Gameloft announces Dungeon Hunter 5 for release later this year
Gameloft is constantly expanding their portfolio of titles for mobile gamers everywhere. They recently released Brothers in Arms 3 for the third-person style shooters out there and a match-3 puzzle adventure called Puzzle Pets is set for January 22nd. Now we get a brief look at the 5th installment of the Dungeon Hunter series from […]
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HP announces new Pro Slate 12, Pro Slate 8 and Pro Slate 10 EE along with Duet Pen
Earlier this morning HP held a webcast announcement for some products that will be joining their portfolio. Among the news a new set of slates will be making an appearance sporting Android 4.4 KitKat, of course. The big dog on the block will be the Pro Slate 12. As the name suggests, it will be […]
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11 best Android hack and slash games
Hack and slash games bring out the primal fun in video games. The simplicity of the button mashing and the satisfaction of mowing down hundreds of adversaries is one of the core experiences of early video games. The good news is that it can be had on Android with these awesome Android hack and slash games.
Dungeon Hunter 4
[Price: Free with in app purchases]
First on our list is Dungeon Hunter 4. It’s actually an RPG game but utilizes hack and slash mechanics much like you would see in a Diablo game. You can choose between four characters, each with their own set of skills and abilities. In true hack and slash form, there are hundreds upon hundreds of enemies and bosses for you to defeat. It also features PVP, online co-op, and plenty of stuff to do.
Dungeon Quest
[Price: Free with in app purchases]
Dungeon Quest is another action RPG that plays like a hack and slash game. The graphics are reminiscent of something like Dungeon Defenders on PC and the look and feel of the game is similar to Gauntlet Legends mixed with Diablo. There are 200 floors in the dungeon that you must conquer which amounts to a decent amount of game play. You can play as a rogue, wizard, or a warrior and there are specific sets of skills and items for each one. The game also features leaderboards so you can track your progress against friends.
Eternity Warriors 3
[Price: Free with in app purchases]
Eternity Warriors 4 is a seriously popular game with over five million installations. It’s billed as an MMORPG but has more than its fair share of hacking and slashing. It has more MMORPG elements than most with guilds, co-op, and PVP but at the root of it, you’re still playing as a character who is battling hoards of bad guys. There are four kingdoms to explore, three character classes, powerful abilities, and lots of fun to be had.
Hail to the King: Deathbat
[Price: $4.99 with in app purchases]
Hail to the King: Deathbat is a hack and slash game that is officially sanctioned by Avenged Sevenfold and they even did the soundtrack for it. Awesome soundtrack aside, the game also features some cursory RPG elements, massive levels, a nightmare mode for more hardcore players, and a creepy story line. It boasts 10-12 hours of game play which is apparently doubled if you decide to take on nightmare mode. It’s simple but fun and the soundtrack is pretty decent.
Inotia 4
[Price: Free with in app purchases]
The Inotia series is a long time favorite of Android gamers because it’s been around for a long time. In Inotia 4, you can play as six different classes across 400 maps and you can even recruit mercenaries to help you along. Much like others on the list, this also has RPG elements so your character levels up and learns new abilities. The graphics are a bit more simple than other games but the button mashing and bad guy slaying is all still there.
Iron Knights
[Price: Free with in app purchases]
Iron Knights is a hack and slash game that gives you more of a hack and slash feel. There are RPG elements but the main focus here is duking it out with as many bad guys as humanly possible. The game features decent, colorful graphics, PVP mode, co-op mode, monster battle mode, and a whole bunch of loot. You can create parties of minions to summon to your aid whenever you need them and you can even summon your friends’ heroes if you need to.
Mage and Minions
[Price: Free with in app purchases]
Mage and Minions is a hack and slash game with RPG elements and perhaps its best selling point is that it can be played totally offline. The story takes you from planet to planet as you battle Ragadam and his horde of evil minions. You’ll fight everything from skeletons to robots, alients, demons, and dragons. If you want something with a lot of variety and changes in scenery then this is probably your best bet. The game play mechanics are built for mobile which is always nice too.
Order & Chaos Online
[Price: Free with in app purchases]
Order & Chaos Online is one of the most popular MMORPG experiences available on Android. It has better character customization than most games and you can play with multiple characters. There are 2500 skills in total so the customization factor is really good. There is also hack and slash game play, PVP, co-op, and 1200 quests you can enjoy. You can even get mounts. It’s a huge game with a lot of bad guys and a lot to do.
Ravensword: Shadowlands
[Price: $6.99 with no in app purchases]
Ravensword: Shadowlands is a bit older of a game but it’s still an inviting experience. It supports controllers which is for those who use hardware controllers. It also has decent graphics, a long story, and even some smaller things like the ability to change from first person to third person perspective. The combat system is a bit more involved than most and requires a block-then-strike style but there are still a ton of enemies for you to cut down.
Soulcraft 2
[Price: Free with in app purchases]
Soulcraft 2 is the next iteration of the popular Soulcraft title from way back when. In this hack and slash title, you battle tons of beasts to save the world. You can also play online or totally offline. The choice is yours. You have seven characters to choose between and the developers have promised that two additional races will be added eventually. The hack and slash mechanics are pretty basic but really isn’t that what the genre is all about?
Zenonia 5
[Price: Free with in app purchases]
The Zenonia series joins the Inotia series as one of those game series that Android gamers have been playing for years. Zenonia 5 is the latest iteration and it features most of the fun of the prior titles. The graphics are a bit more simple than others but the mechanics for a good hack and slash are there and they’re solid. You can choose between four heroes and engage in both online and offline play including a PVP mode. There are also hundreds of side quests.
Wrap up
If we missed any great Android hack and slash games, please let us know in the comments!
To see our complete list of Android apps and games lists, click here!
HP announces the Pro Slate 8 & 12: two high-res tablets with futuristic smartpens
HP has just announced two new Android-powered tablets, the 12.3-inch HP Pro Slate 12 and the 7.9-inch HP Pro Slate 8. HP has never really been known to release tablets with amazingly up to date specifications, but these two tablets actually have the potential to run quite well. Both devices are running a 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 processor, 2GB of RAM and both are only 8mm thick. One of the more interesting aspects of these tablets are the Gorilla Glass 4-covered displays, with the Pro Slate 8 bringing a resolution of 2048 x 1536 with a pixel density of 326ppi. The Pro Slate 12 has a decent resolution at 1600 x 1200 and a pixel density of 163ppi. And remember, both of these tablets have a 4:3 aspect ratio, not 16:9 that we’re used to seeing in many other Android tablets. Additionally, both tablets are running Android 4.4 KitKat, which we assume will get the update to Lollipop eventually.
HP has also included a new pen with both devices, dubbed the Duet Pen. The pen allows you to write on any surface, whether that’s paper or any other flat surface, and your writing will appear instantly on the tablet. Four super-sensitive microphones are built into the tablet that pick up ultrasonic sounds produced by the pen. This is a somewhat new technology, and we’re really excited to see how this works in everyday use.
If you’re interested in picking up either of these two tablets, you’re going to have to shell over quite a bit of money for each. The Pro Slate 8 is available for $449 and the Pro Slate 12 is a hefty $569. So, is anyone interested in either of these tablets? They seem pretty nice, but are they too expensive?
Best AT&T Prepaid Android Phones
As good at the moment as it may be to be able to buy a flagship smartphone that costs upwards of $800 at a subsidized rate, not everyone is looking to get tied down in a 2-year contractual commitment to do so. Luckily, there are a lot of decent options when it comes to buying phones off-contract and opting for a prepaid plan. Apart from a slew of prepaid carriers, major network operators like T-Mobile and AT&T also offer such devices. Today, we’ll be exploring some of the best prepaid smartphones available from AT&T.
#1 Samsung Galaxy S5
The Samsung Galaxy S5 is the best Android smartphone you can get if you decide to opt for a prepaid GO plan from AT&T. As is the case with any Samsung flagship, the Galaxy S5 packs a host of software and hardware features, including the new additions of a fingerprint scanner up front, integrated into the physical home button, along with a heart rate monitor at the back. Samsung’s TouchWiz UI on top of Android 4.4 Kitkat, which should soon be upgraded to Android 5.0 Lollipop, means that there is no shortage software enhancements either.
Of course, since you will be buying this device off-contract, you will have to pay the full price for this high-end smartphone. In the case of AT&T, that number is $649.
Specs
- 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display with 1080 x 1920 resolution
- 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 CPU
- 2GB of RAM
- 16/32GB of on-board storage, microSD expansion up to 128GB
- 16MP rear cam, 2MP front cam
- Removable 2800mAh battery
- 142 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm, 145g
- Shimmery White
- Android 4.4.2 KitKat (Lollipop update coming down the pipeline)
Read more
- Samsung Galaxy S5 review
- Samsung Galaxy S5 officially announced
- Best cases for the Samsung Galaxy S5
#2 Motorola Moto G 4G LTE
Not to be confused with the current iteration of the Moto G, the Motorola Moto G 4G LTE comes with features and specifications identical to the first generation device, while allowing you to take advantage of high-speed internet connectivity on AT&T’s 4G LTE network.
The Moto G 4G LTE will also receive Android 5.0 Lollipop soon, and while it is starting to show its age on the specifications front, it is still a fantastic option for those on a budget, with its impressive price point of just $179.99 off-contract.
Specs
- 4.5-inch LCD display with 1280 x 720 resolution
- 1.2GHz Qualcomm quad-core Snapdragon 400 CPU
- 1GB of RAM
- 3G/GSM
- 4G LTE and microSD
- 8GB and 16GB storage options
- 5MP rear cam, 1.3MP front cam
- 2070 mAh battery
- 143g weight, 129.9 x 65.9 x 11.6mm
- Removable colored backs
- Android 4.4 KitKat
Read more
#3 Asus Padfone X Mini
If you’re in the market for a smartphone and a tablet, but are on a budget, the Asus Padfone X Mini might be the answer. As is the case with most mini iterations of flagship devices, the Padfone X Mini is decidedly mid-range in its specifications, featuring a 4.5-inch display, an Intel Atom processor, 1 GB of RAM, and 8 GB of expandable storage on-board.
Of course, the great news with this device is the fact that the phone can be docked into a Padfone Station to then use it as a 7-inch tablet with a display resolution of 1280 x 800, and a 2,200 mAh battery. Granted, you can’t use it as a tablet without the phone, but with the phone features carrying over to the tablet, including making and receiving calls, this shouldn’t be too much of a problem. With an off-contract price of just $149.74, the Padfone X Mini is certainly a great option for those wanting a single device that can serve as both a phone and a tablet.
Specs
- 4.5-inch IPS LCD display, 480 x 854 resolution, 218 ppi
- Intel Atom Z2560 processor
- 1 GB RAM
- 8 GB internal storage, expandable up to 64 GB
- 5 MP rear camera, 2 MP front-facing camera
- 3G/4G LTE
- 132.1 x 66.3 x 12.7 mm, 148.8 grams
- Android 4.4.2 Kitkat
- Padfone Station: 7-inch IPS LCD display, 1280 x 800 resolution, 1 MP front camera, 2,200 mAh battery
#4 HTC Desire 610
HTC’s penchant for great design and build quality makes its way over to even its budget-friendly offerings, and that is exactly what you get with the HTC Desire 610. Even with its plastic build, the phone certainly doesn’t look or feel cheap in the hand. Also available is HTC’s signature front-facing BoomSound speakers, which may not pack as much of a punch as its more expensive siblings, but is still one of the better audio experiences you can get, especially at this price point.
The Snapdragon 400 processor performs quite well, and the Sense UI keeps things running smoothly and lag free. Except for the qHD display, the Desire 610 is a worthy competitor to the Moto G, with an equally impressive price point of just $139.99.
Specs
- 4.7 inch qHD (960×540) display
- 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 CPU
- 1 GB RAM
- 8 MP rear camera, 1.3 MP front camera
- 8GB internal storage, expandable up to 64GB
- 2040 mAh battery
- 3G/4G LTE
- 143.1 x 70.5 x 9.6 mm, 143.5 grams
- Dual front stereo speakers
Learn More:
#5 ZTE Compel
The ZTE Compel is an entry-level smartphone available from AT&T. While the specifications are decent, with its 4-inch display with 480 x 800 resolution, quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, and 1 GB RAM, what is great about this device is the fact that it can also take advantage of AT&T’s 4G LTE network for high-speed internet access.
At a price point of $69.99, the ZTE Compel is a fantastic smartphone for anyone looking for a good entry point into the world of Android.
Specs
- 4-inch TFT display, 480 x 800 resolution, 233 ppi
- 1.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400
- 1 GB RAM
- 4 GB internal storage, expandable up to 32 GB
- 3G/4G LTE
- 5 MP rear camera
- 1,820 mAh battery
- Android 4.4. Kitkat
While there a few options available, none of these smartphones are anywhere near the latest and greatest, instead mostly comprising of good mid-range and entry-level smartphones. The good news is that a lot of unlocked smartphones can work on AT&T’s network, so you do have the choice the pick one up separately and subscribe to AT&T’s Prepaid GO plans.
Looking for a good unlocked phone to bring over to AT&T’s GoPhone service? Some of the best budget-friendly choices include the following:
- Motorola Moto G 2nd gen – $180 unlocked
- Motorola Moto E – $112.99 unlocked
- LG Nexus 5 – $349 (limited (fluctuating) stock)
- OnePlus One – $300 (invite currently required, again)
None of these do it for you? Don’t forget to check out our roundups of the best Android smartphones, and the best budget-friendly smartphones currently available.
AT&T now offering unlimited calling to Mexico
America’s second largest carrier, AT&T is now offering free calling from the U.S. to Mexico. This comes after the carrier acquired Mexican telecom network Iusacell a week ago.
The carrier’s World Connect Value pack can now make unlimited number of calls to any number (even mobiles) in Mexico at no extra cost. Enabling World Connect Value on your postpaid account will cost you $5 per line and will offer international calling at very cheap rates. Not too long ago, AT&T announced a similar unlimited plan, but only limited to international texts and MMS.
“We’re always looking for opportunities to show our appreciation to our customers,” said David Christopher, chief marketing officer, AT&T Mobility. “Mexico is the most frequently dialed country among our wireless customers—and now they can call as much as they want with our enhanced World Connect Value package.”
Source: AT&T
Come comment on this article: AT&T now offering unlimited calling to Mexico
Microsoft UK cuts price of the HP Stream 7 Signature Edition to £75
If you’re in the UK and looking for a decent, cheap Windows 8.1 tablet, this deal on the HP Stream 7 Signature Edition might be what you’re looking for. Usually retailing for £99, the UK Microsoft Store has cut £24 off the asking price leaving it at just £74.99. And that includes the free 1-year subscription to Office 365, as well.
Super Bowl XLIX to be livestreamed by NBC
In what has become a tradition since 2012, the Super Bowl will be streamed online again this year. The kind gesture, which is free of charge to anyone in the US, comes courtesy of NBC — the network that started the trend of livestreaming The Big Game. For Super Bowl XLIX, set to take place on February 1st in Arizona, NBC plans to have an 11-hour block of video coverage over the internet, including pre-game analysis, the popular halftime show and an all-new episode of the primetime series The Blacklist. As Variety points out, the Peacock channel intends to heavily promote its TV Everywhere efforts during the stream, hoping to drive demand for services like the NBC Sports Live Extra app — one that typically requires a pay-TV login.
Online viewers can watch Super Bowl XLIX, between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, on NBC’s website as well the Sports Live Extra application. The latter option, however, is only going to be available for tablets, since Verizon owns the rights for smartphones streams via the NFL Mobile app. For people overseas, NFL GamePass could be a solution, both for live or on-demand streaming, but you’ll have to pay a small fee if that’s how you plan to consume the biggest game of the season.
[Image credit: Associated Press]
Source: Variety
‘Powers,’ the first PlayStation TV show launches on March 10th
When Powers failed to materialize on Sony’s PlayStation Network back in December, you were probably distracted by the company’s other, more high-profile catastrophes. Now that some of the dust has settled, however, series creator Brian Michael Bendis has taken to the PlayStation Blog to tell the world that the supernatural cop show will debut on March 10th. The first three episodes will all land on that day, with the remaining seven episodes that comprise the first season launching on subsequent Tuesdays.
If you already throw Sony $50 a year for a PlayStation Plus subscription, then you’ll get to watch the adventures of Walker and Pilgrim for free. Otherwise, the first episode will also be available online, free for anyone to watch (presumably in the hope of convincing them to shell out for a PS4 if they haven’t already). Unfortunately there’s no word – yet – if the release is limited to the US or if global PlayStation users will be able to join in, not to mention a lack of info about paid downloads for non-gamers and Xbox owners. Still, we’re looking forward to finding out more, and if you hadn’t guessed yet: everyone wants to be Netflix. Don’t be surprised when you see IHOP launch a series of gritty pancake-related dramas in 2018.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Sony
Via: Variety
Source: PlayStation Blog, Powers
What to expect from Microsoft’s next Windows 10 event
After taking big swings with Windows 8 and 8.1 — how big a miss they were is open to interpretation — Microsoft’s trying to redefine how we work with computers once more. We’re going to get a much closer look at Windows 10 at 9AM PT/12PM ET tomorrow (which we’ll be liveblogging, naturally), and all the usual suspects will be on hand to wax poetic about Windows’ next steps: There’s CEO Satya Nadella, of course, along with Windows chief Terry Myerson, mobile impresario Joe Belfiore and Xbox czar Phil Spencer. Let’s take a moment to look at what we know — and what we expect — Microsoft will show off in Redmond very soon.
A rose by any other name
You know where we’re going with this: Microsoft outed the (well-meaning, if misguided) Windows 8 back in 2012, and followed up with a solid 8.1 update about a year later. Now, here we are with Windows 10. Since it officially broke cover last September, we’ve seen a slow, inexorable current of leaks and brief updates outlining Redmond’s modified vision of computing. So, what’s on the docket for tomorrow?
Well, expect a more thorough outline of the consumer-friendly features that’ll pepper the new OS. We’re almost certainly going to get a closer look at the shape-shifting Continuum feature for one, which sadly wasn’t ready in time for the original tech preview release. In case you missed it the first time around, Continuum modifies how Windows 10 looks and feels based on how you’re trying to interact with it. Running Windows 10 on a tablet? You’ll deal mostly with those big, finger-friendly tiles and icons. It’s a totally different beast when a keyboard and mouse are added to the mix, though, as it’s back to the more traditional Windows desktop for you. Then there’s Spartan, Microsoft’s other web browser. The Verge reported earlier this month that the new, more lightweight app would live alongside Internet Explorer — which has finally been relegated to legacy/compatibility status — and features better support for note-taking with a stylus and the ability to play nice with Cortana. Throw in a slew of UI tweaks that range from the substantive (like that new spin on the Start menu) to the seemingly minute, and you’ve got the sort of high-level overview we expect from Microsoft tomorrow.
Now that the world’s techies have had ample time to put that first Windows 10 build through its paces, it’s high time for Microsoft to push out another preview build for us to tinker with (hopefully not long after the event wraps). Some techie prognosticators will also be chomping on their popcorn and waiting for word on what Windows 10 will actually cost, but that seems just a tad premature — as far as we know, Win10 is still slated for a launch later this year, and Microsoft only let official Windows 8 pricing slip a few weeks ahead of its general availability window. Still, we won’t complain if the folks in Redmond want to surprise us with a detailed pricing breakdown toward the tail end of the event. It’s nice to know where our wallets stand, right?
A better, deeper assistant
Apple’s Siri is strictly a mobile entity. Google’s Now voice-recognition and search chops are oozing into Chrome OS proper. And Microsoft? We’ve known for a long time that Cortana — its digital assistant with the familiar name — will make the leap from your Windows Phone to your desktop, and tomorrow’s likely the day we’re going to see how it all works. Of course, that’s not to say we haven’t already gotten a glimpse. Last month, WinBeta posted a video of a very early version of Cortana running on a (naturally) pre-release build of Windows 10 that works about as well as you’d expect: Some of the juiciest bits, like Xbox Music integration and navigation directions, weren’t in working order yet, but she could still take notes and fire up Skype for calls without much verbal prodding.
Still more reports claim that she’ll be baked directly into the Windows search interface, which you’ll recall now occupies its own space in the taskbar — no more jumping between the desktop and Microsoft’s beloved tile-centric UI when you need to scour your hard drive. With a debut expected in Redmond tomorrow, we just might see how much smarter Cortana has gotten since those initial leaked videos first got Her fans worked up. What’s more, ZDNet’s seemingly prescient Mary Jo Foley posited that Cortana could eventually replace the traditional search interface completely. A bold move, if true, and we sort of can’t wait for someone to usher in the age of controlling our computers by barking natural-sounding commands.
The mobile-friendly future
While it’s unclear how much of Windows 10 for mobile we’ll actually get to see tomorrow, some of the biggest changes are happening under the hood anyway. As far as Microsoft is concerned, the future of the desktop is inescapably intertwined with that of the smartphone in your pocket — a vision that’s been talked up in a big way since the introduction of the Universal app concept at the company’s Build developer conference early last year. Microsoft’s end goal? To create a single, unified app store that desktop, mobile and even Xbox users can tap into without forcing developers to craft code for each disparate platform.
And the mobile nitty-gritty? Details are still sparse, but at this point it looks like the really-quite-nice Lumia Camera app will transcend device boundaries and become a stock Windows 10 app for all Redmond-friendly gadgets. That Spartan browser will almost certainly get a shout-out too, though early reports indicate it’s not actually a Universal app — separate versions will apparently be available to desktops and mobile devices. Meanwhile, early appearances by devices like the Lumia 532 suggest that the version of Windows 10 meant for your phone will be called… Windows 10. Anticlimactic, sure, but if true, the name speaks to the sort of unity that Microsoft has been keen to craft among all its devices. After all, if your Windows Phone and your Surface tablet can run the same apps as the tower sitting on the desk in your office, why differentiate between platforms? Like Steve Ballmer famously declared, we’re quickly approaching the age of One Microsoft, not just in corporate structure, but also in a sweeping ecosystem that encompasses most (if not all) of the bits of silicon on you rely on daily.
Make no mistake: Microsoft’s mobile ambitions will definitely get some time in the spotlight tomorrow, but don’t be surprised if the company saves some juicy tidbits for MWC come early March. Don’t fret: You might get a taste of the phone-flavored Windows 10 before yet another trade show rolls around. ZDNet chimed in earlier today with word of a preview program that’s due to kick off (if everything goes according to plan) sometime next month.
Gaming without boundaries
No, you read the list of guest appearances right: Xbox head honcho Spencer will be there, too. Within the past few weeks, Spencer has said that Microsoft is gearing up to show off the “best operating system we’ve ever created for gamers” on Wednesday — the sort of uber-vague corporate bombast that stokes curiosity without actually satiating it.
“This is the beginning of our discussion with our fans about bringing gaming to the Windows 10 operating system,” he noted in a video interview with Microsoft’s Xbox Wire. Very enlightening.
But really, expect him to trumpet the ability for developers to create games that play nice across multiple kinds of devices, accessible from one united store. It’s sort of a dream for certain gamers: You buy a game once and pick up where you left off (hopefully without much of a performance hit) no matter what Windows device happens to be within reach. Our fingers are crossed, but we’re not convinced he’ll get too much more detailed than that. Oh, and a bit of DirectX 12 discourse is par for the course. Given that it’s been designed to help improve gaming performance on Microsoft’s gadgets across the board, not to mention how it’ll supposedly keep your battery from being run into the ground too quickly, we don’t much mind the recap.
And then we’ve got the really pie-in-the-sky stuff. Microsoft’s also working on (or at least, gearing up to work on) a new service code-named “Arcadia” that’s reportedly meant to stream full-blown games and apps to compatible devices, though it’s probably way too early for that to get anything more than a shout-out at tomorrow’s show. There’s also word of a Microsoft “gaming helmet” of sorts referred to internally as Project B that could make an appearance onstage. Researchers at Microsoft have been plugging away at the concept for years now, and perhaps it’s finally the right time to throw down against Oculus, Samsung and Sony. We’ll see.
[Image credit: Michael Kappel/Flickr (Microsoft logo)]
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