Archived News:
A limited edition of DICE's upcoming Battlefield 3 will include reworked content from Battlefield 2, reports Computer and Video Games, saying this is based on a leaked advertisement for the LE of the military shooter sequel. They say this will include a Back To Karkland map pack to be offered to those who preorder this special edition that will eventually be offered as DLC or everyone else. Word is: "This themed expansion pack features four legendary maps from Battlefield 2 boldly re-imagined with frostbite 2 physics, destruction and visuals. Completing the package are classic Battlefield 2 weapons and vehicles, unique rewards, new Achievements/Trophies and more."
Kings and Castles is currently "on hold," reports Big Download, who contacted Gas Powered Games to ask about the status of their upcoming real-time strategy game. "Well... We've put the project on hold for now, but the moment I know more I will let you know..." GPG's CEO Chris Taylor revealed. "I can't go into those details just yet... let's call it a 'timing' thing..." The game was announced about a year ago, and since then 35 video blogs appeared on the Kings and Castles Website, the last of which announced in October that preproduction on the game was complete, and a month later it was announced that the game would receive monthly DLC updates.
A majority stake in Riot Games was acquired yesterday by Tencent Holdings Ltd, a previous shareholder in the League of Legends developer. They describe Tencent as "China's leading provider of internet and mobile and value-added telecommunications services," and say Riot Games "will retain its independent operations and its existing management team will continue to run the company." Terms of the deal are not offered, but they do have a bit on what this means: "With Tencent's financial backing, Riot Games said that it will enhance its flagship title ''League of Legends," expand into new markets and develop new games."
Namco Bandai announces Ridge Racer Unbounded, which is being developed by Bugbear for release next year for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Windows, making this the first PC installment in the arcade racing series (thanks Gamer's Hell). Word is: "Breaking free from all the pussyfooting around tame circuits, politely bumping into rivals' fenders, Ridge Racer Unbounded has a new mantra – Drive, Destroy, Dominate – and it's one that's going to shake up the racing genre for good. It’s time to break not only the rules, but plenty of cars too. You think you've seen crashes? You've seen nothing. In Ridge Racer Unbounded your car is a high-octane wrecking ball." Eurogamer has a trailer, and Computer and Video Games has word on the game from Lee Kirton, as Namco Bandai's UK marketing head calls this a "dangerous" and "wilder" Ridge Racer game. "Ridge Racer Unbounded is a brand new title from developer Bugbear," he explained. "I can't disclose any major information on the gameplay as yet, but what I can tell you is that this is the kind of 'dangerous' version of Ridge Racer." There's a bit more on the Namco Bandai Games Website saying the game will "add an unexpected dimension to the series and deliver an original blast of ferocious racing adrenaline." They also offer a brief features list:
- Break free from convention with a new mantra – Drive, Destroy, Dominate
- New breed of racing machines: Traditional racing machines are out, badass street machines are in.
- The city is your playground
Ubisoft announces The Settlers 7: Paths to a Kingdom Gold Edition, a bundle of The Settlers 7 along with the three DLC packs for the construction/strategy sequel, saying this will offer "a wide variety of multiplayer and single missions, many different maps and hours of gameplay for an intense immersion in the Settlers 7 world." The Windows/OS X hybrid bundle is slated for release in the U.K. on February 25.
Wired.com has word on plans to censor out references to North Korea and the country's Supreme Leader Kim Jong-il from Homefront, Kaos Studios' upcoming shooter based on a North Korean invasion of the United States of America. They translate a portion of the Japanese website of localizer Spike saying the attackers will be referred to as "A Certain Country to the North," headed up by the "Northern Leader." They say this is to comply with guidelines of the Japanese Computer Entertainment Rating Organization, as they apparently have regulations against references to actual persons and places. Thanks Darth Guybrush.
The CrimeCraft Website has word that The Achilles Helix goes live at 7:00 pm EST tonight, offering a new episode in the MMORPG's BLEEDOUT campaign. Word is: "Episode 6, "The Achilles Helix," takes players into secret projects brewing in The Sons of Liberty's laboratories. Will participants come out of the science experiments as Uber-soldiers or tragedies? The only way to find out is to play. You have to complete Episode 5 to unlock Episode 6, so get on it if you haven't already!"
A third video developer diary from Two Worlds II features TopWare Interactive creative director Scott Cromie detailing improvements in Reality Pump's role-playing sequel over the original game. Scott discusses the game's single-player and multiplayer experiences and various gameplay modes in a clip that features lots of gameplay footage. The embedded version is below. Continue here to read the full story.
New patches are now available for the various localized editions of Farming Simulator 2011 to update Big Sims' and Giant Software's farming game to version 2.2. Downloads are available on AtomicGamer, Gamer's Hell, and The Patches Scrolls.
State of Houston - Gamers Whiny Crybabies Because Game Developers Suck at Games.
So what is the solution? I can tell you what it isn’t, and that is a call to consumers to tell them to stop being so damn demanding, and that is only partly because that kind of tactic is pointless and unachievable. It’s unfortunate that the games industry is now in the business of keeping up with gamer’s demands, because at one time it was about shattering their expectations. That role and responsibility of the games industry hasn’t ended just because the job suddenly got hard.
Big Think - Using Games to Change Your World....and Then the Real World.
Having now re-read McGonigal’s book after tasting the thrill of gaming, I can relate much better to what she is saying. The book is exemplary: McGonigal has expressed a vision for games that even the layperson can understand and should read. One of the games she recommends is a social game called Extraordinaires, which allows you to do a good deed in as little as a minute. Now whenever I have a few moments to spare, I often tag photographs for the Louvre and I must say I feel like a good world citizen after doing it. There are hundreds of acts of citizenry you can engage in using Extraordinaires. Micro-volunteering will be a powerful way to allow the public to fully engage with the public good.
With tomorrow being Super Bowl Sunday, does that make today Super Bowl Saturday?
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