Special Darkspore closed beta opens today

post from Gaming Nexus on 28 March 2011 11:41:00 PM. © Gaming Nexus

by: Nathaniel Cohen
NEWS - Darkspore, Maxis' new online action RPG, is opening a new closed beta today. Players in to that kind of stuff can rock out early by visiting Steam, where it is exclusively available for download. Just follow the instructions and in no time you can be battling the Darkspore with up to 4 other gamers in co-op or intense 1v1 or 2v2 PvP action.

Darkspore comes out on PC April 26, 2011. Maxis will be using the extra time for balancing and fine-tuning to ensure the best possible experience for everyone. Fans are even encouraged to provide input so the game is just right.

The beta opens today at 3pm PT and runs through Friday, April 1 at 12pm PT.

Visit the Darkspore YouTube Channel for Producer Diaries 1-4 and Hero Spotlight Videos 1 and 2
You can also download video and screenshots of Darkspore

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SOE's virtual items for Japan quake relief

post from Destructoid on 28 March 2011 11:06:55 PM. © Destructoid

SOE's virtual items for Japan quake relief screenshot

Sony Online Entertainment aims to help Japan out by selling special virtual items in their online games. You can help out victims of Japan's recent earthquakes and tsunamis by logging on to any of these games and buying one of the special items:

PoxNora
Everquest
Free Realms
Clone Wars Adventures
Star Wars Galaxies
Magic The Gathering: Tactics

Many of the games will feature a Cherry Blossom via the in-game marketplaces, though Magic The Gathering: Tactics, Star Wars Galaxies, and PoxNora will have a different offering. SOE says that the Cherry Blossom can be displayed in player in-game homes, where applicable, as a sign of ongoing support. For every Cherry Blossom (or selected item) purchased through the end of today, March 28th, SOE will donate $10 to the American Red Cross in support of ongoing relief efforts in Japan.

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New Destructoid Episode: Mortal Kombat, GIRP, and
3DS

post from Destructoid on 28 March 2011 11:06:55 PM. © Destructoid

New Destructoid Episode: Mortal Kombat, GIRP, and 3DS screenshot

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Hey, you! Yes, with the sideburns. Watch our show, it's our seventieth episode. Yessir, that's right! Another big milestone. Yup. Lucky number seventy. The big seven-oh.

(Don't get too excited. It's a pretty normal episode today.)

First up: Hey, did you hear about the Nintendo 3DS? Because it came out. We discuss this for a little while. Tara wants one, I'm over it, I want an NGP. Then, suddenly: Mortal Kombat news, and -- Oh! even More-tal Kombat news. Then, did you hear? We're trying to promote some indie games on the show. Crysis 2 sold a lot of copies, because it's cool, and GIRP is a rage-quitting simulator that you should try out. I dare you.

Finally -- We've got a contest that I made up on the spot.

Do you wanna win a free copy of Bust-A-Move Universe for the 3DS? Get yourself over to this episode's Revision3 page, and use the new comment system to post your best dinosaur joke. Y'know, because Bust-A-Move has dinosaurs in it. And because it's Monday, I'm tired, leave me alone. We'll announce the winners next Monday.

Spoiler Alert: I need a haircut, bad.

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Here's what Stacking's 'The Lost Hobo King' looks
like

post from Destructoid on 28 March 2011 11:06:55 PM. © Destructoid

Here's what Stacking's 'The Lost Hobo King' looks like screenshot

Double Fine has posted some media of the new downloadable content pack for Stacking over on Facebook.

In these latest screenshots for "The Lost Hobo King," the upcoming DLC for the game, we are given a brief look at the hobo graveyard, the hobo marketplace, and a stuffed tuna vendor. These images certainly reflect the nature of the add-on's name.

As one fan on Facebook put it, "I don't think my body is prepared for more Stacking content."

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Winners of Distant Worlds NY tickets announced!

post from Destructoid on 28 March 2011 10:06:41 PM. © Destructoid

Winners of Distant Worlds NY tickets announced! screenshot

We asked you to tell us why you wanted to attend the upcoming New York show of Distant Worlds: music of Final Fantasy for a couple of sets of free tickets. The April 1st and 2nd shows, set to take place at the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, are going to be fantastic. They will be performed by the Distant Worlds Philharmonic and Chorus, and conducted by Arnie Roth. Nobuo Uematsu will even be in attendance!

Many of you responded, but we can only give two sets of tickets away. If it were up to me, I'd give all that asked a ticket -- this show is too great to miss.

spartan480 and Nessie, you've both won! Our staff read all the comments and we collectively picked the ones that moved us most. Congrats! I wish I could come see the show with you. We'll be in contact soon.

Thanks to all that entered.

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Vote in Backlog Series 8: It came from 2010!

post from Destructoid on 28 March 2011 10:06:41 PM. © Destructoid

Vote in Backlog Series 8: It came from 2010! screenshot

Destructoid's most popular live streaming show to feature a guy with a mustache playing old games, Backlog, has just wrapped up another round. That means its up to all the lovely readers to assist in the selection of our next game.

Lately, I've been trying to come up with some way to tie the games on offer in some kind of thematic way. So, in Series 8, all of the games you can choose from saw release in 2010. There is not only a great variety of titles, but some really popular ones as well. It may be difficult to narrow it down to just one, but I'm sure you'll find a way.

Heavy Rain

We all knew it was coming. I've made no secret out of Heavy Rain being in my Backlog, its narrative dissonance making the game a chore that I found hard to become absorbed in. I've tried on several occasions to play and even got a little excited about the addition of PlayStation Move controls. Still hasn't captured my interest. But it's one of those games I feel obligated to finish. You can help make that happen.

Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom

I honestly only bought this game because it was on sale at Amazon some months ago and people seemed pretty excited about that. After a brief stint of playing and being confused as to what the hell was going on, I dozed off on the couch and never touched it again. Seems a little slow at the start, but I have been told that I will enjoy it ultimately. Could that be true?

Splatterhouse

The original Splatterhouse series thrilled me to no end. The bizarre and gory enemies and Rick's monstrous beefiness is always worth a giggle, but that third game on the Sega Genesis was some seriously dark stuff. So, my interest was piqued over a reboot of the series but I sure as hell wasn't going to buy in at launch. Now a few months later, a cheap copy has found its way into my collection. Skull cracking will happen.

Fable 3
Fable III

I honestly love the Fable series. It's like the casual gaming answer to the action/RPG genre, with accessible combat and no consequence for player death, while still offering interesting characters and a world where there are just as many questions remaining as there are answers given. I bought Fable III immediately upon release knowing that my lovely fiancée would enjoy it, but I've yet to put the disc in for myself. Mayhaps it's time to go back to Albion.

Mystery Game

Finally, we have the Mystery Game. That's how we got TimeShift last time, as people clamored to know what it was and groaned when they learned. The intent here is to select the Mystery Game if none of the other games appeal to you, so voting for it just because you want to know what it is is kind of a dick move.

If the Mystery Game is not chosen, it'll roll over into the next series where it will continue to be a mystery.

That's it. Cast your vote in the comments below and get ready for another exciting series of Backlog, starting tomorrow.

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Red Faction: Armageddon pre-order bonuses
detailed

post from Destructoid on 28 March 2011 10:06:41 PM. © Destructoid

Red Faction: Armageddon pre-order bonuses detailed screenshot

We're honing in on Red Faction: Armageddon's May 31 release for PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. I'm certainly getting antsy with anticipation for some Red Faction-brand destruction and explosions.

Nothing too major to report on, but THQ has listed the pre-order incentives for the game. GameStop is handing out codes for Red Faction Battlegrounds (XBLA or PSN), and the Commando Pack -- the Plasma Thrower, dual Laser Pistols, and the armored Commando uniform.

Best Buy is offering the Recon Pack, which includes the Recon uniform, the Arc Welder, and the Nanite-launching XNG-5000. Amazon is also doing Battlegrounds for either of the two consoles with Armageddon orders. Lastly, Walmart is throwing in a limited-edition, 24-page comic book.

Which will it be? No matter the answer, you must get your ass to mars. After putting down the five bucks or whatever first, naturally.

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The 5 Weirdest Moments in Gold Key Star Trek

I picked up Star Trek: The Complete Comic Book Collection around the holidays when the price was hovering around $6. It’s back up to $18 now, but even that’s a good price for what it collects: over 500 issues from the Gold Key, Marvel, DC, Malibu, and Wildstorm runs. With the exception of Enterprise, every [...]

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Red Vs Blue season 9 will be full of action

Red Vs Blue season 9 will be full of action screenshot

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Even though I'm completely confused by the storyline in Red Vs Blue at this point, I still love watching the series. It's still funny and the action stuff is better than ever thanks to Monty Oum. Season 9 is coming out this Summer and the first trailer reveals that we'll be seeing more of the Project Freelancer aspect.

Are any of you still into the series?

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Radio Shack: Both DS or PSP go as a 3DS trade-in

Radio Shack: Both DS or PSP go as a 3DS trade-in screenshot

Lots of places are accepting your Nintendo DS or DSi variants as trade-ins towards a new Nintendo 3DS, but Radio Shack is actually going the extra mile by also accepting your PSP go.

Through Saturday, April 2, The Shack will take your Sony 16GB PSP go or Nintendo DSi XL and give you credit towards a 3DS. Through trade-in you can knock the price of the 3DS down to $194.99. This would be a good way to get rid of that PSP go that you're not using. Seriously. Dig up an old memory card and dump your PSP go games to it. Just use a good ol' PSP-3000.

Radio Shack has more details on trade-ins on their webpage.

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