So much news to share in so little time. That is where the Player2 News Bites comes in. All the hot topics in small easy to chew pieces.
News Bites – 21st of April 2015
– Heroes of the Storm has a release date. The 3rd of June is when Blizzard’s newbie friendly MOBA will have it’s official release. If you can’t that long there will be an open beta starting on the 20th of May so keen players can get in early. Even if you hate MOBA’s trust us when we say that Heroes of the Storm is worth a look.
– After some bad news for Aussie developers last week, there is some good news. Hammerfall Publishing, a Sydney based developer, has announced their Warhammer 40 000 Chess/Archon inspired game Regicide will be released on Steam Early Access on the 5th of May. The game looks to be a nice spin on an old game and worth a look for strategy fans everywhere.
– With only about 8 weeks til E3, Microsoft have begun the hype cycle by tweeting some clues as to what their presentation will be about. Head of the MS Class, Phil Spencer tweeted that the show will have a much bigger focus on First Party titles and while there will be third party titles in the show he likes the idea of focusing on Microsoft games.
– In what will perhaps be Malcom Reynolds last hurrah, Nathon Fillion is reprising his role as the Captain of Serenity for the Firefly online MMO. Nathon joins other cast members such as Alan Tudyk and Jewel State in reprising his role from the cult sci/fi series. The Firefly Online MMO promises to be a mix of shooter and traditional MMO gameplay.
– Sitting in the rumour section is a supposed leak of key details for the fourth Mass Effect game. These details have leaked due to a survey sent to gamers asking for opinions on a range of options. The only reason this one holds water is because key details for Dragon Age Inquisition leaked the same way. Check out the summary of the info leak below but be warned; Possible spoilers ahead.
NARRATIVE:
- Premise: Set in the Helius Cluster of the Andromeda Galaxy, removed by time and space from the Mass Effect “Commander Shepard” trilogy and its ending. Play as a “Pathfinder” explorer leading expedition with the aim of establishing new home for humanity. Encounter “savage untamed lands”, “cut-throat outlaws”, and “warring alien races” in an effort to survive and colonies. Andromeda is home to a mysterious alien race, the Remnants, who’ve left their vaults and ancient technology throughout.
- Game Objective: Explore 100s of solar systems (over 4x size of Mass Effect 3) collecting resources, developing your ship, crew, and arsenal, while engaging in diplomacy in order to set up colonies, while discovering the mystery behind the Remnants and racing to secure their technology.
- New Species: Remnants, an ancient race who’ve left ruins and technology throughout the galaxy. And Khet, seemingly antagonistic.
- Squadmates: Same as previous games: make friends, take two with you on missions. Cora is able to generate biotic shields you can fire out of. Drack is a Krogan.
- Loyalty Missions: Same as previous games: complete to unlock increased loyalty and new skill tree for that character. Example: Krogan colony ship has been stolen by outlaws. Track down the ship and return it to increase loyalty with Drack. Dialogue trees and end game impacted by loyalty status.
- Dialogue: “Meaningful choices”. Deeper control over responses, such as interrupting conversation. Action based choices are physical choices to shape the course of conversation, such as pulling out a weapon and forcing them to open a door instead of attempting to do so purely via conversation.
EXPLORATION/CUSTOMISATION
- Tempest Starship: Pilotable ship to discover 100s of solar systems. Customisable with trophies/loot/photos taken through the galaxy. Transition between flying ship, to landing on planet, to driving Mako, to getting out on foot, all seamless with no loading screens.
- Mako Vehicle: Upgradeable with turbo boost, shield generator, hostile detector, etc. Customisable paint job.
- Planets: 100s of surfaces to explore, for discovering places to colonise, and alien vaults/outputs to conquer.
- Colonies: Build settlements on habitable planets. Able to decide what type of settlement for bonuses. EG: Recon Settlements will clear fog of war on space map and offer more strike team missions, meanwhile Mining Settlements will periodically supply crafting materials.
- Blueprints: Allow you to craft alien technology using materials for better equipment and weapons, such as a jetpack for jumping, cryo-beam to target enemies, etc.
- Crew: Customisable skill trees, gear, weapons, etc.
MISSIONS TYPES AND MULTIPLAYER:
- Remnant Vault Raids: Ancient ruins in two variants. Standard: Accessed by finding and activating Remnant Monoliths, explored to find a “powerful artefact”. Acquiring artefact triggers defence systems: robots, traps, and restructured layout. Rewards with valuable loot, crafting resources, and Star Keys.Orbital Facilities: Unlocked with Star Keys, provide permanent stat bonuses, and optional higher difficulty vault raids that add Khet patrols and outlaws. Rewards with rare loot and narrative acclaim.
- Khet Outposts: Optional wave-based combat challenges that reward with XP, reduced Khet power and additional narrative options in the region if destroyed.
- Strike Team: Spend resources to recruit mercenaries and develop AI controlled strike teams to be deployed on randomly generated, time sensitive missions. Include settlement defence and remnant artefact recovery. Strike Teams return 20 – 30 minutes later with XP, currency, and equipment depending on mission outcome. Spend money/resources to train Strike Team, and buy better equipment, to increase success rate and send on dangerous missions.
- Active Strike Team: See above, however you can choose to complete the Strike Team mission manually via play using your multiplayer roster of characters. Able to play co-op with friends, more friends increasing difficulty and rewards. Bonus rewards for joining another players strike team mission. XP, loot, and customisation rewards for Strike Team played characters are cohesive with multiplayer specific horde mode.
- Horde Mode: Similar to Mass Effect 3: four players against waves of enemies with additional objectives such as disabling a bomb or assassinating a target. Similar XP/loot rewards to Mass Effect 3. APEX funds earned to be used in single player.
