Archived News:
A new Interplay Website is online, a
home to the company's revived game development efforts. The site mentions plans for
Earthworm Jim 4 and an MMOG project they are calling Project V13 for
which they've opened a new development studio in Orange County, CA. It seems
pretty obvious that Project V13 must be the Fallout MMORPG Interplay retained the
rights to develop when they sold the Fallout franchise to Bethesda Softworks
( story). If any doubts about that remain, they will probably go
away after reading
this press release announcing Chris Taylor has rejoined the company, as they
say he is heading up Project V13 in an announcement that mentions he is "a game
designer who was a part of the original Fallout game development team at
Interplay in 1994" and also: "Taylor joins other original Fallout team members
on staff at Interplay’s internal game studio." When Bethesda bought the Fallout
rights in April 2007, Interplay retained the rights to create a Fallout MMORPG
provided development of the game began within two years, the game launched
within six years, and the project had secured funding of at least $30 million
USD. Thanks
Destructoid.
Vanguard: Saga of Heroes Website outlines how former subscribers of this
fantasy-themed MMORPG are being invited back to play for free to sample changes
to the game. This applies to all accounts that have been inactive for 60 days or
more except accounts that were banned or were not in good standing upon closure.
The free play for returning players will continue through October 18, and they
are also offering rewards for players who take advantage of this offer and then
renew their subscriptions. Thanks
Eurogamer.
The
Stargate Worlds Q&A on GameSpot chats with Chris Klug about the MMORPG based
on the Stargate science-fiction property. Topics include combat, accessibility,
mini-games, PvP support, and more. Word is the game is about to enter closed beta
testing, and Chris says open beta testing will begin after the first of the
year.
A set of five new Far Cry 2 trailers demonstrate the time cycle in
Ubisoft's upcoming shooter sequel, along with some gameplay. The sunrise trailer
is available on
AtomicGamer,
FileFront, and Gamer's
Hell. There's an afternoon trailer on
ActionTrip,
AtomicGamer,
FileFront, and Gamer's
Hell. A sunset trailer can be found on
AtomicGamer,
FileFront, and Gamer's
Hell. A nighttime trailer can be found on
ActionTrip,
AtomicGamer,
FileFront, and Gamer's
Hell. Finally, there's an evening trailer on
ActionTrip,
AtomicGamer,
FileFront, and Gamer's
Hell.
ASCARON Entertainment announces
AudioSurf, which is available via Steam, is heading to retail stores this
October. Word is: "Audiosurf, the puzzle racer that adapts and changes to the
beat of your music, will be released by Ascaron in October 2008. Players cruise
through futuristic tracks in a spaceship style racer, with the speed, shape and
mood of each ride being dictated by the song playing. The music is chosen by the
user as they decide between a calm, peaceful journey and an adrenaline fuelled
rush." On a related note,
Steam now offers a new automatic update for AudioSurf.
New trailers are now available for EverQuest: Seeds of Destruction and
EverQuest II: The Shadow Odyssey, showing off the expansions for SOE's
MMORPG and its sequel. The EverQuest: Seeds of Destruction trailer can be found
on
FileFront and Gamer's
Hell. The EverQuest II: The Shadow Odyssey movie is posted on
FileFront and Gamer's
Hell.
Well, they removed all the concrete rubble from our walkway today. Too bad, I
was starting to enjoy the Flintstones look.
A new multiplayer map is now available for S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky,
optimized for four-on-four competition, though it will support up to 32 players.
The map is a 5MB download, available
on this page.
Thanks The Patches Scrolls.
2K Games announces that Civilization IV: Colonization is now invading
North American store shelves, with the standalone expansion that re-imagines the
original Colonization to be available in the rest of the world as of Friday, the
26th. Here's a description of the game: "Colonization is a standalone game
experience that adds an entirely new scenario to the ever-evolving world of
Civilization. In Colonization, players lead one of four European nations on a
quest to colonize and thrive in the New World. Players will be challenged to
guide their people from the oppressive motherland, discover the New World, and
negotiate, trade and fight as they acquire power and battle for their freedom
and independence." Pre-orders are underway at
GamersGate, though it's not clear when the game will be available download,
perhaps this will coincide with Friday's international release. Update:
The game is also now available via
Steam.
Paradox Interactive announces that Dark Horizon is now warping into North
American stores, and space-based combat game will show up at European retailers
on Friday. Word is: "Dark Horizon calls upon heroes from every corner of the
universe to determine the fate of a galaxy plagued by the all-consuming, dark
force called the Mirk. By assuming the role of a valiant warrior of the Guardian
race and defending the Vatar'Amdan orbital fortress against the Mirk’s great
De'Khete invaders, players can save billions of lives and take part in an epic
fight for survival." The game is also available for online purchase and download
through
GamersGate.
Gamasutra
reports that Ensemble Studios was working on a now-cancelled MMOG based on the
Halo universe at one point, theorizing the game was internally cancelled last
year without ever being revealed to the public. They have a screenshot of a level
and another showing a prototype of the planned UI for the game, along with some
analysis of what it reveals. They also point out that comments by
Microsoft leave open the possibility that such a project is now underway at some
other studio, recalling Microsoft's Phil Spencer recently mentioning: "There are
more than two or three teams building Halo things right now."
1Up reports on
Microsoft's hopes that the release of Grand Theft Auto IV for Windows in
November will revitalize (or perhaps vitalize) the
Games
for Windows program, which has not exactly set the world on fire since its
launch two years ago. Word is the release of the PC edition of Rockstar's
open-world action game will offer "a revitalized Games for Windows Live
experience" with the inclusion of a separate Games for Windows client and a game
marketplace. There are no further details on planned enhancements to the GFW
program beyond an ability to sell games directly.
Fallout 3 video interview on IGN puts several of the developers on
Bethesda's upcoming RPG sequel in the role of "Q" in describing the weapons in
Fallout 3. These range from traditional firearms to more futuristic
devices, and they also highlight gameplay aspects like weapon wear, and how ammo
limitations allow them to give the player nice weapons early in the game while
still limiting their use.
The
Ensemble Studios Website has an official goodbye from the studios, following
the recent revelation that Microsoft is closing it down ( story).
Bruce Shelley recaps some of the circumstances surrounding the move, and
describes plans going forward to finish up Halo Wars, get started with "Newco,"
the studio being formed by Ensemble's Tony Goodman that is offering several ES
staffers new positions (Shelley says he does not expect to be joining them), and
his plans to continue with blog updates in the future. The opening paragraph
describes the shock the studio experienced at all this: "I have mentioned with
regret the closing of several quality game studios over the past several years
but I never considered that ES would join the list. Everyone at our studio was
shocked, and I think remains very disappointed that this is going to happen. I
believe we thought we were immune to shut-down talk because our published games
have done so well and have been so profitable. Plus we felt we had built a
really stable (low-turnover), talented, hard-working, and creative team, which
is not easy to do. We thought we were among the best studios in the world, and
that may be true, but we don’t fit in the future plans of MGS as an internal
studio so we’re out." Thanks The Patches Scrolls.
The Games for Windows Website announces LEGO Batman has slid down the LEGO
bat-pole and is now available in stores for Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation3,
PlayStation 2, Wii, PSP, and DS. Word is: "LEGO Batman: The Videogame offers
players a totally original storyline and gives them control of the Dynamic Duo,
Batman and Robin, as well as Gotham City’s most notorious criminals including
The Joker, The Penguin, Catwoman, Scarecrow, Killer Croc and many more!" As
noted on that page, a launch celebration this afternoon in the American Museum
of Natural History is open to the public, so if you are in the New York City
area you may want to swing on over.
The EGOSOFT Website
announces a slight setback to release plans for X3: Terran Conflict,
saying the space combat sequel is now due on October 10, a week later than
expected ( story). They chalk the delay up to "unforeseen delays
in the production process," and promise more screenshots and videos in the
interim to ease your pain. Thanks Gamer's Hell.
Well yesterday was interesting. Two guys spent most of the
afternoon destroying the walkway in front of our door with jackhammers. It's pretty
safe to say I have never spent nearly this much time nearly this close to such
an activity. You may not be surprised to hear that after a while it gets pretty
m-m-maddening. What's wild is that they haven't yet cleared away any of the
rubble, so it looks a little like a bomb exploded in front of our door.
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