Archived News:
Steam News announces that
a Team Fortress 2 update is now automatically available, offering bug fixes, new
server features, and a number of balance changes. Also on
Steam News is word that a
new "community update" is now available.
The
E3 Expo Website offers a partial list of exhibitors that have confirmed
their attendance at this year's show, scheduled for June 2-4 in the LA
Convention Center. They also provide an outline of who is entitled to attend,
saying: "To be admitted as an industry professional, attendees must submit two
pieces of direct and current industry identification such as a company credit
card, paycheck stub or W-2 form. Individuals who cannot provide such
documentation will not be permitted to attend." Here's the list of exhibitors,
including the return of Activision: Activision Blizzard, Inc.
Atari, Inc.
Atlus U.S.A., Inc.
Bethesda Softworks LLC
Capcom Entertainment, Inc.
Disney Interactive Studios, Inc.
Eidos Interactive
Electronic Arts, Inc.
Epic Games, Inc.
505 Games
IndieCade
KOEI Corporation
Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC
Majesco Entertainment Company
Microsoft Corporation
Midway Games Inc.
MTV Games
Namco Bandai Games America Inc.
Nintendo of America, Inc.
Rebellion
Sega of America, Inc.
Serious Games
Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.
Sony Online Entertainment LLC
Square Enix, Inc.
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.
THQ Inc.
Ubisoft Entertainment
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Inc.
Ensemble Studios: The Last Tour on Gamasutra has word on the projects
Ensemble was internally prototyping when the developer was closed, offering
concept art and a description of failed attempts at sparking an MMOG based on
Halo, as well as tidbits on these projects. The studio formerly known as
Ensemble is being spun into two development teams, but there is no indication if
any of these projects will be pursued further in the future: They
included: a fantasy-adventure RPG called Sorcerer; Nova, a "Diablo in space"
game; a pirate-themed take on Diablo; a game called Wrench; a Ratchet &
Clank-style platformer called Bam.
Most detailed was a game called Agent, with an art style and universe inspired
by Pixar's The Incredibles, and using gameplay elements from Tomb Raider. As the
concept art shows, the game was instantly iconic and unique.
Another title was Graeme Devine's Phoenix -- an RTS game featuring earthlings
versus Martians in a War of the Worlds-style conflict. The game changed over
time, and would eventually become something different entirely: Halo Wars.
Big Download has a confirmation that the Prince of Persia DLC in the works
for consoles will not be released on PCs, offering the following quote from
Ubisoft's message boards: "Unfortunately for business reasons we won't be seeing
any PoP DLC appear. Sorry guys!" There you have it, "business reasons," so
there's no reason to take this personally.
A Reuters article on how the recession might impact the games industry
offers a provocative quote from oft-quoted industry analyst Michael Pachter of
Wedbush Morgan on the financial stability of MMOGs: "I don't think (online
multiplayer games) get impacted at all, because people who play them are
addicts." Pachter goes on to say: "Losing their jobs makes them more
likely to play because they have more time to play." Thanks
GamePolitics.
A new installment in the Ask
Cryptic series answers more fan-submitted questions about Champions
Online, Cryptic's upcoming superhero MMORPG. The topics they tackle include
modes of travel for heroes with no superpowers, group leveling (or lack
thereof), balance issues relating to flight, respecs, physics, whether there
will be crafting-oriented powers, how other players deal with your nemesis, and
more.
A new BlizzCast is now
available, offering the seventh installment in the Blizzard Entertainment
podcast. Word is: "In the seventh BlizzCast, we take time to wrap up the second
World of Warcraft expansion with Production Director J. Allen Brack and Lead
Game Designer Jeffrey Kaplan. Also in this episode, Crygil sits down with Senior
Vice President of Creative Development Chris Metzen to discuss the lore of Wrath
of the Lich King."
Ars Technica - Judge's ruling that WoW bot violates DMCA is troubling.
"As we've noted before, Blizzard's legal arguments, which Judge David G.
Campbell largely accepted, could have far-reaching and troubling
implications for the software industry. Donnelly is not the most sympathetic
defendant, and some users may cheer the demise of a software vendor that
helps users break the rules of Blizzard's wildly popular role playing game.
But the sweeping language of Judge Campbell's decision, combined with his
equally troubling decision last summer, creates a lot of new uncertainty for
software vendors seeking to enter software markets dominated by entrenched
incumbents and achieve interoperability with legacy platforms."
Thanks Mike Martinez and Ant.
Thanks Mike Martinez and Ant.
Kalypso Media announces plans for a Grand Ages: Rome demo, saying a sample
of the strategy sequel will be released within the next few days, and offering
details on what it will involve: "The demo will introduce two tutorials and two
missions from the full game. The demo will allow you to play as a member of 2 of
the 5 families available in the full game. Two missions will be available in the
demo. In the first mission, 'Bread and Circuses' the player will have to build a
small city, while in the second mission, 'Legio VIII' your strategic and martial
skills will be tested." Accompanying the announcement is a new Grand Ages:
Rome trailer, offering a sweeping overview of just how much grandeur Rome
had going for it back in the day, and how this glory can be relived through this
upcoming sequel to Imperivm Romanvm (I'll buy a vowel, Pat). The movie is posted
on AtomicGamer,
FileFront, Gamer's Hell,
and
Strategy Informer.
A new Red Alert 3: Uprising trailer offers a further look at the upcoming
add-on in the works for the alternate reality real-time strategy sequel. The
clip includes new gameplay footage as well as snippets from cut-scenes featuring
the new additions to the cast. The clip is available on
AtomicGamer,
FileFront, and Gamer's
Hell.
A new Championship Manager
Website is online as an upgraded home to the Championship Manager series of
football (of the Soccer variety) simulations. The site offers information about
the upcoming Championship Manager 09, resources related to previous games
in the series, as well as social networking features and other resources to
appeal to all fans for the sport. The site is currently offering free downloads
of Championship Manager Season 01/02 as an incentive for anyone who
registers for a free account on the site between now and the end of the month.
Eidos announces a new release date for the European edition of Shellshock 2:
Blood Trails, saying the military-themed survival/horror shooter is due in
Europe on February 13, 2009. As for North America,
Amazon.com lists February 24 for the Windows and console editions of the
game, which seems plausible. Each date represents a delay, as the game was
expected in time for last Christmas when it was announced, but
since the delay is not acknowledged, it is likewise not explained. The
announcement is accompanied by
a bunch of new screenshots.
Hellgate: London Website now
returns a DNS error, so while there have been recent indications the
game might continue in free-to-play form, it looks like Flagship Studios'
action/RPG is out of action for now. The
Hellgate Guru Forums have a write up of the last days of the game, and
there's a bit more on the closure on
Hellforge. Thanks Mike Martinez.
A game based on the Jason Bourne series of books and movies is in the works at
Swedish developer Starbreeze Studios, though target platforms and a release date
are not being revealed at this time. This is part of the announcement that
Ludlum Entertainment Grants
EA the Exclusive Video Game License for the Works of Robert Ludlum,
detailing how the game-making rights to the works of late author Robert Ludlum
have been picked up by EA, rights that were in the hands of Vivendi before they reverted to the Ludlum estate. This goes along with a
new deal to make movies based on more of Ludlum's works, and EA says it is
"excited to enter into a long-term relationship with Ludlum Entertainment,
bringing the action, intrigue and intensity of Robert Ludlum’s fiction to life
for casual and core gamers around the globe."
- Dragon Age: Origins on
GameBanshee. Summarizing a PC Gamer article.
That was a pretty great game, especially for a Super Bowl, and congrats to the
Steelers. I guess six rings goes the old "one for the thumb" line one better, as
now they have one for the other hand. From one odd holiday to another, today is
Groundhog Day, and according to Groundhog
.org, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, leading to six more weeks of winter
in this area. I will say I sort of smell a rat in this whole groundhog deal, as
the photos here
suggest that in order to be timely with this prognostication, they did their
checking on this before sunrise, as all the pictures look like they are shot in
complete darkness. Perhaps he was just seeing his shadow from the flash of
cameras?
R.I.P.:
John the toilet laid to rest at Utah restaurant.
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