Archived News:
Out of the Park Baseball 12 is now available from the Out of the Park Baseball Website. The latest version, which will also update any prior version of the full game is mirrored on Gamer's Hell for Windows, Mac, and Linux, and WorthPlaying has a mirror of the Windows version. Update: It seems that in spite of what the mirror sites say, a playable demo does not actually seem to be part of this release. Apologies for the confusion.
The Team Fortress 2 Blog has the day three post for tomorrow's planned Über update for Valve's teamplay shooter. World War Wednesday outlines plans for "not one, not three, but TWO Soldier Class Packs."
The Heroes of Newerth Forums have an apology from S2 games over the downtime for Heroes of Newerth, and word on what players will receive in compensation. They also explain the RAID failure that brought the game down, which was during maintenance somewhat ironically intended to make the game more secure. Word is: "We hold ourselves completely accountable for the events that have transpired. Through two years of closed beta, open beta, and retail play, we provided nearly 100% uptime. We are intent on restoring this level of service you have all come to expect. We will be making the necessary adjustments in our systems, processes, and management to achieve a better and more reliable quality of service!"
Gabe Newell says Portal 2 has sold more than three million copies since the puzzle/platformer sequel was released, reports Joystiq, saying Valve's managing director stated this at the Games For Change conference here in the big apple. Which platforms this comprises and whether this figure counts Steam sales are not clear.
An interview on IndustryGamers talks with Jim Redner, the public relations specialist who was axed by 2K Games for threatening to withhold future review copies of games from publications over Duke Nukem Forever reviews with too much "venom." Along the way he describes receiving threats to himself and his family over this affair, which is regrettable. He also continues to attempt to clarify his actions, providing justifications for not sending review copies to outlets based on manipulating the arc of Metacritic scores, and repeatedly quibbling over the definition of the term "blacklist."
A new trailer from Call of Duty: Black Ops shows off the maps in the upcoming Annihilation DLC for the military first-person shooter. The clip is set to the strains of the classic Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones, and includes live action footage of a short order cook at a burger joint, the meaning of which should be so obvious, we won't insult anyone by explaining it (all right, we don't know why either). The embedded version follows. Continue here to read the full story.
This new trailer from The Lord of the Rings: War in the North shows off gameplay involving Beleram, the Great Eagle. Word is: "This vignette illustrates Beleram's critical role as strategic component for players of this 3 player co-op action RPG. In the war brewing in Northern Middle-earth, the strategic alliance with Beleram cannot be underestimated." Here's the embedded version. Continue here to read the full story.
Games
Patches
- Anomaly: Warzone Earth on Steam.
- EVE Online: Incarna on Steam.
- Race 07 on Steam.
The list of LIVE Activity for week of June 13th on Xbox LIVE's Major Nelson's Blog now offers Windows Phone 7 games, and, as usual, a list of top Games for Windows LIVE Titles (based on UUs), which follows. Continue here to read the full story.
MyCrysis announces a June 27th release date for the promised DirectX 11 patch for Crysis 2, Crytek's first-person shooter sequel. This follows up on the inadvertent revelation of Crytek's plans for a DirectX 11 DX 11 Tessellation Pack and a Hi Res Texture Pack for the game, and they explain to the folks who were able to download these packs that they can't really be put to use before the release of this patch, which will update Crysis 2 to version 1.9. In the meantime they also have updated version 1.9 patch notes (thanks Grifter), which follow. Continue here to read the full story.
EA announces a September 30th release date for FIFA 12, the next installment in the soccer/association football series, according to MCV. This news comes with word on the Windows edition. "This is the moment all PC gamers have been waiting for, as they are finally going to fully experience the award-winning FIFA gameplay on their preferred platform," says executive producer Kaz Makita. "PC fans are going to enjoy the highest quality gameplay, deepest game modes and truest graphics ever developed for the platform, including our new live service EA Sports Football Club." There's a screenshot from the PC edition on Eurogamer.
The EVE Insider has word that deployment of version 1.0 of the Incarna update for EVE Online, CCP's science fiction MMORPG. Here are the full patch notes and this thread discusses issues with the new version, while this thread is for feedback. Here's word: EVE Online: Incarna 1.0 has been deployed. Incarna 1.0 features Captain's Quarters - the first step towards opening the interiors of space stations for players; new graphics and animations for ship turrets; and the Noble Exchange store offering new and exciting goods. New players will now embark on their journey in EVE Online guided by completely revamped tutorials and the familiar voice of Aura, while the new agent finder and corporation recruitment tools will make life easier for all pilots. For more information visit the expansion website.
A Heroes of Newerth Server Status Update announces their most recent scheduled maintenance has resulted in "a catastrophic hardware failure" for this DOTA-inspired game (thanks Shacknews). Word is: During our scheduled maintenance period this morning we had a catastrophic hardware failure across a number of systems including some of our backup systems. We have the capacity and ability to recover from this failure. However, due to the extent of this failure we cannot provide an ETA on when service will be restored, we will continue to provide you updates as they are available to us.
We apologize, we would like to play just as badly as you would.
The Team Fortress 2 Blog offers more on The Über Update coming to the teamplay shooter tomorrow. This "Timbuk Tuesday" update covers new goodies for the sniper, and also has an obscure link at the bottom to this page (thanks Frax) with information on what's coming for the Scout.
Closed beta testing of the North American edition of The Chosen is now underway, paving the way for the release of this free-to-play MMORPG set in historical China. A release date for the game is also now set, as Snail Games USA says the game will open to the public on July 5. Word is: "During the closed beta testing period, players will enter a vast MMO world, complete with stunning landscapes, an epic storyline, immense customization options and adorably powerful animals to fight alongside as they climb The Chosen’s colossal skill tree."
Gearboxity now offers Duke Nukem History of a Legend - Chapter 3, another installment in the history of this video game franchise. Word is: "This chapter features 3D Realms veterans and Triptych Games employees discussing the evolution of Duke Nukem Forever." Thanks Darth Guybrush.
GameFront - Duke Nukem Forever and Jim Redner’s Balls of Squeal.
The really contentious part of Redner’s argument, however, is the fact that developers should be let off the hook because they “poured thousands of irreplaceable hours” into a game. This is an argument that I’ve seen many times before, that a reviewer needs to consider the feelings of the people who made it. I’d say that’s the last thing a reviewer needs to think about when assessing a game. Like it or not, a reviewer isn’t there to protect developers from feeling sad. This is not pre-school, where everybody gets a star and no child is left behind. This is the realm of business conducted by adults, and if you’re going to turn on the waterworks when your game is trashed, you should not be in an industry where art is produced for public consumption. It’s simply not the place for little princesses made of eggshells.
Joystick Division - Marketing Campaigns Are Doomsday Machines. Thanks Digg.
Duke Nukem Forever is the brightest, recent example of this horribly hilarious phenomenon, but it was preceded by two other first person shooters which enticed us to waste our money this year: Homefront and Brink. Together they form a Trifecta of Terrible. Behold the power of the marketing machine, and tremble.
Today is the 15th anniversary of the release of QUAKE, id Software's first-person shooter. I keep thinking I'll get used to these commemorations involving ever-larger numbers, but the shock never seems to diminish. I don't think I currently have the original QUAKE installed on my machine, but I'm going to dig it up and play some for old time's sake.
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