Archived News:
The Unigine Website has the announcement for Primal Carnage, an upcoming teamplay action shooter in development at Lukewarm Media. The game has a certain Crichton-esque quality, as it is "set on an abandoned military controlled island where an experiment gone awry unleashing [sic] colossal dinosaurs out of control." The twist here is that the dinosaurs are playable as well as the "team of tough mercenaries" that are hunting them down, with the mercenaries using first-person control, while the dinosaurs are controlled from a third-person perspective. Word is the game is "currently close to the end of pre-production stage."
Bloomberg.com has word from Peter Moore of Electronic Arts on plans for a Facebook version of Madden NFL. In a new twist, the version of the tackle football series for this PC website will be simplified from its console counterpart: "A version of 'Madden NFL' on Facebook would be a 'simpler experience' than the console version," Moore tells them. Thanks Kotaku.
ATI Support offers new version 10.1 Catalyst Hotfix. Word is this: "Alleviates some of the intermittent grey screen and vertical line corruptions that may randomly appear during normal usage when using an ATI™ Radeon HD 5800 series graphics card." Thanks [H]ard-OCP.
Gamasutra has details on SEGA Sammy's latest financial reporting, saying: "The company posted sales of ¥285.34 billion ($3.19 billion) for the period, down from ¥309.02 billion ($3.46 billion) year-on-year. Net income rose to ¥16.95 billion ($189.68 million) from a net loss last year of ¥10.84 billion ($121.3 million)." They also offer some sales figures: "The company sold 16.73 million units of software during the period -- 6.09 million in the U.S., 8.16 million in Europe, and 2.47 million in Japan. Its key releases, Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games and Bayonetta, sold 5.67 million units and 1.1 million units, respectively worldwide since launch."
Why You May Not Be Able To Import Your Mass Effect 2 Save To ME 3 on GameInformer.com has a cautionary tale on the topic of importing Mass Effect 2 saved games into the eventual Mass Effect 3. Here's your warning: "Let me begin this news story by noting that there's some information in this post that some may consider to be a spoiler for Mass Effect 2. It's information that BioWare has been pretty open about, but nonetheless: You have been warned."
A new patch for Greed: Black Border is now available to update Headup Games' action/RPG to version 1.11. The patch is available on AtomicGamer, FileFront, and WorthPlaying, and the patch notes follow. Continue here to read the full story.
A new version 1.208 of Evochron Legends is now available, offering fixes and improvements for this freeform space combat and mercenary simulation, saying "this update is required for multiplayer compatibility." As always, the new version operates as a free trial. The change list for the new version follows. Continue here to read the full story.
A new Dragon Age: Origins- Awakening trailer shows off the upcoming expansion for BioWare's RPG. The "The Children" clip is posted on GameTrailers, where they say: "The children of the Awakening Expansion are one babysitting job you will never want to take."
An update on The Cult of Rapture focuses on the Winter Blast Plasmid in BioShock 2, with 2K Games' Zak McClendon explaining how this has changed in the shooter sequel since the first BioShock. He says: "For BioShock 2, we wanted Winter Blast to feel a little more unique and be a viable “main tool” for players." The article is accompanied by another of those animated PSA trailers, embedded here. Continue here to read the full story.
A new version 0.9 of the Project Reality modification for Battlefield 2 is now available. Word is: "Project Reality v0.9 features thousands of changes. All of these changes combined with the addition of new vehicles, weapons, maps, and factions, have helped make version 0.9 into one of our largest most featured [sic] packed releases to date and promises players the most realistic, team oriented, online gaming experience available on the PC." Thanks Ant via Planet Battlefield.
A new Kingpin: Life of Crime Mr. Damage Map Pack is now available for download from GameSpot, adding three new maps with deformable skins for Kingpin: Life of Crime, the old school shooter from Xatrix Entertainment (now part of Activision after a name change to Gray Matter Interactive). The pack has only attracted 9 downloads in three days, and we thought a post here might inspire the other 9 interested parties to check it out. Thanks Joker961.
- Alganon on Impulse. Save 50%.
- Crazy Machines Bundle on Impulse. Save 50%.
- Flatspace on Impulse. Save 25%.
- Flatspace II on Impulse. Save 30%.
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- Red Faction Pack on Impulse. Save 25%.
- World War 2 - Time of Wrath on Impulse. Save 33%.
Still on sale (previously reported)
Continue here to read the full story.
Diablo: IncGamers has some screen captures from episode two of season three of The Jace Hall Show (NSFW) revealing the design of the female monk character in Diablo III. They also point the way to an update on BlizzPlanet where there's a frame-by-frame examination of the revelation. The new episode of Jace's show also features Stan Lee, Felecia Day, Jane Badler, and of course, Smoking Jacket Guy.
The Cult of Rapture notes that some new BioShock 2 merchandise is now being sold through the Take-Two Store. There is a limited run of artwork from the BioShock 2 Artist Series printed on heavy glossy paper for $19.99 USD each print. They also offer preorders of a limited edition Sinclair Solutions Syringe Pen that's $34.99 USD. They are holding out on the ADAM, however, as word is: "The metal pen is fitted with refillable rollerball ink." The pen is engraved with the Sinclair Solutions logo, and comes in a BioShock 2 gift box. They say the pens should be shipping by the end of this month.
An update to the Star Wars: The Old Republic Developer Blog asks the question "How to explain the Sith Inquisitor?", before going on to attempt to answer that question about this class in the upcoming Star Wars MMORPG. They offer screenshots among the reflections on the class, and writer Rebecca Harwick offers the general outlook that "the Sith Inquisitor is the Emperor Palpatine to the Sith Warrior’s Darth Vader," adding, "but that sells it short." Here's a bit more: "Whereas the Sith Warrior class is all about the martial side of the Sith, the Inquisitor is about the darkest of dark side secrets; everything that’s weird and unsettling and dangerous about the Force. The Inquisitor is about power not (solely) through brute force and intimidation, but through manipulation, corruption, and knowledge."
Steam News has word on a new automatic update for Left 4 Dead 2 and the Left 4 Dead 2 SDK enabling PZ bots and implementing map fixes among other changes. There's also a fix for cheaters quitting before the vote to kick them would succeed, and word that VAC banned users can now play L4D2 single-player, commentary mode and credits. The complete change list follows. Continue here to read the full story.
Though Battlefield: Bad Company 2 server code will not be publicly released, a post to the Battlefield Blog explains the remote server administration interface for the PC edition of the shooter sequel, saying: "Since the Frostbite engine had not yet been used for any PC titles, there had been no need for advanced server administration tools. BFBC2 PC changed that however." Word is: "When Closed Beta Server R5 (yes, we have already patched the game servers 3 times. I love our new patching system) is released, the RSPs will be allowed to expose the Remote Administration interface on their servers to the public... and we will publish the FULL protocol specification. You have my word on that." The full post follows. Continue here to read the full story.
There's new trailer from Metro 2033 on IncGamers showing off various weapons and enemies in above-ground and subterranean combat from 4A Games' upcoming post-apocalyptic shooter, as well as some cinematics.
Is Battlefield Bad Company 2 Gold? We're pretty sure that's what is indicated by this tweet from lead designer David Goldfarb, who uses less than 10% of his 140 characters to say: "Is gold!!!" This certainly fits with the announced release schedule for the military shooter sequel, which is due on March 2. On a related note, the Battlefield Blog points to an fan-created trailer on the YouTube showing gameplay on the Bad Company 2 Demo. Update: That tweet has since been deleted.
A tweet by Ubileaks that's retweeted by Ubisoft teases a big (or rather BIG) announcement next week, simply saying: "I'd only say : 'Big announcement coming up next week.' and I mean BIG !"
A new " Freedom and Chaos" Trailer from Just Cause 2 shows off both of those elements in Avalanche Studios' action/shooter sequel, showing the freedom the game allows in where you can travel, choosing your missions, and executing your plans, as well as the chaos that can ensue as a result. There is no embedded version, apparently at the request of publisher Square Enix for reasons that are not apparent.
A new trailer from Aliens vs Predator shows off some gameplay from the perspective of the Colonial Marine in rebellion's upcoming three faction shooter. In the video we see combat with Aliens, showing the role of the motion detector and flares in trying to keep tabs on targets in the semi-darkness. The clip also demonstrates the sub-standard ammo the Marines seem to be saddled with (perhaps combined with bad aim), as Aliens are seen shrugging off surprising numbers of bullets, with one taking several pulse rifle bursts and two grenades to convince it to die. The HD version is embedded below. Continue here to read the full story.
A post on superannuation leads the way to Ross Dearsley's Blog featuring some of the game-related work of this concept artist. A couple of these posted in late 2007 caught they eye of Computer and Video Games, who connect the dots to repeated indications that a Syndicate revival is in the works at Starbreeze Studios, suggesting it is from this unannounced project. The art, which may disappear soon (as suggested by the Electronic Arts copyright notice forbidding reproduction), shows various designs for giant robots.
IncGamers has a translation of comments by Blizzard's Korean Community manager indicating that the StarCraft II beta test will be fairly open: "But we are trying our best to make the necessary preparations ready and introduce Starcraft 2 as fast as we can. I can definitely say that the Beta test will not just involve industry experts and other VIPs but rather will involve all fans of the franchise." In more concrete related news, there is some new character information on the StarCraft II Website (thanks Big Download).
The Pirates of the Burning Sea Website invites former subscribers to return to the seafaring MMORPG, offering 28 days of free play to check out new features and improvements Flying Lab Software has implemented along the way. They say: "The period of free game-play described in this offer begins on February 5, 2010 at 12:01 AM PST, and ends on March 5, 2010 at 11:59PM PST. This offer is only available for Pirates of the Burning Sea accounts that have been closed and inactive since January 22, 2008, and is not available for accounts closed prior to January 22, 2008, current Pirates of the Burning Sea or Station Access accounts, or for accounts that were banned or were not in good standing when its Pirates of the Burning Sea or Station Access subscription previously expired."
Arsenal of Democracy is now gold, and BL-Logic's now-complete World War II strategy game will be available through digital distribution on February 23. There's a teaser trailer for the game on the YouTube, and here's the description of this project that's called a "true labor of love" by Paradox Interactive Executive Producer Johan Andersson: "Arsenal of Democracy was developed by BL-Logic, a team comprised of passionate fans of the Paradox’s landmark Hearts of Iron series. The game takes players to World War II with total economic, diplomatic and military control over the nation of their choosing, giving them the chance to rewrite history and change the course of history’s greatest global conflict. Arsenal of Democracy offers players unparalleled historical detail alongside the most in-depth and realistic representation of the multitude of challenges faced by the leaders of the time."
A statement from Sega offers apologies from Rebellion for issues with the recently released Aliens vs Predator demo. Here's the part of the statement relating to the PC version: Unprecedented demand for Aliens vs. Predator following the release of the cross-platform demo yesterday morning brought to light matchmaking issues on the PC platform resulting in players having to wait to join games, or even not find games at all.
We’re pleased to say later in the day the issue was corrected and a small patch to the PC executable next time you launch it from Steam will have you finding and playing games using Quick Match as it was intended.
A playable demo is now available for Theatre of War 2 Kursk 1943, Battlefront.com's World War II strategy sequel. The English-language demo includes a tutorial mission, the mission generator with limited functionality (one map, limited number of available troops), and two full missions: an "Assault on Syrtsev" that's played from the German side, and the other set in south Verkhopenye played from the Soviet side. The download is available from Battlefront.com and mirrored on AtomicGamer, ComputerGames.ro, Gamer's Hell, and WorthPlaying.
Planet Calypso announces a virtual egg fetched over $69,000 at auction in Planet Calypso, the latest mind-boggling auction in their virtual world, which is apparently populated by oil sheiks who play on wireless connections from their private jets (with adolescent senses of humor, as the exact price was $69,696.00 USD). They say: "Jon 'NEVERDIE' Jacobs held a public auction Sunday, inside Planet Calypso, and sold the Virtual Egg to David Storey aka Deathifier. Deathifier owns 'Treasure Island' in the game, a tax generating Virtual World Destination. NEVERDIE purchased the Virtual Egg for $10,000 USD in 2006 from a gamer who completed a unique quest. The Final Chapter in the Egg's History has yet to be written as thousands of players speculate what will actually hatch from the [sic] it and if it will be worth the extraordinary price tag."
Why Ellis is Valve's favorite character on GamesRadar is an interview with Valve writer Chet Faliszek about Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2. The conversation covers topics like how they created the characters for the zombie shooter series, laser sights, gauntlets, settings, character voices, the wound system, and more. Thanks Joker961.
NYTimes.com - Microsoft’s Creative Destruction. Thanks Mike Martinez.
AS they marvel at Apple’s new iPad tablet computer, the technorati seem to be focusing on where this leaves Amazon’s popular e-book business. But the much more important question is why Microsoft, America’s most famous and prosperous technology company, no longer brings us the future, whether it’s tablet computers like the iPad, e-books like Amazon’s Kindle, smartphones like the BlackBerry and iPhone, search engines like Google, digital music systems like iPod and iTunes or popular Web services like Facebook and Twitter.
Happy birthday to H.R. Giger, who was born on this day in 1940, presumably by bursting forth through someone's chest. Thanks nin.
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