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Archived News:
Though development is not yet complete on FINAL FANTASY XIII, Square Enix
announces FINAL FANTASY XIV, saying the 14th game in the RPG series is an
MMORPG for PC and PlayStation 3 planned for release next year. The
FINAL FANTASY XIV Website is
online, offering a teaser trailer for the game, and preliminary word is: "LOS
ANGELES (June 2, 2009) – Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix), announced that
FINAL FANTASY XIV, an all new massively multiplayer role-playing game (MMORPG),
is planned for simultaneous global release with language support in Japanese,
English, French and German. Adventure begins anew in the vast realm of Eorzea!"
The Telltale
Games Store is now accepting preorders for Tales of Monkey Island,
the just-announced episodic return to the classic LucasArts adventure series. In
addition to the game's five monthly episodes and a collector's DVD, those
willing to preorder will also receive an exclusive DVD slipcase adorned with a
Steve Purcell painting, access to an exclusive area of the game's website, and
your choice of a free episode from any of Telltale Games' other episodic
offerings.
The Volvo: The Game, the racing game developed for the Swedish carmaker
by SimBin is now available for free to highlight the extraordinary
safety features high-octane racing for which the Volvo brand is famous.
Word is: "Volvo – The Game allows players to get behind the wheel of an
exclusive GamersGate skinned car, as well as a variety of Volvo models
including, the new Volvo S60 Concept, the Volvo C30, the STCC Volvo S60, the
Volvo S40, the Volvo 850, and the classic Volvo 240 Turbo Group A. Players can
take these new Volvo cars through two courses, Gothenburg Eco Drive Arena in
Göteborg, Sweden, and Chayaka outside Kiev, Ukraine – the first time ever that
this course has been featured in a racing game." The game is available on
GamersGate, where
it actually costs a penny (presumably their system is not equipped for "free")
and also available for free from
AtomicGamer,
ComputerGames.ro, and
Gamer's Hell.
A new update for World of Warcraft brings Blizzard's MMORPG to version
3.1.3. For those looking to manually update the game (which is apparently
everyone), the US/Aus English patch is posted on
AtomicGamer,
FileFront, and
Games32. The patch for the US English Mac edition is posted on
Games32, and some or all of the other localized patches can be found on
AtomicGamer
and
Games32.
Impulse
has details on a new version 1.01 update that's now automatically available for
Demigod, Gas Powered Games' recently released action/strategy game. Word
is: The new version of Demigod has focused largely on significantly
improving the on-line experience of Demigod based on player feedback.
Version 1.01 includes a host of new features and improvements to the game
including:
• Improved on-line connectivity
• Significantly improved computer AI
• Better in game detection between those who quit a game versus those who get
disconnected
• Reduced bandwidth requirements
• More robust storing of online statistics (favor points, achievements,
rankings, etc.)
• Better queuing of player actions in game.
• Lots of misc. improvements
 The
Peregrine Website reveals the Peregrine, a PC controller that uses a glove
to enable gesture based control for PC games. Here's a bit on the Peregrine,
which is due for release this fall: Iron Will Technologies today unveiled
the Peregrine, a new PC gaming peripheral that puts games at your fingertips –
literally. A gaming glove with proprietary TouchPoint™ technology, the Peregrine
is a direct link to increasingly complex PC games like real-time strategy (RTS)
and massively multiplayer online (MMO) titles. The Peregrine is scheduled for
release in fall 2009.
Gamers who add the Peregrine to their arsenal will gain access to more than 30
actions at their fingertips, allowing them to command armies and cast spells
with speed, accuracy and comfort. Constructed of durable, flexible fabric, with
a magnetic break-away electronics pod, the Peregrine comfortably augments or
even replaces the keyboard in any gamer’s command center.
The E3 trailer for APB (All Points Bulletin) is now available, offering a
look at Realtime Worlds' upcoming persistent world online action game using all
in-game footage. The movie can be found on
Filefront and Gamer's
Hell.
The Splinter Cell: Conviction E3 2009 trailer shows off gameplay from the
next installment in the adventures of sneaky Sam Fisher. The introduction by
Ubisoft Montreal's Maxime Beland mentions their "ambition to redefine the
franchise by introducing innovative gameplay mechanics -- the game is now
faster, more fluid, more spectacular, more action -- to make you really feel
like the ultimate predator. Of course, all the elements that you love are there;
being smart, being stealth [sic], using your gadgets. But in Conviction, it's
all about Sam Fisher, the most lethal elite agent." The clip is posted on
ActionTrip,
AtomicGamer, and
Gamer's Hell. Also,
Big Download has the expected clarification that the game's Xbox 360
exclusivity is a console exclusive, and the PC version will be released
alongside the 360 edition this fall.
No Mutants Allowed
has some new details from Bethesda Softworks about Point Lookout, the
upcoming fourth DLC for Fallout 3. The update describes Point Lookout as
"the most open-ended DLC yet," saying it "allows you to explore a huge, swampy
wasteland any way you’d like. A completely new quest line allows you uncover the
town’s hidden secrets and wield powerful new weapons like the Double-Barrel
Shotgun against the swamp’s dangerous, and deformed, denizens." There is also a
new trailer for the DLC, which can be viewed on the
YouTube.
The E3 trailer from Dante's Inferno is now online to show off the hellish
nature of this upcoming classic adaptation. From the looks of the cinematic
clip, this won't be a walk in the park, but then, no one said the tortures of
the damned would be. You can find the clip on
ActionTrip,
AtomicGamer,
FileFront, and Gamer's
Hell.
Two new gameplay trailers for R.U.S.E. were released by Ubisoft at E3,
showing off the real-time strategy game in development at Eugen Systems. The
first video is hosted by
AtomicGamer and Gamer's
Hell, while the second clip is posted on
AtomicGamer and
Gamer's Hell.
EA announces the release of The Sims 3, saying the latest installment
in the lifestyle simulation is available via download and in North American
stores today for both Windows and MacOS, with the retail launch in 60 countries
and 22(!) languages also taking place this week (and
an iPhone version
is available). Sites offering digital distribution include
Direct2Drive,
where they say the first 500 buyers can bundle in the Prima Guide for $5.00
($15.00 off). The Sims 3 Website is now
open offering community support as well as microtransaction-based
sim-consumerism, and here's a bit from the announcement: In The Sims 3
you can create lifelike Sims with a unique personality and take them anywhere in
the neighborhood. The powerful Create-a-Sim tool allows you to create Sims that
are more realistic than ever. Select from dozens of personality traits such as
brave, artistic, kleptomaniac, clumsy, paranoid and romantic. With Create-a-Sim,
you can create a limitless number of truly unique Sims. The Sims 3 allows for
infinite possibilities to design the interior and exterior of your Sims’
surroundings using the Create-a-Style feature. Additionally, you can enjoy the
challenge of short-term and long-term goals and then reap the rewards! Based on
personality traits, skills and career choices, your Sims have short and long
term Wishes that provide constant, fun challenges and so many things to do and
achieve. You have the ultimate freedom to choose whether to fulfill their
destiny, giving them lifetime happiness and rewards or not!
Register your copy of The Sims 3 for PC and Mac at www.TheSims3.com to enjoy the
robust online and community features unique to your game including an all-new
town called Riverview that you can download for no additional charge once you
register.* You will also gain access to 1,000 SimPoints to purchase items from
The Sims 3 Store including exclusive outfits, hairstyles, furniture, home décor,
and architectural items to customize your Sims appearance and houses in all-new
ways. Visit the Store each month for new, never-seen-before themed items.
Additionally, be the director of your Sims’ movies by capturing clips during
your gameplay, visiting the official site, and editing the soundtrack, story,
and transitions, then share it with the world! These easily accessible tools
inspire creativity and allow you to share your masterpieces with your friends
and other players on The Sims 3 official website, personal blogs, or any social
media network. See what you can create with The Sims 3.
Ubisoft announces new details for James Cameron's Avatar: The Game, the
upcoming stereoscopic 3D game that will tie-in with the upcoming "epic" film of the same
name. On a related note, a headline on Kotaku reads "Avatar Demo On The Way This
Week," but
the story itself makes no mention of a demo at all. Meanwhile, the James Cameron's Avatar: The
Game Website is online, and here's a bit: LOS ANGELES – JUNE 1, 2009 –
Today at the Electronics and Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles Ubisoft®
revealed new product details for James Cameron's Avatar: The Game. Making a
surprise appearance during Ubisoft's Press Conference earlier in the day, James
Cameron introduced the first details for Avatar: The Game along with Yannis
Mallat, President of Ubisoft Montreal.
The game will take you deep into the heart of Pandora, an alien planet that is
beyond imagination. Gamers will encounter the Na'vi, Pandora's indigenous people
and discover creatures and other wildlife the likes of which have never been
seen in the world of video games before. When conflict erupts between the RDA
Corporation, a space-faring consortium in search of valuable resources, and the
Na'vi, players will find themselves thrust into a fight for the heart of a
planet and the fate of a civilization.
"Technically, we have a lot in common with Ubisoft and the game world,” said
Cameron during the press conference. "We utilized highly sophisticated
technologies in creating Avatar so, when it came to choosing a game company, I
wanted a partner that would not only be inspired creatively by the world of
Avatar but would have the capacity to keep up with the challenging demands of
its technological needs. Ubisoft was that company.”
James Cameron's Avatar: The Game will ship December 2009 for the Xbox 360® video
game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer
entertainment system, the Wii(TM) home video game system from Nintendo, the
Nintendo DS(TM) system, the PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) system and the
PC.
Ubisoft Live at E3 announces plans for a Tintin game based on
Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn, an upcoming feature film based on the
offbeat Belgian comic strip (thanks
superannuation). Platforms are not specified, here is the announcement:
Today Paramount Digital Entertainment and Ubisoft announced the
development of a video game based on the upcoming film “Tintin: The Secret of
the Unicorn.” The video game is expected to launch simultaneously with the
highly anticipated film adaptation of one of the world’s most well-known and
beloved literary series. “Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn” will be released in
the US on December 23, 2011 and internationally in late October and early
November 2011.
The film, distributed by Paramount Pictures and Sony Pictures Entertainment,
utilizes state-of-the-art, next-generation performance capture. Ubisoft’s
Montpellier studio will work with director and producer Steven Spielberg,
producers Peter Jackson and Kathleen Kennedy, to develop a unique and thrilling
game that is closely tied to the upcoming motion picture.
"We look forward to working with Ubisoft and the filmmakers to create exciting
new interactive adventures for Tintin,” said Thomas Lesinski, President,
Paramount Digital Entertainment. “The upcoming video game will reintroduce
Tintin to a whole new generation of gamers.”
“We’re incredibly excited to have the opportunity to work on the Tintin game,”
said Christian Salomon, Vice President of Worldwide Licensing at Ubisoft. “We’re
honored to bring one of the world’s most iconic comic characters to life in this
new title.”
The E3 trailer for Crysis 2 is now available to offer a look at Crytek's
upcoming multiplatform shooter sequel. Well, it doesn't actually show off the
game, but it does show off the logo which reflects the vaguest images from the
game, taking a painstaking minute to do so. The clip is posted on
ActionTrip,
Eurogamer
(thanks LS), and Gamer's
Hell.
Stardock has a pair of new "documentary" movies showing the behind-the-scenes
activities following the launch of Demigod. The clips, titled "108 hour work
week" run about 20 minutes each, offering conversation with the game and Impulse
teams. Part one
is here and
part two is here.
The
E3 Fact Sheet and E3 screenshots for Saboteur are online, and the
Saboteur Interview on Strategy Informer chats with someone from
developer Pandemic about their upcoming World War II stealth/action game. Part
of the conversation covers the openness of their open world: "The draw distance
was very important for us to get right. Like I said, you can get up on the top
of everything and we wanted the player to be able to look down off the Eiffel
Tower and see all the different areas of high and low Will to Fight to see what
they’ve accomplished in the world. It also is helpful because the monuments end
up serving like stars in the sky as you’re racing down the twisty streets of
Paris, you need to be able to use them to get your bearing in the world. The
Odin engine was built from the ground up to deliver intimate up close detail and
to still have the power to render these amazing views. It took a lot of
collaboration between the art team and tech team to make it happen but the
results really speak for themselves. I still often find myself impressed when I
climb up a building and look out across the world."
The CBP3 Downloads page
offers downloads of the third community bonus pack for the PC edition of
Unreal Tournament III. The
YouTube has a trailer
promoting the pack, which offers 11 new levels, a new game type, two new
pickups, and one new character. Full details are on
the CBP3 Page.
- AMD Istanbul Opteron Processors on
The Tech Report.
- AMD Athlon II X2 250 CPU on
Neoseeker.
- AMD Phenom II X2 550 BE CPU on
Benchmark Reviews and
Neoseeker.
- AMD Phenom II X2 550BE and Athlon II X2 250 CPUs on
AMDZone, Bjorn3d,
HotHardware,
Icrontic, Legion
Hardware, Legit
Reviews,
LostCircuits,
Neoseeker,
Overclockers Club, PC
Perspective,
TechSpot,
and
X-bit labs.
- ASUS Mars GTX 295 Graphics Card on
NordicHardware.
- ASUS Maximus II Gene Motherboard on
Motherboards.org.
- AZZA Solano 1000 Case on
PureOC.
- BFG EX1000 1000W PSU on
JonnyGURU.
- Chieftec Dragon Case on
Hardware Secrets.
- Cooler Master Silent Pro M 500W PSU on
ThinkComputers.org.
- Kingwin XT-1264 CPU Cooler on
OverclockersHQ.com.
- Hornettek Viper and Hover Enclosures on
RBMODS.
- In Win Allure Case on
TechwareLabs.
- Mionix Alioth 320 & Alioth 400 Mouse Pad on
PCShopTalk
Forum.
- NZXT Beta Mid-Tower Case on
H-Tech Reviews.
- OCZ Neutrino DIY 10" Netbook on
TweakTown.
- PC Power & Cooling Pro-Source 1500 UPS on
HardwareLogic.
- Sapphire 4890 Vapor-X PCIe Graphics Card on
Overclock3D.Net.
- SilverStone GD01B-MXR Case on
Hardware Secrets.
- Sony Optiarc AD-7240S 24x DVD±RW-RAM on
CDRLabs.
So we finally made our way to Costco in search of this fabled Mexican Coca Cola
made with real cane sugar. Unfortunately, they did not carry it, so it's
possible this is only something one can find in states closer to Mexico itself,
or maybe it was just a deficiency at the store we visited. On the other hand, we
did find some of that "throwback" Pepsi made with sugar, which turned out to be
great, even though I'm normally not a big Pepsi fan.
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