Archived News:
Ars Technica has the hopefully hopeful news that Valve has registered a
European trademark for Half-Life 3 to cover "Computer game software;
Electronic game software; Downloadable computer game software via a global
computer network and wireless devices; Video game software." This could just be
routine record-keeping, but it seems like Half-Life 3 might be the kind of thing
that would give a nice boost to the launch of SteamOS. Just sayin'.
The AMD enthusiasts at
AMD Zone note some issues they've found in the Battlefield 4 beta
using the just-released AMD Catalyst 13.10
beta 2, which are specifically for the military shooter sequel. They outline the
problem and their testing, and have contacted AMD about their findings. In the
meantime, they recommend those with AMD/ATI graphics cards roll back to the
13.10 beta 1 driver or the 13.8 driver.
Ubisoft announces Flashback is now available, a remake offering a
flashback to the classic original back in the day. The
Flashback website has details on the
game and where it can be purchased, here's
a launch trailer, and
here's the announcement: London, UK – October 1st, 2013 – Ubisoft®
announced that Flashback, remake of the iconic 1992 title, is now available on
Digital PC, and will be available tomorrow on Playstation Network for £7.99. On
Playstation Network, PS plus members will benefit from a 20% discount. Flashback
is also available on Xbox Live Arcade.
The original Core-Team revamped their own creation, leveraging the best of
today’s technology while remaining true to the classic side-scroller that set
the standards of the genre in the 90’s. A new generation of players can now
experience a game that helped define sci-fi Action/Adventure games.
In addition to the updated version of the game, the original Flashback will be
included so players can play the original game that started it all. Everyone can
now discover the re-imaged cult classic hit as well as the original game you may
have missed.
Conrad is back to save humanity from an invasion of alien Morphs set on
absorbing our minds and incorporating our species! Rolling and shooting, always
ready for another fight, help Conrad save the world and his girlfriend.
Continue here to read the full story.
The Sniper Elite 3 website now
offer the first trailer
from the next installment in Rebellion's stealthy marksmanship series that's
coming to Windows and consoles next year. Here's how this is described: "Check
out the first footage of American OSS Agent, Karl Fairburne, in action in Sniper
Elite 3 and back behind enemy lines deep within the exotic and deadly terrain of
North Africa during World War Two; providing crucial sharpshooter support as the
Allies battle Germany’s fearsome Tiger Tanks. But this dangerous intelligence
mission quickly turns into a hunt for a new threat – a German technology that
could crush Allied resistance for good." Continue here to read the full story.
Here's a new "tech
feature" trailer from Need for Speed Rivals showing off Progression &
Pursuit in the upcoming continuation of the driving game series, showing the two
different paths players will be offered in the game. Here's the explanation: "In
Need for Speed Rivals, you can take on unique careers as both a Cop and Racer
where your story, gameplay, cars, and tech differ for each side of the law. As a
mysterious Racer named Zephyr, draw the attention of the masses in Redview
County. In this trailer, you’ll get a look at some of the adrenaline filled
moments that you’ll see on your Speedlist as a Racer, or the enforcement
objectives you’ll be given in your Assignments as a Cop. Progress through your
career, get access to faster, better cars and purchase more advanced tech to
take out your ultimate rivals." Continue here to read the full story.
The
Guild Wars 2 website announces the new Twilight Assault update is
now live in ArenaNet's MMORPG, which is still in the midst of a free trial week.
The patch notes are quite extensive, but we have a handy-dandy summary: "In
Twilight Assault, trouble is stirring in Twilight Arbor and rumours abound that
Scarlet Briar, the devious leader of the Aetherblades, is behind the suspicious
activity. Players will join the sylvari hero Caithe in attempting to stop
Scarlet’s scheming, but it will take daring, wits and weaponry to put an end to
the mischief."
The Total
War Wiki has the detailed patch notes on a third patch that's now live in
Total War: ROME II with over 140 technical, gameplay, balancing and
usability improvements. Creative Assembly also states that Patch 4 will enter
public beta "soon," and will offer "further technical optimizations and
improvements to gameplay, balance and usability." Here's the short version of
what's new: "Technical optimizations include Campaign performance improvements
on some hardware configurations, fixes for UI flickering in SLI setups, and a
significant multiplayer campaign-speed boost. There are many new gameplay
improvements, such as alterations to the victory point system, and chiefly a
reduction in the circumstances in which victory points appear in battles. For
example, when the player is attacked while occupying a minor settlement (though
not a provincial capital), a new Sally Forth button is available on the
pre-battle panel, which enables the player’s army to fight the attackers in an
open field battle without victory points."
Frictional Games unveils a SOMA Systems
website in connection with the recent
tease of a new project from the developer of Penumbra and some other game
series we can't seem to recall. The site continues to follow the system failure
motif of the first reveal, but offers a partial system
reconstruction with a
live-action video titled "Vivarium" showing an encounter with an alien
device and this garbled transmission: The machine has the appearance of a
heavily modified monitor fixed to a massive nest of cables and controls.
Machinist Peter Strasky found the contraption during a salvage mission CORRUPT
DATA the screen rolled and flickered, but it shut down as it was pulled out from
the container.
None of the crew stepped forward to take credit, but the construction suggests
CORRUPT DATA since Thabo is unavailable for questioning, the machine's origin
remains a mystery.
Considering the lack of information and the general unease it has started to
cause, the machine will be disassembled.
CORRUPT DATA screen lit up and showed distorted schematics. After trying
different switches and keys, the oblique levers were found to be torsion
attenuation controls which could stabilize the pict CORRUPT DATA revealing a
complex set of instructions. The machine is now under quarantine.
AM Engineer Imogen Reed has asked for an exception CORRUPT DATA Special
permission granted.
Continue here to read the full story.
2K Sports announces the release of NBA 2K14, the latest installment
of this professional basketball simulation for Windows and last-generation
consoles. Here's the news: NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--2K Sports today
announced that NBA® 2K14, this year’s installment of the top-rated and
top-selling NBA video game simulation series*, is now available for the
PlayStation®3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 games and entertainment
system from Microsoft, and Windows PC.
“Our goal with NBA 2K14 was to develop our finest basketball game yet by
delivering more of our signature realism, incorporating innovative new controls,
and adding unique game modes,” said Greg Thomas, president of product
development for 2K Sports. “From our partnership with LeBron James to the
meticulous refinements in gameplay, this year’s title cements NBA 2K’s legacy as
the premier sports simulation experience.”
This year’s current gen NBA 2K14 package offers exciting new features, including
today’s top Euroleague teams and Dynamic Living Rosters powered by Stats, Inc.
Additionally, 2K worked to incorporate gameplay upgrades, such as Pro Stick TM;
new Signature Skills; and offensive and defensive improvements to further
balance player interactions.
War of the Vikings is now available for early access
on Steam, offering the
opportunity to get a discount price on Fatshark's multiplayer melee game and
influence the final development of the project with brilliantly insightful
feedback. Here's word from
Steam News: War of the Vikings delivers the next generation of
Paradox’s close quarter combat focused brands that moves the setting to the
Viking Age. All of these factors enabled us to create a game experience that has
an increased intensity, improved accessibility, and more intuitive combat
experiences ensuring you're always presented with interesting choices.
Additionally, check out the Blood Eagle and Valhalla editions to get bonus items
including the Digital Artbook, Soundtrack, and special loot!
A post to the EA
Forums looks to lay the groundwork for Maxis' support for modifications in
SimCity. They are soliciting suggestions from players of their urban planning
simulation for a first draft of their User Generated Content Guidelines, so that
mods "do not jeopardize the integrity of the gameplay or harm the experience of
others" (sounds like that leaves the door open for an offline mode mod, but that
would probably harm the experience of EA). Word is: "We want to have an open
discussion with our community about what you want out of UGC SimCity and hear
your thoughts about the first draft of UGC guidelines. The discussion will
result in a clear set of final guidelines about the do’s and don’ts to UGC in
SimCity." Thanks IncGamers.
The
Kickstarter for Mighty No. 9 will conclude this evening, wrapping up
comcept USA's crowd-sourced fundraiser for this Mega Man-inspired side-scroller.
There is no mad clamor to beat the deadline here, the project has already more
than tripled its $900K goal, and has reached the stretch goal for next-gen
console versions. There are a couple of additional stretch goals in sight
though, the next one being for Vita and 3DS versions if they raise a little
under 200K more before the campaign concludes. On a related note, here's
a new trailer with a
brief look at some placeholders and gameplay in what's described as an Unreal
Engine Initial Evaluation Test. Thanks nin. Continue here to read the full story.
Here's a new "Crash
Test" trailer with some alpha gameplay footage from Space Engineers,
the upcoming space sandbox game from indie Czech developer Keen Software House ( Miner
Wars 2081). They also announce the game will go up on Steam for Early
Access on October 23rd. Here's word on the new clip: "New 'crash test' alpha
video has been released. This footage demonstrates all sorts of damage and
destruction possible in Space Engineers – small and large ships crash on an
asteroid or station, two large ships crash together and more." Continue here to read the full story.
Strategy Informer has a quote from Revolution Software about their release
aspirations for Broken Sword: The Serpent's Curse, saying they hope to
release the next installment in the Broken Sword series before the end of this
year. If that sounds vague, that's because they are not "absolutely confident"
in this yet. "At this moment we aim to finish the game before the end of the
year. We really don’t want to give a date and then miss it. Once we are
absolutely confident of the date then we will let you know," said a
spokesperson. "More than anything we don't want to release the game before it's
finished and polished... even if that means releasing it a bit later than we
originally planned."
A new patch for Terraria is now available through Steam, updating the
action/adventure game to version 1.2. There are details on the new version on
IncGamers, where they describe this as a "huge" update with a load of bug
fixes and a lengthy list of changes. They offer this summary: "There are also
over 1000 new items, 10 new ores, four new wood types, 31 new brick types, new
arrow and bullet types, new wing types, new vanity sets, hardmode items letting
you change biome or increase your max health, and paintings, and trophies, and…
look, lots of stuff. And also eight new friendly NPCs. And four new bosses. And
over 100 new enemies. And 15 new pets. And friendly NPCs sell different items
depending on the time of day and the biome."
I mentioned the other day we were expecting a new DVR, which arrived yesterday.
The DVR in my office had started making grinding noises and throwing overheating
warnings (yes, I've had bad technology luck lately) and the folks at DirecTV
decided we finally rated one of their newish (and just redesigned) Genie units.
The two wins here are its increased recording capacity and the ability to record
up to five shows simultaneously, something that is very helpful nowadays. That
capacity would have seemed like extreme overkill to me growing up in Brooklyn,
where we had no cable and seven OTA channels and you were lucky (or seriously
impaired) if you could find five good shows to watch in one week, much less at
the same time.
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