By Anonymous on Jul 10, 2015 11:54 pm
Tembo the Badass Elephant, a 2D sidescrolling game from Sega and Pokemon developer Game Freak, now has a release date. Sega announced today that the game, in which you play as a "peanut chompin', villain stompin'" elephant named Tembo, will launch for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC on July 21. The game will sell for $15 across all platforms, but you'll have a chance to get it for less. Steam users who preorder before July 21 will save 10 percent, while Xbox Live Gold and PlayStation Plus members can enjoy a similar 10 percent "launch discount," though the parameters of this deal are unclear. We've followed up with Sega to find out.  Tembo the Badbass Elephant features 18 levels, each replete with tongue-in-cheek humor and references to '80s action movies. "It's seven-and-a-half tons of fun," Sega said in a press release. "We don't think there's a single game out there with a better name and hope that consumers will stampede the digital marketplaces in order to get their hands on this mammoth adventure," Sega executive John Clark said in a statement. For a closer look at Tembo the Badass Elephant, check out some images in the gallery below.          
By Anonymous on Jul 10, 2015 11:27 pm
As promised, a special Grand Theft Auto Online event has kicked off to celebrate the launch of the game's latest update, allowing players to earn extra in-game cash and experience over the next few days. With the second part of the Ill-Gotten Gains update landing this week, Rockstar has launched its weekend event. From now through Sunday, July 12, playing certain GTA Online modes will net you extra rewards. More specifically, deathmatches, golf, and tennis will award double RP, while races will offer twice as much in-game money. RP bonuses earned during races (for things like drafting or entering first place) will be doubled, too. Also during the event, you'll receive an exclusive in-game t-shirt for each day that you complete all three of your daily objectives. Gold metal resprays for your vehicles are free this weekend, as are Pegasus deliveries.  Additionally, Rockstar is hosting new video editor and Snapmatic contests, the details of which are outlined on the company's website. The Ill-Gotten Gains: Part Two update consists primarily of high-end items for players with plenty of cash to throw around. In addition to new clothing options, it adds new weapons and vehicles that you can now buy in-game.
By Anonymous on Jul 10, 2015 11:11 pm
Earlier today, a report claimed that Nintendo of America was backing out of publishing Devil's Third, an upcoming Wii U game from Ninja Gaiden designer Tomonobu Itagaki. Now, Itagaki himself has responded to the rumor. In a Facebook post titled "Calm down," Itagaki said, "Which do you believe: me or such site?" Itagaki did not mention Nintendo of America by name or offer specific about the status of Devil's Third. Instead, he said, "The world brims over with lies and rumors. Thanks always, mates."  Nintendo of America has not commented on this rumor yet. Back in June, Itagaki and his development team at Valhalla Game Studios released a new gameplay trailer for Devil's Third and announced that it would launch at the end of August in Europe. A release date for North America has not been announced, but the Devil's Third game page on Nintendo's website lists the title as "TBD." Devil's Third, which combines shooting and hack-and-slash elements, was originally going to be published by the now-defunct publisher THQ. At the time, it was anXbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC game, but later shifted to become a Nintendo-exclusive. Even if Nintendo does decide to no longer publish Devil's Third in North America, which wouldn't be unprecedented, it's always possible another company could step in. For a closer look at Devil's Third, check out some images in the gallery below.        
By Anonymous on Jul 10, 2015 11:07 pm
Be the Hero
This year's San Diego Comic-Con is currently underway, which naturally got us thinking about video games based around the adventures of comic book heroes. While many are often not as good as they could be, there are a distinct amount that do well in giving players a gameplay experience of what its like to actually be these characters. So here's a list of some of the best games that feature most amazing gameplay representations of beloved comic book heroes.
Batman in Batman: Arkham City
Most superhero game lists often feature Rocksteady's Batman Arkham City, and rightfully so. it's certainly an achievement in the eyes of critics and Batman fans alike. After all, we gave the a game a 9/10 when it first came out in 2011. But what makes the game a great representation of its titular character? The one thing that comes to mind is how much its gameplay makes you feel like Batman. You'll scour crime scenes for clues, engage in combat using an array of flawless attacks and counters, and you'll glide through the skies using your cape while remaining vigilant of local crimes. These activities give the game its appeal as its gameplay never ceases to break away from the underlying components of Batman as character. | Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC
Deadpool in Deadpool
High Moon Studios' game based on Marvel's famous Deadpool character is not an amazing game. It's actually quite mediocre what with its repetitive gameplay and poor controls. But whether you like Deadpool or not, the game provides a satisfying video game representation of his trademark quirky personality. It's filled with self-referential humor, potty jokes, and comedic situations with Marvel characters that border on parody. Much to detriment of its gameplay but to the benefit of its fans, the Deadpool game was as Deadpool as a game could possibly get. | Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC
Spider-Man in Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man 2 deserves a medal for being the first open world Spider-Man game ever made. Despite not holding up as well as other games within its console generation, the game is one of the first to truly make you feel like the famous web slinger as you swung across the open skylines of New York City with its pleasing web swinging mechanics. As a result, Spider-Man 2 is a splendid example of comic book game where its mechanics are used to properly compliment the scope of its character. | Platforms: PS2, Xbox, GameCube
Wolverine in X-Men Origins: Wolverine
For a game based on a sub-par comic book film, X–Men Origins: Wolverine managed to be a great video game representation of its title character. This was mostly because its gameplay actually took advantage of one of the things that makes Wolverine so appealing: the indestructible power of his razor sharp adamantium claws. So when the game came out in 2009, it was quite astonishing how it didn't hesitate for a moment in letting players brutally sink Wolverine's claws into the bodies of his enemies in a bloody fit of berserker rage. This alone came in stark contrast to previous games featuring the scrappy hero, which often insisted that his claws act more like a pair of boxing gloves. Despite being a derivative God of War-clone, X-Men Origins: Wolverine holds true to the violent anti-hero spirit of Wolverine as a character. | Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC
Magneto in Marvel vs. Capcom 3
The Marvel vs. Capcom series has always been good at taking the absolute power of comic book characters and translating them into playable fighters. A standout of the series is Marvel vs. Capcom 3's representation of the highly powerful X-Men arch nemesis Magneto. The game does a fantastic job at making the character's visually simplistic powers appealingly over-the-top and intimidating by representing them as screen-filling purple magnetic beams and projectiles. Magneto's power as a character also translates to the game's mechanics since he is a highly versatile fighter whose efficiency in combos, zoning, and mobility makes him a formidable foe. Regardless, these elements work together to give Magneto a video game representation that perfectly aligns with his power as a character in the Marvel universe. | Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360
Superman in Injustice: Gods Among Us
Injustice: Gods Among Us brought gamers a great representation of quintessential god-like comic book hero Superman. Going with a more darker approach, the game featured a Superman who became a villain after being tricked into killing Lois Lane by The Joker. The representation of the character is a fascinating one since he went on to murder The Joker for his crime and establish a regime to create a unified world government. While very much unlike the Superman that most people know and love, Injustice: Gods Among Us did a great job at creating an intriguing version of the character that is compelling to watch spiral downward. | Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PS4, Xbox One, PC
Hulk in The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction
The Hulk is not really a hero that demands much from a game devoted to him. With the literal character summarizing catchphrase of "Hulk smash," you'd think that a game representing him would write itself. However it wasn't until Radical Entertainment's The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction in 2005 that gamers finally got just that. In it, you could cause all kinds of mayhem and destruction in an open world environment as the Green Goliath. While not a perfect game by any means, it's a great example of when taking a single trait of a character and building an entire game around it is much better than trying to vary the experience with unnecessary filler content that has nothing to do with them. | Platforms: PS2, Xbox, GameCube
The Punisher in The Punisher
The Punisher game from 2005 is much like Marvel's Daredevil series on Netflix. Both are immensely gritty and mature in tone, so much so that it's a wonder how they even exist given the other Marvel adaptations in its medium that preceded it. But one thing is sure, like Daredevil, The Punisher provided a great representation of its character. With its blend of Max Payne third person shooting and near Manhunt-ish levels of torture interrogation violence, The Punisher did not beat around the bush about literally showing the brand of justice that its titular hero is known for in its gameplay. Case in point, The Punisher could literally dump a guy into a wood shredder. Nevertheless, the game's violence and sheer brutality lives up to the name of The Punisher in a way that properly hones in on the moral grey area of the character. | Platforms: PS2, Xbox, PC
Jackie Estacado and The Darkness in The Darkness
What do you get when you cross demons with the mafia? Starbreeze Studios' The Darkness; a first person shooter loosely based on the Top Cow published comic book series of the same name that stars Jackie Estacado, a member of the mob possessed by a powerful demonic force known as The Darkness. While more grounded than its raunchy over-the-top source material, The Darkness takes the comic book series' occult premise and instead grounds it in a gritty crime drama reality. The game is even filled with elements of the comic that are blended into the mechanics of its gameplay, such as the Darkness' weakness to light and its ability to summon tiny demon creatures. Ultimately, The Darkness is a video game representation of the comic series that reinterprets it in a way that is both entertaining and compelling. | Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC
The X-Men in X-Men Arcade
Based on a cancelled X-Men cartoon from the late 80's, Konami's X-Men for the arcade is built from the same repetitive gameplay seen in most side scrolling beat-em ups. But what sets X-Men apart is how its rudimentary gameplay is enhanced by the allure of its comic book team-up premise. You along with five other friends can literally be the X-Men and cooperatively fight off Magneto and his army of Sentinels all at the same time. This near screen-filling setup was impressive for its time and did a great job at representing the team dynamic of the X-Men in a way that was simple but elegant. | Platforms: Arcade (Remastered version available on PS3, Xbox 360, Android, iOS.)
Captain America vs. Iron Man in Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2
While many of the games on this list are great representations of their respective characters, Vicarious Visions' action-RPG Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 is an amazing representation of super heroes during real comic book story arcs. Depicting Marvel's Secret War and Civil War events, Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 puts gamers through the moral conundrum posed within the conflict between Captain America and Iron Man. Does a masked hero legally register with the government for the sake of the country's security or do they continue to fight for the right to remain anonymous? The question is an intellectually fascinating one that permeates all of Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 via Captain America and Iron Man's and makes the game well-worth checking out for its depiction of the classic story arc alone. | Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC
Astro Boy in Astro Boy: Omega Factor
Based on the iconic Japanese manga super hero of the same name, Astro Boy: Omega Factor captures the aesthetically pleasing and colorful style of the titular hero and his world. While playing this one, you can't help but get caught up in its colorful world as you punch giant robots, fire lasers, and rocket across the screen using your jet boots. But what helps this along is how this is all built into a bombastically entertaining action game developed by none other than Treasure, the studio known for Gunstar Heroes. Regardless, Astro Boy: Omega Factor expertly captures the colorful style and fighting robot action of Astro Boy. | Platforms: GBA
The Flash in Justice League Heroes: The Flash
DC's The Flash seems a difficult hero to make a video game out of when you think about his power of super speed. What kind of game can accommodate such a skill? Past developers answered this question with little to no success by making mediocre platformers. But in 2006, developer Wayforward took on their own approach with Justice League Heroes: The Flash, a traditional side scrolling beat-em up but with a twist. Instead of just walking up to bead guys and fighting them, you can actually dash around the screen from enemy to enemy quickly punching them in the face. The game even lets you occasionally slow down time via The Flash's super speed to beat enemies down even further. It all sounds simple, but that's because it is. Justice League Heroes: The Flash never bothers to inflate its design anymore than it has to. Rather, it takes The Flash's unique power and simply embeds it into its gameplay mechanics in a way that is clever and intuitive. | Platforms: GBA
By Anonymous on Jul 10, 2015 11:06 pm
One of the greatest things about Comic-Con is the plethora of collectible figures that get shown off. Our sister site Comic Vine recently compiled a gallery of photos featuring all the newest figures from the DC Collectibles merchandise line. So feel free to check them out here as well!
Man-Bat from Batman: Arkham Knight toyline
Azrael from Batman: Arkham Knight toyline
Professor Pyg from Batman: Arkham Knight toyline
Arrow from The CW's Arrow toyline
Black Canary from The CW's Arrow toyline
Heat Wave from The CW's The Flash toyline
Reverse Flash from The CW's The Flash toyline
Batman from Lee Bermejo Designer Series toyline
Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) from Lee Bermejo Designer Series toyline
Superman from Lee Bermejo Designer Series toyline
Lex Luthor from Lee Bermejo Designer Series toyline
Batman from Darwyn Cooke Designer Series toyline
Harley Quinn from Darwyn Cooke Designer Series toyline
Supergirl from Darwyn Cooke Designer Series toyline
Adam Strange from Darwyn Cooke Designer Series toyline
DC Comics Blueline: Jim Lee Convention Exclusive Batman
Green Lantern John Stewart from DC Comics Icons toyline
Firestorm from DC Comics Icons toyline
The Joker from DC Comics Icons toyline
DC Comics Super-Pets! Plushies
Superman from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Statue line
Batman from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Statue line
Armored Batman from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Statue line
Batman Bronze Statue
Cheetah from Bombshell Statues line
Killer Frost from Bombshell Statues line
Batman: The Animated Series toyline
Batman: The Animated Series toyline (Cont.)
Batman: The Animated Series toyline (Cont.)
Batman: The Animated Series toyline (Cont.)
Batman: The Animated Series toyline (Cont.)
The Batmobile from the Batman: The Animated Series toyline
The Batmobile from the Batman: The Animated Series toyline (Cont.)
By Anonymous on Jul 10, 2015 11:00 pm
 Newegg's eBay account is offering the PS4 Last of Us Remastered bundle with a free controller and three months of PlayStation Plus for $400. Green Man Gaming has kicked off its summer sale, offering discounted prices plus an additional 20 percent off when you use the promo code GMGSUM-MERSAL-E20OFF. Today's deals feature zombie games, and with that code, you can get Resident Evil 4: Ultimate HD Edition for $6.49, Dead Rising 3 for $16, or Left 4 Dead 2 for $3.75. All three of those games also come with a "free mystery game." Also on sale is the early access version of H1Z1 for $10. Gamers Club Unlocked members can save $20 or more on a few PS4 games at Best Buy right now, including MLB 15: The Show for $16, The Order: 1886 for $16, and Bloodborne for $32. Amazon appears to have a new (hidden) discount program for Prime members. At least a few games are currently included, such as Batman: Arkham Knight for $50 (Xbox One), The Elder Scrolls Online for $50 (PS4), Madden NFL 16 for $50 (Xbox One/PS4), and Splatoon for $53. You won't see the lower price until you add the item to your cart and proceed to checkout. You can preorder a number of games through Dell and receive either a $15 or $25 gift card: Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain ($25), Mad Max ($15), Rory McIlroy PGA Tour ($15), and Until Dawn ($15). Get $150 in credit toward an Xbox One or PS4 when you trade in select PS3 or Xbox 360 systems at GameStop. Below you'll find the rest of today's best deals divided by platform. PlayStation 4Buy any DualShock 4 at Best Buy this week and you'll receive a free PS4 controller charging station. Get The Last of Us Remastered PS4 bundle for $350 at Newegg with promo code EMCAVAV79. At Newegg, you can get the PlayStation Silver wired headset for only $20 using promo code EMCAVAV85. Save $5 on a 12-month PlayStation Plus subscription when you buy a PS4 at Best Buy. The PlayStation Store has a sale centered around superheroes going on. You can get Injustice: Gods Among Us for $12, Mortal Kombat X for $45, and more. Also on PSN, there's a sale on Destiny content, discounting the first two expansions to $15 each and the expansion pass to $25. Other PS4 game deals: - Project Cars -- $50 (Amazon)
- Mortal Kombat X -- $41 (Amazon) / $41 (Walmart)
- Bloodborne -- $40 (Amazon)
- Guilty Gear Xrd Sign -- $32.50 (Amazon) / $34 (Best Buy)
- Devil May Cry: Definitive Edition -- $35 (Amazon)
- MLB 15: The Show -- $44.50 (Amazon) / $40 (Best Buy) / $40 (GameStop)
- Borderlands: The Handsome Collection -- $40 (Amazon)
- Dead or Alive 5: Last Round -- $33 (Amazon)
- Battlefield Hardline -- $40 (Amazon) / $40 (Best Buy)
- Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin -- $40 (Amazon) / $40 (Best Buy)
- Resident Evil: Revelations 2 -- $28 (Amazon)
- Far Cry 4 -- $24 (Amazon) / $30 (Target)
- The Order: 1886 -- $39 (Amazon)
- Final Fantasy Type-0 HD -- $39.53 (Amazon)
- Rayman Legends -- $20 (Best Buy)
- LittleBigPlanet 3 -- $40 (Amazon)
- Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition -- $30 (Amazon)
- Final Fantasy XIV -- $26.48 (Amazon)
- Evolve -- $30 (Amazon)
- Grand Theft Auto V -- $49 (Amazon)
- Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare -- $32 (Amazon)
- Dying Light -- $40 (Amazon) / $40 (Walmart)
- Dragon Age: Inquisition -- $30 (Amazon)
- Alien: Isolation -- $22 (Amazon)
- The Crew -- $30 (Amazon)
- Destiny -- $20 (Amazon) / $20 (GameStop)
- WWE 2K15 -- $30 (Amazon) / $30 (Target)
- Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor -- $32 (Amazon)
- Infamous: Second Son -- $31.40 (Amazon)
- Watch Dogs -- $15 (Amazon)
- Assassin's Creed: Unity -- $19 (Amazon)
- Killzone: Shadow Fall -- $24.38 (Amazon)
- The Last of Us Remastered -- $14.44 (Amazon) / $15 (Groupon)
- NBA 2K15 -- $29.50 (Amazon)
- FIFA 15 -- $30 (Best Buy)
- Just Dance 2015 -- $20 (Best Buy)
- The Evil Within -- $40 (Amazon)
- Disney Infinity 2.0 Toy Box Starter Pack -- $23.68 (Amazon)
- Disney Infinity 2.0 Marvel Super Heroes Starter Pack -- $30 (Amazon)
- Call of Duty: Ghosts -- $19 (Amazon)
The free PlayStation Plus games for July are now available and include Rocket League and Styx: Master of Shadows. Xbox OneWalmart is selling the Halo Master Chief Collection Xbox One bundle with a free second controller for $349. You also get a free copy of Watch Dogs or Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, or you can pay a bit more to replace it with Diablo III: Ultimate Evil Edition ($5), Need for Speed: Rivals - Complete Edition ($5), Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare ($20), or Batman: Arkham Knight ($30). Buy an Xbox One at GameStop and get a $40 gift card. Get a free copy of Assassin's Creed: Unity with the purchase of an Xbox One at Best Buy or the Microsoft Store (500 GB/1 TB). At Best Buy, buying the system also gets you $20 off a controller and $10 off a three-month Xbox Live Gold subscription. You can buy a year of Xbox Live Gold on eBay for $36. Alongside the usual Deals With Gold offerings, Microsoft has kicked off this summer's Xbox Ultimate Game Sale, discounting a wide variety of digital games. Check out the full list of everything on sale here. The first episode of Telltale's Game of Thrones series is free on Xbox Live, and the subsequent episodes are on sale as part of the aforementioned Ultimate Game Sale. Other Xbox One game deals: July's free Games With Gold games are now available and include Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. PCThe Humble Store has a DRM-free sale where you can get some great games for cheap, including Shadowrun: Dragonfall - Director's Cut for $4.49; Cook, Serve, Delicious for $4; Risk of Rain for $2.49; Papers, Please for $4; The Swapper for $3; and more. The latest Humble Bundle consists of a few games, but primarily focuses on game-making tools. The new Humble Weekly Bundle features Bohemia Interactive games like Arma 2 and its many mods (including DayZ), all of which you can get for just a few bucks. If you have a free Green Man Gaming account, you can access the VIP area of the site where you can find some nice deals, including SimCity for $10, Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin for $25, and Project Cars for $35. You can play Depth for free on Steam this weekend, and then pick it up for just $8.49. Zuma's Revenge is free on Origin. Other PC game deals: - Elite: Dangerous -- $40 (Steam)
- The Red Solstice -- $20 (Steam)
- Super Meat Boy -- $3 (GMG)
- Skulls of the Shogun -- $5 (Steam)
- Master Reboot -- $6 (Steam)
- Bardbarian -- $1.19 (Steam)
- Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Gold Edition -- $5 (Steam)
- Gratuitous Space Battles 2 -- $10 (Steam)
- Tropico 4 -- $5 (GOG)
- Tropico 4 Complete DLC Pack -- $5 (GOG)
- Deus Ex: Game of the Year Edition -- $3.33 (GOG)
- Thief Gold -- $3.33 (GOG)
- Legacy of Kain: soul Reaver -- $2 (GOG)
- The Sims 4 -- $40 (Best Buy) / $30 (Target)
- The Sims 4: Get to Work -- $30 (Best Buy) / $30 (Target)
- Batman: Arkham Origins -- $12 (Amazon)
- Diablo III -- $29.49 (Amazon)
- Diablo III: Reaper of Souls -- $25.62 (Amazon)
- StarCraft II: Battle Chest -- $34.49 (Amazon) / $24 (Best Buy)
- Tropico 5 -- $24 (Amazon)
- Dying Light -- $48 (Amazon) / $48 (Walmart)
- South Park: The Stick of Truth -- $18.29 (Amazon)
- Battlefield Hardline -- $33 (Amazon) / $40 (Best Buy)
- Assassin's Creed Rogue -- $30 (Amazon)
- Evolve -- $29 (Amazon)
- Watch Dogs -- $10 (Amazon) / $12 (Best Buy)
- Dragon Age: Inquisition -- $30 (Amazon)
- Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag -- $16.44 (Amazon)
- The Lego Movie Video Game -- $20 (Amazon)
Wii UGet a $25 gift card when you buy any Wii U at Target. If you don't mind a refurbished system, Nintendo's online store has a Wii U bundle with Nintendo Land for $200, or Nintendo Land and Super Mario 3D World for $225. The eShop has an indie game sale going on, discounting Shantae and the Pirate's Curse to $8, Guacamelee to $6, Runner 2 to $6, and more. - Bayonetta 2 -- $45 (GameStop)
- Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker -- $32.60 (Amazon) / $32.60 (Walmart)
- ZombiU -- $9 (Best Buy)
- Rayman Legends -- $17 (Walmart)
- Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze -- $40 (Amazon)
- Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut -- $14.50 (Amazon)
- Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two -- $11.40 (Amazon)
- Hyrule Warriors -- $49 (Amazon)
- Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition -- $14.39 (Amazon)
- Watch Dogs -- $18 (Amazon)
- Sonic All-Stars Racing Transformed -- $20 (Amazon)
- Just Dance 2015 -- $20 (Best Buy)
- Scribblenauts Unlimited -- $15.49 (Amazon)
- Transformers Prime: The Game -- $12 (Amazon)
3DSGet a New 3DS XL for $180 at Newegg using the promo code EMCAVAV82. Walmart is offering a New 3DS XL bundle with Super Smash Bros. for 3DS and your choice of select Amiibo figurines for $239. This week's eShop sale features indie games like the Phoenix Wright games; you can get Dual Destinies for $17 or the Ace Attorney Trilogy for $22.49. Persona Q, meanwhile, is just $30. - Mario Party: Island Tour -- $24 (Amazon) / $24 (Best Buy)
- Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance -- $20 (Walmart)
- Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 - Record Breaker -- $41 (Amazon)
- Pokemon Alpha Sapphire -- $30 with bonus figure (Walmart)
- Pokemon Omega Ruby -- $30 with bonus figure (Walmart)
- Pokemon Y -- $30 (Amazon)
- Pokemon X -- $34 (Amazon)
- Steel Diver -- $8 (Best Buy)
- Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate -- $11.67 (Walmart)
- Scribblenauts Unlimited -- $8 (Best Buy)
- Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion -- $12.55 (Amazon)
- Code Name: Steam -- $26 (Amazon)
- Crosswords Plus -- $6 (Best Buy)
- Lego Marvel Super Heroes -- $15 (Amazon)
- Conception II: Children of the Seven Stars -- $22 (Amazon)
- Sonic All-Stars Racing Transformed -- $23 (Amazon)
- Hometown Story -- $15 (Amazon)
PlayStation VitaThe PlayStation TV is available for $40 at Best Buy and GameStop . The PlayStation Store's superhero sale also includes some Vita games, including Injustice: Gods Among Us for $12, Mega Man Maverick Hunter X for $4, and Batman: Arkham Origins Blackgate for $10. - God of War Collection -- $23 (Amazon)
- Persona 4: Golden -- $20 (Amazon)
- Gravity Rush -- $19 (Amazon)
- Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time -- $5 (Best Buy)
- Freedom Wars -- $15 (Amazon) / $15 (Best Buy)
- The Wolf Among Us -- $13 (Amazon) / $15 (Best Buy)
- Borderlands 2 -- $20 (Amazon) / $20 (Best Buy)
- The Walking Dead: Season Two -- $15 (Best Buy)
- Mind Zero -- $22 (Amazon)
- Sonic and All-Stars Racing Transformed -- $18 (Amazon)
- Hatsune Miku: Project Diva F 2nd -- $21.62 (Amazon)
- Xblaze Code: Embryo -- $20 (Amazon)
- Arcana Heart 3: Love Max -- $26 (Amazon)
- Conception II: Children of the Seven Stars -- $21 (Amazon)
- Resistance: Burning Skies -- $5 (Best Buy)
- Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational -- $11.53 (Amazon)
- 16GB Memory Card -- $39 (Amazon)
- 32GB Memory Card -- $66 (Amazon)
The free PlayStation Plus games for July are now available and include Geometry Wars 3 and Entwined. Hardware- Insignia Xbox One Dual-Controller Charger -- $20 (Best Buy)
- PlayStation 4 Camera -- $45 (Amazon) / $45 (Walmart)
- Logitech G402 Hyperion Fury Gaming Mouse -- $39.49 (Amazon)
- Logitech G502 Proteus Core Gaming Mouse -- $59.43 (Amazon)
- Logitech G602 Wireless Gaming Mouse -- $50 (Amazon)
- Logitech G700s Gaming Mouse -- $61 (Amazon)
- Wireless Xbox 360 Controller for Windows -- $40 (Amazon)
- Wired Xbox 360 Controller for Windows -- $27 (Amazon)
- Black Xbox One Wireless Controller -- $50 (Amazon)
- PlayStation Silver Wired Stereo Headset -- $26 (Amazon)
- Turtle Beach Ear Force PX22 Amplified Universal Gaming Headset -- $56 (Amazon)
- Logitech Wireless Gaming Headset G930 -- $93 (Amazon)
Amazon prices are accurate as of publishing, but can fluctuate occasionally throughout the day. GameSpot's gaming deals posts always highlight the best deals we can find regardless of retailer. We also occasionally use retailer affiliate links, which means that purchasing goods through those links helps support all the great content (including the deals posts) you find for free here on the site.
By Anonymous on Jul 10, 2015 10:41 pm
 In this episode of "Inside Rainbow," the focus is on the heavily armored Siege operations from GIGN, the storied French counter-terrorism unit.
By Anonymous on Jul 10, 2015 10:12 pm
 We got some direct feed gameplay during a hands-on demo of Tranformers: Devastation at SDCC 2015.
By Anonymous on Jul 10, 2015 09:03 pm
 Join Justin and Mary on the Red Team as they battle in a real life Halo 5 Guardians Battle Arena for glory. Learn a bit more about the multiplayer maps in the latest game in the Halo franchise and stay till the end for a special Forward Unto Dawn surprise.
By Anonymous on Jul 10, 2015 04:00 pm
Naoki Yoshida's successful reboot of the disastrous Final Fantasy XIV 1.0 into A Realm Reborn back in 2013 was a triumph, not only attracting scores of new players into the virtual world of Eorzea, but also demonstrating that a gorgeous, content-rich and regularly updated subscription-based MMORPG was still a viable prospect. With the release of Heavensward, the question is whether this new expansion can keep players invested and ensure the long-term future of Eorzea. Heavensward picks up a couple of weeks after A Realm Reborn's dramatic Game of Thrones-style finale. It's worth noting that as a prerequisite to enjoying anything this expansion has to offer--including the three new jobs; Dark Knight, Machinist and Astrologian--you must have finished A Realm Reborn's entire story, including its five content patches. This is non-negotiable. You are prohibited from even entering Heavensward's main city, Ishgard, until the entire prior storyline has been completed. This may be frustrating to those who enjoyed A Realm Reborn but never worked their way through the narrative. Many MMOs tend to open up expansion content immediately upon release for those at an appropriate character level, regardless of their quest progress, but Square Enix has taken a stricter approach here. However, this makes sense in the context of the game as a whole, since Final Fantasy XIV is one of the most narrative-rich MMOs on the market. Thankfully, the prerequisite content has been adjusted and rebalanced to ensure that players can get through it and into Heavensward as painlessly as possible with minimal grinding: simply following the main A Realm Reborn quest will now see you happily outfitted in good quality gear by its conclusion, ready to begin your new adventures. (Previously, the game necessitated a certain degree of replaying old content to earn enough endgame currency to purchase this gear, but now main story quests provide you with everything you'll need to survive your first foray into Ishgard and beyond.) "Heavensward's main story is spectacular, with a series of dramatic moments throughout that are among the series' most memorable."
Heavensward's main story is spectacular, with a series of dramatic moments throughout that are among the series' most memorable. The overall plot deals with themes such as the unquestioning adoption of religious dogma and how that can lead to societal problems such as racism--or in this case, speciesism, thanks to the conflict between the Ishgardians and the Dravanian dragons. It also captures the feel of a traditional Final Fantasy even better than A Realm Reborn had, due to some excellent writing and strong characters, presented with a delightfully theatrical tone throughout, which builds on the substantial lore introduced in the game's previous incarnations. The writing also boasts strong characterisation, including some deep, detailed exploration of interesting yet tragically flawed characters such as Ysayle, who we only saw briefly in A Realm Reborn. Meanwhile, the ensemble of non-player characters evoke a delightful feeling of going on a grand adventure with a party, similar to that in a single-player RPG. The storytelling is supported by a beautiful soundtrack and voice acting of a considerably higher calibre than that heard in A Realm Reborn--though the decision to recast most of the main voices, in some cases with entirely different regional British accents to the characters' previous incarnations, is a little jarring at first. Some of the environments look like they're straight out of a Roger Dean artbook, and are particularly striking from the air.To help flesh out the game's substantial lore, Heavensward's main narrative is supported by side quests, and there are a lot of them. So many, in fact, that it's possible to level from 50 to 60 using little more than the main story and the various NPCs you come into contact with on your travels. Although grinding dungeons will probably get you to level 60 quicker, following the side quests gives you a much more arresting, varied experience, particularly if you're interested in the game world's lore. It's practically essential to complete at least a few side quests: certain challenges unlock "aether currents" in the zone you're in, and in order to take advantage of Heavensward's new flying mounts, you have to track down all of these currents, many of which are hidden in tricky locations, making for impromptu environmental puzzles similar to Guild Wars 2's "Vista" system. The decision to prevent you from flying in each zone until you've discovered all these aether currents has proven divisive, but ultimately it works out for the best with regard to world-building and narrative coherence. The new zones are huge in scale, and you truly come to appreciate the massive size of some of the structures and geographical features by traversing them on foot before being able to simply fly from one place to another. Travelling on foot can lead to some exciting discoveries too. Follow the river north out of the village of Tailfeather in the Dravanian Forelands, for example, and you come across some dramatic ruins of a lost age; head out in another direction and you might find yourself pondering where the giant craters in the ground came from--that is, until the gigantic Tarasque shows up and requires at least twenty or thirty players to subdue. These discoveries lose some of their impact if you just fly in a straight line from point A to point B, so the game funnels players into seeing most of the world from ground-level before allowing them a bird's-eye view. Somewhat more controversial at launch are the balance changes that came as a result of the three new jobs and the five new abilities that each of the existing classes have been given. The ranged-damage classes (Bard and Machinist) were both underpowered upon Heavensward's original release, even in good gear at level 60, but at the time of writing, an update has provided both classes with an increase in power to their new abilities, and they're performing much more solidly in parties as a result. As the story progresses, realistic, believable landscapes give way to wonderfully fantastic environments floating in the clouds.Meanwhile, the gun-wielding Machinist is now producing damage numbers that can compete even with the melee classes Monk, Dragoon and Ninja, which are traditionally the most heavy hitters. Elsewhere, Bard players are happy to finally have a damage-dealing Limit Break ability, which is a welcome addition for a class that was unofficially regarded as a support job. New tank class Dark Knight is proving to be a solid addition to many groups, with its blend of Warrior's heavy damage-dealing and Paladin's damage mitigation providing a fun new play style. New healer Astrologian, meanwhile, provides an interesting mix of both Scholar and White Mage's strong points, with its central mechanic of drawing and shuffling cards to provide the group with various benefits making it a unique take on a support class. Both are challenging to learn if you're used to the older classes, but both are very rewarding to master. Existing classes have had some interesting changes, too. Paladin, for example, long derided as the most boring but functional tank class, now has several different combos as well as some useful support and healing abilities. Monk continues to be the class of choice for those who enjoy a highly technical play style. Black Mages now have even more of a buff-juggling-act to keep up with. And Summoners, once regarded as one of the weaker DPS classes in A Realm Reborn, have enjoyed a considerable buff thanks to some new abilities and spells, and have become very popular as a result--though at least part of this is doubtless due to the fact that their level-three Limit Break now involves sprouting Bahamut's wings and setting fire to everything. Yes, it's as awesome as it sounds. Crucially, with the balance adjustments brought about in the first patch, no single class feels significantly better or worse than others; pretty much any party makeup can comfortably clear everything the game has to offer at the time of writing. "Heavensward is an essential purchase for those who have spent more hours than they'd care to admit in Eorzea."
In terms of content, Heavensward ships with a decent amount to work through. The main story, as previously noted, takes somewhere in the region of 40 to 50 hours hours or so to finish, depending on how thorough you are, and in the process you level at least one class to 60 naturally. Beyond that, at the time of writing, level cap content includes three dungeons, one of which is officially part of the main story and can be re-challenged as often as you like. There is enough content here to even satisfy the hardcore raiders; there's the story's final boss battle, two Extreme variants on earlier boss battles against the primals Bismarck and Ravana, and the new raid dungeon Alexander, which is set to have a Savage difficulty variant added. As with A Realm Reborn, content of all levels--not just level-cap dungeons and trials--is designed to be replayed frequently, with endgame currency that can be exchanged for high-end gear on offer for jumping into daily roulettes and helping lower-level players with earlier content as well as simply grinding level-appropriate challenges. The dungeons are smartly designed throughout the entirety of Heavensward, featuring dynamic backdrops, surprising events, gorgeous scenery and exciting encounters that often demand a lot more of a group than simple "tank and spank"; one dungeon in particular even makes use of simplified forms of the challenging mechanics found in A Realm Reborn's raid dungeon, The Binding Coil of Bahamut. The decision to eliminate mid-dungeon cutscenes has alleviated the problem A Realm Reborn's final storyline dungeon had, where experienced players would charge ahead and start boss fights while fresh level 50s were watching cutscenes, causing the latter to get locked out. This is a change for the better; there's still story content in dungeons, but it tends to unfold either at the very beginning (when all players are unable to move until everyone is ready) or after the final boss has been defeated. In other words, those enjoying the story for the first time can do so without guilt that they're holding people up, and experienced players who are just grinding dungeons can do so without having to sit and wait for newbies. Meanwhile, crafters and gatherers are well catered to, since all these classes can also be levelled to 60. A couple of new elements feel a little underbaked, however; the airship crafting in the new Free Company workshops simply requires a party of crafters to be present without any real interaction or cooperation required--it would have been interesting to see the equivalent of a "crafting raid", since Final Fantasy XIV's crafting system has just as much depth as its battle system, but sadly, it is not to be. Yet. And that "yet" is an important point; A Realm Reborn enjoyed substantial content updates and mechanical adjustments at three-month intervals following its launch, and Heavensward is set to follow suit, with the first post-launch patch already released, introducing the Alexander raid and addressing some balance issues. The main story, despite coming to a spectacular (and Final Fantasy fan-baiting) conclusion, is left open for an episodic continuation in the same way as A Realm Reborn, and the game's structure is eminently friendly to new dungeons and challenges being added at regular intervals. Plus, at some point in the near future, the true masochists among us will be able to grind our way through a whole new Relic quest. Click on the thumbnails below to view in full-screen          Overall, then, Heavensward is an essential purchase for those who have spent more hours than they'd care to admit in Eorzea. While new players--or those who never beat A Realm Reborn's complete story--may feel aggravated at being locked-out of the expansion until they catch up, there's little denying that Final Fantasy XIV as a whole offers astonishing value for those willing to immerse themselves, and it will only continue to grow and expand over time. In other words, it looks like Eorzea is unlikely to suffer another world-shattering calamity just yet, and everyone who has made it their home away from home over the last couple of years will doubtless be thankful for that.
By Anonymous on Jul 10, 2015 07:35 am
 Every year at Comic-Con Sideshow Collectibles impresses show attendees with their figures. Check out what they have on display at Comic-Con 2015.
By Anonymous on Jul 10, 2015 04:40 am
Holograms Have Come to Life
All over the world, scientists (and most likely Star Wars geeks) have made huge advances in holographic tech. In Japan, the Digital Nature Group has developed tiny, interactive holograms known as Fairy Lights. At the MIT Media Lab, Michael Bove and his group rigged a Kinect camera sensor to project a low-grade but very real 3D holographic image. The image they chose? A grad student dressed as Princess Leia stating, "Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope." (Photo by: Lucasfilm)
The Empire Is Watching You
In the Star Wars films, imperial probe droids roam the galaxy, hunting rebels. Today, drones roam the world on recon missions, military airstrikes, deliveries, farm pest patrol, and movie shoots. (Photo by: Lucasfilm)
Lightsabers Are Real, Kind Of
Wielding your very own laser sword is no longer exclusively for Jedi Knights and Sith Lords. Wicked Lasers has added a chamber to its high-powered laser, creating the look of an actual blue or green lightsaber. (No word on red or purple editions.) Those gadgets can't cut through substances, but the British-based Welding Institute has crafted a laser cutter that slices through metal like butter. Is it so hard to put an epic laser cutter on a sword hilt? (Photo by: Lucasfilm)
You Can Store Data Just Like A Jedi...Or Sith
Jedi and Sith holocrons may be a bit esoteric for casual Star Wars fans, but they're far from mysterious. In the Star Wars universal, they're basically external hard drives that are used to store centuries of data about the Force. On Earth, hard drives roughly the size of the fictional holocron can hold around 5 to 10TB. (Photo by: Lucasfilm)
Boeing's Blaster Guns Will Sound Exactly As You Imagine
Laser pistols, rifles, and other assorted weaponry play a big role in the Star Wars saga. In real life, Boeing plans to add sounds to their lasers to confirm they've been fired. The sound samples they're testing come straight from Star Wars and Star Trek. (Photo by: Lucasfilm)
DARPA Is All About Protocol Droids ... Sorta
Thank the Maker! The U.S. Department of Defense's advanced research agency recently held a competition to develop better, faster, stronger bots that can be used to aid humans in disaster scenarios. The need (or want) for a protocol droid may be a long-term goal, but DARPA's robotic challenge is getting us there faster.
You Can Play Hologames Just Like Chewbacca
Oculus Rift and similar VR headsets bring 3D gaming to a whole new level. But other technology–such as the Voxiebox and a prototype display from the Panasonic Silicon Valley Lab–makes the hologame table a reality without special eyewear. Just don't forget to let the Wookiee win. (Photo by: Lucasfilm)
Speeder Bikes Are On Kickstarter
Zoom through the redwoods or the desert on an actual hovercycle! Companies such as Aerofex are working on selling their version of the speeder bike using hovercraft air technology. Even the U.S. Department of Defense has taken notice, contracting Mallory Aeronautics, which led a successful Kickstarter campaign, to develop a vehicle for recon missions. (Photo by:Lucasfilm)
The U.S. Navy Has Its Own Laser Cannon
Turret guns and turbolasers and superlasers, oh my! The very real USS Ponce can take down drones and small boats with its quick-reacting laser weapon. While the laser isn't visible from the naked eye, it does pack quite a punch, just like the Millennium Falcon's quadlaser. (Photo by: Lucasfilm)
DARPA Is Working on Luke Skywalker-Approved Prosthetics
DARPA has been developing prosthetic limbs that allow for nuanced motion and neural connection. The Reliable Neural-Interface Technology (RE-NET) program has made great strides in prosthetic technology, focusing on perfecting the neural control systems that allow users to regain high performance function. (Photo by: Lucasfilm)
Elon Musk Is A Fan Of The X-Wing
Elon Musk's company, SpaceX, has made a few nods to the ships of Star Wars. Its Falcon 9 rockets (Get it? Falcon?) rock hypersonic grid fins crafted in an "X" configuration to stabilize descent. (Photo by: Lucasfilm)
Energy Force Fields Have Officially Been Patented
In another technological feat, Boeing has issued a patent for an energy field that protects people and objects from shockwaves in an explosion. According to the patent, the field, created by an electromagnetic arc, is said to deflect and absorb explosive force to protect whatever it surrounds. (Photo by: Lucasfilm)
By Anonymous on Jul 10, 2015 04:22 am
A "Special Look" at Star Wars: The Force Awakens
J.J. Abrams, the director of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, is hosting a panel on July 10 at San Diego Comic-Con. Starwars.com said there will be a "special look" at the upcoming blockbuster. Fans also expect the unveiling of a brand-new trailer. (Photo: Corbis)
Han Solo and Chewbacca are back "home"
Harrison Ford and Peter Mayhew return to play Han Solo and Chewbacca, respectively. As the second Force Awakens trailer hinted, Han and Chewie haven't been flying the Millennium Falcon, but ultimately return "home" to their ship. (Photo: Disney)
The Force Awakens is Set 30 Years after Episode VI
With Luke, Leia and Han returning, the Star Wars timeline has been set for the next trilogy. The Force Awakens takes place thirty years after the Battle of Endor and the events of Return of the Jedi. (Photo: Corbis)
Rey & Finn Will Play Huge Roles
Daisy Ridley and John Boyega star as Rey and Finn in The Force Awakens, respectively. Despite rumors that she's from the desert planet Tattooine, Ridley says Rey is from Jakku. Finn is revealed to be a stormtrooper at the beginning of The Force Awakens trailer, but Boyega has hinted that might not be his actual role. (Photo: Disney)
The Search for Luke?
Your favorite characters from the original trilogy are set to return in The Force Awakens, but their roles are unclear. Rumors say Rey, Finn and Han are on the search for Luke Skywalker in Episode VII. (Photo: Corbis)
The Best Frickin' Pilot in the Galaxy!
Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis) will play the new character Poe Dameron in The Force Awakens. Details of his story in Episode VII are scarce, but Isaac said a certain princess has sent him on a mission. Isaac hasn't been shy about his character's skills, proclaiming that Dameron is "the best frickin' pilot in the galaxy!" (Photo: Disney)
Kylo Ren is the Bad Guy
Details are scant on the new big bad Star Wars antagonist Kylo Ren (Adam Driver). Ren will have big shoes to fill without Darth Vader in the upcoming trilogy. It doesn't hurt that Ren is the one wielding the crossguard lightsaber in The Force Awakens trailer. (Photo: Disney)
The Lovable Droids Will Return
Of course, a Star Wars film wouldn't be complete without everyone's favorite droids: R2-D2 and C-3PO. R2 and 3PO actually were the first characters confirmed for The Force Awakens. (Photo: Corbis)
Star Wars: Rogue One (2016)
The first anthology film of the Star Wars universe is titled Star Wars: Rogue One. The 2016 standalone movie is directed by Gareth Edwards (Godzilla). The plot is centered around a group of rebels on a mission to steal the Death Star plans. Rumors are swirling that Darth Vader will reprise his role for the film. (Photo: Corbis)
Han Solo Anthology Film
Disney announced that the second anthology film in the Star Wars universe will be a Han Solo origin film directed by Chris Miller and Phil Lord (The Lego Movie). Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad) is rumored to be up for the role of the scoundrel. Paul fueled the fire by revealing that the official Star Wars Twitter feed is following him on social media. (Photo: Corbis)
John Williams returns to score The Force Awakens
Many fans worried that John Williams would not return to score the soundtrack for The Force Awakens, but those concerns were quelled when J.J. Abrams confirmed he would return for another film. (Photo: Corbis)
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