Archived News:

Wednesday, Jul 10, 2013

Call of Duty: Black Ops II - Vengeance for PC Next Month

Activision announces an August 1st release date for the Call of Duty: Black Ops II - Vengeance DLC for Windows and PlayStation 3, which is 30 days after the DLC was released for the Xbox 360 edition of the military shooter sequel. Word is: "Beginning Aug. 1, Vengeance can belong to PlayStation®3 and Windows PC players when Activision and award-winning developer Treyarch makes its third epic Downloadable Content (DLC) Pack for the record-breaking Call of Duty®: Black Ops II available. Vengeance takes players to exotic locations around the globe and also serves up a new chapter to the Zombies experience with "Buried," where the undead residents of an abandoned subterranean Old West mining town have come back to claim their home."

Ships Ahoy - GRID 2 Drift Pack; iOS RaceNet App

Codemasters announces the release of the Drift Pack for GRID 2, adding new drift-worthy cars to the racing sequel for Windows and consoles. Here's word on the pack and the accompanying launch of a new iOS RaceNet app:
Los Angeles – July 10, 2013 – Today Codemasters® announced that the Drift Pack, new downloadable content for GRID 2™, is available now for the Xbox 360® games and entertainment system from Microsoft for 480 Microsoft Points on the Xbox Live® online entertainment network from Microsoft and Windows PC for $5.99 from Steam and for the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system for $5.99.

Codemasters also announced today that the GRID 2 RaceNet app is available for free for iOS devices from iTunes. RaceNet – the free online community hub for Codemasters Racing games – allows players to track personal, community and friends’ GRID 2 stats and is the beating heart of the game’s extensive multiplayer component, serving up new challenges and objectives every week. Since GRID 2’s launch, players with RaceNet accounts have drifted for over 700,000 miles and entered 2 million drift events. The new GRID 2 RaceNet app allows players to check out their progress in game and track their Rivals, Global Challenges, Followers, Objectives and more. An Android version of the app is coming soon.

Rambo Trailer

A new trailer offers gameplay footage from Rambo, the upcoming video game that's rushing to cash in on the popularity of the film series most recently updated in 2008. The clip features signature touches from the movies, including exploding arrows, a huge knife, and the manly tightening of a red bandana around Rambo's glorious mullet. Continue here to read the full story.

Race To Mars Kickstarter

This Kickstarter seeks £30,000 to fund Race To Mars, a turn-based strategy game based on a race to colonize the red planet. Here's word on what's planned for this from Polish developer INTERMARUM:
Race To Mars is a turn-based, space company simulation game. Become the head of a newly created “New Space” company whose goal is to establish a colony on Mars. You begin as a start-up and develop cutting edge aerospace technologies to reach orbit. Flying beyond the vicinity of Earth, blaze the trail into space and leave the competition far behind on your way to victory.

Our game aims at achieving two goals: promoting the outer space industry and satisfying all fans of economy games. Race To Mars combines the realism of a space-port management sim and approachable gameplay. We assure you that both subject enthusiasts and casual gamers will find this mixture highly entertaining. Our priority is to make an approachable game without compromising its key economic and strategic features.

Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag Trailer

UbiBlog now offers a new video from Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag, the next installment in the stealth/action series. They also offer a step-by-step description of everything seen in the video, if you prefer the book to the movie. Here's a short synopsis: "Watch this new Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag video showcasing Edward Kenway as he navigates the dangerous Caribbean waters hunting for treasure, capturing enemy ships and navigating the treacherous ocean – featuring commentary from game director Ashraf Ismail."

Orcs Must Die! 2 Adds Steam Workshop Support

Robot Entertainment announces Orcs Must Die! 2 now includes Steam Workshop support, making it easy to share user-created content for the tower defense sequel. They also say they will be supporting Steam Trading Cards soon. Here's word: "Robot Entertainment today announced that Orcs Must Die! 2 now supports Steam Workshop and will soon be getting Steam Trading Cards! When it released last summer, Orcs Must Die! 2 gave players a broad new Spellbook filled with original and classic traps, each with unlockable upgrades. Robot Entertainment is now giving War Mages the tools to expand their magical arsenal even further." You can find more details on Steam.

Drox Operative: Invasion of the Ancients Preorders Include Beta Access

Soldak Entertainment now offers preorders of the Invasion of the Ancients expansion for Drox Operative, which includes early access to the beta of the add-on for the sci-fi action/RPG. Here's the pitch for the expansion:
Drox Operative: Invasion of the Ancients is the first expansion for Drox Operative. Drox Operative is a starship action RPG with warring alien races, fierce space battles, a dynamic, evolving galaxy, and co-op multiplayer for Windows and Mac.

Before the Drox ruled the galaxy, before they were even sentient, there were older races now known as the Ancients. Using their Operatives, the Drox crushed and enslaved most of these races. The rest fled known space. When the Drox turned on their own Operatives, the Drox were utterly destroyed. Newer races emerged and thrived in the power void, never knowing the menace waited. Seizing their chance, the Ancients are invading to take their rightful place in the galaxy, as rulers! Thirsting for revenge, the Ancients can't harm the extinct Drox, but they can crush the next best thing, the Drox Operatives.

The Ancient enemies are back! Can you defend the Drox Operative Guild and younger races against the Invasion of the Ancients?

On Sale

Evening Previews

Into the Black

Link of the Day: The 'Sink-Urinal' Saves Water, Encourages Men To Wash Hands. Thanks Ralph. That's pretty clever.

Metro: Last Light DLC Next Week

Deep Silver announces the Faction Pack, the first DLC for Metro: Last Light. 4A Games' first-person shooter sequel. This will be released worldwide on Steam and Xbox LIVE on July 16th, and while the PS3 edition will be released at day in North America, it will come to the European PlayStation Network the day after. Here are some screenshots and this page has details, saying: "The Faction Pack includes three original single player missions, each casting the player as a different specialist from the warring Factions. Returning to some classic locations from Metro 2033, these missions feature new weapons, the return of a truly terrifying mutant foe, and offer three distinct gameplay challenges…" We also have word on the three additional DLC packs to follow this one:

  • The 'Tower Pack' presents a unique experience for seasoned Metro gunslingers - a challenge based game mode, with online Leaderboard support, as players fight their way up the combat simulator known as The Tower
  • The 'Developer Pack' boasts a fully stocked Shooting Gallery, the AI Arena and Metro Museum... And a bonus solo mission - The Spiders' Nest - offers some new tools for dealing with an infestation of the skittering Spider mutants
  • Lastly the Chronicles Pack will feature original single player missions that cast the player as three of the game's standout characters - Pavel, Khan and Anna - and explore their side-stories away from Artyom's adventure

Dota 2 Rollout Details

As revealed last night Dota 2 is out of beta, and players are being added to Valve's free-to-play MOBA game. This process had a bit of a false start last night, but things were straightened out quickly enough. Here's the official announcement with word on how players are being added gradually, as planned:

July 9, 2013 - Valve, creators of best selling game franchises (Counter-Strike, Half-Life, Left 4 Dead, Portal, and Team Fortress) and leading technologies (Source, Steam), today announced the public launch of the highly-anticipated Dota 2.

During a two year beta, Dota 2 grew to be the largest active community in Steam's history, with a monthly user base of more than 3 million users, and peak concurrent users of over 300,000.

The feedback from these users has put Dota 2 in position to welcome everyone to come and play, as we move from beta to launch. Given the size of the Dota audience, the initial launch of the game will be done in waves. This will ensure that existing Dota 2 users will keep playing without disruption, and new users will be able to join the community seamlessly.

"Thanks to those who participated in the beta and Workshop contributors, you've helped us build the game and define the infrastructure to support it," said Erik Johnson of Valve. "Our goal over the next few weeks is continue to make the game more enjoyable as more players are brought in. We hope to make it as smooth as possible for existing players and new players alike."

Those who wish to request their entry to the game just need to visit the Steam page (http://store.steampowered.com/app/570/), sign up, and keep a look out for an email letting them know it's time to play.

Available for the PC via Steam, Dota 2 is the massive sequel to one of the most played games of all time, and offers a unique blend of RTS and RPG action.

For more information, please visit http://www.dota2.com/thebetaisover

Obscure Renamed Final Exam

Focus Home Interactive announces a name change for Obscure, the side-scroller recently announced by Mighty Rocket Studio, a new developer formed former staff from Hydravision. This title was not obscure enough, since Hydravision has already released Obscure and Obscure 2, creating the logical expectation this continues that series. Since this is not the case, they have renamed the game to Final Exam to clear up whatever confusion this caused, and a new Final Exam website is online reflecting the change. The game is also delayed from its original release window of Spring 2013, and is now expected "next September," which we're reading as September of this year. The announcement of the name change indicates they still hope to create a true new Obscure game:
Unveiled a few months ago with the title Obscure, the game under development by part of Hydravision’s ex-members – creators of the Survival Horror series of the same name – has changed name. This decision was actually dictated by the numerous reactions from the original console game’s fans who, after Mighty Rocket Studio announced the new release, regretted it was not a real sequel to the Obscure series.

"When we read the first comments following the announcement of our new game, we understood that our fans expected a different content from a game entitled 'Obscure'", explains François Potentier, director at Mighty Rocket Studio. "We understand fans all the better because we are first and foremost passionate gamers! Thus, even if the game makes a great number of references to Obscure and Obscure 2, we thought it important to rename it. At the end of the day, it's a question of honesty and respect to the gamers. 'Final Exam' does befit the game accurately. Final Exam is the first corner stone of our new studio, and we hope this title will enable us to grow, as we have not given up on the idea of developing a real sequel to Obscure."

What is Payday 2? Trailer Explains

A new trailer from Payday 2 answers the burning question what is Payday 2? beyond the explanation already present in the accompanying blurb: "Join Payday 2’s Game Director David Goldfarb, as he takes us through what makes Payday 2 different from the original Payday The Heist, and other shooters out there on the market. Winner of 4 E3 2013 Awards, PAYDAY 2 is an action-packed, 4-player co-op shooter that once again lets you don the masks of the original PAYDAY crew – Dallas, Hoxton, Wolf and Chains – as they descend on Washington D.C. for an epic crime spree." Continue here to read the full story.

SEGA Seeks THQ's COH2 Preorder Cash

This filing shows SEGA's claim that bankrupt THQ owes them $941,710.93 from preorders of Company of Heroes 2 preorders. The included detail notes that more than half of those funds were from preorders placed after THQ's Chapter 11 filing: "Pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, Valve made payments to the Debtor, in the ordinary course of the Debtor's business, of a certain game to be distributed by the Debtor. Such payments total $941,710.93. Of that amount, payments totaling $508,877.85 were made after December 19, 2012 ('Petition Date')." Thanks Eurogamer.

Morning Previews

Game Reviews

Hardware Reviews

Out of the Blue

I was watching a rerun of House and noticed what has to be one of the great dirty lines ever slipped past the censors for prime-time television: "Most people don't orgasm from a needle prick" (no, I'm not making this up). You have to think someone got a raise for that.

R.I.P.: Seth Vidal.

Spicy Links: Thanks Ant and Acleacius.
Play: The Peacekeeper.
Save the Dummy.
Links: Ender's Game author Orson Scott Card issues plea for tolerance of his intolerance of gays.
Malcolm Gladwell On Culture and Airplane Crashes.
Science: Is It Really Possible to Die By Peeing on the Third Rail? An Investigation.
Coal’s high cost in China? 2.5 billion years of life expectancy.
Images: The 35 Greatest Animal Photobombers Of All Time. Thanks nin.
Boozy Snapshots of American Life Under Prohibition. Thanks nin.
Media: The Ring-Style Wakeup Prank.
Dog Goldberg Machine.
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