The Massive Armies of Ashes of the Singularity
If you're an RTS veteran, you've heard the promise Ashes of the Singularity makes - that you can command hundreds, or even thousands of unit - and you've heard it enough times to know that it often winds up being untrue, or simply unfun. I haven't actually played it yet to know whether it will actually be a good time, but I can say that thanks to a handful of smart design ideas, it looks like it has a real chance at delivering on the promise of making practical use of massive armadas.
Get a detailed breakdown of Ashes of the Singularity in the developer commentary above!
The Army tool is the primary reason for this. From a nicely zoomed out perspective, hundreds of units can be lassoed together and then thrown into an army in much the same way you'd ordinarily assign a control group in any other RTS. The difference is that Armies essentially behave like one unit, handling all necessary micromanagement on its own. Beam-equipped anti-armor units identify the nearest, lowest hit-point armored enemies and focus them down, more lightly armed units avoid targeting foes their weapons are ineffective against when there's a better target available, and support units move to repair damaged allies anywhere in the army automatically, even if they're outside their normal radius for doing so.
How Gotham Will Portray Mr. Freeze and Hugo Strange
Nathan Darrow's Mr. Freeze and B.D. Wong's Dr. Hugo Strange will play a major role in the second half of Gotham: Season 2, and now we have new details on their roles.
"We're taking it back to the roots of the origin story," executive producer Bruno Heller said of Mr. Freeze in an interview with TVGuide.com.
"It's about him and his wife before he became a bad guy, how he became a bad guy," he added, noting Freeze's story is one "of the heart rather than a story about technology and super-villainy." According to Heller, this tale of his "doomed romance" is sure to "make people cry."
Star Wars: Rogue One Costumes Debut at Nuremberg Toy Fair
Want to get a closer look at the costumes the rebel scum of Rogue One will be wearing in the first Star Wars anthology film?
Well, if you're in Nuremberg, you might get a chance, thanks to a display at the Nuremberg Toy Fair (via EW). The costumes for characters played by Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Donnie Yen, and Jiang Wen are being showcased to spectators.
Pictures Of Star Wars: Rogue One Costumes https://t.co/bVS8xKZS32 pic.twitter.com/iGqK0xnmGO
Game Scoop!: What Are the Best SEGA Games?
Welcome back to Game Scoop!, IGN's weekly video game talk show. This week we're discussing the best SEGA games, a dangerous new golf game, Mighty No. 9, and much more. Watch the video above or download the podcast below.
Download Game Scoop! Episode 375
Or subscribe in iTunes and never miss an episode.
Netflix Making Stretch Armstrong Series
Netflix is "stretching" its kiddie-oriented content with a series order for a Stretch Armstrong cartoon, expected to debut in 2017.
Based on a speedo-clad, stretchable toy from the '70s, the show will tell the story of teenaged Jake Armstrong and his best friends who become "Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters" after a mysterious chemical makes them, well, stretchy.
This isn't the first time someone has tried to create an on-screen adaptation of the character. A couple of years back there was talk of a live-action Stretch Armstrong movie starring real-life action figure Taylor Lautner.
Brandon Routh on how The Flash Could Impact Legends of Tomorrow:
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow continues tonight with the second hour of its two-part premiere, as we see more of the first adventures involving the eclectic, time-traveling superhero team.
On a visit to the set of the show, I spoke to Brandon Routh about how Ray Palmer/The Atom is fitting in on the team, Ray’s growing skills in combat, the threat of Vandal Savage, the potential for crossovers with The Flash and Arrow and more.
I should note this interview was done before the show debuted, and Routh was protecting a bit of information about Ray and Martin Stein (Victor Garber) having actually known each other previously.
Check out the top of the page for a video version of this interview.
USC to Start Its Own Games Publishing Program
The University of Southern California is getting into games publishing.
According to a story on Wired the university will launch its own publishing company this spring. The appropriately titled USC Games Publishing will focus on projects by students and faculty for PlayStation and Xbox consoles, as well as PC and mobile.
The move is thanks in part to USC's often stellar game design program. Projects that started on the campus include Flow (Thatgamecompany's precursor to Flower and Journey), The Unfinished Swan, and The Misadventures of P.B. Winterbottom.
New to Hulu for February
Hulu's got a ton of stuff headed your way in February, including their very own J.J. Abrams/Stephen King time travel series, 11.22.63, starring James Franco.
Plus, there's David Fincher's Zodiac, Braveheart, The Naked Gun, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Trainspotting, The Imitation Game, and more.
Check it out...
Available February 1
IGN SPOTLIGHT
- Zodiac (2007) (*Showtime)
The Division Will Get 3 Paid Expansions
Ubisoft has gone into more detail about Tom Clancy's The Division's post-launch plans.
Three paid expansions will be coming to the online shooter over the course of the year. Expansion I: Underground will let players explore the "uncharted underworld" of New York City with up to three friends. Expansion II: Survival will task players with surviving as long as possible "in a very hostile environment." No details were givien for Expansion III: Last Stand.
These three expansions will come as part of The Division's season pass, which also includes an exclusive sawed-off shotgun, full set of exclusive outfits and weapon skins, as well as unique monthly content drops and events.
Bandai Namco Rumored to Be Working on NX Games
A new rumor claims Bandai Namco is currently working on several NX games, with Super Smash Bros. planned as a launch title for Nintendo's next platform.
Dr. Serkan Koto, the CEO of Tokyo-based game industry consultant firm Kantan Games, shared the rumor on Twitter this morning, saying: "Bandai Namco is currently developing several NX titles. Smash Bros is planned to be a launch title. I am not sure about the date."
In a subsequent post, Koto elaborated on the Smash Bros. rumor, adding: "I haven't heard if it's a completely new (numbered) Smash Bros or not. Otherwise, source situation is solid."