Category Archives: News
Gamebit Re-branding and Maintenance
Hi all,
I know Gamebit has looked a little bare recently and you’re all wondering where the latest news, reviews and Podcasts have been. To be honest, I have been busy with University and part time work. Fear not though, in the next month, Gamebit will be re-branded and the site will be revamped into a brand spanking new being. The Podcast will also have a few tweaks. In the mean time, enjoy the archives featuring great content and if you haven’t listened to the Podcasts, feel free to listen to the past musings. The sites URL will be changing in this time, so please be patient with any broken links. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to e-mail me at matless@game-bit.net
So, keep an eye out on the Twitter and Facebook pages for updates on Gamebit.
Until Next time!
Alex Matless
Editor-in-Chief
Assassin’s Creed III: A New Age, A New Hero
When the first trailer for Assassin’s Creed 3 came out, there was mass speculation to who the tomahawk-wielding protagonist was. Many people rightly pointed out the obvious hints pointing towards him being of Native American heritage. Low and behold, the clues weren’t red herrings. Here’s what Ubisoft have to say:
“Set against the backdrop of the American Revolution in the late 18th century, Assassin’s Creed III introduces a new hero, Ratohnhaké:ton, of Native American and English heritage.
Connor has a few weapons in his arsenal.
“Adopting the name Connor, he becomes the new voice for justice in the ancient war between the Assassins and Templars. Players become an Assassin in the war for liberty against ruthless tyranny in the most stylized and fluid combat experiences in the franchise to date.
Trees can make great vantage points
“Assassin’s Creed III spans the Revolutionary War, taking gamers from the vibrant, untamed frontier to bustling colonial towns and the intense, chaotic battlefields where George Washington’s Continental Army clashed with the imposing British Army.”
Ubisoft also released a short video about the new hero:
SimCity simulation engine reveal
The folks over at Maxis have decided to publish a video showcasing the new GlassBox simulation engine which will be used in SimCity (2013).
The engine focuses on how each aspect of the game will effect everything else in the gaming environment. This is obviously key to a simulation game, but Maxis seem to be proud of what they are achieving with GlassBox.
Battlefield 3 – Three new expansion packs announced
DICE have revealed that they will be rolling out three themed expansion packs for Battlefield 3.
The new packs, which will all be digital and not distributed by disk, will feature brand new modes, vehicles, weapons and environments.
Here are the details released by EA:
Battlefield 3: Close Quarters (June, 2012)
“In Battlefield 3: Close Quarters, players are dropped into a frantic, infantry-only theatre of war. Frostbite 2 high definition destruction makes the environment come alive as everything from furniture to plaster gets shot to pieces. Players will feel the intensity of the world exploding around them as rubble and broken pieces pile up on the floor, while tight level design and vertical gameplay create a highly competitive environment.Battlefield 3: Close Quarters also introduces new weapons, assignments and unique dog tags to bring back to the base game.”
Battlefield 3: Armored Kill (Autumn, 2012)
“Following the tight infantry gameplay of Battlefield 3: Close Quarters, DICE will releaseBattlefield 3: Armored Kill that ups the ante for vehicular mayhem as only Battlefield can do. Featuring new driveable tanks, ATVs, mobile artillery and more, Battlefield 3: Armored Kill also delivers huge battlefields for an all-out vehicle assault, including the biggest map in Battlefield history.”
Battlefield 3: End Game (Winter, 2012)
“The fourth expansion pack will ship in the winter but details remain tightly guarded.”
Although no official pricing has been announced yet, it seems the new expansion packs will follow suit with the Back to Karkand pack and be priced at around 1200 Microsoft Points or £11.99 .
Are DICE being generous with 3 expansions in the space of a year, or are they trying to expand an already deep multiplayer?
Darksiders II Limited Edition free upgrade for all pre-orders
THQ have announced that all pre-orders on Xbox 360, PS3 and PC ofDarksiders IIwill receive a complimentary upgrade to the Limited Edition version of the game.
The Limited Edition version of Darksiders II will include a code to unlock the first single player DLC, Argul’s Tomb, for free once it is released., as well as the standard retail game.
Darksiders II is scheduled for release on 29th June, 2012.
Tempted by this generous offer? Perhaps this is the way forward for pre-order incentives…
Assassin’s Creed 3 Trailer – Launch date announced
Assassin’s Creed 3 is set in America during the Revolutionary War, stepping away from the European backdrop of the previous Assassin’s Creed titles.
With a new setting and a new era, it was only fitting that a new hero would step into the Assassin’s Creed timeline.
A few hints come up in the trailer, possibly pointing towards the main character being a tomahawk-wielding arrow-shooting Native American.
Also in the trailer is the free running system, which is ever present in the previous titles. However, it seems running branch to branch through beautiful forests will replace the urban finesse required in a market bazaar.
Ubisoft proudly boast that this Assassin’s Creed will be the best yet, “with a development cycle of over three years and twice the production capacity of any previous Ubisoft game”.
With the release of the trailer came the announcement that it will be hitting shelves on the 30th October, 2012. This implies a European release date of the 2nd November, 2012.
It will be available on the Xbox 360, PS3, PC and also the Wii U.
Excited about Assassin’s Creed 3? We are. Better start sharpening your tomahawk...
Darksiders II preorder bonuses revealed
THQ have announced a range of pre-order bonuses for Darksiders II.
Players who pre-order the game from GAME and Gamestation will receive the ‘Death Rides’ pack. Featuring multiple exclusive side-quests, this pack allows the most fearless adventurers to explore more of the Maker’s Realm and Dead Plains and earn additional experience and loot. Aid an ancient Construct, battle The Bloodless and retrieve Karn’s lost treasure in around two hours of unique game play content.
The ‘Angel of Death’ pack will give you an edge with a unique set of enhanced armour with an angel inspired design as well as a pair of upgraded matching scythes and an exclusive visual trail for your companion crow Dust. This pack will be available in UK & Ireland – retailer tbc.
People who pre-order the game from Amazon will get to ride into battle with increased speed thanks to the ‘Deadly Despair’ pack. This unique pre-order offer adds an additional speed boost for Death’s trusty steed Despair, allowing players to travel across the vast world even faster than before. This perk is a permanent increase that will last throughout the game.
Darksiders II follows the exploits of “Death”, one of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, in a weaving tale that runs parallel to the events in the original Darksidersgame. This epic journey propels Death through various light and dark realms as he tries to redeem his brother “War”, the horseman who was blamed for prematurely starting the Apocalypse in Darksiders.
Darksiders II is scheduled to be available for console and PC on 29th June, 2012.
For more information visit www.Darksiders.com.
Gamescom, Day One: The Roundup
Gamescom officially began yesterday, and we’re here to kick off your day with a Gamescom digest.
First, however, Nintendo continues its streak of making its hardware hilariously cheap affordable, as word came out of Gamebit’s home nation that there’s a vaguely redesigned Wii around the corner. It sits vertically, á la Wii U, drops GameCube support in the same way the PSP E-1000 drops Wi-Fi and will be bundled with Wii Party and Wii Sports for an as-yet unconfirmed price. The system will be exclusive to Europe.
And now, Ladies and Gents, hit the jump for your feature presentation.
Modern Warfare 3 Survival Mode to feature Larger Maps and rely on tactical co-operation
The Survival Mode packaged with Modern Warfare 3 – seen as a counter to Treyarch’s Nazi Zombies and an advancement of the wave defence missions seen in Modern Warfare 2 – will require players to work together and plan missions to be successful.
Maps will have multiple attack routes and several key defensive points. Teams of 2 players will have to move around and be able to defend different key locations to continue to the next round. Any attempts at camping tactics common in the Call of Duty and Nazi Zombie franchises will result in players being overwhelmed with enemies moving in from all sides and outnumbering the player.
In addition to the already reported buyable weapons at the end of each round, players will be able to spend their money on NPCs (delta squad from MW2), airstrikes and other items which will enhance the team’s combat capabilities and help players protect their base. Players will be met with difficult decisions – buying weapons early on will help considerably but they can easily be taken from fallen advanced enemies and the money be better spent. Survival mode seems to be geared towards rewarding players who balance out resources and fight intelligently rather than the mass shoot-em-up Nazi Zombies is known for.
Enemies from past games – Juggernauts, Attack dogs, Assualt helicopters will feature, as well as newer foes, suicide squads to force players out of position will be making an appearance. Interestingly, rounds may consist of nothing but a frontal assault by a single enemy, Attack Helicopters may force players into cover and require taking down with inadequate weaponry, making even the best laid plans go to waste.
With November fast approaching, and the final touches being applied, it looks like Modern Warfare 3′s Survival Mode is in good shape. Now followers of the series will be hoping the Campaign and Multiplayer can reach the high standards competitor Battlefield 3 will undoubtably set.
Modern Warfare 3 is set for release on PC, PS3 and 360 on November 8th
Hands-on playthrough of Survival Mode can be found here.
Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine Avatar Collection
THQ have launched a range of Avatar accessories on the Xbox Marketplace. Gamers can now show their support for the beefed-up-dice-rolling-space-frenzy game by wearing various clothing branded with the Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine’s many different factions and races. There are also different pets your Avatar can interact with. So, go spend your Microsoft Points on more useless… stuff.
Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine is due to be released on 9th September (Europe).
