Codemasters sent us a friendly reminder today about their upcoming (and long time coming) adventure/fantasy game Rise of the Argonauts. While I am pretty excited over the game, due to the loveliness of the screens and trailers I have crushed over during the past year or so, usually when I get overly excited about a game it ends up being terrible. However, I am giving Codemasters and Liquid Entertainment the benefit of the doubt on this one because the majority of the time their games do not suck.

Therefore, come December 16– PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 owners will be able to play as Jason in this interesting looking RPG and set sail on a tale of vengeance, mythical beasts, meddling gods and fight along side famous Greek heroes as you battle your way towards obtaining the Golden Fleece. Sounds like fun, and if you are interested in checking out the new screens Codemasters sent us today, you can do so by looking at the game page on FileFront. Plus, if you are feeling particularly inquisitive, you can also check out all of our previous posts on the game where you can scoff and roll your eyes at my gushing praise for a game I have never even played. You can almost imagine me doing the grade school girl pee-pee dance as I wrote them.

Yeah, I think it’s pretty. I am girl, what else would you expect?

Tecmo today announced a holiday lineup filled with a variety of games in several genres, promising hours of entertainment for everyone and almost every genre. The holiday lineup will include the following four titles:

Robocalypse (October 28): Developed Vogster, Robocalypse is a  real-time strategy game for the Nintendo DS featuring robotic armies equipped with unique weaponry and strategic warfare with a twist of humor. With over 50 A.I. driven units with advanced distributed path-finding, dynamic music and 3D particle effects, the comical was penned by Jay Lender (SpongeBob Squarepants), and Micah Wright. Early previews of Robocalypse have been very positive, with the title receiving the runner-up spot in July for IGN’s Best of E3 2008, Best Strategy Game for Nintendo DS.

SPRay (October 28): An action-platformer game with puzzle elements for the Wii, SPRay features the use of several liquids that are sprayed onto the game universe. Players will play a spirited prince named Ray who must save his village from a banished evil queen who’s returned to capture and enslave the villagers. After donning a magic crown which summons two liquid spraying spirits, he sets out to defeat the evil queen and her army of anti-matter soldiers. The key will be to skillfully use the “angelic” and “wicked” spirits to spray water, oil, slime and other liquids on enemies and surfaces to solve puzzles and wipe out evil. The also features several mini-games in multiplayer mode, where up to four players can challenge themselves in games using the various liquids.

Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff ( November): Made for both long time fans and newcomers alike, Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff for the Nintendo DS boasts easy to employ controls, fun, huge plays and exciting cut-scenes. This over-the-top, all-American football game will enable players of all levels to engage in a fast paced, arcade style of football. With new features including full customizable teams, super abilities, optional stylus control, Wi-Fi and wireless multiplayer; the title offers a good hit of nostalgia for old time arcade fans while implementing new elements ro draw in new fans. In July, the title earned IGN’s Best of E3 2008, Best Sports Game for Nintendo DS as well as a runner-up spot for 1UP’s Best of E3, Best Nintendo DS Game.

Ryagr: The Battle for the Argus (December): The legendary warrior, Rygar, is back! This Wii remake of the PS2 classic brings new enemies, techniques and an all-new Gladiator Mode, specifically equipped for the versatile swinging movement of the Wii Remote.  The story is set in the Greco-Roman era surrounding a noble warrior attempting to save Princess Harmonia, players must bring the Island of Argus back to peace and annihilate the Titans using the “Diskarmor.” In Rygar: The Battle of Argus, use of the Wii Remote allows players to effectively control the powerful weapon to destroy enemies and maneuver on, around, over, and under obstacles. The action/adventure game spans various various zones and incorporates light puzzle solving.

For more information on all of these games, check back with us closer to release. Meanwhile, you can view more details and check out some screens for each game by clicking on the game titles above.

Although the mouth movement of the characters is not in sync with the audio (at least on my system), this new video for Rise of the Argonauts is still pretty cool. All the video really did for me was reaffirm the fact that I want to play the game, therefore, I hope Liquid Entertainment and Codemasters announces a release date for it soon. The time frame of “autumn” is getting a bit old, especially since the game was announced, complete with screens during E3 2007.

I know that it takes a while to create and perfect a game, and even if, for example, they have been working on the game for three years – that is not a massive time frame from a developers standpoint. From a gamers perspective, I am just impatient to “get my greek on” is all.

When companies merge, or in this – when giants collide, several changes always take place. Some of them are great changes, some of them are… well this is a family friendly site so I will let you fill in the blank.

Case in point: The Activision Blizzard (Vivendi) merger. Its great that there is a huge company out there ready, willing and able to go after EA with broadsword, but that little blessing is also a bit bittersweet. Some games have been cut, not canned, but cut from the new publishing giant’s list and will be offered up to other publishers for distribution, or sale if you will.

The majority of these cuts come from Sierra, which means that the only games that they have been working on that made this cut are: Crash Bandicoot, Ice Age, Spyro, and unannounced game and Prototype which means that these games will be the only wholly owned properties that Activision Blizzard will keep. Ghostbusters, World in Conflict, and Brutal Legend, however, did not make it.

Vivendi Games Mobile, and Sierra Online might also go up on the auction block, and the realigning of staff for Radical Entertainment and High Moon Studios is also in the works. Massive Entertainment, which is working on Prototype at the moment (which made the merger) and Swordfish Studios are also being considered for liquidation. High Moon as you may recall, were the folks behind the Bourne game, and Massive was working on World in Conflict.

However, don’t get upset over Ghostbusters and the other two as of yet. They are still being worked on as we speak. According to a source, who wished to remain anonymous, Ghostbusters, especially, is still coming just possibly not from Activision Blizzard.

As told to VG247:

“It’s basically being put out to tender. Considering where it is in development, hopefully someone else will pick it. I guess that if there are Sierra games that are not mentioned in the Activision press release, then they’re part and parcel of the stuff that’s going out to tender, but I don’t know for sure. But I would not used the word ‘canned’ if I were you [talking about Ghostbusters]. “

So until more on this develops, keep your fingers crossed that Ghostbusters, Brutal Legend, and World in Conflict and any other game that Sierra and the others were working on, that you happen to have been looking forward to, will be picked up by someone else.

What really baffles me though is that they actually think that a game like The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (yes I know it is already out) is considered a hot commodity but Ghostbusters is not. Very strange thinking there, very strange indeed.

You can read the full Activision press release after the jump.

Thanks: VG247
Read the full article

Rise of the Argonauts is expected to be released sometime in the Fall for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. I am sure Liquid Entertainment and Codemasters will be revealing something cool regarding the game sometime today, so you may want to check back with us. Meanwhile you can read everything there is to know, so far, about it by reading over our previous posts here.

By the time you are finished, you will realize why I have a severe school girl crush on the game which will most like end in despair, heartbreak, and the sickening urge to listen to depressing songs by The Cure while I write really bad poetry in my bedroom.

Revealing an epic story of heroic deeds, brutal combat and lost love, the epic action RPG from Liquid Entertainment and Codemasters, Rise of the Argonauts now has its own website.

Coming this autumn to the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 you got to see a really cool trailer for it last week and now you can check out everything else Argonaut related on the web by clicking here.

Inspired by the greatest Greek myths and legends, Rise of the Argonauts will enable players to live a hero’s life, fight a hero’s fight and sculpt a hero’s legacy. With a distinctive blend of epic narrative and brutal real-time combat, players will be immersed in a story of lost love and a quest for personal vengeance in world of gods, kings, magic and awe-inspiring mythical beasts.

Embarking on a quest to find the Golden Fleece and revive his beloved slain wife, Jason and his trusted band of Argonauts explore the vast Aegean – a dynamic world of luscious islands, shining cities, verdant jungles and deep forests – in a vibrant realization of ancient Greece. As Jason, players will carve a unique journey through the game world as their choices incur the god’s wrath or favor, shape the plot, change the outcome of each quest and open up new story arcs.

An action RPG with intuitive real-time combat dispenses with cumbersome menu systems that have become intrusive staples within the genre, providing seamless, spectacular battles. As a true weapons master, Jason has instant access to any of the four upgradable weapons he carries with him at all times; shield, mace, sword and lance. Switching weapons mid-fight at the touch of a button, players can string together stunning and deadly combos, taking out enemies in a blur of cold steel and crimson blood.

Mixing deep exploration, grand-scale quests and gladiatorial combat in a story powered by the timeless motives of love and vengeance, Rise of the Argonauts has been on my “must play” list for quite some time. I sure hope that my little crush on it pays off.

Via: Press Release

I have been very interested in playing Rise of the Argonauts since I first heard about it last year. While I like to play all sorts of different gaming genres, there is something about RPGs that seem to always pull me back in – granted, the redundancy of the RPG titles in the marketplace has quelled my favoritism somewhat recently- but RotA genuinely looks as though it will bring us something fresh and exciting.

Recently, Codemasters decided to list four reasons why Rise of the Argonauts differs from your typical RPG. Codemasters believes that offering more than just skill points, no endless bags to hold items in the inventory system, making every hit count and giving gamers a main story with one hundred different paths will make it more fresh and interesting than the rest of the RPGs lying in bins at your local gaming store.

What Makes RotA Different #1: Favour – Much More Than Just Skill Points:

Most role-playing games follow a familiar pattern– kill enemies, get experience points, level up, buy abilities, repeat. While this loop is tried and true, it’s also characterless. Everything is based on combat, and very little draws on the choices that the player has been making – choices that are core to an RPG experience.

In Rise of the Argonauts, Jason progresses by increasing his Favour with his four patron gods – Ares, Athena, Apollo, and Hermes. Instead of merely gathering experience points, Jason performs “Deeds”, which he may then dedicate to one of the four gods watching over him, increasing his Favour with that god. Each god has their own set of unique powers and abilities that reinforce particular play styles. You can’t go wrong – what kind of Jason do you want to be?

Defeating a score of enemies while remaining completely unscathed is Deed-worthy, as is saving a poor merchant hurled into the Arena, slaying of a particularly fearsome foe, or effectively outwitting or intimidating an NPC. Rather than gathering nameless “exp”, each Deed chronicles a key moment or achievement in Jason’s journey.

The other way to gain Favour with the gods is through narrative choices. Dialogue in most games exists to progress the plot, and every so often provides a moment where the player will gain some experience. In Rise of the Argonauts, since the gods are always watching Jason’s actions, every choice you make will impact your Favour. For example, choosing a confrontational approach will please Ares, while a more cunning course of action would appeal to Hermes, increasing your Favour accordingly. Gone are the days of clicking endlessly through dialogues – in Rise of the Argonauts, every choice matters.

The gods are always present during Jason’s quests, and like most trifling Greek gods – you can please some while displeasing others. Apollo, Ares, Athena, and Hermes are the main Olympians you will be dealing with, so finding the right balance when trying to please them all will be a big challenge – but it should also add a nice touch to a genre that has been heavy on long quest chains laden with grinding as the main focus; Plus, you just cannot go wrong with a game that Codemasters and Liquid Entertainment has had a hand in – at least in my book.

To find out what else make Rise of the Argonauts something you may want to play, hit the jump below for more information on the inventory system, combat, and the epic storyline with various winding paths. You can also check out our previous posts on the game where I talk about RotA as though I have a schoolgirl crush on it.

Rise of the Argonauts is expected to be released sometime in the Fall for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

Read the full article

I have been looking forward to the release of Rise of the Argonauts for over a year now. The screens that Codemasters and Liquid Entertainment have been releasing lately are drop dead gorgeous and while I am not sure if theses are from cutscenes or actual gameplay (I am presuming the former) they are very vibrant and tantilising to be sure.

With deep exploration and epic quests, players will take the role of Jason, King of Iolchis, and battle alongside iconic mythological heroes including Hercules, Achilles, Atalanta and others. As Jason grows from young king to true legend, set sail aboard the Argo and explore the vast Aegean – a dynamic world of islands filled with shining cities, lush jungles and deep forests.

Gamers will leave their mark on ancient Greece as they engage in blood-spurting combat against hordes of enemy warriors, ruthless beasts and mythological creatures. Whether Jason is lopping off heads or cutting warriors in half with his sword or if Hercules is wrestling with giant beasts, hopefully it will be a fun time for all.

Like all true heroes of Greece, the gods follow Jason on his quests. Jason will gain the favour of the gods and earn special abilities, but his actions may please some gods and displease others. Earning a god’s favour will grant players powers within the god’s domain, but drawing a god’s wrath may cause them to inflict a torment on the heroes at the worst possible moment.

For more information as well as a trailer, check out our previous posts. Rise of the Argonauts is expected to be released this fall for the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 according to the Codemasters website.

DigitalLife, Ziff Davis Media’s leading consumer electronics and digital lifestyle event, announced the winners of the Best of Show awards. The PC Magazine editorial staff chose the most innovative, most useful, and most fun products on the show floor in a presentation at DigitalLife last Friday from the elite technologies found at the show and hottest products available for this holiday season.

More than 250,000 products were featured at DigitalLife this year including video games and other technology products and services such as cell phones, smartphones and a host of amazing new mobile services to digital cameras, GPS devices, desktops and laptops, to home theater equipment, tech toys for kids, and safety and security tools.

The PC Magazine editors, led by Editor-in-Chief, Lance Ulanoff, were tasked with selecting the Best of Show across 12 categories from this amazing variety of cutting-edge technology.

“This year’s Best of Show winners represent some of the most exciting technology products on the horizon,” commented Monica Vila, Vice President, Ziff Davis Media. “The quality and quantity of new product announcements at this year’s show indicates that DigitalLife continues to evolve from being a great venue to interact with consumers to an industry gathering place, and one of the year’s major focal points for technology and lifestyle press.”

Among the winners are Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, the Gateway One PC, and the HP Blackbird 002. Complete details after the break.

Read the full article

Eurogamer interviewed Liquid Entertainment’s lead designer Charley Price about the upcoming game Rise of the Argonauts. The game is based on the Greek mythological tale of Jason and the Argonauts. Argonauts is set in the role-playing game genre, but Liquid hopes to redefine what gamers expect of RPGs. Price explains his vision in these words:

Rise of the Argonauts is a role-playing game that focuses on the strengths of the genre (strong story, character development, meaningful choices) while discarding the antiquated trappings that plague it (endless menus, bag/inventory management, minor statistic-tweaking, etc.).

Players will control Jason in the game and gameplay promises to be different in Argonauts. Every choice made whether in combat or dialogue will effect your character’s progression. Combat promises to be real-time and lethal. Once you by pass your opponent’s shield by deflecting it, dodging around it or smashing through it combat will be quick and bloody. Characters are procedurally animated making every combat unique and small adjustments matter.

Gameplay will be free-form with each island setting interconnecting like a web so that not only can Jason visit them in any order, but he will revisit them as new events are triggered. Price covers interactions with the Argonaut legendary figures and the four gods; Athena, Ares, Hermes, and Apollo. Jason must gain the favor of the Gods to progress and develop his character. He can win their favor by dedicating Deeds to them and through dialogue choices.

In Rise of the Argonauts, the gods are always watching Jason’s actions – even in dialogue. As such, when you enter a conversation, each of your choices is represented with an icon reflecting one of the patron gods – each of which infers a tone for the line in question. An aggressive or confrontational choice will please Ares, causing your Favour with him to increase, whereas a cunning or manipulative choice would please Hermes, and so on. As such, every narrative choice that the player makes will level-up their character.

Rise of the Argonauts is scheduled for release in 2008 for the PS3, Xbox 360 and the PC.

via Eurogamer