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Archived News:
The DC Universe Online Facebook Page outlines a "make good plan" that Sony will offer customers of the MMORPG to compensate for allowing The Joker and Lex Luthor access to users' personal information. Here's word: We wanted to provide everyone with a quick update regarding the "make good" plan you've been reading about. First, all impacted players will receive 30 days subscription credit plus one day for each day the service was unavailable. Also every impacted player will receive a Batman™-Inspired mask appearance item. Please bear with us as the complexities of the subscription server dictate how and when this will be available along with pertinent details. We will be releasing more information this week. Thanks again for your patience!
Section 8 Prejudice is now available via digital distribution, offering TimeGate's first-person shooter follow-up. The game is for sale on Direct2Drive, Impulse, and Steam, and word is: "On the battlefield, prejudice takes many forms, knows no boundaries, and drives all conflict. In the distant future, humanity will call on its most fearless defenders to confront an emerging threat determined to eradicate all human life as we know it. Section 8®: Prejudice™ is a sci-fi first-person shooter with dynamic combat, where every decision – from customizing equipment to activating team based objectives – drastically impacts the battlefield."
Trion Worlds announces plans to launch a new version 1.2 "The Spoils of War" update for RIFT next week on May 10th. The update will add new content to the MMORPG, including 10-player raids; new raid rifts; and new zone events, as well as new features, including Facebook integration. Word is the way is being paved for the patch already: In advance of Rift 1.2, Trion is kicking things off today with the Spoils of War prelude. Earth and Fire rifts are opening unexpectedly all across Telara, spilling forth mysterious fragments of golden dragon eggs along with the usual monstrosities. Daily quests in Meridian and Sanctum offer special rewards to those Ascended who attempt to solve this planar conundrum.
Battle.net announces a seven-day free trial of the Remote Auction House, one of the features of the subscription-based World of Warcraft Remote service. Word is: "Between now and May 10, players will be able to access both features of World of Warcraft Remote -- Remote Guild Chat and the Remote Auction House -- for free. The Remote Auction House allows players to place bids, post auctions, collect their hard-earned gold, and more from a supported mobile device or the World of Warcraft website. To try either of these features out, simply download the free World of Warcraft Remote app for Android™ or the free World of Warcraft Mobile Armory app for iPhone® or iPod touch®."
Ubisoft has registered a new domain called MightAndMagicRaiders.com, which may offer a clue for the game to follow Might & Magic Heroes VI, the installment in the fantasy-themed series that's expected in September. Thanks superannuation.
OnLive is offering a free OnLive microconsole and a copy of Red Faction Guerilla as preorder bonuses to anyone who buys a full PlayPass for Red Faction Armageddon on their cloud-based service. Thanks VG247 via GameFront.
Russian publisher Nival announces plans to open a North American office in Los Angeles. If you're feeling deja vu, that's because they announced the same thing five years ago, but we're not sure whatever became of that. Here's the story this time around: The new office will initially focus on managing operations for North America and contribute to growth opportunities in both Central and South America. Nival is expected to launch its first North American game in 2011 with an additional game available for beta testing later this year. The games will be free to play with revenue driven through in-game item sales via microtransactions. Nival plans to offer games across multiple platforms, including PC and Mac, as well as Android and iOS mobile operating systems with extensive social network tie-ins.
Nival will support its North American game services with customer service, marketing, communications, production and quality assurance teams. Industry veteran David D. Christensen, who has extensive global gaming background with prior roles at Sony Online Entertainment, Vivendi Universal and IGE, is the company’s North American general manager. The company’s U.S. office has expansive growth plans and is currently staffing up to create a dedicated North American team.
Gamasutra has EA's annual financial reporting, showing reduced losses over the prior year. Here's word: The company posted an annual loss of $276 million, a marked improvement over the $677 it lost in fiscal 2010. Revenue totalled $3.59 billion, down slightly from the $3.65 billion posted in the previous year.
Its Q4 in particular was strong, with a $151 million profit reported, versus $30 million in the prior year. Quarterly revenues were $1.09 billion, up from $979 million year-on-year.
The company's digital business showed the most quarterly growth: its $211 million in revenue is a 42 percent improvement over the $144 it posted one year prior. By comparison, its packaged publishing business showed only a 5 percent revenue increase, and its distribution business -- which includes the EA Partners imprint -- was completely flat.
Free-to-play MMOG publisher Nexon America announces its latest financial results, showing a 59% jump in first quarter revenue compared with the same period last year. The news does not include profit and loss figures.
Save 50% on a large list of games on the THQ Online Store.
All preorders on Direct2Drive are 10% off.
- Medal of Honor on Direct2Drive. Save 50%.
- Mount and Blade: Warband on Direct2Drive. Save 80%.
- Plants vs. Zombies GOTY Edition on Steam. Save 66%. And get TF2 hats.
- SimCity 4 Deluxe Edition on Steam. Save 75%.
- The Sims 3 on Steam. Save 40%.
- The Sims 3: Ambitions on Steam. Save 50%.
- The Sims 3 Fast Lane Stuff on Steam. Save 50%.
- The Sims 3 High-End Loft Stuff on Steam. Save 50%.
- The Sims 3 Late Night on Steam. Save 50%.
- The Sims 3 Outdoor Living Stuff on Steam. Save 50%.
- The Sims 3 World Adventures on Steam. Save 50%.
- Star Wars Games on Direct2Drive. Save 15%.
Still on sale (previously reported). Continue here to read the full story.
The Mass Effect 2 Facebook Page reveals a delay for Mass Effect 3, saying BioWare's sci-fi action/RPG sequel is now due in Q1 2012, after being announced for release in Q4 of this year (thanks BeyondUnreal). Word is: Mass Effect 3 will be released in the first three months of 2012. The development team is laser focused on making sure Mass Effect 3 is the biggest, boldest and best game in the series, ensuring that it exceeds everyone’s expectations.” - Casey Hudson, Executive Producer Mass Effect series
Steam News announces the release of the Civilization and Scenario Pack: Denmark - The Vikings and Explorer’s Map Pack for Sid Meier's Civilization V. Word is: "The Denmark Civilization and Scenario Pack brings you both the Denmark Civilization and the new Scenario, 1066: Year of Viking Destiny, to further enhance your Civilization V experience. Rule the world as Harald Bluetooth, with your powerful Berserker warriors and Ski Infantry! The Explorer's Map Pack brings you 10 new fantastic single-player maps!" The two packs are available bundles in the Denmark and Explorer's Combo Pack at a 25% discount.
A new patch for SunAge is now available to update this real-time strategy game from Vertex 4 to version 1.10.0. The new version includes a couple of "niceties" (a "beefed up" tutorial map and improved battlefield sounds) along with bug fixes. The download is available on AtomicGamer, Gamer's Hell, and The Patches Scrolls. The change list follows. Continue here to read the full story.
Tripwire Interactive announces the release of Dwarfs!? on Steam, where the arcade action/strategy game is on sale for 10% until next week. The release is accompanied by a new trailer and a playable demo, and here's word on the game: Dwarfs!? offers an addictive, fast paced arcade-like experience, with plenty of difficulty levels and game modes to play around in! In this game, your own Dwarfs double as your greatest asset and worst threat. They explore for you, they mine for you and they fight for you - but if you don't keep an eye on them, they'll do what they do best: die for you and take everyone else with them! Nothing in Dwarfs!? is free, though. To force your 'loyal workers' to do your bidding, you must cough up the gold. The same gold that might save your beard when someone, somewhere disturbs a Spider Queen.
2K Games announces October release dates for The Darkness II, saying Digital Extremes' horror-themed first-person shooter sequel is due in North America on October 4 and internationally on October 7. This new trailer highlights the North American date, and another version of the clip on Eurogamer reflects the international date. Here's word: The Darkness II is a well of dark and imaginative violence that breaks from the traditional FPS conventions with its uniquely stylized gameplay. The fervid Quad-Wielding(TM) gameplay empowers players to slash, grab, and throw objects and enemies using ruthless Demon Arms, while simultaneously firing two weapons. Layered with intricate uses of dark versus light gameplay, the game engulfs players in a whole other level of sophisticated combat. Combined with a complex and twisted storyline, and stylistic violence that is visualized through a hand-painted graphic noir technique, The Darkness II harkens back to its roots of the comic book origins for fans and newcomers alike.
Kalypso Media UK announces completion of development on The First Templar, saying the co-op action/adventure game is due on U.K. shelves on May 6. The game was declared gold for North American release a few weeks ago, and its North American release is expected May 10.
A new "rolling through the ages" trailer from Rock of Ages offers a look at gameplay from the upcoming rock-and-roll tower offense game. The clip shows off one of the game's five different visual styles. Here's the embedded version. Continue here to read the full story.
Square Enix announces minimum and recommended system specifications for Deus Ex: Human Revolution, the next installment in the action/RPG series currently in development at Eidos Montreal. The specs are accompanied by these three new screenshots, and on a related note, 4players.de has an article (in German) discussing how the Windows edition of the game will differ from its console counterparts. Here are the requirements:
Deus Ex: Human Revolution Recommended PC Specs:
- OS: Windows 7
- PROCESSOR: AMD Phenom II X4 or Intel Core 2 Quad or better
- RAM: 2 GB
- GRAPHICS: AMD Radeon HD 5850
- REQUIRED DISC SPACE: 8.5 GB
Deus Ex: Human Revolution Minimum PC Specs:
- OS: Windows XP, Windows Vista or Windows 7 with DirectX 9.0c
- PROCESSOR: 2 GHz dual core
- RAM: 1 GB RAM (Windows XP) / 2 GB (Windows Vista and Windows 7)
- GRAPHICS: NVIDIA GeForce 8000 series or ATI Radeon HD 2000 series or better
- REQUIRED DISC SPACE: 8.5 GB
The Bethesda Blog now offers the latest "Get SMART" trailer from Brink, a classy clip that introduces the classes in Splash Damage's upcoming first-person shooter. They say: "In Brink, you can play as one of four different class types: Soldier, Engineer, Operative, and Medic. In our latest Get SMART video, you’ll learn more their roles, including the special skills and abilities they contribute. Watch it and you’ll be sure to jump to the head of the class." The game is due for release next week, and the final installment in this trailer series is expected tomorrow.
Focus Home Interactive announces Pro Cycling Manager: Tour de France 2011, saying the next installment in the bicycle racing simulation from Cyanide Studio is due this summer in time for the cycling season. Here are three new screenshots, which are described like this: "like the improved 3D engine that powers these realistic races. New cyclist models of various shapes have been designed, reflecting the real-life stature and riding style of each competitor. The environments boast more varied scenery, landscapes, and tracks than ever before." Here's word: While looks are important, the real meat of the game is still the management aspect, which is now more detailed than ever. The user interface has been streamlined for easier reading, while still offering more precise interactions with the team’s cyclists and sponsors. Sponsorship management is richer and more in-depth, and each cyclist’s performance during a competition will directly impact their salaries and sponsors' offers. To keep things interesting, the updated AI presents fierce completion with plausible, unpredictable behavior in the pack, during breakaways, in sprints, and other highlights of the race.
Cyanide Studios is at work on Of Orcs and Men for release in Spring 2012 for Windows, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3, announces Focus Home Interactive, describing this as a role-playing game where the player is an Orc soldier. Here are some screenshots, and here's word on this game with a Steinbeck-inspired title: Of Orcs and Men first puts you into the role of an elite Orc soldier from the legendary legion of Bloodjaws, a league of warriors deeply involved in the war opposing the Orcs and Goblins on one side to their persecutors, Humankind. As a veteran warrior who has seen the most brutal of battles, you are appointed by the Orc commander to complete a mission that could change the course of the war: kill the one man responsible for all of this bloodshed, the one who has, for years, exhorted the human masses to loath and fight the green-skinned people: the Emperor himself.
Square Enix has picked up the rights to publish Dead Island on the U.S., reports MCV. Says Square Enix president and CEO Mike Fischer: "Dead Island is a truly extraordinary title and we couldn’t be more excited about leveraging our unified Square Enix resources in bringing it to audiences in the Americas."
Dark Sky Entertainment announces that Beyond Protocol and Star Alliances are both now open source. The Beyond Protocol source is available here on SourceForge.net and the Star Alliances source is here. Here's word accompanying the Beyond Protocol release: "This is the full sourcecode, all graphics, music, soundfx, and assets related to the game. Binaries are available in the downloads, however, it is advised that you run all execution from MS Studio debugger so that no chance of dataloss can exist."
"I don’t think the big, huge experiences are going anywhere," Remedy CEO Matias Myllyrinne tells Edge Magazine. "But the sooner we go digital as an industry, the better for everybody. Better for consumers, better for the developers and publishers."
May the fourth be with you!
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