Anyone looking for a vast, engaging Western role-playing game need look no further than Ravensword.
Score: 8.0 / great
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Source: http://www.gamespot.com/ravensword-the-fallen-king/reviews/ravensword-the-fallen-king-review-6268074
Bethesda's latest Elder Scrolls RPG has now earned some $650 million in retail sales alone; fastest-selling title on Steam to date.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim continues to post soaring numbers for Bethesda Softworks. Today, Bethesda parent company ZeniMax Media announced that its fantasy role-playing game has shipped 10 million units across the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC platforms. That tally amounts to approximately $650 million in retail sales, the publisher noted.
Released to critical acclaim on November 11, Skyrim logged initial shipment figures of 7 million units, 3.5 million of which sold through to consumers within the first 48 hours.
With the publisher calling out "large retail reorders," Skyrim is apparently doing quite well on the PC platform as well. Bethesda said today that the PC version of Skyrim in North America outsold all other PC games by a magnitude of three to one during November. According to Valve, Skyrim is the fastest-selling title on Steam in the digital distribution platform's history. Previously, Valve had announced that the game had set a new Steam record with more than 280,000 concurrent players on Skyrim's launch day.
Bethesda intends to support Skyrim into 2012. PC players will get access to a Creation Kit utility in January that will give users access to Bethesda's own development tools to make new Skyrim content. The studio is also prepping downloadable content for the title, the first two of which will be exclusive to the Xbox 360 platform for 30 days.
For more information, check out GameSpot's previous coverage of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
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Source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/skyrim-ships-10-million-6347735
Blizzard hopes to simplify the MOBA genre while staying true to its roots. We play a few rounds and see how much has changed.
"Hardcore games for everyone." That has been Blizzard's mantra, and at this year's BlizzCon, it is sticking to it with its upcoming massive online battle arena game: Blizzard DOTA. This game stays true to the genre's established format while streamlining some of its more cumbersome areas. It also brings together an all-star cast of Blizzard heroes and villains. Thrall, Kerrigan, and even Diablo III's Witchdoctor are all included. We got the chance to play a few matches here at the show; read on for our impressions.
A relatively young genre, a MOBA game is about you and your team of allies leading individual heroes into battles. They level up, collect gold, equip items, and (most importantly) try to kill the enemy team's heroes. Along the way, they must destroy enemy turrets and, ultimately, the enemy's keep; thereby, ending the game. Waves of lesser units are deployed on both sides to support the heroes. Compared to the genre's other entries, the moment-to-moment combat in Blizzard DOTA is very familiar: Heroes have clearly defined roles and teamwork is a must to achieve victory. Where it differs is in the other mechanics--items, last-hitting minions for gold--that could be seen as cumbersome by new players.
In our first game, we loaded up Stitches, a damage-soaking tank modeled after Warcraft III's abomination unit. Its abilities were hook, a skill-shot projectile that physically pulls the target toward Stitches; shockwave, a cone-shaped burst of damage; devour, which consumes an enemy minion (doesn't work on ally minions) and heals Stitches; and putrid bile, which is its ultimate skill that slows and damages enemy units near Stitches. We didn't see a passive skill for any character.
The first thing we noticed was that the map was very similar in layout to Summoner's Rift in League of Legends. There were three lanes lined with friendly and enemy turrets, as well as jungle areas between the lanes with brush for characters to hide in and neutral monster to slay. There was even a river cutting through the middle of the map. The next thing we noticed was that we were completely broke. Lacking any starting gold, we summoned our mount and road off to the top lane.
Each character in Blizzard DOTA can summon a mount to increase its movement speed. The summoning takes about three seconds and lasts until the champion attacks or is struck. Once we started killing enemy minions, we found the focus on last-hitting has been reduced. In other MOBA games, if you don't land the killing blow on a minion then you didn't get the gold. Here, all we had to do was be near an enemy minion when it died to earn some currency. However, if multiple allies were present, the gold earned from the kill was split among them, even if we made the last hit.
With some coin in our pocket, we teleported back home (another ability shared among the cast) and visited ye olde item shoppe. This could be the game's most controversial split from the genre. Instead of having dozens of items for players to analyze and memorize, the shop consisted of three stat-boosting items and a handful of specialty items (most with active effects). The stat-boosting items provided a permanent enhancement to health, damage, or mana/cooldown reduction and could be purchased multiple times. Most of the specialty items could also be purchased multiple times to increase the item's rank (and its effectiveness).
In the jungle space between lanes, there were monster camps that, when captured, would supply our team with powerful new minions. Our enemies could capture these camps as well--four camps total--so we had to keep an eye out for it. Our match with Stitches ended in a tie (the demo had a time limit), but from what we experienced, matches were shorter than in other MOBA games. Whether this is from a lack of experience or a design decision remains to be seen, but we're thinking Blizzard wants to keep it shorter. And in true Blizzard fashion, a release date isn't set, but you can expect news of a beta in the coming months.
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Bethesda's parent Zenimax has the right to appeal, but the Minecraft firm can continue to use the Scrolls name in the interim.
Minecraft developer Mojang today revealed it has been awarded an interim injunction in its legal dispute with Bethesda over use of the word "scrolls" as it relates to games.
Studio founder Marcus Persson, more commonly known as Notch, said via Twitter, "We won the interim injunction! We can keep using the name 'Scrolls.' Zenimax/Bethesda can still appeal the ruling, but I'm very happy." Persson added, "We never meant to infringe on anything Bethesda does, and this means we didn't." This ruling will allow Mojang to continue to use the Scrolls name while the court case runs its course, unless Bethesda successfully appeals the injunction.
The court case erupted in August when representatives of Zenimax contested that Mojang was infringing on a trademark of the Elder Scrolls series with its upcoming game, Scrolls. Persson suggested the parties settle the dispute with a game of Quake III. In another Twitter post today, Persson said, "No matter how this plays out, we should still do the Quake game."
Zenimax and Bethesda had not responded to GameSpot's request for comment as of press time.
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Source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/minecraft-dev-wins-interim-injunction-in-bethesda-battle-6340823
No More Heroes developer teams up with operators of Mobage to establish Grasshopper Social Network Service smartphone studio.
Grasshopper Manufacture, the developer of titles like No More Heroes, Killer 7, and the upcoming Lollipop Chainsaw, has teamed up with Japan's Mobage gaming network operator DeNA to form a new social gaming company. According to a DeNA, the studio is tentatively named Grasshopper Social Network Service Inc. and will focus on developing social games exclusively for the Mobage platform catering to the smartphone market.
The office will be located in Shinjuku, Tokyo, and will officially open in November. Company CEO Goichi "Suda 51" Suda will be the CEO of the firm. He said in the press release that his aim is to bring Grasshopper Manufacture franchises to a new world of gamers thanks to the service's network and the popularity of social mobile games.
Suda and his team are no strangers to the social and mobile gaming business, with their most recent venture being the upcoming mobile version of No More Heroes.
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Source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/grasshopper-forms-social-game-group-with-dena-6343122
I grew up with consoles. Even though my father worked with computers and the hum of PC towers filled many of the rooms in my childhood home, my greatest gaming memories began with the Nintendo Entertainment System. I soon graduated to the Super Nintendo and later the N64. As I continued down this path I thought my fate was sealed -- for the better...
Source: http://feeds.ign.com/~r/ignfeeds/pc/~3/6pFLyf3HRPk/1215211p1.html
Activision opening up popular Call of Duty private matches to public; Drop Zone match type lands; Hardcore modes tweaked to counter team killing.
Activision Blizzard hasn't offered a specific time for when Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's first batch of downloadable content will hit. However, the publisher has provided word on the game's next title update, announcing that as of today, gamers answering the call of duty will find updated playlists as well as new and updated game modes in Modern Warfare 3.
Community Playlists are the most prominent change made to Modern Warfare 3's multiplayer. This feature allows Infinity Ward to take popular private match modes and make them available for public play.
Modern Warfare 3's new mode is titled Drop Zone, and it sees players rushing to secure an area in an effort to accumulate 7,500 points. As an added wrinkle, a care package lands in the drop zone every 15 seconds, and whichever team controls the area gets control over the bonus--so long as it isn't stolen. The mode sees all point streaks disabled.
As for tweaks made to existing playlists, Infinity Ward has added Hardcore Headquarters to the Hardcore Team Tactical playlist. The studio has also said that it is implementing Ricochet rules to all Hardcore modes to counter team killing. Ricochet rules dictate that friendly fire damages the attacking player, not the victim.
For more on Modern Warfare 3, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.
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Source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/modern-warfare-3-update-adds-community-playlists-new-mode-6347758
This WWE franchise overhaul is held back by some serious control issues.
Score: 6.0 / fair
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Source: http://www.gamespot.com/wwe-12/reviews/wwe-12-review-6347341
Here's a festive video featuring St. Nick to get you in the mood for All Zombies Must Die!
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Gearbox's Borderlands was all about shooting things and taking their stuff. It had a story, but it didn't amount to much. Gearbox says it's giving story and character development a lot more attention, but it's also doing a lot to the gameplay. Like the first game, you'll choose to play as one of four character classes. So far we know of two, which includes the Gunzerker...
Source: http://feeds.ign.com/~r/ignfeeds/pc/~3/vkkDr2ecry8/1215312p1.html
Childish minigames and saw-it-coming plots make NCIS a mockery of its TV inspiration.
Score: 2.0 / terrible
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Source: http://www.gamespot.com/ncis/reviews/ncis-review-6346297
$30 T-Club annual subscription plan gives players exclusive discounts and add-on content for latest version of block-dropping puzzler.
Since Tetris first came out in the mid-'80s, numerous publishers have attempted to put their own spin on the block-turning puzzle game. Electronic Arts is the latest to bring a new idea to the tried-and-true formula, as the publisher has launched a new iOS edition of the game with a subscription service built in.
The simply titled Tetris App includes the game's Marathon mode, as well as a new one-touch control option, a level-based Galaxy mode that includes power-ups, and a ranking system. For those who want more, EA is offering membership in the T-Club, a subscription program that "gives members access to exclusive discounts and content, premium Tetris Log challenges, and a booster to progress their Tetris Rank faster."
Membership in the T-Club carries a $3 monthly subscription fee, or $30 for a full year. The Tetris App is currently available at an "introductory" price of $1.
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Source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/ios-tetris-gets-a-season-pass-6346990
Infinity Ward teases latest Call of Duty add-on through Twitter with first image from new map drawing from Bethesda Fountain in New York City's Central Park.
While Activision has already released some of its premium video shows for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Call of Duty Elite subscribers are still waiting for the meat of the service, a year's worth of downloadable content for Infinity Ward's record-breaking first-person shooter. The wait ends next month, as Infinity Ward creative strategist Robert Bowling has announced a January 24 launch date for a Modern Warfare 3 add-on.
The news came in a Twitter post from Bowling that included a picture of a map named "Park" that appears to be set around the distinctive Bethesda Fountain in New York City's Central Park. Bowling called the map "some of the first" DLC for the game and promised more info would arrive next month.
Activision has touted Modern Warfare 3 as the biggest launch in entertainment history after a single day on shelves and then again after five days. Earlier this month, the publisher reiterated the notion, saying Modern Warfare 3 reached $1 billion faster than any other entertainment property, needing just 16 days on sale.
As for Call of Duty Elite, Activision has said the subscription service for its first-person shooter series reached 1 million paid users last month. Elite provides players with gameplay statistics, video sharing, and clan support features for free. Those who shell out for the $50 annual subscription will also receive all downloadable content released in the year, as well as exclusive video content and other perks.
For more on Modern Warfare 3, check out GameSpot's review of the latest Call of Duty.
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Source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/modern-warfare-3-dlc-hits-january-24-6348068
Sweet Lily Dreams is now available!
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Source: http://www.gamespot.com/sweet-lily-dreams/videos/sweet-lily-dreams-launch-trailer-6348104
Team leader overseeing most recent Xbox 360 dashboard update takes over design position as work moves to next console.
With its latest dashboard update, Microsoft introduced the Xbox 360 into its fold of devices sporting the unified tile-based Metro user interface design language. Now the designer responsible for that integration will oversee the creation of the company's next console.
According to a CNET report, longtime Microsoft general manager of design Don Coyner has been replaced by Emma Williams in leading the design and experience group for the Xbox. Coyner was involved with the original Xbox as director of marketing and is credited as a huge proponent of creating a unified design language for the Xbox 360 leading up to the console's launch.
Williams, as general manager of Xbox Experiences, comes from the team behind the recently relaunched Xbox dashboard experience that introduced the Windows Phone 7-style user interface to Microsoft's console. In her new role, Williams reportedly will work on design and brand strategy for Microsoft's as-yet-unannounced successor to the Xbox 360.
As for when that system will hit shelves, CNET's source indicated the system has a scheduled 2013 bow. Recent rumors have placed the console launch at as early as 2012 and as late as 2014. CNET's source from the Xbox team confirmed the reports designating the system for a planned 2013 debut.
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Source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/next-gen-xbox-design-lead-swapped-system-due-in-2013-report-6347712
Sony Ericsson Xperia Play will arrive next Thursday preloaded with seven games, including Madden NFL 11 and The Sims 3.
In February, Sony Ericsson finally took the wraps off the Xperia Play, the long-rumored "PlayStation Phone." During a presentation in Barcelona, Spain, the company announced that the combination Phone and gaming handheld would go on sale the following month in a variety of territories. However, the phone didn't arrive anywhere until April 1, when it hit parts of Europe. Later in the month, it spread to Canada, but remains unavailable in the US.
That will change next week, as Sony Ericsson has announced that the Xperia Play will be available in the US on May 26--next Thursday--for $200. The price is contingent on the buyer purchasing a two-year voice and data plan from carrier Verizon, which start at $40 and $30 per month, respectively. Preorders begin this Thursday via Verizon's online store.
The portable, which has a PSP-like control scheme accessible by a sliding panel, will come preloaded with seven games, including: Madden NFL 11 (EA Sports), Bruce Lee Dragon Warrior (Digital Legends), Asphalt 6: Adrenaline (Gameloft), The Sims 3 (EA), Star Battalion (Gameloft), Crash Bandicoot (Sony PlayStation), and Tetris (EA). A total of 50 games will be available for download at launch.
The Xperia Play runs the Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) operating system and offers full access to more than 200,000 applications on the Android Market. It also supports Adobe Flash Player and sports a 4-inch multi-touch display. Camera-wise, it is equipped with a 5-megapixel rear-facing camera for shooting and a VGA front-facing camera for video chat and self-portraits. The phone also can be converted into a mobile hotspot that will support up to five devices.
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Source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/playstation-phone-hits-us-on-may-26-for-200-6314172
BioWare's first foray into the MMO space finally hits the market after years of development; sequel to indie hit Trine comes to consoles.
While Star Wars: The Old Republic isn't the only new release hitting shelves this week, the BioWare-developed massively multiplayer online game is casting a large shadow over a short list of launches.
Star Wars: The Old Republic arrives this week as the second massively multiplayer online game to be based on George Lucas' sci-fi universe. The game garnered more than 2 million players during its beta period and reached 750,000 simultaneous players over the US Thanksgiving holiday. The servers have been up and running since last week for preorder customers, but the game will welcome its official launch on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Trine 2 hits the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 this week and puts players in control of a wizard, a knight, and a thief as they make their way through side-scrolling worlds. Playable by up to three players online or offline, the game features levels designed to make use of each character's unique abilities. While the knight can handle melee combat with ease, the wizard can magically create platforms and boxes for the characters to climb on, and the rogue can swing across the screen and shoot arrows to take down distant enemies.
For further details, visit GameSpot's New Releases page. The full list of downloadable games on the PlayStation Store, Xbox Live Marketplace, and Wii Shop Channel will be revealed later this week. Release dates are based on retailer listings and are subject to change.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 19
Heavy Fire: Afghanistan - The Chosen Few 3D--3DS--Mastiff
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20
Satazius--PC--Capcom
Star Wars: The Old Republic--PC--EA
Trine 2--PS3--Atlus
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21
Trine 2--X360--Atlus
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22
Eudemons Online: Trumpet of the Legionnaire--PC--TQ Digital Entertainment
Soccer Up!--Wii--EnjoyUP Games
Sturmwind--DC--redsportgames
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Source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/shippin-out-dec-18-24-star-wars-the-old-republic-6347846
Eliminate Pro is an incredibly addictive shooter experience.
Score: 9.0 / superb
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Source: http://www.gamespot.com/eliminate-pro/reviews/eliminate-pro-review-6250841
Newzoo, Distimo research indicates 63 million people in US, UK, other Euro nations bought games from Apple's App Store last month.
The iOS platform has become the most popular for established publishers and indie game makers alike, and a new combined analytics study by Newzoo and Distimo illustrates why. Today, the two firms announced research results that indicate there were 63 million people in March 2011 who used Apple's iOS as a gaming platform in the US, UK, Germany, France, Spain, The Netherlands, and Belgium.
Those 63 million gamers are reportedly making significant expenditures on games. Calling games "the largest single App-category on Apple App Stores," the study said that gamers download an average of 2.5 games per month.
Newzoo and Distimo's research further indicated that more than 5 million games were downloaded from the App Store a day in the aforementioned seven countries in March. The vast majority of these games--90 percent, or 4.6 million--were purchased for use on the iPhone and iPod Touch. The iPad took 9 percent of that figure with 430,000 games reportedly purchased, while Mac gamers accounted for just 1 percent at 41,000 units.
Of the top 300 most-downloaded iOS games, the study found that 88 percent are free. However, the study also found that 40 percent of total sales on the iPhone/iPod Touch and 32 percent on the iPad came from in-game transactions, irrespective of whether the game was free or paid. The study also found that in-game transactions will surpass upfront purchases by the second half of 2011.
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Koenigsegg CCX "Elite" Edition added to free-to-play racer; available for a limited time at a 25% discount.
At last count, EA's free-to-play racer Need for Speed World had garnered more than 5 million users. The publisher is hoping some of those users have deep pockets because the latest premium car for the online racer does not come cheap.
EA today announced that the Koenigsegg CCX "Elite" Edition, the first "premium elite" car to hit Need for Speed World, is now available in the in-game store for $100. For those who feel that's a bit pricey, it is currently on sale for $75 through December 21.
Codeveloped by EA Black Box and EA Singapore, Need for Speed World launched last July. The game sports over 100 miles of in-game road to traverse, including NFS: Most Wanted's Rockport locale and NFS: Carbon's Palmont city streets, as well as a full day/night cycle.
Need for Speed World is part of EA's Play4Free label, saddled up next to other games stemming from popular EA franchises like Battlefield, Dragon Age, and the recently announced Command & Conquer: Tiberium Alliances.
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Source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/ea-rolls-out-100-car-for-need-for-speed-world-6347632
Rebooted free-to-play online shooter touts milestone a week after leaving beta period.
APB flopped as a subscription-based large-scale online shooter, but the game has found a second life with a new business model. GamersFirst officially launched APB Reloaded out of beta last week and today announced that the free-to-play reboot has already far surpassed its predecessor with more than 3 million registered players.
By comparison, Realtime Worlds launched the subscription-based APB in June of 2010 and shut it down that September after attracting just 130,000 players.
APB Reloaded is currently available on Valve's Steam service for free, but GamersFirst is planning a retail launch of the game next week. While that version of the free-to-play game will sell for $30, it will contain $50 worth of virtual goods.
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Source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/apb-reloaded-apprehends-3-million-players-6347710
Through extensive historical research, we've uncovered the totally-not-fake personal memoirs of this famed assassin's first days in Constantinople.
You know what? I think Constantinople is starting to grow on me. My opinion of it certainly couldn't have gotten any worse. Not 10 minutes after stepping off the boat, me and my new friend Yusuf were ambushed by a band of Templars. Yes, Templars. No matter how many of them I stab in the face, they just keep coming back for more. (More face stabbing, that is.)
So, about my friend Yusuf. He's kind of a hippie. Long hair, wild clothes. But he's cool. He's an assassin like me. After we took care of those Templars, he brought me along to the local assassins' headquarters to get settled. That was nice of him. Not so nice when he told me my armor was all old and worn out, and I'd need to get to a blacksmith before going off on my first mission. I couldn't afford the repairs at first--boat rides are expensive! But that problem resolved itself after I walked around the neighborhood relieving a few people of their wallets.
Look, I'm not proud of stealing. No one wants to start over in a new city only to immediately resort to your past ways, but old habits die hard. At least I'm trying to broaden my horizons here. In fact, I just learned how to use a hookblade! It's this fancy little device the local assassins use to jump across wider gaps, scurry up buildings faster, and look like a combination of spider and man that I've taken to calling’Man-Spider. You can also run up to a dude and flip right over him like a ballerina. And then stab him. Because he's not a ballerina, but actually a Templar.
After Yusuf and his buddies gave me a hookblade, I went around exploring a bit of the city. It's pretty nice! The architecture is wild. They tell me the style is called Byzantine, which I think is a fancy word for "buildings connected by awesome zip lines." Seriously, you can zip line all over the place here. Just toss your hookblade over the rope and you're careening like a madman from one roof to the other. I even figured out how to kill rooftop guards halfway through a zip line ride. Probably my second favorite kill after the ol' "Jump From a Building and Stab Two Guards at Once" trick. I still think that one needs a catchier name. I'll see what the guys think of "Flying Death Hug."
Things were going pretty well until we discovered the Templars were planning to raid the assassins' den that night. Good thing we caught wind of the plans early on, otherwise we'd have been toast. They put me in charge of the defense; told me to stand on the roof and direct all the archers and crossbowmen. It's probably because this gray beard makes me look old and wise. Growing it was the best decision I've ever made. Now, if only Leonardo da Vinci would get off his butt and finish that electric beard-trimmer schematic he promised me.
Anyway, the roof. Those Templars brought a lot of troops; kept rushing down the main street in waves. I got to decide where to place the troops on the rooftops and even direct them where to build a few walls down below to slow the Templars' assault. It felt a lot different from my usual methods, but I liked it. Felt like I was defending the den from up in a tower. Like some kind of tower’defense-y’thing. Oh, I'll think of a name for it later.
Next day, the Templars were at it again. We got word they were planning to attack the Ottoman royal family at a gala in the Imperial District. Yusuf suggested that getting on the royal family's good side wouldn't be a bad idea, so we decided to sneak into the party dressed as entertainers and put a stop to things. First step was finding a few traveling minstrels. Turns out traveling minstrels don't put up much of a fight against professional assassins. But don't worry. We didn't do anything mean. Just knocked them out cold, stole their clothes, and left their naked bodies buried beneath a massive pile of hay. Probably without any air. Like I said, nothing mean.
The guards were a little suspicious of our disguises, but I distracted them with my angelic singing voice and lute plucking. Not a lot of people know what a great singer/lute player I am. It's probably my second best skill after murdering. (Third is knitting.) Anyway, we got in and managed to foil the plot to kill the sultan's son, Suleiman. Poor kid. Almost got stabbed by a Templar. But then the Templar got stabbed. In the neck. With the broken shards of my lute. You're welcome, kid.
So now I'm doing favors for the sultan's son, trying to get on the sultan's good side and help out our little assassins guild. It's not a bad gig, and it lets me see a lot more of Constantinople than I'd otherwise have a reason to see. Life's going pretty well here. The only thing that troubles me are these dreams I've been having. Dreams where people keep calling me Altair and everyone and their mother are fighting over this magical glowing orb called The Apple. It's probably not even that delicious. I mean, give me a crisp red apple any day. But a golden apple that glows and pulses with blinding light? Now you're just asking for food poisoning.
There you have it; my first few days in Constantinople. I'm warming up to this place. I've even started investing in property, renovating shops around the city like I was doing in Rome. I could see myself settling down here. Maybe find myself a wife, have a baby, and then teach that baby how to stab Templars in the face. Ahh, I can't wait.
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Rovio's physics-based casual game crosses massive milestone; game-related merchandise efforts expanding.
Angry Birds has become a phenomenon in the gaming space. The not-quite-two-year-old brand already has toys, books, and other merchandise bearing its name, and it has now passed another significant milestone.
Rovio announced today that the Angry Birds franchise has crossed 500,000,000 downloads. This number accounts for Angry Birds, Angry Birds Seasons, and Angry Birds Rio releases across a multitude of platforms including phones, tablets, Web browsers, and computers. The developer also relayed a number of statistics about players' time with the game, with a total combined playtime of 200,000 years and 400 billion in-game bird launches.
Regarding merchandise, Rovio specified that more than 10 million Angry Birds toys have shipped worldwide, and its publishing arm has already released the first Angry Birds books. Recently acquired Finish animation studio Kombo is at work on series-related cartoons and recently put out the Halloween-themed Ham'O'Ween animation.
The publisher is even creating a new place just to sell its licensed goods. Rovio's flagship Angry Birds retail shop is set to open soon in Helsinki, Finland.
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Source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/angry-birds-soars-past-half-a-billion-downloads-6343647
Farm Frenzy doesn't produce wool, eggs, or milk, but it does offer some low-key farming strategy.
Score: 6.5 / fair
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Source: http://www.gamespot.com/farm-frenzy/reviews/farm-frenzy-review-6250847
