Archived News:
The Secret Armory of General Knoxx DLC for Borderlands will be released for Xbox 360 tomorrow, while the PC and PlayStation 3 editions of the downloadable content for Gearbox's role-playing shooter are expected on Thursday. Here's word from Gearboxity: "The Secret Armory of General Knoxx will be available Feb 23rd for the Xbox 360 (800 Microsoft Points) and the 25th for the PS3 and PC (for $9.99)! We can't wait for Borderlands fans to enjoy the biggest Borderlands DLC to date. You and your friends will have a blast exploring the new areas in all-new vehicles (including a 4-player vehicle), fighting new enemies and bosses, and finding new weapons all while building your character to level 61! That's a lot of new! Grab your friends and your best guns - you're going to need them!"
A post to the Introversion Forums by Chris Delay of the independent developer reveals first real details about Subversion, their upcoming project that they've been mum about until now, saying: "We've been evading this core question for a long time, mostly out of fear that we'll end up promising things that we can't deliver" (thanks loonyboi). Casting those fears aside, Chris offers insights into the project they consider the "Spiritual Sequel" to Uplink, their debut release. He describes their work on procedurally generated cities, and a recent breakthrough in working on the game design from the top down, rather than the bottom up. He describes their inspirations as Oceans 11 and the Mission Impossible TV series, and offers a bit on what the game is actually about: Subversion is going to be set in a modern High Tech environment, with you taking "mission control" over a team of skilled operatives in a hostile High Security building. You will be using Sabotage, Social Engineering and Grifting, custom Electrical and Mechanical devices, Distractions, Hacking, Stealth, Acrobatics, Precision demolitions, Trickery, whatever gets the job done. In the best case scenarios your enemies will never know you were even there. When things go wrong, a well prepared escape plan and well timed precision violence will get you out of a tight spot - or maybe not.
The Sins of a Solar Empire has details on a new patch for the Diplomacy expansion in Sins of a Solar Empire: Trinity, Ironclad's twice-expanded space strategy game (thanks Big Download). The overview says: "The new update tweaks the behavior of pirates, improves diplomatic relations handling and provides dozens of small game balancing changes based on player suggestions." The complete change log follows. Continue here to read the full story.
Looking to inspire sign-ups for their free Passport Newsletter, PopCap Games is offering a free copy of Peggle Nights to those who sign up, though they list the Peggle Nights perk as a gift to send to a friend or relative. This comes in addition to discounts they are offering newsletter subscribers, which start at 10% and rise to 20% by your third purchase. Thanks Voodoo Extreme.
Iceberg Interactive announces that Sail Simulator 2010 has shipped in the UK and Scandinavia, saying the Dutch, German, and French releases follow in Q1 and Q2. Word is: "Sail Simulator 2010 is the most realistic and best looking sailing simulation software ever made with both European and exotic sailing areas like Scheveningen, Cabrera, Koh Hong and Treasure Island." A launch trailer accompanies the announcement, which is embedded below. Continue here to read the full story.
Another couple of trailers from Supreme Commander 2 show off two more experimental units in Gas Powered Games' upcoming real-time strategy sequel. The AC1000 Trailer shows off the AC1000 gunship, a futuristic take on the AC-130 in use today. Chris Taylor's narration likens the AC1000 to the AC-130 for its ability to circle the opponent, though the gameplay footage also shows it hovering and making 90- and 180-degree turns. The second clip demonstrates the Pulinsmash, which devastates enemy units by pulling them into a vortex and smashing them, hence Pulinsmash (if we could make this stuff up we'd be game designers too). Both clips are embedded below. Continue here to read the full story.
SouthPeak announces is has reached agreement with SunTrust Banks to extend its revolving line of credit through November 30, 2010 and increase its credit facility to $8.0 million. This comes shortly after the company expressed concerns about its own viability if it was unable to renew its line of credit with SunTrust, so presumably this gives some breathing room to continue operations.
Razer Support now offers 32-bit and 64-bit version 2.12 firmware updaters for Razer Megalodon Headsets. The updated firmware fixes a mic noise issue as well as an audio break issue on 64-bit systems that was problematic for many users. Thanks ^Drag0n^.
- BioShock 2: Sinclair Solutions Test Pack on Blue's News.
The next patch for BioShock 2 will be released in the wee hours tomorrow at 2:00 am PST, which is 5:00 am EST. The update will fix the field of view on widescreen monitors so 16:9 resolutions will no longer be letterboxed versions of 4:3 resolutions, also fixing an issue where holding the M1 button would not register in multiplayer play. Word on The Cult of Rapture is that 2K Games is also working on a larger patch: "Our next BioShock 2 PC Patch is due out tomorrow. You'll be able to download the patch starting at 2 AM PST on Tuesday, February 23rd. This patch is small because we focused on getting it out quickly to fix a couple high priority issues the community had, rather than roll them in to a larger patch that would take longer to reach you. We are working on a larger, more extensive patch now and as testing nears finalization I'll update you on that patch's download date."
A new patch is now available for European editions of Sacred 2: Ice & Blood, updating the action/RPG expansion to version 2.65.2.0. The download can be found on the Sacred 2 Updates Page, and mirrors can be found on AtomicGamer, FileFront, Gamer's Hell, The Patches Scrolls, and WorthPlaying. On a related note, we sheepishly note some older news we missed from last August: In April 2009 Sacred developer Ascaron Entertainment filed for bankruptcy protection, saying they still had plans for Sacred 2 and 3, which were dashed in August when Ascaron closed. What we missed at the time was an announcement by Deep Silver in August that they acquired the Sacred IP, and plan to find a developer to create Sacred 3, saying: "As Deep Silver confirmed today, they are now the owner of the brand "Sacred" and plan to create a Sacred 3 (working title) in the future. There are no near information about the developer team or the content yet, but as soon as we get news about it, we will post them in the forum."
The Din's Curse Patches Page now offers new beta patches for the PC and Mac editions of Din's Curse, updating Soldak Entertainment's action/RPG to version 0.905. Those interested in playing the beta can get access by preordering the game. This change list outlines what's new and different, and mirrors of the patch can be found on FileFront and Gamer's Hell.
A new patch is available for Mass Effect 2 to update BioWare's RPG sequel to version 1.01. The 42 MB patch is available from the BioWare Social Network, and it is mirrored on ActionTrip, AtomicGamer, The Patches Scrolls, and WorthPlaying. Also, the update for the Steam edition is now automatically available the next time you login to Steam. The complete patch notes follow. Continue here to read the full story.
Ubisoft announces preorders are now being accepted for Silent Hunter 5: Battle of the Atlantic and Silent Hunter 5: Battle of the Atlantic Gold Edition, two versions of the submarine simulation due for release on March 4. The Gold Edition will be released via digital distribution, offering a couple of perks, including "seven unique submarines and enemy ship skins," which sounds quite familiar to the "7 unique submarine & enemy ship skins" promised with the Collector's Edition announced in January. Images of some ship models accompany the announcement, and here's word: Silent Hunter 5: Battle of the Atlantic hails the return of the number one submarine simulation. For the first time, the player will be able to play as a U-boat captain leading his crew from a first-person view in a true dynamic campaign. Operate against Allied shipping across the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea and participate in famous encounters with strong enemy warships.
The Gold Edition will be available for download only and will contain seven unique submarines and enemy ship skins. The Gold Edition will also include the Silent Hunter 5: Battle of the Atlantic Official Guide containing 110 pages of crew details, submarines, ships and weapons as a pdf on the build.
Co-founder of id Software John Carmack will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at next month's 2010 Game Developers Choice Awards, receiving the award from previous inductee Will Wright in a ceremony to be hosted by Warren Spector. Word from the announcement is: "The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes the career and achievements of developers who have made an indelible impact on the craft of game development, as Carmack has done for his more than two decades of groundbreaking technical contributions, and his role establishing the first-person shooter genre with landmark titles like Doom and Quake."
"Aggressive" plans are in place for post-launch downloadable content for BioShock 2, announces 2K Games, saying this will kick off next month with the release of the Sinclair Solutions Test Pack, described as "the first of several planned downloadable packages" for the underwater shooter sequel. The pack will include a rank increase to level 50, new playable characters, new trials, a third upgrade for each of the game's weapons, and five additional masks, all for the cost of $4.99 on the PlayStation Network and 400 Microsoft Points for the Windows and Xbox 360 editions (with the extra odd penny presumably to cover the exchange rate). Looking beyond that, they say: "In the coming months, 2K Games will also be publishing downloadable extensions of the single player experience that provide new insight into the world of Rapture. These packages will include more narrative, new tools and new challenges that extend the lore and fiction of the failed Utopia under the sea."
THQ announces Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II - Chaos Rising is gold, and Relic's expansion for their RTS sequel is expected to rush US stores on March 11. Word is: Developed by award-winning internal studio Relic(R) Entertainment, Chaos Rising features the traitorous Chaos Space Marines army as a playable race, a new single-player campaign, a level cap increase from 20 to 30, more powerful war-gear and a suite of innovative multiplayer options. Scheduled for a nationwide release at all major retail and online outlets on March 11, 2010, Chaos Rising will be available as a Games for Windows LIVE(R) PC title for a suggested retail price of $29.99.
"Chaos Rising is the perfect follow up to Dawn of War II, 2009's RTS Game of the Year, offering an incredible amount of new content for an amazing value," said Travis Plane, Vice President of Global Brand Management, THQ. "Relic Entertainment is the industry's leading RTS developer and will once again deliver bone-crushing action, breathtaking visuals and unprecedented innovation in the genre."
Heatwave Interactive announces they have acquired the intellectual property rights and all assets for Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising, the MMORPG that was in development at Perpetual Entertainment before it was put on "indefinite hold" in late 2007 prior to release (a postmortem is available discussing the project's demise at the time). Word is: "As part of the transaction with PlayGrid, Heatwave also obtained a source code license to the PlayGrid Platform, their online game publishing technology as well as acquiring two game development engines," with the announcement revealing the other game engine is the one Perpetual developed for the version of Star Trek Online they were developing before that project was moved to Cryptic Studios. A preliminary Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising Website is online, where you can sign up for email updates. There's no word on when they plan to launch the game, as they indicate they are now "incubating" the IP: "With a strong roadmap of titles and a talented development team, Heatwave Interactive is focused on incubating its diverse and marketable roster of intellectual properties that have cross-media entertainment potential."
A new teaser trailer from Eschalon: Book II is now available, offering a look at some throwback gameplay in the role-playing sequel currently in development at Basilisk Games. The embedded HD version of the clip follows. Continue here to read the full story.
DAMNLAG - Modern Warfare 2 and the Art of Manipulation. Thanks Mike Martinez via Digg.
Game makers have known for years that the simple act of leveling up can drive addictions or at the very least make people play more. In any number of RPGs leveling up is crucial to advancement and developers have noticed that people will actively fight the concept of playing to grind their way to a higher level by doing boring repetitive tasks. For reasons unclear Infinity Ward was the first developer to apply a level system to an online FPS with the tried-and-true RPG model of greater perks and abilities. Before this, FPSs were a genre unfamiliar with lending precise order to such things. Sure enough leveling became key to the Modern Warfare experience.
Bitmob - Indie Games Should Keep Acting Like Indie Games.
Not many require that all painting be aesthetically pleasing. Likewise, not many claim that all video recorders should only produce entertainment. We don't hear arguments issuing that any other media must serve one, baseline purpose before they can do more. Such assertions would be arbitrarily reductive. Francis Bacon's work isn't fun or pretty, but it is interesting and valuable. Similarly, the works of Stan Brakhage and Maya Deren aren't entertaining, but that doesn't imply pointlessness.
I'm back in the saddle in the Blue Tower after a disrupted weekend. As part of the disruption MrsBlue and I actually made it out to the movies, which we almost never do (I believe the last film we saw in a theatre before this was No Country for Old Men). In spite of her being no great fan of James Cameron, we went to see Avatar, figuring we'd like to see the whole 3D deal as intended. True to that, MrsBlue didn't really like it very much: In fact I was one of two that found it enjoyable out of the group of seven of us who went together, probably because I was just looking for a fun sci-fi movie rather than some sort of transcendent experience.
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