Archived News:
4Gamer.net interviews Street Fighter series producer Yoshinori Ono in the site's native Japanese on the upcoming release of Super Street Fighter IV. Though Ono-san recently indicated they are still considering a PC edition of the upgraded fighting game, his answers now indicate severe doubts about a PC release. A Google translation of the interview is headache-inducing, but andriasang.com offers a more sensible interpretation of his comments, which say the PC edition will probably not be released due to piracy, in spite of the fact that a PC edition is basically complete, since that is the version found in arcades. He does say they will reconsider if they can come up with a proper way to combat illegal copies, though he rules out an exclusive release through Steam because that would be unfair to those unable to use the service. Thanks joao.
The trailer showing the first gameplay from BioShock Infinite that's now available on Xbox LIVE has found its way onto the YouTube for those too impatient to wait for its official PC debut tomorrow. We also have a batch of new screenshots from Irrational's upcoming first-person shooter prequel.
Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light will not include online co-op upon release for the PC and PS3, a shortcoming previously only expected for the Xbox 360 edition. This is reported by Joystiq, who say a Crystal Dynamics representative tells them co-op will arrive "at a later date." Also, Computer and Video Games says five DLC packs for the game will arrive between October and December, which are coming to the PC as well as consoles. On a related note, Steam is now accepting pre-purchases of the game, offering a free copy of Tomb Raider: Legend as a bonus.
The Left 4 Dead Blog has the release of the second virtual issue of The Sacrifice, their web-based comic based on the Left 4 Dead series. They also announce plans to release the comics in other formats: "Thanks to the overwhelming worldwide response to the comic, we are going to make more versions of the comic available on the web. This will include the current version in jpg form, a pdf version, a jpg version with no text and a jpg version with no text, speech bubbles or sound effects. This should help get the comic localized and give people the raw panels to play with and make their own comic. We will make sure to link to the best ones!"
Beware of elephants, as Matrix Games announces that Hannibal: Rome and Carthage in the Second Punic War is now available, presumably in an super-sized box to accommodate the strategy game's title. In conjunction with the release the Wargame has a two part AAR as well as notes on the game from developer Forced March Games. Here's a bit on the game: "Hannibal: Rome and Carthage in the Second Punic War is a new and innovative turn-based strategy game that puts you in command of the Carthaginian military during a period of total war over land and sea with the young Roman Republic. With this military juggernaut of the ancient world at your disposal, you will vie for control over Italy, Carthage, Spain and the Mediterranean Sea using a combination of strategic political maneuvering and sheer tactical skill both on land and sea."
The King's Bounty Website offers a new hotfix for King's Bounty: Crossworlds, the just-released King's Bounty sequel. The download is mirrored on AtomicGamer, FileFront, and Gamer's Hell. The change list follows. Continue here to read the full story.
Steam News announces the automatic availability of a new patch for Global Agenda, Hi-Rez Studios' espionage-themed MMOG. The new version adds a bunch of new features and items.
It's doubtful this can really sustain a daily feature, but Computer and Video Games has an intriguing quote from quotable Activision CEO Bobby Kotick, who suggests they've already left all their competition in the online gaming space in the dust except Facebook. "Our competitor online [is] Facebook in some respects. Even though they don't create content, they provide it. There are a lot of new social gaming companies that are emerging and take mindshare - not from our consumer, [because they're] a different demographic. But there's the potential that some of the social games will start appealing to our consumers so we're making a lot of investments in that area," he told attendees of Merrill Lynch conference. "But the traditional companies - the Electronic Arts, or Sony or Microsoft or Nintendo or Disney - that make console-based video games, are going to really struggle [in the future] to figure out how to get into these online business[es] we're in today."
Planet Fallout interviews Chris Avellone chats with the Obsidian mainstay about Fallout: New Vegas, the upcoming post-apocalyptic RPG, as well as his career in the game business. Topics include advice to those looking to break into the industry, memorable gaming moments, what makes a good RPG, dialog systems, faction conflicts, companions, hardcore mode, the town of New Vegas, mods, how close the game is to release, and more.
The F1 2010 Interview Part 1 on IncGamers talks with Codemasters' Steve Hood and Paul Jeal, Chief Games Designer and Senior Producer on Formula 1 2010, the just-released racing simulator. They discuss the length of their involvement in the project, keeping up with F1 rule changes, what it takes to get such a game "right," properly scaling down the length of races, balancing simulation with accessibility, and more.
Variety reports on the impressive box office haul for Inception, saying the "surreal heist thriller" has taken in over three-quarters of a billion dollars worldwide since it opened. They also quote director Christopher Nolan at the movie's Italian opening saying he has ambitions for a game based on the film, though this would be down the road a bit. "We are looking at doing is developing a videogame based on the world of the film, which has all kinds of ideas that you can't fit into a feature film," Nolan said at a press conference in Rome. "That's something we've been talking about and are looking at doing long term, in a couple of years." Thanks nin via Kotaku.
Battle.net announces the promised new patch for StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty is now automatically available, updating Blizzard's real-time strategy sequel to version 1.1.0. The patch notes are quite extensive, but they also offer the Reader's Digest version, saying: "This patch features adjustments to protoss, terran, and zerg balance, notable StarCraft II Editor improvements, and several bug fixes." Thanks Big Download. The full patch notes follow, but be sure to hit the bathroom before you start reading. Continue here to read the full story.
A playable demo is now available for Ship Simulator Extremes, offering the chance to set sail with the latest installment in VSTEP's seafaring series. The demo offers two full playable missions, one from the Tourist Tales campaign, and the other from the Greenpeace campaign. Here's word on the latter: "Become a Greenpeace activist in the Greenpeace Mission as you sail Esperanza, the Greenpeace vessel, to the Whale Sanctuary in the Antarctic to track down the whaling fleet. Take direct action and approach with your inflatable boats to disrupt and stop their illegal whaling activities." The download is available from ShipSim.com and the mirrors on AtomicGamer, ComputerGames.ro, FileFront, FilePlanet, Gamer's Hell, The Patches Scrolls, and WorthPlaying.
CCP announces Incursion, the 14th free expansion for EVE Online, their MMORPG set in space, where no one can hear you scream. The add-on is planned for release in November, and here's a bit on what it will offer: "EVE Online®: Incursion will feature the escalating attacks of the deadly Sansha’s Nation which is bent on instituting its own utopia and exacting vengeance against the pilots who stand in its way. Pilots can join public fleets and co-operate to destroy the Sansha incursions and return the universe to normal, receiving wealthy bounties, earning loyalty rewards and high commendation."
2k Games announces the release of Sid Meier’s Civilization V, the highly anticipated turn-based strategy sequel. Here's word on the game: "Civilization V takes this definitive strategy game series in new directions with the introduction of hexagonal tiles allowing for deeper strategy, more realistic gameplay and stunning organic landscapes for players to explore as they expand their empire. The brand new engine delivers a spectacular visual experience that brings players closer to the Civ world than ever, featuring fully animated leaders interacting with players from a screen-filling diplomatic scene and speaking in their native language for the first time. Wars between empires feel massive, as armies dominate the landscape and combat is more exciting and intense than ever before. The addition of ranged bombardment allows players to fire weapons from behind the front lines, challenging them to develop clever new strategies to guarantee victory on the battlefield. In addition to the new gameplay features debuting in Civilization V, an extensive suite of community, modding and multiplayer elements will also be available." In addition to being in retail stores, the game can also be purchased online through Direct2Drive and Steam, with Steam also offering downloads of the promised playable demo.
Unrelated to our wild speculation in the story below, GOG.com has a new update about plans to reveal what's going on with this service that sells DRM-free games updated for Windows Vista. They say their promised announcement will come tomorrow at noon EDT. They also have a new teaser video on the YouTube that has some images flashing by in a seizure-inducing sequence, one of which depicts Baldur's Gate, as shown in this capture (thanks EnsErnie). What this all means will be revealed in under 24 hours.
Seriously! has an announcement from Devolver Digital revealing plans for Serious Sam HD Gold Edition, a four game bundle that will be released via Steam this Thursday. In addition to the HD versions of Serious Sam: First and Second Encounters, the bundle will also offer the original versions of both of these action-packed first-person shooters from Croteam. Serious Sam: The First Encounter and The Second Encounter were both released through GOG.com, so this lends some credence to speculation that tomrrow's planned statement on the uncertain state of GOG.com might be some sort of merger with Steam.
Formula 1 2010 Website now offers the launch trailer for this racing simulator, the first such clip not marked a "work in progress," as the Windows, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3 editions of the game are now available in North American stores, with the PC edition also available via digital distribution. The game is expected in European PAL territories on Thursday, and in the UK on Friday. Here's word: F1 2010, the official game of FORMULA ONE, includes all of the official teams, drivers and circuits featuring in this season’s thrilling competition. The game can be enjoyed in an extensive career mode, a range of quick-fire races and time trials or full GRAND PRIX weekends. Players will experience the unique sensation of racing motorsport’s most advanced cars at the world’s finest circuits, in single player and 12-player online multiplayer modes.
Paradox Interactive and Nitro Games announce the release of Colonial Navy, the first DLC for Commander: Conquest of the Americas, which was originally a preorder bonus for the trading and strategy game. The DLC is $4.99 USD, and should be available through all digital distributers currently carrying Commander: Conquest of the Americas, and they say it "contains a variety of extra ships, resources, new historical Commanders and three full historical naval battles." This press release has all the details.
SEE Virtual Worlds and the Michael Jackson Estate announce Planet Michael, a massively multiplayer online virtual world based on the late king of pop set to launch in late 2011, which they call: "an innovative interactive gaming and social experience that celebrates Michael Jackson’s life as an artist and humanitarian." This is using the technology of MindArk's Entropia Universe, but it sounds like a standalone project, and like Project Entropia (and arguably unlike Michael Jackson himself), will operate with a real-world economy. Here's word: Planet Michael is one of the first themed planets that SEE Virtual Worlds will publish for the Entropia Universe, a vast dynamic 3D environment created and provided to end users by MindArk PE AB. The Entropia Universe features several existing planets and combines a revolutionary cash economy with cutting-edge graphics. Although Planet Michael is a free-to-download world without monthly subscription fees, the real world in-game economy features gameplay monetization that allows players to take on dozens of different occupations and, in certain instances, contribute to a charitable cause at the same time.
Josh Olin interview on Guardian.co.uk speaks with the Treyarch community manager about Call of Duty: Black Ops, the next installment in the CoD series of military shooters. Josh discusses the reasons for the Cold War setting, research behind the project, how their studio has evolved over the years, differences between Black Ops and Modern Warfare 2, the strengths and weaknesses of the series, controversy, gore, and the pressure of working on such a high-profile franchise. Thanks Joker961.
The Star Ruler Website now offers a new version 1.0.1.2 patch for this sci-fi 4X/real-time strategy hybrid. The complete change list follows. Continue here to read the full story.
Another new community-created patch for Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines is now available, updating the unofficial support for this Source-engine action/RPG to version 7.1. The patch is available on its unofficial home at The Patches Scrolls, and here are the patch notes.
The ultimate orb solution, at last is a post on using custom circuit boards to enable USB support for the SpaceOrb, the oddball first-person shooter controller that had its heyday in the mid to late 90s when about a million of them were given out as prizes. The post is from January 2009, but is noted in a recent update on Scott Hanselman's CompiuterZen.com, where they describe getting a SpaceOrb running under Windows 7. We've never been convinced that the SpaceOrb is actually superior to a mouse/keyboard combo for first-person shooters, but it has always had its fans, though a solution like this that requires custom circuit boards and soldering will test that dedication. Thanks Shok.
Digital Trends - Defending violent video games, Medal of Honor edition.
I want to make a clear distinction here — I am not arguing whether or not it is disrespectful to include playable Taliban characters in EA’s Medal of Honor. I understand the respect issue, and it is a problem with no solutions and several opinions. What I do take issue with is that Thompson (and he is not alone) is claiming that besides the asinine fact that in his mind the game will turn a generation of American children into religious fanatics hellbent on joining the jihad, he believes that regardless of whether or not you play as the Taliban or as the U.S., the game is actually bad for society in general, and he feels the same towards all first-person shooter-style games. “Murder simulators,” he calls them. Not only is Thompson wrong, he is a dangerous fool that has long since moved passed reason and has veered into something much darker.
- AMD Athlon II X4 645 3.10 GHz CPU on Benchmark Reviews and techPowerUp.
- AMD Phenom II X2 560 BE & Athlon II X4 645 CPUs on Benchmark Reviews and Neoseeker.
- AMD Phenom II X4 970 BE 3.50 GHz CPU (in German) on Technic3D and on techPowerUp.
- AMD Phenom II X6 1075T, X4 970 BE and X2 560 BE CPUs on EXTREME Overclocking, Hardware Heaven, Legion Hardware, and PureOC.
- AMD Phenom II X6 1075T, X4 970, X2 560, Athlon II X4 645, X3 450 & X2 265 CPUs on Overclockers Club.
- AMD Phenom II X6 1075T, X4 970BE and Athlon II X4 645 CPUs on Guru3D.
- AMD Phenom-II X6-1075T CPU on Benchmark Reviews, Bjorn3D, and TechwareLabs.
- AMD Phenom II X6 1075T Black Edition CPU on Overclock3D.
- Antec DF 30 Case on XSReviews.co.uk.
- AOC e2237Fwh 21.5-inch LCD Monitor on TweakTown.
- ASRock P55 Extreme4 (P55 Express) Motherboard on TweakTown USA.
- ASRock X58 Extreme3 Intel X58 Motherboard on OCWORKBENCH.
- ASUS ENGTS450 TOP DirectCU Graphics Card on Neoseeker.
- ASUS U35JC Notebook on HEXUS.net.
- BitFenix Colossus ATX Case on MADSHRIMPS.
- BlackBerry Torch 9800 Smartphone on HotHardware.
- Choiix Cruiser 2.4GHz Wireless Mouse on ThinkComputers.org.
- Corsair Graphite 600T Mid Tower Case on Hardware Canucks.
- DXG DXG-595V 5MP 1080p HD Digital Camera/Camcorder on Monster-Hardware.
- efo Power Saving ECO Button on Hardware Bistro.
- Enermax Revolution85+ 920W PSU on Technic3D. In German.
- GIGABYTE GA-X58A-UD3R (Rev 2.0) Motherboard on Vortez.
- Iomega eGo USB 3.0 on TechReviewSource.com.
- Kingston DataTraveler Ultimate 64GB USB 3.0 Flash Drive on Legit Reviews.
- Kingston HyperX blu PC3-12800 (1600MHz) 4GB RAM Kit on TweakTown.
- Lian Li Pitstop T7 Mini-ITX Test Bench on Modders-Inc.com.
- Motorola Droid 2 Cell Phone on Hardware Secrets.
- Samsung SH-B123L BD Combo Drive on CDRinfo.
- Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex Desk 3TB Hard Drive on Techgage.
- Thermaltake Armor A90 (VL90001W2Z) Case on Overclockers Online.
- TRENDNET TEW-691GR 450Mbps Wireless N Gigabit Router on OverclockersHQ.com.
- Zerotherm ZT-10D CPU Cooler on ProClockers.
- Zalman CNPS8000A CPU Cooler on Hardware Secrets.
We're aware of a problem over the past few days that can cause the site to load very slowly due to waiting for the ad server to respond. There are a couple of oddities about this that have made it harder to track down than one might expect, but we hope to have this cleared up soon. In the meantime, apologies for the situation.
R.I.P.: Rock band inspiration Leonard Skinner dies. Thanks Devicer.
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