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Archived News:
Telltale Games announces "Production on Sam & Max Episode 1 halted," which
is their sadistic way of announcing that work on the debut installment in the
episodic return of the detective duo is complete. They offer a new video and
some screenshots to celebrate the occasion. Word is: "Culture Shock comes out
October 17 on GameTap, and November 1 right here on our site. Get ready. (And be
sure to come back Wednesday for a downloadable version of that promo video!)"
Netamin announces they are now accepting subscriptions for
Ultimate Baseball Online 2006,
their MMO sports game: Diamond Bar, California Sep 25, 2006 Netamin
Communication Corp. today announced it has begun offering subscriptions for
Ultimate Baseball Online 2006, the world’s first massively multiplayer online
sports game (MMOSG).
“Lifetime” subscriptions are being offered from September 25, 2006 through
October 25, 2006 for the low monthly charge of $7.95, with no price increases
for the life of the subscription. After October 25th the regular monthly fee of
$9.95 will be offered, with substantial discounts for semi-annual and annual
subscriptions.
Ultimate Baseball Online (UBO) 2006 will offer a free download and free
entry-level play, including the ability to create characters and play pickup
games and some tournaments. Subscribers advance through 99 levels and
participate in a full range of online baseball activities, including league
seasons and the free and entry fee tournaments, and prized competitions which
make UBO the most exciting team sport on the internet. As part of the
subscription launch, Netamin also is announcing the Ultimate Baseball
Championship, an annual competition where winners of UBO League play and
tournaments compete for the title of Best UBO Team in the World. Over $10,000 in
cash prizes will be awarded, with the first playoff series beginning in late
2007.
CDV announces American Conquest Anthology, an RTS compilation planned for
release in November: American history fans rejoice, as CDV Software
Entertainment has announced the impending release of American Conquest
Anthology, a collection of the best-selling American Conquest RTS titles for PC.
The Anthology, which includes American Conquest, American Conquest: Fight Back
and American Conquest: Divided Nation will ship to North American retail in
November 2006.
American Conquest Anthology combines three real-time strategy blockbusters into
one fantastic collector’s edition that lets players relive events from American
history from the period of 1492 to 1865. The collection includes a total of over
100 missions, 25 campaigns and 22 nations. The diverse campaigns, random map
generator and online (LAN and Internet) multiplayer modes will keep players
battling through history for months. Real-time strategy doesn’t get any better
than this.
Aspyr announces they will be publishing a PC edition of Top Spin 2, saying they
will serve up the tennis sequel in North America in first quarter of next year.
The first PC screenshots can be found on
3D Gamers, and word
is: Austin, TX, September 25, 2006 Aspyr will serve up adrenaline
pumping action early next year on PC tennis courts everywhere with the release
of Top Spin 2. Licensed from 2K Sports and being developed for the PC by Aspyr
Media, Top Spin 2 is a world-class tennis game that immerses players in the
world of top-ranked professional tennis. Aspyr Media will publish Top Spin 2 for
the PC in North America in Q1 of 2007.
"Sports games are a mainstay in gaming and are a great addition to Aspyr's
offerings," said Ted Staloch, Executive Vice President, Publishing for Aspyr.
"With Top Spin 2 releasing on the PC, armchair athletes can play tennis all year
round, no matter what the conditions."
The hit tennis game Top Spin 2 serves up 24 top-ranked athletes (Roger Federer,
Maria Sharapova and more), a wide variety of events including all four Grand
Slam tournaments, a multi-season career, and a set of new risk and advanced
shots. In detailed, real-world venues such as Wimbledon, gamers can create
realistic player models and their own on-court style with slices, drops, top
spins, lobs, and drives against the tennis world¹s best-of-the-best. For
experienced players, Top Spin 2 adds depth to gameplay with a number of risk
shots and advanced controls, giving gamers the ability to pick apart their
opponent piece-by-piece. If hard-core competition isn¹t your thing, take it easy
and enjoy multiplayer party games, like Splash Court, Wall Breaker, and Time
Bomb. The game supports up to four players on a single PC, and two players over
the Internet or a LAN.
Codemasters announces that they are opening the beta test for ArchLord to
all interested participants: Codemasters Online Gaming are excited to
announce that we are throwing the doors open to the ArchLord BETA in preparation
for the climactic end of BETA event that is scheduled to take place very soon!
The planned epic stress test will offer the last opportunity for people to enter
the game before the final release and will give players the opportunity to take
part in this climactic, large scale PvP event planned to celebrate the end of
BETA. The final location and time are still to be announced however one thing is
for sure this will be one of the biggest PvP battles ever seen within any
MMORPG.
Taking part is easy… Go get your BETA key now at
www.archlordgame.com/requestakey and then follow the instructions to create
your character and then enter the BETA. From here you will then need to join one
of the four guilds taking part in this epic battle. The guilds are headed up by
the champions of Chantra below:
Brumhart - Champion of Zylok
Ziann Champion of Anchorville
Evengarda Champion of tullan
Gaiahon Champion of terranoa
To enter the battle you will need to apply to join one of the four guilds lead
by the champions above. For a full list of instructions on how to enter the
event visit
Get ready to join the thousands of players who have already pledged their
allegiance and entered the ArchLord BETA. Make ready your weapon and prepare to
fight for your very survival……
A Mac demo for Civilization IV is now available, offering a "Universal" sample
of the turn-based strategy sequel that runs natively on both PowerPC- and
Intel-based Macintosh computers. The demo offers the chance to play for 100
turns of gameplay, available on
Mac Game Files.
Start-up aims to take video games to the next level announces formation of
Trion World Network, focused on broadband-based episodic entertainment, and, of
course, taking the video game industry to the next level: LOS ANGELES
(Reuters) - Silicon Valley upstart Trion World Network Inc. wants to take the
nearly $30 billion video game industry to the next level by combining the best
of high-speed Internet with traditional gaming and media.
Trion intends to take advantage of the growing number of broadband-connected
homes and to deliver online games in "episodes" that change in real time as the
game unfolds. Or as it might be pitched in Hollywood: Think MySpace.com meets
"World of Warcraft" and interactive reality TV shows like "Survivor."
"Games are well-positioned to move into an online world and to become a deep
entertainment experience," Trion founder Lars Buttler, a former vice president
at Electronic Arts Inc. (Nasdaq:ERTS - news), the world's biggest video game
publisher, told Reuters.
The company, based in Redwood City, California, has an undisclosed amount of
funding from Doll Capital Management and Trinity Ventures and plans to have its
new network up and running within 12 months.
Trion will offer a new kind gaming experience to the tech-savvy consumers who
flock to sites like MySpace and YouTube, said Buttler, who added that the
company will get revenue from subscriptions, paid downloads and in-game
advertising rather than from retail game sales.
The Might and Magic Website
offers a new "sandbox" movie from Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, the upcoming
action game based on the Might and Magic franchise (thanks Frans). Word is:
"This new trailer is seriously gory so I have to put a warning out to all the
squeemish [sic] gamers out there!"
- Pacific Storm
Computer
Games Online's Pacific Storm Q&A talks with Aleksey Pshekhonov about
Lesta's WW2 action strategy game: "For those who don’t want to play a
campaign, we offer historical missions presenting the most significant
events of the Pacific War, as well as other naval battles of WWII, such as
Pearl-harbor attack or sinking of the Yamato battleship. These missions are
available both in single- and multiplayer modes. Also, Pacific Storm
features a battle planner, a simplified mission editor or 'deployment mode',
which contains ready maps for battles, where the player may easily create
and play his own custom missions."
- Mage Knight Apocalypse
More
Multiplayer Details for “Mage Knight Apocalypse” on GameZone discusses
multiplayer in NAMCO BANDAI's upcoming action/RPG: "We wanted multiplayer to
be a cooperative experience. But there is a hostile mode, which can be
[applied] to any of the other modes. In hostile mode, all of your allies
become targetable. The idea behind this is, in some of the world war shooter
games, you have friendly fire to make it more realistic. On the competition
side we have the idea of loot in the game. You will be competing for loot,
but we’ve designed it to drop specifically to your character. How it works
is: when in multiplayer, you’ll find loot [that is specifically for you].
You cannot pick up loot that was dropped for other characters."
- D&D Online
The
Dungeons and Dragons Online Q&A on TenTonHammer talks with David
Eckelberry about the latest update to Turbine's MMORPG: "The setting of
Module 3 is a desert area, so you'll see genies and efreeti. Some will give
you information and want to meet you. Others will great you with fireballs
they want to introduce you to. Our new humanoid non-playable race is the
gnolls, and players will be interacting with them. A lot of the conflict in
Module 3 is the work a marelith, a 6-armed creature straight out of the
Monster Manual, who positions herself as a queen."
- Flight Simulator X
The
Microsoft Flight Simulator X Q&A on Computer and Video Games discuses
the newest installment in the long-flying series with Mike Gilbert: "It's
been one of the longest releases for us for quite some time - over three
years since the 2004 edition came out and we took the extra time to really
re-think our approach to designing the produce from the customer's point of
view. For a long time I think rightfully criticised, we were very pilot or
enthusiast orientated, focussing on the realism of the aircraft and the
instrumentation and procedures and air traffic control, that sort of thing
that works really well for a lot of people. But there are a lot of folks
with a passion for aviation that find that a little bit daunting and not
their cup of tea so we actually went and did quite a bit of research on the
users of the product, we did customer satisfaction surveys in the UK and
France to get an international feel."
- NBA Live '07
Music
4 Games' Steve Schnur Q&A talks about the soundtrack in NBA Live '07:
"Picking the music for any EA game – in essence, creating the audio
personality – is an intensely focused process. Game music – whether songs or
an original score – must enhance the experience, taking both the music and
gameplay to another level. And as always, any EA game with a year in the
title must move the music forward. With NBA Live ’07, we knew we wanted the
soundtrack to reflect the changing trends and bold innovations of hip hop
while exposing some great new international artists that we feel will be a
major part of the genre’s future. We think we’ve succeeded beyond all
expectations."
- The Chronicles of Spellborn on
RPG Vault.
Peek #2.
- Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising on
GameDaily.
- Flight Simulator X on
IGN.
- Kingdom Under Fire: Circle of Doom on
IGN.
- Star Wars Empire at War- Forces of Corruption on
3DAvenue.
It was 10 years ago today that John Romero and Tom Hall announced their new
company wouldn't be named Dream Design after all, but rather Ion (later ION
Storm), beginning an intriguing chapter in our game community's history.
This
Press Release announces that Mage Knight Apocalypse is shipping, and NAMCO
BANDAI's action/RPG should be in stores tomorrow: SANTA CLARA, Calif.,
(September 25, 2006) – Leading video games publisher and developer NAMCO BANDAI
Games America Inc. today announced that its fantasy action role-playing PC game,
Mage Knight: Apocalypse™, is now shipping to retail outlets across North America
and will be available in stores beginning September 26th. Featuring a
richly-detailed universe, epic single player campaign and co-operative modes,
Mage Knight: Apocalypse is the debut title launching from NAMCO BANDAI Games
America Inc.’s PC division.
“Being the debut release from NAMCO BANDAI’s PC division, we are delighted that
Mage Knight: Apocalypse has now shipped to retail,” said Makoto Iwai, Senior
Vice President of the Development Group for NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. “We
are confident that players will find the game’s detailed universe, ferocious
battles, evolutionary character development and unlimited customization options
as engrossing as we do.”
Microsoft Game Studios announces that the Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania is gold,
and the theme-park expansion will be in stores on October 17, along with a new
Zoo Tycoon 2: Zookeeper Collection that includes all the previous installments
in the series: Microsoft Game Studios today announced that the "Zoo
Tycoon 2: Marine Mania"* expansion pack has gone gold. Making waves on store
shelves Oct. 17, this newest addition to the award-winning "Zoo Tycoon 2"
franchise lets gamers of all ages turn their dream zoo into an aquatic
adventure.
From Blue Fang Games, LLC, this new, E10+ rated expansion pack introduces 20 new
marine animals into the "Zoo Tycoon 2" experience, including green sea turtles,
black tip reef sharks and West Indian manatees, for $29.99. Watch an orca breach
the surface of its tank, while dolphins teach each other new tricks. In addition
to building new captivating tanks, gamers can also customize their own aquatic
shows, teaching animals to entertain zoo guests and increase their zoo ratings.
New scenarios and challenges allow players of all ages and skill levels to test
their aquatic expertise, such as rescuing marine animals, restoring their health
and releasing them back into the wild. Children and parents alike can broaden
their knowledge of the animal kingdom with the exclusive Zoopedia feature, with
excerpts from Encarta., that educates gamers on the dietary and habitat needs of
the animals.
Also available at retailers on Oct. 17 will be the "Zoo Tycoon 2: Zookeeper
Collection" featuring three franchise favorites: "Zoo Tycoon 2," "Zoo Tycoon 2:
Endangered Species" and "Zoo Tycoon 2: African Adventure." Available for $39.99,
this ultimate "Zoo Tycoon" experience allows players to step directly into their
zoo, where they will come face-to-face with 70 animals and hundreds of building
objects to customize their zoo. For more information and free downloadable
content, including new animals, scenery and demos, please visit the newly
updated Zoo Tycoon Web site at
http://www.zootycoon.com.
* "Zoo Tycoon 2" is required to play "Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania"
The
Eastern Front Product Section now offers sales of this expansion for Down in
Flames, the card-based World War II aerial combat game. The add-on can be purchased for
digital download, delivery of the boxed version, or a combo deal for both. Word
is: "The Eastern Front Expansion adds 29(!) new planes (including for the first
time: jets!), 2 new nations, new pilot and wingman skills, and over a dozen new
campaigns along with new gameplay enhancements, customizable dogfights and
greatly improved A.I. to fly against."
- The Mark
The
Mark Q&A on Strategy Informer discusses T7 Games' upcoming
counter-terrorism first-person shooter: "It was combination of people’s
ideas really. We wanted to create a shooter that would stand out from the
rest, especially futuristic and WWII games which are now common place. We
wanted to create something that would represent modern day reality, taking
into consideration the current political agendas and threats, in a plot that
people could relate to. It actually took far longer than expected to polish
out the scenario themes but we are now happy with the story flow and we are
finding it more and more exciting as new ideas and unique aspects evolved."
- Age of Conan
The
Age of
Conan: Hyborian Adventures Q&A on Computer and Video Games talks with
Funcom's Gaute Godager about their coming MMORPG: "You will indeed meet the
Warrior King, because that is his role at this stage. You will not only meet
the King, you will learn that your fate it tied intimately to his rule and
truly the fate of the whole world. And, if you play your cards right, you
might become his helper or even his friend. The game itself takes place
after the novel 'The Hour of the Dragon'."
- Harvey Smith
The
Design Challenge: Harvey Smith On Gaming With A Social Change on
Gamasutra.com talks with the former Origin and ION Storm designer about
the business and life at Midway Austin: "As always, I spend a lot of time
split between gameplay and fiction. My role at Midway allows me to bounce
around some between a couple of games, though I am also super committed to
developing an idea of my own in the background. I've been building up a
staff of game designers here in Austin, mentoring the lead designers,
setting up the culture, and framing our games. I get to dive in at a lower
level from time to time, but my goal is always to make the people around me
as autonomous as possible; to align people to a specific vision for a given
game and to impart what I consider good, player-centric gameplay values.
I've worked on innovative titles like FireTeam, Technosaur and Deus Ex, but
I've never really executed with a high degree of polish. I really admire
teams that can do that, so my goals right now involve polish and execution."
- EverQuest II: Echoes of Faydwer
The
EverQuest II: Echoes of Faydwer Q&A on TenTonHammer discusses the
upcoming EverQuest II expansion with lead content designer Jason 'Dymus'
Roberts: "Faydwer as a continent was able to avoid or more quickly recover
from the disasters that shattered much of Norrath. A lot can happen in 500
years, but many places within Faydwer will be quite familiar to those who
have traveled the continent in the original EverQuest. Some of the familiar
characters have more than just cameo appearances and have not been sitting
idly by in the last few centuries. The hope is that a balance was struck
between the familiarity of Faydwer and the changes and progression of story
that the game has been striving for."
- DinoHunters
DinoHunters
Q&A on FiringSquad talks with Kuma Reality Games about their episodic
Source engine advert-game: "As I mentioned, we’ve released two open beta
levels and will deliver one more in September. (Available now at
http://www.kumagames.com ) They’ve
really unique gameplay as you’re doing normal deathmatch, but also have
these giant predators storming around – you’re torn between blasting
dinosaurs or fragging your friends. In episode 3 we built in team death
match and it became convenient to have the velociraptors and Pteranadons on
their own teams – so it’s you versus us versus them versus the other them.
Total chaos."
BattlePaint version 1.0 is now
available (thanks
Planet
Battlefield and Ant).
This link offers a translation of the site's native French to help
understand what's going on.
- ANTEC Performance One P180B Advanced Super Mid Tower Case on
Futurelooks.
- ASUS Core 2-ready Motherboard on
FiringSquad.
- ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition Motherboard on
Bjorn3d.
- CoolerMaster Blue Ice Pro Chipset Cooler on
OCIA.net.
- Enermax Noisetaker 600W PSU on
DriverHeaven.net.
- Icy Dock MB453SPF 3 Bay Hot Swap SATA Hard Drive Enclosure on
Big Bruin.
- OCZ Technology Tempest CPU Heatsink on
Hardware-Review.
- Origen AE X11 HTPC Enclosure on
HEXUS.
- Razer ProTones m100 & m250 Headphones on
ExtremeMhz.com.
- Scythe Infinity SCINF-1000 CPU Heat Pipe Cooler on
PC Perspective.
- SteelSound 5Hv2 Professional Gaming Headset on
ThinkComputers.org.
- Thermalright Ultra-120 CPU Cooler on
Pro Clockers.
- Thermaltake Armor JR VC3000BWS Midi-Case on
HardwareXL.
Well, the power of positive thinking didn't really influence the outcome of the
Giants/Seahawks match-up very well. Maybe next time we can play in the
Meadowlands?
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