James Dennett's LinkedIn Profile has a follow-up to
an earlier indication that Crytek may be working on an MMOFPS, notes
superannuation. Included in the résumé of Crytek's Senior IT Manager is the following: "Designing, testing and implementing as part of the development team the systems infrastructure for an MMO online game." On what may be a related note,
superannuation points the way to a number of recent domain registrations by Crytek:
codename-kingdoms.com,
codename-kingdoms.net,
codenamekingdoms.com,
codenamekingdoms.net,
kingdomsthegame.com,
kingdomsthegame.net,
kingdoms-thegame.com, and
kingdoms-thegame.net.
Also on
superannuation is another set of domains indicating some possible plans for
The Sims series of lifestyle simulations. They point out new registrations for
simsmedieval.com,
simsmedieval.net,
thesimsmedieval.com,
thesimsmedieval.net,
thesimsgetmedieval.com,
thesimsgetmedieval.net.
A couple of recent articles highlight vastly different takes on Ubisoft's
controversial "always on" DRM, which requires a constant internet connection to play games. On the one hand we have comments from Gamesbrief.com founder, analyst Nicholas Lovell, who calls the DRM "draconian" in speaking with
Computer and Video Games and saying: "There is no doubt in my mind that pirates now have a better experience than legitimate consumers." On the other had there's outspoken Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter, who offers thoughts on the topic in his
Pach-Attack videocast (thanks
VG247), saying he likes the system, and if your opinion differs from his, you are a thief: "I think anything a publisher does to make sure you don’t rip off their games is their right, and I think that people who steal should be in jail. I welcome the flamer comments on this one; if you think that’s right good for you; we have no interest in your business since you don’t pay for stuff anyway."
OnLive is extending the free period it is giving pre-registered customers to a full year, rather than the three months originally planned. This offer is reported by
Big Download as still being open through June 3, but from the looks of the
OnLive Pre-Register Page, this offer is now closed. The service is scheduled to go live during E3 on June 17.
There's
a Doctor Who: The Adventure Games Update on the BBC Website with word on next week's planned release of
City of the Daleks, the first of four free episodic games based on the
Doctor Who series. They offer some screenshots, and here's a bit: "Steven Moffat will be given a copy of the final game in the next day or two. Steven is quite a gamer - he liked what he saw when he played the alpha version. I really hope that he is pleased with the final product. I am sure he will be - the stealth / adventure hybrid conveys the essence of Doctor Who in a very dynamic and exciting way - the way that games can." Thanks
Big Download.
The
Kings and Castles Website features
Chris Taylor's Kings and Castles Video Blog Episode #16 has the king of Gas Powered Games put on his crown and go in search of the titular king in their upcoming real-time strategy game. They show off a regal model of the regent, show a quick quantum physics experiment, and answer some more cracked-out questions from their mailbag.
Thanks
Ant.
Joystick Division - Ten Reasons You're Mad About Games Journalism. Thanks Digg.
The relationship between games journalists and game publishers can be unhealthy. The fiasco around GameSpot's Kane & Lynch review revealed how publisher influence can muddy the waters for videogame critics. Sadly, game companies hold most of the cards in this relationship. They've got the ad dollars to spend, they have the review code and they've got the access to the game designers that we want to talk to. So sometimes we have to play ball, adhering to their embargoes and doing things their way. But we can't allow game company's to steer the conversation and set the tone. The good news is that no amount of influence is stronger than the average game critic's ego. We love our own opinions. And we love spewing them. Paid junkets to Hawaii may seem iffy, but take my word for it: most games journalists would rather be home playing games and telling you what we think of them.
G4tv.com - Sex and the City 2: Gaming with the Girls. Thanks via Digg.
This post was actually written by a testosterone laden male, hopped up on multiple nights of very long Red Dead Redemption sessions. All you girls who are gamers out there, I'm hoping (and praying, in case I meet you in an online match) that you realize this post is all in jest. Yes, games aimed directly at girls, and girls only, tend to be somewhat ridiculous. But, there can be the occasional gem. Like Style Savvy, which our very own Abbie Heppe happened to love. Which is probably why she's the most fashionably dressed member of our entire staff.
Here's this week's list of the top 10 bestselling titles on
Steam, Valve's digital delivery platform.
- The Orange Box
- Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II Gold Edition
- Battlefield: Bad Company 2
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Stimulus Package
- Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell Elite Echelon Edition
- Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II Chaos Rising
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
- Left 4 Dead 2
- Half-Life 2
- APB All Points Bulletin
I'm about to fire up the grill: On tap today are burgers, buffalo wings, and grilled potatoes. I've never tried making wings before and am looking forward to that.
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