|
|
 |
Archived News:
Steam News
has word on new Source updates now automatically available via Steam (thanks
Frans). There is a SourceTV update and a Source Engine update as well as the
promised beta of the new free market economics system for Counter-Strike:
Source.
A German-language playable demo for ANNO 1701 is now available, offering the
chance for those who can read/speak German (or the adventurous) to sample
Related Designs' upcoming management/strategy sequel. The demo includes a
tutorial, a single-player map, and a multiplayer map, allowing for games that
last up to 90 minutes. The download is available on
4players.de and mirrored on
3D Downloads, 3D
Gamers,
FileFront, Gamer's Hell,
and Worthplaying.
Strategy First announces the availability of Space Empires V, Malfador
Machinations' space strategy sequel: Montreal, Canada. October 11th,
2006. Software Publisher Strategy First Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of
Silverstar Holdings, Ltd. (Nasdaq: SSTR), announce today that Strategy First’s
latest addition to the Space Empires series, “Space Empires V” has shipped to
retailers nationwide.
“We here at Malfador Machinations are very excited that “Space Empires V” is
finally available for purchase. We’ve put a lot of work into this game, but the
work hasn’t stopped. We continue to work with our beta testers and plan on
releasing improvements October 16th, 2006!”
“Space Empires V” is the new edition in the Space Empires series. This new
chapter’s completely updated UI takes the player into a real-time rendered 3D
universe.
Watch space battles played out with incredible detail and realistic effects.
Expand, Explore, Exploit, and Exterminate in a huge living and breathing galaxy.
New features abound, with political alliances between multiple empires, top-down
ship design systems, hexagonal movement grids, and much more.
“Space Empires V” is now available for purchase at EB, Gamestop and Comp USA.
“Space Empires V” will be available at Best Buy in November, 2006. The game is
rated E for Everyone by ESRB.
Get your exclusive bonus edition copy of “Space Empires V” at EB and Gamestop:
EB:
http://www.ebgames.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=646776
Gamestop:
http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=646776
For more info on “Space Empire V” or to purchase directly from Strategy First
visit:
http://www.strategyfirst.com/en/games/SpaceEmpiresV/
The final days
of fighting on the Eastern Front announces November 3, 2006 as the UK
release date for Blitzkrieg 2: Fall of the Reich, the upcoming standalone World
War II RTS expansion. Fall of the Reich will offer: "Sixteen historically based
missions across 10 new maps will challenge beginning and veteran strategists as
they try to either capture or defend the remnants of the German war machine
during the final days of World War II in Europe."
The Company of Heroes
Updates Page now offers various international editions of the recent version
1.20 patch for Relic's World War II RTS game. Complementing the English patch,
they now offer the update for the German, French, Czech, Spanish, Italian,
Korean, and Polish editions of the game. Thanks Frans and The Patches Scrolls.
A new patch for The Settlers II: The Next Generation is now available, updating
the strategy/management remake to version 9800. The update includes balance
tweaks, bug fixes, and other improvements as well as a pair of new multiplayer
maps. The patch is available from
3D Downloads, 3D
Gamers,
Boomtown (registration required),
FileFront, and
Worthplaying.
The Splinter
Cell Website offers two more movies featuring actor Michael Ironside talking
about talking like Sam Fisher once again in the upcoming Splinter Cell: Double
Agent. Also, Céidot Game Studios now
features the introductory movie from Sovereign Symphony, their upcoming
"retro-futuristic" role-playing game. Thanks Frans.
- Sid Meier's Railroads!
The
Sid Meier's
Railroads! Q&A on FiringSquad talks with Dan Magaha about the now-gold
transportation simulation: "There certainly have been some great games in
this genre since Sid created the original. We were excited to return to the
roots of the classic title, focus on all the things we think made it great,
and update the gameplay, visuals, and overall game experience with all the
things we can do today that couldn’t be done 20 years ago. In particular,
we’re really returning to the core of what made the original RRT so special,
and that’s the trains. They are really the star of this game."
- Neocron 2
The
Neocron 2 Q&A on MMORPG.COM talks with Christian Schütt of Reakktor
about their MMORPG sequel: "Neocron Evol 2.2 is an attempt to rebalance the
PvP and PvE aspects of the game. During the past development cycles, changes
have been made to improve the balancing. These changes often consisted of
compromises to acquire a satisfying result within time. In retrospect, these
changes have not been as effective as expected."
- Vanguard: Saga of Heroes
The
Vanguard: Saga of Heroes Event Q&A on MMORPG.COM is an article-format
Q&A that discusses in-game MMORPG events with Sigil's Brad McQuaid and Jeff
Butler.
- BioWare
Killer
Women: Jennifer Hepler on Killer Betties offers another profile of a
female game developer, continuing their series by talking with this BioWare
managing editor.
I was offered the chance to go to the Mets game tomorrow night by a friend who
scored a pair of tickets. But with tonight's game rained out, I'm not sure how
things are supposed to work. It might be that tomorrow night's tickets are still
valid and tonight's tickets will apply to the make-up on Friday, or maybe the
whole schedule just gets pushed forward a day and our tickets apply to Friday.
Either way I'm pretty excited.
R.I.P.: 'Flintstones'
Animator Ed Benedict Dies.
Take 2
Games (thanks Frans) announces the completion of Sid Meier's Railroads!,
saying Firaxis' transport sim will arrive in North America on October 17 and in
Europe on October 27: New York, NY – October 11, 2006 – 2K, a publishing
label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO), and Firaxis Games,
the Company's world-renowned development studio, today announced that Sid
Meier's Railroads! for PC has gone to gold master and will be available at
stores in North America on October 17 and in Europe on October 27. Sid Meier's
Railroads! marks the return of one of the most beloved strategy titles of all
time and a concept that launched a whole genre and inspired a new generation of
strategy games.
Sid Meier's Railroads! returns in a vibrant 3D world delivering exciting
multiplayer options, in-game customization tools, streamlined interface and
unmatched gameplay that's easy to learn yet challenging to master. Legendary
game designer Sid Meier and Firaxis Games, creators of the highest rated
computer strategy game* Civilization IV, put gamers in charge of building the
greatest rail empire in the nation - managing trains, cargo and the bottom line
- while engaging in all-out corporate warfare against rival tycoons, slick
entrepreneurs, and robber barons.
"It's a dream come true to be reunited with a game I created early in my career,
that has been played and enjoyed by generations of strategy, simulation, and
train fans around the world," said Sid Meier, Firaxis Director of Creative
Development. "This re-imagining of the original will deliver exciting and
challenging gameplay experiences for years to come."
For more information on the title visit the official website at
www.sidmeiersrailroads.com
*According to GameRankings.com average scores of computer strategy games.
A new Neverwinter Nights 2 diary movie shows off the scripting system in the
upcoming D&D RPG sequel, narrated by Brian Fox and Charles Mead of Obsidian
Entertainment. The clip is available on
3D Gamers and
Worthplaying.
Also, a new The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II - The Rise of
the Witch-king movie offers a look at the upcoming expansion for the LotR-themed
RTS game. The gameplay/cinematic trailer can be found on
3D Gamers,
GameSpot, and
Worthplaying. Finally, a new Ford Street Racing movie is online, showing off
Razorworks' upcoming racing game where the winners and losers all drive Fords.
The clip is available on
3D Gamers.
- F.E.A.R. Extraction Point
The
F.E.A.R.
Extraction Point Q&A on Gameworld Network discusses the F.E.A.R.
expansion with TimeGate's Robert Siwiak: "As the publisher on this project,
Vivendi was very open to us exploring new gameplay avenues, while at the
same time preserving the core elements that made the original game so
unique. From day one, both TimeGate and Vivendi have been on the same page
on what new heights we would like to explore within the F.E.A.R. franchise,
and to that end it was great to work with a publisher that was supportive
and never heavy-handed."
- Battlefield 2142
Sound
Blaster's Battlefield 2142 Audio Q&A talks with DICE's David
Möllerstedt, Henrik Andersson, and Bence Pajor about the audio in BF2142:
"For BF 2142 we have also the most ambitious music score for a Battlefield
game so far. We have been working with composer Gregor Narholz creating the
Original BF 2142 Score. Gregor Narholz is an LA based composer specially
selected in cooperation with Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive of Music and
Audio for EA. The Main Theme is based on the original BF1942 theme carrying
the musical legacy, on top of that there are the 10 original level tracks
tailored for each level."
- Punkbuster/Even Balance
The
PunkBuster/Even Balance Q&A on FiringSquad talks with Even Balance's
Tony Ray about their PunkBuster anti-cheating software: "The lines of
communication are always open from our standpoint. Some of our clients talk
to us very frequently, sometimes multiple times per day. Others we hear from
less often. We spend zero time trying to locate hackers themselves. Our
efforts do not include trying to shut down websites, etc. Our researchers
spend the vast majority of their time locating cheats and developing methods
to detect those cheats and getting the methods pushed out to PunkBuster
servers. Many of our clients forward to us cheats that they are aware of but
we usually are already detecting them by the time our clients pass them
along."
- Project Entropia
Make
real money on virtual planet Calypso on CNET offers a video interview
with David Simmonds, director of business development at MindArk, about how
Project Entropia differs from Second Life.
- Music
Tommy
Tallarico on Changing the world of video game music on HEXUS.gaming is a
Q&A on music in games.
- Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar on
Games Radar.
- Star Wars: Empire at War - Forces of Corruption on
IGN.
More playoffs tonight! Weee!
|
Twitter 
