Archived News:
Rockstar Games Announces Grand Theft Auto IV for the PC Now Available In Stores
and for Digital Download has word that the Windows edition of the open-world
shooter sequel is now available in stores and via the tubes. The announcement
quotes Rockstar Games founder Sam Houser saying, "We have taken our time to
ensure this version of the game is not just a quick port, but a perfectly
tailored experience for the PC." Here's a reminder of how the PC edition differs
from its console forbears: "Developed by Rockstar Toronto in conjunction with
series creator Rockstar North, the PC version of Grand Theft Auto IV offers a
wealth of new features, including 32-player multiplayer modes - expanded from 16
on the console versions of the game; a deep, sophisticated and easy-to-use video
editor tool to capture and edit in-game footage; stunning, high-resolution
graphics; and the all-new Independence FM radio station that allows players to
add their own songs for a truly personalized and unique in-game music
experience."
Perfect World has a new
Ether Saga Online section for another
subscription-free MMOG for launch next year. Ether Saga Online is the English
version of a Chinese game called KDXY. To ease your fears of adulthood, word is
the game "combines lavish graphics with a young anime style. It features a slew
of unique features and systems that make the game truly one of a kind." The game
is currently slated to go live next year, and the site features a gameplay movie
to show what it has to offer.
Activision announces Monsters vs. Aliens, a game tie-in under development
at Beenox for Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, and Wii for
release in March 2009 along with the DreamWorks Animation 3D film of the same
name (there's also a DS edition in the works at Amaze Entertainment). Word is:
"The Monsters vs. Aliens video game puts the fate of the planet in players’
hands as they lead a dynamic team of five misfit monsters on a mission to save
the world…as only they can. The game allows fans to experience the movie’s
action and humor while playing as The Missing Link, the macho half-ape,
half-fish; the gelatinous, indestructible and always hungry B.O.B.; and
Ginormica, the 49-foot-11-inch tall woman and Insectosaurus, the 350-foot tall
grub. Players utilize each character’s distinct strengths, sizes and abilities
to battle giant alien robots that are wreaking havoc on earth. Friends or family
members can join in the excitement at anytime as the world’s most brilliant
scientist, Dr. Cockroach, Ph.D., in the unique co-op multiplayer mode." There
are a couple of screenshots from the game on
FileFront.
Bots Get Smart on IEEE
Spectrum has a detailed look at artificial intelligence in light of a
comment years ago by scientist Michael van Lent, who described commercial video
games as "AI’s killer application." The article goes into detail about the AI in
F.E.A.R., S.T.A.L.K.E.R., and even some titles not written like t.h.i.s., as
well as findings from using a system called PaSSAGE (Player-Specific Stories via
Automatically Generated Events) created by the article's authors. The article
states: "The need for better AI in commercial video games is readily apparent,"
but their conclusion is optimistic: "With the increased participation of
academics in game-related AI research, it will not be long before major
improvements are apparent in the quality of the games entering the market. But
there is a more significant reason to applaud the growing interest of AI
researchers in the video-game industry—something Laird and van Lent pointed out
to us and other computer scientists nearly a decade ago. The work we must do to
make games feel more realistic will also take us a long way toward our ultimate
goal of developing general-purpose machine intelligence. Now that sounds like a
smart move." Thanks Ant and
Digg.
Mythic
Entertainment offers details on the new version 1.0.6 patch for Warhammer
Online: Age of Reckoning, as the new update for Mythic's MMORPG has gone live.
Word is: "This is our biggest update yet! It's chock-full of exciting career
changes and heralds the debut of the highly anticipated Black Guard and Knight
of the Blazing Sun careers. If you've finished the Heavy Metal event and have
opened your Heavy Metal Chest, then you will be able to play a Black Guard and
Knight of the Blazing Sun when this patch goes live (before anyone else!). For
those of you who did not complete the Heavy Metal event, don't fret! You, too,
will be able to play these two new careers starting next week."
A blog called
ih8evilstuff has a quote attributed to Valve's Gabe Newell in response to a
question about DRM. Here's the good part: "As far as DRM goes, most DRM
strategies are just dumb. The goal should be to create greater value for
customers through service value (make it easy for me to play my games whenever
and wherever I want to), not by decreasing the value of a product (maybe I'll be
able to play my game and maybe I won't)." Sounds about right. Thanks
GamePolitics.
A new "Key to Success" trailer from The Godfather II is now available,
showing the road an ambitious young well-armed follow can take to the top in the
upcoming gangster game sequel. The clip can be found on
ActionTrip,
AtomicGamer,
FileFront, Gamer's Hell,
and
MyGameTrailers.
Thanks Mike Martinez and Ant.
Well Hudson the wonder dog is back home safe and sound, a very big thank you to
all of you keeping her in your thoughts. Her lumps are off for biopsies, with
the twist being the larger one we assumed was fatty seemed more suspicious,
while the smaller one we assumed was a tumor was apparently pretty obviously
just fat, but we won't have pathology for them until early next week. Meanwhile,
she seems to be doing great; she has always been a very stoical beast, and in
debriefing me, the vet used the word "tough" in describing her more times that I
can count. Here's hoping the tests are clean so we don't have to put any of that
toughness to the test again just now.
The
Far Cry 2 Forum on the Ubisoft Germany Website has an update from Ubisoft
(in German) saying to expect the release of a patch for the Windows edition of
Far Cry 2 between December 8th and 11th. No word is provided (in any
language) about what changes the patch will bring. Thanks Ant and
IGN.
Publisher True Games Interactive and developer Petroglyph
announce
Mytheon, a subscription-free online action/strategy game planned for launch
in Fall 2009. Some concept art accompanies the announcement, which can be found
on the Mytheon Website, where they
also offer a FAQ and newsletter signups. Here's word on the game: "Mytheon is an
online micro transaction game that uniquely combines the best elements of
action, strategy and RPG game-play with a heavy emphasis on collectability and
combat. This visually stunning title is set within a fantasy universe steeped in
unique mythologies from across the globe. Players will first embark on a rousing
journey through the extensive lore of ancient Greece; with ongoing expansions to
follow that will delve into exotic mythologies from the far-flung corners of
history. With real-time combat and extensive customization features, Mytheon
will offer infinite replayability through group, PVP and solo play as well as an
integrated social networking feature set." There is an interview
about the project on Big Download.
GamesIndustry.biz has news that SCi Entertainment has filed to officially
change its name to Eidos, though it's not clear when such a change will take
effect. The news comes as a boon to gaming websites, as reporting on the
bi-weekly SCi takeover rumors will be simpler once the phrase "SCi is the parent
of Eidos Interactive" is no longer required.
MCV reports from an Atari press event in the UK where June 2009 was
announced as the release date for Ghostbusters: The Video Game, the movie tie-in
that was in limbo after being dropped by Vivendi before being
picked up by Atari. Word is the game will see a simultaneous
release on Windows, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, DS, and PS2. Also from that
event is a report on
Eurogamer,
where they say that Infogrames president Phil Harrison said Atari plans on
revisiting several highly regarded franchises, though this is looking forward to
2010 and beyond, as Harrison says: "You will hear more from these but not today,
because we're focused on 2009." The franchises specifically mentioned are
Baldur's Gate, Dungeons & Dragons, Neverwinter Nights, and
Test Drive Unlimited.
Games On Net follows up on yesterday's reports that the
Windows edition of Grand Theft Auto IV will be unchanged in Australia and
New Zealand, even though the console editions of the open world action sequel
had cuts for release down under. The reason for this seeming inconsistency is
that the game was apparently never submitted in its uncut form for console
release, and was classified MA 15+, for "Strong violence, Strong coarse language
and Drug and Sexual references," while the uncut Windows edition of the game
turned out to be acceptable to the Aussie
Classification Board, receiving
the same rating with a stronger warning for containing: "Strong violence, Sex
scenes, Coarse language and Drug references." The Classification Board even goes
into detail on why the game's depiction of the world's oldest profession did not
make the game unacceptable: "The Board notes that the player can change the
angles of the scenes and can zoom in. However, the player does not interact with
the sexual activity other than choosing which service from a menu. The
characters also remained fully clothed and no depictions of genitals are
visible."
The Battlefield Franchise Website has some details on the long-awaited
version 1.50 patch for Battlefield 2. They outline several server-side
security measures to be added to the military shooter, including ways to prevent
server crashing, extra steps to curtail Name/ID spoofing, and ways to stop
spamming of Commander assets such as excessive spawning of multiple crates,
UAVs, and vehicles. Word is: "More information on Update 1.50 will be revealed
as we approach the release date!"
Monte Cristo's CEO talks about Cities XL on Big Download Blog offers just
the facts about Monte Cristo's upcoming urban-planning game, asking a bunch of
FAQ-style questions covering topics like how Cities XL relates to City
Life, goals of the project, their graphic engine, gameplay modes,
persistency, online interactions, other features, their plans for a demo, and
more.
The
BattleForge Interview on Strategy Informer chats with Sebastien Nell,
producer on EA Phenomic's collectible card/strategy game that's currently in
beta testing. They discuss development of the game and how the beta is
progressing, the whole virtual card thing, the influence of Magic: The
Gathering, standing out from other RTS games, the cost of booster packs, and
more. As for a full release, he says: "We’re talking early 2009, but there’s no
final date decided yet."
A new trailer from The Hunter offers a look at Emote Games' online
hunting game, where you, well, go hunting online. The clip is available on
AtomicGamer and
Gamer's Hell.
Well today is going to be a little rough on us here at the BlueTower, as a
little later I will be taking my beloved Hudson the wonder dog back to the vet
for a couple of "procedures." One is fairly mundane, as her teeth will get a
thorough cleaning, though this is far from routine with dogs, as it entails
general anesthesia. The other is more serious, the removal of a pair of growths
from her chest, one which seems likely to be a fatty deposit, but the other a
more ominous embedded lump. There's no real way of knowing what this is all
about until she goes under the knife and these lumps are tested, so I'm trying
to remain stoical in the meantime, but I think I've expressed before my anxiety
over just having her anesthetized, so it's hard not to be worried over all this.
|
Twitter 
