Archived News:
The Futuremark YouGamers Forums reveal layoffs at Futuremark Game Studios (thanks worm). They point the way to the YouTube clip for "So long and thanks for all the fish," and offer the following announcement from Petri Jarvinen: It´s been great working with this game, but as we all know, all good things come to an end. I would like to give a huge THANKS to the community and all fans of Shattered Horizon for the support. You have helped us mould this game to the near perfection that it is today.
DON´T PANIC!
Now this does not mean that the game is dead, it´s just that there are less people making it. Oh well, this is not the end. It´s the beginning. I´m looking forward to what life brings next. :D
Gamasutra's Ron Gilbert Interview chats with the famed adventure game designer about DeathSpank, the upcoming action/adventure in the works at Hothead Games. Along the way they ask him what the stage the game is in, which he is hesitant to say is "done," though he uses that word a lot: "I don't know what phase [laughs]. I can't put a word to that. We're getting very close. The whole world is completely carved out, totally textured. Everything's all done. All the adventure game is done. All the monsters are placed. It really is just about playing and tuning, playing and tuning, over and over and over, just making sure everything just works perfectly."
IGN has news that Leonard Nimoy, the original Mr. Spock, will lend his voice to Star Trek Online, following up on last week's news that Zachary Quinto, the rebooted Spock, is joining the voice cast of Cryptic's sci-fi MMORPG. Word is Nimoy will narrate "key scenes and events in-game." They quote him as saying: "I'm happy to be involved with Star Trek Online. In this game, the essence of Star Trek -- exploration and adventure -- lives long and prospers. I'm pleased that a whole new generation of fans will be able to discover new frontiers in the Star Trek universe." They have a Nimoy Voiceover Session Trailer to go along with the news.
Steam News announces a Champions Online demo is now available, allowing players to sample Champions Online, Cryptic's MMORPG. Word is: "The Champions Online demo offers unlimited playtime in the game's first zone (Millennium City under alien attack), two character slots, and the ability to play up to level 15. Meet other Champions and help save Millennium City from a Qularr invasion. Players who choose to continue playing past the first zone and level 15 cap by purchasing the full game will have their restrictions lifted and will gain immediate access to the rest of the Champions Online universe."
EGM Media announces it has entered into an agreement with Time/Warner Retail Sales & Marketing to handle newsstand marketing and sales for Electronic Gaming Monthly, the gaming magazine that will return to bookstores, newsstands, and other retailers in March 2010. The new print version of EGM will include a code in each newsstand copy to allow access to a new weekly interactive version of the magazine. Word is: "The premier issue of the re-launch will also boast game previews, a new Review Crew featuring the return of Sushi-X, and commentary from a host of columnists including EGM personalities such as Quartermann, Dan “Shoe” Hsu, Sean “Seanbaby” Reiley, and many others." More details are in this press release. Thanks Big Download.
A new patch for Pro Evolution Soccer 2010 updates the association football/soccer sequel to version 1.03. Here's word on the major change in the new version: "Users can now save all settings except "Mark Settings" when stocking their Game Plans. The Stocked Data will also be loaded automatically." The download can be found on AtomicGamer, Gamer's Hell, and The Patches Scrolls.
Take-Two announces it's selling off Jack of All Games, while SYNNEX announces it is buying the IT systems and software distributor, completing the circle jack.
GOG.com has discounted almost their entire catalog of DRM-free good old games. Details are here.
- DC Universe Online on Blue's News. Mr. Freeze concept art.
Link of the Day: Morgan Says "Bond 23" Is 'Shocking'. Thanks Ant. Hopefully in that Daniel Craig surprisingly good way, and not the converse Roger Moore sort of surprises.
The early bird discount for PAX East 2010 will end after December 31, so until that point day tickets for the event will be $25.00 and three day passes will be $45.00, but they will go up to $35.00 and $55.00, respectively, after the new year. You can register on this page. Word is: "The three-day pass grants access to all events, concerts, parties, panels and free-play areas. Only "sealed deck" tournaments, which require new physical product in order to be played, have an additional fee." They also announce the event will offer top independent developers from the Boston area to show off their wicked awesome games at the gathering, which is scheduled to run from March 26-28 at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, MA. Interested developers can register here, and word is: "Entries will be judged in regard to gameplay, originality and overall fun. There is no set number of winners; the total number of participants will be based on how many “sweet” titles are submitted. Companies must be located within the metro Boston area and have fewer than 15 employees to be eligible." The deadline for entries is January 15, 2010, and they will be announcing the developers who are accepted in mid-February.
A new trailer called "Into the Lion's Den" is part one of a series called "The Veil of Space" from Star Trek Online, Cryptic's upcoming Trekkie MMORPG. The clip, available on the YouTube, takes on the style of a TV episode, and concludes with a cliffhanger involving Klingons. Speaking of Klingons, there's an interview on Ten Ton Hammer talking with Lead Content Designer Zeke Sparkes about Klingon content and the game's PvP elements. The embedded version of the trailer follows. Continue here to read the full story.
The Atlanta Business Chronicle reports Electronic Arts is eyeing Atlanta, GA as a possible location for a planned new development center that will employ as many as 300, as they seek to relocate some of their game development efforts out of higher-priced areas like California, and, well, California. They say other areas being considered for the new studio include Louisiana, Florida, and Savannah, GA, and that Texas was in the running, but was dropped for some reason. Georgia recently enacted aggressive tax breaks for game development, and EA spokesman Jeff Brown says: "The tax credit is definitely one of the things that attracted us to Georgia." Thanks Edge Online.
Kotaku reports a rumor of layoffs at Heavy Iron Studios, saying "sources" tell them 60-70 of the developer's approximately 100 employees will be laid off this week. The studio was formerly part of THQ before being cut loose earlier this year. Heavy Iron is known for work on movie tie-ins like Evil Dead and WALL-E.
Battlefront.com announces that PT Boats: Knights of the Sea, and the English edition of the World War II naval combat game is on track for release on Christmas Day, the worst shopping day of the year. They offer a $10.00 discount on preorders, saying preorder customers can download the game immediately on release day while waiting for the DVD to be delivered. Here's word on the game: "'PT Boats: Knights of the Sea' is a full-blown naval simulation, and more: combining key elements of a strategic, tactical and action simulator, the game allows the player to control each crew member separately - or command whole groups of ships in a strategic layer!"
Making Of ‘Gratuitous Space Battles’ on indievision is a postmortem look at the development of Positech's tactical space combat game. The article is listed as an interview, but reads like a first-person diary, discussing the game's evolution from a virtual dictator game set in the desert to the sci-fi game it eventually became.
AMD Developer Central has the release of version 2.0 of the ATI Stream SDK, which includes OpenCL 1.0 Support. Word is: "The ATI Stream Software Development Kit (SDK) is a complete development platform created by AMD to allow you to quickly and easily develop applications accelerated by ATI Stream technology. The SDK allows you to develop your applications in a high-level language, OpenCL™ (Open Computing Language)."
Codemasters announces new Overwatch DLC for Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising, saying this new content is now available for the Xbox 360 edition of the military first-person shooter. The Windows and PlayStation 3 editions are on the way, with the PC version planned as a free download. Here are three screenshots, here's a new gameplay trailer, and here's a bit from the announcement outlining what's new: The ‘Overwatch’ DLC extends the unique Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising experience in solo, co-operative and adversarial play. In new multiplayer mode Blindside the PLA must complete objectives in the shortest time possible while the USMC defends in tense, tactical engagements. An additional new mode, Supremacy, tasks opposing forces to occupy strategically vital positions featuring force multipliers like gun emplacements and air strikes.
These new multiplayer modes are complimented by two exhilarating new FTEs. In Friendly Skies, PLA anti-aircraft artillery prevents US airborne reinforcements inserting into the combat zone. Players must remove that threat and then defend the position from a PLA counter attack. In Hostile Takeover, intel reveals enemy movement in the village of Armudan, a perfect base for launching attacks deep into enemy territory. Gamers must flush out the PLA, establish a perimeter and hold their ground against a new enemy assault.
A playable demo is now available for Divinity II: Ego Draconis, the RPG sequel from Larian Studios. The demo is available on the Larian Studios Website, where word is: "Dragon knights, prepare yourself! As of now, you can download the official PC demo on www.divinity2.com. The approximately 1,8 GB sized demo is available in English, French and German and gives you a glance at the first hours of the game. After the tutorial, you can start exciting adventures in the "Broken Valley". On to Rivellon!" The download is mirrored on AtomicGamer, ComputerGames.ro, FileFront, Gamer's Hell, and WorthPlaying.
Slitherine Strategies announces the release of the French, German, Italian, and Spanish editions of HISTORY: Great Battles Medieval, their role-playing and turn-based strategy game. These join the English edition, which was released in October digitally, while the retail release planned for February. A new trailer accompanies the launch, and here's a bit about the game: "HISTORY™ GREAT BATTLES MEDIEVAL allows players to take complete control of huge armies with more than 40 different units. From knights on horseback to infantry, French crossbowmen and English longbow archers, all units of the two warring factions are represented in the game, historically correct. Whether in campaign mode, a brief skirmish, or multiplayer mode, HISTORY™ GREAT BATTLES MEDIEVAL offers precise, realistic recreations of medieval battles."
A German demo for Drakensang: The River of Time is now available, offering German speakers (or the adventurous) a sample of Radon Labs' prequel for their RPG, Drakensang: The Dark Eye. The download is available from eXp Download, Gamer's Hell, and WorthPlaying.
Land of Legends: Heroes of Loria is the debut release of a modification based on another modification, as it is a spin-off of the Sven co-op mod for Half-Life. Word is: "Land of Legends is a sub-mod based on Sven Co-op, which is a part of the Half-Life community. In Legends, players take on the role of a group of heroes in a medieval fantasy world. It's possible to play Legends on your own or with friends. For the optimal experience we recommend 2 to 4 players."
Today is the solstice, marking the first day of winter in the northern hemisphere. I'm never fond of early sundowns, so here's looking forward to the daylight portion of the day gradually growing longer again.
R.I.P.: Brittany Murphy Dies. Thanks Wolfen.
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