Dealspwn

Offline Game Gets Online Pass

Okay. So this is happening.

D'Toid reports that Kingdoms Of Amalur: Reckoning, the anticipated RPG from Big Huge Games, ships with an online pass. This was no great surprise since we knew that the Mass Effect N7 Armour would be included as an unlockable bonus, but it also appears that an entire 7-level questline has been locked off as well. We're not actually sure what to make of this one at the moment - because it's either an acceptable substitute for launch DLC that makes more sense than Arkham City's outrageous content splurge... or an unconscionable, grasping, chiselling precedent that shafts a vast swathe of gamers including those who just don't want to connect their consoles to the internet.

What percentage of the online pass revenue will go directly to Big Huge Games, we wonder?

• What: Deus Ex: Human Revolution: The Missing Link DLC
• Where: Get Games
• Current Price: £2.69
• RRP: £8.99

PC players are already saving on the DXHR: Missing Link DLC pack compared to their Xbox Live counterparts (who have to pay around £10.20 compared to £8.99), but the range of digitial distributors on the PC are paying dividends. Get Games only want £2.69, netting you this expansion for next to nothing.

And it's easily worth the money. You'll net about five hours of new content, plenty of expansive freeform fun and some great writing.

• What: Deus Ex: Human Revolution Augmented Edition
• Where: Get Games
• Current Price: £11.99
• Deus Ex: Human Revolution Augmented Edition PC price comparison
• Deus Ex: Human Revolution Review

Get Games are excelling themselves this weekend, with one of the highlights being this cracking deal for Deus Ex: Human Revolution's Augmented Edition.£11.99 will net you one of 2011's most impressive games along with plenty of (digital) swag. If you haven't played it yet, you probably should.

• What: Serious Sam 3: BFE
• Where: Get Games
• Current Price: £10.19
• Serious Sam 3: BFE Price Comparison
• Serious Sam 3: BFE Review
• Game Of The Year: Jonathan Lester's Highlights
• Best Shooter Of 2011

Serious Sam 3: BFE is easily the best FPS of 2011.

Seriously. If you need m0re convincing, why not check out out our Game Of The Year awards? Or my personal highlights? Or the 9/10 review?

Get Games' price is seriously sweet despite being slightly higher than their pre-Christmas deal, and will save you a bundle.

• What: Sesame Street: Once Upon A Monster
  
• Where: Grainger Games
• Current Price: £14.99
• Sesame Street Once Upon A Monster Price Comparison

Boom. Grainger Games have slashed Double Fine's adorable Kinect game down to the lowest price we've seen yet, and one that many will have been holding out for. Sesame Street: Once Upon A Monster is definitely a minigame collection aimed at younger players - but don't panic, because the responsive controls and fuzzy Henson love elevate it above most of the other Kinect games on the market.

• What: Crysis 2
• Where: Green Man Gaming
• Current Price: £7.49
• Crysis 2 PC price comparison
• Crysis 2 Review

Green Man Gaming bring yet another opportunity to get hold of Crysis 2 for £7.50, which is one of the lowest prices the PC version has fallen to. As far as savings go, GMG’s price currently stands around £3.50 better than the next best deal over at 365 Games.

As for the game itself, it’s a visual wonder when the action gets going, with some well executed set pieces along the way through a devastated New York City. Although the game isn’t quite as open as its predecessor and follows a more obvious linear path, there’s still plenty of ways to take on your foes along the way, and for a tenner it’s definitely worth a look. Thanks to Jas10 @ HUKD!

Having trouble convincing you Skyrim-addicted other half to leave the land of the Nords and venture out into the real world? Never fear, these quest markers should help. Simply affix to your front door, or a window for comedy value*, and rejoice as your partner leaves your abode for the first time in weeks. [Etsy]

2012 promises to be a massive year for gaming, and with at least two major consoles set for an E3 reveal, the rumours have been flying thick and fast. In fact, separating the fact from fiction and treading water in the sea of sensationalism has become an increasingly arduous task.

To this end, we've rounded up and dissected the hottest reports to hit this week... and when empirical analysis fails, we're going to pundit like crazy. We've linked to the stories in question to arm you with all the details you need, and since rumours are in the eye of the beholder, we'd absolutely love you guys to weigh in and let us know what you make of these sensational claims.

Blu-Ray For NeXtbox?

Kotaku's multi-part rumour hit the internet like a ton of bricks, and the first episode is definitely the most likely. Sources claim that Microsoft's next console will feature a Blu-Ray drive, and though it would be potentially embarrassing in the short term, adopting the tech would be a win-win situation for everyone concerned.

Frozen Synapse is easily one of 2011's best games. It topped our Indie Game Of The Year shortlist, won our Strategy Game Of The Year award and scored a perfect ten in our Frozen Synapse review. Excitingly, Mode 7 Games plan to add a host of new content in a forthcoming update including ruleset mutators and new music to listen to while you plan your vicious assaults.

Codemasters launched the first gameplay video for DiRT Showdown today, showing off some in-progress in-game footage from the Nevada 8 Ball track. As you'll see from the video, the track involved is a dry and dusty circuit out in the desert, replete with crossover opportunities and ripe for daredevil jumps and tasty crashes.

Cue eight racers in a variety of machines, jostling for position while surrounded by plenty of pyrotechnics. There are three main modes in Showdown: racing, which is fairly self-explanatory; so too the Destruction Derby that will see drivers smashing and crashing their way to glory. Then there's Hoonigan, which will serve up a freestyle feast across a variety of large stunt parks.

Considering that the last entry in the series was an absolute blinder - and you can read our DiRT 3 review here - we're a bit excited for this. DiRT Showdown drops in May on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

• What: Strategy First 50% Off Sale
• Where: Good Old Games

There's nothing like some decent deals on vintage games to usher in the weekend, and Good Old Games have discounted their entire Strategy First catalogue by 50%. This includes negligible price tags for Jagged Alliance, Darkstar One, FlatOut, Sacred Gold Edition and many more, so it's probably worth heading over and checking out the selection.

Note that this is a straightforward sale and not one of GoG's infamous "buy more, save more" offers.

Soul Calibur V is still a week away from a European release, but Namco Bandai has already spilled the beans on what to expect from its DLC lineup. Three content packs will be launching over the next month, with one available at launch and two others going live towards the end of February. We've got the full details after the break.

• What: Hasbro Family Game Night 4
• Where: Zavvi (Xbox 360 | PS3 | Wii)
• Current Price: £13.95
• Hasbro Family Game Night 4 Xbox 360 Price Comparison
• Hasbro Family Game Night 4 PS3 Price Comparison
• Hasbro Family Game Night 4 Wii Price Comparison

Mr. Potato Head is the host of the show in this large dose of family fun. There are plenty of games to take part in with your friends including Connect 4 Basketball, YATZHEE Bowling, and BOP IT Boptagon. This one also supports motion controls, so you can break out your Kinect sensor bar or Move controllers if you've got them. Zavvi are parting with 360, PS3, and Wii copies of the game for £13.95, which'll make you a saving of almost £9 on the Xbox and the PS3, whereas Wii owners'll save about £2 on the next best offer. Thanks to Syzable @ HUKD.

We're not entirely sure what to make of NeverDead just yet. The wisecracking, bizarre action title from Rebellion and Konami sees the player taking on the role of demon hunter named Bryce, cursed with immortality half a millennium back by a demon lord who murdered Bryce's wife. Now he roams the streets, kicking demon ass and seeking vengeance.

These facts quite literally make Bryce go to pieces (sorry), and th game's USP sees the immortal demon hunter getting hacked up and having to roll around to reattach his severed limbs or use them to his advantage.

The game is out at the end of next week, and you can be in with a chance of winning a PS3 copy a little early by getting involved with our simple competition. All you have to do to enter is drop us a line in the comments and complete the following question:

Immortality is awesome because...

Yep, it's that simple.  We'll have a little internal vote to cast the winner based on wit, cleverness or simply if it makes us wee a little from laughing. Or we'll flip a coin or use a number generator if it comes down to a tie. Admin's decision is final.

NB. Please use a legit email address when you enter, or we won't be able to confirm your victory should you prevail.

Competition closes Tuesday 31st at 12 noon GMT.

It would appear that a new Super Mario title is on the horizon for the 3DS, as Nintendo president Satoru Iwata announced that a new 2D game featuring the moustachioed mascot would be arriving in "the next fiscal year".

Ryder? I barely know 'er!

Ugh, sorry, but it had to be done. Now that we've dealt with the formalities, Deep Silver has released a new Dead Island trailer to introduce us to the upcoming Ryder White DLC pack, which promises to give us a unique insight into the antagonist as we step into his shoes. The expansion campaign stars Ryder White as a newly playable character and offers a several hours of story content with twists and turns that will shed new light on the original game’s events. Two blueprints and weapons will further expand the already-impressive arsenal of Dead Island.

The DLC will be available on February 1st for PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. It will be available for 800 Microsoft points on Xbox LIVE Marketplace or for £7.99 on PSN and Steam.

• What: Professor Layton And The Spectre's Call
• Where: Choices UK
• Current Price: £22.99
• Professor Layton And The Spectre's Call Price Comparison

The Professor Layton series refuses to disappoint. It's a cavalcade of great puzzles, loveable characters and enjoyable storylines - and Spectre's Call is more of the same. Which is absolutely fine by us. Choices UK are currently offering a £2 saving, making them the cheapest on the market.

This is now cheaper at Play.com.

No Gameplay Footage, Mind

Microsoft has released a hilarious promotional video for the much-maligned Kinect Star Wars... and it's absolutely worth a watch. Featuring edited film footage and actor Chris Pratt, it's definitely a tour-de-force in raw marketing terms.

With no gameplay footage to show us, however, we're still mightily worried about this one. As rabid Star Wars fans to a man, we'd love to be proven wrong when Kinect Star Wars launches later this year.

Platform:  XBLA

Developer:  Denki

Publisher:  UTV Ignition

I fired up Quarrel this morning for one final game before sitting down to write this review.  The next time I checked the clock three hours had passed and I was about to fall behind on my deadline.  This is a game in which pirates battle ninjas, robots battle soldiers, and aliens battle vikings for territorial control using only the power of the English language.  Conflicts are won and lost at the hands of the elusive anagram, which makes itself known only to the most capable of word-weilding warriors.  It might sound like I'm being obtuse, but Quarrel is absolutely insane; fortunately, it's equally excellent.

Quarrel was announced for Microsoft's Xbox Live Arcade back in 2009.  Since then, it's been stuck in a developmental limbo of sorts, with a whole host of publishers refusing to release on the grounds that "gamers don’t buy word games”.  Denki though stuck to their guns, and we're now finally able to play the iOS hit as it was always intended: with online multiplayer support.

A detailed document Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has issued to investors outlines a number of initiatives to be put in place this coming year, with possibly the most interesting being that of an overhaul online service, freshly titled the Nintendo Network.

This new online service will completely replace the current Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection service across 3DS and the upcoming Wii U. Iwata stated that they are "aiming to establish a platform where various services available through the network for our consumers shall be connected via Nintendo Network service so that the company can make comprehensive proposals to consumers."