Archived News:
The newly launched Nikopol: Secrets of the
Immortals Website now offers online sales of this new point-and-click
adventure from Benoît Sokal’s White Birds Productions based on the works of Enki
Bilal. The site also offers a new trailer promoting the game, and while there is
also a link that says "Play Demo," the playable demo is not yet available.
The CellZenith Website is online,
revealing the debut title from Faramix
Enterprises, an action/arcade game planned for release on September 30 of
this year. The about CellZenith page
has details on the game's story and gameplay; here's the short form: "Lead your
team of advanced combat craft against legions of deadly enemies in CellZenith,
complete with 35 different ships, 15 powerups, 19 secondary weapons, 4 addictive
minigames, and much more." The
Gallery has screenshots and a brief teaser movie.
The Massgate Website now offers the
promised new version 1.2 of the WicEd editor for World in Conflict.
Here's word on what the updated WicEd can do for those looking to create their
own maps for the real-time strategy game: "The new WicEd update adds lots of new
features to the tool, including new editors for the bloom and mood systems, new
sleeker interface solutions and a brand new resolution editor." Complete details
can be found in this wiki
article, and the new editor can be found on this
Downloads Page.
Half-Life Fallout
offers version 1.94 of the SourceForts modification for Half-Life 2 Deathmatch.
Here's the deal on this project: "Players build bases and other structures with
blocks and plates in the "build phase" to protect themselves and their team's
flag (which is actually a ball), and then fight it out and try to capture the
enemy's flag in the "combat phase". Once the combat phase has ended, it's back
to build, where players can repair, improve, and change their creations to ready
them for the next combat phase." Thanks Ant.
- Call of Duty: World at War on
Games32.
- Crysis Warhead on
GameSpy.
- Dead Space on
GameSpy.
- Defense Grid: The Awakening on
IGN.
- DC Universe Online on
IGN.
- Fallout 3 on
IGN.
- Legendary on
IGN.
- LEGO Universe on
IGN.UK.
- Penny Arcade Adventures: Episode 2 on
1Up.
- Pure on
GameSpot.
- Rise of the Argonauts on
1Up.
So you're saying to yourself, Spore is due in days, why haven't I heard
more about this game? That is what you're saying, right? Well you're in luck, as
a new Spore Galactic Edition trailer is now available, promoting the value-added
edition of Maxis' strategy game. The clip can be found on
ActionTrip and
FileFront, but remember, it's not a commercial, it's marketing. There are
also some new
Spore screenshots on FileFront. Also,
Voodoo Extreme reports some Australian stores may have broken the game's
street date. And if Will Wright is worried the game is being hyped too much
( story), he probably doesn't want to see this:
More Than 50 Creative
Celebrities Test the Limits of Their Imagination with EA's Spore, a press
release listing the luminaries who have created creatures using the Spore
Creature Creator. The list is an odd mix of actual celebs, unknowns, game
industry types, has-beens, gazillionaires, and Will Wright himself. Speaking of
Mr. Wright, he will be
appearing in Oxford Street tomorrow for fan Q&A. Finally,
EA announces Spore is
a game where you create mammals, so it is featured this weekend on The
Discovery Channel.
Ubisoft announces that for a limited time, customers who preorder the
upcoming Prince of Persia remake will have their order upgraded to a limited
edition version of the upcoming return of the platformer prince. The Limited
Edition will include "collectible" packaging, a "making of" feature, a digital
mini-strategy guide, a digital art book, the game's Inon Zur-composed
soundtrack, and "much more." They also announce a partnership with Penny Arcade
to produce a full-length comic book based on the game. Word is: "The comic book
will also give readers a unique knowledge of the new Prince of Persia game as
well as an enhanced understanding as to the relationship between Elika and the
Prince." There's no word on when or how the comic will be distributed.
A Three Cards To Midnight Website
is online as an official home to this upcoming game from Chris Jones and Aaron
Conners, co-creators of the Tex Murphy series. The site offers a teaser
trailer, screenshots, an audio interview with Jones and Conners, and more info
on the game's Tarot card-themed mystery. Thanks Gamer's Hell.
Beyond Protocol Website
is now accepting preorders for Dark Sky Entertainment's upcoming MMO RTS game, a
marketing move that seems a bit unusual for a company's first project. Those who
preorder Beyond Protocol will gain immediate access to the game's closed
beta test, a 24 hour head start on the game's launch, and a special in-game
item.
The Perfect World International Website
has launched open beta testing for this subscription-free MMORPG that is already
online in some areas. Here's a description of the game: "'Perfect World
International' is the English-based, international version of Perfect World II,
one of the most successful 3D MMORPGs worldwide. With its expansive feature set
and unique artistic elegance, 'Perfect World International' offers an immersive
online world that players can enter free of charge, earning in-game currency to
upgrade their character and further enhance their game play experience. The game
features one of the most in-depth character creation interfaces seen in any game
to date, numerous quests full of lore and depth, and an extensive selection of
items and fashions. Unique MMORPG features such as Territory Wars will delight
gamers and increase replay value as they explore and battle across the
ever-expanding game world."
Strategy Informer reports learning from developer Dark Motif of a delay for
Adam Syndrome, their upcoming adventure game ( story). Word
is that in spite of being described as "a dark mystery of novel-like size and
depth," the game was originally envisioned as a budget title, but its design and
funding have been enhanced to make for more of a full-scale game. Adam Syndrome
was announced with a Q3 2008 release date, but it is now expected in Q3 2009.
There's a Q&A with
Blizzard's Frank Pearce on GamesIndustry.biz is a sit down with the Blizzard
veep at the recent Games Convention. Topics include progress on StarCraft II,
plans to further the Blizzard community, supporting three franchises in
parallel, eSports,
the exhausting aspects of WoW's success, and more.
The Agency Video
Q&A on RPG Vault places SOE's Hal Milton under the hot lights of the camera
to answer questions about The Agency, the upcoming spy-versus-spy MMOFPS.
He discusses the dearth of persistent world shooters and espionage-themed games
in the current market, rewards and challenges in The Agency, character
advancement, specifics about missions, and more. As with so many recent videos,
the clip's video quality far exceeds its audio quality, but the sound is still
better than most.
Talking with Champions Online's content lead, Zeke Sparkes on Massively
recaps a PAX conversation with Zeke Sparkes, content lead on Cryptic's upcoming
superhero MMORPG. They discuss Champion Online's open power system, character
creation, PC versus Xbox 360 controls, the process of creating a zone for the
game, and more.
Hermann Peterscheck interviewed on all things Jumpgate Evolution on Massively
tracks down NetDevil producer Hermann Peterscheck at PAX to discuss Jumpgate
Evolution, the upcoming return of the space-based MMORPG. Hermann answers
"Next year, yeah" to the question about whether the game is still on track for
launch in Spring (it's not clear if he's specifying that it's spring of next
year, or that it's next year, but not necessarily spring) before going on to
answer questions about the UI, customization the mod scene, zones, and more.
There seems to be a problem with page two of the text transcript, but the audio
version of the interview is available for your listening pleasure.
Diablo III Video Interview on
Ten Ton Hammer speaks with Jay Wilson, Lead Designer on Blizzard's highly
anticipated action/RPG sequel. The video offers gameplay footage from preciously
released trailers and the conversation covers gameplay changes, Battle.net
improvements, and more. The audio is pretty bad, but by no means the worst case
of intrusive ambient noise from a show floor we've heard this convention season.
Ultrasound to give
feel to games describes a breakthrough by some Japanese researchers in the
world of haptic technology, as they are able to convey a sense of touch via an
ultrasound interface without using gloves or other mechanical devices. Word is:
"The team's prototype system includes a camera which tracks the position of a
user's hand and shifts the output from the transducers to move the focus around
with the hand. The result is a feeling of tracing the edge or surface of the
virtual object." Advantages of this approach include the ability to "touch" an
object with both hands and the ability for multiple users to interface with
virtual objects. Disadvantages include the limited amount of feedback they are
currently able to generate and how their current prototype only works on a
vertical plane. Thanks Mike Martinez.
Yesterday marked another of those
Multiwinia Mondays that the Bangles sang about back in the day. Word is:
"This week we’ve been taking a closer look at Rocket Riot – a mode which pitches
you against other Multiwinian armies in an epic Space Race, where you must fuel,
man and launch your rocket before your enemies." As such, the
Multiwinia Media Page offers a new batch of screenshots from Introversion's
imminent multiplayer game and a new "rocket riot" movie showing off this game
mode. The release of Multiwinia is planned for a September 19.
StarCraftWire.net has word from the Activate Asia Pacific event where
Activision Blizzard's Philip Earl said their next year's offerings "should
include" StarCraft II. There has been speculation that the sci-fi RTS
sequel would be a 2009 release, but this is a bit more concrete than that, but
by no means definitive, given Blizzard's long history of shifting release dates
to allow for further development.
DeathSpank shows off at Penny Arcade Expo on Sir Arthur's Den reports on the
Penny Arcade Expo showing of DeathSpank, Ron Gilbert's upcoming
action/adventure game. The article describes the rough reception the idea met
with before Ron hooked up with Hothead Games, but does not offer much on
gameplay. Likewise, while there are three teaser trailers posted with the
story, none of them depict gameplay either, though they do suggest the project
will contain that signature Gilbert humor. They quote Gilbert saying the game is
due sometime next year. Thanks Mike Martinez and
Slashdot.
Definite Battle.net 2.0 Features on IncGamers is the middle installment in a
three part series on Blizzard's Battle.net service that began with
a look at the service's history in Part One. Now
Part Two gathers the little that's known about the upcoming launch of
Battle.net 2.0, offering a brief outline for each of the planned features. Since
this is a mystery wrapped in a riddle inside an enigma, an upcoming Part Three
will offer speculation and rumors.
Shadow
Harvest Media Page now features the GC 2008 trailer for Shadow Harvest,
Black Lion Studios' upcoming third-person stealth game. The clip is made using
all in-game footage, and it is accompanied by a batch of new screenshots. Thanks
Gamer's Hell.
A new ARMA 2 Official Website is live as
home to Bohemia Interactive's upcoming military shooter sequel. The site offers
info, screenshots, and forums, with the promise for more to follow. ARMA 2
is currently slated for release in Q1 2009. Thanks Dodgy Man.
Divinity 2: Ego
Draconis Q&A on Game Banshee is a chat with Swen Vincke about Larian
Studios' upcoming RPG sequel. They talk about how Divinity 2 ties into its
predecessors, a bit on how gameplay will work, and how this whole transforming
into a dragon thing works.
The
EVE Online Q&A on Strategy Informer talks with Dr. Eyjolfur Gudmundsson, the
Lead Economist for EVE Online and Arend Stührmann, CCP Associate Producer,
to discuss the mechanics behind the player-driven economy in the science fiction
MMORPG.
Mr. Tambourine Man!! Mr. Tambourine Man!! Sorry, just channeling my inner
Shatner.
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