Archived News:
Matrix Games announces the release of a new patch for Kharkov: Disaster on the Donets to update the World War II strategy game from Strategic Studies Group to version 1.20. Word is: "The update includes three new free scenarios (Operation Konrad, Operation Husky, and Kirovograd), several major rule changes, UI and controls improvements like an “Entrench All” button, and some bug fixes." The new version accompanies the release of Across the Dnepr: Second Edition, offering an improved version of the Across the Dnepr scenario for Kharkov: Disaster on the Donets. Here's what they say about that: "Across the Dnepr: Second Edition is an expansion and requires Kharkov: Disaster on the Donets in order to play. A 1.20 update for Kharkov is being released concurrently which includes the same engine improvements and the three free secondary scenarios available in Across the Dnepr: Second Edition."
The netKar PRO Website now offers a new version 1.1 beta 3/3 of this online professional racing simulator. The download is mirrored on AtomicGamer and Gamer's Hell. The change list for the new version follows. Continue here to read the full story.
Richard Garriott's Next Journey on Gamasutra talks with the developer-turned-entrepreneur also known as Lord British about Portalarium, his new company focused on casual online gaming. He talks about his passion for online gaming in practical dollars and cents (pounds and pence?) terms, saying: "[Ultima Online] was very hard to get going, but when it finally shipped, it ultimately ended up making ten times the revenue of all the previous Ultima games combined," then relating this to social gaming, saying: "The amount of money flow on this side of the fence is already dramatically in excess of almost any game anybody in this room ever develops." He goes on to discuss this casual gaming shift, admitting: "in this last year, almost 100 percent of my gaming as an avid gamer has been on my iPhone."
MMORPG.com has videos to allow you to virtually attend a panel on the future of MMOGs conducted at this year's PAX East. Panelists are Paul Barnett of Electronic Arts, Craig Alexander of Turbine, Bob Ferrari of Sanrio Digital, and Curt Schilling of 38 Studios. The entire hour-long session is presented in three clips.
Plain Sight, Beatnik Games' new game where you play as a "badass suicidal ninja robot" is now available on Direct2Drive. They have a note that we didn't see when the game was released on Steam earlier, that warns: "This game requires an Internet connection to be played." On a related note, you can view the Plain Sight launch trailer on Vimeo.
A new clip on GameTrailers.com introduces Kasumi, the character to be introduced to Mass Effect 2 tomorrow through some promised new DLC.
- Joint Operations Combined Arms on Direct2Drive. Save 75%.
- Shattered Union on Impulse. Save 50%.
Still on sale (previously reported)
Continue here to read the full story.
The FINAL FANTASY XIV Website now offers new details on the next MMO version of the FINAL FANTASY role-playing game. The World > Races section of the Flash-heavy website profiles five clans from the game: The Elezen, The Lalafell, The Hyur, The Roegadyn, and The Miqo’te. Some brief notes on each follow. Continue here to read the full story.
Loyalty / Division, the blog of artist Dorian Campo, has some concept art from projects he was working on at Pandemic prior to the closure of the studio. One is Mercs Inc, the Mercenaries-based multiplayer sandbox game that's now in development at EALA. The other is called Legends, which doesn't seem to have ever been announced. The shots show steampunkish aircraft and floating structures. Word on that is: "This is a project I worked on for a while but then it was canceled not sure why because it would've been awesome. Check out some of the concept art to get an idea." Thanks superannuation.
Steam News announces multiplayer arcade game Plain Sight from indie developer Beatnik Games is now available via Valve's online service. Word is: "You are a badass suicidal ninja robot. But in this game, being all big and badass doesn't win you the match. It makes you a target. To win, you have to convert your collected energy into points... How do you do this? Simple. Kill yourself." They are also offering a Plain Sight 4-pack, which comes at a 25% discount off the cost of four separate copies.
Reliance Big Entertainment has purchased a 50% stake in independent British developer Codemasters, which will operate under Reliance's Zapak Digital Entertainment division, described as India's largest gaming company. "The opportunities arising from this partnership are truly exciting. This is great news for our development and publishing teams," says Codemasters CEO Rod Cousens. "Reliance and Zapak have immense resources and will help us realize the full potential of our game coding and online excellence across so many platforms, and especially in the world's fastest growing markets. The future of Codemasters has never looked brighter. It's a whole new game!" Says Zapak CEO Rohit Sharma: "We are excited to partner with Codemasters and believe its very strong technology, development and distribution presence will complement our global gaming portfolio."
A site on formspring.me created by George Broussard features answers to fan- submitted questions about a variety of topics (thanks Big Download), including Duke Nukem Forever, the first-person shooter that was to have gone gold last week until the demise of 3D Realms. He also addresses this trailer, saying: "That second trailer is not official and is a low quality fan made trailer created out of some leaked footage a 'fan' grabbed from a level designer portfolio site. They [sic] music and voice was all added by the video creator."
There's an Infinity Ward Interview on MCV talking with community manager Robert Bowling about Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and the Stimulus Package DLC for the military shooter sequel. They discuss whether availability of the DLC will drive sales of the game, a slight pull back from previous assertions that this is a good value for all (though it will be for the hardcore, as he says: "So if you’re a hardcore Modern Warfare 2 player downloading the Stimulus Package, the investment will undoubtedly be worth it."). They conclude with a failed attempt to learn a release date on platforms other than the 360: "We don’t have a set date on when the Stimulus Package will release for other platforms, once we do though, we’ll be sure to let our community know."
Computer and Video Games quotes Valve's Gabe Newell saying there is no plan to alter the Gordon Freeman character for the presumed eventual release of Half-Life 2: Episode Three, Half-Life 3, LEGO: Half-Life, or whatever project will eventually see the return of the beloved geek protagonist. "We haven't had a reason to change that. Most of what I've seen to date has been gimmicky and is entertaining for just a minute or so," he says, adding thoughts on giving the normally silent Gordon a voice: "We're not philosophically opposed to this, but we don't have any good reasons to do it. Right now making your companions more interesting and compelling seems a more fruitful avenue to explore."
A story on WalesOnline quotes new research suggesting that playing video games makes gamers "twice as likely to develop tooth decay and caries as those with more active lifestyles." The study comes from the British Dental Health Foundation, who are choosing to focus on the threat to UK teeth from video games, rather than lack of dental services.
Kotaku - Religion in Games: Less a Leap of Faith, More a Suspension of Belief.
This is why it's so tough to trace the history of religious depictions in games, because any interaction with the actual messengers of a faith, outside of prayer, is so basically controversial, if not comprehensively taboo. Even in Left Behind: Eternal Forces, an openly religious game completely unafraid to place Christianity in a context of combative righteousness, the instruments of that faith are new characters, and mortal, not divine. And, it should be said, the antagonists to be converted are not believers of another faith, but the minions of the "Global Community" a secular, world dominating government.
Today is opening day for the New York Mets, and it's a beautiful day, lending itself to the optimism of the occasion (after all, as I have quoted before, "time begins on opening day"). Of course the team was not so great last year, and there's not too much reason to expect this to change this year, but on the other hand, a full 75% of the Mets' four World Series appearances have come during seasons when they were not considered to be a particular contender, with half of them (and one of their world championships) coming during seasons when they were considered among the worst teams in baseball, so maybe we have everybody right where we want them.
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