Survival horror zombie game Deadlight now free on Xbox 360

If you have an Xbox Live Gold subscription, that is.

Xbox Live Gold subscribers can now pick up a free copy of Tequila Works' 2012 survival horror zombie platformer game Deadlight on Xbox 360. It is free as part of Microsoft's Games with Gold promotion, replacing Hitman: Absolution, which was free April 1-15.

GameSpot gave Deadlight a 6.5 score upon release in 2012. Reviewer Chris Watters said, "Deadlight draws you in with its rich, pervasive atmosphere, but doesn't give you much to do once you're there."

Microsoft's Games with Gold promotion was announced last year during the company's E3 media briefing. The program offers up two free games per month to Xbox Live Gold ($60/year) subscribers. A similar service will be offered on Xbox One, but Microsoft hasn't yet said when this program will begin or what games will be offered.

http://www.gamespot.com/

Ubisoft Massive isn't just working on The Division - "we have a couple of things cooking"

"Crazy prototypes" under way in the background

If you're looking for reassurance that Ubisoft's shared-world shooter The Division won't slip back to next year, try this on for size: the developer has a few new projects on the way, too. They don't appear to be very far along, so the odds of an E3 2014 reveal are fairly low.

"We do have plans for The Division assuming it goes well, and assuming we keep what we've promised," Massive's managing director David Polfeldt told The Examiner, when the site asked about what it would work on after the game's release. "[The plans] go pretty far."

"Then beyond that we have a couple of things cooking in the studios that we haven't announced," Polfeldt continued. "One of the nice things with Ubisoft is you're allowed to do a little bit of R&D and test some crazy prototypes in the background.

"Some of those are actually going in an interesting direction. I can't tell you what it is, but there's stuff we are working on that we would like to explore further. Currently that's on the side because The Division is taking a lot of time, but there are a couple of ideas there that I would like to push over a couple of months and see what we could do with it."

Massive was acquired by Ubisoft in 2008, and currently has around 300 people on staff. The Division is its first major game for the publisher - prior projects include an expansion pack for World of Conflict, co-development of Far Cry 3 and Assassin's Creed: Revelations.

The studio has made much of its Snowdrop Engine's user-friendliness - according to technical director Anders Holmquist, one artist was able to create a simple tank war game in a day using the tools, without seeking aid from programmers. Presumably, any new project Massive works on would also run on the engine.

http://www.totalxbox.com/

This Child of Light Trailer is the most soothing thing you’ll see today

If like this writer you have a big crush on Rayman Legends & Origins’ distinctive visual style, this Child of Light trailer is your nectar. The game’s build around the same UbiArt Framework engine that powered the limbless one’s last two magnificent adventures, but unlike Ray it’s a side-scrolling RPG with an eye on Studio Ghibli’s output.

This Child of Light Trailer is the most soothing thing you’ll see today

Developed by many of the same team who brought you the bombastic colonialist fantasy Far Cry 3, Child of Light shares only an upgrade system with the open world shooter. Its more immediate gameplay influences come from Final Fantasy’s battle system, Limbo and Vagrant Story. It’s available for PS3 and PS4 from April 30th, and it might just end up being one of 2014′s best PS4 RPGs.


So pour yourself a peppermint tea. Drink in the watercolour shades. Let that rainy day piano resonate with your soul. Hear what it’s saying? “Everything’s going to be alright”. Ahhhh. Look out for our review, coming soon.

http://www.officialplaystationmagazine.co.uk/

Slender: The Arrival coming to XBLA early 2014

Slender: The Arrival, the official game of horror meme Slender Man and the indie-favorite PC hit from 2013 will come to Xbox Live Arcade with upgrades early this year. Indie publisher Midnight City will be delivering Slender to XBLA with a pair of new levels as you search for the creepy monster and then experience flashbacks from the perspective of Slender Man's victims.

Images of The Arrival are below. No specific release date within the "first quarter of 2014" launch window has been revealed, nor is there a console price point (though the PC version of Slender: The Arrival sold for $10 when it released on Steam back in October.

http://www.oxmonline.com/

EVE Online developer cancels vampire MMO World of Darkness

56 employees laid off as development on World of Darkness is halted. "I am truly sorry that we could not deliver the experience that we aspired to make," says CEO.

EVE Online developer CCP Games has announced it has cancelled development of fantasy MMO World of Darkness.

The studio says it was "falling regretfully short" in its goals of creating an vampire-themed MMO. Following the cancellation, 56 employees at the Atlanta, Georgia studio have been laid off. Some of the team are said to have been offered other roles within the company, with the remaining staff at the studio now working on games set in the EVE universe.

Employees who have lost their jobs were given severance packages and assistance in securing new work, the company says.

"The decision to end the World of Darkness MMO project is one of the hardest I’ve ever had to make," said CCP CEO Hilmar Veigar Pétursson in a statement. "I have always loved and valued the idea of a sandbox experience set in that universe, and over the years I’ve watched the team passionately strive to make that possible."

"I would like to give special thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make the World of Darkness MMO a reality, especially the team members affected by this decision. Their considerable contribution to CCP will not be forgotten, and we wish them well."

"To our current and former employees and fans of World of Darkness, I am truly sorry that we could not deliver the experience that we aspired to make. We dreamed of a game that would transport you completely into the sweeping fantasy of World of Darkness, but had to admit that our efforts were falling regretfully short. One day I hope we will make it up to you."

"Although this was a tough decision that affects our friends and family, uniting the company behind the EVE Universe will put us in a stronger position moving forward, and we are more committed than ever to solidify EVE as the biggest gaming universe in the world."

Last year CCP Games said that 70 developers were working on the title, although 15 staff were made redundant just before Christmas last year.

World of Darkness was first announced way back in 2006 and was based on White Wolf's supernatural role-playing game franchise.

http://www.gamespot.com/

Magic 2015 - Duels of the Planeswalkers Teaser Trailer

Magic 2015 - Duels of the Planeswalkers Teaser Trailer

Every location in Destiny is "more or less the size of Halo: Reach"

Bungie leaves plenty of room for crowds

Big, meet bigger. Bungie software engineer Christian Diefenbach has revealed that each major location in the forthcoming Destiny is "more or less the same size" as an entire game - Halo Reach, to be specific.

Speaking to Brazilian website Jogos, Diefenbach also revealed that there are over 500 people working on Destiny, where 130 people worked on the original Halo.

As you hopefully know by now, the game casts players as Guardians, and sees you exploring the wreckage of a human solar empire for secrets, ancient weapons and things to blow up or run away from. According to Diefenbach, Destiny employs two perspectives: you'll fight in first person while out and about, but exploration of social areas (where you'll meet other players and choose missions) takes place in third person, the better to appreciate your costume and loadout.

I've attached a gallery of the game's locations - it'll take us to the Moon, Mars and Venus, among other planets. 

http://www.totalxbox.com/