Introduce four ferocious new predators to your parks with Jurassic World Evolution 2: Cretaceous Predator Pack! This latest update brings four extraordinary species to the game that are sure to stop your parks guests in their tracks. Manage and control these striking dinosaurs as they fight for dominance in your parks and search for their next meal.

Bringing these fascinating dinosaurs to Jurassic World Evolution 2 requires a lot of work from our talented team, and in this post, we’re going to show you how each species is brought to life, from start to finish.

Gigantoraptor

Let’s start with the Gigantoraptor, the hero from our Key Art and my favourite from the update. This is the largest known Oviraptorosaur from the Late Cretaceous era and features a stunning coat of feathers and large elongated legs.

Before we can start modelling any of the species, the art team creates a concept for the design approach to the dinosaur. To kick things off we’ll produce some initial concepts on the shape of the species, paying special attention to any standout elements. In this case we focus on the Gigantoraptors legs, height, neck, feathers, and head. This is used as a starting point for the design and a foundation to make sure we get the important features nailed down early on. You can also see in this step that we have a few variations on how the feathers might look, something we continue to experiment with in the next step.

After step one, we put together some additional concepts to explore other options. As you can see below, we are adding in some extra parts to the Gigantoraptors design such as more feathers on the head, thinner wings, and some extra pattern variations on the body. Once this crucial step is complete, the team then has a selection of concepts to pick from and build the final design.

Next, we take a closer look at the head of the Gigantoraptor. The team will design a variety of head shapes, using bones, eye positions, beak layout, and feather formation to produce a mix of options. Once we’ve settled on an approach to the head, the Gigantoraptors shape is locked in, and we can then move onto the final stage of the design process.

Bringing the best elements from each step we build the final concept of the Gigantoraptor. In this reference below you can see one of the colour variations for the species. Our approach to colour is just as important as the previous steps. The team will use information we have about the species and combine that with real-world references of other animals and their colour patterns. This helps us form a realistic approach to the colour and patterns of these stunning species.

Concavenator

The next dinosaur we’ll look at is the Concavenator and although we’ll take a similar step by step approach to its design, each species has different challenges and characteristics that we need to focus on.

The Concavenator has a unique silhouette, so in these early stages of the design we wanted to focus heavily on its shape to make sure we faithfully represent the species. It’s also important that the dinosaurs we design fit within the Jurassic World franchise. The Concavenator appears in the background of Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom as a statue in Lockwood Manor, so we used this as one of our many references when designing the model. Finally, in these early stages we’ll also include some initial measurements in our concepts, this helps as a guide for the team to see how this particular dinosaur will stack up against other in-game items, dinosaurs, and environments.

Once we have the overall shape locked in, we’ll then start to add some additional details to the dinosaur. A notable feature on the Concavenator is the two narrow humps on its back, formed by extremely large vertebrae. Sometimes when we’re designing a dinosaur that has such a distinct shape, we’ll have an additional step in the design process to explore ways of approaching this. In this case we had two different designs for the back, design A features the humps being significantly taller and B has the same design but shorter.

Finally, we bring it all together! Real-world fossils of the Concavenator feature structures that resemble quill knobs, so you’ll see in this final step we’ve added some to the design. This agile predator is a great addition to the game, and I can’t wait to see how players introduce them to their parks.

Utahraptor

Our third fierce predator in this pack is the Utahraptor. This is one of the largest known dromaeosaurs, so we had a lot of references on how to approach this design. In this first and second stage of the concept you’ll see that we’ve included some early examples to show how it would look when moving. This gives the team an opportunity to explore how the tail, neck and overall body stance would change with movement. We also included detailed concepts of the Utahraptor’s face, looking at the scales on its nose and how the feathers form. These detailed designs are integral to the team so we can create highly detailed models later on.

Towards the end of the design process, we will have a final highly detailed drawing of the Utahraptor, bringing in all the key elements of the species into one concept. This will act as the base plate moving forward for the colour and pattern variations.

Lastly, we’ll bring it all together with a final pattern design that players can then enjoy in-game and customise in their parks. Our main inspiration for this species were birds of prey and how their feathers and colours influencer their look and fierceness.

Tarbosaurus

Our last addition with this pack is the Tarbosaurus. This design is heavily inspired by the Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment and DreamWorks Animation Netflix Show, Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous: Hidden Adventure. We worked closely with our fantastic partners at Universal to create an accurate model of this species so fans of both the game and the show can enjoy this dinosaur in their parks.

With the shape and approach to the model complete we spent some time looking at colour and pattern variations for the Tarbosaurus, focusing on a couple favourite designs with multiple variations and then a few distinctly different alternatives. This gargantuan hunter looks fantastic in-game and will be a great fit for any large tyrannosaurine sections of players parks.

The team have done a brilliant job at bringing these exciting species to life in-game and we’re thrilled that players can now get their hands on them! Jurassic World Evolution 2: Cretaceous Predator Pack is available today on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.

Jurassic World Evolution 2: Cretaceous Predator Pack

Frontier Developments

☆☆☆☆☆
11

★★★★★

$7.99

$7.19

Get it now

Introduce four ferocious new predators to your parks with Jurassic World Evolution 2: Cretaceous Predator Pack. Manage and control these striking dinosaurs as they fight for dominance in your parks and search for their next meal.

Welcome the following extraordinary species:
–          Gigantoraptor, whose name means “Giant Thief”, is the largest known Oviraptorosaur from the Late Cretaceous era. Featuring an impressive coat of feathers and large elongated legs, the Gigantoraptor can maintain speed for an extended period of time as it chases down its prey.

–          Concavenator has a distinctive narrow hump, formed by two extremely large vertebrae, making its profile instantly recognisable. This agile theropod from the Early Cretaceous period is a fierce hunter that will make an exciting addition to your parks.

–          Utahraptor, one of the largest dromaeosaurs, is an intelligent and ruthless predator that is sure to impress your guests. With a stunning feather coat and large scythe-like claws, this predator, hailing from Utah, will stop any prey in its tracks.

–          Tarbosaurus, is a gargantuan hunter inspired by the Universal Pictures, Amblin Entertainment and DreamWorks Animation Netflix Show, Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous: Hidden Adventure. This unique Tyrannosaurine theropod will need a secure enclosure to protect guests from its powerful jaws.

The post How Jurassic World Evolution 2 Brings Four Cretaceous Predators To Life appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Hi buddies! Welcome to Born of Bread, a home-cooked turn-based role-playing adventure full of fun characters and charming stories for children and adults alike. Beings from another age are causing havoc across the land and their mischief comes as a great threat for everyone. The unlikeliest hero, Loaf, a golem born of bread who possesses a never-ending childlike wonder, finds himself and his newfound friends in the middle of a drama that’s thousands of years in the making. Adventure awaits!

Today we’d like to give folks a gander at Born of Bread’s unique take on turn-based combat. You play as the doughy golem Loaf, a being made of flour by the culinary crackerjack Papa Baker. Just as bread is tasty on its own but requires other ingredients to make a sandwich, Loaf needs companions to really get cooking. It’s up to you to build up a party of allies in Loaf’s quest to stop the unruly invaders wreaking havoc about town.

His friends include Lint the racoon, a neurotic aspiring writer with a penchant for digging and the ability to attack with his tail and manuscripts; Yagi, a talented goat martial artist who can materialize ethereal platforms by mediating, and land flaming strikes on enemies; and Chloe, a young aspiring detective with a lantern that can burn obstacles, and who can use her deduction skills to inflict status ailments.

Battles are largely tactical, though you’ll need precise timing to really get the most out of your attacks. For basic moves, like walloping a foe with a ladle or tail, you’ll need to hit a button the moment a needle crosses the green part of a meter to deal extra damage. More powerful blows, like using the dreaded Druidic Sickle, require you to rock the joystick as quickly as possible to fill up a meter for maximum damage. These cost Will Points, however, so use them wisely. For rare emergencies you can deploy Special Attacks using rare Resolve Points. For example, Loaf’s Roast special will prevent him from taking any damage at all. Simply hold A to heat up – but be careful not to overheat. Nobody likes burnt toast after all!

Just as important as a good offense is a strong defense, and you can mitigate damage by pressing A the moment an enemy makes contact with you. Quick reflexes are also crucial to kicking off combat encounters, as a good smack to an enemy during the game’s exploration phase will ensure that you get to take the first turn in battle.

As important as timing is, it will take wits as well as reflexes to come out victorious. Every enemy has its own strengths and weaknesses. In the early parts of a battle you’ll want to use your Type Sight boon to display enemy weaknesses and resistances. Husky Hornets are weak to normal attack types, like your ladle or a pickaxe, while Spidusts will be weak to leaf attack types, like Lint’s tail ability, but they resist slashing attacks like Loaf’s druidic sickle. You’ll have to manage your maneuvers carefully to efficiently obliterate your opponents before they crush you into crumbs!

Of course you’ll want to prepare for a rumble even during peaceful times, so make sure you’re managing your Hit Points, Will Points, and Resolve Points during your breaks between fisticuffs. Feed your party with apples, chocolate cakes or croissants (don’t think too hard about the fact that Loaf is eating baked pastries) to replenish your points, and defeat foes to level up for permanent upgrades. 

That should be enough to get you started on your journey. You won’t have to wait long to see what further adventures Loaf and his buddies have in store, as Born of Bread emerges from the oven onto Xbox platforms on December 5. Bon appetit! 

The post How Born of Bread Turns RPG Combat Into a Unique Gaming Delicacy appeared first on Xbox Wire.

This is Simon Dasan, Creative Director on Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, here to talk to you a bit more about our upcoming Action-RPG, now set for release in Summer 2024!

We’re excited to bring you the latest look at Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, and we’ve been hard at work to bring you the best possible experience since you last saw it. We’re doubling down on amazing visual fidelity to bring the world of Flintlock to life, and ensuring a satisfying, visceral combat experience.

Take the role of Nor Vanek, alongside Enki, the mysterious Godlike creature as they venture on a quest for redemption in the world of Kian. Their journey will take them across treacherous mountainous terrain, through deadly deserts, and of course, to the front lines of the battle to reclaim the city of Dawn.

With combat being at the core of Flintlock, we have been hard at work refining the feel, skills, and various builds that will be at your disposal. Nor is a versatile and deadly Sapper, equally as adept with an axe as she is with flintlock weapons. Seamlessly weave axe and pistol shots as you go up against hordes of undead coming from the Great Below. 

Tap into the magic of the Gods with Enki and become the ultimate God Killer. Utilise Enki Curses to amplify your damage and unleash satisfyingly brutal glory kills. You’ll also gain access to Witherings, powerful ultimate attacks that can change the tide of combat. Deal massive damage, heal yourself from the brink of death, and even gain access to other Gods attacks, Witherings can be found throughout the land and will allow you to customise your playstyle even further.

Speaking of playstyles, Flintlock has plenty to offer for all. Use the skill tree to master the way of Powder, Magic, or Steel. Powder increases proficiency in flintlock weapons, allowing you to become a ranged arsenal. Restrain enemies and gain access to new Enki abilities through the Magic tree. Become a master of close quarters combat through the Steel tree, where you can use momentum to attack faster and faster.

All of this comes together with Flintlock’s mobility. Powder Mobility gives an unparalleled level of freedom throughout the world, whether it be finding long lost secrets, or gaining the advantage against your foes. Open rifts throughout the world and combine with Enki to take flight, jump ever higher, or throw yourself forwards to reach previously unavailable ledges.

We’re excited to show you more of Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, coming in Summer of 2024. Keep an eye out, there’ll be a lot more to show in the coming months.

The post Explore The Gritty Combat of Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn In New Gameplay Trailer appeared first on Xbox Wire.

• Chessarama’s Xbox release, redefines chess and puzzles on December 5th.
• Celebrate with a giveaway of boards signed by chess legends. 
• Pre-order now and prepare to immerse yourself in the captivating world of Chessarama.

Hello Chess fans! I am Raphael Dias, Founder of the Brazilian indie studio Minimol Games.

We’re absolutely thrilled to share that Chessarama, our innovative take on chess, is making its grand debut on Xbox next week, on December 5th! At Minimol Games, we’ve combined our love for chess with a creative twist, crafting a game that’s both engaging and intellectually stimulating.

In honor of this exciting launch, we’re thrilled to announce our special giveaway in partnership with the Champions Chess Tour. We’re giving away chess boards signed by chess legends Magnus Carlsen, Praggnanandhaa, Wesley So, and Anish Giri. This unique opportunity, ending on December 16th, is our way of celebrating Chessarama’s launch and connecting with the global chess community.

Participating in the giveaway is easy. Just visit the Giveaway Link and follow the simple steps such as engaging with us on social media. It’s a great way not just to stay updated with all things Chessarama but also to stand a chance to win a piece of chess history signed by the masters themselves.

In Chessarama you will find a collection of chess-inspired puzzle and strategy games that use chess pieces and their established move sets, then reimagines their goals and themes. You can solve challenges, unlock collectibles, and compete against each other on the leaderboards.

Key Features:

• Play eight exclusive chess-inspired games available in Chessarama.
• Puzzle campaigns featuring over 100 levels plus over 100 unique challenges.
• 24 exclusive Chess Figures to unlock and collect.
• Unique art style, with beautiful dioramas.
• Daily and Weekly Challenges.
• Compete against each other on the leaderboards.
• Learn chess movements, tactics and strategies through a modern video game experience.
• Also includes “Classic Chess” for you to put your learnings into practice.

With its unique blend of entertainment and learning, Chessarama is poised to be a hit among Xbox players of all ages.

As the launch date approaches, we’re counting down the days with great anticipation. We can’t wait for you to join us in this chess adventure. Pre-order Chessarama on the Microsoft Store, check out the giveaway, and prepare to immerse yourself in the captivating world of Chessarama!

Chessarama

Minimol Games

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

$14.99

Pre-order

Chessarama is a collection of original puzzle and strategy games inspired by Chess. It reimagines chess rules and tactics using many different themes. Each game has its own set of rules, visual theme and original handcrafted challenges for you to play!

Here are all the original games you will find in Chessarama: (1) Farm Life; (2) Dragon Slayers; (3) Street Soccer; (4) Lady Ronin; (5) Last Stand; (6) Knight Supreme; (7) Pawn Mania; (8) Soccer Chess.

Take a look at some of the Chessarama games:

In Dragon Slayer, you need to push your pawn to the end of a path in order to kill the mighty dragon. But it will not be that easy! The dragon attacks the board every time the pawn moves and every undefended piece will die.

In Lady Ronin, Chess meets Sokoban. You play with a Ronin (a chess queen) and you need to eliminate the other pieces in order to get close to the Shogun and kill it. Pieces move like in chess, but push each other like in sokoban.

In Soccer Chess you will play a soccer match using chess pieces. You will need to think a few moves ahead if you want to break through the adversary’s defenses to score a goal.

This is just some examples about how Chess can be reinvented. Welcome to Chessarama!

The post Get Ready for Chessarama on Xbox with a Chance to Win a Board Signed by Four Chess Legends appeared first on Xbox Wire.

‘Tis the season to be tankful as Vinnie Jones teams up with World of Tanks Modern Armor to bring you Holiday Ops 2024!

This community-driven event starts on December 1. Get ready to hop into your favorite tanks and score themed rewards together with World of Tanks Modern Armor players across the globe or, for the first time ever, on your own. Yes, this year’s Holiday Ops event brings you double the fun and the rewards with two paths to follow. You can take on both your personal op with the Santa’s Helper Earn Challenge, as well as the community-based Holiday Op event. Each path will have its own rewards ranging from themed Cosmetics, boosters, and Consumables to the powerful Charlemagne Premium tank.

And the latest addition to Santa’s team will also be joining the celebrations to make sure that all Commanders stay on the nice list this year.

Introducing Our Holiday Ambassador!

Former soccer player and professional tough guy Vinnie Jones joins you in the game as Holiday Ops 2024’s special guest. Known for his no-nonsense roles in film classics like Snatch (2000) and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), Jones is essentially a human tank, a professional strongman who was practically built for the humor that we had planned for this year’s Holiday Ops experience.

“He has tough-guy charisma, and it fit great with our new concept for the Holiday Ops 2024 event,” said Alena Terekhova, Publishing Director for World of Tanks Modern Armor. “It was a blast to work with him, and he was open to sharing his thoughts and ideas.”

In the Holiday Ops 2024 trailer, Jones plays the role of the top enforcer for none other than jolly ol’ Saint Nick. For years, while Santa Claus has tended to the Nice List, Jones has paid visits to the people on the Naughty List, reminding them exactly why you better watch out.

This year, however, things are different for Vinnie. He’s found a holiday role that he thinks might suit him better, one that includes a sweet new company ride: a tank commander in World of Tanks!

Jones indeed had a blast with the concept, too (and not just because he and Santa got to take his tank out for some practice shots, as seen in the trailer). “I am a World of Tanks commander now, and it is going to be ‘Jingle-Bells’ all the way!” he said.

Terekhova echoed Jones’ enthusiasm, saying, “I think we all managed and reached our intention – the promotional video that Vinnie Jones took part in is indeed different from our previous Holiday Ops trailers.”

That much holiday cheer couldn’t be confined to the trailer, even a trailer as large as this. We had to bring Vinnie Jones into the game itself. That means that during Holiday Ops, you’ll be able to recruit Vinnie Jones as your very own tank commander!

Holiday Ops Commanders and Tank

World of Tanks Modern Armor will have both a 2D and a 3D version of the Vinnie Jones Commander, with the 2D version available as a reward in the Santa’s Helper Earn Challenge. Both will feature 250 lines of custom voiceover that Jones himself recorded for this event earlier in 2023. Ever the consummate professional, Jones applied his natural focus on production day and recorded his lines in about a half-hour.

“We worked with different development and publishing teams across Wargaming [World of Tanks PC and World of Tanks Blitz],” said Terekhova. “We had to balance between priorities and product focuses, but we all agreed that we want to have something new and outstanding this year, so we remained focused, but creative at the same time.

“I remember one of our first steps was to choose how we wanted to present Vinnie Jones: as a Santa-type character, or the kind of tough hero he plays in his movies, or even a football player, but Santa’s enforcer sounded like a perfect fit for our concept, so we proceeded with this direction.”

So while you’ll be able to hear Jones’ signature toughness in every line of dialogue, several lines in particular are spiked with holiday cheer … and those aren’t the only special details.

For the 3D Commander in particular, Terekhova says, “Vinnie’s look features a stylish suit and red coat. The suit is tailored to reflect Vinnie’s sophisticated personality while also being versatile enough to accommodate his active lifestyle. The red coat adds a touch of festivity to his overall appearance, making him stand out during the holiday event.”

And of course, every commander needs a vehicle. The tank we designed for Vinnie Jones had to have his personality, too, because if you’re going to go out tanking, you might as well go in style, you know?

This year’s Holiday Ops tank, available for purchase, is the British Tier IX Old Reliable Medium Tank, a versatile vehicle that’s as dependable as its name suggests, no matter how rough the situation gets. Old Reliable is cast in an exterior that calls to mind the timeless elegance of blackened iron and burnished wood, and also features slogans and mottos that pay tribute to Jones’ entire career and were approved by the man himself.

Vinnie Jones has his list, he’s checked it twice, and he’s ready to get to work. Join him from December 1 through January 8 and have a blast this holiday in World of Tanks Modern Armor!

World of Tanks

Wargaming.net

☆☆☆☆☆
1577

★★★★★

Get it now

Xbox One X Enhanced

World of Tanks is a global online multiplayer free-to-play game dedicated to tank warfare in the mid-20th century. Custom built for Xbox, World of Tanks features realistic vehicles and environments, enabling players to command history’s most powerful tanks and experience combat on Xbox like never before.

Features:
• Strategic, fast-paced 15 vs 15 online action.
• Over 700 authentic tanks to choose from among 12 nations.
• Battle across a variety of environments with varying terrain and weather effects
• Built-in support for Xbox One X pushing the boundaries of graphic fidelity.
• Regular updates offer new content and frequent special events.

The post Unwrap Your New World of Tanks Holiday Ops with Vinnie Jones! appeared first on Xbox Wire.