Archived News:
In Far Cry has some information from Ubisoft about a new "hardcore" setting
to be added to all multiplayer modes in Far Cry 2 as of the next patch for the
first-person shooter sequel. The mode will invoke a new increased damage model
for all weapons, enemy names will disappear after the spawning invincibility
period is over, and more. The update also mentions that weapons will be
rebalanced under normal mode as well.
As noted on the Dystopia Website, a
new version 1.2 of this Source engine cyberpunk game is now available for free
via Steam. The site offers a five minute video to show new and returning
players what this game and the new version are all about. Additionally, their
new player guide
is updated to reflect the new version. Thanks Gavin.
A weekend sale is underway at the
Impulse Driven Store,
perhaps the most noteworthy bargain being Titan Quest, Iron Lore's action/RPG,
which is $3.99 (thanks Tumbler). Meanwhile, over on
Steam they're offering the
Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Complete Pack for $19.99.
The Comic Con 2009 trailer for Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena
is online, offering a look at the Diesel-powered action game follow-up in the
works at Starbreeze Studios. The clip is available from
AtomicGamer and
Gamer's Hell.
A new F.E.A.R. to F.E.A.R. 2 Trailer for F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin looks
to bridge the game between the original project and Project Origin, discussing
the stories from the previous and next installments in the shooter series. The
clip includes gameplay footage and narration from designer Craig Hubbard. You
can find the movie on
AtomicGamer,
FileFront, Gamer's
Hell, and
MyGameTrailers.
A new Battlestations: Pacific developer diary video highlights the
authenticity in the upcoming World War II action/strategy sequel: "The latest
entry explores the authenticity and new level of graphical realism of the game.
From Japanese war plans to the detailed warships and airplanes, Eidos drops us
into an epic war and shows us what it’s like to fight in the historically based
US campaign and a historically possible Japanese campaign." The clip is posted
on AtomicGamer,
FileFront, and
MyGameTrailers.
Two new clips are available for Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X., the upcoming aerial
combat game. There's an XP demonstration trailer showing how the game rewards
your progress on
AtomicGamer,
Gamer's Hell, and
MyGameTrailers. There's also a cockpit view movie showing some dogfighting
with all the cockpit displays visible, available on
AtomicGamer,
Gamer's Hell, and
MyGameTrailers.
A movie from Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen promotes the
just-announced tie-in with the giant robot movie sequel. The cinematic clip is
available on AtomicGamer,
FileFront, Gamer's Hell,
and
MyGameTrailers.
The
PROTOTYPE Interview on Crispy Gamer talks with Eric Holmes about
PROTOTYPE, Radical Entertainment's upcoming open-world action game. They
discuss the background that makes for a good prospective game developer, what
makes a quality game, reviews, publisher pressure, his work on Incredible Hulk:
Ultimate Destruction and a Transformers comic book, and more.
SouthPeak Games announces a 15+ page Velvet Assassin graphic novel is
being created by animation artist Peter Chung ( Æon Flux) to accompany the
release of the upcoming World War II stealth/action game. The novel will be
available as an exclusive, limited-quantity bonus item to those who purchase the
game at GameStop.
Thanks Ant and Mike Martinez.
Thanks Mike Martinez and Ant.
Gearbox Software is looking for folks in the Plano, TX area to help test out one
of their upcoming games, saying: "Testers will be asked to participate in
playing an unreleased title and give their feedback. They’ll be provided with
some snacks and swag to remember their visit by!" Applicants should be over 18
years of age, and this page
has all the details.
A playable demo for Grand Ages: Rome offers the chance to earn a laurel
wreath in this 4X strategy game set in the heyday of the Roman Empire that's a
sequel to Imperium Romanum. The demo offers two missions, "Bread and Circuses,"
geared towards construction, and "Legio VIII," which centers on combat, as well
as a pair of tutorials. The demo is available via
the Kalypso Media
Forums, and although the related post is in German, the demo supports
English, German, and French. In addition to the mirrors in the Kalypso forums,
the demo is also mirrored on
AtomicGamer,
ComputerGames.ro,
FanGaming,
FileFront, Gamer's Hell,
and
Strategy Informer.
The promised Call of Duty: World at War patch mentioned earlier today is now available for download. The new version 1.2 adds a daytime
version of the Makin map, closed off a number of exploits, and addresses a few
other bugs. The
patch
notes are on the game's forums, and the patch itself is available from
4players.de,
ActionTrip,
AtomicGamer,
ComputerGames.ro,
FanGaming,
FileFront, Gamer's
Hell, and
Games On Net.
Activision
announces Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, a tie-in with this year's
Transformers movie sequel. The game is in development for Xbox 360 and
PlayStation 3 at Luxoflux, the Windows version is being handled by port-meisters
Beenox, the Wii and PS2 versions are coming from Krome Studios, and there are
also mobile editions in the works. The announcement doesn't include a release
date, but according to the IMDB,
the movie is due on June 26. The
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Website is online, promising the release
of a trailer at some point today. Here's a bit on gameplay: The
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen video game lets gamers step into the shoes
of the AUTOBOTS or DECEPTICONS, select any available mission and pick from the
largest, most diverse range of playable Transformers – each with their own
distinct abilities and weaponry. Set in unique environments across the globe
such as Cairo and Shanghai, the game allows players to instantly switch between
vehicle and robot modes as they drive, fly, fight and blast their way through
intense, pressure-packed levels. After engaging in single player action, players
for the first time ever will be able to go online and battle friends in all-new
multiplayer modes.
A post to the
Call of
Duty: World at War Forums offer a change list for a new version 1.2 patch
for the World War II shooter that is supposed to be released today. A number of
bug-fixes are in the works, and the update will also add a new multiplayer map,
Makin Day, which is actually a new environment of an existing map, as it brings
the light of day to the jungle combat of Makin. They also address what is not
included: "We are aware that /record is not on this list, but are happy to say
we’ve already begun working on a Patch 1.3 which will address /record. More
details on that patch will emerge after the 1.2 release." Thanks JD.
Battlefront.com now offers a new patch to update Strategic Command WWII
Pacific Theater to version 1.01. The new version of the World War II
strategy game includes over 70 fixes and enhancements to the gamer and its
editor. There is a warning that this will only work with the Battlefront.com
English-language edition of the game.
The
World of Warcraft Forums have the second batch of upcoming class change
highlights for World of Warcraft, following up on part one
covering the
Priest, the
Rogue, and the
Shaman. The new update reflect a partial list of planned changes for the
Warlock, the Druid, and the Warrior. Blizzard promises an update soon with their plans
for Hunters, Death Knights, Mages, and Paladins.
Eurogamer outlines the perks to be included in the upcoming retail boxed
version of EVE Online, CCP's science fiction MMORPG. The bonuses,
available to existing subscribers as well as newcomers, include a 60 day
subscription, a special ship, a head start in faction standings, an insider
career guide, and the ability to gift friends with extended VIP trials in the
game that can earn bonus time if the friend subscribes. The boxed version is
expected in stores next month.
Ars Technica reports on a research study where MRI scans demonstrate
different types of brain activity in a game player if they thought they were
playing against a human opponent, rather than a computer. The study indicates
that three areas of the brain are more engaged when the subjects thought they
were playing against a human, an effect more pronounced in men than women.
Here's some of the takeaway of the Ars author: The human brain appears to
try to parse the intentions of others by engaging its own decision-making
process; in short, it appears to model another person's mind by seeing what it
would do if it were in that other person's skull. The three areas of the brain
that the authors identify are involved, in part, in making executive decisions
for that brain's owner, in addition to evaluating other people's executive
decisions. So, the fact that they're busier when a person thinks they're playing
another human could also be interpreted as them focusing harder on an identical
decision making process.
I keep meaning to thank Hump for his warning the other day not to salt our new
sidewalk, as I was easily talked out of this, since I had reservations about it
to start with. He suggested sand, and we had some kitty litter we use to dry old
paint cans out, and I was able to turn our skating rink of a walk into a much
safer, if not particularly pretty, path. Luckily the weather has all the
neighborhood cats indoors these days.
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