Over the past few weeks, I have slowly been getting acquainted with the semi-closed beta for Path of Exile, the debut action RPG from New Zealand based developer Grinding Gear Games. I say semi-closed, because Grinding Gear has taken a rather strange approach for what is a free to play game by selling beta keys to the general public. In the interests of full disclosure, it should be noted that I purchased a key myself in order to preview the title. The minimum spend was $10US, granting me one beta key and 100 coins to spend in Path of Exile’s online store. The store allowed the purchase of extra character slots and in-game storage space. The developers have been insistent that the shop will stock many different items in the future, but have stressed that they will only ever be cosmetic in nature and will not affect gameplay in any way. There were a range of tiered payment options offering different incentives. This was a move reminiscent of that made by the developers of similar title Grim Dawn through crowd funding website Kickstarter. Read the rest of this entry »

Presented in glorious alphabetical order, New Media: Retail Roundup is your indispensible checklist of the home console and handheld titles arriving in stores this week. What will you be playing?

MICROSOFT Xbox 360 Nothing

NINTENDO Wii Nothing 3DS Nothing

SONY PS3 Starhawk PSV Nothing

VARIOUS PC Nothing

 
New Media: Downloadable Digest is your handy reminder of the downloadable titles released during the past week.

MICROSOFT XBLA Awesomenauts * Fable Heroes Games on Demand Kinect Adventures * Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 * Puss in Boots

NINTENDO WiiWare Nothing Wii VC Super Hang On (Arc) 3DS eShop Nothing 3DS VC Game & Watch Gallery 2 (GBC) DSiWare Nothing

SONY PSN Awesomenauts * Skullgirls * Who Wants to be a Millionaire Star Trek Bundle Full PS3 Games Battlefield: Bad Company 2 PS1 Classics Nothing PS2 Classics Max Payne PSV Titles Frobisher Says Minis Nothing

VALVE Steam Analogue: A Hate Story * Dynamite Heady * Golden Axe III * Orion: Dino Beatdown * Phantasy Star II * Phantasy Star III: Generations of Doom * Port Royale 3 * The Revenge of Shinobi * Sniper Elite V2 * Streets of Rage 3 * Toy Soldiers * Vectorman 2 * Wonder Boy in Monster World

It’s that time of year again, folks. Activision has unveiled its latest Call of Duty offering. The announcement of Call of Duty: Black Ops II was accompanied by a surprisingly revelatory trailer. The apocalyptic scenes presented in the two minute clip take place in 2025, more than five decades after the events depicted in the first Black Ops title and eight years beyond those seen in last year’s Modern Warfare III.

The plot of the new game is mildly intriguing. Right here in the real world, the United States has come under close scrutiny for its morally questionable use of (and increasing reliance on) unmanned drones. Black Ops II depicts a conflict in which a tech savvy adversary has found a way to turn America’s vast automated arsenal against it. In its hour of need, the nation must turn to its long neglected flesh and blood soldiers to fish it out of the fire.

According to developer Treyarch, Call of Duty: Black Ops II will feature a range of new multiplayer options and an expanded zombie experience. Look for it on 360, PS3 and PC on Tuesday 13 November.

Welcome to The Black List, your one stop shop for the stories published on the site this week.

MONDAY PODCAST Black Panel Podcast Episode 45 > In this instalment of Australia’s grooviest gaming podcast, the gang discuss PlayStation All-Stars: Battle Royal, God of War: Ascension, Crysis 3, Lost Planet 3, Journey, the ethics of on disc DLC, Jack Tramiel’s passing and much more! READ MORE

TUESDAY INTERVIEW Developer Playlist 8: Hitbox Team’s Terence Lee > In the latest edition of our series devoted to developers and the games that inspire them, the man responsible for the Dustforce soundtrack talks Chrono Trigger and Counter-Strike: Source. READ MORE

WEDNESDAY REVIEW I Am Alive > I Am Alive is remarkable for the fact that it has made it to market and despite numerous delays and a change of studio, is actually good. A year after the apocalyptic ‘Event’, Adam must climb through destroyed buildings, fend off marauders and scrounge what food he can to survive. The oppressive atmosphere and engaging gameplay more than make up for the average graphics and narrow scope. This one won’t be easily forgotten. READ MORE

THURSDAY REVIEW Yakuza: Dead Souls > This Yakuza series divergence feels like it beats away newcomers as easily as its stars beat back the zombie hordes. What looks from the outside like a perfect entry point is actually more fan-service than fan gatherer, leaving those looking to become a part of the Yakuza conversation no other option than to start from square one. Thankfully, if nothing else, Dead Souls manages to provide an incentive to do so. READ MORE

FRIDAY REVIEW Mass Effect 3 > The final installment in BioWare’s much loved sci-fi trilogy has arrived. Does it live up to the hype? Set in a future in which humanity struggles to find its position in the universe, Mass Effect 3 sees a bold hero fight to save Earth and its interstellar neighbors. With a plot that would not feel out of place in a blockbuster film, this epic release delivers an immersive experience as unforgettable as it is action packed. READ MORE

SATURDAY JUST ANNOUNCED The Elder Scrolls Online > With Skyrim recently confirming the broad appeal of its Elder Scrolls saga, publisher Bethesda Softworks has decided to roll the dice on an MMORPG set in the world of Tamriel. As reported by Game Informer, The Elder Scrolls Online will take place 1000 years prior to the most recent instalment and it appears that the setting’s principal antagonist will be a demonic fiend Molag Bal. READ MORE