video gaming | Geekscape

‘Warcraft’, ‘Pacific Rim 2’ Get New Release Dates!

by Derek KraneveldtApril 23, 2015

Briefly: Dang.

Two films that I was really looking forward to have just received delays. Sure, they’re small delays, but delays nonetheless.

Warcraft, which was initially slated for March 2016, has received a new date of June 10th 2016. This puts it into the busy Summer movie season (showing confidence for the film, right?), and also pushes it away from the sure-to-be-a-blockbuster Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Pacific Rim 2 was originally set to release in April of 2017, and will also get a push to the Summer, hitting theatres on August 4th, 2017.

At least each push is only a few months, right? Are one are you most looking forward to? Sound out below!

BlizzCon 2014: Heroes of the Storm Announces Closed Beta

by S.J. BorgerNovember 8, 2014

Heroes of the Storm: BlizzCon 2014 Line Up

Continuing its storm of announcements at BlizzCon 2014, Blizzard announced the Closed Beta for Heroes of the Storm will be begin on January 13th, 2015.

Players can opt into the Beta through their Battle.net account on the Beta Profile Settings page. Players can also win access to Heroes via the Bring Your Friends to the Brawl Facebook app.

Heroes of the Storm is a free-to-play brawler staring fan favorites characters from across the Blizzard universes. Players can customize their heroes and engage in 5 v 5 battles across a variety of battlegrounds–each one requiring a different strategy.

New characters announced at BlizzCon this year include Thrall, Jaina, the Lost Vikings, and Sylvanas; as well as two new battlegrounds, The Sky Temple and the Spider Queen.

The Lost Vikings, one of four new heroes announced at BlizzCon 2014.

Blizzard plans on introducing new heroes every four to six weeks, and promises a lot of consistent new content every few months once the game goes live.

Check out the intro video below to see the new heroes in action, and let us know in the comments which hero you’re most excited to play!

BlizzCon 2014: StarCraft II “Legacy of the Void” Official Trailer

by S.J. BorgerNovember 8, 2014

http://youtu.be/u-PLBTXpyKI

What do you think? Can’t wait? Can’t be bothered? Let us know in the comments!

Blizzcon 2014: Geekscape First Look at Starcraft II “Legacy of the Void”

by S.J. BorgerNovember 8, 2014

SUper excited about the new expansion to Starcraft II? Can’t wait to see what it will look like? Well, look no further, because we have pics straight from BlizzCon 2014, from maps to new units to character art. Why are we still talking and not showing? We don’t know!!

Character Art

Concept Art

SCII Legacy of the Void Art. Courtesy of Blizzard.

SCII Legacy of the Void: Dark Templar Shakuras

Screenshots

StarCraft II Legacy of the Void: Shakuras Courtesy of Blizzard — StarCraft II Legacy of the Void: Shakuras
Courtesy of Blizzard

StarCraft II Legacy of the Void: Korhal Missile Turret Courtesy of Blizzard — StarCraft II Legacy of the Void: Korhal Missile Turret
Courtesy of Blizzard

StarCraft II Legacy of the Void: Korhal Bridge. Courtesy of Blizzard

StarCraft II Legacy of the Void: Korhal Courtesy of Blizzard — StarCraft II Legacy of the Void: Korhal
Courtesy of Blizzard

StarCraft II Legacy of the Void: Shaskuras War Council and Rohana

What do you guys think? Super excited now? Have you checked out the trailer? Signed up for the Beta? Not impressed at all? Let us know in the comments!

BlizzCon 2014: All Your Starcraft II “Legacy of the Void” Questions Answered

by S.J. BorgerNovember 8, 2014

Blizzard announced “Legacy of the Void,” the highly anticipated final chapter in the Starcraft II trilogy at BlizzCon 2014, promising an ‘epic conclusion’ to Raynor, Kerrigan, Zeratul and more, as players guide the Protoss and aim to unite the three races to battle the ultimate evil that threatens all life in the universe.

We had a chance to interview Allen Dilling and Justin Thavirat, Lead Artists for “Legacy,” about Starcraft II, Kerrigan, and all things Zerg.

“We really feel like everyone’s stories will finish up in way that the players will enjoy and appreciate,” said Thavirat. “And we’re really excited about the fact that it’s stand-alone, so players can just jump in and start with ‘Legacy.’”

That’s right, “Legacy of the Void” will be a stand alone game—players can purchase it and play without owning, or even had played, “Wings of Liberty” or “Heart of the Swarm.” “Legacy” will have both new strategies and units for single player play, but also two new game modes, Archon Mode, a new co-op gameplay; and Allied Commanders, an objective based co-op that allows players to take on the persona of famous commanders and play through a series of special scenarios.

“’Legacy of the Void’ will deliver the quintessential StarCraft II experience,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “The new single-player campaign will wrap up the massive story, and we’re excited to share new game modes that will open up different ways to play the game and additional units that will expand the rich strategic depth of StarCraft II multiplayer.”

“Legacy” has numerous changes that will require players to play much more offensively, including increasing the effectiveness of Marines and Medic, and lowering the amount of resources available on each mineral deposits or vespene gas geysers.

“The new maps and upgraded units really allow for more diverse strategies, and it also allows players to get a more in-depth look at the worlds people are coming from.” Said Dilling. “For example, you’ll finally get a chance to see a Protoss mother ship, where the whole race lives, which we’ve never done before.”

A number of Terran, Protoss and Zerg units are upgraded, and whole new units are being introduced for each of the races, most specifically to increase a player’s effectiveness in multi-player, including improved HERCs, Siege Tanks, Lurkers, Ravagers and more.

“We really wanted multiplayer, and the new Co-op Archon Mode, to be something that all players could enjoy, from the e-sports pros to someone who just picked up the game.” Thavirat said. “And with the upgraded units and new modes, I think players will really enjoy it.”

“Making sure that the social aspect of the game was there, with the automated Battle.net tournaments and the new modes, was a real priority for us.” Dilling added.

“Legacy” will also offer new multiplayer maps and tilesets to allow the player to battle throughout the Koprulu Sector.

A release date has yet to be announced, but players can sign up for the official Beta at www.starcraft2.com. “Legacy” will be available on both PC and Mac simultaneously.

Let us know what you think in the comments. And follow SJ on twitter @sjbwrite to get all the latest Blizz updates.

BlizzCon 2014: ‘Overwatch’ Cinematic Trailer

by S.J. BorgerNovember 7, 2014

That’s right, hot of the presses and available for you to see right now, it’s the much teased, much rumored new Blizzard game, straight from BlizzCon 2014–you know what, we’ll stop talking and play the trailer.

http://youtu.be/t1Qw_0kvRLs

BlizzCon 2014: ‘Warcraft’ Cast Revealed

by S.J. BorgerNovember 7, 2014

Almost lost in the avalanche of announcements at BlizzCon 2014 today was the Warcraft cast. Never fear, though, we at Geekscape are here, battling exhaustion and bad internets, to bring you all the Blizzard news worth reporting.

And to not keep you in suspense any longer, here’s the casting (as we know it):

The Alliance

Travis Fimmel (Vikings) has been tapped to play Anduin Lothar. Yes, that Travis Fimmel and that Anduin Lothar. Lothar is known to most fans as the well-meaning, upright (maybe even a little uptight…) war hero and last true descendent of the Arathi bloodline.

Travis Fimmel will plau Aunduin Lothar in Blizzard/Legendary Pictures Warcraft movie. — Travis Fimmel will play Anduin Lothar in Blizzard/Legendary Pictures Warcraft movie.

King Llane Wrynn (grandfather to Prince Anduin Wrynn) is the ruler of the Kingdom of Azeroth during the First War (so that pretty much answers the when and the what of the movie, as the rest of cast confirms) and will be played by Dominic Cooper of Captain America: The First Avenger and Need for Speed.

Dominic Cooper will play King Llane Wrynn in Blizzard/Legendary Pictures Warcraft movie.

Paula Patton (MI:5) joins the Alliance as Garona, a strong willed survivor torn between two loyalties.

Paula Patton will play Garona in the upcoming Warcraft movie.

Also joining the cast are Ben Foster (Lone Survivor) as Medivh, the Guardian of Trisfal, corrupted and forsaken by the demonlord Sargeras, Ben Schnetzer as Khadgar, Medivh’s last apprentice and one of the great heros of the Alliance, and Ruth Negga (Agents of Shield) as Lady Taria, Queen of Stormwind and Llane’s great love & trusted advisor.

(l-r) Ben Foster, Ben Schnetzer and Ruth Negga have joined the Warcraft cast as Medivh, Khadgar and Lady Taria.

The Horde

The leading figures of the Orc Horde were announced as well. Toby Kebbell (Planet of the Apes) as Durotan, Chieftain of the Frostwolf Clan (for the Horde!), with Rob Kazinsky (Pacific Rim) as Orgrim, Durotan’s right-hand man, and Clancy Brown (The Highlander) as Blackhand, the Destroyer. Rounding out the Horde announcements is Daniel Wu as Gul’Dan, the supreme Orc ruler who can’t see the dark path he is leading his people down.

Warcraft Mov cast 2 — l-r Toby Kebbell, Rob Kazinsky, Clancy Brown, Daniel Wu will all appear as famous Horde leaders in the Warcraft movie.

While exciting news (if somewhat disappointing that only two women were named, and both as lovers/advisors…still, that’s double the number of woman roles that were announced in the first Star Wars casting announcement, so…improvement? Maybe?), there’s still a lot we don’t know about the movie…other than it comes out in 2016, and it clearly deals with the First War and the creation of the Dark Portal.

Stay tuned for more Blizzard news from BlizzCon, and let us know in the comments what you think!

Blizzcon 2014: World Premiere of “Overwatch”

by S.J. BorgerNovember 7, 2014

Blizzard, as is their want, opened up BlizzCon 2014 with a rousing, crowd-pleasing announcement: a new, team-based, pick-up-and-play, first person shooter called Overwatch.

Set in a near future earth, Overwatch follows a variety of characters (12 were available to play at Blizzcon, with vague promises of more to come), each with their own special ability, as they battle in groups of six on battlegrounds with multiple levels, allowing players to go from alley to roof to interior quickly and easily, across maps which showcase familiar but highly-stylized future locations (like a London with a hoverbus. Forget hoverboards, when are we going to get a double-decker hoverbus?).

Overwatch follows disparate heroes who have found themselves without a home when the super-special-secret force known as Overwatch gets disbanded (this seems to becoming a popular backstory…see .Agents of Shield, or Watchman, or The Incredibles…well, the list goes on). Each character has strengths and weakness, which when combined into a team can ‘accomplish the incredible.’

“Overwatch is our take on a vibrant, near-future universe with amped-up characters and action-packed team-based gameplay,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “With every new Blizzard game, we look at our favorite aspects of a genre and put our own spin on things. Our goal with Overwatch is to create an awesome FPS experience that’s more accessible to a much wider audience while delivering the action and depth that shooter fans love.”

Each character has a distinct backstory, which explains both their abilities and motivation, and defines how they interact with each other and other characters in the game.

“Overwatch has a lot of story in it…about a metric ton.” Overwatch developers said at the panel after the announcement “but ultimately the narrative aspect of Overwatch is not connected to the game play. We’re trying to experiment with Overwatch, to try to make the story happen outside of the gameplay.”

While it wasn’t exactly clear how party balance will be maintained (players will be able to choose any character to play, even if that character is already being played on the same team…which leads to the ‘what if there’s six of one character?’ question), but developers were confident that issue would be resolved to allow players great freedom of choice and party balance.

An achievement system and the price point of the game are also unknowns at this time, but that doesn’t seem to be dampening interest, as the line for the demo–which is already hours long–proves.

Stay tuned for a deep dive into the 12 characters we know about, as well as review of the gameplay here at BlizzCon.

Interested? You can sign up for Beta access and follow all Overwatch news and info at www.playoverwatch.com.

Geekscape at GDC: EXCLUSIVE GDC Footage from the new LEGO MMO

by S.J. BorgerMarch 28, 2014

Funcom announced a new world for their up-and-coming LEGO Minifigures MMO last week at GDC. The video of this brand-new Pirate World has finally been released, and we have it, just for you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3335XJlmAE

What do you guys think? Excited? Think it looks to silly? Too fun? Let us know in the comments, and head over to our preview of the game to get more details!

Warlords of Draenor Pre-Order Now Available

by S.J. BorgerMarch 11, 2014

Blizzard announced yesterday that Warlords of Draenor, its newest expansion to the behemoth MMO, World of Warcraft, can now be pre-ordered at the Blizzard website (digital versions only).

Players who pre-purchase the digital version will be able to immediately boost one character on their account to level 90–and if you want to boost more than one toon, you have the option to purchase additional level 90 upgrades (at $60/toon). Players that upgrade their pre-order to the deluxe version will unlock other in-game goodies, including a dread raven mount and dread hatchling pet.

warlords-of-draenor-1920x1200 — Warlords of Draenor art.
Courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment.

The retail-exclusive Collectors Edition is expected to be available for pre-order soon. The Collector’s Edition will feature all of the items included in the digital deluxe, as well as a hardcover art book, a behind the scenes two-disc blu-ray/DVD set, a CD soundtrack and a mouse pad.

Warlords of Draenor is expected to launch this Fall. The expansion sends players back in time (and back to Draenor) to battle Hellscream and his Iron Horde. WoD will feature new character models for all of the races, a Garrison building feature, and a raised level cap of 100.

The standard digital edition is $49.99; the digital deluxe is $69.99 and the Collectors Edition comes in at a not-as-bad-as-expected $89.99.

Take a look at the new WoD cinematic featuring the level 90 boost below and let us know what you think in the comments! Are you excited? What do you think?