NetherRealm expands the Injustice roster with Zatanna

NetherRealm Studios just announced yet another character joining the Injustice: Gods Among Us roster - Zatanna. Gameplay trailer shows Zatanna showing what she's capable of against Grundy...poor Grundy.

Excited to take the magic wielder to the labs? Well, you don't have to wait too long. Zatanna will cost $4.99 and will be available for download starting next week, August 13, for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

NetherRealm is one busy studio, releasing DLC charcters left and right. Just last month, they revealed Martian Manhunter during EVO 2013. Hopefully we see more support like this to last the whole year because Injustice is a surprisingly a solid fighting game that would keep both fighting gamers and DC fans happy.

You can check out Miggy's thoughts on the game in his Injustice video review here.

PS Plus for August - Hitman Absolution

It's a new month, which means a new set of freebies and discounts for PS Plus members. The Instant Game Collection gets updated once more with the addition of Hitman Absolution and four more games for the month of August. 

Along with Hitman Absolution, here are the rest of the games you get on August:

• Zen Pinball 2: Star Wars Pinball (PS3)
• Bit.Trip Presents Runner2: Future Legend of Rhythm Alien (PS3)
• Machinarium (Vita)
• Darkstalkers Chronicle: The Chaos Tower (PS3/Vita)

Just like last month, the release of the free title is in no particular order. So check out the PlayStation Store every once in awhile to see if your free games for this month is available for download.

PlayStation Store is also holding a discount on the Rayman franchise, with of course PS Plus members getting a bigger price cut.

• Rayman Origins - Original price: $19.99, Discount: $9.99, PS Plus: $5.00
• Rayman 3 HD   - Original price: $9.99, Discount: $4.99, PS Plus: $2.50
• Rayman Origins PS Vita  - Original price: $26.99, Discount: $13.49, PS Plus: $6.75
• Rayman Arena  - Original price: $9.99, Discount: $4.99, PS Plus: $2.50
• Rayman 2 Revolution  - Original price: $9.99, Discount: $4.99, PS Plus: $2.50
• Rayman 2: The Great Escape - Original price: $5.99, Discount: $2.99, PS Plus: $1.50
• Rayman  - Original price: $5.99, Discount: $2.99, PS Plus: $1.50

If you haven't given PS Plus a chance, I highly suggest you do because you will save a good chunk of your money since you'll be busy taking in everything you get out of the service. Their monthly release of free games and crazy discounts make this service difficult to ignore.

[Source: PS Plus Blog US]

BioShock Infinite DLC brings us back to Rapture

 

Irrational Games has finally revealed Bioshock Infinite's DLC. A bit late, but better late than never. Two DLC's were announced; Clash in the Clouds, and Burial at Sea story-driven DLC bringing us back underwater city Rapture.

Burial at Sea revolves around Booker and Elizabeth once again, but with a different story. The connection between the original and this story is unknown, but I'm guessing that's part of the fun and appeal to the DLC. It's a two-part story content with Burial at Sea being the first part planned for a release sometime in fall(around September). Have a look at the trailer below.

The combination of Infinite's characters in the world of Rapture makes me want to do a complete marathon of the series. The connection between the original story and the DLC content is still unknown, but knowing the people in Irrational Games, they are keeping that secret as the treat for having the added content.

The next DLC announced is simple. A challenge mode that lets you go against waves of enemies, with certain objectives to accomplish, as well as four maps to play this new mode. The usual is added, achievements, leaderboards, and extra unlocks for the game. Have a look at the trailer below.

Clash in the Clouds gets released on July 30, or sometime tomorrow.

Burial at Sea and Clash in the Clouds are both included in the Season Pass of the game.

What do you think of the DLC? Worth the long wait?

J-Stars Victory Vs

The weeaboo in me is going absolutely nuts right now. What looks to be a very nice looking Jump game is coming out in HD later this year. Formerly known as Project Versys J, this game is called J-Stars Victory Vs. Featuring famous Shounen Jump characters such as Naruto, Son Goku, Kenshin Himura and Monkey D. Luffy, it's a 3rd persion action brawler much in the same vein as the DBZ Tenkaichi games. It even looks like it's using the same graphics and environments from Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Tenkaichi.

Made in part to commemorate the 45th anniversary of Japan's weekly Jump Magazine, this has been touted to be the 'ultimate Jump game'. The game is published by Namco Bandai and will be released for PS3 and PS Vita sometime this year.

Get free games as a Gold Member with Games with Gold...if it's available in your region

During this year's E3, Microsoft revealed a new feature called Games with Gold. This new "bonus" gives Xbox Live Gold Member two free games every month. Sounds amazing right? Free games are always a good thing. I was actually excited when the news broke, until I experience an issue this July that doesn't quite make any sense. Giving away region-locked titles on the Games with Gold promo?

For the second half of July, Gold Members gets a copy of Assassin's Creed 2 for free.  From July 16 - July 31, Gold Members are given the chance to get a copy of the game into their account. On July 17, I tried getting my free account on Assassin's Creed 2, but was welcomed with this.

It boggles my mind to experience digital products to be region-locked for a specific country, but that's old news and I should have known better. Legally, they are protected since if you dig deep enough, you will get the info that Games with Gold offer is only available in specific countries. But they are quite inconsistent since I was able to pick up Fable 3(June's free game for the month), and Defense Grid(Free game for the first half of July) with no problems. So what gives?

Games with Gold free games offer available 6/10/13-12/31/13 for qualifying paid Gold members only. Xbox 360 games (selected by Xbox) available for free download from Marketplace only during specified half-month window; available games may vary by country

The Big Problem

Not getting Assassin's Creed 2 for free is fine, I can live with that. The problem is they might actually get Xbox users considering this as an incentive to get gold. Just the thought that someone might go for the Gold service for the free games but to be greeted with region-lock issues bothers me. I'm sure there are instances already were people got gold status just to get Assassin's Creed 2, or whatever game offered during that month, and finds out they can't get a copy because the offer is not available in their region. The US is free and clear of course, but Microsoft again just doesn't do the extra effort to make it clear for consumers from other countries. All we get is this small text below giving the information.

This only strengthens the idea that Microsoft only focuses on specific regions. With region-locked present in Games with Gold, specific consumers get more based on where they live really. This has always been a problem even in Sony, and it's disappointing to experience first-hand that you are not given the same amount because of location. "Get two free games a month with Xbox Live Gold", right.

A friendly reminder

Xbox Live is still a good service, but if you live outside the US, do the research first. See if the games offered in Games with Gold will work for your region. Don't get swayed by the big text saying you get free games with Gold Membership. Also, be reminded that Games with Gold is only planned until the end of this year. It's not actually an added feature with Gold...just a promo. What happens with Games with Gold in 2014 is still unknown. So for the people considering a year subscription because of the monthly games, I suggest you rethink a bit as well.