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Archived News:
The Crysis Beta on
FilePlanet Page announces the release of the fifth batch of beta keys for
the multiplayer beta test for Crysis, Crytek's upcoming first-person shooter
(thanks
Voodoo Extreme). Unlike previous rounds of distribution, this batch of keys
does not require a paid subscription, but is open to all registered FilePlanet
users. Better hurry, word is: "Act now or miss out!"
The Official
Söldner Forums have word that SÖLDNER 2 has been cancelled, or at least that
developer gEasy Development GmbH has
cancelled the contract they had with JoWooD to create the shooter sequel (thanks
Gamer's Hell). Interestingly, when the
project was announced late last year ( story), it carried a Q4
2007 release date because of how much of the production was already complete.
Universe at
War delayed till 2008 on Computer and Video Games reports that Universe at
War has been pushed back from its November 2 release date until next year,
quoting Sega as saying: "The new release date means that both the PC version and
Xbox 360 version will launch closer together, allowing gamers to enjoy the full
experience of this fantastic RTS from acclaimed developer, Petroglyph." This is
apparently news to Petroglyph, as word on their forums (thanks
FiringSquad) is that the North American edition is not delayed: "The US
launch is not affected."
Bungie Leaving Microsoft!! You heard it here first folks on the Seattle Post
Intelligencer is a reader-submitted blog dealie mongering a rumor that
Bungie is looking to break from Microsoft.
GameDaily BIZ
contacted Microsoft about this and were told: "There's been no such
announcement. We continue to celebrate the tremendous success of the global
phenomenon that is Halo 3."
The Combat
Mission: Shock Force Demo and Patch Download Page offers new version 1.04
patches for the Battlefront.com edition of the combat strategy game. There is an
incremental patch to update version 1.03 and an all-inclusive patch to update
any prior version. There is also the promise of upcoming patches for the Paradox
and Gamer's Gate editions of the game, as well as an updated version 1.04 demo.
The third installment in the three-part MINERVA: Metastasis modification for
Half-Life 2 is now available. All three parts are available on the
MINERVA Website,
and a mirror can be found on
GameSpot (registration required). The mod apparently requires Half-Life 2: Episode One.
The Operation Peacekeeper Website offers a
new version 0.2 of this Battlefield 2 modification (thanks
Gamer's Hell). Word is: "The new
version is wholeheartedly an aeronautical update. But we haven't forgot the
infantrymen or tankdrivers... "
A pair of new Hellgate London movies show off more of the action/RPG in the
works at Flagship Studios in glorious high definition. The Covent Garden Station
trailer and the London Quest Design trailer can be found on
3D Downloads,
FileFront, and Gamer's
Hell.
- EverQuest II
The
EverQuest II Q&A on TenTonHammer.com discusses the upcoming Rise of
Kunark expansion for the MMORPG sequel with Scott Hartsman. They discuss
zones, zones, zones, races, zones, and, well, zones.
- SOE
WarCry
Network's John Smedley Q&A talks with the SOE CEO PDQ about MMOG stuff.
The article-format Q&A covers a wide variety of MMOG-related topics, and
offers this refreshing bit of candor: "There's a lot of grind that's in all
the games, ours included."
- Project Torque
RPG
Vault's Project Torque Q&A chats with Etienne Grunenwald of publisher
Aeria Games about Invictus' upcoming MMO racing game. Topics include the
beta test, their micro-transaction revenue model, the story, avatars, cars,
car performance, and more.
CDV and Sirius Games announce that Escape from Paradise City is gold, and this
role playing and strategy game, once considered a sequel to Gangland, is due in
North American stores on October 24: Escape from Paradise City, the
combination RTS and RPG from cdv Software Entertainment USA and Sirius Games,
has gone gold today. In Escape from Paradise City, which is set to ship to North
American retailers on October 24, gamers will play as three unique characters --
an ex-con, a streetwise hand-to-hand expert, and a corrupt FBI agent -- who find
themselves forced to help the government infiltrate the criminal underworld of
the most corrupt city in America. The three playable characters each offer
unique skills and abilities and will earn experience and upgrades by taking out
the competition. In the end of the game, players will choose one character for a
final showdown with the city's mysterious crime lord, who's more than the
average thug - or the average human. More information about Escape from Paradise
City is available at http://www.cdvus.com.
Paradox Interactive announces Europa Universalis: Rome an installment in the
Europa Universalis strategy series set in the heyday of the Roman Empire, which
was (perhaps coincidentally, perhaps not) also the setting of Heart of Empire:
Rome, a strategy/management game that was cancelled by Paradox early this year
( story). Here's the announcement: New York, USA (October
1, 2007) – Leading grand strategy publisher Paradox Interactive announced today
their next title in development. Their critically acclaimed development team,
behind successful franchises like Europa Universalis and Hearts of Iron, is
currently busy working on Europa Universalis: Rome.
"A truly challenging strategy game portraying the Roman Era has yet to be
released and we believe strategy gamers have been kept waiting for long enough,
said Fredrik Wester, Executive Vice President for Paradox Interactive. "Our
successful development team has the knowledge, skills and genre expertise to
create a strong strategy game to accurately represent the Roman Era and we are
more than excited to introduce this game to the strategy gaming community. "
Europa Universalis: Rome will cover the time period from the first Punic War to
the start of the true Empire. Players will have thousand of gameplay choices
ranging from country, culture, provincial and character options to name but a
few, making each and every game infinitely customizable and truly unique.
"Europa Universalis: Rome combines the best of the Empire Building, Conquest and
Warfare genres, wrapped into a title that contains all main characteristics of a
typical Paradox Interactive game", said Johan Andersson, Director of
Development. "This project has the potential to become the most talked about
grand strategy game to date."
Europa Universalis: Rome is schedule for a worldwide release during Q2,
2008.
Playpen Studios announces
Skillz, "the original
Nightclub DJ game." The announcement covers the basics, though there are
probably some young folks who will be confused by this strange term "turntable."
Word is: 'Playpen Studios proudly announces ‘Skillz’; the original
Nightclub DJ game.
Skillz is a music and rhythm game that puts you behind the turntables as an
up-and-coming DJ, busting out of the bedroom and into the clubs.
Use the unique turntable controller to mix and scratch your way to DJ
superstardom as you spin original sets in front of packed out crowds at hot
venues all around the world. Modes of play include single player story, two
player DJ battle and freestyle mix mode. Additional on-line community features
will let you share your style with the World!
Expect to use your Skillz to full effect in late 2008 on the PC and multiple
console platforms.
Playpen Studios Ltd is an award winning independent developer of computer games
for the Western and Asian markets.
The rFactor Website offers a new version
1.255 patch for this racing simulation (thanks
Gamer's Hell). Word is: "The rFactor
1.255 patch addresses a number of online security issues, adds additional
overall stability, and synchronizes existing users with the new retail DVD
version recently released in Europe." The download is mirrored on
Gamer's Hell.
The Weird
Worlds Downloads Page now offers new version 1.22 patches for the Windows
and Mac editions of Weird Worlds: Return to Infinite Space, Digital Eel's space
game. Though each patch updates its respective platform to the same version, the
patches are quite different, with the Mac patch introducing a number of fixes
and changes, while there are just three changes included in the PC patch.
The Basilisk Games Beta Tester
Application is how to sign up to express interest in beta testing Eschalon:
Book I. They are only looking to add a dozen testers to the beta, which is
specifically for the Windows edition of the upcoming RPG, with word that testing
of the Mac and Linux editions are still off in the future.
- Team Fortress 2
Rock,
Paper, Shotgun's Team Fortress 2 Q&A is a conversation with Robin Walker
and Charlie Brown about Valve's imminent teamplay shooter. Topics include
how the TF team hooked up with Valve, the several versions of TF2 they
worked on along the way, beta testing, Fortress Forever, and more.
- Tarr Chronicles
The
Tarr Chronicles Q&A on Gaming Nexus hears from Quasar designer
Vyacheslav Bairamov about their space combat game. Topics include its
inspirations, the plot, the declining popularity of space shooters,
missions, wingmen, ships, and more.
- Earth Eternal
The
Earth Eternal Q&A on
Multiplayer Online Games Directory chats with Matt Mihaly of Iron Realms
about their MMORPG, discussing things like their unusual characters, like
the Lisian (lizard-person), Bandicoon (raccoon-person), Atavian
(falcon-person), and Tusken (boar-person), though no word on the Liger (It's
like a lion and a tiger mixed... bred for its skills in magic).
- Community Management
VOICES
Editorial: Community Management - Is It Really That Tough? on Stratics
offers an editorial on the role of Community Managers in games, offering
related Q&As with the CMs for
EverQuest,
Lineage II, and the lead designer for
Toon Town.
It's pretty painful to be a Mets fan this morning, but as the team settles into
its ignominious place in history, I want to congratulate the Phillies, who did
a spectacular job down the stretch, and played like a team that deserved to win.
MVP? Jimmy Rollins: no brainer. The Mets on the other hand were a sub-.500 club for most of the season after a
hot start, so they spent a lot more time pissing away chances than just the
obvious stretch of the past couple of weeks. Oh well, as the sports fan's rally
cry always goes, there's always next year.
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