Archived News:
ACE Team announces plans to release free
downloadable content this weekend for Zeno
Clash, their recently released fighting game. The DLC is called The Pit,
which is described like so: "Players can again compete for leaderboard scores
and achievements in these three new scenarios where gravity is the enemy and
taking a wrong step can be fatal. Destructible floors and traps await the
skilled who want to reach the bottom of the pit alive." The DLC will be released
amid a promotion that will offer the game for half price for the weekend. There
is a trailer showing off the new content on the
YouTube.
Dawn Of War II Website
has word to expect the release of the map edition tool for Dawn of War II
along with the promised content update they've dubbed "There is
Only War." They have some screenshots of the editor, and here part of how it is
described: "World Builder lets you add victory points, power nodes, and
requisition points under Urban, Desert, Tyrannoformed, and Jungle map tilesets.
You can deform terrain, place cover objects, choose the weather, and define the
size of the map. Maps can be released for two, four, or six players."
Steam News announces a
new automatic update that's available for America's Army 3, offering an
extensive list of changes and fixes for the just-released military shooter. In
other Steam news, there is also a smaller update for
Garry's Mod, and an
update for Battlestations:
Pacific, for which no details are provided at all.
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Game Demo Now Available For PC
points the way to a Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince Demo that's now
available for download from
EA's FTP Server. The demo is a 595 MB download, and it includes two
sections: "Gryffindor Dueling Club" and "Flying Club." Also, there's also a new
"making of" trailer from the game on
AtomicGamer and
Gamer's Hell and a
"Quidditch Preview" trailer on
AtomicGamer and
FileFront.
A playable demo for Nancy Drew: Ransom of the Seven Ships is now
available, offering a sample of the 20th(!!) installment in this long running
series based on the old-school children's mystery book series. Downloads are
found on AtomicGamer,
FileFront, and Gamer's
Hell.
There's a
Blood Bowl Q&A on Rock, Paper, Shotgun talking with Antoine
Villepreux, project lead on Cyanide's fantasy-themed sports game, and they also
offer a link to a trailer for the game on
GameTrailers.com. Finally, a new patch is now available to update the game
to version 1.0.1.0, which is apparently to prepare for the game's
release via
digital distribution tomorrow. Downloads of the patch can be found on
AtomicGamer,
Gamer's Hell, and
The Patches Scrolls.
Stardock announces Paradox Interactive has selected Stardock's GOO (Game Object
Obfuscation) technology as the DRM for Majesty 2: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim,
the real-time strategy game in development at 1C:Ino-Co, and will be using GOO
to protect other titles going forward. The
Impulse Website has
more details on GOO, and here are a couple of portions of the
announcement: Announced by Stardock earlier this year, GOO is a new
technology that developers can use to protect their game executable. When a
protected game is run for the first-time, the player simply needs to enter in
their email address and serial number. Once validated, the game can be played
normally and typically never needs to connect to the Internet account.
...
Brad Wardell, CEO at Stardock, continued, “Stardock has been outspoken in
advocating solutions that protect consumer’s rights. At the same time, we also
recognize that many publishers are going to seek to protect their properties via
some type of DRM solution. Our goal in developing GOO was to find a
middle-ground solution, a technology that would treat consumers not as
criminals, but instead with respect. It is great getting feedback from partners
like Paradox that we have succeeded in our goal.”
The trademark watchers at
superannuation have spotted several new titles recently registered by
Gearbox Software. There are
World
War II Hero,
War
Hero,
Brothers In Arms War Hero, and
Modern
War Hero. Sadly, our hopes for a game called Half-Life: Opposing Force Hero
are left unfulfilled for the moment. There's no indication of the nature of
these projects beyond their applicability to Computer Game Programs and Computer
Game Software.
The Depths of
Peril patches page now has new beta version 1.015 patches for the
Windows and Macintosh editions of Soldak Entertainment's action/RPG. The
Change List
details all that's new and different in the new beta.
Thanks Mike Martinez and Ant.
Thanks Mike Martinez and Ant.
The promised new version 1.1 patch for Demigod is now
automatically available, offering the first of "several major planned updates"
for Gas Powered Games' action/strategy game. Here's word on the
changes: Demigod v1.1 is out! This is the first of several major planned
updates to Demigod from developer Gas Powered Games.
Version v1.1 highlights:
• Teams can concede a game to end it early once it becomes
apparent who is going to win.
• Launch of the second Epoch online. Existing statistics
archived and rankings based on new games.
• Improved chat window handling
• When players sell a minion idol, minions connected to
that idol are destroyed.
• Improved computer AI.
• Removed “spammy” achievement alerts.
• Improved visuals on certain nVidia cards at lower quality
settings.
• Heart of Life more expensive, now an artifact, longer
cooldown.
• Hex Scroll is more powerful
• Pantheon games are forced to even teams (e.g. 3 vs. 3)
• Reward for completing a game is now 40 favor points.
• Reduced experience and gold reward from killing piling
priests and angels.
• Angel unit AI improved
• Many small tweaks and fixes to engine and multiplayer
• Custom Games fully make use of new Demigod Online system
developed by Stardock:
◦ Players who have opened their ports
get directly connected.
◦ Players who don’t have opened ports
will get connected via a NAT server
◦ Players who still can’t connect
will have their games hosted by Stardock servers based in Asia, Europe, or North
America depending on player location.
We will also be resetting the stats to launch the second Epoch later today and
that includes favor points so that everyone is starting from an equal playing
field. First epoch stats are being archived.
A new patch for Pro Cycling Manager 2009 is now available to update the
bicycle racing game to version 1.0.2.3. Numerous bug fixes are included, as well
as updates to several drivers and a few stages in the Tour de France. The patch
is mirrored on
The Patches
Scrolls.
The
Warhammer Herald has news of another gaming shake-up, as Electronic Arts
announces it is restructuring its RPG and MMO games development into a new group
that includes both Mythic and BioWare. The new group is headed up by BioWare
cofounder Ray Muzyka, who will serve as Group General Manager, while BioWare's
other cofounder Greg Zeschuk will become Group Creative Officer. The
announcement also includes word that Mythic General Manager Mark Jacobs has parted ways with
EA as of yesterday, and has been replaced by Rob
Denton. Thanks Vern.
Kotaku has the surprising news that id Software has been acquired by
ZeniMax, the parent company of Bethesda Softworks (thanks nin). They have
interview quotes from id CEO Todd Hollenshead and ZeniMax CEO Robert Altman
indicating that this will not change any of the core principles of either
company, nor will it impact publishing arrangements already in place for future
id projects, though word is ZeniMax is now the publisher of id's upcoming
DOOM game. "We're really getting kind of tired competing with our own
publishers in terms of how our titles will be featured," says id Technical
Director John Carmack. "And we've really gotten more IPs than we've been able to
take advantage of. And working with other companies hasn't been working out as
spectacularly as it could. So the idea of actually becoming a publisher and
merging Bethesda and ZeniMax on there [is ideal.] It would be hard to imagine a
more complementary relationship. They are triple A, top-of-the-line in what they
do in the RPGs. And they have no overlap with all the things we do in the
FPSes."
Kotaku reports rumors of layoffs at Rockstar New England
( previously Mad Doc Software), saying they've learned from
"several sources" that the entire QA department was closed and artists and other
staff members also lost their jobs in what is estimated as a greater than 10% headcount
reduction. The story also indicates that the laid off employees are receiving a
"fairly generous" severance package as well as assistance in finding new work.
Word is Rockstar New England has just completed a milestone on an unannounced
project.
IncGamers reports that the new version 3.20 patch for World of Warcraft
is now live on the Public Test Realm for those interested in testing it out.
The
Test Realm Patch Notes were released last week outlining what
to expect, including new druid art, new portals, and new mailboxes.
Funcom announces Update 5, titled "Gangs of Tarantia" is now live for Age
of Conan: Hyborian Adventures. Here's a bit: Besides adding a wealth
of new content, the update also introduces fundamental changes to how the game
is played and experienced. Players will now find that items within the game and
their associated statistics has changed radically, making items have a more
profound impact on your character's powers. This will make equipment even more
valuable, and the process of obtaining new weapons and armor through quests and
adventure even more rewarding. The update should make a significant impact on
how gamers play 'Age of Conan' and how they now experience the gameplay with
their characters.
The update also introduces a vast number of other changes and additions. For
instance, guild cities will now see an increased activity as guards and
merchants now walk the streets, bringing life to the settlement. Also, players
can now gain PvP (player vs. player) experience from doing PvP mini-games, and
even purchase social pets such as snakes, dogs, and cats. For more information
on all the improvements the update has to offer, please visit the 'Age of Conan'
community website.
The Spore Website announces the
availability of new patches to update the Windows and Mac editions of Spore
to version 1.04, available automatically through the EADM program. The update
includes performance tweaks, bug fixes, and balance changes related to the new
Galactic Adventures add-on, and there is a manual version of the Windows
patch on
ActionTrip and The
Patches Scrolls.
THQ Announces Management and Business Unit Reorganization to Support Focused
Product Strategy follows up on news of THQ's new Austin studio
with word that the developer/publisher is undergoing a global restructuring. THQ
has subdivided into three divisions, devoted to Core Games; Kids, Family and
Casual Games; and Online Games. They have promoted Ian Curran to EVP for Global
Publishing, and word is: "Under Curran’s leadership, THQ’s international sales
have more than doubled and he has overseen the expansion of THQ’s global
operations to include 15 direct sales and marketing locations outside of the
Americas."
Turbine announces upcoming changes planned for Dungeons & Dragons Online:
Eberron Unlimited (DDO Unlimited), and sends along a reminder that players
interested in beta testing the free-to-play version of DDO can do so on
the official website. Here are the new features: » New Player
Class: Players can now create characters using DDO Unlimited’s newest class,
Favored Soul. Favored souls draw on divine magic to both heal and destroy. Like
clerics, favored souls have access to powerful healing spells, but they are also
more skilled with weapons than any other spell caster. Like sorcerers, they get
a larger number of spell points than other spell casters and cannot freely
switch spells at taverns or rest shrines.
» Raised Level Cap: Players can now advance to 20th-level under the D&D®
rules. This includes access to new arcane and divine spells, new character
abilities, feats, and skills.
» New Adventure Packs:
o The Plane of Battle -- Players can now travel to the
Plane of Shavarath and explore a large wilderness area as they try to infiltrate
several fortresses and upset the carefully laid plans of the Devils.
o The Crime Syndicate -- Coin Lord Yorrick Amanatu,
who controls the Stormreach Guard, wants players to help him eliminate the
growing Sharn Syndicate presence in Stormreach.
» The Fiercest Combat – This update introduces some exciting enhancements
to DDO’s extraordinary combat experience including a new combat feedback and
smart targeting system that gives players even more information and control that
lets them fully engage in the battle by relying on their wits and reflexes in
real time.
» Mind-blowing Visuals – Explore DDO’s vivid and dangerous online world
featuring some of the most advanced graphics in the industry with the fully
deployed DX10 technology that brings the world to life.
» The Return of the Marketplace! – Last year, Turbine held a spectacular
live in-game event that resulted in the complete destruction of the Stormreach
Marketplace. The Coin Lords have completed their beautification project and the
once desolated Market has been restored to its days as a center for trade,
entertainment, and welcome to all who come to Stormreach!
On this day in 1947, the first "flying saucer" that was called such was spotted
by American pilot Kenneth
Arnold, and coincidentally, on this day in 1997 the US Air Force finally
"explained" the Roswell incident (also in 1947), taking just 50 years to come up
with their weather balloons and test dummies story.
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