Archived News:
Ubisoft announces that the PC edition of Rayman Origins is now available via digital distribution, offering the chance to play the platformer sequel on Windows systems. Here's the deal: Players can control Rayman in the solo campaign, or have up to three friends join in or leave any time the game as Globox or as one of the two Teensies in the offline multiplayer mode. There are 60 vast levels of 2D platforming gameplay to explore suited for all ages and all playing styles. Players can unlock new abilities progressively and return to previous levels to discover new paths and secrets.
SEGA says it will be cutting jobs in North America and Europe and will be cancelling titles due to a downturn in business that's caused them to slash their financial projections for the year, reports GamesIndustry International. They have an announcement from SEGA to this effect, though this only details the IPs not being cut, leaving us to wonder what games will be cancelled. "We conducted detailed reviews of earnings projections for titles targeted toward the U.S. and European markets and decided to narrow down sales titles from the following period and after to strong IPs, such as 'Sonic the Hedgehog,' 'Football Manager', 'Total War' and 'Aliens' which are expected to continue posting solid earnings," reads the press release. "In accordance with this, we are canceling the development of some game software titles."
The War Thunder Website announces the launch of closed beta testing of this upcoming air combat MMOG. Here's word from publisher Gaijin Entertainment: "The multi-staged beta test will allow tens of thousands of players to become better acquainted with the War Thunder universe, giving fans of the project a chance to contribute to the game’s development. Closed beta test servers will be open 24 hours a day, meaning that players who have been invited can join the game at any time. To start, participants will have access to more than 100 aircraft models and several different locations, with new content added continuously throughout the test period."
- Activision Treasures on GOG.com. Save 50%.
- Bastion on GameFly. Save 50%.
- Droplitz on Steam. Save 50%.
- Dungeons of Dredmor Complete on GameFly. Save 53%.
- Sword of the Stars II: Lords of Winter on GameFly. Save 50%.
The Wasteland 2 Kickstarter Page has news that InXile plans to collaborate with Obsidian on their upcoming Wasteland sequel, which ensures the participation of designer Chris Avellone, who has worked on the Fallout series that succeeded the post-apocalyptic RPG. They stress that this will only happen if they hit the $2.1 million funding plateau, but this seems like a foregone conclusion, as they are over 80% of the way there at over $1.7 million pledged with more than two weeks remaining in their fundraising campaign. Here's a bit: For those of you who don't know who Obsidian or Chris Avellone are, they are the bulk of the brains who worked on Fallout 1&2, Icewind Dale and Planescape Torment when I was back at Interplay. More of the band is back together to make sure we bring you a fantastic RPG. Chris is going to help push the density and literary content of the game.
The original Wasteland was an important game to Chris as he recently stated, "Wasteland is one of my favorite RPGs of all time, and when Brian asked if I wanted to work on the sequel, I jumped at the chance. While I've worked on Fallout 2 and Fallout: New Vegas, getting the chance to work on the spiritual predecessor to the Fallout franchise is a honor."
While the programming work will remain with us here at inXile, we are looking to use a host of tools that Obsidian has created which will help us get assets into the game faster. The faster we can implement and iterate on content, the deeper the game and the more varied choices the gamers can make.
Team17 Software announces Worms Revolution is the next installment in their squirmy turn-based strategy series, saying it will be released for PCs and consoles in the third quarter of this year. Here's word: In 1995 gamers were introduced to crazy world of Worms™, the madcap, turn-based strategy game from the twisted mind of Andy Davidson. Fast forward seventeen years and everyone’s favourite invertebrates are back!
Team17 is proud to announce the forthcoming release of Worms™ Revolution. The game has been developed from the ground up and features a completely new game-engine. Exciting new features and challenges have been introduced whilst old favourites such as the Super Sheep and Holy Hand Grenade remain to thrill fans worldwide.
GameInformer has word that Epic Mickey 2 is coming to Windows and OS X as well as consoles when the platformer sequel is released this fall. The original Epic Mickey from Warren Spector's Junction Point Studios was a console only title, but the sequel will apparently include a hybrid PC/Mac release. No further details are provided at this time, though Eurogamer.net has some non-platform-specific comments from Warren Spector about the game. Full disclosure: MrsBlue works for the Walt Disney Company.
The Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition Website announces Overhaul Games' upcoming Baldur’s Gate overhauls will be coming to OS X this summer (thanks The Patches Scrolls). They say the Mac version will "include a variety of Mac OS X specific features, including widescreen and iCloud support." No, we didn't know widescreen support was an OS X specific feature either. Technically a PC edition of the game has not been announced, but it is mentioned in this tweet from Trent Oster revealing they plan to support cross-platform multiplayer play: Yes, it will be compatible multi-player cross-platform. We had a Mac, iPad and PC joined into a game together.
Paradox Interactive announces Mount & Blade Warband: Napoleonic Wars, a multiplayer DLC pack for Mount & Blade Warband in the works at Flying Squirrel Entertainment and Taleworlds Entertainment for release later this spring. This trailer shows off a little of what this will bring to the action/RPG, and here's word: "Napoleonic Wars will support multiplayer battles of up to 250 soldiers and enables players the chance to create a character from 220 unique units available, all hailing from five different European nations. Fight battles with your tried and true sabre or utilize newly introduced artillery pieces such as cannons and rockets in this historically accurate and immersive 19th century experience like no other." Here's a feature list: Continue here to read the full story.
The Ruler Designer is another DLC pack announced today by Paradox Interactive, which will offer various character customization options for Crusader Kings II when it is released on April 17th for the strategy/RPG sequel. This trailer offers a look, and here's a bit: With the new Crusader Kings II: Ruler Designer DLC all these are in your hands. Customize your character your way. Tweak and change any aspect of the character or even create an all new character and dynasty to play with. Create your portrait, change the name and dynasty and even customize your coat of arms. Change traits and stats at will and decide the size of the immediate family. The game that lets you choose your goals will now let you choose your character.
The Deadly 30 Website now offers online sales of this indie tower defense game from Headup Games. This trailer offers a look at the game. Word is: "Survive 30 nights of horror and zombie menace in Deadly 30! Rescue and recruit companions, upgrade your weaponry and fortify your position during safe daylight. At night defend you bunker and fight off waves of attacking zombies. 12 guns, 11 types of zombies, 25 achievements and thousands of ways to die!"
This new trailer from PlanetSide 2 offers a look at gameplay footage from an alpha version of SOE's upcoming MMOFPS sequel. Word is: "In this video Sony Online Entertainment Creative Director Matt Higby walks through some of PlanetSide 2's Alpha highlights from the most recent gameplay demo including examples of air combat, vehicle combat, infantry combat and an overview of maps and environments on the alien planet of Auraxis." Continue here to read the full story.
The World of Tanks Website announces the release of a new patch to update this MMO third-person shooter to version 7.2. The Release Notes have the details and this trailer shows the new version in action. Here are a few highlights of the new version: Continue here to read the full story.
Ars Technica - Blocking used games unlikely to kill the console game market.
I admit that it's hard to predict exactly how much of a backlash would result from technical solutions that tried to block used games on new consoles, and how much of that backlash would actually affect overall revenues on those systems. But to suggest that the video game business would be rendered utterly unsustainable without the used game market probably goes too far.
- BitFenix Shinobi XL PC-Gehäuse on Technic3D. In German.
- Enermax DreamBass Genie on PureOC.
- G.Skill Ripjaws X F3 2133C9Q-32GXH RAM on Overclockers Club.
- GIGABYTE HD 7770 OC Graphics Cards with CrossFire on Bjorn3D.com.
- GIGABYTE Radeon HD 7970 OC 3GB Graphics Card on eTeknix.
- Mach Xtreme Technology MX-DS Fusion 60GB SATA3 2,5" SSD on OverClocked inside. In German.
- MSI Radeon HD 7970 Lightning Graphics Card on Guru3D.
- MSI X79A-GD65 X79 Motherboard on eTeknix.
- Noctua NF-F12 PWM Focused Flow Cooling Fan on TweakTown.
- NVIDIA Kepler GeForce GTX 680 SLI Graphics Card on HARDOCP.
- Samsung Chronos on HardwareLook.com.
- SteelSeries Diablo III Mouse on Nikk Tech.
- Super Talent RAIDDrive upStream 220GB PCIe SSD on The SSD Review.
- VisionTek Ultimate 16GB DDR3-1866 RAM on PureOC.
- Zotac GTX680 Graphics Cards SLI on Overclock3D.
I just got a press release that was obviously a joke, or sort of obvious, I have to admit at first I thought it was from a developer that had lost touch with reality. Then it dawned on me with April Fools' Day on Sunday, we may be due for much of the "hilarity" associated with the occasion today. I guess that makes sense, so in grand tradition, we'll try to separate the crazy true stories from the crazy false ones today and round up the jokes separately for your enjoyment.
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