Legendary Card Game UNO! ™ Launches on Mobile Devices Worldwide

January 17, 2019 - Mattel163, a world class publishing and development studio from Mattel and NetEase, today announced that the company’s first game collaboration, UNO!, has launched for iOS and Android devices. Previously only available via Facebook Instant Games, and in select territories on mobile, the game has already seen a staggering 45 million players to date. UNO! is now officially available to players worldwide in the App Store and Google Play.

Check out the two launch trailers, via YouTube, below:





“Having already enjoyed enormous success on with UNO! on Facebook’s Instant Messenger service, we’re delighted to have collaborated with our partners NetEase and Mattel to bring UNO! to a worldwide audience today on iOS and Android devices,” said Amy Huang, CEO at Mattel163. “Players throughout the world can now enjoy all the light-hearted, competitive gameplay that the mobile version brings, including new games modes and the chance to instantly connect with friends and family.”

Playing UNO! on mobile devices opens-up a whole new way to enjoy the , featuring a brand-new rule set, inclusive tournaments, additional game modes and the ability to connect instantly with friends and family around the globe. Whether you’re sitting in the comfort of your home, on the go, an UNO! veteran or a newcomer, UNO! is the ultimate competitive family-friendly game! Ready. Set. UNO!

UNO! romantics will be pleased to learn that Cupid hasn’t forgotten them because starting February 1st, the game will celebrate Valentine’s Day with a special Rose Cup quest, encouraging players to complete daily quests.

Game Features

The Classic Game
Select Quick Play and start up a new game with classic UNO!™ rules. Play anytime, anywhere you can connect.

‘Room’ Mode
Invite friends and set up your own house rules. Play new cards like “Discard All” to remove one colour completely from your hand, or rules like “Stack” and watch your friends pile cards into their hands. This is the ultimate family-friendly mobile party experience that makes it easy for anyone to join.

‘2x2’ Mode
Find a friend and partner up to battle in 2v2 mode. Help each other reduce your hand (or your partner’s) to zero as quickly as possible to beat the other team!

Chat
Easily connect with friends, chat with others during a match or yell “UNO!” into your device when you’re about to win. Strategize with friends or cheer others on.

Real-Time Matches
Compete in tournaments and special events to win awesome rewards. Top the leaderboards and show-off to your friends!

‘Go Wild’ Mode
A no-holds-barred mode deemed the ultimate UNO!™ challenge. House rules on, two deck play and winnings up to 160 times what you put in. But beware, in this wild scenario, you win big or go home empty handed…

UNO! is the first game launch from Mattel163, the joint venture announced in January 2018 between NetEase and Mattel. Download UNO! via the App Store or Google Play

Epic MMO Boundless launches its first major update

The holidays are over but developers Wonderstruck have been working hard to provide a new year’s treat. The first major update for subscription-free MMO Boundless has now gone live! It introduces a new Guild system to the game, so meet up with your friends online (remember this can be played across both PC and PS4) and head in-game for a winter wonderland surprise.

Wonderstuck have been working hard to bring bi-weekly updates out since launch in September this year and are now pleased to announce the first major update, Empires.

Wonderstruck are showing no sign of slowing down either - the publicly-announced roadmap for Boundless includes game-expanding features such as farming, alongside content drops such as the Hunter creature, a vicious new addition to the food chain. The team have just released the much-anticipated 'LED' blocks, which will enable players to incorporate simple animations to their builds. With even more huge features yet to be announced, launch really was just the beginning for Boundless. The Empires update will introduce Guilds, enabling players in-game to organise settlements and resources much more effectively, grant various buffs to members, and improve the process of collaborative building.

Heavy Metal Machines gets vacation event that rewards gamers in “casual mode”

January 15, 2018 - Vacations are a time to kick back and relax, even in the post-apocalyptic wasteland of Heavy Metal Machines. The free-to-play car combat MOBA with a rock n' roll attitude is starting today it's HMM 2019 Kick-off event, that rewards an exclusive "2019" celebratory theme portrait to players that complete matches in it's Casual Mode. So start your engines and… relax for a bit.

To get the avatar portrait, players need only to complete 20 games on Casual Match mode, rather than the popular Custom Game mode. Casual Mode is open to players of all skill sets, bringing a greater level of interaction between veterans and newcomers.

It is not necessary to win, they just need to finish the matches either alone or with friends. But don't chill out too much! As players can't be AFK (away from keyboard), otherwise the match won't be counted. Players will be given 13 "vacation time" to complete the event and get their avatars.

Narrated by Larry Huffman, of Rock 'n Roll Racing fame, the game pits two teams controlling heavily armed characters in deadly arenas, as they race to pick up a bomb and use it to score and destroy the opponent's base.

More information about Heavy Metal Machines can be found on the official website. 

https://heavymetalmachines.com

REVIEW: Octahedron on Xbox One - Also coming to Nintendo Switch on January 17th

Review by Jon Donnis
I published a preview for Octahedron a few weeks back and I just had to play it, the games is very reminiscent to the kind of games I loved back in the 1980s. But with Octahedron you have a full on neon psychedelic experience that is truly something special to behold.

The basic mechanics of the game involve you controlling your character as he/she tries to get from one place to the another on each level. You can place platforms out of thin air and then you use them to reach different places. Sounds easy right? WRONG. This game has a steep learning curve. And although frustrating at times, it never makes you want to just give up, it just makes you want to keep trying it until you get it right, for you can see what you need to do, you just need to get it right, and when you finally do it is very satisfying.

The game has a great soundtrack which includes "chiptune trance over synthwave to progressive house" and really is a plus to the game.

In my opinion this is an "old school" game but with the modern graphical and musical twist. It will appeal most to the older gamer who perhaps remembers these types of games, and due to the nature of the game I sense that it may perhaps take too much patience for the younger gamer who wants everything given to them on a plate.

I loved the game, and it is one I will probably still be playing in a few months if not longer.

Watch the trailer below to get a good idea of the game and enjoy the awesome soundtrack.

I give the game a strong 8/10

Octahedron launched on Steam, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in March this year. And is out on Nintendo Switch on January 17th.

RuneScape reworks original skills as it reaches 18th anniversary milestone

Monday 7th January 2019, Cambridge, UK – Marking its 18th birthday, RuneScape today introduced a major update to its Mining and Smithing skills, two of the original skills that launched with the game in 2001.

The reworked skills provide players, both newcomers and veterans, with new rewards and gameplay mechanics. Four new tiers of armour and weapons have been introduced, Smithing now becomes the most valuable non-combat skill in the game, as well as the ability to craft the masterwork and trimmed masterwork armour – the best melee armours in RuneScape.

An overhaul of both skills was one of the most wanted updates highlighted by the game’s community in recent player surveys. The development team have worked closely with the community, holding two beta tests during 2018 and using player feedback to further refine the experience.


David Osborne, Lead Designer, RuneScape, said:

“Reaching our 18th anniversary is an incredible milestone and it’s apt two of the original skills that launched way back in 2001 have been given a new lease of life. The Mining & Smithing update has been a thoroughly collaborative effort with the community, with polls and beta tests providing invaluable input as we fine-tuned and polished the new mechanics and armour.”

RuneScape features 27 different skills, trainable abilities that are levelled up during play and shape each player’s in-game character. Mining enables players to extract ore from rocks, and Smithing sees players smelt ore into metal bars and crafting armour and weapons. In addition to ‘away from keyboard’ mining and advances to armour smithing, the skills update also includes four new tiers of ore and metal, and a new ore bank for storage. Full details on the comprehensive rework are available to read on the official RuneScape website.

With over 260 million accounts registered in its 18-year lifetime, RuneScape continues to look to the future with new content in the works for release in 2019, in addition to the living game’s platform expansion to mobile devices.