Torchlight two-hour trial released

Perfect World Entertainment is offering a two-hour trial version of Runic Game’s excellent action-RPG, Torchlight. After trying out the game for a few hours, players will then be prompted to purchase the game for $19.99. I can tell you that you don’t need two hours with this game to know that it is a lot of fun and worth a mere $20, but for those that don’t want to believe me, you can grab the demo at torchlight.perfectworld.com.

If you need more proof, you can check out my ill-prepaired and executed review of the game.

Dragon Age DLC in Dec.

Most of us haven’t even scratched the surface of BioWare’s Dragon Age: Origins, and yet BioWare seems overly anxious to gives us more content to play. The company is kind of like an overly excited parent rushing their child through presents on Christmas morning. Meanwhile, we’re still trying to enjoy the original game’s various nuances and secrets.

But despite that, BioWare is moving forward with downloadable content in Dec. The first bit of DLC, Return to Ostagar, allows players to go on a quest to collect the mighty arms and armor of the once great King Cailan in Ostagar, the site of the Grey Wardens’ darkest hour. Besides these mythical arms and weapons, players will learn the secrets of Ferelden’s fallen king. Players will discover King Cailan’s secret political agenda and go behind enemy lines to revisit a place that many believed was forever lost to history. This location is particularly forboding because it was here that the Grey Wardens were almost wiped out.

Return to Ostagar will be available for $4.99 on the PlayStation Store, for 400 BioWare Points on the PC (yeah, BioWare points. Really) and 400 Microsoft Points on the Xbox 360 in North America. Return to Ostagar will be released this Holiday season worldwide.  Figure out what BioWare Points are by visiting dragonage.com.

Warrior Epic: Battlegrounds goes live

True Games has launched an open beta test for Warrior Epic: Battlegrounds, the online focused action RPG’s first expansion. The expansion includes brand new PVP gameplay, an all-new HUB City, a New Region (Trogken Swamps), dozens of new items and much more. This new expansion marks the first project for True Games Interactive’s new development studio in Beijing, China.

The second new studio that True Games has opened this year, the Beijing studio has been working on the latest Warrior Epic content, while the Austin, Texas studio is developing a new intellectual property. The new Beijing studio will continue to work on future updates of Warrior Epic.

Some of the key features players can expect in Warrior Epic: Battlegrounds include all new player vs. player gameplay (via all-new objective-based PVP enabled maps), a central HUB for players to meet and form groups and guilds, a new region called Trogken Swamps to explore, new quest, new monsters, new items and more.

The beta test for Warrior Epic: Battlegrounds starts today and is available to current and new players. Find out more at www.warriorepic.com.

Divinity II - Ego Draconis pre-order details

cdv Software Entertainment USA today revealed the first details on its Divinity II - Ego Draconis pre-order incentive program. Starting today, consumers who pre-order Divinity II - Ego Draconis from GameStop will receive the Blood Echelon Armor and Weapon Set - while supplies last, of course. Like you can run out of digital content? Just make more copies, people.

Anyway, the Blood Echelon is described by cdv as a select lodge of elite Dragon Slayers who have earned the highest of distinctions on the battlefield. Their elite armor and weapon set includes the Blood Echelon Armor (Blood Echelon armor is powerfully sturdy set that is also highly intimidating) and the Blood Echelon weapon (a claymore that can cut through armor like it was mere flesh.

The pre-order program is available now through January 5, 2010 and appatrently exclusive to GameStop GameStop. Incentive items will be available GameStop online or at time of pick-up starting January 5, 2010.

Divnity II - Ego Draconis will be released on January 5, 2010 in North America on the Xbox 360 and PC.

Dragon Age: Origins in stores

BioWare’s newest action RPG, Dragon Age: Origins, is now in stores and available for the PS3, Xbox 360 and Windows PC. Dragon Age present an original RPG created by BioWare, best known for creating such hits as Neverwinter Nights and Mass Effect. Dragon Age: Origins introduces a dark and gritty approach to the fantasy genre where players must make ruthless decisions and be willing to sacrifice their friends and loved ones for the greater good of mankind. Several downloadable content packs are also now available, including Warden’s Keep, The Stone Prisoner and the Blood Dragon Armor.

The Stone Prisoner gives players access to new environments, items, hours of additional gameplay and the stone golem Shale who can become one of the most powerful party members in the game. The Warden’s Keep DLC provides a new dungeon-exploring adventure, new loot including a set of ancient Grey Warden armor, a chance to gain two of six mysterious new abilities, a new base complete with merchants and a party chest to store their hard-earned items. In addition, BioWare has released the Blood Dragon Armor DLC, a set of themed armor that gives players additional protection in combat and will be available for use in both Dragon Age: Origins on the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC and in Mass Effect 2 on the Xbox 360 and PC.

Dragon Age: Origins is available today in North America on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. In Europe, Dragon Age: Origins will be released on November 6th on the Xbox 360 and PC and later in November on PlayStation 3. The game is rated M by the ESRB and 18+ by PEGI.

For more information on the game check out www.dragonage.com.

Torchlight now available

After a number of false starts and technical problems yesterday it looks like both publisher Perfect World entertainment and developer Runic Games have sorted out all the problems with the digital release of their game, Torchlight. Now users can visit both web sites and purchase the game for right around $20. In addition the game is also available via Steam.

Torchlight was developed by Runic Games, whose collective experience includes Diablo, Diablo II, Mythos, Hellgate London, and the wonderful RPG FATE. Taking a page for that latter title, Torchlight refines and improves on core elements like pets, fishing, retirement, and oodles of side quests and equipment to sort through. New to the formula are three brand new charcter classes, a much improved pet system, better fishing, even more loot, plenty of side quests, new types of weapons. and a light but compelling main storyline that revolves around the most powerful magical substance in the world: Ember.

You can get your copy of torchlight by visiting Steam, the Torchlight web site or the Perfect World site. Also worth noting is this brand new launch trailer.

Adventures To Go got up and went

Natsume announced today that its all-new strategy RPG Adventures To Go for the PlayStation Portable is now available exclusively at GameStop. It retails for an MSRP of $29.99 and is rated E for Everyone by the ESRB. In this new RPG, players take control of Finn Courtland and his band of misfits in their quest for fame and riches. Along the way, they just might have to save the world from the evil Arbitus and his band of demons.

The game uses a grid-based combat system, offers unique skills and abilities the ability to shape the game’s dungeons and challenges your liking and scads of humor and light-hearted fun. Would we expect anything but that from Natsume, whose bread and butter is Harvest Moon? I think not.