Archived News:
Following recent indications that Charles Cecil and Dave Gibbons were once again collaborating on an adventure game comes word on G4tv.com that this is a remake of the casual Windows game Minesweeper, of all things. The beans on this were spilled by OneBigGame charity co-founder Martin de Ronde (formerly of Guerrilla Games), who apparently didn't know this was supposed to be a secret: "He's [Cecil] come up with a back story for as to why the mines are there, he's come up with characters," laughed de Ronde. "It's turning out to be a really, really cool game in terms of mechanics and also in terms of the setting and the universe..."
The Dragon Age: Origins Toolset Page now offers downloads of the tools for Dragon Age: Origins for registered owners of BioWare's new RPG. Word is: "The Dragon Age™ Toolset puts the power of the game developer in the palm of your hands. The Dragon Age Toolset will allow you to produce your own content including dungeons crawls, full-length campaigns, and even cut-scenes you can share with friends and the BioWare community."
Direct2Drive now offers digital distribution of the uncut version of Manhunt 2. The PC edition of Rockstar's action/adventure sequel has all the game's planned content for the rare "AO" rating, along with support for 3D monitors.
Steam News has word that Serious Sam HD: The First Encounter can now be pre-purchased at a 10% discount off the full price of Croteam's shooter remake. Steam News also announces Star Trek D-A-C is now available for pre-purchase, and the Star Trek spaceship combat game is 10% off until its release.
Steam News announces another automatic update is available for the Left 4 Dead 2 demo. A few bugs and issues are cleared up by the new version.
Steam News announces the Steam edition of the Torchlight patch released earlier is now automatically available, addressing a number of issues with Runic's action/RPG. Also now available through Valve's digital delivery service is an automatic patch for the Steam client and an automatic patch for Madballs in... Babo:Invasion. Finally, a new auto-patch is also available for Osmos.
GameSpot has NCsoft's latest financial reporting, including word that Aion has now sold more than 500,000 units in North America and 470,000 copies in Europe. This leads to some impressive results: "The Korean publisher reported revenues today that were up 112 percent to KRW166 billion ($142 million). Net income during the July-September period soared to KRW46.9 billion ($40 million), a whopping 836 percent year-over-year rise."
The Left 4 Dead 2 Developer Interview on IncGamers is a publisher-issued video interview with Valve writer Chet Faliszek discussing the zombie shooter sequel. There's also an interview with Mr. Faliszek on PC Format about Left 4 Dead 2 as well as some project they refer to as Half-Life 2: Episode Three that seems to ring a bell. The L4D2 questions are quite basic, and his answer about Episode Three is just what you'd expect: "No...we like to wait until we actually know when we're going to ship something before we mention it."
The Hypertension Website is home to Hypertension, an upcoming first-person shooter that's a remake of Blood, Monolith's bloody shooter. This presumably freeware game is targets at Windows, Mac, and Dreamcast, of all things, but word is the game is still at least a year from release, but in the meantime, there's a new trailer from the project on the YouTube.
A new Shattered Horizon trailer on GameTrailers.com shows off the "silent running" mode in Futuremark's new zero-G first-person shooter, since in space, no one can hear you sneaking up on them.
- Capitalism II on Impulse. Save 33%.
- Fairy Tales - Three Heroes on Impulse.
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Still on sale (previously reported)
- Agatha Christie: Double Murder Mystery Pack on GoGamer. Save 80%.
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- All In-Stock Games on the EA Online Store. Save 20%.
- Alganon on
Direct2Drive. Preorder and get beta access and in-game items.
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- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on
Amazon and
Walmart. Includes a $20.00 credit.
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- Manhunt 2 on Direct2Drive. Get the original Manhunt for free if you buy before tomorrow.
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Impulse. Save 33%.
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PCGameStore.
Only $6.99.
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the Strategy First Website. Four games for $19.99.
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- Team Fortress 2 on
Best Buy and
FRYS.com.
Only $9.99. Thanks Johnny.
- THQ Classic FPS Bundle on
Impulse.
Save 25%.
- Time Gentlemen, Please! on Zombie Cow Studios Website. Save 50% until the release of Modern Warfare 2.
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GamersGate. Save
40%.
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Thanks Mike Martinez and Ant.
Link of the Day: Happy 30th birthday Atari 800. Thanks Ant via Digg. I have such fond memories of my 800XL.
PC Games Hardware has benchmarked the recently released demo for Left 4 Dead 2 compared with the version of the demo released in Germany that has some of the gore removed, and found the cut version runs about 40%(!) faster than the uncut version. Word is: The direct comparison between cut an uncut version reveals huge differences in performance. It doesn't matter if we use a dual-core E6600 or quad-core Q6600 processor, the less violent version of the demo runs about 40 percent faster that the uncut version. Furthermore the difference between the two uncut results (dual-core vs. quad-core) is bigger, too, what indicates a higher CPU workload.
Since it is currently possible to play on "uncut" servers with a cut version of Left 4 Dead 2, the question arises if this could be an unfair advantage for some players. A scene that lags in the uncut version might be running smoothly in the cut version - especially in Versus Mode this could make the difference between death and survival. It is of course possible to lower the amount of violence in the uncut version via the command console though.
GamesIndustry.biz has sort of a man-bites-dog story, reporting that developer RedLynx leaked their own game Trials to torrent sites on the day of its release as an unusual bit of guerilla promotion. The version they uploaded was missing one major component, support for leaderboards, as their hope was that users of the "pirated" version would enjoy the game enough to "upgrade" to the retail version of the game. They offer the following quote made by RedLynx CEO Tero Virtala at a panel discussion: "Piracy is here, so how can we take advantage of that? What we did actually, on day one, we put that game immediately on all the torrent networks ourselves," revealed Virtala. "That game relies really heavily on the server side – the leaderboards are the soul of the game. I don't know if it's helped, I'd assume so because even though the version that we put on the torrent networks wasn't the full version, it's the version of the game without the actual soul, without the leaderboards to play against other players."
Mythic Entertainment introduces a new "Endless Free Trial" for Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning, which replaces the 10-day trial for their fantasy-themed MMORPG. In addition, the free trial client is streamed, allowing players to start playing much more quickly than before. Word is: Endless free trial players will embark on the recently introduced New User Journey, which features enhanced tutorials and new community elements, such as a “new player” guild, to streamline the transition of new players into WAR and its vibrant community of players.
“With the introduction of the endless free trial and streaming client, we are making it easier than ever for a new player to join the WAR,” said Jeff Hickman, executive producer, Mythic Entertainment. “We’ve worked hard to create a more informative and community driven new user experience, and now we are giving players an unlimited amount of time to explore the early parts of the game at their own pace. We are confident that players new and old will find all the enhancements we’ve made to WAR over the past year worthy of their time and commitment.”
Available now, the new streaming endless trial client is a seamless way for new users to get into the game. After an initial download of just over 1GB, additional content streams in the background as required while playing. All closed 10-day free trial accounts have been converted to open endless free trial accounts and are ready for returning players to resume their journeys across the frontlines of WAR.
New users and returning players can download the Warhammer Online endless free trial by visiting http://www.warhammeronline.com/trial.
The Star Wars: The Old Republic Website has a new developer blog from Drew Karpyshyn, lead writer on the original KOTOR as well as some Star Wars novels. The topic of the journal is writing for the Jedi Knight character in BioWare's upcoming Star Wars MMORPG, discussing the heroic nature of the Jedi and the Jedi code, which will present players using this class dilemmas, since we all know the dangers of straying towards the dark side. Also, the nineteenth issue of Threat of Peace is online, continuing to tell the back story for the game in comic book format. They also announce that the entire Threat of Peace webcomic will be published in Spring of 2010 as a graphic novel from Dark Horse Comics. The book also include previously unreleased content. Also, The Old Republic Forums (thanks Massively) reveal the sixth class in the game will be the Imperial Agent, which will be unveiled further next week, but is already being discussed.
The Runic Games Forums reveal the Torchlight patch mentioned earlier also works as a two-hour trial version of Runic's action/RPG (thanks DrClown). A subsequent post also mentions that they forgot to change the version number for the patch, so the main screen still lists version 1.11 after you update to version 1.12.
Steam News has word on a new update that's automatically available for Dragon Age: Origins. The new version of BioWare's RPG makes the easy and medium difficulty levels easier and fixes some issues, including problems playing with "a very wide screen display" and a bug that could corrupt character statistics. There is also a manual patch on the BioWare Social Network, a 13MB download that's mirrored on AtomicGamer, FileFront, The Patches Scrolls, and Strategy Informer.
The Runic Games Forums announce the release of the first patch for Torchlight, which updates Runic's action/RPG to version 1.12. There is a manual patch for the Runic Games version that is actually the entire game, as: "The packaged files for the patch changed entirely to improve loading times, so a full reinstall is necessary." Those who have purchased the game from somewhere other than Runic must get their update through its respective vendor. The update has a long list of issues the patch addresses, including some that could overwrite saved games. The Runic patch is mirrored on The Patches Scrolls.
Direct2Drive has word they will not carry Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 due to its use of the competing Steam service. There's a statement about this on Gamasutra where Direct2Drive says: "We don’t believe games should force the user to install a Trojan Horse," referring to Steam. Voodoo Extreme also notes that online retailers GamersGate and Impulse are following suit, with Impulse saying: "The most obvious issue is the forced inclusion of a competitor's store that blocks us from carrying the game."
Planet Calypso announces a new version 10.2.1 update is live in this MMOG formerly known as Project Entropia. This Content List outlines all the changes, including the return of the ability to collect "Vibrant Sweat," hopefully not from wringing out items in a vibrant locker-room.
Reakktor Media announces their insolvency has been solved: Reakktor Media GmbH announces the abrogation of the current insolvency proceeding. The insolvency plan, suggested by insolvency administrator Rainer M. Baehr, was accepted by all creditors. Due to the support of a solvent investor, the financial reorganization of the company could be carried out successfully and all jobs have been saved. Despite the insolvency proceeding caused by the insolvency of Reakktor’s parent company, the highly anticipated Space Action MMO "Black Prophecy" (http://www.blackprophecy.com) will be released next year and set new standards in the genre.
Steam announces the availability of a few new titles on their digital distribution service: Big Brain Wolf, a "hilarious point and click adventure game for puzzle lovers from Frima." Magnetis, a frantic puzzle game, and Aztaka, a side-scrolling action/RPG that "casts you into the middle of a war between the Gods and Mankind. As Huitzilo, heir of the Sun God, skilled in both the arts of combat and magic, only you can save your people from the wrath of the Aztec Gods by reuniting the seven phonograms." Also now available on Steam is the Massive Assault series of war games.
There's an Avatar interview on Gamerglotze.de talks with Brent "Comma" George, animation director on James Cameron's Avatar - The Game. The conversation covers various aspect of the game and Brent's role in the production, in a clip that is a bit dark and oddly framed.
Boing Boing - Venezuela bans violent video games- a first-person guest essay.
The law is just the latest nail in the coffin of Venezuelans' right of dissent and broader civil liberties. A pitiful attempt to blame video games and toys for the widespread lethal violence in our country, instead of a defective judicial structure, systemic corruption and governmental (purposeful?) ineptitude to deal with the problem.
I am 26 years old. Ever since I can remember Venezuela has been a very dangerous place. Every year the body count seemed to climb higher than the previous year. Being on the streets after dark, especially in the big cities, became a little bit more dangerous with each passing year, no matter who was in power or how high prices for our oil rose.
IncGamers - Cop Out.
In these halcyon days of the sprawling open-world crime game, when we’re encouraged to beat, steal, and slaughter our way to gaming advancement, it’s easy to forget about the other side of the coin. See, in games like Grand Theft Auto, we spend all our time creating mayhem when, not so long ago, the emphasis was much different. There was a time before GTA when, imagine the horror, we were encouraged to be good. There was a time when, instead of knocking the shit out of passers by, our job was to uphold the law. We were the cops. We were the filth. We were the pigs. And I liked it.
I encountered an ad with sound here today, and that has been removed from the site, apologies for that. Hopefully this won't happen again, though I was pleased at how rapidly this was addressed, as tracking down problem ads on our previous system was, well, a problem.
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