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Archived News:
The Sims Carnival is
now accepting applications from those interested in beta testing this "online
destination" (remember when they were called websites?) that will traffic in
user-created casual games. Word is: "To design games, TheSimsCarnival.com
provides game creation tools for a range of user skill sets so that millions of
players can become game designers with no prior programming abilities necessary.
TheSimsCarnival.com will be available to the public online in spring 2008."
Combat
Mission: Shock Force Demo and Patch Download Page now offers downloads of
new patches to update the modern combat strategy game to version 1.07. A large
number of changes and fixes are supplied in the update, which is available in
three different flavors to cover the Battlefront.com, Paradox Interactive, and
Gamersgate editions of the game. A new version 1.07 demo is in the works to
provide an updated sample of the game.
- Epic
Joystiq's
Epic video interview talks with Mark Rein, Tim Sweeney, and CliffyB at
GDC about what they can reveal about their various projects, including the
just-announced Gears of War 2. What they can reveal is basically not much,
so be prepared for numerous variations on "no comment" and head scratching
at questions on the day GoW2 was announced at the MS keynote about whether
the game will be delayed and if it will be published by Microsoft. Mark Rein
does say that mods for the Xbox 360 edition are not likely and explains the
trade-offs that cause the texture-popping issue with Unreal-engine games. We
also learn Cliffy is "completely stoked."
- Turning Point: Fall of Liberty
The
Turning Point: Fall
of Liberty Q&A on gry.o2.pl chats with David Brickley of Codemasters
about Spark Unlimited's alternate-reality first-person shooter. The
conversation is posted in both English and Polish.
- Pirates of the Burning Sea
The
Pirates of the Burning Sea Q&A on Stratics, talks with Adam Gubman,
composer of the soundtrack in Flying Lab Software's MMORPG.
A new patch is now available to update Unreal Tournament 3 to version 1.2. The
update includes balance changes, map tweaks, improved mod support, networking
fixes, and much more. The patch is 234 MB, just like the first patch (how often
does that happen?), with the download available on
AtomicGamer,
ComputerGames.ro,
FanGaming,
FileFront,
FileShack, Gamer's Hell,
and
Internode Games Network. The 247 MB corresponding new Linux dedicated server
is available on
AtomicGamer,
FileFront,
ComputerGames.ro, and
Gamer's Hell.
SEGA Reveals
Details Of Upcoming Aliens: Colonial Marines finally offers details on
Aliens: Colonial Marines, Gearbox Software's upcoming shooter first announced in
2006 ( story) which is now expected before the end of this year.
Here's the announcement, which mentions four-player co-op support, and is likely
the only place Alien: Resurrection has ever been referred to in the same
sentence as the Academy Awards: LONDON AND SAN FRANCISCO (February 21st,
2008) – SEGA Europe Ltd. and SEGA of America, Inc. today revealed details of the
highly anticipated squad-based first-person shooter video game, Aliens: Colonial
Marines™. Licensed through an exclusive agreement with Twentieth Century Fox
Licensing and Merchandising and developed by Gearbox Software, the game will be
available on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft,
PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Windows-based PC in late 2008.
In Aliens: Colonial Marines, players are part of a United States Colonial Marine
squad and must prepare to face an alien assault more intense and horrific than
ever before. Driven by a compelling and original story penned by renowned
writers Bradley Thompson and David Weddle Aliens: Colonial Marines will retain
the atmospheric look and feel of the original films while leveraging
next-generation technology to create an entirely new interactive Aliens
experience.
Packing classic Aliens weaponry ranging from pulse rifles to flamethrowers as
well as brand-new equipment and skills all within a squad-based combat system,
players will become an elite United States Colonial Marine. Featuring
claustrophobic environments, a brooding soundtrack, and a multitude of surprises
and shocks, players will battle against menacing alien hordes in strikingly
detailed levels that include the stark interiors of the abandoned Sulaco and
unique environments created specifically for the game.
Aliens: Colonial Marines will feature a story driven single-player mode and an
all-new four player co-op mode allowing players to share the chilling experience
with three friends. In co-op mode, each player will assume the persona of a
Colonial Marine and have a distinct role to play in the completion of every
mission. Additionally, more multiplayer modes will be revealed later in the year
that will complete the Aliens video game experience.
Since its 1979 debut, Alien and its three sequels have grossed more than $557
million worldwide, garnering numerous awards, including two Academy
Awards®.
This press
release announces SimCity Societies: Destinations, the first in a presumably
infinite stream of add-ons for SimCity Societies, due for release in North
America and Europe in May. The
SimCity Societies :
Destinations Product Section is live (thanks Gamer's Hell), and here's a bit from
the announcement: SimCity Societies Destinations enhances the SimCity
Societies experience by providing all the tools you need to create an entire
city or town based on attractions and amenities that visitors enjoy. With an
enhanced map generator, players can identify each city’s opportunity for
diversion and the city can capitalize on that draw. From sprawling theme parks
and tropical beach resorts to country hiking trails, players can control more
than 100 new buildings to create their customized destination.
Depths of Peril Demo
Page now offers a new playable demo for Soldak's action/RPG, updated with
the changes in the new version 1.009 beta patch. They say: "In this demo, you
can play all 4 characters, explore the first part of the world, play through
part of the storyline, experience a lot of the dynamic world with consequences,
and get a taste for the covenant gameplay and it's still less than 70MB." The
download is mirrored on
AtomicGamer,
ComputerGames.ro,
FileFront, and Gamer's
Hell.
Joystiq reports on the GDC announcement of PhyreEngine, a new free
cross-platform game engine from Sony (thanks Mike Martinez). More details are expected
today, but for now they point out this development environment powers the recent
releases of flOw, GripShift, and DiRT, demonstrating it can create games for PC
and Xbox 360, as well as PS3. They point out an obvious motive for Sony to
support cross-platform development, in that using PhyreEngine will guarantee PS3
versions of games that are least the equal of their counterparts on other
platforms.
Starbreeze Studios
Teams up With EA Partners to Reinvent a Classic EA Franchise is the press
release announcing development of a game by
Starbreeze Studios codenamed Project RedLime for PC, Xbox 360, and
PlayStation 3. As the title of the press release states, this is a reinvention
of "one of EA’s most acclaimed classic franchises," though which franchise is
involved is not being revealed at this time (though it is possible this is
connected with a quote on
GameDaily from EA CEO John Riccitiello saying: "We think about [our old]
franchises a lot. Road Rash is one that keeps coming up in brainstorming
sessions."). Word is: “EA Partners is thrilled to hand over the keys to
one of EA’s most acclaimed franchises to Starbreeze Studios,” said David
DeMartini, vice president and general manager of EA Partners. “Starbreeze’s
pedigree is undisputed and we could not be happier to welcome them to the EA
Partners family. The team is creating an incredibly innovative take on a classic
property and EA Partners is poised to deliver a blockbuster launch on the global
stage.”
“EA Partners gives independent developers like Starbreeze access to EA’s
unrivaled global publishing infrastructure, letting us focus our energy on what
we do best – making incredible games,” said Johan Kristiansson, CEO of
Starbreeze Studios. “We’re already deep in development on Project RedLime and
the team at EA is giving us the time we need to perfect our vision. We’re
excited to bring a new perspective and gameplay innovation to this beloved
fiction.”
The Project Offset Website
(thanks Gamer's Hell) has the very brief announcement that Offset Software has been
acquired by Intel, saying: "Project Offset is going strong and we are excited
about things to come. Stay tuned."
Koei Press Release offers the official announcement of a PC edition of
Warriors Orochi, confirming
indications that the Dynasty Warriors/Samurai Warriors hybrid will come to the
PC and PSP next month ( story). Word is: "Warriors Orochi for
Windows-based PC features enhanced graphics (for PCs meeting the recommended
system requirements) and will be available exclusively through digital
download." Thanks Gamer's Hell.
The
Lowdown On Upcoming Updates on the Hellgate: London Website outlines
upcoming patch plans, offering "a kingly scoop" on version 1.2 and 1.3 patches
as well as the Abyss Chronicles content patch, described as their "biggest major
content update yet." There are bullet points for each patch (subject to change),
some Abyss Chronicles screenshots, and the following summary of the Abyss
Chronicles content: "Sizable additions to the PvP department, seriously unique
skills for all classes, new armor and weapons for all factions, new monster
types, new bosses... Oh, and then there's the consignment house and shared
stash."
The Soldak Entertainment Website offers a
new beta patch for Depths of Peril, updating the action/RPG to version 1.009.
They say: "The changes in 1.009 are mostly localization issues and a few bug
fixes, but adds a new Loner Challenge mode."
The ZDoom Downloads Page offers a new
version 2.2.0 of ZDoom, the first-person shooter based on the public DOOM source
code (thanks
Doomworld and Ant). There is a new Win32 executable and new source code,
and while the documentation is out of date, there is
online documentation in the ZDoom wiki.
The FeedBack Website
offers download of version 0.93b of this utility that allows the creation of
custom tracks for (presumably for the PC edition) of Guitar Hero. Thanks
Kotaku Australia, where they have a video of a custom song.
Cry havok, and let slip the software of physics!
Havok Offers Core Physics Software Free for PC Game Developers has word that
the PC edition of Havok Complete will be released for free in May. Word is the
"award-winning physics and animation software product" is free to use for any
non-commercial project.
Yes, it's that early... stop doing the fake heart attack bit, Redd Foxx did it
much better.
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