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Yupitergrad

Yupitergrad was just released on January 28th for the Oculus Quest. It was originally released for the PC on August 27th of 2020 and it will also be released for PSVR in 2021. Yupitergrad was developed by the Polish game studio, Gamedust. They are a relatively new studio that is focusing on cutting edge gaming technology such as virtual reality. Yupitergrad has been described as a “Tarzan-style-platformer'”. This is because the player must use suction cups that shoot from their hands to navigate the game’s levels. This mechanic is especially interesting to see in virtual reality.

Cosmonauts on Jupiter don’t have it easy.

Leave the Motherland

In Yupitergrad, you play as a Slavic cosmonaut. The game is set on a base off the atmosphere of Jupiter. You’ll be navigating throughout the station and into space as you move through the game’s story. As a VR game, it can be especially thrilling to use grappling hooks and boosters to fly around over 50 different levels in the game. Plus, Yupitergrad’s stylized art style plays into the experience that the game tries to draw you into. It also features an original soundtrack that adds to the cosmonaut experience.

There’s plenty of content to play through in Yupitergrad, considering how many levels are in the game.

Shoot Towards the Future

Despite the game’s initial release having occurred last August, there have been free updates that have added some content and polished certain features. The controls have been improved, new levels have been added, and a time attack mode has been implemented into the game. As the game is being released on different platforms, it’s also still being worked on and made better. The game is only $14.99, so it’s one of the more affordable VR games. If you’re interested in a VR platformer with a whacky theme at its core, consider giving Yupitergrad a try.

#Yupitergrad #VR #Platformer #SciFi

Dyson Sphere Program

Dyson Sphere Program is a simulation strategy game where you are tasked with building an intergalactic factory system. The game was released to Steam Early Access on January 21st. The 5-person team of developers, Youthcat Studio, anticipate that they will continue to work on the game for about a year before it receives its full release. Gameplay currently consists of collecting energy and resources, then designing complicated production lines. Eventually, you’ll turn a relatively small workshop into a galaxy-wide industrial empire.

A colossal Dyson Sphere is a sight to behold.

A Vast and Unique Universe

If you haven’t already heard of it, a Dyson Sphere is an incredible theoretical megastructure that orbits around a star and harnesses its energy. This would let an intergalactic civilization survive across multiple planets. A Dyson Sphere is just one of many late-game goals for a player once they get their industrial empire going. The game starts the player off on a planet with a mecha (a controllable robot) where you need to harvest resources and use them to start your factory. As your facilities grow, you can expand further into the procedurally generated universe and fully exploit the galaxy’s resources.

The game’s factory construction system is reminiscent to other factory building sims.

The Sky is Limit

The ultimate plans for Dyson Sphere Program are very ambitious. The developers plan to add a great deal of content into the game at some point. They claim that there are already hundreds of hours of content in the game with much more to come. There are plans to add more customization options for buildings and mechas, more types of structures to build, more types of planets and celestial bodies to discover, more cosmic events to unfold, more music and sounds, and even alien monsters to defend against. Although the graphics look great, there is still a lot of polish needed before the game is complete. There’s also still plenty of room for improvement in translating the game to English. But, all in all, Dyson Sphere Program shows promise as a simulation strategy game in space. If you’re interested, it’s currently on sale on Steam until January 27th.

#Indie #Space #Simulation #Strategy

Rocket League

Rocket league was originally released for Microsoft Windows and PS4 on July 7th of 2015 by the California-based game studio Psyonix. Over the years, the game has been released on various other platforms including Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Mac, and even Linux. Last September, Rocket League became free-to-play, opening access to the widest range of players as possible. There are tens of millions of people around the world that have played this game. As time progressed, there have been plenty of cosmetic additions and ways to personalize your vehicle. However, the core gameplay has remained unchanged. The game still remains as simple yet intensely competitive as ever.

There are tons of gamemodes in Rocket League. You can go head to head or play in teams. There are many other rules that can be changed as well.

The Soccer of the Future

What exactly is Rocket League? Ultimately, it’s a futuristic sports game where rocket-powered cars are trying to push a ball into a goal, similar to soccer. During gameplay, the player(s) control the vehicle and utilize a robust physics system to try to outmaneuver their opponent(s) and score on them. Rocket League’s advanced physics system simulates realistic  interactions between the cars and the ball. Momentum and mass are relevant factors during collisions and it can take a great deal of skill and experience to truly master the game. Let alone the tons of additions to the game through free updates and DLC, there was already a great deal of singleplayer and multiplayer content in the base game during its release. Season mode takes the player through a singleplayer campaign where they can unlock customizations for their vehicle and new playable maps. You can also play online in many different types of matches that uniquely fit with the playstyle of your choosing.

Some of the DLC add very well-made customization options, like this Batmobile.

GOOOOOOOOOAL

There are two major reasons that Rocket League has stood the test of time. Firstly, the long-standing interest that has been captured by the online gaming community has played a big role in the game’s continued focus from Psyonix. Several thousands of players have spent countless hours competing in the ranked mode to climb the very competitive ladder to the top. There is still a very dedicated fanbase for this game over five years after its release date. Secondly, the stream of updates and DLC for Rocket League has kept people checking in to see what’s new. The full list of free updates and DLC is very expansive and broad. Generally, they add a wide variety of customization options and new game modes. Through partnerships with other brands like DC Comics, How Wheels, and the NFL just to name a few, there are tons of ways for a player to personalize their vehicle. There are also a wide variety of maps and gamemodes that keep gameplay fresh and interesting. If you’ve never tried the game out, now is the perfect time. Considering it’s free-to-play and been refined for years, there’s plenty of fun content to be enjoyed.

#RocketLeague

Stellaris: Console Edition

Stellaris: Console Edition is releasing the MegaCorp expansion DLC on January 26th 2021. This is the third expansion pass released for the console edition. This expansion adds giants corporations into the world that can help build giant megastructures and facilitate booming populations. Originally released for PC on May 9th 2016, Stellaris is a grand strategy game set in space. Your goal is to explore the universe and steadily grow your galactic empire/republic/nation. Stellaris: Console Edition was released for Playstation 4 and Xbox One on September 6th 2020. The game provides the player with a wide variety of personalization options for their galactic civilization. You choose what your alien race looks like, where they live, how they think, and how they survive. Whether you want to play as war-mongering bird people or trade-faring plant creatures, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who went down the same road as you. Like most of Paradox Interactive’s games, there is a steep learning curve. But once you figure out a successful strategy, there’s an endless amount of fun to be had with the game.

Screenshot of the game's map
The galaxy is filled with alien empires to be conquered or befriended.

An Infinite Universe

The player isn’t the only one with a unique civilization. Every time you play, you’ll experience varied and unique species. This will make every player’s galactic journey different. Stellaris features an expansive diplomacy system where you can communicate with the different species that you encounter. The types of diplomatic options that you have with each species can vary based on technological, cultural, and other factors.  Plus, the galaxies in the game are procedurally generated. This means that you’ll see different planets, stars, quests, races, and events every time you start a new game. No two playthroughs will ever be the same. Because of how different each playthrough can be, Stellaris has a high replayability value.

Screenshot of a space battle
When diplomacy fails, war will follow. Space battles might unfold between two galactic empires. There are also battles against giant space-traveling monsters as well.

Galactic Conflict

Stellaris features beautiful 3D models and artwork that keep the player excited to continue exploring distant galaxies. You might find a cute alien race that wants to be your friend or you might find a terrifying alien race that wants to devour your people. Or you could even find a cute-looking alien empire that wants to blow your home planet to bits. As you build up your own empire, you’ll see it all. Beyond the alien races, there are also beautifully crafted spaceships that are unique to different species classes. Humans, insectoid aliens, and plantoid aliens all fly in very different looking spaceships. Each species has its own personality beyond the statistical bonuses and drawbacks for each species. They don’t just play different, they look and feel different. If you’re a fan of sci-fi and strategy games, then consider giving Stellaris a try. But be prepared for a learning curve when figuring out how to manage your galactic empire.

#Stellaris #Paradox #Strategy #Space #Sci-Fi

STAR WARS: Knights of the Old Republic II

Darth Nihilus

Star: Knights of the Old Republic II was released yesterday for IOS and Android devices on the App Store and Google Play. Originally released for PC in 2004, this game is the sequel to the original Knights of the Old Republic game that also inspired the widely enjoyed Star Wars: The Old Republic MMORPG. KOTOR II is an RPG that was, in many ways, ahead of its time. You can control if your character goes to the dark side or the light side. You also control which This game takes place about 4,000 years prior to the events of the original Star Wars film. This means that, despite the vast changes that have occured in the Star Wars universe’s canon since the game’s release, it can still fit into the greater Star Wars story.

Companion selection screen
There are several companions to pick from on your adventure.

Fulfill your Destiny

The original KOTOR games are filled with choices that help to shape the game’s story. As a former Jedi who’s been exiled from the Jedi order, your ship is attacked by Sith assassins. Your journey starts there and takes you all across the galaxy. You can choose your gender, what you look like, what you wear, what weapons you utilize, what force abilities you focus on, and even which companions you want to develop the closest bonds with. This game is loaded with the potential for the player to choose how they want to experience the story. Plus, that story is excellent. It’s especially excellent for a Star Wars fan. Even though none of the characters from any film make an appearance, the allure of a lightsaber, the force, and the battle against good and evil is as thrilling as ever. The writing is terrific and the voice actors are passionate about the story that they’re a part of. Like its predecessor, KOTOR II does an excellent job at sucking you into the game’s world.

The player using the Force to electrocute enemies
The force can be a powerful weapon.

May the Force Be With You

The combat system in KOTOR II is the same as it was in the original game. It’s a third-person RPG with a Dungeons &  Dragons styled dice roll system. Every attack that the player, a companion, or enemy makes has a dice roll behind it. This roll might determine critical hits or misses. You can shoot enemies with blasters, slice them with a lightsaber, or even use one of the game’s many force abilities. You use strategy to come up with the best way to take down your enemies as you level up. There are many different types of enemies that you could expect to find in Star Wars. KOTOR II will pit you up against killer droids, alien monsters, dangerous thugs, and even Sith lords. There is so much content in the game that it usually takes about 50 hours to play through the game. All in all, the App Store’s $14.99 price tag is well worth it. If you liked the original KOTOR, make sure you play the sequel. If you haven’t played the original, pick that game up too! It’s only $9.99 on the App Store. Both games are classic RPGs that go down as some of the best in the genre.

#STARWARS #KOTOR #RPG #IOS

Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 logo

This long-awaited game out of CD Projekt Red finally arrived on PS4, Xbox One, and PC on December 10th. First announced all the way back in 2012 and delayed from the previously announced release date in November, this has been among the most highly anticipated video game releases of all time. The game sold over 8 million copies through digital pre-orders alone. This game features a wide array of game mechanics that inspired an incredible amount of hype for the game. All in the first person, Cyberpunk features drivable cars, gunplay, melee combat, stealth elements, expansive skill progression, choice over the story’s direction, character customization, and the list goes on. With so much to potentially accomplish, some of these mechanics might be hit or miss for certain gamers with high standards. But what most can agree with is that the rich and unique story is among the highest quality that you can find in a game.

Residents of Night City sit at a table with a drone on it
Residents of Night City often augment their body with cybernetic implants.

Night City

Taking place in an alternate future, the setting for Cyberpunk 2077 is beautifully crafted. The graphics are among the highest quality that you can find on these systems today. You’ll need a high-end PC if you want to see the real potential of this game. You play as a named character named V, but the player has a great deal of control over who V really is. The player controls everything from what they look like to where they came from. The game starts with three paths that will influence the direction that your character takes in the story throughout the game. With Keanu Reeves casted as one of the main characters, the game’s focus is largely geared towards its storytelling. There are multiple endings that will be shown based on your decisions throughout the game. There are also various side quests that will directly influence your character and sometimes the city as a whole. Cd Projekt Red really wanted the player to feel like they control V’s destiny.

A corporate executive stands in front of a luxury car
V can come from 3 different backgrounds: Nomad, Street Kid, or Corpo

Wake up Samurai

Cyberpunk 2077 has so many gameplay features that it’s hard to compare it to other games. It wouldn’t be fair to expect driving to be at the quality of a racing game or for gunplay to be at the quality of an FPS game. Cyberpunk is really about giving the player the opportunity to choose how they want their character to go about completing the game’s quests. There are currently a wide range of bugs and issues that players have been running into, but these are very likely to be patched out in the near future. It’s possible that some of the specific mechanics might also be adjusted to improve the game even more. CD Projekt Red worked on Witcher 3 after its release and made very real improvements to the game. You can nearly guarantee that they will do the same for Cyberpunk.

#Cyberpunk2077 #Cyberpunk #SciFi #CDProjektRed

Starship Corporation

Starship Builder ‘Starship Corporation’

LAUNCH TRAILER SHOWS OFF NEW CAMPAIGN MODE

Haarlem, The Netherlands – Publisher Iceberg Interactive and developer Coronado Games announce that their spaceship-building game Starship Corporation is releasing out of Steam’s Early Access Program on May 3, 2018.

Having spent 2 years in Early Access Starship Corporation has seen massive improvements. The game has been shaped extensively with help from the community, from their feedback and constructive criticism, for which the Developer has expressed their gratitude. During Early Access, cybernetic organisms were introduced, as were mining and military features. The galaxy map was also redesigned to its current state.

See this for the updated graphics as well as the full feature set.

Starship Corporation‘s launch update will add a campaign mode with 99 different business contracts and two different endings based the player’s business relationships, as well as a ship database and two new rooms. Additionally, Russian language support will be added at launch, as well as improved loading/saving times, Steam achievements, and bug and performance fixes.

Starship Corporation is a starship-building simulation game in which you must design and build spaceships for the hugely demanding galaxy-wide market. It is you who must decide which technologies to invest in first, where to open new shipyards and where to establish new markets.
Key Features:

  • Campaign mode with 99 different contracts and two different endings, based on your business dealings.
  • Sandbox Mode with access to all known human settlements in the galaxy, business opportunities for your ships in areas like transport, mining, route-maintenance, security, military and research and racing.
  • 177 unlockable rooms and facilities for ship design
  • 22 unlockable fuselages
  • 24 Missions for standard operation, emergencies and hostile encounters to test your ship in Crew Management

Interested galactic entrepreneurs can purchase the game through Steam: http://store.steampowered.com/app/292330/Starship_Corporation/

 

Starship Corporation

Starship Corporation
Starship Corporation

Starship Corporation

Starship Corporation
Starship Corporation
Starship Corporation
Starship Corporation
Into The Abyss

Eve Online Into The Abyss

EVE Online: Into the Abyss

Into The Abyss: This expansion pushes the limits of your EVE experience with new enemies, gameplay and visuals.

15 April 2018 – Reykjavik, Iceland

At the EVE Fanfest, CCP announced ‘Into the Abyss,’ the newest expansion for EVE Online, their deep and uniquely player-driven spaceship MMO game. Launching in May 2018, EVE Online: Into the Abyss is delivered as a free update to all players, both for those with subscriptions and those playing for free.

EVE Online: Into the Abyss injects ground-breaking, transformative gameplay into EVE Online and presents a new adventure for players, inviting you to explore dangerous uncharted territory with strange new inhabitants and potentially vast rewards. This content will be just as unfamiliar to veteran EVE players as it is to novice players entering the game today.

‘Into the Abyss’ adds exploration and survival gameplay in the form of Abyssal Deadspace, a brand new hostile environment filled with hazardous environmental effects and mysterious adversaries, the Triglavian Collective. Players can enter pockets of Abyssal Deadspace from almost anywhere in New Eden. On entry, players fight and explore their way through a series of unpredictable encounters. You use your skills to take on growing risks in the hope of coming out the other side with high value cargo.

Players search for the new mutaplasmids, only found in Abyssal Deadspace. Mutaplasmids can be combined with existing modules to transform them into Abyssal modules, potentially increasing their power vastly or breaking them beyond repair. However, the challenges that players confront become more difficult the deeper they venture into Abyssal Deadspace… and failure means death. Faced with increasing danger from perilous encounters; do you continue and risk your spaceship in the hope of finding greater riches, or make your way home to exploit your rewards?

15 Years of EVE ONLINE!

Celebrating its 15th anniversary in May, EVE Online is the world’s most renowned videogame sandbox, with a rich history of compelling stories, battles, triumph as well as defeat. Players have near limitless ability to create their own destiny in the context of hundreds of thousands of capsuleers worldwide. You choose your own unique way to live amongst the stars, wage war, broker deals, as well as harvest resources, gain and lose territory and all the adventures in-between.

“At CCP, our mission is to build together with our players a true virtual world, with real relationships and real emotions and consequently, real stories,” said Hilmar Veigar Pétursson, CCP’s Chief Executive Officer. “With EVE Online remaining strong and vibrant after 15 years, there are great strides towards realizing that ambition. Nevertheless, I truly feel that our best work is ahead of us and that EVE’s amazing single-shard sandbox design will continue to dazzle, amaze and eventually outlive us all.”

This is the most exciting time to join EVE Online. New, unexplored space has just been discovered that all players can reach. What is beyond? And who are the Triglavians?

Into The Abyss: Eve Online
Eve Online – Angel Cartel

More details about EVE Online’s previous, current and future updates can be found via updates.eveonline.com. EVE Online can be downloaded for free by visiting www.eveonline.com.

To celebrate 15 glorious years of player and community achievements in EVE Online, CCP Games presents:

Night on Endor

Night On Endor

Night on Endor Update coming to Star Wars Battlefront II.

Real Soon, April 18 to be exact, players will jump into a new, limited-time mode, unlock special Appearances via Crystals and/or Credits and more in the Star Wars Battlefront II Night on Endor update.

Whether you begin as an Ewok defending your homeland and stalking your Imperial enemy, or as a stormtrooper fighting to escape the ambush, you will fight through the night for control of Endor in the all-new Ewok Hunt mode.

In Ewok Hunt, you start as an Ewok or in a group of stormtroopers. The ambush commences as Ewoks attack unsuspecting stormtroopers, using spears, Wisties, and other skills to take down their opponents. Each stormtrooper defeated spawns as another Ewok, multiplying until the Empire’s forces have been completely eliminated, and the Ewok celebration can begin. However, the stormtroopers’ superior training and firepower are more than a match for the Ewoks. Armed with a cadre of weapons as well as flashlights to pierce the darkness, players must hold back the Ewok’s ambush if they have a hope of surviving until an extraction team can arrive.

Also as part of this month’s release, Crystals will return to Star Wars Battlefront II as one of the ways for fans to unlock Appearances, including Endor Leia and Endor Han. Real-world currency can only be used to purchase Crystals, which are only redeemable for Appearances (learn more about Crystals in our FAQ). Credits are earned through in-game activity and can be redeemed for Appearances, as well. Over 50 additional Appearances to personalize your units will be made available in this update. (learn more about Appearances and rarities, and get even more details on this update, in our Community Transmission).

For the latest news, keep your eyes the EA Star Wars Blog, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram or join the discussion on the official forums.

Night on Endor
Star Wars Battlefront II
Exo One

Exo One

EXO ONE has Kickstarter launch, shows off game in a Reveal Trailer

Adelaide, Australia – May 1st, 2017 – Indie developer Jay Weston, with his studio Exbleative, has launched a Kickstarter for his upcoming PC game EXO ONE. He has also released a Reveal trailer showcasing the exhilarating, momentum-based exploration gameplay in EXO ONE.

Here’s the Reveal Trailer:

EXO ONE is a momentum-based exoplanetary exploration game where you pilot an alien craft capable of manipulating the laws of gravity, on mankind’s first, ill-fated mission outside the solar system.

The trailer also gives you a first-glimpse at the voice-over narrated story elements, and coincides with EXO ONE’s Kickstarter. Exbleative are asking for AU $35,000 (USD $26,000) to complete the game: Kickstarter Link

I’d say it’s worth a consideration!