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Archived News:
NetDevil Working on MMO For Major Toy Company on Kotaku has scant details on
plans for a new MMORPG from NetDevil for what's described as a "major toy
company." The only other detail of note being revealed at this time is the
project's emphasis on in-game crafting. The indications they've received also
touch on plans to put tools in the hands of the general public to create maps
and other in-game content. LEGO? Play Dough? GI Joe? Who knows.
505 Games and Bohemia Interactive announce plans to include exclusive content
for the European edition of Armed Assault when the military shooter is release
in PAL territories on February 16: London, 20th December 2006 - 505 Games
and Bohemia Interactive are today delighted to reveal that the PAL(1) release of
the eagerly awaited combat simulation ArmA: Armed Assault will feature exclusive
weapons, vehicles and mission content when released for PC on February 16th,
2007.
“We are really pleased to be able to enhance the ArmA experience with this
excellent exclusive content for the game’s February launch”, said Marek Spanel,
Project Lead at BIS. “Offering such exciting new features before the game has
even launched is Bohemia’s way of showing our appreciation of the dedicated ArmA
fan community and to reward gamers’ patience as the game readies for release.”
Lucky European gamers will experience a wealth of exciting exclusive features
when ArmA: Armed Assault blasts into stores, including:
· Two new aircraft: take to the skies in the fearsome Su-34 Fighter and Su-34
Bomber
· Two new motorbikes: powerful “hogs of war” for both sides of the battle with
the TT650 and the M1030 military motorcycles
· Four new weapons: the Russian rifle AKS74PSO; another Russian favourite the
KSVK; the giant US-designed M107 and US rifle variant the M16A4
The PAL version of ArmA: Armed Assault will also launch with an exclusive new
mission called “Blood, Sweat and Tears”. This assignment sees players cast as
either special operative Cpt. Mike Lambert or Pvt. Rich Angelo in an open-ended
scenario that takes place on one very long morning on the bloody battlefields of
Sahrani.
ArmA: Armed Assault, published by 505 Games and developed by Bohemia
Interactive, is scheduled for release for PC on February 16th.
The DropTeam
Public Test Page (thanks Frans) now offers an updated sample of
Battlefront's vehicular combat game, with the Windows, Mac, and Linux editions
of the demo all in the same download. Word is: "This release only allows you to
play 1 of the game's many scenarios. The full version of the game includes
dozens of scenarios and planets to fight on with more available for free by
download update."
Steam News
has word that Steam preloads are now underway for this weekend's free preview
of The Ship, Outlerlight's seafaring mystery game. Word is: From Dec 22,
2006 through Dec 26, 2006 Outerlight's debut title, The Ship, will be made
available for a Free Weekend trial via Steam. This free trial allows gamers to
experience the innovative multiplayer gaming that Gamespot.com calls, "...off
the wall and innovative." Outerlight is also offering a $5 discount for those
who purchase the full product any time during the free weekend and the week that
follows.
The Best Games
and Worst Games of 2006 on GameSpot is online, though most of the winners
have not been posted yet: They have a schedule up on when all the results will
be revealed.
A new Freak Out - Extreme Freeride
Website is online, dedicated to the upcoming extreme freestyle skiing game. The
site offers screenshots, as well as a movie trailer, which is also mirrored on
3D Downloads, 3D Gamers,
FileFront, and Worthplaying.
A new The Shield movie shows off the upcoming PC edition of the game based on
the crime-ridden television series of the same name. The clip is available on
3D Downloads, 3D Gamers,
and Worthplaying. Also,
a new DUSK-12 movie showing off ORION design's upcoming futuristic
first-person shooter can be found on
3D Gamers,
FileFront, Gameguru Mania,
Gamer's Hell, and Worthplaying. Finally,
Romero Announces New Game on Kotaku links to a YouTube clip in which The
Romero waxes on about Severity, the game project just announced by the CPL,
where John serves as chairman of the advisory board.
- Doug Lowenstein
Doug
Lowenstein, going the distance on GameSpot is a Q&A with the outgoing
president of the ESA: "Once I formally start a new job I will not be working
for ESA and will not have a formal relationship with them. That said, if my
successor wants my input... for as long as anybody wants to ask me my
opinion or to tap into whatever institutional or historical knowledge I
have, I'm more than happy to share that with anybody and anyone who wants to
talk about it."
- inXile Entertainment
The
inXile
Entertainment Update on FiringSquad talks with Brian Fargo about their
upcoming console plans, and his take on talk of a Fallout MMORPG: "I don't know
what they are smoking in France but it must be illegal."
- The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar on
RPG Vault.
- Tortuga: Two Treasures on
GameSpot.
MrsBlue is making a batch of her very highly regarded brownies to bring into
work, and the smell is getting to be so intoxicating I feel like I'm in the
chocolate version of a crack den.
ESA boss confirms departure
on GameSpot confirms recent reports of Doug Lowenstein's resignation as
president of the Entertainment Software Association ( story),
where he'd held the top spot since the trade organization was formed some 12
years ago. Lowenstein confirmed the move in a letter to more than 50 individuals
in the industry, saying he is "launching a start-up trade group in the
investment industry." They also say industry sources have indicated that Robbie
Bach of Microsoft will assume the duties of ESA president while the search for
Lowenstein's replacement continues.
The promised patch for Battlefield 2142 is now available, updating EA/DICE's
military shooter sequel to version 1.10. The patch and the corresponding Windows
and Linux unranked servers are available on the
Battlefield Franchise Website where word is "This update continues to fine
tune the game while addressing many issues." The
read me
has all the details.
Games for Windows Vista how the new brand & OS will change PC gaming on Joystiq
offers an updated preview of the new Games for Windows initiative, attempting,
with limited success, to sort out what GFW represents besides a marketing
slogan. Based on a tour of the program by Marketing Director Kevin Unangst and
PR Manager Michael Wolf, they describe interoperability with Xbox 360 games via
"Live Anywhere," how PCs will get numerical ratings to gauge how well they can
play games, and what qualifies a game for the GFW logo. The conclusion they
draw, however, is that it is difficult to draw conclusions about all
this: It's a risk. The Games for Windows strategy is on the verge of being
schizophrenic. Can the cumbersome PC gaming experience really be simplified down
to a console scheme? There are just too many freedoms and variations that exist
in the PC universe to accurately interpret the PC as "the console that everybody
already owns." It's not that simple. So is GFW a trick? Is Microsoft trying to
lure back some of the consumers that were lost when Xbox was launched (an
initiative that cannibalized PC gaming sales by design)?
The answer, like the Games For Windows vision, is not so clear. But there is
most certainly the opportunity for Microsoft to create something very special. A
cross-platform community where you and I can jump from Xbox to PC to our cell
phones seamlessly. Anywhere.
GameSpy's Game of the Year 2006 Listing
kicks off the end of year award season with
their PC games of the year.
A recap of all the winners is on
this page, with
Company of Heroes taking the top spot and Half-Life 2: Episode One taking the
honor as best PC action game.
- Age of Conan
The
Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures Q&A on ActionTrip talks with Gaute
Godager about Funcom's upcoming barbaric MMORPG: "Focus on the community has
been important for us since the beginning. We've always had a very close
relationship with our Anarchy Online fan base, and we have several community
representatives that work towards both these players and the people
following the development of Age of Conan. The community is absolutely
essential when it comes to MMOs, and we strongly believe in letting future
and current players take part in the whole process of creating a game. We've
been listening so much to the community of Age of Conan, that we've even
changed elements in the game because of their feedback. One example is the
renaming of classes, something we did based on feedback we received on the
forums. We have a strong affinity to the people in our community, and we're
doing everything we can in order to keep them with us and satisfy their
needs."
- Riot Games
The
Riot Games Q&A on FiringSquad talks with Marc Merrill, probing,
unsuccessfully, for details about this start-up's debut project: "While I
unfortunately can’t get into details at the moment, I can tell you that the
game will buck some trends in the industry for a variety of compelling
reasons and that we think gamers will appreciate our approach and love the
product."
The Deep Silver
Forums offer a new patch for Wildlife Park 2, updating the theme park sequel
to version 1.11. No details on the changes offered in the patch are provided.
Thanks Frans.
As noted on
The Total War Community Blog (thanks Frans) now offers a public version of
CAS Exporter, Creative Assembly's in-house model and animation exporter for
Rome: Total War and Medieval II: Total War. The download can be found on
TotalWar.com, where word is: "The CA exporter can be used by modders to
export custom created units, siege, props and animations for the Rome: Totalwar
engine. It can also be used to export custom strategy map models and unit/siege
animations for Medieval2: Totalwar."
Had a fine old time with my pals last night, as we accomplished the trifecta of
eating, drinking, and making merry. I guess I didn't have too good a time,
though, as the hangover I had picked out for this morning was never delivered
(not that you'll hear me complaining).
R.I.P.:
Yogi Bear's co-creator dies at 95.
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