Voodoo Extreme reports that the June print issue of OXM mongers a rumor that
Ken Levine is working on a new
X-COM game, reviving speculation that
first surfaced over a year ago (
story). Apparently while 2K was
conspicuously acquiring Ken's Irrational Games, somewhere along the way in an
unrelated deal they slyly picked up the rights to the seminal tactics series, so while the rumor is unconfirmed, the pieces are in place that make it
a possibility.
Prototype pushed to 2009 on
GameSpot confirms recent rumors (
story) of a delay to
Radical's open-world game, though those rumors underestimated the delay's scope,
as
Prototype is now due in 2009. The game was originally announced with a
summer 2008 release date (
story). Word is the game needs more
time to live up to the regards of many:
Since its announcement, Prototype
has been regarded by many as groundbreaking and taking the open-world genre in
new directions, and in the simplest explanation possible, we need more time to
deliver the game the team initially set out to create.
The
Age Of Conan: Hyborian Adventures Website announces that registration is
underway for pre-order customers of Funcom's MMORPG, which will allow the
purchase of early access to the game (thanks
Gamer's Hell). The update also announces
the early access date for EU customers has been pushed up to May 17 to coincide
with the program's launch in the US, and that they have removed the planned
level cap for early access:
Registration for customers
with pre-order keys has now opened on
http://register.ageofconan.com. Registering with a valid pre-order key (such
as the Rhino or Mammoth key) is the unique way to be eligible to purchase Early
Access for 5€/5$. This fee includes 10 days of game-time as well as the digital
download of the client. Hurry though, because the Early Access is only available
while supply lasts!
Note that pre-order items such as the Rhino and Mammoth is not available on
Early Access accounts. Once an Early Access account is upgraded with the retail
key, the virtual item can be claimed. The originally planned level capping of
the Early Access has been removed.
The launch date for early access in Europe has been moved forward! Both the US
and EU servers open on the 17th of May (5pm GMT). This date used to be the 20th
for the EU servers, thus European players are now getting 6 days of early access
until the regular launch on May 23rd!
BlackMoon Chronicles: Winds
of War Website is now running beta tests for this comic book-based MMORPG
that was cancelled in 2002 (
story). There's no explanation for
the game's sudden revival after all these years. Thanks
Gamer's Hell.
Battlefront.com and Fury Software announce that
Strategic Command 2: Patton
Drives East is gold, and the alternate-history World War II strategy
expansion is to be available for online purchase later this
week:
Battlefront.com and Fury Software are thrilled to announce that the
newest expansion for the acclaimed Strategic Command 2 series, titled Patton
Drives East, has gone gold! The game is now in production and is expected to be
released for digital delivery later this week.
Patton Drives East allows players to explore the both the historically possible
"what ifs" and alternate realities of World War 2 such as:
What if the Western Allies and the Soviet Union went to war after defeating the
Axis? Could America liberate a Europe subjugated by the Axis? What if the
Western Allies had accepted a surrender from Germany and together they would
fight against the USSR? The Patton Drives East expansion will be available later
this week from www.battlefront.com only, via digital delivery, mail delivery, or
both. The price is $25 (plus shipping&handling for mail delivery). The expansion
will require the original Battlefront version of the base game, Strategic
Command 2 Blitzkrieg, to be installed in order to play.
Meridian4 and SCS Software announce that
your chance to live out your Ralph Kramden fantasies are near, as
Bus Driver
is gold, and will be available for digital distribution later this month:
Montreal, Quebec, Canada – May 5, 2008 – Meridian4
(http://www.meridian4.com) and SCS Software are pleased to announce that Bus
Driver has gone gold and will be ready to ship to retail stores and be available
for digital download in May.
“We have been working with SCS Software to change some minor things in the game
for the North American market.” said Jeff Giasson, Production Director at
Meridian4, “There was very little to be done to this surprisingly addictive
driving sim.”
About Bus Driver
In Bus Driver, your job is to transport passengers around an attractive and
realistic city. You must drive to a timetable on a planned route, while obeying
traffic rules, and taking care not to upset or injure your passengers. This
makes Bus Driver unlike any other driving game - the experience of driving a bus
is very different from blazing through a racing circuit.
• 12 buses to drive – detailed models inspired by
real-world buses, including London’s double-decker bus, America’s school bus,
Europe’s low floor buses and many more
• 30 routes arranged into 5 tiers with increasing
difficulty
• Multiple duties, such as driving a school bus,
transporting tourists, sight-seeing tours and even the transportation of
prisoners
• High replay value based on sophisticated system of
traffic rules and game-play related bonuses.
• Large city to drive in, with several districts of
varying styles: modern, old-town, suburb, airport, harbor and more with
day/night cycles and realistic weather conditions.
• Living roads with intelligent traffic controlled
by AI system
• Non-violent, easy to pick up gameplay, suitable
for all ages.
Planet
Battlefield (thanks
Ant) has ShakyCam video of a
Battlefield Heroes
presentation where DICE executive producer Ben Cousins introduces the interface
from the coming free-to-play installment in the multiplayer military shooter
series. He describes and shows off the web development they undertook to create
the game's browser-based front-end.
Happy Cinco de Mayo! Also, Happy Birthday, Wolfenstein 3-D, as the seminal first
person-shooter turns (seriously, brace yourself) 16 years old today. I'm going
to fire off DOSBOX and play a bit today. I'll say hi to B.J. Blazkowicz for you.
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