Archived News:
Steam News announces the
second patch in as many days for Dreamkiller is available automatically
to update this horror-themed first-person shooter. The new update corrects
saving issues. Steam also
has a new automatic update for Madballs in... Babo:Invasion, adding new
weapons, new achievements, a new attract mode, a Windows dedicated server, and
some bug fixes.
More new DLC is now available on
Steam for RailWorks,
offering the GWR B Set Coach RailWorks Add-on, which is the 13th bit of content
released for the transport simulator. The add-on includes three new scenarios
along with the additional liveries.
The
Paradox Interactive Forums has some details on what's in the works for the
next patch for Hearts of Iron 3, the World War II RTS sequel. They say
the version 1.3 patch is expected during the first week in November, and here
are the notes: - Production view serial/parallel now can now be
incremented/decremented by holding down left mouse button.
- Added an alert when mobilized and not in war.
- Added an alert for when you have a decision possible.
- Invasion AI now allowed to attack non-port provinces
- Unit AI: Will prioritize attacking neighboring port provinces if the
controlled area lacks a port
- A country automatically mobilizes when going into war.
- Countries get a reinforcement bonus first month after mobilizing.
Kotaku has some impressions of the PS3 edition of Dragon Age: Origins,
revealing that only the PC edition has the ability to zoom out for a strategic
top-down view, as this is not present in the console versions. The top-down
view fits with BioWare's statements about this being the "spiritual successor"
to the Baldur's Gate series, but there's no explanation of why it will
not be part of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 editions. Update: As noted in our forums, this was explained by BioWare a while ago as being due to memory constraints on console systems.
A new trailer from Aliens vs. Predator is called "Instinct is Everything,"
offering some gameplay footage from SEGA's upcoming first-person shooter with
glimpses of all three factions though it focuses on the Aliens. The clip is
posted on ActionTrip,
Filefront, GameVideos,
Gamer's Hell, and
IncGamers.
A video developer diary from Assassin's Creed 2 called "All's Fair In
Love and War," offers developer narrated gameplay footage from the upcoming
assassination sequel. Topics include the brutal nature of killing in the game,
your need to choose your battles, the game's guard archetypes, new weapon types,
and how you are more of a badass this time around. The trailer is available on
GameVideos and
GameTrailers.
A new R.U.S.E. gameplay trailer shows off the "Pump Fake" strategy from
Eugen Systems' upcoming RTS game. Word is: "The pump fake is a trick that
American Football quarterbacks can pull where they pretend to throw forward,
then pitch the ball somewhere else. In RUSE, you can do something similar, but
with entire armies…" The clip can be found on
Gamer's Hell,
GameVideos, and
GameTrailers.
Massively has details on how Aion players have been rewarded for their
patience following the MMORPG's launch, when long server queues were the norm.
Each player has been gifted with five Lodas Amulets, which provide a 20% bonus
experience for monster kills for one hour.
Steam's THQ Week will
offer a sale on one THQ title each day this week. Also Dealzon reports an
Amazon Console sale: Buy two, get one free.
- Alganon on
Direct2Drive. Preorder and get beta access and in-game items.
- Drakensang: The Dark Eye on
Direct2Drive. Save $5.00 with the code 5OFFDRAKENSANG.
- Eufloria on
Direct2Drive. Save 25% on preorders.
- Ground Control Pack on
GOG.com. Save
30%.
- Half-Life series on
Steam. Save 58.5% on all games.
- Red Faction on
Steam. Save 25%.
- Red Faction II on
Steam. Save 25%.
- Red Faction Guerrilla on
Steam. Save 25%.
- Sam & Max Season Two on
the Telltale
Games Store. Save 42%.
Still on sale (previously reported)
- Beyond the Spirit's Eye on
Impulse. Save 50%.
- Borderlands on
Direct2Drive. Save 10% on preorders.
- Borderlands on Steam. Save 10% on pre-purchase of the game or the four-pack.
- Circus Empire on
Impulse. Save 30%.
- Company of Heroes Tales of Valor on
Impulse. Save 50%.
- Crazy Machines series on
Steam. Save 25%.
- Cricket Revolution on
Steam. Save 10% on
pre-purchases.
- Dawn of War Complete Pack on
Steam. Save 50%. Sale
also applies to individual titles.
- East India Company on
Direct2Drive. Only $5.00.
- Eufloria on Steam.
Save 25% on pre-purchases until October 20.
- Gratuitous Space Battles on
Impulse. Save 13% on
preorders.
- Hollywood Pictures II on
GamersGate. Save 50%.
- Light of Altair on
Impulse. Save 20%.
- Metal Drift on Steam. Save 20% on pre-purchase and get beta access.
- Nemesis of the Roman Empire on
Impulse. Save 33%.
- Painkiller: Resurrection on
Steam. Save 10% on
pre-purchases and get PK: Black and PK: Overdose free.
- Saints Row 2 on
Steam. Save 75%.
- SFI Mission 4-Pack on
the Strategy First Website. Four games for $19.99.
- Street Fighter IV on
Impulse. Save 25%.
- Spiderweb Software Store. All games 10% off through October.
- Sword of the Stars: Ultimate Collection on
GamersGate. Save 67%.
- Team Fortress 2 on
Best Buy and
FRYS.com.
Only $9.99. Thanks Johnny.
- THQ Classic FPS Bundle on
Impulse.
Save 25%.
- Tropico 3 Pre-purchase on
Steam. Save 10%.
- Tropico 3 on
Direct2Drive. Preorders save 10%.
- Warlords Battlecry III on
Impulse. Save 33%.
- Wolfenstein on
Amazon. Save
41%.
- X-Com Complete Pack on
GamersGate. Save 50%.
The Championship Manager Website
now offers the October update for Championship Manager 2010, the latest
installment in this association football/soccer series.
This
page has details on the update and instructions on how to get it, and there
is also a manual patch available on
AtomicGamer and
The
Patches Scrolls.
We have a very brief follow-up from LucasArts refuting the speculative Star
Wars: The Old Republic release date in the story below. They say: Guys
– we haven’t announced a release date for Star Wars: The Old Republic. The
source of your story has his or her wires crossed.
"The Star Wars: The Old Republic videogame is due out from BioWare in January"
is included in a post on
ICv2 that quotes Dark Horse's Jeremy Atkins at the Baltimore Comic-Con
talking about publishing the Star Wars: The Old Republic webcomic. The
link to that article was posted to the
Star Wars: The Old Republic Forums by BioWare's Sean Dahlberg in a
discussion about the webcomic, but later edited out of his post. Presumably the
information about the January date is based on insider info to which Dark Horse
is privy, but it is unattributed, and may just be made up. We shall see. Thanks
DV via the
MMORPG.com Forums.
Mythic Entertainment's Warhammer Herald has news that version 1.3.2, "Path
of Conquest," is live for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning.
This page offers the full patch notes, and there's a new
Producer's Letter discussing the new version, and what lies beyond,
including version 1.3.3 and new systems they are bringing online, offering
details on one they call the underdog system (much to the delight of Sweet Polly
Purebread).
BioWare
announces Mass Effect 2 will be released in North America on January
26 and in Europe on January 29, once again referring to the RPG sequel as part
of a trilogy, though Dr. Greg Zeschuk has indicated it could go
beyond that. The announcement also mentions pre-order incentives for North
America and Europe, outlining specifics about North American bonuses, and
offers
a screenshot of the Terminus Armor: In North America, pre-order
bonuses* include special-ops armor and weaponry that are designed to boost
Commander Shepard’s skills and abilities. At GameStop, Terminus Gear is
available with pre-orders, which includes the powerful Terminus Assault Armor
and the M-490 Blackstorm Heavy Weapon:
• The Terminus Armor is designed for use in extreme planetary conditions,
increasing run speed and personal shields, and augmenting weapons with an
additional magazine of reserve ammo.
• The M-90 Blackstorm Heavy Weapon generates a high-powered localized gravity
well, accelerating particles to near-infinite mass, and ultimately expanding the
selection of heavy weapons available to players when they gear up for combat
missions in Mass Effect 2.
Players that pre-order Mass Effect 2 at other retail outlets in North America
will receive the potent Inferno Armor, which is used by officers to monitor
battlefield conditions by recognizing elevated heart rates, and regulates
sub-systems with extreme efficiency to allow for greater response times –
together these abilities translate in-game into a negotiation bonus for
Commander Shepard and an increase in run speed and augmented damage from combat
powers.
Play ball! To go along with the rainy, snowy playoffs,
Wolverine Studios announces the
release of PureSim
Baseball 2, the second installment in this sports simulation series. A
playable demo is also available, and here's word: Nothing says October
like a good old pennant chase and here’s your chance to get in on the action
with PureSim Baseball 2. PureSim 2 is the sequel to the critically acclaimed
baseball simulation developed by Shaun Sullivan. With the licensed use of the
Lahman Database, PureSim Baseball 2 gives you the opportunity to go back to any
season since 1900 and begin your baseball dynasty. Can you accomplish the feats
of your favorite team or perhaps rewrite history by going back in time to when
you felt things went wrong for your favorite club and leading them down a
different path. With its myriad of stats and reports ranging from in-game media
stories to the depths of Sabermetric statistics, PureSim Baseball 2 gives you
the ability to get lost in your own baseball universe. Coupled with its
unmatched levels of customization and accurate simulation engine, PureSim
Baseball 2 will keep you in the pennant chase all year long!
Steam News announces they
are now accepting pre-purchases for Dragon Age: Origins, BioWare's
upcoming RPG. Just like getting married, this commitment includes a couple of
rings: "Get the standard edition
Standard Edition or
upgrade to the Digital Deluxe
Edition and get special bonus content. Both come with 2 special rings when
you pre-purchase: 'The Memory Band' and the Steam exclusive 'The Wicked Oath'."
Update: Impulse also
offers the memory ring preorder bonus.
The
Patch 1.13 thread on the Battle.net Forums has been updated with word of yet
another setback for the Diablo II version 1.13 patch first mentioned
in March (thanks Rhialto). Now it sounds like Blizzard is just
stuck for the moment for how to deal with the overdue update for their
action/RPG: The decision on whether or not to include the enlarged stash
size has been slightly delayed. As mentioned previously it would require some
additional weeks of development and would remove one of the most requested
features were we unable to include it. If it were to be included the concern is
that it could render Diablo II unplayable, and repairing the issue after the
fact would draw heavily on development resources. Which is also something we
obviously want to avoid.
We hope to be able to reach a conclusion and decision soon on the future of the
1.13 patch, and we’ll keep you updated as it develops.
Mythic Entertainment
announces "Daemon Moon Rising," a special event for Warhammer Online: Age
of Reckoning to celebrate Halloween. The event runs from October 23 to
November 2, and word is it: "will feature the Daemon Mask event quest, a new
Daemonball Rally Public Quest, a special Realm vs. Realm™ scenario, and treats
both fair and foul." They trademarked "Realm vs. Realm"? Who knew?
Nexon America Reports
Massive 36 Percent Revenue Growth for 3rd Quarter has the latest financial
reporting from the North American publishing arm of Nexon Group. Word is:
"Underlining the success of the third quarter were revenue numbers for
September, which jumped 44 percent, compared to September 2008. This goes along
with the company’s growth trend during this past summer when Nexon America’s
revenues grew 35 percent in July and 32 percent in August compared to the same
time frame last year."
There's a short interview
with Kevin Short on the official website for James Cameron's Avatar: The Game,
chatting with the lead scriptwriter on the movie tie-in. He discusses the
project, with one of his answers explaining why we hear so little about it: "The most unusual thing about working on Avatar is the intense level of
security. Within the Ubisoft studio, the Avatar team has been cordoned off from
the rest of the building. Access is highly restricted and we’re tucked in a
corner of the studio affectionately called the bunker. It’s unusual for a
project to be so removed from the rest of the studio in this way."
The Slowdown -
Avataritis.
Therefore, the current rat race for the best, most customizable avatar
shall thus be perceived an abhorrent one, damaging to the maturing and
growth of the narratives in video games. (Obviously, there are occasions
wherein the “tabula rasa” scenario is a fully motivated one, either by its
ludic or narrative function, but assuming this to be a default state to be
aspired to seems ultimately misguided beyond the MMO.)
Today is National Boss Day, so I'm going to be extra nice to the boss today. And
as the boss, I'm going to appreciate that.
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