Archived News:
Atari announces the release date for Test Drive Unlimited 2, saying the racing sequel is due in North America for Windows, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 on September 21, 2010. The announcement also includes word that they will begin accepting preorders on Friday, outlining preorder incentives being offered by various retailers and etailers, saying these "range from collectable limited edition vehicles, with matching avatar apparel, to the TDU2: Casino Online." The news is accompanied by a set of new screenshots.
Impulse is offering preorders of Need for Speed World, the upcoming MMO variant on the Need for Speed racing series. This includes access to the remaining events in the game's beta (for those 18 or older), a 72 hour headstart when the game goes live, an exclusive Need for Speed World edition Mazda 3, and more.
CCP announces the release of Tyrannis, the latest expansion for EVE Online, their science fiction MMORPG. The add-on is free to current subscribers, and here's word: "Tyrannis will usher in new levels of player control as the pilots of EVE have turned their attention to the celestial bodies around them, casting surface inhabitants into the shadows of their powerful ships and exploiting the planets for the materials and profits they need to fuel countless ambitions. EVE Gate, the new web frontend and social networking platform for EVE Online, is a leap forward in extending the universe outside of the client, allowing access to in-game mail and features and bringing the community closer than ever before." EVE Online: Tyrannis is available on Steam, and is now part of their SteamPlay catalogue of games that can be played on both Windows and Mac.
The Guild Wars 2 Website now offers a "Personal Story Overview," going into detail on one of the three PvE types in ArenaNet's upcoming MMORPG sequel. As the name implies, this represents the instance influenced by the player's individual decisions. Here's a bit: "Players can make multiple characters, choose entirely different answers, and see a completely different personal story - experiencing a different perspective on the epic story as well. In this way, the game is not only more personal, it's also more replayable, ensuring that each time you level a character, you encounter different aspects of Tyria." Thanks Guild Wars 2 Slovenija.
VideoGamer.com has some interesting comments from Blizzard's Frank Pearce on the topic of DRM, which he calls a "losing battle." He explains how they are using the new Battle.net as an incentive to buy the StarCraft II (thanks Joao). "If we've done our job right and implemented Battle.net in a great way people will want to be connected while they're playing the single player campaign so they can stay connected to their friends on Battle.net and earn the achievements on Battle.net," he tells them. "The best approach from our perspective is to make sure that you've got a full-featured platform that people want to play on, where their friends are, where the community is."
Nexon announces its 2009 financial reporting, saying worldwide revenues increased 56 percent last year and that "for the first time, non-Korean contributions accounted for the majority of Nexon’s global revenue." They also outline future plans, saying: "Nexon America will be presenting Vindictus, Dragon Nest and Dungeon Fighter Online for hands-on play at the company’s first ever appearance at Los Angeles’ E3 Expo in June. Nexon plans its North American launch of Vindictus for later in 2010, and Dragon Nest to follow in 2011."
An update for Garry's Mod is now automatically available through Steam with some fixes and other changes. The change list follows. Continue here to read the full story.
A note on superannuation points the way to this trademark registration for Rebel Rider, which was filed by Scott Miller's Radar Group. "You don't wanna get mixed up with a guy like me. I'm a loner, Dottie. A rebel."
The Mafia II interview on BitMob talks with Mafia II senior producer Denby Grace to learn what he actually knows about organized crime. The conversation focuses on mob movies, learning the cinematic influences of the upcoming Mafia sequel.
Matrix Games announces the release of Command Ops: Battles from the Bulge, the strategy game from Panther Games described as "the most realistic simulation of WWII operational command ever created." There's a Google Earth Battlefield Tour and Game Concepts video with a look at gameplay and the game's historical context. Here's word: "This new release brings wargamers the pinnacle of historical accuracy and realism in operational command on the subject of one of the most intense and important engagements of the Second World War. Command Ops: Battles from the Bulge is wrapped in a very playable and modern interface and includes an extremely capable AI opponent as well as editing tools to make your own maps, scenarios and units."
The AMD Graphics Drivers & Software page now offers new version 10.5 Catalyst reference drivers for ATI graphics accelerators. The new drivers address long map load times in Battlefield 2: Bad Company and adds support for 120 Hz refresh rates using ATI Radeon HD 4000 Series and 3000 Series cards. Further release notes follow. Continue here to read the full story.
Steam News announces the promised release of the Macintosh editions of Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode One, and Half-Life 2: Episode Two, all of which are on sale for 30% off for a limited time. Word is: "The Half-Life 2 titles available now feature cross-platform support for Steam Cloud, allowing players to save their game progress on one computer, then seamlessly resume from that save point on another computer (Mac or PC). In addition, HL2 and Episode One have been updated to include over 40 new Steam Achievements, which are available to all owners of these titles. The HL2 games also support Steam Play, enabling customers to purchase a game once and play it on all Steam supported platforms." On a related note, Steam News also announces new automatic patches are now available for Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode One, and Half-Life 2: Episode Two. The updates add improved graphical effects, new achievements, Steam Cloud support for save games, and Macintosh support. These updates carry the following warning: "Save games for Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode One will go through a transition. The current level you are on will be saved, but not the exact position in the level."
A new Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days "Cops and Robbers" trailer offers a look at multiplayer support in the action/shooter sequel in development at IO Interactive. A batch of new screenshots accompany the clip, which is embedded below. Continue here to read the full story.
A playable demo is now available for SBK X is now available, offering a test drive of this Superbike World Championship simulation from Infront Motor Sports, Black Bean Games, and Milestone. Word is: "Sample the improvements Milestone have made in the brand new 'X' edition playing both in Arcade and Simulation mode on the Portimao circuit, in all the different weather conditions and against other 15 opponents through the new Online Multiplayer Mode." The 700 MB download is available on the SBK-X Website and mirrored on AtomicGamer, FileFront, and WorthPlaying.
Ubisoft has released a new Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. 2 Fact Sheet with information on the upcoming aerial combat sequel, accompanied by some new screenshots as well as an internal interview about the game with Game Content Director Bogdan Bridinel and Producer Emil Gheorghe. They offer outlook on the aircraft and weapons in the sequel, new environments, and explain how they are using player feedback from the original: "Listening to the player feedback, we understood that we needed to focus more on delivering an authentic experience and to add the features that increase this feeling of authenticity and of belonging to a real world. This meant, for instance adding take off and landing (which was requested by many players), but also adding various features that weren’t necessarily requested by players, but we felt would go into the same direction and increase the authenticity of the experience."
2K Games announces plans for a Mafia II Collector's Edition as well as downloadable content to be included with preorders from select retailers. Here's an image of the Collector's Edition, which will include SteelBook casing, the Made Man DLC pack, a hardcover art book, the game's orchestral soundtrack on CD, and a game map. The announcement also has details of North American preorder DLC bonuses being offered at GameStop, Amazon, Best Buy, and Wal-Mart.com.
The Epic UDK Website now offers the May 2010 beta of the Unreal Development Kit, which allows the creation of freeware Unreal-engine games. The new beta adds support for the Scaleform GFX user interface solution and Steamworks. They also highlight a few UDK projects: Angels Fall First: Planetstorm, Bounty Arms, and Hazard: The Journey of Life.
Warner Bros. is being sued by a German company for stealing an antipiracy technology patent, reports The Hollywood Reporter. Word is: "The claim comes from a German company called Medien Patent Verwaltung. According to new infringement lawsuits filed against Warners, Technicolor and Deluxe in New York and Germany, MPV says that in 2003, it introduced the studio to a method of marking films with a distinctive code so it could track back sources of piracy to the exact theater in which an unauthorized copy originated. MPV says it has been trying to get Warners to pay for use of the technology since it allegedly began incorporating the invention in prints throughout Europe in 2004." Thanks Acleacius via Switched.
Numark announces plans to bring Scratch: The Ultimate DJ to Windows, iPad, and iPhone later this year, offering the chance to get in touch with your inner MC in this game that "combines free-form DJ tricks with great rhythm gameplay and features songs from the biggest names in Hip Hop." Here's more: Scratch: The Ultimate DJ is the only game that delivers the thrill of interacting with both classic and modern Hip Hop tracks in new and creative ways. The game allows players to effectively remix the song while they’re playing by mixing their own beats and effects into the track using a hardware peripheral called the Scratch Deck, which blends a touch-sensitive turntable and crossfader with a series of beat pads. The turntable is based on Numark’s professional line of DJ turntables, and the beat pads are identical to the pads on the iconic MPC from Akai Professional, which is the foundation of virtually every major Hip Hop track produced in the last 20 years. Additionally, Numark has developed a new full-function dual-turntable controller that enables players to manipulate both turntables simultaneously, which will be available for use with the game on a variety of platforms.
Building On Conviction: Inside Ubisoft Toronto on Gamasutra recaps a visit to Ubisoft's new Toronto development studio to see what's going on there. They chat with studio head Jade Raymond, creative director Maxime Béland, and others about where the studio is located, tax incentives that helped the move, the relocation of members of Ubisoft Montréal, and more. They also discuss work that's already underway on the next Splinter Cell game, which seems to be the other of the two Tom Clancy games recently said to be in development (along with H.A.W.X. 2). There is extensive discussion of the game, but in very general terms, talking about the responsibility of continuing the stealth/action franchise, attracting top talent, and their studio philosophy.
THQ announces THQ Partners, a new distributor "providing select developers and publishers access to THQ’s global retail and online publishing network." This division will be led by Tim Walsh, most recently Executive Vice President of Publisher Relations for IGA Worldwide. "I’m extremely pleased to join THQ and launch THQ Partners," said Walsh. "I’m looking forward to working with a select number of world-class developers and publishers to distribute their great games through our global network."
BitMob - Why Games are Never Going to Get Shorter and Cheaper.
What this means in terms of games is that as a game's hour count increases (in other words, its output) the cost of producing each successive hour of content decreases. Getting a five-minute demo up and running is a hugely expensive endeavor for a developer, but once the graphics engine is chugging away, a character's modelled/animated, and enemy A.I. is in place, it's comparatively much cheaper to craft another hour's worth of content.
Explicit Gamer - The State of RPGs. Thanks Ant via Digg.
The future is uncertain for these story driven games, but one thing is certain, they can not stay the same. In a world where new innovations are constantly being made, RPGs can't afford to sit idle and expect to cash in on old material. Luckily, western RPGs are already changing in order to meet the demand of their audience. It appears that Japanese RPGs on the other hand, have made very few strides to revitalize their genre. You could even say that nostalgia is killing the genre.
Wow, they really did award the 2014 Super Bowl to New York! I never thought I'd see the day: Here's hoping it snows that day. I know it can't happen, but I still wish they just played the game at the home stadium of one of the teams involved.
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