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Archived News:
The Steamworks Website announces
the free release of version 1.0 of the Steamworks SDK that puts some of Valve's
development tools in the hands of PC developers and publishers. Here's the
skinny: May 1, 2008 -Valve, creators of best-selling game franchises (such
as Half-Life and Counter-Strike) and leading technologies (such as Steam and
Source), today announced the release of the Steamworks Software Development Kit
(SDK). Steamworks is a complete suite of publishing and development tools that
offers PC game developers and publishers access to the game features and
services available through Steam. These include product key authentication, copy
protection, auto-updating, social networking, matchmaking, anti-cheat
technology, and more. The features and services available in Steamworks are
offered free of charge and may be used for both electronic and tangible versions
of games.
The Official Steamworks SDK includes a fully functional API for all the
components offered in Steamworks. Available now to developers and publishers
worldwide, the SDK also includes a multiplayer game example to demonstrate many
of the features in action. In addition, the Steamworks partner web site (http://partner.steamgames.com)
has been updated with documentation outlining the ease of use of the API,
authoring and editing of achievements, gameplay statistics, and more.
"In working with developers on the pre-release SDK, our focus has been on making
it as easy as possible for them to integrate Steamworks into their games," said
Jason Holtman, director of business development at Valve. "They get access to
these tools and services in a proven, scalable, and simple to work with package
that has already been deployed to millions of gamers worldwide."
Steam is a leading platform for the delivery and management of PC games and
digital content. With over 15 million active accounts and more than 300 games,
plus hundreds of movie files and game demos available, Steam has become a
frequent destination for millions of gamers around the world. For more
information regarding Steamworks, please visit
http://partner.steamgames.com.
The Project Origin
Website offers two new trailers from Monolith's F.E.A.R. sequel, an
"elite power armor" movie and a "penthouse and destruction environment" trailer.
Either video can be streamed, or downloaded in higher resolution. Thanks Gamer's Hell.
- Fallout 3
Bethesda's
Hines Talks The State Of Fallout 3 on Gamasutra is a detailed Q&A with
Pete Hines about the upcoming RPG sequel, getting a feel for where
development stands, what they have in store for this release, and future
plans for the franchise.
- Left 4 Dead
Doug
Lombardi Q&A on Play.TM is a brief chat with the Valve spokesperson
about Left 4 Dead, the upcoming multiplayer zombie game, talking
about things like the project's influences: "Oh... you know... going back to
the original Dawn of the Dead, George Romero's stuff. Obviously we all like
28 Days Later, the first more than the second. Resident Evil. We have mixed
opinions on Dead Rising. I thought it was clever but other people take a
different view. There were people that loved it, and people that didn't like
it so much."
- Warhammer Online
The
State of Warhammer Online on GameZone is a Q&A with EA Mythic discussing
the future of their Warhammer MMORPG.
- MMOGs
State
of the MMO: Industry Luminaries On The Genre, Its Future on WarCry Network
offers thoughts on the state of multiplayer gaming from John Smedley,
Matt Firor, Daron Stinnett, and more.
- Space Hulk
The
Space
Hulk Q&A on Strategy Informer talks with Niklas Astrand about the
community-based project to create a Space Hulk remake.
Hothead Games announces Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of
Darkness is gold, and the first episode in the webcomic-based adventure game
will be released for Windows, Mac, and Linux at some unspecified point over the
next two months, though when to expect the Xbox LIVE version is less clear:
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - May 1, 2008 - Hothead Games is thrilled to
announce that the Windows®, Mac®, and Linux® versions of Penny Arcade
Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode One have reached
gold master status and are planned for worldwide download via the new digital
download service Greenhouse at
www.playgreenhouse.com later this quarter. In celebration, Hothead gave some
infamous Penny Arcade characters a new look and let them loose on the
unsuspecting websites www.rainslick.com,
www.hotheadgames.com, and
www.playgreenhouse.com for the
public to enjoy.
Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode One is
an RPG-adventure game set in the comic-book-meets-pulp-horror-meets-H.P.
Lovecraft deranged 1920s universe of New Arcadia, delivered to gamers via
accessible episodic releases. Players join Gabe and Tycho, the crime-solving
team of the Startling Developments Detective Agency, to combat savage enemies
and solve mysteries hidden deep in the sinister heart of New Arcadia. The game
is the result of close collaboration between Hothead Games and Penny Arcade,
featuring distinct artwork and characters designed exclusively by Mike "Gabe"
Krahulik, story and dialogue by Jerry "Tycho" Holkins, and both brought to life
by the Hothead team.
Penny Arcade Adventures: On the Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness, Episode One is
priced at $19.95 for the Windows, Mac, and Linux versions and at 1600 Microsoft
points via Xbox LIVE® Arcade, with a rating of "M" for Mature by the
Entertainment Software Ratings Board for all platforms.
DiabloFans.com has the outcome of the
countdown that started on Diablo3.com a couple of weeks ago
( story), saying that Blizzard is taking over the Diablo3.com
domain from them. Expectations that the announcement to which they were counting
down were tempered by a follow-up ( story), but this move carries
the obvious implication that Blizzard is turning their attention to a next
installment in the action/RPG series, welcome news to a good number of Diablo
fans (though DiabloFans.com has word from Blizzard saying this should not to be
considered a Diablo III announcement. Update: It seems the assumption
originally expressed here that Blizzard bought the domain may have been
incorrect, as there are indications the domain was freely handed over. Apologies
for the error.
The
Age Of Conan: Hyborian Adventures Website outlines the full planned pricing
structure for Funcom's upcoming MMORPG (thanks
Eurogamer).
Word is: Last week we announced our basic subscription prices. Today we
wanted to give you the entire pricing structure for Age of Conan, including the
favorable three and six month packages which give discounts.
Without further ado, the monthly subscription prices for Age of Conan are as
follows:
North America & Oceania
Monthly Per Month Total
1 Month 14.99 USD 14.99 USD
3 months 13.99 USD 41,97 USD
6 months 12.99 USD 77.94 USD
Europe
Monthly Per Month Total Total Incl. VAT*
1 Month 12.99 EUR 12.99 EUR 14.94 EUR
3 months 11.99 EUR 35.97 EUR 41.37 EUR
6 months 10.99 EUR 65.94 EUR 75.83 EUR
* VAT only applicable in EU member states
United Kingdom
Monthly Per Month Total Total Incl. VAT
1 Month 8.99 GBP 8.99 GBP 10.34 GBP
3 months 8.39 GBP 25.17 GBP 28.95 GBP
6 months 7.69 GBP 46.14 GBP 53.06 GBP
In addition to the online subscriptions, players can also purchase 60-day
timecards in retail stores around Europe, North America and Oceania. The
recommended retail price for 60-day timecards is 29.99 USD / 29.99 EUR
(including VAT where applicable). Markets outside Europe, Oceania and North
America will follow European pricing.
Matrix Games announces
Kharkov: Disaster on the Donets an upcoming continuation of Strategic
Studies Group's wargame series, an announcement that comes surprisingly close to
the release of Panzer Command: Kharkov ( story) set in the same
Eastern front theatre of World War II. The game doesn't yet carry a release
date, but here's a bit from the announcement: Kharkov: Disaster on the
Donets is the latest strategy title from the award-winning team at Strategic
Studies Group. A synthesis of the very best elements of two critically acclaimed
and top-rated game systems, Decisive Battles and Battlefront, and a successor to
both, the new Kharkov: Disaster on the Donets brings to life a campaign of epic
scale and dynamic battles on the Eastern Front of World War II.
Command the Soviet forces, newly confident after stopping and throwing back the
Barbarossa offensive, or try the elite and seasoned German army now
reconstituted after winter losses and ready to regain the initiative. Two
separate forces prepared offensives in the same area in the Spring of 1942. When
the dust had cleared the Germans had managed a great victory that opened the
doors to the drive on Stalingrad. But the outcome was far from certain and in
Kharkov: Disaster on the Donets, history is yours to rewrite.
The
Get a Life Home has word that the Get a Life modification for Half-Life 2 is
now available (thanks Ant). Here's word: "In 'Get a Life' you embody Alexander
Zemlinsky, a subway technician suffering from leukaemia. Alex is not, unlike the
protagonists in most games, an invincible super-soldier. But you wouldn't call
him normal either, because there is something in his past that connects him with
the events that are about to happen in the course of the story "
- American McGee's Grimm
There's
a grim Q&A on
gry.o2.pl, a conversation with American McGee about American McGee's
Grimm, the upcoming fairy tale-inspired game in the works at Spicy
horse. As is that site's way, the conversation is available in English and
Polish.
- Champions Online
The
Nellie Hughes Q&A on the Champions Online Website is the latest in their
series of "Meet the Team" conversations to introduce members of the
development team for Cryptic's upcoming superhero MMORPG.
Happy May Day, though it didn't seem very May-like out there this morning as I
scraped frost off the windshield. I would have taken MrsBlue to the train on our
Tauntaun, but I was afraid it would freeze before we reached the first marker.
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