BioWare tweets to debunk
the rumor that they plan to release DLC on the day
Mass Effect 2 comes out. They don't actually say there will not be any day one DLC, just that they are not charging: "Addressing rumors: BioWare will not be charging extra for any new Mass Effect 2 content on launch day. More DLC details next week." On a related note,
BioWare's Mass Effect Website has a new TV commercial spot for the upcoming sci-fi RPG sequel.
The
Cryptic Talks Klingons Interview on IncGamers chats with Cryptic's Craig Zinkievich about the Klingon faction in
Star Trek Online, their upcoming MMORPG. Topics include the faction's goals, why their hostilities with the Federation have resumed, Klingon sectors, and more.
Ubisoft CEO Guillemot Explains What Went Wrong With Avatar on Gamasutra hears from Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot about why Avatar: The Game's sales gave them the blues, even though the movie has earned a gazillion dollars at the box office. Guillemot blames timing, saying that they were crossed up by the movie's December launch, saying: "We thought the game would continue to sell after the new year, but instead the game followed a more typical post-holiday declining sales curve." Thanks
Joker961.
SCS Software announces the release of an English-language edition of
German Truck Simulator from the folks behind
18 Wheels of Steel and
Euro Truck Simulator. A playable demo is available, and here's word on the game: "Drive across a realistic depiction of Germany, visit its beautiful cities, choose from over sixty kinds of cargo, and deliver them on time! Grow your truck fleet and hire the most experienced drivers to build up your business!" The demo is mirrored on
AtomicGamer,
FileFront, and
Gamer's Hell.
A new version 2.5 of the
Platinum Arts Sandbox is now available, offering an updated edition of this game development toolkit. Word is this "features many updates to the RPG Maker, Sidescroller Maker and includes a preview version of the new MovieCube mode which makes it easy to create your own Machinima." They are also running a
Sandbox Contest with over $150.00 USD worth of prizes on
Steam up for grabs.
A new version 0.6 of the
Jailbreak: Source modification, offering updates to this Source engine mod with classic Jailbreak teamplay. Word is: "Jailbreak: Source is a Source engine modification available for free to anyone that owns any game created by Valve Software. Jailbreak: Source is a first person shooter set in a rich variety of settings from Elizabethan England to Neo-Tokyo cities, inspired by the visual style of works such as “Timesplitters” and the addictive and frenetic action of “Unreal Tournament”. It combines the classic Jailbreak game type with non-stop arcade action to create a whole new gameplay experience." There's also a new Jailbreak: Source trailer on
GameTrailers.
As noted on the
Star Wars: The Old Republic Website, the
twenty-fourth issue of Threat of Peace is now available with the installment in this webcomic filling in some of the storyline for BioWare's upcoming Star Wars MMORPG. Word is the new issue: "drops us right back into the action as Jedi Knight Satele Shan and Master Dar’Nala press their attack against Lord Baras. Satele is given pause, however, when Baras reveals the truth—that Master Dar’Nala was responsible for the recent violent attempts to undermine the peace treaty. As Satele considers the implications, Baras makes the bold attempt he’s been planning—now that Satele sees the true weakness of the Jedi, Baras urges her to join the Sith… "
There's a
Kane & Lynch 2 Interview on IncGamers in your choice of video or text, going in-depth with Carsten Lund and Hakan Abrak of IO Interactive about
Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days, the upcoming action sequel. On a related note,
VideoGamer.com also spoke with Lund and Abrak and asked about the
2007 scandal dubbed Gerstmann-gate, surrounding GameSpot's
Kane & Lynch review. Of the scandal, Lund says: "The Gerstmann-gate thing we know nothing about, actually. We know as little as you guys might know. We were watching from the sidelines as developers, and it was sad. It was not really nice, but we couldn't do anything about that. So there's actually nothing for us to say." Abrak, however, does not shy away from the game's shortcomings, which were to some decree at the root of the controversy: "The whole controversy with Gerstmann kind of got out of hand," he says. "You maybe even could say some of the criticism was given by people that haven't played the game but jumped on the carousel with the whole thing. You can't do anything about that, so we just tried to listen to constructive critique. Let's face it, we had some problems with the mechanics, right? I mean, that's the honest truth. We spent a lot of time trying to fix it this time around."
IGN Why PC? Part 2. Thanks Ant.
Let's agree to talk about each platform without having to suggest that one is better than the other. Such arguments miss the point entirely and, far from being simple misperceptions, are actually harmful in perpetuating the idea that we should only define console and PC gaming in relation to each other. That's the whole problem as I see it -- that we continue to operate under the assumption that the PC or the consoles can only enjoy a strength based on the other's weakness. Criticizing PCs for not being consoles, or criticizing consoles for not being PCs, is ridiculous and slowly shifts development and publishing efforts from originality to homogeneity.
GameCritics.com - The fallacy of universal authorship in games (and why Uncharted 2 isn't GOTY).
I've maintained throughout this ongoing debate that I don't think Uncharted 2 is a bad game by any means and it's certainly notable for its technical implementation, visual design and character performances. I just think that a game that is deemed the best of what video games have to offer in 2009 should contribute more to interactive design because that is what makes video games unique as an art form. To suggest that any game would be better without choices is simply backwards thinking.
Well the timestamps on today's news tell the tale of a bit of running around for me. I got out last night to see my buddies and had a fine old time, punctuated by expensive hamburgers and cheap whisky. Today was more somber, as we attended the funeral of a neighbor, the husband of the woman whose funeral we attended
a couple of years ago. He was 92, and his family seems comfortable that it was his time to go, but he was a nice old fellow, and we'll miss him a lot. Hudson the wonder dog may miss him most of all, she has a soft spot for older folks, and was very fond of him. We learned in his obituary that he graduated with honors from Harvard, won a bronze star in World War II, and had several other impressive accomplishments, none of which we were aware of while he was alive.
R.I.P.:
Wisconsin man who brought the world SpaghettiOs dies. Thanks Mike Martinez.
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