Archived News:
Syfy announces it has renewed Defiance for a second season, saying the
MMO tie-in will return next year: New York, NY – May 10, 2013 – Syfy has
renewed its groundbreaking series Defiance, giving a 13-episode second season
order to the critically acclaimed hit that has catapulted Syfy to the top cable
drama spot in the time period among adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers
for three consecutive Mondays. Season two of Defiance, produced by Universal
Cable Productions, will begin production in Toronto in August for a 2014
premiere, returning as the anchor of Syfy’s Powerful Monday’s block of primetime
original series.
Redefining the transmedia experience, Defiance has distinguished itself with an
unprecedented partnership between Syfy and Trion Worlds, by creating the
first-ever true convergence of television and online gaming. To date, the game
has garnered more than 1 million registered accounts while making gaming history
as the first online open world shooter to launch on three platforms
simultaneously. As the collaboration between show and game continue into a
second season, players will have the opportunity to further influence the world
of Defiance.
A
video preview on IGN offers a look at free-roaming gameplay in Watch_Dogs/ Watch
Dogs, showing off the open-world aspects of the hacking game. They
demonstrate the kind of off-mission mischief the player can get into, and take
two separate opportunities to tout the game's superiority on "next-generation"
consoles, so take two shots if you're playing the next-gen drinking game.
There's a similar clip on
Hardware Heaven that concludes with a developer interview discussing the
game (this may be a tough listen, as the studio part is a bit harsh, while the
interview suffers from horrible background noise).
A new video offers over
nine minutes of cinematic and gameplay footage from Shadow of the Eternals,
Precursor Games' upcoming Eternal Darkness spiritual successor. This
includes some previously released scenes, all presented with in-game sound for
the full experience. Thanks
GamesHQMedia.
The
Oculus Rift Developer Forums announce official support for Oculus Rift is
now available in a new Half-Life 2 beta, enhancing the virtual reality of
Valve's shooter sequel. Word is: "This port is a bit more raw than TF2 was when
it shipped, so we would appreciate hearing about any bugs you find. Just like in
TF2 this mode is experimental, so we really want to hear what you think." Thanks
Polygon.
This
Kickstarter seeks to fund a game called Energy Hook from Happion
Laboratories, a game from the creator of the highly regarded web-swinging in the
Spider-Man 2 game that follows a somewhat similar principle of navigating a city
with a sky hook of sorts. The project is already funded, but that was easy, since
it began with a goal of one dollar, as the developer admits he will finish the
game no matter what, but he also really needs the money. The project has now hit
its first stretch goal of $10,000. Thanks nin.
The Sims 3 website announces the chance to get in touch with your inner
Khaleesi at the end of this month with the release of The Sims 3 Dragon
Valley: Nestled in a distant valley lies a mythical town straight out
of tales of lore. Travelers journeying to Dragon Valley will discover a village
full of towering and fantastical architecture resting along the banks of a
gently flowing river and low-rising hills. Visitors will find a world inhabited
by colorful elven Sims deeply rooted in centuries-old traditions, and where baby
dragons not only exist amongst the residents, but are also kept as pets.
Available on the Sims 3 Store on May 30, 2013, and in stores worldwide
starting August 6, 2013.
Learn more about Dragon Valley
Join the
conversation
Watch the teaser trailer here
I'm off to carouse tonight. Hide your Scotch!
Gearbox Software announces that they are gearing up for next week's release
of the Krieg the Psycho character in Borderlands 2 with special in-game
events between now and then. They don't specify what these are other than to
mention increased drops and some heavier enemy populations: Prepare for
the arrival of Krieg the Psycho -- the new playable character for Borderlands 2,
releasing May 14 -- with special in-game events from May 10 through the end of
May 13!
The Bandits of Pandora can feel one of their own approaching and have ramped up
the production of Bandit gear accordingly, so expect to see an increase in
Bandit gear drops when playing Borderlands 2 while connected to the internet.
But watch out! Reports suggest an increased population of Badass Psychos in
Lynchwood, Thousand Cuts and Eridium Blight.
To learn more about Krieg, check out the hands-on previews at
Game Informer, Rev3,
DLCentral,
NBC News and
IGN as well as tune in to the 2K and Gearbox livestream on Monday, May 13 at
3PM CT (What
time is that for me?) at twitch.tv/2k
Our mixed metaphor headline comes from a report on
Polygon saying Too Human developer Silicon Knights is down to its
last few employees as they have closed down operations. Sources tell them the
studio laid off most of its staff last summer, and has now closed its office and
sold off its remaining assets. Their attempts to contact the studio by phone
have failed, and they believe the company's main number has been disconnected,
though CFO Mike Mays tells Polygon that the few remaining employees are
"very busy" and the studio is "definitely alive." Silicon Knights' fate was
sealed about a year ago
when Epic Games won a $4.45 million award from the company in a dispute over
Unreal Engine support in a lawsuit that was
actually initiated by Silicon
Knights. Polygon notes that many of the company's assets were sold to
Precursor Games, founded by former Silicon Knights president Denis Dyack, a move
that has inspired scrutiny from Epic, in spite of that not seeming fishy in the
least. Precursor Games is currently attempting a
Shadow of the
Eternals Fundraiser for a spiritual successor to Silicon Knights'
Eternal Darkness. Polygon quotes a Canadian bankruptcy attorney saying Silicon
Knights has not filed for bankruptcy.
The
Kickstarter campaign for Road Redemption shows this Road
Rash-inspired motorcycle combat racing game from DarkSeas Games has surpassed
its $160K funding goal with a couple of days to spare. Following the road less
travelled, the game is coming to Windows next August, followed by a WiiU
edition, and if the game raises about $18,000 more, the stretch goal for an Xbox
360 edition will be triggered, with a goal for Oculus Rift support looming after
that. "We’d like to give a huge thanks to all of Road Redemption’s backers for
making this possible, and for helping us spread awareness. Road Redemption has
been our dream project for over a decade, and we’re so excited that we can now
devote our full time towards finishing it," says project spokesperson Claire
Fontenot. "We’d also like to thank Road Rash Co-Creator Dan Geisler for all of
his support as we’ve tried to raise development funds."
The SimCity
Blog has details on a new version 3.0 update that's now live in Maxis' urban
planning reboot (thanks
VG247). A point release implies significant changes, but the highlight of
this is two dozen new hotels, and the patch is mostly tweaks and bug-fixes. Here
are the patch notes:
- New: Added 24 new hotel models to increase
hotel variety.
- Traffic: Updated routing system to improve
traffic. Routing system now understands more information about u-turns,
required vehicle stops, and vehicle behavior on certain road types. This
should make traffic smarter.
- Traffic: Commercial and industrial
buildings stagger their work shifts to start throughout commute hours
instead of at the top of the hour. This should reduce traffic.
- Traffic: Fixes one issue where a car won't
move causing traffic to back up behind it.
- Traffic: Vehicles can now make right turns
on Red. This should improve some cases of traffic.
Continue here to read the full story.
Wargaming is suing Chinese companies Changyou.com Limited and Beijing Gamease
Age Digital Technology seeking damages and an injunction over a game called
Project Tank (aka Tanks Ground War) that's currently in closed beta,
saying the game is "disturbingly similar" to their World of Tanks.
According to
Polygon, the companies "copied the plot, theme, dialogue, mood, setting,
pace, and character of World of Tanks, in addition to copying specific features,
items, tanks, and artwork." There's a statement from the "Project Tank Team" on
GameBox saying: "Continuously sabotaged by
Wargaming, Project Tank and Gamebox have never intended to pose a threat or
compete at any platform with World of Tanks. The graphics used in Project Tank
are our efforts to reconstruct WWII battle scenes. We feel truly shocked and
bullied by Wargaming, a giant company of the gaming industry who is apparently
“threatened” by a closed beta phase browser game aiming to provide a cheaper,
fairer, and more accessible war game to players around the world." Wargaming
counters this: "Copying is evidenced by the fact that the designers of Project
Tank copied historical inaccuracies found in WoT, each of which does not affect
game play, but which was included in WoT to simplify the tank modeling and
rendering process," Polygon's quotes the complaint as saying. "Copying is
further evidenced by the fact that the designers of Project Tank copied tanks
from WoT that never existed in real life, and which included features original
to WoT."
Phoenix Online Studios announces Cognition Episode 3 will be released
next week for Windows and OS X. Here's
a new teaser video, and
here's word: "When Cognition Episode 3: The Oracle debuts for PC and Mac next
Thursday, May 16, Erica finally closes in on the serial killer who's been hiding
cryptic clues at crime scenes and going after her friends. But first, her
post-cognitive powers are put to the test as she steps into the Oracle's shoes.
In this exciting episode, you'll play as both Erica AND the killer, reliving the
past in graphic detail to understand why this person turned to murder and why
Erica's a target."
A new trailer from
Jagged Alliance: Flashback (currently in the middle of
its Kickstarter campaign) answers the potentially burning question of "What
is Jagged Alliance," though it's hard to imagine anyone watching the clip who
actually needs that answered. Digressions aside, here's the description of the
clip: "In this video, Thomas Hentschel Lund - CEO of Full Control, gives a brief
rundown of what the classic Jagged Alliance games had that made them interesting
to revive now almost 15 years later. He also touches upon what the Kickstarter
for Jagged Alliance: Flashback is about in the context of the classic games."
This trailer shows off
gameplay from The Forest, a first-person, open-world survival/horror game
in the works at SKS Games, a Vancouver studio formed by special effects artists
who have worked on films like 300 and TRON Legacy. They say an
alpha version of the game is expected this year, and the video, in which it can
be difficult to see the forest for the trees, calls the footage it includes
"pre-alpha." The game is seeking
Steam
Greenlight support, and here's why they feel it's worth your vote from
The Forest website: The
world
Enter a living, breathing forest with changing weather patterns, plants that
grow and die. Tides that roll in and out with the day/night cycle. Below ground
explore a vast network of caves and underground lakes.
Complete player freedom
Chop down trees to build a camp, or start a fire to keep warm. Scavenge food to
keep yourself from starving. Find and plant seeds to grow food.
Build a small shelter or a large ocean side fortress. decorate your home with
found items. Lay traps and defenses to keep a safe perimeter.
Gameplay
Explore and build during the day. Defend your base at night. Craft weapons and
tools.Bunker down during the evening or bring the fight directly to the enemy.
Fight or Hide
Use stealth to evade enemies, or engage them directly with crude weapons built
from sticks and stones.
A new type of open world, survival horror experience
Defend yourself against a clan of genetic mutant enemies that have beliefs,
families and morals and that appear almost human.
Just took possession of a new meat tenderizing mallet as a new addition to
Manstovia, so I will no longer have to abuse the bottom of a skillet for such
chores. The unfortunate side effect is that I keep making jokes about pounding
my meat. Happy Whacking Day! I'm sooooooo mature.
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