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Archived News:
The Movies Planet (thanks Brian)
reports that Lionhead has internally revealed that it will be downsizing from
three development teams to two, and that this means the upcoming Stunts and
Effects expansion for the movies will be the end of development of additional
content for the game. The news is not attributed, it simply starts with "We
understand..." but verification can be found in a post by an admin on the
Lionhead Studios Forums (thanks
GameSpot). Here goes: Over the last few months Lionhead has been
working on plans for a new AAA world class game. As work on a number of its
titles draws to a close, a pool of 100 super talented developers at Lionhead are
available to create a new super team at Lionhead. This will be in addition to an
existing team which is working on an amazing next generation title. This
strategy was presented to Lionhead this morning in a company meeting but sadly
it will mean some redundancies.
We are still continuing our support of the Movies, with new downloads on the
Propshop, an add-on disk in summer, and the announcement of the winner of the
Chrysler competition at E3.
Stardock announces that ETROM: The Astral Essence is now available via their
TotalGaming.net
digital delivery system, making this another of those compound gold/shipping
announcements: ETROM: The Astral Essence, the sci-fi action-RPG from P.M.
Studios, is now available for purchase via Stardock’s TotalGaming.net digital
delivery system. Developed by P.M. Studios, ETROM: The Astral Essence weaves a
story across time and space, full of advanced technology and ancient magic, in
which players will battle alongside and against demons, secret divinities,
mechs, hovertanks and dragons. ETROM features an extensive character development
system, a deep story-driven campaign and striking visuals that bring the
developers’ unique universe to life. The game is available for just $29.95 or 3
TotalGaming.net tokens. Visit
http://www.totalgaming.net for more details.
THQ confirms
acquisition of Juice Games is the press release announcing the acquisition
of Juice Games, developers of the
racing game Juiced. The developer has a PSP version of Juiced as well as other
console projects currently in the works.
- Hitman: Blood Money
The
Hitman: Blood Money Website
is online as home to the upcoming return of 47, the bar-coded assassin. The
site offers new screenshots, a new gameplay trailer and a "guide to being a
hitman" movie.
- Two Worlds
TopWare announces the launch of the
Official Two Worlds Website,
dedicated to their upcoming RPG. The site includes screenshots, wallpapers,
and "moveshots," which are animated.
- Dreamfall: The Longest Journey
A new
Dreamfall: The
Longest Journey Product Section is online as publisher Aspyr's home to
the upcoming adventure game sequel. Thanks Frans.
- Commandos: Strike Force
This
Eidos Interactive Downloads Page is host to a new clip showing off more
of Commandos: Strike Force, the upcoming action installment in the Commandos
series of World War II combat games. Word is: "To showcase some of the new
strategy possibilities by utilizing the different strengths of your
commandos, we are bringing you a brand new gameplay video focusing solely on
team tactics. Lead a frontal assault with your Green Beret, and take out
problematic enemies from a distance with your Sniper; or pick off enemies
one by one with your Sniper, and use your Green Beret for protection before
they get too close... the choice is yours to decide and the possibilities
are endless."
- The Godfather
Another couple of movies from The Godfather
show off still more of the upcoming game based on the classic gangster
flicks. The movie game movies showing off extortion and racketeering can be
found on 3D Gamers
and the extortion trailer is also on
Worthplaying.
- Prey
The
Prey
Weekly Development Update #8 on the 3D Realms Website offers a stream of
consciousness from Human Head's Chris Rhinehart on the state of the game as
they work through the late stages of beta testing their upcoming
first-person shooter.
- Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter
Ghost
Recon: Advanced Warfighter Designer Diary #1 on GameSpot has Jeff
Wesevich, Audio Lead at Red Storm Entertainment, sounding off on the topic
of audio in the upcoming special forces shooter sequel.
- Universal Combat Online
A
Universal Combat Online Dev Status Post on the 3000AD Forums has word
from the Supreme Commander that the upcoming MMO installment in the
Universal Combat series has had its "hello world" in that several clients
have successfully connected to a test server. The update describes what they
have working, why some of that they've changed lately has helped make this
achievement possible, and plans for the coming months.
- Titan Quest
The
Titan Quest Designer Diary #5 on GameSpot helps us understand the game's
skill system. Update: The video diary originally also mentioned here
turned out to be old.
- TimeShift
Change
History; Manipulate Time in “TimeShift” – Saber Interactive CEO Matthew
Karch Tells Us How on GameZone discusses the upcoming 4D shooter: "There
is no typical mission in the game. One of the things we wanted to do was
create a lot of variety in terms of gameplay and visuals. So, for example,
in the first mission of the game you are racing through the streets of an
altered version of Washington DC before battling it out on foot in front of
a burning capitol building. In the next level you are infiltrating a
building to rendezvous with your contact before escaping on a zeppelin,
which you must defend in the next level."
- Two Worlds
RPG
Vault's Two Worlds Q&A - Part 1 discusses the upcoming fantasy-themed
RPG with Reality Pump's Miroslaw Dymek: "As for replayability, it is quite
possible that you will not see all the content in the first run. There is
also a multiplayer mode, with unlimited character development, loads of
stuff to collect and just sheer fun slaying monsters with your friends. The
game scales the challenges and rewards to your level so it should keep you
glued to the screen for long time."
- Dark and Light
MMORPG.COM's
Dark and Light Q&A #10 attempts to satisfy their seemingly insatiable
curiosity about NPCube's beta MMORPG, though the focus this time out is Settlers
of Ganareth: "Yes, events took too much time to start in SOG. We also apologize
for this. Events now start on a regular basis, and our players’ feedback is
positive and encouraging. Among the daily animations, a big event starts this
week: the dragon of the apocalypse, offering good prices. We hope our players
will appreciate it."
- Auto Assault on
1UP.
- Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion on
Computer and Video Games. Based on the Xbox 360 version.
- Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter on
Gaming Horizon. Based on the Xbox 360 version.
- Rise and Fall: Civilizations at War on
GameDaily.
- Rush for Berlin on
IGN.
It'll likely all melt over the weekend anyway, but I broke down and shoveled
today. Imagine succumbing to peer pressure at my age...
A Full Spectrum Warrior: Ten Hammers demo is now available, offering the chance
to sample Pandemic's tactical/action sequel that makes everything look like ten
nails. The demo offers an intro movie and a tutorial mission for a 416 MB
download, which co-premiered on
3D Gamers and
FilePlanet, and is now mirrored on
3D Downloads,
FileFront, FileNuts,
Gameguru Mania,
Gamer's Hell, and Worthplaying.
Cyanide Studio.com officially
announces Loki, their upcoming hack-and-slash RPG that was first revealed late
last year by PPU maker AGEIA Technologies ( story). The
Loki Website offers the first
screenshots from the game and its discussion forum. Here's word: As the
"Loki" website goes live, we are pleased to offer 6 as yet unpublished "Loki"
screen shots. "Loki" is a hack 'n' slash (action/RPG) developed by the French
game studio, Cyanide and it is, by far, the studio's most ambitious project to
date. However, it is not their first incursion into a fantasy world as their
subtle blend of humour and haemoglobin in "Chaos League" met with popular
success.
A fantasy voyage through the great mythologies, Loki allows the player to take
on the role of one of the 4 heroes of the game, each drawn from a different
mythology : a mighty Norse fighter, a fierce Greek warrior, a powerful Egyptian
magician or an Aztec shaman who masters the secrets of the spirit world.
Whatever hero the player adopts, he must come to the aid of the gods he
worships. He will come to realise that behind the chaos that is threatening his
world lies Seth, the Egyptian god of darkness and evil, who has returned from
the kingdom of the dead. The hero must therefore undertake an epic journey
across the various epochs and myths. He will fight a multitude of monsters of
all shapes and sizes, and even overthrow a few gods, on his way to preventing
Seth establish his wicked reign.
Strong points
- An epic adventure across 4 great mythologies – Aztec, Egyptian, Greek and
Norse – allowing the player to live through many of the key episodes that mark
these cultures (the siege of Troy, Ragnarok, ......) and setting him in the path
of the most prominent figures within each episode (Achilles, Thor,
Akhenaton.....)
- Choose from 4 different heroes with radically different attributes and powers.
Each hero has a vast array of spells and skills to help him through his quest.
- More than 100 monsters of all shapes and sizes
- Dare to take on mythological creatures that struck fear into the hearts of our
ancestors (Fenrir the giant wolf, the Minotaur in his labyrinth, .......)
- Innumerable story lines through random generation of decors and items, so that
nobody lives the same experience and allowing the game to be played many times
without the hero ever having the same set of weapons, armour or spells.
- Weapons, being made of two parts (loosely "handle" + "cutting edge") and from
different materials, can be customised at the village forge to change
characteristics. Magic runes, found along the way, can multiply the a weapon's
power.
- Live through the adventure with friends in cooperative multiplayer mode or
fight in single combat against friend or foe in PVP mode on a battleground.
Can you survive for the final showdown ?
Loki will be released for Windows PC in September 2006
Visit the official website :
http://www.loki-game.com
Turbine Picks
Codemasters for the European Launch of the Lord of the Rings Online(TM) Shadows
of Angmar(TM) is the press release with more Euro MMO news, as Dungeons &
Dragons Online has launched in Europe: WESTWOOD, Mass.--(BUSINESS
WIRE)--March 3, 2006--Turbine, Inc. announced today that The Codemasters
Software Company Limited will distribute and operate the online service for The
Lord of the Rings Online(TM): Shadows of Angmar(TM) in Europe. Under the
agreement, Codemasters will be responsible for the distribution, hosting,
community management, technical support, and billing for the title. This
announcement follows Turbine's previous selection of Codemasters to provide
European support for DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE(TM): Stormreach(TM), the highly
anticipated online virtual world currently scheduled to launch in the first
quarter of 2006.
"Codemasters' top-notch distribution experience and passion for online gaming
make it the right choice for The Lord of the Rings Online(TM) in Europe,"
explained Jeffrey Anderson, president and CEO of Turbine. "We look forward to
working with Codemasters on both launches."
The Lord of the Rings Online Europe
Website is online, announcing that Codemasters will publish the
Tolkien-inspired MMORPG in Europe. The
Codemasters The Lord of The Rings Online Forums are live. Word is: "The Lord
of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar will allow players to forge heroic
legacies in the War for Middle-Earth. Gamers will experience an evolving
persistent recreation of Tolkien's world-renowned fantasy realm where they can
establish their unique reputations, and discover and wield legendary weapons in
strategic battles, while adventuring solo or in Fellowships."
iEntertainment announces open beta testing of
Legend of Mir 3, an MMORPG that's been online
in Asia for some time: CARY, N.C.- March 3, 2006, -- iEntertainment
Network, (BB:IENT.pk), an award winning online publisher, developer and
community management company, announces today that Legend of Mir 3, a renown
Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing game with over 1 million worldwide
players, has been launched in Open Beta on IENT's gaming service. Mir 3 provides
great gaming fun for online players with over 40 maps, 15 extended Quests with
over 100 stages, and continuing Daily Quests.
Utah Senate Kills
Games as Porn Bill on Gamepolitics (thanks
Slashdot and Mike Martinez) has word that legislation intended to equate violent game
with pornography in Utah has died on the floor of the State Senate after passing
in the house ( story). Word is: "The Senate, however, never moved
the bill out of committee for a floor vote. Dying a quiet death, HB257 has now
been thrown on Utah' s legislative scrap heap - at least for the current
session."
A new SpellForce 2: Shadow
Wars product section is online as U.S. publisher Aspyr's home to Phenomic's
upcoming role-playing/strategy sequel. Thanks Frans.
- SpellForce 2
A new SpellForce 2: Shadow Wars movie shows
off the setting and combat in Phenomic's upcoming role-playing/strategy
sequel. The clip is available on
the official
website and mirrored on
3D Gamers and
Worthplaying.
- Company of Heroes
A new Company of Heroes movie is online,
taken from Relic's upcoming World War II RTS game. The ten minute clip is
available on 3D
Gamers,
GameTrailers, and
Worthplaying.
- Paraworld
The
ParaWorld Website now features a new trailer kicking off a series
showing off the climates in SEK's upcoming RTS game, giving a look at the
Northland territory.
- Urban Chaos: Riot Response
This
Eidos Interactive Downloads Page now offers a new Urban Chaos: Riot
Response movie showing off Rocksteady Games’ recently announced upcoming
continuation of the Urban Chaos series. The clip is a 46 MB download. Like
the game's recently launched
Product
Section, the movie does not offer a PC-CD logo, supporting the theory
that the announcement of a PC version (story) was erroneous
or plans for that version have been cancelled already.
A new
Tycoon City: New York Patch (direct link) is online (thanks Frans), updating
the Big Apple mogul game to version 1.1.0.5. No details are available on what
the patch does.
This Legacy
Interactive Patches Page offers a new patch to update the North American
edition of Law & Order: Criminal Intent to version 1.1. The included patch notes
are from the previous version 1.0 patch, so there are no details on what 's
changed in the new patch. Thanks Frans.
- City of Heroes
The
City
of Heroes Issue 7 Q&A on Boomtown discusses the latest updates to
Cryptic's MMORPG: "Obviously the most important feature is the level 40 to
50 content for Villains. This brings their level cap to be on par with
Heroes. Not only that, it’s some of the best work we have done in terms of
content. We have so many tools available to us now, that these missions each
seem to take on a life of its own, and many have unique bosses and
objectives attached."
- The Godfather
The
Godfather Q&A on Worthplaying is an in-house conversation with Mike
Olsen about the weapons (I'm partial to the Sonny garbage can lid myself) in
the upcoming game adaptation of The Godfather movies: "My favorite weapon is
the Level 3 Shotgun: The Street Sweeper. It is a modified shotgun with a
cylindrical clip that holds10 shells (allowing for fewer reloads) and fires
like an automatic firearm (mowing down anything in its path). With a high
Shooting skill, you’ll have very few problems with this gun in your
hand…just be sure to keep plenty of ammo on hand."
- Kaos Studios
Gamecloud's
Kaos Studios Q&A talks with Frank DeLise formerly of DICE/Trauma about
Kaos Studios, their newly formed developer: "As you know, I can't talk about
any previous unannounced titles, but I can say that nothing we are doing
here relates to what we were doing on our last DICE project."
- Acclaim
Gamecloud's
Acclaim Q&A talks with Ken Chan about the resurrection of the Acclaim
brand: "Our first title, BOTS of Unlimited Transformation, is really
exciting for us not only because it's our first game but because we think
it's going to be very fun; for players to play and for us to provide. BOTS
is a multi-player online robot fighting game with a lot of quick-paced
action. Players get to choose from three basic BOTS and then upgrade their
character however they wish. We have multi or single player story mode,
player vs. player mode and player base attack mode."
The Flashpoint Germany
Website now offers
downloads of a
new patch updating the tactical war game to version 1.10.
Word is: "This new
update contains dozens of changes to Flashpoint Germany including new features,
improvements to existing features, and a host of minor fixes including
improvements to LAN and PBEM play. Some new items include a more realistic
combat model, many interface improvements, major improvements to reporting, map
and counter resizing, better use of recon units, improved sighting rules, better
AI and additional new units such as the M-60A3 and the BMP-1."
Downloads will
replace traditional media within 10 years, says EA VP on GamesIndustry.biz
is a Q&A with EA's European VP of sales, who feels that traditional retail sales
of games will be just about finished within the next decade: While Dr.
Intat's comments are the clearest indication yet of EA's belief in a future
where all videogame content is downloaded rather being sold in physical form, he
was guarded in his response to a query about what this meant for traditional
retailers.
"Firstly, traditional retailers are also entering the online space," he said.
"The Wal-Marts of the world are competing with the Amazons of the world in
traditional products - and they will do so in the online space."
"Secondly, there will always be - well, always is a little too far-reaching
maybe, but for a very long time there will still be distribution of physical
products. We should not underestimate the value of the reach that we do have
today with our products - the impulse purchases that people are making, and that
there are a huge amount of consumers out there who still want to buy physical
products. The gift market also, the parents and grandmothers who still want to
purchase presents for kids, and will still continue purchasing products in
physical form," he concluded.
Digital Paint
Website now offers build 16 of Paintball 2.0, the stand-alone paintball game
using the GPL Quake II engine. Word is: "Yes, we skipped a build. You can
search the forums for build 15 if you really want it, but we felt it had too
many bugs to be released publically [sic], so here we are now with build 16.
What's new since build 14? The key things would be new player models,
reflective water, and the global ban list. What's a "global ban list?" In
short, if you get caught cheating on one server, you get banned from all of
them. Read this for
more details."
Stephen Colbert closed his show last night with a funny bit about the launch of
D&D Online... I imagine it will show up on one of the video sharing sites soon,
but it will probably repeat on Comedy Central a couple of times today as well.
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