|
|
 |
Archived News:
Double Fine announces Hack 'N' Slash, a game that was created as an
Amnesia Fortnight prototype that's coming to Windows, Linux, and OS X next year.
Here's the games pitch
trailer and here's the deal: Double Fine Productions today announced
that Hack ‘n’ Slash, a hacking themed puzzle action game for Windows, Mac, and
Linux, will release in the first half of 2014. A version of the game debuted
during Double Fine’s Amnesia Fortnight 2012 internal game jam. It was selected
by the gaming public to be turned into a two-week prototype, after garnering
more votes than any other Amnesia Fortnight pitch.
In Hack ‘n’ Slash, a young elf uses her computer hacking skills to cheat her way
through a classic action/adventure game. The game was funded by Indie Fund,
Humble Bundle, Hemisphere Games, make all, AppAbove Games, Adam Saltsman, The
Behemoth, Morgan Webb, and Rob Reid as part of a two-game deal that also
includes Spacebase DF-9, which released in Early Access Alpha and recouped its
investment within two weeks.
“I’ve always loved games with lots of secrets in them,” said Hack ‘n’ Slash
project lead Brandon Dillon, “and when I first discovered a hex editor in an
emulator, it dawned on me that I could be a kind of digital treasure hunter—no
game could keep even its deepest secrets from me if I adventured long enough in
its code and memory.”
By subverting old-school gaming tropes with unique hacking mechanics, Hack ‘n’
Slash allows non-programmer players to experience that same sense of mystery and
discovery.
“Look, I’m going to be honest with you here: I don’t really understand what’s
going on inside this game’s code,” said Double Fine president and CEO Tim
Schafer, who claims to possess a degree in computer science. “I believe it
contains ‘algorithms.’ But I know what’s going on inside my heart when I play
it. And that is joy.”
“We’re psyched to be helping with Hack’n'Slash because Amnesia Fortnight
projects are about empowering individual creators,” said Indie Fund partner Ron
Carmel, who definitely possesses a degree in computer science. “And I can
confirm that this game’s code does contain algorithms.”
Hack ‘n’ Slash will be released for Windows, Mac, and Linux on Steam and
DRM-free in the first half of 2014. It will include algorithms.
Continue here to read the full story.
Steam News announces new
DLC called Southern
Fronts is now available for
Company of Heroes 2,
along with newly added Steam workshop support for the World War II real-time
strategy sequel. In celebration, the game is on sale for 10% off over the next
week. Here's word: During the Spring Rasputitsa in early 1943, the Red
Army launched a series of counteroffensives against German lines in the
southwest. While initially successful, the Germans regrouped and managed to
regain the momentum to recapture Kharkov.
Take command of both factions in a series of challenges and battles that feature
new environmental conditions; thick mud that impacts vehicle movement and
exposes new vulnerabilities.
Plus, with the release of the Company of Heroes 2 World Builder in November
members of the community have been hard at work on creating maps. With the
addition of Steam Workshop, map creators can now easily let the entire CoH2
player base have access to their maps.
Obsidian announces their RPG previously known as Project Eternity will be
released under the official title Pillars of Eternity. They celebrate the news
with a new logo and a
gameplay teaser trailer. They also offer a super-detailed tutorial on how
you can give them more money, and a list of several interviews and previews for
the game. Continue here to read the full story.
Steam News announces
the release of Magna Carta,
new free DLC for Wargame:
Airland Battle, Eugen System's real-time strategy sequel. Here's word:
MAGNA CARTA DLC for Wargame: AirLand Battle offers 12 new units (one per
nation) and new large-scale multiplayer maps: Wargame AirLand Battle therefore
has 7 new maps: Gjöll and Ásgard, 2 totally new maps specifically designed for
the massive battles with 20 players, and 4 new additional maps for 1 vs 1 up to
3 vs 3 players: Oslo, Orkolsvik, Karlstad and Aarhus that can all be played in
the Conquest and Destruction modes. Finally, those nostalgic for the first
Wargame will welcome the arrival of Three Miles Island, one of the most popular
multiplayer maps in European Escalation, which is now playable in AirLand Battle
in both Conquest and Destruction modes!
New How the Saints Save
Christmas DLC is now available for
Saints Row IV.
Here's word from Steam News:
How the Saints Save Christmas (1953) - Santa is trapped inside the
Simulation but the Scrooge-like Boss of the Third Street Saints can't muster
enough Christmas spirit to save him. Can the Saints help the Boss discover the
true meaning of the season in time? A holiday classic for the whole family.
- Dragon Age: Origins - Ultimate Edition on
Steam. Save 75%.
- The Holiday Express on
Steam. Save 85%.
- Indie Capsule Bundle on
Bundle Stars.
- L.A. Noire on
Steam. Save 75%.
- Select Mounts and Pets on
World of Warcraft.
Save 50%.
- Volgarr the Viking on
Steam. Save 50%.
A tweet by
Mike Booth sees the Blizzard Game Director sending out the call for "a Lead
Producer to help us create Blizzard's next awesome game!" He links to
this job listing which calls this an "unannounced game title," and states
it's in the works with a small development team, similar to their upcoming
Hearthstone.
Blizzplanet notes that
another help wanted for the same project seeks a 3D weapons artist, so we
know there will be combat. Here's all they say about the game for now: "We can’t
tell you exactly what the game is yet, but trust us, it’s awesome."
Independent Australian developer Sourena Game Studio announces Legends of
Persia, an action/RPG coming to Windows PCs in January 2014. They promote
the game with this trailer
as well as this clip,
which is mostly gameplay footage, and hope to inspire support for
their
Steam Greenlight campaign. Here's a bit on the plot: "The storyline revolves
around Keykhosro, the son of the Persian prince Siavosh, who in the name of his
father’s blood seeks to take revenge upon Afrasiab, the king of Tooran.
Throughout the game, the character will face difficult challenges to overcome,
such as defeating massive waves of enemies, encountering difficult bosses, and
finally dealing with Afriasiab, his father's killer." Here is word on gameplay:
Featuring more than 8 hours of single-player action in addition to 5
attractive locations and more than 200 weapons and items to use, 'Legends Of
Persia' is packed full of features! The game will also include 18 unique types
of magic, 3 different hero characters, fully customizable, and more than 30
unique challenging enemies. Already a thriving and popular game on Steam
Greenlight, prepare to get blown away with the addictive gameplay and fantastic
graphics!
Continue here to read the full story.
GOG.com announces
they are now offering
Shadowrun Returns, capping off the
recent news that Harebrained Schemes
has worked out a deal to offer the tactical RPG completely free of any digital
rights management. Word is: "Shadowrun Returns, a classy turn-based RPG set in
one of the most iconic Sci-Fi worlds where cyberpunk meets fantasy, sporting
excellent character development mechanics and a sleek visual style drawing you
right into the dark and dangerous Seattle metroplex, is available 40% off on
GOG.com, for Windows and Mac OS X. That's $11.99 for the first 48 hours."
Well today is the 20th anniversary of the release of DOOM, which was a
seminal event in modern gaming, and something that eventually lead to the
formation of this website. A lot has changed since then: John Romero, Tom Hall,
Michael Abrash, Dave Taylor, Adrian "No relation" Carmack, and Sandy Petersen
are long gone from id Software, and now John Carmack is too (it looks like the
only member of the original DOOM team still at id is Kevin Cloud). The game's
original MS-DOS platform? Dead. The 3.5" floppies it was distributed on? Dead.
Neidermeyer? Dead! But the game lives on in ports, emulations, every shooter
that's followed, and, of course, our hearts.
Wired has an
interview with John Carmack looking back at two decades of DOOM. Now I feel
like some old school one-on-one deathmatch... where did I put that modem?
Required reading: Hank
Leukart's DooM FAQ 6.666. Optional reading:
Blue's Doom
Deathmatch Guide.
|
Twitter 
