Bungie and Activision Publishing delivered the world-renowned, first-person action game, Destiny 2, to players across the globe last week on PlayStation 4 systems with additional, timed exclusive* content, and Xbox One (PlayStation Plus or Xbox Live Gold subscription, respectively, required for significant features). The original Destiny became the biggest new console video game franchise launch in history, and Destiny 2 surpassed …
The worldwide reveal trailer for Destiny 2 has been released!
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Activision has announced Destiny 2 will be released in 2017, and also that a major expansion for the first game will be released later this year.
More details should be known about Destiny 2 later today as Activison is holding a quarterly earnings call; a press note did offer the following:
“Activision Publishing, along with its partners at Bungie, expects to bring a large new expansion to Destiny in 2016 and to release a full game sequel in 2017,”with note 25 million players have logged more than 3 billion hours in the game to date.
The Bungie blog also offered an update on the new expansion as well as the Destiny sequel:
This week at Bungie Crimson Doubles is in full swing, but that’s not the only dance afoot.
Prior to the holiday break we mentioned a second, larger update slated for Spring. That content release will feature a significant Light increase, a bunch of new gear to earn and equip, and new challenges for PvE players seeking some more fun experiences and replayability.
Beyond that, the team is focused on delivering a large expansion later this year, and a full Destiny sequel in 2017.
As work wraps up in the weeks ahead, look for more details about the Spring content, as well as more information about our bigger projects in the months that follow.
Thanks for your patience, and thanks for playing.
Ring in the new year with Cosmic Book News!
Follow along live above as CosmicBookNews.com‘s very own Lawrence Napoli and his crew of gamers goes over the best video games of the year – as well as the awful games – and the most notable things that went down in the industry.
You can also follow along live on Twitch and join the chat room.
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ACTIVISION ANNOUNCES RECORD-BREAKING DAY-ONE FOR DESTINY: THE TAKEN KING
Most Downloaded Day-One Game in PlayStation History
More People Played Destiny on The Taken King Launch Day
Than at the Original Destiny Launch
Bungie and Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. announced today that Destiny: The Taken King broke the record for the most downloaded day-one game in PlayStation history and set a new day-one franchise benchmark for both total players and peak online concurrency, surpassing the original Destinylaunch day last September, which was itself the biggest new video game franchise launch in history.
“Destiny: The Taken King is officially the most downloaded game on day-one in PlayStation history and set a new benchmark for both total Destiny players and peak online concurrency on day-one, so it’s safe to say the Destiny franchise continues to gain momentum,” said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing. “Along with our talented partners at Bungie, we cannot wait to watch the community continue to grow and tackle the King’s Fall Raid kicking off on Friday.”
For players who are new to Destiny, everything needed to jump in is available in the Legendary Edition which includes: Destiny, Expansion I: The Dark Below, Expansion II: House of Wolves, and features The Taken King, a tremendous value for the scope of the content offered. Those who have already purchased Destiny and both expansions can purchase a digital copy of The Taken King by itself. Both Destiny: The Taken King and the Legendary Edition are available at thousands of retail stores around the world and also are available for digital download.
PlayStation gamers receive access to a host of additional content for The Taken King, including a Strike, a Crucible map, three sets of armour and an exotic weapon, timed exclusive until at least autumn 2016. Both The Taken King and the Legendary Edition include a character boost, called “Spark of Light,” a one-time increase to level 25 which is the minimum level required to play The Taken King content.
With a new storyline introducing Oryx, Crota’s vengeful father, an all-new destination, three new Guardian subclasses, a massive arsenal of new armour, weapons and exotics, new Strikes and Crucible maps, and the new ‘King’s Fall’ Raid that will put players to the ultimate test, there has never been a better time to jump in to “Become Legend,” particularly for new players beginning their journey as a Guardian. The Taken King major expansion takes players deep into the chambers of a new destination, the ‘Dreadnaught’ ship, to defeat Oryx, and his Taken Army.
The Taken King is rated PEGI 16, and is available for the PlayStation 4 computer entertainment system (PlayStation Plus required for some features), PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system and Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft (Xbox Live Gold required for some features).
Check out a new live-action trailer for the Destiny: The Taken King DLC with “Evil’s Most Wanted,” which is directed by Joseph Kosinksi (Tron, Oblivion).
You killed his son. Now Oryx, The Taken King, wants revenge. Gather your Fireteam and take on the greatest threat this universe has seen with Destiny: The Taken King on 9/15.
Featuring “Black Dog” by Led Zeppelin.
“The Destiny: The Taken King” DLC becomes available September 15th.
Taken King synopsis:
Civilization as we know it is in peril. Oryx, also known as The Taken King, has entered our solar system with the sole purpose of revenge. After the Guardians destroyed his son, Crota, his goal is to consume our worlds with the help of his corrupted army. It’s up to you to defeat the king’s evil hordes, overtake the Hive Dreadnaught ship and finally go head-to-head with The Taken King himself. The latest chapter in the Destiny series expands the universe you know and love with new locations, powerful new abilities and an all-new storyline that’s as riveting as the last.
Destiny: The Taken King brings you back to the Destiny universe, as you fight to destroy Oryx, an evil king with a hard grudge who’s determined to take down the entire solar system. It’s your job to find a way onto his Dreadnaught ship, obliterate his dark army and kill the king himself. You’ll have access to three new Guardian subclasses, a wealth of weapons, armor and other gear and powerful new abilities. Select the Warlock subclass to harness the power of an electrical storm, the Hunter subclass to carve bows from gravitational void energy or the Titan subclass to summon a flaming hammer. Enjoy an expansion of the Destiny universe with a Cabal base on Phobos and Oryx’s loot-filled fortress, the Dreadnaught. This Legendary Edition also contains Destiny, Expansion I: The Dark Below and Expansion II: House of Wolves, so you can experience the entire series.
Features:
Pre-order to upgrade your weapon arsenal with an early access weapons pack that includes a Vanguard-themed auto rifle, pulse rifle and side arm*
Legendary Edition includes Destiny: The Taken King, plus Destiny, Expansion I: The Dark Below and Expansion II: House of Wolves
Save the entire solar system from the evil Oryx, The Taken King, whose goal is to achieve revenge against the Guardians for killing his son, Crota
Access a massive arsenal of weapons, armor and other gear that will help you on your quest to defeat the king’s malicious army
Take on brand-new subclasses with new abilities — become a Warlock to use the power of an electrical storm against your enemies, take on the Hunter class to carve bows from gravitational void energy and serve as a Titan to summon flaming hammers
Explore new locations in the Destiny universe, including a Cabal base on Phobos and Oryx’s flagship, the Dreadnaught
Follow different questlines, defeat an assortment of powerful bosses and eventually capture The Taken King himself.
Watch a new gameplay launch trailer for the Destiny: The Taken King DLC, which features the music of Led Zeppelin with “Black Dog.”
Oryx smells the blood of his son on your hands, Guardians. Now The Taken King comes for us all.
“The Destiny: The Taken King” DLC becomes available September 15th.
Taken King synopsis:
Civilization as we know it is in peril. Oryx, also known as The Taken King, has entered our solar system with the sole purpose of revenge. After the Guardians destroyed his son, Crota, his goal is to consume our worlds with the help of his corrupted army. It’s up to you to defeat the king’s evil hordes, overtake the Hive Dreadnaught ship and finally go head-to-head with The Taken King himself. The latest chapter in the Destiny series expands the universe you know and love with new locations, powerful new abilities and an all-new storyline that’s as riveting as the last.
Destiny: The Taken King brings you back to the Destiny universe, as you fight to destroy Oryx, an evil king with a hard grudge who’s determined to take down the entire solar system. It’s your job to find a way onto his Dreadnaught ship, obliterate his dark army and kill the king himself. You’ll have access to three new Guardian subclasses, a wealth of weapons, armor and other gear and powerful new abilities. Select the Warlock subclass to harness the power of an electrical storm, the Hunter subclass to carve bows from gravitational void energy or the Titan subclass to summon a flaming hammer. Enjoy an expansion of the Destiny universe with a Cabal base on Phobos and Oryx’s loot-filled fortress, the Dreadnaught. This Legendary Edition also contains Destiny, Expansion I: The Dark Below and Expansion II: House of Wolves, so you can experience the entire series.
Features:
Pre-order to upgrade your weapon arsenal with an early access weapons pack that includes a Vanguard-themed auto rifle, pulse rifle and side arm*
Legendary Edition includes Destiny: The Taken King, plus Destiny, Expansion I: The Dark Below and Expansion II: House of Wolves
Save the entire solar system from the evil Oryx, The Taken King, whose goal is to achieve revenge against the Guardians for killing his son, Crota
Access a massive arsenal of weapons, armor and other gear that will help you on your quest to defeat the king’s malicious army
Take on brand-new subclasses with new abilities — become a Warlock to use the power of an electrical storm against your enemies, take on the Hunter class to carve bows from gravitational void energy and serve as a Titan to summon flaming hammers
Explore new locations in the Destiny universe, including a Cabal base on Phobos and Oryx’s flagship, the Dreadnaught
Follow different questlines, defeat an assortment of powerful bosses and eventually capture The Taken King himself
Check out a teaser above for the Destiny “The Taken King” DLC as Bungie will be revealing footage tomorrow on Twitch.
Join Bungie for a Strike against a rival Cabal invasion force inside The Taken King’s stronghold tomorrow, Wednesday, August 26th, at 11am Pacific: http://www.twitch.tv/bungie.
The Destiny: The Taken King DLC becomes available September 15th.
Taken King synopsis:
Civilization as we know it is in peril. Oryx, also known as The Taken King, has entered our solar system with the sole purpose of revenge. After the Guardians destroyed his son, Crota, his goal is to consume our worlds with the help of his corrupted army. It’s up to you to defeat the king’s evil hordes, overtake the Hive Dreadnaught ship and finally go head-to-head with The Taken King himself. The latest chapter in the Destiny series expands the universe you know and love with new locations, powerful new abilities and an all-new storyline that’s as riveting as the last.
Destiny: The Taken King brings you back to the Destiny universe, as you fight to destroy Oryx, an evil king with a hard grudge who’s determined to take down the entire solar system. It’s your job to find a way onto his Dreadnaught ship, obliterate his dark army and kill the king himself. You’ll have access to three new Guardian subclasses, a wealth of weapons, armor and other gear and powerful new abilities. Select the Warlock subclass to harness the power of an electrical storm, the Hunter subclass to carve bows from gravitational void energy or the Titan subclass to summon a flaming hammer. Enjoy an expansion of the Destiny universe with a Cabal base on Phobos and Oryx’s loot-filled fortress, the Dreadnaught. This Legendary Edition also contains Destiny, Expansion I: The Dark Below and Expansion II: House of Wolves, so you can experience the entire series.
Features:
Pre-order to upgrade your weapon arsenal with an early access weapons pack that includes a Vanguard-themed auto rifle, pulse rifle and side arm*
Legendary Edition includes Destiny: The Taken King, plus Destiny, Expansion I: The Dark Below and Expansion II: House of Wolves
Save the entire solar system from the evil Oryx, The Taken King, whose goal is to achieve revenge against the Guardians for killing his son, Crota
Access a massive arsenal of weapons, armor and other gear that will help you on your quest to defeat the king’s malicious army
Take on brand-new subclasses with new abilities — become a Warlock to use the power of an electrical storm against your enemies, take on the Hunter class to carve bows from gravitational void energy and serve as a Titan to summon flaming hammers
Explore new locations in the Destiny universe, including a Cabal base on Phobos and Oryx’s flagship, the Dreadnaught
Follow different questlines, defeat an assortment of powerful bosses and eventually capture The Taken King himself
Check out the trailer for the Destiny DLC “The Taken King” above with “We Are Guardians.”
We are Guardians. We are Hunters, Titans, and Warlocks. We have fought back the Darkness together. But now a new threat looms on the horizon: Oryx, The Taken King. Battle the greatest villain we have ever faced and begin the next Destiny adventure on September 15th. Join us and Become Legend.
Info:
SANTA MONICA, Calif.- Bungie and Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc., announced The Taken King, a major expansion and by far the largest addition to the Destiny universe yet. Building upon Destiny, the biggest new video game franchise launch in history, The Taken King grows the universe with the first full destination to be added to the game since launch, an all-new campaign, three new Guardian subclasses, a massive arsenal of new armor, weapons and exotics, new Strikes and Crucible maps, a new Raid that will put players to the ultimate test, and more. The Taken King will be available world-wide on September 15, 2015.
“The Taken King is the next evolution of the saga, kicking off another great year of Destiny,” said Harold Ryan, president of Bungie. “What’s exciting for the studio is to continue to open new experiences for our existing, passionate community and to welcome new players to Destiny. We’ve loved listening to players’ reaction so far and have provided nearly 30 updates along the way to continue to grow the universe. Our active players are still spending about three hours a day playing so it’s important we give them a world to engage with and surprise them with new activities in The Taken King in September.”
“The Taken King takes everything that was great about Destiny, and makes it even better,” said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing. “Our partners at Bungie have created something very special with this universe, and have also done a great job listening to our community as this saga continues to unfold. We are excited for the next chapter.”
For new and existing Guardians ready to jump into the Destiny universe or continuing to carve their legends in the stars, the Legendary Edition is the ultimate place to start year two and includes content and updates for: Destiny, Expansion I: The Dark Below, Expansion II: House of Wolves, and featuresThe Taken King. At launch PlayStation® gamers will also get access to a host of additional content for The Taken King, including a Strike, a Crucible map, three sets of gear and an exotic weapon, exclusive until Fall 2016.
Every Guardian class will get access to a third subclass with the purchase of The Taken King, and will be showcased through competitive multiplayer with two new modes and four new maps at the 2015 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 Expo) taking place at the Los Angeles Convention Center on June 16-18.
The Taken King is rating pending by the ESRB, and will be available for the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system (PlayStation Plus required for some features), PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system and Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft (Xbox Live Gold required for some features) on September 15, 2015.
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We’re not sure how the Dinklebot Clan will feel about this one, but Peter Dinklage has been dropped completely from Destiny.
Dinklage, known for Game Of Thrones and the recent Pixels movie, provided the voice of the Ghost AI in the game.
Now it’s learned with the release of the upcoming Taken King DLC, Peter Dinklage’s voice in the entire game has been replaced by that of Nolan North, the voice of Nathan Drake from Uncharted and many other games.
As Game Spot notes, Bungie hired Nolan North not only to play Ghost in September’s Taken King expansion, but for the franchise overall, which means Dinklage’s voiceover has been wiped completely, and North re-recorded everything.
It’s stated the script remains the name, and while specific reasons for dropping Dinklage are unknown, it’s suggested Dinklage’s take on Ghost was a bit too monotone (which might not be the actor’s fault) with North bringing in more personality.
The Destiny Taken King DLC gets released September 15th.
Check out the trailer for the next DLC for Destiny with “The Taken King.”
Destiny: The Taken King delivers the next great adventure in the Destiny universe. Oryx, The Taken King has arrived in our solar system, bringing with him a corrupted army to exact revenge on the Guardians who destroyed his son, Crota, and to consume our worlds. Arm yourself with newfound abilities, weapons, and gear. Defeat the Taken hordes. Make your way aboard the Dreadnaught, and face Oryx himself within his inner sanctum. Destiny: The Taken King launches on September 15th, 2015.
Info:
A dark shadow has fallen over our worlds. Oryx, The Taken King, is hell-bent on vengeance and is raising an army of corrupted “Taken” forces by manipulating the Darkness itself. You must find a way into his impenetrable Dreadnaught ship to defeat The Taken King before he and his dark army consume our civilization and bring our solar system to ruin.
Destiny: The Taken King, the next great adventure in the first person shooter Destiny universe, introduces a new story campaign and quests, new enemies to fight, new locations to explore, new Strikes and Crucible maps, a new Raid that will put players to the ultimate test, and more. To stand up to the challenge, players will have access to three new devastating Guardian subclasses, and a massive arsenal of weapons, armor, and gear.
Neill Blomkamp has released a pair of teaser images for something titled “The Larke.”
Blomkamp took to his Instagram and shared the following image, which also reveals “The Larke” has an Instagram page of its own featuring another image reminiscient of a video game – perhaps Destiny or Halo.
It’s presently unknown what “The Larke” is all about, though Neill Blomkamp was at one time attached to direct a Halo movie.
Neill Blomkamp’s next film is a new Alien movie; however, we are guessing “The Larke” isn’t involved and is a separate project.
Tomorrow on Twitch sees Bungie revealing Prison Of Elders for the House of Wolves DLC for Destiny.
Check out a teaser above and tune in Wednesday, May 6th at 11am PST at twitch.tv/bungie for more.
DLC Info:
The Hunt Begins May 19th.
The Reef will open to all Guardians, and you will join the allies of the Queen to destroy the traitorous Fallen from the House of Wolves. Over the course of the next month, we’ll be pulling the wraps off of all the new activities, modes, events, and gear you’ll have access to. Stay tuned to see exactly where your legend is headed next.
Expand your Destiny adventure with House of Wolves. Only the bravest Guardians will hunt down the rising Fallen threat and lay claim to the mysterious treasures of The Reef.
Destiny Expansion II: House of Wolves will be available Tuesday, May 19, 2015 on PlayStation4, PlayStation3, Xbox One and Xbox 360.
Bungie has released a trailer for their next Destiny DLC, “House of Wolves,” and announced a release date.
The Hunt Begins May 19th.
The Reef will open to all Guardians, and you will join the allies of the Queen to destroy the traitorous Fallen from the House of Wolves. Over the course of the next month, we’ll be pulling the wraps off of all the new activities, modes, events, and gear you’ll have access to. Stay tuned to see exactly where your legend is headed next.
Expand your Destiny adventure with House of Wolves. Only the bravest Guardians will hunt down the rising Fallen threat and lay claim to the mysterious treasures of The Reef.
Destiny Expansion II: House of Wolves will be available Tuesday, May 19, 2015 on PlayStation4, PlayStation3, Xbox One and Xbox 360.
Check out two epic videos from the Emerald City Comic-Con featuring different cosplayers.
The beatdownboogie YouTube channel put these together.
There are some really cool costumes ranging from Halo to Destiny to Iron Man, Thor, Marvel, Star Wars, Zelda, Warcraft and lots more.
The Emerald City Comic-Con takes place annually in Seattle Washington.
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In an update on the company blog, Bungi has announced they are banning users that have modified their consoles.
“We routinely review Banhammer actions to ensure that they are applied accurately and fairly. A review of the bans applied over the last week shows that all of the affected accounts had logged into Destiny on a modified console at some point.”
Apparently, users can crack the programming and make coding modifications to various games giving them attributes such as unlimited health and ammo, specialty bullets, etc.
I haven’t run into it with Destiny, but I believe I have with Call Of Duty: Advanced Warfare on the PS4.
Some users were getting an exorbitant amount off kills – close to the 200 mark. I’ll admit I’m not the best player, but with everyone averaging around 20-30 kills, and then some guy coming in with 168 — something isn’t adding up.
Here is a screen shot I took during one of the games while playing COD: AW:
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XBox One recently beat PS4 in sales for the first time ever for the month of November in part due to lowering the price fifty dollars on the console, and now the deals continue as tomorrow will see big savings on both Destiny and Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare.
Microsoft has launched a “12 Days Of Deals” promotion for the Holidays, with Destiny and Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare available tomorrow for just $29 at Microsoft online and retail stores.
In addition, the first 50 customers that walk into a Microsoft physical store location will be able to get each title for $19. Other stores will carry the $19 promotion as well, but are limited to only 25 copies.
The deal kicks off at 8am ET online and in various stores.
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The trailer for the Destiny DLC, The Dark Below, has been released as well as details on the PS4 and PS3 exclusives.
The Strike mission and exotic weapon Dark Below exclusives that will be available for PS4 and PS3 will not be available for XBox until at least Fall 2015.
The PS4 and PS3 exclusive Stike mission is set on Mars with “The Undying Mind.” You can step back into the coveted dangers of The Black Garden to face a timeless Vex machine-beast that has survived for ages. Prepare for firefights amidst vine-laden pillars and decaying paths in an effort to destroy the centuries-old evil.
The PS4 and PS3 exclusive exotic weapon is the 4th Horseman shotgun: Four barrels, five shots, and a sizzlingly fast fire rate will eat away at the Vex legions in short order.
Other content on the DLC includes:
• New story missions that pit you against a Hive god
• New weapons, armour, and gear to further customise your Guardian
• The ability to increase your Light level to 32, and five additional bounty slots
• Three new competitive multiplayer maps: Pantheon, Skyshock, and The Cauldron
• New cooperative Strike: The Will of Crota. Purge a twisted horror from the Cosmodrome
• An additional resident of the Tower: Eris, a resolute survivor of an ill-fated mission
• And a new six-player Raid: Crota’s End. Face him in the deepest dark
The Destiny DLC, The Dark Below, will be available December 9th for PS4, PS3, Xbox One and Xbox 360.
Destiny The Dark Below Trailer:
PS4 and PS3 exclusives:
Check out a second Density trailer for the Dark Below DLC, which becomes available December 9th.
DrCrispy93 has seen what waits for you in The Dark Below. He’s back with some sick new loot and stories to tell. Destiny Expansion I: The Dark Below is available December 9.
Check out a video about the first Destiny DLC, “The Dark Below,” which becomes available December 9th.
Full details on the DLC can be found here.
Explore what waits in The Dark Below. Expand your Destiny adventure with a wealth new weapons, armor, and gear earned in new story quests and missions. Throw down in three new competitive multiplayer arenas. Form a Fireteam and take on new cooperative challenges, including a brand new six-player Raid.
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A new DLC has been announced for Destiny with “The Dark Below,” which becomes available December 9th.
The Dark Below marks the first expansion to the universe since Destiny’s record-breaking launch in September and features all-new weapons and gear to earn through new story, co-operative and multiplayer activities.
“Destiny was created as a living universe, which has allowed us to improve the experience post launch in real-time,” Harold Ryan, President of Bungie, said in a statement. “It also gives us insight into the things players are looking for in new content. We’ve seen from feedback that people want new activities, gear and weapons and of course the immensely popular Raid. The community helps shape our development decisions and that’s really important to us.”
Destiny Expansion I: The Dark Below will feature the following:
New weapons, armor and gear to earn, including Legendary and Exotic items
Light Level cap raised to 32 and five additional Bounty slots added
New story quests and missions – after years hiding amongst the Hive shadows, a new character, Eris, has come forth bearing an ominous warning: The Hive seek to summon a god, Crota, to destroy the Earth. Find Eris in the Tower to take on special quests that include three new missions where you will increase your Light and earn new rewards
New co-operative Strike, The Will of Crota, pits you and your Fireteam against Omnigul as she works to expand the Hive army at the command of her master, Crota
Three new competitive multiplayer arenas
Pantheon – set deep within the Black Garden in an ancient Vex temple that features Vex-designed landscapes and tight corridors
Skyshock – an old interplanetary defense array that offers both vehicle and infantry engagements
The Cauldron – an abandoned Hive ritual site that offers close-quarter combat
New six-player Raid, Crota’s End, set deep within the depths of the Hellmouth
PlayStation platforms will also get access to an exclusive co-operative Strike,The Undying Mind and an exotic weapon, and more (timed exclusive until at least Autumn 2015)
Players can purchase The Dark Below individually ($19.99), or as part of the Destiny Expansion Pass ($34.99), which includes both Expansion I and Expansion II, on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One and Xbox 360.
I see I am not the only one that was thinking of Marvel Cosmic while playing the new Destiny video game.
While playing, I happend to think what an Annihilation game similar to Destiny would be like featuring the likes of Richard Rider Nova and the stellar storyline from the comics.
And while I was playing, I did come across gamers that named themselves “Star-Lord” as well.
Now a fan has taken it to a whole new level by incorporating a bit of the Guardians of the Galaxy into actual game play.
It’s nicely done!
Yesterday saw the launch of the new Destiny video game from the creators of Halo and Call of Duty.
A new promo launch trailer has been released, which can be watched below, and it’s become known the game has sold $500 million worth of sales.
In addition, Destiny is the highest-selling day one digital console release in history and the most successful new video game franchise launch of all time.
I ordered Destiny Tuesday night through the PS4 store and haven’t stopped playing since. It’s a lot of fun. The scenery is epic (and cosmic!); the story is great; playing is fun, and it’s not too hard. Peter Dinklage’s voice is featured, and I am pretty sure so is Nathan Fillion’s.
“Based on extraordinary audience demand, retail and first party orders worldwide have exceeded $500 million for Destiny,” said Bobby Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard in statement. “This industry milestone marks another blockbuster success for our company and demonstrates our unique ability to create some of the most successful entertainment franchises in the world. The success of Destiny, along with the recent introduction of Blizzard Entertainment’s Hearthstone, is further validation of our unique capabilities to create great entertainment franchises from the ground up.”
“Since the beginning, we’ve been confident that our investment and belief in Destiny would pay off. But not many people believed we’d be able to say it did so on day one,” said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing. “Destiny is officially the biggest new franchise launch in our industry’s history. It’s also the highest-selling day one digital console release in history. We have more confidence than ever that Destiny will become one of the iconic franchises of this generation and Activision’s next billion dollar brand. Most importantly, it’s just a great game which we can’t stop playing. A big thanks to our incredibly talented team and partners who helped make this happen; most importantly, our partners at Bungie.”
Joseph Kosinksi, director on the likes of Tron and Oblivion, has directed a live-action trailer for the Destiny video game which also features the Led Zeppelin tune “Immigrant song” as well as the voice of Game of Thrones star Peter Dinklage.
A fireteam heads out on an epic, action-packed road trip across our Solar System to face our enemies, take back what is ours and, in the end, Become Legend.
Destiny will be available September 9th for PS4, PS3, Xbox One and XBox 360.
From the Creators of Halo and the company that brought you Call of Duty. In Destiny you are a Guardian of the last city on Earth, able to wield incredible power. Explore the ancient ruins of our solar system, from the red dunes of Mars to the lush jungles of Venus. Defeat Earth’s enemies. Reclaim all that we have lost. Become legend.
Embark on an epic action adventure with rich cinematic storytelling where you unravel the mysteries of our universe and reclaim what we lost at the fall of our Golden Age. The nextevolution of the first-person action genre that provides an unprecedented combination of storytelling, cooperative, competitive and public gameplay, and personal activities that are all seamlessly woven into an expansive, persistent online world. Venture out alone or join up with friends. The choice is yours. Personalize and upgrade every aspect of how you look and fight with a nearly limitless combination of armor, weapons and visual customizations. Take your upgraded character into every mode, including campaign, cooperative, social, public and competitive multiplayer. High above the City, in the Hall of Guardians, The Vanguard keep watch over Guardians in the wild, arming the best warriors with the upgraded weapons they need to destroy our most dangerous enemies. Pre-order Destiny to gear up for day one with exclusive early access to Vanguard weapons, gear and a Vanguard player emblem.
Check out the “Planet View” trailer for Destiny as a new interactive website has been launched.
Head on over to DestinyPlanetView.com to walk through the Moon, Mars, and Venus of Destiny, using Google’s familiar exploration tools.
Destiny will be available September 9th for PS4, PS3, Xbox One and XBox 360.
From the Creators of Halo and the company that brought you Call of Duty. In Destiny you are a Guardian of the last city on Earth, able to wield incredible power. Explore the ancient ruins of our solar system, from the red dunes of Mars to the lush jungles of Venus. Defeat Earth’s enemies. Reclaim all that we have lost. Become legend.
Embark on an epic action adventure with rich cinematic storytelling where you unravel the mysteries of our universe and reclaim what we lost at the fall of our Golden Age. The next evolution of the first-person action genre that provides an unprecedented combination of storytelling, cooperative, competitive and public gameplay, and personal activities that are all seamlessly woven into an expansive, persistent online world. Venture out alone or join up with friends. The choice is yours. Personalize and upgrade every aspect of how you look and fight with a nearly limitless combination of armor, weapons and visual customizations. Take your upgraded character into every mode, including campaign, cooperative, social, public and competitive multiplayer. High above the City, in the Hall of Guardians, The Vanguard keep watch over Guardians in the wild, arming the best warriors with the upgraded weapons they need to destroy our most dangerous enemies. Pre-order Destiny to gear up for day one with exclusive early access to Vanguard weapons, gear and a Vanguard player emblem.
Press Release
Activision Publishing, Inc. Showcases Next Generation Lineup at Electronic Entertainment Expo 2014
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Skylanders Trap Team and Destiny Showcase Blockbuster Lineup
SANTA MONICA, Calif.: Activision Publishing, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Activision Blizzard, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI), is set to kick-off this year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 Expo) with a blockbuster lineup featuring the #1 and #3 videogame franchises of 2013 in the U.S., including toys and accessories, according to the NPD Group1, and what could be the biggest new videogame IP of the year. Starting Tuesday, June 10, at the LA Convention Center, the company will debut a new era for the Call of Duty® franchise with Call of Duty®: Advanced Warfare, while showcasing the newest innovative title from the popular Skylanders® brand with Skylanders Trap Team™, and the highly anticipated Destiny®. Both Skylanders and Destiny will be playable on the show floor. Activision will be located in the South Hall, booth #1647.
“This year’s E3 has been years in the making for us,” said Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing, Inc. “Each game we are showcasing is the result of our commitment to quality and innovation: our first 3-year development and our first new lead developer on the Call of Duty franchise in a decade with Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare. Our biggest innovation since we invented the Toys-to-Life category with Skylanders Trap Team. And the result of over four years of passion, partnership and investment to bring Bungie’s vision for Destiny to life. I think this is the best slate in Activision’s history and I can’t wait for gamers to get a closer look.”
Activision’s E3 Slate Includes:
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare – Developed by Sledgehammer Games, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare delivers gamers an immersive and compelling narrative, jaw-dropping visuals and, for the first time in Call of Duty, exoskeleton gameplay that will redefine how people play the game. Players become the advanced soldier enabled with the power of the exoskeleton, an advanced arsenal of never-before-seen weaponry, new abilities and new gameplay mechanics. The first Call of Duty to benefit from a three-year development cycle, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is built specifically for the next generation consoles. The game takes place in a future setting that immerses players into an emotional journey with a new cast of characters poised to set a new bar for the franchise. The title is scheduled for release on November 4 for Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft, the Xbox 360 games and entertainment system from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system, PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system and Windows PC; not yet rated by the ESRB.
Destiny – From Bungie, the creators of Halo®, and Activision, the company that brought you Call of Duty, comes Destiny, an epic, action-packed adventure set in a familiar but mysterious universe. Destiny delivers a new way to play first-person action games in a story-driven universe filled with single player, cooperative, competitive, public, and social activities, all seamlessly connected and a vast, persistent universe, creating the world’s first “Shared World Shooter.” In Destiny, gamers become Guardians of the last city on Earth, able to wield incredible powers and explore the far reaches of our solar system. The game will be available on September 9 for the PlayStation®4 system, PlayStation®3 system, Xbox One, the all-in-one games and entertainment system from Microsoft and Xbox 360. For more information, visit www.DestinyTheGame.com. For exclusive updates, follow the official Destiny social channels at www.facebook.com/DestinyTheGame and @DestinyTheGame on Twitter, and interact directly with the developers at www.Bungie.net.
Skylanders Trap Team – Developer Toys for Bob, creators of the Toys-to-Life™ phenomenon, return with another exciting innovation with Skylanders Trap Team. The newest installment to the Skylanders franchise will reverse the magic of bringing toys-to-life, letting kids take characters out of the digital world and bring them into the physical world. In Skylanders Trap Team, Portal Masters seek out and defeat the most wanted villains in all of Skylands, pulling them out of the game and into living rooms by capturing them in Traps. Players can then send villains back into the game where they play as them to fight for good. Skylanders Trap Team will include the Traptanium Portal™, a new ring of magical energy that enables kids to not only bring their Skylanders to life, but also capture villains using the new Traps. Skylanders Trap Team introduces new heroes known as Trap Masters and will be available on October 5 in North America for Xbox One and Xbox 360 games and entertainment systems from Microsoft, PlayStation®4 system, PlayStation®3 system, Nintendo’s Wii™ system and Nintendo’s Wii U™ system. A completely unique adventure will be available on the Nintendo 3DS™ hand-held system.
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Here is part 2 of the Cosmic Book News video game preview podcast. You can listen to part 1 here.
Ubisoft Roundup
The panel discusses Assassin’s Creed Unity as another “annual installment” series game (not unlike CoD) which is teased for a 4th quarter release in 2014 in addition to another unnamed AC title that will probably be for last generation counsels. Dan needs some clarification as to some details of Watch Dogs. The panel discusses another very ambitious project by Ubisoft: Tom Clancy’s The Division. This game has been confirmed to NOT be releasing any time in 2014 and has even been suggested as a lucky shot if it’s ready by holiday of 2015!?! Regardless, the panel reviews what the game is about in addition to some of the unique selling points as well as a nice plug for MarcoStyleNL and his coverage of The Division.
Destiny
The panel discusses the significance of Destiny which releases September 9th 2014 and how much of a splash Bungie’s first game made out from under Microsoft’s shadow. How strong will this franchise be and how well does it differentiate itself from Halo? Casey leads the discussion surrounding gameplay, setup and story, but will this game just be another FPS? Kevin seems to not care at all for this game because he has issues regarding some sci-fi shooting mechanics. A slight disagreement arises thanks to debating the quality of recent Halo games and the suggestion that Destiny is a definitive Halo alternative.
The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt
Unfortunately, the third installment of the fantasy/action/RPG has been delayed until February of 2015 (provided it does not get pushed back any further). Casey and John lead the discussion here and tempers runs pretty high regarding this game. John and Kevin almost come to blows concerning Kevin’s inability to complete games in general and having a “valid” opinion concerning another sequel in this series in particular. As a result, this segment is slightly abbreviated. Giuseppe has a chance to explain what about The Witcher appeals to him despite not having been able to play either of the previous two games.
Batman: Arkham Knight
Rocksteady is back with a vengeance developing the franchise that made Batman cool in video games. Batman: Arkham Knight releases October 14th 2014 and the major gameplay twist is using the Batmobile to navigate Gotham City. The panel expects the same high level of satisfying combat and stealth, but how excited are we about more Riddler puzzles? Will this game feature time trials with the Batmobile? Will multiplayer from Arkham Origins return?
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2014 Video Game Preview Podcast – Part 1
Introduction
Giuseppe Jones leads his panel of “Red Knight Rises” Casey, “Better Than Buble” Dan, “Angry” John, “Gamer Girl” Emily and “Calorie Free” Kevin begin their discussion regarding a general outlook on the possible success 2014 may or may not be. Trends like game delays, announcements, console vs. PC and the impact of indie games are all mentioned as significant factors that influence the “greatness” of any particular year in gaming.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare releases November 4th 2014, but is our panel impressed by the presence of Kevin Spacey? CBN’s Kevin seems to need more from the FPS mega franchise as he discusses fixing gameplay issues to take CoD to the next level. Is the FPS formula running dry for Activision? Will fans accept futuristic warfare that isn’t Halo? And what about all those fancy bells and whistles that were revealed in Advanced Warfare’s trailer? Will players be able to actually use all that gear or will they be limited to small segments of the campaign? We’ve all been teased something visually in the past and we’ve been burned before. Kevin and Dan discuss this game’s possible similarity to Titanfall.
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Advanced Warfare, Kevin Spacey specifically
CoD is still one of the kings of games, but will Keyser Soze/John Doe/Frank Underwood infuse some extra credibility to Advanced Warfare, specifically the single player campaign? Angry John shows some love for the K-Paxter and announced his reservation for this game based on Spacey’s presence alone. Obviously, competitive FPS is all about multi-player, but death match mode alone does not a “great” (as in critical success) make. If CoD were to reinvest into a more satisfying campaign, would the overall quality of the game rise? Emily seems very frustrated with the FPS formula and most of our panel feels the game must have more than Spacey to break away from same old CoD. Giuseppe would love to see more social commentary about world issues like Private Military Contractors being expressed through games.
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Watch Dogs
Giuseppe recaps his opinion concerning the seemingly abandoned project: Rainbow 6: Patriots. Watch Dogs is one of the most anticipated games of the year and it releases May 27th 2014, but most of our panel isn’t as excited about it as Giuseppe. How similar will this game be to GTA, Assassin’s Creed or even Far Cry? The panel discusses what the game play is presenting itself to be, specifically player interaction within the game outside of team matches as well as the inclusion of tablets and smart phones as supplemental modes. Who watches the Watch Dogs?
