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Archived News:
Today is the announced release date for the Windows version of Heroes over
Europe, the sequel to Heroes of the Pacific, and while we haven't seen an
official release announcement for the World War II aerial combat game, it is now
available for digital distribution through
GameStop and Steam.
The Art of Guild Wars 2 book is now for sale
on the Guild
Wars 2 Website. Here's word: "The Art of Guild Wars 2 is a hardbound book
packed with 128 pages of eye candy by ArenaNet's award-winning artists. The
vivid collection of concept art offers a long-awaited glimpse into the world of
Guild Wars 2. Within these pages you'll visit the undead realm of Orr, meet the
mysterious sylvari, and behold the fiery war machines of the charr. This book is
a must-have for any Guild Wars fan."
Shacknews has
confirmation the Left 4 Dead 2 demo revealed earlier will
indeed be for preorder customers when it is released on October 27,
confirming previous indications. The demo will be for PC and Xbox
360 customers who preorder the game, but there's no word at this time when the
demo will be released for the world at large.
Reuters reports that Electronic Arts stock is up on the day based on rumors
that Microsoft is planning a takeover bid. They hash through the possibilities
with some analysts, and seem to believe it's not happening: "There's talk
that Microsoft might be interested in acquiring Electronic Arts. It's
unsubstantiated chatter, but it's out there," said Frederic Ruffy, an options
strategist at WhatsTrading.com in New York.
But Trip Chowdhry, an analyst at Global Equities Research, said Electronic Arts
was not on Microsoft's "radar screen" based on his industry contacts.
"Our contacts just don't see Microsoft buying Electronic Arts, no synergies
whatsoever, and also not Microsoft's corporate primary focus right now,"
Chowdhry wrote in an e-mailed note.
There's an
Order of War Interview on Gaming Nexus discussing the just-released
World War II strategy game with Wargaming.net CEO Victor Kislyi. They discuss
the game's inspiration, its balance between authenticity and gameplay, fighting
"WWII fatigue," controlling large numbers of units, the future of strategy
games, multiplayer support, the possibility of expansions, and more.
The Brad Wardell
interview on Shacknews is a Q&A with the Stardock boss to probe for
information about Elemental, the upcoming fantasy-themed strategy game.
They discuss how there aren't many developers perusing games like this anymore,
ideas stolen from Civilization, making a more accessible game, combat,
strategies, multiplayer modes, and more.
Massively has details on the latest scandal in EVE Online, the space based MMORPG where the next scandal is always less than 12 parsecs off. The latest is some wrongdoing by a member of their volunteer program, who apparently accessed details about other members of the program, though the extent or full ramifications of the breach are not clear at this time. There is this warning from CCP: "All players, particularly those who are or have been in the EVE Online volunteer program, should be aware that any e-mails sent from the @eve-crc.net domain are bogus and have been sent from someone pretending to be an official representative of CCP."
The Direct2Drive offers seem to all be North America or US only.
- Champions Online on
Amazon.com. Save 40%, today only.
Still on sale (previously reported)
- Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures on
Direct2Drive. Only $5.00.
- Assassin's Creed Director's Cut on
Direct2Drive.
- Celtic Kings: Rage of War on
GoG.com.
Save 25%.
- Complete Strategy First Catalog on
GOG.com. Save
50%.
- Dark Void Preorders on
GameStop. Outlines the preorder bonus.
- 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.
- Madballs on Steam. Save 20% plus a free Guest Pass.
- MDK on Steam. Save 10%.
- 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.
- Risen on
Gamestop.com. Save $10.00. Thanks
Big Download.
- Spellforce Platinum on
GOG.com. Save $2.00.
- Titan Quest Bundle on
Direct2Drive. Only $5.00.
- Tropico 3 Pre-purchase on
Steam. Save 10%.
- 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%.
Independent developer Soldak Entertainment announces Din's Curse, a
single-player/co-op action RPG for PC and Mac tentatively planned for release
this year ("however it will be released when it's done"). A
Dins Curse Overview
is online, outlining the premise, and linking to the
game's forums,
which are already running. The game will feature 141 class combinations and an
"infinite" number of towns "with vastly different problems" thanks to the game's
dynamically generated content, and word is: "Your actions have real consequences
in this dynamic, evolving world. Your choices actually matter." Here's a bit
more: In Din's Curse, you will explore an extensive underground, slaying
dangerous monsters, solving dynamic quests, dodging deadly traps, and in your
spare time, plundering loot. Quell uprisings, flush out traitors, kill
assassins, cure plagues, purge curses, end wars, and complete other dangerous
quests or the danger WILL escalate. Not all is as it seems though, traitors will
gladly stab you in the back, renegades can revolt against the town, spies can
set up ambushes, and items might even curse or possess your friends.
The Witcher 2:
Assassins of Kings leaked video FAQ is a new document entirely devoted to
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings trailer recently "leaked"
onto the internets. The FAQ is penned by Tom Gop, CD Projekt RED Senior Producer,
who repeats that the leaked video does not represent the game's final graphics,
that the voices are all placeholders, outlines how much of the original The
Witcher team are working on the sequel, that the PC is the game's only announced
platform, that they do not currently have a set release date, and more.
Command and Conquer DEN has a press release from Vivox announcing the voice
communications outfit has signed a new deal with Electronic Arts to provide
integrated voice services in upcoming online games (thanks Ant). Command &
Conquer 4: Tiberian Twilight will be the first game to feature Vivox when
the RTS sequel is released: "Command & Conquer 4 is a huge leap forward
for RTS games," said Rob Seaver, CEO, Vivox. "EA recognizes the impact that
voice will bring to Command & Conquer 4, both tactically and socially, and it is
a terrific title to kick-off our relationship. With voice, players will
experience and create new levels of gameplay for themselves, making the
connections they need to move ahead and win the game. It is amazing to work with
EA to craft a new experience for the RTS genre, and we expect to keep innovating
with future EA titles."
Command & Conquer 4 Tiberian Twilight, the next installment to the bestselling,
critically acclaimed real-time strategy franchise, will feature new levels of
competitive multiplayer gameplay, including new features such as the 5v5
objective-based multiplayer mode. This functionality will elevate the social
real-time-strategy experience, with the focus on teamwork and cooperation, which
will be further enhanced with Vivox' voice chat.
VideoGamer.com has word from Infinity Ward that some surprises remain in
Modern Warfare 2, in spite of all the advance publicity for the military
shooter sequel also known as Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, a Modern Warfare
Call of Duty Game (or something like that). "There are some huge surprises.
What's awesome is, we've done all the press we've done so far, we've shown
Cliffhanger, we've shown some Favela, we've set the tone of what Modern Warfare
2 is, and yet there is something we haven't talked about that, and the reason we
haven't talked about it is because once you see it you completely forget
everything we've already talked about. It becomes this whole new game. That's
what I'm excited for," Infinity Ward's Robert Bowling tells them. "There are a
lot of surprises. Some stuff we will never talk about till launch, and that's
just because we want that… it's emotional stuff that we want to have that
emotional response when you play, not read it in a magazine and then you're
like, oh yeah I know about that."
IncGamers has statements from NCsoft about delays users have been
experiencing getting into Aion,
the just launched MMORPG. Users were experiencing long queues to enter the game
during the headstart program, which NCsoft says was an unusual circumstance, and
their MMOG correspondent reported no delays getting into the game on Tuesday.
There's an update to the story reporting NCsoft informs them that server caps
have been increased, and that two new servers will launch this weekend, one for
North America, and the other for Europe.
Paradox Interactive
announces that
Supreme Ruler 2020 GOLD is now available in North American stores and on
the internets through the magic of digital distribution. Here's a bit from the
announcement, which is accompanied by
some
new screenshots: Paradox Interactive announced today that Supreme
Ruler 2020 GOLD is available in retail stores in North America and through
digital download on all major digital distribution outlets. The strategy title,
which offers players a chilling glimpse of a world on the verge of World War
III, includes Supreme Ruler 2020 and its official expansion Global Crisis.
Developed by BattleGoat Studios, in Supreme Ruler 2020 GOLD, one must grab
control of a nation on the brink of total anarchy. In Global Crisis, you face an
even more devastating and realistic experience through a sandbox-style campaign
that incorporates real-world headlines and political strategies with thrilling
gameplay.
A Flash version of
Plants vs. Zombies on the PopCap Website offers an online way to sample the
vegetable versus carnivore action of Plants vs. Zombies, their offbeat
strategy offering. The online version offers links to download the free trial
version of the game, and here is word on the online version: The Flash
version of Plants vs. Zombies includes:
• 3 available game modes (Adventure, Endless Survival, Vasebreaker)
• 14 levels of Adventure mode
• A zombie not found in the PC version!
• 6 zombie types and 12 plants with which to stop them
• Graphics and gameplay faithful to the PC version
• Unlike most of our web based games, PvZ streams in the music of the PC
version as you play
• Enhanced performance features of Flash 10
Speaking at an EA event at the Tokyo Games Show, Valve has revealed a playable demo for Left 4 Dead 2 is expected on October
27, reports
Joystiq. Valve has already stated a demo will precede the
game's release and that there will be early demo access for
preorders, but those matters are not mentioned, nor is whether the demo is
coming to PC, Xbox 360, or both. Update: To be clear the story says this
was announced by Valve, and not EA, as this article originally stated. Apologies
for causing any confusion.
Valve announces that the Crash Course DLC for Left 4 Dead (and Left 4
Dead 2) is due on September 29: September 23, 2009 - Valve, creators
of best-selling game franchises (such as Half-Life, Portal, Team Fortress, and
Counter-Strike) and leading technologies (such as Steam and Source), today
announced that Crash Course -- the second downloadable content (DLC) update for
its co-operative zombie thriller, Left 4 Dead (L4D) -- will be made available
worldwide on September 29 on Xbox 360 and PC.
Crash Course delivers new single-player, multiplayer and co-operative gameplay
to both platforms, and bridges the gap between the end of the "No Mercy"
campaign and the beginning of "Death Toll" in the original game.
While containing both Survival maps and a Co-operative Campaign, the primary
goal of Crash Course is to deliver a complete Versus mode experience in just 30
minutes, resulting in a streamlined version of the game's existing Versus
campaigns. A recharge timer for infected teammates has also been added, and item
spawn behavior has changed for more balanced gameplay.
IGN reports that the
release of Borderlands is slightly delayed, and Gearbox Software's
RPG/shooter will be released in North America on October 26 and internationally
on October 30, respectively delays of six and seven days from the game's
previously announced release dates (interestingly, October 26 is
a Monday, while game releases in the US are usually Tuesdays). The console
versions are not effected by this, as word from 2K Games is: "We're optimizing
the PC version which takes a few days longer than expected."
MCV reports
rumors that Warner is gearing up to make a bid for THQ, which are substantial
enough to have driven THQ's stock price up 13% yesterday. They quote industry
analysts saying Viacom, Electronic Arts, and Fox/NewsCorp are also potential
suitors for THQ, apparently intrigued by the allure of THQ's WWE license.
Well, today is my third day completely off the coffee, and I am pretty miserable,
but not from caffeine withdrawal. Here's my promised explanation for why I'm off
the coffee. I recently got a referral to an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor to
investigate a pain in my throat, thinking I had developed a Rock Band related
singing injury like throat polyps. Instead I was diagnosed with
Laryngo-Pharyngeal Reflux Disease (LPRD), where stomach acids get past the upper
sphincter and into the throat, irritating and even damaging vocal chords and
possibly even the lungs. Unlike the similar, more common GERD, which causes
heartburn, most people with LPRD don't have significant symptoms, and it is
referred to as one of those "silent" diseases (so the occasional bouts of
heartburn I suffer are likely not due to this). Abstaining from caffeinated
beverages is part of the recommended treatment, as is staying away from fat,
spicy foods, soft drinks, alcohol, and about anything that is enjoyable, so
we'll have to see about all that going forward, but for now I'm being good. I am
also on a prescription medication for this called Protonix, which is the reason
for the misery that I mentioned earlier, as I am suffering intense backaches,
one of the rare side-effects of the drug. I will talk to the doctor today to
find out how long these might persist, and whether I need to switch meds as a
result. The good news is that the pain in my throat has gone away surprisingly
quickly, suggesting that however troublesome the treatment is, the Doctor's
diagnosis seems to have been spot on.
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