|
|
 |
Archived News:
The Fallen Earth Website has word that the new version 1.4 "Blood Sport" patch for the post-apocalyptic MMORPG is now available. Word is: "The patch introduces three Blood Sports matches, Deathmatch, Survival and Capture the Flag, the Clan Wars system, a one-time respec, the territory of Deadfall—which includes over 130 missions, new storylines, mutant mounts, recipes and items—as well as a slew of other improvements, such as effects revamp and melee animation enhancements!" They also announce that all characters created before the patch, including those on trial accounts, are eligible for a free character repec.
The Humble Indie Bundle pay-what-you-want sale of five indie games has been a rousing success, as the organizers reveal that just a half-week in, over 60,000 contributions have amounted to more than $500,000 in revenue, $150,000 of which will go to charity. They also have a blog post noting that Linux users contribute twice as much as Windows users (with Mac users splitting the difference), but add that the average Windows user donation has been creeping up since they've been revealing the average paid by platform. There also turns out to be a subtle message in The Humble Indie Bundle Trailer at the 1:17 mark, where you can see it says: "If we raise over $1,000,000 USD, then Gish, Penumbra Overture, and Lugaru will release their source code."
The Warhammer Alliance Forums have word that GamesWorkshop has filed a lawsuit against Curse, Inc. over the operation of this site dedicated to Warhammer Online (thanks MMORPG.com). Here's how they describe this puzzling turn of events: We wanted to inform our community here on WarhammerAlliance.com that Games Workshop has filed lawsuit against Curse for operating and maintaining WarhammerAlliance.com. We feel this is a blatant disregard of the needs of Warhammer fans, and the community we've worked hard to set up. The lawsuit cites trademark infringement, cybersquatting (on the domain name), dilution and unfair competition. You can check out the full complaint here. It also states that GamesWorkshop was unable to contact anyone who was an administrator or decision makers at Curse (despite the numerous links on our site...).
We are shocked and surprised by this filing when this site, created in 2005, is well known for being one of the biggest Warhammer Online game fansite.
A new patch for The Guild 2 is now available to update the life-sim sequel to version 2.2. The patch is compatible with The Guild 2 Gold Edition, The Guild 2 Universe Edition, The Guild 2 Royal Edition, and the Pirates of the European Seas expansion. The patch is available on AtomicGamer, Gamer's Hell, The Patches Scrolls, and WorthPlaying.
The Natural Selection 2 Website has news that as they near the alpha release of the action strategy sequel, saying they are switching to distribution of updates to the tools and engine through Steam. Those interested in participating in their prerelease engine tests can preorder the game here, and those who have preordered should receive an email "shortly" with a key to activate NS2 on Steam, and they add that those who can't wait can retrieve their key through this page. They also outline the current version of the engine they will be testing: "In this release we've activated the server browser, fixed restoring the graphics device when you alt-tab in and out of the game, shored up some visual differences between spot lights in the editor and the game, and added the preliminary documentation on the engine's scripting API."
The End of Nations interview on BitMob talks with Petroglyph's Mike Legg about their upcoming MMORTS game. They discuss the history of Petroglyph, the ambitious scope of the End of Nations design, the game's collectible card mechanics, and get his perspective on Command & Conquer 4, since he worked on previous installments in the series: "I did not actually get into C&C4 -- just because of a lot of the issues I was seeing and what people were saying. It was kind of heart wrenching; being a big Command & Conquer fan, it's tough to see it take a big hard hit like that. It's always been very near and dear to my heart, especially from our Westwood days and stuff. Seeing the community upset...you know, in some ways it's good for End of Nations, but I'm just going to leave my Command & Conquer memories with C&C3 and Red Alert 3."
The American McGee interview on GamePro poses three questions to the Spicy Horse designer, asking about the iPad, Tim Burton and Alice 2, and his outlook on the changing landscape of game development. His answer to that last question shows his time in China has not harmed his fluency in buzzwords: "Rapid iteration and post-release evolution are the biggest lessons which could be applied to production of larger games on console and PC. This model is pervasive in most places around the world. The US is now the exception when it comes to huge budget, long schedule, "release-then-ignore" style game content. There's a lot to be said for smaller development teams, shorter schedules and a higher degree of innovation driven by a willingness to iterate. All forms of media production could learn a lot from this new model." Thanks Joker961.
GamesRadar - Could motion control cause a game market -crash? Thanks Ant.
Many of us aren’t old enough to remember the Great Videogame Crash of ’83. It was a horrible time for gamers, but the innovative and complex (for its time) NES ended up saving the games industry. Yet it could be Nintendo’s penchant for innovation that sparks a plummet back down that filthy, shovelware-encrusted hole we crawled out of in 1985. I’m not just pointing the finger at Nintendo on this one, but rather at the “me-too” attitude the whole industry has been parading around like a toddler’s proud pile of steaming excrement. I’m talking about motion control, and how it’s reshaping the industry as we know it.
PopMatters - Achievements Change The Way That I Play. Thanks Mike Martinez.
In all of these examples I experienced a new aspect of the game while working towards an achievement. I felt like a true hero beating Mass Effect 2 on Insane. I felt like a true spy beating Splinter Cell: Conviction on Realistic, and then I felt more badass than Bourne when playing Last Stand. I felt like the master of my environment in Prince of Persia and Assassin’s Creed. Finally, I felt like a small man alone in a large and beautiful and dangerous world in Far Cry 2. My reward for unlocking a new achievement wasn’t whatever arbitrary number of points that the developer applied to it; my reward was finding a new way to play an old game.
IncGamers - Can The UK Compete With Canada's Digital Revolution?
So where does that leave Britain, especially in this time of crucial economic crisis? Yes, of course we have to lower our public deficit, and we have to find way to cut spending too. But surely by creating jobs and encouraging an industry which is well established, yet still in its infancy in terms of impact on the economy, to grow and flourish, supporting it at any given opportunity. It works abroad, so there's no reason it can't work here.
Edge Online - Why Won’t You Let Me Be Stupid. Thanks Joker961.
This isn’t the first time that a game gave up on me. I’ve noticed that more and more AAA titles give us a puzzle, and then immediately hint at the answer. In BioShock 2, I was just loping around in Grace’s bedroom in Pauper’s Drop, searching for my target. And I guess I took five seconds too long, because the game told me to check behind a movie poster for the hidden switch. Uncharted 2 was all too helpful with clues when I was tracing wires around the wall in the museum in Istanbul, and if I blew a boss fight in Batman: Arkham Asylum more than a couple of times, the load screen would lean over and, like a sad-faced teacher telling me not to eat what I just found in my nose, explain exactly what I had to do to win.
Direct2Drive Spring Sale Week Four is underway. And remember: "Direct2Drive will be giving gamers $15 in store credit when they spend $75 or more on any titles site-wide during the Spring Sale."
- Sid Meier's Civilization IV: The Complete Edition on Steam. Save 75%.
Still on sale (previously reported)
Continue here to read the full story.
Thanks Joker961.
- Amazon selling 'new' Dreamcast systems.
- Nintendo's 3D Can Be Switched Off (But What Does This Mean For Games?).
- Lost Planet 2 reviews on CNET, Computer and Video Games, Console Monster, Eurogamer, G4tv.com, GamePro, GameSpot, GameSpot, Games Radar, GameTrailers, GameZone, IGN, IGN, The Independent, Joystiq, Mirror.co.uk, MSXboxWorld, NowGamer, PlayStation Universe, Ve3tro, and Xbox360Achievements.org.
Here's a shout-out to my brother, as it is WalterEgo's birthday today. He was born three-and-a-half years after I was, but it was about four years ago that I stopped counting my birthdays, so as of today he is now officially my older brother. Congrats bro, that's a gift money can't buy.
|
Twitter 
