FarmVille How To: The Tips and Tricks of The Farming Masters [Strategy]

With around 82 million players worldwide, odds are at some point you’re going to be playing the hit Facebook game, FarmVille. Kotaku went directly to Zynga’s FarmVille team for tips and tricks on harvesting your way to the top. More

Review: Toy Soldiers

Get Somme. The First World War is a bit of a white elephant for the gaming industry. Despite the abhorrently high body count, the wealth of interesting battlegrounds and the advent of both tanks and military aircraft, no one outside the strategy genre has ever really given the “War to end all wars” a fair depiction. Read more…

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Review: Toy Soldiers

Tropico 3 Succumbs To Absolute Power In May [Expansionism]

Tropico 3’s upcoming expansion pack, Absolute Power, is your license to print money, as long as you keep it in-game. Kalpyso Media’s reboot of the classic island nation simulation Tropico last year was quite a success, garnering praise from the hardest of strategy game critics , so it’s only natural the game get an expansion. Coming in May, Absolute Power gives players even more ways to lord over their island as a benevolent ruler or oppressive tyrant. Absolute Power will add new buildings, scenery upgrades, and landmarks to the game, along with a new campaign spanning 10 missions, a Loyalist faction that worships the ground you walk on, and new Megalomania edicts that will have your citizens celebrating your rule in the streets – or else! Check out the full feature listing below for a better idea of what to expect when Absolute Power comes to Tropico 3 this May. Tropico 3: Absolute Power Features • New campaign featuring 10 missions on a separate map with 10 islands also available in sandbox mode • 6 new buildings (including Garbage Dump, Marina, Small Garage, Children’s Playground etc) and a new buildings category for current and new decorations with individual icons mode • 10 new Megalomania edicts – demonstrate your absolute power by ordering the construction of a huge golden statue of Tropico’s top export, declaring an annual festival dedicated to yourself or even print your own money! • 6 Landmarks – Build huge decorations and buildings which dominate the island landscape and make each island unique. • New faction – The new Loyalist faction are your die hard supporters and want no elections (since you’re obviously the best candidate) and want a statue of you on every corner! • Faction Disasters – Low standing with any island faction will trigger new disasters if not addressed • New Intro and Win/Lose Cutscenes • 4 Additional Avatar Costumes – 2 for male and 2 for female avatars • Beautification upgrades for the presidential palace including rooftop pool, extra towers, flags, banners and a larger balcony (which will increase the effects of balcony speeches) • More icons displaying the status of buildings and displaying input/output storage numbers for selected buildings • Prevalent faction – In every sandbox game one faction is chosen as “prevalent” on the island. Members of this faction will be especially numerous throughout the entire game and their satisfaction will be more important than usual • More Radio Announcements to guide you through Tropico’s daily life • Gravel roads – Second type of road for rural areas with decreased travel speed

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Tropico 3 Succumbs To Absolute Power In May [Expansionism]

Review: Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment

An old flame. Is it possible to exhaust a genre’s potential? There may be only seven stories to be told in the world, but in the multitudinous hues of character and scenario it’s possible to dress them in infinite ways – and so keep our bookstores stocked with novelty. Not so game systems, which in their stark mathematical and tactile nature are near impossible to disguise. Tetris is Tetris, no matter what colour the blocks or which imagery is used for the background. And so it seems feasible that some genres can be exhausted, mined of potential permutations to the extent that there are simply no truly new games to be made in that particular form. It’s an argument given credibility by the story of the strategy RPG, that Japanese sub-genre that marries chess with Tolkien and anime eyes. From its origins in the Shining Force series through Yasumi Matsuno’s Ogre Battle games up to his masterpiece, Final Fantasy Tactics, the genre quickly pressed up against its self-imposed boundaries, leaving precious little room for any newcomer to manoeuvre. Read more…

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Review: Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment

EA Sound A Little Shakier On Support For Tiger Woods [No Plans Watch]

When news of Tiger Wood’s “personal issues” first hit, EA Sports came out on the defensive, issuing a strong statement of support for their star. A couple of weeks (and a dozen ladies) later, however, things aren’t looking as solid. Here’s the original statement , sent out by EA on December 2: Our strong relationship with Tiger for more than a decade remains unchanged. We respect Tiger’s privacy, we wish him a fast recovery and we look forward to seeing him back on the golf course. Supportive! They’re rooting for the big guy, and will be backing him all the way. Thing is, that was at a time when Tiger was still a golfer. And was only facing allegations of sleeping with a handful of ladies who were not his wife. Two weeks later, though, Woods has not only taken an indefinite break from the sport (not helpful for a company making a video game based around him playing golf ), but it appears he’s slept with every porn star and cocktail waitress north of the Mexican border. Meaning he’s now less of an asset, more of a liability . And a fresh statement from EA reflects this. This was sent by an EA Sports representative to the New Britain Herald yesterday: We respect that this is a very difficult, and private, situation for Tiger and his family. At this time, the strategy for our Tiger Woods PGA Tour business remains unchanged. Hmm. Interesting. “At this time”. Carefully-worded phrase, that. It’s the real-world marketing equivalent of ” we have no plans “. Sure, the strategy at this time remains unchanged, but by January or February (or at least until after Tiger Woods Online launches early next year), well, who knows. In other words, while it’s hardly an outright sacking, it’s also no longer a guarantee that Tiger will be the face of EA Sports’ golf franchise next year. Especially given the fact that he may not even be playing golf by the time next year’s title rolls around. Lee Carvallo, now’s your chance! Drzewiecki: EA has no plans to take Tiger off PGA game [New Britain Herald, via Go Nintendo ]

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EA Sound A Little Shakier On Support For Tiger Woods [No Plans Watch]

The Colosseum: Patch 3.3 and the Arena | World Of Warcraft Meet

The Colosseum takes us inside the world of the Gladiator (Brutal, Vengeful, Merciless, Furious, and otherwise), to interview some of the top Arena fighters in the battlegroups. Our goal is to bring a better understanding of the strategy …

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The Colosseum: Patch 3.3 and the Arena | World Of Warcraft Meet

League Of Legend’s Latest Champion Raised By Cougars [Riot Games]

Meet the latest Champion to join the ranks of the League of Legends , Nidalee, a young girl raised in the Kumungu Jungle by older women seeking the company of younger men. Or cats. One of those. Nidalee the Beast Mistress found herself alone in the jungle as a young girl after her fortune-seeking parents died of a mysterious disease. Taken in and raised by a family of cougars, the cats taught the huntress how to fight tooth and nail. She’s rejoined civilization in order to protect her home from being ravaged by war, and she looks quite fetching in animal furs. Check out the official bio for Nidalee below, along with some screens of her in action. To play one of the most addictive PC strategy games around for free, visit www.leagueoflegends.com . Nidalee, The Beast Mistress There are few dwellers, let alone champions, residing in the blasted and dangerous lands that lie south of the Great Barrier. Much of that world still bears the scars of past Rune Wars, especially the mysterious Kumungu Jungle. There are long-forgotten treasures in these strange places which many risk life and limb to acquire. The champion known as Nidalee was only a young girl travelling with her treasure-seeking parents when they lost their way in the dense, rainy jungles. The jungle was unforgiving, and she watched her parents suffer agonizing final days as they fell victim to a mysterious and vicious disease. As improbable as it was for a child to survive in the inhospitable jungle by herself, she did just that. Her youthful innocence and a fortunate naïveté caused her to appeal to the beasts of that place and she was taken in by a family of cougars and raised as one of their own. She grew and somehow absorbed the raw magic of the dense wilds, evolving beyond both her human physiology and her feline affectation. On one pivotal day in her life, standing over the torn remnants of a Noxian squad of woodcutters, Nidalee chose to rejoin the so-called civilized world, to fight in the League of Legends so as to protect the vast woods from both Demacia and Noxus. Nidalee was taught to fight by her feline family, battling viciously with tool and nail. Something in her feline ways may draw you to her, but remember that she is no pussycat. Ability Descriptions Because Nidalee can transform into a cougar, she has two sets of abilities. One ability set for when she is in human form, and a different ability set when she is in cougar form. Javelin Toss/Takedown Javelin Toss: In human form, Nidalee throws a spiked javelin at her target that gains damage as it flies. Takedown: As a cougar, she grabs her opponent by the throat and attempts to bring them down, dealing more damage based on how wounded the target is. Bushwhack/Pounce Bushwhack: In human form, Nidalee lays a damaging trap for unwary opponents that, when sprung, reveals the target and reduces their armor and magic resistance for 12 seconds. Pounce: As a cougar, she pounces forward, dealing a small amount of damage when she lands. Primal Surge/Swipe Primal Surge: In human form, Nidalee channels the spirit of the cougar to imbibe herself and her allies with increased damage and attack speed for a short duration. Swipe: As a cougar, she rapidly claws enemies in front of her. Aspect of the Cougar Nidalee changes her form, switching her ability set in the process. Leveling up this skill improves Nidalee’s cougar form abilities. Prowl (passive) Moving through brush increases Nidalee’s movement speed by 25% for 2 seconds.

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League Of Legend’s Latest Champion Raised By Cougars [Riot Games]

Order 9th Company: The Roots of Terror On Steam and Receive A 20% Discount!

December. 3rd, 2009, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Software publisher Strategy First Inc, and Valve Corporation, a developer of leading-edge technology and software announce that “9th Company: The Roots Of Terror” is now available worldwide on Steam®, Valve’s leading platform for digital content distribution and management. Anyone ordering the title between Dec.3, 2009 and Dec.10, 2009 will receive a 20% discount.

“9th Company: The Roots of Terror is an exciting title whose subject matter is relevant to millions of families today.” Said Strategy First Director Emanuel Wall “We feel that this title will offer hundreds of hours of game play while at the same time reminding each of us the sacrifice that many men and women in uniform carry out on a daily basis.

“9th Company: The Roots of Terror” is an action driven Real Time Strategy game based on the actual events that took place during the Soviet Union military campaign in Afghanistan under the Reagan administration.

“9th Company: The Roots of Terror” features include:

* Warfare on two tactical levels: use the area operations map to choose your mission or explore 12 unique and highly detailed tactical maps of Afghanistan.
* Stunning 3D graphics and a spectacular physics engine guarantee a one-of-a-kind experience in destroying any mechanized unit or building.
* Merit reward and in-combat morale system for every character and advanced hit location system for mechanized units make tactical battles even more realistic.
* A complex system of tactical behavior and firepower control for mechanized infantry, assault, reconnaissance and special operations units. More than 80 different unit types.
* Nonlinear mission structure.
* System of experience gain – the crew now become more and more experienced with every battle. A possibility of forming an elite military unit is available in the requisition screen.

Order “9th Company The Roots Of Terror” http://store.steampowered.com/app/12480/

About Strategy First Inc:
Strategy First Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Silverstar Holdings is a leading developer and worldwide publisher of entertainment software for the PC. Founded in 1990, the Company is well known for its proprietary groundbreaking titles, such as the award winning Disciples, Jagged Alliance and Space Empires series of games, which are under continuing development. Simultaneously, Strategy First continues to publish many of the industry’s major titles, winning numerous awards for games such as “Hearts of Iron”, and “Galactic Civilizations.” Recent offerings include top releases such as “S.C.S. – Dangerous Waters TM” and “Space Empires V.” The Company provides a unique alternative for independent developers seeking to market their games to a worldwide audience. www.strategyfirst.com

About Silverstar Holdings:
Silverstar Holdings Ltd., based in Boca Raton, Fla., focuses on electronic game businesses and emerging wireless technologies. The company Canadian-based Strategy First Inc., and owns a stake in Magnolia Broadband, headquartered in Bedminster, N.J.

About Steam:
Steam is a leading platform for the delivery and management of games and digital content, and has pioneered its broadband services to over 20 million customers with core and casual games from today’s leading publishers and developers. For more information, please visit www.steamgames.com

HISTORYTM Great Battles Medieval Update Released !

Slitherine has listened to many of the player’s feedback following the release of latest Strategy RPG HISTORY™ Great Battles Medieval and made some great changes to the game.
We’ve even created an entire new campaign for you to play! You’ll be amazed!

The patch is available at http://www.slitherine.com/files/gbotma/gbm_patch_v1.01.exe
Changes list
• New play mode – Blood mode. In blood mode you take casualties in battles and get no free healing, so must recruit replacements. This was the most requested feature change so we did it! This makes the game much harder! You can play any campaign with this turned on or off. After each battle you must pay to recruit replacements so be very careful as you could easily end up with a situation where your army cannot win. This is not for the feint hearted.
• Complete new campaign – “The honourable Knight”! Load up the patch and you’ll see a new icon on the campaign wheel. This campaign has been designed to be played in Blood mode so beware!
• Completely new ambient sound scape. All maps have new ambient sound effects and triggers. Much much better!
• More army customization options. You can have a choice of 3 different basic colours for your men. English troops can be red, yellow or black. French can be dark blue, light blue or green. 2 new shields patterns per side have also been added. This really adds a huge amount to the army design. Very cool.
• When in blood mode you’ll see new UI button to heal individual squads that are damaged and the entire army.
• There is a fix for the NVidia drivers issue so you should be able to go back to the latest drivers and it will work. We could not get NVidia to fix their driver bug so we worked around it!
• The in battle morale bar now shows the points at which a squad will become shaken and rout. Useful for planning when to use battle cards.
• The mouse zoom rate has been improved. You can also tweak the rate from inside the user settings file.
• The Scenario editor allows you to customize enemy army uniforms more easily.
• The Scenario editor allows you to set up the banner and tile colours for enemy sides. E.g. in the new campaign the English have been coloured Black.
• Tutorial 1 – fixed a big where the players general could get killed by peasants.
• Tutorial 2 – fixed a bug where rallied enemy troops broke the flow of the tutorial.
• Hostages scenario bug. Stop routed enemies rallying and killing the hostages.
• Tourney scenario bug – this now ends when the general has lost all its men.

Tropico 3 Review: Go Bananas For El Presidente [Review]

I’ve played a lot of games over the past 29 years. I’ve been wizards, warriors, soldiers, pilots, businessmen, cops, athletes and actors. One thing I’ve never been, until now, is the despotic ruler of a tinpot Caribbean island. Tropico 3 is the third game in a series that tasks you with assuming control of small, tropical islands then building the most benevolent (or malevolent) regime you can manage with the limited resources at hand. While the second game shifted emphasis to the age of pirates, this one takes us back to the age of Batista and the Cold War. Can Tropico 3 lead its people into a new era of peace and prosperity? Or will it be taken out back and shot with the rest of the revolutionary pigs? Loved It’s Good To Be The King – I’ve got to say, having never played a Tropico game before, I love the premise. It sounds completely uninteresting, but there’s a reason power-mad little men are always fighting for total control over small Latin American countries: it’s fun. Or, at least, these games make it fun, somehow glossing over the nastier aspects of totalitarian rule, and whatever is left, brushing it off with a smile and a wink. Hands-On Rule – In Tropico 3, you’re not some ethereal presence, hovering over the land as a mouse pointer. You’re given an avatar – which can be suitably customised with big hats, cigars and medals – who can wander around the countryside on foot or in a limo, inspiring the people to do things faster/better. It’s a shame more strategy games don’t do this, as it’s nice to see your rule given a little on-screen representation outside a collection of statistics. Zeitgeist – Like I said, Tropico makes the Cold War fun. But it also does a good job of basing both its tone and indeed core gameplay on the politics of the time. The entire game hinges on your ability to interact with the US and Soviet Union, and having to both manage your daily affairs and keep the superpowers happy adds a nice piece of context to your actions. Simlish – I’m often intimidated by strategy titles that have you rule your kingdom/land via numbers and sliders. Tropico still does this, but the way it provides feedback is a big help, taking the route of more recent SimCity titles and making each inhabitant a personality, who will tell you how hungry they are, what their job situation is like, etc. Seeing angry mobs forming on street corners, or groups of workers trudging off happily to the banana plantation, is a much better way of presenting the workings of your government than raw numbers. Hated The Garden Path – With a big strategy game like this, you need a good tutorial. Problem is, Tropico 3’s is too good to start with, then not good enough for the more complicated matters of state. It could have done with smaller training wheels, but leaving them on a little longer. Click & Miss – Tropico is a fully 3D game. No grids or tiles here. Which leads to problems laying down roads and buildings, as quite often the game seems to delight in refusing to link up two perfectly compatible pieces of road, or in letting you place a building on a perfectly flat piece of ground. So, yeah, the actual process of enacting your will can be a little hit-and-miss. Shut Up – To update you on the status of your people and your island, you’ll continually be interrupted by DJ Juanito, telling you this, telling you that, all in the most grating voice an actor could possibly manage. If only the game had an option to have the man shot. Tropico 3 won’t be to everyone’s tastes, sure; at the end of the day, it’s still a “proper” strategy game, requiring you to juggle resources, micromanage the economy and make sweeping diplomatic decisions. But the way the game wraps all that up and personifies it, immersing you not just in the stats but in the world, also makes it one of the more accessible and presentable games in the genre. While it’s a little rough around the edges, Tropico 3 is a game you can’t help but be impressed with, its vision, black humour, originality and sole tenancy over a gratifying niche outweighing any issues you may have with the game’s learning curve or interface. NOTE : Throughout the month of December, Kotaku will review some of the games that we missed earlier in the year. We’re catching up. Tropico 3 was developed by Haemimont Games, and published by Kalypso Media for the PC (version played) and Xbox 360. Released on October 20 on PC, and on February 2, 2010 on Xbox 360. Retails for $40. Played all 15 “missions”, and spent considerable time in sandbox mode. Smoked two cigars, had countless dissidents shot, and consumed several glasses of expensive French brandy. Confused by our reviews? Read our review FAQ .

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Tropico 3 Review: Go Bananas For El Presidente [Review]

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