Category: Game

Still plenty of free stuff for those who don’t buy the expansion A gigantic patch arrives today for Star Wars Battlefront, preparing the game for the Outer Rim premium downloadable content while delivering other new features that are free for all.
The patch is 8 GB and it adds new Star Cards (specialty weapons and boosts) and guns, earned under the guise of the “Hutt Contracts" teased two weeks ago. Not only that, combatants (as long as they aren’t hero characters like Luke Skywalker or Boba Fett) now have a rolling dodge option. A spectator mode mentioned before also is a part of this patch.
The new firearms are the DL-18, DT-12, DLT-19X and RELBY-V10, and if you know the differences among those four, you must be a Wookieepedia editor. The combat roll is activated by double tapping B/Circle while a character is strafing (Alt for PC players, this key can be remapped as well).
As usual, it comes with a slew of gameplay balances, nerfs and buffs to even out the multiplayer experience. Once again, the powerful DL-44 pistol is getting a haircut; its damage decreases significantly at ranges greater than 40 meters. Activating a personal shield renders a player unable to fire weapons or throw grenades (all other actions are still fair game) and droids and turrets will explode 20 seconds after the player who deployed them is killed, to cut back on cheap kills that way.
Plenty more details may be seen here, if there’s something in particular that has been bugging you.
Outer Rim arrives today for those who picked up the $49.99 "season pass" entitling them to it and three future expansions planned this year. For those who want it a la carte, it goes on sale for $14.99 on April 5.
Outer Rim delivers new maps, even more weapons, and playable stars Nien Nunb and Greedo, who are well known as the common action figures that were always on the shelves when you were trying to find Princess Leia Organa (Boushh Disguise) or Luke Skywalker (Bespin Fatigues).

They’re not zombies, but they totally are Rise of the Tomb Raider’s third and final add-on, Cold Darkness Awakened, will be released March 29 on Windows PC, Xbox 360 and Xbox One, publishers Microsoft Studios and Square Enix announced today.
The downloadable content introduces a new mode in which Lara Croft heads to an old Cold War-era research facility and finds that a breach has allowed a contagious illness to escape into the surrounding area. The deadly disease turns Trinity soldiers into “bloodthirsty killers who thrive on carnage" — aka zombies — and Lara has to use every tool at her disposal to survive as she attempts to re-seal the base.
Cold Darkness Awakened is the last piece of Rise of the Tomb Raider’s $29.99 season pass. Players who don’t own the season pass will be able to buy the DLC pack on its own for $9.99 on Steam, the Xbox Live Marketplace (Xbox 360), the Xbox Games Store (Xbox One) and the Windows Store.
For more on Cold Darkness Awakened and the rest of the season pass, check out the trailer above. Rise of the Tomb Raider is scheduled to be released this holiday season on PlayStation 4.

The bundle is $499 and comes with all of the equipment — Camera and Move controllers included Preorders for the PlayStation VR bundle will get underway at 10 a.m. ET, and there are several online retailers offering them.

Here’s the bundle’s listing on Amazon.
Walmart also is offering PlayStation VR.
GameStop has PlayStation VR bundles as well. They will require a $100 deposit.
And this is the product’s page on Best Buy.

The bundle is $499. It comes with the VR headset, a PlayStation Camera, two PlayStation Move controllers, the PlayStation VR Worlds suite of games (more of which you may read about here) and all of the hardware needed to run PlayStation VR (including USB and HDMI cables). A PlayStation 4 console is needed to use the PlayStation VR.
Sony has said that the $399 PlayStation VR set — which does not include the PlayStation Camera or Move controllers — is not available for preorder.
The flag drops on preorders at 10 a.m. They’re probably going to sell out quickly.

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The first time I saw Line Wobbler, it was at last year’s Game Developers Conference in the alt.ctrl.gdc booth, an area of the show floor dedicated to games played using unconventional input methods. The game stood out immediately — towering more than a dozen feet in the air and controlled with a wobbly spring-based controller, it looked and played like nothing else I’d ever seen. The next time I ran into Line Wobbler was at Indiecade 2015, then again at last year’s Day of the Devs — each time, the game’s controller changed slightly. According to Line Wobbler’s creator, Robin Baumgarten, that’s because the game is constantly evolving — the first few iterations of its controller involved a shoehorn, then a doorstop (he tells me the difference between American and European doorstops has drastic gameplay implications), before he finally settled on a custom controller he produced in collaboration with a spring factory, who he says was very confused by his initial request.
If you haven’t heard of Line Wobbler, it’s a bit hard to describe — which is why we made a video at this year’s GDC, in Double Fine’s Day of the Devs booth, demonstrating what the game is and how it works. For more on Line Wobbler, check out Baumgarten’s website for the project.

Or, rather, talked about it as much as he could Harrison Ford returned to Jimmy Kimmel’s late night program on Monday to talk about finally getting his Han Solo wish in, Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
The actor, who was promoting the DVD and Blu-ray release of the film, was asked about Solo’s role in the movie and whether he was happy with where the story took him.
Ford said that he had been campaigning for 30 years to have Solo killed, stating in previous interviews that it seemed like the only way to close his character’s chapter, and was happy they finally listened to him.
“You work for, like, 25 years for the company," Ford told Kimmel. "You do your best, you show up everyday, you do your job. And then they just let you go."
When asked if he or Han Solo were going to be in any of the other movies, appearing as an apparition or through a flashback, Ford wouldn’t answer.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens is available on DVD and Blu-ray April 5, but those looking to watch it earlier can download it on iTunes as of April 1.

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Hyrule Warriors Legends, the 3DS port of the 2014 Wii U hack-and-slasher, features a handful of new playable characters, including the crossbow-wielding hero Linkle and the Majora’s Mask villain Skull Kid. Of course, these new characters don’t exactly play nice with one another to begin with. In the video above, you can watch Linkle’s introductory mission, revealing her heroic destiny and relatively harmless run-in with Skull Kid, who seems to have put his moon-crashing plans on hold for the time being.

Says yes to physical releases — but no to PS3 Yakuza 0, the latest entry in — and prequel to — Sega’s action brawler series, will make its Western debut sometime in “early 2017," the company announced.
Alongside the news comes the short new trailer above, which packs in plenty of the glitz, glamor and girls the series is known for in just over 60 seconds. It’s the first look stateside fans have had at the game since Sega confirmed the localized version during December’s PlayStation Experience event. Unlike in Japan, however, Yakuza 0 will arrive as a PlayStation 4 exclusive.
While it will ditch the PlayStation 3 port, Sega will give Yakuza fans the option of buying the game physically or digitally when it does launch. That’s unlike the recent stateside release of Yakuza 5, which Sega launched on the PlayStation Store in December. The PS3 game first hit Japan in 2012.
Next up on PS4: Yakuza 6, which is planned for a Japanese release later this year.

Sat hello to Kimmy Schmidt, but goodbye to 2 Fast 2 Furious With April usually comes warm weather and a strong desire to be outside as much as possible, especially after surviving the coldest winter months. As tempting as that may sound, April also marks the return of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’s second season on Netflix.
The show, created by Tina Fey and Robert Carlock, follows the lead character, Kimmy (Ellie Kemper), in New York City after she’s rescued from an underground bunker where she and three other women were being held captive. The show’s humor draws parallels to 30 Rock, and its offbeat comedy was one of the reasons it became so popular with both audiences and critics.
In its sophomore season, Kimmy’s still looking for love with her best friend and eccentric roommate, Titus (Tituss Burgess) while helping her elitist boss, Jaqueline (Jane Krakowski) navigate through life post-divorce. Most of the jokes will still be founded in Kimmy’s detachment from the modern world, but at least she knows how to text now.
The second season of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt will be available to stream in its entirety on April 15, but it’s not the only new program subscribers will have available to them next month.
Ricky Gervais’ Special Correspondents will also premiere on Netflix next month, marking Gervais’ return to the service after the success of his mini-series, Derek.
The satirical film is a remake of a French movie of the same name and follows a radio journalist and his technician as they fake their own kidnapping in South America while hiding out in New York City. The movie stars Eric Bana, Vera Farmiga, Kelly Macdonald, America Ferrera and Gervais. It premieres April 29.
Other classic titles like Shawshank Redemption, 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Princess Bride will also be available to stream.
While there are certainly new shows and films coming to Netflix, there are a bunch leaving, too. Most notably, 2 Fast 2 Furious will be leaving (although the rest of the series will be available) and all 11 seasons of M*A*S*H will be gone.
Everything leaving and coming to Netflix can be found in the lists below.
April 1:
16 Blocks2001: A Space OdysseyA Clockwork OrangeAnthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, season 5The Ascent of Woman: A 10,000 Year StoryBeat Bobby Flay, season 1Best in ShowBob’s Burgers, season 5Boogie NightsBreatheChaplinCharlie and the Chocolate FactoryCodegirl​Colegas​CujoCutthroat Kitchen, seasons 3 and 4Deep ImpactDennis Rodman’s Big Bang in PyongyangDolphin TaleErin BrockovichExplorersFixer Upper, season 2Frank and CindyGlada at Home, season 7The Great Food Truck Race, season 1 and 2House Hunters Collection, collection 3House Hunters International Collection, collection 3House Hunters International Renovation, season 1Jeremy Scott: The People’s DesignerKids Baking Championship, season 1Looking for RichardLost and Found Music Studios, season 1Love It or List It, season 4The Mask You Live In MorituriMy GirlMystic RiverThe Next Best ThingThe Perfect StormThe PhantomThe Princess BrideProperty Brothers at Home, season 1The Ranch, part 1Rev Run’s Sunday SuppersThe Right StuffRising SunThe Running ManSay It Isn’t SoThe Shawshank RedemptionScroogedSomething’s Gotta GiveSunset BoulevardTransporter 3Uncommon ValorUnder the Same MoonV for Vendetta
April 5:
Walt Before Mickey
April 8:
God’s PocketHush
April 9:
Look Who’s Back
April 10:
Girl Meets World, season 2
April 11:
Turn: Washington’s Spies, season 2
April 12:
AJIN, season 1
April 14:
MoonwalkersSteve Jobs: The Man in the Machine
April 15:
BelgicaCuckoo, season 3Kong King of the ApesUnbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, season 2
April 16:
How to Get Away With Murder, season 2
April 17:
Lost Girl, season 5The Messengers, season 1
April 22:
Catching the SunPatton Oswalt: Talking for Clapping
April 24:
MinionsBegin AgainThe Fosters, season 3
April 29:
Danger Mouse, season 1HellionSpecial CorrespondentsTeam Foxcatcher
April 30:
Sensitive Skin, season 2
Here are all the movies leaving next month:
April 1:
101 Dalmations2 Fast 2 FuriousAlong Came a SpiderAlong Came PollyAmistadBad JohnsonBandslamBarefoot Contessa: Back to Basics Collection, collection 1Berkeley in the SixtiesThe Butcher’s WifeCharlie’s Angels: Full ThrottleChuck’s Eat the Street Collection, collection 1Craigslist JoeDear Genevieve Collection, collection 1Eureka, season 4.0FlashdanceHookHotel RwandaHouse of WaxI’ll Be Home for ChristmasThe Inexplicable Universe With Neil deGrasse TysonLeon: The ProfessionalM*A*S*H, seasons 1-11Nanny McPheeThe Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of FearNine to FivePride and PrejudiceRemember MeRock StarThe RundownSmokin’ Aces 2: Assassins’ BallSomething NewStar Trek: InsurrectionStarship TroopersThe Take of DespereauxThrowdown With Bobby Flay Collection, collection 1Vanilla Ice Goes Amish, season 1The Vanilla Ice Project, seasons 1-4The Wedding DateThe Whole Ten Yards
April 2:
Anchors AweighAround the World in 80 Days: Special EditionThe Devil at 4 o’clockHigh SocietyOn the TownPal JoeySome Came RunningTake Me Out to the Ball Game
April 3:
Short Poppies, season 1Space Dogs
April 6:
The Passion of the Christ
April 10:
Let the Right One In
April 15:
All American Christmas CarolBill Cunningham New YorkNew York, I Love You
April 16:
Mr. Bean’s Holiday
April 17:
Lord of War
April 20:
Half Baked
April 22:
Freakshow, season 1
April 25:
A Royal Affair
April 30:
Sordid Lives

The internet’s definitive hobby gaming community weighs in on the best of the best The community at BoardGameGeek.com, the go-to source for board games community and information online, have announced the winners of the 2015 Golden Geek Awards. The big winner this year is Pandemic Legacy, which won four of the 13 total awards and every category for which it was nominated.
BoardGameGeek is a massively popular gaming resource and online community, made up of board and hobby games fans. Every year the community votes on the Golden Geek Awards, celebrating the best games of the year in many categories, broadly including board games, role-playing games and video games.
Other big winners include Codenames, a breakout hit by Vlaada Chvátil and Mysterium, both of which made Polygon’s list of the five best board games from last year’s Gen Con.
Here’s all the winners, by category. For more details and links on all of the games, check out BGG’s original post here.
Board Game of the Year
Winner – Pandemic Legacy: Season 1
Runner Up – Codenames
Runner Up – 7 Wonders: Duel
2-Player Board Game
Winner – 7 Wonders: Duel
Runner Up – Tides of Time
Runner Up – Baseball Highlights: 2045
Artwork & Presentation
Winner – Mysterium
Runner Up – T.I.M.E Stories
Runner Up – Above and Below
Card Game
Winner – 7 Wonders: Duel
Runner Up – The Grizzled
Runner Up – Arboretum
Board Game Expansion
Winner – Ticket to Ride Map Collection: Volume 5 – United Kingdom & Pennsylvania
Runner Up – Roll for the Galaxy: Ambition
Runner Up – Five Tribes: The Artisans of Naqala
Family Board Game
Winner – Codenames
Runner Up – Mysterium
Runner Up – Between Two Cities
Most Innovative Board Game
Winner – Pandemic Legacy: Season 1
Runner Up – 504
Runner Up – T.I.M.E Stories
Party Game
Winner – Codenames
Runner Up – Mysterium
Runner Up – Flick ’em Up!
Print & Play
Winner – Dune: The Dice Game
Runner Up – Deep Space D-6
Runner Up – Beyond Baker Street
Solo Board Game
Winner – Tiny Epic Galaxies
Runner Up – Hostage Negotiator
Runner Up – Baseball Highlights: 2045
Strategy Board Game
Winner – Pandemic Legacy: Season 1
Runner Up – 7 Wonders: Duel
Runner Up – The Voyages of Marco Polo
Thematic Game
Winner – Pandemic Legacy: Season 1
Runner Up – T.I.M.E Stories
Runner Up – Blood Rage
Wargame
Winner – Churchill
Runner Up – Triumph & Tragedy
Runner Up – The U.S. Civil War
Best Podcast
Winner – The Secret Cabal Gaming Podcast
Runner Up – Shut Up & Sit Down: The Podcast!
Runner Up – Rahdo Talks Through
Best Board Game App
Winner – Splendor
Runner Up – Galaxy Trucker
Runner Up – Star Realms: Gambit

Console versions coming later Developer Heart Machine’s stylish action role-playing game Hyper Light Drifter will come to Mac and Windows PC next week, the studio announced in an update on its Kickstarter page. Those platforms will get the game March 31, while players on other platforms will have to wait a bit.
Here’s what the developer had to say about the planned Linux version:

We are still working out some final kinks on the Linux build; we still plan to launch it at the same time as PC and Mac, though there’s the possibility of needing a bit of extra time. So far it’s looking good, and like it’ll be out in time. We’ll keep everyone posted on this subject.

Hyper Light Drifter’s console versions will arrive sometime in 2016, according to a newly released trailer.
Heart Machine funded Hyper Light Drifter through Kickstarter in 2013, pitching the top-down action game as a “beautiful, vast and ruined world riddled with unknown dangers and lost technologies … inspired by nightmares and dreams alike."