|
|
 |
Archived News:
There are new patch notes on the
Mythic Entertainment Website using a startling 55 pages to outline the
changes in the upcoming version 1.1.2 update for Warhammer Online: Age of
Reckoning. This is the first draft of the Public Test Server notes, saying
the patch will be on the PTS next week, warning: "As always PTS notes are
constantly changing throughout the testing process." The notes list over 500 bug
fixes, 10+ pages of career balancing, RvR improvements, UI improvements,
performance and server stability improvements, and "a considerable review of our
dungeon loot itemization." Thanks Vern.
The
World of Warcraft Forums have word that Blizzard's Jeffrey Kaplan is now
working on Blizzard's unannounced MMORPG, moving off the World of Warcraft team
where he has served as lead producer. He expresses his thanks to the players for
making the game such a hit, and his confidence that WoW is safe in the hands of
Tom Chilton and J. Allen Brack. Perhaps this all means we'll finally be hearing
some details about this secretive new MMOG soon. Thanks
IncGamers.
Steam News has word that
they now offer digital distribution of
F.E.A.R.2: Project Origin.
And since it is now Friday in Greenwich Mean Time, the game is now also
available to customers in European territories.
Thanks Mike Martinez and Ant.
BioWare has unveiled the titular origins from Dragon Age: Origins, as
this page leads to flash
presentations with the back-stories for all six characters in the upcoming RPG
they are calling the spiritual successor to Baldur’s Gate, saying, "With each
Origin Story boasting several hours of unique game play, as well as challenging
strategic combat and exploration, these 6 distinct preludes make Dragon Age:
Origins the first BioWare game to offer not only multiple endings, but also
multiple beginnings." The six characters are the Dalish Elf, the City Elf, the
Dwarf Commoner, the Dwarf Noble, the Mage, and the Human Noble, and they say:
"The player’s choice of Origin Story lays the foundation for a profound journey
based on the character’s past experiences, establishing how they perceive the
world and how the world perceives them. The choices you made during an Origin
Story will influence the way the game unfolds, including different story
elements, dialogue options and even plot branches, providing a wealth of
replayability."
Kotaku
reports that Sega has cancelled the Aliens RPG in the works at Obsidian,
a project that has been mentioned, but never formally announced.
These rumors, sourced simply to "sources," come hot after the
announcement of a new AvP game. It doesn't stop there, as they
report further rumors they've heard that 20-some layoffs at Obsidian resulted
from this alleged cancellation, though they express skepticism about this, and
also say speculation has resurfaced that the future of Gearbox's upcoming
Aliens: Colonial Marines is in question.
Midway has filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, in spite of recently
renegotiating some of its debt load. Word is: "The company listed assets of
$167.5 million and debt of $281 million as of Sept. 30 in Chapter 11 documents
filed today in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Delaware. Nine affiliates
also will seek protection, according to court papers." The report outlines the
nature of the debt: "The 30 largest consolidated creditors without collateral
backing their claims are owed a total of $256.2 million, court papers show.
Wells Fargo Bank NA, as indenture trustee for noteholders, is listed as the
largest unsecured creditor. The amount due under the notes is $150 million,
according to court papers."
GameTap
launches volume three of American McGee's Grimm today with the debut of
The Frog
King, the first episode in the new season. As usual, this episode is free to
play for 24 hours, after which time a subscription is required. Here's word on
the new episode: "In this episode of American McGee's Grimm, a naïve young
princess discovers just how messy love can get when she hooks up with an
unusually charming (albeit slimy) frog. What would drive her to seek cold
comfort in amphibian arms? Violent threats, or dastardly blackmail perhaps? Not
quite. Grimm dives into the ooze with Frog King, keeping things greener than St.
Patrick's Day parade through a field of clover!" They have also rotated
Serious Sam II
into their free-to-play area, so Croteam's shooter sequel can be enjoyed there
for free through February 19.
A couple of new Warhammer 40,000 Dawn of War II trailers offer further looks at Relic's
upcoming 41st millennium RTS sequel. There's a trailer showing off the Tyranids
on ActionTrip,
AtomicGamer, and
MyGameTrailers. There's also a movie showing off a real-life version of the
game's Rhino APC doing just what you would do with such a beast: crushing cars.
This clip is on
ActionTrip,
AtomicGamer,
MyGameTrailers, and
Strategy Informer.
The Industry Standard has some fallout from Amazon's new casual
games store, saying the new endeavor is bringing "long-brewing pricing
tensions" in the casual games space to a head, saying developers see Amazon's
$9.99 price-point "as an attack on the industry," where some games still command
a $19.99 price. As a result, PopCap Games has pulled its offerings from the
Amazon store, but the article goes on to point out that many casual game portals
have price clubs which make most titles fall below $9.99 anyway, so they call
the controversy a tempest in a teapot. What they say is the "real issue" is the
iPhone, saying: "The real issue is the iPhone, where games in Apple’s App Store
can be as low as $0.99, or even free. Amazon’s price point is higher than
current game clubs and offers the possibility of a new audience. But the 15
million iPhone users can easily satisfy their casual gaming needs without
spending the full $19.99 that a first-run casual game might cost."
GamePolitics has word that Grand Theft Childhood authors Dr. Cheryl Olson
and Dr. Lawrence Kutner will be appearing on an upcoming episode of Bullshit,
the Penn & Teller series that debunks bunkum. The episode on the theme of video
game violence will probably air this summer, and will include an interview with
Jack Thompson, an expert on BS, if not video game violence. According to a
Penn Jillette
twitter: "We're taping 'Video Game Violence' BS. A first-person shooter game
where you get to be BS 'Penn'. My Father-in-law got to get shot."
A limited trial of the beta AWOMO Game Download
Service offers the chance to get Tomb Raider: Legend for free to
demonstrate the advantages of what they describe as "the world's fastest game
download service." According to the website, downloading the entire game using
the AWOMO client can be accomplished in as little as six minutes. Thanks
GamesRadar.
Gamasutra
has word of plans for games from Mensa, the organization for the intelligentsia.
The deal covers PC, Mac, console, and handheld, games, and the article
speculates the games will involve Mensa-like testing and brain training
elements. Of course if this doesn't work out as planned, we'll all be asking
what genius thought this was a good idea. Thanks Mike Martinez.
CapCom offers an invitation to the US launch party for Street Fighter IV,
offering the chance to play the latest installment in the fighting series before
it hits stores, or even kicks them. The party is to be held at The Geffen
Contemporary at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, CA from 8:00 pm
to midnight tonight, and it is open to the public, though an RSVP is required.
Thanks Mike Martinez and
Joystiq.
Square
Enix swoops for Eidos has word that Japanese publisher Square Enix has made
an offer for Eidos, estimated to be £84mn, which they say is about a 129%
premium on Eidos' current market value. According to MCV, Eidos directors will
recommend that shareholders approve the deal, and they quote Eidos saying such
an acquisition represents "a highly attractive opportunity for the Square Enix
group to create further value" for its shareholders. They also quote Square Enix
president Yoichi Wada saying: "Eidos is a talented developer and publisher of
interactive entertainment products with a broad portfolio of highly successful
mass market franchises, led by Tomb Raider, one of the most successful videogame
franchises of all time." Update: On a related note,
Edge Online reports that Square Enix has lowered its financial guidance for
the fiscal year ending March 31, and has delayed the release of Dragon Quest IX
in Japan until July 11.
A chat is planned today with the Fallen Earth development team, hosted by
Stratics, with the festivities getting underway at 9:00 pm EST. Registered
participants in the Fallen Earth alpha
will have an additional chance to interact with the devs today, though, as there
is an event slated to run in the alpha beginning at about 1:00 pm EST, where six
teams lead by developers will struggle for control of one of the conflict towns
in the post-apocalyptic MMORPG. Full details on each event can be found in the
Fallen Earth
Forums.
Crispy Gamer - Real-Time Strategy Games, 1989-2009. By Tom Chick.
"Real-Time Strategy Games are survived by its oldest son, Empire: Total War,
which wants nothing to do with its bratty younger brothers. They include
Dawn of War II, EndWar, Multiwinia, Halo Wars, Red Alert 3 and Stormrise --
some of whom may be bastard offspring, but all of whom hope to carry on the
family business, which will proceed with simple peon-less economies, matches
that take less than 30 minutes, and plenty of tactical mucking around that
would make their father roll over in his grave (speaking of which, many of
Real-Time Strategy Games' closest friends hope it will claw itself out of
the grave with the release of StarCraft II). Services will be held on
Ensemble Online, where Age of Empires III still totally rocks."
Here's another scientific commemoration, as today is the 200th anniversary of
Charles Darwin's birth. Coincidentally, today would also be the 200th birthday
of Abraham Lincoln. I wonder if those are the two most famous people to be born
on the same day? It's either them or Tiki and Ronde Barber.
|
Twitter 
