February 27, 2007
Upper Deck has released details on the next set release for the World of Warcraft Trading Card Game: "Fires of Outland". And when we say "next", we actually mean the next-next release.
Details are still up in the air about the upcoming release of "The Dark Portal" Expansion, and the upcoming "Molten Core Raid Deck". And now Upper Deck releases teaser news of third upcoming release for the Fall?? That makes us feel a bit hollow on the insides. Upper Deck: Could we lay down some groundwork for the next 2 Spring releases before announcing a third, please?
Anyway, enough squabbling. If these Spring expansions are as good as the game's original Heroes of Azeroth content, then we'll be happy that the publisher has already signed the dotted line to produce more content for the fall.
And here are all of the official details:
"After the opening of the Dark Portal, the battle rages on and Upper Deck Entertainment Introduces….
World of Warcraft "Fires of Outland™" Booster Packs
Rush to war as the conflict is joined in Outland! The armies of Azeroth lay siege to the mysterious world, while the Burning Legion throws its might against the Stair of Destiny.
Prestige and glory await those who are bold enough to join the fray. Let your battle cry be heard as echoes of war engulf the blood-soaked world.
Heed the call!
Fires of Outland™ is the third set in the World of Warcraft® Trading Card Game, which is based upon the award-winning massively multiplayer online role playing game, World of Warcraft®.
Key Features:
- Uniquely coded rare Loot™ cards feature cosmetic upgrades for your World of Warcraft online character. New Burning Crusade content now available!
- Collect UDE Points cards with unique codes in every pack of the World of Warcraft® TCG. Enter those codes on your online account and earn special TCG cards, promotional materials, and distinct cosmetic upgrades for your online World of Warcraft® character!
- Play as your favorite class and race, including the new Draenei and Blood Elf races, and experience all the depth of World of Warcraft® in a TCG!
- Compete in Darkmoon Faire and other robust World of Warcraft® TCG Organized Play programs and win amazing prizes
Configuration:- 15 game cards & 1 UDE Points card per pack
- 24 packs per display
- 12 displays per case.
Arrival date: August 2007"
Looks like there aren't any Starter Packs for this expansion, and beyond that - that's all we know. We'll check back in with the WoW TCG when we learn more about the upcoming Into the Dark Portal expansion, and the upcoming Molten Core Raid Deck. Catch ya latah mon.
Critical Gamers Staff at
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February 26, 2007
We've sat back and enjoyed a scotch and a Valium since posting our frustrated article last week about the delay of Catan, as in the Settlers of. It turns out that there's already a new date set for the release of the new Xbox Live title: sometime in March '07.
Honestly, though, the reaffirmed release date isn't what calmed us down. It's more about the exciting details revealed in the Joystiq Interview with Big Huge Games' CEO Brian Reynolds. As it turns out, Brian is a tournament player of Settlers of Catan, which of course means that this upcoming Live release will be done with love and enthusiasm for the original title. Also, Brian was handed a very in depth set of strategic data to serve as the foundation of Catan's Artificial Intelligence code, from none other than Settlers of Catan designer Klaus Teuber.
It's great to hear that Klaus had some significant hands-on contributions to the project.
So although we're a bit dismayed that we're not amidst office wars with Catan right now, at least our outlook of the game has changed for the better. We have a feeling this isn't just hype either: Catan might be the groundbreaking adaption that lays the groundwork for a slew of Eurogames to appear on the Xbox Live service. Cant' wait, and here's hoping!
Critical Gamers Staff at
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February 23, 2007
The good folks over at BoardGameNews.com have thrown together a collection of preview snapshots for the upcoming title Age of Empires III [Funagain]. The page includes images of the fantastic looking board (see image below right), the box, and some images of the game pieces from various factions.
For those of you who don't remember early 2006 when the game was first announced (and before Eagle Games feel on hard times) Age of Empires III is set during the Age of Colonialism, when the major European powers fought to take control of the trade centers of American trade. Players must build infrastructure to harvest goods and resources in the New World to ensure they become the strongest and richest power in the region.
The good news of the day is that Age of Empires III has survived the collapse of publisher Eagle Games, which closed its doors last year. Publisher Tropical Games has now taken control of the torch and is working to bring the game to market sometime around May of this year. Nice.
Here's the game's official mass media literature:
The Company Line: It is the late 15th century and a new age is dawning. While searching for a new trade route to India, explorers have discovered a new land. The first reports tell of strange creatures, exotic people, and fabulous wealth. Captains and adventurers flock to these new lands in search of gold. They are quickly followed by colonists, soldiers, merchants, and missionaries all seeking wealth of one kind or another. Colonies begin to spring up, and soon competition among the great nations of Europe begins.
Take the role of one of Europe’s colonial powers and stake your claim in the New World. As the leader of your nation, there are many paths that lead to victory: Discover and colonize new lands; acquire trade goods that will build your economy; develop new technologies and infrastructure in your home country; build your merchant fleet to dominate the trade routes; and build your army to defend what is rightfully yours!
Age of Empires III is currently set to ship in May of 2007, and is now available to preorder from Funagain Games.
Critical Gamers Staff at
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February 22, 2007
Back in August we heard that Xbox Live was gearing up to bring some of our favorite games to their Xbox Live Service, including: The Settlers of Catan, Carcassonne, and Alhambra. Then in January the Xbox Live team announced a list of ten titles that would be released in the month of February 2007, and on that was Big Huge Games' adaptation of the Settlers of Catan.
Microsoft just announced that the title scheduled for release Wednesday (their normal release day) was delayed due to quality control issues. They didn't mention the name of the title, so we can't be certain if it was Catan, but that means we're now three Wednesdays into February and only two of the ten scheduled games have been released for Xbox Live.
Either next Wednesday is going to be a huge day for Live, with eight new releases, or Microsoft will sideline Catan for a while. Boo. Also, rumor has it that Microsoft has purposefully slowed Xbox Live releases in order to create a gaming vacuum around their latest blockbuster release Crackdown. So either Catan has been sidelined due to it being a poor implementation, or Marketing has determined that blowing crap up with a gun is better than wholesome family fun. Sigh.
We thought the success of their Uno title on the Live Service, and then the announced addition of three Eurogames to the Xbox Live service, was a sign that Microsoft might be taking the board game and social gaming scene seriously. However this latest bit of news - combined with the latest from the rumor mill - has us a bit depressed. We really hope Microsoft doesn't start a trend of skirting potentially great titles to the periphery even before they're released.
We're still hoping for the best, but now with a little less confidence.
Critical Gamers Staff at
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February 21, 2007
Publisher Fantasy Flight games has started to roll out the preview articles for their upcoming World War II epic war game Tide of Iron [Funagain].
As our Axis and Allies renaissance continues in the Critical Gamers offices, every bit of information we learn about Tides of Iron gets us pumped for an upcoming change of pace to a more tactical simulation of WWII action.
Part One of series starts off with a few unit types that you'll have hoofing-it around Western Europe. The article covers regularly infantry men, machine gun troops, and eventually gets into some of the details of Allied and Axis armor. It's nice to see that right off the bat the game contrasts the overwhelming raw power of Axis armor against the weaker but more maneuverable Allied counterparts. There seems to be plenty of gaminess to be had in those aspect.
The second article focuses on various Offensive Artillery command cards to showboat the game's command point system. Players will earn points by capturing objectives on the map, and then use those points to call in off-map artillery strikes, air support, etc. We like the fact that things don't always work out the way you want them to: the game simulates the chaos and mayhem of battle through a dice mechanic where the orders might not come through. Can your troops successfully contact and coordinate with HQ to get the Artillery to drop ordnance in the right spot? *... rolls dice*.
Sounds like it could be an complication more than a gamey simulation, but in the end we doubt it. Most of the rules seem lean enough to keep things chugging along at a good pace.
Tide of Iron is currently set to ship in April, and is available to preorder from Funagain Games.
Critical Gamers Staff at
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February 19, 2007
Rio Grande Games, publisher of many of our favorite family-friendly games out of Germany, has released Volume 8, Issue 1 of their newsletter [pdf]. You can download it digitally here. Included in the publication is information about their Spring schedule for upcoming game releases:
"In April we will release... Thurn and Taxis: for Power & Glory, Vikings, Cartagena II, Caylus Magna Carte, If Wishes were Fishes, Arkadia, Jenseits von Theben, Vikings, Ponte del Diavalo, Guatamala Cafe, Notre Dame, and Sakkara... And, we expect to release Race for the Galaxy in June or July."
You might have noticed that we substituted some ellipsis there for .. something. Wouldn't you like to know what it is? Turns out that many titles from Rio Grande Games' have recently sold out, and the publisher has updated their schedule to reflect when you should expect reprints. We've included the details on these second/third runs down below, in case your local game store is out of stock of one of them.
But first, we thought we should fill you in on the details of some of the upcoming titles from Rio Grande Games that we're most interested in. Starting with an expansion to last year's family friendly hit title:
Continue reading: "Rio Grande Games' Spring Schedule: Vikings and Thurn and Taxis Expansion"
Critical Gamers Staff at
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February 15, 2007
Rome was a fickle mistress. On one hand it was a dirty, brutal, scandalous society, and has inspired some pretty horrible gladiator movies best forgotten. On the other Rome created and inspired many great things, including the Republic form of government, organized armies, public works, streets, and a killer TV series on HBO. Note that we used the past tense - inspired - because unfortunately the HBO show has been canceled due to 'production expenses'. Yeah, we hate be the bearer of bad news, but it's true.
We're there with you: it's sad. Rome (the TV show) really gets our blood pumping every Sunday night, and there's going to be a huge void that we'll need to feed our curiosity of this fascinating society. If there were only something to replace, and some way to make it fun for the whole family, too. Less stabbing. and skin and more sporty.. and maybe some lions. Oh and food, there better be food, too. Larks' tongues. Wrens' livers. Chaffinch brains, anyone? (hint)
Continue reading: ""Colosseum" Game Details"
Critical Gamers Staff at
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February 13, 2007
Tannhäuser: it's 1949. World War I is still raging strong, and deep inside Central Europe the forces of the Reich stumble upon an ancient Relic. As it turns out this glowing shard-thing is the key to opening the door to Hell. Thirsting over absolute power, The Reich makes a move to activate the relic in hopes it'll bring an end to this bloody war once and for all.
The only thing that can stop them is a small crack team of allied soldiers who just airdropped in. Armed with firearms, grenades, and 1940's experimental weapons from the arcana, the heroes must lead an assault to stop the Reich at all costs.
Do you know where your children are?
Continue reading: "Tannhauser: English Edition Crossing the Pond this July"
Critical Gamers Staff at
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February 8, 2007
Every few months Mythic Entertainment opens its doors and the gaming journalists rush en masse to research another round of preview articles for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. We're always very excited to read each wave of content about this game, because it really does seem to be shaping up to be something special, but the last couple of preview article iterations haven't really provided us with a lot of new info. It's been a while since we've been wowed by something fresh and new.
However, this time is different. We just entered 2007 - the year that Warhammer Online is scheduled to launch. With the mammoth Springtime E3 tradeshow pushing up the daisies through freshly lade earth, the Games Developer Conference '07 in early March will pick up the slack and carry some of the of glitz and glamor itself, becoming the first major showcase of the upcoming titles for 2007. And lo and behold, Mythic Entertainment seems to have begun to take the wraps off of their baby a month before the show, not only demoing the game to members of the press, but allowing them to go hands-on with the Player versus Player gameplay of their Massive Online Role Playing Game.
Over the last week a lot of our usual PC gaming haunts have posted interviews and hands-on experiences to their websites. Our favorite so far is the the Gamespot Article with the not-so-concise title: "Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning Updated Hands-On - Bright Wizards, Magi, and More Player Versus Player." [link]. OK, so while the article's title isn't concise, the content is: the two pages are probably the quickest way to get an up to date idea of what to expect out of Warhammer Online. For instance:
Continue reading: "Warhammer Online Age of Reckoning: Early 2007 Preview Roundup"
Critical Gamers Staff at
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February 7, 2007
We just got done with another killer session of Twilight Imperium 3rd Edition [Amazon, Funagain] on Saturday. The game has us constantly on our toes, with so many dynamic and incredible rules -- not just the combat and technology stuff, but the social aspect of voting in new rules every turn during the Political Phase. The game keeps impressing us every time we play it.
And now Fantasy Flight Games has posted an update to their Twilight Imperium 3rd Edition Frequently Asked Questions (pdf). Already we've spotted a few things that we've done wrong in our four player games. There are tons of rules in here, including rulings on ambiguous action cards, political cards, and dynamic turn order based on laws and special abilities. Also, the FAQ update includes rules and Errata for the Shattered Empire [Amazon, Funagain] expansion released late last year.
So next time you go to war to slaughter entire civilizations, make sure you're doing it the right way. Enjoy!
Critical Gamers Staff at
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World of Warcraft TCG "Fires of Outland" Announced
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