Archived News:
Steam now offers access to the Men of War: Assault Squad Beta for the upcoming real-time strategy sequel. Word is: It features two factions from the full game, USA and Germany, a selection of classic maps to play on, redesigned game modes, and a variety of improvements.
Players will be able to try out the new skirmish game mode on two maps with up to four players, and play other popular online game modes such as Assault Zone, Combat and Frontlines.
Paradox Interactive announces King Arthur: The Druids, an upcoming expansion for King Arthur – The Role-playing Wargame, Neocore's, well, role-playing wargame. The add-on will be distributed digitally, and will require the original game to play. A new product section for the game is live, and here's a bit: This expansion is the twin of King Arthur - The Saxons, offering a wide array of new content (i.e. beasts and other monsters) as well as a brand new campaign. The economic system of the base game redesigned for a totally new campaign structure, where the player will be able to play in sandbox mode being the champion of the Old Faith. The expansion have a complex diplomatic system, campaign winning conditions that can be set by the player and an absolutely free, non-story-based gameplay.
Lionhead Studios tweets with word that Fable 3 is still in development for PCs, so they seem to understand they have not been very forthcoming with details on the Windows edition of their RPG sequel. This may not change soon, though, as word is: "Fable 3 PC Version is still in development here at Lionhead so PC GAMERS don't panic. We'll announce details when we're ready to do so." Thanks Eurogamer.
A Homefront Tweet confirms a March 8, 2011 U.S. release date for Homefront, THQ's upcoming homeland defense game. Word is: "Homefront Release Date Confirmed - March 8th 2011 for the USA, March 11th for UK / Continental Europe, and March 10th for Australia." Thanks MCV.
Ubisoft's real-time strategy game R.U.S.E. is getting a free DLC pack next Month called Manhattan Project, reports Eurogamer. The pack will include three multiplayer maps and two additional multiplayer modes, which are described like so: "In the Nuclear War mode, all prototype factories and upgrades will be unlocked from the beginning, allowing for some particularly explosive show-downs. Total War, sees you starting in 1939 with all units specific to that era. You'll then unlock 1942 units and 1945 units step by step."
A tweet from George Broussard reports layoffs at LucasArts, as he continues to share inside industry information, saying: "The Lucasarts layoffs come from a team working on an unannounced game." The part about the unannounced game has not been confirmed (nor denied), but the layoffs are confirmed on Gamasutra, where they say 50 employees have been let go. They received the following statement from LucasArts: "We remain committed to our internal studio – and to fostering relationships with trusted external partners – in order to deliver quality games that amaze and inspire fans."
Cloud-based "Video Game Advertising Network" Gaikai quietly entered a more open phase of beta testing over the weekend, and will be accepting 10,000 new testers. Here's word from DPerry.com: "The game everyone is playing first is Mass Effect 2, it's the highest rated PC game in the last 12 months and Bioware simply rocks. They've been very supportive as has Electronic Arts. The good news for them is we are getting a surprising amount of people clicking "BUY" without even making them a special offer."
The QUAKE LIVE Website has details on a new update to id Software's free-to-play shooter. They announce the addition of two new small Rocket Arena maps, updates to other maps, and several new features of their website. Thanks Big Download.
Matrix Games now offers a new patch for Hannibal: Rome and Carthage in the Second Punic War, to update the strategy game to version 1.02. Word is: "The update most notably includes a half dozen AI improvements to give Rome an extra edge in some important areas like avoiding mountain attrition and sending relief efforts to a besieged Rome. A handful of bug fixes and tweaks also come with the update in addition to a few rule changes that mostly affect Roman recruiting and retreat options when in Italy."
The Left 4 Dead Blog informs us that today is the first anniversary of the release of Left 4 Dead 2. They say they continue to update the game, to expect "new stuff coming Friday," and they also offer a retrospective on the creation of Left 4 Dead 2’s new Special Infected.
Thanks Acleacius and Ant.
Thanks Acleacius and Ant.
Had terrible problems with the internet all day. They seem cleared up now, but it impacted both cable and DSL, so I don't know what was going on, though I'm certainly happy it seems cleared up now.
Link of the Day: Leonid Meteor Shower Peaks Wednesday.
Steam now offers sales of Alien Breed 3: Descent, the final chapter in the Alien Breed series, along with a playable demo for this science fiction arcade-shooter sequel from Team17. There's no word on what the demo includes, but here's a bit on the game itself: "Descend into hell and once again take control of the hero, Conrad, the ship’s Chief Engineer, in his last stand against the savage alien horde. While the doomed vessel, the Leopold, and the alien space craft plunge deeper into the planet’s atmosphere, with an icy ocean promising a watery grave, you have just hours to defy a grisly death and survive the alien onslaught for the final time. As you struggle deeper into the sinking alien ship, through the freezing waters flooding every corridor, the horrifying truth surrounding the existence of the Breed is finally uncovered… In addition to the thrilling conclusion to the single-player campaign and the relentless and competitive “Survivor” modes, the game offers action-packed, two-player online co-operative battle modes." Thanks Frans.
A demo for the Windows version of Create is now available, offering a sample of EA's just-released puzzle game. The demo is available on the Create Website, and it is mirrored on AtomicGamer, Gamer's Hell, and WorthPlaying.
The Spike Video Game Awards 2010 Website has the nominees for this year's awards. Though they maintain their futuristic approach ("Games released between November 25, 2009 and November 23, 2010 were eligible for nomination"), it seems this year has fewer nominees that haven't been out long enough to warrant the honor (though the week-old Call of Duty: Black Ops earned seven nominations). Word is: "Leading the way with ten nominations is BioWare's epic sci-fi RPG "Mass Effect 2," including nods for Game of the Year, Best Xbox 360 Game, Best PC Game and Best RPG. Rockstar Games' Wild West action-adventure title "Red Dead Redemption" racked up nine nominations, including Game of the Year, Best Action Adventure Game, Best Graphics and Best Original Score. Both Bungie Studios' smash hit first-person shooter "Halo: Reach" and Activision's blockbuster "Call of Duty: Black Ops" received seven nominations each, including Game of the Year, Best Shooter and Best Multi-Player." The two-hour show will air live on Saturday, December 11 at 8:00 PM EST/5:00 PM PST, and will also include looks at Batman: Arkham City, BioWare's "Next Blockbuster Title," and director Guillermo del Toro's THQ gaming franchise. Here's the list of game of the year candidates: "Call of Duty: Black Ops" (Activision/Treyarch)
"God of War III" (Sony Computer Entertainment/SCE Studios Santa Monica)
"Halo: Reach" (Microsoft/Bungie Studios)
"Mass Effect 2" (Electronic Arts/BioWare)
"Red Dead Redemption" (Rockstar Games/Rockstar San Diego)
AMD support now offers new version 10.11 reference drivers for AMD/ATI Radeon graphics cards. There are new drivers for Windows 7/Vista, Windows 7/Vista 64-bit, Windows XP, and Windows XP 64-bit. This release is once again accompanied by a hotfix, a version 10.10e which is available on this page, offering further improvements accompanied by the following warning: "This hotfix is provided as is and is not supported by AMD. It has not completed full AMD testing and is only a driver update."
The Bethesda Blog has the announcement of the first DLC release for Fallout New Vegas, a pack called Dead Money that puts the player in role of "the victim of a raw deal," and speaking of which, this is being announced as an Xbox LIVE exclusive, so perhaps that player is a PC gamer. The DLC will be released on December 21, and word is you will be seeking the treasure of the Sierra Madre, so presumably no estinking badges are required: "As the victim of a raw deal you must work alongside three other captured wastelanders to recover the legendary treasure of the Sierra Madre Casino. In Dead Money, your life hangs in the balance as you face new terrain, foes, and choices. It is up to you how you play your cards in the quest to survive." Thanks Techie714.
In response to a tweet or two from Geoff Keighley about premieres and teases to be included with today's announcement of nominees for Spike's annual video game awards, EA's Patrick Buechner adds a tweet of his own saying "Bioware fans pay attention ..." Adding more fuel to the fire is a post on Eurogamer.net with: "The latest screenshots for BioWare show mystery new game." Mass Effect 3? A game where Commander Shepard plays poker with Wallace and Gromit? Seems we'll know more soon. The nominees will be announced later today, and the Spike VGAs air December 11.
Noble Master Games announces the release of Age of Conquest III, saying their medieval strategy sequel is now available via digital distribution for Windows, OS X, and Linux. The game can be purchased from the Age of Conquest Website (where they also offer playable demos) and GamersGate. Here's word on the game: "Age of Conquest III is a medieval Risk-like turn-based strategy game where you take the reins of a budding empire and struggle against other kingdoms for control of the world. One game supports competitions with up to hundred players. Age of Conquest III contains maps from all over the world including Europe, North America, Asia, Africa, a World Map and many more. Scenarios range from ancient to modern times. The game features simple building options such as construction of fortifications and watch towers. A player governs over military strategy as well as income and spending. Diplomatic functions available are alliances, peace treaties, cease-fires and vassalage. An integrated map editor can be used to create custom maps and upload them to a central repository for other people to enjoy."
Steam now offers the Wanzer Pack 3 DLC for Front Mission Evolved. Here's the brief explanation of what this adds to the mechanized combat game: "Smash the competition with a wanzer evolved from the Front Mission franchise's past (Wildgoat) and 1 brand-new type (ISV-Prototype)."
Manual versions of the new version 1.01 patch for Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. 2 that was released automatically yesterday are now available. Ubisoft Germany has the EMEA patch while the patch for the U.S. edition is on The Patches Scrolls. As noted when the auto patch was released, some users report having lost some of their unlocking progress after patching.
A new patch is now available for Blood Bowl: Legendary Edition, updating the latest version of this fantasy-themed sports game to version 2.0.0.6. The new version addresses performance issues and fixes a couple of bugs. Downloads are available through The Patches Scrolls and WorthPlaying.
Strategy Informer - Why we should play bad games.
So why should you play such awful titles? Let's take a look at Deadly Premonition. It's reception couldn't have been more mixed with IGN giving it 2/10 and calling it "terrible" while Destructoid awarded it a perfect 10/10 and described it as "simply stunning". Both reviews highlight similar flaws but the crucial difference lies in what each reviewer took away from their own experience. It shows that even in the most despicable games there are great ideas or gameplay elements to be appreciated, even if these are hidden beneath painful presentation or broken controls.
In the full-length Green Lantern trailer, destiny finds YOU (thanks Neutronbeam). Oh, they are bringing out the awesome... this one just jumped way up on the anticipation scale.
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