Archived News:
Steam News announces the
release of a new automatic patch for Team Fortress 2. The update adds a
new particle option for map authors, addresses a number of bugs, and improves
connection logic for the dedicated Linux server.
Steam News also has word
on a new patch that's automatically available for The Path, which clears
up a number of bugs and other issues.
Shacknews has
confirmation from publisher Activision that their previous report
of a two-week delay for Wolfenstein is accurate, and the first-person
shooter is now due the week beginning August 17th. Activision says this is: "In order
to facilitate a simultaneous global release window" for the supernatural
first-person shooter.
CompuExpert announces a patch is now automatically available for Rise of
Flight: The First Great Air War, addressing some bugs and adding two new
flyable planes to the game's roster of aircraft. Word is: "All Rise of Flight
players in North America and Europe will receive the Albatros D5 and the
Nieuport 28 free of charge. Thanks to the product's advanced activation,
management and launching (AML) system, each new plane will automatically appear
available [sic] the next time you play the game. The sleek German Albatros D5 and the
French, rotary-powered Nieuport 28 biplane, join a host of other World War I
aircraft in the combat simulator. The patch will be instantly available for
installation through the simulation's AML system and can be installed within
seconds."
The
Empire: Total War Forums have details on plans for an upcoming version 1.4
patch for Empire: Total War, which will focus on improving naval combat
in Creative Assembly's RTS sequel through a series of balance changes. The post
goes into detail on the pros and cons of various ship types in the game and how
they are altering the rock, paper, scissors (Spock!) dynamic. They conclude with
an overview, saying: "All these changes combined add a new dynamic to naval
battles. The best fleet will still be mostly Ships of the Line with a few
frigates in support, but now there is the possibility of a wider range of
tactics. So with 1.4 you will be getting a new gameplay experience for naval
battles which adds a new dynamic and rock, paper, scissors element to them."
There's no word on when the patch will be released. Thanks
Big Download.
There's an
Aion interview on PC Games Hardware discussing NCsoft's MMORPG that
will soon make its debut in the west. A good deal of the conversation is about
Crytek's CryENGINE technology that underlies the game, as they discuss the
reasons for selecting this engine, why they didn't opt for the more recent
CryENGINE 2, what sorts of modifications they had to make to the engine to suit
their needs, hardware requirements, and more.
Champions Online Interview on
Ten Ton Hammer talking with Cryptic's Bill Roper specifically about the
Power Armor and Might power sets from Champions Online, the upcoming
superhero MMORPG. They discuss the roles these sets are aimed at, perks they
provide, and how to pick out a matching cape.
MyCrysis now
offers the release of version 1.0 of Crysis Wars EX, a modification for
Crysis Wars, the multiplayer version of Crytek's first-person shooter.
The mod includes improvements for gameplay as well as server administration,
along with bug-fixes and a new map.
Link of the Day:
The Tonight Show: Conan O'Brien explores the Universal Lot (thanks Ant).
Now I know how I want to mod my desk.
Online retailer listings for Wolfenstein now list August 18 as the
release date for Raven's shooter sequel, points out
Shacknews. This
contradicts the August 4
release date they reported several weeks ago, and they point out
that since id has advertised that QuakeCon
2009 will feature "exclusive looks at id Software's own anticipated games
Wolfenstein and RAGE," from August 13-16, an August 18 release seems quite
logical. Update:
This delay has been confirmed.
The
League of Legends Website has word from Riot Games that this online
multiplayer session-based game will be free, and will be funded through a
microtransaction system. Word is: "Recently nominated for the Game Critics
Awards Best Strategy Game of E3, League of Legends will be available for Windows
PC in September 2009. Riot has also unveiled details about optional payment
which will enable additional virtual currency to be used within the Summoner
system meta game for play diversity, customization and novelty."
This page has
further details on the Summoner system, and
this
page has details on an online chat session scheduled for Friday to discuss
the game and its new business model.
The Witcher
Website has further details on The Witcher: Enhanced Edition Director's
Cut, the extra-special edition of CD Projekt RED's action/RPG
mentioned last month. A free update will be released for The
Witcher to bring the North American edition of the game in line with its
European counterpart, adding nudity, among other things, but word is European
players who have applied the recent version 1.5 patch are already experiencing
the Director's Cut. A new edition of the game will be released via digital
distribution, and word is: "The Director’s Cut has received an M rating from the
ESRB, with Blood and Gore, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content and
Violence."
Turning AoC Around on IncGamers is an interview with Funcom's Erling
Ellingsen about turning around a rocky MMORPG launch, something Funcom has had
the misfortune to need to do twice; with the recent launch of Age of Conan
as well as the launch of Anarchy Online back in 2001. He actually
clarifies that it was post-launch that AoC problems became evident, before going
on to describe the work they put into bringing the game closer to expectations.
They showcase
one interesting comment separately, where Ellingsen does not rule out the
possibility that the game might some day follow Anarchy Online into the
subscription-free space, saying: "We're certainly not ruling anything out, but
we don't have any current plans for that. However, we've had huge success going
free-to-play with our other MMO Anarchy Online, and we strongly believe its a
viable business strategy for these kinds of games."
Dave Perry says the Gaikai cloud gaming service should launch
early next year, telling
VG247, "If it all goes to plan we’re looking at the first quarter of 2010,
and there’ll be a closed beta before that." They have a video interview with the
game entrepreneur following his keynote speech at the Develop conference where
he tells them they have 20,000 potential beta testers already signed up, and the
plan for testing the service will involve setting up servers in California and
"we’re going to keep delivering players until we cripple the servers." When they
have finally worked out all the kinks the service will launch in the US. A video
was released earlier this month showing Gaikai in action.
MCV
reports an October 2 release date for FIFA 10, which is when to expect
the latest installment in the football/soccer series. That is the expected date
in the UK, at least, as other areas are not covered by this announcement. Word
is that promotion of the game will involve tonnes of pounds, as EA tells MCV
advertising FIFA 10 will be "a multi-million pound campaign."
Aventurine announces that North American servers are now live for
Darkfall, the MMORPG
that launched in Europe in February. The launch coincides with the
release of a new expansion,
described here, which adds player housing, a village control system, a
character specialization system, dynamic weather, and much more.
The second installment in the four-part series of "graphic novel" movies from
Wolfenstein is now available, further setting the stage for the upcoming
shooter sequel in development at Raven Software. The clip can be found on
ActionTrip,
AtomicGamer,
FileFront, and Gamer's
Hell. If you missed part one, there are no back-issues to buy,
this story has links to the first clip.
Big Download has a story about Rebellion, who have picked up several IPs in
the Vivendi fire sale following the merger of Activision and
Blizzard. They inquired after a recent sale on GOG.com listed
Ground Control
and Evil Genius as
Rebellion properties, and learned that while Rebellion picked up Evil Genius
"a long time ago," they also recently picked up the full rights to Ground
Control, Empire Earth, Lords of the Realm, and Lords of
Magic. The article discusses the rerelease of these games on GOG.com as well
as Steam, where Evil Genius
is already available, but Rebellion owns full rights to these games, and
according to their CEO Jason Kingsley, they will explore further development of
these properties in the future. "Yes, we have complete ownership of the IP from
the past and going forwards, so yes we're putting our plans together for new
titles in each series," he tells them. "Exactly what and when is currently up
for discussion, as we're super busy on Aliens vs Predator for Sega and
Rogue Warrior for Bethesda."
Shacknews has word that
Gearbox Software is the unnamed developer on Duke Begins, the mysterious
Duke Nukem game recently revealed through legal filings.
The Shack continues to risk the insanity that can be caused by too much exposure
to court documents, which reveal Gearbox as the third-party working on another
Duke game, which has been either shelved, cancelled, or is still under
development, depending on whose story you believe. At this point the lawsuits
over the Duke Nukem Forever situation seem to center on what say 3D
Realms has over the release of Duke Begins, royalty arrangements, and 3D Realms'
contention that DNF is still in development with no particular deadline, versus
Take Two's position that the "law implies a reasonable deadline for the
completion of contractual performance where no deadline is explicitly set forth
in the contract."
Bethesda Softworks has released a new fact sheet for Fallout 3: Mothership
Zeta along with
four new
screenshots from this upcoming DLC for the post-apocalyptic action/RPG
sequel. The
Fallout
Website has word on availability and pricing: "Mothership Zeta will be
released August 3rd on Xbox Live and Games for Windows Live for 800 points, and
will be released at a later date for PlayStation 3." Here are just the facts,
ma'am: DESCRIPTION: Defy hostile alien abductors and fight your
way off of the massive Mothership Zeta, orbiting Earth miles above the Capital
Wasteland. Mothership Zeta takes Fallout 3 in an entirely new direction – outer
space. Meet new characters and join with them in a desperate bid to escape the
Aliens’ clutches. To do so, you’ll wield powerful new weapons, like the Alien
Atomizer, Alien Disintegrator, and Drone Cannon, and deck yourself out in brand
new outfits, like the Gemini-Era Spacesuit and even Samurai Armor.
STORY: A strange Alien signal is being broadcast throughout the Capital
Wasteland, originating from a crashed UFO. Is it a distress call, or something
far more sinister? That question is answered when you find yourself beamed
aboard an enormous Alien spacecraft, with only one alternative – to fight your
way to the bridge of the ship and secure your escape.
KEY FEATURES:
• Find and exploit new and destructive alien technology, like the Alien Atomizer
and Drone Cannon.
• Explore the vast Mothership and learn the secrets of the Aliens’ master plan.
• Thwart the Aliens’ attempt to stop your escape, and take over the Alien ship
before it wreaks havoc on the unsuspecting Earth below.
• Fight against the Alien Invaders, their robot drones, and turn their own
horrible experiments against them.
• Ally yourself with an unexpected array of characters, both from the Capital
Wasteland and from Earth’s past.
Paradox Interactive announces a new release date for
Majesty 2: The
Fantasy Kingdom Sim, picking September 11 as the ship date for the
strategy sequel, in spite of that date's negative connotations. A delay was
never announced for the game, which was announced for a Q1 2009
release, but it also seems possible Majesty 2 will have a different North
American release date, as games are generally released in the new world on
Tuesdays, and 9/11 is a Friday, when European releases take place. According to
Paradox CEO Fredrik Wester: "The sequel to the heralded PC Strategy title will
be available for purchase through retail and on all major digital distribution
channels." Here's the deal: NEW YORK – July 14, 2009 – Today, Paradox
Interactive has announced that Majesty 2: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim, will
officially be released on September 11. The sequel to the heralded PC Strategy
title will be available for purchase through retail and on all major digital
distribution channels.
This fall, players will finally have the opportunity to once again rule the
unique world of Majesty 2. Through indirect control of the title’s characters
and units, you will recruit the finest group of Heroes to take on the
treacherous Villains of Majesty 2. Doing so can pose quite the challenge, for
your Heroes are just as likely to stop in for a beer at the local tavern as they
are to fight monsters and undertake heroic quests! Mixing humor and charm into a
magical landscape that is quite unlike anything else, Majesty 2 is primed to
offer strategy fans a fantastic experience never to be forgotten.
Join the quest on September 11 with Majesty 2: The Fantasy Kingdom Sim.
Develop reports that Midway Newcastle has been closed, which follows
previous reports that the Wheelman developer is not one of
the Midway assets being acquired by Warner Bros. Word is CEO Matt
Booty broke the news to the 70-some staff left unemployed by the move. The
fate of Necessary Force is not clear from the story, nor is the
fate of Midway San Diego, the other studio not picked up by Warner. Thanks
Joystiq.
This press release announces Nancy Drew: Ransom of the Seven Ships is
now available in US stores. Apparently moms and grandmas play more games than we
knew, as this is the 20th installment in the mystery series, and word is: "the
Nancy Drew PC game series has surprised pundits by appealing to non-traditional
audiences consisting of grandmothers, college students and working moms in
addition to the primary girl audience. That mainstream appeal has lead to yearly
sales growth for the series and ultimately a 40% market share within its
category." The story involves solving a kidnapping, presumably of the
family-friendly sort, and not the creepy Buffalo Bill wearing your skin variety.
superannuation has
sleuthed out some more Trademark filings, most significant of which are for
Kane &
Lynch 2: Dog Days and the same title with a colonectomy:
Kane &
Lynch 2 Dog Days. In other related news, Gameloft has registered a trademark
for
Gangstar West Coast Hustle, which could be just about anything, and in an
odd move, EA has filed
a
trademark registration for Dante’s Inferno for print matter, such as books,
even though Dante would seem to have a good case for a prior claim (by almost
600 years) for the Divine Comedy.
Max Payne 3 is now a 2010 release, it was revealed as part of Take Two's
financial reporting, as pointed out by
VG247. The game did not have a set release date, though there was widespread
speculation that the game would be released this winter (which actually does
stretch into 2010). Also,
GamesIndistry.biz reports Mafia II is delayed, but this set back
was revealed a few weeks ago.
The
Command & Conquer Forums have a Q&A session with Jeremy Feasel about
Command & Conquer 4, with the designer answering hot questions raised on
the forums about the just announced real-time strategy sequel.
Also, a name the game contest is soon getting underway on
the Command & Conquer 4 Facebook Page, where they've already figured out the
easy part of the game's title (the part with the number) but are still working
on the hard part (the part after the colon). Finally,
Command and Conquer DEN (thanks Ant) has a follow-up statement from
community manager APOC, who confirms that as things currently stand, players
will have to be online to play the game: A few things to add to Jeremy's
replies and some of your further concerns.
- C&C 4 has been in development for well over a year already, so, please put to
rest any fears this is a 1-year project. Most games don't announce until they
are around 1 year or less from release and either way, our development team will
not put a rushed game out on the shelf. They've been working quietly on this
project for a while now. We have had multiple RTS teams in the building so while
Red Alert 3 was being worked on, a lot of early go-ahead-forward work on C&C 4
was progressing.
- As of right now, you need to be online all the time to play C&C 4. This is
primarily due to our "player progression" feature so everything can be tracked.
C&C 4 is not an MMO in the sense of World of Warcraft, but conceptually it has
similar principles for being online all the time. While some may be taken aback
by this, we've been testing this feature internally with all of our world-wide
markets. We wanted to make sure it wouldn't take away any significant market or
territory from playing the game. We have not found or seen any results that have
made us think otherwise. You won't need a fast connection, in fact, you could be
on age-old dial-up, and have the same single player experience as everyone else.
Online all the time won't cause lag for single-player. We've also heavily worked
on the online infrastructure such that people with slower connections will not
lag other players with faster connections in Multiplayer.
What we are doing for multiplayer for the game and with our infrastructure for
this game is unlike any we've produced before and I think you will finally see
the culmination of a lot of key leanings from past projects in C&C 4, in this
respect.
We can elaborate more on gameplay details after all the magazines hit, plenty of
details for you to check in those! Gamestar will have a very extensive story.
The X-Motor Racing Website
now offers downloads of a new version 1.14 of the XMR Editor for this racing
simulation. The editor allows the creation of custom maps and new vehicles which can be
inserted into the full version of X-Motor Racing. The editor includes two
tracks and one car as examples.
EA Recruits Players for Battlefield Heroes announces over one million
players have signed up so far for
Battlefield
Heroes, the subscription-free online shooter. "The team is really proud
to have hit 1 million registrations at this early stage," says EA's Ben Cousins.
"Creating a character and gameplay experience that is totally yours is what sets
this game apart – your hero can be anything from a bazooka-toting pirate, a
grenade-throwing ninja or even a mime assassin!"
Scared Pixel Studios now offers new versions of two of their DOOM 3
modifications. A new version 0.50 of the
DemonWars Modification is now available, updating this co-op mod, and a new
version 1.00 of the
5.56mm Full Metal Jacket Modification is now available, updating this
realism oriented FPS/TPS mod. The explanation of what's new is identical for
each mod, as both add "the latest post processing effects added like
Motion-Blur, DOF, FilmGrain (4 different steps), Edge Dimming and Bloom (4
different steps) to add even more current-gen eye candy to the game." Each mod
will work under Windows, Linux, and MacOS.
GamesIndistry.biz clarifies that the acquisition of id Software
by ZeniMax does not mean id will be creating new IP for Bethesda Softworks,
ZeniMax's other developer. This seems an obvious point, but they have a
statement about this for the record from Bethesda's Pete Hines: "But with Quake,
Doom, Wolfenstein, and Rage, they already have more IP than they have teams to
work on them. So right now creating new IP or having them work on our Bethesda
IP isn't even being considered."
All Aspect
Warfare developer blog #14 - The DRM Minefield.
The key to DRM for developers/publishers is that the longer it takes for
hackers to break the game, the more chances you have of actually making some
additional money on the game. There is no such thing as a casual pirate
anymore. At least not since everyone discovered the Internet and Google. So
DRM implementation is not about preventing uncle Tom from making a copy of
your game for your cousin Harry. Tom doesn’t need to crack your game in
order to make that copy for Harry when he can just go online and get it from
someone who already has done the job for him. Heck, Harry can probably do it
all by himself. Casual piracy is no farther than a trip to a search engine.
Thanks Mike Martinez and Ant.
I just wanted to take a moment to thank the ever-talented Walter "2" Costinak
for continuing to impress us with his game-themed custom logos. This week's
features Section 8, and if you are curious, the vast collection of his
custom logos can be found in the
Logo Archive. Thanks
Walter!
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