Archived News:
The Windows edition of Saints Row 2 should be showing up in North
American stores today, but a glitch has delayed the release of the open-world
action sequel on the Steam platform. Word on the
Saints Row Forum is: "I've received some word back and it appears that we
have experienced some issues with the Steam client and both THQ and Valve are
working on the issue and hope to have it resolved soon. This delay does not
affect the retail version (in-store) of Saints Row 2 PC, but the game will not
be available for digital download off of Steam today. Again, anyone who picks up
a boxed copy today will be able to authenticate and play SR2 once installed."
Big Download reports that next week's release of Lord of the Rings
Conquest will not be accompanied by a Windows demo, even though demos for
the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 editions of Pandemic's fantasy action game are
already available. EA did not provide a reason a PC demo is not in the offing.
The Dawn Of War 2
Community Website now offers the minimum and recommended system requirements
for Dawn of War II, Relic's upcoming real-time strategy sequel along with word
they will be offering information on Thursday for those interested in being
beta testers (thanks
Shacknews). Here are the system specifications: Minimum
Requirements –
* Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista SP1
* P4 3.2 GHz (single core) or any Dual Core processor
* 1 GB RAM (XP), 1.5 GB RAM (Vista)
* A 128MB Video Card (Shader Model 3) - Nvidia GeForce 6600 GT / ATI X1600, or
equivalent
* 5.5 GB of Hard Drive space
Recommended –
* Windows XP SP2 or Windows Vista SP1
* AMD Athlon 64×2 4400+ or any Intel Core 2 Duo
* 2 GB RAM (XP and Vista)
* A 256MB Video Card (Shader Model 3) - Nvidia GeForce 7800 GT / ATI X1900, or
equivalent
* 5.5 GB of Hard Drive space
Gamasutra
has word that UGO has purchased Ziff Davis' 1Up division, a move that has been
rumored for a while now, and true to other rumors, print magazine
EGM is not part of the deal, and is discontinued following the January, 2009
issue. They also have word that some 30 layoffs immediately followed the deal,
and the article offers proud quotes from UGO high command, as well as a copy of
an internal Ziff Davis email announcing the move and outlining plans for the
future. For the record, UGO places the advertising on this website.
GameSpot has word that
Silent Hill: Homecoming has been "unbanned" in Australia, after Konami's
survival/horror sequel was was refused classification in Australia
last year, meaning it could not be sold down under. At the time of the
"banning," Aussie retailers suggested gamers wait out the ban in
hopes that an edited version that could pass the ratings board would be
submitted, but it is not clear what, if any changes were made to the game, as
recently both Grand Theft Auto 4 and F.E.A.R. 2:
Project Origin were cleared for sale down under with no additional cuts, in spite of initially being refused classification.
Sector3 Games now
offers new patches to update either the Windows or MacOS editions of
StuntMANIA!pro to version 3.05. The new version fixes the non-working trike in
the stunt racing game and clears up a couple of bugs with Bubble Bonus Numbers.
As usual, the new version is also an updated playable demo, which is now a
smaller download than in the past. The Windows download is mirrored on
AtomicGamer,
FileFront, and
Gamer's Hell; while the Mac download is mirrored on
AtomicGamer,
FileFront, and
Gamer's Hell.
Team6 Game Studios
announces the release of Sunshine Beach Volleyball, a simulation of the
bikini-clad sport where bikini-clad women engage in bikini-clad gameplay,
wearing bikinis, no less. The game offers multiplayer support for up to four
players, 31 countries, online high scores, and did we mention, bikinis? Word is:
"Follow the rules of beach volleyball or play dirty, it's your choice. Work
together with your teammate (cpu or real friend) and be the first team that
scores 15 points and perhaps you will conquer the world in 'Sunshine Beach
Volleyball'!" There's no playable demo, but
this
page offers some screenshots. Thanks Gamer's Hell.
- Aliens: Colonial Marines on
GamesRadar.
- Empire: Total War on
the Official Website.
Introducing the "Fougasse." Where's Donnie Brasco when you need him?
- X-Blades on
IGN.
Thanks Mike Martinez and Ant.
During a short drive today I saw the immediate aftermath of what looked to be a
single-car accident that ended up with a car sideways across the road on its
back. Thankfully, but shockingly, no one seemed hurt, but I can't for the life
of me figure out how they managed to wreck the car that way.
R.I.P.: The
Stooges guitarist found dead.
The Games Company announces
Ice Hockey Manager 2009, calling their sports simulation the "only
up-to-date ice hockey manager." The game is actually already available in
Germany, while a release in other territories is expected soon, as the
international release date is listed as Q1 2009.
This page
has a complete features list, and here's a bit: "In Ice Hockey Manager 2009,
it’s up to the player to set up the team and the tactics. Success or failure of
the team all depends on the manager’s skills. And if things aren’t running too
smoothly just send the team to training camp, or increase the player's bonus to
motivate the ice hockey stars. Don’t forget to press ahead with upgrading the
stadium and negotiate good advertising contracts with sponsors. And when
everything’s up and running you might even get a chance to manage the national
team!" Thanks Gamer's Hell.
TribesNext is a new project that
revives the multiplayer gameplay of TRIBES 2, the shooter sequel by Dynamix that
was released in 2001. The game was released for free in 2004, but
CD keys to activate the game were only distributed for a short time, and are no
longer available, and even if they were, Sierra shut down the TRIBES
2 authentication servers late last year. TribesNext offers a patch to
eliminate the need for a CD key and provides account management. It looks like
care has been taken to ensure this all remains legal, and hopefully this won't
be an issue given the free TRIBES 2 release, and the fact that support for the
sequel, Tribes Vengeance, was cut before the game's first patch.
This US Federal
Trade Commission Comment Form collects comments for an upcoming FTC Town
Hall meeting to take a look at the issue of digital rights management from a
consumer's standpoint. This Town Hall will be webcast on the
Federal Trade Commission Website, and they are
also soliciting for parties interested in participating in the event (thanks
GamePolitics). Here's word: Digital rights management (DRM) refers to
technologies typically used by hardware manufacturers, publishers, and copyright
holders to attempt to control how consumers access and use media and
entertainment content. Among other issues, the workshop will address the need to
improve disclosures to consumers about DRM limitations. Interested parties may
submit written comments or original research on this topic.
A post to
The
Lord of the Rings Online Forums reassures subscribers that Turbine is not
planning on implementing real-money transactions into their Lord of the Rings
MMOG, or presumably any of their current projects, responding to outcry over a
job
advertisement noticed by
Massively that references "Turbine's micro-transaction-based in-game store."
Without going into too much detail, they clarify that this is for a future game,
rather than a current one: "We know the recent job listing has caused a bit of a
stir, but please be aware that this posting is for an unannounced future
project." Thanks
Eurogamer.
BusinessWeek has news that Midway Games has reached an agreement with
holders of $75 million of convertible senior notes due in 2026 to extend their
right to make the company buy back the notes until February 19. The
recent sale of Midway triggered a provision that allowed those
note holders to demand immediate repayment, which lead to speculation
that Midway would be out of business in 30 days if this debt was not
restructured; a 30 day period that concludes right around now. Midway also has
other convertible notes that come due in 2025 with a similar provision, and are
currently working towards a similar agreement with holders of those notes.
BattleStations.Net is now online as
a new community home to Battlestations Pacific, the World War II
action/strategy hybrid under construction at Eidos. The site offers info,
screenshots, videos, a blog on
3D
modeling of planes, and will be home to Eidos-hosted Battlestations: Midway
multiplayer sessions, "allowing fans of the game a chance to brush up on their
skills before the launch of Battlestations: Pacific."
The screenshot gallery on
the StarCraft II Website has been updated with a number of new screenshots
from Blizzard's upcoming real-time strategy sequel. The shots show off your
little units doing all sorts of shooty things. Thanks
Shacknews.
As noted on the
Earthrise
forums, an
Earthrise Beta Application is now online to express interest in taking part
in the beta testing Earthrise, Masthead Studios' upcoming
post-apocalyptic MMORPG. Testing will begin with a limited closed beta, which
will gradually open to more testers over time, though it is not specified when
testing is to get underway. Earthrise is expected to launch some time this year.
Thanks
Massively.
Volition talks Red Faction: Guerrilla on Gameplayer is an interview with
Rick White about Red Faction: Guerrilla, Volition's upcoming shooter
sequel. They discuss the power of consoles, or lack thereof, Rick says, "we’ve
got it to the point where we can’t even put an extra vehicle into a world,
because it’ll blow the memory." He also explains the change from first- to
third-person perspective: "I think early on they responded, to be honest, in
shock. I was the new kid on the block and once I started seeing the destruction
engine and seeing how you were taking damage from this physics-based system I
was getting frustrated. We’d bring in testers from the local college and they
were getting frustrated because they were getting knocked down by stuff they
couldn’t see so from a gameplay point-of-view we had to pull it back – it just
had to happen. You can see stuff more, you get a broader view."
The
Platinum Arts Sandbox Downloads Page now offers a new version 2.3 of the
Platinum Arts Sandbox, a game design tool based on
the Cube 2 engine "that allows users to
quickly and easily create and edit their own worlds in game, even
cooperatively." The program is free and Open Source, and easy enough to use that
adults can use it as well as kids.
Frans made another useful change here over the holidays that I should point out;
he separated the search function a little better from the data archive, and
you should now see a helpful "Advanced Search" link below the search box that
outlines all the boo-yah Boolean functions at your disposal, should you be
hunting for something that's been posted here.
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