Archived News:
Muzzy Lane Software
announces February 2, 2010 as the release date for MAKING HISTORY II: The War
of the World, their upcoming strategy sequel (thanks
Gamer's Hell). Here's a
reminder, since we haven't heard much about this one lately: The
highly-anticipated grand strategy game will be at major game retailers
nationwide including Best Buy, GameStop, Target, and Walmart as well as major
digital distributors including Stardock’s Impulse and Paradox Interactive's
GamersGate.
MAKING HISTORY II: The War of the World, is the follow-up to 2007’s MAKING
HISTORY: The Calm & the Storm. The MAKING HISTORY® franchise is known for
open-ended gameplay set in real world scenarios with a sharp eye on how
economics and national character affect the dynamics of war. MAKING HISTORY II
will also sport robust, web-enabled multiplayer gameplay packed with social
networking features like friends lists, online chat and much more. You can see
its current incarnation at
http://making-history.com/
VG247 quotes NCsoft's Christian-Peter Heimbach saying "There will be at
least one major update a year" for Aion, their new fantasy-themed MMORPG that's
in the midst of its launch. He goes on to say: "You know this from our previous
titles. We’re currently adjusting on how we’re going to make these available,
but there will be free content updates for all players, and we’re looking then
at how big the major updates will be."
Level-Cap
Increase and New Mercenary Class Enhance the Vibrant World of Atlantica Online
is Ndoors Interactive's announcement of planned changes in
Atlantica Online, their subscription-free MMORPG. Here are some
new
screenshots, and here's a bit: "Ndoors Interactive announced today that with
their upcoming update, the level cap for their strategic MMORPG Atlantica Online
will increase from 120 to 130. As players strive towards this goal, they’ll have
a variety of new content at their fingertips, including a new mercenary class
and two new dungeons to explore. Additionally, the game is receiving new
equipment and an updated craft system. The universe of Atlantica Online
continues to expand, upholding the game’s status as the best-reviewed
free-to-play online game of the year."
Champions Online's Bill Roper talks retcons, powers and more on Massively is
an interview about Champions Online,
and Cryptic's plans to tweak their superhero MMORPG going forward. They discuss
solo combat, the extensive changes to the economy they haven't yet pushed out to
the live servers, blood moon and other content updates, retcons, and more.
The
Interview with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer designer Todd
Alderman on Joystiq talks with the Infinity Ward designer about the upcoming
military shooter sequel. Along the way they ask him to clear up the
back-and-forth over whether this game would carry the Call of Duty title, and he
does anything but: Well there are a lot of different factors involved,
but we wanted to make sure, and I tried to state this at the beginning, that
this is a different game. I mean it is not ... it has got 2 on it obviously, but
it is not just a sequel. It is not just another Call of Duty game. It is a big
new thing and we want people to associate it with Modern Warfare 2. And it is
the same story, so it is in the Call of Duty universe.
So messaging it both ways, I think it's helpful. People that are in the know,
know what Modern Warfare 2 is. People that know what Call of Duty is might not
necessarily get it in a way, but establishing that identity and making sure that
this is Modern Warfare 2. It is not just Call of Duty blah, blah, blah. It is
Modern Warfare 2. And then having the Call of Duty ... we are not denying it is
Call of Duty.
But it seems like Infinity Ward would like to call it Modern Warfare 2.
We do call it Modern Warfare 2. It is still Call of Duty. But to us, that is
how we refer to it. That is how we talk about it.
A new The Saboteur video
on the Pandemic Studios Website offers a look at the atmosphere of Paris
outside The Belle de Nuit nightclub. And that's about it. Seriously, you can
sense the boeuf bourguignon drying. The
Resistance Blog
offers a write-up about this location and its significance in the game. There's
also an image gallery on
this Polish website (thanks
VG247) that features the rarely seen phenomenon of video game nudity.
A new Dark Void Community
Website is online, offering more community and less void as they gear up for
the launch of this jetpack-powered action game. Word is: "By joining the
resistance you will get insider access and first looks at game reveals, be able
to participate promotions to win exclusive Dark Void prizes and stay informed on
the latest news from Capcom."
The
J. Allen Brack interview on MMORPG.COM is a video conversation with the
production director for World of Warcraft about plans for WoW version
3.3, the change in the expansion process represented by Cataclysm, and more WoW
stuff in deep detail.
There's
an interview with BioWare's Greg Zeschuk on Crispy Gamer talking with the
BioWare co-founder about storytelling in games, touching on the interesting
topic of story as a reward: "It's almost a sense of always providing the player
a reward for their efforts. And a reward can be narrative. That's one of the
exciting things that we've learned. It doesn't always have to be a big, shiny
sword. It can also be an incremental change in your perspective of the world, or
a little story bit that that really adds something. In Dragon Age: Origins there
are these Codex Entries -- books that are all over the place. Lots and lots of
them. You find them and you can go read them. They're interesting, well written
and tell a detailed history of the world. And if you read them -- all of a
sudden you're going to realize, when you go to certain places, that they're
telling you something important about that place."
The Direct2Drive offers seem to all be North America or US only.
- Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures on
Direct2Drive. Only $5.00.
- Assassin's Creed Director's Cut on
Direct2Drive.
- Drakensang: The Dark Eye on
Direct2Drive. Only $5.00.
- Elven Legacy on
Direct2Drive. Only $5.00.
- Eve Online: Apocrypha on
Direct2Drive. Only $5.00.
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City on
Direct2Drive. Only $5.00.
- Neverwinter Nights 2 on
Direct2Drive. Only $5.00.
- Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir on
Direct2Drive. Only $5.00.
- PlanetSide: Aftershock on
Direct2Drive. Only $5.00.
- Spellforce Platinum on
GOG.com. Save $2.00.
- Titan Quest Bundle on
Direct2Drive. Only $5.00.
- Tropico 3 Pre-purchase on
Steam. Save 10%.
Still on sale (previously reported)
- Ageod's Military Strategies: Battles of 1750-1918 on
GoGamer. Save 33%.
- Celtic Kings: Rage of War on
GoG.com.
Save 25%.
- Chain of Command: Eastern Front on
GoGamer. Save 67%.
- Champions Online on
GoGamer. Save 16%.
- Cities XL on
GoGamer. Save 5%.
- Dark Void Preorders on
GameStop. Outlines the preorder bonus.
- Dawn of Magic on
GoGamer. Save 90%.
- Dawn of Magic 2 on
GoGamer. Save 20%.
- East India Company on
GoGamer. Save 25%.
- Everquest II: The Complete Collection on
GoGamer. Save 25%.
- Fallen Earth Preorders on
the Fallen Earth Store. Save 10% on multiple
keys.
- Fallen Earth Pre-purchase on
Steam. Play Early
and get exclusive items.
- Fallout 3 on
GoGamer. Save 40%.
- Haegemonia Gold Edition on
GoG.com.
Save 25%.
- Heroes over Europe on
GoGamer. Save 40%.
- Madballs on Steam. Save 20% plus a free Guest Pass.
- MDK on Steam. Save 10%.
- Need for Speed: SHIFT on
GoGamer. Save 30%.
- Order of War Pre-Purchase on
Steam. Exclusive
content.
- Order of War on
GoGamer. Save 13%.
- Original War on
GoG.com. Save 25%.
- Painkiller on
GOG.com. Save
$2.00.
- Raven Squad: Hidden Dagger on
GoGamer. Save 43%.
- Resident Evil 5 on
GoGamer. Save 16%.
- The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition on
Direct2Drive and
Steam. Save 50%.
- Star Wars: The Force Unleashed: Ultimate Sith Edition on
GoGamer. Save 20%.
- Tropico 3 on
GoGamer. Save 18%.
- Unreal Tournament 3 Black
Steam. Save 60%.
- Unreal Tournament: Game of the Year Edition on
Steam. Now $1.99.
- Unreal Deal Pack on
Steam. Save 60%.
- Wolfenstein on
GoGamer. Save 40%.
- Lord of the Rings Online: Siege of Mirkwood on
MMORPG.COM.
Gamasutra
reports that World of Warcraft has resumed commercial operations in China
after a hiatus caused by the change in operators from The9 to NetEase as well as
edits to some content, and the game has been operating
for a while in beta form. They add some interesting notes to
this, including the estimate that NetEase has been spending close to $150,000
USD per day operating the beta, and that Chinese players represent almost
half the game's 11.5 million player population, but only 6% of the game's
revenue.
Eidos Interactive
announces that over 2.5 million copies of Batman: Arkham Asylum have
shipped since the superhero game emerged from the Batcave and headed into
stores. "Batman: Arkham Asylum is one of the stand-out games this year," says
Phil Rogers, CEO of Eidos. "I’ve been following the great reviews and consumer
blogs and I’m delighted that gamers everywhere love playing this game as much as
we do." The announcement also quotes Martin Tremblay: "The tremendous critical
and commercial success of Batman: Arkham Asylum sets a new benchmark for
superhero games," says the President of Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.
"Rocksteady Studios created an excellent game and the sales numbers demonstrate
how a powerful franchise fused with high-quality production resonates with
consumers."
Sega announces
Empire:
Total War - The Warpath Campaign, an add-on for Empire: Total War
(which is required to play the expansion) that will be released next month via
Valve's Steam service, where
pre-purchases are already
being accepted. The announcement includes screenshots, a gameplay trailer,
and the following rundown: The Warpath Campaign Expansion is only
available through Steam. Check the Downloadable Content page on Steam to
purchase and unlock the new campaign and all 5 new American Indian factions.
These factions can be played in single player and multiplayer games.
A new detailed North American Campaign Map expands the Empire: Total War
experience, with 5 brand new American Indian factions, new units and
technologies. Experience battles in the new Warpath Campaign and lead one of the
5 new factions in an epic war to defend your lands and drive out the invaders.
Or take these units and their unique strengths into multiplayer battles.
The Demigod Website
has details on a version 1.19 patch for Gas Powered Games' action/strategy game
they expect to release via Impulse tomorrow. The new version will add replay
support, change some prices in the artifact shop, and add a variety of
additional changes and fixes. The post concludes promising another patch next
week with the same version number (presumably to keep us on our toes), saying:
"We expect to release another v1.19 update the following Tuesday which will add
player stats in the lobby connection dialog where players can view player data
and view any notes they may have made on that player along with possibly more
balance updates." As for other promised updates, they also add: "Other
previously discussed features and additions (2 more Demigods, modding,
additional balance updates, etc. are still in internal beta)." Thanks The Patches Scrolls.
THQ announces Dawn
of War II: Chaos Rising, an upcoming expansion for Relic's Warhammer
40,000-inspired RTS sequel due for release in Spring 2010 for Games for Windows
LIVE. There are some details and a pack shot
here, and here is the
announcement: Continue the single player campaign from the original Dawn
of War II with all new Wargear and a level cap raise from 20 to 30 for your
Blood Raven squad. Veterans of the Dawn of War II single player campaign can use
their existing squads’ accumulated wargear, abilities and experience to battle
the traitorous Chaos Space Marines of the Black Legion throughout 20 new
missions. Powerful new Chaos-tainted wargear can also be equipped and used
against your enemy, but doing so could lead to dreadful consequences.
The Chaos Space Marines will also be playable as a brand new army in
multiplayer. Other multiplayer additions include new units for Orks, Eldar,
Tyranids and Space Marines, as well as new multiplayer maps.
Activision
Blizzard announces a delay to Blur, stating the multi-platform racing
game is now due at the starting grid in 2010, saying the delay is to allow more
time to enhance the game's "innovative and distinctive" online multiplayer
support. "We are committed to making Blur a great new racing franchise, and we
are very encouraged by the game's design," says Mike Griffith, President and
CEO, Activision Publishing. "The additional time will allow the studio to fully
optimize the vision they set out to create for Blur including a distinctive and
groundbreaking multiplayer mode that will appeal to a broad audience."
A new patch is now available for Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood updating
the Windows version of Techland's wild west shooter prequel to version 1.1. This
update rebalances the Spy, Gunslinger, Hombre, Veteran, and Sniper classes: "to offer the best multiplayer gunfights," and the new version
is said to "significantly" improve the multiplayer experience. Version 1.1 also
adds support for Techland's User Content Creation Package, a complete content
creation and modification toolset for the game.
Cojmodding.com is a new dedicated site
for these mod tools, and
this
forum post has more details. Meanwhile, the new
patch is mirrored on
AtomicGamer,
FileFront,
Fileplay,
Gamer's Hell, and
The Patches Scrolls; and the content creation package is mirrored on
FileFront,
Fileplay, and
The Patches Scrolls. For console owners, word is: "Ubisoft also informs
console players that the Xbox 360® and PlayStation® 3 versions of the Call of
Juarez: Bound in Blood patch 1.1 are underway and will be released in the
upcoming days."
A new Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising diary movie shows the Fog Of
War as depicted in Codemasters' military shooter. For the most part they are
talking about literal fog, describing particle and smoke effects that can
obscure the battlefield. The latter half of the clip discusses various graphical
elements and other details that create a realistic environment. The clip is
posted on the YouTube.
The Fortress Forever Website now
offers an updated version 2.4 of this Source-engine mod "inspired by Team
Fortress." There's a new movie on the
YouTube highlighting the new version, and the
change log outlines
all the changes, including four new maps. Thanks Ant via
Planet
Half-Life.
Okay, please be gentle today, as I am trying to make it through the day with no
coffee at all. I have been weaning myself off caffeine for a couple of weeks
now, and it seems like it's time to try the final step. This is for a couple of
reasons, but I'm running a little late right now, so I guess I'll explain the
reasons for this in another Out of the Blue later this week.
|
Twitter 
