your relationship with games been like over the years? 

    I love games, although I don’t have enough time to play them since I have to score them. I will, however, usually play the games I’m working on to get the feel of the gameplay and to make sure the music does what we want it to do.

    [...]

    General News - Chris Avellone Interview

    by Silver, 22:12

    Chris Avellone was interviewed by GamesTM and asked about his career, the games industry as a whole and what challenges he expects to face in the future.

    [...]

    What do you think has been the biggest change in the games industry since 2002?

    VR’s reared it head, but I’ve only worked in that space for a short while compared to others. Still, I’ve found it hard to gauge the success of a VR game vs. the genres I normally write for. There is a lot of financial support for VR, but I’m not sure where the tech and games will go in the next few years, although I can say I certainly love writing for them, it’s a much different interaction experience (in a good way).

    Crowdsourcing was also a huge change – this, combined with digital distribution, allowed access to specific groups of fans (usually numbering much, much less than AAA fans) who were willing to support a smaller game that publishers might not see equal value in. I don’t blame publishers for this, and I understand why they wouldn’t pursue or fund such projects, but the arrival of an alternative to seeking a publisher and interacting with your players and Backers directly was big for the game industry, and especially the RPG industry (thanks to Tim Schafer and Brian Fargo for kicking it off).

    How has technology changed the way you work?

    Google’s work suite and Hangouts/Skype/Discord has made working with remote teams or teams composed of developers living across the world (like the FTL/Subset developers – one in London, one in Seattle) much easier. You don’t always need to relocate to an office to be hired to work on a title, and the freeform nature of that has several advantages. Some companies are often willing to hire a talented junior, but not with relocation fees or visa issues as part of the package, which can trap people in areas where there is little or no outlet for working in games – but being able to work remotely helps avoid those issues. (I work for a number of European and Asian companies via remote, and it’s pretty painless. Plus, many of those same companies have several offices across the globe as well.)

    In terms of sharing technology, Google has changed the way I work a lot, I like its commenting feature, ability to assign tasks within documents for follow-up, and for Hangouts/Skype meetings, I love the ability to easily collaborate on docs while the meeting is taking place, which streamlines things. (We did this a lot on Divinity: Original Sin II.) Slack has also been a good standard for establishing “project chat” on projects, and I use that often as well.

    [...]

    Monday - December 11, 2017

    General News - How to create isometric Maps

    by Hiddenx, 19:50

    Senior Environment Artist Paul Fish tells us how isometric environments are made:

    How Isometric Environments Are Made?

    Environment artist Paul Fish talked about his experience building detailed maps for popular role-playing games.

    Introduction

    My name is Paul Fish, I am originally from Minnesota but I have been living in southern California for almost 15 years and have been working professionally as an Environment Artist in the games industry since 2007.  I’ve worked on a variety of titles during my career including Fallout: New Vegas, South Park: The Stick of Truth, and Torment: Tides of Numenera.  I’m currently working as a Senior Environment Artist on Wasteland 3 at inXile Entertainment.  I started playing games at a very young age but it wasn’t until I was in high school that I really began to take an interest in how the games I played were made.  It was around that time that I started tinkering with level editors and dabbling in 3d modeling software.  After high school, I moved to southern California to pursue my education and career as an artist.

    [...]

    Farflame spotted this article on 80 Level - Thanks!

    Thursday - December 07, 2017

    General News - Overlooked RPGs

    by Hiddenx, 20:56

    PC Gamer made a list of often (not at RPGWatch!) overlooked RPGs:

    Overlooked RPGs that are worth playing today

    Great games that didn't get enough love.

    Few genres have as rich and varied a history as the noble RPG. We love a good, long, talky adventure, preferably with a nice leveling system with a little bit of crafting, alchemy and, if we're especially lucky, a lovely cloth map. But not every RPG is born equal, and games deserving of recognition and success sometimes sink into obscurity. Perhaps they came out at the same time as a blockbuster competitor, perhaps they had flaws that put players off, or just looked ugly.

    [...]

    Thanks henriquejr!

    Tuesday - December 05, 2017

    Bionic Battle Mutants - 50% off on Steam

    by Silver, 12:24

    Bionic Battle Mutants is a turn based tactical game currently 50% off on Steam. You build a team of cyberneticly enhanced super mutants and fight your way through the Deathzone of the outlaw planet Cerberus 7.

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    About This Game

    Cyborgs, mutants and pin-up girls! Bionic Battle Mutants is an old-school styled turn-based tactical battle game. Lead a team of imprisoned space-criminals to fight for their lives as modern gladiators on prison planet Cerberus 7! 100% Indie from enthusiasts for enthusiasts! Fine tuned tactical gameplay and hand-drawn artwork in the spirit of Jagged Alliance, Fallout Tactics and U.F.O.

    Featuring highly customizable characters, an elaborated crafting system and the atmosphere of 80s and 90s popculture, it offers a radioactive gaming experience.
    Prepare your team in the hideout for deadly mutliplayer matches: Choose from a plentora of fighters and improve them with self-crafted weapons and armors, bionic limbs or performance-enhancing drugs. With genetic mutations, you can enhance your fighters even further to be feared close combat grappler, snipers or allrounders to die in the post-apocalyptical prison of the Intergalactic Cable Network!

    On the detailed, hand-drawn battlefields, you'll have to choose the position of your team and use coverage wisely, then show what you got with your arsenal of modified weapons and grenades.
    There are three ways to win a match: Eliminate your opponent's team, collect more loot than them or destroy their beam station to dispel the enemy team to the deserts of Cerberus 7.
    You'll need the right strategy and balance of firepower, close combat and swiftness to get to your goal.
    Watch out! This game enforces straight confrontation without compromise. Only the best will survive on Cerberus 7!

    Fact-Sheet:
    - 21 missions in Solo-Campaign
    - Very tactical PVP-Mode
    - Innovative gameplay for turnbased action that prevents idle time in PVP
    - Highly modifiable characters and equipment
    - Extensive crafting-system
    - Steam tradingcards

    Sunday - December 03, 2017

    General News - Star Control future is in question

    by Silver, 07:29

    @DogarandKazon Stardock and the original creators of Star Control 2 are feuding which means lawyers.

    "THERE WERE MANY GREAT BATTLES... AND SOME OF THEM INVOLVED LAWYERS."

    December 01, 2017

    Unfortunately there appears to be a growing legal conflict between us and Stardock. We started out confused at what Stardock said and did. We tried to be reasonable and settle the problem quietly, but now after months of debate we are flat out mad! First, a little background information on just our side of the story:

    • In 2013, Stardock bought a limited set of Atari's assets at a bankruptcy auction -- primarily the name and trademark Star Control® and certain original aspects of Star Control III, like the space cows. It's our opinion that Atari's rights to publish our earlier games terminated over a decade before the auction and we contend that Stardock has zero rights to our games, including any code and other IP we created.
    • As far as we can currently tell, we have no relationship with Stardock that lets them sell the three earlier Star Control games without our permission, either bundled with their other products or separately. That permission has not been given.
    • Despite what Stardock's Brad Wardell has recently said, including in this Ars Technica article, our games' universe has absolutely no connection, hyper-dimensional or otherwise, with Star Control®: Origins. (Note: We really don't like other people putting our names in their diagrams without asking us first.)

    Stardock now seems to think that not only can they use our aliens, ships and narrative without our permission, but thinks that we cannot make a sequel to The Ur-Quan Masters without their permission -- this is where we got really, really angry.

    When we started Ghosts of the PrecursorsTM we were looking forward to spending our time on fun, creative work, not fighting a legal battle to protect ourselves and our work. We have nothing but respect for the talented, passionate developers working on Star Control: Origins, but we apparently have a BIG problem right now with Stardock's management. We've been waiting 25 years to make Ghosts of the Precursors for our fans and we certainly won't let this stop us. Go! Go! Go!

    Saturday - December 02, 2017

    General News - 9 Games Like XCOM

    by Silver, 12:19

    MMOBro lists nine upcoming games that are like XCOM.

    [...]

    Fort Triumph

    I’m pretty excited about Fort Triumph. Their feature list reads like “Fantasy XCOM + Divinity: Original Sin”. As in Original Sin, there’s a big tactical emphasis on using the environment to gain advantages, with possibilities like burning a tree to topple it onto an enemy. Characters come with their own personality traits and look like they’ll be fairly unique. The visuals are certainly more cartoony than XCOM. I’m sure it’ll turn off some but the quality of the art style is definitely high. Despite a more family friendly look, Fort Triumph isn’t straying from stressful gameplay or permadeath that makes it an XCOM like game. The campaign itself challenges players to overcome a dynamic series of events and quests that change each playthrough based on randomness and player action. The depth of long term strategic options Fort Triumph remain unclear but exploration is poised to play a big role.

    Developer Quote: “These are exciting times to be a turn based tactics lover, for sure. Looks like we’ll have a double challenge in 2018 – developing on schedule AND playing all of these great titles.

    As for Fort Triumph – all adventurers are welcome to try a fresh tactical demo (0.6.3) going live later today on Steam and give us your feedback and suggestions!”

    Release Date: Q4 2018

    XCOM Similarity: 80%

    Price: $20, you can pre-order Fort Triumph here.

    Zodiac Legion

    Repel invading enemies until you can take the fight to them. Use small parties of soldiers to infiltrate, scout, explore, and sabotage the enemy. Deploy covert op squads alongside primary military forces. Research magical powers and technologies to equip your parties with the strongest of weapons. Does this all sound familiar? Zodiac Legion feels the most conceptually similar to XCOM of the fantasy games. The only thing it’s really lacking is a cover system. However, the game makes up for that on the customization side with artifacts imbued with the power of the zodiac. I expect conquering these sites of power to act as a late game challenge necessary to felling the opposition. Legendary equipment is something I miss in base XCOM (though Grimy’s Loot Mod adds it to XCOM 2) so these artifacts an exciting prospect. Unfortunately, the developer has only tweeted out a handful of times since the last blog post in May. I wouldn’t expect this until 2019 at the earliest. It’d be better late than never though.

    Developer Quote: “We definitely want the strategic layer to have the organic feel of the older X-COM, where aliens would launch missions according to an agenda that the player had to adapt to. X-COM also made setbacks more common, but much easier to recover from. Still, we also think that the abilities and varied objectives of the recent XCOM add a lot of variety and tactical nuances to the formula.

    The combat system itself is also inspired by games such as Mordheim, Heroquest, and Descent: Journeys in the Dark.”

    Release Date: 2019

    Similarity: 80%

    Price: Unknown. Currently unavailable for pre-order.

    [...]

    Friday - December 01, 2017

    Raji: An Ancient Epic - Has a Demo

    by Silver, 13:04

    PCGamer reports that Raji: An Ancient Epic now has a playable demo.

    [...]

    Raji stars, well, Raji, a young girl cloaked in red on a mission to save her brother from demon lord Mahabalasura. As Nodding Heads explains on the game's Kickstarter, its stunning world its based on Hindu and Balinese mythology and uses hand-painted scenes as the basis for its art. To get the look just right, its developers actually visited Rajasthan and Bali for reference. 

     

    You can really see that authenticity in the demo. The introductory level—or at least what I assume to be the introductory level—is set atop a crumbling, overgrown temple, all budding moss and collapsed stone. Areas are punctuated with elaborate murals, towering statues and stained-glass aisles, a thick cloud blanket bobbing in the background.

    [...]

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    Brandish 2: The Planet Buster - JRPG Translated

    by Silver, 12:59

    PCGamer reports on Brandish 2, a JRPG which originally released for the PC-98 and has now received a fan translation.

    Japanese RPG developer Nihon Falcom has been making games since the early 1980s, and almost all of its games started on one Japanese PC or another. But until just the past few years, only the occasional console port ever got an English localization. Most recently, Falcom's Ys and Legend of Heroes games, translated by XSeed, have found success on Steam (with four games released in 2017 alone). And now another Falcom game is finally playable on PC in English, though not through an official localization—24 years after it was released on the PC-98, Brandish 2: The Planet Buster has a fan translation.

    Brandish is an action-RPG series with one particularly odd gimmick: turning rotates the world around your character, rather than rotating your character within the world. It's a jarring, instant snap as you can see in the video below.

    [...]

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    [...]

    Wednesday - November 29, 2017

    General News - The Curse of Space Station 13

    by Silver, 13:21

    Eurogamer examine the role playing game Space Station 13 and explain why follow-up attempts have been met with repeated failure.

    [...]

    What sets Space Station 13 apart is the coming together of a huge number of systems and mechanics. The engine the game is built upon, the "super old and super crappy" BYOND engine, as it has been called, lets players interact with pretty much any object or being on the station, and you'll get different results depending on the context. Here's a simple example: use a crowbar on another player and you'll attack them. Use it on a floorboard and you'll pry it up.

    Adding to the complexity are four states of "intent": help, disarm, grab and harm. Each affects the interaction. For example, use an empty hand on another player with the help intent enabled and you'll hug them. Use an empty hand on another player with the harm intent, however, and you'll punch them.

    Behind the basic graphics is a game engine that simulates everything from station power to atmosphere, chemistry to biology. Research and development stations require resources and the patience to click through endless menus. There are multiple departments on the station, including Command, Security, Engineering and Medical. If you're working in Security, you need to enforce the law and respond to emergencies. If you're in Medical, you need to keep the crew healthy, research diseases and even create clones for dead players.

    The spanner in the works is the player chosen by the game to act as the antagonist. Usually the antagonists have secret objectives. Kill everyone, perhaps. Escape. Sabotage. Steal. That sort of thing. This means most rounds end up in some sort of chaos. The station may even end up destroyed. But that chaos, that drama, is all part of the fun.

    In the video below, one of the best let's plays of Space Station 13 I've seen, YouTuber ShitoRyu95 assumes the role of the station chaplain and is designated the traitor. He has two objectives: steal a chief medical officer's jumpsuit, and hijack the emergency shuttle by escaping alone. None of the other 14 role-players aboard know this. The chaplain must somehow go about his business, avoiding suspicion while setting up his masterplan via dastardly misdirection and intimate knowledge of Space Station 13's inner workings. It's a fantastic watch, and gets to the heart of how Space Station 13 is in essence a big simulated sandbox with complex rules - and where the gameplay emerges from the rules.

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    [...]

    Star Ocean - 4K & HD Remaster

    by Silver, 11:34

    Star Ocean: The Last Hope has been released on Steam in 4K and full HD.

    About This Game

    From the creative minds of Square Enix and tri-Ace, STAR OCEAN - THE LAST HOPE takes place at the very beginning of the Star Ocean series.
    This action-packed RPG takes players on the epic journey of mankind's last stand, with exploration and battle across some of the most mysterious, dangerous and fantastical worlds of the universe.

    Earth has been decimated by World War III and now humanity must turn to the stars in search of a new home. Explore the galaxy on your quest, make allies and enemies among the alien races you encounter and uncover a danger so great that it threatens all of creation.

    • Spectacular New 4k and Full HD Visuals
    • Exhilarating Real-time Battles

    A universe of adventure and danger await in the great Star Ocean!

    Sunday - November 26, 2017

    General News - About SP Games @ Venturebeat

    by Hiddenx, 02:37

    Daniel Vavra, the creative director and cofounder of Warhorse Studios, talks about the future of single player games:

    Single-player games withstood World of Warcraft. They’ll survive PUBG, too

    With the recent cancellation of Visceral’s single-player Star Wars game, shifting focus of big publishers on multiplayer games and more than stellar success of cooperative multiplayer games like PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, gamers are starting to ask questions. Are single-player story-driven games dead? Do players want them contrary to what some big publishers say? Do they have big commercial potential? Is multiplayer the only future of gaming?
    [...]

    Alien: Isolation Devs -New IP

    by Hiddenx, 01:58

    Video Gamer reports that the devs of Alien: Isolation are starting a new IP:

    Alien: Isolation developer looking to hire for new IP

    Creative Assembly, the studio behind the fantastic Alien: Isolation as well as Halo Wars 2, is currently in the market for artists and designers to help with the development of a new IP.

    [...]

    That aforementioned core game experience, and more specifically the systems, is the responsibility of the lead systems designer, who will be looking after 'weapons, movement, abilities, gadgets, health and other underlying gameplay systems.'

    Some of the above sounds a bit RPG-y, but at the same time we can't take much from these job descriptions other than Creative Assembly is in fact making a new game, which is nice.

    Thanks henriquejr!

    Friday - November 24, 2017

    Tokyo Xanadu eX+ - JRPG Coming to Steam

    by Silver, 21:25

    DSOGaming reports that the JRPG Tokyo Xanadu eX+ will be released on Steam December 8th.

    Aksys Games has announced that Nihon Falcom’s action JRPG, Tokyo Xanadu eX+, will release on Steam on December 8th. The Steam version will support 60FPS along with new scenarios, new playable characters, new modes and more.

    In Tokyo Xanadu eX+, players assume the role of a high school student Kou Tokisaka who encounters the nightmare realm known as the Eclipse.

    Tokyo Xanadu eX+ promises to offer 40+ hours of gameplay. Players will be able to talk to characters, build relationships and forge alliances. Players can also upgrade their equipment, play mini games and train in dungeons.

    [...]

    Thursday - November 23, 2017

    Forza Developers - Making an Open World RPG

    by Silver, 20:13

    PCGamesN reports that the developers of Forza are making an open world RPG as yet unannounced and have hired some notable developers who have worked on other big open world projects.

    The developers of Forza Horizon have hired developers from Grand Theft Auto V, Metal Gear Solid, and Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, ahead of a new open-world action RPG. The new project from Playground Games will be the team’s first ever non-racing project.

     

    The newest addition to the new project is Sean Eyestone, who previously worked on Star Wars Battlefront II, having spent ten years working at Kojima Productions where he worked on MGSV.  Other recent hires include Will Kennedy, who worked as a senior designer on both the single and multiplayer iterations of Grand Theft Auto V, and Juan Fernandez di Simon, who was senior designer at Ninja Theory during development of Hellblade.

    [...]

    Tuesday - November 21, 2017

    General News - 15 Top RPGs

    by Hiddenx, 16:22

    Farflame spotted a Top 15 RPG list on PC GamesN:

    • The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
    • Pillars of Eternity
    • Torment: Tides of Numenera
    • Fallout: New Vegas
    • Planescape: Torment
    • Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
    • Baldur’s Gate 2: Shadows of Amn
    • Mass Effect 2
    • The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
    • Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2
    • Shadowrun: Hong Kong
    • Mount & Blade: Warband
    • Deus Ex
    • Dark Souls
    • Divinity: Original Sin 2
    • Diablo 3: Reaper of Souls

     

    Sunday - November 19, 2017

    Walking Heavy - Review @ IGR

    by Hiddenx, 11:58

    Indie Game Reviewer has reviewed Walking Heavy - an isometric stealth/shooter with strong RPG elements:

    Review – Walking Heavy

    Walking Heavy is, on the face of it, a basic isometric stealth game, elevated by its presentation. Its graphics are simple, but elegantly so, conveying a wealth of information while also creating a real sense of place with little more than square buildings and a few ambling stick figures.

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    The story, such as it is: after a long holiday, you’re back on the job, eliminating rival drug suppliers whose trade in a new product, “Hype.” They’ve been interfering in your boss’s good old fashioned cocaine trade. Each procedurally generated level, then, opens with your train arriving in another indistinguishable British suburb. Find your man, sort him out, and make it back to the train station before the coppers find you, and Bob’s your uncle.

    [...]

    Simple but tense stealth action, grimy British neighborhoods, and gritty ambient music? Can’t go wrong, and the developer is already at work adding new game modes to increase its lifespan. Give Walking Heavy a butcher’s, and you’ll be proper chuffed.

    Score: 4/5

    Monday - November 13, 2017

    Spire of Sorcery - Coming to early access 2018

    by Silver, 00:05

    Spire of Sorcery is described as an original mix of strategy and RPG. It is being designed by Alexey Bokulev who authored turn-based strategy Eador. Genesis and digital board game Gremlins, Inc. The game is due to release on Steam early access 2018.

    About This Game

    In this original mix of strategy and RPG designed by Alexey Bokulev (author of turn-based strategy Eador. Genesis and digital board game Gremlins, Inc.), you will:

    • expand and upgrade your magic spire, balancing the needs to research, craft and defend;
    • choose and teach your disciples, discovering their personal traits and collaboration capacities when matched in parties and sent on quests;
    • explore the vast open world stretching from the Empire to the Distorted Lands, seeking new knowledge, resources and sources of power - as well as establishing relations with the locals.

    But above all else, you will try to survive: the troops of the Inquisition are roaming the land, hunting for runaway mages; and dwellers of the lawless wild, human and not, are on the lookout for easy prey.

    Yet your most powerful enemy is neither of those. It is the time itself - the approaching death from old age. Only one thing can save you: the elixir of youth. Several ancient manuscripts mention it in passing... There must be a way to learn the formula. There must be a way to obtain the ingredients... Before it's too late.

    [...]

    Thursday - November 09, 2017

    Cogmind - Released on Steam Early Access

    by Silver, 20:02

    Cogmind is a science fiction roguelike that is available now on Steam early access or direct from the developers website.

    ABOUT THIS GAME

    Experience sci-fi tactical combat and exploration in a procedural world that combines traditional roguelikes with an immersive modern interface like no other. Build yourself from components found or salvaged from other robots. Attach power sources, propulsion units, utilities, and weapons to become a slow tank bristling with weapons, or a fast-moving flier zipping past enemies before they even have time to react, or a stealthy sword-wielding assassin/hacker, or whatever else you can come up with from the salvage you find. The situation can quickly change as you lose components and rebuild yourself from enemy remains. You are the Cogmind. Discover what that means as you explore a living, breathing world ruled by robots.

    KEY FEATURES

    • Build and modify a unique robot from parts found, or enemies defeated
    • Dynamic character development without XP/grinding
    • Dozens of robot classes, each with unique behavior within the ecosystem
    • Procedurally generated world combined with hand-crafted content
    • Seven different animated endings to uncover
    • ASCII evolved: Most advanced terminal interface ever
    • Thousands of particle effects and SFX
    • Fully destructible environment

    PROGRESS

    Although currently in Early Access, Cogmind is mostly complete. There are over two-dozen map types, nearly a thousand items, thousands of sound and particle effects, multiple plot lines, hundreds of hand-made locations and encounters, thousands of lines of dialogue, and seven different animated endings to discover. That said, there are many plans to continue expanding the world with features and content, so for now we'll just call it EA :D

    (Cogmind has been in full-time development for over four years.)

    [...]

    Thanks screeg!

    Wednesday - November 08, 2017

    Odd Gods - Interview with Developer

    by Silver, 21:10

    PCGamer interviewed Gil Maclean who is director of Inn Between Worlds and asked about Odd Gods.

    ...
    Which is about time-traveling kids from the '90s. Was Bill & Ted an influence? Is that a thing you're referencing?

    GM: To a degree. I love Bill & Ted. In Bill & Ted they travel through time and collect famous historical characters to join their party, to save the world. That's cool, but for us that's not actually authentic to the '90s. In our game there is no chosen one. You're not a prophesied hero, you are literally just a kid from the '90s and you have to struggle as they fall through space-time portals and visit alternative realities. 

    You do collect historical characters along the way, you can meet people but it still ties back into our main theme. Subcultures in the '90s were pretty rebellious, so each historical timeline you visit has a twist on it. The basic twist is the other guys won, the rebels won. In the demo you travel back to the mid-1700s and you've got a Scottish Jacobite rebel, he's a well-trained musketeer. In the real timeline they lost, the English won. In Odd Gods they win that battle and they take over the UK, which is now a Scottish kingdom. Ditto one of our other characters...

    The Spanish conquistador?

    GM: There is a Spanish conquistador. He's a rebel as well. He was part of Cortez's crew going to the Americas very on. He was actually quite an ethical man, his brother was a priest, he actually didn't want to slaughter these people and take their gold. He rebels, joins the Incans, helps them against the Spanish. The Incan Empire survives. 

    Our musketeer, we're still choosing a name but it might be Sabine. Sabine, she's a female musketeer, she comes from a timeline where Louis the Sun King was assassinated by his own sister Louisa, the Sun Queen, and they instituted a reign that was still an aristocracy but they did introduce some more freedoms for serfs allowing them to purchase land and actually improve the economy. They remained in power.

    [...]

    Tuesday - November 07, 2017

    Darkmere - Action RPG from the Amiga

    by Silver, 13:40

    @IndieRetroNews Darkmere is an action RPG from the Amiga that has been repackaged to be playable on modern PCs.

    A bit of a slow news day to start Monday so kick it up a notch here's a lovely game you might want to play, and that's Darkmere ( Prequel to Dragonstone ), which was released way back in 1993/4 developed by Zero Hour Software and published by Core Design. This game classed as an action adventure RPG that has very decent Amiga graphics and a dark overtone, has since been packaged together with an emulator by Gamesnostalgia and can be launched on a PC or Mac without having to be set up!

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    [...]

    Freaky Awesome - Roguelite about Mutations

    by Silver, 13:19

    @IndieGames Freaky Awesome can be described as a hectic action Roguelite about power altering mutations. You can play solo or in co-op on Steam.

    Freaky Awesome tosses the player (and possibly up to four on- or offline co-op pals) into a randomly-generated factory, having them deal with an array of sickening mutants as they look for their dog. As enemies are defeated, each leaves behind a puddle of waste that players can pick up to heal themselves. However, each one of these they touch has a chance to mutate them, giving them different powers like throwing their own head to damage enemies, or creating vicious little clones of themselves.

    [...]

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    Odd Gods - 90s style isometric RPG

    by Silver, 09:16

    Odd Gods is a 90s-style RPG about the 1990s. An isometric tactical role playing game about subcultures, music, spacetime travel, and facing your pop culture demons.

    Features

    • There is no chosen one. A grungy, low fantasy story set at the end of the 1990s.
    • Classic 'isometric' camera on 3D characters and scenes.
    • ​Colourful, 'low budget B-Movie' Art style
    • Subculture class system based on 1990s archetypes (Skateboarders, Goths, Ravers, Jocks, Nerds etc).
    • Music Genre 'alignment' system (Mainstream, Alternative, Underground).
    • Party-based turn-based combat system ('Same Phase' system with no RNG, no % to hit, just tactics).
    • Narrative features branching paths and multiple endings.
    • Hand-crafted exploration, narrative and combat content. No level-scaling, no procedural generation, no random encounters.
    • Original subculture soundtrack recorded with period instruments (where possible).
    • 90s-era difficulty. Odd Gods is not a game for the faint of heart, but the system is 'fair'. Friendly fire is on by default. No bullet sponges. Permadeath, mostly.
    • Take modern weapons back to older eras (Ancient, Medieval, Early Modern) and vice-versa, but keep an eye on your ammo count and penicillin, for example.
    • .... No elves, no magic swords, orcs, or any of that guff.

    Estimated length: 12hrs including side content:
    (a) we're a small indie studio and don't have the capacity for more
    (b) we actually want players to finish the game.

    Monday - November 06, 2017

    Sands of Space - In Development

    by Silver, 20:51

    @Indiedb Sands of Space is a turn based RPG set in an alternative future of the 1980s. Active space exploration in progress. Many planets are inhabited, and some have already been abandoned.

     

    Hey!

    1. Speech bubbles added! NPC shows random phrases now!
    2. Added path highlighting and path cost. I mean it's in combat mode of course.
    3. Dialogs! We have a dialogs! But UI will be modified in a future, but functionality now working properly.
    4. Added action pie menu! Do you likes pies?
    5. Combat mode improvement - now you can hit the enemy throught a window, glass etc. Yeah!
    6. Barrels now are explosive and it's your friend in combat. Just hit them and it will show the holy fire!
    7. Fixed bugs. You really don't want to know what it was.

    Just check it out on this video:

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    The Crown Stones Mirrah - Demo Available

    by Silver, 01:54

    @IndieRetroNews The Crown Stones Mirrah is a Metroidvania type game based on an RPG book called 'Spiritum o Reino dos Mortos.' The game currently has an indiegogo campaign with a demo available here.

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    I know some of you don't like the term 'Metroidvania', a cross between Metroid and Castlevania, but how about if the game is of a similar type but is also inspired by Demon's Crest and even Blackthorne, would you be interested? Well if you are, this is ' The Crown Stones Mirrah '; a very gory looking action platformer that doesn't just have lovely pixelated graphics but is inspired by an RPG book called "Spiritum o Reino dos Mortos", with the game set in the same universe of that book.

    [...]

    Saturday - November 04, 2017

    .hack//G.U. Last Recode - Released

    by Silver, 10:15

    The .hack//G.U. Last Recode has been released on Steam. The package is made up of Rebirth, Reminisce, and Redemption, fully restored and remastered.

    ABOUT THIS GAME

    Log back into the .hack//G.U. trilogy and return to "The World," as Haseo tracks down Tri-Edge in .hack//G.U. Last Recode, now with enhanced graphics, improved gameplay, and brand new modes!
    This collection includes all 3 original .hack//G.U. titles, Rebirth, Reminisce, and Redemption, all fully restored and remastered. As well as an all new exclusive 4th Volume: .hack//G.U. Reconnection.

    • 15 years of .hack - Celebrate the 15th anniversary of the beloved global cross media franchise that first released in 2002

    • Fully restored - Graphically enhanced gameplay and cut scenes now in 1080p and 60fps

    • Improved system features - Enhanced battle balance and game pacing to provide an optimal experience for new and old fans alike.

    Friday - November 03, 2017

    Shogun no Kamigami - Feudal Japan RPG

    by Silver, 21:30

    On Square Enix Collective there is an action rpg called Shogun no Kamigami which is set during feudal Japan.

    Gameplay

    Imagine if Monster Hunter meets Princess Mononoke?

    The game starts in your village. This is your safe place where you can access to all the main possibilities such as the forge, the spell instructor or simply choose your mission, where the battle begins. This is a customizable place where you can also invite your friends.

    Fighting Kami is the main goal of this game. There is plenty of them, huge bosses who need a good preparation before the confrontation. Learn their pattern, learn their weakness. Use all your equipment, your tools, your spells at your advantage. Sometimes, you’ll also have to use the environment as a weapon: find the best spot to fight them, lure them where the situation is optimal.

    The only way to be stronger is to have a better equipment, that you need to forge with resources gathered in the wild and on a Kami. You can craft small items like grenades and traps to help you in the fight, but the real progress is through your weapons and armors. To access to better equipment, you’ll also have to upgrade your village.

    Story

    Shogun no Kamigami is based on a historical period of Japan : the Sengoku Jidai. This times were complex and a lot of Clans fought to unify the country under their banner. Our story revolves around Oda Nobunaga, who aims to become the Shogun, the unifier of Japan. You’re going to meet his path several times in your adventures, considering him as an enemy or an ally is up to you.
    But he’s not the only historical figure you’re going to encounter : Hirate Masahide, Hattori Hanzo, Muramasa, Ikoma Kitsuno and most of the other characters are based on real stakeholders of History.

    Mixed to the historical facts, the story also include folklore and fantasy. Kitsune, Tengu or Yokai are real in this universe and play their role in the common life. But the most important creatures that you will encounter are of course the Kami, these powerful deities, masters of the elements.

    Along your journey to protect your village from Kami and War, you’ll find various cutscenes and other elements that will help you take a side and discover the true nature of Oda Nobunaga’s plans. But who’s that strange white shape in the shadows ?

    [...]

    Tuesday - October 31, 2017

    Ghosts of the Precursors - Podcast with Creators

    by Silver, 08:30

    Gamewisdom talked to Paul Reiche and Fred Ford about Starcon 2s creation and the plans for Ghosts of the Precursors.

    Creating Star Control 2 with Paul Reiche and Fred Ford

    This week on the cast, I had a chance to sit down with veteran developers Paul Reiche and Fred Ford - Makers of Star Control 2, one of my favorite games of all time. With the announcement of their sequel, we talked about the design of Star Control 2, and their plans for Ghosts of the Precursors.

    [...]

    Wednesday - October 25, 2017

    Unsouled - Interview with Developer

    by Silver, 11:44

    Unsouled is a 2D-action RPG in the style of Onimusha 2 (2002). The gameplay is focused on fast-paced, stylized combat with destructible environments. The developer was interviewed recently about the game by indiegraze.

    As a 2D action RPG, Unsouled focuses on fast-paced, highly customizable combat. I chatted with developer Jinsub Jung on the focused nature of his project and the challenges he faces as he pushes ahead.

    Erik Meyer: Unsouled excels as a fighting game in which the player character absorbs the souls of enemies to advance. Unlike games that try to include multiple other elements (like crafting, abundant NPCs, and sidequests, etc), the game stands on its well-developed combat system and engaging play. As an indie developer, how has this specificity helped you develop a unique project, and what do you see Unsouled gaining for its tight focus?

    Jinsub Jung: Various games have been tried to add compelling elements to action games. Sometimes they have succeeded, but most of them come up short. Sometimes, I feel changes are made reluctantly to extend game playtimes.

    Unsouled is intensively focused on "me" as a game player. Since I am indie-game developer, I can get rid of elements that I hate and concentrate on the "action" itself. Because of this, Unsouled does not have the path-finding and puzzle elements which I find boring; even where options like that exist, they should focus on spicing combat up. Only one thing I want to show through Unsouled is obvious. Fun comes from the action.

    EM: You mention the inspiration of games like Onimusha 2: Samurai's Destiny, albeit as a pixel game. Can you speak to the overall playthrough experience you're aiming for, the combination of aesthetics, game feel, and satisfaction on the part of the player? What do you see Unsouled evoking that adds to the corpus of indie games?

    JJ: I played Onimusha 1 and 2 for between 100-200 hours when I was teen; "il-sen" (Onimusha's counter action) gave me the best catharsis I have ever experienced. The game stands as an action game pinnacle, and I want to reproduce that feeling with 2D action game. I even thought to create a 3D game, but I do have not enough experience to take that on, so I dropped it.

    The other thing that drives me is combo action from 1 on 1 fighting games.

    Personally, I am from the generation playing 1 on 1 titles like Street Fighter, Tekken, and Virtual Fighter; I still dream of attending EVO one day. (I've played SFV for more than 400 hours, and my rank is around 5000, my grade is Diamond.)

    With this accumulated knowledge and experience, I tried to implement the "action fitted" fighting game combo style with Unsouled. Most action games' combo designs are getting easier to use, such as one button activating critical arts.

    Unlike this trend, Unsouled is designed needing accurate input and timing to successfully land combos. Super play with counterattacks and stylish actions with chain combos are the best things Unsouled can provide. I would be satisfied if people remember my game, saying, "It implements advanced action well."

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    [...]

    Monday - October 23, 2017

    General News - Putting the Role in Role-Playing

    by Hiddenx, 20:28

    Josh Sawyer talked about the role in role-playing at the Game Industry Conference October 6th, 2017 in Poznan, Poland:

    What Are We Talking About?

    • The importance of characters and their roles.
    • What is a role?
    • How do we make space for roles?
    • Case studies: Icewind Dale, Fallout: New Vegas, and Pillars of Eternity
    • How to best represent roles in games.

    Thanks Farflame!

    Saturday - October 21, 2017

    General News - About Roleplaying

    by Hiddenx, 08:56

    Jeremy Peel of PCGamesN describes how he learnt to roleplay:

    How I learned to start roleplaying somebody other than myself

    A blank page is intimidating. Ask any writer and they will say the same. But, back in the day, that was one of the first things an RPG would present you with. During character creation, Baldur’s Gate and Neverwinter Nights - with one eye on their D&D roots - would throw you a ‘biography’ screen to fill with pertinent details about your new personality. ‘Go on,’ it seemed to say. ‘If you’re going to roleplay, then you might as well do it properly’.

    I remember making a couple of half-hearted teenage attempts - something something rogue, something something tragic past - before becoming accustomed to leaving BioWare’s generic blurb untouched. I know I am not alone in this: our very own Phil has roleplayed every RPG he has ever played as a Caucasian man with brown hair. Named Philip.

    Which is to say, a lot of us have never really roleplayed very much in roleplaying games - to the point that the name of the genre has become a slightly silly misnomer. Where on the tabletop you are required to come up with all your own dialogue, CRPGs provide you with framework enough to coast through 100 hours without ever really deciding on who you are.

    [...]

    Thanks Farflame!

    Monday - October 16, 2017

    General News - Thinking outside the Loot Box

    by Hiddenx, 19:50

    RPGFool spotted an article about the current game creator - consumer relationship on Gamesindustry:

    Thinking outside the loot box

    Business model innovation is necessary despite the friction it causes - but the industry needs to recognise when it's overstepping a line

    When future historians of videogames come to write their accounts of the 2010s, I sincerely hope that they don't forget to mention the creativity, artistry and innovation that has blossomed in this decade - but I already know that won't be the main focus of the chapter.

    If the present decade of the industry's development is ultimately remembered for anything at all, it will, sadly, be the often ugly tug of war between game creators and consumers over how to make game development pay for itself. An optimistic perspective might speak of the flurry of innovation in business models that we've seen in recent years; a more realistic one would point to the frequency with which the industry has ended up at loggerheads with its own consumers over various business tactics.

    The standard narrative that's become embedded in the consciousness of many consumers - especially, unfortunately, those whose primary source of information is YouTube, where this narrative is absolutely prevalent - is that game companies are grasping and avaricious, and spend more time sitting around plotting new ways to gouge money from set-upon consumers than they do actually making new videogames.

    [...]

    Figuring out how to make enough money from games to meet their accelerating development budgets is undoubtedly tricky; it's a delicate and ongoing negotiation between game creators and consumers, and each side steps on the other's toes or elbows their ribs every now and then. It's important, however, that the industry not become hardened to the complaints or concerns of its own consumers.

    The background noise of people who irrationally despise the commercial aspects of an industry they claim to otherwise love should not deafen game companies to genuine warning sounds that suggest a mark is being overstepped.

    Saturday - October 14, 2017

    Jeff Vogel - On Old Games & Remasters

    by Silver, 11:00

    @Gamasutra Jeff Vogel decided to tell the story of Exile 3/Avernum 3/Avernum 3 Ruined World.

    Old Games, Remasters, and the Joy of Owning Your Work.

    by Jeff Vogel on 10/13/17 10:24:00 am Expert Blogs Featured Blogs

    It's weird to see over four years of my life just sitting there in a lump.

    I've been making my little indie games for a living for 23 years. Being a greybeard in such a weird and young industry comes with special privileges.

    For example, while some of my peers are getting around to remastering their old games, I am remastering our most popular game, Avernum 3: Ruined World, for the SECOND time. It is only when you rewrite the same material twice that you really test your discipline and integrity.

    Writing indie games has become miserably competitive lately. Most new games, even promising ones with a lot of work in them, are sinking without a trace. Yet, thanks to the grinding tedium of rewriting the same game again and again, I have a fighting chance of my business surviving enough to write cool new stuff.

    So I'll tell the story or Exile 3: Ruined World/Avernum 3/Avernum 3: Ruined World. (Also on Steam.) There are things to learn here for any young person who thinks, "I wanna' make cool things (not just video games), and make a living doing it."

    [...]

    Thursday - October 12, 2017

    Star Ocean 4 - Coming to PC this November

    by Silver, 22:54

    DSOGaming reports that Star Ocean 4 is coming to the PC November 28th however it is unclear if this is a worldwide release.

    Star Ocean 4: The Last Hope Remaster is coming to the PC on November 28th in Japan

    Square Enix has announced that a remastered version of Star Ocean 4: The Last Hope is coming to the PC on November 28th. This remaster version will hit Japan first, and there is a brand new trailer for it that you can watch below.

    Star Ocean 4 PC will allow players to completely remove the UI and take screenshots. It will also feature trophy and Steam achievements.

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    Tuesday - October 10, 2017

    Ghosts of the Precursors - Star Control 2 Sequel

    by Silver, 07:15

    Fred Ford and Paul Reiche III are making a sequel to Star Control 2 called Ghosts of the Precursors. OMG!

    Creators of Star Control II - The Ur-Quan Masters

    Updates from Fred Ford and Paul Reiche III

    LAUNCH FIGHTERS!

    October 09, 2017

    It was almost exactly 25 years ago that we released Star Control II® -- The Ur-Quan Masters for DOS PCs. We poured our hearts into the game, blending our love for classic science fiction, Spacewar!-style action gameplay and our own quirky sense of humor. We had tons of help from many talented friends and collaborators, but even so getting the game across the finish line was a herculean effort -- both the exciting, hydra-fighting kind, as well as the exhausting stable-cleaning kind. Pretty much ever since then, fans have been politely asking us to create a sequel, sometimes begging for a sequel, even threatening us if we don't make a sequel. Our answer was always, "We really want to do this, we just need to wait until the time is right" -- kind of like Cthulhu awakening, but less end-of-the-worldy. Well, the stars have finally aligned -- we are now working on a direct sequel to Star Control II® -- The Ur-Quan Masters, called Ghosts of the PrecursorsTM.

    This is a passion project for us and we have committed to dedicating some of our own time to creating a true sequel. We are early, early in development, but rest assured, the game will include genuine Ur-Quan, Precursors, Super-Melee, Umgah, VUX, Supox, THE ULTRON!, Druuge, Arilou Lalee'lay, Orz, Androsynth, Rainbow Worlds, Ilwrath, Syreen, Mmrnmhrm, Yehat, Shofixti, Spathi (including the ever-terrified Fwiffo), Umgah, Melmorme, Chmmr, Earthlings, Mycon, THE MARK II!, Slylandro, Utwig, Thraddash, Zoq-Fot-Pik, VUX Beast, Pkunk, the Keel-Verezy, and of course all new alien races to discover, befriend ...and/or be annigilate... I mean annihigate.. Damn! Well, you get the idea.

    Deus Ex 3: Insurrection - Cancelled Ion Storm Sequel

    by Silver, 06:39

    Unseen64 has some video of the cancelled Deus Ex 3: Insurrection from Ion Storm

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    What happened to the original Deus Ex 3 by Ion Storm? Two Deus Ex sequels by Warren Spector and Ion Storm were cancelled in mid '00s. For more details: https://www.unseen64.net/2015/04/16/d... As you may have heard, Deus Ex is a popular first-person action-RPG originally conceived by Warren Spector. There are currently four games in the main series: the first two were developed by under Spector’s watch at Ion Storm, while the third and fourth games were developed by Eidos Montreal.

    But through a feature on Eurogamer back in 2014, it was revealed that Ion Storm actually worked on two alternative versions of the third installment - called Deus Ex: Insurrection and Deus Ex 3, respectively.

    Deus Ex: Insurrection’s setting saw America falling into bankruptcy in 2027. Other rising superpowers, including China and Russia, were trying to take advantage of this situation and were bankrolling insurgents on US soil, while the European Union attempted to bring the US under its jurisdiction.

    This first, third Deus Ex was to take place 25 years before the events of the original game, and saw you playing as Blake Denton, father of the first game’s protagonist, JC Denton.

    Sunday - October 08, 2017

    God Eater 3 - Coming to the West

    by Silver, 23:38

    Game Informer reports that God Eater 3 is coming to the west. Platforms have yet to be announced.

    Bandai Namco has announced God Eater 3, a new title in the action-RPG series. The game's brief first trailer (below) features the same tactical weapon-switching that's become a staple of the series, as well as the big ol' bosses (named Aragami). The plot involves the main character breaking free from comically thick handcuffs in order to continue their mission of killing giant baddies with their transforming weapons, called God Arcs. The official press release also hints at a growing conflict within the God Eaters themselves.

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    God Eater 3 has been announced by Bandai Namco during an event in Japan. Here's the sequel's announcement trailer.

    Saturday - October 07, 2017

    General News - Restoring the Classics

    by Hiddenx, 20:18

    PC Gamer reports about games that have been restored by modders:

    How modders are restoring the classics

    For as long as there’s been a mod scene, people have tried to ‘restore’ parts of games that, for whatever reason, were never finished. In recent years, some of the efforts have become truly colossal. A few, like the KOTOR II Restored Content mod or the standalone Stalker: Lost Alpha, are deemed essential by some fans.

    Vampire: The Masquerade—Bloodlines launched in a sorry state owing to a troubled development. Yet smitten with its ambition, fans have turned it into a beloved RPG. One fan is Werner Spahl. “I first took notice of unused assets when I installed an early version of the Unofficial Patch, at that time created by Dan Upright,” says Spahl. “When I took over from him I started looking for other lost content, especially when I became aware of how unfinished Troika was forced to release the game.”
    [...]

    Thanks henriquejr!

    Friday - October 06, 2017

    General News - Niche games from Eastern Europe

    by Silver, 12:08

    Gamasutra has an article on the phenomenon of 'hardcore realism' games from Eastern Europe and what drives it.

    ...

    Others stumbled into the hardcore survival subgenre more by accident. Alexander Dergay, CEO of Belarusian studio Aterdux Entertainment and one of the minds behind fantasy RPG Legends of Eisenwald fell into the industry after playing a game that changed his life” 

     “In 2007 I played a game called Discord Times. After I finished the game, I felt like something important had left my life and I tried to look up who the developers were," says Dergay. "And I found they were in my home city in Minsk, and then I just wanted to meet them and talk to them. To kind of add some more value to my worth, I decided to pretend to be an investor who was interested in making a sequel to that game.” 

    Certainly an unconventional approach, but Dergay was welcomed by the team, even after they found out he wasn’t an investor in the traditional sense. Dergay threw all of his money into creating Legends of Eisenwald, eventually turning to Kickstarter when the team found themselves strapped for cash.

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    Aterdux Entertainment's tactical RPG has a very deep combat system

    “We kind of struggled in the beginning financially, but then as we went on to early access and then we released the game, it didn't become an instant bestseller that we had hoped, but I think it would have been much more financially successful if we were more experienced and were able to shorten our development time,” Dergay says.

    [...]

    Thursday - October 05, 2017

    General News - Flawed Characters are Fun

    by Hiddenx, 00:36

    Rock Paper Shotgun asks the question

    Could RPGs be more fun if they let you be more flawed?

    I’ve recently started playing with a new Dungeons & Dragons group, drafted in after one of their numbers upped and left town. It’s my second time playing table-top D&D, after a splendid stint a couple of years back with Jim Rossignol (late of this parish) DMing, and it’s a properly good time. And what I’ve learned is that it becomes a much better time the more flaws you introduce to your character. Which got me thinking: wow, do PC RPGs not follow that rule at all.

    I am very much an amateur when it comes to real-world D&D. I’ve learned my way around a D20, but it’s something I came to late and am still getting the hang of. So it is that reflecting on the previous game I was involved in, I’ve realised how wrongly I’d approached the whole thing. I was trying to win the game.

    [...]

    Thanks henriquejr!

    Wednesday - October 04, 2017

    Abandon Ship - Exploration Gameplay

    by Silver, 23:25

    @PCGamesN Abandon Ship is a Strategy RPG game featuring sailing ships.

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    Abandon Ship, an FTL-like strategy RPG all about sailing the high seas, is shaping up very nicely. We’ve gotten a look at combat against pirates and sea monsters in previous trailers, but now it’s time to look at exploration. By which I of course mean having dope naval battles amid volcanic eruptions.

    Exploration mode is how you’ll progress the game, sailing to find new events and new ports. Each area is surrounded by a massive picture frame, with gates to new locations opened by completing events. Though the main story will push you toward particular locations, you’re otherwise free to explore however you want, and there are loads of unique missions tied to totally optional areas.

    [...]

    Monday - October 02, 2017

    Asura - Now with Free Expansion

    by Silver, 04:18

    @Gamebanshee Asura has added a free expansion called Vengeance so the game is now called Asura: Vengeance Expansion.

    Asura: Vengeance Expansion Released

    Ogre Head Studio's Asura is back with a vengeance, or more precisely, a free Vengeance expansion that adds a new game mode, a particularly hard difficulty, and plenty of new rooms and items to this action-RPG steeped in Indian mythology. And what's particularly noteworthy here, is that the expansion is free for everyone who owns the base game. Alternatively, you can now purchase the updated game on Steam, GOG, and Humble Store for $9.99 or your regional equivalent. And if you do so before October 6, 2017, you also get a 15% discount on top of that (on Steam and GOG only).

    And if you'd like to see Asura: Vengeance in action, you can watch this new trailer:

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    [...]

    GOKEN - Released

    by Silver, 00:45

    GOKEN is an indie action RPG that has recently been released on Steam.

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    -Game Overview-

    • Seamless open-world game mechanics
      While the game features a rather old school "quarter view" mechanic, the map transitions and event scenes, even the combat is all seamless as can be to enhance the overall gaming experience.
    • Real time strategic action battle system
      Utilizing 2 primary attack buttons, users can assign different weapons to each button to create a unique combo that fits the users need as they go. Monsters, bosses and stage gimmicks can require a specific type of weapon at times creating opportunities for users to strategize their best route of approach.
    • Customizable Tattoo system
      Utilizing "tattoos", users are given specific points upon leveling to get the protagonist inked as a form of powering up so it could be built to one's own. Raising MAX HP and Stamina, learning new and special moves are just a few of many ways players are able to customize their character depending on their play style.

    Wednesday - September 27, 2017

    Dark Devotion - Demo Available

    by Silver, 04:59

    @PCGamer Dark Devotion is a side scrolling indie RPG with a demo now available.

    Dark Devotion looks kind of like Castlevania, but here's the thing—as soon as one of its dungeon doors slam shut behind you it's locked for good. Only the hub space of Filthblood Shelter, where friendly characters like Bones the blacksmith hang out, can be revisited. The rest of Dark Devotion's temple is a series of paths with no doubling back. At no point do I find a blue grappling hook and realize now I can reach that blue ledge in level three. 

    It's still in development but there's a demo up on itch.io right now, and that's what I'm playing. As a templar who starts out armed with a sword, shield, and bow, I've been drawn to this temple for reasons that are vague (the creators are French and have flagged the translation as something they're working on), but since there are skeletons, swinging blade traps, and treasure chests in here it's pretty obvious what to do. 

    Reaching a ledge, I kneel to look down and see a pit full of spikes. It's a very Prince of Persia moment. A diving roll puts me past the trap and onto what should be safe ground on the far side. Then a woman with clawed hands attacks me, each of her blows bouncing off my shield and pushing me back, until I slide right into those spikes. "YOUR DEVOTION HAS FADED," the death screen tells me.

    [...]

    Tuesday - September 26, 2017

    General News - Terra Invicta

    by Silver, 23:59

    RockPaperShotgun talked about Terra Invicta and asked Pavonis Interactive their plans for it.

    Long War devs' next game is XCOM at a galactic level

    We already knew that Pavonis Interactive, the team behind the RPS-approved, game-changing Long War mods for XCOM and XCOM 2, were working on a complete new game of their own, but seeing as Long War 2 has been in the wild for a while now, I thought I’d catch up with ’em about Terra Invicta. This takes the essential XCOM concept – humans fending off an alien invasion – then expands it to a grand strategy scale.

    “It’s a little like what you might imagine the XCOM spokesman’s job to be,” Pavonis head John Lumpkin tells me, “trying to unify Earth’s nations against an alien threat.” And then it moves to cover the entire solar system.

    Long War? More like longest war.

    Lumpkin couldn’t talk about what, if any, direction we can expect Long War to take in the wake of the XCOM 2’s hectic but mostly very good new expansion pack – see our War Of The Chosen review for more on that – but he was able to reveal that “we’re now able to devote some resources to developing Terra Invicta.”

    They’ve been quiet on that front for the past 18 months, but with the hardest work of Long War 2 out the way, they’re now working on it earnest. “Right we’re prototyping some key game systems,” says Lumpkin. “We’re hoping to have some things to show off early next year.” Which is good news, seeing as there’s nary of whiff of even a single screenshot right now.
    [...]

    Monday - September 25, 2017

    Age of Gladiators II - Released

    by Silver, 21:10

    Age of Gladiators II has released on Steam and is an rpg strategy game set in 3000AD during the rebirth of the gladiatorial games.

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    ABOUT THIS GAME

    Age of Gladiators II is a single-player strategy game set in 3000AD; a violent and unpredictable future where the gladiatorial games have surged in popularity throughout the known galaxy.

    Hire scouts to scour the planets for potential prospects - once you have recruited your gladiators through the draft, scouting, missions, trades, or waiver wire acquisitions, you will need to manage their morale and personality while equipping them for battle on the harsh combat environments of various worlds. Recruit support staff, upgrade your headquarters, collect bounties, research technologies, build your headquarters, partake in side missions, and manage the wealth and reputation of your empire as it grows each day.

    As your fighters win battles and increase in level, it will be up to you to decide how to focus their abilities by spending attribute, weapons, and expertise points. Compete, trade, and interact with other in-game owners as you fight through fifty-nine grueling, regular season battles in order to reach the playoffs, vying for the chance to etch your name for all eternity on the coveted Blood League championship trophy.
    Build your story. Build your empire.

    Features:

    • Eight different species with their own specific combat bonuses and abilities.
    • Control your gladiators with the new 3D isometric combat system, where fights can have hundreds of different outcomes. Utilize dozens of different combat styles and abilities -employ unique species abilities, combat stims that increase physical stats, and special equipment such as force fields, weapon jammers, armor shredders, nano-leeches, and more.
    • Construct a headquarters to your exact specifications in order to maximize the efficiency of your operation. Medical bays, training centers, cloning tanks, cybernetics labs, weapons ranges, equipment workshops, and more.
    • Gladiators are born with their own dynamically generated physical attributes (twelve in total), weapon specialties, and personalities. It is up to you to draft the best prospects from the academy, make astute trades with competing owners, or hire scouts to scour for fringe fighters on nine different worlds.
    • As your gladiators level up, they gain points to spend on their attributes, weapons training, and expertise. Expertise allows you to build and customize your fighter according to their appropriate strengths. Weapons training allows you to specialize your gladiator with a specific weapon (pistol, carbine, or rifle for ranged sharpshooters, or 1-handed sword, 2-handed sword, or axe for melee brawlers). The physicality of your gladiators will increase or decrease with age, depending on if they are in their prime or declining.
    • Track the progress of your recently-drafted gladiators in the Rookie League, carefully developing and preparing them for their eventual promotion to the deadly Blood League. You could have the next unstoppable superstar in your farm system!
    • Clone dead fighters back to life or fit them with cybernetics if they are grievously wounded.
    • Be sure the check the bounty board. An opposing gladiator in the arena may have a price on their head, yielding millions of credits in payouts if they are killed in battle.
    • Manage your gladiators carefully - their morale, greed, injuries, fatigue, weapons training, and more must be taken into account before sending them to battle.
    • As your gladiators gain glory from battle, they will become more widely recognized and adored by the crowds. Win enough battles and they may even get voted into the Blood League hall of fame after they retire (or die).
    • Become a mogul outside of the arena. Purchase property for fame or businesses through which to further increase the efficiency of your operation.
    • Purchase, recruit, draft, trade, or claim fighters off the waiver wire.
    • Rob credit shipments, kidnap enemy fighters, assassinate your debt holders and more with the proactive mission system. Increase the odds of success by sending reliable gladiators on the mission as well. Lawfully aligned gladiators will only partake lawful missions, while criminally-inclined gladiators will assist in unlawful activities.
    • Engage in five different branches of research: combat, medical, weapons, armor, and scouting.
    • Search for deals on weapons, armor, combat stims, special equipment, and credit loans on the marketplace.
    • Hire staff such as scouts, doctors, trainers, weapons techs, and armor techs to help your gladiators achieve victory. Assign your superstars or promising prospects to trainers for individual grooming; or accelerate the healing of your wounded by providing them expert medical care from your hotshot doctor.
    • Strive to become the wealthiest individual in the known galaxy. There are quick and underhanded ways to make money, but your reputation and fighter's morale may suffer as a result.
    • Receive taunting messages from opposing bosses as well as various other messages from your fighters, staff members, and different characters as you progress through the game.
    • Rename your gladiators in order to increase your attachment toward them.
    • Bet for or against your gladiator based on the odds generated by bookmakers in-game.
    • Fight purses and betting is based on the hype associated with each match. The greater the hype, the more lucrative the fight purse and betting market will be - but the opposition will also be tougher.
    • Each game is dynamically generated and different each time.
    • Play as many seasons as you want. Build your story. Build your empire.

    Sunday - September 24, 2017

    The Crown Stones: Mirrah - On Catarse Crowdfunding

    by Hiddenx, 10:21

    Hipgnosis spotted a crowdfundig campaign for theMetroidvania The Crown Stones: Mirrah:

    The Crown Stones: Mirrah

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    The Crown Stones: Mirrah is a Metroidvania-styled retro game which has great influence from old games like “Castlevania”, “Demon’s Crest”, “Blackthorne”, among others retrogames that have always inspired us. However, it has different mechanics as well as some elements from new generation games, like “Dark Souls” for example, game that inspires us a lot by its difficulty and dense atmosphere.

    Saturday - September 23, 2017

    General News - The Art of Turn-Based Battles

    by Silver, 10:43

    @Gamasutra Felipe Pepe shares his opinion on the art of turn-based battles in RPGs.

    The Art of Turn-Based RPGs I: Menu-based battles

    ...

    Action Order:

    Ok, so the game is Turn-Based... but who goes first? Well, it depends.

    In traditional Turn-Based games, each character has a turn. Turn order is usually decided by initiative/speed, and sometimes a very fast character can have more turns than a slow one. You can see this in games like Final Fantasy X, Temple of Elemental Evil, Fallout 1 & 2, the Gold Box games, etc.

    Some games - especially tactical ones such as X-COM, Disgaea or Jagged Alliance 2 - instead alternate between a "player turn", where you control all characters and attack, followed by an "enemy turn", were the opposing force does the same. This elevates the risk & reward: you can coordinate your attacks and deal a lot of damage, but then you'll have to endure the enemy doing the same.

    However, a few RPGs use instead a Phase-Based system (aka "We-Go"), where you and your opponent give orders to all characters and then the actions are executed all at once.

    This is a more chaotic system, that requires some gambles. Let's say you are facing a strong monster and one that is near-death: how many characters should attack the near-death one? Just one? But what if the attack misses? Several? But if the first attack kills, then the others might be wasted...

    Initiative is also key. If one of your characters is dying, a fast monster might kill him/her before your slow Cleric can cast a healing spell - will you take the gamble, or order the Ninja to use a healing item?

    This system was used mostly on older RPGs, such a Bard's Tale and Wizardry, but lives on in modern Wizardry clones, such as Etrian Odissey, Stranger Of Sword City or Elminage: Gothic.

    In 1991 Final Fantasy IV introduced the ATB (Active Time Battle) system, where characters can act as soon as their ATB bars fill up. This remains the quintessential JRPG combat system for a lot of people - especially since it was used in several of Squaresoft JRPGs in the 90s, including FFVII:

    Final Fantasy X-2 expanded upon the concept, adding bonus damage when the player chains attacks together. Final Fantasy XIII added more flexibility: you could quickly execute weaker attacks, or wait for it to charge further and unleash stronger ones - a useful choice when trying to keep a combo up:

    Bravely Default elevated combat turns into a resource. Characters can skip turn to save them for later, attacking several times at once or using powerful attacks that take several turns to execute. They can also spend more turns than they saved, which will force them to helplessly stand still for a few turns.

    Grandia, on the other hand, made the turn order itself interactive - characters "race" each other on a timeline to select an action. Each action takes a certain time to be executed, and you can try to interrupt an enemy's attack, delay it or quickly prepare a defense before it lands. This system was later used in games like Penny Arcade's On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness 3 & 4 and Child of Light:

    Nowadays many gamers are familiar with the Persona series, where hitting an enemy with elemental magic he's weak to will negate his turn and leave him exposed. But the Turn Press system in the Shin Megami Tensei games goes much deeper. During your turn you get a certain number of points to use - and each action will consume some of those points.

    However, Critical hits or exploiting enemies' weakness consumes less points than normal, while a miss will consume more points. And if you screw up big - like using a spell the enemy can absorb, you lose ALL points and your turn will end.

    It's an elaborate system, that requires you to know each enemy and their weakness, then exploit those to make your turn last as long as possible.

    [...]

    Tuesday - September 19, 2017

    Forbidden Unit - Just the Beginning

    by Silver, 02:08

    Forbidden Unit has not reached its Kickstarter goal but this is not the end of the project.

    Future of the project

    Hello our dear RPG enthusiasts!!!

    Firstly we want to THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts for your support and interest in the game. You are awesome!!!

    We are nearly at the end of our campaign, and despite the fact, not everything happened as we hoped, it is not the end of the project by any means. In fact, it is more like the start of the second phase of development. We now understand what could be done better as far as presentation, media communication, and community building goes. We have also got great feedback and tips from you, and we clearly see there is a lot of interest for the game.

    What will be next

    We will stop campaign now, but we will still provide you regular updates showing game mechanics in detail and give you latest news about development and state of the game. So stay tuned!!!

    Our next big goal is to complete playable demo. After that, we will send it to YouTubers and possibly go on Steam Direct with it. Aside from RPGCodex and RPGWatch forums, our plan is to make own forum/channel where we could post news and be in touch with all of you in one place.

    Once all of this will be done, we will possibly prepare relaunch of the new campaign on KS. In terms of time, we are looking approximately at the horizon of half year (or slightly more). We will be very glad if you will stay with us and try to support us once again when the time comes. Your help ideas and opinions are very important for us, so we may turn on you with a survey to help us build the game and our campaign in the future.

    Despite the fact we didn't reach the final KS goal, our campaign brings many positive things. Firstly we have learned many things and identified main issues that prevent us from reaching the goal. We gathered important contacts, presented the game to the public, and got the attention of people who like what we do and are willing to help us achieve our goals.

    Every single backer was really important. Considering the fact that game wasn't very well visible, covered by many gaming sites and didn't have massive marketing. A significant percentage of people who visit our campaign, decided to support us, which is incredible. You gave us a lot of energy, and fuel to continue working on the game.

    Last two months was kinda hectic, so right now we need to catch a breath, and after that, you may look forward to new materials :)

    Best Regards, Tom, Skipi and Otus. Chainless Games

    Sunday - September 17, 2017

    3030 Deathwar Redux - Launch Trailer

    by Silver, 12:13

    3030 Deathwar Redux, an open world, space exploration RPG has launched on Steam.

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    Published on Sep 13, 2017

    3030 Deathwar Redux - Version 1.0 out now! On Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/464... On Humble: https://www.humblebundle.com/g/3030_d... Open World Space exploration, boarding stations and derelicts, talking to people and trading on stations, tons of missions and an exciting plot are what await you in this genre-twisting Experience! A fusion of Elite-style space exploration, frantic and fast-paced combat, and a healthy dose of Lucas Arts-style comedic adventuring, 3030 Deathwar Redux sets you free to roam the entire galaxy, after a mysterious War left planets uninhabitable and the remaining stations on quarantine lockdown. Help freewheeling space pilot John get back on his feet in a huge open world, and pilot your own course through the game's dizzying array of missions, stories and features. Music: H.E.A.T by The Kyoto Connection http://www.thekyotoconnection.com/

    Regions of Ruin - EA on October 5

    by Hiddenx, 09:36

    TechRaptor reports about an upcoming sidescrolling RPG: Regions of Ruin

     

    Regions of Ruin Hits Early Access October 5th

    If you’ve been wondering what a 2D sidescrolling action take on Kingdom would look like, it appears that there may be an answer for you in the upcoming Regions of Ruin.

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    In Regions of Ruin you play as a dwarf who is trying to rebuild his race’s settlements. As you travel, you need to find people to help you build up this settlement, typically by doing quests for them and then bringing materials for them to use to build it up. Quests often involve exploring areas, slaying foes, and acquiring things folks need as you try to return your race to the glory days of old.

    [...]

    Tuesday - September 12, 2017

    Project Daedalus - Announcement

    by Hiddenx, 09:03

    GabrielMP_19 has spotted a new dungeon crawler in the making: Project Daedalus:

    From Mazes of Karradash to Project Daedalus

    The first two chapters of Mazes of Karradash got good reviews from the critics and from a lot of players. It would have been a logical choice to develop a third chapter of the series, another dungeon crawler with the same setting and gameplay.

    Instead, we have decided to use the experience learned with MoK just as a starting point, changing the atmosphere, rules and so much more.

    Project Daedalus will not be Mazes of Karradash 3. The gameplay is much deeper, the fantasy setting has been replaced by a horror theme and the topics covered in the story will be much more mature. It will be a darker game.

    Undoubtedly many of the features of MoK will also be present in this new dungeon crawler, such as perma-death and the ability to gradually improve any new characters by unlocking new weapons, better attributes and more.

    And then there is the one that maybe is the biggest difference: Project Daedalus will be available for Windows PC, so expect a full CRPG this time.

    [...]

    Sunday - September 10, 2017

    General News - Chris Avellone Interview

    by Silver, 03:55

    Chris Avellone was interviewed recently at RPGamer about what he has been up to.

    Johnathan Stringer (RPGamer): You left Obsidian around two years ago now, could you catch readers up on what you have been up to since then?

    Chris Avellone:
    Sure - also, wow, two years - so I've been doing a lot of things, a good amount which got announced this year all at once, even though I'd been working on them for a while.

    I helped Arkane Studios with Prey - although to clarify, I didn't write the story, I helped with the supporting cast, lore, history, and other parts - Ricardo Bare was the lead writer and lead designer, and he's a great designer to work with. Also, the FTL folks (Subset Games) reached out to me to ask if I'd help with world lore and pilot personality design/voices for their new title, Into the Breach, which is promising to be at least as fun as FTL, even at an early stage.

    I worked with Larian on Divinity: Original Sin 2. My work with them is largely done, but I'd definitely work with Swen again, he's very driven, and his energy is contagious. In addition, Beamdog reached out to me to help with the Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition, and they gave me a chance to fix a lot of my stupid errors I couldn't when the title first came out many years ago, so that was both a nostalgic and humiliating trip down memory lane.

    There's been other projects as well - I still work with inXile, I also got to work on a WW2 title, Burden of Command, I've done lore and world design for Alaloth, and the System Shock Reboot (this isn't Warren Spector's SS3, it's Night Dive Studios) - and they let me get to write SHODAN, so I'm happy about that. Also, I get to work with a lot of ex-Obsidian folks, some who left years ago and went cross-country and others who were hit during one of the rounds of layoffs. Being able to work with them again is nice - it's like getting the gang back together.

    I did - and am still - working on other unannounced projects, some big, some small, but all of them interesting. We recently finished the Kickstarter campaign for Pathfinder: Kingmaker, which was a success, and how that came about was a surprise - Owlcat reached out to me to ask if I'd want to work on a Pathfinder RPG, which was something I'd been interested in doing for a while. It's really surprising no one's tried to make a single-player Pathfinder CRPG before, it's a great franchise.

    [...]

    Thursday - September 07, 2017

    Elderborn - Gamescom Gameplay

    by Silver, 13:14

    @IndieRetroNews Elderborn gameplay was revealed at Gamescom. Elderborn is an action rpg in the vein of Dark Messiah of Might and Magic.

    Although I am a massive fan of grid based dungeon crawlers, sometimes I like to put them aside and play games such as Skyrim or the much older kick and slasher 'Dark Messiah of Might and Magic', but there's one game shown off with new footage that caught my eye today that's very similar to those games, and that's Elderborn developed by Hyperstrange. If you like free movement, the slashing of enemies with weapons in hand, and the exploration of dungeons and caves then read on!

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    [...]

    Wednesday - August 30, 2017

    Dead Monarchy - Dev Diary 1

    by Silver, 14:37

    Dead Monarchy is a medieval, turn-based, survival simulator RPG currently in development.

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    Greetings fellow gamers, this is the first development blog update that explains the combat mechanics up to this point in time. Keep in mind, things will change due to player feedback and internal testing.

    Website and forums are up to, so if your interested see you there!
    https://dead-monarchy.com/
    RPG Codex Thread:
    http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/index....

    Tuesday - August 29, 2017

    Dishonored 3 - Won't Star Emily or Corvo

    by Silver, 16:32

    @GameRant Dishonored 3 will have a new protagonist according to Harvey Smith.

    The latest expansion of Dishonored 2, Death of the Outsider, is the last chapter of the era that begun when Jessamine Kaldwin lost her life at the beginning of the first game. With the story of Corvo and Emily finally coming to its conclusion, Arkane Studios creative director Harvey Smith confirms that this is likely the last time we will see the deadly duo in action.

    Although a sequel to Dishonored 2 has not been officially announced, Smith commented that he hopes that there will be more games in the series, even if they're likely to feature a whole new cast.

    [...]

    Rune Ragnarok - Announcement Trailer

    by Silver, 16:21

    @Gamers Adventure HD A new open world RPG called Rune Ragnarok has been announced. The game is a sequel to the original Rune.

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    Rune Ragnarok Announcement Trailer (Open world RPG)

    Subscribe :https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLcr...

    Follow Gamer's Adventure HD for more

    Twitter : https://twitter.com/_gamersad_

    Ragnarok is "set in a dangerous Norse universe during the end of days" and places players "in the middle of an epic battle where gods, beasts, and the last remaining humans struggle to survive" according to Human Head Studios' press release.

    The original Rune was a third-person action adventure game taking place during a war between Norse gods Odin and Loki where you played a Viking named Ragnar

    Monday - August 28, 2017

    Children of Morta - Hack n'Slash Due Next Year

    by Silver, 15:05

    @RockPaperShotgun Children of Morta is a hack n'slash game due 2018.

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    Children of Morta
     [official site], the pretty hack-and-slash that hit Kickstarter in 2015, is coming out for real in the first half of next year. It’s about the Bergson family, adventurers that guard Mount Morta and take it in turns to leave the house to hunt for loot and slay monsters.

    They all have unique combat styles to master: some fire magic spells, other wield two swords, for example. Expect looting, upgrading, and procedurally-generated dungeons and temples. An early build is available to the Kickstarter backers who helped raise a combined $109,000 for development, and they are all saying nice things about it in their Steam reviews. A promising start, then.
    [...]

    Friday - August 25, 2017

    Secret of Mana Remake - Due February

    by Silver, 14:14

    Secret of Mana Remake will release on Steam February 12th.

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    The memorable adventure of Randi, Primm and Popoi is reborn in the new "Secret of Mana"!

    Embark on an action-packed, worldwide adventure in this 3D remaster.

    Available on 15th February, 2018 for Steam, PS4 and PSVita!

    Like what you see? Then be sure to follow us:
    Twitter - https://twitter.com/square_enix_eu
    Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/squareenix
    Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/squareenix
    #SecretofMana

    Thursday - August 24, 2017

    Rule with an Iron Fish - Released

    by Hiddenx, 19:41

    The Adventure RPG Rule with an Iron Fish has been released:

    Rule with an Iron Fish

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    Become the greatest pirate captain that ever fished! Add more pirates to your burgeoning island town! Listen to all their nonsensical complaints! Fish in ludicrous locations like swamps, active volcanoes and the sky! A relaxing experience set in a charming, whimsical world. Come catch all the fish!

    Wednesday - August 23, 2017

    General News - The Good Life

    by Silver, 04:35

    The Good Life was announced at Gamescom with this debut trailer. The game features cats and will be a daily life RPG set in a happy town where strange things happen at night. The game will launch on Fig September 2nd.

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    The Good Life first trailer for Backstage Pass Only.
    A completely new mystery launched by creator of Deadly Premonition...
    (c) 2017 White Owls Inc. All Rights Reserved.

    [...]

    GAME DESCRIPTION

    At night, the town's residents turn into cats. Why does this happen? Is this why everyone in town is so happy? No one seems to remember what they do at night. Naomi is here to find out what's going on in Rainy Woods. The townspeople aren't the only ones who get to roam around at night as a cat - Naomi does too! Once the sun sets, you'll get to explore Rainy Woods and collect clues and important items connected to the events of the story. The town becomes a very different place at night, as certain secret paths, rooftops, and attics can only be accessed by cats.

    Tuesday - August 22, 2017

    Phantom Doctrine - XCOM for Spies

    by Silver, 14:34

    PCGamesN report on Phantom Doctrine, an alternate history thriller that sees you lead the Cabal. There are some screenshots at the link.

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    Features

    • A rich alternate history plot anchored by historical events and characters, bringing the chillingly relevant Cold War reality to life from a unique point of view.
    • Next-generation turn-based combat: Unprecedented flexibility of movement and actions, variable overwatch modes and assault-oriented Breaching ability
    • Expanded battlefield: position assets around the world and call for assistance in the middle of battle when you need it most. Just remember, the enemy can bring their own reinforcements, heavy weapons or even air support and their toy box is much bigger than yours.
    • Knowing is half the battle: scout mission locations ahead of time, infiltrate with undercover operatives and improve your odds. Elite enemy agents with their own agenda are always ready to spring their own ambushes.
    • Go loud or go home (stealthily): fully-fledged stealth gameplay with silenced weapons, silent takedowns and cutting-edge Cold War era security technology. All this makes completing entire operations clandestinely a viable option.
    • Run your own counterintelligence organization: recruit subjects of top secret government experiments, operatives of the world's secret services, KGB & CIA included, or even criminals. Manage a global operation, securing weapons, resources and contacts. Command from a distance or go hands-on to fight for the real stakes.
    • Actively pursue the truth: research cases, locations and individuals in Investigation Board gameplay mechanics to uncover new missions, resources and technologies.
    • Employ technology ruthlessly to your advantage: learn from the enemy or research your own methods for brainwashing, interrogation, body engineering and chemical enhancement.
    • Customize your operatives and then do it again once they need a new identity: forge documents, change appearance, retrain them for lethal effect and send them back into the fray.
    • Replayable, modular campaign with an array of mechanics to ensure unique and markedly different playthroughs: generated character names and backgrounds, modular and algorithmically populated maps, randomized intelligence snippets.
    • A highly replayable, story-driven campaign with meticulously designed and adaptable maps.
    • Two stories to choose from: a KGB counterintelligence operative or a CIA wet work commando who have to come to grips with the truth and challenge the conspiracy, with an additional New Game Plus protagonist.
    • No mission too big, no mission too small: enter a bustling government facility undercover to assassinate a target with surgical precision or mount a heavy frontal assault on an enemy staging base. With optional objectives closely linked to a mission's complexity and opportunities like loot and intelligence to collect, there are decisions to be made at each step.

    Friday - August 18, 2017

    General News - Doom 2 Recreated in Diablo 2

    by Silver, 10:22

    @PCGamer Doom 2 has been recreated in the Diablo 2 engine. It has being dubbed Doomiablo by its creator DolloM.

    It might not be fun to play, but it is damn fun to watch.

    For those who still get motion sickness from Doomguy's blistering sprint, here's a fairly awkward solution: play Doom 2 as an isometric ARPG ala Diablo 2! Someone has made a tentative effort to make such a thing happen, and the video above shows how it looks.

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    [...]

    Wednesday - August 16, 2017

    General News - The Future of Immersive Sims

    by Hiddenx, 20:37

    PC Gamer thinks that the immersive sims sub-genre is in danger:

    The uncertain future of games like Deus Ex and Dishonored

    Immersive sims have been held up as the pinnacle of PC game design, but recent sales may mean the genre is endangered.

    Warren Spector is stuck in Prey. The director of Deus Ex, who has worked on many games since labeled "immersive sims"—in fact, he coined the term in a post-mortem of Deus Ex —has been playing the modern games inspired by classics like Thief and System Shock. But he hasn't finished Prey yet. Or, as he puts it: "The crew quarters are kicking my butt."

    He's enjoying it though, just as he enjoyed the other recent immersive sim from Arkane Studios, Dishonored 2. "I thought they were both excellent examples of what I think of when I say 'immersive sim,'" Spector says. "They removed barriers to belief that I was in another world and they let me approach problems as problems, rather than as puzzles. I'm really glad Arkane exists and that they're so committed to the genre. Without them I'd have fewer games to play!"

    Spector's not the only one who'd mourn their loss. Arkane is still around, but there's this uneasy feeling in the air that there's now some reason to worry. Not about Arkane, necessarily, but the immersive sim in general, this genre held up as the shining example of PC gaming at its most smartest and most complex. None of the last three big-budget immersive sims—Prey, Dishonored 2, and Eidos Montreal’s Deus Ex: Mankind Divided—have broken a million sales on Steam.

    It's always been a niche genre, defined by player freedom, environmental storytelling, and a lot of reading diary entries. How long can they be propped up by the fact that some designers really like making them?

    [...]

    Thanks henriquejr!

    Journey's End - Dev News

    by Hiddenx, 19:32

    Farflame spotted some news about the 3d side scroller RPG Journey's End on ModdDB:

    Devlog #2 - Cameras

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    Welcome back, Journeyers!
    Today, we bring you a number of engine improvements. Most of these updates aren't super exciting from a player's perspective, but they're really important to making the game look and feel great!

    [...]

    Tuesday - August 15, 2017

    General News - Stop Being an Indie Game Developer

    by Myrthos, 12:30

    In an article on gamasutra the author writes about the need for indie game developers to start running a business if they want to make any money of their game development effort.

    Wake up! Releasing your game, the actual pressing the release-button? it's not going to make you any sales! Maybe, just maybe, 1 out of all the readers of this article will be creating a game that goes big.. but that would be asking for a lot.

    I've seen developers pressing the Steam release button, some even make this a bit of a clumsy, live streaming event where they aren't really sure what the steps are to releasing the game on Steam, and that it then takes some time for the game to show up.

    Pressing that button, is not magically gonna give you sales or even eyeballs on your game. It will be on the "new releases" list for MAYBE a few hours, if you're lucky, cause you'll be "promoted" to the second page in no time.

    Same goes for releasing on iOS or Android. There is no big fanfare or huge event or cheerleaders clapping for you. The store entry for your game changes it's database field "released=no" to "released=yes" and that's it!  There are no crowds lining up to buy the game that instant, nobody cares!

    This is not a bitter representation of the process either, this is just really all it is. Funny thing is that I told a bunch of developers in the days/weeks leading up to their release: hey, the game won't sell much if you don't tell people about it (it might not even sell copies if you DO tell people about it). But most just ignored that, because "you never know"..  .. nope, I do know.

    So stop dreaming: releasing games isn't magical, and selling games isn't done by releasing it.

    Monday - August 14, 2017

    3030 Deathwar Redux - Launches Next Month

    by Silver, 13:52

    @RockPaperShotgun 3030 Deathwar Redux is a retro open world space adventure RPG which will launch from Steam early access on September 13th.

    ...
    3030 Deathwar Redux [official site], like the original, is an open-world RPG combining adventure game with 2D Elite-style exploration and combat. The new version provides "an extended adventure, with more characters and content, graphical enhancements, balancing and gameplay changes, a smoother experience and tons of other improvements," developers Crunchy Leaf Games say.

    The range of things you can do in its 30 star systems sounds pretty impressive. If you want to take on simple delivery jobs to save up money for a better ship, you can. Or you can fire up the boosters and hunt down some derelict ships, space walk into them and nab the loot. It reminds me a bit of Freelancer in that regard.
    [...]

    [...]

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    About This Game

    3030 Deathwar Redux is an Open World Space Adventure with a twist!

    A dead body is found by his crew, then his new ship gets impounded by the cops, something is going on... probably related to a missing freighter with a large cargo of gold bars. Now, John Falcon, a freewheeling space pilot, tries to get back on his feet. But where to start?

    * Take on some local delivery jobs and get a better ship?
    * Downsize to a Jetsuit and go shooting space-junk for quick money?
    * Focus on finding the missing gold shipment before the local gangs and salvage teams?
    * Go punch that damn mechanic who sold you a stolen ship?
    ...and what is this mysterious 'Taoist' group you keep hearing about?

    Maybe just take a break and go travelling inter-stellar, in an Open World of more than 30 star systems.

    Features
    * Open world space exploration and frantic combat with afterburners blazing
    * Board Stations, visit the bars and talk to an array of space scum
    * Ghostly Derelict Ships to find on your Star-Map, spacewalk into, and salvage valuables
    * Large variety of fun Jobs and Missions, with exciting Side Quests
    * Diverse ships to buy and upgrade for Performance, Defence and Combat
    * Get a fuel-scoop and refuel from the corona of a sun without frying yourself!
    * Find Pirate Stations & begin a life of crime, attack innocent traders, steal cargo from traffic
    * Get a large cargo ship and go Asteroid Mining for metals, or haul Goods between systems
    * Hidden wormhole shortcuts, Comets, Unique Stations and other secrets to find
    * An intriguing Main Plot Line... and much, much more!

    The Redux version adds: an extended adventure, with more characters and content, graphical enhancements, balancing and gameplay changes, a smoother experience and tons of other improvements!

    Friday - August 11, 2017

    General News - A Starflight Remake in the Works?

    by Hiddenx, 21:32

    OnlySP thinks a remake of the space adventure Starflight is in the works - based on a tweet by Brian Fargo:

    Enigmatic Tweet Hints at Remake of 1986’s Starflight

    On August 8, InXile CEO Brian Fargo sent out a tweet that may pique the interest of gamers, teasing a possible remake of the classic 1986 EA title Starflight.

    While Fargo’s tweet indicates that InXile is not developing the purported remake, it serves as a strong implication that someone else is.

    Old-school gamers may remember Starflight, an adventure role-playing game once available for the IBM PC, Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Macintosh, and Sega Genesis. Set in the year 4620, the game’s plot revolves around a starship captain exploring the reaches of the galaxy. The non-linear game allowed players to choose their own path through the story, making it one of the earliest sandbox games ever released.

    [...]

    Thanks Farflame!

    Wednesday - August 09, 2017

    General News - Open Worlds Are Rubbish

    by Silver, 14:22

    Strat-Edgy Productions talk about what works and what does not with open world games.

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    Open worlds are rubbish, and they need to evolve to survive. What is the natural evolution of open words? What is the nature of the open world experience? Is it a playground? Is it a content delivery system? How do you use the open world in an RPG?

    Let's take a look at Oblivion, Gothic 2, and Final Fantasy 15 and try to figure out why a game Like Mafia 3 fails to deliver an entertaining experience, and GTA 5 manages to deliver on more than it needed to.

    Let's answer all these questions shall we?

    Tuesday - August 01, 2017

    Solstice Chronicles: MIA - Released

    by Silver, 08:50

    Solstice Chronicles: MIA was recently released on Steam and is best described as an action RPG featuring tactical shooting.

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    About This Game

    Description
    Solstice Chronicles: MIA is a tactical shooter in which players control the difficulty by managing their threat level through special skills.
    Universe - the Red Solstice
    The Earth was overrun by STROL virus. What little was left of man kind colonized Mars, and established a society ruled by powerful corporations. But Mars isn't welcoming, and a violent storm threatens to tear the colonies apart. In a race against time, both the corporation and insurgents will stop at nothing to find the cure and reclaim the Earth. As the virus inevitably spreads through Tharsis colony, the players must fight the mutants, the storm and the odds to find the cure before it's too late.
    Story
    In a dead colony, a corporate marine is left far behind enemy lines. With an unlikely help of an insurgent drone, he faces the battle for survival against an army of murderous, mindless mutants... and worse things.
    Challenge
    We from Ironward want to take a different approach to twin-stick shooters. We learned that tactics can be great in our first game The Red Solstice, and we're trying to add a bit of that tactic into Solstice Chronicles: MIA, we feel that if players prepare themselves, the reward will be much more satisfying.
    Features

    • Master fluid twin-stick combat to blast through waves of mutants on Mars.
    • Use your drone's abilities tactically, weighing the risk and reward of decisions that drastically change the threat you face.
    • Decide between scavenging for supplies and upgrades in the face of the oncoming menace, or pushing forward, potentially unprepared for the enemies still to come.
    • Decimate the mutant onslaught with upgradeable weaponry, including shotguns, rocket launchers, and more, as well as special Heavy weapons, like the autocannon and flamethrower, which will obliterate everything in their path.
    • Develop your own skill tree from across four classes--Assault, Demolition, Hellfire, and Terminator--to become the ultimate instrument of destruction.

    Monday - July 31, 2017

    Rat Simulator - Released

    by Hiddenx, 20:41

    Do you want to roleplay a rat? Farflame spotted a Rat Simulator on Steam:

    Rat Simulator is a survival stealth role-playing simulator game set in a suburban neighborhood where you play as a rat to spread the plague across the neighborhood in order to build a rat's paradise.

    No longer do you need to wonder what they get up to when humans are around, as this state-of-the-art computer simulation models the complete rat experience. As a rat, you'll get to steal food, wreck havoc and create chaos whenever you feel like it. This terrifies the humans who fear you and will fight back by calling pestmen to exterminate you.

    Mess is yours to make in this survival stealth role-playing simulator, as you experience the life of a hunted rat fighting to drive out those pesky humans!

    Key Features

     

    • Infection - Infect 9 unique houses with the plague in the suburban neighborhood, but watch out for the inhabitants who are out to stop you in your tracks.
    • Stealth Gameplay – Avoid detection from humans while spreading the plague, else you'll feel the wrath of the pestmen who are out to kill you!
    • Destruction – Create chaos in the houses where you'll get to destroy precious objects such as plates, glasses and vases much to humanity’s dismay. Or maybe you just feel like making a mess out of their houses by throwing their fragile possessions everywhere.
    • Boss Fights - Defeat the leader of the pestman crew to claim the suburban neighbourhood as your own territory.
    • Rat Paradise – Save rats who are trapped in houses and then call upon your fellow rats to infect new houses in the neighborhood!
    • Enhancements – Your experiences empowers your abilities and you'll get to select upgrades in order to boost your rat capabilities.
    • Poisoned Food – It's all fun to spread diseases to the humans, and after all you'll get the house to yourself if they die to the plague, right?
    • Annoy Humans – As a plague bearer, you'll get to temporarily stop the humans in their tracks as they drop to the ground when shot with poison.

    Sunday - July 30, 2017

    General News - A brief History of MMO Games

    by Hiddenx, 02:50

    Henriquejr spotted this arcticle on PC Gamer:

    A brief history of MMO games

    By creating worlds for thousands to play, MMOs are as impressive as they are audacious. We explore the genre’s best.

    When sci-fi ’s first writers imagined virtual realities, they’d never have guessed the ease with which we could access them. With just a few clicks of a mouse, we can step into online worlds filled with adventure. We populate fictional cities, we create digital cultures and we tell stories together while exploring strange new horizons. 

    MMOs are defined by their immense scope. They take the basic foundations of roleplaying games and stretch them over massive worlds where countless players coexist together. Whether you’re diving into dungeons, hawking goods in a market or plotting the downfall of a rival guild, MMOs are at their best when they inspire us to be social. Here, I’m going to explore the history of this genre by touching on ten of its greatest examples. These are the games that pioneered online roleplaying, building the template that all others would conform to. Some of these worlds have diminished with time, but their legacy continues to shape the genre.

    [...]

    Thursday - July 27, 2017

    Lost Sphear - Followup to I Am Setsuna

    by Silver, 12:55

    @DSOGaming Lost Sphear is a new RPG from Square Enix that follows on from I Am Setsuna. Polygon captured some 15 minutes of gameplay footage from a demo. The game is expected to release January 23rd 2018.

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    Check out 15 minutes of gameplay from the demo for Lost Sphear, Square Enix's charming new RPG and the follow-up to last year's I Am Setsuna.

    Wednesday - July 26, 2017

    New Dragon Age Game - Expectations

    by Hiddenx, 22:16

    PC Gamer has some expectations for a new Dragon Age game:

    What we want from a new Dragon Age game

    Bioware's epic fantasy RPG series is returning, and we're hungry for more.

    Something new is being made in the Dragon Age universe. We don't know if it's going to be another huge hundred-hour RPG or something a little different. We do know that Sunless Sea's Alexis Kennedy is involved in some capacity—here's hoping for a little Sunless Sea oddness in the new game.  Naturally, when news slips out of a new entry in a big series we start to comb over our experiences with the games we've played so far. Then, wishlists start to form. What should go? What would we like to see more of? Why is Dragon Age 2 definitely the best one? Here's what we want from a new entry in the series.

    Better combat

    I don't expect BioWare to reprise Origins' combat—that just isn't how big publishers make RPGs now, for better or worse. It would be nice to see a little more fine tuning when it comes to customising your party's tactics, though, which was streamlined in Inquisition with a system that wasn't quite as intuitive or useful as Origins' was. Origins let you program very specific conditions for when your characters use abilities. I'd like to see the next game offer that mastery. Players who want an easier time of it can just carry on playing Dragon Age like an action game, which is honestly how I've played it since the first game came out.

    I don't mind that too much—Inquisition is more than serviceable as an action game and I can only see BioWare getting better at that in the years since its release—but offering more optional ways to strategise would please some parts of the series' fanbase.—Samuel Roberts  

    Less extraneous sidequests

    We thought Mass Effect Andromeda would learn this lesson from Inquisition, but it sadly didn't. Low quality fetch or grind quests may pad out an open world, but they also slow down the structure of the game's story, and some players may obliged to complete all of them before moving onto the best parts of the game. Inquisition had that in particular—hence Phil's cry to leave the Hinterlands in Inquisition.

    I love the open world environments of Inquisition, and the party banter is so good that you enjoy the sense of journey, and the tension that comes when you know a dragon fight is approaching. But you can have that sense of journey without tasking the player to do a bunch of extra stuff.—Samuel Roberts

    [...]

    Thanks henriquejr!

    Friday - July 21, 2017

    Kingdom Hearts 3 - May Come to PC

    by Silver, 14:23

    @DSOGaming Kingdom Hearts 3, an upcoming action RPG from Square Enix, may come to PC but nothing has been confirmed at this stage.

    Now here is something really interesting. In an interview with Famitsu, Kingdom Hearts III Director Tetsuya Nomura said that Square Enix will consider bringing this new Kingdom Hearts game to other platforms once the game releases on PS4 and Xbox One.

    As Nomura stated, the team is dedicated on these two versions right now. Still, once the game has been released on these two consoles, Square Enix will consider bringing it to other platforms. What other platforms? Nomura did not clarify but we can safely assume that he’s referring to two: Nintendo Switch and PC.
    [...]

    Monday - July 17, 2017

    General News - Dan Abnett: Story should be the Spine of your Game

    by Hiddenx, 19:33

    Farflame spotted an interesting article about story-writing in RPGs on Gamesindustry:

    Dan Abnett: “Story should be the spine of your game”

    The best-selling novelist and writer for both comics and video games discusses the increasing importance of a solid narrative

    [...]

    While Abnett believes the quality of current games writing is "high, with a great deal of imaginative and clever new approaches being devised" - especially within the indie space, he observes - the author also warns there are some major challenges to overcome and a lot of room for improvement.

    "The sheer popularity of the biggest games - although not all of them - tends to force over-simplicity in story," he tells GamesIndustry.biz. "[There's] the notion that if the visuals are amazing and the action plentiful, you can get by on a very rudimentary story. The same criticism might be levelled at blockbuster movies - the whole notion that a big 'wow factor' can excuse lapses in logic, continuity or even sense. That underestimates badly the interest and involvement of many players."

    [...]

    Monday - July 10, 2017

    The RPG Scrollbars - The Many Faces Of Villainy

    by Hiddenx, 19:08

    Richard Cobbet looks at the evil side of RPGs:

    The RPG Scrollbars: The Many Faces Of Villainy

    Not only does a great hero need a great villain, villains are usually just so much more fun. Whether it’s the tortured lost soul who can only find peace by destroying the universe or the cheery psychopath looking to see the world burn, it’s no wonder that many of the greatest films of all time have been defined at least as much by the baddie as any individual scene. Darth Vader, the Terminator, Norman Bates, Dracula… villains get people excited. A great villain lives forever, death be damned.

    [...]

    Source: Rock, Paper, Shotgun

    Monday - July 03, 2017

    Code Vein - New Gameplay Trailer

    by Silver, 14:22

    @Gamer's Adventure HD Code Vein is an action RPG set in a post-apocalyptic dystopia and based on vampire lore.

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    Code Vein is an upcoming action role-playing video game being developed and to be published by Bandai Namco Entertainment for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Windows. The game is set to be released in 2018. It is set in a future post-apocalyptic dystopia with a vampire thematic.

    The gameplay is expected to be based on vampiric lore including "gifts" from the consumption of blood, and other supernatural abilities.

    Saturday - July 01, 2017

    Burden of Command - WWII Tactical Leadership RPG

    by Silver, 01:04

    @RockPaperShotgun Burden of Command is a WWII tactical leadership RPG which is due to release sometime in 2018.

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    World War II Tactical Leadership RPG -- Coming 2018
    More information at: http://www.burdenofcommand.com

    [...]

    Project Lead Luke Hughes is keen to stress that there are no ‘right' answers on the BoC battlefield and that issuing an order is not the same thing as executing an action. When I asked him to explain how the game will go about modelling the chaos of war, he said this:

    "The game is designed such that everything that happens in BoC happens on a probability curve. Which is a fancy way of saying that while normally for any given ‘event' (firing an MG, giving an order, rallying the men, making a move or an interactive fiction decision, etc.) what you expect to happen happens, the dice are always being rolled for a disaster (e.g., the gun jams, the men panic, an order gets lost) or an unexpected success (critical hit, a squad auto rallies...). Further, as a battle progresses and the natural friction of war occurs through suppression and injury, command and control will start to break down. That is, suppressed units will tend to ignore orders, or not receive them, or implement them only minimally (crawl towards the MG rather than run).

    Put one last way, while in a typical tactical game like XCOM we're all used to the chance to hit being probabilistic, in BoC even the chance to follow an order is probabilistic. In the face of this pervasive chaos it is the leaders who play a critical role in overcoming the chaos and turning your intentions into actions. Chaos is central to the battlefield and BoC, and leadership is its central anecdote.The good news about chaos is that it tends to create good stories (‘There I was all my units suppressed, no hope, then out of the blue Lt Stern stood up in the face of fire, rallied his men and overcame the enemy position. Sadly he was wounded in the final assault.")"

    Thursday - June 29, 2017

    General News - The Swords of Ditto

    by Silver, 14:32

    @DSOGaming The Swords of Ditto is an action rpg from Devolver Digital due to release sometime early 2018.

    ...

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    Players will become one of the legendary heroes of the Island of Ditto and battle through each unique legend alone or alongside cooperative companion. Each legend becomes their own as every success and failure are recorded in the tomes of Ditto and have an effect on subsequent adventures. Heroes will also be able to find the monuments and even loot from the adventurers that came before them to take along on their crusade.

    The Swords of Ditto is currently planned for an early 2018 release.

    Enjoy!

    Wednesday - June 28, 2017

    General News - Mike Laidlaw Interview

    by Silver, 12:41

    The 1099 interview Mike Laidlaw of Bioware about how Dragon Age is made and the probability of Jade Empire 2.

    On this week's episode, the creative director of Dragon Age, Mike Laidlaw, joins host Josiah Renaudin to discuss how the team at BioWare creates such massive open worlds. Mike explains the different roles he's played at BioWare, the struggles of even starting a five-year AAA project, what a linear Dragon Age (similar to Uncharted) would look like, how he deals with Dragon Age reviews, and the possibility of a Jade Empire 2.

    Tuesday - June 27, 2017

    General News - Interview with Rebecca Heineman

    by Silver, 04:42

    ShanePlays interviewed Rebecca Heineman about Bard's Tale I-III Remastered, gets an update on Dragons of the Rip and talks a bit about Dragon Wars. Burger's interview starts around 16:30. Podcast version here.

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    Monday - June 26, 2017

    Realm Grinder - Released

    by Hiddenx, 19:39

    You can get the Clicker Strategy RPG Realm Grinder for free on Steam now:

    About Realm Grinder

    Grow your kingdom, build alliances, and explore one of the deepest idle RPG's ever!

    Use your money and influence to grow your kingdom from a single farm to a huge realm that earns wealth even while you're not online! In Realm Grinder, the player is given an incredible array of choices in how they build forge their new kingdom.

    KEY FEATURES:

    Choose to align yourself with a dozen different factions, each of which has their own distinct play style. Will you align with the elves, who reward tapping for treasure, or the demons, who give massive bonuses to the most powerful structures?

    Further fine tune your strategy by choosing unique upgrades, buildings, and spells to invest in.

    Continue to unlock new and exciting systems like new factions, research, reincarnations, excavations, and way more. Months and months of unique content!

    Achievement hunters will be delighted with the broad range and depth of the achievement system. And it's not just eye candy! Many strategies rely on collecting trophies in order to boost certain upgrades.

    Sunday - June 25, 2017

    General News - Spirit AI

    by Hiddenx, 09:02

    PCGamesN talked with Dr. Mitu Khandaker, creative director at Spirit AI - they are creating an engine to engage with digital characters:

    Natural dialogue with NPCs is closer than you think

    I mean, dialogue trees are fine, I guess. Your character asks a question, the NPC gives a response, you learn what you need to, and for a moment it almost looks like a conversation. But they’re hardly perfect. Playing through Mass Effect: Andromeda, I was reminded how interrogative they make me feel: “YES BUT WHY ARE YOU OUT HERE STUDYING THE REMNANT?”

    They can also make conversations feel like passive lore-dumps. Real people don’t tell you their life story at your first meeting, and thank God, because it can get pretty boring. I wish an NPC would turn around and tell me “the mating rituals of my culture are none of your business. And no, we won’t bang, okay?”

    These are among the problems that Spirit AI are trying to fix with their Character Engine. It aims to achieve something that will still feel like a distant dream to many players: natural-seeming conversations with AI characters, in which you use text or even voice chat to speak, and they answer as a real person would, creating their dialogue on the fly.

    [...]

    Thanks Farflame!

     

    Friday - June 23, 2017

    General News - The best Sidequests

    by Hiddenx, 20:53

    Henriquejr spotted an article about the best sidequests on PC Gamer:

    The best sidequests in PC gaming

    Sometimes good things happen when you stray from the beaten path.

    Stepping off the beaten path in any given game can open up a whole new world. Main story lines are fine, but side quests often contain better writing, funnier jokes, and more interesting mechanics. Sometimes they’re so good that when the credits roll, the distractions and detours burn brighter in your memory than the central journey itself. With that in mind, here’s a list of the best side quests on PC. Don’t blame me if you suddenly have an urge to reinstall that RPG you sunk 100 hours into five years ago. Oh, and leave your own suggestions in the comments below the story. 

    Oasis, Fallout 3

    “I had you brought in here to ask one simple favour. Would you kill me?” It’s one of my favourite lines from Fallout 3 within arguably its best side quest. Tucked away in the corner of the grey wasteland is Oasis, where flourishing plant life obscures a tragic tale.   

    At the centre is Harold, a mutant with a tree growing out of his head. It’s grown so large that Harold is rooted in place, and he wants you to end his miserable life. But killing him will destroy this pocket of calm, stopping any chance of it spreading life to the rest of the world, and end the hopes of his followers. So what do you do? It’s a great opportunity to role-play, and the writing is superb whichever option you choose.   

    The Harper Hold Quests, Baldur's Gate 2

    Bioware’s 2000 RPG remains one of the best in the genre, and it’s largely down to its side quests. The Harper Hold quests are a perfect example: complex, fiddly at times, but ultimately rewarding. It’s all about the characters. Two of the best from the first Baldur’s Gate—Xsar and Montaron—return fleetingly (one dies, the other is turned into a bird), and most of the tale centres around Jaheira, and ties in with her excellent romance story.

    It’s really, really long but you don’t have to pay too much attention. There’s splices of action—mainly fighting the Harpers—followed by days of downtime, and then suddenly a character will pop up on your travels to move the quest forward. It’s not something games do much nowadays, sadly.

    [...]

    Wednesday - June 21, 2017

    .hack//G.U. trilogy - coming to PC

    by Silver, 11:29

    RockPaperShotgun reports that Bandai Namco is bringing to pc the .hack//G.U. trilogy of games. They were originally released on ps2 as single player action rpgs.

    ...
    Bandai Namco say that these remasters boast "updated 1080p, 16:9 widescreen picture, and 60 fps frame rate, gameplay balance changes and additional features to be announced in the upcoming months." Expanding a little, they say Last Recode will have "enhanced battle balance and game pacing to provide an optimal experience as well as a new Cheat Mode allowing players who want to just enjoy the story to start the game with full stats."

    I've not touched the transmedia world of .hack myself, so here's over to Bamco for the official word:

    "[. . .] the world of .hack focuses on the mysterious events surrounding a wildly popular in-universe massively multiplayer role-playing game called The World. .hack//G.U. begins after the events of the original .hack series with players assuming the role of Haseo as he tracks down a powerful Player Killer named Tri-Edge who killed his friend's in-game avatar Shino, and put her in a coma in real life.

    I'm a big fan of ‘if you die in the game, you die in real life' premises but I suppose I could settle for comas.

    Friday - June 16, 2017

    General News - A Plague Tale: Innocence Trailer

    by Hiddenx, 17:43

    Here's the E3-teaser trailer for A Plague Tale: Innocence:

    A Plague Tale: Innocence

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    Wednesday - June 14, 2017

    Ashen - Due 2018

    by Silver, 03:34

    @PCGamer Ashen is an action RPG about a wanderer in search of a place to call home. The game is due to release 2018 on Steam.

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    According to its site, Ashen is an open-world, non-linear game with "high risk combat" and "passive" multiplayer. "People you meet out in the world are players with their own agendas," the site says. "It will be up to you to decide how to deal with them."
    [...]

    Monday - June 12, 2017

    General News - Roguelikes Developers should Study

    by Silver, 13:56

    @Gamasutra Stefanie Fogel writes about 7 roguelikes that every developer should study and take some influences from.

    ...

    Moria -- Building a world one kill at a time

    Moria was first coded in VMS Pascal in 1983, and is now available to play on a profusion of platforms.

    A roguelike based on J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Moria is notable for a mechanic called "monster memory." As you battle enemies, the game records information about them. It would track how many times a monster was killed, what type of attack it has, and what levels it could normally be found on. If the player is killed, that information carries over into a new game via a save file. "Moria's monster memory was really unique, and brought out that roguelike tradition of subsequent plays making the world more rich," says Dwarf Fortress co-creator Tarn Adams.

    The concept of transferring permanent information between saves would go on to influence other roguelikes, like Cellar Door Games' 2013 platformer Rogue Legacy, adding a little persistence to a genre built on impermanence.

    Takeaway: Adding a little permanence to a procedurally generated world can enhance it.

    Invisible Inc. -- A stealth roguelike that works

    Hack-n-slash combat and randomness through procedural generation are both hallmarks of the Roguelike genre. Stealth games, on the other hand, generally rely on predictability and avoidance. Players are supposed to be patient, study enemy patterns, and avoid combat. So, you would think the two genres would mix like oil and water. But, Short thinks Klei's 2015 release Invisible Inc. is a great example of how the two can work well together. "I used to think that stealth gameplay couldn't really be procedurally generated in a satisfying way, due to the importance of pacing and "outsmarting" enemies, but Klei proved me completely wrong," she says.

    "Invisible Inc. is a beautiful example of how its algorithm takes apart the optimal player experience and figures out which pieces can be modular," she adds. "In this particular case, stealth is broken down into various obstacles to overcome, and the game loop adds pressure between maps, along with new tools that expand your repertoire. In some ways, it is a very classical roguelike, and in other ways a visionary masterpiece that might shine the way for future procedural content that seems like it ‘just can't be done.'"

    Takeaway: If that crazy game idea you have seems like it "just can't be done," it probably can be done.
    [...]

    Saturday - June 10, 2017

    General News - RPG Dream Team

    by Hiddenx, 08:48

    PC Gamer has listed some of the best party members in RPGs:

    The RPG dream team

    The definitive list of the best squad mates around.

    We love squad RPGs here at PC Gamer. We never shut up about them. We argue endlessly about who the best Mass Effect and Dragon Age companions are. We defend our positions vigorously in the great Ashley vs. Kaiden debate. After hundreds of hours of adventure, great game companions leave a strong impression.

    So we started thinking about what makes a great RPG party. You need a variety of roles. You need a variety of moral perspectives. You need top banter. You can’t just throw a bunch of fan favourites together because you end up with a horde of witty rogues yammering over one another. 

    After some debate we’ve put together this list. Some of the choices are a bit left field, but it’s a collection of heroes from a variety of games that would be great fun in an RPG together. Let us know your own dream teams in the comments.

    [...]

    Wednesday - June 07, 2017

    General News - Rumor: New Bethesda RPG

    by Hiddenx, 01:15

    Farflame spotted this rumor at Gamepressure:

    Rumor states that Bethesda is to announce Starfield, a sci-fi RPG set in the Fallout universe, at E3 2017

    A person who claims to be a Bethesda employee claims that the studio's next big project is Starfield, a sci-fi RPG set in the Fallout universe. The game is reportedly going to be announced at E3 2017.

    We know for a fact that Bethesda Softworks wants to show off a couple of new games at this year’s E3. The most recent rumors, however, name specific titles of these projects. According to an alleged Bethesda employee, who has become a source of an interesting leak on 4chan, one of them is the previously announced virtual reality version of Fallout 4. The other—and note that this is nothing more than a rumor—a sci-fi open world RPG named Starfield. The game is to feature space travels, hub worlds, and multiple randomly generated planets. It is said to bear similarities to sandbox games, like Minecraft, but with gameplay characteristic of Bethesda’s works.

    [...]

    Friday - May 26, 2017

    MidBoss - Released

    by Silver, 06:31

    MidBoss has been released on Steam. The game is described as a kill your enemies, possess their bodies, and take their abilities as your own, turn-based procedurally generated death labyrinth.

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    Welcome to Midboss! In this episode the monsters in the dungeon are making fun of us! It's time to show them who's boss!

    ******

    It's a tough life being an imp, you have to herd rats and all of the other monsters are just mean to you for no reason!

    But now, the lowly imp can get revenge. In Midboss you can possess the other monsters and steal their abilities, until you gain your rightful place as the top dog in the dungeon!

    ******

    Midboss Website: https://midboss.net/
    Midboss on Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/561...
    Midboss on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KitsuneGamesCom

    Monday - May 22, 2017

    General News - The History of RPGs

    by Myrthos, 10:46

    Richard Cobbett has made a comprehensive overview of the history of RPGs, breaking it down into a number of sections.  Here is the part on Baldur's Gate:

    Baldur’s Gate beckoned players in with beautiful graphics, a heavy focus on story, and some of the genre’s most beloved characters. It looked fantastic, thanks to the Infinity Engine’s method of displaying worlds. Huge rendered maps with overlaid sprites allowed for exquisite detail without the predictability of tiles. It wasn’t just D&D reborn, but a new start for the genre. RPGs were finally cool again. 

    Replayed now, it’s the complexity that jumps out. Baldur’s Gate was based on AD&D Second Edition, and it doesn’t hide the fact. It wants you to know its dice rolls. It wants you to know terms like THAC0 (“To Hit Armour Class Zero,” aka, the likeliness of a hit landing). It often pushes you to areas you’re not ready for. Roll a mage and wander to the first real fight in the game—an ambush at the Friendly Arms Inn—and watch as a single hit lands like an anvil to the face. 

    It was still an RPG of its time, rooted, for all its attempts to welcome new players, in the designs of the past. It was BioWare’s first RPG, and the company hadn’t even formed with a plan to make them. The founders had intended to start a medical software company, before deciding games would be more fun. Previous releases were mech game Shattered Steel and comedy shooter MDK 2. Even Interplay, the publisher, had only moderate hopes for Baldur’s Gate. Two million copies later, BioWare was the new cool kid in town.

    Friday - May 19, 2017

    Jeff Vogel - Too Many Words? (Yeah, Probably.)

    by Silver, 13:42

    Jeff Vogel shares his thoughts on words in RPGs and thinks there are too many of them.

    My whole career has been based on writing very story-heavy games, with lots of words. Our company, Spiderweb Software, is small. We can't afford fancy graphics, so we have to rely on words. Interesting, quality words.

    We're currently remastering the series with our most loved story and our bestest words. We also finished a new series, which had a lot of words which I suspect weren't as good because it didn't sell as well. Now we're planning a whole new series, and we need to figure out how many and what sort of words to cram into that.

    We have a lot of decisions to make, so I've been thinking a lot about words in games. I have made a number of observations.

    For Reference

    A decently sized novel contains about 100,000 words. The Bible contains about a million words.

    My wordiest and most popular game, Avernum 3, which I am now remastering, had about 200,000 words. At its release, people talked about how very, very, many words it had. Yet, by current standards, it is very terse.

    In comparison, one of the best-written RPGs in recent times, The Witcher 3, had about 450,000 words. For The Witcher 3, "best-written" means "One really good storyline and many, many other storylines that were basically OK." (To be fair, I think the Heart of Stone DLC was really well-written.)

    [...]

    Wednesday - May 17, 2017

    Chris Avellone - Teases mystery game

    by Silver, 01:46

    Chris Avellone is hinting at an upcoming game. Something cryptic about Kings and human nature.

    Sunday - May 14, 2017

    Runic Rampage - Unleashed May 17th

    by Silver, 12:29

    @IndieRetroNews Runic Rampage is a dungeon brawler featuring a bloodthirsty dwarf which will release May 17th on Steam.

    Have you ever wanted to do a bit of dungeon brawling, smashing up the place and everything around while playing as a Dwarf? Well soon you will be able to, as Electrocosmos's ' Rune Rampage ' is coming to Steam for PC, MAC and Linux 17th May. In the game you play as Grimbard, the last champion of the dwarfs on a quest to collect the missing rune stone fragments, to bring peace to the kingdom and to find the truth about your kingdoms downfall.

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    Wednesday - May 10, 2017

    Assassin's Creed: Origins - Open World RPG?

    by Hiddenx, 19:43

    OnlySP reports that there is a rumor that Assassin's Creed: Origins could be an RPG like Skyrim:

    Assassin’s Creed, the iconic parkour-inspired stealth-combat series sporting in-depth historical fiction, is rumored to return in 2017 after breaking its annual release cycle in 2016.

    After the last two titles in the series—Unity and Syndicate—did relatively poorly in comparison to the franchise’s previous titles, Ubisoft decided to take a break from producing Assassin’s Creed games in favor of supporting the debut film of the same name. With E3 lurking ever-closer, rumors that the next installment are picking up speed. Originally, rumors suggested the working title for the new game was Assassin’s Creed: Empire. However, further leaks have suggested the final title is Assassin’s Creed Origins.

    As the name implies, the story of Origins is rumored to involve the original assassin’s guild within the brotherhood. In addition, speculation points in the direction of two main characters, a man and a woman—similar to the protagonists in Syndicate.

    If the possibility of an imminent return of an Assassin’s Creed game is not exciting enough, sources also claim the game’s structure will be similar to that of Bethesda’s Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, “featuring a character progression system less tied to the story.”

    [...]

    PCGamesN found out that the game features an Egyptian setting.

    Thank you for the interesting rumor, Farflame!

    Monday - May 08, 2017

    General News - The History of Mimics

    by Silver, 13:46

    PCGamer takes a look at the history of mimics in videogames.

    ...

    Making a murderer

    D&D co-creator Gary Gygax coined the mimics we all know and love (and see in our nightmares) in 1974. Three years later, he gave players a clearer picture of mimics with D&D's Monster Manual, but questions still needed answering. So, in 1983, Ed Greenwood-creator of D&D's Forgotten Realms campaign and many of its monsters-wrote The Ecology of the Mimic, which compiled information from scattered lore into one definitive bestiary. He also made up a lot of new details to fill in gaps in player understanding.

    "That was and is the fun in D&D for me, making stuff up," Greenwood tells me over email. "In ways consistent with existing lore, so as to weave new portions of an existing tapestry."

    Before the Ecology, mimics were just shapeshifting subterranean creatures that didn't like sunlight. Incredibly flexible hermits, basically. But Greenwood delved into everything from how mimics transform to what potions you can make from their innards (polymorph, obviously). He outlined the two basic types of mimics: big stupid killers and small intelligent fiends. He shared the story of one bold mimic which spent two years as a statue sat square in the middle of town, curiously near a sewer vein "filled to a depth of more than 60 feet with human and animal bones." It's no exaggeration to say he changed the face of mimics forever.

    [...]

    Friday - April 28, 2017

    General News - The Future of Dialogue

    by Hiddenx, 09:12

    Henriquejr spotted this editorial about the the future of dialogue in games on PC Gamer:

    The future of dialogue in games

    The challenges of writing dialogue that's both fun and functional, and how dev tools can lead to better writing.

    It’s the stuff of a thousand RPGs: you’ve braved the Barren Pass and crossed the Aching Plains and now, hours since you last spoke to a coherent NPC, you’re finally standing before a city teeming with literally tens of characters, each bursting to tell you at length about the history of their people.

    Getting to discover the politics and personalities of a new location should feel like a reward, but the same formulaic text dump from city to city can make you feel awfully weary. Being NPCsplained at with screeds of exposition and feeling you’re taking little meaningful part in it all, game dialogue can make you want to run back into the hills.

    [...]

    The form must be functional

    When Chris Avellone—writer and designer of games from Planescape: Torment to Fallout: New Vegas and recent free agent—writes dialogue, he thinks about it performing three fundamental things. First, the conversation needs a purpose. If it’s with a merchant, then they need to provide that service, and quickly. 

    Second, the dialogue needs to be aware of the narrative happening in the nearby area as well as the overarching story. "If the Enclave is encroaching on a community in Fallout, even a simple merchant can say, 'If you’ve come for supplies, you’d best hurry, won’t be much left after the Enclave arrives.’ That tells the local narrative, and the larger narrative."

    And third, dialogue has to be as aware of the player’s actions as possible. "If you’ve just wiped out the Enclave, then you’d script the merchant’s opening node to something else: 'Hey, you’re the one that kicked the Enclave’s ass. Anything I have in stock; for you, half off.’"

    [...]

    Tuesday - April 25, 2017

    Evils Doom - Unofficial PC Update

    by Silver, 06:38

    @IndieRetroNews reports on Evils Doom which was an unreleased Amiga dungeon crawler which has now been updated to work on Windows.

    ...
    As we said before according to some sites it was due to bugs that Evil's Doom became a victim of software piracy, after the beta version was sent to magazines, the first cracks appeared and the developers cancelled the game and left the Amiga. It wasn't until much later a French Amiga programmer by the name of -meynaf- not only fixed most of the bugs but gave it the translation work over as well. Although it was still very fiddly to get to work on most Amiga systems and even the previous PC launchables ( containing emulation/rom ) in 2014, wasn't the best either.

    So now we look towards The Company.PL for our dungeon crawling fix, as this dungeon crawler known as ' Evil's Doom ' with its Hi-Res GFX (640X512) with 256 colors, hand drawn artwork, character designs and conversations, and inclusive brilliant intro with a fabulous tune. Has been packaged together in a PC launchable file that includes an improved TC Engine v2.6, improved game speed, as well as with the very latest available patched up Amiga game files that also works on Windows 10.

    Sunday - April 23, 2017

    General News - Tim Cain: Building a better RPG

    by Hiddenx, 21:38

    Tim Cain explains how to build better RPGs at the RebootDevelop in Croatia:

    Reboot Develop 2017 Conference - 20th to 22nd April

    Building a Better RPG: Seven Mistakes to Avoid

    -> Twitch TV

    Thank you for the info, luj1!

    Saturday - April 22, 2017

    General News - Sunless Chronicles

    by Hiddenx, 10:10

    Farflame spotted this interesting one man project - Sunless Chronicles:

    Sunless Chronicles - Action RPG Project made in UE4

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    This is an early prototype of a one-man project heavily inspired in the Dark Souls series. It is being developed entirely in UE4. This is a demo level using UE4 Infinity Blade maps (Frozen Cove) to show off the combat mechanics, which are still in progress.

    The game will be released for Windows, hopefully in 2017. There will also be iOs and Android versions available for free.

    General News - 25 best tactical RPGs

    by Hiddenx, 10:01

    GamePressure made a list of the 25 best tactical RPGs:

    Roleplaying in turns – 25 best tactical RPGs

    As hack’n’slash constitutes one extremity of the RPG genre, its other side are the tactical RPGs, emphasizing complex, strategic battles played in turns. Here's a ranking of the 25 best tactical RPGs, according to our staff.

    Tactical RPG, also known as SRPG, is a genre that’s been present on the market for over 30 years. They’re most commonly associated with Japan and gaming consoles. It’s a natural consequence, as the genre was popularized by the Fire Emblem series, which didn’t come to Europe until 2004. That’s why SRPG, while highly popular in Japan, remains on the sidelines of western gaming. In recent years, however, it seems like the situation is slowly changing.

    Thanks to indie titles such as The Banner Saga or Invisible, Inc. and the latest installments of the Fire Emblem series on Nintendo 3DS, more and more people are picking up interest in tactical RPGs. That’s why we’ve decided to prepare for you a list of the best representatives of the genre, according to our staff.

    [...]

    25. Chroma Squad
    24. Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel
    23. Project X Zone
    22. Resonance of Fate
    21. Odium (Gorky 17)
    20. Gladius
    19. Jeanne d’Arc
    18. SteamWorld Heist
    17. Vanguard Bandits
    16. Incubation: Time is Running Out
    15. Ring of Red
    14. Stella Deus: The Gate of Eternity
    13. Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume
    12. Vandal Hearts II
    11. Grand Kingdom
    10. Shadowrun: Dragonfall – Director’s Cut
    09. Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked
    08. The Banner Saga
    07. Shining Force III
    06. Valkyria Chronicles
    05. Front Mission 3
    04. Fire Emblem: Awakening
    03. Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance
    02. Final Fantasy Tactics
    01. Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together

    Thanks Farflame!

    PS: Jagged Alliance 2 is an RPG!

    Friday - April 21, 2017

    Aerea - Music Themed ARPG

    by Myrthos, 12:07

    In the section of 'Let's try something different' here is AereA, a music themed action RPG, in which the weapons used are (modified) muscial instruments. Apparently, music kills.

    loading...

    Part of the music was made in cooperation with Broforce composer Deon van Heerden.

    Today publisher SOEDESCO announced that Broforce composer Deon van Heerden is working on the soundtrack for Action RPG AereA. They also announced a June 30 launch date for the game. AereA will be available on PlayStation® 4, Xbox One and PC both boxed and digitally.

    Cooperation with Broforce composer
    AereA is a music themed Action RPG in which the player explores Aezir, a floating island that was broken into pieces. To really tap into the music theme of the game, SOEDESCO cooperates with Broforce composer Deon van Heerden for the soundtrack. To add more music to the release, the boxed version of AereA includes the game’s original soundtrack as a special edition.

    Four playable characters
    To celebrate the cooperation there’s an all-new trailer introducing AereA’s four heroes. Players get to play as Wolff the Harp-Archer, Jacques the Cello-Knight, Jules the Lute-Mage and Claude the Trumpet-Gunner. As disciples of Great Maestro Guido’s it’s their mission to find and return the nine primordial instruments and restore balance and peace in the world. Van Heerden composed a special soundtrack for this trailer.

    Features

    • Enjoy the beautiful music by Broforce composer Deon van Heerden
    • Lose yourself in the beautifully hand-drawn graphic style in 4K resolution
    • Play as 4 different musical themed characters, each with their own unique set of abilities
    • Fight 9 unique bosses, inspired by a specific musical instruments
    • Explore multiple islands with a wide variety of biomes, enemies and puzzles
    • Switch to local 4-player co-op to form a team with up to 3 friends at any time

    Wednesday - April 19, 2017

    Horizon Zero Dawn - The Making of the Game

    by Silver, 09:48

    VPRO Backlight have taken a look behind the scenes at the making of Horizon Zero Dawn.

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    The role playing game Horizon Zero Dawn created by the Dutch company Guerrilla Games is extremely successful: Horizon Zero Dawn has already sold more than 2.6 million copies, giving the gaming community a whole new world to explore, discuss and analyse. How did Guerrilla Games create Horizon Zero Dawn? And what is so attractive in this virtual world? Find out in Horizon Zero Dawn - The making of the game.

    VPRO Backlight got the unique opportunity to follow the team of Guerrilla Games, behind the scene, during the final sprint before the release.
    With a multi million Euros budget, 240 people have worked on a new PlayStation world for 5 years in Amsterdam. Horizon Zero Dawn is an "open world game" and gives the players the possibility to explore very detailed futuristic worlds from the perspective of a redhead girl called Aloy.
    The character Aloy was created by using the face of a Dutch actress, the voice of an American woman, and the body of a British acrobat. The motion capture that took place in Oxford to give her life is amazing to watch, especially for the Horizon Zero Dawn fan, but not only.
    During the highly anticipated game preview in Anaheim, California, the marketing machine was running at full speed on a mega-event where thousands of gamers and players, cosplaying as Aloy, were pouring out anticipation and fun. After such an event, how can the real world still stand a chance against the temptation and the beauty of virtual games? The Horizon Zero Dawn community is ever growing and shares all day online the best Horizon Zero Dawn tips, or Horizon Zero Dawn gameplay, and speculate about the Horizon Zero Dawn ending. Sony Entertainment is even talking about a potential Horizon Zero Dawn franchise, with a switch to virtual reality. This PS4 game and RPG in general certainly have a bright future coming ahead.

    Tuesday - April 18, 2017

    Code Vein - New Vampire Action RPG

    by Silver, 23:14

    @TechRaptor Code Vein is a new action rpg from Bandai Namco which sees you take on the role of Vampires. No platforms have been confirmed but it is 'coming to console'.

    Bandai Namco had people all excited last week when they release a teaser trailer carrying the tagline ‘Prepare to Dine.' The latest issue of Weekly Famitsu has revealed that this is not, as many had anticipated, the next From Software game. Ahead of the official 20th of April reveal, information from Japanese blogger Hachima Kikou reported by Gematsu has confirmed that the project is titled Code Vein and will be a "dungeon exploration-type, hard action RPG" from developer Shift. You may know Shift as Bandai Namco's in-house developer behind the God Eater series.

    loading...

    Further information from Weekly Famitsu also goes into the setting and premise of the game. Players will take on the role of Vampires known as Revenants and will use supernatural abilities to ‘take on the truth of the world while working together with allies.' Revenants are described as having transcended humanity but at the cost of their memory. It also seems they will be reliant on blood to survive, as those who are short on blood become monsters known as ‘Lost.'
    [...]

    Asura - Released

    by Silver, 10:20

    @IndieGames Asura, an action-rpg, has been released on Steam, Humble Store and GOG.

    There are no good guys in Asura. You are a demon, returning from the underworld to wreak havoc and take revenge on the Maharaja who got you into this mess by burning you at the stake. Time to learn a bit about Indian mythology and kill lots of baddies, action-RPG-style.

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    [...]

    Monday - April 17, 2017

    General News - Origins of JRPGs

    by Hiddenx, 01:25

    PC Gamer tells us that J-RPGs have their roots on the PC platform:

    The forgotten origins of JRPGs on the PC

    While the golden age of JRPGs was on the console, their genesis started on the PC.

    Long before Dragon Quest would ignite a golden age of Japanese roleplaying games, there was Seduction of the Condominium Wives. Forget genre tropes like heroic knights and evil dragons: this proto-JRPG was about a salesman going door-to-door trying to peddle condoms to lonely women while battling off Yakuza gang members and ghosts. Released in 1982, Seduction of the Condominium Wives was one of the first Japanese RPGs—if you can even call it that.

    [...]

    The origins of Japanese RPGs is often attributed to Wizardry, a hugely successful western RPG designed by Robert Woodhead in 1981. There's no denying that Wizardy—and to a similar extent Richard Garriott's Ultima—had a huge impact on JRPGs. In the September/October issue of Computer Gaming World, columnist Roe R. Adams describes Woodhead's and Garriott's fame in the East: "Both Wizardry and Ultima have huge followings in Japan. The computer magazines cover [Richard Garriott] like our National Inquirer would cover a television star. When Robert Woodhead, of Wizardry fame, was recently in Japan he was practically mobbed by autograph seekers."

    But the truth is that before either game was imported to Japan, a thriving development scene of proto-RPGs had already taken hold. In 1982, Japan's videogame industry was booming. Arcade games like Nintendo's Donkey Kong had come out a year earlier and sparked a golden era of videogame mania. While Japan was allegedly facing a shortage of 100 yen coins from the success of arcade games, its personal computing industry was also booming. Companies like Nippon Electric Company (NEC) were coming out with innovative hardware like the PC-8001, which is where the first Japanese RPGs would arrive.

    [...]

    Thanks henriquejr!

    Sunday - April 16, 2017

    Steam Hammer - Opens Beta Access

    by Silver, 22:28

    @PCGamesN Steam Hammer, a sandbox rpg, has gone into open beta. Steam early access is planned for later this year.

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    Following a successful Kickstarter campaign and two years of work down in the foundry, Steam Hammer is ready to take to the air with its first major beta test. Set in a tumultuous steampunk world, Steam Hammer has up to 64 players scrambling for resources and land on the Acribo Islands, following a devastating airship crash.

     

    Hoping to service the untapped market of steampunk enthusiasts and survival game fans, Steam Hammer has players establishing their own steampunk colony on this quiet island chain. With no overarching goal to accomplish in Steam Hammer, players can choose to devote their life to building a Victorian utopia, or becoming a dastardly airship pirate or even creating the perfect farmstead. There is no fixed class system either, with players developing skills depending on their desired playstyle or in-game goal. You want to be a farmer who is also a skilled sniper and gunsmith? Go right ahead.
    [...]

    Wednesday - April 12, 2017

    General News - Bayonetta released on Steam

    by Silver, 11:15

    Bayonetta, a hack n'slash game, has been released on Steam and runs well according to Eurogamer.

    loading...

    After years of hoping and waiting, Sega has finally delivered the goods - Bayonetta is now available on PC. The pitch is simple enough: this is the original game without any of the flaws inherent to the console versions, and with PC's ability to scale up resolution. To say it runs smoothly on a vast range of hardware would be an understatement - we could hit something approaching a locked 1080p60 on a 1GB Radeon HD 7770, a budget GPU when it was released way back in 2012. On more recent graphics hardware, the only way is up.

    Let's start with the options - as a game designed specifically for consoles of the past, we didn't expect much in the way of detail settings but there are a few tweakables of note. You can adjust texture and shadow quality as you see fit and the game even reports VRAM usage based on your current settings. Well, at least it tries to report it - the numbers are significantly lower than those registered by monitoring tools like MSI Afterburner. There isn't a tremendous difference between the options available, the exception being dynamic shadow quality, which varies dramatically based on how you set it.

    So, what's new over Xbox 360? Ambient occlusion is a new addition, and MSAA up to an impossible-sounding 16x is also featured - though curiously, this does not appear to work whatsoever on any settings we tested (and it's the same with control panel-enabled hardware MSAA). However, anisotropic filtering is present at a low level on Xbox, but this can be dialled up to 16x on PC, representing a pleasant improvement. There's also an HDR option - but this refers to the original in-game lighting system, it doesn't represent any kind of support for HDR displays. Regardless, this game is so light on resources, you can dial everything up to the max and scale up further from there in terms of resolution, and that's where you get your anti-aliasing - via downsampling.
    [...]

    Monday - April 10, 2017

    General News - Japan learned to love the PC again

    by Hiddenx, 23:26

    PCGamer talks about the return of Japanese games to the PC platform:

    How Japan learned to love PC gaming again

    From 2010 to 2017, Japan has embraced the PC. Developers talk about the challenges they overcame to make it happen.

    Dark Souls changed everything. There were Japanese games on PC before Dark Souls, of course, some celebrated like indie darling Cave Story, some infamously messy, like 1998's trapezoid box Final Fantasy 7. But Dark Souls was different. It hit all of videogames like a bomb: on impact we reeled at how boldly it embraced challenge and obfuscation and how badly we had missed this particular flavor of Japanese game design. And then came the shockwave: that design seeped into the brains of players and designers and it stuck, driving a wave of games big and small inspired by the popularity and sales of this strangely new, strangely old game. PC gamers wanted in. 90,000 petition signatures later, FromSoftware said sure, we'll bring it to PC.

    Dark Souls came to PC a year late and half broken, and neither of those things ultimately mattered. Today nearly three million PC gamers own Dark Souls, and that demand was a sky-piercing beacon for Japan: a whole lot of people in the West own PCs, and we want to play Japanese games on them.

    [...]

    Thanks henriquejr!

    General News - Saving World Quests

    by Hiddenx, 20:13

    Richard Cobbett of Rock Paper Shotgun talks about the 'world quests' (filler content) and how to make  them fun again:

    The RPG Scrollbars: Saving World Quests

    Previously in this column, somehow not taken up by the industry as of yet, I suggested that the word ‘quest’ was being somewhat damaged of late by the fact that it can be anything from ‘Kill the Great Red Dragon’ to ‘bring me some orange juice.’ I advocated a system where instead, tasks were split between two basic categories – what used to justifiably be called ‘quests’, and the more prosaic ‘shit to do’. I realise now though that I missed an important third category, World Quests, named because scattering mostly pointless crap everywhere is much easier than actually filling an open world.

    [...]

    Wednesday - April 05, 2017

    Kynseed - 2D sandbox adventure prototype

    by Silver, 05:36

    @IndieRetroNews Kynseed is a new project from some ex-Lionhead people which is described as a 2D sandbox adventure with rpg elements. An early prototype is available to download. (Scroll to the bottom of the page)

    Something for everyone this week and it continues with the prototype indie game ' Kynseed ' which is being developed by a couple of ex-Lionhead Fable devs 'PixelCount Studios', and is available to download as a very early version for the PC. Classed as a 2D sandbox adventure with RPG elements, this prototype puts you in control of a young lad that is working on the family farm. You can walk around, explore the lush landscape, go fishing and even be pulled in by the lovely sound of bee's!

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    [...]

    Monday - April 03, 2017

    Digital Antiquarian - All That Glitters is Not Gold

    by Silver, 10:59

    The Digital Antiquarian explores the rise and fall of SSI with its 'Gold Box' games in part 5 of this series.

    ...
    One thing that did become more clear than ever over the course of the year, however, was that not all Dungeons & Dragons products were created equal. Dungeon Masters Assistant Volume II: Characters & Treasures sold just 13,516 copies, leading to the quiet ending of the line of computerized aids for the tabletop game that had been one of the three major pillars of SSI's original plans for Dungeons & Dragons. A deviation from that old master plan called War of the Lance, an attempt to apply SSI's experience with war games to TSR's Dragonlance campaign setting, did almost as poorly, selling 15,255 copies. Meanwhile the second of the "Silver Box" line of action-oriented games that made up the second of the pillars continued to perform well: Dragons of Flame sold 55,711 copies. Despite that success, though, 1989 would also mark the end of the line for the Silver Box, thanks to a breakdown in relations with the British developers behind those games. Going into the 1990s, then, Dungeons & Dragons on the computer would be all about the Gold Box line of turn-based traditional CRPGs, the only one of SSI's three pillars still standing.

    Thankfully, what Pool of Radiance had demonstrated in 1988 the events of 1989 would only confirm. What players seemed to hunger for most of all in the context of Dungeons & Dragons on the computer was literally Dungeons & Dragons on the computer: big CRPGs that implemented as many of the gnarly details of the rules as possible. Even Hillsfar, a superfluous and rather pointless sort of training ground for characters created in Pool of Radiance, sold 78,418 copies when SSI released it in March as a stopgap to give the hardcore something to do while they waited for the real Pool sequel.
    [...]

    Saturday - March 25, 2017

    General News - Chris Avellone Interview

    by Silver, 06:54

    @Glixel they interviewed Chris Avellone about his career and what he thinks about various rpg things.

    ...
    But when I sit down to play Planescape: Torment, I know I'm going to be reading a ton. I don't think that game is any weaker for it.
    Well, Planescape's probably an example I'd point to where we never could have done what we wanted to do - like, showing characters' expressions - with the animation budget that we had. Nor could you actually even see it on the scale those characters were [drawn].

    Ultimately, we had to describe a lot [using words], and that was a lot of fun. I think Planescape got a little bit of a pass because every NPC you talked to generally knew something about your character. That ended up motivating you to play through it. You're like, "I'll discover something powerful about myself if I keep talking to this person."

    So you think the dialogue kept you going by making you feel grand and important?
    Yeah. I think Planescape is perhaps one of the most selfish power fantasies I've ever written. Everything revolves around the player character.

    Planescape: Torment is often cited as one of the best-written games ever made. How do you feel about the place it occupies in the canon?
    Speaking as someone that thought they were going to get fired over that game, I'm extremely gratified by the reception. QA thought it was a very strange game, which is something you really never want to hear from QA. I wasn't sure what the reception was going to be. It was a lot of long hours with a small team. It's really cool that people responded strongly to it.

    When did you realize that you would not, in fact, get fired?
    Six months later, I'm like, "Oh wow, now I have some breathing room. It seems like I bought some time."

    A lot of the games that you've ended up working on as a freelancer are isometric RPGs in that vein.
    Actually, very few of the freelance projects I'm on are isometric RPGs. Divinity: Original Sin 2 is the only one that comes close. I don't know how much more I have to add to the genre right now. I spent the last 10, maybe 15 years working on that style of game. What I'd like to do is see what other genres have done with storytelling and then, when I go back to isometric RPGs - which I eventually will - see how can I take the elements those other genres have figured out about story, and bring that into the isometric RPG, to make the experience even stronger.

    So you're certain that you'll go back to isometric RPGs? Is that stuff in your bones?
    Yeah. I may just go back to the pen-and-paper route. The idea of gazing down at a battle mat and moving your miniatures around - that's something I've always really enjoyed. As long as that's not the only thing I'm ever doing, as long as I'm trying to learn in other ways. That's what makes me happy.

    I think the advantage of different genres is that, as a designer, you end up creating mechanics and systems that are designed to enforce that genre.

    We as an audience fetishize choice in games - we love being able to choose what our characters are going to say. Do you think that propagating that has come with any negative side effects?

    I almost worry it's a technical limitation. Sometimes, it's hard to decide why a player is doing something, and that's why dialogue is important. It gives the player character an opportunity to go, "Here is why I'm doing this." It's otherwise almost impossible to tell.

    When we were doing Alpha Protocol, for example - it was an espionage RPG - we didn't focus on a morality meter. We just focused on what the outside world would think of your actions, and then we'd use that as consequences despite why you're really doing it. Because that felt more "secret agent-y." I think that applies to a lot of games. You [as a player] have to make an internal choice. You know why you're doing it. The world may not understand, but that's why you have to make the hard decisions - because you know more than the outside world does.

    [...]

    Thursday - March 16, 2017

    General News - Dungeons & Dragons going digital

    by Hiddenx, 20:20

    Rjshae spotted on The Register that Dungeons & Dragons is going online:

    Dungeons & Dragons finally going digital

    Character sheets and bits of the rule books look like they're coming to the Web

    Seminal role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons looks to be going digital.

    The game's publisher, Wizards of the Coast, calls its new effort “D&D Beyond”, describes it as “a digital toolset for use with the Dungeons & Dragons fifth edition rules” and has given the service the tagline “Play with advantage”.

    Wizards' canned statement says the service will “take D&D players beyond pen and paper, providing a rules compendium, character builder, digital character sheets, and more—all populated with official D&D content.” We're also told the service “aims to make game management easier for both players and Dungeon Masters by providing high-quality tools available on any device.”

    Details of just what's on offer are thin, but the beta signup site for the service says subscribers will get the following features:

    • A “D&D Compendium with Official Content”
    • The ability to “Create, Browse, & Use Homebrew Content”
    • The ability to “Manage Characters - Build, Progress, & Play”
    • D&D News, Articles, Forums, & More
    • Anywhere, anytime, access on any device

    That repetition of the “any device” point point suggests this will be a web-based effort, rather than an app.

    The promo video below offers a limited look at the service, suggesting it will digitise character sheets and offer some content from the game's famously-detailed rule books.

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    [...]

     

    Monday - March 13, 2017

    General News - Chris Avellone Interview @ Kotaku

    by Hiddenx, 00:26

    Farflame spotted this Kotaku chat with Chris Avellone:

    We Chat With Alpha Protocol And Planescape: Torment Writer Chris Avellone

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    Wednesday - March 08, 2017

    Matt Chat - David Wesely Interview

    by Hiddenx, 22:00

    Matt talks with David Wesely about the true origins of D&D:

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    RPG and wargaming pioneer Maj. David Wesely's first installment covers the origins of the role-playing game, its influence on society and culture, and much more.

    Thanks Farflame!

    Tuesday - March 07, 2017

    Kingsway - RPG management sim

    by Silver, 23:57

    @PCGamesN Kingsway is a unique rpg offering from Adult Swim Games that mixes an operating system with traditional gameplay.

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    Mixing standard RPG mechanics with a ‘90s era operating system, Kingsway is a game that likens dungeon crawling to office work. With monster encounters appearing as pop-ups and new quests coming in the form of emails, this perplexing RPG is what Windows 98 would look like if it was designed by Gary Gygax.

    All the elements of a '90s era PC GUI have been given an RPG twist in Kingsway, with your Internet browser acting as your world map, your backpack being hidden within your computer's file folders and fetch quests coming up as spam emails in your "Quests" program. You'll have to juggle your inventory and health between multiple windows, with players being able to set out their desktop in any way they like to help aid their daily questing.
    [...]

    Monday - February 27, 2017

    The Mages Tale - VR in the World of Bards Tale IV

    by Myrthos, 12:07

    InXile is working on a dungeon crawler RPG set in the world of The Bard's Tale IV, named The Mages Tale. The game is designed to be used with the Oculus Touch. Brian Fargo goes to some length explaining that none of the developers working on The Bards Tale IV, nor any of the received funding for that game will be spent on the development of The Mages Tale. In essence he is mentioning the opposite in that assets of The Mages Tale will flow back into The Bards Tale IV, given that The Mages Tale is to be released this year.

    As you might have already seen, we just announced a new game we're developing: The Mage's Tale! This is a brand-new VR title coming to Oculus Touch, which we hinted at last holiday during our year-in-review video.

    The Mage's Tale is a first-person VR adventure set in the world of The Bard's Tale, where you play as a young mage (who else?), using tactile functions to craft and throw spells to defeat your foes. It is a separate stand-alone title, which means you don't need familiarity with The Bard's Tale to play it. It is not directly tied to The Bard's Tale IV either, so it's not required for you to play The Mage's Tale to enjoy The Bard's Tale IV, or vice-versa. And it's great news for The Bard's Tale IV, for reasons I'll explain below! But first, the guys from Tested came by our studio to try the game out, check it out below!

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    Here is Brian's explanation of usage of resources.

    Oculus Studios' publishing allowed us to hire a team for Mage's without affecting the team we were already growing for Bard's, a team that has been hard at work on things we have already been showing you. And I want to reiterate not a penny from our crowdfunding went into The Mage's Tale, in fact quite the opposite as we'll explain below. The crowdfunding monies has been fully earmarked for The Bard's Tale IV's team.

    So in a direct sense, The Mage's Tale does not affect The Bard's Tale IV. But there are some benefits... One benefit is that in creating The Mage's Tale, we need to become familiar with and develop technology and tools, just like on any other game. With each game, there is a time investment in getting up to speed on all of that. Since both The Bard's Tale IV and The Mage's Tale are being built on Unreal Engine 4, there is naturally a synergistic benefit between both of them.

    But here's the best news for backers: after having seen our videos and screenshots, we saw many of you asking how we're able to build a game this graphically polished on a $1.5 million budget. We're pleased to say that while both games are being worked on by separate teams, many of the environments, models, textures, animations, and other graphical assets that we've been able to use for The Mage's Tale are going back into The Bard's Tale IV. That means we can make The Bard's Tale IV look better, and frees us up to spend more resources to build on that art set, and this helps us get to the vision of what we wanted The Bard's Tale IV to be.

    Bottom line - the assets coming in from Mage's allow us to make The Bard's Tale IV a larger game than otherwise possible, with larger levels and more varied enemies. Of course, continued back catalog sales from our other games, and sales of Torment: Tides of Numenera, which is releasing this Feb. 28th, will continue to flow directly into our projects, allowing us to make them that much bigger and better!

    And from the press release:

    INXILE ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES THE MAGE'S TALE FOR OCULUS TOUCH  

    The Mage's Tale - Dungeon Crawler RPG Set Within the Bard's Tale Universe  

    (Newport Beach, CA -  February 24, 2017) - inXile Entertainment announces The Mage's Tale, a VR action RPG developed for Oculus Touch, and set for a 2017 launch. inXile Entertainment is the developer behind some of today's most revered RPGs, such as game of the year Wasteland 2, and the soon to launch Torment: Tides of Numenera (Feb. 28th on PC and console).  In addition, inXile is currently developing both The Bard's Tale IV and Wasteland 3.

    "When I was a kid our dungeons consisted of playing Dungeons and Dragons on graph paper. From there I graduated to playing classic computer games in black and white like Wizardry, which inspired me to create a full color dungeon crawl with Bard's Tale. The window for the players kept getting bigger, the graphics more advanced, and now with The Mage's Tale, we are inside the dungeon," said Brian Fargo, dungeon crawler expert and CEO of inXile Entertainment.

    About The Mage's Tale - VR Action, Adventure, Puzzle Solving RPG

    Welcome, apprentice. Don your Wizard's robe and become a mighty conjuror. The corrupted wizard, Gaufroi, has kidnapped your master, Mage Alguin, and it's up to you to save him. To win the day, you must conquer eleven devious dungeons, from the stinking sewers of Skara Brae to the living tombs of evil Charm. Mind bending puzzles, terrifying traps, and deadly monsters stand in your way, all perfectly capable of sending you to an early grave.

    But worry not. You wield raw elemental power in the palm of your hand, allowing you to sling gouts of flame, javelins of ice, arcs of lightning, and swirling tempests which can finish off any fiend that stands in your way - from the snarkiest goblin to the burliest giant. And as you delve deeper into the depths, you find and master forgotten secrets, ancient lore, and powerful spell reagents with which you can craft increasingly exotic spells to defeat even greater foes. You may be an apprentice now, but to save your master, this must become your Mage's Tale.

    Sunday - February 19, 2017

    Towards The Pantheon - On Steam Greenlight

    by Hiddenx, 10:41

    The RPG Towards The Pantheon is on Steam Greenlight right now:

    Overview

    Towards The Pantheon is a top down 2D role-playing game where four unlikely heroes venture through a variety of dangerous regions to find and defeat the source of The Sworn Light at The Pantheon.

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    Details

    For a thousand years after the defeat of The Terrorforce the world has believed itself to be at peace. But a new elite group known as The Sworn Light has been gaining power and is using divide and conquer tactics to destabilize the world. Tensions are rising between the many races but a young warrior has been called by her elder to journey towards The Pantheon and stop the destruction of their cultures.

    Gone are the RPG clichés of potions, wars between elemental gods, and plots about youngsters who accidentally stumble upon a magic power that allows them to save the world. Instead Towards The Pantheon is a unique and unusual game that follows Freyja the warrior, Bam the cat, Mishima the cyborg, and Phenez the ghost on their simultaneously lighthearted, fun, dark, and painful adventure.

    Whether it be silent protagonist Freyja searching for self confidence to overcome her mutism, Bam wishing he was back home with his stash of catnip, Mishima’s conflict over whether she must replace her heart with a computer chip in order to fit into her cyberpunk society, or Phenez’ dark struggle for redemption, Towards The Pantheon deals with personal and philosophical topics that all players can relate to.

    While the game draws inspiration from a variety of classics ranging from Paper Mario to Silent Hill to Golden Sun, Towards The Pantheon is an ambitious game that aims to leave its own mark of originality. It is currently aiming for a Summer 2017 release.

    Features

    • Ability to switch between the four main characters, each with unique overworld mechanics.
    • Turn based combat system where each character has unique battle mechanics.
    • A Card/Combo system that allows collectible cards and combos found throughout the world to be used during battle.
    • A huge fully connected overworld with an interconnecting transportation system.
    • More than 10 regions to explore including lush forests, freezing planes of snow, cyberpunk cities, barren wastelands, and an abandoned mansion.
    • Dialog and support systems that allow for further character development and stat boosts.
    • An original soundtrack that combines modern production techniques with SNES/GBC/Genesis era synthesizers.
    • The soundtrack will be released as both an Original Soundtrack (~70 minutes) and Complete Soundtrack (containing every song in the game).
    • A unique and complex overarching story line that ties together more than 5 races spread over 10 regions, each contributing to a deep and rich lore.

    Saturday - February 18, 2017

    General News - The Future of RPGs

    by Hiddenx, 15:29

    Some developers discuss how RPGs could evolve on PC Gamer:

    What does the future hold for RPGs?

    Developers discuss how roleplaying games need to evolve.

    Imagine a roleplaying game in which you aren’t Champion of the Realm, but a homely bystander such as an innkeeper or a carpenter’s apprentice. Imagine an RPG in which you aren’t able to hand-craft your own posse of adventurers, fussing over everything from eye colour to movement modifiers, but must do your best with the character or characters you’re given. Imagine an RPG in which you aren’t there to save the world but simply find your way through it, as cleverly as you can. If there’s a common theme to my discussions with developers about the future of roleplaying games, it’s that the old “pick your stats, level up by killing stuff, decide the fate of the universe” premise is in sore need of an overhaul, or at least some decent alternatives.

    “There have been dozens of attempts to reinvent the RPG story, but the heart of the gameplay is always bodding from one combat to the next, gathering rewards that make you better at combat,” says Alexis Kennedy, creative director for Failbetter’s acclaimed Sunless Sea, who now divides his time between the forthcoming boardgame Cultist Simulator and freelance design work for major studios like BioWare. “So characters tend to be warrior-adventurers and stories tend to have a big showdown fight conclusion and generally you’re combing the countryside for things to fight. That’s a really compelling core, and it’s been perfected, but I like seeing other activities emphasised in RPGs. There are other loops than these.”

    “I feel like in spite of what some people have been saying, there’s been a lack of really amazing RPGs for a few years now,” says Katherine Holden, a Cumbria based manga artist and designer whose projects include the RPG series Vacant Sky. “I’m sure that’ll be an unpopular opinion, but I feel like all these ‘create your own character, run around doing busywork in a sandbox and meet NPCs who all fall over themselves to give you power and authority’ games get a little tiresome after a while.” Holden points to 2015’s incredibly accomplished but slightly uninspiring Dragon Age: Inquisition as evidence of this stagnation. “Inquisition wasn’t bad, but it was such a shallow, toothless game compared to Dragon Age II, which featured deeply flawed, yet likeable characters and also a very timely story about refugees, prejudice and religious tension.”

    [...]

    Thanks henriquejr!

    General News - Condition of the MMORPG Genre

    by Hiddenx, 09:25

    Gamepressure has analyzed the current the current condition of the MMORPG genre:

    The end of MMORPG? – we analyze the current and future condition of online RPGs

    The 12-year long rule of World of Warcraft is an impressive feat, but it hides a grim reflection on the current condition of the MMORPG genre. Are Asian and/or mobile free-to-play games its only hope?

    Pretty much everybody has Internet access these days. The popularity of online games, including MMORPGs, has been steadily rising throughout the last few years. The problem is, the said genre is currently very busy chasing its own tail. There are no fresh titles, especially from American or European developers. Houston, does this look like a problem to you?

    MMORPG is an acronym for Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game, which basically means that a lot a people can have fun at the same time by playing together. But the name does make it sound more dignified, doesn’t it? Well, you’ll be perhaps surprised to know that it all began as mud… I mean MUD, or Multi-User Dungeon, the genre from which all MMORPGs originated. Imagine a game implemented entirely as text, no pictures, nothing even resembling an interface by modern standards. The system provided us with information, world building, everything in the form of written description; we, in turn, controlled our character by manual command input. This enabled us to fight monsters, explore, or talk with other people. That’s how things looked around 1978–1980, making MUDs older than MS-DOS (that’s the grandfather of Microsoft Windows, in case you didn’t know).

    [...]

    Thanks Farflame!

    Wednesday - February 08, 2017

    General News - A new Recipe for the RPG Formula

    by Hiddenx, 21:23

    Veteran game developer Guido Henkel talks about the current state of the RPG genre at Gamasutra:

    A new recipe for the roleplaying game formula

    Guido Henkel has been a professional game developer since 1983 and served as producer on Planescape: Torment.

    The extinction of computer roleplaying games seemed inevitable by the mid-1990s, a time when publishers almost uniformly dropped the genre. High development costs and long development cycles made them risky propositions, especially since they catered to a niche audience and therefore never generated the same shareholder-pleasing profits as the industry darlings, first-person shooters.

    But things have changed. Despite the doomsaying, the genre survived through adaptation, by streamlining gameplay features. Computer roleplaying games (CRPGs) became more accessible and began to appeal to a larger audience and as a result, it is safe to say that today’s CRPGs are mainstream titles that have very little in common with their ancestors from the 80s and 90s. In fact, one could argue that they have very little in common with roleplaying games, period. (Please note that this excursion does not take into consideration the games stemming from the resurgence of retro RPGs in recent years, of course, as they are an intentional throwback to classic design paradigms.)

    Despite their mass appeal, to say that contemporary CRPGs lack feature-depth and are too shallow would be a manifest oversimplification of the game mechanics at work, and truly a misrepresentation of the state of CRPGs. Quite on the contrary, these games do, in fact, have a lot of depth and they do have a lot of features. It is the way they are presented and employ these features, that generates the impression of overly shallow gameplay.

    [...]

    Real roleplaying is about choices

    Not that this isn’t fun, but a real roleplaying game is a much different affair than that. What we are looking at here is a mere skeleton of the original genre, boiled down to its bare essentials, and then some. Alternative solutions to problems and paths are usually not available.

    But what if you don’t wish to fight an opponent? Why should you feel a need to attack every single breathing being in the wilderness, just because they appear unfriendly? What if you want to barter with a troll instead of gutting him with a spectacular finishing move? What if you’d rather charm your way out of a situation? What if you would prefer to sneak up to and steal any quest artifact without having to kill the enemy? Very few games will offer you any of these options unless they are specifically part of the desired solution path.

    [...]

    Tuesday - February 07, 2017

    Quote - On Early Access

    by Silver, 09:45

    Indie Games takes a look at Quote which is an action RPG game about a world of ignorance where knowledge is dangerous. The game has recently arrived on Steam early access.

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    Yes, in Quote, you're the bad guy. The titular warrior metes out justice with tome in hand, bludgeoning enemies with a simple pushes, dashes, and slams that slowly expand into combos and special attacks. But your most powerful weapon are books themselves; by feeding these unlawful texts to your beaked companion Tatters, Quote can unlock fierce new abilities, ranging from teleporting strikes to wide ranged blasts.
    [...]

    Opinion - RPG Mechanics for Scalability

    by Silver, 09:22

    Sinister Design has an interesting editorial on designing RPG mechanics for scalability.

    There is a secret known only to RPG developers, a gleaming nugget of knowledge unearthed anew through long struggle by each succeeding generation of would-be Richard Garriotts and Shouzou Kagas. It is, simply: making RPGs is kind of a pain in the ass.

    I love making RPGs, but it's true. The RPG is a ramshackle colossus of systems, each one stitched onto the other, and all forced to interact to produce something resembling a cohesive play experience. Exploration, dialogue, combat, character advancement, item usage, inventory management, party management, crafting, stealth...even the most focused of RPGs is guaranteed to have at least three or four of these systems, each with its own attendant design demands and opportunities for bugs to show up.

    But forget those design demands for a moment-because the truth is, it's the content demands that are the real killers. An RPG with a play time of less than 20 hours is unacceptable to the market, and ideally, you should aim for 40 hours or more. You need to create so much art, and so much writing, and so many encounters to fill up those hours that even the most basic, old-school, stripped-down RPG can easily take years upon years to make.

    A developer with limited resources at her disposal, staring down the barrel of a half-decade development cycle, might be inclined to wonder: "Is there some way that I can design my game's systems to alleviate the burden of producing all that content?"

    Well, I have good news! I'm here to tell you that you can: by designing your mechanics for scalability. Before we get into the "how" of it, though, let's set out exactly what we mean by "scalability."

    Friday - January 27, 2017

    Ni No Kuni 2 - Coming to PC

    by Silver, 04:51

    @mousearea they announce that Ni No Kuni 2 will be released on the PC.

    Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom will release on PC on the same day as PS4 version later this year. Surprisingly, considering the first game was a PS3 exclusive.

    The game is a traditional RPG with all the positives and negatives, and with a big draw being that the art direction is headed by famous and respected Studio Ghibli. The original game followed a boy being transported to a magical world and helped by the magical kin. However this game seems to be the inverse, a boy king from the magical is helped by a stranger from another world to fight evil and rebuild his kingdom.

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    Wednesday - January 25, 2017

    Azure Saga: Pathfinder - On Greenlight

    by Silver, 20:58

    Azure Saga: Pathfinder is a tactical turn-based RPG with science fiction and fantasy elements now on Steam greenlight.

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    KEY FEATURES

    VISUAL NOVEL STORYTELLING
    Stunning 2D drawing illustration will be used as the classic visual novel storytelling. Depending on the situation and mood within the conversations, character's expressions may also changed periodically. Plus, there will be some animated illustration during certain events.

    TURN BASED BATTLE
    Classical Turn based battle RPG is the battle system offered in Azure Saga: Pathfinder, where there are player phase and enemy phase throughout the battles. Strategic thinking is very crucial as players have to decide which moves they would like to make during player phase for all their characters once. And just like classic RPG elements, random encounter is applied within the game.

    UNITED SKILLS EXPLORATION
    One of the unique key features in Azure Saga: Pathfinder is that you can discover united skill attack by combining each character skills. More than 45 United skill attacks with a very unique ability and animations can be unlocked throughout the game.

    EQUIPMENT SOCKET SYSTEM
    More than 20 different type of gems with unique effects can be socketed into equipments, enabling players to create their own playstyle. In addition, some equipments has unique affinity with certain gemstones and bonus stats will be given if it is perfectly matched.

    QUEST SYSTEM
    There are plenty side and hidden quests to be explored throughout the game. By completing these quests, players can acquire in-game currencies, equipments or any other mythical items. Some special quests can be taken to awaken your character hidden skills, where it will also upgrade your character's outfit.

    OTHERS

    Awesome classic rendered 2.5D isometric world with a tons of puzzle
    Save anywhere anytime
    Save Point Teleportation System
    Epic Orchestra background music
    Gallery System contains character illustrations

    GDC - The Untapped Potential of Roguelikes

    by Silver, 20:54

    GDC hosted Riot Games' Tom Cadwell, who explained how Roguelikes are an untapped genre which can help developers working in multiple genres.

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    Apocalypse Now - A new type of rpg?

    by Silver, 19:51

    @PCGamer they take a look at Apocalypse Now and ask writer Rob Auten about the teams plans to translate a cinematic classic.

    A videogame adaptation of Francis Ford Coppola's dark take on the Vietnam War, Apocalypse Now, is on the way-at least by around 2020 if the development team meets their Kickstarter funding goal.

    It's an announcement that will undoubtedly inspire a mixed and passionate reaction, and rightfully so. How can a videogame billed as a psychedelic first-person horror RPG adapt a dark, meditative film on the Vietnam War without coming off as hamfisted? And what can it say that already hasn't been said by Heart of Darkness, or another game adaptation of the same source material, Spec Ops: The Line?

    When I talked to lead writer on the project, Rob Auten, he assured me that he and the rest of the team are aware of how easily such an adaptation could go wrong. Without an inordinate attention to detail, the characters, from Willard to Kurtz, might behave like pizza parlor animatronic imitations of their talented Hollywood counterparts. And licensed games have a stigma as existing for the purpose of capitalizing on a namesake.

    [...]

    For Auten, such an advancement comes in the form of AI and fluid, evolving narratives that respond to player behaviors invisibly.

    "Character and the evolution and evocation of character in computer-driven systems is something that's really interesting to me," says Auten, "We're less concerned about really tense machine gun set pieces and really more about characters that feel like they have both the knowledge base and a presence that's maybe a little bit more eerie than some of the things we've seen before."

    Advanced narrative AI sounds pie-in-the-sky, but juggling the fragile hearts of so many ardent film fans versed in both cinema and videogames means Auten and the team need to execute. They're actively looking forward to how critical and involved their community will be, and Kickstarter was a natural fit for assembling such a jury.

    Sunday - January 15, 2017

    Has-Been Heroes - Announced

    by Silver, 09:00

    @RockPaperShotgun Frozenbyte, the developers behind Trine, have announced Has-Been Heroes, a roguelike action rpg.

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    So!

    You have a lineup of heroes from regular fantasyfolk like rogues and wizards to more esoteric ones like, ah, luchadors. Frozenbyte say they can be powered up with hundreds of different items and spells. They talk about combining spells and learning new elements too, which sounds a bit Magicka-y.

    As for the roguelikelike part, it looks like it's made into runs, with each deadly try bringing new level layouts (made of rooms connected by branching paths) and the luck of the drop. To my eyes, at least; I can only see what you see.

    Has-Been Heroes is due to launch this March. Frozenbyte are also working on a Magicka-lookin' wizard 'em up, Nine Parchments.

    Tuesday - January 10, 2017

    General News - RPG Definitions

    by Hiddenx, 22:19

    The Gaming Codex looks into several definitions for role playing games:

    The Gaming Codex #2: RPG (Role Playing Game)

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    -> link to The Gaming Codex #1: Game

    General News - Bethesda: Make Modding Great

    by Silver, 01:33

    @sugerbombed they discuss Bethesda and modding and feel Bethesda has dropped the ball by not rewarding and promoting modders enough for their efforts.

    One of the hallmarks that distinguishes Bethesda Game Studios' games from others are the modding tools released by Bethesda and the amazing mods that consumers of their games make. Some mods just add little things to the game, while some like the recently released Enderal for Skyrim or FROST Survival Simulator for Fallout 4 add totally new worlds, or revamped ones, that sometimes almost take as much time and effort to make as the games that are used as the foundation for them.


    This is not news to consumers of Bethesda games, but Bethesda themselves have increasingly touted this aspect of their games in recent years. At Microsoft's E3 conference in 2015, Todd Howard used a brief showcase mainly to announce that mods would be coming to Xbox One before coming to PS4. Then with the reveal of Skyrim: Special Edition, one of the main selling points of that remaster was that Skyrim mods would be playable on console for the first time as shown in the game's reveal trailer, as well as being displayed on the back of the game's case and on steam. Undoubtedly, many people purchased Fallout 4 and especially Skyrim SE on console because of the promise of console mods. Therefore, Bethesda is profiting from the hard work of thousands of modders, most of whom do not get any sort of compensation or promotion, donations or otherwise. Now, there is no real problem with this; Bethesda doesn't even have to release these modding tools, and the modders know that they are pretty much exclusively doing this for the fun of it and to bring joy to others. However, I and many others believe Bethesda could do much more in the way of rewarding and promoting modders, without giving any sort of monetary compensation or constructing a process similar to the "paid mods fiasco" on Steam a couple of years ago. How you ask?


    Well my suggestion is a "Modder Royalty Program". Here are my ideas for how this could work: Bethesda can create a tiered system based on either downloads or favorable ratings across all platforms (whichever they deem most appropriate). So once a mod reaches 1000 downloads/ratings say, that modder receives some sort of badge to display on their Bethesda.net profile. When a mod receives 5,000 downloads/ratings, that modder receives a badge and a discount code on the official Bethesda store. When a mod receives 10k downloads/ratings, that modder receives a badge and a code for a free item on the Bethesda store of $40 or less value. When a mod receives 20k downloads/ratings, the modder receives a free Bethesda game of choice and a badge. Any mod that receives 30k downloads/ratings or more receives a badge, is displayed on the Bethesda.net main page for a period of 30 days, and if he/she so chooses is granted a "MyCreation" interview. Of course Bethesda could make these rewards/tiers however they want, these are just suggestions.

    Sunday - January 08, 2017

    General News - Must Play JRPGs

    by Hiddenx, 09:09

    Gamespot created a list of 26 JRPGs you should play:

    1. Final Fantasy VI (Released 1994)
    2. Illusion of Gaia (Released 1993)
    3. Chrono Trigger (Released 1995)
    4. Lunar: Eternal Blue Complete (Released 1994)
    5. Persona 4/Shin Megami Tensei (Released 2008)
    6. Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch (Released 2011)
    7. Xenoblade Chronicles (Released 2010)
    8. Xenogears (Released 1998)
    9. Dark Souls (Released 2011)
    10. The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky (Released 2004)
    11. Final Fantasy IX (Released 2000)
    12. EarthBound (Released 1994)
    13. Final Fantasy VII (Released 1997)
    14. Radiant Historia (Released 2010)
    15. The Last Story (Released 2011)
    16. Lufia 2: Rise of the Sinistrals (Released 1995)
    17. The World Ends With You (Released 2007)
    18. Suikoden II (Released 1997)
    19. Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride (Released 1992)
    20. Final Fantasy Tactics: The War Of The Lions (Released 1997)
    21. Secret of Mana (Released 1997)
    22. Final Fantasy Type-O HD (Released 2011)
    23. Valkyria Chronicles (Released 2008)
    24. Tales of Vesperia (Released 2008)
    25. Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together (Released 1995)
    26. Fire Emblem Fates (Released 2015)

    Wednesday - January 04, 2017

    General News - Are CRPGs dead or dying?

    by Hiddenx, 22:45

    Rampant Coyote tells us about the current state of CRPGs:

    Are CRPGs dead or dying?

    TLDR Version: Are you kidding me? We’re in the new golden age of computer role-playing games, my friends! There’s never been a better time to strap on a digital sword (or laser gun) and enjoy some dungeon-delving fun on your PC. You just have to know where to look.

    Full Version: I was one of the mournful folks back in the early 2000s complaining about the lack of good Computer Role-Playing Games (CRPGs). They didn’t make ’em like they used to, most western RPGs were Diablo clones or otherwise an action-video game with some RPG elements. The giants of the last two decades who had made all those wonderful CRPGs of yore had disappeared in all but name… SSI, Origin, New World Computing, Sir-Tech, etc. And the JRPGs that made it to North America were often … Pablum. Uninspired, unexciting. It seemed that most of the CRPG creativity was going into Massively Multiplayer Online games… which were fun in their own way, but in many ways removed from the kind of experience I craved. The biggest problem came down to the simple fact that CRPGs are among the more difficult and expensive games to produce, and with the ever-rising budgets of the mainstream game companies, they had to be overly conservative in their designs or risk catastrophic failure. It felt like we’d reached… well, not an evolutionary dead-end, but certainly one that wasn’t bearing much exciting fruit.

    I looked back wistfully on the “golden age” of PC role-playing games, from the late 80s until the early 90s. Oh, man, back then it seemed there were so many amazing computer RPGs coming out each year that I couldn’t afford either the time or the money to play them – and back then, I had a lot more time! But that era was done, the modern pickings were slim, and they just didn’t make ’em like they used to. [...]

     

    Lays of Althas: Sundered Order - Update

    by Hiddenx, 17:51

    Farflame spotted a new open world RPG in the making: Lays of Althas: Sundered Order

    Even in its early days, Althas has been a land shaken by conflicts. In the early days, these conflicts pitted the Anointed Kingdoms of Men against the dark and demonic forces that threatened them. However, with the passage of time the world has changed. With the Anointed order eroding away and new powers rising, another war looms on the horizon, a war brought on by Man's own actions. Thenodar, a burgeoning new kingdom in the North, and Anorthile, one of the last of the three remaining Anointed Kingdoms, now prepare for a war that will shake all of Althas. Old demons and new enemies gather in the shadows of both lands as each sets their sights on the ruined wilderness known as the Feralands.

    Gameplay Mechanics

    There are many features we aim for in The Lays of Althas: SO. The game is in the early stages of development, so many of the features listed below are subject to change:
    • Open World: Adventure on the continent of Althas. A large, open-world awaits the player with full freedom to explore. Regions will be released via Chapters.
    • Deep Lore: The world of Althas has a rich history which is represented throughout the game. Interact with environments, NPCs, and as well as read through in-game books to learn more about the world.
    • Dynamic and Active World: Instead of a world that revolves around the player, we are creating a world where the player must learn to revolve around it. This approach will allow for date-based events to occur in Althas, even if you aren’t around to see them.
    • Adaptive Skill-based Combat: The game aims for a skill-based, first-person, system. Giving the player full control over melee swings and stabs, as well as engaging ranged combat and stealth.
    • Magic: Magic is a rare ability that the player will have to work hard to unlock in the Sundered Order period of Althas. When utilized correctly, it possesses a myriad of usages that can be extremely beneficial.
    • Dynamic Factions and Wars: Factions will make decisions and go to war with each other. Battles happen dynamically, according to the timeline and based on causes-and-effects within the game.
    -> Christmas Update

    Monday - January 02, 2017

    General News - Upcoming RPGs

    by Hiddenx, 10:45

    Meteorite Games has listed their top ten upcoming RPGs:

    Top 10 Upcoming Most Anticipated RPG Games 2017 - 2018 | PS4

    0:00 - Vampyr ( PC / PS4 / Xbox One )
    1:17 - Conan Exiles ( PS4 / Xbox One / PC )
    2:51 - Kingdom Come׃ Deliverance ( Xbox One /PC / PS4 )
    4:43 - Styx: Shards of Darkness (PC / Xbox One / PS4 )
    6:20 - Cyberpunk 2077 ( PS4 / PC / Xbox One )
    8:03 - Mass Effect: Andromeda ( Xbox One / PS4 / PC )
    8:55 - Scalebound ( PC / Xbox |One / PS4 )
    10:30 - Horizon Zero Dawn ( PS4 )
    12:20 - NieR׃ Automata ( PC / PS4 )
    12:47 - Vikings: Wolves of Midgard ( Xbox One / PS4 / PC )

    loading...

    Sunday - January 01, 2017

    Pool of Radiance - Retrospective

    by Silver, 22:55

    Terminally Nerdy takes a look at SSI: Pool of Radiance as part of the DND Retrospective Video Game project.

    loading...


    Welcome to the first of my DND Retrospective Video Game project videos. Today I am taking a look at the very first of the Gold Box games by SSI: Pool of Radiance.

    For more information about the DND Videogame Retrospective Project, visit https://pageturnersinc.wordpress.com/...

    For the Streams I did on this game:
    Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3eGQm...
    Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zopRy...

    Thanks to LilBigGamers for the sweet thumbnail template and End Card, the channel art, and the upgraded Icon. And thanks Adman2099 for the sweet Airbrushed face!

    LilBigGamer - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY24...
    Adam Cooper (Adman2099) - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCse4...

    And always remember...STAY NERDY!

    All Music by Audionautix. Check him out here - http://audionautix.com/index.php

    Tuesday - December 27, 2016

    General News - The Year in JRPGs, 2016

    by Hiddenx, 07:56

    Kotaku looks back at the JRPGs of 2016:

    The Year In JRPGs, 2016

    I don’t think it’s too much of a stretch to say that this was one of the most significant years for Japanese role-playing games in recent history, first and foremost because one of this fall’s biggest games was a brand new Final Fantasy.

    Final Fantasy XV turned out to be one of the most interesting games of the year, standing out among a crowded slate of shooters and open worlds. Is it disjointed? Absolutely. Does it feel unfinished? Yep. But Noctis and crew still managed to resonate with thousands upon thousands of JRPG fans, offering a unique road trip with a rhythm unlike any other open world game out there.
    Final Fantasy XV: The Kotaku Review

    Although 2016's other highly anticipated JRPG, Persona 5, hasn’t quite made it west yet, FFXV capped off what was a solid year for the genre. Let’s discuss, shall we? As has become an annual tradition, here are all the JRPGs I played this year:

    [...]

    Monday - December 26, 2016

    Digital Antiquarian - A Time of Endings: Epyx

    by Silver, 23:56

    The Digital Antiquarian explores the end of Epyx.

    In the spring of 1987, Epyx was the American games industry's great survivor, the oldest company still standing this side of Atari and the one which had gone through the most changes over its long - by the standards of a very young industry, that is - lifespan. Epyx had been founded by John Connelly and Jon Freeman, a couple of tabletop role-players and wargaming grognards interested in computerizing their hobbies, way back in 1978 under the considerably less exciting name of Automated Simulations. They hit paydirt the following year with Temple of Apshai, the most popular CRPG of the genre's primordial period. Automated Simulations did well for a while on the back of that game and a bevy of spinoffs and sequels created using the same engine, but after the arrival of the more advanced Wizardry and Ultima their cruder games found it difficult to compete. In 1983, a major management shakeup came to the moribund company at the behest of a consortium of investors, who put in charge the hard-driving Michael Katz, a veteran of the cutthroat business of toys. Katz acquired a company called Starpath, populated by young and highly skilled assembly-language programmers, to complete the transformation of the stodgy Automated Simulations into the commercially aggressive Epyx. In 1984, with the release of the huge hits Summer Games and Impossible Mission, the company's new identity as purveyors of slick action-based entertainments for the Commodore 64, the most popular gaming platform of the time, was cemented. One Gilbert Freeman (no relation to Jon Freeman) replaced Katz as Epyx's president and CEO shortly thereafter, but the successful template his predecessor had established remained unchanged right through 1987.

    Sunday - December 25, 2016

    General News - Game of the Year Awards 2016 @ PC Gamer

    by Hiddenx, 00:07

    The winners of PC Gamer's GotY contest are so far:

    The awards

    Game of the Year 2016: Dishonored 2
    Best Strategy Game: XCOM 2
    Best Puzzle Game:
    The Witness
    Best Shortform Game: Inside
    Best Racing Game:
    Forza Horizon 3
    Best Writing:
    Firewatch
    Best Expansion:
    The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine
    Best Comeback:
    Doom
    Best RPG:
    Darkest Dungeon
    Best Setting:
    Dark Souls 3
    Best Shooter: Titanfall 2
    Spirit of the PC:
    Stardew Valley
    Best Multiplayer:
    Overwatch

    Thanks henriquejr!

    Saturday - December 24, 2016

    General News - The biggest Games of 2017

    by Hiddenx, 16:36

    PC Gamer thinks these are the biggest games of 2017:

    Mass Effect: Andromeda

    BattleTech

    Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord

    Ghost Recon: Wildlands

    Prey

    Divinity: Original Sin 2

    Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War 3

    Resident Evil 7: Biohazard

    Rising Storm 2: Vietnam

    Red Dead Redemption 2?

    Civilization 6: Inevitable Expansion

    2017 will be a good year for RPG fans!

    Tuesday - December 20, 2016

    CRPG Book - Game Images

    by Silver, 03:25

    Felipe Pepe is authoring a CRPG book and has decided to share the images he has collected during the course of his research.

    Done: https://www.flickr.com/photos/crpgbook/albums ... 10,079 .png screenshots of RPGs uploaded, feel free to use them any way you wish. Or send some if you want. :)

    Saturday - December 17, 2016

    General News - The CRPG genre is not dead

    by Silver, 22:22

    @RetrospectiveGaming This video tells us why we should be optimistic about the CRPG genre.

    loading...

    I'm optimistic and I tell you why in this video!

    Games Mentioned

    UnderRail- https://www.gog.com/game/underrail

    The Age Of Decadence - https://www.gog.com/game/the_age_of_d...

    Copper Dreams- http://copper-dreams.com

    Serpent In The Stanglands - https://www.gog.com/game/serpent_in_t...

    A.T.O.M- https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfile...

    Dungeon Rats - https://www.gog.com/game/dungeon_rats

    Torment Tides Of Numnera - http://store.steampowered.com/app/272...

    Dr Dungeon's Madman- https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfile...

    Mods

    Project Nevada-http://www.nexusmods.com/newvegas/mod...

    Fallout 1.5 Resurrection- http://resurrection.cz/en/

    Fallout The Frontier- http://www.falloutthefrontier.com

    I forgot to mention Fallout Nevada - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2gqe...

    Friday - December 16, 2016

    The Ultimate Choice in RPGs: - Gameplay

    by Silver, 13:13

    @Gamasutra Felipe Pepe takes a look at the history of crpg 'choices'.

    The history of CRPG choices;
    or I how really need to learn how to be concise in these articles

    In the beginning, there was no choice. At least, not as we think of them today.

    While tabletop RPGs rely on the moment-to-moment choice of the players -"I try to climb down the cliff",
    "I ask the sage about the scroll", "I ATTACK THE ORC!", etc - CRPGs at first had a limited scope.

    In the late 70's / early 80's, the only real choice in CRPGs was character/party build.

    You would create a blob of stats, and then your ImaginationTM would transform them into "Sir Isaac Darkwood, leader of the band of adventurers who just defeated the evil Werdna in glorious combat!"

    Then Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (1985) came, and now HOW you played matter - if a beggar asks for money and you give him $10, your compassion goes up. And there were many events like that:

    However, while the game does offers some choices, they are more like a game-wide puzzle - you need to pick the correct options and act as a true Avatar of Virtue to finish the game. You're free to play as an asshole, but you won't ever advance the game like that.

    Tuesday - December 13, 2016

    General News - More JRPGs are coming to the PC

    by Hiddenx, 21:14

    RPS reports that the JRPGs of the Gust studio will be released for the PC in 2017:

    The JRPGs of venerable studio Gust will start coming to PC next year, parent company Koei Tecmo announced today. Gust join a long and pleasing lineup of Japanese developers who once focused on consoles but are now starting to give PC a crack, which is splendid news. But while some have been starting deep in their back catalogue, Gust’s first PC ports will be recent ones: Nights of Azure [official site] and Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book [official site]. Both of them will hit Steam on February 7th, 2017.

    Thanks henriquejr!

    Monday - December 12, 2016

    The RPG Scrollbars - The Scrolls Of Honour 2016

    by Hiddenx, 22:49

    Richard Cobbet (Rock, Paper, Shotgun) looks back at the RPGs of 2016:

    The RPG Scrollbars: The Scrolls Of Honour 2016

    As mentioned last week, it’s been one of those years. Lots of the biggest RPGs that we were expecting decided to spend a few more months in bed, or simply skip 2016. Can’t blame them! It’ll mean an awesome 2017, even if looking back there’s only been a few big names to pick from. Still, tradition is tradition! This week, another year marks another set of the RPG genre’s most fiercely fought-over fictional awards.

    [...]

    Thank you for the link, henriquejr!

    Saturday - December 10, 2016

    Prey - Impressions @GI Show

    by Silver, 11:08

    Game Informer share their impressons of Prey.

    loading...

    In this excerpt from The Game Informer Show podcast, Ben Hanson, Jeff Cork, and Ben Reeves talk about their cover story trip to Arkane Studios (the creators of Dishonored) to see new gameplay from the team's amibtious reboot of Prey.

    Friday - December 09, 2016

    Opinion - I don't trust $60 games

    by Silver, 20:31

    @DSOGaming they ask what many of us are thinking. Are $60 games indicative of a quality title?

    I had been thinking about writing this article for some time now and as I saw more and more disappointments from developers big and small, my frustration with the industry grew. The game that sat at the tip of my iceberg of frustration however, was none other than No Man's Sky. For the readers out there who know me, I like Indie Games, I don't apologize for it. So when I heard small Indie studio "Hello Games" was making an ambitious space exploration game, I was beyond excited. The initial screenshots that I saw had me pumped more than I had been about a new game in a long time. This excitement of course only made the utter disappointment that much more of unbearable. I write this right after Hello Games breaks their vow of silence after months to actually release content for the vacant game, but unfortunately the damage was already done.

    I have looked back over the last 5 years and have looked at the titles that I have spent the most time/gotten the most joy out of playing and the large majority of those titles are sub $60. With all the thinking I have come to realize. I do not trust $60 games. It doesn't matter who the developer is, big or small, I have gotten more enjoyment out of playing games like Stardew Valley, Minecraft, Don't Starve, Counter Strike, and Factorio than I have with a lot of my $60 library.

    Friday - December 02, 2016

    General News - Why Relaunch Prey?

    by Silver, 19:07

    @Game Informer they ask why relaunch Prey? Click here to watch nine minutes of gameplay from Prey.

    As it happened, Bethesda owned the Prey IP, which seemed like a solid fit for Arkane's new game. Or, at least, the name did. "We felt like, at its core, we liked the basic idea of Prey and what it represented in terms of aliens and you being hunted and on the run," says Pete Hines, vice president of PR and marketing at Bethesda. "And we thought it was a cool name. If you remove for a moment the notion of any game called Prey previously, we just thought it was a cool name that evoked what this game was about. In the discussions we had with Arkane, they were like, ‘Look, if we can do everything that we have planned and whatever we want and not be beholden to anything anyone has done - shipped or canceled - and just reimagine what Prey means going forward, then we're totally on board for that."

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    Dauntless - Co-op Action RPG 2017

    by Silver, 12:36

    @DSOGaming they report on an announcement made at the Video Game Awards for a new action RPG called Dauntless. (Pictures at the link)

    At this year’s Video Game Awards, Phoenix Labs revealed its new PC-exclusive title, called Dauntless. Dauntless is a co-op action RPG that is inspired by the Dark Souls and Monster Hunter series, and will be free-to-play.

    The game will support up to four players who will be able to craft stronger weapons and travel the world’s floating islands, hunting down giant creatures.

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    Friday - November 25, 2016

    Project Wright - The Outsiders David Goldfarb

    by Silver, 19:00

    David Goldfarb talks to PCGamer about Project Wright and why they decided to explore what life is like at the other end of the sword.

    "It would be great if people did get emotionally attached to the creature, for sure," he says. "Certainly the incredible feedback we had from the Unity teaser we released gives us hope they might! As far as people relating to them being potentially difficult, I don't think so. There is a sort of universality of experience that lets us have empathy for animals, robots, and whatever else the imagination can come up with in fiction, film, and games."

    As for the Dark Ages setting, Goldfarb says it allows the developers to root the game in history, while still giving them some freedom to be creative. I ask him what makes this time period so interesting. "We know comparatively little about it, but enough to ground some of the more fantastic concepts of the game. I really think using history as a familiarity base helps make the fantasy stronger when you deviate from it, as opposed to creating a believable new world from whole cloth. That's much harder."

    Thursday - November 24, 2016

    Guido Henkel - When text generation isn't enough

    by Silver, 23:07

    Guido Henkel maintains a blog and has written a three part series about text generation in RPGs and how it adds depth to the narrative. (P1, P2, P3) Guido has worked on RPGs such as Planescape Torment and the Realms of Arkania games.

    One of the key elements in your toolbox when developing role-playing or adventure games is a smart text generation stage that allows you to intelligently create dynamic text strings on the fly so that you can embed item names, monster names, character names and other things right in the text. Simple enough, right? Well, perhaps not as you shall see.

    Even in today's world of high-end RPGs, we still frequently see text output such as this:
    Sword taken!
    Acquired item: Sword

    I may be over-simplifying this right now for illustrative purposes, but these impersonal, one-fits-all text snippets are the result of over thirty years of trying to avoid one basic, underlying problem-grammar in text generation.
    Dynamic text generation adds depth to your narrative

    See, in order to keep things a bit more interesting, the designers could just as well have picked a different sentence and made it look like this
    Samwise picks up the sword and gives it a quick look-over before stowing it away.

    or at the very least, in the fashion of old text adventure games, add an article to the respective words.
    You pick up a sword.

    Naturally, the requirement for longer text changes with each game. Some clearly keep text short as not to get in the way of gameplay, but games that rely heavily on text are better served with more verbose string generation. It is much more in line with the narrative storytelling that classic role-playing games were striving for, and it would create a whole lot more depth, wouldn't it? It would, no doubt, and it was one of the key ingredients that made the Realms of Arkania games such a rich and incredibly detailed experience. So why aren't more developers doing it? Are they truly so afraid that people don't like to read? Hardly. If any audience in the computer game world is willing to read voraciously, it is role-players and adventurers.

    Wednesday - November 23, 2016

    General News - Todd Howard Interview

    by Silver, 20:30

    @Gamebanshee Glixel has an interview with Todd Howard in which he discusses Skyrim and the developers 'do whatever you want' attitude among other things.

    The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim has sold 30 million copies, which makes it a hit on the scale of Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty, Mario. They joked about the game on an episode of NCIS. You can't get more mainstream than that. What did that kind of success mean for you as a creator?
    Each of our games has found a larger and larger audience, which we never take for granted. A lot of us have worked together for 10, 15, 20 years - in many respects, making the same game. Skyrim was kind of this tipping point. It seemed to hit an audience that we had never had before.

    It didn't change us. But it did make us aware that some of the things we do speak to people who don't traditionally play games, or don't traditionally play role-playing games. They make it their own experience, and that was what was most important to us. Putting somebody in a world where they can do what they want. I think that's what's special about video games as entertainment.

    Of all your games, I feel like Skyrim is the one that gets closest to delivering that experience, which you talk about a lot. It's a game with a lot of "verbs" for the player, a lot of different ways to approach situations, lots of multi-part side quests that feel just as important as the main quest.
    I think that's true. The game has really good flow. When I sit down and play it again, even I get kind of lost. It's giving you choices at a nice pace.

    In 2012 you said the design document for Skyrim was a Conan action figure. Really?
    I'm looking at him on my desk right now. We start with tone. This is it. This is the tone.

    [...]

    Are there Skyrim mods that you wish were part of the main game?
    There are really simple ones where you go, 'Duh, we should have done that.' There's one that adds fast travel markers when you own a house. That's like a 10-minute thing that we probably should have done. There's a really popular mod that makes the cities open, so you can just walk in. We didn't do that, originally, for technical reasons on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

    There are also ones that we like that rebalance the game. On the surface, it seems like it makes it harder, but can make it a bit more interesting for people who have played it a lot.

    Is there any part of Skyrim that you would fix?
    I think if you look at our worlds and our environments, they're really rewarding. I think on the character side, how the NPCs react to you is still not quite where we want it to be.

    There really isn't a part of the game where we can't say, "That could be better."

    General News - Top 15 Upcoming RPGs

    by Silver, 11:21

    @GamePressure have presented their top 15 upcoming RPGs.

    Elex

    This summary wouldn't be complete without a mention of the team at Piranha Bytes, which has been working on a new project for quite some time now. Elex contains elements characteristic of fantasy, science fiction, and even post-apocalypse, and has a good chance of serving the players an experience completely different from any other production. The action takes place on the planet Magalan, which was hit by a meteorite not long before the events shown in the game. The event spawned two major side effects: almost complete destruction of the resident civilization and the appearance of the eponymous new substance. Elex helped the remaining survivors arm themselves in new weapons and endowed them with magical abilities - its dubious charm, however, lies in the fact that extended usage leads to the degeneration of the body.

    Four groups fight for absolute control over the new resource, each of them intending to use it for different purposes. The Albs, who, due to the aforementioned downside to using elex, have lost their humanity, display very imperialistic tendencies and act like unscrupulous machines. Opposing them we have the Berserkers, living in harmony with the nature, the Clerics, who possess highly-advanced technology despite rejecting elex consumption, and the independent, free group of Outlaws - we can definitely see some similarities to the first Gothic and its world, divided into three warring factions. The player will play as an amnesiac Alb general betrayed by his comrades. From the very beginning, the game will give us a free hand, allowing us to complete interesting quests and join one of the factions while we try to figure out what provoked the hero's kinsmen to such a disgraceful act.
    ...

    Monday - November 21, 2016

    Chris Avellone - Interview P2 @Sugerbombed

    by Silver, 11:10

    @Sugerbombed Part 2 of a 3 part series interview with Chris Avellone has been released. You can read part 1 here. This part focuses on New Vegas, his thoughts on Pete Hines' and Bethesda's marketing abilities and they ask him about quest design.

    SB: Now onto New Vegas. Since you designed New Reno in Fallout 2, how did you and the other developers go about differentiating New Vegas from it? And what influence did you take from it (New Reno)?

    CA: I don't know if there were any conversations on differentiating New Vegas from New Reno, the level designers for the city might know (I don't know if they played Fallout 2). BTW, New Reno wasn't solely mine, I inherited the design from the Troika guys before they left Black Isle, so I had that template to build on (the crime families, the Enclave, jet production, etc.) The worst parts of New Reno you can blame me for, don't blame the Troika guys. ;)

    Looking back the only thing I regret in New Reno is that I should have cut out one of the crime families (four was too many with everything else that was going on) and made Myron more systemically valuable to the party (his combat build and crafting abilities weren't helpful). Cassidy ended up being a better companion for systemic considerations, even with his heart condition. I did a post about companion design based on this learning experience a while back on the Obsidian forums, but I don't know if it's still up there (Obsidian locked me out of my profile after my departure, and they've refused to delete my account). The companion system design principles are not being used in recent Obsidian titles, so it may have been removed.

    SB: For you when you look back on New Vegas, which turned 6 years old last month, what part of the game or what particular moment are you most proud of?

    CA: I enjoyed working on the DLCs, but the proudest moment isn't mine - it was when one of the level designers Jessica Johnson got the Robobrain sequence in Old World Blues where it becomes self-aware working - and it worked great. Jessica has since moved on to other things - she was part of the mass layoffs, unfortunately, along with a number of other designers I wished we could have kept.

    Thursday - November 17, 2016

    Opinion - How to fix RPG Side Quests

    by Silver, 12:03

    @The Escapist Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw explains how to fix RPG side quests.

    And it occurred to me while we were discussing it that Dragon Age: Inquisition was millimetres away from a logical solution to the sidequest mundanity annoyance. It comes down to two features of that game: the large number of party members, of which we can only employ two at a time while the rest hang around home base braiding each other's hair or something, and all the War Room stuff that allows us to send imaginary soldiers on imaginary quests that return rewards after a specific amount of real time. The same kind of thing Assassin's Creed did from Brotherhood onwards to let you actually feel like you're commanding a big organisation and not just three jackoffs who live in an unusually large house.

    So here was my thinking: why not let us send party members that we're not using to complete sidequests offscreen? Not imaginary quests that are solely for completing offscreen, but the actual quests that the player could have completed but were left for too long and the reward is no longer worth it. Not quests we've just been given, so we can fob off all the gameplay; just the ones that in World of Warcraft would be coloured green or grey on the quest log.

    I voiced these thoughts and the point was raised that doing the shitty Farmer Dickcheese quests is part of the experience, it's how we get a sense of the path that our character takes as they grow from humble beginnings to greatness. But I would argue that this benefit is lost after our character has achieved a certain level of greatness, and still has old sidequests cluttering up the log that no longer offer any significant growth. The only thing you can do at that point is quietly delete them from the list (if the game even lets you do that), and that doesn't feel like the heroic thing to do. There's no closure. You have to live with the knowledge that the rats might eat all of Farmer Dickcheese's grain and leave him and his family hungry this winter. And that Mrs. Plopknickers will never again see her little boy who mysteriously vanished near the dark forest.

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    Developer: RPGWatch

    SP/MP: Unknown
    Setting: Unknown
    Genre: RPG
    Combat: Unknown
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