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Archived News:
The Batman: Arkham City Forums have word that they've tracked down some performance issues in Rocksteady's action/stealth sequel to DirectX 11 problems, and until a title update to remedy this is released, they recommend reverting to DirectX 9 (thanks PC Perspective). Here's word: PC DirectX 11 Issues Please Read
We have received reports of performance issues from players of Batman: Arkham City on PC. After researching the matter, we found that running the game with DX 11 is causing the performance issues. We’re working on a title update to address this matter and expect to make it available in the near future.
In the meantime, a workaround for this issue is to run the game with DX 9 instead of DX 11. Instructions on how to turn off DX 11 are listed below.
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience with your gameplay experience and thank you all for your patience as we work to resolve this issue.
Instructions for changing DX 11 to DX 9
The Launcher can be accessed on Games for Windows LIVE and Steam to change DX 11 to DX 9 in the Settings menu.
Change both DirectX 11 Features and DirectX 11 Tessellation to OFF.
Games for Windows LIVE
Start > All Programs > Games > Right click on Batman: Arkham City and select Launcher > Settings
1. Open the Start Menu
2. Select All Programs and then the Games folder
3. Right click on Batman: Arkham City and select Launcher
4. Choose Settings then click on the arrow next to DX options to change
Steam:
Launch Steam Client > Library > Right click on Batman: Arkham City > Configure PC Options
1. Open Steam
2. Select Library
3. Right click on Batman: Arkham City and select Configure PC Options
4. Choose Settings then click on the arrow next to DX options to change
IncGamers quotes I Am Alive creative director Stanislas Mettra on the reasons there will be no PC edition of the upcoming survival game (thanks Eurogamer). "We’ve heard loud and clear that PC gamers are bitching about there being no version for them," said Mettra. "But are these people just making noise just because there’s no version or because it’s a game they actually want to play? Would they buy it if we made it?" He then goes on to invoke the spectre of piracy: "It’s hard because there’s so much piracy and so few people are paying for PC games that we have to precisely weigh it up against the cost of making it. Perhaps it will only take 12 guys three months to port the game to PC, it’s not a massive cost but it’s still a cost. If only 50,000 people buy the game then it’s not worth it."
Matrix Games now offers Distant Worlds – Legends, the second expansion for Distant Worlds, Code Force's 4x strategy game. The game and both expansions are currently on sale. Here's a bit on the new add-on, which requires the original game and the Return of the Shakturi expansion: A new character system includes Leaders, Admirals, Generals, Governors, Ambassadors, Scientists and Agents, each with defined abilities and traits and opportunities to advance and grow over time. Expanded gameplay for all existing races includes new race-specific events, technologies and victory conditions which create a completely different game depending on your choices. An expanded tech tree also awaits, with dedicated carriers, cutting lasers, rail guns, new planetary facilities and wonders, and much more (including a new hidden faction)!
A new Street Fighter x Tekken Announcement Trailer is a live-action clip to promote the upcoming cross-franchise brawler. Here's word: "Capcom has commissioned Thousand Pounds Action company, the team behind Real Life Ultra Combos and Street Fighter: Beginnings End, to create a short film based on the game. As an announcement, the company has created this video, filmed on location outside the Los Angeles set of the TV commercial for Street Fighter X Tekken."
The Steam Store introduces day one of the Steam Autumn Sale, which includes hundreds of titles discounted between now and November 27th, and specific titles on sale every day. Here are today's specials:
VG247 offers a brief trailer teasing a new game announcement coming from BioWare at the Spike VGAs on December 10. The clip shows a glimpse of ground vehicles under attack, and has the following voice-over: For more than 15 years, BioWare has taken you to amazing new worlds. On Saturday, December 10th, find out where they are taking you next. A new direction. A new game. From a new BioWare studio.
Steam News announces the release of the Dead Island Bloodbath DLC, which is free for those who preordered Techland's zombie game, and USD $9.99 for those who did not. Here's word: In the 'Bloodbath Arena' DLC four different arenas offer new challenges that can be played alone or in coop mode. It’s a desperate fight for survival where waves after waves of unrelenting zombies attack, one more gruesome than the next! In this DLC characters can loot experience points and items and bring them over to the campaign mode. Players can also show off their skills in zombie fighting with the newly implemented leaderboards.
Goblinworks announces they have acquired a license to develop an MMOG based on Pathfinder, and RPG intellectual property owned by Paizo Publishing. Here's a bit on the pedigree of the new developer: "Founded by Paizo co-owner Lisa Stevens (Pathfinder RPG, Vampire: The Masquerade, Magic: The Gathering), game industry veteran Ryan S. Dancey (Dungeons & Dragons Third Edition, EVE Online), and experienced MMO developer Mark Kalmes (Microsoft, Cryptic Studios, CCP), Goblinworks is an independent company that will work with Paizo Publishing to bring the award-winning world and adventures of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game to the online gaming market." And here's a bit on their game plans: Pathfinder Online is a hybrid sandbox/theme park-style MMO roleplaying game where characters explore, develop, and dominate the River Kingdoms, a treacherous no-man's-land of squabbling kingdoms on the edge of wilderness. Players explore, adventure, develop, and dominate their domains by playing fighters, rogues, wizards, or any of Pathfinder's many character types, or they can use the game's archetype system go beyond the standard options to create nearly any sort of character imaginable.
Pathfinder Online's robust trading system puts players in control of the world's economy with player-created items, consumables, fortifications, and settlements. Character-controlled settlements can grow into full-fledged kingdoms that compete for resources as they seek to become the dominant force in the land, raising vast armies to hold their territory against the depredations of monstrous creatures, NPC factions, and other player characters.
South Korea has implemented a "hotly debated law" that blocks young gamers from accessing game websites after midnight, reports CNN. They say the new system called the "shutdown law" or the "Cinderella law," and it blocks those under the age of 16 from accessing gaming websites after midnight, though it apparently does not affect mobile games or some games on social networking websites. The motivation for this is the high levels of reported "internet addiction," said to be 8% of the population from 8 to 39 years old and 14% of those between 9 and 12. The report also states this has sparked protests, with some calling for the shutdown of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, which is behind the policy, and saying parents should be the ones to decide when their children should be allowed to play games. Thanks Ant via Slashdot.
Rockstar Games has word on a GameStop preorder bonus for Max Payne 3, saying an advance commitment to the third-person shooter sequel will include a multiplayer map called "Cemetery." It seems this will be released to all at some point, possibly as paid DLC, as word preordering includes "early access to the Cemetery Multiplayer Map at no extra cost at the game's launch this March, weeks before it is made available to the general public."
An Open Letter from Indie Royale outlines plans to change the way their sales of indie game bundles will operate (thanks nin). For reasons mostly related to logistics and server load, they no longer plan on adhering to a strict schedule of a new bundle every two weeks, and they will begin accepting preorders, which will require flying blind. Here's a bit:
- We'll be removing a strict schedule of one Indie Royale bundle every two weeks. You can still sign up or follow us to find out when the bundle goes live. And we won't be changing our general concept and list of upcoming bundles. But we're continuing to target the near-term for the next Really Big Bundle, which will now launch next week after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday.
- We now realize (and our smouldering servers agree!) that there are a lot of people who are waiting when the next Indie Royale bundle launches. In many cases, you may be reloading patiently to buy it almost no matter what, since it's such good value for money. So we're now opening pre-orders for the next Indie Royale bundle, at a recommended contribution of USD $5 but a minimum price of USD $3.99 (current and future Indie Royale bundles will launch at an initial live minimum of $2.99.)
- Why do pre-orders? We know that you're all busy people, and you may actually not be on the Internet (?!) the second it launches. So it's a simple way to guarantee you get the Bundle, albeit sight unseen. This means that you won't know what games are in the bundle until it launches. But you are guaranteed to get the bundle at a low minimum price, and you will be supporting hand-picked, high quality independent games along the way.
The World of Warcraft Website now offers a Mists of Pandaria Talent Calculator offering the chance to check out the new talent system coming to Blizzard's MMORPG: We’re excited to be able to provide players with the opportunity to explore this new talent system and look forward to hearing your feedback. As with all previews, we ask that you please keep in mind that Mists of Pandaria and its class talents are still under development. This means that many of the spells and abilities you see in the Talent Calculator are not yet final and may change before release.
Tribes Ascend Website has notes from a new version 0.1.562.0 patch now live in the closed beta for Tribes Ascend, the upcoming continuation of the online shooter series. Here are the patch: Continue here to read the full story.
The Diablo III Forum has word that the ability to buy and sell stackable items in the auction house is included in the latest beta patch for Blizzard's upcoming action/RPG. Here's a bit on how this works: As of the latest patch, stackable items can now be bought and sold on the gold Auction House. We're introducing crafting materials as the first stackable item, which includes Common Scraps, Subtle Essence, Fallen Teeth, and Petrified Bark. In the future, players will be able to trade a variety of stackable items including dyes, books, and gems.
So, what makes stackable items different?
In terms of the Auction House, stackable items are designed to make your life easier when it comes to buying or selling in bulk. Rather than having to hunt through pages of listings yourself to find the best-priced stack, you can instead select the stackable item type you're looking for, type in the amount of the item you want, and then buy that amount for the lowest price currently available to the market. This may mean that you're buying from multiple sellers at many different price points, and the Auction House will manage all of those individual purchases for you automatically.
As the day before Thanksgiving, today is the dreaded "most travelled day of the year" here in the U.S.A. If you are one of those making your way somewhere, here's hoping you arrive safe and sound. We will not be heading anywhere, as we host our family gathering, but this does leave us with last minute preparations. I did make two batches of Chex Mix last night, so at least the important cooking is out of the way, and all MrsBlue has to concern herself with is cooking a 24 lb. turkey and all the associated fixings.
R.I.P.: Anne McCaffrey, Creator of Pern and The Ship Who Sang. Thanks nin and Neutronbeam.
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