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Archived News:
Crysis Weekly Update #2 on the Crymod Modding Portal has more inside dope on
what's going on at Crytek to support their first-person shooter. The update
focuses on the upcoming version 1.2 patch, describing its anti-cheat protection,
bug-fixes, the mod-loader, air combat balance changes, and more. They also
discuss what's not in the patch, saying: "Thus we have to tell you that neither
the auto download functionality nor Team Instant Action are included in the
patch. Both features would have delayed the patch significantly if we would have
included them. Still, we are currently discussing internally about what can be
done to get these features for Crysis realised. Once a final decision has been
made we will let you know for sure."
The
Warcraft III Forums announce a new version 1.21b patch for Warcraft III and
Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne should now be available automatically (thanks
Blizzplanet). The
game removes the CD check that requires the game disk be in the drive to play.
Word is: "Patch 1.21b will not break any of 1.21's replays."
The
3D Realms Forums offer the promised follow-up from George Broussard on the
Duke Nukem Forever story from this morning ( story): I'd like
to address the article the Dallas Business Journal put up today.
In what appears to be an unfortunate turn of events, there seems to have been
some confusion between what was 'off the record' and what was not. I suppose
we're used to dealing with gaming press and not mainstream press. Lesson
learned.
While we have internal targets, dates and goals, like every developer, we are
not ready to share them. What's amazing about this is that the DBJ must have
assumed that we'd actually announce a date to them, and not gaming press, and
that even in the light of Scott's quote of "We can't make an official
announcement.", the DBJ effectively did that. Lesson learned.
The release date is still 'when it's done', and will be until the appropriate
moment. Platforms have not been finalized or announced. You can rest assured
that we are moving toward a goal and that the recently released teaser trailer
is the start of that process and seeing more of the game, sooner than later.
We apologize to gamers and websites everywhere for this series of events.
Sometimes, you can be too trusting of people and assume things that come back to
bite you. Lesson learned.
Videogaming247 reports the PC edition of Assassin's Creed will be named
Assassin’s Creed: Director’s Cut Edition, as it will offer content not included
in the console editions of the stealthy action game (thanks Gamer's Hell). They say
they've been informed by Ubisoft this Director's Cut will include "four new
types of investigations."
A new Russian-language demo for Adrenalin 2: Anarchy offers a multiplayer sample
of Gaijin Entertainment's racing sequel expansion. The 953 MB demo is available
on the Russian Adrenalin 2: Anarchy Website
and mirrored on
ComputerGames.ro and
Gamer's Hell.
Though the Imperium Romanum Website
still offers February 22 as the release date for this historical city-building
game, but the new announcement that follows indicates a small delay, saying the
game is now due next month: GRAPEVINE, TX – Feb 6, 2008 - Take the future
of an empire into your hands in “Imperium Romanum”, an historical strategy title
for PC created by Kalypso Media and Haemimont Games and will be published by
SouthPeak Games in North America in March 2008.
Imperium Romanum puts the player in the role of a governor of a province, where
he or she must strive to build a well organized, prosperous and commanding
settlement. Set in the time of the Roman Empire at its peak, players will marvel
at the incredible attention to detail as they construct fortifications, towers,
gates and bridges, while paying for them with a new currency. Imperium Romanum
is a challenging, enjoyable, and authentic quest to rule the world.
With missions based on real events and locations and enhanced by elements like
crime and economics, Imperium Romanum is the complete historical strategy gaming
experience. Impressive graphics showcase historically accurate buildings,
natural disasters, and siege machines, as well as an improved battle system
where the player commands their armies. The missions are interactive, so the
players activate the goals when they choose.
Build. Rule. Conquer!
The
Mass Effect Forums announce "Bring Down the Sky," the first
downloadable content for BioWare's action/RPG will be released on Xbox LIVE on
March 10 (thanks nin). Word is: To date, over 1.6 million gamers have
explored the engaging sci-fi universe of Mass Effect. Beginning on March 10,
fans everywhere will be able to expand the “Mass Effect” experience with the
release of the first ever downloadable content for the award-winning saga.
The Bring Down the Sky downloadable content pack will be released to Xbox LIVE
Marketplace on Monday, March 10 at 2 a.m. PST, and will be available for 400 MS
points. This is the first in a series of planned downloadable content that
further expands the Mass Effect universe and continues the adventures of
Commander Shepard and the Normandy crew.
Bring Down the Sky includes a new uncharted world that introduces the notorious
and feared alien race of the Batarians. A Batarian extremist group has hijacked
a mobile asteroid station in the Asgard system, setting it on a collision course
with the nearby colony world of Terra Nova. Only Commander Shepard can save the
millions of innocent civilians before the asteroid completes its deadly descent.
Bring Down the Sky contains approximately 90 minutes of heart-pounding action
and a new Achievement worth 50 Gamerscore points.
Mass Effect is exclusively available on Xbox 360 and is rated M for Mature by
the ESRB.
You can Discuss the announcement here:
Click Here
A report on
Dallas Business Journal claims to have confirmation of a "late 2008" release
date for Duke Nukem Forever as well as plans for console editions of the
long-in-development shooter. Reading past the confident headline, the part about
the consoles isn't as concrete as that, as they quote Scott Miller making an
encouraging, but noncommittal statement about consoles similar to previous such
comments ( story): "We haven't formally announced any platforms
for DNF. But, of course hitting the big three makes the most sense (PC, PS3,
360)." The part about the release date seems firmer, though it allows a couple
of months wiggle-room, as the president of 3D Realms says: "we may miss the mark
by a month or two, but I feel very confident that we're on target this time."
We've contacted 3D Realms for a comment on this report, but have yet to receive
a reply. Update: A follow-up on
Shacknews indicates
the "confirmed" revelations in the story are as shaky as they sound, and neither
a release date nor console plans for the game have been announced. 3D Realms is
expected to make a formal follow-up announcement later today that will likely
contain the words "when it's done."
Midway announces This is Vegas,
launching a product
section with some screenshots for this business simulation set in Sin City
planned for release in Winter 2008 for PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. The game
puts the player in the role of an entrepreneur building an empire in Vegas with
a goal of being less family-friendly. Rather than go the boring route with board
meetings and investment bankers, this game's take on being a mogul involves hard
partying, cheating at gambling, racing cars, sleeping with hotties, engaging in
bar brawls & gunfights, and more. When a powerful businessman begins
turning Vegas into a family-friendly tourist trap, you must start your own
powerful empire and resurrect the famous adult playground. Party hard at the
hottest clubs to make VIP connections. Grow your bankroll by hitting high stakes
tables. Race the fastest cars on the underground circuit to raise your
reputation. Fight off enemies with fists and firearms to prove your strength.
Where you go and what you do is your call whether counting cards, seducing
dangerous women, cruising the strip or starting bar brawls, you must put the sin
back in sin city.
Got Game Entertainment announces
Arctic Stud Poker Run is gold, and this "full-contact poker" game that
features racing in cross-country poker runs they say are an
over-the-top take on something that happens in the real world. Though the
now-gold game will be distributed digitally, its North American retail debut is
not until next month, and word is the full game "features loads of upgrades and
enhancements to the developer’s earlier limited-run edition of the game."
The Dracula Origin Website has
been upgraded from a teaser site, and offers new screenshots and resources for
the upcoming vampire game. Also, the
Blood Bowl Website is likewise no longer a teaser, as it offers forums and
screenshots (and a ridiculous widescreen format). Finally, a new German-language
Dawn of War Website offers das spiel
on Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War – Soulstorm in German. Thanks Gamer's Hell.
This press
release announces the imminent release of City Life 2008 Edition will
include a feature allowing the import of satellite maps: City Life 2008
Edition, to be released in February 2008 by Ascaron, is the latest version of
the popular City Life series. The game puts players in the role of an urban
planner and real estate developer, designing, building and maintaining every
aspect of their creation. The latest version contains an additional 23 maps as
well as the possibility to import satellite maps. There are also 60 new
buildings including London landmarks such as St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Royal
Opera House.
New Lost: Via Domus material is now available, celebrating the TV tie-in that's
due for release later this month. A new trailer #2 from the other day offers
around 90 seconds of game footage, available from
Gamer's Hell and
GamesBrasil.
Another new gameplay and a behind-the-scenes movie are also now available on
Gamer's Hell along with
some screenshots, and the BTS trailer is also on
AtomicGamer and
FileFront. Finally, a
Lost: The Videogame Q&A on Games32 answers some burning questions about the
game.
Another new beta patch for Depths of Peril is now available, updating Soldak
Entertainment's action/RPG to beta version 1.008 (thanks Gamer's Hell). Word is: "This
patch fixes a lot of typos and localization issues, a few of bugs, but more
importantly adds a hardcore mode."
The
Gainesville Sun reports a merger between Florida-based Artificial Games and
UK-based Ignition Entertainment (thanks
FiringSquad). Word is: England-based Ignition Entertainment is in the
process of hiring 65-70 people and renovating an 8,000-square-foot office at the
Commerce Center in downtown Gainesville after bringing a local independent video
game development company into its fold.
Continue to 2nd paragraph Local government and economic development officials
hailed the move as an important step toward creating a high-tech cluster
downtown and stemming the "brain drain" of University of Florida graduates
leaving the area. Gainesville and Alachua County commissions approved tax
incentives to lure the company.
Artificial Studios, a 2-year-old Gainesville company, developed a prototype of a
game for Ignition and was in talks for full production when the companies
decided to merge, according to Jeremy Stieglitz, founder of Artificial Studios
and studio and game director of Ignition's Gainesville office.
- Electronic Arts
Turning
Dreams into Reality on GamesIndustry.biz is a Q&A with Electronic Arts'
Glenn Entis that focuses on the role of graphics in video games "as well as
the problems surrounding film license games, expectations surrounding
ever-better visuals, and the genius of Steven Spielberg." I prefer to focus
on the super-genius of Wile E. Coyote.
- Jumpgate Evolution
The
Jumpgate Evolution Dev Q&A on The Vault Network chats with Hermann
Peterscheck about the upcoming return of Netdevil's MMORPG, and just how
much evolution and/or intelligent design it has undergone since its
extinction.
- Al Lowe
The
Al Lowe Q&A on Rock,
Paper, Shotgun talks with the creator of Leisure Suit Larry about this
history of the loveable letch, his work on the Police Quest series, how game
development has changed over the years, the role of humor in games, what
drove him from the industry, and more.
One of the best criteria I use for worthiness of a game to be included as a
"Play!" link is how much it delays the update it will be part of. Today's was
only five minutes or so, but I don't even want to guess what my record is.
R.I.P.:
Beatles Guru, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Dies
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