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Archived News:
A new demo for The Chronicle of the Three Kingdoms is now available, this sample
of Magitech's upcoming medieval RTS game offers an introductory sequence and the
first three levels from the full game. The download is 689 MB, available on
3D Downloads, 3D
Gamers,
FileFront, and
Worthplaying.
The Ghost Recon
Website has word on plans for a second map pack for Ghost Recon: Advanced
Warfighter (thanks Frans). Word is: Today we're releasing more
information about the GRAW PC Map Pack #2. See below for 2 screenshots, each
detailing a new game mode that will be added with the map pack. Additionally,
this map pack will implement the death cam, a feature showing you how you died
and who shot you. This pack is still in development, aiming for a release at the
end of July or beginning of August.
World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade Website has details on a new feature
to be introduced in the upcoming expansion for Blizzard's MMORPG that will allow
faction/class crossovers. They have further details on this, but here's the
general summary: As we draw closer to the release of World of Warcraft:
The Burning Crusade, more of the secrets shrouding the draenei and blood elves
are being revealed. In the upcoming expansion, players will finally be able to
play classes that were previously unavailable to their faction. The blood elves
have harnessed the power of the Light for their own needs, and the Horde
recognizes the value of these renegade blood elf paladins. Meanwhile, the
draenei have been granted the wisdom and strength of the elements, and a number
of draenei now follow the path of the shaman. Read on to learn more about the
new class combinations available to players of World of Warcraft: The Burning
Crusade.
The rFactor
Newsroom (thanks Frans) has details on the next patch for rFactor, ISI's
motorsports simulation. Changes include AI improvements, gameplay tweaks, a new
speedway, and more. As for availability, the patch is described as "soon to be
released."
The Hard Truck Apocalypse: Rise of Clans
Website is live as home to Nival Interactive's upcoming expansion for their
futuristic trucking action/RPG. The site includes info, screenshots, and a
community forum. Also, the
Genesis Rising:
The Universal Crusade Product Section is live (thanks Frans) as publisher
DreamCatcher Games' home to Metamorf Studios' upcoming science fiction real-time
strategy game. The site includes product information and screenshots.
ZUXXEZ now
offers a new patch for The Kings of the Dark Age (thanks Frans), updating the
turn-based strategy game to version 2.0. Word is: "The download clears all known
bugs in the strategy game. Moreover some gameplay features are improved."
A German and Spanish-language demo for Bet on Soldier: Blood of Sahara is now
available, offering those who speak the proper language (or fans of mystery) to
sample Kylotonn Entertainment's first-person shooter expansion. The demo
includes one single-player mission, available on
3D Gamers and
Worthplaying.
- Half-Life 2: Episode Two
The next installment in Valve's
episodic shooter sequel expansion is on display in an expanded movie that
adds several new sequences to some footage familiar from the first trailer.
The download can be found on
3D Downloads, 3D
Gamers,
FileFront, Gameguru Mania,
GDHardware,
Techgage, and
Worthplaying.
- Pac-Man World Rally
The E3 movie is now available showing
off the upcoming automotive exploits of the beloved pill-popping gaming
icon. The low-rez clip includes a minute of gameplay for a 2.8 MB download,
available on 3D
Gamers, and
Worthplaying.
- Battlefield 2142
The
Battlefield 2142 Q&A, part two on Computer and Video Games wraps up
their conversation with producer Jamil Dawsari about DICE's upcoming
military shooter sequel: "2142 will be one of the most tested and active -
as far as getting community feedback - of any Battlefield product. For
example, we have a closed beta program going on right now. We will have an
open beta later in the summer, we have over 60 testers on the product and we
have everything that we've learned from Battlefield 2, so things like
dolphin-diving and bunny-hopping will not be an issue in 2142 because we've
already fixed it."
- Gods and Heroes
The
Gods and Heroes Q&A on MMORPG.COM is a Q&A with Perpetual's Stieg
Hedlund about their coming MMORPG: "Absolutely! When I first started working
on this project I had never seen the formations in motion and I wondered if
this was actually going to have any significant impact on the tactics and
gameplay. Only after they got it fully implemented and I was able to see in
action did I begin to appreciate what could be done and how it affects the
game. The best example was the using soldiers and their special maneuver,
Shield Wall, at E3. By having the soldiers take the front line, they can
intercept incoming hostiles and thereby protect you and all your casters.
Various configurations offer various benefits, and depending on the class
and the feats that you choose, formations will become increasingly more
important as you progress through the game."
- Age of Decadence
The
Age of Decadence
Q&A on No Mutants Allowed discusses Dark Tower's upcoming RPG: "It's
huge. Really, really huge. However, the gameworld is location-based, and we
can offer only 22 locations for you to explore. The travel system is similar
to Fallout at this point: there is an overland travel map; you may explore
freely; some locations could be found, some locations could only be added by
someone or something (a scroll in a library, another map, markings on a
wall, etc)."
- Horizons
MMORPG.COM's
Horizons Q&A is a brief article-format conversation with David Bowman
and Ed Andercheck about the just-announced sale of the MMORPG.
- Perimeter: Emperor's Testament on
GameSpot.
Well the rain abated here, though apparently it was amazingly stormy just south
of here. The guys did indeed come and patch the driveway, and in a fit of
maturity, I didn't even write my initials in the wet cement.
Take 2
Interactive Software, Inc. Announces Final Resolution of the Federal Trade
Commission Inquiry (thanks Frans) has word that all outstanding matters are settled
between Rockstar, Take-Two, and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission over the Hot
Coffee scandal ( story), with no penalties or fines: New
York, NY – July 21, 2006 – Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO)
announced today that following the 30-day period for public comment, the Federal
Trade Commission (FTC) has unanimously approved the Consent Order and Agreement
with Take-Two and its wholly-owned publishing label Rockstar Games. All
outstanding matters pending before the FTC have been settled and no penalties or
fines have been assessed. Among other things, the Consent Order provides that
the Company shall not misrepresent a video game's ratings or content descriptors
and that the Company shall implement a system to ensure that all game content is
reviewed in connection with submissions to ratings authorities.
Paul Eibeler, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We are extremely
pleased that the FTC has concluded its very thorough investigation, and that the
matter has been resolved. We recognize the importance of maintaining public
confidence in the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rating system and
helping the ESRB educate parents and consumers about the rating system. We look
forward to putting this behind us and focusing on what we do best - creating
video games."
The Horizons Community
Website (thanks Tyme) has the announcement that Horizons: Empire of Istaria
has been acquired by EI Interactive,
publisher of Savage Eden. Here's the
latest chapter in the colorful history of an MMORPG that bankrupted its original
developer ( story): EI Interactive (EI) has acquired the
game Horizons: Empire of Istaria from Tulga Games effective July 21, 2006.
Horizons is an online role-playing game originally published in 2003 by Atari,
Inc. and winner of multiple game show awards. Horizons has gone through a
genesis, emerging today as a world class MMORPG providing a very stable and
intrinsically interactive persistent universe for play.
The quality of the Horizons community and the potential of the Istaria world
defines this game as a flagship property. EI is committed to maintaining the
integrity of the Horizons way of gaming and will continue the Horizons support
in a new Phoenix, Arizona office.
“The magic of Horizons is not only in its uniquely supportive community, but
also in the deep potential this game has for a player’s participation in
building the environment and growing the storyline”, said EI Chairman Edward C.
Andercheck, “the success EI has had in building the Savage Eden community is a
great testimony to our in-game event team’s efforts, we look forward to the same
experience in Horizons”
The promised GTR 2 demo is available a bit earlier than anticipated (as of this writing the
countdown is still running on
GameSpot),
offering the chance to sample SimBin's motorsports sequel. Word is: "This GTR 2
demo gives you the chance to drive one of two FIA GT class cars against up to 15
computer-controlled opponents at the Barcelona GP circuit." The download is
available on
3D
Downloads, 3D Gamers,
Computer Games,
eXtremePlayers,
Filecloud,
Gamer's Hell, and
Worthplaying.
3D
Realms now offers downloads of the Prey Windows dedicated server binaries.
The read me has
details on the server, which, like the Linux dedicated server, requires some additional
files from the Prey CD.
Brian Lara
International Cricket to return for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 next March
is the press release announcing the next installment in the cricket series will
hit the pitch early next year. The game's
Product Section (thanks Frans) is online, offering the first three screenshots from the
sequel, and here's a bit of the announcement: Brian Lara, the
genre-leading cricket game series, will return with Brian Lara International
Cricket 2007 and officially feature the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, Codemasters
announced today.
Coming to PlayStation®2, Xbox 360™ and PC, the sequel to the
best-selling 2005 title will launch to coincide with the ICC Cricket World Cup
2007 in March 2007.
The new title follows the 2005 revival of the series, which became the first
cricket title to ever make Number 1 in the Chart Track’s All Formats UK
best-seller list. The game won over an army of fans thanks to its authentic and
hugely entertaining gameplay and held a 4-week run as the UK’s number one
best-seller. 2005 was also a great year for Brian Lara himself; the West Indies
cricket captain became the leading Test run scorer of all time.
Introversion
Announce September Release for Defcon announces a September 2006 release
date for DEFCON, the upcoming cold war game. Word is: Introversion, the
award-winning* maverick developer of the hit PC game - Darwinia - will be
releasing its eagerly-awaited third title DEFCON in September 2006.
DEFCON is an online, competitive, multiplayer strategy game based around the
theme of global thermonuclear war. The game, inspired by the 1983 cult-classic
Wargames, superbly evokes the tension, paranoia and suspicion surrounding the
Cold War era. The player assumes the role of a General hidden deep within an
underground bunker, his mission being to successfully exterminate the enemy's
civilian population whilst simultaneously disabling the enemy's ability to
retaliate. Desperate attempts must be made to form fast, tactical alliances -
alliances that may at any moment break-down to become treacherous and very
deadly betrayals.
- Call of Juarez
Ubisoft
now offers a new "Atmosphere Trailer" with a 33 second high definition look
at Techland's upcoming wild western shooter. Thanks Frans.
- Marvel Ultimate Alliance
Three new movies celebrate the ComicCon appearance of Raven's upcoming underwear pervert combat game, showing off the blond half of the Fantastic Four
as well as Iceman. The movies are
available on
3D Gamers,
FileFront,
and
Worthplaying.
- ParaWorld
There's a new "birth of a dinosaur" (and here I
thought they hatched) movie on the official
ParaWorld Website, though you may need to pick a language and hit the
link a second time with a cookie set to reach the proper page.
- Titan Quest
Gamasutra's
Age of Titans: Brian Sullivan's Latest Adventures (thanks Frans) looks back at Titan Quest,
offering an article-format conversation about the game with Iron Lore's
action/RPG: "We designed Titan Quest for a global audience, because that is
where we are selling the game. Europeans tend to like PC games, RPGs, and
historical games, and Titan Quest delivers in all three of these areas. Part
of why we did a historical and mythological game in the first place was for
the European market, because they tend to like this topic. It is also one of
the reasons we put Age of Empires in the same setting. When we make any
design decision, we think about all markets, but especially America and
Europe because they are two biggest markets for this kind of game."
- RF Online
Ten
Ton Hammer's RF Online Q&A talks with Kyle 'Laeth' Rowley, community
manager for the MMORPG: "I think it’s fair to say that the MMO genre at the
moment is full to the brim of fantasy themed games. Players are getting
tired of playing in the same kind of setting over and over again, and RF
Online tries to change all that. We think RF Online brings a fresh new theme
to the MMO world, by combining all the loved aspects of the fantasy genre
(elves, magic, swords etc) with all the ultra cool aspects of the Sci-Fi
genre (Mechs, Cyborgs, Guns :D ). Due to this unique setting, the writers on
the RF Online team can make use of their creative imagination and write
history and future storylines that compel players, inviting them to find out
more about the world they play in."
- ThreadSpace: Hyperbol
FiringSquad's
ThreadSpace: Hyperbol Q&A talks about the coming commercial release of
Iocaine Studios' independently developed science fiction shooter: "The game
takes place in an area of our galaxy called The Hub Sector. This sector is
filled with Hyperchannels (those roads in space) that connect to various
points of interest. The background story of this sector involves an ancient
alien race abandoning this area mysteriously and humans stumbling upon it.
The humans colonized it, mastered the various technologies that were left
behind, and expanded upon it. Some things went bad and chaos ensues. The
game takes place during a war between 3 factions. These factions are
fighting for territorial dominance, so all of the battles that take place in
the game are at these key areas of interest."
The S2Games Jobs Page has listings
for five new job openings for "an exciting new game" (thanks Frans). S2 is
located in Northern California.
The guys were supposed to return today to fill in the hole they re-dug in our
driveway earlier in the week, but the weather is rainy enough that I suspect
they may have to postpone. In the meantime, I have the makings of my own tiger
trap to play with, or, if it continues to rain, a small in-ground pool.
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