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Archived News:
John Carmack has parted ways with id Software, a move that was once
inconceivable when he was part owner of the Mesquite-based developer, but had
become possible when Bethesda Softworks parent Zenimax
bought id in 2009, and perhaps
inevitable when Carmack joined
Oculus Rift over the summer.
John's
twitter feed has his comment (thanks Paul): "I wanted to remain a technical
adviser for Id, but it just didn't work out. Probably for the best, as the
divided focus was challenging."
IGN has id's statement: "John Carmack, who has become interested in focusing
on things other than game development at id, has resigned from the studio," id's
studio director Tim Willits told IGN. "John’s work on id Tech 5 and the
technology for the current development work at id is complete, and his departure
will not affect any current projects. We are fortunate to have a brilliant group
of programmers at id who worked with John and will carry on id’s tradition of
making great games with cutting-edge technology. As colleagues of John for many
years, we wish him well." John later
tweeted
once more about this: "If they don't want me to talk on stage at Quakecon
next year, we'll just have to fill up the lobby like the old days. :-)"
EA announces a player appreciation event for Battlefield 4 to mark the
game's Xbox One launch and to help compensate players for XP they may have lost
due to glitches in the early days of the military shooter sequel's release.
Here's word: Today we launched Battlefield 4 on Xbox One. With that
console, we will have brought Battlefield 4 to no less than five platforms. It
is amazing to see such a complex universe come to life across so many advanced
hardware systems. Millions of people around the world are playing the game and
seeing the tip of the iceberg of what the next generation has to offer. At DICE,
we are committed to you, the fans, and view the game as a live service. I am
extremely proud of the people at DICE and everyone across EA that contributed to
the development of Battlefield 4. However, I am less proud to see that the game
has experienced some turbulence during the launch period. While some platforms
have had only minor problems, others have had more than their fair share of
issues. Resolving the launch issues is our #1 priority. In fact, we are so
serious that we have the entire team working to stabilize the game and we will
not move on to other projects until we are sure that Battlefield 4 meets – and
exceeds – your expectations. It is the right thing to do.
To show our appreciation for your patience as we work through these issues, we
are announcing that from November 28 through December 5, we will reward all
players with Double XP for every multiplayer match they complete. We understand
that the launch issues may have impacted your progression, and we want to do
everything we can to help you get back the XP that you may have lost. Also, to
cap off the week, on December 5 we will give all players that log in to
Battlefield 4 multiplayer a M1911 pistol scope. This special sidearm scope,
previously reserved for our DICE developers, has a 3X zoom and is available for
all classes in Battlefield 4.
- Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit on
Steam. Save 75%.
- PAYDAY 2 on
GameStop PC
Downloads. Save 40%.
- Spectacular FPS Shootout on
GOG.com.
Save 60%.
- Tank Operations: European Campaign on
Steam. Save 35%.
Link of the Day:
Percussive
Maintenance. Thanks Ant.
A
post on IncGamers attempts to sort out the chaos of the presumably Fallout 4
teasing on The Survivor 2299 website,
which is being discussed in earnest in reddit's
The Survivor 2299 Speculation and Hype Megathread Part 5. There are various
facts and theories being bandied about, but the main takeaway is that we should
have more of a concrete idea of what this is about soon enough, as there is a
countdown timer and other indications that something (presumably an
announcement?) is coming on December 11th, and a Ned Stark meets Tony Stark
warning in the code: "Nuclear winter is coming."
The
Kickstarter for Torment: Tides of Numenera sees inXile entertainment
soliciting backers to vote on how combat will be handled in their upcoming
role-playing game (thanks nin via
Polygon). Here's the handy summary: TL;DR:
Weigh in on Turn-Based vs. Real-Time with Pause (or declare your indifference).
Voting will close in December.
Over the last couple weeks, we’ve been reading all of your commentary and ideas
regarding combat. Many good points and suggestions, and mostly civil discourse.
Thanks to all who have engaged in the discussion so far!
And now... It is time! Only backers can place a vote. (If you haven’t already
and you’d like your voice heard, please register with us to gain access to the
backer-only UserVoice forum.) Feel free to also continue to submit comments and
ideas to the combat discussion forum. Please remember that this vote is advisory
only. Above all, please remember that our goal is to provide the best possible
experience for the game, and if the final decision is not your preferred choice,
we ask you trust our ability to deliver a solid game.
For more context about what this is about, please see Update 24, where we
describe what Turn-Based and Real-Time with Pause might each mean for Torment.
We’ll close the voting in December.
Full Control is now offering two new campaign add-ons for Space Hulk, their
Warhammer 40K-based strategy game. Available on Steam, the
Defilement of Honour
campaign and Sword of
Halcyon campaign each carry a US$4.99 price tag, and here's a bit on
what that gets you: Sword of Halcyon
The Space Marine vessel, The Sword of Halcyon, left the orbit of the planet
Falkan, for its journey home. Upon entering the Warp, the ship crashed into a
Space Hulk, infecting the ship with Genestealers. When the Battlebarge, Mayan,
picks up the escape pods, they decide to recapture The Sword of Halcyon.Time is
of the essence in this campaign, as players must complete objectives, and take
out Genestealers as quickly as possible. To aid players in the race against the
clock, Bulkhead Doors are introduced, which enable terminators to completely
shut off certain areas.
Defilement of Honour
Space Hulks do not move through space on their own power; but are pushed by the
winds and tides of warspace. The Defilement of Honour is different, with a
partially functioning engine room and an ancient navigational device in control
of its course. The Blood Angels, must shut down the engines before they can
destroy the Space Hulk. This campaign comes as maps featuring Air Ducts, which
can only be entered by Genestealers.
The Beyond the Sea add-on is now available as an expansion for Rise of
Venice, bringing new content to the trade simulation, though sadly, no Bobby
Darin. Here's a new
trailer, and here's word: Kalypso Media invite you to set sail once
again and explore distant lands in search of lucrative new trading opportunities
for Renaissance-era Venice. Trade in goods, battle enemy navies and craft a
political empire through means both overt and subversive in ‘Beyond the Sea’,
the comprehensive expansion for economic simulator, Rise of Venice. ‘Beyond the
Sea’ is now available to download for Windows PC via digital distribution priced
at £14.99/ €19.99/$19.99.
Continue here to read the full story.
A new patch is now available for Total War: ROME II, as Creative Assembly
continues to address issues with their recently launched strategy sequel. Patch
7 is available automatically via Steam, and here's an outline of its
intent: This is the most significant gameplay-enhancing patch yet,
bringing framerate improvements to high-end systems, and substantial gameplay,
AI and behavioral improvements, particularly in settlement and siege battles.
Among other AI improvements, players will now find the attacking siege AI more
active, more likely to employ battering rams against gates, and more
conservative in how it commits its generals in gate and wall assaults. It will
also use a wider range of units when attempting to burn down gates.
This patch also brings the first in a series of targeted unit rebalances. Among
other units, infantry small-arms ranged units and the barbarian Naked Warrior
unit have been readdressed. Disciplined units (such as Legionaries and Hoplites)
now have a Formed Attack ability, which keeps them ordered in melee, and all
units now hold formation much better.
The Shivah: Kosher Edition is now available, offering a revamped
traif-free version of this adventure for Windows and iOS. Here's word from
Wadjet Eye Games: In this story-driven game players don the yarmulke
of Russell Stone, a disillusioned rabbi at the head of a struggling New York
City synagogue, who gets tangled up in a murder investigation after inheriting a
large sum of money from a former congregation member.
The commercial debut of game designer Dave Gilbert, this unassuming adventure
game sparked interest from mainstream publications including CNN, USA Today, and
The Jerusalem Times and earned a “Best New Studio” Game Developer’s Choice
nomination for Gilbert’s company, Wadjet Eye Games. In the seven years since,
the self-sustaining Brooklyn-based studio has gained recognition for developing
the supernatural Blackwell mystery games and publishing breakout indie hits such
as Independent Game Festival winner Gemini Rue.
From its rabbinical conversation methods, Talmudic combat, and handy in-game
Yiddish dictionary to its point-and-click gameplay reminiscent of classics like
King’s Quest and Monkey Island to its thoughtful storyline, The Shivah is a
unique adventure game poised to appeal to Jews and goys alike. The new Kosher
Edition has updated pixel art graphics, a new soundtrack, and a refined
interface as intuitive and comfortable on touchscreen devices as it is on PC.
Thank you all very much for the birthday wishes, and for the sympathies about
the circumstances surrounding the occasion.
R.I.P. Grandma Belle, she did indeed pass away yesterday, strong to the end, she
only ended up hanging on roughly 50x longer than the doctors thought she would without
the respirator. It wouldn't have been her style to go out without surprising
everyone like that one more time, and the only thing I can think would have been
more appropriate is if she managed to crack everyone up with one last joke on
the way out. Here's what I will say about Belle, and though this is obviously
from a skewed perspective, I assure you of its accuracy: She had as much
capacity for love as anyone you'll meet, and had the innate ability to create it
on the fly like a love generator. She was the matriarch of an incredibly
extended family that is pretty complicated in the way of our times, and she bound us
all together with a warmth and caring that defies description. One example of
that is how boggled the nurses became at all the visitors of various races who referred to
themselves as Belle's daughters, as so many of Belle's actual daughter's friends "adopted" her
over the years. We're sad to lose her, but happy for her life, and relieved that
the suffering that accompanied her passing has ended.
R.I.P.:
DNA pioneer Frederick Sanger dies aged 95.
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