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Tribes: Ascend Will Be Playable at Quake Con 2011

Dave Oshry — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 04:01:02 +0000

As I get ready to head off to Quake Con this year, it looks as if I’m in for a pleasant surprise.

The up and coming free to play iteration of one of my favorite all time series is going to be playable alongside Bethesda-Con’s other offerings. Huzzah!

Check the press release from Hi-Rez:

ATLANTA – July 13, 2011 — Today, Hi-Rez Studios announced that Tribes: Ascend will be featured at QuakeCon and playable by the public for the first time at the annual gaming convention.

Tribes is one of the most lauded brands in multiplayer gaming, with previous titles in the franchise being played by over one million people.

Tribes: Ascend is a new generation of the online multiplayer shooter, incorporating classic Tribes elements such as fast-paced, jetpack enabled combat, skiing, and vehicles, combined with teamwork and strategy. Tribes: Ascend is being designed by Hi-Rez Studios as a AAA free-to-play title.

Although the game is still in Closed Alpha, conference attendees will get the first public hands-on with Tribes: Ascend at Booth 333 of QuakeCon, held in Dallas, Texas from August 4th-7th 2011. Attendees can also register to win a limited number of keys to the Tribes: Ascend Closed Beta.

“QuakeCon has been called the Woodstock of gaming and we’ re thrilled to introduce Tribes: Ascend at this show”, says Todd Harris, Hi-Rez Studios COO. “QuakeCon has always delivered exceptional, competitive, multiplayer gaming… for free; and that’s our mission with Tribes: Ascend.”

Tribes: Ascend Will be F2P, Ski’s Up In This Sweet New Gameplay Trailer

Murray Hibble — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 12:30:16 +0000

The Tribes series has a long and noble bloodline. First released in 1998, the primary game-mechanic was initially a glitch discovered by the players. If a player used their jetpack and landed on the side of a hill, by holding down jump they could accelerate, boost off the next hill and hit their jet-pack for increased distances. This ‘skiing’ move would become a feature in the 2001 sequel and looks set to continue in Hi-Rez Studio‘s ‘Tribes: Ascend‘.

First announced at PAX East in 2011 and here on RipTen in March, this newest successor to Tribes Vengeance (by far the greatest Tribes iteration) is coming to PC and XBLA. IGN have released an exclusive Tribes trailer that showcases some of the fast and furious action that we can expect from this Unreal 3 powered game.

Tribes: Ascend is due out this Fall.

The First Tribes: Ascend Screens Fly In Hot!

Dave Oshry — Mon, 09 May 2011 23:54:06 +0000

Everyone stop what you are doing right now and look over here. No, to the left. Yes, right here.

We’ve got not one, but two new screens from the honest to goodness new Tribes game and they. look. awesome.

BEHOLD:

Lookin’ good indeed.

If you need your Tribes-like fix, why not check out Section 8: Prejudice. It’s totally Tribesy.

Stay up to date with Hi-Rez Studios and Tribes: Ascend over at their Facebook Page.

RipTen Review: Section 8: Prejudice (XBLA)

Bryce Wilson — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 10:00:58 +0000

Let me say this right now, Section 8: Prejudice is fucking awesome. When we previewed this soon to be sleeper hit not long ago, we said that it, “Looked like Halo and played like Tribes – for $15, it’s a day one buy.” Well, I’m happy to say, our minds have not changed.

A shining beacon in a market of jaded and hollow shooters, Section 8: Prejudice (S8:P from now on) is packed full of content and gameplay, but more than anything, it’s just a damn good game.

After the mediocre sales and reception of the original (full priced) Section 8 due to blatant similarities to Halo and weak features, S8:P is now a digital only title that tries to rise over the competition with new ideas, a low ($15) price point and simple, yet effective, gameplay.

Included in S8:P are a number of gameplay modes, including a fully fleshed out story mode that will easily take a day to complete, and one of the most customizable and in-depth multiplayer experiences I’ve seen since Call of Duty 4 first hit shelves. Did I mention it plays like Tribes? Because it does. And yes, that’s a good thing.

The fully formed campaign in the game is nothing new, suffering from some bland writing and forgettable characters in an all too cliched situation. Some genetically modified enemies have a major grudge against humanity and it’s now your mission to destroy them all. Go get ‘em Captain Corde.

You’re introduced to all the main gameplay elements through the campaign, and given access to a variety of destructive weapons including a nasty sniper rifle and destructive rocket launcher. If anything, you should play through the campaign if only to get yourself ready for the robust multiplayer experience. It helps.

Now, although the campaign and its missions are quite simple, it’s easily a higher quality campaign in terms of gameplay than nearly every other AAA title on the market. So, if you’re a gamer on a tight budget, that should be a huge point in favor of S8:P.

For those of you not familiar with the multiplayer (the meat of the experience) in the original Section 8 title, one of the coolest features is how you “burn in” to the battlefield. Literally dropping in like Halo 3 ODST soldiers, but without drop pods. This dynamic spawning system negates the problem that most modern shooters face. Got some fucker camping out in the back of the level? Well, see how he feels after your solid steel hulk comes crashing down upon him.

As I mentioned earlier, the single player element really learns you on all the weapons and gameplay features at your finger tips, and once you get dropped feet first into the fray it really pays to know how the seven basic weapons work.

As well as the seven stock weapons, you also have access to six secondary items, ranging from a helpful repair/medkit tool to a portable offensive mortar. Players can also upgrade their individual characters in a system very reminiscent of a modern action/RPG. You have access to ten points that can be distributed across a wide variety of attributes, including bullet damage, armor efficiency and even recharge times.

Akin to most shooters these days, you can also unlock new additions to your loadout arsenal, ranging from new armor to new ammo types. That doesn’t put new players at a disadvantage however, as even from the early levels you still have a plethora of tactical options at your disposal. Better yet, you can change your loadout at any time – just try not to get shot while doing so.

Completely tailoring your loadout to your playstyle goes from being a marketing term thrown around by publishers to a fully fledged reality in S8:P, and that becomes important in both of the multiplayer modes.

Swarm (4 player), the first of the two, is a Horde-esque tower defense mode that sees you defending a central command post against 15 minutes of enemies, but that’s no simple task to accomplish. You will be bombarded with wave after wave of tougher enemies as you try to keep your post secure and keep your friends alive.

The second mode, Conquest (32 player), is your standard base-capture “Domination” gametype mixed in with deathmatch and an awesome series of dynamic combat missions. It’s a mode all too familiar to multiplayer gamers, but it’s executed extremely well on a variety of well made maps.

Check out these two gameplay videos we made of the Swarm and Conquest modes during our original preview of S8:P that got us so hype to review it.

Throughout the multiplayer you will also be issued optional side missions, such as protecting a VIP. If completed, your team gains a significant amount of Victory Points. This is a type of in-match currency that allows you to buy new vehicles and create new structures, including AA guns that shoot down respawning players, hovercraft that you can use to gun down and run down opponents, and supply points that restock your ammo. Be warned however, all of these purchased items will “burn in” from the sky just like you will, so they too can be shot down. It’s just another tactical element to the varied gameplay of S8:P

There really is a staggering amount of content and options in S8:P, and I wont lie – at first it’s intimidating. Thankfully though, with a budget price, so much content your brain may explode, and so much balance that even a tightrope walker would be amazed; TimeGate Studios has struck digital gold and I commend them for sculpting Section 8: Prejudice into a fine experience. It’s a solid and unique model that a copycat shooter market should stand up and take notice of.

TimeGate president Adel Chaveleh famously said that ,”Content is king.” Apparently that mofo wasn’t lyin’

Here’s The Rundown:

+ Great gameplay
+ Extremely Fun and well balanced multiplayer
+ Tons of content for just $15
+ Gives me a huge dose of Tribes nostalgia
- Visuals are a tad dated
- Campaign is overly cliched

Section 8: Prejudice was developed and published by TimeGate Studios. It was released on April 20th for the Xbox LIVE Arcade for 1200 Microsoft Points, with the PC and PS3 release slated for a later date. Our copy was provided for review by TimeGate Studios. It was played for countless hours over the course of a week. It’s fucking awesome. You should buy it.

New Tribes Game Announced! No, I’m Not Talking About Section 8: Prejudice

Dave Oshry — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 17:08:59 +0000

Just when you thought Tribes was dead and all we’d ever see were spiritual successors. Hi-Rez studios has announced that Tribes: Ascend is coming this year!!

Better yet, they have teased us with this trailer:

Here’s what Hi-Rez had to say:

THE online, multiplayer FPS franchise Tribes returns. Hi-Rez Studios announces Tribes: Ascend, built using Unreal Engine 3 and featuring jetpacks, skiing, and vehicles. This is the definitive, fast-paced, athletic shooter. Available for digital download in 2011. Visit http://www.tribesascend.com for more!

I think it goes without saying that WE ARE EXCITE!

Stay tuned to RipTen for continued coverage of all things Tribes, and yes that includes Section 8: Prejudice.

Hands on With Section 8: Prejudice – Looks Like Halo, Plays Like Tribes. For $15 It’s a Day One Buy

Dave Oshry — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 03:13:37 +0000

A long time ago, in a gaming galaxy far far away, there was a game called Starsiege Tribes. It was a high flying futuristic multiplayer fragfest of the most awesome kind. Not only that, but it was easy to learn, easy to play and downright addictive. Tribes and it’s sequels remained popular amongst it’s hardcore fans for over 10 years – but since 2004 there has not been a true sequel or even a spiritual successor to the series . . . until now.

Section 8: Prejudice is Time Gate studios follow-up to it’s well received 2009 release, Section 8. It’s a futuristic FPS that focuses on high flying tower defense and using a slew of interchangable armor and weapons systems to destroy your enemies. Sound familiar? The original Section 8 was a full priced release but many people didn’t think it warranted a purchase until it became a cheaper downloadable title. I mean, how could it compete with other full priced shooters like Halo and Call of Duty?

Well, Time Gate is looking to under-promise and over-deliver this time because they’re releasing Section 8: Prejudice as a strictly downloadable title on PC, XBLA and PSN – for just $15. Not only that, but the game is more refined and packed with even more content than it’s predecessor.

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Time Gate to talk about S8P as well as spend some quality time with the game myself. Better yet, I’m going to tell you why it’s not only worth your hard earned $15, but why for Tribes fans – it’ll feel like home.

As I walked into my meeting with Time Gate studios, I was elated – perhaps it was because I’d seen how much this game resembled one of my all time favorite franchises, or perhaps it was the double espresso I’d had on the way. Regardless, I quickly made it a point to ask them one very direct question. “So, is this Tribes or what!?” Time Gate president Adel Chaveleh and game designer Mark Yetter both smiled, looked at each other, then looked back at me and smirked as they said. “Let’s just say we’re big fans of the franchise” Well, that was all I needed to hear as I picked up a controller and went to town.

If you know me, then you should know that the amount of fun I’m having with a game is directly proportional to the amount of times I scream, “Get Some!!” at the screen while playing it. Well, lets just say that this was pretty much me during my time with Section 8: Prejudice:

Yeah, I was having a good time – and it did feel like Tribes. Maybe not as high flying . . . but the elements were all there. The changing of the multitude of armor and weapons, the jetpacking, the hacking, the tower defense, the frantic gunplay, tight controls – these guys had clearly played a lot of Tribes and these guys knew I was loving every minute of Section 8: Prejudice.

The campaign is a continuation of Section 8, but I’m not going to bore you with details about Captain Alex Corde and the 8th Armored Infantry division. It’s pretty standard space marine stuff and let’s just say it will help to play the campaign mode first before diving into the multiplayer. That’s not to say the campaign isn’t fun – it’s a ton of fun. However, I don’t want to spoil any of it for you – so quit asking! I only had a short time to test out the multiplayer during my appointment with Time Gate – but wouldn’t you know it, they gave me a PC build of S8P to take home with me for my own testing. Luckily for you, that means you get to see gameplay. But first, lets talk a bit about what I’m going to show you.

First up is the 4 player co-op “Swarm” mode. Swarm mode will pit you and your teammates against waves of enemies as you fight to defend your control tower. You will have access to an array of weapons and armor and will be able to call in deployables like turrets, missile launchers, mechs and hoverbikes to assist you. You can purchase these deployables with cash awarded for enemy kills and feats of strength. Oh, and if you’re not familiar with the way you spawn or, “Burn In” in Section 8 – then prepare to love it, because it’s one of the coolest parts of the game:

I’m sure you noticed a few things. Yes, that’s how you spawn in the game every time you die. Yes, you can change your loadout and suit stats at any time. Yes, that lock-on feature is OP when it’s off cooldown. And yes, you can run guys over with your hoverbike.

Next up is “Conquest” mode. It’s a domination mode where teams will fight to hold down several control points for as long as they can. This mode is playable by up to 32 players (40 on PC) and makes for some very strategic offensive and defensive gameplay choices. Having a strong defensive hold is almost as important as taking on the enemy base and players as you fight to hack, hold and often times race to diffuse the control towers. Moreover, you’d better be careful of all those enemy AA cannons as you burn in, or you and your deployables will be shot right out of the sky:

As you undoubtetly noticed, the gameplay can get pretty hectic as you race to overtake the control points. Teams are going to have to decide quickly which roles players will take on if they want to succeed and having a well balanced team is the only way to achieve complete domination in Section 8: Prejudice.

It’s hard to describe just how much this game “feels” like Tribes – so I’m not going to bother. I’ll only tell you that it does, and that makes me damn glad. For those of you who aren’t familiar with either franchise – don’t worry, Section 8: Prejudice will provide tons of quality FPS content at a fraction of the price of other shooters. Clearly, I’m impressed – for $15, Time Gate is giving you a lot of game. If gamers don’t jump in this time around, then I don’t know what else you want from a game like S8P. Dedicated servers across all three platforms? Well actually, yeah – it’s got that too.

When I asked if there’ll also be DLC for Section 8: Prejudice – Adel looked at me and said, “Of course, and it’ll also be priced right. You sure as hell won’t see us releasing any $15 map packs”

Section 8: Prejudice will be available soon on PSN, XBLA and PC. Want to know more about S8P or see my unedited gameplay footage? Shoot me an email at Dave@RipTen.com

Spore Tribal Stage Introduced

Toni Dimayuga — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 10:36:33 +0000

EA must get a kick out of teasing the public like this, releasing information about Spore ever so slowly, like a stripper carefully removing her clothing one by one. This time, they’ve unveiled the Tribal Stage, the third in the Spore evolutionary chain. Naturally, they’ve also released some screenshots to keep folks salivating.

The Tribal Stage starts you off in a (surprise!) tribe, with a number of powers available to you depending on how you did in the Cell and Creature Stages. You’ve just discovered tools and use them for a number of tasks such as hunting, fishing, or domesticating wild animals. I wonder if discovering tools involves your tribe being inspired by a mysterious black obelisk.

Anyway, you can also buy more tools, use these to buy tribal accessories, and of course use them to make new friends or enemies with other tribes. Whichever route you take with your neighboring tribes (peaceful or aggressive), take over five to dominate the continent and form a civilization.