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Archived News:
The cinematic Star Wars: The Old Republic "deceived" trailer shown off at
E3 today is now available
on the official website
for the Star Wars MMORPG in development at BioWare at the behest of LucasArts.
The clip does not include any gameplay, but a fair degree of badass-ness
nonetheless. The Old
Republic Website also introduces the
HoloNet, an in-game data network
that will also be partially available online. Word is: "The HoloNet contains
detailed records on classes, planets, factions, and a timeline of Old Republic
History."
The press
release about the news that EA is publishing
APB says "early 2010" is when to expect
the open world multiplayer action game. Here are a couple of bits from the
announcement about the game: Redwood City, CA – June 1, 2009 – Electronic
Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) and Realtime Worlds, Inc. announced today that they
have entered an exclusive marketing and distribution agreement for North America
and Europe that will bring the highly-anticipated All Points Bulletin™ (APB) to
PC in early 2010. Founded by industry veteran David Jones, creator of Lemming’s,
Grand Theft Auto 1&2 and Crackdown, Realtime Worlds’ latest project takes the
universal theme of Criminals and Enforcement and brings it to a persistent, open
world multiplayer setting in a modern, crime-ridden city.
[…]
APB is a new breed of online game. Set in a persistent living, breathing
open-world urban environment where fame and fortune awaits all players. Some
players will achieve this by feeding on the city, its people and its
businesses…the Criminals. Some will live by a higher code and instead feed on
the criminals and their organizations…the Enforcers. This dynamic where players
become the core content for other players is one of the many unique features of
APB. Its deep, rich customization system provides players with the ability to
completely personalize their identity. Looks, clothing, vehicles and even music,
all to astonishing detail and quality.
The E3 trailer for Left 4 Dead 2 sets the scene for the upcoming return of
Valve's co-op zombie shooter. The clip sets the infested scene for the game, and
highlights the addition of improvisational mêlée combat, which can be as blunt
as a frying pan to the face. The movie can be found on
ActionTrip,
FileFront, and Gamer's
Hell.
The E3 trailer for Alan Wake is now available, showing off Remedy's
upcoming psychological thriller. The clip is posted on
ActionTrip,
BrightFalls.net, and
Gamer's Hell.
Eidos has served up a new "Ends Justify Means" trailer from Just Cause 2,
offering the first look at the upcoming action game sequel in the works at
Avalanche Studios. Word is: "Set on an Island Paradise, Just Cause 2 is an
explosive open-world adventure of insane, adrenaline-fuelled stunts and action.
Using the grapple and parachute combo, Just Cause 2 has no vertical limit and
takes to the air like no other game." The clip can be found on
AtomicGamer,
FileFront, and Gamer's
Hell.
The Tales of Monkey Island E3 2009 trailer is online, though it actually
primarily teases The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition, the
upcoming just announced seafaring adventure game remake. The clip
offers a refresher on the history of the series with gameplay clips and
narration from several developers, including Ron Gilbert, and takes a look at
how the game's original locations and characters are being recreated for modern
systems. The clip is available on
ActionTrip and
Gamer's Hell.
Thanks Mike Martinez.
♫♪ Intermission ♪♫
During the Electronic Arts E3 presentation today, EA's John Riccitiello
announced they will be publishing APB
(All Points Bulletin), the "persistent, open world multiplayer setting in a
modern, crime-ridden city" under construction at Scottish developer Realtime
Worlds. APB does not currently have a scheduled release date. Update: The
game now has an early 2010 release date according to
the press release announcing the news.
Got Game Entertainment announces the retail release of Hinterland: Orc Lords,
the updated version of Hinterland, Tilted Mill's strategic RPG, which is also
available for purchase and download from the
Hinterland Website. Here's a bit
on the game: In “Hinterland: Orc Lords”, you create your own destiny, and
determine the fate of others, by commanding an Orc tribe as Lord or Shaman, or
leading a Human village as Human, Dwarf, Elf, or even Undead Warrior. Build a
prosperous town and conquer all enemy sites in the region by bringing together a
diverse cast of followers to your settlement. Carefully select members to join
you on expeditions of exploration and conquest in the surrounding lands, or give
them tools for settlement production.
In the world of “Hinterland: Orc Lords”, one teeming with Orc war camps, dark
elf raiding parties, goblin infested mines, and the ruins of undead cities, you
will encounter the characters and creatures of myth and folklore. You will also
find much needed resources to expand your settlement, from iron to make weapons
to a mystic tome to entice a great mage to join you. With a variety of
characters, weapons, and strategies at your disposal, you can develop lowly
farmers into great warriors, and customize your character to help in adventure
or improve village life.
For your successful strategies, choices, and forays in “Hinterland: Orc Lords”,
fame, fortune and prosperity await. But, you must play wise and take care, for
even the loss of a lowly farmer can spell disaster at harvest time!
Remedy just concluded showing off Alan Wake at Microsoft's E3 press
conference, including actual gameplay from the mysterious psychological
thriller. Remedy writer Sam Lake concluded the presentation with an actual
release date, saying: "I am very happy to tell you that Alan Wake will see the
light of day in Spring 2010."
Valve announces Left 4 Dead 2, a sequel to their multiplayer zombie
shooter slated for release exclusively on PC and Xbox 360 on November 17, almost
exactly a year after the release of the first Left 4 Dead. There's
a hands-on preview of the game on
Rock, Paper, Shotgun, and as this release describes, the sequel adds new
items, melee combat, and more zombies: June 1, 2009 - Valve, creators of
best-selling game franchises (such as Half-Life and Counter-Strike) and leading
technologies (such as Steam and Source), today announced Left 4 Dead 2 (L4D2),
the sequel to the best-selling and critically-acclaimed co-operative multiplayer
thriller.
Coming exclusively to Xbox 360 and PC, L4D2 promises to set a new benchmark for
co-operative action games and become one of 2009's marquee titles.
"A large part of how Left 4 Dead became 2008's top-selling new IP on Xbox 360
and the PC was the custom-tailored gameplay made possible by the AI Director,"
said Gabe Newell, president and co-founder of Valve. "With the knowledge gained
from creating the original, new technology, and a passionate team, L4D2 will set
a new benchmark for cooperative action games."
Set for release on November 17, the title adds melee combat to enable deeper
co-operative gameplay, with items such as a chainsaw, frying pan, axe, baseball
bat, and more.
Introducing the AI Director 2.0, L4D's dynamic gameplay is taken to the next
level by giving the Director the ability to procedurally change weather effects,
world objects, and pathways in addition to tailoring the enemy population,
effects, and sounds to match the players' performance. The result is a unique
game session custom fitted to provide a satisfying and uniquely challenging
experience each time the game is played.
Featuring new Survivors, boss zombies, weapons, and items, Left 4 Dead 2 offers
a much larger game than the original with more co-operative campaigns, more
Versus campaigns, and maps for Survival mode available at launch.
Supported by a $10+ million marketing campaign, Left 4 Dead has sold over 2.5
million retail copies since it was released in November of 2008. Left 4 Dead 2
is targeted for release on Xbox 360 and the PC on November 17, 2009, and will be
launched worldwide with a multi-million dollar marketing campaign across TV,
Outdoor, and Online.
"Left 4 Dead was backed by our most aggressive advertising campaign to date, and
resulted in a top 5 showing on two platforms during holiday 2008," said Doug
Lombardi, VP of marketing at Valve. "Left 4 Dead 2 is a larger game and will be
supported with even more consumer and retail advertising programs than the
original."
Left 4 Dead 2 will be featured as the cover story on PC Gamer and Official Xbox
Magazines this month. For more information, please visit
www.l4d.com
The full version of the E3 trailer for Assassin's Creed II is now online,
following yesterday's leaked teaser for the upcoming
action/stealth sequel. True to that, the clip offers a cinematic of a stealth
assassination followed by a more action-oriented escape, concluding repeating
the prediction of a holiday 2009 release. The clip is posted on
Tiscali Games.
LucasArts announces plans to LeChuck caution to the wind and return to their
legendary Monkey Island franchise with two new projects: Tales of Monkey
Island, a five-episode adventure being crafted by Telltale Games for release
"in just a few short weeks" on Windows and WiiWare, and The Secret of Monkey
Island: Special Edition, a
hi-resolution remake of the original The Secret of Monkey Island planned
for release later this summer for Windows and Xbox LIVE Arcade. Here's the
deal: SAN FRANCISCO, Calif – June 1, 2009 – LucasArts today announced that
the original hilarious pirate adventure is back, with two new projects underway
based on the classic Monkey Island franchise. Beginning in just a few short
weeks, Telltale will premiere the Tales of Monkey Island™ game series,
delivering a completely new epic storyline and swashbuckling flair that will
unfold across five monthly episodes on PC and WiiWare™. The Monkey Island
celebration continues later in the summer when LucasArts publishes The Secret of
Monkey Island™: Special Edition, a completely re-imagined version of the first
game in the series that adds updated high definition graphics, a re-mastered
musical score, and full voiceover to the classic adventure game originally
launched in 1990. The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition will be made
available on Xbox LIVE® Arcade for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment
system from Microsoft, and PC.
Today's announcement represents a new partnership between LucasArts and digital
entertainment pioneers Telltale who are crafting new experiences for today's
audiences with engaging stories delivered through regular monthly episodes.
Tales of Monkey Island is developed by Telltale, whose team includes designers
and artists who worked on all of the previous Monkey Island games. The Secret of
Monkey Island: Special Edition is being developed internally by LucasArts, the
company that started it all with the original Monkey Island games.
“We couldn’t be any more excited about bringing Monkey Island to today's gamers
-- both in our special edition of the original classic, and through our
collaboration with Telltale on the episodic series,” said LucasArts’ President
Darrell Rodriguez. “We can’t wait for Guybrush Threepwood and LeChuck to return
to gamers’ screens.”
Get
Ready For Gitmo: The Video Game on CBS News reveals development of
Rendition: Guantanamo, in the works for PC and Xbox 360 at Scottish
developer T-Enterprise. A
Teaser Trailer on the official
website offers a look at someone sitting around a cell, but according to an
article on
Deadline Scotland there is more planned from gameplay, as it describes
playing as terrorism suspects trying to escape from the prison. This is
obviously courting controversy, they say the game is set in January 2010 because
that is when they expect the prison to close, with the developers saying: "We
are making a statement. We did not want Guantanamo to be forgotten." The
CBS
News article focuses on the participation of Moazzam Begg, a British Muslim
who was held for three years in the American military prison who claims he was
tortured during his detainment.
After promising to show the game at E3, Trion World Network
offers first details on Heroes of Telara, their upcoming
fantasy-themed "social" MMORPG. Here's a bit: With server-based gaming,
Heroes of Telara™ can trigger extraordinary events challenging the player to
overcome obstacles and embrace the role of hero. Using a unique class system
that allows the players to play every character class in the game and choose a
class specialty, or “subclass,” the hero will be well equipped to overcome these
challenges. Combining this with an easy-to-learn combat system, players will be
prepared to stand against the most powerful foes and hordes of enemies.
“We've built a spectacular world that's completely alive and designed everything
around the concept of players becoming heroes,” said Russ Brown, vice president,
Channel One, Trion. “The 'right hero for the right time' is what this game is
all about. And with our server-based Trion platform, we can launch massive
events and epic encounters at will to challenge the player to step up and become
the hero the world needs. It is our promise and mission to deliver awesome
kick-ass gameplay in Heroes of Telara™.”
Heroes of Telara™ will also allow large populations of users to play together to
truly deliver massively social online gaming. Heroes of Telara™ has been crafted
from its inception to allow players to take full advantage of their adventuring
time with friends and to make new alliances with other players. Heroes of
Telara™ removes many of the technical and design barriers common in MMORPGs,
allowing players to more easily share their adventures in the game with anyone,
regardless of rank or skill level.
EA officially announces Crysis 2, with the expected news on Crytek's
upcoming first-person shooter sequel, including word it will be released for
consoles as well as PCs: Redwood City, Calif. – June 1, 2009 – Electronic
Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) announced today that it has agreed to a deal extension
with Crytek GmbH, the award-winning developers of the Crysis® universe, to
publish Crysis 2. Renowned for their technical excellence, artistic
craftsmanship and commitment to quality, Crytek is building Crysis 2 on their
new state-of-the-art multiplatform game development solution CryENGINE®3 for the
Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer
entertainment system, and the PC.
“The development of Crysis 2 marks a major stepping stone for our studio,” said
Cevat Yerli, CEO and President of Crytek. “This is not only the next game in the
Crysis franchise, it’s the first title we are developing for consoles and the
first title being built on CryENGINE 3. We are excited to have the support of EA
Partners again as we work together to make the launch of Crysis 2 a huge event.”
“Nothing speaks more to the success of the EA Partners program than when a
studio the caliber of Crytek continues to work with us,” said David DeMartini,
Senior Vice President and General Manager of EA Partners. “Crytek is already one
of the elite PC development studios in the world and we are excited to have the
opportunity to partner with them in bringing their award-winning technology and
gameplay to more platforms and a wider audience with Crysis 2.”
Games On Net picked out an interesting quote from Activision Blizzard's
pre-E3 press conference from Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime, who indicates they are
shooting to release StarCraft II by the end of this year: We're
targeting an end of year release - this year - for StarCraft II . But as always,
we won't release it until it meets our standards and the expectations of our
players.
There's a
Borderlands Interview on IGN.AU talking with Brian Martel, the art
director at Gearbox Software. Among other things, they discuss the game's new
art design, which is says is a no-brainer: "There can be something a little
sterile and cold about contemporary super normal mapped games. I wanted
something a little more human and warm – something that lets you really see the
artists' hand in the work. You should feel the art in the way that good concept
art moves you. That was the genesis of the concept art style. As I sort of
tested it with the artists I could see that they just lit up and got extremely
excited about the idea. A small group of artists, level designers, and I came up
with the style and then we executed a test on a small area of the game. It was a
no brainer after that!"
A new pre-E3 DiRT 2 trailer offers a look at the racing game sequel in
the works at Codemasters. The music video is posted on the
DiRT 2 Website and mirrored on
ActionTrip and
Gamer's Hell.
The E3 is here! The E3 is here! Seems like the run-up to the show was a little
less news-heavy than the past few years, so the show may conversely generate
more news, which makes sense in light of the re-expansion of the show after it
had been downsized. We shall see.
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