App Store Update: May 1
Every day hundreds of new apps make their debut on the App Store, and hundreds more are updated or reduced in price. We have sifted through the noise and highlighted those select few that might be worth your attention.
Note: The prices and deals compiled below are accurate at the time we published this story, but all are subject to change.
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic – ($2.99, Down from $9.99)
Three dollars for KOTOR? Three dollars? If you've never played this game, please, please do so for this cheapest price it's ever had. It's a phenomenal game that will entertain you for hours on end – all you have to do is skip buying a single cheeseburger to afford it now.
The IGN First Game for May Is…
Rock 'n' roll never dies, as Rock Band 4 looks to prove. The thrilling four-player band-simulation experience is returning for the new console generation, smarter and prettier. Join us all month long as we debut the game's biggest new features, its first batch of confirmed songs, its upgraded instruments, and much more.
And while the entire month will be full of hard-rockin' awesomeness, you'll want to particularly mark your calendar for Friday, May 15 at 12pm PT/3pm ET/8pm GMT/6am AEST (Thursday) for our one-hour world gameplay reveal of Rock Band 4, live with Harmonix in our studio. We've got Rock Band 4 swag packs to give away too!
Ultron, Zelda and Miles Freakin Davis: What Are You Up To This Weekend?
The weekend is upon us, which means we finally get three days to shrug off work an catch up on our entertainment backlogs. Zach Ryan and I sat down to discuss what we'll be playing, watching, listening to, reading, drinking, and smooching this weekend. But most imporantly, we want to know what YOU'LL be doing this weekend.
Like a lot of you, we'll be spending two and half hours with Avengers: Age of Ultron. We're all hyped to see what Joss Whedon has in store with his (presumably?) final Marvel movie. Aside from this, Zach's going to be making some headway into Friday Night Lights on Netflix, and I'm still hyped for Sunday night's combo of Mad Men and Game of Thrones.
Shadowrun Chronicles Receives Balance Update
Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown has received its first update.
According to developer Cliffhanger Productions, the update aims to fix server lag problems as well as balancing issues reported by players.
Cliffhanger has also taken this opportunity to introduce "Legend Run" events that will take place this weekend.
A Legend Run will allow players to join three of the developers - Jason Hardy, "Bull" Ratkovich, and Aaron Pavao - on a run. Future Legend Runs will feature Shadowrun creator Jordan Weisman and long-time Shadowrun author Mike Mulhivil.
The first Legend Run event happens this Saturday, May 2 at 9pm PST.
Shadowrun Chronicles: Boston Lockdown was released earlier this week; it is a strategic action game for PC based on the classic sci-fi series Shadowrun.
Not a Hero: The Best, Most Violent Game You Don’t Know About
OlliOlli developer Roll7 is among my favorite independent studios. They create imaginative, challenging, replayable action games that sink their hooks deep and explode with personality. The team's latest game, Not a Hero, initially impressed me for its Hotline Miami-esque pace and violence. Having spent more time with it, and speaking with the team, the variety in its character roster, the silliness of its story, and the complexity of its levels -- specifically the vertical relationship between buildings you'll leap between -- puts it on its own level.
Not a Hero might be the best, most violent game you don't know about. We spoke with Roll 7's Simon Bennett about what Not a Hero is all about, as well as dive into a couple new characters. Take a look.
Who is the Greatest Avenger Ever?
Everyone has their favorite Avengers story filled with iconic members of the ever-rotating superhero squad. Names like Wolverine, Iron Man, Captain America, and Spider-Man are synonymous with the word superhero.
But who are the absolute best Avengers? And for that matter... who is the worst? Cast your votes now in IGN's Avenger's Character Battle to help settle this once and for all. The face-off matches up every Avenger ever in a never-ending selection of 1 vs. 1 duels. The more votes are cast, the more the system learns which Avenger should be at the top of the list, and which would be better off forgotten. We're looking at you, Terminatrix.
NVC: Our Mario Maker Hype is Rising
Download Nintendo Voice Chat Here
IGN's Nintendo show is back, and we've got a slightly off the rails episode this week. Join host Jose Otero, Peer Schneider, and Brian Altano for some deep discussions about the world of Nintendo.
Half-Life Remake Website Is Counting Down to… Something
A website connected to the Half-Life fan remake is currently displaying a mysterious countdown.
Pictured below, the timer on BMRF.us (that's Black Mesa Research Facility), is overlaid on top of a modified Emergency Broadcast System template. It occasionally flashes images of one Half-Life's most elusive characters, the G-Man. Only static can be heard.
The countdown should reach zero on Tuesday, May 5 at 7:47am PT. Accounting for time zones, this lines up with 8:47am in New Mexico, which is the geographic location of Half-Life's Black Mesa Research Facility.
New Dragon Age DLC Announced
BioWare has announced that a new, free multiplayer expansion is making its way to Dragon Age: Inquisition.
The Dragonslayer update provides fierce new beasts for you and your party to take on. Players will be able to strengthen their Inquisition's forces with new agents: Avvar warrior Skywatcher, Zither the Virtuoso, and Raider Queen of the Eastern Seas Isabela.
It also contains an all-new Ferelden castle location.
Dragon Age: Inquisition - Dragonslayer becomes available on Tuesday May 5 for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.
Dragon Age: Inquisition was released late last year; in IGN's review we praised its "surprisingly huge, dense world."
EA Announces When it’s Holding its E3 Press Conference
Electronic Arts has announced its E3 Press Conference will take place on June 15 at 1pm PT / 4pm ET / 9pm GMT.
The news regarding the hour-long show is hardly surprising, as it's traditional for EA, Microsoft, Sony and Ubisoft to hold their major press conferences the day before the show floor opens.
Though there's no confirmation on what we should expect to see, the smart money's on more Star Wars Battlefront, Star Wars: The Old Republic and Battlefield.
It's also possible the next Mass Effect game could be revealed at long last, along with Mirror's Edge 2, Criterion's new franchise and Visceral's undisclosed Star Wars title.