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Archived News:
Though plans for a PC edition of Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier was previously confirmed by Ubisoft, PC Gamer has word that the next installment in the Ghost Recon series is for consoles only, and that PC gamers will get Ghost Recon Online instead, which is apparently Ubisoft's new approach to PC piracy following their almost universally despised always-on DRM. Here's word from Ghost Recon Online producer Sébastien Arnoult: We are giving away most of the content for free because there’s no barrier to entry. To the users that are traditionally playing the game by getting it through Pirate Bay, we said, ‘Okay, go ahead guys. This is what you’re asking for. We’ve listened to you – we’re giving you this experience. It’s easy to download, there’s no DRM that will pollute your experience.’
We’re adapting the offer to the PC market. I don’t like to compare PC and Xbox boxed products because they have a model on that platform that is clearly meant to be €60’s worth of super-Hollywood content. On PC, we’re adapting our model to the demand.
“When we started Ghost Recon Online we were thinking about Ghost Recon: Future Solider; having something ported in the classical way without any deep development, because we know that 95% of our consumers will pirate the game. So we said okay, we have to change our mind.
We have to adapt, we have to embrace this instead of pushing it away. That’s the main reflection behind Ghost Recon Online and the choice we’ve made to go in this direction.
IncGamers has a follow-up from I Am Alive creative director Stanislas Mettra after his comments on why I Am Alive is not coming to Windows PCs. He does not back off from his allusions to piracy that caused a firestorm of controversy, but rather makes it clear that he was not ruling out a PC edition, even though Ubisoft told us two months ago not to expect a PC edition of the survival game. Here's his update on the status of a PC edition: I would really love to see a pc build of the game and I dont think I meant to say "the game won't happen on pc" it's probably an English language miscommunication (I am not native English speaker).
What I meant is that the pc version did not happen yet. But we are still working to see the feasibility of it, which is not necessarily simple. I gave some examples to illustrate the problematic, but obviously it is not in my hands and not my part to talk about this.
Honestly, which game maker would not love his game to be playable on as many platforms and by as many people as possible?
Regardless console or pc, what matters is the game and the pleasure people can get from it.
An English-language article on Polish site Polygamia.pl has word from CD Projekt RED about future plans for two "AAA+" games, presuming The Witcher 3 is one, and trying to piece together clues about the other (thanks PC Gamer). Here's their combination of fact and speculation: The studio is aiming to sell more than 2 million copies of it's "AAA+” games within the first year, while distributing them through both retail and digital. These are the games that we are going to see in respectively 2014 and 2015. What games are these going to be? We don't know, but we can speculate.
Looking at other leading RPG developers like BioWare or Bethesda it's easy to notice a pattern: one of the franchises is set in the past (Dragon Age, Elder Scrolls) and the other one in the future (Mass Effect, Fallout). Is it going to be the case for CDR? It seems like it is, judging by backstage conversations heard during the conference day. Assuming that it's going to be true, the most interesting thing seems to be the universe that the new game will take place. Cyberpunk? Space opera? Or maybe something post-apocalyptic? Who knows? Every one of those themes has a strong title behind it from Deus Ex, to the aforementioned Mass Effect and Fallout.
Another question that remains unanswered is the genre of the game. Is it survival horror? Maybe it's a new cyber-punk RPG? These are still only speculations, of course. We don't have any proof, and we will never be sure until the game is actually announced. In a prospectus for investors, CDR talks about the desire to make games they would would like to play: non-linear RPG's with complex and immersive plots. Realistic games aimed towards mature audience that are all about immersive and real experience, as opposed to shallow fake commerce and political correctness. Taken in that light, it seems likely that they're working on an RPG. Based upon their past experience, they may even decide to license a famous novel or movie as the basis for their IP. After all, we have a few good sci-fi writers in Poland, and The Witcher franchise has shown that it can be done well.
The new Trine 2 beta on Steam now offers cross-platform co-op multiplayer support in the platformer sequel courtesy of Valve's Steamplay service. Those interested in the beta can gain access by pre-purchasing the game. Thanks Joystiq.
The Dejobaan Games Website announces the release of AaaaaAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaAAAAA!!! for the Awesome, a "semi-sequel" to AaaaaAAaaaAAAaaAAAAaAAAAA!!! — A Reckless Disregard for Gravity!, their base-jumping game. The game is available on Steam, where it is on sale with a 50% for a bit longer as part of the Autumn sale. Here's word on the game, which includes remastered versions of the original game's 82 levels as well as 43 brand new levels: Aaaaa! took place in an alternate 2011, where BASE jumpers leapt from the skies and executed stunts around the floating buildings of Upper Boston. The semi-sequel picks up six years later -- the sport's been outlawed, and you're jumping as a form of protest. High in Earth's stratosphere, you'll thread a path through the rotating blades of enormous wind turbines. Elsewhere in the solar system, you'll dodge asteroids above seas of lava, spray graffiti onto lunar government offices, and flip off Ganymede colonists, all in the name of peaceful protest.
At its heart, Awesome is all about speed. With your new wingsuit, you'll dive (and die) twice as fast, descending through the hovering cities on Earth and beyond. The fastest jumps now offer checkpoints, so if you mash your brains against extraterrestrial rock, you can rewind time and execute the perfect dodge instead. All this is wrapped up in shiny new graphics -- rebuilt from the ground up, the semi-sequel brings you a new lighting system and fancy shader effects (which, let's face it, the AAA studios had a few years back, but bloom, shadows, and depth of field are all new for Aaaaa!).
A day one patch is now available for Anno 2070, though this is more like a day seven patch for the recently released strategy sequel. The patch can be found on Gamer's Hell, The Patches Scrolls, and Worthplaying. Here's the outline of the most important changes in the patch: Continue here to read the full story.
This post has details on a new "Souls of the Past" patch that's now live in Runes of Magic, updating Frogster's MMORPG to version 4.0.5. This adds a new zone, new endgame content, and more. All that's changed is outlined in these patch notes.
Amazon.com Video Games Black Friday Sale and OnLive announces five days of sales, special offers.
Also, 7 must-have Black Friday apps (thanks scorcese.fan) and Top 4 Black Friday 2011 video game console steals.
- Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale on Paradox Interactive. Save 60% on almost everything.
- Fallout: New Vegas on Steam. Save 75%.
- L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition on Steam. Save 50%.
- Max Payne Collection on Direct2Drive. Save 75%.
- Monkey Island: Special Edition Bundle on Steam. Save 66%.
- Operation Flashpoint Complete on Steam. Save 75%.
- Red Orchestra Franchise on Steam. Save 50%.
- RIFT on Steam. Save 75%.
- RollerCoaster Tycoon® 3: Platinum on Steam. Save 66%.
- Sniper: Ghost Warrior on Steam. Save 80%.
- Two Worlds on Steam. Save 66%.
- Thanksgiving Weekend Sale on Impulse Driven. Save up to 75%.
- Total War Mega Pack on Steam. Save 75%.
- VVVVVV on Steam. Save 75%.
- Zeno Clash on Steam. Save 75%.
Happy Thanksgiving to all those who are celebrating. Here's hoping everyone's travel arrangements worked out okay. Things are humming along here in the BlueTower, MrsBlue has been busy all week, and the bird is in the oven, and coming along nicely, thanks in no small part to my expert basting skills. My agenda for the day includes Scotch, football, turkey, more Scotch, and more football. In other words, I have a lot for which to be thankful. And that includes you, if you're reading these words... thanks!
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