Dragon Age Inquisition | Gaming News | Infinite Grenade Launcher Podcast | Level 107

EA and Bioware madness on this week’s installment of IGL! Join Matt, Jason DePew stand-in Brook, and special guest, Chad from Raised by Toons, on an adventure through fantasy and space by way of Mass Effect and Dragon Age Inquisition.

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About Dragon Age: Inquisition

Dragon Age: Inquisition is an action role-playing video game developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts. The third major game in the Dragon Age franchise, Dragon Age: Inquisition is the sequel to Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age II. The game was released worldwide in November 2014 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.

The story of Dragon Age: Inquisition follows a player character known as the Inquisitor on a journey to settle the civil unrest in the continent of Thedas and close a mysterious tear in the sky called the “Breach”, which is unleashing dangerous demons upon the world. The Inquisitor is viewed by some as the ‘chosen one’, as they have a ‘Mark’ on their hand capable of closing the Breach. The Inquisitor assembles the titular Inquisition in an attempt to stop Corypheus, an ancient darkspawn, who opened the breach in an attempt to conquer Thedas.

Gameplay of Dragon Age: Inquisition is similar to its predecessors and mostly consists of elements found in a typical action role-playing game; players control their customized Inquisitor, and the companions they meet. They can defeat enemies with swords and magic, complete side quests, interact with non-playable characters, and progress through the main story. Players mainly control their protagonists in a third-person view, though a traditional role-playing game top down camera angle is also available.

After the release of Dragon Age II, the Dragon Age series was seen by some as a series with an “identity crisis”. As a result, Bioware sought to create a third Dragon Age game that combined the elements of the first two. Having begun development in 2011, the game was officially announced at the 2013 Electronic Entertainment Expo. The game’s soundtrack was primarily composed by Trevor Morris, who replaced Inon Zur, the composer of the Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age II soundtracks. Several downloadable content expansion packs were also released.

Dragon Age: Inquisition received critical acclaim upon release, with critics praising its story, voice acting, soundtrack, detailed environments, and engaging combat. The game did receive some criticism for the presence of technical issues. It was awarded over 150 year-end accolades and nominated for more, including Game of the Year and Best Role-playing awards from several gaming publications.

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Dragon Age Inquisition | Gaming News | Infinite Grenade Launcher Podcast | Level 107

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Raised by Toons Crossover Episode | Gaming News | Infinite Grenade Launcher Podcast | Level 106

Raised by Infinite Grenade Launching Toonsters! Join Matt and the guys from the Raised by Toons podcast as they unintentionally have a crossover episode where they talk about video games and cartoons based on video games… What else could you ask for?

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About Tiny Toon Adventures

Tiny Toon Adventures is an American animated comedy television series that was broadcast from September 14, 1990 through May 28, 1995 as the first collaborative effort of Warner Bros. Animation and Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment after being conceived in the late 1980s by Tom Ruegger. The show follows the adventures of a group of young cartoon characters who attend Acme Looniversity to become the next generation of characters from the Looney Tunes series.

The pilot episode, “The Looney Beginning”, aired as a prime-time special on CBS on September 14, 1990; while the series itself was featured in first-run syndication for the first two seasons. The final season was aired on Fox Kids. The series ended production in 1992 in favor of Animaniacs; however, two specials were produced in 1994.

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Raised by Toons Crossover Episode | Gaming News | Infinite Grenade Launcher Podcast | Level 106

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Mass Effect 3 | Gaming News | Infinite Grenade Launcher Podcast | Level 105

Jason has re-spawned! Join Brook, Jason and Matt in a discussion of epic proportions. This week we talk about Until Dawn, Mass Effect 3, Destiny: The Taken King and more. Tune in if you’re interested in learning how to free yourself from crystal entrapment!

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About Mass Effect 3

Mass Effect 3 is an action role-playing third person shooter video game developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts for Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii U. Officially announced on December 11, 2010, the game was released March 6, 2012 and marks the final chapter in the original Mass Effect trilogy of video games, completing the story of Commander Shepard. A Wii U version was announced during Nintendo’s conference at E3 2012. The Wii U port was developed by Australian developer Straight Right, and was released as a Wii U launch game under the title Mass Effect 3: Special Edition.

The combat system in Mass Effect 3 was changed and refined from previous titles. In particular, the cover system was improved, additional options for traversing the battlefield and scoring instant melee kills were added, more conventional grenades are available, and improved artificial intelligence was introduced. A four player multiplayer co-op mode is also available. Gameplay in Mass Effect 3 is influenced by decisions made in Mass Effect and Mass Effect 2, for players who have completed those games.

Like its predecessors, Mass Effect 3 was released to commercial success and critical acclaim. However, the game’s endings were criticized by many players and critics, prompting the release of a free extended cut DLC (downloadable content) which elaborated on the consequences of the ending chosen and the choices made by the player throughout the series, as well as clearing up elements of the story. It was nominated for five awards at the 2012 Spike Video Game Awards and it won Best RPG of 2012. A new installment in the series, Mass Effect: Andromeda, was released on March 21, 2017.

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Minecraft | Gaming News | Infinite Grenade Launcher Podcast | Level 104

Jason is trapped in a crystal and Matt had to find an acceptable substitute for the time being! Join Matt and guest host Brook Hubbs in an adventure crossing over Megaman Legacy Collection, Mass Effect, GTA Online, Minecraft and more! Learn the winners of last times contest and listen in for the new contest for a spot on the IGL Minecraft Realms Server! Stay Frosty Kiddos!

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About Minecraft

Minecraft is a sandbox video game created and designed by Swedish game designer Markus “Notch” Persson, and later fully developed and published by Mojang. The creative and building aspects of Minecraft enable players to build constructions out of textured cubes in a 3D procedurally generated world. Other activities in the game include exploration, resource gathering, crafting, and combat. Multiple gameplay modes are available, including a survival mode where the player must acquire resources to build the world and maintain health, a creative mode where players have unlimited resources to build with and the ability to fly, an adventure mode where players can play custom maps created by other players, and a spectator mode where players can fly around and clip through blocks, but cannot place or destroy any. The PC version of the game is noted for its modding scene, where a dedicated community creates new gameplay mechanics, items, and assets for the game.

Minecraft received praise from critics, and won numerous awards and accolades. As of February 2017, over 121 million copies have been sold across all platforms, making it the second best-selling video game of all time, only behind the various releases of Tetris. In September 2014, Microsoft announced a deal to buy Mojang and the Minecraft intellectual property for US$2.5 billion, with the acquisition being completed two months later.

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Minecraft | Gaming News | Infinite Grenade Launcher Podcast | Level 104

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Shovel Knight Review | Gaming News | Infinite Grenade Launcher Podcast | Level 103

Indie games! Indie game! Indie games! The guys discuss the current renaissance of indie games. Listen in at some of their favorites like Journey, Shovel Knight, Swindle and so much more. Tune in for your chance to win some awesome stuff!

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About Shovel Knight

Shovel Knight is a 2D side-scrolling platform game developed and published by Yacht Club Games. Following a successful Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign, the game was initially released for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo 3DS, and Wii U in June 2014, and ports of the game for OS X and Linux followed in September of the same year. Ports for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and Xbox One were released in April 2015, the Amazon Fire TV in September 2015, and the Nintendo Switch in March 2017. Shovel Knight is inspired by gameplay and graphics of platformer games developed for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The game has achieved critical acclaim and won various awards.

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Shovel Knight Review | Gaming News | Infinite Grenade Launcher Podcast | Level 103

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Batman Arkham Knight Review | Gaming News | Infinite Grenade Launcher Podcast | Level 102

It’s all about Arkham Knights and Dark Knights on this week’s Infinite Grenade Launcher. Jason gives his take on the final chapter of the Arkham series; while Matt gives us an in depth peek at Final Fantasy XIV newest expansion. All that plus Stargate crossovers and a shocking reveal from Jason!

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About Batman: Arkham Knight

Batman: Arkham Knight is a 2015 action-adventure video game developed by Rocksteady Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows. Based on the DC Comics superhero Batman, it is the successor to the 2013 video game Batman: Arkham Origins, and the fourth main installment in the Batman: Arkham series. Arkham Knight was released worldwide on June 23, 2015.

Written by Sefton Hill, Ian Ball and Martin Lancaster, Arkham Knight is based on the franchise’s long-running comic book mythos. Set one year after the events of 2011’s Batman: Arkham City, the game’s main storyline follows Batman as he confronts Scarecrow, who has launched an attack on Gotham City, causing a citywide evacuation. Scarecrow, with the help of the mysterious Arkham Knight, is also able to unite Batman’s greatest foes in an attempt to finally destroy Batman.

The game is presented from a third-person perspective, with a primary focus on Batman’s melee combat, stealth abilities, detective skills, and gadgets. Arkham Knight also introduces the Batmobile as a playable vehicle, which is used for transportation, puzzle solving and combat. The game expands Batman’s arsenal of gadgets and combat attacks and offers a more open world structure, allowing the player to complete side missions away from the primary storyline.

The console versions of Arkham Knight received positive reviews, particularly for its narrative, visuals, gameplay, combat, and world designs, with most criticism given to the emphasis on the Batmobile. The Windows version, however, became the subject of intense criticism due to major performance problems, even on high-end graphics hardware, prompting Warner Bros. to temporarily withdraw that version of the game from sale. Upon its release, the game was the fastest selling game of 2015, and the fastest selling game in the Arkham series, reaching over 5 million units sold globally by October 2015. Rocksteady released additional content for the game, including story-driven missions, challenge maps, and skins for Batman and his allies, as well as new Batmobiles from Batman’s history and custom racetracks for them.

 

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Batman Arkham Knight Review | Gaming News | Infinite Grenade Launcher Podcast | Level 102

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Rockband 4 Preview | Gaming News | Infinite Grenade Launcher Podcast | Level 101

Welcome to The Infinite Grenade launcher Podcast! In their inaugural episode Matt and Jason wrap up E3 2015 with a hands-on Rockband 4 preview experience, Destiny debates, Final Fantasy music and more!

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About Rock Band 4

 

Rock Band 4 is a 2015 music video game developed by Harmonix. Rock Band 4 allows players to simulate the playing of music across many different decades and genres using instrument controllers that mimic playing lead and bass guitar, drums, and vocals. As the fourth main installment in the Rock Band franchise, it was released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on October 6, 2015. Mad Catz, who also developed new instrument controllers for the game, marketed and distributed the title worldwide at launch; Performance Designed Products (PDP) will take over manufacturing and distribution by the end of 2016. The game shipped with more than sixty licensed songs; additional songs are available as downloadable content, which includes a library of over 2000 existing songs from prior installments.

Rock Band 4 represented Harmonix’s return to the franchise after an almost three-year hiatus, following the diminishing popularity of the rhythm game market that started in 2009. Announced on March 5, 2015, Rock Band 4 refocuses on the core gameplay of the franchise, reducing the emphasis on musical instruction that was employed by its predecessor, Rock Band 3, while emphasizing the game’s social interactions, as well as new features enabling players to incorporate improvisation into their performance—such as “freestyle solos” on guitar, and “freeform melodies” on multi-part vocals.

Rock Band 4 offers backward compatibility with content and hardware from previous versions of Rock Band within the same console family; wireless guitar and drum controllers from PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of Rock Band can be used on the PS4 and Xbox One versions (with PS4 using an existing USB dongle, and Xbox One requiring a newly produced USB dongle), and DLC songs purchased on prior installments on PS3 and Xbox 360 can be re-downloaded at no extra charge on PS4 and Xbox One in a ported form that supports the game’s features. Harmonix plans to release free and paid DLC that will add new features and content to the game over time, in lieu of releasing yearly installments; this includes the addition of support for synchronous online play added on January 25, 2017.

Critical reception to Rock Band 4 on-launch was positive, with reviews praising the game for not significantly deviating from the gameplay mechanics of prior installments, as well as the higher degree of creative freedom offered by the Freestyle Solos feature, and its backward compatibility with previously-released content for the Rock Band franchise. The soundtrack of Rock Band 4 was characterized as being weaker than that of previous installments due to its use of lesser-known songs and artists, while the game, at release, was also panned for lacking features present in previous versions, such as online multiplayer and practice modes.

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