Archived News:
The BlizzCon Website will begin selling tickets to this year's BlizzCon gathering in about a half-hour, at 10:00 pm EDT (7:00 pm PDT). These will be available through the Blizzard Store, and up to five tickets per billing address can be purchased for $150.00 USD each for the show, which will take place in the Anaheim Convention center on October 22-23. Word is: "If you are unable to purchase tickets tomorrow, a second batch will go on sale June 5 at 10 a.m. Pacific time. And for those unable to attend the show, in-depth coverage of BlizzCon will also be offered by DIRECTV as a Pay Per View event, available both via satellite and a multi-channel Internet stream." Update: Ticket sales are now live.
The countdown on Totalwar.com has concluded, with the not-unexpected revelation that Shogun 2: Total War is indeed the next installment in Creative Assembly's large-scale real-time strategy series, slated for release next year. Here's the announcement, and here's a bit: In 2011, the makers of Rome and Empire: Total War will release the sequel to the game that started it all. Shogun 2: Total War will take long-time veterans and newcomers alike to the next level of strategy gaming on PC. Based on 10 years of experience in making Total War, Shogun 2 is the perfection of the series with a new Artificial Intelligence (AI), revolutionary multiplayer modes, brand new campaign map options and epic 3D real-time battles.
It is the middle of the 16th century in Medieval Japan. The country, once ruled by a unified government, is now split into many warring clans. The player takes on the role of one Daimyo – the clan leader – and will use military engagements, economics and diplomacy to achieve the ultimate goal: re-unite Japan under his supreme command and become the new Shogun – the undisputed ruler of Japan.
German online games creators Bigpoint (Battlestar Galactica MMO) has acquired Radon Labs, Berlin-based developer of the Drakensang series, rescuing the company from bankruptcy proceedings, reports Gamasutra. Word is: "With its purchase of Radon Labs, Bigpoint also announced its opening of a new office in Germany's capital, a decision that stemmed from last year's acquisition of eLOFD GmbH (XBlaster, Gunbound). Beyreuther and Blechschmid are tasked with directing the new Bigpoint Berlin GmbH branch, which will continue to work on browser-based games." Drakensang 3 is expected for release some time next year.
The BBC Website has word that UK residents can now download the first episode in the new series of Doctor Who games. The accompanying post seems to indicate the game will not be free outside of the UK, saying: "If you live outside the UK, the first Adventure Game will be available to purchase in early July. We will have more information shortly on release dates and where you can buy them, so watch this space!" Thanks Rock, Paper, Shotgun.
Hi-Rez Studios announces tomorrow they will launch the promised Sandstorm update for Global Agenda, their espionage-themed MMOG. This is apparently not a simple procedure, as they are planning a half-day of downtime, saying: "The Global Agenda Servers are expected to be down on THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2010 from ~6:00 AM- 6:00 PM US Eastern (10:00 to 22:00 GMT) while the patch is deployed. Watch GAServerStatus on Twitter for the latest server availability information." The new version includes a large number of changes, including 30 new weapons, and the patch notes have all the details.
Steam News has word on the availability of a new Map Pack 1 for Defense Grid: The Awakening, kicking off the first of four planned such releases. The pack is $0.99 USD, and here's word: "Today's Map Pack 1 release includes two new challenging environments - Service Interruption and Height of Confusion. An obstructed road to the core housing gives the aliens a significant advantage in Service Interruption. Choose your towers wisely! Height of Confusion has a wide open surface, making for endless possibilities! Build anywhere you want in your defense of the power cores!"
A new automatic patch for X3: Terran Conflict is now available via Steam, updating EGOSOFT's space combat game to version 2.7. The list of major changes follows. Continue here to read the full story.
Patch #5 is now available for FIFA Manager 10, updating the sports management sequel in preparation for the upcoming World Cup in South Africa. The download is available on the game's official German Website, and mirrored on The Patches Scrolls and WorthPlaying.
Also on Stream are new patches for Garry's Mod and Beat Hazard. The Beat Hazard patch fixes a handful of bugs, while the patch notes for the Garry's Mod update follow. Continue here to read the full story.
The Sims 3 Website now offers three new patches for The Sims 3, EA's lifestyle simulation sequel. There is a patch to update the base game to version 1.12, which is mirrored on The Patches Scrolls, a version 2.7 patch for The Sims 3: World Adventures, mirrored on The Patches Scrolls, and a new patch for The Sims 3: High-end Loft Stuff, which can also be found on The Patches Scrolls. There is also an article on the new The Sims 3: Ambitions expansion.
Steam now has the release of the promised collection of SEGA Genesis games from back in the 16-bit days. Now available are Golden Axe, Altered Beast, Comix Zone, Ecco the Dolphin, Gain Ground, Shinobi III, Vectorman, Sonic 3D Blast, Crack Down, Shadow Dancer, and Space Harrier II, as well as a bundle that includes the whole shebang, for you Ricky Martin/William Hung fans.
Turbine announces that June 28 is when to expect the release of Update 5 for Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited (DDO Unlimited), their subscription-free MMORPG. This page has details on the airships, the "rise of the guilds," and other features in the new version.
- Crusaders: Thy Kingdom Come on Steam. Save 66%.
- King Arthur - The Role-playing Wargame on Steam. Save 66%.
- King Arthur: Legendary Artifacts DLC on Steam. Save 66%.
- King Arthur: Knights and Vassals DLC on Steam. Save 66%.
- Neocore Complete Pack on Steam. Save 66%.
Still on sale (previously reported)
Continue here to read the full story.
Futuremark Games Studio announces this weekend will be another free play period for Shattered Horizon, offering the chance to sample the recent Firepower weapons pack for the multiplayer shooter. The free weekend will kick off on Steam at 6:00 pm EDT (23:00 GMT) tomorrow, and they say preloads will begin at some point this evening. The game will also be on sale at a 50% discount for the duration of the weekend. This page has details on the game's system requirements, as it does not support Windows XP or DirectX 9.
Atari announces Blade Kitten, an arcade platformer that will combine the ominous deadliness of kittens with the irresistible cuteness of swordplay when it is released via digital distribution for Windows, XBLA, and PlayStation Network this September. The Blade Kitten Website has info and gameplay trailer, here are some Blade Kitten screenshots, and here's a bit on the game: Blade Kitten goes beyond most downloadable titles to deliver a strong narrative, with high-quality cinematics, and a colorful, frenetic visual style, that lends to the pick-up-and-play arcade action. Players will jump right in and easily begin exploring and fighting their way through 19 levels, including three exploration levels with Noot (a rideable alien mount). Blade Kitten also features straight forward gameplay mechanics, intuitive “scramble style” exploration, fully voiced dialogue, dramatic narrative and powerful visual direction.
Activision Talks Independent Games Competition on Industry Gamers interviews Activision's Laird Malamed about Activision's Indie Games Competition. This topic spurred discussion of Activision's developer relations in light of the exodus of Infinity Ward developers following the firings of Vince Zampella and Jason West. Activision's Senior Vice President of Development comments on the situation: "I think that our record overall speaks for itself. We’ve had an independent game development culture since Raven, our first external studio that came on board; they joined in 1997 and we had a 10-year anniversary with them back in 2007. Bobby Kotick talked about how the model came out of that acquisition when working with Raven, and letting people run their own shops. We have a dozen or so developers operate on that principle," he said. "On the same token, I look at the deal we just did with Bungie in Seattle, and that to me is evidence that we are doing stuff right. They feel comfortable in trusting us to produce their products with them. That’s a pretty big catch; that’s a triple-A team, and that’s really our goal to have triple-A teams."
The Perpetuum Online interview on Rock, Paper, Shotgun talks with Szelei Kis Gergely of Avatar Creations, the Hungarian developer of Perpetuum Online, a sandbox MMOG featuring giant robots. They discuss the game's sandbox nature, how the closed beta is progressing, comparisons with EVE Online, operating on a single shard, and some PvP details.
The LIVE Activity for week May 24th on Xbox LIVE's Major Nelson's Blog once again includes Games for Windows Top LIVE activity based on unique users:
- GTA IV
- Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II
- Colin McRae : Dirt 2
- Street Fighter IV
- Fallout 3
- BioShock 2
- Resident Evil 5
- Shadowrun
- Halo 2
- LOST PLANET COLONIES
- Batman: Arkham Asylum
- Gears of War
- Red Faction Guerrilla
- Fuel
- Tinker
- Universe at War
- Battlestations: Pacific
- FlatOut UC
- Quantum of Solace PC
- Section 8
The Battle.net Forums have Beta Patch 14 patch notes for the new StarCraft II beta. Here they are. Continue here to read the full story.
To follow-up on the whole tree situation I outlined last week, we have had to postpone the removal of the two trees from our yard. As it turns out, we will need a permit from our village to remove a living tree within three feet of the property line, which describes the mulberry tree destroying our neighbor's fence. We already had the village engineer out to discuss the situation, and it is pretty much a formality, but this has also given us the chance to reconsider the plan to take down the nearby wounded maple tree (which would not require a permit). We have a recommendation for an arborist to have a look at the tree to confirm it is a lost cause (though we are fairly certain it is), but unless he tells us it is in danger of coming down immediately, we are going to try and forestall cutting it down until after the summer to give bird broods in the tree the chance to grow up enough to give them the chance of surviving the loss of their habitat.
On a semi-related note, I spotted a Blue Jay nest in another tree out there yesterday, and got to watch the hatchlings being fed close up (trying to keep enough distance to avoid disturbing anyone), which was a treat.
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