Microsoft Unveils MyAchievements, Actually Rewards You for Your Gamerscore

Hey! You know those points you get for achieving....well....achievements on Xbox Live? Of course you do because since you figured out what they were you have been wondering what in the world they are even good for. Well, up until recently, the only thing they were good for was to show off to your friends about how many games you play and how good you are at them. However, Microsoft is finally putting those points to use and rewarding gamers for their gamerscores.

Microsoft just unveiled the all new MyAchievements program, a program that is set to offer rewards to gamers based on the amount of achievements they have completed and the coinciding gamerscore that comes with it. MyAchievements is only available to Xbox Live Gold members and is separated into three different categories, or levels, based upon the amount of achievements you have completed and how high your gamerscore is.

The first level is labeled Contender. This rank will be given to gamers who have a gamerscore between 3,000 and 9,000G. The Champion rank is reserved for those gamers that have a gamerscore between 10,000 and 25,000G with the final rank, Legend, being reserved for those gamers that have a gamerscore of 25,000+G.

Aside from having a fancy rank that you can show off to your friends, each rank will also offer you a special gift during the month of your birthday. In addition to that, Champion level players will receive a 1% rebate on Xbox Live Marketplace purchases (in addition to the birthday gift) while Legend level players will receive a 2% rebate in addition to their birthday gift.

The new MyAchievements program is simply a continuation of Microsoft's Xbox Live Rewards program. The Xbox Live Rewards program offers up Microsoft Points in exchange for taking surveys and launched back in 2010. If you haven't already signed up to be a part of MyAchievements (and I can't think of any reason why you wouldn't) then you can do so now by clicking here. Joining is free and you get rewards....what could possibly be better? (Side note: Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I just happen to fall in the Legend ranking....oh yeah).

Nintendo Announces Pricing and Launch Dates for the Wii U

For some reason unbeknownst to me, Nintendo has decided to create yet another gaming console. If you ask me, Nintendo should just stick to making handheld systems, but I digress. The Wii U (because Nintendo couldn't think of a better name for their console than to add a "U" onto the name of the last one) is poised to launch on November 18th in North America, on November 30th in Europe, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand and on December 8th in Japan.

The Wii U comes in two variations, the Basic and Premium. The Basic model comes with 8GB of memory, the console, a gamepad, sensor bar, HDMI cable and AC adapter (U.S. version) and will cost you $299.99. The Premium model comes with 32GB of memory, the console, gamepad, sensor bar, charging cradle and stands for both the console and gamepad. In addition to that, the Premium model comes with Nintendo Land and will run you $349.99.

The Premium model also comes with a Nintendo Network Premium subscription, giving you discounts on Nintendo games bought online. According to the company, this is a reward program that gives you points for digital purchases in the Nintendo eShop. The credit is valued at about 10% of the original Nintendo eShop price and can be used against future purchases once you reach a minimum of 500 points.

Many people are wondering about the games that the Wii U will be offering on launch day and whether or not Nintendo has decided to step away from the family-friendly entertainment offered by the Wii. Launch day games (at least in Europe) have been confirmed as New Super Mario Bros. U, Nintendo Land, FIFA 13, ZombiU, Rayman Legends, Mass Effect 3 and Call of Duty Black Ops 2. A definitive list for the U.S. launch has yet to be announced, though it will probably be similar to the European list.

The biggest shock with the announcement of the Wii U was that Bayonetta 2 would be on the console. While many people will be thrilled to see a sequel to the highly popular game, they will be utterly crushed to find out that it is a Wii U exclusive! This came as a major shock to almost everybody, mainly due to the fact that a sequel for a game that was extremely popular on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 won't be showing up on either console.

I can't say I'm personally excited about the Wii U. While the tablet/controller hybrid gamepad is a very unique and innovative idea and will undoubtedly have some cool workings with certain games, I can't help but feel like the Wii U is going to be the iPhone 5 of Nintendo. What about you? Are you excited for the Wii U? Do you think Nintendo is going to look more towards the hardcore gamer with this console unlike how it did with the Wii? Sound off in the comments section below!

Source: IGN

Gears of War: Judgment Announces New Free for All Multiplayer Mode

So anybody who has braved the exhilarating, yet extremely frustrating (at times), world of Gears of War multiplayer knows that it plays a lot like the campaign. You pop from cover to cover, waiting for that exact perfect moment to strike at your enemy. You spend a lot of time hiding and trying to outflank and outsmart your foes in order to gain a tactical advantage. While that is all fun and good, the next installment in the Gears of War franchise, Gears of War: Judgment, looks to take all that strategy and curbstomp it into the ground.

Enter free-for-all, the newest multiplayer mode in Gears of War: Judgment. The big difference here is that, as the name insinuates, everybody is fighting everybody. No teams, no help, no mercy. It's one big brouhaha of chainsaws, boomshots, digger launchers and bloody goodness. Instead of trying to gang up on your enemies, you basically just point and shoot because no matter who you see, what race they are (human or locust) or what character they are playing, they are your enemy and they will NOT hesitate to ram that retro lancer bayonet right through your gut and toss you to the side like a dirty towel.

While the multiplayer maps in the previous three Gears games have been designed for you to use cover, gain tactical advantages and outplay your opponents as a team, the maps in Judgment have been designed for FFA. In addition to that, these maps appear to be a bit smaller than some of the epic setpiece maps we saw in Gears of War 3. That makes FFA perfect as you probably won't be able to take two dive rolls without running into someone trying to cut you in half. Just hope you're the third player running into a dual between two others, allowing you to be THAT guy, you know, the one that comes in and just wipes out both guys who have be weakened by each other.

FFA also seems like it will be a good way for players to hone their Gears multiplayer skills. Most people, I find, tend to shy away from trying new things in Gears multiplayer because they don't want to let their team down. In FFA there are no teams so there is nobody that can get mad at you for going 1 and 10 three matches straight. This freedom allows you to experiment with different weapons and find out what combo of shotgun and assault rifle best fits your play style. Speaking of learning, there are a few changes to the mechanics of Gears of War in Judgment that differ from the previous games.

One thing that is different is that you no longer have to use the directional pad to switch between weapons, something a lot of players will be excited about. I can't tell you how many times I died because I thought I switched to my shotgun and ended up having my pistol out instead. The Y button is what you use to switch weapons now and throwing a grenade is as easy as tapping the left bumper. This may seem like standard controls for any other shooter out there, but seasoned Gears players may feel a little awkward at first.

FFA looks to be an amazing new addition to Gears and one that many players have been asking for. What's more is that there are still a lot of gameplay modes left for Epic to announce, further increasing the anticipation for the next game in the Gears of War franchise. We all knew that Gears of War 3 wouldn't be Epic's last outing with the series and we're extremely happy about that. Check the video below for a taste of what the new Free-for-All mode is all about.

Mass Effect 3's Leviathan DLC to Alter Game Ending

There has been a ton of controversy surrounding the ending of Mass Effect 3. BioWare compromised, however, by releasing an extended ending via DLC. While multiplayer DLC has been coming out pretty steadily, the first bit of single-player DLC is right around the corner. While it may seem like Shepard's story won't get easier with incoming DLC, BioWare is willing to compromise if you get the Leviathan add-on.

Completing the DLC will create an additional rift in your ending while also adding tons of Easter eggs, subtle changes and references to its story when you reach the Extended Cut conclusion. The Leviathan DLC pack will cost $10 and is coming out soon. Here's a brief rundown on the plot.

Admiral Hackett has been running black ops missions across the galaxy to hunt for an elusive creature known for killing Reapers. Nobody knows where it is, though when a Citadel scientist named Bryson picks up the trail, he is promptly murdered. After that, his loyal assistant blacks out and shoots himself, completely unaware of his actions (indoctrination perhaps?) From here its Shepard's job to track down The Leviathan.

Fans of the game have been hassling BioWare to make combat more difficult and The Leviathan DLC definitely ramps up the difficulty. Tight corridors make it difficult to plan strategies, especially when Brutes are charging at you left and right. Another intense moment comes from charging a door with power cells in order to open it. The tense part is that you have to continually go back for power cells as the power slowly drains away.

From early tests The Leviathan seems to be an action-packed, intense add-on to an already intense and action-packed game. I can't see this significantly influencing the overall ending of the story, though every additional detail just adds to the already incredibly rich story. The Leviathan DLC will cost you $10 when it is released.

Source: IGN - Leviathan Add-On Will Change Mass Effect 3's Ending

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Steam Summer Sale 2012!

It's back and better than ever! Steam's Summer Sale is currently in full swing, offering some of the best PC games on the market at ridiculously low prices. In case you are completely oblivious to gaming, Steam is the online direct to download PC game service from Valve that allows you to purchase and install games directly to your PC without ever having to leave your house. Not only does Steam regularly have the latest PC games to release but it also has a ton of classics too and is one of the only places you can find many PC games.

The Steam Summer Sale is Christmas in July for PC gamers. During the sale, Steam offers ridiculously low prices on just about every single game in its library. Daily deals are where you will find the lowest prices. For example, I recently purchased three games from the Steam Summer Sale. I bought Portal 2 for $4.99, Total War: Shogun 2 for $7.49, Plants vs. Zombies GOTY Edition for $2.49 and the extremely popular indie game Dear Esther for $3.74 (game soundtrack included). That's three amazing games for under $20! But there is a lot more where that came from.

Like I said, Steam has special deals for each day of the sale. Today's deals include: Gratuitous Tank Battles for $6.79 (66% off), Krater for $7.49 (50% off), The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings for $15.99 (60% off), Fallout: New Vegas for $4.99 (75% off), Amnesia: The Dark Descent for $4.99 (75% off), Sniper Elite V2 for $24.99 (50% off), Plants vs Zombies GOTY Edition for $2.49 (75% off), Indie Bundle VIII for $9.99 (75% off) and Alan Wake for $7.49 (75% off).

If you missed a day of the sale then don't worry because Steam has some carry over time as well. You can still get the previous day's deals as well, though they won't be available for long. Yesterday's deals include 75% of Age of Empires Online, S.T.A.L.K.E.R., Thief: Deadly Shadows, Indie Bundle VII, Super Meat Boy, Carpe Fulgur Collection, Total War Mega Pack and L.A. Noire as well as 25% off Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion.

One of the best things about the Steam Summer Sale, however, is pack deals. Pack deals are packs of some of the most popular games under a certain developer. These packs are generally about the cost of a full price game under the sale, but considering you get anywhere from 10 to 30 games, it's worth it. Packs currently available under the sale include: Square Enix Hit Collection, 2K Collection, Activision Hits Collection, Ubisoft Collection, Railworks 3 Collection, Rockstar Hit Collection, Kalypso Collection, Star Wars Collection, 1C Collection, Super id Software Pack, Focus Hit Collection, Meridian4 Collection, Strategy First Collection, THQ Collection, PopCap Complete Pack, Nordic Hit Collection, TellTale Collection, Valve Complete Pack, MumboJumbo Collection, Stardock Collection, Paradox Collection, Cyan Complete Pack Bethesda Collection and SEGA Hit Collection.

Steam users can also vote on what games they think should go on sale and for how much. Steam puts three games on the side of the store with the discount percent and asks you to vote on what you want! The three games up now are Dead Island (66% off), Total War: Shogun 2 (75% off) and Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine (75% off). The community's choice for today's game (which was voted on yesterday) is The Longest Journey for $2.49 (75% off).

If you consider yourself a PC gamer in any sense of the word, you NEED to check out the Steam Summer Sale. With all the incredible deals that are being offered I guarantee you will find something that will tickle your fancy. But hurry! The Steam Summer Sale ends July 21 so get your games while they are still on sale!

Activision Announces The Walking Dead FPS

When Telltale announced that it was creating a video game based on The Walking Dead, fans of the comics and show were ecstatic. That hype eventually dimmed when people learned that it would focus more on the comic book than the AMC series and would also be a sort of point-and-click adventure puzzle game instead of a zombie horror survival shooting game a la Left 4 Dead. Well, those disappointments can be put to rest as Activision has just announced that it will be producing an FPS based on The Walking Dead TV series.

The game, which is being developed by Terminal Reality, will center around the characters of Daryl and Merle Dixon with players taking control of Daryl as he and his white-power preaching brother make their way across Georgia to Atlanta in search of the rumored safe haven from zombies. As Daryl, players will attempt to avoid detection by the walking dead, which are able to hunt by sight, sound and smell. You will have to choose whether to sneak by and be stealthy or to go full on "Daryl" and bash in the head of every walker you come across.

Be warned, though, if you choose to fight your way through the game, you will have to be cautious. Supplies will be scarce and you will need to meticulously manage your food, ammo and other supplies in order to survive. In addition to walkers, Daryl and Merle will also encounter other survivors and characters that will either help or hurt the backwoods brothers. Whether or not these players accompany Daryl and Merle is completely up to you and, according to Activision, "represents just some of the major decisions that will constantly be made while fighting to survive."

The game is set for an actual, physical store release, another way it differs from Telltale's downloadable, episodic game system. Activision has stated that players can expect the game to come out on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC sometime in 2013. Other than that, details are scarce, though the official website for the game is up if you want to check it our for yourself. No word has been released about multiplayer, though it would seem likely, considering there are two characters, Daryl and Merle. Possible drop-in/drop-out co-op? Only time will tell.

Source: G4TV - The Walking Dead FPS Announced


IGN - Activision Reveals Walking Dead First-Person Shooter

Full Diablo III Refunds for South Korean Players

People waited years for Blizzard to release the next installment in its incredibly popular Diablo series Diablo III. Unfortunately, when the time finally came for that dream to become a reality for players, things didn't go so smoothly. The game's launch was plagued by overloaded servers, connectivity issues, excruciatingly long wait times and multiple crashes and errors that left many players feeling jaded and disheartened.

Blizzard heard the cries of its community, however, and jumped into action by furiously working on a patch to combat these problems. The patch has since been released and many of the problems have subsided, unless you live in South Korea, that is. Blizzard has recently confirmed that it will begin offering full refunds to Diablo III players in South Korea due to connectivity problems, crashes and slow connection speeds from overcrowded servers that are still tormenting the community in that country.


The problems are so bad in South Korea that the South Korean Fair Trade Commission went as far as launching an investigation last month after it was inundated with complaints from users affected by the problems. Even though Blizzard stated at that time that it wold not provide any compensation to the gamers, South Korean consumer protection laws state that users must be granted a refund for any product that has a problem not cause by the customer.

A new post on the Korean Diablo III site says that players who are less than level 40 will be able to submit for a full refund between June 25 and July 3. Any player who is less than level 20 can also return the game up to 14 days after purchasing it from this point forward. In addition to that, players will receive a free 30-day trial for StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty.

Blizzard did add additional servers to Korea earlier this month in an attempt to fix the issues faced in the country. Almost two-thirds of Diablo III  traffic in Asia comes from South Korea, but Blizzard misjudged the user volume when creating servers for the game.

Source: IGN - Blizzard Offers Full Diablo III Refunds in South Korea