GamerFront

Borderlands 2 Trailer Gives A September 18 Release Date

2012-02-22T14:39:14Z

Borderlands was one of those games that took me by surprise when it game out. The graphics seemed a little cheesy, and the storyline bland. However, after just a short time in the game, I was hooked. The only thing I didn’t like was when it ended. Partially because I wanted to keep going, and partially because it was a shit ending.

Unsurprisingly, after the game’s success, GearBox announced that we’d be getting a sequel. We’ve already seen on teaser trailer, but the company has finally given us a better look at what we’re going to see. And it look awesome.

Yes, it looks like a lot more of the same, but that’s a good thing in my book. More weapons, more skills, and more things to shoot. That’s exactly what I want out of this sequel. We can look forward to 96.5% more WUB WUB, and 870 gajillion guns when this hits stores on September 18. Hopefully we’ll also get a few answers, as well.

Review – SteelSeries Kana

2012-02-22T14:23:23Z

There are times when I think to myself how great it is to be a PC gamer in this day and age. Ten years ago the closest thing to a gaming mouse you’d find was one with a pair of side buttons. These days there are mice to fit ever gamer, regardless of your preferences. Steelseries has made a name for themselves by listening to real gamers, and making products that people want. Today we’re going to look at the Kana, a mouse that’s meant to fall somewhere between the Sensei and the Kinzu.

First Look

The Kana comes in two flavors, White/Blue and Black/Orange. We have the Black/Orange version, which definitely has a Halloween look to it. You’ll also notice that the mouse is symmetrical, something that has become common for the company. The top of the mouse is a rubbery black surface, which gives you just a little extra grip. You’ll find the orange scrollwheel with a single LED inside. Just below the scrollwheel is your orange CPI switch.

On each side you’ll find a single button coated in the same black rubber. The buttons are much larger than you would normally find, measuring roughly an inch and a half in length. The sides of the mouse are a plain black plastic, which serves as a slight contrast to the rubber.

Underneath, you’ll see a translucent orange plastic base, which glows just slightly around the edges when sitting down. You’re also going to see the three teflon mouse glides, which cover roughly 16% of the base. Finally, the braided USB cable features the same black and orange color scheme that you see on the rest of the mouse.

Software

Steelseries has done a great job of making sure that you only need a single piece of software to manage virtually all of their products. The SteelSeries Engine if fairly polished, though for this particular mouse, there aren’t a lot of features to use. As with any other mouse that the company makes, you can remap all five of the available buttons (that excludes the CPI switch). These can be single clicks, or macros. They’re using the same tried and true macro editor that we’ve seen in the past.

The settings tab is where you’ll find my disappointment. You can change the CPI and LED intensity for two different settings, which are controlled by the CPI switch. You can adjust the CPI from between 400-3200. Some people might say that 3200 isn’t quite enough, but that’s not where my complaint lies.

When you attempt to adjust the CPI, you are only given four choices. 400, 800, 1600 and 3200. The jump from 1600 to 3200 is pretty steep. My comfortable everyday mousing speed falls somewhere in between those two, so this lack of customization was pretty disheartening. This is definitely something you’ll want to keep in mind when considering this mouse.

In the Properties tab, you’ll find the ability to switch mouse profiles when you launch certain programs. I generally have a different layout for FPS than I do for RPGs, so when I open Battlefield 3, I’m not still stuck on my settings from Skyrim until I can get a chance to hop out of the game to fix it.

Finally, the statistics page can give you an idea of how much you use certain buttons over a period of time. This isn’t really all that useful, except for satisfying your curiosity.

Comfort And Performance

The first thing I’ll mention here is that this is a very light mouse; probably the lightest I’ve used. For me, it’s not something I’m fond of. I prefer a mouse with a good bit of weight, and this one only comes in at 72 grams. that’s less than ¾ the weight of the Sensei. I won’t say that this is detrimental, but weight is something you should consider when looking at a mouse.

The overall size of the mouse is slightly smaller than the Sensei, but is still fairly comfortable, even for someone with relatively large hands. It took a little time to get used to the two side buttons, and I still can’t say that I’m terribly fond of them. My complaint here is that I would prefer two buttons for my thumb, rather than one. That said, they handled the execution of the single side buttons wonderfully.

The Sensei had two buttons on each side, which seemed like a great idea. However, without fail, I accidentally hit one of the left side numerous times throughout the day. It’s bad enough that I’ve actually disabled them completely. The reason that they’re so easily hit is because they stick out just a bit. When I grab my mouse, I tend to put pressure on my thumb and ring finger. My ring finger rests high on the side, which is where the buttons are. More often than not, grabbing my mouse results in a click.

The buttons on the Kana are considerably different. These are flush with the sides, with a small area cutout around the lower edges. Since they don’t stick out at all, I’ve not experienced any issues with accidental clicks. The buttons are also rather long, which makes hitting them much easier. I’ve never had trouble with my thumb buttons, but left-side buttons still aren’t terribly common, so my ring finger doesn’t get much practice with that. Being an inch and a half long, my finger is resting on the button, no matter which way I grip it.

The teflon mouse glides work just as well as you would imagine. Whether you’re using a stiff teflon mousing surface, or a cloth mousepad, it’s going to glide smoothly. Being as light as it is, one might argue that it moves too easily over some surfaces.

Conclusion

With a retail price of $50, this can be considered just on the high end of budget mice. Overall, I’d say that the Kana is a solid piece of hardware for the price, as long as you keep a few things in mind. First, this is a very light mouse. If you like your mice to have some weight to them, you’re not going to be happy. Also, you’re restricted to four CPI settings. As long as you’re happy with those things, then you should enjoy this mouse.

The Good

Ambidextrous design
Well-placed side buttons
(Mostly) Great software

The Bad

Only four CPI choices
Only a single side button
A little expensive for the features you get

Assassin’s Creed Revelations ‘Lost Archive’ DLC Is On The Way

2012-02-21T22:31:13Z

Larry Hryb, also known as Xbox Live’s Major Nelson, has revealed that a new set of DLC will be coming for Assassin’s Creed Revelations. A post on his blog notes the content, called “Lost Archive,” to hit on February 28th for 800 Microsoft Points.

We’ve known that a single-player DLC has been on the way for a while, due to a leaked set of achievements that hit the net last week. We don’t know is Lost Archive is the DLC mentioned in the list, but the news does add up. Of course we still can’t know for certain.

Ubisoft has been contacted for word, and we’re awaiting a response. The timing suggests that our hunch is right, but with Ubisoft you could always be waiting on a surprise. Still, I’m itching to see just exactly what this new DLC is all about.

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Review – Magic: The Gathering Dark Ascension [TCG]

2012-02-22T13:42:47Z

On February 3^rd, the newest set in the trading card game, Magic: The Gathering, was unleashed. Within it lie many untold horrors, spooks, death dealers, and much more. The MTG community was swarming over what would become of this new set, called Dark Ascension, and since its release it has taken players by a blackened storm.

Dark Ascension adds new mechanics into the game, along with new characters, locations, and fearsome creatures. This set is second in the Innistrad block, meaning one more set will release, completing it. Dark Ascension’s tagline has been noted as “Command the Night,” and following this idea the set really does deliver. I’ve grown fond of quite a few cards in the new set, and it’s already being put to use in many of the top championship decks running the circuit. I’ve had plenty of time with the new stuff, and now it’s time we took a look at the mechanics that have been added to the game at large that make their appearance in Dark Ascension.

Like with each other set and block within Magic: The Gathering, each set comes with its own storyline. With Innistrad, the humans of the world are living in a tenuous balance with darker forces dealing from the shadows. Feral creatures like werewolves, vampires, devils, demons, and zombies are roaming about the plane, causing much destruction and dismay. This proves through to the cards as well. In Dark Ascension you will see power coming from many a creature, each of the previous types mentioned. You can call them “clans” if you will, and they all pan out together, when used in conjunction with one another. When Dark Ascension hit the fray, the world has yet been torn even more so asunder, as humans are sacrificing their own to save their skins. This also plays into the game, which I will mention in a bit. Now let’s look at specific mechanics.

Undying is one of the newest mechanics to the game, and perhaps the most profitable. When a creature with Undying dies and is sent to the graveyard, if it had no +1/+1 counters on it, its owner returns the creature to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on the card. In essence, these creatures die and return with swift vengeance. Though they return with summoning sickness, it’s still a wicked tactic when used correctly. Some cards in the new set use the Fight mechanic, making two selected creatures battle it out for dominance. Couple a card like that with an undying creature and you’ll clear defenders all while returning stronger than before. Most vampires, wolves, and zombies have this ability, but it can also be seen by other creature types.

The second and final new mechanic coming in the Dark Ascension set is called Fateful Hour. This mechanic works when a player is in dire need, and brings with it rewards. When a player is at or below 5 health, a card with Fateful Hour will activate with a special ability. Using these cards can really turn the tide of the game when you’re at your worst. Some of these card abilities range from making creatures indestructible to completely tapping down all opposing creatures and giving you an extra turn. If you use cards with the Fateful Hour mechanic you can allow yourself to be weathered and still come out on top. Whether you’re having a rough game, or you’re sacrificing to gain power, this mechanic will always offer a helping hand.

Cards with mechanics such as Curse, Morbid, and Flashback also return in Dark Ascension, as do many of the Flip cards that we’ve seen. These can all work in your favor, if used correctly. Currently I am running a red/green deck comprised of wolf creatures with the Undying and Morbid mechanics. Using these in conjunction I can send my Undying creatures to the graveyard, and reap the rewards by playing a card with Morbid in the same turn. It soon becomes overwhelming and my opponent’s life reaches zero before they can blink.

Now, getting back to the clans, some cards in the set have the ability to pump up other creature types and make them stronger. This is what I was speaking of earlier up above. The clans run together as spirits, vampires, werewolves, humans, and zombies. The zombies, vampires, and wolves each have a sort of “captain” (with wolves being the exception due to the card actually just being a normal creature card) that will pump up their respective creature types and give them an ability. Like you see above, the Diregraf Captain gives a bonus to all zombie creatures, and forces your opponent to lose life whenever any of your zombies perish in battle. Using these cards with their correct colors and creature types, you can really create a deck that will crush any that stand in your way.

Artifacts also play a certain role in Dark Ascension, only though by way of equipment or treasure that has a cost effect. There is a bow and quiver that deals extra damage to werewolves, and there’s also a dagger that transforms itself into a demon when the creature it is equipped to deals damage to your opponent. There isn’t really a big dependence on these types of cards, but since the Mirrodin block has come and gone twice, it’s understandable.

Conclusion

Overall, Dark Ascension is a really great set. Whether you’re just jumping back into Magic: The Gathering, or if you’re looking for some great Gothic horror fun, it’s got something for everyone. It’s always nice to bust out a deck filled with zombies, vampires, and other creatures that go “bump” in the night, and you can really wreak some terror on any opponent who sets near you. The set boasts a new, powerful version of the Planeswalker Sorin, and if you get your hands on him you’ve got unmitigated strength in your wake. I definitely think players should grab some of the set and give it a go. I can’t really say I disliked anything I saw in Dark Ascension, and I doubt many other players will. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve some werewolves that need to feed.

Ibb And Obb

2012-02-22T06:23:39Z

How many games have you played that were specifically designed for two players? We have several games that encourage us to play with friends, but few that require us to. That’s why the upcoming Ibb and Obb platform game coming from Sparpweed studios that looks so promising.

As you play through this world, you will find that it exists in two planes simultaneously, with two separate gravities. You can travel between the two when openings present themselves, but you need to have two players to get through various puzzles and obstacles. While there isn’t a stated storyline, you will see a sort of change happening in the world around you as the environment will make you feel as though something is a bit “off”.

The game was made with these two iconic characters, Ibb, who is the small green character, and Obb, who is the larger, purplish-red one. If you enjoy playing co-op games, you’ll be happy to know that this game will likely be hitting the PlayStationNetwork in the second quarter of this year. It will probably cost about $10, and if you can hold off a couple of months, the game will also be appearing on Steam for PC, which will have online multiplayer. Pixabyte did an interview with one of the creators of this game, Richard Boeser, which can be found here.

First ME3 DLC Accidentally Revealed On Xbox Marketplace

2012-02-21T23:23:52Z

Word has been leaked about the contents of Mass Effect 3’s first DLC, and it looks to be a doozy. It should be noted, however, that this article contains at the very least minor spoilers for the DLC, and possibly major spoilers for the game as a whole.

So what’s in this DLC that might spoil the game for some people? According to the Xbox Marketplace listing, the DLC is titled “Mass Effect 3: From Ashes” and states in its description “(u)nearth lost secrets from the past and recruit the Prothean squad member in Mass Effect 3: From Ashes.”

Wow. Considering how the Protheans were extinct in the previous Mass Effect games, to see one of perhaps a handful of survivors is kind of surprising. It makes me think that if they have a DLC with a Prothean squad member in it, then perhaps we’ll be seeing more Protheans in the main game as well? For all we know, the Protheans might be the key to defeating the Reapers! I suppose, though, that we won’t find out until March 6th, when the game, and presumably the DLC is released.

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The Journey Down: Over The Edge Trailer

2012-02-22T05:52:24Z

There seems to be a lot of renewed interest in good ole fashioned point and click adventures thanks to Double Fine studios. Therefore, it’s only right that we should look at other upcoming games in this genre. Back in January, we learned of a new adventure that is in the works, called The Journey Down: Over the Edge.

This game is filled with puzzles that will pick your brain, and carries many African themes. The story follows Bwana, as he tries to save his run-down gas station from closure. You can enjoy some jazzy reggae while traveling through this crazy adventure.

A ton of development has happened since January, including the major milestone of recording all the dialogue for the game. As the faces of these characters have been modeled after African masks, they have very limited expressions. This is why the voice acting is very important, as it brings in a vibrancy to these characters that would not be found otherwise.

Check out the teaser trailer below to get a taste of what will be coming out in Spring this year for Mac and PC. If you can manage to wait a bit, there will also be ports for Android and iOS shortly after.

Baldur’s Gate Coming To Steam

2012-02-21T15:19:56Z

The first computer that my family had was a Mac, so I grew up on games like Civilization and Sim City 2000. However, when I was finally able to obtain an a PC, one of the first games I remember sinking countless ours into on it was Bauldur’s Gate. I still have my old CDs, and there are times where I’m tempted to dust them off and dive in again. Unfortunately, due to the age of this game, it’s not exactly a walk in the park to get it running again. If only it could be updated and brought to some sort of digital distribution platform that worked flawlessly on newer operating systems.

Yes, I’m hinting at the possibility of Bauldur’s Gate coming to Steam, and it appears that it will be happening. What’s more, we should be seeing the sequel as well. There has been no official announcement from either Bioware or Valve. Instead, the information comes from Steam itself.

It would seem that earlier this month both titles were added to the Steam registry. You can find the original with the AppID 206180, and the sequel with the ID of 99140. We can tell little, other than the fact that the games have been added. We do know that Baldur’s Gate 2 is the “Complete” version, so we should expect the expansions to be included. We’ll let you know when when we have confirmation of pricing and release date information.

Radeon 7850 And 7870 Specs Leaked [Rumor]

2012-02-21T14:24:35Z

The month of March is just over a week away, which means that if previous rumors are to be believed, we should be expecting the next batch of Radeon cards soon. Specifically, the 7800 series. And today we have a little more insight than was previously given, including pricing.

Last we heard, the 7850 and 7870 were expected to fall into the $179-$249 price range. Now it’s looking like that those were considerably high estimates. New rumor has it that we will see the 7850 debuting at $139 for the 1GB version, and $169 for the 2GB. As for the 7870 2GB, it has been confirmed that it will hit the $199 price point. Prices aren’t the only thing we have learned, though. VR-Zone has been able to get their hands on the full specs for all three cards. Check them out below:

AMD Radeon HD 7850 1GB

$139 (Rumored)
20 Compute Units
1280 cores (Stream Processors)
80 Texture Units; 72.0 GTexel/s
24 Color ROP Units; 21.6 GPixel/s
1 GB GDDR5 Memory; 156.25 GB/s
900 MHz GPU Core
1250 MHz QDR GDDR5 clock (5.0 GHz “effective”)

AMD Radeon HD 7850 2GB

$169 (Rumored)
20 Compute Units
1280 cores (Stream Processors)
80 Texture Units; 72.0 GTexel/s
24 Color ROP Units; 21.6 GPixel/s
2 GB GDDR5 Memory; 156.25 GB/s
900 MHz GPU Core
1250 MHz QDR GDDR5 clock (5.0 GHz “effective”)

AMD Radeon HD 7870 2GB

$199 (Verified)
22 Compute Units
1408 cores (Stream Processors)
88 Texture Units; 83.6 GTexel/s
24 Color ROP Units; 22.8 GPixel/s
2GB GDDR5 Memory; 171.88GB/s
950MHz GPU Core
1375 MHz QDR GDDR5 clock (5.5GHz “effective”)

While it’s easy to get excited about these, I imagine that after the lukewarm reception to the 77xx cards, most people will be waiting to see the real-world reviews of these cards before buying. If these cards really can replace the 69xx series at the price points listed, while consuming less power, this might be just what AMD fans have been looking for.

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New Skyrim Map App Adds Interior Details

2012-02-21T01:13:05Z

Contrary to the Dragon Soul app that was released on mobile devices a little while ago, there is a new Skyrim map app out that changes the game a bit. Prima Games have now released their own app, though it differs from the previous in a few ways. Though it’s still free to purchase, there will be unlocks inside of the app that allow players much more than just locations on a map.

Within the new app users can grab all of the capital cities without spending a dime, but available for purchase will also be “over 160 interior maps, 350 primary locations, 200 secondary locations, and over 1,000 points of interest” according to Prima. Each of these bundles will be available for around $.99 a piece.

The app looks to be very helpful, but there wasn’t mention of being able to jot down notes or make your own points of interest on the map. So for right now, the Dragon Soul app still seems the way to go. You can go ahead and pick up the Prima Skyrim app now, though, and hit things up your own way. It’s certainly worth checking out. You can get it here.

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