In the final episode of 100 Days to Heaven, the graphics of the gate to Hell was taken directly from TES IV: Oblivion.

100 Days to Heaven is an inspirational TV program on ABS-CBN starring Coney Reyes and Xyriel Manabat, both as Anna Manalastas.

The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion is a game by Bethesda released in 2006. It is often regarded as one of the best RPG games of all time.

I am not really a loyal viewer of 100 Days to Heaven. I just happen to see it from time to time because my brothers watch it during dinner. Over time though, I have grown to love it. It has an interesting and inspiring story and I love Xyriel’s portrayal of Anna Manalastas, acting like she’s all grown-up and mature.

The last episode was aired on Nov 18, 2011, a 1-hour special finale. In one scene, Anna was standing before the gates of Hell. And what a familiar sight it is. Behold, it the Oblivion gate from the game Oblivion!

 
Anna Manalastas standing before the gate of Hell Oblivion

The title Oblivion is the namesake of the world of the Daedra in the Elder Scrolls series. You could say that the Daedra are the demons and Oblivion is Hell, but in truth the concept is different. Let’s just leave it at that.

I don’t know how popular the game is to Filipinos but players of good RPGs should have recognized it. I can’t blame the director for using it; it is the perfect image of a gate to the Burning Hells. Here are some screenshots of the first Oblivion gate in the game(yes, there are many of them in the game):

Now I’m just wondering if 100 Days to Heaven paid some royalties to the folks at Bethesda for using such images.

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This is the animated video trailer of Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together, remade for the PSP.

This video is well-made. The animation is smooth, and its presentation perfect. The use of “moving drawings” instead of conventional animation is fitting for the art style used in the video game. It’s thrilling to see moving, animated in-game concept art instead of those mini-avatars you see when you play the game.

This is called Shinpuu Trailer on the official TO: LUCT website.

Having been exiled(supposedly) from their own land, the party of the knights of Xenobia led by Lanselot Hamilton travels to Valeria to find some work. Then we see the hero (default name is Denam Pavel) launching a sneak attack on the party, only to be fended off by the winged man (Vartan) Canopus Wolph. This scene is of course the opening scenario in the game. I think Canopus’ animation is smooth and great, showing the grace and finesse of the Vartans.

After a close-up on Mirdyn Walhorn and Gildas W. Byrne, the party of knights lends their swords to the hero to lay siege to the Almorica Castle in order to rescue Duke Ronwey. These scenes make up almost half of the trailer but cover only the first few quests in the game including the tutorial.

We see the Dark Knight Lanselot Tartaros for the first time leading a large army of cavaliers. Then a flashback shows Brantyn Morne (I think) giving orders to the Dark Knights to set the town of Golyat on fire (on their search for Abuna Prancet Pavel, the hero’s father I think). A short scene gives us a close-up on some of the Dark Knights’ faces: (from right to left) Barbas Dahd Geuse, Lanselot Tartaros, Martym Noumous and Balxephon V. Rahms.

Now to the battlefield… The “Hero of Golyat” fights side by side with the Paladin, Lanselot Hamilton against the army of the Dark Knight, Lanselot Tartaros. We see familiar faces here. First is the necromancer Nybeth Obdilor summoning his army of undead. Then Dark Knight Oz Moh Glacius attacking Myrdin. We see a fighter (dunno who) dodging two dragons before the final showdown between the two Lanselots.

*I’m more than 100 hours into Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together but I haven’t finished it yet. I think I’m just halfway through it. Even so, I’m already planning my second run. Its branching storylines tell you that you’re missing out on a lot of subplots. And this is what makes a good, addictive RPG. This game is what revived my interest in “Tactics” games.

*Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together was first released in 1995 for the SNES. The PSP version is a remake with updated graphics, new features and new subplots. The subtitle “Let Us Cling Together” is a reference to the Queen(a British rock band) song “Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together)” from their album A Day at the Races.

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So we’re all excited to see what DOTA 2 is like, how close it is to the original Defense of the Ancients and how it fares against League of Legends and Heroes of Newerth. Valve is kind enough to release a DOTA 2 trailer, the first ever released. After all, the International DOTA 2 Championships is just around the corner (today actually!). It’s highly unlikely that the video shown is a gameplay footage though. Just look at the actual, in-game screenshot below and compare.

Not much of a story there. It’s just a meet-up-and-bash-each-other game anyway. What keeps the spirits high are the heroes that appeared in this trailer. They just look so cool rendered in full 3D, including their powers and skills. “That’s Axe and there’s Earthshaker”. Let’s play the guessing game.

The Heroes

When my friend Des sent me this DOTA 2 trailer, he said “nerd test, if you can name all the heroes in the trailer, then you are a nerd”. I’m glad that I am not. Even after playing the trailer several times, I couldn’t name them all. Here’s a full list of the heroes featured in the DOTA 2 trailer in the order that they appeared, in case you’re still lost.

First off is Traxex (Drow Ranger) fighting what seem to be creeps. She fires a Frost Arrow at the end.

Next is Mogul Khan (Axe) cornering Strygwyr (Bloodseeker). Then Magina (Anti-Mage) Blinking in to help and Raigor (Earthshaker) using Fissure to stun Axe. The third hero at the back is unclear at first but if you pause and take a look at him closely, you’ll see Sven (Rogue Knight).

Then, a battle between Raijin (Storm) (in Kung Fu Panda outfit), using Ball Lightning and Darkterror (Faceless Void) is shown. I wouldn’t have known it was Void if not for that “slab of meat supported by a neck”.

Razor (Lightning Revenant) uses Plasma Field on Balanar (Night Stalker) but eventually runs. Whatever happened to Balanar’s mouth, I don’t know.

A weak, noob Pudge (Butcher) throws a Meat Hook at Crixalis (Sand King) but misses so the latter uses Burrowstrike to counterattack.

Rylai (Crystal Maiden) is seen dueling Lina (Slayer) until a flying Viper (Netherdrake) interrupts with a poisonous attack. Then the Netherdrake goes on to fight Knight Davion (Dragon Knight). For the finale, an enraged Knight Davion uses his ultimate skill Elder Dragon Form to turn himself into a dragon and beat Viper to the ground.

*It looks like some blogs mistook Viper (Netherdrake) for Visage (Necro’lic) and Knight Davion (Dragon Knight) for Nortrom (Silencer). Sorry guys, those 2 heroes are not present in this DOTA 2 trailer.

*A recurring, funny comment on the YouTube page says that Rikimaru (Stealth Assassin) is in every battle scene. Silly!

DOTA 2 heroes

in-game screenshot of Doom Bringer

Links:

• official DOTA 2 website
• DOTA 2 blog
• Facebook page
• Twitter page

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Yes, I said it right. Real-life quests for in-game rewards.The tasks you do in the real world will give your avatars in Dragon Age 2 bonus items. Things like downloading and finishing the demo version, subscribing to BioWare’s newsletter and playing a Facebook Dragon Age spin-off flash game. For a full list of the currently available bonus contents, check out the Dragon Age II DLCs, add-ons, unlockables and items.

This stratagem has worked perfectly in the past, especially for me. Because DAII is an RPG, its players are most likely hardcore, driven by story and entranced in the beautiful, alternate world. And to get the most out of playing the game, they absolutely must have the best, most powerful, most renowned items in the gameworld. The bonus contents — downloadable contents (DLCs), unlockable items, add-ons — are items of great power and use and are offered for only a limited time, enough to get gamers rushing to buy the game. I remember I rushed to the mall to buy Dragon Age so I could get the code (that would expire in 2 days) that came with it and download the bonus item. (I would have bought the game later anyway if not for the extra item!)  There was a feeling of achievement in having a character more powerful than the “just-normal” character.

How can you resist these epic items advertising to you:

Helmet – “If you wear me, your head will look oh-so-scary or oh-so-heavenly depending on the ingredients. Change your appearance to your liking.  Oh, and I come with 100% immunity to fellow party member’s rants.”

Chest – “I’m a super duper hard plate armor with 25% resistance to slashing, piercing, blunt, fire, water, ice, lightning, earth, wind, and any other elemental damage I’m not aware of. “

Thighs – “I’m designed with the latest in monster-carcass fashion in mind and I come in many varieties: goblin, troll, ogre, wyvern, skeleton, zombie and dragon. Wear your trophies today!”

Gauntlets – “I’m the uber gauntlet worn by the great, legendary, powerful, dominating, unstoppable, wicked sick and godlike  level-199 1/4-elf-1/4-human-1/4-dwarf-1/4-gnome fighter-mage-rogue-cleric-monk.” (whew)

Greaves – “I give unlimited stamina, +60% speed, the skill Blinding Speed, fast running, fast swimming and pretty much everything any lazy, worthless player needs to travel from place to place. I’m indispensable.”

Rings – “If I become your ‘precious’, I’ll grant you +99 to all stats and a bonus skill that doubles all your rings’ bonuses. (infinite, got it?) And the power to control other rings…”

Sword – “My blades have +45 enchantment so you can guarantee a hit with every swing. Did I mention I also have 98% chance to kill anyone in one blow? I’m pretty much a cheat.”

BioWare/EA is not the first to use this tactic but they are probably the best in using it.

Just keep them coming BioWare. We’re suckers for these items.

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We’re all familiar with this scenario in role-playing games: enter every house uninvited, take anything useful and leave it as if nothing happened, all for our quest to save the world. But at what expense? Based on this real-life take on the commoner’s side of the story, it isn’t too heroic.

Saving the world, at their expense!

Games are becoming more and more complicated and in modern games, there are already penalties in place to address this issue. For example, in The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, you can no longer just barge in to any house and loot everything. If you are caught, you will be asked to pay a fine else be marked a criminal and hunted down

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The game was officially announced on Dec 13, 2010 at Spike TV’s Video Game Awards but I believe it has been in development for several years already (Oblivion was developed for 4 years).  They were just quiet about it because The Elder Scrolls franchise is such a big hit that Skyrim might overshadow Bethesda’s other games Fallout 3 and Fallout: New Vegas. haha

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim unveiled by legendary game designer Todd Howard

The titular place, Skyrim is the northernmost province of Tamriel, and is a cold and mountainous region inhabited mostly by the human race of Nords. The game is set 200 years after the events in TES IV: Oblivion.

I haven’t finished any Elder Scrolls title yet. I’m a hardcore RPG gamer that checks every little nook and cranny but that just isn’t possible with Elder Scrolls titles because it will take me forever. The games are massive, open-ended, do-what-you-want worlds. Anyway, I’m just excited that the release date was revealed on the announcement day itself. Epic date, epic gameplay, epic graphics, epic game. Looks like we have the RPG of the year or Game of the Year here.

I don’t know much about the The Elder Scrolls lore so I find the trailer cryptic but good nonetheless. The announcement trailer didn’t include actual gameplay but that’s ok. It just means that they put extra effort in making the cinematics. The wall in the video is an actual structure in the game, a small part of Alduin’s Wall depicting a prophecy about the return of the dragon Alduin. GameInformer has a detailed coverage on The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and the Alduin’s Wall.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim first in-game trailer

You should have acted.
They’re already here.
The Elder Scrolls told of their return.
Their defeat was merely a delay…
…to the time after Oblivion opened…
…when the Sons of Skyrim would spill their own blood.
But no one wanted to believe–
believe they even existed.
And when the truth finally dawns,
it dawns in fire.
But…
…there’s one they fear.
In their tongue, he is “Dovahkiin.”
Dragonborn!

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My only complaint is that they didn’t space out the release dates of these two high-quality RPGs. Dragon Age: Origins is barely 3 months old and yet they released another excellent game of the same genre. I’m pretty sure players haven’t fully recovered from the mass Dragon Age effect yet.

Maybe Electronic Arts is to blame for this, being the greedy money-hoarding publisher that they are.  Even now you can see dollar signs on their eyes because some time in March the expansion to Dragon Age: Origins, Awakening will be released. Slow down please!

Mass Effect 2 Cinematic Trailer

Mass Effect 2 Launch Trailer

Mass Effect 2 E3 Trailer

Mass Effect 2 XBox 360 Achievements
Special assignments/missions/quests

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I love Dragon Age Origins and I am active member of its official  forums. I will list here the interesting threads I find there. Posts get buried and forgotten quite easily so it’s good to have them all in one place for everyone to see.

Some of them are useful sources of information. The posts with good discussions on specific topics are a good read too. And there are those topics that are entirely funny. I will add more as I find them.

Gameplay/Plot-related

• Is blood magic evil?
• Dark Ritual – a selfish act as a Grey Warden?
• Backpacks – need I say more?
• NPCs you wish you could recruit
• Who you would have rommanced ( if the game let you )
• Choices you wish you’d had….
• the VERY MEAN playthrough
• The Complete Defense of Loghain Mac Tir
• What do you think the Maker is?
• Why Are Templars Seen as Bad People?
• Hidden Dialogue (spoilers, obviously)
• More Secrets?
• The “how did I miss that?” thread
• What was so evil about the Anvil of the Void?
• Becoming a Broodmother
• The most woman-hating line in the game…
• Why did Flemith save Dog?
• How did Sandal do it?

Resources

• Any “must have mods”?
• Favorite mods that make the game more playable/fun
• Best Screenshot thread (post your own inside if you have one)
• The Fan Art Thread
• Aimo’s Dragon Age Fan Art (20/1)
• Dragon Age Movie…
• Dragon Age Novels
• Dragon Age: The Calling Discussion thread – (*SPOILERS*)
• Most Tearful Moments From the Books / Game (Heavy Spoilers)
• DPS calculations for a DW rogue
• The big ‘Can my pc run this?’ topic

Discussions

• Writers of Dragon Age
• Nudity in DAO
• You know you’ve played too much Dragon Age when…
• What’s your favorite line?
• How does this compare to other RPGS that you’ve played lately?
• Dragon Age: Origins vs. Fallout 3, in terms of atmosphere
• How does the Witcher compare to DA
• What’s it like to be controlled by a bloodmage?
• Question about pregnant shapeshifters
• On the subject on the height of dwarves.

Funny

• I am NOT happy!
• Dragon Age killed my pet.
• Funniest Moment?
• The ULTIMATE DA:O conversation!
• Ruck Vs. Sandal
• Dragon Age: Sandal
• Duncan facts…
• Miss Ferelden 2009!
• Miss Ferelden 2009! Part II (Judge Commentary)
• The winner of Miss Ferelden 2009!
• Q & A with Loghain, with Sten

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1. Download the DAZIP files below.
2. Find and run DAUpdater.exe in your game installation under the bin_ship folder.
3. Load the DAZIP files by pressing Select DAZIP.
4. Install them by pressing Install Selected.
5. Run Dragon Age: Origins and check your DLC.

The files below were provided by Bioware to help in the manual installation of registered items for those who have issues downloading them in-game. The fact that some of them were not encrypted means they’re available for free to everyone. Source

The DLC items and how to get them officially:

Free Dragon Age DLC items

The first 3 free items can be obtained by playing and completing quests and achievements in Dragon Age: Journeys.

Embri’s Many Pockets – DAO_PRC_PROMO_EMB.dazip

To earn Embri’s Many Pockets in Dragon Age: Origins, save the Grey Warden Martine by completing The Missing Warden quest in Dragon Age Journeys.

Helm of the Deep – DAO_PRC_PROMO_HOD.dazip

To earn the Helm of the Deep in Dragon Age: Origins, you must earn all five achievements in Dragon Age Journeys: The Deep Roads.

Amulet of the War Mage – DAO_PRC_PROMO_WAR.dazip

To earn the Amulet of the War Mage in Dragon Age: Origins, simply sign in to your EA account in Dragon Age Journeys.

The Edge – DAO_PRC_PROMO_EDG.dazip

Available to players who bought and registered the game on the Bioware Social Site on or before Nov 30, 2009.

The Lucky Stone – DAO_PRC_PROMO_LKS.dazip

Upload a character made with the Character Creator to your Bioware social account to get this item.

The Lion’s Paw – DAO_PRC_PROMO_LNP.dazip

Pre-order bonus from Amazon

Mark of Vigilance – DAO_PRC_PROMO_VGL.dazip

Free if you buy a Dragon Age t-shirt from Hot Topic.

The Wicked Oath – DAO_PRC_PROMO_WKD.dazip

Pre-order bonus from Steam.

UPDATE: 6/8/10

Bulwark of the True King (Origins) – DAO_PRC_PROMO_BTK_1.0.dazip

Give-away from Alienware. For those who have the Origins game only.

Bulwark of the True King (Awakening) – DAO_EP1_PROMO_BTK_1.0.dazip

Give-away from Alienware. For those who have the Awakening expansion.

Pearl of the Anointed (Origins) – DAO_PRC_PROMO_PAN_1.0.dazip

Pre-order bonus for Awakening from amazon.de and play.com. For those who have the Origins game only.

Pearl of the Anointed (Awakening) – DAO_EP1_PROMO_PAN_1.0.dazip

Pre-order bonus for Awakening from amazon.de and play.com. For those who have the Awakening expansion.

Bregan’s Bow (Origins) – DAO_PRC_PROMO_GBK_1.0.dazip

Pre-order bonus for Awakening from gamestop.de and game.co.uk. For those who have the Origins game only.

Bregan’s Bow (Awakening) – DAO_EP1_PROMO_GBK_1.0.dazip

Pre-order bonus for Awakening from gamestop.de and game.co.uk. For those who have the Awakening expansion.

Not Free Dragon Age DLC items

The Stone Prisoner – DAO_PRC_CP_2.dazip

Free with every new purchase of Dragon Age: Origins. My promo card expires on April 30, 2010.

Warden’s Keep – DAO_PRC_NRX_1.dazip

Comes free with the Collector’s Edition and several Digital Deluxe Editions.

3 Collector’s Edition items – DAO_PRC_PROMO_C2.dazip

Free items that came with the Collector’s Edition of the game.  Grimoire of the Frozen Wastes is available at start. Bergen’s Honor and Final Reason must be purchased from Bodahn in the camp.

Blood Dragon Armor Set – DAO_PRC_PROMO_ME.dazip

Free with every new purchase of Dragon Age: Origins. My promo card expires on April 30, 2010. The plate armor is available at start, the rest must be purchased from Bodahn.

Blood Dragon Armor Set Version 1.1 – DAO_PRC_PROMO_ME_1.1.dazip

The 1.1 version of Blood Dragon Armor is heavily nerfed but it fixes the bug caused by Female Elf characters wearing the armor.

Memory Band, Formari Tome – DAO_PRC_PROMO_1.dazip

Pre-order bonus from any retailer.

Feral Wolf Charm – DAO_PRC_PROMO_2.dazip

Pre-order bonus from GameStop.

Guildmaster’s Belt – DAO_PRC_PROMO_3.dazip

Pre-order bonus from Gamecrazy or Mighty Ape.

Band of Fire – DAO_PRC_PROMO_4.dazip

Pre-order bonus from EA Store.

Dalish Promise Ring – DAO_PRC_PROMO_5.dazip

Pre-order bonus from Direct2Drive or GAME.

UPDATE: 6/8/10

Return to Ostagar – DAO_PRC_CP_1_1.1.dazip

Downloadable Content available for $5.

Feastday Gifts – DAO_PRC_CP_3_1.0.dazip

A collection of mostly humorous gift items that will significantly increase your followers’ affections for you. Buy them from Bodahn.

Feastday Pranks – DAO_PRC_CP_7_1.0.dazip

Ten unique feastday pranks that your party members will love to hate. Buy them from Bodahn.

Darkspawn Chronicles – DAO_PRC_DRK_1.0.dazip

Downloadable Content available for $5.

Leliana’s Song – DAO_PRC_LEL_1.0.dazip

Downloadable Content available for $7.

Blightblood (Origins) – DAO_PRC_DRK_DAO_1.0.dazip

Reward for completing the Darkspawn Chronicles DLC. For those who have the Origins game only.

Blightblood (Awakening) – DAO_PRC_DRK_EP1_1.0.dazip

Reward for completing the Darkspawn Chronicles DLC. For those who have the Awakening expansion.

UPDATE: 9/22/10

Golems of Amgarrak – DAO_PRC_GIB_1.0.dazip

Downloadable Content available for $5.

Witch Hunt – DAO_PRC_STR_1.1.dazip

Downloadable Content available for $7.

Battledress of the Provocateur (for Origins) – DAO_PRC_LEL_DAO_1.0.dazip

Quest-related item in Leliana’s Song.

Battledress of the Provocateur (for Awakening) – DAO_PRC_LEL_EP1_1.0.dazip

Quest-related item in Leliana’s Song.

Golem’s Might (for Origins) – DAO_PRC_GIB_DAO_1.0.dazip

Set of quest-related item in Golems of Amgarrak

Golem’s Might (for Awakening) – DAO_PRC_GIB_EP1_1.0.dazip

Set of quest-related item in Golems of Amgarrak.

Witchcraft (for Origins) – DAO_PRC_STR_DAO_1.0.dazip

Set of quest-related items in Witch Hunt.

Witchcraft (for Awakening) – DAO_PRC_STR_EP1_1.0.dazip

Set of quest-related items in Witch Hunt.

Keep in mind that you are supposed to have only one or a few of these items at the start of the game. Having all of them at once can significantly affect your gameplay.

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• Christmas in Free Realms

Christmas in Free Realms taken in SnowHill just a few hours ago using the built-in video capture.

The center of the celebration is a giant Christmas tree in SnowHill. There’s a new character named Candy Ivy that lets you take a gift from the tree (quest). From time to time, several abominable snowmen come to take the gifts from the tree and you can fend them off by throwing snowballs at them. They don’t fight back.They die when you hit them once and when you do, you receive one or two snow coal items. After several waves of these monsters, a large Abominable SnowMan appears that’s a lot tougher and bigger. Killing this beast gives you some random Christmas-themed items.

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