Ex-1uppers update

Talk about a comeback. The Rebel FM guys at eat-sleep-game.com have had mind blowing success and donation numbers that I'm happy to be a part of. Rising from the ashes of EGM/1UP the ex-1UP employees are making waves with their new homes.

Ryan Scott debuted his first Podcast on Jan 17th with guests Karen Chu, Ryan Higgins, Andrew Fitch, Greg Ford, and Ernie P. The Geekbox hit 10,000 downloads in under 29 hours! And the first podcast was epic. I look foward to episode 2 when its released on the 28th. Follow the link below to enter a soapbox of nerddom.

http://www.geekbox.net/

Also bouncing back are the ex-1up show production crew. Now known as Area 5, they released part 1 of their first show titled "CO-OP" on Jan 21st. The first episode brings together the crew and other fallen comrades for a discussion on 2008's biggest and notable titles. Feel free to check it out while its still free and we wish them all the very best. Follow the link to have a look see.

http://area5.tv/

-Frank

Dota Version 6.59

The newest Dota version is here and have brought some pretty significant changes. Here are some of the highlights.

* Added a new subtle cooldown effect to make it a little clearer when spells are in cooldown and when they finish. This is mainly for long cooldown spells where it is sometimes difficult to tell. More work will be done in this area soon, but it needs a bit more time to make sure that anything extra is not visually intrusive. (PGRu-Unexpect3D)
* Reworked Enigma's Conversion (see details below)
* Added a new experimental mode -er (-ExperimentalRunes, see details below)
* Rebalanced Necrolyte's Heartstopper from 250/500/750/1000 AOE with 1% drain to 700/800/900/1000 AOE with 0.5/0.75/1/1.25% drain
* Abaddon now uses the Death Knight model instead of the Evil Arthas one (practically the same, but commonly requested)
* Increased model size of hexed units a bit

Here are the details to Enigma's Eidolons.

Demonic Conversion:
=====================
Splits any non-hero unit into three Eidolons, killing the targeted unit.Eidolon's can duplicate themselves once whenever they attack 6 times.

Lesser Eidolon/Eidolon/Greater Eidolon/Dire Eidolon (Same as before)

Cooldown: 35
Manacost: 170

Notes: It cannot target Level 5+ Neutral Creeps


Experimental Runes:
====================
This temporary mode changes the rune system to a more experimental one. I will be changing how -er works from version to version to try out different ideas. I don't plan on any one version of the new runes to replace the current system directly, so do not panic. Instead, it will be used as something to create discussion, spark ideas, find flaws and playtest different concepts over time. How -er works for this version: Runes spawn simultaneously on both sides at 3 minute intervals (instead of 2). Again I have no plans to make this permanant.

And Icefrog follows with a very important note....

Notes: I wanted to release this sooner rather than later because of some
important code fixes. I am planning on finishing the traditional .x9 quest for
v6.59b (along with some more balance tweaks) and then followed by TC in 6.60 if
everythings work out right.

Enjoy

-- IceFrog

Update: I'm getting lots of emails asking me what .x9 and TC are. Every 9
version there is a hidden side quest in the map. TC is the Tauren Chieftain hero
model.

A new Hero!! And the Tauren Chieftan to boot. One can only speculate what kind of stuff their going to do with the character model but I'm assuming he's still going to be a strength hero. Hope it works out. For any other improvements, you can find the rest of the changelog here http://getdota.com/changelogs/index/33






-Frank

Dawn of War II Inauguration

Finally got my desktop up and running again. Seven media dvds and six installations later, heres what I have so far.

• Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne


• The Orange Box (TF2)


• Sacred Gold


• Fallout 2


• Fallout Tactics


• Tabula Rasa

Old school stuff I know, but I've been in the mood for it. And last but certainly not the least I'm currently updating...


Hell yes!! Can't wait to jump into the multiplayer. I took the hit and went ahead and purchased the Soulstorm add-on even though I could of sworn I owned the actual retail copy but my efforts were fruitless. Nonetheless I remedied that in no time thanks to Steam's 75% off leaving Soulstorm at a measley $7.50. I'm downloading the night away.

-Frank

Twitter, the newest form of gaming news?

For those of us who scour the web in all it's forms and infinite information, reading blogs, forums and news sites, none have captured our free time as much as http://twitter.com/.

"If you aren't familiar with Twitter, it is one of those things, like MySpace, that sounds totally ridiculous and stupid when you first hear about it. But once you start using it, you realize how much fun it is."

-Eric Nuzum, Author of The Dead Travel Fast

In a nutshell, you either hate it or love it and until now Twitter has grown to a higher purpose. (for gamers anyway). Recently Sam Houston of QforQ.com fame decided to post up some Twitter URLs from game developers and video game press alike. Big name game developers have followed the calling and even started up new twitters simply because of the huge response it has recieved. If you're interested in taking a peek check out Sam's new site which needed its own website just to handle the tremendous amount of names and companies. http://gameindustrytweet.com/

Happy twittering!

-Frank

Dota Version 6.58

The latest Dota map just landed and we've got the changelog with all the details right here. It's been a while since the last update and no wonder, they dropped a huge amount of changes on us. The most notable 2 underlined here---


First major change is a complete remake of Storm Spirit.



Storm Spirit:
==============




Attack Range: 500
Strength: 17 + 1.5
Agility: 22 + 1.8
Intelligence: 23 + 2.6
Movement Speed 295



Static Remnant
-----------------


Raijin creates a remnant of himself containing his essence. The Static Remnant will release its stored energy whenever an enemy units comes near it. Lasts up to 12 seconds.

Damage: 140/180/220/260
Trigger AOE: 210
Damage AOE: 260
Cooldown: 4
Manacost: 70/80/90/100

Takes 1 second to create after cast. This is not channeling, just time delayed.


Electric Vortex
-----------------



Storm focuses his energy to rip open a vortex drawing an enemy to it. This process slows the Storm Spirit down for a brief period.

Pulls 100/150/200/250 units over 1/1.5/2/2.5 seconds.
Your movement is reduced by 50% for 3 seconds.

Cast Range: 300
Manacost: 100
Cooldown: 20

Overload
---------



Storm Spirit becomes overloaded with electrical energy whenever he casts a spell. The charge is released on his next attack as an electrical burst, dealing damage and slowing nearby units.

Slow: 50% as 80% ms
Lasts 0.6 seconds (Same stats as old overload)
Bonus damage: 30/45/60/75AOE: 275

Ball Lightning
---------------



Storm Spirit becomes enveloped with energy, losing his physical form, and travels until he depletes his mana or chooses to stop. While in this form, he deals damage to nearby units based on how far his electrical form has traversed. Damage, speed and area of effect improves per level.

Stops traveling whenever you run out of mana. Deals damage in a small area around you based on distance traveled.

Damage: 8/12/16 per 100 units traveled
Manacost: (15 + 7% of total manabase) + mana based on distance traveled (10+1% per 100 units)
Cast Range: Global
Cooldown: 0

Travel speed and damage AoE improves per level.You can cast spells like Static Remnant during your roll if you are quick enough.Specific interactions with spells/projectiles follow the same rules as Waveform does.



Undying also got a pretty sweet overhaul. Check out the specs.



Dirge:
=======

Attack Range: 100
Strength: 25 + 2.1
Agility: 10 + 0.8
Intelligence: 27 + 2.8
Movement Speed

Cast Point 0.45
Hero Class: Strength

Decay
-------



Dirge saps away the strength of enemy heroes and retains it for a period of time.

Steals 4 Strength from each hero for 21/24/27/30 seconds
Deals 30/60/90/120 Magical Damage

Manacost 70/90/110/130
Cooldown 11/9/7/5
Cast Range 625
AOE: 300

Note: Often missed, note the cooldown

Soul Rip
---------



Redirects the flow of living energy through a target friend or foe, damaging them or healing them depending on how many units are near it. 25 for each unit.

This does not hurt zombies below since they are magic immune.
This can target your tombstone.

Unit Cap: 5/10/15/20
Cooldown: 25/20/15/10
Manacost: 50/75/100/125

Tombstone
----------



Unholy powers summon a cursed tombstone. Zombies will frequently spawn near each enemy unit and attack them. Zombies have a passive that additively slow their target by 7%. Zombies cannot be controlled.

Spawn area: 400/600/800/1000
Frequency: 3
Slow Duration: 2.5 seconds

Zombie Stats:
HP: 30
Armor: 0
Armor Type: Unarmored
Magic Resistance: ImmuneDamage: 37-45
Attack Type: Pierce
Attack Speed: 1.6
Movement Speed: 375
Bounty: 5-7

Deathlust: If the target the zombie is attacking is below 100/200/300/400 hit points, it gains 50% movement and attack speed bonus.

Tombstone Duration: 15/20/25/30
Tombstone HP: 150/300/450/600
Tombstone Armor: 10
Tombstone Armor Type: Medium
Tombstone Other Stats: Magic Immune, No regen.
Tombstone Bounty: 70/90/110/130

Cooldown: 60
Cast Range: 250
Manacost: 120/130/140/150

Flesh Golem
------------



Dirge's hatred for all living beings allows him to transform into a monster. While he's transformed he carries a plague that affects nearby enemy units. Strength of the plague depends on how close the enemy is. Amplifies damage enemy units receive and reduces their movement speed (7%). When a plagued unit dies, its essence is transferred back to the Undying.

Cooldown: 90
Duration: 30
Manacost: 100

Plague Aura Damage Amplification: (old plague was 20/25/30%)
at max distance (700): 5/10/15%
at closest distance (150): 20/25/30%
In between is just an even spread between the numbers

Units that die under plague release their energy to you. Creeps heal you for 3% and Heroes for 12% of your Max HP.


And The rest of the changelog here

http://getdota.com/changelogs/index/24

A complete revamp of Blademail and Cranium Basher have also been made. Blademail now requires activation and lasts for 4 sec, while Basher recieved a recipe change.

Dawn of War 2 Beta incoming

Let us rejoice, Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War 2 beta will be hitting Steam on Jan 28th. And if you happen to own a copy of Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Soulstorm, you get a head start on the competition on Jan 21st. Announced for the beta are 4 playable races and 5 multiplayer maps. Time to go buy a copy of Soulstorm! See you guys in the beta.

-Frank

UGO aquires 1up.com

Image courtesy of Kotaku.com

This one hit too close to home. UGO Entertainment and parent Hearst Corporation have acquired 1UP and its associated sites. After the buyout came mass firings, all of which included the 1up Show production crew and the EGM staff. Among the fallen were long-time employees James Mielke, Skip Pfister, Ryan O'Donnell, Cesar Quintero and Shane Bettenhausen and new staff members including Philip Kollar, Nick Suttner, and Anthony Gallegos. There is a list of 40+ employees and we send our best wishes to them. Many of them have already fallen on their feet and started a very anticipated new podcast labeled Rebel FM. You can DL the new podcast here http://www.eat-sleep-game.com/news/ and follow some of the ex 1uppers as they bounce back and even better than ever.

-Frank

Virus Terrorists!

So my computer has come down with with a Trojan virus. Damn the web and it's spread of std-like virus'. My computer will be out of comission for a week but I'll be up and blogging in no time. So for the time being Happy New Years to everyone and the start of the new Video Game Arms race. We'll post up some NPD's soon and see who came out on top. 2009 here we come.

-Frank