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Archived News:
Blue Byte set on Settlers VI
on GameSpot reveals that German studio Blue Byte has announced plans for
Settlers VI (working title), a continuation of their long-running strategy
management series. There aren't really any details about the project, just word
that the PC game is due sometime next year.
A Silent Heroes "unlocked" demo is now available, offering the chance to sample
the standalone expansion for the WW2 RTS gameplay of Soldiers: Heroes of World
War II. Not technically unlocked, the demo offers the ability to play the game
for three hours, word is: "In the game, players take control of a special
operations force during World War II and will have dozens of controllable
equipment models, a vast choice of firearms, small arms, cold steel, and more at
their disposal. The environments are highly interactive environments and the
story-driven campaign focuses on sabotage missions behind enemy lines." The demo
is theoretically available on
Gamer's Gate, but we
can't seem to find it there, but luckily mirrors are available on
3D Gamers,
FileFront, Gamer's Hell,
and Worthplaying.
There doesn't seem to be a related press release, but the latest VU Games newsletter
announces that Scarface: The World is Yours is shipping out, and Radical
Entertainment's game tie-in with the gangster movie is now available for PC,
Xbox, and PS2.
PC Games Online (thanks
YiYas) has word, in German, that JoWooD has
confirmed plans for a demo version of Gothic 3, Piranha Bytes' RPG sequel. The
story does not specify planned languages for a demo, or even a release window,
but offers a verification of rumors that such a sample is in the works.
A pair of Ankh: Heart of Osiris movies show off DECK13 Interactive's upcoming
Egyptian-themed adventure game sequel. There is an English clip and a different
German clip, both available on
3D Gamers and
Worthplaying.
- Battlefield 2142
Computer
Games Online's Battlefield 2142 Q&A talks with Marcus Nilsson about
EA/DICE's military shooter sequel: "We learn all the time. In development as
well after our games are released, we learn ways to make the game elements
better, and of course, how to address the problems that need our attention.
As an example, the fighter planes in BF2 were a terrific addition, but
Pilots became so savvy, it created an imbalance on the battlefield. 2142
needed an airborne solution that pilots wound enjoy, but at the same time,
maintain the balance we looking for."
- Dark Messiah of Might and Magic
The
Arkane Q&A on
Celestial Heavens talks with Raphael Colantonio about Dark Messiah of
Might and Magic, their now-gold action game: "The final game is pretty close
to the initial vision in terms of what nature of experience we wanted to
create: We’ve always had in mind the multiplay style, the first person melee
combat, and the highly simulated environment (mainly with the way AIs react
to their environment, and the way the entities can be manipulated by the
player). The intense usage of physics came a little later, when we realized
how powerful the engine was. We also adjusted the combat rhythm a little
later, when we realized that some combats were too long. The only things we
cut are probably content related, but nothing in terms of feature that I can
think of, beside the shops because they were not really fitting with the
rhythm of the game."
- Field Ops
The
Field Ops Q&A on games xtreme discusses Digital Reality's upcoming
real-time strategy shooter with Mourad Majeri: "We believe that the modern
military setting is the perfect one to illustrate the strength of the
Real-Time-Strategy Shooter concept. Indeed, in modern conflicts, the victory
comes from your ability to be a very talented Commander AND your ability to
be or have very good soldiers on the battlefield. Macro management and
Tactics from the Commander are better managed and experienced in playing
RTS, whereas you are more efficient on the battlefield while playing a
soldier in FPS. So the new genre we are bringing is the best way to have a
genuine experience of a modern military conflict."
- Warhammer: Mark of Chaos
Building
the Best Producer: Chris Wren Discusses the Process of Creating “Warhammer:
Mark of Chaos” on GameZone is an article format Q&A that talks about the
fantasy-themed RTS game: "The difficulty is something we got a lot of
feedback on. We were trying to get to the middle road."
- Music
The
Splinter Cell: Double Agent Q&A on Music 4 Games talks with Michael
McCann about the soundtrack for the stealthy sequel.
Wacky weather around here. I'm pretty sure this first half of October has been
warmer than the second half of August. I had to run the AC for a while today!
Stardock announces that the
Dark Avatar expansion
for Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords is delayed from its planned Fall 2006
release date, and the turn-based strategy add-on is now due in February 2007.
The news is accompanied by word that this extra time will be used to expand the
Dark Avatar feature set, and word that users who preorder will be allowed into
the closed beta test in November: October 9, 2006 -- Stardock
Entertainment today announced plans to extend the feature set of the highly
anticipated expansion pack to Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords. The
expansion, entitled Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar, has been given a new
release date of February 2007 along with a significantly expanded feature set.
"As our players submitted suggestions for new features, we realized that we
didn't want to have to wait until some future sequel to implement these awesome
ideas," said Brad Wardell, Product Manager of Galactic Civilizations II. "So you
could say that this expansion— while not quite a sequel — goes far beyond what a
usual expansion pack would provide.
Galactic Civilizations II is a space-based strategy game set in the 23rd
century. Players must build an interstellar civilization through military power,
economic strength, technological might and political savvy. Since its release
earlier this year, the game has received many Editor's Choice Awards and sold
hundreds of thousands of copies worldwide.
The expansion pack, Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar, was originally
designed to add new units, new maps, a new story-based campaign, user-created
opponents, an epic generator, espionage agents, asteroid fields, new diplomatic
treaties, unique planet environments and much more. However, Stardock decided to
expand on the already impressive feature set based on fan feedback and
suggestions.
In addition to the original concept, new features now include a streamlined
technology tree, Mega Events, super abilities that are unique to each
civilization, a visual makeover, more advanced opponent-design features and
more.
For players who are interested in getting their hands on the expansion pack
before Christmas, Stardock has announced that it will be opening a beta program
for users who pre-order the expansion pack, which will start in mid-November.
Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar will be available exclusively from
GalCiv2.com (powered by TotalGaming.net). However, Stardock will also be
releasing Galactic Civilizations II: Gold Edition simultaneously at retail,
which will include the original game (Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords)
and the expansion pack in February 2007.
More information can be found at
http://www.galciv2.com/darkavatar.
Ubisoft announces that Dark Messiah of Might and Magic is gold, and the
action/RPG based on the Might and Magic strategy series is due in North American
stores on October 24: SAN FRANCISCO – October 9, 2006 – Today Ubisoft,
one of the world’s largest video game publishers, announces that Dark Messiah of
Might and Magic™ has gone gold and is scheduled for North American release on
October 24, 2006.
Developed in conjunction with Ubisoft, Arkane Studios (for single-player) and
Kuju Entertainment (for multiplayer), Dark Messiah of Might and Magic puts
players in a first-person perspective, allowing them to encounter ferocious
combat within a dark and expansive fantasy environment.
Powered by an enhanced version of the award-winning Source™ Engine created by
Valve for its Half-Life®2 video game, Dark Messiah of Might and Magic allows
players to immerse themselves in an environment that responds and envelops them
like never before, thanks to the Source Engine’s exceptional technological
enhancements in areas such as character animation, advanced AI, real-world
physics and shader-based rendering.
Dark Messiah of Might and Magic will be available for PC at the manufacturer's
suggested retail price of $49.99.
For more news and information on Dark Messiah Might and Magic, please visit the
game’s official website at
www.mightandmagic.com.
Belief &
Betrayal New Website & New Release Date is the press release announcing a
delay to Belief & Betrayal, offering a new website for the upcoming
religion-themed adventure
game as a consolation: Hamburg, Germany: October 9, 2006 – Today the
official website for Belief & Betrayal, the upcoming adventure game from
ANACONDA and Artematica, was launched, giving visitors a first look inside the
world of conspiracies, murder and historic puzzles in the world of the Christian
Church. Belief & Betrayal will be released worldwide in early 2007.
On the official site at www.beliefandbetrayal-game.de, adventure fans will
not only find new screenshots, new wallpapers, all the latest news, as well as
artwork, trailers and everything else about the game, but there are also secrets
to be found. Find hidden doorways by entering the right numbers!
Not secret at all, is the recently opened official forum for the game, where
fans can talk everything Belief & Betrayal.
Belief & Betrayal revolves around true thriller themes: belief and
superstition, power and corruption, truth and conspiracy. Jonathan Danter is a
journalist living and working in New York City. At his uncle’s funeral he
stumbles upon a number of puzzling inconsistencies – there are things
afoot that seem to point to something much larger going on.
In London, he begins to research the death of his uncle and finds more and
more mysterious incidents that all point towards the same source: the Christian
Church.
Belief & Betrayal takes Jon Danter and the player all over Europe. From
London to France, from Venice to the Vatican: Jon is drawn ever deeper into an
apparent conspiracy that is hiding unbelievable details on the inner workings of
the church.
This new ANACONDA adventure game is developed by Artematica and will be
released worldwide in early 2007.
www.beliefandbetrayal-game.com
THQ Ships Warhammer
40,000: Dawn of War - Dark Crusade (thanks Frans) is the press release
announcing the availability of Relic's standalone fantasy-themed RTS expansion:
AGOURA HILLS, Calif., Oct. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- THQ Inc. (Nasdaq:
THQI - News) today announced that Warhammer® 40,000(TM): Dawn of War: Dark
Crusade(TM), the highly-anticipated hybrid expansion to Relic Entertainment's
critically acclaimed Real-Time Strategy (RTS) franchise, has shipped exclusively
for Windows PC. The critically acclaimed title delves deeper into the futuristic
Warhammer 40,000 universe, introducing two all-new factions, an immersive single
and multiplayer experience, plus additional features that become available when
played with other titles in the Dawn of War franchise. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of
War: Dark Crusade, is now available for a suggested retail price of $29.99.
"Relic Entertainment is the industry's premier RTS developer, and they've
expanded significantly on the highly successful Dawn of War franchise with a
creative, hybrid expansion pack," said Bob Aniello, senior vice president of
worldwide marketing, THQ. "Dark Crusade offers gamers a great standalone single
and multiplayer player experience for Dawn of War first timers as well as
extended multiplayer options for fans who own the original Dawn of War."
"With two completely new races, an extensive and innovative new single-player
campaign, new units across each of the original five races and in-depth
multiplayer modes, there is a tremendous amount of gameplay for both the
first-time warrior and the seasoned Dawn of War expert to explore," said Tarrnie
Williams, general manager, Relic Entertainment. "Early feedback from everyone
who has played the game has been enormously positive."
The
Battlefield Website (thanks
Planet
Battlefield and Ant) has word that EA/DICE is aware of disconnect issues
with the newly released Battlefield 2142 demo, and is searching for solutions.
They also mention that the demo was such a svelte 1106 MB download due to the
exclusion of 33 MB worth of DirectX installers, so a DX installation is necessary for
anyone who doesn't have it yet. Here's word on the disconnects: We are
aware that some players are experiencing disconnects while playing the Demo.
Please know we are running checks and making enhancements to our support systems
so that these disconnects can be solved as quickly as possible.
10TACLE
STUDIOS kick off the year 2007 with Warfront – Turning Point follows-up on
news that War Front: Turning Point is delayed ( story), explaining
why the alternate-history World War II RTS game is now due in February 2007:
Darmstadt, 9th October 2006 – This summer, 10TACLE STUDIOS has added an
exciting real-time strategy title to its portfolio: “Warfront –
Turning Point”. Until its release in February next year, the Hungarian
development team Digital Reality will once more put a strong focus on the
fine-tuning and will add new maps and additional game modes to the multiplayer
mode.
In Warfront, allied forces, German and Russian forces fight for supremacy in
Europe in an alternative and futuristic world war setting by using extraordinary “superweapons”. Apart from an exciting single player campaign and
innovative ideas like the sophisticated resource management and gun turrets
which are controlled from a first-person view, Warfront stands out due to the
balanced battles in the multiplayer mode.
For further information:
www.10tacle.com
www.war-front.com
A Racing
Cert - Ducati – World Championship is the press release offering November
10, 2006 as a UK release date for Ducati World Championship, Artematica's
upcoming motorcycle racing game: Bath, October 9th October 2006 –Lexicon
Entertainment, the rapidly emerging UK independent publisher, is pleased to
announce the signing of Ducati –
World Championship for PC – exclusive for UK distribution only. (Other
territories via UBSOFT.)
Ducati, one of the leading racing franchises, offers the kind of adrenaline
rush, high octane thrills that gamers will enjoy.
Ducati World Championship, developed by Artematica from Italy, features more
than 70 superbly modeled motorbikes from 4 different categories –
Classics, Sports, Road and Grand Prix. There are over 34 exciting circuits to
race on with an incredible amount of extras to unlock.
Features of the game include:
Different weather conditions, realistic lighting and settings, along with Doctor
Costa’s Mobile Clinic. With Loris’ Riding Lessons you can learn all you need to
become a champion. Ride and progress through challenging Career Mode.
Exceptional fast bikes and gorgeous Race Queens. 3 different in game options – Arcade, Normal and Simulation. 60 tournaments in 5
different game modes. Multiplayer options. Pump up the volume with the powerful
soundtrack from hard rock Italian band Lacuna Coil! Plus a lot more...
Ducati
World Championship offers a host of options with attention to detail that
connoisseurs of racing will really appreciate.
The Ultimate motorcycling racer for the PC.
Release 10th November 2006
The
Massive Assault Network 2 Q&A on Gaming Nexus talks with Mike Belton,
Wargaming.Net's PR manager, about their online strategy game: "The core gameplay
did not undergo crucial changes; it proved to be well-balanced and entertaining,
so we decided to stick to it. Instead, we concentrated on perfecting gaming
process iitself [sic]: brand new Online Play Mode offers yet unseen turn-based online
gaming experience as opponents will both stay in the game, watching each other
actions in real-time. Thus online battles can be finished within 20-30 minutes,
unlike days and weeks with the previous version."
The PS MODS Website offers downloads of a
community-created mission editing program for Pacific Storm. Word is: "It can
create complicated missions using all unit combinations for the game. Unit AI
pathing can be drawn or specified, carrier air groups created, unit patrol lines
and patrol loops, map points, and much more. It also has its own simplified
scripting engine which allows you to code detailed mission commands, generating
the Buka scripting code for you."
With the eldest Smurf already in mourning over the Yankees, we got a little
lucky with the timing of their return home yesterday. He's not come out and
admitted it to me yet, but it's pretty apparent he's become a Jets fan in spite
of my attempts to indoctrinate him into the cult of Big Blue. I don't think I
could have handled the meltdown the 41-0 Jets loss would have inspired in the
little sports nut right on the heels of his baseball tragedy.
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