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Archived News:
Tilted Mill Entertainment announces Hinterland, a game that combines RPG
and strategic base-building gameplay planned for digital release this summer
(The Hinterland, the hinterland, we're gonna sail to the hinterland!). The
Hinterland Website is
online, offering info, art, a developer diary, and forums, and here's the
announcement: July 11, 2008 – Tilted Mill Entertainment -- independent
developers of strategy, simulation and role-playing games – today announced
Hinterland, a new PC project for release later this summer. In Hinterland, you
build up and lead a small village, populated by simple townsfolk struggling to
survive and prosper in the wild back country of a medieval fantasy world.
Leading small parties of adventurers drawn from the ranks of the townspeople
themselves, you undertake quests outside the village, seeking to conquer various
foes, and collect treasure, magic items and knowledge which will, in turn, fuel
your village. As your village becomes stronger, you’ll forge your own weapons,
manufacture magic items and potions, and tame the wild land. Loot, Level and
Build in the Hinterland!
“Hinterland is about ordinary people struggling to overcome their hostile and
mysterious environment and building a better life for themselves in a world of
fantasy and folklore” said Chris Beatrice, founder and president of Tilted Mill
Entertainment. “There are no mighty armies clashing here, just small parties of
three or four adventurers, with you at their head, where acquiring your first
real sword is a big deal! In Hinterland you’ll experience tactical party-based
combat and role-playing, where every split-second decision matters, as well as
the strategic planning, building and ‘life simulation’ gameplay our team is
known for. Smaller games like Hinterland allow us to focus more on innovation,
risk taking and quality of game-play – it’s fast-paced and highly replayable
without sacrificing the complex and interesting mechanics of classic RPG and
strategy games.”
Hinterland will be available later this summer for under twenty dollars, through
digital download. For more information, please visit
www.tiltedmill.com/hinterland
Eurogamer
has word from Ubisoft's Clint Hocking that we should not expect a demo version
of Far Cry 2, as this is another of those open-world style games the
won't readily scale to a sample version: "One reason is, even if we were to give
out what you played today - even if we put invisible walls around it and said,
here's the demo, you can go anywhere you like inside these walls and play it how
you want - that's potentially right there eight-to-ten hours of gameplay. I
don't know too many people who are willing to give away a 12-hour game for
free."
The
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning Mark Jacobs Interview Part One on MMORPG.COM
is an article-format conversation with EA Mythic VP Mark Jacobs, who reveals he
is now just Mythic VP Mark Jacobs, as they are dropping EA from their name. In
part two of
the Q&A Jacobs reveals that classes and features have been cut from
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, their upcoming MMORPG, as well as how they
have partnered with Even Balance to deter cheating with their Punkbuster
software. Features being cut include four of the planned six capital cities and
four careers/classes: "Choppa (Greenskin) Hammerer (Dwarf) Blackguard (Dark Elf)
Knight of the Blazing Sun (Empire)."
There's a blurb about
the new Wolfenstein game on Tiscali Games with a few details on the new
version of the World War II shooter from Game Informer magazine. The only
real surprise is that B.J. is getting supernatural powers of his own this time
around. The blurb also describes the environment as "one large city, which will
open itself up as you progress through given missions and quests" and that
there will be "randomly generated content" occasionally blocking your way.
SouthPeak Games announces they will release Two Worlds: Epic Edition next
month, combining the original version of this open-world RPG with its Tainted
Blood and Curse of Souls expansions: MIDLOTHIAN, VA - July 11, 2008 –
SouthPeak Games today announced its open-world role-playing hit game will get a
new release on PC with the upcoming Two Worlds: Epic Edition. The expanded game
will be available in August 2008.
“Two Worlds has seen unprecedented popularity, not only upon its original
release, but in the months since it has gained even more fans,” said Melanie
Mroz, CEO of SouthPeak Games. “Epic Edition collects everything available for
the world of Antaloor into one package so those who have yet to explore its rich
and vibrant lands can now do so in its entirety.”
Two Worlds: Epic Edition will contain the original game and the add-ons “Tainted
Blood” and “Curse of Souls”, putting the massive world of Antaloor and countless
hours of adventuring into one tremendous package. The original Two Worlds gave
players a huge world and hundreds of adventures to undertake. The expanded
content of Epic Edition adds over 70 online quests, eight new multiplayer maps,
an innovative player-versus-player challenge where opponents battle to control
magical orbs within a variety of arenas, and introduces the town of Tharnburg
where players can train their warriors in various skills and challenge other
players to combat in the Gladiator District’s huge arena.
Two Worlds: Epic Edition is rated M for Mature and will have a retail price of
$19.99. For more information about Two Worlds or SouthPeak Games, please visit
www.2-worlds.com or
www.southpeakgames.com.
The
Evochron Renegades Website offers a new version 1.888 of this freeform space
combat and trading simulation, which also serves as an updated trial version of
the game. Word is: "The main improvements in this update include fixing
remaining minor bugs, more options for modding, and enhancements for TrackIR."
The A2A Simulations Website offers a new version 2.08 patch for Battle of
Britain II: Wings of Victory, saying: "This update has been brought to you
by the freeware BDG (BoB Developers Group) team. We hope you enjoy the continued
enhancements for what has been a real labour of love over a number of years
now."
The E3 trailer from Brothers in Arms: Hells Highway shows off Gearbox
Software's upcoming World War II shooter sequel. The clip is available on
AtomicGamer,
FileFront, and Gamer's
Hell.
The
Spore Q&A on Gamasutra talks with Soren Johnson about Spore, and his
transition to working on EA Maxis' upcoming evolution game after years of
working on the civilization series at Firaxis. They discuss his part in helping
craft the game's strategy elements and the care being taken to maintain a
broader appeal than an RTS game.
- Far Cry 2
Far
Cry 2 Developers Blog now offers a video of Ubisoft creative director
Clint Hocking answering a number of questions about Far Cry 2 submitted by
members of the community. They also offer a link to submit questions for
another such session they will record next week during E3.
- Mercenaries 2
Joystiq
interview: Mercenaries 2 senior producer Jonathan Zamkoff is a chat
about the upcoming open world combat sequel, along the way contrasting the
project with the original: "The overall scope is remarkably bigger; this
includes asset complexity, world size, draw distance, number of vehicles and
airstrikes, missions, game length, etc. And of course there's the
drop-in-and-out anytime Co-op, which is a first for any open world game."
- On Midcore Gamers
Riot's
Merrill On Targeting The 'Midcore' Gamer on Gamasutra (thanks Mike Martinez) is a
Q&A with developer Riot Games about the niche they seek to fill: "What I
mean by that is that we're focused on what we'd call the 'mid-core'
audience. We want to develop content for this kind of gamer, that isn't
satisfied by Diner Dash or Bejeweled, but on the other end of the spectrum,
they're not really interested in getting into a deep hardcore that's going
to require a massive time commitment to pay off."
- On Casual Gamers
Nolan
Bushnell: What The Game Industry Misses on Gamasutra lets the Atari
cofounder once again sound off about how badly the punk kids have taken the
video game industry off track.
First the confirmed story:
Layoffs
Confirmed At Hellgate Developer Flagship on Gamasutra has word that a
Flagship rep has confirmed that "staff at both the Flagship development team as
well as online services subsidiary Ping0 were let go." They also report contact
from "source close to Flagship" that the company has been "going through
internal turbulence." Now for the part that's less clear, in what may or may not
be related news:
Hellgate Guru has a report based on a translation of a
Korean
news story saying that Korean operator of Hellgate: London,
HanbitSoft, claims co-ownership of the Intellectual Properly for the game, and
is looking to take full control of the IP to "properly manage and develop
Hellgate: London into a good game with proper content." Their report quotes
HanbitSoft's statement on their reasoning: "It is hard for us to accept Flagship
Studios’ requests for continued support in capital and funding any longer and
because Flagship was being difficult." They also have a response to the story
from Flagship Studios calling the story an "outright lie," except they don't
appear to be refuting the accuracy of the Korean news story, but rather
HanbitSoft's rights to take over the IP, seemingly indicating that such an
attempt may actually be underway. According to Flagship: This story is an
outright lie. We have no idea where they are getting their information from and
have asked legal counsel to pursue the issue. We are mystified by Hanbitsoft’s
conclusions and any attempt to take over the IP will be met with a strong and
swift response, to “illegally take over the IP”. All right title and interest in
Hellgate; London resides in Flagship Financing, LLC a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Flagship Studios. We are outraged that Hanbitsoft would attempt to completely
tarnish the reputation of its most vital developer. Hanbitsoft’s new management
clearly does not understand the terms of its relationship with Flagship.
Crysis Warhead preorders are now being accepted at The EA Store, confirming
the recently revealed $29.99 price point for Crytek's upcoming first-person
shooter follow-up ( story). The product description for the game
reveals the inclusion of Crysis Wars, "an expanded new multiplayer experience
with new online modes and 21 maps including seven all-new maps to battle it out
against other players" (thanks
inCrysis). Here's the whole feature list, which does not offer a footnote to
correspond with that asterisk:
• Pulse-racing new
installment from 2007's PC Game of the Year*: Play as Sergeant Sykes and
experience a whole new side of the battle. A standard combat mission behind
enemy lines becomes critical when you discover your enemies have captured
something of vital importance to the ensuing war. It’s down to you to retrieve
the cargo, at any cost.
• More explosive and dynamic minute to minute game play:
new customizable weapons, new vehicles, new photorealistic locations to explore,
and a fully interactive war zone to dominate.
• Enhanced human and alien AI: Intelligent enemies, bigger
challenges, and all-new ally squad support.
Includes Crysis Wars®, an expanded new multiplayer experience with new online
modes and 21 maps including seven all-new maps to battle it out against other
players.
• Crysis Warhead is a standalone release and does not
require ownership of Crysis to play.
EA Mythic announces
the launch of the Guild Beta for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, paving
the way for the launch of the MMORPG in the fall: FAIRFAX, Va.--(BUSINESS
WIRE)--Mythic Entertainment, an Electronic Arts studio (NASDAQ:ERTS), today
announced that the Guild Beta for Warhammer® Online: Age of Reckoning™ (WAR) has
begun. Over 10,000 guilds applied and those selected will have the chance to
experience the game’s most expansive beta phase yet.
An historic 750,000 applicants have signed up for the opportunity to enter WAR’s
closed beta, and the selected guilds will join tens of thousands of new
participants as the game enters the final phase of its closed beta test. Guild
members, many with long histories playing a multitude of massively multiplayer
online games, will test WAR’s recently added Guild and Heraldry features, as
well as Public Quests™, new dungeons, Scenarios, user interface updates and more
as the MMORPG advances towards its launch later this year.
“WAR’s Guild Beta is here and some of the world’s most experienced MMO players
will now get a chance to play one of the most anticipated MMOs of all time,”
said Mark Jacobs, vice president and general manager of Mythic Entertainment.
“We look forward to seeing them beat, bash and burn their way through the world
that we have created for their enjoyment. It’s going to be a lot of fun and it’s
going to be glorious!”
Based on Games Workshop’s epic and longstanding tabletop fantasy war game,
Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning features revolutionary Realm vs. Realm™ (RvR)
gameplay that immerses players in a world of perpetual conflict. Warhammer
Online: Age of Reckoning is scheduled for launch on the PC in the fall of 2008.
A demo for Code of Honor 2: Conspiracy Island is now online, sampling the
upcoming counterterrorism-themed shooter sequel where the player once again
takes up arms for the French Foreign Legion (presumably "to forget"). The demo
is a 515 MB download, which is available from
AtomicGamer,
ComputerGames.ro,
FanGaming,
FileFront, and Gamer's
Hell.
At long last,
Strategy First Announces the retail launch of Galactic Dream: Rage of War
(thanks Gamer's Hell), the science fiction RTS game that had its first demo release
back in 2005 ( story), though the most recent demo came out just a
couple of months ago ( story). The game is available for purchase
and download from the
Strategy First
Website, and here's the announcement: MONTREAL, Quebec – July 10,
2008 -- Strategy First Inc. a leading developer and worldwide publisher of
entertainment software for the PC and a wholly-owned unit of Silverstar Holdings
(NASDAQ:SSTR), and Evolution Vault are pleased to announce the release of
Galactic Dream: Rage of War.
About Galactic Dream: Rage of War They say fate controls our lives and that the
future is already written. It is also said that life is a blessing from the Gods
above. For hundred of years we have searched for the answer to an eternal
question: "Are we alone?” The question was left unanswered throughout time. When
the Terrans were finally forced to leave the Colonies and venture far into
space, many challenges and dangers awaited them. Out there, in the dark, the
watchful eye of the Argo - an alien species set for destruction of all sentient
life - keeps a close eye on them. No matter where they go...
For more information and to order your copy now, please follow the link:
http://www.strategyfirst.com/en/games/GalacticDreamROW/
The Immortal
Cities Children of the Nile Website finally offers the version 1.3 patch to
update Children of the Nile to the Enhanced Edition of the city building
game that was recently released via Steam ( story). The new
version includes new features, bug fixes, Windows Vista compatibility, and
more. The patch is mirrored on
AtomicGamer,
FileFront, Gamer's Hell,
and
The Patches Scrolls.
Matrix Games announces what they are calling a "mega-update" for John
Tiller’s Campaign Series, saying: "The update addresses many longstanding
community issues especially dealing with the dynamic campaign feature and the
“Cave bug” found in Rising Sun. A few of the many new notable features include
16 new scenarios to West Front, 8 new scenarios to East Front, varying
visibility factors (including night and day operations), massive OOB expansions
and revisions, new units for the US Army, Germans, and Soviets, and new engineer
capabilities (bridging, mining, construction). Also included are new, more
realistic assault rules. The update is quite large (214MB) and it is recommended
that all Campaign Series owners install this great new update." This version
1.03 patch is available on
this page, and the complete change notes are in
this forum post.
The Operation Flashpoint 2:
Dragon Rising Website now offers the promised ( story) trailer
from this upcoming military shooter sequel. The clip runs about two minutes,
depicting a special ops mission that quickly escalates into a full-blown
firefight using "footage created from rendered game models."
GameSpot has another new movie showing off more of Far Cry 2, the
upcoming shooter sequel in the works at Ubisoft. The "deception walkthrough"
introduces ways to deceive you opponents, which, rest assured ultimately results
in them being in no position to complain about any artifice you may have used.
The clip is accompanied by some
new screenshots. Thanks Far Cry 2 Game.
There is also
a new (English) Far Cry 2 interview video on German site PC Games that
discusses the game and show off more in-game footage, some of it set in the dark
of night.
The X-Plane Website has another new beta
of this flight simulator, which is now up to version 9.20 Beta-5 for Windows,
Mac, and Linux. Thanks Gamer's Hell.
More interviews about yesterday's Good Old
Games announcement ( story), as Tom Ohle explains the concept
of the game revival site with both
GameBanshee
and
GameCyte.
Sometimes I'll see a piece of heavy equipment like a backhoe parked on a street
and I'll still have that childhood thought about how much fun it might be to
take it for a spin, which is why they invented locks. As I recently mentioned,
there's a sidewalk replacement project currently underway in our village, which
is why I spotted an unattended bit of hardware yesterday that renewed this sort
of thinking: one of those buzz saw dealies used to cut through asphalt for road
work. I've never seen one of these bad boys sit unattended, and again, while it
surely was locked, I could not help but speculate about the kind of havoc a
teenager or two (or adults, for that matter) could cause controlling such a
thing.
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