Category Archives: Windows 10

News, PlayStation, Trailers, Windows 10, Xbox One

Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics releases later this year

We last reported on Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics when it was launched on Kickstarter. A few months have passed, funding was successful, and indeed, Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics will hit consoles (Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch) and PC in Q4 this year. You can check out the announcement trailer below:

Developed by Bristol-based Auroch Digital and to be published by Ripstone Games, Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics challenges you to save the world from Nazis. But not just Nazis, also the other-worldly monstrosities they’ve uncovered through the occult.

Based on the wildly successful tabletop RPG from Modiphius Entertainment, Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics is set in an alternate World War II where the Nazis have gained a considerable advantage by summoning Lovecraftian monsters that could enable them to destroy the allies. Players take control of Charlie Company, an elite band of allied forces, sent in to do the impossible: foil the Nazi plans and turn the tide of war.

“We loved Modiphius’ pulp mash-up of World War II Nazis and the Cthulhu Mythos. It’s an incredibly evocative and exciting alternative history which makes for a unique tabletop experience”

said Nina Adams, Producer at Auroch Digital.

“We’re taking that nigh-on faultless foundation and transporting it into the video game medium, via our favourite genre, the turn-based tactics game. With the genre experiencing something of a comeback in recent years, we feel Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics will not only deliver an incredibly compelling theme and world to play in but also offer innovative gameplay possibilities.”

Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics utilizes a mix of turn-based strategy and RPG mechanics as players embark on a globe-trotting campaign against the forces of evil. Each hero character features their own backstory, weapon specialisations, and combat abilities to give players an edge in the battlefield. Captain Eric “Badger” Harris is a British Intelligence operative who specializes in experimental weaponry and guerrilla warfare; Ariane Dubois is a French Resistance member who’s bonded with a demonic spirit creature that she can command on the battlefield; Corporal Akhee “The Eye” Singh wields a sentient amulet that can transform him into a whirling cloud of blades; and Sergeant Brandon Carter is a loud-mouthed American soldier with a medallion that imbues his signature Thompson submachine gun, with Mythos-fuelled bullets that can tear through the Nazi’s horrifying creations.

Beyond these four main heroes, Charlie Company is joined by the covert ops of Badger’s Commando Unit, and the Native American tribe The Keijn – or “Pathfinder Demon Hunters” as they’re often known.

In the world of Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics, all Allied forces fight better in the light. Step into the dark, however, and the forces of evil will grow ever more powerful.

News, PlayStation, Windows 10, Xbox One, Xbox One S, Xbox One X

Steel Rats story trailer revealed with new Gameplay footage

Steel Rats is coming to PS4, Xbox One and PC later this year and is already lighting up the 2018 awards scene with eight nominations and one win for ‘Best Gameplay’ at the Game Connection Awards and a nomination for ‘Best Indie Game’ at the Digital Dragons Indie Showcase. A new story trailer has been released for this motorbike combat racer which shows the members of the Biker Gang for the first time.

BREAKING NEWS from Coastal City, as an alien invasion by a mysterious and deadly species of ‘Junkbots’ has begun. Fearless reporter, Veronica Vance, is on the ground bringing you the first details of how this disaster started and the identities of the ‘Steel Rats’, a heroic biker gang doing what all good biker gangs do: saving their city from aliens.

Where did the junk bots come from? Who sent them? Is that a toaster they’re using as a weapon of destruction? These are the questions plaguing the people of Coastal City and only through this extra special video edition of the Coastal Post will you get your first glimpse of the invading armada and see what brought a city to ruin.

Meet the colourful characters and personalities that make up the fearless ‘Steel Rats’ a biker gang with no choice but to defend their city from the invading horde. See their spectacular riding skills! Witness their leather clad, spike laden shoulder pads! Gasp as they take to the streets at full throttle, ready to wreck and ride.

Steel Rats is a visceral and ground-breaking evolution of the 2.5D action arcade genre, fusing destructive, octane-fuelled motorbike combat and death-defying stunt gameplay, set in a visually stylised retro future world.

You can check out the Steel Rats official website here, and follow their social media feeds on Twitter and Facebook.

 

News, PlayStation, Windows 10, Xbox One, Xbox One S, Xbox One X

New Gameplay trailer for Space Hulk: Tactics

Space Hulk: Tactics is due for release sometime in 2018 and Cyanide Studios and Focus Home Interactive have just released a brand new trailer. Space Hulk: Tactics is a faithful adaptation of the board game, set in the Warhammer 40,000 universe, bringing unique twists to the cult classic formula. The new trailer showcases the game’s battle system, team management, customization and unique card system, so you’re ready for glorious combat when Space Hulk: Tactics releases for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. Click here to read Rich’s recent review of Space Hulk Deathwing Enhanced Edition.

First twist is the innovative new card system, giving players greater control and more options than ever before. Grizzled veterans and Space Hulk newcomers alike will find the cards add a new layer of depth, replayability and customization, as explained in the trailer. Also showcased are the two non-linear, narrative-driven campaigns, offering hours of epic single-player entertainment. One campaign sees you commanding the stalwart Blood Angels Space Marine Terminators, while the other puts you in control of the alien Genestealer forces for the first time in a Space Hulk game.

The game also provides an intuitive but powerful community tool in the form of the map maker, with dozens of varied objectives and endless possible combinations of layouts, objects and tilesets. Once completed, share your maps with others for the community to play and rate.

Finally, Space Hulk: Tactics offers a deep customisation system affecting both gameplay and the appearance of your squad. Hand-craft your forces from one of four Space Marine Chapters or four Genestealer Hive Fleets. A host of cosmetic customization options for every limb, joint, and weapon allow you to choose the exact look of the units in your roster. All multiplayer cosmetics are unlocked from the very start, along with all multiplayer cards.

News, PlayStation, Trailers, Windows 10, Xbox One

Strategy game Mars Horizon announced

Intrigued by rocket building, mission control, space agency management and space in general, then Auroch Digital have you covered with their upcoming strategy game Mars Horizon, due for release in Q4 this year on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Mars Horizon is a strategy game in which players control a government space agency. Picking between the space agencies of either Europe, Russia, or the United States, the players then control the agency to collaborate or compete in a decades-spanning campaign to expand humanity’s reach further into space. With each game an alternate history begins to be shaped and guided by the player’s actions, building iconic rockets, probes, and satellites that transmit crucial scientific data back to your customisable Earth HQ, all the while researching, investing in, and bolstering your space flight capabilities.

During the player’s version of the space race, perhaps Europe work with Russia, sending satellites into orbit? Could it be that the US get this first satellite into space but that Russia achieves the first moon landing? Who will be best poised to venture to Mars because of learnings from earlier missions? Players will research new tech, expand their agency base, build rockets, send satellites into orbit, and launch a variety of missions throughout the Solar System. The game culminates in the first crewed mission to Mars, setting the stage for humanity to become a multiplanetary species.

The UK Space Agency provided support in the form of a grant plus advice and information on space exploration and the running of an actual space agency for Mars Horizon. Auroch Digital are advocates for video games both as entertainment but also as a medium with the power to explore real world issues and ideas. Speaking about the game, Auroch Digital’s Design Director, Dr Tomas Rawlings said…

We wanted to distil the wonder, drama, and the galaxies of possibility that space offers us as a species, into game form. Mars Horizon is our love-letter to the race into space and the challenges and triumphs of humanity on the way to becoming a multiplanetary species.

If the teaser trailer and screenshots aren’t enough to satisfy your curiosity, then you can check out the Auroch Digital podcast detailing the games’ production. You can listen and subscribe to the Auroch Digital podcast HERE – get to know the team, the process, and learn about how space engineering has been translated for the video game medium in Mars Horizon.

Hardware, News, Windows 10, Xbox One

The big guy is back – Xbox One Duke controller

It’s almost time to Duke it out and get your hands on what is destined to be the best special edition Xbox One controller.

The big guy was officially launched April 30 and is compatible with Xbox One and PCs running Windows 10. Hyperkin are the brains behind bringing the original Xbox Duke controller into the modern day.

“It’s a bizarre experience, to see a joke on Twitter become a real product,” Blackley said. “Seeing all these gamers so truly happy to get the new Hyperkin Duke is pretty goddamn superb.”

The Xbox controller has undergone numerous changes over the years and while the Hyperkin Duke is a true modern day replica of the original, a few design tweaks have been made:

  • Original animated Xbox startup screen played right inside the Xbox button
  • Bumpers
  • 9 ft. detachable USB cable (required to use controller)
  • 3.5 mm headset jack
  • Option and View buttons

Thankfully the classic Xbox button layout returns, which includes the black/white buttons. But is big really better? Either way, this controller will have early adopters of the original console giddy with excitement – and for everyone else – that animated Xbox startup is pure genius.

If you’re racing to your favourite store to order and live in the UK then hold up, the new Duke won’t reach our shores until May 18.

News, PlayStation, Trailers, Windows 10, Xbox One

Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics game announced

You know what World War II strategy role playing games need? Other-worldly monsters. And it seems our nightmares may come true, the recently announced Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics releases later this year.

Developer Auroch Digital and publisher Ripstone have collaborated with the table top team at Modiphius to create Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics – The Forest of Fear, which is set for release on PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch later this year.

Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics is a World War II themed strategic role-playing game in which the player controls an army of Allied heroes trapped behind enemy lines trying to uncover and foil a Nazi plot of terrifying evil. The game draws from the award-winning Achtung! Cthulhu roleplaying universe developed by Modiphius, which sees the Nazis turn to other-worldly mythical beings to bolster their war effort.

The game encompasses an array of unique gameplay features, including an innovative combat system constructed around the theme of light vs darkness. Representing the battle of ‘good vs evil’, Allied characters find solace in the light whilst the opposing Nazi army hide in the shadows awaiting their moment to strike. A skilled player can use this light and dark feature to provide an edge to their gameplay strategy.

Achtung! Cthulhu Tactics also includes an intricate Momentum system, which encourages the player to think strategically about their long-term plan to overthrow the Nazi reign of terror. Each successful action builds Momentum for the player, which in turn opens up new lines of tactical attack. Each playable character has a tailored Momentum Action, ranging from a rake of machine gun fire to a fast snap-shot with a pistol. When layered with basic commands and attacks, this system allows the player to build ingenious combinations of tactical brilliance.

Tomas Rawlings, Design Director at Auroch Digital, enthuses:

It’s a real honour to work alongside Modiphius and Ripstone on what will be a premium Cthulhu-mashup. Having worked with the Ripstone team before back in the PlayStation 3 days, together we made amazing strategy games, and I’m confident history will repeat itself!

Ripstone have fully funded the core game, for release later this year; however new and existing fans of Achtung! Cthulhu can sign up to fight the good fight by donating additional funds on Kickstarter for extra characters and content to be included within the game.The Kickstarter broke through its initial goal in under 3 days, and is now battling stretch goals until 4th March 2018.

So if you’re tantalised by this announcement. be sure to head on over to Kickstarter and show your support: https://bitly.com/achtungcthulhuks

News, PlayStation, Windows 10, Xbox One, Xbox One X

Praise the sun all over again – Dark Souls Remastered to launch in May 2018

I was tempted to just post the announcement trailer, then a video of me running around my house Praising the Sun. Alas, I imagine that the gods of TiX wouldn’t be too amused by that!

Update: It seems that the much-loved site Fextralife, has been working with FromSoft on bug fixes and more. One bit of new information to come from this is that the Remaster will run on the Dark Souls 3 engine. Exciting news, I’d say!

So, here we are Chosen. Dark Souls is being remastered for the PC, Xbox One – with enhanced support, the PS4 – with Pro support, and the Nintendo freaking Switch. There isn’t too much information at this time, beyond the usual release date, which is May 25th, and marketing spiel, but the below image has found its way onto Discord. It shows, in the most basic form, some of the improvements to come. The one that stands out for me is “dedicated game servers”, what a great move by FromSoft and Bandai Namco.

Developed by FromSoftware Inc., DARK SOULS: REMASTERED allows players to explore the twisted ancient land of Lordran in the first title of the critically acclaimed action role-playing series like never before. Experience the rich world of DARK SOULS in upscaled 4K resolution with 60FPS when playing on a PlayStation 4 Pro system, Xbox One X, and PC. Also, 1080p resolution with 30FPS is available when playing the game on Nintendo Switch with its TV mode.

From their first timid steps to absolute mastery, players will build their characters by strategically adapting to daunting foes, exploring haunting locations, and amassing a large collection of weapons, armour and magic spells to utilise for a truly unique playstyle. Hidden in the world of DARK SOULS: REMASTERED are nine online covenants to uncover that will motivate your online interactions. Collaboration or confrontation, support or betrayal – which allegiance will you choose? Up to six players can join together online to help or hurt, each other throughout their quest.

As a long-time Dark Souls player, I’d say that Dark Souls is so much more than the above quote provided by Bandai Namco. Also, I know there are some Dark Souls players hidden within the TiX staff…. I’ll hold this thought for now. Keep your eyes locked to TiX, and you may see some Dark Souls content in the leading up to the launch of Dark Souls: Remastered. I wonder if Rob Mafia is up for some narration?….

Features, PlayStation, tixfeatures, Windows 10, Xbox One, Xbox One S, Xbox One X

Greg’s GOTY 2017

No one sets out to make a bad game, yet it happens anyway. Things go wrong during development, the scope out weights the team’s efforts, the fun is lost somewhere down the line, or a myriad of other issues that leads to the result of a bad game.

The honest truth of the matter is: it’s all too easy for a bad game to be made. There’s too much stacked against them, the hype from elements perceived as intriguing by consumers and journalists, the financial commitment to develop something that meets modern standards of visuals and features. I don’t think we truly appreciate just how hard it is to make a good game.

What about great games, then? What measure of developer does it take to build these? I think the groups of people that manage to deliver an experience that you cherish are remarkable developers indeed, and their success should be vigorously celebrated. With that, then, I’d like to tell you about my personal top three games of 2017.

3rd –  Yooka-Laylee

The N64 and original PlayStation consoles saw the birth of 3D platformers, and it didn’t take long for some true classics to hit those system. 2017 saw a spiritual successor to Banjo-Kazooie release in the form of Yooka-Laylee, a love letter to the early 3D platformers with a focus on cute and quirky characters, collectathon gameplay, comical boss fights and themed worlds.

It’s a marvellous, nostalgic trip with enough collectables to keep you busy for dozens of hours, and indeed it’s that quest, that obsession to collect everything on offer, that drives the experience, further enhanced with achievements and trophies. And despite a combative camera and the occasional section of poor or obscure level design, it kept me entertained for weeks while I conquered every stage and searched every nook and cranny for shiny trinkets.

2nd –  Resident Evil 7

Over two decades after the original Resident Evil title, Resident Evil 7 comes along and drastically changes the series’ style. The third person perspective gives way to first person, zombies and genetically modified monstrosities give way to a crazed family and organic clumps of mould, and the comically campy storytelling gives way to a tense atmosphere and serious character motivation.

The puzzles hark back to the original, and the primary location strikes a nostalgic tone with its intricate design, but now the horror is more real and frightening than ever before. The visuals are so splendidly detailed and grotesque you can almost sense the damp, the blood, the sweat and the adrenaline. Stick a VR headset on and the immersion becomes that much more engrossing.

This was a completely new take on the Resident Evil formula, making bold new strides in horror and storytelling while keeping enough familiar elements to appease long-term fans. This was a special title for me, drawing me in enough to command multiple playthroughs and scaring me enough to wear me out at the end of every play session. And with smartly designed DLC side stories to draw me back in, it became a title that stuck with me throughout the year, one that I enjoyed and indeed still enjoy immensely.

GOTY 2017 – : Dungeons 3

As the release of Dungeons 3 approached I suddenly became intrigued. I’ve been after a title that approaches the greatness of Dungeon Keeper for many years, and had been left wanting. Dungeons 3 looked like it might get the formula right, that perhaps it had learned from its previous titles, as well as from similar dungeon management titles, and made the jump to something as enjoyable as the original Dungeon Keeper from the early 90s and yet featured precisely the modern refinements we all expect. Indeed, Dungeons 3 meets that hope.

Fourth wall breaking humour galore, dungeon building that’s smart and expansive thanks to a well implemented upgrade tree, and that special something to place it apart from Bullfrog’s original dungeon management marvel: RTS style gameplay in the overworld.

Indeed, Dungeons 3 nails the dungeon building and the humorous atmosphere, and while its performance is a little patchy on console it’s still hugely entertaining, with enough content to keep you engaged for countless hours, and a challenge in not only building an efficient dungeon for your creatures and to decimate any invading heroes, but also to then lead your army of creatures in combat in the world above. It’s excellent and I couldn’t stop playing it until every single achievement was mine.

I think of the aforementioned titles as great examples of the year’s best games and then I recognise that there were so many more that I haven’t had the chance to play yet, such as Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, Horizon Zero Dawn, Cuphead and Super Mario Odyssey, and I’m reminded: don’t think that a small group of dedicated and thoughtful people can’t make an impact in this industry, because it’s the only thing that ever has.

Features, Hardware, News, PlayStation, Podcast, tixfeatures, Windows 10, Xbox LIVE, Xbox One, Xbox One S

TiX podcast special: State of the Industry 2017

Welcome to a new episode of the TiX Podcast, a special episode celebrating 2017.

Join Greg Giddens and Neale Jarrat as they discuss their highlights from the year in terms of games, explore the new hardware paradigm of the Xbox One X and PS4 Pro, gush over PSVR, and even take a quick stab at the loot box controversy. Welcome to State of the Industry 2017.

Podcast music by Bangmaid
Produced by James Gill
www.mixcloud.com/bangmaid

Hardware, Thrustmaster, Windows 10, Xbox One

Thrustmaster Unveils 1st Official Flight Stick for the Xbox One

Thrustmaster is at it again! Not content on delivering a premium experience for the racing community on Xbox and Windows, they are now taking to the skies and beyond with the Hotas One.

Members of the Flight Sim community rejoice, Thrustmaster® has heard your pleas loud and clear. To meet the demands of this growing audience on Xbox One, Thrustmaster decided that there’s never been a better time to release a joystick that will allow the many, many gamers on Xbox One and Windows 10, 8 and 7 to experience Thrustmaster’s extensive flight simulation expertise. The T.Flight Hotas One will allow gamers on both platforms to fully immerse themselves in the feeling of flight offered by today’s cutting-edge Flight Sim titles and become part of these amazing aerial worlds in a way that hasn’t been possible until now. Based on the T.Flight Hotas concept, one of their all-time bestsellers, Thrustmaster has developed a comprehensive solution officially licensed for Xbox One and Windows 10, 8 and 7.
How exciting does that sound? Well, if that little tease hasn’t made you dig out your flight suit, then here is a whole lot more information provided to us here at TiX!

  • Official Thrustmaster Flight Stick for Xbox One… (And they aren’t working alone!)
    • Thrustmaster is thrilled to be the first to develop a product that the Xbox One community has been dreaming about since launch.
      Eager to deliver on the growing demand from members of this community, the team at Thrustmaster joined forces with Microsoft to create a joystick specially designed for use on Xbox One, with the T.Flight Hotas One being the end result.
      Thrustmaster has worked with Frontier to fully support the T.Flight Hotas One in Elite Dangerous for Xbox One. Frontier has been keen to deliver an even deeper level of immersion for the Elite Dangerous community on Xbox One and recommends the T.Flight Hotas One, supporting it with an upcoming patch for Elite Dangerous adding T.Flight Hotas One compatibility on September 26th!
  • Complete & Accessible Hotas Flight Stick system for Instant Immersion
    • The ergonomic T.Flight Hotas design (combined with the development of next-generation electronics officially licensed for both Xbox One and Windows 10, 8 and 7, including an “ecosystem-ready” port allowing users to add the TFRP rudder system – Which will be sold separately) allows for instant playability and the ability to adapt to all types of flight simulation (space adventure, modern combat, warplanes, civilian flight etc.) This creates an unrivalled degree of practicality which has become the gold standard set by Thrustmaster over the years.
  • T.Flight Hotas One: Realistic & Ergonomic Flight Control System
    • In the real world, flight controls used by pilots include both a stick and a throttle: this combination is the most effective in terms of performance and precision. The T.Flight Hotas One provides the same level of realism.
      The joystick’s realistic, ergonomic design has been lauded right from its earliest designs. The wide hand rest helps gamers keep their hand in a very stable and relaxed position, allowing the stick to respond to even the most subtle movements, and maintain total comfort throughout long combat missions.
      Gamers can adjust the stick’s resistance according to their needs and preferences. The base is weighted, for enhanced stability during gaming sessions.

  • T.Flight Hotas One: Detachable Throttle
    • Another key feature which has helped to establish the reputation of Thrustmaster’s Hotas system is the fact that it includes a full-size throttle, which gamers can use to easily control the acceleration of their aircraft or spaceship.
      The throttle is detachable, and can be used in either of two different ways:
      – Detached and separated from the joystick, to recreate authentic piloting conditions; or
      – Attached to the joystick, for better stability and to take up less space.
  • T.Flight Hotas One: Dual Rudder System
    • What’s more, the joystick includes an extremely precise rudder function: this corresponds to the pedals used by pilots to turn the steering, allowing the plane to pivot around its vertical axis (therefore making the plane turn left or right, without impacting its elevation). This rudder function is accessible by rotating the joystick’s handle (with an integrated locking system), or via the progressive tilting lever located at the front of the throttle.
  • T.Flight Hotas One: part of Thrustmaster’s Flight Sim ecosystem
    • The T.Flight Hotas One joystick is part of Thrustmaster’s flight simulation ecosystem. It is therefore compatible with the T.Flight Rudder Pedals (sold separately) – the first rudder ever to feature the S.M.A.R.T (Sliding Motion Advanced Rail Tracks) slide rail system, for incredibly smooth turns.

If after that info-drop, you are still unsure about the T.Flight Hotas One then make sure you keep your eyes on TiX for a detailed review in the near future. In the meantime, stay safe whilst making your cardboard / wooden cockpits to go with your new Hotas One!