Archived News:
Sins of a Solar
Empire Website has word that a new version 1.1 Beta 2 for Sins of a Solar
Empire is now available to registered users of Stardock's
Impulse. The new version has balance
changes and bug fixes for Ironclad Games' space strategy game, all detailed in
the change notes.
SOE's
Wilson Talks Connected PC, PS3 Game Worlds on Gamasutra discusses The
Agency, Sony Online Entertainment's upcoming counterintelligence themed
MMOG. The focus is once again on the potential for cross-platform play between
the PC and PS3 editions, which SOE has already said will not be supported
( story). They quote executive producer Matt Wilson saying they
actually have PC/PS3 gameplay working in their offices, and the story suggests
they are considering this for the release version, but all the answers he gives
seem to be reasons why they are choosing not to support cross-platform play.
These include how PC games are more vulnerable to hacks than console games, the
advantage the mouse & keyboard would give PC owners, and the logistics of
applying updates to two different platforms. He does, however, offer an
indication that they are keeping their future options open after the game is
released: "And then the other part is leaderboards and other things. And maybe
in the future, we'll start connecting them up and doing that. Again, it's never
been a technology problem; it's more game balance and update calls."
Kotaku has a Q&A with David Reid, president of publishing for the newly
formed NC West ( story). He repeats that Tabula Rasa is
safe for now, as the company is "doubling down" on its commitment to AAA titles.
The same cannot be said of Dungeon Runners, a more lightweight game
competing in the subscription-free space, saying they are "moving away" from the
project, though he stops short of saying the game is going to get the axe.
There's
a PvE to PvP Paid Character Transfers FAQ on the World of Warcraft Forums
explaining that Blizzard is expanding the premium service of character transfers
to allow transfers of PvE characters to PvP servers. They head things off by
answering the most obvious question first, which is why have they changed their
policy in this regard: "Because World of Warcraft has matured significantly
since the inception of Paid Character Transfers, we don’t feel that PvE-to-PvP
transfers will have the negative impact on the game that we initially wanted to
avoid when we started the service in 2006." Thanks
Massively.
Battlefront.com announces the completion of development on Combat Mission
Shock Force MARINES, the add-on module that brings units, weapons and
equipment of the US Marines Corps to the tactical ground combat simulation,
along with many additional Syrian forces, a new campaign, a number of standalone
missions, and dozens of brand new Quick Battle maps. The module requires the
original Combat Mission Shock Force, and will be released "later this month." In
the meantime Battlefront continues to offer a preorder discount on their
"Download & Hardgoods Delivery" option. The announcement also mentions a number
of new features and changes to the base game MARINES will bring, and that a
couple of days following the release of the module a "HUGE" version 1.10 patch
will be released to bring these changes to owners of the original game.
The Witcher Website narrows
the release date for The Witcher: Enhanced Edition to September 16 in
North America and September 19 for the rest of the world. In June CD Projekt RED
announced the extra-polished version of the Polish action/RPG would be released
in "the first half" of this month ( story) meaning this project is
delayed one last time, albeit just by a matter of days. Improvements over the
original game in this release include "new inventory, voice-overs, models,
adventures, gestures, animations, languages, alchemy and sex cards, as well as
improved stability, reduced loading times, and many more enhancements." Thanks
Tim.
A new Saints Row 2 trailer shows off some cooperative gameplay from the
upcoming open-world action sequel, which inspires so much cooperation they
even have McCain and Obama playing together. The clip is available on
AtomicGamer and
FileFront. It seems safe to say that neither candidate approved this
message.
A new Stormrise movie offers a look at Creative Assembly's upcoming
console-centric real-time strategy game. In this clip you can "witness the
skills of an Echelon sniper in action as he takes out a cloaked Sai warrior."
The clip is available from
ActionTrip,
AtomicGamer,
FileFront, and Gamer's
Hell.
New patches are now available for S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky, updating GSC
Game World's first-person shooter prequel to version 1.5.04. There is a 56 MB
multi-language patch for the retail boxed edition of the game and another 57 MB
multi-language patch for digital download editions. The patches can be found on
the S.T.A.L.K.E.R.
Website and the
change log outlines the balance changes and numerous bug-fixes in the new
version. Thanks YiYas.
RPGWatch
has details on the copy-protection planned for Sacred 2: Fallen Angel,
Ascaron Entertainment's upcoming action/RPG sequel. They have an English
translation of a
German FAQ revealing the game will utilize the SecuROM DRM (in Germany, at least) that has
caused controversy in recent games like Mass Effect
( story) and Spore ( story). Sacred 2 will
allow unlimited installations and two activations, though only one of the two
active installations can play online at one time. They offer a number of
methods for deactivating an installation so another can be activated, and
promise that if their activation servers are decommissioned they will remove
this aspect of the DRM with a patch. An internet connection will be required for
installation (which can apparently be accomplished using someone else's
connection if necessary), and the game can be played without the DVD in the
drive. Perhaps most interesting in light of recent discussions of used game
sales ( story) is that they say a purchase represents a license to
play, rather than ownership of the game itself, and that this license is
non-transferrable. Thanks
Strategy Informer.
The Dead Space
Interview on IGN.AU talks with Glen Schofield about Dead Space, the
upcoming science fiction horror game. While the game itself and the involvement of
comic writer Warren Ellis are central topics, they also discuss Glen's recent
mention of territories where the game has been banned ( story),
which may not have been completely accurate ( story). He says the
game has passed the Australian standards that have caused some games trouble,
but he still indicates Dead Space has run into classification problems in Germany,
Japan, and Korea, but that this will not inspire an edited version:
"Australia is getting the full, complete version. No cuts. We're not softening
it for anybody."
The Mount & Blade Website
looks to generate enthusiasm for the upcoming retail release of Mount & Blade,
TaleWorlds Entertainment's medieval action/RPG
by outlining how
the game's combat system stands out from the competition. They quote lead
programmer Armagan Yavuz saying: "What separates Mount & Blade from other action
RPG’s is that that most RPG’s have more statistics-based combat, while we use
skill-based combat." He goes on to say: "Even though the damage you do is
influenced by the statistics of your character and his weapon, it is also based
on physics formulas: the energy, speed and impact angle of the weapon. For
example, if you are rapidly approaching your enemy while you’re mounted on a
fast-moving horse, the damage will be much greater since the momentum of your
horse is added to the speed of your weapon's swing."
Tilted Mill Entertainment announces the
availability of
Children of the Nile: Alexandria on Stardock's
Impulse platform, saying this
first official city pack for Children of the Nile: Enhanced Edition will
be coming to other providers "soon." The $5.99 city pack adds an Alexandria
mini-campaign, described like so: "In Alexandria, you assume the role of the new
Pharaohs of Egypt, in a three-scenario mini-campaign set during and after the
final stages of Alexander the Great's career. Consolidate your power as
Alexander's former lieutenants vie for control of his empire, all while growing
a massive new Egyptian capital and constructing new massive monuments: the Great
Lighthouse and Great Library of Alexandria!" Thanks Gamer's Hell.
The EGOSOFT Website
announces the completion of development on X³: Terran Conflict, a new
standalone game that represents the culmination of the X series of space combat
simulations. The announcement includes release details for the English version,
saying it should be available next month: "The English language version of X³:
Terran Conflict will be available from retail outlets on October 3rd, and you
can pre-order from the
Egosoft Online Shop NOW. X³: Terran Conflict will also be available for
pre-load from Steam
starting on September 25th." Thanks Gamer's Hell.
New patches for Worldshift are in the tubes to update Black Sea Studios'
science-fiction RTS game to version 1.0.21. The game can automatically update
itself, or manual patches for the various localized editions of the game can be
found on The Patches
Scrolls. The
patch notes have details on the new version, which adds a new "Bridges of
Trial" location, adds a limited ability to pause multiplayer games, addresses
some issues with Windows Vista support, and more.
Matrix Games has kicked off a new patch for Maximum Football 2.0
that brings the tackle football simulation to version 2.2.90. The new version
improves some animations, overhauls the passing decision-making process for QBs,
improves AI play calling and timeout usage, fixes a number of bugs, and more.
They says this marks the final update for Maximum Football 2.0 "for the
foreseeable future." The patch is located on
this downloads page and mirrored on
FileFront and Gamer's
Hell.
GameTap now
offers The Devil and His Three Golden Hairs, this week's episode of
American McGee's Grimm, the fairy tale-inspired adventure game series. As
always, this episode is freely available for 24 hours, after which a purchase or
subscription will be required. Here's the accompanying description of the new
installment: "In this episode, a young man must prove himself worthy of marrying
the king's daughter by bringing the king three hairs from the head of the devil.
While on his quest through Hell, the man manages to win the affections of the
devil's grandmother - yes, grandmother - and encounters a blond, thumb-sucking
devil. Is it possible that Grimm thinks this tale is in need of some serious
rewrites?"
The David Braben
Interview on GamesIndustry.biz talks with the Frontier Developments boss
about The Outsider, Frontier's upcoming action/adventure game, while also
getting thoughts on the industry in general from the man behind the classic
space trading and combat game Elite. One topic that comes up has been
getting a lot of play lately;
the impact of pre-owned games on the business. Apparently the Elite residual
checks have slowed, as Braben says pre-owned game sales are "damaging" to
single-player games, which can be sold off after completion, suggesting some
sort of rental market might be a better alternative. His idea naturally includes
the thought that publishers be cut in on the rental revenue stream, though it
seems suggesting taking a cut of resold games would serve the same purpose.
Kane & Lynch: How it feels to be critically panned on GamesRadar is a
conversation with Jens Peter Kurup of IO Interactive about the review scores for
Kane & Lynch: Dead Men, which were mixed at best. The Q&A focuses on the
impact negative reviews can have on a developer's morale, but no conversation of
Kane & Lynch review scores would be complete without mention of the scandal
surrounding GameSpot's lukewarm review being pulled from the site and the firing
of editor Jeff Gerstmann, and how this may have related to Eidos ad buys
( story and story). Kurup refers to the GameSpot
dust-up as a "conspiracy theory." He goes on to agree with criticisms of the
game's control scheme, but takes issue with how critics did not like the
characters or the story: "If you want to mirror your happy face in shining
knight's armour then Kane and Lynch 1 isn’t the place to look, and people have
every right to dislike that. I just don’t agree. I’m sick of likeable
characters." Yes, he did say "Kane and Lynch 1." Sequel anybody?
GamesIndustry.biz confirms rumors of cuts at NCsoft Europe
( story), saying 58 positions are being eliminated from the
Brighton-based NCsoft division, which was just absorbed into the newly formed NC
West ( story). They say sources have indicated to them that
development, marketing, and publishing positions are being eliminated.
The Political Machine Website has news that a new version 1.5 patch is now
available for The Political Machine 2008. The new version includes a
number of multiplayer enhancements, the ability to print bumper stickers and
campaign pins, and the newly announced vice presidential candidates from the
current US presidential election. The patch is available automatically via
Stardock's Impulse platform, and a
manual patch can be found on
Gamer's Hell.
Massgate.net has news on plans to release
"Arizona" and "Valley," two of the winning maps fro the official World in
Conflict map contest: "The two map-makers Slepnyrl and Gozeus charmed the
World in Conflict team with a well-balanced Tug of War map and a visually
stunning DX10 map in the contest, so we’re very proud to announce that the maps
will soon be playable on the official World in Conflict servers."
All The Rage- A Sit With id is a QUA with Tim Willits and Todd Hollenshead
of id Software about Rage, the upcoming driving and shooting game. Topics
include the game's dystopian environments, shifting gears to develop racing
elements, engine licensing, finding PS3 developers, creating environments more
open than in their past games, and more.
Thanks Mike Martinez and Ant
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